et Vienna confidently affirms, that a fecret article in the treaty of Francfort has been difcovered, by which he is fecured in a large addition of territory from the countries he was to conquer, as a reward of his important fervices to the Emperor. This their Imperial and Pruffian Majefties with equl confidence deny; and, fince things have taken a turn fo contrary to their Lopes, we may perhaps never have an opportunity of knowing with certainty which of these affertions is the truth. The Queen of HUNGARY, having ceded Silefia to the King of Pruffia, as the price of peace on that fide, refolved to try if the could indemnify herfelf by conquering 3 fome countries from France; which the knew had at firft infpired, and all along fapported the spirit that had well nigh ruined her; and, befides, was now become a principal in the war, by an open declaration. With this view the brave Pr. Charles of Lorrain joined her army at Hailbron in May, and advanced with diligence towards the Rhine; which was de fended by the French General M. Coigni, with about 30,000 men. Thefe were judged fully fufficient, to render the paf. fage of fo large a river impracticable; but, through their want of vigilance, did fcarce fo much as retard it. Pr. Charles paffed in the beginning of July, with an army of at least 70,000; immediately feized Lauterburg, with the lines from that to Weiffenburg; and for fome time advanced from poft to poft, till he at laft invested Fort Louis. This important place he would probably have carried, had not the inundations, occafioned by heavy rains, prevented his laying fiege to it in form. Mean while, M. Coigni, with his own troops, and the Imperialifts under C. Seckendorff, who had joined him, was before this got back to Alface, by forcing a paffage at Weiffenburg; and the French army there had been reinforced from Hainault, Lorrain, and Flanders, till it was now become fuperior in number. In this critical juncture was Pr. Charles furprifed with a meffage, informing him that the King of Pruffia had invaded Bohemia. Now he was obliged to lay afide his thoughts of conqueft, without an opportunity of trying his own conduct and the mettle of his hardy Germans, against the implacable enemies of his Queen and her family: nay, even to abandon the advantages he had gained, that he might go where his prefence was more neceffary; with this additional mortifying confideration, that he run a great hazard of having his army almoft ruined in his retreat. However, this laft evil did not happen him, as might be justly feared, and his Pruffian Majefty had been affured of by his faithful allies the French. He repaffed the Rhine with very little lofs, met with as little difturbance afterward, and marched back to Bohemia with expedition fuited to the exigence of the cafe. The Auftrian forces being joined by a confiderable body of Saxon auxiliaries, the pragmatick King was obliged, without venturing fo much as one battle, to leave his prey with as much hafte as he had made to feize it. Pr. Charles had not learned fo much French gallantry as return this monarch the fame politeness that himself had lately experienced at the Rhine; but treated him with the roughnefs that is due to a robber and invader; and made him feverely feel the lafh he had twifted for another, driving him back with a half-ruined army, almost without horses, arms, ammunition, or even cloathing for those that remained, to defend Silefia; to which it is alledged he has likewife forfeited his right, by foul ingratitude to the donor. The EMPEROR's affairs have yet continued in a very fluctuating ftate. For a good part of laft fummer, his hereditary dominions were a fecond time in the hands of her Hungarian Majefty; and he was obliged to take refuge in the Imperial city of Francfort. The fmall army he had on foot, retired under the cannon of Philipfburg, as Pr. Charles was approaching the Rhine. There they lay unmolefted, becaufe their mafter did not then think it prudent to fhew his defign of infringing the neutrality he had engaged in the preceeding year. But, no fooner were the Auftrians paft that river, than the Imperialifts embraced the first opportunity of joining the French, and made a part of their army, till the dangerous fituation of Bohemia called off Pr. Charles to its relief. Upon an event fo favourable for them, A 2 they they immediately took their rout for Bavaria. The Emperor put himself at their head, and, without much bloodshed, or any action of confequence, recovered Munich his capital, with all the country as far as the river Inn. Here the Auftrian General, having received fome reinforce ments, put a flop to his progrefs; and fo he difpofed of his troops in winter-quarters. Early in last year the FRENCH made vaft preparations to invade G. Britain from Dunkirk, in expectation of finding a ftrong party in the kingdom to favour them: but the attempt proved abortive