He rightly characterizes Seward's tactics as "diplomatic skill of the best quality." But in Lyons' report the emphasis is placed upon Seward's courtesy in argument, and Lyons felt that the knowledge of British-French joint action had been made sufficiently clear by his taking Mercier with him and by their common though unofficial representation to Seward.] [Footnote 229: Russell Papers.

To Russell.] [Footnote 230: _Ibid_, To Russell.

Lyons' source of information was not revealed.] [Footnote 231: _Ibid._, To Russell.] [Footnote 232: _U.S.Messages and Documents, 1861-2_, p.

110.] [Footnote 233: _Ibid._, p.118.To Adams.] [Footnote 234: C.F.Adams, "Seward and the Declaration of Paris." p.

29, and so argued by the author throughout this monograph.