674 LORD MAHON'S WAR IN SPAIN. 



hope and Madame de Muci," in the Monthly Magazine of last month. 

 In that article I see it stated that the writer has no other motive for 

 referring to these memoirs, than the desire to ascertain the facts with 

 respect to the unfortunate surrender of an English army, and that he 

 would be glad to be shewn reasons to change his belief, and as I think 

 these professions of candour fully borne out by the tone and temper of 

 your other remarks, I do not hesitate to address you upon the subject. 

 I may observe, in the first place, that I was not, as you suppose, unac- 

 quainted, with the fable of Madame de Muci. It is quoted as a vague 

 rumour, in the Biographic Universelle, article Philippe V. But I really 

 did not think it possible, until I read your article, that any person of 

 good judgment or historical knowledge, could have given the slightest 

 credit to so extravagant a fiction; and I, therefore, in writing my 

 history, treated it wholly as undeserving of notice. It admits, however, 

 of a very short and easy refutation. I need sa-y nothing of the gross 

 improbability of every part of the story, nor of the silence of all the 

 English writers, who have examined the capitulation of Brihueje, some 

 of whom, as political enemies of General Stanhope, would have been 

 well pleased to find any ground of accusation against him. It is enough 

 to be able to establish a most complete alibi. At the very time when, 

 according to Madame Muci, General Stanhope was travelling with her 

 in disguise through France to Pamplona, we can trace her progress, 

 step by step, from England through Germany to Genoa, where he trans- 

 acted some important public business, and where, as I have mentioned 

 in my history, he embarked on the 16th of May ; landing at Barcelona, 

 he joined the army at Agramont on the 20th of the same month, and 

 from that period continued during the campaign, to direct the operations 

 as commander-in-chief of the British troops. All these movements rest 

 on public and incontrovertible documents. I need not trouble you any 

 farther; but I begin conclusion, to return you my acknowledgments 

 of the very flattering manner in which you are pleased to speak of my 

 historical productions. You are at liberty to make any use you please of 

 this letter. 



November 2 1832 



!Bzfo -^>rRn Aff.t ni t 



GOD'S WITH US AND VICTORY. 



FROM THE GERMAN. 

 Off) OJ .ffyimil Sf" 



WHAT is nobler 'neath the heaven, 

 Than when battle's signal's given, 



When the martial trumpet's sound, 

 When the stormy drum is pealing, 

 When the chargers round are wheeling, 



And brave blood bedews the ground ! 



What is nobler than the bearing- 

 Firm and calm and manly daring 



That the veteran warrior shows ; 

 When like heaven's own lightning flashing, 

 Thundering guns around are crashing 



Hailing death among our foes! 



Oh, 'tis noble, when dread traces 

 Pale hues on our foemen's faces, 



And to save base life they flee ; 



Then the battlements of heaven, , lif f 



By ten thousand tongues are riven, 



God's with us and victory ! 



