292 canrobert's notion of CHAP. XI. Canrobert peremp- torily refus- ing to guard the English trenches : Omar Pasha also refus- ing. The conse- quences of these re- fusals. Lord Rag- lan's morti- fication. answers he obtained were positive. Both Can- robert and Omar Pasha declared 'that it was im- ' possible for them to guard the English trenches.' * Omar Pasha assigned some reasons for his refusal; but — more flatly — 'General Canrobert said he ' could not impose such a task on any portion of ' bis army;'t 'and thus/ continues Lord Raglan, ' it became evident that the four Divisions of her ' Majesty's troops now engaged in occupying the ' trenches would have to remain on that duty ' when any operations of an offensive nature ' should be undertaken. I confess that this is ' a great mortification to me.' J Lord Raglan might well have felt pained when contrasting that great command in the field which the united Governments of France and England had agreed to provide for him with the task to which he found himself riveted by the absolute refusal of our French and Turkish allies to take bis place in front of Sebastopol. He may even have felt disappointment. It is true that, when hearing at first of the Buckingham Palace agree- ment, Lord Raglan had smiled at the notion of Canrobert's ever consenting (whether aided or not by the Turks) to hold the entire position of the besiegers without an English force on the Chersonese to share his anxious task ; but the change which substituted for Canrobert so strong a man as Pelissier to hold the immediate command in front of Sebastopol may have led
- Lord Raglan to Secretary of State, Secret, May 15, 1855.
f Ibid. X Ibid.
