( m ) 



I foon perceived that it proceeded entirety from 

 his affection to me, and his zeal for our na- 

 tion. 



" Since your refolution is fixed, faid he to me, 

 « c I am of opinion that all the Frenchmen here 

 <c mould join you, in order to ftrengthen your con- 

 <c voy. I have already declared my fentiments to 

 u them on this head, and have represented to ,them 

 t* in a very ftrong manner, that they mould fof 

 <c ever lofe their honour if they fuffered their fa- 

 " ther to expofe himfelf to fuch danger without 

 * c partaking it with him. I earneftly wifh I could 

 * 6 accompany you myfelf at the head of all my ibl- 

 <c diers, but you are not ignorant that my village 

 " is every day on the eve of being attacked, and 

 u it is not proper that in fuch a juncture I mould 

 M either be abfent myfelf, or leave it unprovided 

 cc of defence. As to the French, nothing can de- 

 " tain them here but a piece of felf intereft, which 

 <*' they ought to facrifke to the care of your pre- 

 iC fervation. This is what I have given them to 

 €C underftand, and I have added that if any one of 

 " them Ihould fall into the hands of the enemy, it 

 " would only be the lofs of a fingle man, where- 

 " as a Father is himfelf alone worth many, and 

 " that there is nothing which they ought not to 

 * c hazard, in order to prevent fo great a misfor- 

 " tune." 



I was charmed, Madam, with the good fenfe of 

 this man, and ftill more with his generofity, which 

 carried him fo far as, out of regard for me, to dif- 

 penfe with the affiftance of four men, which ought 

 not to have been indifferent to him in the fituation 

 wherein he then was. I have not even doubted 

 P % that 



