Chapter II: Preface: To the First Edition

The Letters now laid before the Public were addressed by my brother to Mrs. Larpent, his step-mother, and my mother.

They came into my possession as Executor to my mother, and being also the sole Executor to my brother, I consider myself at liberty to use my own discretion in publishing them. With the exception of some matters exclusively private, and connected with family affairs, the letters are published as they were written, and not one word has been added.

Until the lamented death of the Duke of Wellington I did not feel myself justified in making these letters public. Not that they contain anything in the slightest degree derogating from the exalted estimate so universally entertained of the character of that great man; for, on the contrary, they tend to confirm the unanimous opinion entertained of his admirable qualities; but motives of delicacy forbad my offering to the world, during his Grace’s lifetime, the many personal anecdotes and opinions with which they abound.

The reader will naturally expect to know who and what the Author was, and give credit accordingly to the statements and observations in his Letters.

Francis Seymour Larpent was the eldest son of John Larpent, Esq., of East Sheen, Surrey, by his first wife, Frances, daughter of Maximilian Western, Esq., of Cokethorpe Park, Oxfordshire. His father, from his earliest youth, was employed in the public service. In 1763 he was Secretary to the Duke of Bedford at the Peace of Paris, and subsequently Secretary to the first Marquess of Hertford, when Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. For many years he was in the office of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and at his death in 1824, at a very advanced age, held the appointments of Secretary to the Lord Privy Seal, and of Examiner of all Theatrical Entertainments.

Francis Seymour was born in 1776. He was educated at Cheam School, under the Rev. W. Gilpin, well known and esteemed as a scholar and man of letters. From school he went to St. John’s College, Cambridge, where he distinguished himself, and took his degree as Fifth Wrangler, and was elected Fellow of that College. After studying the law under an eminent special pleader, Mr. Bayley, he was called to the Bar, and went the Western Circuit. Here he formed friendships with several eminent persons, among others with Lord Gifford, the Right Hon. C. Manners Sutton, afterwards Lord Canterbury, Mr. W. Adam, son of Lord Commissioner Adam, and the lamented Francis Horner—friendships which were extinguished only by death. His success upon the Circuit was slow, but his character as an able man and a sound lawyer stood high.

In 1812 he was tempted by the Right Hon. C. Manners Sutton, then Judge-Advocate General, to leave his profession, and to accept the situation of Judge-Advocate General to the armies in Spain under the command of the late Duke of Wellington, to remain at head-quarters with his Grace, and to manage the Courts-martial throughout the army.

At the close of the war in 1814, Mr. Larpent returned home with the last detachment of the British army from Bordeaux.

Upon his arrival in England he was appointed Judge-Advocate at Gibraltar; and a new Charter of Justice for that dependency having been framed, various civil, admiralty, and judicial duties were annexed to the appointment of Judge-Advocate. Whilst the new Charter was preparing, Mr. Larpent was appointed to carry on the proceedings of the Court-martial on General Sir John Murray, at Winchester; and was subsequently joined with Mr. King, on behalf of the Government of the United States of America, in the inquiry into the unfortunate transactions which had taken place in the prison at Dartmoor.

These several proceedings having been satisfactorily terminated, Mr. Larpent in the spring of 1815 was, at the recommendation of Lord Commissioner Adam, selected by His Royal Highness the Prince Regent to undertake the delicate and confidential duty of inquiring into the allegations of improper conduct abroad, on the part of the then Princess of Wales, afterwards Queen Caroline. This confidential mission was accepted by Mr. Larpent, upon the express condition that his appointment should emanate directly from the Administration, and that his duties (to use his own words) “should consist not in acting a spy upon the actions of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, but in examining and sifting the facts of the case, as stated and discovered by others.”

On this understanding, and after interviews with Lords Liverpool, Castlereagh, and Bathurst, and also with the approval of Lord Chief Justice Ellenborough, Mr. Larpent proceeded ostensibly to his appointment at Gibraltar, but really overland by Vienna, to see and consult with Count Munster, to whom he was accredited by the British Government “as its regularly-authorized, though secret and confidential, agent.”

However strong might be his own persuasion of the worse than improper conduct of the Princess, he felt the extreme difficulty of obtaining respectable parties to come forward with such evidence as would satisfy an English Court of Justice; and he never hesitated to represent the danger of taking public proceedings against her. Having conducted his mission with such prudence and discretion that its object was never known except to his employers, he proceeded to Gibraltar, and there executed his arduous civil and judicial duties to the entire satisfaction of the Governor, Sir George Don, and of the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

In 1820, upon leaving Gibraltar, he was again employed by the Government professionally in Italy upon matters connected with the unfortunate trial of Queen Caroline; and he communicated direct with the late Lord Gifford, upon whom, as Attorney-General, the management of the proceedings against Her Majesty officially devolved.

