Lacock
Wednesday May 8. 1861
Dear Mlle. Amelina,
What extraordinary times we live in! And I think the civil war in America the most extraordinary event of all. I hope England will not be drawn into the Contest, but it is not impossible for the North will endeavour to prevent the South from sending us any cotton, then there will be distress in Lancashire and riots and we shall be compelled to break the blockade
of the Southern ports to get cotton, and so we shall quarrel with President Lincoln. But the United States are no longer formidable now that they are disunited - Republicanism has lost all its prestige, now that it is seen by so striking an instance that a nation cannot go on long without a king and aristocracy. Where all men are equal none will obey and therefore when a crisis comes all is discord and each man judges for himself. The governor of Tennessee when asked for his contingent of troops by the northern president, replies No! but I am ready to send him as many to fight
against you! The governor of Kentucky replies, I mean to be neutral. The governor of Maryland says I will send the troops for your defence provided you will promise not to employ them in the South. A good map of the United States is quite requisite. I hope you have got one. The main fact is one which is quite unequalled in any other country, namely that President Lincoln’s Capital is situated in the enemy’s country- He can see all his territory from the roof of the “White House”. Before him is Virginia which seceded last week and has since burnt his navy in Norfolk dockyard. Behind
him is Maryland, which is going to secede next week, and whose people are peculiarly hostile, as you see they attacked and mauled his troops as they passed through Baltimore. The friendly territory of Pennsylvania might be far beyond his horizon. It is said the White House and the “Capitol” are barricaded.
Yours afftly
H.F. Talbot
I think I shall really be able to get finished here & get away next Monday.