On April 13th a second interview took place between Lindsay and Napoleon, of which Lindsay reported that having conveyed to Napoleon Cowley’s denial of any offer made to England, as well as a contrary view of the situation, Napoleon: 

“... repeated the statement that two long despatches with his opinion had been written to M. de Flahault, which had not been attended to by Her Majesty’s Government, and he expressed a desire that Mr. Lindsay should return to London, lay His Majesty’s views before Lord Palmerston and Lord Russell, and bring their answers direct to him as quickly as possible, His Majesty observing that these matters were better arranged by private than official hands....  Mr. Lindsay said that he had promised the Emperor to be back in Paris on Thursday morning.”

In his letter to Russell, Cowley called all this a “nasty intrigue.”  Cowley had asked Thouvenel for enlightenment, and Thouvenel had denied all knowledge and declared that certainly no such proposals as Lindsay reported the Emperor to have mentioned had ever been sent to England.  Cowley wrote: 

“My own conviction is, from Lindsay’s conversations with me, which are full of hesitations, and I fear much falsehood hidden under apparent candour, that he has told the Emperor his own views, and that those views are supported by the majority of the people of England, and by the present Opposition in Parliament, who would denounce the blockade if in power; that he has found a willing listener in the Emperor, who would gladly obtain cotton by any means; and I am much mistaken if Lindsay will not attempt to make political capital of his interviews with the Emperor with the Opposition, and that you may hear of it in Parliament.  I lose no time therefore, in writing to you as Lindsay goes over to-night, and will probably endeavour to see you and Lord Palmerston as soon as possible[612].”

The close touch between Lindsay and the Southern agents is shown by his conveyance to Slidell of the good news.  Slidell was jubilant, writing to Mason: 

“Mr. Lindsay has had a long interview with the Emperor who is prepared to act at once decidedly in our favour; he has always been ready to do so and has twice made representations to England, but has received evasive responses.  He has now for the third time given them but in a more decided tone.  Mr. Lindsay will give you all the particulars.  This is entirely confidential but you can say to Lord Campbell, Mr. Gregory, etc., that I now have positive and authoritative evidence that France now waits the assent of England for recognition and other more cogent measures[613].”

Two days later Slidell made a report to Benjamin, which was in substance very similar to that given by Lindsay to Cowley, though more highly coloured as favourable to the South, but he added an important feature which, as has been seen, was suspected by Cowley, but which had not been stated to him.  Napoleon had asked Lindsay to see Derby and Disraeli, the leaders of the parliamentary opposition, and inform them of his views—­a suggestion which if known to the British Ministry as coming from Napoleon could not fail to arouse resentment.  Slidell even believed that, failing British participation, the Emperor might act separately in recognition of the South[614].