In 1821 Mr. Larpent was appointed by Lord Liverpool, one of the Commissioners of the Board of Audit of the Public Accounts. In 1824 he was transferred to the Board of Customs; and, in 1826, was appointed to the situation of Chairman of the Audit Board, in which he remained until his retirement, in 1843, from ill health.

He enjoyed his release from active official duties only about two years, dying in May, 1845. He was twice married; first, to Catharine, daughter of the late Frederick Reeves, Esq., of the East India Company’s Civil Service; and, secondly, to Charlotte, daughter to George Arnold Arnold, Esq., of Halsted Park, Kent, who survived him, but he left no issue by either.

The favourable opinion entertained of Mr. Larpent’s public services will be evident from the following testimonials which he received when he applied to Her Majesty’s Government for his retirement, viz.:—

(Copy.) No. 1.

_Treasury Chambers,
23rd March, 1843._

SIR,

I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s Treasury to acquaint you that, the First Lord of the Treasury having communicated to the Board your wish to retire from the Board of Audit, their Lordships have been pleased to accede thereto, and will give directions for placing you on a retired allowance of 900_l._ per annum, to be paid to you in the same manner as the retired allowances of the Audit Office are paid.

In thus acceding to your wishes, my Lords desire me to state, that they feel themselves called upon to express the high sense which they entertain of the integrity, zeal, and ability with which you have discharged the duties of the important situations which you have successively filled, and the deep regret which they feel for the cause which now compels you to retire from the Chair of the Board of Audit.

I am, Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
(Signed) G. CLERK.

_To F. S. Larpent, Esq._

(Extract.) No. 2.

_Downing Street,
March 3rd, 1843._

MY DEAR SIR,

I have learnt with great regret that we are about to lose your services in the Audit Board, over which you have so long presided, with equal advantage to the public and satisfaction to the Treasury. I only hope that you will reap in the improvement of your health a benefit equal to that which your retirement will deprive you of.

(Signed) HENRY GOULBURN.

_To F. S. Larpent, Esq._

(Copy.) No. 3.

_London, February 28th, 1843._

F. M. the Duke of Wellington presents his compliments to Mr. Larpent, and has received his letter, and sends him a copy of a letter he has received from Sir Robert Peel. The Duke regrets much to learn that the state of Mr. Larpent’s health compels him to resign the office which he holds. If referred to, he will state his opinion of the services performed by him, while under his command.

_To F. S. Larpent, Esq._

_Enclosure in the above Letter._

(Copy.)

_Whitehall, February 27th, 1843._

MY DEAR DUKE OF WELLINGTON,

I return the enclosed letter addressed to you by Mr. Larpent.

I am sorry to hear that the state of Mr. Larpent’s health induced him to contemplate his retirement from the public service.

(Signed) ROBERT PEEL.

_To the Duke of Wellington_,
_&c._ _&c._

(Copy.) No. 4.

_Whitehall, March 3rd, 1843._

DEAR SIR,

From my high sense of your public services, I have heard with very sincere regret, on public as well as on private grounds, that the state of your health compels you to contemplate the immediate retirement from the important appointment which you hold, the duties of which you have discharged with great ability and integrity, and with unremitting zeal.

I have been so incessantly occupied by important public business, that I have been unable, since the receipt of your letter, to confer with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject to which the enclosure in your letter refers, but I will do so without delay, and with every desire to take as favourable a view of it as the state of the law and the usage in similar cases may permit,

I have the honour to be,
Dear Sir,
Your obedient and faithful Servant,
(Signed) ROBERT PEEL.

_To F. S. Larpent, Esq._

(Extract.) No. 5.

_March 22nd, 1845._

_60, Lower Belgrade Street._

I shall feel it due to Mr. Larpent to say at what rate I placed his services.

Never public servant deserved better his hard-earned retirement by honest, zealous, and able services.

(Signed) F. BARING.

* * * * *

I rejoice in having the opportunity afforded me by the publication of these Letters, of recording the public services of an affectionate brother, and of indulging in the remembrance of the many private virtues which were conspicuous in his upright and honourable career.

I have thought it objectionable to alter the language of the narrative, although aware of the many inaccuracies in letters written in the hurry of a campaign (a mode of life foreign to the writer’s habits), and not intended for publication.

