Literary and Scientific Entelligence.

BIRTHS.-MARRIAGES.-DEATHS.

BIRTHS.

OF SONS.-Lady Barbara Ponsonby.-Mrs. H. Baring. The lady of W. Ryves, of Ryves Castle, Esq.-The lady of the Rev. Butler, D.D. The Right Hon. Lady Ribblesdale. The Hon. Mrs. Penhryn.

OF DAUGHTERS.-Lady Lyndhurst.-The lady of Rear-Admiral Adam. The lady of Capt. J. Messiter.-The Marchioness of Ely.The lady of Captain M. Liddon, R.N.-The lady of the Right Hon. S. Canning.-Lady Sarah Murray.

MARRIAGES.

William Robertson, eldest son of Colonel R. Macdonald, to Sarah Adams, eldest daughter of|| James Beck, Esq., of Allesley Park, Warwickshire.

George Rennie, Esq., of Whitehall Place, to Margaret Anne, only surviving daughter of the late Sir John Jackson, Bart.

At St. Luke's, Chelsea, the Marquess of Carmarthen, to Lady Hervey.

At St. George's, Hanover Square, Francis George Hare, Esq., to Ann Frances, eldest daughter of Sir John Dean Paul, Bart.

At Colchester, James Anston, Esq., to Emily Mingay, only daughter of the Rev. T. Fenton, Rector of Beighton, Suffolk.

At St. Mary-le-bone New Church, J. D. Magens, Esq., only son of Magens Dorrien Magens, Esq., of Hammerwood Lodge, Sussex, to Mary Stephena, daughter and heiress of the late Lieut.-Colonel Rudsdell.

At Edinburgh, William James, son of Lieut.General Sir John Fraser, to Mary Anne, only daughter of the late Robert Cumming, Esq.

At Hampton Court Palace, Captain George Pitt Rose, M.P., eldest son of the Right Hon. Sir George Rose, G.C.H., to Phoebe Susanna, fifth daughter of the late Major-General John A. Vesey.

Captain Henry G. Boldero, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Neeld, Esq., of Rockstone House, Hampshire.

At Edinburgh, Archibald Douglas, Esq., to Harriet, second daughter of Lieut.-General Hay, Lieut.-Governor of Edinburgh Castle.

At Bath, Edward Cludde, Esq., to Catherine Harriet, only daughter of Lieut.-General Sir William Cockburn, Bart.

At St. Mary-le-bone, the Hon. Nathaniel Henry Charles Massey, second son of the late Lord Clarina, to Emily, youngest daughter of the late David Lyon, Esq.

At St. George's, Hanover Square, Francis, son of the late Hon. William Walpole, to Elizabeth, daughter of T. A. Knight, Esq., of Downton Castle, Herefordshire.

Sir B. C. Doyle, Bart., R.N., to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of the late J. Vivian, Esq., of Claverton, Somersetshire.

At Blair Vadock, N.B., William W. Abney, of Measham Hall, Derbyshire, to Helen, eldest daughter of Mr. and Lady Janet Buchanan, niece of the Earl of Caithness.

At St. Margaret's Westminster, the Right Rev. Christopher Lipscombe, Bishop of Jamaica, to Mary Harriett, eldest daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Page, Head Master of Westminster School.

At St. James's, Piccadilly, the Hon. William Russell, eldest son of Lord William Russell, and nephew to his Grace, the Duke of Bedford, to Miss Campbell, daughter of Lady Charlotte Bury, and niece of the Duke of Argyle.

DEATHS.

At Tunbridge Wells, aged 73, Vice-Admiral Nowell.

At Bath, aged 93, Sir John Trevelyan, Bart. Lady Harriet Finch, sister to the Earl of Aylesford.

At Rome, the Right Hon. Sir Wm. Drummond, K.C., of Logie Almond, N. B.

At Gibraltar, Captain Thomas Sydney Beckwith, only son of Major-General Sir T. S. Beckwith, K.C.B. and K.T.S.

