Read how the exciting stone tells of their glo- | ability to be readable, many faults will not avail

against it when it supplies a want, as The Military Life of Marlborough unquestionably does. Beyond Mr. Alison's usual rhetorical amplification and diffusiveness, however, this book has fewer of its author's usual defects, and very considerable merits. The plan is well conceived, and rigidly adhered to. The work is strictly what it professes to be, a military life. A brief introduction sketches

Shall I go on, or does this suffice for the present? the career of Marlborough to the breaking out of

M. For the present this suffices.

over the subject again by and by.

Let us talk

From the Spectator.

ALISON'S MILITARY LIFE OF MARLBOROUGH.

The first and most distinguishing quality of the volume is the author's historical mind and his power as a military describer. These, indeed, are the circumstances hat chiefly give value to a work that has evidently been struck off rapidly.

the war of the Succession; which, with a masterly picture of the state of France and the character of Louis the Fourteenth, introduce the subject; while a few pages after its close describe the decline and death of Marlborough. All beyond is the military life of the hero, with no unnecessary THIS work, a considerable part of which orig-deviation to any other topic; and hence a unity is inally appeared in Blackwood's Magazine, was preserved throughout, which is rarely met in modsuggested by the publication of the Marlborough ern lives and times, especially among the rhetorDespatches. Original documents of that volu- ical school of writers. minous and detailed character are uninteresting to the general reader, even when they relate to contemporary actions; but if by the lapse of time the events have become historical, they are often hardly intelligible. With somewhat of the professional feeling of the historian, Mr. Alison ex-In point of composition, there is somewhat too patiates upon this obvious truth in his preface; and this professional feeling appears to have incited him to undertake a review of the campaigns of Marlborough, in which the recovered despatches should be a main authority. The subject, how ever, grew under his hands; the war of the Suc-author brings the whole subject more completely cession, in its general bearings, had frequently to be considered before the military events could be well understood; and thus the review of the Marlborough Despatches was turned into The Military Life of Marlborough.

The research for this purpose does not seem to have been very extensive. Coxe's Life and Klauser's great military work appear to be the main authorities, beyond the common historical reading upon the subject. But though there is nothing very new in fact to be found in Mr. Alison's pages, his book is a useful contribution to English literature. The only life we had of Marlborough was that by Coxe; and, independently of its voluminousness and the intermixture of topics, the style of the author and his tone of mind belong to another age. The military exploits do not stand out with sufficient distinctness to form a continuous military narrative; besides which, the reverend doctor was not so well qualified as Mr. Alison for the description of the stirring scenes of war and battle. In general history, Marlborough's exploits are of course presented on a contracted scale; and England has no military history really worthy of the name. The factious spirit which baffled the hopes and clouded the declining years of the great warrior seems to have pursued his memory in his own country. On the continent it was indeed different, and Marlborough received there an enlightened appreciation, which till of late years he lacked at home.

much of the rhetorician, and of the theory-monger advancing his "idea." The book, however, is a more favorable specimen of composition than the greater History of Europe. Not distracted by so many ramifications as are there of necessity, the

under the reader. The topics, being chiefly particular description, do not allow the writer to rur away with himself, as he is apt to do when engaged in political speculations. The style is generally closer, with less tendency to hyperbole ; and in the battles and sieges the description of the text is well carried out by the maps and plans. The theories, too, we regard as in the main sound; at least they are better than the vulgar notions of high destinies influenced by bedchamber-women, and all the other claptrap extravagancies of the Disraeli school. In the view of Mr. Alison, the wars were really conflicts of opinion, in which something more than even the ambition of kings was embodied. According to him, Louis the Fourteenth represented the Romish, William the Third the Protestant spirit, not in mere religious dogmas, but in that deeper feeling which not only influences belief, but gives its color to actions, and in the end forms the character of nations. William from nature and education embodied constitutional government; Louis, like Napoleon after him, individual despotism. These principles and their concomitants, Mr. Alison holds, were always at work during the wars of William and Anne, though personal or national interests often excited them to action. The author's "character" of Louis the Fourteenth is well worth perusal, especially by those persons who are apt to undervalue the past because it does not resemble the present. The following is a portion of that elaborate por

Supposing a work to have sufficient literary trait.

