Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/37

Rh Moira displayed his old prudence and spirit, led to a very unfortunate occurrence. One method taken to pass unchallenged along the front of the French army was to deceive the latter by making them think that a much stronger force was advancing to the support of the Duke of York than was actually the case. Moira gave orders to collect rations for 25,000 men during his march, and Pichegru, who commanded the enemy at Bruges, believing that this was the real strength of the forces opposed to him, did not interfere with their movements, when he might have prevented their advance. The ruse succeeded; but the British Government afterwards declined to pay the bill, and referred the contractor to the private purse of the British general, whence to recover the debt due for rations which had been drawn for 15,000 men who did not exist. Moira refused to pay, and nothing was done further in the matter till after his death, when his widow, having rendered herself liable for her husband's debts, by an undertaking which she executed in ignorance, was sued for the amount. Parliament was petitioned to discharge the money due, but in vain; and the result was that some thousands of pounds were exacted from Lady Hastings, to liquidate a charge which had been incurred for the benefit of the public service, and which had enabled the Duke of York to receive a substantial reinforcement when the British army under his command was in imminent danger.

The march from Ostend was the last active service