descended and fell on the rear, on which it Was necessary to sacrifice the Guards to secure the rest.  Those brave young men did wonders—­that is, they were cut to pieces with great intrepidity.  We lost General Dury and ten other officers; Lord Frederick Cavendish with twenty-three others were taken prisoners.  In all we have lost seven hundred men, but more shamefully for the projectors and conductors than can be imagined, for no shadow of an excuse can be offered for leaving them so exposed with no purpose or possible advantage, in the heart of an Enemy’s country.  What heightens the distress. the army sailed from Weymouth with a full persuasion that they were to be sacrificed to the vainglorious whims of a man of words(955) and a man(956) of none!

“Three expeditions we have sent,
And if you bid me show where
I know as well as those who went,
To St. Maloes, Cherbourg, nowhere.”

Those, whose trade or amusement is politics, may comfort themselves with their darling Prussian; he has strode back over 20 or 30,000 Russians,(957) and stepped into Dresden.  They even say that Daun is retired.  For my part, it is to inform you, that I dwell at all on these things.  I am shocked with the iniquities I see and have seen.  I abhor their dealings.

“And from my soul sincerely hate
Both Kings and Ministers of State!”

I don’t know whether I can attain any goodness by shunning them, I am sure their society is contagious Yet I will never advertise my detestation, for if I professed virtue, I should expect to be suspected of designing to be a minister.  Adieu! you are good, and wilt keep yourself so.

sept. 25th.

I had sealed my letter, but as it cannot go away till to-morrow, I open it again on receiving yours of Sept. 9th.  I don’t understand Marshal Botta’s being so well satisfied with our taking Louisbourg.  Are the Austrians disgusted with the French?  Do they begin to repent their alliance? or has he so much sense as to know what improper allies they have got?  It is very right in you who are a minister, to combat hostile Ministers—­had I been at Florence, I should not have so much contested the authority of the Abb`e de Ville’s performance:  I have no more doubt of’ the convention of Closter-Severn having been scandalously broken, than it was shamelessly disavowed by those who commanded it.

In our loss are included some of our volunteers; a Sir John Armitage, a young man of fortune, just come much into the world, and engaged to the sister(958) of the hot-headed and cool-tongued Lord Howe; a Mr. Cocks, nephew of lady Hardwicke, who could not content himself with seven thousand pounds a-year, without the addition of an ensign’s commission — he was not quite recovered of a wound he had got at CHerbourg.  The royal volunteer, Prince Edward, behaved with much spirit.  Adieu!

(955) Mr. Pitt.-D.

(956) two brothers, successively Lords Howe, were remarkably silent.