For three months the Government laboured to bring about through a European council some solution that should both save something for Denmark and save its own prestige.
Repeatedly Palmerston, in the many parliamentary debates on Denmark, broke loose from his Cabinet colleagues and indulged in threats which could not fail to give an excellent handle to opponents when once it became clear that the Ministry had no intention of coming in arms to the defence of the Danish King.
From February to June, 1864, this issue was to the fore.

In its earlier stages it did not appear to Southern sympathizers to have any essential bearing on the American question, though they were soon to believe that in it lay a great hope.

Having set the Southern Independence Association on its feet in London and hoping much from its planned activities, Lindsay, in March, was momentarily excited over rumours of some new move by Napoleon.

Being undeceived[1171] he gave a ready ear to other rumours, received privately through Delane of the _Times_, that an important Southern victory would soon be forthcoming[1172].

Donoughmore, the herald of this glad news also wrote: "Our political prospects here are still very uncertain.