In the mean time, the king of Sweden, having passed the winter at Narva, took the field as soon as the season would permit, with all the towering hopes of a youthful conqueror. He entered Livonia, and appeared in the neighbourhood of Riga, which the king of Poland had in vain besieged the preceding campaign. The Poles and Saxons were posted along the Duna, which is very broad at that place; and Charles, who lay on the opposite side of the river, was under the necessity of forcing a passage. This he effected, although with much difficulty; the Swedes being driven back into the river, after they had formed themselves upon the land. Their young king rallied them in the water; and leading them to the charge in a more compact body, repulsed mareschal Stenau, who commanded the Saxons, and advanced into the plain. There a general engagement ensued, and the Swedes gained a complete but bloody victory.(1) The enemy lost near three thousand men, with all their artillery and baggage. The loss of the Swedes was very considerable, the duke of Courland having penetrated three times into the heart of the king' guards.(2)

Immediately after this victory, Charles advanced to Mittau, the capital of Courland. That city, and all the towns in the dutchy surrendered to him at discretion. His expedition thither was rather a journey than a military enterprise. From Courland he passed into Lithuania, conquering every thing in his progress; and he is said to have felt a particular satisfaction, when he entered in triumph the town of Birzen, where Augustus, king of Poland, and the czar Peter, had planned his destruction, but a few months before.(3) It was here that, under the stimulating influence of resentment, he formed the great project of dethroning Augustus, by means of his own subjects. That prince had been accustomed to govern despotically in Saxony; and fondly imagining that he might exercise the same authority in Poland, as in his hereditary dominions, he lost the hearts of his new people. The Poles murmured at seeing their towns enslaved by Saxon garrisons, and their frontiers covered with Russian armies. More jealous of their liberty than ambitious of conquest, they considered the war with Sweden as an artful measure of the court, in order to furnish a pretext for the introduction of foreign troops.(4)

Charles XII. resolved to take advantage of these discontents, and succeeded beyond his fondest hopes. But in the prosecution of this, and his other ambitious projects, we must leave him for a time, in order to contemplate a more important scene of action.

LETTER XXI.

Europe, from the Beginning of the general War, in 1701, to the Offers of Peace made by France, in 1706, and the Union of England and Scotland.

NOTWITHSTANDING the alliance which the king of England had concluded with the emperor and the states-general, it may be questioned whether he could have prevailed upon his people to engage heartily in a new continental war, had it not been for an unforeseen measure, which roused their resentment against France. Soon after the signing of the grand alliance, James II. died at St. Germains; and Lewis XIV., in violation of the treaty of Ryswick, acknowledged the son of that unfortunate prince king of Great Britain and Ireland, under the title of James III,

Whether Lewis was induced to this measure by generosity of sentiment, or what the French writers term the elevation and sensibility of his great soul; by the tears of the widow of the deceased prince, seconded by the entreaties of Madame de Maintenon, or by political motives, is a matter of very little

Voltaire, Hist. Charles XII. Parthenay, Hist. Polog. tom. i.
Voltaire, ubi sup.

(2) Id. ibid.

(4) Parthen. Hist. Polog. tom. i.

consequence. It is probable, however, that he was partly influenced by political considerations; that, believing war to be unavoidable, he hoped, by thus encouraging the jacobites, to be able to disturb the English government; especially, as the declining health of William made his death be regarded as no distant event, and the party in favour of the direct line of succession was still powerful in all the three British kingdoms. But whatever might be the motive of the French monarch for such a measure; whether it sprung from weakness, generosity, or selfishness, it hurried him into a war, for which he was very little prepared, and which reduced him, in a few years, from the highest pinnacle of grandeur to the lowest state of despondency. France, exhausted by her former efforts, had not yet had time to recover new strength; and Spain, languishing under every kind of political malady, was only a load upon her shoulders. But the supply of the precious metals, which she was suffered, by the negligence of the maritime powers, to procure from the Spanish dominions in America, and particularly from those on the South Sea, enabled her to maintain the contest much longer than would have been possible for her merely with her own internal resources.(1)

