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turn。 In one paragraph it called the Emperor 〃a sanguinary tyrant；
murderer； and pickpocket；〃 in a second it owned he was 〃a
magnanimous rebel； and worthy of forgiveness；〃 and； after
proclaiming 〃the brilliant victory of the Prince of Joinville；〃
presently denominated it a 〃funeste journee。〃
The next day the Emperor； as we may now call him； was about to
march on Paris； when Messrs。 Ruinart and Moet were presented； and
requested to be paid for 300；000 bottles of wine。 〃Send three
hundred thousand more to the Tuileries；〃 said the Prince； sternly：
〃our soldiers will be thirsty when they reach Paris。〃 And taking
Moet with him as a hostage； and promising Ruinart that he would
have him shot unless he obeyed； with trumpets playing and eagles
glancing in the sun； the gallant Imperial army marched on their
triumphant way。
CHAPTER V。
THE BATTLE OF TOURS。
We have now to record the expedition of the Prince of Nemours
against his advancing cousin； Henry V。 His Royal Highness could
not march against the enemy with such a force as he would have
desired to bring against them； for his royal father； wisely
remembering the vast amount of property he had stowed away under
the Tuileries； refused to allow a single soldier to quit the forts
round the capital； which thus was defended by one hundred and
forty…four thousand guns （eighty…four…pounders）； and four hundred
and thirty…two thousand men：little enough； when one considers
that there were but three men to a gun。 To provision this immense
army； and a population of double the amount within the walls； his
Majesty caused the country to be scoured for fifty miles round； and
left neither ox； nor ass； nor blade of grass。 When appealed to by
the inhabitants of the plundered district； the royal Philip
replied； with tears in his eyes； that his heart bled for themthat
they were his childrenthat every cow taken from the meanest
peasant was like a limb torn from his own body； but that duty must
be done； that the interests of the country demanded the sacrifice；
and that in fact； they might go to the deuce。 This the unfortunate
creatures certainly did。
The theatres went on as usual within the walls。 The Journal des
Debats stated every day that the pretenders were taken； the
Chambers satsuch as remainedand talked immensely about honor；
dignity； and the glorious revolution of July； and the King； as his
power was now pretty nigh absolute over them； thought this a good
opportunity to bring in a bill for doubling his children's
allowances all round。
Meanwhile the Duke of Nemours proceeded on his march； and as there
was nothing left within fifty miles of Paris wherewith to support
his famished troops； it may be imagined that he was forced to
ransack the next fifty miles in order to maintain them。 He did so。
But the troops were not such as they should have been； considering
the enemy with whom they had to engage。
The fact is； that most of the Duke's army consisted of the National
Guard； who； in a fit of enthusiasm； and at the cry of 〃LA PATRIE EN
DANGER〃 having been induced to volunteer； had been eagerly accepted
by his Majesty； anxious to lessen as much as possible the number of
food…consumers in his beleaguered capital。 It is said even that he
selected the most gormandizing battalions of the civic force to
send forth against the enemy： viz； the grocers； the rich bankers；
the lawyers； &c。 Their parting with their families was very
affecting。 They would have been very willing to recall their offer
of marching； but companies of stern veterans closing round them；
marched them to the city gates； which were closed upon them； and
thus perforce they were compelled to move on。 As long as he had a
bottle of brandy and a couple of sausages in his holsters； the
General of the National Guard； Odillon Barrot； talked with
tremendous courage。 Such was the power of his eloquence over the
troops； that； could he have come up with the enemy while his
victuals lasted； the issue of the combat might have been very
different。 But in the course of the first day's march he finished
both the sausages and the brandy； and became quite uneasy； silent；
and crest…fallen。
It was on the fair plains of Touraine； by the banks of silver
Loire； that the armies sat down before each other； and the battle
was to take place which had such an effect upon the fortunes of
France。 'Twas a brisk day of March： the practised valor of Nemours
