Waterloo Witnesses: Military and Civilian Accounts of the 1815 Campaign

By Kristine Hughes

The events of Sunday, 18 June, stand as the defining moment of the year 1815, if not of an entire era. The allied victory over Napoleon’s French army at the Battle of Waterloo reshaped governments and boundaries, made or broke fortunes and touched thousands of lives in ways both large and small, and it has been analysed, dissected and refought on paper a hundred times. Perhaps, though, the very best words ever written about that momentous campaign are the first-person accounts recorded as events unfolded. It is these vivid accounts that Kristine Hughes has collected together in order to convey the hopes, fears and aspirations of their authors. They inject the story of the battle with a level of humanity that reclaims it from the realm of legend and restores it to the people who witnessed it. In chronological order her work pieces together a novel view of the battle and events surrounding it as they were experienced by both military men and civilians. The result is a fascinating and varied picture of the individuals involved and the society of the period. Their words make compelling reading.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Jun 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781399003643

Book preview

Chapter 1

Civilians and Celebrations

A dinner party at home. In the evening, about eleven o’clock, we took our party to Madame de Stael’s, where we heard the astonishing news of the abdication of Bonaparte, which had just been published in a Gazette of ten lines long. One could hardly believe it; one could hardly persuade oneself that one was already at peace with all the world – that the struggle was over – not faute de combattans[sic], but mais [sic] faute de quelque ennemi a combattre.¹ Nobody could think or talk of anything but the wonderful news that we had just heard.

[from the Diary of Mary Berry²]

Over the course of 30–31 March 1814, the Allied Russian, Austrian and Prussian Sixth Coalition army fought the French at the Battle of Paris. Upon the Allied victory, Prince Talleyrand, who had been elected as President of the provisional Parisian government, gave the key of the city to the Russian Tsar, Alexander I.³ Later that day, the Coalition armies triumphantly entered Paris with the Tsar at their head, followed by the King of Prussia (Frederick William III)⁴ and Austrian Field Marshal Prince Schwarzenberg.⁵ From there, things moved speedily onwards. On 2 April, the Senate passed the Acte de Déchéance de l’Empereur (the Emperor’s Demise Act), which effectively deposed Napoleon as Emperor. Napoleon then tendered an unconditional abdication at Fontainebleau on 6 April, and the Treaty of Fontainebleau was signed at Paris on 11 April by the plenipotentiaries of each nation and ratified by Napoleon on 13 April. The treaty also provided for Napoleon to enter into voluntary exile on the island of Elba.

Meanwhile, almost 700 miles to the south of Paris, the British army under the command of Wellington had claimed another victory at the Battle of Toulouse on 10 April. It would prove to be one of the last battles of the Napoleonic Wars.

Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Ponsonby,⁶ Commander of the 12th Light Dragoons, brought word of Napoleon’s abdication to Wellington at Toulouse. He reported that, upon hearing the news, Wellington exclaimed, ‘You don’t say so, upon my honour! Hoorah!’⁷ The field marshal then raised his arms above his head, snapped his fingers and sketched the steps of a flamenco.

With the end of hostilities in sight, Viscount Castlereagh,⁸ the Foreign Secretary, sought to keep Wellington in a key strategic position by writing to request that he accept the role of British ambassador to France. Wellington’s military successes had been achieved in conjunction with the diplomatic skills he had honed during negotiations in India, Portugal and Spain. In fact, before embarking for England to accept congratulations and officially accept the role of ambassador, Wellington would stop in Paris and then, at Castlereagh’s request, travel to Madrid to confer with his brother, Henry,⁹ Britain’s ambassador to Spain. The newly restored King Ferdinand VII was busy reestablishing absolute monarchy, resulting in a coup by the ousted liberals (many of whom Ferdinand had arrested). Spain was by this time nearly bankrupt and the King had yet to fashion a new constitution. The prospect of a civil war was not entirely out of the question and it was imperative that Spain’s loyalty should remain with Britain rather than with its nearer neighbour, France, during this period of transition. To this end, Wellington was sent to Madrid to confer with the King on the finer points of a constitutional government and to retain his allegiance. There was also the matter of Spain’s reluctance to cease its participation in the slave trade to be tackled. Coincidentally, it would fall to Wellington, in his role as ambassador to France, to address many of these points with the newly restored King Louis XVIII.¹⁰

Wellington arrived in Paris on 4 May, where he was met with the sort of public acclaim with which he never became entirely comfortable. He also met with Lord Castlereagh, who, by the by, informed Wellington that he had recently been awarded a dukedom. In London, the events unfolding in Paris were of great interest to society, as Mrs Calvert,¹¹ an Irish heiress and society beauty of the day, recorded.

