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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 A COMPLETE HIST O R Y O F T H E PRESENT WAR, FROM Its Commencement in 1756, T O T H E End of the Campaign, 1760. IN WHICH, All the Battles, Sieges, and Sea-Eng AG EMENTS; with every other TranfatStion worthy of public Attention, are faithfully recorded j with PoliticaJ and Military Obfervations, LONDON: Printed for W. Owen, at Temple-Bar ; L. Davis and C. Reymers, in Holborn -, and J. Scott, in Pater- Nofler Row. M d c c l x i. DD A II 06 ssoas ADVERTISEMENT. T "^ "''" °' "' '°''°^'"^ *=«^ ''«h endea- voured. t6 the utmoft of his aMiti„ ,„„• J"d.ce,hehath„preren.dfaftsastheyI„„H; to flatter. The candour of the public k requefted ' forawork.thede«g„ofwhich.certaircom :r-"-'^^---'---d: 1 i I HISTORY O F T H E w A R. C H A P. I. Origin of the war. ASis of hojlility committed hj i'rance ^n America. The french incroachments there. The englifh amhaffador remonfirates againji their pro^ ceedmgs. Major IVafhington' s expedition. Monckton reduces Beaufejour, and other forts in Nova Scotia Other tranfatUons in America, till the end of i-c/ General Braddock appointed to command in chief, and arrives tn Virginia. He marches againji Fort dii fuefne Is defeated hy the french. Confeauences of his defeat. Refiemom. '' TO enquire into the origin of the war it will be neccflary to look back almoft to the peace of Aix la Chapelle, in the year 1 748 ; for we (hall find, that very oon after that treaty, the french laid the foun> t^ations for a future war. In order to perceive this '^Zef"'^^\^J^'^^ ''^' ^ particular^iewof the pioceed.ngs of France in North America (the country '" which the late commotions firft began) from the ^tovememioned rime. ( 2 ) In the year 1749, ibme englifli american traders commenced a traffic with the indians, on the bank, ot the rtver Ohio. The fronch knowing theTm- portance ot that country, ^vcre deflrou,, To prevent "s from tradmg or having any con,munication w th thofemchans; they thrcatned them with tlie confif- cation of their goods, and imprifonment of tlieir pcrfons, .f they did not retire, from what, they we e peaed to call, their mafer's territories." wL^of the tKtders immediately wididrcw, on receiving this infolent menace i but feveral others, knowing°the traffic as ufual, notwithftanding the threats denounced 2f ia Tonn';^-^ and accordingirin ,750, the marqihs f !r J°"?"'"'=', ''t that time governor of Canada, rent feveral detachments of troops to the Ohio, to in their former threats in execution ; which they did t,v lei/ing tour englifh traders, and confifcatin- their goods, lending them prifoners to Qiiebec, from whente they were brought to Kochelle in France, and there trw7i'7'Tu '^^'^' engliflimen foon after their arrival at Kochelle, wrote to the earl of Albemarle our ambaffador at Paris, complaining of the ill ufaae they had received : upon which, that minifter wrote a 1 ter to the earl ot Holdeincffe, fecretary of ftate to the king ot England; of which the following s in. " Var'is, march i, 17^2. Of november I received a letter from three perlons, iigning themfelves, John Patton, Luke hJn, and Thomas Bourke ; reprefenting to me, that they were enghflimen who had been brought to Kochelle, .nd put into prifon there, from whence. they wrote : hav- their effedls as they were trading with the ensliHi, and other mdians on the Ohio, and carried priioners 10 (^lebcc ; from whence they have been fent over to Kochellq^ n traders le banks the im- prevent ion with : confil- v» of their J ley were '■■ vlany of ing this ig their ed their lounced narqiiis Canada, , to put did by g their '. whence ' d there er their ?marle, ' i: 'i ufage r wrote 4 >f ftate ^ing is 1752. m month 9 srlbns. m 1, and M Y were 'J e, md mm j hav- 9 feized m 'gliHi, ^^H foners 4f v^er to •J hellq^ m ( 3 ) Rochelle, where they were hardly ufed. Upon this information, I applied to M. St. Contcft, and gave him a note of 11 : claiming them, as the king's lub- je(5ls, and demanding their liberty, and the reftitu- tion of their effedts that had been unjuftly taken from them. Thefe three perfons, I find by the paper your lord- ,!hip has fent me, are of the number of thofe demjnd- ^d of the french by Mr. Clinton, and named in M de la Jonquiere's letter. I have wrote to a merchant at Rochelle to enquire after theni, and to fupply them with money, to make their journey hither, if they are not gone; that 1 may receive from them all the informations necciTary. On my feeing M. St. Con- teft next tuefday, I will reprefent the cafe to him, in obedience to his majefty's commands, that la Jonquiere may have pofitive orders, to defift from the unjufti- fiable proceedings complained of; to releafe any of his majefty~s fubjedts he may flill detain in prilbn • and make ample reflitution of their effefls. ^nd I fhall take care to fhow him the ablblute neceflity of fending inftrudlions to their feveral governors, not to attempt any fuch encroachments for the future.'* And on the 8th of march lord Albemarle further writes to the earl of Holdernefle. " I am now to acquaint your lordlTiip, that I Hiw M. Rouille vcfterday ; and that having drawn up a note of the leveral complaints I had received orders to make of la Jonquiere's condua, 1 delivered it to him, and told him, in general, the contents of it; infilting on the neceffity, for preferving the good un- derftanding betwixt his majefty and the mod chriftian King, of lending fuch pofitive orders to all their o-o- vernors, as might efFeftually prevent, for the futiTre, any fuch encroachments on his majefty's territories, and committing fuch violence on his fubjeas, as had been done in the '^ '^ paft. I added * in, ^ * > I added to my remonftrance, that I hoped tliev wouiJ be taken ,nto conlideration quickly , that he n^M be able to g.ve me an anfwe- next ;eek, or n, S^n afterwards as he poflibly could. This minifte, mU me he weld ufe his beft endeavou C lu. ™ pofe, affiwd me it was the intention of his "urrto prevent any d,lp,,tes arifing. that might te.nd m alt ^ the prefent correfpondencc between the two na°ions ' and that I m.ght depend upon fuch orde b gTn (0 iheir governors accordingly. ^ Of the three men I mentioned to your lordililn m my letter ot lull week, that I, -i beenC d t prl,^ crs fron, Canada to Kochelle, whom I frntCw come to Par.s, two of them are arrived and th^ t r fZ'hem^™''""- .' •^'" "^« '"'^ i"'-ma! nons Horn ,hcm, as may be neceflary % my own in ftruftion to lupport their receiving fatisfaZ, for h^ inj uncs that have been done them.". ,-J^l^^u ''T *™* '''" ""y 'ofd Albemarle men tioned the a>^ove affair to M. de Kouille, he delive ed Si:: "n^ ir:';r '"'"^ '' ''""^^'-^^' '^^^ ,r u -u' " '^ ^"" '^^'"^ ^^^ f'<=nch have undertaken to budd on the river Niagara, and as to the fix englilh men who have been made prifoners ; lord AlSe Js ordered by his court to demand, hat the moft ex ^^ ^^^\, lur^ro°celS ':/r"'-. "o'er:^ razed ; and the french and others in their allianr/ who may happen to be there, to retire for I widf a^ Wr PS Toon ifter told :lut pur- coiirc to d to alter nations j eing lent "diTiip in t prifon- it for to and the ntorma- own in- 1 for the e men- elivcred f which ertaken -nglifii- )emarle oil ex- ) defift lar, to diateJy liance, th : as ■ and to ;s and e per- nifhcd • thofe It ( 5 ) It IS /.cceHaiy here to add a remark or two on this pcrpL and intricate affair; concerning which, fo niu h faiOiood has been propagated. It is very plain that, ahh-.ugli feveral juft demands were made by lord AlbcmarJe to the french minifler, yet none of them (except the releafing the three men at Rochrlie) were complied with : . /en to this day the fort at Ni- agara has not been demolinicd. No fatisfa^lion was made to thofe engHllimen wlio were taken prifoners tor the lofles they fuflained , nor any reditution made tor the effedts that had been feized. And as to the po- litive orders which w*re to be fent to all their go- vernors in North America, and to de la Jonquiere in particular, for them to defiftfrom any the like at- tempts or encroachments for the future, everv one knows the french never thought of complying' with this demand, fince they continued without interruption "'• ir encroachments; and were fo far from defifting irom the fame, that they even carried them every day turther and further, till at laft it came to an open war oetween the two nations. It is one of the firft and befl of political maxims, tor every nation to refent the wrongs done them v^i- gorouny and without delay. But, to the misfortune or their country, the miniftry in England did not tollow that method to have its injuries redrelTed. 1 IS true, my lord Albemarle demanded every thing that It was reafonable to exped the french could grant. But there certainly is a wide differenc*- between demanding, and having thofe demands granted. The only article complied with was, the releafing the three englifhmen at Rochelle, Now ^u ^l "^^"""^^ ^^^^ to enquire into the reafon, why the britilh miniftry did not infift upon having the other articles, mentioned in the lord Albemarle's memorial, complied with inftantly, and a ftop put to the manv encroachments which the french were making in America. We know this fliould have been Clone : and we know it was not done. Jo enquire 3 3 into « M i li! 31' into the fccret fprings and caufes of this negleft, muft be lefc to thofe who are more acquainted with the aliairs of ftatc : but thus much I may venture to fay, that one of the principal ones was the dread and tear which the miniilry in England had, of being drawn into a war with France ; the reafons for this fear, I think, are very evident. The marquis de la Jonquiere, governor of Cana- da, died in march, 1752, juft as he was preparing to march a confiderable body of troops to the Ohio, •with defign to continue their encroachments on that river. The marquis du Qiiefne, fucceflbr to Jonquiere, no fooner arrived at Quebec, in the middle of the year, than he haftened to continue what his predecef- for had begun ; and gave the command of the troops defigned for the Ohio, to the fieur de St. Pierre, who began his march in the latter end of 1753, and wintered in a fort which he built on the Beef River. In the month of 0(5lober, during his ftay at this' pofl, he received a letter from Mr. Dinwiddie, lieu- tenant governor of Virginia, dated the 31ft, com- plaining of fundry late hoftilities -, and defiring to know, by what authority an armed force had marched irom Canada, and invaded a territory indubitably the right of his britannic majefty. Major Wafhing- ton was the bearer of this letter. He returned with the following anlwer from Monf. Legardeur de St. I'ierrc, dated at the fort on Beef River, the 15th i)f deccmber, 1753. " Sir, As I have the honor to command here in chief, Mr. Wafhington delivered me the letter, which you direded to the commandant of the french troops. I Ihould have been pleafed if you had given him or- ders, or if he himfelf had been difpofed, to vifit Ca- nada and our general •, to whom, rather than to me. It properly appertains, to remonftrate the realjtv of the king my maftcr-s rights to lands fituated alon^ the :* # e6t, muft with the re to fay, read and >f being for this ►f Cana- laring to le Ohio, on that nquiere, : of the redecef- - troops Pierre, >3» and River, at this e, lieu- , com- "ing to larched bitably ifhing- i with deSt, chief, h you roops. m or- it Ca- me, ity of along ( 7 ) the Ohio, and to difpute the pretenfions of the kino- of Great-Britain in that refped. '^ I fhall immediately forward your letter to Monf. le marquis du Qiiefne. His anfwer will be a law to me: and if he direds me to communicate it to you, I a/Ture you, fir, I fhall negied nothino- that may be neceflary to convey it to you with Expe- dition. ^ As to the requifition you make (that I retire with the troops under my command) I cannot believe my- felf under any obligation to fubmit to it : I am here in virtue of my general's orders ; and I beg, fir, you would not doubt a moment of my fixed refolution to conform to them, with all the exaditude and ftea- dinefs that might be expeifted from a better officer. I do not know that, in the courfe of this campaign, any thing has pafled that can be efteemed an ad of hoftility, or contrary to the treaties fubfifting between the two crowns ; the continuation of which is as in- terefting and pleafing to us, as it can be to the eng^ lifh. If it had been agreeable to you, fir, in this re- fped, to have made a particular detail of the fads which occafion your complaint, I fiiould have had the honor of anfwering you in the moft explicit man- ner ; and, I am perfuaded you would have had reafon to be fatisfied. I have taken particular care to receive Mr. Wafli- ington with all the diftindion fuitable to your dig- nity^ and to his quality and areat merit. I flatter myielf that he will do me this juftice, and join with with me in tefliifying the profound refped with which I am, Sir, Your mofl: humble And mofl: obedient fervant, Legardeur de St. Pierre." On receipt of this refolute anfwer, Mr. Dinwiddle made mftant complaint to the court of Gieat-Britain j and laboured what he could to rouze the Virginians B into ' ( 8 ) into a vigorous oppofition. He wrote alfo to the neighbouring governors, importuning the aid of the other colonies for repelling the invafion, and ereS! gahela. An immediate jundlion in fuch meafures becarne abfolutely requifite for the common fecurf y an" nHl/r r'"' '""''"''"' '° ''"' inconveniencie If and ctluH"'"'' ^"'^'^f d 'he power of Canada,^ and confided in the number of their inhabitants They were fo entirely ignorant of the fituation ancj importance of the inland country ; that when apph- cation was made to Virginia for fuccours, conformTble to direflions from the miniftry in England, fome of our provincial affemblies. particular!y°thof of Pen- filvania and New York •, feemed even to queftion his majcfty's right to the lands ufu, pcd by theVnch Others to avoid their ftare in the burden framed the moa trifling excufes. New York, however voied 5000J. currenc) in aid of Virginia ; which, confider- ing her own fituation, and approaching diftreffis, was no ungenerous contribution. Biit the Virginians proceeded in their refoliuion of marching a body of troops to the protedion of their frontiers : and pafled*^ an aft in*^ Felma- ry, 1754, for the raifing 10,000 1. and ,00 men The command was given to col. Wafliington, a youna gentleman of great bravery and diftingliim^d S He 'ZZZ°on\hTat'""' *".*^''™<^'' encr„achn,e„,, and fo« =«-, .0 .. ,0 b. .„ .„v.:„„ of Jy o/hU .^y^JZ^:'"" ro to the id of the nd eredt- Monan- meafures fecurity. encies of Canada, abitants, tion and ;n appli- brmabJc feme of of Pen- queftion french. framed r, voted ^nfider- \hs, was olution >te6lioa ''ebriia- ) men. young merit. He of Pen- ind fori ly's do- ivas re- ('ork to afed to I p!ace le river "iation C3. ( 9 ) He began his march at the head of his little army, about the i ft of may. On the 2 8th he had a fkirmilh with the enemy, of whom ten were flain, and about twenty w-re made prifoners. But co]. Wafli- ington finding himfelf too weak, waited for further reinforcements j during which time he was alarmed with the news, that a great body of french and In- dians were marching againft him. It feems the marquis du Qiiefne, governor general of Canada, had appointed the fieur de Contre-Cceur to command the french troops on the Ohio, who being acquainted v/ith the fkirmifh which col. Wafhington '^ad with a party of french, refolved to fend the greatelt part of his forces, under the fieur de Villiers, to diOodge col. Walhington from his little camp, which he had formed, and which was called fort NecefTity. In obedience to thefe inflruftions, Villiers accordingly marched at the head of near 1000 french and 200 Indians againft the englifh. On the 3d of july,'^ he came in fight of fort Neceffity. The englifti troops not amounting to above 200 men, were a handful compared to the number of the enemy ; but they fought bravely for upwards of three hours, nor did they give over before they had fiain near 200 of the enemy ; but col. Walhington, obferving their great fupcriority, who began to hem him in on all quarters, found himfelf under the abfolute neceffity of fubmitting to the difagrceable terms that were offered him. In this aaion we had 30 killed and 50 wounded. The french, as I have faid before, were affifted by a confiderable number of Indians, who had been \oncr in the englifh alliance. And many of them were known to be of the fix nations. On the furrender of our camp, they fell at once to pillaging the bag- gage and provifions i and fiiot feveral of the horSs and cattle. Aeainft this condn^'T- ml Wnflilnrrfrvn r-on^^r-^!-*- etl i but all his arguments made little impreffion upon them. fifld ; the Indians were rivettec] in their defertinn and the frontiers of d,e colony expofedr'h ougtThJ Ill-timed parfimony of the Drovinrp<; Tk« ^ ^ the„therLdwiri;yi.proCdThrprerrnt^^^^^^^ and ereded forts to fecurp m rki^r.i *' ^''!''^"'-3ge» poflemon of that ferti.:":„"r *^t'Tew'the^"„f ghgenceof the province of Penfilvania, ^v^ needonlr take no.ce that foon after Wafting on's defeat T thoufand of the back inhabitants pref?nted a petitb * to theaflemb y, praying, that they might befumilhed with arms and ammunition for their difence • bu the petition w.-,s rejeaed with fcorn. Our ind an alhes the aflembly, to be confiftent with themfelveV and to ftow that they were religioudy bent on tl e ru'in of thar covmtry, refufed to give any money to th L purf pofe, and gave the indians for anfwer that if K were afraid of the enemy, they migit re re further down, and come within the fettled p^arts of the orn rn? M , ^'l"' 'he nobleft opportunity wl oft that nd for'bi,il?"°'^T''' °^''^^P'"g our'indiansfte dy and for building a fort at a fmall expence in a raft lo commodiouny fituated between the mn^;^,! ^u it would have eVaually cS'trdefdTd fw o of our frontier counties, from the inroads of the Jrench and their indians. "' nis majelty to the leveral governors of M^rfU a nca; whereby the earl of^Holderneff t^fied "L" majefty s commands, that in cafe the fub eds of anl fo eign prince ihouldprefume to make any encroach^ cXfrttr^iilT«/'^<^-'"-o~^^^ -^-J-") ^ iaiiua, or to commit any- other fs of the iefedlion ; ■ough the ?nemy on ^vantage, the quiec V the ne- leed only- defeat, a petition iirniflied but the m alHes :h their -r; and ^egging wooden ^es and y; but "s, and ruin of is pur- if they Further e pro- fl that leady, a pafs 5, that d two 'f the from \me- i his ' any lach- )r to any )ther ■I ( II ) other acl of hoflility -, and Ihould upon a requifirlon made to them to defift from fuch proceedings, perfiit in them, they fhould draw forth the armed force of their refpe6tive provinces, and ufe their beft endea- vours to repel force by force. It was in confequence of this meflage, that the go- vernor of Penfilvania in particular, urged the alTem- bly of that province, to raife the necefTary fums for their own defence, with fo much warmth, but which, as I have before faid, they refufed to do ; althougji at that time the province was in the utmofl danger. At the beginning of a war, every tranfadlion and affair, which at another time would be reckoned im- material, is of great importance to be known. It is for this reafon that I have, and Ihall continue to be, very particular in giving diftinft accounts of all our american affairs -, as this war, contrary to all others, has been more critical and important there, than any where elfe. I fliall now mention the affairs, of Nova Scotia, in which province we find the frcnch committed repeated holtilities ; and with their ufual impr.dence ieized all that part of Nova Scotia, beyond the bay of Fun from the river Chignedto, to that of St. John, making the firft the limits of that province. Mr. Cornwallis was at that time governor of it ; and M. de la Jonquiere commanded in chief in Canada, who openly and rea- dily avowed the unjufl proceedings of the french. But this affair will be much clearer laid open by the following memorial, which contains a recapitulation of the condudl of France in that province •, flatino- many interefting particulars in a juft and clear light! It was delivered to the marquis de Puyfieulx at Paris, l^y the earl of Albemarle, the 7th of june, 1750. " The underwritten ambalTador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, from his majefly, the king of Great- Britain, has orders from the kin? his mailpr. rlat^H flanover, the 26th of laft month, toreprefent to the court ( J2 ) court of France, how much he is furDrized a^ I,,,, ing the violent proceedings of theTnch i^. ' r,ca, under the authority a1,d direftion of V i^t Jonquiere. who has readily avowed them. ''' '* their pffpfl-c . ^« n j , ^ ^^^ inhabitants w th fo^efiSm r^m^pi s-TLrr^' r'^ corne a frt^nnU ^cc "v"'^:, , lo tnat the fieur La- The fieur de Lacorne and father Loutre a french miffionary, have made life of reoea^eH ,nH n,erable promifes and menaces. TnoirfoTr' fuade^all the mhabitants of the provinc^t leaV4^; fupport and proteft openly the indiaT i^^ "^ T*"^? --'"; -'7 1""* -d/rthe'bt ;s"of';^:f,'^ Iheydetam the king's fubjefts, his officers and fof' d,ers pnfoners They excite the kin^s french fub jeas to a rebcll on ; and thofe ^»h,^ ,IZ- , , they threaten with deftrufl'on Th r T, '">"'' dian flaves all over the country where^hev ' """i"" of all forts of outrages ^' ^^ "'^ S"'lty themrelver7„''rn'^'' '° '\'°'^"' ^acknowledged by iiiemielves, to appertam to his majeav. Governor Cornwallis fent the Oeur Lawrence ma t.,. 2oti, 0, laft apnl. Ihey faw the frencU '1 w d at hear- I in Ame- M. de Ja i» informs le firft of polTefTion le bay of St. John, and car- ants with rms, and fieur La- nder his r regular rence of 'ne and *e from They declared France, nd fol- h fub^ loyal, lieir in- guilty ;ed hy ?, ma-, where w the french ( 13 ) french fet fire to the town of ChigneAo, french co- lours planted on the ditches -, and the fieur Ce la Come at the head of his detachment, braving major Law- rence ; and declaring, that he would defend to the laft, that ground as belonging to France. The fieur de la Come having fent to defire a con- ference with the fieur Lawrence, the latter, accom- panied by two captains of foot, went to meet him, and demanded by whofe orders he had thus come into his majefty's territories, and committed fuch a ways with fucccfs j our frontiers were all open to the enemy, and nothing to defend ihem ; in fuch a cala- mitous condition, fomcthing muft be done, but what to determine on, was difficult to know : our colonies were, fingly, fo weak, that a jundion was at that time abfolutely neceflary, and accordingly relblved on. By his majefty's orders, the idth of June was appointed for a grand congrefs of commilFaries from the feveral provinces to be held at Albany, as well to treat with the '■ dians of the fix nation^,, as to con- cert a fcherr.c for a general union of the britifli colo- nies MefTengers had been difpatched to the indian chiefs to requeft their attendance •, but they did not arrive till the latter end of the month ; and the Mo^ hawks, who lived but 40 miles diftant, came in laft i his occafioned various fpeculations ; fome imputed It to fear, eaft the french in their abfence, fhould tall upon their countries. But the moll probable realon of it was : that the indians imagined, that by exciting our jealoufy of their wavering difpofition, at 10 critical a junftuTe, the more liberal would be the prefents made them by the feveral governments. But they arrived at laft, though in fmaller numbers than was expeaed, or had been ufual on thofe occafions • though they had been very well pleafed with the pre- lents made them, which were much more confider- ahle than had been ever known : in their fpeech to Mr. de Lancey, the lieutenant governor of New lork, they fpoke with great vehemence, and very fe- verely upon our negligent and indolent behaviour ; rxtoijhig the Detter conduct of the french in fortify- ing I ft defeated, d to fubmit ) and he ar- tcdious and id gone on >untenance. ;, and al- •pen to the Jch a cala- , but what ir colonies as at that Y raiolved June was aries ^rom as well to is to con- itifli colo- he Indian y did not I the Mo- ne in laft. imputed e, fhould probable , that by 'fition, at d be the us. But )ers than cafions : the pre- :onfider- peech to 3f New- very fe- aviour ; fortify- ing ( '7 ) 5ng and n^.aintainmg their garrifuns. And recriminated upon us the defertion of our fort at Saraghtoga the Jaft war -, lamented the dcfencekfs condition, of our frontier city of Albany j and carncftly exhorted us for the future to defend ouifelves with more fbirit. The indians being difmiffed, the conferences were continued till the nth of July: the comminioners being, both for abilities and fortune, Tome of the moftconliderablemen in North America : in the con- clufion of their debates, a plan was concerted for a general union of the britifh colonies, and creatine a common fund to defray all military expcnces ; and a reprelcntation of their prelent tlate drawn up ; which was agreed to be laid before the king's minillcrs. But this fcheme was never put in execution. During the fitting of the congrefs at Albany, Mr Shirley, governor of Maffachulet's Bay; a gentle- man, of whom I fhall have much to fiy in the fe- quel ; propofed to the afi? iiibly of that province the building a ftrong fort near the head of the river Ken- nebeck, in order to proted the province from the iiicuriions of the frcnch, and the indians ; which the affembly agreed ro ; and provided pay and fubfidence tor 800 men, to be railed on that account. Ac- cordingly in the fummer, Mr. Shirley proceeded to the caltern parts of the province, with the troops railed for that purpofe ; and with the confcnt of the inuians, built fort VVeftern and fort Halifax upon the nvcr Kenebeck, the former about ^7 miles trom the mouth of it ; and the other, about ca Of this fervice, Mr. Shirley tranfmitted an account to England, and at the lame tiir.e reprefentcd the imminent danger, which he apprehended the neioh- bounng province of Nova-Scotia was cxpo^^d to from the fortiHcations, and other encroachmen-s of the trench upon the iftmus, and the peninlbla there, and i>t. John s nver in the '>av of Fundi ; as alib, from the ludden attacks, which might be formed arainil it tiom St. John's ifland, Louiiburg and Quek>c. In ' ^ anfwer ( i8 ) anfvver to which Mr. Shirley received a letter from fir Thom.is Robinfon, one of his majcfty's principal fccrctaries of flate, containing his majcfly's approba- tion of the fervice upon the river Kenncbeck, with orders to communicate it to the afTcmbly. And foon after Mr. Shirley received his majcrty's commands to concert meafures, with Mr. Lawrence, lieutenant governor and commander in chief of the province of Nova Scotia, for attacking the french forts in ^hat province. Accordingly, by his majcfly's commands, Mr. Shirley raifed 2000 new england men, and re- ceived 2000 flands of fmall arms from L' n^land • with which force he marched, in conjunction widi Mr' Lawrence (with the troops under his command which were in Nova Scotia) attacked, and reduced the french torts at Beaulejour, and atGafpereau, near Bay Verte making the gariifons prifoners : and in a Hiort time after upon two of his majefly's fliips of war appeir- irrg before the french fort, fituated on the river of St. Johns, about three miles above the mouth of it the garrjfon there burfl their cannon, demoliOied their works as much as they could, evacuated the fort, and retired up the river, to their other fettlements upon it. By realon of the time that was ncccffary to prepare lor this expedition, the fervice was not executed till the 19th of June, 1755. ^ The remainder of the year 1754 was fpent prin- cipally in repeated reprefentations to the miniftry in Lngland, laying before them the bad flate of the colonies ; together with feveral fchemes for their general union i aflliring them, that if fpeedy and powerful afliftance was not adminiflered, the colonies in America would inevitably fall a prey to the am- bitious defigns of the court of France. In this manner ended the year 1 754. As yet both courts continued to give the mod folemn afllirances of maintaining the peace between the two nations in- violably ; when at the fame time an open and bloody war was carrying oii between them in America. It was letter frofrt s principal 's approba- beck, with And loon rommands, lieutenant »e province arts in Hiat ommands, 1, and re- England i I with Mr. an(i which the french t^ay Verte, liort tiine r a[)pe:ir- iver of St. of it, the Hied their I fort, and s upon it. prepare cuted till •ent prln- liniflry in e of the for their ^edy and ■ colonies • the am- yet both fill ranees tions in- d bloody rica. It was '4 ( J9 ) UM3 very palpable, that the pretended peace (which In fadt had not a being) would not laft long, but that the war would foon fpread into Europe. In Ame- rica there happened no affair of great confeouence ; but, as in the beginning of a war every thi >., is of fome confequence, becaufe it is at the breaking out of one, I have been obliged to purfue tiie thread of affairs in America Itep by (tep, and to give the molt particular accounts of, even fome matters which at iirit fight the reader will imagine but of little mo- ment, which he will find by the fequel, were of im- portance enough to have a place in hiftcry, as they tend very much to the clearer underftanding of what follows. This w?,s the firft war, in which Great Bri- tain may be faid to have engaged purely for the de- fence of her american colonies ; they certainly well deferve all the expence, pains, and care that their mo- ther country can take of them. Since fhe will, in the end, be repaid with an h ]red fold for whatever ffie can expend in their delence. Although Great Bri- tain finds, that its very being as a nation, depends upon her colonies, (till we fee for at lead: we have good reafon to think fo) that the french know the value of them much better than us. They make (comparatively fpcaking) more of Canada, which is a mere barren rock, in comparifon with our colonies, than we do of all our noble fettlements in North Ame- rica. Nor can we here confider their fituation at the clofe of the year 1754, without being alloniflied at the^ negligent remiiTnefs of the cnglilh miniftry, to lufier thefe valuable territories, which make io con- fiderable a part of his majefty's dominions, to remain in lo open ai J defencelefs a condition. They may lay irijuftifi-ationof themfclves, that the colonies have ftrength enough to def nd thcmfclves : but then they ought to remember, thac, it is not in their power to make ule ot the ftrength they have, fince every one knows, that while they all continue in feperate' pro- vinces, without any connexion with one another, ^ 2 they ( 20 ) they may eafily fall a prey to the combined and more formidable llrength of the french and their indians Is It not furprifing, that, while the french were ad-' vancing on all fides, after they bad defeated the troops under Walhington ; and feized all that valu- able trad of country, fituated on the Ohio and its branches ; and were continually receiving reinforce- ments from old France ; after all this, it is not, I fay, a mark of the utmoft negligence, treachery or ftupi- dity m the e h m y, never yet to fend any troops or forces to America, to defend his majefty's rights againft the unjuft ufurpations and invafions of the french ? We find that the french began the new year in America, with their ufual diligence and aftivity • and haying the advantage of great reinforcements trom old France early in the year * ; bid very fair for • Extraa of a letter, dated Philadelphia, Jan. 2, 1755. "Sir, *..f received certain intelli- gence that a body of n,gh 6000 men. of the bell troops of France leleaed and fent over upon this particular fervice, are jufc arrived at the lower fo,; on the Ohio, and are employed even in tllrt gorous feafon an fortifying that country. Jn feptcmber M, the french men of war that brought them over, were leen not far from the entrance into the nver St. Lawrence, into which, we are now- certain they all went and landed at Quebec, After a Ihortflay i^ that city, they were feen by our Indian traders palling the lakes Oisvego and Erie, m a prodigious number of battoef. of which the feveral governors received notice, though we did not then con- ^Z^::^^^ ^'■"^^"^^■^ '■'- ^'' ^-"-^ ^'" -- '^- we Notvvithflpnding this, our aflbmbly continues as obftinate as ever • ror have we as yet any probability of their giving any money fo; our defence, a diough we hear they are to adjourn in two day Vhc governor has befeeched them to confuler tne defencelefs Hate of the W "th.:'\1;''''.V^ > ' -gular militia, but m vain. He alfo fb! Itrves, tnat the adivity of ih.-, french at this rigorous feafon can no but convince the world, that they have formed fome gl nd X fign with regard to tins continent, and that they have m;ids their firft -d and more heir indians. h were ad- lefeated the I that valu- hio and its 5 reinforce- s not, I fay, ry or flupi- fend any s majefty's iwafions of :vv year in 1 aftivity ; forcements 1 very fair for 75S' ertain intelli- ^s of France, ; jufr arrived en in tJIs ri- iber laft, the not far from we are now fliortflay in g the lakes s, of which ot then con- !iow that we latc as ever ; ' money for ' days. The flatc of the He alfo ob- feafon can- e grand de- JR;ids their firft ( 21 ) for pufhing our colonies much further, efpecially as they had not a fingJe regiment from Europe to defend them ; and their enemies were continually receiving fupplies ; which together with their advantageous fituation for a war, having little or no frontier to defend, made them much more than a match for the enghfh colonies, who have fuch an immenfe one, without any thing to defend it with. Thus we find the french advanced with fuch hafty ftrides, that at the beginning of this year, their camp and forts upon the Ohio, and the parts adjacent, were not more than 225 miles, horizontal diftance, from the city of Phi- ladelphia, and only about two days march from foms of our back fettlements. At lall we find that a general was appointed to command in America ; his majefly conftituted ge- neral Braddock generaliflimo of all the troops which were in, or fliould be fenc to America ; and accord- ingly this general arrived in Virginia in february ; and as foon, as he poffibly could, fent exprelfes to the feveral governors to meet him, in order to have a confultation on the bufinefs of the approach- ing campaign. This convention, by appointment: of the general, was held at Alexandria in Virginia. Af- ter much debating it was agreed, that for the prefer- vation of Ofwego, and reduction of Niagara, Shir- ley's and Pcppercl's regiments fhould proceed to lake Ontario -, on which lake, one or more armed vellels of about 60 ton each fhould be built, to command it. This part of the fervice was committed to Mr. Shirley's care ; while general Braddock attacked firft attack upon Penfilvanla, as being in the center, and being not only the moil plentiful, but tlic molt defencolcis and unwieldy of .nil his majcity's colonies. Having once got footing here, they will iiliic forth npor. tiic other colonics on cither fide ; and as they havo fuch a large body already in the field, we apprehend it is their de- iign, early in the fpring, to fortify the pafles in the mountains ; an4 if they accomplifn this, and can find provlfions, they will be able to iland a^ainil ciircc times their nunibers." w^ C 3 fort ( « ) fort dn Quefne-, and the provincial troops, coin- mandcd by general Johnfon, marched to invefl: Crown Point. Purfuant to thefe refoliitions, general Braddcck, at the head of 2200 men, began his march againft fort du Quefne, and arrived at fort Cumberland in his way thither, the loth of may •, from thence to fort du Qiiefne is not lefs than 140 miles : Mr. Braddock began his march from the former on the lothof June ; leaving the garrifon under the command of col. Innes! From the time the general marched from fort Cum- berland, we may begin to date the mifcarriage of the expedition, which proceeded from a thoufand diffe- rent reafons, which it is now my bufinefs to fliow. Innumerable were the difficulties he had to fur- mounr, in a country rugged, pathlefs, and unknown, a-crofs the allegheney mountains, through unfrequent- ed woods, and dangerous defiles j but thefe dano-ers were doubly encreafed, by the diiappointments which the genera] met with in almoft every thing he had to cio with the provinces. We find he complains very much ot this in his letters to the miniftry in Kncr- Jand, elpecially in one, wherein he particula/izes all that had been promifed him -, amongll which was the quarter-mailer-gcneral, who affured him that he might depend on 2500 horfes, and 200 waggons from Vir- ginia and Maryland ; of which he only received 20 waggons and 200 horfes. In like manner did all his expecliations come to little, merely through the diikti. fcion and negligence of all the perfons with whom he had any dealings. We may conceive the difficul- ties which Mr. Kraddock met with in this tenibJe march, when we confider that he was obliged ^to ufc his own cxpreffions; to be continually employed in making a road, as he proceeded with infinite labour a-cmfs mountains and rocks of an exceflive hei^hth, which are lltcp, and divided by torrents and rive'js. In oops, com- ivefl: Crown "addcck, at againft fort land in his nee to fort -. Braddock )thof June; col. Innes. fort Cum- iage of the fand diffe- ) fliow. ad to fur- unknown, nfrcquent- fe dangers mts which he had to lains very ■ in Kno;- ila.izes a] J :h was the he might rom Vir- :eived 20 lid all his the dilat- :h whom difficul- 5 tcnibiV-: d (to uie Dloyed in 2 labour heipjith, rivers. In --f { =3 ) In fpight of all thefe difiiculties, general Braddock was obliged to let forward, on his march againft fort du Qiiefne, which he did, as I have faid, on the loth of June, with his little army in two divifions : at the head of the firft, confifting of 1400 men, was the general himfelf, with the greateft part of the ammu- nition and artillery : the fecond, with the provifions, ftores, and heavy baggage, was led by col. Dunbar, (a man of great prudence and military judgment) with about 800 men, with orders to follow the gene- ral as faft as the fervice would admit. The general having by this means lefTened his line of march, pro- ceeded with great expedition, in hopes of being able to attack the enemy before they were joined by a de- tachment of 500 regular troops ; infomuch that he left the rear near forty miles behind. On the 8th of July he encamped within 10 miles of fort du Quefne 1 and on the 9th, in his march through the woods to-* wards that fort, was attacked by a body of french and Indians ; the former in the front, and the latter en each fide, in ambufcade, which began with a quick and heavy fire upon the vanguard, under Heat. col. Gage, from the indians. Immediately the main body, in good order and high fpirits, advanced to fuftain them. Orders w^re then given to halt and form into battalia. At this jundure, the van falling back upon tiiem in great confuilon, a general pannic feized the whole body of the ibldiery, and all attempts 1 rally them proved utterly ineftedtual ; but being rallied by their officers, with much difficulty they gave one fire : and even after they had fell back on the main body, they were with unfpeakable difficulty once more ral- lied by their officers, and ftood one fire from the ene- my, but then without returning it, both regimenta fled with the utmoft terror and precipitation, c ^:rting their officers ; all of whom, and the general, ^xerted their utmoft activity to relieve the troops from their liniverfal furprife and diforder : but they were equally ^ci\f to intreatics ai,id commands. During this icene C 4 cf i f ^4 ) u ^°"^"^^°^''' ^^^y ^'^pended their ammunition In the wildell, and mod unmeaning fire. Some dif* charging^ tlieir pieces on our parties, who were ad. vanccd irom the main body for tlic recovery of the cannon. After three hours fpent in this melancholy fituation, enduring a terrible flaughter from (it may ^e laid; an mnfible foe, orders were given to found a retreat, that the men migiit be brought to cover the waggons : ^ tnele they furrounded but a fhort fpacq of time i for the enemy's fire being again warmly re- nevved ficm the front and left flank, the whole army took to ..mmedi;ite flight ; leaving behind ihem all the artillery, piovilions, ammunition, baggage, mihtary chelt together with the general's cabinet, containing ms mltruccions, and other papers of coniequence * bo great was the confternation of the foIc'l^Ts that It was impoffible to flop their career, flying with the iitmofl: precipitation three miles from the Add of ac- tion J where only one hundred men began to make a more orderly retreat. What the real lirength of the enemy was, is to this day uncerram; but it has been very confidently re- ported, that they had upwards of 2000 regular forces including the Canadian miiitia, which in tliat country IS equal in ulefulnels to the regular troops from old 1^ ranee; befides confiderable numbers of indians, who were p anted in ambufcade, and from whom our men fuffered by far the mofl. On our fide the lofs was very great ; but more particularly fo, in the death of everal officers^ of great merit, who lacrificcd their lives for the iervice of their country, with Angular and heroic bravery. The general, after having five horles fiiot under him, received a wound in his lun-s tlirough his riglit arm, of which he died in four dav^s. His lecretary, ekiefl: fon of major general Shirley, a * The french fometime after publiflied a Jarre memorial con- ^m,ng the conduct of th. britift rnini^ry ; and^ vo^h^ 'tc^^ whh'H '■'• T- 'J? '"f ^'''"^■■'■' ^^^^>' r"^^^i'^'^-d all the papers *v.ijch tlu:, lound in Mr. L'raddock'^ cabinet. ^ gentleman I I lunition iq Sonic dif- were ad^. ^-ery of the nelancholy m (it may 1 to found 3 cover the hort fpacq varmly re- 'hole army lem all the ', military rontaining ^quenre *. 'itTs, that 5 with the eld of ac- o make a is to this .lently re- ar forces, t country from old ans, who our men lofs was death of ccd their lingular ^'ing five bis lungs )ur days, lirley, a 'rial, con- :trs to the lie papers ntltmari I ( 25 ) gentleman of a very good charafler, was killed on the fpot, by a fhot through his head. Sir Peter Hal- ket, colonel of the 44th regiment, was killed, with feveral other officers of diftinftion. Mr. Orme, capt. Morris, both aid-de-camps, were wounded ; as was iieut. col. Gage and Burton ; befides m v other offi- cers both killed and wounded, who, if ic had pleafed God to have fpared their lives, ould in all probabi- lity hereafter have been ufeful ornaments to their country. To what caufes this unhappy defeat is to be afcribed, has been matter of much inquiry, and animated ma- ny debates. Some of the officers charged the defeat to the cowardice of the men ; but in a reprefentation they made to Mr. Shirley, by order of the crown, they in lome meafure apologize for their behaviour- al- ledging, that they were harraffied by duties unequal to their numbers, and difpirited through want of provi- sions : that time was not allowed them to drefs their food : that their water (the only liquor they had) was both fcarce and of a bad quality : in fine, that the provincials had diflieartened them, by repeated fue;- geftions of their fears of a defeat, Ihould they be attacked by Indians ; in which cafe the eurooean jnethod of fighting would be entirely unavailino- i hele were fome of the many mutual complaints 0I1 both fides ; but there were fome partial and ill-de- Jigning perfons, who, contrary to the general know- ledge and opinion of all that were in the leaft ac- qu^ainted with the general's condud ; laid the ill fuc- ce.s of the day to his door j but when we come to condder well the diffici..ies he met with, together with the pofitivenels of his orders, it will clearly ap- pear, that very little of Mr. Braddock's condud was through his own choice, but adual neceffity. Many mconfiderate people have attacked the general's mi- litary capacity, alledging that the lofs of the battle was owing to his raffinefs ; but 1 have been afl^ured by leveral creditable gentlemen, who were eye-wit- nefi^ea ( 26 ) ncfCea of Mr. Braddock's anions that day, tha- he did jnoft incomparabiy well in every order which he gave and in all his management of the march over the mountains to the moment he was killed, no man could pofTibly fhew greater military fkill, or even more knowledge of the nature of the fervice on which he was fent : and as to the clamours that were raifed agamfl hmi m England, it was no more than would always attend a general who commanded in North America, that was attended with ill fuccefs, by rea. Ion of the predominancy of the fpirit of party, which breathes throughout all the englifh colonies, more, if pofhoJe, than in their mother country. On the death of this brave though unfortunate c^e- «cra J the command of the troops devolved on c^^oJ Uunbar, who commanded the rear party, feveral miles fliort of the place of adion. When the routed troops joined Dunbar's men, the terror diifufcd itfelf through the whole army. In this fcene of dreadful confuiion, the commander nor any of his officers ^rere Iiftened to or regarded ; infomuch, that the men tearful of an unpurfuing enemy, had wafted all their arnmunition, and fo much of their oroviflon, for ac- celerating their flight, that Mr. Dunbar was oblif^ed to fend tor 30 horfe loads of the latter, before he reached fort Cumberland : where he arrived in a tew days, with the Mattered remains of the eno-Hfh troops. *= ■ In this melancholy manner ended fo important an expedition. This defeat had the worft confequences imaginable ; as it gave fo much fpirit and alacrity to our enemies afte -wards ; and went a great way in keeping the Indians firm to their new allies : fo on the contrary, we fuffered by the battle, as much as the enemy gained ; from that time, the indians in our mterelt, delpifed us as not able even to protedl our- le Ives, and much lels them ; and that in a country where we were fo much more numerous than the french. that he did ich he gave, -h over the ^y no man llj or even ce on which were raifed than would d in North rs, by rea- arty, which !> more, if rtunate ge- /ed on coJ, :y, feveral the routed Fufcd itfelf f dreadful lis officers t the men, d all their n, for ac- is obliged before he ved in a ae englifl:* )ortant an Sequences lacrity to t way in s : fo on much as ns in our :ed: our- country nan the french. *A. i V ) french. But the Indians were not the only people ter- rified by Mr. Braddock*s defeat ; an iniverfa] pannic feized on all our colonies, out of which they did not foon recover, and which confequently mull have been of the greatell diflervice to our caufe. Many perfons in England have taken great pains to find out by whofe ill condudl this battle was loft. But with a very little refledion it will appear plain, that no fino-le perfon was the reafon of it ; but a chain of a thoufand difierent accidents, and blunders in the miinifters who planned the expedition, and the difafil-dion of the provincials to the fervice. The capital miftake of all, was the landing the troops at firft in Virginia, whereas they ought certainly to have been landed in Penfil- vania ; for Mr. Braddock could get neither provifions nor carriages in Virginia, both of which he might have had in great plenty in Penfilvania ; and what wai as materia], the lliortnels of the rout to fort du Qiielhe, by way of Penfilvania, which would have fhortened theii- march at lead fix v/eeks, and might have been performed with half the fatigue and expence of that, by way of Virginia. But in every fcheme which was planned by the then miniftry in England, we find fo much fiiort-fightednels and fuch manifeft weaknefs, that we cannot at all wonder at the ill fuccefs which attended their adminiftration. Let me afi< any impartial perfon, in what manner he thinks the affliirs of England could be carried on, when one miniiter had the fupreme diredion of the cabinet, and when that minifter's only pretenfions for the high employments he poffeficd, was a parliamen- tary interL^Il ; without being acquainted with the true interefts of the nation he governed, or polfefiin'^ abi- iitics to promote them. *^ 'Hi} c 1 CJ-r AF. ( 28 ) CHAP. ir. Affairs in Europe. Preparations for war. Kind's meP. fage to the parliament. Addrejjes. Commons grant the kmg one million on account. King's fpeech. Parlia^ tnmt prorogued. King goes to Hanover. Mirepoix, thefrench ambapdor, fets out for France. King lands tn mgland. Parliament meets. King's fpeech. Ad- dreffes, treaties zvith Hcffe Cajfel and Ruffia. Changes tn the mmijlry. Reflexions, AT the beginning of the year i^^i^, the ftate of affairs in Europe was much different from what It was in America ; where war in reaHty was as much carried on as ever it was afterwards ; but in Europe peace was avowed between tlie two nations ; and while both kingdoms thought of preparing for that war, whicli moil able men faw was nigh, Hill the miniders of eac'i protefted to each otfer, that war was thefurtheilirom their thoughts •, which affuran- ces, on the part of England, I believe were extremely true ; for though the proceedings of the french, even at that time, ought to have roulai the britifli mini- niltiy to relent it in the moil: enfoiTive manner ; yet they knew very well, that to keep themfelves in the power they enjoyed, it was necefihry that the nation Ihould not be led into a war with France -, for then ras always was the cafe) the minillry in Enc^land muft conkqucntly fall in pieces. "^ In puriuance of luch a plan, we find them prac- tjfing the lowcll: arts, and putting up with the great- ea injuries, fooner than refent m a jud and rigor- ous manner, the wrongs their country had recei?fd. 1 he french took notice of this defpicable behaviour, and reiolved to turn it to their good : infomuch, that' no fooner did they find who they had to deal witn, but' they continued their encroachments in America with double M ■9™P Khtg^s mef" ns grant the h. Parlia^ MirepoiXy King land^ ')eech. Ad- a. Changes the ftate of from what IS as much in Europe ons ; and \ for that , Hill the . that war h afiuran- extremely 'iich, tvtw tifii mini- Tner ; yet -^es in the :he nation i for then hind mu ft em prac^ he great- id rigor- reccivfd. "haviour, ich, that, ^vith, but; "ica with double I ( 29 ) double diligence. At laft, however, thcfe peaceable minilkrs were obliged, whether they w^uld or no, to fee the preparations that were making i.. all the ports of France, which they could not poiTibly do, with- out being alarmed j theyasufual, applied to thefrench ambaffador at London ; but his anfwers to their ap- plications being too frivolous and quibbling, to be depended upon ; they were obliged for fafety fake to arm, in their own defence. This mcafure, though too late, was certainly right, and might have been more effedlual, had it been made ufe vof earlier. At this time, the duke de Mirepoix was employ- ing all his abilities, to prevent the juft refentment of Great Britain againft his nation, for the hoitilities committed by the french in North America j with the moft religious afllirances that his court was fmcere- ]y inclined to adjuil finally and expeditiouQy all difputes fubfilling between the two crowns in the new ■world *. By fome trifling preparations which they made at Calais, Dunkirk, &c. they endeavoured to perfuade us, that they intended an invalion of England ; but I think nothing in the world can be puJiner, than that the french at that time had as much thounhts of of invading the moon, as ever they had of invadino- England. 1 he nation was greatly alarmed ; and twenty hHiing boats on the coall with a camp in a maritime province of France, we found fufficient to affrighten us inio nn iinmenfe cxpence to guard ao-ainll that danger which never was to come. " On the 23th of march, his msjeftv fent a mef- lage to the houfc of commons, in which he oblerves, That the prefent fituation of affiiirs . * ^.''.^/ ^'\^ memorial which the french nuib.fTndor delivered to the bnt>ra mmirt.y the 5th of January, and the anfwer to t TWs and many other curious pieces which I have quot.d, are to be e court of France, under the titiro" -.- X ^ii; tynuuc; gt Uit cngliia iiiiniilry." having J fii f 30 ) having made it neccHaiy for b= n to augment his forces by fea and land -, and to take ilich other meallires, aa might beft tend to preferve the general peace of Eu- rope, and to feciire the juft rights and pofTemons of his crown in America ; a: well as to repel any at- tempts whatfoever that may be made to lupport or countenance any dellgns which may be formed ac^ainft his majelty and his kingdoms ; his majefly did not doubt of the concurrence and fupport of that houfe, in making fuch augmentations, &c. as the honour of his crown, the true intereft of his people, and the fecunty of his dominions might require, in the prc- fent critical conjundture of allhirs. In anfwer to this mefTage, the lords and commons both prefented mod loyal, dutiful and affcaionate ad- drefles to his majefty. ^ But what was of more confequence, was the follow- ing refolution, which pafTed the houfe of commons on the 26th, in confequence of the above meflage and addrefles : '<■ That the fum of one million be granted to his majefty upon account, towards augmentino- the forces by fea and land -, and taking fuch meafures for the fecurity of his majefty's dominions, as may be neceflary in the prefent conjundture." No other material bufinefs was tranfadted this kf- fion. On the 25th of april his majefty came to the houfe, and having given his confent to fuch bills as were ready ; he made a gracious fpeech to both houfes; after which, the lord chancellor, by his majefty's command, prorogued the parliament to the 27th "of may. ^ ^ In this manner ended this feftlon of parliament ; in my account of it I have been as brief as poffible ; and indeed I fliould have omitted faying any thing ot it, but I could not with propriety have made fuch omiffion, as it had a manifeft connedlion with the war. For the future I defign to give no further account of the aftairs of the parliament of England, than has any snt his forces mealiires, as leace of £u- poffcfnons of cpel any at- :o fupport or rmed againft cfty did not that hoiife, le honour of 3le, and the in the pre- id commons :i5lionate ad- J the follow- ommons on nefluge and be granted p- iugmentm_ :h meafures IS, as may ^d this k{' ime to the ch bills as othhoufes; J majefly's be 27th of arliament ; IS pofTible ; any thing made fuch :h the war. account of than has any m ( 31 ) any material connedion with the military part of this hiltory In the Icflion, of which I have juft fpoke we find much unanimity and fleadinefs in following his majefty s will ; and the grant of one million on account, fiiows that the commons had a very good opinion of his majelly's dcfigns and meafures (at this time) in repelling the encroachments that weremak- mg in his dominions. It was very remarkable in this feffion, to lee the loyalty and alfeftion of thofe mem- bers in the houfe, from whom no fuch extraordi- nary fidelity was expedled ; more particularly at this time. ' His majefty having formed a defign of vifitine his german dominions this year, fet out from St. Tames*s on the 28th ofapril, about five o'clock in the morn- thfon^h T'r""' Wc^tn^/nfter bridge in a poft chaife, thiough St George's fields, over London bridge, and proceeded for Harwich, where he embarked ; and in a little time landed fafe at Helvoetfiuys in Holland, m his way to Hanover. Before his majefly's depar- ture, he appointeufeveral noblemen and others lords juftices for the adminiihadon of the government during his majefty's abfence ; at the he?d of "Xm was his royal highnefs the duke. The only ad of importance 'they did, was the or- denngthe uuke de Miiepoix, the french ambaflador, to depart the kingdom in 24 hours : he received thefe orders on the 22d of July, and fet out for France on the 24th at four o'clock in the morning, for fear of being mfulted by the mob. Matters be^^een the two nations were come to fuch a crifis, that it would ^^^:''''' '^^ ''' ^^^^^^^^-- ^-- ftaTed On the ,6th of feptember his majefty landed at f^^Tllnf?". ^i!''^ "^' ^^^ ^^-^ day ariTved n'v Jordl^nr^ ' being convoyed in his paflage by n^y lord Anion, with the foh .wing fiiips : ° ^ Ships ! t ,-•■ Ships. Wind for Falmoutli Romney Greyhound Centaur Wafp Wolf ( 32 ) Guns. 60 6^ 44 24 24 10 10 400 2 So 160 160 70 70 I have oefore faid that the pailiamcnf was pro: rogiied to may 27 j after leveral adjournments, it n.et the 12th of noveniber. In his mnjefty's Ipeech hf mentiop'd two treaties which he had concluded with the en.^.refs of Ku/Tia and the landgrave of HefTe CafTel, which foon after occafioned a warm debate in the houlc of lords ; for the duke of Marlboroup-h Itooc up and jrioved for an addrefs of thanks ; in V'hicli motion there were fcveral cxprefTions wiiich Icemed to imply an approbation of thofe treaties • this was, by leveral, objeded to i but the motion was leconded by the earl of Marchmont : many amendments were propofed, and it occafioned a lono- debate, in which the duke of Marlboroucrh, thi earl ot Marchmont, the duke of Bedford, the duke of Newcaftle, the lord chancellor, and the earJ ot Granville, fpoke for the motion ; and the earf lemple, the earl of Fomfret, and the lord Tal- bot againft it : alfo, the earl of Hallifax fpoke particularly againfl the treaties ; but upon the que- Ition s being put, the motion was agreed to without a divifion. In the addrefs of the commons were thpfe expref- fions, " And we think ouifelves bound in juflice and gratitude to amft your majefty againll infults and at- tacks that may be made againft any of your maieftv's dominions, though not belonging to the crown of Oreat Britain," which occafioned a very long debate • but it was agreed to at laft, thouah nor wirho.if he- ing thought by many, a little cx'traordinary. The alfurances Men. 400 2 So 160 160 70 70 lent was pro- iments, it HiCt y's Ipeech he ncluded with ave of HcfTe :iriii debate in Marlborough 1 thanks ; in ::nions which ofe treaties : the motion lont : many fioncd a long orough, the ■d, the duke nd the eari ind the earl : lord Tal- llifax fpoke on the que- i to without hefe expref- ijufticeand J Its and at" jr majefty*s ; crown of •ng debate ; without be- lary. The alFurances ( 33 ) kllurances of aOiftance which were made his maieftv; the reader will find hereafter were fully made good I am now come to give the reader an account of a tranfa<5lion which occafioned much difr.ourle ; I mean the treaties with H.fTc CaOel and Runia , a meafure as mucJi prailcd by lome, as it was condemned b- w'^^'r^ , . ^ ,t"^'^T'"S *^ '-»" e^traa: from that with Melle Lallcl, ligned at Hanover June 18. I. The prince of Heffe engages to hold in readi- nefs 8000 men, of which 1400 arc to be horfe dur- ing four years from the figning this treaty, for the erviceot his britannic majefly, to maich immediate- ly atter being required, if for the defence of the low countries j and within two months, if for the defence of Kngland or Hanover. To be commanded by hdhan officers, and to fwear fidelity to the kin.r of Creat Britain upon their being firft muftered by° an enghlli commiflary. ^ II. Each battalion of foot to have two field pieces. III. Hismnjefty engages to pay for every trooper or dragoon 80 crowns banco, and for every foot Ibl dier ^o crowns banco. ^ IV. The king engages to pay, durini? this treaty an annua fubfidy of 150,000 crowns^rrcot' crown reckoned at four fhillings and ninepel'e thr e arthings, engliH. money, from the time^orfW he treaty, till the troops /I.all be required to ma" if and 300,000 crowns from the.r bein.. required to march, til they enter into the pay of h r^^aieftv and from their entering into fuch pay, tiria^ltve to enjoy an annual lubfidy of i co 000 cro vn. ^f/^ the troops .(hall be again'fent I^S^XZ^^^^ be again rai.(^d to 300,000, which fl,all be a.ni alll ^ VI. If ( 34 ) ^ VI. If any of thefe troops (liall be cut off, or the ar- tillery loft or deftroyed, his majeily fhall defray all expences of recruiting and remounting them, and make good the lofs of the guns. VII. the king fliall keep thefe troops in his fervice during all the time of the treaty, and employ them where he pleafes, provided it be not on board the fleet, or beyond the feas. VIII. The king fhall fend back thefe troops if the landgrave fliould be attacked, paying them a month's pay, and iurnifliing them with tranfport veffels at his own expence, affording him the fuccour of fuch other troops as the cafe fliall require, to be conti- nued till entire fecurity is obtained. The landgrave of Hcfl'e alfo engages, that if his majefly fhall be attacked, he will yield him all t^c fuccour in his power, and continue it till an advantageous peace fhall be concluded. IX. To claim the fuccours flipulated by this treaty, it fliail fuflice, that either of the parties are attacked by force of arms, without having ufed open force againd him who attacks him. X. This body of 8000 fhall be augmented to 12000, if his majefty fhall require it, on the fame conditions ; the additional body of 4000 men to be ready fix months after demanded, and the fubfidy for them to commence from the time of the de- mand. XI. This treaty fhall fubfifl for four years. XII. The ratifications to be exchanged fix months after the fignatu re. Such was the treaty with Hefie CafTel, and, the better to make my remarks upon it, I fliall give the reader an abftrad of that with Ruffia, figned at Pe- terfburgh 30 feptember, N. S. when by comparing them together we fhall be the better able to judge of the wifdom of the englifli miniftry in concluding thefe tvvo treaties. Treaty •i -* off, or the ar- ia! 1 defray all g them, and in his fcrvice employ them Dard the fleet, troops if the ^m a month's )rt vefTeis at cour of fiich to be conci- he landgrave eity fhall be :cour in his Js peace fhall y this treaty, ire attacked open force gmented to >n the fame ) men to be the fubfidy of the de- bars, fix months ■1, and, the lall give the ;ned at Pe- comparing to judge of tiding thefe % % f! Treaty ( 35 ) ^ Treaty with Ruflla. L Recites, that the emprefs has, for the mutual de- fence of herfelf and his majefty, at all events marched to the frontiers of Livonia, adjoining to Lithuania, 55000 men, of which 40000 are infantry of her re- gular troops, and 15000 cavalry; and (lipulates, that they mall continue there as long as the prefent con- vention fliall fubfifl:. '^ n. The emprefs engages to hold in readinefs on the coafts of that province, during the fame time .0 or 50 galhes with their crews, in condition to ad on the firft notice. "-"^tLon 111. Thefe troops and gallies Ihall not ad, except his britannic majefty or his allies arc attacked, and then the commanding officer, as foon as he Hiall re- ceive his majefty's requifitions, ftiall make a diver- fion with 30,000 of the inflmtry, and all the 15,000 cavalry, and at the fame time fhall embark the other 10,000 infantry on board the gallies, in order to make a delcent, according to the exigency of the IV Ifhis majefly's german dominions ITiall be at- acked, the emprels will regard it as a cafe of the alliance of 1742. V. His majefty engages to pay 500,000 1, fterlin? per annum, m confideration of this fer;ice, from hf time the ruffian troops fhaU, in confequence uf h s requificon, pafs the frontiers of their country. The payment to be always four months in advance, t e firft to be on the day the troops pafs the frontiers VI. Ihe emprels takes upon herfelf the fubfift. amflamll '''"""" °^ "'"^'^ "°°P^ '^°"' "^X ^ ^vl";, '^'"i """rff ^"S?ees not to recall thefe troop, en hough (],e herfelf fl,ould be attacked by any o he, power; and his majefty promiles, thatinfuch ."'he"tret 'TT^^''' ^"™"^ ""= <•--- %u/a^d ( 3:6 ) Vlir. If, contrary to all expeaation, a war lliouM break out his majefty Ihall fend into the Baltick a Iquadron of force fuitable to the circuniftances, to ad in concert with the runian army, as long as they Ihall be within reach of each other. IX. A britini commiflary and admiral fhall always aflift in councils of war, with the rufTian commander or t!ie auxihary troops. 5t '^.^ "f'^"' ^'^^^ ^^ ^"^^'^^^^ ^^ ^" plunder. Al. 1 he king engages to procure a pafTage for thefe troops through Poland, if neceffary. XII. l^his convention to fubfift four years. XIII. If peace be made, or the objed: of the di- verfion ceafes within four years, the ruffian troops then to return and enjoy the fuccour agreed on three months. it no peace, the parties to agree on the prolongation oi the convention. XIV. The convention to be ratified within t\to months. . -^ Separate and fecret articfe. His majefty engages to pay 100,000 1. per ann. al- ways one year in advance, from the ratification of this 1 treaty to the march of the troops beyond the frontier, I when the payment of 500,000 1. per inn. is to com- * mence in its ftead. ^ Without confidering the necefTity, if there was any, of , tnelc treaties, and the goodnefs of them, we fhould ob- ferve, that by the fifth article of the treaty with HefTe ' It IS agreed, that every trooper fhall firft be purrhaltd at about 20 1. fterling, and every foot foldier at abouc ' 71. Which mall makes about 112,000!. levy money. befides this the landgrave is to have about 37,000). annually before the troops march i and as foon as thev march, he is to receive 74,000!. annually, till they enter into pay, according to chat of Hanover or England : at which time the fubfidy returns to about 37,000 1. an- '■ ' "'' "6'""3 v.iicu tnc troops arc fent back, is J I , a war fliould > the Baltick a ftances, to z6t g as they Ihall al fhall always m commander .II plunder. a paflage for y- years. '<5l of the di- m troops tlien three months. prolongation i within t\<'o . per ann. Pl- ication of this i the frontier, I. is to com- rewas any, of ve fhould ob- / with Hefle, be purrhalal dier at about levy money ; >ut 37,000 1. foon as they ill they enter England j at 7,000 I. an- c fent back, is ( 37 ) « to return to 74,000!. a year, during the whole du- ration ot the treaty. By the compaa v/ith Ruflia, the emprefsis to afllft England w:th 55,000 troops, and to tranfport and mamtam them for the annual fubfidy of 500,000!. w,thout any further con( deration for deatl, of men andhorfes, or lofs of military (lores, and no return of them IS to take place during the duration of the treaty even though the emprefs herfelf Ihould be at- wcked The reader need not be told how infinitely that w,th Hene Caffel, for it explains itfelf; who would have imagined, that we ihould ever have ^e^ fared the affil anceof 8000 heffians, before a itippfy of ru.T.ans, when the former was ten times as ex- penfive as the latter ; b, t dill this amazing foUy (it I may be allowed the exprelTion) afterwards an^ Fared m the britifl, councils, as we (Iiall fe here! If we confider the treaty with Ruma, it will aocear very plain that it was intended againft tlTc ktnS of i rijffia ; for „ is agreed by the fccond article That hefe troops are to be held in readinefs on t e fron tiers of Livonia, and the gallies cruizing on that coaft : and that, on his majelfy's .•enuifition.^the com manding officer il,all make a diverfon wi h o 000 infantry, and ,5,000 cavalry, which f,,eaks in fo many words that they were deHgned againrf K.pnZZZ jefty. It feems that the briiilh court, was at this time very jealous of that monarch's intentions thiv were fearful he intended to attack h" no v" ^nd J guard againft this danger (whether or no ]t was a real one, I am not able to fay) they thou^htTtne- Ru2 T"^'^"'= treaty abovemontio°naiJth Kulha. Againil what other power could this tre tv ^^tKa^e:Tr'™^^!^:?'^,:'>?i!iiv"-'fT article of their making a defcent w.th io,oo.q i men. ( 3^ ) men fufficiently fpeaks that they were intended to tuii^er the operation of the land army. In ihorr from every article of this treaty, it appears to be manitclfjy intended to defend the eleftorate of Ha- nover a^mnil the fuppofcd ill intentions of his pruf- iian majcfly. But the affairs of Europe took fuch a coiirfe a tervvards, as made this treaty (for that pur- pofe at leaft) ufclefs. Bur let the merit of them be ever fo much extolled, they will appear to me to be but a very fl:ort-%hted remedy for the mifchief they were intended to prevent. And I freely own the ma- nagement in making them, is toointricate for me to pretend to unravel. In the middle of novembcr, there happened feveral changes in the miniftry. Sir Thomas Robinfon re- iigned the feals, and was made keeper of the rolls, m the room of lord Barrington, who was made fecre- tary at war ; Mr. Fox being removed from the war office and made fccretary of ftute. And foon after appeared a new commiirion for the treafury, confifting ot t.ie following lords ; the duke of Newcaftle, firft lord commimoner, the earl of Darlington, fir George Mt Icton, Thomas Hay, and Robert Newgentefqrs. chancellor^ of the exchequer, in the room of Mr J^egge. ut this new fet of minifters did not hold together long, for we find, that on the 1 6th of de- cern ber the earl of Darlington, and Mr. Hay, re- nioved irom the trealury, and were appointed pay- rnafrcrs general in the room of Mr. Pitt • and earl Gcuver^ornofthepri^ p ivy f.al , and tnc duke of Marlborough made ma- -r general of the ordnance: the fame day, lord "- , "i.c on.^v u ifvv or them were ^■"onccrned .1 intended to . In Ihort, pears to be rate of Ha- of his pruf- took fuch a or that pur- of them be me to be lifchief they wn the ma- e for me to sned feveraj obinfon re- )f the rolls, made fee re - )m the war foon after , confiding ' caflle, firft fir George /gent efqrs. was made n of Mr. 1 not hold 6th of de- Hay, re- inted pay- i and earl per of the made ma- day, lord Ponfonby, ard Edge- :uted lords ( 39 ) concerned or comultcd in thcadminiftrationof the moft material affairs of the fiate. ^ From the face our affairs wore at the beainmno- pf this war, we fiiMl not have great reafon tS exufi m our fuccefs. The reader has ken the begin- mg of a war between the two nations ; and if we confider what the french made the aim and end of all their proceedings, namely, that tracft of land in America, on the river Ohio (of which I havefpoke fo particularly in the former chapter) or as the french were pleafcd to term it, for a " few barren acres » we fhall certainly conclude, that they in a manner eot their defires accompliflied. Indeed I have fiiown how JoyaJ and unanimous the parliament of Great Britain was in their r-folutions to fupport and defend his ma- jefty s right to the utmofi: ; but I believe the reader will join with me in being of opinion, that all the neceffary meafures to hinder a rupture with France jTom taking place, were not exerted. But this we fhall be able to judge of dearly by and by, when we come to be further acquainted with the i te of the quarrel, when it was more advanced, from its infancy D 4 C II A P. imc fet at iiem were f-"onccniec! ( 4P ) CHAP. HI. Ntival affairs in Europe, during the year 17,55. Great diligence ufcd ly both nations to equip feveral fquadrom Macnamara fails from Br eft ; and Bofcawen from Port f- mouth. Alade and Lys taken. Uolbourn fails from bpithead, Du Guay arrives at Cadiz. Haivke fails ^r -7^' '■ '^'"' ^^^^^^^ without doing it. Byng fails frcn. i^fthead. Court martial on lord Harn Powlelt. Bofcawen arrives at Spithead. Reflections, ' THE naval affairs of the two nations were not neg- lected. And indeed the englifh were niore for- ward by fea than by land, that is naturally their element; • and, if that nation would more confine i. 3 military views by land, and exert them more by fca, they would foon convince their neighbours how impolitic it would be to break with them. But we find that both nations at this period were extremely diligent in preparing their ma- ritime forces for any exigency of affairs that mi^ht happen. So early as January 1754, in England, im- preis warrants were iffued by the lords of the admi- ralty •, and in two days time upwards of 2000 feamen were taken on the river Thames ; to man (as it was then given out) a fquadron for the Eaft-Indies : and the prefs continued with great violence in moft of the ports of England, feveral thoufand able hands were picked up, and many entered themfelves vo^ lu n tan ly. Neither were the french indolent ; but with their ulual diligence were very vigorous in their naval pre-- panmons ; and ip i.e beginning of 1755, laid a ae- neral embargo on all the ports of Erance, to n?aii with th^ utmofl expedition, a fleet which was littine out in Breft ; and io early as the firfl of January, fir 1 homas Robmfon, one of his majefly's principal lecrctanes oi flue, was informed by de CoiLe, Ih. icCICt<ch2, n„ps „,ight very poflibly haC-e fel " tith 35 french ones ; and I believe the minift v dat planned h>s expedition, had not fo very gre a„ oof n.on of engl.m courage as to luppole Tha HaX H-ould (,„ caie of a battle; hav7come off con- Sir Edward Hawke's orders were to cruife off caoe Iin,fterre till thefrench Ihips/hotild appear If we are to judge of the wifdom"^ of thefe orders by the iucccfs they met with, the reader, J believe win no? admire the prudence of them ; for M. du Quay a foonas he heard where Hawke was ftationed and what was h,s bufmefs, failed from Cad'z for Breft but not ,n the ufual traa, which he did o avoid the thI A^lf:?' '' '" ft^^-'l^i^^ftiy weft from S^^n imo ^1 tie coaftT' when, being at a great^liftance II om tne coalt, he chaneed his coinio cm A a^^A dH-eaiy for the land's end of Englan ' 'by "hi. pre^ ca.,t,on of failing weft to a great"diftance,' before te ;• Tl 'Z'"^' tf'e channel, he paffed on the outfide 1 ig late m the channel, fell in behind it with hi, quadron and got fafe into the harbour of Brefl Is h1 ?''" "'f ''^Sinning of auguft. ^'t rrr fe 1 ' ""' ''""'"S ^''" '■"^-«r^?"l in the ^r..,fe he was lent t,pon, was called home, where! howevei" rn to Brefl, or cape Mr. Bof^ condemned by i for, accord- received con- french, it was vith du Guay's e /hips from ich were ready 1 their return that Hawke e fell in with miniftry that great an opi- chat Hawke 'lie off con- ruife off cape pear. If we rders by the *ve, wilJ not ill Guay, as ationed, and iz for Breft ; to avoid the n Spain into reat diftance and Itood by this pre- ?, before he » the outfide » and arriv- it with his • of Brefl, guff. Sir sfiil in the nc, where, howevei" ft ■'i I ( 45 ) however he did not arrive till the 29th of fcp- tembcr ♦. * As to admiral Byng's expedition, or rath/r cruiie, which he went upon the 14th of 0L%ber, with ten fail of- the line, being the wefiern fquadron ; it did not afford much fpecuiation for hiftory. It is enough to fay, that he returned the 2 2d of november iK)t having done any adlion of conlequence. ' I /hall here prefcnt the reader with an affair, that reflc(fted no great honour on the perfon chiefly con- cerned. I mean, the court martial on lord Harry Powlett. It Teems lord Harry commanded his ma- jefly's fhip the Barlleur, one of the fquadron with which fir Edward Hawke was lent to intercept the french admiral, du Guay. The cafe was this : in confequence o£ --rbal orders from fir Edward Hawke on the the 23d of auguft, in t j morning, lord Harry Powlett m the BarHeur, gave chafe to a fail in the louth eaft, which he purfued all night, and next morning was unable to find the fleet ; and finding his rudder in a very bad condition, was oblicred tS put into port, without orders for To doincr from the admiral. And for this action capt. Powlet° was tried by a court martial, held on board the Prince Geor-e mlortlmouth harbour, the 20th, 2iff, and 22dof October. The following were the members that compofed this court, VIZ. ' Henry Olborne, efq. vice-admiral of the red, prefident. Capt. Roger Martin, Hon. capt. John Hamilton, • I fliould here mention a pretty extraordinary inftance of the feigned po.tenefs of our enemies the french; or rather of their cron made ,n its return to Breft. of the Bland ford man of war of zo guns, having governor Lyttleton on board for Carolinrind C4y.- my rearfe.s to .vHca un this pjcc« ul ^jolitcncfs. Capt. ( 44 ) Capt. George Bridges Rodney^ Capi. John Montague, Hon. capt. George Murray, Capt. 'I homa3 Fowke, Capt. Richard Tyrrel, Capt. Wilham Lloyd, Capt. H.Edwards. The court having heard the evidence, and alfo what the prifoner had to offer, were of opinion, that he did not judge and adt right in giving chace on the 24th of auguft, to a fail feen in the Ibuth well, when three fail we- • ihen in the north-eall, which might probably be • .': of the fleet j but it having clearly appeared to ti. n, that his intentions were up- right towards the fervice, as he had before ufed his iitmoft endeavours to rejoin the fleet, on the ftation It was in, when he fcparated from it, and did after- wards ufe the like endeavours to join it on the ren- dezvous, they do not think this error dcfcrving of punifliment, and do therefore unaniinoiifly only judc^e it proper to admonifli him, as he is hereby admo- niflied to be more cautious in his future condudl. ^ As to his returning into port, the court are of opi- nion,, that, confidering the defects of the fliip's rud- der, his proceeding therein was very judifiable, and therefore they do unanimoufly acquit him of all blame upon that account 5 and he is hereby acquitted ac- cordingly *. It requires much caution to reflcd on fuch unlucky aftai.-s as thefe. It is impofllble for any perfon to be able to fay, whether the court martial on lord Harry Powlett adled juftly or not; but a private man is not to find fault with the proceedings of a court of juftice : thus much I may be allowed to fay, the nation was not pleafed with their fentence, with how much rea- ion, I will not determine-, but only obferve, that lord Harry Powlett has never been employed fince, in any ftation of importance. Such • ■¥ ncc, and alfo opinion, that viiig chace on he Ibiith well, :h-eaft-, which but it having :ions were up- fbre ufed his on the ftation ind did aftcr- t on the ren- ' defcrving of fly only judge icrcby admo- condudl. rt are of opi- he fliip's rud- (tifiable, and 1 of all blame acquitted ac- fuch unlucky r perfon to be n lord Harry te man is not irtof juftice: le nation was w much rea- (bferve, that ployed fince, ( 47 ) S'ich was the determination of this unfortunate af- fair. Tlie nation, in general, at this time, wascr^er to have every military offender fcverely puniflie ' At the eve of a war, examples of a jud ftveriry are, certainly necc/lary ; bu. ;iore particul irly lb, when a conftanr train of ill fuccefs had baffled all our mili- tary undertakings. At the beginning of every I war, it ,s neccf!:iry to roufe the engliCi from that fatal confufed inadivity,^ which fo diftinguifhei their coun- cils from thole of many other nations. But when once the fp ( > of the people is raifed, it is then that enghfli couri ; -e becomes fuccefsful, to the terror of their enemies. CHAP Such 1 { 48 ) CHAP. IV. American affairs to the end of the year 17;- The M.f cc^,nandi„ North J.JafJonJj^',eJ t//. ?„luf' "7* /" ^^"^'S'- ^""barrn^rchcs to Phi- New Tork Grand council of war. Plan of cferl tm.for the enfmngyear agreed on. Refleaiois on th frmtlefs campaign of ly^^, I Left (at the end of the fiift chap.) general Brad dock utterly defeated by tl,e frcnch: and flaTn ' on his imfortunatc cataftrophe, the command of hi; SralshVl'" '",N°"h America devolved on majo ff Uhin ''l '''u° '''"'"§ '^'' New York, arrived rl en h '^ '" l^f ""'Sr '"S °f J"ly- This city was then the grand theatre for all the preparations, for th^ northern expedition againft Crown Point, a well at that to the weftward, for the reduftion of Nh Jar The general, on his arrival here, did not find the^mt l.tary preparations ,n fuch forwardnefs as he had rea fon to expea ; infomtich, that he was obliged t wait at Albany on feveral dilagreeable accountf'but his own troops were i„ the mean time filing off m diHerent d.vihon. from Schenaftady, toward? Oi- wego. Ofwego has long been the accuftomed route, it is computed to be about 300 miles weft from A bany was formerly garrifoned by twenty-fi.e men ; but on tne commencement of the la'.e difputes the number was augmented to fifty ; and early this fprincr fifty more were ordered up : and at the latter end of may capt. Bradftrcet arrived there with two hundred, be- fides workmen to be employed in the naval prepara- tions, purluant to the fcheme concerted in the con- un tne 24th of lulv, creret-aJ Sh'-V" -r-:— ^ -- '^ • naftady, ,if ISS' The chief yor general Shir- marches to Phi- Tranfa^lions at Plan of opera - Reflexions on tie ) general Brad- :h, and flain ; mmand of his olved on majo; York, arrived This city was ■ations, for the 'int, as well as 'n of Niagara. >t find the mi- as he had rea- as obliged to iccounts J but me filing off, , towards Of- d route, it is from Albany, men ; but on ' the number is fpring fifty ■r end of may hundred, be- laval prepara- J in the con- iall fummen 'ivcu at Sche- naftady, ■■; 'leftada where he found lieut. col. Elllfon had em- barked the day before, with the 5th divifmn of the 50th regiment, forOfwego ; and that lieut. coh Mer- . cer with five companies of the 51ft, and one of the •f 50th, were ftil remaining for want of battoe-men. ■ f- On the 29th, the general embarked with 97 battoes .,.• loaded with military ftores, provifions and other ne- ceiraries for the expedition ; together with about 200 regular troops, . 50 battoe men, and 40 Indians, for Ofwego, leaving orders for lieut. col. Mercer to fol- , low him as foon as poffible. ** .r Ar''**' °"S' J*"'' °^ ^"g"'^' Mr. Shirley arrived at Ofwego. He found the works thete in a very bad condition., the chief ftrength of the fort, was to ■. being mountet, with five fmall cannon, three or four pounders., it confifted of a ftone wall, and' was fix- ated on the fouth edge of lake Ontario As foon as he arrived there, he took a fur- Vey of the fortifications, and the adjacent co „. liJnJ1nJ^J?r°ff" ^"' "'^'"S on the point, a ftrong logpalhfaded tort, capable of mounting la ce cannon andcontaming barracks for 300 men, Which againft three or four pounders ; and, if it Ihonld be thought requifite to have a ftrong, regular fbrtifi cation btnlt round it another year, it would be of Ir vice whilft the new works were erefting; and for fe- curing the place to the fouthward of he old fort , rpaied for it, to have a fmall fquare fort of eirth .ind rnafonry. with four baftions, a rampa t o4oe and ditch containing barracks for 200 men^ bt^i en the other eminence. ' "■ General Shirley, during his ftay, received fev^ vsnrnf ,r „. 1 1 K'. '^""^s". were fo rar ad- vanced, t! at he hoped it might be ready in a few ■*^ davs iiiii ( 50 ) days to receive its artillery, he propofed to proceed to Niagara, with 600 regulars, befides the albany men and indians, and a fmall train of artillery ; and having ordered the preparations to be forthwith made for the intended attempt ; the 600 troops were drafted, and held themfelves in readinefs to embark. One great inducement for Mr. Shirley to perfift in the re- folution he had taken to attack Niagara, was the ar- rival of eight battoes at Ofwego, on the 27th of feptembcr, containing forty barrels of flower, and thirteen of bre?d, which were tiie fpecies of provifions wanted. The reader will no doubted be furprifed when he hears, that for all the advantages attending the Nia- gara expedition, yet it was laid afide by the general till the next year. The co-- fiderations which had the greatefl weight with him, to induce him to take this refolution, were thefe : that nothing more could have been done that year (fuppofing he had got the troops and artillery fafe before it) than to diflodge the french and demolilh the works, as the ftate of his provi- fions would not admit of his leaving a garrifon there, during the winter, for its defence ; k> that an effedlual pofTeflion of that pafs could not have been taken that year ; whereas, in the mean time, during the abfence of the vefTels from Ofwego (all of which, it was ne- ceflary for Mr. Shirley to have taken with him upon his attempt againft Niagara) it would have been in the power of the french to have tranfported a train of artillery without oppofition, a-crols the lake to fort Frontenac, and have landed them near the emi- nence, behind the old fort of Ofwego, where the in- tended new fort was not begun to be built ; in which caff, they might not only have made themfelves ma- ilers of Ofwego, but muft have cut off Mr. Shirley's return from Niagara ; which would have been fatal likewife to the troops. Such were the reafons given by Mr. Shirley and his friends, for not proceeding againll Niagara: certainly the I 'i ofed to proceeci des the albany ■ artillery ; and forthwith made ps were drafted, embark. One lerfift in the re- ira, was the ar- n the 27 th of )f flower, and i^s of provifions prifed when he nding the Nia- by the general which had the im to take this lore could have got the troops )dge the french J of his provi- garrifon there, hat an efFedlual )een taken that ng the abfence ch, it was ne- vith him upon ; have been in ported a train "s the lake to near the emi- where the in- lilt ; in which hemfelves ma- Mr. Shirley's ive been fatal Shirley and his rara •. certainly the ( 5^ ) the argument iifed to perfuade us, that the fcheme was really impoffible to be executed fuccefsfully, is entirely fallacious, and its very foundation is Tapped when we come to enquire, why the works which Mr. Shirley ereded at Ofwego were not finifhed, or at leaft fo far in fowardnefs, as to permit him to at- tempt the expedition : nor can I conceive, that it was fo utterly impoffible to leave a garrifon in Niagara during the winter, fmce by the fituation of that fort the french would not have been able to make them- felves mafters of it in that feafon, with the force which It was in their power to ufe againft it. But one of the greateft objedions to this change in the general s opinion is, his pretending that he could not Jeave the garrifon in Niagara, by reafon of the icarcity of provifions ; for it will be very palpable to the reader that the general did not ufe his utmoft care m that article of providing provifions, at leaft in fo great a degree as is pretended by his friends : it s very plain by the other parts of liis conduct in this expedition, that he was well provided with every thing but provifion , and that he was not fo very badly off in that regard as is pretended. ^ iht difficulty which the general met with in for* ^l^^l^lTJr^ he wat building, wasle:ta[nly great , but not in fo great a degree ashas been thought It fliould be confidered, that they were ereded wichou any regular engineer, (an officer though, I ffiould nance ot 300 miles from any engliffi fettlement ^^SA^T. ^PP^y,^^P-P- workmen and ma-' terials for ftrong fortifications could not be had ; and the bad weather retarded his expedition confider^blv befides which part of their time was taken up^in vice in^o';'^'^ thenb,i,di,g for his maje v7fe" vice, m order to preferve the command of laie On ^r 1^. ^'f' ' ''^-^ '-^P^-^ -^^^ blri-acts't winter quarters, to contain upwards of nnn n,„„ . a-c tmiber tor all which, was' to be cut^fr'om ^M Hem, rr:, di Hi ( 52 J ftem, and the ground on which the forts were build- ing, to be cleared of the trees and underwood, with which it was covered. The general having fettled thefe matters at Ofwego and finding a great acceffion of bufinefs advance' upon the death of general Braddock, began to think ot leaving Ofwego, and proceeding to the colony of Maflachufet's bay, of which he was governor. Upon his departure, he left orders with the commanding officer of the garrifon to finifh the two forts in his abfence ; for although Mr. Shirley had fpcnt fo much time at Ofwego, yet thefe forts were not near complete ; but to affill the command- ing officer in furniffiing and ftrengthening them, and the other works, he lent two engireers as early in the ipnng as he could. I remarked before, that Mr. Shirley calculated thefe forts more for defence againft mufketry and Tmall cannon of two or three pound ball, than lart^e bat- tering ones ; for fecuring the forts againft Sich as might be conveyed by the french on the lake, he de- pended upon having a fuperior naval force on the Jake Ontario ; on fuppofition that, if his maiefty's vefTels kept the command of the lake, it would be impradlicable for the french to attack Ofwego. Hav- ing fettled thefe matters, the general fet out on the 24th of Oaober, in a whale boat, attended by fome battoes ; and arrived at Albany the 4th of november. Such was the end of the Ofwego expedition • the fervice which the general did there, had its ufes ; but he completed nothing ; more might have been ex^ peeked, confidering the time he fpent there j he cer- tainly might (from the feveral accounts which we have of this tranfadion) have left Ofwego in fuch a condition, as to have, had nothing to tear from a french invafion j the great difficulty of tranfportin^ cannon in that wild country, did indeed, in feme meafure, inlure the fafty of the fort j but then we And rts were build- lerwood, with ;rs at Ofwego, nefs advance, ^gan to think the colony of vernor. -rs with the :o finifh the Mr. Shirley ^et thefe forts e command- g them, and s early in the Iculated thefe ry and fmaJl n large bat- inft fuch as lake, he de- cree on the is majefty's it would be ^go. Hav- out on the ttended by the 4th of dition : the s ufes ; but ; been ex- ej he cer- which we in fuch a ar from a •anfporting I, in feme t then we: iiiid ( 52 ) find that the general was ftrangely out, in his imagin- ing, that he rendered the lake feciire by his naval torce ; he ought certainly to have left Ofwego in fuch a condition, as to have been able to refift any force that the french could bring againft it, by any road whatever, whether by land or the lake ; and this furely the general might have done, in the time he fpent there. ^ I ihall now purfue the account I gave of the mi- litary tranfaaions under colonel Dunbar, in the fouthern colonies. Having reached fort Cumberland, he dilpatched an Indian exprefs to general Shirley with an account of the defeat, and the necelTary re- turns refpedling the troops under his command ; ac- quainting him, moreover, with his intention of march- ing to Philadelphia, and his hopes of meeting his orders at Shippenfburg. About the fame time Mr. Din- widdle wrote to Dunbar, propofing a fecond attempt on tort du Qiiefne; but a council being thereupoa lie d, the members of which were col. Dunbar, lieut col. Gage, governor Sharpe, major Chapman, major Sparke, and fir John St. Clair, it was unanimoufly conceived that Mr. Dinwiddle's fcheme was imprac- ticable. The very next day, being the 2d of auguft, Dunbar began his march towards Philadelphia, with 1 600 men four fix pounders, and as many cohorns ; leaving behind him the Virginia and Maryland com- panies, and about 400 wounded. At this fudden departure of the forces, the Virginians were extreme- iy dilobhged, as not only expofing their frontiers and occafioning the daily defertion of their provincials • but becaule the enemy in flying parties, penetrated into the province, and on many of the inhabitants committed robberies and murder. Dunbar certainly acfled right in retreating to Philadelphia; for this rea- ion becaule in that province was feated one of the ZlT k''''' ?^" ^" '" °"'- plantations, which would have been oi greater confequence to the french ui v..,....,c.. rh;»i ten times the number of fcattered •''■' 3 lettlements :i si: r 1 ( 54 ) iettlements In Viminia, of which fh,^ ,1,1 confiils. ° ^" '"^^ ^^o^e province Upon the advices received from Dunbar Mr «!!,• iey gave orders for renewing the attemnr f u" fouthern colonies would readilv affnrH K ^ ' '^ '^"^ tent reinforcement • governor lUu ^™ ^ ^°"^Pe- the Penfiivania Iff.Zly Zl7n^^^^^^ retreat of the err. ir.rm' ^formed them of the theti. fpeech, p'^f^^ S/""^ '" ' ^^" ^^^"" P^- thedeftLeof ffiofZs T^^^^^^ ''''^''''' ''' enemv four comoanlp.Tf '"^^ "•''"Pt'ons of .the "'cn fo,- the clrfence ort'heir ti^ntier^'Al"^ 'T fame time the cotmcil and aflemblv of N 7 ?' met, and the Jatter voted T^nl f ^ ^^'^''f Service i but as the hn,r. 3°'°°?'' f°' ''«-■ pubhc currency of the b,II, fo '^"'^'"'^''^ '° P^o'''"g 'he Be|cherltheg„v^ernS/: CgaEaLr'f' ''?• Schuyler. A^ N w Yo^k r',""?"'"*^ "^-^ ™" tives 'aflcblcd o/d J^t^ftgu/r/f^rf "t a generous ipjiit tLv r»r i j ' ^'^ °"^ ""h p.-ovincial ar, ,; deftined Lr Cro ''' \° '""^''^•=^ 'he the bill was aauallvDa(MrhfTr'°'"' "'"'' 40o, but it afterwards IP^tf '"""^ ^°'" "^^' P^P"''^ •- Sh,f,XrS;iL':taior f:''"r7 "^ genera, advanced with theTmn'n, ,' k ^ '"' ^5""^" "^eing (->o miles r?om ^ b nv ^w,, ' ''"^l"^ P'''"' ^^ouf a"g"ft, with the train of artilrT uZfV'X"^ gun aicrt at the 1,,-,,^;. '*'"^yy- -L>man had be- at tile LuKling, on t!ie eail i]dc of Hud- fon 's body, moved forward 7 ■/ "'°"' ""'"' '^^ main before called iakt Sacrament B"'r 'H ^^''S^' had been fent as ^0"; re^ iv^d^'lir Hf' "''° adv,ces : that they had difcoverecfa nT,l f / u"'"! ■"d^"« "f expedition againTthe L^r'/ '''""P'°>'^'^ '" *e and 10,000 in that aJnft r ^°'VP°" *« '^k^. the propofed attempt a|ai„t fScTor/ '' '"^ '' "> rations upon the river C/,,ni- l ^"^'"^' ^"^^ ope- they ihotld beca ried inmlv ' '^'^ "^^« °f opinion, be cine w.thou S . wii"^ V^™'''^-^'' '' ^°"''' Peditions : and after confilerTlrt ° ^""''P'' ^''- 'hem by Mr. Shirley, th yd "fa ed P?^^P^r''^d « nimous opinion that nnlu ■ \ "^ '° "^ '''«"' ""»- '- troops' to thoir^ s SrlTf h" °' ^^S"- continent, would be neceff.rv fn, T^J"^^, "P°" ''"= ;^g and fccuring his ," ft rH tf d ef "^^^"^ ^^r^; t.'ie counci was that Mr ?i 1 , ^'"' telult of intelligence, thu the fr. K ' ''' f '" ''''' '''^'^^i^^d 'orce a°t Fro'nte, c rdtxl a Z'' ''"I'^'^S ^^«"^^^ "^ •■' floop to be buil ,:;;'; "°"'.^ ■^^g'-'ntine, and poffibie at Ofw ego; and ipr ( 60 ) and determined to make preparations for carrvino. into execution the before-mentioned plan of 3a^ fliould have, would permit him. " Such were the refolutions taken in this coimrll „f war, who adopted Mr. Shirley'. opi^'nTeerv fore thl "P-^'ftions which he framed and laid be- fore thern, was drawn up in a mailerly manner and ftowed that the author of it was nerfedtW well ac- quamted w,th his bufmefs, in the^h ory aTlLft what he was in the practice of it, I iullHvctr' ther occafion to mention hereafter But although the debates and refolutions in tl,^ torelight; the operations in the field afforded hn!, melancholy proi^ft. How fruitkfs war he c ^ paign of X755 [It was the misforu me of the en 4^," colonies to defpife their enemy : they knew their own country was populous, fertile, and great Art oH well cultivated ■ on the contrary, CaLaw^s harren and uncultivated, and had not a fiftieth pa t o'" S inhabitants, which were in thdr own ; heC-Jlel fo advantageous to the engli(h, proved alnioft 'he " rum ; exalted with thefe notions of their iim-rioritv they dul not conlider, that the frcnch knZn^ " S own inferiority were refolvcd to make up L Z moft unremitting diligence, what they w^ntjd in Mieir expeetations ; for furely no coiintrv was ever W- teTe'x:^" ;°h"'"°"' '^" ^'"^ eng'iirc:i; i : frendr.„W ,f °'- I ■""'"' "^ '"'^ incurfions of the trench and their Indians; the defencelcfs country was one continued fcene of all the horrors of war^ren Zh^^ lu- '"'^'^"' "'"•'•^ "■ G'^neral Braddock n ^ared J .^•'""'^ ''°P" ^''^ centered, wa.'de" :?!^.V^",'^.''"^'^^"^™es pouring in upon tZ ,Z "'■' incriftibie torrent, without any thing to oppofe them done (to the buth of Nov^''? '°''^ '"'^'^ "^ having and the fine fpeeches S' nA^ZZiT' ' '^' ' the commander in chief- T ,m ) ^""""[o^ war bjr cerned general Shir e" Mr 7oh^,^? '"^?'^ ^'"^ ^°"- a viftory over the c nemv whlh ? ? '"'^''"^' g»i"«'' fequences , but a' to M^' tt-^tj^l ^^t con- wego, in which J,e Ipent^'^^uTh .T^ 'T '° °'"- I cannot refleft on it wit;.out ."gre "'r,"^ '"""^^^ m which the year i7Cf ^SJ^-,,, ^'"^ manner i" the anna), o'f An^^'e'rfcrtl fo Iw "rr'^l" efforts made by the enrrlif^ „ll' ^ "^ ^^^k rights, which Lre (o liril^'n" '° '"'^^^^ *" J"ft the french , v-iliTe riSS^c^^o' f ^ '-"^ of a people .vh. make fo c "nfi eS 1 fiL 1?°''.^'" rope, and wiu' were in \ , ""^"'""- a figun: in Eu- ."bjefts in Arierica r„ . !^ '° !!«<='-'* th,-ir fellow God. they have^fil^c^ had tt^tet>f V^ caufe ; and have ex-ilted wi ' r,!r • ,. ^''^ J"** * but under different gfnWl" 5^^^^^^ ferent councils. It Sih/Z 1"?*'''' ^X ""Y ''' H^g"^, demands the 6000 troops Parlwment meets. King's meffage. AddrefTes and hng's anfwers. Parliament adiefs thVkinft'o hangover the Hanoverians. King's mejfage and fteech Parhameut prorogued Hanoverians and HeJJiins^. T: I'f^'-'"?^ f «'«'•• Affairs in the Eafi.I„, dies. Fort Certah taken. Refkaicns. FEW years ever opened the dawn of their con- TK. aT' "^'u '^""^ '^"""^ "■"« *^" the year i n6 The difputes between the kingdoms of EnMand and fnSle""aitr' , '° '""'l "" ^^' '^'^^ ^ -- "- inevitable : although neither party chofe yet to de c are themlelves openly, ftiH i? ^as very 1 n from the general orcumftances of the two nadons ha ?Jf,""'u^r '"""^ w l"^h a crifis, as to be mDof fible to be healed In America th^ war was bSe open and avowed, and it was expefted to be t^ fame m Kurope every day ; for all in^ereourfe wa w cnrJr^ ^ '^'^T'"'"? P'°P'^ ^''^ ^l^ke" i" their coniettures, when tiiey thought they perceived a fo ftrfrom > h"""" ''" -™ -tionsf nL"a hand! 10 tar from it, that it was never further off. The mini ftry, w!io at this time prelided in the connciTs of England, would have been glad to have p oc ed a aftmg peace between the french and enghlh eoi Id they have been able to do it without forfe iiW tlei^ own honour or wliat perhaps they efleemed a|r «er plain, that as ioon as an irruption took nlace he XZ X Tr""y f'"' '""- wotlfftl'tt ^nd"a'ci , ^ti'^".,:,; i jr"""''^' "i '■^^'""^ , u-5 \\,ii... a.vva)s ipnng up m the engJifh court coiirt a-, the beginning of a war : urged bv thefr reafons, they would have patched up Matters with thefcnch court, more fpeedily than the interefl^f their country required; if the nation l„V i j ' truer fcnfe oVth^ injuries recdv d from', e° ren h' n lu, fckhlh fituation, wa.s the court of EnXi" at the beginning of tlic year 1756 '^"gWna. This year, ib remarljable in the anmk r,r t> : ■ was uiliered in by the ftranoe )J,TJ [ ^"''""' hoiulidef coSt^eT^;^^ °f ''- wliole blame of t'le wu on th^ b '' ?'?'"§ '^'^ niagement of this affair r„ e„ ■ ^ '""■ anfwer ; and tl la is thlV ? , "" " ™"'^"'ied his the nation was df^^^ced t'tfT "''?%'" "'^'^'' court in anyother langua " but t hat of M ' ^°''"8" N«cr did the chicanty ofTco t T f""™'- npp.-ar more fflarinn-Iy th-.n ln\^ k ^ ^"'"'"= Have bTn mo e f, T'' ™"'''' P*^'''''''!". -lit Lu UK v.iu;uijiiicd ronij.s • Vide appendix. 1 'fyi^ m W ( H ) 6f praftice; biit fince the French tliemfelves had not paid any regard to them, in their own procedure • they could, at leaft, with the worfe grace complain of" our having followed the bad example they had fet us • which was not the lefs real, for its being the Ids ma- nifeft to the reft of Europe. But to clear up beyond doubt the falfity of the allegations contained in this memorial, we need but confider the following matters of fad, relating to it. It fhould be remembered, that in January lyf. the french ambaffador returned to London, and made great proteftations of his court's fincere defire, finally and fpeedily to adjuft all difputes between the two crowns concerning America : and notwithftandino' the extraordinary preparations which were at tha*? time making m the ports of France, her ambafladoi' propofed, "That before the ground and circum^ Itances of the quarrel fhould be enquired in^o pofitive orders fliould be immediately fent to ouf refpedive governors, forbidding them to under- take any new enterprife, or proceed to any ad of iioltihty ; and enjoining them, on the contrary, to put things without delay, with regard to the lands on the Onio, on the fame footing that thev were, or ought to have been before the war ; and that the reipcdive claims lliould be amicably referred to die commiffioners at Paris, that the two courts might_ terminate the diiTerence by a ipeedy accom- modation." J r J Thebritiih court immediately declared its readinefs to conlent to the propolcd cefiation of hoftilities, and that all the points in difpute might be diicuifcd and terminated by the minifters of tJie two crowns • but on this condition, that all the pofTeffions in Am'erica Ihould be previoufly put on the foot of the treaty vi Utrccnr, confirmed by that of Aix la Ciiapelle ; there- " nV ,^' F .""^ F"?^'"^^ P'°P°^^^' " That the po/Temon ot tJie land on the Ohio fliould be re- '"-^-'^ to ti.c looting it was on at the conclu- ♦* fion 4C ^t the other " the fanie conj.tion in Xh'tt"'l^r'*°^^'' ^° the iigning of the fSl 'rel^^of r'?"^7''^' ^' agreeable ?o ceiTiopo anj S '^"i'"'''' ^"^^ preffed : and then 'he meW,?f o?"%"'^'-"'' ^'^- rerpeaive governors, andfobiddl'"tm>" ''"' dertake any new enterpriie, or ift of 7 r ,""' -reSeT;:\1vi,i^<;^'|f " i" an amicable mJnnl, ' L ^'"5" '"^J"^^''' That is to ray, that~ e 'S rtrthe"""^-" done by open force, before the p rt esl '^L'"'"'^" into treaty about the rliim ,>f • '^r"^i '"0"ld enter FoMon, of both nW? 1 f',' 'r'' ^'"^f- the foot of a definW^ a^grcemew ^''^ ^' ''"^"^ °" *« their tu n fo weS t 'fe "°„ "''^ ''""''^ ''^^<-- '"^^^^^ on by the commiffi? ■ f a "fa f,' '"l '? ''= ^^teed very plain ; no fooner aoMW \ ""'' ""^ '■''^'™ *s american governors to den/ f ''"' °"'^^"> ""^ Jity, and deferred 01 rc.lt^'' '"^ '^' "^ ''°'«- french would ha^^Mb abo ' fl "'^g°'^""on; but the in America, by fopp't? fif-''"".'' ''"'"^ themfclves manner, that th^y Sa at tlifs d^"?^''' I" '""^'' ^ rior to the enMift, in tL, ^ ''^''^ '"^^" '"Pe- havefecured t? themiyt T""^ '' '"^ "« ""'Z had already made but vvnni ' "'^'•'"'^'"iients they iuft bH en the two T™' "^""'«' ^"«''"- than 'France; r two LZs rf F 'f ^f « B™"''" and ;his time, thought ^^.l^^^^^^^ to enter nuo a negotiation for a tr;aty to keet ^I oopnrcm entering the cmpir/; whiihLfe Ipcedily foreign ( ^6 ) Kl^/°''^^\'? ' conclufion; for a treaty Was figned between thefe two powers, on the i6th of ia^ nuary, this year : the reafons given by the britifh miniftry for taking this meafufe, were'chiefly cen^ tered m the defign, to keep the french from in- vading the eledlorate of Hanover ; which it was very hatural to expedb they would really do, after they had itance of this treaty was as follows : I. That Great Britain witli her allies, and Pruffia. fliall njutually affift each other, in endeavouring to keep aJl foreign troops from entering the empire n. That Great Britain fliaii pay 20,000 1. as an in- demnification for the captures of that mercliandize. Which was taken on board pruffian bottoms, and fold tZ'1§ '^^ r^^^^'' '"^ ^^ '^''''''^ '^'-^^ Pruffia" fhall pay the bilefia loan. The reader will perceive, that the mofl important article of this treaty is, that Great Britain and her allies, and Pruffia, ffiall mutually affift each other in endeavouring to keep all foreign troops from enter- ing the empire. And here it is neceffary to recall to mmd the treaty concluded the laft year with Ruffia, by which, as I before ffiewed, the Ruffians were to adt in Germany, agreeable to the direftions of his britannic inajefty From this it appears, that thefe wo treaties with Ruffia and Pruffia are, at leaft, ieemingly contradidory to each other ; for by the f uHian treaty, the ruffians are to march into Germa^ By, for thepurpofcs of that treaty ; and by the pruf- fian treaty, they are excluded from entering the em- pire, bemg fbreign troops. I know to this, many Ipecious political arguments are ufed by the friends of theenghlh miniltry, to perfuade the world, that thefe two treaties are not in the leafl oppofite and contradidory to one another, being iolely defi^ned for the protedion of Hanover againlf the f/ench t But LntT P '^''? -"^y humble opinion, nothing can bt more feemingly inconfiHem j I fay ieemingly, for fo ca ni; is w^ the i pe: ext rea; bet feai wo I real whe the wou qiiar emp for V dom tinen wher were tereft was tj king delive moria convif generj himfel own d ing im on the againft at the {i declara king tc :rcaty Wii$ 6th of ja-^ 'le britifh liefly cen- from in- was very they had The lub- i Pruflla, )uring to ipire. as an in- Jiandize, and Ibid ffia fhall nportant and Iier other in n enter- recall to I Ruiliay were to ! of his at thcfe tt leall;, by the Serma- le pruf- he em- , many friends d, that te and ^figned h ; But otliing: lingly, for can ^e irp" 1" Pr r "t"^' ^''■"^- -■«'" V which aftoniftes evero!,e "s H^ ^°^""'^ ^°*'' tl>edark, and whichlthf^g'b , «! ea7'-\""^ '" pear m its tnie Jij^ht, ^^" "^^^e ap. The fituarion of afFiJr<5 m p,, extremely critical ever' ,1 ^"''"l'^^'''-*^ « this time reafo„stobelieve;thItT«vTJ"T'"'''^ ^"'^^ ^^^ between Great Brit "l^dX^^^ .'^t^"™?^ in-itable feared, that the auarrel h», ' f"^ "^ ^'^ ""ch would involve thl. eft of fI'" ''^5^ two nations ■■eaibnof tlteopendecLadofriich"^'^' """' '^'^ where madeof herintenrJnno ' ^/™'=^ every the deflorate of Hanover ' 'f ™'";'^'^ '^" ^>™y inta ^vould engage fo," of ,e Terman'^.r' "^"'S'^' quarrel, as foon as anv fLT ^'""^''' '" '''= empire. In the Nnrfh^ "'' ■'°°P' '"^■''ded riie forVar, as every thn^ ™""' '^"^ "« ^id lb fairiy tinent of Europe a' 5 " S^t.at.ons on the co?- where the minffterr of L'TwJ S "'' "'^S^'^ ^ were ufing their utmoft endeavourr^ ^^'""' P"^'^'-^ tereft m the republic for V 7 -■ '„" procure an in- was then (the f,th of fi-h !"'