Chapter XI

Napoleon’s plans of campaign.—His letter to Ney, and proclamation
to the Belgians.—His sanguine expectations, and utter
disappointment.—Opinions of French authors on the circumstance of
Napoleon’s not reaching Brussels.—Their inconsistencies.—Desire
of Napoleon to make his marshals responsible for errors he
committed.—Opinion of M. de Vaulabelle.—Napoleon’s charges against
Grouchy; impossibility of the latter’s preventing a portion
of the Prussians reaching the field of Waterloo—The Emperor’s
charges against Ney refuted.—Admirable conduct of Ney during the
campaign.—Mode of history-writing at St.-Helena.—The battle not
fought against the French nation.—Napoleon’s character.—Motley
composition and equivocal loyalty of part of the allied
army.—Refutation of the charge that the Duke was taken by surprise;
credulity of some English writers on this subject.—His Grace’s
admirable precaution.—Foreign statements, that the Prussians saved
us, examined.—The tardy cooperation of the Prussians produced,
not the defeat, but the total rout of the French.—Conversation of
Napoleon at St.-Helena.—Gourgaud’s account.—Opinions of the Duke
and lord Hill.—Ney’s testimony in the Chamber of Peers. 177