Mrs Calvert, London, 6 June 1814

I had a good many visitors yesterday, amongst the rest Lady Charlemont,¹² who I really think the prettiest creature there ever was. Old Blücher¹³ was dining at Paris in company with Lady Burghersh¹⁴ and the Duke of Wellington and made this speech, à propos of what I don’t know: Jaime le Duc de Wellington et je respecte Lady Burghersh. Voilà ce que dit ma bouche. Mais mon coeur dit au contraire. J’aime Lady Burghersh etje respecte le Duc de Wellington,’¹⁵ – a very neatly turned compliment.¹⁶

* * *

It is safe to say that, as the Duke of Wellington and Marshal Blücher dined together in Paris, neither man could have conceived the extent to which their lives, and their legacies, would forever be entwined.

We are given a picture of what the climate was like in Paris at this time from the following letter received by Mary Berry.¹⁷

From the Hon. J.W. Ward¹⁸ to Miss Berry, Paris, Wednesday, 11 May 1814

Paris is certainly at this moment the most wonderful show-box in the world. It has within its walls as many live emperors, kings, generals, and eminent persons of all kinds, as the ingenious Mrs Salmon¹⁹ ever exhibited in wax. What is a matter of greater interest and greater surprise is to see France – to see the great nation that only a few months ago seemed so near realising its old plan of universal dominion – not only beaten, but delivered over bound hand and foot to foreign masters.

The fact, I believe, is that the people have become quite callous by what they have suffered for the last twenty years, and that no public event makes much impression upon them. They are generally well inclined to the Bourbons – not, however, as a positive good, but as the least of the evils they are likely to endure. There are, however, I understand, a great many malcontents; and the army is still, in general, attached to the late Emperor. But the different bodies of which it is composed have no means of union, or indeed of communication; no individual in whom they confide, and round whom they could rally; and in peace (if the court manages tolerably well) they will rapidly crumble away, so that I see no great danger from that side.

You see the King has rejected the constitution with as little ceremony as he would send away a dish at dinner that he did not like. This event will probably excite quite as much sensation in England as it does in France. I cannot find that anybody here cares about the matter. The constitution was generally disapproved of, and the framers of it still more generally despised; so the rejection of it appeared quite a matter of course.

Paris is at this moment a garrison town, and, what is worse, a town garrisoned by foreign troops; Lord Wellington was here for a few days: his dukedom met him on his arrival. He was received in a manner that could not but give great pleasure to every Englishman. He seems quite unspoilt by success. He has not even contracted that habit of silence, and reserve which so often accompanies dignity and favour, even when they produce no more unfavourable change. But he is just as he was – gay, frank, and ready to converse. I counted myself lucky in meeting him one of the days he was here, at Aberdeen’s²⁰ Stadion²¹ observed that he believed he had never been engaged against Bonaparte in person. The Duke of W. answered instantly: ‘No; and I am very glad I never was. I would at any time rather have heard that a reinforcement of forty thousand men had joined the French army, than that he had arrived to take the command.’ I had heard the opinion ascribed to him before, but I was glad to find he had the liberality to repeat it after Bonaparte’s fall. You know he is to be our ambassador here. His presence may inspire the Marshals of France with some respect; or, to speak more properly, may keep up that sentiment in their minds. Nor is that such an easy matter as you will think, when I tell you the topic Ney²² chose to dwell upon the other day, at Lord Castlereagh’s table, in presence of Lord Wellington and seven or eight more foreign generals, by all of whom the French had at sundry times been defeated. It was the invasion of England; a project which, Ney said, had always met with his warmest approbation, and of the success of which, if it were attempted, he had always felt quite confident. The Emperor, he owned, had treated it as more hazardous, and as an undertaking more fit for a partisan than a general, but that his own opinion had remained unshaken.

* * *

Wellington sailed for Dover on 23 June and was treated to his first glimpse of England in over five years. He was returning home a hero and, as such, was given a hero’s welcome by the enthusiastic populace of England at every stop along his route from Dover to the capital. Outside London, the people eagerly awaited his arrival and stood ready to meet his coach in order to unharness his horses and pull the carriage the rest of the way into the City in a traditional display of acclaim. Having learned about these plans ahead of time, Wellington chose instead to mount a horse and ride into London unobserved.

Wellington enjoyed a few private hours with his family before his whereabouts were made known and the honours he’d won caught up with him. Because Wellington had been out of the country for almost six years, he had not been able to present his letters patent or take the oaths in the House of Lords when he had received the titles of Baron Douro (1809), Viscount Wellington (1809), Earl of Wellington (1812), Marquess of Wellington (1812) and Duke of Wellington (1814). On 28 June, the Duke of Wellington was finally able to take his seat in the House of Lords, when he ‘showed his patent and right of summons … then approached the table, where His Grace’s various patents, as Baron and Viscount, Earl, Marquess, and lastly as Duke, were each read by the clerks. The oaths were then administered, and the Test Rolls were signed by him. He then, accompanied by his noble supporters, took his seat on the Duke’s bench, and saluted the House in the usual manner, by rising, taking off his hat, and bowing respectfully.’²³

Wellington’s having been invested with all five titles in a single day remains a singular circumstance and the event prompted a host of celebrations.

