1814-1815] Good News of the War 67 



the qui vive by hearing in the morning that there was a 

 report that Buonaparte had surrendered, 1 and not believing 

 that to be possible, yet being persuaded there must be 

 some good news, we waited the arrival of the mail with 

 great impatience; and when we heard it was coming by, 

 out we all flew to the gates, like Caroline to see the Duchess 

 of Rutland, pell-mell, servants, children, and all. We 

 had the gratification to see it come up dressed all over with 

 laurels and favours, and as it dropt Dr Darwin's bag at 

 the gate you may guess our trepidation in opening our 

 letters. Jos had sent me a Courier which contained all the 

 account of Buonaparte's abdication, and I had at the same 

 time the pleasure of Elizabeth's letter. It is impossible to 

 express our satisfaction and wonder. What will become 

 of Buonaparte is the constant question ? Some of our 

 abominable papers are urging strongly the putting him to 

 death, but Dr Darwin's scheme of sending him to St Helena 

 is the best I have heard. Who will now be King of 

 France ? If England keeps to her declaration she must 

 not interfere, but I suspect the Bourbons will at least have 

 a conge d'elire in their favour, and yet I think Louis the 18th 

 will never be able to keep his seat upon such a tripless 

 throne. We shall be almost as impatient for to-night's 

 paper as we were for the last. Jos talks of leaving town 

 to-morrow, but I don't know whether he will go home or 

 come here. I take it for granted we shall now have peace, 

 and then I suppose you will be set a-gandering again. 

 The bells are ringing and the guns firing away at a great 

 rate. 



We came here on Monday evening, dining and spend- 

 ing two or three hours at Hawkestone in our way. We 

 brought the two ponies here, and Charlotte and I rode 

 Fancy in turns. The day was very pleasant, and I liked 

 it a great deal better than going all the way in a post-chaise. 

 We are here in the middle of the hay-harvest, and the 

 flower-garden looks beautiful. I find myself very comfort - 



1 His surrender to Captain Maitland of the Bellerophon did not 

 take place till July 15. 



