d in the hands of the fittest man who can be found for the
post." He laid the greatest stress on more efficient
administration.

The miseries of the campaign increased. On January 30, 1855, Lord
Malmesbury wrote: "The accounts from the Crimea are dreadful. Only
18,000 effective men; 14,000 are dead and 11,000 sick. The same
neglect which has hitherto prevailed continues and is shown in
everything."

He held very strong views as to the duty of the House of Commons in
regard to these calamities. "Inquiry is the proper duty and
function of the House of Commons.... Inquiry is at the root of the
powers of the House of Commons."

He had been induced by great pressure from the highest quarters to
join the Cabinet, and on patriotic grounds remained in office
against his desire. He continually but unsuccessfully advocated
Reform. Several times he asked to be allowed to resign.

When, therefore, Mr. Roebuck brought forward a motion embodying the
opinion which he had frequently urged on his colleagues, he could
not pretend the opposite views and resist the motion for inquiry.

The resignation was not so sudden as represented. On the 6th of
December, 1854, when the Cabinet met, he declared that he was
determined to retire after Christmas; after some conference with
his colleagues, he wrote on December 16th to Lord Lansdowne: "I do
not feel justified in taking upon myself to retire from the
Government on that account [the War Office] at this moment." It is
not the case that a severe judgment was pronounced upon these
proceedings by the "universal" opinion of his contemporaries. His
brother. Lord Wriothesley Russell, wrote: "It makes one sad to hear
the world speaking as if straightforward honesty were a thing
incredible, impossible." And the Duke of Bedford: "My mind has been
deeply pained by seeing your pure patriotic motives maligned and
misconstrued after such a life devoted to the political service of
the public." But the whole world was not against him. Among many
letters of approval, I find one strongly supporting his action with
regard to the Army in the Crimea and his course in quitting the
Ministry, and quoting a favourable article in _The Examiner;_
another strongly approving, and stating: "I have this morning
conversed with more than fifty gentlemen in the City, and they