ther, and formed a ftrength which was deemed fufficient for the great effort which was now propofed. Two days were employed in making the arrangements requifite for the decifive day that was approaching. The pofts occupied by the French were uncommonly ftrong; and they appeared no lefs folicitous on their fide to leave nothing undone that could contribute to their fuccefs. Early in the morning of the 26th of June, the allies moved on in several divifions to the attack of every part of the French army. The opinion entertained by both that this action would be very decifive, induced them to make the moft animated exertions. The conteft continued until it was very late in the day; and victory long fluctuated between the oppofite parties. Fortune at length decided for the French: the allies were in every quarter repulfed with an immenfe flaughter: the enemy routed and purfued them with fuch deftruction, that they were obliged, without halting, to make a confufed retreat to Halle, a place at thirty miles diftance from the field of battle. This day fully proved, what both parties had previoufly expected, a final decifion of the fate of the French and the allied armies in the Netherlands, during the prefent campaign. The prefent ftruggle between them had been fully adequate to fo great an object. It continued thirteen hours, during which the French line had thrice been broken, and on the point of giving up the conteft. But thofe who headed the republican army, had firmly refolved that no retreat should be permitted. They fucceed ed by infufing their fentiments throughout their men, who with reiterated endeavours exhorted each other to die or conquer. It was fix in the evening before the French were able to make any impreffion upon the allies. General Jourdainhad the good fortune to receive at this moment to powerful a reinforcement of troops, and especially of artillery, as immediately turned the fcale in his favour. The allies were now equally fatigued and depreffed by their repeated and fruitless efforts againft an enemy whofe numbers they found it impracticable to diminish. As thofe who fell were conftantly replaced by fresh troops, they were unable to make any longer ftand, and precipately withdrew in all directions. This battle was fought on the plains of Fleurus, already memorable in history for a victory obtained over the powers in alliance against France by the famous Marthal Luxembourg, about a century before. By the prefent victory the reputation of General Jourdain rofe to its highest fummit. This was the fecond time his valour and fkill had enabled the republic to triumph over its enemies at a dangerous crifis. Dunkirk in the preceding year, and Fleurus in the prefent, were now reputed two events decifive of each of thefe campaigns. What the real lofs of the allies amounted to on this fatal day, was never afcertained with any precifion. The numbers ftated to the convention were upwards of 10,000: but whatever they might be, the loss of all further hope to maintain their ground in the Netherlands against the French, was a circumftance more depreffive than any other. CA The The chief object in contemplation by General Moreau, one of the among the heads of the allies feemed bravest and most expert officers in now to be the prefervation of the fervice of the republic. His of what remained of their fhattered operations were directed againft forces, and, if poffible, of the prin Ypres, the most important town in cipal places of strength yet in that province, and the taking of their poffeffion. Allowing the re- which would be attended with the ports of the flain and prifoners in moft fignal advantages, as it would the allied army as laid before the open a road to all the other parts Convention, and published by of the country where the allies were their direction, to be exaggerated, ftationed, and lay them open to it appeared that whatever might the enterprizes of the French. be the causes, the combined forces This ftrong town was accordingly had fuffered a diminution of more befieged by General Moreau, at the than half of what their numbers head of near 60,000 men; part of amounted to at the commence- which force was intended to watch ment of the prefent campaign. the motions of General Clairfait, The Auftrian, the British, and the were he to attempt to raise the Dutch troops then formed a total fiege. This he very fpeedily enof little less than 200,000 men; of deavoured to effect. Knowing the which not more than 100,000 were confequence of preferving this now remaining to oppofe the un- place, he collected the whole diminished strength of the French, ftrength he was able, and advanced which preffed upon them from all with a full determination to venquarters, and was daily receiving ture a battle for this purpose. additions: to eager was the repub. He attacked the French on the lican adminiftration to improve 13th of June, ard from this day to the advantages lately gained, and the 17th left them no refpite. to overwhelm the confederates be- This engagement was in point of fore they could be reinforced, and duration and uncertainty how it thus deprive them at once of all would terminate, the most remarkexpectations of recovering