Such communication could not have taken place before the end of August and possibly was not then made owing to the fact that the Cabinet was scattered in the long vacation and that, apparently, the plan to move _soon_ in the American War was as yet unknown save to Palmerston and to Russell.
Russell's letter to Palmerston of August 6, sets the date of their determination[744].

Meanwhile they were depending much upon advices from Washington for the exact moment.

Stuart was suggesting, with Mercier, that October should be selected[745], and continued his urgings even though his immediate chief, Lyons, was writing to him from London strong personal objections to any European intervention whatever and especially any by Great Britain[746].

Lyons explained his objections to Russell as well, but Stuart, having gone to the extent of consulting also with Stoeckl, the Russian Minister at Washington, was now in favour of straight-out recognition of the Confederacy as the better measure.

This, thought Stoeckl, was less likely to bring on war with the North than an attempt at mediation[747].