The Liberals were losing strength, wrote Adams: "That the American difficulties have materially contributed to this result cannot be doubted.

The fact that many of the leading Liberals are the declared friends of the United States is a decided disadvantage in the contest now going on.
The predominating passion here is the desire for the ultimate subdivision of America into many separate States which will neutralize each other.

This is most visible among the conservative class of the Aristocracy who dread the growth of liberal opinions and who habitually regard America as the nursery of them[1354]." From all this controversy Government leaders kept carefully aloof at least in public expression of opinion.

Privately, Russell commented to Palmerston, "I have been reading a book on Jefferson by De Witt, which is both interesting and instructive.

It shows how the Great Republic of Washington degenerated into the Democracy of Jefferson.