Other campaigns and victories will succeed those of the great Duke, and
the names of Vittoria and Waterloo will sound to future generations as
those of Ramillies and Dettingen do to the present. Materials for
martial stories will never be wanting: they are a branch of literature
peculiarly British; and it is remarkable that, notwithstanding the love
of peace, security and opulence, which appears to possess us now, the
present age is one beyond all others fond of an exciting style of
literature.
Military romances and narratives are the most stirring of all. There
are no scenes so dashing, or so appalling, as those produced by a state
of warfare, with its contingent woes and horrors; which excite the
energies of both body and mind to the utmost pitch.
The author hopes, that, though containing less of war and more of love
and romantic adventure than his former volumes, these now presented to
the Reader will be found not the less acceptable on this account. They
differ essentially from the novels usually termed military; most of the
characters introduced being of another cast.
The last chapters are descriptive of the siege of Scylla; a passage of
arms which, when the disparity of numbers between the beleaguered
British and the besieging French is considered, must strike every reader
as an affair of matchless bravery.
Several of the officers mentioned have attained high rank in their
profession—others a grave on subsequent battle-fields: their names may
be recognised by the military reader. Other characters belong to
history.
The names of the famous brigand chiefs may be familiar to a few:
especially Francatripa. He cost the French, under Massena, more lives
than have been lost in the greatest pitched battle. All the attempts of
Buonaparte to seduce him to his faction, or capture him by force, were
fruitless; and at last, when his own followers revolted, and were about
to deliver him up to the iron-hearted Prince of Essling, he had the
address to escape into Sicily with all their treasure, the accumulated
plunder of years. Being favoured by the Queen, he, no doubt, spent the
close of his years in ease and opulence. Scarolla became a true
patriot, and died "Chief of the Independents of Basilicata."
It is, perhaps, needless to observe, that many scenes purely fanciful
are mingled with the real military details.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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