Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 3.djvu/107

 BATTLE OF THE ALMA. 81 Gifted liimself with tlio conunand of graceful CIIAP. diction, Lord IJaglan was iKjt witiiout fastidious ; prejudices against particular forms of expression, and it chanced that he bore a singular hatred against the French word which we translate into ' compromised.' So lie archly resolved to have the meaning of the word fully expanded into plain French, and he asked the aide-de-camp what would be the actual effect upon the brigade of its being ' compromised.' The answer was, * It will retreat.' * Was it time for the English General to take the battle into his own hands? So long as Bosquet, with Autemarre's brigade, stood isolated upon the cliff, and Canrobert's and Prince Napoleon's Divisions remained hanging back in the vineyards and the broken ground below the Telegraph height, an advance of our ibrces would plainly distort the Allied line in a hazardous way ; and Lord Eaglan had watched for the moment when the development of the expected French attack on the Telegraph Height would war- rant him in suffering our infantry to go forward. But he had hitherto watched in vain ; and, not Loni Rag- knowing how long the causes of the French de- to pred- 1 . 1 . I'itate the lay might continue to operate, he resolved to advance of 1 /• • 1-111 "'^ Kiiglish depart from the scheme of action which had army. hitherto governed him, and to precipitate the advance of the English forces. It is true that while Bosquet stood halted on the cliff, whilst Canrobcrt abstained from assailing the Telegraph VOL. in. F
 * ' 13attra cu retraite.'