England needed a time of rest in order to cope with the discontent of Ireland and the problems brought about by the growth of democracy and commercialism in the larger island.

The disestablishment and partial disendowment of the Protestant Church in Ireland (July 1869), the Irish Land Act (August 1870), and the Education Act of 1870, showed the preoccupation of the Ministry for home affairs; while the readiness with which, a little later, they complied with all the wishes of the United States in the "Alabama" case, equally proclaimed their pacific intentions.

England, which in 1860 had exercised so powerful an influence on the Italian national question, was for five years a factor of small account in European affairs.

Far from pleasing the combatants, our neutrality annoyed both of them.

The French accused England of "deserting" Napoleon III.