in safety to Coria, at which place he took up his winter quarters, and did everything in his power to make his troops and officers comfortable after their late severe privations and fatigues.

CHAPTER XV.

LORD HILL.

THE moral influence which this brave commander possessed over his men, and the love which they bore him, justly entitled him to be considered the friend of his officers, and the father of his troops. The following appropriate observations are taken from a letter written by one of the officers in his division:—

"The great foundation of all Sir Rowland Hill's popularity with the troops was his sterling personal worth, and his heroic spirit; but this popularity was increased and strengthened as soon as he was seen. He was the very picture of an English country gentleman. To those soldiers who came from the rural districts of Old England, he represented Home-his fresh complexion, placid face, kind eyes, kind voice, the total absence of all parade or noise in his habits, delighted them. His displeasure was worse to them than the loudest anger of other generals. When they saw anxiety in his face that all should be right, they doubly wished it themselves; and when they saw his countenance bright with the expression that all was right, they were glad for him as well as for themselves."

The departure of Lord Wellington to Cadiz on business of importance, left Hill in a most responsible situation, as the entire command of the armies devolved upon him; and as spring advanced he had to make many long marches.

A general engagement took place in which the French army, after a most desperate struggle, was driven back by the allies

in a helpless and confused mass. They fled so fast, that the victors, who had been sixteen hours under arms, and had marched three leagues since daybreak, had no chance of overtaking them. Many also could not resist the temptation of stopping to possess themselves of the rich treasures left by the fugitive King Joseph and his companions. They might be seen on all sides scrambling for the money scattered from‍ the chests, searching the gilded coaches of the court, and drawing forth, with shouts of exultation, the robes, uniforms, court dresses, stars, jewels, plate, and pictures, once the pride of the grandees and hierarchy of Spain. Sir Rowland Hill's corps was principally engaged during the first part of the action, and suffered more than any other.

Three of Sir Rowland's brothers were present at this battle, and all, with himself, escaped uninjured.

He was next engaged in blockading Pampeluna, until some other divisions relieved him, when he marched towards France, constantly skirmishing with the enemy by the way, and always driving them from their various strong positions. The French were compelled to retreat into their own country on the 8th of July, 1813; and the allies possessed themselves of the most important passes of the Pyrenees.

It is remarkable that Sir Rowland Hill, who gave the first cbeck to the French cavalry in Egypt, should have the honour of driving the soldiers of Buonaparte from Spain.

In November he assisted in defeating Marshal Soult at the battle of the Nivelle; and, shortly after, rendered great service by repulsing a formidable attack made upon him by the enemy with a large body of troops. This battle of the Nivelle was fought and gained by Sir Rowland Hill's corps alone and unaided. Lord Wellington arriving at the instant of victory, in an ecstasy of joy caught him by the hand and said, "Hill, the day is your own." And writing to Sir John Kennedy, his lordship says, Sir Rowland Hill has given the enemy a terrible beating."

66

In the commencement of 1814, Hill was actively employed in adopting measures to prevent the enemy's boats from navigating the Adour; then followed the battles of Orthez, Aire, and Tarbes, in all of which Hill, as usual, signalised himself.

After Sir Rowland's attack on Tarbes, the French fled in all directions, with considerable loss, and Soult retired on Toulouse. In compliance with Lord Wellington's directions, Hill put the troops under his immediate orders in motion; by the 3rd of April, 1814, he had advanced to Toulouse, and his officers occupied the beautiful villas of the suburbs. On the following day, Easter Sunday, was fought the battle of Toulouse, in which the French were driven from the field, and forced to take shelter within the city. This immense sacrifice of life on both sides is the more to be lamented, as Napoleon had already abdicated the throne of France.

Upon the receipt of this intelligence from Paris, Soult proposed an armistice, which Lord Wellington, after some deliberation and delay, acceded to. Peace being thus restored, Sir Rowland was anxious to return to his family at Hawkstone, and declined a lucrative post offered him by Lord Wellington, in order that he might have leisure to attend to the interests of his late brother's widow and children. He was now, together with four other generals who had like himself been distinguished in the late campaign, raised to the peerage, while their illustrious Commander-in-Chief was created Duke of Wellington.

On his way to Hawkstone, Hill passed some time in London, when he took his seat in Parliament, and was presented by the Lord Mayor with a sword and the freedom of the City.

All the large towns through which he passed showed him tokens of respect. At Birmingham a sword was presented to him with this motto, "Take it, my Lord, and it will not fail

H

you." Hill said, in reply, "Trust it to me, and I will not disgrace it."

When he visited Shrewsbury, he found the streets filled with thousands of people, who poured in from every quarter; the trees on the sides of the road by which he entered, were adorned with flowers, and the road itself strewed with them.

On the occasion of presenting Lord Hill and his gallant brothers with the freedom of the city of Shrewsbury, it was determined that the ceremony should take place in the beautiful gardens of Mr. Rocke, which faced the quarry, a wide public promenade, in order that the populace might be gratified with the sight.

When the ceremony was concluded, Lord Hill addressed the immense concourse of spectators from the back of a sunk fence. The shaking-hand mania-which, in the metropolis, had arrived at such a height, on occasion of the visit of the illustrious and distinguished heroes at the termination of the long and awful war, that old General Blucher, quite wearied with it, one day, lifting up his aching arm, exclaimed, "Me shake at hands none more"-had reached the provinces: hundreds of hands were extended over the bank, and Lord Hill good-naturedly knelt on the top of the fence, and shook heartily as many as he could reach.

In addition to these transient honours, his native county erected a splendid Doric pillar near Shrewsbury, which was designated "Lord Hill's Column."

The rank and honour to which he was now elevated did not make Lord Hill unmindful of the friends of his youth. It may be mentioned as an instance, that at Chester, where he had been a school-boy, and where he was now welcomed with enthusiasm, as he was passing in triumphant procession along the crowded streets, he suddenly waved his hand towards a window crowded with ladies, and exclaimed to one among them whom his quick eye had discerned, shall be with you at breakfast to-morrow." This lady was

"I

Mrs. Winfield, the widow of his former schoolmaster, whom he had always visited whenever he had an opportunity.

Before he had been long at home, Lord Hill was offered the command in America, which at first he refused, but afterwards reluctantly accepted. It being, however, considered unnecessary to send such a force to that country as would be fit for him to command, his services were dispensed with. A proposition was next made to him, in an autograph letter from his Royal Highness the Duke of York, Commander-in-Chief, of the command in Scotland. This appointment he declined, and remained with his family during the autumn and winter.

While Hill was in London with his sister, the following spring, Buonaparte returned to France from Elba. Hill was sent for suddenly to a meeting of the cabinet, and informed by the ministers that they were apprehensive of an action being risked on the frontier of the Netherlands, which might prove disastrous. Being asked if he would go there, as his influence might operate to prevent it, he answered that he would the next morning. In relating this afterwards to a friend, he added, "I went home, got ready, and set off, and was able to keep all right till the arrival of the Duke of Wellington."

When Hill arrived at Brussels, he had an interview with the Prince of Orange, and recommended him, as he had been instructed, to use the utmost caution on the part of the forces under his command, and assured him that it was deemed of the greatest consequence that the army under the charge of his Royal Highness should be preserved in an efficient state, until a greater mass of force could be brought forward. Shortly afterwards, being stationed at Grammont, he found himself almost close to his old opponent Girard, with whom he had contended so successfully at Arroyo de Molinos.

The next event of importance was the battle of Waterloo. The night previous to the battle was passed by Lord Hill and his staff in a small house by the side of the road that led