Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/272

 242 ZEAL FOR AN CHAP, her arms to those of the Western Powers: and XIV L_ they could not but know that if the French and English armies were to be withdrawn from the mainland of Europe in order to invade the Crimea, the wholesome union of the Four Powers would of necessity be weakened. The Prime Minister M'as he who loved peace so fondly that, though peace M'as no more, he had hardly yet been torn . . from her cold embrace ; and though he lived ■ ■■'■ under a belief that the military strength of the "■• Czar was beyond measure vast, yet of the twelve -^- • months which Paissia gave him for preparation he had only used three.* Having the heaviness of these thoughts on his mind, he saw it declared aloud, that the country of which he happened to be the Prime Minister could not well do other- wise than invade the Eussian dominions. To a prudent man the measure might seem to be rash — to a good man impressed with horror of war, it might even seem to be very wicked ; for it was a violent revival of a war which, unless this new torch were thrown, would expire of its own accord. But the print was clear ; like stern Anangkie, it pressed ui)on feeble man's volition, for it was not to be construed away ; and if an anxious jMinister went back and looked again to see whether by chance he could find some loop in the wording, • Computing from the time when the Czar's determination to seize the Princii)a]itics was known to our Government. If the computations are to ho made from the time wlicn the hos- tile character of Prince McntschikofTs mission became known, several months more would have to be added. See Lord Aber- deen's evidence before the Scbastopjl Committee.