[[158]] See [p. 33]. The letter has been printed by Col. Verner in A British Rifleman (George Simmons’ diaries).
[[160]] Charles Beckwith, so often mentioned in the first volume, lost a leg at Waterloo. During his time of suffering he underwent a religious conversion. “I was carried away by the love of glory, but a good God said to me, ‘Stop, rascal!’ and He cut off my leg; and now I think I shall be the happier for it.” Through casually opening a book in the Duke of Wellington’s library, he became interested in the Vaudois or Waldensian Protestants, and from 1827 onwards spent a great part of his life among them as a father or apostle. He died in 1862 (see Dictionary of National Biography).
[[161]] Sir Harry passed Gen. Beckwith’s letter on to Col. W. Havelock, the “Young Varmint” of the Light Division (destined to die a soldier’s death at Ramnuggur two years later), and received a characteristic letter of acknowledgment of the “treat” it had given to “yours affectionately, Old Will.”
[[162]] Lord Malmesbury wrote in his diary for May 8th, “Dined with the Eglintons. General Sir Harry Smith was the great lion of the evening. He is a little old man, very clever-looking. She is a Spanish woman, and has been very handsome” (see Memoirs of an Ex-minister).
[[163]] The Peninsular Medal had just been granted.
[[164]] For his early friendship with Harry Smith, see [p. 5, n.]
[[165]] On the opposite page is given a facsimile of the handbill issued for the occasion.
[[166]] Dean Peacock, who presided, referred to the character he had received of Sir Harry from Sir John Herschel, as one not only valiant in the field, but able to conciliate a foe and turn the enemies of the British Empire into its friends.
[[167]] Life of Sedgwick (Clark and Hughes), vol. ii. p. 124. The Illustrated London News of 10th July, 1847, has an illustration representing Sir Harry passing the house of his birth.