The marquis de Torcy attempted in vain to apologize to the king of England for the conduct of his master: the affront to William was too flagrant to be patiently borne. He instantly recalled his ambassador from the court of France, and ordered the French envoy to quit his dominions. Nor did the English parliament, to which William made a speech well suited to the occasion, discover less resentment at the insult offered to their sovereign, and to themselves, by the French monarch; in presuming to declare who should be their king, and in naming a person excluded from the succession by an act of the whole legislature. They passed a bill of attainder against the pretended prince of Wales, for assuming the title of king of England; and also a bill to oblige all persons, holding any office in church or state, to abjure his claim to the crown. They entered warmly into the idea of the war, which was eagerly desired by the people; voted forty thousand men for land service, agreeable to the terms of the grand alliance, and an equal number for the navy. And they presented an address to the throne, requesting the king to insert in the treaty an article, which was readily assented to by the contracting powers, That no peace should be concluded with France, until reparation was made by the French monarch for the indignity offered to his majesty and the English nation, in owning and declaring the pretended prince of Wales king of England.(2)

William, thus supported in his favourite scheme, by the unanimous voice of his parliament and people, was making vast preparations for opening the ensuing campaign, when a fall from his horse threw him into a fever, which put a period to his life, but not his bold designs. (3) He was a prince of great vigour of mind, firmness of temper, and intrepidity of spirit; but ungraceful in his person and address, disgustingly cold in his manner, and dry, silent, and solitary in his humour. To a happy concurrence of circumstances, and a steady perseverance in his plans, rather than to any extraordinary talents, either in a civil or military capacity, he owed that high reputation and extensive influence which he so long enjoyed among the princes of Christendom. He was, however, an able politician and a good soldier, though not a great commander. He has been severely and justly blamed for those intrigues which he employed to dethrone his uncle and father-in-law. But as William's heart seems to have been as dead to the sympathetic feelings, as his soul was insensible to the charms of literature and the beauties of the elegant arts, it is possible that, while guiding the great political system, he might be led by the illusions of ambition, under the appearance of principle, to think the ties of blood, and even the right of inheritance, a necessary sacrifice to the welfare of Europe, and the interests of the reformed religion.

(1) Bolingbroke, Sketch of the Hist. and State of Europe.
(2) Burnet, book vi. Journals, Jan. 10, 1702.

(3) Burnet, ubi sup.

England, at least, was obliged to him for abetting her cause, in her grand struggle for liberty and a Protestant succession. But she has dearly paid for those blessings, by being involved in wasting foreign wars, partly indeed rendered necessary by the supineness of her two preceding princes, but in which she ought naturally to have had no concern; by the introduction of the infamous practice of corrupting parliaments, in order to engage them to support those wars; and by their unavoidable consequence, a grievous national debt, which, daily accumulating, and augmenting the weight of government, threatens us with the worst of evils.(1)

The death of the king of England threw the allies into the utmost consternation, and occasioned the highest joy at the court of France. But that joy was of short duration. The quiet succession of Anne, princess of Denmark, eldest surviving daughter of James II. to the English throne, conformable to the act of settlement, and her early declaration of her resolution to pursue he objects of the grand alliance, revived the spirit of the confederates; while the choice of her ministers, and the vigour of their measures, blasted all the hopes that Lewis and the court of St. Germains had founded on the decease of William. Lord Godolphin was placed at the head of the treasury; and the earl of Marlborough, whose eldest daughter was married to Godolphin's son, and whose wife had acquired an absolute ascendant over the queen, was appointed commander-in-chief of the English forces in Flanders, and immediately despatched to Holland, in the character of ambassador extraordinary to the states.(2)

Thus connected by family interest, as well as political views, these two great men conducted with harmony the affairs of England, and even acquired a more decided influence on the continent than had ever been possessed by William. They not only kept more compact and entire all the parts of that vast machine, the grand alliance, but communicated a more rapid and vigorous motion to the whole. The earl of Marlborough succeeded in every part of his negotiation with the states: he animated them to a full exertion of their strength; and gained so far on their confidence, that they raised him to the chief command of their troops. All the allies engaged, with alacrity, to furnish their several quotas; and war was declared against France, on the same day, at London, the Hague, and Vienna.(3)

The first campaign, however, was not distinguished by any great event. In Italy the imperialists, under prince Eugene, being outnumbered by the combined armies of France and Spain, gained no advantage. There Philip V. (having left the government of his new kingdom in the hands of the queen, assisted by a council, and passed into Naples) nominally commanded in person;(4) and but nominally; all the operations, being really directed by the duke de Vendome. His presence, however, inspired confidence into his troops; and prince Eugene was not only forced to raise the blockade of Mantau, but in some degree worsted, in an attempt to surprise Vendome near Luzara.(5)

