Otherwise, "the spirit, the energy, and the resources of this people" would make them difficult to overcome.

England, on her part, must be prepared to suffer severely from American privateers, and she would be forced to help the South, at least to the extent of keeping Southern ports open.

Finally, Lyons concluded, all of this letter and advice were extremely distasteful to him, yet he felt compelled to write it by the seriousness of the situation.

Nevertheless, he would exert every effort and use every method to conciliate America[226].
In truth, it was not any further belligerent talk by Seward that had so renewed Lyons' anxiety.

Rather it was the public and Press reception of the news of the Queen's Proclamation of Neutrality.