(1815)
AT BRUSSELS: WATERLOO: REJOINS M. D'ARBLAY.
SOJOURN AT BRUSSELS.
Arrived at Brussels, we drove immediately to the house in which
dwelt Madame la Comtesse de Maurville. That excellent person had
lived many years in England an emigrant, and there earned a
scanty maintenance by keeping a French school. She had now
retired upon a very moderate pension, but was surrounded by
intimate friends, who only suffered her to lodge at her own home.
She received us in great dismay, fearing to lose her little all
by these changes of government. I was quite ill on my arrival:
excessive fatigue, affright, and watchfulness overwhelmed me.
At Brussels all was quiet and tame. The Belgians had lost their
original antipathy to Bonaparte, without having yet had time to
acquire any warmth of interest for the Bourbons. Natively
phlegmatic, they demand great causes or strong incitement to
rouse them from that sort of passiveness that is the offspring of
philosophy and timidity- philosophy, that teaches them to prize
'the blessings of safety ; and timidity, that points out the
dangers of enterprise. In all I had to do with them I found them
universally worthy, rational, and kind-hearted ; but Slow,
sleepy, and uninteresting,
in the sickroom to which I was immediately consigned, I met with
every sort of kindness from Madame de Maurville, whom I had known
intimately at Paris, and who had known and
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appreciated my beloved, exemplary sister Phillips in London.
Madame de Maurville was a woman that the Scotch would call
long-headed; she was sagacious, penetrating, and gifted with
strong humour. She saw readily the vices and follies of mankind,
and laughed at them heartily, without troubling herself to grieve
at them. She was good herself, alike in heart and in conduct,
and zealous to serve and oblige ; but with a turn to satire that
made the defects of her neighbours rather afford her amusement
than concern.
'
I was visited here by the highly accomplished Madame de la: Tour
du Pin, wife to the favourite nephew of Madame d'Henin; a woman
of as much courage as elegance, and who had met danger, toil, and
difficulty in the Revolution with as much spirit, and nearly as
much grace, as she had displayed in meeting universal admiration
and homage at the court of Marie-Antoinette, of which she was one
of the most brilliant latter ornaments. Her husband was at this
time one of the French ministers at the Congress at Vienna;
whence, as she learned a few days after my arrival at Brussels,
he had been sent on an embassy of the deepest importance and
risk, to La Vende or Bordeaux. She bore the term of that
suspense with an heroism that I greatly admired, for I well knew
she adored her husband. M. la Tour du Pin had been a prefect of
Brussels under Bonaparte, though never in favour, his internal
loyalty to the Bourbons being well known. But Bonaparte loved to
attach great names and great characters to his government,
conscious of their weight both at home and abroad, and he trusted
in the address of that mental diving-machine, his secret police,
for warding off any hazard he might run, from employing the
adherents of his enemies. His greatly capacious, yet only
half-formed mind, could have parried, as well as braved, every
danger and all opposition, had not his inordinate ambition held
him as arbitrarily under control as he himself held under control
every other passion.
Madame de Maurville soon found us a house, of which we took all
but the ground floor: the entresol was mine, the first floor was
Madame d'Henin's, and that above it was for M. de Lally. It was
near the cathedral, and still in a prolongation of Madame de
Maurville's street, la Rue de la Montagne.
Nothing was known at Brussels, nothing at all, of the fate Of the
body-guard, or of the final destination of Louis XVIII. How
circumstances of such moment, nay, notoriety, could be kept from
public knowledge, I can form no idea; but neither
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in the private houses of persons of the first rank, in which,
through Madame d'Henin, I visited, nor in any of the shops nor by
any other sort of intercourse, either usual or accidental, could
I gather any intelligence.
Madame la Duchesse de Duras, ci-devant Mademoiselle Kersaint, who
had visited me in Paris, and who was now in hasty emigration at
Brussels, with her youngest daughter, Mademoiselle Clara de
Duras, seemed sincerely moved by my distress, and wrote to
various of her friends, who were emigrating within her reach, to
make inquiry for me. I visited her in a shabby hotel, where I
found her without suite or equipage, but in perfect tranquillity
at their loss, and not alone unmurmuring, but nearly indifferent
to her privations; while Mademoiselle Clara ran up and down
stairs on her mother's messages, and even brought in wood for the
stove, with an alacrity and cheerfulness that seemed almost to
enjoy the change to hardships from grandeur. Indeed, to very
young people, such reverses, for a certain time, appear as a
frolic. Novelty, mere novelty, during the first youth, can
scarcely be bought too dear.
>From M. de la Feronaye, Madame de Duras procured me intelligence
that the body-guard had been dispersed and disbanded by the Duc
de Berry, on the frontiers of La Belgique they were left at
liberty to remain in France, or to seek other asylums, as his
majesty Louis XVIII. could not enter the kingdom of Holland with
a military guard of his own. This news left me utterly in the
dark which way to look for hope or information. Madame de Duras,
however, said she expected soon to see the Duc de Richelieu,
whose tidings might be more precise.
LETTERS FROM GENERAL D'ARBLAY.
Ten wretched days passed on in this ignorance, from the
19th to the 29th of March, 1815, when Madame de Maurville flew
into my apartment, with all the celerity of fifteen, and all the
ardour of twenty years of age, to put into my hands a letter from
General d'Arblay, addressed to herself, to inquire whether she
had any tidings to give him of my existence, and whether I had
been heard of at Brussels, or was known to have travelled to
Bordeaux, as Madame d'Henin, cousin to Madame de Maurville, had
been uncertain, when M. d'Arblay left me in Paris, to which of
those cities she should go.
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The joy of that moment, Oh! the joy of that Moment that showed me
again the handwriting that demonstrated the life and safety of
all to which my earthly happiness clung, can never be expressed,
and only by our meeting, when at last it took place, could be
equalled. It was dated "Ypres, 27 Mars." I wrote directly
thither, proposing to join him, if ", there were any impediment
to his coming on to Brussels. I had already written, at hazard,
to almost every town in the Netherlands. The very next day,
another letter from the same kind hand arrived to Madame la
Duchesse d'Hurste. This was succeeded by news that the king,
Louis XVIII., had been followed to Gand by his body-guard.
Thither, also, I expedited a letter, under cover to the Duc de
Luxembourg, capitaine of the company to which M. d'Arblay
belonged.
I lived now in a hurry of delight that scarcely allowed me
breathing-time, a delight that made me forget all my losses, my
misfortunes-my papers, keepsakes, valuables of various sorts,
with our goods, clothes, money-bonds, and endless et ceteras,
left, as I had reason to fear, to seizure and confiscation upon
the entry of the emperor into Paris-all, all was light, was
nothing in the scale ; and I wrote to my Alexander, and my
dearest friends, to rejoice in my joy, and that they had escaped
my alarm.
Next day, and again the next, came a letter from M. d'Arblay
himself. The first was from Ypres, the second was from Bruges,
and brought by the post, as my beloved correspondent had been
assured of my arrival at Brussels by the Duc de Luxembourg, at
Ghistelle, near Ostend, which M. d'Arblay was slowly approaching
on horseback, when he met the carriage of Louis XVIII., as it
stopped for a relay of horses, and the duke, espying him,
descended from the second carriage of the king's suite, to fly to
and embrace him, with that lively friendship he has ever
manifested towards him. Thence they agreed that the plan of
embarkation should be renounced, and, instead of Ostend M.
d'Arblay turned his horse's head towards Gand, where he had a
rendezvous with the duke.
There he remained, to renew the offer of his services to his
king, and there he was most peculiarly distinguished by M. le Duc
de Feltre (General Clarke), who was still occupying the Post
assigned him on the restoration of Louis XVIII. of ministre de la
guerre.(273)
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Relieved now--or rather blest--I was no longer deaf to the
kindness of those who sought to enliven my exile ; I not only
visited Madame la Duchesse de Duras, but also cultivated an
intercourse with the charming Madame de la Tour du Pin whom I was
the more glad to find delightful from her being of English
origin; a Mademoiselle Dillon, Whose family was transplanted into
France under James II., and who was descended from a nobleman
whose eminent accomplishments she inherited with his blood; the
famous Lord Falkland, on whose tomb in Westminster Abbey is
carved
"Here lies the friend of Sir Philip Sidney."
Her sister, Miss Fanny Dillon, had been married by Bonaparte to
General Bertrand; and thus, while one of them' was an emigrant
following the fortunes of the Bourbons, the other was soon after
destined to accompany Bonaparte himself into exile. Le Colonel de
Beaufort, also, a warm, early friend of General d'Arblay,
belonging to the garrison of Metz or of Toul, I forget which, had
married a lady of great wealth in La Belgique; a woman rather
unhappy in her person, but possessed of a generous and feeling
heart : and this she instantly demonstrated by seeking and
cultivating an acquaintance with the wandering wife of her
husband's early camarade. I found her so amiable, and so soothing
in her commiseration during my distress, that I warmly returned
the partiality she showed me.
ARRIVAL OF GENERAL D'ARBLAY.
Four days passed thus serenely, when, on that which completed a
fortnight's absence from my best friend, the Duc de Duras came to
convoy his wife to Gand, where he was himself in waiting upon
Louis XVIII., and shortly afterwards M. de Chteaubriand was made
a privy counsellor and settled there also. And within a day or
two after this my door was opened by General d'Arblay! Oh, how
sweet was this meeting ! this blessed reunion!-- how perfect, how
exquisite!
Here I must be silent.
General d'Arblay was only with me by the permission of the Duc de
Luxembourg, and liable to receive orders daily to return to Gand
; for I found to my speechless dismay, yet resistless
approbation, that General d'Arblay had made a
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decision as noble as it was dangerous, to refuse no call, to
abstain from no effort, that might bring into movement his
loyalty to his king and his cause, at this moment of calamity to
both. Yet such was the harassed, or rather broken state of his
health, that his mental strength and unconquerable courage alone
preserved the poor shattered frame from sinking into languor and
inertion.
About this time I saw the entry of the new king, William
Frederick, of the new kingdom of the Netherlands.(274) Tapestry,
or branches of trees, were hung out at all the windows, or, in
their failure, dirty carpets, old coats and cloaks, and even
mats-a motley display of proud parade or vulgar poverty, that
always, to me, made processions on the continent appear
burlesque.
A MISSION ENTRUSTED To GENERAL D'ARBLAY.
On the 22nd of April opened a new source, though not an
unexpected one, of inquietude, that preyed the more deeply upon
my spirits from the necessity of concealing its torments. . . .
The military call for M. d'Arblay arrived from Gand. The summons
was from M. le Comte de Roch. The immediate hope in which we
indulged at this call was, that the mission to which it alluded
need not necessarily separate us, but that I might accompany my
honoured husband and remain at his quarters. But, alas! he set
out instantly for Gand . . . . .
April 23rd brought me a letter: the mission was to Luxembourg.
His adjoint was the Colonel Comte de Mazancourt, his aide-de-camp
M. de Premorel, and also that gentleman's son. The plan was to
collect and examine all the soldiers who were willing to return
from the army of Bonaparte to that of Louis XVIII. Eleven other
general officers were named to similar posts, all on frontier
towns, for the better convenience of receiving the volunteers.
On the 24th April M. d'Arblay again joined me revived by his
natively martial spirit, and pleased to be employed!
April 26, we left the Rue de La Montague, after, on my part,
exactly a month's residence. Our new apartments in
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the March aux Bois were au premier,(275) and commodious and
pleasant. One drawing-room was appropriated solely by M. d'Arblay
for his military friends or military business ; the other was
mine.
Here we spent together seventeen days; and not to harass my
recollections, I will simply copy what I find in MY old
memorandum-book, as it was written soon after those days were no
more:--"Seventeen days I have passed with my best friend; and,
alas ! passed them chiefly in suspense and gnawing inquietude,
covered over with assumed composure . but they have terminated,
Heaven be praised! with better views, with softer calm, and
fairer hopes. Heaven realize them! I am much pleased with his
companions. M. le Comte de Mazancourt, his adjoint, is a gay,
spirited and spirituel young man, remarkably well bred, and
gallantly fond of his profession. M. de Premorel, the
aide-de-camp, is a man of solid worth and of delicate honour, and
he is a descendant of Godefroy de Bouillon. To this must be
added, that he is as poor as he is noble, and bears his penury
with the gentlemanly sentiment of feeling it distinct from
disgrace. He is married, and has ten or eleven children: he
resides with a most deserving wife, a woman also of family, on a
small farm, which he works at himself, and which repays him by
its produce. For many days in the year, potatoes, he told me,
were the only food they could afford for themselves or their
offspring! But they eat them with the proud pleasure of
independence and of honour and loyalty, such as befits their high
origins, always to serve, or be served, in the line of their
legal princes. As soon as Louis XVIII. was established on his
throne, M. de Premorel made himself known to the Duc de
Luxembourg, who placed him in his own company in the garde du
corps, and put his son upon the supernumerary list. . . .."
