much more afraid of starving than of the enemy. But we have yester-
day sent away expresses both to Coblentz and Mentz, to hasten with all
speed corn or flour for one month, which we hope will give us time to
replenish our magazines."

"I shall be obliged to-morrow to pass the Saar, notwithstanding the
number of troops that are not yet come to me; for we have no more
hay, and on this side the river there is very little corn in the fields, and
the season here is so backward that we can cut no grass. All these mis-
fortunes make me very uneasy, but we must struggle as long as we can.
This condition of ours is fit to be known but by very few; but in a
short time it would be very happy for us if the Marshal de Villars would
venture a battle, for in all likelihood that would put us at ease."

Unfortunately the preparations of the enemy were as
mature and prompt as those of the allies were tardy and
imperfect. The king of France, instead of being astounded
by the fatal blow which he received in the field of Blenheim,
made unusual efforts to repair the disaster. During the close
of the preceding year no means of redress or rigour had been
neglected to tranquillise the Cevennes, and to suppress a
commotion which not only threatened to spread into the very
heart of the kingdom, but afforded an opening to favour the
aggressions of its foreign enemies. The agent employed on
this occasion was no less a person than Marshal Villars. Such
measures were also adopted to intercept the communication
with the sea-coast, that the endeavours of the English fleet
to furnish succours to the insurgents from the shore of the
Mediterranean were frustrated: and even Marlborough, who
was highly anxious to foment a commotion which diverted so
large a portion of the enemy's force, considered all farther
attempts as hopeless. The insurgents, thus left to their fate,
were unable to resist disciplined troops, led by so able a
general; and partly by force, partly by address, the desultory
hordes were dissipated, and the chiefs either reduced to
accept the pardon of their sovereign, or to seek an asylum in
foreign countries.

Relieved from these internal commotions, the king was
enabled to redouble his efforts against his external enemies
and to bring efficient armies into the field, in every quarter
of the theatre of war. The elector of Bavaria, assisted by
Villeroy, was to act offensively in the Low Countries, with
75,000 men, as soon as Marlborough had marched to the
Moselle; and in case of a reverse, the country was intersected

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