The great phenomenon of war it is, this and this only, which keeps open in man a spiracle—an organ of respiration-for breathing a transcendent atmosphere, and dealing with an idea that else would perish-viz., the idea of mixed crusade and martyrdom, doing and suffering, that finds its realization in a battle such as that of Waterloo-viz., a battle fought for interests of the human race, felt even where they are not understood; so that the tutelary angel of man, when he traverses such a dreadful field, when he reads the distorted features, counts the ghastly ruins, sums the hidden anguish, and the harvests "Of horror breathing from the silent ground," nevertheless, speaking as God's messenger, "blesses it and calls it very good."-THOMAS DE QUINCEY. WATERLOO THE DOWNFALL OF THE FIRST NAPOLEON: A HISTORY OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1815. BY GEORGE HOOPER, AUTHOR OF "THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGNS OF GENERAL BONAPARTE,' WITH MAP AND PLANS. NEW EDITION, REVISED. LONDON: GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1890. T PREFACE. HIS book, originally published in 1862, was written mainly because the author honestly believed that there was, then, no other on the subject in English, at once full, well-arranged, accurate, and adapted for general reading. Since that time several volumes have appeared, the most notable and valuable contributions having been supplied by General Sir James Shaw Kennedy, Colonel Charles Chesney, and General Sir Edward Hamley. The best earlier books were the volumes of Captain Siborne, so full of detail; and of foreign histories that of Colonel Charras, which, in spite of some errors, stands in the foremost rank as an authority. It has been thought expedient to reprint this history of the campaign of 1815, because copies of the first edition have long been unattainable, and because they are still in demand. No more need be said, except that there are some slight additions and a few corrections in the present edition, and that one chapter, dealing with the politics of 1862, having become obsolete, has been omitted. November, 1889. G. H. 599355 |