This young man is really charming. He has a native noblesse of
air and manner, with a suavity as well as steadiness of serene
politeness, that announce the Godefroy blood flowing With
conscious dignity and inborn courage through his youthful veins.
He is very young, but tall and handsome, and speaks of all his
brothers and sisters as if already he were chef de famille, and
bound to sustain and protect them.. I delighted to lead him to
talk of them, and the conversation on that subject always
brightened him into joy and loquacity. He named every one of them
to me in particular repeatedly,
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with a desire I should know them individually, and a warm hope I
might one day verify his representations.
This youth, Alphonse, and his father dined with us daily at this
period. All the mornings were devoted to preparations for the
ensuing expected campaign. When, however, all was prepared, and
the word of command alone was waited for from the Marchal Duc de
Feltre, my dearest friend indulged in one morning's recreation,
which proved as 'agreeable as anything at such a period could be
to a mind oppressed like mine. He determined that we should visit
the Palais de Lachen, which had been the dwelling assigned as the
palace for the Empress Josephine by Bonaparte at the time of his
divorce. My dearest husband drove me in his cabriolet, and the
three gentlemen whom he invited to be of the party accompanied us
on horseback. The drive, the day, the road, the views, our new
horses-all were delightful, and procured me a short relaxation
from the foresight of evil.
The Palace of Lachen was at this moment wholly uninhabited, and
shown to us by some common servant. It is situated in a delicious
park d'Anglaise, and with a taste, a polish, and an elegance that
clears it from the charge of frippery or gaudiness, though its
ornaments and embellishments are all of the liveliest gaiety.
There is in some of the apartments some Gobelin tapestry, of
which there are here and there parts and details so exquisitely
worked that I could have " hung over them enamoured."
"RULE BRITANNIA!" IN THE ALLEE VERTE.
Previously to this reviving excursion my dearest friend had
driven me occasionally in the famous Alle Verte, which the
inhabitants of Brussels consider as the first promenade in the
world; but it by no means answered to such praise in my eyes: it
is certainly very pretty, but too regular, too monotonous, and
too flat to be eminently beautiful, though from some parts the
most distant from the city there are views of cottages and
hamlets that afford great pleasure.
Our last entertainment here was a concert in the public and fine
room appropriated for music or dancing. The celebrated Madame
Catalani had a benefit, at which the Queen of the Netherlands was
present, not, however, in state, though not incognita; and the
king of warriors, Marshal Lord Wellington, surrounded by his
staff and all the officers
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and first persons here, whether Belgians, Prussians, Hanoverians,
or English. I looked at Lord Wellington watchfully, and was
charmed with every turn of his countenance, with his noble and
singular physiognomy and his eagle eye. He was gay even to
sportiveness all the evening, conversing with the officers around
him. He never was seated, not even a moment, though I saw seats
vacated to offer to him frequently. He seemed enthusiastically
charmed with Catalani, ardently applauding whatsoever she sung,
except the "Rule Britannia;: and there, with sagacious reserve,
he listened in utter Silence. Who ordered it I know not, but he
felt it was injudicious in every country but -our own to give out
a chorus of "Rule, Britannia! Britannia, rule the waves!"
And when an encore began to be vociferated from his officers, he
instantly crushed it by a commanding air of disapprobation, and
thus offered me an opportunity of seeing how magnificently he
could quit his convivial familiarity for imperious' dominion when
occasion might call for the transformation.
GENERAL D'ARBLAY LEAVES FOR LUXEMBOURG.
When the full order arrived from Gand, establishing the mission
of M. d'Arblay at Luxembourg, he decided upon demanding an
audience of the Duke of Wellington, with whom he thought it
necessary to concert his measures. The duke received him without
difficulty, and they had a conference of some length, the result
of which was that his grace promised to prepare Blucher, the
great Prussian general, then actually at Luxembourg, for aiding
the scheme. M. d'Arblay himself also wrote to Blcher; but before
any answer could be returned, a new ordonnance from the Duc de
Feltre directed M. d'Arblay to hasten to his post without delay.
May 13, 1815.-My best friend left me to begin his campaign; left
me, by melancholy chance, upon his birthday. I could not that day
see a human being - I could but consecrate it to thoughts of him
who had just quitted me yet who from me never was, never can be,
mentally absent , and to our poor Alexander, thus inevitably, yet
severely cast upon himself.
AN EXCHANGE OF VISITS.
The next day the gentle and feeling Madame de Beaufort spent the
morning with me, using the most engaging efforts to
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prevail with me to dine constantly at her table, and to accompany
her in a short time to her villa. Without any charms, personal or
even intellectual, to catch or fascinate, she seemed to have so
much goodness of character, that I could not but try to attach
myself to her, and accept her kindness as the "cordial drop" to
make the cup of woe of my sad solitude go down; for Madame
d'Henin, who, to equal sensibility, joined the finest
understanding, was now so absorbed in politics that she had no
time for any expansion of sympathy. She came, nevertheless, to
see me in the evening, and to endeavour to draw me again into
human life ! And her kind effort so far conquered me, that I
called upon her the next day, and met Madame de Vaudreuil, for
whom I had a still unexecuted commission from the Duchess dowager
of Buccleuch, upon whom I had waited at the request of the
princesse de Chimay, to entreat the interest of her grace with
the prince regent, that the English pension accorded to the
Duchess of Fitzjames might be continued to the duke, her husband,
who remained a ruined widower with several children. I failed in
my attempt, the natural answer being, that there was no
possibility of granting a pension to a foreigner who resided in
his own country while that country was at open war with the land
whence he aspired at its obtention, a word I make for my passing
convenience.
I exchanged visits also with Madame de la Tour du Pin, the truly
elegant, accomplished, and high-bred niece, by marriage, of
Madame la Princesse d'Henin. Her husband, M. de la Tour du Pin,
was at that time at Vienna, forming a part of the renowned
Congress, by which he was sent to La Vende; to announce there
the resolution of the assembled sovereigns to declare Bonaparte
an outlaw, in consequence of his having broken the conditions of
his accepted abdication, And I was discovered and visited by M.
le Comte de Boursac, one of the first officers of the
establishment of the Prince de Cond, with whom he was then at
Brussels; a man of worth and cultivation. At Paris he visited us
so often, that he took up the name at the door of "Le Voisin,"
thinking it more safe to be so designated than to pronounce too
frequently the name of a known adherent to the Bourbons. The good
Madame de Maurville I saw often, and the family of the Boyds,
with which my general had engaged me to quit Brussels, should
Brussels become the seat of War,
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THE FETE DIEU.
Brussels in general was then inhabited by catholics, and catholic
ceremonies were not unfrequent. In particular, la Fte Dieu was
kept with much pomp, and a procession of priests paraded the
streets, accompanied by images, pictures paintings, tapestry, and
other insignia of outward and visible worship; and the windows
were hung with carpets, and rugs, and mats, and almost with rags,
to prove good will, at least, to what they deem a pious show.
Ludicrous circumstances without end interrupted, or marred the
procession, from frequent hard showers, during which the priests,
decorated with splendid robes and petticoats, and ornaments the
most gaudy, took sudden refuge at the doors of the houses by
which they were passing, and great cloths, towels, or coarse
canvas, were flung over the consecrated finery, and the relics
were swaddled up in flannels, while dirt, splashes, running,
scampering, and ludicrous wrappings up, broke at once and
disfigured the procession.
THE ECCENTRIC LADY CAROLINE LAMB.
At Madame de la Tour du Pin's I kept the fte of Madame de
Maurville, with a large and pleasant party; and I just missed
meeting the famous Lady Caroline Lamb,(276) who had been there at
dinner, and whom I saw, however, crossing the Place Royale, from
Madame de la Tour du Pin's to the Grand Hotel ; dressed, Or
rather not dressed, so as to excite universal attention, and
authorise every boldness of staring, from the general to the
lowest soldier, among the military groups then constantly
parading the Place,-for she had one shoulder, half her back, and
all her throat and neck, displayed as if at the call of some
statuary for modelling a heathen goddess. A slight scarf hung
over the other shoulder, and the rest Of the attire was of
accordant lightness. As her ladyship had
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not then written, and was not, therefore, considered as one
apart, from being known as an eccentric authoress, this conduct
and demeanour excited something beyond surprise,
and in an English lady provoked censure, if not derision, upon
the whole English nation.
A PROPOSED ROYAL CORPS.
Monsieur le Duc de Luxembourg came to inform me that he was on
the point of negotiating with the Duke of Wellington and Prince
Blcher, upon raising a royal corps to accompany their army into
France, should the expected battle lead to that result ; and he
desired me to prepare M. d'Arblay, should such be the case, for a
recall from Trves, that he might resume his post in the
body-guards belonging to the Compagnie de Luxembourg. He spoke of
my beloved in terms of such high consideration, and with
expressions so amiable of regard and esteem, that he won my
heart. He could by no means, he said, be again under active
military orders, and consent to lose so distinguished an officer
from his corps. I had formerly met the duke in Paris, at Madame
de Laval's - and he bad honoured me with a visit chez moi
immediately after my return from England: and in consequence of
those meetings, and of his real friendship for M. d'Arblay, he
now spoke to me with the unreserved trust due to a tried
confidant in case of peril and urgency. He stayed with me nearly
two hours-for when once the heart ventured to open itself upon
the circumstances, expectations, or apprehensions of. that
eventful period, subjects, opinions, and feelings pressed forward
with such eagerness for discussion, that those who upon such
conditions met, found nothing so difficult as to separate.
I wrote instantly to M. d'Arblay ; but the duke's plan proved
abortive, as the Duke of Wellington and Prince Blcher refused
all sanction to the junction of a French army With that of the
allies. The thought, -perhaps-and perhaps Justly, that by
entering France with natives against natives, they might excite a
civil war, more difficult to conduct than that of only foreigners
against foreigners.
PAINFUL SUSPENSE.
Suspense, during all this period, was frightfully mistress of
'-,,the mind; nothing was known, everything was imagined.
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The two great interests that were at war, the Bourbonists and
Bonapartists, were divided and sub-divided into factions, or
rather fractions, without end, and all that was kept invariably
and on both sides alive was expectation. Wanderers, deserters or
captives from France, arrived daily at Brussels, all with varying
news of the state of that empire, and of the designs of Bonaparte
amongst them. The Chevalier d'Argy made me a visit, to deliver me
a letter from M. de Premorel, for M. d'Arblay. This gentleman was
just escaped from Sedan in the disguise of a paysan, and assisted
by a paysanne, belonging to his family. She conducted him through
by-paths and thick forests, that she knew to be least frequented
by the troops, police, or custom-house officers of *Bonaparte. He
was going to offer his services to the king, Louis XVIII. I had
much interesting public news from M. d'Argy : but I pass by all
now except personal detail, as I write but for my nearest
friends; and all that was then known of public occurrence has
long been stale. . . .
During this melancholy period when leisure, till now a delight,
became a burthen to me, I could not call my faculties into any
species of intellectual service; all was sunk, was annihilated in
the overpowering predominance of anxiety for the coming event. I
endured my suspense only by writing to or hearing from him who
was its object. All my next dear connections were well. I heard
from them satisfactorily, and I was also engaged in frequent
correspondence with the Princess Elizabeth, whose letters are
charming, not only from their vivacity, their frankness, and
condescension, but from a peculiarity of manner, the result of
having mixed little with the world, that, joined to great
fertility of fancy, gives a something so singular and so genuine
to her style of writing, as to render her letters desirable and
interesting, independent of the sincere and most merited
attachment which their gracious kindness inspires.
