parting from their weeping mistresses.  Now the attention was attracted by a park of artillery thundering through the streets; and now, by a group of officers disputing loudly the demands of their imperturbable Flemish landlords; for not even the panic which prevailed could frighten the Flemings out of a single stiver; screams and yells occasionally rose above the busy hum that murmured through the crowd, but the general sound resembled the roar of the distant ocean.  Between two and three o’clock the Brunswickers marched from the town, still clad in the mourning which they wore for their old duke, and burning to avenge his death.  Alas! they had a still more fatal loss to lament ere they returned.  At four, the whole disposable force under the Duke of Wellington was collected together, but in such haste, that many of the officers had not time to change their silk stockings and dancing shoes; and some, quite overcome by drowsiness, were seen lying asleep about the ramparts, still holding, however, with a firm hand, the reins of their horses which were grazing by their sides.  About five o’clock, the word “march” was heard in all directions, and instantly the whole mass appeared to move simultaneously.  I conversed with several of the officers previous to their departure, and not one appeared to have the slightest idea of an approaching engagement.  The Duke of Wellington and his staff did not quit Brussels till past eleven o’clock; and it was not till some time after they were gone, that it was generally known the whole French army, including a strong corps of cavalry, was within a few miles of Quatre Bras, where the brave Duke of Brunswick first met the enemy: 

  “And foremost fighting—­fell.”

Dismay seized us all, when we found that a powerful French army was really within twenty-eight miles of us; and we shuddered at the thought of the awful contest which was taking place.  For my own part, I had never been so near a field of battle before, and I cannot describe my sensations.  We knew that our army had no alternative but to fly, or fight with a force four times stronger than its own:  and though we could not doubt British bravery, we trembled at the fearful odds to which our men must be exposed.  Cannon, lances, and swords, were opposed to the English bayonet alone.  Cavalry we had none on the first day, for the horses had been sent to grass, and the men were scattered too widely over the country, to be collected at such short notice.  Under these circumstances, victory was impossible; indeed, nothing but the stanch bravery, and exact discipline of the men, prevented the foremost of our infantry from being annihilated; and though the English maintained their ground during the day, at night a retreat became necessary.  The agony of the British, resident at Brussels, during the whole of this eventful day, sets all language at defiance.  No one thought of rest or food; but every one who could get a telescope, flew to the ramparts