“This Pillar stands in the Place Vendome. It is a hundred and thirty feet high, and entirely covered with brass, furnished by the pieces of cannon taken in many victories from the Austrians. It is one of the most beautiful works of art, of the kind, to be seen anywhere. The different victories gained by Buonaparte are represented in spiral compartments, after the manner of the famous Trajan’s Pillar, at Rome. The figure of Buonaparte some years ago was placed at the top of the Napoleon Pillar.”
“There is one battle in which Buonaparte fought that will never be represented on the Napoleon Pillar.”
“And what battle is that, boys?”
“Why, Waterloo! If that was put at the top or bottom of all the rest, it would take away a great deal of the glory of Napoleon.”
“There is but little danger of Waterloo being added to the battles on the pillar in the Place Vendome; but let us not give our minds to boasting. The French are a brave nation, though they have too frequently forgotten, in their successes, that mercy and magnanimity which ought to be extended to the conquered. Some people say ‘the French will win, the English cannot lose,’—meaning thereby that the French are intrepid in their attacks, but that the cool courage and persevering fortitude of the English are not to be overcome.”
CHAPTER XXIII.
Personal courage.—Heroism.—A life-guardsman.—A corporal.—Private in Bland’s dragoons.—Lewis de Crillon.—Wolfe.—Abercrombie.—Colonel Gardiner.—Major André.—General Picton.—Sir John Moore.—Marquess of Anglesey.—Sir John Elley.—Colonel Colborne.—Colonel Ponsonby.—General Baird.—Sir Thomas Picton.—Sir James Macdonnel.—Lord Edward Somerset.—Sir Henry Hardinge.—Sir Colin Campbell.—General Evans.—Lord Hill.—The regimental surgeon and Sir William Carr Beresford.
“I have already explained to you, boys, that though personal courage is an excellent quality, it never becomes a virtue till it is joined with an honourable or benevolent motive.
‘Be firm, my boys, when ills abound,