='P<^'^i^e matters. It king of Great Cal>fa"h';l?" ™'- Y"*, the dehyered to their high mi^htiSan'- ''^ "•'"S"^' monal, importing, '° That" l' u l '"J=°"*''"t me- convinced 'all ES;ope of hif 'Sef fe to' "■'^'' ''^^ general peace that had larelJ r kcA /° maintain the himfelf Threatened witi a la, h"''' 'i ^" '"-' *"""J .own dominions. That PranT "° ^"'"'^'' '" Ws 'ng immenfe preparat on! of alTT-'^^'''^ ''"'' '"*- on the northern coafts wLf '"""'' Particularly ngainft Great BrS 'a^S wWdXf ™'.^ '^'^''^""^^ a the feveral courts of Eufo^^h V-t «!" ^ "r*^" -l-iarations. That thefe motive; ^^'"^"-'-^ ■'''"" demand the 6ooo men king to be fe ent over to his aflit" lance. ( 68 ) amfl-ancc, which the republic wa.'5 bound to do bv trtaty i and that tiie neceflary fliippjng for their em- barkation, would be got ready immediately." Ihi.s memorial gave a clear and jull account of the great prepirations which France was at this time making on all fides. It is true, their deftination was not thai known ; but, they were certainly very alarm- ing to the court of Great Britain ; there were- atlealt 40,000 men allembled in Flanders, under the com- mand of two marflials of France, thefe troops were ported there, for two reafons ; the firll to be ready to annoy Fn-lanc, and ibcondjy to awe the dut^h • f-r the french ambaflador at the Mague, threatened the Itatcs general witJi an invafion, if they complied with the demands of Great Britain, in reIa;ion to the 6000 men. AH the ports of France at tjiis time re- iounded with the noife of preparations, which tended to invade Great Britain : troops from all the inland parts ot the kingdom were continually Ivyarmine toward , the northern coall. Indeed, in this cafe, it IS natura for the reader to afl< how it came about, tint Fngland was at this time lb deftitute of national torce i for really it does not appear, but that the kingdom was not fo very weak, as to make it necel'- fary to call in the afTillance of the troops, which 1 io 1nnd was by treaty obliged to furnifli ; but flrill as the dutch were bound to fuccour us, it was iudped a neceflary meaiure to demand the fupply of 6000 me/i as we might by that means perceive how they iLOod afte<^ted towards the engliih. The truth was, tliefe phlegmetic friends were fo much under the influence oF France, that upon the trench ambaffador's prelenting a memorial to the Itates genei-al, on account of the demand made bv .i^Jigland, they refund to fend the fuccours, althouoh they were bound lo to do by treaty j nor will th?v lurprile us much, when we confider the quantity of french gold that was made ufe of to procure this re- iolve, which reileded lo much dijhonouroii thcftates of to do bv their em- >» ccoiint of this rime ation was ly alarm- re at k-alt the com- jps were ready to diiteh ; ireatened :omplied )n to tlie time re- 1 tended e inland yarming cafe, it e about, national that the it necef- , which butftijl jud.ged >f 6000 )w they .vcre fo 30JI the to the ide by thou oil ill they itity of :his re- c itates of ( h ) of Holland ; but France is never without her n^n lioners at the Hague. wzuiouc ner pen- Matters were become fo warlike between fh.» parliamenc i„ which he 'cju t '2,^"'Z ^ had received lure ^f^vTV^ r.^ .^ r r '■"^'"' ^hat he to invade h' kin^ tl^B" ^""Z^ ^^ F^nce tions ,™ki,. n the c'oaft ^f 'p' """'^"'^ P^^P''^^" Jefty had, wnh th '> advfce J.Zne .' r ''f "'" ..i::wa:^:o:K:'s'':s;-^ir I'im of their inviolah JIV , '" '"^''^^ ''"'"™S «o-n,.ent, ?SSi;:ri^;t?or^:; '"' r reputed aflV;ance '"f"' ,S•"ta^"^^'''"■• " duty, and affeftion to Jim " h"! ""? ' '^'''• " lias the utmoft confidence ';„ "1 • °^"''°"' ""J " port." connclence in tlieir vigorous fui>- iVench invafion, ifwin be LT' ' '^'^'''^ "*' * fader, tliat the ,Lv'L "''<"'^^'^y to acquaint th. n.on that .I.e na » ' C"e,nrirr " ""'" °^ °P' drels ,he kino- to br L ' ^ "f^"'''' '>' ^ •'•d- verian troops for the n^ OL,ld be brought over hither, to aiTilt m defence ot this kingdom, in the prefem .Jc'TTJ""^' """■ ^" ^^^'' "'"<:h '"•t1= fo great a noife huli Europe over, as the addrels of the brft (h denad^ ,'' M'*"''' ^° %> what couL po.^^ the nation with i,ch an imiverlal dread of an inva- iion, as at this time ran througli all decrees of neo will look back upon it v.ith deteftation. Will i tbn thH '^ to the diftonour of the britifl, na- eleaorate of Hanover, to defend herfelf againft an maginary danger , for it is uel! known.Ta al" the mighty preparations of France, were, at his t me deftincd ior a diirerent expedition, which aft rS fully appeared : and this difgrace is yet more full v ^iiffl^iyed when we confidei" that at this time "ell Y englifl, troops were abfent in the Eaft or W^IM? I .cs, or the american colonies. Would it not have been more honourable in the nation, to have raif«i an army of the natives to defend their own coun rv than to can ,n the afiiftance of foreigners and a ' ■ o t'he"d n •'■"' f"'*'^"'" "-^^ --l' in trumje g tended that a concatinanon of events foretold this As I am now mentioning the afFiir? nf tU^ v ment this fellion, for the fkLeof ^ -i Ly ^"wfli continue my account till the end of £kZn fi I ** liis my parHn ■ my peo- dy of my liither, to 'e prcfent te orders b great a he britifh Id poflefs an inva- of" peo- true bri- honour, WiJJ it itifli na- e of the jainft an that all lis time, :erward3 re fully ie, very /elMn- >t have ; raifed ountry, id after ipeting as pre- d this re flra- ifh mi- parJia- 1 wilj i firft :y fent That *' Ills f ( 7' ) •' lus majefty being dedrous to be prepared a^Jnff " i^nft ,1 Ln'rn "r?"' '" '^P'-«'i« critical con- " m^flrfr; ^"t'^°"''''"'"g th« fudden emergencies may anfe, which may be of the utmoft imoort! confequencesif proper means fl,oi,ld not™ ta! ";«'««'y Wj-ed, to prevent or defeat them ■ ™s majefty hoped, that he Ihall be enabled bv his par- " °^%"'^^"''fy;o,''irappomt or defeat any enterprifes or defigns of h,s enemies, ane radc-r this ab- urcv.t) , as to the ahair of M norca, which his mn jefly mennons in his fpeech, I mt.ft d fiTe he relkr-; pat,ence for a little while, before I ca , give an ac count of an affiur equally inglotious to my co"mtr; and d.ftgrecable to me. I flroukl remember to ob! ierye, that dunng this feffion, that is on the 3d and 8th of may, the following votes were palTed : ^ of 6 ./ Z ^'rf '° ''•'' ""J'^fty. for the charge a tqi"? rf 'h™! V''' ^"""^^ officers and train rf art,Ihr> n Fur- The tro(>psi ( 7^ ) troops made a fine appearance, beinggenerally ftrci^ht witli red, and Jaced with white, in imitation of fij. ver. Ihe officers, who were all wr^Il r«o u On the 21ft, the hanoverians landed ar Ch-,,\ to the nun,ber of ,0,000 men, and began hdrmS ^ in two divifions ; the (irft fnr M.,;»v , *^" other for Canterbury T ey were^;:^ T' '."'^ '^^ civility, and -"luve'd wid, rJnra^r^/bSl™;;^ '^Tr Maid lone, iome little difturbance hin3 .^ compla nt beimr made m ,\,,T "■^Pl^^"'="' ^nJ " Point n,e out^thT ,an.>> f id he T^n^'"" °"^"^' « the aggreflbr, and you fl a 1 fte him han'^H ■"" " tnediately ;" but this was thought Lfe"°! T\ no particular man was pitched upon Thefeh. verians anH fl-.^. i,^rr "i^wii. i nde hano- tTme to be feme ol The"beftT, l""^- ^'r§'" ^' '''« el.%';r-dS?-^^^^^^^^^^ 4to.^"t1n-riurn:^^^^^^^^ nations; a,l Kurope was furDrfoi ,,1 ''^' '"° ^; belligerent poiers lud'^t^,^ ^tdul Jth.of.i.an,.eagainftE4:j^l°t^^^^^^ tions" in TS:4: 'l"^,:r ■^.'^^'■•^ ^«-- tl. two na. the Haft-Indies', 'n^t;; "^0: ''^^ f^^^^^- i" > HMuers went on nnich i-afhr, and more WiSi m ■ l| ( n ) more profperoufly to the cnglifh ; It was the b«. ginnmg ot this year, that the famous pyrate Tu- agee Angria was conquered, and rooted out of his 1 ron. hold at tort Geriah, by the cnglifh forces un- dcr colonel Chve. But before we can give any ac^ountof the adion itfelf, it will be ncccffary to . i lomething concerning fo extraordinary - man, as '.iwe are Ipe. king off It f.cms that fome ykrs a.70, the anceflors of Angria were viceroys to the £i;cat mogliul, and governed a fine roiiniry on the Caromandel coalb, where they lived with great fplen- dor and opulence ; and by means of tne lam riches they amaM were enabled for a conlidmble time to throw ofl their allegiance to the moghul; but were afterwards reduced to obedience by a lovereign prince, whofe dominions lay to the fouth of thofc of Anuria who was called the fouth raja ; this prince impofed a tribute on Angria, which was regularly paid for fome years, till Tulagee Angria refufed. about the year 1754; at which, the fouth raja was highly pro- voked ; and to chaflife the infolence of An^ria's be- haviour, marched an army into his counfry, and blocked up all his towns ; the moil confiderable of j^hich, were the ports of Zivanchi, Antiguria, Da- bul, and louth Rook. And to enable himfelf the riiore readily to deftroy his enemy, he lent to the eng- im at Bombay, to defire them to afTift him, in his conqueft of Angria. ' rnl^'^ r^''' ''"^"'^^ '^' '"S^"'^^ ^°"^P'^'^^ ' ^"d admi- ral Wafon commanding at that time in the Eafl- Indies, he afLIled at a council of war held at Bombay on the 6th of february. The land forces were under the conimand of colonel Clive. The admiral at- tacked Geriah on the 12th, and it furrendered on the 13th. In thefort were found 250 iron and brafs cannon of a fizes, and a prodigious quantity of ammunition of nil lorts. proyifions, rich goods, and many other com- mouiues. 1 ne garriion confifted of about 300 men. though ^^im-. i^& •■■■fX- IS the bo* yrate 7\i. out of his forces un- give any ceffary to " man, as 3me years •ys to the y on the eat fplen- eat riches ible time but were ;n prince, Angria, impofeci paid for bout the ;hly pro- ;ria*s be- ry, and •rable of ria, Da- ifeJf the the eng- I, in hisi id admi- le Eaft- Bombay re under liial at- on the nnonof ition of ?r com- o men, tliough H , u ^ 75 ) though there were above jooo :.-. the fort. In filver ru- pecs were found about 100,000 I. and in other effefls ncar3o,oool. The admiral left about ,ooof theKal India company's troops, as many (eapoys. and , or 1 of the company s armed ve In this liicccfsful manner ended the expedition agamft Angr,a , which was of infinite ferv ce w he taft. India company's affairs, as it rooted a notorio m fo^hlm T "' !""''/' °f 'he greateft conf" to him. It IS thought that col. dive uo'- -xhnZ iocoool. by thisalliiir, and the ad„i'!ls^;,;d other flS" ,rh^'=/^"'^ ly f«"™»« in this important con wkh ; verv en '"''' '" '^" ''"" "'^ '''« «°^ld 'oo'°'"^ .'"°"°"' °f '''^ fren<:l' looked as if they had adopted part of it ; the marftn-, and he prince de Soubile, foon after began their circuit at JJunkirk and from thence went ^^rom port to port ^ quite to Breft forwarding the preparations ?hat were m.king all along tlie coaft, ftemingiy to in Vuoe us. _ Whether they really intended to pu, • eir threats in execution or not is unknown, vet they certainly gamed one point of importance ' by theie means , they deceived the attention of the britifh u.iniftry, and were thereby enabled to renaer fucce(>,ful their defit^ l^gainft another quarter ; bef.des which, the expcnce their preparations put the cngli/l, , - 1„ counteraft! in S ■i^ C 79 ) It was on account of thefe preparations on the coaft of France that, we were always obliged to !,eeD a fquadron of men of war in the Down! ; and forThe greater fecunty commodore Keppel failed on the 7tli of apnl to cruife off Cherburgrwith a fquadron'^of five .(h,ps, to bum the flat bottomed boats, which the french were budding, and to pick up any ftra^ ghng tranlports that might fall in their way, the latter of thef- ends was pr,:ty well anfwered b^ tl commodore's fuccefs. ^ The naval llrenfh which the englilh had at this t.me m Amenca, was very fmall, i^ proportion t^ the great importance of that ftation : and the mini- ftry in England was much blamed for not kee^ine fegularly and conftantly a ftrong fquad-on of men of men of war m that part of thi world, to refift and annoy the operations of the french. At laft how inl rh! ^ f P' '° ""Ty *= t^^"lports. rontain- hL^h! enforcement of troop, that were Su thought neceflary to repair the bad ftate of the br ft empire there, by checking the progrefs of France 2fl '"ki^^T'. •'1^ "'^^^l -^S^ipments were more confiderable; admiral Hawke, as I have before men! loned, was before Breft with a confiderable tew So formidable an armament failing to the coaft of F^nce, would naturally lead us to expeftfome at- ^emp of importance. But this was not the cafT rhl i^ench mmiftry, by alarming ,,s with di e f rf an nvafion, put us to fuch an ir.imenfe expence to kern their fleets in harbour, and even this, we were fe£ Z ,f ' \ Pf "*"' '■"^ 'he french' f'^Jl 7irS n,p through the engliflx fleets lying before BrTft Ban.ury ,«r putting tUe nation to lo great an expence !-'*!•. ¥ ( So ) Jtierely to coop our enemies up in their harbour^ was, to hinder them at this time from fending fuc- cours to America. Admiral Hawke, as I faid be- fore, foon after arrived at Spithead with a fmall fqua- dron. ^ Several other fquadrons were fitted out, and failed as cruifers, convoys, or fquadrons of obferva- tion ; but as their deltination was not fo important, I have for brevity fxke omitted mentioning them. But I muft now begin to take notice of a much more im- portant affair, and which will require a more minute enquiry into the firft appearances of the defigns of our enemies : I mean the conqueft of Minorca by the french. It will be here neceflary for me to trace out fome advices which the miniftrv in England received con- cerning the preparations of the french in the port of Toulon ; for from thence we muft afterwards con- clude, whether they had reafon to believe that the trench intended £,n invafion of the ifland of Minorca, or whether they only meant it as a feint to draw the attention of the englilh from the channel, that they might thereby be able to effea: their grand deiian againft Great Britain itfelf. '^ ^ So early as the month of auguft i '/^^^^ the miniftry in England had intelligence, from different parts, of the armament at 1 bulon. They were exprefsly inform- ed, that orders had been fent thither, to equip with expedition, all the new fliips, and to get the old ones alio m a condition for fervice : that thefe orders were then purllied with great diHgence, and that they were to take on board feveral companies of land forces befides marines. That fince the arrival of two ex- prefTcs at Ibulon, which had cauled the holdino- of two extraordinary councils, attended by the princTpal officers of the marine, the hands which were at work in fitting out nine ihips there, were doubled, and fix other Hups of the line put in commiffion, and or- dered - ,t .V elr harbour^,- I fending fue- ls I faid be- a fmall fqua- i oiit, and 3 of obfcrva- important, I 5 them. But ch more im- more minute iie defigns of norca by the ce out feme iceived con- the port of Twards con- ve that the >f Minorca, to draw the I, that they *and defjgn the miniftry nt parts, of fsly inform - equip with et the old :hefe orders d that they land forces j of tv^o ex- holding of e principal re at work d, and fix 1, and or- dered ( 8i ) dcred to be equipped with the former nine, fo as to be able to put ail the 15 fail to fea before the i8th or 20th of auguft, and to be vidualed only for three months This intelligence was in part confirmed by th^ earl of Briftol, the englim ambaffador at Turin, who informed the miniftry, that all the mafter builders were commanded to repair immediately from the ports of Provence, &c. to Toulon ; and that a body of 20,000 french troops were pre- pared to form a camp at Valence in Dauphine • diefe advices were exadly confirmed by confui Birtles from Nice. But confui Banks, in his letters trom Carthagena, dated the 20th and 27th of au guft ,s ftill more explicit ; " Mafters of french veflels from Toulon," fays he, « report, that there are in that port 26 men of war of the line, viz 18 new fhips built fince the peace, and 8 old ones, which are all fitting for fea ; alfo 12 frigates, and a great many frailer veffels, which are in like manner fitting out i befides fix fhips of the line on the ftocks - fome of which are ready for launching : that he had received intelligence of ,80 battalions of foldkrs marching into Roumilon with great diligence ; and hat thefe troops were defigned againft MiSorca, to be tranfported thither in merchant Ihips, now at Mar- feilles, and to be convoyed by all the men of war in the port of Toulon.'* Thefe advices were con flantly repeated: not a month pafTed, witnout innumerable ailiirances bein- received atthe fecretary of ftate's office, from lord Bndol ge- neral Blakeney general Fowke, fir Ben. Keene, and, in fhort, all the confuls in the Mediterranean con- cerning the great preparations which were carryino- on at loulon. Sir Ben. Keene wrote to Mr Fox mr ticularly aflliring him, " that the french defigned to jnvad Minorca.- Nothing could be more drcum? itantml than the repeated advices which the cncr]\(h miniltry received of the defi-n " -' ^__^^wnn <3 C f\T t< .-'1 .^ ^,* But iec US *»' actemptmg the invalion ; their fuccdi in uh !. ' pedmon, entit-ely Uepend:. on che^ hge^r^Ah^. totndf flT^'r "'7^««'=d themfdves fo far, a, to lend a fleet under ad„„>aJ Byng to the Mediterra! nean, '^e fuch foN lean a fmall ve frigates, eet was or- ote(flion of iiadron was ice-admiral impo/Tiblc h ininiftry, re fo J ate a HiOLild not -^pon dents 3f the de- and early t the truth ve taken tarnifhcd IS that of ;litly they ifland of that the nan their le french . as they did they ilnps of rranean, ihe 1 6ch ?n. By fo early, d from ich ex- )f their ( 83 ) nean, connfting of ten (hips of the line •, which ftij. cd tne 7tn or apnl. However in France more expedition was ufed. from Pans for Toulon, with the officers who were to ferve under him, and arrived there the 25th of march, fmding every thmg in great readinefs. The fleet + failed the 12th of april, confiftihg of ,3 fail of th" line and 7 frigates. ** * Ships. Ramilies, Buckingham, Cullodcn, Revenge, Captain, Trident, Intrepid, Kingllon, Lancaller, Defiance, T Ships. Foudroyant, Couronne. Redoutable, Temeraire, Guerrier, Lion, Sage, Orphee, Content, Triton, Hippopotame, Fier, Junon, Rofe, Gracieufe, Topaze, NyiTinhei Guns, 90 Byng. 70 Wcltj 7+ 70 70 64 64 tt 60 Captains. Gardner. Kveret. Ward. Cornwall. Catford. Durell. Young. Parry. Noel. Andrews, Guhs. 80 70 74 74 74 64 64 64 64 64 50 50 46 26 24 2+ 24 } } } Captains. M. de la GaliiTonlere. Lieutenant General. Capt. JVI. Forger de I'Aiguillc. M. de la Clue, chief d'Efcardc. Capt. M. Gabanous. M deGlandeves, chief d'Efcarde. Capt. M. de Marconville. M. Beaumont I'JVIaitre. M. Villars de la Brofic. M. de St. Aignan. M. du Reveft. M. du Raimondis, M. Sabron Gramrnont. M. Mercicr. M. de Rochemaure. M. de Herville. M. BeaulTier. M. de CoileL-clle. M. Marquezan. M. de Corne-Montelet. ivl. de L'aiiian. ^ 2 The 1$. i ill f ^4 ) The troops on board it, including a detachment of marines, in every Ihip of war, amounted to about 16,000 men, in 25 battalions, embarked in 200 tranf- M. de Maillebois, M. du Mefnil, M. de Lannion,Th; prjnce de Beauveau, the prince de Wirtemberg, and M de Caufons, embarked on board the Foudroyant The troops were all in merchant ihips ; the grenadiers alone were in the men of war. The fleet and con- voy contained at a moderate computation, near 20,000 iouis, including about 600 women; a prodigious quantity of proviiions of every kind, above 800 oxen and 3000 flieep, 100 horfes, and as many mules. The report of thefe immenfc preparations, which threatened to overwhelm the little ifland of Minorca without a blow, did not in the Icaft terrify the brave commander of the englilh troops in the fortrefs of Tr 5 •* . "''. ^'''"^^' ^^^ '^^ information of the defigns of the french reach general Blakeney, but he dUpofed all things for a brave and vigorous refiflance he prepared 40,000 flifcines, and demolillied all the trifling buildings which obftruaed the open com- mand of his cannon. The french landed at Cieuta- della the 18th of april, from whence part of a re'l ment retired, evacuating the place to the enemy - 1 orty men who belonged to the regiments at Gi- braltar, and all the marines which were on board he men of war, then in the harbour, were commanded into the garnfon, as a reinforcement; and the britifli fqiidron fix in number, failed out ; capt. Scroon having firft, with 140 of his men, joined^he gard^ fon, and fent his fli.p, the Defiance, to fea, under he command of the firft lieutenant. I cannot omit taking notice of a patriot-like aaion Frformed by capt. Cunningham, aicotch gentleman, Ar^oT^ iT^ '?^'"''' ^^' ^'' Philips,''when Mr Armflrong eft it, he was thereupon appointed by general Blakeney to fucceed him, pro tempore, dll ' — ^^ ^^"^^ i-^ir|.-^-ieiiiuuiu arrive from Kno-- land. ii " hment of to about :oo tranf- i-in-Iaw i nion, the ;, and M. mt. The renadiers and con- r 30,000 odigious 00 oxen, ules. h which ^linorca, le brave rtrefs of of the ^ but he iftance ; all the 1 com- Cieuta- a regi- ;nemy ; at Gi- board nanded britifii Scroop : garri- ier the adion leman, ;nMr. ed by •e, till Eng- land, • ( 85 ) /and, of which no doubt was made, but bdne fu. perfeeded, he begged Mr. Blakeney's leave to r«h^» to h,s regiment. The general could not efufc fo reafonable a requeft, and Mr. Cunningham embarked for Nice, together with two chiJdrel and hThdv who was there brought to bed ; when Mr Cunn „L' ham, hearing of the french defigns aRainlt Mi,Zf in tort 5t. Fhi ip s were m fuch a ruinous condition hat they could not (tand any hot fervice inftlm^ ia.d out all the money he was Lfter oTabout feoof l\'Ztflr'l''J°' 'r'""^ them Vire°d°i limMf/V »,"'?"''' *"'' *■"''«' direaiy with it aren at Nice. His arrival with fuch a fupply in fuch piiz:' Tr^f^'' ^^^.s ^^""^' j»'=''^-ey';n/::ite vce he'had doni h- P'- '^"""'"gham, that'the fer- that he did nlrif " u°""','^' ""^ ^° confiderable. hc^A A^ Lcicimony ot his approbation of whar hf» s to e:;rt them ^"if^ t "'^" °^ "^^ known abili! cefTary, '^^'^ confpicuous is uniie. After many difficulties, the french beinc. mafters of all the forts in the illand, excenr 9f of- , . thole adioinino- tn ?r o/ i ^^ ^' ^'^i^'Ps, and aujuiiung to It, at lent^th erefrpr] ^ k,^^ ^v^e 24 pounders. anH H- li^lZ '^ ^ ^''^.^'^'V ot Ph.iipVatcapeMoia,„;arS^;'CoT;h^|^ ^ oppofito ( fi6 ) oppofitc St. Philipet tort, which was ready to play the 5th ot May, but was Jefc maflg« ( ^7 ) Th,s opinic, of the council of war we (Tiall after- wards hnd ma< e a vc-ry .reat noile. B„t of his we muft defer fpeal ^'■ &/ :/ 1.0 I.I 11.25 •" liM III 2 2 ^ ■■ IIIIIM lMt.U |||[M U 11.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation s. '<^ V mmed.ately proceed for Gi- AnC. That it Ihould proceed for Gibraltar. IgStyln the :Z'%TTZ""' '"^r' '"' -'^ theaftonilhment oTa! ' Europe a T""'- "^"^ '" fpeft equal to that of ,h» ^ ' '^'■" '" "'^'^ re- the fuplior courage" nd\leS ^f H ™"'""'"''"S failors, much fupeHor to i,^^ ftTuW flv ^ 'T"'""- 'he enemy, leaving them all rh. .„ V °™ '''^ °^ yiftory, riding triuSphan^,;"efore Ma ',?"'"'? °^ ' inff refnea m rh^ ^ /""^V oerore iVlahon, and gain- pons in the M te ean °:id"'°"f'^°"' ="' "- =5.M-etfail..nd'onr;,thtf]:;^l^Ji"fd:ti^! 'fir P'liMHHUii ) »w M' i ( 90 ) braltar. As I fliall have ample occaflon to treat fur- ther of thjs aifair hereafter, I fhall not determine on It at prcient. It is now time to return to the gover- nor of St. Philip's, bravely defending himfelf apainft the attacks ot the french army. For feveral days after the engagement of the 20th, the fire of both the befieged and befiegers continued very bnfl< ; but the befieged had always the advantage cvving to the fi ^.erior weight of their cannon, a*?id iJ^iii of the engmeers *. During the fore part of the liege, this was conftantly the cafe, but after the french general changed hisplrncf attack f, the garrifon dif- fered T l"^?^ '^r*" '" ^^'^ Ji^orning, a very fmgular accident happened. Jn the fort, iome guards parading in an under-ground gallery for lafety, where, ,n the center was a hole to let in light, and receiv. ang wood from a neighbouring magazine i through this hole a i, inch Ihellmade way, and burlt among the guards without the leaft liurt to one man. During the whole liege, the garrifon did not i^ jv.th To providential an efcape. Another extraordinary accident Jiappened jn the like providential manner: a ten inch Ihell falline ?nto a barrack, the habitation of capt. Lind, in the caftle, anj breabng every thing before it, forced it, way through the floor, and burft without hurting any body, though a piece of the Ihel even flighted on the bed where cape. Lind and his lady then lay t The .7thM.de Richelieu, having altered his attack, had fome t me before pitched upon this day for the general one, the even- ing before he called a council of war, at which were prefent all the general ohicers to whom he imparted the whole projcd, which was unanimou/ly approved : M. de Richelieu then p oceeded to give them their refpedivc charges. ^ u^ceaea to The plan of the whole attack being madb known to the army M, de Richehea refolved that his own poll ihould be in the ceTter ot the attacks on the left, and that the count de Maillebois the the marqu.s du Mefnil, and the prince de Wirtemburg, fnould at! the attacks" °''' ""'"^''^ '''■'^''' ^'' '^'' ^"^^^^^^ '^^ ^""^'"^ ^i Jt^^■^ls agreed, that the fignal for beginning the attack fliould be given by firing a cannon and four bombs, f.t,m the £t ery L1^ he ngnal houfc. All things being thus ordered, the artillery con tinued to batter the forts, till the ?7th. at ten o'clock in th7even- ing when they all ceafed firing : and then the battery nea the L. nal houfefired a cannon fliot, and threw four bombs into the for?, upon winch, M. de. Monty immediately marched againft Strug^n and f 91 ) fered very fevercly; and in a little time mofl: of tliC principal works in the fortifications were ruined j un- der ^f "^'^1'%."^ rucceffively Meflls. de Bricjueville and de Sadcs, advanced to the attack of Kane, and the Quin's redoabt Thefe attacks were furious, and the defence as brave. The befie^ed inaintained their ground for a long while, and the firing on bmh fides did great execution ; but at length fort Strugen was taken by a/Tault ; and Argyle and the Queen's redoubt by fcalade. Here the englift fuftained a great lofs; for Mr. Jefferies, lieutenant co- lonelof the regiment of Effingham, who was coming to their affift ance, between Strugen and Argyle. with loo men, arrived too late' the french being mailers of the forts ; and whilft he attempted to retire, was taken prifoner with 15 men. 1^/Ir. Jefferies was the principal ading man in the garrifon. Thefe three forts being taken, with feveral pieces of cannon and mortars, the french made inltantly a lodgement in that part, which was the principal attack j mean wiule the other attacks were car rymg on with vigour. The prince de Beauveau, having at the lame time marched with his brigades againft the Wellern and Ca roline lunettes ; he took pofleffion of the covert way, and nailed up 1 2 pieces of cannon there ; but as Kane's lunette was not taken he could not make a lodgement here, but contented himfelf with cutting down the pallifadoes, deftroying the gun carriages, and maintaining for fome time this attack, in order to favour the prin cipal, which was making with great bravery ^T-he diverfion caufed by all thefe Srings, and the combination of all thefe various attacks gave that on the left time to enfur. fuc cefs ; and by break of day the french being totally marters of the Queens redoubt and the forts Strugen and Argyle, they nofrcd 400 men in the former, and 200 in the latter. M. de Riclt-lie., M. de Mailkbois. M. du Mefnil, and the prince de Wirtembur^* were all this time, as they had concerted, in the center of the at tacks on the left Several of the mines ^vere fprung under thj glacis of the Anftruther, the (Queen's redoubt, and Kane's lunette and likeuife one under the gorge of Argyle. while a confiderable party of the enemy were in it, moft of whom were deftroyed During thefe furious attacks, the brave governor and garrifon de- fendea themfelves vyith all the intrepidity tl, c was natural to eno. liflimen. The Welt and Caroline's lunette, dillinguifhed thenT- felves particularly : with fuch exalted courage, and exerted bravery did this fatigued part of the garrifon maintain their ground, againft unequal numbers, each officer and foldier emulous of elorv The 28th by break of day. the befiegers beat a parley, on which immediately a ceniuion of arms enfiied ; this rave thrm aii opportunity, which they took the advantage of, to feciTre the Jcdoe- mcnts ■ ( 92 ) der thcfe diladvantages, it was amazing to find the brave and vigorous defence made by the englifh gar- nfon i fo that, although tbfe French batteries began to play on the 5th of may, yet we find that the in- trepidity of the brave general Blakeney, and the cou- rageous garrifon, the french were not able to make themfelves mafters of it before the 28th of June, on which day the garrifon furrendered on honourable terms. The next day, june the 29th, early in the morning, the duke de Fronfac, fon to M. de Richelieu, was dil- patched by him to carry to the king at Compeigne the news of the fuccefs of the lad attack againft fort Sr. Philip's, but not the articles of capitulation, general Blakeney, not having at that time returned his anfwer to the alterations the marfhal had made to the con- ditions he had propofed. M. de Fronfac was 6 days going from Minorca to Toulon, the winds having proved contrary almoft the whole time. However, he came to Lyons the 7th of July, dined at the arch- billiop*s, with the cardinal de Fenchion's, and fet out immediately after for Paris, where he arrived the 9th, late in the evening, and early the loth at Compeigne j where, after having acquainted the king with all the particulars of the furrender of fort St. Philip's, he wa^ promoted by his majefty to the pod of brigadier of his armies. The articles of capitulation being figned, and the hoftages given, M. de Richelieu entered fort St. Phi- lip the 29th of June at noon, and found 240 pieces of cannon fit for fervice, befides 40 that had been either ruined or nailed up during the attack ; about merits they had made, by pouring in a confiderable number of troops, into a lubterranean paflagc, that liad 1 en opened by a fhell, and which was not difcovered till the day cleared up. On the ceflation of arms, a capitulation took place, wherein almoft a.l that was defired was granted, in confidcration of the brave defence made by the gallant general Blakeney, and his intrepid garnluFi, '■ D find the nglifh gar- ries began lat the in- d the cou- I to make June, on ionourable morning, 1, was dil> peigne the lit fort Sr. 1, genera] his anfwer > the con- gas 6 days Is having However, the arch- nd fet out d the 9th, mpeignej th all the *s, he was gadier of and the : St. Phi- 4.0 pieces lad been : ; about number of pened by a 1 up. On ein almoft ' the brave is iiiirepid 10 ( 9Z ) 70 mortars, 700,000 1. of gunpowder 5 12,000 can- non balls, and 15 000 bombs. The garrifon confifted of 2903 men about 2300 whereof were military. The enghfh loft durng the fiege only 400 men eithl; killed or wounded, by reafon of the galleries and cafemattes cut m the rock and bomb proof, in which they were Mtered. So that the garrifon confifted at the time of the french landing at Minorca, of about Soo labourers, &c. and 2600 foldiers mak jng four regiments, viz. Rich's, Hulk's, CoVnwal- liss, and Effingham's, but their colonels were not there ; 60 of the inferior officers were alfo wantincr hough expeaed from day to day ; infomuch, th? the befieged were commanded by three lieut. colonels only 23 captams and a very it^ fubalt^rns. The 8th of July, M. de Richelieu embarked on board the Foudroyant, with fome of the prticipa^ officers; and the fame day the whole french X ho^ed full, with feveral tranfports, carrying troops and artillery, and arrived fafe at Toulon^h^e Hi' where as foon as M. de Richelieu landed, he was fa-' uted fucceffively by the cannon of the whoirfleet and thofe of the forts. Some days after allTh^ troops arrived ^t Toulon and Marfeilles, except thofe that were left at Minorca, which confifted ^ofu Dattalhons, with a detachment of royal artillery, con- niand of thefe troops was given to the count de Lanmon, who was foon after made governor of the The king of France, to reward the bravery ffiown by h,s troops in the fiege of Minorca, made feveral ~:reVge.' """''^^ '""^ ^^^^-^^ ^^^ «ffi- Such was tfe iofs of the ifland of Minorca : a lofs which certainly ftains the annals of Britain, in an in ddible manner.^ Had the ifland been conauered bv efforts the i.n-, «.,»► J ^ r vuiiLcu ciiorcs or tne eno m fleet and garnfon ; or had not the englini poff.nf X a more ( 94 ) a more powerful naval 'brce than the French nation,- the cafe would have been altered ; but it is with equal grief and concern, that I am obliged to own and ex- plain (if it wants explanation) how much the politi- cal charader of Britain fullered by this unfortunate lofs. The miniftry in England were extremely blameable in not fending a Wronger fquadron fooner into the Mediterranean ; had a ilout ileet been fent thither to cruife off Toulon, before the frcnch fleet failed, it would have been quite out of their power to tranfport an army to Minorca. For although they are able now and then to flip by a fuperior fleet lyino- before their harbour's mouth, yet, it would have beert equally impoflible to have cilccled that, and abfurd to have endeavoured to do the fame, when they had 300 fail of tranfports to convoy. As to the cafe and merits of Mr. Byng, they are points fo very undeter- mined, and fo much difputed, that their confideration mud be deferred till I come to fpeak of his trial *. General * AhhrzCt of all the ammunition expended in the ficge of Miw norca, from tiie 30th of april, to the 30thof june, 1756. Shells. 1972 ^738 16572 1032 hand grenades. Inches. 12-1 H si 4t Total 28250 Carcafies of Ditto of Fireballs inches I- 10 No; 73 86 Total 200 Weight. 32 po 24 18 12 9 6 Dou Weight. 32 pour iS 12 9 3 Round of the queen's war, and wt ,n r '' '" '^' ''^ginning at the fiege of Venlo H^ ' '.""S" ^'^h lordCuttl negleftedl-or wan^of frie ds 'dl^'f ,T^''°^''' ^" ^ of Kichmond's good offices ' hwaVl^ "'^ ''"''^ regmienr. He afterwards fe ved aSTT'' •'° " at Carthagena, and commanded ^'"'c^'T- 'P'"""^' fgainft the rebels, in the fate rehMr '''?£ "^"(^'^ 'aid fiege to it. and wherein ^soa^^'.r^" 1''^ gamed h,m great applaufe. He was nl" '"".''"'^ tenant governor ofMinorra , °"^"™'="eu- great m^erit, and unbSed chTraflr""'"'"'' '''» put into the moit fevere and H r ', ,"'' '"^'"'^Y^ mcnts. On his arri/a n Entit^rfff '^ ''"P'^y- - ^r?^.S:'-in^! ^f -- H™t -tedabaronofth:^-^'d:^^:7,-5on;rt. „, . , ^ound /hot. Weight. 32 pound 24 18 12 9 6 Total double headed ihot. Weight, 32 pounds 18 12 9 3 I Grape /hot. 'Weight. 32 pounds i8 13 Total IVo. 490 «7« '9 37 148 »3 28 S3 Total 9^^ Pounds of powder e.vpended. Barrels. S^57 ^^'cight. 49 Ounces, '3 deduced into pounds, I , niake 353639 pound.. a.d Z3 ounces. name ■inpi III! ( 96 ) name and title of loid Blakcncy of Mount Blakcncv in that kingdom. '^' ^ I fliall conclude all what 1 have to fay on this fub- jea, with a few hints on what Minorca might have been, had thccondud of Britain been luch, in regard to that inand, as might have been expetted from the politics ot a nation famous for their love of arts and fciences, and the improvement and cultivation of all their extenfivc dominions, the natives of Minorca at prelcnt, arccomputed at about 28,000 ; but 1 leave the reader to judge, how much that number would have been encrealcd, had the whole ifland and every har- bour and creek in it been declared a free port, as I foon as ever they fell under the iubjedion of Kmr. land ; without any fore of duties or fees, either upw. importation or exportation, nor any tax upon gcnids ot any kind, until they came into the retailer's or confumer s hands. Even then the taxes ought to have been as moderate, and colleaed in as eafy a man- 1 ner as poflible, in order to have made living in the I Jfland both cheap and convenient ; for very moderate I taxes of this kind, with a land tax of two fliillings I in the pound in the time of peace, and four in the I time ot war, always fully ?nd equally, and for that! realon frequently affefTed, would have probably pro- I duced as much as would have paid all the troops we I thoiild have been obliged to keep within the ifland I in time of peace ; and i)erhaps wculd have fpared a I confiderable lum yearly for maintaining and improv- I ing the fortihcations of all thoib places, which could I by nature have been the mofl ealy fortilied. [ And as this ifland lies fo conveniently for trade i and communication between the richeft parts of Eu' ' rope, Afia, and Africa, it would certainly foon have become a general magazine, and mart for the trade ot all thole countries, if we had at firll ellablifhed the civil government and laws of England, for all britifli lub,e6l-s and foreigners, who Ihould come to lettle in, or trade to the ifland ; and this would have encreafed M ( 97 ) cncrenfcd conHderablv the mimh^r ,^r • i i • For this purpofe it wo„M k , °^ «nhabjtant.nor„ . ^ f'"""i-c or tne lOand, " in ( 95 ) in common in tlic liland, euh^r by the n.itivcs, o*- by lending people thither for that purpofe, ihelc are eotton and lilk •, the pointing of th cotton ihrub hn been tried here with fuccefs, and thcMaitelb produce kicn quaniities of it, that they export 15,000 quin- tals ot cotton wool yearly j therefore it Iccins cer- tain, that it might be produced as freely at Minorca, and as the liland is To mtieh larger than Malta, we might have exj)ec'led by ihis lime to iiave liid larqe quantities of cotton wool exported yearly, had we en- couraged the producing of it by allowing it to be im- ported duty free. As to (ilk, it is very probable that mulbeiry trees would have done very well, if planted in Minorca, as great numbers grow in the countrieson all {uies ot it i if that had been the cafe, it would cer- tain 7 be a very fine place for breeding filk woims, as th «^ Icldom have any froft or iiiow, and never of any continuance i therefore the planting of fuch trees I ought at lealt to have been tried, and if they had lucceeded (which is extremely probable) the pains and coft which might have been expended in the at- tempt would very amplj- have been repaid us; lar luch was the ill-manageiTient of the engliHi miniltry irom the time it came into our poflefllon, to the mo- ment it was taken, that not one of thefe fchemes were I ever tried. But it is now time to return to the mo- I tions ot Mr. Byng's fleet. I The latter end of may commodore Broderick had I been lent from England to the Mediterranean widi I hve mips of th- line to reinforce Mr. Byng's fleet • I and fome days after liis I'ailing, advice having been' I receivedbyway of France of tliat admiral's behaviour I m the engagement of the 20th of may ; fir Edward I Hawke, with Mr. §aundcrs (who had been made an I admiral lome days before) and feveral captains, toee- I her with the earl of Panmure, and lord Tyrawlev I Cappoint.d governor of Gibraltar, in the room of I Mr.l^ov.Ke) were ordered to repair immediately to I 1 ortfmouth, there to embark on board the- Antelope I man I I ■ It ''^t '-• n.itivcs, or (e, ilidc are n ill rub Ii;»3 dc produce ,000 quln- Iceiiis tcr It Minorca, Malta, we c h.id laige had we en- t to be im- obablc that I, if jilantcd :oumrieson : would ccT- filk woims, d never of f liich trets f they hat.' ) the pains I in the at- id us ; laf. i\y miniib-y to tlie mo- leiTics wert to the mo- . ( 99 ) tnan or war oi r© o-im ,» 1 1 the command olthe fleet m^, • l .^^ "''"" '""' an:;^ e TidX'-" took the command of his mil,-ftv'. a tiM/ke Antelope failed from G brS ,{ ' "S" • ^^ the Byngo^n board, and aSv«f , I Wfl ' ,"'":• ^^• Ihort pa.,;,pe. Mr W<-(> 1. ■ °"'"'°"t'i after a Londo^, a,?d wafrece^ d byrmV^'^'T'^ '" gracious manner. Mr B;nJonhT, ■"'*•'' '," '^' """' mediately put under arrelt ^ ""^'''> «'»=' ""' H CHAP. ( ioo ) CHAP. VII. affairs in England, In North America. Council of war at Albany. Plan of operations. Major general Aber- crombie takes the chief command. Gallant aSfion un~ der Bradjlreet. Of^ego taken by the french. Reflec- tions. Affairs in the Eajl-bidies. Nabob of Bengal takes Calcutta. Reflemons. THE lofs of Minorca had thrown the nation into a flame. The clamour againft the miniftry was very great throughout the whole kingdom ; all the corporations in England prefented addreffes to his majelty, petitioning in the ftrongeft terms for a change of minifters and meafures : and indeed, the general defpondency which appeared in all ranks of men, from which, even the miniftry themfelves were not entirely free, owing to the lofs of Minorca, and the dread of a french invafion, which had for fome time rooted deep in the minds of the people, was not -altogether without fome reafbn ; for without douot, the nation was at this time in a very melancholy con' dition, for though the war had not continued lon^ enough for her refources to be exhaulted, yet the mean figure which we then made in the eves of all Eui-ope V'as very mortifying to thofe englilhmen, who had a true fenfe of their country's honour. The infults, the contemptuous ufage, and the hardi ads of opprcf- fion put upon the englifti in general, throughout all the Mediterranean, were they not known fadls, would at prefent appear incredible. At this unhappy pe- riod, the glory of our name was fullied, not only in Europe, but wherever elfe they had to corn" bat with the vidlorious french : In fliort, the priva- teers were the only vi6tors which then belonged to us ; and thefe were almofl ballanced by the niHTi- ber f^i^stf'^riafCl''^^^^ i ">; '''"''■ The af- country in Europe W»"n<:e of us mother coun.ry. «hich was by any me "f ^^r""""' '" "'^ reives the fole trade and Tav™ "^n^'^^^^ff 1° ''^'"■ Jakes and rivers, on the back of theMl ^r^'?^' ments: to effeft this, they had alreadv^lH '"''" great advances > they had ufurped all H.? "''^ traa of lands on the river oZ^ , ^r '"""«n'>^ the prefent by ^^etPL?tr^,i''rOuy°' they had fecured another tra.4 k„ i -ij- "".xyefne; Crown Point, and fort Coh |r ^ ^v'^h*' ^ '' J«.lt,tude of fmall forts on alTthe ffi of t WaL: to awe the mdians and command their trad^ thr.r e by fore sf Kta::; xvr oft^""^'^ frontiers of the en "linfrml'.!^' "T'^^^'^^'i all the to Georgia. And what adde?™'"' ,^™™ ^°^^ S^°«i« and forSidablenefs of he frte V° '''^^^^"g"^ was the divided ftate of the eni" V"" "^ ^"i""'"' thofe of the french were all con^.;?''?-'"' ^^"''^ ral government, under the abS^^-'" °"= 8"=- of the governor gen^r^i'^f Canrda"'''lT^ '°"'T' there great and minifcft difadvantaL th,TM""''"' I left h n 'a 4w York '7^' "T""*^ '" -^hief. J^rand council heW th^^' t L'^n '"f '^ ^■•"^. '>"= ->^-d.o.i„"JS^t^eSn^:•f,^t4.f H calle(4 ' - " ; ■; '' }' ''i ..M iv§ m ( 102 ) called a council of war, to advife on his future mea- fures, and he took their opinions in every article, few of which were of importance. He had heard feme time before, that there was a, defign in England to fuperfede him ; but this was un- certain, till col. Webb arrived at New York from England, bringing two letters from his majefty^s principal fecretaries of State, dated the 13th and 31ft of march; in the latter of which, he received his majefty's orders to repair to England. Oh the 20th of June, major general Abercrombie arrived at New York with Otway's, and the highland regi- ments, from whence he went to Albany, in company with col. Webb, and the day following took upon Jiimfelf the chief command of all his majelty's forces in North America. Mr. Shirley gave general Aber- crombie a very particular account in writing, of the Hate of every part of his majefty's fervice under his care, with the ftrength of the regiments, garrifons, and works y and alio gave him his fentimenls and advice in regard to the expeditions which were then in agitation, againft the french. One of them, as it difplays a great piece of bravery, I muft be more par- ticular in mentioning. It was a very gallant aaion under captain Bradftreet. That officer command- ing the battoes in their way to Ofwego, was at- tacked by a party of french and indians in ambuf- rade ; finding himfelf between two fires, he letired with great dexterity to a little ifiand on the river, where, for Tome time, he defended himfelf with fix men, againfl forty of the enemy, and obliged them to retire ; being reinforced, he attacked a large body infinitny fuperior to his own, and gained a complete vidory over them, which was owing intirely to his own admirable condudl, and the aftonifhing bravery of his men. In march laft the earl of Loudon had been appointed commander in chief of all his majeity's forces in North to the then on gantine intendec to vific eaflward men in preach in fome oth with, th( deavourii driven b; lay North America; and aenpnl a k, >■ - to affume the commanH , M ■^.''""0'"b,e tent over which was onthe ^Tof ,' ^" t'"^'P'' '""^'^^ Shirley having arrived 2 '^' ," ^V ^°*- Mr. regard^efs of ^is elfrtd'^e 'fa'tif '' 't '"^I'^'P voy;age, refted there but three dav?^, °^ '/'*°"' of July, reached his head q^^^^^^^^^^ '^' "^'^ he took upon himfelf the co'n"S of tfc'v "'"" Soon after h s lordfliio's irr;,,,! ^™y- difpatched intelligence Til k" "^P'^- ^"'"1 ^'^C french were preS'o attack or"'" T^°™''' ''>= men for that Purpoft enclmnS ^^°v'''""S -200 eaftermoft fort Ur^r "? '^"^V™' ^'"^ *™'" '-he general Webb was^^^red t?hoM ['?'V'"«'"8»ce, nefs to march for its defend P°''^ "'m^t m readi- nnd on the , 2 h of a ,f nft ' T '''' ^^''^ '"^g™^"' ^ that expedition, at Albfpy' "" "°°P^ ^'"''^'■'^^'' ^^ nia'n"d?n| ofc/'aTotr"' ™'°f ' ^^--' ™'"- gence, d,at the enemrhrd L'^l "P^^'^'' '"'■='"- the eaftward of Ofw"Io abo° ,0"'', °'".""'P '° and particularly on th^e'th o?l; ^ft™ « ff" '^ ' a large encampment of french imi in r J"'' *"' "iiles to the eaftwardof tha ?nr '"^ "i""""^ !igences. Mr. Mercer difpathed,' °" "'"? ''"^'- to the commandin.. officer ,,r!f u" , ?P''^'^ '"'« then out upon a m.ife ,f.i ^ n""" ''"'«• *'"' «'" g.ntine and^ t"wo n™p • let'L"f -""''^ ""'^ '^ '^"- intended next div tn Vn^ ^ "" '"""^ ^'^t he to vifit the entV°and deft ri'T" '" 7'"'^ ^^-^ eaftward as much as he could fn™/" ''"'P '" ">= men in the boats anM hf ! ' 7 '^'"' "" '^o^'^'" the preaching nearer butbtfo"' "i' '"^^^ ^™"^ "P" fomeoth?rprivate'reafon fnS"^ '^.""^e negleft, or v-h, they 'retur:,^:™! dtt OfC'^^^ ."-- fL^ 1 \ t>'*^^ or vind upon rorkv n•rr^,,"^ „-'-^ 4^.- lay ocacing about i8 ho-irs inH ' i- '*" v> *o uLiirs, and was after- wards iii r •mf, Ih ( i«4 ) wards forced to heave down, in order to have a falfe keel. Monfieur Montcalm, the french general, having intelligence given him of the fituation of the englifh veiTels, that the brigantine was ftranded, and the other two returned into harbour, took the opportu- nity of tranfporting and landing his artillery an4 troops in boats, within a mile and half of fort On- tario i which, as a french officer declared after Of- wego was taken, he could not have done, had our velfels been out to the eaftward. Their artillery, for drawing v/hich they tranfported 35 horfes, confifted of about 32 pieces of cannon, from 12 to 24 pounders, feveral large brafs mortars and hoyets (among which was the artillery taken froiT^ general Braddock at Moncngahela) and were al| brought in battoes from Portland Point, as they could not have been tranfported by land from thence, on account of the great number of fwamps, drowned lands, and creeks in the way ; their forces confifted of about 1800 regular troops, 2500 Canadians, and 500 Indians. The frgnch troops began to fire upon Ofwegoon the nth of auguft, which was returned with fmall arms, and eight cannon from the fort, and Ihells from the other fide the river. In Ihort, the force of the french amounting to up- wards of 3000 men, after a few days defence, the garrifon was obliged to furrender -, but not before their governor col. Mercer was killed by a cannon ball. \ During the whole fiege, the foldiers behaved with a remarkable refolution and intrepidity againfl: the enemy, exerting themfelves in the defence of tiie place in every part of duty ; and it was with great reluflance, that they were perfuaded by their officeii to lay down their arms, after tjie garrifon had capi. tulated. Immediately Initiiediately after the furrender of Ofwego, the f«nch demDl,(hed the works there, and embarked for for F^nn?"'"' P™"^"""'' ^"'"^'•y' ""d booty tor fort Frontenac, in their way back to Montreal and from thence to Qiiebec, where the garrifon was for Portfmouth m England, and exchanged them for the fame number of french prifoners From what I have faid, concerning' the fiege of Ofwego, the reader will perceive, that the lofs of that vT V'"/" P^l'^bility would not have happened if they had not brought a train of artillery aga nftit and that was imprafticable by any other meafs, tharl by water carnage on the lake; and it appea ed by the behav.our of the french vefTels, and from the confeffion of the trench officers themfelves that ff /"§"'* vefiels fitted out upon the kke were of fufficent ftrength to have prevented the french from tranfporting their artillery, &c. by water • and beef rr'^' i ""' "^\"°°P ^"d floojofwego had been in a conduion to have afted upon the ifke it would have rendered it quite imprafficable for the enemy to have brought their artillery to Ofwego, even without the occafional affiftance of the whafe bolts In regard to the ftrength of the forts at Ofweto forre(,ft,ngan army furnifned with cannon, i^was very infuffic.ent ; and the moft particular par ifans of general Shirley are forced to Our over this affaT ?„ the moft plaufible manner they were able, as the^V , nients they ufe for that end, 'are founded t^S faWcf:/thr"'H '""="'!?"? "l-" ^''P^^^-- °f "he hefaLvnf r. '"'• "^"'''^^ '"'8'^' have placed the lalcty of fo mportant a poft upon ftronger foun- "of tfr""'- '\ ^' ^i ="' ^'°"S mad! o/wego x.f td^hTc;?;:Lr^:nd a^^df^ercl i «^ . iJ4_ i„ia .^^^^.,^^ ii^y airnoit hnilhed the tranfpoftation m t . 'il ( 106 ) tranrportation of provifions, enough for .;coo men for feveral months, to that fortj one would have thoupht that Mr. Shirley might have known, that thefe me- thods muft all be tried in vain, unlefs he put the for- trefs itfelf in fuch a ftate of defence, as to have no- thing to fear from any armaments which the french could make againft it. I obferved before, that general Webb was ordered to march to the relief of Ofwego : he was advanced as far as the german flatts, when he received an ex- prefs from the commanding officer, at the great Car- rying-place, auguft the 17th, acquainting him, that Ofwego was in the hands of the enemy. In anfwer to which, he received orders from general Webb to employ as large a party of men as he could fpare m obftrufting the paflage of the Wood-creek, for 24 miles, by felling of trees a-crofs it ; and in a few days the general arrived there himfelf, and immedi- ately fent out fredi parties to affift in flopping up the pafiage of the Wood-creek. Upon his arrival at the Carrying-place, there were about 1500 regular troops there, which, together with the feamcn, battr -men, &c. made upwards of 2500 fighting men, and fir Will! Johnfon was then marching thither, with the albany militia. As general Webb was entirely ignorant of the flrength of the french forces that had taken Of- wego, or the rout they had marched, he encamped at the great Carrying-place, and threw up an entrench- ment and breafl-work round his camp, upon which he mounted 28 pieces of cannon. Bur foon after, repeated intelligence being brouMit to the general, that the french had evacuated Oiwe- go, and were marching home again ; he ordered all the battoes he had with him, to be loaded with all the flores, cannon, ammunition, and provifions that were there, and proceed back again to Albany : and as to the forts at the Carrying-place, he ordered them to be pulled down, burnt, and delhoyed. This was of 1 i camped at cntrench- M which ; brought «1 Ol'wf- •dcred all 1 with all fions that iny : and red them rhis was of C 107 ) of very bad ronfi-qnence ; for the indians Inhabitinc the country t-ound thefe forts, were no fooner le^ unprotefted, than they wavered in their alliance with the enghn, i and this meafure was allb needlefr another refpeft as the french who conquered Ofwego had marched back again ; whereas, general Webb flopped up the Wood-creek, and demofi/hed he forts at the grea: Carrytng.place, in expedtation of "« enemy s marchmg againft him. This was the laft affair in which iVTr. Shirlev was any ways concerned, as commander in chief; I mean the Ms of Olwego It is very difficult to pronounce deaftve y on the ab, hties of a man, from the tran" aftions he ,s concerned m during one year's command • at leaft this isrhe cafe with regard to general Shirley • with great .juftnefs, and the iWaeft impartiality oL may venture to pronounce, that he was an able m!n hough unequal in appearance to the weight of ™b: hccare, which he alTumed when he und-rtook"^ he vhJLfl '?"' '!'= P'-'^r^'-vation of which place, he had many times declared to be the chief point he had in view for a long time ; and it is na rJ u 5? ^^. P?.** ^""'f'^''' that fuch a fortrefs fhould at leaft be flrong enough to refift a an ene my a reafonable time i atleaftthis was cert^lv to have been expefted in regard to Ofwego: but after an the objedions which have been raifed a^aM " is condua, yet we mould remember that •€ r^Zl T moft ftria enquiry, we find h;' w ' in' h rcom' mand very faulty, thofe minifters in En-knd wT^^ perm.ued him to continue in it, were Ifo 1,W :l^ rits'^xr • '" r ''^^ - -i-dt ; tne m.nts ot the man they promoted It was in deed a little unufual to find .{ private nerfonwh": had been originally bred to th^e law, « tl^ tTni verfity ,n Cambridge, and fteking his Vomme in the manner ( io8 ) manner Mr. S\\\rky did, rife almoft at once to ha gcncralinimo in America, with the appointments and pay ot the great duke of Marlborough. Such was tiie bad fuccefs of his majefty's arms in America J and in the Eaft-Indies, affairs wore a ftill worfe afpeft : the company, by the bad ma- nagement of their affairs, which is juft what one would expedb from the dominion of a company of traders, Joft their valuable fettlement at Bengal It feems that Alvcdeikam, nabob of Bengal, having died m the beginning of may iy^S, his nephew. Saradjot Dollah fucceeded him. This fucceffjon oc- ofioned much difcontent and trouble. Saradjot proving a molUbominable tyrant, his fubje(5t3 many of them confpired againll him, and being difcovered took refuge m the englifh fettiement at Calcutta The nabob marched againft that place with an army, and after making fome enormous demands, laid fiege to it •, governor Dr-k- pretended to be a quaker, perfuaded many people to fend their treafures on board a (hip in the river with him to fave them, which many did i the governor then, with the officer next in command, fet fail, and left the garrifon, uncom- manded, to take care of themfelves. They, dif- pirited by this behaviour, foon furrendered, and were treated with the greateft cruelty ; what 200 of them fuffered in the black hole is too fhocking and too trefh in every one's memory to be forgot It was expefted that the governor would have been called to account for his bad behaviour at Calcutta, in eaving the garrifon to take care of themfelves; but he elcaped without fo much as a trial ; it was faid for his excufe, that he was a quaker, and con- fequently his confcience would not allow him to fight i but fuppofing that was the cafe, yet there re- mains a query that will be difficult to be anfwered ; and that is, why did the next commanding officer follow fo bad an example and go away with him, that ty's arms in airs wore a le bad ma* \ what one company of at Bengal, gal, having bis nephew, cceffion oc- Saradjot 3Je(5t3 many ; difcovered, It Calcutta, ch an army, Tiands, laid oe a quaker, reafures on hem, which officer next )n, uncom- They, dif- iered, and hat 200 of ocking and I forgot. It have becq Calcutta, it; hemfelves ; lal ; it wai , and con- w him to :t there re- anfwered ; ing officer with him, that , ( '30 ) that gentleman was no quakcr by religion, although he (hewed h,mfelf to have the fame averr.on » hghting. It ,s equally a difgrace to the englifl, Eaft! India cotnpany, the appointing a quaker to be com- mander ot a place of fuch importance, and the lea^- .ng K m fuch a defencelefs^onditiin : b« fuch overfights and weak management is generally to be found m the affairs of a company of trade s who as fuch may be confpicuous. ln\, wardors' ^n- tcmptibJe. *^" 'i CHAP. ( lio ; iNI i ^ •■ 'I c II A P. vin. thofe difcrraces wh rlwi ^''^'^^^'"g ^^^ni the fenfeof i>or?a, and fu S a fcvm' n' "''''= '"?'' "^ '^^i" OfAo WHS conciut" d L?tl kX'^r f"""'^ "f| unfuccefs fullied the hrirlfl. i * ,""'' " ei-'nenl indeed, the pTnte An.^H f "'' I" "-e Haft-Indi« bythcindiaS'^pa^;?; i;:j::n"rr''' ^"' ^''r trade was more item enn!l f ? -"""S". their thisgood fortune iTflf M' „""'=''™P^^'' i <"" of Calcutta T that in rh " ^°^^°'"'^ ''^ '^e lof, far fro. ^^^:i^^'ZZ. ddinf'f T inftanees, the fccceli which the frenH, ^ '° ',•"'' their fmail fquadrons. a ways efc ' int Tr^''' ones of the ei .din, wVl. • ^^ "P'"S the fuperior peating how m ch th^ '"'^'^f >" ™"^'"de, wiih re- fuffered by the event wh^? 1'' ""^'' °^ "'« "«»" ginningof his war to L "T.""^ ^"'^ *<= ^e- of. B°ut to rernm ' ' ''"'"" ' "'" "°^^ 'Peaking TU. The n neceffary i oj Germany. "1S^> Mca. andDrefden. s memorial n, wduti of tk nation wore 1 the fen fe of met with in uld not but ho had the •f his conn. year, 1736. ind of J\4i. ier admiral fortrefs of d a general Kaft-Indies and there- tages, their pted; but 5y the lofs igli/h were ig to thefe let with in »e fuperior e, with re- :he nation n the be- ' ipeaking equal to a battalion, to take on board hlfeTlnH cany to reinforce the garrifon of Sr pk ,■ . "1 that Mr. Fowke had refeived his nfa ift^v''*' '/ ""'^ con,ply with a,ch demand; bu T ;? ' 7''"" '" of the wcaknefs of his ea-rifon .,11 T '°"'<^'l"«nce war at Gibraltar, to co fife; «&;;"'' Ve°""f °' as the ftate of affairs then ftood n ,he m H ''"'* nean, to obey thelb comm J^. j Mediterra- lolved by thisUncil of Tr „ jt ^o f 'h'V'u""' ^^- tachment on board Mr. Byns'sXt t '^''t " f; Oen. fir John L,igonier, i-^ieut. gen. Hawlcy, Lieiit. gen. Jord Cadogan, Lieut, gen. Guife, Lieut, gen. Onflow, Lieut, gen. Pultney, Lieut, gen. Huflce, Lieut, gen. Campbell, Lieut, gen. Jord de h Warr Lieut, gen. CharJes duke of Marlborouch Lieut, gen. WoJfe, ^vidrioofough, Lieut, gen. Cholmondeley, Major gen. LafceJIes, Major gen. BockJand, Major gen. lord Geo. Beauclerk. necII^:r™7s^:^^^ '^L"S ^--' -d the proP-nlv^' '- ^^'^-)"^ge advocate onen^r^ t^- pro{..u..n, uy acculing the genera] of difobedi^ence to ( 112 ) to his majerty's orders. The nature of this court maftidt, did not require that many witneflcs Ihould be examined, the principal part of the proceedings was the general's defence. Having prepared it, it was read, and was as follows j " That he received thefe three letters together, by the fame hand, and mud therefore take them toge- ther. That his orders were confufcd at lead, if not COntradiaory : that if they were confufed, then he could not know how to execute them ; and if they were contradictory, thCy could not be executed at all. My orders being confufed and contradictory, I called a council of war not to deliberate whether I fhould obey mr orders or not, but only to take their fenfe, what was the meaning of them. The whole number which I had then in garrifon, was but 2700 men. I had fpared to Mr. Edgecomb's fhips 2^0, which, with 40 of my men which he had left n St. Philip's, made 270. The ordinary duty of the garrifon required in workmen and guards 800 men, fo that I had then only 130 men more than three reliefs. If I had made the detachment of a bat- talion , and put it on board the fleet, I fhould not then have had much more than two reliefs, and this at a time, when I believed the place was in danger of being attacked, for good reafons, which I do not think myfelf at liberty to mention." When the judge advocate had finiflied reading the general's defence ; Mr. Fowke made a fpeech to the court, by which he enforced what he before infifted upon, that the orders delivered to him were confufed and contradidlory, and that in every fcnle that could be pr upon them, they were difcretionary, that is to fay, to be complied with, or not to be complied with, according as thead'^.iral and he fhould, from the then circumftances 01 affairs, judge to be mod for his majcfly's fervice. The reader pei-ceives, that the general's defence v.iiaii MJ litv iiippuiUiuii yi iiis oracrs oeing qh- cretionarv *• nliVrUvifh " ;f » L J , ^"'^'^ ^'■<^^'' '^ not com- anin'ot li'l^'^donary *"' '""^''^ '^ ^ '"''"°'"- o'd". ting r/'he Zr'whichT "" "-^'^^ '"-g ">^ fi^- General Fowke aflced the recreta;y at war " B„r ' IS K not the cuftom of your o-Bcc \«hl'n r . « orders are intended to f, n rfed^ f J'fi ft '""""^ " tion that they do (o '" n^reDlv m K u' ~ •"'"- Barrington faid «< F h=H \l ^J V'"'''' "'X '°'-'' « n,ofthsin myW ."^'It anrwe-'l'th'^t^ '"7 no comment. ^'' ^ ^^^"^» "eeds vided^herebeing^Sfor acZl"'' !?"^''y '"• caftmg vote, he gave it for fufpenrn/ m^??/ ' i™teat^t'atr^,tird°-fthft-^-- fZ the fecretaryT wa?™h: firT?" '*° "^"^^^ Robert Bertie's regimentlnto hi ° •r'"'"'= '"^'^ fend a detachment^n lard th fe'-T ?h f"'' '." &d nothing about lord Robert Be«^e'. r./'™"^ but repeated the other order orth^° /"'' of them, he direfllv rMlH •, lo- ," ^^^ '■^*'P' laid before them th^ 'Hoi. f • ""' °^ ^''"■' ^nd tnem the ftate of nis owii garrifon, and *■ the iiiki'i ifi ( 114 ) the difficulty of throwing fuccours into Minorca, and defired their opinion concerning the expediency of obeying his orders, whether it was for his majedy's fervice. The general afterwards in Jiis defence de- clared, that he called'this council of war, not to con- fider whether he Ihould obey his orders, or nor but to know the meaning of them : if this was really the cafe, would it not have been natural for him to lay his orders before them, and, in one word to afk their opinions, whether they were dlfcrctionary or abfolute j but fo far from this, there never pafTed a doubt about his orders, the point in difpute amonoft them was, whether they fhould be obeyed, or no. ^ One point, indeed, fpoke for him, which was the begmning of lord Barrington's letter, of the 12th of may. " 1 wrote you by general Stuart ; if that or- *' der was not complied with, then," this was in one lenfe faying, that the order by general Stuart was difrretionary, ior his lordlliip muft know, or had at lead great reafon to think, that Mr. Fowke had re- ceived thofe by general Stuart. But what con- demns him mod of all was, his letter to the fecre- rary at war, dated the 6th of may, wherein he tells hmi, " That he had, with the advice of a council of •' war, difobeyed hJs order, and that he had beenin- " duced to acT: fo, on the confideration of the weal *' flate of his garrifon ;" but never once mentions that he had aded according to his judgment in obe- dience to his Jordfhip's difcretionary orders ; which he certainly would have done, had he really thought they were difcretionary. If the general thought tis orders to be io undoubtedly difcretionary, what occa- iion was there to call a council of war, to know their meaning ? as he fays in his defence he did. In ihort. It was that fatal letter to lord Barrington, which convmced the court martial of the general's difobedi- ence •, had he not produced it, many have thought, that he would have been acquitted j but that letter convinced t«nWn«dthem. that he'ILdf thought his orders n,nZ.? '"f ' "'^ S'oomy affairs of England for a' moment, and turn our eves on rhnC, „? fplendent and magnificent edat.v?5« "°''' "•=- the reader through the ^rin pa! ouns"fn'r""P''"y and point out th°e feeming fecr^et ru^of .h J"'"^' event,, which for fo,ne fears hdd atl°u,ope Ic^X mfufpence, and aftonilhment A., ,?,. ^ "^ courts abovementioned. ^ ^ ^^^ Every one, who is the leafl verfed in the Mf^. -reate^.n^ a ^■^•'^"'^^"^''''S' ^as one of the «r^1rrnfarS5^.PXrJe/r:r' . in the year 'Z% tim XTthS^ffT""™'' and his own, were in a vem Hiffi , "^^°' Germany, fituation. InThe year Ml fi" =! "^ embarrafied amicable conclufior wiJh '4V mprr^Le^in" ^" rdat,on to a difpute, which had Tong ubfiS "orl" cernmg the principality of Tac^erndorff nTi r ' ?" .nveftiture of which had been conferred .f" '' ""' graves of Brandenburg, by Swrknt^„7„t ■"»- ^^e™^etmS^V?^doVf r^^ 1^^^^^^^ tndTnt^g ilr K theitr* ^^ ''^" "^ ri^tltst^-b^^'"^^^""^'"^'^'"^^ mc cerritory ot Schwibus, n the nnrrh^, r, r Silei]aviekM.|r..^u;„. -..' , . northei part of , - a_ .1^. ,^ „,,,,^ ,^j,,„„ ^^^^ emperor mterwards ^ founc;! ( ii6 ) found means to obtain back from his fon and luc- ceflbr. Frederick III fucceeded his father in the eleftorate of Brandenburg, in april, 1688 ; and^ like fevcral of his predeceflbrs, entered upon the adminiftration of affairs, at a conjundure, which required a prince of great parts to condud them to advantage. This great and magnificent prince died in the 56th year of his age, and was fucceeded in all his dominions by Frederick William, prince royal of Pruffia, and eledloral prince of Brunfwick, whofe reign was no lefs glorious, tJian that of his father's^ fhewing, in every tranfaftion of his life, that he was in every inflance careful to maintain and fupport his own dignity, to lecure his dominions, to make him- felf refpefted by his neiglibours, to keep his troops and fortreffes conflandy in fueh a pofture, as migiit prevent his being hurt by any unforefeen accident ; and give him an opportunity, where the circumftan- ces of things would permit if, of turning any fuch accident f^ his advantage. It was with this view, that he kept always on foot, between 80 and ioo,oco regular troops well paid, and perfedly well difci- plined ; at the fame time that he was no lefs careful of his revenues, as being thoroughly fenfible, that if ever a war became neceilluy, treafure would'be to the full as needful as troops. Ch?.rles Frederick, ilie prefent king of Pruffia, and eledor of Brandenburg, was born January the 24th, 1 71 2, and confequently was in the 29th year of his age, when he mounted the throne. I lb 11 be more particular in what relates to this great monarch, an- tecedent to the period I fliall attempt to write the hillory of, as lie afterwards (lione forth with fo diftin- guifliing a luftre, in the late war. The very dawning of this young monarch's go- vernment drew the attention of all Europe, and gave his neighbours very juft ideas of what might be expeded in the pio(,-rcis of it. He had been bur indiiferently will o^ ( '7' ) indifferently treated in his fatliers life-time and couniellor Eck'JXZ^lt o"rde e^d VSt t ot taxes and the principal inftrument of the ll,I king, in laying burthens upon hjs fubiefts • fn M ^ in his manner of treati'io- l.im rhP ' "'^' Jhewed that he could aven«tl^"wn„ '"'T "'""'"'^ people, though he was at tfe f m" Ifplrnt" ''= der his own He was no fooner pXC of 2" crown, than he declared himfelf a proteaw- of ka^ ing; and by a letter written witli his own h.n, vited the famous IVTr. Maupertu from P • ' "■ upon him the direftion orthracXw'^° V^'^'' me^ nips of true fcience on the wild ftocks in^th" fruitful country of SilpH^ ^«t• j ■ "^" ^"^ that nf «rl.;oi T • . ^ confiderable fliare m mat or wrxich I am q- v nn- fl^,. u\a , "itwc m wm naturally expea","th^ ;!^ '£S\fVtZ nK-re particular in the account of this C.^Ur S .™dorf,anaa:tSi::if;,^^^^^^ •'^'ng the w^r. ' a.couut u; the king of Fruffia, pre- I 3 the ( Il« ) the emperor, notwithftanding united to the kingdom of Bohemia ^ but as the eledtor ftiU kept up his claim and the houle of Auftria had great need of his affift' ance, it was found ncceffary to give him fome fatis," taction ; and accordingly a treaty was fet on foot at Berlin, in 1686, whereby it was flipulated, that the elector Ihould renounce all the pretenfions of his iZl' '^ ,^il\P""^ipal"ies of Jagerndorf, Lignitz, ^rieg and Wohau, upon condition that the empero fliould yield to the eledor, the territory of Schwibus 1 he baron de Frytag, who managed this negotia- ation for the court of Vienna, with the eleftor Frc ^erick II, fet on foot at the fame time another clan- deftine treaty with the eleftoral prince Frederick, who was afterwards Frederick III, eledor of Branden- burg, though he is generally called Frederick I, be. cauie he was the firft king of Pruflia ^ The nature of this fecret negotiation was very Gark ; for there were fome family difputes, in which the emj^ror threatened to take p£rt againft the prince, if, at the fame time his father fubfcribed the treaty abovementioned, he did not fubfcribe an obli gation to give up, as foon as it fliould be in his power the territory of Schwibus, for a fmallfum of money Accordingly, when he became elector of Branden,* burg he money was offered, and the territory de- rnandecl , but all the counfellors of the new eledor ^dviled him not to part with it, as he had been com- pe ed to make this agreement, which, in its own pature therefore was void ; but the emperor Leopold }. elded up the territory; but refufed to confirm the Hn^ of p''r?'^ '"] ' ^'^ ^^'•^^^ '^' "^^"^eof Frederick IT f^'/^'T' ^'' ^T^^^^ented both rirhts^Mwl ^'f'"'^ "^' ^^"^eq^ently the t, ue conceived he had itna had taken away the eonivaien dorf; and o her roumr .; nf ''TT'u"^ °* J^S^™' mediately to take poSon h'".'''. ''' ''"'^'^^•^ ''^■- afting in thi, manner ^^i, " ^^^ "^^ ''^^'''"^ f"'' rations n,ade\oTe":LTXZ?'rS/^^^^^ that the male line of the houle of A,W u ^ '^'"' himfelf jt,mcerand'rharfe ZTdT''^°''°'"S ^.,e,f and hi. pofterit,. or l„fc:Cf n^^fei" m maintaining her ri4ts m ht 1."f.^",°*\Hungar)r, agreeable to tie /ra^a" Siif ^" ''°™-°-> wcrftandin"rhi3'ften l^°"« "^.J'--. thattoT: the elea^^of he d?ke ^fT ^'^^^"^ ^° P™'"°'= dignity • thaf ITS ;v ^°'"'''"" '° ^^ imperial ofynyXoUi;;„T*^«o;°,:'3'=t;^^^^^^^^^ ready to emolov all h;^ ^z.. . " V j^"<^ ^nat he was -^n ft^rin J .^ 1 ^^^^^ved, that in this article I ine was obliged to do afterwards, after all the ^ ^ blood { I20 ) His pruffian maje% carried his point in the firft Sikfir^'^' " '° '"^y- hemadehimfelfmafterof Silefu, without much oppofition ; and the auftrians having brought a great army into the field, unde the command of the field marlhal count Nieuper'f jefty gave that army battle, the lothof Ipril, 17. , b o^d hf' '" ^i"' '• "^""8'^ ^"'^ great^effifion Wood, he gained the vidory. In may, 1742, he fought the famous battle of Czaflau, in whkh he alfo claimed the , ftory ; but both parties being now between his majefty on one part, and the queen of Hungary on the other, which was concluded anl fignedjunetl'e t.th, at Brefiau in Silefia ; by which the greateft part of that duchy, and the whole com- ty ot Glatz were yielded to his majefty. But this valuable ceffion did not hinder him from entering into the league of Frankfort, in lUpport "f the emperor Charles VII, in confequence ofThkh he invaded Bohemia, and took the\ity of Prague injune, 1744, won the uncontefted viftoryof Fried- burg in June, .745, and that of Stadentz in the fen. rember following. Yet, the auWans ftill peVfiffing it wT, r ^ r P""' }f^y °^' ™«""'" auxiliaries, which t was iuppofed would have marched through Poland into his territories. But his pruffian mamftv took advant.age of the feafon, and w^hile his eneS wert with a pruffian army entered their's. The kin<.o Hons ;:h' f"^'!^ '° ''^t"i°" ''i' h-^^editary do^mt anH tL„ I, P "^ "P'^""'' ^^' g^'« '° tlie conqueror, fnterpofed, to preferve Drdiicn. yci, dccember the 4th ■J' U ( J2I ) troops. '"' ™"'' ''^'^ "'^"- ""mber of pruffian fair and equitableTa 1 ^""^cH^'l^ '"'"^ ^ again folemnly yielded fo him '^.u r ' ^''^''^ was one .illion of^Un'f^r'Ze^etncro; T' '"^ hs majefty acknowledwd ,1;. ^ " °^ '^^ «'ar j the doniilns of Te fm„reore"°lX ryJoXTarr.tt ^'^^ "-"^ an account- bur th^ , ' °^ ^^^^^ ^ ^^ givincr ceflay to'loorbac\?riiltett^ "'^^^ Drdden, which I hav^ itn- • ^ *^ P^ce of acquaint the readejTha "Ift olT f^ ' '^'^' '>"'= m my account of that fer^^nf ! ^ l''^' mentioned treachery of the court/ of V^J'^'' ^nlpi^cies. i^ felefted from the authenM ""^ ""'^ ^'<='^^"l his majefty of Pruflla wh™ u P"'" P"blilhed by Drefden. ^' '^'''" ^^ P°T«ffed himfelf of «o„^: Xh "ftS:a^rtLtiH^^ '^* -^°- £"rope into a flame; wfmuft.'fr'f P"" °* the war that preceded X °?'' ''''^'' ^^ far as fbnd hopes tha^TLtt" cou,^:"f7V''"'"''?- ^f-e f>ad conceived, upon the ?uc "efs of '^t"""'^ ^^''°">- - 744, gave occafion to a treatv of 1 "!"?•■"&'", in wli.ch they concluded the ?« [ °f '''™'"'' P^"''""", •'Wy to which, the court of V "'">'• '745, ag,-ee- and C 122 ) and Schwibiis together with the pruman part of Lu fatia ; or only part of thofe provinces, in proportion to their conquefts. Soon after the peace of Drefden, which was figned the 25th of december, 1745, there was no further room for a treaty of fo extraordinary a nature, as that of an eventual partion, with regard to a power, with whom the two contrafting parties lived in peace ' but yet the court of Vienna made no fcruple to pro- pole to the court of Saxony, a new treaty of alliance, in which they {hould likewife renew the treaty of even' tual partition, of the i8th of may, 1745. The court of Saxony thought it necelfary, in the hrlt place, to give a greater confiftency to their plan, J F''""'*'"? '^ "P°" a" alliance between the courts ot Ruffia and Vienna. Thefe two powers did in faft conclude a defenfive alliance at Peteriburg, the 22d "]f 7' i 746. But it is eafy to perceive, that the body or oltenfible part of this treaty was drawn up merely with a view, to conceal the fix fecret articles from the knowledge of the public ; the fourth of which is levelled fingly againft Pruflia, according to the coun- terpart of it, found by his prufTian majefty amon^ the other flate papers, in the cabinet at Drelden, In this article, the emprefs queen of Hungary and Bohemia, fets out with a proteftation, that Ihe will religiouriy obferve the treaty of Drefden ; but fhe i^K \ i'^a'^'^'f' " ^i'^^ ^^"S °f PrufTia fhould be the firft to depart from this peace, by attacking either her majefty, the emprefs queen of Hunrvary and Bohemia, or her majefty the emprefs of Rulfia or even the republic of Poland, in all which cafes,' the rights of her majefty, the emprefs queen to i>ileiia, and the county of Glatz, would again take place, and recover their full effeft ; the two con- trac1:ing parties ftiall mutually affift each other w. th a body of 60,000 men, to reconquer Silefia, cc «c (( {C cc no further 1 nature, as to a power, :d in peace ; iple to pro- of alliance, ary, in the their plan, the courts did in faft ly the 2 2d It the body up merely tides from »f which is the coun- fty among elden» ingaryand at llie will ; but fhe (Tia fhould attacking Hungary 3f Ruflla, lich cafes, queen to gain take two con- ch other er Silefia, The ( 123 ) The reader will at once perceive the uniuft te^n ^l^^y of this ankle, and thefe were tSs bJ which the court of Vienna propofcd to avail itSf J for the recovery of Silefia.^ Every warThVt '^^^^ arife between the king of Pruffia /ndT,,^ "l*^ republic of Poland, is to be wLh ^'''' """^ ' ^ feft infraaion of th; pe^S^^^^ '"^'"V of the rights of th.\oukXSk"t"^^e7'^ though neither Ruffia nor the rfpuSc of pil 'J were .t all concerned in the treatyTf Dre?d^^ though the atter, with which Pruffia oTherwife'li!^^ in the moft intimate friendfhip, was Lt the™ ^ alliance with the court of Vienna Fmm 7k • ^r '"^ of Peterfburg, ,s fo far from being 3 deCnv^ !n7 Pru^a '"« to wreft Silefia from theli:g'"!;f Pruflla to com;"ei:' ':;rXSfcr'l'V"^V tiations of the court of v;pnn:i' . ^^^ ^^^ "^S^- f^e\icedom- anrJ fhe fir-ir T^- M • ?^ ^' ^^""t decla re. 11 :t V I' ( 124 ) declare, that their court was not only ready to accede to the treaty itfelf j but alfo to the fecret article againft PrufTia : and alfo, that if, upon any frefh attack from the king of PrufTia, the emprefs queen fliould, by their afllftance, happen not only to reconquer Silefia and the county of Glarz, but alfo to reduce him within narrower bounds ; the king of Poland, as eleftor of Saxony, would Ihnd to the partition ftipuJated between his polifh majefty and the emprefs queen, by the convention figned at Leipfick, the 1 8th of may, 1745. Count Lofs, the faxon minifter at Vienna, was charg. cd, at the fame time, to open a private negotiation for fettling an eventual partition of the conquefls' which fhould be made on Pruffia, by laying down* as the bafis of it, the partition treaty of Leipfick, of the 1 8th of may, 1745. Throughout this unaccountable negotiation, it was afFeftedly fuppofed, that the king of Pruflia would be the aggreflbr againft the court of Vienna. But what right could the king of Poland draw from thence, to make conquefts upon the king of Pruflia ? Or, if his polifh majefty, in the quality of an auxiliary, would alfo become a belligerent party ; it could not be taken amifs, that his pruflian majefty fhould treat him accordingly, and regulate his conduA by that of the court of Saxony. This is a truth that was ac- knowledged, even by the king of Poland's own privy council i for being confulted upon their matter's ac- ceffion to the treaty of Peterfburg, they were of opi- nion, that the 4th fecret article went beyond common rules ; and that his pruflian majefty might look upon the acceflion to it as a violation of the peace of Drefden. Count Briihl, prime minifter to tl^ king of Poland, being, without doubt, thoroughly convinced himfelf of this truth, did all in his power to conceal the ex- iftence of the fecret articles of the treaty of Peterftju: g. For, at the time that he was eagerly negotiating in Kuffia, upon his court's acceflion to it, and to its fe- cret ( "J ) aTparis "'tL?",k'' " '"o'^n'n declaration to be made Bruhl s letter to ^ount Lofs of the .8th of June ,^ 7 and by a nernonal, which count Lofe-'ddi;ered in conlequence of it. ucjivcrea in It is true, that the court of Saxony did yet defer from one time to another, their accedina ;/ f * the treaty of Peter/burg / but L^'JI^'^rfa Ti" their alhes know, again, and again, that thet wet general d'Arnim^henl^trgo^tT'petSrl" as minifter from Saxony This rnnlrh." ^ft'f'burg, iVeft, in the year Tr', ,„'' ™"" ''""S ">vited a- Peteriburg, dec ^d ftf kdineTto Ho "''•""'^ "^ morial delivered to rh^ nfurg;_A„d as hL brirf °^- '^ ^''"'y iiever be conferned "n tl is mift rvT' ""'■""' ^""'"^ Bruhl found himfelf obi ged to Li[ tr-'^' fT »^nns:^^a\ir;:r^^ tlie courts of Vienna .nr^c? i^"" ^^ producible; "ever loft fiaht of rhe"!'....--*^' '''■='' P^"' "-ey rHsofthe-icingofPruSr^.SdriXpi:!'^ conftantiy ( 126 ) conftantly to the fourth article of thattreAty as thcif bafis. The reader will clearly perceive, from all the proofs ;hat have now been produc-J, thai the court ot Sax- ony, without having acceded to tlie treaty of Pe- terfburg, rn form, was not Icfs an accympiice in the dangerous defigns, which the court of Vienna had grounded upon this treaty i and that, having been difpenced with by their allies, from a formal con- currence, they had only waited for the moment when they might, without running too great a rifk, concur in effea:, and (hare the fpoils of their neighbour In expeftation of this period, the auftrian and faxon mmiflcrs laboured in concert, and underhand, with the more ardour to prepare the means of bringing the caie of the fecret alliance of Peterfburg to exift. h this treaty it was laid down as a principle, that any war whatever between the king of PrulTia and RufTia! would authorife the emprefs queen to retake Silcfia There was nothing more, then, to be done, but to raife fuch a war. In order to bring this about, no means were found more proper, than to embroil the king of Pruflia irreconcilably with her majefry the emprefs of Ruflla, and to provoke that princefs, by all forts of falfe infinuations, impoftures, and the moll atrocious cal-mnies, in laying to the king of Pruflla's charge, all forts of defigns a^ainft Rufiia, and even the emprefs's own perfon j and then upon Poland with regard to Sweden. ^ The inftruftions which the court of Saxony gave m 1750, to general d'Arnim, when he was goinc/ to Peterfburg, as their miniller plenipotentiary, contains one exprels article, by which he is charged to keep up dcxteroufly the dillruft and jealoufy of Uuffia with regard to PrufTia, and to applaud every arrangement that might be taken againft the latter. But n% body executed thefe orders better than the fieur de Ininck, the faxon minider at Peterfburg, who was the life and loui ot the whole party. This miniiler never kt an opportunity C "7 ) opportun.ty efcape him, of infinuatine that th, f lift Pruflla, and the city of DantzlT ^r'u'^' ^°- of France, Pruffia and wi ' that the courts projefts. incafeof ivacancTofth^Tr' ^''f'"^ ^'^ and numberlefs other ferries of r"r°'^^°,'''"'^' which his pruman maiefty hasniffiL f '""= ^'""^ i by his fubl'quent coniuftV^hich he h/ ? n'"'''^'<^ therepuUic of Poland, and by thecauH„ f?'"^ '" neyer to intrude himfelf into th^ Ha- '"'''' "'■^'' Poland and Courland norj^hl t'"''^!" "^-'i" of other powers had let him ''"'''"S the example It would be tedious to menfJnn „ii .t • - of this nature, which wcurT?f "'V""""''"'"'" the faxon minitters Bu, '" ^ ^OTefpondence of difpatches of the fith of dSemb''/"'™'''^'^ '" ">«'' .^thoffebruary, aSth oftran"',^^] '"'^"d ■75+ i wherein, among other infinl, December, tioned, the commercial^arX'^^er T' "^■"'""'^ i mints , and of armaments in Pn f?' ^^ !'""^'°" °f ' the difpatches is faid thn ,K i ""'V ""^ in one of of agg?andi,en::nri:^^ ;^'^l^S°^^">f -sviews heft to ruin the commerce of n' ,'' '"' P™" !! ' '^^" P^O'J^ce'the folLr^^p fages. In the difpatch of the „th of noiemfe l/^J'yu "^. ^"'^"' *« 'i^w Funck ; that " T^: deliberations of the grand council are fo muchT nore glorious ,0 Ruflia, in that there can be * ; th.ng more beneficial to the common caufe that previoufly to fettle the effeflual means of deftro ° ing the overgrown power of PruOia. and the™!" bounded ambition of that court " The convention of a neutrality in Germany CcrreA ryftem. he redoubleT'S effortf ^^^'1;"^^ to prevent the re-eftablifliment of a good mdeVand Pelr^r" l^-''',"S °f i'^l-ia fnd the court 1 i eterlburg. In his letter of the 23d of iune , "J ineTe^ms"' '■"""" "P°" '"^'^ '"""^^ '" "heVo'l'/w! * In the Hime letter Js thefollovvlne Da/TKr? « -r«»i^ , , " court of Ruffia will vreSi mnrro^ ^ PaJi'^ge, TotlTis end the " ^,^,^^/.!^;"^ "^ ^ nnlhun and an half, to maintain thefe arrange- "A A reconciliation between the rnn-f. „r r> i. «' Peterfburg, would be f h^ 1 a • ^''^"' «"* " moft danIZ event ^LfuT'^ ""'' "^^ " to be hoptd, that RuL w„ 1 ^fP'"' '' '^ " odious popoVals and rhrr"""'*'" ^° '""'^h " wHl be^totl^Citll t;°r.^ °^ ^-"^ accordingly. all Europe Taw w"th fefe^'hr'"''" ments the court of RufHa r^,i ^"'prite, the arma- by Tea and land, with f nrJp^e^^^P-g' both gave out that thcfe crecarariL. V "f'J^'^ ■ ^^ey made no requiHtion JTc ours Son "^'i"'' ^<1 Bohemia and Moravia were cZd J u^" "'"' magazines formed • and » I ^^ "'"'' """P^ i for an immediate war Th ] r P^^Pf "'""^ made -Pruflia's enemie we'; vlft =. H ^"^°'^ ">'= '""S «f difpatches of counrpiemfn^ '•"d -unbounded. The jelly afterwards publS 4h Jk'' '"^ P^fi""-" «^- pers of the fame^nature, arr'finedtith?''""''™ ?"" ber of curious paffaaes A m^nln. u ^ S^at num- that count Kayferl nf had 1^ §'^ °]'''"' ''^ '<^'«es. the. pains nor monef fn oTdTro ''"^'" " '"P"^ ""' ledge of the ftate of'^th re^nueLf'^r "^"^'J'"*'"- enna; and he aflUres tharrM. ? l ~""«f V,- '^iliion of florins to PeterAur^ h" ^"^ "T'"^ ^ prefles his own perS^n J' "^^ ."'^''y "^w ^^^ between the two cCm 0?^^*/" '^^}^-"^ ^°n«rt the latter, in order the bettlr t„"Hr'"T^'5'^ '-">='^ ftns of th*irarmamencs m d:^t"''^j''« ^'^ ^^a- rent pretence of beine therX,- ,■ '''^ W»- the eneaoem^n,. '^i Y'"''^^ '" ^ condition to fulfil ^And-thlt when ali'nl'p^'^'^^t "'u .'^^S'and , ■ prepaiations Ihould be finiflied. K they Ilfli ;IM ^'- c i^ ( no ) they weir to fal! uiicxpeacilly on the khvr of Vwitli This prrfuanon runs through all his clifpatchcs -, anj It IS rcafonablc to give creclit to a minillcr fo intelli- gent, lo well informed, antl ih much in the way of being k). •' Upon combining tliclb rirnimdances to^rcthcr, vh -pi hat treaty of Peterfhurg, which aut'horifes the the court ot Vienna to recover .Silelin, as foon as a war breaks out between Priinia and Kunia j—The relohition lolemnly taken in Runi.i, to attack the kmg ol- Pruina upon tlie lirfl: opportunity, whether he Ihould be tlie aggreflbr or be attacked ;— The arma. ments of the two imperial courts, at a time, when nci, thei; ot them had any enemy to fear, but when the conjundures fee.tied to favour the views of the court of Vienna upon Silcfia ;-7'he rufllan miniflers for- mally owning, that thrtfe armaments were defigned aga.nfl the king .-Count Kaunitz's tacit rtvdwal;- 1 he pains which the rufllan miniflers took to make out a pretence for accufing the king of Pruflia, of Iiaying endeavoured to fHr up a rebellion in Ukraine- — Lrom the combination of all thefe circumlhnces, j fay, there rcfults a kind of demonflration, of a fc- cret^^ concert entered into againll his pruflian ma- 'Phut wife monarch could not fhuc hid eyes aralnfl rjcaiurcs of fuch a tendency as thefe, which were ikely to become fo fatal to himfelf, as his majelly had been fo long informed of all thefe particulars irom good quarters. The immenfe preparations of the court of Vienna, at leall obliged him to order M. Khnggrafe, his plenipotentiary minifler at the impc- rial court, to demand of the emprefs queen, whether all thofe great preparations of war, which were mak- ing on the frontiers of Silefia, were dcfigned againll the king or what were the intentions of her imperial niaiefly? Po this equitable demand, the emprefs qut;en anfwercd m exprefs terms, « That in the pre- ;- iciu juncture, ihc had found it nccefiary to make armamcnti, if. pofltivc the kinj fliould 1 of war ; the emp blood tf feqiiencc Tofo anfwer i the fortti convince «)f Vieni This .1 ** his m;i *' confid( f '3' ) " armaments, as wpII fr.,- i , /. «• of -K-r alii.;. ;,rdltich did"" ''''^■';'^^' ^'f^^'^^ " dice of ahy body." ''"^ ™' '™'' '° "« pfcju- So viigiic an anfwer at fi, rrJ^;.,? • a more pl-ccife explanniion w J'"""^' ''"n"''''^'! grafe recciv«l freft or ™; ,^,''"''*°"= M. Kling- tmprds. that aftc ,1,° k „'' l"^ '^f'^"'"' '" '^= bled as long as I,c thon.d.t^; ' r^""""' ''^"J 'Wc-m- ••».'! glory, Ihe l,ad S s w'ifi h"' *'"' '''' '■^^"y the emprels, would not fuffertm lo:"' '"'''"^"^ ''' ••ny thing . that he had orde o nfe' " f e-ife king was acquainted with the nfT.lfi ''•"■' '''"' 'he the two courts had formed 'fp'i''"''-''^'^'^' ^^''i':'' knew, they had engal d td attlk l" ^-''^' ' ""^ ^"^ "Pefledly ; the e„Vcfs meen witl s"' "''^"''" ""- cmprefs of ru/na with 120 nnm "/'""' ''"'^ ''"" wluch was to have bee t^?- " ^^ ' :''^« "'f ''^'ifi". «f this yeaf, was deferol ill ™''°'V"'''''1''"'S accbunt of the rulTlm , "" 'umnier, on their fleet m i„er, " , 7"'^' • """""6 recruits" them ; tKat the k ,« n, L,,?""' ''''" '" ^"PPor peace or war, tha f n"; "i ,r , '^'^P''^''' arbitef of of heraclea;andf„™rd.ch'''' ''''''^' ^' ^^'q^i^ed poflrlve afli,rance, thaX h 'f "' '""'^"'"g °f 'i I the king either this ye^'orlC '""^"'i"" to Ittack f Jliould look on any aSZ.tr"""' '' ^"^ "''^t ''= otwar; and that l,e cS L- = ' *'''™'°" ,■ theemprefs alone would ^ ^Zi" '? Ti'"^'"^. that * t^^^t^^:Jrrf-^^ given a„ the former, the hurnorf'^'i. ^ i*"'' ' f^'t'sfaaory than convince the pubfic Tt ,e"' uTf "'•" "^^ '"'^^-"'^o of Vienna. "" '" '«=ntions of the court ;; ™-SrtrS 'of\^^"vrw< That conMcrabie p^parations for ^ ^"tf !'"= '"'"I "^ war, and the moft - "J [quieting^ iTi ( 132 ) ** tlifqihctlng, with regard to the public trctnqulllty^ •' when on the 2 6tli oi" laft month, that prince hud *' thought fit to order explanations to be demanded ** of her majefty, the emprefs queen, upon the mill. ** tary difpolitions that were making in her domi- ** nions, and which had not been relolved upon, till ** after all the preparations which hispruflian majelly *' had already made. " 'I'hat theie were fa6ls known to all Europe. ** That her majefly the emprefs queen, might there- fore have declined giving explanations upon ob- jedis which did not require them i that however flie iiad been pleafed to do it, and to declare with her own mouth to M. Klinggrafe, in the audience llie granted him on the 26th of July, " That the critical Hate of public affairs made her look upon the meafurcs which flie was taking, as necellary for her fafety, and that of her allies 5 and that in other refpec^s they did not tend to the pre. •' judice of any one. " That her majefty the emprefs cjuecA had un- doubtedly a right to form what judgments fhe pleafed on the circiimftances of the times ; and that it belonged likewife to none but hcrfelf to eftimate *' her dangers. •' I'hat befides her declaration was fo clear, that *' file never could have imagined it could be tho •* other wife. " That being accuftomed to receive as well as to praftife, the attentions that fovereigns owe to each other, ihc could not hear, without aftonifliment and the jufteft fenfibility, the contents of the me- morial preiented by M. Klinggrafe the aoth in- ftant, an account of which had been laid before her. " That this memorial was fuch, both as to the matter, and the expreflions, that her majefty the emprefs queen, would find herlclf under a neceflitv or tranfgrelHng the bounds of that moderation, whict) C( «c • c C( <( "y 'i'^ " events are, ,^ ch Wlin^ T^"^ '""^ ^''^^'f"' " nounces; and t them feSl^ n"""™' ^'- " cau never be imputed to h..' • V" 7™'^"' '^ey " queen." ^ ' '° ''" "'"•«'=% the emprefs Such was the anfwer of the roi„-f „f ir- !"« ""^^^ CCS, befides m^Z'^t^tn'T'l- ^''^''^ ""l^"- itneceflarj, are ft,fficTn /. r^'" ""^ P™''"<:«='i, was thedefig„rofrct'rT nSa" ''**^^^« ''S''^' In iliort, it plainly appears ,l^ F;opofedto flH,tthe Vo'^Paeain„.,. HriiM rrfcfvnl, that in thru (Id.gns .i^rrtim, hj, ,,,,,„',,,„ „,,,•.„ , r«fv to itulHc of ,hls. by ti^c ronnfrl, whiJi m,n Jlnn.n- g.vcs rount Hiiihl, in 1,^ difpafcl. of the ;'nl»ol.iuly c. ro^,„urhrpn(i;,j,<.r.>tliiMm.(r,.m noc^ps J and afirrw.i.Jsto take Huh incahirrs as (hould Ix' nu»H pit)pn-." ' Hy a Irrtcr fVnrn count l<|rniin|;r of the iRth of mi^rnfi, the rnipiTls quccii cxplatnal luifclf to that minillcnn the (olhnvin^^ tornis : ", ;''''••« /Jietrquiial Motlun^ for the nrelent, from the king of Pohuul, as Hie was vriy len'" le oMns tiekiilli htuarion ; that howrvrr, fhe hoped luwouM in tlie mean while, put himfrIF in a good polhnr, j,,' order to he pre n a red at all eve.u. v and that, in calb nny breach Ihould happen between her niajrliv uul t...' king ot IVuliia, (he woi.Id, in time, lu.t be averl« to concur, tn cale of need, in the neccirary nica* ucs jor then- n'.utual Iccuritv." Hut not t.) detain the reailer lon.rer than U neccfla. ry, thr piiidiati res ns (houlil i ■he iRth of >*ldf to that rrlVnt, from »'"!(' of his 'vi he woulil, polhirr, ill liiit, ill calo iiiijrliy Mtul ot lie avciii^ ^y inca' ics I U neccflh' if fads, to le aggrcdor ■ ilark and » that the us defigns ^h i — their 3motcrs of accede to -'cr agreed :e therein, rtiauld be II off the "•'•'i''M.ofhi,,nri/'hlu!ur ' "''''^'^'"''^^^^ "'"'< "> l""l'"/<^to :-«n,l I think f uZJl, '"/! '" cv.n„, cither i„ i„|„i„„ |,i' *nTn L " ■<"y "via i lar«e m,Jnr„l „ '""^ '" ""'^'""•■' »'") Mo- , '. '"'fa' magazines were cvcrv where ft.r~ i i he king oM'oIand rcfolved to ,! Li u' ' ""'' 'ica.1 of his army and on(f i r ? • '"'"'''* "' '''C vantageo,,, manner 2 '•"''.''""''-''*, '" '^c mo(t ad- iitcerraindifl-ahrvc ^..-.u ^,./i .. ^"^"^'^ and marked ^"any circumftances, thaccomni ' ' '^''^' ''' ^^ completely ope , the deJ ot m^i till of the court of Saxony to a full view. This new Military road, in particular, could never furely have been made in order to facilitate the pafTage of the pruffian army ; and thofe pods, which aftuaily remain to this day, are fo many fpeaking proofs of the concert, which had long been forming between the courts of Vienna and Saxony, and were but too ilrongajuftification of the reafons his prufTian ma- jefty had to prevent the effeds of it, Before I proceed to trace that monarch in the meafures which he thought it n.ecefTary. in this con- jun^ure, to take ; I fhall, for the reader's affiftance in recollecting precifely all that train of negociatioa between the courts of Vienna, Drefden, and Peterf- burg, jult curforily recapitulate thefe affairs in as Ihort a compafs as poffible -, and then proceed in giving an account of the military affairs in thi^ part of the world, which drew tlie attention of all Europe. * In the firft place, he is to remember, that the em-i prefs queen having ceded Silefia to the king of Pruflla by th- treaties of Breflau and Drefden, foon began to envy that monarch the pofieffion of fo vakiable a part of her former dominions. The defire of repof- feffmg herfelt of that country, and of revenoins herfelt againft the king of Pruffia, induced her to*^ at- tempt at any rate to gratify thofe two favourite de- iires ; but fearful of the power and enterprifino- ge- nius of the pruffian monarch, {he, although, fuperioa in her forces, fought for fome ally to join witli her, m thefe ambitious defigns : ihe cafl: her eyes on the' cicclor of Saxony, king of Poland, who anfwered her with all poffible cordiality, and fimjlitude of no- tions : thefe two powers formed a fecret concert, and invited the emprefs of Ruffia to accede to the fame defign ; that princefs was more cautious, and as fhe had nor at that time the leafl glimpfe of difpute with the king of Pruffia, waa not lo eafily drawn into the ^u'^'i-^.; V'^ ^°""^ ^^ ^''^""^ ^^^^ Drefden Hncjing this dimcultv, contrived and propagated a thpufand calumnies C '39 ) cdliimnics tending to depreciate that monarch ^n,l infulc-d intimations to the emnref. nf P o^ x- ^"^ bad dengns Wed by Si %^^^^ time, by th s means and Kv ^ »^'"" "^^ i '^nu m the em/refs's n,i„,';t3"o ch ifpar't? T' '"r"',°*" her to come fully into tbcitZ,S^n!^'ru^ Perfuaded concluded in the trea ; of PeS' •'l'""' ^'''^l* court of Vienna and Pewribu J s? 'u"" ''^= of her fituation ,o muc^ 'n t^^.w^r'^iL^'L^-'"- 1 do it Without any^;:: ^^l otrft A?^ &&rcr^ tacU,e.^or any one of her^llie.? o^^^'^/.^Jut Pruffia demanded a „y ttLVanaffi».VT' '""'"" through that eleaorate/in hi^ wav^frh ?'"™°P^ of the emprefs queen, n fuch Tafe „ ''°?'"i°"^' mand : and as (nnn /. k ^ '° Srant that de- have his iis 'f- ';,^■„^lp;f - «f «y /houu march with all the forces of T.'. I Ii ^"^"'''ere, to very heart of the prufl ar 1^ ■^°'T' '"'" ">« then be deftitute of forces foTtr^'^^-'''"'' ^""'^ better to eniure ruccersl hefc meaflf a'"' ^"'"= of Ruffia made immenfe p^^m&.tl'fTf mg an army of 120,000 men, wWch bv Lf' ''^■ f ^"f^fburg, were to march aSp^u^J^"^' "'^fV empr-fs queen in Bohemia anH Pu • """"• T he tiers of Silefia. formedTamps of 8 "o' °" ""= '"'■°"- the whole face of thofe co?„ rls X °h^'"' ^"^ •ince of an approaching war tLT- H ''P^^'' eleaor of Saxony, on° hTs narr ?r Hf ,°^ ^"'^"'^' in his eleaorate.ofooooo'^^l T^'"^"" "'"'y- ^ines for their fubfftSnce ,nH ' '"'' ^?'"'"^ ""g^" through the rnn^,„5!"?_ -='a'',^«.='" 'mmenfe road B the M JLITARY ROAD, into Bohemia; and called It Such Sijfli were the ( 140 ) hi3 not preparations and meafures prudian niajefly*s enemies, when lie tliought Mc to continue any lonfrcr without bcin'cr certain that they wore not defigned againit him. " He ac- cordingly ordered his miniflcr plenipotentiary at the imperial court, to demand aguinil whom thefe crcit preparations were making ^ but receiving an equivo- cating anfwer, he again demanded a folemn i)romil>> of the cmprr". that flie would not attack him in the courfc of this year, or the next ; but being alfo re- Juled a catagoncal anfwer, and having good intelji- gence of all the above particulars, and the bad de- figns of his enemies-, he very jullly thought that it would be mexcufable in him not to avert the blow which hung in fo formidable a manner over hk head, by ftriking at the bofom of his enemy, to difable him from executing the bad defigns he had formed. Such was the cafe of his prulFian majefly. and all Europe muft allow, that he was at l-berty to attack any of the three powers in confederacy ngainft, him without violating in the leaft degree, the Jaws of nations : and although, he began hoUilities yet his enemies were the aggrcflbrs * in the war, ' oppontc to the lenfe of a treaty of peace. An oftenfive league! -the ftirnng up of enemies, and prompting them to make wai upon another power .-defigns of invading another prince's del nions ;-a fudden irruption :-all thcfe dilerent circumftances Z an ToZny^ ""' ' "^'^'"^^ '^'' ^''^' ""'y* '''' ^' P^^P^'^X ""^'1 butTs\°or;h ^''"'"n' '^'? ^8g;^fl^ons. may commit hoflilitles; bu 1. not thcaggrcflor.~In the fucccflion war, when the troops Savoy were m the french army in Lombardy, the duke of Savoy Zel fh aT '"V'"'''^ '^' ^^^ ^"^'^ Piedmont :~-it was there ore the duke b.ivoy, who was the aggreflbr ; and the french, who commn..d the firll hoftilities.-The Jeaeue of Cam thl e^mf" Y'^''' ;7f '''' ^^•""•^- ^^^. the'n prevtnted tiiey would not have been the aggreflbrs. CHAP. Hires of his I'ght it not -ing certain 1. He ac- :ia)y af the thefe great ; an eqiiivo- mn promifo him in the ing alftj re, ;ood intelli- he bad de- ight that it : the blow, ?r over his enemy, to gns he hail m majeftyj ' at liberty :onfederacy degree, the I hodilitics, war, diametrically :nfive league j to make war irince's domi. imftances are roperly called it hoflilitles; the troops of kc of Savoy le frtnch dif- mt : — it was or ; and the gue of Cam- n, prevented »llilities } but CHAP. ( HI ) CHAP. IX. Ki»XjfPru/^a demnd, a pajfagt fcr his troop, ihrouib iaxo«y Kmg of Poland's onfwer. King of Prut enters Saxony Tal^cs pojfeffion of the eletlLie. ptr. fmn army blockades the faxon .amp at Pima. Moti ens of the mfirians. Marfhal Schwerin enters Rohema Marfhal Ke„h marches into Bohemia. Battle ofLo'. wofchulz. Ihefaxon army capiluhtes. King of Po. land jets out for IVarfa-m. Pruff,an arnry relKeits into .W--. And goes into -winter quarters. Sad Jtate of ^'.r./'^' SO into winter quarters. Affairs I /« //^^"^ of I'Vance. Preparations of the hngcj Pruffia. Refleaions. Marjifal Keith! ^ rjI.S majefty the king of Pruffia, clcirly forefee- £f-rl,Z„i Q " "'"" '"" '""iwble, and that a paf- iage thmugh Saxony was abfolutely neceira^y for his oZ'„f'n"'r^ ^- '^^ '^^'"^'"'"' h'» miniflL a t the v.o«rt ot Drefden to d=mand fuch a paffaKt On tlie 29th of auguft, he accordingly demaS a nri vate audience of the Vmo of p''pv "^'"'""e" f- pn- Saxonv inm Rnk ^ u ^^^^"8^ ^^^e territories of Sf ugf ?r:i-.o^A.xa ft:t' lifli majefty, declaring, that he will canfr hi ^ to obferve the ftriclfft dircijli„: "andtkc aHL' c. e of th. country that the circumftance/will pe Lft 'ngupon the events of the year-V7:;.lereTno reafofj maiMjj pHfl^V^mHl'i 1 H; >' ■if: I ';■■ ;i!l ir '!'! ill ■ ( Hi ) reafon to be rurprired, that the king of Pruffia ri,™,M take fuch meafures, as may prev em a ret urn of ^^ "^ then happened. Moreover, he defires norh n ^? niuch as a fpeedy re-dlablifhnient of p c" tn o^H dnfof 'i^, 'd t'^'P^^ "PP"""""^' o?":j„rrng t King ot 1 oland to the quiet poffefnon of his .HhW mons againft which he has not, in other refneS" formed any dangerous defigns " P'^*' M. de Malzahn added, " That the necefllty which tl.e king his mafter was under of aftil in ,1, manner, could only be imp«ed to the c"lami,^f the^times, and the behaviou^ of the cour, of VieZ ■■ The kmg of Poland, in the furprife whidi thh 1 caration threw him into, anfwered M de Mak.h ' That he fliou d not have exnpfl-^H V .i".^=^™. the form that it had juft bl^rd"^; o\ ?"' fe Jng at peace with all the world anH.ni:/ Sagement relative to the prife f 'ob eft Ih aZ'rf he powers aaually at Jr, or thofi abou to em upon this fubjea intit'ng a ."Cpedlirs^ru^": niajefty, contenting himfe " wi Vnick Lff ? would neither forglt the r- r ,- ,fl r ^ '^'' nor that which all the mem, ■:- ' " '° =* fovereigri, reciprocally owe to eaSiTthe; " '"' S"™^"" '^. therT bf "eSrr;''" '"^"^^' '^' ^ing caufed anc uicr lo oe delivered in writina; to M de lUaWoU ^or^^e^Hr "'"'^'' '"^ ^^"'-^ ^h^ott.'lS we^Xtf ofTL?of'tf T'^'' -'" tne count de Salmont, one of his minifter= "t" .^ion by the end^Xsuft ^if? "'' " '^^^^^ ^°' critical conjunfture wa:r™ing'^",h"";Z"r of th" houfe of Auftr a of hMf o« ^ power ot the '!.newhehadto^pt:?^Se?nft';^i'"7-';5 ..ns, who were upon their march for PruflU^ L" thefe, the king of Poland, w the head of /.^ " men ; nor was his maiefto- -./i^i,! . r t 30,ooo m which France mTgTttakrtnrK ?'" ■^™" *= f ^-ew ally the empil^'^t^ t^fw r" ""^' racrp and •.Kji.v:,.- A t on.cer ot the greateft cou. and m-% rvF'1 !t , .V ( ^U ) flnd a particular favourite of the king's, having taugfif his majefty the firft rudiments of the art of war • re ierving to himfelf that of the principal army, intended to adl in Saxony and Bohemia. 'I'he faxon general had made choice of the poft of I .Virna, for the rendezvous of their troops, astheniolH cx)nvenient, cither for deceiving the prufiian arniy in cale oi its advancing into Bohemia, or for receiv ing iuccoLirs from the auftrians. Upon the firfti motion of the prufllan troops, for marching intoj Pomerania, or, in cafe of ncceffity, for joining mar- iTial Lehwald, the faxons al^andoned all their garri-l Ions bordering on Brandenburg, and took poll be twcen the Moldaw and the Elbe. They afterwardJ returned to their quarters ; and, a fecond time, broke' up and repaned to their refpcdive cantonments. Tk motive on which they a^ed being known, proptti meafures were taken ; and the king of PrufTia, cnJ tering Saxony on the 29th of augult, marchedVitlJ his troops, divided into three columns, towards Pirna The firll fet out from the duchy of Magdebiiro under the command of prince Ferdinand of Erunl' 1V1C, diredling their route to Leipfic, Borna, Kem-I nitz, Freyberg, Dippoldfwalde, to Cotta. The fe- cond command by the king, and under him field I marlBal Kieth, marched through Pretfch, Torgaiij Lonmatfch, Wilfdruff, Drefden, and Zehift. The| third commanded by the prince of Brunfwick Be- vern, crolTing Lufatia, took its route through Fiaer-i werde, Bautzen, Stolpe, to Lohmm. Thele three! columns arrived the fame day at the camp at Pirna, 1 which they invelted. The divifion commanded by the king, took pofiefllon of Drefden, and cut off all' communication between that city and tiie laxoit camp ; and on the 8tb his majelty took up his quar- ters at WilfdruE On the loth, a great part of thcj pruffian army marched in order towards the faxon camp, and the he^ad qiarttis were placed at Seid- litz, not nvucu iibi>vc half a genuuu mile diitanti from Iiaving taugdf t of war •, re. rmy, intended of the pofl: of s, as the moll ufiian arniy, or for receiv. pon the firl{ arching into joining mar. tlieir garrj. 3ok poll: be- ?y afterwardj I time, broke ments. The lown, proper Priiflia, en- n arched with wards Pirna. Magdeburg, id of Eruiif. »orna, Kenv i. The fe. ?r him field :h, Torgau, shift. Tlie infwick Be- )ugh KJiler- I'hefe thre« np at Pirna, imanded by 1 cut off all the laxoi! p his quar- part of tlic ; the faxon ( 145 ) Ti-oiil Pirna. And fhf» A«,« i cuirafliers, and t" ee of ^rT '' °"* pS™^"' "^ I>dUen imo the camp at wfin "% '"T''^''' "'™"8'> 16000 men were ftillTeft "^'"'"^ "^"^ " ''"''y "f The divifion under nnnr^ c^.. i- 1 <.n,o„nting to abo:;:^P;r n'^^^'r^dl'' •""/""' the 20t 1. And fo imnf.n^fr.M ^'"f^^d LeipHc on his pruflian majeft , tE^pt "V ^^inTd" '', "' he iet out upon his march HiH n^^ 1 ^""' "^'^^^ he was to Jl' T" to advance to Leipfic. and cak^po^fl^^^n'':! u"""'" that from tha dav^ll ! '/:, ^"^ ''P'''"^ « t^en,. to the order of7e' k n^rf" '^J .'nt Ti '° '' ^f '« poii/h majefty ; and affurfd th m Vat th™ '° 'l'^ Snto^atd^'-tr- P^o^at :„7cTret ordered the masazines of rnr„ 7 i ^'^'^',"^"°'hce ; and for the ufe of 4 troopf '"'^ ■"'"' '" "^ °P<=«d thel'f irs'in'Ifr^rduL'r ''""™"'' '""^^^^'J n^ajeftythekngof pruladi^^^^^^^^^^ ^^'P"^' h-'^ Thekingof Poland on he news'ofTh." °^'='"*"; the prufllans, left his capi al th^ci^lnf n ""r?""" "^ tended bv his fwo ,-:P'"''/"« <:'ty of Drefden, at- ' harles.T„ the Tdo[ ?e;.e''"K" ^^T"^' ""'J P''"« the head of hrtronnf ^'P''""^''] ""'■^ P"t himltlf at "' defend h,mfd;°^';,:"rar"Th """"'^ '"'"'"'"S "■'i of the royal fimi v i„ • h '^'"'"' »'"' 'hi were treated i/them^ft'^'^r''"""' '".""^ ^''y- ^"^ Pruffia, who tookX^:^r"""'^y;''<= king of --hena.«,edal]th?|H;es/;';;re,^::;„,„f:^ public ^■ifl ^■1""'' ^H r "^ ' ^^B » ' ff^^^^^; ^'^Sr '^• ^^ frit ^WA^fJ; ' ( H(^ ) pMw biUuwh hclongiim to the pniltinn army, .k orgiui, whu-h was tlic place where c (.Mtril)iitions arid tacked witliout conndorable lols. It was therefore determined to turn the attack into a blockade, and to tri-ac tite laxon army rather ir^, the manner of a town befresred, than l.ke a ,x)(l, which might be attacked accoicimg to thccullom of war carrictl on in an open country. ^ 'Hie fituation of the faxnn camp, which made it :dmoll impregnable, was as follx>ws, via. 'Jhe plain be tvveen i'.rna and KoenioiU,,), where the laxon camp was pitched, ,s a continued rock, with a diclivit town to the Elbe on one fide, and into a valley on the other. This declivity ends on one fide of Kocn- igltein, Iron-, whence begins a thick forell, in vvhich the laxons cut down trees, and barricaded themlelvos On ih.s luie of Puna is a narrow pallhge, where, ai well asm the town itldl, they made intrenchments, aiK. viucd m and about their camp, near 60 redoubts, whrch were we 1 provided with a great number of caniwn l>ut this advantageous lituarion did not rc- niedythewantot watc' I<:ibe, where; by t^t^^Z^'^^l^ '' inu:.cat.on with the- pods oF l.