A small sac-de-nuit was prepared; brushes,
combs, razors, strops, a change of linen, &c. &c., were carefully
put up; but our heavy baggage, our coats, waistcoats, and other
wearing apparel were unnecessary. It was delightful to feel oneself
so light-handed. The reverend gentleman, with my humble self by his
side, left the portal of the Hotel de Belle Vue at 7 a.m., in good
humour with all the world. There were no railroads in those days;
but a cabriolet, big enough to hold six persons, with rope traces
and corresponding appendages, deposited us at the Golden Fleece in
something less than six hours. The inward man was duly fortified,
and we started for the castle.
It boots not here to describe the effects which gunpowder and grape-
shot had had on the walls of Antwerp. Let the curious in these
matters read the horrors of the siege of Troy, or the history of
Jerusalem taken by Titus. The one may be found in Homer, and the
other in Josephus. Or if they prefer doings of a later date there
is the taking of Sebastopol, as narrated in the columns of the
"Times" newspaper. The accounts are equally true, instructive, and
intelligible. In the mean time allow the Rev. Augustus Horne and
myself to enter the private chambers of the renowned though defeated
general.
Pages:
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27