of the
Tories to office--all that they care about.

February 8th, 1838 {p.057}

I have just conducted to a successful termination a negotiation
(through Allen) between Sir George Murray and Macvey Napier, and
Murray is to write the article on the Duke's Despatches in the
'Edinburgh Review.'[3] I am rather surprised at their persuasion
that Murray will execute the task so well, and I hope it may turn
out so. They have employed the handsomest language in praise of
the Duke and towards Murray. [He did it very ill: his articles
(he wrote two) were very poor performances.]

[3] [Mr. Macvey Napier was at this time editor of the
'Edinburgh Review.']

February 11th, 1838 {p.057}

[Page Head: HANNIBAL AND THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.]

I suppose all great generals have necessarily some qualities in
common; even Vendome, an indolent and beastly glutton and
voluptuary, was capable of prodigious exertions and of activity
not to be surpassed. There is a great deal in the character of
Hannibal (as drawn by Livy) which would apply to the Duke of
Wellington; only, instead of being stained with the vices which
are ascribed to the Carthaginian general, the Duke is
distinguished for the very opposite virtues.

'Nunquam ingenium idem ad res diversissimas, 1. _parendum_ atque
_imperandum_, habilius fuit, itaque haud facile discerneres,
utrum imperatori, an exercitui, carior esset: 2. Neque Hasdrubal
alium quemquam praeficere malle, ubi quid fortiter ac strenue
agendum esset, neque milites alio duce plus confidere aut audere.
3. Plurimum audaciae ad pericula capessenda, plurimum consilii
inter ipsa pericula erat: 4. Nullo labore aut corpus fatigari aut
animus vinci poterat: caloris ac frigoris patientia par: cibi
potionisque desiderio naturali, non voluptate, modus finitus:
vigiliarum somnique nec die nec nocte discriminata tempora. Id,
quod gerendis rebus superesset, quieti datum: ea neque molli
strato neque silentio arcessita. 5. Multi saepe militari sagulo
opertum, humi jacentem inter custodias stationesque militum
conspexerunt. 6. Vestitus nihil inter aequales excellens: arma
atque equi conspiciebantur. Equitum peditumque idem longe primus
erat: princeps in proelium ibat: ultimus conserto proelio
excedebat. 7. Has tantas viri virtutes ingentia vitia aequabant;
inhumana crudelitas, perfidia plus quam Punica, nihil veri, nihil
sancti, nullus Deum metus, nullum jusjurandum, nulla
religio.'[4]...

[4] [This