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,
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.
