non were abandoned on account of the very bad state of the roads, but they carried off their horses and their prisoners! Base and ignorant attempt to lower the glory of his country, and the heroic exertions of her noble children. The writer of this malignant article had no authority from the enemy to say, he had taken any prisoners; nor a word from the Duke of Wellington admitting he had lost any. The whole was a fiction, invented by himself, to enlighten his readers. The enemy took no prisoners-he claimed none. The road, represented to be so bad as to be the sole cause of their losing their cannon, is well known to be better causewayed than any strect in London. Had Napoleon been victorious, we should have heard how fine and level the road was to make his march easy, just like that from Badajos to Lisbon, which the same writer informed us was the reason why Marmont set Ciudad Rodrigo as a trou de rat for Lord Wellington. The official dispatches of the Duke of Wellington, in the previous number of this · Journal, expressly informed the editor, that his Grace" would move the army forward on the morning of the 19th; and I shall not," added he, "discontinue my operations;" and that, instead of an orderly retreat, the enemy fled in the "utmost confusion." It may seem strange that I should thus be so particular in noticing the effusions of this Journal. But I hold it fair, in recording the sentiments of other men, to record those of its conductors, as their rank and character stands high with many. Their opinions, promulgated with the utmost consequence, are certainly meant should live beyond the present day; and, therefore, they cannot deem it unfair if these are chosen to contrast with others; and I must add, with truth, particularly upon such an important subject and solemn occasion as the present. Can we wonder at the daring impositions circulated in France, when we contemplate, from such high rank, such things circulated in Britain. Amongst the various other attempts yet made by the enemy, and those who advocate their cause and support their system, to lessen their disgrace, and the glory which Britain acquired at Waterloo, the following is the most prominent and the most Morning Chronicle, June 24th, 1815. + Wellington's dispatch, June 19th. plausible. They assert that it was to the assistance of the Prussians alone that Wellington owed the victory. This is not the fact. Wellington's plan was to act on the defensive till the Prussians arrived. Bonaparte's, to beat the former before the latter came up. Though the Prussians were several hours latter than was expected in joining, Bonaparte completely failed in effecting the object which he had in view. It was past seven o'clock in the evening before the Prussians, in any considerable or dangerous force, were engaged; and, it must not be forgotten, that by that period the whole of the French army had been successively led against the British, and successively beaten. The last reserve of guards had shared the fate of the others, and they had retired from the rude "shock in confusion." From that moment they could be brought to face the British no more; and from that moment the conduct of Wellington was altered. From the assailed he became the assailant. He states in pretty plain language, that he was in a situation to make the decisive attack, which produced the final result, when he says, "even if I had not found myself in a situation to make the attack which produced the final result."* Let it be remembered also that the defeat of the guard in the last attack took place while them and the rest of the army believed, and were informed, that it was not the Prussians but Grouchy's corps which was on their right. Therefore it was not the dread of the Prussians, but of the British, which made them fly at that moment, even under the eye of their Emperor. Bonaparte himself admits, that the failure of his cavalry attacks were fatal to his cause; and that he could, during that day, make no further impression upon the British General; and plainly intimates, that he could not on any other day do so without the assistance of Grouchy's corps. Blucher acknowledges that the French columns were " already shaken," when he engaged them. Bonaparte, who would, if he could, have torn from Britain the glory of his overthrow, never mentions the last Prussian attack at all; but, on the contrary, states that they had exhausted their forces, and he had nothing more to fear; and, although this was not the fact, still it establishes the point that his army was defeated in the great object which he had in view, before the Prussians Wellington's dispatch, June 19th. + Ney's letter. 66 arrived in force. Besides, Waterloo must not be disjointed from Ligny and Quatre Bras. These formed part of this important and decisive field. These were the outworks of Waterloo. The enemy, after a gallant defence, carried the one, which obliged the other to be abandoned. But had the British been defeated at Quatre Bras, it is more than doubtful if there could, under these circumstances, have been any battle at Waterloo. Yet the Prussians lost no glory from being obliged to yield at Ligny. They were compelled to yield it to superior numbers, but not till they had handled their foes so roughly, that, in the words of General Alava, "they gained no advantage whatever," from obtaining possession of that place. In a few words, With only the British before him, it was retreat; with the Prussians joined, it was total destruction; betwixt which there is indeed an immense distance. Far be it from me to wish to injure or take away the noble fame and prowess of the sons of the Oder. They did their duty-they did enough—all did to their utmost at Waterloo; and glory