Lord Russell agreed that the war on the part of the United States was hopeless and that neither could union be restored nor the South brought under the yoke....

In regard to Lindsay's motion Lord Russell said, that he could not _accept_ it, but if brought up for discussion his side would _speak_ favourably of it.

That is to say they would commend it if they could not vote for it." This referred to Lindsay's original motion of using the "earliest opportunity of mediation," and the pleasant reception given by Russell scarcely justified any great hope of decided benefit for the South.

It must now have been fairly apparent to Lindsay, as it certainly was to Mason, that all this complaisance by Palmerston and Russell was but political manipulation to retain or to secure support in the coming contest with the Tories.

The two old statesmen, wise in parliamentary management, were angling for every doubtful vote.