“Le Cateau, June 24th, 1815.
... “It was I who recommended to the king (Louis XVIII,) to enter France at present, because I was aware of the extent of our success in the battle of the 18th....
“I enclose you, in confirmation of my opinion of the extent of our success, the Journal de l’Empire of the 22d, in which you will find Bonaparte’s account of the action, the truth of which, as far as it goes against himself, cannot be doubted....
“I conclude that you can have no scruple about joining the king forthwith, a measure which I earnestly entreat you and the other members of the king’s council to adopt without loss of time.
“Wellington.”
(Gurwood, vol. XII, p. 502-3.)
I may here remark, that in political foresight, the Duke was in advance of Talleyrand himself, as the letter above demonstrates.
To Marshal Lord Beresford.
“Gonesse, July 2d, 1815.
“You will have heard of our battle of the 18th. Never did I see such a pounding match. Both were what the boxers call gluttons. Napoleon did not manœuvre at all. He just moved forward in the old style, in columns, and was driven off in the old style....