PREFACE TO THE FOURTH VOLUME. I HAVE A STRONG OBJECTION to the time-honoured practice among authors of addressing their readers directly at the opening or close of a work with some explanatory remarks, in the form of preface or epilogue or other such appeal. It has always seemed to me that if the book does not tell its own story and make its purpose clear, the author's personal explanations will not much help the matter. I therefore now only venture to address my readers because I wish to mention one or two facts which concern others and not myself. In describing the defence of Silistria, at the opening of the Crimean War (page 294 of my second volume), I paid a tribute to the brilliant services rendered by Captain Butler of the Ceylon Rifles, and Lieutenant Nasmyth of the East India Company's service. The name of Lieutenant J. A. Ballard, of the Bombay Engineers, now General Ballard, C.B., R.E., should always be associated with the names of Butler 230826 |