Those who chose to retire into the interior were welcome to do so, and to stay there till they were tired." "The truth," wrote Lyons, "as to the state of feeling in the South probably lies somewhere between Mr.Seward's views and those of Monsieur Mercier." Lyons concluded his report of the whole matter: "The result of Monsieur Mercier's journey has been to bring him back precisely to the point at which he was three months ago.

The Federal successes which occurred afterwards had somewhat shaken his conviction in the ultimate success of the South, and consequently his opinions as to the policy to be adopted by France.

The sentiments he now expresses are exactly those which he expressed at the beginning of the year[602]." In other words, Mercier was now again pressing for early recognition of the South at the first favourable moment.

On Lyons the effect of the adventure to Richmond was just the reverse of this; and on Russell also its influence was to cause some doubt of Southern success.

Appended to Lyons' report stands Russell's initialled comment: "It is desirable to know what is the Interior to which the Southern Confederates propose if beaten to retire.