watched anxiously for "recognition" as a means of stopping it. "England wants to see us both entirely crippled before she steps in," said the Professor. "When we are thoroughly weakened, she will urge us to submit to some compromise with her, by which she will assume a power over us, and claim the conquest." Frequently, of late, I had been pained by hearing sentiments of this kind, and what could be answered, except that England did not know the true state of things, nor the character of the Southern people; but that she would never be guilt of such meanness as that. "She respects herself to highly." When they saw it annoyed me to speak in such terms of my country, they forebore to do so, very kindly, but the Professor had often something on his lips to say, then glancing at me it ended in "Humph!" with a quaint sort of smile, as much as to say "I won't say it." All the newspapers went on just in the same way, watching every word and sentiment.

The good news arrived first through a Northern paper, that "the rebel steamer 'Theodora' had landed in safety at Havana, Messrs. Mason and Slidell, the rebel Commissioners to Europe, and that they hac been received with the highest consideration by al the officials there."

All eyes were watching the destination of tha "grand armada" also, that had been so long under state of preparation in the North. It was wonderfu on what a magnificent scale everything was pre pared for that expedition. If they had been going

WARRENTON CEMETERY.

169

to settle a colony, nothing more could be wanting. But in this, as on a former occasion, Providence seemed to thwart their efforts. The fleet was caught in a storm, and several of the hands of the Confederates.

vessels fell into the

The Federal prisoners in Richmond enjoyed greater privileges than we poor British subjects. At one time 500 letters arrived for them, which were sent up from Fortress Monroe under flag of truce. They received letters regularly.

One of our favourite walks at Warrenton was to the Cemetery, from which the view was very beautiful. It was nevertheless a sad walk, for every time we went there we saw the row of the soldiers' graves increasing mournfully. Several of the churches had been turned into hospitals, so had the Court-house and all its offices, and also many other large houses and public buildings. Besides this, private families were devoting themselves to the cause. I heard of one lady who had eleven strangers living in her house at once. Her furniture was entirely ruined by them, and the philanthropy and patriotism displayed in nursing the wounded, were noble indeed, When the relatives of the Southern soldiers discovered their whereabouts, and knew that they were ill, several members of the family might unexpectedly arrive to assist in nursing. It may be supposed that all of these persons were not of the most refined class, and their careless habits were not a little trying to some of the benevolent and more gently reared families, who opened

their houses to the sufferers. The Virginians, on their side, felt it their duty and privilege to act the part of the good Samaritan towards those who had forsaken their own States to protect the soil of "Old Virginny," and those same Southerners in many cases felt that they had a right to accept, or almost claim, that hospitality, because they had left their native State unprotected to fight the battles of another. Much diversity of opinion, as of character, one saw in all these things; but I used to mark with what careful impartiality the press would endeavour to award to each State its due share of credit; and to particularize the respective regiments that had distinguished themselves in engagements.

I think it was about this time that one saw more of those vexed sentiments regarding Dr. Russell, to whom was attributed a good deal of the nonrecognition principle. The press has much weight among the sovereign people of America, much more so than in England; but why one conscientious individual, whose chief crime was impartiality, was treated so much as the aggressor, I never could discover. We must attribute it to

66

hope deferred," and the acerbity of accumulated sorrow. Since then the Southerners have enjoyed the means of knowing the truth; and I have not the least doubt but that open hands and doors would greet the London correspondents, were they to revisit the South forthwith.

And now came the report of an event which threw the whole Southern Confederacy into a state of

CAPTURE OF MESSRS. MASON AND SLIDELL. 171

excitement only inferior to that which raged during the attack on Fort Sumter; with this difference, that was the signal for war to commence-this raised hopes of its being brought to a conclusion.

[From the Richmond Enquirer, Nov. 19, 1861.]

CAPTURE OF MESSRS. MASON AND SLIDELL.-The intelligence was officially received in this city yesterday, that Messrs. J. M. Mason and John Slidell, our ministers to England and France respectively, had been seized by a United States vessel, and are now prisoners in Fortress Monroe! The circumstances of the capture invest an event, important in itself, with extraordinary interest.

*

"This extraordinary act of the Lincoln Government must be followed by important consequences. It is impossible for the English Government, without disgrace, to fail to exact the fullest reparation. If Commodore Wilkes acted under orders, we do not see how Lincoln can possibly escape the most serious complications with the English Government.

* *

"Lincoln will have to apologize and restore the status, or fight. We see no other alternative."

For a time nothing else was thought of and talked of but this "unaccountable act." Whenever a guest arrived it was the first topic to be discussed; and the gentlemen stood rubbing their hands with glee to think that the "growl of the British Lion" would now be heard to frighten the "raving Yankees" into submission. "They have done for themselves entirely; nothing is left them but the choice of war or apology, and in either case they can never lift up their heads again."

"I cannot conceive how they will get out of such a scrape. Why, they might as well have walked into Queen Victoria's drawing-room to arrest them."

CHAPTER VI.

The Attack on Fairfax Court-house-The "Babies" Stand Alone

The Soldier's Wife in Action-Terrible Suspense-Florence and Francis-Novel Mode of Keeping Guard-The Question of National Dignity-Surgeons invited to run the BlockadeInvitations for Christmas-The Professor.

CAPTAIN JOHN QUINCY MARR was buried in that cemetery where we so often walked, and one day on our way thither, Mrs. McGee gave me the history of that first Virginia battle, at Fairfax Court-house on the 1st of June.

This lady was one of those active, practical and lively bodies whom everybody likes. She had been a resident of Warrenton for many years, and had an extensive acquaintance there. Though not particularly energetic themselves, the Southerners admire energy in others. I have often heard them enumerate the practical and useful qualities of their Yankee neighbours with a tranquil admiration, as if some unattainable virtue were exhibited, in the case of particular friends. "Do you remember how Mrs. A. used to do such a thing? how quick she was, and how smart!" Or, "We had a teacher who used to do so and so. Oh! she did do it so quickly." One never