Obrazy na stronie
PDF
ePub

Bond-street, intended to hand down to if I had sense to estimate the past and posterity, the History of the immortal the present; if I had been thus raised; victory obtained over the French and if I had seen a whole people experiencthe Americans on the Serpentine River? ing what England now experiences, and What shall we do with the mound a in consequence, too, of transactions for hundred feet high, and the brass lion which I had been praised to the skies, thirty feet high, standing upon the I should, notwithstanding I might have mound, on the "Field of Waterloo," been as innocent in point of intention and put there at the expense of the as, I dare say, the Prince has been; poor Belgians themselves to commemo- were this my case, I confess that, howrate the glory of the great George the ever criminal it might be, I should be Fourth, then the Prince Regent? What coward enough to call upon the earth shall we do with the "Hanoverian to open and swallow me. To have an monument," erected on that field, and adequate idea of what the feelings of with the "Prussian monument," erected the Prince must be, supposing him to on the same field? What shall we do have as weak a mind as I have; and, for a place for the tax-eaters to visit at the same time, to furnish a warning and strut about upon, and spend our against the danger of indulging in the earnings at the sign of the Prince of dreams of glory and ambition, let me Waterloo, and, that of the " Belle Al- insert here, from Debrett's Peerage, a liance"? What shall we do with " Wa-sort of history, or heraldic account, of terloo bridge," which the spinster specu- the glories of the Prince of Waterloo. lators first called the "Strand bridge," From the internal evidence of the writbut which was re-baptised in 1818, the ing, it must have come from the Prince great Prince Regent and the great himself, or have been written and proPrince of Waterloo being sponsors, mulgated by his authority. I recomaided and assisted by horse, foot, and mend it to the attentive perusal of all artillery, with all the pomp of glorious young men. They should read every war? What shall we do with the "Wa-word of it with attention; and here I terloo Places," the" Waterloo Squares," give it for that purpose, without the "Waterloo Terraces," "Waterloo Rows," addition or suppression of one single and "Waterloo Houses"? What shall we word. do to get these names out of our eyes and out of our heads? What shall we do with the tree, under which the great Prince sat while he was achieving the Waterloo victory, and which was afterwards dug up and brought to England, here to be planted, and now standing, I suppose, in the grounds at Stratfieldsay What shall we do with the Waterloo triumphal arch at Hyde Park Corner, representing the glorious achievements of the Prince and joining on to his own dwelling-place? What shall we do with the great naked Achilles, standing in Hyde Park, opposite the Prince's own window, erected (naked thing) at the expense of the "ladies of England"? "But," as PERL in his agony said, on the 8th of November," WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE DUKE !"

Different men are of minds differently constituted; but, speaking for myself, Iam sure, that, if I were in this state;

ARTHUR WELLESLEY, DUKE OF WEL

LINGTON, Marquess of Douro, Marquess and Earl of Wellington, Viscount Wellington of Talavera, and of Wellington, and Baron Douro of Wellesley, co. Somerset; Field Marshal in the army, Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Horse-Guards, Master-General Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, of the Ordnance, and Governor of Plymouth, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Grand Cross of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, Knight of the Order of St. Esprit of France, PRINCE OF and legislative body OF THE NETHERWATERLOO, so created BY THE KING LANDS, VALUE 2000. PER ANNUM; but the right in other respects is much enhanced when it is considered that it is bestowed IN LANDS AND WOODS SITUASPLENDID VICTORY. Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, and a Grandee of Spain of the First Class, Duke of Vittoria, Marquess of Torres of the Most Illustrious Order of the Golden Vedras, Count of Vimeira in Portugal, Knight Fleece, of the Spanish Military Order of St. Ferdinand, Knight Grand Cross of the Impe

TED IN THE VERY THEATRE OF HIS

rial Military Order of Maria Theresa, Knight | THE HEART AND MIND OF EVERY Graud Cross of the Imperial Order of St. ENGLISHMAN. Suffice it, therefore, to George of Russia, Knight Grand Cross of say, that THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD the Order of the Black Eagle of Prussia, cannot produce another instance of a conflict Knight Grand Cross of the Portuguese Royal and Military Order of the Tower and Sword, Knight Grand Cross of the Royal and Military Order of Sweden of the Sword, Knight Grand Cross of the Orders of the Elephant of Denmark, of William of the Low Countries, of the Annunciade of Sardinia, of Maximilian Joseph of Bavaria, and of several others, and Commander of the Forces of his Britannic Majesty in France, and of the Army of his Majesty the King of the Low Countries and his Majesty the King of France and of Navarre; born May 1, 1769, married April 10, 1806, the bon. Catherine Pakenham, 3d | daughter of Edward, lord Lobgford, (who d. before his mother Elizabeth, in her own right countess of Longford,) and sister of Thomas, present earl of Longford, and has issue, Arthur, marquess of Douro, b. Feb. 3, 1807, and Charles, b. Jan. 16, 1808.

