lower house. The queen, in a letter to the archbishop, signified her resolution to maintain her supremacy, and the due subordination of presbyters to bishops. She expressed her hope that he and his suffragans would act conformably to her resolution, in which case they might be assured of the continuance of her favour and prothe bishops and clergy, and to prorogue the convocation to such time as should appear most convenient. When he communicated this letter to the lower house, the members were not a little confounded: nevertheless, they would not comply with the prorogation, but continued to sit in defiance of her majesty's pleasure.

"high church," and "low church." The duke of Leeds | Peterborough protested against the irregularities of the asserted, that the church could not be safe without an act against occasional conformity. Lord Somers recapitulated all the arguments which had been used on both sides of the question: he declared his own opinion was, that the nation was happy under a wise and just administration; that for men to raise groundless jealousies at that jancture, could mean no less than an intention to em-tection: she required him to impart this declaration to broil the people at home, and defeat the glorious designs of the allies abroad The debate being finished, the question was put, Whether the church of England was in danger? and carried in the negative by a great majority: then the house resolved, that the church of England, as by law established, which was rescued from the extremest danger by king William III. of glorious memory, is now, by God's blessings under the happy reign of her majesty, in a most safe and flourishing condition; and that whoever goes about to suggest or insinuate that the church is in danger, under her majesty's administration, is an enemy to the queen, the church, and the kingdom. Next day the commons concurred in this determination, and joined the lords in an address to the queen, communicating this resolution, beseeching her to take effectual measures for making it public, and also for punishing the authors and spreaders of the seditious and scandalous reports of the church's being in danger. | She accordingly issued a proclamation containing the resolution of the two houses, and offering a reward for discovering the author of the memorial of the church of England, and for apprehending David Edwards, a professed papist, charged upon oath to be the printer and publisher of that libel.

THE PARLIAMENT PROROGUED.

CONFERENCES OPENED FOR A TREATY OF
UNION WITH SCOTLAND.

The eyes of Great Britain were now turned upon a transaction of the utmost consequence to the whole island; namely, the treaty for an union of the two kingdoms of England and Scotland. The queen having appointed the commissioners [See note 2 Â, at the end of this Vol.] on both sides, they met on the sixteenth day of April, in the council chamber of the Cockpit near Whitehall, which was the place appointed for the conferences. Their commissions being opened and read by the respective secretaries, and introductory speeches being pronounced by the lord-keeper of England, and the lord chancellor of Scotland, they agreed to certain preliminary articles, importing, that all the proposals should be made in writing; and every point, when agreed, reduced to writing; that no points should be obligatory, till all matters should be adjusted in such a manner as would be proper to be laid before the queen and the two parliaAfter a short adjournment, a committee of the lower ments for their approbation; that a committee should be house presented the thanks of the commons to the duke appointed from each commission, to revise the minutes of Marlborough, for his great services performed to her of what might pass, before they should be inserted in majesty and the nation in the last campaign, and for the books by the respective secretaries; and that all the his prudent negotiations with her allies. This noble- proceedings during the treaty should be kept secret. man was in such credit with the people, that when he The Scots were inclined to a federal union, like that of proposed a loan of five hundred thousand pounds to the the United Provinces; but the English were bent upon emperor, upon a branch of his revenue in Silesia, the an incorporation, so that no Scottish parliament should money was advanced immediately by the merchants of ever have power to repeal the articles of the treaty. The London. The kingdom was blessed with plenty; the lord-keeper proposed that the two kingdoms of England queen was universally beloved; the people in general and Scotland should be for ever united into one realm, were zealous for the prosecution of the war; the forces by the name of Great Britain: that it should be reprewere well paid; the treasury was punctual; and, though sented by one and the same parliament; and that the a great quantity of coin was exported for the mainten- succession of this monarchy, failing of heirs of her maance of the war, the paper currency supplied the defi- jesty's body, should be according to the limitations ciency so well, that no murmurs were heard, and the mentioned in the act of parliament passed in the reign public credit flourished both at home and abroad. All of king William, intituled, an act for the further limitathe funds being established, one in particular for two tion of the crown, and the better securing the rights and millions and a-half by way of annuities for ninety-nine liberties of the subject. The Scottish commissioners, years, at six and a-half per cent., and all the bills hav-in order to comply in some measure with the popular ing received the royal assent, the queen went to the clamour of their nation, presented a proposal implying house of peers on the nineteenth day of March, where, that the succession to the crown of Scotland should be having thanked both houses for the repeated instances established upon the same persons mentioned in the act of their affection which she had received, she prorogued of king William's reign; that the subjects of Scotland the parliament to the twenty-first day of May follow- should for ever enjoy all the rights and privileges of the ing. The new convocation, instead of imitating the natives in England, and the dominions thereunto beunion and harmony of the parliament, revived the divi- longing; and that the subjects of England should enjoy sions by which the former had been distracted, and the the like rights and privileges in Scotland; that there two houses seemed to act with more determined rancour should be a free communication and intercourse of trade against each other. The upper house having drawn up and navigation between the two kingdoms, and plantaa warm address of thanks to the queen for her affec- tions thereunto belonging; and that all laws and statutes tionate care of the church, the lower house refused to in either kingdom, contrary to the terms of this union, concur, nor would they give any reason for their dissent. should be repealed. The English commissioners deThey prepared another in a different strain, which was clined entering into any considerations upon these prorejected by the archbishop. Then they agreed to di-posals, declaring themselves fully convinced that nothing vers resolutions, asserting their right of having what but an entire union could settle a perfect and lasting they offered to the upper house received by his grace friendship between the two kingdoms. The Scots ac and their lordships. In consequence of this dissension quiesced in this reply, and both sides proceeded in the the address was dropped, and a stop put to all further treaty without any other intervening dispute. They communication between the two houses. The dean of were twice visited by the queen, who exhorted them to accelerate the articles of a treaty that would prove so advantageous to both kingdoms. At length they were finished, arranged, and mutually signed, on the twenty

