1707. afterwards thought proper in England and Hol- BOOK VI land to change that purpose; though I will not pretend to say whether this might not have been the most reasonable project. Count Staremberg was put in the room of this prince; but immediately this resolution was changed,—and, thanks be to GoD! the whole court was witness that I had no hand in it. But, in short, there are certain moments at court in which it is impossible to put a stop to, or to hinder, those evil resolutions which one has frequently reason to wish otherwise in the sequel. In this unhappy juncture I have proposed the elector of Hanover for this command, because I believe it necessary the army of the empire should have a chief whose birth and personal merit may carry a weight with them." This was a very honorable testimony to the political and military character of that respectable prince, who now began to derive great importance from his eventual claim to the succession of the British crowns. At the earnest request of the emperor and of the empire, the elector in a short time assumed the command of the imperial army, which he conducted with much judgment and prudence. And count Merci having surprised and defeated the marquis de Vivans at Offenburg, M. de Villars was forced to abandon his splendid projects, and repass the Rhine by Fort Louis into Alsace. BOOK VI. in Italy. The disappointment sustained by the allies on 1707. the side of Italy was proportionate to the high and confident hopes which had been previously Campaign excited. In the month of July (1707), prince Eugene and the duke of Savoy passed the Var at the head of 30,000 men, and marched directly towards Toulon, to which they laid close siege. As the principal naval magazines of France, and the greater part of its fleet, were inclosed within its walls or its harbour, this enterprise excited a general consternation. The place was however defended with the most heroic valor; and prince Eugene was suspected, from his unusual caution, to act under the restraint of secret orders. An enterprise Siege of which the spirit of adventure, approaching to rashness, only could render successful was protracted into length; and troops being assembled from all parts in great force for its relief, the duke of Savoy, who feared lest his retreat to Italy should be intercepted, thought proper to raise the siege with precipitation, and to repass the Var, without any acquisition of honor or profit from this undertaking into his own dominions. It answered the purpose, however, of causing a powerful diversion to the French forces on the Rhine; and immense damage was sustained from the attacks of the English fleet, co-operating with the besieging army, on the ships of war and mer- BOOK VI chantmen in the harbour*. Great blame was upon this occasion imputed to the emperor, who, careless and indifferent to the success of an enterprise from which he could reap no benefit, had detached a large body of troops, originally destined for this purpose, to the kingdom of Naples, of which he effected a complete conquest and this was the only advantage gained by the allies during this unfortunate campaign, of which the most disastrous events still remain to be narrated. 1707. If on the side of Lombardy, Germany, and Flanders, the wishes and expectations of the allies were not satisfactorily answered, in Spain they suffered a fatal reverse. Don Pedro king of Por- Death of the King of tugal had departed this life December 9, 1706, Portugal. and was succeeded by his son don Juan V., who declared that he would religiously observe all the engagements of his father. In a council of war, held at Valencia, February 1707, it was * Amongst the many good consequences" resulting from this expedition, the historian Tindal reckons "the burning of above one hundred and sixty houses in Toulon, and the devastations committed in Provence to the value of thirty millions of livres." And yet there are strong indications in the history of that writer, of a mind naturally humane and generous. But such is the tendency of a state of national enmity and WAR to harden and brutalise the mind! 1707. Military Operations in Spain. BOOK VI. resolved by the marquis das Minas and the earl of Galway, on the strength of the reinforcements lately arrived from England, to act offensively seek out the enemy, and endeavour to bring them to battle. The earl of Peterborough, who had now returned to Spain, gave indeed his opinion in favour of a defensive campaign; but this was by his enemies, and they were numerous, ascribed merely to envy and hatred of the earl of Galway, a general of great military skill and experience--of unimpeached integrity, of heroic valour, and remarkable for the modesty of his disposition and the suavity of his manners-and whose highest eulogium it was, that he possessed the entire affection, friendship and confidence of that sagacious observer and penetrating judge of men, the late king WILLIAM. Battle of In consequence of the resolution actually taken, the confederate army moved with their whole force to Yecla, where the duke of Berwick had formed a grand depôt of provisions and stores, which he abandoned at their approach. Encouraged by the unexpected and precipitate retreat of this general, they advanced to Portalegre, with a view to surprise him in his camp. But before this design could be effected, intelligence was received that the duke being joined by the reinforcements he looked for, was on his march to attack the allies. Both armies being now equally disposed to try the event of a battle, the earl of Galway proceeded, April 14 (1707), to the BOOK VI. |