The credit of the Government has hitherto been wonderfully kept up, but it would not stand a considerable reverse in the field.

It is possible, under such circumstances that a Peace Party might arise; and perhaps just _possible_ that England and France might give weight to such a Party[628]." In brief, Lyons was all against either intervention or mediation unless a strong reaction toward peace should come in the North, and even then regarded the wisdom of such a policy as only "just _possible_." Nor was Russell inclined to depart from established policy.

He wrote to Lyons at nearly the same time: "The news from York Town, New Orleans, and Corinth seems to portend the conquest of the South.

We have now to see therefore, whether a few leaders or the whole population entertain those sentiments of alienation and abhorrence which were so freely expressed to M.Mercier by the Confederate Statesmen at Richmond.

I know not how to answer this question.