in five minutes the churchyard was sight, especially at the moment when ours. Scarcely had we won, when we the two emperors, at the head of their again lost it. Thrice did it change Prussian grenadier regiments, lowhands, and the ground was heaped ered swords, and paid military honours with dead. The third encounter was to our King.” The honours of the day terrible-with the bayonet, just below were for Frederick William the Third ; the lime trees that shaded the ceme- and the sovereigns of Russia and tery gate. We officers took the mus- Austria, Baron von Rahden tells us, kets of the fallen, and fought like reined back their horses and kept á common soldiers. Some of the French little in rear, that they might not officers followed our example.; others, seem to appropriate a share of them. standing in the foremost rank, did “ Only one soldierly figure, astride, fearful execution with point of sword. proud and stately, upon a splendid Here fell my dearest friend, thrust charger, had taken post on the same through the heart; I sprang forward line with the King of Prussia, some to revenge his death, when a bronzed twenty paces to his right. Alone, and hero of the Pyramids shot me down." seemingly unsympathizing, he beheld, The wound was not very severe; and, with thorough British phlegm, the although the ball could not be ex- military pageant. It was the Duke tracted, the Baron, after a month's of Wellington, the bold hero of Eaststay at Brussels, was able to rejoin ern fight, the prudent general in the bis battalion, then quartered in Nor- Peninsula, the fortunate victor of mandy. Thence, early in August, he Waterloo. Accident and the crowd marched to Paris, to take share in the brought me close to his horse's breast; grand ceremony of blessing the colours and, with the assurance of a young of the Prussian regiments.

man who feels himself an old and "On a splendid summer's day, (2d experienced soldier, I contemplated September, 1815,) 25,000 to 30,000 his really lofty, and proud, and noble Prussians, comprising the whole of the appearance.

I should find it very guards, six infantry and six cavalry difficult to describe the Duke as he regiments of the line, were formed up then was. Not that one line has in the Champ de Mars in one great been effaced of the impression stamped square. In its centre was an altar, upon my memory whilst I stood for composed, military fashion, of drums, more than half an hour scarce three and covered with red velvet, upon paces from his stirrup. But tame and which lay the Iron Cross. The Em- feeble would be any portrait my pen perors Alexander and Francis, our could draw of the flashing eagle eye, noble king, and all the generals of the the hawk's nose, the slightly sarcastic Allies, stood around and listened expression of the pointed chin, and bareheaded to the impressive thanks- compressed, seemingly lipless, mouth. giving offered up by Chaplain Offels- His hair was scanty and dark; neither meyer. Here the colours of the moustache nor whisker filled and various regiments, surmounted by the rounded his thin oval physiognomy. Iron Cross, and having the Alliance His high forehead, that noblest feature ribband—white, black, and orange-- of the masculine countenance, I could and the ribband of the medal cast out not see, for a long narrow military of captured artillery for “Prussia's hat, with a rather shabby plume, was brave warriors' fluttering from their pressed low down upon his brows. staves, received, in the hands of our For two reasons, however, the imking and his imperial friends, a high pression the English leader that day and rare consecration.” As the bless- made upon me, was not the most ing was spoken over the lowered favourable : I was vexed at his colours,

a numerous park of artillery placing himself thus intentionally fired a royal salute, and then, in re- apart from, and on the same line with view order, the troops defiled before my king; and then it seemed to the King of Prussia. " When the me unnatural that his deportment infantry of the line had passed, the should be so stiff, his bust so marbleofficers were allowed to fall out and like, and that at such a moment his look on, whilst the guards and grena- features should not once become anidiers marched by. It was a splendid mated, or his eye gleam approval.”

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answer.

