as to give to the government of the United States an opportunity for adjustment without loss of dignity.  Albert was clear in his mind that Great Britain ought not to be committed to war for the destruction of the great Republic of the West and for the establishment of a state of which the corner-stone was slavery.  Fortunately, Victoria was quite prepared to accept in this matter Albert’s judgment.  Palmerston protested and threatened resignation, but finally submitted.

When the news of the capture of the commissioners came to Washington, Seward for once was in favour of a conservative rather than a truculent course of action.  He advised that the commissioners should be surrendered at once rather than to leave to Great Britain the opportunity for making a dictatorial demand.  Lincoln admitted the risk of such demand and the disadvantage of making the surrender under pressure, but he took the ground that if the United States waited for the British contention, a certain diplomatic advantage could be gained.  When the demand came, Lincoln was able, with a rewording (not for the first time) of Seward’s despatch, to take the ground that the government of the United States was “well pleased that Her Majesty’s government should have finally accepted the old-time American contention that vessels of peace should not be searched on the high seas by vessels of war.”  It may be recalled that the exercise of the right of search had been one of the most important of the grievances which had brought about the War of 1812-1814.  In the discussion of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814, the English and American commissioners, while agreeing that this right of search must be given up, had not been able to arrive at a form of words, satisfactory to both parties, for its revocation.  Both sets of commissioners were very eager to bring their proceedings to a close.  The Americans could of course not realise that if they had waited a few weeks the news of the battle of New Orleans, fought in January, 1815, would have greatly strengthened their position.  It was finally agreed “as between gentlemen” that the right of search should be no longer exercised by Great Britain.  This right was, however, not formally abrogated until December, 1861, nearly half a century later.  This little diplomatic triumph smoothed over for the public of the North the annoyance of having to accept the British demand.  It helped to strengthen the administration, which in this first year of the War was by no means sure of its foundations.  It strengthened also the opinion of citizens generally in their estimate of the wise management and tactfulness of the President.