h: "To-day there came Three Expresses,"--Three
Expresses, with what haste in their eyes, testifying successively of
Conflans's whereabouts. But it was believed that Hawke would still
manage. And, at any rate, Pitt wore such a look,--and had, in fact, made
such preparation on the coasts, even in failure of Hawke,--there was no
alarm anywhere. Indignation rather;--and naturally, when the news did
come, what an outburst of Illumination in the windows and the hearts of
men!

"Hawke continued watching the mouths of the Vilaine and Charente Rivers
for a good while after, and without interruption henceforth,--till the
storms of Winter had plainly closed them for one season. Supplies of
fresh provisions had come to him from England all Summer; but were
stopped latterly by the wild weather. Upon which, in the Fleet, arose
this gravely pathetic Stave of Sea-Poetry, with a wrinkle of briny humor
grinning in it:--

Till Hawke did bang Monsieur Conflans [CONGFLANG],
You sent us beef and beer;
Now Monsieur's beat, we've nought to eat,
Since you have nought to fear." [Beatson, ii. 342 n.]

The French mode of taking this catastrophe was rather peculiar. Hear
Barbier, an Eye-witness; dating PARIS, DECEMBER, 1759: "Since the first
days of December, there has been cried, and sold in the streets, a
Printed Detail of all that concerns the GRAND INVASION projected this
long while: to wit, the number of Ships of the Line, of Frigates,
Galiots,--among others 500 Flat-bottomed Boats, which are to carry over,
and land in England, more than 54,000 men;--with list of the Regiments,
and number of the King's Guards, that are also to go: there are
announced for Generals-in-Chief, M. le Prince de Conti [do readers
remember him since the Broglio-Maillebois time, and how King Louis
prophesied in autograph that he would be "the Grand Conti" one
day?]--Prince de Conti, Prince de Soubise [left his Conquest of
Frankfurt for this greater Enterprise], and Milord Thomont [Irish
Jacobite, whom I don't know]. As sequel to this Detail, there is a
lengthy Song on the DISEMBARKMENT IN ENGLAND, and the fear the English
must have of it!" Calculated to astonish the practical forensic mind.

"It is inconceivable", continues he, "how they have permitted such
a Piece to be printed; still more to be cried, and sold price one
halfpenny (DEUX LIARDS). This Song is indecent, in the circumstances of
the actual news from our Fleet at Brest (20th of las