No More Learning

ATRIOTISM, or the love of country, was con-
sidered by the ancient Greeks and Romans as the
greatest of virtues; and every young person, on
first becoming acquainted with the classical historians,
feels his imagination warmed by the wonderful acts they
record of Courage, Fortitude, and Self-devotion.
In modern days, the sacrifice of a Leonidas, of a
Decius, of a Curtius, is seldom demanded, and the
principles of Christianity would condemn the acts of
a Marcus Brutus and of a Cato of Utica.
The love of country is still, however, a living and
active principle in the mind of a good man, and in the
hearts of the Great Ones of the world, to whom the
happiness of millions is entrusted, it should be care-
fully cultivated; nor are the personal sacrifices of their
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63
time, their ease, and their private opinions, less merit-
orious, or less proofs of devotedness, than the more
brilliant acts recorded of the heroes of antiquity.
Alfred the Great, Queen Elizabeth, Henry the
Fourth of France, and the Empress-Queen Maria
Theresa, are all instances of sovereigns, who have
been imbued with an habitual feeling of kindness and
consideration for the welfare and happiness of their
subjects: a sentiment into which, perhaps, the love of
country may be resolved.
PETER THE GREAT, EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.
"Full of great aims, and bent on bold emprize;
The work, which long he in his breast had brew'd,
Now to perform he ardent did devise;
To wit, a barbarous world to civilize. " Thomson.
ETER the Great, on coming to the throne of
Russia, at the age of nineteen, found himself
sovereign of a people slavishly observant of
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PATRIOTISM.
ancient usages, most of them barbarous and stupid, but
so fondly cherished by the nation, that the task of re-
form appeared almost hopeless. He himself had been
brought up in the grossest ignorance; but his natural
powers were very great; he had an enterprizing, active
mind, and he was filled with the highest ambition of
a great monarch, that of improving his people and
their condition. A very gifted foreigner, named Le
Fort, chanced to enter his service, and soon obtained
his confidence; Le Fort showed him that there was
another mode of living and reigning than that which
was unhappily established in Russia: he explained to
him the advantages to a nation that are derived from
commerce; the superiority of a regular army over
undisciplined troops; the command of the sea that
England and Holland sustained by their navies. The
noble soul of Peter at once threw off the prejudices in
which he had been brought up: he felt he had to form
a nation and an empire; but he had no help around
him: other sovereigns have but to direct improvements;
Peter had himself to do all he wished to have done.
His first attempt was to teach the Russian soldiers the
military discipline then practised by the rest of Europe.
He enlisted as a common soldier in one of his own
regiments, procured German officers, and set the ex-
ample of learning the German exercise. His next
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65
desire was that of forming a navy, and he spent many
months at Archangel, which was then the great re-
sort of foreign ships, that he might himself examine
the different methods in which they were built and
equipped.
His design was also to visit foreign countries, and
learn the arts he wished his subjects to practise, but
before he was at liberty to do this, he had to carry on
a war against the Turks: he conquered them, and
then set out upon his travels, in the train of his own
ambassadors.
He first visited Holland, and that he might perfect
himself in the knowledge of ship-building, he worked
as a common ship-carpenter at Saardan, where the
shed in which he worked and a boat of his making
are still preserved. He was astonished at the multi-
tude of workmen constantly employed; the order and
exactness observed in their various departments; the
great despatch with which they built and fitted out
vessels, and the incredible quantity of stores for the
ease and security of labour. Clad and fed like the
rest of the carpenters, the czar worked in the forges,
the rope-walks, and the mills. These occupations did
not prevent him from attending lectures on anatomy,
surgery, mechanics, and other branches of practical
philosophy cultivated in Holland. At his workshop
F
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PATRIOTISM.
at Saardan, he received the news of the division of
Poland, promised thirty thousand men to King Au-
gustus, and gave orders to his army assembled in the
Ukraine, against the Turks. From Amsterdam he
sailed to England, and he always declared, that he
had learned more during his visit to this country,
than any where else. The Dutch carpenters had
taught him the practical part of ship-building, but the
English instructed him in the fundamental principles
of the art: his attention was also directed to arith-
metic, watchmaking, hydraulics, and astronomy. Wish-
ing to introduce every species of knowledge within his
dominions, he sent into Russia a colony of between
six and seven hundred ingenious men, in the several
arts and professions.
After visiting Vienna, he returned to his own
country, where he carried into effect surprising reforms
in every branch of the Church and State. Aware,
likewise, that politeness and civilization cannot be in-
troduced or preserved without the intercourse of the
two sexes, he established assemblies, at which he him-
self appeared, and to which he invited ladies, who
dressed after the manner of the southern nations of
Europe.
Convinced that while the capital of the empire was
an inland city, Russia would never become a maritime
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67
and commercial nation, he laid the foundations of the
important city of St. Petersburg, in a marshy spot of
ground, close to the Baltic Sea, where not a cottage
existed, and at a time when he was carrying on an
obstinate war with the neighbouring country, Sweden.
He worked with his own hands at the first house, and
himself drew the plan of a small fort, upon an island
facing the town. The Swedes looked with indifference
upon this establishment in a marsh, which large ships
could not approach; but they soon saw the fortifica-
tions advancing, a great city forming, and at length
the little island of Cronstadt become an impregnable
fortress, under the cannon of which the largest fleets
may ride in safety.
St. Petersburg gradually became a splendid city,
and Russia has, since the time of the patriotic and
persevering Peter, ranked among the other kingdoms
of Europe, both as to power and civilization.
THE EMPRESS-QUEEN MARIA-THERESA.
