in that case he would
have found himself at the head of thirty thousand men, and might have
made such a diversion in favour of Hanover, as to transfer the seat of
war from Westphalia into Flanders. The empress-queen might, indeed, have
complained of this invasion, as the formality of declaring war against
her had not been observed by Great Britain; but considering that she was
the declared enemy of Hanover, and had violated the barrier-treaty, in
establishing which the kingdom of Great Britain had lavished away so
much blood and treasure, a step of this kind, we apprehend, might have
been taken, without any imputation of perfidy or injustice. Whatever the
motives of the prince's expedition might have been, he certainly quitted
the grand army of the allies in the month of September; and traversing
Westphalia, with twenty battalions, and as many squadrons, appeared
on the Lower Ehine, marching by Schermbeck and Dusseldorp. On the
twenty-ninth day of the month he sent a large detachment over the river
at Rocroot, which surprised part of the French partisan Fischer's corps
at Ehynberg, and scoured the country. Next day, other parties, crossing
at Eees and Emmerick, took possession of some redoubts which the French
had raised along the bank of the river; and here they found a number of
boats sufficient to transport the rest of the forces. Then the prince
advanced to Cleves; and at his approach the French garrison, consisting
of five hundred men, under the command of M. de Barrai, retired into the
castle, which, however, they did not long defend; for on the third day
of October they capitulated, and surrendered themselves prisoners
of war, after having in vain endeavoured to obtain more favourable
conditions.

A more important object was Wesel, which the prince invested, and began
to besiege in form. The approaches were made on the right of the Ehine,
while the prince in person remained on the left to cover the siege; and
kept his communication open with the other side, by a bridge above,
and another below the place. He had hoped to carry it by a vigorous
exertion, without the formality of a regular siege; but he met with a
warmer reception than he expected; and his operations were retarded by
heavy rains, which, by swelling the river, endangered his bridges, and
laid his trenches under water. The difficulties and delays occasioned by
this circumstance entirely frustrated his design. The French, being
made acquainted with his