Thus, you see, we are fairly afloat there[1134]." Yet Spence was fighting against fear that all this agitation was too late: "Nevertheless it is not to be disguised that the evil tidings make uphill work of it--very.

Public opinion has quite veered round to the belief that the South will be exhausted.

The _Times_ correspondent's letters do great harm--more especially Gallenga's--who replaced Chas.

Mackay at New York.
I have, however, taken a berth for Mackay by Saturday's boat, so he will soon be out again and he is dead for our side[1135]." Again Spence asserted the one great hope to be in European intervention: "I am now clear in my own mind that unless we get Europe to move--or some improbable convulsion occur in the North--the end will be a sad one.

It seems to me therefore, impossible that too strenuous an effort can be made to move our Government and I cannot understand the Southerners who say: 'Oh, what can you make of it ?' I have known a man brought back to life two hours after he seemed stone-dead--the efforts at first seemed hopeless, but in case of life or death what effort should be spared[1136] ?" The Manchester Southern Club was the most active of those organized by Spence and was the centre for operations in the manufacturing districts.
On December 15, a great gathering (as described by _The Index_) took place there with delegates from many of the near-by towns[1137].