Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/271

 GENERAL PELISSIER. 241 endeavour to smooth the anxiety of the Ern- chap. peror* IX " These well - designed measures produced a wholesome effect, and perhaps may be said to have had no small share in determining the course of events. There is ground for conjecture that the merit of taking these steps belonged in the main to Lord Palmerston. I have not learnt that Pelissier, under the discipline of misfortune, confessed his mistakes to others in either writing or speech ; but, by action, so far as he could, he retracted no less than two of the several false steps he had taken. On the second day after the engagement, he brought back General Bosquet to that wide Bosquet command on the Heights from which, on the back g to 16th of June, we saw the Chief thrusting him command, ■ on the OUt.T Heights; P&issier went even further on in the same and his right direction. Having wreaked his anger on adopted i.y Bosquet but a few days before for differing from him in judgment, he now adopted Bosquet's opin- ion, and freely abandoned his own. He acknow- ledged at last to himself, and — by deeds, though not words — to all the rest of the world, that, whilst armed with their powerful batteries in a state of efficiency, the defences of the Karabel- naya were not to be assaulted again by troops advancing against them across lengthened dis- t Niel, p. 320. VOL. LX. Q
 * Lord Panmurc to Lord Raglan, 18th Juno 1S55.