The Conclusion of Peace, 1856

Abstract

Granville writing to his friend Canning in India reported that Londoners of all classes were ‘certainly surprised and pleased’ at news of Russia’s acceptance of the Austrian Ultimatum and that ‘the funds rose 21/2 per cent’.¹ The second assertion was a matter of fact, but the first a personal opinion. While no one was likely to wish for war in the abstract, The Times suspected there were many who thought ‘that its continuance for another year would have more of good than of evil’. Its leader on 18 January continued:

Our preparations are so vast, our army and navy are assuming so much more promising an aspect than before, and the power of Russia is so visibly reduced and shaken, that we might reasonably hope at the end of another campaign not only to dictate terms much more favourable, but to have for them the best of all possible guarantees, the utter exhaustion and prostration of our adversary.

Nevertheless, it recognised that in view of Russia’s changed attitude it might be better to take what was offered than to pay the high price in men and money for something more.