Lady Shelley,²⁴ London, 21 July 1814

The night [the Duke of Wellington] dined with us happened to be the Prince’s²⁵ Fête. This compelled the Duke to wear his full uniform, with all his orders. The rest of the party consisted of Mr and Mrs Wellesley Pole,²⁶ Lord and Lady Burghersh,²⁷ the Duchess of Wellington,²⁸ Lord Apsley²⁹ and my eldest son. When Wellington entered the room, my son John, blushing up to the eyes, went up to him and said: ‘l am so glad to see you, Duke of Wellington. I have wanted to see you such a long time!’ The Duke appeared very much pleased with the boy, and kissed him on both cheeks.

After dinner we all went to Carlton House, and I walked about with Wellington from supper-time until we went away at five in the morning. We watched the dancing for some time, and the Duke appeared to enjoy seeing all his aides-de-camp dancing. He said: ‘How would society get on without all my boys?’³⁰

Mrs Calvert, London, 23 July 1814

On Thursday Sir James Stronge³¹ came to Town and went with us to Carlton House. It was a most superb fête indeed! An immense temporary room (like Ranelagh) was built into the garden, which in every part was brilliantly illuminated. Since I was there last a new supper room has been built – magnificent beyond description. The Royal Family and Grandees supped there, and we went into it after they had done. The plate – all gold – is beautiful. Impossible is it to describe all the rooms and decorations, it was like fairyland. The Duke of Wellington was there – just the same good-humoured, unaffected creature he ever was. Miss G. Fitzroy looked very happy, leaning on the arm of her future husband, Lord Worcester.³² Miss Pole is to be married to Lord Fitzroy Somerset,³³ he is appointed Secretary to the Duke of Wellington at Paris.

* * *

Fitzroy Somerset married Lady Emily Harriet Wellesley Pole, Wellington’s niece, on 6 August 1814, before leaving for Paris. He was the youngest son of the 5th Duke of Beaufort and had been appointed an aide-de-camp to Wellington in 1808, serving also as his military secretary, a role he resumed when Wellington was appointed ambassador to France.

In addition to Somerset, Lieutenant Colonel Sir Alexander Gordon³⁴ would be joining Wellington’s staff in Paris. Gordon had been an acting aide-de-camp on Wellington’s staff since 1810 and had received brevet promotion to major and then to lieutenant colonel after delivering Wellington’s victory dispatches to London following both the Battles of Corunna and Ciudad Rodrigo.

With his departure for Paris imminent, Wellington set about rounding up the rest of his personal staff.

Lieutenant John Fremantle,³⁵ Aide-de-Camp to the Duke of Wellington, Coldstream Orderly Room, London, 25 July 1814, 5:00 p.m.

My dear uncle – I was in the Duchess [of Wellington]’s room this morning, when the Duke came up, and told me briefly to ask the Duke of York’s leave to go with him (I suppose of course to Paris). I have this instant asked the Duke of York who says he has no sort of objection if the regiment can spare me, therefore I consider it as settled. I shall call on the Duke of Cambridge. I am ever my dear uncle your dutiful and affectionate nephew, John Fremantle.³⁶

* * *

Lieutenant John Fremantle had served in the Peninsula and had been appointed aide-de-camp and private secretary to the Duke of Wellington in 1813. Amongst the other aides-de-camp who would serve in Paris (and some later at Waterloo) were Lieutenant Colonel Henry Percy,³⁷ Lieutenant Colonel James Hamilton Stanhope,³⁸ Lieutenant Colonel Charles Fox Canning,³⁹ Colonel Sir Felton Elwell Hervey-Bathurst,⁴⁰ Captain Lord Arthur Hill,⁴¹ Sir George Cathcart⁴² and Captain Ulysses Burgh, 92nd Foot.⁴³

After Fitzroy Somerset, who married into the Wellesley family, the Duke of Wellington had the closest personal relationship with the last two of his aides-de-camp, Captain Charles Gordon-Lennox, Earl of March,⁴⁴ and his younger brother, Lieutenant Colonel Lord John George Lennox.⁴⁵ Their father was the 4th Duke of Richmond,⁴⁶ who had in 1807 become Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (until 1813), under whom Wellington had himself served as Chief Secretary for Ireland. During that period, Wellington had spent much time with the Duke and Duchess of Richmond and their children and was ever after treated as an honorary member of the Lennox family.