INQUIETUDE AT BRUSSELS.
I come now to busier scenes, and to my sojourn at Brussels during
the opening of one of the most famous campaigns upon record ; and
the battle of Waterloo, upon which, in great measure, hung the
fate of Europe.
Yet upon reflection, I will write no account of these great
events, which have been detailed so many hundred times, and
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so many hundred ways, as I have nothing new to offer upon them ;
I will simply write the narrative of my own history at that awful
period.
I was awakened in the middle of the night by confused noises in
the house, and running up and down stairs. I listened
attentively, but heard no sound of voices, and soon all was
quiet. I then concluded the persons who resided in the
apartments on the second floor, over my head, had returned home
later and I tried to fall asleep again.
I succeeded; but I was again awakened at about five o'clock in
the morning Friday, 16th June, by the sound of a bugle in the
March aux Bois: I started up and opened the window. But I only
perceived some straggling soldiers, hurrying in different
directions, and saw lights gleaming from some of the chambers in
the neighbourhood : all again was soon still, and my own dwelling
in profound silence, and therefore I concluded there had been
some disturbance in exchanging sentinels at the various posts,
which was already appeased: and I retired once more to my pillow,
and remained till my usual hour.
I was finishing, however, a letter for my best friend, when my
breakfast was brought in, at my then customary time of eight
o'clock; and, as mistakes and delays and miscarriages of letters
had caused me much unnecessary misery, I determined to put what I
was then writing in the post myself, and set off with it the
moment it was sealed.
THE BLACK BRUNSWICKERS.
In my way back from the post-office, my ears were alarmed by the
sound of military music, and my eyes equally struck with the
sight of a body of troops marching to its measured time. But I
soon found that what I had supposed to be an occasionally passing
troop, was a complete corps; infantry, cavalry artillery, bag and
baggage, with all its officers in full uniform, and that uniform
was black. This gloomy hue gave an air so mournful to the
procession, that, knowing its destination for battle, I
contemplated with an aching heart. On inquiry, I learned it was
the army of Brunswick. How much deeper yet had been my heartache
had I foreknown that nearly all those brave men, thus marching on
in gallant though dark array, with their valiant royal chief(277)
at their head,
Page 348
the nephew of my own king, George III., were amongst the first
destined victims to this dreadful contest, and that neither the
chief, nor the greater part of his warlike associates, would
within a few short hours, breathe again the vital air !
My interrogations were answered with brevity, yet curiosity was
all awake and all abroad; for the procession lasted some hours.
Not a door but was open; not a threshold but was crowded, and not
a window of the many-windowed gothic modern, frightful, handsome,
quaint, disfigured, fantastic, or lofty mansions that diversify
the large' market-place of Brussels, but was occupied by lookers
on. Placidly, indeed, they saw the warriors pass : no kind
greeting welcomed their arrival; no warm wishes followed them to
combat. Neither, on the other hand, was there the slightest
symptom of dissatisfaction ; yet even while standing thus in the
midst of them, an unheeded, yet observant stranger, it was not
possible for me to discern, with any solidity of conviction,
whether the Belgians were, at heart, Bourbonists or Bonapartists.
The Bonapartists, however, were in general the most open, for the
opinion on both sides, alike with good will and with ill, was
nearly universal that Bonaparte was invincible.
THE OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Still, I knew not, dreamt not, that the campaign was already
opened - that Bonaparte had broken into La Belgique on the 15th,
and had taken Charleroi; though it was news undoubtedly spread
all over Brussels except to my lonely self. My own disposition,
at this period, to silence and retirement, was too congenial with
the taciturn habits of my hosts to be by them counteracted, and
they suffered me, therefore, to return to my home as I had
quitted it, with a mere usual and civil salutation ; while
themselves and their house were evidently continuing their common
avocations with their common composure. Surely our colloquial use
of the word phlegm must be derived from the character of the
Flemings.
The important tidings now, however, burst upon me in sundry
directions. The Princesse d'Henin, Colonel de Beaufort, Madame de
Maurville, the Boyd family, all, with intelligence of the event,
joined offers of service, and invitations to reside with them
during this momentous contest, should I prefer such protection to
remaining alone at such a crisis.
Page 349
What a day of confusion and alarm did we all spend on the
17th! In my heart the whole time was Trves! Trves! Trves!
That day, and June 18th, I passed in hearing the cannon! Good
heaven! what indescribable horror to be so near the field of
slaughter! such I call it, for the preparation to the ear by the
tremendous sound was soon followed by its fullest effect, in the
view of the wounded, the bleeding martyrs to the formidable
contention that was soon to terminate the history of the war. And
hardly more afflicting was this disabled return from the battle,
than the sight of the continually pouring forth ready-armed and
vigorous victims that marched past my windows to meet similar
destruction.
NEWS FROM THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
Accounts from the field of battle arrived hourly; sometimes
directly from the Duke of Wellington to Lady Charlotte Greville,
and to some other ladies who had near relations in the combat,
and which, by their means, were circulated in Brussels ; and at
other times from such as conveyed those amongst the wounded
Belgians, whose misfortunes were -inflicted near enough to the
skirts of the spots of action, to allow of their being dragged
away by their hovering countrymen to the city : the spots, I say,
of action, for the far-famed battle of Waterloo was preceded by
three days of partial engagements.
During this period, I spent my whole time in seeking and passing
from house to house of the associates of my distress, or
receiving them in mine. Ten times, at least, I crossed over to
Madame d'Henin, discussing plans and probabilities, and
interchanging hopes and fears. I spent a considerable part of the
morning with Madame de la Tour -du Pin, who was now returned from
Gand, where Louis XVIII. supported his suspense and his danger
with a coolness and equanimity which, when the clat surrounding
the glory of his daring and great opponent shall no longer by its
overpowering resplendence keep all around it in the shade, will
carry him down to posterity as the monarch precisely formed, by
the patient good sense, the enlightened liberality, and the
Immovable composure of his character, to meet the perilous
perplexities of his situation, and, if he could not combat them
with the vigour and genius of a hero, to sustain them at least
with the dignity of a prince.
Page 350
PROJECTS FOR QUITTING BRUSSELS,
Madame d'Henin and Madame de la Tour du Pin projected retreating
to Gand, should the approach of the enemy be unchecked ; to avail
themselves of such protection as might be obtained from seeking
it under the wing of Louis XVIII. M. de la Tour du Pin had, I
believe, remained there with his majesty. M. de Lally and the
Boyds inclined to Antwerp, where they might safely await the fate
of Brussels, near enough for returning, should it weather the
storm, yet within reach of vessels to waft them to the British
shores should it be lost.
Should this last be the fatal termination, I, Of course, had
agreed to join the party of the voyage, and resolved to secure my
passport, that, while I waited to the last moment, I might yet be
prepared for a hasty retreat. I applied for a passport to
Colonel Jones, to whom the Duke of Wellington had deputed the
military command of Brussels in his absence but he was unwilling
to sanction an evacuation of Brussels, which he deemed premature.
It was not, he said, for us, the English, to spread alarm, or
prepare for an overthrow: he had not sent away his own wife or
children, and he had no doubt but victory would repay his
confidence.
I was silenced, but not convinced ; the event was yet uncertain,
and my stake was, with respect to earthly happiness, my
existence. A compromise occurred to me, which suggested my
dispensing with a new passport, and contenting myself with
obtaining his signature to my old one, accorded by M. le
Chevalier de Jaucourt. He could not refuse to sign it; and we
then separated. I promised him, nevertheless, that I would
remain to the last extremity; and I meant no other. I was now
better satisfied, though by no means at ease.
Yet the motive of Colonel Jones was, that all should yield to the
glory of the British arms and the Duke of Wellington. And I had
the less right to be surprised, from the dreadful soldier's
speech I had heard him utter when I first saw him, to the
Princesse d'Henin: complaining of the length of time that was
wasted in inaction, and of the inactivity and tameness of the
Bourbons, he exclaimed, "We want blood, madam! what we want is
blood!"
CALMLY AWAITING THE RESULT,
I found upon again going my rounds for information, that 'though
news was arriving incessantly from the scene of action,
Page 351
and with details always varying,, Bonaparte was always advancing.
All the people of Brussels lived in the streets. Doors seemed of
no use, for they were never shut. The individuals, when they
re-entered their houses, only resided at the windows : so that
the whole population of the city seemed constantly in public
view. Not only business as well as society was annihilated, but
even every species of occupation. All of which we seemed capable
was, to inquire or to relate, to speak or to hear. Yet no
clamour, no wrangling, nor even debate was intermixed with either
question or answer ; curiosity, though incessant, was serene ;
the faces were all monotony, though the tidings were all variety.
I could attribute this only to the length of time during which
the inhabitants had been habituated to change both of masters and
measures, and to their finding that, upon an average, they
neither lost nor gained by such successive revolutions. And to
this must be joined their necessity of submitting, be it what it
might, to the result. This mental consciousness probably kept
their passions in order, and crushed all the impulses by which
hope or fear is excited. No love of liberty buoyed up resistance;
no views of independence brightened their imagination; and they
bore even suspense with the calm of apparent philosophy, and an
exterior of placid indifference.
The first intelligence Madame d'Henin now gave me was, that the
Austrian minister extraordinary, M. le Comte de Vincent, had been
wounded close by the side of the Duke of Wellington ; and that he
was just brought back in a litter to her hotel. As she was much
acquainted with him, she desired me to accompany her in making
her personal inquiries. No one now sent servants, cards, or
messages, where there was any serious interest in a research.
There was too much eagerness to bear delay, and ceremony and
etiquette always fly from distress and from business.
Le Comte de Vincent, we had the pleasure to hear, had been hurt
only in the hand ; but this wound afterwards proved more serious
than at first was apprehended, threatening for ,many weeks either
gangrene or amputation. News, however, far more fatal struck our
ears soon after : the gallant Duke of Brunswick was killed! and
by a shot close also to the Duke of Wellington!
The report now throughout Brussels was that the two Mighty
chiefs, Bonaparte and Wellington, were almost constantly in view
of each other.
Page 352
FLIGHT To ANTWERP DETERMINED ON.
But what a day was the next--June 18th--the greatest, perhaps, in
its result, in the annals of Great Britain!
My slumbers having been tranquillized by the close Of the
17th, I was calmly reposing, when I was awakened by the sound of
feet abruptly entering my drawing-room. I started, and had but
just time to see by my watch that it was only six o'clock, when a
rapping at my bedroom door so quick as to announce as much
trepidation as it excited, made me slip on a long kind of domino
always, in those times, at hand, to keep me ready for
encountering surprise, and demanded what was the matter? "Open
your door! there is not a moment to lose! " was the answer, in
the voice of Miss Ann Boyd. I obeyed, in great alarm, and saw
that pretty and pleasing young woman, with her mother, Mrs. Boyd,
who remembered having known and played with me when we were both
children, and whom I had met with at Passy, after a lapse of more
than forty years. They both eagerly told me that all their new
hopes had been overthrown by better authenticated news, and that
I must be with them by eight o'clock, to proceed to the wharf,
and set sail for Antwerp, whence we sail on for England, should
the taking of Brussels by Bonaparte endanger Antwerp also.
To send off a few lines to the post, with my direction at
Antwerp, to pack and to pay, was all that I could attempt, or
even desire ; for I had not less time than appetite for thinking
of breakfast. My host and my maid carried my small package, and
I arrived before eight in the Rue d'Assault. We set off for the
wharf on foot, not a fiacre or chaise being procurable. Mr. and
Mrs. Boyd, five or six of their family, a governess, and I
believe some servants, with bearers of our baggage, made our
party. Though the distance was short, the walk was long, because
rugged, dirty, and melancholy. Now and then we heard a growling
noise, like distant thunder, but far more dreadful. When we had
got about a third part of the way, a heavy rumbling sound made us
stop to listen. It was approaching nearer and nearer, and we soon
found that we were followed by innumerable carriages, and a
multitude of persons.
All was evidently military, but of so gloomy, taciturn, and
forbidding a description, that when we were overtaken we had not
courage to offer a question to any passer by. Had
Page 353
we been as certain that they belonged to the enemy as we felt
convinced that, thus circumstanced, they must belong to our own
interests, we could not have been awed more effectually into
silent passiveness, so decisively repelling to inquiry was every
aspect, In truth, at that period, when every other hour changed
the current of expectation, no one could be inquisitive without
the risk of passing for a spy, nor communicative without the
hazard of being suspected as a traitor.
