Palmerston gave assurances that the present relations between the two Governments were perfectly friendly and satisfactory.

The effect of the debate, reported Adams, was to quiet the panic[1282], yet at the same time England was now awake to and somewhat alarmed by, America's "prodigious development of physical power during the war." To quiet this, Adams recommended "prudence and moderation in tone[1283]." Thus the actual cessation of hostilities in America and the possible effect of this event on foreign relations had been for some time anticipated and estimated in Great Britain[1284].

The news of Lee's surrender, therefore, caused no great surprise since the _Times_ and other papers had been preparing the public for it[1285].

Newspaper comment on the event followed closely that of the _Times_, rendering honour to the militant qualities of the South and to Lee, but writing _finis_ to the war: "Such is the end of the great army which, organized by the extraordinary genius of one man, aided by several other commanders of eminent ability, has done such wonders in this war.

Not even the Grand Army of Napoleon himself could count a series of more brilliant victories than the force which, raised chiefly from the high-spirited population of Virginia, has defeated so many invasions of the State, and crushed the hopes of so many Northern generals.