VI PREFACE

the Crusades down to our time. An accurate knowledge of the présent composition of the French armj appearing essential to the thorough understanding of the subject, I annexed a few pages translated from the book of a German officer who describes the battle of Solferino. I determined on drawing from a foreign source, in order to ayoid the charge of undue partialitj.

For the second portion, I composed short biographies of the most eminent militarj writers since the dajs of the French Reyolution. To each life is appended one extract, reproducing a complète description of a battle , a siège or a campaign. The book will thus contain a condensed historj of War and Militarj Literature, whilst it makes at the same time the reader and student acquainted with manj interesting détails referring to contemporary events.

I was induced to undertake this publication bj the gratifying success of mj Biographies militaires, which hâve alreadj gone through two éditions and are used, as a reading and class book, in the Royal Militarj Academy, at Rugby, and in many |>rivate schools.

The Écrivains militaires may serve the same double purpose. Hitherto, I had every reason to feel satisûed with my plan. The Gentlemen Cadets, who came under my immédiate observation, hâve invariably taken a lively interest in works referring to their future profession. Besides, the acquisition of modem French, such as it is spoken and written in our own days, is of the highest importance, whilst the jumbling together of short extracts from classical writers (invariably the same in ail compilations) leads to nothing but a sorry confusion of styles and a superflcial smattering of French Literature : — very doubtful advantages, to say the least. I humbly submit that a spécial work, composed with a view of combining instruction in French with historical knowledge , will prove more useful and entertaining , notwithstanding the small merit of the writer.

Old Charlton, December 1865.

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