to make your acquaintance on Wednesday morning at eleven o'clock. Yours most sincerely,

ALEXANDER HORN.

Nothing could be more flattering than the reception given me by Marshal Blucher. He said, that the war being now over, he was anxious to return to the pursuits of agriculture, for which he had always had a partiality; indeed, that he had already been for fourteen years a farmer. That he had heard a great deal of Scotch husbandry, and wished me to procure for him some Scotch ploughs. He asked, Whether I thought that the Scotch system of husbandry would succeed in Prussia, and what was the best plan for introducing it? I shortened my visit as much as possible, as numbers were in attendance to see him. He was a fine soldier-like person, seemed to possess great quickness of intellect, and activity of person; and though General Greisenau was the officer on whom the Prussians principally depended, for arranging the plan of a campaign, or of a battle, yet for executing the plan after it was formed,―for rousing the spirit of the soldiery,--for animating them to great exertions, or for retrieving a defeat,no officer could surpass Marshal Blucher *.

III.

GENERAL THE BARON MUFFLING.

In the course of my inquiries regarding the battle of Waterloo, I found that the Prussian General Muffling had drawn up an account, not only of that engagement, but of the whole campaign, with every advantage of procuring information, as he belonged to the staff of the Prussian army, and was in the confidence of the Duke of Wellington. I was anxious, there

⚫ I afterwards sent him an engraving of the Scotch plough, from which it could be constructed. His aid-de-camp said it was one of the most acceptable presents he had received since his arrival in England.

fore, to have so valuable a work published in England, which he very readily agreed to, and actually employed some of his staff, who understood both German and English, to make the translation of his work *.

The zeal with which he entered into the plan, will appear from the following communication:

MON CHER CHEVALIER,

Paris, Hotel du Rhin, Rue de Helder, 3. Mars 1817.

De retour depuis trois mois à Paris, je voulois vous écrire, pour vous en donner la nouvelle, et pour-la, voir si le projet que j'avois formé, et dont je vous avois fait part, par une lettre de Coblence, a eu votre approbation. Je vous prie, en tout cas, de me donner de vos nouvelles, avant mon depart de Paris, qui aura lieu en 20 jours, pour passer l'été à Coblence. Si l'Histoire de la Campagne 1815 a paru, Mr. Egerton aura bien la complaisance de m'envoyer deux exemplaires ici, ou, si ce seroit trop tard, à Coblence par Bruxelles. L'ouvrage n'a pas encore paru en Allemagne; mais c'est d'ici à un mois qu'il sera publié en François et en Allemand.

Agréez l'assurance de l'amitié et de l'estime avec lesquelles je ne cesserai d'etre, Monsieur le Chevalier, votre très humble et tres obt. serviteur,

CHARLES BARON DE MUFFLING +.

* It is to be had at Egerton's, Charing-Cross, London.

MY DEAR SIR,

+ Translation.

Paris, 3d March 1817.

Having returned three months ago to Paris, I wished to write and inform you of the circumstance, and also to ascertain whether the plan which I had formed, and which I communicated to you by a letter from Coblentz, has met with your approbation. At all events, I beg that you will let me hear from you before I leave Paris, which I shall do in about three weeks, to pass the summer at Coblentz. If the History of the Campaign 1815 has appeared, Mr Egerton will have the goodness to send two copies here; or, if they could not arrive in time, to Coblentz by Brussels. The work has not yet appeared in Germany, but it will be published about a month hence in French and German.

Accept the assurance of the friendship and esteem with which I shall ever remain, &c. &c.

IV.

MARSHAL MACDONALD.

Among the celebrated generals who contributed to the success of the Republican Government of France, at the commencement of the Revolutionary war, there is none whose services were of a higher description than those of Marshal Macdonald. I was not, however, aware of their superior importance, until I had lately the opportunity of examining a work entitled," Campagnes de General Pichegru aux Armées du Nord, &c. &c. Par le Citoyen David, témoin de la plûpart de leurs exploits," A Paris, 1796. This author's authority may be the more confidently relied on, as he was an eye-witness of the scenes he describes. The following is the account he gives of Marshal Macdonald's important services in the course of that campaign :

"Clairfait s'étant considérablement renforcé par les troupes que Cobourg lui avoit envoyées de Tournai, nous attaqua le 25 (13 Juin, v. st.) sur tous les points, depuis Rousselaer jusqu'à Hooglède. Avec des forces supérieures et l'initiative de l'attaque, il devoit se promettre les plus grands succès; il entrevit même un instant la victoire; car son premier choc culbuta et mit en déroute notre aîle droite, qui lui abandonna Rousselaer. Mais la division du Général Souham, et sur-tout la brigade de Macdonald, qui occupoit la plaine d'Hooglède, lui fit bientôt perdre ce premier avantage. Cette brigade, n'étant plus appuyée sur la droite, fut attaquée de front et de flanc, et elle étoit dans une si mauvaise position, que tout autre que Macdonald auroit fait battre la retraite; mais ce brave Ecossais soutint le premier choc avec une opiniâtreté extraordinaire; il fut bientôt renforcé par la brigade de Devinther, et ces deux colonnes se battirent avec tant d'acharnement, que l'ennemi fut obligé de plier. On ne fit pas ce jour

là de prisonniers; mais on tua une très-grande quantité d'ennemis, et on força Clairfait à abandonner Rousselaer, et à se retirer dans ses positions ordinaires de Thielt."

