The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-27 00:00:00

IN RE LORD THOS. CHAS. PELHAM CLINTON.

This bankrupt, whose case was reported recently, was
brother to the late Duke of Newcastle. The case ad-
journed upon the last occasion in order that the accounts
might be amended, and to-day was appointed for the last
examination and order of discharge. The case had not
concluded when the report left.

Waterloo Festival at Brunswick.

(From the Correspondent of the Times.)
Bituxswicic, Juno 19.

Our Waterloo Festival came off yesterday, and, as I think
some account of it may interest you, I send you a slight
sketch of the proceedings. Friday being the 50th anniver-
sary of Quatro Bras, where Friedrich William fought his
last battle, and died the death of a hero, after living the
life of one, was celebrated by a solemn Cathedral service,
at 6 30 in the evening, and by all bells in Brunswick tolling
the passing knell for half an hour. The Cathedral-place
was crowded, and there was no possibility of getting within
the doors, even officers being obliged to stand outside. From
every house hung a flag or banner of some kind. But in
every case, whether the colours were those of the town or
country, of Brunswick or Hanover, the long black weepers
of crape never failed, marking thus the mourning of the
Brunswickers for their gallant and unforgotten Duke. In
many cases there was simply a black flag in solitary gloom,
hanging from the staff, which, however, like the crape
weeper, was to be removed the next day in order to give
place to the ducal, municipal, or national colour. Saturday
passed over very quietly. It was bitterly cold, a biting
north-east wind blowing up clouds of dust, and searching
one's very bones ; yet many persons went to see the vete-
rans arrive at the railway station at 6.30. Nino hundred
odd had announced themselves—an almost incredible num-
ber, when one thinks of the age of all and of the fifty
years come and gone since the great battle which sealed
Napoleon's fate. The old warriors—chiefly, of course,
men in a very humble class of life—were met at the station
by the youths attending the Gymnasium. These aro here
called the Gymnasts, and belong to a society for the pro-
motion of athletic exercises. They wear a simple uniform
and their captains marching at the head of the corps give
their orders in military fashion. One of the young athletes
had a drum suspended at his waistband ; beating a muster-
roll, all the old veterans came to call ; they were then con-
ducted by the Gymnasts to a Bureau, where they received
their tickets of billet, the number of the house and name of
the street where they were to be freely lodged ; they were
then conducted to their quarter by the young athletes:
At six on Sunday morning a general reveilld was sounded,
and all met on the Monuments platz, a very beautiful open
space, surrounded by a double row of chestnut trees, and in
the centre of which, in the middle of a closely shaven lawn,
stands a obelisk to the memory of those two gallant Dukes of
Brunswick, Earl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Napoleon's General
Brunswick" who met with his death, as you remember, at
the unfortunate battle of Jena), and that of Freidrich
Wilhelm, the father of the reigning Duke, who fell 50 years
ago at Quatro Bras. A solemn morning hymn was
played, and other appropriate music followed. At 930
there was Cathedral service. We knew there was no pos-
sibility of getting in, but we drove to the Cathedral-square
to see the Waterloo heroes come out of church. Everybody
almost who had a carriage to send had placed it at the dis-
posal of those gallant old fellows, preferring to walk or
take some public vehicle themselves ; and, indeed, the poor
old men could never have tottered out to the parade ground
before the town gates, for many of them were already ex-
hausted with the unusual excitement and all that they had
already gone through that morning. I never saw anything
more touching than when the Cathedral doors opened, and
the solemn notes of the great organ came grandly pealing
out into the morning air—all these old men, halt and
maimed, feeble, infirm, and furrowed, each with a sprig
of the traditional German oakleaf in his hat, many with
a second sprig in their buttonholes and not a few with a

scarf of oakleaves interwoven and worn order-wise across
the breast and over the shoulder—people of a gone-by ge-
neration, men who had lived in times of excitement, and
who had seen bloodshed and tyranny, pestilence and
famine, had stood side by side in the midst of battle and

sudden death, had gone through hardships untold, had (not
a few of them) crossed the Alps, and escaped as by a miracle
the snowy death of Russia, now standing helpless and weak
as little children in summer sunshine, supported by ono,
tenderly guided by another, looked at with reverence almost
savouring of awe :by all,
.themselves, perhaps, the least
affected of any by the touching scene. The Platz
was densely crowded, and of course, there were
not nearly carriages enough for all " the nine
hundred. We took two into our drosky. One of them
had helped to carry the Duke from the field of
battle at Quatro Bras, after the fatal bullet had gone home

doing its cruel work. These were both only Waterloo men.
But the day before I spoke to one who had been all through
the Russian campaign, a hale hearty old fellow, whom it
did one's heart good to see. And, indeed, though many
were sadly feeble, it was very cheering to see how many
had work in them yet ; their old faces rosy, and their eyes
still bright, while they marched away as well as the best of
their pioneers, the Gymnasts. It was some time before the
line of carriages got into motion, and then wo wont at a
footpace, with frequent stoppages. This was rather trying'
as the sun was pouring it fiercest rays down upon us, a
bitter cold wind blowing, and clouds of dust flying ; for
in these primitive parts we aro as yet unblest with water-
carts. But we had ample amusement in looking about us.
Across the street were suspended wreaths and chains of oak
leaves, forming sort of triumphal arches ; from every house
hung flags and banners, with appropriate legends and in-
scriptions. In many cases the windows were completely
garlanded with flowers, and up to the housetops human
faces crowded one above the other. All the beauty of
Brunswiek'ivas to be seen. The variety of pink, white, blue,
and mauve bonnets was perfectly bewildering. If "none but
the brave deserve the fair," I am sure the valour of those
poor old veterans must be incontestable, for the brightest
eyes, the rosiest cheeks and lips were there to do them
honour, and the whitest hands flung bouquets by the hun-
dred into the carriages and among the crowd for the
"Waterloo heroes." The procession passed up the principal
streets, leaving the blackened ruins of the burnt down
Schloss to the right, and across the market-place, and out
of the town gates to the "Exercier-platz," or parade-ground,
a large open green space, bordered on all four sides by
fine old elm and lime trees. Here all the soldiery wore
drawn up ; the Generals and the staffs in a cluster looked
very gay, with their dress uniforms and all their mani-
fold decorations and orders ; but every eye was directed
to the gallant 900 in every variety of costume, but with
the unfailing Waterloo medal and the emblematical though
simple decoration of oak leaves. The troops were then
paraded. The bands played "God save the Queen."
The General Commandant of the town (Erichsen) at the
head of his staff crossed the parade ground to where the
veterans stood, and gave them a short address, which
we were too distant to hear. The bands then played
some German national airs, and the troops, defiling before
the General, left the parade ground. The Waterloo heroes
were then conducted to a banquet provided for them.
and at which, I believe, 1,100 sat down to dinner. In the
evening there was a grand display of fireworks, and military
music in the grounds adjoining the infantry barracks. These
were on a very grand scale, and all Brunswick was there ;
not only the populace, but also the elite. The festivities
were over between 11: and 12, but I trust the poor old
Waterloo heroes were in bed long before that hour. Of
course, they were all brought hither free of expense, and had
free quarters and food, but they must have been three try-
ing days for the dear old men. It was really good of
them to arise out of their distant villages to go through
all the excitement and fatigue, but it shows the true old
spirit was alive in them yet.