[1058] Ibid., Slidell to Mason, Feb. 15, 1863.
[1059] Ibid., Slidell to Mason, Feb. 23, 1863, and Mason to Slidell, Feb. 24, 1863.
[1060] Schwab, p. 33.
[1061] Ibid., p. 33. In France permission to advertise the loan was at first refused, but this was changed by the intervention of the Emperor.
[1062] Richardson, II, p. 457. To Benjamin, March 21, 1863.
[1063] Mason's Mason, p. 401. To Benjamin, March 30, 1863.
[1064] MS. Thesis, by Walter M. Case, for M.A. degree at Stanford University: James M. Mason--Confederate Diplomat (1915). I am much indebted to Mr. Case's Chapter V: "Mason and Confederate Finance."
[1065] No evidence has been found to support this. Is not the real reason for the change to be found in British Governmental intentions known or suspected? March 27 was the day of the Parliamentary debate seemingly antagonistic to the North: while March 31, on the other hand, the Alexandra case was referred to the Law Officers, and April 4 they recommend her seizure, which was done on April 5. It is to be presumed that rumours of this seeming face-about by the Government had not failed to reach the bond market.
[1066] Mason Papers. Mason to Slidell, April 3, 1863.
[1067] Ibid., Spence to Mason, May 9, 1863. This letter was written a month after the event at Mason's request for an exact statement of what had occurred.