ave
and honourable men, and the loss of so many friends and faithful
companions."[21]

[Footnote 21: From the _Supplement to the Madrid Gazette_ of the 13th
July 1815, quoted in the London _Evening Mail_ of August 2 to August
4, 1815.]

The next morning, the Duke wrote the following note to Lady Frances W.
Webster, dated

"BRUXELLES, 19_th_ _June_ 1815.

"Half-past 8 in the morning.

"MY DEAR LADY FRANCES,

"Lord Mount-Norris may remain in Bruxelles in perfect
security. I yesterday, after a most severe and bloody
contest, gained a complete victory, and pursued the French
till after dark. They are in complete confusion; and I have,
I believe, 150 pieces of cannon; and Bluecher, who continued
the pursuit all night, my soldiers being tired to death,
sent me word this morning that he had got 60 more. My loss
is immense. Lord Uxbridge, Lord Fitzroy Somerset, General
Cooke, General Barnes, and Colonel Berkeley are wounded:
Colonel De Lancey, Canning, Gordon, General Picton
killed.[22] The finger of Providence was upon me, and I
escaped unhurt.--Believe me, etc.,[23]

"WELLINGTON."

[Footnote 22: All the foregoing were on the General Staff of the Army
or on the Duke's personal Staff.--ED.]

[Footnote 23: _Supplementary Despatches of the Duke of Wellington_,
vol. x., p. 531.]

Captain Gronow--a subaltern of the 1st Guards at Waterloo--gives us
the following glimpse of the Duke and his Staff, on the morning of the
18th, before the opening of the battle:--

"The road was ankle-deep in mud and slough; and we had not
proceeded a quarter of a mile when we heard the trampling of
horses' feet, and on looking round perceived a large
cavalcade of officers coming at full speed. In a moment we
recognised the Duke himself at their head. He was accompanied
by the Duke of Richmond, and his son, Lord William Lennox.
The entire Staff of the army was close at hand: the Prince of
Orange, Count Pozzo di Borgo, Baron Vincent, the Spanish
General Alava, Prince Castel Cicala, with their several
aides-de-camp; Felton Hervey, Fitzroy Somerset, and De Lancey
were the last that appeared. They all seemed as gay and
unconcerned as if they were riding to meet the hounds in some
quiet English county."[24]

[Footnote 24: _Recollections and Anecdotes_, by Captain Gronow, p.
186.]

Colonel Basil Jackson, who