out command or
authority, except over the very limited means of attack, the success
whereof cannot fail in its consequences to free and ensure, perhaps for
ever, all minor states from Russian dominion. Personal acquaintance with
Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Napier and Rear-Admiral Chads warrants my
conviction that no feeling of rivalry could exist, save in the zealous
performance of the service."

Sir James Graham's reply was complimentary. "You offer for the
consideration of her Majesty's Government," he wrote on the 26th of
July, "a plan of operations by which the maritime defences of Cronstadt
may, in your opinion, be captured; and in the most handsome manner you
declare your readiness to direct and superintend the execution of your
plan, if it should be adopted. When the great interests at stake are
considered, and when the fatal effects of a possible failure are duly
regarded, it is apparent that the merits of your plan and the chances of
success must be fully investigated and weighed by competent authority.
The Cabinet, unaided, can form no judgment in this matter, and the
tender of your services is most properly made by you dependent on the
previous approval of your plan. The question is a naval one, into which
professional considerations must enter largely. Naval officers,
therefore, of experience and high character are the judges to whom, in
the first instance, this question ought to be submitted. Let me
therefore ask you, before I take any further step, whether you are
willing, in strict confidence, to lay your whole plan before Sir Bryan
Martin, Sir William Parker, and Admiral Berkeley, who, from his place at
this Board, is my first naval adviser? If you do not object to this
measure, or to any of the naval officers whom I have named, I should be
disposed to add Sir John Burgoyne, the head of the Engineers, on whose
judgment I place great reliance. I am sure that you will not regard this
mode of treating your proposal as inconsistent with the respect which I
sincerely entertain for your high professional character, resting on
past services of no ordinary merit, which I have never failed to
recognise. But my duty on this occasion prescribes caution and
deliberate care; and you will do justice to the motives by which this
answer to your request is guided."

To this suggestion Lord Dundonald readily acceded, and his secret
war-plans were once more referred to a committee of investigation.
Nothing, however, was gai