The imperialists were not more successful on the Upper Rhine; where the prince of Baden, though elated with the taking of Landau, was defeated at

(1) A certain proportion of public debt, by increasing circulation, and creating a new species of money, always ready to be employed in any beneficial undertaking, by means of its transferable quality, and yet producing some profit, even while it lies idle, is supposed to be of advantage to a trading people. But what that proportion may be, no politician has hitherto pretended to determine. It is however certain, that the national debt has long exceeded, not only all calculations of commercial benefit, but what it was thought, as late as the middle of the present century, the kingdom could possibly bear; and that the enormous taxes levied to pay the interest of that debt, by enhancing the price of the necessaries of life, of labour, and consequently of every species of manufacture, have hurt the sale of our commodities in foreign markets; have strengthened the enslaving influence of the crown, by increasing the number of its dependants, if not broke, in some measure, the free spirit of the people, by multiplying their ne

cessities.

(3) Id. ibid.

(2) Burnet, book vii. (4) The parting of Philip and his young queen, himself as young, was preceded by many struggles of tenderness. One day, while both were bathed in tears, this amiable and accomplished princess hearing some of the courtiers ask the king, if he should pass the night with her, all her sensibility was roused, her presence of mind forsook her, and she passionately exclaimed, "Oh, my God! of the short time that remains to us would they cut off even the nights?" Mem. de Noailles, tom. ii.

(5) Henault, 1702.

Fridlengen, by the marquis de Villars, immediately after created a mareschal of France. "I have heard," says Voltaire, "mareschal Villars declare more than once, that as he was marching at the head of his infantry, after the battle was gained, a voice called, We are undone! On hearing this, all his troops fled. He ran after them, crying, Come back, my friends! the victory is ours. Long live the king! The trembling soldiers repeated, Long live the king! but continued to fly and the marquis found the utmost difficulty in rallying the conquerors."(1) On such trivial circumstances often depended the issue of the greatest battles. Had a single regiment of imperialists appeared during this panic, the French, so lately victorious, would have been totally routed.

The house of Bourbon was less fortunate on the side of Flanders. The allies began the campaign with the siege of Keysers waert, which the elector of Cologne had placed in the hands of the French, and which surrendered after a siege of two months. The duke of Burgundy, who commanded the French army, having under him mareschal Boufflers, it was expected would either have attempted the relief of that important place, or have invested some other; but, by a strange piece of misconduct, he lay almost totally inactive during the whole siege, and till the earl of Marlborough arrived to take the command of the allied army. (2) Marlborough, who was no less prudent than active, and who may be said to have united the enterprising spirit of the hero to the caution and foresight of the consummate general, resolved immediately to attack the duke of Burgundy: and had he not been restrained by the timidity of the field deputies of the states, he would have gained a complete victory over the French. (3) Though thus confined in his operations, the English commander contrived, by masterly movements, by marches and counter-marches, to throw himself between the enemy and the principal towns of Spanish Guelderland; where he reduced, successively and without molestation, Venlo, Ruremonde, and Liege; conquests of the greatest importance, as by the acquisition of those places the navigation of the Maese was opened, and a free communication with Maestricht.(4)

The operations at sea were even more favourable to the allies, than those by land; though not in all respects equal to their hopes. The confederate fleet, under sir George Rooke, consisting of fifty English and Dutch ships of the line, with twelve thousand troops on board, commanded by the duke of Ormond, appeared before Cadiz, and summoned that city to surrender to the house of Austria, or run the hazard of an attack from such a formidable armament. But the governor paid no regard to this threat. The place was much stronger than the besiegers expected; so that the duke of Ormond found it necessary to re-embark his troops after they had taken fort St. Catharine, made an unsuccessful attempt on fort Matagorda, and pillaged port St. Mary, contrary to his express orders. His next attempt was more fortunate.

The confederates, after leaving Cadiz, sailed for Vigo, where the galleons, under convoy of twenty-three French ships of war, commanded by the count de Chateau-Renaud, were just arrived from America. As the wealth on board these galleons was considered as the chief resource of the Spanish monarchy, and even of the whole house of Bourbon, Lewis XIV. expecting to share in it, the utmost precaution had been taken to secure them.(5) They were carried up into a basin, through a narrow entrance, one side of which was defended by a fort, the other by platforms mounted with cannon. Α boom was thrown across the mouth of the basin, and within the boom the French squadron was drawn up. But all these obstacles were not sufficient to discourage the confederates, when animated by the hopes of so rich a booty. The duke of Ormond having landed part of his troops, took the

(1) Sidcle, chap. xvii.