Lord March had served on Wellington’s staff in the Peninsula and had commanded a company during the Battle of Orthez in 1814, when he was severely wounded. In fact, he still had a musket-ball in his chest and was prone to fainting when exposed to extreme changes in temperature, a condition attributed, rightly or wrongly, to the wound. At Waterloo, March began as aide-de-camp to the Prince of Orange, who himself had been an aide-de-camp to Wellington in the Peninsula. After the Prince was wounded at Waterloo, March resumed his post as aide-de-camp to the Duke. March’s younger brother, John George Lennox, was also on the staff, and had been Wellington’s aide-de-camp since 1813. Wellington also asked a third brother, the 16-year-old Lord William Lennox⁴⁷ – a cornet in the Royal Horse Guards, to join his staff in Paris:

It was early in the month of August, 1814, I received the gratifying intelligence that I was to accompany the Duke of Wellington to Paris, where he had been appointed ambassador to the Court of France. It may easily be imagined how delighted I was, not only to find myself appointed an unpaid attaché to the Embassy, but with the thoughts of visiting foreign countries under such auspices. Upon the 6th of August, having had previous notice to hold myself in preparation, I received orders to be with the Duke the following day, at two o’clock in the afternoon. Need I say, that punctually at that hour I drove up to the door of His Grace’s temporary residence, in Hamilton Place, Piccadilly. I was ushered into his presence, and there saw the great conqueror seated at his writing table, placing some manuscripts in a large dispatch-box. The room was strewed with covers of letters, printed forms, and papers. After a most kind and gracious reception, the Duke desired me to order the carriage round at three o’clock; and then proceeded to arrange his documents, give his directions, and make preparations for his departure. At half-past ten o’clock in the morning of this day (Sunday), the Duke had been honoured by an audience with the Prince Regent, and had remained nearly an hour with His Royal Highness.

As the clock was about to strike three, upon the Sunday (August 7th) I have before alluded to, the Duke rose from his chair, and, having previously taken leave of those relations and friends there assembled, walked to the door of his carriage. In less time than I can take to record it, my brother attaché, an officer of great distinction, and myself, had followed the warrior, and were seated opposite him. The servants had mounted the rumble; and the carriage, a perfectly plain one, drove off, with four good posters, on the road to Coombe Wood, where the Duke and ourselves were to dine and sleep.⁴⁸

Coombe Wood was the seat of the Prime Minister, Lord Liverpool,⁴⁹ who hosted His Grace and his suite that night. Next day, Wellington’s party continued on to Deal and were met by Vice Admiral Foley, who saw them aboard the Griffon, commanded by Captain Hewson.⁵⁰ They set sail almost immediately, landing at Bergen-op-Zoom at 6:00 p.m. On disembarking, the Duke received the cheers of the people and a fifteen-gun salute before touring the sites associated with Sir Thomas Graham’s⁵¹ failed attack on the town in March. Travelling on through Antwerp, the Duke and his party reached Brussels on 11 August, where they were met by the Prince of Orange.

Chapter 2

The British Invasion

The Duke of Richmond [has] a delightful House & Gardens in the Lower part of the Town, &delightful it ought to be, to at all compensate for the disadvantage of the situation. [Caroline Capel]

Lady Caroline Paget¹ was sister to Henry Paget, Lord Uxbridge, who would soon be made Marquess of Anglesey.² In 1792, Caroline had married the Hon. John Thomas Capel, younger son of the Earl of Essex and, as it turned out, an inveterate gambler.

Capel lost far more at the tables than he ever won, resulting in the financial embarrassment that now forced the family to sidestep their creditors and find a more economical way of life in Brussels. They were not the first, nor would they be the last, British family to make such a move. Much of Europe had been barred to British travellers since the breakdown of the Peace of Amiens in 1803. Now that peace had been re-established, the continent once again beckoned to travellers who flocked across the Channel to sightsee, to make their grand tours, to shop for European goods or, like the Capels (and the Spencers and the Creeveys), to seek a less expensive style of life.

In fact, the Capels had first contemplated leaving England in 1800, when their debts had forced the family to lodge in the home of Lady Uxbridge, Caroline’s mother, who had written in 1804 to her son Arthur:

My heart is almost broke upon a subject that you are no Stranger to, tho’ you are to the Extent and dreadful Consequences that must ensue. I was made acquainted by Lady Essex [Capel’s mother] and her Lawyer of the Magnitude of debt, amounting (I tremble to name it) to £20,000.³ Neither Ways or Means to be found to discharge craving Creditors &c.⁴

As the Capels, their ten children and five servants were preparing to head to the continent, arrangements were being made for further public festivities in London. Having celebrated Napoleon’s abdication, it was now time for the Allied nations to celebrate the hard-earned peace, which had taken over ten years to realise. State visits by representatives of the Allied Powers, European sovereigns and military commanders began that June and, as we have seen, ran for three months.

