he was a young nobleman
of spirit, who had lately embraced a military life, though he was not
regularly trained in the service.

Next day, which was the sixteenth of October, the enemy attacked an
advanced body of the allies, which was posted in a wood before Elverick,
and extended along the Rhine. The firing of cannon and musketry was
maintained till night. Meanwhile, a column of the French infantry,
commanded by M. de Cabot, marched through Walach, and took post among
the thickets, at the distance of a quarter of a league, in the front
of the prince's army. By this time the Ehine was so much swelled by the
rains and the banks of it were overflown in such a manner, that it was
necessary to repair, and move lower down, the bridge which had been
thrown over that river. This work was accordingly performed in the
presence of the enemy; and the prince passing without molestation,
proceeded to Bruymen, where he fixed his head-quarters. His passing the
Ehine so easily, under the eye of a victorious army so much superior to
him in number, may be counted among the fortunate incidents of his life.
Such was the issue of an expedition which exposed the projector of it
to the imputation of temerity. Whatever his aim might have been, besides
the reduction of Wesel, with the strength of which he did not seem to
have been very well acquainted, he certainly miscarried in his design;
and his miscarriage was attended with a very considerable loss of
troops, occasioned not only by the action, but also by the diseases
engendered from the wet weather, the fatigue of long marches, and the
want of proper conveniences; not to mention the enormous expense in
contingencies incurred by this fruitless undertaking.

In the month of November, while he lay encamped in the neighbourhood
of Schermbeck, a body of the enemy attempted to beat up his quarters;
having received intimation of their design, he immediately called in
his advanced posts, and made a disposition for giving them a proper
reception. He abandoned the tents that were in the front of his camp,
and posted his infantry in ambuscade behind those that were in the rear;
at the same time he ordered some regiments of horse and hussars to fetch
a compass, and fall upon the back of the enemy. This stratagem succeeded
to his wish. The French detachment, believing the allies had actually
abandoned their camp, began to pillage the tents in the utmost dis
-order: then the infantry sallied from the