COMMENCED EXPEDITION TO KERTCH. 267 1 plore my not being able myself to go out to chap. ' the Crimea.' X ' The confusion that well might be wrought by thus madly pelting with telegrams an already dis- tracted commander was a little augmented by failure in the use of conventional signs ; for what had been meant by '45/ and what by '450/ the decipherers could not divine ; ( 2 ) but the inter- preted words of these telegrams were so wild, so perturbing, that perhaps by comparison the two occult signs were not altogether unwelcome. The accompanying letter from Canrobert to and letter Lord Eaglan announced with strong expressions rXrt de- of regret and vexation that this last Imperial seif ing telegram made it impossible for him to let the French troops continue their voyage towards Kertch, and that accordingly he was sending a compelled despatch-boat in pursuit of Admiral Bruat re- Adm?rai questing him to return to Kamiesh. He added that he should feel very grateful if Lord Raglan would address the same request to Sir Edmund Lyons ; * and Canrobert's aide-de-camp proposed that Lord Eaglan should send his letter to the Admiral by the French despatch-boat ; but Lord Reception Eaglan declined the offer, saying that for the LrdRag- task of imparting what had occurred to Sir Edmund he required a little time, and would send his communication by an English ship.t With respect to General Canrobert's wish as
- General Canrobert to Lord Raglan, ce 4 Mai 1855, 1 heure
iu matin. + Lord Raglan to Admiral Lyons, 4th May 1855, £ past 3 a.m.