This ILLUSTRIOUS NOBLEMAN is the 3d surviving son of Gerrard-Colley Wellesley, earl of Mornington, in the Peerage of Ireland, (by Anne Hill, eldest daughter of Arthur, viscount Dungannon,) and brother of Richard, marquess Wellesley, K. G. &c. &c. (See Marquess Wellesley in the Peerage of land.)

so severe, so sanguinary; in which the skill and coolness of officers were so admirably seconded by the discipline and bravery of soldiers; in which science was so eminently invigorated by the coolness of a universal courage, which had in its turn submitted its fervour to be tempered by the soundest discre tion; in which, in spite of these fair promises of victory, the fate of the battle was a long day so nicely poised, that the coming nightfall would have left it undecided, but for one of those almost SUPERHUMAN IMPULSES WHICH FALL ONLY ON THE GREATEST MINDS, to produce the greatest results. The Duke of Wellington, by seizing an opportunity which the delay of a moment might have lost, destroyed that army which had so long been the terror of Europe; clouded for ever the almost romantic fame of its leader, and crumbled his rebellious throne into dust.

A DUE MEASURE of gratitude for such services COULD NOT HAVE BEEN REN. DERED, but the nation DID ITS BEST: on the 23rd of June the thanks of both Houses of parliament were once more voted to him, Ire-“ for the consummate ability” (to use the very words of parliament on the occasion), "unexampled exertion and irresistible ardour,

After giving a pompous account of his other exploits, he comes to the battle of Waterloo.

displayed by him on the 18th of June;" and on the 11th of the following month, the additional sum of 200,000l. was granted to him towards the purchase of lands, and the building on them a suitable mansion; such estates to be holden by him and his heirs, in free and common socage by fealty, and rendering to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, on the 18th of June in every year, AT HIS CASTLE OF WINDSOR, ONE TRI-COLOURED FLAG, for all manner of rents, services, exactions, and demands.

However MARVELLOUS this series of eminent services, in which Providence had been pleased to crown the MOST SUBLIME EFFORTS OF HUMAN PRUDENCE AND COURAGE with the most unvaried success, it was but the prelude to that stupendous victory which, unparalleled in all its features, as well as in the vastness of its consequences, raised the character of this hero to a height never before attained by any captain. The beneficence of the King of France and the other sovereigns of Europe, was repaid by Alas! how flat, after this, would apthe French armies with the most detestable pear the plain names of GEORGE WASH treachery. The allies had no sooner withdrawn those troops, at the head of which they INGTON, JOHN ADAMS, THOMAS JEFFER replaced Louis on his throne, when Buona-SON, JAMES MADDISON, JAMES MUNROE, parte was again brought triumphantly from ANDREW JACKSON! How vapid! yet, Elba, and the King was once more obliged to when one reflects that the people of seek refuge in the bosom of foreign states. whom they have been the chief Magis Europe again rose, and the usurper advanced to meet its legions; it seemed trates, EAT MEAT THREE TIMES to have been ordained that the conflict A DAY, while those who live in the which had subsisted for more than twenty country where these fine titles abound, years should remain undecided till the TWO live upon potatoes, from the 1st of MIGHTY LEADERS who had so long elec trified the world should, for the first time, January to the 31st of December; when meet hand to hand, and on the 18th day of one reflects on this, and when one Jane, this great conflict took place on the knows at the same time that the jails of plains of Waterloo. To attempt to particu- America are empty; that not ten mea larize any of the events of that day, would the limits of this work allow it, would be im- have been hanged out of twelve mil pertinent, for they ARE ENGRAVEN ON lions, in forty years; that such a thing

as a special commission was never heard attempt an interference in Belgium and of in that land; that there are all the France, we should have to fight Jonaold laws of England and none of the than as well as the French and Belgians; new ones; that, under that mild and and, let it be remembered that I now gentle government, no standing army warn the Ministers of this danger. has been required, though it has carried When the WHIGS were in power before, on a triumphant war, by sea as well as they took up from their predecessors, by land against the undivided power of extended, and carried on, a most vigorthis great country itself: when one ous paper-blockade." That finally reflects on these things, one is almost produced the war of 1812, followed up tempted to believe that the plain names as it was by CANNING and CASTLEof George Washington and of Andrew REAGH, with the aid of their sublime Jackson are worth all the titles, all the negociators, of whom one was the coronets, all the ribbons, stars and garters in the world.

