ng the month of February troops continued to embark for Malta
and for the Bosphorus. Sad were the scenes of parting which were then
witnessed throughout the British Isles; more especially in the great
metropolis, through or from which a large proportion of the number of
troops sent proceeded. It was most touching to witness the battalions of
glorious men, attended by sympathizing crowds, passing along our great
thoroughfares to the expressive music of their bands--"We are going Far
Away," "Love Not," "Cheer, Boys, Cheer," "The Girl I left behind Me,"
and other popular pieces, which suggested the sad but gallant emotions
that filled the breasts of our brave. Her majesty took leave of her
guards with touching tokens of her confidence, hope, and yet sorrow,
for the need that arose of their services; they responded by the most
enthusiastic demonstrations of loyalty and devotion. Yet, after all, it
was but a demonstration of ten thousand men, which the ministry thought
would exercise a decisive _moral_ influence upon the proceedings of the
czar. Mr. Gladstone was great with indignant and pompous eloquence upon
the glory of this achievement.

The troops landed on the shores of the Bosphorus unprovided with almost
all the great essentials of a modern army. The Duke of Newcastle and Mr.
Sidney Herbert, upon whom the arrangements mainly devolved, were unequal
to the task. Lord Hardinge presided at the Horse Guards--a man of party
prejudices, and who was ever willing to sacrifice the interests of the
army to family influence and political considerations. Lord Raglan was
nominated to the command in chief--an officer who had never commanded
a brigade in the field, and found himself destitute of the chief
qualitities necessary in a commander of an army in a campaign. These
proceedings passed before war was proclaimed. It was supposed that the
mere demonstration would effect the end really in view--to cause the
czar to recede somewhat in his demands. At last war was proclaimed. On
the 29th of March this august solemnity took place. The people hailed it
with pleasure, for it was felt that, however undesirable the event, it
had been impolitically delayed. France made a similar declaration.
The two great Western nations went to war with the Muscovite for the
integrity of the Ottoman empire.

On April the 21st, her majesty proclaimed a day of fast and humiliation,
which was observed by the whole nation on the 26th. A French journal
obse