AND TEE DUKES OF RICHMOND. 79 



de-camp to the Prince of Orange, who was in com- 

 mand of a small force there. There were constant 

 reviews, balls, and other entertainments at the 

 houses of the Belgian and English nobility, many- 

 English families living in the city. 



During the Duke of Wellington's absence from 

 Brussels at the Congress of Vienna, there were per- 

 sistent rumours of Napoleon's advance on Belgium. 

 The Duke's return to Brussels was anxiously looked 

 for. The rumours, however, received no confirmation, 

 and only a few days before the 15th of June, 1815, 

 but little importance was attached to them. When 

 Lord Hill called upon the Duke of Richmond on the 

 afternoon of the 15th, he found the family sitting 

 in the garden. He disclaimed any knowledge of a 

 move. In the evening of this day (viz. 15th), the 

 Duchess of Richmond's famous Waterloo ball — already 

 referred to — took place. This has been strongly com- 

 mented upon as being unseasonable and ill-advised 

 at such a momentous period, and as being likely to 

 embarrass Wellington's military operations and to 

 delay them. 



All these comments were uncalled for, for not only 

 did the Commander-in-Chief sanction the ball, but 

 he was himself present at it. It is probable that 

 he suggested it, as it was of importance that the 

 inhabitants of Brussels should be kept in igno- 

 rance of the nearness of the inevitable crisis. The 



