No More Learning

LETTER FROM THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON
TO LADY SARAH NAPIER,
INFORMING HER OF A WOUND RECEIVED BY HER SON.
Gallegos, 29th Jan. 1812.
Mv dear Madam,
AM sorry to tell you that your son George was
again wounded in the right arm so badly last night,
in the storm of Ciudad Rodrigo, that it was neces-
sary to amputate it above the elbow. He, however, bore
the operation remarkably well, and I have seen him
this morning, free from pain and fever, and enjoying
highly his success before he had received his wound.
When he did receive it, he only desired I might be
informed that he had led his men to the top of the
breach before he fell. Having such sons, I am aware
that you expect to hear of those misfortunes, which I
have more than once had to communicate to you;
and notwithstanding your affection for them, you have
so just a notion of the value of the distinction they are
daily acquiring for themselves, by their gallantry and
good conduct, that their misfortunes do not make so
great an impression upon you. Under such circum-
stances, I perform the task which I have taken upon
myself with less reluctance, hoping at the same time,
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that this will be the last occasion on which I shall
have to address you upon such a subject; and that
your brave sons will be spared to you. Although the
last was the most serious, it was not the only wound
that George received during the siege of Ciudad Ro-
drigo; he was hit by the splinter of a shell in the
shoulder, on the 16th. Believe me, &c.
YOUNG NAPOLEON.
HERE was at Schoenbrun in 1816, a young lion,
which had been presented to the Emperor of
Austria, and which, being very young, was
nursed by two goats. The emperor, his two daughters,
and his grandson, the King of Rome, went one day to
see this lion, and the archduchess approaching very
near, one of the goats came forward in a menacing
attitude. Young Napoleon, seeing this, ran to the
goat, took hold of her horns, and said to his aunt,
"Vous pouvez vous approcher maintenant, ma tante:
je la retiens. " The emperor was extremely pleased
with the spirit of his grandson, and said, "That is well,
my boy: I see you choose the right way, where there
is danger. "
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CHRISTINA, QUEEN OF SWEDEN.
HRISTINA of Sweden, from her very infancy,
made excursions with her father, Gustavus Adol-
phus: before she was two years old, he carried
her to Calmar. The governor, fearing to terrify the
princess, desired to know if it was his majesty's pleasure
that the cannon of the fortress and garrison should
make the accustomed salutes. Gustavus at first hesi-
tated, but after a few moments' silence, "Let them
fire," said he; "she is the daughter of a soldier, and
it is proper the sound should be familiar to her. "
The child was so far from being frightened at this
military explosion, that she laughed, clapped her hands,
and by her gestures and joy, expressed a desire that
they would fire again. Gustavus observed with com-
placency these marks of natural intrepidity in his
daughter. From this time he always took her with
him when he reviewed his troops, and remarking the
pleasure she discovered at these martial appearances,
he once said to her, " We will go away now, but I pro-
mise you, that one day or other, I will carry you to a
field, where you shall see finer sights. " "To my mis-
fortune," says this princess in relating the fact, "death
prevented him from keeping his word, and me from
the happiness of serving an apprenticeship under so
complete a master. "
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GUSTAVUS VASA, KING OF SWEDEN.
Meme quand l'oiseau marche, on sent qu'il a des ailes.
NE day, when Gustavus Vasa was only five years
old, he was running among some low bushes in
a wood, when his preceptor, to deter him, told him to be careful, for that he had heard there were
snakes in that wood. "Then," said the young prince
courageously, "give me a stick, and I will kill them. "
HENRY, PRINCE OF WALES, SON OF JAMES
THE FIRST.
