: and-twenty years. The report was made and received, and the public expected to see the affair brought to a speedy issue but the company had recourse to the same expedi ents, which had lately proved so successful in the hands of the ministry. Those who had been the most warm in detecting their abuses suddenly cooled; and the prosecution of the affair began to languish. Not but that the house presented an address to his majesty, praying that he would dissolve the company upon three years' warning, according to the condition of their charter. He told them he would consider their address; and they did not further urge their remonstrance. The bill for ascertaining the commissions and salaries of the judges, to which the king had refused the royal assent in the last session, was revived, twice read, and rejected; and another, for preventing the exportation and melting of the coin, they suffered to lie neglected on the table. On the fourteenth day of March, the king put an end to the session, after having thanked the parliament for so great testimonies of their affection, and promised the supplies should not be misapplied. He observed, that the posture of affairs called him abroad: but that he would leave a sufficient number of troops for the security of the kingdom: he assured them he would expose his person upon all occasions for the advantage of these kingdoms; and use his utmost endeavours to make them a flourishing nation.a XVI. During the course of this session, lord Mohun was indicted and tried by his peers, in Westminster hall, as an accomplice in the murder of one Montford, a celebrated comedian, the marquis of Caermarthen acting as lord steward upon this occasion. The judges having been con a The other laws made in this session were these that follow: An act for preventing suits against such as had acted for their majesties' service in defence of this kingdom--An act for raising the militia in the year 1695-An act authorizing the judges to empower such persons, other than common attorneys and solicitors, as they should think fit, to take special bail, except in London, Westminster, and ten miles round---An act to encourage the apprehending of highwaymen--An act for preventing clandestine marriages---An act for the regaining, encouraging, and settling the Greenland trade---An act to prevent malicious informations in the court of king's bench, and for the more easy reversal of outlawries in that court---An act for the better recovery of judgments in the courts of law---An act for delivering declarations to prisoners for debt---An act for regulating proceedings in the crown office---An act for the more easy discovery and conviction of such as should destroy the game of this kingdom---And an act for continuing the acts for prohibiting all trade and commerce with France, and for the encouragement of privateers. sulted, the peers proceeded to give their judgments seriatim, and Mohun was acquitted by a great majority. The king, who, from his first accession to the throne, had endeavoured to trim the balance between the whigs and tories, by mingling them together in his ministry, made some alterations at this period, that savoured of the same policy, The great seal, with the title of lord keeper, was bestowed upon sir John Somers, who was well skilled in the law, as in many other branches of polite and useful literature. He possessed a remarkable talent for business, in which he exerted great patience and assiduity; was gentle, candid, and equitable: a whig in principles, yet moderate, pacific, and conciliating. Of the same temper was sir John Trenchard, now appointed secretary of state, He had been concerned with the duke of Monmouth, and escaped to the continent, where he lived some years; was calm, sedate, well acquainted with foreign affairs, and considered as a leading man in his party. These two are said to have been promoted at the recommendation of the earl of Sunderland, who had by this time insinuated himself into the king's favour and confidence; though his success confirmed the opinion which many entertained, of his having betrayed his old master, The leaders of the opposition, were sir Edward Seymour, again become a malcontent, and sir Christopher Musgrave, a gentleman of Cumberland, who, though an extravagant tory from principle, had refused to concur with all the designs of the late king. He was a person of a grave and regular deportment, who had rejected many offers of the ministry, which he opposed with great violence; yet on some critical occasions, his patriotism gave way to his avarice, and he yielded up some important points, in consideration of large sums which he received from the court in secret. Others declared war against the administration, because they thought their own talents were not sufficiently considered. Of these the chief were Paul Foley and Robert Harley. The first was a lawyer of good capacity, extensive learning, and virtuous principles, but peevish, obstinate, and morose. He entertained a very despicable opinion of the court; and this he propagated with equal b Burnet. History of K. W. Burchet. Lives of the Admirals. Slone's Nar. Feuquieres. Voltaire. Ralph. Tindal. State Tracts. assiduity and success. Hartley possessed a good fund of learning; was capable of uncommon application, particularly turned to politics. He knew the forms of parliament, had a peculiar dexterity at protracting and perplexing debates; and cherished the most aspiring ambition. Admiral Russel was created treasurer of the household; but the command of the fleet was vested in the hands of Killi grew, Delaval, and Shovel. Sir George Rooke was declared vice-admiral of the red, and John lord Berkeley, of the blue division; their rear-admirals were Matthew Aylmer and David Mitchel. XVII. The king having visited the fleet and fortifica tions at Portsmouth, given instructions for annoying the enemy by sea, and left the administration in the hands of the queen, embarked on the last day of March, near