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328 THE VINTEll TEOUBLES. CHAP, refutation inflicted by men who were, each of IX ' them, at home on the ground where their censor was only astray. Of course, under such con- ditions, he found liimself entangled in an unequal conflict; but, though visibly distressed more and more every day that the enquiry proceeded, he fought on with ability and with an excellent courage until the end of one month. Then, unhappily, his health giving way, he was forced to abandon the hall, thus leaving a blank in the Court which no one else chose to supply ; for, though pressed to attend in the place of his disabled colleague, Sir John M'lsTeill was pressed in vain, and lie persistently refused to take part in defending the Eeport he had signed. De- prived thus of the useful assistance which Colonel Tullocli had rendered, the Board appa- rently judged that they must conduct the enquiry with, if possible, an increased store of patience, and that, when at last stating their conclusion, they must take good care to support it by a full exposition of reasons sufficing to warrant their judgment. 7iie Rc]nn-t Haviug commcnced its labours on the 3d of ol'theBoaril ^^ ^ it-.ii ^ on the April 1856, the Board brought them to a close ' animad- n ^ f ^^ •ti 11 'versions.' on the 4th of the following July, and then at last completed their elaborate Keport. They absolved each one of the five assailed officers from the blame expressed or implied in the several ' animadversions,' and gave the grounds of their conclusions with a clearness and fulness of detail which enabled any one of the public to sit in judgment upon the judges, and show,