HE courage and fearlessness of Henry, Prince of
Wales, son of James the First, showed them-
selves from his earliest years. Being asked, very
young, what instrument of music he liked best, he an-
swered, a trumpet, in the sound of which and of drums,
and of small and great pieces of ordnance shot off near
him, he took great delight. He was scarce seven
years old, when a boy of good courage, and almost a
year older, falling by accident to blows with him, and
exerting his whole strength, his Highness not only had
the superiority in the contest, when they were parted,
but loved his antagonist the better ever after, for his
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spirit. While he was a child, he wept much less than
most others of his age. Having once hurt both his
hands with a fall, so that they bled, though the severity
of the pain extorted some tears, yet he rose up with
a smile, and dissembled what he suffered. Looking
once upon some who were hunting a deer, and being
asked whether he liked that sport, he answered, "Yes,
but I love another kind of hunting better: hunting of
thieves and rebels with brave men and horses. "
He was hardly ten years of age, when being desirous
to mount a horse of prodigious mettle, and refused the
assistance of his attendants, who thought it too hazar-
dous an attempt, he got up himself from the side of a
bank, and spurred the animal to a full gallop, in spite
of the remonstrances of those who stood by; and at
last, having thoroughly exercised the horse, he brought
him in a gentle pace back, and dismounting, said to
them, " How long shall I continue to be a child in your
opinion? " None of his pleasures, indeed, savoured the
least of the child. He was a particular lover of horses,
and what belongs to them, and it appeared that when
he went hunting, it was rather for the pleasure of gal-
loping than for that which the dogs gave him. He
played willingly at tennis, and at another Scots diver-
sion very like mall; but this always with persons elder
than himself, as if he despised those of his own age.
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After the hours devoted to study, he employed the rest
of the day in tossing the pike, or leaping or shooting
with the bow, or throwing the bar, or vaulting, or some
other exercise of that kind, and he was never idle.
He showed himself likewise very good-natured to his
dependants, supporting their interests against any
persons whatever: any thing that he undertook for
them or for others, he pushed with such zeal, as was
sure to give success to it, for he exerted his whole
strength to accomplish whatever he desired.
From his childhood he took great interest in naval
affairs, and when about ten years old, a small vessel
was built for his amusement and instruction, in the
business of shipping and sailing. He also gave the
strictest application to his own improvement in military
exercises, and the whole theory of war. He practised
tilting, charging on horseback with pistols, and caused
new pieces of ordnance to be made, with which he
learned to shoot level at a mark. He delighted to
converse with men of skill and experience in war,
both of his own country and foreigners, concerning
every part of their profession, and entertained in his
house a Dutch captain, who was an engineer, and had
been recommended to him by Count Maurice. He
collected in his court a number of young gentlemen of
the greatest spirit and courage; and he contracted
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and cultivated an acquaintance with the most cele-
brated officers of Upper and Lower Germany, and
indeed throughout Europe.
When he was about fifteen years old, his Highness,
not only for his own recreation, but likewise from a
laudable ambition of showing the world what might be
expected from him, under the name of Moeliades,*
Lord of the Isles (an ancient title, due to the first-born
of Scotland), did by some persons appointed for that
purpose, in the chamber of presence before the King,
Queen, and whole court, deliver a challenge to all
knights of Great Britain, and on the appointed day,
the great feat of arms was performed at the palace of
Whitehall, in the presence of the King and Queen,
the Ambassadors of Spain and Venice, and of all the
peers and great ladies of the kingdom, with a multi-
tude of others of inferior rank. His Highness main-
tained the barriers against all adventurers, assisted
only by six young noblemen. Against these challengers
came six and fifty defendants, consisting of earls,
barons, knights, and esquires. Every challenger
fought with eight several defendants, two combats at
* The prince was wont to use that name in the challenges of his
martial sports and masquerades, which in anagram maketh a word
most worthy of such a knight as he was, Miles a Deo.
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two different weapons, push of pike and single sword.
The prince himself gave and received thirty-two
pushes of pike, and about three hundred and sixty
strokes of swords, and performed his part very well
and gracefully, and to the admiration of all the spec-
tators.
EDWARD, THE BLACK PRINCE.
DWARD, the Black Prince, then about sixteen
years of age, made his first essay in arms at the
battle of Crecy. He led his line to the charge
with so much bravery, that the Earl of Warwick, appre-
hensive of the event, from the superior number of the
French, despatched a messenger to the king, and en-
treated him to send succours to the relief of the prince.
