The Creevey Papers
Lord Arthur Hill to Thomas Creevey, 25 June 1815
“Mons, 25th June, 1815.
“The King entered
Le Cateau yesterday and was very well received. I was sent off from thence here
with letters from the Duke to Talleyrand, who is here, with the news that
Nap had abdicated in favor of
his son. There is a provisional
government formed. I don’t suppose we shall have any more fighting. Hd.
quarters advanced to-day however, but I don’t know where to. I
shan’t be able to reach them to-night—roads horrible. Cambray was
taken last night by storm: the Governor still in the Citadel—can’t
last. Inhabitants illuminated and received our troops with joy—Genl. Colvill’s brigade. Let me hear of
Harris and other wounded.
“Yours,
“My wounded mare is in the Duke’s stable under care of
Percy’s servant. Will you visit her?”
Sir Charles Colville (1770-1843)
The second son of John Colville, eighth Lord Colville of Culross; after service in Egypt
he was a brigade commander in the Peninsular war and commander in Bombay (1819-25) and
governor of Mauritius (1828-32).
Thomas Creevey (1768-1838)
Whig politician aligned with Charles James Fox and Henry Brougham; he was MP for Thetford
(1802-06, 1807-18) Appleby (1820-26) and Downton (1831-32). He was convicted of libel in
1813.
Louis XVIII, king of France (1755-1824)
Brother of the executed Louis XVI; he was placed on the French throne in 1814 following
the abdication of Napoleon.
Emperor Napoleon I (1769-1821)
Military leader, First Consul (1799), and Emperor of the French (1804), after his
abdication he was exiled to Elba (1814); after his defeat at Waterloo he was exiled to St.
Helena (1815).
Napoleon II, King of Rome (1811-1832)
The son of Napoleon and his second wife, Marie Louise of Austria; he was given “King of
Rome” as a courtesy title.
Arthur Moyes William Sandys, second baron Sandys (1792-1860)
Irish military officer; he was the second son of Arthur Hill, second Marquess of
Downshire and Mary Sandys, Baroness Sandys; educated at Eton, he was MP for County Down
(1817-36) before he succeeded to the title.
