328

HISTORY OY ENGLAND.

chap, several months the hostile armies observed each other. The— — allies made one bold push with the intention of carrying the war

into the French territory: but Luxemburg, by a forced march,which excited the admiration of persons versed in the militaryart, frustrated the design. William on the other hand suc-ceeded in taking Huy, then a fortress of the third rank. Nobattle was fought: no important town was besieged: but theconfederates were satisfied with their campaign. Of the fourprevious years every one had been marked by some greatdisaster. In 1G90 Waldeck had been defeated at Fleurus. In1691 Mons had fallen. In 1692 Namur had been-taken in sightof the allied army; and this calamity had been speedily followedby the defeat of Steinkirk. In 1693 the battle of Landen hadbeen lost; and Charleroy had submitted to the conqueror. Atlength in 1694 the tide had begun to turn. The French armshad made no progress. What had been gained by the allieswas indeed not much: hut the smallest gain was welcome tothose whom a long run of evil fortune had discouraged.

In England, the general opinion was that, notwithstandingthe disaster in Camaret Bay, the war was on the whole pro-ceeding satisfactorily both by land and by sea. But some partsof the internal administration excited, during this autumn,much discontent.

piaTnts Since Trenchard had been appointed Secretary of State, the

chart*”' ^ aoo ' 3 ^ te agitators had found their situation much more un-adminis- pleasant than before. Sidney had been too indulgent and toofond of pleasure to give them much trouble. Nottingham was adiligent and honest minister: but he was as high a Tory as afaithful subject of William and Mary could be: he loved andesteemed many of the nonjurors; and, though he might forcehimself to he severe when nothing but severity could save theState, he was not extreme to mark the transgressions of his oldfriends; nor did he encourage talebearers to come to Whitehall