These two events, the Capels leaving England and the official celebrations getting underway, converged in Dover, where the family had already spent two days in a hotel waiting to sail. Maria, one of the Capel daughters, wrote to tell her grandmother, Lady Uxbridge,⁵ about the arrival of the foreign dignitaries.

Maria Capel (Muzzy) to her Grandmother, Dowager Countess of Uxbridge, Dover, 7 June 1814

The Duke of Clarence⁶ and the Emperor of Russia, the King of Prussia, two or three Prussian Princes of the Blood & dear old Blücher landed yesterday at 2 o’clock. You my dearest Grand Mama will I know wish me joy when I tell you all the People I was introduced to yesterday – They all came into our Room with Sir Charles Stewart⁷ – General Blücher, General Bulow,⁸ General Barclay de Tolli,⁹ General D’Yorck.¹⁰ General Blücher almost shook our hands off and kissed us all in such a moving way.The Moment the People got wind of his being with us, they broke the Windows to see him well – and 100’s of people of all sorts crowded into the Room. You my dearest Grand Mama would die of the Noise of this Inn. I never heard anything equal to it. If we stir out of this Room we must pass such a Phalanx of Foreigners of all Nations & Ranks – this is rather inconvenient as our sitting Room is on the Ground Floor. But I think it all the best fun. Sir Charles Stewart drunk tea here yesterday. The Duke of Clarence came here yesterday, he passed by the Window & saw us upon which he said – Are you at home? & then made his appearance. Admiral Foley¹¹ has very kindly lent Papa a Brig which we sail in tomorrow – We were to have sailed today but the wind will not permit us. I must not forget to say that we are all fallen in love with Platoff, he shook hands with us all. Next to Blücher I never saw so dear an old Man.

* * *

After biding their time at Dover for a week, the Capels finally sailed on 11 June, landing at Calais after a rough passage and then proceeding on to Brussels, where kind friends and useful contacts helped smooth their arrival and facilitate domestic arrangements.

The Duke of Wellington and his suite arrived in Brussels on 11 August. The following week, Lord William Lennox wrote the following account of his having accompanied the Duke and the Prince of Orange on a tour of inspection.

Lord William Lennox, Reminiscences

On the 17th of August, I was, as they say in the army, ‘told off’ to attend the Duke, who, accompanied by the Hereditary Prince of Orange, was to visit Namur; the object being to examine the situation of that city, and the remains of the works, as well as the fort upon the hill, at the conflux of the Sambre and Meuse.

The Prince and the ‘hero of a hundred fights’ were received with inconceivable joy. The Dutch garrison, with the commandant, General Stedman,¹² at their head, were under arms. The people took the horses from the carriage, and drew it, amidst the loudest acclamations – amid the ringing of bells, and firing of cannon – to the hotel.

The Hereditary Prince and the Duke employed two days examining this place, attended by some officers of the English engineers; and we were generally, with the exception of time allowed for a slight midday refreshment, in our saddles from dawn to dusk.

From Namur, the Prince of Orange and the Duke proceeded to Charleroi, Mons, Tournay, Courtrai, Menin, Ypres, Furnes, and Nieuport, and the same routine went on day after day. An early and excellent breakfast, a long morning’s ride, a ‘snack,’ an afternoon’s ride, a public dinner, and the theatre in the evening.

Wellington’s presence in the Netherlands was viewed with jealousy by France, for it was well-known at Paris that the Duke was actively employed in giving advice with respect to the fortifications, and suggesting measures for strengthening that formidable line, which was to form a barrier on the French frontier from Namur to the ocean.

* * *

The ‘jealousy’ that Lord William refers to related to the new boundaries laid out by the Congress of Paris. Once a part of Austria, Belgium had now been annexed to Holland, with British and Allied troops garrisoned at various strategic locations in order to affect a peaceful transition, the whole overseen by Lord Lynedoch.

The Duke and his party were once again in Brussels on the 19th, where the entertainments continued.

Maria Capel (‘Muzzy’) to her Grandmother, Brussels, 19 August 1814

On the Prince Regent’s Birthday we had a Magnificent Parade & Feu de Joie which extended all round the Park, Lord Wellington, who attended it, was recd. with enthusiasm. In the Evening Lord Clancarty¹³ gave a very Good Ball to 500 People. On the Duke of York’s Birthday The Guards gave a Ball & Supper in the handsomest way possible. We are able to go to the Play now whenever we like, without any expence. For we have no less than 4 Boxes at our disposal. Ly Mary Lennox¹⁴ wrote a very kind letter to Harriet the other day saying she looked forward with the greatest pleasure to our old Brighton Intimacy being renew’d. Lord March, who is here as one of the Pr. of Orange’s aides-de-camp, thinks they will not stay long. He is a very pleasant Person and has still a Ball in him from the Effects of which he has not recovered, but Faints at the least transition from heat to cold.

