The Press.
London, England, 1855-06-09 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

(PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.)

DEAR D.,—As the summer is now rapidly coming on, disagreeable
people will soon commence making remarks upon the Baltic fleet,
unless something is done to stop the mouth of that noble animal,
" the Generous British Public." I have shut myself up in my room
for the last week to study the question, and the only conclusion I can
arrive at is, the probability of your doing about as much as that tradi-
tional King of France did who went up the hill and down again. The
fact is, I must explain to you that, although your public instructions
will direct "to burn, sink, and destroy," it is very far from the inten-
tions of her Majesty's Government that you should proceed to any
such extremities against our Imperial enemy. You may anchor
off Nargen as long as yon like, and play cricket on the island
in the afternoon as often as you think fit, but on no account
are you to risk the fleet in action with the batteries of Revel.
You may look at Helsingfors, and go up to Cronstadt, which
you are to pronounce impracticable; and, for the diversion of the
fleet, you may employ the boats of the different ships dragging for
Jomini's submarine cylinders. Occasional cruises up and down the
Gulf, and demonstrations off different parts of the coast will suffice
for the real service of the fleet ; but at the same time you may, in your
public despatches, write for a double allowance of chloroform for the
wounded (?) or any other thing which you may deem essen-
tial—coals, candles or even powder and shot—in fact you may
write for anything without fear of being considered extravagant
by her Majesty's Government, who will be most happy to
receive your demands, and in general think it better not to comply
with them. You will remain during the summer up the Baltic of
c mrse, writing me despatches at due intervals. After a certain time
has elapsed without the achievement of anything important, you had
better take two fortresses, if you can those of Bomarsund and
Gustafson I should recommend, as being likely to give least trouble.
. . In event of your taking either of these places, the
tidings should be sent home by telegraph, and your despatches,
giving a detailed account, by a special ship. If you cannot
spare one of your steamers, you had better send a three masted brig
or a hermaphrodite schooner. After this period I shall commence
writing you goading letters, urging you to take Cronstadt or Sweaborg,
but to be very cautious of stone walls. There will be, perhaps, a
rumour concerning the fall of Sebastopol in the autumn, which will put
the popular mind in a ferment, and make them ask why Cronstadt is
not in our hands ? Of course I shall consider it my duty to ask you
the same question, and shall not attempt to defend your conduct in
the House. Late in the autumn you will bring the fleet home and will
be dismissed from your command.
Such appears to be the course necessary to be pursued with any
Baltic fleet, inasmuch as my worthy predecessor, Sir James Graham,
adopted these measures with success. In acting thus, I shall be not
liable to any accusations of rashness, as I shall have acted entirely
with due precedent, and, as the late Chancellor of the Exchequer so
eloquently expresses it, precedent means wisdom; but I am disturbed.
More next post.—ln haste, believe me yours,

To Rear-Admiral the Honourable R.W.D.

CHARLES W.

TITE'S BATH.
No wonder Tite, at Barnstaple rejected,
To Bladud's springs his steps at once directed ;
Wor, after contact with so much pollution,
hat but s Bath could cleabse his ionstitutioft ?

545

GRAHAM'S PEACE CATALOGUE.
Ox Tuesday night Sir James Graham read to the House of Commons
a list of what he termed concessions on the part of Russia, and these
he described as the objects of the war, deducing the inference that,
having obtained them, the war ought to leave off. They were certainly
very small, but then there were a great many of them, and but for the
impatience of the House Sir James intended to have mentioned a
great many more, of about the same size and importance. He has
therefore transmitted the completed list to the public journals.