------
60,000
------
That of the French may be estimated as follows:

The 15th and 16th, killed and wounded 11,000
The 18th, killed and wounded 18,000
Prisoners 8,000
------
37,000

The loss of the French would have been greater, had it
not been for the generous care taken of them by the
inhabitants of Belgium. After the victory of Fleurus and
of Ligny, they hastened to the field of battle, to
console the wounded, and give them every assistance.
Nothing could be more affecting, than the sight of a
number of women and girls endeavouring to revive, by
cordial liquors, the extinguished lives (_la vie
eteinte_) of our unfortunate soldiers, while their
husbands and brothers supported our wounded in their
arms, stanched their blood, and closed their wounds.

The precipitancy of our march had not allowed us, to
prepare conveyances and field hospitals, to receive our
wounded. The good and feeling inhabitants of Belgium
supplied the deficiency with eagerness. They carried our
poor Frenchmen from the field of battle, and offered
them an asylum, and all the attention necessary.

At the time of our retreat, they lavished on us proofs
of their regard not less affecting, and not less
valuable. Braving the rage of the ferocious Prussians,
they quitted their houses, to show us the paths, that
would favour our escape, and guide our course through
the enemy's columns. When they parted from us, they
still followed us with their eyes, and expressed from a
distance how happy they were at having been able to save
us.

When they knew, that a great number of Frenchmen
remained prisoners with the conqueror, they were eager