At Edinburgh, Miss Murray, daughter of the late Lord Henderland.

John Abbott, Esq., only brother of the Right Hon. Lord Tenterden.

Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Rear-Admiral Sir Robert Waller Otway, K.C.B., Commander in Chief in South America.

Harriet, wife of Sir Giffin Wilson, and only sister of Vice-Admiral Sir William Hotham, K.C.B.

At Woodbridge, aged 64, J. Clarkson, Esq., the founder and first Governor of the colony of Sierra Leone.

Aged 70, the Rev. J. Smith, B.D., Rector of Holt, Norfolk.

Aged 77, Daniel Agace, Esq., of Ascot Place, Berkshire.

At Highfield Park, Albemarle, eldest son of the Hon. Lindsey Burrell.

Aged 81, the Rev. A. Akehurst, Rector of Iron Aston, Gloucestershire.

Aged 79, the Rev. James S. Neucatre, M.A., Rector of Wordwell, Suffolk.

Aged 25, Stephena Frances, youngest daughter of the late Hon. Mr. Justice Dampier.

At Paris, the Count de Seze, Advocate of
Louis XVI. on his trial.

At Paris, aged 65, the Duke de Rivière,
Governor of the young Duke of Bordeaux.
At Boxley House, Kent, aged 78, the Hon.
Mrs. Elizabeth Marsham.

Matty Wolff, wife of R. Chilton, jun., Esq., and sister of Sir Edward Poore, Bart.

At his seat in Hampshire, aged 77, T. A. Smith, Esq., Lord Lieutenant of the County of Carnarvon.

At Abbeville, aged 76, Peter Moore, Esq., late M.P. for the city of Coventry.

In Bethlehem Hospital, where she had been confined forty-two years, Margaret Nicholson, who attempted the life of the late king. She is supposed to have nearly reached her hundredth year.

At his house in Belgrave Square, Pimlico, the Right Hon. Cecil Weld, Lord Forester.

TO

La Belle Assemblée,

OR

COURT AND FASHIONABLE

MAGAZINE.

NEW SERIES.-VOL, VII.

SKETCH

OF THE PROGRESS AND STATE OF LITERATURE,
FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

H to I
HISTORY,

SOUTHEY's admirable History of the Peninsular War is well known-is in every library; upon the same subject,|| partial sketches, and details innumerable, have been long before the public; and to increase we would rather say complete -our stock of information, two other performances of a somewhat imposing character have appeared: first, in quarto, a “Narrative of the Peninsular War, from 1808 to 1813; by Lieut.-Gen. C. W. Vane, Marquess of Londonderry, G.C.B., G.C.H., Colonel of the 10th Royal Hussars," secondly, the first volume, in octavo, of a "History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France, from the year 1807 to the year 1814; by W. F. P. Napier, C.B.” Assisted by Mr. Gleig, the author of The Subaltern, the noble Marquess has contributed an interesting and highly valuable narrative, combining a spirited account of his own personal services with much of general military detail. It is, in fact, the production of a brave but unassuming soldier.

Colonel Napier's history, on the other hand, is infinitely more elaborated-is a work of infinitely greater pretence. "I was an eye witness," observes the author, No. 42.*-Vol. VII.

P

"to many of the transactions that I relate; and a wide acquaintance with military men has enabled me to consult distinguished officers, both French and English, and to correct my own recollections and opinions by their superior knowledge. Thus assisted, I was encouraged to undertake the work; and I offer it to the world with the less fear, because it contains original documents, which will suffice to give it interest, although it should have no other merit. Many of these documents I owe to the liberality of Marshal Soult, who, disdaining national prejudices, with the confidence of a great mind, placed them at my disposal, without even a remark to check the freedom of my pen."

As the Marquess of Londonderry is avowedly a Tory, so, Colonel Napier is at no pains to conceal that he considers himself to be a staunch Whig-some, indeed, have termed him a Radical; all, however, must agree that he is a man of high talent; and, to genuine British feeling, nothing can be more delightful than to observe men of opposite parties agreeing on points of vital interest. The tribute that Colonel Napier pays to the high military talent of the Duke of Wellington is not less warm, not less just,

2 Q

than that of the Marquess of London-faction to me to know we have beaten the derry.