Edward had chosen his station on the top of a hill,
and surveyed in tranquillity the scene of action. When
the messenger accosted him, his first question was,
whether the prince was slain or wounded. On re-
ceiving an answer in the negative, "Return," said he,
"to my son, and tell him that I reserve the honour of
this day to him: I am confident that he will show
himself worthy of the honour of knighthood, which I so
lately conferred upon him: he will be able, without
my assistance, to repel the enemy. " This speech
G
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being reported to the prince and his attendants, in-
spired them with fresh courage: they made an attack
with redoubled vigour on the French, and soon en-
tirely routed them.
THE CHEVALIER BAYARD.
AYARD, afterwards surnamed Le Chevalier sans
peur et sans reproche, had scarcely attained his
thirteenth year, when his father, oppressed with
years and with wounds, and feeling his end approach,
sent for his four sons, and in presence of their mother,
asked them what mode of life they would embrace.
The eldest said, he would live with his parents, as
long as heaven should preserve them to him, and
would then live in tranquillity upon his paternal es-
tates. Bayard, the second, spoke after his brother,
and said, with a decision and vivacity beyond his age,
that, inheriting from his father and a long line of
ancestors, a name illustrious in arms, and great exam-
ples of warlike virtues, he entreated him to approve of
his imitating them: that this was his inclination, and
that he hoped, by God's help, not to derogate from the
glory of those of his house, whose great acts he had
often heard cited. At this discourse, his father could
not restrain his tears, and said to him, "My son, may
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God give you his grace: you have already the face
and figure of your grandfather, who was one of the
most accomplished gentlemen of his time: your reso-
lution delights me, and in a short time I shall second
it, by placing you in the house of some prince, where
you may make your apprenticeship in arms. "
THE CHEVALIER DE BOUFFLERS.
HE Chevalier de Boufflers was destined from his
infancy to be a soldier. His grandfather, the
Duke de Boufflers, governor of Flanders, full
of the noble deeds of his ancestors, was anxious that
his grandson should resemble them, and support the
honour of the family. Such an education was there-
fore given to him, as was likely to inspire his infant
mind with courage and a love of glory: he was set to
read the History of Cyrus, the battles of Alexander
and Hannibal, the Lives of Duguesclin, of the Cheva-
lier Bayard, and of Henry the Fourth, the histories of
the Great Conde, of Louis the Fourteenth, and of Mar-
shal Villars. At seven years old, the little Ambrose
was not only acquainted with the lives of the greatest
warriors, but could perform his exercise with the pre-
cision of an old soldier, and in his ninth year he had
also acquired a knowledge of tactics, and the art of
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attack and defence. He could give the word of com-
mand for the different evolutions, and drew up with
skill a little army; for one of the favourite amuse-
ments of his childhood was, to place and move in dif-
ferent directions, little pasteboard models of cavalry,
infantry, and pieces of artillery. As a military man
is likely to travel in foreign countries, the parents of
young Boufflers spared no pains to make him ac-
quainted with the modern languages, particularly the
German, English, and Italian, which he learned in a
few months, by means of conversation.
He had scarcely attained his tenth year, when his
father received orders to join the French army which
was acting in Germany against the Empress Maria
Theresa, and her ally, George the Second of England:
the child entreated to be allowed to accompany him,
and his father consented, proud to see his son so early
desirous of entering the career in which his ancestors
had so nobly distinguished themselves.
Arrived at the camp, Ambrose de Boufflers, not-
withstanding his rank, asked and obtained leave from
his father, to partake the lodgings, the rations, and
the severe duties of the private soldiers, till he should
by his own merit earn promotion. He soon learned
to sleep soundly on the bare ground, and when his
father, after the first night of this trial, went to inquire
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how he had slept, the child, quite fresh and merry,
leaped into his arms, saying, "How can I regret my
nice bed at Paris? I have been dreaming that I was a
Field-Marshal! " He rose through all the gradations
of rank, till he was made a Cornet, and on the very
day of his promotion, he was engaged in active service.