Gravesend, and arrived in Holland on the third of April. The troops of the confederates were forthwith ordered to assemble but while he was employed in making prepara tions for the campaign, the French king actually took the field, attended by madame de Maintenon, and all the court ladies. His design was supposed to be upon some town in Brabant; his army amounted to one hundred and twenty thousand men, completely armed, and abundantly supplied with all necessaries for every sort of military operation. King William immediately took possession of the strong camp at Parke near Louvain, a situation which enabled him to cover the places that were most exposed. Understanding that the French emissaries had sown the seeds of dissension between the bishop and chapter of Liege, he sent the duke of Wirtemberg thither, to reconcile the different parties, and concert measures for the further security of the place. He reinforced the garrison with nine battalions; and the elector palatine lay with his troops in readiness to march to its relief. William likewise threw reinforcements into Maestricht, Huy, and Charleroy; and he himself resolved to remain on the defensive, at the head of sixty thousand men, with a numerous train of artillery. XVIII. Lewis having reviewed his army at Gemblours, and seen his designs upon Brabant defeated by the diligence of his antagonist, detached Boufflers with twenty thousand men to the Upper Rhine, to join the dauphin, who commanded in that quarter; then leaving the conduct of his forces in the Netherlands to the duke de Luxembourg, he returned with his court to Versailles. Immediately after his departure, Luxembourg fixed his head quarters at Mildert; and king William strengthened his camp on that side with ten battalions, and eight-and-twenty pieces of cannon. The enemy's convoys were frequently surprised by detachments from the garrison of Charleroy; and a large body of horse, foot, and dragoons, being drafted out of Liege and Maestricht, took post at Huy, under the command of the count de Tilly, so as to straiten the French in their quarters. These, however, were dislodged by Luxembourg in person, who obliged the count to pass the Jaar with precipitation, leaving behind three squadrons and all his baggage, which fell into the hands of the enemy. This check, however, was balanced by the success of the duke of Wirtemberg; who, at the head of thirteen battalions of infantry, and twenty squadrons, of horse, forced the French lines between the Scheldt and the Lys; and laid the whole country as far as Lisle under contribution. On that very day, which was the eighteenth of July, Luxembourg marched towards Huy, which was next morning invested by M. de Villeroy. The other covered the siege, and secured himself from the allies by lines of contravallation. Before the batteries began to play, the town capitulated. On the twenty-third day of the month, the garrison mutinied; the castles were surrendered; the governor remained a prisoner; and his men were conducted to Liege. The confederate army advanced in order to relieve the town: but the king being apprised of its fate, detached ten battalions to reinforce the garrison of Liege, and next day returned to Neer Hespen. XIX. Luxembourg made a motion towards Liege, as if he had intended to besiege the place; and encamped at Hellecheim, about seven leagues from the confederates. Knowing how much they were weakened by the different detachments which had been made from their army, he resolved to attack them in their camp, or at least fall upon their rear, should they retreat at his approach. On the twenty-eighth day of July, he began his march in four columns, and passed the Jaar near its source with an army. superior to the allies by five-and-thirty thousand men. The king of England, at first, looked upon this motion as a feint to cover the design upon Liege; but receiving intelligence that their whole army was in full march to attack him in his camp, he resolved to keep his ground; and immediately drew up his forces in order of battle. His general officers advised him to repass the Geete: but he chose to risk a battle, rather than expose the rear of his army in repassing that river. His right wing extended as far as Neer Winden, along the Geete, covered with hedges, hollow ways, and a small rivulet; the left reached to Neer Landen; and these two villages were joined by a slight intrenchment, which the king ordered to be thrown up in the evening. Brigadier Ramsey, with the regiments of O'Farrel, Mackay, Lauder, Leven, and Monroe, were ordered to the right of the whole army, to line some hedges and hollow ways on the farther side of the village of Lare. Six battalions of Brandenburgh were posted to the left of this village; and general Dumont, with the Hanoverian infantry, possessed the village of Neer Winden, which covered part of the camp, between the main body and the right wing of the cavalry. Neer Landen on the left, was secured by six battalions of English, Danes, and Dutch. The remaining infantry was drawn up in one line behind the intrenchment. The dragoons upon the left guarded the village of Dormal upon the brook of Beck; and from thence the left wing of horse extended to Neer Landen, where it was covered by this rivulet. tion. § XX. The king having visited all the posts on horseback, and given the necessary orders, reposed himself about two hours in his coach; and early in the morning sent for his chaplain, whom he joined in prayer with great devoAt sunrising the enemy appeared drawn up in order of battle; and the allies began to play their cannon with good success. About eight in the morning they attacked the villages of Lare and Neer Winden with great fury; and twice made themselves masters of these posts, from whence they were as often repulsed. The allies still kept their ground; and the duke of Berwick was taken by his uncle brigadier Churchill. Then the French made an attack upon the left wing of the confederates at Neer Lan |