TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



107 



posed chiefly of Irish soldiers, saved the day for the 

 English arms on many a hard fought field culmina- 

 ting in the battle of Waterloo. This division was 

 always conspicuous during that protracted war for 

 " its daring enterprise and indefatigable activity." 

 After the battle of Ciuda Rodrigo, Wellington wrote 

 to Lord Liverpool, " General Picton has inspired a 

 confidence in the army, and exhibited an example of 

 science and bravery which has been surpassed by no 

 other officer.' ' 



That he was also beloved by his soldiers — 

 although he sometimes used hard words to them — is 

 evidenced by the fact that on an occasion when their 

 chief returned to duty from England — where he had 

 been on leave — they left their encampment and went 

 more than a mile to meet him with cries of " here 

 comes our brave old father, three cheers for old 

 Picton." 



As I set out to tell the story, and it is not yet 

 fully told, have patience, therefore, and hear a few 

 words more from men who are in no way mixed up in 

 the squabble between Fullarton and Picton. The first 

 is an encomium passed upon him by General Gascoyne 

 in the House of Commons on the night of 29th June, 

 1815, eleven days after his death. Speaking of the 

 battle of Quatre-Bras, — in which engagement Picton 

 distinguished himself, at the same time receiving 

 what later proved a mortal wound — and of his 

 glorious death at Waterloo, he said : — 



" His body was not only blackened by 



it, but even swelled to a considerable degree : those 