The following is a letter that he wrote to his mother,
giving her an account of the enterprise:
"Che`re Maman,
"Ne soyez pas inquie`te ni tourmente? e en voyant que
mon e? criture est si tremble? e; je n'ai pas encore l'habi-
tude d'e? crire de la main gauche, et j'ai eu la droite
un peu blesse? e hier par le sabre d'un Houlan, qui
voulait me prendre mon joli drapeau. C'eu^t e? te? beau,
n'est-ce pas, de me le laisser enlever par l'ennemi,
quand je ne l'avais encore que depuis trois heures!
car c'est hier que papa m'a confie? le guidon que j'ai
bravement de? fendu, je vous le jure. A peine e? tais
je installe? dans mon emploi d'officier, qu'il m'a fallu
escorter une compagnie de cent vingt cavaliers qui
allaient au fourrage; nous allions la` comme a` une pro-
menade, et vraiment c'en e? tait une bien amusante, pour
moi surtout, qui voyais pour la premie`re fois, tant de
braves gens sous mes ordres. Mais voila` qu'a` notre
retour, nous sommes enveloppe? s par une bande de ces
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vilains Allemands, qui tombent sur nous, en poussant
des cris qui vous feraient bien peur si vous pouviez
les entendre. D'abord cela m'a un peu e? tourdi; j'ai
vide? les e? triers, et je suis tombe? sous mon cheval;
mais biento^t la pre? sence d'esprit m'est revenue, je suis
remonte? a` cheval, et j'ai fait le coup de pistolet contre
ceux qui s'acharnaient apre`s moi. Nous n'avons perdu
personne; et le plus malade de l'affaire, c'est mon
pauvre chapeau, qui a e? te? perce? de trois balles; heu-
reusement on pouvait le remplacer; mais une perte
irre? parable que je craignais de faire pendant le com-
bat, c'e? tait celle de mon brave domestique, ce pauvre
Franc? ois, qui a dix fois risque? sa vie pour sauver la
mienne. Je n'ai pas besoin de vous dire, che`re ma-
man, si papa m'a bien embrasse? quand il m'a vu reve-
nir au camp ; jamais il ne m'avait tant aime? que dans ce
moment la`, et cependant vous savez combien il m'aime.
Il vous dira lui-me^me, si je me suis bien conduit dans
ma premie`re affaire. Quant a` moi, je me sens la main
gauche si fatigue? e, que je n'ai plus la force que de vous
dire, que tous les matins et tous les soirs, je prie le bon
Dieu de me faire la grace de vous revoir quand la
campagne sera termine? e. "
During the three months that preceded the great
battle of Dettingen, the Chevalier de Boufflers under-
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went many fatigues and dangers--long marches, nights
without sleep, difficult posts to sustain; but Ambrose
Boufflers always obeyed orders without murmuring,
and often gave to older soldiers the example of sub-
mission and courage. On the morning of the battle,
he said to his father, "Papa, to-day we shall gain
glory. " "May you say true! " replied M. de Bouf-
flers, gravely; "I think the battle will be rather hot.
In case we should not see each other again, let us
embrace," and he pressed his son to his heart. "One
more kiss for mamma," added M. de Boufflers, "and
then think only of doing your duty. "
A few hours after, the combat began, and the firing
continued without interruption for many hours: whole
corps were swept away by the cannon, and the ground
was covered with the dead and the dying. Towards
the conclusion of the battle, which had before gone in
favour of the French, the English, commanded by King
George the Second, made an unexpected movement,
by which the French general was deceived: the Eng-
lish fired on the French army point blank; the first
batteries were dismounted: terror and confusion spread
from rank to rank. The Chevalier de Boufflers, estab-
lished at a post which he could not quit without orders,
saw all his men fall dead at his side: he remained
firm, till his left leg was shattered by a bullet: he be-
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came insensible, and fell under his horse. A brave
soldier, regardless of his own safety, took the child
upon his shoulders, and fled with him towards the
corps of reserve. Three times is he stopped by the
Austrians, three times he shows the wounded child,
names Boufflers, and is allowed to pass. He arrives
at length at the French camp, and the young Cheva-
lier de Boufflers, having revived, is informed, that owing
to the severity of the wound, it will be necessary to am-
putate the leg. "Well," said he cheerfully, "it is better
to lose one's leg than one's head;" and he was about
to undergo the amputation courageously. "But," said
he, "do people ever die under the operation? " The
surgeon was silent. The child then understood all the
danger of his situation, and requested the delay of half
an hour, not from fear, but because he wished to write
a letter to his mamma. This letter was more tremu-
lously written than the former, for he was suffering
greatly: here is a copy of it:--
"Chere Maman,
"Je viens de recevoir une blessure a la jambe; je ne
vous cacherai pas qu'il faut absolument qu'on me la
coupe. Je souffre plus que je ne pourrais vous dire;
mais c'est moins de mon mal que de la douleur que
vous allez ressentir de ce malheur. Je pense bien sur-
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vivre a l'operation; mais, si Dieu en ordonne autre-
ment, que j'aie au moins la consolation de vous em-
brasser dans cette lettre. Qu'elle soit pour vous, chere
maman, une nouvelle preuve de mon tendre souvenir,
et de ma reconnaissance pour vos bienfaits. "
When he had finished this letter, Ambrose de Bouf-
flers resigned himself into the hands of the surgeons.