France, which have since become so famous, were of his institution; he sought to give discipline to thought, as he had done to his fleets and armies, and rewarded distinction in literary efforts not less than warlike achievement. No monarch ever knew better the magical influence of intellectual strength on general opinion, or felt more strongly the expedience of enlisting it on the side of authority. Not less than Hildebrand or Napoleon, he aimed at drawing, not over his own country alone, but the whole of Europe, the meshes of regulated and centralized thought; and more durably than either he attained his object. The religious persecution which constitutes the great blot on his reign, and caused its brilliant career to close in mourning, was the result of the same desire. He longed to give the same unity to the church which he had done to the army, navy, and civil strength of the monarchy. He saw no reason why the Huguenots should not, at the royal command, face about like one of Turenne's battalions. Schism in the church was viewed by him in exactly the same light as rebellion in the state. No efforts were spared by inducements, good deeds, and fair promises to make proselytes; but when twelve hundred thousand Protestants resisted his seductions, the sword, the fagot, and the wheel, were resorted to without merey for their destruction."

"Louis XIV. was essentially monarchical. | philosophers, and poets of his dominions, like solThat was the secret of his success it was because diers and sailors: alınost all the academies of he first gave the powers of unity to the monarchy that he rendered France so brilliant and powerful. All his changes, and they were many, from the dress of soldiers to the instructions to ambassadors, were characterized by the same spirit. He first introduced a uniform in the army. Before his time, the soldiers merely wore a banderole over their steel breastplates and ordinary dresses. That was a great and symptomatic improvement; it at once induced an esprit de corps and a sense of responsibility. He first made the troops march with a measured step, and caused large bodies of men to move with the precision of a single company. The artillery and engineer service, under his auspices, made astonishing progress. His discerning eye selected the genius of Vauban, which invented, as it were, the modern system of fortification, and wellnigh brought it to its greatest elevation; and raised to the highest command that of Turenne, which carried the military art to the most consummate perfection. Skilfully turning the martial and enterprising genius of the Franks into the career of conquest, he multiplied tenfold their power, by conferring on them the inestimable advantages of skilled discipline and unity of action. He gathered the feudal array around his banner; he roused the ancient barons from their chateaux, the old retainers from their villages. But he arranged them in disciplined battalions of regular troops, who received the pay and obeyed the orders of government, and never left their banners. His regular army was all enrolled by voluntary enlistment, and served for pay. The militia alone was raised by conscription. When he summoned the military forces of France to undertake the conquest of the Low Countries, he appeared at the head of a hundred and twenty thousand men, all regular and disciplined troops, with a hundred pieces of cannon. Modern Europe had never seen such an array. It was irresistible, and speedily brought the monarch to the gates of Amsterdam.

66

He

The character of William is equally able; but we will leave it for a few passages more directly connected with Marlborough. The following is a description of the memorable day at Waterloo, when the caution of the Dutch deputies and the envy of some of the Dutch generals stopped the allies from engaging.

These encumbrances to

the army prevented Marlborough from forcing the passage of the Dyle: he then deceived them by a series of skilful marches, and, interposing himself between Villeroi and France, came up with the French army on the side afterwards occupied by Wellington, while Marlborough halted in Napoleon's position.

"Marlborough, on the 18th August, anxiously reconnoitred the ground; and, finding the front practicable for the passage of troops, moved up his men in three columns to the attack. The artillery was sent to Wavre; the allied columns traversed at right angles the line of march by which Blucher advanced to the support of Wellington on the 18th June, 1815.

