[This was the tribute or imposition of money called fifteenths, formerly laid upon cities, boroughs, &c., so called because it amounted to a fifteenth part of that which each city or town was valued at, or a fifteenth of every man's personal estate, according to a reasonable valuation. In 1588, on occasion of the Spanish invasion, the Parliament gave Queen Elizabeth two subsidies and four fifteenths.]

Replies.

HARDMAN'S ACCOUNT OF WATERLOO.

(Vol. viii., p. 199.)

The book for which G. D. inquires is, A Descriptive Poem of the Battle of Waterloo, and Two previous Days, dedicated to the Earl of Carlisle, by Captain Hardman, London, 1827, 8vo., pp. 28. It appears from the dedication that he was adjutant to the 10th Royal Hussars, of which the Hon. F. Howard was major. He says:

"We breakfasted together in the hovel on the 18th, in the morning, as stated in the poem; and during that dreadful bloody day, he and I were frequently discoursing about our situation; the good position occupied by us; the humane feeling of our brave Duke for choosing that situation to save men's lives; and once during the day our regiment was completely sheltered; all the balls from the enemy flying over our heads, except one that dropped about six yards from the major and me. We were at that time dismounted about twenty minutes, to rest the horses. I took the ball up; we looked at it, and had a good hearty laugh over it."

Here is the description referred to:

"At three in the morning I went to Major Howard,—

'This morning, Major, is enough to make us all cowards;

Such a night of heavy rain I never before saw,

It has fell hard on my shoulders and made them raw;

But still I am hearty, can I do anything for you?

For on the face of this province I never will rue.'

'No, thank you, Hardman, not now, come by-and-by;

I have lain in this place till my neck's all awry.

My servant is getting a light, then a letter I write;

But I am so excessively cold I cannot one indite.

He shall then make a fire, and set water over,

Come in an hour and live with me in clover;

We will have some coffee and some fat fowl too,

Then we can face the French well at Waterloo!'

'Thank you, Major, I will do myself the honour,

That will be better than being sat on by the coroner."

P. 12.

The prose description of the charge is clear and vivid: