The Sun.
London, England, 1838-06-29 00:00:00

MEMOIR OF MARSHAL SOUL'.

Though Jean-de Dieu Sout is one of ele ablest of Nape-
leon's marshals, his active career has been so exCuively mili-
tary, that a detailed account of it would afferd Lula entertain-
ment to any caller than a professional le ider. For this reason
less space can be devoted to it on the present occasion titan its
importance would otherwise deserve.
The origin of this grei,t soldier is mean. He was born
March 29th, 1769, at St.. Auraroe in the department of Tarn.
In his sixteenth year he entered the service, and after spend-
ing' some time in the rojal regiment of artillery, became sub-
lieutenant of grenadiers. Under Roche, and then under
Jourdan, he distinguished himself by a bravery always subser-
vient to a sound discretion. Nor were his talents more strik-
ingly exhibited on any of these ettrly occasions, than at the
hatVe of Fleures. Soult was chief of the staff to General
Lefebre, who headed the advanced guard of the army of the
Moselle. When the right wing under Marceau was routed,
and that general himself forced to fall back on Lefebre's
he entreated, in an agony of despair, a succour of four
battalions, that he might make an effort to recover his lost
position. " Give them to roe," said he to Lefebre, "or I will
blow out my brains!" Lefebre consulted Colonel Soult, who
observed, in a loud voice, that such a step would endanger the
safety of t' le division. Marceau knew nothing of Soult, and
was equal.), surrised and indignant that an obscure aide-de-
camp should presume to decide on such a. subject. " Who
are you?" cried Marceau. " Whatever I am," answered
Seult, " you perceive I axe calm, which I am sorry to sly you
are not." The indignation of the General was increased by
this cool superiority of Soult, whom he threatened to fight the
day following. " Very well," answered the latter; " I shall
never fear to speak the truth either to you or any other man ;
but at the same time, I have no wish to treat you with disre-
spect. Do not kill yourself, General, but lead on your men
to the charge, and you shall have the four battalions as soon
as we can spare them." The result proved the wisdom of
Soult's advice. The division of Lefebre was almost instantly
assailed by the Prince of Coburg; and a bloody conflict en-
sued, in the midst of which both Soult and Marceau fought
like lions. Towards evening this obstinately contested battle
appeared to Lefebre to be so much to the disadvantage of the
French, that he was inclined to make a retrograde movement ;
but the design was opposed by Soult. "If I am not mis•
taken," said the latter, "from what I can judge of the enemy's
second line, the Austrians themselves are preparing to re-
treat." An order from Jourdan to charge confirmed the eagle
glance of this soldier : Coburg was retreating, though in very
good order. After the battle, Marce ru, whose anger had given
way to admiration, observed to Lefebre, " The chief of your
your staff is a meritorious officer: he will soon be noticed."
He held out his hand to Soult: " Colonel, forgive the pa=t.
Though my rank authorises me to give you instructions, you
have this day given me a lesson which I shall never forget. It
is you, in fact, who have gained the batt'e." The two officers
embraced, and, to the honour of both be it said, thenceforth
they were steadfast friends.
From thin time to the peace of Amiens the reputation of
Sault daily increased. In 1794 he was made a general of
brigade; and in 1793, of division.
The First Consul knew Soult by report, and one day in-
quired of Massene whether he deserved his high reputation.
" Both for judgment and courage," replied the veteran, " I
can recommend him as one who, in my opinion, has scarcely
a superior." The consequence of this honest praise was, that
he was entrusted with the command of the Chasseurs of the
Consular Guard, and thenceforth honoured with the personal
esteem of Bonaparte. From the same date may be reckoned
the enmity of Berthier, who, destitute of military talent him-
self, could never behold without jealousy the homage which
the First Consul paid to such qualities in others.
When the invasion of England was resolved on, Soult was
placed over the army encamped from Boulogne to Calais. The
discipline which he established was severer than had ever been
known to exist among the French troops; from day-break to
night-fall he was on horseback inspecting their various evolu-
tions, or superintending on foot their labours in the entrench-
ments. Many of them complained, and one day even the
First Consul expressed au apprehension that they would in
the end sink under it. The General replied, " Such as can-
not withstand the fatigue which I support myself, will remain
in the depots ; but such as do stand it, will be fit to under-
take the conquest of the world." Soult well knew the vast
&signs which occupied the mind-of the First Consul ; and he
on his side perceived that such a man as Suult would be one
of his firmest supports—the ready and able instrument of his
most unprincipled designs. Of the eighteen generals who
were invested May 19th, 1804, with the marshal's truncheon,
none was judged more deserving of it than General Soult.
When the elarsheln surrounded Napoleon to receive his
instructions at Austerlitz, all that he said to Soult was, " To
you, Marshal, I have only to observe, act as you always do."
In the heat of this battle, nn aide-de-camp arrived with an

