s the title-page asserts, by an
"officer of the Guards;" who appears to have been, from what he
subsequently states, on the personal staff of His Royal Highness the late
Duke of York. This work, I have been given to understand, was suppressed
shortly after its publication; the ludicrous light thrown by its pages on
the conduct of many of the chief parties engaged in the transactions it
records, being no doubt unpalatable to those high in authority. From the
notes, which are valuable as appearing to emanate from an eye-witness, and
sometimes an actor in the scenes he describes, I send the following
extracts for the information of your correspondent; premising that the
letter to which they are appended is dated from the "Camp at Inchin, April
26, 1794."

"As the enemy were known to have assembled in great force at the Camp
de Caesar, near Cambray, Prince Cobourg requested the Duke of York would
make a _reconnoissance_ in that direction: accordingly, on the evening
of the 23rd, Major-General Mansel's brigade of heavy cavalry was
ordered about a league in front of their camp, where they lay that
night at a farm-house, forming _part_ of a detachment under General
Otto. Early the next morning, an attack was made on the French drawn up
in front of the village of Villers en Couchee (between Le Cateau and
Bouchain) by the 15th regiment of Light Dragoons, and two squadrons of
Austrian Hussars: they charged the enemy with such velocity and force,
that, darting through their cavalry, they dispersed a line of infantry
formed in their rear, forcing them also to retreat {128} precipitately
and in great confusion, under cover of the ramparts of Cambray; with a
loss of 1200 men, and three pieces of cannon. The only British officer
wounded was Captain Aylett: sixty privates fell, and about twenty were
wounded.

"Though the heavy brigade was formed at a distance under a brisk
cannonade, while the light dragoons had so glorious an opportunity of
distinguishing themselves, there are none who can attach with propriety
any blame on account of their unfortunate delay; for which General Otto
was surely, as having the command, alone accountable, and not General
Mansel, who acted at all times, there is no doubt, according to the
best of his judgment for the good of the service.

"The Duke of York had, on the morning of the 26th, observed the left