Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/27

 THE SOURCES OF THE NARRATIVE". xxiii which added, more or less, to my labour, and tended to cause delay. And now I have that to state which will not sur- prise my own countrymen, but which still, in the eyes of the foreigner, will seem to be passing strange. For some years, our statesmen, our admirals, and our generals, have known that the whole correspondence of the English Headquarters was in my hands ; and very many of them have from time to time conversed and corresponded with me on the business of the war. Yet I declare I do not remember that any one of these public men has ever said to me that there was any- thing which, for the honour of our arms, or for the credit of the nation, it would be well to keep con- cealed. Every man has taken it for granted that what is best for the repute of England is, the truth. I have received a most courteous, clear, and abun- dant answer to every inquiry which I have ventured to address to any French commander ; and, indeed, the willingness to communicate with me from that quarter was so strong, that an officer of great experi- ence, and highly gifted with all the qualities which make an accomplished soldier, was despatched to this country with instructions to impart ample statements to me respecting some of the operations of the French army. I seize upon this occasion of acknowledging the advantage I derived from the admirably lucid statements which were furnished to me by this highly- instructed officer; and I know that those friends of mine to whom I had the honour of presenting him,