Among other bills passed during this session, was an act for abridging and reforming some proceedings in the common law and in cliancery.

second of July, and next day presented to her majesty, at the palace of St. James's, by the lord-keeper, in the name of the English commissioners; at the same time a sealed copy of the instrument was likewise delivered by the lord chancellor of Scotland; and each made a short oration on the subject, to which the queen returned a very gracious reply. That same day she dictated an order of council, that whoever should be concerned in any discourse or libel, or in laying wagers relating to the union, should be prosecuted with the utmost rigour of the law.

SUBSTANCE OF THE TREATY.

In this famous treaty it was stipulated, that the succession to the united kingdom of Great Britain should be vested in the princess Sophia, and her heirs, according to the acts already passed in the parliament of England: that the united kingdoms should be represented by one and the same parliament: that all the subjects of Great Britain should enjoy a communication of privileges and advantages: that they should have the same allowances, encouragements, and drawbacks; and be under the same prohibitions, restrictions, and regulations, with respect to commerce and customs: that Scotland should not be charged with the temporary duties on some certain commodities: that the sum of three hundred and ninety-eight thousand and eighty-five pounds ten shillings, should be granted to the Scots, as an equivalent for such parts of the customs and excise charged upon that kingdom in consequence of the union, as would be applicable to the payment of the debts of England, according to the proportion which the customs and excise of Scotland bore to those of England: that, as the revenues of Scotland might increase, a further equivalent should be allowed for such proportion of the said increase as should be applicable to the payment of the debts of England: that the sum to be paid at present, as well as the monies arising from the future equivalents, should be employed in reducing the coin of Scotland to the standard and value! of the English coin; in paying off the capital stock and

and particularly the right of sitting upon the trials of peers: that the crown, sceptre, and sword of state, the records of parliament, and all other records, rolls, and registers whatsoever, should still remain as they were, within that part of the united kingdom called Scotland: that all laws and statutes in either kingdom, so far as they might be inconsistent with the terms of these articles, should cease and be declared void by the respective parliaments of the two kingdoms.-Such is the substance of that treaty of union which was so eagerly courted by the English ministry, and proved so unpa latable to the generality of the Scottish nation.

