Was Sevastopol Taken?

Lord Clarendon was asked "if the Russian Ambassador was applied to by the British Government for permission to withdraw Her Majesty's troops from the Crimea?" His Lordship must "decline to answer your question," was the answer.

In the protocol of 4th April, 1856, will be found:—

"The Eanl of Clarendon remarks, that in order to hasten the evacuation of the Crimea, it would be advantageous that the vessels of the allied powers should have the power of freely entering the harbor of Sevastopol; the facility, in the opinion of the first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain, would accelerate the embarkation of men and material by several weeks."

The Plenipotentiaries of Russia reply that they "will take the orders of their Court in this respect."

In the Protocol of 8th April:—

"The Plenipotentiaries of Russia announce that they have received orders to declare, in reply to the request that had been made to them on the subject, the port of Sevastopol will be opened to the vessels of the Allied Powers, in order page 26 to accelerate the embarkation of their troops and of their material."

(Bluebook on Crimea.)

It is clear therefore that "the Russian Ambassador was applied to by the British Government for permission to withdraw Her Majesty's forces from the Crimea," after the expenditure of £200,000,000, and the sacrifice of 100,000 men in attempting to take the place.