Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/330

 286 THE WINTER TllOUBLES CHAP. hall. The change of Government was followed L _ after a very short interval by a sudden and great increase of the quantities of hay de- spatched to the Crimea from England ; and I am the more willing to lay stress on this truly good service, since it happens that what next must be spoken of is conduct of such a kind as to leave an ill mark on the character of Lord Palmerston's administration. Continued Far from being appeased by the fall of only peSpie. a couple of Ministers, the public anger raged fiercer than ever, and the order of the House of Fear that Commous for the appointment of a Committee usurp a'oon- sccmcd to fumish the very machinery by which trol over the. , ., ■, • t , i military an indignant people might usurp perhaps more power. ^^^ ^^^^ absolutely the direction of the war and with it the control of our army. Question Tlic desire to avert such a change became one Government of tlic motivcs impelling Lord Palmerston's tsfythe" Government to endeavour towards satisfying inger the piiblic anger; but liow was this to be done by an administration which had the defect of being so nearly identical with the one just cashiered ? Should they still trust their general, or rather should they bow their heads to the newspapers, and shamelessly turn against him ? It might seem at first sight that between two such courses of action they had simply an alter- native choice; so that, if taking one of them, riicir iietur- they needs must forego the other. But, strange to say, they took both. They were far from being statesmen so lost to all idea of patriotism as to