Life of General Sir William Napier, Volume 1J. Murray, 1864 A biography and correspondence of General Sir William Francis Patrick Napier, a British Army officer and military historian. |
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Life of General Sir William Napier, Volume 1 Sir William Francis Patrick Napier No preview available - 1864 |
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admiration answer appeared arms army arrived artillery asked attack Badajoz Bapaume battle battle of Salamanca believe breach brigade brother Bunbury called Captain cavalry Charles Ciudad Rodrigo Colonel Napier command dear Duke of Wellington endeavour enemy England English fear feel fight fire Fitzroy Somerset following letters France French Freshford gave gentlemen George give head hear heard History honour hope horse killed King Lady Lady Hester Stanhope light division London look Lord Wellington manner Marshal Marshal Soult military mind Ministers mother Napoleon never officers opinion pain Paris party Peninsular War person political poor present received Reform regiment retreat seen sent Sir John Moore soldier Soult Spain speech storming tell Thiers thing thought tion told town troops Valenciennes Whigs whole wife William Napier wish wounded write written young
Popular passages
Page 27 - See what a grace was seated on this brow ; Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove himself, An eye like Mars, to threaten and command; A station like the herald Mercury New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill ; A combination and a form indeed, Where every god did seem to set his seal To give the world assurance of a man : This was your husband.
Page 29 - ... found. Brought up amidst Whigs, and used to hear Mr. Pitt abused with all the virulence of Whigs, I looked upon him as an enemy of all good government; and my father, though not a Whig, had always condemned his war with France as an iniquitous and pernicious measure. Thus primed with fierce recollections and patriotic resolves, I endeavoured to sustain my mind's hatred against the Minister, but in vain. All feelings sunk, except those of surprise and gratification, at finding such a gentle, goodnatured,...
Page 411 - In this dreadful situation, while the dead were lying in heaps, and others continually falling, the wounded crawling about to get some shelter from the merciless...
Page 135 - On the same day, and at the same hour, was killed Colonel Thomas Lloyd. He likewise had been a long time in the 43rd.
Page 29 - Stanhope also treated me with the most winning kindness. All this produced a strange sensation, for I came determined to hold fast by my patriotism though in presence of a wicked Minister, however polite or condescending he might be found. Brought up amidst Whigs, and used to hear Mr. Pitt abused with all the virulence of Whigs, I looked upon him as an enemy of all good government ; and my father, though not a Whig, had always condemned his war with France as an iniquitous and pernicious measure....
Page 409 - My father explained that he could not mend the bowl, but the trouble he could, by the gift of a sixpence to buy another. However, on opening his purse it was empty of silver, and he had to make amends by promising to meet his little friend in the same spot at the same hour next day, and to bring the sixpence with him, bidding her, meanwhile, tell her mother she had seen a gentleman who would bring her the money for the bowl next day.
Page 135 - But he had seen more combats and sieges than he could count years. So slight in person, and of such surpassing and delicate beauty that the Spaniards often thought him a girl disguised in man's clothing, he was yet so vigorous, so active, so brave, that the most daring and experienced veterans watched...
Page 329 - He was not only not prepared to bring forward any measure of this nature ; but he would at once declare that, as far as he was concerned, as long as he held any station in the government of the country, he should always feel it his duty to resist such measures, when proposed by others.
Page 32 - ... in one position, as if reading the heavens, and totally regardless of the bending figures near him. For some time they spoke ; he made now and then some short observation, and finally, with an abrupt stiff inclination of the body, but without casting his eyes down, dismissed them. Then, turning to us with a laugh, caught up his cushions and renewed our fight.
Page 136 - Herculean strength, and a countenance at once frank and majestic gave the true index of his nature, for his capacity was great and commanding, and his military knowledge extensive both from experience and study.