The Sun.
London, England, 1828-08-12 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

SICV4.IIY'S MEMOIRS, VoL. 11.
r. LONDON. 1828.
The Duke of Rovigo, as we observed in our
notice ok hisiformer volume, is a staunch un-
flinching partizan, ready to make every sacrifice,
however pair6l, provided he may thereby exalt
the character of his idol, Napoleon, He seems
to believe in but one model of excellence—the
Emperor of the French. His very weaknesses
he converts, by some strange alchemy, into
virtues,--anti finds an ingenious intention in his
most unmeaning blunders. Thus, in his prema-
ture abandonment of his army, after the flight
from Moscow, which few could imitate with
safety who aspired to the heroic character, the
Duke of Rovigo discovers that a conspiracy ex-
isted in Paris, which alone, contrary to his inclina-

Lion, brought Napoleon from Russia ; that had he
not arrived at that particular crisis, the conspi-
rator, General Mallet, with his other reckless
subordinates, would have done incalculable mis-
chief. In like manner, the defeats of the French
Generals throughout the Peninsula, under Wel-
lington, are accounted for from the fact of their
having run counter to the direction of Buona-
parte. Had one commander acted at Salamanca,
another at Vittoria, precisely as they were ordered
by Napoleon, then, adds Savary, the Peninsula
would have been safe to this hour. Again,
after the battle of Smolensk° the Russians re-
treated, but with such admirable tact and rapi-
dity, that the French were unable to overtake
them. This has been long hinted at as an error
in Napoleon ;' to fight a battle with Ea little
caution, as to enable the vanquished to retreat
in better order and under better auspices than
the victors. Savary aware 'of this, throws the
whole blame on Junot, though Napoleon was
actively superintending in person ; and after
commenting on the orders put forth by him, ob-
serves, " had these measures been carried into
effect, the enemy would infallibly have been de-
stroyed, and the campaign at once decided."
Having alluded to this warp in the Duke of
Rovigo's judgment, we cannot refrain from saying
a word or two respecting another trait equally
characteristic. Next to his idolatry of Napo-
leon, is his disrelish—we use the gentlest term—
of the English Peninsular victories. He per-
petually hints that they were owing to the jea-
lousies that divided the French Generals in
Spain and Portugal, thereby detracting indi-
rectly from the military genius of Wellington, who,
whatever may be thought of him in the Cabinet,
is assuredly first-rate in the camp. " 111-fortune"
is the complacent epithet 9ppli9tl by Savary to the
French blunders in the Peninsula.
" 111-fortune seemed to attach to those who were destined
to serve in that couatry. All were impelled by zeal for the
Emperor's service; all were ambitions to please him, and
to secure his good graced ; and no sooner were the means
placed at their command of acquiring glory, and of even
obtaining what they had most ardently desired, than they
turned their minds to other views. Envy and jealousy
had taken up their abode in every breast. A spirit of ri-
valry prevented those combined movements which would
have required the junction of troops formed from the dif-
ferent corps. In the midst of all their misunderstandings,
Wellington was invested with an absolute authority over
an army accustomed to submission, which he alternately
moved upon one or other of our corps, well aware that be
had net to apprehend any impediment from the General
whose neighbour he was about to attack. It is clear from
the boldness of his movements, that he must have been fully
sensible of the power which this ground of security placed
in his hands."

The reader will not fail to remark the insi-
dious structure of the above extract. A con-
trast is artfully put forward between the dissen-
tions of the French and the unanimity of the
English camp ; as also between the unlimited
authority of Wellington and the crippled power
of his opponents, in order that, these points
conceded, a very slight residuum, as little in fact
as possible, may be left to the ability of the English
commander. This is ungenerous and unworthy a
mind so capable of friendship and admiration as
Savary's. Bating these defects, which verve the
cause neither of justice nor Napoleon, we have
every reason to express ourselves satisfied with the
Duke of Revigo's Memoirs. They abound in
anecdote, and give a full and on the whole, we are
inclined to believe, a characteristic estimate of
Napoleon. In reply to the very prevalent idea
that he was gloomy and distrustful, Savary par-
ticularly
alludes to his very candid and cheerf,ki
nature, observing with great truth, that it was
these attraetive qualities, fqrnore than any genius
he possessed, that rendered him the idol of his
army, His generosity, too, is dwelt on at some
length. Indeed, throughout the volume, he is
the one and indivisible" hero of Savary's
fancy, an admiration to which none, either of
past or present ages, can lay stronger claitrs.
Among the desultory extracts f the, present
volume—for ne.i,atet: Space nor time will allow of
more regular analysis—we give the following;
they are amusing, and probably new to,
our readers, and will form an agreeable con-
clusion,