Of General Grant he told me a story so illustrative of the simplicity and modesty which were a keynote in his character that I must note it.

The day before the evacuation of Petersburg by the Con federates, Grant was urged to order an attack upon the Confederate positions.

He refused to do so.

The next day the Confederates were seen hastily abandoning them.
Grant watched them quietly for a while, and then putting down his glass, said to one of the officers who had urged the assault, "You were right, and I was wrong.

I ought to have attacked them." It is provoking to know that the notes taken by this British officer at that time, being sent through the Post Office by him some years ago to Edinburgh for publication, were lost in the transmission, and have never been recovered.