anding these excuses, the English
troops afterwards met with the same treatment at Tournay, Oudenarde,
and Lisle: insults which were resented by the whole British nation.
The duke, however, pursued his march, and took possession of Ghent and
Bruges for the queen of England; then he reinforced the garrison of
Dunkirk, which he likewise supplied with artillery and ammunition. His
conduct was no less agreeable to his sovereign, than mortifying to the
Dutch, who never dreamed of leaving Ghent and Bruges in the hands of the
English, and were now fairly outwitted and anticipated by the motions
and expedition of the British general.

THE ALLIES DEFEATED AT DENAIN.

The loss of the British forces was soon severely felt in the allied
army. Villars attacked a separate body of their troops, encamped at
Denain, under the command of the earl of Albemarle. Their intrenchments
were forced, and seventeen battalions either killed or taken. The earl
himself and all the surviving officers were made prisoners. Five hundred
waggons loaded with bread, twelve pieces of brass cannon, a large
quantity of ammunition and provisions, a great number of horses, and
considerable booty fell into the hands of the enemy. This advantage they
gained in sight of prince Eugene, who advanced on the other side of the
Schelde to sustain Albemarle; but the bridge over that river was broke
down by accident, so that he was prevented from lending the least
assistance. Villars immediately invested Marchiennes, where the
principal stores of the allies were lodged. The place was surrendered on
the last day of July; and the garrison, consisting of five thousand men,
were conducted prisoners to Valenciennes. He afterwards undertook the
siege of Douay; an enterprise, in consequence of which prince Eugene
abandoned his design on Landresy, and marched towards the French in
order to hazard an engagement. The states, however, would not run the
risk; and the prince had the mortification to see Douay reduced by the
enemy. He could not even prevent their retaking Quesnoy and Bouchain,
of which places they were in possession before the tenth day of October.
The allies enjoyed no other compensation for their great losses, but the
conquest of Fort Knocque, which was surprised by one of their partisans.

PROGRESS OF THE CONFERENCES AT UTRECHT.

The British ministers at the congress continued to press the Dutch
and other allies to join in the armistice; but they were