Oct. 15. 1853.] 



NOTES AND QUERIEa 



ni 



Arras. The French lost between 14,000 and 15,000 

 men killed ; we took 580 prisoners. The loss in tum- 

 brils and ammunition was immense, and in all fifty 

 pieces of cannon, of which thirty-five fell to the English; 

 twenty-seven to the heavy, and eight to the light 

 cavalry. Thus ended a day which will redound with 

 immortal honour to the bravery of the British cavalry, 

 who, assisted by a small body of Austrians, tlie whole 

 not amounting to 1500, gained so complete a victory 

 over 22,000 men in sight of their co7-ps de reserve, con- 

 sisting of 6000 men and twenty pieces of cannon. 

 Had the cavalry been more numerous, or the infantry 

 able to come up, it is probable few of the French 

 would have escaped. History does not furnish such 

 an example of courage. 



•' The whole army lamented the loss of the brave 

 General, who thus gloriously terminated a long mili- 

 tary career, during which he had been ever honoured, 

 esteemed, and respected by all who knew him. It 

 should be some consolation to those he has left behind 

 him, that his reputation was as unsullied as his soul 

 was honest; and that he died as he lived, an example 

 of true courage, honour, and humility. On the 24th 

 General Mansel narrowly escaped being surrounded at 

 Villers de Couche by the enemy, owing to a mistake 

 of General Otto's aide-de-camp, who was sent to bring 

 up the heavy cavalry : in doing which he mistook the 

 way, and led them to the front of the enemy's cannon, 

 by which the 3rd Dragoon Guards suffered consider- 

 ably." — Extract from the Eveniyig Mail, May 14, 1794. 



From the above extract, compared with the 

 communication of Mb. Smith (Vol. viii., p. 127.), 

 it appears that the 15th Light Dragoons were en- 

 gaged in both actions, that of Villers en Couche 

 on April 24, and that of Troisoille (or Cateau) on 

 the 26th. In the statement communicated by 

 Mr. Simpson (Ibid. p. 8.), there appears to be 

 some confusion between the particulars of the two 

 engagements. H. L. Mansel, B.D. 



St. John's College, Oxford. 



As the action at Villers en Couche has lately 

 been brought before your readers, allow me to 

 direct your correspondent to the Journals and 

 Correspondence of Sir Hai-ry Calvert, edited by 

 Sir Harry Verney, and just published by Messrs. 

 Hurst and Co., — a book which contains a good 

 deal of valuable information respecting a memor- 

 able campaign. Sir Harry Calvert, under the 

 date of the 25th of April, 1794, thus describes the 

 action at Villers en Couche : 



" Snice Tuesday, as I foresaw was likely, we have 

 been a good deal on the qtd vive. On Wednesday 

 morning we had information tiiat the enemy had moved 

 in considerable force from the Camp de Cesar, and 

 early in the afternoon we learned that they had crossed 

 the Selle at Saultzoir, and pushed patrols towards 

 Quesnoy and Valenciennes. The Ditke [of York] 

 sent orders to General Otto, who had gone out to 

 Cambray on a reconnoitring party with light dragoons 

 and hussars, to get into the rear of the enemy, find out 

 their strength, and endeavour to cut them off. The 



enemy retired to Villers en Couch^ that night, but' 

 occupied Saultzoir and Haussy. Otto, finding their 

 strength greater than he expected, about 14,000, early 

 in the evening sent in for a brigade of heavy cavalry 

 for his support, which marched first to Fontaine An- 

 tarque, and afterwards to St. Hilaire ; and in the 

 night he sent for a farther support of four battalions 

 and some artillery. Unfortunately he confided this 

 important mission to a hussar, who never delivered it, 

 probably having lost his way, so that, in the morning, 

 the general found himself under the necessity of 

 attacking with very inferior numbers. However, by 

 repeated charges of his light cavelry, he drove the 

 enemy back into their camp, and took three pieces of 

 cannon. He had, at one time, taken eight ; but the 

 enemy, bringing up repeated reinforcements of fresh 

 troops, retook five. 



" Our loss I cannot yet ascertain, but I fear the 15th 

 Light Dragoons have suffered considerably. Two 

 battalions of the enemy are entirely destroyed." 



The especial bravery of the troops engaged on 

 the 26th, which is another subject noticed by your 

 correspondent Bibliothecar. Chetham. prompted 

 the following entry on his journal by Sir Harry 

 Calvert : 



" April 26. — The enemy made a general attack on 

 the camp of the allies. On their approaching the 

 right of the camp, the Duke of York directed a 

 column of heavy cavalry, consisting of the regiment 

 of Zedwitsch Cuirassiers, the Blues, Royals, 1st, 3rd, 

 and 5th Dragoon Guards, to turn the enemy, or en- 

 deavour to take them in flank, which service they per- 

 formed in a style beyond all praise, charging repeat- 

 edly through the enemy's column, and taking twenty- 

 six pieces of cannon. The light dragoons and hussars 

 took nine pieces on the left of the Duke's camp." 



Sir Harry Verney has printed in an Appendix 

 his father's well-considered plans for the defence 

 of the country against the invasion anticipated in 

 1796. J. B. 



ATTAINMENT OF MAJORITY. 



(Vol. viii., pp. 198. 250. 296.) 



The misunderstanding which has arisen between 

 Peoeessob De Morgan and A. E. B. has pro- 

 ceeded, it appears, fi-om the misapplication of the 

 statement of the latter's authority (Arthur Hop- 

 ton) to the question at issue. Where Hoptoa 

 says that our lawyers count their day from sunrise 

 to sunset, he, I am of opinion, merely refers to 

 certain instances, such as distress for rent: 



" A man cannot distrain for rent or rent-charge in 

 the night (which, according to the author of The Mirror, 

 is alter sunset and before sunrising). " — Impey on 

 Distress and Replevin, p. 49. 



In common law, the day is now supposed among 

 lawyers to be from six in the morning to seven at 

 night for service of notices ; in Chancery, till eight 

 at nijiht. And a service after such times at night 