French." His countenance continued firm,

and his thoughts clear; once only, when he spoke of his mother, he became agitated. He inquired after the safety of his friends, and the

officers of his staff; and he did not even in this moment forget to recommend those whose merit

had given them claims to promotion. His strength was failing fast, and life was just extinct, when, with an unsubdued spirit, as if anticipating the baseness of his posthumous calumniators, he exclaimed, "I hope the people of England will be satisfied! I hope my country

Colonel Napier's opinion of the Spaniards is unfavourable. They" have boldly asserted," he observes," and the world has believed, that the deliverance of the Peninsula was the work of their hands: this assertion, so contrary to the truth, I combat. It is unjust to the fame of the British general, injurious to the glory of the British arms." Again :-" From the moment that an English force took the field, the||will do me justice!" The battle was scarcely Spaniards ceased to act as principals in a contest carried on in the heart of their country, and involving their existence as an independent nation; they were self-paid his funeral honours, and Soult, with a noble sufficient, and their pride was wounded feeling of respect for his valour, raised a monuby insult; they were superstitious, and their religious feelings were roused to fanatic fury by an all-powerful clergy,

who feared to lose their own rich endowments; but after the first burst of indignation, the cause of independence created little enthusiasm."

ended, when his corpse, wrapped in a military cloak, was interred by the officers of his staff in the citadel of Corunna. The guns of the enemy

ment to his memory.

Thus ended the career of Sir John Moore, a by the purest virtue, and governed by a disinman whose uncommon capacity was sustained terested patriotism more in keeping with the primitive than the luxurious age of a great nation. His tall graceful person, his dark searching eyes, strongly defined forehead, and singuUnable as we are to follow either of larly expressive mouth, indicated a noble disour military historians, or to offer a gene- position and a refined understanding. ral view of their works, we must confine lofty sentiments of honour habitual to his mind, ourselves briefly to one point; and that adorned by a subtle playful wit, gave him in point shall be the death and character of conversation an ascendancy that he could well Sir John Moore. First, we shall avail preserve by the decisive vigour of his actions. ourselves of Colonel Napier's state-dering upon fierceness, and every important He maintained the right with a vehemence bor

ment:

The

transaction in which he was engaged increased his reputation for talent, and confirmed his character as a stern enemy to vice, a steadfast friend to merit, a just and faithful servant of his country. The honest loved him, the dishonest feared him; for while he lived, he did not shun, but scorned and spurned the base, and, with characteristic propriety, they spurned at him when he was dead.

A soldier from his earliest youth, he thirsted for the honours of his profession, and feeling that he was worthy to lead a British army, hailed the fortune that placed him at the head of the troops destined for Spain. The stream of

From the spot where he fell, the general who had conducted it was carried to the town by a party of soldiers. The blood flowed fast, and the torture of his wound increased; but such was the unshaken firmness of his mind, that those about him, judging from the resolution of his countenance that his hurt was not mortal, expressed a hope of his recovery. Hearing this, he looked steadfastly at the injury for a moment, and then said, "No; I feel that to be impossible." Several times he caused his attendants to stop and turn him round, that he might behold the field of battle; and when the firing indicated the advance of the British, he disco-time passed rapidly, and the inspiring hopes of vered his satisfaction, and permitted the bearers to proceed. Being brought to his lodgings, the surgeons examined his wound, but there was no hope; the pain increased, and he spoke with great difficulty. At intervals, he asked if the French were beaten; and addressing his old friend Colonel Anderson, he said, "You know that I always wished to die this way." Again he asked if the enemy were defeated; and being told they were, observed, "It is a great satis

triumph disappeared, but the austerer glory of suffering remained; with a firm heart he accepted that gift of a severe fate, and confiding in the strength of his genius, disregarded the clamours of presumptuous ignorance; opposing sound military views to the foolish projects so insolently thrust upon him by the ambassador, he conducted a long and arduous retreat with sagacity, intelligence, and fortitude. No insult could disturb, no falsehood deceive him, no re

monstrance shake his determination; fortune frowned without subduing his constancy; death struck, and the spirit of the man remained unbroken when his shattered body scarcely afforded it a habitation.

