He was now seeking to force the acceptance of the second, and alternative, portion of his "Thoughts for the President." Seward's theory of the cementing effect of a foreign war was no secret at Washington.

As early as January 26 he had unfolded to Schleiden this fantastic plan.

"If the Lord would only give the United States an excuse for a war with England, France, or Spain," he said "that would be the best means of re-establishing internal peace[206]." Again, on February 10, he conversed with Schleiden on the same topic, and complained that there was no foreign complication offering an excuse for a break.

Lyons knew of this attitude, and by February 4 had sent Russell a warning, to which the latter had replied on February 20 that England could afford to be patient for a time but that too much "blustering demonstration" must not be indulged in.

But the new administration, as Lincoln had remarked in his reply to Seward on April 1, had taken quite another line, addressing foreign powers in terms of high regard for established friendly relations.