playing at chess with Montholon, who is by far the best player of the two. Buonaparté had evidently the worst of the game, when Montholon made purposely an improper movement, which was speedily observed by the former, and he ultimately was the victor. Montholon praised the superior skill of his Master, (as he termed him), and declared himself, "not competent to encounter such a player again;" at which Buonaparte was highly pleased. At this game, or Vingt-un, Buonaparté generally passes his time; but was much hurt when the Admiral insisted that neither of these games, nor any other, should be played on Sundays. "He has been very inquisitive as to the climate, &c. of St. Helena, and declares that he shall be more comfortable there than in Austria. Temperance, he says, is the only means of preserving health, and adds, that he never was ill but twice in his life, and on one of those occasions only applied a blister. Montholon's wife had been unwell, and he inquired of the surgeon how she was. He said, rather better, but that he thought the fear of the tropical climates preyed on her mind. Buonaparté replied, nearly in the words of Shakespeare, Doctor, thou cannot administer to a mind diseased." The force with which this remark was made, was observed by every one near, and apparently related to his own feelings. 66 "Bertrand and his wife are continually with Buonaparté, and the whole are more reconciled to their future destiny. "Sir George Cockburn and Buonaparté are on excellent terms, as he is, indeed, with all the officers of the ship; they frequently play at cards, &c. in which, occasionally, they have the advantage of each other. "Hitherto our passage has been very favourable, and no particular occurrence has taken place since we sailed from Torbay." By dispatches which arrived in London, December 4, leaving St. Helena Oct. 23, we learn that Buonaparté landed there on the 17th of Oct. 1815. OF THE SKETCH OF THE OPERATIONS IN THE Campaign of the Netherlands, 1815. On the 15th of June, the French attacked the Prussians upon the Sambre, towards Thuin, A. They repulsed them, and passed the Sambre to Charleroi, B, and to Marchienne-au-Pont, C; they took Charleroi, B, the Prussians, commanded by General Ziethen, retreated with precipitation through Gosselies, D, upon Fleurus, E; they concentrated at Sombref, F; they occupied the villages, viz. of Ligny, 1, Saint Amand, 2, and Bry, 3, situated in front of their position. The English Army united again at Nivelles, G. The French attacked a brigade of the Belgic Army at Frasnes, H, and obliged them to retreat upon Quatre Bras, I. June 16th, the Belgians recovered their lost ground; but Lord Wellington caused his army to retrograde in the morning to take their position at Quatre Bras, I. Battle of Ligny. The left of the French is in advance to Frasnes, H, and towards Quatre Bras, I; the centre at Ligny, 1, and the right towards Sombref, F. The English and the Prussians were attacked at the same time. Marshal Blucher being overcome, retreats upon Tilly, J, and marches all night to arrive at Wavre, K, where they concentrated. June 17th, General Thielmann retreated to Sombref, F, upon Gembloux, L, where he joined the fourth Prussian corps, of which a part marched towards Mont Saint Guibert, M. The French following up their success; one part of the army pursue the Prussians, the other marched against Lord Wellington, who retreated to Quatre Bras, I, upon Genappe, N, and from thence to Waterloo, O, where he took his position, supported by the forest of Soignies, and the cavalry on the roads to Brussels and Nivelles, G; his right extended to Merke-Braine, P, and his left towards Ter-la-Haye, Q, communicating with Wavre, K, by Ohain, R. The ravines, and the farms of Hougomont, S, and of La Haye Sainte, T, covered the wings of the English army, whose centre rested on the plains of Mont St. Jean, U. The bivouacks were established near the observatory, V. June 18th, the French attacked the English position, and commenced the fire at Hougomont, S, by which they got possession also of La Haye Sainte, T. The centre of the English army, occupying in force the heights of Mont Saint Jean, U, is vigorously attacked. Planchenoit, W, and the farm of La Belle Alliance, X, are occupied by the French; it was towards this point that Bulow directed himself, at the same time that Marshal Blucher bore down upon Ohain, R, to act in conjunction. A is the place where the Prince of Orange was wounded. The Prussians marched through Saint Lambert, Y, and Frischemont, Z, from whence they debouched towards Smouhen,* on the right of the French, to decide the affair. A COMPLETE SERIES OF OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS, VIZ. - FIELD FIELD MARSHAL DUKE OF WELLINGTON's OF THE CAMPAIGN IN THE NETHERLANDS, AND RELATIVE OPERATIONS; WITH OTHER OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE very important results from the Battle of Waterloo so teem with suggestions, that infinitely more must be trusted to the reader's reflection and sensibility than can be offered on paper to his eye. The effect of these events is so grand, their succession to each other is so rapid, and, at the same time, so towering in the scale of importance,—their variety is so precipitate and wild, that one feels, in relation to this political crisis, much in the same way as when surrounded by the most sublime and abrupt scenes of nature -as if it would be impertinent to throw in the petty voice of remark amongst so much that outstrips the power and speculation of individuals. There is a pitch of activity of mind, excited by the vastness of surrounding objects, which silences language by a conviction of its inability; and there is a rush in the tide of success which produces a vague but A The Editor feels it but justice to observe, that this Introduction is from the Pen of Mr. Scot, the author of a Tour to Paris, and Paris Revisited, and Editor of the Champion Newspaper. |