The opinion clashed with Mason's own conviction, but in any case no more was to be hoped, now, from his overture.

Only a favourable turn in the war could help the South.
There was no public knowledge in London of this "last card" Southern effort in diplomacy, though there were newspaper rumours that some such move was on foot, but with a primary motive of restoring Southern fighting power by putting the negroes in arms.

British public attention was fixed rather upon a possible last-moment reconciliation of North and South and a restored Union which should forget its domestic troubles in a foreign war.

Momentarily somewhat of a panic overcame London society and gloomy were the forebodings that Great Britain would be the chosen enemy of America.

Like rumours were afloat at Washington also.