A VOICE FROM THE TOMB. A DIALOGUE BETWEEN NELSON & WELLINGTON, OVERHEARD AT ST. PAUL'S. Wellington. Yes. The acquisition of money Nelson. Now for the third! Wel. And rendering friends to herself, the inhabitants of the deserts, with whom, some years back, she was at war. Nel. Talk of prophets, messmate, I'd back Bonny against Old Moore, and all fortune-tellers in the world. Wel. Well, as far as things have gone, he certainly has eclipsed all the Almanack prophets. He continued-The Cossacks,_ Calmucks, and other barbarians, who have accompanied the Russians into France. Nel. The Cossacks in Paris seems to sting him. But then, messmate, Bonny must consider he led the French to Moscow; therefore, after all, the Russians in France was merely a return visit. Wel. Good, Nelson, good. He thus went on-The Russians having once acquired a taste for the luxuries of the south, will carry back to their deserts the remembrance of places where they had such fine women. Nel. Ha, ha! capital, Bonny, capital! No doubt the Russians, when back in their deserts, often thought of the French Belles they "left behind them." Wel. Yes, yes. Fine living, and not only will themselves be able to endure their own barbarous and servile regions, but will communicate to their neighbours a desire to conquer these delicious countries. Nel. Hear, hear! Really, messmate, this does seem reasonable. Wel. Yes. In all human probability, Alexander will be obliged either to take India from you, in order to gain riches and provide for employment for them, and thereby prevent a Revolution in Russia; or he will make an Irruption into Europe, at the head of some hundred thousand of those barbarlans on horseback, and two hundred thousand infantry, and carry every thing before him. Nel. Ha, messmate, when he does this we will indeed call him Alexander the Great. Wel. Yes, yes. What I say to you is confirmed by the history of a ages Nel. Hear, hear! Wel. During which it has been invariably observed, that whenever those barbarians had once got a taste of the south of Europe, they always returned to attempt new conquests and ravages Nel. True, messmate, true. Wel. And have finally succeeded in making themselves master of the country. It is natural to man to desire to better his condition, Wel. And those canaille, when they contrast their own deserts with the fine provinces they have left, will always have an itching Nel. For La Belle France. Wel. The latter, well knowing also, that no nation will retaliate, or attempt to take their deserts from them, Nel. Hear, hear. Wel. Those oanaille possess all the requisites for conquest; they are brave, active, patient of fatigue and bad living,— Nel. High qualities, messmate. Wel. First-rate. And desirous of enriching themselves; I think, however, that depend upon Poland. Nel. Hear, hear. Wel. If Alexander succeeds in incorporating Poland with Russia, that is to say, in perfectly reconciling the Poles to the Russian government, and not merely subduing the country, he has gained the greatest step towards subduing India. My opinion is, that he will attempt either the one or the other of the projects I have mentioned, and I think the last to be the most probable. Nel. Bonny appears to have fully_made up his mind, that Russians will revel in the delights of the south. But what reply was made to him, after the expression of this strong opinion? Wel. He was answered-That the distance was great and the Russians had not the money necessary for such a grand undertaking. Nel. What did he say to that? Wel. He replied-The distance is nothing. Nel. But begging his pardon, messmate, the distance is something; I think he found that out when he went to Russia. Wel. Truly so. He continued-Supplies can easily be carried upon camels, and the Cossacks will always insure a sufficiency of them Nel. Not at all times. Wel. Money they will find when they arrive there. The hope of conquest would immediately unite armies of Cossacks and Calmucks, without expense; hold out to them the plunder of some rich city Nel. Hear, hear. Wel. As a lure, and thousands would flock to their banners, Europe, and England in particular. Nel. Yes, yes, all eager I've no doubt, to ravish the "old lady of Threadneedle-street." Wel. England in particular, ought to have prevented the union of Poland with Russia Nel. Hear, hear! Wel. A great object for England ought to be, to keep Belgium always separate from France; as France having Belgium, might be said, in ease of a war with England, to have possession of Hamburgh. Nel. Very good; Bonny judged rightly here, messmate. Wel. Perfectly so; and Belgium is now an independent country, at least