HALF-YEARLY RETROSPECT OF FRENCH LITERATURE.

master.

LL wars are more or less dreadful and Vely, following the narrative of picious to the cause of humanity, in endeavours to explain this extrordinary their consequences, and effects. The conduct on the part of France, by obpresent one, however, exhibits features serving, that, before quitting Madrid, of a peculiar kind, and must be allowed Francis har solemnly promises to obto be peculiarly hostile to the best inte- serve all the conditions of the treaty of rests of mankind; for social intercourse Madrid, not only in the quality of a between neighbouring nations is now sovereign, but also in that of one gentlecut off, and the press itself is unhappily man while treating with another, and confined to the nation, to which it ap- that the monarch interrupted the hepertains.

Io this state of affairs, we raid, for the express purpose of prehave re-doubled our efforts, and present venting the public accusation, that he the following miscellany to our readers:

had violated the laws of chivalry. HISTORY.

The present work contains : “Recueil de Pièces inédites relatives aur 1. The inanifesto of Charles V. after Cartels respectifs de François I. et de receiving the challenge of Francis I, or Charles V." A Collection of unpublished rather, the proces-verbal, drawn up by Papers, relative to the Challenges that the Secretary, Don Juan Aleman, of passed between Francis I. and Charles V. all that passed on the reception of this

This is a subject which attracted the document. whole attention of Europe, at a period 2. The correspondence of Charles V. when the age of chivalry had not as yet with the Duke de l'Infantado, which took elapsed. It has been treated of by all place, during the period that elapsed, the historians with no small degree of between the audience granted to the attention; but it is evident, that they French herald, and his return to his were utterly unacquainted with several of the official documents, contained in 3. The relation of the journey of this collection, and they were conse

the Spanish herald who carried the requently obliged rather to guess at, than ply of Charles V. to the court of France, to supply, many of the facts. Robertson, and the different justificatory papers, ali indeed, with his usual judgment, for- of which have been extracted froin the arbears to enter into ininute details, while chives of Madrid, and translated from the Gaillard* has been at great pains to recite Spanish, by a Frenchman, who had every occurrence, and to repeat all the acted in a diplomatic capacity. . This particulars that he could possibly obtain. collection affords a new and satisfactory For this purpose, he not only consulted explanation of the conduct, as well as the writers of his own time, but had re- of the affected delays of Francis; for we course to the Chronicle in the Royal Li- learn from the papers now before us, that brary, among the manuscripts of Bethune the monarch was for a long time negn. (marked No. 8,471 and 8,472); he even ciating with the Pope, having expressly analized such of the official papers as

solicited the intervention of his Holiness, could be obtained, and after disengaging as even he began to feel, that he har himself from all national prejudices, he brought himself into a ridiculous predi. fairly avows

cament, by sending a challenge in conta “That the projected duel failed, in sequence of being accused of breaking consequence of the vivacity of Prancis I. the treaty of Madrid. who, in the audience given to the herald, It was on the 7th of June, 1528, that sent on the part of the Emperor, inces- Guyenne, the King of Arons of France, santly interrupted him in the discharge of arrived at Monzon in Arrigoni, at five his functions, refused to hear what he o'clock in the afternoon, accompanied had to say, and finally sent him away, by Gonzalo de Montalba, a gentlesnan under pretence that it was high time to

who had been sent to the frontiers of put an end to words, in order to deter- Fontarabia, to receive and accompany mine the difference by means of himn next day; the Count de Vaso actions."

conducted the herald to audi. Garnier, the continuator of Villaret ence with the Einperor, which took

place at four o'clock in the afternoon, * Histoire de François I. par Gaillard, in the palace of Don Hernando, Duke of liv. ii. ch. 13.

Arragon, and Viceroy of Valencia..

"Guyenne,

an

illustrative of the costume of various nion, that the French army miglit have classes of the inhabitants of the countries been pursued, in its retreat, by the five which the author visited, or representing brigades, on the left wing of the army; the most striking edifices that offered while the three brigades, on the right, themselves to his notice. These are co- ought to have been pushed on to the loured in imitation of drawings, and be- heights around Torres Vedras, a very ing copied from designs taken on the stroug position, and which they must spot, they afford the reader nearly as have reached before Junot should come correct an idea of the objects deli- up, with the 'broken remains of his Rcated, as could be acquired by actual troops. Had this measure been adopted, observation.

Junot must either have taken another, Dr. NEALE's “ Letters from Portugal and circuitous road to Lisbon, or he and Spain; comprising an Account of must have fought a second battle, in the the Operations of the Armies, under Sir dehles near Torres Vedras, which would Arthur Wellesley, and Sir Jolin Moore, most likely have ended in the entire de. from the Lunding of the Troops in struction of bis army. In this opinion, Blondego Buy, to the Battle of Corunnn;" Sir Arthur Wellesley was overruled by display an accomplished, and superior Sir Harry Burrard, who alledged, as reamind, and are *replete with interest. sons for his dissent, the reduced state of The proceedings of two British armies, our small body of cavalry, and the by which the expectations of the country wretched condition of the artillerywere so cruelly disappointed, are not horses. indeert a grateful theme to the patriotic Yet I must observe, that in general, mind; but still it must be anxious to the officers seem to regret, that Sir Ar. trace the causes of that disappointment, thur Wellesley's advice, was not followand eagerly seize any information which ed; and every account which we have may tend to elucidate the subject. But since had, respecting the miserable plight exclusive of the political interest of the in which the French troops entered the volume before us, its contents are va. town, after their defeat, proves the justTaable in many other points of view, as ness of the grounds upon which Sir Arwill appear

from the correct character, thur had formed his decision. which the author has himself given of On the conclusion of the Convention them. The subjects, which have prin- of Cintra, the author proceeded to cipally engaged his attention, are, he Lisbon, and, after a short residence in informs us, the positions and operations that city, set off with the army, under of the armies in Portugal and Spain ; Sir John Moore, for Spain, which be atoccasional descriptions of the face of tended during the long and fatiguing both countries; which descriptions, by march to Sahagun, as well as in the hathe way, are accompanied with twelve rassing and destructive retreat from that drawings, traits of the character of the place to Corunna. For the details of inhabitants; and, as might be expected, these movements, and the description remarks on various occurrences, con- of the places visited by the Author, with nected with his own profession.