order that he should instantly gain the heights of Pratzen.
" I IA in obey tbe Emperor
swered the Marshal. " but this is not the proper time." This
kindled the rage of the Emperor, who despatched another
aide-dc camp with a more peremptory mandate. He arrived
just as Soult W 23 putting his column in motion. The ma-
noeuvre had been delayed only because the Russians were ex-
tending their lice to the left, and so weakening their centre
which um in possession of the heights. Complete success
attended the Marshal's attack. Bonaparte, from his emi-
nence, perceived at once the reason of the delay and the bril-
liancy of the movement. He rode up to Soult, and in pre-
sence of the whole staff, who the moment before had heard
him violently exclaiming against his disobedience, said,
" Marshal, 1 account you the ablest tactition in my empire."
" I believe it, Sire," replied the other, who knew how to
flatter, " since your Majesty ha the goodness to tell me so."
At another time, still in the heat of the battle, the Emperor
said, " Marshal, you have covered yourself with glory to-
day—you have exceeded my expectations from you !" And
soon afterwards, when some otitis generals demanded fresh in-
structions, he replied " Go and receive them from Marshal
Soult I He it is who directs the action."

At Eylau the French army was in a critical situatkn. Au-
gereau had been routed, the march of Davoust had been im-
p'ded, Ney and Bernadotte were at a distance ; and the
Emperor was so much discouraged at the heavy loss he had
sustained, that he wished to fall back, to effect a junction with
his other corps. " Beware of doing so, Si:e l" exclaimed
Soult with vivacity. " Let us remain the last on the field,
and we shall have the honour of the day. From what' I have
seen, I suspect the enemy will retreat during the night," The
Emperor complied with his Marshal's suggestion, the wisdom
of which was fully justified by the event, and he was soon re-
warded with the ducal fief of Dalmatia.

But the Marshal was now called to a scene where his
triumphs were to be short lived, and wh.:re disgrace vas
generally to attend his ablest measures. In 1808 he entered
Spain. His first duty was to pursue Sir John Moore, whose
retreat he harassed, but whom he dared not openly attack until
the English reached Coruna. Under the walls of that city,
he furiously assailed Sir John, in the view of preventing the
embarkation of our troops ; but after a very smart action, in
which the English General he %%as completely r.•pulscd.
His next step was to invade Portugal ; and that he 'night
obey the instructions he received with the more alacrity, he
is understood to have been promised a portion of the ki:tgdom
in sovereignty. For some time he met nothing like a cont.
bitted opposition : Oporto was taken and pillaged, and many
other towns suff2red from the rapacity of his troops. But to
subdue the country was beyond his power. The very pea-
santry, ill-armed and undisciplined as they were, arrested his
progress, and at last the British, under Sir Arthur Wellesley,
advanced against him. Our General marched with such cele-
rity that the Marshal was turprised at the passege of the
Douro, and was near being made prisoner in Oporto. Forced
to abandon his artillery and baggage, he commenced a most
embarrassing retreat through ►mountainous tracts until he
reached Lugo, the siege of which he compelled the Spaniards
to raise.

