BRUSSELS; 287 



was deserted, except by straggling parties of curious visi- 

 tors like ourselves ; we relapsed into cultivators, and exa- 

 mined the form of the plough, and the quality of the land. 

 The soil is a soft sandy loam, of a light colour like that 

 near Brussels. A few water-worn stones are interspersed ; 

 we broke one of the largest, and it appeared to be siliceous 

 limestone. — In approaching the ruins of the mansion, we 

 passed through the remains of a grove of large forest-trees, 

 with what had been an orchard on our right hand. The 

 trees which had suffered most severely from the shot have 

 lately been cut down. But many of those left are terribly 

 shattered. The beeches seem to be recovering most slowly 

 from the effects of the balls : some ash-trees and oaks have 

 also been sorely wounded, but appear to sustain such in- 

 juries better. A large and aged chesnut-tree (Castanea 

 vulgaris) has been literally riddled with grape and musket 

 shot ; yet it is recovering, and may witness the passing away 

 of some succeeding generations. The trees in the grove 

 and in the orchard of Hougomont, it may be remarked, did 

 not merely suffer by being perforated by shot of all descrip- 

 tions, poured in upon them, in opposite directions, from 

 both armies ; but, for months after the battle was over, 

 they were subjected to injuries more extensive and severe, 

 through the zeal of English visitors to possess some relic 

 from a spot so distinguished. The peasantry soon learned 

 the value of a ball scooped out from a tree in which it had 

 been lodged ; they were ready, with chisels and hammers, 

 to perform the operation in the presence of the purchaser, 

 and, in removing a musket-bullet, an opening was general- 

 ly made that would admit a six-pounder.— As we were about 

 to enter the outer-gate of the chateau, two or three little 

 fellows, pointing to a circular heap of earth mixed with: 

 ashes, and resembling the remains of a great bonfire, called 



