among 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 MajorGeneral 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

were soon after driven back with great slaughThus was the fortune of the day decided.

ter.

"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."

CHAPTER XVII.

Buonaparte.. His principal plaything.-Napoleon's Grotto.-Buonaparte's gratitude to his mother. He goes to the Military School at Paris. - Made a lieutenant.. His first military service.-His address to the men under his command. - His conduct to poor tradesmen.- Reproof to his generals. -The Jaffa massacre.-Murder of the Duke d'Enghein.-Legion of honour. -Buonaparte threatens to invade England. - French invincibles.-An instance of generosity. -Napoleon's bravery.- Battle of the Pyramids. The battle of Lodi.-Napoleon's return from Elba.-Campaign in Russia.-Allusion to Waterloo. -Buonaparte dies at St. Helena. -The 18th of October a remarkable day.

"Now please to tell us all that you know about Buonaparte, for he was as fond of fighting as any man."

Q

"That is true. The history of Buonaparte, and that of the Duke of Wellington, would be the history of almost all great battles fought since the French Revolution, fifty years ago; but you shall have a sprinkling of such things as I can remember of Buonaparte. Every soldier is pretty well acquainted with the fame of the Emperor Napoleon."

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They say, that he was not a Frenchman: was he?"

"He was a Corsican; but as the island of Corsica became, by law, a French department two or three months before his birth, so he may be called a Frenchman. Napoleon Buonaparte was one of the greatest warriors of modern times. For many years before his death he became Emperor of the French."

"Great as he was, Wellington beat him! Please to tell us something about him."

6

"When a boy, his principal plaything was a brass cannon; and so fond was he of being alone, that when he could do so, he retired to a solitary summer-house among the rocks. The place is now called Napoleon's Grotto.' In after-life he has been heard to say, that in childhood he was remarkable for obstinacy, and curiosity. Others say that he was high-spirited, quarrelsome, imperious, fond of solitude, and a sloven in his dress. One good thing I will tell you of him. He always spoke gratefully of the kindness of his mother. It

was a saying of his, The future good or bad conduct of a child depends entirely on his mother.' From Brienne, where he was for a time educated, he was sent to the Royal Military School of Paris."

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Ay! There he would learn everything about war."

"At sixteen years of age he was made second lieutenant in a regiment of artillery, and seven years after he became a captain. During the French Revolution he took the command of a battalion of national guards; and the first military service he performed was against his own country, Corsica."

"That was a bad beginning, to fight against his country."

"I shall tell you about some of the battles in which he was afterwards engaged, but will now only give you a few anecdotes about him. Some of them are against him, and some in his favour."

"That is the fairest way, to let us know both sides of the question."

"At the age of twenty-six Buonaparte assumed the command of the army of Italy? • You are too young,' said one of the directors, who hesitated about his appointment as general. In a year,' replied Napoleon, I shall be either old or dead.'

"He seems to have had a great deal of spirit." "Soldiers!" said he, to the army under his