BRUSSELS. 28,'i 



the forest, those either of Helleborous viridis or fcetidus. 

 These plants are considered as British natives, but are not 

 characteristic of a Scottish road. 



On emerging from the forest, we were regaled with the 

 sight of some neat sequestered cottages, with small gardens 

 and hop-plantations. The hops were by much the best 

 we had seen, either in Kent or on the Continent ; the 

 plants being tall, and now completely covered with bunch- 

 es of flowers. We here encountered a long range of heavy 

 waggons, of various forms and sizes, some with five horses, 

 others with eight. The greater part were loaded with 

 coals from Charleroi (this sort of fuel not being entirely 

 wanting at Brussels, though wood is more common), and 

 two or three with large blocks of stone. On clearing the 

 waggons, we got sight of the Church of Waterloo, and soon 

 after entered the village. Here we agreed for the attend- 

 ance of a German soldier, Johann Witfisch, as our guide. 

 He belonged to a Hanoverian corps, and was stationed at 

 the farm-house of La Haye Sainte, from which (if we un- 

 derstood his narrative aright) he escaped wounded, at the 

 moment of its being carried by the enemy. 



We knew beforehand that the village of Waterloo was 

 at some distance from the field of battle ; but, till we made 

 inquiry, we were not aware that it was still a mile and a 

 half to Mount St John. Having got our guide mounted 

 on the carriage, we desired our postillion to drive on to 

 that village. We were now full of expectation ; and it 

 seemed as if we had come within hearing of some remains 

 of the desperate strife ; for we advanced in silence, as if 

 listening, — each observing with curious eye, every object 

 that presented itself. Our reverie was interrupted only by 

 our coach stopping at the point where the road to Nivelles 

 intersects that leading to Charleroi. We now pursued the 



