the enemy on one
side; while the marquis de Botta should march up the Tydone, to cut off
their communication with Placentia. They forthwith quitted all the posts
they had occupied between the Lambro and Adda, resolving to repass the
Po and retreat to Tortona. With, this view they threw bridges of boats
over that river, and began to pass on the ninth day of August in
the evening. They were attacked at Rotto Freddo by a detachment of
Austrians, under general Serbelloni, who maintained the engagement till
ten in the morning, when Botta arrived; the battle was renewed with
redoubled rage, and lasted till four in the afternoon, when the enemy
retired in great disorder to Tortona, with the loss of eight thousand
men, a good number of colours and standards, and eighteen pieces of
cannon. This victory cost the Austrians four thousand men killed
upon the spot, including the gallant general Bernclau. The victors
immediately summoned Placentia to surrender; and the garrison, consisting
of nine thousand men, were made prisoners of war; Don Philip continued
his retreat, and of all his forces brought six-and-twenty thousand only
into the territories of Genoa.

THE AUSTRIANS TAKE POSSESSION OF GENOA. COUNT BROWN ENTERS PROVENCE.

The Piedmontese and Austrians rejoining in the neighbourhood of Pavia,
advanced to Tortona, of which they took possession without resistance,
while the enemy sheltered themselves under the cannon of Genoa. They
did not long continue in this situation; for on the twenty-second day of
August they were again in motion, and retired into Provence. The court
of Madrid imputing the bad success of this campaign to the misconduct of
count Gages, recalled that general, and sent the marquis de las Minas
to resume the command of the forces. In the meantime, the victorious
confederates appeared before Genoa on the fourth day of December; and
the senate of that city thinking it incapable of defence, submitted to
a very mortifying capitulation, by which the gates were delivered up to
the Austrians, together with all their arms, artillery, and ammunition;
and the city was subjected to the most cruel contributions. The marquis
de Botta being left at Genoa with sixteen thousand men, the king of
Sardinia resolved to pass the Var, and pursue the French and Spaniards
into Provence; but that monarch being seized with the small-pox, the
conduct of this expedition was entrusted to count Brown, an Austrian
general of Irish extr