388 THE WINTER TROUBLES. ciiAP. our soldiery stricken in the direst time of trial J who were only to be saved through the measures advised by the Commission, would then be at rest in their graves. But, in truth, no such speed as this computation implies could well have- been realised ; and few will gainsay the tribunal which described this Commission as a ' form of proceeding suited to redress grievances ' 'at' home, or to become a basis for legislative ' measures/ but ' ill adapted to relieve the press- ' ing wants of 5000 men suffering under mis- ' management and ueglect.'('^'^) The Commissioners were at their post in good time ; (^*) and, though hampered for a while by an error on the part of the Government,(*^) they conducted the Enquiry as quickly as they very well could without neglecting their orders, and came also, on the whole, to conclusions which appear sound enough in themselves; but how was it possible that, whilst acting under instruc- tions which compelled them to report to the War Department at home, they could promptly effect any good ? Mr Sidney Herbert seeing this, and acting, unless I mistake, under the impulsion of his letters from the Lady-in-Chief, took upon himself to suggest in a private letter that, without waiting for the approval of their Eeport, the Commissioners should themselves see * the evil corrected as far as possible,' but their actual instructions at that time allowed them no manner of warrant lor taking any such course ; and it was only on the Gth of January 1855 that the Government enjoined the Com-
