An original Crimea War letter from Lieutenant-Colonel W. B. Ainslie, C.O. of the 93rd Highlanders at the famous Thin Red Line action, ink, four sides on a single piece of folded white paper, dated ‘26th March 1855’ at ‘Camp, Balaklava’, with related envelope addressed to ‘Mifs. Walker, Drumsheugh, Edinburgh’, this latter with three 1d. red stamps cancelled by the London Inland Branch, and reverse with British Army Post Office stamp in green, dated 28 March 1855, together with London (12 April) and Edinburgh (13 April) stamps, and the recipient’s wax seal. The content discussing such matters as the tardiness of the Allies’ move against Sebastopol:

‘We are at a loss to think what will be the upshot of the Emporer Nicholas' death, but every one seems to imagine that peace will result therefrom, and no doubt with all, there is a great desire for peace, and I may say that amongst us we would not regret if a peace was proclaimed. The plain and simple fact I believe to be that we have made a great mistake in thinking that Sebastopol was to be taken so very easily. We have now been six months before the place, and it is ten times stronger than ever it was, and ought to have been ours if we had gone in instantly after the battle of Alma, when our success there caused a panic among the Russians when now our want of success has the contrary effect, by giving them great confidence.’

And the establishment of a committee to investigate the ‘abuses of the Crimean campaign’:

‘We have here now a committee of investigation into the abuses of the Crimean campaign, under Sir John Macneil, who is or ought to be an acquaintance of yours, as he is one of the Macneils of Colonsay. Most of the Commanding Officers have been called before him to answer questions relative to the conduct of the war, and more especially as to the Commissariat Department. I sat before the board of which he is the President some time, and got questioned, but as his time was so occupied I did not tell him that I came from Auld Reekie (which from my dialect might have probably been unnecessary).’

in generally good condition £120-150