278 ORDERS AND PREPARATIONS CHAP. 'The fact must not be concealed that neither ^^^- ' the English nor the French Admirals have been
- able to obtain any intelligence on which they
' can rely with respect to the army which the
- Eussians may destine for operations in the field,
' or the number of men allotted for the defence of ' Sebastopol ; and Marshal St Arnaud and myself ' are equally deficient in information upon these ' all-important questions, and there would seem ' to be no chance of our acquiring it.'* The Duke of The Dukc of Newcastle's reply to this despatch repTy. was in full consistency with that fearless and un- shrinking assumption of responsibility which had marked his instructions of the 29th of June. ' I wish,' he writes, t 'that circumstances which ' are engrossing my attention this afternoon per- ' mitted my expressing to you the feelings of in- ' tense anxiety and interest which your reply of ' the 19th of July to mine of the 29th of June ' have created in my mind. I cannot help seeing, ' through the calm and noble tone of your an-
- nouncement of the decision to attack Sebastopol,
' that it has been taken in order to meet the views ' and desires of the Government, and not in entire
- accordance with your own opinions. God grant
- that success may reward you, and justify us !
- I wrote to the Queen the moment I received
- your despatch, and in answer she said : " The
- " very important news which he conveyed to
- " her in it, of the decision of the Generals and
• 19th July. t Private luUcr to Lonl Raglan, 3d August 1854.