After the disaster of Talavera, Soult hastened to eff,et
junction with Ney and Mortier, and in his turn pursued Wel-
lington, who could not make a stand against the combined
strength of the three ; but the pursuit was not continued
beyond the confines of Spain.
On his return from this fruitless expedition, the Duke of
Dalmatia overran Andalusia. He to, k Seville, but he failed
before Cadiz. When Massena entered Portugal, destined to
meet with as little success as he had
,mheeetrbet;ie leftore,Soualtg ia•erdruiseoend,
Badajoz, the key of the Guadiana, ,
and returned into Andalusia. That fortress, however, being
soon invested by the allies, he advanced to its relief ; and on
the 16th of May, 1811, gave battle to Sir William Beresford,
who headed a few thousands of the allied forces. Unfor-
tunately for him, as for all his brother Marshals, Frenchmen
never crossed bayonets with the British without losing the day.
So it was on the present occasion, and Soult's mortification
was the greater that Wellington was not his victor. But he
was soon joined by Marroont, and both united were too strong
for the allies, who once more retired into Portugal.
During the next two years Soult remained in the fertile
provinces of southern Spain. After the loss of the battle of
Salamanca by Marmont, all the French troops in Spain, ex-
cept the corps of Suchet, were concentrated at Burgos, to op-
pose Wellington ; but that cautious General again retired into
Portugal, where the enemy was in no hurry to follow him.
From this diversified scene Soult was now recalled to sup-
port the tottering throne of his master in another region, He
was present at the battle of Bautzen, and every day the em-
peror treated him with greater confidence. While at Dres-
den news arrived of the defeat of the french at Vittoria, and
threw Napoleon into considerable embarrassment. He saw
that southern France was uncovered, and that there was need
of an able leader to oppose the triumphant career of Weling-
ton. There were but two marshals whom he could entreat
with so important a charge—Ney and Soult, for Massena was
in disgrace. Ney was superior in personaldarityr and more
beloved by the army, but in coolness of judgment; he was in-
ferior to the other. Soult, therefore, was oriswed to depart,
as the Emperor's lieutenant, on tLis arduous mission. The
destination was not vc,:q agreea'l;le to himself, and was hateful
to hid lady. She wished him to refuse the trust, and %%hen
she could not prevail on him to do so, she lAer.;<eit resolved to
try what effect her representations 74,ht have on the Emperor.
She sought and cbtlkinvi e.n Interview, in *Which she pleadQiii

i:er husband's shattered frame, his need of repose, and com-
plained of the injustice of sending him back to a country where
blows only were to be found. " Madam," replied Napoleon,
" recollect I am not your husband ; but if I were you would
not dare to treat me thus." He ordered her to ta,sist, not to
thwart, her husband in his duty, and begone. There was no
remedy, and Soult was constrained to obey.
The first attempt of the Duke was to relieve Pampelnna.
but be was twice repulsed there; and perceived that he could
neither arert the invasion of France, nor even materially re-
tard the advance of the allies. If Wellington made a less
rapid progress than he might otherwise have done, lie checked
the impatience of his troops only because he knew the fate of
France was nut to be mainly decided in the south, end was
unwiiling to spill more blood than was necessary. Still he
advanced, cautiously but surely, in the expectation that be
might be required to communicate with the allies of the north.
To do Soult justice, he did all he could to fulfil the tenor of
his instructions. For two successive days lie obstinately de-
fended his entrenched camp of B iyonne; but when :he Eng-
lish manceuvred to turn his position, he continued his retreat.
February 24th (1814) he again assailed the allies, and was
again defeated at Orthez. Having published a furious procla-
mation in behalf of Napoleon, he ms le another stand under
the walls of Toulouse, but with no better success. Though
Soult perceived clearly that the imperial cause was lost, ;led
the restoration of the Bourbons inevitable, he was one
of the last to submit to the necessity of the times.
Nevertheless the Duke of Dalmatia was immediately con-
firmed, by Louis XVIII., in his rank and dignities, and en-
trusted with the government of the Thirteenth Military Divi-
sion (of Brittany); and in December the same year he re-
ceived the portfolio of the Ministry at War. From this time
everything confirms the suspicion that, though a ceefidential
Miniver of the King, he was not ignorant of the plot for the
return of Napoleon. So general was this suspicion at the
time of the conspiracy in the north, conduced by Drouet and
Lefeyre Desnouettes, that he was obliged to resign his place.
in which he was succeeded by the notorious Clarke. All
doubts seemed to be ban'shed, when he accepted from Buena-
parte the dignity of Peer and the functions of Major-General.
He fought at Fleurus and 'Waterloo, but with much I. ss dis-
tinction than might have been expected from his former fame;
and his name deservedly figured in the list of July 24th. In
February, 1816, he retired to the duchy of Berg, the native
country of his lady, where he remained three years, his time
being chiefly passed in the composition of his memoirs, which
the world may one day hope to see. On the 28th of May.
1819, he received the royal permission to return to France, and
in July, 1821, his Marshal's staff was restored to him.
Soult will ever be ranked among the ablest of Buonaparte's
Captains. His was a life of incessant activity from the first
breaking out of the revolution to tie second return of the
Bourbons ; and throughout that long period few Generals
have been equally successful. His, in fact, was an uniformly
brilliant career, until he measured his sword with one who was
destined successively to humble not only the greatest of the
French Marshals, but their far greater master.
At St. Helena, Napoleon is reported to have said : " Soult
is a good Minister of War, or Major-General, but not fit to
command in chief;" but, though no one will say that he had
the military talents of a Massena or Bernadotte, this dictum
appears to be as unjust as ungrateful. To the Duke of Dal-
matia war has been no less profitable than to the other Mar-
shals. Like them he has purchased valuable estates, and is
in possession of an income sufficient to confer additional
splendour on his high rank in the army and the peerage.