[ocr errors]

younger GEORGE ROSE. The Americans began that war with (to use the expression of the flippant and saucy Canning) "six fir frigates with bits of striped bunting at their mast-head.” They ended it with a stout fleet, some of them seventy-fours, which fleet has been augmenting from that day to this; such being the natural consequences of a people being truly represented in their legislative assemblies, and of the savings of peace making provision for the expenses of war.

Leaving the Prince of Waterloo to the use of his titles, and to carry the TRI-COLOURED FLAG to Windsor Castle every month of June, or, rather, leaving bright Peel to discover what he shall do with him, let me now, in conclusion of this article, observe that we are not to talk of war, especially about Belgium, and shut our eyes to the circumstance that we are not to have such war as that without having something to do with Jonathan, who, let it be remembered, Now, be it known to our ministers carries a Long Tom in his stern. It and to this bothered people, that longwas said of old BINGHAM of Philadel-sighted Jonathan has taken a wonderphia (the father of Messrs. Alexander and ful interest in the recent Revolution in Henry Baring), who had been a super-France. Without a moment's hesitacargo, or something, on board a privateer, tion, his Ambassador at Paris acknowduring the war of revolution, that he ledged the new order of things. In the used to say, in the heat of the fight, United States, joy at that event has "Never mind, my lads, while the Long been expressed in all sorts of ways. In Tom remains unshipped." It was said the last Register, I inserted an account of him, or some other privateer's man, of the rejoicings at New York, to which that being fired at by an English se- I beg leave to refer my readers, if by venty-four, in order to bring him to and chance they have overlooked it. Jonamake him surrender, he returned the than is even a cooler fellow than his fire, but overloaded the Long Tom and ancestors. Show, for show's sake, is algot it unshipped. However he con- together contrary to his taste. There tinued the fight, and got away; and was not, be you well assured, a proceswhen he was asked, after he got into sion" three miles long," with all the port, how he could have the auda- display of the tri-coloured flag entwined city to return the fire, he swore that with that of America, and will all the if he had not unshipped his Long Tom other demonstrations of joy and ap"he would have took her!" I dare plause, without something more than say that BINGHAM, who was a Yankee, mere enthusiasm being at the bottom! (that is, a New Englander,) was, like Jonathan never moves and never speaks the rest of his countrymen, as cool as a without first duly thinking of the concucumber, and as brave as a lion; and sequences. He did not make all that certain it is, at any rate, that that cool parade with LA FAYETTE, and heap race is now prepared for us; and that upon the old general such marks of his if our Government were so unwise as to gratitude (all which, however, he

merited), without having an eye to the must go on gradually sinking into a future. He knew what effect those state of humility and insignificance, marks of his gratitude would have upon until of this proud, and justly proud, a nation so enthusiastic as the French. England, there will be left nothing but There is nothing false in this conduct the name; and that, apparently, solely of the Americans: it is wisdom. for the purpose of reminding us of the They see their own safety; the preser- glory of our fathers and our own devation of their own precious liberties generacy. W. COBBETT. and happiness, likely to be secured by the extension of their principles; and they act with justice and humanity, as well as with wisdom, in endeavouring to extend those principles.

TO WILTSHIRE BENETT.

BENETT,

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

66 6

Kensington, 9th February, 1831.

The aid of the Americans, in case I READ in the Morning Chronicle of of war with England, is relied on to-day, that you made rather free with in France; and it may be safely re- my name last night in the big House, lied on; because it is utterly impos- which, if I treat with contempt, there is sible for us to carry on an efficient war a law to put me to what I deem more against France for a month, without than half death. You are, in the Mornone of two things; abandoning our ing Chronicle, reported to have said, right of search, the exercise of which, "The reason why he (Mr. Benett) acin all its plenitude, is absolutely neces"cused Mr. Cobbett of being at the sary to the efficiency of our arms, or, "bottom of the commotions was, bewithout fighting the Americans for the cause on one occasion when he (Mr. maintenance of that right; and, in this" Benett) had talked of the peaceable case, whence are to come the resources conduct of the agriculturists of Wiltfor the carrying on of such a war? In" shire, Mr. Cobbett had said, in his all parts of the world we should be in-"Register, “ Ah, Mr. Benett, you know stantly assailed; a hundred millions a "little what you are talking about: year of the present money would not you will not say that they are peaceprovide for the expenses of such a war." able many days longer.' So it had No: our wise way is, to make an effi- turned out; for their tranquillity only cient reform of the Parliament; then" continued for about ten days or a to reduce the expenses of every descrip- "fortnight afterwards. He had theretion; then to prepare for efficient war "fore told the honourable Member without hastily or unjustly provoking it;" for Preston that he attributed the and the best preparation of all would misconduct of the labourers to his be, causing the working people to have" speeches and to Mr. Cobbett's a belly-full of bread and meat instead of the all-accursed potatoes; then we Now, BENETT, in the first place, I do should be safe at home; and then not know that you uttered these words; that Englishman who would surrender and, therefore, I comment on them as a the right of search, or any particle of parcel of words that I find put forth in our ancient pretensions to the dominion the newspapers. In the next place, I of the seas, ought to be stripped, not do not pretend to know what effect the only of his shirt but of his skin. We speeches of your brother Member may might then let the French go where have had upon the people, but I know they pleased upon land, except upon that my writings could have had none, the land of England and Ireland. The unless each man paid every week Americans might be told, "Thus far for the Register nearly as much as shall you go and no farther!" But the weekly allowance to him for food while we are in our present miserable and clothing, according to your own state of debt, discontent, and half evidence, given before a Committee of revolution, we must speak to foreign the House of Commons, in the year powers in a tone of timid anxiety, and 1813. That allowance, as stated by

