footing; and availing himself of the favourable opportunity, he formed camps of instruction, on a very extensive scale, on the Curragh of Kildare. In these a foundation of discipline was laid that has tended to the perfection and successes of our armies in all parts: and Lord Cathcart's popularity in Ireland, with the benefits he rendered to that country, are still fondly remembered there.

In the autumn of 1805 Lord Cathcart was sent to Russia as Ambassador, and his Lordship's appointment was framed in a military form, as it is at present. On arriving in London, previous to his departure, he had much intercourse with Mr. Pitt, with whom he had always been on intimate terms; and that lamented statesman always placed the highest confidence in him. After several arrangements, his Lordship was finally sent to take the command of the British army in Hanover.-By his well-timed management he ac quired an entire ascendancy over the senate of Bremen, and obtained all that was necessary to the establishment of his head-quarters in that city. The Russian army was at this period combined with the British, and Lord Cathcart perfectly succeeded in conciliating General Benningsen and all his officers. The fatal battle of Austerlitz changed the aspect of affairs, and that event was soon followed by the death of Mr. Pitt. The new administration, formed on the latter event, determined to recal the army. Lord Cathcart stated fifteen days as the period required for embarkation, and though it generally happens that such calculations are exceeded, in this case, Lord Cathcart, the last man, embarked on the thirteenth day. His Lordship's next appointment was Commander of the Forces in Scotland, and he remained in that situation till May 1807, when he was sent for by the Duke of Portland's Administration to be again employed on foreign service. His first mission was to the King of Sweden; afterwards his Lordship was directed to join Lord Gambier, and proceed against Copenhagen. His Lordship effected his landing in Zealand with great success, and attained the conquest he had in view. All his proceedings exhibited the best policy, the greatest humanity, and the strictest sense of honour.

Authentic Copy of the Letter addressed by Lieutenant-General Lord Cathcart to Major-General Peymann, the Commandant of Copenhagen, previous to the commencement of the siege of that city, dated Head-Quarters, Aug. 20, 1807.

"Sir,-Your letter of the 18th did not come into my hands till late last night. The passport for Prince Frederick Ferdinand, with

his retinue, is given on the same principle with those which have already been sent; but it must be strictly limited to the persons described. An irregularity is reported to me to have occurred on the part of the bearer of your letter: it will be of reciprocal convenience that such circumstances should not occur. Every mark of respectful attention having been paid to the illustrious persons related to the Blood Royal of Denmark, and due regard having been shewn to the household and equipage of his Danish Majesty, circumstances imperiously demand that a stop must now be put to the departure of any person whatever from the metropolis. In making this communication, I cannot refrain from availing myself of this opportunity of representing, in my own name, as well as in that of the Admiral commanding his Majesty's fleet, to the most serious consideration of your Excellency, the existing state of affairs at Copenhagen, which are drawing to an awful crisis. If this city, the capital of Denmark, the residence of the King, and of his Royal Court and Government, the seat of learning, and the rendezvous of commerce; full of inhabitants, of all ranks, ages, and sexes, will put itself on the footing of a fortress besieged, it must be attacked by all the means which may appear best calculated for its reduction, as soon as orders are given to that purpose; and, when such is the case, the officers employed have no choice but to use every effort to take the place. The attack of a city so rich and populous, cannot fail to be attended by consequences most destructive in preparation, as well as in final execution, to the persons and property of individuals. Impelled by the necessity of the case, our government has at the same time supplied positive orders and ample means to attack by sea and land, in case of refusal on the part of Denmark to treat in an amicable manner. The preparations are, perhaps, in a more forward state than you imagine: for God's sake, sir, let it be calmly considered, whether resistance may not lead to the destruction of the very treasure you wish to preserve, and whether, under the circumstances of the present dispute, the praise of displaying the valour, for which every body is prepared to give you credit, will compensate the ruin and destruction inseparable from the siege of a capital city; and the ultimate loss or destruction of your fleet and arsenal, which might be avoided. Property of every kind without the walls has been respected; you must know likewise, that other objects, and of the greatest national importance to the power of Denmark, are within my grasp, and have remained hitherto unremoved: this is a state of things which cannot continue. I mean

not to offend you by any thing like a menace; but I exhort your Excellency and your council to think seriously of the irreparable loss which the operation of a few days may occasion, but which might still be averted.--I have the honour to be, with the greatest personal consideration, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient humble servant,

(Signed)

"CATHCART, Lieut.-Gen.”

On Lord Cathcart's return, his Majesty was pleased to create him an English Viscount, for his important services, and he forthwith resumed his command in Scotland, where he continued till May 1812, when he was again called upon to be employed on another mission to Petersburg *. His Lordship's selection for this important situation is universally approved: his abilities are consummate; his powers of persuasion great; his activity of body and mind cannot be exceeded. In subordinate command it was always Lord Cathcart's merit to preserve unity of system, by the strictest conformity to the wishes of his superiors: to those under him, a behaviour conciliatory and gentlemanly, which obtains the esteem of all; and his Lordship may, on the ground of the many noble qualifications he so fortunately enjoys, be correctly styled an ornament to the British peerage.

*The following interesting Letter has been addressed to his Lordship by the Emperor Alexander.

"Monsieur l'Ambassadeur Vicomte Cathcart J'acquitte une dette agréable en vous envoyant les marques de l'Ordre + de St André, et celles de St. Georges de la 4me Classe. Toujours à mes Côtés aux Champs de l'honneur, toujours animé du zéle le plus ardent pour la cause que nous defendons, J'ai été journellement à portée de rendre justice à l'elevation et à la pureté du Négociateur, au sang froid et à la brillante valeur du Général, et je n'ai pas cru pouvoir vous donner une preuve plus marquante de mon estime et de ma consideration, qu'en joignant aux Ordres de l'Empire, celui Militaire de St. Georges.

