Folios 185-189. Prince of Waldeck to the King from the camp at Melle. Refers to the...

Folios 185-189. Prince of Waldeck to the King from the camp at Melle. Refers to the King having left him to use his own judgment on the future course of action. The Marquis of Gastanaga had promised 5,600 horses some time ago, which have not yet appeared and neither has the Infantry he gave hope of. The Elector of Brandenburg is so embarassed with the misintelligence amongst his generals; he blames the nonchalance of the artillery and battliers as the reason the bombardment of Bonn had not started on 20 July. Waldeck encloses what he has written to the Elector on this subject, and hopes that together with his journal the King will see that he [Waldeck] did all that was possible to help. Unless the Elector approaches him with all or part, leaving a mobile corps on the Rhine, it will not be possible without risking everything, to lay siege to Marhsall d'Humieres with his superior forces. If the Elector would approach, they could lay siege and force the enemy to come to the rescue or make an attack in France which would weaken the Kingdom - this is what Waldeck is working on. Complains of M. Haguedom, with whose conduct he is growing impatient - he wishes to leave the army, which Waldeck has forbidden on pain of being treated as a deserter; his wife (who is with him) and her family are a bad influence. He hopes the negotiations with Denmark for the 7,000 men will be successful, but does not see that the Marquis of Gastanaga will be able to satisfy Sweden; if Lunenburg continues to send troops with bread and provisions the Spanish will accept that and neglect the other. As to the English troops, per his previous letters they are in a good state where they are, desertions are ceasing since order was established.