, and almost a son, Mr. Webb writ a letter to his grace the
commander-in-chief, in which he said:--

Your grace must be aware that the sudden perusal of the _London
Gazette_, in which your grace's secretary, Mr. Cardonnel, hath
mentioned Major-General Cadogan's name, as the officer commanding
in the late action of Wynendael, must have caused a feeling of
anything but pleasure to the general who fought that action.

Your grace must be aware that Mr. Cadogan was not even present at
the battle, though he arrived with squadrons of horse at its
close, and put himself under the command of his superior officer.
And as the result of the battle of Wynendael, in which
Lieutenant-General Webb had the good fortune to command, was the
capture of Lille, the relief of Brussels, then invested by the
enemy under the Elector of Bavaria, the restoration of the great
cities of Ghent and Bruges, of which the enemy (by treason within
the walls) had got possession in the previous year: Mr. Webb
cannot consent to forgo the honours of such a success and service,
for the benefit of Mr. Cadogan, or any other person.

As soon as the military operations of the year are over,
Lieutenant-General Webb will request permission to leave the army,
and return to his place in Parliament, where he gives notice to
his grace the commander-in-chief, that he shall lay his case
before the House of Commons, the country, and her majesty the
queen.

By his eagerness to rectify that false statement of the _Gazette_,
which had been written by his grace's secretary, Mr. Cardonnel,
Mr. Webb, not being able to reach his grace the commander-in-chief
on account of the gentlemen seated between them, placed the paper
containing the false statement on his sword, so that it might more
readily arrive in the hands of his Grace the Duke of Marlborough,
who surely would wish to do justice to every officer of his army.

Mr. Webb knows his duty too well to think of insubordination to
his superior officer, or of using his sword in a campaign against
any but the enemies of her majesty. He solicits permission to
return to England immediately the military duties will permit, and
take with him to England Captain Esmond, of his regiment, who
acted as his aide de camp, and was present during the entire
action, and noted by his watch the time