in itself; and it appeared, at the fame time, that the grounds on which they chiefly built their hopes, would have fupported no fuch weight. Next, their fleet, in company with that of Spain, failed out from Toulon; upon which an engagement enfued with the British, which were lying before that harbour. Confiderable damage was done on both fides, without great advantage to either; except that the Spanish fleet got out of the blockade in which they had long been pent up. This was followed by two declarations of war from the French King, against the King of England and the Queen of Hungary; which were both anfwered as might be naturally expected. In the beginning of May, the French army, confifting of about 100,000 men, took the field in Flanders, commanded by the King in perfon. They immediately entered upon action; furprised Courtray, Harlebeck, and Warneton, with out oppofition; made themselves mafters of Menin, Ypres, Fournes, and Fort Knoque, with no confiderable lofs from any refiftance made by the garrifons, nor any disturbance from the confederate army of British and Auftrians, with their auxiliaries the Hanoverians and Dutch; who were greatly inferior in number, and fo not able to make head against them. In a fhort time, however, the fuccefsful paffage of the Rhine afforded the profpect of a trong diverfion in that quarter. The French were in effect obliged to draw off 40,000 of their best troops to defend Alface and Lorrain, by which the confederates gained clearly the afcendant. They now pafled the Schelde; and Count Saxe, who commanded the remains of th French army, thought fit to entrench himself behind the Lys. But the invafi on of Bohemia, which gave the force that had gone to oppofe Pr. Charles the liberty of returning at pleasure, whenever there were an urgent occafion for them foon made it appear, that nothing more of confequence would be done in Flanders this campaign. Some light fkirmishes did indeed happen; but C. Saxe kept plying between the Lys and the Schelde, all the while carefully avoiding a general engagement. The confederates for fome time laid waste a part of French Flanders; C. Saxe returned the compliment, by fending a detachment to make equal havock in the country of Waes; and the taking meafures to put a stop to this, was the last thing done here worth mentioning. The French army on the Rhine made a fhew of purfuing Pr. Charles in his retreat, but proceeded no further than the defenceless Auftrian eftates in Swabia; which they feized. Friburg, the capital of the Brifgau, furrendered to them, after a brave defence for a month. A body of their troops pofted from Bingen to Treves is to guard the Hundfruck and Mofelle; while M. Maillebois is to march down the Rhine with 50,000 men, to guard that river from Mentz to Duffeldorpe and Bonne. Notice of this intention has been given to the neutral Electors of Mentz, Treves and Cologne; and that thefe troops must have winter-quarters in their electorates; to which was added, that the French King was firmly resolved no longer to pay regard to any neutrality within the empire. This haughty and imperious behaviour the Electors teflified their warm refentment of; and, if they can no longer enjoy the privilege of being neutral, it feems no great difficulty to guess which fide they will be difpofed to take. The DUTCH, in confequence of defen. five treaties, furnished the auxiliaries both by fea and land demanded by his Britan nick Majefty, when his dominions were threatened with an invafion. They likewife fent a body of troops to the confederate army for defending the Queen of Hungary's eftates in Flanders, agreeably to the the. vet n as to their engagements by the pragmatick leaft fink their credit fo far, that they fanction. But it has not been yet poffible, muft acquiefce in what it will not be in their power to hinder. Befides, the fucceffion to Eaft-Friefland, over which the Dutch have had a kind of fuperiority, which is claimed by Hanover, and taken poffeffion of by Pruffia, may poffibly help to draw them into the quarrel. by all the preffing inftances that have ces been used, to make them declare themfelves principals in the war; nor does it appear that their commanders have ever , got inftructions to act in any cafe on the offenfive against France. Thus they have hiberto fo far preferved a neutrality, and in the mean time fet up for being mediators of pt peace. It has been much wondered at, that fuch progrefs in Flanders, and fo powerful an army hovering upon their very frontiers, has not induced them to enter into more vigorous measures; efpecially as the most part of people in thefe provinces difcover fo conftant a jealoufy of any incroachments on that hand. But it is to be remembered, that g. there is a party among them, who feem a i to think their liberties no lefs in danger at home, from the Prince of Orange; and therefore carefully avoid a land-war, which