THE PAST CENTURY.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 890, 27 February 1901, Page 4

THE PAST CENTURY.

["Extracts from London Times]. 1815. June 22— Watkrjmjo : Official Bolidetin. " The Duke of Wellington's Dispatch dated Waterloo, the 19th of June, states, that on the preceding 'lay Bco.vapaktk attacked, with his whole force, the British line, supported hy a corps of Prussians ; which attack, after a long and sanguinary couflict, terminated in the complete overthrew of the Enemy's Army, with the loss of OiJK Hunpkei and Fifty Pikcks of Cannon and Two Eaglfs. Durini: the nieht, the Prussians under Marshal BItjCHER, wh<; joined in the pursuit of the enemy, captured Sixty Guns, and a large p.u t ol BuoNAPARTh'i BaugagK. The Allied Armies continued to pursue the enemy Two French Genera's were taken." Such is the great and glorious result ol those masterly movements by which the Hereof Btitain met and frustrated tin audacious attempt of the Rebel Chief, Glory to Wellington, to our gallaut soldiers, and to our brave Allies ■ BuoNorAKTE's reputation has beer wrecked, and his last grand stake Ins been lost in the tremendous conflict. Two hundred and ten pieces of cauuon captured in a simple battle, put to tits blush the boasting column of the PlttC( de Vendome. Long and sanguinary, indeed, we fear, the conflict must have been; but Ihe boldness of the Kobe! Frenchmen was the boldness of despair, and conscience sate heavy on those arms which wne raisi-d against their Sut-er- ■ eign, against their oaths, and against the ycee and happiness of their tountiy. "VVe confidently anticipate ft great and immediate defection fsou; the Rebel cause. We are aware that a great purt of the French nation looked to the opening of this campaign with a superstitions expectation of success to a man, whom, thouch many of them hated, and many feared, all had been taught tu look on as the first captain of the aje. He himself went forth boasting in his strength, and still more in his talent. lie had for many years ridiculed Caenot's plan of a Northeru"Campaign, and hud opsuly avowed at Paris his intention to bre;.k through the centre of the Allied Annus, instead of moving round both their flanks. With as little rc:er>c had iie declared that he would open the campaign on the Mouse and b'ambre. In short, by a refinement in finesse, he had exposed his true plan, imagining that nobody would believe that, such was his real intention. We do not deny that his plan might have been one of considerable ability ; but he did not take into the account that he was to be opposed by abilities superior to his own. That unpalatable truth his vanity would not allow him to believe, nor would it easily find credit with his admirers; but the 17th June, we trust, will satisfy the n-.ost incredulous. Two hundred and ten pieces of cannon ! When, where, or how is this loss to be repaired ? Besides. whai has become of his invincible guard, of his admired and dread cuirassiers? Again, we do not deny that these were good troops ; but they were encountered by better. We shall be carious to learn . with what degree o; coolness, of personal couraee, and self-possession, BUOXAPARTK played this stake, o-> which lie must have been well aware that his p.etensions to Empire hung. It is clear that he retreated : nor are we prepared to hear that he fled with haste or coward ice ; but we greutly suspect that he did not court an honourable death. We think his valour is of the cilcillatiu.; kind, and we do not attribute his unvivieg the abdication at Fontaiuebleau entirely to magnanimity