when I left the land of the living. Nel. Another instance, messmate, how truly Buonaparte foretold coming events in Europe. I shall soon begin to think, that he really did study the stars to some purpose. Wel. Very good. He thus went on-It would, however, have been better for England that Austria had it, than that it should be possessed by Holland, because Austria is stronger; and when France arises from her present state of nothingness— Nel. Hear, hear. Wel. Holland being too weak to stand alone, will always be at her feet. Nel. Yes, I understand. Wel. If I had succeeded in my expedition to Russia, I would have obliged Alexander to accede to the continental system against England Nel. I have no doubt he would. Wel. And thereby have compelled England to make peace. Nel. Hear, hear! Wel. I would also have formed Poland into a separate and independent kingdom. Nel. I doubt, messmate, whether it would be independent of Bonny. Wel. It is very doubtful. He was asked, what kind of peace he would have given to us. Nel. Ah! what did he say? Wel. A very good one. He replied-I would only have insisted upon your discontinuing your vexations at sea. Nel. Ha, ha, what a modest request, messmate. But I must confess he did find Britannia rather vexatious. Wel. Extremely so. He was asked, if he would have left us Malta? Wel. Yes, for we are told, he replied in the affirmative, that he was tired of war, and was as well adapted for the former as the latter; that he would have employed himself in the improving and adorning of France; in the education of his son, and in writing his history. Nel. A noble work, messmate, but alas, his page was blotted; I might say his history is written in red ink. Wel. Truly so. He continued At last the allied powers cannot take from me the great public works which I have executed, the roads which I made over the Alps. Nel. Yes, yes, messmate, we will give him credit for road making. But deuce take him, he established such high tolls. Wel. That he did. They cannot place their feet to improve where mine have not been before. Nel. Gently, Bonny, gently, for your feet often left marks of mischief. Wel. They cannot take from me the code of laws which I formed, and which will go down to the latest posterity; thank God, of these they cannot deprive me. Nel. Just so; Bonny was such a perfect soldier, that I think posterity will judge him as a son of Mars, rather than a lawgiver. His Austerlitz sun will out-shine his code. No, no, messmate, either for good or evil, Bonny must stand or fall by his sword; General Buonaparte cannot be hid under the robe of the lawyer. You will be judged as a Field Marshal, not as a legislator; your memorable words Up Guards, and at 'em! will outlive your Beer Bill, and Licensed to be Drunk on the Premises.. Yes, yes, messmate, your Catholic Bill, and all your other Bills, will be as nought, compared with your deeds as a soldier, posterity will remember you as the Hero of Waterloo, not as a member of the House of Lords. But go on with poor Bonny. Wel. We are told-His doctor, anxious to put the matter beyond a doubt, asked Napoleon again, whether if Talleyrand had delivered the Duke d'Enghein's letter in time to him, he would have pardoned the writer. Nel. What answer did he make? Wel. He replied-It is probable that 1 might, for in it he made an offer of his services, Nel. Hear, hear! Wel. Besides he was the best of the family. Nel. Then if Bonny would serve the best so, heavens help the worst. Wel. True. He behaved very bravely, and with much dignity before the court martial, and denied nothing. It is true that I, as well as the nation, was very desirous of making an example of one of the family, that was against him, but still I think that I would have pardoned him. Nel. Oh, he thinks. Wel. He was asked-If he would have pardoned Pichegru. Nel. Ha, what answer did he make? Wel. Pichegru, said he, had fallen into great contempt, and was not likely to do me much mischief; in remembrance of the conquest of Holland, it is possible I might, on condition of banishment to America. Nel. I fear, messmate, neither of them had much to hope from Bonny. Wel. I think so too. If, said he, Lord Castlereagh were to offer to place me upon the throne of France on the same condition that Louis fills it, 1 would prefer remaining where I am. Nel. I doubt it. Wel. There is no man more to be pitied than Louis; he is forced upon the nation as king. Nel. Was it so ? Wel. It really was. And instead of being allowed to ingratitate himself with the people, the allies oblige him to have recourse to measures which must increase their hatred instead of conciliating their