THE DEMEANOUR OF ENGLAND. 225 done; for the needs of our troops are imme- chap. ' diate, their distance some three thousands of L. ' miles. The knowledge we are acquiring is in-
- deed a store of great value ; for in time per-
' haps it will help us to denounce any system, ' or any public delinquencies, to which we may ' trace the privations too certainly endured by ' our troops ; but no words we can now print in ' London will save, or help, or comfort them. ' Supplies and large French reinforcements with, ' besides, fresh troops of our own, have long been ' moving to the seat of war ; and if the enemy ' should remain blind for a while to his present ' opportunity, our army may be saved ; but its ' deliverance will not be immediate, and it is ' during a period of several weeks that, for once, ' we must try to stand silent. We abound in ' knowledge of the condition of things on the ' Chersonese ; and even supposing Lord Eaglan ' to have sent home by every mail clear, accu- ' rate, and comprehensive reports, we may still ' perhaps be in possession of some hitherto untold ' facts which ought to be known at Whitehall. ' If we are, let us whisper our knowledge to ' a Minister who will use it for the advantage ' of our own country ; but, for Heaven's sake ! ' don't blurt it out to a world which includes ' St Petersburg — which includes the very com- ' mander now opposing our troops before Se- ' bastopol.' If such words of deprecation as these fell from any remonstrating owner, they were all of them uttered in vain. Throughout the dirp VOL. VIL p