Arrived at the wharf, Mr. Boyd pointed out to us our barge, which
seemed fully ready for departure ; but the crowd already come and
still coming so incommoded us, that Mr. Boyd desired we would
enter a large inn, and wait till he could speak with the master,
and arrange our luggage and places, We went, therefore, into a
spacious room and ordered breakfast, when the room was entered by
a body of military men of all sorts ; but we were suffered to
keep our ground till Mr, Boyd came to inform us that we must all
decamp!
A CHECK MET WITH.
Confounded, but without any interrogatory, we vacated the
apartment, and Mr. Boyd conducted us not to the barge, not to the
wharf, but to the road back to Brussels ; telling us, in an
accent of depression, that he feared all was lost-that Bonaparte
was advancing-that his point was decidedly Brussels-and that the
Duke of Wellington had sent orders that all the magazines, the
artillery, and the warlike stores of every description, and all
the wounded, the maimed, and the sick, should be immediately
removed to Antwerp. For this purpose he had issued directions
that every barge, every boat should be seized for the use of the
army, and that everything of value should be conveyed away, the
hospitals emptied, and Brussels evacuated.
If this intelligence filled us with the most fearful alarm, how
much more affrighting still was the sound of cannon which next
assailed our ears ! The dread reverberation became louder and
louder as we proceeded. Every shot tolled to our imaginations the
death of myriads; and the conviction that the destruction and
devastation were so near us, with the probability that if all
attempt at escape should prove abortive, we might be personally
involved in the carnage, gave us sensations too awful for verbal
expression; we could only gaze and tremble, listen and shudder.
Page 354
Yet, strange to relate! on re-entering the city, all seemed quiet
and tranquil as usual! and though it was in this imminent and
immediate danger of being invested, and perhaps pillaged, I saw
no outward mark of distress or disturbance, or even of hurry or
curiosity.
Having re-lodged us in the Rue d'Assault, Mr. Boyd tried to find
some land carriage for our removal. But not only every chaise
had been taken, and every diligence secured, the cabriolets, the
calches, nay, the waggons and the carts; and every species of
caravan, had been seized for Military service. And, after the
utmost efforts he could make, in every kind of way, he told us we
must wait the chances of the day, for that there was no
possibility of escape from Brussels either by land or water.
Remedy there was none; nor had we any other resource; we were
fain, therefore, quietly to submit. Mr. Boyd, however, assured me
that, though no land carriage was likely to find horses during
this furious contest, he had been promised the return of a barge
for the next morning, if he and his party would be at the wharf
by six o'clock. We all therefore agreed that, if we were spared
any previous calamity, we would set out for the wharf at five
o'clock, and I accepted their invitation to be with them in the
evening, and spend the night at their house. We then separated;
I was anxious to get home, to watch the post, and to write to
Trves.
A CAPTURED FRENCH GENERAL.
My reappearance produced no effect upon my hosts : they saw my
return with the same placid civility that they had seen my
departure. But even apathy, or equanimity,--which shall I call
it?--like theirs was now to be broken; I was seated at my bureau
and writing, when a loud "hurrah!" reached my ears from some
distance, while the daughter of my host, a girl of about
eighteen, gently opening my door, said the fortune of the day had
suddenly turned, and that Bonaparte was taken prisoner. At the
same time the "hurrah!" came nearer. I flew to the window;
my host and hostess came also, crying, "Bonaparte est pris! le
voil
! le Voil
!"(278)
I then saw, on a noble war-horse in full equipinent, a general in
the splendid uniform of France but visibly disarmed, and,
Page 355
to all appearance, tied to his horse, or, at least, held on, so
as to disable him from making any effort to gallop it off, and
surrounded, preceded, and followed by a. crew of roaring
wretches, who seemed eager for the moment when he should be
lodged where they had orders to conduct him, that they might
unhorse, strip, pillage him, and divide the spoil.
His high, feathered, glittering helmet he had pressed down as low
as he could on his forehead, and I could not discern his face ;
but I was instantly certain he was not Bonaparte, on finding the
whole commotion produced by the rifling crew above mentioned,
which, though it might be guided, probably, by some subaltern
officer, who might have the captive in charge, had left the field
of battle at a moment when none other could be spared, as all the
attendant throng were evidently amongst the refuse of the army
followers.
I was afterwards informed that this unfortunate general was the
Count Lobau. He met with singular consideration during his
captivity in the Low Countries, having thence taken to himself a
wife. That wife I had met when last in Paris, at a ball given by
Madame la Princesse de Beauvau. She was quite young and extremely
pretty, and the gayest of the gay, laughing, chatting the whole
evening, chiefly with the fat and merry, good-humoured Duchesse
de Feltre (Madame la Marchale Clarke) - and her husband, high in
office, in fame, and in favour, was then absent on some official
duty.
THE DEARTH OF NEWS.
The dearth of any positive news from the field of battle, even in
the heart of Brussels, at this crisis, when everything that was
dear and valuable to either party was at stake, was at one
instant nearly distracting in its torturing suspense to the wrung
nerves, and at another insensibly blunted them into a kind of
amalgamation with the Belgic philosophy. At certain houses, as
well as at public offices, news, I doubt not, arrived; but no
means were taken to - promulgate it - no gazettes, as in London,
no bulletins, as in Paris, were cried about the streets ; we were
all left at once to our conjectures and our destinies.
The delusion of victory vanished into a merely passing advantage,
as I gathered from the earnest researches into which it led me;
and evil only met all ensuing investigation; retreat and defeat
were the words in every mouth around me!
Page 356
The Prussians, it was asserted, were completely vanquished on the
15th, and the English on the 16th, while on the day just passed,
the 17th, a day of continual fighting and bloodshed, drawn
battles on both sides left each party Proclaiming what neither
party could prove--success.
It was Sunday ; but church service was out of the question though
never were prayers more frequent, more fervent, Form, indeed,
they could not have, nor union, while constantly expecting the
enemy with fire and sword at the gates, Who could enter a place
of worship, at the risk of making it a scene of slaughter? But
who, also, in circumstances so awful, could require the
exhortation of a priest or the example of a congregation, to
stimulate devotion? No! in those fearful exigencies, where, in
the full vigour of health, strength, and life's freshest
resources, we seem destined to abruptly quit this mortal coil, we
need no spur--all is spontaneous; and the soul is unshackled.
RUMOURS OF THE FRENCH COMING.
Not above a quarter of an hour had I been restored to my sole
occupation of solace, before I was again interrupted and startled
; but not as on the preceding occasion by riotous shouts ; the
sound was a howl, violent, loud, affrighting, and issuing from
many voices. I ran to the window, and saw the March aux Bois
suddenly filling with a populace, pouring in from all its
avenues, and hurrying on rapidly, and yet as if unconscious in
what direction; while women with children in their arms, or
clinging to their clothes, ran screaming out of doors - and
cries, though not a word was ejaculated, filled the air, and from
every house, I saw windows closing, and shutters fastening ; all
this, though long in writing, was presented to my eyes in a
single moment, and was followed in another by a burst into my
apartment, to announce that the French were come!
I know not even who made this declaration; my head was out of the
window, and the person who made it scarcely entered the room and
was gone.
How terrific was this moment ! My perilous situation urged me to
instant flight; and, without waiting to speak to the people of
the house, I crammed my papers and money into a basket, and
throwing on a shawl and bonnet, I flew down stairs and out of
doors.
My intention was to go to the Boyds, to partake, as I had
engaged, their fate , but the crowd were all issuing from the
Page 357
way I must have turned to have gained the Rue d'Assault, and I
thought, therefore, I might be safer with Madame de Maurville,
who, also, not being English, might be less obnoxious to the
Bonapartists. To the Rue de la Montagne I hurried, in
consequence, my steps crossing and crossed by an affrighted
multitude ; but I reached it in safety, and she received me with
an hospitable welcome. I found her calm, and her good humour
undisturbed. Inured to revolutions, under which she had smarted
so as she could smart no more, from the loss of all those who had
been the first objects of her solicitude, a husband and three
sons! she was now hardened in her feelings upon public events,
though her excellent heart was still affectionate and zealous for
the private misfortunes of the individuals whom she loved.
What a dreadful day did I pass! dreadful in the midst of its
glory! for it was not during those operations that sent details
partially to our ears that we could judge of the positive state
of affairs, or build upon any permanency of success. Yet here I
soon recovered from all alarm for personal safety, and lost the
horrible apprehension of being in the midst of a city that was
taken, sword in hand, by an enemy-an apprehension that, while it
lasted, robbed me of breath, chilled my blood, and gave me a
shuddering ague that even now in fancy returns as I seek to
commit it to paper.
FRENCH PRISONERS BROUGHT IN.
The alerte(279) which had produced this effect, I afterwards
learnt, though not till the next day, was utterly false ; but
whether it had been produced by mistake or by deceit I never
knew. The French, indeed, were coming; but not triumphantly .,
they were prisoners, surprised and taken suddenly, ,and brought
in, being disarmed, by an escort ; and, as they were numerous,
and their French uniform was discernible from afar, the almost
universal belief at Brussels that Bonaparte was invincible, might
perhaps, without any intended deception, have raised the report
that they were advancing as conquerors.
NEWS OF WATERLOO.
I attempt no description of this day, the grandeur of which was
unknown, or unbelieved, in Brussels till it had taken its
Page 358
flight, and could only be named as time past. The Duke of
Wellington and Prince Blcher were too mightily engaged in
meriting fame to spare an instant for either claiming or
proclaiming it.
I was fain, therefore, to content myself with the intelligence
that reached Madame de Maurville fortuitously. The crowds in the
streets, the turbulence, the inquietude, the bustle the noise,
the cries, the almost yells, kept up a perpetual expectation of
annoyance. The door was never opened, but I felt myself pale and
chill with fear of some sanguinary attack or military surprise.
It is true that as Brussels was not fortified and could, in
itself, offer no resistance, it could neither b' besieged nor
taken by storm ; but I felt certain that the Duke of Wellington
would combat for it inch by inch, and that in a conflict between
life and death, every means would be resorted to that could be
suggested by desperation.
Madame de Maurville now told me that an English commissary was
just arrived from the army, who had assured her that the tide of
success was completely turned to the side of the Allies. She
offered to conduct me to his apartment, which was in the same
hotel as her own, and in which he was writing and transacting
business gravely assuring me, and I really believe, herself, that
he could not but be rejoiced to give me, in person, every
particular I could wish to hear. I deemed it, however, but
prudent not to put his politeness to a test so severe.
Urgent, nevertheless, to give me pleasure, and not easily set
aside from following her own conceptions, she declared she would
go down stairs, and inform Mr. Saumarez that she had a
countrywoman of his in her room, whom he would be charmed to
oblige. I tried vainly to stop her; good humour, vivacity,
curiosity, and zeal were all against my efforts; she went, and to
my great surprise returned escorted by Mr. Saumarez himself. His
narration was all triumphant and his account of the Duke of
Wellington might almost have seemed an exaggerated panegyric if
it had painted some warrior in a chivalresque romance. . . . I
could not but be proud of this account: independent from its
glory; my revived imagination hung the blessed laurels of peace.
But though Hope was all alive, Ease and Serenity were not her
companions: Mr. Saumarez could not disguise that there was still
much to do, and consequently to apprehend; and he had never, he
said, amongst the many he had viewed, seen a field
Page 359
of battle in such excessive disorder. Military carriages of all
sorts, and' multitudes of groups unemployed, occupied spaces that
ought to have been left for manoeuvring or observation. I
attribute this to the various nations who bore arms on that great
day in their own manner; though the towering generalissimo of all
cleared the ground, and dispersed what was unnecessary at every
moment that was not absorbed by the fight.
When the night of this memorable day arrived, I took leave of
Madame de Maurville to join the Boyds, according to my
engagement: for though all accounts confirmed the victory of the
Duke of Wellington, we had so little idea of its result, that we
still imagined the four days already spent in the work of carnage
must be followed by as many more, before the dreadful conflict
could terminate.
