The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-16 00:00:00

vision till near the end of his life. In decision he was quick
and unhesitating, as was needful in one the success of whose
enterprises was liable to be affected by circumstances often
changing with every hour : in his opinions somewhat posi-
tive and peremptory, as was not strange in a commander
of 100,000 men ,• if he was occasionally hasty in expres-
sion it was pardonable in one loaded with so 'many cares
and annoyed by so many blunders; yet in the moments
of his sharpest irritation, and even on occasions of settled
displeasure, he was ever anxious as far as possible to avoid
hurting the feelings of those whose misconduct had excited
it; to make every allowance for all faults which proceeded
from any source but a deliberate contempt for the rules and
discipline of the service ; and ever ingenious in finding rea-
sons for blaming himself rather than others. Exorcising a
well-ordered and most constant and liberal hospitality, at
such times of private intercourse with his officers he ba-
nished all constraint by his own unaffected frankness of de-
meanour, naturally indeed leading the conversation, but
more because he was the ablest and best informed man at
his table than because he was the commander ; sharing
freely in all the jokes and mirth of ball, banquet, or hunt-
ing-field, yet at the same time preserving always that dig-
nity of character that made it impossible to take liberties
with him."

As an instance of his well-known coolness and
courage the following anecdote is interesting. It
relates to the rare circumstance of his being struck
by a musket ball at the battle of Orthes, when he
was knocked from his horse insensible, and Gene-
ral Alava thought he was killed :

" A minute or two before he and General Alava had met
a Portuguese soldier returning from the front, who gave as
his excuse that he was offendido,' slightly hurt. The
Duke, to whom the expression was new, was laughing at
it when he fell; and when he recovered, and saw his
Spanish friend standing over him in a state of evident
anxiety and alarm, he reassured him, saying, ' only
offendido.' "

The second volume records the important, but
less successful career of the great warrior as a
statesman. It was natural enough that he
who had so long been the almost despotic
ruler of such vast bodies of men, conscious
of his own superiority to all around .him,
and of the full possession of the confidence of the
country, shonld be totally unfitted for the position
of civil minister in the constitutional Government
of a free people. But his present biographer is
equally unfitted to be an impartial chronicler of
that stormy time. He evidently shares a great part
of his hero's prejudices. The Reform agitation he
speaks of in terms of unmeasured denunciation,
which few even of its strenuous opponents of that
day would now coincide in. The part which the
great Duke of 'Wellington took on this question is,
unfortunately, familiar to most of us, as is also the
shameful manner in which the national services of
the general were forgotten by the crowd in the
errors of the statesman. But it is absurd for the
author to endeavour to carry out the Duke's direful
prophecies and gloomy anticipat ons as to the passing
of the measure. He says, after treating of this
subject, that "the quarter of a century which has
elapsed since the enactment of the Reform Bill has
seen no less than eleven different Administrations,
six of which have been in office during the last
seven years," forgetting that a few chapters before,
he had said, in defence of the repeal of the Test
and Corporation Acts, that the Ministers wers
bound to retain their places, if possible, as the last
twelvemonths " had seen four Administrations."
There is every allowance to be made for the pre-
judices of one who had seen so much of continen•
tal revolutions ; but to attempt to prove his theo.
ries in every respect right, is altogether unsuited to
the temper of the present time. But the author
can scarcely bring himEelf to censure any act
or opinion-of the Duke's, even praising the capabi-
lities of the Duke of York as Commander-in-Chief,
and sanctioning what every admirer of Welling-
ton must sincerely regret—his non-interference
in behalf of his gallant opponent, Marshal Ney.
Mr. Yonge had better refer to the opinions of a
brillant ornament of his own party, as expressed
in ono of his works. " The Duke of Wel-
lington," writes the present leader of the op-
position in " Sybil," " brought to the post of
first minister immortal fame; his decision relieved
the sovereign, his prejudices pleased the nobles,
and his achievements dazzled the multitude. He
possessed administrative talents of the highest
order." After discussing his many qualifications
for the position, he goes on to ask, ' How comes it
then that so great a man in so great a position
should have so signally failed ?" and the answer is
given in Bishop Burnet's explanation of the won•
derful influence of Lord Shaftesbury. " His
strength lay in his knowledge of England. Now,
that is exactly the kind of knowledge which the
Duke of Wellington never possessed." But when
the political passions and prejudices of the day
have passed away into history, the people of Eng•
land will still cherish his name as among the
greatest of her warriors. It is on this unshaken
foundation that his fame rests, and there his ad-
mirers should be content to leave it. Mr. Yosge's
book is full and comprehensive in its
character, replete with information, clear and sen-
sible in its style ; which is, however, best when
most simple. When he attempts long or elaborate
sentences, though always strictly correct in con-
struction, lie becomes somewhat involved. His
work, which has necessarily been an arduous one,
reflects much credit on him, and, making allowance
for the prejudice of a partisan, is authentic and
able. It will form a valuable addition to our libra.
ries, and pays another tribute to the national admi-
ration of him whose errors as a statesman, to use
the words of one of his ablest opponents in the
Commons, can never make us forget " those memo.
rable services in the field, which have made for him,
as a soldier, a general, and a conqueror, a great, •
brilliant, and an imperishable renown."

