patient attention to local and particalar circumstances, he conducted his own affairs to a prosperous issue in the space of a few months, and entered on a career, which, if it had pleased Heaven to prolong his days, promised as great benefits to Europe and the human race, as he had already conferred on the small state of Tuscany.

Although about the period of the demise of the late Emperor, hostile intentions and preparations on the side of both Turkey and Austria were unabated, and that the continual jealousies and animosities between that Prince and the King of Prussia had risen to such a pitch as to threaten an immediate appeal to arms; yet the minds of the belligerent and mutually hostile powers, were in some measure prepared for receiving ideas, and listening to terms of peace, by certain overtures which had been made for that end by the Turks; and to which the Emperor had seemed to give no unfavourable attention*. He had even proposed thatacongressfor conducting the negotiations should be heldat some convenient place, as Bucharest; and, as a proof of his sincerity in this business, dispatched expresses to the courts of London, Paris, and Berlin, not only to communicate intelligence of the intended congress, but of the proposals and demands offered and made as the terms of pacification. The Empress of Russia, too, sent instructions to Prince Potemkin at Jassy, the capital of Moldavia, containing at once her categorical de

mands, and intimating at the same time, no doubt as an enforcement of those demands, th that she had entered into a negotiation for a treaty of peace with Sweden. With the advantage of this favourable circumstance, and so recently after an event that tended to recall to the minds of sovereign princes the vanity of human toil and ambition, Leopold announced to all the world his pacific intentions. But the preparations, for war were wisely continued by that prince. with the same vigour, and apparently with the same design that had been adopted by his predecessor. Aware of the jealousy entertained of his house, especially when in alliance with Russia, and of the formidable alliance to be encountered, if his proposals for the restoration of peace should be rejected, he had recourse to every kind of exertion that could be made on such an emergency.

The King of Prussia had posted an army of 100,000 men on the frontiers of Bohemia. Four others were assembled: two for overawing Denmark and Saxony, a third to march into Livonia, and a fourth to be stationed in Poland. As an attack was therefore apprehended from the Prussians, a manifesto was held in readiness for that event: in which the conduct of the court of Berlin in the present circumstances of Europe was painted in the most heinous colours. That power was represented as uniting with the enemies of Christianity and of God: a circumstance which, it was hoped, would

cess.

would render the politics of Prussia odious to its own soldiery, and engage them to desert its cause. As a further inducement, a pecuniary gratification was offered to every deserter. But this measure is mentioned only to shew the turn of mind that still prevailed in Germany others were employed of a more efficient nature. An army was stationed on the Austrian countries bordering on Prussia, and which amounted to 160,000 effective men the choice of the Imperial troops both for officers and soldiers. The artillery and other military preparations of all kinds were prodigious.

But amidst all these indications of an approaching rupture between the courts of Berlin and Vienna, an inclination to settle matters amicably was still apparent, and visibly influenced the motions of both parties. The dreadful experience of former calamities, and the dangers attending a contest in which, whoever should be worsted had so much to fear, were continually present to each of the contending parties. The armies of both powers formed a line of stupendous magnitude, stretching from the eastern boundaries of Bohemia to the western limits of Gallicia in Poland, as far as Chockzim: a space of country extending near 400 miles. Exer tions of this kind demanded a fund of supplies beyond the command of either power. While they shewed on how grand a scale the art of war is now exercised, they proved not less how speedily it must become destructive to those who carry it on in such a manner, and the flames be extinguished by their own extent and violence.

