Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/339

THE DEMEANOUR OF ENGLA2JD. 295 rauk, who was to test the capabilities of every chap. officer on the general staff of the army, but „_J__ at once, without waiting for the result of the enquiry he thus meant to institute, he hastened to condemn unheard both the Adjutant and the Qu&rtermaster General, coming down against the last more especially in violent, newspaper lan- guage ; he attempted some minor criticisms, and finally, advised a new measure — one conceived, some would say, in grim jest — that is, the im- portation of scavengers from Constantinople. But the pith of the despatch lay in this scarcely credible clause, addressed to — of all living men ! — ay, addressed and sent to Lord Raglan : * It would appear that your visits to ' the camp were few and far between, and your ' Staff seem to have known as little as yourself ' of the condition of your gallant men.' It was thus that — true to a newspaper, and false to himself no less than to the interests of the public service — a Secretary of State could address the honoured commander then toiling for our army by day and by night with an almost matchless devotion. The great Duke of Wellington was always a bold and often a violent man, and exalted above other mortals by the grandeur of his achievements ; but would he not rather have died than address such words as those to General Lord Fitzroy Somerset ? At that time, as now, there reigned in Eng- can it hap- land a Queen ; and the sternest of those who shown tiiat uphold constitutional principles will agree for did not