"Recevez en même tems l'assurence de mes invariables sentimens.

"Toplitz, le 15-27 Septembre, 1813."

(Signé)

"ALEXANDRE.

For a description of the Orders of Knighthood in Russia, vide page 17 of this volume.

GENERALS ALVINZY and BEAULIEU.

BY GENERAL SARAZIN.

GENERAL ALVINZY, of Hungarian descent, acted as Captain of Grenadiers in the campaigns of the seven years' war. In 1789 he was one of General Laudon's lieutenants in the war against the Turks. He was in all the campaigns made against the French from 1792 till 1797. His efforts to succour Mantua, although fruitless, have not been sufficiently appreciated. This officer was neither treacherous nor ill-informed; he was badly seconded: it may also be observed, that he had to contend with an active and enterprising enemy, and troops more numerous. The Emperor Francis, to indemnify him for the virulent sarcasms of his jealous adversaries, bestowed on him the command in Hungary, where he died upwards of eighty years old.

General Beaulieu was born in the Austrian low countries. After having distinguished himself in the seven years' war, he was successively promoted to the higher ranks. He contributed to appease the troubles occasioned by the insurrection of the Brabanters: although obliged to fight against his own countrymen, his firm and prudent conduct not only preserved him their esteem, but served to augment the favour in which he was held by the Emperor. He was generally victorious in the war carried on in Germany against the French; his retreat of Jemappe is to be attributed to the great numerical superiority of the enemy. Fortune seemed to abandon him when in the army of Italy in 1796. His engagement of the bridge of Lodi did much honour to his troops, who fought with heroism; whilst he, judging from his dispositions, seemed much inferior to his former self, when dispersing, on the day of the battle of Fleurus, the right wing of the army of the Sambre and Meuse. This General died at a very advanced age.

Alvinzy and Beaulieu performed a very important part in the last war; they were brought up in a good school, having commenced their military career under the direction of the celebrated Marsha! Daun, for whom Fre derick the Great had the highest consideration. They possessed the rare talent of diminishing the evils inseparable from civil war, whilst they were employed in bringing the insurgents of the low countries, and the bishopric of Liége, again to submission. The finest feat of arms of these two Generals was the battle of the 16th of June 1794, when they prevailed against Jourdan; the French army, after having performed prodigies of valour, was obliged to recross the Sambre, and Charleroi was re-victualled. There was nothing talked of at that time but of the abilities of Beaulieu for commanding an advanced-guard, and of the talent of Alvinzy to make the best advantage of an army of reserve. If the result of their efforts was not the same on the day of the battle of Fleurus, it is because the Commandant of Charleroi had surrendered that place, though it might still have held out, from the breaches not being practicable. After having covered themselves with glory in Germany, those two Generals made their appearance in Italy only to be conquered: they succeeded, it is true, after desperate and sanguinary conflicts, in retreating with the skeletons of their armies to the mountains of Tyrol; but they lost Italy, one of the most important possessions of the house of Austria.

We are far from joining in opinion with many intelligent persons, who have wickedly interpreted the reverses of Generals Beaulieu and Alvinzy; however, all who knew them are perfectly convinced they were well acquainted with both the theory and practice of war. The whole gold of Italy would have been insufficient to induce those two venerable old men to sell their honour; and their only ambition was, faithfully to serve their august sovereign. It is very wrong then to tax them with ignorance and treachery. We are rather inclined to attribute the extraordinary change of their fortune to the difference of the theatres of war in Italy and Germany, to the confidence they were obliged from circumstances to repose in persons who betrayed it, and to the slowness necessarily attached to their advanced age. Upon the whole, we do not hesitate to place Alvinzy and Beaulieu amongst Generals of the second rank.

GENERALS ANDREOSSI and LAURISTON.

BY THE SAME.

GENERAL ANDREOSSI is a native of Languedoc. His parents, who were rich, gave him a good education: from the military school he entered into the artillery: he served in the army of Italy, in 1796, with Buonaparte, who employed him on many difficult occasions, in which he evinced as much bravery as talent. He followed that General into Egypt, where he continued to deserve his confidence. Andréossi returned to France with Buonaparte, assisted at the 18th Brumaire, was intrusted with the artillery division of the ministry of war, became in 1800 Chief of the Staff of General Augereau, and was appointed Embassador from France to his Britannic Majesty. After the peace of Presburg, he was sent in the same capacity to the Court of Vienna. In 1810 he was Chief of the Staff of the Army of Portugal under General Massena.

General Lauriston is the son of a General Officer under Louis XVI. Intended for the army, his education was very carefully attended to; he was admitted into the corps of artillery, in which he conciliated the esteem of his superiors, and the friendship of his companions, by his exact attention to duty, and by his mild and engaging mauners. On his return from Egypt, Buonaparte, who knew Lauriston's merit, called him to be near his person, and charged him with many important missions. He was sent to Brest in 1800 personally to inspect the Spanish fleet. In 1803, he was dispatched to Toulon, in order to receive the Princess Paulina, widow of General Le Clerc. In 1805, he returned to that town to embark on an expedition; and he was the person who brought to Buonaparte the news of the disaster of Trafalgar. He made the last campaigns of the grand army: he is one of the Aides-de-Camp of the Emperor, who reposes unlimited confidence in him, and he is now French Embassador at the Court of his Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias.

Andréossi and Lauriston reckon, amongst their ancestors, two celebrated men: Andréossi, one of the directors of the Languedoc canal, and the famous Law, so well known by his system which ruined the finances of France. These Generals have received from nature a very agreeable physiognomy, exceedingly prepossessing. They are endued with wit, cunning,