30th.—I heard nothing new, except that orders have been despatched to the Transport Board for sending out stores, &c., to Ostend. M. de Rayneval went last night to the King with letters from our Government. When Louis XVIII. found how much the troops were disposed to join Bonaparte, he dismissed them, saying he did not wish to commit any one; that he was obliged to withdraw himself for the present, but hoped to see them again. One regiment of Chasseurs fell on their knees and begged to follow his fortunes, an offer which he accepted.
CHAPTER III.
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR—THE QUEEN’S LEVEE—TREATMENT OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE—NAPOLEON AND THE BOURBONS—RUMOURS FROM THE SEAT OF WAR—THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO.
JOURNAL CONTINUED—1815.
April 3, 1815.—It is said Lords Liverpool and Eldon are for peace, and Lord Castlereagh for war; the same division is to be observed in the councils of Opposition, Lord Grey and his party being for peace, and Lord Grenville, with his adherents, for war. The Duke d’Orleans and his sister[[36]] arrived this evening.
5th.—Dined at Lord Rolle’s, and went in the evening to Lady Charleville’s party. An officer[[37]] arrived yesterday from Bordeaux, with letters from the Duchess d’Angoulême to the King of France. The inhabitants of the south of France are very loyal. Lord Harrowby, Sir Henry Torrens, and Mr. Wellesley Pole, are gone to Louis XVIII., who is supposed to be, at present, at Ghent. I had a letter from Rome, dated 10th of March, by which it appears that everything was quiet in Italy as to outward appearance.
7th.—Yesterday a message from the Prince Regent[[38]] went down to Parliament, stating that the events which had lately taken place had induced him to order an increase of his Majesty’s forces by sea and land, and to take the advice of his allies for the security of Europe. I called on the Duke de Sérent, and found he had received letters from the Duchess, who is with Madame d’Angoulême, at Bordeaux. The people there are loyal. I made other visits, but heard nothing more. The papers say Rochefort has declared for Bonaparte. He had made the Parisians believe that the allies would not attack him: but they begin to be undeceived.
8th.—I dined at the Speaker’s, whose house forms part of the House of Commons. The rooms are large, and fitted up in the best style of Gothic architecture, with furniture to correspond. The dining-room is immediately under St. Stephen’s Chapel, and is, I think, the handsomest room of the kind I ever saw. It consists of three divisions, separated only by two open arches; the ornaments, though minute in the Gothic style, are well adapted to the room, and the whole is well worth seeing. We had a very pleasant party; but the accounts arrived from France are very melancholy, and it is said one of Bonaparte’s generals[[39]] has entered Bordeaux, and the Duchess d’Angoulême has been obliged to depart by sea.
9th.—I dined at Lady Downshire’s, and went in the evening to Lady Aylesbury’s. People in general seem to wish for peace, not willing to make any sacrifices, and hardly wishing to hear good news.