Magazine of Magazines

The Magistrates in the midst ofthese
disorders and devastations, manifested
virtues, which are Seldom Sound in republics.
ThoSe of the inhabitants who
were possessed of bank notes, ran in
crouds to the bank of Amsterdam, and
it was apprehended they would seir.e
on the public treasure. Fvery one was
eager to get his money out of the little
which was suppoSed to be remaining.
The Magistrates opened the places
where tins treasure was deposited, and
it was found entire, just as it had been
deposited sixty years beSore, and the
silver was even black Srom the effects
of the fire, by which the StadhouSe
had been consumed long before. The
bank notes till now had constantly been
negociated, and this treasiire never
touched. To this republican virtue
they joined that courage of mind,
which, for redress in irremediable misfortunes,
flies to extremes. They caused
the banks, which kept out the sea,
to be cut, and the country houses,
which are innumerable about Amsterdam,
the villages, and the neighbouring
towns, were overwhelmed. The
country people did not repine at seeing
their herds of cattle drowned in the
fields. Amsterdam appeared lilce a vast
forest in the midst of the sea, surrounded
with strips of W at, there being water
sufficient sor theni to be stationed
round the city. Therewas the greatest
scarcity among the inhabitants, efpecially
of fresh water, which was fold
for six pence a pint, but they looked
tipon these necessities as more tollerable
than slavery.
In the mean time the Prince of Orange
covered, yvith inundations, all
those passages thro* which the French
might penetrate into the rest of the
country. By the quickness and secrecy
of his negociations, he roused tire
.Emperor. the F.mpire, the Council of
Spain, and the Governors of Flanders
from their lethargy, and even disposed
England toward: peace; in short, Lewis
i^IV. entered Holland in the month of
Mar, and in July all Europe began to
conspire against him.
M ^ G A ^ I l ^ ^f A G A ^ I E 8,
Monteror, Governor of FhanderS, fecretly
caused some regiments to march
to the relief of the Carted Provinces.
The Council of the Emperor Leopol/fent
M^nlecuculi' at the head of near 2o,ooo
men ; and the elector of Brandenburgh,
who had 25ooo soldiers in his pay,
marched with them under his command.
As no more conquests could be made
in a country overwhelmed with water,
the king now quitted his army. It was
difficult to preserve the conquered provinces,
and Lewis was for keeping a
certain glory. Satisfied with haying
taken So many towns in two months,
he returned to St. Germains in the midst
offummet, and leaving Turenne and
Luxembourg to complete the war, he enjoyed
the glory of hia triumph. Monuments
of his conquests were erected,
while the powers of Europe were labouring
to deprive him oS^them.
Affairs, soon after the fling's departure,
began to put on a different afpect.
Tttrenne was obliged to march towards
Westphalia, to oppofe the Imperialists.
Monterey, the Governor of Fcanaers,
reinforced the Prince of Orange's little
army with about io,ooo men, which
enabled this Prince to resist the French
till winter, and even to balance the
fcale of fortune.
The endeavours of Lewis K1V, the
genius of Panban, the Severe vigilance
of Leuvois, the experience of Turenne,
and the intrepid activity of the Prince
of Conde, could not all repair the ertor
which had been committed in keeping
too many towns, weakening the army.
and neglecting the opportunity of entering
Amsterdam.
The Prince of Conde in vain endeavoured
tso penetrate into the heart of
Holland, when overwhelmed with waters.
Turenne could neither prevent the
junction of Montccuculi and the Prince
of Orange, nor hinder the Prince of Sdrange
frasrn taking Bonn. Tlae Bishop
of Murtster, who had sworn the destruclion
of the Slates genera/, Was himself
attacked by the Dutch,