Britain Abroad

_{Two Europe-bound Confederacy envoys are captured by a Union ship from the British steamer 'Trent', sparking a diplomatic row. © Getty Images}

1861 was a year of the making and breaking of nations: American plunged into civil war at the same time that Italy became unified, both of which were of keen interest in Britain.

The American civil war started in April between the agricultural, slave-owning south and the industrialised north where slavery was generally opposed. Seven southern ‘Confederate’ states decided to secede. The foreign secretary Earl Russell announced on May 13 that Britain would remain neutral: ‘We have not been involved in any way in that contest by any act or giving any advice in the matter, and, for God’s sake, let us, if possible, keep out of it.’ This was a vain hope.

British public opinion was against slavery, but the north originally did not plan to abolish slavery in the south. The right of southern states to break from the union seemed only fair, so Britain had some sympathy with the Confederacy. British companies supplied them with arms, among other goods, despite the blockade of southern ports by the north.

Supplies of raw cotton for the British cotton industry came from America so the war had a direct impact on the working class. Cotton mills fell silent and in the winter of 1861-2 a quarter of a million people in Lancashire and the neighbouring counties were being supported on the rates; as many others were supported by private charities.

In November the ‘Trent incident’ led to an outbreak of anti-American feeling after two envoys from the Confederacy were captured by northerners. The southerners had sent Mason and Siddell to explain their position in Britain. They took passage in the Trent, a British ship, which an American warship stopped, taking the envoys prisoner.

The British population was said to be ‘frantic with rage’, the Americans were given seven days to release the men, and Britain reinforced the garrison in Canada in case it was needed for war. Prince Albert’s last service before his death (in December) was to reduce anti-American sentiments in diplomatic messages. The envoys were released, with no apology from their captors, and continued on their way but when they got to Britain their reception was cold, the foreign secretary refused to see them. Neutrality remained the order of the day.

More positively, British people widely supported the proclamation of a united Italy under Victor Emmanuel II. The British had thrilled to stories of Italian nationalists who had visited, such as Garibaldi and Orsini; and Britain had become home to such talented Italian refugees as the Rossetti family of artists and poets, and the principal librarian at the British Museum Sir Anthony Panizzi. On the other side, the British public were critical of harsh methods of repression by which Austria had ruled parts of Italy; Italian unity was seen as a victory for liberty.

In New Zealand the second Maori war that had begun in 1860 continued in 1861 with guerilla raids by Maoris on settlers. Similarly, in Australia in October a massacre of English colonists by Aborigines in Queensland reminded the public that colonisation brought dangers as well as rewards. Feeling the costs of empire, a parliamentary committee agreed that territories enjoying responsible government should make a greater contribution to their own defence.

Jad Adams