polite and sociable, which confirms me in my assertion, and that without prejudice, that Ghent is the most uncivilised, disagreeable town in Flanders. But have this to comfort me, that the people of this nation not bearing the greatest good-will to the English, any place garrisoned by our troops would be equally bad, as they are shy and unwilling to enter into any correspondence with them; but when we go as private travellers, they are courteous enough. I impute most of their incivility to the excessive bigotry which prevails amongst them to their own religion, and causes an abhorrence to those that profess any other. As this country is universally notorious for carrying their prejudices to the greatest extremity, even to make a merit in the persecution of those that do not conform to them, it is no wonder that we, who are not apt to affect any formal appearances of religion, and are content with the reality without the outward ceremonies (tenets directly opposite to theirs), should seem to them to have none; and are, consequently, disgustful to those who live by no other rule or reason than the implicit obedience to their priests, and the injunctions imposed by them.

We expect the last embarkation will be here in about a fortnight, when we shall have our definitive orders for marching, which, if we do not, will be to the great disappointment of us all, as our necessary preparations have caused us a great deal of expense and trouble, which nobody will think much of if we are employed, which is the only method we can have of having it repaid, as I do not doubt our endeavours

will be attended with success, which, for the public good, as well as my own, I sincerely wish. If we fail, we have only to thank our good friends the Dutch, whose alliance would have made us capable of undertaking and perfecting any enterprise that we could expect or want to be effected, but they have absolutely declared they will have nothing to do with us.

I fancy you will be surprised to find me animadverting on religion and politics, who never pretended to be a great connoisseur in either, but just pretend to know enough of one to distinguish right from wrong, and to be a good subject enough to have the interest of my country at heart to desire its success.

I shall be able in my next to acquaint you for a certainty what we are to do, though I think our encampment is now out of doubt; till when,

I am, Madam,

Your most dutiful Grandson and humble Servant,

Ghent, August the 28th, 1742.

B. RUDYERD.

P.S.-My love to my sister, and service to all, &c. I desire them particularly to Mr. Leigh and Lady Barbara. Your last direction was right.

A Madlle. Mlle. RUDYERD, Wormley, Hertfordshire.

MA CHÈRE SŒUR,

J'AI reçu votre lettre du 22ième laquelle a bien recompensé l'impatience avec laquelle je l'attendais,

en ce que les excuses que vous y faites paroitre d'une manière si agréable, m'empêchent de vous accuser de cette paresse dont je vous croyois coupable; et je suis fort réjoui d'apprendre, que vous avez si bien passé le tems avec Mons. Berkeley, pendant votre séjour chez lui.

Je vous écris en François pour l'avancement de l'un et l'autre dans cette langue, mais je suis porté à croire qu'il sera plûtot de ma part que de la votre, mais à l'égard que c'est mon premier coup d'essai, votre bonté laissera passer les erreurs que vous y trouverez en fort grand nombre, sans les regarder d'un œil trop rigoureux. On fait courir tant de bruits différens sur le chapitre de la campagne, que je ne sçais qu'en croire, il y a aparance, cependant il faut laisser au tems à determiner une affaire, qu'on voit dans une telle incertitude; quoi qu'il en soit, la saison étant si avancée, il faut que nous sachions bientôt ce qu'il nous faut faire; pour moi, je voudrois qu'il fut remis jusqu'au printems. Je me tiens tout prét, et il ne me reste qu'à suivre les ordres qu'on attend journellement pour nous mettre en marche.

Je conclus celle-ci en vous demandant de me faire sçavoir de vos nouvelles de tems en tems; et soyez persuadée que je suis votre frère très affectioné, &c.

B. RUDYERD.

Assurez Madame ma grand-mère de mes respects. Ghent, 7bre, 1742.

To the Honourable Mrs. CHAPLIN, at Wormley, in

MADAM,

Hertfordshire.

I RECEIVED the favour of yours, with that of my sister's, which I should have duly acknowledged the following post; but as our affairs here were drawing to some crisis, I was willing to defer writing till I could give some certain, at least probable, account what determination would be taken in regard to us. In order to which there was, last week, a council of war held at Bruxelles, when it was concluded, to the great satisfaction of us all here in garrison, that we were to continue quiet this winter in our quarters. The generals returned but this morning, so this resolution is not as yet made public; but, lest you should think me long in writing to you, I was resolved not to stay for a confirmation in form, as I think I may positively venture to say that this is the result of their consultations. I shall, for the future, pique myself upon my judgment in political affairs, as, notwithstanding all the visible preparations for taking the field, it has, from the beginning, been my opinion, that it would be impossible for us to undertake any thing at this time of the year. I shall, in a few days, go to Bruxelles with the Duke of Marlbro', who does me the honour to take particular notice of me, to see the Hanoverian troops that are near that place. After my return from thence, I design, with another gentleman, to take a house for the winter, as it is, upon all accounts, much cheaper and more convenient

U

than lodgings, particularly in regard to equipage, which, from the want of hackney voitures, we are obliged to keep. As nothing is yet made public, I hope you will excuse this dull, imperfect account, which I will endeavour to make amends for in my next. I have here joined an epistle to my sister, that I may not be wanting in punctilio to answer hers, which I would have done in particular, but that it would not have answered the expense it would have cost her. I fear she will think, as it is, the trouble of the reading is more than it deserves. It was wrote in a great hurry, so hope she will not be too curious in her examination. I write to her in French, as I am convinced, by the little experience I have made since my being here, that practice is the only means of perfecting in that or any other science. As I have a great deal of leisure time, I apply myself pretty closely, being very desirous to understand a language so absolutely necessary. I seldom stir out in a morning, except obliged to it by attending the duty of the regiment, which time I employ in reading what French books I can get. I flatter myself-which is a great means of succeeding-that I have improved a good deal; but find a master is absolutely necessary to make one correct, as there are several branches in the understanding every language that no self-application can acquire a certain knowledge of; so will certainly, as soon as I have it in my power, have recourse to one to complete the little progress I have already made by myself.

I have made some acquaintance with two or three