MR ARCHIBALD FORBES' LECTURE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3599, 24 January 1883, Page 3

MR ARCHIBALD FORBES' LECTURE.

" Kings and Princes I have met " formed the subject last night of Mr Forbes' second lecture. The old saw, '' Travellers meet with strange bedfelloAA-s," is equally applicable to war correspondents, who, in carrying out their duties, are necessarily thrown into all sorts of society. In the great Avars between Russia and Turkey, and Germany and France, in which Emperors and Kings and Princes took an active part, it Avould have been strange indeed if Mr Forbes had not met with the most illustrious men of his age. And it would haA-e been stranger still if he had not some interesting stories to relate in connection with his casual acquaintance -with them. His interA-iew Avith the late Emperor of Russia, AA-hcn he bore the tidings of the successful carrying of the Shipka Pass, outstripping the Imperial couriers, was a remarkable passage in the life of the lecturer, and Avas told Avith the same modesty as that which he displayed before the Czar Avhen lie disabused His Majesty of the idea that he had held a commission in the British army. '' I was not aware," said the Emperor, " that English cavalry officers were proficients in military draughtsmanship," as Forbes explained by drawings the position at Shipka. "I was never an officer," replied Forbes, "I was only a private in a cavalry regiment of the line," thus leaA-ing His Majesty under the impression that all privates were equally talented A A-iA-id picture was that AA'hich Mr Forbes presented in his recital of the incidents at the battle of Gravellotte, AA-herc j the old Emperor of Germany sat Avith his iback to a church-yard Avail, one hand rest- i : sng on a broken carriage, the other on a •dead horse, with Bismark by his side reading letters, and pretending to be calm and composed. The A-icissitudes of war often experienced in the eating, drinking, and sleeping of monarchs and princes were amusingly told, but a splendid piece of word painting Avas that in Avhich Averc described the capitulation of Sedan and the ;surrender of Napoleon. A melancholy story Avas the finding of the body of the young Prince Imperial, whose death carried Avith it so much that is painfid to reflect upon, :and so much shame. Other Kings and Princes were referred to in the lecture, from Eastern Potentates to the Royal Family of England, Mr Forbes concluding with a graphic account of the sickness andrecoA-ery bf the Prince of AVales and the national thauksgiA-ing at his restoration to health. The lecturer"was listened to throughout by a most appreciative audience, and aa-lio testified to the pleasure they had received by loud applause. "All Europe in Anns," is the lecture -that Mr Archibald Forbes AA-ill deliver tonight, and in the present unsettled and unsatisfactory condition of European affairs possesses special interest. The fourteen -million fighting men of the Old World are ready for war at any moment, and at any TOoment Avar may take place. Mr Forbes *will review the great standing armies of Germany, Russia, France, Austria, and the other Continental Poivers, great and small, and give a critical estimate of the British army, including militia and volunteers.