THE DEMEANOUR OF ENGLAND. 321 mour, the report of this Committee upon the chap special matters of administration comprised under '_ near twenty headings, was an admirable exposi- tion of the subjects thus handled, and a long, courageous march towards the truth.(^^) After giving its judgment separately upon all these branches of administrative labour, the Com- mittee went higher up in the chain of causation. It declared that (expecting immediate success and not foreseeing a protracted struggle) the ad- ministration which ordered the expedition 'made ' no provision for a winter campaign ; ' that the expedition ' planned and undertaken without ' sufficient information was conducted without ' sufficient care or forethought ; ' and finally, that ' this conduct on the part of the adminis- ' tration was the first and chief cause of the ' calamities which befell our army.' {^^) The Com- mittee added these words : ' The patience and ' fortitude of the army demand the admiration ' and gratitude of the nation, on whose behalf ' they have fought, bled, and suffered. Their ' heroic valour and equally heroic patience under ' sufferings and privations have given them claims ' upon their country which will be long remem-
- bered and gratefully acknowledged. (^^)
' Your Committee will now close their report ' with a hope that every British army may in ' future display the great qualities which this ' noble army has displayed, and that none may ' hereafter be exposed to such sufferings as are ' recorded in these pages.'(^^) With respect to the health of our troops, and VOL. VIL X
