of its pillagings and burnings.  March 20, Gregory asked in the Commons whether the Government was taking any steps to prevent the destruction of British property and received from Layard an evasive reply.  Merely a “confident hope” had been expressed to the United States that “every facility will be given” to British subjects to prove ownership of property[1307].  Evidently the Government was not eager to raise irritating questions at a moment when all eyes were strained to observe the concluding events of the war.

Then came the news of Lee’s surrender and of the assassination of Lincoln, with the attack on Seward, already incapacitated from active duties.  Seward’s illness delayed American pressure on England—­a fortunate circumstance in the relations with Great Britain in that it gave time for a clearer appreciation of the rapidity and completeness of the collapse of the South.  May 15, Lord Houghton asked whether the Government did not intend, in view of recent events in America, “to withdraw the admission of belligerent rights conceded to the so-called Confederate States.”  Russell promptly objected to the form of the question:  England had not “conceded” any rights to the South—­she had merely issued a proclamation of neutrality after Lincoln had declared the existence of a war by proclaiming a blockade.  England had had no other recourse, unless she chose to refuse recognition of the blockade, and this would have drawn her into the war.  As to a withdrawal of the neutrality proclamation this must wait upon official announcement from the United States that the war was at an end.  Texas was still in arms and Galveston still blockaded, and for this section the United States would no doubt continue to exercise on neutral vessels a belligerent right of search.  It followed that if Great Britain did prematurely withdraw her proclamation of neutrality and the United States searched a British vessel, it would be the exercise of a right of search in time of peace—­an act against which Great Britain would be bound to make vigorous protest.  Hence England must wait on American action proclaiming the end of the war.  Russell concluded by expressing gratification at the prospect of peace[1308].

But matters were not to take this orderly and logical course.  Seward, though still extremely weak and confined to his home, was eager to resume the duties of office, and on May 9 a Cabinet was held at his house.  A week later Bruce wrote to Russell in some anxiety that America was about to demand the withdrawal by Great Britain of belligerent rights to the South, that if Great Britain would but act before such a demand was made it would serve to continue the existing good feeling in America created by the sympathy over Lincoln’s death, and especially, that there was a decided danger to good relations in the fact that Confederate cruisers were still at large.  He urged that orders should be sent to stop their presence in British colonial ports securing coal and