“I thank you for your speech on Maritime Rights, just received, and which I have carefully read. All my assertions that the Trent affair would not lead to war were received here with incredulity, by the Government, by my colleagues, by all parties. It was a bitter disappointment to some of the English here, and I doubt not in England, that this matter has been settled without war. The London Times, while criticizing your speech and denying its conclusions, writhes under it, and its arguments are a severer rebuke to England than any philippics or denunciations could be.”
William S. Thayer, Consul-General at Alexandria, wrote from his post:—
“I lent Mr. Buckle[121] the Intelligencer with your speech on the Trent affair, some points of which received his emphatic indorsement.”
Hon. John Bigelow, Consul at Paris, and afterwards Minister there, wrote from Paris:—
“It produced an excellent effect here, and still better in England, if one may judge by the ill-humor in which it put the Times. The impotent venom of that journal, under the circumstances, was more complimentary than its praise could have been.”
Henry Woods, the Parisian member of the American importing house of Messrs. C. F. Hovey & Co., wrote from Paris:—
“I have to thank you for a copy of your very able speech on the Trent affair, which has been very much read, and in all quarters I hear it spoken of with admiration. It is considered your greatest effort, and worthy of a great occasion.”
Professor Charles D. Cleveland, author and Abolitionist, Consul at Cardiff, Wales, wrote:—
“How my heart rejoices that the affair of the Trent is thus amicably settled! but—and I must say so—I have little faith in the good feeling of the Government of England, and the leading influences here, towards our country. How indignant have I felt the last six weeks at the tone of the leading papers towards our country! Nothing, hardly, could exceed the bitterness of the Times, the Post, the Telegraph, the Saturday Review, &c., &c. Even Punch lent all his influence to the Rebels, and against us. The very first number after the news of the Trent affair was received had a full-length figure of Britannia standing beside a cannon, with a match in her hand, looking across the water, and underneath was written, ‘Waiting for an Answer.’