Madame de Maurville lent me her servant, with whom I now made my
way tolerably well, for though the crowd remained, it was no
longer turbulent. A general knowledge of general success to the
Allies was everywhere spread ; curiosity therefore began to be
satisfied, and inquietude to be removed. The concourse were
composedly--for no composure is like that of the Flemings-
-listening to details of the day in tranquil groups, and I had no
interruption to my walk but from my own anxiety to catch, as I
could, some part of the relations. As all these have since been
published, I omit them, though the interest with which I heard
them was, at the moment, intense.
Three or four shocking sights intervened during my passage, of
officers of high rank, either English or Belge, and either dying
or dead, extended upon biers, carried by soldiers. The view of
their gay and costly attire, with the conviction of their
suffering, or fatal state, joined to the profound silence of
their bearers and attendants, was truly saddening ; and if my
reflections were morally dejecting, what, oh what were my
personal feelings and fears, in the utter uncertainty whether
this victory were more than a passing triumph! In one place we
were entirely stopped by a group that had gathered round a horse,
of which a British soldier was examining one of the knees. The
animal was a tall war-horse, and one of the noblest of his
species. The soldier was enumerating to his hearers its high
qualities, and exultingly acquainting them it was his own
property, as he had taken it, if I understood right, from the
fields He produced also a very fine ring, which was all he had
taken
Page 360
of spoil, Yet this man gravely added that pillage had been
forbidden by the commander-in-chief!
I found the Boyds still firm for departure. The news of the
victory of the day, gained by the Duke of Wellington and Prince
Blcher, had raised the highest delight; but further intelligence
had just reached them that the enemy, since the great battle, was
working to turn the right wing of the Duke of Wellington, who was
in the most imminent danger; and that the capture of Brussels was
expected to take place the next morning, as everything indicated
that Brussels was the point at which Bonaparte aimed, to retrieve
his recent defeat. Mr. Boyd used every possible exertion to
procure chaises or diligence, or any sort of land conveyance, for
Antwerp, but every horse was under military requisition - even
the horses of the farmers, of the nobility and gentry, and of
travellers, The hope of water-carriage was all that remained. We
were to set off so early, that we agreed not to retire to rest.
THE VICTORY DECLARED TO BE COMPLETE.
A gentleman, however, of their acquaintance, presently burst into
the room with assurances that the enemy was flying in all
directions, his better news reanimated my courage for Brussels
and my trust in the Duke of Wellington; and when the Boyd family
summoned me the next morning at four or five o'clock to set off
with them for Antwerp, I permitted my repugnance to quitting the
only spot where I could receive letters from Trves to conquer
every obstacle, and begged them to excuse my changed purpose.
They wondered at my temerity, and probably blamed it ; but there
was no time for discussion, and we separated.
It was not till Tuesday, the 20th, I had certain and satisfactory
assurances how complete was the victory. At the house of Madame
de Maurville I heard confirmed and detailed the matchless triumph
of the matchless Wellington, interspersed with descriptions of
scenes of slaughter on the field of battle to freeze the blood,
and tales of woe amongst mourning survivors in Brussels to rend
the heart. While listening with speechless avidity to these
relations, we were joined by M. de la Tour du Pin, who is a
cousin of Madame de Maurville, and who said the Duke of
Wellington had galloped to Brussels from Wavre to see the Prince
of Orange and inquire in person after his wounds. Prince
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Blcher was in close pursuit of Bonaparte, who was totally
defeated, his baggage all taken, even his private equipage and
personals, and who was a fugitive himself, and in disguise! The
duke considered the battle to be so decisive, that while prince
Blcher was posting after the remnant of the Bonapartian army, he
determined to follow himself as convoy to Louis XVIII.; and he
told M. de la Tour du Pin and the Duke de Fitzjames, whom he met
at the palace of the King of Holland, to acquaint their king with
this his proposal, and to beg his majesty to set forward without
delay to join him for its execution. The Duke de Fitzjames was
gone already to Gand with his commission.
How daring a plan was this, while the internal state of France
was so little known, while les places fortes(280) were all
occupied, and while the corps of Grouchy was still intact, and
the hidden and possible resources of Bonaparte were unfathomed!
The event, however, demonstrated that the Duke of Wellington had
judged with as much quickness of perception as intrepidity of
valour.
'Twas to Tournay he had desired that the King of France would
repair.
THE WOUNDED AND THE PRISONERS.
The duke now ordered that the hospitals, invalids, magazines,
etc., should all be stationed at Brussels, which he regarded as
saved from invasion and completely secure. It is not near the
scene of battle that war, even with victory, wears an aspect of
felicity-no, not even in the midst of its highest resplendence of
glory. A more terrific or afflicting sojourn than that of
Brussels at this period can hardly be imagined. The universal
voice declared that so sanguinary a battle as that which was
fought almost in its neighbourhood, and quite within its hearing,
never yet had spread the plains with slaughter; and though
exultation cannot ever have been prouder, nor satisfaction more
complete, in the brilliancy of success, all my senses were
shocked in viewing the effects of its attainment. For more than a
week from this time I never approached my window but to witness
sights of wretchedness. Maimed, wounded, bleeding, mutilated,
tortured victims of this exterminating contest passed by every
minute: the fainting, the sick, the dying and the dead, on
brancards,(281) In carts, in waggons, succeeded one another
without intermission. There
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seemed to be a whole and a large army of disabled or lifeless
soldiers! All that was intermingled with them bore an aspect of
still more poignant horror ; for the Bonapartian Prisoners who
were now poured into the city by hundreds, had a mien of such
ferocious desperation, where they were marched on, uninjured,
from having been taken by surprise or overpowered by numbers - or
faces of such anguish, where they were drawn on in open vehicles,
the helpless victims of gushing wounds or horrible dislocations,
that to see them without commiseration for their sufferings, or
admiration for the heroic, however misled enthusiasm, to which
they Were martyrs, must have demanded an apathy dead to all
feeling but what is personal, or a rancour too ungenerous to
yield even to the view of defeat.
Both the one set and the other of these unhappy warriors endured
their calamities with haughty forbearance of complaint, The
maimed and lacerated, while their ghastly visages spoke torture
and death, bit their own clothes, perhaps their flesh ! to save
the loud utterance of their groans; while those of their comrades
who had escaped these corporeal inflictions seemed to be smitten
with something between remorse and madness that they had not
forced themselves on to destruction ere thus they were exhibited
in dreadful parade through the streets of that city they had been
sent forth to conquer. Others of these wretched prisoners had,
to me, as I first saw them, the air of the lowest and most
disgusting of jacobins, in dirty tattered vestments of all sorts
and colours, or soiled carters' frocks; but disgust was soon
turned to pity, when I afterwards learnt that these shabby
accoutrements had been cast over them by their conquerors after
despoiling them of their own.
Everybody was wandering from home; all Brussels seemed living in
the streets. The danger to the city, which had imprisoned all its
inhabitants except the rabble or the military, once completely
passed, the pride of feeling and showing their freedom seemed to
stimulate their curiosity in seeking details on what had passed
and was passing. But neither the pride nor the joy of victory
was anywhere of an exulting nature. London and Paris render all
other places that I, at least, have dwelt in, tame and insipid.
Bulletins in a few shop-windows alone announced to the general
public that the Allies had vanquished and that Bonaparte was a
fugitive.
I met at the embassy an old English officer who gave me
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most interesting and curious information, assuring me that in the
carriage of Bonaparte, which had been seized, there were
proclamations ready printed, and even dated from the palace of
Lachen, announcing the downfall of the Allies and the triumph of
Bonaparte ! But no satisfaction could make me hear without deadly
dismay and shuddering his description of the field of battle.
Piles of dead!--Heaps, masses, hills of dead bestrewed the
plains!
I met also Colonel Jones; so exulting in success! so eager to
remind me of his assurances that all was safe! And I was much
interested in a narration made to me by a wounded soldier, who
was seated in the courtyard of the embassy. He had been taken
prisoner after he was severely wounded, on the morning of the
18th, and forced into a wood with many others, where he had been
very roughly used, and stripped of his coat, waistcoat, and even
his shoes ; but as the fortune of the day began to turn, there
was no one left to watch him, and he crawled on all-fours till he
got out of the wood, and was found by some of his roving
comrades.
Thousands, I believe I may say without exaggeration, were
employed voluntarily at this time in Brussels in dressing wounds
and attending the sick beds of the wounded. Humanity could be
carried no further ; for not alone the Belgians and English were
thus nursed and assisted, nor yet the Allies, but the prisoners
also ; and this, notwithstanding the greatest apprehensions being
prevalent that the sufferers, from their multitude, would bring
pestilence into the heart of the city.
The immense quantity of English, Belgians, and Allies, who were
first, of course, conveyed to the hospitals and prepared houses
of Brussels, required so much time for carriage and placing, that
although the carts, waggons, and every attainable or seizable
vehicle were unremittingly in motion-now coming, now returning to
the field of battle for more,- it was nearly a week, or at least
five or six days, ere the unhappy wounded prisoners, who were
necessarily last served, could be accommodated. And though I was
assured that medical and surgical aid was administered to them
wherever it was possible, the blood that dried upon their skins
and their garments, joined to the dreadful sores occasioned by
this neglect, produced an effect so pestiferous, that, at every
new entry, eau de Cologne, or vinegar, was resorted to by every
inhabitant, even amongst the shopkeepers, even amongst the
commonest persons, for averting the menaced contagion.
Page 364
Even the churches were turned into hospitals, and every house in
Brussels was ordered to receive or find an asylum for some of the
sick.
The Boyds were eminently good in nursing, dressing wounds, making
slops, and administering comfort amongst the maimed, whether
friend or foe. Madame d'Henin sent her servants, and money, and
cordials to all the French that came within her reach ; Madame de
la Tour du Pin was munificent in the same attentions; and Madame
de Maurville never passed by an opportunity of doing good. M. de
Beaufort, being far the richest of my friends at this place, was
not spared; he had officers and others quartered upon him without
mercy.
We were all at work more or less in making lint. For me, I was
about amongst the wounded half the day, the British, s'entend!
The rising in France for the honour of the nation now, and for
its safety in independence hereafter, was brilliant and
delightful, spreading in some directions from La Manche to La
Mditerrane: the focus of loyalty was Bordeaux. The king left
Gand the 22nd. All Alost, etc., surrounded followed, or preceded
him. The noble Blcher entered France at Mortes le Chteau.
HOSTILITIES AT AN END: TE DEUM FOR THE VICTORY,
It was not till June 26th that the blessed news reached me of the
cessation of hostilities. Colonel Beaufort was the first who
brought me this intelligence, smiling kindly himself at the
smiles he excited. Next came la Princesse d'Henin, escorted by my
and her highly valued M, de Lally Tolendal. With open arms that
dear princess reciprocated congratulations. Madame de Maurville
next followed, always cordial where she could either give or
behold happiness. The Boyds hurried to me in a body to wish and
be wished joy. And last, but only in time, not in kindness, came
Madame la Vicomtesse de Laval, mother to the justly honoured
philanthropist, or, as others--but not I--call him, bigot, M.
Mathieu de Montmorency, who, at this moment, is M. le Duc de
Montmorency.
Brussels now, which had seemed for so many days, from the
unremitting passage of maimed, dying, or dead, a mere out-door
hospital, revived, or, rather, was invigorated to something above
its native state ; for from uninteresting tameness it became
elevated to spirit, consequence, and vivacity.
Page 365
On the following Sunday I had the gratification of hearing, at
the Protestant chapel, the Te Deum for the grand victory, in
presence of the King and Queen of the Low Countries--or Holland,
and of the Dowager Princess of Orange, and the young warrior her
grandson. This prince looked so ill, so meagre, so weak, from his
half-cured wounds, that to appear on this occasion seemed
another, and perhaps not less dangerous effort of heroism, added
to those which had so recently distinguished him in the field.
What enthusiasm would such an exertion, with his pallid
appearance, have excited in London or Paris ! even here, a little
gentle huzza greeted him from his carriage to the chapel - and
for the same short passage, back again. After which, he drove off
as tranquilly as any common gentleman might have driven away, to
return to his home and his family dinner.
About the middle of July-but I am not clear of the date -the news
was assured and confirmed of the brilliant reenthronement of
Louis XVIII., and that Bonaparte had ,surrendered to the English.
