One's best friends were as unreasonable as
enemies, for the belief in poor Mr. Lincoln's brutality and
Seward's ferocity became a dogma of popular faith."
Adams relates further that the last time he saw Thackeray at Christmas
of 1863 they spoke of their mutual friend Mrs. Frank Hampton of South
Carolina, whom Thackeray had portrayed as Ethel Newcome, and who had
recently passed away from life. Thackeray had read in the British papers
that her parents had been prevented by the Federal soldiers from passing
through the lines to see her on her deathbed. Adams writes that
in speaking of it Thackeray's voice trembled and his eyes
filled with tears. The coarse cruelty of Lincoln and his
hirelings was notorious. He never doubted that the Federals
made a business of harrowing the tenderest feelings of
women--particularly of women--in order to punish their
opponents. On quite insufficient evidence he burst into
reproach. Had he (Adams) carried in his pocket the proofs that
the reproach was unjust he would have gained nothing by
showing them. At that moment Thackeray, and all London society
with him, needed the nervous relief of expressing emotions;
for if Mr.
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