A much esteemed correspondent has objected to the use of
the phrase in our last issue, "We certainly do not mean to give up till we have tried for a couple of years or so," as seeming to imply that we should abandon our efforts if we cannot win in two years. It is surely needless to say, in view of the general tone of the Spectator, that we had no such intention, though possibly the phrase was not well chosen, We are bound to fight the matter out to the bitter end, even if it costs us double the amount in men and money we ex- pended in the Crimea., and we have not the slightest fear of the country adopting any other attitude. We dislike greatly the use of boastful, or exaggerated, or over-confident talk, but if we try to keep our language low in tone it is not because we are lacking in resolve to make every sacrifice required of us, but because fraud° words go ill with the determination to endure.
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