LAND AND NATIONAL SAFETY. 243 



our supplies of food, so as to prevent their 

 capture or their destruction in considerable 

 numbers by the enemy, and to safeguard 

 them in their arrival at our ports. ' 



' We were specially anxious on this 

 point, on account of the evidence warning 

 us that we must expect captures, and we 

 asked the following questions : — 



" ' 1. Assuming the country to be at 

 war with any two of the great maritime 

 powers, are the Admiralty of opinion 

 that our supplies of wheat and flour 

 would arrive in practically the same 

 volume as they come at present ? 



' 2. If not, is it possible for the Board 

 to say to what extent they might be 

 relied on to arrive ? 



" ' 3. Do the Board apprehend that the 

 disposition of our fleets, squadrons, or 

 ships might be adversely affected, and 

 the free action of our admirals impaired, 

 by popular pressure, exercised, either 

 through Parliament or otherwise, upon 

 the Government, thus influencing the 

 Admiralty's instructions to the admirals ? 



