oured his brother Don Philip in Savoy and Piedmont.
He was, early in the season, joined at Antibes by the French army under
the conduct of the prince of Conti. In the latter end of March, the
combined forces passed the Var, reduced the castle of Aspremont, and
entered the city of Nice without opposition. In April, they attacked the
king of Sardinia, who, with twenty thousand men, was strongly intrenched
among the mountains of Villa-Franca. The action was obstinate and
bloody; but their numbers and perseverance prevailed. He was obliged to
abandon his posts, and embark on board of the British squadron, which
transported him and his troops to Vado. The intention of Don Philip was
to penetrate through the territories of Genoa into the Milanese; but
admiral Matthews, who hovered with a strong squadron on that coast, sent
a message to the republic, declaring, that should the combined army be
suffered to pass through her dominions, the king of Great Britain
would consider such a step as a breach of their neutrality. The senate,
intimidated by this intimation, entreated the princes to desist from
their design, and they resolved to choose another route. They defiled
towards Piedmont, and assaulted the strong post of Chateau-Dauphine,
defended by the king of Sardinia in person. After a desperate attack, in
which they lost four thousand men, the place was taken; the garrison of
Demont surrendered at discretion, and the whole country of Piedmont was
laid under contribution. His Sardinian majesty was not in a condition to
hazard a battle; and, therefore, posted himself at Saluzzes, in order
to cover his capital. The combined army advanced to the strong
and important town of Coni, which was invested in the beginning of
September, Baron Leutrum, the governor, made an obstinate defence, and
the situation of the place was such as rendered the siege difficult,
tedious, and bloody. The king of Sardinia being reinforced by ten
thousand Austrians, under general Pallavicini, advanced to its relief,
and a battle ensued. The action was maintained with great vigour on both
sides till night, when his majesty finding it impracticable to force the
enemy's intrenchments, retired in good order to his camp at Murasso, He
afterwards found means to throw a reinforcement and supply of provisions
into Coni; and the heavy rains that fell at this period, not only
retarded but even dispirited the besiegers. Nevertheless, the princes
persisted in their design