l 28(i HORTICULTURAL TOUR. 



giment of cuirassiers was tumbled pell-mell by a charge of 

 i he Horse Guards. 



We proceeded along the high-road to La Belle Alliance, 

 a shabby and dirty cot-house, now dignified with the title 

 of " Hotel." Many shots appear to have struck the walls. 

 From a neighbouring cottage, now wholly in ruins, Buona- 

 parte for some time surveyed the progress of the dreadful 

 struggle. Here the cross-road by which the Prussians from 

 St Lambert advanced, touches the high-road to Charleroi ; 

 and this was the scene of the meeting of Blucher and Welling- 

 ton, about eight in the evening, when the French had given 

 way and were flying ! What must have been the sensa- 

 tions of our great Commander at such a moment, when in- 

 tense anxiety was giving place to honourable exultation, 

 and when this feeling had to struggle with irrepressible 

 grief for the dismal carnage of the day ! After mutual 

 congratulations, the two generals entered the cottage, and 

 some refreshments were procured for them. Like thou- 

 sands of our countrymen, we wished to see the apartment 

 thus incidentally raised to celebrity. We accordingly en- 

 tered ; wine was speedily produced, and we filled bumpers 

 to the healths of the two heroes * : the memory of the Scots 

 who fell at Waterloo was not forgotten ; nor did we omit to 

 pledge our brother-gardeners, probably then met at Oman's 

 in Edinburgh, to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the 

 Caledonian Horticultural Society. 



From this point we passed over the fields towards Hou- 

 gvmcmt, — a new name which the Duke, by a slight mis- 

 take in his dispatches, bestowed on the Chateau de Gomont. 

 The ploughmen were now peaceably at work : the scene 



• General Blucher died two years after the date of our visit to Wa- 

 terloo. 