^m,n ^w;! ^ 7"^' relwaden, and Schandau. In thefc Tl ff . ' , *"' were di/bibuted rlinty-ekW,t b.rr 11 ' '"'. ^^'''""' rqur.drons. Sevetny-ynr ..'^ j'^ "'"^ Tl^ ^'^'^^^ /(luadrons, were cirllL. fi./.i > *'"'' ^^'^^"t/ 4 detachm";;; t : ' i^z' tr'^'^ ^"^^^^-^ [onrdotf. This b Iv L ''i'^' ^"^'^' '-^"^1 Keith by wh^f'^ir^^n'TS^ "^^^^' himfelf mafler of the calie nf IT rf "" ^'^^^' a"iHnKired.uta..ians n■i^^i!^:'t:^Jl^^ -P.c.atjon.,0^^ Hitherto murninl Brown had kept clofe Jn v ^''at purpofe bll'S b ..i''^ '^'^ artillery fbr ^•■-ioLini,ieve;neut::::^^^;;r:^^^^ Hen nia)or generals • brHrlr-c /u "/'^'^'"•''s, and fix- VuMiia d,xw all the forces of ,t ']" ™"" "^ ""■"'■"fc do„,i„io„:, no Bo'h i "PJ[': '"^'':'Vs !" :'>^' """^i"" Netherlands r«c ^Jd-" ,, t, ^. ''" '1>'-. -g,ments direaiy, and hold them tcs " '"'" IS to march on the /irft t not""'" "« 1 - - ""i. •-.-,, anu were '""" '^"•^^■'■'^'l imo Bohen,ia , and order's rea- very J arrived at K irufll'l r;' muf ( 148 ) Brufl'ds, to r.iife fevcral independent companies of 100 men each : parties of 5 or 6000 croatians were continually marching through Vienna for their camps in Bohemia and Moravia. Marlhal Schwerin, as I before obferved* was ap- pointed by his prufHan majedy to command in Si- ' Jelia i that general, after palfing through the county ot Glatz, had advanced to Nachot, afterwards to the banks of the Mettaw, and laftly to Aujet, where he routed a detachment of hufllirs, and dragoons, commanded by general Bucof, and. took 200 prifon' crs. Afterwards the marflial took poirefTion of the camp of Aujcft, and foraged under the walls of Ko- nigfgratz, where prince Piccolomini was encamped Near Hoenmaut the prufTian huffirs defeated 400 audrian dragoons, and took many of them in their flight. I'his was all marflial Schwerin could do The camp at Koningfgratz was fituated at thecon^ flux of the Adler into the Kibe : the enemy were entrenched, and this pofl in its front too difficult to be attacked. When his prufllan majcfty took pofleffion of Dref- den, he fent an officer to the queen to demand the keys ot the cabinets, the archieves, and treafures of her hufband : her majefty unwillinj^ly complied ; and when the pruflian officer received the keys of her he requeltcd further, that her majellv would alfo m him m poiTeflion ot a certain calkct, containing fomc particular papers, and defcribed it to her : the queen clenicd having any knowledge of fuch a cafl^et, and told the officer ffie knew not what he meant. Mn- dam, replied he, (point;ing to a cabinet) the cafket 1 am ordered by my malter to demand, is in that cabinet.— The queen in fome confuffion afllired him, h : was miltaken, for the cabinet contained no fuch papers. But the pruffian officer infifted upon hav- ing It opened, and finding that the moft peremp- tory demands would noc be complied with, by her poliffi mairlfv. Iv Urnlr \t -fvr- k:— r ix- .•_ 1,-^ prcfence, pre ma yen of ^ h inva all I was J G /ituai the a fmns well i in thi torate /^rudli towns flight i of thr 200,0c and 2c was fujf Jnth obliged Poland difengai Budin, and for of three flial Keit by marc- iitz, to ceffity of even of and WeJ through j the way lafl meali ^ne gro'i.:: 'Mi r , ( '49 ) pirfencc, and took out the very cad^rf I,, i. i . nianded, and which contiin«l ,11 ! •'"'' '''^• ventions, and letters w°,i rpak' h '' ""T'^ '""■ of Saxony Vienna, and l.etS^™'^^'' "'"°"»» all Kurope might be'cony "«^d S' "^ '*"' "r' "''" wasforhisbe^„„i„„,,„Srs1n1,i'r;S^^^^^^^ rn^nlri:z::\i^ -t '- •''"--"the the at,ftrians to advance to^^Ji ^tf" "^f "X *- &ns found it neceffarytok p'thefeenrr^iefor'- wcll as to continue tlie blockade of th^r ' "" p^:^^trr-thi'^BF"-^- "ight after thdr entrance rn h '?1"''"' "^""^ => ^^ ■ oAhree weeks u forS'" ''' '^'^"''^'^ '" "'« ^P^c,: 200,000 ttieafires of of', °''"'- '5°° A', and .0,000 truSs offtr'iw X vaC'^t f' '"^• wa. fuppofed to amount ^O.^J^:^ "'^^ ^" obii ed ii-i™ ^rsf ir,t ?"■'< ""'-="■■ I'oland i accordinfflv n,. ? j ^ ""^ ''''^ king of -Wengage tZt£L "V''""* "'"'^^" B™wn to Budinrnear the confl„x of heT ^'''. ^"'-^Ped at ^ and for the executinlthefe orders'? T'l "^^ ^'"'^ ' i of three ways • one hJ ,/LT ' ' ""f '"^"^ «'"= "^'lO'ce p ftaiKeith;sa';myrwtvrnt!f:';^^^^^^^^^^^ by nwch,ng to the left, throu^B ^„= I/t""''* l:tz, to enter Saxonv whirl, iv 1 1 • ' wd Teop- 'effity of exponng ^; flank to /ife V"^" ""^ "^■ even of being deprived of u"/''" f"'"'^^" ="-'"y. and •'"J WelfernT the thW hv f "r"'""" « 8"^^" ""■ough Leutmeritz and nr,3- f""^ » '^^'i^'Ment ll'e way of Bohn^fch r ^™"^*,"g » 'he faxons by ^-.--^ .n the neighUrh-d":^ ScI^u^.Tl^j -> li ( 150 ) Oher-R.ulen, being fo difficult, that a fmall body of troops may Hop an entire army. But his pruflJat, n majcity, in 10 critical a time, ,....^ ^..v....„e was ncccnary in Bohemia. Accordingly, he left the camp at Setlirz, on the 28th of feptember, and the fame day reached marflial Keith's camp at Jonrdorf. On the 29th, the army in Bohemia was ordered to march : the king going before with eight battalions and twenty fquadrons, encamped at Jirmitz, where the fcouts of the army brought advice, that marflial Brown was, the next day, to pafs the Kgra. lljs majefty now judged, that the bell way was to draw near the enemy ; in order to obferve all their motions On the 30th, all the troops followed the king in two rolums, the one by the way of Profcobot, and the other by the way of Jirmitz. From Jirmitz he marched with his van, towards Welmina, where he arrived that evening, an hour before funfet-. I'here he law the auHrian army, with its right wing at Lo- wofchutz, and its left towards the Kgra. 'I'hateven- inglhe king, himfelf, ocr ipied, with fix battalions, a hollow, and fomerifing grounds, which commanded Lowolchutz, .nd which he relblved to make ufe of,the next day, in order to march out againft the auflrians. 1 he army arrived, at night, at Welmina, where the king only formed his battalions behind one another, iind the fquadrons in the fame manner, which remain' ed all night in this pofition ; the king himfelf fitting "P all night, and having no other covering but his cloak, before a little fire, at the head of his troops On the firft of oftober, at break of day, he took \vith him his principal general officers, and (hewed them the ground he intended to occupy with his army, VIZ. the infantry forming the firft line, to occupy two high hills, and the bottom betwixt them ; fome bat- tahons to form the fecond line j and the third to be compofed of the whole cavalry. The ground where the pruffians formed themfelves in order of battle, ..^u vwijr i«c iin. umuiiions or tne van, tiie Touni! ( ^51 ) grouml comlnulng to widen towards the left Ti declivity of thele mniinf^;«c, rno lert. The y,ird,, '■"' °^<^''-^J to drive ba?k the enenfv'/ ,"^ '° ^ ''°"«' ^^^ the front. Acr^dinX L "^'T' "'''^'' '*°°'' '" of horfe to charge h.m ? 7"' '"""'y nI< (irr, as at tlir lirll rhar^rr, purliiahhr rnrmy above ^.H) parrs ; ami, in thccxcrls of ardour, crnUrd .1 iiitdi lo im wide. Hcyond this difc h, at thr dj. ttrtneo of ^oo paces was another; hrhind whirh ;,„. prarrd ihc anih.an nilantry, drawn tip ni otdcr ',| oattlo. Iminrdiatdy 60 pic« cs "C cannon phtynl iiiHm titc prulliati horfc, which therrforr irpallal the dirVh atui returned to their infatitry, at the foot o! the mminta.n, without being followed. '1 he kinp then ordered his cavalry to pofl the.nlclves behind the i„. tantry. About this time, the lire on the left wifia ,>rgj»ii to uurcale. Marflial Hrown had (ucccl. bvely brought oti 20 battalions, who, paHing by Lowofelunz, htied the baidvs of the I:lbe, to lun- port the pandours in the vineyards ; and the eie- my ufed all poUiblc eflhrts to flank the left of X Prnfltan ntfantry, the king perceived the neceliity >< n.pportmg ,t, and ordered the b.inahon.s of th ull Ime to turti to the left, the battalion., of the mMui hnc. Idled up the intervals, wim h had been ccaf.onecf by tins motton •, fo that the cavalry fornicd Che fecond luie, >.vhic:h fupfwrted the infantry. At the iame t.nic the whole left of the i,tf,ntry, match- u g on gradually, wheeled abotit, and attacked the town c.f J .c)wolchutz in flank, i.t fpite of the prod,- .^lous fireof the enemy : the pruflian o,cn.idie,4 Hrcd -1 through the doors and windows, and roofs of the hou es, „, the Intrning of which, the battalion of Kk 11 ancj Bond adt chiefly dilHnguifhed themlclvcs. Til tn.s adton though only the attack of a polh -cry prt, man foldier of the left wirtg fired ninety L'. i fuy had no more powder nor ammunition for tlicir h^Zr ""'''ft'^'^'^'^^^ ^vhich, the n»gi,i,ent of h^MuMz and M:uitcuiel en.tcrcd ! .owofchutz, with their ( in ) l-iiilliun <.iv;iiy fi„„, r.ki,,'' I "' ' ""■'' 'Ik- •I'C m.llnly ,l,fi,„,i„„„ • '.'^.^ ^ ' ' "'I "■'.'"..lly. "V^ ;'ll -he left in,!, u.tanty „,, 7' "V"''- »",? '" tlir iitniol '^/ 'i'"7 l>iuadrons.„n,ht want a Jnfb-;;:cVZf:! lilt 'i'- if »:i ( >T.( ) »fl'"''''llv If il\c rnitoii* lliiiiiM paCsot tlw Ufll, mlnrt, wluir |l„. , „va| nitfiiijif (II i;,iv„ |( 10 illHiilly eni(.l.)yr,|, |Miii, niaily y iiii(i|ii 1^, ill thr jihiini ciC | ki„„ .<'rlW,,UI,- lho(c,„„(i.fcr»ti,.„, .Irim.'incl 1,', l.^pn-ll,,n m„c(ty, in ,l,c .non„,„ win, 1. iJ , H,r (,x.m r,n,,. , yet wr n,»v ,,e,vrivc tllu i i ' -cgnt a .lcr,,,vcvidory. „, n.„.l,.l,rn'.ly Vl, to t,c,l,t„. tl,c con.,,„.|f ,„■ „l| ,„., kinH„n, cv : '< wonl.) not have .Invdly n,ard,«i l.^k' ^ '^^ jirmy ,„ j,axony , hi, hn/incis wnuM i„ cvrty rf,, . a r vcn mo,rco,nplc.cly.lonr, l.a.l l.c-^ot Z,l[ "O'laRUc and tlincby hrcn enabled tocxtrn, I, w K-.-qu.ttcr,, into the v.ty hear, of Uohrm a H^ , i wonid not l,c thought iron, hrncc to leZ,c "l the real greatne.s o, this vi.lo,y, alrhonglf hi, mrJ by the auftrmns, that his pn.lti.n nialcftyuaina^ army and the advantage the vi^-lor's canib received 11) '»■>• »ni|.|»f 1^, laiiii of I'p |"hI iJir |• nl«lirMi(>|, lirpiihlilhr,! ly III M„|,o. »l«>(l^V ,x,K-fl„l l,„„, ti:; ..ufl ia ,, !, "'."'"™ '"i>lnlla,„lini,„l tlii, r,.| , „,■„ 1 " '""" l'-<-al< here .he th cad , r. „" ^-^ "'■'•<• "i"y u.u.,gcr cHu,. urown. The impraakable lit^ atioj] I't yWl 11 ! 1**1 iJ eii ,:'iil ( 156 ) ation of thefe rocks hindered the anftrians from ad- vancing to Bugerfdorf. This could not be done witii. out a body double their number, or filing off, two a-breaft, in fight of general Lefchwitz towards Al- lladt. ^ Where the faxons intended to pafs, is a fmall plain, in the center of which Hands Lilienftein, a fteep mountain. On both fides of this rock, in the form of a crefent, five battalions of grenadiers guarded an impradicable barricade of felled trees. Behind them at the diftance of 500 paces, two brigade;: of foot were placed in the defile of Burgerfdorf, fupported by five fquadrons of dragoons ; and behind this defile is Ziegenruck, a perpendicular rock, 60 feet high, and which forms a femi-circle round thefe difficult pofts, joining the Elbe, at hs two extremi- ties. From this inconvenient place, however, it was, that on the nth the faxons began to form their bridge. The pruffian officers, inftead of difturbing them, fufiered them to finidi it. The defcent from Tirmfdorf, towards the Elbe, istollerablepraflicable; but, after they had finiflied their bridge, the great difficuty remained of climbing up the rock, from whence they could go only by one foot-path to Al i^adtel. It was on the 12th, in the evening, that they began their march. Two battalions of grciu- diers, atter infinite dif^kulty, got on the other fide. On the 13th, this road was intirelydeflroyed by the continual rains ; fo that there was no poffibility of get- ting their cannon from their entrenchments ; and ac- cordingly they left them behind. This day their ca- valry, their baggage, and their rear found themfolves confufedly embarrafl:ed, one being (topped by ano- ther. The difficulty of the paifage hindered the march of their troops, the van could only file off one by one, whilft the main body and the rear were obliaed to lemain mctionlefs on the fame place. On the 13th, very early in the morning, prince Maurice of An- halt received the firfl advice of the retreat of tl^e fax-, pns. The pruOion tioops without delay, marched in kvcn ( ^57 ) feven columns It was with great labour they climbed thofe rocks, durmg whi.h, however, they met with no oppofition Upon gaining the height, they form- ed ; the pruffian huflars fell upon four faxon fqtm- drons, which compoied their rear-guard, and drove them to their mfantry, near Tirmfdorf. The oruf- liancompames of hunters, lodging themfelves in a wood, on the flank of thefe troops, extremely galled them with the,r fire. At the fame time, prince Mau- rice ordered the foot regiment of Pruffia to advance on an eminence, to the right of the faxons ; and two pieces o cannon being brought to play on their rear guard, a general flight enfued/ The huflars threw themlelves on the baggage of the army, and plundered it ; and the hunters conveyed themfelve, into the woods, near the Elbe; from whence they M- J. ?" ^"r"^-'"\ "' ''"''''■ The faxons now loft all prelence of mmd, and cut down their bridge which was earned away by the current to the poft of Raden, where it was flopped. The prrffian army encamped on the eminence of Stuppen! its left iZ ing .0 the Elbe, and the right extenlg'along a a"ge hollow way, terminating near Hennerfdorf' Sufh werethefltuationsof theprui-flan, auftrian and faxon troops, when the king of Pruffia arrived on the 14th 'i'""n t'§°°"'' ^' 'he "^"mp at Srruppen Marftal Brown had arrived on the u'^th,' atLich- tenfdorr, near Schandau, and immediate yacauahted the faxons with his arrival, letting them Icnol.tha^ he would ftay there all the next dav, but no longer and, m the mean time, waited for the no iceof acer tam fignal, to begin the attack on the pr fflan pofts' a de if '1 *'^ "°^ ^'''^"- The faxons wereT a paffage where it was impoffible for them to adt and >ey laboured under unfurmountable dualities' fa i ftein'°:'°'' ''". "^'"S. of Poland, who w f^'ko! nigitein, was arder.r, for m.jl..,-p.y ^p _,. . . nerals convinced hii. of the't^^^-.^^Sri'tv' oft Mar.'hai WW: 1.! V '^' ^ I ■ ( 15^ ) Mailliiil Brown perceiving all the danger of the fitu ationhcwas then in, retreated on the 14th towards Tr "!!'*• ^^yhereiipon, a priilTian officer, with a body of huflars fell upon the rear of the auftrians, con. firtmg of 300 hiilTiir!^, and 200 pandours i and, rout- Mig them, the hungarian infantry was put to the fword This affair, which gave rife to fo manv debates and reproaches among the auflrinn and faxon generals ij very eafily decided -, the calb was, that neither party had a fufficient knowledge of the ground which the iaxons had pitched upon for their retreat, and to which alone was owing the furrendcr of tht faxon army. ^J'hc king of Poland, who was yet in the caftic of Konigftein, feeing his army in fuch a fitua- tion, that it could not force a pafllige by the fword and without all hopes of provifions or fuccours, per- mitted his troops to lurrenderthemfelves prifonersof war. Count Rutowfki was appointed to draw up the capitulation*. The king ot Pruffia made no diffi- culty of re(toring the colours, Ibndards, and kettle- drums, which were carried to the king of Poland aC Konigrtcin. According to the capitulation the faxons marched out of their camp. On the i6th, in the morning, bread was fent to the foldiers, as foon as the capitulation was agreed to. On the lyrh they palled the Kibe, preceded by their general offi^ cers, ataplace called Raden, where the pruffians had a bridge of boats ; from thence they marched into a plain in the neighbourhood, and after paffing be- . * His prufllan majciifs anfwcr to the 5th article of capitulation. .s conceived ,n thofe Ipiritcd terms, wluch the prince was fo wont oufe Rutowflc. demanded thPt tiie life and grenadier guads Ihould be excepted ,n the capitulation , to which his majeUy an- uZtu / ''^"'"'VnT '-•;^"^fPf'°" »o ^^ made, becaufe it is known that the kmg of Poland did give orders for that part of his troops which ism the ia,d kingdom to join the ruffians, and to march ^ or this purpolc to the frontiers of Silefu ; and a man mull be a ^^ ^;^"' to let troops go which he holds fall, to fee them make head .iSainlt him a Iccond time, and to be obliged to take them prilb- ' ncrs agam. - twcen tages that winter's Ci of the wea mo/I. dcfpc mjglit beg ( '59 ) twccn two battalions of nn.rfi^*, i received by two bar^afef ^ C of'p^ T^ reginunt, drawn up on ti.e right and l.tV °t,^"''?'a » formed a hollow fquare and h,?u '• ^''^y there read, and the mHita ;* 0,"^ 11"";/^'^^'" "^ ^'^ As there was but onc'^^^ri it la d o 'T'' .'" "'^^ d.c roads fron, the <-on ^ t,e«--'> '■''^''-"' and as every regiment took the oith frni ^ ''^'^ » ceremony Jaded all that day and the next "Tf" ^"^'^ il.ers were all armed, and moft of fh^l ^^^ '"'- tl.e fervice of his P^uf/iun r^tjet'^Tj ^r't'"'" were permitted on their n.rol,- To , °'''<^"' of relidence. '^ ''■ '° 8° '° ">eir places The whole faxon army coinlrted of .,? 3000 of which were horfe and lra„o1n ' Th T?' diers were cxtrejnelv well lonkin, ''u li ■' "<= '"'- and had not fuffered fo want *of orov 7°""^ '^="' .l.e blockade of five weeks Lfth'ecair '^"""f iiiofl, ruined. cavalry was al- f«°" The'ttoo'pf^f''^/ ^•"-'' <•« o« for War- t:.e places in™^^,:!,' ' ". 'j Ifr'""'-^- ^o- =•" liiMx-Tfon, as crowned i„' '.''™ '••'g^'f ^ewn to wards each otherTn ,1 mo ' ''"T'^fy obferve to- queen of PolaS oXT^Ztr^ f^^^" ^''= trnSiBri^rrmrB^r^^^^^^^^^ fore. But that -^ monarch J^ ''"""."S '*''''" ''=" tagesthat might accrue Toh' ^-^'S''^' ^ the difadvan- winter's campailn i™Vcot'„^'™^^^ ''"^^'ding a of the weather kcl.n '',,'^°""try, where the feverity -oft dcf'lt:: t%T%!^°l^t'''-^^'^^ than thi ™.'.t be gained by Vreco:fd";4ot "rSVlf^^ ic I i w§ ( i6o ) it was impomble to improve it, prudently refolml m vvithdraw his army into quarters of cantonment aril there to wait the motions of the enemy. Accor ingly, marflial Keith was ordered to fend off tlie ba ' gage ot his corps on the 21ft of Oaober, the Jiorlo and heavy artillery on the 2 2d ; which was according executed. tjv Mis pruffian majelly left Struppen the 20th, ac companicd witli 10 battalions, to cover the retreat f his bohemian army, and Jay that night at Peterfwaldc and the next at Lenai ; on the 22d, in the morr.i 1' (leaving his battalions at Lenai) went to Lowofclnitz' but returned that night to Lenai. On the 2 .d, eaiK' in the morning, the camp at Lowofchutz broke im blT. !nTl- ','' 'T '"'""^"^' '^'' ^'^^ commanded by m^^mal Ke.th, the lecond by the prince of Pru fia. Marflul Keith detached four battalions by the banks ot the Elbe, to guard the right of the arm and, at tlie lame time, to pick up the detachmen ; placed along the nver : they joined the army at Lenai J he prince of Bevern commanded the rear -uiJ' uuch confifted of eight battalions, iive fqu' diS dragoons and five ot hufllirs. On the left of £ rear ot the army, but at fome dillance, was polio part ot the regiment of leithen huOIu-s to p ev the audnan irregulars trom acting ; they lay th a^ 2'di "''' '^'' '^'^' where they relied the 24di In t!ic mean time, marflial Brown could not well penetrate into the deligns of his pruffian majelly ; but hinking It probable, that he wis making his Vifp litions tor retreating, he fent a detachment of ^coo nu-n, under general Haddick, with a defign to har- ra.s he rear ot the prulllan army , but helound his p.uhan majelly had made fo mallerly a difpofition, thanc^ was in vain to attack him. He according!; 'i;hat monarch had occupied with his ten battalions aii Uic high frrounds about L{~ if tii nd ill ^ UllJi y tun- tinued tinue marc The dorff, waldc was c the E polled tackec pulled after w ahvavs vanced At was qi dered liJbe ai rage poj place fo body of far as vSt unmolefi the coun canton m His n in triumj by the pi cers, on j guards, magnifice mediately tions of t nition, vvi troops wei ^''ig village to be at ^^ich, tha what enha ^"gle mar f i6i ) liorff, encamped there inH fr ' '''""'■■'' ^eu- wa,,lc, and ri^ente;:, S^.l;'"; '^ f !, ^^ ■'^[''"^"- was cantoned between Pirna Zl h U"^'' .'''"■■•■' "'t .i.el-ibe. (ieneral Zaft.ow' wt, hst""'T "'""^ polkd at GilTiiibel and Gotrl .,1 l '^^'gade, was '.eked by the at.ftrian pa'^E': i:,';':? '""■ «^^ "^- pulled with lols, and ,„?r < i' "^ ''"'y *<■'<= fe- ife.- which. d,fl:;a?t: e by h . 'r: '!• '"'^':''""'"<^ - always met with, thev „„ i ''""'^"Pf'<'nthey vanc«l polb of the'Sffian i^f '''""'^'"' "^ -'- At die fame time the was quitting Bohemia, marfl d ''s.h' f-owofchutz dered to ret.nn into SiMa ,?!>?" *''^ "^- lilbe at Jaromiti: : and afr^; , ""' '"'''^■J 'he "gep<=nibie, hemaXd owarrsl'r^ '" "'^- f^ placefome thoufands of hZ l!f,1' '," ' f°"'"'=l' body of his troops attark« E T^"^ '''™' ^ fer as Smirfitz ^ after whth ' "^ ''"''''^ ''"•"' « guards, and took hh rlfin^ " '''S''"™' "'" 'i'"«- ""gnificent palac^. He ^1 ! '^^ '?""' ""^W's mediately on his comL ^^"^ ''^y- ^"^ ini- "onsofLcittaswifcr""'"'^ "^^ ^""ifi^^- "ition, with wh^h it Z fto d ^T T "''' ""'^"- .^roops we,e quartered I^^ the dty an"d T''"',']' ''" ing villages. The number !,f^ , '"^ "t^'glibour- '0 be at Drefd n, enfcd T '''" "^^^^^ 7rh, thatabt,n^lof X^aceoh''"" °f ^°™ Co wmr „n J ., . ,. ™""f colt five crowns. ii„,] «"ele man having farmed^l7'L'\:",?"«P'!,'>'' M tne mills in Saxoiv and ( l62 ) and the bakers were all obliged to have tlieir corn ground at thefe mills -, and although three memorial were prelented to his polilh majeity, requeding a re- medy to fo great a grievance ; yet, fuch was th? inat- tention of that court to the good of its lubjeds, that they rcjeaed them, and the mills continued farmed ^ J he king of Prullia, during his flay at Drefden in order to keep off the enemy's irregular troops' irom making incurfions into Saxony, ordered ditches o be made ten ells broad, and five deep ; and by Jaying trees acrols, made a fort of barricade. IJi inajdty alfo ordered the fortificati ns of the city of Dreiden to be confiderably repaired and augmented and formed a very confiderable magazine the?e for th ' life of h,s troops. That monarch^a^fo fent advice to the lords of the regency, at Leipfick, that they muit prepare quarters for 6000 pru/Iian foot, and a r.^i. mentof horfe, who fbon after made their appeal ancc in tliat city, to the great impoverifliment of the inhabitants. His pru/llan majelly this winter raifed 9000 men in the eleclorate of Saxony, to recruit hi lorccs with. The leader cannot but ftop here one moment to paoreto himfelf thedifmal llateof Saxony With outarovere|gn., and his piiiffian majelly gnvernin. the whole eWorate as abfolutdy as he did'in Br!^,! denburg i obhged to maintain, and even recruit an army ot near 100,000 men; befides the enormmis contributions every where demanded. It is true, the ieventy of the prufiian dilbiphne was fuch, that country luftered lefs from them than they wotild rn%t"h T •■•"? °'he'- •■'^y in the world; but then the hardftiips which the poor pcafants and burgh- e felt, were very terrible, from the licentious dif- dif i, rl f '""q^ering foldiers, which, though fe.'lT'fub& '"■°""^^'' >'""-"W— rper. of I" '''!'■?'""'■"' '"T °^ 'Misfortunes, the only place of .unfunny was Dreiden, where the queen it I'o- Jand nionarch. What I I great pre [ czarina o ^mnil th fuccourino- to do: fo nM/i ,^^ With havin; I land and her family {['lU r f ? i war conrinued at the Ha-ue , n;^ ?"^ ^^"""^^ ^ P^P^r between the kings of PoClu"f^^^^^^^ was to be !cen at DrefJen K u ^'''^ ^^ "^^^^'^g and complaifancc. The kin^ ^i'^ 8'-^"«iteft poJiteneS very fine fet of pifturcs in rl5 , "^'^ admiring a ii/h n^ajedy being informed of ir'^t' F'^T ' ^'^^ P- immediately canned to 2u to' T''''^ '^^"^ ^^ be hand, nothing was wan nc S a,t ' ','" '^'' ^'^^^^ ablenefs of h?r prefent firuar'on rf' '^'' ^^'^^g^^- cers were always prefent it fN« prufiian offi- royal palace, wiiPh pa" d rwTtTr""' ^''"^' '" "^<= between t em and herpolimnni-ftv' '"''."'"J^'e" iiour ; and his pruffian maiVftv -^ 7 '"""'' o*^ 'W- *y in t(„. royal family hauoen/l ^Y"'^'' '"y ''i"''" Ke,tl, to compliment fh qTeent' h '^' ""^"^ "^'■''"' , Mardial Brown i„ rl „^ '.'"' "™'^- j had nothing more'to iTr^omthr' S^'''"^ ""' ^e ter, lent ail his troops nto wlnr P'"'^^"' '^'" «'"- ' mia,. fixing the head'^t uTers p'''""'"^ '" «°'>- His pri,ffian maieftyh,"' -'"£""• properorder, throt,ghotft hhwinfe !!" '''"'^' ""'"§ ''" returned to Berlin from ,i ^"^"'^'■^'"Saxonv. *oie n,emorials ^i cTw IlVh^^'?^'^'' --/ "^ tliofc of his enemies LJ P ,'^'"^' 'n anfwer to the empire, mj u mui k,! of 1'^"''''^°^ ''^"^''f pruffian majefty, Ibme a«d to hfT,^ '^T^^ ^'" to the empire : but a thefr '° '"'"'^'f ^"d others -reg.dcdi„themoftcoS:i;te^;:|— . g-"preSrs Xinr ""^^'""'f ' ^^ *«^ '•^••■rina openly declar d ^rh '" ^"'^^ > the "S^ina the kinc of Pru/n, ""^ '° '"' ^efigned iuccouring her uTjies /.l' ""^" '^^ ?>•«<="« of l''''= ^--ty "•;- P'^paracions. and th,r ,r. " i ^ ^ ^' ^^""der- -''Wtn,at,e;«l:|Vrt]-%'.':!rrm^ M 2 , that H ( 164 ) that qunrtcr. The frenrh alio gave out, at! over Tuj. ropi-, th;kt they intcniled marching a torinidabic army to ihi: anill.iiKT of their ally tin- cmprcfs queen; and the preparations they made on the lion tiers of France indieated ibmc great delign in hand. To defend himlelf againll lb formidable a confe- dcraey, this great monareh was obliged to let his own prcjuriions .or war keep j)ace with thofc of his eiic- niies. 1 Ic made levies all over his dominions, that his troops miglit bear Ibme equality in number to thole of his antagonills. In ihorr, he fhowcd, that his rcfoui-ccs cncreaJed in proportion, as his dangers multiplied. Such w;i5 the end of the fud campaign in Germany ; glorioully linilhed on the pm of his pruffian ma- jdfy. J Jc h;id uifcovcred the unjuil deJigns of his t^nemies, and he did as much as the greatcll kinrr could have done, to prevent their execution. Ik drove his enemy, the king of Poland, out of his he- reclit.u y dominions, imd took polleinon of them him- icU, making his whole army prilbners of war. lie carried the war into countries belonging to the emprcis queen, -ind gained a vidory over her troops. In the paper war which was carried on between his, and his enemies miniflers, at moll of the courts in Europe, he was equally vidorious. In Ihorr, his prulTian ma- jelly aj^peaied every where, and conquell always lor his aucndant. I fhall conclude this chapter with fome accoum of field marlhal Keith, fo often mentioned in it. I'his great man was a native of Scotland, that country having the honour of giving him birtii in 169O. He is delVended from one of its moil aiuient and noble families. He was drawn into the rebellion arainfl his majefty king George the Ift, m 1 715, and behaved with great refoiution and bravery, at the battle of SherrilFmuir. At the liipprenion of the rebellion, . he went into France, -d madicmacics under the cckbratei where hi jx.. iVf. d ih'V L he. let ;!n(l S M. cie over to britannic the rebel into Ruf (■n)j)ire ; ■'Uui fwed wJierein t conduft c forwards 1 i^'terlbur iiiin empi emprcfs J^ tiirone of ■igainil th arter the r With Svveci ( "■'5 ) (krot clic niiiMry p.^. ,,^• ,„, """«" pirlicl ma- lic Itt out on his Mil' TV- ■ •■■'■""' '•"■" ;i.ul Switli:,l,„Kl. (,„ his r,, ; l^-,,^';^""- ''";"-S^.I, of Mull-ovy, who was thnP • ''">'' "'"^•■"• CUT Into his fervlcc, whirl M, •^;"r,"'r""' Wm to I lcw.'.-s a volunteer i, th fc„d ■.,^ ''' "'™ '•'■'■"''^■'l- "«•"•"■'-'■■■ of Vigo, in ti;e;t"''(;'^':T"r'"s rfival a (lan.;erous wound I- JJil?'- !'"" ^^ ''- the court of Madrid, wliere bl ,1 •"'' ''^^*'^'" f diiJ' '"• '"•''■vcd a body of 8000 men ?;',^" '"'^'' «>mmandint. / ^yw men, at the ficFe of ri,--*^), . P great reputation, and recHvinr . '-'f'-ikow, with tor the cure of ^hicl hlZ f "'"' '" ""-■ '"'KI'. over to'London am was verv w n™^"«' ''= "'"« ' i'ritannic n.ajeli;, wo knew in? "''"'"^ "^^ "^^^ fl'c rebellion, by a I "or . '"-' ^^» '"''ced into i"to Runia, peace reSfLr''"': "" '''■^ '«""' «"p.rc; but'a war S ,«'o«T,r'"'-' "•^"Sluhat ami fwedes, theycame to th^. ?"^^"^'^<'^" tli<- ruHlans wherein the foruK pot 1 vi ' ' "^ . Wilmanftrand. i'-rwanls commanded an army of , ''"*"- ''■'"'I'-g, when Cheama'i "r.^io Cio!^""'? """• iian empue was brourrht nboor '" ''"" '"'^• omprefs Kli.abeth, dau^hte; o tc7 ','"' '''••'^"' "'^ t.'irone of R uflia. fie ,, ir" '' '''= grar, on the ■«ainll the iwe.lcs in L 1 ™"?'y»"'l«l an army am-r the revolutio,; On the '",'V°°'^ '*'" ''"O" -1. Sweden. „. cn^prels^^-tlJ^Xl^Z^S ( i66 ) - Stockholm ; and Toon after created him field marflial in the ruffian armies. But taking fome difguft to the rufllan fervice, whofe pay is very fmall, he entered into the fervice of his pruTian majefly, who received him in the mofl gracious manner, made him governor of Berhn, and a field marflial in the prufiian armies ; enjoying a large revenue, and the moll gracious treatment from the king of Pruflia. The firll occa- fion for a difplay of his abilities, in the fervice of his new mafter, was the invafion of Saxony by that mo- narch : and of which I have jufl been endeavouring to prefenc the reader with a clear and diftin(fl view. His genius in the art of war, will appear more fully in the fubfeqricnt tranfacflionr,. CHAR ( '6? ) CHAP. X. Airs in England and Frani-f r>., .•- t .. /• . MMM Byng. It: refolutwm and fentence Th ,M,dcrscf u examined by the houfeof krd's. Vh' admiral executed. Refleaions. N" ^fr \°2;l7 J^ fo e„,emely di/BcuIt to X^ ^ v\,,cc., as tnat which nrLfenrc nc «,;^u ainioft impofi.ble entirely to difpel tiierlnri „r u (curity which cover the motiveV.nir r'^"''" tl>at occaHon many .narkab events rif"^' ou<^ It to he in fl.^ ook- yents. An hiftonan the prejudices of relijo" tn^ '^ ;t,^?hi; own country, will be apt to taint 'he truTh of w narrations. In Aort, fo many "reatand nl 1 " Ms are requite to adorn 4?m d of a c^LTe te tS E'-iS'-r—J.- Tice. ihe advantatres M wiiich ( i6cs of a chan«!,c in the en[j,hni minilliy, ami, coin- ^ entiy, of one in the nn-afijica of the nation. 'V' .'iltonteiu-? of the jH'ople ran very high. throiij2,hoij the kingdom; ihey eoiiM not for^;ct Minorca : one may perceive how imbittercil their minds were, by reading the ad- drefii's whit h were preitnted to the king on that oc- cafion, from moll of the boroughs and corporations in 1' ngjand. B.kI ficu'fs, in the bepjnningof a war, under fiich a government as fubfills in England, is the neceffiry conlequence of a war. France, from the nature of her government, conlKuuly keeps up a great force botii by land and fea ; i'o that, no fooncr has flie re- iblvcd on a. war with any of her neigiibours, thaa iier forces arc ready to march againlL her enemies. In Enghind the cafe is quite diO'ercnt : let a war be ever lb necelVary, a king of Isngland can take no Heps to profecute it, before its neccility and confcqnences are debated in parhament •, and, even when they are ap- proved of, the forces to carry on fuch a war are all to be raifed, (a very few excepted) and difcipliFiedi it is always fome time before fuch troops as thole can be brought to a clear knowledge of their manual excrcife •, without which, every one knows, they can be of but httle ufe ; and when they have acquired a C(Mnpetent dexterity in that part of the art of war, they are not then, by any means, on an equality with veteran troops. From thei'e reafons it is very evident, that France m jll, a] molt in the nature of things, have a great advantage ( i69 ) ,„lvant.iF;e over ImirLukI, i„ the bcRlnnins <>f every w.,r: not only ,....l„n, l,„t ,l,e rcninnbrancc of „,,ll enms w,ll irac, u, ,l,i,, ,,j,.„, of political knowlecuc !u: u ,, ncu-1 ary for ,h. dearer „„clerll,,n,linR < f ,j,. work ^^^^^ The reader nnift not licre expert to fiml tliL, potent k.Mji.erk If. H. had obtained that power ver her, wh.eh an artful n,an will acquire' over a «on,an, b,>ni without Ibength lufiicient to eo- -rn.^yet, w,th conllancy enough to perfill in t, This mincer, who governed I-'raneo with varietv of (ucce', for ,8 years, was formerly a mere I ven'^ turer, without any great pretences tb family, cred t or h.rtune ; by b.rth a gentleman of Ron:-; : his Hr > patron was cardinal Sachetti ; then he became a can tarn of hoife , but being taken notice of by c=^di„ai Antonio Barberrmi, he laid afido the military "nd alTumed the ecclefialHcal habit. He was ajn't for he Irench, at the peace of Cafal. and behavh, " w d ouiage and dexterity, recommended himll-lf to c r Cnal Riche heu, who took him entirely into h s c<>n liJcnce, and procured him a hat froin Rome He Vide Voltaire's Worki had ii'' If -i ( 17^ ) had a fine perfon, an cafy and infinuatingaddrefs, was poircfTed of all genteel accoinplifhrnenfi, had an air of courtefy, and kindnefs, fpoke fenlibly of affairs of importance, agreeably and pleafantly on all other to- picks. In fhort, he was an able flatefman, and a finiflied courtier -, but as for religion, virtue, honour, probity or regard for the people, they were (to fpeak without envy or prejudice) things out of his way ; he did not either pretend to them himfelf, nor was he ilifpedled of having any acquaintance with them by others. On his death tlie adminiftration of affairs fell into the hands of Tellier, Colbert, and de Lionne, who had addrefj enough, by flattering their mafter, to keep their pods for a confiderable time. Colbert was comp- troller general of the finances ; a man of great parts, and moll cx-tenfive genius : the war which preceded the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, concluded in 1668, was carried fuccefsfully through the abilities and ad- vice of this minifter ; who always kept the revenue'; of France in mod excellent order : by that treaty France gained feveral important towns in Flanders. But the greatnefs of Colbert's genius is befb feen in the grea: encouragement he gave to trade and manu- fadures -, it was through his management, that France became a maritin^e power. It v/as really affonifnin- to behold the fea-ports, Wx.ich before v»cre deferted and in ruins, now furrounded by works which were at once both their ornament and their defence ; cover- ed alfo with fhips and mariners, and containing al- ready near fixty large men of war. New colonies un- der the protedlion of the trench flag, were fent from aU parts into America, the Eart-Indie.^s, and the coafts of Africa. Thefe were the great effeds of that able miniiter': adminlllration, more for the advantage and glory of France than all the founding conquelts of Lewis XIV'. Bu. ( ^71 ) But the affairs of that nation cock a very fatal rh.n > in the war chat monarch went into m r T' grandfon on Che throne of Snafn ''''^.\[''PP.^'^ his Uo had formerly cond.ffi:,ff^r;^^ glory, were now all dead, and in heTr .i ^"'^ ZuLK 'nd T'' ^' ^'^ ^^^^CZ^ j^uxemDurg, and Turenne, no Jona^r ^« ^"^ac, ■he armies of France; military Sine T' '^ foul of arn^.«, was utterly neel»S n ""^ was ruined, and al! trade was afaftl^' -r, '"''"'"■ of Utrecht raved the nation fto" nSefcuffiP"" Dunng the regency of the dt,ke of Orleans Fr. recovtred her e f confidenhl,, ,i . ^f"^^"'. trance flration was certain^ he7.4 ' ,"'f P"T'' "dmini- reft of the kini tn'^of Lv t '"'/f'^ ^°' "'^ '""- jndhis p,a„ f^ C-: 7^ was' ffl'LS'ti ^irtrkit^ir^^^e^st-ran-^-^^"' tional debt, by fome c^TrnL ^ ^n 'm^^enfe na- L J 1 .,.. ■'^ jurne caicuJated to he n^ir *.u hundred millions fcling : everyone knn u^'7 *rr itioV'Lfe .^'-^'^pp' "ch:^t! t *ft™ai.earrhTSrn^x^^■o"tt••d f vet the nat on in o-pnf.r^] ^-,- j° V^, individuals, -1 fro. that peS.":!ef ; tarctS> ' ^ ga:nmg her credit, commerce, and now" a^ T bfg.nn,ngof the war of ,,. fte wJ " • ' "'= too powerful tor the repofe o^f^Europe bv f " '7".'' that power was not To fn,-,^-^ u. P ' °y''^ indeed, «nc/it is ve;"c^ttj™t 'i::;^: ''/'-f^ whole naval powrr of p'nr,.. ivi ^ § °* "■' 'he ferry ftips of' war of all f?.. ^'^ ."°1 ^"""ft of quite vcryfhoftof ,Xtt Is'rtI ""'"'^'- "'^^'^ " ^ fat century, ye 's LTd I "■ °P'"'"g <^' ^'>= P-e- fend, had oV7h, namrj T"°\'° ""^ f"''^^ ^^'^ XIV. And thfconCce ZT '^' '"fi" °^ ^-^^''^ muchinferioro^ZTiha^ .'"''• "'°"g'' '' *« What It had been, was yet -certainly VC ^7 ( ^72 ) very confideraHV ; for ]M-ancc loll by that w.ir, in Its trade, two hundred millions of their money, which makes above nine millions three hundred thoulknd pounds of ours : by which we may perceive, that their trade was arrived at a furprifing height v but then we allb find that it was reduced by tiiat war to nothing. After the conclufion of the peace, the french mi. niftry continued to load the kingdom with exorbitant taxes, to pay thole debts they hatl contracted durino the war ; but the miferable condition of the nation at that time, was fuch, :hat they could not afford fo large a part of their property, as was nccefHiry to difchargc them ; fo that France at the commence^ ment of the late war was burdened with very near the fame debts, as Ihe was at the conclufion of the preceding one. With England the cafe was different. This nation indeed, was burthened with a very heavy national debt ; but then Hie enjoyed a more extenfive and flourifliing commerce \han France, and her naval power infinitely exceeded that of her enemy. Yet thcfc advantages we find were ballanced at the be^ ginning of the war, by the advantages which the go- vernment of France has over a limited one in military proceedings. This was the cale in the war of whidi I am fpcaking ;, hitherto, very inditfcrent iuccels had crowned the attempts of the britifti nation •, Furope, Afia, and America, were equally the unfuccefsfui the- atrcs of our military affairs. Ihis bad fuccefs, although it Jepended in part on the natural confequences of the w ; -, yci the miniltry then at the helm of afiair> in this king^lom, certainly did notfhewthoie abilines, and refolution, that were necelfary to carry on fo great ;in undt .taking as a war with France. In England a iiini^er always makes a very bad figure at the eve of a war. h: is the nature of our conlliturion, to have :ji oppofition to every miniflfT's C ^7Z ) mlnlflcr's mcafures, carried on in parli thi , , . , r ..-mment ran extreme y h,gh at the beginning of this war • ever fince the lols of Minorca, which refleaed fj much d.fgrace on the britim ,,adon, the kingdom in general wifheci ardently for a change, both of mini- Iters and mcalures. The cfiefts of this general difcontent were {oon perceived ; for we find, that in the begin^iin^ of nn- vember, his majeity was pleafed to make the follow- ing alterations in the minillry ; the duke of Devon fliirc was made firiUord comminionerof the treafurv' in the room of the duke of NewcalUe, ^ ho was cre^' ated a ckikc of Great Britain by the title of the duke of Nenycadle under Lyne, in the coLiity of Stafford Ihe other commilHoners were, the right Lon. irvirv Ug-^. Robert Nugent, efq. the lord vifcount Dun cannon, and the hon. James Grenville. The rio-ht hon Henry Legge, was alfo appointed chancellor Sid iindei- tre;iiurer of the Exchequer. Tjic rio-ht lion I tlie earl of Ilcheiler, and James Creffert, c^ were I made comptrollers of the accounts of Jiis mljellv's nnriy Ihe new commillioners of the admiralty were Richara earl of Temple, the hon. Edward liof- cawen 1 emple Weft, and Joiin Pitt, efqrs. Geori^e Hay, E.L.D. Thomas Orby Hunter, and (Gilbert IJhot, elqrs. T'lv riglit hon. George Grenville, was made treafurer of his majeity's navy. Eaj-l 'Ter^cle bnl Mansfield, Jolm vilcou .t Bateman (treafurer of li.s majelty's houflK>ld) and Ridiard Edgecombe I dq. (compm^ler of his i.i.Jef.yls houfhold) were I Iworn of tne privy counci' John lord ? rkelev I was made capta'n of hi. . ojefty's band of p.nfioneri^ ihe ngnt hon. vVills H.il, earl of HilfboroucWi, in ■x'land, was created a baron of Great Britahi, bv t^^ "^^^"^^^ ^^ir George Lyttletoi;wai luatcd Baion Lytdeton. T he 4th of dccember frtl- l^'V'ing, his maiefty appointed the right hon. WH- i'^^ni Put, to be one of h=s majefty's principal ie- crctaries ll'.- ( ^74 crclanes of flatc, in the room of the riplit hor Jienry J-ox, who rcfigncd. 'J'his principal le party who were now piiHied out of tl th finding the current run fo a amongit le ininiib -, ^ '■"'U^\^^"" /• ■ '''''^^' '^^^^ of Madeira, Jhe wa^ cliafed by two french men of war, but efcaped by means of a calm. ^ ■ They next cruifed oft'thecoallof Galicia in Spain- and on the 26th of december in the morning, dii- covered a lail ; t ley gave chace under ipaniih coburs ; at 12 got vyithm gun-ihot, when Ihe fired a pihi upon which the antigallican took down Ipanilh^^anci ung up enghlh colours, on whicli the enemy ^ave itn^\ rf "'"^'' and killed three men, but had no uin till the enghlh captaii >.va, clofe along-fidc, here he engaged till three, when Ihc (truck." Sk b n \%V" *^;^^^ d^'l^^nthievreKaU-indiaman, bound lail from Madagalcar, and commanded b;.' cajKaia '■ig'it lion. •1, amongit e inir,iitrv'. n, thoughf light JiaVi; iblilh liini- )re gc-ntral iqiiruiron?, ticiilar; it IS; it wai K."n a mcr- can priva- 208 men; rter, 8I1!' '. About the Ma- elt- Indies, ; 30 men; n hour Hie 300 1. A ihow, of ine, bale ^i at near ^> Hie was leaped by ( '/ 5 } cptain Villcnruf; was „,,wards of ,000 tons l,i,r- ,n,-n w(-,- kill,-:^ ,1, , '"<-ricnch captain and 12 men wi.c k.Ucd, tlie (ccond captain ll.ot throiitrlvithe ftoiildcr, and .7 morcwe.e wonndcd. Capt^Va^r l„lt ,2 men and 2 6 wot.ndcd. TIk- captain ^oM for Cad.z, w),ere Itc: „,ct with vc y di a ",cAblr treatment, for ti.c (paniard. in the 4nch\n -aft tosctheT w,ih the trenc;h conltds infilled t t fe cluljc de Penthievre was taken within gnn-H.ot f t e eoaftot hpam; the truth of this diel",„t appe ■ ' together 10 clear; but if it was lb, the hehl^k ,• of the Ipaniards n, the afihir was unprececiented "nd contrary- to the laws of nations : a rtfpttne with St, tin at that t.mc, wcndd have been of 'very h ,0 ' quence; lo tl|e reltit.ition of the prize^va ' 'ej to by tlie cnghlh tninilb-y. ' ^ "-li agictd Such was the ilfue of an affair wliich made much no,le, andoccahoned very Jt,lt oblervation^, on he p m l,ty of the Ipan.ards to our enemies the frnrcr » Inch fome were pleali;,! to attribtm- to the dil ^1' wluch the nation lulh.ined in the lols of Mi o ca :.ncl that eertanily with (ome realon ; for the Ih I'dJ v.fre tlie hr I nation who expoied their furp ^ t io linage an a fair as the conqued of Minor a I an peared verv llranse in their eyes, that the nio'lC , ow' crtul inaruiine nation in the world, lliould iX To ignominious a lols. IVvcn at this day, it "not clearly proved whetli.r the indiaman wis a lawfu 'r, lut the iriesiilarity with which the Ibaniiivk 2 " wT'n"' 'f ''^- «bla,red the tranlacl ■'^ ,t ta , was illegal, and hilly proved liow partially t «• iika towards the french. ^ ^ >' But it is now time to "ive the rf-,!., r^,,^. of the proceedings in P^Siamtt. for w^"", "ool- mco them to perceive tie importa'nnpr; gs T^r^h great machine of the britilli piwer! Th- 1 .7 gull ani-aibly met on the- .vj of dco^mber, w ; Z :i::iic::v ■■•■V m ( i7^> ) m:i)c'Ay came with the iifual (late, and made a mod gracious Ipcech to both houfcs ; and received as du" tifutand attedioiiate addrelles. His majcfty mentioned his Juving fent the hano. vcrian troops home, and in tlie lords addrefs lie was thanked lor bringing them over-, but it occalionv-dii warm debate in the houle ; however, as his majcllv had fent for them at the rcquell^ of his parlianicnr, the thanks were at lall agreeti to *by tiie majority of the houfe. But in the addrefs of the commons, no fiich paragraph of thanks appearetl. In puriliance of what was mentioned concerniiip tJiem, in liis nwjeliy's Ipecch, we lind that tJie ha- Jiovcrians were fent home ; and in tliat n^.anner ended part of a meafure wliich reHefted io fiuich diflionour on the nation ; and will always be reniembered in the annals of Britain with regret. But it was not yet thought fealonable to part with the heflians. I'hcy were ordered into winter quai'ters. Indeed there was nothing in l\ngland at this time but vvore a gloomy appearance. It is a very giat prefumption, tliat the alliiirs of a nation dois not ^q well, when there arc many court mai tials and boards of enquiry; this was the cafe in the beginning of this war in England. His iriajellv by a warrant ciaiat november the 2 2d, direded lir jcjhn lagonier, ^e- neral Hufl^e, and general Cliolmondeley to enquire into ihc condud of major general Stuart, and the colonels Cornwallis, ancl tlie earl of Effingham. The charge againft them, was their not joining their re- fpedive commands in the ifland of Minorca. Tlu- board met december the b'th, and were alfo to en- quire, whether they had ufed their utmoil endeavour to throw themfelves into fort St. Philip's ; and why, being only pafiengers, they affiftcd at the lea council ot war, v/hich adviled Mr. Byng to return immedi- ately to Gibraltiu'. The I 16 Loonier, w- ( ^77 ) The three officers made much the f^ime defence • ^„ thty proved that t was nnr in tU • «-icrence , I MmL before MrZnT'^C ?,^7''\ '" '^^' "^ I not throw the,nlHves kto I V n 'V' ''"-'y ""''' ainiling at the co ,n i rf Z ?" V"''' '■' f" '''"^ ed as they thought they wore bound to co onemt^^^ with the fea officers, to the utmoft of theh" .owe • for the advancement of his maicUv's fervle r ' to uy, that I have been now upwards of ir "frfcrvice "n'f^'^ ''-ice, and'empLy:!. ^ " fl„f If l,,o I "yy-^'^ ^"" Itandmg in the armv- " ourf of mv r "^ Sood fortune, during th^ tourit of my fervice, never to have had a ret,ri "T ;h;77 ' '•^'^"^■'/«"" ^nyfuperioroffic^e': " 1 federal Jener.'''^'^' '"""■• ''^ <"-- ""'< " au rv n ,f ,-'!?7''' ^'Pl'ointed for this en- i.".nbly fub„,i„ed it to hil', ' eft^'t't, ^^l J;,Tn'i" mous opinion, that the conchir4 rJ lu ^" .\ ""'^P'" gonen,, and colonels w^s dealt.nf a^n'/fS^i^ d.lch«hence of orders, or negleft of diL ^ pu tionr^; "'' *'"/" ^^'^ 'i'^"^ i" fh^ "("".^l pre- lupptu on the Cth of laiuiaiy, by one of tlic m^ii Operate attempts recorded in hift.frj? Is t le khm «s-^mg from Trianon to VerlhillL. to vik ma^ Clam dc Vic%ire ; about fix n the evenin.'de us way to the king's perli,n through hec^uards' "-. hi. raajefty on the right lide, of wi'ich how- ever. N I Ill' 1"' l„ 1, ( >7^ ) ever, he only complained, by laying, " That man (C (C has Riven me a violent blow, he mufl b e either mad or drunk." But liaving perceived that his hand which he chij^ped to Jiis lide, was bloody, he iaid, " I am wounded •, leize that fellow but don't " kill him. His majefty was immediately carried to his apartmei :. The wound, (which from the firlt was not tliought dangerous) was given with a fliarp }Dointed knife, which glanced upwards between the fourth and fifth rib, but was not of any confiderablc depth i and at the firfb dreffing, it was even judged that the cure would be fpeedy. That night the k'uvr flept an hour and a quarter, and every day recovered more and more. The day after the king received the wound, the dauphin was charged with the admini- Ib-ation of the kingdom, and prelided in the council of ftate during the king's illnels. The next day, all the prefidents and counfcllors of the parliament, affembled, and deliberated on the event •, and in the evening they carried to Verlailles the deliberation. ^ Tlie wretcli, Robert Francis Damien (for that was his name) v;as born in J 714, at Arras j in 1738 he married, and had a daugliter by that marriage. Hi^ brother was immediately taken into cuflody. His father v/as Rill living, in the 85th year of his a^^e. The procels againft him was begun at Verfailles, and the conclufion of it was, that his father, wife and daughter, Ihould quit the kingdom for ever-, but as for himlelf, humanity v/on't permit me to recite the barbarous fliocking cruelties which were made life ot at his execution, to torture a poor wret«:h, who plainly appeared, by his trial, to be mad. The preparations which were making by France, convinced the britifii miniilry, th:it the war England was engaged in, would prove a contint .tal'^one, The french were drawing their troops together from all parts, into two camps on the frontiers of Flanders, wiiich Icemed, by tlieir fituation, to contain armies lie- ftined ( 79 ) ftillcd to aft in GciTmn,, r i 1 • :.: all the courts of K^' f.' ,/'"'?"' '^ «'••'' l'<-!icvcd, in the lprin'•■ ''■™^'' following „ieffi,Se belnc fctirTw , "' '•' T"^'"" ''«= laretary Pitt, tS thchlc , > '"' '"•■'■i'^)'' V Mr. fcbruary, 1757, viz. ^ ^"'nions, the 17th of " George R. 4'^t^X:J\:;:i^;^-,;^- ^i^ n,aie.y afe united councils and f^rn Xwe ! ^^''^ ' ^^"^ ^'^ "'= ;.nd her allies, tlnx-atenrtkh Sci^ft'T^""^'''^""-' lequences, Europe in ^nernl , f ■'™i'U; con- juUand vindiaive Cp^vn ' ' ^'"^ 'f '''^^ '""«""- 'imdy bent ^i^W^^^l^^'f't'^ ^^'^ i"'^^- aiul thofe of £s Ltd • f;'> l'''''^""'''""""»"s, -J.-lty confides il^ h e "l-r er- h'^^ 1 ^'T'"'" ' '"^■ rfln-s faithful common?, " ^"' .■■"-' ^Si-clion «bfervation, for Th "loft a„' "^ P.'elcrvation thereof- n i f^ ,"'';^':'"^"-y.'J^fcnce and "« engagements wi.h the Tit: '? 'S^''^''^^ ^'^ ^"'f'l tarityoYthe empire aAi n h!. "^•^'"'"^ ^''^ 'h«= '■^ign armies, and Ibr the ' "■''^'""' "^ &- at,fc. ' "* '"' '''•- '"PPWt ot the common G. R." , %™ ■ "S thr^ tf r' -,.f ---tee of l"%i^% ^00,000 for he „r' ,':<^'t' '■'^." S'-ont his '" it. Let IS for TJ/^ P"'-P"!";herein mentioned '■ this nu-al e ,'d we ^ nl"''!'-"-'-; '"^^ ^he utility i'aendedi,o idc'i^^'j; '^".' Y'' ^^^ "llwhat lon-.e iurt ' "> i i iv ( iSo ) furc; wlicn firft the britifli minilliy fcized the fliips of France, that that nation would revenge itfelf by at- tacking Hanover, and it certainly was conlbnant with laws, human and divine, to refolve to defend it, con- fidering the unhappy hanovcrians were forced into a deilrudtive war, on our account, without havin'-; more to do with the troubles then in Europe than the in- habitants of Lapland; and, as the meafure wasjuft and neccflary, it was alfo neceffary to form an army of obfervation, for that purpofe. 1: lis royal highnefs the duke of Cumbciland was appointed by his ma- jefty for that command •, he embarked at Marvvich the 9th of april, in his way to Hanover, where he arrived fafe : and where I fliall leave him till I come to give an account of the operations of th troops under his command. The naval affairs of England at this period, were not of great eclat. The french were extremely bufy in fitting out two great fleets at Brell, and port I'Ori- ent •, the englifh minillry had taken care to have a fuperior one lying of? Breft harbour, under the com- mand of fir Edward Hawhe, who, in thatftation, fiic- cecded Mr. Bofcawen, and had diipatched admiral Weft with 1 1 fail of the line on a cruife to the weft- •ward : But all thefe precautions did not hinder a french fquadron getting out of Breft, and the other likevvife from port I'Orient. The one convoyed troops for the weft, and the other fet fail for tl>e Eaft-Indies. The former was under the command of M. de Beau- fremont, and confifted of fixteen fail of the line, and five frigates, carrying between 5 and 6000 men on board. Another french fquadron, under the com- inand of M. de Reveft, a french admiral, alfo failed from Toulon for America •, admiral Saunders was then at Gibraltar, with an englifli one, and was informed that the french appeared off" Malaga, upon which he went, with five Ihips, in purfuit of them ; the 5th of april he faw the french, and, being to leeward, formed a line, ( i8i ) line, as did the enemy, and fonie of the (hips beran to engage at a d.ftance ; bnt before the reft Rot up tuy loft fight of the frcnch, and could melt^Z' hc-m no more : what was pecyliarly unfortunate was Mr. Saunders's not being a^ble to prevent KveftpaS .iR the Stre,ghts, which he did, in his way to America Iheenghfh Weft-India fleet, under admTralTown: Ihcnd, at this time, confifted of four (hips of the line and tiiree fngates : it was very furprifing that he bnt,lh nnniftryhad not fent a greater force to tha? (htion, efpcally as there were fo many french fqua- drons ready to fad. ^ ■ In the Eaft-Indies a much brighter fuccefs at- tended the bnt.fl, arms. Mr. Watfon, the engim, admiral who commanded in the Eaft-Indies, ffikd Jof^he if • °"."V= '^'^ °^ '^°^"' "i'h three b of the hne and fome frigates, for Bengal, and after a ted.ot.s voyage arrived, december ?he 'th, a the port of Balafore. in the kingdom of Ben.a w ere ftrengthemng his force with^ha. ecruits^he could draw together, he entered the Gan<.es, and colonel Clive to attack it by land : the conquefl; "nopal fettlement of the company in Bengal, and e Hene of the deplorable fufferings of fo Siany of o_i,r unfortunate countrymen. The troops and failors. a. the very Hght of the place, were animated with re- enge, and attacked it with fo much b ery, that tl>ey became mafters of it the verv -lay it wL an prc^ched and found in it four mo'rtars,% guns ^f dAerent llzes, and a conftderable quantity of all kinds d Hr"'".°'\ ^^ ' ^7 '^'y' afterwards, they burnt nd deftroyed the cty of Hughley, together with the S;7o^Sobfarr;:'^'^^^''^^^-^^^ N 3 Tha ^'9fV ^ai A/. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) M // W.r / !.0 I.I 1.25 It iia ■ 10 !r I'D 22 2.0 1 1.8 M. 11.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation \ ^> •<^\^ 4- ■% \ \ ^ 6^ m.^ r^ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ^ C/a I if V if 1^ ::f M^.f ( 182 ) The nabob, in the mean time, finding howvklcriouj the englii'L arms were, when oppofed only by garq, ions of Indians, marched down, on the 2d of february 1757, with liis whole army, confifling of 10,000 horfp and 12,000 foot, with a defign to driv^-' the cnglini from their late conquers. Col. Clive imme- diately demanded of the admiral a detachment of fadors, to come to the affiflance of the land forces • accordingly the rdmiral detached capt. Warwick with a parry. On receiving this reinforcemet, the colonel determined to attack the nabob in his camp, althouc^h he was fo much fuperior to him in numbers. On the 5th, he pur this bold defign in execution ; the vicflory was complete, the nabob being obliged to quit the field of battle, fmce none of his troops could Hand againft the defperate bravery of their enemies. The confcquenceof this battle was, that the nabob made propofais of peace to col. Clive, which were agreed to. By thi-^ treaty the englifh Flaft-India comuany were re-eftablifhed in the poircfTion of all its fettle- ments and privileges, an immunity from all taxes was granted, and a reftitution promifed of all that the company had fuffered at the taking of Calcutta. The war with the indians bemg thus for a while concluded, the admiral thought he could not better employ his forces than by attacking the fettlementof the trench at Chandernagore, fituated fevcral miles higher up the river than Calcutta, being a place of confiderable ftrength and importance, and one of the greateft which the french had in that part of the Eaft- Indies. Col. Clive, for this expedition, put himfelf at tlie head of 700 europeans, and 1 700 blacks, and tne aumirals Watlon and Pocock commanded the fleet, which was to fecond the operations of the land forces. To prevent an attack from Iliippino-, the french funk feveral large velTcls in the rivei^; but this intended precaution was of no fervice, for Mr. Watlon ( ^h ) \\Won having diligently founded the river fonnrl . fafe pafTage, without weighin- im .nvnfth l r^ that on the 24th he failed nn ^aI f l^^ ^'P' ^ ^^ the place, the' fan. bdng Zn.to^tl "^''^'V' teries on thefliore that ir rw/ i j ' ^^'^^ ^ '^^t- They had in the 4 too S ™o' "f ''';^-\''°"- europcans, and 700 blacks ; "^'"piec.s of V "'''' from 24 pounders and down;ards'; Zrcl fill"™"' tars, and a confiderable auanrirv „f • ' '"°'^- Thi5 D-i-Mt (;,„ r H™,""ty of ammun t on. bob, though he had n3* p^ace wfth d" '''' "'■ «ot .0 be trufted ; and wmild bSTt on L fi ft' ""', abk of their body v/hich were t^e wilft -^onfider- be put in execution againftXe n^' b r! """■ '° intentions, by not execu in "^ , , ^'^ '^'^■" '"^ "^="1 5 '-';' nuL execiuino: the ate frp-rv «« r • vok>us pretences. It was refolved tha r'S ' a ^"' pedient nianner of brin-in.. hil^ r„ r "'"'^ ^''- lorce of amis • accorH nii^ , '^^"'""' "'^s by i.i.., a fch";^; fu rof ?1^^ t:i ^r^"^ '" «tack :-^^"™nr;rnt^"lT^^^^^ cne'of hf °oftl'r,^a7 ""^ ^^''^ '"-^ ('-'"ore, was Perienc'ed e vi^i nee and o rfi') '""".™i"' '"^ ex! >vc.e all dircontented w^l^hf ''"^'"^""^P^^^they '^"lythemoft connderabJe o%^"''"T"'' P'""''^"' l'»» hour, loit her forc- ■'" 'i': iiliniiiLSthe fi*"^ T'' "'^^ "- ^''-■"'. the (UJ ' " iff! ■ *n-;'-r I ( 188 ) thereardivifionof thebritini fleet from clofing with and engaging the enemy, by his fhortening fail. * 20. It is the opinion of the court, that inftead of ihortening fail, the admiral ought to have made the Trident and the Princefs Louifa fignals to make more fail ; and he ought alfo to have fet fo much fail him- felf, as would have enabled the Culloden to have kept her llation, in order to have got down with as much expedition as poflible to the enemy, and thereby havs properly fupported the van divifion. . ^ 23. It appears, that when the firing had been con- tinued a little while in the Ramillies, an alarm was given, of a fhip being clofe under her lee-bow, which proved to be the Trident -, upon which the admiral ihortened fail, and ordered his men to ceafe firing till they fhould fee french colours. 24. It appears, that the Princefs Louifa was alfo feen about the fame time, upon the weather- bow of ^he Ramillies. 25. The court are of opinion, that while the Ra- millies was firing, in going down, the Trident, and Ihips immediately a-head of the Ramillies, proved an impediment to the Ramillies continuing to go down. 26. The court are of opinion, that the admiral afted wrong, in dire(^ing the fire r^ the Ramillies to be continued, before he had placed her at a proper diftance from the enemy j as he thereby not only threw away (hot ufelcfsly, but occafioned a fmokfj which prevented his feeing the motions of the enemy, and the pofition of the Ihips immediately a-head of the Ramillies. 32. The court are of opinion, that after the fhips, which had received damage in the adion, were as much refitted, as circumftances would permit, the admiral ought to have returned with the fquadron off St. Philip's, and have endeavoured to have opened a communication with that callle j and to have ufed every every ilnj and to a/n iliips, whi Jicv'e." ^ 37' Ref f'eath, wit, the court, iie be adjuc on board ft admiralty { dence of Smith, cap ^'ip, who ' tliey did no ( 189 ) french /hips, wWch it was hifZ ^S*" "''^ 'he 35. Ic appears, b/ Z vit'cV^f trdTl!- ' Bertie, lieutenant colonel '^,^:^ll , ™ Robert and by other officers of the Z' »?'"" '^^^'''"^^ perfon of the admiral, that thev'n^ """" "''' ''>= backwardnefs in the admi.,1 ^ i*^""' P^''^e'>eany anymarksof fear orconf fi • ''"""§*« ^^Hon, or tenance or behaviour uf^L^^'/™"^ '^'"°""- I'is orders cooly and diftind^w . ^ 'l^'^^med to give ir.g in perfonal coura 4 ^' """^ ''"' "°' ^'^"^ wtnt- de/fhe^fSg'jftt?:;!™"-' wears to fa„ „„. "it. " or n,all not'^do hfs utmo,i """t °^ '"''' '» every ft,p, which ifl,,"nh'°, ""^^ 0' deAroy f to affill and relieve al and eve„nf^> '° ""^^age; %,which it fl^aii be hiX'to°?fl-r.^:s^'! kc court, under any variation ^f • '"^^'firetion of >- be adjudged to bl Z^Td^,i,"lr^r'''' '""' . on board fuch fliip as the L f ' " f""^' '""e, and : f m«lty ftall d^^ BJttTaT"''T' "^ ">= . (fence of lord Robert R,r,- .PP"^" ''y '''« "■- i '"iA, captain Ga?dh"r andlh'""'T"^ ^°'°«1 % "ho were near tre'rfi'f^^^ °f ^''e the , ^%'l Wii: » , p., : M ...^ .iOii ( igo ) the aftion, Or any marks of fear or confufion, citlicr from his countenance or behaviour, but tliat he feenieJ to give ills orders cooly and diflindlly, and d,d not leem wanting in perfonal courage, and from other circumitances •, the court do not believe, that his mif. condudt arole either from cowardice or difaftedion • and do therefore unanimoufly think it their duty moft earneftly to recommend him as a proper obiea: nf mercy. j yi At the fame time that thefe refolutions were tranf rnittcd to tlie lords of the admiralty, the members of the court drew up a reprefentation to that board which, as It IS a very remarkable paper, 1 flmll prefenj the reader with it at tull length. " We the undcrwritten,1heprendent and members ot the court martial, afiembled for the trial of admi ral Byng, believe ii unneceflary to inform your lord- Ihips, that in the whole courfe of this long trial we have done our utmoft endeavours to come at truths and do the Ihiaeft jultice to our country and the prifoner; but we cannot help laying the diilrefTes of our minds before your lordHiips, on this occafion, i^ finding ourfelves under a necefTity of condemning a man to death, from a great feverity of the 12th ar- tide of war, part of which he falls under, and which admits of no mitigation, even if the crime fliould be committed by an error in judgment only j and there- tore, for our confciences "fakes, as well as in juftice to the pnfoner, we pray your lordfliips, in the moll earnelt manner, to recommend him to his majeftv's clemency. We are, &c. Dated Jan. 27, i y^y. Such were the refolutions of this court martial • and fuch their reprefentation to the admiralty. The reader no doubr, in his perufal of them,has been much furprifed to find the admiral's judges condemn him to death, for his falling under part of the 12th article of war, and moft earneftly recommending him to his; majefty, Hon, citnor it lie feemccf yi clid not from other lat his mif. ifaffecflion •; - duty moli r objedl of were tranf- nembersof liat board, tiall prcfent d members 1 of admi- yoiir Jord- ; trial, we ' at truths, y and the liftrelTcsof :cafion, In iemninga : 1 2th ar- and which fliOLild be and there- in juftice the molt majefty's majclty, as a proper obiec^ fnr „,« reafon fur this ientence is th/ f "''^ ? '"'^ '^^^'^^ of war. But here I nn ft J T'''^ ^^ '^''' ^^ficJe pedl certainty or deriin baH " '^'"''^'^^ "o. toex- as naturally arifefrom aduLonH^J ''T'^'^ ^"^'^ I affair. '^"'^ confideration of tiie wlioJe The 1 2th article of war runs — cc p the fleet, who, through cowr-^. ^""''l P''^^^ in ^ chMedion /l.all, in ttmeTa^^n LfT"^' °^ being conviacd thereof h„ li r ' *^'^- &c.— and hnartial, fl,all fufe Xatif " "'^ "^"'^"-^"^ of a court '{in his defence, wh ch is n. ^^"'- .^'- %"g. bring any perfon within the peHl of ;■,'" °^''," '» mult be convifted of cowardfce „ ,-^" ^""''' ^^ aMion ; for .hot,gh hlwi A^''S'""' °' ^if- amft, &c. nnlefs thit f,u?, ™' '° «"gage or one of thefe Vfe h irnJ,?"'","^P™">=d^ '^-n cannot be taken in fo t^l a f Lf'^-N^Sligence 'ort of ne.lea or omiffi'g; ! b« Vt.cr "'?" '^"^^^ genet on y, as evidenrlv ;„ r " 8™'^ "^8 i- Sftaion. ^^'^l^^ntly indicates cowardice or dif- Lf t me in the ni—t ^ ' .r,. «i,r martial, in their ' • " obferve, that the court cowardice or difah r"' "'^^"''^ ^'"^ from Jo not believe, th. ' f T ''. " '^"''^ '^''"ri: cowardice or difaffe !- ^ "^^^" from 'ten condemn hi,n oniv „ ',".''^1"'="''y ''"^X could word equally mean, te n I "^8''g«ce ; that , cowardice or difafiSionrfF"'' °"alioned by ,q"'tshimof;and as to , ,Tr 5 , ■"' «''« court ac- J^ft opinion of it' when l''' r''^ ^°'"'"^ " ^^ry "Ity the great l^Uv 'i'V''"''''^,"'^^ '° ''''■ ^'J'"*" ,:l>ich admits of no mitiLr ""' '"'^'"^ "^ ^^^^ >'"W be committed bl^' '^'" '*' "'= ^''^-'^ lonly. '""""^ t-y any error in judgment In if ' \ ( '92 ) in the 7th f folution of the court mariial» they are of opinion, that the admiral ought to have pur the officers on board one of the frigates he fent a-head to be landed. But it ought here to be remembered, that when the fleet arrived otf Minorca, feveral of thelbips were difperfed i and the officer? belonging to the garrifon were diftributed throughout the dillcrent Ihips of the fleet ; and could not have been put on board one of the frigates at that time, without fome hours delay i when, at the fame time, the fleet was aivancing with a frelli gale of wind, and fair for the harbour. Would it not have been very injudicious in the admiral, when the enemy's fleet appeared fteer- ing towards ours, and was i nown to be fuperior to it, to*weaken his own force * ; 'fpecially as his fleet was badly manned, and fickly, for the men belonging to the frigates were neceflary, and were aduaally di- ftributed to reinforce the I'ne of battle ftiips : the enemy were at that time mafl:ers of the harbour, and it: might have been regarded as an imprudent ftepto hazard fo many officers in a fingle frigate, under that circumftance. In the 37th refolution of this court martial, they are of opinion, that the admiral ought to have re- turned, after the adion oft' St. Philip's, and have en- deavoured to open a communication with the caftle, before he returned to Gibraltar. I muft, on this re- folution, remark, that after the adion, the enemy's fleet was fecn feveral times lying between the englilli fleet and the harbour, fo that it wps impoffible to at- tempt it, wi'hout coming to a fecond battle. The iiench fleet had not, to appearance, fufl'ered any di- » Mr. Weft, in his evidence, fays, that the garrifon of St.Philip'J was to look on the englifti flee; at that time as its proteftion, as far as it miglu be fuppofed able to proted it ; therefore, the weakening the force of the fleet would have been highly inexcufable, under the circumftance of feeing rhe enemy's fleet, as well as by expoling the engliCi fleet to that of the enemy, who was at that time, inmy opinion, liiperior to it. . . minution '?>Hrii.i-'^r ; ( 193 ) tninlitlon In Its force • whrrpi? fmu n . .„dc.d incapable of jt^^ l^^^^^^Jt^"^ mtJanu arrived there, it couK not be liov^H Hn«,n of war. o^.>,U:,e ^^t:^ d'^^'t^"^ una,umouny of opinion, that it was for I is maic%-'! femce to proceed 'lircftly to Chraltar. A^d j,' ■svcry remarkable, this council of war was taken no notice ot in the refolutions of court martial • As ^. • I ft.n here beg Ica.e „ give a few ft„„ ex„aa, from Ae i^dmiral Weft was aflced %s would have bee,,Tfbr J> n ^' ^•^*' ""■" S"""'^""' '^^' ^^e Ms.. Wo. I think not ' " ^"S^S^ 'h« ^"^"ly's fleet? When in fight > ^ ' '^"''"^'"S to attack the enemy's fleet. ci ::s' ^15::::: t;^.;:[ t ^^£:„t 'ic^^'-'t ^-'^ f^^ °'^- even they might have beeHf more uf tha^'l' ^Z "'"^ 5'""^'' were at that time very neceflhrv 4 thl f . ^1"^' ''''^ "'"^ ■ therefore not to be LrrZ -^ , ^''''''^^ °^ ^^'"^ i^"^^' ^nJ Which it migh^ hat: oSoncT"' "'^■^^"'^^" ^^'^^ '^^ ^^^'^ <^^'^X : mX'lu.: Z Zt^t f ""'' '^^f '^^" P-P- ^^ ^he ad- i Jelll-nedhis force ;nd 3 .V ^^.'''^^ '"'^ "^^ ^^^^ '"^'-^"^ ^« I'^ve ' ftips or m n when unon^Zf 'I' ^/" "^ '^'' "^^ *^^' ^'^> ^^ ^he I f -plement!":aS It S;;'!,^,: SctV^'r ^ ^^^ Miend, that the leavincr -,„„ f • "l^J v/"^ tiehoency, 1 do appre- P-pcr. astLirmenLJdte " " L^' would have beenim- P«ch deficiency in ^^^7 u I ^l""" '''^^^ ^'^'''y ^'•om fupplyin-, Cw i??>^iP''^' ^"•"'^'^'^^ they were neccllary. ^^^ ** J;''Pf"J'^'^'^'nerwasafked, ^ a11\!" n "^ ^'"' '^"^ ""'" ^'""'^ ''^ '^e ^<^^on •' hJ'i'l.al 'couW h.t'wHll°f "^r J^'^rtohave been engaged as the ••'^^'i'^g reve ^- ^es laid ' '"^ '"^^^'^'^ ^"^ inclmatioi. to do, & times laid j^ our gomg down, while the fhot were liying -r^--i^>-±'-tfe^ Hh . i\ ( 194 ) ' As foon as the fentence was known, the Ibrcls of the admiralty received a petition from the lord vifc. Torrington, nephew to the admiral, importing, that himfelf, and the reft of his afflicted family, being advifed that many material things might be offered to their lordlhips, to Ihew, that the fentence of the GO art martial ought not to be executed ; prayed the permiiTion to lay before them by council, to be ap- pointed on behalf of the admiral, fuch reafo^s as might be offered for not executing the fentence. In anfwer to which petition, the lords of the admiralty appointed the next day to receive the reafons in writ- ing, mentioned in the petition. It being towards the clofe of the term, the council applied to could not, by reafon of their indifpenfible attendance on the feveral courts of law and equity, be prepared fo foon to advife and affift his lordlhip and family ; accordingly they prcfented a fecond pe- tition, praying an indulgence of a few days longer, Button the 9th of february, the lords of the admi- -flying over us, and hitting us, that he did not intend to throw his Ihot away, till he came near the enemy. Lord Robert Bertie was afked, Queft. Was you near to the admiral's perfon before, anddurins' the time of the aftion, and did you obferve his behaviour ? Anfw. I was near him the whole day of the aftion in general. Queft, Did you perceive any backwardnefs in the admiral during the aftion, or any marks of fear or iconfufion, either from his coun- tenance or behaviour ? Anfw. No ; he fcemed to give his orders cooly and diflindly, and I do not apprehend, that''he was in the Icaft wanting in per- fonal courage. Queft. Did the admiral appear follicitous to engage the enemy, and to affift his majefty's ftiips, that were engaged with the enemy ? Anfw. Yes. Queft. Did your lordfliip on, or after the day of adion, hear any murmuring or difcontent among the officers or men, upon any fup- pofition, that the admiral had not done his duty ? Anfw. I never heard any one of the Ramillies fpeak the leaft difrefpeafully of the adnural> or ever hint that the admiral had no; | done his auty. 'ralty r . ^ '95 ) ■ ,ltv prercnted a memorial to his majefty, of which ihc following IS an extraft • J /> "' vviui.a "The proceedings of the court martial on admi- r»l Byng have been reported to us, and we have taken t,on, and doubts having arifen, with regard to the legality of the fentence, particularly, whether he cnme of negligence which is not expreffid in any part of the proceedings, can, in this cafe, be fup- plied by implication, we find ourfelves obliged molt luimb ly to befeech your majerty, ,',at the opinion of ilie judges may be taken, whether the faid fentence In confequence of this memoriai, his maieltv kid the fentence before the judges; who gave ,SS mon, that ,t was a legal fentence ; which opinion be- ing tranfmitted to the commiffioners of the admiralty tliey%ned a warrant the i6th of february, direfted to vice-admiral Bofcawen, at Portfmouth, direaing im to have the admiral fliot, on board whacfhil hejhought proper, on the 28th, by a platoon of But he was refpited for fome time ; for on th- 26th. his majefty fent a melTage to the houfe of commons from which I have made the following extraft " Being informed, that a member of the houfe of commons, who was a member of the court martial. ,W.'lf fr^ 'PPi'"^ '° '""' ''°"''^' i" behalf of himfelf, and feyeral other members of the faid court praying the aid of parliament, to be releafed from he oath of fecrecy impofed on courts martial, in or^ cler to difclofe the grounds, whereon ffcntence of death paired on the faid admiral ; the refult of which dif- covery tnay fhew the fentence to be improper- I 3 niajefty h« thought fit to refpite the exect'.tion of the ame.in order that there may be an opportunity of ''"Owing, by the feparate examination of the rrem O bers ( «96 ) bers of the faid court, upon oath, what grounds there is for the above fuggellion." In confcquence of this meflage, a motion was made for bringing in a bill, to releale from the obligation of the oath of fecrecy, the members of the court martial, purfuant to the exception contained in the faid oath ; and accordingly the bill was prepared prefented, read, amended, and ordered to be engrolTed all in one day. The 28th, it was read the third time and pafled, and carried up to the lords for their con- currence ; but that houfe examined the members of the court martial on oath : the principal queflions afked them were, 1. Whether you know any matter that pafled, pre- vious to the fentence pronounced upon admiral Byng, "whicli may Ihew that fentence to have been unjull ? Unanimoufly anfwered in the negative. 2. Whether you know any matter that paflied, pre- vious to the fentence, which may jfhew that fentence to have been given through any undue practice or motive ^ Unanimoufly anfwered in the negative. 3. Whether you are defirous, that the bill now un- der the confideration of the houfe, for difpenfing with the oath of fecrecy, fliould pafs into a law ? This and the next queflion were anfwered in the negative, by admirals Smith, Holbourn, and Brode- rick ; captains Holmes, Geary, Boys, Simcoe, Douct- Jafs, Bentley, and Denis. But admiral Norris, and the captains Moore, and Keppel, anfwered this que- ftion in the affirmative. 4. Whether you are of opinion, thatvou have any particulars to reveal, relative to the cafe of, and the Icntence pafled upon, admiral Byng, which you judge neceflary for his majefl-y's information, and which you think likely to incline his majefl:y to mercy ? Admiral Norris's anfwer to this queftion ^-'as, at the time 1 laid I was defirous the ad fliould take place, 1 un- ( 197 ) I imderltood tli.it we (liovild have an opnortunirv nf dei,.er.ng our particular reafons, for fig^^th fea- was, 1 do not think myfelf at liberty, while I am un- der th,s oath to anfwer that queftion^' C pt K^Zvs was, I think that I cannot anfwer that n,,tn-';„ ^^ l cut parricularinng the reafons for [. tt^fd'opir'n" I l,e houle as foon as this examination was fi^ med «nan,mouny rejefted the bill: ,,d the fentence „as executed on the admiral the 14th ="'="<:« was Oa this unfortunate afi-air, concerning which onini ons are fo much divided, I fi.ai. only^bferv'e ^h many quote paflages in the trial of the adm raT^hich ftew, that admiral Weft, and feveral of the caDtains .n the van, knew no reafon why, Mr. Byng in the el" fliodd not come to a clofer eng.agement but thi^ proves cnly that the admiral was faiiiry? but doe fron, thence appear, that this fault proceeded from cowardice or d.iaffeaion, might it no'^^ as we 1 beT tnbiited to an error in iuds unjuftifiable-If they did nM t dr'iln^ ranee is inexcufable. '^ ' ^^" 'S"°- It is very plain, from the conduc-f of the br-ilT, mmiitiy that they never ex,,eded Mr Bvnl co^ll Mi:;^'Il'/f"^'' '"^"^dron . hlrinftfuains e !v ", J:™lt I "? ?* ..'\^"'-^^^- But indeedhe i.o...:ve!y allured, before his departure from En..- " S land. iiaJlii I l« I ( 198 ) lapd, by the highefl naval authority, that the enemy could not fit out more than fix or feven fliips of the line at the molt. We need only read the admiral's inilrudions to be convinced, that this was the real opinion of the admiralty -, for he is ordered — If on his arrival at Gibraltar, he fhould hear that a french fquadron had paflTed the Streights, to difpatch admi- ral Weft with a fuperior fquadron after them to north America, and repair with the remainder himfelf to Minorca. By this it is very evident, that the mini- ftry in England did not know the french force •, or elfe, how was Byng to difpatch a fuperior fleet after them, when the whole fleet he commanded was in- ferior to them. What epithet Ihall we beftow on an adminiftration, no better informed of the enemy's motions than this condudl evinces ? But if we confider the whole affair with that at- tention it deferves, fhall we not evidently perceive, that the admiral fell a facrifice to cover the guilt of others, who were more powerful than himfelf. Let me alk again ft whom the fury of the populace would have directed itlelf, if contrary winds had kept Mr. Byng a week or a fortnight longer at Spithead, or at Gibraltar ; and if, at the fame time, the frendi had had a flvilful general at their head (for then Blakeney, inftead of holdiiag out eight or ten weeks, would not have been able to defend himfelf threej under thole circumftances, it would have been impoflible for Mr. Byng, even to have endeavoured any thing ; for it would have been taken before he got there, tlad this been the cafe, I fay, who would have been the objeds of the public rage ? Mr. Bvng, or thofe who fent him ? It was necefifary to throw dull: in the eyes of the people ; or elfe, why was the Gazette (a paper fuppofed to be publiflied by authority) pro- Itituted to fpread a falfe lift of the ftrength of both fleets among the people, not only by undervaluing the enemy's force, of which it is poflible the writer might mght be Ignorant, but by overating Mr. Bync's In which .fs .mpoffible he ftould be innoceT^Whv was the admiral's letter mangled and curtailed inVh^ manner it appeared in that paper > ''"^^"^'' '" «'>e allow, that it was a fatal Sy Zx°c"ute T/'' rale fanoble fannily. whofe a„'cetorsh"d rendered fuch lervices to the crown, under furh an inA charge when the very court mart auLt condS h,m, declared him innocent, either of cowardSor dilafFedion ; and for the fake of their own confdence recommended h m m the mnft -.,,„.n. conicience ohjea for his majeftyS^ncy ''* "'""^^ '^ ' ^' O CHAP. I ( 2GO ) I a] 1 A 1 C H A P. XI. Changes m the mimfiry. Naval tranfuSlions. Affairs m north America. Earl of Loudon appointed gencraliffimo. Be prepares to attack Louisburg. Affairs in Germany. Situation cf the belligerent powers. Moiiom of the pruffian and aujlrian armies. King of Pruffia enters Bohemia. Battle of Richenhcrg. Battle of Prague. Prague invefted. Marjhal Daun takes the command of the aujlrian anny. Battle of Collin. King of Prujfici, retires, into. Saxony, NOTHING can be of fnch great confequence to the welfare of any nation, as to have one fettled plan of aftion (efpecially in time of war) to dired the fteps of thofe who fit at the helm of affairs. Let great genius's form fine plans of operations ; yet if they are not in power long enough to dired their execution, all their fchemes will moil probably prove abortive. The Itate of G'-at-Britain at this conjunc- ture, was really deplorable ; the miniftry which had fo lately been eftablifhed, and which the greateft part of the nation wifhcd to fee firmly feated in power, could no longer hold their feats. On the 5th of april, Mr. Pitt, by his majeily's command, refigncd the office of fecretary of ftate, and Mr. Legge was moved from being chancellor and under-treafurer of the Exche- quer ; a new commifTion for the admiralty appeared, with the earl of Winchelfea at their head. The party of the duke of Newcaftle, and Mr. Fox, who had been fo lately obliged to quit thei' places, now refumed them. This fadion, which was now uppermoft, differed very much in their plan of adion, from that of the late miniftry ; their chief diaraderiftic was the great fear they were conftantly in, of the overgrown power of France j they thought it ( 2or ) jt eligible to bridle this at any rate, but princiDilIv by ™^'"«'"'ng the ballance of po^er, wh d?t ev propofed to effea, by raifing up enemies to F ance on the continent, wich britilh fubHdies, and even bv lending over brmih troops to join the belCent po«.ers ,n the.r alliance. The late miniftry's fSe when tney were in power was ditFerent ; they were equally of opinion, that the power of France waTm be curbed, but thought the means of doing thirj° more natural by our naval power; a condlift whTch ,lie infulur fituation of their country diftated to Them t IS furprifing to find how great a degree of nonu " knty this party pofleflid in^he nation no foon"; were they out of power, than they had the freedoms ?e^dTo th m"" '"r^'""' '" "'^ kingdom p™! lented to them, m gold boxes, which fhewed how muc , the nation regretted their difgrace at coTrt Ihe naval affairs of the two nations were at this period, of but little confequence; the latt r end of march and beginn ngof april, feveral fquadrons were equipping at I'ortnnouth and Plymouth; one urder admiral Weft dedgned for Ireland, in its wav t„ America coiififfing of r , fail of tLe "in one'^fr gate, a bomb, and a convoy of en rrpnrl„ . ^ ■, , from St. Hellen's the > 6th o'f april; 'we t d a [maM quadron at this time in the Do^wns Id anotheTt" the weftward, cruifing ; and admirals Weft and Bro deriek had been cruiling fome time in the bay- bu ith httle fucccfs The french were hard at wwk in their ports, but fent no fquadron to fea in north America our affairs had for fome tim^ wore the fame difmal appcaran- as thev hTn i fro. the beginning of th^'war ;" but die'ejr of' Lo"! don, having m the latter end of the year 17,6 Sd Wore the miniftiy a plan for carrying on the war n that country, and which being approved of his lord "^i'let, better fuccefs was expefled for the future. efpecialiy ■; v^ t In ill i" ( 202 ) cfpecialiy as a large body of troops was fent over tq reinforce the army there. The plan his lordfhip was defirous to have executed, was the conqueft of Cape Breton, and after that to proceed towards brinoing all Canada under fubjedion, by the conqueft of Que- bec. To facihtate the undertaking this fcheme, the tranfports with troops from England, arrived at New York, in January 1757. Lord Loudon finding the men much fatigued with the hardfhips of a long voy. age billetted them, by reafon of their number, indif- criminately on public and private houfes ; thisoccafion- ed a great heat between the magiftrates and his lord- fhip, who afked them, if they thought that men who had fuffered a long winter's voyage, to come to their defence, were to perifli in the ftreets for want of pro- per accommodations ; and alfo, whether they thought that the indians would ftand upon rights and privi- leges, if thefe men were ordered back, and they were to come in their room. After fome ferment the bil- letting took place, as it certainly was a neceffary mea- fure. As foon as his lordfhip heard that the tranfports were arrived, he affembled the governors of the fe- veral neighbouring colonies, to confult with them on the means of proteding their frontiers, during his abfence on the expedition -, nothing was required of them, but to remain on the defenfive : and ac- cordingly the plan was fettled with the number of troops which each colony was to furnilh, and their deftination fixed. Having difmifled them, his ex- cellency left Philadelphia the 27th of march, hav- ing ftayed there ten days. JBut before I proceed, it is neceffary to take notice of a general embargo which lord Loudon laid on all outward bound fhips: his lordfhip thought this was the moft likely way to hinder the enemy from getting any intelligence of his defigns -, and alfo, that the tranfports would then the more eafily find men to navigate them. The em- bargo ( 203 ) bargo might certainly be produaive of thofe good conlequences ; but as it was detrimental to the int7 reus of many private people, particuiarly the mer- chants, It occafioned a great clamour j fbr at that t,me corn was excefTively fcarce in England, owinp mpart to a bad crop the laft year, and The infmru! villainy of the farmers, many of whom kept up hZ quantities in expedation of a higher price, when h^ poor were ftarving round about them ; the mer- chants .n Engird wrote over to thofe in America m ihipotr large quantities for them, as there was plenty m the colonies they accordingly did ; but before the veirds could fail the embargo took place: it occa! fioned fo much difguft m England and theplantaiions that an exprefs was afterwards fent to put it out of the power of the commanders to embaigo veffels for Great Bruain or Ireland. Although The embargo was of fome ufe, yet, as lord Loudon muft know ow preffing the wants of England were for corn, k sr^^i^i^a^^-d^-,^ During the month of april, his lordfhip was em- ployed in preparing the tranfport. at Bofton, Nel York, and Philadelphia, thofe for the two fo meT amounting to 90 fail. On the 5th of may, beina aH met at New York, they received orders ' to I! i" readmefs to embark the forces ; and fir Charles Hardy governor of the place, having received his m3s commiffion as rear admiral of the blue, hoiP-ed his flagon board the Nightingale. It was now abot fleet ThI/" "I?^ 'T^"^ '^""^'"^ Holbourn's fleet at Ha lifax ; but the commander in chief was he ordered that fervice to be performed, which was dow„rn"rj t' r^ r"^ ^5th, and then faHed un the 5th of June, his exce ency embarked nn bordthe .SuthprlnnH u,.^a. -V ='"°«km on bordtl^eSutherianrbm^tTrS'UToftll out ft J] I > ^ n 0m I i'i i ' ( 204 ) out further intelligence, becaufe he had learned before he left New York, from theprifoners of fome freneh pri/cs, thnt they were part of afrcnch merchant flppt, under a convoy of five fliips of the line, dcfignedfor Louifliurg. This intelligence was confirmed by an exprefs from Bofton, informing, that five french men of war and a frigate had been feen cruifing off Hali. fax. It was impofllble to proceed to that port wit!?. the tranfports, while fo confiderable a force was la their road, and yet to remain any longeV at New York would be lofing fo much time, that the expedition againft I.ouifhurg would become very uncertain ; his lordfhip therefore difpatched two men of war to view the coaft, and fee if they could hear any thing of the french fleet : they foon after returned, but had km nothing -, lord Loudon then finding that to wait any longer, would almoft put it out of his power to do any thin^ that campaign, ventured tf- lail from New York, with tl>e tranfports. Thi? was the critical time as it were, on which depended the fate of all our fchemes, for had the french fell in with the tranfports, the confequences would certainly have been dreadful ; fo that all depended on admiral Hol^ bourn's being arrived, and by that means having the coaft clear, or elfe lord Loudon's efcaping the ene- my ; however, he arrived fafe at Halifax the 30th, his lordfliip would never have run fo great a rifk, had had it not been for faving time, which becam.e fo ex- ceeding precious, on account of the fleet's not ar- riving from England, till fo late in the feafon. The forces were foon landed, and encamped at Halifax ; but as the ground was rough and incumbered, they were employed in making a parade for exercifes and reviews ; and a large garden for furnifhing vegetables for the fick and wounded that might happen to be fent home from the fiege, in cafe the intended expe- dition fliould take place : parties of rangers were alfo fe^t to patrole in the woods, and feveral prime fail- ing ( 205 ) Ingwffth were difpatthcd to look into the l,art>o„r were able , in Ihort, tlie general took all poffible me^ tliods m lus power at this interval, to keep The troop, properly employed, and to gain the necef' ary mtelhgcnce of the ftrength of fhe enemy At .lit admiral Holbourn, with the fleet and forces from tngland, arrived at Halifax in the fecond week ,^ July, having been waited for with the iitmoft iinpl" nencc by lord Loudon •, and where I Ihall leave them for ;l,e prefent, and return to lay before the r X ivliat had been tranCafting in Europe The war in America, and by fea, was at this time of but little eclat ; ,t was in Germany only, where"hofe fr™"cb?e"of th ^ '"''f """'^'"^ " '- l-^^ed': Ma ,,d ,L ,l,P''r'''"S'^'''"paign, the king of Iruflia had made the faxon army prilbners, and took up his winter qt,arte.s in the heart of Sixo^y ThM monarch was threatened with the immenfe number of ennnies which he expefted would attack him this umpaign i nor were his expeftations groundleft fir .e queen of Hungary having found by Toat ie of -owo chutz, that (he had to deal with L enemv truhf tormicable, re olved to have more powerfuT fore ^ againll him this campaign ; Ak accordingly alk-mbled -n army of ,00,000 men, in Bohemif, under he u,mmand of prince Charles of Lorrain a ffiSd by m,uAal Brown ; nor did the emprefs t uft entirelv her own preparations ; during the preceding S w theprocels in the emperor's aulic council was Ton nued againft the king of Pruflia ; and IfT n t e J« ot the empire. We may eafily conceive with l^^vv much impartiality and juftice^he proceedrnt tl ,s court were carried on, when thofe who ftarSl ISim '^'T, *"? «'^' ''' - "PP-t™ ty o r w rL'"f "'''^" ^''"^ ^'"'''^^ ""-^berof them Hi Cffian U^>''°™" °* "'' ''""'"^ of Auflria.. teiiUcd '■r I "inr"T!rT^-r I: ( 206 ) tended obllinacy ; and the fifcuJ h.id orders to no. tify to him, that he was put iindfr the ban of the t-mpirf, and adjudged fallen from all the diani- ties and poflfeflions which he held under it. The cir. cles of the empire were ordered to fuinifh their con- tingents of men and money, to i)Ut this fentencc in execution ; but thcfe were colleaed very (lowly, the troops were badly compofed, and molt probably they would never have been able to ad:, if it had not been for the afTiftance they received from France. The inveteracy of herhungarian majeftydid notftop here, ilie made requifitions to her allies for the anilt- ance they were obliged by treaty tofurnifh her with, The czarina had prepared a great army of 60,000 men, under the command of marlhal Apraxin, who had began their march in the winter through Lithu- ania, to attack ducal Pruflia, and equipped a ftronc^ fleet in the Baltic, to co-operate with her land forces! The french refolving to convince the emprefs queen how advantageous to her, her connexion with the houfe of Bourbon would be ; formed two great ar- mies, which had been drawing together for a confi. derable time ; the firil was compofed of 80,000 troops, under the command of marflial de Eftrees, which was defigned againfl: the king of Pruflia's Weftphalian dominions, in quality of allies to the emprefs queen, and guardians of the liberties of Germany, antl to no other intent, as they pretended; but it was really defigned to reduce Hanover alfo! 'J'he other french army was commanded by the prince de Soubile, confifting of about 25,000 men ; and was defigned to ftrengthen the arniy of the empire, Thefe were not the only enemies of the king of Pruflia : the king of Sweden, though allied both in blood nd inclination to his pruflian majelly, was yet ob ^rcd by the fenate to fend troops againft him; they were inlpired with the hopes of recovering their ancient poiroflions in Germany, and what made them piilli C 207 ) pudi the ck-fign of n^ai,i„^ war againft that monarch the more brilkly, was tlie fubfidk's of frcnc}i mAd which c'rculated a.nongft them plentifully. The dukr of Mecklenburg allb declared, that he would K),n tne fwcdiHi army with 6000 men , for which u>n. diii:t he has lince paid very levcrcly l-his was the ftate of the enemies of the king of PriifHa, a mighty confederacy, confiltinR of five of the maft powerful kingdoms in Europe ; let us next fee the mealures which that monarch took to (hvc himfeif from bong cruflied with their numerous forces. I . ly' Tn^'". '''^! ^''''^^^'' "° ^«^^g^ wifh them, trufhng to what they fhould find in their march I through 1 oland i but his pruflian majefty, who was informed of the rendition of his enemy, bought uo all the corn and forage in their march towards P^u/: lia, which put them to inconceivable difficulties, and retarded their march extremely ; it certainly was a ne ilroke of the king of Pruflla to diflrefs them. His majefly appointed general Lehwald to command an army of 30,000 men againft Apraxin. But it was againft the auftnans that the grcatelt efforts were to be made i his prufhan majefly commanded one army himlclf, ,n Saxony , the prince of Bevern another iii Liilatia ; and marOial Sehwerin, a third in Silefia But before his majefly made the grand attack upon Bohemia, he took the wifefl meafures in Saxony, in cale of bad iuccefs in his expedition againft the au- ftnans. New works were added to the old ones ar : A ??'^ f^^<^ g'-eateft diligence ufed to put it in a rclpeaable pofture of defence ; all the burghers were d>larmed and their arms depofited in thelirre- nai. 1 he aulbian detachments began in npril to an. pear on the frontiers of Saxony, to obferve the mo- tions of the prufilans, but many of them were taken priloners ; thefe triHing matters did no take ofl' the attention of theprufiians ; eycry thing was preparing 10 With •% ^WP ^mm^^^B'i ( 2oS ) with the greateft expedition to begin the campaian and troops were in motion throughout Saxony, Voi?rE' land, and Lufatia. ^ ' About the middle of april, three great bodies of his pruffian majefty's troops entered Bohemia by dif^ ferent routs. Marlhal Schvverin penetrated into it from Silefia, through the county of Glatz, on the 1 8th, at the head of 50,000 men. His highnefs the duke of Bevern did the fame, from Zittau in Lul^itia the 20th, entering Bohemia at Graenftein, takincrthe rout of Reichenberg. His majefty himfelf, at^'the head of a third army, marched towards Egra. The auftrians imagined, that his pruflian majeflf had fonx- diftina plan of aftion, independent of his other ar- mies, and accordingly prince Charles detatched 20,0'co men, under the command of the duke d'Arembcrcr to watch his motions. ^' The march of the prince of Bevern foon broiiaht onanaftion; in his march towards Reichenbercr,'^he drove away the enemy from all their pofts. Thelfan- morning, a party of his huflars defeated fome hun- drai of auftrians, commanded by prince Lichtenftein who were pofted before Kohiig. The 21ft at break ot day, the pruffians marched in two columns by Habendorf, towards the auftrian army, pofted ne/r Reichenberg, 28,000 ftrong, and commanded by count Konigfeg ; as foon as the pruffian lines were formed, they marched towards their enemy's cavalry, which was ranged in three lines, of about cjo fqua- drons, their two wings were fuftained by the mfantry which was pofted among felled trees and entrench- ments. The prullians immediately cannonaded the auftnan cavalry, who received it bravely, havm^r on their right a village, and on their left a wood, v^iere they had entrenched themfelves with felled trees and pits. But the prince of Bevern having caufed 15 fquadrons ot dragoons of his fecond line to advance, and ordered the wood on his right to be attacked b--' fome ( 209 ) t7s cfvalir IS'-^"''*^. 5«i«Iy routed the ene^ my s cavalry the generals Norman, Katt. and the prmce of Wurlemberg fignalizing themfdves ex! fclves by the warm reception they gave the auftrian horfe grenadiers i notwithftandin.^ their ariU^JlT^ them in flank. Lieut, gen. lS , at h/ W timeat acked with thepruffian left wing, the enemy's redoubts, which covered Reichenberg f though Sere were m ny defiles and riflng grounds to pafsfwhich were all occupied by the enemy; yet the r Jmen of Darmftadt forced the redoubt, and put to'Cht andpurlued the auftrians, after fome difcharges of their artillery and fmall arms, from one eminence W another, for the diftance of a mile, as faHs Roch- l.tz and Dorffel. I„ ftort, the pruffians gained a complete viftory; the battle began at fix o'clock in '^'TTF' ^Pd continued till eleven. His hiEh- " t"'' l"n" °f ?evern, Ihewed great co"He fnd mih ary fall. The lofs of the auftrians was^onfi- derable; three ilandards were taken, and a 1 °h r cannon and ammunition waggons ,Z% T '^"'^l' ^.^^'""'"' '^""^ f"ccefsful. He en- W ,h., r' "'* his troops in five columnsfdriv- ing the auftrians before him, as he pafled the defiH marching witft incredible celerity, he reached Konigrl h ff on the Elbe, the 20th. At Trautenau, two al flrian generals, and the princes Xavier and Charles of Saxony narrowly efcaped falling into his hands He made himfelf mafter of the circle of Bunt LS outoppofition, feizing a great magazine of corn and w 1/ T^'l^'° '^' ''"""^" '"^y- H« foon af- w.|o,ned his body oi- troops to thofe of the nrince Bevern, who, after the battle of Reichen^berg! "••'d advanced towards Prague, by the king's ordersT lie t his^majefty him^-lf near Egra, oppofcd by Ht r,^. u,^,,, ^j guicraiinip, he made a movemenc ^ to ( 2IO ) to the left, which cut off all communication betweeit d*Aremberg's detachment, and the main army of the auftrians; and pufliing his advantage, he advanced with prodigious expedition towards Prague, where he joined marflial Schwerin, and the prince of Bevern. Prince Charles of Lorrain's army confifted of about 95,000 men, being joined by an army from Moravia the remains of that corps which was beat by the prince of Bevern, and by feveral regiments of the garrifon of Prague. It had taken poft on the banks of the Moldau, near that city, ir a camp almoft inacceffible ■with his left wing inclining to the mountain of Zifcha,' and his right towards Sterboholi, where he waited on the hill the approach of the pruflian army. But the king, who had pafled the Moldau, with defign to attack them, refolved to turn the enemy's camp; for which purpofe, his army defiled by Potfchernitz' towards the left, which count Brown perceiving, de- filed by his right, to avoid being taken in flank. The prufTians marched beyond Bichowitz, traverfinff defiles and morafles, which feparated their infantry a little : this infantry having made its attack too pre- cipitately, was the firft time repulfed ; but they made a frefli attack, and forced the enemy on the right. The pruflian cavalry on the left, after three charges obliged the auftrian cavalry on the right of their army to fly. The pruflian centre routed the infantry, and puflied quite through the auftrian camp. The left of the prjflian army then marched diredly towards Michelly, where it was joined by the ca- valry and cut oS" thp auftrian army, whofe ri^ht was running away towards Safzawa. The right of the pruflians immediately attacked the left of genera! Brown, and fucceflively fcized on three batteries on diflx^rent eminences. From every advantage of fitiia- tion the ardour of the prulflans in this battle drove the enemy, encouraged by the prefcnce of their fovereif^n, and filled with a noble cnthufiafm of bravery, which generally eiifures liiccefs. The filefian !v;iiau uuu^ wiiicli was ( 211 ) was lead to aaion by marHial Schwerin, had a verv rude fiiouK to luftain •, having niorafTes to pafs, pre- apices to chmb and batteries to face, nothing but the prelence of the king could have animated his troop? ,n general to have performed fuch prodigies of valour Some regiments ot pruffian horfe, in the beginning' of theadlMon fuffered feverely. The foot had ft"ll greater difficulties to lurmount than the horfe; many generals followed the example of the firft field mar- ^al, by difmounting, and leading their reciments fword in hand, through marfhes, over precipices, and andacrois looo fires. It was here that the brave marllial Schwenn was killed, at the head of his rec^i. ment with the colonel's ftandard in his hand : The lofsof fo experienced a foldier, was almoft a balance toa vdlory ; yet the enemy alfo fuffered a great lofs m the death of marlhal Brown, who was bounded but not mortally, had not his regret made his wound fatal. Never was vidory more complete than this of Prague ; 40,000 of the enemy threw them- reives into that city, and the reft fled towards Bennef- chau; a vaft nuniber was flain, and near 10,000 taken prifoners ; die camp, military chelt, 250 can- non, and all the trophies of the completed viftory ell into the hands of the conquerors. This famous batde was fought the 6th of may. His pruiTian majefty having gained fo decifive a victory, convinced the world that he knew how to nnprove it : he inflantly inverted Prague, and an army within its walls : the king divided his forces into two bodies, marlhal Keith commanded one, which inverted the little town on this fide the Mol- dau ■ and the king in perfon with the other, blocked up the old city, on the other fide the river. As it m^ defended by a complete army, it was impof- W)ie to take it by afiault; yet the immenfe o-arrifon made it pronable, that famine would oblige tliem to "^'^' ' "^"^ tii^ i^ing or i'ruiha relolved not to A' 2 truft r ■ \ ( 212 ) cruft folely even to this, but made great preparation* to bombard the city •, the redoubts and batteries be- ing in good forvvardnefs by the 23d of may, the aultrians made a well conduced and dcfperate faljy with 10,000 men : they attacked a battery which was not finifhed, but were repulfed feveral times, the adion lulling three hours -, but at day break they re- tired into the city, in fome confufion, not being able to make any imprefiion on che pruflian polls -, their defign was, alio to have burnt the bridges of com- munication on the Moldau. His highneis the prince of Bevern commanded, during the fiege, an army of 20,000 men to cover it. On the 29th of may, at night, after a moil dreadful llorm of rain and thun- der, on the fignal of a rocket, four batteries, which dilcharged every 24 hours, 288 bombs, bcfides a vafl multitude of red hot cannon balls, began to pour dellrudtion on that unfortunate city, which was foon in flames in every parr ; we may conceive the horrors that reigned in Prague, from this bombard- ment, when 12,000 horfcs without forage were ranged in the ftreets and Iquares. This terrible bombard- ment continued without intermifllon : on the lothof June, a red hot cannon ball fet the city on fire near the Moldau, burnt five hours, and entirely confumed the fecond quarter of the new city. In the evening the fire broke out again, and the wind blowing hard, fpread very faft, levelling every thing for feveral hundred yards. The bombardment continued incef- fantly night and day, fo that the fire was no fooner quenched in one part, than it broke out in another ; the befiegers often feeing it burning in feven or eight places at once. The principal magiftrates, burghers, and clergy, feeing their city on the point of being reduced to an heap of rubbifh, made the mod mov- inrr ilipplications to the commander to liflen to terms. But he was deaf to their prayers, and hanged up two of their fenators, who were more importunate than ( 2r3 ) than the reft On the 6th of June, 12,000 ufdefs mouths were driven out of the city; and the pruf- Ims forced them m again. The fury of the bonv bnrdmcnt continued, and it was thought that tlv. city could not hold out much longer, let us here for a moment confider the fituation of the affairs of the emprels queen^ By gaining two battles, her enemy was m pofTefTion of half Bohemia; a ^hole army, and the capital of that kingdom was on the point ot furrendcring to him ; to conclude aU, her remaining troops were terrified with former de- teats Such was the ftate of her affairs, when a ce- ntral, till then unknown, began to turn the fortune ci the war. This was Leopold count Daun, who never had commanded m chief before. One thing remarkable concerning him, was, that although he was of a very noble fami y, yet his rife in the imperial fervice was owing merely to his merit, without being oblicred to any court favour for iiis promotions. Me had °ained experience in various parts of Europe, unde" the greatelt generals, and in the mofl ilJuftrious fcenes of ^ I'his commander had for fome time been colled- jngthe fcattered remains of the auftrian army; and brought them within a few miles of Prague, always taking care to encamp on fuch inaccelFible eminences hat It was impofTible to attack him ; at the fame time, he made ^veral falfe attacks on the outward pofls of the prufTians, with his hunhrs, which were oppofed by detachments from the pnnce of Bevern's army. At laft marfhal Daun drew into the important camp at Cohn, with defign to embarrafs the prufllans Ir ^^'"Sj^^^^'^g l^ow much that fituation would accomphih Daun's defigns, fearing that he would cu off the prince of Severn's communication wah 'h,. ne7r"'^^>"'' and hearing that he was aauali; near on-nnn {fr.-^.rs.-f ». .r.i < . i^-. - . . •' near no ''^<^^« (}--^'->~ - r 1 ' vr- ^.)j.^,^0 diKjil^, rcioivea to difloti ge him 5 With t'MC Ik ( 2.4 ) this Intention, he left the c;imp before Pr.ipue, the I ^th of June, to take the comm.ind of that corps, ii) his road lie was joineil by fevcral detachments, lb that the whole number of his army was about 32,000 men. On the i8th, about three in the afternoon, \\\^ majedy attacked the aullrians, lb much luperior in nuinbers to his own troops, and entrcnc hed in one of the moR advanlafrcous fit nations that rould be chofen, dei'ended by an immenfe artillery. Let it be iurticient to fay, that the kin^r of I'l ulHa did every thing on this occafion, ihat the mod impetuous and bell regelated courage, allilied liy that noble ennila- tion, infpiicd by the remembrani e of fo many vi6ln- ries, could fu«:!;gell. 'Vhe prulhans returned to tin; attack fevcn limes, nnd never fought with greater bravery. Both tlic king's brothers were in the field, and did every thing that could be expeded from them. At lall his majefly, at the head of his cavalry, made one furious and concluding charge •, but all was un- fuccefsful. In fliort, his majelly was obliged to draw ofF his troops •, having fullercil very leverely in the adion, but more lb from deiertions, and all the ill c()nfe(|uences of a defeat. We muft attribute the lofs ot this battle to the want of infantry and artillery, and lighting on aground, where the foot could not be fulhiineil l>y the horfe ; befitles thele, the advan- tageous litnation oi' the enemy, fo much more numcr- ous than the prulTians, their va(t artillery, the great bravery they Hievved in the acT:ion, and the courage and Ikillof marflKil Paun, all confpircd to render the great ellbrts of tiie prulfians ufelefs *. • Soon afciM tlii- battle, hi^ pruflian ra;ijclly v .otc the following billet to dncof liis generals : *' 1 have no rtaron to complain of the bravery of my troops, ♦♦ or the e,\periencc of my ofliccr.s. 1 alone was in the fault, and 1 " hope to repair it." This noble and candid manner of owning his i*ulct, raiiwd the king's clur^ikr 4s an hero more than ever. AlthoiJgli ( 215 ) Altliough the king of Priinia was defeated, yet hk (■roo|)s retired in exeellent order and unpurfued. 