MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 2 8^ 



tants of diftindion, a converfation was intro- 

 duced about the invalion of E^ngland then 

 threatened by the French. A Colonel of in- 

 fantry enquired of the Chevalier de Drocourt what 

 was his opinion of the probable fuccefs of fuch 

 a plan, fuppofing the attempt to be made ; the 

 Chevalier replied, that the fuperiority of the 

 Britifh fleet would baffle any attempt of that 

 nature; befides, ihould any accident enable 

 them to land, they would find a very warm re- 

 ception, for that, independent of the troops of 

 the line, thefe was an immenfe body of militia, 

 fencibles, and volunteers, which altosether 

 formed one of the fineft armies in the world. 

 A gentleman who flood near us, and whom I 

 had never i^tn before, immediately faid, in Por- 

 tuguefe, " The Englifli troops are worth no- 

 " thing! nothing!!!" 



Such a declaration in the prefence of a man 

 whom he knew to be a Briton, was, to fay no 

 worfe of it, indecent, and fuch as I could not 

 pafs without notice ; but there being not only a 

 great number of ladies in the room, but the 

 Admiral under whom I failed, befldes fome 

 other General Officers, I was obliged to fufpend 

 my vengeance for a few moments. Had I taken 

 the advice of fome of my friends I had let the 

 affront pafs with impunity, as the gentleman 

 was the protege of one of the Minifters at Lifbon. 



V I very 