CHAPTER IX

Battle of Ramillies, in which the French are defeated-The Siege of Barcelons raised by the English Fleet-Prince Eugene obtains a complete Victory over the French at Turin--Sir Cloudesley Shovel sails with à Reinforcement to Charles King of Spain--The King of Sweden marches into Saxony The French King demands Conferences for a Peace-Meeting of the Scottish Parliament--Violent Opposition to the Union--The Scots in general averse to the Treaty, which is nevertheless confirmed in their Par liament--Proceedings in the English Parliament--The Commons approve of the Articles of the Union--The Lords pass a Bill for the Security of the Church of England-Arguments used against the Articles of the Union, which, however, are confirmed by Act of Parliament The Parlia ment revived by Proclamation--The Queen gives audience to a Muscovite Ambassador-Proceedings in Convocation--France threatened with total Ruin--The Allies are defeated at Almanza--Unsuccessful Attempt upon Toulon Sir Cloudesley Shovel wrecked on the Rocks of Scilly-Weakness of the Emperor on the Upper Rhine-Interview between the King of Sweden and the Duke of Marlborough-Inactive Campaign in the Nether lands-Harley begins to form a Party against the Duke of Marlborough -The Nation discontented with the Whig Ministry-Meeting of the first British Parliament--Inquiry into the State of the War in Spain-Gregg, a Clerk in the Secretary's Office, detected in a Correspondence with the French Ministry-Harley resigns his EmploymentsThe Pretender embarks at Dunkirk for Scotland His design is defeated--State of the Nation at that Period--Parliament dissolved--The French surprise Ghem and Bruges They are routed at Oudenarde--The Allies invest LisleThey defeat a large Body of French Forces at Wynendale--The Elector of Bavaria attacks Brussels-Lisle surrendered Ghent taken, and Bruges abandoned--Conquest of Minorca by General Stanhope--Rupture between the Pope and the Emperor-Death of Prince George of Denmark The new Parliament assembled--Naturalization Bill Act of Grace --Disputes about the Muscovite Ambassador compromised.

THE FRENCH DEFEATED AT THE BATTLE
OF RAMILLIES.

interest due to the proprietors of the African company, WHILE this treaty was on the carpet at home the

which should be immediately dissolved; in discharging allied arms prospered surprisingly in the Netherall the public debts of the kingdom of Scotland; in lands, in Spain, and in Piedmont. The French king had promoting and encouraging manufactures and fisheries, resolved to make very considerable efforts in these coununder the direction of commissioners to be appointed by trics; and, indeed, at the beginning of the campaign his her majesty, and accountable to the parliament of Great armies were very formidable. He hoped that, by the Britain: that the laws concerning public right, policy, reduction of Turin and Barcelona, the war would be and civil government, should be the same throughout extinguished in Italy and Catalonia. He knew that he the whole united kingdom; but that no alteration should could out-number any body of forces that prince Louis be made in laws which concerned private right, except of Baden should assemble on the Rhine; and he resolved for evident utility of the subjects within Scotland: that to reinforce his army in Flanders, so as to be in a condithe court of session and all other courts of judicature tion to act offensively against the duke of Marlborough. in Scotland, should remain as then constituted by the This nobleman repaired to Holland in the latter end of laws of that kingdom, with the same authority and pri- April, and conferred with the states-general. Then he vileges as before the union; subject, nevertheless, to assembled the army between Borschloen and Groes such regulations as should be made by the parliament Waren, and found it amounted to seventy-four battalions of Great Britain: that all heritable offices, superiorities, of foot, and one hundred and twenty-three squadrons of heritable jurisdictions, offices for life, and jurisdictions horse and dragoons, well furnished with artillery and for life, should be reserved to the owners, as rights and pontoons. The court of France having received intelliproperty, in the same manner as then enjoyed by the gence that the Danish and Prussian troops had not yet laws of Scotland: that the rights and privileges of the joined the confederates, ordered the elector of Bavaria royal boroughs in Scotland should remain entire after and the mareschal Villeroy to attack them before the the union: that Scotland should be represented in the junction could be effected. In pursuance of this order parliament of Great Britain by sixteen peers and forty- they passed the Deule on the nineteenth day of May, five commoners, to be elected in such a manner as should and posted themselves at Tirlemont, being superior in be settled by the present parliament of Scotland: that number to the allied army. There they were joined by all peers of Scotland, and the successors to their honours the horse of the army, commanded by mareschal Marsin, and dignities, should, from and after the union, be peers and encamped between Tirlemont and Judoigne. On of Great Britain, and should have rank and precedency Whitsunday, early in the morning, the duke of Marlnext and immediately after the English peers of the like borough advanced with his army in eight columns toorders and degrees, at the time of the union; and before wards the village of Ramillies, being by this time joined all peers of Great Britain of the like orders and degrees, by the Danes; and he learned that the enemy were in who might be created after the union: that they should march to give him battle. Next day the French gen be tried as peers of Great Britain, and enjoy all privi-erals perceiving the confederates so near them, took leges of peers, as fully as enjoyed by the peers of Eng-possession of a strong camp, the right extending to the laud, except the right and privilege of sitting in the tomb of Hautemont, on the side of the Mehaigne; their house of lords, and the privileges depending thereon, left to Anderkirk; and the village of Ramillies being

