The peculiar constitution of the French grenadier corps is likewise to be remarked. These bodies were the combined excerpts of all the best men from every regiment. “L’éclat et la prééminence des grenadiers Français * * l’usage de réunir tous ceux d’une ou de plusieurs brigades pour tenter des actions de vigueur.” (Foy, _Hist. Guerre Pénins._, liv. ii.) To these we never opposed more than our average regimental forces, and their picked men were for the most part overcome by our rank and file. What this rank and file was composed of let the following passage attest. “Les Anglais n’escaladent pas la montagne et n’effleurent pas la plaine, lestes et rapides comme les Français; mais ils sont plus silencieux, plus calmes, plus obéissants; pour ce motif leurs feux sont plus assurés et plus meurtriers.” (Foy, _Hist. Guerre Pénins._, liv. ii.) Such is the brilliant testimony to the merits of the British soldier by one of Napoléon’s own Generals. Our footmen are still the sturdy yeomen who accomplished such marvels at Crecy. If in a state little removed from brute ignorance they have done such wonders, what may be expected from them in the not far distant day, when they shall become elevated by education to a more fitting standard? Splendid as our horses are, and our dragoons both heavy and light, the strength of our army will be always in its powerful infantry, in their steady fire, indomitable endurance, and incomparable use of the bayonet. These are the _robur peditum_, like the _triarii_ of the Roman legions, who were chosen from the strongest men, and ever fought on foot. It was remarked that in moments of peril they set their limbs so strongly, that their knees were somewhat bowed (precisely like our modern pugilists), as if they would rather die than remove from their places; and it passed into a proverb, when a thing came to extremity: “_ad triarios res venit_.”