enough remains for every one who was engaged in that glorious field, after allowing the British General the well earned and certain glory of having defeated the enemy, though two to one, and placed him in a situation where, as he could not advance, he must consequently have fallen back. The British defeated-the Prussians annihilated, the already shaken columns" of the enemy, though furious "from despair;" and which was quite enough for each to have accomplished. We may fairly conclude this important subject, and decide this important point, by the impartial testimony of the brave General Alava, who was present; and unquestionably a competent judge, and best in his own words. "To the British troops," said he, " and their illustrious Commander, it may be asserted, without offence to any one, that to them both belongs the chief part, or all the glory of this memorable day."+ But vain and futile were all the attempts which were made to lessen the glory and importance of the victory of Waterloo, and the disasters there sustained by France. That combat raised its gigantic head, and spoke in a voice of thunder which Moscow rose from her ashes to greet with admiration, and which the con† Do. da. do. • Alava's dispatch, June 20th. fines of Asia heard with joy. It made the Seine fear and the Rhone tremble; while, in distant lands, the hoarse murmurs of the impetuous Potomac remained hushed, and amazement seized his current, like as when the cannon of Cockburn laid low the spires of the Capitol. In the language of the brave Highlander, "Boney's beat! Boney's beat!" resounded throughout the world. The sound of the glorious huzza reached Paris, on the lightning's wings, and the shock made her deepest foundations tremble. There 66 At eleven, in the morning of the 21st, Bonaparte reached the Thuilleries, forlorn and dispirited, bringing the news of his own defeat. He was visited, but by few: but amongst these few were the subservient St. Jean de Angley, and the obsequious Maret. The bulletin was produced, which was that morning to convey to the public, through the columns of the Moniteur, the most disastrous intelligence ever communicated to France. Regnault perused it. While he did so, Bonaparte, in agitation, continued to bite his nails and take snuff copiously. At length Regnault finished the dismal scroll. It was too much for his nerves to bear. A sigh heaved his bosom and called forth the expression, which came from the heart, "It is lost! Yes, answered Napoleon in agony, "it is lost! and my glory with it."*--Not so, said Regnault, you have fifty victories to oppose to one defeat."-Bonaparte said nothing-he knew these had brought on this loss. But said Maret," the defeat is decisive— the Emperor is in the right." In vain they attempted to form plans to stop the torrent which rolled against them.They dreaded the Royalists-they were jealous of the Republicans they trembled at Wellington and Blucher. "They are not accustomed to conquer," said Bonaparte, "they will abuse the victory." It is not them, said Maret, that you have most to fear; it is those "whose cowardice Wellington's bravery has made triumphant. The courage of the Royalists is in the head of Wellington, and the arm of Blucher." Yet notwithstanding this should be the case, we "must stop them," said Regnault, That indeed was their first care.-But" How?" said Maret:" the army exists no more, and the frontier is unt Do. do. do • Conversation at return to Paris, covered." The army exists-the frontier is only uncoveredthe army will rally-Grouchy is an honest man-Soult has given pledges: we must obtain supplies and re-enforcements for him, continued Bonaparte and Regnault." Assemble the ninisters," said the former, "the Chambers shall learn all to night-we will make a report-tell the truth-they will not refuse me men and money." Of this Maret expressed his doubts. They will be talking of terms, said he-" Assemble the ministers," was Bonaparte's reply. At length this was determined upon the ministers were assembled-a tone of truth and suplication was adopted, with regard to the communications to be made to the assemblies; unusual and before unknown to Bonaparte, at whose frown France had been accustomed to tremble. But times were changed! a new page was commenced in the fine history of the Emperor. In the meantime the Emperor's arrival at Paris became known. It produced the utmost sensation. What can have brought him back? was, no doubt, the anxious inquiry of thousands. Has he been beaten? where is his army? The countenances at the Thuilleries were not able to give a satisfactory answer to those doubts, those inquiries. Disastrous reports spread-they increased as they went along. Terror seized the minds of the Government and their friends; and sorrow and fear were legibly written on every countenance. The eagles at the Thuilleries drooped their wings: ́and the tri-coloured standard, on its haughty dome, clung to the staff which supported it, and not a hand was put forth to unravel it. The Matts de Cocagne were forsaken. The balls, on the gaming tables of the Palais Royale, were arrested in their career, and for the first time, during a century, stood still; while a groan of anguish, and a shriek of despair, resounded through the most public halls and secret recesses of that profligate and thoughtless dwelling. The funds sunk 5 per cent. The Chambers met. "Anxiety and fear sat on every countenance." "Sinister reports," said La Fayette, "have been in circulation, and which are unhappily confirmed."* At that moment, a second edition of the Moniteur was put into the hands of the people of Paris, containing the accounts of the battle of Mount St. Jean, or Waterloo, a day * Sitting of Representatives, June 21st, |