as efficient, though doubtless many
ships had been enabled to run it"; and "that at all events there could
not be a more inopportune moment for mooting the question both of the
recognition of the South and of the efficiency of the blockade. The
time was gone by when such measures could, if ever, have been taken--for
every mail brought news of expeditions from the North acting with
success upon the South; and every day added to the efficiency of the
blockade"; and "that I did not think therefore that Her Majesty's Govt.
would consent to send a squadron to act as the Emperor had indicated,
but that I could only give a personal opinion, which might be corrected
if I was in error by Mr. Lindsay himself seeing Lord Russell."
On April 13th a second interview took place between Lindsay and
Napoleon, of which Lindsay reported that having conveyed to Napoleon
Cowley's denial of any offer made to England, as well as a contrary view
of the situation, Napoleon:
"... repeated the statement that two long despatches with his
opinion had been written to M. de Flahault, which had not
been attended to by Her Majesty's Government, and he
expressed a desire that Mr. Lindsay should return to London,
lay His Majesty's views before Lord Palmerston and Lord
Russell, and bring their answers direct to him as quickly as
possible, His Majesty observing that these matters were
better arranged by private than official hands.
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