[Footnote 592:  Thouvenel, Le Secret de l’Empereur, II, p. 247.]

[Footnote 593:  Documents Diplomatiques, 1862, pp. 120-122.  Mercicr to Thouvenel, April 13, 1862.  A translation of this despatch was printed, with some minor inaccuracies, in the New York Tribune, Feb. 5, 1863, and of Mercier’s report, April 28, on his return from Richmond, on Feb. 9, under the caption “The Yellow Book.”  It is interesting that the concluding paragraphs of this report of April 28, as printed in the Tribune, are not given in the printed volume of Documents Diplomatiques, 1862.  These refer to difficulties about cotton and to certain pledges given by Seward as to cessation of illegal interferences with French vessels.  How the Tribune secured these paragraphs, if authentic, is not clear.  The whole purpose of the publication was an attack by Horace Greeley, editor, on Seward in an effort to cause his removal from the Cabinet.  See Bancroft, Seward, II, 371-2.]

[Footnote 594:  Bancroft, Seward.  II, 298-99.  Bancroft’s account is based on the Tribune translation and on Seward’s own comments to Weed and Bigelow. Ibid., 371-72.]

[Footnote 595:  Newton. Lord Lyons, I, pp. 82-85, gives an account of the initiation of Mercier’s trip and prints Lyons’ private letter to Russell of April 25, describing the results, but does not bring out sufficiently Lyons’ objections and misgivings.  Newton thinks that Mercier “whether instructed from home or not ... after the manner of French diplomatists of the period ... was probably unable to resist the temptation of trying to effect a striking coup....”]

[Footnote 596:  Stoeckl’s report does not agree with Mercier’s statement.  He wrote that he had been asked to accompany Mercier but had refused and reported a conversation with Seward in which the latter declared the time had not yet come for mediation, that in any case France would not be accepted in that role, and that if ever mediation should become acceptable, Russia would be asked to act (Russian Archives, Stoeckl to F.O., April 23-May 5, 1862.  No. 927).]

[Footnote 597:  F.O., Am., Vol. 828.  No. 250.  Confidential.  Lyons to Russell, April 14, 1862.]

[Footnote 598:  Ibid.]

[Footnote 599:  This suspicion was a natural one but that it was unfounded is indicated by Benjamin’s report to Slidell of Mercier’s visit, describing the language used in almost exactly the same terms that Lyons reported to Russell.  That little importance was attached by Benjamin to Mercier’s visit is also indicated by the fact that he did not write to Slidell about it until July.  Richardson, II, 260.  Benjamin to Slidell, July 19, 1862.]

[Footnote 600:  F.O., Am., Vol. 828.  No. 284.  Confidential.  Lyons to Russell, April 24, 1862.]

[Footnote 601:  Documents Diplomatiques, 1862, pp. 122-124.]