CHAPTER VII.

THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (_continued_).

The Course of Diplomacy--Austria's Position--The Four Points--The Czar agrees to negotiate--Russell's Mission to Vienna--Prince Gortschakoff's Declaration--The Third Point broached--Its Rejection by Russia--Count Buol's final Proposition--The War debated in Parliament--Lord John Russell resigns--Strength of the Government--The Sardinian and Turkish Loans--Vote of Censure on the Aberdeen Cabinet--Finance of the War--General Pélissier--The Fight for the Cemetery--Success of the French--Occupation of the Tchernaya--Expedition to Kertch--Description of the Peninsula--Sir George Brown's Force--The Russians blow up their Magazines--Occupation of Kertch and Yenikale--Lyons in the Sea of Azoff--Result of the Expedition--Attack upon Sebastopol decided--Ordnance of the Allies--The Attack--The French occupy the Mamelon--The British in the Quarries--Lord Raglan overruled--New Batteries--Pélissier's Change of Plan--The Fourth Bombardment--Preparations for the Assault--Mayran's Mistake--Brunet and D'Autemarre--The Attack on the Redan fails--Abandonment of the Assault--General Eyre--Losses on both Sides--Death of Lord Raglan 91