Potts.] -1-14 [April 19, 



sarily hated, and I suppose he takes the color of the atmosphere in which 

 he moves. 



" The Proclamation * is a grand move not too soon, nor too late, in my 

 opinion. It must have a good effect here in putting your enemies more 

 and more in the wrong. 



"During the winter as your forces get possession of Charleston, Savan- 

 nah, Mobile and Vicksburgh the negro will learn everywhere who are his 

 friends, and I can see no way of escape for the Conspirators but in work- 

 ing the ' Emancipation ' lever for themselves. If they declare for free- 

 dom, they may give you a deal of trouble — but if they do not I think their 

 whole basis of industry and power will crumble under them. 



" Don't be unhappy about English opinion — there will be a reaction — 

 and it is what you do in America, and not what people think here that 

 will decide the contest.f 



"You oflfered to write to Horace Greeley asking him to send me the 

 Tribune. I shall be glad to pay for it if he has an agent in Liverpool. 

 "Yours very Sincerely, 



"John Bright. 



"Thomas H. Dudley. Esq., U. S. Consulate, 

 Liverpool." 



" Rochdale, Jany. 26, 1863. 



" Dear Sir : — Thank you for the Book — I have read it through with 

 much pleasure. I wish it may have a wide circulation in America and in 

 England. 



" You may rely upon it that positive sympathy with the South is only 

 to be found in our 'upper crust ' and the rich middle class which largely 

 ' flunkey ' to it. The People, the millions don't hate America because of 

 the republic — nor do they prefer the disruption of the Union to the 

 abolition of slavery. 



"I am sorry your Govt, has not yet succeeded in clearing the great 

 river — they seem generally to underrate the work thej'' have to do — to 

 attempt too many things at once. The retaking of Galveston shows 

 great carelessness on the part of those in authority in the Gulf. 



"I hope and believe we shall not hear much of recognition and inter- 

 vention in the coming session, unless circumstances change for the worse 

 with you. 



"The Alabama will be discussed in some shape. The Govt, feel 

 themselves in a difficulty about it. I should like to have all the facts of 

 the case, and an hour's talk with you upon them before the meeting of 

 Parlt., but I don't know whether such a thing can be arranged or not. 

 " Yours very Sincerely, 



"John Bright. 



"Thos. n. Dudley, Esq., U. S. Consulate, 

 Liverpool." 



* Tlie Emancipatiou Proclamation issued by President Liucoln, September 22, 1862. 

 t See footnote, p. 113. 