This was not the last sight ob- that He greatly esteemed General tained by the Prussian lieutenant of Chassé, who had fought bravely at the British field-marshal. In 1835 Waterloo under his orders: that he Baron von Rahden came to London. was pleased with his defence of AntDuring the siege of Antwerp he had werp,' &c. At last he asked me by served as a volunteer under General whom my plan,' which lay upon the Chassé, and had drawn a large mili- table beside him, and which he neither tary tableau or plan of the defence of praised nor found fault with, “was to the citadel. This he had dedicated to be engraved.' the King of Holland, and now wished 666 Chez M. James Wyld, géographe to confide to an English engraver. du roi,' was my somewhat over-hasty To facilitate his views, Chassé gave him an introduction to the Duke. We “ Géographe de sa Majesté Britanwill translate his account of the in- nique,' said the Duke, by way of corterview it procured him. He went to rection. Apsley House in Dutch uniform, his "A few more sentences were exIron Cross and medal, and the Prus- changed, doubtless of very crooked sian order of St. Anne, upon his breast, construction, as far as I was conthe latter having been bestowed upon cerned, - for I was a good deal emhim for his conduct at Waterloo, or barrassed ; and then I received my La Belle Alliance, as the Prussians dismissal. style it. He was introduced by an “ The Géographe de sa Majesté Briold domestic, who, as far as he could tannique told me, some weeks afterjudge, might have been a mute, into wards, that the Duke had been to him, a spacious apartment.

had bought several military maps and "I had waited almost an hour, and plans, and, as if casually, had spoken became impatient. I was on the point of mine, which hung in the shop, had of seeking a servant, and causing my- said that he knew me,” &c. self to be announced a second time, Notwithstanding the Duke's kind when a small tapestried door, in the notice and patronage, Captain von darker part of the saloon, opened, and Rahden takes occasion to attack his a thin little man, with a stoop in his grace for an expression used by him shoulders, dressed in a dark blue frock, in the House of Lords in 1836, during ditto trousers, white stockings, and a debate on a motion for the abolition low shoes with buckles, approached of corporal punishment in the army. without looking at me. I took him The Duke maintained that such punfor a servant, a steward, or some such ishment was necessary for the preperson, and inquired rather quickly servation of discipline; and on the whether I could not have the honour Prussian army being cited as a proof to be announced to the Duke. The of the contrary, he referred, in no next instant I perceived my blunder; very flattering terms, to the state of the little stooping man suddenly grew discipline of Blucher's troops in 1815. a head taller, and his eagle eye fixed There was some talk about the matter itself upon me. I at once recognised at the time, and an indignant answer my neighbour on the Champ de Mars. to the Duke's assertion, written by Rather enjoying_my confusion, as the German general, Von Grolman, I thought, the Duke again turned was translated in the English journals. to the door, and, without a word, Baron von Rahden himself, as he tells. signed to me to follow him. When I us, took advantage of being in London entered the adjoining room he had on the anniversary of Waterloo, 1836, already taken a chair, with his back to perpetrate a little paragraph scribto the light, and he motioned me to a bling, in certain evening papers, with seat opposite to him, just in the full respect to the battle, and to the share glare from the plate-glass windows. borne in it by old MARSCHALL VorWe conversed in French ; I badly, the WAERTS and his men. That the Duke after very middling fashion campaigns of 1813-15 were most creWith tolerable clearness I managed to ditable to Prussian courage and paexplain what had brought me to Lon- triotism, none will dispute; that the don, and to crave the Duke's gracious discipline of the Prussian army was. protection. In reply the Duke said · then by no means first-rate, is equally

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positive. Nay, its mediocrity is easy infantry remained behind; but the to infer from passages in Baron von French army that had fought so Rahden's own book. Without affirm- gallantly at Waterloo and La Belle ing it to have been at the lowest ebb, Alliance, was totally destroyed." it was certainly not such as could The battle won, a courier was infind approval with one who, for five stantly despatched to the King of years, had ranged the Peninsula at the Prussia. The person chosen to conhead of the finest troops in Europe. vey the glorious intelligence was As to who won the battle of Waterloo, Colonel von Thile, now a general, comthe discussion of that question is long manding the Rhine district. From since at an end. The Baron claims a that officer's narrative of his journey, handsome share of the glory for his the Baron gives some interesting countrymen, and insists, that if they extracts. were rather late for the fight, they at In the course of the fight,” Von least made themselves very useful in Thile loquitur, “I had lost sight of pursuit of the beaten foe. “ If their my servant, and of my second horse, discipline had been sp very bad,” he a capital gray. The brown charger I

