THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR 213 



political finesse in the adjustment of the Trent 

 affair. Three days after the report of the affair 

 was received, a despatch was sent to Lord Lyons 

 at Washington instructing him to demand the 

 surrender of Slidell and Mason, and a suitable 

 apology for the affront to the British flag. In 

 case the demand should not be complied with in 

 seven days, the minister was directed to close 

 the legation and leave Washington. The trans 

 mission of these instructions was accompanied 

 by open and strenuous preparations for war. 

 Exportation of military stores was forbidden; 

 arsenals and dockyards hummed with access of 

 industry; great quantities of arms and ammuni 

 tion were hastily shipped to the North American 

 provinces; most impressive of all, several thou 

 sands of troops, including a regiment of the 

 Guards, embarked for the same destination. 



Confronting such a situation, the Lincoln ad 

 ministration had no choice of policy. To think 

 of conquering the Confederates after Great 

 Britain should become their ally, was beyond 

 the bounds of sanity. Accordingly, the cap 

 tive envoys were put at the disposal of Lord 

 Lyons, and were duly conveyed by a British 

 war-ship back to the West Indies, whence they 

 resumed their journey in triumph to England. 



