being kept so bright; the back cuirass is made to fit the back they weigh from nine to eleven pounds each, according to the size of the man, and are stuffed inside with a pad; they fit on by a kind of fish-scaled clasp, and are put off and on in an instant. They have helmets the same as our Horse Guards, and straight long swords and pistols, but no carbines; and if there is a good horse to be found, they have them. They are all chosen men, must be above six feet high, have served in three campaigns, twelve years in the ser vice, and of a good character. It is to be observed, that when wounded through a Cuirass, it proves mortal."

The Life Guards, the foremost in this important bat tle, by their physical power and courage, appalled the veteran enemy, although clad in mail, and in posses sion of that high mind (grande pensée), which devoted them to honour and to the country. Often, in the conflict of "La Belle Alliance," did the Earl of Uxbridge turn his eye towards them, exclaiming, "Now for the honour of the Household Troops;" and as often was his Lordship solaced by the brightest effects of glory under his eye.

Captain Kelly, of the Life Guards, encountered and killed the Colonel of the 1st regiment of French Cui rassiers, in the battle of the 18th; after which he stripped the vanquished of his epaulets, and carried them off as a trophy.

One man is known to have had three horses shot, and twice prisoner, but being rescued by Light Dra goons, returned and remounted to the charge.

Shaw in the Horse Guards, was fighting seven or eight hours, dealing destruction to all around him;

at one time he was attacked by six of the French Imperial Guard, four of whom he killed, but at last fell himself by the remaining two. A comrade who was by his side all the day, and who is the relater of the anecdote, noticed one particular cut, which drove through his opponent's helmet, and with it, cut nearly the whole of his face at the stroke.

It was in a more advanced part of the field (I believe), near the tree, fig. 35, that the lamented Sir ` Thomas Picton fell, early on the 18th, in the act of rallying some Belgians, and with his hat off, this hero received a musket-ball, which passed through his right temple, and was cut out with a razor, on the lower and opposite side of his head, when it appeared just breaking through the skin: he never spoke a word after he received the wound. After the 16th, this gallant officer's coat was observed to be most dreadfully cut; and it now appears, that he, that day, had a narrow escape, as it proceed, from a ball or the explosion of a shell.

The Duke of Wellington, in a letter to the Earl of Aberdeen, writes, "I cannot express "I cannot express to you the regret and sorrow with which I contemplate the losses the country and the service has sustained; none more severe than that of General Sir W. Gordon. The glory resulting from such actions so dearly bought is no consolation to me, and I cannot imagine that it is any to you; but I trust the result has been so decisive, that little doubt will remain that our exertions will be rewarded by the attainment of our first object; then it is that the glory of the actions in which our friends have fallen, may be some consolation."

d

"Towards the afternoon when the 92d were reduced to scarcely 200 men, a column of 2000 of the Enemy bore down upon them, when this chosen band charged this overwhelming force with their bayonets, penetrating into the centre of them; the Scotch Greys cheering the brave Highlanders, rushed forward to support them, driving the Enemy back with great loss." (Vide the letter of the 92d regiment.)

In a similar manner the 71st repulsed the Imperial Guard, and when they were retreating, the piper suddenly struck up the Pibroch: at the well-known sounds, the Highlanders charged their astonished enemies, still followed into the thickest of the fight by the piper, who was hurried forward by the impulse of valour-and the French were almost to a man cut to pieces.

The 42d regiment was ordered to advance along with a Belgian corps, to support the Prussians, who were under fire. In the march, owing either to their own superior quickness, or to the want of ardour in the Belgians, the latter were left behind; and in a field of high standing corn, a column of French Lancers advanced upon them. Col. Macara ordered the regiment to form a square, in doing which two companies were left out, or were rather in the act of falling in, when they were pierced by the Lancers, and in one moment overwhelmed, and literally annihilated. The Lancers then attacked the square, and repeated the charge several times. One half of them were also mowed down, together with the brave Colonel; upon which Lieut.-Col. Dick took the command, though wounded by a musket ball; he succeeded in

rallying and forming them into a diminished square, and thus presented an undaunted resistance to the Enemy. The Lieutenant-Colonel was at length, from the loss of blood, carried from the field, but the gallant remnant of the men succeeded in putting the Lancers to flight.

The 95th received a charge of horse, and destroyed every one, making use of the horses to carry away their wounded. Of the 79th not more than 96 noncommissioned officers and privates escaped unhurt on the 16th and 18th; the regiment on the 16th, before the battle, was 800 strong.

A foreign regiment of *

ex

tremely well horsed and appointed, and soldier-like, were ordered by the Commander-in-Chief of the cavalry, to place themselves under line, on the brow of a hill; and from being raw soldiers, he would not put them to any difficult service, but gave the conditional orders, that if the charge he was about to make with an English brigade succeeded, they were then to ride in and cut away:-for the performance of this, the most earnest entreaty was made, and the strongest promise given, that every attention should be paid to the direction-the charge was made and completely succeeded, and the enemy in the greatest confusion, The noble Earl then looked round for his gallant supporters-but they had turned their horses heads, and were trotting away towards Brussels-an Aide-deCamp was immediately dispatched, and notwithstanding that he even took the Colonel by the collar, to stop them was impossible; and it was then begged as a favour, and entreated of them, not to go further than

Waterloo-it was all useless, to Brussels he would go, and to Brussels he went. This, although a great disappointment, was attended with such outré (and it may be said comic) effect, that every one who noticed it, notwithstanding their serious occupation, were convulsed with excessive laughter, and among them the noble Duke himself. The men, however, to do them credit, it is understood, have brought their Colonel to an account.

The Irish howl set up by the Enniskillen Dragoons, and other Irish Regiments, is reported to have carried almost as much dismay into the ranks of the enemy, as their swords. The stubborn bravery and conduct of which regiments contributed much to the success of the day, it having been their lot to find themselves in the hottest part of the action, innumerable opportunities (particularly the Enniskillen) were afforded them of shewing their devotion to their country's honour, and exalted sense of gallantry and duty.

His Royal Highness, the Prince of Orange, hurried by ardour into the midst of the battle, was surrounded and taken by the French. The seventh battalion perceived the Prince's danger, hastened to his assistance, and succeeded in delivering him, his Royal Highness took off the insignia of his order, and threw it into the midst of the battallion, exclaiming : Children, you have all deserved it!" It was fastened to their colours on the field of battle, amid cries of "Long live the Hereditary Prince!" All the Belgians swore to defend, even to death, this mark of honour; and at this sub