THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 211 



atives; his praises were voiced in countless 

 unofficial ways by countless unofficial persons. 

 In the swelling chorus of popular approval the 

 dominant note was the efficient patriotism of 

 the commander in seizing the traitors and 

 thwarting their plans. Here and there was 

 clearly audible, however, another note the 

 shrill, wild cry of vengeful joy that Wilkes, in 

 doing his duty, had flouted the flag of Great 

 Britain. Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, 

 at a banquet given in honor of Wilkes, pro 

 claimed it the crowning satisfaction of the whole 

 affair that the commander &quot;fired his shot across 

 the bows of the ship that bore the British lion 

 at its head.&quot; It is hardly doubtful that the 

 rejoicing at the North owed half its ecstasy 

 to the fact that the Trent was a British vessel. 



There were a few cool heads in the North 

 that believed Wilkes s action unwise and unjus 

 tifiable by the law of nations. By these men 

 the course of Great Britain was awaited with 

 serious foreboding. Their anxiety was not di 

 minished by the news that reached America on 

 December 12 of the overwhelming storm of 

 rage and warlike fervor that swept over En 

 gland when the proceeding of Wilkes became 

 known. Philosophical observers were rare in 



