60,000 actually on foot:
80,000 (grows at last into 100,000, for a little while) as "Army of the
Netherlands,"--to prick into Austria, and astonish England and the Dutch
Barrier, in that quarter. Of the rest, 20,000 under Conti are for
Italy; 60,000 (by degrees 40,000) under Coigny for defence of the Rhine
Countries, should Prince Karl, as is surmisable, make new attempts
there. [Adelung, iv. 78; Espagnac, ii. 3.]

And besides all this, there are Two strong Fleets, got actually
launched, not yet into the deep sea, but ready for it: one in Toulon
Harbor, to avenge those Mediterranean insults; and burst out, in concert
with an impatient Spanish Fleet (which has lain blockaded here for a
year past), on the insolent blockading English: which was in some sort
done. ["19th February, 1744," French and Spanish Fleets run out; 22d
Feb. are attacked by Matthews and Lestock; are rather beaten, not beaten
nearly enough (Matthews and Lestock blaming one another, Spaniards and
French ditto, ditto: Adelung, iv. 32-35); with the endless janglings,
correspondings, court-martialings that ensue (Beatson, _Naval and
Military Memoirs,_ i. 197 et seqq.; _Gentleman's Magazine,_ and Old
Newspapers, for 1744; &c. &c.).] The other strong Fleet, twenty sail of
the line, under Admiral Roquefeuille, is in Brest Harbor,--intended for
a still more delicate operation; of which anon. Surely King Friedrich
ought to admit that these are fine symptoms? King Friedrich has freely
done so, all along; intending to strike in at the right moment. Let us
see, a little, how things have gone; and how the right moment has been
advancing in late months.

JANUARY 17th, 1744, There landed at Antibes on French soil a young
gentleman, by name "Conte di Spinelli," direct from Genoa, from Rome;
young gentleman seemingly of small importance, but intrinsically
of considerable; who hastened off for Paris, and there disappeared.
Disappeared into subterranean consultations with the highest Official
people; intending reappearance with emphasis at Dunkirk, a few weeks
hence, in much more emphatic posture. And all through February there
is observable a brisk diligence of War-preparation, at Dunkirk:
transport-ships in quantity, finally four war-ships; 15,000 chosen
troops, gradually marching in; nearly all on board, with their
equipments, by the end of the month.

Clearly an Invading Army intended somewhither, England judges too well
whither. Anti-English Armament; to be led b