In fact, however, the _Times_ was attempting to controvert "our ancient enemy" Bright as an apostle of democracy rather than to fan the flames of irritation over the _Trent_, and the prominence given to Bright's speech indicates a greater readiness to consider as hopeful an escape from the existing crisis.
After December 3 and up to the ninth, the _Times_ was more caustic about America than previously.

The impression of its editorials read to-day is that more hopeful of a peaceful solution it was more free to snarl.

But with the issue of December 10 there began a series of leaders and communications, though occasionally with a relapse to the former tone, distinctly less irritating to Americans, and indicating a real desire for peace[442].

Other newspapers either followed the _Times_, or were slightly in advance of it in a change to more considerate and peaceful expressions.

Adams could write to Seward on December 6 that he saw no change in the universality of the British demand for satisfaction of the "insult and injury thought to be endured," but he recognized in the next few days that a slow shift was taking place in the British temper and regretted the violence of American utterances.