his fellows, and soon the crime
became of rare occurrence. The officers, although deficient in the
theory of their profession, "were brave and honourable men, and had
shown their valour, not only against the enemy, but in numerous duels,
fought with the French, justifying fully, a saying of Machiavel, that
the courage of the Italians, when opposed man to man, is far superior to
that of other nations." The example of their new commander was not
likely to break the officers of the eighth infantry of their duelling
propensities. In the course of General Pepe's memoirs, he refers to at
least half a score encounters of the kind, in which he was a principal.
With the exception of two, which occurred when he was only seventeen,
and of his final one--as far as we are informed--with General Carascosa,
fought in England, in 1823, these single combats were invariably with
foreigners, with whom the general seems to have been very unenduring.
Not that provocation was wanting on the part of the French, more than
sufficient to rouse the ire of the meekest. The insolence of Napoleon's
victorious legions exceeded all bounds; nor was it the less irritating
for being often unintentional,--the result of a habit of gasconading,
and of a settled conviction that they were superior in valour and
military qualities to all the world besides. A certain General F. could
find no higher praise for Pepe's battalions, when they had gallantly
attacked and beaten a Spanish corps, than was conveyed in the
declaration that they ought, in future, to be regarded, not as
Neapolitans but as Frenchmen! A compliment which to patriotic Italian
ears, sounded vastly like an insult. Attributing it to stupidity, Pepe
did not resent the clumsy eulogium. But it was very rare that he allowed
slights of that kind to pass unnoticed, nor could he always restrain his
disgust and impatience at the fulsome praise he heard lavished upon
Napoleon. The officers who had gained rank and wealth under the French
emperor, exalted him above all the heroes of antiquity, and breathed
fire and flames when their Italian comrades supported the superior
claims to immortality, of an Alexander, a Hannibal, or a Caesar. "I
believe Colonel Pepe loves neither Napoleon nor the French!" angrily
exclaimed a French general during one of these discussions. "I replied
instantly, that I was serving in the army of Arragon, but that I made no
parade of my affections." Words like these were, of course, nei