Why did the British government give diplomatic recognition to the Confederate States during The American Civil War and not to the Taiping during the Taiping Civil War?

by nowlan101

When reading autumn in the heavenly kingdom, which is a great book by the way, the author says that the British refused to give recognition to the typing because they were afraid if they won the Civil War, that they wouldn't be able to hold China and a stabilizing way that would promote trade with the British. But why did they have the idea that the confederate states would do any better? That's why I presume they gave them diplomatic recognition.

FlippantWalrus

What is your source on the British government giving diplomatic recognition to the Confederate States of America, OP?

It is my understanding, from Battle Cry of Freedom by James McPherson, that the British government never gave official recognition to the Confederacy, even at the height of Confederate successes. (Chapter 18, pages 546-557 cover the attitudes of various strata of British society towards the war.)