and ermans, all on the fame day. The French monare could not suppress his anger at fuch a combination, but his chief refentment fell upon the Dutch. He declared, with great emotion, that as for those gentlemen pedlars, the Dutch, they fhould one day repent their infolence and prefumption, in declaring war against one whofe power they had formerly felt and dreaded. However, the affairs of the allies were no way influenced by his threats. The duke of Marlborough had his views gratified, in being appointed general of the English forces; and he was ftill farther flattered by the Dutch, who, though the earl of Athlone had a right to fhare the command, appointed Marlborough generaliffimo of the allied army. And it must be confeffed, that few men fhone more, either in debate or action, than he; ferene in the midst of danger, and indefatigable in the cabinet; fo that he became the moft formidable enemy to France that England had produced, fince the conquering times of Creffy and Agincourt.

A great part of the hiftory of this reign, confifts in battles fought upon the continent, which, though of very little advantage to the interefts of the nation, were very great additions to its honour. These triumphs, it is true, are paffed away, and nothing remains of them but the names of Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde and Malplaquet, where the allied army gained great, but (with refpect to England) ufelefs victories.

A conqueft of much greater national importance was gained with lefs expence of blood and treasure in Spain. The miniftry of England understanding that the French were employed in equipping a strong fquadron in Breft, fent out Sir Cloudefly Shovel, and Sir George Rooke to watch their motions. George, however, had farther orders to convoy a body of forces in tranfport-fhips to Barcelona, upon which a fruitlefs attack was made by the prince of

Sir

Heffe.

Heffe. Finding no hopes, therefore, from this expedition, in two days after the troops were re mbarked, Sir George Rooke, joined by Sir Cloudefly, called a council of war on board the fleet, as they lay off the coast of Africa. In this they resolved to make an attempt upon Gibraltar, a city then belonging to the Spaniards, at that time ill provided with a garrifon, as neither expecting, nor fearing fuch an attempt.

Next

The town of Gibraltar ftands upon a tongue of land, as the mariners call it, and defended by a rock inacceffible on every fide but one. The prince of Heffe landed his troops, to the number of eighteen hundred, on the continent adjoining, and fummoned the town to surrender, but without effect. day the admiral gave orders for cannonading the town; and perceiving that the enemy were driven from their fortifications at a place called the South Mole-head, ordered captain Whitaker to arm all the boats, and affault that quarter. Those officers who happened to be nearest the Mole, immediately manned their boats without orders, and entered the fortification sword in hand. But they were premature; for the Spaniards fprung a mine, by which two lieutenants, and about one hundred men were killed and wounded. Nevertheless, the two captains, Hicks and Jumper, took poffeffion of a platform, and kept their ground, until they were fuftained by captain Whitaker, and the rest of the feamen, who took a redoubt between the Mole and the town by ftorm. Then the governor capitulated, and the prince of Heffe entered the place, amazed at the fuccefs of the attempt, confidering the ftrength of the fortifications. When the news of this conqueft was brought to England, it was for fome time in debate whether it was a capture worth thanking the admiral for. It was at laft confidered as unworthy public gratitude; and while the duke of Marlborough was extolled for useless fervices, Sir N 6 George

George Rooke was left to neglect, and foon difplaced from his command, for having fo effentially served his country. A ftriking inftance that even in the most enlightened age, popular applaufe is moft ufually mifplaced. Gibraltar has ever fince remained in the poffeffion of the English, and continues of the utmost use in refitting that part of the navy deftined to annoy an enemy, or protect our trade in the Mediterranean. Here the English have a repofitory capable of containing all things neceffary for the repairing of fleets, or the equipment of armies.

While the English were thus victorious by land and fea, a new fcene of contention was opened on the fide of Spain, where the ambition of the European princes exerted itself with the fame fury that had filled the reft of the continent. Philip the Fourth, grandfon of Lewis the Fourteenth, had been placed upon the throne of that kingdom, and had been received with the joyful concurrence of the greatest part of his fubjects. He had also been nominated fucceffor to the crown by the late king of Spain's will. But in a former treaty among the powers of Europe, Charles, fon of the emperor of Germany, was appointed heir to that crown; and this treaty had been guarantied by France herself, though fhe now refolved to reverfe that confent in favour of a defcendant of the house of Bourbon. Charles was ftill farther led on to put in for the crown of Spain by the invitation of the Catalonians, who declared in his favour, and by the affiftance of the English and Portuguese, who promised to arm in his cause. He was furnished with two hundred tranfports, thirty fhips of war, and nine thousand men, for the conqueft of that extenfive empire. But the earl of Peterborough, man of romantic bravery, offered to conduct them; and his fingle fervice was thought equivalent to armies.

The

The earl of Peterborough was one of the most fingular and extraordinary men of the age in which he lived. When yet but fifteen he fought against the Moors in Africa; at twenty he affifted in compaffing the revolution, and he now carried on the war in Spain almoft at his own expence; his friendfhip for the duke Charles being one of his chief motives to this great undertaking. He was deformed in his perfon; but of a mind the most generous, honourable, and active. His first attempt upon landing in Spain was the taking Barcelona, a strong city, with a garrifon of five thousand men, while his own army amounted to little more than nine thoufand.

Thefe fucceffes, however, were but of fhort continuance; Peterborough being recalled, and the army under Charles being commanded by the lord Gal way. This nobleman having received intelligence that the enemy, under the command of the duke of Berwick, was pofted near the town of Almanza, he advanced thither to give him battle. The conflict began about two in the afternoon, and the whole front of each army was fully engaged. The center, confifting chiefly of battalions from Great Britain and Holland, feemed at first victorious; but the Portuguese horfe, by whom they were fupported, betaking themfelves to flight on the first charge, the English troops were flanked and furrounded on every fide. In this dreadful emergency, they formed themselves into a fquare, and retired to an eminence, where, being ignorant of the country, and deftitute of all supplies, they were obliged to furrender prifoners of war, to the number of ten thousand men. This victory was complete and decifive; and all Spain, except the province of Catalonia, returned to their duty to Philip their fovereign.

The councils of the queen had hitherto been governed by a Whig miniftry; for though the duke of

Marl

Marlborough had firft ftarted in the Tory intereft, he foon joined the oppofite faction, as he found them moft fincere in their defires to humble the power of France. The Whigs therefore ftill purfued the fchemes of the late king; and impreffed with a republican fpirit of liberty, ftrove to humble defpotism in every part of Europe. In a government where the reafoning of individuals, retired from power, generally leads those who command, the defigns of the miniftry muft alter as the people happen to change. The people, in fact, were beginning to change. But previous to the difgrace of the Whig miniftry, whose fall was now haftening, a measure of the greatest importance took place in parliament; a measure that had been withed by many, but thought too difficult for execution. What I mean, is the union between the two kingdoms of England and Scotland; which, though they were governed by one fovereign fince the acceffion of James the First, yet were ftill ruled by their respective parliaments, and often profeffed to pursue oppofite interefts and different designs.

The attempt for an union was begun at the commencement of this reign; but fome disputes arising relative to the trade to the Eaft, the conference was broke up, and it was thought that an adjustment would be impoffible. It was revived by an act in either parliament, granting power to commiffioners named on the part of both nations, to treat on the preliminary articles of an union, which fhould afterwards undergo a more thorough difcuffion by the legislative body of both kingdoms. The choice of thefe commiffioners was left to the queen; and fhe took care that none fhould be employed, but fuch as heartily wished to promote fo defirable a measure.

Accordingly the queen having appointed commiffioners on both fides, they met in the council-chamber of the Cock-pit, near Whitehall, which was the place appointed for their conferences. As the queen

fre