As late as June, 1861, Adams declared that while some in England welcomed American disunion as a warning to their countrymen it was evident that but a small number as yet saw the cause of the North as identical with the world progress of free institutions[1335].

Evidently he was disappointed that the followers of Bright were not exhibiting more courage and demanding public support of the North as fighting their battle at home.

They were indeed strangely silent, depressed no doubt by American events, and discouraged.

It required time also to arouse intensity of feeling on the American question and to see clearly the issues involved.

Aristocratic Britain was first to declare a definite lesson to be learned, thereby bringing out the fighting qualities of British democracy.