Now, from much that we have read upon the subject, from much conversation that we have had upon the subject, with several officers who were in Sir John Moore's unfortunate expedition, and most deplorable retreat, we must take leave to say, that, in our humble opinion, the party feelings of Colonel Napier have led him to give a colouring to the picture not altogether in harmony with the hues of truth. So far from Sir John Moore having "hailed the fortune that placed him at the head of the troops destined for Spain," it is an indisputable fact, that he left England under the melancholy and disheartening presentiment that the prospect was unfavourable, and that it would not be possible for him to succeed in the objects of his expedition. Respecting his retreat, too-a retreat of indescribable suffering and loss-a retreat of suffering almost beyond conception of suffering it was the opinion-we state this merely as opinion that, at a certain period, Sir John Moore remained undecided and inactive when he ought to have attacked the enemy; that, by attacking the enemy at that certain period, he might have avoided the necessity of retreat, and all its horrible consequences; and that, at all events, had the retreat been deemed inevitable, its commencement ought to have been earlier. The Marquess of Londonderry's description of the retreat is in perfect accordance with all that we have heard from individuals who could not have been biassed in their statements; and we must add, that his estimate of the character of Sir John Moore, with a portion of which we are about to conclude this notice, is also more in accordance with what we believe to be the facts of the case.

John Moore, during his disastrous retreat, issued many orders in the highest degree painful to the feelings of honourable men, who felt that their conduct had not merited them. His warmest admirers have acknowledged this, and his best friends have lamented it; but, in all probability, no one would have lamented it more hearti ly than himself, had he lived to review, in a moment of calmness, the general conduct of this campaign: because there never lived a man possessed of a better heart, nor, in ordinary cases, of a clearer judgment.

The truth is, that Sir John Moore, with many of the qualities requisite to constitute a general, was deficient in that upon which, more perhaps than any other, success in war must ever depend. He wanted confidence in himself -he was afraid of responsibility-he under-rated the qualities of his own troops, and greatly overrated those of his adversary. Yet, let justice be done. He acted under circumstances at once difficult and trying. He was harassed by being made, in some degree, dependent upon the opinions of others: whilst support from the authorities in the country, as well military as civil, he was from the first absolutely destitute. Sir John Moore was, moreover, a brave and high-spirited soldier. Of this the most satisfactory proof was furnished, by his refusal to act upon a suggestion made to him by some of the oldest and experienced generals in his army, and his declining to enter into any convention for the quiet embarkation of his troops. He preferred the honour of his army to its safety; and by preserving the one, he provided for the other also.

To the antiquarian reader, as well as to the student of general history, we re|| commend a perusal of the Diary of Thomas Burton, Esq., Member in the Parliaments of Oliver and Richard Cromwell, from 1656 to 1659: from the original Autograph MS.; with an Introduction, containing an Account of the Parliament of 1654, from the Journal of Guibon Goddard, Esq., M. P.; edited and illustrated with Notes, Historical and Biographical, by John Towill Rutt," in four volumes octavo.From the preface to this curious work, we extract the following indicatorial and concisely characteristic passage :—

Perhaps the British army has produced some abler men than Sir John Moore; it has certainly produced many who, in point of military During six years of the period I have detalent, were, and are, quite his equals; but it scribed, England and its dependencies were cannot, and perhaps never could, boast of one governed by the family of Cromwell. To those more beloved, not by his own personal friends years, especially to preserve and illustrate what alone, but by every individual that served under can now be recovered of their parliamentary his him. It would be affectation to deny that Sirtory, these volumes are devoted. I could not,