HISTORY OF RUROPE. 
In the mean time, the French 
were extremely active in reducing 
all the places of stregth on the 
borders of the united provinces. 
The little but strong town of 
Grave was one of those few that 
held out any length of time. The 
French employed a whole month in 
the seige. The governor was ge- 
neral Bons, an officer of remarkable 
intrepidity, and who resolved not 
[47 
kept to his resolution, and in con- 
sideration of his bravery, the gar. 
rison and inhabitants were admitted 
to capitulate on the most honourable 
terms: it surrendered on the thir. 
tieth of December. 
The departure of the Duke of 
York for England, which was about 
the beginning of December, ope- 
rated as a signal that the British 
government had abondoned all ex. 
to surrender till the whole of his 
pectation of being able to preserve 
ammunition was expended. He 
the united provinces from a French 
even without clean straw, and sufficient shelter from the weather, théy are thrown to- 
gether in heaps, unpitied, and unprotected, to perish by contagion, while legions of 
vultures, down tothe stewards, nurses, and their numberless dependants, pamper their 
bodies, and fill their coffers with the nation’s treasure, and like beasts of prey, 
fatten on the blood and carcasses of their unhappy fellow creatures; of whom not.one 
in a hundred survives, but perishes under the internal claws of those harpies, still thirst- 
ing for more blood, and rioting in the jaws of death. 
“ For the truth of what I say, I have only to appeal to every man in the army, 
who has only for a few hours observed with an attentive eye, the general rule of con- 
duct in our hospitals of late, and to witness here the scene before me, while I now 
write. A number of men, lying ona scanty allowance of dirty wet straw, which, 
from the heat of their bodies, sends up a visible steam, unable to help themselves; and 
though a sufficient number of men are liberally paid for their attendance, none have 
been near for several hours, even to help them to a drink of water. Five carcasses, 
covered only with the rags they wore when they were alive, are piled one upon ano- 
ther in the yard, on pretence that the ground is too hard to bury them, until a thaw 
comes. 
“This is a very disagreeable subject ; but one thing more I must take notice of, 
which leaves them without excuse. 
“His Royal Highness has at all times paid great attention to the sick of his army, 
and directions have been given, and regulations made, as circumstances required, 
tending to promote their comfort, and restore their health, besides a number of 
standing orders, which, if stritly attended to, would remove the greatest part of the 
prevailing grievances, even at this extraordinary period; one in particular, I cannot 
help taking notice of, it was given out in the order of the 4th of June last, amd is as 
follows: ‘ 
“ His Royal Highness, the commander-in-chief, directs, that, whenever the vici- 
nity of the camp will permit it, a field-officer for the week shall be appointed, for 
the inspection of the flying general hospital. - 
“Tne officer upon this very essential duty is expected to visit frequently the hospi- 
tal, at unstated bours, to superintend the cleanliness and discipline of it in every particular ; 
to examine the diet of the patients, and observe whether they receive that unremit- 
ting care and attention their situation demands, and to report immediately any defi- 
ctency, negleé?, or irregularity, to the commander-in-chief.” 
“ An order had been before issued with respect to the clothing of the sick; and the 
most liberal provision had been made for servants or nurses, as well as in apparel, li- 
quor, and every other requisite. The magnanimity, humanity, and sincere regard 
to the interest and honour of his country, with which the Duke of York discharged 
the duties of his important office, are well known and universally acknowledged. 
Had he been apprised of the delinquencies, and indeed the inhumanity here noted, he 
Would ‘not ‘have suffered their continuance. It was, indeed, after his highness had’ 
left Holland, that thesecruel neglects and peculations were most apparent and flagrant.” 
invasion 
