Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/14

X PREFACE TO TIIE PRESENT EDITION by taking any such measures to cover his retreat as might have liiudered it, or tended to hinder it from lapsing into a rout : but these were faults rather implying a want of good leadership than of sheer hghting power; and certainly along that half-mile which constituted his centre, and even indeed, it would seem, at almost every part of liis greatly extended line, the soldiery defending his front must be said to have met their assailants — troops all of the most superb quality — with a manful and stub- born courage. Nor let any one fail to remember that along with our purpose of guarding the Suez Canal, and forcibly wresting all Egypt from a strongly established dic- tator, there remained yet another — another and more sacred — task that an unforeseen course of events had imperatively fastened on England, — the task of saving Cairo from the fate of Alexandria — from massacre, spoliation, and flames. This also by rare, though perhaps well-considered audacity. General Wolseley proved able to compass. What wonder then that a country thus swiftly, thus brilliantly served, sh)uld abound in warm grat- itude to its Army and Navy ? What wonder that manifestations of so natural, so wholesome a feeling should even run to excess, and that — laying aside for a moment its wonted air of impassiveness — a nation which confessed itself glad shouhl almost seem to exult ?