atmosphere will suit better my old age, but I could not leave my companions on the Treasury Bench while any change was impending, and if I were to wait till 1862 I might again find the ship in a storm, and be loath to take to the boat.  About a title for Johnny there is still some doubt, but I shall be Earl Russell, and make little change in the signature of

    Your affectionate brother,

    J. RUSSELL

In August Lord and Lady Russell and their children went to Abergeldie Castle, which had been lent to them for several successive autumns.  Their free and happy life in the Highlands was delightful to them all.  In October Lady Russell writes:  “Left our beautiful Highland home....  Very very thankful for all our happy Abergeldie days.”

In the April of this year the American Civil War had broken out, and the Ministry had been obliged to decide the question whether England should recognize the Southerners as “belligerents” or accept the Northern view of them as “rebels.”  The touchiness of the Northerners, and the fact that in England many people sympathized loudly with the South, made it difficult for the Ministry to maintain the attitude of neutrality, which, while recognizing the Southern Confederacy as a belligerent Power, they had officially declared in May.  In November two Commissioners, sent by the Confederacy to put the case of the South before the Courts of Europe, were forcibly seized on board the Trent, an English, and therefore a neutral, vessel.  This was a breach of international law, and the resentment it provoked in England was increased by the truculent attitude of the North in the face of our demand for the restoration of the Commissioners.  The Congress, instead of apologizing, proceeded to pass a vote of thanks to Captain Wilks for having intercepted the Trent.

    Lady Russell to Lady Dunfermline [56]

    PEMBROKE LODGE, December 13, 1861

When the account of the seizure of the Southern Commissioners first reached us I was afraid of the effect on John’s health and spirits, as you may well believe; but, as you say, he could not but feel that there had been no fault on our side, that not a word had been spoken, not a deed done by him but what showed the friendliest feeling to the United States, and the strongest wish to remain at peace with them.  I wish the newspapers were blameless; but there was a sneering, exulting tone in many of them after the military disasters of the North which was likely to irritate.  Mr. Motley said long ago that the Times would, if possible, work up a war between the two countries, and though I can’t speak from my own knowledge, as I have seldom looked at its articles, I have no doubt from what John and others say that he was right....  There can be no doubt that we have done deeds very like that of Captain Wilks—­not exactly like, because no two cases ever are so—­but I wish we had not done them, and I suppose and