CHASTLY RELICS OF WATEELOO.

Western Star, Issue 345, 17 April 1880, Page 7

CHASTLY RELICS OF WATEELOO.

For the truth of the incident related below I have the beat possible proof. Q-eorge Shaw, a brave Englishman, when surrounded on the field of Waterloo by a numbei of the enemy, made a gallant struggle for existence, and fought his way back to his comrades, over the dead bodies of a dozen Frenchmen whom he had slain. Asa reward for his bravery, Wellington sent for the soldier, and in the course of his conversation with him gave him permission to take home whatever relic h°i chose from the battle-field. Shaw’s choice was the skeleton of a French general, killed in the action. The ghastly trophy was safely transported to England, and hung in the soldier’s closet at Hanley, in Staffordshire, England, till he came to regard it as a nuisance, and disposed of it to Samuel Bullock, a manufacturer of china. As bones form a large proportion of, the ingredients from which English china is made, it occurred to the manufacturer that the remains of the poor general would look much better made up into some handsome ornament than dangling from a peg in an obscure closet; and in accordance with this inspiration, the French general was ground down,and in due time was metamorphosed into teacups and saucers ; in which condition he adorns to this day the museum at Hawley, appropriately inscribed with the history of transformation. It happened one day that Marshal Soult visitpd the museum, and his attention was attracted by the china, which has a bright pink-tint, and is ornamented with flowers. But when his eye rested upon the label, which enabled him to recognise in the collection the remains of one of his former generals, the Marshal was deeply shocked; and wrapping “his martial cloak around him,” walked indignantly away. lie did not forget to inform Napoleon, then at St. Helena, of the indignity which been offered to the memory of their departed countryman. “ ft is no indignity,” quoth Napoleon; “ what more pleasing disposition can there be of one’s bones after death than

to be made up into cups to be constantly in use, and placed between the rosy lips of ladies ? The thought is delightful!” This was an aspect of the case which had not occurred to the prosaic Marshal ; but he was forced to content himself with it. —“ Boston Traveller.”