INTRODUCTION.

V

who must ever live in the memory of their successors! Thebarbarians who have defiled, mutilated, and laid waste the monu-ments erected in remembrance of their virtues by the hand of Pietyand Gratitude, have, if possible, added to their shame, and renderedthe memory of these heroes still more dear, by proving to mankindhow necessary are the services of such warriors to free the worldfrom those detestable monsters. The noble sarcophagi, the richtombs which decorated the church of St. John, where the magni-ficent efforts of art seemed exhausted, ought to have entitledthe knights to the respect and veneration of even these de-stroyers. All, all have been overthrown—mercilessly broken—andtheir contents dispersed! Who knows, but, in some future day, theprecious remains of La Valette and LTsle Adam may be found inthe same place into which those of Turenne have been thrown !and who knows, but they may likewise receive the same honourswhich are now so eagerly paid to the memory of that greatgeneral! *

How cruelly painful must be the reflexions of a conqueror,the lover of true glory and the fine arts, who, intoxicated with

* I have just learned, that every thing which was not of gold, silver, or preciousstones, has been respected : I therefore think it proper to do immediate justice, inthat particular, to the scrupulous executors of the orders of the directory.