474 LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1862, 



England. The belief here is nearly universal the 

 other way, and those who like England best, and per- 

 haps the coolest and best-informed men, have been 

 more and more dissatisfied as time went on. 



What has caused this lamentable state of things, 

 this complete misunderstanding ? Plainly this : the 

 secessionists in England have adroitly managed the 

 matter and led public opinion in various lines, but all 

 in one direction, inimical to us ; and they did not 

 think it too great a stretch to make John Bull be- 

 lieve that we were insane enough to want an English 

 quarrel. In this they have been ably seconded by 

 a few papers here, mainly by those whose loyalty is 

 deeply suspected, and whose influence is as nothing; 

 which are nearly as scurrilous as the " Saturday Re- 

 view," with no redeeming ability, and you have the 

 result. 



Will the evidence that this mail carries satisfy the 

 English that we want to live in peace with them ? 



But as to good feeling, I am afraid it is too late to 

 expect that. 



We were hurt at first by your putting our rebels 

 on the same footing as a government with which yours 

 was in most amicable relations, and by the general 

 assumption at once that we were gone past redemption, 

 by the failure to see that the power had gone from 

 the hands of those who were always making trouble 

 with your government in some petty way or other, 

 etc., till I think it is generally believed that the gov- 

 erning influence in England desires to have us a weak 

 and divided people, and would do a good deal to 

 secure it. 



I am sorry to say that this is the general feeling ; 

 and this is now very much intensified. 



