made
by the descent on England, had established a vast magazine at Givet,
designing, when the allies should be enfeebled by the absence of
the British troops, to strike some stroke of importance early in
the campaign. On this the confederates now determined to wreak their
vengeance. In the beginning of March the carl of Athlone and monsieur
de Coehorn, with the concurrence of the duke of Holstein-Ploen, who
commanded the allies, sent a strong detachment of horse, drafted from
Brussels and the neighbouring garrisons, to amuse the enemy on the side
of Charleroy, while they assembled forty squadrons, thirty battalions,
with fifteen pieces of cannon, and six mortars, in the territory of
Namur. Athlone with a part of this body invested Dinant, while Coehorn
with the remainder advanced to Givet. He forthwith began to batter and
bombard the place, which in three hours was on fire, and by four in the
afternoon wholly destroyed, with the great magazine it contained.
Then the two generals joining their forces returned to Namur without
interruption. Hitherto the republic of Venice had deferred acknowledging
king William; but now they sent an extraordinary embassy for that
purpose, consisting of signiors Soranzo and Venier, who arrived in
London, and on the first day of May had a public audience. The king on
this occasion knighted Soranzo as the senior ambassador, and presented
him with the sword according to custom. On that day, too, William
declared in council that he had appointed the same regency which had
governed the kingdom during his last absence, and embarking on the
seventh at Margate, arrived at Orange-Polder in the evening, under
convoy of vice-admiral Aylmer. This officer had been ordered to attend
with a squadron, as the famous Du Bart still continued at Dunkirk,
and some attempt of importance was apprehended from his enterprising
genius.*

* Some promotions were made before the king left England.
George Hamilton, third son of the duke of that name, was for
his military services in Ireland and Flanders created earl
of Orkney. Sir John Lowther was ennobled by the title of
baron Lowther and viscount Lonsdale; sir John Thompson made
baron of Haversham; and the celebrated John Locke appointed
one of the commissioners of trade and plantation.

LOUIS MAKES ADVANCES TOWARDS A PEACE WITH HOLLAND.

The French had taken the field before the allied army could be
assembled; but no tra