OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. "It is written in a free and impartial manner, is lucid in its descriptions, surprisingly correct in details, and many important features of the campaign, which have hitherto remained either wholly unnoticed, or else kept too much in shadow, are now brought forward into proper relief; whilst the grand military operations of the period are delineated with the pen of an enlightened soldier. In a word, by separating, with much discrimination, the gold from the dross, he has turned to excellent account the materials for his undertaking, which seem to have flowed to him from every quarter; and the consequence is, that a standard history has been produced, remarkable for its spirit and vigour, as well as for its truth."-U. S. Journal. "We hail this work as a standard history of the Battle of Waterloo and of the Campaign of Flanders-a worthy companion and sequel to the Peninsular Campaigns of Napier. A compilation from the testimonies of eye-witnesses (as this is) had they been dressed up for publication, and subjected individually to the public judgment, would have been cold and lifeless; here all is freshness, vivacity, unaffected truth; and thus is explained the very superior style of the writer, who possesses a nerve and spring of thought and a brilliant colouring of phrase, combined with a transparent clearness of expression, such as is rarely attained by the purely literary writer, and seldom, if ever, found in connection with profound, professional, and practical knowledge, as in this work. The most intimately acquainted with the scenery and incidents of the days of June, 1815, are loudest and most decided in their admiration of the plans and portraits which embellish these volumes. The ground is engraved b a peculiar progress, which represents in relief the slightest elevation, and sinks the smallest depressio! by the peculiar curve and measure of the line. Thus, the spectator looks down upon the ground of the battle itself with the clear perception of all its undulations, and its every variety of form and aspect. A second, and very different process, to which the plate is then subject, places in their positions the troops exactly as they occupied the field. These speaking plans have an accuracy hitherto unimagined, with an effect which is unequalled by any previous attempt. There are portraits of the Heroes of the campaign, which have as much merit as novelty-being engraved medallions-perfect portraits in high relief."-Naval and Military Gazette. "The eventful victory which these two splendid volumes are intended to commemorate has had many historians, but none so good or comprehensive as Captain Siborne. His facility of access to official documents, both English and foreign, the assistance which he has received from the surviving Waterloo heroes of all ranks, and the zeal, energy, and talent, which he has displayed in the construction of his materials, have produced a record, not only of the battle itself, but of the whole Waterloo campaign, which is likely to be as enduring as it is creditable to his talents as a writer, and his reputation as s soldier. For ourselves we heartily thank Captain Siborne for his spirited volumes, and sincerely do we hope they will meet their due reward. Of this we are certain, they cannot be too soon in the hands, not only of every Officer of the Service, but also of every civil member of the community."-United Service Gazette. "We cannot feel our debt acquitted to Captain Siborne for the pleasure and instruction his work has afforded us, if we did not bring our unqualified testimony to the minute accuracy of detail, the highly honourable and soldier-like spirit, and the admirable candour and fairness by which it is everywhere characterized. When the work was first announced for publication, we conceived great expectations from a history compiled by one whose access to every source of information was favoured both by interest in the highest quarters, and the circumstances of an official appointment on the staff. We were not disappointed. Such are the volumes before us-a Military Classic-and they will remain so while Waterloo is a word to stir the heart and nerve the arm of a British soldier.”—Dublin University, May. "This work is precisely what such a publication should be, a fair, impartial compilation of well authenticated testimony relative to the great events to which it has reference, interspersed with such reflections as have appeared to the author to be needful for the guidance of his unprofessional readers." Morning Post. "This History possesses all the minute matter of fact accuracy of a gazette, combined with a vivid and glowing power of description scarcely inferior even to Colonel Napier's admirable "History of the Peninsular War," and we know not that we can give it higher praise; moreover, we will venture to assert, that of all the careful and circumstantial descriptions of this campaign, none will give so distinct, vivid, and correct idea of its character as these eleven Maps."- Sun. "We can declare in all sincerity that we have perused his narrative of marches and onslaughts with infinite satisfaction. He tells his tale with singular clearness. He is at home in all the varied movements and changes of position, &c.; and his account of Cavalry Charges, especially in the affair of Quatre Bras, the advance of columns and cannonading, sweep you onwards as if the scene described were actually passing under your eyes. His Plans and Charts too are excellent, and every way worthy of the modellist of the Field of Waterloo. We thank Captain S., not only for the amusement we have derived from his performance, but for the opportunity with which the appearance of a genuine English History of the Battle of Waterloo supplies us, of refuting some of the errors regarding it into which other historians have fallen."-Fraser's Mag. PUBLISHED BY T. &. W. BOONE, 29, NEW BOND STREET, LONDON; AND SOLD BY OLIVER AND BOYD, AND FRASER AND CO. EDINBURGH; AND J. CUMMING, DUBLIN. OF EXPEDITIONS OF DISCOVERY INTO CENTRAL AUSTRALIA, AND OVERLAND FROM ADELAIDE TO KING GEORGE'S SOUND, IN THE YEARS 1840-1; SENT BY THE COLONISTS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, With the Sanction and Support of the Government : INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE ABORIGINES AND THE STATE OF THEIR RELATIONS WITH EUROPEANS. BY EDWARD JOHN EYRE, RESIDENT MAGISTRATE, MURRAY RIVER. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON : T. AND W. BOONE, 29, NEW BOND STREET. |