FOR THE INVASION. 261
- and, / helicvc,^ lias written privately to the Mar- chap.
' shal to that effect. I sliall submit to the Cabinet _^*_. ' a despatch to you on this subject, and if it is ' approved you may expect it by the next mail. ' In the mean time I hope you will be turning ' over in your own mind, and considering with
- your French colleague, what it will be safe and
' advisable to do.' t The promised despatch was in these words : — ' Secret. ' War Department, 2Wi June 1854. ' My Lord, ' In my despatch of the 10th April, marked ' " Secret," I directed your Lordship to make
- careful inquiry into the amount and condition
' of the Eussian force in the Crimea, and the ' strength of the fortress of Sebastopol. ' At the same time I pointed out to your
- Lordship that, whilst it was your first duty to
' prevent, by every means in your power, the ' advance of the Eussian army on Constantinople, ' supposing any such intention to exist, it might ' become essential for the attainment of the ob- ' jects of the war to undertake operations of an ' offensive character, and that the heaviest blow ' which could be struck at the southern extremi- ' ties of the Eussian empire would be the taking
- I need liardly saj' that the lUKlerscoving represented Ly
these Italics appears iu the original note. + Private letter from the Duke of Newcastle to I.orJ Raglan, dated 28th June 1854.
