Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/34

 4 CONCORD BETWEEN CO a p. since he knew how to make cruel sacrifices for . the attainment of many an object small enough at first sight in itself, yet forming one in a series of steps leading up to the end. He was by nature so manful, and — with justice reposed in himself so unstinted a confidence, thai now in his sixty-first ) ear— he could not apparently learn to become a respecter of persons set up in authority over him, and indeed had the air of regarding them with feelings scarce short of disdain. Untainted by any complicity in the plot of the 2d of December, and brought honestly up to the front by the strength of his warlike repute, he, when only commanding a corps, had been bold enough, as we saw, to begin protecting the army from Louis Napoleon's strategy ; * and there well might be good hope that now, with his vastly extended power, he would firmly pursue a like course. Thus the man and the occasion were meeting. What France beyond all measure needed for the honour of her arms was a general (otherwise competent) who could and would push on the war without deferring unduly to heT troublesome Emperor, and IVdissier fulfilled the condition. 11. Accord Upon acceding to the command, he thus ad- paissicr dressed the War Minister: — '1 have already seen Ragiui. ' Lord Raglan. Upon our general course of action • we are in perfect accord. In common with the
 * See ante, vol. viii., his letter of the 5th of May, p. 285.