340 THE BATTLE OF BALACLAVA. chap, attacking the redoubts. His Boyal Highness 1 declined to interfere ; but it is probable that Sir Colin Campbell may have found some other channel by which to convey his advice.* At all events, no attack took place. I do not imagine that Sir Colin meant to express any opinion against duly concerted measures for the recovery of the heights, but only to deprecate an isolated attack upon ground where the enemy had just concentrated a large part of his force. Deiibera- However, General Canrobert and Lord Raglan tions of .....,,.. General had a force m the plain which, by this time, was Canrobert and Lord so disposed that they might undertake the re- Raglan. r J ° capture of the heights, and they were called upon to determine whether or not it would be well for them to use their power. Lord Raglan, I believe, still desired to do so ; but the loss of the Light Cavalry Brigade, though it did not impair the power of the Allies to recapture the heights, was a reason which made it more difficult than before to maintain an extended dominion in front of Balaclava. Indeed it was evident that the dominion which had there been exercised could now be no longer maintained without either relax- ing the siege, or else determining that a portion of the French covering army should come down to take charge in the plain ; and it is evident that this was a condition of things which would fairly entitle General Canrobert to even more than his usual weight in the Anglo-French counsels.
- I believe he came himself and spoke to Cathcart. — Note to
5W Edition.
