truck upon the
rocks of Scilly, and perished with every person on board. This was
likewise the fate of the Eagle and the Romney: the Firebrand was dashed
in pieces on the rocks; but the captain and four-and-twenty men saved
themselves in the boat: the Phoenix was driven on shore: the Royal Anne
was saved by the presence of mind and uncommon dexterity of sir George
Byng and his officers: the St. George, commanded by lord Dursley, struck
upon the rocks, but a wave set her afloat again. The admiral's body
being cast ashore, was stripped and buried in the sand; but afterwards
discovered and brought into Plymouth, from whence it was conveyed to
London, and interred in Westminster-abbey. Sir Cloudesley Shovel was
born of mean parentage in the county of Suffolk; but raised himself to
the chief command at sea, by his industry, valour, skill, and integrity.
On the upper Rhine the allies were unprosperous.[150] _[See note C, at
the end of this Vol.]_ The prince of Baden was dead, and the German army
so inconsiderable, that it could not defend the lines of Buhl against
the mareschal de Villars, who broke through this work, esteemed the
rampart of Germany, reduced Rastadt, defeated a body of horse, laid the
duchy of Wirtemberg under contribution, took Stutgard and Schorndorf;
and routed three thousand Germans intrenched at Lorch, under the command
of general Janus, who was made prisoner. In all probability, this active
officer would have made great progress towards the restoration of the
elector of Bavaria, had not he been obliged to stop in the middle of
his career, in consequence of his army's being diminished by sending off
detachments to Provence. The Imperial army retired towards Hailbron, and
the command of it was, at the request of the emperor and allies, assumed
by the elector of Hanover, who restored military discipline, and
acted with uncommon prudence and circumspection; but he had not force
sufficient to undertake any enterprise of importance.

{ANNE, 1701--1714}

INTERVIEW BETWEEN THE KING OF SWEDEN AND THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

In the month of April, the duke of Marlborough set out from the Hague
for Leipsic, with a letter from the queen to Charles XII. of Sweden,
whose designs were still so mysterious, that the confederates could not
help being alarmed at his being in the heart of Germany. The duke was
pitched upon as the most proper ambassador, to soothe his vanity and
penetrate into his real intention.*