THE INCOME-TAX FOR EVER.

(From Punch.)

You struggling traders who subsist on small uncertain gain,
And you who live from hand to mouth by art, or toil of brain,
Prepare for more extortion; for the pressure of the screw
Of Income-tax untempered, to be put again on you.
You wretches, who for feeble age a pittance fain would saves
To ease your downward passage as you totter to the grave,
Prepare to have your earnings wrung from year to year away,
Whilst merely on the fruit of wealth the rich not more will
pay.
Prepare for this or that mischance, to see your pittance stop;
From broken health, or brain o'erworked, or failure of the
shop ;
Then hey for workhouse or for gaol I since now the means
are gone,
Whereby, if saved, through time of need you might have
struggled on.
The Income-tax will take them ; will prevent the little hoard
Which should against the evil day in health and strength
be stored ;
And you will thirst and hunger, of your pay and work
bereft,
Because the State has taxed your all, and you have nothing
left.
But then your jolly neighbour there will eat and drink his
fill;
He'll not have lost his income • no, he'll live in clover still.
No need had he for saving aught—a man of land and rents,
His name is written in the Bank—the Book of Three-per.
Cents.
He pays the tax that you do now; as much; no more not
less ;
And he will be in comfort then, whilst you are in distress I
And then your consolation will—as fiscal sages say—
Be, now that 3 ou are ruined, you'll have no more tax to pay.
Meanwhile, at such a prospect lest your heart, perchance,
should sink,
To give you consolation you'll have cheap Bordeaux to drink,
And with that acid draught you may wash down your
bitter pill,
And so spend all the Income-tax will spare you, if you will.
Now are not these good tidings, far too pleasant to be told
In the harsh, croaking raven's voice of one who has &cold ?
And was it not worth while to wait until, in accents clear,
A sweet financial singer could discourse them to the ear P
They whom the (Dods love die young—by them of old 'twas
said ' •
Than outlive health and strength, they thought, 'twill
better to be dead ' •
Heaven for an early tomb you now have greater cause is
thank;
The Income-tax will let you put no money in the bank.

Thus left without provision since you'll be in life's decliae.
Come, let us fill the bowl, and quaff a draught of cheap
French wine.
Hurrah for short and merry lives ; hurrah for Schedule D ;
And when we're in the Union, oh how happy we shall be I

We understand that the funeral of General Sir
William Napier will take place on Friday, at the Cemetery,
Norwood, at 12 o'clock.

The increase of the Infantry, which we have
already announced, will, 'we believe, consist of the augmen-
tation of each of the regiments at home to 1,200 rank and
file.—Army and _Navy Gazette.
MEETING OF HOP FACTORS.—At a meeting of
hop factors, held at the Bridge-house Hotel, London-
bridge, yesterday, Sir Charles Napier said he did not think
it very likely that ho should conform to the terms of the
resolution. It was, in fast, quite impossible for him to
obey the order of the meeting to assist in throwing the
Budget out altogether. As regarded the question of hops,
although he was unacquainte with the trade, the state-
ments which had been made satisfied him that it visor
to say the least, rather sharp practice on the part of the
Government only to reduce the duty on British hops 611.
while that on foreign was diminished by 31s.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE DINNER.---We understand
that the arrangements are nearly completed for the Volun-
teer Service Dinner to be held on the 7th March, in honour
of her Majesty's reception on that day of the officers of the
Volunteer service. The dinner will include, besides officer°
who have attended the levee, members of the respective,
committees of the "National Rifle Association" an
" Volunteer Service Club." It is by a joint-committee 19'
thee.) two bodies that the arrangements are being
We understand that the dinner ticket is to be one guinu."
and a half ; and that suitable accommodation, after dinner,
will be provided for ladies who may wish to be present.
DESTRUCTIVE FlRE.—About two o'clock yester-
day morning a fire was discovered raging in a vessel ll'inst
off Prince's Dock, Fore-street, Lambeth. The craft vf
under the command of Captain Braze'', and was ladenf
with coke. The accident arose from the over-heating °f
the cabin stove, which set in flames the after part of, the
deck as well as the sails and rigging. The engines °L.ar.
London Brigade from the Waterloo-road. and Soutlir';in •
bridge-read stations were soon in attendance, and the
01 the
were confined, principally owing to the exertions_ „ •
police, to the burning of the after part of the Fle
sails and rigging. It could not be ascertained when'
owners of the vessel were insured.