M. de Boufflers was present, and holding his son's
hands in his, exhorted him to courage. "Dear papa,"
said he, smiling, "I have more courage than you. "
But soon the smiles vanished; he turned pale. "Ah,
I am dying," said he: "Papa, I am going to leave
you; carry one last kiss to mamma;" and the father,
bursting into tears, bent down to receive the last caress
of his heroic son.
CATO THE YOUNGER.
YLLA used sometimes to send for Cato and his
brother Csepio, and to talk familiarly with them,
a favour which, by reason of his dignity, he con-
ferred on very few, and which they owed to his former
intimacy with their father. Sarpedon, thinking such an
intercourse a great advantage to his pupil, both in point
of honour and safety, often took Cato to pay his re-
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spects to the dictator. Sylla's house at that time looked
like a place of execution, such were the numbers of
people tortured and put to death there. Cato, who
was now in his fourteenth year, seeing the heads of
many illustrious persons carried out, and observing
that the bystanders sighed in secret at these scenes of
blood, asked his preceptor why somebody did not kill
that man. "Because," said he, "they fear him, even
more than they hate him. " "Then," said Cato, "give
me a sword, that I may kill him, and deliver my coun-
try from slavery. " When Sarpedon heard such a speech
from the boy, and saw with what a stern and angry
look he uttered it, he was greatly alarmed, and watched
him narrowly afterwards, to prevent his attempting
some rash action.
ISADAS, A SPARTAN YOUTH.
HEN the Thebans, under Epaminondas, at-
tacked the city of Sparta, Agesilaus defended
it with a vigour beyond his declining years;
Archidamus also distinguished himself, but Isadas, the
son of Phasbibas, was the most extraordinary and strik-
ing spectacle, not only to his countrymen, but to the
enemy. He was tall and beautiful in his person, and
just growing from the boy into the man: he had but a
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few minutes left the bath, when the rumour spread that
the Thebans had crossed the Eurotas: naked and newly
anointed with oil, a spear in one hand, and a sword in
the other, he rushed out of his house, and having made
his way through the combatants, he dealt his deadly
blows among the enemy's ranks, striking down every
man he engaged. Yet he received not one wound
himself; whether it was that Heaven preserved him
in regard to his valour, or whether he appeared to his
adversaries as something more than human. It is said,
the Ephori honoured him with a chaplet for the great
things he had performed, but at the same time fined
him a thousand drachmas for going to battle without
his armour.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND BUCEPHALUS.
HEN the horse Bucephalus was offered to
Philip of Macedon, at the price of thirteen
talents, or ? 2,518. 15s. sterling, the king, with
the prince and many others, went into the field to see
some trial made of him. The horse appeared extremely
vicious and unmanageable, and was so far from suffer-
ing himself to be mounted, that he would not bear to
be spoken to, but turned fiercely upon all the grooms.
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Philip was displeased at their bringing him so wild and
ungovernable a horse, and bade them take him away.
