Thus the flames kindled by the pride of the Czar and the ambition of his Western rival, grew fiercer, and began to burn with astonishing power and intensity. Nothing was wanting to war but the formal declaration; and this was not wanting long. Captain Blackwood had landed with the Czar's negative defiance. On the 27th of March the Queen sent down a royal message to Parliament, stating that all the endeavours of her Government to preserve the peace had failed, and that she relied on the zeal of her Parliament to support her in protecting the dominions of the Sultan from Russian encroachments. On the 28th war was declared, and on the 31st both Houses agreed to an Address, recording the aggressions of Russia, and expressing a firm determination to resist them. On the 3rd of April a very large body of peers of all parties, and three hundred members of the House of Commons, headed by the Speaker, presented the Addresses in answer to the royal message, to her Majesty at Buckingham Palace, who, seated on her throne, with Prince Albert on the one hand, and the Prince of Wales on the other, received these genuine representatives of the spirit and determination of her whole people. On the day that war was declared the British fleet anchored in the bay of Kiel. On the 11th of April the Czar published his declaration of war, in which he again, in a strain of religious exaltation, declared that Russia took up arms for no worldly interests, but for "the Christian faith, for the defence of her co-religionists oppressed by implacable enemies." "It is for the Faith and for Christendom that we combat! God with us--who against us?" CHAPTER III. THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_). Attitude of the German Powers--The Lines at Boulair--The Campaign on the Danube--The Siege of Silistria--It is raised--Evacuation of the Principalities--The British Fleet in the Black Sea--Arrival of the Allied Armies--A Council of War--The Movement on Varna--Unhealthiness of the Camp--An Attack on the Crimea resolved on--Doubts of the Military Authorities--Despatch to Lord Raglan--Lord Lyndhurst's Speech--Raglan's reluctant Assent--The Expedition sails--Debarkation in the Crimea--Forays of the French Troops--Composition of the Allied Armies--The Start--The first Skirmish--St. Arnaud's Plan--Slowness of the British--Battle of the Alma--Menschikotf's Position--The Disposal of his Troops--Final Arrangements of the Allies--A British Blunder--Partial Failure of the French--The British Advance--Evans's Division--Exploits of Sir George Brown--Lord Raglan on the Hill--The Duke of Cambridge hesitates--Attack of the Vladimirs--Crisis of the Battle--Final Advance of the Allies--St. Arnaud declines to pursue.