1 lis majclly was obliged to raifc the fiegc of Pramie di- rcdly i marfhal Keith dceaniped from his fide the 2(;tli, and the whole army prepared with expedition to retire into Saxony, By the i6th of July tiie priif- lian army was encamped at Leitmarirz, and the head quarters of the auflrians atNilmes i the priiirian army were maders of the I'.Ibe. On tlie 2 1 ft he (luitted this camp, croffed the Elbr, and eneampeil at I .owofitz • in Its way to Linai ; the 24th, he took poft at Nollen ' dorf, leaving marfhal Keith at the head of 2/^ 000 men, to guard the pafles that lead from Jiohemia to Saxony. During the retreat of the pru/Tian army their rear and out parties were continually infeftcd with the auftrians ; but fufteied little from them Ihe 2rith, the king and his brother prince Henry arrived with the army in the neighbourhood of Pima where they encamped. The prince of Prufila luuf retreated into Lufatia with another part of tlic army The auftrians followed him, and the latter end of' July, laid the town of Zittau in aHies, by a dread- ful bombardment ; obliging the garrifbn to furren- dcr. The prmce of Prufiia was then in danger of being furrounded by the enemy, who were increaf- ing in Lufatia every day j but to prevent this, his prufTian majefty left the camp near Pirna, the bep-in- ingof auguft, crofled the Elbe, and marched with part ot his army to his affiftance, leaving the remain- der under marflial Keith, to guard the pafles of the mountains of Bohemia. By making this forced march, the prince's army was relieved, and the au- ftrians obliged to retire to their polls on the ri^rjif • here I fliall leave his majefty for the prcfcnt. "^ ' ' The battle of Colin was fought at a moft critical moment. The king, who before that expefled to be mailer ot Prague, and all Bolicmia, in a few days, i* 4 was r IIP ( 2«6 ) was oI)Iigrd to raifc the ficgr witli lofs, and wai iliivcn out of thatkinpilom, which, a Htilr timr hr loir he vxyvacd to conquer. J lad. his niajcdy onlv continurd thr (icgc! with vigor, andlrt the prince of Hrv(M n have watched Daun ^ or, had he but taken a more numerous army to light him, how dilVcrcnt a face would this cam|iaigii liavc wore. 1 C H A P, ( 217 ) t II A I\ Xlf, pnkck. (mventton of Clojkr fcvcn. Kti/fmn Jer viio Jufatia, OJJcrs the nuflrians iJtZnhs vHo haxony, /lujlrians attack general Wtnterlddt. hm'dcs mcr Pomaama. General Uadduk lays Lrltn ,nder contrtbutwn. Ruffians retire, Swedes retire, ^chwetdnityake^ Battle of lirejlau. Hrcflau taken, Badjlate of the kmg of VruffuCs afjairs. T Ohfcrval before, that tlic frcnch court had rdolvcd 1 tolcmltwo armies into Germany, in quality of allies to the cmprcfs queen. 'I'he principal one wa. really dcfigncd againft the cieaorate of^ Hanover (.onfiding ot 8o,Qo(j of the choiced troops of l-ranre' jomrnanded by maiaial dc rUlrccs. having under' mn M. de Conudes, Mr. Chcvert, and the count de St. Germain, officers of reputation ; Munfler wa. fixa upon for the head quarters, and the army was 111 full march in the latter end of april, when it crofTi-d the Rhine J he other body of french troops was commanded by the prince de Soubife, which, as I before laid, was defi^rnc-d to ftrengthcn the army of the cmp.re. But before it paflcd the Rhine, it made itfelt mailer of Cleves, Meurs, and Guelders, be- longing to the king of Pruffia, laying the country under heavy contributions. In the merui time, the army under marDial de I-llrecs continued its rout by now marches towards the ele«5loiate of Hanover , and tooppofe him the army of oblervation, which his britunmc majel y railed, :o..:manded by his royal h.ghncls the duke of Cumberland, was alfemblcd by thr iv.crin„,nj;r of mav. and confifhvl nf ^hn,. ' may. hano Jt 40,00D % ^^^H venans, •i i ii i I ;sjt ,%^-i^ ( 2l8 ) hanoverians, and hefllans; the part of WcOphaliabc tween the Rhine and the Wcfer is rough and barren' and very difficult to fubfift an army in, efpeciallv fuch a one cs d'Eftrees's, which wis encumbered with a vaft quantity of baggage, and a multitude of iifelefs mouths. The duke of Cumberland threw all the obftacles in his way that was poffible, but they wc e overcome by the abilities of the french general ; who by his fup^riority of numbers, obliged the duke to pafs the Wefer, and pafled it after him the beginning of July. D*Eftrees was no fooner on the other fide of the Wefer, than he laid all the neighbouring ftates and country under exceffive contributions : the land- graviate of Hefle Caflel was the firft that fufFered Minden on the w.fer, and Gottingen on the Leine* received french garrifons, without oppofition. The french general, from his camp at Stadt-Oldendorf ient to the regency of Hanover a requifition, dated the 2iltof July, demanding, that deputies fhould be fent to their head quarters, to treat about contributions &c. About this time, the duke of Cumberland, who was encamped near Hamelen, marched from thence by Vorenburg, and Haftenbeck towards Halle ; and the better to obferve the motions of the enemy, and it poffible, to Hop their progrefs •, his royal highnefs, on the 19th of July, detached lieut. general Zaftrow, with 12,000 men, to feize the important pafs of btadt-Oldendorf; but he came too late, the french being already in poiTeffion of it : Zaftrow then by a forced march rejoined the duke's army, at Latford, oi^ the Wefer. On the 20th, d'Eftrees advanced with his whole army into the fine plain at Stadt-Oldeldorfj and the next day encamped at Halle -, on the 24th, the french drove the hanoverian parties from the vil- lage of Latford ; and the duke perceiving it was the intention of the enemy to att?ck him, drew up his arniy on the height between the Wefer and the woods, with his right towards thar river. nnH Vilc Ufi- /r^ <-^ the \ ( 219 ) the wood, the village of Haftenbeck being in h:^ front In the evenmg he withdrew all his out poll and the arrny laid on their arms all night it 25th m the morning, the enemy appeared, march! ,ng in columns as ,t they intended to at a™ he hanoverians, and cannonaded them very feverelv the whole day with an artillery much fu^rior to the dubs : that night the army alfo laid oftheir arms At five the next morning, the cannonade began agaTn with great fury, upon a hanoverian battery.lupported by the heflian .nfantry and cavalry, who flood the briintof the fire with incredible bravery, and fteadi nafs. At ieven in the evening, the firing of fma arms began on the hanoverian left ; the catnonaS contmumg for 6 hours, all the while without inter miffion. The duke had placed fome g enadier t the wood, who finding that great numUs of th" enemies troops were marching about them r^rirrH and joined the left of the armyf on whi h ^'e S poilelTed themfelves of the hanoverian battery on rl.e left, without oppofition. It was here that the hereditary pnnce of Brunfwic diffinguilhed l.imfelf by attacking and repulfn.g a fuperiSr force ^f the enemy, and retaking the battery/ The french beini^ mpoflemon of a height that flanked both the duke's Tu '"^^""^' '"= ""^''^'^ 'he army to retreat S T r°T T S?'' °"^''' '° Hamelen. ht2 onfidently faid. that his royal highnefs had wonTht battle, but did not know it ; thus far is certab! that the french who marched into the woods of Lauen- ftein, were feized with a pannic, fuppofintr thev w^e ready to be attacked by tlfe hanoverlfns, a'nd fiK one another; and if their confternation had been known and a well regulated attack had been made on that part of their army, it would probably have rC'Zt'^ r_':'"^?"Sht him from all quLters, that •- v..^„,j, a^jpcarcu on me right and left, and were going mi. i ^ iS ■Hi ^■tll ^ mM V I^H^^^^K '^' ^HfiiiiiyiL ■ ., imm ■i m n ( 220 ) going to flank him, which determined hliii to alter hk difpofition. The duke of Cumberland, from Hamelen, retreated to Hoya, where he encamped j but moved to Vcrden on the 1 2th of auguft. On the 6th of that month' marfhal d'Eftrees refigned his command, to marfhai duke de Richelieu, who fuperfeded him, by means of madam de Pompadour's mterefl: with the kin^^ of France. Richelieu advance 1 faft upon the hanoverj. ans i the duke of Cur iberland retreated towards Stade : and Bremen opened its gates to the conque- ror. By the beginning of fcptembcr, the duke was encamped under the cannon of Stade. By his royal highnefs's retreating after the battle of Haftenbeck, into the dutchy of Bremen, he was cooped up without a poflibility of efcaping from the trench, unlefs there had been a fleet of fliips ready at Stade, to have embarked his army for England, where they would have done no good j but Tf the duke had retired towa.ds Magdeburg, his army would have been of great fervice to the caufe, byjoinine the troops of the king of PrufTia, and orice more oppofing the french ; for it was to be expedled, that they would not content themfelves with the pofleflion of Hanover, but would march againft the king of Pruflia, as loon as poffible. The plan which his royal highnefs followed, had very different confequences. Under the mediation of the king of Denmark the remarkable convention of Clofter-Seven was figned, the 8th of feptember, by which 38,000 hanovTrians laid down their arms, and had quarters afligned them by the french general, in, and round about Stade, out of which they were not to move. The troops of Hefle, Brunfwic *, and Saxe-Gotha, were fent back to their refpeaive countries, and difpofed of as it was agreed between their fovereigns, and the kin^ of r ranee. ° * Vide appendix. his pruffia The ru vancing b ths field m than Wilnj Kowno, tl: time, fomc Konigfberg ing of Jul) Mtmelj tl Hiflory, to alter Wj 1, retreated to Verdtn, lat month, to marlli!| by means be king ot lianoveri- 1 towards e conque- duke was ( 221 ) , IM m rh';/ ''tk"'' "" '■"'">' P'°^"'^ " "Ce pa- rallel to th,s That an army of above 40,000 (hould byaconvcnnon, and without fighting, l; down thei; arms, and become prifoners of waf, (only under a different name .s re,[/y to me aftonifting/ All , he remarks fl,all add on this unacco.mtable affM are that the kmg of Pruflla this campaign, with « 000 men attacked mar/hal Daun with CoToio and foL^ that delperate battle I have before Vpoke of ^kh I 1i°°n. , ' ""T"'^ afterwards gained the brttle I otRolbach, againft 50,000 french.&c. and laftl! r the battle of MInden wa, gained by 40,000 men agamft 95,000 french. So much depends on T commander of an army ! But to quote more infancy ot t,s nature would be tedious ; his royal highneft t e duke s abdities have before been difplayed fn the flams of tontenoy, more confpicuoufly than it is i,^ my power to pamt them. ' '" camtlaiin' in'^H™'' '"'^'"»§ '\"' 8'°"°""/ ^"dedthe ampaign m Hanover. MarlTial Richelieu marched h,s troops towards the dominions of the king of Pruflla. I before obferved that hpfirl..;.,- ^ ihp fi-^nrl, (-.„. """^"'™> "lat belides this army, the trench fent another mto Germany, under the prmce de Soubife , which joined the t oops of he K" "iVlM " ^",1' '""'^ '° """-^k th^k^ng of 'ffth?;,ira^%r::s^^^^^ i::'pTi2n"mSi«"''"^---'-''--'"gS vandn/l^"n !™^ °^ l°'°°° ""="' '"^ been ad- vancn g by dilatory marches for fome time under Ltv-rY fiP^^in. They had got no fur her than Wtlna, by the 6th of June, in their way towards Kowno the general rendezvous. And at thcTame t.me, feme ruffian cruifers blocked up the ports^f Kon,g(berg, and Memel. However, fn thcTegin ivitmel i they then djvidpd rhp;r fo-— -«n- i ^ u ii)g ;!;J. ft ( 222 ) ing commanded by Apraxin himfelf, and the other by general Fermor. Marfhal Lehwald, at the head of about 30,000 pruflians, commanded in PrufTia j the 14th of July he quitted his camp at Infterburg,' and encamped in the neighbourhood of Welaw, wfth de- fign to cover Konigfberg. The ruffian general fent numerous detachments over moft parts of Pruflia burning and deftroying the country with the moft horrid barbarity. Lehwald finding himfelf not ftrong enough to cover the country, and protecT: it from the favage enemy, refolved to attack their main army, in its entrenchments i which he did on the 30th of'au- guft. The ruffian army amounting to 80,000 regu- lars, was entrenched in a mofl: advantageous camp near Norkitten. It was compofed of four lines, each of which was defended by an entrenchment, with a numerous artillery, and batteries placed on all the eminences. Lehwald's army hardly confifted of 30,000 men. The attack began at 5 in the morning, 'and was carried on with fo much vigor, that the pruflians entirely broke the whole firft line of the enemy, and forced all their batteries. The rufllan cavalry was routed, and a regiment of grenadiers cut in pieces. But when marlhal Lehwald came up to the fecond en- trenchment, feeing that he could not attempt to carry it without expofing his whole army, took the refo- lution to retire, which he did in excellent order, with- out the enemy's ever ftirring our of their entrench- ments to purfu> him. The lofs of the pruffians did not exceed 3000 men ; but it was very evident, that the ruflians mufi: have loft four times as many, al- though conquerors , the prufiians loft 1 1 pieces of can- non.^ Lehwald, after the battle, returned to his camp at Welaw ; but in a few days changed its pofition, en- camping at Peterlwalde. That great general, though defeated, was more formidable, after the battle, to the ruffians, than they were to him ; he maintained his pofts, and kt-pt them from advanripo-. In the other by the head of PrufTia ; the :erburg, and w, with de. general fent of Pruflia, th the moft If not ftrong t it from the tin army, in 30th of au- )>ooo regu- ;eous camp, : lines, each ent, with a on all the :d of 30,000 5rning, and he pruflians enemy, and :avalry was It in pieces. fecond en- ipt to carry k the refo- rder, with- r entrench- "ufiians did ident, that many, al- :cesof can- 3 his camp Dfition, en- 'al, though .ttle, to the itained his ( 223 ) In the mean time the kineof Pmm. pufhed himfelf. J left S,l ^'"".^'^ was very hard a^fcerthe unfortuaate batt,^ ife ^"^^axony, the auftrian army made the ereate^^ ^^at Lufatia; the prince of Pruffia afrhfT'in^^^^ army, had ported himfelf nea Wa 'fl /^^ °^ ^'^ the country ; but, as marfh^[ ^^^^^'^^°^f' to cover bnfkly towU him,\Ta^ i IZrlflT T' rounded : upon which, the kino- wfn ^"'"^ fur- den with his army, croM the Elbe thrf"'"^^^^^- July, and advanced to the affiftanc ' of i'"'' '"^ °^ brother, whofe army with t h 7 / ^^^ P''"^^ his amounted to 45,oo?;en leav^.^^'''''"'"^' '^'^ marfhal Keith, at L^a^ ' anlu^ ^L°°° "'^^ "^^^r Elbe. The king marThedtX;^^^^^^^ ed the pnnce. By his maieftu'c^ 5 ' ^^^ ^^ J^'n- marches fron. LeLi tSth'^^^' Z^''''^''' him at Bautzen, Jeavins DnW lu • *™JOine.'=y -^- "larch his army aeainft them h,, i, "'^"^' ^"^ to-^.ai TTiutciit-iCJt, with i6,ooS nien. I ( 224 ) men, on the other fide of the NeifTe, to try to H them in flank Finding it impofTible to draw t£ toa battle, he fuddenly decamped, leaving the pS of Bevern, prince Ferdinand, and general Winte^ terfddt, with 30,000 men near Gorhtz, to obferl the auftnans. His majefty took the road to Drefd where he arrived the 29th, in his way towards e' teh, with defign to fight the french and imperia." No fooner was his majefty gone, but the auftrians came out of their camp, and began to fhew them felves every where On the 17th of feptember, 1,-000 auftnans attacked two battaHons of Winterfeidt's ir my, which they cut in pieces ; and, as the generl" was marching to their afilftance, he received a"wo ni of which he ioon after died. The lofs of fo brave general, was the greateft which the prufllans fuftaine on this occafion. Indeed, the king of Pruflia Z at this time very hard prefled by his enemies; in tl beginning of this month, 22,000 fwedes penetrat into pruffian Pomerania, and laid the neiihbou country under contribution. Berlin itfelf was alio m danger, from another quarter. General Haddick.i a large detachment of troops from the auftrian am at Gorhtz, by forced marches pierced through Lii- fatia, part of Brandenburg, and prefented himself b. fore Berhn on the i6th of odober ; the next d . the city paid him a contribution of 200,000 crown on which he retired precipitately, on hearing I prince Maurice was advancing againft him. Th prince fet out from lorgau the 15% and arrived BeHin on the 1 8th, only one day too late. The ruflians, in the mean time, after exercifin. them n r'"'' a """^^ ^^^°^'^ '^"^^-^X ^o re£ them, made a moft precipitate retreat out of Pruflia: hey began their march the 13th of leptember, leav! lootZ "^ r^ ''°^'"?'^ ^^ '^' ^^^""^ oV near 10,000 men ; they gamed three marches on Lehwald, to 5 t^y to take draw theni ig the prince -ral Winter. , to obferve 1 to Drefden, towards Er- md imperia. the auftrians ^ew them- 'ber, 15,000 erfeJdt's ar- the general l^ed a wound F fo brave a ms fiiflained Pruflla was lies ; in the 5_ penetrated ?ighbouring was alio in addick with ftrian army 7 taring that him. The i arrived at Lehwald to turn his arms ucai ,?,V T^^^'^ •""""' only recovered that part of ™f the fwedcs ; he not the enen^y had conq*:," ed , "^^m^Tn-f'^'^' merania, except the town nV>,> ?''"'/" ^Wf'lini Po- nlly, the duke'^f Meek enbt,,t"t'rV t''"^ '^-> the pu,ffian arms. Th nat olJ iV l^' ""''^^^ "^ them worthy of then- 1m°, '''^""'''.ng to make often been tjfe terror of Gerinv"°^^^^ *''° '"^ '"<^ ciiJSfrsue'f'^rh^'r "'""■'= ^ "-- -^'.^n- into Saxony, than the wl ^"^ ""'' "° '"°°"^' gone vince, from a ^ar'e s On^r'T'' 'T ""' P™" opcned the trench before ^rh f^- "^ "'^^ '"^ oftobcr; anditd Inot cTvf ', "-"^ '''^ ^^th of november. The pi"' ,7r ' ^'"'^ '^' ' "^^ "f the mam army, who was near hfm On 'k' ,"■'"' of Schweidnitz (with a -arrifon of . ^^"^ t^'k^ng army which befieo-ed it inTnl T '^°°° '"«') th= marlhal Daun, ne^r Br Hh . w ^"""^ ^^"^'' '""^ .0 attack theVrinceo Be ;rrt"his"'' '""''■n'^'iments, "d of november with a t'-M r' ^'^ '""""'"^ th« .^-. Theprnm^^s'ln^^lfck''-"' ""'"' ."g .ntrepidity. The auftrians lo [ near L"'- ""'" A feat part of their army Ind mir. ?/ ' °l° "''"• "f battle, and the reO „,. ■! "^^'^ ^'^°'" the field ^llatone tZ'mZZ!:T'"V° ''''''' ^'h^" '«ions. A Dar/of rl! ^^'^'''''^took the iame refo- *al in the en«LLnt iT" ^'^ '"^'•^■'' ^ S--" of a total deleat^ n cai-e 1 '"y ''^'■■^™^-'PP'--'>enfive ''e forced in any part a i''"'i'"''""'"" ''"'"''• '""d the Oder '^S , '„ ^ "'""^''y '^'y ''""■'-''i be- ^ field i;^ ^ ( 226 ) field of battle, which they had but jufl been obliged to relinqiiifli. There certainly was fomething very ambiguous in the conducfl of the pruflian generals in Silefia; the king found the want of old marfhal Schwerin more than ever. One thing, to appearance, was_ very remarkable, and gave riie to a thoufand conjeaures ; the prince of Bevcrn, two days after the battle, as he was reconnoitring without efcort, and attended only by a groom, was taken by an advanced party of Croats, a fmall body of whom had paiTed the Oder. The auftrians immediately improved their viflory ; their advantage, though very dearly bought, was followed by many others ; Bredau capitulated the 24th; and here they found, as at Schweidnitz, vail quantities of provifion, ammunition, and mo' ney. Almoft all Silefia was on the point of fillincr into their hands. Indeed, the fituation of his pmf fian majefi:y at this time, was terrible. Part of Pruf- fia laid wafte by the brutal ferocity of the ruffians- part of Pomerania by the fwedes : all his weftphalian dominions, together with Halberfi:adt, and part of Magdeburg, in the polfefiion of the french, who were making incurfions even into Brandenburg : Berlin it- felf laid under contributions ; Silefia conquered by the aullrians ; and laftly, Saxony and Lufatia pardy eat up by die auftrians, and the army of the empire join- ed with the french. Such wa. the ftate of this ino- narch's dominions. For the prefcnt we mufl: leave him marching to defend Saxony, againft the prince of Sou' bile. C H A P. jeen obliged ^tiling very I gentralsin aid marfhal appearance, a thoufand ays after the efcort, and in advanced had paiTed Droved their irly bought, capitulated chweidnitz, 1, and mo- lt of fiilling of his pruf- irt of Pruf- le ruffians; weftphalian nd part of , who were : Berlin it- lered by the •■ partly eat npire, join- Df this rno- t leave him, nee of Sou- C 22; ) CHAP. xiir. Shirs m England, ParUamcntarv .ff ' anions at fea. Secret pZ?^ ■^'''^''' "^'ranf- Mfcarries. Court Mar^^^^^^^^^^^^ ''^'^^ ^-^foJt, rua. Troops embark fr rf'T ''' '''''^ ^"^'^ pedition laid afde. HoCrn^ffT^^ ^^^ ^^■ ny. Battle of Rojbach. AW P f''''^^^^''^^- &¥^. Battle of LiJTau Br^ent f?-^'^ ^ Mockaded. Sileja 4ti"^ST ''J^^'r^ armies go into whuer quarters Vi^ ""''^ ^^^^^'^^ frmch in Hanover. UaZlZ' ^'''^ '^^#^ 'f ^^e %^ of Harbourg'T^l'^'^Z?'''^'''''^^^^^^^^^ Recaptulation of L evZ ff /CrxT,.^^^^''^^^^- ceywon none themlH. Th "-""^""^ ^''^ ^ lifcd, and their adminiftraMV^n ?^ *'">' """ 'i"- ■^ the annals of Britain S^ J.'^tn ^^^ "* gJonous Jered out to cruife n' . '■' ^ '"" ''^^ been or- 'i-h M,:, ZX ^S^i ---S with Admiral Bolbawen in 1.,^ ,5 i^ "nfuccefsfol.. cruifed at cape St. v'ncC •' T'^^I't^ °"^' which "edfron,Jamaica,w?^." h'eh^Tr' ^''^""''■■"d ar- .^e^inftthelmall craVn 1 h > "; ^^" ^^^ ^^^ful aie not of any great -da r2 f " ''"•"'^ ^"^^lons q' S''^^ confe- P»rl,ament, wer deed of"" '^'"'^ '" ^''= ''™i& -^^")'. ey had ac d,lier.„ tin.'.'-];^;;^-^-^ (J 2 * J ^ anci \ 1 I J^^ vvas ordered to communicate, to fir John Ligonier, what obfervations he had made there ; he accordingly wrote him an account of the fortifications, reprefenting them fo bad, that the miniftry refolved to undertake an expedition againft it; anu were de- termined in this refolution, on feeing an authentic account of the military force of France, which they alfo received in July, By this it appeared, that the french army, in the beginning of the war, confifted only of 157,347 men, including militia. In auguft, * For the navy For the army Fortheheflians For the hanovcrians ijundrys -~< 3,503,9401. 2,^98,197 300,572 74.478 2,072,813 8,350,000 i7S5^ ( 229 ) 1755. an augmentntion was .mrf, ^e and 2500 dragoons. In dccen?l' »°[, ''•°°° f°°f' horfe were further rJAiZt\""^'''?^' 55"° memormi, that, ink,ly,y~t 'h !'''."'"'' ^^ ''"'' (witliout reckoning the milir'h 1 ^ •°''= '''''"'^'i "rmy were about 67,000; was^nW,"'' '"^^''■*' «''ich inands of Minorca, cTrficatrhA'°°° "''"■ ^he Weft-Indies, took up ,0 con I f/':;"' ^"^ t^e army, if the regiments^ were 'ntni ,^'^'^'" d'Eftree's to 9^,000: Richelieu's to ™o^n'' 7"'' '"™"'" 7000 in garrifon at Toulon M? r ^,''°''>' "^ ^ O"- which it appears, that there' we^e';^'"' ^'^ ^^ ti-ooDs empioyed An nnr^ ^] 100,000 recrular fpeakingof Flanders, and the 2^'"''"'^' ^'"'°« Vallery to Bcrgue and ,o T ' ^°'°°° from St. to Pxfrdeaux.^ ' '°'°°° ^"'^ f"'" St. Vallery miirt be very MlZtrT^"" ""^^fP^J^ d-en.ent to'undertrk?Thf exiditl'"^*?.^^- '"j Hawke received his order, in I ,, . ^"^ Edward guft, and in confequence rep Ld ' ''.'"'r '"§ °f ^u- fca the dipping LTAer^Zi rP''^'''^' '° ™'- »him, and /ir"joir„ Mordaun h'"'" '"^'"^^'"ns land forces, the/ were dSd r' " P"^'' °'' "'^^ •.'pon Rochfort f and in S ^° "^^'f f^eir ..ttack I^rt rorient, or BourdeauL were"™; b '"'^r'' *rcd, as the moft important cbieasnf^ ^ '^""''- ?mp hud been fornied in "hifne S W' T'' ^ nice the bcginnin<» of auanft ra- ^'S^t, ever "fti, the king-s,°K nanfVs' 'h^'^^S "*' '''« old a-udcncl's, London', r^'„'^"""='' Hodfon's 'i-tinck-s' regie s 'of ror1'2;,^™'-'«'^' »vl.ich, fir John informed him rhTu '' •'" '"'^^" '" ■TOVER with the Be^^r,l n^' '''^t ^"'"S T.^l-KED rctnrning direaiy toS „ f "''l, '^'^ '" ='S^^^'' '" 0.>e pa ty threw all rhlw '"'^'''^ '''= «*=" ^i'^d- pi J^d ^he'r:re:e;'Th::rher,S;f 7%^^''° the commanders, who olhr rn h "'' °" But his maleftv hv I ? ^ to have executed it. .t"> ■appoint'/; b a '^orre^af officer''''' ''°''"" into tiK- caufes of th^ f ,^,, ^ J officers, to enquire m^the 121 anc bt "^ '''' "^^P"^'""" ' "'=/ regions, why he "lelin f -f P°«> , ^'^'gned federal "»nder. The sener I „ffi "' ™"^"^'^ "^ '''= ~"> M.'.rlborou^h Inrf r ?''''[' '^"^' ^^e dnkc of Dorough, Jord George Sackville, and gen. Wald- 0-4 Thij •vmkwtf',- # •PW^' ( 232 ) This clef cvini nation of the board of enquiry, was far from being futisfaftiiry to his majefty -, by another warrant, dattd the 3d of december, a general court jnarfliai * was appointed to fit upon the trial of fir John Mordaunt, which met the 14th, and continued fitting till the 20th -, when they all unanimoufly were of opinion, that fir John Mordaunt was not guilty of the charge exhibited againft him, and did therefore acquit him. To determine where the fault of the expedition's failing, really laid, is a matter very difficult. We found, that a board of officers cenfured the comman- der, on account of his behaviour, and a court martial acquitted him ; the greater number of the publica- tions, (many of them very fl:upid ones) we read on this aflair, the more we ffiall be perplexed. Thus much, 1 think feems pretty plain ; that the fcheme of making a diverfion on France, with delign to affift the king of Pruffia, by drawing the french trcjps • And confifted of the following members, Lieur. general Lord Tyrawley, prefid^nt. Lieut, general diaries lord Cadogan, l,icut. general Jolin Guifc, Lieut, general Richard Onflow, Lieut, genemi Henry Tulteney, .Lieut, general fir Charles Howard, Lieut, general John Hu/kc, Lieut, geneial John lordDelawar, Lieut, general James Cholmondeley. Major general Maurice Cockland, Major general William earl of Panmure, Major general William earl of Ancram, Major general William earl of Harrington, Major general George earl of Albemarle, Major general Henry Holmes, Mnjor general Alexarder Brury, Major general John Moydyn, Major general Edward Carr. Colonel William Kingfley, Colonel Alexander Duroure, Colonel Bennet Noel. Charles Gould, deputy judge advocate general. out out of were r to def not tl\ that th expedit In lliori ner, by thecxfc to the ] niftry ce though in form] naval foi would h filliiig tJ iburce oi _ The c rica were bourn ju July, fro, ^ • Confiil in north An Ships. Newark Invincible Grafton Terrible North umber Captain Orford Bedford Na/Tau Sunderland Reliance Tilbury Kingllon ^indlbr Sutherland ^inchelfea Succefs qiiiry, was by another neral court trial of fir continued on fly were t guilty of I therefore cpedition's :ult. We comman- irt martial - publica- e read on ■d. Tlius he fcheme ( 233 ) out of Germany, wa«5 1 r,r,^^ «e« not troops enou.rh if .V °""' P™""''"'' ">"« to defend itfelf. It fid not .7 '''" ^^ '^''' ^°^'t' not tl.e cafe at Rochfort 'iT^f/''?.^ ""' ^^^ that the month of feptem LV i "'H ''"^' '"PPofe. expedition, efpeciall^^te boTfte o°u,'r '^['"^^ ^" In lliort, the defign was not nb„l 7" '"'>' °* ^^''^y. ner, by the miniyf ?nd Pj^n." (["■.? P'^^''^? "'^"- theexecution ; there were fonie ^71/ '' I''!'""' "^ .0 tl,c former, rendered it ineSal ' ^''"•'V'"''' niftry certainly deferved craifr In ^"' '''= "li- •hough in foie other!, the plai mTh^l"'^"'^"- ^^l" in forming a defign to' emp^'^Ttf advLf ^""""^^ naval force, in an expedition whirl, l„^r"Se our would have been of ^great confequ ncel" ^T "•='.• lifting the kmg of Pruflla at uln- '/„ "°' ^y af- fo..c. of the nfval powt *of prat '" '''"'"^'"^ the The operations of the brifin, ar„ • rica were not more br 1 liant " t jTft V"^ ^"''^ bourn juft arrived at hSx Jl i"""'^ H"'- J^Mrom England witf;^^;a;Vtt'^ft^|,':f %., including thofe which were of .he „e, and .. fWg, * Confining of the in north America, viz SJi'PS. Men. Newark Invincible Grafcon Terrible Northumberland Captain Orford Bedford Na/lau Sunderland J)e/iance Tilbury ^iJiglton ^indlbr Sutherland ^inchelfea Succefs 700 700 590 630 520 580 S20 480 480 400 400 400 400 306 160 150 following one fhip Guns. 80 74 68 74 68 68 68 64 64 64 64 64 60 54 50 24 22 Ships. Port JVIahon Nightingale Kennington E'phingham I''errit /loop ■Furnace bomb ditto Vulture floop Hunter Speedwell Hawke Gibraltar's prize Jamaica i^ightning fire /hip Men. 150 150 150 150 120 100 loo 100 loo 90 loo 80 100 50 Guns. 2?. 21 20 20 16 16 16 H H 12 12 12 m io,?oo 1350 Loudon m ( 234 ) liOiidon waiting their for him with great The armament confilted of 17 fnips of the 'l frigates and floops, two bomb 'mpatIenc^• ine, I, II iprjfT' s, one fire fhip, with 179 tranfporrs, making 18,000 tons engliHi ffiins, and 15,616 north american •, 100 pieces of hrals cannon, in 10 large Oiips, h(;rfes, ftcers, Sic. in fci-r others, and feveral more loaded with facines, gabions Sec. The army confided of 15 regiments, /;ooni'n ot the train, .500 rangers, and 100 carpenters, muk- ingall 11,000 cfi'eaive land forces. The Hr(l thin<> which the commander did, was to difp.itch fome vcl? fels for intelligence of the enemy's fituation and rtrength. And in the mean time, the tree-", were cxcrcifcd in attacking a fham fort, accordin • r•^ the rules of war, lord Loudon very rightly judgii.' , that this was a proper employment for them till lie failed ' When the vcfi'els returned, they brought advice of a fleet's being arrjved at Louifburgh ; and, on thf> 4th of augull, a french prize was brought into Hali- fax, by whofe papers it appeared, that there were then in the harbour, 17 fail of the line, 12 frigates, 4000 regulars, befides 3000 belonging to thegarrifon. This news immediately fufpended thepreparations which had been made to embark. Councils of war were held one alter another. The refult of the whole was that as the place was fo well reinforced, the french fleet fuperior to ours, and the feafon fo far advanced, it was moll prudent to defer the enterprizc till a more favourable opportunity. I do not fee any great reafon to find fault with this determination, confidcring the circum- ftances abovementioned, althv)ugh it was much found fault with in England. Tord Loudon returned to New York, and the admiral fet fail for Louilburrr * It \varon this account, that lord Charles Hay cot. Jcmned lord Loudon s condua, as " Keeping the courage of his majcfty's Ibl- '« diers at bay, and expending the nation's wcai Ji, in making Iham " fights, ana planting cabbages." Fo, which he wa:-, with the ad. vice ot ii couikjI ot war, ordered under arreft. in impntiencc; he line, 14 ' '^"Pi with gliili Hiips, ■cs of brafs Sfc. in four s. g'-ibions, s» 500 iii'>n Iters, mak- ' fir(l th:n|T li fome vcf. Liation and roo-", were 1»^ , 1 the 'sii. > that he failed *. It advice of i^J> on the into Hali- 2 were then ates, 4000 -ifon. This wliich had re held one that as the fiiperior to was nioll favourable ron to find le circum- iiich found : turned to ( 2^5 ) in hopes to bring ik- frcnch fleet to a Intrl/ » with what rea on, he ihnuhl r , . , , "'^ ' '^"'' hazard one, I kn w r^t a T '* '''\'^^^'y-'-M to protect the tovv.^ The en 'l?n;7 '^' ^^""'^ ^'^^ olTthe harbour, til! the 2^^ rf /'^'"'?'' '^^'>'^"^' they were fl^attered in a nu, i' cr b- .Y'"'^"''' ^'"■' one of our Jhips was loft ,/,r^'''''"' "i vvhici, all returned to^EnX ^ v " ^T^^''^^ ''"^' '^^- This was the end o he "Zl''^ ^""^^'^'^'"• b^rpinwhi.Moi;^:;rr^^^^^^^^^^^ have been ready to fail foonj' " ^"^V "^""''^"^y f<^ would not have deDenckc.r; '" J'''" ^'" "'"^^^ Lord L<>udon^sS Knl:;:' ^^"/ Tf'^^'^-' wid,whatrea(bn,lconfi;^,'l^:;:;^-'^^ johlw[o,nverri:Seh':5 '^'^'-^ ^^--^^ tort, called VVilliL Henrt 1 I 'r'^''!'"^ ^""^ ^^^'^'^ ^ George, in ordrto'^^^r^a^d ^Ta ^^ tdl^^^ our frontiers. The fort was flrong a '/[,, "' nlone.1 by 2500 men ; and general Webb wi.h' ^^"" men was polted at no greatdiLnrr "ru '^^ ^"^'^ when they were informed tlmor^^ /^' *''^'^'^ . on the Loui/burc expedition m^7 "'^''" ^^'^^ 8^"^ I toattaek this for^ ; X r^ rq;HTde'^^'' ^/'T"^'"'^^ I againltit 8000 reA, lars"^n? 11 . "'i^'^'" '^^^^^S'^^ ^r.l.ytobene^it1n^:;;i^"'l^^^ enquire, whether Montcalm could do '1 rl . '^ ''' Crown Point, without cn.u.^a Webb'. I "'•'' I^ he was not informed ,,? ;''''\^^^^ « knowing ir. io n^ceffary n t t coun r '. ru" ^''' ^'^' '''^'^'^^ rolled the ne 4bot 1 i^'"'''"' ^^^^ ^'^^ '^^ not ti^^^ bdi i^m:^? il^i^ceir^^ui^^r '''^ ^- - ^qual, perhaps fuperior f^'rce to Zl T ^''" ^^ f^^t being done tl p rnnr ^ ^'^""^^^ ' ^"t thi.<: after a /fx d" ; t' 'Tl '"^'^ 7'^^'' ^^^^^ '^''^'^'^^^^ ^'•')'' iiegc, took the fort the oth of au^ guft J 4 ( 236 ) guft ; it furrendering by the advice of general Webb. The garrilbn marched out with their arms, and en! gaged not to ferve during 1 8 months -, the french fa' vages paid no regard to the capitulation ; but com- mitted a thoufand outrageous barbarities. And all was fuffered by 2000 men, with arms in their hands againft a diforderly crew of barbarians. The enemy having demolifhed the fort, carried off every thin? ■with the veflels on the lake, departing without mak- ing any further attempts, There is fych an intricate darknefs in this, affair, that were it cleared up, I fear a ftain would fomewhere be difcovered. This was the end of our third campaign in north America, ;ve had adually near 20,000 regular troops, and a navv of upwards of 2,0 fhips of the line, and yet our fort's were taken from us, and our Indian allies left de- fencelefs, to the mercy of the enemy ; and without our doing any one adlion, that could repay us for all this load of bad fuccefs and difhonour. It is in Germany only we m.uft look for more hfil liant and decifive anions. I left his pruflian majefty returning; froj ^^ufatia, in his way to Saxony, with defign -J finrl .: .■£ imperialifts and french, who were advanci V u>^».- xis Mifnia. His majefty reached Er- furth, the . ,..a of feptember, by the rout of Pe^aii, Naumburg, Frankenau, Brctledadt; from Erfimh, the king detached prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick with kven battalions and ten fquadrons, andfome ar- tillery, towards Halberftadt i to watch the motions of marlhal Richelieu's army. The combined army Ht - Krfurth the nth, on the approach of the pruflians, \ and retired to Kifenach, where they were encamped during the king of Pruffia's itay at Erfurth ; but be- ing reinforced confiderably, they then advanced, and his majeily retired in his turn : thfe reafon of which was, he wanted to fight them as near Mifna, and as deep in the winter as he could, becaufe, if he was viftorious, a defeat at that feafonj would difenable his eneniy * Juft bef (0 many nati iollowing wo " My dea all that ough are now draw nor is there o( '^our, no hiiii not fhared wii 'Jo'-vn my Jif^ he marched back to ButtlXdt on w?"k ''u' '^"'• bined a^y fixed their ,~^, 0"^^^'^^ Tf nanmajefty finding that the enemy advanc d wkh {feed, thought it time to f iht tSpm • !,-,„ 1 , " lolution the Hth of oftober, when hs al^h''- pened to be divided inm f^jL\ , ^^ '"^P" .^tthed.fianceof:'orguS„:rfe^S was in Leipfick with fevpn Ko«■^ i- ^^^'^^^Y^ ^^^^^ iefty. on befng infoJiUeX tht e^; ::^:tj^ r|ewo.iib fougS ^n^ theXlf ttj^ ''^'- »nd Haile and SneTa ,^„' t^TdSr^fe 50,000 men complete Th^ nmrr j j conlilted of to 25,000 *. ^ ^ Pruffians did not amount His Mowing words : ^ ""'* addreiled his troops in the «renowdrfwnfor the batte "^•^'P^'^*^^ "P°« ^^e fwords which -r is there occafio t^ tyLci v'^T' " V° ^'^ '^"^ ""^^ = i^o^r, no hmigcf, no cold ZL. I "^"^^ '^'^ '^^''^ » "o la- "ot ftared wifh you hTthe'rto and "^^ "° t"^'^* '^^^ ^ '^-^ tjnu ,,-,,. I r .'; "'nicrio , and you now ff>f« mi -^f?,. ^^ i- -> l.r. wul. ,„„, ,„, ,„ ,„„. ^, , ^^-r - ^»d, .J, ,., of Mi 1 1 ' 1^ ' Hi .f ( ^3S ) His priifllun majefty had deteraiincd' to make ^-k with one wing only, and the difpofition of attac enemy made tlid the wing. 1 • r r 1^^ "'"'''■y °^ 'i'^ "^lit, was marched tl his left, and formed over againtt tliat of the enen, Upon which the prufllan cavalry moved on imnS [ «e y the french cavalry advanced to meet t" el and the charge was very fierce, feveral regiments rf the french coming on with great refolurion. Th advantage however, was entirely on the fide of Z prufllans. The french cavalry being n, ,ed, was n ! ft.ed for a confiderabie time, with the g.-eateft fc' nt. But havino- afrcr^^i-rlo ™:_,j „ _ . r' nt. But having afterwards sained which gave them an opporttinitv of rallvinrr , l prufl,an horfe fell on them afrefli, and give "th lo thorough a defeat, that they betook themfelv ,„' flight m the utmoft dilbrder, which happened at fo in the afternoon. Whilft the cavalry charged, pruman mtantry opened themfelves, endurinS a v bnlk cannonade from the enemy, which did fo„' execution; and m about a quarter of an hour h fire began. The trench could neither ftand t „™ refill the valour of their enemies, who salian, marched up to their batteries, which bein.. c i one after another, they gave way in the aratS confufion. As the left wiSg of theVuflians a'd c ed the r,ght changed its pofition, and meeting S, an all r.fing ground, Ihey planted 1 6 pieces oHmv amllery, the lire of whiclf taking the^eft wi " he enemy ,„ front, galled them Stremely. At fiv tanch Hed on all fides. The king of Pruffia ex- of fidelity and aftalon, thai I give. And let me add not a, .. a'l oil to ,„ h , , ", ""' *""'■ ^'"^ "P"" 'he men; ainountd J.ii.oll to .in h.roit plirenly, a good prognoUication of fucccfe. pofed C 239 ) pofed himfelf to % hotteft of th» fir^ :„ i a' his troops. The french left ,000 m!' '"''^'^'"gon field of battle i 6", piece, of ^ " '^"'^ »" tlie colours; eight fcnch generakT"""',^' ^'''^ "'^"X rent ranks, and 6000 private 1^ °*'"'' °^ ^'ff=- d.rl Thu- rfrians i„ Silefia He ft't our ' "'%'" ^S^^t the .2th of november wkh „ i T"" ^'^'P''<:k the 'drons. WhilftthscorrV^ '^''"^';<"« and 28 fqua- tliedefilesof Pafsber- Ln^ , ¥'""'"• through .ating a connd;abfeCgaSler'''''^"s'' twoauftrian .^enerak u, n 1 ^ "^'^"'^- The were polled ^^^ISTlh^^^'t'^'^K «ho march, lied before him ir ^ '"' majcfty's Naumburg, on Z 0^;t TT''' "^« 24th, at krchcs enered S.ef^t.d'^''-''^"'''^'"^ S'^"'! hear the Oder, the fs^h ""l"""^'^.'' "^ Parchwit.. army joined the kL het • Iw fP™'c °* ^^^^«'^ fon of Schweidniu w X^ ' °°1 ''^'^' ^''^^ gam- I-y the aullransr'be^ b,r'T,''"^'"Stoprifan Rearing by accident of aeCt}'R^"^"'''f'''. '""' "iniated them fo much ,L?T^ / ^"'^'■'^1'. it an- l^i^Perfed them. Z\l; e g t^ft 1?° " "''^ ^'i^"^^' t'lg'^ army in its Lr, l5? r "'''J°'™^ ''"^ fength to it The T'\ ' ^''1'"S « conliderable TIi3 U-- f# &iMa' ( 240 ) The auftrians, in the mean time, confiding In tlw numbers, on his pruffian majefty's approach, aban doned their ftrong camp (the fame which the piinj of Bevern had before occupied; and advanced to mee the king, with a refolution to give him battle Th two armies met the 5th of december, near the vil^ lage of Leuthen : the auftrians were commanded bv prince Charles of Lorrain, afTifted by marHiaJ Daiin the latter of whom had taken all poffible precautions to throw a multitude of impediments in the way of his pruffian majefty ; the ground which they occupied had all the advantage of natural fituation, improved to the utmoft with great diligence and fkill • the army was drawn up on a plain, except in fome nam It had fmall eminences, which count Daun had fur rounded with artillery ; fome hills on his right and left were alfo covered with batteries of cannon ; in his front were many thickets and caufeways ; but to render the whole as impenetrable as poffible, he had Idled a vaft number of trees, and fcattered them in the way. In this formidable fituatioii was pofted 70,000 auftrians, excellent troops, and commanded by count Daun ; the only general who had fnatched a victory from the pruffian hero. His majefty heffitated not a moment; althoual, his troops did not exceed 56,000 men, he refofv- ed to attack the enemy, fo much fuperior.^ From the nature of the ground, the pruffian horfe could not adl; but by a moft judicious movement of the I king's, that difadvantage was overcome ; general Na- dafti, with a corps de referve, was polled on the au- ftrian'sleft, with defign to take the kinp- in flank; kut his majefty, in making his firft difpolitions, had I foreieen, and guarded againft that dedgn, he placed four battalions behind the cavalry of his right wing. Nadafti, as the king cxpeCled, attacked him witli great fury, but received fo fevere a fire from thofe tour battalions, that he retired in thc^reateftdiforder; bvj 'filing in theif proach, aban. ich the pi-ince 'anced to meet battle. The near the vil- )mmanded by larHiaJ Daim, le precautions n the way of hey occupied, on, improved nd fkill : the in feme parts )aun had lur- his right and ■ cannon ; in ^ays; but to rible, he had tered them k 1 was ported commanded iiad fnatched It ; although J, he refolv- ( 241 ) Br which means the king's flank bein^ weJl funnnrf.H nnd covered, adled with fo much ovdJVn7^ ^ that the enemy's right gave wTvTK f ^'^""'^ Jery was exceJJently ferved Zl' U ^r'^^^" '''"^- of the auftrians, eLbTedthe kln^'I'"^ ^-^'""^ '^'' advantages, which he hadt'ine? N "^^^"^^'"J^^^^^ fought with -re obmnaiT;;:e';tta^k!^^^^^^^^^^ fmns were incredible ; and the auftrians made a ^mofl gallant defence during the whole battle ; they drew i,p ^fthe.r forces again about Leuthen, whi h poft ^as defended on aJl fides with redoubts and entren^ch ments : but nothing could ftop the impetuofirv of he' pruffians; they made reiterated attacks with the ut moil bravey, which their enemies fuflained a Innl time with great firmnefs, but at hTth. a ^ gamed, and the auftrians fled^:,n",l tdet tlfe^lrti: ::l:iaT 6oc:"::reTin ?'> rH'"^ .00 pieces of cannr;, 'rc^l^^^ra^dtodf^^^^^^^^^^^ fought,u. a month a^t^\tTof K^cT ''''' ^^^ were purflied the day aftefthTbattle^ o^ Bretu" and that city was immediately befieeed -cuIIa' Mz a though it was in the VpW win te " wt lockaded: and the pruflian parlies over- an alls efia, recovering not only that part of it which h. onged to the king, but conquered even ;he a ^^^^^^ S rd ?s ^'K'^^"' f jagerndit;;? nallSdefia; the whole of which country, butafewdav: before was in the poflelRon of her viLrious 000! His majefty the king of Pruffia, having thurc^IoS; Suartcro. The auftrians retired ^no p^k..,,.- •.. ^-.-^ ■"wiiv.iiiiu, witn ^ the "lii'-i 11 arf ( H^ ) rhe fliattered remains of their troops, where they alio went into winter quarters. But it is time to turn our eyes towards another profpeft equally advantageous to his prufllan inajcfty, I'he french army in Hanover, from the very Cm, ing the convention of Clofter-feven, had been guHty of a million of unheard of excefTes, and had violated the convention almoft in every article. They feized thecaftleof Schartzfels, and pillaged it, making the garrifon prifoncrs of war. They refufed to deliver up the prifoners they had made before the con- rention, though this was a point exprefsly ftipulaied between the generals that fettled the detail, and waj exadly fulfilled on the part of the hanoverians, by the relcafc of the french prifoners. They fummoned the bailies of thofe diftrifts, into which the french troops were by no means to enter, under pain of mili. tary execution, to appear before the french commif. fary, and compelled them to deliver up the public revenue. They appropriated to themfelves pan of thofe magazines, which by exprefs agreement were to be left to the eledoral troops. 'Hiey leized the houfes, revenues, and corn belong to the king of England] in the city of Bremen, in fpight ot the rccipro' cal engagements entered into, to confider that city, as a place abfolutely free and neutral. The duke de Richelieu, the commander in chief, who came to lofe jlll that the fkill of d*Eftrees had won, (being promoted to the chief command merely by the favour of madam de Pompadour, who hated themar- ilialefs d'Eftrces) was the author of this behaviour, (o injurious to the honour of his country j his fortuae,' by his extravagance and vices, was very much fliat- tcrcd; and to repair it, he plundered the whole elec- torate of Hanover, wiih the moft inflexible fevcrity; lie levied the moll exorbitant contributions ; and even that did not exempt the unhappy hanoverians fron] the iniblent and brutal Ijccntioufncis of the french foldiery. :ii*..*;.e-#''p!r Vice, generont'y. ana'^^tZ^^fT'ci^ f Su'ch inftanccs as thet. !" th ''hr„"T"'>- lo they ought to be tranfmitted to poStv ^,^1'^' nourof tholi- who perform them ^ ^ ""'^ '''*- 1 here never was a more flagrant inftmr,. ^f u importance a regular and cx^ Hiiv i • '^ *''^'= very being of an armv than ,^,v '^''."^ " '" ''« de Richelieu. Th.™Je'ner,T • , ' "?'^" ''"'■ '^"^^ ing the country, re xTdeverv'knd 7'^ °," P^''"^"' pline, fo that the numero"7r"- "^ "^ -"^ ''""""" of cfEftrees had preS in exceliem oH "'' 'T"^'"^ ipirics, through alfthedeferts of wSLI Id f ^'\l an enemy's army ; now it was inpoffS of ,^'7** XZi^n:^t::7e^'r^^^^^ Wthand rpiritsr.''vne'org':rthtX;:^3 T^ Great Britain. reS ^^rT^tarttf • °^ fach army wash '^' P^^" ^"^'"6 "hat ord« the L troop to tt"mvf-,J°'"'''.'^'' ''"''y °f P^f"- againft the Lnch nn u ' J"^ ^^S^" ^^ act n^^nd. The kina^, h n f''"'' Ferdinand's com- the mon;, ifi PV.l'.^'^T^! ' ^'^oml containing -m ....h wui.gea n.s troops to take arms, ^ ^ fttting m. m ( 244 ) fctting forth in the clcarcll light, how palpably the frcnch had lirtl broke every article of the convention of Cioller-fevcn. I'he prince took the command about the mitldlc of november i by which time the army was wlmlly aflcmblcd. On his firft motions, marlhal Kicliclicu threatened tlie whole country, of which he was In poiredion, with fne and Iword, to which no reply vas made. However, on the prince's approach, the fuburbs of Zell was fee on fire, the bridge of the Allcr burnt, and many houfes reduced to allies. His ferene iiighncls having reprcfcntoil to marflial Riche- lieu, the confequcnces of Jucli a proceeding, the mar- flial allcdgcd, that it was done my mere accident. The firfl operation of importance, which the Hano- verian army undertook, was the ficge of Ilarbourg, they became makers of the town, the 28th of no- vember, but the frcnch governor with tlie garrifon retired into the callle ; and ticfcnded it with the great- cll: bravery, till the 29th of ilccember, when he ca- pitula' \\. Marflial Richelieu, in the mean time, was collecting his troops about Zcll. The 6th, the ha- novcnan army began their march to diflodge him, and arrived within a league of Zell the 1 3th ; but find- ing that the trench were too llrongly intrenched to be attacked, he (taid till the 21 It, when he broke his camp, and returned towards Ultzen and Lunen- burg, to put his troops into winter quarters. The wonderful events, which diilinguifli in lb re- markable a manner, the year 1757, are fuch, that the like is hardly to be met with in hillory. The king of PrufTia had once more the happincVs to Ice himfclt" freed from al] tiiat imminent danger, which fo lately furrounded him ; he now felt the ellcds of his councils, and his labours ; all his eUvMnics were drive:i out of his dominions, defeated, broken, and tiyiiig every where before him i himfelf m quiet [w&lTm ot Silcfia, and his vidorious troops ready to fall on their palpably the L* coiivcniion : the miildlc was wlmlly ial Richelieu 1 he was in no rrply vas proach, the klge of the ) allies. His rfliiil Richc- g, the mar- :rc accident, h the hano- ' Harbourg, 28th of no. the garrilbn :h the great- /hen he ea- rn time, was jth, the ha- llodge him, h i but find- trenched to n he broke and Liincn. crs. ill in lb re- : fuch, that ilory. The jincfs to Ice :r, which fo K'(fls of his were drive:i and tiying t pofleirion • to falhm their ( H5 ) rcrr'^AnimiLrwitrT'^"^^'^'^ ^^^^"^^^^^ bra^ very. Animated with the prefence of their fn^.^ rcign, what labours are too crcat for nn m /i J . form? What a wonderful rS/o ' ^^ ' r°, ^'"" monarch fuftain, in fo Lr^ Vac/Ttime'^ "'* r.ngle campaign. Triumphant at S tuTa '' * lly before him, totally deLtc", Id half a k" ;!'"' conquered. The lofs of one battle turn, rl^r"^?' the king of Pruffia is defeated the aS" i- ', ^''''^' ftrians re-eftabli/hed, thcirris^^^^^^^^^ ftiemy on the verv brink nf ,i^a xi- "*».'*"'* tneir wale by hi, enemies, and him'^elf «' ^ v^ry e I™ ot defpair. Another battle railes him alJnZ^Jf, a month's time, the auftrians, impeHI-Tft ' ft" r..n.an,,. andlwcdes, all retire befoTwm "'j,is domi' .lons are freed from all his enemies , and 'the force of verrc. h/w will poller'!; rama.Tto 'hel^r^ ^ n ove half the power of Kuropewa, un^^ed and ex the aftions that were ,>eSt . ^^P'^'d ; fueh iaHfingle campaign '"*' "°' '" "" "£'. but ^'•••'y R CHAP. ( H« ) # \ 11 I C H A P. X.[V. Jffisirs in Enf^ldnd, rrr,nfa^iotts atfea. Smj(Mi taken //V iM the E^-Jmiies, Ihttles bctwcm Pocock and ii' Ache. Em St. David's taken l^y the fren'ck. I'rmi hfju\^e M^rafs.^ 'Ihc Ji^CYatjul, y^ffairj in Eramt, Jn (itrtnany. Convention bet%fJ€en (mtit Britain ai,ii iynljia, French retire out of Hanover. Prince of Clermont commands the french army. Hoy a and M,n 6"-' '"ppon (T; ^i. nugnw, ji) the Berwick of 6o. -^nA n.Z i:...„! 'f^ ^^^^^^^H f 1 i i: i I ( a4R ) «n the Pirdon of 50, took the Orpfiriis, commandd by M. lie Unvillc with 500 nun -, rapr. (J.irdinpr ih (hr Monmoiirh of 64, nipportrd by rapt. 8liinhofv' in fhc SwiHliiic o{ yo, .iiul Ciipi.j;!. Hcrvcy, in Jh^ 1 larnptf.n tourrol 6\, rook tlir I'ondmvunt withSon men. Cnpt. Kowlcy, in thr M(>ntaf';iic of On, nnd cipt. MonMjrnp, in ihr Mon.in h of 74, run thr Orj. (l.mmconfliorc, iimlir the r.»ai(Mif Aip,los; but \v,i, not (li'llroycci by tcalon of the lUMitr.iIiry of the coail ot Sjiain. '1 he I'kijule nor aw.iy by oiir-failin'' tlip rnghlb niips. The gienrtll lofs fufl a'ined by thr vie- tors, was in that of the brave capf. (Gardiner; hollt^ nnnr Caiker roimnanded his fbip on the captain's dearli, am! foii.;ht the Foiidroyanr, with great con- dudt anil courage; as a reward forwhi(h, ailmini Ofborn conferred on him the command of the (hip he had conquered, and M.ck-Quefne, when he (buck retulod to ^^vc his fword to capt. Stanhope ; butp.ive it with great pohtenefs to heutenant Carket. The fleet in Carthagcna coidilh-d of one fliip of 84 .-uiis, three of- 74, two of ()4, two of 50, one of 36, o'lieof 24, one of" It), and one of 14. Theenglifli rruibng fcjuadrons, in tlie beginnin{>of this year, were very iucccfsful in taking a great mini. ber of French merchantmen and privateers. We had one uiuler vice-admiral Smith in the Downs, another under rear-admiral (\)te.s, in the Wea-Imlics,' \ wh.> had done the enojifh trade in thofe pans grnt fervice, by his condik^t ami bravery. /Xnother (Irong ft^uuthon, under aiimira! l^olcawen, faileil from Spit"^ head, for north America, the loth of february. 'ilie I 2th of march, fir Kdward Haw ke failed with fi-vcn Hiips ot the line, and three frigates, Imm Spithcad, to wuilc' m the bay of Bijlay ; the 4th of april he h'U in, of} the ille of Aix, with a french Iquadron, of l.vc ibipsot the line, feven frigates, and a convoy ot 40 merchantmen, to wiiich he gave chace; the men of war lied, and the merchantmen, many of tliein 'Hem liHi (hi of apr their w I! (iiil a (Vigat with fn In til filhrig f the Ryi (omrnai of marii nrtiilery month .ipril, tl got ovc 700 mar french fc on which agreed tc this mofi 2j2 fren( with frea fiderabJe nit't with li(h natioi /lull (peal The E had been i in that cg importanc * Thelcir Ca'ing the im iiancc was u^ tfntcil him V At parting, Ji feng the kir had Ihips at I (I'C hiju. ( «49 ) jKrm wtre ran on n>orc om of ,l,e ,c»ch of thr rn;» lifli (l.i|.% iind only ,w„ „r three „,..„ " "' '"' '"fi" .hnrway to jom fir lulwar.l I lawkc. fWM ' ^th .; Cnl n,orc of (rend, mrrchanf, (hip,, efco tc.T w ahi(^.tc of 2 2 guns, which the J'fTcx^Jok Z' ] t w, li (ivr or fix of the mm hantmen. ^ " In the licmnnintr of marrli Tr...,iir i f;lln,g of thf Nailu of rg':;n; ': fe^^^^^^^^^ tlK-Kyeof 24, a noop and two biiffe, t , I," tS .onunand of captain Marfh (having on boa,^l . ,„,|' mannes, under major Mali.n. and a dctachmen" If ,irnl ery under captain Walker) failed from Plv moiith for the coall of Africa. On tl c T^tlV ^ •THl, this fq,,adron arrived off the r ve Sen ^ ,lf pot over the bar the 29th •. a„,| the r-xt d,v ?,S . r marine, and feamc^n. with .h.fi.n'to ^fj^ the trench fort r,ew„; but deputies arriv.d wit articOe^ on winch they propnied to furrender. a- hefe be n, .gree.! to the cn.^Uih for. , ,, were put i ■ pofMon of tins mofl .mportant fettlement ; 'where Cv ftl tji trench officers and foldiers 02 ni-rrw.r^ ^ witlureifiir' fli,,,., , ""v 92 Pictes of cannons will r aiur , naves, and merchandize toa vcrvcon (ideraWe value. Uhc fuccefs which this fn^^l?/ ni« w,th, was of thegreateft in' ortan to t ,e a " ilp'-tn^^':;;'iSb''''^^- I" tl'nt country, was dininguinicd by many afl^\!f '"'Ponancc. V.ce.adnural Wock, L" the dcatlf liana- »..,:, „,,.va.,l,, o aren^lft r,,™.r'''»-'''°''8'' '!>= <>•■ •raid l,i,„ .vi,l.i;r«tnvim,''w,l, J^ 1 , ]' °"'"" "' ''"•• "^ip feins .h 'ici„; o Fnt n'i''":,"' h h T" ,''\"-'"=ly fond „r fad imps a, hh comS^'w; t^,i^S''r'*^''','!"• '^^ ''° icchiw. *^" ""i^^> ne would go and of if"!«r ( 250 ) of Mr. Watfon, had commanded in chief there. Bj. ing joined by commodore Stevens in Madrafs roa/ on the 24th of march, with reinforcements from* England, he put to fea with hisfquadron ♦ the 27th with defign to intercept a french fquadron in thole' |)arts, under the command of M. d*Ache. The 20th he came in iight of them ; the french admiral (whoie fquadron confifted of three fhips or 74 guns two of 64, two of 60, two of 50, and one of 36) on* feeinjg Mr. Pocock's fleet, formed his line, as did the .englifti admiral, and bore down on the enemy ; the engagement Jafted but a very fhort time, bH^ore M. d* Ache brdce his line, and bore away ; when x'ococlc hung out the fignal for a general chace ; but night coming on, he continued the purfuit without any ^i. fea. Thefirftof may, he came an anchornear Madrafs, and was informed, that one of the french ihips of 74 guns, was fo much damaged in the aaion that its captain had ran her on Ihore. This vidory would have been much more complete, had the cap. tains who commanded in the rear of the cngliflifqua- dron, done dieir duty j for when the admiral threw out the fignal for a clofe engagement, they kept back, and would not bear down, even after refieated fignal! had been made. In admiral Pncock's letter, he be- ftows great encomiums on commodore Stevens, capt. Latham, and capt. Somerfet in the van ; alio, capt. jKempenfclt, the commodore's captain, and capi. Har- .^ Confiiling of the following ihips : Ships. Yafmoutli Fiizabeth Cuxiii>erJaj)4 Wey moth Tygcr Newcaftic Salilbury (^eenbofough frigate Pxotjeaor ilort(hip. Guns. 64 64 66 6a 60 SO 50 Men. 500 Pocock. 595 Stevens. 520 420 400 350 300 rijon, < 25J ) rifon, with the reft of the officer: ajid men on i,n»rj the yormouth. The admiral, on ^13 S at M^ drab, ordered a court martial to affemble to enou!^ ato the coni.d rf thofe captains. „S ^havTo™ h=d appeared fo faulty. In confequence of S Mpt. Nicholas Vincent was fentenced to be difmiffeH from the command of the Weymouth • cam rT Leggeof the Newcaftle, to r^^X^K majefty s fernce ; and capt. William Brereton taJoofe one year's rank, as a poft captain. Mr. Pocock having repaired the moft material .la- mages his fquadron had received, put to fea the jodi of may, with an intent to get up to fort St. olyT bu was not able to effeft it; heVufpe&H he^ defigned to attack it, and knew, that if his Jbuadro„ w there, fuch an attempt would be impraSle m furpicions were but too true ; the french ?,-m J ""f M. Lally had befieged it, 'wfth Sft™^ fome of the french ftip., and it furrend red the Ihl^f P /^ ^°'^ °^,"''y' Mr. Pocock wa^ in to foft^t n. -^i^^ ' ""'' ^""^ '^y' »ft«^ hearing that tort St. David's was taken, he returned immf? d;ate ly to Madrafs. He put to fea agaCtheTtt ofjuly, in queft of the enemy. an?on the ,d of a>«uil, by taking advantage of a fea breeze, he cot k weather gage, and brought on an eStgemew In ten minuses JVl. d'Ache bore away, keepinfa very ^rregular line, and continuing a runi ng fire tfjlthree oclock, when the englilh lomiral made the fienal forageneral^chace, andpurfued them till it wasdfrk wiertheyelbaped by out-failing him. and got into Pondicherryroad; where they continued tiU the ,d reptember. when they failed for their iflands tS , ana refit ; two of their (hips being in a very bad con imn, and otliers confid^r^bly damaged ^ ^ "''"' m LAlly, as foon as had taken fort St. David's [ mrched with .500 men, into the king of iS^ l»«ntry, ts jiy, if poffible, to procure , fu,n tT™- I. ill' ( 2j2 ) ncy from him ; being refu fed, he plundered a tradino town on the coaft, and befieged his capital, but mcet^ ing with a more refoiute defence than he expefted he retreated about the middle of auguft, in great confufion, to Carrical, a french fea-port fettlement • and from thence to Pondicherry, at the end of fep! tember. About the middle of deoember, the frencfi army again moved from their quarters, and marched to lay fiege to Madrafs : colonels Lawrence and Dra- per commanded there, and fuftained all the attacks of the french, with the greateft conduft and bravery, making feveral fuccefsful failles : but a reinforcement arriving in the port the middle of february, 1755, the enemy raifed the fiege, and retreated with the ut- moft precipitation, leaving behind them feveral bat- teries of cannon and mortars ; having fuffered verv feverely during the fiege. General Lally wasefteemed an officer of -abilities, he had ferved many times with reputation in Europe ; and was of greater rank than the french court ufually fend into this country. The bad fuccefs he met with was entirely owing to the miferable troops he commanded, and the want of the neceflaiy fupport from Europe. The want of a firmnefs in the adminiftration of the government of France at home, occafioned that manifeft weaknefs which fo evidently appeared in all her colonies. There were feveral other expeditions undertaken on both fides, in the beginning of 1759 ; but I fhall give an account of them hereafter. The chain of affairs in India, during the year 1758. was fo connefted, that I could not avoid giving a hiftory of the whole year at once. It will alfo appear more perfpicuous to the reader. The continent of Europe at this time, bid more fair for being the theatre of great events. Half Eu- rope, as I before mentioned, was employed in mak- ing preparations for the enfuing campaign. The french were very diligent in putting their army on the t'Uis vacant ( 'S3 ) ,he Rhine on a better footing. It will not here be am,rs to take a fl.ght view of the court of France for then the caufe of the defpicable %ure, which the fi-ench army ,n Hanover made, the ]ar cr end of the aft campaign,, will more clearly appear. Madam de Pompadour, miftrefs to th^ kine of France, had governed that monarch and his kinJom for ,5 years with the moll abfolute fway. A fyn?- re! between her and the marlhalefs d'Eftreeswas the occafion of recalling the marftal, indifputably one of ,l.e greateft g^era^s in France, from his command ,„ Hanover The duke de Richelieu, who fucceeded im, bought his promotion by an immenfe bribe to her. This woman fet every thing, in the gift of the crown, up to fale ; commifllons in the army and the navy, were at her difpolkl. Little artifices, and petty paflions could never make sreat miniOer. ret, Ihe afpircd ftill higher, and afllS aU t W thonty of a defpotic miftrefs, that gave what motion fte pleafed to the ftate machine^ Mean fpirited cuncils naturally enough coming from her, an not the lefs followed for their bein| fo; minifte,. di°: graced, generals recalled, and appointed at her m- perious nod, and all of thefc for the worft, fignalizTd er power and her want of judgment. I^ tfe me n time, th s fubverfion of all order and dignity threw ageneral languor into the adminiftration ot" affairs! fte fubjeas of the greateft rank, merit, and ab l:IT ^'ther driven into corners, or voluntarilv c .etit'"rh r'"''^^,""^ °^ P^''''^ '^' ™"W only be held on the fcandalous terms of payin.. court to a woman conftantly jealous of not having enough that relpea Ihev,.,. her, to 'which Ihe mlfthave teencoiAious oi havirig fo little utle, and but the ™,c m.cm on h..,ng that meannefs of hcr's, by an nMence lo much fitter to prove and expofe it The coMicquence of this muft be, the filling the places ""IS vacant, with petty charafters : ^iJe greardt merit ..j-%- ~s.u,\:-vv:^ ttrntma iKKi.^^ ( 254 ) merit could only he the having none, as no merif could there exift, but what muft be incompatible with a fubmilTion to hcF, or with fubminifterino- to the win and meafures of a woman, that vifibly fS:ri ficed to her own private palTions, the king who waj governed, and the kingdom that was dilhonoured hv her *. Under fucK an adminiftration, could it be wondered at, that France made fo pitiful a figure in the war (he carried on. But the neceffity of the times called loudly for a change of minifters and meafures, and indeed the court found themfelves obliged to make fome alterations in their ronduft The duke de Bellide, whofe abilities and conduft had gamed him fo great a charader, was placed at the head of the military department f i in which ht cndea- • The Mft. de Pompadour, Vol. IT. p. 131. t On the duke's taking his place in counciH as fecretary of war ke made the Mowing feafible and animated fpecch ; which as it lets the bad Rate of the french army in a very clear light I fhall inlert it hare : ^ b > imi "I know, faid he, the ftate of our armies. It gives me great grief, and no lefs indignation : for befides the real evil of thedif •rder m itfolf, the difgrace and infamy whicii it reflefts on our m' wrnment, and on the whole nation, is ttill mora to be apprehendd Ihe choice of officers ought to be made with mature deliberatioB' I know but too well to what length the want of difcipline, pil.' lagmg, and robbing have been carried on, by the officere and com- mon men, after the example fet them by their generals. It morti- ftes me to think I am a frenchman; my principles are known to be very different from thofe which are now followed. I had tlie fatisfaflion to retain theefteem, the friendlhip, and the confidera. tion of ail the prmces. noblemen, and even of ail the common people, m all parts of Germany, where I commanded the king's forces. They lived there in the raidft of abundance j everyone was pleafed ; it fiUs my foul with aaguifli, to find, that at prifcnt, the french are held in execration ; that every body is difpii ited, and that many officers publicly fay things that arc criminal, and highly pumfliable. The evil is fo great, that it demands immediate Ms. 1 can eafily judge by what pafles in my own breaft, of what our generals feel from the fpceches they muft daily hear in Germany, conccrnmgour condufti which indeed would lofc much to be compared fty /hould ing harra/ll-d lieloved, as are too appa tilings, bccai cvil,^' This fpccc! I tile the e.vpre and other ecu meet with in of niarlhai C t ' wearetolwk . as no merit incompatible liniftering to vifibly facri. ing who was honoured hy could it be «I a figure in effity of the linifters and I themfelves leir conduft. md conduft ^as placed at in which ht cndea- !cretaryofwar, h; which as it r light, I M\ gives me great Jvil of the dit efts on our go. B apprehended, ■e deliberatioB. difcipline, pil. icenr and com- lis. It morti- are known to d. I had tlie the confidera- 1 the common led the king's ce J every one hat at prafcct, difpirited, and il, and highly ediateredrefs. of what our in Germany, much to be compard wdwmired to make a thorough reformatinn tu involving tlic ftench nation in a Zll ^"- ^'** «ea<>e .gainft which tCt^^S^ZTkre "'' * h/s advice : but as it had been ,mK u " S'vtn country wa, engaged too fX\:'?,'dr^' /"^ hi, K. put the army in Germany on ato^fhf"^''^ loorofecute the war with vigour ^' '"'* Indeed the ftatc of France ar' tU;. .• deplorable; the great effort whTrh V """' 7"' "^'X mke in Germany, drew off 7h., "^^^ "'^'^''^ » .% from their m^'ne Lt r""*'"? "^ «''« "li- itieproteftion of thdrWrde Thf '"'V™'" *^ » ruin, and the trade of France ,h. r ^'' "'J^ "" power, was cut off by the enslifh fh!^ '*' '^ *''^ condition, it was im^We Sti^^'X'"!' *" "■« condition, it was im^omlirS fu3ftf ' '" """ gorouny m America,*^ and rh. p- "j^'ji""^ *'"■ v>- gorouny ,„ America,%nd the Eddies Z ^■^ was afterwards found, that even ,1: ' "*5^' '' France was far from being^rnetrabir'' "'* °' compared with that of our »?li'f« t a the delays and irregularity o tL JolT P'/^'^^^'^y complain of ^1 provided for. I am Jevvife J^^^^^^^ - very leenerals, m returning anfwers • Xh f, . '^.^ "T''^^'^"^* ^^ ^nr W Had r commanded tSe'army \ ,h?'r"'I''^.^'"*^^^ ^^ ^heir , done, would not have been don I^do^C^t'^^SS which are would have been executed. I wiu d h^! 7^'?^^' "^g>^'«ed, nications, I would have ftronrpofts O" ."J '^^L''^ n,y commu-' '^ndin the center, lined wk^tr^, "/t' 7?^'' "" '^'^ ^'^'' , games in every place. The au « «„r? c TI"^- ''^^^ ^'^^ "'a- ' t7 'hould have been eqnti to^thi /^''^^^/^'O" of the coun. ingharra/lcd and plundr^ and L^'r^^T. J'^^'-'^^^^". ^t be- ;^ovd. as we a^ at ^ierlT' ^ ^^7^'^ i)^ '^^ - -cli are too apparent to need being mentiZd T a .''^'^^•^"ence* I 'I'lJ^s, bccaufc late redress is inter hank/ "'"'^ '"^''^ °" ^^^^«^ ^ evir "'■"^'^ ^nan the contjnuation of the , This fpccch is a Jenfible and juft one R^^ »,« , t'le the e.vpreflions of humankyZdT...^. rT ''" ^= ''='^0"- : ^nJ other countries in Gcrm"n^. whid, ft.n ^"' '^'' ^o.q^orcd, ^ilff ".'?"'"' atthebattL„f^M;ntw T,'^"? ^ f P-» wea.e to Wk for in. real fenti.nents, n^in^'i^^;' ''' ^^"- The 'f4. lif^^l 5 ' lit' m i < 256 ) The mmiftiy in Knglaiul iLlblved to (Ircngthcfj their alliance with PiuHia, by anotiicr treaty withhij rrufrian majclly. iMntling tii.it the good agreement between the courts of VerJiiilles ami Vienna was eve, ry(lay growing more firm, they wifely regarded the fafety of that monarch, as nccefiUry to i)refervc the ballanccof power in I'Aii.pe. I'urluant to this plan a fccond convention was ligned tlic i ithof ajMil, lx' twcen the kings of Great Britain and Priiffia, by which it was agreed, that the king of (jreat Uritaji, Ihould pay, on demand, to his pruflian niajelly 4,000000 german crowns, (6/0,oool. (Icrlin^r..) which fum, 'uit monarch engaged to employ inauff. mcnting his forces, that weie to ad for the good Sf the common caiiic. The two kings alfo agreed, not to conclude any treaty of peace, truce, or neutrality, &c. with the powers at war, but in concert, and iii mutual agreement, wherein, both Hiould be by name comprehended. On the 20th, the commons voted that fum for his majefty's fervicc. I left prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick with the In- noverian army und r his command, jufl retired into winter quarters, without meeting with any inteimp. tion from the frcnch, having gained feveral advan- tages over them. Count Clermont now commanded the french army, the third commander in chief it had obeyed within a year*. Prince Ferdinand di- vided his troops into two bodies, the principal one under himfelf, marched on the right, to the country of Bremen, whilfl: a fccond body, under general Za- itrow, kept on towards Giftbrn. I'he prince made * It was faid, that foon after his arrival at finnovcr, he uTote to his mailer, that he had fbund his majtll>''s army divided into three bodies one above ground, the other under giound, and the third in the hoipitals. Therefore he dcfircd his mniclly's inilrudions, whether he lliould endeavour to bring the firll away/or if he ihould Kay till it had joined tiie other two. himfelf liave extr of Ca.-lar 'ime, in ( match bri ^'^nner aj i'i^tngth., i ( 257 ) hlmfclf maflcr of Rottenburg, Otterfl >crg, Vertlen, and Bremen, by the miJriU. ,.V *' u or no oppolition ; Ir 1 1^ ,fL*'"u^' *'"' ""'« being in/ormed, CS' V "Lf '^ """ l'''-"^'* Chabot, with a llr,nrS3"'' "'^~"'"de Hoya, upon the Wclcr a ^^"/h.cri^f''"'^'' " m of .-.rclour cliftinlum, hL? 1 • '° ^^ ""^ 'S'' orders difplayed fo' ^uch c.^, S" nu bravr 1' Br:t:eX"aa;;i!hira„Xro;^ but a fmall flc.it of timber andtlT f ""^'r^ ''^^ paffing the river on a finglf lU ,ook Tr ''Y time, that a loner „hile wa fnlm ■ ^ f" "'"<^'' l.»if the corps over 'by t],? „';"tf:n'r"(f "^ff ''''" over, a high wind aroll. whih rendered th fl?' unferviceable, and ll-parated the prince fVom ,1 ^' iiave extricated him) ht- mr^h . r i P""^^ ^""'d of^V^.r^,■ rir . - ^^^ ^ refolution worthy lt"^^n'dt:iin ^;^l1^trr^rrrn'^^^^^^ march briiklv on aramS ri '""^6 men, but to fe-Kth, and L:S ,.?,:'',/" "'""'"".of his attack chem before th cy could unde- ceive *M 1 r ( Jss ) ccive tlicmrclvf^. Borwcrn four nnd five o'clock lit the niorning, \\c niairhctl «lircclly ap,alnll I loya, with a rqjimcr.r ui^' horlc, part of a batiajion, ami a haiit. bit/cr. Wlion they p,<)t upon tiie caiilrway, wirlunj mile rttul a halt' oi" tiic town, tin iinhu kly aciidont liapj>cnrdinind continued to advance •, and the frcnt h every where to retreat. 1 he 5th of march he laid ct(>le fiegc to Minden, the only place which the french pvMlcflc d in the elcdorate of I lanover : and it furrepvieicd with its gaiiilbn of 4000 men prironm ot war, the i4rh. The hanoverian army was every where luccelil'ul \ the milerable condition of the frciich is not to be defcril)etl ; the total negled: of military tlifcipline, the want of cloaths in luch a rigorous fea- ion ; the lolsof all their baggage, and even their pro- vifions, by :hc hanovcnan hunters, who were cotinu- all)' vc. o'clock k \ loya, with niul a haiit. 'Jiy, wirhina kly accident whole rtucr- the rnrmy's ^ vvas caught rne jrcncral. vcrcvl them i ■Y continiipj ukI met with liilge or" the rtril cnfiifd; I jii-frc enough ic )iuiiciou(ly by attacking ' went A lir. pn, attacked living drove ;Hi{>htFr, re. liimfclF into liMTciKiercd ', his troops incc luui no ( ^^9 ) .lly harr^mng thnn : this conrarlnntlon of rnKfor- on t r uduhtants of the country which th'ycl fV.uiMtfcl. JJut one cxcrmion we m„(| ,n .U . ^ i.;-KU,r;tl. d.kcclcS^andani:; M^^^^ '^l'^'V'''''7'"^''"^*^'"^'"^i^'' which hrlach vrrncd .t. I- very where elfe, the frenrh p.n er nmrall the n,af..,,/,,nes they rouhl not cnrVofP "^''"V"""*^'^""'''^••"""'='l^'Hn,Hl hehadtim to '';^'-'7'''Htthnual!in,heham^^^^ I'-ll-ate. tolH^ a,.,ruitouIlych(fnbutc.l arm.n.fl he P;':^'ymploynl all his vi.ilence to prX I i' ol-miMumlrnnK ortifinj, any v.o|.nrc't,,thr ' M''r.nus, and was hin.lelF the lafhnnn that Miarch I 01.. ol. henry Fop eins humane and pen C^ luvionr, prmce rVrciinancI and the rrr^e;. L o f H • o v ^^''''''- ^^''y '^'^^l tlieirhead (,uartm ^^^e .8rh ot march. iU.t the combined ar y a .n. re next day at Melie, the trench X^^^ f^l.s iail as they nnild towards the Rhine and |nt,..r march were .^^^^ f^"" .It Lmbdcn, and at CulIeJ, and in the land^ .S 2 [^raviatc 1 ! ^^^w ipiifif JL££i ( 260 ) giaviatf of Ilcflis \\h\cU they ovaciiatccl the jif^ During tlicir whole niartli they were clofcly purfucil by the prullian hullars, and the hanovcrian hunters who killal and made priloners numbers of their nien' At lall this once iormidalearmy pallal the Rhine, only leaving on tl>c otiier rule of it a lirong garrilon i,, VVelel, wheic the prince of Clermont lixeci liis head tjuartcrs. A conlhmt train of fuccefs at this time attended the hanovenan arms ; and every where tliroutrhout the whole circle of VVellpljalia, the french met'wjtl, the leverell rebuffs. iMiibden was in the middle of march recovered by commoilore Holmes, with a fmall Iquadron of men of war. The french garrifon ot 4(xx) men, as loon a3 they difcovcred the com. modorc's licet, evacuated the place. As Ibon as Mr Holmes perceived their defign, he fent his armed boats to purlue them, they took too or three of the enemy's vclfels j and in one of them was founH 'he ion ot an officer of didiniition, and a large him'oi money. Mr. Holmes immediately reltored the youth to his father, and offered to return the money, upon receiving the ollicrr's word of honour, that it was his private property ; a condurt which docs honour to the commodore. But we muil leave the opera- tions ot the armies on the Rhine, for the prcfent, and take a viewot the ineafures which his pruffian maje- Ity took to dillrcfs his enemies the aulbians. That monarch opened the campaign witli the fieec of Schweidnitz, which had been blocked up all the •winter i nnd att( i^ days fiege, it furrendered the 16th oi april, witl; its garrilon, (which at the begin- ing ot the blockade was 7000 men, but reduced by licknels, &c. to ,^000) prifoners of war. By th" t.jking ot this important poll, the king of Pnifiia cleared all SUeHa of the auftrians. His majellv himlelt, in the mean time, marched with a partotl lus army towards Grulfan and Friediand, and fent a' dctachmer men, :ccl the 2,(^, ^>rcly piirfucil ?rian luintcrs of their men. icHhiiu*,onIy K giirrilon i,, ixcci his head inic attended c throiu'hoiit »ch imt with ic middle of ^fs, with a cncli garrilbn -'d the com- s Iboii as Mr. It his armed three of the as found the arge Aim ol reii the youth noncy, upon that it was docs honour : the opera- J prclcnt, and "uflian majc. ( 261 ) (Huhmcnt a. far as Trantrnau, in Hohrmia whrre was an auflnan g.uril.n, which after a wTn^ a-n! ance, was obhged to abandon the place and f I bark to their crand armv it k'r.«: / . wl,o f... out from Vienna ,l,c oti, .,f Ina" "'^'b ^ ^ tl>o prul ,ans optnc.! thcmlclvc, a way into BoK wlicrc they ,n,mcH,ately poured in detachment, ,J;- l,ght troop, to ra.le contribution,,, ..nd to hTrr tl^ .».t-|'"(l» of the enen,y. At the C.mu time, aenr 1 l.ou,|uet at the head of another detachment mTrS ,gamll the at.( r,a., general Jahnt.s. who ^as no ed ... tl.em.nty of (.U»,, and oWigod h m to abln kn 111.- port, he had n,T,.pie.....l.cr under In, brother prince Henry, of abt^vc 3. ,.«." men. ,n Saxony, to oppofc d,c army of' the cn.|...e, wh,rh by means of ,|,e i„,n,enre LiRence tewa, uled .n colleftinjr the troop,, and byS! If cit D^r"™"' "''M«'''" '" « condition ^o J t Count ])ohna commanded another on the fide .t I'omcrama ; and a eonfiderable bounin|r their march for Moravij this general went to N 'lis, and took under his convoy the artdiery and ilores that wire requilitc lor befKr. uig Ohnut/., and arrival at Ciil)au on the i;.th of may : the king advanced that day as far as OlhUiaii and drove away a body of aullrians, who retired from thence to Prollnit/., near which place the prince of W'urtemburg fixed ids camp of four reirimeiits of draf^oons, one of hullars, and fome battalions of hi- zileers. 'J'hc king opened the trenches againll Oj. unit/, the 27th. In the mean time, marflial Dauri left his camp at Kom^d{^';itz, and advanced l)y Sk.dit/., nc..- Nachod in Hohemia, to Leutomyllel, where he encamped; but quitted it the i^d, enterinn; Moravia by Bilb' and marclicd to Gcwic/. : crcruMaf liarjch commanded ins vanguard, and pitched his camp at Allerheiligcn tippohte to Lattau -, and 5 or 6000 more of them ad- vanced to Troilnitz. 'J'his fituaiion of the aullrian army dul honour to matlhal J^aun. Tlic country trom (^ewic/ to lattau, iu which he took his polls, was lo mountainous, that it was impoflible to attack hmi. lie had the iertile country of Hohemia, from vv hh h 1,0 ealily and readily drew lupplies, in his back, He was alfo from this polition enabled to harrafs the pruHian army before Oimutz, and to intercept the convovs ( afij ) fonvny, which wfrr l„„ngl,t to th.m from Silcfi». |l,.gc, (r..m the .x.cu „l ,l,r works .,„„ul il, • "i.y"; t„r tins obligcj l,,,„ to l.avc l,is podr, ,. n,„ny .S^ very weal;. Marll,a| |)aun made tl,e m„ll o ' i ,1, advantage. In the .nj-h. „C the llth of June, he n ! ucke.1 one of the prulli.n, polls, pene, rated thronl tl,e CM, f., and threw In, cour., into the ,i,y, \2k Ijamfon at the (.egnn.m,; of the fiege connite: f (,000 men -mder ,;eneral Marn.al. This advan air fncmnagcd the au.lr.ans, fo that fcarc- a ni.hr p^ ^d withmit (ome Ituh att;u:k,. Anoih.r cirn.ma" nee winch retarded the king's operations ve,y m ,: t tcwant of fonigei the aollrians had delhoy d7l tkrewas to The marn.al being informed t!,at a preai pruni m convoy was to leave Troppau the ,.„h'^of tL " olvcd by attacking it to endeavour to force' he , ruf^ fons to ra,fe the liege. The fo,ces who efeortec , convoy, confined ot e.ght battalions, and near 4000 recovered hck. Dau. detached general Jahnus. who wa at Mughtz, towards Hahrn, and ordered t " le" tachmcnt to n,a,cl, f,on, Prerau to Stadt-l.iebe that tlie convoy might be attacked on two lides ; and in or.ler to deceive the pruffian arn,y, he d.ew near o iheni, very near Predlitz. lim the king was too Vx- l«:n.^,ced a general to be deceived ; he lent out gene- ral Zcthen w,tl, a rtrong corps to meet it. The convoy was attached on the aSth, before that gene- a could con,e up with it ; b„t the enemy were re- Hillcd, and routed. Marfl.al Datm havinJrei, forced l"s detachments, the convoy was again auacked, on ^ + the * tl II I L' il> ( 264 ) the 29th, between Bantfch and Dornfiadt. Part of jt had fcarce paft the defiles of Dornfiadt, when the aiiftrians fell upon it with their whole force The head of the convoy was cut off from the reft- and though general Zeithen did on this occafion' all that could be expefted from the moft experienced officer, yet he was obliged to abandon his wac^eons and retire to Troppau. Only the head of the convov arrivea m the pruffian camp, the reft was taken by the enemy Tim was a fatal ftroke ; for had it arrivcu iaic, the place would not have held out above a fort night longer. ^ The king of Pruffia direftly found himfelf under tne necefliry of raifing the fiege : and this necefiitv was augmented, by the news which he every day re- ceived, ot the near approach of the ruflian army to his dominions. Marihal Daun had made an excellent movement, whereby he advanced himfelf to Pofnitz in luch an advantageous fituation, that he was able to lupport Olmutz in the moft effeaual manner. But by this movement, he left the frontiers of Bohemia uncovered. The king of PauTia in an inftant faw t^iis advantage, and refolved to make his retreat into Bohemia: had he fallen back into Silefia, he wifdy forefaw, that he ftiould draw the whole auftrianarmy into his own dominions. To deceive marihal Daun he kept up an exceeding brifk fire the day before the hege was raifed : but in the night of July i r ;e king and his whole army took the road to Bohemia and ga.ned an entire march upon the enemy, fo that or all the utmoft efforts which they made to overtake iiim he entered Bohemia without any lofs. Marfl^al Ke.ch marc hed by Littau to Muglitz and Tribau , the kiny s column marched by Konitz. The vanauard uncier the pnnce of Anhalt Deflau, fdzed at Leuto- millcl a conuderable magazine. MarOial Daun de- tached a large body of troops, under the generals Buccow, ana Laudohn, to harruf.the king's march; but dt. Part of ftadt, when vhole force, ►m the reft .• lis occafion, experienced is waggons, the convov :aken by the id it arrivcii bove a fort- Tjfelf under lis neceflity pry day re- an army to an excellent to Pofnitz, was able to nner. But )f Bohemia inftant faw retreat into > he wifely ftrian army Hial Daun, before the uly I, tae ) Bohemia, "jy, fo that o overtake Marflial ribau ; the vanguard, at Leuto- i Daun de- e generals 's march ; but ( 265 ) but they did not incommode him in the leaft The pruffian army proceeded by Zwittau to LeutomiflS where It halted a day, and from thenrp fn H„k 1* ^|arfl,alKeuhdirpI;fedabo°dToSL?a^^^^^^^ while he king marched by LeutomilTel, and arrived theuth at Kon,gfgratz, where general BuccowwS «h 7000 men who were pofted behind the T'be andmthe mtrenchments they had thrown up all round the city i but he retired in a few days with his Ikde jrmy towards Clumetz , upon winch his pruffian maie- ffHhSl;^',^ '°°\P°''"'=«°" of that ir^portant^ft. and laid all the neighbouring country under contribu non : but asprov.fions grew^ery fcaVan^hi pre-' fence was wanted more and more in his own domW ons, he fent heut. general Fouquet with .6 battaTions and .5 fquadrons, to occupy eiie pod of Nach^ ■ the king h,mfelf marched to Oppotfchna ; and marl M Daun s army wa= encamped the 22d of julyron r into Silefif r-, /l*' '^'"^ had reftlv^d "to retire into bilefia. he left the camp of Koni<»feratz .lie 25th, and having pafled the Mettau the"? ren! camped at Jaffina; from whence he difpatched t^ne- r» Retzow towards the hills of Studnitl ^om whence he drove the auftrian general Jahnm' HU pruff«n majefty direfted his couffe through the countv cf Glatz and towards the northern part of SuS he arrived the hrft of auguft at Skalitz, and aW a npid march of 2, days, by Wifoca, Pohtz and Landlhut encamped the 22d at Frankfor ton the Oder; where we mufl leave him for the prefent ta |l mm CHAP. ( 266 ) CHAP. XV. Espedition to the coafi of France, under the duke of Marl- borough. Stores and fjipping at St. Make's burnt Campaign of 1758 in America. General Ahcrcromhie fucceeds lord Loudon as commander in chief. Defeat at Ticcnderoga. Lord Howe fiain. Expedition ogcM Cape Breton. LouifJmrg capitulates. Remarks en its importance. Fort Frontenac taken. Fort du y^ufni; abandoned. Refie6iions on the juccefs of the carnprn^^ in America. Second expedition to the coafi of Fmice under general Bligh. Chcrburg takeii, and its J or ti fid cions, (^c. demolfjhed. Third expedition. Troops land at St. Lunar bay. Aflion at St. Gas. Re-embaik Refieclions, THE miniftry in England were divided in their opinions, as to the manner in which it was beft to profecute the war againft France. Some were for making the great pulh in Germany, and miprovmg to the utmoft thole advantages which pnnce Ferdinand had already gained. Others were alio for fending fome englifh troops thither-, but not for making it the principal theatre of our military operations, they thought that our great navy might be employed to advantage, in convoying an army over to the coaft of iM-ance, and afliiling it in ihe attempts it fhould make. The latter opinion pre^ vailed, and in corJequence of it, a Itrong j^ua- dron of fhips I eing prepared at Spithead, witlTa lliiii. cient number of tianfports, orders were ilTued lor aflembiing a boJy of troops on the ille of Wicrhf. and in tiie beginning of may, all the corps 'ihat compojL-: '»«;js body were in motion. A battering train o. ain'HcryVand all the ordnance proper for luch an armanent, had already been embarked at the J iuh of Marh ^aloe's burnt, il /Ibcrcrombie ^. Defeat at dition againfi \emarks cnhs n-t du i^fefiu the campam ifi of rrance, ditsjortifica- droops lad Re-embark, dcd in their ^hich it was nee. Some Tinany, and :ages which Others were ler ; but not xir military navy might ( 267 ) the tower and conveyed to Portfmouth inotranfports On the i6th, the army, conilfting of fixteen W hons, and three companies of artillery, was formed on the ifl. of Wight ; but nine troops of light horfe dehgned for thi.s ENTERPRizE, were leff on t e Portlmouth fide, for the convenience of eafier em barkation. The duke of Marlborough vva coT mandcr m chief ; lord George Sackville was fecond ,n command, and under .-here was another lieutenant general oefides five major generals *. I,ord Anfon and fir Edward Ilawke commanded the <^rand fleer - and commodore Howe a fmailer, whr was enrruft^d widi every thing tnat : dated ro landing the troons in t e enemy s domm^^ns : for this purpSfe, a o nfider- able number of flat-bottomed boats, of a new in- vention were provided, and nothing was wantinc> that could be deemed neceflary to forward the exe" cunon of the enterpriib. Lord Downe, fir James Lowther, fir John Armitage, Mr. Berkeley, and Mr Pclaval perions of diaindion, rank and fortune* engaged as volunteers in the fervice. And the whole nation formed the moft ardent liopes of fuc-" eels m It. ^ The fleets f fet fail the flrfl of June ; that under lord Anfon feparated from the reil, and bore ofl^ to- * Lienfe.nnt gc.ier.il, Earl of Ancram. Major gciifial Waldegrave, Major prneral Moftyn, Major general Drury, ' Ma-jor rcncial JJolciuven, Major general iilliof, Jlri^ad- Elliot, commandlnj-, ,^he light horft- ? !^:^^ col. Hotham, adjuta.it genenil ■I 1 -d lltn^' "^"'nr' T""^'' S'"'^^'' ^^^h ^^"^ '^^' li'^^'t. coi. hunu.cdtraiifnorts, 20 tenders, and ten llorefhips. wards m ft { 26^ ) wards the bay of Kifcay, with ilcfign to fprr.id the alarm down the wliolc coall of France ; and to watch the motions of the fquachon in Bred harbour. The fleet under commodore Howe, with the tranfnorts having on board the troops, amotiiuing, as I IhJd Iv! fore, to fixteen battalions, and nine troops of iir>hf horle, was dellined for the bay of Cancalle, in^hr neighbourhood of St. Maloe's, where they landed on the 5th, and direftly fei/cd the polls and viljai^a anil the next day marked out a j^iece of grouncffor a camp, in order to lecure their rerrear. 'Ihe com- mon foldiers and feamen pluiulered every thin<> thaf came in their way, ami even murdered many of the old mhabitants in the villages, to the reproach of dilcipline, and difgrace of hum;'.nity. The difcm- barkation being finilhed ; on the 7th, the duke of Marlborough, and lord George Sackville, with the iirll column of the army, began their march towards Sr Maloe's: lord Ancram with tiie fecond column advanced towards the fame place, by the villa<-c«i Doll. The next day and nighr a deacliment o? the army burnt above 100 lail of Ihipping, many of them privateers, from 20 to :>o guns, together with a great number of magazines, HlU-d with navaUbrc;, at St. Servan anil Soliilore, a fauxbourg to St. Malot^'s' with a large and open harbour. I'he troops allh took polleirion of a tort which the enemy had abandoned l>inng thele tranfadions, there was a brigade Id't m tlie inrrenchment at Cancalle, who continued to ilrengthen it, winch was verv eafily done, for there ne\Tr was a liner iituation for a fmall army to m;ike a Hand againff any Ibperior number. In the mean rime, the light horle aiul our parties fcoured the covmrry, and brouglit in a conliderable number of pnloners ; uut the town of St. Maloe'-i was toofb-on^ tor them to ,-'a:mpt taking it. The loth, the troop' marciied back to ti._ landing place at Cancalle, and encamped withm theintrenchmcnts ^nd redoubts ]ui\ nnijhcdj ,:_jrk_. ( 269 ) finifliccl ; and they were re-embarked the nth. The next day the town of Granville was reconnoitred, by a trcntlcman who liad been formerly in that place lie perceived a camp before it, and received intelli- gence, that there was a confiderable body of troops there under the marflial de Harcourt, commander of the french troops in Normandy. The 28th, they dirtdcd their courfe to Cherbourg, the bay of which is open to the fea, without affording any lecurity to lliipping. Here it was rcfolvcd to land, and a difpo- lition was made accordingly, 'i'he generals deter- mined, that the forts Qiierqueville, Hommet, and Giillet, fliould be attacked in the night, by the firft regiment of guards. The men were adually diftri- biiced in the flat bottomed boats, when a very high wind arofc, and obliged them to poftpone the attack ; and the weat.her continuing to be unfavourable, ic was judged proper to put to fea immediately ; acco'rd- ingly the fleet lailed towards the ifle of Wight, and anchored at 8t. Helen's the i ft of July. I'he duke of Marlborough and lord George Sackville fet out for London, where the king received thcni very graci- oufly, leaving the command of the troops to the earl of Ancram. The 5th, orders came to difembark the troops, till the tranfporrs fhould be revi6tualled. Tliey accordingly landed at Cowcs, and marched into their old intrenchments. Such was the refult of this expedition to the coaft of France. Concerning the fucccfs of it, we fliould obfcTve, that the defign which the cnglilli miniftry had in making the attempt was, to dcltroy the enemy's Ihipping and naval ftores, to fecure the navigation of the englifli channel ; and to alarm the king of France in Inch a manner, as would oblige him to employ a great number of troops for the defence of h-s owa coall ; to hamper him in the profccution of hisdefigns upon Germany, and to fcreen Great Britain and Ire- land from the dapfjer of any invafion or infult. Ic (hould Si ( 270 ) flionld alfo be remembered, that the fuccers whirJ. attended the expedition, was obtained with little or no Jofs. But whether we may reaionably pronounc/ that the good refulting from the expedition, uaiH for the expence we were at in forming and execurin' It, IS a point I will not pretend to decide. Jndad th? trench king, while an cnghm Iquadron of fhips and a ftrong body of troops were employed in attacking, the maritime parts of France.could not fend fuch now crtul reinforcements to his armies in Germany, as if his own dominions were entirely free from fuch 'infult Befides, this fuccefs convinced all Europe of the reil fuperiority of the englifli naval power, which attacked . the coafts of France, while other fquadrons blocked lip their fhips in their own harbours. In America it was reafonablc to expeft better fuccefs than our arms had hitherto met with, for the force which was employed was very formidable. Three grand expeditions were undertaken ; one againfl: Lmi iflnirg, another againfl l^iconderoga and Crown Point, and the third againlt fort du Quefne Ge neral Abercrombie fucceeded lord Loudon in the chief command, his loidlhip being recalled in the winter ; and he refolvcd to command the expedition agamftl iconderoga, himfelf. Having colleded the troops together, he embarked them to the number of 6000 regulars, and 9000 provincials, with a coed train of artillery, in 900 batte.ius and ir,o whale boats on the lake George, the 5th of July ; and hnded at tne deflined place the 6th ; the creneral formed his troops into four columns, and m'^arched againft liconderoga. The enemy's advanced t^uard fled on his approach, deferting a locvged camp, atter burning their tents, &rc. The colincry was all a wood, through which the engliHi army continued tlieir march i but found it impalfible with any re- gulanty for fuch a body of men, and the guides were unlkilftil, the troops were bewildered, and the columns : fuccefs which i with Jittle or ably pronounce, -xpedition, pajj I and cxfcurintr de. Jndfcd th? •n of fhips, and ?d in attacking : lend fiich pow- Germany, as if •om llich inllilt. •ope of the real which attacked adrons blocked ft better fuccefs I, for the force idable. Three le againfl: Lmi- ■ and Crown Quefne. Ge- .oudon in the ecailed in the the expedition ? collcfted the the number of with a good k1 150 whale o^' j"ly ; and ; the general and marched ivanced guard i camp, atter 7 was all i ny continued with any re- d the guides rcdj and the columns ( 271 ) columns broke, falling in upon one another. Lore! Howe, at the head of the right center column be- u,g fomewhat advanced, fell in with a party of french regulars, of about 400 men, who had Jikewife loft themlelves m thejr retreat, from theiradvanced o^ard - a ncirmilh enfued, m which the french party were de' fcated, with fome lofs. This advantage coft the enT gliih very dear, their lofs was inconfid^rable in mZ ers, but great in confequence. The gallant lord Howe wr.s the firlt man that fell. This brave youn. nobleman was an honour to his country • his treninf courage and judgment difplayed themfelves in all his aftions. His regiment was one of the beft in Ame ro. owing entirely to the care which his Jordfliip tooko heir d.fc.pline;' and his inftruc^in^ them particularly m the nature of the fervice, in thafwood^ country. His death fpread the greateft grief and con- taation throughout the whole army, as he was de- ervedly and i^niverfally beloved and refpe^ed in it Commodore Howe fucceeded him in his title and in his virtues *. General Abercrombie had taken feveral prifoners who were unanimous in ^heir reports, that the french had about 6oc^o men encamped before their fort at liconderoga, who were intrenching themlelves, and • Tl,ere is fomething fo noble and pathetic in the followinjr ad- vcmrcncnt, that any apology for infcrting k is necdlcfs. ft ap- peared m the public papers foon after lord Howe's death ^ " lo the gentlemen, clc.-gy, iVochoIders and burgefles of the town, and county of the town of Nottingham. ^ As lord Howe is now abfent upon the public fervice. and lieut clone Howe .s with his regiment at Loui/burg. it refts upon me be- the favour of your votes and interelbf that lieut colonll IVrniir ,ne therefore, lo implore the proteaion of every one of i. liisco!,':;,:;" " "' '"'"• """"= "^ ■'■" ''^^° '"" - "- '«-- /libciDaiL'-Hrect, iitpi. 14, i7^y Charlotth Howi;. tjirowing i' ■ J F Ml ,.,.1' W i"f i« 1 mmi^m^w' filiA. C 272 ) throwing up a bread-work ; and that they expeflM , reinforcement of 3000 Canadians, befuks Indians • on this intelhgence, he thought it molt advifeable to Inf. no time, but attack them dire. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) / O ///j w.. ^ / i/.A % 1.0 i.l 1.25 If: ilia lllllM Sf liS ill 2.0 1.4 — 6" 1.8 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation fV ^ ^ ^^^ ^v !^ \ \ % V ™0"nting difficulties and defpiling oange s. A noble Ipecimen of the fpirit he had to depend on m the remaining part of the enterprize. a flr^v'Zr' ""°J' """ ^""^"^' they attacked vifor If r^'Vu"" '" ^'"^' "ith fb much V goi as foon forced th. enemy to abandon it. And they lied on all fides •, they were purfued till they got withm cannon ftot of the town. I„ a few days afer the lying towards yards. Nor jreat diftance, ne continued fir : and but -re to be di- etal i the reft with fpruce : throw away and thenun- moval of the ? fire of their i furfr was fo )i)nd to get a b« fire of the ^adier Wolfe ir left of the ^ and forced everal broke o the water n was gene- as debarked, After that ►f the right al difcharge i._ Andlaft ajor genera] fatisfadion, i fuccefs of id defpifing t he had to terprize. ley attacked h i'o much )n it. And :ill they got V days after the ( 277 ) the .'anding was efi'edled, the gariifon took the fea- fonable precaution of fetting fire to the barracks, and deftroying in one general conflagration all their out- buildings ; and left nothing (landing within two miles of the town walls. General Amherfl: having traced out a camp, fent brigadier Wolfe with a ftrong detachment, round the north -eaft harbour, to a point of land; five or fijc Hiips of the line, and as many frigates, which were in the harbour, could bring all their guns to bear upon the approaches of the englifli, befides a battery on the ifiand in the harbour, which did the fame • to filence thefe, general Wolfe was detached to th- liaht hoiile point i where, on the i2rh, he took pofieflfon of all the enemy's pods, and by his fire, he fiienced the enemy's ifland battery on the 25th ; but the fliips ftill continued to bear upon him. It was with infinite difficulty and labour, that a road was made from a proper landing place, for the brinp- ing up the artillery to the camp, when landed. The ruggednefs of the ground was fuch, that it was near a month before it was finifhed. The 21ft of July, one of the fliips that had continued firing on general Wolfe's batteries, took fire, and blew up, and the flames communicating to the fails of two others, thev were alfo burnt to the water's edge. This was a fad ac- cident to the enemy, as it was not to be repaired. The liege, during the firft part, went on v-ery flowly ; but by the middle of julv, the great abilities of the generals Amherfl: and Wolfe, had got the better of innumerable difficulties, and by a well concerted and (-ontinual fire, great part of the town was reduced to afhes The admiral was alfo extremely attentive to employ his fliips to the beft advantage, and gave all the aflifl:ance in his power on every occafion,' to the land forces ; he had the 24th of July acquainted the geneial, that he intended fending 600 failors in boats, Jnto the harbour, to deft:roy, or bring away two french ^ 3 ii-,en f 27% ) men of war, that yet remained. The 25th, he ac cordmgly fent them in, under the command of thr captains Latorey and Balfour i they put off about 12 o'clock at night, and by the advantage of the foapv darkneis, and the inviolable filence of the peonfe paddled into the harbour of Louifburg unperceived' It had been before concerted, that there fliould he a prodigious briflc fire kept up from the trenches alj night, to draw the enemy's attention from the har bour, which had a good effeft. In their feeminc f,. curity, after the boats had pulhed almoft as far arihe grand battery, left the fhips fliould be too much alarmed by their oars, they took a fwecp from thence towai'ds that part of the harbour, where they knew the fhips were, and prcfently difcovered them. Each diyifion of the boats was no fooner within fight of the two niips captain Laforey's of le Prudent and captain Baltour's of le Bienfailant, than the centinels hailed them in vain, and began to fire on them ; and the two captains ordered their boats to give way along fide their refpeftive fliips, and to board them immediately. In fhort, the men gave three cheers as they pulled up along the fides, boarded thcTH with the greatefl bravery and took them- le Prudent being on ground, they burnt her, and towed ofr the Bienfaifant in the midfl of a mofl for- midable fire from the mortified enemy. One of the braveft and belt concerted attempts that ever was undertaken ; and does equal honour to the admiral who planned it, and the captains and common men who executed it. ' The 26th, the admiral came on fhorc, and ac- quainted general Amherft, that he defigned fending fix of his men of war into the harbour the next day; to batter the fortifications on the fea fide. He was but jufl come on fiiore, when Mr. Amherfi: received a letter from the governor, offering to capitulate, much on the fame terms as were granted to thegar- rifon 2 5th., he ac. mand of the off about 12 of the foggy the people, unperccived. - fhould he a ' trenches alj rom the har- 1 feeming ff. as far as the " too much from thence • they knew ^em. Each vithin fight le Prudent, ', than the ^an to fire their boats ips, and to men gave ies, boarded >ok them ; t her, and a moft fer- ine of the t ever was the admiral imon men, c, and ac- ed fending ; next day, He was fl: received capitulate, :o the gar- rifon ( 279 ) rifonof Mmorca; but, in anfwcr to it, admiral Bof- cawen and general Amherft returned the follov^in^- anlwcr : '^ " In anfwer to the propofal I have jufl now had the honour to receive from your excellency, by the fieur Loppinot, I have only to tell your excellency, that it hath been determined by his excellency admi- ral Bofcawen and me, that his fliips fhall go in to- morrow, to ir.ake a general attack upon the town. Your excellency knows very well the fituation of the army and fleet ; and as his excellency the admiral, as well as I, is very defirous to prevent the effufion of blood, we give your excellency one hour, after re- ceiving this, to determine, either to capitulate as pri- foners ot war, or to take upon you all the bad con- f-quences of a defence, againft this fleet and army. boscawen, Jeff. Amherst.'* To which letter, the governor returned the follow- ing refolution : " To anfwer your excellencies in as few words as pofTible, I flia'l have the honour to repeat to you, that my refolution is Hill the lame •, and that I will fuffer the ccnfequences, and fuftain the auack you fpeak off. Le chevalier de Dp. ucour." However, M. de Drucour changed his opinion ^ for as foon as McfiVs. Bofcawen and Amherfl's letter was received into Louifl^urg, M. Prevor, commiffary general, and intendant ot the colony, broufrlit him a petition from the traders and inhabitants I' which determined him to fend back the officer, who had carried his former letter to make his fubminion to the law of force : and accordingly the articles of ca- T 4 pitulation I ( 280 ) pitulation * were agreed on, whereby the garrifon be came prnoners of war. On * I- The gatriTon of Loui/burg, fhall be prifoners of war and T A,?u' *",^"g>^"^' '" t^-e Hiips of his britannic maiefty n. All the artillery, ammunition, provifions, as well as the arm* Of any kind whatfoever, which are at prefent in the town of Louif burg, the iflands of Cape Breton and St. John, with their appu" tenanccs, fliall be delivered, without the leaft damage, to Lh commiflaries, as (hall be appointed to receive them, for the ufe nf his britannic majefty, ' III. The governor fhall give his orders, that the troops which are :n the ifland of St. John, and its appurtenances, Ihall Po on them '''^'' ^' ^^^ ^^""'"^ ^^" ^^"'^ ^"^ '■^"'^e IV. The gate called Porte Dauphine. fliall be given up to the troops of his britannic majefty, to-morrow at eight o'clock in the morning, and the garrifon, including all thofe that carried arms drawn up at noon on the efplanade, where they fliail lay down theiJ arms, CO ours, implemer^s, and ornainenis of war. And the gar nfon fhall go on board, m order to be carried to England in a con-' venient time. *» V. The fame care fhall be taken of the fick and wounded, that are ,n the hofpitals, as of thole belonging to his britannic ma. yi The merchants and their clerks, that have not carried arms fhall be fent to France, in fuch manner as the admiral fhall think proper. Louifburg, July 26, 1758,- Le chevalier de Drucour. An account of t' Iron ordnance mounted on ftanding carriages-^ with beds and coins, guns, mortars, fhor, fhells, &c. Louifburg. "36 pounders 24 Mortars, brafs with beds, Mortars,iron with beds 18 12 8 6 4 I f.2l i i 9 inches nches found in Number. 38 97 23 »9 10 28 6 6 I i 6 4 I Mufkets e garrifon be- On lers of war, and annic majefty. well as the arms t town of Louif. vith their appur. damage, to fuch !, for the ufeof le troops which ices, fhall go on fend to receive given up to the It o'clock in the It carried arms, 1 lay down their And the gar- gland in a con- wounded, that britannic ma- ot carried arms iral fhall think le Drucour. c. found in Number. 38 97 23 »9 10 6 6 I i 6 4 I Mufket5 ( 281 ) On the 17th, three companies of grenadiers, under the command of major Farquhar, fook poffellion of the weft.gate ; and general Amherlt fent in brigaSier i" r\'° '^' '^' 8='™'""" i^y down their?nS .nd poft the neceflary guards in the town, on tt Number. u4' -p Mu&ets with accoutrements. Powder, whole barrels, Muflcet cartridg!s. Ditto balls,— tons. Round /hot. Grape (hot. { { Cafe fliot Double-headed /hot, j ^ 36 24 12 6 36 24 12 6 24 3 2 Shells, — Lead pig, Ditto /heet. Iron of forts, tons Wheelbarrows, Shovels, wood Ditto, iron Pick-axes, Iron crows. Iron wedges, Hand mauls. Pin mauls, Mafon's trowels. Hammers, Axes, inches. {1 < tons. r large I fmall 75,000 600 80,000 ID19 1658 4000 2336 132 »34 330 530 53 850 '53 850 38 MS 27 27 6 600 760 900 822 22 12 42 18 12 36 36 18 State of the garrifon. Number of officers, 214. Of foldiers ht for duty, fick and wounded, 443. Of the fea officers, 135. ur private men and marines fit for duty, i t 24. Sick and wounded belongine tothe/hips, 1357. Total taken prifoners, 5637. ftores, 2374. Of Of private i ,ij' 1. 'J. Hm p ^H i N ( 282 ) llores, magazines, &:c. All the french men of wir that were in the harbour, were taken or deftroyed rhe Prudent, 74 guns, was burnt by the boat' of the fleet : Entreprennant, 74 guns, blown up and burnt .Capnceux, Celebre, of 64 guns each, burnt bytheEntreprannant; Bienfliifant, 64guns, nkenbv the boats ; Apollo 50, Chevre, Biche; and Fidelle frigates, lunk by the enemy acrofs the harbour's mouth Diana 36, taken by the Boreas. Eccho 26, taken by the Juno. ^° In this advantageous and glorious manner ended one ot the moll important cnterprizes of the whole Avar; and with fo trifling a lols on the fide of the enghfli, as about 400 men. The britilh miniitrv difplayed their judgment in planning this attempt I he genius, conduce, and bravery of the commanders who executed it, was equalled by nothing, but the noble emulation and arduous perfeverance, and the defperate courage of the troops they commanded- in particular admiral Bofcawen, and the generals Amherlt and Wolfe, gained immortal honour :th former received the thanks of the houfe of commons The conqueft of this valuable ifland was of the greatefl advantage to the north amcrican colonies • i^ouiiburg, by its fituation, was a conftant repofitorv tor the french privateers, who came out from rhence in great numbers, and continually in felled the coafts of the englifli fettlements. But its importance to Britam in general, is Hill clearer ; it wa^s the only place at vyhich the french could cure, or from whenc'e they could catch their cod, the fifli which is taken in luch great abundance in thofe feas. This ufiierv lias many times been computed to bring France in upwards of 1,000000 1. flerling yearly, befides maintaining near 20,000 feamen in conllant em- ploymenr. This article alone fufficiently jpeaks Its real importance. Louilburg was alfo the key to their lettlcmenrs, on the continent of north America} II h men of war 1 or deftroyecj. \' the boats of iown up and s each, burnt Jiins, tiken by , and Fkielle the harbour's f^as. Hccho nanner ended of the whole e fide of the tifh miniilry this aitempt. commanders ing, but the nee, and the ;ommanded; the generals iionoLT : the f commons. was of the m colonies : It repofitory from thence ■1 the coafts porta nee to as the only rom whence ich is taken rhis filliery I France in ly, befides nrtant em- itly fpeaks fo the key of north America J C 283 ) America; all the /hips that went fm^, r ,uda touched here ; ieC ley v^uraf "toTh ^" vcr St. Laurence: the frcnrl, (X„ r , 1"^° '"^"^ this part of their loft proved tr h °""^ '"'"' 8^'=« the pcfieflbrs of Cape &^' ," ^'^" fy f^^y ^r intercept nioft of the Hiin, tl„T '^>"'"i"""i'nd to Canada. ' ''"P' ""' 8° 'f""" Europe to ■hc'"n;!rforn" 'rr^i^^e^r "? '^ -f- patched heutenant ^1^:% Uxr^T'Zt "'■ troops to make an attack upon fort Fronted /?°° trefs which the irt^nrh uIa u ., ^ ^^^"'•^"'^c ; a for- Mr. Bradftree?, a >er a .' "■ t " ' °" ''^' °"'^"°- march to oZJ LllTi^- ^"' ^^^" ^""dufted landed them within ''i^^ of VorrT' ''"^ '""^ 25th of augurt; the^ar,^-nn Z ;°".f "nKi.ac, the «n| pr'ifotf if'tTtt " r T'"""' fquare fort of loo vmh u. J ^^ ^^'^^ a oily half of them we^e ,tun e7^and° 6 r""^?' ^"' tars. Lieutenant colonel rS 7 1™^" '"°''- men, befides lome Indian, and °""''J" '" "° There was an immenfe n;,. . °7'" ^"^ ^'^''^''^n- goods, defignedTti?'= 0° K°"' ^1 their weftern earrifon^ .vki^k 1 r ^ "'""' ■'"kJ Soo,ooo livres The iVl "'" /'■'""'' ^^'"''^ « veir Is, from Lhrtn 1^"'"' '^°'°"'=' ^""° ^ok 9 .l.e fre^clTad 5n7he fkf "rf '"^.^ T'^'^'' "=- ''^' Iv laden) were brCh ,n nr "* "™ ^°"= "^^l- all the magazineT he burn? rf; a"'^ '"/ ''^' «"'• with the fort, ar%lerv ft. ''''' ^eftroyed ; together tars ordepM';.Srt^SSr:V''^ ^^"^- 'to\rf;\itr:^,^f.rv™^''^'5'e^^^^^ left in it, andthe veffilf?" f ^ °';*°° ■"» '" be tne veffels to be preferved and kept cruifing I; ',!»