St. James's Square, Sept. 11th, 1793.
MY DEAR BROTHER,
I am sorry to acquaint you that we have unpleasant accounts from
the army, and the more unpleasant from their uncertainty. All that
seems to be certain is, that the Duke of York thought himself
obliged to raise the siege of Dunkirk, at least for the present, in
consequence of an attack which I imagine to have taken place on the
evening of the 7th; and which must, of course, have been bloody,
and the event unfavourable to us. We have no direct account from
the army, but the report is that of an officer of the navy, who
comes, I understand, from Nieuport, and states that he had
prevented any other letters from coming over, in order to prevent
the spreading an alarm till the official accounts arrive.
There is also a letter from Watson, the Commissary-General, which
seems to confirm the intended retreat, and says that he has
provisions, &c., enough in the rear of the army; but he mentions no
particulars of what has happened, except that he says the spirit of
the troops is good--that they have suffered, but have not been
beaten. His letter is from Furnes, on the 8th.
I am sorry for the suspense in which this must leave you, as it
does us. If we hear more before the post goes out, I will add a
line to this letter.
Ever most affectionately yours,
G.
I should have added, that the same officer brings the account that
they had got at Ostend of the capture of Quesnoy, which I credit,
because my last letters from the Austrian army state the fall of
that place as certain within a very few days. This is the more
important, as P. Cob. would then be at liberty to march towards
Flanders, if necessary.
Since I wrote the above, I have seen the narrative of the officer
in question--Lieutenant Popham. It is long, and full of little
details; but the result of the whole is, that he was going, by
Macbride's orders, to communicate with the Duke of York, and turned
back on account of the news he heard; that he met on the road
parties of our cavalry _evacuating Furnes_ on the 8th, and many
wounded soldiers going to Ostend; but he does not appear to have
collected accounts of what had happened, and indeed it is most
probable that individuals could not give any general information.
It does not appear whether they were going from Furnes by orders or
not.
Five, P.M.
I have just got the enclosed letter to Bruges from a young man I
sent as Secretary to Sir James Murray; and as it is very doubtful
whether I shall get the particulars time enough to send you
anything further, I would not omit letting you have this, which
will at least put you at ease for individuals. You will observe it
is dated from Furnes, on the 9th. It is brought by an officer
charged with the despatches.