New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-27

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toriously unfair to the Spaniards his anxiety
to demonstrate the transcendent Importance Of
the British arms in the great conflict causing
1 him to underestimate, if not 20 ignore the
weight which Spain herself threw into the ball
aEce. The point perhaps needed time for its
/ adjustment in a proper perspective Napier
wrote too soon after the event, and was himself
/ too closely and too passiOnately identified with
it, to pierce beneath the surface of that purely
military aspect of the with which he chiefly
concerned himself He could realize TO some ex-
tent. but not in its full force. the potency Of
that spirit Of nationality in Spain which more
recent writer's like Mr.. ]. H Rose. have made
/ a salient matter of discussion with reference
! 20 the later phases of the NapoleOniC drama
! As We remarked in reviewing that historians
admira BILE biography of the Emperor the other
day, the national feeling inflamed by the lat
ter among the Spaniards was 50 inspiring IN IFS
manifestations that it started a European con-
hagration and embattled against him. not
simply rulers and their armies, but whole peO-
pies. Il is in his treatment Of this side OF his
! theme that Mr.. Oman is apparently going 70 be
of most service in retouching. 70 say. the
canvas painted by an artist most accounts
| Incompatible. Certainly. in his first volume. II
he is candid where the truth is often anything
but fattering to the Spaniards he is also quick
to testify To all that was useful and admirable
in their conduct. We may cite in Illustration.
and in strong contrast TO Napier's pages the
subject, his cordial appreciation Of PalafOx the
hero of Saragossa. He not only gives a friendly
account of him in the text, but in a fO0tnote
draws upon the hitherto unpublished papers OF
an English diplomat. Sir Charles Vaughn. who
knew the man we'll. Tor The following interesting
visnette:
This distinguished nobIeman is about thirty
four years OF age Ian oNersldtvlHrul py SIX
y l. Of mt IT.. 81
eyes lively and expressive. and his whole de-
pertinent that of a perfectly well bred man
In private life. 50 far as my daily intercourse
gave me opportunity OF Judging. ms manners
were kind. unaffected and Negotiating From
the great readiness with which h. dispatched
business and from the letters ana puoHc papers
which were written by him with apparent great
ease in my presence. was led 10 form q very
favorable opinion OF his talents. There was a
quCkneSS in his manner OF SeiZing objects, an
impatienCe until they were accomplished. tie
was fond of talking of the events of the siege.
and anxious to introduce of every
class who had distinguished themselves There
was vivacity in his manner and conversation
an activity in his eXertiOnS officer that
is rarely met in Spaniard. 1t was always a
most cheering and interesting thing TO ride with
him through the streets of SaragOSsa- The JOY
and exultation of the people as he passed cyl
IDENTIFY sprung from the heart. To have acQuit-
ted himself to their satisfaction was no mean
reward. and forms a sufficient answer 10 all
the unworthy attempts (which have been dis
gusted TO witness) to deprecate his character
Mr. Oman's frank use of evidence like this
encourages to believe that his history as q
whole will do much to deepen appreciation OF
the Spaniards in the great war. We wish we
could say that he reused expectations pleas
ant in regard to Napoleon; but. while admit
the justice of of his structures upon the
Emperor. do not like the tone of his ref
erences to him. OF course, emotion OF in
dignation is natural. and especially 20 be
desired. in view of Napiers excessive good
nature in the premises. The treachery of Bay
onne was nothing less than infamous. and at
st. Helena Napoleon did more than admit that
il was "the Spanish ulcer that had ruined him
He uttered his own condemnation. saying: Il
embarked very badly the Spanish affair.
confess; the immortality of it too fragrant,
the injustice too cynical and the whole thing
wears an ugly look since l have fallen; for the
attempt is only seen in its hideOuS nakedneSs
deprived of all majesty of the many benefits
which completed my intention" one may grasp
the full import of these sentences. one may have
abandoned every NapOleOnic illusion, and yet
vince at Mr. Oman's jaUnty contempt, expressed
in such remarks as, neither BOnaparte
SaVaTy are witnesses whom one would believe
on their most solemn oath" Moreover. the
prejudice which is vaguely yet quite perceptibly
felt in the authors casual illusions declares
itself pretty definitely in the chapter on SOults
pursuit of Moore, after AstOTga Why did not
N3'oleon himself follow the British general?
His own explanation. cited by Mr.. Oman. was