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have not a sufficient supply of officers fit for high commands’.The parks and the camp at Hounslow were very poor militaryschools, when compared with the fields of battle and the linesof contravallation in which the great commanders of the conti-nental nations have learned their art.” In reply to these argu-ments an orator on the other side was so absurd as to declarethat he could point out ten Englishmen who, if they were inthe French service, would he made Marshals. Four or fivecolonels who had been at Steinkirk took part in the debate. Itwas said of them that they showed as much modesty in speechas they had shown courage in action; and, from the very im-perfect report which has come down to us, the complimentseems to have been not undeserved. They did not join in thevulgar cry against the Dutch. They spoke well of the foreignofficers generally, and did full justice to the valour and conductwith which Auverquerque had rescued the shattered remains ofMackay’s division from what seemed certain destruction. Butin defence of Solmes not a word was said. His severity, hishaughty manners, and, above all, the indifference with whichhe had looked on while the English, home down by overwhelm-ing numbers, were fighting hand to hand with the Frenchhousehold troops, had made him so odious that many memberswere prepared to vote for an address requesting that he mightbe removed, and that his place might be filled by Talmash,who, since the disgrace of Marlborough, was universally al-lowed to be the best officer in the army. But Talmash’s friendsjudiciously interfered. “I have,” said one of them, “a trueregard for that gentleman; and I implore you not to do him aninjury under the notion of doing him a kindness. Consider thatyou are usurping what is peculiarly the King’s prerogative. Youare turning officers out and putting officers in.” The debateended without any vote of censure on Solmes. But a hopewas expressed, in language not very parliamentary, that

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