Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/200

 170 THE COUNSELS OF 'J'HM ALLIES. CHAP, went wrong, their error was not that of men who ^^^' have to move in the dark, but one which resulted from the default of their collective judgment. Tboqucs- Whether the Allies should now I'ollow up their tion really,. , . . i i i i. needing hitherto victovious march, and endeavour to carry lolution. 1 1, • T ii. 1 Sebastopol by a prompt and determined attack, or whether they should consent to give the enemy a breathing-time, and begin upon a slow plan of warfare resembling what men call a siege — this, in reality, was the cardinal question which had to be solved ; but it did not present itself to the attention of the Allies as one they must needs determine at their first reconnaissance ; and al- though the deliberators all looked on Sebastopol with a concurring desire to attack the place sooner or later, there were few who so probed their own meaning as to know to what length they were willing to go in the perilous expenditure of time, riifl counsel 13ut before the day closed, bold counsel was Edinunii tendered ; and it seemed, at first sight, to oi'igi- nate with the vehement sailor whose words had always found welcome at the Englisli Head- quarters. Few, however, will believe that, upon the vital question of an immediate assault, the mind of Lord Eaglan could have been a blank awaiting the impress which the first adviser might give it ; or that Lyons would have urged his own opinion upon others, without first assur- ing himself that Lord Raglan approved it. On the other hand, it was of great moment that proposals liable to be overruled by the French should not be too closely idantified with the Lyons.