1«^9^' ohservaiioits 071 Watson^ s ■hislo7y, 89 



fJiews an uncommonly clear and capacious mind, 

 the reader always easily imagines himself fo be 

 upon the spot ; indeed throughout the whole we are 

 continually upon the scene of action, we are always 

 so much ingrofsed with what is going on, that we 

 never think of the composition, or the historian him- 

 self. In describing engagements, he lliews much abi- 

 lity and addrefs. The number and disposition of the, 

 combatantSj their peculiar situation, their advantages, 

 and disadvantages, are all represented as in a map 

 before us. The action itself is always highly inte- 

 resting ; our solicitude about the ifsue is for a while 

 in suspence, the tumult gradually thickens, the vio- 

 lance, valour and sagacity of the leaders, are well 

 painted ; and the causes of victory or defeat are ac- 

 counted for in a satisfactory manner. 



We fliall here give a fliort specimen of our au- 

 thor's Ikill in managing a scene of this kind ; it is 

 an afsault of the prince of Parma upon Maestricht, 

 of which de Herle and Tapin were governors. The 

 most striking circumstances are well chosen, the ac- 

 tion is naturally developed, and the whole descriprioa. 

 bold, concise, and masterly. 



" In order to weaken the garrison by dividing ir, 

 the prince of Parma resolved to make an afsault at. 

 each of the two breaches at the same time. His troops 

 advanced in the face of the enemy's cannon wltli 

 the- utmost intrepidity, the besieged stood undismay- 

 ed till they approached, and nothing could exceed the 

 fury with which both parties began the combat. Their 

 fire arms soon ceased to be of use to them ; f( r they 

 came immediately to close fight, in whi.h tboy could 

 VOL. Tiii. 61 , t 



