Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/491

 APPENDIX. 461 NOTE VI. Adverse Letters from Sir John Eurgotne, with SOME Comments by the Author. Ox the SOth of June 1868 Sir Jolm Eurgoyne ad- dressed the following letter to the Editor of the ' Times ' newspaper : — Sir, — I have no wisli to enter into a controversy with J[r King- like upon matters of opinion, but there are some questions of fact which 1 consider should be set right as early as possible. Mr Kinglake states that Lord Kaglan refrained from an immediate assault upon Sebastopol upon my advice, and against his own con- viction.* My views upon the subject are well known. I considered an assault unjustifiable at that time, and I have never seen reason to change my opinion. Lord Raglan never consulted me on the subject, nor do 1 believe he ever entertained the idea. It would not have been my business, as a General Officer on the Staff, to volunteer advice on so important a matter to the Commander-in-Chief, upon whom would have fallen the whole responsibility of a failure. Such an interference might be used as a cheap and easy method of obtain- ing a character for enterprise and dash. For the same reason I greatly doubt the fact of Lord Lyons hav- ing proffered such advice to Lord Raglan. In their relative posi- tions it would have been very unbecoming, and it requires better authority than the report of a private conversation to substantiate so very improbable a statement. — I am, sir, your obedient servant, (Signed) J. F. BURGOYNE. London, June CO. Trom the introductory words of the above letter, it miglit be inferred that the writer 'as about to contravene nie upon some matter of fact ; but he does not quote any particular passage in my narrative as clashing with his recollection of the circumstances ; and revering, as I do most deeply, the gifted and experienced officer from whom pages. — A. W. K.
 * Vhat I really stated on this subject is sho-mi in the next two