affections; royalty is degraded by the steps they have made him adopt. Nel. Hear, hear! Wel. It reflects upon the throne of England itself. The French nation would never willingly consent to receive the Bourbons as kings. Nel. Hear, hear, hear! Wel. Because the allies wish it; they would desire me, because the allies do not, but putting me out of the question, the French are desirous to see the throne filled by one chosen by themselves, and for whom no enemies or foreign powers had interfered; ask yourselves, you Englishmen, what your sentiments would be in a similar case. Nel. Hear, hear! Wel. The wish of your ministers to re-establish despotic power and superstition in France, cannot be agreeable to the English; a free people, unless indeed a desire to humble and to injure prevails, cannot wish to see another nation enslaved. Nel. Certainly not. Wel. Ill treated as I have been, and deprived of every thing dear to me. Nel. IIear, hear! Wel. I prefer my sojourn on this execrable rock, to the being seated on the throne of France like Louis, as I know that posterity will do me justice. Nel. No doubt of that, messmate. Wel. Another year or two will probably finish my career in this world. Nel. And by what you told me, such really was the case. Wel. It was so. But what I have done will never perish; twelve hundred years hence my name will be mentioned with respect, while those of my oppressors will be unknown, or only known by being loaded with infamy and opprobrium. Nel. How he draws on posterity, he quite passes over the desire of Europe for peace, which nothing but his captivity could give; no, no, messmate, Bonny could no more live without his soldiers than a shark out of water; he at all events was not the soldier who was "tired of wars alarms." Wel. No, no. He thus went on-The conduct of your government in attempting to put down liberty. Nel. Oh, Bonny, Bonny, don't you talk about putting down liberty. Wel. No, from him it certainly comes with a bad grace, He continuedAnd enslave the English surprises me. Nel Why the deuce did he not come to England and knock off the fetters from the limbs of poor John Bull. London was much nearer than Moscow. Wel. A vast deal. He went on-For Russia, Prussia and Austria to do so, I wonder not, as they do not deserve the name of liberal, or of free nation, in them the will of the sovereign was always law, the slaves must obey. Nel. Hear, hear! Wel. But that England should do so, surprise sme, unless, as I said to you on a former occasion, political motives, jealousy, and a wish to humble and lessen those who have enriched themselves by trade, prevail with your Prince, and amongst your oligarchy. His surgeon informs us that a message was sent to him, to attend the governor at Plantation House. Nel. I suppose another breeze. Wel, You shall hear He tells us he found the governor in the library with Sir Thomas Reade. His excellency said-That the day before yesterday some newspapers of a later date than any of his own, had been received by Mr. Cole the postmaster, some of which were lent to me in direct violation of the act of parliament, Nel. Oh! Wel. Which positively prohibits communication, verbal or written, with General Buonaparte, or any of his family, or those about him, without his (the governor's) knowledge, that he therefore wished to know from his surgeon himself, whether he had lent those papers, or any others to General Buonaparte. Nel. Really this is too bad! all this bother, because Bonny had seen an old Moniteur or Courier before the governor. What did his doctor say in reply? Wel. He says-I replied, that I had lent those and many others at various times to Napoleon, as I had been constantly in the habit of lending papers to him, since I had been on the island. Nel. Very good. Wel. That Sir George Cockburn had, in more instances than one, given him newspapers to take to Longwood, before having perused them himself. Nel. Ha, what did the governor say to that? Wel. He replied-That it was a violation of the act of parliament. Nel. Act of fiddle-sticks. Wel. His doctor replied-That he was not included in the act of parliament as he had made an express stipulation that he should not be considered or treated as one of the French. Nel. Bravo, Doctor! Wel. And would immediately resign his situation, if he were required to hold it on such terms. Nel. Certainly not. What did the governor say to that? Wel. He said-That he desired him to understand, that for the future, he was not to lend General Buonaparte any newspapers, or be the bearer of any information, news, or newspapers to him Nel. Oh! oh! Wel. Without having previously obtained his sanction. |