There is no indication of how he obtained it.

It was a fake pure and simple.

To his astonishment Slidell soon learned from Thouvenel that France knew nothing of such a memorandum.

It was probably sold to Mann by some enterprising "Southern friend" in need of money.] [Footnote 563: Mason, _Mason_, p.258.Mason to Hunter, Feb.

7, 1862.] [Footnote 564: _Ibid._, pp.