Major semplb lisle. 113 



before his S. H. rofe from table, I was dif- 

 patched, attended by a huzar and the groom of 

 d' Antras. I took peafants horfes and a guide, 

 from village to village, making a ftraight line 

 upon St. Tronde. Arriving at Hejiell on the 

 night of the 17th of March, I learnt that Saxe 

 Coburg was near St. Trondcy and that Dumourier 

 in three numerous columns commanded by him- 

 felf. Valence and Miranda were preparing to 

 attack him, the fituation of the Auflrians was 

 defcribed to me as extremely critical ; their 

 numbers far inferior to that of the enemy, much 

 fatigued by harraffing marches and almoft with- 

 out cannon; in Ihort, it was the general opinion 

 that they would be defeated, 



Asfoonas the Mayor of Hejl ell co\x\d procure 

 me horfes and a guide, I continued my march 

 on the poft road to St. Tronde. As I approached 

 that town, (very early on the 18th of March,) 

 J heard very difl:ind:ly a heavy cannonade, and 

 I met part of the Auftrian baggage coming away 

 in fome diforder. I found the town in the ut- 

 moft confulion, full of carriages, fome driving 

 off as fall as they could, and others waiting for 

 horfes ; I then found that the two armies were 

 ferioufly engaged, and the defeat of the Auflri- 

 ans from the great difparity of numbers was 

 deemed unavoidable. With the afliftance of the 

 magiftrates, I procured frefb horfes and a pof- 



I tillion 



