Page:Life of the Duke of Wellington.pdf/24

24 The Duke's despatches, dated the 19th, from the field of Waterloo, reached London late on the night of the 21st June. Next day the thanks of Parliament, and a resolution to erect a public monument to the Duke of Wellington and the army, were carried by acclamation. Parliament also voted thanks to Field Marshal Blucher and the Prussian army. The rewards of merit were extended to every rank and individual of the British army present on the 18th; each regiment was to bear the word Waterloo on its colours; all the privates were to be borne upon the muster-rolls and pay lists of their respective corps as Waterloo men, and each one of them was to reckon that day's work as two years' service.

We cannot resist quoting a remarkable saying of Wellington's which showed how much he felt this heavy loss. “Believe me," said he, "excepting a battle lost, nothing can be half so melancholy as a battle won. The bravery of my troops has hitherto saved me from that greater evil; but to win even such a battle as this of Waterloo, at the expense of the lives of so many gallant friends, could only be termed a heavy misfortune, were it not for its important results to the public benefit."

The Duke has since been called to serve his country as a statesman, and has held the highest place in the councils of the realm. While, however, he is happily spared to benefit that empire by his wisdom, which he has protected by his valour, it would not be expedient, even if space admitted, to enter on a review of his political carreercareer [sic]. His name is associated with some of the greatest legislative and social changes that this generation has witnessed, and some of them are yet too recent to be discussed with impartiality.