them。 But respect was impossible； and the volatile Parisians made the
Peers a constant object of their witticisms。 The punsters of Paris made
the following somewhat ingenious play upon words。 Lallemand； Labedogure；
Drouot； and Ney they called Las Quatre Pairs fides （perfides）； which in
pronunciation may equally mean the four faithful peers or the four
perfidious men。 The infamous Vandamme and another were called Pair…
siffles； the biased peers； or the biased pair； or （persiffles） men made
objects of derision。 It was thus the lower orders behaved while the；
existence of France was at stake。
By this time the thunder…cloud of war had gathered and was ready to
burst。 Short as the time at his disposal was Napoleon prepared to meet
it with his accustomed energy。 Firearms formed one of the most important
objects of attention。 There were sufficient sabres； but muskets were
wanting。 The Imperial factories could； in ordinary times； furnish
monthly 20；000 stands of new arms； by the extraordinary activity and
inducements offered this number was doubled。 Workmen were also employed
in repairing the old muskets。 There was displayed at this momentous
period the same activity in the capital as in 1793； and better directed；
though without the same ultimate success。 The clothing of the army was
another difficulty； and this was got over by advancing large sums of
money to the cloth manufacturers beforehand。 The contractors delivered
20；000 cavalry horses before the 1st of June； 10；000 trained horses had
been furnished by the dismounted gendarmerie。 Twelve thousand artillery
horses were also delivered by the 1st of June； in addition to 6000 which
the army already had。
The facility with which the Ministers of Finance and of the Treasury
provided for all these expenses astonished everybody； as it was necessary
to pay for everything in ready money。 The system of public works was at
the same time resumed throughout France。 〃It is easy to see；〃 said the
workmen； 〃that 'the great contractor' is returned； all was dead； now
everything revives。〃
〃We have just learnt；〃 says a writer who was at Brussels at this time；
〃that Napoleon had left the capital of France on the 12th； on the 15th
the frequent arrival of couriers excited extreme anxiety； and towards
evening General Muffing presented himself at the hotel of the Duke of
Wellington with despatches from Blucher。 We were all aware that the
enemy was in movement； and the ignorant could not solve the enigma of the
Duke going tranquilly to the ball at the Duke of Richmond'shis coolness
was above their comprehension。 Had he remained at his own hotel a panic
would have probably ensued amongst the inhabitants； which would have
embarrassed the intended movement of the British division of the army。
〃I returned home late； and we were still talking over our uneasiness when
we heard the trumpets sound。 Before the sun had risen in full splendour
I heard martial music approaching； and soon beheld from my windows the
5th reserve of the British army passing； the Highland brigade were the
first in advance； led by their noble thanes； the bagpipes playing their
several pibrochs； they were succeeded by the 28th； their bugles' note
falling more blithely upon the ear。 Each regiment passed in succession
with its band playing。〃
The gallant Duke of Brunswick was at a ball at the assembly…rooms in the
Rue Ducale on the night of the 15th of June when the French guns； which
he was one of the first to hear； were clearly distinguished at Brussels。
〃Upon receiving the information that a powerful French force was
advancing in the direction of Charleroi。 'Then it is high time for me to
be off；' he exclaimed； and immediately quitted； the ball…room。〃
〃At four the whole disposable force under the Duke off Wellington was
collected together； but in such haste that many of the officers had no
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 ail 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。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
＇Like the preceding； this chapter first appeared in the 1836
edition； and is not from the pen of M。 de Bourrienne。＇
1815。
THE BATTLES OF LIGNY AND QUATRE BRAS。
The moment for striking a decisive blow had now come； and accordingly；
early on the morning of the 15th； the whole of the French army was in
motion。 The 2d corps proceeded to Marchiennes to attack the Prussian
outposts at Thuin and Lobes； in order to secure the communication across
the Sambre between those places。 The 3d corps； covered by General
Pajol's cavalry； advanced upon Charleroi； followed by the Imperial Guard
and the 6th corps； with the necessary detachments of pontoniers。 The
remainder of the cavalry； under Grouchy； also advanced upon Charleroi； on
