The British Barbarians.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 105, 21 September 1901, Page 3

The British Barbarians.

The idea that British soldiers are so many barbarians in ‘Uniform was not originally the-outcome of Batch imagination or a ‘b'hild of political venom in Great firi'ain. The fantastic idea held currency during the siege of Barcelona in the eighteenthcentury, and .only the. honourable conlubt Of the Earl of Peterborough, who led the British soldiers, killed the superstition. When the Earl and the Governor of Barcelona were, parleying at the gates, the foreign soldiers •under JD’Armstadt 'burst into the town. The outraged Governor loaded the Earl; o? Peterborough with execration, accusing ■ him of perfidy in allowing his'soldiers to, commit “rapine, imrtder, and every kind of Violence ” while the bapitulation, of the town was under discussion.' Peterborough was furious. •* You do injustice to the English,” said he ; “ but ; permit mo to enter the town with my soldiers, and 1 will ioatantly repress the ’ outrages, and return to the g*te to finish ■ the capitulation.” The request, earnestly, made, was granted, and tbs British general, entering the town, drove the pillaging foreigners out, made them; leave their booty, sent his soldiers out- < side the i amparts, returned to the' Governor, and received the capitulation; of Barcelona without exacting conditions other than those originally suggested. The Spaniards were amafeed at thfe British sol liers’ conduct, aud understood; from experience that they were not the b irbariana which had ‘been the prevalent belie*.