and, advanced
on the other side from Stetin. At their approach, the Swedish commander
retired, after having left a garrison of fourteen hundred men at
Fehrbellin in order to retard the Prussians, and secure the retreat
of his army. The place was immediately attacked by general Wedel; and
though the Swedes disputed the ground from house to house with uncommon
obstinacy, he at last drove them out of the town, with the loss of one
half of their number either killed or taken prisoners. The body of the
Swedish army, without hazarding any other action, immediately evacuated
the Prussian territories, and returned to the neighbourhood of
Stralsund, intending to take winter-quarters in the isle of Rugen. Count
Hamilton, either disgusted at the restrictions he had been laid under,
or finding himself unable to act in such a manner as might redound to
the advantage of his reputation, threw up his command, retired from the
army, and resigned all his other employments.

PRINCE CHARLES OF SAXONY ELECTED DUKE OF COURLAND.

The king of Prussia was not only favoured by a considerable party in
Sweden, but he had also raised a strong interest in Poland, among such
Palatines as had always opposed the measures of the reigning family.
These were now reinforced by many patriots, who dreaded the vicinity and
suspected the designs of the Russian army. The diet of the republic
was opened on the second day of November; and, after warm debates, M.
Malachowski was unanimously elected mareschal; but no sooner had the
chambers of nuncios begun their deliberations, than a number of voices
were raised against the encroachments of the Russian troops, who had
taken up their residence in Poland; and heavy complaints were made of
the damages sustained from their cruelty and rapine. Great pains were
taken to appease these clamours; and many were prevailed upon to refer
these grievances to the king in senate; but when this difficulty seemed
almost surmounted, Padhorski, the nuncio of Volhinia, stood up, and
declared that he would not permit any other point to be discussed in
the diet while the Russians maintained the least footing within the
territories of the republic. Vain were all the attempts of the courtiers
to persuade and mollify this inflexible patriot, he solemnly protested
against their proceedings, and hastily withdrew; so that the mareschal
was obliged to dissolve the assembly, and recourse was had to a _senatus
consilium_, to concert prope