66

writings."

yourself, was (and if I am rightly in- to put into my mouth. I did not say formed it continued the same until the that you knew little what you were talkriots and fires took place) the price of a ing about; nor did I say that the labourgallon loaf and threepence a week; ers would not be peaceable many days that is to say, eight pounds and ten longer; nor did I hint at such a thing. ounces of bread a week, and rather less To be sure, I discovered a little more than a pound and a quarter of bread a sagacity than you did; and the devil is day; and not quite a halfpenny a day in me, I think, if I ought not; but I in money; and this, as stated by you, neither instigated to disturbance, nor was to find food and clothing. Now, at foretold disturbance, in your county; and the time when I was writing to produce I have neither been in it (except riding in the dreadful effect of which you are a post-chaise across a very small part of said to have spoken, the price of the it), nor have I written five letters into it, Register was a shilling; and it is now that I recollect, for years. But, Benett, fourteen-pence. How was it, then, to between ourselves now, would it not reach the hands of the labourers of have been better if you had followed my Wiltshire? Poor souls, they were advice, and raised the wages at once; if thinking much more how they should you had done that then which has been keep themselves and their crying child-done since the fires and riots began, ren from starving than about the read-you would not have had to complain of ing of Registers, or the reading of any- the effect of my writings. My writings, thing else. But this report of your indeed! What effect could my writspeech misrepresents what I said, and in ings have upon these poor souls, a very gross manner too. Here is your amongst a hundred of whom there is speech, and here is the comment that not to be found, perhaps, one whole this report alludes to. linen shirt; and not one man that has "Mr. BENETT presented a petition from the tasted any thing but damned potatoes "inhabitants of several parishes in Wiltshire, and salt for months. I have never "complaining of the great distress under blamed either landlord or parson or which they were labouring, and which they farmer for these unspeakable sufferings "attributed principally to the change in the currency, and praying to be relieved from of the labourers, except on account of "taxation. The hon. Member characterised their not coming forth to get those taxes "the petitioners as a most loyal and well-dis- removed which are the cause of the "posed set of people, and expressed his con"viction, that notwithstanding the temptation "held out to them by what had taken place in another part of the kingdom, they would “not only refrain from outrage, but would be "most active in repressing it.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

suffering. I am not jackass enough to talk about bettering the labourer by taking away either the rents or the tithes; but I have blamed the owners of the land, and I blame them still, for "Pity Mr. Benett took upon him to suffering the labourers to be pinched to "vouch so very positively for the la- death in order to get thirty millions a "bourers of Wiltshire; because here is year to be given to fundholders, twelve a long winter coming. The best way or fourteen millions a year to maintain "will be to raise their wages at once; a standing army in time of peace, and "do that now, before there are any peo-six millions a year and more to be given “ple coming in post-chaises to set fire to those endless swarms called the dead to home-steads. But, by-the-by, if weight. I have never expressed a wish "they will not refrain from outrage to strip the King or the nobles of any"themselves,' how is it possible that thing that justly belongs to them. I they can be 'most active in repressing have never aimed at the destruction of "it! Ah! Mr. Benett, Mr. Benett! any settled institution of the country : They will not be coaxed. Get their I have never desired any great and wages raised, Mr. Benett: take my violent change; but I have always advice, for once,” said, and I know, as well as I know that there is a place called the House of Commons (and God knows we have all

66

[ocr errors]

Now, Benett, this is very different from what your present reporter chooses

« PoprzedniaDalej »