iderable, for notwithfanding the Portugueze retook in the beginning of the Campaign Miranda de Duero, and that through the indefatigable Care of the Earl of Portmore, Geeral of the English Forces in that Country, they brought a fine Army Into the Field, and advanced into he Spanish Territories, in hopes to leftroy the Magazines of the Eneny at Merida, which would have acilitated the Siege of Badajox; yet the Portugueze abandoned that Defign, and returned into their Own Country to cover it againft he Marquils de Bay, who had made in Incurfion thereinto. The Death of the Dauphin of France, who died of the fame Ditemper as the Emperor, that is, the Small Pox, and Three Days before him, occafioned no Alterations in the Affairs of France; but whether the French thought that the Death of the late Emperor Jofeph might alter the Counfels of Europe, in refpect to the Spanish Succeffion, and the Balance of Power, or for other Reasons yet unknown, the News of the Death of that Prince was hardly spread through Europe, when the French Emiffaries gave out every where, that there was a fecret Negotiation of Peace on Foot, and that to facilitate the Succefs thereof, and procure the Restoration of the Elector of Bavaria to his State, King Philip had given him the Sovereignty of Namur and Luxemburgh, the only two Spanish Provinces of the Netherlands remaining in his Poffeffion, of which he actually took Poffeffion fome time after. These Negotiations were kept very private till the beginning of October, when the Overtures of France towards a Treaty, called Preliminaries, made at London by the Sieur Mefnager in the Name of the French King, were communifated to the Foreign Minifters refid ing at the British Court, and by the British Ambaffador at the Hague to the States and Minifters, and it was afterwards notified that Utrecht was appointed to be the Place of Treaty, and that the Congrefs would begin the 12th of January 1712, N. S. and all the Princes of the Grand Alliance were invited to fend their Minifters thither. Mr. Manning Her Majefty's Minifter in the Grifons (adjoining to Swifferland) was this Summer July 7. N. S. barbarously affaffinated within 5 Leagues of Coire, as he was returning from the Bath of Pfeffers. Two Villains fet upon him at the Top of a high Mountain which he was climbing up alone, while his Servants with the Baggage were at a Distance from him. They flew upon him at once with a hideous Noife and drawn Sabres, and gave him Five Wounds on his head, Ten in his Body, and others in his Arms and Hands. He made a shift to get upon his Legs, and threw himself down a Precipice, where they could not follow him otherwife than by Stones, which they threw after him, but happily did not hit him. His Servants coming up, conveyed him to a House where he was dreffed by a Surgeon, and altho' two of the Wounds in his Head were very dangerous, he had the good Fortune after a long Illneis to recover. To let our Reader into a Knowledge of the prefumptive Reason of this Affaffination, we must be forced to look back to an Affair of last Year, which made much Noise in the World. Mr. Mafner a Counceller in the City of Coire, and the Emperor's Commiffary for fupplying the Troops of the Allies in their Paffage thro' this Country, was zealoufly affected to the Intereft of the Allies, and very instrumental in making the late A. D. 1711. A. D. late Treaty between them and the 1711. Grifon League; this Gentleman's Son, a Young Man of 16 Years of Age, who was Student at Geneva, was decoyed out by one Merveilleux a Frenchman upon pretence of taking the Air, and fuddenly feized and put into the Hands of the French: who carried him to Fort Eclufe. The Father in Reprizal, feized another Merveilleux, Brother to the former, and Secretary to the French Ambaffador M. de St. Luc, and kept him close Prifoner in his House to be exchanged against his Son. An Agreement was foon after made whereby Merveilleux was released, but notwithstanding the Ambaffador's folemn Promife, Young Mafner was ftill kept Prisoner. M. Mafner, full of just Refentment, waited an Opportunity to make another Reprifal, which he effected in the Perfon of the Grand Prior Brother to the Duke of Vendofme, whom he feized as he paffed from Venice to Paris thro' the Grifons, and carried him Prisoner into the Emperor's Dominions. The French Ambaffador making heavy Complaints of this Action, Mr. Manning gave in a Memorial to the Grifon Leagues in favour of Mr. Mafner, wherein he exaggerated the Violence of the French against young Mafner, and their Perfidy in not restoring him according to Promife. This Memorial was deliver'd in November 1710. and was followed by divers others on the fame Subject, which brought on him the violent Indignation of the French; who may juflly be fuppofed to be the Authors of the Affaflination, the rather fince Merveilleux (as Mr. Manning declares in his Letter to the Diet of Helvetic Body) did not flick to own that it was done by his Order; and the two Affaflins had been feen by Mr. Manning in that Agent's Reb nue at Pfeffers. The British Fleet in the Straights was commanded this Year by sir. John Norris, who affifted King Charles in convoying the Forces and Ammunition from Vado to Barteksa; maintained the Dominion of the Mditerranean, and protected Trale there. Our Home Guard performed the fame in the narrow Seas, and the French durft not peep abroad. All they did this Summer, was to fend a Squadron of