Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/122

92 CAUSES INVOLVING FRANCE AND ENGLAND CHAPTP^R LX, en A p. For the sake of bringing under one view the '- — course of action followed by the German Powers down to the moment when their object was achieved by the deliverance of the Principali- ties, it has been nccessar}^ as we have said, to go forward in advance of the period reached by the main thread of the narrative. The subject thus quitted for a moment and now resumed is the policy which was disclosed by the English Government upon the opening of Parliament. Spirit of Distinct from the martial ardour already Adventure kiudlcd in England, there had sprung up amongst the people an almost romantic craving for warlike adventure, and this feeling was not slow to reach the Cabinet. Now, without severance from the German Powers, there could pLainly be little pro- spect of adventure ; for, besides that the German monarchs desired to free the Principalities with as little resort to hostilities as might be com- patible with the attainment of the end, it was almost certain that the policy of keeping up the perfect union and co-operation of the four Powers