178 THE COUNSELS OF THE ALLIES. CHAP, this agreement of opinion between Lord Piaglan ' and Sir Edmund Lyons, Sir Edmund had expressed his conviction that, unless the pkuie were at once assaulted, it would not be taken at all except after grievous loss, and that the men then composing the army ' would not live to do it.' In later days, when the strength of the English army hud dwindled, and still was dwindling, an<l in yet later days when great reinforceinents had more than supplied all the losses, Lord Kaglan, in con- versation with Lyons, used often to revert to that saying. Opinion of But it secins that the opiiortunity for further the French : . . . „ . . deliberation failed to elicit any change of opinion in the camp of the French. Apparently they were all of one mind; and the opinion they en- tertained was not only shared at the time by Sir ofBurgoyne. John Bui'goyne, but has ever since had the support which his authority gives. This opinion was, that it would be rash, that it would be wanton, nay even, as one chief said, that it would be criminal, to attempt to carry the place without first endeavouring to get down the enemy's fire by the use of the siege-guns ; and the following, as I gather, is the tenor of the reasonings on Theargu- which the conclusion stands based: 'The works ment against ' which cover the place, though not at all strong assaulting. . 1 ' o o ' in themselves, are nevertheless well placed and ' powerfully armed. The line of those defences chief— I spoak of General Aircy. See in tlic Appendix exh'acts from letters of Lord Enj^lan, from which, as I there suhmit, an inference to the same <;ffect may he drawn.
