“P.S.  The papers of to-night confirm the news of this morning.  Bonaparte is no longer a dangerous man; he has abdicated, and, in all probability, a republican form of government will be the future government of France, if they are capable of enjoying such a government.  But no one can foresee events; there may be a long peace, or the world may be torn worse than it yet has been.  Revolution seems to succeed revolution so rapidly that, in looking back on our lives, we seem to have lived a thousand years, and wonders of late seem to scorn to come alone; they come in clusters.”

The battle in Flanders was the battle of Waterloo, which was fought on the 18th day of June, and on the 6th of July the allied armies again entered Paris.  Referring to these events many years later, Morse said:—­

“It was on one of my visits, in the year 1815, that an incident occurred which well illustrates the character of the great philanthropist [Mr. Wilberforce].  As I passed through Hyde Park on my way to Kensington Gore, I observed that great crowds had gathered, and rumors were rife that the allied armies had entered Paris, that Napoleon was a prisoner, and that the war was virtually at an end; and it was momentarily expected that the park guns would announce the good news to the people.

“On entering the drawing-room at Mr. Wilberforce’s I found the company, consisting of Mr. Thornton [his memory must have played him false in this particular as Mr. Thornton died some time before], Mr. Macaulay, Mr. Grant, the father, and his two sons Robert and Charles, and Robert Owen of Lanark, in quite excited conversation respecting the rumors that prevailed.  Mr. Wilberforce expatiated largely on the prospects of a universal peace in consequence of the probable overthrow of Napoleon, whom naturally he considered the great disturber of the nations.  At every period, however, he exclaimed:  ’It is too good to be true, it cannot be true.’  He was altogether skeptical in regard to the rumors.

“The general subject, however, was the absorbing topic at the dinner-table.  After dinner the company joined the ladies in the drawing-room.  I sat near a window which looked put in the direction of the distant park.  Presently a flash and a distant dull report of a gun attracted my attention, but was unnoticed by the rest of the company.  Another flash and report assured me that the park guns were firing, and at once I called Mr. Wilberforce’s attention to the fact.  Running to the window he threw it up in time to see the next flash and hear the report.  Clasping his hands in silence, with the tears rolling down his cheeks, he stood for a few moments perfectly absorbed in thought, and, before uttering a word, embraced his wife and daughters, and shook hands with every one in the room.  The scene was one not to be forgotten.”

We learn from a letter of his mother’s dated June 27, 1815, that the painting of the “Dying Hercules” had at last been received, but that the plaster cast of the same subject was still mysteriously missing.  The painting was much admired, and the mother says:—­