recognising its belligerency, Her Majesty's Government adopted the only course enabling them to respect the Federal blockade and to restrain English traders from breaking it. But for some occult reason, the Federal cause was unpopular in this country from the beginning; the initial reverses sustained by the armies of the North were hailed with satisfaction in the English Press; and this, combined with a rash expression used in public by Lord Palmerston about the "unfortunate rapid movements" of Federal troops in the action at Bull's Run, caused a very sore feeling against Great Britain among both leaders and people in the Northern States. [Illustration: _F. Winterhalter._} {_From the Royal Collection._ H.R.H. VICTORIA MARIA LOUISA, DUCHESS OF KENT. H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent was the daughter of H.S.H. Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld; married July 11, 1818, Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III., and was the mother of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. Died March 16, 1861. Her Majesty, therefore, lost both mother and husband within nine months.] [Illustration: _F. Winterhalter._} {_From the Royal Collection._ H.R.H. EDWARD, DUKE OF KENT, 1767-1820. Fourth son of King George III., and father of Her Majesty Queen Victoria.] [Sidenote: The "Trent" Affair.] An unfortunate incident arose early in the war to intensify this feeling, and the corresponding unpopularity of the Federals in England. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, being anxious to obtain recognition by European Courts, sent two Envoys, Mr. Mason to represent him at the Court of St. James's, and Mr. Slidell at the Court of the Tuileries. These two gentlemen, escaping by night from Charleston, then under blockade, embarked at Havana in the English mail steamer _Trent_. A Federal sloop-of-war was cruising about in search of the Confederate privateer _Sumter_, and her commander, Captain Wilkes, on hearing about the Confederate Envoys, resolved to get possession of them. Intercepting the _Trent_ in the Bahama Channel, he hailed her to heave to, fired a couple of shots across her bows, boarded her, and carried off Messrs. Mason and Slidell. Of course this act was wholly unjustifiable by international law, and President Lincoln at once directed Mr. Seward to reply by complying with Earl Russell's demand for the surrender of the Confederate Envoys. They were liberated accordingly on January 1, 1862, and sailed for Europe. But unluckily Lord Palmerston had no reason to calculate on this ready compliance with British demands. Captain Wilkes had received approval of his conduct from the Federal Secretary to the Navy, a vote of thanks to him had been passed by the Washington House of Representatives, and he had been fêted wherever he went. All this was taken as indicating President Lincoln's intention to defend the action of his officer: indeed, but for what was going on in England, Lincoln's best intentions might have been overborne by the tide of public opinion.