[40] La Bedoyere (Charles Huchet, Comte de) distinguished himself in
    several of the Napoleonic wars, in particular at Ratisbonne and
    Borodino.  Being a colonel at Grenoble, in March, 1815, he deserted to
    Napoleon’s cause and was nominated by him general and pair de
    France.  In July, 1815, he was arrested in Paris, tried for high
    treason and shot, August 19, in spite of Benj.  Constant’s efforts to
    save him.—­ED.

[41] Charlotte Smith (1749-1806), author of Emmeline, or the Orphan of the
    Castle (1788), Celestina (1792), The Old Manor House (1793),
    etc.—­ED.

CHAPTER IV

From Paris to Bruxelles—­Visiting the plains of Waterloo—­The Duke de Berri at Lille—­Beauvais—­Return to Paris—­Remarks on the French theatre—­ Talma—­Mlle Duchesnois—­Mlle Georges-French alexandrine verse—­The Abbe Delille—­The Opera Comique.

I met with my brother-in-law and his nephew at Paris, and hearing from them that they had an intention of returning to England by the way of Bruxelles, with the idea of visiting the plains of Waterloo, I was induced to accompany them.  We started on the 18th August, taking the exact route from Paris that was taken by Napoleon.  Passed the first night at St Quentin; the second at a small village on the line between Mons and Charleroy in the Belgian territory.  The next morning, after breakfasting at Nivelles, we proceeded to Quatre Bras and Mont St Jean.  At the little cabaret called a la belle Alliance we met a host of Englishmen who had been to behold the field of battle; Lacoste, the peasant who was Napoleon’s guide on the day of battle, was about to conduct them across the fields to Hougoumont.  We followed them.  The devastation of the place, every tree being pierced with bullets, and the whole premises being nearly burned to the ground, seemed to astonish their weak minds; one of them was not contented till he had measured the length and breadth of the garden and orchards.

Cuirasses, helmets, swords and various other spoils of war found on the spot, were offered for sale by some boys and eagerly bought up as relics.  My brother-in-law made a purchase of a helmet, sword and cuirass, intending to hang it up in his hall.  For my part I have seen, and can see no reason whatever to rejoice at this event.  I fear it is pregnant with infinite mischief.

We arrived at Bruxelles on the afternoon of the 20th August and after visiting thePark, Alee verte and Palace of Laeken, we proceeded the next morning on our journey to Lille.

The Duke of Berri was at Lille and a grand fete was given in the evening to celebrate the second restoration of the Bourbons.  Fireworks were let off, the city was brilliantly illuminated and boys (hired of course) went about the streets singing the following refrain