a says, " they could hardly, on the rode was wounded and tired, and it second day after a defeat, have come was at a slow pace that I started, to up to the rescue of their allied breth- endeavour to reach Brussels that ren.” The arrival of the Prussians was night. A Wurtemberg courier had certainly opportune ; but, had they not also been sent off, the only one, become up, there cannot be a doubt sides myself, who carried the good that Wellington, if he had done no news to Germany. - Whilst my weary more, would have held his own, and steed threatened each moment to sink maintained the field all night: for he under my weight, the Wurtemberger commanded men who, according to galloped by, and with him went my his great opponent's own admission, hopes of being the first to announce " knew not when they were beaten." the victory to the king. Suddenly I

"Old General Blucher was a sworn perceived my gray trotting briskly foe of all unnecessary wordiness and towards me. I wasted little time in commendation. “What do you extol?' scolding my servant; I thought only he once said, to put an end to the eulo- of overtaking the Wurtemberger. giums lavished on him for a gloriously "At Brussels I learned from the won victory. 'It is my boldness, postmaster that my fortunate rival Gneisenau's judgment, and the mercy had left ten minutes before me, in a of the Great God.' Let us add, and the light carriage with a pair of swift stubborn courage and perseverance of horses. I followed : close upon his a faithful people and a brave army. heels every where, but unable to Without these thoroughly national qua- catch him up. At last, on the evening lities of our troops, such great results of the third day, I came in sight of would never have followed the closing him; his axle-tree was broken; his act of the mighty struggle of 1813, carriage lay useless on the road. I 1814, and 1815. General Gneisenau's might have dashed past in triumph; unparalleled pursuit of the French but I refrained, and offered to take after the battle of La Belle Alliance, him with me, on condition that I could never have taken place, had not should be the first to proclaim the our troops displayed vigour and powers victory. He joyfully accepted the of endurance wonderful to reflect upon. proposal ; and I was rewarded for my The instant and rapid chase com- good nature, for he was of great sermanded by Gneisenau was only to vice to me. cease when the last breath and Von Thile expected to find the strength of man and horse were ex- king at Frankfort-on-the-Main ; but hausted. Thus was it that, by day- he had not yet arrived, and the break on the 19th June, he and his colonel continued his hurried journey, Prussians found themselves at Frasne, by Heidelberg and Fulda, to Naumnearly six leagues from the field of berg. battle, which they had left at half- "Five days and nights unceasing past ten at night. Only a few squad- fatigue and exertion had exhausted rons had kept up with him ; all the my strength, but nevertheless I pushed

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forward, and on the following morn- family, from which I had been two ing reached Naumberg on the Saal. years separated, was at Berlin, and he In the suburb, on this side the river, wished to procure me the pleasure of I fell in with Prussian troops, return- seeing it. For that noble and exing, covered with dust and in very cellent monarch was also the kindest indifferent humour, from a review and best of men.” passed by the king. At last then I Soon after Waterloo, Baron von was at my journey's end. They asked Rahden appears to have left the serme what news I brought: all expected vice; for he informs us, that between some fresh misfortune, for only an 1816 and 1830 he made long residences hour previously intelligence of the de- in Russia, Holland, and England. feat at Ligny had arrived, and upon Perhaps he found garrison life an unparade the king had been ungracious endurable change from the stir and and out of temper. I took good care activity of campaigns, and travelled not to breathe a word of my precious to seek excitement. Be that as it secret, and hurried on. In the further may, fifteen years' repose did not exsuburb I met the king's carriage. We tinguish his martial ardour. The stopped; I jumped out.

echoes awakened by the tramp of a 6 7 Your majesty! a great, a glorious French army marching upon Antwerp, victory! Napoleon annihilated; a hun- were, to the veteran of Leipzig, like dred and fifty guns captured !' And trumpet-sound to trained charger, and I handed him a paper containing a few he hurried to exchange another shot lines in Prince Blucher's handwriting with his old enemies. Having once The king devoured them with his eyes, more brought hand and hilt acquaintand cast a grateful tearful glance to ed, he grieved to sever them, and Heaven.

