Why don't you take up your habitation in your beloved France, where you may rail at England without censure ?" To this remonstrance the doctor thought proper to make no reply, and an unsocial silence ensued; which I perceiving, took notice, that it was pity such idle disputes, maintained very often through whim or diversion, should create any misunderstanding among gentlemen of good sense, and proposed to drink down all animosity in another bottle.
This motion was applauded by the whole company.

The wine was brought, and the English champion, declaring he had no spleen against any man for differing in opinion from him, any more than for difference of complexion, drank to the good health of all present; the compliment was returned, and the conversation once more became unreserved though more general than before.

Among other topics, the subject of war was introduced, on which the general declaimed with great eloquence, recounting many of his own exploits by way of illustration.

In the course of his harangue he happened to mention the word epaulement, upon which the testy gentleman asked the meaning, of that term.

"I'll tell you what an epaulement is," replied he, "I never saw an epaulement but once, and that was at the siege of Namur.