30,000, and these only British troops, or subsidiaries in the
pay of the maritime powers. As the season was extremely
backward, and the scanty resources of the country had been
exhausted by the enemy, he caused an accurate scrutiny to
be made into the state of the magazines; but to his addi-
tional mortification, the superintendant, instead of rendering
an account, fled to the enemy, and he discovered that not
half the quantity of the expected supplies had been collected.

His letters written during this period of suspense and
anxiety need no comment.

To Lord Codolphin.

"Tuesday, May 16-27. 1705. -- At my arrival here yesterday, I had
the favour of two of yours. I am to be on horseback all this day, so
that I shall not be able to answer by this post the particulars of yours,
believing you will be more desirous to know the posture our army is in.
I gave you an account from Manheim, that the army of Prince Louis
was in so miserable a condition that he could not spare more troops to
act on the Moselle than 12 battalions and 28 squadrons at this time, and
that they could not march till the 28th, so that they cannot join me
until the 10th or 12th of next month. The troops of Prussia cannot be
here much sooner, and the 7000 Palatines in the English and Dutch pay
are to be here by the 6th. By all this you will see we want a third of
our foot, and almost half our horse, which makes it impossible for me as
yet to march. However, for want of forage and provisions, I shall be
necessitated to march before all these troops can join me, so that I have
sent orders to the several commanders to hasten their march all that is
possible.

"The unreasonable heats of the parties make me pity you with all
my heart; but you must, as I do, in spite of all the vexations we meet,
serve her majesty, and when this war in well ended, we then may think
of enjoying some quiet. In all conditions I shall be ever most sincerely
yours," &c.

"Treves, May 22. -June 2, 1705. -- The detachment that is on its march
from Alsace will make the Marshal de Villars have a great many more
battalions and squadrons than I shall have. However, I do not appre-
hend his venturing a battle; but it will put him in a condition to act in
such a manner as may make us want all sorts of provisions, which we
ought to be more afraid of than fighting; for our men are in great heart,
so that with the blessing of God we might expect good success. We
have another contre-temps, for upon my giving orders to Vanderkaa, who
is marched with the English from Holland, to take care of all that con-
cerns Machado, to inform himself of the strength of our magazines for
bread and forage, one sentry, who has had the care of it all this winter,
instead of giving him an account, is run away last Sunday, and we fear
he is gone to the enemy. But I am but too sure that there is not near
half the quantity in the stores that should have been, so that we are

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