The close touch of leading papers with Governmental opinion is well shown, as in the _Times_, by the day-to-day editorials of the first week.

On November 28 there was solemn and anxious consideration of a grave crisis with much questioning of international law, which was acknowledged to be doubtful.
But even if old British practice seemed to support Captain Wilkes, the present was not to be controlled by a discarded past, and "essential differences" were pointed out.

This tone of vexed uncertainty changed to a note of positive assurance and militant patriotism on November 30 when the Government made its demand.

The _Times_ up to December 2, thought it absolutely certain that Wilkes had acted on authorization, and devoted much space to Seward as the evil genius of American warlike policy toward England.

The old "Duke of Newcastle story" was revamped.