The same unity which the genius of Louis and his ministers communicated to the military power of France, he gave also to its naval forces and internal strength. To such a pitch of greatness did he raise the marine of the monarchy, that it all but outnumbered that of England; and the battle of La Hogue, in 1692, alone determined, as Trafalgar did a century after, to which of these rival powers the dominion of the seas was to belong. His ordinances of the marine, promulgated in 1781, [1681 ?] form the best code of maritime law yet known, and one which is still referred to, like the Code Napoleon, as a ruling authority in all commercial states. "Had Marlborough's orders been executed, it is introduced astonishing reforms into the proceedings probable he would have gained a victory which, of the courts of law; and to his efforts the great from the relative position of the two armies, could perfection of the French law, as it now appears in not but have been decisive; and possibly the 18th the admirable works of Pothier, is in a great degree August, 1705 might have become as celebrated in to be ascribed. He reduced the government of the history as the 18th June, 1815. Overkirk, to whom interior to that regular and methodical system of he showed the ground at Over-Ische which he had governors of provinces, mayors of cities, and other destined for the scenes of attacks, perfectly concursubordinate authorities, all receiving their instruc-red in the expedience of it; and orders were given tions from the Tuileries, which, under no subsequent to bring the artillery forward to commence a canchange of government, imperial or royal, has been abandoned, and which has in every succeeding age formed the main source of its strength. He concentrated around the monarchy the rays of genius from all parts of the country, and threw around its head a lustre of literary renown, which, more even than the exploits of his armies, dazzled and fascinated the minds of men. He arrayed the scholars,

nonade. By the malice or negligence of Slangenberg, who had again violated his express instructions, and permitted the baggage to intermingle with the artillery train, the guns had not arrived, and some hours were lost before they could be pushed up. At length, but not till noon, the guns were brought forward; and the troops being in line, Marlborough rode along the front to give his last

orders. The English and Germans were in the | traordinary dangers which now awaited them; for highest spirits, anticipating certain victory from the relative position of the armies; the French fighting with their faces to Paris, the allies with theirs to Brussels.

"But again the Dutch deputies and generals interposed, alleging that the enemy was too strongly posted to be attacked with any prospect of success. 'Gentlemen,' said Marlborough to the circle of generals which surrounded him, I have reconnoitred the ground, and made dispositions for an attack. I am convinced that, conscientiously and as men of honor, we cannot now retire without an action. Should we neglect this opportunity, we must be responsible before God and man. You see the confusion which pervades the ranks of the enemy, and their embarrassment at our manœuvres. I leave you to judge whether we should attack to-day, or wait till to-morrow. It is indeed late; but you must consider that by throwing up entrenchments during the night the enemy will render their position far more difficult to force.' 'Murder and massacre!' replied Slangenberg. Marlborough upon this of fered him two English for every Dutch battalion but this too the Dutchman refused, on the plea that he did not understand English. Upon this the duke offered to give him German regiments; but even this was declined, upon the pretence that the attack would be too hazardous. Marlborough, upon this, turned to the deputies, and said, I disdain to send troops to dangers which I will not myself encounter. I will lead them where the peril is most imminent. I adjure you, gentlemen, for the love of God and your country, do not let us neglect so favorable an opportunity.' But it was all in vain; and, instead of acting, the Dutch deputies and generals spent three hours in debating, until night came on and it was too late to attempt anything. Such was Marlborough's chagrin at this disappointment, that he said, on retiring from the field, I am at this moment ten years older than I was four days ago."

This conduct of the Dutchmen raised such a storm both in England and Holland, that it quickly cost them their places. They were all moved, and more tractable persons appointed. The following picture of the terrors of mining is from the account of the siege of Tournay.

they were truly of the most formidable description. What rendered them peculiarly so was, that the perils in a peculiar manner affected the bold and the forward. The first to mount a breach, to effect a lodgment in a horn-work, to penetrate into a mine, was sure to perish. First a hollow rumbling noise was heard, which froze the bravest hearts with horror; a violent rush as of a subterraneous cataract succeeded; and immediately the earth heaved, and whole companies and even battalions were destroyed in a frightful explosion. On the 15th August, a sally by M. de Surville was bravely repulsed; and the besiegers, pursuing their advantage, effected a lodgment in the out-work; but immediately a mine was sprung, and a hundred and fifty men were blown into the air. In the night between the 16th and 17th, a long and furious conflict took place, below ground and in utter darkness, between the contending parties; which at length terminated to the advantage of the besiegers. On the 23d, a mine was discovered, sixty feet long by twenty broad, which would have blown up a whole battalion of Hanoverian troops placed above it; but while the allies were in the mine, congratulating themselves on the discovery, a mine below it was suddenly sprung, and all within the upper one were buried in the ruins. On the night of the 25th, three hundred men, posted in a large mine discovered to the allies by an inhabitant of Tournay, were crushed in a similar manner by the explosion of another mine directly below; and on the same night, one hundred men posted in the town ditch were suddenly buried under a bastion blown out upon them.

