Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/63

 THE MODIFIEI) IT, AX OF 1ST FEBRUARY. 31 supposed to be armed with all this transcendent chat. authority, the painful changes that followed, and then afterwards, under new auspices, the reopen- ine of a once closed discussion about choice of plans for the siege — these circumstances, and perhaps many more, contributed to prevent the besiegers from giving any effect to the agree- ment of the 1st of January until more than four weeks had elapsed ; and meanwhile — as though having learnt something of Anglo-French counsels — the enemy had been visibly devoting increased attention and care to his Malakoff front. This Kussian change on the one hand, and on the other, the presence of General Niel with authority to inquire and ' advise,' made it seem very natural that — without being therefore sus- pected of any desire to retreat from their engage- ments of the first of January — the French should bring fresh thought to bear on the management of their promised enterprise against the Malakoff Tower. After lengthened discussions with Burgoyne, istandia „ ,.,.,,. February. our allies framed a plan from which indeed it Modified appeared that they then were more strongly in- forward by clined to proceed against the Mamelon by 'ap- ' proaches ' than by summary modes of attack ; but still the plan seemed to aim at a faithful, if not swift performance of the engagement made on the 1st of January, and accordingly Lord p°, v to'hy Raglan approved it.* After having been also ian : 1855.
 * ■ . plan put
 * Lord Raglan to Secretary of State — Secret — 6th February