But Alexander, who had observed him well, said,
"What a horse are they losing, for want of skill and
spirit to manage him! " Philip at first took no notice
of this; but, upon the prince often repeating the same
expression, and showing great uneasiness, he said,
"Young man, you find fault with your elders, as if
you knew more than they, or could manage the horse
better. " "And I certainly could," answered the prince.
"If you should not be able to ride him, what forfeiture
will you submit to for your rashness? " "I will pay
the price of the horse. "
Upon this, all the company laughed, but the king
and prince agreeing as to the forfeiture, Alexander
ran to the horse, and laying hold on the bridle, turned
him to the sun; for he had observed, it seems, that
the shadow which fell before the horse, and continually
moved as he moved, greatly disturbed him. While
his fierceness and fury lasted, he kept speaking to him
softly and stroking him; after which he gently let fall
his mantle, leaped lightly upon his back, and got his
seat very safe. Then, without pulling the reins too
hard, or using either whip or spur, he set him going.
As soon as he perceived his uneasiness abated, and
that he only wanted to run, he put him in a full gallop,
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? COURAGE.
93
and pushed him on, both with the voice and with the
spur.
Philip and all his court were in great distress for
him at first, and a profound silence took place. But
when the prince had turned him, and brought him
straight back, they all received him with loud accla-
mations, except his father, who wept for joy, and kiss-
ing him, said, "Seek another kingdom, my son, that
may be worthy of thy abilities; for Macedonia is too
small for thee. "
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? PBESENCE OF MIND.
Presence of mind, and courage in distress,
Are more than armies, to secure success.
PRESENCE of mind is a quick perception of
what is right, with the power of acting upon
that perception. To princes, whose lofty station
and important functions render them liable to sudden
calls for decisive action, this quick judgment may
prove of vital importance. That firmness of character
which is founded upon strong principle, added perhaps
to personal courage, is the quality which most gives
promise, that such a power will manifest itself in the
moment of danger.
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? PRESENCE OP MIND.
95
RICHARD THE SECOND.
URING the rebellion of Wat Tyler, in the reign
of Richard the Second, the king passing along
Smithfield, very slenderly guarded, met with
Wat Tyler, at the head of the rioters, and entered into
a conference with him. Tyler, having ordered his com-
panions to retire till he should give them a signal,
feared not to come into the midst of the royal retinue.
He there behaved himself in such a manner, that
Walworth, the mayor of London, not able to bear his
insolence, drew his sword, and struck him so violent
a blow as brought him to the ground, where he was
instantly despatched by others of the king's attendants.
The mob, seeing their leader fall, prepared themselves
for revenge; and this whole company, with the king
himself, had undoubtedly perished on the spot, had it
not been for the extraordinary presence of mind which
the young king, then only sixteen years of age, dis-
covered on the occasion. He ordered his company to
stop; advanced alone towards the enraged multitude:
and accosting them with an affable and intrepid coun-
tenance, said to them: "What is the meaning of this
disorder, my good people? Are you angry that you
have lost your leader? I am your king: I will be your
leader. " The populace, overawed by his presence,
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? 96
PRESENCE OF MIND.
mechanically followed him. He led them into the
fields, to prevent any disorder that might have arisen
by their continuing in the city, and after granting
them the charters that they demanded, he peaceably
dismissed them.
MARGARET OF ANJOU AND HER SON.
FTER the signal defeat of the Lancastrians at
Hexham, Margaret of Anjou fled with her son
into a forest, where she endeavoured to conceal
herself, but was beset, during the darkness of the night,
by robbers, who, either ignorant of her quality, or re-
gardless of it, despoiled her of her rings and jewels,
and treated her with the utmost indignity. The par-
tition of this rich booty raised a quarrel among them,
and while their attention was thus engaged, she took
the opportunity of making her escape with her son
into the thickest of the forest, where she wandered
some time, spent with hunger, fatigue, and affliction.
While in this wretched condition, she saw a robber
approach with a naked sword; and perceiving that
she had no means of escape, she suddenly embraced
the resolution of trusting entirely for protection to his
faith and generosity. She advanced towards him,
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? ? ? Generated for (University of Chicago) on 2014-12-24 14:31 GMT / http://hdl.