showed him at once what use to make of the army under his orders；
and having enfiladed his National Guard battalions； and placed his
artillery in echelons； he formed his cavalry into hollow squares on
the right and left of his line； flinging out a cloud of howitzers
to fall back upon the main column。 His veteran infantry he formed
behind his National Guardpolitely hinting to Odillon Barrot； who
wished to retire under pretence of being exceedingly unwell； that
the regular troops would bayonet the National Guard if they gave
way an inch： on which their General； turning very pale； demurely
went back to his post。 His men were dreadfully discouraged； they
had slept on the ground all night； they regretted their homes and
their comfortable nightcaps in the Rue St。 Honore： they had luckily
fallen in with a flock of sheep and a drove of oxen at Tours the
day before； but what were these； compared to the delicacies of
Chevet's or three courses at Vefour's？ They mournfully cooked
their steaks and cutlets on their ramrods； and passed a most
wretched night。
The army of Henry was encamped opposite to them for the most part
in better order。 The noble cavalry regiments found a village in
which they made themselves pretty comfortable； Jenkins's Foot
taking possession of the kitchens and garrets of the buildings。
The Irish Brigade； accustomed to lie abroad； were quartered in some
potato fields； where they sang Moore's melodies all night。 There
were； besides the troops regular and irregular； about three
thousand priests and abbes with the army； armed with scourging…
whips； and chanting the most lugubrious canticles： these reverend
men were found to be a hindrance rather than otherwise to the
operations of the regular forces。
It was a touching sight； on the morning before the battle； to see
the alacrity with which Jenkins's regiment sprung up at the FIRST
reveille of the bell； and engaged （the honest fellows！） in offices
almost menial for the benefit of their French allies。 The Duke
himself set the example； and blacked to a nicety the boots of
Henri。 At half…past ten； after coffee； the brilliant warriors of
the cavalry were ready； their clarions rung to horse； their banners
were given to the wind； their shirt…collars were exquisitely
starched； and the whole air was scented with the odors of their
pomatums and pocket…handkerchiefs。
Jenkins had the honor of holding the stirrup for Henri。 〃My
faithful Duke！〃 said the Prince； pulling him by the shoulder…knot；
〃thou art always at THY POST。〃 〃Here； as in Wellington Street；
sire；〃 said the hero； blushing。 And the Prince made an appropriate
speech to his chivalry； in which allusions to the lilies； Saint
Louis； Bayard and Henri Quatre； were； as may be imagined； not
spared。 〃Ho！ standard…bearer！〃 the Prince concluded； 〃fling out my
oriflamme。 Noble gents of France； your King is among you to…day！〃
Then turning to the Prince of Ballybunion； who had been drinking
whiskey…punch all night with the Princes of Donegal and Connemara；
〃Prince；〃 he said； 〃the Irish Brigade has won every battle in the
French historywe will not deprive you of the honor of winning
this。 You will please to commence the attack with your brigade。〃
Bending his head until the green plumes of his beaver mingled with
the mane of the Shetland pony which he rode； the Prince of Ireland
trotted off with his aides…de…camp； who rode the same horses；
powerful grays； with which a dealer at Nantz had supplied them on
their and the Prince's joint bill at three months。
The gallant sons of Erin had wisely slept until the last minute in
their potato…trenches； but rose at once at the summons of their
beloved Prince。 Their toilet was the work of a momenta single
shake and it was done。 Rapidly forming into a line； they advanced
headed by their Generals；who； turning their steeds into a grass…
field； wisely determined to fight on foot。 Behind them came the
line of British foot under the illustrious Jenkins； who marched in
advance perfectly collected； and smoking a Manilla cigar。 The
cavalry were on the right and left of the infantry； prepared to act
in pontoon； in echelon； or in ricochet； as occasion might demand。
The Prince rode behind； supported by his Staff； who were almost all
of them bishops； archdeacons； or abbes； and the body of ecclesiastics
followed； singing to the sound； or rather howl； of serpents and
trombones； the Latin canticles of the Reverend Fr