^ . ( ^H ) cruifing on the lake, it has been very iuftlv thoimU that the french would have fuffcred much more I verely It could then have refifled any force thev could have brought againft it ; and, by its fuuation would have cut off the communication between Ci' nada and all their fettlements on the Ohio and adm cent country, which would foon have proved a fat.l ftroke to the french empire in thofe parts. The fuccefs which licutenanr colonel Bradftreetmet with at fort Frontenac, was of great afnUance to th<. expedition which had been undertaken againft fortdi auefne, under brigadier general Forbes. That gallant officer with about 6000 men, after having taken the greateft pains to colled them at PhiJadelphif, marched from thence, the latter end of June, by Carlifle, Ravf. town, and fort Cumberland. It is inconceivable what difficulties he met with in this tedious march of fome months, through an unknown woody country, con tinually harraffed by the enemy's indians ; nothine but the moft prudent circumfpedlion in the ceneral could have conduded the army fafe, through fuch an almoft imprafticable rout. The 14th of fiprember major Grant, with an advanced guard of 800 men' came in fight of fort du Qi.efne, having marched fo forward with an unaccountable defign of taking the tort by a coiip de main ; and the party being^erv badly condudtd, was defeated by the enemy, who faliied out of the fort, and attacked him, killing a great many and difperfing the reft. However, °he trench found the indians wavered in their obedience m proportion as the englifh army advanced, for ge' neral Forbes had previouHy engaged them toala fZ''' r^'n^'"' thoroughly convincing them in feveral fkirmiflies, that all their attempts upon his advanced pofts, were vain : this determined the french to abandon the fort, which they did : having deftroy- ed all the works, they fell down the Ohio the 24th of riovcmber, towards their more northern fettlements, to juftly thought nuch more Ic- any force they )y its fituation, n between Ca- )hio and adja- proved a fatal s. Bradftreet met nftance to the ig.iinft fortdu That gallant ving taken the 5hia, marched rarlifle, Rayf. ceivable what larch of fome :oimtry, con- ins ; nothing the general '"gh fuch an 'f rcprember, of 800 men, marched fo f"' taking the 1 being very enemy, who n, killing a owever, the r obedience, :ed, forge- iem to aft a g them in s upon his i the french ing deftroy- the 24th of fettlements, to ( 285 ) tothe numbtr of 4 or 500 men j and the next da» general forbes erefted the enghlh flag on fort dJ Quefne, which he named Pittfturg. 4 Xeftlv r« about re-fort fyinif it as wril ^. ^ ^ aireCtly fct ■ 1 ■• p ' *^ "''" *s circi mftances wniiM permit and lett it too ftrong to be atTaXd h! force which the french had in thofe oartl xk '^ ^"^^ ral-s health was fo extremely bad, TwouUn^'"'" im only to give the neceffarv otd^rs I^aL^a'^I long enough for him to fee 'he eftS of hii v"5 and courage. He died on his return to PhL^rl"^ beloved by his friend, and regr« d "yhifen fmt "^ In this manner we becamfmiferi^nf ,k,!^ tantfortrefs, which was th":c?a^rt of a S/ftX; war beme kindled anH fnr^^^ c * ^ •* *Jcuructive 5 i^-u.uicu, ana ipread from one end nf rh- 1 Its of r °"^."'^';'I ' '^^""^'' ^'^ided their fel elements of Canada and Louifiana *. Qn privateers and fingle fl^ oTwar • burZl T^ 'V^^^ ^>- °"^ traordinary in what capLn Forreft of ht ^ •' /r"'>"'g ^^ «- of 60 guns, tffeaed that V«,?^ !l u "'^J^^ s flijp Augufta. thntgeileian, vvkh the above fitlV-"^'^^^",^^^^ ^^ ^"^'^ " following fleet! ^'"^'^ ^'P' ^"^'^'^^d and took the Ships names Le Mars, Le Theodore, J-e Solide Le Margarite, St. Pienc, Maurice le Grand, La Flore, La Brilliant, La Mannette, Total Tonnage. 500 650 350 350 300 300 300 200 120 3070 Guns. 22 18 12 12 »4 12 10 O 112 Men. 108 70 44 5» 40 36 35 20 12 4.«6 iJi*^^ This >>« ■ 1 ^^I^H '^^1 iW-g ; ;\;. - } rf ■■;s|j Bili ( 286 ) _ On the whole, although general Abercrombiefol , in h.s attempt on Ticondcroga, yet this camn • '' .n north America was extremd/ glorbus ?P moftyaluabk and important fortrel? of Tonifi '" w,,h the inands of Cape'^Brcton and St John conn^' fort d« Qiu^fne abandoned ; and fort Frontenae d ' fl-roycd : thefe are events ,,hirl, will adorn "he annl' of Br,tam to the ht-.il pofterity. No fucce/r,? '' ^ver more highly advantageous lo Gr^at BrtaT" T thefe; they were entirely°national. and tended to /" cure our americanfarlements, in the createft 1 '" thofe natural fources of our n'aval ftren^g^'anVp?;:' The french felt the weight of the enllilh nowe! every part of the world!' It was now Xefted . put m motion by minillers of ca-jarifv ,1^ '"'' The ccaft of iJnce itf'"'h d bet 'n,ll ed . f„T was refolved in the britifh cabinet to continue rW expeditions. Accordingly, on the .ft of rt' f commodore Howe, with his flee and nlr ^f . fail from St. Hellen's, having on bLSlhfc' '" which had before been under -he corn2 i .7' et:elrar&^^^"f-''•=^^^^^ Kdw-£^Se:dr ;?rz:' dtnf b^™ from Cherbourg, along the coaft for four or HyTj^ tion .vith thref men of wlr .'^T a ^^"^ ,^''^^'^' ^n the fame fta- above. ^ ^ ^ '''^^ ^^^ ^^'"^ advantage as is difplayd with ?rcrombie faile^j this campaign; lorious. 7hgj of Louirourg, ohn conquered' Frontenac de- horn the annals > ruccefles were It Britain, than J tended to ff. reatefl: degree, 2;th and power, giifh power in w dire(5led and y and genius. '"Jted; and it continue thofe ■ o^ Auguft, CJanfports, fet »e littJe army, imand of the nded now by ghnefs prince i» to bepre- midfhipman, joy amongft came before ind perceived es by a line )ut twomiles r five miles J : impofllble for any ; but how was pe •formed rs,PuitGuavc the fame fta- ones, and got is is difplayed with ( 287 ) ^■■kIi fewral batteries at proper great compofure, ,,s if the lamling was no? worth h,s noc,.-e r-rince Edward went on l^ard the pXs one of the fl. ns intended for batterin- the for«' afterwards vifitod the bomb-ketches fho^ 1! • .' fe the manner of working the mortar's ""^'" On the 6th, the landing was cffijfted; the fist-bor tomed boats rowing towards the Ihore. with mom rtgularity than ippenrcd in the former difemhlrt^-^ in the bay of Cancalle. Commodore HowehH placed the ketches and men of warfo iudictiiim, H they covered the landing in fuch an effeftuT^f' '' .hat the enemy durft Lt adv nee b^fo^d thei"rT:' trenc ments. The troops leaped into Lwa Lr anj were loon formed on the beach, with a natural b'reaft work before them. Never did an enemy behave if,' n»redaftardly manner; they retired witronly fi j " »fcw (hot, and left the englift to finifl, the? l/,T "g m the u.moft fecu-ity. ^As foon as the ' ea teft part of the troops were landed, it was exZ£T^,, t ey would have marched to the' vilhg: oFSoue i^^viiie, near the place where thcv land«-d riT 2^ were there encamped at night, ^n a v/p/ irreS' r manner, on a fpot of ground not more in exinr *^n 400 paces; fo tha? had t'he enemy "ttack^lf them # I' If " 1' H. ( 288 ) them in the front and on the left tK-„ i , . been obliged to fight with iZje^J^J^'^ ^ ftrange condud was quite contrary to the m=vl ' war. never to occupy any ground/ but where yon '" exert your whole force to the beft advantage anH* good apology can be made, for hampering an'armv K a confined fituat.on in the face of a^etiiL enemU' The next day after landing, the forcfs e«erl' Cherbourg without oppofition, the town beinll '' towards the land, they proceeded to deftroy the ff fications, bafon, mole, &c. all which had been Ki with excellent materials, and at a vaft expence t this fervice was not performed in the mod- ^^^ 7 manner; the difcipline of the troop waTmuc?" lated, and the inhabitants of CherbLrg.^XaZ complained very much of the foldiers^ marau 1* they were courteoufly heard, but received no r rf Unfortunately the troops had difcovered fome maa zmes of wme, which occafioned much delay S demohtion of the works, by the drunkennefs if foldiers. But m this fcene of diflblute behav our tt foot guards exhibited a laudable example m AM °i •'if .'™°P=. ''y the ftriftnefs of theTdifdpl « All the Ihips in the harbour were burnt X town and country round it laid under con ribmi and ^oftages taken for i 8,ooo 1. of ir. Al he a ' non t were put on board a danilh (hip in the harbou ' and lent under convoy to England, '^s foo„ a, ftveral operations were executed, the troops re em barked the .6th, with great expedition a„'d t^al Although this expedition to Cherbourg did the french fo much damage, and was confequemly fo ad- + rbcuf,"?'i^"''"'\"r'"'S" "" ■!« coall of France, p.;-. vantao;eciis ::s: Sd^ni tTr^ '" ^''^^ « -= Dil-cipline the very foul ffn. ""^ T ^'>'' "«ion. % La.f ones, w^af^f rrneXTcr"^''- nurching towards "ffi,;. T'oI^V'f '"^'^ °f there was no enemy to fear Ti """..'^"''y' ™'iea ia uhich the works^ werfde^oIL' °-'' "''"'•'' not repeat ic. i^he fnrrpfc ,r,i.- • "^^^ ^^^^^ 1 need dition.^as ,nu'h !™;rowi: "to bTd" tfnj'^"'^'^; cowardly behawour of our enen ies th.n r ' '"^ ritthac can be difcovered in the cond. rT f^ '^'- Ilhould here, in iuftice r. ?i ^'"^ "*• But officers, obferW tl,"f ,et .t-d^r^^'r """^ '"^'' their flcill in embarking nLlemba^rHn'.rh"""' ^^ After having been two days nTh» 1 ^° '*"= '""P^- tog anen°my, the°flee? L'"fa ' hf .th" a^d'^h' 22d arrived in Wevmn.irN .-^^^ u ' ^'^^ ^^^ by contrary wnds!^ ^ ^ ^''"° ^^^^^" ^here >ng out to reconnoitre wifh Tde Lhl.T"^'"^ ?'^^^^'^^' 8°" party of light horfe. fome of the Sch c^vnf ^^'^^^'^'^^^^ ^"^ a ilance. Captain Lindfey of the ohM, r ^^ '^P'''^^^ ^^ ^ di- ^ered to attack them .- aTlhe , eq Jif s t fS Tf'''''''y °^- gen emcn, vvho were dcfirous of feeing he ho fe ° ""' ^""S cordindy advanced at a brifk pace vfithnn. ?^"?^S''- ^^^ Ce- rent and flan! f "'' '^^^^' ^"'^ '"" have l.cen unnece/.arily h own aw^v .^^ TT*^ "^'"^ ^'^'^^ nent curiofity of thofe who r/n?' ' t ^'T^^ "'^ •• "^ ''"F^rti- f/W^ 5 ! hii m u It 1 < ( 290 ) It was his majefty's inftruaions, that this arma- ment, fhould proceed in their attempts on the coaft of France j when they fet fail from Cherbouro', their defign was to proceed on the coaft of St. Maioes- but the contrary winds detained them fome time • on the 25th of auguft they made the french fhore • and two days after anchored in the bay of St. Lu- nar, about two leagues to the weftward of St.' Ma- Joes, and there landed without oppofition. As foon as that was effeded, a party of grenadiers was de- tached, who burned 14 or 15 velTels in the harbour of St. Briac. The 27th, 28th, and 29th were fpent m reconnoitring and deliberating on what could be done. In one of thefe excurfions, prince Edward advanced lo near St. Maloes, as to expofe his perfon to fome fhot from the town. A ball grazincr en ricochet near the place where he ftood, a ferjeant Iprung before him, to defend his royal highnefs with his body ; the prince was fo pleafed with this iin common mark of courage and attachment, that he rewarded the man with a handfomc gradfica' tion. ° ^ Nothing could give greater furprife, than the choice that was made of St. Lunar bay to land in; by its fituation, ir was very plain that St. Maloes was the objed:oi the expedition ; and it was very remarkable, that now their force was weaker than when under the duke of Marlborough, they fliould think of attack- ing that town, which before was too ftrong for more numerous forces ; but there was fomethino- fo ex- tremely abfcrd and unaccountable in the whole ma- nagement of this affiiir, that I cannot pretend to form any judgment on the defigns of the commander The army was landed but a few days, when an attack on St. Maloes was found utteily impradica- ble; It was therefore refolved to penetrate further into the country i moving however, in fuch a manner Hi hat this arma- ts on the coaft berboLirg, their of St. Maloes; n fome time: 2 french fhore ; ay of St. Lu- ird of St. Ma- -ion. As foon adiers was de- in the harbour 9th were fpent what could be rince Edward )ofe his perfon 1 grazing, en )d, a Terjeant highnefs with with this iin. :hment, that, mc gratifica- lan the choice ind in ; by its aloes was the y remarkable, hen Under the ik of attack- ong for more thing fo ex- le whole ma- rten d CO form mander. iys, when an r impradica- trate further ich a manner • , f 291 ) .he country forX. ^'/ZZTi: 'l"'"^^'-^' even at this, to know • for ,1. ^' '""^ '■'"^' or of importance enouTh' to be aT, T\ "° °'^'' °^i'^ th= bay of S^ Ltmar'extn.mJl ™mmodore finding %storidei„,„,redup n'Lv f"^™i^^ ^°' '^^ three leagues to the weftward T? ^^ '^"'' ^''°« had reached the villa '"fM;.- '?"'' ^''^ ''°°P^ ally engaged in Sn>fn^ w fh'™' ^""S ""'!""- m, andlith fome lof f-.^h ?'"'" "^ ^^e ene- d'AguiiJon, who commanded rh^;" '™e the dul' '''e wind- .-vhich the french had Tadet'' "" '"^'•f"^'"'^Mt, tading, it was propofS It th^''^™'.i'l' ""S'"^ %ainlt the enemy and ^.^l ^°"''' ''^ turned that work ; buUt'was nt^ ^'T''' "^^ "^^^e ia I" ftort, the bay was oun7f "^ ""' ^""^ <"* '""'" for embarking troopT and 1- TT '"'P^P^' P'--'^'= 'f Aouid be performed from ' P"*^' ""J "'^de, that "•e left, between SCas and ctr''-'?? ^''" ^'''^ °" ' c— « , aiiu the jj] conie- ,.i j)l!?' I 'ill I?"!' •o ;i ;::5i.w *'!'«..,!■,;.' Ui qucnces ( 292 ) qucnces foon appeared. It was determined on the loth, in a council of war, that they Ihould re-em- bark with all expedition. Early in the morning on the nth, to the aftonifl,. rnent of every mortal, the general was beat; .he pssEMBLY following as ufual ; this condua aaualW feemed as if the greateft pains was taken to inform the f rench of their departure. Had the troops decamped in the night without noife, they would in all proba- bihty have arrived at the beach before the french had known of their motions. The englifh were imme- diately in motion ; yet, though the diftance did not exceed three miles, the halts and interruptions were fo frequent that the army did not arrive at St. Cas, be- fore nine o clock. The enemy did not appear till they had reached the fhore : the embarkation of the troops was immediately begun ; but by fome miftake in orders, they were rowed too far in queft of their refpeaive fliips ; fo that an unneceflary fpace of time was iolt ; and when they did return, they were mod infamouny employed in carrying away horfes and cows, inftead of men ; notwithlhnding all the at- tention and care of the sea-officers, who behaved extremely well The french firft appeared by a wind- mill to the left ; and played on the troops embark- ing, fmm a battery of ten guns, and eight mortars. They foon after marched down a hollow way, to at- tack the englifh ; but as foon as they were on the beach, the lliips of the fleet played on them fo fevere- iy, as to put them into great confufion ; but they tormed m a long line againft the enaliOi, as they came dovyn from the hollow way. All the prcna- d.ers of the army, and one half of the firft remmcnt of guards, remained on ftiore, under the command o major general Dury ; who was advifed to attack the enemy with bayonets fixed, before a conficlerable number of them had arrived on the beach ; but this advice Ttnined on the ihould re-em- to the aftonifh- was beat ; the 3ndu61: adlually n to inform the oops decamped i in all proba- the trench had 1 were imme- ftance did not iptions were fo It St. Cas, be- not appear till rkation of the 1 fonie miftake queft of their fpace of time ^ey were moft ly horfes and ig all the at- who behaved ■ed by a vvind- 3ops embark- firft regiment he cominand ifed to attack . conficlerable ich ; but this advice ( 29? ■) advice was negledled an^ «.u engagement began with ,„ "Wo^^nity loft. The .o?eS. and .f^^ TLn Z^f'' ""'f '~'" "ght ammunition of the enTfl, f" i"""^"''' ""'^it- the from being complete fafleH H "' "''""'' *^^ f»f with a pan°nic, t^hcTV^n bmr "T^''™ '^'^^'i wmoft confufion. sTr Tohn a rn - "^ "''' '" '''^ the head at the beginnina ot^K '^l""' "'°' """o" the officers feJl ■ ST^ ^^ ^'^'°" i many of flain. It foon tec me a SfT"'''^ °^ "« -^re ..«o the fea, andc'deavo elto ["^tf •" 1'"^^"" fwimmmg towards the boatrw^ 1, ''""■ ''/ give them all poflible lmlll,^''tZ':m'''"f ^^ near two miles before the^^ ,. "''^^''^ '"^m Di.ry perifhed in the fea %r. "'''" "P' g^"^'-^' both on the ihore and in the w^?" '^"■'^ butchered ™ing were killed by the Lrn ^ ' ,^"'n"^ '" '"^"'"- foeh cannon and mlrf ' str^.^'of "^"h" ^'^'^ gates continued, during this time m fi ^^ ^"• french army, and eieat oart nf ^h ' ^'^ °" 'he tothu; for thefben„fi,\'?''"'Se was owing the commodore, the fre1,ch'!!ffl ^^ \ !?8"^' ^"-^ haved inftantly ^ith the "rl f '"■' '"'' ""'^"^ be- tetion, in giv g ii^Sl ^"'"°''"y ""'l 'lo- tion to the conquerfdfuchfnn^MT[ '"'l P'ot^^- enghlh had ver^ httle'reS toS'"""^ " '''= their maraudinir, Dilla(»in„ 1 ^ "' '" '■"""i for ceffes. We ha^ a thouf'nH h'"^' '"^ "'"'^ ^'^- wounded, and taken Sers 'anT "°rT '^"'^''• (hot ;rom the frigates whrh . ''?"fidering the the enemy, their ffi cA„M u^"^" '^"" through ■"fence 0? herJ^ b V °y 'l ZLT"" Y'' ^"^ Commodore lord How?' """ """o^^d to quote. ».. *.. .-ssr -r,? J? 'ITS; 3 tliroug}^ tataifxMBi til at J' ( 294 ) through the thickeft of the fire, and brindng ofF a, many men as ic would carry. o c> 45 Such was I he unfortunate end of this expedition to the coaft of France. The Jofs was but tritiine. but then It caft a d.lreputation on our arms ; and dilpn-!tcd thepeopif, as much as it exulted thofe of i-rance. It might have been more fuccefsful ; nay ve may almoll fay it would have been fo -, had the army been condudcd in a diiferent manner-, but ne- ver was luch wcal.nefs difcovered in any military ex- pedition. WiiHt could the general continue his ope rations for after the dcfign upon St. Maloes was laid afide? Why did he not re-imbark immediately, and proceed to a more proper place for making an at- tempt ? W hat reafon can be given for n?eleain. every piece of intelligence that was received of tli? enemy '3 force and motions i for communicating to them , ^^^^^^,"^^^"'ght motions by beat of drum, when all pofTibJe care ought to have been taken to prevent them from procuring that knowledge ? For what realon did the troops loiter away feven hours in a march only of three miles .' And why were they re- mibarked at a place where no meafures had been taken .or their cover or defence ? Thefe queries, I believe, will be very difficult to anfwer. In ihort ^ luch folly and inddcretion appeared throughout this' expedition, that it is with concern, I am obliged to confels neitner Britain nor her general gained any great honour by it. Such military enterprizes, in a country iniirely unknown ; and in the face of a fii- perior enemy, will never be attended with either ho- nour or advantage to the nation, unlefs conducled by a commander of approved valour, condud, and experunce. Jn thele expeditions every moment is critical ; and the whole army ought on fuch occilions to go through all their manccuvres with the lame aJertnefs and circumfpeclion as if an enemy was in fight. bringing off as this expedition as but trifling. :>iir arms ; and xuJccd thofeof "uccefsful; nay, t^n lb ; had tlie inner; but ne- ny military cx- ntinue his ope- v4aJoes was laid mediately, and making an at- for negleding ■eceivcd of the licatingtotiiem f drum, when ken to prevent ;e ? For what en hours in a wtre they re- Jres had been lefe queries, I er. In ihort, iroughoiit this am obliged to ral gained any nterprizes, in : face of a fii- yith either ho. efs conducled condud, and ry moment is fuch occafions vith the fame ;iiemy was in leht. ( 2or ) fight. It /hould be rememberpH .1 eery peafant in the count^^prnve 'a df "^''"^'"^" and that nothing will ba^Ia^nr alj thf HT^""' ^ tages, which an invading armvlJ ^^ ^iiadvaii- greateft caution, the &eTL V'"""^^' '^ ^"^ the fer omitting to catch Kinv^l"^' *^"'- ''' "- e^ery movement and adionrln'^ ""'"'' ^" "^^'^^^ b, made. ^'^^'°" ^^" only with propriety U CHAP, ( 296 ) CHAP. XVI. Cmpfiign on the Rhine. Army under duke Ferdinand paJlfes that river. Battle cf Crevelt. Battie of San derhaiifen. Battle of Mcer. General Inhoff joins the cnglijh forces under the duke of Marlbcrou?k Hanoverian army rcpaffcs the Rhine. Occupies the pojls on the Lippe. Battle of Lanzverenha^en. Jhe two armies go into, winter quarters. Remarks on the campaign. I'M-IE \var this campnign contained many great ^ actions, in every part of the world ; but par- ti. uhirJy in Germany. I left duke Ferdinand of IJrunlwick at the head of the hanoverians driving the french army, under the marfhal prince de Clerniont before hm^, which had already paffed the Rhine' 1 he duke prepared with all expedition to pafs it after them : and to the adonifhment of all Europe he ef- ledted It m the face of a fuperior army, and without The 25th of may, the greateft part of his army was enca;^ipc d at Notteln ; they marched from thence to Coelveld, and the head quarters were fixed at Diil- men the 27th. A detachment of feveral battalions and fquadr^ns, under major general Wangenhcim, afitmblcd the 26th at Dorllen, with orders to ad- vance himfch^ to the gates of DulTeldorp -, and to caufe a corps under general Scheither to pafs the Rhine at J)uyfboi:i-g. This paflage was executed in the nigh% between the 29th and 30th, with fuch fiic- eels, that Sc heithcr having attacked with bayonets, three battalions of french who oppofed him, ennrely dckatcd tncm. On the 29th, the grand army marched early duke Ferdinand Battle of San- ai Inhoff joins ^ Marlbcrcugh. ' Occupies the renhcgen. ^he Zemarks on tbc :d many great >rld ; but par- Ferdinand of ns driving the de Clermont, i the Rhine. lO pafs it after Lturope he ef- and without C 297 ) ::^:c;j:;eraf,^i„tr ir t^'] ^-«"' a body of infantry and cavalrv I,. . Weflel, with efrcid and ™camped at R Senbt; ''r'^^K ''' ''^- Bo« holt ; and the advanced guard of ihr' '" marched on the ,oth to Emmerirl h '"/.army by the reft of ti e armv w?^/h ' "^ followed Vraffelt. and in the ev^n'in " 1he"U"tr^? f army was in motion to pafslhe RhL Th^/t'"' :£;:4:=:^i^s,t ^'T4"• riie main army havino- rhnc .,.o-j . ordered the bridge to be ca^rried trn'^rlf ' ' P""" and there laid on the 6,h >-^I " """^^ '^"s. neral Durchtfechen eroded li e Hv' "/P^""'^^'- g- foon as the br.dge w.s fil ,^ ^LT the"?; f ment under general Wiit<.emn ,!?„«; , . '''^"<:h- and next dayf anotheSr „ ^elal ^lH '^' 'T ' On the 7th, the whole armf „ hS trn'r^'^ and encamped at Wees Tui ''^f^ ^rom Goch, 'oUden, and mard'ed to .'t ad t'he e"^ it proceeded foon as the dt.ke iiad paffed tt ^r ""^'^ ^''°' "' a very ft-onc. cimo on rhl "^' ''""■^'i '"» otiier; the next day the c-imt ^ °^ ''^'^'^ french camp, and /ou it^^' ^"ce^^rr'"'' ^ left, towards Guilcicrs • hu . A , "'^ °" ^^^ obl.ged the prince ofClernU tJt-^ehr'r'' "^^ geous camp at Kheinburs, and w redre ,''''"t Mc-urs, in the night of th; i"th Th ' ^ T'l'^' &"e a new poflMon to his armv T,''" ''"^^ 'hen iome heights, commonly called Sri'nthn "^""^^'"^ tains, having the town of Meurs "nl;" f "'' ' "'°""' easiip= MU^rn ,,- I .1 .^"'^ '" h's front, at two •- "■^^"''' •""' file --'Sl't towards the village of St. I mi ( 293 ) St. Jannigiterg } by the 14th of iune. this nnfir;„ that the french army was advancing in four coium on his nght 1 on which inteliige.ict, the whole ha^" venan army was immediately drawn up in order "f , H^'-A-*i? ?'el'nels went himfelf to^econnoi rf and d,ft.naiy raw a large body of french comingTJ ; the plain of Hulfte, and marching towards Creve l but not knowing whether it was the whole army „; only a detachment, he halted till towards the even ing, when he received certain information, that ,hl french army had marched towards Nuys, and tlia the troops which he faw was a detachment lint 1 take poffeffion of the port of Crevelt His ferene highnefs was furprifcd to find that tlic lZ\°in^'""r ^°"''' ^""^ "-'^ detachment at t great a diftance from' h.s grand army ; he wanted to penetrate into the defigns o1^ the french generairwh ther the prince would advance toward? Crevelt or whether the detachment there would fall backon'the prince of Clermont. His highnefs, that he mi-h be perteaiy acquainted with the defigns of that S - neral ; ordered the prince of Hollfein, with th™ battalions and fifteen fquadrons, to march early™ the morning of the iSth, towards Hulfte ; and Ge- neral Wangenheim, with four battalions and four fquadrons, to crofs the Rhine at Duyft,ourg, and advance towards Meurs ; he alfo detached the heredi- tary prince of Brunfwick, with 12 battalions and i Sr/'H la '^'^'. '°^".^' ^'^"^P^"' ^hilft the prince ot HoUlein advanced towards Hulfte The hereditary prince was alfo ordered, that in cafe he perceived no change in the difpofirion of the enemy's army or detachnient, he (hould march the next L -duea y towards Ruremond, and endeavour to poffcls himfeif of a magazine there. Duke Ferdinand him- lelf then reconnoitered the enemy at Kempen the next day ; and perceived fome movements in the camo ( 209 ) camp of M. St. Gcrmi:„ i ta.l.L-nt at C ivelt T,":|, ''°,'T'"^"'''d 'h<^ de- el.ac general intende 1 to mrrT''"'^ ^."" '° ''^'i^ve, Holllein at Hulrti, • nd w. ^^^nfl the prince of that the whole ftench "rlv hl^"-""" '"»°™^'l. were advanced to Creve t ^hitl''"'"'''^^"^''' ""^ was made in confequence of tt 2l'°" f ""= '="'=•"/ and he inftantly took (l,chm.^f ''''''"'"''"'<="« 5 had formed required Al thT- "*, ^ "'^ P'''" he of were united^he TotlUn 2^ ''^ r''l''"P°''« extended towards Kemp",, and ,1 "f'. °^ ^'"^'' Home. On the 2,ft, fS de .Sr r ''f' """"'''^ camped, and n,arcl,ed towards Au?TT''°'P^ '''=- their grand army. In mak na rV ' ''''"^ " J"'"'^'! abandoned the town of C™ek^ Jv\T'°"' "'^^ n,ediately took poflVOlon of C i', n ' ''"'"='"'- tered the enemy o- the llde of 9r a ^ ''" reconnoi- fol^ed to march the ne« dav rf ^,f ",'''?y' ^'"^ '«" "mp. His ferene h w"efs Lt ?"' ""=™ '" ^''^'^ his left wing, confifti?! of fs h' I'r"'"""^-^"'' °f 'qtiadrons, to licuten.nf General Snnf°"'^?"^ ''^ wing, confiding of •'I )l,td^-n' P"'}'"; J^^^ f'sht he emrufted to^ the pr ^'ce orHomel '^ ^^"''''^"^' c:s t iif rori^r-^^^%-^ '^^ near the town of Anrad hi" "T^." ""* *°°d. 'he wholear,ny a ft ont ;etren."h^ '''^"'^ '"^^ *'^°« °f ^^W;f^ which LteX," tl"on'. ^"' '^ """-' •™y begi:!' t'irv" i'ts riZ "'7' '■'! ''''"°-"- '"tnns; ?ne by the v.'lklSf'cf '"?""'' '" '™° co- other crofled the wood £,°„,'- ^tithony, and the velen. Its left adv. n'.J^ °^ """ ^^ °f Such- Ac right of C e:H?"%1,lV."^ ™'"7.. » little to . '">- "'<:"gt'i of the enemy's front. t [PPMiPP'' \H' ( 300 ) front, determined the duke to make his attack the village of Anrad; but to rife doubts in thfciie niy. he ordered general Sporrkcn, who commandai the Ictt of his line of battle ; and general Obt-rr who commanded the center, (as Toon as his highnS himff It began the attack at Anrad; to attack th?fronr of the enemy, and do their urmoft to penetrate it- recommending to them to make good ufe of their heavy artillery, in order to oblige the french to em ploy their attention as much on their right wincr and center, as on their left, and to engage and divide their attention equally in three different places, which would prevent them from fending any reinforcement to the real attack, for fear ot weakening themfelves in fome part or other, where he might make im' prefTion. Thefe difpofitions being made, his fcrene hiVhnefs put himieJt at the head o< the grenadiers of the rioht wing ; and hav^ ig arrived at Anrad, drew the wirole wing up in order of battle, in the plain before that village. It was one o'clock at noon before the enemy began ro ad. The duke's artillery beincr aready fu perior to that of the french, facilitated the'^meansof his influitry's forming themfelves in greater fecurity • but this was not effeded till after a cannonade, as vio' lent as it was well fupported, and the enemy's refill. 9nce was very brave : but the duke found that lie mull u;e fmall arms, to drive the enemy entirely from their intrenchments j wherefore the hereditary prince puthimlelf at the head of the firft line, and advanced with the whox hont. diredlv towards them • theHre then became enrcm. ly hrton each fide, and neither difcontinued, or in any degree diminifhed for two hours and an half; and about five o'clock in 'he af- ternoon, the prince affilled by the generals K man- legge and Wangenheim, forced two ditches in the front of the enemy, that were in a wood j and the other regiments of infantry did the fame, all along their f 301 ) their front; upon which, that part of the enemy's infantry retired m the gr.atcft confuHon ; but7as covered by theirhore, although the hanovcrian a ! tillery kept a ternble l,re on th.m all the while Dur- ing the whole afiair, the artillery of the Jeft and cen- ter, under genera s Sporcken and Oberg, had done great execution ; but as th« diltance they were fiom the duke himfclf, made them uncertain' Th cum afla.r.^: had taken with iiim, they never ventured to attack the enemy's front oppofite to them ; fo that the enemy s right wing and center retired in the greatelt orckr towards Nueys, which was the rout of the reft ot then- army in the flight. Seven thoufand of the^beft troops of France were ether kdled, wounded, or taken Vifoners in Thh battle: and to the great concern both of the french and even of their enemies, the count de Gifors, on"; fon of the marfhal duke de Belline, not above 25 years of age, new y married to the heirefs of an illuftrious houle, hinnfelf the lait hope of a moft nob e ffmHy was mortally wounded at the head of h^s regiment w ,ch followed his heroic example, in makin| i^ re^ 1 ie efforts This amiable young nobleman, who tell in his firft campaign, was one of the beft and mo t accomphflied men that did honour to his country in the prefent age *. '^uuutr/ One capital miftake in the difpofition of the prince de Clermont, and which we have reafon to believe- in great part, occafioned his defeat, was his not poft' ing a trong corps at the entrance into the wood on the left ot Anrad Had the flank of his leftbeen as rong as his whole line of front, duke Ferdinand would never have dared to attack him. ihc manoeuvres of tliat commander, precedino- lie battle were excellent j and his conduct in it" uch as did the grearclt honour to his military capa- ^^aory, though grcar, was far from bdng either Ml if • ...f ( 302 ) entire or decifive : the french army being near the.V own frontiers, were very foon toongly reinforced 10 that they were enabled foon to oppofe the Ta„ ' venan army again, in adefenHve manner /and el fent a conQderable reinforcement to their armv una the pnncedeSoubife, on the other liae of ,h?Rh !' which was ravaging the landgraviate of Hefle In the mean time, duke Ferdinand followed hh blow ; and having paffed the Rhine with a l,,ro detachment, appeared, on the 28th of June, bef« Sat W^' Th"'' of .peat importance, fitu'atedo that river. The garrifon of 2000 men, marchfH out on honourable terms, the 8th of July, 1, fiiftaining a veryfevere bombardment. » The nrinr^ - eft a garrilon in it and threw a bridge of boats ov the r.ver_i which he knew would be of great feZ to him, m cafe of being obliged to repffs it. Th army of trance, with its reinforcements, received a new commander ; the prince of Clermont was re TcWef. """^"^ '^°"'''*= pointed command" Duke Ferdinand was in hopes that the prince of Yfenburg, who commanded the heflian troops aeainft the prince de Soubife, would find him emp oS for fome time. He rdblved therefore to^S the (eat of war, from the Rhine to the Maes, think- uL'^i^f, ';°%'t" "' ""' '"'' '^ '*"=''= •" '""'kal Co„. " You tdl me, that you cannot bring vourfelf tn \rr..^- a Weart ihll more furprifed, that the count Clermont fuffercd h having It abfolutely in his power to have prevented it bv maki 1' ufe of the means which he had at hand fand Luill ft^i k ° more cTripvnin if .t,i,o» T r . . I- ' v'*"'^ i*- Will itiJI be the cTdT r;* "'■^" ^">; T*" ^-f^' Sof/or zz eLpe the "T^lerT'Z" '"'"'"' ""^ '''"«'=• "■arth^ycouK keei mg, being near their Jgly reinforced- ppofe the liano' nner j and even :heir army under le of the Rhine of Hefle. d followed his se with a large )f June, before ice, fituatedon men, marched «f July, after The prince ;e of boats over of great fervice •epafs it. The ents, received ^rmont was re- ed commander : the prince of troops againft (I employment re to ti'ansfer Maes, think- s to marlhal Con- to Imagine, tha. It being beiieged. mont fufferedit, :d it, by making : will ftill be the left our artillery having no troops 3 a free commu- lofs, or keepnig t they could not caiy to forcfee ( 323 ) ing, tliat by carrying the war inm tU^ o try, he might draw^he french fmm rK pT' ^°""- oblige the prince deSouhS ^ ^^^ ^^'"^' ^"^ of the main army unde-^ '''T.''' '^^ ^^^^^nce execute this plTn' ZZkt" "^^^^^J ^ontades. To -nd, the iLT; en'rlfe^ttTf ^"^^i heavy rains, which had fell for'rl ' ' ^"""f ""^ tardcd hi, .motions extreme y f ncUn rm^'^' '" m unfortunate oiece af n.d • i ^ ^^^^ ^"Tie 1™ to change pr 0";: :S ^"^"^ """^^'^ the pnnce of Soubife ?n Heffe P 'i„c° Yr'"^" bad conftqfeS; ; ^t'r fZl^tT'r.' ^'^ feffion of the Wefer LL^ j I ^''^""^ '''« Pol- ment of enalilh tmon, ,Tr I ^ *''^ remforce- duke of m! bo ouTh K K ""^ -^""""^nd of the prince Fer^nand" "Tn^h]: toaJL" T''"^ '"& -other option, but a v;aory C'the S'" ** repafs tlie Rhine The fr,rJ^^ rrench, or to cl to attempt for CnnfTi T ^t^mely diffi- "gagemenr n the^^rfttreS'"''' '°"""S » "" was dansierous to rt^; 1 • ■"^""eri and it fehadtfeTencharZ!^^:i°"S « a pof.tion, where of Guelder on trUerbT/' '? *^^°*'''^ wtWn reach of obftr„?-n ' u"^" '^''^"' P°fts. lifence of his armv H-^.- ''u '?"^°y^ ""^ naJd aware of the enemv°; H ?r """i ^""'' ^^di- Oberg, with a tong/ei^f^ 1^"' f ^^'^^ general of the aihes in HefTc diH n^^ \ "^^^ ^°^cc Sean after Oberg" a rftl near S1 ]''°'° "''"■ near Lanwerenhasen Th Lh ; "b '"= '^"^»mped ing that the french wer. ? '-""""^erg ; and find- to the ^u,de. "„Th^ Tef r t'hic ^^ .t' ''^' ^'^^' nence : In this /In.afi^n 1,. . ^'P"" ^n emi- of feptember by r^^oirf ^T^"^ °" "^"^ ^°"> a vigorous refiftance J.m T*" "■">'' ''"'' ^f'^r bfs of ,500 men o Zlt^^'t '° ''?'^ ^"h the ^et that^his S;;rt f o^bei;: ^ral»"°°' ''^- all Probability/Lvibeen l/rr 'f' ^""''f' '" prince Ferdinand, by'havins eftab fh" u'k''""'^ ' ^"^ communications all aion "^the F . ^' moft ready l'« lie alfo forelaw that tL f Hanover : 'I'le to make -nv eft.M rt, '"";'' "°"^'l ""' be ' With their hghc troaps, who were ^ ' ' ient l>|!ls|i. ( 3o8 ) fent by the marfhal Contades *, to carry ofF and de ftroy all the provifions and forage in that countrv' as well as all Weftphalia. This condiidl of th^ trench general was in confequence of a plan formed between him and the duke de Belleifle, to reduce all • The marflial dukede belleifle, fecretary at war to the frenrl, king, in a letter to marflial Contades, of Ae 26th of feptember writes, h'"="'wer, " You muft, at any rate, confume all fort of fubf.llance on the higher Lippe m the neigh bourliood of Paderbom, and in Z country which lies between the Lippe, Paderborn, and Warfbourg this will be fo much fubfiftance taken from the enemy, fromH day to the end of odlober. You muft deftro) every thing tha^ cannot confume. fo as to make a defert of all Weftphllia, fron Lipftadt and Munftcr. as far as the Rhine, on one hand, nd the other, from the higher Lippe and Paderborn, as far aJ Cafid ,0 .1 pt"'"'^ ""^l ^'l'^ " ^"^'" inipradicnble to direft their mar h totheRhme. or the lower Roer; and t'.is with regard to you army ; and with regard to the army under M. de Soubife, that hev may not have .t w their power to take pofleffion of CafTcl and mtjch Jefs to march to Marpurg, or to the quarters which Hill have along the Lohn, or to thofe which you will occupy fide of the Rhme. as far as DuiTeldorp, and at Cologne." ^ On the 30th of oftober, he again writes : c " *Tr~./'''f' "^^"•'•'•e acquainted with all our political views Secondly, You know the prefent fituation of all our allies. Thirdly" you know the neceility of confuming, or deftroyinc as far as I' Wdcr and the Rhine, on the one hand ; and on the othei be Tni''^ K ^^P'' '^! r^'^^P"" ''^ Paderborn, the Dymcl, the Fulda", and he Nerra ; and fo to make a defert of Weftphalia and Me/Te " rnn/;?' ^'""1 ""''^ "T ^' ^^^^ ^^ ""^ "^^^"«' '^ "^^'^h, with a V confiderable force, either towards the Rhine or the Lohn; and tliat our troops may pafs the xvinter quietly in their quarters: for, as It IS now unqucft.onable, that we cannot make any advances mnn?'?'r"^' >'^f;' O""- P""C''P^I objea muft be to refrcfh our llZ-nl' ^\P"«'ble. that we may be able to make war the fol.ovving year with more vigor, and take the field very early; it ^mL ' Z, "''"'■■^ '^ ^" ^"" ^' "^'^> ^'^^^ ^ g^'^t deal of uns conrtant care and economy, to find the means of fupport- ing all our horfe of every kind, until the month of June." For fcvcral other extrads from thcfe notable letters Vide the appendix. Weftphalia, arry ofF and de- in that country, condndl of the f a plan formed fle, to reduce all at war to the french ; 26th of feptember, of fubfjftance on the ierborn, and in the )rn, and Warfbourg; le enemy, from thi! every thing that you ill Weftphalia, from 11 one hand, and on n, as far as Cafi'cl ; to dirtft their march ivith regard to jour e Soubife, that they flion of Ca/Tcl, and quarters which he :h you will occupy, T, and on the right :oIogne." )ur political views. our allies. Thirdly, ■oying, as far as is >rage, betwixt the on the othei, be- • Dymcl, the Fulda, Iphalia and Mefle," o march, with any or the Lohn j and their quarters : for, lake any advances ift be to refrelh our ' ; to make war the field very early ; it 'ith a great deal of means of fupport- ith of June." For letters, Vide the Weftphalia, Weftphalia, Hefle and Ih^ ^ u.. marching in ti.e begTnn^nTo fff '' ^'^^^'"^"^ ^^°"^ the Rhine, or the L ohn ^ a , ^ "^^^ campaiirn to fchcme was m a ereat narf Ze. , , ' '"'= infamous mod condua of^hat llnf '"^ ^^ ""= ^'Si'»"ce fn this fuccefsful mfnn ^Tf P""'^- ■■he Rhine. I f™ ZZnut',''" ""'P^'^n o„ i', to make way for the o,h ?> '* "^ """•"tive of Germany. i„ thL c ^^7^1'^ '""[^^'""^ '" h.n:e rendered it mor.o&1Z'^"^''^°"^'^ winch, I have oiven an 7,..„ ' l^- °P'="t'ons of ■ toge^her. that thycouMnn^"', ''''"« ^" tended perated. Seldom has th econla ^V ^'"^"''^ "^ ''=• peared more confpicuouny °ret j"*^, "^.g?"^' "P" piign, than that of prince P^.^' '"^^efenfive cam- admirable movements whiff "??'' '" '^'"- Thofe Rhine without CX' tie facrff'''' ,'"■'" '"P'"'^ "- togaina ngnal viflory over ir !„ ^- '"?"""" ^'"'Yi Jgainft it, when reinforced InH '^'"?«'"'"^ ground priori to repafs the RhrnV . 'f*''"' "'" ■""■'e »"'i 'amy, to chufe his S in J^^^^r """°^ ""^^"^ ' on the Lippe as m ^f '"/o judicious a manner -ting furTe'r tha" ZTZ^^TTJ '""^ P^"^" 'hey had gained a viflory ^vTr a W ." T" '^''" his army. In flion ri,,r! r ,^^ ''"achment of wend them, are toaether i ,m ^ ^onlequence »>odelof adefenfr'efampVgf y'''''°"^^ * P^'^*'""^ X3 CHAP. ( 3^0 ) CHAP. XVII. Kmg of Prtiffa marches againfl the rujp.ans. ConduSf of mcrjljal Dc. un. Battle of Zorndorff. King of PruA marches mo Saxony. Battle of Hochkirchen. Fire warch of k is prujfian majejly to relieve Silefia. Raii the Jieges of Neifs and Cofel. Motions of marjhd Baun. Crcjfes the b.lhe. Marches towards Drefden Invffls that city. Leipfick and Torgau bcjicni Brave condn5l of count Schmettau. Suburbs of Bre'f den burnt. King of Pruffia marches into Saxom Raifes the fieges of Drefden, Leipfck, and Torgau Jujtnar.s and imperialijls retire cut of Saxony. rJ. fians and Sivedes retire into -winter quarters. Mic- lions, /iff airs in England. Goree taken. Reflemons on the events of the year 1 758. THE affairs of the king of Pruma were now greatly changed. At the beginning of the can>paign, he aded offenfively, in the utmoft extent ot the word ; but now he found himfelf obhced to ad on the defenfive : every moment was to him cri- tical. The ruffians, who had been for feveral months marching through Poland and Pruffia, bent their courfe at laft, as if they defigncd to enter Sile/ia ; but they iuddeniy turned towards Brandenburg, and laid Hege to Cuftrin, a little town on the Elbe, altnoft without fortifications j bui which, an army of near 90,coo ruffians were not able in fome weeks to re- duce. We ma> compare their operations at this fiec^e, with tholl' under Peter the Great at Narva. The ruf- fians at this day, are li:tlc better than barbarians, in point of military fkill, except feveral general officers, many of them toreigners ; but as men they are worfe. Theie ( 3^' ) Thefe wretches, whnfp ir'VJr.nc o- i-r nature, had markeT.lt^ ?^ !. t'''*^"" '° ''""'^n make up fottlir w^nt of Ml in n '^■"'^■^' "" ' '" brought all their formidably „ of tf'l]' "'"^ ,'"'' ter this little town. Thev rtZ "-''"'"'•''•y w l>at- quantlty of bomb., nd red' ho b M "inr "" 'T'"'"= was foon on fire in every quarter h*- m',-,""'"' ''' in the ftrects, and the m?ftraWe I l T-'^" '''"= '"" wljere meeting danger:^::;'ttec"&'L'ftTh7 Butthebr"v;°ovenor w.^hTf'''' "V" '"'^"^''• fidelity, defended the rut^ ''of .fr'f'^ ~"-g= '"^ mmoft firmnefs. The oruLn c '^ ' ""'' "'= was oofted at Francfnrr'^ t, f ,Pf "'' '=''"'" Dohna a force fo much CeVioVrnl' ''"°"''' ^o, againft ferve theirrotions' ' '° '"' °*"' ^'' °"ly « "b- three days march o'f Berll^'Tp^^t^nia ""Z 7"!;'" =d ::^hrrt^b:!rT? ^F'"^^^ ^ general H^dd.clCTad advLc d into 's""' ""*■• every day approached nearer to nrine hT"^' "f t-es in purfuing the king of /:;£'K7toS - o •—• inwc reaiuns aetermined ■^ -^ him. #HI|Mj'IM ( 3'* ) liim. He left a brge body of troops under the ge- rerals Harfch and de Ville, in the louthern part of Silefia, to draw the attention of the pruffians that way, and marched himfelf towards Saxony, through Lufatia, by Zittau, Gorlitz, and Bautzen •, however, he was not able to make prince Henry change his ad- vantageous pofition. In the mean time, the prufTian monarch being ar- rived at Frankfort, loft not a moment's time to march aga'nft the rufllans. On the 23d of auguft he pafled the Oder, at Gatavife •, and after their prodigious .march, refted his army the 24th, and in the even- ing advanced to Dirmitzel, where he encamped, and made his difpofitions for attacking the enemy the next day i early in the morning, he broke up his camp, and marched forward, in order to wind round the enemy's left flank •, in its way, the army pafled the fmall river Mitzel : afterwards it filed off by the fo- reft of Maffin, and the village of Bazels into the plain, where both infantry and cavalry fpreading themfelves on the left flank, till they arrived at Zorn- dorff; the king then thought that he was come on the back of the enemy, and gave orders for the at- tack. The ruflian generals forefeeing his defign, had broke up the fiege of Cuftrin, and marched towards the villages of Zwicker and Zorndorfl^, where the ground not admitting them to extend in front, they had drawn up their army very judicioufly in four lines, forming a front on every fide, and furrounded by cannon and chevaux de frize : the village of Zwicker covered their right flanks, beyond which their ca- valry reached. Prince Maurice of Anhalt Deflau commanded the firft line of the prufllans, under the kingi lieutenant general Manteufel, the left wing of infantry -, and general Seydlitz conducted the cavalry of that wing. Thcfc i Thefe were the pofitions of the two armies when the king gave the word for the att ck. TherufTians were an enemy he had never perlbnally engaged be- fore-, but his troops faw every where fuch horrid marks of their cruelty, as fpurred them on with the molt animated ardor to engage and be revenged on thofe barbarjans Every thing that was dear to the king of PrufTia depended on this day ; if he loft ir the confequences muft be fatal, confidering the vaft fuperiority of his enemies in Saxony. In fliorr all his dominions were at ftake. The battle began on the 25th of auguft, at nine oclock m the morning. '• The prufllan infUntry be^an to attack the village under cover of an uninterrupted on the r ght wing of the ruffians for two hours with- out the leaft intermiffion. Never was there a mo e dreadful cannonade , the ruffian foot, which although raw and unexperienced, fuflaned a moft fhockine Jaiighter; whole ranks fell, and their places were in^ Itantly fupphed by new regiments. Their firft line continued immoveable, till they had fired away all their charges, and then ruffied forward on the pruffian infantry ; which fuddenly, and with an unaccoCable pannic gave way, in the prefence of their foverei^n before the broken battalions of the Mufcovites, a" d after their own cannonade had in a manner a ready gained the viaory. This was now the critical mo^ ment on which every thing depended ; the battle was in fufpence and the pruffian infantry retreating The event ot that great day depended on aninftfnt- it was negleded by the ruffian general ; but the king of brought on his horfe, to difperfe the retiring batta- ions of his enemy, this day had been fatal to the pruffian greacnefs ; but the king, by a mafter y and rapid motion, brought all the Laly This ^^ight their ( 3'4 ) their head, made a mofl: furious attack upon the Muf covitc foot, uncovered by their horfr-, and drove thcni back with a moft m.rerable flaughtcr : this gave the repulfed infantry time to rccoUcft and form theni- felves i returning to the charge with a rage, exafpc- rated by their late difgrace, they very foon chancd the fortune of the day. The ruffians being thrown into the moft terrible confufion, plundered their own b^ggag^ which was between tlie lines, and intoxi- cated themfelves with brandy, they no longer difljn- guiflied friends from foes, but fir^d upon each other- and being crammed together in a narrow fpace, a horrible and undiftinguilhing carnage enfued, as well by fword and bayonet, as by the pruflian artillfrv charged with cartridge (hot, which fired continually on them, at not 20 yards diftance. Still they obfti. natdy perfiftcd in not quitting the ground ; but one ot their generals towards the evening, with a chofcn corps made a judicious attack on the right winf>of the prufTians -, that officer loft moft of his men, %u[ by drawing the king's attention that way, the broken remains ot their infantry had leifurc to withdraw tea new poft in the night for rallying the reft of their army. The lofs of the prufTians did nut exceed 20C0 men, killed, wounded, and prifoncrs j but that of the nil' lians amounted to 10,000 dead on the fpot ; 10,000 wounded, moft of them mortally ; and about 2000 prifoners : of two particular regiments, which before the battle confifted of 4600 men, only 1500 were iett. Their Jofs in this dreadful day, amounted in the whole to upwards of 22,000 men. The next day, the king of prufTia renewed the at- tack, by a very brifk cannonade ; but the rulTians find- ing no lafety in any thing but a retreat, marched to Landlperg on the frontiers of Poland. Never was vidory more complete. An immenfe train of artil- lery, sy colours, live ftandards, and feveral kettle- ufurns upon the Muf. md drove them : this gave th(* id form them 1 rage, t'xalpe- foon changed being thrown •red their own ?s, and intoxi- longer difljn- )n each other; rrow fpace, a nfued, as well flian artillery, ed continually ill they obfti. Jiid i but one with a chofcn right wing of his men, but y, the broken withdraw to a red of their 2wcd the at- rufllans find- marched to Never was rain of artil- /eral kettle- dfurns, ( 315 ) drums, and their military chcfV rnnfo.'n- M. were taken Yet thj .wv ^ ^'"'"S 200,oooI. that the ru(Iiar,s '.lined til vi^^'"u ^"""^'j^ ^^^'^^^^^ fo plamly on wlK^^Hd e ^"2^^,; t' "-?'"« '^'^^^ ^l- i<.i"g cleared that par to his don in' T'"'? ' enemies, and was enabod to n 1 '?"' ^''"'" ^'' his lolg l^:r ;oun; a^r^ ^^^^^ «""^' '^--r w^te the fbl- ;-^yourcxc<.lIcncy.wL.irc"rotr;otb^^^^ lufpcnfion of arms /or two or three cinvr? r ?n'° ^^oncfude a txtrc,ncly wc.k by r.alon o/ his wou.ul w"'"' ^T"' ^''° " .md other conveniences, which I7nc Iv: ?^ """''^ "^ « '•"O"" inoil hun.bly entreats his nunjcfi; o ^ ' ^J^ '" '''-^P;^-^ attead.,nts. that he nu.y renrnve to . nl ' ,P°'' ^^"^ ''*'" '''"'1 l>'s nour to be, Sec. ^ *" '^ P'oj'cr place. I have the ho. Camp, aug. 14, ''^^•^•'7S«-} Count Fermor.- «. T 1, .t * Count Do UN ,.'8 nnfwcr " I have the honour to aofwer th,- \.!r u- ,. was plealed to write to me ye erd-.v InT "'^"^- ^'""'' '••-^^^"^•ncv inform you. that the kingrmyn^, -r h '" '""'*^^"^-"^« ^^ '^ to and remained malter of the fidd h ' T^' ^'""'"'^ ^^« ''•^"'f, the nece/Tary orders for Z.^n^h^l^'^'y T'", '^^^ ^^'' '" g-« wounded on both fides. H i l/l Vh ' J'"V"'''"fi ^'^^^ °^^hc a™s is ulual in thecafe of a k'"e tt n 1 r ''^''^^ =* '"^Penfion of cellency general Brown, if ff alive Tiff ' ^f'^'*^' "'^ ^^- .'flcs moil readily ; and ail pofl e 2V t 1 t''*^' ^'"' P'^P°"^ »*« gfnerals who ar.- prifoners. " ^'^ S^^cn to the other The cruel burning of all the villion, i.- , . -ed fhcwsanintenin no o^S^^^ - "ot yet difconti- but I fhall not now enter in-o renetrin ^ ' '''^''*^' '" ^"^ ^^pe : often mentioned. I flu. 11 only dS° our °" ^f"^^■^I W fo whatconfequences fuch cruJti^-s ^ I'hCc If ' ^'^ ^° '"''^''^^• them. 1 have the honour to be &c ** ^ ^'•' "°' P"^ ^o Camp, aug. 26, ' 1758. Count DonNA." a true light. ^ ''""^ ^'^" ^^"^'"^ tJazette mil fet it in " The ead quarters were fixed at Blum- tag, two leagues beyond Cuftrin. But on the 2ift tJgraiis camp, and marching by Soldin and Perif, anwed on the 26th at Stargard in Pomeranfa tovin. wlicrever it nalTeH th^ „r.,° —j .-r '"f ""'*.' 'caving preft paired, the ufual and difmal marks s nf ifo ^"c:e. Duhna followed them dire(flly j'Te'ad vanced ( 3'S ) vancetl by Necidainin, and arrival tlie 2Qth at Soldin Gtncral Fcrmor ]dt a {^arrilon in LaiuHberg, but it evacuated the town on the approutli ot a detachmenr from che pruflian army. The fwcdcs no Iboiicr fouiul tliat the kincr of PrufTia was marching to defend Saxony againlUhe auflrians, and tlie army of the empire, than they thought it a proper opportunity to piifli the war with vigor. I'hey began to advance very brifl jad, amounted to 1 1,000 men ; he arrived at Berlin the 20th of feptember, and in two days lefr that city, to march againft the enemy. Upon the approach of thefc troops, the Iwedifli army retreated- without detending any place ; they left in Fehrbellin' a garrilon of 1400 men, who were driven out after iome refiftancc, the 28th. I'he prince of Bevern (who had been exchanged for an aullrian general taken by his pruflian majefty) governor of Stetin, deienc.cd that town againlt them-, and general Wedei continued '•o advance againfl: them. 'I'he pruflian monarch himfelf, in tlie mean time was prolecuting the war, in perfon, with his ufiiai aelivity. Marflial Daun continued in his camp at Stolpen, from whence he had a communication with the army of the empire ; the great defign of this general, was to prevent the king from luccoiiring Sikiia, where the aufl:rian generals were making great progrefs, and had formed the flege of Neifs! 'J'he king marched his army from the reiahbour- hood of Drefden, to Bautzen, a poll equally ad- vantageous for prelerving a communication with prince 20th at Soldln. ncHberg, but it t a detachment t the king of '"y 'ig^'inlt the ire, than they h the war with y brifl<)y, into ton who com- ad quarters at vanccd parties leking, being iitely detached from Drelclen, 3S that joined sn ; he arrived 1 two days left ^ Upon the rmy retreated; in Fehrbellin, •iven out after ice of Bevern trian general lor of Stetin, general Wedel le mean time, /ith his ufiiaf his camp at inication with efign of this n luccoiiring vere making 'ge of Neifs. e neighbour- equally ad- ication with prince prmce Henrv s armv -r^^ moved to the right and /n,-L. ^•"■*^' ^»"" tains of Wilten and 1 " ?^ """""^ '^^ """'"- ami polled himfelf nnn„ ,1 *? '''^ Miirians, kJ.n Hoihki c en nd 00^1^^"'^ ^'"^'^ "' ivatchfuJ eye on each other It w ,. 1 '^ , ^ """* fend, that nothinnd n large q^ntity"^ b,;„:t?""""' '^"^- '"'"""' It was very juflly a matteVof '^wonder fhif I,- r bn majelly, who had fuch a nuXrof .vr i " ^'"^' "Is under hin,, ftould beft.rpr fait t^a "™^ 8-"=" »eri and that his ot,tgt,ardsLuldno' 1 V' d L"",! naM to tl^irar'n';" re'c"ov :, ,2 ;,Z"% ''^' drfi.eratcly for five hours • and r h 1- ? •''s'""'S '"cxterly retreat, withou thd en Ji fdTri^f ^"''^ tie them. Nor did the "reatnel^of rh. t ". ' ^ ""■■ "I1.-I' ever appear morf coj c^ous ani h'^'"" ™ found :.ch great wan: of*^^: a° n' dl 3 "'• to have a w no- of hie -,. , "^^^ ac'tion ; om quarters ?tticle T " ' '""'"^^ f™" hi «»Jn the firft onfa \ rr ""r'"^^'' «*" '^ •vounded 1 and the w , I. i ^ "",''''' S^erals of it .ocon.ei;in;,lV-7t%""ir,^^'^™"'f flight: other wing, to rertore I. ,^ /r , ™'"'' '^''"" 'he '"'ice to ?:.p„lie t- ,L? fn "°°P^ '°°^''^^* ^^-.nly by n,;rrs'';;,'n^;:t-,-:«. over- re aftions which difcover llich a ,?rea;n.f f ^ '^5'' f«h an admiraf,le prelenre rM^ , ' °^ S*^""''. e'^r equalled by an/^lenerd "'^ ' '' "'' ''"'"y ' fe' r'l'iit w-r ';;:'tlln- 'r '" ^^;°"' '■<=" "^-^ with noberl-chut. J hi b 1 ,'1""""^ ''"' « --- ■■-.-- i^uunun biit a ihorc ( 322 ) a fl-iort time, before he perceived, that marnnl Daun's view, was to prevent his marching into Silefia • and that, that general had laid afide his defigns on Saxony ; this determined him to fend for a large detachment from prince Henry's army ; (which the prince brought up himfelf ) and to march into Sile- fia, to raile the fiege of Neifs, which the generals Harfch and de Ville were profccuting with the ut- moil vigor. His majefly found many difficulties in putting this fchcme in execution. Marfhal Daun lay with a fuperior army juft in his road, whofe only bufinefs was to obllrud his march. Saxony, would be left uncovered, and prince Henry, whofe army was re- duced by the late detachments, could make but in- effedual efforts againd the united arms of the auftri- ans and imperialilts, if marflial Daun iTiould turn his arms that way. On the contrary, if the kino was to remain in his prefent fituation, and negled to re- fcue Silefia, that province would be greatly over-run by the audrians, whereby his affairs would fuffer equally, with uncovering Saxony. It is for great genius's only not to be difconcerted by fuch dilemma's as thefe ; in- ftead of rendering him ina(5tive, the king of Pruffia's fervcd only to quicken the fpeed of his refolution, and the vigor wivh which he executed it. He determined to march into Silefia. On the 24th of odlober, he broke up his camp, at Doberfchutz -, and fetching a great compals, arrived on the 26th in the plain of Gorlitz : marflial Daun had endeavoured to feize this pofl: before the king; but could get no further than Landicron ; tliurl granadiers and carabineers, drew up oppofite to the pruffian van- guard, but were defeated with the lols of 800 men. By this admirable march, Daun at once loll all the advantages which he had before gained, I from the vidory at Hochkirchcn, and from his ad vant;igcoii3 j marflial Daun's ; into Silefia; : his defigns on nd for a large y i (wliich the I arch into Sile- :h the generals ; with the ut- :ics in putting lun lay with a only bufmefs would be left army was re- j make but in- s of the auftri- fhould turn his the king was i negled to re- tly over-run by I fufier equally, at genius's only ,'s as thefe ; in- ing of Pruffia's refolution, and He determined p his camp, at mpals, arrived marflial Daiin fore the king; idfcron ; thur] ppofite to tliC) i with the lols , Dauii at once I before gained, j 1 from his ad- vantageous i ^ f 323 ) vanta^eous ports ; an open road lay before the kin- into Silefia, and all he could now do was ^o harr.fs hit rear. H,s majefty purfued his march with th ' re ell rapidity ; general Laudohn, with 24 000 men fn lowed hnn with little fuccefs °^" On the 28th, his majefty marched to Lauban • .nd in two days after entered Silefia. The 6th of no;cm ber he arrived at NofTen. The fiege of Neiirwas therift^'t ^^-"^^'^^-^-ci defended wTt tlieguateft brav.ry . .jmmenced the 4th of aueuft and was completely inverted the 3d of odober The pruflian army arrived in fight of Neifs the Vt of no- vember general Harrti having railed the iieoVnnH repaired the Neifs, leaving a c?.nfide b e cSW of ammunition and ftores behind him ; general TiSw the brave governor, fallied out iiponThem? an^ utTn pieces a body of 7 or 800 pandours. The'k n^'s prefence every where relieved the whole province "a \^"o^^^'^yotauilnans, who had been fome time em- ployed in the blockade of Cofel, raifed it on tie gth^. jeatmnan general fell back on the army of . en ai and aultnan Silefia, with great precipitation. Nevn- did any general plan his fchemes and er. cute them with greater reibkr.on, vigor^and c eHtv" ^ an his prurtian majefty -, this rapid march f on Sx-' ), by which he entirely drove the auftrians out of ^^'. lia, IS a remarkable inftance , the prurtian fowLf vith reafc.1, expecfled that this would be he r t opera K>n for that campaign , but their Ibveeign w IVbeSr """ ' '^'^^"^ ""'' ^^ danger,-anjrt ^^^^l^ll-''^ '^:- ^"^^^^^ g-'-"^ ^J^e ad. vantage at Hochkirchen, determ ned that his Preir^n- '■ ^ but as Lis majefly had entrrcW dcCd hS^vl^te M ( 3^4 ) projca, by tlvs nipul, rn.utli, lie ihourrlu ir pioprr to change his plan ot opcr.itions, and take ad/antL'c ot the kmn's al)lciK:e to tall on Saxony. Mis ckfi.;!, was to make hinifelf inalier iA the three cities of Drd- tlcn, Lei]>{ick, an^l 'I'oqrjiii ; for this purpofe he tol- lowcd tl)e king no tliither tliaii (nnhtz-, and when he had detiiched ^'.eneral Lnudohn to harrafs liis rear he rr.arvhcd hiir.lMt' vviih nil expechrion towards Dicf.* tkn, having pafli-d the J'jbe at Pirna, the 6th of novcnibci-. Prince llenry's arn^y, weakened canfi. ck-rably, by the large detachrr.ents which he had car- ried to the grand army, after the battle of 1 loch- kirchen, was obliged to retire fr-om its advantageous poll before i)relden, to the wellward of that city; Daun endeavoured to cut oM his communication witli it ; but the prince threw liimlMf into Drefden, and re- tired on the other lide the Elbe, 'i'he duke of l>ux Ponts hen mart hcd, and invefted Leipfick j whilll marfhal Daun did the fame to Drcfden, with 6o,ooo men. 1 hat city u as but meanly fortified, of very great extent, and dcknded only by 12,000 men, which was a very poor garrifon for fo large a place, commanded by the count de Sclimettau. The auftrian general appeared in fight of the city, the 6ih of ncWembcr; by a motion on the 7th, the governor was convinced that his cicllgn was againlt the capital. 'i'he luburbs of Drel'den were fo extremely weak, that Sciimettuu found it would be imponiblefor him to prcvcr-t tf.e enemy's poirelling himfelf of them by a couj) de main. An enrerprize of this nature, would have been the more ealy, as molt of the houfcs of the lubuibs, from the gate of Pirna to ihat of Will- druir, abfolutely comm^juded the body of the town, both by their prodigious height, being fix or kvci llories higli, and by their proximity to the ramparts. Tliis laid count Schmettau under the difan^reeable nc- rcfiky cr burning ilie-Ti, for that end he filled the h'ghe;l houies with comhullibles, and alio tiiofe nexr to the .ampartii, that his orders might- be the more fpecdily •^[^lu jr proper akc ad/anugc ■. Mis difigi, cities ofDrd- ^urpofc he tol- i and wlicn he rials l\is rear, towards Drcf! U the 6th of •akcncd confi. :h lie had car- itle of Moch. advantageous of that city ; Linicarion with icfdcn, and re- uke of Dtux ipiick i whilll , with 60,000 I, of very great n, which was , commanded n.rian general )f ncWcmbcr; /as convinced ( 325 ) n.acl. a de< lararion to this dll^f to m'c M^r'TI- cup bearer to th. co.ut of nrefda, V,: ■ ''i '''"'^ foun as the enemy fli<.iil,l n I n '"■^'' ''''" " Ti.. .uhurt„ of i>cfd™"' ::;, ,^' : ^; f ii';,';^ w.^lls ; where'rl,; n,.,! c3i "r^^,'!';^ H:"*"''^" 'he rcfidc, and is alfo the fear ot rh, r '"h''''itants "".■*. for which tat ci V i.^- /"'■'""' """■"^«^- l)-.' veil knowing eneUtv tie"'""- ^"""' :;:J!;t;:;=.rii^:,-r,lti^^I :i;h1 would not only bwn the f ^hnrh. n * was the royal rdidence, if he fhonl.i K i ' ^ -i-iHsrcfomti:n;tu^^f^rT;^ S^hmettau, iniplorim. hin m h '^^f,^^^^^^^ Count Pntof the rov I'miir^I^^ ^''' •""^^' ' ^'^^ I- -loku,^, he a"2 ed^ 'lu'rh''";";"'"'^' """ '" on inarllial I aon ' n Tf h , f' '"'' ''^■'"■'"''■'' -nity of war V n'd L iu i rio a' ''""' ''^- "^■ '"''-■lenity of his diip::;i^o;: '"''^''^""'^^■"'•"■y Schmettau luul thrown up fome fmdl ,„ 1 . cover the f„burbs ; thele the Tu.) "' T "'''' '" and penetrated a good way 12 ™ , '"■""■'!' ^. ^-..rt,LvpiayUr^;,:- :!;;:■";» - V "> to II s" 1"lf»- ( ^26 ) to thrjrovTinor the m-xul.iy, th;it rl»c auarians were cicOling battcrifs, a\u\ making other prcpar.uiojis to att.uk the rity. Whcieiipon, ir was abfohitcly neccf. lary no loii^rn- to delay ilellroyin!^ tin- hil)iiib,s. At th;ee()Vlotk in thy inoining, of the loth qj noveinber, general Meyrr gave the fij^nal, and, im- nuihately, a place, lo lately ihr leat oi pleariiie, arts and trade, was all ii\ llanies. Dreadful as this rnn- lla-ration was, yet the good order of the prufri.iii tToops, am! tl. eare of the governor, jneventnl it from being more Ihoeking than was neeellliry -, vny tew lofl their lives, (iencral Meyer letired int.) the city ; and the gates were diredly barrieailed *. The Saxon and aiillrian miiullcrs i niaile the nioft aggravateil complaints all Pairope over, of the bar. L>.uitii;s • Vi(k*Sclinu'ttaii% nicinoii.il conriTiiiiu; llic hiiniiim the fuburhs of Piolilcn. I \ icic M. ronickau the vSnxon rcfiilcnt's incmorial to the diet of ihc cnipirc. " Hy the violence of tlie flames, which was kept up hy ,ci| l,„t jjalls, fired into the houlcs ami along thc< llicct.s, the whole wis inllintly on rtrc."— «« A fl^oc-niak<'r, who was ninninsr away willi In.s infant on a pillow, to iavc it fioin In-inp; burnt to do.itli ui< nut by a volunteer, who Ihatchcd the pillow' away from him and threw the babe into the Han.cs."-- One man had pot his things into a waggon ; tl c prufli.ins llopt it, covcial it over with pitch, iml fet It on fire.' -•• Uy thi.s means a multitude of peopi,. of all mh-^ who inhabited thofc populous fuburbs, pcrinial amidll the fl.inus' The number of thoCe who were killed in the (inglo inn, callal the (ioldcn 1 lart, amounted to 90."— «« The aulliian army beheld thcle horiible nCls, filled with indignation and rage. It;, generals nidt- ing with conipaHlon, tried every method to remedy Vhcm. Thr,- lent 300 carpenters into the fuburbs, to uuleavour to c\tin' ""'• ^'* >"i.r excellency. oh„a and Wedel h . .^ T ' phan.lyat Drefden, the ami 'xi.e a U, tn ,""''"" con,manded by n,ar(l,al Daun, aT^rC" 'Jf "th '^ ' ire, tell back on the king's nea- approach into bT mar.hai placed his troops into quarters of nt^t, ■^.ent. .n fmh Htuationsas to forr^, an ir^ntnfc Cn "I troops all along the frontiers of Silefia and Saxo^J where die imnen-.l -.-t-,. :..:.. . ,' ■^■"'ony ; - .■i.i«..i„, ■.:,n,) juijicu, and continued it through l.'t I 7 h*^->' •t, m ( 330 ) thrpugh Thiirlngia and Franconia, where it was united to the quarters of the prince de Soubize, extending weftward, along the courfe of the Main and Lahn, to meet thofeof marfhal de Contades, which ftretchetl to the Rhine, and continued the chain along it quite to the Matfe, fo as to command the whole courJe of of the Rhine, on both fides, both upward and down- ward. I left the ruffian army retreating after the battle of Zorndorf, to Stargard in Pcmcrania. General Fcr- mer forefaw that he fliould be unable to keep his ground in that province during the winter, unlefshe could fecure fome lea port, by which means he miaht receive the neceflary reinforcements from Rurr]a1)y fea. In purfuance to this plan, he relblved to attack the little town of Colberg on the Baltick ; expeclintr it would be an eafy conqueft, as it was but meanly fortified. On the 3d of oclobcr, 15,000 ruffians formed the fiege -, but what with their incapacity in that part of the art of war, and the brave defence made by major Heydon, the governor, this little town, fo poorly fortified, and fo weakly garrifoned, held out againft them 26 days, and then obliged the. ■ raife the fiege, the i^ih of o6lober : and this w >• gss out receiving any fuccours whatfoever from withoui. The ruffians, without enterprifing any thing elfe, re- tired in fo dilgraceful a manner cut of Pomerania, without having been able to mafter one place of flrength, in either Brandenburg or Pomerania. But they deftroyed all the country as they palfed, with the mod favage fiercenefs. Nor were the rulfians the only enemy which carried on an inglorious war againll his pruffian majefly •, the fwedes were driven back into their own territories, with great lois ; and feveral of their important pofls taken, before they went into quarters of cantonment. About the time that the auftrians retired into winter quarters, the french did the lame, without any moleliation from prince Ferdi- nand ; king- ot o Saxony ; protedtioi ilich a 17 for the t\ which he This dec revenues were fcqi Priifila, s belonging the king i officers in : it was united ie, extending ^ and Lahn, lich ftretched tlong it quite ole courje of d and down- the battle of General Fcr- to keep his :er, unlefshe ans he might tn Riiffia by VQd to attack : -, expecling but meanly Doo rulTians incapacity in •rave defence s little town, ifoned, held ged the. ' o d this w 1- I )m withoui. ing elfe, re- Pomerania, ne place of L'rania. But ed, with the rulFians the ( 33^ ) nand; his army was too weak for offenfive ODeratlon, princ. difpoftd h s X in th n 'ftT^S"- ^'^' Lnner, Tn the bill,opric of IZtrlTlT"' »d Hildeflaei™. arui L the landg. fa ' „f Sf"' Before 1 cl.lmil., the aftiirs of his p.uflUn nnfX tort ,s campaign I nu,ft take notice of t L S"* which tliat monarch made in his conduft, toward ^^e iinfortiinate electorate of Saxony. When fiift h. • lp;i7i7:L,!-rair;r;xret-^^^^ Cl\. r/haf n '"' -torn to Drefden, after™ irg lorccd maifhal Daun once more to ouit Savonv ■, altereci h,s refolution : he ordered hisrefttT [V^ .end a decree to the depmies of the eftates of Tl e ....ate wimh, at the fame time that it enjoined jn to ckhvcr a certain quantity of flowe IZfo^ ige, fignified in expjefs terms • " Th,r ,i,/ u i K-t Pruffi. haihitherto't^^atecUhfe a faVof axony as a country he had taken under I, s fpecia po tection ; the face of affirirs was now c nS in lortnctutuie, omy as a conquered countrv cut nf inis decla;ation was no fooner pubhHied than t-h^ revenues of all the faxon minliL of con WnL were cqucflered ; and as the rufiians h^^H Sd "n r ufna, all the rents of the eflates in that countr tefn'7'"''"'^. °^""' ^^^ iamewasdrek; -tictrs lu tae rulTiaa icrvice. IIis majcfty aJfo or- dered M > |}'':f 'SiHil' JM fffi ^ ' IP' um "%■ ( 3^2 ) ordered feals to be put on the papers of 20 perfons of confequence belonging 10 the court of Dreldcn v^ho were, at the lame time enjoint-d to fet out for Warfuv, in 24 hours ; in fhort, the adminiftration of the government was thrown entirely into the hands of prufTians. It has been very juilly remarked on this i that as foon as the king of Pruflia had declared that he cor^fidered Saxony as a conquered country, the people had from that time a right to cxped to be governed in fuch a manner as became a ju(l; prince; more efpccially wht-n the conqueror's affairs are not in fuch a dangerous fituation, as to require a very ri- gorous behaviour. When we confider the ufe which this monarch made of his conqueft ; we are no longer dazzled by the heroic qualities of his mind. He continued to exadl the m.ofl fevcre contributions of the inhabitants •, and in a manner very little becom- ing a lawful fovercign. He not only furrounded the exchange with foldiers, but confined the merchants to narrow lodgings, on flraw beds, and by the ex- tremity of their futferings obliged them to draw bills on their foreign correfj'ondents tor very large fums. Drefden had been quire exhaufted by former contri- butions, and had even fuftered military execution long before: fo that but little excufe can be made for thefe unjuft and violent proceedings. What could be more unreafonnble, more odious, or more cruel, than to retaliate on the unhappy iaxons, fomepartof the exceffes committed by the ruffians on his domi- nions. Such a proceeding is not confident with that greatnefs of foul which one would think fliould at- tend fuch vaft abilities, ps are pofTefled by his pruHiim majefty. But let us review his a(fhions this campaig;i, we fhall there fee his brighteft fide. In the lall campaign, he gained the mofl refplendent vidories •, but in this he formed and executed the moll ufeful defigns. The retreating out of Moravia in the face of a fuoei ior armv, in that mafterlv man- ner, ( 333 ) nsr, in wliich it was executed ; his rapid march to drive the rufTians from his dominions ; his gaining the battle ot Zorndorf, merely by his own prefence of mind ; his marchmg from thence to relieve Saxony when m the mean time, the auftrians over- run Sile- fia; defeated at Hochkirchen, and yet a^incr as if he liiJbeen VKflorious ., marlTial Daun's whole pla^Ji being to prevent his entering Silella ; he takes a great compafs round all his forces, and marching unpurfued, in the f^v'irtelt manner, raifes the fiege of Neifs, and clears all Silefia of his enemies . from one corner of his dominions, he flies to the other ; Saxony is again in danger ; above an hundred thoufand of his enemies bcfieging three great cities in it j they no fooner invade, than he refolves to refcue ; f jm the extre- mity of Silefia, he makes forced marches into Saxony railes the fieges of its capital, Leipfick and Torgau! drives the two armies of the auftrians and the empire entirely out of the elec1:orate, and arrives triumphantly atDrdden; four armies, containing above cwo hun, died and litty thoufand men, endeavour to over- whelm his dominions, they are defeated, and drove back with dilgrace ; his territories are cleared, and he keeps pofTcffion of Saxony itfelf In (liort, whether we confidcr the rapid and vigorous marches, the art- ful movements, andjudicious choice of polls, in par- tial ar, or tHc great management, the deep laid fchemes, or die Iliiuied and refined condud in general • we mud certainly allow this campaign to difplay on the part of that monarch, very great abilities, and P;ene- ralihip ; greater than ever he had ihewn before Ihe angular fituation of England guarded it from thofl- terrible ravages of war, which laid wafle the rdt of hurope, confequently we can f^nd but little tor the lubjecT- of a military hiHory there. Several Iquadrons had been equipped, and failed in the win- ter, but their operations were too minute to be com- prchen.dcd in the narrow plan of this work. In par- liament i¥- ( 3.34 ) Hament, every thing went fmoothly ; the voice of the minillcr was that of the nation; the hoiife of commons had granted his huijefty, for tlie war and other iifcs, upwards of eleven millions llerling, in the coiirfe of the year *. Nothing could have enabled the kingdom to raife fuch immenfe fums, but the flour- idling and ex ten five commerce it enjoyed. This re- ceived a great aildition by the fuccefs which commo- dore Keppel's fquadron met with on the coafl; of Africa. Mr. Keppel, having been fent out from England with a fmall ftpiadron of fhips, to attack Goree' came in fight of that place the 28th of December! The Dunkirk, the Naffau, the Torbay, and theFou- geaux anchored againfl fevcral batteries, on the illand of Goree, and at the lame time covered two bomb- ketches by their fire. The adlion began with a fmart cannonade from the ifland on the fhips, as they bore down, which was not returned, till they came ex- tremely near, and then began a mod dreadful fire, which in a few hours filenced the french batteries; and made fuch a terrible havock among their garrilbn, that M. de St. Jean furrendered the fortrefs and ifland, with his garrifon, prifoners of war j in it was found 110 pieces of cannon and mortars. The ifland of Goree confifts of a low narrow piece of land, near cape Verd in Africa, Wed long. 17. in the river Seneiial. about half a mile 40. iat. I long, but very narrow. Though it is in the torrid zone, yet it enjoys a cool and temperate air almoft the year round -, which is owing to the equality of the days and nights ; and its being continually rcfreihed by alternate breezes from the land and Tea. M. de St. Jean had embellifhed it with feveral fine buildings-, and added fome fortifications to it. The conqueil of thefe fettlements on the coaft of Africa, were of infinite importance to the britiih nation, and of ntar as much advantage to its commerce, as any \ idc append IX. C 235 ) ;iny of the numerous acquilitions we have made this vv;ir. h' ranee, by means of them, brought her lli- gar ifliiiuls to that high pitch, wliirli they arrived at iuforc the war. The fugar trade, and that to the (o:i(t of Africa, are fo blended together, that the for- mer cannot fubfifl without the latter, on account of the negroes brought from thence ; the frcnch, by means of their iettlements of Senegal and Goree, railed the price of negroes upon the englifli, on many parts of the coaft, from 6 and 7 1. per head to 20 and ;ol. And, although this great rife in their price af- k\n\ the englifh Wclt-iiidian trade fo very fenfibly, yet their own llifFcred not the leaft by it, by reafon loftlieir extraordinary bounties, privileges and im- nninities, which the french government allows for the encouragement of their african commerce. The gum Senegal is another article of great confequence, which falls into the hands of the englifli, by this im- portant conqueft. I'he african gum is exceeding ufe- ' ful, in Icvcral french manufaftures ; fuch as their filks, and odicr fabricks, which require a gloffy luftre to recommend^ them to foreign nations ; and this gum isnolefs u fef ul in feveral englilh manufadlurcs. So ' advantageous is ir, that Mr. Poftlethwait * informs us, that we have a recent inftance of two merchants in ' the city of London, who gained above 10,000 1. by a I loading of gum from Senegal, which they obtained in the year 1757, on this coall •, the firftcoO: of which ! cargo, on the outfet, did not amount to 1000 1. I'here are alio feveral other very material articles of trade, which mufl be chiefly in the hands of the poflxfflbrs of thcle important fettlonients. (Jold duft, ivory, &c. arc very beneficial trades ; Init the vafc advantage of the negroe trade is unbounded -, the whole Weft- ' indies inult depend greatly on thofe, for negroes, who polllds Senegal and Goree. Importance of the african expedition confidercd, p. 4. Never V I iii ( 336 ) Never was any year more glorious to Great Brltam than 175B. We have many times triumphed over France, perhaps with greater eclat ; but never with fuch real advantage to the nation. Thofe conqueits which promote our trade, and confequently our naval power, are the moft beneficial to us. The pofTefnon of Louiflnirg tlirew into our hands the whole cod- fifhery, by which France maintained yearly in time of peace, near 20,000 feamen, and the profits to that nation were calculated at upwards of a million fterl- ing •, fuch an article, I think, to engliflimen, can want no heightening. It is juftly agreed, that our navy depends in great meafure on our north american com- merce ; had the french been able to put thofe deep laid fchemes in execution, (which I have before treated of more fully) and which depended in a great mea- fure, on the pofleffion of the forts Frontenac and du Quefne •, our colonies would have been in the utmoft danger. The conqueft of thofe forts broke the chain, with which they had confined us, within fuch very narrow bounds, and threw a great part of the furr trade into our hands. The conqueft of Senegal and Goree, as I havejuft mentioned, deprived the^french of thofe valuable branches of commerce, the negroes gum, gold duft, and ivory. The expedition to the coaftot Franceconvinced all Europe that that kingdom was vulnerable, even at home ; and the mifchief it did to their trade was very confiderable. Laftly, if! we add the advantages gained in the Eaft- indies. 'by admiral Pocock, and the vaft fuccefs our (hipping met with, in deftroying the french commerce, by thecap- ture of their merchant fliips and m.en of war, we may juftly conclude, that there never was a year, wherein the forces of Britain were exerted in a more ^lorious or advantageous manner, than that of 1758.*^ To what can we attribute this vaft fuccels, but toj that union and harmony which fubfifted in our coun- cils ^ Did ever any former minift:ry in E^ncland carry Ofl ( 337 ) on fuch an extenfive war as theprefent, without hav- ing a flrong oppofition in parliament to ftruggle with at the fame time ? The coalition of parties was the original caufe of our fuccefs ; had one miniftry been in power for a few months ; and theri another, whofe maxims were entirely oppofite to thofe of the former. in what a confufed manner muft the war have been carried on ? But the two parties united have triumphed over fadion, perhaps more dangerous than the ene- my; they have employed the forces of their country to the beft advantage J the navy, that glory of Great Britain, has been exerted in the mod formidable man- ner} and, what is unufual, we have at the fame time, been equally vidtorious at land. They fent a britifh army to Germany, and at the fame time another to to the coaft of France, without in the leaft negledling the marine. In /hort, Britain, this year found herfelf »like viaorious in every quarter of the world. CHAP. wy^""^^Bp'^ '> ( 338 ) CHAP. XVIII; Situation of the hdligmnt powers at the opening ef tht year 1759. State of the affairs of his prujjian ma. . jejty. Of the emprefs queen. Of the emprefs of Ruf. Jia. Of the republic of Holland. Cafe of the dutch \ fhips conftdered. Affairs in England, In France,, Expedition to the IVeft-indies, under Hopfon and Moort, \ Unfuccefsful attack on Martinico. Baffe terre in Gua- daloupe defiroyed. ^he forces land. Baffe Terre taken, General Hopfon. dies. Grande Terre conquered. 7kt\ ijland capitulates. Remarks on its importance. THE events of the year 1758, convinced all the belligerent powers of Europe, that the foi.jnel of the war was not to be obtained H^ any one viftory, however confiderable ; but would de won by thofe whole refources enabled them to fuftain the horrors! cf it longer than their enemies. It was plain, at' the conclufion of the laft year, that that general, whofe genius furnilhed him with the greateft refources, was mod likely to prove, in the end, vidorious. It was really aftonifhing to fee fo many great vidtories | gained by the pruflian troops, without being able to ' procure a fafe peace ; when many of them would in former times, have been fufficient to transfer the em- pire of the world from one faction to another. Nor was it lefs furprifmg, that the three campaigns, wherein the king of Pruflia had met with fuch great furcefs, did not exhauft him more. Thofe fuccefles, great as they were, often times were dearly purchafed;| and befides thefe, he had met with fome checks ; partj of his dominions had been pollefibd by his enemies ii the ^ ( 339 ) the kingdom of Pruflia was in the hands of the rufll- ans, part of his weftphalian territories in thofe of the french. Many of his grcateft generals were dead ; and great part of thofe brave veterans, who had per- formed fuch unparrallelt d adlions under him, at the beginning of the war were no more : add to this his coffers, which had been fo lon^ a filhng were drained. But yet, for all this melancholy catalogue, his pruffjan majefty was far from being exhaulled, at the clofe of the laft campaign. Had that been his fituation, let me afk the intelligent reader, whe- ther he would have been able to drive fuch formid- able and numerous enemies out of his german domi- nions. Ac that period, he entirely polft/Ted the elec- torate of Brandenburg, Pomerania, Silefia, Magde- burg, and Halberftadt of his own dominions. Saxo- ny, part of Mecklingburgh, and part of fwedifli Po- merania of his enemy's -, add to this, he ftill received afubfidy of 670,000!. fterling, from Great Britain ; add alfo thofe great refources which he found in his own fuperior genius ; and in the abilities of his bro- ther Henry, feconded by a long lift of able generals, who ftill remained to command his armies. Thefe advantages enabled him to finifh tho laft campaign in fo glorious a manner, and to prepare with tiic ne- ceflary vigor for opening the approaching one. The emprefs queoii, durmg the courfe of the war, had met with much greater Ihocks than the king of Pruflia i and the war felt equally heavy on her : but the refources of her power, as they are more natural than thofe of her enemy, fo they are the more vifible to the reft- of Europe. Her immenfe territories •, many of them equally fruitful and populous, enabled her to recruit all her loftes. It muft be a very long war that would entirely exhauft the houfe of Auftria; her dominions are of fuch an immenfe extent •, the fub- jeft fo ufed to fupply free quarter and endure military 'iccncej her fubjects lb numerous, i'o hardy, and Z 2 make 'M I r Piifi M ( 340 ) make fuch good foldiers •, that It is not to be ^on* dercu at, that the emprefs queen was able to recruit her armies, on every (hock they rereived : In fadt marflial Daun, very early in the new year found that he fxiould be at the head of an army as formidable as ever. The emprefs of Ruflia was drawn into the war by the envy which flie always had to her formidable rival in the north, the king of PrufTia. Never did any power enter into a war upon more unjuft motives than the court of Peterfburg ! It was meer envy of the rifing greatnefs of the pruffian monarch. But as (lie had engaged, flie refolved to perfevere. The ex- pence of the war fell more heavy on her enemy and the republic of Poland, than it did en herfelf •, and, as it was an opportunity of forming her troops to fer- vice, fhe refolved to continue in her prefent fyftem, The britifli minifler made the greatelt efforts to de- tach her from her alliance ; but all his endeavours were vain •, the court of Peterfburg, notwithftand- ing the bad iuccefs it had hitherto met with, conti- nued refolutely bent on the ruin of the king of PrufTia. Holland, during the greatefl part of the preceding year, had been filled with nothing but remonftrances, memorials, and complaints, concerning the captureof her merchant fliips by the englifh men of war and privateers. France, foon after their fliips were feized by the engliOi, at the beginning of the war, finding that tlicir trade would be entirely ruined ; endeavour- ed to obviate that flroke by her policy. She took off the tax of 50 fous per ton, which flie always chufes to keep on foreign freightage : fhe opened even her american ports, and admitted other countries to that choice part of her commerce, which by her maritime regulations, flie hath at other times To flrid- ly kept to herfelf. Neutral nations feized at once on the advantage, and opened to the enemy new channels! for ( 341 ) for the conveyance of thofe riches, by which the war was to be nurfed and protrafted : Under tlic banner of friend (hip they thus ferved the caiifc of the ad- verfary, whofe wealth fecured by that proteaion would have pafTed fafe and unmolefted through the engiifh fleets. Britain refolved, that her naval power fliould not be rendered ufelefs, and feized on the property of her enemy, which fhe found on board neutral ftips *. The dutch were moftly concerned in this contraband trade i and they made terrible clamours at the cap- ture of their Ibips. The merchants of the principal cities in Holland prefented feveral memorials to the Hates general for redrefs of their grievances, offering to arm themfelves and protedl their trade. I'he ftatcs remonflrated to the court of Great Britain againll this proceeding, but they met with a very cold re- ception. In fa<5t, their claim was founded neither on the law of nations, nor on that of nature. Holland, whenever fhe was engaged in warv-almofl; conlkntly purfued the fame conducfl : fhe fometimcs even prohibited the commerce of neutral nations, be- yond all jullicc and moderation. In the year f i ^09, when die government of Spain firft prohibited the fiib- je6ls of the united provinces, from trading to the ports of that kingdom, a liberty, which had unaccountably been aliowrd them, from the commencement of their revolt to that period ; the ftates general in revenge, publiflied a placart, forbidding the people of all na- tions to carry any kind of merchandife into Spain. It is declared in the 4iit article of the treaty of 1674, between Great Britain and Holland, and alfo in every other commercial treaty, " That all goods are con- traband, which are carried to places blockaded or in- • Difcourfe on the conduft of the government of Great Britain, p. 6. f Grotii hiftoriarum, lib. 8. Z3 veiled. i* i !'**• w^rw Tk^w':-^m i 1 f ■■■1: ' P ( 342 ) vefted.** To fhew what opinion the dutch had of « naval blockade in i6c}o*, when they pretended to have blockaded up all the coaft of Flanders, and openly avowed, that they would take and condemn all neutral fhips, which had the moft diftant appear- ance of being bound to the ports of that country, In 1689 t, they alfo declared publicly, to neu.ral na- tions, that they defignedto block up all the ports of] France. Now a blockade may be confidered as com- plete by fea as land -, and were not the french weft- ; indian iil.inds as completely blockaded, as it waspof. fible for the dutch to blockade the ports of France?! And much more-, their diftrefs and famine, for want I of a communication with their mother country, fully declare, that they were invefted. But befides thele feveral reafons, I could produce many others founded intirely on the letter of the treaties fubfifting between Great Britain and Holland, to ftiew that they have not the lead right to carry the property of the enemy in their fhips i but the bounds of this work will not permit me to be more particular*, I muft refer the reader to a very ingenious work, which canvaflTcsthe affair to the very bottom, entitled, " A difcourfe on •' the conduct of Great Britain, in rcfped to neutral] *« nations." If we turn our eyes towards England, and com- pare the ftateof that nation at this period, with the I ftate it was formerly in, during the war, we (hall find | that the very maxims of government were changed;' the conAitution wore a different face. That unprece- 1 dented union, which reigned in both houfes of parlia- ment, enabled the miniftry, who lived inthe greateftl harmony with one another, to concert thofe great plans] of aftions againll: the enemy, and by their f netra- tion in the choice of commanders to enfure their * Convention between England and Holland, 1689. 4- Placarr of iunc 26, i6jo. fucccfj. I 5 ( 343 ) llicccfs. France, during the year, had every day found the power of the englifli in America to exert kfelf more and more : it had been like an almoft linothered flame, which, when it broke through the fmoke that had covered it, blazed forth with renewed violence. Thofe (hocks, fo fatal to the trade of France, which (he had received in America that year, had convinced her, that it would never be pofTible to retrieve thofe lofTes, by her operations in that part of the world. Her great efforts muft be made in Europe. Hanover was her aim on the continent, if (he could keep pofkffion of that eleftorate till a peace, (he doubted not of being able to conclude an advanta- geous one. But to effedb this, it required that their army in Germany (hould be recruited, and reinforced, that the fubfidies which had been paid to Sweden, Au- llria, and RulTia, (hould be regularly continued •, that the king of Pru(ria might gain no refpit. Nor was the plan which France determined to purfue, confined to Germany, (he refolved to fet about in real earned, invading Great Britain *, for this end, immenfe prepa- rations were to made in feveral of the ports of tliat kingdom : by this means, the peace did not depend onafingle ftake, they had two fchemes, and if ei- ther of them fucceeded, their defign would be entirely anfwered. But all thefe great points could noc be put in execution, without: great funds. It was the misfortune of the french nation at this time, to be governed by a weak and divided miniftry, and a ravenous miftrefs, who fleeced the kingdom of im- menfe fums every year. The deftruftion of their trade made money very fcarce, and the neceflities of the (late being urgent, they were obliged to adopt a new plan of raifing the revenue. Moreover Silhounate was made controller of the finances ; and he imme- diately removed the farmers of the revenue from linding the fupplies j ^nd new methods were devifed Z 4 for 't J { 344 ) for raifing money ; but the great want of it ftill ap; peared, thefe were only temporary expedients. But as the face of affairs in England was fo much phanged, fo thefe fchemes of her enennies no longei; had that effed which ufed to attend them . At the fame time that an army was maintained in Germany, and fuch numerous forces were kept in adlon in America, the Eaft and Weft indies, Britain, by the good con- du6t of her government, was enabled to guard againft ; any attempt that France might make to invade her. The militia ad, fo well known, had armed feveral thoufand men for the defence of the kingdom, the refyular troops were augmenting both in number and fpecies ; and for the firft time we faw light horfeand infantry. Our navy was more formidable than ever,! and feveral fquadrons were generally blocking up the ports of France, and cruifing on their trade, \Yhilft others were carrying deftruftioh to the french colo- nies in every part of the world. In this fituation, Britain had little to fear at this period, from the de- fjo-ns which that nation had formed to invade her. One of the moft confiderable expeditions that was undertaken by the englifn miniftry, in the beginning of the new year againft France^ was that to the Weft- indies. About the latter end of odlober 1758, com- modore Hughes, with a fquadron of eight fhips of the line, a .rigate, and four bombs, with fixty tranf- fports, fet fail from Spithead, having on board thci following regiments, the old buffs, Duroure's, Elliot's, Barrington's, Watfon's, and Armiger's, with a de- tachment from the artillery at Woolwich -, 800 ma rines were alio diftributed on board the men of war. | The general officers employed were, major general! Hopfon, commander in chief; major general Har- rington ; colonels Armiger, and Haldanc •, and lieu- tenant colonels Trapaud and Clavering, brigadiers. The gd of January, 1759, they came to an anchorj in Carlifle bay, in the ifland of Barbadoes. Commo- dore C ^45 ) - lore Moore, who was lying in that bay, with ano- tiier fmall fquadron, took upon himfelf the command of the united fleet. Having watered at Barbadoes, they fet fail from thence January 13th, their armament not exceeding 5000 men complete *. The grand* objeft of this expedition was the ifland of Martinico, the firft of the french fugar iflands, the feat of the government, and the center of all the trade which France carries on with the Weft-indies : It is very ftrong both by nature and art. The fhore on every fide indented with very de bays y the many fands round the ifland which are to be feen only at low water, render an approach very dangerous with- out good pilots. It is very fruitful, well cultivated, and watered, abounding ,/ith plantations and villages along the fea coafl:. Port Royal is the principal place in the illand, which is confiderable for its fize, trade, and fl:rength. St. Pierre is the fecond town which is of near as much confequence as Port Royal. The french had at this time a good number of regular forces here; befldes a numerous and well armed mi- litia, aiad not contemptible for their difcipline. The 15th of January, the troops were landed with- out oppofition, on tLe weft fide of Port Royal har- * ^hipsthat compofed the fquadron. Line of battle. Ships. Berwick Wincheftcr Rippon Briftol Norfolk Cambridge St. George Panther Lyon ' Burford Guns. 64 SO 60 50 74 80 90 60 60 64 Men. 488 3SP 430 350 600 667 750 420 400 520 Captains, Harman. Le Crafs, Jehkyll. Leflie. Hughes. Burnet. Gayton. Schuldham. Trelawney. Gambier. Four frigates, four bombs, and fixty tranfports. hour. I f 346 ) hour, after the men of war bad driven the frencH from their batteries and intrcnchments ; they had fre- quent fkirmiihes with the enemy, but thefe did not prove fo great an obftrudlion to the fuccefs of the troops, as the nature of the country. A multitude of deep ftreams of water, inclofed by fteep and aimoft perpendicular precipices, proved a great ohftacle to the march of the troops ; the roads broken up, and they had five miles to march before they could get to Port Royal. General Hopfon, finding thefe diffi. culties unfurmountable, fent on board the Cambridge, to acquaint the commodore, that he found it impoin. ble to maintain his ground, unlefs the fquadron could give him afliftance, by landing fome heavy cannon, &c. at the favanna, near the town of Port Royal, or that the commodore would attack the citadel in the bay, at the fame time that he did it on the Ihore. A council of war having judged this to be impradi. cable, the general gave orders for the troops to retire, and they were re-embarked on the 17th. One can- not help obferving in the account of this tranfadion, which was publiflied in the Gazette, and which I apprehend was extradled chiefly from the commodore's letters, that there did not feem to be fo perfeft a har- mony between the general and the commodore as is always neceflary in fuch expeditions as thefe, and on which their fuccefs entirely depends. The next day the general acquainted the commo. dore, that the council of war was of opinion, it would be moil for his majefty*s fervice co go to fort St. Pierre with the troops, in order to make an attack upon that place, and that no time fhould be loft. It was hoped that more might be done there ; and ac- cordingly the fleet came in fight of that town the 19th ; forty merchantmer^ were then lying in the bay, and the commodore ordered two bombs ro fail in near enough to do the proper execution ; he fent a man a battery ( w ) a battery, about a mile and a half north of the town • and threw out a %nal for the tranfports to com^ under his ftern. All thefe dirpofitions feemed as if the attack was refolved on ; and in fad, the commo- dore had afTured the general, that he could deftroy the town of St. Pierre and put the troops in poflef- on of It ; but as the fquadron might be confiderably damaged m the attack, and the whole armament un^ able after it to proceed on any other material fervice h^reprtfented to the general, that it would be be ter to proceed to the town of BafTe Terre, in the idand of Guadaloupe The general concurring in this opi- nion, the bombs were forbid to play, The founding ftip recalled; and to theaftoniHiment of every body the merchantmen were left without any attack being made on them j as ic was the opinion of fcveral offi! cers, that they might have been, at lead deftroyed without damaging the Ihips, fo much as to difenable them from proceeding on their fervice. But it looks as if the commodore had forgot he had ordered the Rippon to engage a battery ; that ihip proceeded down to her ftation, and in a few minut.s filenced It; but before Ihe could dilengage herfelf, four batteries more were opened, to play on the fliip, which damaged her malts, lails, and ri8:ging very much and the captain obferving the commodore above two leagues aftern of him, with the ivit of the fleet and no fh:ps buc his own in the haroour, nor any coming ius affiftance, concluded that the attack was laid lid., and his own Hup being -n great danger, ordered his boats to be manned, and towed heroE Purfuant to the refolution agreed ^n at the council of war, to attack Guadaloupe, the fquadron fet fail, ?nd arrived off the town . l" BalTe Terre, the 2^d of January , they found the place very formidably forti- hd towards the fea, as tne enemy had railed feveral anTthTck- • ^^?-^"l^nt places along the fhore ; ana the citauci, was tiiOUgiit by colonel Cunningham, the . ! { 34R ) the chief engineer, on account of its great height to be impregnable to the (hips, but in this opinion he proved miftaken. The fame clay the commodore or- derc(' the attack to be made in the following difpo. fition : the St. George, Norfolk, and Cambridge to lay along fide the citadel, mounting 47 guns ; the l,yon, a battery of nine guns ; the Panther and Bur- ford, a battery of 12 guns-, the Berwick, a battery of fcven guns -, and the Rippon another of 6 guns. He ordered them to filence, if pofliblc, their rcfpec- tive batteries, and to lie by them till further orders; having fhifted his broad pendant from the Cambridge, | and hoifted it on board the Woolwich of 40 guns. The fliips having all taken their ftations, the can- nonade began at nine o'clock, and continued with the molt unremitting fury till night •, as foon as the fe- veral batteries were filenced, the four bombs Hood in for the Ihore, and threw Ihells and carcalfes into! the town. The houfes and churches were every where I foon in flames, the magazines of powder blown about | the enemies ears, and the whole about ten o'clock blazed oui: in one general conflagration. It burned all niglit, and the following day ; when it was almoft totally reduced to aflies. liie lofs was immenfe, from the number of warehoufes in the town, full of | rum, and other rich, but combuflibie materials. It is furprifing that the fquadron fliould iufler fo little as it did, in fuftaining fuch a terrible cannonade. The 24th, the troops landed without oppofition, and took poflTeflion of the town and citadel of B file Teire; the fire ftill continuing in the former. M. d'Eltreil, the governor, behaved very daftard I y, in- ftead of exerting himielf in the time of danger, vi- fiting the feveral engaged batteries, and by his pre- lence infpiring his people with redoubled ardor ; he retired to a plantation out of gun-fiiot, and remained an inaftive fpedlator of the defl:ruction of the day. H:id he adled as bccan.ie a brave man, figjiting for " his 'J "5* ( 349 ) his honour and his country, he would the next morn- ing have taken precautions to prevent the landing of the troops, who had a difficult fhore to deal wiui attended with a violent furff from the fea, and de- fended by entrenchments and lines every where thrown up. But this pretended fon of Mars, retired with his troops to a rifmg ground, about fix miles from Bafll' lerre, where he ftrongly intrenched himfelf the fituation being very ftrong by nature. The afcent to it was very Iteep. The road from the camp of the engliiTi troops, interrupted by broken rocks i and the ground interfered by a variety of gullies, very difficult to pafs ; all which rendered an attack on it very hazardous. While the governor remained in this fituation, general Hopfon and com- modore Moore fent him an ofi^er of terms ; but he returned them a very gallant anlwer, which would have done him honour, had it fuccceded as caliant behaviour. The latter end of the month was employed In fcour- ing the country j and as the enemy in fmall parties were continually laying ambufcades among the fugar canes ; orders were given to fet them on fire, which was very foon executed. And commodore Moore conficlered, that theeaftern part of the ifiand, called Grand Terre, which is the moll fertile of the whole, might be attacked with advantage, if the fort Louis was taken •, relblved to detach fomc men of war from the fquadron for that purpofci accordingly the Berwick, with three frigates, three tenders, and two bombs, failed the 6th of february, and the 13th at- tacked the fort and the batteries near it ; when, after a fevere cannonade, which'lafted fix hours, a large de- tachment of marines, and the highlanders, landed, wiio drove the enemy from their intrenchmcnts, and hoiftcd the englilh colours at the fort. General Hopfon died at the camp near BafTc Terre th nd the command of the army then de- volved »• iiil ( no ) volvcd on major general Barrington, who on the ifti ot inarch, brought off all the troops, rc-imbarkinK chem on board the tranrj>orts by the break of day leaving colonel DeCbrilhy in the citadel, with Wat* fon's regiment, and a dctachinent from the artillery. It was the general's fcheme to make the attack on the 4idc of (Jrandc Tcrre \ accordingly the commodore with the fleet failed. It was the 1 1 th before the fleet came to an anchor off fort Louis. It was here that Mr. Moore received intelligence, th;it Monf. Bom- part, with a fquadron of eight fail of the line, and three frigates, with a reinforcement of troops, was nrrived at Port Royal in Martinico. The commo- dore dirc(5tly perceived, tliat the french fquadron might be able to throw in fuccours into Grand Terre if he attempted it, without his being able to pre- vent it, as the iquudron then lay ; he took a rc- folution to fail immediately to [>rince Rupert's bay, in Dominica, is he ihould there have it more in his power to protcrt Guadaloune. The privateers of! the french toc^k advanta^rc ot this movement; and above eleven week:?, while the two Iqudrons were watching one another in the two bays ; they failed out, and took above 90 fail of englilh merchantmen, and carried them into Martinico. Thcle captures oc- cafioncd heavy complaints from the britifli illands, for they faid, (and I believe, with a good dealofrea- fonj it was equally pradieable for the englilh fqua- dron to have anchored at Port Royal, as at prince Rupert's bay ; by whirh, two ends might h;ivc been anfvvcred, the fretuii men of war could not have s^nt out, nor the privateer prizes have got in, and ol courfe tjie latter mulV have been rc-takcn ♦, no other harbour being then open to them except St. Pierre's or Ctranadu, cither of which, was at thai: time ro be blockaded by a Tingle frigaic *. Had Mr. Moorcl Vide cart. Gardener's account of" this cxnedition, n. a:. nudtl ( 351 ) made his appearance ofF I'ort Hoyal, M. du BomparC nuid Ii.ive hccn reduced to the altrrmitivc of fighting afiipcrior force, or of retiring behind the citadel into thccarcnage to avoid if. General Harrington wiok all the precaution in his power to ftrcngihen die fort at St. Louis ; and, find- jng that the war in the ifland, was not to l>e ])rorccuted with all tlic troops in a body j he detached colonel I Crump, with 600 men, in fomc of the tranfports, to ' endeavour ro land between the towns of St. Anne, jnd St. Francois j colonel ('pjmp cxccntt-d this with th. greatrft bravery, dellroyinn; ihr batteries oi' can- non which the cnemieii had railed there. And as the cencral cxpedted, that the enemy would weaken a irr p; poft rhey had at Gofier, to reinforce St. Anne'a and St. Franfois, he >vent with another detachment ind made hiiiifclf matter of it. In the mean time, colonel Defliririy *, who was left governor of the citadel of BafTe Terre, loft his life by an unfortunate accident. A cannon being fired too near .. powder magazine, the return of the wad- ding blew it up, and with it the governor, major Trollop, a lieutenant, and fcveral men. Major Mql- • Lieutenant colonel Dcfbrlfay, was captain of foot at the bat- tle of Val, near Maflrici.t, in 1747} being wounded, and ly- ing on the ground, a frcnth oHicer, contrary to the rules of war, Ijfldcvcry generous fcntinicnt ran him through, which unmanly cx- imple was immediately followed by the party he commanded, all [of them planting their bayonets in his body. He received 15 wounds, and eight of them were judged mortal. He was after- wards in company with marftjal Saxe. whofe politenefs in war wa« fo well known, and who prcffed him llrongly to declare, who the officer was, that had ufed him in fo bafe a manner, threatening to difgracc him, at the head of the regiment; but Deflnrifay, though I ftelj acquainted with his name, the commiffion he bore, and the corps he il-rvcd in, had io much grcatnefs of mind as to decline it ; liccontentcd himfclf with letting his excellency know, that he was not a ftrangerto his perfon, but begged he would excufc him, I ffom being obliged to point hinj out. Vil .4;' ( 352 ) vil was appointed by ♦^he general to fuccecdhim int government of the citadel. Tiie mod confiderable force the enemy had, vjij colleded on the mountain called Dos d*Afnc. It is j pod of great ftrength and importance, as it forms the only communication there is between the town ofl Bafle Terre and the capes Terre, the pleafanteft andf moil fruitful part of the ifland. It was not judged practicable to break into it this way •, and all the reft of the Bafle Terre part of tlie ifland was in theencJ mies poflcflion. The general therefore formed j plan to furprife the towns of Petit Bourge, St. MaJ ry*s, and Guogave ; but the fuccefs of thisprojed^l though well concerted, \/as, through the darknefsofl the night, the roughnefsof the weather, and the ig.f norance and fear of the negroes, who were guides,! entirely fruft-rated. This obliged general Barringtonl to attempt that by force, which could not be effeftedl upon a fafer plan ; but as he was then laid up withal fevere fit of the gout, he fent brigadier Claverinc and Crump to reconnoitre the coafl: near Arnoville, and upon their report, fent them with 1400 men to land there, which they effected the 12th of april.l The enemy made no oppofition to Mr. Clavering'sl landing, but as his troops advanced, retired to very] fl:roiig intrenchm'nts behind the river le Corne. This! port was to them of the utmcft importance, as it co- vered the whole country to the bay Mahaut, where! their provifions and fupplics of ail forts were landed! from St. F-uftatia, and therefore they had very early] taken poffcfllon of it, and had fparcd no pains to flrengthen it, though the fituation was fuch, as.re- quired very little afliftance from art. The river wasl only acceliible at two narrow pafles, on account of al a veryl ( 3^3 ) morafs ; and thofe places they had occupied with 3 re- Joubr, and wdl pallifadoed intrenchments, defended with cannon, and all the militia of that part of the country. The englidi could only approach them in a very narrow contraa:ed front, no wider than the roads through which they marched •, and thefe were defended with deep and broad ditches. The artillery, confiding of fix pieces of cannon, kept a conftant fire on thtfir intrenchments to cover the at- tack made by Duroure's regiment, and the highlan- (k;rs, who behaved with the greatefl: coolnefs and re- foliition, keeping up as they advanced, a regular platoon firing. This behaviour fo intimidated the enemy, that they abandoned the firft intrenchment on the left. Into which the highlanders threw them- felveswith part of Duroure's regiment, Iword in hanci,' and purfued the enemy, into the redoubt. The french Hill kept their ground, in their intrenchments on the right, but on being attacked they fled, but 70 of tliem being rmde prifoners. As foon as t!ie ditches were filled up for the pafl^age of the artillery, Mr. Clavering marched towards Petit Bourgi in his way, he was to crofs the river Li- zard ; behind which, at the only ford, the enemy had thrown up very ftrong intrenchments, proteded by four pieces of cannon, on a hill behind them. The. brigadier having reconnoitred the river, found it would coft him very dear to force a paflTage at the ford. He therefore kept up the attention of the enemy by firing all night in their lines, during which time, he got a couple of canoes conveyed about a mile and half down the river, where, being launched, a fufficient number of men were ferried over, to attack them in flank, while the remainder did the fame in front; but the enemy foon perceived their danger, and left the intrenchments with the greateil precipitation. A a When ■:-,ji-A. ( 354 ) When the biig;ulicr arrived ;it Petit Bourg, he found it fortifial with hius, ;uk1 a rctloiil^t filkd with cannon j but the cni'iny abandoned it am^ the port to the con- querors. On the 15th, brigadier Crump was de- tached with 701) nuMi to the bay Mahaut, he found the batteries and tlie town abandoned. I'hcfe he burnt, with an imnienfe quantity of provifions that had been landed there by the tlutch, and reduced the whole country as far as Petit Bourg. The fime day, Mr. Clavering detached capt. Steel with 100 men to Guogave, to dellroy a battery there : the pannic of the enemy was fuch, that they only dilcharged their cannon at him, and deferted a poll that might have been maintained againll an army, lie nailed up feven pieces of cannon, and returned the fame evening. In the mean time, the french were drawing all their force to St. Mary's, to oppofe the englilh, and had thrown up intrenehments to ftrengthen the poft. The brigadier immediately formed a defign to get into their rear, by rovids which the enemy thought im- pradicablc •, but they, perceiving his defign, made a movement to oppofe him, which made him rcfolve without further delay, to attack them dire<5lly in front; and it was accordingly executed with the greateftvi-i vacity, notwithftanding the conftant firing, both of! their cannon and mufketry. They abandoned all their artillery, and fled in fuch confufion, that they never afterwards appeared before the brigadier. He| took up his quarters at St. Mary's, and the next day! entered capes Terre, which is the richefl: and mo(l| beautiful part of this, ur any ifland in the Weft- 1 indies. No lefs than 870 negiocs, belonging to one man only, furrendered that day. TheG;overnor of the ifland, finding himfelf fovery clofe prefixed on all fides, lent a flag of fuce to ge- neral Barrington, to demand aceflation of arms, and to C 355 ) to know what terms he would grant. On the firft of ■"'^^"^'•5 "?" r? "enedi their ixjffeffiom. Ten. • rehg.ous liberties were granted The capitulation was hardly figned, when the french qiadron under monf. Hompart appeared before the tad. and landed at St. Anne's, in the Grande Terre ; ^m^Jr """''"'"'"'• """«" "■' s»«™o' "a, ho J[. The garrifon fhall be fent to Martinico VI. All Che officers who have eftates in 'the colony (except the jovcrnor unefs the king permit, him) fhall be allowed to aTpc^nt attornics to adl for thcni until the peace : and if the in.L • ! I ^^i^.y (hall have leave tS fell th -^altct aK^/off Between the inhabitants, the engli(h general, and commodore. in. The inhabitants are allowed the free and public cxcrcife of their rehg«» , the pr.eHs and religious /hall be nrefc vcd In the^r parillics, convent,,, and all other pofl-fflions ' [ V. The inhabitants are allowed their civil government, their aws, cuftoms, and ordinances ; juftice to be adminiftn i bv the fame perfons now in office ; but when anv vacanrJ Lll ^ u are to be filled up by the fuperior cJu^cir aX^eive' h'd^' ^m' jilTions from h.s br.tannic majefty. If the ifland is ceded tSthe bg of Great Britain, the inhabitants /hall have their chjce e^ tber to keep their own political government, or to accept that which IS eftabl.Hied at Antigua, and St. Chriftophcr's. ^ ^ VII. If the ifland is ceded to his britannic maieftv afr th^ ^— is to be fubjea to the fame duties and impoftri the ot£ eS iecward iflands, the moft favoured. "S'"" XI No other but the inhabitants refiding in the ifland Aall poM any lands or houfcs before a peace ; but if it .. Sd to aL .ngo ^reat Britain, then the inhabitanls /hall be permt d ff Uey chu.Mt to fell their po/Teffions (but to none bcfideTfSa; YY? n?u" ^'"^ *"^ ^^t'^e where they pleafe. "' XXI T he inhabitants and merchants of this ifland. includrrl In ^ pre ent capitulation, /liall enjoy all the privileges of trade InJ iZtrt'" T'^'T' '' ''' ^'^'"''^ ^°his bntannic majeVs %as throughout the extent of his dominions , but without af ftmg the privileges of particular companies in England or de laws of the kingdom, which prohibit the carrying on of rr^l- I any other than engli/h bottoms. ' ^ °" °^ ^"'^^ '« ,1! « t r ^H^-A>^^fa '4 ■c; ■hMI 1 I'' '• .