The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1816-11-06
G9isceiianp.
Erom .iy.es' It'eek'y Register.
4" A visit To Flanders /;

the battle ofNvetcrloo, as ,hsy Gull il, where
they cot tho glory that the Prsssians won,
which jvslihes laugh at thsir absurdities.
4" NafiopaHty" is word OF the iast age,
whish has risen f'on, vulgar use into classical
adoption, hayiog became indispensable 10 de-
hoing the charae,er of the Scottish people. IL
is understood 10 be the most universal, invet.
ersie, invincible eharAeteIis,ic OF that nation:
lam rot at all disposed TO be angry st It; bus
even candid Scots, like Dr.. Moore, admit the
absuedities II leads.its possessoIs into. Wa
have all heard Of Scotchmen denying that tho
American mooss were equal TO tho stars of
Scotland and ofthe pat'io,ic integrity Of him,
who refused TO admi, that the American pum-.
kins, tied Oh pear tree, were equal 10 the
pears sin the duke Of Argye's garden"-bui,
for my part, such a specimen Of nationality,
as this " Field of Watorloo," have never be-
fore seen or heard Of
Every body would admit, that there was
glory 10 having conquered Napoleon, il thsre
was any "Neasufe in the mas,ness" Of their
exul,G,on at il. Nay, VIC would endure any
thing, but this meanness and insolencc TO .
fallen foo. Ii wo did not know TO whom the
Waterloo triumph did best belong, we could
ascertain it by the laug liable sbsurdi,y Of these
pre,ensions. But We must make many alh,w-
ances for this work--ns author was Scotch
man, lawYcr--a very self.sohicient, unre-
nesting, warm headed, cold. hearted, sort Of q
man--who went over TO Flanders, when tho
fever OF unexpected glory was at its crisis, for
the purpose Of making u book, that should
even " "Gsfosish the nafiprs a Jeso." In such
II case /, was very convenient TO believe all
the marvellous stories that every sycophantfc
landlord on the road could con,rive and dIs-
~ L.. -. m = a.
ofhcers.--Bri,ish officers !---,hst was well
cnough--who believes their accounts, since
their tGeials, In the late war with AmeIics,
have been repudia'cd by their ewn admiralty? +?
In the battle Of Waterloo, our author ssys,
that fortune bes.owed only one me elancholy
smile on the arms of Napoleon. No momeut,
even oil temporary success, was theirs in tho
line but they did establish themselves, with
f~enty 10 one, in the pos, Of La Hayc Sein,c.'"
As this is the only place whcre he admits tha.
The French cmplished any thing, one is O
little startled st II but then this unaccount.
able scciden, is explained, When we are in
formed that tho post was defended by the Gcr-
man legion, and that their ammunition failed.
That twenty Erenchmen, cssed in iron,r
could overcome one Ger man, who had no am-
muDition, Is possible bot had they cneoun.
tered the British, or rather, the endless SCOTCH
Greys, in ouch Predicsmcnt, the result, 10
would seem, might have been very different.
In another instanee, two hundred Of tho
British attacked column Of the enemy, three
MoUssnd strong, broke into tho centre, and
the Scottish Greys" dashed into their sup.
port, ." and the enemy, to man, were put to
the sword or made prisoners J" Captain Bob
adj was modest, candid gentle man /; and I
shall think the better Of him for IL hereafter,
while live.
After these specimens, il canno, be expect.
cd that We would attempt to give tho absurd
and disgusting detail /, but, nevertheless, wo
sannot suffer the book 10 pass without re mark,
s we trust its uDgenilc manly, ungepercus,
bon'baN end charlstsnism, may serve 10 put
down the Waterloo mania, which has SO much
disgraced his country. " The iritc and sbus-
cd term glory" says the author, " does nos
convey the idea of huDdreth part oftbc merit
OF sach Snshsken coostanoy," referring to sn
instsncc Of what ho calls courage and ss it
IS the only trait Of oil skill or courage that
Wellington is mentioned 10 have exhibited az
that battle, IL is worth notice. Wellington
was paying visit to the troops Of the 95th,
when body ol French infan,y happened to
approach them the British exclaimed, "Iet
u at tbcm---let US down upon ,hem." His
Iordsbip's answer was, 4" not yet, my bravo
men but you shall have a. the m soon % firm
q little Ionger--we nnsf nor be beat what
would they say 10 England !" I" The last csu-
tion," continues the author, [" was praise rath-
cr than encouragement for let any people OH
earth match It, ancient or modefn--from tho
Thermopyle dowowsrd,, through ages of Ro-
man hrmnsss and chiYslrous enthusiasm !"
suppose the reader siores 10 see vha, could
have drawn forth this rhodoment adc--snd
we'll he may. And what Is this most insolens
challenge for parallel '--but we can furnish
one--tbe case Of an American officer, who
used the very anne espressions. Every body
msu recol!ect geo. Smyih, Of Black Roek
memory, and bis threatening proclsms,ious.
He gave notice tha, he would fight ss soon ss
he had force sufficient TO ensure q victory
"but he must not be b.a, )" those very words
drew on him the indignation and ridieuic OF
both the army and ihe soun,ry. What 10 the
sentiment Of every coward in thc hour Of dam
ger I! al would 6gb, II we're sure that rny