I therefore determined to leave the Letters as I found them, thinking that the simplicity of the style and the minute details threw over the Journal a charm of truth and reality which a more studied composition would not have possessed. I have a confident reliance that my brother has related nothing that he did not himself believe to be true, for he was a man of scrupulous veracity, and one not given hastily to record what he had not at the time sufficient warranty to believe to be correct.

The Journal carries the reader, as it were, behind the scenes in the great drama of War. The sufferings of individuals, the hardships endured in a campaign, are scarcely ever recorded by the historian—they are lost in the blaze of glory which surrounds such narratives. In this Journal not only will be seen the miseries which are endured in the attainment of military glory by the soldier, but the still greater miseries of the unfortunate people whose country is the scene of military operations.

Such vivid paintings as are here exhibited must, it is to be hoped, make the most reckless politician and the most ambitious soldier aware of the deep responsibility incurred by all who encourage the passion for military glory, except when war becomes absolutely necessary for the defence of our country, its liberties, and institutions, and for the preservation of the independence of Europe.

It was for these objects that the two great wars in which the Duke of Wellington was so pre-eminent were carried on, and the results—the recovery of their national independence by Spain and Portugal, and a peace of thirty-eight years’ duration—fully warranted the sacrifices made by Great Britain, exalted her national character, and justified her admiration of the Commander, who, under Providence, was the great instrument of her success.

GEORGE LARPENT.

LONDON, DECEMBER, 1852.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

CHAPTER I.

Departure from England—Exercises on Ship-board—Off the Coast—Arrival
at Lisbon—Residence there—Journey to head-quarters
commenced—Abrantes—General features of the march—Salamanca 1

CHAPTER II.

Arrival at head-quarters—Ciudad Rodrigo—The Retreat—Its
disasters—Capture of General Paget—Personal Anecdotes—Scarcity of
Provisions—Courts-martial in the army—Business of a
Judge-Advocate—Wellington 21

CHAPTER III.

Arrival of the Gazette—More Courts-martial—The Mad
Commissary—Intentions of Lord Wellington—Social
Amusements—Sporting—Wellington’s fox-hounds—His stud—A dinner at
the Commander-in-Chief’s—Number of Courts-martial—Anecdotes of
Wellington 37

CHAPTER IV.

More Courts-martial—Bal Masqué—Anecdotes of Wellington—Songs in
his praise—Spanish banditti—Excesses of the Army—Carnival—More
Anecdotes of the Duke—The staff—Grand entertainment at
head-quarters—Wellington’s opinion of affairs at home—Murder of an
officer—General Craufurd 54

CHAPTER V.

News of the French—Castilian costume—Equipment of the army—Melancholy
Court-martial case—Wellington in the battle of Fuentes
d’Onore—The chances of war—Anecdotes of Wellington—His opinions
of the war—The new Mutiny Act—Wellington on “Vetus”—General
Murray—Advance of the French 87

CHAPTER VI.

Newspaper complaints—Wellington’s comments—Review of the
Portuguese—Gatherings at head-quarters—Reviews—Recommencement of
the march—The route 106

CHAPTER VII.

The march commenced—Scenes on the road—Villa Dalla—Toro—Castro
Monte—Palencia—Prospects of a general action—Skirmishing—Massa 121

CHAPTER VIII.

March continued—Quintana—Anecdote of Wellington—Morillas—Vittoria—The
battle—Its results—Plunder—Kindness to the enemy—Madame
de Gazan—The hospital—Sufferings of the wounded—Estimated
loss 150

CHAPTER IX.

Pamplona—Pursuit of Clausel—Wellington on the march—Prospects of
more Fighting—Effects of the war—The French position turned—Anecdote
of Wellington—Ernani—St. Sebastian—Wellington’s movements 166

CHAPTER X.

Movements of the army—Wellington on the Portuguese—His personal
habits—St. Sebastian—The siege—Miseries of war—Wounded officers—The
Prince of Orange—Vestiges of the retreat—English papers—False
accounts of the campaign—Incidents of the war 195

CHAPTER XI.

Rejoicings for the victory—Sufferings of Cole’s division—Complaints
of the French—Statements of a French prisoner—Decay of
Spain—Characteristics of Wellington—His opinion of
Bonaparte—Prospects of a renewal of the attack—Exchange of
Prisoners—Wellington’s Spanish estate—His opinion of
Picton—Disposition of the army 220

CHAPTER XII.

