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gnized his allies； and their cause he identified with his own in his letter to English workmen which was quoted in the previous chapter。 Their leaders in Parliament were Richard Cobden； W。 E。 Forster； and John Bright。 All these groups were represented in the Liberal party； which； for the moment； was in power。
In the Cabinet itself there was a 〃Northern〃 and a 〃Southern〃 faction。 Then； too； there were some who sympathized with the North but who felt that its cause was hopelessso little did they understand the relative strength of the two sectionsand who felt that the war was a terrible proof of the uselessness of mere suffering。 Gladstone； in later days； wished to be thought of as having been one of these； though at the time； a famous utterance of his was construed in the North as a declaration of hostility。 To a great audience at Newcastle he said in October； 1862： 〃We may have our own opinions about slavery； we may be for or against the South； but there is no doubt that Jefferson Davis and other leaders of the South have made an army； they are making； it appears； a navy； and they have made； what is more than eitherthey have made a nation。〃
The Prime Minister； Lord Palmerston； wished to intervene in the American war and bring about an amicable separation into two countries； and so； apparently； did the Foreign Secretary； Lord John Russell。 Recently； the American minister had vainly protested against the sailing of a ship known as 290 which was being equipped at Liverpool presumably for the service of the Confederacy； and which became the famous Alabama。 For two years it roved the ocean destroying Northern commerce； and not until it was sunk at last in a battle with the U。 S。 S。 Kearsarge did all the maritime interests of the North breathe again freely。 In time and as a result of arbitration； England paid for the ships sunk by the Alabama。 But in 1862； the protests of the American minister fell on deaf ears。
It must be added that the sailing of the Alabama from Liverpool was due probably to the carelessness of British officials rather than to deliberate purpose。 And yet the fact is clear that about the first of October； 1862； the British ministry was on the verge of intervening to secure recognition of the independence of the Southern confederacy。 The chief motive pressing them forward was the distress in England caused by the lack of cotton which resulted from the American blockade。 In 1860； the South had exported 615；000 bales； in 1861； only 10；127 bales。 In 1862 half the spindles of Manchester were idle； the workmen were out of employment； the owners were without dividends。 It was chiefly by these manufacturing capitalists that pressure was put upon the ministry； and it was in the manufacturing district that Gladstone； thinking the Government was likely to intervene； made his allusion to the South as a nation。
Meanwhile the Emperor of the French was considering a proposal to England and Russia to join with him in mediation between the American belligerents。 On October 28； 1862； Napoleon III gave audience to the Confederate envoy at Paris； discussed the Southern cause in the most friendly manner； questioned him upon the Maryland campaign； plainly indicated his purpose to attempt intervention； and at parting cordially shook hands with him。 Within a few days the Emperor made good his implied promise。
The month of November； 1862； is one of the turningpoints in American foreign relations。 Both Russia and England rejected France's proposal。 The motive usually assigned to the Emperor Alexander is his hatred of everything associated with slavery。 His own most famous action was the liberation of the Russian serfs。 The motives of the British ministry； however； appear more problematical。
Mr。 Rhodes thinks he can discern evidence that Adams communicated indirectly to Palmerston the contents of a dispatch from Seward which indicated that the United States would accept war rather than mediation。 Palmerston had kept his eyes upon the Maryland campaign； and Lee's withdrawal did not increase his confidence in the strength of the South。 Lord Russell； two months previous； had flatly told the Confederate envoy at London that the South need not hope for recognition unless it could establish itself without aid； and that 〃the fluctuating events of the war； the alternation of defeat and victory；〃 composed such a contradictory situation that 〃Her Majesty's Government are still determined to wait。〃
Perhaps the veiled American warningassuming it was conveyed to Palmerston； which seems highly probablewas not the only diplomatic innuendo of the autumn of 1862 that has escaped the pages of history。 Slidell at Paris； putting together the statements of the British Ambassador and those of the French Minister of Foreign Affairs； found in them contradictions as to what was going on between the two governments in relation to America。 He took a hand by attempting to inspire M。 Drouyn de L'huys with distrust of England； telling him he 〃HAD SEEN。。。a letter from a leading member of the British Cabinet。。。in which he very plainly insinuated that France was playing an unfair game；〃 trying to use England as Napoleon's catspaw。 Among the many motives that may well have animated the Palmerston Government in its waiting policy； a distrust of Napoleon deserves to be considered。
It is scarcely rash； however； to find the chief motive in home politics。 The impetuous Gladstone at Newcastle lost his head and spoke too soon。 The most serious effect of his premature utterance was the prompt reaction of the 〃Northern party〃 in the Cabinet and in the country。 Whatever Palmerston's secret desires were； he was not prepared to take the high hand； and he therefore permitted other members of the Cabinet to state in public that Gladstone had been misunderstood。 In an interview with Adams； Lord Russell； 〃whilst endeavoring to excuse Mr。 Gladstone；〃 assured him that 〃the policy of the Government was to adhere to a strict neutrality and leave the struggle to settle itself。〃 In the last analysis； the Northern party in England was gaining ground。 The news from America； possibly； and Gladstone's rashness； certainly； roused it to increased activity。 Palmerston； whose tenure of power was none too secure； dared not risk a break that might carry the disaffected into the ranks of the Opposition。
From this time forward the North rapidly grew in favor in British public opinion； and its influence upon the Government speedily increased。
Says Lord Charnwood in his recent life of Lincoln： 〃The battle of Antietam was followed within five days by an event which made it impossible for any government of this country to take action unfriendly to the North。〃 He refers of course to the Emancipation Proclamation； which was issued on September 23； 1862。 Lord Charnwood's remark may be too dramatic。 But there can be no doubt that the Emancipation Proclamation was the turning…point in Lincoln's foreign policy； and because of it； his friends in England eventually forced the Government to play into his hands； and so frustrated Napoleon's scheme for intervention。 Consequently Lincoln was able to maintain the blockade by means of which the South was strangled。 Th