Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/300

 Brown. 270 ORDERS AND PREPARATIONS CHAP. Light Division. His zeal, and his lengthened 1_ toils in the Adjutant-General's office, had drawn him too far in a narrow path, and he overplied the idea of discipline; but he abounded in en- ergy, and he was in many respects an accom- plished soldier. He wrote on military subjects with clearness, with grace, and seemingly with a good deal of ease. He requests After receiving the Duke of Newcastle's de- of ir/G^orge spatcli Lord Raglan sent for Sir George Brown, and expressed to him a wish to have his opinion about it. He handed the paper to Sir George across the table, and then went on with his writing, leaving Sir George to consider its con- tents at his leisure. When he had read it. Lord Eaglan asked him to give him his opinion. Before giving it, Sir George naturally inquired what information Lord Eaglan had obtained in regard to the strength of Sebastopol, and what force he expected might be opposed to him in the Crimea. Lord Eaglan's answer was, that he had no information whatever; that neither he nor Mar- shal St Arnaud knew what amount of force the enemy had there ; that they believed and hoped there might not be more than 70,000 men in the peninsula; but that, in fact, it had not been blockaded, and that no means had been taken to procure information, and that, therefore, they did not in reality know they might not be opposed by 100,000 men, or even more. Then Sir George Brown said: 'You and 1 are
 * accustomed, when in any great difiiculty, or