Our communication with the army is cut off through Flanders and we are in great pain for Ostend:  the fortifications are all out of repair.  Upon Marshal Wade’s reiterated remonstrances, we did cast thirty cannon and four mortars for it-and then the economic ministry would not send them.  “What! fortify the Queen of Hungary’s towns? there will be no end of that.”  As if Ostend was of no more consequence to us, than Mons or Namur!  Two more battalions are ordered over immediately; and the old pensioners of Chelsea College are to mount guard at home!  Flourishing in a peace of twenty years, we were told that we were trampled upon by Spain and France.  Haughty nations, like those, who can trample upon an enemy country, do not use to leave it in such wealth and happiness as we enjoyed; but when the Duke of Marlborough’s old victorious veterans are dug out of their colleges and repose, to guard the King’s palace, and to keep up the show of an army which we have buried in America, or in a manner lost in Flanders, we shall soon know the real feel of being trampled upon!  In this crisis, you will hear often from me; for I will leave you in no anxious uncertainty from which I can free you.

The Countess(1075) is at Hanover, and, we hear, extremely well received.  It is conjectured, and it is not impossible, that the Count may have procured for her some dirty dab of a negotiation about some ’acre of territory more for Hanover, in order to facilitate her reception.  She has been at Hesse Cassel, and fondled extremely Princess Mary’S(1076) children; just as you know she used to make a rout about the Pretender’s boys.  My Lord Chesterfield laughs at her letter to him; and, what would anger her more than the neglect, ridicules the style and orthography.  Nothing promises well for her here.

You told me you wished I would condole with Prince Craon on the death of his son:(1077) which son? and where was he killed?  You don’t tell me, and I never heard.  Now it would be too late.  I should have been uneasy for Prince Beauvau, but that you say he is in Piedmont.

Adieu! my dear child:  we have much to wish!  A little good fortune will not re-establish us.  I am in pain for your health from the great increase of your business.

(1072 The French had been successful in a skirmish against the English army, at a place called Melle.  The consequence of this success was their obtaining the possession of Ghent.-D.

(1073) The army of the Prince of Conti, posted near the Maine, had been so weakened by the detachments sent from it to reinforce the army in Flanders, that it was obliged to retreat before the Austrians.  This retrograde movement was effected with considerable loss, both of soldiers and baggage; but it does not appear that any decisive general engagement took place during the campaign between the French and Austrians.-D.

(1074) ant`e, p. 195; Letter 45 (note 334).

(1075) Lady Orford.