and I were obliged to go on writing, to despatch a Mr. Rouse Boughton, who was setting off for England. Occasionally, as the firing became louder and seemed to approach us, we took a peep at the battle that was raging below-all uncertain as to what was likely to be the event of the day. At four o'clock, Sir Charles returned and told me I must be off instantly; for although the enemy had been repulsed, he was bringing up fresh troops, and it was evident the attack would be renewed in the evening, or that a great effort was intended on the morrow.

We made, therefore, a hasty dinner; contrived to despatch Mr. Boughton, and Sir Charles then returned to the field. As night was falling, and the army withdrawing into position, we thought it high time for civilians to decamp, and Rumbold and I accordingly returned to Görlitz. As we descended the high hill on which Graditz stands, we stopped to take a last view of the battle-field. At that moment it was illumined by the spreading flames from several small villages that had been set on fire, and in the distance looked like a burning plain. At times, heavy masses of thick black smoke rolled over it and seemed momentarily to quench the flames, but only to burst forth again with a brighter glow-affording us glimpses of both armies. Viewed from that eminence, and in the dimness of the evening, it was a grand and picturesque scene, from which I turned away with an anxious and ill-foreboding mind.

Though we were pretty well tired out when we got back to our quarters, yet to sleep was impossible,

and day had hardly dawned on the 21st when the cannonade again began-such a roar as even old soldiers say they scarce ever heard-and a most bloody action ensued. The day was spent in running to-and-fro-in eager inquiries "How goes the battle?" -reports, now cheering, now alarming, are constantly succeeding each other-"the enemy is advancing!"—" the Allies are in pursuit!"-" the Allies are retreating!"-"The French centre has given way." This most anxious state of things continued until Bidwell arrived from Graditz at ten in the evening. He had left at seven. He had left at seven. The house in which Sir Charles had his quarters had been pillaged by a party of marauders. A determination had been taken to place the army in a new position, which he believed meant that it was, in fact, retreating, and that the enemy was firing on the retiring columns from the heights of Krückwitz.

Nothing more positive was known at midnight. Sir Charles and the other British officers had been out from four in the morning, and had not been heard of since. On the preceding day, he and Sir Robert Wilson had exposed themselves to much danger, in order to rally and head some Russian infantry, for the defence of a height of great consequence.

I had just lain down for an hour or so, when Count Löthem came to tell me that the King was moving to Lauban from Reichenbach, where his head-quarters had been on the previous night, and he advised me to do the same. Before I was dressed,

Captain Deering arrived with the news that the day had been lost, and that the army was in full, though regular retreat, notwithstanding the unsurpassed bravery of the troops. This was confirmed, shortly after, by Sir Charles, who said we must lose no time in getting off, and following the King to Lauban.

All the British officers who had accompanied Sir Charles, and who had been foremost in this battle, escaped unhurt; but Colonel Campbell's horse had been shot as he stood by his side. During the greater part of the day Bonaparte was distinctly visible on a commanding spot, directing the operations of the battle. He deployed his guards, cavalry, and lancers in front of the town of Bautzen, and showed heavy columns of infantry on the esplanade before it, bringing up, besides, a number of brigades of artillery to occupy some advantageous heights, that favoured and supported his attack, between the position of the Allies and Bautzen. The Emperor and the King were both present, in the thickest of the action— very praiseworthy in officers, but conduct much to be deprecated in sovereigns. The ill effects of it had been felt at the battle of Lutzen, and were not less so at Bautzen. Their Majesties had promised not to be present or interfere again; but I suppose military ardour carried them away, and made them unmindful of their promise.

We left Görlitz at eleven on the 22nd, and threaded our way through the crowd of troops, baggagewaggons, artillery, &c., which literally blocked up the streets of the town, and got to Lauban in time to

look after our quarters. This was by no means unnecessary; for though the inhabitants evinced the best and most friendly dispositions towards us, the town, which is small, was so crowded, that it was hardly possible to find a room to lie down in. But the French are pursuing, and we left Lauban this morning, 23rd, for Löwenburg. The black eagle announces that we are in Silesia. Dreadful roads, but a very pretty country. We are now quartered at a country house, the owner of which, an old lady, was at first very little inclined to be civil; but after a time, finding that our behaviour was good, elle se laissa amadouer. Her house, she says, has been constantly a quarter for the last twelve months, and that the Russian and Prussian officers have used her very ill, and taken everything she had; behaving as badly as any party of marauding French soldiers could have done. But she is willing, she says, to do what she can in these dreadful times, and especially when she gets gentlemen quartered upon her. She has, accordingly, contrived to give us a very good dinner, and to reward us, besides, for our good conduct, and the many civil and consoling speeches we have made to her, by producing some excellent Burgundy. The old dame has given me, too, a little private room of her own, to enable me to get on with the drafts of the despatches. All private accounts from persons, civil or military, connected with the missions, are absolutely interdicted, and all other private letters of that nature will no doubt fail, for the most part, to reach their destination.

Our good hostess, as she ushers me into her own little sanctum, hopes that, in my reports, I will not fail to say a good word for her. I wish to God I could, for as she says, "her labourers are turned into soldiers, her estate lies desolate and uncultivated, and she has now little left beyond the roof that shelters her; so that instead of giving free quarters to others she will soon have to seek them herself." I tell her, for her comfort, that better times are drawing near; that we shall soon put a stop to Mr. Boney's career, that the country will then be more flourishing than ever, and that she will then be repaid for her hospitalities. She shakes her head, and answers, "You have not conquered him yet, and in a day or two I shall have to find house-room for his party, who will tell me quite a different story."

24th. The heavy baggage was sent off at five o'clock. We have been up half the night and till now-eleven o'clock-writing for England. Captain Charles arrives. Intelligence of Duroc having been killed in a reconnoissance before Görlitz-Bonaparte standing by his side. Would to God that at that moment they had changed places! But if ever man bore a charmed life, surely it is he. exposed himself recklessly, and bullets and balls flew around him, but none touched him. Many companies and regiments march to meet him, with a conviction amongst the men that they are led out to encounter a foe that can never be conquered or killed. To this conviction amongst the men, and even in some of their officers, the many panics that have ensued-in

At Bautzen, he