The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-04
THE Iron DUKE"
Recollections OF Conversations With
the Conqueror of Napoleon.


the Conqueror Of Napoleon.
From the Leeds Mercury.
Three years ago the present Earl Stan.
hope privately printed, for the benefit OF
privileged but small circle, his fathers
recolections OF conversations with the
Duke OF Wellington, extending over
period Of twenty years, and touching, in
the freedom OF familiar intercourse, half
the topics OF the time. The keen interest
excited among his immediate friends 10y
the perusal OF this record has led the Earl
to offer the volume to the public-a de-
cision for which every admirer Of the con-
queror OF Napoleon !. cannot fail TO be
grateful. More than the lifetime OF n
generation has elapsed since the last OF
these conversations took place; or else
so frank and confidential is their tone-it
would have been a distinct breach o priv
lege 10 have given them Ia the world. At
this distance Of time no possible harm
can be done 10y the publication OF
even the most blunt or Ironical OF the
Dukes opinions. Truthiulncss and sim
plicity have been claimed, with justice, rs
the chief characteristics Of the late LORI
Stanhopes "Liie Of Piif and History Of
England from the Peace OF Utrecht 10 the
Peace Of Versailles" and these qualities,
II u scarcely necessary 10 add, are not less
conspicuous in the lucid and straiglr-ior-
ward pages which contain his reininis-
cences Of his talks with the Iron Duke.
Lord Slanhope states that his first famil-
lar acquaintance with Wellington arose
out OF q speech which he delivered at the
commencement oi his Parliamentary ca
reer, when the reform bill, In March, 1881,
was before the House oil Commons. Some
thing which the Young Tory said on.that
occasion against the reform bill led the
Duke 10 form a very favorable impression
Of him; and by this means he passed,
young as lac was, into what might be
termed the inner circle OF Wellngton's as
sOciatcs. "Ihcsc notes were. in all cases
but one In April, 1883, written or dictated
| by me 10 Lady Mahon, either on the same
day, or at iurlhest the day after. the con-
versatiOns which they record. aud have
never noted anything when not quite sure
OF remembering Il exactly. | can. there
| fore, youch in the most confident manner
for the certain accuracy Of what ] have
| here set down. These notes the
impress Of master mind upon mine
stand with all the freshness and distinct
ness oi their original de-" Cont
mental politics arc again aud again dis
cursed in these pages, and, oil coune
many side lights are cast upon the
Dukes military career. Ills state
mcnts concerning Napoleon I. aud his
Generals are most interesting. aud the
same remark applies TO many Of his
shrcwd and pithy comments on bis coiem.
porarics In the piping timcs Of peace.
Earl stanhope DOES not attempt 10 relate
the rise. progress. and decline Of any
given conversations" he has, fortunately,
chosen the better plan OF presenting
merely tho words OF the Duke which most
Impressed him. Like Boswell. hc seems
10 have been always ready 10 improve the
occasion, and-though IN much lesser
measure we owe him a similar debt. Tho
conversations between Earl SlanhOpe and
the Duke took place at Deal. Sirathiicld.
saye, Walmcf Castle, Apsley House. and
occasionally In the huniing-iield, and they
are given IN the volume IN the order In
which they occurred. II " well known
that Wellington had the greatest respect
tor Napole1n's military genius, though he
dcspi.cd him n a ninn, and both Of these
points are rndcrcd still morc clear by
|
talk Of the hereof Waterloo. II can hardly
conceive anything greater than Napoleon
nj the head 81 an arny--cspccinlly n
French army. He had one prodigiuus adj
vantagc-hc had no responsibility he
could do whatever lac pleased; and no
man has ever Lost moru Armies than he
did. Now, with Inc, the has Dioycry man
told. could not risk - much. ! knew
that u ever lost coo men without the
clcarcsl necessity ! should be brought up.
on my knees 10 the bar Of the House oi
Commons" Napoleon, however, bad one
great disqualification. lie WIS IN toogrcni
hurry. Tho fact h. hc never IN his lie
had patience for a defensive war" Earl
Slanhopc Tor rather Lord Mahon. for that
, wis his title them told the Duke that nc
could not understand why the Frcaoh
|. compelled Napoleon instantly 10 alliratc
after Waterloo. They still contaminated
resistance, aud their chief hope ought
surely 10 have boon Napolcons resource.
~ q soldier. "Why," replied the Duke
they wcrc Ia great lsirry, certainly
very great hurry. We know II his ablica.
iion long before We got to Paris but tho
, tact u that then they had very much losI
, their confidence In him-thoy wouh moi
! trust Napoleon for defensive warfare. nor
! indeed, was lac NJ for H." On another oc
caslon the Duke Described his great riya
, ~ man apart You must not pu
him into tie common arnlc. II,
, might have started up NJ an,
} time. but, except him, the Frcnci
revolution has not produced very nupcfio
men. Tallcynnd don't rcckon--he be
a longcd 70 the ancient regime" "whI
was the ablcst Of the French Generals Cd
. posed 10 your ''Masscna." In tho Duke