The Turks emboldened by the

powerful league lately formed for their support, were actuated by far different counsels. Hassan Ali, though bending under fatigue and care, was ambitious of closing his long career with some action that might lead him to happiness in a future state, and render his name on earth immortal. His army, which was divided into several bodies, for the purpose of opposing different corps of Austrians and Russians, was computed at near 200,000 men. Notwithstanding the slaughter of the two preceding campaigns, it contained a formidable list of intrepid soldiers. The cavalry in particular, was remarkable for the excellent condition of the horses and fine appearance of the men. The artillery was not only numerous, but in the best order, and served by numbers of expert cannoneers, adventurers from the European armies, and allured tothe Turkish service by the prospect of those rewards of which the Ottomans are by no means sparing to those who serve them with fidelity and success. So eager was the Grand Seignior and Divan, as well as the General to prosecute the war with the greatest vigour, that no leave of absence from the army could be obtained for any person, however exalted or favoured, whose duty called him to the field: the summonses of the Grand Vizier could not be evaded even by some of the most intimate friends of Selim. That resolute old officer thought it his duty in the exigencies of the state, to require the personal services of all the grandees, with the exception only of the diseased and infirm: and he exhibited in his own person, an illustrious pattern of labour, perseverance, and

courage,

courage, on every occasion that demanded them.

The campaign on the Danube was opened by the Austrians earlier than usual, that advantage might be taken of that slowness with which the Turkish armies are collected and brought into the field. Among other benefits arising from this alertness, Orsova, a strong fortress on the Danube, that had sustained so long a siege, and been held in a state of blockade during the winter, was surrendered to the Austrian arms, under the command of Prince Cobourg, illustrious by the victories of Foksan and Martinesty, in the end of April, 1790.

The long and obstinate resistance of Orsova, naturally excited an enquiry into the cause and circum stances of its sudden reduction. The most probable account that has yet been given of this matter is as follows. The garrison, by a sudden shock of an earthquake, were struck with a panic, under the conviction that the motion of the earth which they perceived, was occasioned by a mine of the enemy's; and an apprehension that the fortress was on the point of being blown up by gunpowder. From Orsova the Austrians directed their course to Widdin on the Danube, the capital of the kingdom of Servia, and to Guirgewo, a very strong fortress in Bulgaria. The Prince of Cobourg, having advanced toward Widdin, and in his progress over-run the whole country, is said to have obtained a considerable victory over the Turks in the neighbourhood of that city, though we have not been informed of any particulars, not even the time and place. The siege of Widdin, which was begun, but which

peculiar circumstances of distance and situation seem to have rendered tedious and difficult, was abandoned in consequence of the determination of Leopold to accommodate the disputes with the King of Prussia, and of course, to submit to a peace with the Ottomans : for the same reason the siege of Guirgewo was also abandoned; but not without an effusion of human blood, which the humanity of Leopold, if duly seconded by his ge nerals, would have prevented.

It has often happened that the commanders of armies, informed of a design or commencement of negotiations for treaties of peace, have accelerated and pressed the operations of war, with a view of striking some capital blow before their final ratification. Guirgewo had been besieged by the Austrians for some time; and the Prince of Cobourg, impelled by an ardent desire of obtaining possession of that place before the armistice proposed could be ratified, dispatched the General, Count Thorn, with a reinforcement, to press on the siege with such vigour and expedition as might force the garrison to surrender within the time desired. But the Ottomans, recovered in a great measure from their former panic, and resuming their wonted courage, immediately sent a detachment to its relief from the main army which had now taken the field under the Grand Vizier, and was disposed in different stations between Nissa in Servia and Adrianople. The Austrians under Count Thorn, who covered the siege, confident of success from their late victories, did not wait for an attack, but boldly marched to encounter the enemy. But the

Turks,

Turks, excited by a sense of their Losses and disgraces to the madness of despair, fought with incredible fury; and after a desperate conflict, in which they broke through the Austrian lines, carried every thing before them, and in defiance of discipline as well as of valour, natural and acquired, absolutely put the Austrians to flight. The head of Count Thorn, while he made every possible exertion of personal courage as well as military skill to resist the impetuosity of his fierce and enraged foe, was carried off by the blow of a janizary's sabre, and afterwards exhibited in triumph on a pike through the ranks of the Turkish army. The loss of the Austrians in this unfortunate action, was 700 men killed, and upwards of 2,000 desperately wounded. The besieging army now abandoned their entrenchments and works, along with eighteen pieces of artillery, and fled with the utmost precipitation. And thus the war between the Austrians and Turks was terminated.