sand men, met with the same fate. The garrison of Dendermonde surrendered themselves prisoners of war; and Aeth submitted on the same conditions. The French troops were dispirited. The city of Paris was over

his misfortunes with calmness and composure; but the constraint had such an effect upon his constitution, that his physicians thought it necessary to prescribe frequent bleeding, which he accordingly underwent. At his court no mention was made of military transactions: all was solemn, silent, and reserved.

THE SIEGE OF BARCELONA RAISED.

near their centre. The confederate army was drawn up in order of battle, with the right wing near Foltz on the brook of Yause, and the left by the village of Franquenies, which the enemy had occupied. The duke ordered lieutenant-general Schultz, with twelve battal-whelmed with consternation. Louis affected to bear ions and twenty pieces of cannon, to begin the action by attacking Ramillies, which was strongly fortified with artillery. At the same time velt-mareschal d'Auverquerque on the left commanded colonel Wertmuller, with four battalions and two pieces of cannon, to dislodge the enemy's infantry posted among the hedges of Franquenies. Both these orders were successfully executed. The Dutch and Danish horse of the left wing charged with great vigour and intrepidity, but were so roughly handled by the troops of the French king's household, that they began to give way, when the duke of Marlborough sustained them with the body of reserve, and twenty squadrons drawn from the right, where a morass prevented them from acting. In the meantime, he in person rallied some of the broken squadrons, in order to renew the charge, when his own horse falling, he was surrounded by the enemy, and must have been either killed or taken prisoner, had not a body of infantry come seasonably to his relief. When he remounted his horse, the head of colonel Brienfield, his gentleman of the horse, was carried off by a cannon ball while he held the duke's stirrup. Before the reinforcement arrived, the best part of the French mousquetaires were cut in pieces. All the troops posted in Ramillies were either killed or taken. The rest of the enemy's infantry began to retreat in tolerable order, under cover of the cavalry on their left wing, which formed themselves in three lines between Ossuz and Anderkirk; but the English horse having found means to pass the rivulet which divided them from the enemy, fell upon them with such impetuosity, that they abandoned their foot, and were terribly slaughtered in the village of Anderkirk. They now gave way on all sides. The horse fled three different ways, but were so closely pursued that very few escaped. The elector of Bavaria and the mareschal de Villeroy saved themselves with the utmost difficulty. Several waggons of the enemy's van-guard breaking down in a narrow pass, obstructed the way in such a manner that the baggage and artillery could not proceed; nor could their troops defile in order. The victorious horse being informed of this accident, pressed on them so vigorously that great numbers threw down their arms and submitted. The pursuit was followed through Judoigne till two o'clock in the morning, five leagues from the field of battle, and within two of Louvaine. In a word, the confederates obtained a complete victory. They took the enemy's baggage and artillery, about one hundred and twenty colours or standards, six hundred officers, six thousand private soldiers, and about eight thousand were killed or wounded.* Prince Maximilian and prince Monbason lost their lives; the major-general Palavicini and Mizieres were taken, together with the marquisses de Bar, de Nonant, and de la Beaume, (this last the son of the mareschal de Tallard,) monsieur de Montmorency, nephew to the duke of Luxembourg, and many other persons of distinction. The loss of the allies did not exceed three thousand men, including prince Louis of Hesse, and Mr. Bentinck, who were slain in the engageThe French generals retired with precipitation to Brussels, while the allies took possession of Louvaine, and next day encamped at Bethlem. The battle of Ramillies was attended with the immediate conquest of all Brabant. The cities of Louvaine, Mechlin, Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges, submitted without resistance, and acknowledged king Charles. Ostend, though secured by a strong garrison, was surrendered after a siege of ten days. Menin, esteemed the most finished fortification in the Netherlands, and guarded by six thou

