imself in a great degree suggested the measure, on
some general hints which I threw out to him, in order to try the
ground. For the moment, the great point seems to be to bring them
to acquiesce in the virtual command which his rank of Field-Marshal
will give him over Clairfayt, and to send positive orders to the
latter to that effect; and if there should be any difficulty in
Clairfayt's submitting to this, then to let Clairfayt absent
himself for the moment, and leave the Austrian troops under the
command of some officer whose standing will occasion no difficulty
in this respect. You will observe that, by virtual command, we mean
precisely the same deference as the Duke of York has shown to the
Prince of Coburg, not extending to any of the points of military
etiquette by which command is usually rendered ostensible, but
going to the effect of complying with his suggestions respecting
the mode of executing the operations agreed upon in concert, when
the instructions of his Court do not interfere with such
suggestions. Before you receive this letter, Lord Cornwallis will
probably be on the spot; and it is therefore urgent, to prevent the
first beginnings of dissension, that no time should be lost in
making the Austrians give their orders to Clairfayt. Knowing the
delay of that Government, and the difficulty of getting them to
adopt any decided line of conduct, we have thought it best to do
the thing first, and afterwards to try to obtain their consent to
it. If you succeed, or, indeed, in any case, it will be useful that
you should write directly to Lord C. upon the subject, as that may
save a week, at a time when a week's delay might be of the utmost
importance.

With respect to the Duke of York, Wyndham will probably tell you in
confidence how he succeeds in his negotiation. It certainly is a
pretty strong instance of zeal and desire to facilitate whatever
can promote the cause, when he undertakes a task of no less
difficulty than the reconciling the mind of a young Prince to a
supercession in his military command, and that too at the precise
moment of moving forwards, after so mortifying a retreat. I am,
however, not without hopes of his success; and, at all events, the
moment was too critical to suffer any consideration to interfere
with th