not only in saying nothing from me, but also in saying
as little as possible from yourself, which would not fail to be
repeated, and to be ascribed to me. We will talk this over fully
when I see you, and I really much wish to know what you think ought
ultimately to be done on the subject. You will have seen that it is
not the camp of Mauberge, but the advanced posts that had been
unsuccessfully attacked. The attack of the camp itself was to take
place somewhere about this time, and yesterday the British troops
marched to Cysoing, where they thought it not improbable they might
be engaged with the French, who are collecting at Bouchain and
Cambray.

George Nugent had written to me twice on the subject of his
proposal, and I sent him Lord Amherst's answer, which is negative,
at least for the present. He seems to have an invincible aversion
to new corps, I fancy, from all the badgering he got upon that
subject last war. He now states only the plea of seniority, that
the number intended to be raised is filled up by older
Lieutenant-Colonels. I fancy Nugent had not received my letter when
he wrote to you.

The language of the Convention looks as if some serious attack
might be expected here; serious at least as they intend it, but
ridiculous, I trust, it will prove. An attempt in force requires
preparations they have not, and a superiority in naval force which
they certainly have not. Buccaneering expeditions I take to be
practicable, with only the certainty of much greater loss to
themselves than to us. They would be unpleasant in their effect
here, but what help.

I have profited of your advice about the manifesto, and now send
you the English translation which I have prepared, with the
transpositions you recommended. I do not think it reads as well in
English as in French, which I am sorry for, as it must be read in
English by John Bull, whose approbation of my writings I should
like to retain. I hardly know how to ask you to correct, as it must
be a translation, and a literal one. But mark what you dislike, and
I will try if, retaining the translation, it can be altered. I have
kept _guerre defensive_ and that _pour cause_: which indeed you may
guess, when you see in the papers that His Prussian Majesty is
returned to Berlin, and when I