Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/258

2-28 ZKAL FOR AN" CHAP, the defence of the Sultan's territory; and in the XIV L_ early part of ipril instructions to this effect had been given to the French and the English Generals. It would seem, however, that at first the Duke of Newcastle was the only member of the Govern- ment who was fired with a great eagerness fur the destruction of Sebastopol ; and of himself he had not the ascendancy which sometimes enables a INIinister to bend other men to his purpose. Unless by the help of a mighty force pressing from with- out, he could not have bronght the Cabinet of Lord Aberdeen to partake his zeal for the enterprise. But — impending over the counsels of all the ostensible rulers — there was an authority, not deriving from the Queen or the Parliament, which was destined to have a great sway over events. It would be possible to elude the task ; but it seems to me that a history would be wanting in fulness of truth if it failed to im[)art some concep- tion of this other power. C'jm.uand- England was free ; and aUliough, whilst tlicre iiic iicopie was indifterence or divided oianiun m the country, Bii'i'iii." ""^ the Government had very full latitude of action, yet, whenever it chanced that the feelings of the l)eople were roused, and that they were known to be nearly of one mind, they spoke with a voice so commanding that no Administration could safely try to withstand it. But the will of the nation being thus puissant, who was charged to declare it ? in former times almost everybody who could was accustomed to contribute in an active way to