The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-21 00:00:00

GENERAL BEM.

How far Bern was capable of handling a great
army, and conducting extensive and combined
manoeuvres, was a question on which he himself was
by no means confident. On some one saying
how desirable it would be that the Government would
entrust him with the chief command of the
Hungarian army, he observed—" No ! no !
A great army and skilful manoeuvring, that's Dem-
binski's affair. Give me 10,000 men who will never
turn back, and plenty of guns—that is what I like."
We may add that Bern always spoke of Dembinski
with the greatest admiration, and gladly acknow
ledged his superior qualities as a general. We are
sorry to see that some Hungarians, influenced
perhaps, in part, by jealousy of foreigners, but pro-
bably more by that vulgar prejudice which recog-
nises merit only in suttees, have been led to speak of
this gallant soldier and noble-minded man in terms
injurious to him, and anything but honourable to
themselves. In private Bern was retired in his
manner and habits, silent in company, and re-
served in his communications, even to those nearest to
him. To one of his staff, who inquired what was to
be done the next day, Bern answered—" Can you
keep a secret ?" " Yes." " Ah, so can I." The
cleverest spy could never make out any of his move-
ments. Every morning the troops were paraded in
marching order, and orders were then first given
out. Sometimes they were to march straight to
the field of battle; at others sent back to their quar-
ters, without any one being able to guess, before-
hand, what would happen. Bern would overlook many
faults in favour of a fighting man, but he never par-
doned an officer who retreated, unless he contested
every inch of the way. No one near him dared speak
of the possibility of retreating. His own courage
seemed to consist in an absolute unconsciousness of
danger; and he was often vexed and disappointed
to find that all men had not the same feeling. To
prisoners Bern was humane in the highest degree.
Every Austrian officer was generously treated who
fell into his bands. Bem, although shy and reserved,
was the most gallant of men in his deference to
females. Lady Horatio Weston, the wife of an Eng-
lishman in the Austrian service, had been placed by
her husband, for safety, in the fortress of Karlsburgh,
and on the retreat of the Austrians from Kronstadt,
of course he had followed the army, while she was
left behind. At Captain Weston's request, Nit. Col-
quhoun, our Consul General at Bucharest, sent his ser-
vant with a letter to request Bern to allow him to
enter Karlsburgh and bring Lady Horatio away.
Bem not only complied, but sent up his own car-
riage, paid her every attention in his power,
and appointed an officer of hussars, Baron Insika,
to escort her to the frontier. To the widow of the Aus-
trian Major, St. Quentin, who was in Klausenburg.
Bern not oniy gave passports to enable her to leave
the country, but requested her to make use of his
purse to any extent she might require. To the widow
of Count Mikes his letter of condolence was a most
beautiful and touching proof of his kindness of heart,
and delicacy of feeling.—British Quarterly Review.