May we not rather be justified in inferring, that his object was to gain time for the due execution and successful development of GROUCHY's operations! The despatch which the Emperor had received from GROUCHY, dated Gembloux, 17th June, at 10 P.M. (see page 300), clearly explained that General's intentions, which were, that should the mass of the Prussian forces retire upon Wavre, he would follow them in that direction, so as to prevent them from either reaching Brussels or forming a junction with WELLINGTON; but that if, on the other hand, they should fall back upon Perwès, he would advance towards that town in pursuit of them. In the former case, NAPOLEON's delay was likely to facilitate the combined operation; because in order to prevent the junction with WELLINGTON, GROUCHY required sufficient time to throw himself between the Prussians and the Emperor: and, in the latter case, the delay would be immaterial, because then the Prussian co-operation with WELLINGTON was not to be apprehended; and the battle with the Anglo-Allied Army would have to be fought by the Emperor, unsupported by GROUCHY. It may, perhaps, be argued that NAPOLEON, by commencing his attack much earlier, would not have been under the necessity of employing a considerable portion of his Reserve against the Prussians in defence of his Right Flank, at a time when he so urgently needed them for following up and strengthening his attacks upon the Duke of WELLINGTON's line. There existed, however, no such striking disparity, in point of numbers, between WELLINGTON's forces, and his own, as to warrant his throwing away a chance amounting, according to the information he had already received, almost to a certainty, of being enabled to bring his greatest mass to bear against each Army separately: and which would doubtless have been the case as regards the Anglo-Allied Army, had GROUCHY, by the adoption of more vigorous and energetic measures, manoeuvred in such a manner as to sufficiently impede the Prussian co-operation by posting one of his Corps so as to command the Defiles of St Lambert and Lasne, and holding the other in reserve, to be employed by either the Emperor or himself, according to circumstances. Whether NAPOLEON was really actuated by any such motives, must remain a doubtful point. These remarks, however, are offered for the consideration of those who censure him for his delay in commencing the Battle of Waterloo. * * * * * The strength of the Anglo-Allied Army in the Field was as follows:--