and Oswego; we apprehended an invasion of Great Britain itself; our councils were torn to pieces by factions, and our military fame was every where in contempt. Feb. 13. Amidst these losses, we considered as some advantage, the reduction of the principal fort of Angria, a piratical prince, who had been many years troublesome to the English trade in the East Indies. This service was performed by Admiral Watson in the beginning of the year.
CHAP. III.
State of the confederacy against the King of Prussia. French pass the Weser. King of Prussia enters Bohemia. Battle of Prague. Prague invested. Count Daun takes the command of the Austrian army. Battle of Colin.
WHAT turn the English politics were like to take in the year 1757, seemed for some time uncertain. The new ministry did not seem well established; nor was it well known whether they would pursue the plans and preserve the connections of the old. Abroad every thing was prepared for opening the campaign with the utmost eclat. All Europe was in motion.
France, in order to demonstrate to the Queen of Hungary the advantageous choice she had made in connnecting herself with the house of Bourbon, formed two great armies. The first was composed of near 80,000 men, the flower of the French troops, attended with a vast artillery, and commanded by M. de Etrees, a general of the best established reputation she had in her service. Under him served M. de Contades, M. Chevert, and the Count de St. Germain, all officers of high character, and all fit to command in chief, if M. de Etrees had not been appointed to that eminence. This formidable army passed the Rhine, and marched by Westphalia, in order to invade the King of Prussia's dominions in quality of allies to the Empress Queen, and guardians of the liberties of the Empire, and to no other intent, as it was pretended; but in reality with a view to reduce Hanover also. They judged that their operations against the King of Prussia might be executed, and their scheme to drive the King of England into some concessions with regard to America, might be completed by one and the same blow. The second army was commanded by the Prince de Soubise; it consisted of about 25,000 men. This army was destined to strengthen the Imperial army of execution; but before it had passed the Rhine it made itself master of Cleves, Meurs, and Gueldres, whilst a detachment from de Etree's army seized upon the town of Embden, and whatever else belonged to Prussia in East Friesland.
As soon as the King of Prussia had entered Saxony in the beginning of the preceding summer, process was commenced against him in the Emperor's Aulic council, and before the diet of the Empire. It is not difficult to conceive how the affair must have been decided; when those who feared the King of Prussia believed they had a fair opportunity to reduce him; and when those who feared the house of Austria were by that very fear obliged to sup-