Brussels now became an assemblage of all nations, from the
rapturous enthusiasm that pervaded all to view the field of
battle, the famous Waterloo, and gather upon the spot ,,details
of the immortal victory of Wellington.
MATERNAL ADVICE.
(Madame d'Arblay to her son.)
April 26, 1815.
At length, my long expecting eyes meet again your hand-writing,
after a breach of correspondence that I can never 'recollect
without pain. Revive it not in my mind by any repetition, and I
will dismiss it from all future power of tormenting me, by
considering it only as a dream of other times. Cry "Done!" my
Alex, and I will skip over the subject, not perhaps as lightly,
but as swiftly as you skip over the hills of Norbury Park. I
delight to think of the good and pleasure that sojourn may do
you; though easily, too easily, I conceive the melancholy
reflections that were awakened by the sight of our dear, dear
cottage; yet your expressions upon its view lose much of their
effect by being Overstrained, recherchs, and designing to be
pathetic. We never touch others, my dear Alex, where we study to
show we -,are touched ourselves. I beg you, when you write to
me,
Page 366
to let your pen paint your thoughts as they rise, not as you seek
or labour to embellish them. I remember you once wrote me a
letter so very fine from Cambridge, that, if it had not made me
laugh, it would certainly have made me sick. Be natural, my dear
boy, and you will be sure to please Your mother without wasting
your time.
Let us know what you have received, what you have spent, what you
may have still unpaid, and what you yet want. But for this last
article, we both desire you will not wait our permission to draw
upon your aunt, whom we shall empower to draw upon Mr. Hoare in
our names. We know you to have no wanton extravagances, and no
idle vanity, we give you, therefore, dear Alex, carte blanche to
apply to your aunt, only consulting with her, and begging her
kind, maternal advice to help your inexperience in regulating
your expenses. She knows the difference that must be made between
our fortune and that of Clement - but she knows our affection for
our boy, and our confidence in his honour and probity, and will
treat him with as much kindness, though not with equal luxury.
Your father charges you never to be without your purse, and never
to let it be empty. Your aunt will counsel you about your
clothes. About your books we trust to yourself. And pray don't
forget, when you make sleeping visits, to recompense the trouble
you must unavoidably give to servants. And if you join any party
to any public place, make a point to pay for yourself. It will
be far better to go seldom, and with that gentlemanly spirit,
than often, with the air of a hanger-on. How infinitely
hospitable has been your uncle James! But hospitality is his
characteristic. We had only insisted upon your regularity at
chapel and at lectures, and we hear of your attention to them
comparatively, and we are fixed to be contented en attendant.
Don't lose courage, dear, dear Alex , the second place is the
nearest to the first. I love you with all my heart and soul! . .
.
ABOUT THE GREAT BATTLE.
(Madame d'Arblay to General d'Arblay.)
Monday, June 19, 1815-
The sitting up all night, however little merrily, made me, I know
not how, seem to have lived a day longer than real time, for I
thought to-day the 20th when I finished my letter of this
morning. I have now, therefore, to rectify that Mistake,
Page 367
and tell you that there is, therefore, no chasm in the known
history of the Duke of Wellington. But, to my infinite regret,
with all the great, nay marvellous feats he has performed, he is
less, not more, in public favour, from not being approved, or
rather, I think, comprehended, in the opening of this tremendous
business. As I am sure the subject must be of deeper interest to
you than any other, at such an instant, I will tell you all I
know-all I have heard and gathered, for I know nothing, and add
my own consequent conjectures, as soon as I have first acquainted
you that I separated from the Boyds at about half past seven in
the morning, too much satisfied with the news of Lord
Wellington's victory to endure to distance myself still further
from all I love most upon earth. They, therefore, still alarmed,
went to Antwerp, and I am again at the little bureau, upon which
my dearest ami has sometimes written in the March aux Bois.
The first news the Duke of Wellington was known to receive of the
invasion of les Pays Bas was at a ball at the Duchess of
Richmond's. He would not break up the party, more than half of
which was formed of his officers, nor suffer any interruption.
Some time after, however, he went out, and when he returned
distributed cards of orders to the several commanding officers.
But he stayed to supper - after which fifty red-coats retired
abruptly. Not so the duke--and he is now much--
Ah, mon ami, two letters arrive at the same instant, that curtail
all subjects but what belong to themselves. Nous allons
commencer!--Heaven preserve and prosper the beloved partner of my
soul. I dare enter upon nothing; I can only say the first of the
two letters, written before the order of commencer was issued, is
one of the fullest and dearest I have in my possession; and I
shall read and re-read its interesting contents with heart-felt
pleasure.
Tell, tell me, my beloved ami, where, when you would have me
remove? I will not ask how--I will find that out. To be nearer to
you--to hear more frequently--oh, what a solace!
The maimed, wounded, bleeding, fainting, arrive still every
minute. There seems a whole, and a large army of mutilated
Soldiers. Jerome is said to be killed, and Vandamme to have lost
both legs.(282) Our loss is yet incalculable.
Page 368
Every creature that was movable is gone to Antwerp, or England,
but myself - but my intense desire not to lose ground or time in
my letters made me linger to the last, and now, thank heaven, all
danger here is at an end, and all fugitives are returning.
The imperial guard is almost annihilated. They fought like
demons. Napoleon cried out continually to them, the prisoners
say, "A Bruxelles, mes enfans!
Bruxelles!
Bruxelles!" They
were reported one day to be actually arrived here. I never saw,
never, indeed, felt such consternation. Not only money, jewels,
and valuables of pecuniary sorts were shut up, but babies from
the arms of their terrified mothers and nurses. I flew out
myself, to take refuge in the apartments of Madame de Maurville,
and I never witnessed such horror and desolation.
I have left this for a word at the last minute, This is
Wednesday, June 21st.... Mr Kirkpatrick tells me Murat is dead of
his wounds;(283) Vandamme lost his two thighs, and is dead also;
Jerome died of a cannon-ball at once. Poor M, de Vincent, the
Austrian, has a ball still in his arm, which they cannot extract,
Lord Fitzroy Somerset has an arm shot off; Lord Uxbridge a leg.
Col. Hamilton is killed. Lobau is here a prisoner. I shall
continue to write all the
Page 369
particulars I can gather. It has been the most bloody battle that
ever was fought, and the victory the most entire.
AN ACCIDENT BEFALLS GENERAL D'ARBLAY.
on the 19th of July, 1815, during the ever memorable Hundred
Days, I was writing to my best friend, when I received a visit
from la Princesse d'Henin and Colonel de Beaufort, who entered
the room with a sort of precipitancy and confusion that
immediately struck me as the effect of evil tidings which they
came to communicate. My ideas instantly flew to the expectation
of new public disaster, when Madame d'Henin faintly pronounced
the name of M. d'Arblay. Alarmed, I turned from one to the other
in speechless trepidation, dreading to ask, while dying to know
what awaited me. Madame d'Henin then said, that M. de Beaufort
had received a letter from M. d'Arblay: and I listened with
subdued, yet increasing terror, while they acquainted me that M.
d'Arblay had received on the calf of his leg a furious kick from
a wild horse, which had occasioned so bad a wound as to confine
him to his bed - and that he wished M. de Beaufort to procure me
some travelling guide, that I might join 'him as soon as it would
be possible with safety and convenience.
But what was my agony when I saw that the letter was not in his
own band! I conjured them to leave me, and let me read it alone.
They offered, the one to find me a clever femme de chambre, the
other to inquire for a guide to aid me to set out, if able, the
next day; but I rather know this from recollection than from
having understood them at the time: I only entreated their
absence; and having consented to their return in a few hours, I
forced them away.
No sooner were they gone, than, calming my spirits by earnest and
devout prayer, which alone supports my mind, and even preserves
my senses, in deep calamity, I ran over the letter, which was
dated the fourth day after the wound, and acknowledged that three
incisions had been made in the leg unnecessarily by an ignorant
surgeon, which had so aggravated the danger, as well as the
suffering, that he was now in bed, not only from the pain of the
lacerated limb, but also from a nervous fever! and that no hope
was held Out to him of quitting it in less than a fortnight or
three weeks.
Page 370
MADAME D'ARBLAY'S DIFFICULTIES IN REJOINING HER HUSBAND.
I determined not to wait, though the poor sufferer himself had
charged that I should, either for the femme de chambe of Madame
d'Henin or the guide of M. de Beaufort, which they could not
quite promise even for the next day; and to me the next hour
seemed the delay of an age. I went, therefore to order a chaise
at six on the road to Luxembourg. The' answer was, that no horses
were to be had!
Almost distracted, I flew myself to the inn; but the answer was
repeated! The route to Luxembourg, they told me, was infested
with straggling parties, first, from the wandering army of
Grouchy, now rendered pillagers from want of food ; and next,
from the pursuing army of the Prussians, who made themselves
pillagers also through the rights of conquest. To travel in a
chaise would be impracticable, they assured me, without a guard.
I now resolved upon travelling in the diligence, and desired to
secure a place in that for Trves. There was none to that city !
"And what is the nearest town to Trves, whence I might go on in
a chaise?"
"Luxembourg."
I bespoke a place, but was told that the diligence had set off
the very day before, and that none other would go for six days,
as it only quitted Brussels once a week.
My friend the Baroness de Spagen next told me that, if travel I
would, I had but to go by Lige, which, though not a direct, was
the only safe road; that then she would put me under the
protection of her brother-in-law, the Comte de Spagen, who was
himself proceeding to that city by the ensuing night- coach.
I accepted this kindness with rapture. I flew myself to the
book-keeper I had so abruptly quitted, and instantly secured a
place in the Lige diligence for night; and I was taking leave of
my hosts, a Brussels fiacre being at the door, laden with my
little luggage, when I was told that Le Roi, the confidential
servant of Madame d'Henin, besought to speak a word to me from
his mistress. He told me that the Princesse 'was quite miserable
at my hazardous plan, which she had gathered from Madame de la
Tour du Pin, and that she
Page 371
supplicated me to postpone my purpose only till the next day,
when I should have some one of trust to accompany me.
I assured him that nothing now could make me risk
procrastination, but begged him to still the fears of the
excellent Princesse by acquainting her I should be under the
protection of the Comte de Spagen.
arrived at the inn after this last unprepared-for impediment,
three or four minutes too late ! What was the fermentation of my
mind at this news! A whole week I must wait for the next
diligence, and even then lose the aid and countenance of le Comte
de Spagen.
Le Roi, who, through some short cut of footpaths and alleys, had
got to the inn before me, earnestly pressed me, in the style of
the confidential old servants of the French nobility, to go and
compose myself chez la princesse. Even my host and hostess had
pursued to wish me again good-bye, and now expressed their warm
hopes I should return to them. But the book-keeper alone spoke a
language to snatch me from despair, by saying my fiacre might
perhaps catch the diligence two miles off, in the Alle Verte,
where it commonly stopped for fresh passengers or parcels.
Eagerly I promised the coachman a reward if he could
succeed, and off he drove. The diligence was at the appointed
place, and that instant ready to proceed ! I rushed into it with
trepidation of hurry, and when more composed, I was eager to find
out which of my fellow- travellers might be the Comte de Spagen;
but I dared risk no question. I sat wholly silent. We arrived at
Lige about nine in the morning I now advanced to the
book-keeper, and made inquiries about the Comte de Spagen.
He had arrived in the earlier coach, and was gone on in some
other to his estates.
As calmly as was in my power, I then declared my purpose to go to
Trves, and begged to be put on my way.
I was come wrong, the book-keeper answered; the road was by
Luxembourg.
And how was I to get thither?
By Brussels, he said, and a week hence, the diligence having set
off the day before.
Alas, I well knew that! and entreated some other means to forward
me to Trves,
Page 372
He replied that he knew of none from Li
ge; but that if I would
go to Aix, I might there, perhaps, though it was out of the road,
hear of some conveyance; but he asserted it was utterly
impossible I could leave Li
ge without a passport from the
Prussian police-office, where I should only and surely be
detained if I had not one to show from whence I came. This
happily, reminded me of the one I had from M. de jaucourt' in
Paris, and which was fortunately, though accidentally, in my
hand-basket.
