BOOK VI. that she would not be imposed on any longer in 1712. this manner, and that she had ordered her ministers to sign her treaty with France on the sur* render of Dunkirk into her hands;-that she pre tended not to prescribe to her allies, but that she had insisted in their behalf on certain conditions that France was obliged to grant to those of them who should sign their treaties at the same time as she did; or who should consent to an immediate cessation of arms, and, during the cessation, treat under her mediation. There had been more frankness and more dignity in this proceeding, and the effect must have been more advantageous. France would have granted more for a separate peace than for a cessation; and the Dutch would have been more influenced by the prospect of one than the other. A suspension of arms was not definitive; and they might and they did hope to drag her back under their and the German yoke*.”

This is unquestionably the language of a great statesman, but the earl of Oxford was a politician of quite another class.

A short time previous to the 17th July, the memorable day on which the infamous suspension of arms took place, prince Eugene decamped from Haspre with all the allied forces, excepting the British; for even the auxiliaries in British

* Letters on History, vol. ii. p. 156.

1

of Lan

pay, a few squadrons of the troops of Holstein BOOK VI. Gottorp excepted, unanimously refused making 1712. themselves parties in this act of perfidy. Almost at the moment of proclaiming the suspension, the prince, as it were in bravado, caused the strong and important fortress of Landreci to be invested; Investment and it was determined, in a council of war, that, dreci. notwithstanding the defection of the English, nothing should be omitted to carry on the operations of the campaign with such vigor as to enable the allied army to take winter quarters in Picardy. Landreci was regarded as a place of so much importance that the siege of it excited, even in Paris, great agitation and alarm: and Louis declared to the duke of Harcourt, that in case of any fresh disaster he would convene all the nobility of his kingdom, and though now seventy-four years of age, would lead them on in person to the enemy, and, if unable to save the kingdom, to perish at their head*. But France was saved when the duke of Marlborough was disgraced; and the history of this campaign, subsequent to the separation of the British forces, is the recital of a continued series of losses and disasters. Maréchal Villars, on the 24th July, passing the Scheld with great secresy and dispatch, fell suddenly, with a far superior force, on a se

VOL. II.

* Voltaire, Histoire Generale, vol. vi.

I I

1712.

BOOK VI. parate corps of the allied army posted at Denain, and commanded by the earl of Albemarle, whom Defeat of he totally defeated in sight of prince Eugene, at Denain. who was prevented, by the accidental breaking

the Allies

Marchien

nes.

down of the bridge thrown over the Scheld, from affording him the least succour. No less than seventeen entire battalions were either killed or captured on this occasion; and a convoy of 500 waggons, destined for the camp before Landreci, fell into the hands of the enemy.

The communication between the allied army and the grand depot of ammunition and military stores at Marchiennes, on the Scarpe, being now Capture of completely cut off, the French general immediately invested that important post, which was well fortified, encompassed with morasses and canals, and defended by a garrison of more than five thousand men. Yet, to the astonishment of the world, this place surrendered in less than a week, the garrison being made prisoners of war. In consequence of this unexpected capture, the allied army experienced the most distressing embarrassments, the siege of Landreci was raised, and the French acquired a decided superiority in the field.

The king of France was, not without reason, extremely elevated at the news of this success: and he wrote upon the occasion a letter to the archbishop of Paris, commanding Te Deum to be

sung in the cathedral of Notre Dame.

"The BOOK VI.

steps I have taken," says this great monarch, "to 1712. effect a general peace, and the suspension which I have agreed on with the queen of England, have not availed to determine the other allies to enter into the same sentiments. On the contrary, they formed a design to push on their conquests and besiege Landreci. The importance of that place, the taking of which would have opened to the enemy an entrance into my kingdom, determined me to give my orders to the maréchals de Villars and Montesquieu to attack and fight the enemy, and oblige them to raise the siege."

After recounting the particulars of the successes obtained by the French over the allies, he mentions that the latter "have been forced to raise the siege of Landreci, and to retire towards Mons. As such an event is a visible mark of the protection of God, who knows the rectitude of my intentions, I hold myself obliged to render to him most humble acts of thanksgiving."

Douay.

No sooner had Marchiennes fallen, than Villars, ever active and indefatigable, proceeded to the investment of the city of Douay. This im- Siege of portant place not being supposed in danger was but weakly garrisoned, yet did general Hompesch, the governor, make so vigorous a defence, that Douay held out till the 8th September, when the garrison was compelled to surrender prisoners of

BOOK VI. war.

1712.

Quesnoy recovered by the French;

and also

Bouchaine.

Prince Eugene had advanced very near to the French entrenchments with a view to hazard a battle for the relief of the place, but the Dutch field deputies would not be persuaded to incur so great a risque in so critical a juncture and the prince had the mortification of witnessing the loss of Douay. Scarcely was the city of Lisle itself believed to be now perfectly in safety; but the next object of maréchal Villars soon appeared to be the town of Quesnoy, recently captured by the allies. This place made a defence no less resolute than Douay; and it was not till the 14th October that it submitted to a capitulation; the garrison, as in the former instances, being made prisoners of war. But in Quesnoy the victors found a train of one hundred and sixteen pieces of heavy cannon, with a vast quantity of ammunition and provisions. Even previous to the surrender of Quesnoy, the trenches were opened before Bouchain, the sole acquisition of the last campaign; and this place also capitulated after a defence very ill proportioned to its reputed strength, upon the same terms with Quesnoy. These garrisons completed the number of forty battalions killed or made prisoners by the French since the unfortunate affair of Denain. The sur

prisal of Fort Knocque, situated on the canal of Ypres, was the only compensation for all these losses; so that the triumph of Villars was com