6 JULY 1907, Page 26

NAPOLEON'S MAXIMS.

LT0 THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.'l SIR,—Is the reviewer of "Napoleon at the Boulogne Camp" (Spectator, June 22nd) correct in rendering Homo assalito 6 mezzo presso with "A man surprised is half captured " ? I should say : "A man attacked is half captured." Assalire means to assail, attack ; and Napoleon, we know, generally preferred the offensive; Wellington, I think, said that he never had patience enough for the defensive. "A man sur- prised" would be Homo sorpr6so.—I am, Sir, &c.,

23 Ethelbert Road, Wimbledon. W. A. CDRRIER.