year were closed. Guelder, which had sustained a blockade
since the spring, speedily followed the example of Limburg.
Thus the campaign, though less brilliant than Marlborough
had expected from the spirit and condition of his army, and
the grand designs which he had formed, was not without
advantage; for the territories of Cologne and Liege were
secured; and by the reduction of all Spanish Guelderland,
the States were relieved from that dread of invasion which
had so long held them in suspense. By these acquisitions
the way was prepared for more important and extensive
enterprises.

By the correspondence, it appears that Marlborough was
impatient to hasten from this scene of mortification and chi-
canery, that he might divert his chagrin in the society of his
family and friends, and assist at the opening of the parlia-
ment, which was summoned to meet on the 4th of November.
But a new and unexpected change of affairs rendered his
presence still necessary on the continent.

The grand plan of the French to unite their Italian and
German armies, and penetrate into the Austrian dominions,
was obstructed by the disputes between Villars and the
elector of Bavaria, the patriotic resistance of the Tyrolese,
and finally frustrated by the sudden defection of the duke of
Savoy.

Victor Amadeus had apparently embraced the Bourbon
cause with zeal and sincerity, and had been rewarded for his
attachment by the marriage of his daughters, one with the
duke of Burgundy, presumptive heir to the French crown,
and the other with the duke of Anjou, the successful pre-
tender to that of Spain. He was, however, too sagacious a
statesman not to perceive, that in contributing to the ruin of
Austria, he was facilitating his own reduction to a state of
dependence on France.

Urged by this motive, and stimulated by the hope of
selling his assistance to advantage, he made several overtures
to the court of Vienna as early as the month of May. To
facilitate the negotiation, Count Auereperg was deputed on
the part of the emperor, and reached Turin on the 14th of
July. A treaty was commenced the same day with the duke
in person, the secret being confided only to the marquis
de Prie, his first minister. To evade the suspicious eyes of

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