History. 
—— 
' concluded a peace with the Queen of Hungary 
The French 
obstinately 
continue 
FRANCE, 
prudent to repass the Rhine; after which, Louis laid 
iege to Fribourg, and the reduction of this place ter- 
minated the campaign on the side of Alsace. 
In 1745, Charles VII. died; and his son being too 
young to become a candidate for the Imperial ve 
treaty, it was expected, would lead to a general pacifi- 
GREE, 0 thereainie’ of var ii Getusly io Vp edd 
ed; but the Marquis D’Argenson, the French minister, 
who had great influence in the cabinet, declared that 
France, having undertaken to fork head to the Ger- 
manic body, ought to hazard the last soldier, in su 
of what she claimed, and had declared she w 
. The cabinet of Versailles therefore offered the Im- 
ial throne to the King of Poland ; but he refused it. 
French were still obstinate ; and as they could 
the war, |, find no candidate of their own, they determined to 
continue the war, in order to™ ent the election of 
the husband of Maria Theresa. The republic of Genoa, 
which had been long wavering in its politics, now con- 
cluded a treat with the House Bourbon, which 
turned out fatal to the interests of the Queen of Hun- 
gary and the King of Sardinia. The latter was obliged 
to retire, by the conjoint fa of the French, Spa- 
niards, and Neapolitans, beyond the Tanaro; the city 
of Pavia was taken by assault, and Milan itself forced 
to surrender. Turin was next th ; but the con- 
federates, contented with their su ann osed the cam- 
i a triumphant entry into Milan, 
Paauhng the avowed object of Louis was to ent 
the election of the Grand Duke, yet he had also in view 
the con of Flanders... In r to carry into execu- 
tion these plans at once, he assembled two great 
armies; one on the Maine under the Prince of Conti, and 
another under Count Saxe, which invested Tournay. As 
the relief of this place was of, 
consisting of the Austrians, Dutch, overians, and: 
British, thou hninferior to the French, resolved to 
its relief. i rise to the battle of Fon ; for 
an account of which, see Brirarn. After this battle, while 
the allies were entrenched between Antwerp and Brus- 
sels, Marshal Saxe and Count Lauendalil reduced Tour- 
nay, Oudenarde, Ath, Dendermond, Ghent, Ostend, 
and every other fortified place in Austrian Flanders, 
But though thus successful in this obj Louis was 
less fortunate in the other object of the war ; for he was 
not able to ent the Queen of Hungary from raising 
her husband to the Imperial throne. ‘ 
By the treaty of Dresden, the King of Prussia was 
detached from the house of Bourbon; i i 
which, the King of France was determined to push his 
conquests in the Netherlands, while the King of Great 
Britain, enraged at Louis for supporting the er, 
was resolved to oppose his projects. Louis 
the campaign with his usual vigour. Mar- 
shal Saxe took Brussels in the beginning of F 
1746. In April, the King joined his army, now 120,000 
; Antwerp was ~: She n debelttgggony, 
est in , held out only afew weeks ; an f 
by the 10th of July, Louis was master of Flanders, | 
Brabant, and Hainault. The confederates hitherto 
not able to m+ mae French, now mustered 87,000 
— - Charles of Lorraine ; and with this 
force took up a strong position in the neighbour- 
hood of Namur, as they conceived this place would be 
next invested. Marshal Saxe, after itring their 
situation, did not deem it prudent to attack it ; in 
erder to-attain his object by other means,-he reduced | 
con ence, theallies,: 
came to nothing, however, as the 
615 
Dinant, and thus obtained the command of the naviga- 
tion of the Maese above Namur, while a large maga- 
zine of the confederates was captured at Huy. The 
communication being now cut off with Maestricht, 
Prince Charles, from a scarcity of provisions, was obli- 
ged to quit his post, and leave Namur to its fate. The 
garrison was numerous, and the place well defended ; 
yet, on the 6th day, the town was compelled to sur- 
render, and the citadel on the 16th. Marshal Saxe, 
who never lost 2 moment’s time, immediately after this 
passed the river Jaar, at the head of the whole French’ 
army, and attacked the allies in the villages of Leirs, 
Warem, and Roucoux, at the same time, by 55 batta- 
lions in brigad 
ther advanced ; so that the allies, wearied out, and, by 
some unaccountable neglect, destitute of artillery, were 
obliged to abandon the villages, and retreat towards 
Maestricht. The French, however, had suffered so- 
much, that they did not attempt to pursue them. This 
battle was not attended wi 
term . 
As soon as Louis learnt the defection of the King of 
Prussia, he made, without consulting the court of Ma- 
drid, such advantageous proposals to the King of Sar- 
dinia, that they were instantly accepted, and a cessa- 
tion of hostilities took — ; but the jealousy and in- 
dignation of the Spanish Monarch were so great, that 
the treaty was annulled. The consequence, however, 
was injurious to France, as, from the misunderstand- 
ing, the French and Spanish armies for some time ef- 
fected nothing. The king of Sardinia, on the breaking - 
off the , made himself master of Asti, which was 
es. As soon as one was repulsed, ano-* 
any vor hg conse- 
quences: with it, the operations in the Low Countries: 
History. 
y 5000 French troops. This circumstance Jealousy 
tended still more to foment the jealousy between France between 
and Spain, the French gner bein 
ery in’not succouring this place. The Spaniards im- 
mediately raised the siege of Milan, and the French, 
afraid that their communication ‘with Provence might” 
be cut off, retired to Novi. This misunderstanding and 
jealousy being at last removed, the French and Spa- 
nish armies again united, and attacked the yr pt 
camp at St Lazaro ; but they were compelled to retire, - 
after suffering a very severe loss. : 
On the death of king of Spain, the generals of 
the combined armies, doubtful in what manner his 
suceessor would act, were desirous of securing a com- 
munication with France, and accordingly commenced 
a retreat, which was conducted with great ability by « 
the Count de Maillebois, son of the Marshal of that 
name, The King of Sardinia pursued, and endeavour- - 
ed to harass them: at Rotto Fredo he brought them’ to 
battle, and defeating them, Placentia was obliged to 
surrender. The French and Spaniards next took shel- 
ter under the cannon of Genoa; but not deeming this 
situation secure, they left the city to its fate, and re« 
ae. the latter into Provence, and the former into 
voy. 
victorious Austrians aside from Italy, uaded 
France and 
accused of treach- Benin, 
‘oy 
The King of Sardinia being desirous of turning the jnyasion of 
, France by 
in conjunction with the British cabinet, ‘to invade the, Aus- 
France. Count Brunn, who commanded the Austri- &™"- 
ans, accordingly invaded Provence ; but, by the mas- 
terly conduct of Marshal Belleisle, he was under the 
necessity of yeas the Var. Towards’ the end of 
this year, the King of France discovered some wish to 
make peace, and a congress was at Breda; it 
were exorbi- 
4s 