Reported renewal of operations against St. Sebastian—Effects of the
war on Spain and Portugal—Wellington’s account of recent
proceedings—Courts-martial—Prisoners shot—Discussions on war between
Wellington and a French deserter—The siege resumed—Work of the heavy
batteries—Trial of General O’Halloran—Volunteers for the storming
parties 238

CHAPTER XIII.

The Author taken prisoner—Kind treatment by the French General—Life
of a prisoner—Release—Details of the Author’s captivity—Curious
scene at General Pakenham’s—A Basque squire 250

CHAPTER XIV.

Picturesque quarters—Spanish reverses—A strange adventure—Spanish
jealousy—Distribution of the army—A pleasant companion—News
from the North—Morale of the French army—The artillery 276

CHAPTER XV.

Fall of Pamplona—Deterioration of the army—Duke of York’s
orders—Orders of merit—Church service—Capture of French
redoubts—March of the army—Incidents of foreign service—Frequency
of desertion—Wellington and the lawyers 289

CHAPTER XVI.

News from France—Lord Fitzroy Somerset—Departure of the Prince of
Orange—Exchange of prisoners—Proximity of the two armies—Wellington’s
cooks—Warlike movements—French attack—The Guards—Deserters—More
fighting 308

CHAPTER XVII.

French attack—Plan of desertion—Excesses of the French—A Basque
witness—Sir John Hope—Movements of the army—Sale of
effects—Wellington’s simplicity of character—A French emigré—Return
of Soult to Bayonne 323

CHAPTER XVIII.

Reports from France—More desertion—Anecdote of General
Stewart—Wellington and his casualty returns—The courtesies of
war—Scarcity of transports—Wellington and the trial-papers—Sir
G. Collier 339

CHAPTER XIX.

Rumours of war—The rival dinner tables—“Slender Billy”—Bonaparte’s
trickery—Spanish violence—Wellington with the hounds—French
and English aspects—The outsides of the nations 352

CHAPTER XX.

State of feeling in France—Rocket practice—The Prince Regent’s
hobby—The Mayor’s ball—The flag-of-truce 362

CHAPTER XXI.

Army supplies—Offending villages—Symptoms of work—Arrival of the
Duke d’Angoulême—The bridge across the Adour—Wellington and
his Chief Engineer—His activity 377

CHAPTER XXII.

Movements of the army—Narrow escape of Wellington—Anecdote of
Wellington at Rodrigo—Novel scaling ladders—Sir Alexander
Dickson—Wellington’s vanity—Operations resumed—Spanish officers—The
passage of the Adour—The road to Bayonne—Death of Captain Pitts 400

CHAPTER XXIII.

Passage of the river—Start for Orthes—Effect of the battle—Feelings
of the French—Wellington wounded—St. Sever—Church and
School—Aire—Wellington on the conduct of the Allies—Indurating
effects of War 417

CHAPTER XXIV.

Reports from the seat of war—The Duke d’Angoulême—The German
cavalry—Misconduct of the Spaniards—Attacks on our grazing
parties—Movement of head-quarters—Death of Colonel Sturgeon—Visit to
the hospital—New quarters—Skirmishes—Wellington and the mayor 436

CHAPTER XXV.

Difficulties of the march—Failure of the bridge of boats—The
Garonne—Excesses of Murillo’s corps—Bad news—Exchange of
prisoners—Arrival before Toulouse—A prisoner of war—Anecdote of
Wellington 452

CHAPTER XXVI.

Uncertain intelligence—Capture of Toulouse—Wellington at the
theatre—The “Liberator”—Ball at the Prefecture—The feelings of the
French—Soult and Suchet—Ball at the Capitole 478

CHAPTER XXVII.

Toulouse—Its churches—Protestant service—Libraries—Reception of the
Duke d’Angoulême—The French Generals—Popularity of Wellington 501

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Toulouse—Mr. Macarthy’s Library—The Marquess of Buckingham—General
Hope—Wellington’s dukedom—The theatre—A romantic
story—Feeling towards the English—The Duke on the Russian
cavalry 523

CHAPTER XXIX.

Preparations for departure—Bordeaux—Imposition on the
English—Greetings from the Women—Mausoleum of Louis XVI. 541

CHAPTER XXX.

The opera-house—The cathedral—The synagogue—A Jewish wedding—Strange
show-house—Wellington and King Ferdinand 553

CHAPTER XXXI.

Country Fêtes—Brawls with the French—The Duke
d’Angoulême—Mademoiselle Georges—The Actress and the Emperor—French
acting and French audiences—Presentation of a sword to Lord
Dalhousie—Georges’ benefit—Departure 566

APPENDIX 579

PRIVATE JOURNAL,

&c. &c.