in the shade, will carry him down to posterity as the monarch precisely formed, by the patient good sense, the enlightened liberality, and the immoveable 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.

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 Princess 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!

PART V.

1815.

State of public feeling in Brussels-Wounded officers from the field of Waterloo-The 18th of June-Preparations of Madame d'Arblay for instant flight-Contradictory reports-A prisoner of war—A false alarm-The Duke of Wellington in battleNews of victory-The wounded in Brussels-French prisoners -Fears of contagion in Brussels from the immense number of wounded brought into the city-Humanity of Madame d'Arblay to the wounded-Congratulations on the cessation of hostilities-Te Deum for the victory at the Protestant chapel -Appearance of the wounded Prince of Orange-News of the re-enthronement of Louis XVIII.-Suggestions on a natural style in epistolary writing-Personal expenditureMadame d'Arblay's recapitulation of late events to her sonAccount of the French King's recent flight from Paris on the approach of Bonaparte-Anticipated collision of the Garde Impériale and the Gardes du Corps-Serious illness of M. d'Arblay in consequence of his laborious services-Marshal Blücher's letter to M. d'Arblay.