gewater Treatises_, but also for large bequests of
money and landed property to the trustees of the British Museum, for the
purchase of manuscripts, in addition to those from his own collection,
which he had already bequeathed to the same institution.

THOS. CORSER.

Stand Rectory.

* * * * *

BATTLE OF VILLERS EN COUCHE.

(Vol. viii., pp. 8. 127.)

I am in a position to furnish a more complete account of this skirmish, and
of the action of April 26, in which my grandfather, General Mansel, fell,
from a copy of the _Evening Mail_ of May 14, 1794, now in the possession of
J. C. Mansel, Esq., of Cosgrove Hall, Northamptonshire. Your correspondent
MR. T. C. SMITH appears to have been misinformed as to the immediate
suppression of the _Poetical Sketches_ by an officer of the Guards, as I
have seen the _third edition_ of that work, printed in 1796.

"_Particulars of the Glorious Victory obtained by the English Cavalry
over the French under the Command of General Chapuis, at Troisoille, on
the 26th of April, 1794._

"On the 25th, according to orders received from the Committee of Public
Safety, and subsequently from General Pichegru, General Chapuis, who
commanded the Camp of Caesar, marched from thence with his whole force,
consisting of 25,000 infantry, 3000 cavalry, and seventy-five pieces of
cannon. At Cambray he divided them into three columns; the one marched
by Ligny, and attacked the redoubt at Troisoille, which was most
gallantly defended by Col. Congreve against this column of 10,000 men.
The second column was then united, consisting of 12,000 men, which
marched on the high road as far as Beausois, and from that village
turned off to join the first column; and the attack recommenced against
Col. Congreve's redoubt, who kept the whole at bay. The enemy's flank
was supported by the village of Caudry, to defend which they had six
pieces of cannon, 2000 infantry, and 500 cavalry. During this period
Gen. Otto conceived it practicable to fall on their flank with the
cavalry; in consequence of which, Gen. Mansel, with about 1450
men--consisting of the Blues, 1st and 3rd Dragoon Guards, 5th Dragoon
Guards, and 1st Dragoons, 15th and 16th Dragoons, with Gen. Dundas, and
a division of Austrian cuirassiers, and another of Archduke Ferdinand's
hussars under Prince Swartzenburg--after several manoeuvres,