The sudden death of General Miribel, either through a fall
from his horse or a stroke of apoplexy which produced the fall, is a great blow to the French Army. He was Chief of the Staff, and probably a first-rate soldier ; but it is not only for that he will be greatly missed. He was the only French General of whom other French Generals were not jealous. Jealousy among the great officers is the first difficulty of a French Army, and the one which drags Sovereigns into the field ; but as regards General Miribel, it was not felt. His comrades, rightly or wrongly, had made up their minds that he was the French Moltke, and were ready not only to serve under him with cordiality, but to take his opinion before their own. Though the strictest of officers, General Miribel wounded no man's personal dignity, and it is of his personal dignity that a French General thinks first even in a campaign.