Fourteen of Fifteen Men of War under tae Command of the Sieur du Gra Trouin to America, where they had already a Fleet under the Command of Mr. du Caffe, who lay there to convoy the Galleons. The Expedition of du Guai was kept very Secret; but fome Advices, which came to Europe in the later End of the Year, intimated that le was at Brazil, and had taken St. Se baftian in Rio Janiero, with divers rich Prizes, and an inestimable Treasure. Preparations were made here this Spring for a Naval Expedition to be commanded by Sir Hovedan Walker, the Defign whereof was kept Secret. On the 4th of Mar they failed from Plymouth with Seven Regiments and a Battalion of Marines on board, commanded by Brigadier Hill. They opened their Orders at Sea, and found they were directed to fail for New-England a order to invade Canada, and tast Quebec. And on the 25th of Just they arrived at Boston. This Expedition was undertaken upon a Profpect of an eafy Conqueft, which would bring vait Advantage to the Nation. Traffick from Quebec, and the FiFor the fhery from Newfoundland, propoied to be fecured to us hereby, were Advantages (especially the latte:) of inestimable Value. Colonel Al bolfon, who was Governor of NewCork, made an Expedition that way aft Year, and took a French Fort alled Fort Royal, which he named Annapolis. And when he came to England in April 1710, he brought vith him Four Perfons, who were alled Kings of the Four Nations of Indians, which lie on the Banks of the River St. Laurence or Canala. They were well received at Court, and upon their engaging or the Indians Affiftance, and Coonel Nicholson's fetting forth the Facility of the Attempt, it was unlertaken. Colonel Nicholson was fent beforeand to have prepared Provifions nd Neceffaries for the Expedition, but he was fo delay'd by contrary Winds, that he arrived not above 16 or 18 Days before the Fleet,. whereby the Provifions were wantng, and the Fleet were detained it Bofton till the 30th of July, on which Day they failed (being re-inforced with two Regiments of New England, and fome Men of War) 15 Sail of tout Ships, befides Transports. When the Fleet failed from NewEngland, they took along with them fuch Perfons of the Country as they were advised might be capable of ferving them as Pilots up the River of St. Laurence to Quebec, but who indeed were fo ill qualified for that Truft, that they kept the wrong Shore. On the 22d of Auguft they were got 80 Leagues up the River from Cape Britton, and within 40 of Quebec; when about Ten Clock at Night a Man who was looking out from the Topmaft-head of the Admiral's Ship came down and reported, that he faw the Breaking of the Sea upon the Rocks at a very little Dittance; whereupon, the Wind blowing fresh, the Admiral gave the Signal for the Fleet to anchor; but before that could a A. D. be done, 7 Tranfports ftruck on the Rocks, and were loft with al- 1709. moft all the Men they had on board : The reft of the Fleet were in imminent Danger; but it pleafed God that foon after they had let fall their Anchors, it became calm. Of the Men that were wrecked, about 120 faved themselves, by fwimming to the Lee Shore. The next Morning, the Wind, fpringing up from that Shore, carried the Fleet out of Danger from among the Rocks; and the Sloops and Boats fent, which brought off the faid 120 Men. Afterwards a Council of War being held, 'twas judged proper for the Fleet to make the belt of their Way home to England, and Colonel Clayton was difpatched before in the Leopard. were The Lofs was confiderable, for 730 Perfons were drowned, among whom were divers Officers. The reft of the Fleet arrived fafe at Portf mouth in due Time. But the Edgar of 70 Guns, which was one of them, had the Misfortune to blow up by Accident at Spithead, October the 15th. Colonel Nicholson fet out Auguft 28th by Land towards Canada, with a good Force to act in Conjunction with the Expedition, but he had no Notice of the Misfortune, and fo returned to New-England. About the Beginning of June this Year a Warrant was fign'd directing a Patent to be paffed the Great Seal for creating the Duke of Hamilton a Baron and Duke of Great Britain, which (altho' a Caveat was entered against it) paffed the Seal accordingly: But when he came to take his Place in that Quality in the next Parliament, it was ftrenuously oppofed, as letting the Crown into a Power of calling to Parliament a greater Number of Scotch Peers than was allowed by the Union. This Matter was de bated A. D. bated Three feveral Days,. and in 1711. the end a Vote paffed, That Scotch Peers created Peers of Great Britain fince the Union could not have a Right to fit in Parliament. We have already faid, that at the latter End of the Campaign a Negotiation for Peace with France was fet on Foct. The Preliminaries or Propofitions given in by France, and by her Mejefty communicated to the Minifters of the Allies, were, I. That the French King will acknowledge the Queen of Great-Bri tain in that Quality, as alfo the Succeffion of the Crown according to the prefent Settlement. II. That he will freely and bona fide confent to the taking of all juft and reafonable Measures for hindering that the Crown of France and Spain may never be united on the Head of the same Prince, his Majefty being perfuaded that this Excefs of Power would be contrary to the Good and Quiet of Europe. III. That the King's Intention is, That all the Parties engaged in the prefent War, without excepting