roads gave every facility
for movements from front to rear during the action; and two country
roads, running behind and parallel with the first and second lines,
favoured equally movements from wing to wing. The line was formed
convex, dropping back towards the forest at either extremity; the right
to Mark Braine, near Braine-la-Leude; the left to Ter-la-Haye. The
chateau and gardens of Hougomont, and the farmhouse and enclosures of La
Haye Sainte, about 1500 yards apart, on the slope of the declivity, were
strongly occupied, and formed the important out-works of defence. The
opening of the country roads leading directly from Wavre to Mont St.
Jean, through the wood of Ohain, was guarded by the British left; while
those running through Souhain and Frichemont, further in advance, might
be expected to bring the first of the Prussians on the right flank of
the French, during their expected attack.

The field was open and fair: and in case the enemy should force the Duke
from his position, the village of Mont St Jean behind, still further
back the town of Waterloo, and lastly the great forest of
Soignies--offered successively the means of renewing his defence, and
protecting his retreat.--The British front extended, in all, over about
a mile. It was Wellington's business to hold the enemy at bay, until the
Prussian advance should enable him to charge them with superior numbers:
it was Napoleon's to beat the English ere Blucher could disengage
himself from Grouchy, and come out of the woods of Ohain; which being
accomplished, he doubted not to have easy work with the Prussians amidst
that difficult country. He had in the field 75,000 men; all French
veterans--each of whom was in his own estimation, worth one Englishman,
and two Prussians, Dutch or Belgians. But on the other hand,
Wellington's men, all in position over-night, had had, notwithstanding
the severe weather, some hours to repose and refresh themselves: whereas
the army of Napoleon had been on the march all through the hours of
tempestuous darkness, and the greater part of them reached not the
heights of Belle Alliance until the morning of the 18th was considerably
advanced. The Emperor himself, however, had feared nothing so much as
that Wellington would continue his retreat on Brussels and Antwerp--thus
deferring the great battle until the Russians should approach the valley
of the Rhine; and when, on reaching the eminence of La Belle Alliance,
he beheld the army