Part 4

have received from them. My delight is so great that I hardly appreciate it fully as yet; the greatest happiness I feel is from feeling what pleasure it has caused you all, and for this I am more grateful than for the happiness it individually causes myself. How I should have enjoyed having been myself the bearer of this piece of good news I I used often to look forward to doing this as one of the brightest prospects of my life. What a lucky fellow I am! A Lieutenant-Colonel at thirty-three, without purchase, and with a company in the Guards, that insures me an income of £460 a year, and such a position! There is not a more enviable one in society. They have appointed me to the command of the left flank company, which is a post of honour that all the captains try for, and it is a great compliment to me to get it over all their heads, and what is a still greater compliment, that none of them are jealous, but all resigned their claims almost, at all events had made up their minds that I was the proper person to have it. Of course I am sorry to give up my present appointment as Brigade-Major, but that feeling is completely absorbed by the bright prospect of permanent promotion which sets me up for life. We are still at Aladyn, but there are strong rumours afloat that we are to make an expedition either to Trebizond to drive the Russians out of Asia Minor, Circassia, etc., or else to land near Anapa and besiege that place at once. Of course there is nothing certain on this subject, but nothing is more likely. We can do nothing now on the Danube, the Austrians being more than sufficient to drive the Russians beyond the Pruth. We must not remain idle at this important moment when advantage gained over the enemy would be of greater moment than ever. To attack the Crimea just at the outset of the campaign would, I think, be highly impolitic, as a reverse might be anticipated; but by depriving the enemy of all his vast possessions in Asia Minor, Georgia, and Circassia, and taking his only remaining stronghold there, Anapa, we should then be in a better condition to attack the Crimea politically as well as strategically. In a military point of view a landing would, I believe, be much better effected on the east end of the Crimea, and we should bring with us the Turkish army and the Circassians if requisite; then, in the case of a reverse in the Crimea, we should at all events have gained those successes in Circassia which would enable us to make better conditions than if we had attacked the Crimea without having gained them. However, these are only conjectures, founded on ver}'' imperfect data, which help to amuse one and wile away the time. One thing is quite certain, and that is that the transport are ordered up, and that we are going somewhere. Our life is not a very busy one just now, and since my last letter I have not seen anything new that would interest you; our situation here, however, is, as far as scenery goes, a lovely one, and is a constant source of delight; the rides are exquisite, and the country perfect for galloping. I took a charming ride the other day to the top of a range of hills about 5 miles off, over country of such a rich soil, almost entirely uncultivated, that I am sure an English farmer would make his fortune here in a few years. We get very fairly furnished with provisions here, and have established a bazaar in our camp where all the country people in the neighbourhood bring eggs, butter, fowls, bread, milk, and fruit. Just before leaving Varna I had a visit from the Baron de Mallet, Ernest's ^* cousin; he is now Chef de Bataillon in the 21st Foot. He was so altered that I did not at first recognise him, but I was really glad to see him, for I took a liking to him when he was in England. We have had intensely hot weather here, 99° in the shade, that is in the General's marquee vAth. both ends open to the air; latterly, however, the weather has changed and we have heavy storms of wind and rain, which are still threatening us.... I write to you because I cannot write to all.... If dear Ella is with you give her my tenderest love, tell her I honour and love her for her noble conduct more than I can express. Cheer her up and make her burden easy,