“I hope your telegraph labors have been successful, and that before the summer is over you will see your noble effort successful.
“I am anxious about what is doing in Washington, but I have lost faith in the President, and think Mr. Seward is allowing himself to be dragged into the mud of his Southern propensities. If Grant continues firm with the Republican party, he may prevent great mischief. The power of the President seems too great in an emergency of this nature. His language shows that his temper is not calm enough for dangerous times. In this he falls immeasurably below Mr. Lincoln.
“But if I despair of the President, I shall have faith in the people.
“I wish you a pleasant voyage and a complete success in your great undertaking.
“Always sincerely your friend,
“John Bright.”
“Rochdale, March 28, ’66.
“My dear Mr. Field,—I will try to come to Liverpool to meet you on Friday, the 6th April, nothing unforeseen preventing.
“I shall be glad to spend a quiet evening with you before you sail. I shall be glad also to meet Mr. Dudley.
“You seem, as usual, to be hard at work up to the last day of your stay here.