last attempt of the Prussian monarch on that city, affected the old
king in such a manner, that he published at Vienna an appeal to all
the powers of Europe, from the cruelty and unprecedented outrages which
distinguished the conduct of his adversaries in Saxony. All Europe
pitied the hard fate of this exiled prince, and sympathized with the
disasters of his country: but in the breasts of his enemies, reasons
of state and convenience overruled the suggestions of humanity; and his
friends had hitherto exerted themselves in vain for the deliverance of
his people.

REDUCTION OF PONDICHERRY.

From this detail of continental affairs, our attention is recalled to
Great Britain, by an incident of a very interesting nature; an account
of which, however, we shall postpone until we have recorded the success
that, in the course of this year, attended the British arms in the
East Indies. We have already observed that colonel Coote, after having
defeated the French general Lally in the field, and reduced divers of
the enemy's settlements on the coast of Coromandel, at length cooped
them up within the walls of Pondicherry, the principal seat of the
French East India company, large, populous, well-fortified, and secured
with a numerous garrison, under the immediate command of their general.
In the month of October, admiral Stevens sailed from Trincomale with all
his squadron, in order to its being refitted, except five sail of the
line, which he left under the command of captain Ilaldane, to block up
Pondicherry by sea, while Mr. Coote carried on his operations by land.
By this disposition, and the vigilance of the British officers,
the place was so hampered as to be greatly distressed for want of
provisions, even before the siege could be undertaken in form; for the
rainy season rendered all regular approaches impracticable. These rains
being abated by the twenty-sixth day of November, colonel Coote directed
the engineers to pitch upon proper places for erecting batteries that
should enfilade or flank the works of the garrison, without exposing
their own men to any severe fire from the enemy. Accordingly, four
batteries were constructed in different places, so as to answer these
purposes, and opened altogether on the eighth day of December at
midnight. Though raised at a considerable distance, they were plied with
good effect, and the besieged returned the fire with great vivacity.
This mutual cannonading continued until the