I must tell you two little anecdotes about the pontoon bridge. The French were very jealous of any attempt of the kind, and had cavalry videttes, &c., all along their banks of the river. The engineer wished to measure the breadth of the river at the spot intended; and for this purpose got into conversation with the French vidette a long time, but had no opportunity. At last he pretended that the calls of nature were imperative. The Frenchman, out of decency, withdrew. The engineer popped out his sextant, took the angle, &c., and was off.

Lord Wellington himself, with two other officers went to the spot also to reconnoitre with his own eyes. Concealing his General’s hat with an oil-skin, he got into conversation with the French vidette, dismounted, got down to the water-side, looked all about him, saw all he wished, and came away. This was, in my opinion, risking too much; but no French soldier would have any idea of the commander of the Allied Forces going about thus with two attendants. Lord Wellington was yesterday over alone on foot, and went on upon a horse of General Cole’s, as horses could not pass. Even General P—— was a little uneasy, and sent about eight o’clock to know if he had come back safe. He returned about seven o’clock, when it was dusk. To-day he has a great dinner in honour of Badajoz.

7th April, Grenade.—We have at last a fine clear day, and warm. The river is falling rapidly. By this evening probably our bridge may be re-established, and to-morrow I conclude that we shall pass more troops and advance against Toulouse and the French marshal, who is digging and working away as usual. The French made several attempts to destroy our bridge before the floods did the business for them. They sent us down all their dead horses, several trees, &c., and a large old boat, which struck a pontoon, and went down itself instead of the pontoon. They sent down also a sort of armed log stuck round with swords, and rolling round and round in the stream as it went along, like a great fish, in hopes that the swords would strike and cut the cable which holds the boats.

Major M—— has just told me that he has had news from the interior of another defeat of Bonaparte at Arcis-sur-Aube, and of his having lost one hundred guns, &c., and being then manœuvring in the rear of the Allies. This seems probable. He has also an account of the departments in the west of France having all sent in to the Duke d’Angoulême at Bordeaux for orders; this is also probable, and that the Royalists gain ground fast. His accounts add in the postscript,—“The Allies entered Paris April 1st.” This ought to be, I think, from former accounts, and I hope it is so. The last Moniteur we have of the 30th talks of Bonaparte’s return to Paris to cover the city. How he could then get there seems the difficulty. Lord Wellington also had yesterday a private letter from the interior, in which it is said, “un événement bien imprévu est arrivé à Paris,” and no comment. He guesses it to be the flight of the Empress. You see what confused accounts we get of all late events!

7th (6 o’clock.)—In addition to the above we have now news that the Bourbons have been proclaimed at Paris, and that in the name of the Emperor of Austria the house of Napoleon has been declared to cease to reign. I must now seal up, for Lord Wellington has written his English letters to-day, Thursday, although Saturday is the usual day. In addition to this, I think, from many symptoms, that we shall move to-morrow.

P.S.—The maire brought in with such a magnificent escort, is now quietly walking about here with his wife and no guard. The bridge is to be fixed nearly in the same place again to-night.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Uncertain Intelligence—Capture of Toulouse—Wellington at the Theatre—The “Liberator”—Ball at the Prefecture—The Feelings of the French—Soult and Suchet—Ball at the Capitole.

Head-quarters, Grenade,
April 10, 1814, 1 o’clock.

My dear M——,