neglected at the court of France, engaged as a soldier of
fortune in the service of the emperor, and soon
distinguished himself by his great military talents: he
was, moreover, an accomplished gentleman, learned, liberal,
mild, and courteous; an unshaken friend; a generous enemy;
an invincible captain; a consummate politician.

ELECTION OF A NEW POPE.

The miscarriage of the French before Coni affected Louvois, the minister
of Louis, so deeply, that he could not help shedding tears when he
communicated the event to his master, who told him with great composure
that he was spoiled by good fortune. But the retreat of the French
from Piedmont had a still greater influence over the resolutions of the
conclave at Rome, then sitting for the election of a new pope in
the room of Alexander VIII., who died in the beginning of February.
Notwithstanding the power and intrigues of the French faction headed by
cardinal d'Etrees, the affairs of Piedmont had no sooner taken this turn
than the Italians joined the Spanish and Imperial interest, and cardinal
Pignatelli, a Neapolitan, was elected pontiff. He assumed the name of
Innocent, in honour of the last pope known by that appellation, and
adopted all his maxims against the French monarch. When the German
auxiliaries arrived under the command of the elector of Bavaria, the
confederates resolved to give battle to Catinat; but he repassed the Po,
and sent couriers to Versailles to solicit a reinforcement. Then prince
Eugene invested Carmagnola, and carried on the siege with such vigour
that in eleven days the garrison capitulated. Meanwhile the marquis de
Hoquincourt undertook the conquest of Montmelian, and reduced the town
without much resistance. The castle, however, made such a vigorous
defence that Catinat marched thither in person; and, notwithstanding all
his efforts, the place held out till the second day of December, when it
surrendered on honourable conditions.

THE EMPEROR'S SUCCESS AGAINST THE TURKS.

This summer produced nothing of importance on the Rhine. The French
endeavoured to surprise Mentz, by maintaining a correspondence with one
of the emperor's commissioners; but this being discovered, their design
was frustrated. The imperial army, under the elector of Saxony, passed
the Rhine in the neighbourhood of Manheim; and the French, crossing
the same river at Philipsburgh, reduced the town of Portzheim in the
marquisate of