Charles Francis Adams to his son
London, September 25, 1863
Your letter to your mother of the 30th ulto. from Orleans came this week. It told us of your decision in the other case of promotion about which I have already written to you. John was so much pleased with your letter to him of the 25th on the same subject that he sent it out to us to read. I need not say to you that it gave me pride as well as extreme gratification. Although I should certainly have been satisfied, had the Governor consulted the interests of the service in putting you in the place which your senior officers testified you merited, I am more glad that your magnanimity has relieved him from a trial, at the same time that it has done you honor in regard to the persons who had a priority of lineal rank over you. . . .
We get on pretty quietly now. The ironclad war vessels are detained, and Mr. Mason has been very solemnly withdrawn from here on the ground that Lord Russell treats him with hauteur. If I could have any confidence in the duration of this time of lull, I should not ask anything better. But the difficulty in the way is the uncertainty of the position. The aristocracy are very much against us, but they do little or nothing to sustain the rebellion beyond the mere force of opinion. The commercial and moneyed people go a step farther and furnish more or less of material aid. On the other hand we have the sympathy of the majority of the inferior class, whose strength consists merely in opinion. The balance of political influence is therefore adverse. Circumstances affect it more or less every day. So long as we succeed in the war, there is an ebb in the tide. Whenever we appear to fail, comes a reflux. And so it will go to the end. . . .
