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From these soldiers we could extract no more particular character of the English troops, than "Ils se battent bien," But it is doing no more than justice to the French officers, even such as were decidedly imperialist, who conversed with us at Paris, and in different parts of the country, to acknowledge that they uniformly spoke in the highest terms of the conduct of the English troops.
Another who had been in the battle of Toulouse, extolled the conduct of the Highland regiments in words highly expressive of "The stern joy which warriors feel, In foemen worthy of their steel." "Il y a quelques regimens des Ecossais sans culottes," said he, "dans l'armée de Wellington, qui se battent joliment."
His last words, 'Les Italiens ne se battent pas, unquestionably expressed the belief of the whole French force, from the general-in-chief to the youngest drummer. They were soon going to have a chance of testing its accuracy.
"Anglois, bête!" answered I, in a low tone: and added, "mais les corsairs ne se battent pas" "Cest vrai" said he; and growling, "bon soir" he was soon out of sight.
Little show of good feeling existed now between Napoleon's special envoy and the quartier-general. Indeed, the lack of harmony was spreading to officers of lesser rank. Severe criticism was indulged in on both sides. Never was the cynical old French saying so fully borne out by fact: "Quand il n'y a pas de foin au ratelier, les chevaux se battent."
Oudinot too had warning from his own consul, from his own friends within the city, of all the preparations, of the resolute determination of the inhabitants, of the known valor of many of the combatants in past campaigns; yet to all such remonstrances he answered with French impertinence, "Les Italiens ne se battent pas," and clearly he had imbued his officers with this belief.
"Anglais bete!" answered I, in a low tone: and added, "mais les corsairs ne se battent pas." "C'est vrai," said he; and growling, "bon soir," he was soon out of sight.
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