Reo

LIVE OF COBDEN. [omar

1861. “Upon the whole I do not complain of our Government
Zr. 57. nor do I think the Americans can fairly charge us as a pation
with having failed to bear with fortitude and temper the
great suffering the civil war has inflicted on our cotton trade:
It is true we have our Times as the Americans have their
Herald, and the twin incendiaries may pair off together.”
“ Midhurst, Dec. 6, 1861. (To Mr. Bright.)— Your admirable
 address cannot fail to do good.! But itis a mad
world we live in! Here am I in the midst of extracts from
Hansard, &., to show up the folly or worse of the men Who
have been putting us to millions of expense to protect #°
from a coup de main from France, and now we see the same
people willing to rush into war with America, and leave U8
exposed to this crafty and dangerous neighbour! Might
we not be justified in turning hermits, letting our beards
grow, and returning to our caves! . . .
“ Has it occurred to you that this war is now nearly 2
year old, and the South has rather gained than receded Oo"
the Potomac, having stopped the navigation to the Federal
capital? Bow long will foreign powers look on if nothing
decisive bedone ? I doubt whether another year’s blockade
will be borne by the world. Whatsay you? If you agre®
you should let Sumner know. My own conviction is that it
there is to be no early compromise and settlement betwee
North and South, and if the North do not voluntarily raise
the blockade, there will next year be an intervention in so®®
shape. A Bordeaux merchant came here to me a few day?
ago. He says the export of wine and spirits from that por?
to New Orleans was 30,000 tuns per annum, which is cu
off to a gallon. He says also that their trade in liquors and
fruits with New York, &c,, is nearly destroyed by the Morrill
tariff. He tells me the feeling is very bitter in France, and

1 Mr, Bright spoke on the Trent Affair and on the American War £¢07
relly, at Rochdale, December 4, 1861.— Ipesches, i. 157.