"Cette bataille a été une des plus sanglantes de la compagne; mais aussi elle a été la plus décisive, puisqu'elle nous a rendus maîtres d'Ypres, de toute la West-Flandre, et que depuis ce moment l'ennemi n'a pu nous résister, ni au centre, ni à droite, ni à gauche."

"Macdonald avoit été destitué par Saint Just, sous prétexte, que n'étant pas vociférateur, il ne pouvait pas être patriote. Les généraux avoient eu beau affirmer que ce général étoit un excellent officier, un bon républicain, et qu'ils répondoient, qu'au lieu de trahir la République, il la serviroit en brave et bon militaire: N'importe, Saint Just voulait désorganiser l'armée; il le destitua. On prétend que Richard eut le courage de faire brûler l'arrêté de Saint-Just, et de laisser continuer le service à ce brave militaire. Si cela est vrai, grâces soient rendus à ce bon représentant. Macdonald a parfaitement bien servi dans toutes les occasions; mais à Hooglède il nous a sauvés. S'il ne s'y fut pas trouvé, nous aurions été peutêtre obligés de lever le siège d'Ypres. Que les militaires mesurent l'étendue des maux qui en auroient résulté.”

"La garnison d'Ypres ayant appris la défaite de Clairfait, capitula le 29 (17 Juin, v. st.). Quoique forte de 6 à 7 mille hommes, elle ne pouvoit plus nous résister; elle accepta donc toutes les conditions qu'on lui proposa. Elle laissa tout ce qui étoit dans la place, déposa les armes sur les glacis, et fut faite prisonnière de guerre *."

* Translation.

Clairfait being considerably reinforced by the troops that Coburg had sent to him from Tournay, attacked us on the 25th, (13th June O. S.) upon all points, from Rousselaer to Hooglede. With superior forces, and the advantage of beginning the attack, he was justified in promising himself the greatest success; he had even a momentary prospect of victory, for his first onset overthrew and put to the rout our right wing, which left him in possession of Rousselaer. But the division of General Souham, and especially the brigade of Macdonald, which occupied the plain of Hooglede, soon made him lose this first advantage. This brigade, being no longer supported on the right, was attacked front and rear,

Greater compliments could not have been paid to any general. It is stated, that in the unfortunate position in which his brigade was placed, any other general but Macdonald would have sounded a retreat; and though he had behaved well on many other occasions, yet that at Hooglede he had saved the

army.

Marshal Macdonald is of Scotch extraction, and the French Republicans were extremely jealous of his aristocratic name, and the attachment of his family to the Royal House of Stuart. His father took an active part in the unsuccessful attempt made by the Pretender in 1745, to recover the throne he claimed; and, in the course of a tour which the Marshal made in Scotland, though very short, he went to the island of

and it was in such a bad position, that any other than Macdonald would have sounded a retreat; but this brave Scotsman supported the first shock with extraordinary obstinacy; he was soon reinforced by the brigade of Devinther, and these two columns fought with so much fury, that the enemy was obliged to yield. They made no prisoners that day, but they killed a great number of the enemy, and they forced Clairfait to abandon Rousselaer, and to retire to his ordinary position at Thielt.

This battle was one of the most bloody of the campaign, but it was also the most decisive, since it rendered us masters of Ypres, of all West Flanders, and as from that moment the enemy was not able to resist us, either in the centre, or to the right or left.

Macdonald had been deprived of the command by St Just, under the pretext, that, as he was not a declaimer, he could not be a patriot. In vain did the generals affirm, that he was an excellent officer, a good republican, and that, instead of betraying the republic, they would be responsible for his serving it like a brave and good soldier. This was of no consequence. St Just wanted to disorganise the army, and deprived him of the command. It is said that Richard had the courage to burn the decree of St Just, and to permit this brave soldier to continue in the service. If so, gratitude is due to this excellent representative. Macdonald has served perfectly well on all occasions; but at Wooglede he saved us. Had he not been there, we might have been forced to raise the siege of Ypres. Let military men judge of the extent of the misfortunes which would have resulted.

The garrison of Ypres having heard of the defeat of Clairfait, capitulated on the 29th, (17th June O. S.). Although they amounted to 6 or 7000 men, they could no longer resist us, and therefore agreed to all the conditions proposed by us. They left behind every thing that was in the place, laid down their arms on the glacis, and became prisoners of war.