y of the troops. As the besiegers proceeded by the
method of sap, their miners frequently met with those of the enemy under
ground, and fought with bayonet and pistol. The volunteers on both sides
presented themselves to these subterraneous combats, in the midst of
mines and countermines ready primed for explosion. Sometimes they were
kindled by accident, and sometimes sprung by design; so that great
numbers of those brave men were stifled below, and whole battalions
blown into the air, or buried in the rubbish. On the twenty-eighth day
of July, the besiegers having effected a practicable breach, and made
the necessary dispositions for a general assault, the enemy offered to
capitulate: the town was surrendered upon conditions, and the garrison
retired to the citadel. Surville likewise entered into a treaty
about giving up the citadel: the articles being sent to the court of
Versailles, Louis would not ratify them, except upon condition that
there should be a general cessation in the Netherlands till the fifth
day of September. Hostilities were renewed on the eighth day of August,
and prosecuted with uncommon ardour and animosity. On the thirtieth,
Surville desired to capitulate on certain articles, which were rejected
by the duke of Marlborough, who gave him to understand that he had
no terms to expect, but must surrender at discretion. At length, his
provisions being quite exhausted, he was obliged io surrender himself
and his garrison prisoners of war, though they were permitted to return
to France, on giving their parole that they would not act in the field
until a like number of the allies should be released.

THE FRENCH ARE DEFEATED.

The next object that attracted the eyes of the confederates was the city
of Mons, which they resolved to besiege with all possible expedition.
They passed the Schelde on the third day of September, and detached
the prince of Hesse to attack the French lines from the Haisne to the
Sombre, which were abandoned at his approach. On the seventh day
of September, mareschal de Boufflers arrived in the French camp at
Quievrain, content to act in an inferior capacity to Villars, although
his superior in point of seniority. The duke of Marlborough having
received advice that the French were on their march to attack the
advanced body under the prince of Hesse, decamped from Havre in order
to support that detachment. On the ninth the allies made a motion to
the left, by which the two armi