CHAP V.
once in his life, was cast into a state of 'low spirits,' by hearing the Marshal reply, 'that he had ascertained that the Russians had thrown up strong earthworks on the banks of the river; and though he (the Marshal) did not doubt that the Allies could force them, as they had the works on the Alma, they could not afford the loss that would be entailed;'[1] and, finally, we were enabled to perceive the way in which this refusal of the French to go on with the campaign as originally planned, was the cause which induced the Allies to halt to halt with the whole of their forces-for two clear days on the Alma.[2]
Reconnaissance by Sir Edmund Lyons. It must now be added, that the further efforts of Sir Edmund Lyons to induce the Marshal to agree to an attack on the position of the Star Fort were attended with no success. Upon hearing from Lord Raglan that the Marshal had alleged the new earthworks overlooking the Belbec as an obstacle not to be faced, Sir Edmund put himself on board a small steamer, and ran in so close as to be able to reconnoitre effectually. Failure of his endeavour to persuade St Arnand. He then ascertained that the newly- appearing works were of the kind represented by the Marshal, but that they had not yet been armed. Sir Edmund hastened to report the re- sult of his survey to the French Commander, but