ment.

The French impute the loss of this battle to the misconduct of

Villeroy, who, it must be owned, made a most wretched disposition.

When he returned to Versailles, where he expected to meet with nothing else but reproaches, Louis received him without the least mark of displeasure, saying, "Mr. Mareschal, you and I are too old to be fortunate."

Had the issue of the campaign in Catalonia been such as the beginning seemed to prognosticate, the French king might have in some measure consoled himself for his disgraces in the Netherlands. On the sixth day of April king Philip, at the head of a numerous army, undertook the siege of Barcelona, while the count de Thoulouse blocked it up with a powerful squadron. The inhabitants, animated by the presence of king Charles, made a vigorous defence; and the garrison was reinforced with some troops from Gironne and other places. But, after the fort of Montjuic was taken, the place was so hard pressed, that Charles ran the utmost risk of falling into the hands of the enemy; for the earl of Peterborough, who had marched from Valencia with two thousand men, found it impracticable to enter the city. Nevertheless, he maintained his post upon the hills; and, with surprising courage and activity, kept the besiegers in continual alarm. At length, sir John Leake sailed from Lisbon with thirty ships of the line; and on the eighth day of May arrived in sight of Barcelona. The French admiral no sooner received intelligence of his approach, than he set sail for Toulon. In three days after his departure, king Philip abandoned the siege and retired in great disorder, leaving behind his tents, with the sick and wounded. On the side of Portugal, the duke of Berwick was left with such an inconsiderable force as proved insufficient to defend the frontiers. The earl of Galway, with an army of twenty thousand men, undertook the siege of Alcantra; and in three days the garrison, consisting of four thousand men, were made prisoners of war. Then he marched to Placentia, and advanced as far as the bridge of Almaris; but the Portuguese would penetrate no farther until they should know the fate of Barcelona. When they understood the siege was raised, they consented to proceed to Madrid. Philip guessed their intention, posted to that capital, and sent his queen with all his valuable effects to Burgos, whither he followed her in person, after having destroyed everything that he could not carry away. About the latter end of June, the earl of Galway entered the city without resistance; but the Spaniards were extremely mortified to see an army of Portuguese, headed by an heretic, in possession of their capital. King Charles loitered away his time in Barcelona, until his competitor recovered his spirits, and received such reinforcements as enabled him to return to Madrid with an army equal to that commanded by the earl of Galway. This general made a motion towards Arragon, in order to facilitate his conjunction with Charles, who had set out by the way of Saragossa, where he was acknowledged as sovereign of Arragon and Valencia. In the beginning of August this prince arrived at the Portuguese camp with a small reinforcement; and in a few days was followed by the carl of Peterborough, at the head of five hundred dragoons. The two armies were now pretty equal in point of number; but as each expected farther reinforcements, neither chose to hazard an engagement. The earl of Peterborough, who aspired to the chief command, and hated the prince of Lichtenstein, who enjoyed the confidence of king Charles, retired in disgust; and embarking on board an English ship of war, set sail for Genoa. The English fleet continued all the summer in the Mediterranean; they secured Carthagena, which had declared for Charles:

they took the town of Alicant by assault, and the castle by capitulation. Then sailing out of the Straits, one squadron was detached to the West Indies, another to lie at Lisbon, and the rest were sent home to England.

