He wrote: "Such a declaration might produce a furious outburst of wrath from Government and public here.

It cannot, however, be denied that the reasoning on which the Declaration would be founded would be incontrovertible, and that in the end firmness answers better with the Americans than coaxing.

But then England, France and Spain must be really firm, and not allow their Declaration to be a _brutum fulmen_.

If on its being met, as it very probably would be, by a decided refusal on the part of the United States, they did not proceed to break up the Blockade, or at all events to resist by force the exercise of the right of visit on the high seas, the United States Government and people would become more difficult to deal with than ever.

I find, however, that I am going beyond my own province, and I will therefore add only an excuse for doing so[1118]." Lyons followed this up a week later by a long description of America's readiness for a foreign war, a situation very different from that of 1861.