ROTHSCHILDS AND WATERLOO 123 



the great battle been fought now I could imagine 

 the headings from ' Our Own Correspondent ' in the 

 daily papers. 8 a.m. — 'The French are advancing 

 to the attack.' Twelve d clock. — ' Gallant defence 

 of La Hayue Sainte.' ' Failure of ammunition ; the 

 Hanoverians retire.' ' Repulse of repeated attacks 

 of the French at Hougoumont.' 2.30 p.m. — ' Death 

 of General Picton.' ' Polish Lancers attack the Scots 

 Greys.' 3 p.m. — ' Repulse and overthrow of the 

 Cuirassiers of the Guard.' Four o'clock. — 'The 

 Duke preparing for a general advance ' ; ' arrival of 

 the Prussians.' Five dclock. — 'Overthrow of the 

 French Army.' ' Flight of Napoleon,' &c. &c. 

 Whereas I have heard from high authority that 

 the head of the great house of Rothschild was 

 awaiting at Brussels, eight miles from Waterloo, 

 with all his plans prepared for his journey to London ; 

 that about five o'clock of the i8th, news was brought 

 of the advance of the British in the final charge ; 

 that he then started with four post-horses, with 

 relays ready at every stage, to Calais, where a packet 

 was in readiness to convey him to Dover ; on the 

 road to London relays of four post-horses hurried 

 him on, arriving about mid-day of the 19th, which 

 enabled him to manage secretly to buy up im- 

 mensely of consols and other Government securities, 

 which were at a great discount, before any informa- 

 tion reached the Government, by which an enormous 

 fortune was realised in less than forty-eight hours 

 after the battle. 



