Adams
paid little attention to newspaper utterances, but kept his chief
informed of opinions expressed by those responsible for, and active in
determining, governmental policy. The autumn "season for speeches" by
Members of Parliament, he reported, was progressing with a very evident
unanimity of expressions, whether from friend or foe, that it was
inexpedient to meddle in American affairs. As the Presidential election
in America came nearer, attention was diverted from military events.
Anti-slavery societies began to hold meetings urging their friends in
America to vote for Lincoln[1235]. Writing from Washington, Lyons, as
always anxious to forestall frictions on immaterial matters, wrote to
Russell, "We must be prepared for demonstrations of a '_spirited foreign
policy_' by Mr. Seward, during the next fortnight, for electioneering
purposes[1236]." Possibly his illness made him unduly nervous, for four
days later he was relieved to be asked by Seward to "postpone as much as
possible all business with him until after the election[1237]." By
November 1, Lyons was so ill that he asked for immediate leave, and in
replying, "You will come away at once," Russell added that he was
entirely convinced the United States wished to make no serious
difficulties with Great Britain.
".
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