PRINCE EUGENE OBTAINS A COMPLETE VIC-
TORY OVER THE FRENCH.

his sword, and putting himself at the head of the battalions on the left, forced the entrenchments at the first charge. The duke of Savoy met with the same success in the centre, and on the right near Lucengo. The horse advanced through the intervals of the foot, left for that purpose; and breaking in with vast impetuosity, completed the confusion of the enemy, who were defeated on all hands, and retired with precipitation to the other side of the Po, while the duke of Savoy entered his capital in trumph. The duke of Orleans exhibited repeated proofs of the most intrepid courage, and received several wounds in the engagement. Mareschal de Marsin fell into the hands of the victors, his thigh being shattered with a ball, and died in a few hours after the amputation. Of the French army about five thousand men were slain on the field of battle; a great number of officers, and upwards of seven thousand men were taken, together with two hundred and fifty-five pieces of cannon, one hundred and eighty mortars, an incredible quantity of ammunition, all the tents and baggage, five thousand beasts of burden, ten thousand horses belonging to thirteen regiments of dragoons, and the mules of the combooty alone was valued at three millions of livres. The loss of the confederates did not exceed three thousand men killed or disabled in the action, besides about the same number at the garrison of Turin, which had fallen since the beginning of the siege. This was such a fatal stroke to the interest of Louis, that madame de Maintenon would not venture to make him fully acquainted with the state of his affairs. He was told that the duke of Orleans had raised the siege of Turin at the approach of prince Eugene, but he knew not that his own army was defeated and ruined. The spirits of the French were a little comforted in consequence of an advantage gained about this time by the count de Medavi-grancey, who commanded a body of troops left in the Mantuan territories. He surprised the prince of Hesse in the neighbourhood of Castiglione, and obliged him to retire to the Adige with the loss of two thousand men; but this victory was attended with no consequence in their favour. The duke of Orleans retreated into Dauphiné, while the French garrisons were driven out of every place they occupied in Piedmont and Italy, except Cremona, Valenza, and the castle of Milan, which were blocked up by the confederates.

Fortune was not more propitious to the French in Italy than in Flanders. The duke de Vendome having been recalled to assume the command in Flanders after the battle of Ramillies, the duke of Orleans was placed at the head of the army in Piedmont, under the tutorage and direction of the mareschal de Marsin. They were ordered to besiege Turin, which was accordingly invested in the month of May, and the operations carried on till the beginning of September. Great preparations had been made for this siege. It was not undertaken until the duke of Savoy had rejected all the offers of the French monarch, which were sufficient to have shaken a prince of less courage and fortitude. The duke de la Feuillade having finished the lines of circumvallation and contravallation, sent his quarter-master-general | missary-general, so richly laden that this part of the with a trumpet to offer passports and a guard for the removal of the duchess and her children. The duke of Savoy replied, that he did not intend to remove his family, and that the mareschal might begin to execute his master's orders whenever he should think fit; but, when the siege began with uncommon fury, and the French fired red-hot balls into the place, the two duchesses, with the young prince and princesses, quitted Turin, and retired to Quierasco, from whence they were conducted through many dangers into the territories of Genoa. The duke himself forsook his capital in order to put himself at the head of his cavalry; and was pursued from place to place by five and forty squadrons, under the command of the count d'Aubeterre. Notwithstanding the very noble defence which was made by the garrison of Turin, which destroyed fourteen thousand of the enemy during the course of the siege, the defences were almost ruined, their ammunition began to fail, and they had no prospect of relief but from prince Eugene, who had numberless difficulties to encounter before he could march to their assistance. The duke de Vendome, before he left Italy, had secured all the fords of the Adige, the Mincio, and the Oglio, and formed such lines and intrenchments as he imagined would effectually hinder the Imperial general from arriving in time to relieve the city of Turin. But the prince surmounted all opposition; passed four great rivers in despite of the enemy, and reached the neighbourhood of Turin on the thirteenth day of August. There, being joined by the duke of Savoy, he passed the Po between Montcalier and Cavignan. On the fifth day of September they took a convoy of eight hundred loaded mules: next day they passed the Doria, and encamped with the right on the bank of that river before Pianessa, and the left on the Stura before the Veneria. The enemy were intrenched, having the Stura on their right, the Doria on their left, and the convent of Capuchins, called Notre Dame de la Campagne, in their centre. When prince Eugene approached Turin, the duke of Orleans proposed to march out of the intrenchments and give him battle; and this proposal was seconded by all the general officers, except Marsin, who, finding the duke determined, produced an order from the French king commanding the duke to follow the mareschal's advice. The court of Versailles was now become afraid of hazarding an engage-vel, set sail from Plymouth on the thirteenth day of ment against those who had so often defeated their armics; and this officer had private instructions to keep within the trenches. On the seventh day of September the confederates marched up to the entrenchments of the French in eight columns, through a terrible fire from forty pieces of artillery, and were formed in order of battle within half cannon-shot of the enemy. Then they dvanced to the attack with surprising resolution, and met with such a warm reception as seemed to stop their progress. Prince Eugene perceiving this check, drew