(2) Duke of Berwick's Mem. vol. 1. (3) Burnet, book vii. Duke of Berwick's Mem. vol. i. We were posted in such a manner," says the duke of Berwick, "that we should have been beaten without being able to stir: our left being very high, and our right sunk into a cul-de-sac between two rivulets." (4) Id. ibid.

Mem. ubi sup.
(5) Mem. de Noailles, tom. li

castle: the boom was broken by the fleet; and the French admiral, perceiving that all farther resistance would be vain, set fire to his ships. The galleons followed the desperate example; but the English and Dutch were at hand, to extinguish the flames. Six ships of war were taken, seven sunk, and nine burnt. Of thirteen galleons, nine fell into the hands of the conquerors, and four were destroyed; and although the greater part of the treasure had been landed, and carried to Lagos, the booty was immense, and the consternation of the house of Bourbon excessive.(1)

Before intelligence of this important blow arrived in England, both houses of parliament had congratulated her majesty on the success of her arms, under the earl of Marlborough, who was soon after created a duke, and liberal supplies were voted for carrying on the war. The good-humour of the parliament was increased by the news of the destruction of the enemy's fleet at Vigo: the hopes of the nation ran high: the most vigorous preparations were made, and the affairs of the allies every where wore a very favourable aspect. The duke of Savoy, who had been long wavering, openly deserted the interests of France and Spain, and concluded a treaty with the emperor, to the astonishment of the house of Bourbon; he being not only a grandson of Lewis XIII. but father-in-law to the duke of Burgundy and Philip V. From motives of interest, Peter VI. king of Portugal, also united himself to the confederates.(2)

To the defection of those two princes, the French ascribed their subsequent misfortunes in the war. Lewis XIV., however, made great preparations for opening the next campaign, and was by no means wanting in success. Meantime the elector of Bavaria, the firm ally of France, carried on hostilities with vigour in the heart of Germany. He took Neuberg, on the Danube, early in the season; he defeated the imperialists at Passau; and having taken Burglenfield and Ratisbon, was joined at Dutlingen by mareschal Villars. Afterward, disappointed in an attempt to enter Tyrol, and open a communication with the French army in Italy, he rejoined Villars in Suabia. They crossed the Danube; and Villars understanding that the count de Stirum, at the head of twenty thousand men, was on his march to join the formidable army of the prince of Baden, near Donawert, said to the elector, "We must prevent this: we must advance and attack Stirum." The elector nesitated, and said he would consult with his ministers and generals. "I am our minister and general!" replied Villars:-"Can you want any other counsel than mine, when the question is about giving battle ?"—Full of apprehensions for his dominions, the elector was still averse from the mareschal's proposal, and not a little displeased at this freedom. "Well!" said Villars, "if your highness will not seize this opportunity with your Bavarians, I will engage with the French only:-it must not be lost." He accordingly ordered his troops to march; and the elector, though filled with indignation, found himself under the necessity of fighting against his judgment. (3) They attacked the enemy in the plains of Hockstet, and gained a complete victory. Three thousand of the imperialists were killed; four thousand were made prisoners; and all their artillery and baggage fell into the hands of the conquerors. The victorious army put the elector of Bavaria in possession of Augsburg; and the road to Vienna being thus laid open, the emperor trembled in his capital.(4)

The consternation of Leopold was, in some measure, excusable. The duke of Burgundy, who commanded the French army on the side of Alsace, having under him the mareschals Tallard and Vauban, had made himself master of Old Brisac; and Tallard, before the end of the campaign, not only retook

(1) Mem. de Noailles, tom. ii. Burnet, book vii. Lives of the Admirals, vol. iii. Lewis XIV., who Combined, with the most insatiable and bloody ambition, a strange mixture of piety and resignation, writes thus in a consolatory letter to the queen of Spain, then at the head of the government:- Events are in the hands of God, who often draws good out of what we consider as our greatest misfortunes. If it is possible to prevent the bad effects of that disaster which has happened, your majesty has prevented them." Mem. de Noailles, tom. ii. (2) Burnet. Voltaire.

(3) These particulars are related by Voltaire from the manuscript Memoirs of Mareschal_de Villars, written by himself. Siècle, chap. xvii. (4) Id. ibid.