ufually increafes his influence, and gives him a chance of being elected Stadtholder. These chufe to truft the fidelity of France; reprefent her ambitious views as a chimera; and infiit upon the advantages of keeping an open uninterrupted trade, which is the fource of their wealth, and cannot fail of being greatly regarded by fo industrious a people. Their arguments are fupported in publick by alternate promifes and threats from France; befides that the money diftributed among them in private, keeps up their fpirits and intereft; and, by the nature of their conftitution, a much smaller number of them can prevent refolutions being gone into, than in thofe countries where most things are carried by a plurality of voices. Notwithstanding all this, a fourth aug. mentation of 12,000 men to the forces of the republick has been ordered; which will enable them to act with vigour, when ever they come to think that the state of affairs neceffarily requires it. Another fuch bold push in Flanders, as the French made laft campaign, will probably let even their friends in the United Provinces fee the danger of being obliged to reimburfe the gold they have received, when ever it fhall be demanded, and fo make them equally jealous with others; or at By the treaty of Worms, his SARDINIAN Majefty engages to guaranty all the eftates belonging to the Queen of Hungary, to maintain an army of 40,000 foot and 5000 horfe for repelling any invafion that may be made of her dominions in I taly, and in her favours renounces the claim he had upon the estate of Milan. In confideration of this, the King of G. Britain promifes to pay him a yearly fubfidy of 200,000 1. during the continuance of the war; and her Hungarian Majesty cedes to him feveral territories in Italy, among which is the town and marquifate of Final, for giving him a communication with the fea. Both thefe powers likewife oblige themselves not to make either peace or truce, without ftipulating a reftitution to him of every part of his dominions that may be feized or occupied in hatred of this alliance. The courts of Madrid and Verfailles, finding his Majefty to firmly attached to the intereft he had efpoufed, that no means they could ufe were powerful enough to difengage him, refolved to attack his own eftates, and fo find him employment at home. With this view, the Prince of Conti and the Infant Don Philip, early in the year, put their united army of French and Spaniards in motion; paffed the Var in the beginning of April; took the castle of A premont, and the city of Nice, without oppofition; and then attacked the King of Sardinia in his entrenchments, reaching from Montalban to Caftelet; which they forced after an obftinate and bloody action, with the lofs of 6000 men by their own account. His Sardinian Majelty now retired to Oneglia; but, upon the approach of the Spaniards, abandoned it to them, and marched for Piedmont. Mean while the Prince of Conti had taken the rout of Chateau Dauphin; and the Infant, not being able to maintain his new conquests, quitted them, in order to join the French. bly in his retreat. After the junction, the allies, with confiderable lofs, carried Chateau-Dauphin, before which they had been repulfed the former year; and after that, Demont, by the accidental firing of a powder-magazine, made a fudden and unexpected furrender. From this they proceeded to Coni,a strong place upon theStura, and as it were the key of the open country behind. Here they carried on a fiege in form, and made fuch progrefs, that the King faw it muft fall into their hands, if he did not give them battle. This being refolved upon, his Majesty advanced on the 30th of September, and found the befiegers ready to receive him. A fharp action enfued, during which the befieged made a fally, ruined fome of the enemy's works, and nailed up feveral of their can non. This he effected, but fuffered confidera- His Neapolitan Majefty, in taking the under his protection, and joining the with his own forces, was judged, by t Auftrian court, to have infringed the ne trality he had profefled. Upon this, manifefto was published to his subjects, the Queen of Hungary's name, invitin them to revolt; which was faid to be r ceived with pleasure, because they we previously difgufted with the haughtine of Spanish government. However th was, no infurrection happened, nor wa there fufficient force at hand to fupport i unless it had been pretty general. Th combined army was too strong for Princ Lobkowitz to expect fuccefs; fo he foo thought fit to retreat Northward. Afte feveral marches and countermarches, both armies encamped within fight of each o ther near Velletri. Here they continue till the beginning of November, withou any action of confequence except one when the Auftrians made a vigorous at tack upon some posts, in order to facilitate a project they had formed of feizing his Neapolitan Majefty and the