the Rudiments of War.

During my stay at _Strasburg_ I omitted no opportunity of improving
myself as to the _French_ and _High Dutch_ Fortifications, and other
Parts of the Mathematicks which were useful in War. I was also present
at some Lectures of Politicks which were given to those more advanc'd
in Years, in which they handled the Interest of Nations, and brought
down their Reflections to the present Times. This I look'd upon as an
excellent Method of educating young Officers; for it qualify'd them to
be serviceable to their Country under a double Capacity; that is, as
well to Argue as to Fight for it, and defend it equally with their
Tongue and Sword.

I remember an Antient Marquis who had a Superintendency over this
Academy, entertaining us one Day with the Motives of the present War,
and running up the Cause to its Original, laid it before us in this
manner: _That the Monarchs of France wou'd look upon themselves as
injur'd by the rest of the Princes of_ Europe, _till the imperial Diadem
was restor'd to_ France, who were _first Possessors of it in the Person
of_ Charles the Great; _that they had made several pushes in all Ages to
recover it, but without Effect; that while the_ English _had footing in_
France, _they were too lazy to extend their Conquests upon the Empire of
the_ West; _and when they had chased out the_ English, and were rid of
that _Incumbrance, the House of_ Austria, _by the vast Acquisitions of
the_ Low Countries, _and joint Power of_ Spain, _sat so hard upon 'em,
that_ France _was not in a Capacity to make any Advances towards
recovering their Right to the Empire: What therefore they had been upon
these latter Years, was to make a strong Party among the Electoral
Princes, and by degrees secure a Majority in the Imperial Diet, in order
to set aside the House of_ Austria, _and settle the Imperial Crown upon