the duke of wellington.—remarks.—the waterloo banquet at apsley house.—salter’s celebrated painting.—the names of the generals and officers at the banquet.—anecdote of apsley house.—george the second and the old soldier.—the old apple-woman and the lord-chancellor.—the legacy.—the duke of wellington’s generosity.—major-general macdonnel’s noble conduct.—sergeant-major frazer.
“tell us something about the duke of wellington, uncle; you must know a great deal about him.”
“almost everybody knows a great deal about 213him, but soldiers especially. i knew him when he was a much younger man than he is now: the soul of dispatch, the very spirit of enterprise. and then, he mingled prudence with his military ardour. trace his progress all through his successful career, and you will not find him cruel, perfidious, and rapacious, as many of the french generals were.”
“tell us all you know about him.”
“an able writer has eloquently said, ‘the duke of wellington, field marshal of the allied army, viz. the english, spanish, and portuguese troops, has most eminently distinguished himself in conducting the late war on the continent, which lasted five hard campaigns, during which time it is remarkable, that no circumstances happened which could throw a shade once over the military glory of the country, or his own personal character.’ it was a new feature, that this great general had conducted these five campaigns through such extraordinary difficulties, in the face of the first armies of europe, headed by some of the greatest commanders which the french revolution had brought forth, and that in every instance he should have been victorious. the field marshal had inspired confidence in all the nations whose troops he commanded, and had risen to the highest command in their service; and so active was he in his exertions that he received the thanks of parliament thirteen 214different times for his distinguished victories and great exploits, which have so mainly contributed to the restoration of peace, and the happy deliverance of europe.”
“wellington must be the first general in the world.”
“the duke, whatever he may think of himself now, used to much underrate his ability as a commander. in the early part of his military life often and often was he heard to say, ‘as for my military talents, it is all a mistake; i have none. nature never intended me for a soldier, but for a statesman.’”
“wellington did not know himself in thinking lowly of himself as a soldier.”
“he has, indeed, proved himself to be the champion of his country. the whole civilized world was threatened with a gallic usurpation, and great britain found herself involved in a struggle, from which she could scarcely, with safety, withdraw. the question is, whether, if the battle had not been fought on spanish ground, and in the netherlands, it would not have been fought on the hills and green valleys of old england? the battle of waterloo was a dreadful fight, and many were the brave fellows, on both sides, who fell; but ever since then, peace has waved her olive-branch among us. who shall say this would have been the case had not british warriors, strong in their strength, 215and mighty in the justice of their cause, entered into the strife, and sternly grappled with their haughty foeman? the victory obtained at waterloo was but one part of the conquest,—the peace we have since enjoyed, is the other.”
“you must please to tell us more about the duke of wellington.”
“the duke, notwithstanding the fame and fortune he has acquired, is very simple in his habits, sleeping at the present time in the same narrow bed in which he reposed on the tented field. it has no curtains, and is so narrow that he has hardly room to turn round in it. but he says, ‘when a man thinks of turning, it is time he were up.’ i will give you an anecdote or two of his conduct in battle, which, perhaps, may never have reached you.
“during the scene of tumult and carnage which the battle of waterloo presented, at every moment, and in every place, the duke of wellington exposed his person with a freedom which made all around him tremble for that life on which it was obvious that the fate of the battle depended. there was scarcely a square but he visited in person, encouraging the men by his presence, and the officers by his directions. while he stood in the centre of the high road in front of mount st. jean, several guns were levelled against him, distinguished as he was by his suite, and the movements 216of the officers, who were passing to and fro with orders. the balls repeatedly grazed a tree near him; when he observed to one of his suite, ‘that’s good practice; i think they fire better than in spain.’ riding up to the 95th, when in front of the line, and even then expecting a formidable charge of cavalry, he said, ‘stand fast, 95th, we must not be beat; what will they say in england?’ on another occasion, when many of the best and bravest men had fallen, and the event of the action seemed doubtful to those who remained, he said, with the coolness of a spectator, ‘never mind, we’ll win this battle yet.’ to another regiment, then closely engaged, he used a common sporting expression: ‘hard pounding this, gentlemen; let us see who will pound longest.’”
“he must have thought very well of his soldiers, to put such confidence in them in the very midst of the battle.”