HE illustrious Maria Theresa had scarcely been
invested with the regal purple, when she found
! herself encompassed by enemies, each more eager than another to devour the possessions bequeathed to
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PATRIOTISM.
her by her ancestors. In this distressing situation, she
acted with becoming magnanimity, nor once betrayed
the weakness or the terrors of a woman. She quitted
Vienna, and threw herself into the arms of the Hun-
garians. Having assembled the four orders of the
state, with her eldest son, afterwards the Emperor
Joseph, in her arms, she addressed them in Latin, a
language which she perfectly understood; telling them
that, abandoned by her friends, persecuted by her ene-
mies, attacked by her nearest relations, she had no
resource left, but to stay in that kingdom, and commit
her person, her children, her sceptre, and her crown
to the care of her faithful subjects. The Palatines, at
once softened and inflamed by this pathetic speech,
drawing forth their sabres, exclaimed as one man,
"Moriamur pro regina nostra, Maria Theresa. "
Supplied with money from England, Holland, Flan-
ders, and Venice, but principally supported by her
own magnanimity, and the desperate ardour of her
troops, this great queen stood out against, and finally
triumphed over, the combination against her.
After the death of her consort, the Empress Maria
Theresa had never appeared either at court diversions
or in the theatre; when in the evening of the 19th
of February, 1768, whilst employed, in her dressing-gown, in her cabinet, she received information, by a
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69
courier from Florence, of the birth of her grandson,
Francis. Without any attendants, she rushed through
the ante-room and the adjoining corridors to the
theatre, contiguous to the palace, burst open the door
of the imperial box, pushed through all the chamber-
lains, archdukes, and archduchesses, to the front of
the box, and enthusiastically cried out to the pit, in
the homely dialect of her people, "Der Leopold hat
ein Bueb'n! " Language is inadequate to express the
effect produced by these words. This mother of her
people was sure of the sympathy of her subjects, and
she could not rest till she had made them participators
in her happiness.
THE CITIZENS OF CALAIS.
FTER his great victory over the French at
Crecy, Edward the Third marched to Calais,
with the intention of besieging it, and finding it
too strong to be taken by storm, sat down before it,
determined to subdue it by famine.
John de Vienne, a valiant knight of Burgundy, was
the governor of Calais, and being supplied with every
thing necessary for defence, he encouraged the towns-
men to perform to the utmost their duty to their king
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PATRIOTISM.
and country; and to make the provisions that were in
the town last the longer, he turned seventeen hundred
old people, women, and children, out of it. When
Edward saw all these forlorn wretches thrust out at
the gates, he had compassion on them, gave them food
and money, and let them pass through his army in
safety. After the siege had lasted eleven months, the
garrison were in so much distress for want of food, that
they were reduced to eat horses, dogs, and cats, till even
these failed, and De Vienne found himself obliged to
capitulate: he offered to deliver to Edward the city,
with all the possessions and wealth of the inhabitants,
provided he allowed them to depart with life and
liberty. As Edward had long before expected to
ascend the throne of France, he was exasperated to
the last degree against these people, whose sole valour
had defeated his warmest hopes, and he was determined
to take an exemplary revenge. He answered by Sir
Walter Manny, that they all deserved capital punish-
ment, as obstinate traitors to him, their true and nota-
ble sovereign; that, however, in his wonted clemency,
he would pardon them, provided they would deliver
up to him six of their principal citizens, with ropes
about their necks, as victims of due atonement for
that spirit of rebellion with which they had inflamed
the common people.
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When Sir Walter Manny had delivered his mes-
sage, consternation and dismay were impressed on
every face, and to a long and dead silence, sighs and
groans succeeded. At length, Eustace de St. Pierre,
one of the principal citizens, rose, and addressed the
assembly. "My friends and fellow-citizens, you see
the condition to which we are reduced: is there any
expedient by which we may avoid the desolation and
horrors of a sacked city? My friends, there is one.
Are there any here to whom virtue is dearer than life?
Let them offer themselves an oblation for the safety of
their people! "
He spake--but a universal silence followed: at
length he resumed: "It had been base in me, my
fellow-citizens, to promote a sacrifice in others, which
I was not willing to make in my own person; and
indeed the station I occupy gives me a right to be the
first in giving my life for your sakes. I give it freely,
I give it cheerfully: who comes next? " "Your son,"
exclaimed a youth, not yet come to maturity. "Ah,
my child," cried St. Pierre, "I am then twice sacrificed.
But no--I have rather begotten thee a second time.
Who next, my friends? this is the hour of heroes. "
"Your kinsman," cried John de Aire. "Your
kinsman," cried James Wissart. "Your kinsman,"
cried Peter Wissart. "Ah," exclaimed Sir Walter
Manny, "why was I not a citizen of Calais. "
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PATRIOTISM.
The sixth victim was still wanting, but was quickly
supplied by lot, from numbers who were now emulous
of following so noble an example. The keys of the
city were then delivered to Sir Walter: he took the
six prisoners into his custody, and led them into the
king's presence. Edward, who was highly incensed
at the length and difficulty of the siege, ordered them
to be led to execution; but Queen Philippa fell on
her knees before him, and besought him to spare them.
He granted the request of a wife whom he loved, and
to whom he was recently indebted for an important
victory over the Scots: she had the six brave citizens
conducted to her apartment, where she entertained
them honourably, and sent them back to the town,
bestowing on them many rich presents.
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"True nobility is exempt from fear. "--Shakspeare.
ERSONAL courage is truly a princely quality,
and I can scarcely note down all the instances
that occur to me, in which it has been exhibited,
even at an early age, by illustrious persons, both in
ancient and modern days.
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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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COURAGE.
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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COURAGE.
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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COURAGE.
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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81
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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COURAGE.
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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83
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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COURAGE.
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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? COURAGE.
85
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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COURAGE.
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?