CHAPTER XXII. General Scott’s resignation--Mrs. A. Lincoln--Unofficial mission to Europe--Uneasy feeling with regard to France--Ball given by the United States cavalry--The United States army--Success at Beaufort--Arrests--Dinner at Mr. Seward’s--News of Captain Wilkes and the Trent--Messrs. Mason and Slidell--Discussion as to Wilkes--Prince de Joinville--The American press on the Trent affair--Absence of thieves in Washington--“Thanksgiving Day”--Success thus far in favour of the North 392 CHAPTER XXIII. A Captain under arrest--Opening of Congress--Colonel Dutassy--An ex-pugilist turned Senator--Mr. Cameron--Ball in the officers’ huts--Presentation of standards at Arlington--Dinner at Lord Lyons’--Paper currency--A polyglot dinner--Visit to Washington’s Tomb--Mr. Chase’s Report--Colonel Seaton--Unanimity of the South--The Potomac blockade--A Dutch-American Crimean acquaintance--The American Lawyers on the Trent affair--Mr. Sumner--M‘Clellan’s Army--Impressions produced in America by the English Press on the affair of the Trent--Mr. Sumner on the crisis--Mutual feelings between the two nations--Rumours of war with Great Britain 410 CHAPTER XXIV. News of the death of the Prince Consort--Mr. Sumner and the Trent Affair--His dispatch to Lord Russell--The Southern Commissioners given up--Effects on the friends of the South--My own unpopularity at New York--Attack of fever--My tour in Canada--My return to New York in February--Successes of the Western States--Mr. Stanton succeeds Mr. Cameron as Secretary of War--Reverse and retreat of M‘Clellan--My free pass--The Merrimac and Monitor--My arrangement to accompany M‘Clellan’s head-quarters--Mr. Stanton refuses his sanction--National vanity wounded by my truthfulness--My retirement and my return to Europe 426 MY DIARY NORTH AND SOUTH. CHAPTER I. Down the Mississippi--Hotel at Vicksburg--Dinner--Public meeting--News of the progress of the war--Slavery and England--Jackson--Governor Pettus--Insecurity of life--Strong Southern enthusiasm--Troops bound for the North--Approach to Memphis--Slaves for sale--Memphis--General Pillow. _Friday, June 14th._--Last night with my good host from his plantation to the great two-storied steamer General Quitman, at Natchez. She was crowded with planters, soldiers and their families, and as the lights shone out of her windows, looked like a walled castle blazing from double lines of embrasures. The Mississippi is assuredly the most uninteresting river in the world, and I can only describe it hereabout by referring to the account of its appearance which I have already given--not a particle of romance in spite of oratorical patriots and prophets, can ever shine from its depths, sacred to cat and buffalo fish, or vivify its turbid waters.