The Daily Dispatch: February 10, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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What does it mean?

It is significantly remarked by the Yankee Paris correspondent of a New York paper, that Palmerston's extensive preparations for war with the United States were made after he had read Seward's first letter to Mr. Adams, stating that Capt. Wilkes had acted without orders. It is also observed that two days after this note had been communicated to him, Lord Palmerston's organ, the Post, denied that there was any conciliatory intelligence from America. The question is, why did the British Government, when it heard the act of Wilkes was already disavowed by Seward, carry on, at an enormous cost, its preparations for war? It is inexplicable, except upon the supposition that Great Britain is looking forward to a war with the United States, and availed herself eagerly of the opportunity afforded by the Trent outrage as a reason for making naval and military preparations for a result which, sooner or later, she sees to be inevitable.