Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/387

 licy among those mischievous being; and those that hover more closely round them, pretend, that there is in every herd, one that gives directions to the rest, and seems to be more eminently delighted with a wide carnage. What it is that entitles him to such preeminence we know not; he is seldom the biggest or the swiftest; but he shews by the eagerness and diligence that he is, more than any of the others, a friend to vultures.



t is with infinite concern that we behold an inundation of French words pouring in upon us, and this at a time too when there is some sort of merit in detesting every thing that is French. In regard to ourselves, we are daily insulted, by some of the finest lips in the world, with the opprobrious term of Canaille: we cannot resent the insult from them, as they are too sacred for our unhallowed hands; besides, they are sufficiently punished, by the mirth they afford to the Mademoiselles, when they attempt to pronounce the uncouth word; for Canaille, from English lips, sounds Canal. But as most things are pardonable to the pride of the creation, we should readily excuse them, if the infection had not spread among the officers of our army; and as we chiefly compose the numerous squadrons that are to guard the liberties of Britain, we cannot conceive that we ought to have any more to do their languge, than we have with their religion. All our business is to beat them, and that we can do in plain English: if our officers order us to form a line, we can do it; but if they call that line a Cordon, we must be obliged to apply to the chaplain for a Denouement of the mysterious word—Coup de main, and Manoeuvre, might be excusable in Marshal Saxe, as he was in the service of France, and perfectly acquainted with both; but we cannot see what apology can be made for our officers lugging them in by head and shoulders, without the least necessity, as a sudden stroke might have done for one, and a proper motion, for the other.—Reconnoitre is another favourite wod in the military way; and as we cannot find out that it is much more significant than take a view, we beg leave it may be sent home again. We should not have troubled the public with this address, if we had not received a fresh insult by the papers of Saturday last, in a supposed letter from Germany, where the ingenious author tells us, speaking of the intended operations of war, that the general's intention remains perdu; which, we are informed, signifies lost. In what sense we are to understand this gentleman, we cannot say; his meaning indeed seems perdu; he may perhaps give us to understand, by printing the word in Italics, that the army and treasure sent to Germany, is all perdu: the word then wants a little epaulment, to support it, or rather a little eclaircissement; for, in the present application of it, it is dark and mysterious. 