 monsieur Cohorn, the famous
engineer, affirmed that the place could not be taken.« - »Yes, (said the prince
of Vaudemont) it may be taken by an epaulement.« - »This was immediately put in
execution, and in twenty-four hours Mareschal Boufflers was fain to capitulate.«
- Here he made a full stop, and the old gentleman repeated the question, »But
pray what is an epaulement?« - To this the officer made no immediate reply, but
rung the bell and called for a bill, which being brought, he threw down his
proportion of the reckoning, and telling the company, he would shew them what an
epaulement is, when his Majesty thought fit to entrust him with the command of
our army abroad, strutted away with great dignity. - I could not imagine why he
was so shy of explaining one of the most simple terms of fortification; which I
forthwith described as a side-work composed of earth, gabions, or faschins; but
I was very much surprized when I afterwards understood that his reserve
proceeded from his ignorance. - Having paid our bill, we adjourned to the
coffee-room, where my fellow-labourer insisted on treating me with a dish,
giving me to understand at the same time, that I had acquired his good opinion,
both with respect to my principles and intellects. - I thanked him for his
compliment, and professing myself an utter stranger in this part of the world,
begged he would have the goodness to inform me of the quality and characters of
the people who dined above. - This request was a real favour to one of his
disposition, which was no less communicative than curious; he therefore complied
with great satisfaction, and let me know, to my extreme astonishment, that the
supposed young prince was a dancer at one of the theatres; and the ambassador no
other than a fidler belonging to the opera. »The doctor (said he) is a Roman
Catholick priest, who sometimes appears in the character of an officer, and
assumes the name of captain; but more generally takes the garb, title and
behaviour of a physician, in which capacity he wheedles himself into the
confidence of weak-minded people, and by arguments no less specious than false,
converts them from their religion and allegiance. - He has been in the hands of
justice more than once for such practices; but he is a sly dog, and manages
matters with so much craft, that hitherto he has escaped for a short
imprisonment. - As for the general, you may see he has owed
