WILLIAM AND MAHY.

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of Lewis’s army looked gravely and anxiously on the fortresswhich had suddenly sprung up to arrest their progress. The ■allies were protected by a breastwork. Here and there alongthe entrenchments were formed little redoubts and half moons.A hundred pieces of cannon were disposed along the ramparts.On the left flank, the village of Romsdorff rose close to thelittle stream of Landen, from xvhich the English have namedthe disastrous day. On the right was the village of Neer-winden. Both villages were, after the fashion of the LowCountries, surrounded by moats and fences; and, within theseenclosures, the little plots of ground occupied by differentfamilies were separated by mud walls five feet in height and'afoot in thickness. All these barricades William had repairedand strengthened. Saint Simon, who, after the battle, sur-veyed the ground, could hardly, he tells us, believe that de-fences so extensive and so formidable could have been createdwith such rapidity.

Luxemburg, however, was determined to try whether eventhis position could be maintained against the superior numbersand the impetuous valour of his soldiers. Soon after sunrisethe roar of the cannon began to be heard. William’s batteriesdid much execution before the French artillery could be soplaced as to return the fire. It was eight o’clock before theclose fighting began. The village of Neerwinden was regardedby both commanders as the point on which every thing de-pended. There an attack was made by the French left wingcommanded by Montchevreuil, a veteran officer of high reputa-tion, and by Berwick, who, though young, was fast rising toa high place among the captains of his time., Berwick led theonset, and forced his way into the village, but w r as soon drivenout again with a terrible carnage. His followers fled orperished: he, while trying to rally them, and cursing them fornot doing their duty better, was surrounded by foes. He con-

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