The Alabama Arbitration and the Geneva Award had destroyed the ill feeling that remained after the fall of Richmond.

But it was not worth the while of any American politician to alienate the Irish vote, and most Americans honestly thought, not without reason, that the policy of England in Ireland had been abominable.

To let sleeping dogs lie might be wise.

Once they were unchained, no American hand would help to chain them up again.

Froude, however, conceived that circumstances were unusually favourable.