Throughout the campaign the two were much together, as we shall
notice more fully later on. There are often slight but
unmistakable signs of Kinglake's presence as spectator and auditor
of Lord Raglan's deeds and words; {14} his affection and reverence
for the great general animate the whole; in outward composure and
latent strength the two men resembled each other closely. The book
is, in fact, a history of Lord Raglan's share in the campaign;
begun in 1856 at the request of Lady Raglan, the narrative ends
when the "Caradoc" with the general's body on board steams out of
the bay, "Farewell" flying at her masthead, the Russian batteries,
with generous recognition, ceasing to fire till the ship was out of
sight. "Lord Raglan is dead," said Kinglake as vol. viii. was sent
to press, "and my work is finished."
Ten years were to elapse before the opening volumes should appear;
and meanwhile he entered parliament for the borough of Bridgewater,
which had rejected him in 1852. His colleague was Colonel Charles
J. Kemyss Tynte, member of a family which local influence and
lavish expenditure had secured in the representation of the town
for nearly forty years.
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