SIR C. SHOVEL SAILS WITH A REINFORCE-
MENT TO CHARLES.

Over and above these disasters which the French sustained in the course of this campaign, they were miserably alarmed by the project of an invasion from Britain, formed by the marquis de Guiscard, who, actuated by a family disgust, had abandoned his country and become a partisan of the confederates. He was declared a lieutenant-general in the emperor's army, and came over to London, after having settled a correspondence with the malcontents in the southern parts of France. He insinuated himself into the friendship of Henry St. John, secretary of war, and other persons of distinction. His scheme of invading France was approved by the British ministry, and he was promoted to the command of a regiment of dragoons destined for that service. About eleven thousand men were embarked under the conduct of Earl Rivers, with a large train of artillery; and the combined squadrons, commanded by sir Cloudesley Sho

August. Next day they were forced into Torbay by contrary winds, and there they held a council of war to concert their operations, when they discovered that Guiscard's plan was altogether chimerical, or at least founded upon such slight assurances and conjectures as could not justify their proceeding to execution. An express was immediately despatched to the admiralty with the result of this council; and, in the meantime, letters arrived at court from the earl of Galway, after his retreat from Madrid to Valencia, soliciting succours with

the most earnest entreaties. The expedition to France | borough, who found his account in the continuance of was immediately postponed, and sir Cloudesley Shovel was ordered to make the best of his way to Lisbon, there to take such measures as the state of the war in Spain should render necessary. Guiscard and his officers being set on shore, the fleet sailed with the first fair wind, and towards the latter end of October arrived at Lisbon. On the twenty-eighth day of the next month the king of Portugal died, and his eldest son and successor being but eighteen years of age, was even more than his father influenced by a ministry which had private connexions with the court of Versailles. Nevertheless, sir Cloudesley Shovel and Earl Rivers, being pressed by letters from king Charles and the earl of Galway, sailed to their assistance in the beginning of January; and on the twenty-eighth arrived at Alicant, from whence the earl of Rivers proceeded by land to Valencia, in order to assist at a general council of war. The operations of the ensuing campaign being concerted, and the army joined by the reinforcement from England, earl Rivers, disliking the country, returned with the admiral to Lisbon.

THE KING OF SWEDEN MARCHES INTO
SAXONY.

Poland was at length delivered from the presence of the king of Sweden, who in the beginning of September suddenly marched through Lusatia into Saxony; and in | a little time laid that whole electorate under contribution. Augustus being thus cut off from all resource, resolved to obtain peace on the Swede's own terms, and engaged in a secret treaty for this purpose. In the meantime the Poles and Muscovites attacked the Swedish forces at Kalish in Great Poland, and by dint of numbers routed them with great slaughter. Notwithstanding this event, Augustus ratified the treaty, by which he acknowledged Stanislaus as true and rightful king of Poland, reserving to himself no more than the empty title of sovereign. The confederates were not & little alarmed to find Charles in the heart of Germany, and the French court did not fail to court his alliance; but he continued on the reserve against all their solicitations. Then they implored his mediation for a peace; and he answered, that he would interpose his good offices as soon as he should know they would be agreeable to the powers engaged in the grand alliance.

