"
A private letter accompanying the instruction authorized Mason to remain
if there were any "marked change" in governmental attitude, but since
the decision of the Ministry to seize the Laird Rams had been made
public at nearly the same moment when this instruction was received,
September 15, Mason could hardly fail to retire promptly. Indeed, the
very fact of that seizure gave opportunity for a dramatic exit though
there was no connection between Benjamin's instruction and the stopping
of Confederate ship-building in England. The real connection was with
the failure of the Gettysburg campaign and the humiliating collapse of
Roebuck's motion. Even the _Times_ was now expanding upon the "serious
reverses" of the South and making it clearly understood that England
"has not had and will not have the slightest inclination to intervention
or mediation, or to take any position except that of strict
neutrality[1111]."
Mason at once notified Slidell of his receipt of the recall instruction
and secured the latter's approval of the communication he proposed
making to Russell[1112]. A general consultation of Southern agents took
place and Mason would have been vexed had he known how small was the
regard for his abilities as a diplomat[1113]. _The Index_ hastened to
join in a note already struck at Richmond of warm welcome to France in
her conquest of Mexico, reprinting on September 17, an editorial from
the _Richmond Enquirer_ in which it was declared, "France is the only
Power in the world that has manifested any friendly feeling towards the
Confederacy in its terrible struggle for independence.
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