Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-05-25
The News Of Waterloo.

Since news was invented, perhaps no news ev-
er so electrified the world as that which told the
result of the battle of Waterloo. In one of the
works which the death of the Duke of Wellington
has called forth, there is passage which describes
with remarkable vlvldness the effects of that in
telligence upon the people Of Ednburg. We have
seldom met with more stirring piece of writing.
1t is as follows:-
"The author witnessed the effect of the news
in Edinburg. 1t met him as he entered the outer
hall of the courts of law, still called the Parlia-
ment House from having been the hall of the Scot
tish Parliament, before the Union. The unwont-
ed words which passed from mouth to mouth,
Wellington is defeated! He has retreated to a
place called Waterlool The game is up! The
hero of hundred fights quails before the eagles
of Napoleon! The Prussan army is annihila-
tedn And thus and thus was Pandora's box
emptied =
But Hope, the charmer, fingered still behind.
A retreat is not necessarily defeat, began some
one to recollect-a retreat, moreover, to named
place, most likely previously chosen position, in
fers stand at that place. detachment only
has been engaged, and necessarily fell back on the
concentrated main body. The retreat of the Prus-
slams would have exposed its flank. Wellington
had yet to pnt forth his strength The French
had nerer, since they first met him, gained the
smallest advantage over him on the contrary had
been beaten in every action, and that SC satedly,
that Napoleon was known to have exclaimed pet
tishly to the unlucky bearer ofthe news ofyet an
other Peninsular disaster-'Ba, Les .4ngMis
toujo,uS battent les Francaisp No! Mop said
one more sanguine reasoner of the long robe, I'VE
shall have news of a victory yet and, as 1t must
be near at hand, one way or the other, should be
more delighted than surprised if the castle guns
should wake us tomorrow morning Another
barrister, quite as patriotic, but less sangulne,
would cheerfully pay guinea for every gnn fired
for victory, to any one who would take very ca
sy odds. The bet was taken, the taker patrioti-
caly wishing to win, the oflerer still more patri-
otically wishing to lose. The business of the
morning had scarcely proceeded two hours, when
gentleman rushed into the great hall, and almost
breathless, shouted 'Victory' He was mobbed.
'How had the news come?' BY express from
the Lord Provost of Edinburg, then in London
The French completely routed, at The place call
ed Waterloo, by one grand bayonet charge of the
whole British armyp Such was the brief flour
ish for heightened struggle of ten hours, which
was first sounded by Fame's trumpet. The bear
er of the glad tidings was in the court where
the Judges were sitting; the cheers of the outer
hall were suspended only to be renewed in the
inner Further law proceedings were out of the
question; adjournment was ruled; and judges, ad-
vocates, agents and officers, were speedily in the
streets, already crowded by their excited and ex-
ulting townsmen. Nobody could stay at home
The schools were let loose. Business was sus
pended, and a holiday voted by acclamation. Ev
erybody shook hands with everybody; and as the
Lord Provost's brief express, got by heart by the
whole population, could not be longer or more par
tcular than it was, the most restless were perforce
obliged to wait, with what patience they might,
for the dawn of the next day. The sun ofthat NOR
ming saw no 'sluggard slumbering meath his
beams.' The streets were crowded before the
post arrived. The mail-coach was deserted ap-
preaching, adorned with laurels and flags, the
guard waving his hat; and soon it dashed into
town amid cheers that made the welkin ring
The accounts were now official. All was con-
firmed and, as early as seven o'clock, the Castle
flag rose land nineteen twenty-four Founders sound
ed in the ears and filled the eyes-for the effect
was overpowering-of the excited throng. Need
we say that the nineteen guineas were joyfully
paid by the loser Or need we add, that the win
ner handed them over to the fund, speedily COM
menced for the wounded, and the widows and
families of the slain ?"
This passage will probably remind many rea-
der of the effect produced by the news of Buena
Vista, during the war with Mexico.