drawn up on the opposite side, his joy was great. "At
last, then," he exclaimed, "at last, then, I have these English in my
grasp."

The tempest abated in the morning--but the weather all day long was
gusty, and the sky lowering. It was about noon that the French opened
their cannonade, and Jerome Buonaparte, under cover of its fire, charged
impetuously on Hougomont. The Nassau men in the wood about the house
were driven before the French; but a party of English guards maintained
themselves in the chateau and garden, despite the desperate impetuosity
of many repeated assaults. Jerome, masking the post thus resolutely
held, pushed on his cavalry and artillery against Wellington's right.
The English formed in squares, and defied all their efforts. For some
time both parties opposed each other here, without either gaining or
losing a foot of ground. At length the English fire forced back the
French--and the garrison of Hougomont were relieved and strengthened.

The next attempt was made on the centre of the British line, by a great
force of cuirassiers and four columns of infantry. The horse, coming
boldly along the causeway of Genappe, were met in the path by the
English heavy cavalry, where the road has been cut down deep, leaving
high banks on either side. Their meeting was stern: they fought for some
time at sword's length; at last the cuirassiers gave way, and fled for
the protection of their artillery. The English followed them too far,
got amidst the French infantry, and were there charged by fresh cavalry
and driven back with much loss.--It was here that Picton died. Meanwhile
the infantry of this movement had pushed on beyond La Haye Sainte, and
dispersed some Belgian regiments; but being then charged in turn, in
front by Pack's brigade of foot, and in flank by a brigade of heavy
English horse, were totally routed--losing, besides the slain and
wounded, 2000 prisoners and two eagles. The only favourable result of
this second grand attempt was the occupation of the farmhouse of La Haye
Sainte, which had been garrisoned by Hanoverians. And scarcely had the
charge of Pack proved successful, ere the French were again compelled by
shells and cannon to evacuate this prize.

The third assault was levelled again on the British right--where the
infantry awaited it, formed in a double line of squares, placed
chequerwise, and protected in front by a battery of thirty field pieces.
The French cuirassiers charged the artill