sustained such dreadful attacks.
Meanwhile the allied army encamped at Maestricht, were joined by sir
John Ligonier with some British and Bavarian battalions; and prince
Charles resolved to give the enemy battle. With this view he passed the
Maese on the thirteenth day of September, and advanced towards mareschal
Saxe, whom he found so advantageously posted at Tongres, that he thought
proper to march back to Maestricht. On the twenty-sixth day of September
he crossed the Jaar in his retreat; and his rear was attacked by the
enemy, who were repulsed. But count Saxe being reinforced by a body of
troops under the count de Clermont, determined to bring the confederates
to an engagement. On the thirteenth day of the month he passed the Jaar;
while they took possession of the villages of Liers, Warem, and Roucoux,
drew up their forces in order of battle, and made preparations for
giving him a warm reception. On the first day of October the enemy
advanced in three columns; and a terrible cannonading began about noon.
At two o'clock prince Waldeck on the left was charged with great fury;
and, after an obstinate defence, overpowered by numbers. The villages
were attacked in columns, and as one brigade was repulsed another
succeeded; so that the allies were obliged to abandon these posts,
and retreat towards Maestricht, with the loss of five thousand men
and thirty pieces of artillery. The victory, however, cost the French
general a much greater number of lives; and was attended with no solid
advantage. Sir John ligonier, the earls of Crawford [301] _[See note 2
O, at the end of this Vol.]_ and Rothes, brigadier Douglas, and other
officers of the British troops, distinguished themselves by their
gallantry and conduct on this occasion. This action terminated the
campaign. The allies passing the Maese, took up their winter-quarters in
the duchies of Limeburgh and Luxembourg; while the French cantoned their
troops in the places which they had newly conquered.

THE FRENCH AND SPANIARDS ABANDON PIEDMONT AND THE MILANESE.

The campaign in Italy was altogether unfavourable to the French and
Spaniards. The house of Austria being no longer pressed on the side of
Germany, was enabled to make the stronger efforts in this country;
and the British subsidy encouraged the king of Sardinia to act with
redoubled vivacity. Mareschal Maillebois occupied the greater part of
Piedmont with about thirty thousand men. Don Philip and the count de