Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 4.djvu/430

 400 THE CANNONADE OF CHAP. XIII. The results of tliis naval attack on Sfibastopol ; and causos of its failure. part of it which unsuccessfully aimed at subdu- ing the Quarantine Sea-fort, the attempt did not spring from any more direct warlike purpose than that of effecting a diversion in favour of the land forces.* Of course, this could not be said if the design of attacking Fort Constautine had been based upon grounds which were — even apparent- ly — good. But it was not so: it was not the belief of those days that good walls of stone, with a thickness of five or six feet, would give way under broadsides iVom ships at a range of 800 yards ; or that the number of shots which skill or chance might send through the embra- sures could be looked to as means of reducing a great casemated fort long prepared for the day of attack, and defended by brave, steadfast men. People rather founded their dream upon the hope of there occurring in the fort some mighty explo- sion ; and, indeed, it was natural enough that the English should have remained more impressed by the event which once gave them the fortress of Acre, than by that faithful voice which (entreating men not to take guidance from what was a sheer yift Df fortune) strove to make them beware of sending ships to capture stone forts.")* And, again, there diversion on the side of the Belbec, which the Admiral had been speaking of — ' would be to act in a true position. The ' action of the 17th was a false one, and which I decline to ' repeat. It is one that I accejrted with reluctance, and vith 'which, as a naval conunander, I am dissatislied. ' — Private letter, 20th October 1854. t It was in 1840 that our ships attacked the fortress of Acre ; and, there occurring an explosion which sent to destruction
 * Diuulas wrote to Lord Ragluii : ' All this ' — a i)lan for a