their able during the whole campaign. loffes. Charleroy had furrendered Succefs feemed at firft to incline to the French on the very eve of towards the Auftrians, who rethe battle: a circumftance that was peatedly drove the French from not known to the allies till very their pofts, and for a long time late in the action, and materially rendered the victory doubtful. contributed to difcourage them, as But after five days continual they relied on the garrifon making fighting, the final iffue proved fatal a vigorous fally during the en- to the allies: they were driven gagement; and which would have from the field of battle, and withproved a firong diverfion in their drew in the greatest diforder tofavour. wards Ghent, where Clairfait rallied his fcattered troops, in order to cover, that large city, and preferve a communication with Oudenarde. But the French were now pofted between him and this town. Defpairing While thefe tranfactions were taking place in the vicinity of Charleroy, the French were not efs active in the province of Flanders. They were commanded Defpairing of receiving relief from him, the garrifon of Ypres found it neceffary to furrender. That ftrong and important place capitulated on the 17th of June to General Moreau, whofe reputation and valour were now greatly raised by these various fucceffes. This reduction of Ypres, together with the defeat of General Clairfait, produced the fame effect in Flanders that had followed the defeat of the allies at Fleurus and the taking of Charleroy. It put an end to all effectual refiftance in the Flemish diftricts, and fo difpirited the Auftrians, that their oppofition to the French became daily weaker, and of lefs avail. Six thousand of their best troops had fallen into the hands of the French at Ypres, befides the numbers that had been loft in the different engagements between the French and General Clairfait. This brave but unfortunate officer was no longer able to afford protection to the Flemish towns lying between Ghent and the fea:the moft confiderable of which was Bruges, one of the largest and most opulent places in Flanders. The garrifon confifted of an inconfiderable body of Hanoverians, under General Walmoden, who, finding his fituation untenable against the numbers that were approaching, retreated towards the army under the command of General Clairfait. This evacuation induced the magiftracy of Bruges to fubmit to the French army, and to acknowledge the fovereignty of the republic. This fubmiffion was formally made on the 24th of June, to the great fatisfaction of the majority of the inhabitants, who had long har boured difcontents against the Auftrian government, and were heartily defirous of feeing it fubverted. The defeat of General Clairfait had proved no less detrimental to the British forces commanded by the Duke of York, which had been posted at Tournay as the properest centre of communication between the army of General Clairfait in Flanders, and that under Prince Cobourg, in the more eastern diftricts. But the difafters that befel the latter wholly difconcerted the plan of operations intended; and the Duke was now obliged to move towards Oudenarde, in order to act for its relief against the French, who had invefted it with a large force, and held another in readinefs to fupport the fiege, expecting that the allies would not remain inactive fpectators of its capture. By this movement the city of Tournay was configned to the protection of a gariifon totally inadequate to its defence against the formidable ftrength that would indubitably be employed in its reduction. The moment the French perceived that the force which had been stationed there had quitted it, and was removed to a fufficient diftance, to enable them to cut off its communication with that city, they marched towards Tour nay; which, if properly garrifoned, would certainly have been able to have made a refolute defence. It had been ftrongly fortified by the most fkilful engineers, after it had been taken by the French during the reign of Lewis XIV; and had coft many lives to the allies, who retook it in the war for the Spanish fucceffion. But fuch at prefent was its defencelefs fituation, and fo little able was any part of the combined army to afford it protection, that on July 3, after the Duke's divifion had evacuated it, the inconfiderable body he left behind, confifting of Hanoverians and Heffians, thought it prudent to withdraw from a place which it was clear they could no longer preferve. Notwithstanding the friendly footing on which the British troops and the inhabitants had lived together, fo rooted was their averfion to the Auftrian government, and fo partial were they to the principles and views of the French republican party, that their troops were wel comed into the town with the loudeft acclamations, and treated with every mark of attachment, Upon the very day that Tournay furrendered, the Duke of York found it neceflary to abandon his pofition near Oudenarde, and to. retire towards Antwerp; to which city he fent his fick and wounded. Oudenarde fell immediately into the hands of the French; who made a confiderable booty here as well as at Tournay, confifting princi-. pally of