heir virulent libel, retorted the
imputations of perfidy and ambition, and, with respect to France,
justified every particular of his own conduct.

BREMEN TAKEN AND RETAKEN.

While the French and Hanoverian armies remained in their
winter-quarters, the former at Zell, and the latter at Lemenbourg,
divers petty enterprises were executed by detachments with various
success. The Hanoverian general Juncheim, having taken post at
Halberstadt and Quedlimbourg, from whence he made excursions even to
the gates of Brunswick, and kept the French army in continual alarm,
was visited by a large body of the enemy, who compelled him to retire to
Achersleben, committed great excesses in the town of Halberstadt and
its neighbourhood, and carried off hostages for the payment of
contributions. General Hardenberg, another Hanoverian officer, having
dislodged the French detachments that occupied Burgh, Vogelsack, and
Ritterhude, and cleared the whole territory of Bremen, in the month of
January the duke de Broglio assembled a considerable corps of troops
that were cantoned at Ottersburg, Rothenburg, and the adjacent country,
and advancing to Bremen, demanded admittance, threatening that, in case
of a refusal, he would have recourse to extremities, and punish the
inhabitants severely, should they make the least opposition. When their
deputies waited upon him, to desire a short time for deliberation, he
answered, "Not a moment--the duke de Richelieu's orders are peremptory,
and admit of no delay." He accordingly ordered the cannon to advance;
the wall was scaled, and the gates would have been forced open, had not
the magistrates, at the earnest importunity of the people, resolved to
comply with his demand. A second deputation was immediately despatched
to the duke de Broglio, signifying their compliance; and the gates being
opened, he marched into the city at midnight, after having promised upon
his honour that no attempt should be made to the prejudice of its
rights and prerogatives, and no outrage offered to the privileges of the
regency, to the liberty, religion, and commerce of the inhabitants.
This conquest, however, was of short duration. Prince Ferdinand of
Brunswick being joined by a body of Prussian horse, under the command of
prince George of Holstein-Gottorp, the whole army was put in motion,
and advanced to the country of Bremen about the middle of February. The
enemy were dislodged from Rothenburg, Ottersburg, and Verden,