*

Two additional chapters follow the Life.

"A very striking incident occurred in the siege, which shows to what a height the heroic spirit with which the troops were animated had risen. An officer commanding a detachment was sent by Lord Albemarle to occupy a certain lunette which had been captured from the enemy; and though it was concealed from the men, the commander told the undermined, and that the party would be blown up. officer he had every reason to believe the post was Knowing this, he proceeded with perfect calmness re-to the place of his destination; and when provisions and wine were served out to the men, he desired them to fill their calashes, and said Here is a health to those who die the death of the brave.' The mine was immediately after sprung; but, fortu"The art of countermining, and of counteracting nately, the explosion failed, and his comrades surthe danger of mines exploding, was then very im-vived to relate their commander's noble conduct." perfectly understood, though that of besieging above ground had been brought to the very highest deOne gree of perfection. The soldiers in consequence entertained a great and almost superstitious dread is a series of "comparisons" between Marlborough, of the perils of that subterraneous warfare, where Eugene, Frederick the Great, Napoleon, and Welprowess and courage were alike unavailing, and lington; which have but little direct relation to the the bravest equally with the most pusillanimous main object, and by consequence have more of the were liable to be at any moment blown into the air, air of mere theme-writing than anything else in or smothered under ground, by the explosions of an the book, however able the writing may be. The unseen and therefore appalling enemy. The allies were inferior in regular sappers and miners to the other chapter is on the peace of Utrecht; in which besieged, who were singularly well supplied with Mr. Alison's object is to reiterate old views about that important arm of the service. The ordinary, the erection of Belgium into a kingdom-line of forsoldiers, how brave soever in the field, evinced a tresses-tri-colored flag at Antwerp-Quadruple repugnance at engaging in this novel and terrific Alliance in Spain, schemes to abrogate the Salic species of warfare; and it was only by the officers law, and the expulsion of Don Carlos through the personally visiting the trenches in the very hottest Quadruple Alliance. The Belgium question is of the fire, and offering high rewards to the soldiers who would enter into the mines, that men could be mere talk; for it is difficult to see what else could got to venture on the perilous service. have been done without an European war. "It was not surprising that even the bravest of In the Spanish business, Mr. Alison, without the allied troops were appalled at the new and ex- naming Lord Palmerston, certainly contrives to

ONE of the victims to the season is Mr. Robert

Liston, the eminent surgeon.

