260 COMMENCED EXPEDITION TO KEltTCH. CHAP, and Kertch alone had a strength of no less than X " 27,000 ; and, though Canrobert did not give his Squent" fall credence to such an account, he allowed it $58taS to weigh on his mind. The next day, accord- ingly, he wrote anxiously on the subject to Lord Raglan.* At a later hour of the same day, he fell into a state very near to despondency. His imagination no longer content to dwell on the great strength in numbers with which it in- vested Baron Wrangel, went on to picture them concentrated, and whilst asking Lord Eaglan's counsel, he declared it to be his own opinion ' that the chances against succeeding in the en- ' terprise were much greater than those in its ' favour.' t Lord Rag- Lord Raglan thus answered : 'The operation teriy answer ' can only be undertaken on condition of its ' execution being immediate. The enemy is ' working at the task of barring the straits ; and, 1 if he were to succeed in completing the obstruc- ' tions he is now raising up, we should have to { abandon all hope of occupying the Sea of Azof < — an object to which our Governments attach ' great importance. It might possibly have been ' well, if we had been able to spare more troops ' for the enterprise ; but it is in rapidity of action, ' as it seems to me, that we shall find our best
- chances of success. Considering that we do not
- Canrobert to Lord Raglan, 30th April 1855, first letter of
that date. t Canrobert to Lord Raglan, 30th April 1855, second letter of that date. to him.
