National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-12-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


reader of this remarkable work is the
excellent manner in which Mr.. Jennings
has accomplished the difficult task of
collecting and arranging in systematic
order the valuable letters and notes of
Mr.. Croker and his correspondents. He
has dono this 80 unobtrusively that in
being introduced into the society Of
kings, military, scientific, literary, and
political characters one scarcely Is con-
scious Of the presence Of the guide. Mr..
Cookers life was busy one. Born Dec.
90, 1850, he became from early youth =
participant In the stirring events with
which the succeeding years were crowded.
The period between 1907 to 1854 was po-
culiarly rich in noted men and stirring
events, all of which arc described ~
they impressed the actual observer.
Elected to parliament in 1907, he became
q participant in debates upon tho great
questions of the day, which will prove of
especial interest to students of English
history and oil others who hope by q
study of the economic affairs of other
nations to reach better CON-
prehension of those belonging
to their own country. Ho was
appointed to tho secretaryship of tho
admiralty in 1902 and continued to dis
charge the duties of that office until 1880.
Not only by letters aud speeches did he
impress his time, but by discussions upon
current events conducted through tho
columns of the Quarterly Rerier, which in
its earlier days supplied in large measure
the lack of newspaper facilities. Robert
Peel, Mr.. Canning, Lord Goderich,
Disraeli Burke, Daniel O'Connell, Lord
Asbburton, and other politicians were his
contemporaries, aud upon their speeches,
actions, and motives new light is now
cast in the papers spread before us. The
American reader will be particularly in
terested in the account Of the Ashburton
treaty, and the various charges and
countercharges connected herewith,
while the churchman will gather much
information from tho chapters upon &C.
clesiastical affairs. Mr.. Cookers visit to
Paris during the exciting scenes succeed
ing Napoleon Bonaparte's downfall af-
forded him an opportunity Of gaining an
insight into the events of that period,
which he has faithfully mirrored In his
notes. His Impressions of Foucho, Talloy-
rand, Guizot, Louis Philippe, and other
famous Frenchmen, are among the most
entertaining "reminiscences of the work.
OF Talleyrand, 1t seems, he formed but a
poor opinion, and considered him an
overrated man. To quote from his diary ::
The wonder was to find ourselves at table
with Fouche, who, to be sure, looks very like
what one would naturally suppose him to be
n sly old rogue but think he seems to feel a
passion OF which did not expect TO find him
capable. i mean shame, for he looks con-
scious and embarrassed. He is man about
five feet seven inches high, very thin, with a
groy head, cropped and powdered, and very
acute expression of counteuance. Talley-
rand on the other hand, is fattish for French
man his ankles are weak and his feet de-
formed, and he totters about in strange way.
Ills face is not at ,all expressive, except 1t be
of kind of drunken stupor In fact, he looks
altogether like an old fuddled, lame, village
schoolmaster and his voice Is deep and hoarse.
should suspect that ut the congress his most
natural employment would be keeping the
unruly boys in order.
There has been such glamour around
the life, character, and achievements oil
Bonaparte that Mr.. Croker's conversations
with the Duke of Wellington are invested
with peculiar importance:
l never was believer in him, and always
thought that in the long run we should over
turn him. He never seemed himself at hi!
ease, and even in the boldest things he did
there was always a mixture of apprehension
and meanness. l used to call him Jonathan
Wild the Great, and at each new coup ht
made used TO cry out We'll done, Jonathan"
to the great scandal of some of my hearers.
But, the truth was, he had no more care abou
what was right or wrong, just or unjust, hon
orable or dishonorable, than Jonathan, though
his great abilities, and the great stakes IN
played for, threw the knavery into the shade.
Speaking of his meeting with Nine. d,
Jaucort, Dir. Croker details the accoun
given her by Gen. Becker, Napoleon's
custodian at st. Helena, of the vanquished
warriors behavior during captivity-"ai
sunk in kind of mollesse, and YER,
careful about his personal ease and com
fort. Now and then he had fits of talen
and activity like those of his better days
and seemed inclined to throw himself int,
the interior of France and continue tn,
war at other times he proposed to set on
in the night in small schooner to en-
deavor to pass the English squadron ant
| so get to America. Great as he was il
prosperity, he was never able to bear Il
against reverse under which his talents
resolution, courage all vanished when h
had most need of them" Wellington
remarks on the art of war will prove @
interest:
In coming to see me los he had done the da
but one before, sept, p, he Uhe duke) ha
chosen TO walk from the station TO our houst
| and without even guide. He said he ha
found il a rough walk, and the ground inte
sected in a way he had not expected; so sal
him. M seems you forget 70 guess what
allusion to a circumstance which had occurre
between him and me some thirty years Deior'
When travelling on the north roldl we amuse
we should find at the other side of the hills "
drove up; ana when i expressed surprise
some extraordinary good guesses he had mad
he said, why, have spent all my life in IT!
Ina 70 guess what was at the other side OF tn
/ had reminded him of this just as we wei
driving across the ravine that had impede
him, and no turned round 70 Mrs. Croker
explain 1t to her, adding "All the business {
war, and indeed all the business OF life, iB Z
endeavor to find out what you don't know b
what you do; that's what called 'guessin
what was at the other side OF the hill.'"
He said the perfection OF practical war WI
to move troops us steadily and coolly on q flcl
of battle as on a parade. ''Soults fault va
that, though great strategist, he never SCENE
to me to know how 70 handle the troops AFT
the battle had begun"
/ then told him what Guizot told me Of la
mes having said that ''le plus grand uener
ctat celui que Ia canonnade iaisait mieu
cntendre, Ut que Ia fumee iaisait voir pl
clair"
Duke. Humph Ia pause) That's only
cleverer phrase for what have been just sa
ing--sdnq trOid-presence of mind; but that
not enough; the mind besides being cool mu
have the art OF knowing Whal Is 10 DO uo
and how to do 1t.
That Mr.. Croker enjoyed the especi
confidence Of George ~ is seen from
narrative given him by the king ey
IDENTIFY for future use:
on the subject of my supposed marriage " |
Mrs. FitZherbert, and the debate upon N
ROLES observations, some false statemen
, have been made When Fox mentioned 1t
: me, Icontradicted the statement with Pooh
"NOnsenseW "RidIculousV &C., upon viii,
= Mr. Fox, in the heat OF debate, and piqued
Role, was induced not merely 10 contradl
D.. the report, which was right enough, but TO
| u little further and TO use some sighting q
pressions which, when Mrs. Fitzherbert re
them in the paper next morning, deep
: afflicted her, and made her furious agail
1 Fox. Mr.. Moore states that applied 10 ,
Grey to set the matter right and that when
. refused, / said, "Then we must bring Sherid
y into play There is not word OF truth
u this. 1 had no kind of communication VI
| L. an hn uNti AhAri1unfQ ~