The aspect of' the war is brighter and more cheering
than at any period since the landing at Old Fort. Not that there has been anything more than preparations in furtherance of the renewed siege ; but the encouragement arises from the change in the com- mand of the French army and the magnitude of the force which is now arrayed in the Crimea under the three Generals-in-chief. Allowing for exaggerations, that force may be estimated at 200,000 men. Before them open several lines of operation ; and it is expected, not without reason, that the Allied Generals will not fail to take advantage of one or more opening. There are drawbacks. Disease is revived by the close packing of the men and the pollution of the place. But the chief discouragement .arises from the irritating effect created among the troops by the recall of the expedition to take Kertch. The cause of the aban- donment is not stated : we cannot help conneoting it with the re- call of General Canrobert ; but it is possibly only one of the pre- ludes to still more important and decisive operations.
Previous page
