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Forty-second regiment met those breaking through El

vina.

The ground about that village was intersected by stone walls and hollow roads. A severe scrambling fight occurred, and the French were forced back with great loss; and the Fifteenth Regiment, entering the valley with the retiring mass, drove it, after a second struggle in the street, quite beyond the houses. Seeing this, the General ordered a battalion of the guards to fill the void in the line made by the advance of these regiments; whereupon the Forty-second, mistaking his intention, retired; and at that moment, the enemy, being reinforced, renewed the fight in the village. Major Napier the author's eldest brother-commanding the Fiftieth, was wounded and taken prisoner, and Elvina then became the scene of another contest, which being observed by the Commander-in-chief, he addressed a few animating words to the Forty-second, and caused it. to return to the attack. Paget had now descended into the valley, and the line of skirmishers, being thus supported, vigorously checked the advance of the enemy's troops in that quarter, while the Fourth Regiment galled their flank. At the same time the centre and the left of the army became engaged. Baird was severely wounded, and a furious action ensued along the line, in the valley and along the hills.

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Sir John Moore, while earnestly watching the result of the fight about the village of Elvina, was struck on the left breast by a cannon-shot. The shock threw him from his horse with violence; yet he rose again in a sitting posture, his countenance unchanged, and his steadfast eye still fixed upon the regiments engaged in his front no sigh betraying a sensation of pain. In a few moments, when he saw the troops were gaining ground, his countenance brightened, and he suffered himself to be taken to the rear. Then was seen the dreadful nature of his hurt. The shoulder was shattered to pieces, the arm hanging by a piece of skin; the ribs over the heart were broken and bared of flesh; the muscles of the breast torn into strips, interlaced by their recoil from the dragging of the shot. As the soldiers placed him

in a blanket, his sword got entangled, and the hilt entered the wound. Captain Hardinge, a staff-officer, attempted to take it off, but the dying man stopped him, saying, "It is as well as it is. I had rather it should go out of the field with me; and in that manner, so becoming to a soldier, Moore was borne from the field.

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Notwithstanding this disaster, the troops gained ground. The reserve, overthrowing everything in the valley forced La Houssaye's dismounted dragoons to retire, and thus, turning the enemy, approached the eminence on which the great battery was posted. On the left Colonel Nicholls, at the head of some companies of the Fourteenth, carried Palavia Abaxo, which General Foy defended but feebly. In the centre the obstinate dispute for Elvina terminated in favor of the British; and when the night set in their line was considerable advanced beyond the orginal position of the morning, while the French were falling back in confusion. If Fraser's division had been brought into action along with the reserve, the enemy could hardly have escaped a signal overthrow, for the little ammunition which Marshal Soult had been able to bring up was nearly exhausted; the river Ebo was in full tide behind him, and the difficult communication by the bridge of El Burgo was alone open for retreat.

On the other hand, to fight in the dark was to tempt fortune. The French were still the most numerous, their ground strong; and their disorder facilitated the original plan of embarking during the night. Hope, upon whom the command had devolved, resolved therefore to ship the army; and so complete were the arrangements that no confusion or difficulty occurred. The pickets kindled fires to cover their retreat, and were themselves withdrawn at daybreak, to embark under the protection of Hill's brigade, which was in position under the walls of Coruña.

When morning dawned the French, seeing the British position abandoned, pushed some batteries to the heights. of St. Lucia, and about mid-day opened a battery on the shipping in the harbor. This caused great confusion amongst the transports; several masters cut their cables, and four vessels went on shore; but the troops were VOL. XVII.-18

rescued by the men-of-war's boats; the stranded vessels were burned, and the fleet got out of the harbor. Hill then embarked at the citadel, which was maintained by a rear-guard under Beresford until the 18th, when, the wounded being all on board, the troops likewise embarked; the inhabitants faithfully maintaining the town meanwhile, and the fleet sailed for England.