( 356 ) the general of the trench carribbes, witli a reinforce- ment from Martinico of 600 regulars, 2000 bucca- neers, and 2000 Hand oi fpare arms for the inhabi- tants, with artillery and mortars : had this fupport arrived an hour fooner, the conqueft of the ifland muft at lead have been very diflicult, if not impof- fible. As foon as he heard that the capitulation was figned, he re-embarked again. On the figning of the articles of capitulation, the inhabitants quitted the Dos d*Afne, and returned to their plantations and houfes ; they began alfo to repair the ruins of Bafle Terre ; where, foon after fliops were opened, and the produce of the country fold as ufual, unmolefted by the troops in camp on or gar- rifon, general Barrington caufing the ftridteftdifcipljne to be obferved. The conqueft of the fmall ifland of Marigalante, on the 26th, and thofe of Defeada, Santos, and Pe- titz Terre, completed the bufinefs of the expedition ; they furrendered on the fame terms as Guadaloupe. So th?' now the french have no footing on the leeward iflan' J Thus was this valuable ifland reduced under fubjddlion to the britiH: crown, by the bravery of the land forces employed in the expedition. It was very gdd to find how feverely our Weft-india trade fuffered from the privateers of the enemy, while commodore Moore lay with a fuperior fquadron in thofe feas. Monf. Bompart was generally very near the englilh fquadron, and effedlually protected the french trade. Gaudaloupe lies in lat. 16.06. long. 62.00. and b about 90 leagues in compafs ; divided into two parts by a channel, no where above 300 feet over; the one called Grande Terre, and the other Bafle Terre. Its chief produce is fugar, cotton, indigo, coffee, ginger, tobacco, caffia, bananas, pine ap- ples, rice, maize, mandioca and potatoes. I'he air is very clear and wholefome, and not fo hot as in A'l-jrflnirn. frranHp 1 /=>frf» ic r l^ft of wiotpr iinn TT t^LVl 3 not ^ ^^7 ) not thorough y cultivated ; but the cafe ij the ver» reverie in BalFe Terre tlic «,,,.> i ■ "'"'''efy There a. •'- '■„;i !. , I ■ • ^'"^ '^''"S « good as ). i.in.cj. In (hort, there is nothing in this , a.,a .vantmg, for the convenience and del gh of «, ■ . a.r more temperate and f.^lubrioufth , B.omn. V breathed between thctropi-s J;' '' -^^'n^Ponance of thi.s acquilition, I need only ;.... a few particulars before , he reader a^d every mtelhgent perlon m.ft allow it to be infinite &.adahHjpe niake, annually 40,000 lio.fhj dT of fcgar, which IS a larger quantity than anv of cu fu gar .nands produce, except Jamaica. Lfidl tht the articles ot cotton, in^ligl,, collie, and 4. ' jre very confiderable , it alfo^arries on a trade >?S iheCirracca's and other parts of the fpanift i„*n which IS a trade wholly in the manufadh.res of Eu- rope, and the returns for which are made almoft ntinly in ready money Without intima ing the land the houfes, the worfcs, and the goods in he ...and, the naves, at the lowed eftimation, are wo«h upwards of .,250,000 1. fterling. The finale bra„rh ot fo much ftipping, and fo many feamen wiU produce clear 300,000 1. pe,- annum to the mer hants of that nation who poffeffes it. CoV^": ery inconfiderable objeft in*^ the britilh colon'l-s s here a very great one. They raife allb great qu ntmes of indigo and cotton, which fupp v „! rials or the bell and molt valuable manu aftures yj vciy ueiiraoie, is the conveniencv of ir<5 bouTVof H ''' ''"'' "' "^^ ^^'=-'^' f- t^^^g worlH ™."'='^P"^«eers, in this part of The tendies 'i'.'*' ^ "'"''* ■""'*=" the Dunkirk of the ' Vid. remark, on a fcUer addreflid to two great men, p. 4,. ^^3 I think ! I ^»ll^:...!l»4&. R-.i'- ( 358 ) I think thefe points confidered, every one muft al- low, that the conquefl: of Guadaloupe was of infi- nite importance to ihis nation j and was a particu- lar inftance, how aflive and enterprifing a miniftry at this time, guided the affairs or England, who, although they made fuch great efforts in every other part of the world againfl the enemy, dill forgot not this, but attacked them here with equal wifdom an4 fuccefs. CHAP. I duke Fe fhe k d'Arh towar nand 7 gen, 1 den, J. Affair exfedu Pri/ta maga2 nerd 1 IBefor v/int( ftrian an paign. the frenc the libei mand oi opened a reinforce fore, fee: folved to ral fuccei of fehru; themfelvi rene hig with four &c. Tl- burg, fei and 2d, were tak e muft al- 'as of infi. a particu- a miniftry land, who, every other forgot not vifdorn an4 CHAP. ( 359 ) CHAP. XIX. Duke Ferdinand opens the campaign. Skirmijhes in Hejfe fhe hereditary prince of Brunfiznck drives general d Arberg out of the landgr aviate. Allied army marches towards the Main. Battle of Bergen. Buke Ferdi^ nand retires. Rapid progrefs of the frcnch. Got tin- gen, Munden, Lipfladt, Rithcrg, Munjier, and Min^ den, Jurrender to them. Motions cf the two armies. Affairs of the king of Pruffia. General Woher flow's expedition into Poland. Ruffian magazines defrayed. Prince Henrfs irruption into Bohemia. Auftrian magazines dcftroyed. His march into Franconhi. Ge- neral Macguire defeated. I Before mentioned the formidable chain, which the v/inrer quarters of the french, imperial, and au- flrnn armies, compofed at the end of the laft cam- paign. It was the poflefllon of Frankfort, which the french had feized laft year, in open violation of the liberties of tfie empire, that gave them the com- mand of the courfe of the Rhine and Main j and opened an eafy road through which they m.ight receive reintorcements and fupplies. Prince Ferdinand, there- fore, feeing the infinite importance of that city, re- folved to didodge them. His troops had had feve- ral fuccefsful fkirmifhes with them ; in the latter end of february, the army of the empire having extended themfelves into HeiTe began to be troublefome ; his fe- rene highnefs detached general Urft towards Vacha, with four battalions, and about looo dragoons, hulfars, &c. This detachment being aflemble'd at Rhoten- burg, fell uiiexpeaedly, in the night between the ift and 2d, upon the enemy's quarters, fome of them were taken, and the reft retired in the utmoft confu- wicks. A a 4 HI ( 3(50 ) Wicks, which the enemy had taken pofleflion of were immediately evacuated; but being fupported by fome french from Frankfort, the hanoverians were obliged in their turn to retire ; however, this advan- tage was but of fliort continuance, for the hereditary prince of Brunfwick, leading a large body of troops through ways, which before were thought impaflable on the 31ft cf march furprifed a regiment of curial- fiers, and a battalion of Wurtemburghers, mofl of whom he killed or made prifoners. After this fuc- ceis, he marched tbe next day, with fome light troops and two battalions of grenadiers to Meinunger.., where he found a confiderable magazine, and took two bat- talions prifoners of war. Another battalion pofted at Wafungen alfb furrendered to him, after he had had a fmart Ikirmifli with general d'Arberg, who was coming to its relief, and defeated him. The 2d, the duke of Holllein alfo didodged the french from Freyenftcinau, making a captain with his company prifoners of war. All the enemies parties on this fide the country retired, on thefe fucceffes towards Bamberg. The duke de Broglio, who commanded the french army on the Maine, alarmed at them, took an advantageous poft near. Bergen, a little town between Franckfort and Hannau, which it was ne- celTary that the allies Ihould pafs, before they could penetrate to his line. Duke Ferdinand, purfuant to the plan he had formed, to poflefs himfelf of Franckfort, drew his troops together from their quarters in Weftphalia, on the Lippe, and in HefTe ; he left 10 or 12,000 men to guard the electorate, and watch the bifhopric of Muriller j and hav:ng colleded about 30,000 more at Fulde, he marched from thence the loth of marrN, and on the 12th arrived at Windeken, by Freyenild- nau and Budingen, and the next morning early, 1; maiched towards Bergen, refolving to attack the duke of Broglio, who was ftrongly pofted there. He had the m m 'ofleflion of, fupported by verians were this advan- le hereditary dy of troops t impaffable, nt of curiaf- ers, moftof ter this fuc- ; light troops ingen, where )ok two bat- alion ported after he had irberg, who n. The 2d, french from is company rties on this fles towards commanded id at them, a little town 1 it was ne- : they could Ian he had rt, drew his ftphalia, on [2,000 men Difhopric of 300 more at of marr'i, Freyenftd- )g eaJy, h : .ck the duke 2. He had tiie ( 361 ) the nght of hh army towards Bergen ; and had f. cured his flanks and center in fuch a manner tht the prmce was ob eed to m^W hi. 1 . ' ^^^^ village. The allied^armv aTrtd oLr''^ ^l '^'' the french, at nine oSk n ^^^^ ' '° '^^' ^^ .th of april .and tL'S.lSi;^^?;^ ^^^ nand s advanced guards immediately beili H.. J! Y .pen Bergen with great intrepidky Vn/^Tere e^^ t^^ with a very fevere fire whirK r^« , received for them ; and tLugh Th y w^ eXn"''' ''1 t'^P''"^ -w. iv,vt,irti uducaiions, under nrinr^ la.^ nous as yet aboye half fDent r„ ,, ' ■^"'^ '""^ ^""^ "^^ ""t ti/.nfantry^l'to^di ■':„?:""■.''= 'T'-"'^'^ >ke other on the left, forming" wrcatlry';; 't center, and a fmall column J infantry ^^fo;e ^' bringing up, at the fame time, his ar tillr'; ? ' ei . r-- french; this being the expeLnn . . ,h" --d in his opi Jon ; ^''X ^petr tZ att a. R every moment, he kept clofe tc^hl! poft ^^^a ^ uis podure things continued until nighi^^ t'e mi ^ if^-^ the prince madp :in ..aA, ...,._. ^ ' ^^'"ne on, llfK^ M. der % ( 362 ) aer or moleftatlon, and halted at Windeken. He did not loie above 2000 men in the adlion ; that of the french was by no means lefs confiderable. Had he gained the vidory, his reputation could not have been greater •, the retreat he made which was planned and executed with equal fkill, did him great honour -, nor was his condudV during the adlion lefs confpicuous. But in ks confequences, this battle was very different ; the prince miflc'd the blow he intended -, and Broglio ftilj kept Franckforr, receiving all the reinforcements that were fent him without moleftation, befides the many other advantages wnich he drew from the poficlTion of that city. Duke Ferdinand left Windeken the 15th, and re- treated to Fulde ; finding that he fliould not be able to maintain his ground in Hefle, he refolved to make ] his retreat by the Wefer, vvell knowing the great confcquence of the conmiunication by that river. About the middle of may the french armies, on the upper and lower Rhine affembled, and began to move towards one another ; and «■' ^d of June, they joined near Marpourg, from w' • they marched north- ward, and on the loth ed at Corbach, where marflial Contadcs took up his head quarters ; and the next day, fume of their light troops took poflef- fion of Calfel, without oppofition ; general Inhoff, with the troops under his command, who were there, having retired towards Paderborn. During this uninterrupted progrefs of the french, duke Ferdinand continued to retreat along the Wcfer; the principal defign of the french feemed to be to cut off his retreat to that river, but they were not able to effeft it i he threw garrifons into Lipftadt, Ritberg, Munller, and Minden, in ordjr to retard their pro- grefs •, but all his precautions proved ineffedual: marfhal Contades encamped the 12th, at Sradtbcrg ; and the duke of Broglio, who commanded h:S right wing, marched from Caflel into the territories of Ha- nover, 1 u ^ ^^^ ^ rover, where he took poirefllon of Mnnden and Got- tingcn. During thefe marches of the french, the allied army only moved to Lipfladt, and encamped nearSocft and Wcrle. The 17th of June, the head quarters were at Krdbcrenberg, the army occupyincr the heights of Burcn, as the french did thofe of Kflen and Mecrhoff. From Buren, duke Ferdinand retreated I toKitberg, and from thence to Marienfeld, the 30th. And Contades encamped between Lipfpring and Oeft- langen. The 3d of July, the alhes weie at Dricfen, be- tween Ofnabrug and Minden; where they were joined by general Wangcnheim, with a body of hanoverians, under his command, that had been left in the ftrong camp at Dulmen, from whence he retreated under the cannon of Munfter, and then joined the army Duke Ferdinand continued his retreat, by Hromte' Baden, Stoltznau, Nyenburg, and at la(t fixed his quarters in an advantageous camp at Peterfhaaen. In the mean time, the french continued their pro- grefs. Ritberg was furpr.fed, Tii iKuii continued blockaded. The dui.e de Broglio took Minden by aflault, with a garrifon of 1.500 men, where he found immenfe magazines. Monf. d' Armentiers ad- vanced againft Munfter, and attempted to take it by a coup de main ; but was difappointed. But cycttin^ strain of artillery from Wefel, after a Ihor? fiege made himfelf mafter of the city ; the garrifon of 4000 men becoming prifoners of war. After this rapid fuccefs, the n:ain body of their armv took an advantageous camp near Minden, where they remained fome time, and where I fhall leave rhem for the pre- fcnt. It is now time to fee what were the <;vents of "ar m other quarters. ' 'is pruffian majefty's affairs at the beginning of t^^e carnp-tgn, wore a very promifing appearance; out yet his numerous enemies were all preparing to renew their attacks on him. He had formed a fcheme ries of Ha- 1 to keep the rufTmn': hart hw k ! ^fr*? •-»< h( 3 '.■J uvuniii^ Lucii iiii.igu/.incs in f 364 ) in Poland; This plan was executed with great fpirit by general Woberfnow ; who marched the 23d of february, from Glogau in Silefia, with 46 fquadrons and 26 battalions, entering Poland, by the way of LiflTa, he marched diredly to Pofna ; where he de- feated a body of 2000 coflacks, who guarded a ma- gazine there, which contained fuch an immenfe quan- tity of flour, that it was fufficient to have maintained 50,000 men for three months. He carried off and deftroyed feveral other vafl: magazines of the ruffians ; and having fully executed his commifTion, returned without lofs into Silefia, on the i8th of april. His pruflian majefty finding that general Woberf- now had met with fuccefs j formed a fecond plan ftill more important. He was in hopes that the ruffians would not be able to attack his dominions, till late in the campaign, nor ad: in concert with marlhal Daun. As he imagined he had cut the auftrians off from that alTiftance, he wanted to do the fame in regard to the army of the empire and the french, as the auftri- ans, by being feparated from their allies, would be obliged to ad againft the king, under great difad- vantages. Purfuant to this admirable fcheme, about the latter end of february, general Knobloch was detached from the pruflian army in Saxony, to drive fome corps of the army of the empire from Erfurdi, Gotha, and Eifenach, who, if they remained there, would be able from their fituation, to take advan- tage of the abfence of thofe troops that .were to be employed in executing this plan. The three cities were taken without oppofltion, the imperialiftb were drove from all that part of the country, and heavy contributions raifed in the neighbourhood. During thefe operations, the king himfelf with the grand army, which was pofl:ed in Lufatia, made feveral movements, with defign to draw marlhal Daun*s army towards Silefia, and by that means to uncover the frontiers of Bohemia towards Saxony -, ( 3^5 ) the auftrians afted juft as he expeaed. Prince Henry who commanded the prufTian army in Saxony of about 36,000 men, immediately laid hold of the od- portunity as he had before concerted with the kinff, and di vidmg h,s army into two columns, marchSi - towards Bohemia, entering that kingdom himfelf at Petcrlwalde the 15th of april ; the column under general Hulfen domg the fame by Pafsberg and Com- mota Pnnce Henry found an eminence beyond peterfwalde, fortified with a redoubt, and a ftronc barricade before it, guarded by 600 Croats, and fome hunganan foot, this pafs was forced ; and the van- guard dividing into two bodies, one proceeded to Auffig, and the other to Toplitz: the enemy fled precipitately every where. The magazine of Auffig was deftroyed, and the boats on the Elbe burnL The vanguard returned on the i6th to the main body at Welmina. The magazines at Lowofitz and Leitmentz were feized, and the new bridge that was built there, burnt. Prince Henry from thence marched I to Budin, where he deftroyed another magazine ; and the flames fpreading by accident, fet the town on fire. and did lome damage. I r « r^u ""^n" ^'"'^' S^"^^^^ ^^"^^en found the pafs of Pafsberg ftrongly guarded by two regiments of foot, and a large body of croats. The general con. diidted his cavalry another way, fo as to fall direftly I on the rear of the auftrians, while he attacked theni with his infantry in front; which was executed fo fiiccefsfully, that the auftrians were driven from all their intrenchments, and a general, 51 officers, aad 2000 men were taken prifoners, together with three colours two ftandarHs, and three pieces of cannon. General Hulfen marched direflly to Saatz ; bnt the auftrians had burnt their magazines there, be- ! fore lie arrived j but he took and deftroyed feveral others. 1 i ( 3^6 > Others *. Prince Henry, with both the divifions of the army returned to Saxony, the middle of april. The prince gave his troops but a few days reft about Drcfden i for on the 26th he marched them to Obel-Geburgen -, from thence he continued his march through Voightland, towards the army of the empire j and on the 7th of may entered Franconia, by the way of Hoff. Next day a detachment from his army at- tacked general Macguire, who commanded a body of auftrians and impenalifts at Afeh ; which bravely withftood all their efforts the whole day ; but as he was in danger of being overpowered by numbers, and having no profpedt of relief, he retired in the right through Haffau towards Egra. During this time, general Haddick, who commanded l' body of auftrians in Franconia, that aded in conjunction with the army of the empire, quitted the camp which he • Magazines taken and dertroyed by the pruflians in this ex- pedition. Auflig, Toplitz, Lowoikz, Leitmeritz, Luckowitz, Libofchowitz, Worwitzaw, Eudin, Saatz, Poftelburg, Commotau, Brix, Tons of meal. 700 60 450 ICOO 1000 32000 205 21 35486 Loaves of bread, each four pound. 36000 30000 4000 3400 j Eerh'n mea- fures of oats. 200 2000 3000 1 0000 100000 20000 700 920 73400 I 136820 Rations of hay, eight pound eachi 1000 1606 20000 60000 1375 1925 86300 All thefe magazines were valued at upwards of 880,000 rix- dollars. The contributions were divided amongft the troops j every field ofiicer received an hundred rixdollars ; every lubaltera I jitty ; every ferjeant twcncy ; and all tlic private men a 1 ixdollar ' a piece -, exclufive of all they had helped themfelves to before. C 367 ) held near Menclin)erg, and marched in the night be- tween the 8th and 9th to Culmbach, where he arrived the loth in the morning 5 his troops were hardly en- camped, when he again fiJed ofF towards Bamberg Ihe prince purfued him very expeditioully ; he was at Munchberg the loth, and the next da^ in The neighbourhood of Bareith Cronach ; and Rotenburg funende; ed after a fhort bombardment. On his an? proach ^ear Bamberg, that city furrendered on terms • but 10. confufion happening before the capitulation was completely finifhed a party of croats ffred upon a party of prufTians, wlio had approached 'near one of the gates; this was refented by the prince, as a breach of the capitulation ; and under that pretence gave up tiie city to be plundei^d by his troops ; they p laged dunng the fpace of two days, in a ve;y un^ relenting and licentious manner ; loud complaints were made all over Europe againft the prufTians, with I great juftice on account of this affair ; and afterwards produced a fevere retaliation. The army of the em- pire unab e to flop the progrefs of the prince, re- hred to Nuremberg, and left the greatefl part of le circle of Franconia to the contributions inflided ythe prufTians; they would have been followed kl not thepnnce been informed, that a large body ofauftnans, under general Gemmingen had entered axoiiy ; this intelligence obliged hiin to return into lat country, and accordingly he began his march from Bamberg the 2 ifl of June. On his retreat, the imperialifls fent a detachment hn cr count Palfy to harrafs his rear, who came up with It on the 30th near HofT; a fm art engagement -fued, in which the imperialifls were intirely de- eated, with ne lols of ageneral, and agoodnumber of men either killed or taken prifoners. On the re- tiim of prince Henry, u his old port in Saxony. bemmingen retired into Bohemia. CHAP. 41 m ( 368 ) CHAP. XX. Mams of the ruffians. Count Bohna takes the command of the f ruffian troops againfl them. Advances into Poland. Retires. Isdtfgraced. General M^edel fuc. eteds him in the command. Battle of Zullichau. Motions of the king of Pruffia and marfhal Dai :. General Laudohn joins count Soltikoff. Kin^ of py^^f^ fta joins general IVedel. Battle of Cunnerjdorf. Ju, Jlrian and ruffian armies join. Admirable conduct cf\ the king of Pruffia. ALthough general Woberfnow had been fo fuc- cefsful in deftroying the magazines which the raflians had amafled in Poland, yet his pniflian ma- jefty found he fhould have that enemy to deal with fooner than he expedted. Having left their camp at Pofna, and qutting the Viftiila, they drew near to the ba s of the Oder. General Manteuffel had been fome time ported at Grypfwalden, in Pomerania, and general Schlaberndorf at Koningfwalde, to oppofe them : the king alfo fcnt orders to count Dohna, who had !>een employed in reducing and levying contri- butions and levies in Mecklingberg, to march, and take the command of liis troops who were deftined to a6b againft them ; ani he accordingly encamped with them near Cuftrin. The enemy began the cam- paign 'in their ufual manner, by ravaging without! pity the frontiers of Pomerania, Brandenburg and Silefia. As it was impoffible to cover every part of] fuch an extenfive tradl of country, the coflacks made! inroads in different parts, where they were fure of! meeting with no refiftance. A body of pruflian troops under! ( 369 ) under general Hiilfen, and another under general Woberlnow, joined count Dohna's army the 20th, at Meferitz, in Po and. During his ft.y at this place, that general publiHied a declaration, letting forth the realons that induced his mailer to caufe his troops to enter 1 oland; alio requiring the neighbouring coun- try to furnilh provifions and forage for an armv of 40 000 men, promifing that everything (hould be paid for with i-eady money. He enc:^mped the fame day at Scheverin ; but as he vv s obhged to march with caution, and having many ikirmiflies with the enemy s irregulars, he did not reach Polna til! the "d inftant, when he arrived in fight of it and the rulIiJn army But tiie count found their numbers were too confid ^able, and their polls too ftrong to be attacked with ary profpcdl of advantage, fo that he contented himleli with oblerving their motions ; and, as they loon continued their march towards Silcfia, he con- itantly endeavoured to harrafs their rear ; but findino- that his provifions failed, he was obliged to retreat towards the Oder, encamping near Zullichau in Si- lefia, and theruOians doing the fame between Lange- mcii and SchmelJan. In the mean time, the king of Pruflla was far from being contented with the condud of count Dohna • It was more dilatory and timid than the inclinations of his majefty could bear ; and he is laid to have re- proached that general in fo fevere a manner for his condiidl, (which many have thought was very juilifi- able) that he took the firfl opportunity to refign his command, and under a pretence of recoveriiig his health, retired to Berlin. The king immediately ap- pointed lieutenant general Wedel to fuccced him, and detached to his army fome confiderable reinforcem'ents, giving him pofitive orders to engage the ruffians at all events. The new general arrived at the pruffian camp at Zullichau, on the zzd -, and finding the next dav, that ii the ? ' tLi I s>fV^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 4f., <° C^x ^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 ■-IIM |50 '""=== if 1^ ^ 1^ ||M 2.0 1.8 14 IIIIII.6 perate defence. His artillery came up by degrees, and when he was juft on the point of attackino- the fort, the french general, M. Bourlemaque abandoned It, retiring with about 3500 men and 100 cannon to rhe bottom of lake Champlain ; and pofled himfelf at the ifland called, IHe du Noix. Before he evacu- ated the fortrefs, he charged all the mortars, guns mufkets, &c. up to the very muzzles, with powder and ihot, fixing port-fufees to their vents, and then fetting fire to the buildings of the fort, lefr it ; which made it impoffible to approach it, without great dan- ger ; but a ferjeant of regulars defired the general's permiflion to cut down the colours, which were then Hying amongft the flames, and being permitted, he brought them ofi^ fafe, for which he was rewarded with ten guineas. Mr. Amherft marched into the fort, the 4th of auguft; and diredly fet about re- pairing It, as he had done at Ticonderoga, where col Montrelor was left to finifh the fort, and command all the troops pofted from thence to Albany. The artillery, &c. taken at thefe two fortrefTes was very confiderable, together with a large quantity of am- ' munition of all forts. The importance of this conqueft, was, till lately very little known. It refults entirely from its fitua- tion ; ftanding at the head of lake Champlain, by which (here is a navigation to it from all parts of Canada. A fmall point of land, furrounded by this lake on every fide, and fecured by a moat towards the land, with the fortifications raifed there by the trench, is what was called by them, fort Frederick and by us Crown Point. It lies mid- way, between Albany and Montreal, the two chief places on our frontiers, and thofe of the french. While it was in their politilion, it efFeaually covered Canada, by blockading up our paffage in that country ; while it lead the fren^ h dir^AHv jptrk Ki^xxf i^'.-io'-^H -^r- ^ ^■^ prk, as was feverely Ixiund by thole colonies, in the beginning I .mtLeajm ( 3^4 ) beginning of this war, when the frcncji let loofe tliejr indians from it, to fcour, plunder, and burn the eng- liHi frontiers. Without this pofl:, the frcnch woiiKl not have begun the war in America, they faw its im- portance fo clearly, that they immediately fct about llrcngthening it, ami collecting a great force aboiu it 1 but its molt material ftrength ronfifted in the dif. ficulty of getting at it •, before this war, there were no roads through thofe cxtenfive woods, which arc between it and the fettled parts of our colonies; but rtill they were pafiablc enough for their inUians, whofe whole life is fpent in hunting in them. I fliouK} lallly obfervc, that this fort was built in 1730, in the^ very middle of our colonies of New England, and New York, a clear proof how much the cclcbratcc! \ minifter, who then governed Great Britain, knew his] country's intereft, or knowing it, hOw much he nc- gleded it. It is to him, we owe in a great part, the cxillenee of this war, and all that immenfe train of debts and expenccs occafioned by it. During theie operations of the Commander in^ chief, thofe in other parts of America were no lefsl advantageous. I have before hinted, that one part of the general plan of the campaign, was to attack the frcnch fort at Niagara. General I'ridenux com- manded in this expedition ; the provincials and Indians under him were commanded by Sir William Johnfon. The fiege was but jull formed, when bri- gadier general Prideaux was killed by the burftin(rof| a cohorn, which happened the 20th of July. On his death, the command of the army devolved on general Johnfon, who continued to purine the deccail ! gene- ral's vigorous mealures, with the greateft alacrity ; he was enabled to do this, in a country where the provincials and Indians are of fuch great iervice, not only by his own abilities, but by the great interelt he has amongll tlicm. He pulhed th. fiege ( 385 )• ficge witli Co much ardor, that in a few days he had |ercftcd hid third battery wichin an hundred yards of the flag baftion. The French alarmed at thefe vi- gorous operations, began to be in pain for the place ; they therefore coUeded ail their regular troops and provincials, which they had about the lakes, amount- ing to near aooo men, and joining to thefe a large body of iridinns, they advanced to give the cnjHi(h battle. General John fon having intelligence from his indi- ans oF their approach, made a diipofition to prevent their throwing fuccours into the fotr. Ti^e 23d in the evening, he ordered the light infantry, and piquets of the line, to lie near the road on his IcFt, leading From the anmtry where the French army was aflemblcd to the Fort. TheFe he rcinForced the next morning, with the grenadiers, and part of the 46th regiment, all under the command of lieutenant colonel MaflTey. Lieutenant colonel Farquhar, with the 44th battalion, was ordered to the tail of the trenches, to fupporc the guard commanded by major Beckwith, in cafe thcfrarrifon (hould make a faily. The adtion Foon after began, with that horrid fcream of the indians, which had before been one oF the principal cauFes of gcncr.ll Braddock's deFear, by llriking a terror into thofc troops, who were unaccuftomed to this kind of fighring; but now the englifii army was Fo well dif- pofcd to receive tlicrn in Front, and tlipr indians on the flank, that, in IcFs than an hour's time, the whole French army was ruined. The number oF the (lain was not alcertaincd, as the purfuit v/as conti- nued For Five miles. Seventeen oflicers were made prifoncrs, among whom were M. d'Aubry, chief and M. de Ligncry, ftcond in command. AFter this defeat, which was in fight oF^the garrifon, fir William lenr major Harvey into the Fort, with a lill oF the "^ ' reco' )r to lurrcndcr, beForc more blood was fhed, and while fie C c h;id f? iii'i 'UA il { 386 ) had It in liis power to reftrain the Indians. The go- vernor, to be certain of fiich a defeat, fcnt an ofncer of his to fee the prifoners j they were (hewn to liim • which had fuch an efft&^ that he capitulated that very night. I'he garrifon, confiding of about 600 men, furrendered pnlbaers of war, and were con- dudled to New Yoik. The fort and the ftores which were confiderabic, was given up to the cnglifli troops. I'he conqueft of this fort was of infinite confe- quencc to the fecurity of the ciighfli colonies; it is \Nithout exception the moll important pals in Ame- rica ; and by its fituation, fecures a greater number of communications, through a more extenfive country, than perhaps any other pafs in the world. It is in the middle of the country of the fix nations, between their chief fettlements and tiicirmany dependants and confederates, and in a manner entirely commands them all ; having on one fide the mountains, which abound in game ; and on the other, the great lakes, and being furrounded every way, by one or the other, with the whole continent open to it on the weft, and our colonies on the eaft ; lb that none can pais that >vay, or have any accefs to the interior parts of north y\merica, without croITmg endlefs mountains on one hand, or broad leas on the other, but by the narrow pals of Niagara, and an unfrequented path at the heads of the Ohio, which lead up that river. The only communication between Canada and Louifiana, and the country on tTie banks of the Ohio is by Nia- gara ; all the other encroachments, except Crown Toint, quite to the mouth of the Miffippi are fup- plied from Canada, and conlcquently by this pals. By the advantage of its fituation, it alio gives its pol- leObrs the benefit of the fur trade, with a multitude ot indian nations, fpread t'di' and near over the whole continent of north America-, and alio the navigation ot ail the great kas ot ireih water, called die five lakes lakes of Canada, to the extent of 1300 miles In fliort, It prevents or fecurcs the junftion of the' two frcnch colonies in Canada and Louifiana ; laid our colonies open to the mcurfions both of the french and their Indians, whilft it was in their hands j and fecurcs them from both, if in our poflcflion As to thofe immcnfc lakes, which are all'in a man- ne^ commanded by this fort, the reader need only caft his eyes on a map of north America, to be convinced of their importance. They afford by far the mod noble and extenfive inland navigation in the wor d. Whoever is the matter of them muft, fooner or later, command that whole continent Thev are all furrounded by a fine and fruitful country, in a temperate and pleafant climate. The day may pof- fiblycome when this noble country, which one would thmk IS calculated for univerfal empire, will fufficient- )y dilplay its own importance. The affairs of Great Britain in Europe, were equally g orious i the fpirit of the nation was now accuftom- ed to fuccefs, which diffufed a general joy over the whole kingdom, the morejuft, as it was well founded. 1 he parliament, the miniftry, and every order of the people, vied with each other in promoting the intereft pi their country. What proved a great fpur to this unanimity, was the vaft preparations that were mak- ing in all the ports of France, with defign to invade Great Britain. Three different embarkations were to be undertaken. M. Thurot, who had been fo ac- tive in the command of a french privateer, the mar- ihal dc Belleide, in deftroying the englifh trade, was to command a Imall fquadron of royal Ihips, and fe- vera! tranlports, from Dunkirk, which were intended againlt Scotland. Great preparations were makine in the ports of Normandy, for h fecond embarkation againlt hngland, in flat bottomed boats of a new conluiKftion, many of which, had been built far tliat purpofe. i he third expedition, which was ima- ^ ^ 2 gined i'^ > n ■1 ' ^mi-vii^ ( 388 ) gined to be agaihll: Trrland, was preparing In the ports of Britanny, the emharkation to be made ftom Van- ncs and I Nants \ and covered by a formidable fleet preparing in Hreft, under the commana of M. de Conllans \ a great body of troops* v/as aflembled in that province, under the duke d'Aguillon. Had all theCe expeditions fucceeded as I have here reprefented them, fo far as to land their troops, there is no doubt but it would have thrown Great Britain into terrible confufion •, and it is impoflible to fay what would have been the confequence. But the moft vigorous meafures were taken by the minidry in England, to counteract thefc preparations. A fquadron under commodore Boys was ftationcd be- fore Dunkirk. Admiral Rodney, with a fecond was fcnt to bombard Havre de Grace. Admiral fir Ed- ward Hivwke blocked up the harbour of Breft, with a very (Irong fquadron •, and a fmalier kept a watch upon that of Vannes. The firft advices that were received from thefe feveral fleets were from admiral Rodney. The fquadron unde. his command, con- fiding of four fliips of the line, two frigates, two floops, and fix bomb veflels, failed from St. Hellen's the 2d of joly, and anchored the next day in the great road of Havre, the admiral placed the bombs ift * By an account which the French court publifhcd of their amia. ments, it appcarod, that the number of troops to be employed on i the inv.uion amounted to 53,000 men, confilhng of 63 battalions of inf:intiy : and the following cavalry, viz. 200 moufquetaires, 400 lil-e guards, 150 horie grenadier;,, 200 gt-n d'armes anu light horfc, 2560 hor(e, making eight regiments, 2400 drngoons, 2609 legion-royale, ai trllerie, &c. The prince of Conti commandc. in chief. Prince dc Soubifc, 7 i- 1 1 n. 1 Cot.nt de Thomond, | I''<^ld marfhals. Eight lic-Jivnant generals, 12 major generals, 18 brigadier gene- rals, zb fliips of the hne, 12 frigates, 8 fircfhip?, 6 chebccs, 8 armed gallu;s, po trahfports, 20 phyficians, 100 furgcons, 50 ypotjiccancs, j: Cuspjiiins in cac.t in;p. the the narrow channel of the river, leading to Harfleur, it being the moft proper and only place to do execu* Ition from. About feven in the evening, two of rlie bombs were ftaiioncd, as were all ihc rcli early the next morning, and continued to bombard for 52 hours without intermiflion, with fuch fuccefs, th.u the town was feveral times in flames ; and their ma^3;a- zine of (lores for the flat bottomed boatsi, burnt with I very great fury for upwards) of fix hours, notwjdi- lliinding the continual efforts of feveral hundred men to extinguiih it j and many of the boats were over- turned and damaged by the exploifion Of the fhcJls. During the attack, the french troops appeared very numerous, were continually eredting new batteries, 1 and throwing up intrenchments •, their confternution ! was fo great, that all the inhabitants left the town. Thisfervice was performed with very inconfiderable lols in the fquadron. Part of the french plan of an invafion confifted in being able to bring round a ftrong fquadron of fhips which they had equipped at Toulon, from thence to Bred, to unite all their Itrength at that port. To prevent this, admiral Bofcawen * had been Rationed before the harbour of Touion to block it up. But feme unfavourable weather, and the fouinefs of his Ihips, obliged him to retire to Gibraltar to refit : the french took this opportunity to flip wit, and they proceeded with great diligence to the flreights. Mr. Bofcawen, in the mean time had very near got • With the following fhips under his command. Ships. Guns. Ships. Namur go Prince go Newark 80 Cullodcn 7^ Warfpite 7^ Conqueror 7^ Swiftfure fiefidei fircflhips and frigates. Trt Intrepid Edgar America St. Albans Jerfey roi tland C c Guns. 64 64 64 60 60 60 his i ' If ! ill' I II ¥f ( 390 ) his (liips ready to fail \ and that the french fleet might not cfcape him, he ordered the Lime and Gibraltar (the only frigatics ready) the firft to crulfeoflf Malaga,' and the lalt from Eftepona to Ceuta Point, to give him notice of their approach. On the i7thof au- j;u(l, at eight in the evening, the Gibraltar made the lignal of their appearance •, the admiral was fo very expeditious, that he cot under fail out of the bay, by ten, with his whole Iquadron, of fourteen fail of the line, and two fircfliips. At day-light, he faw tie (iibraltar, and fevcn fail of large fliips lying to •, but on his not anfvvering their (lenal, they made fail from him. As there was a firefh gale, the englifH Meet came up with them faft, till about noon, when it tell little wind. About half an hour pad two, fomc of the headmoft fiiips began to eneagc v but Mr. Bofcawen could not get up to the trench admiral's ihip, the Ocean, till near four, when he began to cngago her. In about half an hour hi-i own fhip, the Namurc's mizen maft, and both top-fail yards* were fhot away -, the Ocean then made all the fail (he could. The englilh admiral ftiifted his flag to the Newark, and foon after the Centaur, of 74 guns, ftruck. He pnrfued all night •, and in the morning of the 19th, iaw only four fail (landing in for land, (two of their bed failors having altered their courfe in the night). About nine, the Ocean ran on ifhore amongft the breakers, and the three others anchored. Admiral Bofcawen lent the Intrepid and America to burn the Ocean -, the former could not get in, but the latter performed the fcrvicc alone : On liis (irft (iring at the Ocean, (he ftruck ; the englifli captain fent his offi- cers on board ; but M. de la Clue, the french admiral, having loft one leg, and the other being much wound- ed, had been landed about half an hour^ and died foon after. Captain Kirk, of the America, finding It impofTibleto bring the Ocean o(F, fet heron fire. Captain Bentley, of the Warfpite, was ordered againft the ( 39» ) thcTcmcraire, of 74 guns, and broiif/ht her ofT with little- damage, the officers and men all on board. At the fame time, vice-admiral Broderick, with his di' vifion of the englifli fleet, burnt the Redoubtable, her officers and men having quitted her, being bulg- ed i and brought the Modeftc of 64 guns off, with very little damage. I'he fcattered remains of their fleet ♦, with difficulty got into the harbour of Cadiz, where they remained a confiderable time blocked. up. This viftory, fo advantageous to Great Britain, was purchafed at a very cheap rate. Amongft the cngliHi fhips were no more rhan r^6 killed, 1 96 wounds cd) 13 of the former, an:! 44 of the latter were on board Mr. Bofcawen*s fliip, which had more of each, than any other in the fleet. It is difficult to fay, which was greateft, the cowardice of the trench, or the bravery of the cnglilh. Had de la Clue formed a line, and fought Bofcawen regular- ly, it is thought by many he would have efcaped much better than he did. The englilh fleet had the luperiority only of ;wq (liips of the linj, but the • Which at firfl coniifled of the fpllowing fhips : Ships, Ocean Redoubtable Centaur Souveraine Gucrrier Tcmcrairc Fantafquc Modeftc Lion Triton Fier Oriflammc Chimere Minerve Gracicufe Gum. °l burnt, 745 74 taken. ^j" I efcaped. 74 taken. 64 loll company, 64 taken loft company CQptjing through the Streights. miaa twy fhiiis more of the line, unknown, Ci 4 french ( : 39* ) frcnch fhips ^rre miieh Urgcr in bulk, and had a fu. prri»)rity in numbrr of men ; ib that on the whole the two llcets wi'ir pretty near of ccjual force, 'ihg cowardice or incapacity <)f M. de Clue was manitVft, had his licet been rather inferior, it is the tluty of every adniiral to form his line and fight, inllcad of feparatinp his Ihips and running away i but this blow was as glorious to Britain, as it was diljt^raccful to France, It weakened the force with wjiich they in- tended to execute the invafion •, and, what was of more confcquencc, confidcrably funk the fpirits of the french failors, who found how unequal they were in a(ilion to the cnglifh. In the m^an time, nothing was omitted in England to render abortive the defigns of the fVcnch. For this purpole, his nrnjelly fent the following mcifagc to the houfe of commons, on the aiil ^^ may, by Mr. fecrctary Pitt, " dEORGE, R. Mis majefty, relying; on the experienced zeal and aflfedlion of his faithful commons, and confidcring that, in this critical jundlure, emergencies may krife, which may be of the utmoll importance, and be at- tended with the mod pernicious confequences, if pro- per means (hould not. immediately be applied to prevent or defeat them, is defirous, that this houfe will enable him to defray any extraordinary cxpences of the war, incurred, or to be incurred for the fer- vice of the year 1 759, and to take all fuch meafiires as may be nece(rai7 to difappoint or defeat any en- terprizes or defigns of his enemies, and as the exi- gencies of affairs may require." The houfe of commons took this mefl*agc into con- fideration diredly •, and on the 24th, refblved that there Ihould be granted to his majefty, for the pur- pofcs ( 393 ) pofn mentioned therein, one million upon- arrount *. So large a lum voted unanimoiifly was an unqiicftion' able • Grants for the year 1759. for 60,000 fcaincn, including 14,^45 marine*, and cd- nanco for lea fcrvicc, ■/or S2..U3 n>«:n. ^or P.uard» an»l garrifons, and other land forces in CJrcat JJrit.iin, CiucriiCcy, rind Jcrfcy, h)t tlic pay of the genciiU and lla/l-ofliccrs, and ol\kvn ill (he hofpital, for ilic forces and garrifoni in the plantations, and Gi- hialtar, niid for provifions for the gnrrifon-i in Nova Si(iti;i, Newfoundland, Providence, Cape lircton, and Senegal, For lour regiments of foot and one battalion, on the infh cllabliniment, fervinjj in North America, and Africa, lor the oflicc of the ordnance of the land forces, lor the extra expcncc of the <."dnance in 1758, not provided for, for ihc ordinary of the navy, including half pay to fca- odicers, for the (upport of Greenwich liofpifal for 38,(^00 of the troops of JIanovcr, Wolfcnbuttle, SaxeGotha, Buckcburg, with the general and ftulF- officers, For 19.012 hcfTians, with the general and flafFofliccrs 1 of the hofpital, and train of artillery, purfuani to treaty. Towards defraying the charges of forage, &c. for the army under prince P'crdinand, Towards paying off the d<;bt of the navy, for allowance to the officers and private men of the horfc guards, and regimw*nts of hoi fe reduced, and the fuperannuated men of the horfe guards. To the reduced officers of the land forces and marines, for the penfjons of the widows of ditto, married before dccenibcr 25, 1716, Tothe kingof Pxuflia, purfuant to the convention. To the landgrave of HefTe CafTcl, puifuant to treaty. To defray th« like fum raifed laft fcffions, and charged upon the firft aids, For building, re-building, and repairing his majofty's fhips, ' ' for the out pcnfioners of Chelfca hofpital. I. 31200CO 1256131 52484 74253' 408;.) 2207C0 323v8« 23K491 lOOOO 3986^8 339480 500COO 1 000000 2909 34368 2128 67COOO 60000 800000 200000 26000 For ( 394 ) Able proof Vvhat ^rcn harmony reigned in every part of the conftitution and adminiflration \ fo much the contrail of what was to be fecn in France, where the miiiiftry I. For widening and enlarging the pafl'age over London bridge, To the foundling hofpital, For tranlport fervicc and viftualllng the land forces for For lupporting the colony of Nova Scotia, for 1759, For defraying the charges of fupporting ditto, in I7?7, For the civil clUblilluneiit of Georgia, from June 1 758, to ditto, 1759. To make good the deficiency of the additional duty on licences for retailing wine, the duty on coals ex- ported, &c. July, i75^» To make good the deficiency of the duty on glafs and fpirituous liquors. For fupportiiig the britifli forts on the coafts of Africa, To Roger LongD. D. For paying and cloathing the militia, to March 25, 1760, For the extra expences of land forces, &c.ln 1758, not provided for. For fir.tifying Chatham dock. For fortifying Portfmouth town. For fortifying Plymouth citadel. For fortifying MiUbrd haven. For paying the debts upon the cflate. forfeited to the crown upon the attainder of lord )ohn Drunmond, To the Eall-india company, for defending their fettle- ments. To the provinces in north America, for the expences of troops raifed by them. To the innholders on which the hcffian troops were bil- lettcd in 1758, For augmenting the faiiries of the judges in Great Britain, To the widows of Nicholas Hardinge, efq.for thebal- lance of an iccount, for printing the journals of the houfe of con ons, . For intereft of money ,l^id out, to purhafe land about Chatham, Portfmouth, and Plymouth, For purchafing lands about ditto, To defray any expence of the war, in 1759* 15000 50000 667772 9902 11279 4058 2437' 8882 1 0000 1280 90000 466786 708 6937 25159 10000 69911 20000 200000 2500 11450 779 1716 2443 1 nooooo Total I 3749860 (' 395 ) miniftry found it a matter of the greateft difTicuIty to raifc money, even when they tried the mod op- prcfive methods 5 The exhaufted (late of thnt king- dom became every day morr manifcft, owing to the vaft lofTcs their trade had fuftain^d. It is now time to take a view of the operations of the two armies on tlie Wefer, where we fhall find Bri- tain attended with tiie fame fucccfs, wliere it was Icalt expedlcd. f f CHAP. • i .ki { 396 ), CHAP. XXII. Motions of the two armies on the JVefer, Hereditary prince detached towards Paderbom. Battle of Minden. Great bravery of the englifh infantry^ ^c. Tbefrencb army defeated. Hereditary prince defeats the duke of Brifac. Fine conduSi of duke Ferdinand. He enters Mtnden. His orders after the battle. Lord G- S 'i letter to col. Fitzroy, and anfwer. Captain Smith's declaration. Remarks on the conduEi of lord Q . ^. . He obtains leave to return to England, Buke Ferdinand purfues the french. Munjler blockad- ed. Invefiiture of duke Ferdinand with the order of the Garter. I Left the hanoverian army under duke Ferdinand of Brunfwick, juft arrived in the camp at Peter- Ihagen, and that of France, under marlhal de Con- tades, in their camp near Minden. This pofition of the french, was chofe with great judgment, and the advantages refulting from it, were of fuch im- portance, that nothing could be attempted againft them. The ftrength of their camp prevented its bc- ino- attacked •, their right extended near Minden, their left was defended by a deep mountain ; their rear was guarded by a rivulet, and feveral ridges of h'-Us, and m their front was a marfh, inacceffible only in a nar- row paflage, which led into the plain of Minden. The fituation of this camp, rendered it impoffiblefor the duke to attack it ; and, at the fame time, nothing but a battle could poffibly prevent the french army from taking up their winter quarters in the eleftoratc of Hanover. "Contades had it in his power to ftay m the K-fflErT*^^^ Hereditary e of Minden. Thefrencb the duke of He enters lord G ?r. Captain tduSl of lord t to England, tfier blockad- ' order of the z Ferdinand p at Peter- ,al de Con* his pofition gment, and of fuch im« pted againft :ntcd its bc- linden, their heir rear was >f h'Us, and [ily in a nar- of Minden. Bpoflible for me, nothing French army he eleftoratc 'CT to ftay ill the ( 397 ) I the camp at Minden as long as he^pleafed, as all the country in his' rear was in his poflefTion, and from whence he could draw his forage and provifions, during the remainder of the campaign; whereas duke Ferdinand being fo much inferior in force to the french, would be obliged to retreat, whenever mar- Ihal Contades fhould think proper to advance. This was the opinion of the french generals, and it was feared in England, that their fchemes would prove but too fuccefsfuL The greateft gloom fpread over the eleftorate ; the archieves, and every thing valuable was removed from Hanover to Stade ; and the inha- bitants once more expefted and dreaded a french army I being quartered on them. In the mean time duke Ferdinand, attentive to every motion of the french, and every advantage of I their prefent fituation, faw that it was impoflible to attack them in their camp ; but as a battle alone could retrieve the affairs of the allies, the point he endea- voured to compafs, was to draw them out of it into I the plain, as he might there fight them on more equal I terms ; but the movements which were neceflary to effeft this, were extremely hazardous and difficult to an army fo much inferior as his ferene highnefs*s ; but dangerous as they were, he refolved to execute them. The 27th of July, he detached the hereditary prince of Brunfwick, with 6000 men, to make a compafs towards the enemy's left flank, and to poft himfelf in fuch a manner, as to cut off the communication of their convoys from Paderborn. Tiie duke's army did not amount to 40,000 men, when he lent off the detachment, whereas the french army was near 90,000 llrong •, the weakening his force, before fo much inferior to his enemy, con- vinced the french generals that is ferehe highnefs did not intend to fight. . • ■ The I' I 11: I r ii J«f ( 398 y The 29th, duke Ferdinand left his caftip at Peter"-^ fliagen, and marched toward Hillen, a village epn- fiderably to his right, with the greateft part of his army, leaving general Wagenheim behind him at Thornhaufen, on the brink of the Wefef, with a con- fiderable body of troops under his command, ftrong- ly intrenched, and defended by a numerotis artillery, The duke, as foon as he arrived in his camp at Hil- len, gave orders that the generals fliould take par- ticular notice of the nine deuouches, by which the army might advance to form in the plain of Minden, that they . might be well „ acquainted with them, m cafe they fliould be ordered to advance in front. And at the fame time lord George Sackville, the com- mander in chief of the britilh forces in Germany, was appointed 'lieutenant general of the day. The 31ft in the evening, the prince further ordered, that at one o'clock the next morning, the army fhouldbe ready to march ; that the cavalry muft be faddled ; the artillery horfes harneffed, and the infantry gater- cd J but the tents were not to be ftruck, nor the troops put under arms till further orders. The french, in the mean time, were very attentive to the motions and defigns of prince Ferdinand. On the 31ft, at fix in the evening, a grand council of war was held at marfhal de Contades's quarters, con- fiding 3f all the generals in the french army ; and the reililt of it was, that they fliould march to the enemy that very night, and attack them at day- break. The marflial gav^ the generals the order of the march, and the difpofition of the attack. The army was to move in eight columns to the ground, where it was to be formed in battle array, which was the plain before Thornhaufen, where general Wan- genheim was intrenched. Marfhal Concades formed the whole plan of the adion, upon a fuppofition, that duke Ferdinand having removed the greateft part of! his. army fo far to the right of Hillciij was at too creat j aftip at Peter"^ I village eon- ft part of his ;hind him at f, withacon- nand, ftrong. Totis artillery, camp at Hil- uld takcpar- by which the n of Minden^ ith them, in nee in front, ^ille, the com- jermany, was y. The 31(1 lered, that at my fhould be I be faddled ; [ifantry gater- nor the troops very attentive rdinand. On nd council of quarters, con- h army ; and march to the lem at day- 5 the order of attack. The > the ground, ly, which was jeneral Wan- 1 fades formed )porition, that reateft part of I was at too great ( 399 ) gi^at a diftance from Wangenheim, to fuccour him and as that general's corn^ wao uJ "^^our him ; doubted, buf it would Xrver;erf:tWto™H\-°' i the confequences of which w7u dL "S, ° **"' Ferdinand's communication with tL w,r ^ f5 abfo utely be cut oiF. which wafth verT Wn.^^h "^ the french aim-^ at, ever fince the battL nf r^ ' without being abJe to effeft it ^ °^ ^"S^"' left his advantageous camp on the ift of aumTft crofled the marih, and moved into the plat^ of Mir' en, to attack general Wangenheim. Th" duke of Brogho was charged with that attack, and his order marfhars grand corps. ^ ^^ ^^^ I of Mtdt:\f/.tTc[orri'"x'''"^'"° "^^ ^^^'^ k,ntantry. th.-.t it might form n battle a rav r5 ) lord George Sackville, proceeded to put in execution, and placing himfelf at the head of the line, marched it (after it had get through the wood ) to the rear of a body of infantry. Thefe were all the movements which the cavalry of the right wing made that day, and when his lordfhip arrived at the rear of the in- fantry, the battle was over. About nine o'clock in the morning, the french army gave way : a general confufion foon followed j and about ten the whole of it fled in diforder : part took flielter under cover of the cannon of Minden, and the reft made the bcft of their way over that part. of the marfh, which they had before crofled, and broke down the bridges to prevent their being purfued. The duke of Broglio covered the retreat : he occu- pied with his infantry, the gardens near Minden j foon after which, his cavalry followed the main body of their army. Towards the end of the battle, the artillery of the right of the allied army was marched forward till it arrived clofe to the marlh, and then played upon the french army, which had retreated into its old camp, when they left it, and retired fur- ther back behind fome high grounds near Dutzen, with their right extending towards the Wefer, The battle of Minden was now over, but the con- fequences hitherto, were far from being fatal to the french -, they had loft a great number of men, it is ' true, and had all the difgrace of a total defeat ; but then their advantageous fituation was ftiJl of the fame confequence to them, and from which they would not have been drove, Iwd not prince Ferdinand detached the hereditary prince to cut off their convoys, which came by the way of Paderborn ; this young hero completed the defeat. The duke de BrifTac commanued a bady of fe- ven or eight thoufand men, which marflial Conta- des had oofted near Coveldr. m onnrH hi» ron"'^"'' i - 7 j_j_„. », ilia \.'JtlT\^yo, and keep pofTelTion of tl^ pafTes in his rear : the liere- ditary ill ( ' ii' H!^ . Dd M pii >: ( 4o6 ) ditary prince attacked him on the iftof augufl ; aftt-r making the following difpofitions : the pofition of the trench was inacceinblc in front, and there was no other way to come at them, but by furrounding their left •, for which purpofe three attacks were formed, all of which were to depend on the fuccefs of that on the right : the troops defined for which, confiftedof three battalions, four fquadrons and 200 volunteers. Four battalions, one fquadron, and all the heavy ar- tillery, compofed the center : the left was formed of three battalions and four fquadrons. The troops of the center were defigned to keep the enemy at bay, whilft thofc of the right fhould furround their left \ thofe of the prince's left were to march to a bridge near a place called the Salt Pitts, in order to prevent the enemy's retreat toMinden. The hereditary prnce himfelf marched with the right -, count Kilmanfegge was in the center -, and M. de Dreves and M. de Bock brought the left. As foon as count Kilmanfegge had come out of a defile in his way, the french pre- fented themfelves before him ; and a cannonade be- gan on both fides. The right was to pafs the Wefer, in order to turn the enemy's left, upon a very narrow bridge. This difficulty was in an inftant removed by the gallantry of the prince, who fetting himfelf the example, the infantry forded the river, partly behind the horfemen, and pardy in peafants waggons. By this pafTage, the pofition of the french was entirely changed -, the fire of the artillery was brifk on both fides, and lafted two hours. At laft, on the hano- verians fhewing themfelves on the rear of the french, the latter immediately gave way, and, in filing off, eame upon the fkirts of M. de Bock, who received them with a difcharge of artillery, which was well fupported. At lafi, finding thcLifelves entirely fur- rounded, they had no other refource but in flight. The hereditary prince took five pieces of cannon, and all the baggage of the freneh. By ( 407 ) By this ftroke, which does fuch infinite honour to the genius of duke Ferdinand, all the paffes through which the frcnch could draw fuccour.or provifion were feized. That viftory, which was before lb in- conclufive, now was decifive. Marflial Conrades re- ceived the news of the duke of Biifiac's def-at, juft as the englifh infantry was marchin(> up to attack the french cavalry, he adrnired the judicious boldncls of >he duke, in detaching lb large a number of men, at the very time, when he was on the point of engaging an enemy fo much fuperior. The marOial immediately abandoned his ftrong poft, and pafling the Wefer, retreated on the eaftward of that river i lofing in this manner all the advantages he had gained dur- ing the whole campaign, and forced to retreat through a country different fn.m that through which he had advanced, and in which he had taken no meafures for fubfilfence. The french loll: in this battle about 8000 men, killed, wounded, and prifoners -, among the latter of whom were the comte de Hutzelbourg, and the mar- quis de Monti, marechaux de camp, and M. de Vogue, colonel ; and many other perfoiis of diftinc- tion. Thirty pieces of cannon, twelve colours, and eight ftandards were taken. The admirable condud of prince Ferdinand in thofc maneuvres, which brought on the battle, is pt^rhaps one of the moft perfcdt and finifhed pieces of general- Ihip, that ever was execoted ; the mallerly motions that he made, to draw the frenfh out of their im- penetrable camp ; his detaching the hereditary prince with 6000 men from his army, juft when he was endeavouring to biing the enemy to an engagement, who had a fuperiority of 50,000 men ; in fliort, the whole condu6t of his ferene highnefs difplayed fuch a fagacity and penetration, fuch guarded and judicious boldnefs, that never any adion fpoke a more ex- alted genius. 'ir i^Jitl Dd 4 The . il'8 '■'^iM 1 ' ( 4o8 ) The 2d of auguft, duke Ferdinand ifTued the fol= lowing orders from his head quarters at Sudcrhem- mercn, viz. " His fcrene highnefs orders his greatell tlianks to be given to the whole army for their gooci behaviour yeftcrday, particularly to the britilh infantry, and the two battalions of hanoverian guards -, to all the cavalry of the left wing; and to general Wan- genheim's corps, particularly to the regiment of Hol- ftein, the hefTian cavalry, the hanoverian regiment of du corps, and Hamerftin's j the fame to all the bri- gades of heavy artillery. His ferene highnefs de- clares publicly, that, next to God, he attributes the glory of the day to the intrepidity and extraordinary good behaviour of thcfe troops, which he aflurcs them he fhall .retain the ftrongeft fenfe of as long as he Jives -, and if ever, upon any occafion, he fhall he 'able to lerve thefe brave troops, or any one of them in particular, it will give him the greateft pleafure. His lerene highnefs orders his particular thanks to be Jikewife given to general Sporcken, the duke of HoKlein, lieutenant generals Inhoff and Urff. His i'erene higlinefs is extremely obliged to the count de for all i:is care and trouble in the Buckeburg, ma- jiagemcnt of the artillery, which was ferved with great elfeft •, likewife to the coinmanding officers of the feveral brigades of artillery, viz. colonej Bowne, lieutenant colontl Hutte, major Hafle, nnd the three englifli captains Philips, Drummond, and Foy. His fcrene highnefs thinks himfelf infinitely obliged to ma- jor generals Waldegrave, and Kingfiey *, for the great courage and good order in which they conduced their brigades. His ferene highnefs further orders it • Kingfiey was wounded at the head of his brave regiment, and fell ofF his horfe, afquadron of french cavalry rode over him with- out his receiving any hurt from them j as he was lying on the ground a french Ibldier was going to run him through with his bayonet ; but ]ie difcovercd himfelf, was taken prifoner, and afterwards re^ taken by hii own men. to 1 to be dec (i ran by, the good cavalry o I reatly c^ .nore coi rciie high behavioui I of Richn llonel Wa I general V low, Den fcrene hig their con( orders th cafions, ' de camp, out delay The d ceding o ti(h artill ted to be ed to wi which wa Buckebur alHed arn ilation : " S It is fr juftice, tl fon to b adivity, ner you r on the fir fefs in yoi render oi; ?c! the fol= iudcrhem- lis greatell heir good h infantry, ds i to all :ra] Wan- nt of Hol- ?giment of ill the bri- ^hnefs de- •ibutes the raordinary he afliires as long as lie fhall he le of them t pleafure. anks to be duke of Jrff. His i count de n the ma- jrved with officers of lej Bowne, d the three Foy. His ged to ma- \ for the conduced r .orders it egiment, and I'er himwith- )n the ground his bayonet ; iterwards re- to ( 409 ) be declared, to lieutenant general the marquis of (iranby, that he is perfuaded, that if he had had ;he good fortune to have had him at the head of the cavalry of the right wing, his prefence would have I reatly contributed to make the decifion of that day niore complete and more brilliant. In fliort, his fe- rciie highnefs orders, that thofeof his suite, whofe behaviour he moft admired, be named, as the duke of Richmond, colonel Fitzroy, captain Ligonier, co- lonel Watfon, captain Wilfon, aid de camp to major general Waldegrave j adjutant generals Erfthoff, Bu- low, DerendoUe, the counts Tobe and Malherti j his fcrene highnefs halving much reafon to be farisfied with their condufl. And his ferene highnefs defircs and orders the generals of the ^iroiy, that, upon all oc- cafions, when orders nre brought to them by his aids de camp, that they be obeyed punftually, and with- out delay/* The duke, on difcovering a mift^ike iij the pre- ceding order of thanks, to the officers of the bri- tifh artillery, by which captain Macbean was omit- ted to be mentioned, his ferene highnefs was pleaf- ed to write a letter with hi? own hand to him, which was delivered by his excellency count la Lippe Buckeburg, grand mafter of the artillery in the allied army, and of which the following is .a tran- ilation : " Sir, It is from a fenfe of your merit, and a regard to juftice, that I do in this manner declare, I have rea- fon to be infinitely fatisfied, with your behaviour, adivity, and zeal, which in fo confpicuous a man- ner you made appear, at the battle of Thornhaufen, on the firft of auguft. The talents which you pof- fefs in your profelTion, did not a little contribute to render our fire fuperior to that of the enemy ; and it :n •■f\ • ■ ( 4^0 ) it IS to you and your brigade that I am indebted fot having filen( ed ther. fire of a battery of the enemy which extremely galled tlie troops and particularly the britilh infantry. Accept then, fir, from me, the juft tribute of my moft perfeft acknowlegments, accompanied with my lincere thanks. I fliail be happy in every opportu- nity of obliging you, defiring only occafions to prove it, being with the moft diftinguiflied efteem, Your devoted, and entirely aJfFedlionate fervant, Ferdinand, Duke of Brunfwick and Lunenburg.'* And his ferene highnefs again on the 3d, iflued ano.- ther order, viz. ** In the compliment his ferene highnefs made to the troops yefterday, he forgot four regiments, that particularly diftinguiihed themfelves, viz. Harden- burg's, third battalion of heflian guards, prince Wil- liam's, and Gillfe's : it is not that his ferene highnefs has reafon to complain of any others, but as they had particular opportunities of diftinguifhing them- felves, it is for that reafon his ferene highnefs men- tions the attention he himfelf gives to their good conduct." Soon after another order came out to the following cfFe(5b : " His ferene highnefs duke Ferdinand fent orders to monfieur Hedeman his treafurer, to pay the following officers of the britifli artillery, the under- mentioned gratuities, as a teftimony of his great fa- tisfadion of their gallant behaviour in the late adion of the firft of this month : I! ^^iL To T debted fof the enemy, icularly the bute of my d with my f opportu- :cafions to 1 efteem, vant, EIDINAND, inenburg." ifluedanQ. s made to lents, that . Harden- irince Wil- le highnefs Lit as they ing them- inefs men- their good : following inand fent to pay the the under- s great fa- late adion To captain Philips To captain Macbcan To captain Drummond To captain Williams To captain Foy looo crowns. 500 500 500 5( o I hope the faid gentlemen will accept of this ore fteemrthl^^^^^^^^ "/r'"^^^^ ^^' ^^ ^<^ elteem tor them. This condefcending and affeftinnnr^ I manner in which the prince thank?d he S kul r trSt Z:^o'J''^ 1'^'^^^°"^' rendered'Ct. tremely dear to the whole army ; and it was the areat eft incentive to raife an emulation amongft the^^ t' endeavour at rendering themfelves confpicuorbv their condua and courage when they foStheTr tl neral fo quick-fighted in perceiving' and reSg In the mean time, the orders of the 2d of aueuft which ftewed how much diiTatisfied the duke was wih he condudof lord George Sackville, could not but touch that commander to the quick. Th re dear^ appeared fome very great fault in the cavalry of th^ ight wing's not obeying the duke'sorders to advance owing, as we have great reafon to believe, tohTlord.' /hip s waftmg that lime in requirino- an e>.nl.n J of his highnefs's orders, whic'h ougtt to'h^^e 5 ^n pent ,n their execution. Ho^ever,T,is lord^ wro^ me very lenfibly. His ferene highnefs has been pleafed to judge, condemn, and ?enfure, without hearing me, in the mod cruel and unprecrdented manner ., as he never afked me a finale K'^lf ^^"-ion 01 any thing he might d'ifapprove;"and If ( 412 ) as he muft have formed his opinion on the report of others, it was ftill harder he would not give me an opportunity of firft fpcaking to him, upon the fub- jeft ; but you know, even in more trifling matters, that hard blows are fometimes unexpectedly given. If any body has a right to fay, that I hefitated in obey, ing orders, it is you. I will relate what I know of that, and then appeal to you for the truth of it. When you brought me orders to advance with the britifh cavalry, I was then very near the village of Hahlen, as I think it is called ; I mean that place which the faxons burnt. I was there advanced by M. Malhorte's order, and no further, when you came to me. Ligonier followed almoft inftantly ; he faid the cavalry was to advance. I was puzzled what to do, and begged the favour of you to carry me to the duke, that 1 might nfl<: an explanation of his orders. But that no time might be loft, i fent Smith with orders to bring en the britilli cavalry, as they had a wood before they could advance, as you direCled ; and I reckoned by the time I had feen his ferene highnefs, I Ihould find them forming beyond the wood. This proceeding of mine might polTibly be wrong; but I am furc the fervice could not fuffer, as no delay was occafioned by it. The duke then ordered me to leave fome fquadrons upon the right, which I did •, and to advance the reft to fupport the infantry. This I declare I did, as faft as I imagined it was right for cavalry to march in Hne. I once halted by lord Granby, to complete my forming the whole. Up- on his advancing the left before the r'ght, I again lent to him to ftop. He faid, as the prince had or- dered us to advance, he thought we ihould move for- ward ; I then let him proceed at the rate he liked, and kept my right up with him, as regular as I could, till we got to the rear of the infantry and our batteries. We both halted together, and afterwards received no order ( 413 ) order till that which was brougiit by colonel Webb and the duke of Richmond, to extend one line to- wards the niorafs It was accordingly executed, and then, inftead of finding the enemy's cavalry, to charge, the battle was declared to be gained, and we were told Itodifmount our men. This I proteft is all I know of the matter ; and I .as never fo furprifed, as when I heard the prince was diflatisfied, that the cavalry did not move fooncr up to the infantry. It is not my bufmefs to alk, what the dilpofition ongmally was, or to find fault With any thing. All I infill up-n, is, that I obeyed the orders I received, aspunftually as I was able; and if It was to do over again, I do not think I fhould have executed them ten minutes fooner than I did j now I know the ground, and what was expefted ; but in- deed we were above an hour too late, if it was the duke s intention to have made the cavalry paflcd be- fore our infantry and artillery, and charge the enemy's hne. 1 cannot think that was his meaning, as all the I orders ran, to fuftain our infantry: and it appears, that both lord Granby and I underflood we were ac our ports, by our halting when we got to the rear of our toot. I hope I have Hated impartially the part of this tranlaetion, that comes within your knowledge. If I have, I muft beg you would declare it, fo as I may make ufeof it in your abfcnce ; for it is impoffiblc to I fit filent under fuch reproach, when I am confcious ot having done the bed that was in my power. For God's fake, let me fer you before you go for Eng- I am, dear fir. Your faithful humole fervant. To w i ^iM\ ' ■"i'lllf ( 4H ) To this letter colonel Fitzroy returned the following 1 anfwer, dated the fame day at Minden. ' " My lord. His ferene highnefs, upon fome report made to him by the duke of Richmond, of the fituation of the enemy, fent captain Ligonier and myfelf with orders for the britifh cavalry to advance. His ferene hi»h- nefs was, at this inftant, one or two brigades beyond the engHfh infantry, towards the left. Upon my ar- rival on the right of the cavalry, I found captain Li- gonier with your lordfhip. Notwithftanding I de- clared his ferene highnefs's orders to you : upon which you defired I would not be in a hurry. I made an- fwer, that galloping had put me out of breath, which made me fpeak very quick. I then repeated the or- der for the britilh cavalry to advance towards the left, and at the fame time mentioning the circumftance that occafioned the orders, " That it was a glorious op- " portunity for the englifh to diftinguifh themfelves ; *' and that your lordfhip by leading them on would ** gain immortal honour." You yet expreffed your furprife at the order, fay- ing, it was impoflible that the duke could mean to break the line. My anfwer was, that I delivered his ferene highnefs's orders, word for yord, as he gave them. Upon which, you afked, which way the ca- valry was to march, and who was to be their guide. I undertook to lead them towards the left, round the little wood on their kit, as they were then drawn up, where they might be little expofed to the enemy's cannonade. Your lordlhip continued to think my orders neither clear nor exadly delivered ; and exprefllng your de- fire to fee prince Ferdinand, ordered me to lead you to him J which order I was obeying, when you met his ferene highnefs, Durino" this tim.e, I did not fee the ( 415 ) the cavalry advance. Captain Smith, one of your aids de camp, once or twice made me repeat the or- ders I had before deUvered to your lordfhip ; and I hope he vvill do me the juftice to fay they were clear and exadl. He went up to you, whilft we were go- ^g to find the duke, as I imagine, being fenfibleof the clearnefs of my orders, and the neceffity of their betngjm,]?Tediately obeyed. I heard your lordfhip give him fomc orders. What they were, I cannot fay; but; he immediately rode back towards the cavalry. Upon my joining the duke, I repeated to him the orders I had delivered to you, and appealing to his ferene highnels, to know whether they were the fame k had honoured me with, I had the fatisfadlion to hear him declare, they were very exad. His ferene tiighnels immediately aiked, where the cavalry was - and upon my making anfwer, that lord G . did not underftand the order ; but was coming to fpeak to his ferene highnefs, he exprefTed his furprife IHrong ly. I hope your lordfhip will think I did nothincr but my duty, as aid de camp, in mentioning to his ferene ighnefs my orders being fo much queftioned by your lordlhip, , ' ^ I am, &c. » as he refolved to get his re- Lord G- call as foon as pofTible, endeavoured as much as he could, to get fuch letters and declarations tending to clear his condud, to carry home with him- be- des the above letter, he got his aid de camp, capt. Sm,.N .r. r,^„ a declaration * of what he knew con- |Smith, to fign cerning k u'L T 1 ,. ** Minden,. aueuft 2. VVhat I have to fay with regard to the orders colonel Fif^mu jcougiu, and to their nov being put tn execution, is— I heard lord W *^ ''!«!! ( 4'6 ) cerning colonel Fitzroy*s orders. It is no wonder his lordfhip was willing to throw off fo deep a ftain, as the implied cenfuies in the orders of the 2d of au- guft. Time was certainly loft — and the moft preci- ous time that could have been ufed. Had lord G . S., obeyed the firft order brought to him from the duke, and made a regular and vigorous charge on the french cavalry, already in confufion, the confc- quences would, in ail probability, ■' ^een fatal to the french army — and never vidlory w.u. . have been more complete. In a few days after the battle, he refigned his command, and obtained his majefty's pcrmiltion to return to England. As loon as he ar- rived in London, he wrote to the * fecretary of ftate, requeuing G S fay, on his receiving them, as they differed from thofe he had juil before received by captain Ligonier, he would fpeak to the prince himfelf ; and accordingly put his horfe in a gallop to go to him. I immediately went up to colonel Fitzroy, and made him repeat the orders to me twice.— I thought it fo clear and pofitive, for the britilh cavalry only to advance where he Ihould lead, that I took the liberty to fay to his lordlhip, I did think they were fo j and offered to go and fetch them, whilft he went to the prince, that no time might be loft. His anfwer was, he had alfo an order from the prince, from Mr. Ligonier, for the whole wing to come away ; and he thought it impoffible the pri jce could mean that. I replied, that if he would allow me to fetch the bri- tilh, they were but a part, and if it was wrong, they could fooner remedy the fault. — He faid, then do it as faft as you can.— Ac* cordingly I went, as faft as my horfe could go, to general Moftyn. —He knows the reft. — ^This is all that pafled, as near as I can re- coiled.— It was fpoke as we galloped, and could not be long about, as I have btren on the ground fmce, and do not believe, when his lordlhip fent me back, I had above fix hundred yards to go to ge- neral Moftyn." «* My lord, • I have the honour of acquainting your lordfhip of my arrival 1 in England, in purfuance of his majefty's permiffion, fent tomcat my requeft, by your lordftiip. I I thought myfelf much injured abroad, by an implied cenfure of | my conduit j I find I am ftill more unfortunate at home, by being publicly ""rij ( 417 ) rcqiiefting a court martial, and was aflurcd for an- fwer, that his defire fliould be gratified, as foon as the officers, capable of giving evidence, could leave their pofts. However, before his lordfhip received this anlwcr, he was difmifled from all his polls The marquis of Granby fucceedcd him in his command, and in the lieutenant generallliip of the ordnance and his regiment was given to general VValdeirrave' As his lordfliip was afterwards tried bv a court mar- tial, I fhall difmifs the fubjed at prefcnt, till I come to to fpcak further of it on that occafion. In the mean time, duke Ferdinand followed his vie- tory fo clofe, that the french luid not a moment al- lowed them to recover their order. The 4th the army marched to Coovelt, and the /^th to liervorden The fame day, lieutenant general Urff, with feven batta- lions ana 20 fquadrons, was detached to Lemo-ow and arriving at Detmold the 5th, he furrounded^nd took 800 prifoners, together with the heavy bagc^atre of the french army, among which were found ma?. publicly reprefented as having neglefled my duty in the flron^reft manner ; by difobeying the pofuive orders of his ferene hi^hnefs prmce Ferdinand. As 1 am confcious of neither negleft nor difo- bedicnce of orders ; as I am certain I did my duty to the utmoft of my abiht.cs ; and as I am perfuaded that the prince himfelf would ave found, that he had no juft cauf. of complaint againft me, had hecondefcended to have enquired into my condud, before h^had exprcflcd his difapprobation of it, from the partial reprefentation ot others: I therefore moll humbly requeft, that I may atlaft have a pub..c opportunity given me of attempting tojuftify myfeif to hia majefty and to my country, by a court martial being appointed ; hat if I am guilty, I may fufFer fuch punidiment as 1 may have delerved ; and. jf innocent, that 1 may rtand acquitted in the opi- ..on of the world; but it is really too fevere. to have been con- dtmned before I was tried, and to have been informed neither of niycnme, nor my accufcrs. I am, my lord. Sec. Sec. SiC. G. Sackville. fliaU i ■, lit! >1 'Ml lit 'It pi'h ' ( 418 ) Ihal Conta !es's papers, with the original letters of the duke dc Belleifle to the marfhal, which were of fo curious a nature, that the officer who took them was offered two millions of livres for their ranfom, but re- fufed it •, ^he miniftry in England afterwards publifhed fome of them. The 6th, the army marched to Biele- field i the 8th, to Sfjkenbroeck, and the next day to Paderborn. The hereditary prince of Brunfwick, at the head of 15,000 men, palTed the Wefer at Hame- len the 4th, and purfued the flying enemy, with the greateft expedition. The french magazines at Ofna- brug, Minden, Bielelield, Paderborn, Dulmen, and Warrendorff, were all either taken or deftroyed. Marfhal de Contades was obliged by want of fub- fiflence, to make his retreat towards CafTel ; the allied army purfued him, without termifTion ; on the nth it was at Delemand, the next day encamped at Stal- berg : on the 1 3th, it entered the county of Waldeck, and direded its march fo as to gain the flank of the enemy, who was then pofled in the neighbourhood of CafTel. But Contades abandoned that city, the 1 8th, and retired towards Marj urg. Major Fri- dricks of the hanoverian chalTeurs fummoned CafTel, and it furrendered after fome cannon fhot, with a garrifon of 400 men, prifoners of war, together with 1500 wounded, which the fcench had been obliged to leave behind them ; a very confiderable magazine was alfo taken there. Munfler was ftill in the hands of the french ■, but duke Ferdinand detached general Inhoff with a flrong corps to befiege it. He began to bombard and can- nonade it the 3d of feptember -, marfhal Contades however, knowing the importance of that place, alio detached M. d*Armentiers, with a body of (;roops, which were encreafed on their march to 14 or 1 5,0001 men, to relieve it. Inhoff did not think it advifeable to continue the fiege, while the enemy had fo great a! fuperiority , y.'f '*-r;-»f.,J r . . . ^ 419 ) fuperionty ; he raifed it on the 6ch, retiring with his corps between Nobifbruck and Telh'ght. ' Some days after he received a reinforcement of troops, which enabled him in his turn to drive M. d'Armen- tiers from under the cannon of Munfter i on which he again reaflumed the fiege ^ the french general re- tired towards Wefel, a place which had been of the greateft fervice to the french during this cam- paign. ^ In the mean time, duke Ferdinand continued his purfuit: the 22d of augufl his army halted at Fran- cenburg. The hereditary prince, with the corps un- der his command, was then at Haina, and beinc joined there by the prince of Holftein, and general Wangenheim with their refpedive corps, he marched the 24th to Wohra, and arrived the next day at Schonftedt. On the 23 d, lieutenant colonel Freitae: attacked Ziegenhayn, the governor capitulated after an hour's defence ; and the garrifon of 400 men were made prifoners of war. The hereditary prince, one of the moft aflive officers in the world marched with a very ftrong corps to dinodgc the fa- mous partizan Fifcher, from the poll of Wetter where duke Ferdinand intended to encamp The prince attacked him with the greateft bravery, and defeated him with great lofs, befides 400 prifoners he took. Liemenant colonel Harvey of the Innifkillino- dragoons, meeting with Fifcher, ftruck his head off a"? one blow with his broad fword, By this a^ion, the alhes became mafters of all the Wetteraw On hearing of their fuccefs, duke Ferdinand march- Wetter "^^^ of Monighaufen, and encamped at In this fwift purfuit, the hereditary prince was al- ways foremoft in harraffing the flying enemy. His iiighnefs commanded a detachment from the rio-ht of the alhed army ; and havin.Q: paOed the Lahne, he Kii 4:1 II II ' ^i; 1 : ill if iJjwmjIllJM 1 i III ■ t lllf 1 111 'Ml K c 2 puil ICU ! 11 I't ^Um' fliitiii ( 420 } puHicd forward to Ncider- Weimar, where he fur- prifcd a party of the enemy, took two pieces of can- non, and fomc prifoners. Marflial Contades, to put a ilop to the progrcfs of the allies, threw a garriforv into MarpoLirg -, but duke Ferdinand marching to Neidcr-Weimar became mafter of that town in a few days, making 800 men prifoners of war. He re- maincd in that camp fome time -, and marfhal Con- tades had his head quarters at Anroth ; the river Lahne being between the two armies. The 1 8th of feptember, a detachment from the allied army made themfclves mafters of Wetzlar, but were foon after diflodged by the duke of Broglio. The next day, duke Ferdinand marched to KorfdorfF, where he fixed his head quarters, his army encamping about two miles from Gieflcn, with their right to Hothcim, and their left to Wcifimar -, he alfo ported a body of troops oppofite Wetzlar, under general Wangenheim and the prince of Bcvern. In this fituation, the duke re- mained for fome time, employing his army in little detachments, which were continually beating up the enemy's quarters, and harrafling them even to the walls of Franckfort. Munfler was ftill blockaded by general Inhoff j that he might be the more expeditious in reducing it, the duke fent him a reinforcement from his camp at Korfdorff, of four battalions and foui fquadrons. In tlie month of oflober, duke Ferdinand was iii- vcflcd with the order of the garter -, the marquis of Granby and S. Martin Leak, efq. being appoinudby liis majelly {plenipotentiaries for that purpofe. The ceremony was pfrifurmed with all the mngnificence tiiat a camp would permit •, and the marflial Contades was (o extremely polite, as to order a general difcharge of his artillery, during the invefliture, in honour of his fercne highncfs. The ( 421 ) 1 he battle of Mindcn, an event (o uncxpedal •. threw .e court ot Ve, .jifc into the „tmo(l conCu- lion. 1 he k.ng was toU of it juft as he was .,„;„„ to iuint ; but the ill news flrutk him io fenftblyrtim marfliars papers after the battle. ^ °^ '"** Sir, *'^'c'-'*^i"cs,jJy23, ,759. I am fliU afi.iid that Fifchcr fct out too hte ■ ;t ;. »,« k.ds (independently of the money) thJt is to f^y Z iLt oat., for the wmter. bread, corn, caile, horfes, aSevenr nto recru.t our fore.gn troops. The war muft not be proIoneeS' and perhaps It may be neccflary. according to the cven^ whkhmav happen, between this time and the end of fcDtember fn n,.l ^ downright defcrt before the line of quarters^ ^l^t Iv I ' thought proper to keep during the winter In o'rdeiathcl^n ^ may be under a real impoiiibility of anp oachiu? u" n, L . ^ tnne referving for ourielves a bJre (J(&^^^\:^^'J;:^' n>ay be the moll convenient for us to take in the middl of tk win T °.^'h "P^.or fieze upon the enemy's quarters. rhat this o^-eft may be fulfilled. I caule the greatcft alTiduitv to be ufed m preparing what is neceffary for havin^aU your tZs without exception, well cloathed. well armed, wdl equCcd md well refitted, m every refpeft before the end of no?"nffer wi"h new tents, m order that, if it be advifeablc for the kTn ' ' oo^ piit of yourarmy, to aft ofFenfivcly. and with vigor, from the begmmng of January ; and that you may have the iiisf^e on a hew our enemies, and all Europe, that the french kno v h^w o aft and carry on war, in all feafons, when they have iucii Zvc ral as you are, and a minifler of the department of war IT'an fbrefee, and concert matters with the general fneK 1, ^°"°""^^«' but perhaps even necefl-ary, with -c- tiai l»li E •- !.;i he ( 422 ) he retired to the apartment of madam de I*cmpadour< in a dejeded manner, and for feveral days faw none of his minifters. The general opinion of the pecpls laid all the blame on the marfhal Contades, and he threw it on the duke of BrogHo -, the marlhal duke de BcUeiflc loft much of his credit -, but ftill prelVrved a confideiable part of his influence with his Ibve- .cign. But it is time to take a view of fome military tranfadtions in another quarter, no lefs glorious and advantageous than thofe of which we have been fpeaking. CHAP. ( 443 ) i CHAP. XXIII. Expedition againji ^tehet. Armament fails from Louif- burg. Occupies the ijle of Orleans. oUuation of the frencb army. Jmon at the falls of Montnorency. The army removes to Point Levi. It goes up the river. Lands at Sillery. Battle of ^ehec. General Wolfe killed^ and general Moncton wounded. Gene. -al Town- fhend takes the command. M. de Monte, n killed. French defeated, ^lebec furrenders. Motii s of ge^ neral Amherfl on lake Champlain. B^lds fever al vef fels. Sails againji M. dc Bourlemaque. Returns. For- tifies Crown Point. His army goes into winter quarters. Reflexions on the cdmpaign in north America. THE principal part of the plan for the campaign in north America, which I before mentioned, confided in an attack on Quebec, the capital of all the french empire in thofe parts -, at the fame time that general Amhcrft advanced towards the river St. Lawrence, by the way of Crown Point. As this was to be the decifive ftroke, fo the greateft force was to have been employed againft it. The armament deltined for this fervice rendezvoufed at Louifburg. The fleet confifted of 19 fail of the line * b'jfides Ships. * Neptune Royal William Princefs Amelia Dublin Shrew/bury Northumberland Oxford Somerfet Vanguard Terrible Trident runs. Ships. Guns. 90 Alcide 64 80 Devonlhire 64 80 Captain 64 74 Sterling Caftle 64 74 Pr. of Oraogs 60 70 Medway 60 70 Pembroke 60 70 Bedford 60 70 Centurion 54 64 Sutherland IJO 64 £ e 4 frigates, m m I III! INil I •J'' t- 1 x^- 'V, M 1 t' \h i i liiiiiiMiiiniiMii ( 424 ) frigates, tranfports, ^zc» &c. &c. ; commanded by admirals Saunders, Holmes, and Durel. The land forces amounted to 7000 regulars and provincials, com- manded by major general Wolfe \ brigadiers general Moncton and Townfliend were fecond in command. Tlie whole failed from Louifburg the 5th of june; and anchored at ifle Bie 70 leagues up the river, the 19th, where the fleet was divided into three divifions, in order to make the pafTage the eafier. The 27th the fleet anchored between the ifland of Orleans, and the fouth fliore, on which the army landed that even- ing. As this ifland extends quite up to the har-. bour of Quebec, it was neceflary to poflTefs it before any operations could be begun againft the town ; for the mofl: weft:erly point of it (which is not above four mileS; from Quebec) advances towards another high point of land on the continent, called point Levi. It was abfolutely neceflTary to poflefs thefe two points, and fortify them ; becaufe from either the one or the other, the enemy might make it impofTible for any Ihip to lie in the bafon of Quebec. Quebec lie' in 1? 4.C. 32. long. 60.40. at 120 leagues diftan . '' j- the fea, and is the only frefh water harbour 'n '■" .t^orld, which is fo fpacious as to contain an hunared fail of men of war of the line*, and at fuch a great diftance from ihe fea. From the mouth of the river St, Lawrence to the ifle of Or- leans is 1 1 2 leagues, and is no where lefs than from four to five leagues broad ; but above that ifland it narrows, fo that at Quebec, it is not above a mile broad. This city, which was founded in 1 608, confifls of an upper and lower town -, the latter is built at the foot of a high rock, on the top of which the upper town fl:ands. It is the feat of the governor general, intendant, and the fupreme tribunals of jufl:ice for all Canada. Many of its buildings, both public and private are elegant and grand. The whole city is ( 425 ) built with ftone; t' :^ merchants generally live in the lower town for the convenience of their trade ; which, before the war was confidcrable. It contains about 7000 fouls The fortifications were not recru- lar ; but they had been long at work to render it Ca- pable of a fiege : the town, as it ij, is naturally ftrong the port was flanked with two ballions, which at high tides were almoft even with the wate.. A little above the baftion to the right, is a half baftion, cut out of the rock ; a little higher was a large battery, and higher flill isafquarefort, called the citadel, which was the mofl regular of all the fortifications , and in which the governor refided. The ways which communicate between thefe works are extremely rug- ged. The rock which feparates the upper from the lower town extends itfelf, and continues with a bold and fteep front, wefl:ward along the river St. Law- rence, for a confiderable way. Another river from the north weft, called St. Charles, falls here into the iormer, wafliing the foot of the rock on which Que- bec Itands ; tne point on which the town ftands Thus becomes a fort of peninfula, by the jundion of thefe rivers ; fo that, to attack the city, it is neceflary to make the approaches above the town, and overcome the precipice which I have mentioned, or crofs the river St. Charles, and attempt it upon that fide. 130th of thefe methods would be extremely difficult • as m the former the precipice would be in his wa^ defended by all the enemy's force ; and in the latter the country from the river St. Charles to the north- ward for more than five miles is extremely rouah broken and difficult, full of rivulets, gullies, a"nd ravines and continues fo, to the river Montmorenci which flows by the foot of a fteep and woody hill! On this fide the river St. Lawrence is a bank of find Of great extent, vvhich prevents any confiderable veflcl ironi aonroAr Inner thf fl.^^re nm\ m hm f 426) It was in this advantageous fituation that the french' army commanded by M. de Montcalm, who had been fo often fuccefsful againft the enghfh in north America, was ported, extending along from the river St. Charles to that of Montmorenci, intrenched at every accefiible fpot, with the river and fand bank abovementioned in their front: and thick impene- trable woods upon their rear : there never \yas a ftronger poft ; it was impoflible to attack them in it; and whilil they remained there, it was in the= power to throw fuccours intoQiiebec every day. The mar- quis de Montcalm very wifely refolved to continue in this poft, although his force amounted to near 12,000 men, befides Indians. When general Wolfe learned that fuccours of all kinds had been thrown into Quebec ; and perceived the ftrength of the french army, and its advantage* ous fituation -, he defpaired of being able to reduce the place. But he fought however an occafion to attack their army, knowing well, that with his troops he was able to fight, and hoping that a vidory might difperfe them. I have before faid, that as foon as the general landed on the ifle of Orleans, he perceived the abfolute ne- cefllty of poflefTing himfelf of the two points Levi, and Orleans ; foon after his landing, he received ad- vice from the admiral, that there was reafon to think the enemy had artillery and a force on the former of thefe points -, wherefore, he detached brigadier Monc- ton with four battalions, to drive them from thence. The brigadier pafied the river the 29th at night, and marchetfthe next day to the point-, he obliged the enemy's irregulars to retire, and poflTefled himfelf of that poll. Ihe general alfo detached colonel Carleton to point Orleans, from whence his operations were likely to begin. Batteries of cannon and mortars were creeled vvith great difpatch, on point Levi, to bom- bard the town and magazines, and to injure the works and A}) i1 . ( 427 ) and batteries : the French perceiving thefe works in fome forwardnefs, pafTed the river with 1600 men to attack and deftroy them. Unluckily they fell into contufion, fired upon one another, and went back again, by which the enghfh loft an opportunity of defeating this large detachment. The effed of the batteries on Levi point was very great, although they fired acrofs the river, the upper town was foon confi- derab.y damaged, and the lower town entirelv de- Uroyed. ^ On the 28th at midhight, the garrifon fent down from Qiiebec feven firefhips ; and though the enelifli fhips and tranfports were fo numerous, and necelfa- rily fpread fo great a part of the channel, yet they were all towed clear aground without fufferine the leaft damage Admiral Saunders was ftationed below in the north channel of the ille of Orleans, oppofite to Montmorenci ; admiral Holmes was ftationed above the town, at once to diftradt the enemy's attention and to prevent any attempts from them arrainft the batteries that played upon the town. ° The beginning of July, general Wolfe fent a flacr of truce to the commandant, publiflijng his defirrn of attacking the town, on the part of his britannic majefty ; at the fame time fignifying that it was his ma- jelty s expreis comtnand, to have the war conduced without pradifing the inhuman method of fcalpino- and that it was expeded the french troops under his command to copy the example, as they ftiould an- Iwer the contrary. The marquis de Vadreuil returned a very polite anfwer ; intimating his furprife, that with fo few forces, he Ihould attempt the conqueft of lo extenfive and populous a country as Canada The works for the fecurity of the hofpitals and ftores upon the idand of Orleans being finifhed, on the 9th of July at night, general Wolfe caufed the - —^ .„, ....,.si|.,jiuu;u vVci liic norcn cnannelof the fiver St. Lawrence, to the north eaft of the river Montmorenci, 'II I ! J iilfip ji J 'b ( 428 ) Montmorenc), with a view of pafTing that river, and forcing the enemy to an engagement. The ground on his fide the river was higher than that on the ene- my's fide, and commanded it in fuch a manner, that the general was of opinion it might be made ufefu) to him. There is befides, a ford below the fiills in the river Montmorenci, which may be pafTed for fome hours in the latter part of the ebb, and beginning of the flood tide -, Wolfe had hopes that poflible means might be found of pafluig the river above, fo as to fight the marquis de Montcalm upon terms of lefs dif- advantage, than direftly attacking his intrenchmcnts. In reconnoitring the river Montmorenci, he found it fordable at a place three miles up ; but the oppofite bank was intrenched, and fo fteep and woody, that it was to no purpofe to attempt a paflage there. The 1 8th of July, two men of war, two armed floops, and two transports with fome troops on board paflTed by the town without any lofs, and got into the upper river. This enabled the general to reconnoitre the country above : but he there found the fame at- tention on the enemy's fide, and the fame difadvan- tages on his own, arifing from the nature of the ground, and the olDftaclcs to his communication with his fleet. However, general Wolfe, to divide the enemy's force, and to draw their attention as high upon the ri- ver as poflible, and to procure fome intelligence, fent a detachment under colonel Carlton, to land at the point de Trempe, to attack whatever he might find there, bring off fome prifoners, and all the uleful pa- pers he could get. The general had been informed, that a number of the inhabitants of Quebec, had retired to that place, and that probably he would find a magazine of provifions theie. The colonel was fired upon by a body of Indians the moment he landed ; but they v;ere foon difperfed, and driven in- to the wood : he Tearched for magazines, but to no purpofe i ( 429 ) purpofe ; brought off fome prifoncrs, and returned with httle Jofs. The latter end of the month, the marquis deMont- calm rent down the river above an hundred fire ftages • but the admiral having advice thereof fome hours before, the whole fleet was prepared for the alarm. Nothmg could be more dreadful than thefe machines - each was about i8 feet fquare, compofed of rafts of timbertoaconfiderable height, filled with the moft combuitible materials, and armed with drags and grapplings, to lay hold of hawfers and cables • each feparately reprefcnting a lofty pillar of folid fire, and numbers of them uniting, would frequently forma rank ot fire a quarter of a mile long. Even thefe uid the enghfli fleet no harm, being dragged afliore by the boats. The general found that no aflaults on the city would prove of any fervice, whilft the fleet could only batter the lower town, and mufl: fuff'er greatly by the cannon and bombs of the upper ; for after the redudlion of the lower town, the paflages to the upper were fo extremely fleep, and moreover fo well in- trenched, that this advantage would prove little to- wards the conquefl: of the city. The only point left therefore, was, by every means to entice or force the enemy to an engagement. Nothing was ever finer contrived, than the maneuvres which general Wolfe made to bring that defign to bear. But M. de Mont- calm, in chufing his pofl: was well apprifed of its im- portance, he kept hiiafelf clofe in it, difpofing his parties of favages, in which he was very ftroncr, in fuch a manner as make any attempt upon him by"fur- prife abfolutely impofllble. Neverthelefs, in fpite of every difficulty, the general refolvcd to take the firfl: opportunity which prefented itfelf, of attackino- the enemy ; though polled to llich great advantagef and eiy wliere prepared to recciv^e him. ev """™ mPfil ,*- .«»m^ ^^^B Ifirp ■ ^^^1 1 ¥} 1 ii 1 M HBHi 'Ml ' 1 < m 1 ii '!)i| liiii' 1 '■ I |mM|M ^^^^^1 '11 1 1 :iul W ■ 11 W^ II „ ? 