iv PREFACE. 



Spaniards, and Portuguese. Well might the asto- 

 nished author of these reverses exclaim, in the frank- 

 ness of emotion — " All Europe was with us a year 

 ago; all Europe is now against us!" He did not 

 however, yield to the rising storm, without some 

 exertions worthy of his former fame. The annihi- 

 lation of one mighty host was speedily followed by 

 the creation of another almost equal in strength and 

 appointment ; and the tide of war had its flux and 

 reflux subordinate to the grand movement, which at 

 length carried every thing before it. The military 

 occurrences of the year have been not less varied 

 and remarkable than those in any of the preceding 

 campaigns of this protracted and sanguinary war ; 

 whilst the personal exertions of kings and emperors 

 in the field, and the concert and determination with 

 which they have conducted their plans, have greatly 

 surpassed all former experience. 



It was naturally to be expected that the decline 

 of French power would be followed by a rejection 

 of the dominion of France by some of those states 

 which were held under the yoke only through a 

 dread of that power ; but that Holland should set 

 the example of such an emancipation appears to 

 have been an event wholly unforeseen. The resto- 

 ration of that country to the list of independent 

 states, and the recal of the House of Orange to oc- 

 cupy the first place in its government with aug- 

 mented prerogatives, will render the present year 

 a distinguished epoch in its annals, as well as a me- 

 morable period to Great Britain, whose maritime 

 and commercial interests are so vitally connected 

 with the separation of the United Provinces from 

 the French monarchy. The recovery of the elec- 

 torate of Hanover by the royal house under the be- 

 neficent rule of which it so long enjoyed prosperity, 

 is another event of the year that will entitle it to 



