Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/349

 THE DEMEANOUR OF ENGLAND. 305 Ian in the midst of the strife an officer whose CHAP. IX. aid was thus precious. But in London, as yet, the truth was not largely known. It was known on one side of Whitehall, but not on the other. The Commander-in-Chief at the Horse Guards knew with certainty that General Airey was not only an officer of rare ability, but one who had become to Lord Eaglan his right-hand man, and i^rd Rag- could not be taken from him without grievous 'hand man.' injury to the public service. Thus convinced, he of course did not doubt that an enquiry con- ducted at Lord Eaglan's Headquarters by a com- petent general officer sent out for the purpose would produce a report well adapted to bring the known truth to light, and avert the threat- ened calamity ; whilst Lord Panmure on the other hand, being under a bias that warped him in the opposite direction, might naturally enough feel assured that any such scrutiny would con- firm his own settled belief. Upon the whole, it resulted that the Govern- Enquiry ment and the Horse Guards in concert despatched General to the Crimea a general officer of high standing, ™^^°^' namely, General James Simpson, who, besides being armed with the authority of a ' Chief of ' the Staff' at Lord Kaglan's Headquarters, was instructed to look into the composition of the his in- general Staff of the army, to report his opinion, ^ and any changes he might think necessary ; and he was specially charged to report any unfitness he might observe, without favour or affection. After passing many weeks at Lord Eaglan's Headquarters, and informing himself with great VOL. VIL U