Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/307

 KECALL OF THE KERTCH EXPEDITION. 275 at sea by General Canrobert's orders ; and under chak the bitter compulsion thus put on the French, ' their Admiral — Admiral Bruat — obeyed the com- mand to turn back. He moved slowly in order that Lyons, if also recalled, might the sooner overtake and rejoin him. When Lyons, some hours later, received the letter despatched to him from the English Head- quarters, he and Brown did not make up their minds to use that power of resorting to separate action with which Lord Raglan had armed them ; and therefore our people soon followed the retro- grade move of the French. Next day — it was Sunday, a Sunday remem- Feelings bered with bitterness — the flotilla returned into its recall f port; and the thousands on board it brought back under such conditions as these were hurt, on board the were aggrieved, were almost forced to know that some untrustworthy hand had seized for the moment a power to trifle with the armies and navies whilst busied in warlike enterprise.* The French Admiral's — Bruat's — report stated only the facts without comment; yet the facts being such as they were, it reads like a pitiless charge against him who had sent the recall. Amongst the myriads wondering at the re- call of the flotilla were not only the enemy, not only the fleets and the armies, but also a pointment endured by the men — French and English alike — was universal and deep. — To Secretary of State, Secret and Confidential, May 8, 1855.
 * Lord Raglan declared his belief that the feeling of disap-