Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/84

 51 THE RENEWED EXPEDITION TO KEKTCH. CHAP. IV. Failure of the meas- ures taken. Continued disorders in Kciteh. The exception, it seems, applied only to the case of an outrage attempted in sight of the Hussars when patrolling ; for in any larger sense ' to 'protect the weak from outrage' was substan- tially of course the same thing as maintaining peace in the town, and. that last course of action was one which Sir George had resolved not to take. ' I distinctly said/ he informed the in- habitants, ' that they must take care of them- ' selves, and were not to look to me for protec- ' tion. ... I decline to furnish any guards.' * Sir George Brown's expedient of patrolling into the town twice a-day from the precincts of the Quarantine Station must have brought fitful inter- vals of relief to the fear-stricken people of Kertch, who at each of the times for patrolling, and whilst in sight of the horsemen, might believe them- selves safe for at least a few minutes, or perhaps half an hour, but the measure did nothing to- wards either expelling the Tartars or putting an end to their outrages. All that seemed to be needed for restoring order was the voice of authority, and authority resting on force — for the 79th was at hand — Sir George Brown amply possessed; but for reasons we have heard him disclosing he resolved not to use the spell. Most of the houses deserted by Eussian occu- piers — and these formed the main part of the town — were plundered and gutted ; t as were also indeed, we are told, nearly all of the other t Sir George to Lord Raglau, 4th June.
 * To Lord Raglan, 10th June.