REMINISCENT OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1031, 26 November 1912, Page 4

REMINISCENT OF THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

Had Wellington not commanded the British at Waterloo, would there have been any prisoner at St. Helena? Whether or not someone exists competent to answer this momentous question, a story is told indicating that Napoleon once came nearer than he knew to being relieved ot his enemy and lulure conqueror. When the Auglo-Spanish army drove Joseph Bonaparte from Madrid, attentions were showered upon the English commander, Lord Wellington, who, however, look little pains to be cordial. His coldness and his fancy to have his portrait painted by Goya nearly caused the future hero of Waterloo to lose his life. The illustrious Spanish painter was irascible to a degree, the more so that he was completely deaf. When the great general made his appearance iu the studio, ihe painter’s son interpreted the Englishman’s wishes in deaf and dumb language to his father. The artist worked assiduously, and when be thought the portrait far enough advanced, placed it before the general. Unfortunately, the picture did not please the commander, who shrugged his shoulders contemptuously, and said that he would not accept such a caricature as a gift. General Alva declined to translate this deprecatory remark ; but the artist had noticed the scornful gestures of the Englishman, and the son iu alarm saw his father turn his eyes to the loaded pistols, which always lay ready to hand on his table. The young man’s fear increased when Wellington rose from his seat and put on his preparatory to departure. Then Goya, enraged at the officer’s contemptuous manner, seized the pistols, and the clapped his hand to his sword. ’1 he scene might have ended iu a tragedy had not General Alva assured the irate Englishman that the artist was suffering from sudden mental aberration, and young Goya restrained his father by force from using the deadly weapon.