MARSHAL MACMAHON.

297

MacMahon was made captain, and as adjutant of
General Achard was present at the siege of Antwerp,
in 1882.

The young officer already possessed a consider-
able fortune, from 80,000 to 50,000 francs a year ; he
did not live at all economically, but, in display and
luxury, not only outrivalled his equals, but also his
superiors. Naturally enough this excited the
jealousy of his comrades, especially when he used
to display his splendid thoroughbred horses on the
parade ground, whilst the general, whose adjutant he
was, had to ride past on a very ordinary steed. The

young captain perceived the envy and discontent of:

his brother officers—he saw the reason of it, too,
and determined, through an act of munificence, to
put an end to the misunderstanding. On the
morning of New Year’s day, MacMahon’s twelve
English horses, stood in the stables of twelve cap-
tains of the 23rd infantry regiment, which was then
in garrison at Dijon, each provided with saddle
and harness, and in the saddle the count’s visiting
card amixed, with the words “pour souhaiter une
bonne année.” On the same day he appeared at
parade on a very inferior horse. This almost
princely gift must have cost him at least 50,000
franes.

Strange to say, the intentions of the donor were
quite misunderstood, his conduct was attributed to
vanity and bravado ; the newspapers got hold of the
story, the minister of war at last thought himself
obliged to interfere, and demanded a report from
the captain upon the affair. This, it was said, made
such an unfavourable impression, that one morning,
in the year 1835, the young officer quite un-
expectedly received an order to embark for Africa.
Only fear of his motives being misunderstood with-
held him now from leaving the service, and he
assured a friend in a letter that after the first battle
in Algeria, he would retire from the army.

The resolution, however, was soon forgotten.
He brilliantly distinguished himself at the storming
of Constantine, when, although severely wounded,
he was one of the first to plant the French standard
on the breach, under a hail of brass balls. This won
him his nomination to the grade of officer of the
Legion of Honour, which had never previously been
granted to so young a captain.

In 1840 he so greatly distinguished himself by
his bravery as adjutant of General Changarnier,
that he was promoted to be major of the general
staff.
But the staff did not suit MacMahon ; he again
came into collision with some of his superiors, who
could not forgive him his wealth, so he exchanged
into the infantry, and became chief of a battalion
in the 10th Chasseurs d’Orléans. These new
troops were under the special organization of the
Duke of Orleans.

On the day after MacMahon assumed the com-
mand of the battalion, he summoned all the officers
before him, and told them that he would not allow
any officer in his corps, who had debts. He
requested each of them to give him a list of their
debts, required their word of honour that they had
put down all, and next morning paid himself’
12,000 franes for the debts of the officers of his
battalion. The mess had now to be thoroughly
revised, and, thanks to the general’s contribution
towards it, it became the best in the division; he
punished little, but with great severity when he
did, and with extreme justice.

In this way he greatly raised the tone of ‘his
battalion, and even those who were most severely
treated were proud of possessing such a com-
mander, and out of love to him, and to do him
honour, would perform marvellous deeds of valour.
MacMahon endured the fatigues and privations of
war with a stoical intrepidity. One day, his
general, after having dispersed the Arabs in a
murderous engagement, enjoined him to take an
order to a colonel of a regiment, separated from the
main body of the army, by a considerable troop of
Bedouins.

“Take with you,’
chasseurs.”

“Jt is too many, or too few,” replied MacMahon ;
“too many to pass without being seen, too few to
beat the enemy. I shall go alone.”

Without waiting for an answer, he mounted his
horse, and galloped off.

Almost immediately the Arabs perceived him.
They darted off in pursuit, with loud yells. The in-
trepid officer escaped at a furious gallop. Suddenly,
however, a torrent presented itself on his road.

MacMahon put spurs to his horse, leaped over
the abyss, and found himself safe and sound on the
opposite bank.

The troop of Bedouins stopped. Not one of
them dared to execute after him this prodigious
leap. ‘They confined themselves to sending bullets
after him, which soon could not reach him, and he:
succeeded in accomplishing his mission.

MacMahon’s promotion was marvellously rapid .
in 1842 he became Lieutenant-Colonel, in 1845
Colonel, and in 1848 General of Brigade. He was.
supposed to sympathize with the Republic, never-
theless the coup d’état found a warm supporter in
him, and after he had taken part in the expedition
of 1851-1852, and had distinguished himself by his
brilliant valour, he was made General of Division,
and Commander of the province of Constantine.
Here he repressed frequent rebellions of Arabs,
drove the Kabyle tribes back into their mountains,
organized the colony, and created a number of
local institutions, destined to guarantee the security
of property, and of individuals.

> he said, “a squadron of