Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/89

 TIIK RENEWED EXPEDITION TO KERTCH. 5U repressing disorder in Kertch; for the town, as CHAP. we know, was within a short walk from the '. camps, within a pleasant row from the ships, and could not but prove attractive to many young soldiers and sailors when known to be in the throes of a conflict involving such tumult as would offer them adventures and licence. From the pillaging of the hospitals at Kertch, sufferings p, ... , r> i -»-> • • i i • t entailed on from the night of the Kussian inhabitants, and thesickand „ ,, l • -i i wounded finally from the state of anarchy which long Russians . . J fa by the afflicted the town, it resulted that the sick and pfflaging of the wounded Russians who had been brought thither hospitals. from Sebastopol were exposed to the sufferings caused by not only want of appliances, but also want of due care.* It was in favour of those hospital patients that, Letter on i -r. -itt iii i their be- when about to retreat. Baron vv ran gel had ad- halt from ° Baron dressed an appeal to the commander of the invad- WrangeL ing force, recommending them to his kindness and humanity ; t but of course, when taking that step, the Baron had assumed that the Allied troops would be in the occupation of Kertch, and in point of fact, as we have learnt, no such occupation took place. It was therefore ante- cedently probable that the letter would find no recipient, and I am led on other grounds to believe that it never in fact reached Sir George.J those of the 21st. t Ibid. + There is no mention of it in the correspondence ; and Sir George was so full a writer that the absence of any such men- tion is scarce short of actual proof that the letter was never received.
 * Instructions of 2d May, incorporated by reference with