Chapter VIII. — continued. His letter of the 16th of April to the Minister of War, . . 225 No termination of the secrecy which had shrouded Niel's 'mission,' .......... 226 16th April. Agreement made between Canrobert and Lord Raglan, 226 But abandoned three days afterwards by Canrobert, . . 227 17th April. Letter from Niel to the Emperor, . . . 227 111. Ebullition of warlike impatience on the part of the French army, .......... 228 Canrobert either sharing the feeling or hurried along by it, . 229 Niel, 229 23d April. The French ostensibly ready to assault, . . 230 Preliminary conference, ........ 230 Evening of the 23d, 230 Agreement between Canrobert and Lord Raglan for a general assault of Sebastopol, ........ 230 Lord Raglan's impression, ....... 231 IV. General Canrobert's apparently uneasy state, .... 231 His letter next day (24th April) to the Emperor, . . . 231 Niel writing to the Emperor at the same time, . . . 232 The Emperor's account of the two letters, .... 232 Morning of 25th. Canrobert resolved to put off the assault, . 232 The interview between Niel and Lord Raglan, . . . 233 Course taken by Lord Raglan, ...... 234 25th April. Canrobert's letter putting off the attack, . . 234 Lord Raglan's observation on the French change of counsel, . 235 Circumstances under which the letter to Bruat was put for- ward, ........... 235 Weight due to the letter of the 7th of April, .... 236 V. The previous concealment from Canrobert, . . . 237 VI. Uncertainty as to the duration of the postponement, . . 238 Canrobert's idea of its scope, ....... 239 The old fetters refastened upon him, ..... 239
