Opis: Notes and Queries, Vol. 12 - Author Unknown

Excerpt from Notes and Queries, Vol. 12: A Medium of Intercommunication for Literary Men, General Readers, Etc

They had ordered horses at four, which, it seemed, had not come. The Guards marched at four the same morning, and Russell had called the last thing before marching for the chance of finding a servant up to get his sword or something that he had left a day or two before. In the course of a day or two we learned that Bonaparte had never quitted Paris, and that the report had been treacherously spread for the purpose of making Louis quit Lille. The best of the joke is that four or five days afterwards Lord Waterpark sent over a lady, his sister-in-law, disguised in a French costume and travelling in a carriage of the country, for the purpose of ascertaining in whose possession Brussels was, whether Boney was here, and what chance Lord Waterpark had of recovering certain heavy packages he had left behind. This lady was recognized, notwithstanding her disguise, in a shop by one of the Ladies L., and was obliged to confess the object of her mission, and expressed surprise that any English persons were found still at large in this town. We are all packed up and ready to start at a moments warning, but I should not be at all surprised at the Dukes refining a little too much, for he is very sanguine, expecting the success of the Allies, and, in short, of all of us being made prisoners should the great Emperor make a dash at Belgium. Bonaparte said a few days ago: "Je plains beaucoup pour ces bons Bourbons." We have had most of the branches of the royal family scampering through Belgium without daring to look behind them. They certainly have behaved in the most cowardly manner except the king, and he is little better than the rest. Had some individual shown spirit enough to fall in the cause, there might have been a "civil war." Lord Wellington [sic] is appointed General-in-Chief of the English, Prussians, Dutch, and Hanoverians, and is expected here daily...

II.

[To his sisters.]

Bruxelles, April 11, 1815.

...The Duke of Wellington arrived here on the 4th, after having travelled near 700 miles in seven days, at least I believe it is about that distance from Vienna to Bruxelles. He dined here on Thursday the 6th You may conceive the pleasure it gave me to find myself at the same table with such a man as he is. The company consisted of the Hereditary Prince General, Lord Hill, Lord W.'s second in command, Sir Charles Stewart, Ambassador at this Court, Hon. Charles Gordon, Secretary of Legation, his Brother Col. Sir Alexander Gordon, Col. Bourg, aides-de-camp to the Duke, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond, two Lady Lennoxes, Lord March, and your humble servant. Upon numbering them up to make up the fourteen. I find I have omitted Mr. apel, a man who holds some high, office in the Prince's household, and wears the royal ivery, red cuffs and collar. The Duke of Wellington was in the highest spirits, full of 'un and drollery, and made himself the life and soul of the company. When the ladies retired he engrossed the whole of the conversation, and told many interesting anecdotes of Bonaparte and his campaigns, which he had heard from some of the French Marshals during his residence in Paris. No source can be more authentic, and every one listened to him with the greatest interest. The day happened to be the anniversary of Badajos, and you may be sure this was not forgotten by the Duke of Richmond.

The Duke appears to unite those two extremes of character which Shakespeare gives to Henry V., the hero and the trifler. You may conceive him at one moment commanding the Allied armies in Spain, and at another sprawling on his back or on all fours upon the carpet, playing with a child. His judgement is so intuitive that instant decision follows perception, and consequently, as nothing dwells for a moment on his mind, he is enabled to get through an infinity of business without ever being embarrass

Szczegóły: Notes and Queries, Vol. 12 - Author Unknown

Nazwa: Notes and Queries, Vol. 12 A Medium of Intercommunication for Literary Men, General Readers, Etc (Classic Reprint)
Autor: Author Unknown
Wydawnictwo: FB &c Ltd
Kod paskowy: 9781331449058
Języki: angielski
Ilość stron: 554
Format: 15.2x22.9cm
Oprawa: Miękka

Recenzje: Notes and Queries, Vol. 12 - Author Unknown