Arrived at Aix, I earnestly inquired for a conveyance to Trves;
none existed! nor could I hear of any at all, save a diligence to
juliers, which was to set out at four o'clock the next morning.
To lose thus a whole day, and even then to go only more north
instead of south, almost cast me into despair. But redress there
was none, and I was forced to secure myself a place to juliers,
whence, I was told, I might get on.
At any more tranquil period I should have seized this interval
for visiting the famous old cathedral and the tomb of
Charlemagne; but now I thought not of them; I did not even
recollect that Aix-la-Chapelle had been the capital of that
emperor. I merely saw the town through a misty, mizzling rain,
and that the road all around it was sandy and heavy, or that all
was discoloured by my own disturbed view.
I laid down, in a scarcely furnished apartment, without
undressing. I suffered no shutter or curtain to be closed, lest i
should lose my vehicle ; and such was my anxiety, that at three
o'clock, by my own watch, I descended to inquire if we were not
to set off. I wandered about by the twilight of a season that is
never quite dark, but met no one. I returned to my chamber, but,
always in terror of being forgotten, descended again in a quarter
of an hour, though still without success. An hour, says Dr.
Johnson, may be tedious, but it cannot be long : four o'clock at
last struck, and I ran into a vehicle then ready in the courtyard
of the auberge.(284)
I found myself alone, which, at first, was a great relief to my
mind, that was overburthened with care and apprehension, and glad
of utter silence. Ere long, however, I found it fed my
melancholy, which it was my business rather to combat and I was
not, therefore, sorry when a poor woman with a child was admitted
from the outside through the charity of the coachman, as the rain
grew heavier.
Page 373
At juliers we stopped at a rather large inn, at the head of an
immensely long market-place. It was nearly empty, except where
occupied by straggling soldiers, poor, lame, or infirm labourers,
women, and children. The universal war of the Continent left
scarcely a man unmaimed to be seen in civil life. The women who
met my eyes were all fat, with very round and very brown faces.
Most of them were barefooted, nay, barelegged, and had on odd
small caps, very close round their visages. The better sort, I
fancy, at that critical time, had hidden themselves or fled the
town.
We entered Cologne through an avenue, said to be seven miles in
length, of lime-trees. It was evening, but very light, and
Cologne had a striking appearance, from its magnitude and from
its profusion of steeples. The better sort of houses were white
and looked neat, though in an old-fashioned style, and
elaborately ornamented. But, between the ravages of time and of
war, the greater part of them seemed crumbling away, if not
tumbling down.
A FRIENDLY RECEPTION AT COLOGNE.
But while I expected to be driven on to some auberge, a police
officer, in a Prussian uniform, came to the coach-door, and
demanded our passports. My companion made herself known as a
native, and was let out directly. The officer, having cast his
eye over my passport, put his head through the window of the
carriage, and, in a low whisper, asked me whether I were French?
French by marriage, though English by birth, I hardly knew which
to call myself; I said, however, "Oui." He then, in a voice yet
more subdued, gave me to understand that he could serve me. I
caught at his offer, and told him I earnestly desired to go
straight to Trves, to a wounded friend. He would do for me what
he could, he answered, for he was French himself, though employed
by the Prussians. He would carry my passport for me to the
magistrate of the place and get it signed without my having any
further trouble though only, he feared, to Bonn, or, at farthest,
to Coblenz, whence I might probably proceed unmolested. He knew
also, and could recommend me to a most respectable lady and
gentleman, both French, and under the Prussian hard gripe, where
I might spend the evening en famille, and be spared entering any
auberge.
Page 374
He conducted me, in silence, passing through the cloisters to a
house not far distant, and very retired in its appearance'.
Arrived at a door at which he knocked or rang, he still spoke not
a word, but when an old man came to open it, in a shabby dress,
but with a good and lively face, be gave him some directions in
German and in a whisper, and then entrusted with my passport, he
bowed to me and hurried away.
The old man led me to a very large room, scarcely at all
furnished. He pulled out of a niche a sort of ebony armchair,
very tottering and worn, and said he would call madame, for whom
he also placed a fauteuil, at the head of an immense and clumsy
table. I was then joined by an elderly gentlewoman, who was led
in ceremoniously by a gentleman still more elderly. The latter
made me three profound obeisances, which I returned with due
imitation, while the lady approached me with good breeding, and
begged me to take my seat.
The old man then, who I found was their domestic, served the tea.
I know not whether this was their general custom, or a
compliment to a stranger. But when we had all taken some, they
opened into a little conversation. It was I, indeed, who began
by apologising for my intrusion, and expressing at the same time
my great relief in being spared going to an auberge, alone as I
was; but I assured them that the gentleman who had brought me to
their dwelling had acted entirely by his own uninfluenced
authority.
They smiled or rather tried to smile, for melancholy was seated
on their countenances in its most fixed colours and they told me
that person was their best friend, and lost no opportunity to
offer them succour or comfort. He had let them know my
situation, and had desired they would welcome and cheer me.
Welcome me, the lady added in French, they did gladly, since I
was in distress; but they had little power to cheer me, involved
as they were themselves in the depths of sorrow.
Sympathy of compassion soon led to sympathy of confidence; and
when they heard to whom I belonged, and the nature of my terrible
haste, they related their own sad history. Death, misfortune, and
oppression had all laid on them their iron hands ; they had lost
their sons while forcibly fighting for a usurpation which they
abhorred; they had lost their property by emigration; and they
had been treated with
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equal harshness by the revolutionists because they were suspected
of loyalty, and by the royalists because their children had
served in the armies of the revolutionists. They were now living
nearly in penury, and owed their safety and peace solely to the
protection of the officer who had brought me to them.
With communications such as these, time passed so little heavily,
however sadly, that we were ill-disposed to separate; and eleven
o'clock struck, as we sat over their economical but well served
and well cooked little supper, ere the idea of retiring was
mentioned. They then begged me to go to rest, as I must be at the
diligence for Coblenz by four o'clock the next morning.
To another large room, nearly empty except the old, high, and
narrow bed, the domestic now conducted me, promising to call me
at half-past three o'clock in the morning, and to attend me to
the diligence. I did not dare undress; I tied my watch, which
was a small repeater, round my wrist, and laid down in my
clothes-but to strike my watch, and to pray for my beloved
invalid, and my safe restoration to him, filled up, without, I
believe, three minutes of repose, the interval to my conductor's
return.
At half-past three we set out, after I had safely deposited all I
durst spare, where my disinterested, but most poor host would
inevitably find my little offering, which, if presented to him,
he would probably have refused. I never heard his name, which he
seemed studious to hold back; but I have reason to think he was
of the ancient provincial noblesse. His manners, and those of
his wife, had an antique etiquette in them that can only accord
with that idea.
The walk was immensely long; it was through the scraggy and hilly
streets I have mentioned, and I really thought it endless. The
good domestic carried my luggage. The height of the houses made
the light merely not darkness ; we met not a creature; and the
painful pavement and barred windows, and fear of being too late,
made the walk still more dreary.
I was but just in time; the diligence was already drawn out of
the inn-yard, and some friends of the passengers were taking
leave. I eagerly secured my place - and never so much regretted
the paucity of my purse as in my inability to recompense as I
wished the excellent domestic whom I now quitted.
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FROM COLOGNE TO COBLENZ AND TREVES.
I found myself now in much better society than I had yet been,
consisting of two gentlemen, evidently of good education, and a
lady. They were all, German, and spoke only that language one to
another, though they addressed me in French as often as my
absorption in my own ruminations gave any opening for their
civility.
And this was soon the case, by my hearing them speak of the Rhine
; my thoughts were so little geographical that it had not
occurred to me that Cologne was upon that river - I had not,
therefore, looked for or perceived it the preceding evening: but
upon my now starting at the sound of its name and expressing my
Strong -curiosity to behold it, they all began to watch for the
first point upon which it became clearly visible, and all five
with one voice called out presently after, "Ah, le voil
!"(285)
But imagination had raised expectations that the Rhine, at this
part of its stream, would by no means answer. It seemed neither
so wide, so deep, so rapid, nor so grand as my mind had depicted
it nor yet were its waters so white or bright as to suit my ideas
of its fame. At last my heart became better tuned. I was now on
my right road; no longer travelling zig-zag, and as I could
procure any means to get on, but in the straight road, by
Coblenz, to the city which contained the object of all my
solicitude.
And then it was that my eyes opened to the beauties of nature;
then it was that the far-famed Rhine found justice in those poor
little eyes, which hitherto, from mental preoccupation, or from
expectations too high raised, had refused a cordial tribute to
its eminent beauty, unless indeed its banks, till after Bonn, are
of inferior loveliness. Certain it is, that from this time till
my arrival at Coblenz, I thought myself in regions of
enchantment.
>From Coblenz to Trves I was two days travelling, though it might
with ease have been accomplished in less than half that time. We
no longer journeyed in any diligence that may be compared with
one of France or of England, but in a queer German carriage,
resembling something mixed of a coach, a chaise, and a cart.
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MEETING WITH GENERAL D'ARBLAY.
At Trves, at length, on Monday evening, the 24th of July, 1815,
I arrived in a tremor of joy and terror indescribable. But my
first care was to avoid hazarding any mischief from surprise; and
my first measure was to obtain some intelligence previously to
risking an interview. It was now six days since any tidings had
reached me. My own last act in leaving Brussels had been to write
a few lines to M. de Premorel, my General's aide-de-camp, to
announce my journey, and prepare him for my arrival.
I now wrote a few lines to the valet of Monsieur d'Arblay, and
desired he would come instantly to the inn for the baggage of
Madame d'Arblay, who was then on the road. Hardly five minutes
elapsed ere Franois, running like a race-horse, though in
himself a staid and composed German, appeared before me. How I
shook at his sight with terrific suspense ! The good-natured
creature relieved me instantly though with a relief that struck
at my heart with a pang of agony--for he said that the danger was
over, and that both the surgeons said so.
He was safe, I thanked God ! but danger, positive danger had
existed! Faint I felt, though in a tumult of grateful
sensations: I took his arm, for my tottering feet would hardly
support me; and M. de Premorel, hastening to meet me at the
street-door, told me that the general was certain I was already
at Trves; I therefore permitted myself to enter his apartment at
once.
Dreadfully suffering, but still mentally occupied by the duties
of his profession, I found him. Three wounds had been inflicted
on his leg by the kick of a wild horse, which he had bought at
Trves, with intent to train to military service. He was felled
by them to the ground. Yet, had he been skilfully attended, he
might have been completely cured! But all the best surgeons,
throughout every district, had been seized upon for the armies :
and the ignorant hands into which he fell aggravated the evil, by
incisions hazardous, unnecessary, and torturing.
WAITING FOR LEAVE TO RETURN To FRANCE.
The adjoint of M. d'Arblay, M. le Comte de Mazancourt, had been
sent to Paris by M. d'Arblay, to demand leave and
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passports for returning to France, the battle and peace of
Waterloo having ended the purpose for which he had been appointed
by Louis XVIII., through the orders of the Marchal Duc de
Feltre, minister at war, to raise recruits from the faithful who
wished to quit the usurper.
My poor sufferer had been quartered upon M. Nell, a gentleman of
Trves; but there was no room for me at M. Nell's, and I was
obliged-most reluctantly-to be conducted to an hotel at some
distance. But the next day M. d'Arblay entered into an agreement
with Madame de la Grange, a lady of condition who resided at
Trves, to admit me to eat and lodge at her house, upon the
picnic plan, of paying the overplus of that expense I should
cause her, with a proper consideration, not mentioned, but added
by my dear general, for my apartment and incidental matters. This
sort of plan, since their ruin by the Revolution, had become so
common as to be called fashionable amongst the aristocratic
noblesse, who were too much impoverished to receive their friends
under their roofs but by community of fortune during their
junction. Every morning after breakfast one of the family
conducted me back to M. Nell's, where I remained till the hour of
dinner, when M. Godefroy de Premorel commonly gave me le bras for
returning, and Franois watched for me at the end of the repast.
This was to me a cruel arrangement, forcing my so frequent
absences; but I had no choice.