the flanks of the 3d and 6th corps。 The 4th corps was ordered to march
upon the bridge of Chatelet。
On the approach of the French advanced guards an incessant skirmish was
maintained during the whole morning with the Prussians； who； after losing
many men； were compelled to yield to superior numbers。 General Zieten；
finding it impossible； from the extent of frontier he had to cover； to
cheek the advance of the French； fell back towards Fleurus by the road to
Charleroi； resolutely contesting the advance of the enemy wherever it was
possible。 In the repeated attacks sustained by him he suffered
considerable loss。 It was nearly mid…day before a passage through
Charleroi was secured by the French army； and General Zieten continued
his retreat upon Fleurus； where he took up his position for the night。
Upon Zieten's abandoning； in the course of his retreat； the chaussee
which leads to Brussels through Quatre Bras； Marshal Ney； who had only
just been put in command on the left of the French army； was ordered to
advance by this road upon Gosselies； and found at Frasnes part of the
Duke of Wellington's army； composed of Nassau troops under the command of
Prince Bernard of Saxe…Weimar； who； after some skirmishing； maintained
his position。 〃Notwithstanding all the exertions of the French at a
moment when time was of such importance； they had only been able to
advance about fifteen English miles during the day； with nearly fifteen
hours of daylight。〃
It was the intention of Napoleon during his operations on this day to
effect a separation between the English and Prussian armies； in which he
had nearly succeeded。 Napoleon's plan for this purpose； and the
execution of it by his army； were alike admirable； but it is hardly
probable that the Allied generals were taken by surprise； as it was the
only likely course which Napoleon could have taken。 His line of
operation was on the direct road to Brussels； and there were no fortified
works to impede his progress； while from the nature of the country his
numerous and excellent cavalry could be employed with great effect。
In the French accounts Marshal Ney was much blamed for not occupying
Quatre Bras with the whole of his force on the evening of the 16th。 〃Ney
might probably have driven back the Nassau troops at Quatre Bras； and
occupied that important position； but hearing a heavy cannonade on his
right flank； where General Zieten had taken up his position； he thought
it necessary to halt and detach a division in the direction of Fleurus。
He was severely censured by Napoleon for not having literally followed
his orders and pushed on to Quatre Bras。〃 This accusation forms a
curious contrast with that made against Grouchy； upon whom Napoleon threw
the blame of the defeat at Waterloo； because he strictly fulfilled his
orders； by pressing the Prussians at Wavre； unheeding the cannonade on
his left； which might have led him to conjecture that the more important
contest between the Emperor and Wellington was at that moment raging。
It was at six o'clock in the evening of the 16th that the Drake of
Wellington received the first information of the advance of the French
army； but it was not； however； until ten o'clock that positive news
reached him that the French army had moved upon the line of the Sambre。
This information induced him to push forward reinforcements on Quatre
Bras； at which place he himself arrived at an early hour on the 16th； and
immediately proceeded to Bry； to devise measures with Marshal Blucher in
order to combine their efforts。 From the movement of considerable masses
of the French in front of the Prussians it was evident that their first
grand attack would be directed against them。 That this was Napoleon's
object on the 16th maybe seen by his orders to Ney and Grouchy to turn
the right of the Prussians； and drive the British from their position at
Quatre Bras； and then to march down the chaussee upon Bry in order
effectually to separate the two armies。 Ney was accordingly detached for
this purpose with 43；000 men。 In the event of the success of Marshal Ney
he would have been enabled to detach a portion of his forces for the
purpose of making a flank attack upon the Prussians in the rear of St。
Amend； whilst Napoleon in person was directing his main efforts against
that village the strongest in the Prussian position。 Ney's reserve was
at Frasnes； disposable either for the purpose of supporting the attack on
Quatre Bras or that at St。 Amand； and in case of Ney's complete success
to turn the Prussian right flank by marching on Bry。
CHAPTER IX。
1815
THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO。
One of the most important struggles of modern times was now about to
commencea struggle which for many years was to dec