The Times says

show, that throughout his intrigues, interferences, | republic of Switzerland. For its own satisfaction, expeditions, and what not, he was simply playing it joined the republic; but now, being desirous to into the hands of Louis Philippe; and that but for remain neutral in the civil contest, it falls back upon its allegiance to King Frederick William; wherethe very clever abrogation of the Salic law and upon the monarch is brought into direct antagonism the expulsion of Carlos, the Montpensier marriage with the diet-he insists on the neutrality of the would not have taken place. There is some canton, and hints that war upon his faithful lieges excuse for the soreness about the match at the will be resisted by himself; the diet insists on the foreign office: "the engineer hoist with his own obedience of the canton, and hints that it shall repel petard" feels it anything but " sport." foreign intervention. Here is a casus belli as good as diplomatic casuist could desire; the two sides of the claim being irreconcilable. The position of THE Spectator of 11 Dec. says: "There can be Neufchatel is an absurdity, apparently not to be no doubt of one fact, that the priests in Ireland are remedied unless by altering the relation of that morally answerable for much that the people do. province, separating it from alliance with one or We say this without the slightest thought of imput-other of its two sovereigns, royal or republican; ing the crimes of a few to the ecclesiastical body at but to do that implies "foreign intervention." To large. But the priest, if he does the duties of his the diet, which is no longer in want of men and office, cannot remain ignorant or neutral in the money for the civil war, the question at issue is midst of crime. Through the confessional, he has purely theoretical; but the stout republicans look at least the means of knowing the crimes of the as if they really meant to beard the Prussian monguilty, and of exhorting to peace and order. There arch.-Spectator, 11 Dec. can scarcely be a question that if the priests chose, they could prevent the murder which is a custom of their spiritual subjects; they could prevent it by "Mr. Liston had suffered for some weeks, from an the spiritual coercion of refusing absolution, or even of excommunicating those who are hardened in affection of the throat, which proved fatal at halfguilt. It is not for official persons to dictate these past ten o'clock on 7 Dec. Although he had priestly functions; but neither can the fact be scarcely more than reached middle age, Mr. Liston ignored that such a duty is among the priestly had achieved an European reputation. As an operfunctions, and is too commonly neglected; a fact ator he was unrivalled, but it would be unjust to made manifest by the results. But the priests are No man was less inclined to have recourse to opersuppose that in this consisted his highest excellence. dependent for subsistence on the murderers; another fact which explains much. As so many of ation when relief could be attained by any other their body, then, waive functions for which they means, and no lecturer ever took more pains to inculclaim toleration from the state, it becomes the more cate the duty of pursuing this course of practice. necessary to control them when they are themselves To the public and to science Mr. Liston's death guilty of flagrant complicity in crime. It cannot be may be considered a national loss; it will be deeply, denied that there is a very general feeling in Eng-regretted by the many who have profited by his emland, that it would be salutary to make an example; hang a priest or two,' it is generally remarked, and you will stop these denunciations, from the altar.' Or if the priests will not use their power on the side of order, it may be used in their despite. A correspondent of a daily paper relates a significant story. Thirty years ago, assassination was frequent in a regiment at Malta, chiefly composed of Irish; and at length a culprit was detected, and sentenced to death: at the place of execution, the priests attended, and the man, on his knees, prayed that he might not be despatched from this world without absolution; the governor answered, he had sent his comrade out of the world unabsolved; so the assassin was shot, unshrieved; the assassinations ceased. At all events, if the Irish priests will not perform their duties as citizens, and will not aid the enforcement of order, they will hasten the day in which the law which they neglect or evade shall be superseded by a law more stringent and manageable.'

life to whom his kindly disposition and estimable inent talents, and by the numerous friends in private qualities had endeared him."-Ib.

THE Courrier de Marseilles, gives the following description of a passport exhibited at its office by a traveller just arrived from Italy-"The passport, thanks to many additions, is six feet and a half in length. Its weight, owing to the seals and binding, exceeds thirteen ounces; the signatures and stamps with which it is covered are seventy-three in number; and the whole cost of the passport, during a journey of five months, amounts to 262 francs 50 cents. (107. 10s.) The Courrier recommends the bearer to show that document in Paris, and to keep it carefully as a curious monument of the administrative history of Italy previously to its regeneration.-Ib.

99

THERE has been a novel application of chloroform at Cambridge. A horse in a gig began to kick furiously, and at length threw himself down in a rage. A chemist poured some chloroform on a handkerchief, and held it to the horse's mouth and nostrils; it became insensible for a time; the gig was removed; and the horse, on recovering, quietly got up and walked into his stable.—Ib.

"MR. PITT forcibly reminded his countrymen of that bottomless pit of which all good Christians have heard. Like the whirlpool of Charybdis, the treasury under his auspices absorbed all that approached within its wide influence, and restored nothing from its voracious abyss. Yet, in condemning the statesman, we must not forget the integrity of the man. He lived with pure hands at a most impure period, and Lord Byron has only rendered him justice in declaring that he ruined the country gratis."