1 complied with it, and ordered fix battalions to be in readiness for transportation into England. They also declared to the British minifter, that they would be ready and willing to give his majesty all the affistance which their common interefts required, to the utmost of their power While the British government were so prudentially preparing to repel the danger that impended over it, the French were expeditiously providing every thing for the intended invafion: a general embargo was laid on the fhipping on the French coast, and all communication was entirely prevented on their fide. Commodore Bareil arrived at Dunkirk with the five men of war under his command, and the troops were daily embarking on board the tranfports; though the reluctance of the foldiers to go on board was fo great, that it was found neceffary to execute one of them upon the ftrand, to ftrike a terror into the reft. Above feven thousand of these troops were actually put on board at Dunkirk, with great quantities of arms and military ftores: but the fame ftorm that chiefly contributed to the preservation of the fquadron under M. de Roquefeuille, occafioned the deftruction of several transports at Dunkirk; fome of them were loft at fea, others drove on fhore, and many rendered incapable of fervice: by which, and the lofs of a confiderable number of foldiers, this openly daring and formidable project was entirely difconcerted. The troops returned to Calais; the French generals repaired to Paris; and the young adventurer, the prefent dupe of the court of Versailles, was obliged to referve his military genius for a more favorable opportunity. About About the fame time, admiral Matthews defeated the combined fleets of France and Spain off Toulon *; upon which, the French court refolved to come to an open rupture with that of London, where it was readily prefaged. Accordingly the British refident at Paris was fent for by the French minifter to Veifailles, where he was told, in the name of the French king, that as things were come to fuch a pass, a declaration of war must enfue on their part: Mr. Thomson, answered, that the British nation was prepared to take the proper measures; and war was declared on both fides in the month of March. As the French king had obliged his Britannic majefty to this declaration of war, the British subjects were unanimously inclined to affift their fovereign to the utmost of their abilities, Some regiments were landed from Ireland; and fix regiments were ordered to be raised, with all expedition, to replace the troops that were to embark for Flanders. The fix thousand Dutch auxiliaries were landed at Gravefend, under the command of lieutenantgeneral Smitfaert: but as all apprehenfions of an invafion were over, thofe auxiliaries were embarked for Oftend; and the additional troops were also ordered to Flanders. : * The French had been intently employed in augmenting their fleet, and a Spanish squadron had been for two years blocked up in Toulon by the British admiral: but the French took the Spaniards under their protection, and the combined fleet failed out of Toulon, with a view of escaping or fighting, fo that they might affift his Sicilian majefty. Admiral Matthews met, engaged, and defeated the combined fleet on the 12th of February. He fought bravely himself, but was not affifted by vice-admiral Leftock, though rear-.dmiral Row ley fhewed him a noble example. M. de Court, the French admiral, thewed himself an excellent commander, as well as admiral Mat thews but their merit was far from being rewarded. The French admiral was difgraced for faving the Spaniards; and the British admiral was broke for fighting them! but M. Voltaire obferves, that "both thefe commanders juftified the conduct of each other; and that if it was cruel to be accufed by the very friends for whom they fought, it was glorious to be acquitted by the enemy," The British parliament nobly expreffed their approbation of the War against France: The lords affured his majefty, "That if Great Britain could be wanting to him in fucha caufe, it must be wanting to itself: that he might there-, fore firmly rely on the utmost efforts of his people to make good the folemn affurances which they had fo dufully and affectionately given him, and effectually to ftand by and affift his majefty in profecuting the war against France with the greateft vigor." The commons alfo gave their affurances, "That, in the profecution of this unavoidable war, whatever farther expences fhould be found necessary for the fupport of the honor of the crown and fecurity of the nation, his majefty might des pend upon the most ready and effectual affistance; fuch as they thought became a free and grateful people, in de fence of their liberties." ૬૯ -A Bill was brought into the houfe of Commons *, for Making it high-treafon to hold correfpondence with the fons of the Pretender;" which was fent up to the houfe of Lords, who returned it with two additional claufes, that occafioned great debates in both houfes: however, on the twelfth of May, his majefty went to the houfe of Lords, and gave his royal affent to the bill, intitled, An act to make it high-treafon to hold corref pondence with the fons of the pretender to his majesty's crown; and for attainting them of high-treafon in cafe they fhould land, or attempt to land, in Great Britain, *By lord Strange, lord Guernfey, Alexander Hume Campbell, Norborne Berkley, and William Pitt, Efqrs. who ftrenuously oppofed the amendment among the commons-; as had been done among the lords by the duke of Bedford, the earl of Chesterfield, lord Talbot, and lord Hervey. or any of the dominions thereunto belonging: and for fufpending the operation and effect of a clause in the act of the feventh of the late queen Anne, for improving the union of the two kingdoms, relating to forfeitures for high-treafon, until after the deceafe of the fons of the faid Pretender:" after which, his majefty put an end to the feffion, by a speech to both houfes, importing, that the great preparations made by France on the fide of the Auftrian Netherlands, muft convince all Europe of the ambitious and deftructive views of that crown in be ginning the prefent war: but it should be his care, in conjunction with his allies, to purfue the most proper meafures to disappoint them, and to profecute the war in fuch a manner as might be moft effectual for fecuring a fafe and honorable peace." The DUKE of CUMBERLAND, upon this occafion, attended his majefty to the house, and received the congras tulations of many of the lords upon fuch a glorious opportunity of revenging himself against the enemy. His highnefs fmiled, and faid he hoped all would be in good time. СНАР, CHAP. VI. WAR declared between the FRENCH King and the King of GREAT BRITAIN; as also between the FRENCH King and the Queen of HUNGARY. The Campaign between the FRENCH and ALLIES in FLANDERS in 1744; with a concise account of the NETHERLANDS: The FRENCH take feveral places there; but are ftopped in their conquefts: The end of the CAMPAIGN; whereby the chief Command was transferred to the DUKE of CUMBERLAND in 1745. T HE French king published his declaration of war against the king of Great Britain on the twentieth of March 1744 *, alledging. "That upon the breaking out of the troubles in Germany, he took all opportunities of fhewing he defired nothing more earnestly than to fee them speedily concluded by an equitable accommodation between the parties at war. That the KING of ENGLAND, ELECTOR of HANOVER, had very op pofite intentions, which aimed at kindling a general war. -That the convention of Hanover, in October 1741, was declared at London to fubfift no longer. That the king of England being himself a personal enemy of France, up fuch he feemed to have no other views than to raise every where against her. That the piracics of the English men of war increased with cruelty and barbarity; and the English at length dared to block up the port of Toulon.That therefore he declared war against the KING of ENGLAND, ELECTOR of HANOVER, both by fea and land.” In answer to this his Britannic majesty published a declaration of war against France on the thirty-firft of the ** It was figned at Verfailles on the 15th. fame |