Lord William Lennox, Reminiscences

The time now approached for the Duke’s departure from Brussels, and on the 23rd of August, after as rapid a journey as could be made in those days of heavy horses, bad roads, and huge jack-booted postilions, we reached Paris, and took possession of the Hotel Borghese,¹⁵ Rue du Faubourg St Honoré, formerly the residence of the beautiful Princess of that name; and upon the following day His Grace was presented in great state to Louis XVIII and the Royal Family.

The Duc de Noailles,¹⁶ peer of France, whom the King had appointed to accompany the Duke of Wellington, repaired to the ambassador’s hotel, with three royal carriages, each drawn by eight horses, to conduct his Excellency to an audience of His Majesty at the Palace of the Tuileries. In addition to the royal carriages, the cavalcade was composed of three splendid court carriages belonging to the newly-appointed ambassador, [and] the state coach of the Duc de Noailles, each drawn by six horses, and followed by a number of servants in handsome liveries. The whole party alighted at the grand vestibule of the Tuileries, and proceeded to the Hall of Ambassadors.

Lieutenant John Fremantle to his Uncle William, Paris, 26 August 1814

We were at court all day yesterday and today. We went in the King’s carriages; [Henry] Percy and I had one to ourselves drawn by eight horses with running footmen. We bowed condescendingly to all the people who pulled off their hats, excepting an old bitch who put out her tongue at us, and I did the same. Tout va grand train [everything is going at full speed].

Lord William Lennox, Reminiscences

France, at this period, could boast of its royal hunt; the season commenced towards the end of August, and on the 27th the Duc de Berri,¹⁷ accompanied by the Prince of the Moskowa [Marshal Ney], hunted in the Bois de Boulogne. Wellington, who had an excellent stud of English hunters, kindly mounted me, as he did during the whole time he took part in the pleasures of the chase. Wellington and Ney met in friendly intercourse by the covert’s side. What extraordinary events occurred between the ‘meet’ at the Bois de Boulogne, on the 27th of August, and the ‘meet’ on the plains of Waterloo on the 18th of June! How much happened in that interval! The hunt was attended by all the sporting elite of Paris, and there, not the least curious part was to witness the two great generals riding side by side in amicable converse.

One youth attracted great attention that day from his handsome appearance, his gentlemanlike bearing, his faultless dress, and the splendid English hunter he was mounted upon. This was Alfred d’Orsay,¹⁸ afterwards so well-known in London society. [He had] … a first-rate Leicestershire hunter, whose fine shape, simple saddle and bridle, contrasted favourably with the heavy animals, and smart caparisons, then in fashion with the Parisian Nimrods.

The Count was presented to Wellington and his staff, and from that moment he became a constant guest at the Hotel Borghese. The sport, owing to the numerous field, was very indifferent; the deer was headed, the hounds ridden over, nor could the vehement action, vociferous shouts, and unqualified oaths of the Royal Duke, preserve the slightest order. Under these circumstances, the hounds were taken home, and the antlered monarch of the woods allowed ‘to live to run another day’.

The Duke of Wellington to W. Hamilton, Esq., Paris, 29 August 1814

Upon my arrival here I found that Sir Charles Stuart¹⁹ had brought the Princesse de Borghese’s agents as low as they could come, and I have come into her house, having determined on the purchase from what passed on the subject in London. The price agreed upon is 800,000 francs for the house and furniture complete, and 63,000 for the stable, which is a separate concern, and requires some repairs. The whole will come to about 870,000 francs, and, considering the size and situation of the house, the number of persons it will accommodate, and the manner in which it is furnished, the purchase is a remarkably cheap one. I have not settled in what number of instalments the payments are to be made; but I understand there will be no objection to as many as we please, and I will make the number as great as possible.

Believe me, &c. Wellington

* * *

As the Duke of Wellington was finalising details for the purchase of the Princesse de Borghese’s house in Paris, back in London, the Duke and Duchess of Richmond were proceeding with plans for their own move to Brussels. Having succeeded to the dukedom of Richmond and Lennox upon the death of his uncle in 1806, the 4th Duke found himself with an estate that was saddled with debt. The following April he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, a position that necessitated a good deal of lavish entertaining, the cost of which in the case of the Richmonds far exceeded their income. When that appointment ended in 1813, the Richmonds temporarily closed the family estate, Goodwood, as a cost-saving measure and headed to Brussels along with most of their fourteen children.

Firstly, they needed to find a suitable tutor for their younger sons and one who would be willing to leave England and travel with them to the continent for a period of uncertain duration. They engaged Spencer Madan for this purpose. At 23 years old, Madan found himself removed from the relative academic calm of Christ Church, Oxford, and thrust into the midst of the hectic Richmond household.

