Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/117

 A RETKOSPECTIVE ENQUIRY. 73 made. Under tliese conditions, Mr Eobert Dun- chap. IV das contrived an expedient which, considering ' that on behalf of our country — then without ^{;t^l'°f<*^', one ally — {^^) — he was preparing war — war to iadmto-''' the knife — against Napoleon at the height of his '■ forcer- power, may seem rather slight, rather simple, yet it happily produced good results. (^^) He determined to find, if he could, some able young officer who would act as Under-Secretary in the compound Department, devoting himself exclus- ively to its military, as distinguished from its Colonial business ; and happily, the very man needed was then within reach, having newly come home on leave. Scarce more than thirty years old, Colonel Bunbury had not only been coionei acting for some years as Quartermaster-U-eneral in the held, but in that capacity, and indeed as chief officer of the Staff — for no Adjutant- General was present — had been so fortunate as to be able to take an effective, nay, commanding, part in the brilliant little action of Maida, and had since been engaged in field - service more harassing than battles, but also better fitted to practise him in the everyday business of war. He had studied his profession with care ; and having intellect, energy, cultivation, and ex- cellent sense, with, moreover, the fame of his victory at Maida, and a station in life which gave him independence and strength, he brought, on the whole, great advantages to the task ms office ° . - in some re- awaiting his care ; and it resulted that England, spects made " ., to serve as after having waged war at random for a period aWarDe- " ^ 1 T 1 partment. of nearly seventeen years, made shift at last,