* When the duke arrived in his coach at the quarters of
count Piper, of whom he had demanded an audience, he was
given to understand that the count was busy, and obliged to
wait half an hour before the Swedish minister came down to
receive him. When he appeared at last, the duke alighted
from his coach, put on his hat, passed the count without
saluting him, and went aside to the wall, where having staid
some time, he returned and accosted him with the most polite
address.

He found this original character not simple, but sordid in his
appearance and economy, savage in his deportment, ferocious, illiterate,
stubborn, implacable, and reserved. The English general assailed him
on the side of his vanity, the only part by which he was accessible.
"Sire," said he, "I present to your majesty a letter, not from the
chancery, but from the heart of the queen my mistress, and written
with her own hand. Had not her sex prevented her from taking so long a
journey, she would have crossed the sea to see a prince admired by the
whole universe. I esteem myself happy in having the honour of assuring
your majesty of my regard; and I should think it a great happiness, if
my affairs would allow me, to learn under so great a general as your
majesty, what I want to know in the art of war." Charles was pleased
with this overstrained compliment, which seems to have been calculated
for a raw unintelligent barbarian, unacquainted with the characters of
mankind. He professed particular veneration for queen Anne, as well as
for the person of her ambassador, and declared he would take no steps to
the prejudice of the grand alliance. Nevertheless, the sincerity of this
declaration has been questioned. The French court is said to have gained
over his minister, count Piper, to their interest. Certain it is, he
industriously sought occasion to quarrel with the emperor, and treated
him with great insolence, until he submitted to all his demands. The
treaty being concluded upon the terms he thought proper to impose, he
had no longer the least shadow of pretence to continue his disputes with
the court of Vienna; and therefore began his march for Poland, which was
by this time overrun by the czar of Muscovy.

INACTIVE CAMPAIGN in the NETHERLANDS.

The duke of Marlborough returning from Saxony, assembled the allied army
at Anderlach near Brussels, about the middle of May; and, understanding
that the elect