ns, I am confident that her own true policy is to avoid giving
just cause for war, and that, busily as she may use all indirect means
towards her ends which she thinks she can justify, she will yield to
remonstrance when these limits are transgressed by her agents. This is a
course, however, which requires to be, and I trust will be, most
carefully watched."

In that interesting letter, Lord Lansdowne showed, by his silence, that
he was not inclined to investigate the war-plan; and a like indifference
was experienced by Lord Dundonald in his repeated efforts, during the
ensuing years, to secure its acceptance by the Government. It was
submitted to a favoured few, and all to whom it was explained
acknowledged its efficacy; but no more than that was done. Its most
competent critic was the Duke of Wellington, who recognised the terrible
power of the device, although he objected to it on the score that "two
could play at that game." "If the people of France shall force their
Government to war with England," wrote Lord Dundonald to Lord Minto on
the 3rd of August, 1840, "I hope you will do me the favour and justice
to reflect on the nature of the opinion you received from the Duke of
Wellington in regard to my plans, which is the same as that given to the
Prince Regent by Lords Keith and Exmouth and the two Congreves in the
year 1811, and that your lordship will perceive, that 'although two can
play at the game,' the one who first understands it can alone be
successful. In the event of war, I beg to offer my endeavours to place
the navy of France under your control, or at once effectually to
annihilate it. Were my plans known to the world, I should not be accused
of over-rating their powers by the above otherwise extraordinary
assertion." Lord Minto's answer was very brief: "I shall bear your offer
in mind; but there is not the slightest chance of war."

For the same reason the secret plans were set aside by the Earl of
Haddington, who was First Lord of the Admiralty after Lord Minto. He
rendered considerable aid to Lord Dundonald in testing his steam-engine
and boiler, but considered the fact that England was at peace as a
sufficient reason for not discussing the value of a new instrument of
war.

Lord Dundonald, however, who knew the value of his invention, thought
otherwise. While vast sums of money were being spent at Dover,
Portsmouth, and elsewhere upon fortifications and harbours of refuge for
trading-vessels, whic