Madan’s father was the Revd Dr Spencer Madan, Canon of Lichfield, Rector of Ibstock and a Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty, while Madan’s grandfather had been Bishop of Bristol and Peterborough. Nothing in his background could have prepared Madan for the adventure upon which he was about to embark, still less for dealing with the notoriously difficult Duchess. Fortunately, Madan’s father, his main correspondent in the following letters, provided him with sound advice, coupled with affection and dollops of humour, which helped him to navigate the barrage of slings and arrows that would be sent his way over the next eight months.

Arriving at Richmond House to take up his post, Madan found that the Duke of Richmond and his two eldest daughters had already departed for Brussels, where the family were soon to follow (like the Capels) in order to begin living upon the ‘economic plan’. Therefore, Madan was left to deal with the Duchess of Richmond directly.

Spencer Madan to his Father, Richmond House, London, 18 September 1814

(Courage!)

My dear Father,

It certainly was unfortunate that the Duke was not at home when I arrived, as I might then have had less communication with Her Grace, who is one of the sourest most illtempered [sic] personages I ever came across in my life. She sends for me every morning, generally with some complaint about the boys, or to charge me with some neglect, as that she saw them with dirty hands and cloaths, that they had made themselves too hot at play, or some thing of that sort which it is impossible that I can prevent. A shade of ill humour is superadded to her usual acidity of temper by the thoughts of going abroad, and every post brings some news that she does not like. I generally see her immediately after post-time.²⁰

Spencer Madan, Dover, 30 September 1814

We left Richmond House on Wednesday morning at ½ past 6. The Dss told me overnight that she should set out at 5 having ordered the horses at ½ past 4. I was dressed a quarter before 5, & waited an hour & three-quarters for my pains. We travelled in 2 new carriages exceedingly handsome & stylish. In the first were the Dss, Ladies Georgiana Jane Louisa & Charlotte, and Her Grace’s maid Mrs Smith. There was only a boot before without a barouche box; in the rumble tumble sat Mr Johnson the butler. Our carriage wch. was a barouche landau contained Lady Sophia & her maid my three pupils & self on the barouche box Mr Gillet a Brussels merchant whom the Dss carries over to pay her expences [sic] in France, (he knowing the coin and language of the country) and Mrs Wood a ladies’ maid: in the rumble tumble Miss Grant ditto And the coachman. The inside was so jammed up with loose parcels that we had great difficulty in seating ourselves. I longed for a place on the box, and shall endeavour to displace one of the maids when we get across the water. When a woman is capricious and different at different times, it is very hard to do right particularly if she is disposed to think wrong whatever you do. Amongst other amiable qualities the Dss is horribly stingy. Whilst we have been living here (Wright’s Hotel, Dover), the only meals we make are breakfast at 9 & dinner at 6. No luncheon tea or supper.

Spencer Madan to his Father, Brussels, Friday 14 October 1814

[After waiting a week for a wind at Dover, Madan, the Richmond family and their suite crossed the Channel and landed near Boulogne, proceeding by carriage to Calais.]

The most unpleasant part of my journey was from Boulogne to Calais. The carriages were landed at the latter place, and I found myself stuffed into a vehicle not unlike a London hackney coach with 7 others viz. 4 maids and 3 children. I was exactly in the middle, and could not stir a peg. The fact was that we ought to have had a Cabriolet in addition only the Dss was too stingy. With this quality is frequently joined a foolish profusion, which was exemplified in this instance, for Her Grace at the moment that she was almost starving her children, bought at every stage lace and trinkets at exorbitant prices, being grossly cheated, whereas had she waited till she got here she might have obtained better articles for half the money. She almost drove Mr Gillet mad with her folly. He was purse-bearer on this side the water, and had to pay for the bargains which Her Grace made. At an alehouse where we stopped she was smitten with a set of dessert plates for which she gave, as Mr Gillet assured me, thrice their value.

I had an opportunity of observing the various modes of conveyance as Cabriolet, Diligence, German Waggon &c &c. with three horses abreast or in the unicorn fashion, one before two. We left Calais with six horses to each carriage, the postillion who sat on the near wheeler driving the 4, and the other postillion the leaders. The harness beggars description being chiefly rope, and the horses in all appearance rescued from the dogs. They seemed to take delight in matching a large one with a small one, a fat one with a lean and so on. Notwithstanding their look they carried us at the rate of 6 miles an hour.

Caroline Capel to her Mother, Brussels (undated, before 7 October 1814)

The Duke of Richmond [has] a delightful House & Gardens in the Lower part of the Town, & delightful it ought to be, to at all compensate for the disadvantage of the situation. He is become the most Gloomy Melancholy person I ever met with, but still keeps his warmth & cordiality of heart. We have besides Lady Alvanley²¹ & her two Daughters & the Grevilles; Lady Charlotte [Greville]²² has adopted all the Foreign Fashions & you cannot distinguish her from one of the most outré of the Natives. There has been an English Play here for some time; you may suppose very bad when I tell you that it is performed by the Windsor Company, but Mrs Jordan,²³ passing thro’, acted 4 Nights & filled the House for them.