any of them, may find their Reafonable Satisfaction in the Treaty of Peace which fhall be made: That Commerce may be Re-established and maintained for the future, to the Advantage of Great-Britain, of Holland, and of the other Nations, who have been accustomed to exercife Commerce. IV. As the King will likewife maintain exactly the Obfervation of the Peace when it fhall be concluded, and the Object his Majelty propofes to himself, being to fecure the Frontiers of his Kingdom, without disturbing in any manner whatever, the Neighbouring States, he promifes to agree by the Treaty which fhall be made, that the Dutch fhall be put into Poffeffion of the Fortified Places which shall be mentioned, in the Netherlands, to ferve hereafter for a Barriere; which may fecure the Quiet of the Republick of Holland, against any Enterpriza from the Part of France. V. The King confents likewife, that a fecure and convenient Barriere fhould be formed for the Empre and for the House of Austria. VI. Notwithstanding Dunkirk co the King very great Sums, as we to acquire it, as to fortify it; that it was further neceffary to be very confiderable Expence for zing the Works, his Majefty willing however to engage to ca them to be demolished immedia ly after the Conclufion of Peace, on Condition that for the Fortifica tions of that Place, a proper Eq valent, that may content him, de given him; and as England cannot furnish that Equivalent, the Dif fion of it shall be referred to the Conferences to be held for the Negotiation of the Peace. VII. When the Conferences for the Negotiation of the Peace f be formed, all the Pretentions t the Princes and States engaged the prefent War fhall be there Difcuffed bona fide and amicable And nothing fhall be omitted :regulate and terminate them to Satisfaction of all the Parties. By Virtue of a full Power from the King, We the underwrite Knight of his Order of St. Michae Deputy of the Council of Com merce, have concluded in the Name of his Majefty, the prefent Preisminary Articles. In Witness where of we have figned. Done at L don, the 27th of September Stile, and the 8th of October New Stile 1711. (L. S.) Merger try, were furprized upon the Publication of these Preliminaries, which they looked upon as infidiDus, and infufficient to ground a Treaty upon. But the Miniftry purfued, nevertheless, their own Schemes; and notwithstanding the Oppofition of the Emperor and the States General, who labour'd to put off the Negotiations till better Preliminaries could be obtained, it was foon after notified that Utrecht was appointed to be the Place of Treaty, and that the Congrefs would begin the 12th of January 1712, and all the Ministers of the Grand Alliance were invited, by the Queen's circular Letters, to fend Forthwith their respective Ministers hither. The Elector of Hanover, by his Minifter the Baron de Bothmar, communicated his Sentiments upon his Subject. That Lord prefented Memorial on the 28th of Detember to Mr. Secretary St. John; wherein, in his Master's Name, he reprefented the Neceffity of maintain. ing a perfect Union between the Allies, while the Peace fhould be treating; that all the Allies would gladly concur to conclude the Peace, provided they might have their Security in it, there being none among them who was not weary of the Expence and Inconveniences of the War; that it was eafy to see the. pernicious Confequences there would be Ground to apprehend, if Spain and the Indies were left to the Duke of Anjou, which her Majefty herself had clearly deliver'd her Opinion upon in her Speech at the Opening of the laft Seffion of Parliament, when fhe recommended the War of Spain as that which most particularly concern'd the British Nation; that whatever be done, and whether the Affembly for Peace be forthwith open'd, or deferr'd to ano ther Time, that is to fay, till France has made more Satisfactory Declarations, it was his Highness's Opinion, that it was abfolutely neceffary to be no way remifs in the Preparations for the enfuing Campaign. But above all, that it would be effentially neceffary to avoid the Snare of a Ceffation of Arms, which 'twas very probable France would propole as foon as the Affembly for Peace fhould be open'd; which Ceffation keeping the Maritime Potentates in the Neceffity of making the fame Efforts and the fame Expence for the War, for maintaining the fame Fleets, and the fame Armies, will deprive them of the Means of making Ufe of them, and ftop the Progrefs of their Glorious Arms, &c. But this Memorial had no Ef fect. The D. of Newcastle being decea fed, her Majefty was pleas'd to give the Privy Seal to the Lord Bishop of Bristol, a Gentleman who had recommended himself to her Favour by a faithful and judicious Execution of the Office of Envoy in Saveden during the Reigns of the late, and her present Majefty. In September News came to England that Commodore Littleton fail'd from Jamaica with her Majesty's Ship he commanded, in queft of M. du Caffa and the Galleons, and that he had met and taken one Spanish Galleon of 90 Guns, very richly laden, and another Spanish Ship of 26 Guns, and was in pursuit of the relt; but he overtook them not, for du Caffa fail'd for Europe, but met. with fo violent a Storm, that he was not heard of for feveral Months. But at the End of the Year Advice from Martineco give Account of his Arrival there very much fhatter'd. The South Sea Company was erected this Summer, Her Majefty, pursuant |