Duke of Mo dena. Miffing their prize, they did con fiderable damage; carrying off a rich plunder from Velletri; burning magazines and tents; almoft ruining the Spanish ca valry; and killing or taking prisoners near 3000 men. Pr. Lobkowitz having fent a reinforcement of 4000 troops to the King of Sardinia in the beginning of September, about two months after decamped, and began again to retreat; probably with a defign of wintering in the Bolognefe and Ferrarefe. The united army broke up and followed, to diftrefs him as much as poffible. In paffing the Tyber, hard by the walls of Rome, a fcuffle happened without much lofs; but, at Nocera, about 700 Auftrians were made prifoners. This retreating army loft a good deal thro' defertion; which no doubt was increased by a view to the reward of feven zecchins that M. Gages promised each man that would come over to him. The King, however, found it impracticable to force the entrenchments; fo, when the engagement had lafted till night, he retreated in good order, and without moleftation. Within a day or two after, he found means to throw 1000 fresh men into the town; which infpired the garri fon with new life. Yet, as the carrying this place was of great importance, the fiege was ftill continued till the 17th of October; when, after a desperate fire for two days, the allies made a general affault; but were repulfed with the lofs of 2000 men. This, with the heavy rains which filled their trenches, and the danger of wanting provifions, obliged them at length to defift. In their retreat back to Dauphiny, they halted at Demont, in order to blow up the walls of a place which they could not maintain. After they had driven the mines with great labour, the Piedmontefe first made fuch a vigorous affault, and then ufed fuch hardy diligence, as to prevent most of their effect. His Sardinian Majefty is now bufy repairing the fortifications of this place and Coni; both which, as is faid, can be put into a good state of defence against next spring; when he expects another vifit from the allies. Further South in ITALY, we find Pr. Lobkowitz, early in the year, reducing Count de Gages, with the Spanish troops under his command, to the neceflity of Seeking refuge in the kingdom of Naples, ce ders for the Emperor, that it may next be made over to herself, for reimburfing the te expences of blood and treasure in his caufe; which will increase, not only her revenue, but her trade, and confequently her naval force:-Spain; which wants to establish a privilege of examining into any contraband trade with its plantations, by searching all fhips, even on the open feas; and to gratify a projecting Queen, by procuring a fettlement for another of her fons in Italy: The Emperor, not only to fix himfelf more firmly on his throne, but to render the extent of his dominions better proportioned to his Imperial dignity. As their AUXILIARIES are to be confidered, the King of Prufia, who to well relishes the morfel he has already fwallowed, that he chufes to hunt another courfe for more; the Elector Palatine, and the King of Sweden as Landgrave of Heffee, Caffel, induced rather by affinity or friendfhip, than intereft yet publickly known. To thefe may be added the Genoefe, who feem to be on the point of declaring themfelves, as reckoning that an injury is done them by the ceffion of Final to Sardinia; and the Pope, who has only all along leaned a little to that fide, and is now able to affign this as a reafon for it, that the rights of the church are fome way lefed by the like ceffion of Placentia, 3 On the other hand are, Britain, to main-. tain the liberty of a free navigation; and to keep down the ftill growing power of France, which is greatly her fuperior by land, afpires to rival her by fea, and was lately the only fupport of her other declared enemy: With her may be joined the eleorate of Hanover, partly for its own intereft, partly on account of their common fovereign:-The Queen of Hungary, who has her all at stake, and is in danger of having it torn into as many pieces as there are yawning mouths to receive it.— Their actual Auxiliaries are, the Dutch, whom another home thruft at their barrier, which lies near their heart, may poffibly ftimulate into principals; the King of Sardinia, to fulfil the condition which must confirm his title to the large acquifitions be made by the treaty of worms; the Elector of Saxony, with the influence he has as King of Poland, who chufes ra pend, As th'author of their being and the end! Be thy protecting prefence with her fill. When he arrives at the thrice happy place Who in each virtue and each grace excels. Let ev'ry object minifter delight [night; The day prefents, and pleafing dreams the Let angels with their wings o'er/hade the place, And guard the matchless beauties of her face. Deign, gracious heav'n, to hear a lover's call, And fafe return my life, my foul, my all. Edinburgh. |