They have misunderstood things fearfully, in Europe, Great Britain is in danger of sympathizing so much with the South, for the sake of peace and cotton, as to drive us to make war against her, as the ally of the traitors....

I am trying to get a bold remonstrance through the Cabinet before it is too late[209]." The "bold remonstrance" was the famous "Despatch No.

10," of May 21, already commented upon in the preceding chapter.

But as sent to Adams it varied in very important details from the draft submitted by Seward to Lincoln[210].
Seward's draft was not merely a "remonstrance"; it was a challenge.

Its language implied that the United States desired war, and Seward's plan was to have Adams read the despatch to Russell, give him a copy of it, and then discontinue diplomatic relations so long as Russell held either official or unofficial intercourse with the Southern Commissioners.