In this way he sways to and fro for a minute or two, but rights himself at last, and declares he has hitherto stood upright between the two pitfalls, and he will continue to do so....

Lord Russell seems to be in danger of forgetting that _neuter_ does not mean _both_, but _neither_, and that if, therefore, he would maintain even in words a strict neutrality it is necessary to avoid any demonstrations of friendship to either belligerent[1251]." This was harsh criticism, evincing a _Times_ partisanship justifying the allegations of the _Gazette_, but wholly in line with the opinion to which the _Times_ was now desperately clinging that Grant had failed and that Sherman, adventuring on his spectacular "march to the sea" from Atlanta, was courting annihilation.

Yet even Northern friends were appalled at Sherman's boldness and discouraged by Grant's slowness.

The son of the American Minister could write, "Grant moves like the iron wall in Poe's story.

You expect something tremendous, and it's only a step after all[1252]." The _Times_ was at least consistent in prophecies until the event falsified them; the _Gazette_ less so.