225

ORIGIN OF NAPOLEON'S GENERALS.

THE following account of the origin of the most celebrated generals of Napoleon I. will prove interesting :

Augereau, the hot, the sanguine Augereau, was the son of a poor fruiterer, struggling for his livelihood; at the age of thirty-five, still a private soldier, not despairing of success; at last, in four years he rose to the highest grade of military command, and was created duke of Castiglione.

Bernadotte, who was destined to be one of the greatest, and by far the most fortunate of Napoleon's lieutenants, was born at Pau, the capital of Berne, January 26, 1764.-In his sixteenth year he enlisted as a private soldier into the Royal Marines. In 1792 he was a colonel. In 1806 he was created prince of Ponte Corvo, and lastly was elected king of Sweden.

Berthier, the son of a porter of the Hotel de la Querre, for his signal services was created marshal of the empire, grand huntsman, and prince, first of Neufchatel, then of Wagram.

Bessieres, born at Preissar, August 6, 1768, was a private soldier in 1792.—In the north of Spain, through his exemplary conduct, he rose to the station of captain in 1796; he was created marshal in 1809, and afterwards duke of Istria.

Kellerman, the son of a citizen of Strasburg, rose from the rank of a private soldier to that of duke of Valmy.

P

The impetuous and valiant Lannes, born at Lestoure, April 11, 1769, of indigent parents, at an early age enlisted into the army. He was sent ambassador into Portugal, and on his return became marshal of France, and ere long duke of Montebello.

Macdonald, of Scottish descent, was born in the little town of Sancerre, November 17, 1765. At an early age he entered into the army as lieutenant; he was marshal, and afterwards duke of Tarentum.

Lefebvre was born of humble parents, on October 25, 1755. In September, 1793, raised to the rank of captain; in December, the same year, to the rank of general, and lastly to the dukedom of Dantzic.

Massena, one of the ablest of Napoleon's generals, was born at Nice, May 6, 1758. At an early age he was, by a relative, introduced to a maritime life, but soon becoming disgusted with the sea, he entered the army as a private soldier. His promotion at first was not at all rapid; and, having lost all hopes, he retired to his own nation, and married. The stirring affairs of the revolution called his attention once more to a soldier's life; his promotion was now astonishingly rapid, for in 1793 he became general, soon after duke of Rivoli, and, to close his career, was created prince of Esslingen.

Moncey was born at Besançon, July 31, 1754. The education he received was good, as his father was a lawyer. He enlisted as a private soldier, of his own accord; his parents, however, obtained his discharge; but at last, in 1790, when at the age of thirty

six, he became a sub-lieutenant of dragoons, and, in the year 1804, was created duke of Cornegliano.

Mortier was born at Cambresis, 1768. In the year 1791 he was captain, and, lastly, received the title of duke of Treviso.

The great Murat was born March 25, 1767, of humble parents, his father being only an innkeeper of Bastide, near Cahors. When he was in his twentieth year he enlisted into a regiment of chasseurs, and shortly after, for his gallantry and bravery, was made general of division, in 1805 created grand duke of Berg and Cleves, and in 1808 had the crown of Naples conferred on him. The end of this extraordinary man, whose life must have appeared to him a dream, was, as is well known, tragical: he was shot in a vain attempt to recover his kingdom of Naples, October 13, 1815, and himself gave the word to the soldiers to fire, saying, "Save my face-aim at my heart-fire!" The errors of Murat may be ascribed to a bad education; he wanted moral energy, reflection, and patience.

Ney, the "bravest of the brave," was born at SarreLouis, January 10, 1769. His father was a poor tradesman. In 1787 he filled the inferior station of private soldier, and in 1793 was lieutenant. The year following he was brought under the notice of general Kleber, and in 1796 received the title of general himself. He was also created prince of Moskwa. A miserable and untimely end, however, awaited this prodigy of military genius. Having joined Napoleon

after his return from Elba, he was shot, like Murat, on December 7, 1815; and when at the place of execution, in a firm voice gave the word, saying, "Soldiers, fire!" His father died in 1826, aged nearly 100 years. His love for his son was so great, that at his death, in 1815, his family, fearing the effect which the sad event might produce on him, kept it a secret among themselves. By the mourning of his daughter, however, he understood that some tragical event had taken place; but he never made any inquiries, and seldom mentioned the name of his son. He expired without ever being acquainted with his son's death.

Oudinot was born April 2, 1767, and distinguished himself so much as a private soldier that he was created count of the empire in 1804, and, for his valour at Wagram, duke of Reggio.

Soult was born March 29, 1769, at Saint Antan's. His origin was mean. In his sixteenth year he entered the army as a private soldier, and rose gradually from rank to rank, till the year 1794, when he was made general; he was afterwards honoured with the title of duke of Dalmatia.

Suchet, who was the son of a silk manufacturer of Lyons, was born March 2, 1772. In 1792 he enlisted as a private soldier, his promotion was rapid, though not perhaps so much so as some others. In 1798 he gained the rank of general; and in 1812 the title of duke of Albufera.

These are the principal and most celebrated of Napoleon's lieutenants, nearly all of whom rose from the

rank of private soldiers to the possession of the sword of a general, the staff of a marshal, and some of them even the sceptre of a king.

DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH ARMADA.

In the year 1588, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Philip the Second, king of Spain, formed a grand design of invading England, and made vast preparations for the entire conquest of the kingdom. Under the sway of this monarch, and that of his father, the emperor Charles the fifth, Spain had reached the highest point of its prosperity, being, at that period rich and populous; and the recent conquest of Portugal, besides securing internal tranquillity, had annexed an opulent kingdom to Philip's dominions-had made him master of many settlements in the East Indies, and of the whole commerce of those regions; and had much increased his naval power, in which he was before chiefly deficient. Besides this, all the treasures of the West Indies were in his possession.

Philip's ambition was as great as his resentment was lasting. On the death of Queen Mary, of persecuting memory, whose husband he was, he made