Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/157

 WAY OF MINISTERING TO THE AEMIES. 113 the battle of the Alina had been fought and won chap, — an event great in other respects but also at ' first sight appearing to ensure a command of those products in which the country abounded. ''■ Upon the whole, the Treasury Eoard deter- mined to wait the arrival of the next mail, and meanwhile to suspend their action. On the 9th of October, however, they received Mr Filder's letter of the 2 2d of September — the second day after the Alma — a letter announcing that hay and forage-corn abounded in the Crimea, and that the Tartar population were well dis- posed, but adding that supplies could not be made available to any extent because the Cos- sack cavalry closed upon the rear of the army as fast as it advanced. With these data before them, and governed by the considerations already indicated, the Treas- ury Board at once took their course. On the 10th of October they wrote to Mr Filder, appris- ing him that it ' would depend on his subsequent ' reports whether steps should be taken to send ' out the hay mentioned in the letter of the ' 13th of September;' but at the same time they gave instructions for the despatch of one full shipload with as little delay as possible.(^^) Until the 7tli of November they took no further step ; and owing partly to their delib- erate pauses but much more to the lengtliened over London during the morning of the 30th, and Lord Raglan's telegraphic despatch announcing the victory was received in the course of the day. VOL. VII. H
 * Tidings of the victory won on the Alma were spreading