1711.

BOOK VI. Commanding a separate body of forces on the Rhine. This campaign was not distinguished on the part of the English general by brilliant success, but it attracted uncommon attention, as exhibiting the most consummate proofs of military skill and conduct. Maréchal Villars had with great labor and perseverance drawn lines from Bouchaine on the Scheldt along the Sanset and Scarpe to Arras and Canché, which he had fortified by redoubts, batteries, and other military works, in such a manner that he scrupled not publicly to boast that they were impregnable, and that the English commander had at length arrived at his "ne plus ultra." The duke, however, boldly advanced within two leagues of the French lines, making every preparation in order to a vigorous attack the next morning; and Villars drew, with all possible diligence, his whole force on that side, in full expectation of am immediate and furious engagement. This being foreseen by the duke, he had given previous orders to generals Cadogan and Hompesch, with a strong detachment secretly drawn from the neighbouring garrisons, to take possession of the passes on the river Sanset at Arleux. At nine in the evening the duke silently decamped; and by eight the next morning he arrived at Arleux with his whole army, after a march of ten leagues, without halting. Villars, on being certified of

Bouchaine.

the duke's motions within a few hours of his de- BOOK VI. parture, marched all night with such expedition, 1711. that at eleven the next morning he was in sight of the duke of Marlborough, who, to his unspeakable mortification, had, as he now found, entered those lines which he had himself vauntingly pronounced impregnable, without the loss of a man. The duke immediately invested the Capture of important fortress of Bouchaine, which surrendered after twenty days' open trenches only. And this admired and hazardous military achievement closed the long glories of this celebrated commander, who, at the critical moment in which he had almost penetrated the French barrier, and when another Ramillies might have removed all obstacles in his march to Paris, was, by the mandate of that sovereign whom he had served with such unparalleled ability and success, divested of all his civil and military employments.

On the Rhine, in Italy, and in Spain, where the duke of Argyle had succeeded to general Stanhope, since the disaster of Brihuega a prisoner of war, nothing of moment was attempted on either side. The imperial diet assembling at Frank- Archduke fort under the protection of prince Eugene, pro- elected Emceeded quietly to the election of an emperor; peror.

and the votes of the electors of Bavaria and Cologne, who were under the ban of the empire, being previously rejected, the electoral college

Charles

1711.

BOOK VI. made choice of Charles king of Spain, brother to the late emperor; who, in the prospect of his new dignity, having quitted Barcelona in September, was crowned at Frankfort with the usual solemnity.

Naval

ransac

tions.

Ull-con

certed Attempt against Quebec.

The naval transactions of the year 1711, though not very memorable, must not pass entirely unnoticed. During the summer, the French, whose marine had gradually fallen into a state of great decay since the battle off Malaga, unexpectedly fitted out a considerable squadron under M. Du Guai Trouin, destined for the Brazils. Having entered the bay of Rio de Janeiro, he compelled the Portuguese to run ashore, and set several of their ships on fire; after which he made himself master of the town of St. Sebastian, where he found a prodigious booty in crusadoes and rich merchandise. On the other hand, an expedition of a somewhat similar nature, set on foot by the new ministers in England, succeeded very ill. The French settlement of Port-Royal in the peninsula of Acadia in North America had already been taken possession of by colonel Nicholson, who gave it the appellation of Annapolis. A design was now formed for the capture of Quebec, the capital of French America, situated on the great river St. Laurence: and 5000 troops were put under the comunand of brigadier Hill—brother to the favorite, Mrs. Marsham-an officer

very incompetent to such an enterprise-convoy- BOOK VI. ed by a strong squadron under sir Hovenden 1711. Walker. After various delays the fleet entered the gulf of St. Laurence in the month of August, expecting a powerful co-operation from the colonial forces, who were to join them by way of Albany. But before they could reach the city of Quebec, they were overtaken by a violent storm, and at the same time enveloped in so thick a fog, that they entirely lost sight of land, and could find no soundings or anchorage. The men of war escaped with extreme hazard, but eight transports were cast away with their crews and stores; and when the weather cleared up, a council of war was held, in which it was agreed to return home without making any further attempt. This pusillanimous resolution being forthwith carried into execution, they arrived at Portsmouth early in October. Scarcely had they reached the harbour, when the admiral's ship, the Edgar of seventy guns, by some accident blew up, with a great number of persons on board, exclusive of the ship's crewand thus terminated this ill-concerted and disastrous expedition.

During the recess of parliament the ministry were chiefly engaged in strengthening their interest by the distribution of new honors and promotions. Lord Raby, head of the family of Wentworth-Woodhouse in Yorkshire, long re

BOOK VI. sident at Berlin, was created earl of Strafford, and 1711. sent ambassador to Holland-a man proud, conChanges ceited, full of party rancor and malevolence*, Sir Simon narrow in his capacity, and obstinate in his pre

at court.

Harcourt

made lord judices, but wholly adverse to the interests of the chancellor. court of St. Germaine's. Sir Simon Harcourt was

created baron Harcourt, and soon after lord chancellor. The duke of Hamilton was admitted to the honors of the English peerage, under the title of duke of Brandon. The bishop of Bristol, on the decease of the duke of Newcastle, by a novelty in politics characteristic of a tory and highchurch administration, was constituted lord privy seal. The duke of Buckingham, being made president of the council in the room of the earl of Rochester, was succeeded in the office of lord steward by earl Paulet, superseded in the treasury by the late promotion of Mr. Harley.

A singular occurrence took place about this time in Scotland, of which the whigs in England did not fail to take the advantage. The duchess of Gordon, a violent female politician, noted for her attachment to the banished family, sent as a present to the faculty of advocates at Edinburgh, a medal with a head on the right side and this.

* " Strafford," according to the bold and concise delineation of Swift," possessed no parts, was infinitely proud, and wholly illiterate."

History of the last Four Years of Queen Anne.