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Rh urged the little reliance to be placed in the troops, the uncertainty of success, and the necessity for prudence, and the like. All concurred in its being more reasonable to remain under cover of guns inside strong stone walls, than to try the fortune of war on the open field. Having heard every opinion to the end, the general shook the ashes from his pipe, and pronounced the following speech:—

"Gentlemen! I must declare to you, that so far as I am concerned, I am quite of the ensign's opinion; for that opinion is founded on all the rules of wholesome tactics, which invariably give the preference to offensive over defensive action."

Here he stopped, and proceeded to fill his pipe. I felt triumphant in my vanity. I looked proudly at the officials, who whispered to each other, and looked displeased and anxious.

"But, gentlemen," he continued, emitting a thick cloud of tobacco smoke with a deep sigh, "I dare not take upon myself so great a responsibility, considering that the safety of the province intrusted to me by her imperial majesty, my gracious sovereign, is at stake. I therefore cede to the majority, which has decided that it is more prudent and safer to await the siege within the city walls, and to repel the attacks of the enemy by the force of artillery, and (if it be possible) to discomfit them also by sorties."

It was now the turn of the officials to look ironically at me. The council ended, I could not help lamenting the weakness of the worthy warrior, who, in spite of his own