Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol 7.djvu/418

374 THE WINTEIl TROUBLES. CHAP, was one of lite and death to the soldier ? (^^) ^^" And ngain, if she chose, might she not expend her own resources in striving against the foul poi- sons that surrounded our prostrate soldiery ? (2*^) Rather, far, than that even one man should suffer from those cruel wants which she generousl) chose to supply, it was well that the State should he humbled, and submit to the taunt which ac- cused it of taking alms from her hand. If we learnt that the cause of the evils afflict- ing our Levantine hospitals was a want of im- pelling and of governing power, we now see how the want was supplied. In the absence of all constituted authority proving equal to the emergency, there was need — dire need — of a firm, well-intentioned usurper ; but amongst the males acting at Scutari, there was no one with that resolute will, overstriding law, habit, and cus- tom, which the cruel occasion required : for even Dr M'Gregor, whose zeal and abilities were admirable, omitted to lay hold, dictatorial ly, of that commanding authority which — because his chief could not wield it — had fallen into abeyance. The will of the males was always to go on performing their accustomed duties in- dustriously, steadily, faithfully, each labouring to the utmost, and, if need be, even to death (as too often, indeed, was the case), in that groove- going ' state of life to which it had pleased God ' to call him.' The will of the woman, whilst stronger, flew also more straight to the end ; for what she almost fiercely sought was — not to make good mere equations between official codes of duty