“one general officer found himself under the necessity of stating to the duke, that his brigade was reduced to one third of its numbers, and that those who remained were so exhausted with fatigue, that a temporary relief, of however short duration, seemed a measure of necessity. ‘tell him,’ said the duke, ‘what he proposes is impossible. he, i, and every englishman in the field, must die on the spot we now occupy.’ ‘it is enough,’ returned the general; 217‘i and every man under my command, are determined to share his fate.’”
“what determination there must have been among them!”
“his grace the duke of wellington gives an annual banquet at apsley house, in celebration of the anniversary of the battle of waterloo. at this banquet the guests are chiefly the most distinguished officers who fought in that memorable battle, which hurled napoleon buonaparte for ever from the throne of france, and sent him an exile to st. helena. the gold and silver services of plate, and the china used on these occasions, are very costly.”
“we should like to see that banquet very much.”
“in the eye of a soldier this banquet is a glorious spectacle, for every beating heart around the festive board has been, at one time or other,
‘among the foremost in the proud array,
the battle’s bulwark in the narrow way.’
“clad in full uniform, and wearing all their decorations, may be seen the illustrious duke and his military companions. again do they recall the perils of the past; nor do they forget, among their toasts, to give, ‘the memory of the heroes who fell at waterloo!’ and ‘the health of our brave companions in arms!’”
“please to tell us the names of some of the 218generals and officers that were with wellington at waterloo?”
“there has been a splendid picture of the waterloo banquet, painted by salter. i have a list of all the generals and officers that appear in the painting, and, as it is altogether a national record, if you like, i will read the list over to you.”
“what, the names of all who were at the banquet! that will be capital! now for it, uncle.”
“i shall soon read it over, so pay attention.
“field marshal the duke of wellington.
his late majesty william the fourth.
his majesty the king of holland.
general count pozzo di borgo, russian ambassador.
general the marquess of anglesey.
his grace the duke of richmond.
major-general sir arthur clifton.
lieutenant-general lord edward somerset.
major-general wyndham.
major-general sir robert dick.
colonel stawell.
general don miguel alava, spanish ambassador.
lieutenant-general lord fitzroy somerset.
colonel egerton.
major-general sir edward bowater.
major-general sir george scovell.
major-general sir james macdonnel.
colonel dawkins.
colonel sir hugh ross.
lieutenant-general sir edward barnes.
lieutenant-colonel berkeley drummond.
lieutenant-colonel lord john somerset.
lieutenant-general sir peregrine maitland.
major-general lord saltoun.
219major-general clement hill.
major-general sir john waters.
colonel gurwood.
major-general sir charles broke vere.
major-general sir henry hardinge.
lieutenant-general sir hussey vivian.
the late lieutenant-general sir john elley.
lieutenant-general sir colin campbell.
lieutenant-general sir andrew barnard.
colonel lord sandys, scots’ greys.
the right honourable lieutenant-gen. sir james kempt.
major-general lord harris.
lieutenant-colonel rowan.
the honourable major-general edward lygon.
lieutenant-general sir frederick adam.
lieutenant-colonel sir robert gardiner.
the honourable major-general elphinstone.
colonel taylor.
colonel allix.
major-general sir john may.
colonel calvert.
major-general sleigh.
the late colonel lord robert manners.
colonel douglas mercer.
colonel hunter blair.
colonel parkinson.
lieutenant-general sir henry askew.
colonel lluellyn.
colonel james hay.
colonel freemantle.
colonel sir charles dance.
the honourable colonel dawson damer.
colonel sir george hoste.
the late major-general ady.
the honourable colonel sir horatio townshend.
colonel james grant.
major-general sir henry willoughby de broke.
220colonel reeve.
major-general sir william gomme.
colonel stretton.
lieutenant-general sir john vandeleur.
colonel o’malley.
the late major-general sir jos. stratton.
colonel lord hotham.
lieutenant-general sir thomas reynell.
the honourable major-general murray.
major-general d’oyly.
major-general sir edward kerrison.
lieutenant-general sir john lambert.
lieutenant-general sir colin halkett.
the late major-general sir alexander dickson.
lieutenant-general strafford.
general lord hill.
the late lord bathurst.”