THE FRENCH KING DEMANDS CONFERENCES
FOR A PEACE.

The pride of Louis was now humbled to such a degree as might have excited the compassion of his enemies. He employed the elector of Bavaria to write letters in his name to the duke of Marlborough and the deputies of the states-general, containing proposals for opening a congress. He had already tampered with the Dutch, in a memorial presented by the marquis d'Alegre. He likewise besought the pope to interpose in his behalf. He offered to cede either Spain and the West Indies, or Milan, Naples, and Sicily, to king Charles; to give up a barrier for the Dutch in the Netherlands; and to indemnify the duke of Savoy for the ravages that had been committed in his dominions. Though his real aim was peace, yet he did not despair of being able to excite such jealousies among the confederates as might shake the basis of their union. His hope was not altogether disappointed. The court of Vienna was so much alarmed at the offers he had made, and the reports circulated by bis emissaries, that the emperor resolved to make himself master of Naples before the allies should have it in their power to close with the proposals of France. This was the true motive of his concluding a treaty with Louis in the succeeding winter, by which the Milanese was entirely evacuated, and the French king at liberty to employ those troops in making strong efforts against the confederates in Spain and the Netherlands. The Dutch were intoxicated with success, and their pensionary, Heinsius, entirely influenced by the duke of Marl

the war, which at once gratified his avarice and ambition; for all his great qualities were obscured by the sordid passion of accumulating wealth. During the whole war the allies never had such an opportunity as they now enjoyed to bridle the power of France effectually, and secure the liberties of the empire; and indeed, if their real design was to establish an equal balance between the houses of Austria and Bourbon, it could not have been better effected than by dividing the Spanish monarchy between these two potentates. The accession of Spain, with all its appendages, to either, would have destroyed the equilibrium which the allies proposed to establish. But other motives contributed to a continuation of the war. The powers of the confederacy were fired with the ambition of making conquests; and England in particular thought herself intitled to an imdemnification for the immense sums she had expended. Animated by these concurring considerations, queen Anne and the states-general rejected the offers of France; and declared that they would not enter into any negotiation for peace, except in concert with their allies.

MEETING OF THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT.

The tories of England began to meditate schemes of opposition against the duke of Marlborough. They looked upon him as a selfish nobleman, who sacrificed the interest of the nation, in protracting a ruinous war for his own private advantage. They saw their country oppressed with an increasing load of taxes, which they apprehended would in a little time become an intolerable burden; and they did not doubt but at this period such terms might be obtained as would fully answer the great purpose of the confederacy. This indeed was the prevailing opinion among all the sensible people of the nation who were not particularly interested in the prose cution of the war, either by being connected with the general, or in some shape employed in the management of the finances. The tories were likewise instigated by a party spirit against Marlborough, who, by means of his wife, was in full possession of the queen's confidence, and openly patronized the whig faction. But the attention of people in general was now turned upon the Scottish parliament, which took into consideration the treaty of union lately concluded between the commissioners of both kingdoms. On the third day of October the duke of Queensberry, as high commissioner, produced the queen's letter, in which she expressed her hope that the terms of the treaty would be acceptable to her parliament of Scotland. She said, an entire and perfect union would be the solid foundation of a lasting peace: it would secure their religion, liberty, and property; remove the animosities that prevailed among themselves, and the jealousies that subsisted between the two nations: it would increase their strength, riches, and commerce: the whole island would be joined in affection, and free from all apprehensions of different interests: it would be enabled to resist all its enemies, support the protestant interest everywhere, and maintain the liberties of Europe. She renewed her assurance of maintaining the government of their church; and told them, that now they had an opportunity of taking such steps as might be necessary for its security after the union. She demanded the necessary supplies. She observed, that the great success with which Almighty God had blessed her arms, afforded the nearer prospect of a happy peace, with which they would enjoy the full advantages of this union: that they had no reason to doubt but the parliament of England would do all that should be necessary on their part to confirm the union: finally, she recommended calmness and unanimity in deliberating on this great and weighty affair, of such consequence to the whole island of Great Britain.

VIOLENT OPPOSITION TO THE UNION.
Hitherto the articles of the union had been industri.