To the motives above mentioned that naturally inclined the mind of Leopold to peace, another of no light importance was about this time added, by the death of the first General not only in the Austrian armies, but at that particular period in Europe. This was the celebrated and truly great commander, the

venerable Field-Marshal Laudhon, who, after having encountered as many dangers in the field as was ever perhaps braved by any man, died on a sick bed, full of years and of glory. He departed this life at his head quarters in Moravia, early in July (1790) in the seventy-fifth year of his age; and his death was universally and exceedingly lamented, not only on account of his great military talents and public services, but also for his amiable virtues, which shone forth equally in his military conduct, his intercourses with society, and his domestic retirement. It was commonly said in Germany, that although the progress of the Austrian as well as Russian armies, was too often marked by many unnecessary, unprofitable, and barbarous cruelties, as well as by devastation, "Field-Marshal Laudhon madewar like a gentleman and a Christian."

Laudhon was born in Livonia; but his father, a Lieutenant in the Russian army, was a Scotchman, descended from the family of Loudon, although the orthography of the name has undergone some alteration in the lapse of time or the change of country. He embraced the profession of arms at a very early period of life, not more from inclination than from necessity; and he actually fought in the ranks as a private soldier, under the imperial generals, during the war of

1733

1733, between the Emperor Charles the Sixth and France. At the conclusion of peace between these powers, finding himself without provision of any kind, he walked from Heidelberg in the Palatinate, to the Banks of the Black Sea, with his knapsack on his shoulder, and entered into the service of the Empress Ann, at war with the Turks, and therein remained under the command of Count Munich and General Lacy, during the whole progress of the war, till its termination in 1739. Returning once more into Germany he endeavoured to enter, as a subaltern officer, into the Prussian service, but without success. The King of Prussia could not then foresee how dear the rejection of such an officer would cost him. Laudhon in 1741 found means to procure an Ensign's commission in the Austrian service, unaided by friends or connexions of any kind. His rise in the army was at first only slow; he wrought his way to preferment gradually. The eminent services which he rendered to Maria Theresa, in the war between 1757 and 1763, were rewarded by her Imperial Majesty, after the peace, with an estate in Moravia: by means of which, and his military appointments, he was in a state of considerable affluence. The quality by which he was peculiarly characterized as a General, was, the rapidity and decision of his movements. A long train of reflection, as he himself declared, only rendered him irresolute. After viewing the ground and reconnoitering the position of the enemy, he took his resolution in a moment, and executed it with the velocity of lightning. The great King of Prussia said, that he some times admired the position of other VOL. XXXIII.

Generals, but always dreaded the battles of Laudhon.

In consequence of the pacific dispositions, on the part of Austria and Prussia, as well as the Porte, conferences were opened on the 4th of June, 1790, at Reichenbach in Silesia, for the purpose of accelerating a pacification between Austria and Turkey, and for adjusting at the same time the differences between Leopold and his subjects in the Netherlands. The ministers who met on this occasion, were the Prince de Reuss and Baron Spielman, Plenipotentiaries on the part of his Hungarian Majesty; the Count Hertsberg, on the part of bis Prussian Majesty; Joseph Ewart, Esq. on that of his Britannic Majesty; and the Baron de Reede, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, from the States General of the United Provinces. His Hungarian Majesty agreed to open a negotiation for peace with the Ottoman Porte, on the basis of the status quo (such as existed before the war) under the mediation of the three allied courts, and to consent to an immediate armistice with that power; declaring his resolution of standing neuter, and abstaining from taking any part, directly or indirectly, in the war, should the Empress of Russia refuse to accede to this negotiation. His Hungarian Majesty was to keep Chockzim en dépôt; that fortress having been conquered by the united arms of Austria and Russia. But he agreed to restore it to Turkey on a peace, under the guarantee of the King of Prussia; who accepted the propositions of the King of Hungary, under the restriction, that if, in the arrangement of limits between Austria and the Porte the former should obtain any acquisition on the side of Alute, C

Prussia