Just six days later, on November 27, London heard of the _Trent_ affair of November 8.
It is small wonder that Russell and his colleagues felt an increasing uncertainty as to the intent of the United States, and also an increasing irritation at having to guard their steps with such care in a situation where they sincerely believed the only possible outcome was the dissolution of the American Union.

But up to the moment when the news of the _Trent_ affair was received they had pursued a policy, so they believed, of strict and upright neutrality, and were fixed in the determination not to permit minor controversies or economic advantage to divert them from it.
FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 319: _Economist_, May 18, 1861.] [Footnote 320: _Ibid._, June 29, 1861.] [Footnote 321: J.L.Motley, _The Causes of the American Civil War_.
Published as a pamphlet.

N.Y., 1861.] [Footnote 322: _Daily News_, July 19, 1861.] [Footnote 323: Russell, _My Diary, North and South_, p.

159, Boston, 1863.

This work is in effect a condensation of Russell's letters to the _Times_, but contains many intimate descriptions not given in the newspaper.] [Footnote 324: _Ibid._, p.