* * *

The Duke and Duchess of Richmond managed to lease a house from Jean Simons that was large enough to accommodate their household. Simons was a fashionable coachbuilder known for his voiture vitrée (glass car or coach). The house was located in the Rue de la Blanchisserie (Laundry Street) and was some distance away from the more fashionable neighbourhood bordering the Park where those who had arrived first from England had settled. However, it was a large, pleasant three-storey house with two wings that had formerly been the coachbuilder’s showroom and workshop, one of which was now made into a schoolroom for the younger children. Lord March had use of a separate cottage located in the large garden, which was bounded by the town ramparts. The Duchess of Richmond would no doubt have been more content with her situation had the Duke of Wellington not teased her by referring to her house as the laundry, or the washhouse, whenever possible. Much to the Duchess’s chagrin, many others within their social circle were quick to follow his lead. Nevertheless, the Richmonds quickly assimilated themselves into the expat community at Brussels and Spencer Madan could now depend upon the civility of the Duke of Richmond to act as a welcome buffer between himself and the quixotic Duchess.

Spencer Madan to his Father, Brussels, 11 November 1814

The Duke [of Richmond] always behaves to me in the most handsome manner possible. Hearing the Prince of Orange was to dine here I took an opportunity of begging the Duke to allow me on that, or any occasion that he thought proper, to take an early dinner with my pupils. He answered ‘I am happy to be able tomorrow to introduce you to the Prince: we have not a large party, only fourteen. It is customary to leave your name at his hotel next day. We fully understand each other on this subject: If from particular circumstances my table should be too crowded on a given day, I should not scruple to beg you to take care of yourself for that day.’

Georgy Capel to her Grandmother, Brussels, 21 November 1814

The Prince [of Orange] opens his House more, and his Parties are more popular, as he mixes the English and Foreigners, and policy not preference induces him to dance with the Belgians oftener than the English for which all those who are interested for him must be glad – We have seen a great deal of the Richmonds, the Duchess has taken very much to us but I do not think it will last as she is, you know, a difficult person to deal with and withal a dreadful mischief maker, insomuch that the Lennoxs have warned us to be careful. Harriet had a long Letter lately from Lady Jersey²⁴ of course replete with scandal & gossip; she says that they intend coming abroad in the Spring, she is dying to be on the continent again where every thing appears to her couleur de Rose. The subscription Balls have begun, the first was last Saturday when the English Ladies caused great discontent to Belgian Cavaliers because we all refused them and pleaded engagements when they asked us to dance, and wrong as I know this was, you will I am sure allow & agree with us in saying that it is a great Bore to dance the whole Evening with Creatures who look like Shoemakers and Tallow Chandlers and with whom we are not acquainted even by sight much less by name, for it is not the fashion to wait for an introduction – however we have all promised compliance with the custom at next Saturday’s ball.

Lieutenant Colonel Basil Jackson,²⁵ Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General (undated)

The English families rendered Brussels very gay, and I must say that my countrywomen contrasted most favourably with the Belgian ladies, exciting indeed the admiration of the Brussels gentlemen. ‘Il faut avouer que le sexe est beau en Angleterre’²⁶ was an exclamation I heard more than once; and certainly we had several fine specimens of British beauty. There were frequent balls in the magnificent room called the Concert Noble, where the elite of both natives and foreigners assembled to display their charms to the best advantage; but the latter far eclipsed their rivals.²⁷

Chapter 3

Planned Arrivals and an Unexpected Departure

Lord Wellington is expected every hour – His name is a Host in itself.

[Caroline Capel to her mother, Brussels, 28 March 1815]

Following Napoleon’s abdication in April 1814, a Congress of the Allied Powers had been held in Paris. This resulted in the Treaty of Paris, which was signed on 30 May 1814. The treaty recognised the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy and provided a rough draft of a final settlement between France and the individual Allied nations to restore the size of France to its 1792 boundaries and return or re-appropriate lands that had been annexed by Napoleon during his campaigns. A clause within the document, Article 32, provided for a final draft to be produced at a further congress to be held within the following two months. The Congress of Vienna was therefore held in that city between September 1814 and June 1815.

Lord William Lennox, Reminiscences

The Congress of Paris settled several things, but left others unsettled, and it was arranged that a congress should be held at Vienna where all undecided questions should be resolved. The great European monarchies appointed one or more representatives to look after their interests at this conference; and among those selected by the English government for this duty, was the Duke of Wellington.

On the 23rd of January, 1815, the Duke of Wellington took leave of the King in a secret audience, which lasted a considerable time. Lord Fitzroy