474. LETTERS TO DARWIN AND OTHERS. [1860, 
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, 
ete., 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. 
Tam sorry to say that this is the — feeling ; 
and this is now very much intensifi 
