"
"A moment," said O'Moy, and rising waved his guest back into his
chair, then resumed his own seat. Under a more or less calm exterior
he was a seething cauldron of passion. "The matter is not quite at
an end, as your Excellency supposes. From your last observation, and
from a variety of other evidence, I infer that the Council is far
from satisfied with Lord Wellington's conduct of the campaign."
"That is an inference which I cannot venture to contradict. You
will understand, General, that I do not speak for myself, but for
the Council, when I say that many of his measures seem to us not
merely unnecessary, but detrimental. The power having been placed
in the hands of Lord Wellington, the Council hardly feels itself
able to interfere with his dispositions. But it nevertheless
deplores the destruction of the mills and the devastation of the
country recommended and insisted upon by his lordship. It feels
that this is not warfare as the Council understands warfare, and
the people share the feelings of the Council. It is felt that it
would be worthier and more commendable if Lord Wellington were to
measure himself in battle with the French, making a definite attempt
to stem the tide of invasion on the frontiers.
Pages:
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69