The loss of the British - never officially published was estimated at 800; of the French at 3,000. The latter is probably an exaggeration; yet it must have been great, for the English muskets were all new, the ammunition fresh; and whether from the peculiar construction of the muskets, the physical strength and coolness of the men, or all combined, the English fire is the most destructive known. The nature of the ground also barred artillery movements, and the French columns were exposed to a fire which they could not return because of the distance of their batteries.

Thus ended the retreat to Coruña. From the spot where he fell, Sir John Moore was carried to the town by his soldiers. His blood flowed fast, and the torture of his wound was great; yet the unshaken firmness of his mind made those about him, seeing the resolution of his countenance, express a hope of his recovery. He looked steadfastly at the injury for a moment, and said, "No, I feel that to be impossible." Several times he caused his attendants to stop and turn round that he might behold the field of battle; and when the fire indicated the advance of the British, he discovered his satisfaction, and permitted the bearers to proceed.

When brought to his lodgings the surgeons examined his wound. There was no hope. The pain increased and he spoke with difficulty. At intervals he asked if the French were beaten, and, addressing his old friend, Colonel Anderson, said, "You know I always wished to die this way." Again he asked if the enemy were defeated; and being told that they were, said, “It is a great satisfaction to me to know we have beaten the French." His countenance continued firm, his thoughts clear. Once only, when he spoke of his mother, he became agitated, but he often inquired after the safety of

his friends and the officers of his staff, and he did not, even in this moment, forget to recommend those whose merit had given them claims to promotion.

Just before life became extinct, with an unsubdued spirit, as anticipating the baseness of his posthumous calumniators, he exclaimed, "I hope the people of England will be satisfied! I hope my country will do me justice!" The War in the Peninsula.

2.

ASH, THOMAS, an English satirist and dramatist; born at Lowestoft in 1567; died in 1601. He seems to have been a fair type of the "bohemian" of his time, spending his life, as he says, "in fantastical satirism, in whose veins I misspent my spirit, and prodigally conspired against good hours." Among his satires are Martin's Month's Mind (1589); Return of the Renowned Cavalier Pasquil of England (1589); Pasquil's Apology (1590); Strange News of the Intercepting Certain Letters (1592). His best-known dramatic composition, Summer's Last Will and Testament, was played before Queen Elizabeth in 1592. He also wrote with Marlowe the tragedy of Dido, Queen of Carthage. The Supplication of Pierce Penniless to the Devil (1592), and Christ's Tears over Jerusalem, a prose tract (1593), contain forcible descriptions of the agonies of repentance.

SPRING.

Spring, the sweet spring, is the year's pleasant king, Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring, Cold doth not sting, the pretty birds do sing,

Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-wee, to-witt, a-woo!

The palm and May make country houses gay,
Lambs frisk and play, the shepherds pipe all day,
And we hear aye birds tune this merry lay,

Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-wee, to-witt, a-woo!

The fields breathe sweet, the daisies kiss our feet,
Young lovers meet, old wives a-sunning sit,
In every street these tunes our ears do greet,
Cuckoo, jug-jug, pu-wee, to-witt, a-woo!

THE DECAY OF SUMMER.

Fair summer droops, droop men and beast therefore;
So fair a summer look for nevermore.

All good things vanish less than in a day;
Peace, plenty, pleasure, suddenly decay.

Go not yet away, bright soul of the sad year;

The earth is hell when thou leavest to appear.

What! shall these flowers that decked thy garland erst
Upon thy grave be wastefully dispersed?
O, trees, consume your sap in sorrow's source!
Streams, turn to tears your tributary course!
Go not yet hence, bright soul of the sad year;
The earth is hell when thou leavest to appear.

PERILS OF POWER.

I never lov'd ambitiously to climb,
Or thrust my hand too far into the fire.
To be in Heaven sure is a blessed thing,
But, Atlas-like, to prop heaven on one's back
Cannot but be more labor than delight.
Such is the state of men in honor placed:
They are gold vessels made for servile uses;
High trees that keep the weather from low houses,
But cannot shield the tempest from themselves.
I love to dwell betwixt the hills and dales,
Neither to be so great as to be envied,

Nor yet so poor the world should pity me.
- Summer's Last Will and Testament.

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