" Adams reported that
the news had caused a panic among the holders of the Cotton Loan bonds
and that the press and upper classes were exceedingly glad they had
refused support of Roebuck's motion[1109].
If July, 1863, may in any way be regarded as the "crisis" of Southern
effort in England, it is only as a despairing one doomed to failure from
the outset, and receiving a further severe set-back by the ill-fortune
of Lee's campaign into Pennsylvania. The real crisis of governmental
attitude had long since passed. Naturally this was not acknowledged by
the staunch friends of the South any more than at Richmond it was
acknowledged (or understood) that Gettysburg marked the crisis of the
Confederacy. But that the end of Southern hope for British intervention
had come at Richmond, was made clear by the action of Benjamin, the
Confederate Secretary of State. On August 4, he recalled Mason, writing
that the recent debates in Parliament showed the Government determined
not to receive him:
"Under these circumstances, your continued residence in
London is neither conducive to the interests nor consistent
with the dignity of this Government, and the President
therefore requests that you consider your mission at an end,
and that you withdraw, with your secretary, from
London[1110].
Pages:
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746