d the affairs
of that kingdom. He is said to have possessed a lively genius, and
an insinuating address; to have been regular in his deportment, and
moderate in his disposition; but at the same time he has been branded
as deceitful, dissembling, and vindictive. His scheme of politics was
altogether pacific; he endeavoured to accomplish his purposes by raising
and fomenting intrigues at foreign courts; he did not seem to pay much
regard to the military glory of France; and he too much neglected the
naval power of that kingdom. Since Broglio was driven out of Germany,
the French court affected uncommon moderation. They pretended that their
troops had only acted as auxiliaries while they remained in the empire;
being, however, apprehensive of an irruption into their own dominions,
they declared that those troops were no longer to be considered in that
light, but as subjects acting in the service of France. The campaign in
Italy proved unfavourable to the Spaniards. In the beginning of February
count Gages, who commanded the Spanish army in the Bolognese, amounting
to four-and-twenty thousand men, passed the Penaro, and advanced to
Cam-po-Santo, where he encountered the Imperial and Pied-montese forces,
commanded by the counts Traun and Aspremont. The strength of the two
armies was nearly equal. The action was obstinate and bloody, though
indecisive. The Spaniards lost about four thousand men, killed, wounded,
or taken. The damage sustained by the confederates was not quite so
great. Some cannon and colours were taken on both sides; and each
claimed the victory. Count Gages repassed the Penaro; retreated suddenly
from Bologna; and marched to Rimini in the ecclesiastical state,
where he fortified his camp in an advantageous situation, after having
suffered severely by desertion. Count Traun remained inactive in
the Modenese till September, when he resigned his command to prince
Lobkowitz. This general entered the Bolognese in October, and then
advanced towards count Gages, who, with his forces, now induced to seven
thousand, retreated to Fano; but afterwards took possession of Pesaro,
and fortified all the passes of the river Froglia. The season was far
advanced before the Spanish troops, commanded by don Philip in Savoy,
entered upon action. In all probability, the courts of Versailles and
Madrid carried on some private negotiation with the king of Sardinia.
This expedient failing, don Philip decamped from Chamberri in the la