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.