Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/293

 FOR THE INVASION". i!63 before referred to have, therefore, now arrived ; chap. and I have, on the part of Her Majesty's Gov- ^^^' ernment, to instruct your Lordship to concert measures for the siege of Sebastopol, unless, with the information in your possession but at present unknown in this country, you should be decidedly of opinion that it could not be under- taken with a reasonable prospect of success. The confidence with which Her Majesty placed under your command the gallant army now in Turkey is unabated ; and if, upon mature reflec- tion, you should consider that the united strength of the two armies is insufficient for this under- taking, you are not to be precluded from the exercise of the discretion originally vested in you, though Her Majesty's Government will learn with regret that an attack, from which such important consequences are anticipated, must be any longer delayed. ' The difficulties of the siege of Sebastopol appear to Her Majesty's Government to be more likely to increase than diminish by delay ; and as there is no prospect of a safe and honour- able peace until the fortress is reduced and the fleet taken or destroyed, it is, on all accounts, most important that nothing but insuperable impediments — such as the want of ample pre- parations by either army, or the possession by Eussia of a force in the Crimea greatly out- numbering that which can be brought against it — should be allowed to prevent the early decision to undertake these operations.