a long meeting with him alone last night, the result of which was that if I brought forward a motion somewhat as follows, on the third of June, he would likely be prepared to accept it, though he asked if I would see him again after the Scotia arrived.  The motion we talked about was to this effect—­’That the House of Commons deeply regretting the great loss of life and the sufferings of the people of the United States and the Confederate States of North America by the continuance of the war which has been so long waged between them, trust that Her Majesty’s Government will avail itself of the earliest opportunity of mediating in conjunction with the other powers of Europe to bring about a cessation of hostilities.’”

Lindsay had suggested to Palmerston that it was desirable for Mason to return to England and have a conference with the Premier.  To this Palmerston gave a ready consent but, of course, no invitation.  Lindsay strongly urged Mason to come over: 

I think much good will follow your meeting Lord Palmerston.  It will lead to other meetings; and besides in other matters I think if you came here, you might at present prove of much service to the South[1177].”

Meanwhile the difference within the Southern Independence Association permitted the coming forward of a minor London organization called The Society for Promoting the Cessation of Hostilities in America.  A letter was addressed by it to Members of Parliament urging that the time had come for action: 

     “215 Regent Street,
     London, W.
     May 28th, 1864.

     “SIR,

“The Society which has the honour to present to you the accompanying pamphlet, begs to state that there now exists in Great Britain and Ireland a strong desire to see steps taken by the Government of this country in concert with other Powers, to bring about peace on a durable basis between the belligerents in North America.

“I am directed by the Committee to express a hope that you will, before the Session closes, support a motion in Parliament to this effect; and should you desire to see evidence of the feeling of a large portion of the country in this matter, I shall be most happy to lay it before you[1178].”

Whether Lindsay, vexed with the delays of the Association, had stirred the Society to action, is not clear, but the date of this letter, following on the day after the interview with Palmerston, is suggestive.  The pressure put on Mason to come to London was not at first successful.  Mason had become fixed in the opinion, arrived at in the previous fall, that there was no favour to be expected from Palmerston or Russell and that the only hope rested in their overthrow.  Against this idea Lindsay had now taken definite ground.  Moreover, Mason had been instructed to shake the dust of England from off his shoes with no official authority to return.  Carefully explaining this last point to Lindsay he declined to hold an interview with Palmerston, except on the latter’s invitation, or at least suggestion: