loves politics, and Madame Tissand, who was deeply interested in the subject, continually assured me of her complete devotion to the English.—­“Ces maudits Francois!” cried she one day, with almost terrific energy, when speaking of Napoleon’s army.  “If they should dare come to Brussels, I will tear their eyes out!”—­“Oh, aunt!” sighed her pretty niece; “remember that Louis is a conscript!”—­“Silence, Annette.  I hate even my son, since he is fighting against the brave English!”—­This was accompanied with a bow to me; but I own that I thought Annette’s love far more interesting than Madame’s Anglicism.

On the 3rd of June, I went to see ten thousand troops reviewed by the Dukes of Wellington and Brunswick.  Imagination cannot picture any thing finer than the ensemble of this scene.  The splendid uniforms of the English, Scotch, and Hanoverians, contrasted strongly with the gloomy black of the Brunswick Hussars, whose veneration for the memory of their old Duke, could be only be equalled by their devotion to his son.  The firm step of the Highlanders seemed irresistible; and as they moved in solid masses, they appeared prepared to sweep away every thing that opposed them.  In short, I was delighted with the cleanliness, military order, and excellent appointments of the men generally, and I was particularly struck with the handsome features of the Duke of Brunswick, whose fine, manly figure, as he galloped across the field, quite realized my beau ideal of a warrior.  The next time I saw the Duke of Brunswick was at the dress ball, given at the Assembly-rooms in the Rue Ducale, on the night of the 15th of June.  I stood near him when he received the information that a powerful French force was advancing in the direction of Charleroy.  “Then it is high time for me to be off,” said the Duke, and I never saw him alive again.  The assembly broke up abruptly, and in half an hour drums were beating and bugles sounding.  The good burghers of the city, who were almost all enjoying their first sleep, started from their beds at the alarm, and hastened to the streets, wrapped in the first things they could find.  The most ridiculous and absurd rumours were rapidly circulated and believed.  The most general impression seemed to be that the town was on fire; the next that the Duke of Wellington had been assassinated; but when it was discovered that the French were advancing, the consternation became general, and every one hurried to the Place Royale, where the Hanoverians and Brunswickers were already mustering.

About one o’clock in the morning of the 16th, the whole population of Brussels seemed in motion.  The streets were crowded as in full day; lights flashed to and fro; artillery and baggage-wagons were creaking in every direction; the drums beat to arms, and the bugles sounded loudly “the dreadful note of preparation.”  The noise and bustle surpassed all description; here were horses plunging and kicking amidst a crowd of terrified burghers; there lovers