It was not till after reiterated applications by letter, and by
MM. de Mazancourt and Premorel in person, that my poor general
could obtain his letters of recall; though the re-establishment
of Louis XVIII. on his throne made the mission on the frontiers
null, and though the hapless and helpless state of health of M.
d'Arblay would have rendered him incapable of continuing to
fulfil its duties if any yet were left to perform. The mighty
change of affairs so completely occupied men's minds, as well as
their hands, that they could work only for themselves and the
present : the absent were utterly forgotten. The Duc de
Luxembourg, however, at length interfered, and procured
passports, with the ceremonies of recall.
DEPARTURE FOR PARIS.
On the morning of our departure from Trves, all the families of
Nell and La Grange filled the courtyard, and surrounded the
little carriage in which we set out, with others,
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unknown to me, but acquainted with the general, and lamenting to
lose sight of him-as who that ever knew him failed doing? M. de
Mazancourt and the De Premorels had preceded us. The difficulty
of placing the poor wounded leg was great and grievous, and our
journey was anything but gay; the cure, alas, was so much worse
than incomplete! The spirits of the poor worn invalid were sunk,
and, like his bodily strength, exhausted; it was so new to him to
be helpless, and so melancholy ! After being always the most
active, the most enterprising, the most ingenious in difficulty
and mischance, and the most vivacious in conquering evils, and
combating accidents;-to find himself thus suddenly bereft not
only of his powers to serve and oblige all around him, but even
of all means of aiding and sufficing to himself, was profoundly
dejecting ; nor, to his patriot-heart, was this all: far
otherwise. We re-entered France by the permission of foreigners,
and could only re-enter at all by passports of all the Allies!
It seemed as if all Europe had freer egress to that country than
its natives!
Yet no one more rejoiced in the victory of Waterloo--no one was
more elated by the prospect of its glorious results: for the
restoration of the monarchy he was most willing to shed the last
drop of his blood. But not such was the manner in which he had
hoped to see it take place ; he had hoped it would have been more
spontaneous, and the work of the French themselves to overthrow
the usurpation. He felt, therefore, severely shocked, when, at
the gates of Thionville, upon demanding admittance by giving his
name, his military rank, and his personal passport, he was
disregarded and unheard by a Prussian sub-officer--a Prussian to
repulse a French general, in the immediate service of his king,
from entering France! His choler rose, in defiance of sickness
and infirmity; but neither indignation nor representation were of
any avail, till he condescended to search his portefeuille for a
passport of All the Allies, which the Duc de Luxembourg had
wisely forwarded to Trves, joined to that of the minister at
war. Yet the Prussian was not to blame,. save for his uncourteous
manners : the King of France was only such, at that moment,
through Blcher and Wellington.
Three or four days, I think, we passed at Metz, where the general
put himself Into the hands of a surgeon of eminence, who did what
was now to be done to rectify the gross mismanagement at Trves.
In this time I saw all that was most
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worth remark in the old and famous city of Metz. But it looked
drear and abandoned- as everywhere during my journey. Nothing
was yet restored, for confidence was wanting in the state of
things. Wellington and Blcher, the lords of the ascendant,
seemed alone gifted with the Power of foreseeing, as they had
been instrumentally of regulating, events.
A CHANCE VIEW OF THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.
Not long after, I forget exactly where, we came under new yet
still foreign masters--the Russians ; who kept Posts, like
sentinels, along the high road, at stated distances. They were
gentle and well-behaved, in a manner and to a degree that was
really almost edifying. On the plains of Chalons there was a
grand Russian encampment. We stopped half a day for rest at some
small place in its neighbourhood and I walked about, guarded by
the good Franois, to view it. But, on surveying a large old
house, which attracted my notice by a group of Russian officers
that I observed near its entrance, how was I struck on being told
by Franois, that the Emperor of all the Russias was at that
moment its inhabitant! At the entrance of the little gate that
opened the palisade stood a lady with two or three gentlemen.
There was no crowd, and no party of guards, nor any sign of
caution or parade of grandeur, around this royally honoured
dwelling. And, in a few minutes, the door was quietly opened and
the emperor came out, in an undress uniform, wearing no stars nor
orders, and with an air of gay good humour, and unassuming ease.
There was something in his whole appearance of hilarity, freedom,
youthfulness, and total absence of all thought of state and
power, that would have led me much sooner to suppose him a jocund
young Lubin, or country esquire, than an emperor, warrior, or a
statesman.
The lady curtsied low, and her gentlemen bowed profoundly as he
reached the group. He instantly recognised them, and seemed
enchanted at their sight. A sprightly conversation ensued, in
which he addressed himself chiefly to the lady, who seemed
accustomed to his notice, yet to receive it with a species of
rapture. The gentlemen also had the easy address of conscious
welcome to inspirit them, and I never followed up a conversation
I could not hear, with more certainty of its being agreeable to
all parties. They all spoke French, and I was restrained only by
my own sense of propriety from advancing
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within hearing 'of every word; for no sentinel, nor guard of any
kind, interfered to keep the few lookers on at a distance;
This discourse over, be gallantly touched his bat and leaped into
his open carriage, attended by a Russian officer, and was out of
sight in a moment. How far more happy, disengaged, and to his
advantage, was this view of his imperial majesty, than that which
I had had the year before in England, where the crowds that
surrounded, and the pressure of unrestrained curiosity and
forwardness, certainly embarrassed, if they did not actually
displease him!
ENGLISH TROOPS IN OCCUPATION.
At Meaux I left again my captive companion for a quarter of an
hour to visit the cathedral of the sublimely eloquent Bossuet.
In happier moments I should not have rested Without discovering
and tracing the house, the chamber, the library, the study, the
garden which had been as it were sanctified by his virtues, his
piety, his learning, and his genius and oh, how eagerly, if not a
captive, would my noble-minded companion have been my conductor!
A new change again of military control soon followed, at which I
grieved for my beloved companion. I almost felt ashamed to look
at him, though my heart involuntarily, irresistibly palpitated
with emotions which had little, indeed, in unison with either
grief or shame; for the sentinels, the guards, the camps, became
English.
All converse between us now stopped involuntarily, and as if by
tacit agreement. M. d'Arblay was too sincere a loyalist to be
sorry, yet too high-spirited a freeman to be satisfied. I could
devise nothing; to say that might not cause some painful
discussion or afflicting retrospection, and we travelled many
miles in pensive silence-each nevertheless intensely observant of
the astonishing new scene presented to our view, on re-entering
the capital of France, to see the vision of Henry V. revived, and
Paris in the hands of the English!
I must not omit to mention that notwithstanding this complete
victory over Bonaparte, the whole of the peasantry and common
people, converse with them when or where or how I might during
our route, with one accord avowed themselves utterly incredulous
of his defeat. They all believed he
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had only given way in order that he might come forward with new
forces to extirpate all opposers, and exalt himself on their
ashes to permanent dominion.
LEAVETAKING: M. DE TALLEYRAND.
On the eve of setting out for England, I went round to all I
could reach of my intimate acquaintance, to make--as it has
proved--a last farewell! M. de Talleyrand came in to Madame de
Laval's drawing-room during my visit of leavetaking. He was named
upon entering; but there is no chance he could recollect me, as I
had not seen him since the first month or two after my marriage,
when he accompanied M. de Narbonne and M. de Beaumetz to our
cottage at Bookham. I could not forbear whispering to Madame de
Laval, how many souvenirs his sight awakened! M. de Narbonne was
gone, who made so much of our social felicity during the period
of our former acquaintance; and Mr. Locke was gone, who made its
highest intellectual delight; and Madame de Stael,(286) who gave
it a zest of wit, deep thinking, and light speaking, of almost
unexampled entertainment; and my beloved sister Phillips, whose
sweetness, intelligence, grace, and sensibility won every heart:
these were gone, who all, during the sprightly period in which I
was known to M. Talleyrand, had almost always made our society.
Ah! what parties were those! how select, how refined though
sportive, how investigatingly sagacious though invariably
well-bred!
Madame de Laval sighed deeply, without answering me, but I left
M. de Talleyrand to Madame la Duchesse de Luynes, and a sister of
A le Duc de Luxembourg, and another lady or two, while I engaged
my truly amiable hostess, till I rose to depart: and then, in
passing the chair of M. de Talleyrand, who gravely and silently,
but politely, rose and bowed, I said, "M. de Talleyrand m'a
oubli: mais on n'oublie pas M. de Talleyrand."(287) I left the
room with quickness, but saw a movement of surprise by no means
unpleasant break over the habitual placidity, the nearly
imperturbable composure of his made-up countenance.
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our journey was eventless, yet sad; sad, not solely, though
chiefly, from the continued sufferings of my wounded companion,
but sad also, that I quitted so many dear friends, who had
wrought themselves, by innumerable kindnesses, into my
affections, and who knew not, for we could not bring ourselves to
utter words that must have reciprocated so much pain, that our
intended future residence was England. The most tender and
generous of fathers had taken this difficult resolution for the
sake of his son, whose earnest wish had been repeatedly expressed
for permission to establish himself in the land of his birth.
That my wishes led to the same point, there could be no doubt,
and powerfully did they weigh with the most disinterested and
most indulgent of husbands. All that could be suggested to
compromise what was jarring in our feelings, so as to save all
parties from murmuring or regret, was the plan of a yearly
journey to France.
(273) Minister of war.
(274) About the close of the year 1813, when Napoleon's star was
setting, and his enemies were pressing hard upon him, the Dutch
threw off the yoke of France, recalled the Prince of Orange, and
proclaimed him at Amsterdam King of the United Netherlands, by
the title of William I.-ED.
(275) On the first floor.
(276) Lady Caroline Lamb (born in 1785) was the wife of the Hon.
William Lamb, afterwards Lord Melbourne and prime minister of
England. A year or two before Fanny saw her, she was violently in
love with Lord Byron: "absolutely besieged him," Rogers said.
Byron was not unwilling to be besieged, though he presently grew
tired of the lady, and broke off their correspondence, to her
great distress, with an insulting and rather heartless letter.
But it was more than a mere flirtation on Lady Caroline's part.
She fainted away on meeting Byron's funeral (1824); "her mind
became more affected; she was separated from her husband and died
26 January, 1828, generously cared for by him to the last."(Dict.
of National Biography.) She was the author of two or three
novel.-ED.
(277) Son of the Duke of Brunswick who invaded France in 1792,
and who died in 1806 of the wounds which he received in the
battle of Jena. His son was killed at Quatre Bras, June 16,
1815.-ED.
(278) "Bonaparte is taken! there he is!"
(279) Alarm.
(280) Fortresses.
(281) Litters.
(282) Both reports were false. Jerome Bonaparte, Napoleon's
youngest brother, formerly King of Westphalia, was wounded in the
groin at Quatre Bras, two days before the battle of Waterloo.
His wound, however, was not so severe as to prevent him from
serving at Waterloo, and, after the flight of the Emperor to
Paris, Jerome remained to conduct the retreat and rally the
fugitives. General Vandamme was not at Waterloo at all, nor was
he wounded. He was attached to the army commanded by Marshal
Grouchy, and was engaged in a useless conflict with the Prussian
rear-guard at Wavres on the day of the decisive battle.-ED.
(283) Another false rumour. Murat was in France during the whole
of the Waterloo campaign. This distinguished soldier had married
Caroline Bonaparte, the youngest sister of Napoleon, by whom he
was made King of Naples. In December, 1813, Murat was ungrateful
enough to join the allied powers against the Emperor, but, after
Napoleon's return from Elba, he threw himself into the war with
characteristic precipitation. Marching from Naples with an army
of 50,000 men, he occupied Rome and Florence, but was soon after
totally defeated by the Austrians, and escaped with difficulty to
France. The Emperor refused to see him. After the final
abdication of Napoleon, Murat made a desperate attempt, with a
handful of men, to regain his kingdom of Naples. He was taken
prisoner, tried by a military commission, condemned to death, and
immediately shot. At St. Helena Napoleon said of him, "It was his
fate to ruin us every way; once by declaring against us, and
again by unadvisedly taking our part."-ED.
(284) Inn.
(285) "Ah! there it is!"
(286) This was a misapprehension. Madame de Stael died at Paris,
July 14, 1817. The above narrative was written at a period some
years later than that of the events to which it relates, and
hence, in all probability, the mistake arose.-ED.
(287) "M. de Talleyrand has forgotten me; but one does not forget
M. de Talleyrand."
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