military ftores and provifions. CHAP. II. Arrival of Lord Moira at Oftend. Evacuation of this Town and March of Lord Moira to the Alfiance of the Duke of York. Oftend furrendered to the French Exultation of the French at their Succeffes. Diligence and Activity of the French Armies in improving them. Prince Cobourg defeated and Mons taken. Bruffels jurrenders to the French, who establish their Form of Government in that and other Pla ces. Reunion at Bruffels of the French Armies of the North and of the Sambre and Meufe. Immenfe Captures by the French of Provifions, Ammunition, Military Stores, and Magazines of every Kind. Ghent taken by the French. Engagements between the French and the Troops under Lord Moira. He effects a Junction with the Duke of York. Their joint Operations against the French. They quit Mechlin. Movements of the Duke of York. Prince Cobourg propojes to attack the French, but the Dutch decline his Propofal. Reafons affigned for their Conduct. The Hereditary Prince of Orange endeavours to oppofe the French, but is compelled to retire. General Clairfaitdefeated near Louvain, with great Slaughter. That City taken by the French. Project of the Allies to form a Line of Defence between Artwerp and Namur. Fruftrated by the expeditious Movements of the French. Capture of both thefe Cities. The Auftrians routed at Liege by General Jourdain, to whom that Place furrenders. The French invade Dutch Flanders. The Dutch evacuate Life. Caufand furrenders to General Moreau. Siege of Sluys by the French. Its brave Defence. Surrenders to the French. Successes of the French upon the Rhine. Kayferflauern and other Places taken. The French furprised and defeated by Marshal Mollendorf at Kayferflauern. They gain a complete Victory over the Prufians at Edikhoffan. Another over both the Pruffians and Auftrians at Tripfladt. Confequences of thefe Victories. The City of Treves furrenders to the French. The French retake Landrecy, Quesnoy, Valenciennes, and Condé, with immenfe Quanuties of Stores and Artillery. Their inexorable Treatment of the Emigrants. Their Capture of the Towns in Flanders. Brave Defence of Nieuport. Situation of the Dutch at this Period. Endeavours of the Stadtholder to excite them to unite in Defence of their Country. Difcontents and Complaints of the People of Helland. Preparations of the Dutch to oppofe the French. Breda and Bois le Duc fat in a Pollure of Defence. The Duke of York stations his Forces near thefe Towns Towns for their Protection. Preparations of the French to attack the Duke of York. Their immense Superiority of Numbers obliges him to remove to Grave, atter futaining their Attack of his Pofts on the River Dommel with great Resolution. Confternation in Holland at the Approach of the French. Proclamations of the Stadtholder and the States, exhorting the People to Vigour and Unanimity in their Defence. Addrefs of Prince Cobourg to the Inhabitants of Germany bordering upon France. Address of the Emperor to the fame. Sentiments of the Princes and States of the Empire at this Time. Embay from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor, whɔ engages to profecute the War on receiving a large Subfidy for that Purpofe. Prince Cabourg refigns the Command of the Confederate Armies. Reafons alleged for his Difmiffion. URING thefe rapid fucceffes Oftend, made fo rapid a march as DURING fiderable to reach it towards the evening: a body of British troops arrived at Oftend, commanded by the Earl of Moira. Intelligence being received of the perilous fituation of the Duke of York, a confultation was held, Whether it were not more expedient to proceed with all diligence to the relief of the Duke than to attempt the precarious defence of a town that was encompaffed by fo many places poffeffed by the French? A fiege of it would infallibly take place; and were the garrifon to make ever to brave a defence, this would not prevent the enemy from preffing upon the Duke with fo numerous a force, that without immediate aid he could not maintain his ground. Thefe motives determined the Earl to march his troops with all speed to the affiftance of the Duke, while the garrifon of Oftend fhould immediately embark in the fleet that brought them from England. This evacuation was effected with great dexterity by Colonel Vyfe; who ufed o much expedition, that in the fpace of a day, the 1ft of July, before night, all the troops of which the garrifon confifted, with their baggage and ftores of every kind, were fafe on board. The French troops, apprized of what was tranfacting at the ftrong detachment entered It was the end of June before It Notwithstanding the benefits refulting to the people of Oftend while it remained in the poffeffion of the English, to infatuated were the inhabitants, as to imagine that much greater advantages would ac crue to them from the French. They received them of course with every demonftration of joy; and the French, in return, organized them without delay, according to their own plan. The force brought from England, under the command of the Earl of Moira, amounted to ten thousand effective men. Previoufly to the approach of the French to intercept his communication with the allied forces, Lord |