n, and accordingly rated him, in
my conjecture, as a young prince on his travels. The discourse was
afterwards shifted by an old gentleman, of a very martial appearance, to
the last campaign, when the battle of Dettingen was fought over again,
with so many circumstances to the honour of the French and disadvantages
if the Allies, that I began to entertain some doubts of my having been
there in person, and took the liberty to mention some objections to
what he advanced. This freedom introduced a dispute, which lasted a good
while, to the mortification of all present; and was at last referred to
the determination of a grave person, whom they styled Doctor, and who,
under a show of great moderation, decided it against me, with so little
regard to truth, that I taxed him with partiality in pretty severe
terms, to the no small entertainment of the true English politician,
who rejoiced at my defence of a cause he had so often espoused without
success.

My opponent, pleased with the victory he had gained, affected a great
deal of candour, and told me, he should not have been so positive, if
he had not been at great pains to inform himself of each particular.
"Indeed," said he, "I am convinced that the previous steps considered,
things could not happen otherwise; for we generals who have seen
service, though we may not be on the spot ourselves, know by the least
sketch of the disposition what must be the event." He then censured,
with great freedom, every circumstance of the conduct of those who
commanded the Allies; from thence made a transition to the ministry,
which he honoured with many invectives for employing people who had
neither experience nor capacity, to the prejudice of old officers,
who had been distinguished for both; dropped many hints of his own
importance, and concluded with observing, that the French and Spaniards
knew better how to value generals of merit; the good effects of which
are seen in the conquests they gain, and the discipline of their troops,
which are at the same time better clothed and paid than any soldiers
in the universe. These remarks furnished the green knight with an
opportunity of launching out in the praise of the French government
in general, civil as well as military; on which occasion he made many
odious comparisons to the disadvantage of the English. Everybody,
almost, assented to the observations he made, and the doctor gave his
sanction, by saying, the people of France were undoubte