[Footnote 709:  Richardson, II, pp. 268-289.  Slidell to Benjamin, July 25, 1862.  It is uncertain just when Mason learned the details of Slidell’s offer to France.  Slidell, in his letter of July 20, wrote:  “There is an important part of our conversation that I will give you through Mr. Mann,” who, apparently, was to proceed at once to London to enlighten Mason.  But the Mason Papers show that Mann did not go to London, and that Mason was left in the dark except in so far as he could guess at what Slidell had done by reading Benjamin’s instructions, sent to him by Slidell, on July 30.  These did not include anything on Mexico, but made clear the plan of a “special commercial advantage” to France.  In C.F.  Adams, “A Crisis in Downing Street,” p. 381, it is stated that Benjamin’s instructions were written “at the time of Mercier’s visit to Richmond”—­with the inference that they were a result of Mercier’s conversation at that time.  This is an error.  Benjamin’s instructions were written on April 12, and were sent on April 14, while it was not until April 16 that Mercier reached Richmond.  To some it will no doubt seem inconceivable that Benjamin should not have informed Mercier of his plans for France, just formulated.  But here, as in Chapter IX, I prefer to accept Mercier’s positive assurances to Lyons at their face value.  Lyons certainly so accepted them and there is nothing in French documents yet published to cast doubt on Mercier’s honour, while the chronology of the Confederate documents supports it.]

[Footnote 710:  Mason Papers.]

[Footnote 711:  Ibid., Mason to Slidell, July 18 and 19.]

[Footnote 712:  Parliamentary Papers, 1863, Lords, Vol.  XXIX.  “Correspondence with Mr. Mason respecting Blockade and Recognition.”  No. 7.]

[Footnote 713:  Ibid., No. 8.]

[Footnote 714:  Ibid., No. 9.]

[Footnote 715:  See ante, p. 18.]

[Footnote 716:  Parliamentary Papers, 1862, Lords, Vol.  XXV.  “Further Correspondence relating to the Civil War in the United States.”  No. 2.  Russell to Stuart, July 28, 1862.]

[Footnote 717:  Gladstone Papers.  To Col.  Neville, July 26, 1862.]

[Footnote 718:  Lyons Papers.  July 29, 1862.]

[Footnote 719:  Malmesbury, Memoirs of an Ex-Minister, II, p. 276.  July 31, 1862.]

[Footnote 720:  Arnold, Cotton Famine, p. 175.]

[Footnote 721:  Parliamentary Papers, 1863, Lords, Vol.  XXIX.  “Correspondence with Mr. Mason respecting Blockade and Recognition.”  No. 10.]

[Footnote 722:  Ibid., No. 11.]

[Footnote 723:  Gladstone Papers.  Also Argyll, Autobiography, II, p. 191.]

[Footnote 724:  Hansard, 3rd.  Ser., CLXVIII, p. 1177 seq.]

[Footnote 725:  Mason Papers.  Mason to Slidell, Aug. 5, 1862.]

[Footnote 726:  F.O., France, Vol. 1443.  No. 964.  Cowley to Russell, Aug. 8, 1862.  Mason Papers.  Slidell to Mason, Aug. 20, 1862.  Mason to Slidell, Aug. 21.]