------------- ---
Before the clock struck nine placards were exhibited
communicating the information that the fireworks would nei
be let off in either parks until half past ten o'clock. One
ludicrous circumstance occurred which may be worth men-
tioning. For some time a bird of large dimensions had been
observed flying backwards and forwards, and then to hover
over the Palace so frequently, as to call for the peculiar notice
of a coterie of elderly ladies, who chanced to have esconced
themselves in our own particular neighbourhood, one of whom,
after much examination and apparent inward consultation.
pronounced it to be a goose. To describe the instant ex-
pression of horror which rushed upon the faces of these ladies
would be to attempt a task on which failure must attend.
" What l" exclaimed they in one voice--" what ! a goose ;
lor, you don't say so." " But I do," continued the first named.
"and I am quite confident of it ; it is a goose, poor dear soul."
" Ay, ay, well may you say, poor dear soul. Well there's no
saying anything for a certainty beforehand, is there ? Who'd
have thought it, that a nasty, ugly, long-necked (and here the
lady somewhat stretched out her own neck, which could neither
boast of plumpness nor of shortness) goose should have been
fated to mar the happy events of this day ► There will surely
be some accident, or the poor dear soul, God bless her, will
not long survive the ceremony." To this prediction the friends
one and all assented with open mouths, one of them adding,
that probably so lamentable a result might be averted, if any
man would only shoat the wretch.— Times.
The Emperor of Austria was so far recovered on the
13th instant that no further bulletins were to be issued.
" Bell's Life in London," price Five Pence only,
will give a very accurate account of the Coronation ceremonies, illus-
trated with engravings. On this occasion the putalication wilt commence
on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock, at the office, 170, Strand, where call
behad for threepence each, together or seperate, part 1,2, 3,4, 5, and
t 5,, of the Gallery orComicalities,

•
THE CORONATION.-The Weekly Dispatch of
SUNDAY, July Ist, 1838, will contain the best description of the Core.
nation, and the incidents connected therewith. Also Publicola's Expo-
sure ,f the utter uselessness, the barbarous superstitions, the gr.," ab-
surdities, and the obvious blasphemies of such ceremonials To instill'
the Dispatch of the above day, immediate orders should be given to the
News Agents, An Edition for the Country is printed and. joXI
warded by ot,arr ,z,,,,,ranAv Evening. N.B. 31,.. t-at
is upwards of 50,000, otHee, 159, Fkeet.street,
London.

CORONATION OF II ER NIAJESTV.--Tile most
correct account of the Ceremonies of the Coronation of the Queen, illus•
trated with Explanatory Prints, will appear in th.e Observer of SuxuAY.
the Ist cif July, on which occasion only the Observer will 'be TW"
Sheets, and the price Tenponce. The (*server will be kept on sale all
the following week, at the oMce, 170, Strand; where Franks can be had
Gratis, to sand it to any part of the United Kingdom. A Monday Af"
ternoon Edition of the Observer is regularly published, most desit able fur
the Country and Foreign circulation.

A circumstance of a very painful nature occurred'
in Ampthill on Tuesday week. Mr. Slinn, a surgeon of that place, Wag
compounding medicines in his surgery, when his little boy, three yea"
and a half old, came in unperceived and drank off the contents of a mea"
sure which stood on the counter, containing some sulphuric acid. 111
was immediately thrown into agonies of the most excruciating kind, and
all efforts to save his life proved unavailing.—Nurthamptots MercurY •

• ---- -
The Southern Christian Advocate publishes the
following letter, giving a moving description of a massacre by the
Florida Indians. '1 he writer is superintendent of the Alacua mission
in the Ta:lahassce district :—" Dear brother Capers—l am ruieel
While engaged in my labours in the Alacua mission I received a lette,,
bearing awful tidings. It informed me that the Indians had murder
my family. I set out for borne, hoping that it might not prove as bscw
as the letter stated ; but 0, my God, it is—if not even worse ! Id,
precious children, Lorick, Pierce, and Elizabeth, were killed and burn`
up in the house. My dear wife was shot, stabbed, and stamped, see
ingly, to death in the yard. But a:ter the wretches went to pack u
oi
their plunder, she revived and crawled off from the scene of death S°!:
suffer a thousand deaths during the dreadful might which she spent along'
by the side of a pond, bleeding at four bullet holes and snore than half'
a-dozen stabs, three deep gashes to the bone on her head, and three stab/
through the ribs, besides a number of smaller cuts and bruises. Shd
is yet living, and 0 help me to pray that she may still live! MY 'ie:
groes lay dead all about the yard and woods, and my everything else'
burnt to ashes. Pray for me. My family was on a short visit to loft
father-in-law, for the purpose of having some supplies sent up irons of
plantation to our temporary residence in the mission, and during tl""'
brief period the awful catastrophe took place—T. Pax Des cos."

