CSA wanting recognition

Reading in the middle of BATTLE CRY.., I did not realize the lengths that the Confederacy went to try and be recognized by other (European) countries. Though cotton was the main reason England wanted to be chummy to CSA, they began buying their cotton from Egypt and India. When France found out that ENGLAND was seeking to recognize, how they-centuries old enemies- be on the same side of the issue? Napolean tried and end around by wanting to-somehow- gain back land in Mexico. I find that England suppying blanket and uniforms for the North while still being neutral in not unlike the US in WWII in its lend-lease aid to England.
I found that when two blockade runners- Mason and Slidell- were held by the North they caleed it "impressment"-hum 1812??