34 THE TREATY OF WASIIINGTOX. 



at Geneva, rjul who, it was clearly seen, would be the 

 effective judges in the cause, w^ere not likely to share 

 the English opinion of the common law^ of England. 

 And these three Arbitrators Avere persons outside of 

 the range of the observation, knowledge, or apprecia- 

 tion of most Englishmen, ^vho felt undefined distrust 

 of men Avhom they did not and could not know as 

 they knew Englishmen and Americans. Nay, En- 

 glishmen were heard to say, in conversation, that they 

 would prefer a tribunal made up of Englishmen and 

 Americans. We shall fully comprehend how strong 

 this sentiment Avas amons; avera2;e En^-lishmen, when 

 we remember that expression was given to it in the 

 House of Lords by the Marquess of Salisbury, who, 

 notwithstanding his high intelligence, and the cos- 

 mopolitan experience which men of his rank possess, 

 could characterize as unhnowii, and, therefore, as ob- 

 jectionable, an actual Embassador in France, an ex- 

 President of Switzerland, and a Senator and ex-Min- 

 ister of Italy with fome as a jurist and historian per- 

 vading Europe. It was a sentiment which Sir Alex- 

 ander Cockburn betrayed in his deportment and 

 language at several meetings of the Tribunal. 



These, however, were but the transitory incidents 

 of popular emotion and public discussion, and of sec- 

 ondary significance. 



AGITATION RESPECTING THE NATIONAL CLAIMS. 



But the agitation which soon followed, on the sub- 

 ject of certain of the claims set forth in the Case of 

 th(> United States, arose at once to national impor- 



