---- Rectory, Hereford.
_"Up, Guards, and at 'em!"_ (Vol. v., p. 426.).--These oft-quoted words
have already engaged the attention of the readers of "N. & Q." Your
frequent correspondent C. (Vol. v., p. 426.) is of opinion that the Duke
_did_ make use of these, or equivalent, words. The following extract I have
copied from an article in the June number of _Bentley's Miscellany_. It
will be found at p. 700. as a foot-note to a clever article, one of a
series, entitled "Random Recollections of Campaigns under the Duke of
Wellington," written by an officer of the second brigade of Guards.
"The expression attributed to the Duke of 'Up, guards, and at them
again!' I have good reason for _knowing_ was never made use of by him.
He was not even _with_ the brigade of Guards in question at the _time_
they rose from their recumbent position to attack the French column in
their front, and therefore could not well have thus addressed them. I
never heard this story till long after, on my return to England, when
it was related by a lady at a dinner-table; probably it was the
invention of some goodly Botherby. I remember denying my belief at the
time, and my view has since been sufficiently confirmed. Besides, the
words bear no internal evidence of the style either of thought or even
expression of him to whom they were attributed."
The invention of the goodly Botherby has prospered!