Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/333

 SPIKIT OF THE FRENCH AEMY. 301 front a powerful enemy with the resources of his chap. very own mind — a steadfast mind apt for war ! — business — Pelissier was abundantly able; and, General Canrobert not having the gifts or the stern independence required, it followed of course that the change must be one of the most whole- some kind ; but not the less was there merit in the resigning commander who forbade thoughts of 'self to prevent him from achieving a great public good. Under the discipline of P^lissier's letter General The lesson Canrobert must at last have discovered that what taught him by Pelis- he had mistaken for an honourable, loyal obedience sier's letter to the will of his sovereign was a noxious and unpatriotic subserviency which brought discredit on France, and endangered the repute of her army. He knew that what successful revolution- ists are always the first to call ' law ' had directed him to obey the mere Emperor as distinguished from the Emperor's Government, and apparently knew nothing at all of that greater though un- written law which commanded him to do no such thing. It was reserved for his successor to show how the commander of a French army should comport himself when put under stress of the meddling persistently attempted against him by a man such as Louis Napoleon. By his well-tried personal bravery, by his zeal, Feeling of,. . „ . . ,., .the French by his fervour and many good, warlike qualities army to- Weird s Cfln* he had won the esteem of his army ; and this robert. blessing had not been torn from him at the time of his resignation by any untoward disclosures.