when the brief struggle in Belgium 666 Two HUNDRED CANNON, accord- terminated, he looked about for a fresh

a ing to this,' was his first exclamation, field of action. Spain was the only in tones of heartfelt delight and satis- place where bullets were just then faction.

flying, and thither the Baron betook “ I followed his majesty into the himself, to defend the cause of legititown. The newly instituted assembly macy under Cabrera's blood-stained of Saxon States was convoked, and banner. Concerning his travels, and the king made a speech announcing his later campaigns, he promises his the victory. And truly I never heard readers a second and a third volume; such speaking before or since. I was and the favourable reception the first ordered to go on to Berlin with my has met with in Germany, will doubtgood news. This was in fact unneces- less encourage him to redeem his sary, for a courier had already been pledge. despatched, but the king knew that my

LAPPENBERG'S ANGLO-SAXONS.

THE HEPTARCHY.

We are willing to acknowledge, and freedom from prejudice, as well as without blindly exaggerating, our ob- a range of illustration from extraneous ligations to the men of learning of sources, which a native could scarcely Germany, in several branches of art be expected to command. It must and science. We owe them some- now, we think, be granted, that the thing in criticism, something in philo- best history of Saxon England--the sophy, and a great deal in philology. most complete, the most judicious, But in no department have they de- the most unbiassed, and the most served better of the commonwealth profound, is the work of a foreigner. of letters, than in the important pro- It must, at the same time, be said that vince of antiquarian history, where Lappenberg's history could not have their erudition, their research, their exhibited this high degree of excelpatience, their impartiality, are invalu- lence, without the ample assistance able. Whatever subject they select afforded by the labours of our countryis made their own, and is so thoroughly men who had gone before him, and of studied in all its circumstantial details which their successor has freely taken and collateral bearings, that new and the use and frankly acknowledged the original views of the truth are sure to value. be unfolded, as the fixed gaze of an The history and character of our unwearied eye will at last elicit light Anglo-Saxon ancestors, have emand order out of apparent darkness ployed the pen of the most illustrious and confusion.

among our native writers. One of The writer, whose chief work is our greatest poets, and one of our now before us, cannot and would not, greatest masters of prose, - Milton we know, prefer a claim to the fore- and Burke — have felt the attraction most place among those who have and importance of the subject, at the thus distinguished themselves. That same time that they have given evihonour is conceded by all to the name dence to its obscurity and difficulty. of Niebuhr, a master mind who stands In later times men of less genius, but unrivalled in his own domain, and of more acquaintance with the times whose discoveries, promulgated with and topics involved in the inquiry, no advantage of style or manner, and have added greatly to 'our knowledge in opposition to prejudices long and of those important events and institudeeply cherished, have wrought a re- tions in which the germs of our prevolution in the study of ancient sent government and national disposihistory to which there is scarcely a tion are to be found. But Saxon parallel. But among those who are England can only be thoroughly next in rank, Dr. Lappenberg is en- understood by means of aids and titled to a high position. His present appliances, which have been seldom work is one of the very best of a series possessed in any eminent degree by of European histories of great merit the general run of our antiquarian and utility.

He has given fresh writers. A thorough familiarity with interest to a theme that seemed worn the Anglo-Saxon language and litera : out and exhausted. He has brought ature is obviously the first requisite: forward new facts, and evolved new yet this attainment was scarcely to conclusions that had eluded the obser- be met with till within a few years vation and sagacity of able and in- back, and even now, we fear that it dustrious predecessors. He has treated is confined to a narrow circle, and that the history of a country, not his own, the able men who have made progress with as much care and correctness, in this arduous path, lament that they and with as true a feeling of national have so slender and so scattered a character and destinies as if he had train of followers. If we can suppose been a native ; while he has brought inquirers studying Roman history, to his task a calmness of judgment, without being able to conjugate a