orable will of Pompadour. This clause
of the business Ferdinand, at an early stage, appears to have guessed or
discerned might, for him, be the saving clause.

"Now, as formerly, Ferdinand's first grand business is to guard
Lippstadt,--guard it now from these two Generals:--and, singular to see,
instead of opposing the junction of them, he has submitted cheerfully
to let them join. And in the course of a week or two after taking
the field, is found to be on the western or outmost flank of Soubise,
crushing him up towards Broglio, not otherwise! And has, partly by
accident, taken a position at Vellinghausen which infinitely puzzles
Broglio and Soubise, when they rush into junction at Soest (July 6th)
and study the thing, with their own eyes, for eight whole days, in
concert.' What continual reconnoitring, galloping about of high-plumed
gentlemen together or apart; what MEMOIR-ing, mutual consulting, beating
of brains, to little purpose, during those eight days!--

"Ferdinand stands in moory difficult ground, length of him about eight
miles, looking eastward; with his left at Vellinghausen and the Lippe;
centre of him is astride of the Ahse (centre partly, and right wing
wholly, are on the south side of Ahse), which is a branch of Lippe; and
in front, he has various little Hamlets, Kirch-Denkern [KIRCH-Denkern,
for there are three or four other Denkerns thereabouts], Scheidingen,
Wambeln and others; and his right wing is covered farther by a quaggy
brook, which runs into the above-said Ahse, and is a SUB-branch of
Lippe. At most of these Villages Ferdinand has thrown up something
of earthworks: there are bogs, rough places, woods; all are turned to
advantage. Ferdinand is in a strongish, but yet a dangerous position;
and will give difficulties, and does give endless dubieties, to these
high-plumed gentlemen galloping about with their spy-glasses for eight
days. One possibility they pretty soon discern in him: His left flank
rests on Lippe, yes; but his right flank is in the air, has nothing to
rest on;--here surely is some possibility for us? A strong Position,
that of his; but if driven out of it by any method, he has no retreat;
is tumbled back into the ANGLE where Ahse and Lippe meet, and into the
little Town of Hamm there, where his Magazine is. What a fate for him,
if we succeed!--

"Ferdinand, by the incessant reconnoitring and other symptoms, judges
what is coming; concludes he will be attacked in this posture of