1 ihia B 1 '\ 1 III D 1 ;' ■'! ' ■ n II 1 1 • ■HBBB As 1 "1 ,11: 1. ■} ( 430 ) As the men of war could not (for want of fuffi, cient depth of water) come near enough the enemy's intrenchments, to annoy them in the leaft, the ad- miral prepared two tranlports (drawing but little wa- ter) which upon occafion, could be run aground, to favour a defcent. With the help of thefe veffels, which the general underftood would be carried clofe in fhore •, he propofed to make himfelf mafter of a detached redoubt near the water's edge, and whofe fituation appeared to be out of muflcet fhot of the in- tretichment upon the hill: If Montcalm fnpported this detached piece, it would neceflarily bring on an engagement, what the general moft wifhed for ; and, if not, he would have it in his power to examine the enemy's fituation, fo as to be able to determine where he could beft attack them. Preparations were accordingly made for an engage- ment. The 2ift of July in the forenoon, the boats of the fleet were filled with grenadiers, and a part of brigadier Monfton's brigade from point Levi : the two brigades, under brigadiers Townlhend and Mur- ^•ay, were ordered to be in readinefs to pafs the ford, when it fliould be thought neceflary. To facilitate the pafTage of this corps, the admiral had placed the Centurion in the channel, fo that fhe might check the fire of the lower battery, which commanded the ford : this fhip was of great ufe, as her fire was very judicioufly direded. A great quantity of artillery was placed upon the eminence, fo as to batter and en-, iilade the left of their intrenchments. From the vefiel which run aground neareft in, ge- neral Wolfe obferved, that the redoubt was too much commanded to be kept without very great lofs ; and the more as the two armed fhips could not be brought near enough to cover both with their artillery and muiketry, which at firfi he conceived they might. But as the enemy feemed in fome confufion, and his troops were prepared for an aftion, he thoug. ' it a ^ proper ( 43« ) proper time to make an attempt upon their intrench- 'ments. Orders were fent to the brigadiers general to be ready, with the corps under their command -, bri- gadier Mondlon to land, and the brigadiers Town- Ihend and Murray to pafs the ford. At a proper time of the tide the fignal was made -, but in rowing to- wards the fhore, many of the boats grounded upon a ledge, that runs off at a confiderable diftance. This accident put them into fome diforder, loft a great deal of time, and obliged Mr. Wolfe to ftnd an of- ficer to ftop brigadier general Townfhend's march, whom he then obferved to be in motion. While the jeamen were getting the boats off, the enemy fired a number of fliot and ihells ; but did no confiderable damage. As foon as this diforder could be fet a little to rights, and the boats ranged in a proper manner, fome of the officers of the navy went in with the general to find a better place to land. They took one flat bottomed boat with them to make the expe- [ riment ; and, as foon as they had found a fit part of the Ihore, the troops were ordered to difembark, as it was thought not yet too late to make the at- tempt. Thirteen companies of grenadiers, and 200 of the fecond royal american battalion got firft on fliore. The grenadiers were ordered to form themfelves into four diftind bodies, and to begin the attack, fiipported by brigadier Monfton's corps, as foon as the troops had paffed the ford, and were at hand to affift. But whether from the noife and hurry at landing, or from Ibme other caufe, the grenadiers, inftead of forming themfelves, as they were direded, ran on impetu- ouHy towards the enemy's intrenchments in the ut- moli diforder and confufion, without waiting for the corps which was to fuftain them, and join in the attack. Brigadier Mondlon was not landed, and bri- gadier Townfhend was ftill at a confiderable diftance-, though upon his march to join them in very great or- der. I ;i!: ( 432 ) der. The grenadiers were checked by the enemy's firft fire, and obliged to fhelter themfelves in or about the redoubt, which the french abandoned upon their approach. In this fituation they continued for fome time, unable to form under fo hoi a fire ; and hav- ing many gallant officers wounded, who (carelefs of their perfons) had been folely intent upon their duty. The general faw the neceflity of calling them off, that they might form behind brigadier Mondon's corps, which was then landed, and drawn up on the beach in exceeding good order. By this new acci- dent and this fecond delay, it was near night, a fud- den ftorm came on, and the tide began to make, fo that general Wolfe very wifely thought it not advife- able to perfevere in fo difficult an attack, left, in cafe of a reptilfe, the retreat of brigadier Tovvnlhend's corps might be hazardous and uncertain. Nothing could be better chofen, than the place where Mr. Wolfe made this attack. It was the only fpot wherein "lis artillery could be brought into ufe, ind it had a good eflfedt upon the left of the french. The greatell part, or even the whole of the troops might aft at once. And, a retreat (in cafe of a re- puHej was fecure, at leaft for a certain time of the tide. Neither one or other of thefe advantages were to be found in any other place. The french were in- deed ported upon a commanding eminence. The beach upon which the troops were drawn up, was of deep mud, with holes, and cut by feveral gullies. The hill to be afcended very fteep, and not every where pradicable. The enemy numerous in their in- trenchments, and their fire hot. If the attack had fucceeded, the lofs of the englifh muft have been great, and that of the french inconfiderable, from the fhelter which the neighbouring v/oods afforded them. The river St. Charles remained ftiil to be pafTed, be- fore the town was inverted. All thefe circumrtances the general confidered ; but the defire to adt, in con- formity ^ . ( 433 ) formity to his fovereign's intentions, induced him to make this trial, perfuaded, as he himfeJf gallantly exprefles it, that a vi6lorious army finds no difficul- ties. General Wolfe made a noble retreat, expofing his perfon with that intrepidity, which dillinguifhed him during the attack. The lofs fuftained in this check was not inconfi- derable j and the bad fuccefs difcouraged the gene- ral from making any further attempts upon that fide. But immediately after it, he fent brigadier Murray above the town with 1200 men, diredting himtoaf- fift rear-admiral Holmes in the deftrudion of fome french men of war (if they could be got at) in order to open a communication with general Amherft. The brigadier was to feek every favourable opportu- nity of fighting fome of the enemy's detachments, provided he could do it upon tolerable terms j and to ufe all the means in his power to provoke tl)em to at- tack him. The men of war failed up the river for more than 12 leagues: the brigadier made two diffe- rent attempts to land upon the north fhore, without fuccefs J but in a third was more fortunate. He landed unexpedledly at de Chambaud, and burnt a magazine there, in which were fome provifions, fome ammu- nition, and all the fpafe ftores, cloathing, arms, and baggage of the french army -, but finding that their fliips were not to be got at, and that there was little profpecfl of bringing the enemy to a battle, he reported his fituation to the general, who thereupon ordered him to join the army. The prifoners he took, in- formed him of the fuccefs of fir William Johnfon againft Niagara -, they learned likewife, that the french had abandoned Crown Point and Ticonderoga. But this intelligence, otherwife fo pleafing, brought them no profpert of the approach of any affiftance from that quarter. The fealbn waited a pace ; and what was equally of bad conlequence, the general fell vio- ienriy ill of a fever, conlumc^d by care, watching. f>i ;i ( 434 ) ^nd fatigue, too great to be fupported by fo delicat* a body, which was fo unequal to the greatnefs of the fnil which it lodged. It was death to him to think of returning home, without being vid:orious ; and and although he knew every thing was executed to enfure fucccfs, which his enterprifing genius could luggeft i yet he alfo knew how partial the world is to fuccefs, and that no military conduft can fliine un- lefs guilded with it. In Ihort, the fear of not being fuccefsful, the hopes of his country, and great fuccefs of other generals turned inward upon him, and con- verted difappointment into difcafe *. As foon as he was a little recovered, he difpatched an cxprefs, with an account of his proceedings, to England ; we may trace throughout it feveral marks of hib defpair of taking th^ town ; but, although his letter i5 wrote in the ftiie of defpondency, yet, he has exprefled himfelf with fuch perfpicuous elegance, that we may fairly fay, he fought and wrote with the fame fpirit. It W3S determined in a confultation which he held with his general officers, a little before he fent away his difpatches, that, (as more fhips and provifions were then got above the town) they fhould try, by con- veying up a corps of 4 or 5000 men (which was near- ly the whole llrength of the army, after the points of Levi and Orleans were left in a proper ftate of de- fence) to draw the enemy from their advantageous fitu- ation, and bring them to an adion. This determination was accordingly put in execu- tion. General Wolfe drew off all his artillery, ftcres, baggage, &c. from his camp at Montmorency, which was broke up, and the troops, &c. conveyed to tha fouth eaft of the river, and encamped at point Levi. The fquadron under admiral Holmes made move- ments up the river, for feveral days fucceflively, in order to draw the enemy's attention as far from the Campbell. town ( 435 ) tdwn as pofliblc. But nothing could Induce M. de Montcalm to quit his poll j indeed thefe feints fuc- ceeded in fome mcafure, as it induced him to detach M. de Bougainville with 1500 men to watch their mo- tions, and to proceed along the weftern Ihore of the river, while the englilh army dire^ed its march the fame way on the eaftern bank. On the 5th and 6th of feptember, the general marched from point Levi, and embarked the forces in tranfports, which had pafled the town for thatpur- pofe. And as foon as he faw that matters were ripe for adion, he ordered the (liips under admiral Saun- ders to make a feint, as if they propofed to attack the french in their intrenchments, on the Beauport fliore below the town, and by their motions to give this feint all the appearance of a reality which it poiTibly could have. This difpofition being made below the town, general Wolfe ordered the light infantry, com- manded by colonel Howe, the regiments of Bragg, Kennedy, Lafcelles, and Anftruther, with a detach- ment of highlanders, and the american grenadiers, the whole under the command of brigadier Monfton and Murray, to be put into the flat bottomed boats, about one in the morning of the 13th. To amufe the enemy, and conceal his real defign, they went with admiral Holmes's divifion three leagues 'further up the river than the intended place of his landing ; then the boats fell down Plently with the tide, unob- ferved by the french centinels ported along the ihore. The rapidity of the current carried them a little be- low the intended place of attack ; the Ihips followed, and, by the greateft good management in the world, arrived jufl: at the time which had been concerted to cover their landing. Never was moment more criti- cal 1 never any conduft more admirable, both on the part of the land and Tea fervice, than what was dif- played on this occafion, amidfl: the continual danger t f 2 of N'l. , t "^"fW ( 436 ) of lollng the communication in a dark night, and ofi fuch a rapid current. The troops not being able to land at the place pro- pofed i they were put on fliore at another fpot •, where, as foon as they had landed, an hill appeared before them, extremely high and fteep in its afcent •, a little path vvindfd up this afcent, fo narrow, that two men could not go a-breaft. Even this path w?s intrenched, and a captain's guard defended it. Such great diffi- culties did not abate the hopes of the general, or the ardor of the troops. Colonel Howe's light infantry fcrambled up this path, by laying hold of boughs and ftumps of trees, and, after a little firing, diflodg- ed the guard, and cleared the path •, by which means, with a very little lofs from a few Canadians and In- dians in the wood, they got up, and were immediately formed. The boats, as they emptied, were immedi- ately fent back for the fecond embarkation, which brigadier Townfliend made. Brigadier Murray, who had been detached, with Anftruther's battalion to at- tack a four gun battery upon the left, was recalled by the general, who formed his little army in order of battle, having his right covered by the Louifburg grenadiers ; on the right of thefe were Otway's ; to the left of the grenadiers were Bragg's, Kennedy's, Lafcelle's, highlanders, and Anftruther's ; the right of this body was commanded by brigadier Mondlon, and the left by brigadier Murray •, his rear and left •were protected by colonel Howe's light infantry. The whole army was in order of battle at break of day. The marquis de Montcalm, when he heard that the englifh had afcendcd the hill, and were formed on the h ^h ground at the back of the town, fcarcely credited the intelligence, and ftill believed it to be a feint, to induce him to abandon that ftrongpoft which had been the objedl of all the real attempts that had been njade fince the beginning of the campaign. But ;iSr" t'-ry^ "^*»'#'Vj ( 437 ) ght, and on M But he was foon fatally undeceived. He clearly Hiv^ that the englifli fleet and army were in fuch an advan- tageous fituation, that the upper anU lower town might be attacked in concert, and that noth ng but a battle could poflibly fave it. He accordingly de- termined to fight, and quitting his camp, croired the river St. Charles, and forined his troops oppofue to the englifh army. His center was a column, and formed by the battalions of Bearne and Guienne ; his right was compofed of half of the troops of the colony, the battalions of la Saure, Languedoc, and the remainder of the Canadians and Indians j his left confifted of the remainder of the troops of the colo- ny, and the battalion of royal RoufiUon. General Wolfe perceiving that Montcalm deligncd to flank his left, ordered biigadier general Townfliend, with Amherft's battalion, and two battalions o^ ihi royal Americans, to proted it : and alfo drew Welv/s up, as his corps de referve, in eis' c fub-divifion-, with large intervals. The french lined the bullies in their front, with 1500 Indians and Canadians, where they alfo placed their *-efl: markmen, who kept up a very galling, though irregular fire upon the whole englilh line, who bore it with the greatefl: patience and good order, referving their fire for the main body of the hench, now ad—icing. This fire of the enemy was however checked, by the pods in Mr. Wolfe's front. The french brought up two pieces of cannon ; the englifli were able to get up but one gun, which be- ing admirably well ferved, galled their column ex- ceedingly. The general exhorted his troops to re- ferve their fire •, and at forty yards diilance they gave it, which took place in its full extent, and made terrible havock among the french •, ic was lupported with as much vivacity as it was begun, and the enemy every where yielded to it •, but jufl: in the moment, when the fortune of the field began to declare itfcif, general Wolfe (in whole life the fuvcefs of all was yi l:f mc luded) if ' 1 ' ' li in ■''! iili 1 ■ 1 i m i'l i ajifcaiitoijiMiiiiiiiiiM mxM ( 438 ) included) fell ; general Monfton, the next to him in command, fell immediately after, and both were conveyed out of the field -, the command now devolv- ed on general Townfhend, at a very critical time ; for, although the enemy began to fall back, and were much broken, the lofs of the two generals was a very difcouraging circumftance tq the men, whofe fpirits are generally damped at the lofs of their com- manders -, but this was not the cafe here. Part of the enemy foon after made a fecond feint attack. Part took to feme thick coppice wood, and feemed t make a ftand. It was at this moment that e=ich corps feemed in a manner to exert itfelf, with a view to its own peculiar charafter. The grenadiers, Bragg's, and Lafcelle's prefied on with their bayonet's. Bri- gadier Murray advancing with the troops under his command, briil^ly completed the rout on that fide-, when the highlanders, fupported by Anftruther's took to their broad fwords, and drove part of the enemy into the town, and part to their works at the bridge, on the river St. Charles. The aftion on the left and rear of the englifh was not fo fevere. The houfes into which the light infantry were thrown, were well defended, being fupported by colonel Howe, who, taking poft wifh two companies behind a fmall cop- pice, *and frequently fallying upon the flanks of th** enemy, during their attack, drove them often into heaps -, againft the front of this body of the ene- mv, general Townfhend advanced, platoons of Am- herJl's regim'-iit, which totally prevented their right wing from executing their firft intention. Mr. Townfliend was no fooner told that he commanded, than he immediately repaired to the center of the army, and finding the purfuit had put part of the troops in diforder, he formed them as foon as poffible. Scarce was this effeded, than ^ I. Bougainville, with his corps, which had retired to cape Rouge, of 2000 men, aripeared in his rear. The general advanced '■'■ two ,. ■^w-p^* t to him in both were low devolv- tical time ; back, and ;enerals was nen, whofc their com- ■e. Part of ttack. Part 1 Teemed t t e^ch corps L view to its rs, Bragg's, net's. Bri- )S under his n that fide j uther's took f the enemy the bridge, the left and The houfes 1, were well iowe, who, a fmall cop- lanks of tb 1 often into of the ene- ons of Am- l their right ition. Mr. :ommanded, enter of the part of the n as poffible. inville, with 2;e, of 2000 li\ advanced two ( 439 ) two pices of artillery, and two battalions towards him i upon which he retired. But he could not be purfued, as his corps occupied ground which was al- moft impenetrable, by the woods and fwamps. A great number of french officers were taken on the field of battle j and one piece of cani:on ; 1500 of their men fell ; mod of them regulars. The lofs of the enghlh did not exceed 500 ; but in the death of their commander they fuftained a lofs much more confiderable. A retentive memory, a deep judgment, acomprehenfion amazingly quick and clear; a con- ftitutional courage, not only uniform, but daring, perhaps fometimes even to excefs, all confpired to form an accomplifhed hero. He poflefTed a ftrength, fteadinefs, and adlivity of mind, which no difficulties could obftruft, nor danger deter •, and which enabled him when very young to fignalize himfelf in his pro- feffion. Even fo early as the battle of La-feldt, when fcarce 20 years of age, he exerted himfelf in fo ma- fterly a manner, at a very critical jundure, that it drew the higheft encomiums from the great officer, then at the head of our army. Even after the peace he fpent great part of his time in forming the military charafter : he introduced fuch regularity and exad:- nefs of difcipline into his corps, that, as long as the fix britilh battalions on the plain of Minden are re- corded in the annals of Europe, fo lon^ will King- fley*s ftand amongft the foremoft in the glory of that day. He was early in the molt fecret confultations for the attack of Rochfort j where he afterwards offered to make good a landing : his conduft at Louifburg, I have already given an account of And at Quebec, having completed his character, and anfwered the ex- pedations of his country, he fell at the head of his conquering troops, and, like the great Guftavus, ex- pired in the arms of vidlory. There were a f'-w cir- cumftances attendiiig his death, that deferve to be re- membered. He firft received a wound in his head -, F f 4 but ( 44<^ ) but that he might not difcourage his troops, he wrapr ped it up in his handkerchief, and encouraged his men to advance; foon after he received another ball in his belly -, this alfo he diflfembled, and exerted him- felf as before j when he received a third in his breaft, under which he at laft funk, and fuffered himfelf unwillingly to be carried behind the ranks. As he was ftruggling under three fuch wounds, he begge4 one who attended him, to fupport him to view the field -, but finding, that the approach of death had dimmed his fight, he defired an officer near him, to give hir^i an account of what he faw. He was an- fwered, that the enemy feemed broken ; repeating his queftion foon after, with much anxiety ; he was told that the enemy was totally defeated, and that they fled in all parts. Then faid he, " I am fatisfied i'^ and immediately he expired. It is very remarkable, that the firfi: in command on both fides fhould be killed^ and fecond dangeroufly wounded ; the french officer died of his wounds ; but general Mondton happily recovered. In the marquis de Montcalm, the french loft an able and experienced general, who had fup- ported his high reputation during the whole war in north America : his conduct in the command of that army, at the head of which he fell, was very great i he omitted nothing that human prudence conld fug- geft, during the whole campaign ; but it was his fate to be conquered by fuperior abilities. General Tpwnfnend employed himfelf after the a(5lion in ftrengthening his camp beyond inlult ; in making a road up the precipice for his cannon ; in getting up the artillery, preparinn; the batteries ; an4 cutting off the enemy's communication with the country. The 17th at noon, before he had any battery ere6led, or could have any for tv;o or three days, a flag of truce came out of the town, with proi)orals of capitulation, which the general fent back again, ailowing the governoi- four hours to cap;- tulate, filiate, time t tack tr with t( * Art garrifon by the fl cannon, " garri{< " failorj " beatin " round « order 1 Art. I fion of tl " provid Art. I] count of they wen the colon Art. n bitants, { Art, V obliged tc adefinitit jefties. — Art. V. religion f the houfe; the bifhof charity foi it, to exei and the fa ligion req wherever ftall have ; britannic 1 " Safeguai " /hop, w " with dei " proper, " becwecn Art. VI. HPj bona J tulate. ( 441 ) or no further treaty. The adm . L '7 ;-' M^«ty. The admiral had at this ime brought up his large iliips, as intending to at! tack tne town -, but the french officer returned a. Lht With terms of capitulation *, which the admiraTfnd gencraJ by ehe fl,or.efl road, wuh .hdr .Intbaggtg" t Sof tff " provided they lay down their arnis " ^ ^ ^'^''''^' and the facrcd myfteries of the catholic aooftolir ^nJ ''^'''^^^^'* bntannic majefties. - - fhe free exeS afth^r T •^"'* proper, „„,u ,fe, p„fl,,r„„ „f CanadrftaT havfbeef d c^ up. Una Me, i^..^i;^:z;'^:^::^::if:f^^^^^ Art. Vlir. iliM ^:; M ( 442 ) general confidered, agreed to, and figned at eight in the morning of the i8th. The terms were more ad- vantageous than would have been granted, had not feveral circumftances concurred to induce the admi- ral and general to confent to them. The enemy were affembling in the rear of the englilh army, and, wh^t was moire formidable, the very wet and cold feafon, Art. VIII. That the fick, wounded, commiflaries, chaplains, phyficians, furgeons, apothecaries, and other perfons emyloyed in iiofpitals, ihall be treated agreeable to the cartel fettled between their moft chriftian and britannic majefties, on the 6th of February, Mjeg.. « Granted." Art. IX. That before delivering up the gate, and the entrance of the town to the englilh forces, their g|neral will be pleafed to fend fome foldiers to be placed as fafeguards at the churches, con, vents, and chief habitations. " Granted." Art. X. That the commander of .the city of Quebec (hall be permitted to fend advice to the marquis de Vaudreuil, governor general, of the reduaion of the town ; as alfo, that this general ft all be allowed to write to the french miniftry, to inform them thereof. " Granted." Art. XI. That the prefent capitulation (hall be executed accord- ding to its form and tenor, without being liable to non-execution» under pretence of reprifals, or the non-execution of any preceding capitulation. " Granted." The prefent treaty has been made and fettled between us, and duplicates figned at the camp before Quebec, the 1 8th of feptember, 1759. Charles Saunders, George Tov/nshend, DeRAMESAY. Return of the killed, wounded, and miffing, at the battle of Que- bec, feptember 13, 1759. Killed— I general, i captain, 6 lieutenants, 1 enfign, 3 ferje- ants, 45 rank and file. Wounded— 1 brigadier general, 4 fta^ officers, 12 captains, 26 lieutenants, locnfigns, 25^ ferjeants, ^ drummers, 506 rank and file.-- — Miffing— 3 rank and file. Guns, mortars, ammunition, &c. found in the cky of Quebec. f 6 pounders i Brafs ordnance, ^ ^ ' ^ Iroo at eight in 'e more ad- d, had not the admi- :nemy were ,rmy, and, : and cold feafon, ies, chaplains, s emyloyed in sttled between h of February, 1 the entrance be pleafed to :hurches, con- jebec (hall be euil, governor It this genera!, inform them ecuted accord- ;ion-execution» any preceding jtween us, and ;, the 1 8th of Saunders, tov/nshend, SAY. battle of Que- nfign, 3 ferje- ;encral, 4 ftaff i^ ferjeants, ^ and Ale. r of Quebec. I 3 f" .i feafon, which threatened the troops with ficknefs anri the fleet with accidents • it haH mX?K j r* ?"^ that general TownCd cou d no ge^'l^ uo fo' fome time ; add to this th^ J„. ? ^r^ "^ ^°^ .he town wich the°wt^:'';dSKf 'Z^ being able to put a o-arrifon in ;^ a ' "^ ^"^ prevent all fur^Hfe. °^T^ht we f^mir^^J; in the % under tirad?;rgel/arMury ^J^.^ ^ZlrFT^^"'"^'^ ammunition forle ZL 1 he fleet failed to England fnnn ^f^ r • ^'"ter. the retting in of the t&t,d tdc tt"" « '"'* the river St. Lawrence. ^"^ "P '" asdifficulttd fe^e^rfacZ'S' """^^ ^^= ''"''^<=<» ed. How could irrSfobir&'bL^rellft^d'f- - ar^y of 7000 men ^ou'ld take1%?S .^ « iron ordnance. Brafs mortars. Ditto howitzers. Iron mortars, Brafs petards, Shells, } lo 45 i8 '3 45 66 30 7 3 I 3 9 I S 2 2 770 150 90 With a confiderable quantity of powder f,,li r ,. intrenching tools. &c. BefideLy fannon a' ^'"^^ arms, and between fh; r;„erct r.i.-|"i7 cannon and one mortar f^^.r^A --.rcr vt. ^«aiic3 and iJeauport, ' -^'i."« ftrong W \ i lliif ii 1. !, ; f- ' I NLklU f w tm .?i ^^^^■(grj ( 444 ) ftrong by Its fituation, defended by n numerous gar- rifon, and having an army, luperior to that of the befiegers, intrenched under its walls, in one of the moft advantageous pofts, perhaps, in the world; and when that army was to be forcec^ to an engage- ment, againft the inclinations ot an able and cauti- ous commander ? There never polTibly was an enter- prifc of fuch extreme difficulty, conduced with fo fuch wifdom and fuccefs as this expedition. The impediments which the nature of the country, and tb ftrength of the enemy threw in t'le commander's way, were fuch difficult obftacles, that nothing but the genius of ge- nius Wolfe could ever ha- e furmounted ihem. Thofe movements, fo daring, judicious, and admirably well concerted, which at iaft drew Monrcalm from his impregnable intrenchments, were hardly ever equalled: they were mafterpieces in the art of war. Nor was unanimity, diligence or ll^ill, wanting on the part of the marine : Without them, even the genius of the general could not have fucceeded. It does honour to the feveral commanders in this expedition, both in the fea and land fervice, to find what a perfeft har- mony fubfifted between them, during all the opera- tions that were performed i wherein they ufed the moft jealous endeavours to fecond each other's ef- forts. Thejoy which overfpread the whole kingdom, on receiving the news of the conqueft of Quebec, would have been general and complete, had there not been a mixture of grief for the lols of the general. Mr. Pitt, in a moft elegant fpeech let off the great fervices performed at Quebec, in the houfe of com- mons, which had fuch an efFect, that a magnificent monument was voted for the deceafed general in Weftminfter abbey •, the living generals and admirals received that great honour, the thanks of their coun- try by their reprefentatives *. • A little circumftance was talked ofF at that time, and it de- fcrves to be recorded, as it Ihcws a firmnefs of tentimtjit, and juil- ( 445 ) After Quebec furrendered, the french army under M. de Levy retired to Montreal and TroisRivkre/ he only places ot any confequence they had left Tn m any attempt they might be induced to make to- wards the recovery of Qtiebec in the wimer that able extent A meafure which would not have been executed, had it not been found neceflarV In the mean time, general Amherft was profecutin? he war on lake Champlain with great dil*^ Ke buf erv"dSt to c "'"""' ^" o-r^America, makes very difhcult to carry on any mi itary expedition M againlt Lim after having abandoned Ticonderoea and Crown Point, retired to the iQe au NoTx S t¥e°hkr";i/t ^°°,— V\e had four rCello' me iake viz. la Vigilante, a fchooner of ,o guns fix and four pounders, a floop called Mafque Longuy' and 1 Efturgeon of eight guns, fix andfour pounde" .' nefs of thinking, in the lower kind c' people that h rarelv n,„ diftrefs ; the p.hlL wo^nd piereSd he?^^'n^jr' '"^ ^^H' fliaion, who had experienceTthe dutifulTn T ^Pt?''f'' "^- rXd ,n^l I V 5' ""^^ '° '^^' ^^i^h the duke de Bdleifle di- ^ .V Sr ,!^^°"'''^'' to ufe towards Hanover. &c • both we e . e.aaiy the fame reafon ; but yet we did not fcrupj^ ^otZr Joudly againft the inhtJinanuy of the french. ' '"''^'^ '^ "'^'' ^"= befidcs '1 ! I W m m ( 446 ) befides fwivels mounted in all. General Amherfi no fooner underftood, that the french had this naval force, than he fent for captain Loring, who was building a brigantine at Ticonderoga -, and having informed him of it, the captain thought the brigantine would not be of fufficient force, and concluded on building a Radeaux, to ufe its guns on the lake, as well as to tranfport them over the fame. On the ift of feptember, the general learnt fiirther, that M. de Bourlemaque had launched a new vefTel, pierced for i6 Guns -, he therefore again fent for cap- tain Loring, that a fecond vefiTel might be built, if it could be done, without retarding the other, as it ap- peared that the enemy were trying all they could to have a fuperior force by water •, the captain came on the 3d, and in conclufion a floop of 16 guns was built. The utmoft diligence being ufed irt building , thefe veflels, fo that, by the 29th of feptember, the Radeaux,84fect in length, and 20 in breadth, to carry fix 24 pounders, was launched. On the 10th of Oc- tober, the brigantine arr'vcd at Crown Point, car- rying fix 6 pounders, twelve 4 pounders, and twenty fwivels, 70 feamen, and 60 marines, detached from the troops. The next day, the floop arrived, fhe had four 6 pounders, twelve 4 pounders and 22 fwivels, 60 feamen, and 50 marines. The fame day, general Amherft, with the troops under his command, em- barked in the battoes j the floop and brigantine failed with a fair wind, and the troops followed in four columns, with a light hoilled in the night aboard the Radeaux. The 12th, major Reid returning with fome battoes of the royal highland regiment, loft the columns in the night, following the light of the bri- gantine, inflead of that of the Radeaux, and at day break, found himfelf among the enemy's floops, at les ifles aux quatre vents ; they fired feveral guns at him, and took one battoe, with a lieutenant, a fer- ieant, corporal, and 28 men. The general foon after ^ ' ^ ' iaw faw th( but ba dered : be cove The i^ During vice fn gantine judged the fch( brigant and th paffed ; army, ; them in foas to they fen they ha ter, anc efcaped. The J main in and the paflable a gale oi in the rr the 1 8 th i\mherfl far as tl repaired with th( changed winter h more tin aux Noi be too h liis intre to Crow "•"'il'sJ mlierrt no aval force, building a brmedhim would not building a well as to •nt further, new veflel, nt for cap- built, if it , as it ap- y could to in came on guns was ift building smber, the :h, to carry othof oc- ^oint, car- and twenty ched from id, fhe had 2 2 fwivels, ay, general mand, em- brigantinc followed in ght aboard irning with nt, loft the of the bri- and at day i (loops, at ral guns at nant, a fer- \ foon after law r . . ( 447 ) (m the frenth floops make all the fail they could • but bad weather coming on, general Amherft or' dered the troops into a bay on the weftcrn fhore, to be covered from the wind, which begun >o blow hard, i he 13th, It blew a ftorm, and quite contrary wind. During this neceflary delay, the general received ad- vice trom captain Loring, who commanded the bri- gantine, that on the 12th, at daybreak, when they judged they were 45 miles down the lake, they law the Ichooner, gave cKace, and unfortunately run the brigantinc and Hoop aground, but got them off again • and then faw the enemy's Hoops, which they had palled in the night, between them and the en^lifh army, and chaced to bring them to adion, dmve them into a bay on the weilern fhore, and anchored fo as to prevent their getting away. The next day they fent into the bay, in fearch of them, and found they had funk two of them in five fathom wa- ter, and ran the third on ground, when the crews elcaped. The general, in the mean time, was forced to re- main in the bay ; as it blew a ftorm the 15th all night and the continuance of it that day, made the lake im' palfable for boats, the waves running like the fea in a gale of wind. The 1 6th it froze in the night ; and m the morning no change of weather. At kft on the 1 8th, the wind came to the fouthward j general y\mherft proceeded immediately down the hke as tar as the place where the french lloops were - he repaired one of them, fo that flie failed that day, vvith the brigantine and floops : finding the wind changed to the northward, and an appearance of winter being fet in, the general determined to lofe no more time on the lake, by ftriving to get to the iOt- aux Noix, when, if he fhould arrive there, it would be too late in the feafon to force Bourlemaque from ius intrenchments i he therefore determined to return fo trown Point, to complete the works there, as Oiuch 1 ■ ^ii J!|! ; i'l ( 448 ) triUch ds poffible, before he deftributcd his troops into their winter quarters. He accordingly arrived there the 2 1 ft. He found the repairs tit Ticonderoga finiflied ; and for the better defence of Crown Point, and to make that fortrefs as formidable as he could^ he ordered, with the advice of the engineer, three forts to be erefted, which he named the Grenadier fort. Light Infantry fort, and Gage's Light Infantry fort, ordering thofe corps to build each their own as faft as poflible. The fituation of theie fortrefTes was the bed the general had leen in America, as it v/as no where commanded, and had all the advantages of the lake, and ftrength of ground, that could be de- fired. Thefe (everal works were not completely I finifhed by the end of november j but they were put I in liich a pofture of defence, as to make it impofliblc I for the enemy to be fuccefsful in any attempts which ' they might make on them. A 1 "icr this laborious cam- paign, the general diilributed his men in fuch quarters, that they effedually prote(5lcd the couniry from any inroads of the french or their Indians. In this difficult expedition, general Amherfl: exert- ed all his abilities, which before had been employed fo fuccefsfully in the fervice of his country, to fur- mount a thoufand obftacles, arifing from the nature of the country, in which the war was carried on. The tedioufnefs of building a naval force, fuperiorto that of the enemy, is hardly to be conceived. And having every operation that was carried on, depend fo entirely on the wind and weather, necefiarily pro- traded the campaign txceffively. If thefe caufes had not concurred, to delay general Amhcrft's crofiing lake Champlain, he would very probably have taken up his winter quarters at Montreal, inftead of Crown Point. I cannot help obferving here, how finely the general conducted this whole expedition, how much caution and prudence was ufed in every ope- ration, *■■*; ,f 'm ^■'■yr-- "■ ■• . :a, as it v/as ( 449 ) ration, Co neceflary in fuch a country as America. His building Teveral vtflels on the lake in fo fhort a fpace of time } and diredling their order of failing in fo judicious a manner ; his purfuing his advantages no further than was conliftcnt with prudence -, and afterwards employing the remainder of the campaign in fecuring his conquefts, in fuch an effeaual man- ner, arc fo many diftinguifhing marks of wifdom and abilities, as the american colonies had not experienced^ in any of Mr. Amherft's predecefTors, in his impor- tant command. In this glorious and fuccefsful manner, ended the campaign in America. The conquefts g "ned there, were of fuch infinite importance to Great Britain, that tiiey could not fail of raifing the moft perfedl fatisfaftion throughout the whole kingdom. As the american colonies are the great fources of our trade and naval power, fo thefe advantages, as they tend fo much to fecure the former, cannot but fupport and encreafe the latter. It was a pleafing contraft, to compare the flate of north America, at the end of this campaign, with its ftate foon after the breaking out of the war. The frcnch encroachments then, extended into the very heart of the englifli colonies -, and they had formed fuch a connected chain of forts along ".he frontiers, as threatened to confine us within fuch bounds as they fliould pleafe to dic1:ate ; but at the end of this cam- paign, the cafe was very different. The forts du Qiiefne, Frontinac, Niagara, Ticonderoga, and Crown Point, which before had been fo formidable, were no longer in the hands of the french : whole nations of indians changed their mafters, and inftead of burning and deftroying the englifli fettlements, turned their arms againft thole of the french. Qiicbec, the capital of the dominions of France in Americu^ was G £r in i I ! il ( 450 ) in the hands of the englifh ; and the only remains of (o many thoufand miles of territority, which the french polTefled, at the beginning of the war, was the traft between Trois Rivieres and lake Ontario • and their poflefllons in I..oui;jj la. To what can we attribute fuch a furpriCng chrnge, but to the happy influence of a firm and ^tgo'ous miniftry, who exerted the ftrength of the nat . i y governed, in the moft natural and advantageous .-.anner. CHAP. y remains of which the le war, was ^ke Ontario ; what can we to the happy who exerted in the moft CHAP. ( 451 ) CHAP. XXIV. Situation of the king of Pruffia. The amy of the empire gILi'^Tu iT^" r^-^^unfch into Sa.o7y. General I anfch defeats the army of the empire, aid jotns general hnck. General Haddick defeated at Urbttz Prince Henry'! fine march into Saxom. Mo- tiom of marfhal Daun. General Wunfch defeats ths duke d Aremberg. King of Pruffia marches into Saxo- ny, and joins prince Henry, General Finck furrenders ^^Maxen. General Diercke defeated at Meiffen. Mar- fhal Daun occupies the camp of Pirna. Remarks on hi, condut. Munfier capitulates. Hereditary prince of \^m^fck defeats the duke of IVurtemberg at Fulda Marches into Saxony, and joins the king of Pru/ria. Remarks on the campaign. ILeft the king of Pruflla 'after the battle of Cun- nerldorf guarding his dominions againft the united efforts of the auftrians and rufTians i and rifine fupe- rior to that formidable train of difficulties, which al- ways follow a defeat. As he had been obliged to draw the greateft part of his troops out of sfxony • the army of the empire, under the duke of Deux rents, took advantage of their abfence, and havino- no army in the field to oppofe it, made itfelf mafte? ot Hall Naumburg, and Zeitz ; and on the 2d of auguft, fummoned general Haufs, the pruffian com- mandant at Leipfick, to furrender that city, and he agreed to a capitulation on the fifth, the garrifon marching out with the honours of war. After mak- ing themfelves mafters of Leipfick, they attacked lorgau, which was evacuated by the prulTian garri- Ion on the 19th, who left behind them a macrfzine, valued at i,c6o,ooo florins-, and 1 70,000 florins ia ^ g 2 fpecie ' *i II ||: ■ 11 1 1 III 1 iiiii %■ ^ i li : 1 li 1 il III C 452 ) fpecle in the military chefl: ; their heavy artillery, all the hoftages, prifoners of war, and. deferters that were in the town ; burning the fuburbs before they eva- cuated it. The duke of Deux Fonts, next marched againft Wittenburg where there was a ftrong garri- foa of pru.Tians, who after a feeble defence, furren- dered upon honourable terms ^ but as they might have held out much longer, their commander, gene- ral de Horn, was put under an arreft, as foon as he arrived at Berlin. From Wittenburg, the imperial army drew near to Drefden, and on the 27th of au- guft fummoncd count Schmettau, the commandant, to furrender, who anfwered, that he would hold it out to the lall extremity, for which purpofe he left the new town, and retired into the old ; upon this the duke of Deux Fonts gave orders for a regular at- tack i but before the batteries began to fire, Schmettau cefired to capitulate ; and the city was furrendered the 4th of feptember, upon honourable terms. Such was the rapici progrtfswhich the imperial army made in Saxony ; to flop it, and, if pofiible to re- medy the blows already received, his prulfian maje- fty detached general Wunfch from his own army, with 6000 men to march into Saxony, and endeavour to retake the towns, which the army of the empire had conquered. That general with his litde army crofled the Elbe at 1 jrgau, the qd of feptember. He made fome prifoners at Groirenhayn the 4th, and the fame evening pufiied on towards Drefden ; and, at the diilance of a milt from thence, met with a confi- derable body of huflarr, rroats, and hungarian in- fantry, that were polled at Drachenberg, and imme- diately attacked them. He drove the enemy from one thicket and height to another, till he came within The cannonade and fire of fmall fight of Drefden. arms continued the whole day. without its being pofiible for general Wunfch to difcover, if that ci:y waiiitill in the pofiefiion of the prufilans 01 not. He was '■'■"J^M^^ was however of opinion, that it had capitulated • and therefore retreated that night toGrofTenhayn, and next day, che 7th, to Korfdorff. While he was on his march, he received advice, that the army of the empire, underthe baron de St. Andre, was nearTorgau The general dire^ly detached three battalions, and all his cavalry to attack him. On the 8th, after recon noitring, the attack was refolved. The infantry which had been left behind, arrived by degrees, and filed off,^ as they came up, by the town, into the gardens in tne neighbourhood, where they had an hour's reft The baron de St. Andre, in the mean time, canno- naded general Wunfcn's army as it formed, but with- out any fuccefs -, lo that he did not anfwer it till his heavy artillery and fome battalions and fquadrons were ported on his flanks. At one o'clock in the afternoon he entered a plain in his front, with his lines formed' and began the attack, with luch fuccefs upon the ene- my's left, which was ported in fome vineyards that It was broke intirely, after they had rallied four times The baron de St. Andre lort his whole camp, tenrs* camp equipage, and feven pieces of cannon. The puriuit contmued above an hour, towards Eulen- burg. After obtaining this viaory, general Wunfch march- ed to Leipfick, which furrendered to him, on the i '^th ci- feptember. Vvittenburg, Zeitz, and all the other places, except Drefden, which the imperial army had made themfelves marters of, were retaken Thekine of Prulfia to pufli this fuccefs ftill further, derached general Finck with another ftrong corps into Saxony. Wunfch, after Icouring the whole eleftorate with his little army in amazing fecurity, joined general Finck at Eulenburg. Ihe united corps then, as it fhould leem with defign to make itfelf marter of Drefden marched rtraight towards that city. At NolTen* Pinck learnt that general Haddick with a large body ^ S 3 of Tn ' m iriii, . ( 454 ) of auftrians had joined the imperial army •, and was encamped with all his forces at Roth-Schimberff. But he retired on the approach of the prufTians, who cannonaded his rear. General Finck advanced and encamped at Teutfchen l.ohra, and from thence marched toCorbitz near McilFen. General Haddick having, in the mean, received fome reinforcements attacked general Finck the 2 1 ft. The cannonade in the adion, which was very hot, began at nine in the morning, and lafted till dark in the evening ; but notwithftanding the goodnefs of general Had- dick's difpofitions, and the great fuperiority of his numbers yet he was forced to yield the field of battle to the pruffians, and to retire towards Drefden. The lofs of the auftrians in this adion was confider- able, but that of the prufiians did not exceed 800 men killed and wounded. The vii5lory enabled ge- neral Finck to maintain his ground in Saxony, till he was relieved by his royal highncfs prince Henry, who was upon his march to join him. I before mentioned the march which the king of Prufila made, -by which he got between the ruflian army and great Glogau, and thereby baffled their de- fign upon that important place. This movement, which many circumftances rendered neccflary, pre- vented the ruftians from taking winter quarters in his dominions ; but at the fame time, it unavoidably cut off all communication with the army of prince Henry. His royal highnefs, feeing, that all attempts to ft-- cond the operations of the king his brother, on the fide of Silefia, would b; ineftedual, formed another plan of co-operatin-:; with him, which was immedi- ately to dired his ir-r:ch. towards Saxony ; a fcheme as daring, as it wa: 'Uuicious. Nothing was more defirous than i lie poflcfiion of that eleftorate ; and the prince's march iruft iiave another good effed: •, for it would cen.-mly diaw the attention of marftial Daiai from the fide of SiV-fia, and difable him fiom afllft- ing il p-an, } i i%i ^ ■■^^'•.: ( 455 ) ing the niflians againfl: Glogau. Indeed the diffi- culties which lay in the prince's way were very great : the whole country of Lufatia, through which this projected march lay, was in a manner overfpread with the enemy. M. Daun with the main army of the auftrians, was polled at Sorau, oppofite to the prince's camp. Five bodies of ruffians occupied as many ad- vantageous pofts, between the Boberand the Neifs. Ge- neral Laudohn pofTefTed the whole country along the Spree, with feveral auftrian corps. To get round mar- flial Daun, it was neceflary to make a vaft circuit, and to march between the auftrian and ruffian armies, for more than 60 eaglifh miles. After the prince had lecured the paflcs of the moun- tains of Silefia, his royal highneis quitted his < imp of SchmotzfeifFen, and made ? hafty march to Sa- gan, which prevented marflial Daun, either from coming nearer the ruffian army, or detaching any more troops to reinforce it. His royal highnefs next turned the auftrian camp at Sorau, by marching by Buntzlau and Sprottau towards Laubahn ; which not only obliged the marftial to retire as far as Gorlitz, but alfo general de Ville, to abandon the aclvatage- ous poft of Laubahn, and join marflui Daun's ar- my. His royal highnefs ordered the poft ot Lau- bahn to be immediately occupied; and took that op- portunity of r]ctaching major general Stutter hcim (wJio haa till then, been oblerving general de Ville) towards K^iedland and Zittau. The general took at Friedland, two lieutenant colonels, four cap- tains, and 069 grenadiers pafoners j bi ought away two piece- of cannon, and deftroycd a magazine con- fiftin,; t" 1600 quintals or liour, 4000 bufliels of oat,5, and 10,000 rations of bread, for want of car- riages to bring it off. He then marched to Zittau ; but ch-i auftrians having taken the refolution t ) re- inforce the garrifon there, and remove the magazine from thence to Gabei, M. Stutterheim went in purluit G g 4 of iiiii^'ii I ,:..i„ i :^l< I ip! t; ( 456 ) of it came up with it, and burned and deftroyed 5000 cafks of fluiir, 10,000 quintals of oats, with the car- riages, and a number of chefts of arms. Not beino- able to force the town of Zittau, for want of heavy artillery, was obliged to content himfelf with the ad- vantages he had gained, having loft no more in this whole expedition than 15 men killed, wounded, or defertcd. However, thefe circumftances obliged mardial Daun to retire from Gorlitz, beyond Baut- zen •, whereupon, prince Henry poffelfed himfelf of the camp of HermfdorfF, near Gorlitz. It was now the prince found, how difficult an en- terprife it was, which he had undertaken ; the five bo- dies of ruffians, I mentioned before, occupied the pofts of Chriftianftadt, Guben, Pforten, Sommerfeldt, and Gaflen : the auftrians under general Laudohn were in pofleffion of Tribel and Sorau ; and another corps of auftrians, under general Palfi, ocsupied Sprembcrg, Cotbus, Peitz, and other places upon the Spree j fo that, in order to get round Daun's army, it was neccflary to make a very great detour between the auftrian and ruflian armies. In fpight of all thcfe obllacles, his royal highnefs purfued his march. Hav- ing recalled general Zcithen from Seydenburg, and general Stutterheim from his poll at Schouwald near Zittau, in order to form his rear guard, gave orders for the march of his whole army, which v/as accord- ingly begun the 23d of feptem.ber, at feven o'clock at night •, and in the morning of the 24th, they croffed the river Ncifs, near Rothcnberg, (four german miles diftant from Hermfdorf ) and after halting two hours, continued on to Klittcn, where the van-guard arrived about eleven that night, and the rear at eight the next morning. On the 25th in 'he morning, the prince's van -guard marched from Kiiticn towards iioyerfwerda -, major general Lentulus having b-^^n fent before to take pof- fefTion of it. That general having advanced within halt ■' -f - -Trit^JI^Vm ed 5000 the car- et being jf heavy 1 the ad- 2 in this ided, or obliged id Baut- mfelf of t an en- five bo- pied the nerfeldt, -^audohn another 3C(3upied es upon I's army, between all thcfe h. Hav- irg, and ^ald near e orders ; accord- 'clock at r crofTed an miles o hours, arrived the next in -guard •, major ake pof- i within halt (457 ) half a german mile of Hoyerfwerda, had the good fortune to difcover, that the auftrian general Vchla, with a corps of 4 or 5000 auftrians, chiefly irregulars, was encamped behind the town, in perftd: fecurity •, notice of this was immediately fent to his royal high- nefs, who ordered Vehla to be attacked, and foon drove him from the town, and his camp to the neigh- bouring woods, where he made a very brave defence^ and was himfelf taken prifoner in the rear of his corps, which was loon afterwards entirely difperfed. After halting two days at Hoyerfwerda, the pruflians niarched the 28th in the morning to Ruland, and the next day to Elfterwerda. On the ifl: of oitober, the prince received advice that marflial Daiin had thrown 3 bridges ovei' the Elbe at Drefden, he therefore detached general Ozttritz to crofs that river, with five battalions, and two reo;i- ments of dragoons, at Torgau, and approach gene- ral Finck's corps, in cafe of a probability of its be- ing attacked. His royal highnefs marched himfelf, and arrived at Torgau the 2d, where he alfo crofTed the Elbe, and proceeded on to Bclgern, and there joined general Finck on the 4th. In this manner the miferable country Saxony, was again made the grand theatre of war, and was now to fufFer all its hard- ihips and diftrelTes once more. Since the beginning of the war, there never has been made a more diffi- cult, or a finer condudled march, than this of prince Henry. To lead an army over fo extenfive a tradl of country, every where occupied by the enemy, in fuch a rapid manner, equally difplays the genius of the commander, and the goodnefs of the pruflian troops. Soon after his royal highnefs arrived in Saxony, his prufiian majefty received advice of another piece of good news, the ruffians began to retreat from the neighbourhood of the king's camp, and by their march Teemed to have a defign on Breflaw -, but they afterwards 1 ' ,1 !' P I \>l ■s iiii fill' > ( 458 ) afterwards turned off towards Poland, and left the pruflian dominions free for the remainder of that campaign. Prince Henry finding it neceflary to leave his ftrontin numbers and fituation. He had it in his power at any time, to take poflefTion of the famous camp at Pirna, where it was impoffible to attack him. But feveral circumftances made this poft .^s dangerous in fome refpe<5ls, as it was defirable in othv^rs ; the freezing of the Elbe, and the fnow on the mountains, which divided Bohemia from Saxony, made it very difficult to procure the neceflary provi- fions and forage. Add to this, the being continually moleflcd by the pruffian parties, as there was great reafon to fuppofe he would. Had the king of Pruflia, in this fituation, con- tented himfelf with only purfuing the advantages he had already gained, by joining his forces fo fuccefs- fully, marllial Daun would in all probability have abandoned Drefden, and retired into Bohemia. But that monarch imagining, that he might oblige the marfhal to come to a battle, by poflefling himfelf of fome ftrong polls, which command the pafles that lead into Bohemia, as the aullrians retreat into that kingdom, would then, in a manner, be cut off, de- termined to attempt executing this plan. His majefty, by a movement he made, obliged marfhal Daun to retreat as .ar as Plauen ; and ad- vanced his own army to KefTeldorf •, from whence he detached general Finck, with 19 battalions and 25 Iquadrons, to take pofTeirion of the dctiies of Maxen and and Ottei ble for th General 1 the auftrie ing on a 1 lions, anc mean tin king's del this rougl fitions foi neral Fin out havir body of very brifl feft, on a non play grenadier: attacked i mafters o neral Fini pid effort; he was dt lofs of m gagemeni which, n to entans ftrength ; it was po appeared, fide with file preft it was ir almoft e ing, wh munition fides, an( fpirit. I would be and ( 46« ) and Ottendorf, through which alone it feemed poffi- ble for the aiiftrians to communicate with Bohemia. General Finck accordingly turned the left flank of theauftrian army, and polled himlelf atMaxen, plac- ing on a hill to the right of a village, three batta- lions, and a battery of ten pieces of cannon. In the mean time, marfhal Daun, who was aware of the king's defign, had occupied all the eminences about this rough and dangerous place, and made his difpo- fitions for attaking the pruflTians on the 20th. Ge- neral Finck had got too far amongft the defiles with- out having fecured a retreat, when he faw a large body of auftrians moving to attack him, he made a very brifk fire from his artillery, but with little ef- fect, on account of the elevation. The auftrian can- non played with more fuccefs, and prote6led their grenadiers, who marched againft the prulTian left, and attacked it with great intrepidity, making themfelves matters of the battery of ten pieces of cannon. Ge- neral Finck made during the whole day the mod intre- pid efforts to difengage his army from the enemy, but he was defeated in every attempt, with a confiderable lofs of men, and great part of his artillery. The en- gagement lafted with great fury till night •, during which, marfhal Daun took every precaution poITible to entangle the pruflians, by guarding with ciouble ftrength and vigilance, every avenue through which it was poflible for them to efcape. When morning appeared, Finck faw all the hills covered upon every fide with great bodies of audrians, and every de- file prefented a wall of bayonets, through which it was impolTible to penetrate. The prulTian troops almoft exhaufted with the preceding day's fight- ing, wherein they had ufed almoft all their am- munition, feeing fo formidable an enemy on all fides, and without the leaft profped of relief, loft all fpirit. In this condition, ger-eral Finck thought it would be needlefs to throw away the Jives of fo many brave 4 ( 462 ) brave men, to To little purpofe, in any more attacks upon an mvmcible enemy j he therefore, .lotwith ftandmg the known feverity of his matter, and the Aam which he was fenfible the world would fix on his charafter, came to a refolution of demandincr a ca pitulation. Marfhal Daun granted it in one article' whereby general Finck, and nine other prufllan gene- rals were received prifoners of war, with 19 battalions and ^5 fquadrons, compofing near 20,000 men, by the auftrian account; above 12,000 by the prulTian confeffion ; 64- pieces of cannon, 50 flags, and 25 flandards were alfo taken on this occafion. With the moft trifling lofs did marfhal Daun exe- cute this fervice. It was without exception the moft fevere blow, which the pruffians had felt fince the beginning of the war i it happened in the moft cri- tical time, and brought . great difreputation on their arms, from the manner i; which this numerous corps was taken : fo that wp cannot be fuprifed, that the friends of the houfe of Auftria fhould have exulted fo much, efpecialiy as the ftroke which his prufiian majefly now received, was of much worfe confequen- ces to his caufe, than the capture of the faxon army, in the year 1 756, was to that of his enemies. The king had not recovered this Ilroke before he received another fevere one. General Dierke had been ported on the right bank of the Elbe, occupying a fl:rong camp oppoflte to Meiflen, with feven batta- lions of infantry and a thoufand horfe. This poft was fo advantageous, that he thought his retreat to Meiflen abfolutely fecure, efpecialiy as he had been afllired by the pontoneers, that they could lay a bridge over the Elbe in a few hours, ffor they had been obliged during the hard froR-, to withdraw the bridge of boats thsy had over that river, and the wooden bridge at Mciflt-n had been broken down by the au- (Irians) but when they attempted to lay a bridge of pontons, it was found impradicable, becaufe of the quantity ■r, and the d fix on his nding a ca- one article, jfllan gene- } battaHons men, by he prufllan 5s, and 25 Daun exe- )n the moft It fince the : moft cri- ion on their erous corps d, that the ave exulted lis prufiian confequen- ixon army, iS. before he :e had been occupying !ven batta- This poft 5 retreat to t had been ay a bridge ^ had been the bridge he wooden 3y the au- 1 bridge of I life of the quantity %-i ( 463 ) quantity of ice, floating in the river. General Di- ercke was therefore reduced to the necelTity of mak- ing ufe of boats, to carry over his cavalry, and pare of his infantry, on the 3d of december, which took up a great deal of time, whilft he himfelf with three or four battalions formed the rear guard. The next day, in the morning, he was attacked by the auftrians, and after a very brave defence, the battalions that formed the rear guard, were either killed or made prifoners, to the number of near 3000 men. The general himfelf was wounded, and a prifoner. Marfhal Daun, by his inactivity, after thefe two blows, fo fatal to the prufiian caufe, furprifed all Eu- rope ; a few vigorous efforts, were now only wanting to crufli the king of PrufTia. But Daun, inftead of advancing, retired, as if he had been defeated, and took refuge in the impregnable camp of Pirna, hav- ing fecuretl all the defiles in fuch a manner, that his prufiian majefty, now too weak to fend out any great detachment, could not cut ofi' his commuiucation with Bohemia, Surely marfiial Daun's meafures after thefe two defeats were L/ far too feeble. He had now the fairefi: opportunity which had prefented it- felf fince the beginning of the war, of totally ruin- ing his enemy, before the defeat ar Maxen he had a fuperiority of above 20,000 men, and confequent- ly after it, by his own account, of 40,000, if he could not improve this fuccefs, with fuch a vafl:ly fuperior force, how could he expedl to be able to do it, when he had given his enemy time to re- cruit his fiiattered army. This was a critical mo- ment, which count Dau nould have feized, and for once have carried on t'ne war ofienfively ; and have at- tacked the king, while his army was fo diminiflied in its numbers, and the remainder of it difpirired under its late lofs ? Had marfiial Daun, even after he took pofieflion of the camp at Pirna, where it was impof- fible he fiiould be attacked, fent out fome very fi:rong detachments, m ,fit: ' ti; If ; M ^a^ .^n.> ^. V <^:p o^ "%^ .>* IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) I. I.I '- IIIIM |50 1""^^ •^ IIM m m III M IIIIM ||M 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 ''/ // *^'". % &?- J:?. y ^ m:/^ "''/, iV '•q^ t '^v> ^^ «-< ">i'° C<'x «^. ■ ■ H-'*- 'TnFi |K. .^ \ Ci !'^ |f i! ^f l^Bl^^^H 1 ■ ■Q ( 464 ) detachments, to puih the vnr in Silcfia, and even in Brandenburg itfelf, the king of Pruflia would have found it impradlicable to defend fo many parts of his dominions. The cold, which was then indeed very fevere, would not have prevented fome ftrong corps being detached. In fhort, it was impoffible to un- ravel this part of Daun's condudt -, for, although he was fo well known to be an exceflive cautious com- mander, yet, under fuch ftrong circumftances asthefe of which I have been fpeaking, we muft fuppofe he would throw fomething into the hands of fortune, -who had fo lately befriended him, in fuch a fignal manner. But if his genius, - /hich leads him fo di- reftly to defenfive operations, would not permit him to hazard a battle, ftill there are a thoufand different methods, which an able commander knows how to ufe, to follow fuch a blow as his prufTian majelly had juft received, and reap from it its greateft con- fequences. In the mean time, while the two armies in Saxony carried on the campaign, through all the rigor of the feverelt winter, for many years felt in Europe ♦, duke Ferdinand did the fame, but with much better fuc- cefs than his prufTian majefty. Indeed the french army having received confiderable reinforcements, and the obftinate defence of the city of Munfter, to- gether with the great extremity of the cold had pre- vented his ferene hig^ lefs from forcing his enemy to a decifive a6tion. /it length, after a tc lious fiege and blockade, Munfter capitulated, whereby general Inhoff with the corps under his command, was enabled to join the army under duke Ferdinand. Soon after this, the hereditary prince of Brunfwick, whofe aftivity, 1 have fo often had occafion to cele- brate, performed a piece of fervice of much more prejudice to the french, than even the lofs of Munfter. The duke of Wurtemburg had this year renewed his treaty of fubfidy with France, and having recruited, and lous com- bes as thefe uppofe he >f fortune, h a fignal lim fo di- )ermit him i different /s how to m majeily tateft con- in Saxony igor of the )pe ; duke better fuc- :he french Drcements, mfter, to« i had pre- enemy to iious fiege by general ?as enabled 5runfwick, >n to cele- luch more ■ Munfter. newed his recruited, and ( 465 ) and augmented his troops, to the number of near 10,000 men, was polled at Fulda, a great way to the right of the french army ; as there were no great bodies of troops polled near Fulda ro preferve a free communication between that town and the rell of their army, the prince formed a defign of attacking the duke of Wurtemburg. On the 28th of november, he, with prince Charles of Bevern. taking two regiments of dragoons, tv/o of cavalry, four battalions of foot, two regiments of grenadiers, 100 hunters, and two fquadrons of huf- I'ars, and difengaging them from their baggage, marched the fame day to Kifdorff, and Heimerihau- fen, and the following, being the 29th, feperating into two corps, the hereditary prince vvith one, lay that night at Angerlbach, and prince Charles with the other at Lauterbach. At one o'clock in the morning of the 30th, the whole corps was again put in motion, and marched directly towards Fulda. As the enemy did not in the leall expect this vifit, no troops were met on the road. At a little dillance from Fulda, having ordered the whole corps to be drawn together, behind the nearetl height, and the hufiars to march forward, his ferene highnefs wc^nt to recon- noitre, almoft to the gates of the town. The coun- try about Fulda forms a plain of tolerable even ground, the right of which is watered by a river of the fame name i the fields on this fide being di- vided by a long hollow way. On one fide of it the Wurtemburg troops had ranged themfjlves, in fmall bodies, on feparate fpots of ground, very irregularly polled. The duke v/as himfelf in the town, and had ordered a feu de joye for that day •, his troops were all in their belt cloaths ; and he had invited all the ladies in the town to his table, and to a ball which he in- tended to have given •, but the hereditary prince over- rurncd all his meafures, both of war and diverfion. I lis highnefs having reconnoitred their fitiiation, at- II h tacked I! !| i ' I a ( 466 ) tacked them unawares in their front and ftank, and drove them into the town •, they fhut the gates after them, but they were foon forced open with the cannon and the hereditary prince purfued them through it, On the other fide of the town, they were met by prince Charles of Bevern, who had made a compafs about the place, and attacked them vigoroufly, as foon as they had got out of it i three battalions and a regiment had formed again in order of battle, as if with an intention of defending themfelves ; but they were inftantly attacked, and all either cut in pieces, or taken prifoners, together with all their officers, two pieces of cannon, two pair of colours, and their baggage. The duke himfelf, with the reft of his troops, made a fhift to efcape, under cover of the defence made by thofe battalions. The prince took above 1000 prifoners ; and having refted his troops a day at Fulda, retired to the army of the allies, having difabled the Wurtemburghers from performing any thing confiderable. This ftroke had more good confequences than one, as it not only prevented the french from forming a communication with the army of the empire, for the mutual extenfion and fecurity of their winter quarters, as they did the lall campaign ; but it alfo was in part theoccafion of their abandoning their camp at Gieflen, which they did on the 5th of december, and fell back towards Butzbach, on the direft road to Franck- fort, leaving a garrifon of 2000 men in Gieflen. Duke Ferdinand finding the feafon grown too fe- vere to pufli further the advantages he had gained over the french, and that their army was going into win- ter quarters, determined to fend a reinforcement to the king of Pruflia. He confidered the diftrefled con- dition of that monarch's affairs, which were at fo low a pitch, and his army fo weak, that he had no hopes of diflodging marfhal Daun, or preventing him from taking his winter quarters in Saxony. His fe- rene 1 ank, and ;ates after e cannon, irough it. : met by I compafs roufly, as battalions of battle, Ives ; but , er cut in all their f colours, h the reft r cover of he prince refted his ny of the lers from than one, brming a e, for the r quarters, 'as in part at Gieflen, , and fell o Franck- ilTen. vn too fe- ained over into win- :ement to efled con- /ere at fo he had no nting him His fe- rene 1 1 ( 467 ) rcne hlghnefs accordingly placed the hereditary prince at the head of 12,000 men, and detached him to fuccour his pruflian majefty. They marched from Korfdorflf, the nth of december, and in the depth of fo fevere a winter, without lofing a man by fick- nefs ordefertion, in 15 days marched near 300 miles, and joined the king of PruflTia at Freyburg in Saxony. For a moment this junftion raifed the fpirits of the pruflians •, but it did little fervice to their caufe. Mar- fhal Daun, ftill at the head of a much fuperior army, intrenched in an inaccelTible camp, was too cautious to give the king the leaft opportunity of fo much as making an attempt. His majefty endeavoured to draw him to a battle, but all his efforts were in vain ; fo that after one of the longeft, moft laborious, and bloody campaigns, that ever was conduced, the king of Pruffia diftributed his troops into winter quarters. In the mean time, the duke of Broglio, who hav- ing obtained the marlhal's ftaff, now commanded the french army, determined to take advantage of the hereditary prince's abfence to make an attack upon duke Ferdinand's pofts. On the 24th, he atrempted it by furprife •, but found fo warm a reception, and every poft fo well guarded, that he retired to his for- mer quarters, without being able to effeft any thing. In this glorious and fuccefsful manner, did prince Ferdinand finith the campaign. The fuperiority of his genius appeared very evidently in its conclufion : there hardly ever being a bolder a<5tion than the de- taching 12,000 men, fo great a diftance, from an army fo much inferior to its enemy -, nor did the abilities of the hereditary prince lliine lefs confpicu- oufiy, in conducing that rapid march, during fuch fevere weather. This adion in the face of one fu- perior army, and tlie taking Munller in the preience of another, particularly dillinguillies the generairhip of duke Ferdinand. H h 2 This i in Up I ( 468 ) This \va3 the mo[l flital campaign to the kino- of PrufTia, of any he had made fince the beginnincr of the war. All Europe was with great reafon furprifed to fee the immc-nfc cfi'orts he made againft: fuch for- midable enemies, even after having fuftaintd four capital defeats in one campaign. Before this war, the power of the houfe of Brandenburg was fiippofed to be merely artificial ; under any other fovereign, that fuppofition would perhaps have been true-, but the refources which his prufllan majeily found in his own genius, made up for thofe that are wanting in his dominions. Every one knows, that his territories, Siiefia excepted, are fome of the mod barren tracls of country in Germany. And yet, this monarch was able for three years to carry on a mofl fuccefsful and glorious war, agninll four of the mofl powerful ftates in Europe •, and, even in the fourth cam.paign, though not viftorious, yet he difplayed his vafl: abilities, in finding refources, more than in any of the former; for, although he loft four battles in that campaign, yet Drefden was the only fruit that his enemies gained by as many vidlorics. c n A p. ( 469 ) C H A P. XXV. Preparations at Vanncs and Breji for an invnfion. Sir Edward Haivke blocks up the port of BreJl. He is ■driven from his Jlation. 'The french fleet comes out of BreJl. Battle of Belkijle. French fleet defeated. War in the Eajl-indies. Surat furrcndcrs to captain Mait- land. French attempt to dethrone the nabob of Bengal. Are defeated by colonel Clive. Major Ford takes Maf- fulipatam. Battle at fea., betivcen Pocock and d'AchL Thefrcnch defeated. Affairs in Europe. Sad flat e of France. Kings of Great Britain and Pruffia offer to hold a congrefs for peace. Reffed by the other bellige- rent pozvers. Reflexions on the events of the year 1 759. IBefpre mentioned the preparations which the court of France had made for fome time, in all their ports, to invade Great Britain. The battle of cape Lagos checked them -, but tlicy were far from being difcontinued. The defeat which the french army in Germany met with at Minden, ruined their fchemes of making a good peace, by means of the polTefllon of Hanover ; they then found that their only hope depended on the fuccefs of the invafion, they had planned againft England -, and therefore redoubled their efforts to get their fquadron at Brefl in all pof- fible forwardnefs. The forces were to be tranfportcd from Vannes. The winter did not in the leafl delay thefe preparations -, it was that feafon wherein the french court hoped to be able to put their defign ia execution -, as they thought the englifli fleet, which had been cruifing fome time before the harbour of Breft, would then be obliged to take refuge in its H h 3 own ( 470 ) own ports ; and leave the fea open to the french fleet to come out, and land their forces in England. The french were not wholly difappointed in their expcflations ; for fir Edward Hawkc was forced from his ftation by a violent ftorm, and driven into Tor- bay. The french admiral, Conflans, took immediate advantage of his abfcnce, and put to fea the 14th of november. Hiis was an event which alarmed the whole britifli nation ; the confequences of the wholo war, were put at once to the Hake j and this was the critical moment, that was to determine the fate of the two kingdoms : if the french were able to exe- cute their plan ; all the fucccfs which had attended the arms of Britain, fince the beginning of the war, would be entirely overthrown. But though the nation was alarmed, yet it was far from being dejefted •, their fear only produced the mofl: cool and regular methods of defence, no dilhirbance was heard of, and every one was emulous to diflinguifh himfelf in the fervice of his country. Orders were ifllied for guarding all fuch parts of the coaft of England, as were mod likely for the french to attempt to make a delcent on i for which purpofe, troops were every where put in motion ; and all the fhips of war in harbour were ordered out. One remarkable inflance of gallant behaviour at this period, is worthy to be recorded. Admiral Saunders came into port from his Quebec expedition, juft after fir Edward Hawke had failed. Neither the tedious length of his late voyage, the fatigues he had undergone in fo fevere a campaign, nor the want of the neceflTary orders, could deter him from putting to fea with ten fhips, to partake the honour and the danger of the enfuing engagement ; he was not however fo fortunate as to join the engliih fleet time enough for it. Ai fir Edward concluded, that the firft rendezvous of the french fleet would be at Quiberon bay, the in- ftant ( 47« ) ftant he received Intelligence of their having failed, he left Torbay the 14th and (the fam^j day as thcfrench came out of Bred) direded his courfe thither, with a preft fail. At firft the wind blew hard, and being contrary, drove him confiderably to the weftward. But on the i8th and 19th, though variable, it proved more favourable ; fo that on the 20th, at 8 o'clock in the morning, one of his frigates made the fignal for an enemy's fleet in view. But, although the ad- miral was now fo happy as to have the enemy in fight, yet there was an infinity of dangers to encoun- ter, even before he could polTibly engage them. The whole coaft is fown very thick with fands and rocks, the englilh pilots were not well acquainted with it, cind the wind blew little lefs than a violent ftorm ; the fea running mountain high : the enemy's fquadron was very flrong, and on their own coaft, with which they were perfedly acquainted. Thefe dreadful dif- ficulties only animated the engfifli admiral •, in cir- cumftances lefs dangerous, fome commanders would have avoided an engagement -, but fir Edward Hawke knowing that this was the moft critical moment of the whole war. determined to venture every thing in the fervice of his country : he was in one of the fineft fhips in the world, and commanded the flower of the britifh navy *, he was feconded by many of the braveft Englifli Ships. Royal George Union Duke Namar? Mars Warfpright Hercules Guns. 100 90 90 90 74 74 74 fleet. Men. is8o I 750 780 6co 600 600 Hh 4 Commanders. \ Sir Edward Hawke, I Captain Campbell, I Sir Charles Hardy, I Captain Evans. Captain Graves, Captain Buckle, James Young, efq. commodore. Sir John Bentley, Captain Fortefcue, Torbay { !' il ( 472 ) braved and moft experienced officers in the fervicc, and every man carried in his breall the remembrance of thofd glorious fuccefles, which had fo particularly diflinguifhed the britifh arms during the war, "When the french fleet was firll difcovered, it was bearinw to the northward, between the illand of Belleifle, and^thc main land of France. The admiral obferving, that on his firfl: dirco>jering them, they made off, threw out the fignal for the feven fliips neareft them to chace, and draw into a line of battle a- head of him, and, endeavour to flop them, till the reft of the fquadron fliould come up, who Ships. Gnns. Men. Commanders. Torbay 74 600 Hon. capt. Keppcl, Magnanime 74 700 Right hon. lord Howe, Rclolution 74 600 Captain Speke, Hero 74 600 Hon. capt. Edgecumbc, Swififure 7° 520 Sir Thomas Sianhope, Doifetfhire 70 528 Captain Denis, Burford 7° 520 Captain Gambier, Chicheflcr 70 520 Captain Willet, Temple 70 520 Captain W, Shirley, Revenge 64 480 Captain Storr, • .Ffllx 64 480 Capt.''--^ '"" '''.'■ , Kingflon 60 400 Capt:. Intrepid 6c 4?o Captj Montague 60 420 Capti Dunkirk 60 420 Captai. Defiance 60 420 Captain a>: Rochefter 50 350 Ciptain Duff, Portland 50 350 Captain Arbuthnot, Faulkland i»o 350 Captain Drake, Chatham SO 350 Captain Lockart, iMinerva 31 220 Captain Hood, \ enus 36 240 Captain Harrifon, Vengeance 28 200 Captain Nightingale, Coventry 28 200 Captain Barflem, Maidilone 28 200 Captain Diggs, Sapphire 32 2030 220 Captain Strachan. 15900 French HHI fP ( 473 ) who v/ere alfo to form as they chafed, that no time might be loft in the piirfuir. M. Conflans had it in his power, either to Hy, or ftand ?nd fight it out; but, through cowardice or mifconducl he di(i neither pertcdlly ; for fomc time he appeared as if he meant tc fight J but after giving the britifh fhips time to come near him, when it was too late, he crowded all the fail he could carry •, and at the fame time, he fhcwed an attention to keep all his fquadron toge- ther. French fleet. Ships. Guns. Men. Le Solid Royal 80 I zoo Le Tonnant 80 1000 Le Formidable 80 I coo Le Orient 80 1000 Le Intrepide 74 815 he Glorieux 74 8is Le Thefee 74 8'S Le Heros 74 8'S Le Robufte 74 8is Le Magnifique 74 8,5 Le Julte 70 800 Le Superbe 70 806 Le Dauphin 70 800 Le Dragon 64 750 Le Northumb. 64 750 Le Sphinx 64 750 Le Solitaire 64 750 Le Brillant 64 75? Le Eveille 64 750 Le Bizarre 64 750 Le Inflexible 64 Le Hebe 40 Le Veftale 34 Le Aignette 36 Le Calypfo 16 I6I2 { { { Commanders. M, Conflans, admiral. M. Beaufremont, vice-admiral. M. de St. Andre de Verger, rear-admiral, M. Gubriant, chef d* Efcardre. 16740 The li Ill ( 474 ) The afkion began with greit fury, abo"t half an hour after two. The cnghlh admira" ordered his ihip to refer /e her fire, to pafs by all the others, and to be laid along- fide of the Soliel Royal, the beft (hip in the french navy. The maftcr rcmonftratcd ou the great danger of the coaft. Kawkc anfwercd, '* You have done your duty in this remonftrance ; •« now obey my orders, and lay mc along-fide of the " french admiral.'* The captain of the Superbe, a french man of war of 70 guns, in a gallant and ge- nerous manner pi't himfelf between them. Hawke was obliged tc Seftow here, the fire he had referved for a greater occafion, and at one broadfide funk her to the bottom. The crew of the Royal George gave a cheer, but it was a faint one ; the honeft failors were touched at the n-iferable fate of 800 poor crea- tures, out of which number, only 20 were faved in feme pieces of the wreck. Sir Edward having ma'v this dreadful beginning, continued bearirg down c. M. Conflans -, before he could engage him, he receiv- ed the fire of fix other Ihips -, at lad Conflans gave him his broadfide -, it was returned with great fpirit, and after two or three exchange^ the french admi- ral (heered off". Sir Edward then received the fire of their vice-admira! ; but he fcon followed the example of his fuperior. Another and another did the fame, but all were equally unable to ftand againft the fteady, but dreadful fire of the Royal George. The For- midable, in which was the french rear-admiral, was the only Ihip in the french fleet that fought fairly •, caLtain Speke of the Refolution, did not force her to ftrike till towards the dufk of the evening. The Torbay was fingly engaged with the Thefee i but at the fecond broadfide fent that unfortunate fhip to the bottom. About five the Heros ftruck, and came to an anchor -, but it blowing hard, no boat could be fent on board. Night ( 475 ) S'mht favcd the lemaindci of the frcnch flctv ; the ,^lilh admiral being vn a bart of the coafl:, among iflr.nds and Ihoals, of which they were totally igno- r^i»£, the grcateft part of the fquadron without a pi- lot, and the wind blowing hard upon the lee Ihore, made the fignal to anchor. Every thing concurred to make the night /hich fucceedcd the artion, complete- ly dieadful. A violent ftorm blew all night long. It was a pitchy darknels •, a dangerous coaft furroundfirl them on all fides. A continual firing of diftrefs guns was heard, withouf: knowing whether they came from friend or enemy, and on account of thebadnefs of the coaft, and the darknefs of the night, the englilh failors were equally unable to venture to their affiftance. "When the morning of the 2ift came, they found that the frcnch admiral and the Heros, which under cover of the night had anchored among the englifti fliips, cut and run alhore to the weftward of Crozie. On the latter's moving, fir Edward made the EflTcx's fignal to flip and purfue her ; but ihe unfortunately got upon fome rocks, called the Four, and both fne and the Refolution were irrecoverably loft, not with - (landing all the affiftance the weather would permit, was fent them. The enemy it was found, had kven fhips of the line at anchor, between Penris Point and tlie river Villaine •, on difcovering them, the cnglifti admiral made the fignal to ^/eigh, in order to work up and attack them ; but it blowed fo hard from the N. W. that inftead of daring to caft the fquadron loofe, he was obliged to ftrike top-gallant maft;;. Moft of thefe fliips appeared to be on ground at low water ; but on the flood, by lightening them, and the advantage of the wind under the land, they got into the river Villaine. The weather being moderate on the 22d, the ad- miral fent the Portland, Chatham, and Vengeance to deftroy tlie Soliel Royal and Heros. The french, oii the approach of the englifh fet the nrft on fire, and foon after the latter met the fame fate from their enemies. ■ ^-i m ( 476 ) enemies. Sir Edward employed the 23d in recon- noitring the entrance of the river Villaine, which is very narrow, and only twelve feet water on the bar, he difcovered feven or eight line of battle fhips about half a ntiile within, quite light, and two large frigates moored a-crofs, to defend the mouth of the river, the latter only having guns. He fitted out 12 long boats to attempt burning them ; but the weather be- ing bad, and the wind contrary, it was found im- prafticable. The admiral then detached capt. Youno- to Quiberon bay, with five fhips to watch the enemy's llraggling fhips, and made up a flying fquadron to fcour the coaft to the ifle of Aix. Sir Edward con- cludes his account of this adion with thefe words : In attacking a frying enemy, it was impofhble in the fpace of a fliort winter's day, that all our fhips fliould be able to get into action, or all thofe of the enemy brought to it. The commanders and com- panies of fuch as did not come up with the rear of the french on the 20th, behaved with the great- efl intrepidity, and gave the flrongefl proofs of a true britifh fpirit. In the fame manner I am fatis- fied, thofe captains would have acquitted them- felves, whofc bad going fhips, or the diftance they were at in the mooring, prevented from getting up. Our lofs by the enemy is not confiderable j for in the fliips that are now with me, I find only one lieutenant, and ^g feamen and marines killed, and about 202 wounded. When I confider the feafon of the year, the hard gales on the day of aftion, a flying enemy, the fhortnefs of the day, and the coafts we are on, I can boldly afhrm, that all that could pofllble be done, has been done. Ar. to the lofs we have fuflained, let it be placed to th account of the necefTity I was all Had tC (( «c Cl cc cc cc cc cc cc cc (C cc cc C( cc cc C( cc cc cc C( cc under of running rifks to break this flrong force of the enemy, but two hours more day-light, whole had been totally deftroyed or taken ; the for cc we we ( 477 ) " we were almofl: up with their van, when night " overtook us." In this glorious and fuccefsful manner was conclud- ed this remarkable aftion, in which the french had four capital fhips deftroyed, one taken, and the whoFe of their formidable navy, in which confifted the laft hope of their marine,fliattered, difarmed, anddifperfed. The invafion, which they had been fo long at work to effe6b, and which was to repair their loffes in every part of the world, was now entirely difiipated ; with their laft hope, the fpirit of the people funk, and the credit of their arms was broken along with their forces. On the contrary, the behaviour of the englifli admi- ral, captains, and feamen was fuch, as refleded the greateft honour on their country -, and added as much to the glory, and to the arms of Britain as to its fafety. In fhort, thofe who were engaged, and thofe who were not fo fortunate, gave proofs that they were equally ardent in the fervice of their country. This engage- ment, the furrender of the prufiian troops at Maxen, and the taking of Mqnfter, happened on the fame day, the 20th of november. The fuccefs of the englifti was equally great in the Eaft-indies. In that country, the two nations had been more upon an equality than any where elfc, fmce the commencement of the war; but yet the advantage was on the fide of the englifli. In the be- ginning of fcbruary, captain Richard Maitland of the royal regiment of artillery, was ordered by the go- vernor and council of Bombay, to undertake an ex- pedition againft the city and caftle of Surat. He embarked with 850 artillery and infantry, and 1500 feapoys, the 9 th of february, and in eight days landed them fafe at a place called Dentilowry, diftant from Surat about nine miles, where he encamped for the refrefliment of his troops three or four days. Being pofllflcd of a proper fpace of ground, he immediately railed a battery of two 24 pounders and a mortar, which played very briddy againft the wall for three !.SL,!JI 1 davs. ( 478 ) days. Finding tliisi method of attack tedious, he with the advice of a council of war, ordered his* little fleet to warp up the river in the night, and anchor in a line of battle, oppofitc one of the ftrongeft forti- fied ports they had got, called the Bundar, which being executed, a rrencral attack begun from the vef- fels and battery at the appointed time, and the troops being fafely landed, Toon became maftcrs of that poft, and the outer town. Having fuccccded thus far, the captain boinbauietl the caftlc and town as foon as pof- blc, with luch brifkncfs, that it furrendcred to him after little or no oppofition. This conqucft was of van. importance to the englifh Eaft India company, .Surat being one of the richcft cities in India, carrying on a flouriliiing and extenfive trade. In the mean time, colonel Clivc, who had before fo often didinguiHicd himfelf in this country, conti- nued to command fucccis againft the frcnch. 7'Iiat nation had let up a pcrlun in oppofition to thc^ nabob, whom the colonel had placed upon the throne of Bengal, ai.J having alliftcd him with men and nioncy, he laid fiege to Patua. Clive being in- formed of the attempt, marched from Calcutta with great expedition, and obliged the pretender to retire with the greatcrt precipitation. He then detached mnjor Brereton, with ibmc troops to harrafs the rear of general L-ally's army, which had not long before railed the fioge of Madrafs. This and ibmc other de- tachments ioon after joined the englilh army, about thirty miles from Maclrafs •, many endeavours were i\\c to bring Mr. Tally to an engagement, who, tliough fuperior in number declined ft. Major Brere- ton marched loon after to Vandewafli, a country fort about 40 miles from Pondiciierry, garrilbned by the fiench, hoping thereby to draw the enemy from their flrong camp. M. Tally, having returned to Pondi- oherry, major general Soupire commanded the french army, he gave into the dcfignof major Brereton, and followed him into the neighbourhood of Vandewalh. The ( 479 ) rhc englifli army dircdilly marchi'd utrainfl: him» draw- ing up in order of battle, in fight ot* the french. But Soupirc intrenched himlclf fo llrongly, it was impof- lible to attack him. Major Brereton finding an z6\:\on impradicablc, made a forced march the 1 6th of april, to Conjeveram, where the enemy had 700 feapoys ; after a fhort cannonade, the pla( c was ftormecf, and many of the garrifon made prifoncrs of war. The french army afterwards returned to Arcot, and hav- ing no pa/p and but bad provifions, it occafioncd great dilcontcnt and tiifertion. On the 20th of June, general Lally joined his army at Arcot, and moved towards Conjeveram, where the t\ > artnies cannon- aded eacii other for four days •, but the french gene- ral finding his men continued to defcrt, retreated in the night to Pondichcrry. The cngliOi army remained cantoned in Conjeveram, till the ill of auguft, when part of it, undvT major Monfon, advanced to the at- tack of Couvereepaut, which after two days he took, granting the french garrifon a capitulation. At the lame time, major Caniland marched with 200 euro- peans, and fome black troops, to diflodgc the enemy iVom Tirupoty •, which he did witii the lofs of a few feapoys. To conclude this train of fuccefTes, major Ford made himfelf mailer of MalTulipatam, taking it by llorm, where he killed about 200, and took pri- foncrs about 300 french. The operations in the re- mainder of the year by land, were not of very great importance ; the only a£lion of any confequece wa", an attack made by major brereton, on the village of Vandewadi. He marched the 24tli of fcptcmbcr, with about 400 europeans, 7000 feapoys, 14 pieces of artillery, 70 curopean and 300 black horfe. The french, to the number of about 1000, were intrenched under a fort, which mounted 20 pieces of cannon. Notwithftanding this ftrength, major Brereton attacked them on the 30th, in three (iificrent places, and car- ried the village. Bu; in the night, the pioneers mif- taking tiiilt liji ( 48o ) taking his orders, negledtecl to throw up an intrenclT-* nient to cover the troops, wliich when the frcnch per • ccived, they returned to the charge with great fury, and being feconded by the tire of the fort, drove thu enghfli out again, with the lofs of 310 men. killed, and wounded, fo that they were obliged to retreat dire(5lly to Conjeveram. Notwithltanding this rcpulfc, the cnglifh Eall-india company found thcmfelves on the whole infinitely luccefsful. They commanded in Bengal a whole kingdom, and were in poflelHon of all its trade, which produced them immenfe riches, l^rom Bengal, up the coafl: as far as Madrafs, was likewife at their difcretion, an extent of 800 miles, and the bed part oF the coall for trade and wealth. It was in this part of it that the trench fubfided after they had lofl their poIlHfion in Bengal •, but in the lols of Maflulipatam they were merely confined to Pondicherry, Carakat, and fome few places to the fouthward. By fca the two fleets were more upon an equality in point of force ; thougn that of the french under IVI. li'Ache was fuperior to admiral Pocock : nevcr- thclefs, the latter failed to the fouthward in qucfl: of d' Ache, on the 1 11 of feptember ; the very next day he dilcovercd the enemy's fleet, but was not abk to bring on an a^lion. Mr. Pocock continued eight days uflng all his endeavours to bring the french ad- miral to an engagement. At lafl, on the loth he cffcifted it, when both admirals made the lignal for battle. The englilh fleet conlilled of nine fail of the line, but three of them were only 50 gun fliips. I'he french confifted of eleven fail of the line of battle fliips. The englifli line carried ^;^6 guns, and 4035 men -, the french 72 S guns, and 6400 men. As foon as the flgnal was out, both fquadrons began to cannonade each other with great fury, and continued hotly engaged for two hours, when the french rear began to give v/ay \ their center very foon alter did the fame, their van following •, ' the ( 48i ) the whole frcnch fquadion bore away with all the fail they could make. Many of the englifli fliips being greatly difablcd in their yards and rigging, admiral Pocock wan in no condition to purfiie them ; but having repaired the feveral damages of his fhips, he once more failed in qiieft of the enemy, and difcovered them in Pondi- cherry road ; d'Achc declined coming to a lecond en- gagement, fVretching away to the fouthward. Mr. Pocock determined, with the advice of the rear ad- miral and captains, to return to Madrafs, as the con- dition of the Heet would not perniit him to follow the enemy to the fouthward. The lofs in tlie en- gagement was confiderable on both fides, but fell heaviefton the french, who had 15C0 men killed and wounded, as reported by a dcferter •, the englifli had 569 killed and wounded, and both iquadrons were Very much fhattcred. If we turn our eyes on the ftate of the french nation in Europe, we fhall find their condition (liil more deplorable. The battle of Minden, whlcli proved fo fata! to their defigns, having dcftroycd all their hopes in Germany for ' at campaign *, their court found it abiblutely nect.xary to recruit, cloath, and pay their troops ; articles as difficult to be ef ctted, as the neceflity was urgent ; but by contra(^.ting the plan of their operations, they refolved to make every eflbrt in their power, to 4'ender marflial Broglio's army as formidable as poOible. To a nation wiihoui: trade as France was, the fupplies to lupport fo great a charge were excefiively dilTicult to be railed. Tlic vail fums which had been fent out of the kingdom in fubfidies to their allies, and in the pay of their troops, had extremely impoveriflicd the nation ; but ilill they would not have exhaulkd it, had France * They were obliged to trufl to their marine, as the lafl cftbrt ; hut the defeat of their grand fleet unJer Conilins, ruined all their t: f^ {' hemes. I been ( 4^'2 ) been in tlic poflbfliion of a llominVing commcicc : Ai far was tl>is from Ix-infT the cafe, that their foreign trade was entirely ruined •, the principal of tluir colo- riies torn from them ; and alnu){luniverral bankruptcy eniucd throu^Thout the whole kingdom. Such being the cxhaulUd Hate of that kin|.^dom, it was found impollible to raile fuch yreat fums as were neceliary, by regular means only Ti^ecourfe therefore was had lo the mull fatal and extraordinary ones. On this occa^ lion, they did not Icruple to break in upon the pub- lic faith, and to find fupplics for one year, in an ex- pedient that llruck at the fources of all future credit. I'he minirtry Hopped payment upon public bills and i\]\Kh *. But even this rclburce, was inlullieient •, the kino- th.rcw his own plate into the public flock as an example, r.nd a requell that others Ihould contribute in the lame ni;inner from their private fortune, to the neceliitics of ilate. Many of the nobility, gentry, churches and convents adually carried their plate to the mint i but Hill it was very far from being univcr- fal ; there was a general rclu6lance to forward this method of fupply, and to trull the public with lb conliderable a part of their fubllanee, at the inllant when they faw it fo notorioufly break its faith in other particulars. I'hefe miterable rdburces, however, en- abled the minillry Hill to continue the war in Ger- many i and to rdufe the oilers of peace which the « 1 he following arc the public debts, of which the French court have Hopped pa^ iiiei-l : I. Th'. three kiiuls of rents created on the polls, z. The con- ilituted upon the chcll of redemptions. 3. 'J'he coupons of bill:; on theian;; clidl. 4. Thofe of the two royal lotteries, t;. 'Jhe reinibu.ienunt of bills, drawn to bearer, on the fame che!l. 6. The Ihis ot the two io\ al lotteries. 7. The rents created on the two fc's per pound of the ictli penny. 8. Reinibnrfemcnts ot the cnpitnls ot rents. 9. The payments of bills dilViiargcahle in nine years, known under the name of annuities, 10. Thole ot the new .nftions on the b.n^fit of the farms. 1 1 . All the bills drawn by the colonies upon the i^ovcrnnient, aivguntinj^ to 1,333,000). kings ( 4S3 ) kings of Great Britain and Priillla * made them at tha end of the year : for as they did not expeft, from their • The following declaration was delivered by liis fcrcnc hi{;hncrs duke Lewis of IJrunlwick to the luinillcrs of the belligerent pow- ers refiding at the Hague, in the name of the two kings. " Their britannic and pruflian inajcllics, moved with compnnion nt the mifchiefs which the war, that haa been kindled for fornc years, has already occafumcd, and muft neccfl'arily produce j fliould think themfclvcs wanting to the duties of humanity, and particu- larly to their tender concern for the prefervation and well bcinp, of their rcfpcdivc kingdoms and fubjctts, if they neglcdk'd the proper means to put a fh)p to the progrcfs of fo fcvere a cal.imity, and to contribute to the re-e(labliihment of public tranc|uilily. In this view, and in order to manifcll the purity of their intentions, in this refped, their faiu hiaje.lics have deterinined to make the following declaration, vir,. " That they are ready to fend plenipotentinrics to the place, which ftiall be thought moft proper, in order there to treat con- jointly, of a folid and general peace, with thofe whom the bellige- rent parties fliall think fit to authorife, on their part, for the attain- ing io falutary an end," This declaration was made at the end of novembor, and no an- Aver appeared to it, till about four months after, when the follow- ing declaration was made by the oppolite party. Having mention- ed the above ofler, it goes on, " Her majefly, the emprefs ([wcn of Hungary and Bohemia j her majelly, the emprefs of all the H iif- fia's; and his majcfty, the riioft chriftian king, cqinlly animated by the dcfire of contributing to the re ell.ib!i(hment of the public tran- quility on a folid and equitable footing, declare in return ; That his majclly, the catholic king, having been plcafcd to offer his mediation in the war, which has lubfilled for fome years bt-twech Fran;.c and England ; and this vj.n, having befiucs, putliing in cm- nion \\>ith that which the two ernprcfles with their allies, have likc- wilc carried on for fome years againll the king of Piullta. Hib mofl chriftian majelly Is ready to treat of his particilar peace with England, through the gf)od oflices of his catholic .'niijclly, vvhofc mediation he has a plcafure in accepting. As to the war which regards direftly bin prufTian majefiy, their mnjellies the emprefs queen of Hun;^'ary and Coliemia, the cniprefs c( all the Ruflia's, and the moll chiillian king, are difpofcd tu agree lo tlie nppointing theconcrcfs propofed. Uut as by virtue cf tiieir treaties, they cannot enter into any en'jr,gcment relating ro peace, but in conjunftion with thri'- nllies, it will be nccefTiry, in order that UfVy may be eniblcd t."> oviil'iin tliemfi.'K'es defiuitivelv upcn that SmIiJcl^ that their biitannic ai.d prutTian ir.ajcliies, Ihuuld prtvioufl/ a 2 be IWIi .ilH ( 4^4 ) their fituatlon very advantageous or honourable terms, they refolved ftill to hold out, and determined to hazard the lad extremities, hoping fomcthing fa- vourable from the fortune of their allies, fince their own had deferted them. This was the reafon of their delaying (in conjunftion with the two emprelTcs) to anfwer °x.\ui declaration of duke Lewis of Brunfwick, near four months •, had rhey been inclined to peace, they might very eafily have found means to do it, in muciriefs time ; but as they could not, with a good o-race rejecl; tliofc overtures, they had recourfe to de- Tays. The formal invitation which they require, fnould be made to the kings of Poland, and Sweden, plain- ly evinces this •, for had a congrefs been appointed, there is no doubt, but thofe two princes,' efpecially the former, would gladly have fent plenipotentiaries to it, where their pretenfions might have been fairly difcuffed •, but by this affeifled delay, three or four mon.'is mud be loft; and if thofe difficulties had been removed, pretences would not have been want- ing to put it off for fome months more. It plainly appeared, that as the affairs of France were in fuch a bad- fituation, that court was refolved to try the event of another campaign^ hoping to be able to get pof- feffion of Hanover, and thereby conclude a peace on more advantageous terms than fhe could at that time cxpeci:. Before I take my leave of the tranfaclions of this year, fo gloricuOy marked in the annals of Great- Britain -, I nvft obferve, how extremely fuccefsful the britifii arms were, in every part of the world. The conqueft of Qiiebec, the capital of the frencb dominions in America, was as advantageous to our be pleafed to caufc their invitation to a congrefs to be made Jo all the powers, tliat are ciire6l!y engaged in war againft the king of Pruflia^ and namely, to his maiclly the kii)g of Poland, elcftorof Saxony, a» Hkewi;eto'his mr. jelly ^ tiie king of Svvedcn, who ought fpecincaiiy to intercfV, be invited £c il:c n::uii :cri2''^^' ' le terms, nined to liing fa- nce their of their relTes) to Linfwick, to peace, o do it, h a good fe to de- •e, fnoLild n, plain- ppointed, efpecially )tentiariec; :en fairly e or four ilties had ;en want- [t plainly in fuch a the event ) get pof- . peace on that time ns of this )f Great- fuccefsful he world. ;he frencb us to our ide to all the ig of Pruflia, F Saxony, aa pecincaiiy co intercft, (■ 4% ) intereft, as it was glorious to the brave foldiers, by whofe conduf and courage it was won. The fuc- cefs which attended our arms under general Amherft, contributed greatly to fecure our colonies from the depredations of the french and their Indians, and brought under the dominion of Britain, an immenfe tradt of country, of the greateft importance. The acquifition of Guardaloupe, was as highly advanta- geous to the trade and commercial interefl of this kingdom, as it was fatal to that of France. I'hat memorable vidlory obtained in the plains of Minden, through the admirable conduft of Aike Ferdinand of Brunfwick, and the gallant behaviour of the eng- lirti infantry, not only threw the whole kingdom of France into the utmoft ronfternation, but obliged them to have recourfe to their marine for an invafion of Britain, as the only hopes they had left, of being able to retrieve the many and defperate lofles they had fuftained. Laftly, the aftion at cape Lagos, under admiral Bofcawen ; but more particularly that remarkable vidory at Belleifle, wherein, fir Edward Hawke acquitted hjmfelf fo mucii to the fatisfadlion of his own honour, and the expciflat^ons of his coun- try, blafted every fanguine hope of our diftrefled ene- mies i and involved them in the moft defpair^ng con- fufion. They were no longer able to carry on the war, either with the ordinary revenue of the king- dom, or thofe extraordinary fums, ./hich are always raifed in France, to fupport a war ; but were obliged to have recourfe to the moft unprecedented and ille- gal means of raifing money •, equally fatal to the cre- dit of their government, and infufficient to fupply tjieir prefling neceffities. li CH IX ' I III '1li HI ( 486 ) C H A P. XXVI. Jjfahs in Europe y in the heginniv^ of the year 1760, 'I hurot fails from Btinkirk. Lands in Scotland. Re* an barks. Lands in Ireland. Carrickfergtis furrenders. Is plundered Ly the frcmh. T^hey rc-inibark. Captain Elliot takes 'Thurot's fquadron. Court martial on lord George Si-ctjille. Sentence on his lord/hip. ylffairs in^ vorth America. French prepare to befege ^lebec. Motions of brigadier general Murray, Atiion on the heights of St. ^Abraham. The trenches opened, fbarriron had ammunition. Lieutenant colonel Jennings then ordered his men into the caftle -, and the french immediately appeared in the marker place •, where they might have been attacked with great ad- vantage, had it not been for the mod fcandaloiis want "of ammunition. The french finding the^ fire of tlic garrifon fo weak, attacked the gates of the caflle {"word in hand, which from the battering of the fliot on both fjdes, were knocked open, and the the enemy marched in -, but lieutenant colonel Jen- nings, with Tome oOiceis, and about 50 men repulfed them, ant\ the men from a half moon near the gates, after their ammunition was gone, threw ftones and bricks. Had this atiack of the enemy been fupported with the leaft degree of courage, they muft certainly have lucceedcd in it i but they retired back under cover, having the gates open, and the garrifon drawn up in their front. Jennings would have fallied, had they liad ammunition i but without it the enterprife was tco dangeious. And as the breach in the callle v.'all could not be defended, as it was 50 feet long, it was view3 \ onp; as hallen- umcUng ovcreci. on ilie ordered ik every iy from ing the to Bel- iber of e town i ;pulfed ; the like roops of colonel )e ; and r place •, reat ad- mdaloiis the fire , of the ering of and the lel Jen- repiilfed le gates, )nes and ipported :ertainly k under n drawn ied, had nterprilc he calllc long, it was i ( 489 ) was agreed to beat a parley -, and accordingly lieute- nant colonel Jennings marched out with thehonours of war, agrcemg that an equal number of frenrh pri- loners (liould be lent to France in lieu of the{r;uriIon. By an article ot the c:,.itulation, r'- mayor and cor- poration were to furniHi tiie frcnt • with provifions • but they not executing that article to the frcnch ge- neral s latisf.iaion, the town was plundered. On the 2 2d, they icnt a Hag of truce to Belfaft, and made a demand ci feveral articles of provifions, and other neceflaries to be delivered that day, promifing to pay ior them, and threatening, in cafe of refufal, to burn Carrickfergus, and alterwards to come up and burn . u ""•. n"^'^^' "^'^'^'^ demands, :he inhabitants thought It beft to comply. 