“thank you for reading us the list. the company at the banquet, who fought at waterloo, will be getting less and less every year. where is apsley house? we have often heard of it; no doubt it is a grand place.”
“apsley house stands at the south-east entrance of hyde park, and near it may be seen the celebrated bronze statue of achilles, erected in honour of the duke of wellington. the mansion is certainly a splendid one, though the strong musket-proof iron gratings, which defend the windows, are no ornament to it. those gratings were placed there because a rude assemblage of people once threatened the duke, and demolished his windows. popularity with the people is a very uncertain possession. the bronze palisading and gates in 221front are very strong. i can tell you a very curious anecdote about apsley house, which appeared in the newspapers, if you should like to listen to it.”
“oh yes! do let us hear it; we hope it is a very long one.”
“not very long, but, as i said, very curious. as george ii. was one day riding on horseback in hyde-park, he met an old soldier who had fought with him in the battle of dettingen. with this soldier he entered into free discourse. after talking together for some time, the king asked the old veteran what he could do for him? ‘why, please your majesty,’ said the soldier, ‘my wife keeps an apple-stall on the bit of waste ground as you enter the park, and if your majesty would be pleased to make us a grant of it, we might build a little shed and improve our trade.’
“the request was a very moderate one, and was at once granted. in a little time the old apple-woman prospered greatly, for the shed was built, and her business surprisingly increased. the situation was a good one for the purpose, and she carried on a very profitable trade.
“in the course of years the old soldier died, and the lord-chancellor, who was looking around him at the time for a suitable piece of ground whereon he might build himself a mansion, fixed his mind on this very spot. the old woman was sadly alarmed when she saw her poor shed pulled down, and preparations made for building up a great house 222where it stood, so away she went to her son, an attorney’s clerk, to consult with him as to what course should be pursued. the son was shrewd enough to see at once the advantage that might be gained by remaining quiet in the matter, so he advised his mother to say nothing until the great mansion should be completed. no sooner was the house finished, than the son waited on the lord-chancellor to complain of the trespass committed on his mother’s property, and to claim a recompense for the injury that had been sustained.
“when the chancellor saw that the claim was undeniable, he directly offered a few hundred pounds, by way of compensation; but this was altogether refused; the old woman, advised by her son, would by no means settle the affair on such easy terms. after some deliberation, a ground-rent of four hundred pounds a-year was demanded, and his lordship at last agreed to the terms. to this very day, apsley house, the mansion of the duke of wellington, yields a ground-rent of four hundred pounds per year, to the descendants of the old apple-woman.”
“there never was a more curious tale than that, however! it was enough to make the old apple-woman wild with joy.”
“some few years ago two gentlemen waited on the duke of wellington, at apsley house, and told him, that a friend of theirs had died, leaving them executors to his will, in which, 223among other bequests, he had left five hundred pounds to the bravest man in the british army, and that as they considered his grace to be the bravest man, they had called to hand over to him a check for the money.
“the duke was much pleased at the compliment paid to him, but declined to receive the money, as he said there were many other men in the british army who equalled him in bravery. he was then requested to decide on whom the money should be bestowed. this was a difficult point; but at length he proposed it should be given to major-general sir james macdonnel, who so resolutely defended hougomont, the key to the british position, in the memorable battle of waterloo.
“the two gentlemen then called on major-general macdonnel, telling him the decision of the duke of wellington, and tendering him the five hundred pounds. but sir james, in his turn, declined to receive it, knowing, as he said, a man who, in the battle of waterloo, had showed himself equal to any one in bravery. the major-general then described, that when the french troops made one of their rushes at the gates of the farm-house, called hougomont, in that critical moment when victory and defeat hung evenly in the balance, sergeant-major frazer, a very powerful man, boldly assisted him to close the gates, thereby shutting out the french, who 224were soon after driven back with great slaughter. thus was the fortune of the day decided.
“the duke of wellington considered major general macdonnel deserving of the money, on account of his resolute defence of hougomont, and sir james considered that sergeant-major frazer, was entitled to share it with him, on account of the great service he had rendered him on that occasion. the money was divided between the general and the sergeant-major, and the generosity of the duke of wellington and sir james macdonnel will not soon be forgotten.”