the force which he accompanied, we Dr. Neale, accompanied the brigade must refer to the work itself, which preof General Anstruther, which landed sents a dreadful picture of the hardships on the Portuguese shore, only three days sustained by our unfortunate troops, previous to the battle of Vimiera. Of during this disastrous, and, we had althat engayement, he gives an animated most said, inglorious campaign. account from his own observation. It We shall terminate our notice of a appears, that the opinion of the officers, work, from which we have derived no in general, respecting the measures inconsiderable pleasure and information, adopied, subsequently to that victory, with transcribing one of the letters which very nearly corresponded with that, which will enable the reader to form some was so loudly expressed by the public idca of the manner and abilities of the voice at home. It is said, (observes our author. author) that had Sir Arthur Wellesley “ Fearful,” says he, “ that you

have been perunitted to follow the tendency received a false impression of the conof his own judgment, the campaign in duct of the British troops towards the Fortugal would, in all probability, bave Spaniards, I could wish to lay before you terminated as gloriously for the British the real state of facts, promising that arma, as it had cominenced. It is saill, every possible allowance ought to be to have been Sir Arthur's decided opi- made for the irritation of our men's minds, 1

produced

produced by the retreat. Indeed, during Consider the facility with which, upon the whole campaign, they evinced as all occasions, we vanquislied the foe, much humanity and generosity, as of when not absolutely overpowered by bravery and heroism.

numbers. “ But reciprocal ignorance of lan- “ Our battalion officers are at present, guage, and diversity of religious customs and have long been, esteemed the best and local prejudices, were perpetually in Europe. Our artillery is, at length, interposing to frustrate the endeavours much superior to that of France; and of the officers to preserve amity between inferior as our Coinmissariat must althe soldiery and the Spaniards. Besides, ways be to that of a continental army, yet, as in Gallicia and the North of Spain with a little attention, it might soon be there is more specie than real property: rendered nearly as effective. As to the our soldiers were frequently incensed, at French Generals of the present day, they finding that the offer of a dollar would are mostly ignorant and uneducated men, not induce a peasant to part with a and in every respect inferior to the Geinorsel of rusty bacon, a few garlic nerals of the English army. Ilow then, sausages, or a bit of bread, which often, you will naturally ask, has it happened, in fact, were not intrinsically worth one that they have over-run the greater part third of the sum. On arriving on an of Europe ? Partly from the general evening at their villages, after a most corruption of their opponents, and their fatiguing march, wet to the skin, yet ex- weak and bigotted policy; but chiefly piring with thirst, these unfeeling, mortals from the force of opinion, which has often refused, when requested by our done more for them than all other causes. men, lo run to the adjoining fountain The opinion of every nation, our own for a pitcher of water, or to procure a alone excepted, seems to be that the few heath-roots to make a fire. Hence French, especially with Bonaparte at frequent bickerings ensued, and some- their head, are invincible. And I must times a few blows, which the Spaniards add, that, by the most minute attention generally deserved. That the breast of to geographical and topographical dethe British soldier is incapable of wanton tails, chey have acquired a method of cruelty, and is warmed by the best af- combining a series of complicated movefections, I could convince you by several ments, with a degree of mathematical anecdotes; but you may judge of his certainty, a thing never before attempto, character by the following:

ed. With each corps d'armée are two or “ At the battle of Vimiera, our men three men, named imperial geographers, who belonged to the pickets, and who who, with the largest and best maps in had fallen down wounded, were passed Europe under their eyes, direct the march over by the French in their advance, but of every detachment, and compute the were inhumanly stabbed by them in the half hours, nay minutes, which will be Jimbs or trunk afterwards. How did the necessary to effect each movement. British behave towards them under the « Hence their attacks are charactesame circumstances. Their first act, on rized by a simultaneous impulse and racoining up with a wounded Frenchman, pillity, which at first sight appears ase was to unsling the canteen from their tonishing. How much have we not lost. shoulders, and pour a portion of its con- from a defect in this species of knowtents into his quivering lips. This hap- ledge? Consider the failure of our first pened in innumerable instances. I will attempt on Seringapatam, and our last then go on and ask, what such men may march to attack Baenos Ayres. Nay, effect, if properly managed, and ably during our last retreat in Spain, should led on? Do you not recognize in them it not have been known that it was imthe real descendants of that handful of possible for the enemy to get between us brave men, who, conducted by a Black and the sea by any lateral road on our Prince, in two succeeding suinmers, 'left, and that, before he could come round chased from shore to shore of their ex- our right, he must have beaten and dis. tensive realm the forefathers of the psrsed Generals Crawford and Altent's myrmidons who are now ravaging and brigade, and the Marquis de la Romana's depopulating Europe? Can you have army? Sir John Moore, it is presumed, any difficulty in believing, that our army would not have retreated so rapidly might soon, with a little management, through the strongest country in Europe, he made equal to that of vain-glorious bad it not been for a defect of knowledge France? It is already equal, and more such as that of which I speak. than equal, in every thing but numbers, of As to the force of opinion already MONTHLY MAG. No. 187.

mentioned,

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