1 he french loft about 60 men in their attack on Carrickfergus ; and hav- ;ng earned the mayor and fome of the principal in- habitants aboard tlieir fliips, as a fecurity for havino- the french priloners fent to France, they re-cmbarked their troops, .1 fet fail the 26th. In the meun time, this handful of french troops, inconfiderable as they were, alarmed the whole kincr, dom of Ireland, and all the weftern coaft of Encrland rhe rich towns of Liverpool aid Whitehaven, were in fear for their fliips and efibdls ; twelve hundred men or the neighbouring militia marched to Liver- pool, as loon as it was known that Lhurot was land- al in Ireland. There were at that time 200 fail of ihips in the harbour of Whitehaven, and nothing to defend them j the neighbouring g^^ntlemen, to pro- tect the town and country, railed and armed 600 men Ships were difpatched from feveral ports in (lueft of the french commodore; and the duke cf xJedford, lord lieutenant of Ireland, ilfued the necef- jary orders for the forces in the northern part of that kingdom, ..> march towards Carrickfergus j and dif- patched an exprefs to Kinfale,. to inform Cant. Elliot who i!i^ ,l! ( 490 ) w^o commanded three men of war there, that M, Thurot was upon the coaft. Elliot directly fet fail from Kinfale, with the /Eolus of 32 guns, and the Pallas and Brilliant of 76 guns each : he made the entrance of Carrickfergus bay the 26th -, but could not get in, the wind being contra- ry, and very bad weather. The 28 th, at four in the morning, he got fight of them, and gave chace. About nine he got up along-fide the french commo- dore, olf the ifle of Man, and in a few minutes after the aclion became general, and lafted about an hour and a half, when they all three flruck their colours 5 although Thurot was killed by a cannon ball, yet his lliip tlS BelleiQe was fought fo very bravely, that it was feared fhe would fmk before llie could be got in- to port ; Ilie mounted 44 guns, and carried 545 men, including troops •, the la Blonde carried 32 guns and 400 men ; and the Terpfichore of 26 guns and 300 nien. The engl'fh officers and failors, as well as thofe of the french, fought very bravely. The lofs of the conquerors was triBing, that of the french amounted to about 300 men killed and wounded. Thurot was one of the braveft men that had appeared in France fince the beginning of the war; he was remarkable for his mild and generous treatment of the i)rironers he took while commander of the Belle- ifle privateer. ■ n 1 r 1 Before I difmifs this fubjea, I muft ooferve, that Carricktergus is the. only magazine in the north of Ireland, from which all the troops in that part of the country were fupplied with powder, &c. The forti- fications were fo much out of repair, that it was im- pollible to defend it better than was done by lieute- nant colonel Jennings, fo that what reafon there could be for the cxpreffion in the London Gazzette ; " Had '' fuffcred himfelf with four companies of major '^ c-ncral Snode's reo;iment, to be made prifoners of ""' I cannot find out. " Suffered himfelf," plainly war ( 491 ) plainly implies his having made a bad defence. The parliamenc of Ireland had at different times, lately granted 450,000 1. for repairing the fortifications of the kingdom •, therefore there muft have been fome very fatal ncgle£t in this place's not having been puc in a better pofture of defence. Some having imagin- ed that Thurot was driven into Carrickfergus by ftrefs of weather, and want of provifions ; but its much more probable, he landed there by defign, he might very likely be acquainted with the weak ftate of the place ; and have had in his eye the wealthy city of Belfaft juft by it, as a proper objedl of his expedi- tion : the preparations made by the lord lieutenant to prevent his penetrating further into the country, might have been the reafon of his not attempt- ing it. In the mean time, the attention of all ranks of people was entirely engrofied by the proceedings of a general court martial, appointed by his majefty to fit on the trial of lord George Sackville. His lordfliip ^s I before mentioned, had petitioned for one as foon as he arrived in England, af:er the battle of Minden ; but it was not found convenient to aficmble it till the beginning of march : as many officers were to be called home from Germany as witnelTes ; befides fome other rcafons of a different nature. It was a point very much difputed, whether a man, difmilfed from all his military employments, could be tried for an offence, committed while he was in the army •, and as opinions differed extremely, the cafe was laid be- fore the judges ; it was fuppofcd from their anfwer, that he might legally be tried. Accordingly, a court martial, confifling of the following members, met the 29th of februury, for that purpofe : " lieutenant general Onflow, prefident. oir L.liariCs liOv/ra";.!, Campbell, Lieutenant ill ■! -.i^i; if ( 492 ^ Lieutenant general lord Delaware, Cholmondcley, Stuart, earl of Panmure, Ancram, Harrington, Abercrombie, Albemarle. Major general Leighton, Carr, earl of Effingham, Belford. On lord George Sackville's being ordered into court, the judge advocate informed him, that all the mem- bers of the court were fworn, except general Belford, who was omitted on account of an objeftion whicfi his lorddiip faid he Ihould make to his being a mem- ber of the court. Lord George Sackyille having given his reafons * for making fuch an objedlion ; ge- neral * They were as follow : " When I was appointed lieutenant ge- reral to the ordnance, the duke of Marlborough ordered me to take the care of the artillery regiment upon me, as being one part of my duty. I reprefented to his grace, that when lord Ligcnier was lieute- rant general of the ordnance, the care of the regiment was left en- tirely to the colonel commandant ; the duke of Marlborough faid, tiiat he could not in decency have defired my lord Ligonier, who was his fuperir.r in ti^e army, and had been for many years at the hciid of the ordnance, to enter into fuch a legimental detail ; but that he had no fctupic in defiring me to do that part of my duty, and to repot t regularly to him. I exprcflcd my rcadinefs to obey ; but iaid, that, previous to my undertaking it, his grace mull give the pro- per orders for recalling that power, which was at prefent in general Belford, as colonel commandant. It was accordingly done ; arid when 1 began to execute my duty, general Belfoid expreflld his difappro- bation of it, thinking any diminution of his authority might be looked upon as fome degree of'diiapprobation of his condud. I explained f,. u:— v^-^t h"'! "-^Okl ■T'^" fhp (iihu'i'l. hetwecn the mailer ceneral and me, and he appeared better fatisfied ; and, as I afterwards had an opportunity of reprefenting his ferviccs fo favourably to his majeily, 85 . ( 493 ) heral Belford replied, that he was far from defiring to lit when objeded, but only defired to know what the bbjeftion was : the court thereupon took the affair into confideration, and were unanimoufly of opinion, that lord George Sackville*s oBjeflion was infufficient to exclude general Belford from fitting as a member ; but as the general continued to exclude himfelf from fitting, the court agreed to it. There was fitting at this time another court-mar- tial on lord Charles Hay, for fome offences commit- ted by him in north America, under lord Loudon, of which general Onflow was alfo a member ; and his lordfhip behaving in a ftrange abfurd manner *, it provoked Onflow, a man of great dignity, and c^qual fpirit, to fpeak very warmly to lord Charles Hay : and his warmth coft him his life -, for he had hardly concluded his fpeech, but he dropped down of art apopledlic fit, and being infl:antly carried home, died as to obtain a confiderable increafe of emolument to him. I did imagine any little difference that had hapjiened had been entirely for- got ; but perfons in my fituation are apt to watch little attention?, which at other times would be too trifling to regard ; and as, upon my return to England, general Belford was the only field oliicer of the regiment, with whotn I was acquainted, that did not ftiew me even the common civility of a vifit ; and, as the firft aft he did, after my quitting the fervice, was recommending another aid decamp to my lord Gra.iby, in preference to the artillery officer, who had attended mt in that capacity, I conftis thelc circumllances in- duced me to think, that general Belford Hi 1 retained iomc degree of ill-will towards mc ; and though I am i..r from fufpefting that he would knowingly permit his judgment to he .11 the lealt influenced by fuch confiderations ; yet, as there is fuch a biafs in the minds of men, when chere is any prejudice in their brcafts, tliat it often affefts their aflions, unknown to themfelvcs ; I fliould hope the general would decline fitting upon this trial ; I do not offer what 1 have faid as a legal objeftion, but rather fubmit my reaJbns to the court, and to him for their confideration?." * He fw'ore by G — d they were not a legal court martial, but a fanguinary court of inquifition. General (""rnwallis has faid, that he afked him fome crofji quellions, in hopes tb .e would throw the ink- iiand, c^-c. at his head, and by fome fuch action, nut un end to lo ri- dicuiuu;) a court martial. in ( 494 ) }n a few clays. He was a great lofs to the court maf * tial on lord George Sackville, as no man was evef more proper for a prefident of one. There was a new warrant iffued the 6th of march, appointing fir Charles Howard prefident, and adding to the former number of members, the major gene- rals lord Robert Manners, lord Robert Bertie, and Julius Cicfar. I have already given the reader fomS particular points of this trial, in my account of the battle of Minden, from the evidence of feveral wit- efles ; the fliortnefs of the plan of this work will not permit me now to be particular in regard to thetml*. ^^^ * There were fome remarkable articles of evidence which deferve to be remembered. It was obferved, not only by the .members of the court, but by all trclent, that lieutenant colonel SI— p— r gave his evidence with grer^ acrimony, and was to appearance, much prejudiced n-ainll the pn- foner ; this was what occafioned lord George vSackville's faying m h^ defence, " In what manner his evidence was given, I need not remind •* the court." And again, " If his own behaviour has not entirely " deftroyed the credit of his teftimony.'' Lieut, col. Sloper, in his evidence, fays, that as foon as capt. Ligonier had delivered the duke's order to lord George Sackville, he (Sloper) faid to him, " For God s " fake, fir, repeat your orders to that man, (meaning lord George •• Sackville), that he may not pretend not to underlland them, for it «« is near half an hour ago, that he has received orders to advance, and " yet we are Hill here," adding, " But you fee the condition he is in.^' Being afterwards defired to explain what he meant hy thefe lall words ; he anfvvered, that his opinion was, that lord George Sackville was alarmed to a very great degree, that when his iorciihip ordered him to advance, he ieemcd in the greateft confufion. Lord G. Sackville. Sir Charles Howard, if I may be allowed to fay a few words, touching this gentleman's (Slopci't) evidence be- fore I CO any further. , Gen. Cholmondei-Ey. I am never agiinll any indulgence to the prifoner. , ^ , „ , I^rd G. Sackville. It is a little hsrd for me to be fitting here, and have a witr.tb come aoainll me, with an opinion of this nature, and I forced to remain entirely filcnt. 1 Hull only lay a few words. This fort of HUack, 1 ncvcr heard before, from any one veiitlerran whatever, cxccptine from the private iiifinuations ol this g-ntltmnrv, llv-VV ( 495 ) The prifoner, during the courfe of it, behaved with great condudt, and dilcovered infinite abihtics -, he endeavoured now before the court ; I have heard of it fince he has' been in Lon- don. J am glad that he has mentioned it in court. I, Lord Albemarle. Your lordlhip will have an opportunity of ob- ferying upon that in your defence j but, I am afraid we are eoing into an irregularity. " Lord G. Sackville. I will only fay now, that I will prove my condua tha! day, with ird :o every branch of it, and I will (hew that gentleman to the court in fuch colours, for truth and veracity. Lord ALBiiMARLE. My lord, this is bJng very irregular. Lord G. Sackville. Your lordfhip may imagine, that what I muft feel on fuch an occafion ; and it is difficult not to exprefs it in- itantly. ^ Lord Albemarle. I am very fenfible of what your lordfliip mull teel, and forry to interrupt ; but the courfe of proceeding Lord G. Sackville. I fubmit to the opinion of the court, and muft beg leave to fuppofe, for the prefent, that no fuch evidence has been given. I Ihall now go on as if nothing of this fort had happened, and fliall treat that gentleman, in that part of his evidence, with the contempt it deferves. In anothe- place his Iordfl-iip makes an obfervatJon, on the evidence of colonel Sloper, in the followiiTg words : " Having mentioned col. •' Slopei 6 evidence, 1 am obliged to take notice of the afperfion he I' has thrown upon my charafter. Imputations of that nature were ♦' very little to beexpefted from one, who had the honour of arrivin'.; " at the rank of a lieutenant general, after a courfe of fome duty "' and fervice. It is hard upon a man to be obliged to fpeak of his ^'^' own aaions, or of his own merit or charafter in the fervice ; but *'^ what makes it on this occafion abfolutely unnecefl'iry, is, that moft " of the generals, who compofe this court, have either commanded " me, or I have had the honour of commandirg then> ; and I am " perfuadcd, they will feel a generous indignation in my behalf, and " declare, whether my former condud ouylu not to have exempted " me from fo mean an attack." During the courfe of the defence, lord George Sackville aflied his witneffes luch qnellion"! as he thou^^ht would contradia the afperfions thrown on him by lieutenant-colonel Sloper ; .endeavouring to prove h»s evidence faJ. ai fevcral particulars. As loon as he had finillicd exaniuung his witneffcs, the judge advocate ob!erved that his lordfhip h:ul, in his defence, impeached the licutcnant-coloners crcrlibilitv ; propofing by way of reply, to fiipport the cieaibniiy of tht; witne:-,. when^his lordlhip had funimed up his defence; bat lord George wantcu to have the frc.'h evidence exaniincd before iic concluded tm tiekiice, that he might anfwcr any th 1132 nav, r.a: '1 1 or fl'e "■;ii II ■ ■ 1' i, fl 1* ,J fi !''! t 1 1 I il Mh m M\ I. ( 4'/' ) endeavoured where ever he could introduce Jiem, to throw relledlions on duke Ferdinand, implying, that he « <( <( in tt <( that the court would promife to permit him to make a rejoinder to the judge advocate's reply. Amongll ether things which his lordftiip faid, — — " I find upon my trial a queftion propofed of very great con- •* fequence. I did not care at that tim6 to give an aniwer to it. ♦• The natural inference is, that the court will go on, and aftcrwariia •• confider of it. My reafon for dtfuing the court to go on now is, that I am delircus of hearing all tfiat is to be faid. As to the evi- dence I have given, I do not know how far the court will admit of evidence in reply to it ; and fuppofe if any thing is ofll-red by way of reply that is new, it may be necclliiry for me to afic for a rejoinder. I am frightened every time 1 talk of law ; 1 am told, if the court lets the profecutor into new matter in fupply, ' it will bring on a rejoinder, that is, to anfwer the new matter ; if that is the cafe, I (hall have the fame indulgence that every prifoncr has in any court " of juftice." Judge Advocate. In order that the reply rtay be properly made, I fhould be glad to hear what lord George has to offer in his obfervations. As to a rejoinder, it is common in civil cafes, if any new matter is introduced, the prifoner will have a right to anfwer that ; I men- tioned that partFcularly before. I {hould be glad his lordfhip would not talk of law, I am not a military perfon, 1 do not really fee why that fliould be thrown out, [ have not the honour of wearing a military garb; but 1 hope I have Endeavoured to condudl the proiecution with tendernefs and candour. As to the reply, it is agreeable to law, and praftice founded in reafon, that the profecutor fliould be at liberty toeftablifh the credit of his witnefies, and to reply to any new matter introduced in tlie courfe of the defence. If the credibility of a witnefs is to be impeached, and his credit not to be eftabliflied, I don't know to what pUrpofe it would be to profecute at all. Lord G Sackville. As to the judge advocate, I wifh, as he obferves, he either wore a military garb, or were a perfon of fuch eminence and reputation in the profeffion of the law, as might en- title him to lay down the rules and pradice of tiie courts of ju- nice, in fuch a manner, as the prifoner might have no doubt of the truth of what was aficrted to be law. I wiih one of the judges of England was to fit here, the prifoner then would have been certain of being tried by the real laws of this land, and not by laws made occafionally for him ; I defire therefore, no middle term. The judge advocate is very able in his poll ; but I do not apprehend he knows the rules and praiUcc of courts in general. Here what do you do •■ If lem, to that he ^S> nder to the dOiipfaid, ;reat con- wer to it. aftcrvvariia on now is, to the evi- 1 admit of by way of rejoinder. the court )ring on a le cafe, I I any court 3 properly )fFer ill his lew matter t ; 1 men- am not a )wn out, [ pe I have d candour, bunded in I the credit ced in the his credit ould be to ifh, as he in of fuch might en- rts of ju- abt of the judges of en certain laws made I'he judge he knows I ycu do ;■ If ( 497 ) he had poflfd the cavahy of the right wing where it could be of no rervice i but llich iniinuations were very If there is a point of law, you refer to the judge-advocate ; why, bccaufe you don't know law, not becaufe he docs. I know as littk"; I ufed the word rejoinder, I got it but the other day aiyfelf, and the court feemed to ilart when I mentioned it. When there is a difficulty, you refer to the judge-advocate, who is to determine { other courts never determine in any matter, without the advantage of being informed of what can be oftered on both fides ; this court, ignorant themfelves of a matter of law, can only receive their in- formation from the profccutor. I have a great refpei!^ for Mr. Gould's charader as judge-advocate, and think lie fits there, and executes his office, as ably as any man I ever faw in his place. For the fake of the precedent it would make, I might fay fome- thing ; becaufe every witnefs, whofe character may be faid to be impeached in a controverted proceeding, will by this means, have an opportunity of bringing in frefli evidence of frefli facts, and the prifoner muft Hand a fecond trial upon the fame charge. As to my own part, if the court thinks fit ro admit it, let them fay that this does not afFedl me ; let them fay that the credit or the witnefs is impeached; by contradifting his fafts ; let them fay, that fuch is the praftice of courts-martial ; I (hall lament the fate of thofc who are to be tried by courts-martial ; but with regard to myfclf, it is impoffible for me to objed to the determination. What I have proved, is the (hewing the opinion of thofe about me, to whom I gave orders, with whom I was during the whole day, that is a dire^l contradifton of the fad ; it includes the time of which col. Sloper fpeaks, the evidence now oflered, is not to fupport this fatt, it re- lates to another time. Indeed the judge-advocate has faid, it is not matter for the court, but for the publick, it is fo. It is food for clamour, for which reafon I wi(h to fee the bottom of it. I lliouldnot have ilood here, a prifoner at this bar, if I had been afraid of any thing that could be faid, confcious innocence is my fupport. Notwithftandlng al! that I have fuftered, that innocence ftill fupports me. I feel myfclf injured, p.nd I know myftlf innocent. I feel myfclf before a court, that is to punilh the guilty ; but the molt amiable part of their jurifdiftiun, is to protect the innocent. I have confidei.ce in every fet of gentleman, who are upon oath, to do julVice ; n ' gentleman can be under any inHueiice. In this court a prifoner has an additional fecurity ; he is fure, their honour will bind them, if their oatU did not ; ftandiag uuder that fecurity, I dffy the profccutor. K !: "fn'ri: . :!■■ ;';r" ( 498 ) very little regarded, as the contrary was known to be the truth. As to his guilt, the court adjudged him by their fentence unfit to ferve his inajefty in any military capacity whatever. * As ;t is not the cuftom for land courts- martial to draw up a fet of rciblutions by way of reafons for their fentence •, we cannot here fo readily determine the nature of his lordHiip's guilt. That he was guilty, is indifputable i he moft un- doubtedly difobeyed the orders of duke Ferdinand. His fcrcne highr.ets ordered him to advance through the trees on his left, to form a third line, and fupport the infantry. Now it was very evident that the in- fantry were to be fupported ; and if that was the cafe, the time muil confequently be extremely critical. Could Let col. Sloper (land forth, and from a witnefs become the agent of a profecution. Let his charafter be fupported by the tellimony of opinion ; opinion not founded upon fadls, will only (hew a rc^idintfs to form an opinion to a man's difadvantage. It is not proof, it is not a foundation for a court of jurtice to determine upon J it could not be brought hence, but with another intention. ■f the court will dlablifh the precedent, I fubmit ; but out of regard to the profeffion 1 once was of, I oppofe it. J\"r!nit me to fay, when I take my leave of the profelfion, that thou;;h I lliall fubmit it to the dccifion of the court, 1 Ihall lament the jiniididlion. 'J he court determined that no new witneflcs fliould be called in to prove that Lord George Sackville appeared alarmed. But that they would admit evidence to prove col. Sloper's having declared thefc fafls the day after. J lliall conclude what I have to fay on the fubjeft of colonel S r'5- evidence, with obfcrving, that there had been formerly a quarrel between lord George Sackville and him, which was never made up. * The court upon due confiueration, of the whole matter before them, is of opinion, that lord George Sackville is guilty of having difobeyed the orders of prince Ferdinand of Brunfwick, whom he was by his commidion and inftvuftions direded to obey, as com- mander in chief, according to the rules of war ; and it is the • th ^'• opinion of this court, That the laid lord George Sackviiio is, and he is hereby adjudged, unfit to ferve his maj'wily, in any military cjii^u':':/ whatever. CHARLES HOWARD. , C 499 ) Could this feafbnably be thought a feafon fb'r requiring an explanation of his ofders, when they ought in- ftantly to have been put .1 execution ? Had he not better have difobeyed his orders in part, by advancing forwards, and doing his duty, inilead of turning to the left ? But the misfortune was, he never ftirred at all. If he had advanced, it would at leaft have Ihewn an inclination to obey. — — But I am arguing on a point too well elbbliflied, to admit a doubt. The only article which will bear an argument, is the motive of his guilt : a topic certainly more curious than uftful : 1 fear in this cafe I am of a different opinion from the generality of men. Lord G. S-ck-vill- had, before the battle of Min- den, exprelfed his difapprobation of many of duke Ferdinahd's orders, in fuch a manner as (hewed that he did not at all relifh a fuperior in com- mand. 1 cannot help attributing his bad condud at that battle, to his difguft at the duke's command. A motive which certainly fixes a greater (lain than cowardice could poflibly do. I cannot help thinking but fuch vaft abilities would in a great mealure get vhe better of his fear, when fo much was at ftake as in his command : but this is a point which I leave to philofophers to determine. His lordihip concludes the introduftion to his defence, in thefe words. " This defence is intended, not for the world, but for the information of the court. All I at nrefent defire is, that mankind would fufpend the* i{2,- me. t of my condu(5l, till the evidence is cloicx ; then I truft in the goodnefs of my caufe, which has fupported me under a load of calumny, and em- *' boldened me to afk for this trial •, that under your favourable judgment, the candid will with pleafure acquit me, the prejudiced be obliged to retract their rafh cenfures, and that I fhall again be reftored to the good opinion of my country, and of my fo- 0\^ ':: cc (C (( (( (( ii tc (( (( (( K k 2 ii. vereign. i >\ ' 1 !^ll ■ti ( 500 ) •« vcreipn." And again at the end of his defence, he fays : " My v'tneflcs cannot fay what they havt- «* fiid, without being convinced that it is truth, and «» faid in fupport of innocence. They can have no *' motive of intcrcft : what motives of interell can < there be on the fide of one who is a prifoncr, who ' has been in ^rcat employments ? Perhaps unwor- thily! Employments, which had I continued in power, miq,iithave procured gooti will, at lealt the appearance of it. At prelcnt they can have no temptation but the force of truth j and by their appearing in that caufe ; and on thefe motives, they deferve as great a degree of credibility, as any witncfs at any bar. In juHice to them I have trou- bled the court thus far. I fhall trouble them no lono-er -, but exprefs my acknowledgments, not only for their patience in hearing me, but for the many inftances of their indulgence. I can exped" no better fecurity for my caufe, than their unin- fluenced determination. I have mentioned already, *' that I have the fecurity of their oath ; I have a " llronger Hill, their honour : upon that I rely. " If I am "uilty, let me be declared fo. If 1 am not «* o-uilty, let the court fliew by their fentcnce, that *' tiiey will with pleafure protedl the innocent." 'Tis well known what a natural averfion the king has to foldiers who don't do their duty ; he no fooner confirmed the fentence of the coutt-martial, than he ordered lord George Sackville's name to be ftruck out of the lift of the privy-council. His m y had, during the whole cojjrfe of the trial, exprefled himfelf very *anxioufly on' fome particulars relating to their proceedings. He had been heard to fiy, *'- This " trial is^not on lord G ■ S , but on me." It was remarked that 1 A , during the trial, afl:ed only leading queftions in favour of lord Sackville j and on the contrary, g < i cc t( C( C( C( (C (C (C t( (C (( 4( Georre C defence, :ey h;\vf th, and lave no rcll can c*r, who unwor- inued in lealt the have no by their motives, ', as any Lve trou- :licm no Its, not t for the 1 exped ;ir unin- ah'eady, I have a ly I am not cc, that t.» the king o fooner than he ruck out — y had, i himfelf ; to their ''- This on me. iiring the r of lord » g ( 501 ) C afked none, but thofe which were di- rec^tiy againil him 1 the realon for the former's be- haviour, when we confider his connexions with ihc ti e, is eafdy conjefftured ; nor were the general's motives ever thought to be impenetrable. But it is now time to take a view of the military operations in North America-, they were indeed of but fmall extent, but great importance. Nothing lefs depended on them, than the poireflion of our darling conqueft, Qiiebec. General Murray was left governor of that city, on its falling into our hands, and had a garrifon with him of about 6000 men ; a number not in the lealt too numerous, as the men were extremely fatigued and harraffed with one of tiie moil difficult c.-'mpaigns that ever was conduced ; and as the city was fo meanly fortified, that it was not en- tirely fecure againil a coup-de-main. No fooner was general Murray fettled in this go- vernment, than he began repairing the ruins of the city •, he built eight redoubts of wood out of the city, made foot banks along tiie ramparts, opened embra- fures, placed his cannon, blocked up all the avenues of the fuburbs with a Ilockadc, carried eleven months provifions into the highefl part of the city, and formed a magazine of 4000 fafcines. A?> fuon as thefe and many other labours, were in fome forvvardnefs, the general fenc out two detachments, to rake polIeirKm of St. Foix and Lorette, two polls of great impor- tance, as they fecured eleven pariHies in the 4ieigh- bourhood of the city, which greatly c;ontributed to furnifh them with frefh provifions during the winter-, and alfo with wood, an article much wanted by the garrifon. During three whole months in the winter, they were employed in dragging wood into the city. "J1iis conllant labour greatly diminiHied them, fo that befo-f-e the end of aprii, iocju men were K k 3 • dead, ( 502 ) reman were pc.id, and above 2000 of wl unfit for any fcrvice. In the mean time the french general, the chevalier de Lewis, foon t^ot intelligence of the low Hate of the jrarrifon, and relblvcd to attempt carrying the rity in the depth of winter. In piirfiirnce ot this Jciicme, he n-vade all the necefliiry preparations ; de- ilgninp; to make the attcmj^t in febriiary : but the fuccefs of the gariifon in fomc ikirmifhes, which happened on feveral occafions, obliged M. de Lewis to alter his plan, and not to think of attacking the city till the fpring was more advanced. As general iViurray found that Qiiebep could be looked upon in no other light than that of a flrong cantonfiient, and that any works he fhould add to jt would be in that ftyle, his plan of defence was, tO rake the earlieft opportunity of intrenching himfelf oa the heights of Abraham, which entirely commanded the ramparts of the place, at the diftance of 800 yards, and might have been defended by his num- bers, againft a large army. But de Lewis did not give the general time to take the advantage of this iirjation. In the middle of april, the general at- tempted to execute the projedled lines, but found it imprat-'licable, as the earth was ftill covered with Ihow in many places, and every where impregnably bound up by froft. Murray was informed in the night of the 26th, that the enemy had landed at Point au IVemble 10,000 men, and 500 barbarians ; their fcheme was, to cut off the pofts of the garrifon ; but the general by a judicious march, prevented them from executing it ; and feveral reafons concurred, to induce him to give them battk: : he conlidered that his little army was in the habit of beating the enemy, and had a very fine train of field artillery ; that (hunting him- ieJf up within the walls, was putting all upon the finale « totally "hevalicr Hate ot' y\n^ the : ot this >ns i de- but the , which le Lewis king the :ould be a flrong dd to jt was, tO nfelf oa imanded of 800 is num- did not of this leral at- foiind it •ed with regnably be 26th, Tremble mie was, ; general xecuting e him to tie army jd had a ng him- jpon the finde iingte chancp of holding out for a coafiJerahle time a wretched fortification •, a chance which an .'u'>ion in the field could hardly alter, at the fame time that ir gave an additional one, perhaps a better. II the event was not profperous, he determined to hold out to the laft extremity ; and then to retreat to the ille of Orleans, with what was left of the garrifon, to wait for reinforcements. In confequenceof this refolution, the general march- ed out the 2 8th, with all the force he could muilcr, which did not exceed 3000 men j forming them on the heights of Abraham, in order of baitirt and ob- ferving that the french army was upon the nwrcli in one column, as far ht could fee ; he thought this the lucky moment ; and moved with the utmofl or- der to attack them before they had formed. He foon beat them from tlic heights they had poflefled, though they were well difputed. Major Dalling, who com- manded a corps of light infantry, ha/ing foiced the enemies grenadiers from a houfe and wind- mill, in attempting to regain the flank of the encHifh army, was charged, thrown into diforder, reti-ed to the rear, and from the number of officers killed and wounded, could never agr.in be brought up during the adtion. Otway's regiment was ordered to ad- vance immediately, and lliflain the right win.:r, which the enemy in vain made two attempts to penetnto. While this pafled there, the left was not icile -, they had difpoflefled the enemy of two redoubts, and fuf- tained with unparrallclcJ firmnels, the bold united efforts of the enemies regulars, indians and Canadians, till at lalt, fairly fought down, and reduced to a handful, they were obliged to yield to f.u•^>'.\r.^ ,. comi the right ; but the whole retired in {l^ nicated to ii a wai that the enemy did not venture upon a bril\ pur- fuit. Moft of the cannon was left, as the rough K k nciN \m '*; iiiliiliiliiiiiiillMiiiii ( 504- ) nefs of the ground, and the wreaths of fnow, made it impolTible to bring them oft'-, but what could not be brought off, were nailed up. The killed and wounded amounted to one third of thofe in the field •, that of the french, by their own confeflion, exceeded 2 soo men, which may be readily conceived, as the t.d\on lafted an hour and three quarters. On the night of the 28th, the french opened the trenches before the town •, fome frigates which they were in pofTefTion of, anchored below their camp ; for feveral days they were bufy in landing their cannon, mortars, and other ammunition -, they worked in- celTantly at perfedling their trenches, and raifing bat- teries ; and on the nth of may, they opened three batteries of cannon, and one of bombs. The gar- rifon were not idle •, they made the neceflary difpo- fitions to defend the place to the laft extremity •, they planted cannon on every ballion, and even in the curtains ■, and raifed new works -, infomuch that be- fore the enemy opened their batteries, they had 132 pieces of cannon, placed on the ramparts, mo(l- ly dragged there by the foldiery. Notwithftanding this formidable artillery, they were fo circumftanced, that had a french fleet appeared fiiftin the river, the place muft certainly have fell. A fmall fquadron of fhips had been fome time on their paiTage to Qiiebec, under lord Colvil and com- modore Swanton : general Murray depended on their arrival, to be able to oblige the french to raife the fiege i it was the 9th of may before he received any intelligence of them. The i6th, two englifh frigates were ordered by commodore Swanton to flip their cables, and attack the french fleet, which immediately weighed anchor; but they were fo clofely followed, and'^fo brifkly attacked, that their whole fquadron confirting of fix fliips, ran aground in different places, and il'vcral of them were deltroyed. This Tliis ( 505 ) This misfortune was like a thunder-bolt to the french •, they raifed the fiege the fame evening, and retreated with the greateft precipitation. They left their camp (landing, all their baggage, ftores, ma- gazines of provifions and ammunition, 34 pieces of battering cannon, ten field pieces, fix mortars, four petards, a large quantity of fcaling ladders, and in- trenching tools beyond number. Spies and deferters reported, that they w^anted provifions and ammuni- tion excefilvely, and that the greateft part of their Canadians had deferted them. General Murray, at the head of five regiments, and the grenadiers and light infantry, pufhed out in purfuit of them j but they had crofied the river Caprouge before they could get up with them -, and retired to a place called Jaques Cartier, not having above 5000 men remaining. In this fuccefsful manner was the fiege of this celebrated city raifed, by the condudl of the brave governor, with his intrepid garrifon, and the afliftance of fo in- confiderable a naval force. All the officers and men diftinguiflied themfelves remarkably i there never be- ing, perhaps, a more fatiguing winter to any troops j and fucceeding fuch a laborious campaign. The fame fuccefs, which fo remarkably dillinguifhcd the englifli arms in America, alfo attended their ope- rations in the Eafl-Indies. This war was more im- portant, and of greater extent in that country, than is generally the cafe. Colonel Clive who commandsd in chief, had, from his firft enttiing on his command, been furprifingly fuccefsful : the beginning of this year, he gave another fpecimen of his abilities. It feems the dutch had a great inclination to cngrols the falt- petre trade entirely to themfelves. The Ihare which they had of this trade, was carried on at Chinee - ry, a ftrong fort and factory in the river of Bengal ; but the englifli falt-petre trade was much more con- fiderable at Calcutta. The governor of Batavia being informed, m h ( 506 ) informed, that the englifh fhips were abfent on the coaft, thought this a fair opportunity to attemj c ex- ecuting this fcheme. Under colour of reinforcing their garrifons, he fent a body of troops to the mouth of the river. Colonel Clivc had fufpefted their de- ligns i and on the arrival of the two firft tranfports, which were fhips of 36 guns, and full of men, the colonel informed the dutch commodore, that he could not allow him to land any forces, or to march up to Chincery, as he had from good authority been ac- quainted with their fcheme. The dutchman only de- fired the liberty of refrefhing his men afliore ; which was granted him. In the mean time, five other dutch- men arrived in the river. The commodore now be- gan to retaliate -, he not only ordered the land forces to march dire<5tly to Chincery, but, the fhips to take every englifh vefTel that fhould appear on the river, which was executed on feveral. Soon after, the Cal- cutta, captain Wilfon, an englifh Eafl-india man, went down the river, bound for England. When he came abreaft of tl.c dutch commodore, he was haild, and told, that if he offered to pafs they would fmk him. Captain Wilfon diredly returned up to Calcutta, where two other Eafl-Indiamen were lying j and on his arrival, informed colonel Clive of his be- ing flopped. The colonel with a becoming fpirit immtdiately ordered the three Indiainen to prepare themfclves for adion, and to endeavour to take, burn, fink, and deflroy every dutch fliip they fhould meet in the river. The dutchmen, on their approach, drew up into a line to receive them -, three mounted ^6 guns, three 26, and one 16. The engagement be- oan with great fury, and in a fhort time, the dutch commodore flruck his flag j his example being fol- lowed by three others •, and of the remaining four, two of them efcaped, and the other ran afhore. ?rs were carried to colonel Clivc j who The pril oein % ( so? ) being informed, that the land forces which the dutch had fet on fhorc, amounting to about noo men, were in full march for Chincery, detached 500 men, under major Ford to oppofe them. The fame bad fuccefs attended the dutch arms by land as by fea : the major entirely defeated them, killed 400, and took all the reft prifoners. Colonel Clive compro- mifed the affair with this perfidious enemy, and re- turned their Ihips, on their giving fecurity to pay a 3arge fum of money for the damage the englifli fuf- fered in the two engagements. Had not this affair ended in fo fj.iccefsful a manner, we might have ex- peded to have had the tragedy of Amboyna afted in Bengal. The britifli arms were equally fuccefsful againft the french. Colonel Clive having refigned the command in thefe parts, (in which he had been fo fignally fuc- cefsful) ro colonel Coote, he embarked for Europe. He was out of the richeft fubjefls in Chriftendom ; which is not to be wondered at, fince he had poflef- fed fo many opportunities of making an immenfe for- tune. Colonel Coote took the field at the head of an army, towards the end of november -, and bein"- informed that general Lally had fent a detachment 0I' his army to the fouthward, and that that party had taken Syningham, and threatned Trichenopoly with a fiege, he thought it advifeable to endeavour to draw the french from that quarter. Accordingly, on the 27th of that month, he inverted Wondiwafli, and became mafter of it in two days, making its garrifon of between 8 and 900 men prifoners of war. On the 3d of december, he laid fiege to Carangoly, and in feven days it furrendered. Mr. Coote having in- telligence, that feveral confiderable detachments of french were rendezvoufed at Arcot, under brigadier general Bufly ; and that general Lally was on the march to join them, he moved with the entr- ( 5o8 ) Jifli army towards Arcot, and encamped oppofitc to that city, the river Palla running between them. At the end of decembcr, general Lally took the com- mand of the french army -, and by the 9th of Janua- ry 1760, it was all in motion ; the general marched towards Wondiwafh, and detached a body of near a thoufand men to attack Conjeveram : the com- manding officer there informed colonel Coote of his danger •, who, by making a forced march, faved the place ; and ftrenthening the garrifon, marched within a few miles of Wondiwafh j which place he found invefted by general Lally, who had began to raife his batteries. The commanding officer in the town informed Mr. Coote, that a breach was made -, and the colonel thereupon determined, if poffible, to raife the fiege; for this end, he advanced with all his cavalry, on the 2 1 ft, to reconnoitre. The enemy's fituation was very ftrong; but colonel Coote, on the 2 2d, by a judici- ous movement, having got pofleffion of a hill, that covered his right flank, began the attack with a fmart cannonade ; and in the conclufion gained a complete victory •, the french having left him mailer of the field, together with all their cannon, amount- ing to 22 pieces, befides a large quantity of fliot, with tumbrils, and all other implements belonging to the train. Brigadier general BufTy, and le chevalier Godcville, quarter- mafter-general were taken prifo- ners, the former reckoned the richeft fubjed in ChriRendom i they loft befides, 800 men killed and wounded, and 240 prifoners. The lofs on the fide of the conquerors was very inconfiderable •, that of the greateft confequence was in major Brcreton, who was killed. General Lally retired with the ftiattered remains of his troops to Pondicherry ; and towards the end of January, colonel Coote detached captain VafTcrot with 1300 men, to the neighbourhood of that that c himff whicl only tance ries i becai 22 pi of n- tend( pany befoi greai •m ( 509 ) that city, to deftroy the french country, and marched himfdf with the main army to befiege Chittiput, which furrcndered to him the 29th. This fuccefs only paved the way to a conqueft Of more impor- tance i on the 5th of february, he opened his batte- ries againft Arcot, the capital of the province, and became mafter of it the 10th, finding four mortars, 22 pieces of cannon, and a great quantity of all forts of military (lores in it. Thefe fignal fucceffes ex- tended the dominion of the englilh Eaft-india com- pany, much beyond any thing that was ever known before, and reduced the french in thofe parts to the greateft diftrefs. II ! !P1 CHAP. that ( 5»^ ) CHAP. XXVII. Affairs m Germafjy. Situation of the king of Pruffm and the emprefs queen. Motions of the armies under the generals Fouquet and Laudohn. Fouquet evacuates Landfhut. Giatz blockaded. Battle of Landfhut. Mea- " ♦•w of count Daun. Motions of his pruffian majejly. Marches for Silefta. Followed by Daun. His criti- cal fit u at ion. Laysfiege to Drefden. Raifes thefiege. Motions of general Laudohn. Bffieges Glatz. Itftn--^ renders. Bombards Brejlau. Retires en the approach of prince Henry. Motions of his pruffian majefiy. His fine march into Silefta. Battle of Merfchwitz. Its confequences. Campaign bef^veen the allies and the french. Skirmifhes. Marpourg taken by the french. A8ion at Corbach. A^ion at Erxdorff. Battle of IVarbourg, HI S prufliaii majefty had received fo many fevere blows in the laft campaign, that it was not ex- pefted he would be very early in his operations this year \ indeed, the feveral armies in Germany, never took the field fo late, fince the beginning of the war : and, as a peace was expedted by Jome of the parties to take place, before the opening of the campaign, all were remarkably cautious in their conduct, at a feafon, when a misfortune might be attended with the moft decifive confequences j but as all thefe hopes were found entirely delufive, the king of PrufTia took his uiual wife precautions, to have his armies on the beft footing poflible : the emprefs queen had, duri'-^ the whole fpring, employed herfelf in raifing numerous recruits for her army in Saxony, and took every meafure that forefight could didate, to render the enfuing campaign decifive. To oppofe her the king augmented hib own army, which acted againil marlhal % % th< ( 5" ) marflial Daun's, and placed his brother Henry at the head of 40,000 men, to defend the eaftern parts of his dominions, againft the ruffians ; who, it was evident from their condufl, would again attack him. Another body of troops he oppofed to the fwedes j and it was with furprifc, that all Europe faw him ftill able to defend himfelf againft fuch nu- merous and powerful enemies. His majefty had employed himicif during fome months, in fortifying his camp near Meiflcn, which was very ftrong by nature ; but rendered impregnable by art. He made vaft intrenchments in every part where it was acceffible, and furniflied them with fucli a numerous artillery, that in the front alone, there were near 250 pieces of cannon. Marlhal Daun, though greatly fuperior in numbers to the King, fol- lowed his example, and fortified himfelf in a ftrong camp near Drefden. The refpe<5tive armies had been fo harrafled the laft campaign, that it was the month of June, before either the pruffian or auftrian troops withdrew from their quarters of cantonment. The emprefs queen had placed general I-.audohn at the head of an army of about 40,000 men, who were encarr:ped fome time in Bohemia, on the fron- tiers of Lufatia. This corps was deftined to attack Silefia. In the beginning of June, Laudohn marched into the county of Glatz, and advanced to Reichen- berg, two miles from Schweidnitz. General Fou- quet commanded a pruffian corps near I^andlhut, which when augmented with a detachment from prince Henry's army, amounted to near 20,000 men j this general fuppofed M. Laudohn's defign was to cut oft' the communication between Schweidnitz and Brcflau •, and with that idea, withdrew all his pofts from Land- ftiut, and that neighbourhood, in fo precipitate a manner, that he left there a confiderable maga- zine : an auftrian general took pofleffion of the as foon as it was evacuated. In this man- ner LU VV yii 111 It. ( .'12 ) ner Laudohn was prevented from attiicldng .Schwtid- nitz. 11, Tliat cTcncral placed a (Irong parnlon and detach- ment at'^Fricdland, to fupport them •, he left liis ca- vah-y at Franckenftein, and fent his infantry into the coonty of Glatz : as he found himfclf unable to pe- netrate further into Silefia, he refolved to undertake the fiecral Javcntzicn, the luunian comirandanr, wrs fevcral times Uimnoned to fiirri uder *, but as conliintly rcfufed it •, and I.audohn's heavy artillery not being come up, he be- gan on the firft of auguft a very fevere bombard menr, which reduced the k.ng of PrufTia's palace andfeveral other public buildings to aflies, as well as the finelt n reets in the city. Marfhal S<»ltikoiy, at the head of a numerous ar- my of rufTians, was at this time advancing brifkly, as if with intent to join Laudohn. 7'he motions of this general induced his royal highnefs prince Henry, who commanded an army of about 40,000 prulTians, encamped at Gleiflen, to march to Glugau. The 27th of July he broke up his camp, and took the rout to Scrapel, keitfcut/, Pudligar, and L/m..ien •, on his arrival at Glogau, he learnt that BreQau was befieged ; and inftantly determined to make forced i^iarches to relieve it. The rapidiry of his motions en this occa- fion was fuch, as had diilinguifhed the prufuan arms. On the 3d of augud he arrived at Parchwitz, from whence an auftrian general with 2000 men retired on his approach. The next day, the prince's vanguard arrived at Neumark •, and he was ther Info'-med, that Laudon had raifed the fiege of BreQau, ai.i re- tired with great precipitation to Canth. Tb'^^rtirian army moved the 5th to Lifla, and the ..^xt ^-v croiFed the Elbe at Breflau, having marched n'- 'efs than 25 german miles in five days : detachments were fent out to harrafs general Laudohn in his re- treat, and fome hundreds of auftrians were taken, with a major gcr.eral. Nothing but the great expe- dition uied by prince Henry in his march could have faved Breflau, for the ruffians on the 6?'- wc- but five miles from that city ; the prudent ufe of an im- portant Vide appendix. l * m ( 5>8 ) porrant height (lopped their progrefs •, z^A his royal highnefs by his admirable niotions was able to oblige tliem to retreat to a greater di (lance from Breflaii, and proteded that city from the attack of general Lai]dc>hn, who retreated towards Schweidnitz. While Yiiz affairs were in this critical fituation in Sileila, the king of Pruflla was attentive to every moticn of marfiial Daun, and as his prefence was much v.ant d in that province, he determined to take the firlt opportunity or marching into it. On the 30th of July he decamped, and took the rout of MeifTcn, without giving Daun any reafon to fufpeft h"s d'.figns. I'he 2d of augufl he arrived at Dal- v/itz, and the next day took the road to vSilefia ; the 7th, his army reached Buntzlau, having marched no Icfs than 200 miles in five days ; which expedition is aflonifliing. Marfnal Daun on the firft notice of the king's march, moved towards Silefia, to flop him, but although he got to Bautzen the ifl, yet he was not able to prevent his prufTian majefty's entering Si- kfu before him ; he took pofTedion of the camp of Lignitz the icth. This march of the pruliian army, if maturely confidercd, will appear very fur- prifmg. All Lufatia, through which it lay, was in the hands of his enemies ; general Reid at the head of one army, and Lafcy with another, lying on each fide of him ; general Beck commanded a third in his front ; and marfiial Daun's parties were continually at his rear. So furrounded with enemies, his army, encumbered' -with above cooo waggons, paffed the Elbe, the Spree, t!ie Neiis, the Qiieifs, and the Bo- ber, without any lofs ; which may polTibly be reckon- ed one of the moil remarkable pieces of generalfliip ever perfornied ; more particularly if we confider that Daun, at the head of an army much fuperior in num- ber, had no other employment befides preventing his majefly's penetrating into Silelia. The his royal ; to oblige 1 Breflau, >f general tz. Liation in to every fence was mined to o it. On le rout of to fufpeft j at Dal- ilefia ; the marched expedition tice of the ft op him, 'et he was itering Si- e camp of ? priiliian very fur- y, was in : the head g on each lird in his ontinually his army, pafTed the d the Bo- )e reckon- ;eneralfliip nfidcr that )r in num- "ntinir his The ( 519 ) The king on his arrival at Lignitz, found that the enemies troops occupied all the country between Parchwitz and Coficndau ; fo that marfliai Daun with his army formed the centre, and occupied the heights of Wahlftadc and Ilochkirk. M. Laudohn with his army covered the ground between Jefch- kendortf and Cofchitz : general Naukendorf that of the heights of Parchwitz -, and M. de Beck, w'ho formed the left, extended his troops beyond Coflen- dan. Mis majefty intended to have palfcd the Katz- bach, and the Schartzwafler, but this adv'"^ageous pofition of the enemy prevented him-, 1.- meretore marched in the night of the 1 ith to turn them, and to reach Javer : for this purpofe, the cokimns of the army was got as far as HohcndorfF, from whence a new camp at Pranfnitz was difcovered, and his ma- jefty received advice, that it was M. de Lafcy's corps, which wa? juft arrived from Lauban ; the pruffiau army prepared immediately to attack him •, but M. de Lafcy made his dipofitions with fo much fkill, and knew fo well how to avail himfelf of the advantages the ground gave him, that he retreated to mar- ftial Daun, without the king's being able to attack him with any profpedt of fuccefs. ilis majefty find- ing that the attempt of turning the enemy was irn- pradicablj j returned with his army on the 13th back to the camp at Lignitz. The king no fooner arrived there, than he perceived how difadvantageous it would be to wait for the ene- my in that camp. He forefaw that M. de Lafcy would have advanced upon his right, that marflial Daun, would have probably attacked his front, and M. de Laudohn have fallen upon his left, poirefTing himfelf at the lame time of the heights ot Platfen- dorff. Thefe confiderations induced his majefty on the 14th, to take pofleftion of thofe heights, draw- ing up his army in order of battle upon theni. This motion changed the f ijii 1 ' 1 1 , ^1^ ; iij .i L i 4 certed it^ ( 520 ) ccrted the clirpofuions of the auflrian generals. Scarce had the prufTians taken this new pofition, when they were informtd, about two o'clock in the morninri:, that M. Laudohn was in t'uil march towards them. Whereupon the priiffian army feparared into two bodies •, the right remained upon the ground where it had been formed, to obfcrve Daun. Sixteen bat- talions and thirty fquadrons turned about, in order to fiill upon the corps under Laudohn. Av )rding to the plan on which that general acled, he was to advance by tnofc heights, where the prufiian army was drawn up -, and he expefted only to meet with fome weak detachments there. About three o'clock in the morning, his advanced parties attacked thofe of thepri iians, and made them give way, and l.audon to pufh this fucrefs, haftcned the m.ovement cf his main body, thinking to get pofTcffion of the heights without oppofinon. Whilft he was endea- vouring to do this, day- light came on ; and to his great ail:onifliment difcovered the prufiian army drawn up in excellent order. This was an unexpetfled ftroke, but it was then too late to retreat •, therefore he prepared in the bell manner he could for acHon. The battlelafted bjt two hours; Laudohn wasobli":ed to retire before the fuperior abilities of the prufliim monarch ; and yielded him a complete vidory. The Jofs of the conquerors was very inconfidcrabie ; but that of the auftrians am.ounted in killed, wounded, and prifoners to upwards of 10,000 men. Two ge- neral5, and more than eighty officers were amongll tiie latter. Eighty two pieces of cannon, and twenty th''ee pair of colours were taken *. This victory, for which his prufiian maje^y was fo much indebted to his own genius, in a great meafure ciianged the face of affairs in Silefia. For although he was not able to oblige the auftrians and ruffians to evacuate that province, yet he defeated their par- ticular • Vide appendix. ( 52' ) ticular defigns againft Brtflaii and Sf hweidnitz, and prevented the generals Sdtikoff and i.audohn from^ joining their forces. The king won the battle ot Merfchwitz with much fuch a ftratagem as prince Ferdinand ufed fo fuccefsfully at Minden. Immedi- ately after the aftion, his majerty marched to Parch- witz, and from thence to Neumark, by which means he opened a communication with prince Henry, and elTcdually covered Breflau. Daun feemed for fome days to have a defign of befieging Schweidnitz, but the king by a maflerly movement towards that town prevented him from executing it. It is now time to give an account of the operations of the army under the command of his ferene high- ncfs duk-i Ferdinand of Brunfwick, which aded againft the french, commanded by marfhal Broglio : the adions performed by either of thefe armies for fome months were of but little importance ; nor can this be wondered at, when we confider, that the only objecT: of duke Ferdinand's operations was to prevent the french from poflefling themfelvesof the electorate of Hanover i and as his Icrene highnefs was at the head of a very fine army, we are not to fuppofe that the french general would be able to force him to a battle, under difadvantageous circumflanccs. It was the middle of may before the allies were out of their cantonments, nor were the french earlier in the field •, duke Ferdinand's trooos were encamped the end oi: that month at Fricziar, where the head quarters were ertabliihed. The generals Inhoff and Gilfoe com- manding each a feparate corps, the firft at Kirchay- non on the Ohm.e, and the latter upon the Fulda near Hirfchfield. The head quarters of the french army had been fixed during the winter at Franckfort ; but about this time their detachments advanced towards Gieflen and Marpourg. The count de St. Germain commianded a ilrong corps of french on the Rhine near Keyferfwert, and general Sporken at tin of .body _^:i. ( 522 ) a body of Hanoverians was oppofcd to him, encamp- ing at Dulmen. Duke Fcidinand opened the campaign with feme fuccefsful attempts to ftreighten the quarters of the french. Towards the end of may he drove them from Butzbach, and fcized their magazines in that town ; and detatched the hereditary prince with near 20,000 men into the county of Fulda, which corps cleared that country of the enemy's troops. In op- pofition to thefe motions maflial Brogho determined to advance -, and accordingly having called in his de- tachments, he encamped the 28th"of June at Neu- ftadt ; and laid fiege to Marpourg and Dillenburg j the former furrendered the 30th of junc, and the latter the i6th of July. The french army was fo much fuperiorin numbers to that of duke Ferdinand, that his ferene highefs was unable to prevent their advancing ; the 8th of July, marfhal Broglio quitted his camp at Neuftadt, and marched towards Franckenberg, and a ftrong corps at the fame time, under M. de St. Germain, advanced towards Brillon and Corbach. Duke Fer- dinand, who had been encamped near Treyfa, aifo marched his army the 9th, to the neighbourhood of Wildungen, in order to prevent the enemy from penetrating further by their new motions. His ad- vanced corps under the hereditary prince of Brunf- wick, was fent forwards as far as Saxenhaufen, after having been reinforced with fome battalions and fome fquadrons, under major general Griffin. 1 he allied army refumcd its march early the next morn- ing, and the hereditary prince at the fam^e time ad- vanced from Saxenhaufen towards Corbach, where he found the french army already formed ; but judg- ing them not to be very numerous, and their whole force againft him not to exceed 10,000 foot, and 1 7 fquadrons, he formed a defign of driving that corps, which was commanded by the french general M. Wal- ( 523 ) M. Waldner, back •, and thus an engagement was brought on, which became extremely hot about two o'clock in the afternoon. 7'he french being continu- ally reinforced with frefli troops, and having the fu- periority of numbers, and a large artillery, the prince found it impollible to dillodge them from their poft •, and as there was no neceffity of maintaining that which he himfelf occupied (the main army being ar- rived at Saxenhaufen) and it not being pradicable for them to come up in time to fuftain the hereditary- prince in his poft, orders were fent him by prince Fer- dinand to rejoin the army, part of which was then formed. Accordingly he made his difpofitions for a retreat, which was attended with fome confufion among fome of the beft battalions and fquadrons. The french obferving this, prcfied very brilkly upon the allied troops, both with their artillery and a large body of cavalry. The coniequences of this might have been very bad, had it not been for the great bravery of the hereditary prince, who putting him- felf at the head of one of Blands fquadrons, and Howard's regiment of dragoons, charged the french fo furioully as to enable the infantry to make a fafe retreat. Fifteen pieces of cannon however fell into the hands of the conquerors j twenty by the french account, who alfoaflert, that the allies loft 3000 men, dead on the fpot, befides 800 wounded or prifoners j whereas the whole of the lofs is calculated by the London Gazette, at about 500 men, moft probably both thefe accounts were falfe. General count Kii- manfegge, major general Griffin, the two britifti bat- talions of Brudcnel and Carr •, particularly one fqua- dron of Bland's, commanded by major Mill, and Howard's regiment of dragoons, all diftinguillied themfelves remarkably •, and the troops in general fhewed great good will and alacrity. The hereditary prince was wounded m the flioulder, but not danger- pufly. The fuccefs of the french in this ad:ion was of .! M m liii m ( 5H ) of very little confeqnence to them, in any other re- fpcdl tlian that of raifing the fpirit of their troops, who regarded this good beginning as an omen of future fuccefs. Never was the bravery of any general more con- fpicuoiis than that of the hereditary prince in this aifair : his v/ell judged and defj^erate attack on the french troops, covered fo efieftually the retreat of his infantry, that the enemy themfelves could not but admire the ftroke v.'hich flopped their career. His highnefs foon after had an opportunity of revenging this defeat. Marfhal Broglio having formiCd the defign of pof- fefling himfL^lf of Ziegenhayn, detached a corps for that purpofe under major general Glanbitz, confill- ing of fix battalion?, and the regiment of Berchini. Duke Ferdinand, on receiving advice of this mo- tion, detached the hereditary prince from the army at Saxcnhaufen, the 14th at night, for Fritzlar, at the head of fix battalions -, in his way he was joined by general Luckner, with his regiment of dragoons, and Elliot's light horfe, which was juft arrived from England. M. de Ghiubitz was encamped at Erx- dorff i in pcrfecl: fecurity, and had negleded to place the proper advanced polls to prevent a furprife. The prince having advanced pretty near the enemy, re- connoitred •, and then made a detour of near two leagues, with part of his force, in order to gain the left flank of the french, who thiinking themfelves very fecure, were furprifed in their camp. Their artillery, baggage, and tents being foon taken, they retired by Langenltein. Elis ferene highnefs putting himfelf at the head of Elliot's light dragoons, and fome other cavalry, purfued the enem-y, and over- taking them on their march in a plain, he charged and broke through them four or five different times, and feparating 500 men from the body, obliged ihem to ''v down their arms j and furrounding M. Glaubitz mo- and ( 5^5 ) Glaubit2 at the head of the remainder of his corps, he fummoned him to furrender, which was ac- cordingly complied with. Berchini's regiment was likewife either entirely taken or cut to pieces, by Ltickner's huflars. Major general Glaubitz and the prince of Anhalt, a brigadier, were amongll the prifoners. Nine pair of colours (almoft all taken by Elliot's regiment) five pieces of artillery and a haut- bitzer, were taken-, the prifoners amounted to 177 officers, and 2482 private men. The lofs of the allies was inconfiderable, not amounting to above 200 men killed and wounded. This advantage was not attended with any great confequences, except jufl: tlu- lofs of men, to the french -, ^nd v/hat was worfe, the lofs of reputation, particu' iiiy as M. Glaubitz was furprifed in fuch a Icandalous manner. It had one elTc£l in common with many other enterprifes of the hereditary prince, to dif- play (till clearer every day his great abihties in the art of war. Elliot's regiment of light iiorfe, which was but jult raifed, diftinguiHied themfelves extremely ; and the infantry fhewed throughout great courage and good will to march on and engage, though harraOcd and almoft exhaufted by the fatigues of their mart h. Major Erflcinc in particular, who com- manded Elliot's greatly diftinguilhed himfclf *. I'his adion was not of confequence enough to prevent the french from advancing: Duke Ferdinand was yet obhged to retreat-, he bent his march towards Calfcl, and leaving a garrifon in that town, retreated towards Warbourg. MarQial BrogHo formed a de- fign of cutting off his communication with Weft- phalia : to compafs this end, he detached the cheva- lier de Muy, at the head of the referve of the french army, amounting to about 35,000 men, to crofs the river Dymel, and extend himfelf down the fide of it J while the marfhal himfelf advanced with the main army • Vide appendix. 5 ,. '1 ( 526 ) army towards duke Ferdinand's camp at Kallc, in the mid way, between CafTel and Warbourg ; and on the 30th his ferene highnefs pafled the Dymel with his army, between Liebenaw and Dringclbouro-. The hereditary prince had palled that river the day before, and took poll between Liebenaw and Cor- beke, at the head of 24 battalions and 22 fqiiadrons j and he immediately reconnoitred the pofition of M. de Muy •, after which it was agreed, that the here- ditary prince, afTifted by general Sporke, fhould turn the left of the french, while duke Ferdinand ad- vanced with his army upon their front -, which was done with all pofTible fuccefs, the french being at- tacked almoft in the fame inftant by M. Sporcke, and the hereditary prince, in flank and in rear. The army marched with the greatefl: diligence to make the attack in front ; but the infantry could not get up in time -, general Waldegrave, at the head of the britifli prefled their march as much as poflible : no troops ever jfhewed greater eagernefs to engage ; many of the men, from the heat of the weather, and over- ftraining thcmfelves to get on, through morafly and very difficult ground, fuddenly droppeddown on their march. The duke obferving that the infantry would be too late, gave orders for lord Gran by to advance, with the cavalry of the right -, general Moyfton com- manded under him, and ahhough the diftance from the enemy was five miles, yet they made fo much ex- pedition in bringing it up, on a full trot, as to have an opportunity of Iharing in the glory of the day. The french cavalry, though very numerous, retreated as foon as that of the allies advanced to charge them, excepting only three Iquadrons, that kept their ground with fome firmnefs, but were foon broke. A part of the englifli cavalry then fell upon the ene- my's infantry, which fufFered extremely, particularly a regiment of fwifs. Thcfe atttacks were feconded in a lurprifing manner by the enghlli artillery, ccm- manded ( S'^l ) mandcd by captain Philips, who brought it up on a gallop. His ferene highnefs, feeing the french be- gin to give way, ordered an attack to be made on the town of Warbourg •, on which the/ retired with the utmoft precipitation, leaving about 1500 men dead upon the field of battle, together with ten pieces of cannon, fome colours, and about 1500 prifoncrs. The lofs on the fide of the allies was very moderate, it fell chiefly on the brave battalion of Max- well's englifh grenadiers, which did wonders. Lord Grandby greatly iiftinguifhed himfelf. The confequences of this battle were not fo great as might have been expedcd •, duke Ferdinand was Hill obliged to retreat : nor could he prevent the french from entering the eledorate, and making themftivcs mafters of Gottingen and Munden. An univerfal conflcrnation once more feized the unhappy inhabitants of that exhaufted country •, every thing depended on the abilities of duke Ferdinand : he was at the head of a fine army ; but that of the french was much the mod numerous. Marfhal Brog- lio advanced his detachments for fome days ; but by the good conduft of his ferene highnefs, he was not able to pufli on with the main oi- the french army ; fo the electorate was faved '. ;' his excellent manage- ment. Marches, countermarches, and the making choice of ports proper for covering a country againft a areatly fuperior army, perhaps require greater abi- lities than many battles ; but the generality of the world feldom underftand the one fo perfectly as the other, as they are of lefs eclar, though not lefs im- portance. I fliall here leave the operations of thefe armies, for the prefent, and take a view of the mili- tary affairs in other quarters, of no lefs confcquence than thofe of which I have been treating. CHAP. ; i li !ta^ ( 5^8 ) C II A P. XXVIII. 1 Ciimpaign in North America. Jispedition under general Amberjl againjl Montreal. Army embarks at Ofivego. J/le Rcyale furrenders. 'troops land at Montreal. Ge- neral Murray antves there from f^eke^ and colonel llaviland from JJlc aux Ncix. Montreal capitulates. Canada conquered. Affairs in Germany. French fur- prifed at Ziercnberg. Battle of Campen. Armies go into 'nvitiT quarters. Remarks on the campaign. Conclufcn of the campaign between the pruffians and aufirians., Uc. Athcn at Strchla. Motions of the ruffians. Lay fiege to Colbcrg. Raifed by general JVerner. '■The fwedes driven back. Berlin furrenders to the ruffians. Plundered. Their inhuman ravages. King cf Pvuffia marches into Saxony. Battle of Torgau. Saxony recovered. Sikfia evacuated by the aufirians. Ruff.ans retire into Poland. Remarks on the campaign. Affairs in England. Great preparations at Portfmouth. The expedition fleet countermanded. Death of his ma- jefly king George tl e Jcccnd. Acceffwn of his prefent majcfiy king George the third. King's fpeech. Re- fietUons. NOTHING but the unbounded trade of Great Britain could have enabled the natior, to main- tain fo expenfive a war. 1 he parliament had in the beginning of the year, voted upwards of fifteen mil- lions * ilerling for the public expence. Enormous as thefe grants were, none but the difcontented repined • ^or the army, For the navy, Sundrys, i 6886000 1. 4072000 4545000 J5503C00 at ( .^29 ) at the credit of the government j for it wis f()un(!* thiit the money granteil by parlument was applied to thole ferviccs tor wl-.-ch it was dcfH^ned by the peo- pie 1 and the abilities of the minillers were fucii, that the war was every where fLRcefsful, and ths flrength of the nation bent aj^ainfl the moll national objedls, and employed in the moft advantageous manner. The britilh arms had been particularly viiElorious the iaft campaign in north America -, but (Hll the French were not entirely conquered. Montreal, Trois Rivieres, and fevcral other fortiTifes remained yet in the hands of the enemy •, but general Amherll, ills majeily's commander in chief in that country, had made the necelTary ])reparations in the winter, and fpriug of the year, for opening tlic campaign v/ith vigour. His excellency repaired to Ofwego the 9th of July ; which place v;as the rendezv:)us of his army, as the plan of their operations was to fall down the river St. Lawrence, and attack Montreal. It was the beginning of augufl: before all the troops were arrived, but on the loth, all the army embark- ed ; the rear and the provincials were under the command of brigadier general Gage. About 60 miles from the lake Onta.io, down the river St. Law- rence, is fituatcd the ifle Royale, whereon was builc a ftroni^ fort : It was neccffary ro be mafter of this ifland, ^before the troops could proceed on their voyage-, accordingly general Amherft attacked tie fortrefs in a rciblute manner, v/ith his vefiHs, and batteries on fliore, fo that he got polTelTion of it by capitulation, the 23d of augult, two days after the lirll firing of his batteries. At this place Mr. Amherft waited no longer than was necefiary to repair the fort •, on the 31 ft he pro- ceeded on his voyage-, the difficulty of the naviga- tion occafioned his lofing, on the 4th of feptember, 29 batteaus of men, and 17 of artillery and ftores, M ni bv fides \ 'I ill I I ( 530 ) bcfKlfs 17 whiilc boats, and one row galley l\j.vci\^ ^4 men by this unhappy accident were loll. The army lanJtd on the ifland of Montreal in good order the 6th, and without oppofition ; and the next day, ge- neral Murray arrived with part of the yarrilbn ^of Qiiebec, and a naval force under captain Deane j and with liich extraordinary forelight and judgement hat! general Amhcrfl; planned this expedition, that colo- nel Haviland, who commanded a third corps (tha;, was in poflelTion of the ifleaux Moix, in lake Cham- plain,) reached Montreal the next day. lliflory can hardly produce a more ftriking inllance of exccllenc military condudl in three feparate expeditions againll one place, by different routs, without any conmuinica- tion with each other, and through fuch a dangerous and difhcult country, meeting almoit at the fame time at the deftined rendezvous. Before general Amherft could raile a fingle battery, the marquis de Vaudreuil offered to capitulate •, and accordingly, on the loth, the articles of capitula- tion "*, not only for Montreal, but the whole pro- vince of Canada, were drawn up and figned : that jmmenfe country was furrendered to the king of Great Britain, and the britifh troops tooK immediate poffdf- fion of all the fortrelTcs in it, the french garrifons of •which, were bound not to ferve during the remain- der of the war; the civil and religious rights of the inhabitants were guarantied to ti.jm. The 30th ar- ticle of the capiculation contains perhaps the moff infolent demand, ever made on fuch an occafion : If by treaty <,f peace Canada fliouid remain in the the power of his britannick majelly, his moil chri- fflun majelly fnall continue to name the bifbop of the colony, who fliall always be of the roman communion, and under whole authority the peo- ple iliall exercife the roman religion." This im- pudent deniand wasrefufed by Mr. AmJierll with the indicrnation it defer ved. i( (C t( I n Vide appendix. lame In ( 531 ) In this glorious and (kcilivc manner w.is tl c cam- paign in north America conckided i that country m wlMch theencmv iud been fo extremely formidable m the beginning olF the war, as to baffle all the atte.npts of a nation \'o much fup^^erior in that part ot the world, was now complettly conquered. 'J he iinpa- rallel'd fuccefs, which luid heu /o conlhntly at' .-nded the britidi ai.ns, durin[r the two laft campaigns en- tirly wiped out the m'.;moty of vhok: upeated de- feats, and difgraces that we fuffered in the beginning of the contelt. Nor could the confcquenccs ot our viaories be «o great and advantageous in any other part 01 the globe as this. 1 have already explained the infinite inconvenienci^-s wluch our colonies fultam- ed from this count' y's being in the hands ot the french-, but by its cciqueft they were ieciired -, and thcbiitiHi dominion an I trade extended over one of the moft extenfivc, and perhaps the fineft countries in the univerfe. , ,r 1 j The campai'^,n in Germany between the allied and french armies, was not toncluded with any great cclat.^ But there happened fome aftions, which, though ot no ^reat importance, yet deferve to be mentioned. Th? beginning of feptember, marlhal Biogho detach- ed 20,000 men to make a grand forage in the neign- bourhood of (^(iimari but prince Ferdinand having rc-eived previous intelligence of their deiign, marchea inper^oiM with a corps of troops to oppofe then, j and though his ferene highnefs was much interior la numbc;3 to the french, vet he toor. ms precautions fo well, by occupying fome advarrageou<5 heights, and placino- artillery on them, thai; he rendered tne enemy's attempt totMly ineffedual, notwithllandmo a laro-e part of their army was in motion to cover their^ragers. The very fame day, the hereditary prince, who had behaved with fo much g.dlanuy m feveral anions, which I have already rehired, .-M'-g informed that a bodv of 1200 horfe, and as j .y M m 2 ^^'*-'' $ iiih ( 532 ) foot of the french troops, were cantoned at Zieren-^ berg, and being very near their grand army, thought themfelves in perfed lecurl-.y j he formed a defi^n to fiirprifc them. Accordingly, his ferenc high- nefs gave orders for fix battahons and eight fquadrons, to take dilft^rent roads, and pofh them- felves at the avenues to the town, which being per- formed in great ortler, it was completely furrounded before the erremy had the leafl intimation of their danger. Part of the grenadiers marching in profound filence towards one of the gates, were difcovered by their trampling over the gardens, and fired upon by the garrifoL , whereupon, they rufhed on, puflisd the piquets, and having killed the guard at the gate, poured into the town, and drove every thing before them, at about two o'clock in the morning. Never was a more complete furprifj. The expedition con- cluded with the carrying off M. de Norman, bricra- dier, who commanded the volunteers of Dauphine, and M. de Comeiras, colonel of thofe of Clermont, with about 40 more officers, and 400 privare men j the number of killed and woirnded was alfo very confiderable, from an ill judged refiftance of thofe that were in the houfes ; the party was obliged to re- tire with thele advantages when day came on, as they might have been cut off by the french at Warbourg. Prince Fe'\linand to finilh the campaign as advan- t.igcoufly as poffible, by extending his quarters *n the winter, and opening a communication with fuch countries on the lower Rhine, as might ferve to fur- nifli his army with f(;rage, &c. and poffil)ly to corn- pals another end, which will be explained hereafter, detached the hereditary prince towards the end of fcptember, into the duchy of Cleves, to cl'-ar that and the neighbouring countries of the frenc h tioops, and to bcfiege VVefei. The 29th, part of his ferenL' i'.ighncfs's corps pafild the Rhine at Rocroort, and fcourcd ( 533 ) ^, ^ fcourcd the country ro Rhynberg and Wefel • and other detachments took poflemon of Rees and Em- merick. The 30th, the hereditary prince himfel came before Wcrd, and by the 3d of oftobcr it was completely inverted -, the lame day Glevcs llir- rendered to another of his detachments, the s^urifoa of /;oo men beino; made prifoners of war. His ferene highnefs punned on the fiege ot We ,1 with as much brilknefs as poffible -, marlhal BrogV.o tho-ght it an objeft of Rich importance that he re- folved to raife the fiege •, for this end, he detached M. de Caflries, with a ftrong corps towards the lower Rhine, which, when it had joined the ftragghng de- tachments in the country, amounted to 30 batta- lions, and 38 fquadrons : by forced marches he ar- rived at Rhynberg the 14th. The hereditary prince had a party at that place, who were obliged to re- tire. Oh being attacked by the Irench, although the princ^ himfelf was at their head -, the enemy advanced and encamped behind the conveiit of Campen : nis fe- rene highnefs formed the defign of furpnfing M. • de Calhies in the night: accordingly he began hi. march at ten o'clock, but before he could reach the french camp, he found it neceffiuy to overpower that corps that occupied the convent, about halt a league in the front of it, in this attack the hring alarmed M. de Caftrics, who immediately put his troops haftily under arms. He v.'as however attacked andVlrove back twi-.e. A moft terrible and w.d supported fire of muiketry enfued •, which laded rom ftv!^ in the morning "..H about mne ^^^^f^'^J^^' cfAfino-. At length his ferene hi-nnels feeing, that 11 V;ukrbe to ro purpole to periilt in tlie atr.mpt of drivinc. ^he enemy out ot the wood, ot which the/ ad poffefied theaMcWes, and his infantry havmg Lnt^ll their ammunition, ordered a retreat ; which ^ ted without a bi-ifl. purluit from the enemv = was ex ecu ■'"he lofs of th? al lies M m m killed, wounded, and pr'ilcners,^ i:i' I m-iii ( 534 ) priloners, amounted to near 1500 men. The here- ditary pnncc had l^is horft: killed under him, and re- ceived a (light hurt by the fame fhot in his len; J-^ieiit. coK ncl Pitt, and lord Howne were wounded and pnioners. Lieut, general Waldecrrave, major geiicial Grjfiin, lord George Lenox, and feveral other oftcersdiftinouillicd themfelves greatly. Major ge- neral Elliot, and Tcveral other officers of diftinftion were wounded. M. de Scgur, lieut. general, M. de V\ angen, brigp.dier general, with many officers, and ionx- hundreds oj- private men of tiie enemy were made priloners; and their lofs on the whole was reckoned more confiderable than that of the allies. 1 his aftion happened on the 15th. His lerene highncls was obliged in conll>quence of t!us^adion to raile the Ilege of VVefcl, and on the 23d he fixed his head quarters at Brugzen, at which place Jie remained encamped fometime, watching the mo- tions of M. de Caftries ; but nothing material hap- ];ened betw<'en them. Duke Ferdinand attempted to iinilli the campaign with the poffeflion of Gottincren tne only place in the ekc^orate of Hanover, that was in th^e hands o^ the french •, but after fome unfucccfs- i-ul ikirmi/lics, he was obliged to withdraw his troops Irom betore it ; and the heavy rains having made the roads extremely bad, he dillributed his men into win- ter quarters. His-K)wn head quarters he eftabliflied yt iMmbec, lord Granby^s were fixed at Paderborn, and the hereditary prince's at Munfler, the troops oc- toned on the eves to Cologne. Although this not end a-npaign between the french and allies did as dinand with a force much infe tiKit ol 1759-, yet duke Fer- rior to that of his ene- my ( 535 ) , , my, was c.mbled by his great generallhip to keep the Vench out of the ekaorate, the trod matenal aun 1 c had m view. Otlierwife indeccl, tlie campaign was rather unfortunate, as marAinl lirogho, from the time lie took the field to his going into winter quar- ters, kept conlUntly advancing ; and there were e- veral unfuccersfiil (kirmidies during the courfe ot it . but when we confider, that the great end of the wai was tmfwered, the preventing the trench froni po- fenin'T themfelves of Hanover, and confequently ot attackiiK. the king of PrulTia, and alfo the great fu- pc^orit Af tlie enemy, we may juftly pronounce it '"Tn my •■■>ft chapter, 1 left the king of PrufTm, after th-- battle of Merfchwitz, covering Si!eliaa£ainft the auftrian army, under marlhal Daun. His majefty hivin.. left a ftrong corps in Saxony, under genera HuUe°n. the duke of Deux Fonts, who commanded the army of the empire in Saxony, formed a delign oTfalling on him, in the atfence of the pruflian grana mv For this end, he colleded fame aultrian de- tachments together, and joining them to his own army, n'deavoured to cut off Hulfen's commumcat..on w i h To,™, who was pofted at Meiffen. 'fheF"^^" gencM-al penetrating into this defign, "f^hed on the T7th of auguftto Strehla-, and on the 20th was .Stacked by°the combined army which contain d more than double the ""-"ber ot his men : by the good conchidt of Hulfen, and the bravery of s men the dake of Deux Ponts was defeated, with the lofs of above 9000 men killed, wounded, and pnfo- ners-, that of 'the conquerors did not exceed 50O men The pruffian general being intormed, that tn. Se of wSrtember% at the head ot ,0000 m. was on l,is march to join the duke ot ^eux lonts, ^ctreat-,d to Torgau, where he remained encamped. M m 4 His IMk mM I ( 536 ) His pruflian majefty continually found new ene. niies fpnngmg up, in every part of his dominions. i lie ruffians, after prince Henry had defeated their defign upon Breflau, feemed to Jay afide the thoughts of profecuting the campaign in Silefia, but in Pome- rania they aded with frefh vigor ; a confiderable body ot them fat down before Colberg, the beginning of September, while a ruffian fleet blocked up the port by fea. A vaft army of thefe barbarians had once before endeavoured in vain to matter this little town • and they were again foiled in their attempt. General Ocltzc, who commanded a fmall pruffian army near Gicgau, that watched the motions of the ruffian army m Silcfia, detached general Werner with 6000 men to raile the ficge. Werner made one of the moft aftoniftimg marches, for expedition, ever known; he reached Colberg from Glogau, which is above 250 miles in 1 1 days ; and arriving before the place, on the i8th, the ruffians though much fupe- nor in number, rnifed the fiege with the greateft precipitation, abandoning their tents, cannon, am- munition, baggage, forage, and provifions in very great quantities, to the pruffians. This was not the only ferviceperiormed by Werner i the fwedes had, towards the end of the campaign, advanced into lirandenburg, and made themfelves matters of fome confiderable towns, general Stutterheim, who com- manded againll them, being too weak to ftop their I3rogrel.s, W\^rner marched againft them, and obliged them to retiic into their ufual Winter quarters at vStrahund. llis piuffinn m.ijeay by fpmematterly movements ::rter the battle of Merfchwitz obliged marffial Daun to retire among the mountains on the frontiers of S'Mii ; and as this ccnHned fituation of his army itopped the operations both of the auftrian and rull iiaii arm its, the ruffians were prevailed on to march into ( 537 ) into Brandenburg, and attack Berlin ; hoping by that means to change the theatre of the war. For this end the rufTian generals Czernichef and Tottleben, were detached with upwards of 20,000 men, and general Lafcy was fent againlt Berlin with 14000 from the auftrian army. The whole rulTian army followed at a fmall diftance, to fuftain this grand enterprize. But each party wanting to get before the other, general Tottleben, without waiting the arrival of the large corps of troops, appeared on the 3d of oftober before Berlin, with 2000 light troops and fome foot. He immediately fummoned it, and upon its refufmg to furrender, he threw into the city fome hundreds of royal grenades, bombs, and red hot balls, and at the fame time made three- affaults on one of the gates, but was repelled every time, and the flames which broke out in feveral parts were happily extinguiflied. The ruffian general find- ing all his efforts vain, retired. Mean v/hile, prince Eugene of Wurtemberg, and general Hulfen, had come to the affiftance of the capital, and would pro- bably have faved it, had not count Czernichef and general Lafcy with their refpeftive corps came up. At the fame time the grand ruffian army arrived at Franckfort on the Oder. The two pruffian gene- rals, feeingthegreatfuperiority of the enemy, would not expofe the city to the precarious iffiie of a battle. Accordingly they withdrew on the 6th to Spandaw, a ftrong fortrefs in the neighbourhood. By the capi- tulation, which the governor and magiftrates made with general Tottleben, it was agreed, that the town (iiould be delivered up 10 the ruliians ; that the gai - rifon of three battalions fliould be prifontrs of war j and that, on paying a contribution of 1,500,000 crowns, and 200,000 as a |i;ratuity to the troops, the city ffiould enjoy full liberty, proteftion, and fafcty, 1 I t-t >vhile the enemy ita'd in it. The ( 538 ) The rufilnn and aiiflrian armies were no fooner in pofTemon of Berlin, than they began to exercife all manner of inhuman barbarities on the innocent in- hnhitants, in defiance of the capitulation. By the third article it was agreed, that no foldier fliould be quartered in the city or fuburbs •, that the light troops fhould not be permitted even to enter the place : neverthelefs, Berlin in a few days was overrun with coflacks, pandours, and every other fpc ies of irregular troops, who vied with each other in com- rnitiing the molt enormous outrages. They even lived at difcretion, and ufed the moil cruel treatment to force money from their landlords. All the kinf^'s palaces, {tables, and country feats were defolated, ttie fine piftures, antique fiatutes, and rich furniture, with the king's coaches that could not be carried off; were entirely fpoilt and dcmoliflied. 1 he very graves did not efcape the ravages of their mcrcilefs invaders, they broke open the vaults, and ftripped the dead. Numbers of people of all ages and conditions were beat and cut in a miferable manner, and the women were diflionoured in the very prefencc of their pirents and relations. Ail the neighbouring towns, and the adjacent country quite to "Saxony and Poland was ravaged in this inhuman manner. It would fill vo- lumes to be particular in an account of thefe infa- mous adions : but the king of Pruffia publiflied a memorial, fetting in a clear light, before all Europe, the unmanly condu(5l of his enemies *. In the mean time that monarch perceived the ne- cpllity of his marching to the defence of his domi- nions, as there was no force either in Brandenburg or Saxony able to withftand 80,000 ruffians, who were ent:amped in the former of thofc countries. Accordingly his majefty, having called in his detach- ments, began his march towards Brandenburg j he Vide nppcndix. bent ( 539 ) bent his courfe acrofs Lufatia, and arrived at Dam the 20th of odlober, being followed by marfhal Daiin at the diftance of a few days march. On the king's approach, the ruffians evacuated Berlin, retiring towards Poland •, fo that his majelty found himfelf enabled by their ablence to remove the the- atre of the war into Saxony. His affairs m that country greatly wanted his prefence •, the army ot the empire, in conjunftion with a large body of au- flrians had made themfelves mailers ot Leiphck.Wit- tenberg and Torgau, and in fliorc, all Saxony was in the hands of his enemies,. If we confider the ftate of this monarch s at- fairs at this period, we (liall not wonder much at all Europe's giving him over as loft beyond recovery. An army of 80,000 ruffians was encamped in his eledorate, all Saxony was in the hands of the au- ll-rians, part of Silefia was likewife in their poffeffion •, and general Laudon, whom Daun had lett in that province with a ftrong corps, threatened the remain- der of it ; in fine, marffial Daun, at the head ot a fuperior army was ready to maintain affairs in their then ftate, that he might be ready in the ipring to overwhelm the king at once. His pruffian majefty paffed the Elbe, the 25th at Cofwig, between Wittenberg and Deffaw, and hav- ing joined the corps of prince Eugene ot Wurtem- berg, and p-cncral Ilulfen, he found himfelt at tnc head of So;'ooo men. Marffial Daun having jomed creneral Lafcy, alfo croffed the Elbe at Torgau, and advanced to Eulenburg, probably with a delign to join the army of the empire, which had taken poll- under Leipfick •, but he returning to his old camp at Torgau, the pruffian army marched to Eulenburg, and general Hulfen driving the army of the empire from before Leipfick, took polkffion of that city, and leaving a garrifon in it, nioined the grand army. His maielly now detc :r.in.d, if poUibie, to torce -^ marihal r I*,?' Hi ( 540 ) mainial Daun to a battle, for he found that nothiiu. but a vidtoiy could retrieve the finking Ihite of hi"^ an.iMS. To execute this refolution, he marched towards the atdnan army, the 2d of novcmber ; his fcheme was to make two different attacks on it, fo that either his rigat or Ittr muft take the enemy in rear, and clofe them in Accordingly his majcfty, the next day, with 70 battalions and 50 fquadrons of his left wincr took cue road and general Ziethen, with 30 battalions and 50 ^-^'adrons of the right, marched by another. Marfhal Daun, being apprifed of the approach of the prufllans, by the fkirmifliing of his advanced parties, tormed a front to oppofe the king, who began the attack at two in the afternoon : he was received with a brilk hre of 2Co pieces of cannon, but was repulfed the hrlt time, after a very fmart fire of artillery and fmall arms, the prufTian grenadiers fuffering much from the aulhian carabineers. His prufTian majelty made a iecond vigorous attack, but his infantry was a^rain repulled, and forced to give way. The king tlien oidered two regiments of horle to advance^ who threw fevcral aullrian regiments into diforder, taking pnioners three others. lipon this attack marHial Daun advanced between fixry and eighty battalions towards Torgau, placing his left at 'Zmne, and his light at tlie Elbe. The prince of Holllein went to meet them, with the pruflian cavalry, and at firlt made Uitm give way •, but at the fccond attack, he v;as himfclf forced to retire a little. Neverthelefs he returned a third time to the charge ; and the thircl hr.c of tlie prufl^an infantry attacked the auftri:m .root in the vineyards of Supritz, whiKt general /-lethen, with their right wing made his attack in tncr- rear, i hefe three attacks being executed at tne lame time, fucceeded ; the whole auftrian army was tnrown into great diforder, which was encreafed by marfnal Daup/'s being wounded in the thicr:4. Ihe ( 541 ) The battle ended about a quarter before ten at night, when viaory declared for the king of Pruiria. The night being uncommonly dark, his majcity had it not in his power to purfue his enemy ■, fo they em- ployed the reft of the night in crofTing the Elbe with all fpeed, on three bridges of boats, which tliev threw over it at Torgau. Next mornin-i; at day break the prufTian army entered that town, and Tcized 20 boats belonging to their bridges. In this defperate battle, which wa^ one of the bloodieft that had happened fince the beginning of the war j the conquerors, by their own aicount loft 1500 men made prifoners, among whom were two generals, 2500 killed, 4900 wounded. The auftrianr., according to the fame account, loft four j/eneral:;, 200 officers, and 7000 men -, 29 colours, one ftan- dard, and 40 pieces of cannon were alio taken ; but the number of their killed and wounded was never publiflied by the prulTians. The Vienna account of this battle, makes their lofs 10,000 men killed,^ wounded and miffing •, and computes the king ot Pruflia's in the whole at 20,000 men. But both thefe calculations were probably falfe. _ If they owned their lofs to amount to 10,000 men, it is more than probable, it was nearer 20,000, efpecially if they loll 7000 prifoners. Confidering the fituation of the ar- mies, and tiie duration of the engagement, nothino- can be more improbable than the conquerors lofin^, double the number of the vanquifhed. I believ- it will not be thought extravagant to calculate the loiii of the pruffians at 10,000 men, and that of the au- ftrians at 20,000. I cannot help obferving here, how impolitic it w:\3 in marftial Daun, to chufe a camp where he might he forced to an aftion, unlefs the court of Vienna (which is moft likely) gave him pofitive orders to engage : had he continued on the defenfive, the king of'^pTuffia, confidering how furrounded he was wiih en.eriiies 1 1 ( 542 ) enemies in his very dominions, muH: have lod: many men m the remainder of the: campaign, and have opened the enfuing one under the greatclt difadvan- tages. The ruflians would probably have taken their ^vlntcr quarters in Brandenburg. And \f the allies had began the campaign with vigor, it would have been a miracle, had the king efcaped ruin. Indeed the ruffians played a very wavering game by retirino- in lo critical a time. It looked as if the court of Pe- ter/burg had determined not intii^ely to demolifh the king. The cbnfequences of this great viaory fbon ap- peared. MarHial Daun furrendered the command of the auftrian army, as foon as he was wounded, to general Buccow, whofe arm being fliot off in a few minutes, it devolved on general ODonnel. The new commander retreated with great expedition towards JJrelden, and having provided for the fafety of that city, took pofleflion of the ftrong camp at Plauen. All Saxony, except a fmall traa about Drefden and the auftrian camp, feJl once more into the hands of his pruffian majcfly, who advanced with his army to t reyberg. It was too late in the feafon, his troops had been too much fatigued, and Drefden too ftrono-, for him to attempt making himfelf mailer of n. But he detached 10,000 men, under general Forcade, through Thuringia, to affift duke Ferdinand in his operations againlt the french -, but the roads proved fo extremely bad, that this party was obliged to halt by the way. He alfo fent another ftroncr d^etachment againfl: the ruflians, who thereupon retired into Po- land, and he had the fatisfaaion to lee his domini- ons treed from that terrible enemy for the remain- der of the campaign. Another pjrty of his troops took up their winter quarters in Mecklenburg. Saxony and Brandenburg were not the cSnly pro- vinces th^at were cleared of his enemies, by the glo- nous vidoj-y of 1 orgau. MarHial Daun had left general ( 543 ) general Laudohn, with a rtrong corps in Silefia, who making a feint, as if he intended to befiege Schwelcl. nitz, turned fuddciily off, and laid ficge to Coid- The pruffian general Goltz, who commanded againft him, was unable to raife the fiege ; but the battle of Torgau operated even ar tliat diftance. General Laudohn was no fooner informed of it, (and having made an unfuccefsful attack) than he raifed the fiege, and retired into the county of Giatz. In this great and glorious manner did that mag- nanimous monarch extricate himlelf from thofe for- midable and impending dangers, that lb lately had furrounded him. All his dominions except thofe that had been in the hands of his enemies from the very beginning of the war, were now entirely cleared. Much the greateft part of Saxony and Lufatia, as well as Mecklenburg and fwedilh Pomerania were in his pofieiTion ; in thefe he had ic in his power to raife large contributions and recruits for his army ; fo that his fituation at the clofe of the campaign, was much more advantageous, than it was ^t the end of the lad. During the year 1759, Jie fuftained four capital defeats, and the moft fatal of them, the furrender at Maxen, concluded the cam- paign -, whereas in this of 1760, he gained two great and fignal victories, and the campaign was finillied in the moll glorious manner. Indeed it was opened unfortunately by Fouquet's defeat, but the king and prince Henry, by their admirable movements pre- vented the auftrians from receiving any great advan- tage from their vi<5tory. One cannot refled on the feeming defperate face which this monarch's afiairs wore during the greateft part of the campaign, and not be loft in amazement, when we confider the abi- lities that extricated him from all thole perplexing difficulties. In the mean time, in England the attention of all ranki of pcopk was taken up with the very conii- der a l)l*i ( 544 ) tlefable preparations that had bccfi carryin'^ on rf^ rortfmouth, four months fucccflivcly ; a larjre fqua- dron of men of war, with tranfporcs fuflicknt to carry 10,000 men were colleaed at Spitheatl. 'J'roops, both horfe and foot marched from all parts of Eng- land to Portfmomh. Mortars, cannon, bombs, am- munition, and a multitude of all forts of warlike implements both for the held ,r a fiege, were tranf- portcd thither. The grcatnefs of thefe preparations alarmed the french, who expcdled another vifit on feme part of their coaft, they prepared at all their ports to reeeive the enemy. About the middle of November, the troops, to the amount of about 8000 men, embarked, general Kingfley was appointed to command in chief by land, and commodore Keppel by fea. The fleet lay wind bound at Spithead fome days, and before they could fail, the commanders received counter orders, direding the troops to be difem barked, as the expedition was laid afide 'till the fpring. The nation in general was greatly fur- prifed at thefe fudden orders •, nor could any indif- ferent perfon pretend to mention the deftination of the armament. Numberlefs conjedures were formed j but many circumltances confidered, I think there is great reafo" to fuppofe that this expedition was de- figned to co-operate with that of the hereditary prince of Brunfwick, when he laid fiege to Wefel 'Tis probable the fleet were to land troops on the beach of Blankenburg, on the coafl: of the aufbian Netherlands, from which place they might have marched to the Maefe, tojoin the hereditary prince, and have ena- bled him to profecute the war in thole parts with the greater vigor. There are more reafcns than on-e that favour this opinion -, but pai ticularly the fmall number of troops employed, which was too inconfi- derable to make an attempt on tlic coail of Fr.ince, and by a detachment of the guiirds being embarked' and the latcnefs of the feafon, h was nlain their d'"- ftinaticn ( S4S )■ ftination was in Europe. But when it was found that the hereditary prince was prevented from execu- ting his expedition, it migh* pofTibly be thought better to lay afide the naval armament till the Ipring, and then to fetid it affainft Martinico. I come now to mention an event, which filled fh«.! nation with grief. His moll facred majeily George II. died on the 2^th of 0(5lober, av.his palace atKenfm^- ton, in i very fudden mannei- •, his death being oc- cafioned by the burfting of ihe right ventricle v^f his heart. He finifhed a long and happy reign, in the midft of a period which abounded with great events. It is needlefs to fay, that he was a good, a brave, a juft, and £( virtuous king; his many good qualities adorned the throne on which he fat fo long, and which he left at a time lb glorious for himfelf and his fubjeds. Thefc particulars are too deeply im- printed on the hearts of a grateful people to require an Eulogy. He departed this life iii the 77th year of his age, and the 34th of his reign. He was fuc- ceeded in the imperial crown of ihefe kingdoms by his grandfon, George prince of Wales, oiir prefent moft gracious fovercign, who was immediately pro- claimed with the ufual ceremony, under the title ®f George III. All the lords and others of the late king's privy council wore fworn of his majefty's privy council, who wa pleafed on the iirft day of his accefllon to make the following declaration to them. " The lofs that I and the nation have filftained by the death of the king, my grand-father, would have been feverely felt at any time., but coming at lb cri- tical a juncture, and fo unexpected, it is by many circumllances, augmented -, and the weight now fall- ing upon me much increafcd •, I feel my own infuffi- ciency to fupport it as I wifti ; but animated by the tendered affection for this my native country, -ru] N n deppnu:,!^ I i l^l ( 546 ) depending on the advice, experience, and abilities of your lordfhips, and on the fi:pport and afliftance of every honeft man, I enter with chcarfuineis into this arduous fituation, and fhall make it the bufinefs of my hfe, to promote in every thing, the glory and happinefs of thefe kingdoms, to preferve and ftrengthen both the conftitution in church and ftate ; and as I mount the throne in the midft of an expenfive, but juft and necelfary war, 1 fhall endeavour to profe- cute it in the manner moil likely to bring on ari honourable and lalling peace, in concert with cny allies." This declaration was remarkdbly pleafing to all ranks of people i and the words, " This my native country,'* could not but be excefllvely grateful to britifh ears. His majelly began his reign in the moil promifing and popular manner. A p-oclama- tion was pubiiflied for the encouragement of piety and virtue, and for preventing and punifhing vice, immorality, and profanenefs. His royal Iiighnefs, the duke of York, and the earl of Bute, who was ap- pointed groom of the Stole to his majefty, were fworn into the privy-council, the 27tli ; and, in d few week^ after, the earl of Huntingdon, who was made ma- fler of the hode, the honourable George Townfhend, and the lord vifcount Royflcn, were alfo made privy counfellors. Seme other changes and promotions took place, but not of importance. On the 8th of november a proclamation was ifTued for pro- roguing the parliament to the icSth of that month, on which day his majefty went with the ufual (late, attended by the earls of Huntingc^on and Bute, to the houfe of peers, and the commons being at the bar of that houfe, his majerty made a mod graciou-i fpeech to them, in which, after mentioning the greal- nefs of the lols the nation had lately fuftained, he proceeded C( (C C( ( 547 ) proceeded in thefe words, *' Born and educated in " t\m country, I glory in the name of Briton ; and " the peculiar happinefs of my life will ever confift *" in pt omoting the welfare of a peopk, ■whole loyaltv, *' and warm affe(5tion to me, I confider as the greatcft " and moft permanent fecurity of my throne," What wo. Is could be more pleafing to a britifh parliament than this declaration ? the lords, k, their addrefs have jthis paragraph. " We are penetrated with the con- " defcending and endearing manner, in which your " majefty has exprefled your fatisfaftion, in having received your birth and education amongft us. What a luftre does it cafl on the name of Briton, when you, fir, arepleafed to cfteem it amongft your .*' glories *." His majefty's whole fpeech was extreme- ly affectionate and popular j and the addrefs of the lords and commons as dutiful and loyal. The period at which his majefty came to the throne was fo extremely brilliant for Great Britain, that his accelTion promifed a reign equally glorious to him- felf and advantageous to i^s fubjecfts. He afcended the throne at a time when his kingdoms were en- gaged in a truly national and fortunate war. He had the happinefs to fee faftion banifhed from home, and his arms viftorious abroad. That unparalleled unanimity which took place among all ranks of peo- ple, when the odious names of Whig and 1 ory were no more, but when every one was defirous to be diftinguifhed by no other title but that of Briton ; then it was, that our vicflorious arms carried terror and conqueft to the furtheft regions of the earth, and reduced France, our conftant, and once formidable enemy, to the low ftate in which we fee her at pre- fent. It was referved for his majefty to become the Jbvereign of thefe imperial realms it a period, when * -II ! .] ii Vide appendix. they P' '3 ■ ; " '() 4- ( 548 ) they were dreaded and refpefted by all their neigh*' hours ; when britifh fleets failed unrefifted to the rehioteft regions ; when her arn:iej> marched only to enjoy viftory *, and when a concatination of glorious Events all tended, to exalt her power, and extend her influence and dominion ; and to raife her fovereigtt to that pitch of profperity, as juftly formed him the greateft monarch in the univcrfe. the E N Dl The, Appendix, to which the reader has been fre- quently referrec', will be ^iublfL^d together with th^ Continuation of this work. icigh-' to the inly to orious [id her ereigrt i him n frc- ;h the