238 On the Sites of Nikaia and Bou/cephalon. [No. 3. 



and Huzara forces, had probably about 18,000 regular troops, 20,000 

 irregulars, and about 55 guns ; and Lord Gough had in all 14,000 

 men under arms. In both cases also the battle was fought on the 

 eastern bank, the Sikhs insanely throwing away the formidable advan- 

 tage which the high western banks of the very dangerous river Hydas* 

 pes would have afforded them. In both cases the victory was for the 

 stranger, and the child of the soil was subdued. Notwithstanding all 

 the errors marking the modern sanguinary and indecisive battle, the 

 Sikhs were, to my certain knowledge, so beaten, that they had no 

 thought of farther resistance, and if followed up next day by half our 

 army would have been driven pellmell into the river. But the sub- 

 sequent pause ; the deplorable abuse of a free press in exposing to an 

 enemy all our weaknesses and fears, very speedily converted the beaten 

 sheep into a plucky lion. Nearly the whole of the Sikh horse had 

 disappeared. Many were drowned in the panic attempt to ford the 

 Hydaspes at Miani. With exception of Soorut Singh, there was in 

 the Sikh army but one thought, and that was how they might shun 

 further encounter. 



But here the parallel ceases. And let him who would emulate in a 

 better cause deeds that live fresh in memory after the lapse of two 

 thousand years, study the masterly manoeuvre of Alexander, the saga- 

 city which conceived, the patient toil which matured, the consummate 

 skill and courage which completed the operation. Above all let him 

 see what distinguished Alexander from other conquerors and secured 

 to his successors for many centuries the dominion of the world. Many 

 have united to Alexander's courage, a skill little inferior to his, and 

 have led troops equally hardy and equally disciplined to the conquest 

 of foreign realms. But how few have united to those soldierly attri- 

 butes, the princely generosity, the simple manners, the hardy habits, 

 the good faith, the handsome sentiments of others, the truly gentle- 

 manly spirit of the hero, which distinguished Alexander beyond almost 

 every character of history, attached to him his soldiers, won the hearts 

 of his enemies, and needed but more perfect light to have made him 

 a model for the human race.* 



* No excuse is here offered for Alexander's faults or crimes. But we must 

 remember that occasional intemperance was inculcated by his religion as a sacri- 

 fice to Bacchus, and that ambition formed the highest obligation in the code of 

 pagan virtue. 



