Post-Waterloo Parisian attitude towards Kilts!

[Cranky]

I found this reading The Waterloo Archive Volume I: British Sources, editor Gareth Glover. The excerpt is from a letter written by John Haddy James to his brother. James, assistant surgeon of Major General Lord Edward Somerset's Brigade, 1st Life Guards, and veteran of the Waterloo Campaign, was part of the occupying force in Paris. He makes an interesting observation that I thought I'd share:


"December 3, 1815


[...] The English appear to stand in quite a different light with the Parisians from the other European nations, over the latter they have long exerted a political ascendancy which has never been the case with us, but they have still longer governed the greater part of Europe in all matters of taste, opinion and literature, most foreigners condescend to imitate the French style throughout and in the midst of this they are not a little piqued at the sturdy obstinacy of an Englishman who preserves his national habits and opinions throughout to a degree which savours strongly of prejudice.


The consequence however is that what they cannot control the French often condescend to imitate. If there are more things done a'l'anglaise at Paris than after the fashion of all the rest of Europe put together.


The Highland costume appears to have produced more impression than anything else, with the ridiculous [kilt] of this they are not a little amused, but not less struck with the dignity of its effect as a whole, it is the last remains of the military Roman costume now in existence and they have long affected everything that is Roman to be insensible to such a material point.


They have introduced some Highlanders in one of their operas and at two of their minor theatres they have spectacles taken from [unreadable]. At the Theatre Francais they act Macbeth and Hamlet, not this is true the Macbeth or the Hamlet that Shakespeare wrote but French plays imitated from them. [...]"

[sailortats]

I certainly hope this is not going to be the start of another thread like "Scottish outlook on kilted Americans"

[Cranky]

I hope not. Only shared it because I thought it was amusing and I've read a couple of Waterloo-related threads here, in the past.

[Father Bill]

So, save me the effort of research if you know it: what was the Highland participation at W'loo?

[Cranky]

So, save me the effort of research if you know it: what was the Highland participation at W'loo?

I hope someone with more knowledge can comment on this, as I am an amateur at best. I believe there were four regiments of foot involved in both Quatre Bras and Waterloo. I believe they formed Wellington's left or center-left and absorbed repeated lancer charges before the Royal Scots Grey's counter-charged through the 92nd (and maybe the Black Watch?). According to one letter, some soldiers of the 92nd had the audacity to hitch a ride on the stirrups of the charging Scots Greys. The painting below seems to depict that,

[Father Bill]

Wow! Neat!

Thanks much!

[Dale Seago]

According to one letter, some soldiers of the 92nd had the audacity to hitch a ride on the stirrups of the charging Scots Greys.

Smart thing to do on a chaotic battlefield: The horse will help you around or over obstacles, while people in your way will either move or be removed.

[nagod]

i am terribly offended by the attitudes expressed and will never eat french fries again.

[McClef]

Just eat good old British chips instead then.

[Mike_Oettle]

Nagod: “i am terribly offended by the attitudes expressed and will never eat french fries again.”

McClef: “Just eat good old British chips instead then.”