ould interpose, Lord Wellington, in a series of campaigns, and of great
and sanguinary battles, drove the French from Spain, followed them into
France, defeated them at Bayonne, Orthes, and Toulouse, and only paused
in his career of victory upon the announcement of the allies entering
Paris, and the abdication of Napoleon.

The policy and conduct of the Duke of Wellington during the occupation
of France by the allies were stern, but just and wise. He was inflexible
in carrying out the objects of the allies, but temperate and equitable
in curbing the vindictive propensities of the allied chiefs and armies.
He met the great continental sovereigns and generals in Paris on a
footing highly honourable to himself and his nation; his influence
preponderated in their counsels, and he received more marks of deference
than any other man of the times and the occasion.

On his return to England, his name and person were surrounded by
honours. He received in the House of Lords at once the recognition of
all the steps of the peerage--they had been conferred upon him in his
absence. He was the idol of the court and the aristocracy, and to a
considerable extent of the people. The escape of Napoleon from Elba
led to the British and Prussian campaign in Belgium, which involved the
sanguinary battles of Quatrebras and Waterloo, in the former of which
Ney sustained a terrible repulse from Wellington, and in the latter
Napoleon was utterly defeated and put to flight, and the way to Paris
opened for the conquerors. Once more the duke occupied France with his
armies, and with still greater opportunity than at the close of
his previous campaign for displaying the eminent qualities which he
possessed in the council, as well as in the field. After the peace,
and the banishment of Napoleon to St. Helena. Wellington obtained
an extraordinary influence in the councils of successive British
sovereigns, and became one of the most active and potential politicians
in Europe. His career of war had closed--a new public race was run
by him, in which his countrymen were less disposed to regard him
with favour. How he fulfilled his new destinies is still matter of
discussion. The tory school of politicians, to which he belonged,
consider him as having in a great measure forsaken his party, and
lowered the standard of his principles. Liberal politicians regard
him as having struggled to maintain class interests contrary to the
convictions of his great mind,