LADIES' BEST GOLD CHAINS
The weight is given by comparison with the weight of SovereignsP
being more easily referred to than if stated in ounces and dvits:
The quality of the gold is warranted equal to any that is worke4
into articles of this description.
Price of the Cable Pattern, or Matted Ring Pattern.
s. d. £e,d'
Same weight as 3 sovs. 4 4 0 Same weight as 6 sovs. 7 7 0°
Ditto as 4 sovs. 55 0 Ditto as 7 sows. 88 0
Ditto as 5 sovs. 6 6 0 Ditto as 8 sovs. 9 9
The following Patterns are One Guinea dearer than the above,
but cannot be made lighter than the weight of Six Sovereigns
The Cage Pattern, I The Chinese Pattern.
The Ring and Bar Pattern. I The Victoria Pattern.
THE NEW FLAT GOLD WATCHES. The price in gold cases, with vertical movements .........£7 7 0
Ditto, with well-finished horizontal movement, in double-
bottomed engine-turned case, jewelled, silver dial,
warranted
T. COX SAVORY'S,
Working Silversmith and Jeweller, 47, Cornhill, London.
(Seven Doors from Gracechurch-street.)
N.B. The Horizontai Construction is particularly recommended
for its superior accuracy.

BIRTHS.
On the 21st inst., at the Limes, Carshalton, Surrey, the lady °
Captain E. M. Daniell, Hon. Company's Service, of a daughter.
On the 18th inst., at Jayes, Surrey, the lady of Lee Steire, E9Q•'
of a son

On the 20th inst., in Gloucester-place, Portman-square, fr'•
Joseph Chitty, widow of J. Chitty, jun., Esq., of a daughter.
On the 17th inst., at Grove-estd-road, St. John's-wood, the laclf
of J. Sladen, jun., Esq., of a son.
On the 18th inst., at Clement's-lane, Lombard-street, Mrs. 11'
Baynes, of a son.
On the 18th inst., the lady of G. P. F. Gregory, Esq., Gower-
street, of a daughter, still-born.

MARRIED.
On the 26th inst., at Quendon, Essex, the Rev. George Roll
Tuck, Rector of Wallington, Hertfordshire, and late Fellow an,
Tutor of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, to Marianne, the o,l'l,
daughter of the Rev. John Collin, Rector of Quendon.
On the 26th inst., Mr. A. Young, of Mark-lane, to
daughter of the late H. Harben, Esq., of Churchfield, Hackney._

DIED.
On the 30th ult., at Nice, Captain Woodley Losack, R.N.
On the 23d inst., Mr. John Elstop, saddler, of Long-lane, Wel
Smithfield.

On the 23d inst., aged 36, Thomas Hardwick Merriman, Esq''
of Southampton-street, Bloomsbury.
On the 22d ult.. at Montreal, Lieutenant-Colonel Warde, 15t
Royal Regiment, eldest son of the late General Sir Henry Wardet
G. C. B.
On the 25th inst., Henry, youngest child of George Allfrelf
Esq., of Stamford-hill.
On the 25th inst., at Bexhill, Sussex, aged 26, Julia, third
daughter of Stephen Wilson, Esq., of Streatham, Surrey.
At Calcutta, on the 23d of March, William Lavie Malone Toone
aged 27, of the Hon. Company's Civil Service.
On the 13th inat., at Brighton, William Cross, Esq., aged 67- •
On the 2Ath of March, at Calcutta, Francis Hanway, wife °`,
George Udny, Esq., Bengal Civil Service, and eldest daughter :
tlie Hon. Sir Edward. Ryan, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,
Bengal.

Londm t Printed and Published by AIURDO 'YOUNG, of 141,°'
112. Strand, at The Sun OtEce,Ne. 112, Strand, in the o°ll4
of Middlesex.—Friday, June 29, 1836.