The answers to the deputation were not very encouraging._ Lord
Granville, in a speech we have described elsewhere, showed how impossible it was for an Opposition to stop a Government resolved on war ; and Lord Harlington, though he regretted the failure to meet in Congress, held that all immediate prospect of such an assembly was over. He thought his objections to the policy of the Government should be stated in Parliament first, more especially as they might be modified by events occurring- from day to day. His action would, however, be dictated by an earnest wish to avoid this country being drawn into war. He regarded the aroused feeling, both in the country and Russia, the neighbourhood of English ships and Russian armies on the Sea of Marmora, and the existence of the "diplomatic difficulty," as serious dangers, and thought the duty of Opposition was to "secure that a moment of calm consideration should be interposed before the commencement of hostilities." He sought to extract from Government a clear explanation of the object of their policy, and to impress upon them that the difficulties which have arisen are difficulties felt by all Europe, and to be met by all Europe, and not by England alone. The general effect of the speech was- that Lord Hartington, though heartily opposed to the war, was still at a loss what to do.
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