Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/214

 184 TKANSACTIONS CHAP. French — spontaneously, as it appeared, and from ' a simple impulse of goodwill — came down to aid in the embarkation. They set themselves to the work with all that briskness and gay energy by which the French soldiery convert an operation of mere labour and industry into a cheerful and animating scene. The incident in itself was a small one ; but, viewed as a sign of things to come, it had greater proportions. It was ac- cepted at the time by Lord Eaglan as a happy omen — an omen which seemed to promise that the alliance of the "West would hold good. Bt Arnaud's But whilst the soldicr was giving the best of obtaMng^ sanctions to the great Alliance, the Marshal of inand'?f the Francc was putting it in jeopardy. M. St Arnaud anny!^' had uot bccu long on the shores of the Bosphorus when he entered upon a tempting scheme of am- bition. General Bosquet, despatched to the head- quarters at Sluimla, had brought back accounts, which the Marshal at first could hardly credit, of the good state and apparent effectiveness of the Turkish troops ; and it was then, perhaps, that St Arnaud first thought of the step which he afterwards took. He conceived the idea of ob- taining the command of the whole Turkish army. The effect which this united command would have upon the relations between the French and the English General was obvious. The English Gen- eral, with his strength of some twenty-five thou- sand men, had always foreseen that he was likely to be somewhat embarrassed in having to claim due consideration for a force which was less by