began to arrive, and the melancholy spectacle of these poor sufferers increased the general despondency. The streets were filled with the most pitiable sights. We saw a Belgic soldier dying at the door of his own home, and surrounded by his relatives, who were weeping over him; numerous were the sorrowful groups standing round the dead bodies of those who had died of their wounds in the way home. Numbers of wounded, who were able to walk, were wandering upon every road; their blood-stained clothes and pale haggard countenances, perhaps, giving the idea of sufferings even greater than the reality.

It is well known that on the forenoon of this day, (Saturday), the Duke of Wellington fell back about seven miles, upon Waterloo, in order to take up a position more favourable for the cavalry, and from which he could keep up the communication with Marshal Blucher, who had retreated upon Wavre.

Never was there a more masterly or successful manœuvre. By superior generalship, every plan of the Enemy was baffled; although constantly on the watch, he never had it in his power to attack our retreating army to the smallest advantage. The confession escaped from Napoleon himself, that it was on his part a day of false manœuvres." In the mean time it is impossible to describe the panic that the news of this retreat spread at Brussels. Nobody could convince the Belgians that a retreat and a

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fallen without the satisfaction of knowing how full and glorious was the revenge for which he panted. The sincerity of the sorrow which even in a moment of such universal consternation, was every where testified for his loss, affords the highest eulogium on his virtues. Peace to ashes! His death has been honoured by the best funeral oration---the lamentations of the people. A sketch of his life, will be found at the end of this volume,

flight were not one and the same thing; and, firmly convinced that the English had been defeated, they fully expected every moment to see them enter Brussels in the utmost confusion, with the French after them: even the English themselves, who had the most unbounded confidence in the British army and its commanders, and who were certain that if they retreated it would be with good order, steady discipline, and undaunted courage, began to fear that the immense superiority of the Enemy had made the Duke judge it prudent to fall back until joined by fresh reinforcements.

There is a mistaken idea in this country, that the French, that even Napoleon Buonaparté himself was popular in Belgium. This was a moment when Hypocrisy itself would have found it impossible to dissemble; and the dismay which reigned upon every face, and the terror which filled every town and village, when it was believed that the French were victorious-the execrations with which their very names were uttered-the curses, "not loud but deep," half repressed by fear, betrayed how rooted and sincere was their hatred of the tyranny from which they had so recently escaped. There may be miscreants* of

Among his papers taken after the Battle of Waterloo, was a list of eighty inhabitants of Brussels, whose persons and property were to be respected by the French army on its entrance into that city. Among these was a Flemish Nobleman, who had prepared a splendid supper for Buonaparte on the 13th. Of the remainder, several of them had also prepared one for his principal officers. Of this junto, the Nobleman who was to have been Buonaparte's host, has fled. The others remained at Brussels on Saturday, apparently without fear, although it is well known that the King of the Netherlands is in possession of the list. It is also certain, that several Proclamations were found among the papers of Buonaparte, addressed from Brussels, Lacken, &c. all prepared in confident expectation of his success on the 18th, the capture of Brussels, and his irruption into Flanders and Holland. Editor.

all ranks in Belgium, as in other countries, whom the hope of plunder, and the temptations of ambition will bring over to any party, where these can be obtained; but by the great body of the nation, from the highest to the lowest, the French government is abhorred, and Napoleon himself is regarded with a detestation, the strength of which we can form no idea of in this country. Their very infants are taught to lisp these sentiments, and to regard him as a monster.

It would be endless to dwell upon every fresh panic. An open town like Brussels, within a few miles of contending armies, is subject to perpetual alarms, and scarcely an hour passed without some false reports occurring to spread general terror and confusion. Every hour only served to add to the dismay. So great was the alarm in Brussels on Saturday evening, that one hundred napoleons were offered in vain for a pair of horses to go to Antwerp, a distance of nearly thirty miles; and numbers set off on foot, and embarked in boats upon the canal. In the afternoon, a violent thunder-storm came on, followed by torrents of rain, which during the whole of the night, when the army were lying unsheltered upon the field of Waterloo, never ceased a single moment. On Sunday the terror and confusion reached its highest point. News arrived of the French having gained a complete victory, and it was universally believed. A dreadful panic had seized the men left in charge of the baggage, in the rear of the army, and they ran away with a rapidity that could not have been surpassed even by the French themselves. The road between Waterloo and Brussels, which lies through the Forest of Soignies, is completely confined on either

side by trees; it was soon choaked up; those behind attempted to get past those before-officers' servants were struggling to secure their masters' baggage-panic-struck people forcing their way over every obstacle, with the desperation of fear,-and a complete scuffle ensued, which might really be called a battle burlesqued, in which numbers of horses were killed, and some lives lost, not to mention the innumerable broken heads and black bruises sustained on the occasion.

The road was covered with broken and overturned waggons-heaps of abandoned baggage-dead horses, and terrified people. In some places, horses, waggons, and all, were driven over high banks by the road side, in order to clear a passage. The quantity of rain that had fallen, of itself made the roads nearly impassable, and it was impossible for the wounded to be brought from the field. Certainly these Waterloo Men who came flying into Brussels on Sunday, did not cut a very glorious figure!

At Antwerp, though more distant from the scene of action, the consternation was nearly as great. Long rows of carriages lined the streets, filled with fugitives, who could find no place of shelter; and people of rank and fortune were glad to eat and sleep in one and the same miserable hole, which at any other time they would have disdained to have entered. So great was the universal anxiety, that during the whole of Sunday, though the rain was almost incessant, the great Place de Maire was crowded with people, who stood from morning until night, under umbrellas, impatiently watching the arrival of news from the army, and assailing every body who entered the town with fruitless inquiries.

Our persons indeed, and our outward senses, might be in Antwerp or Brussels, but our whole hearts and souls were with the army. One common interest bound together all ranks and conditions of men. All other subjects---all other considerations were forgotten-all distinctions were levelled-all common forms thrown aside and neglected,-ladies accosted men they had never seen before with eager questions; no preface-no apology-no ceremony was thought of strangers conversed together like friends-all ranks of people addressed each other without hesitation-every body seeking-every body giving information-and English reserve seemed no longer to exist.

It is impossible to imagine the strong overpowering anxiety of being so near such eventful scenes, without being able to learn what is really passing. To know that within a few miles such an awful contest is deciding to hear even the distant voice of war-to think that in the roar of every cannon, your brave countrymen are falling, bleeding, and dying-to dread that your friends, even those dearest to you, may be the victims to endure the long and protracted suspense -the constant agitation-the varying reports-the incessant alarms--the fluctuating hopes, and doubts, and fears-no-none but those who have felt what it is, can conceive or understand it.

This state of suspense had lasted three days, continual vague and contradictory reports, and rumours of evil, were brought in, during the whole of Sunday, which only served to increase the general anxiety. At length, between nine and ten in the evening, some wounded British officers arrived on horseback from the field, bringing the dreadful news, that the battle was lost, and that Brussels was actu

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