As soon as Louis learnt the defection of the King of Prussia, he made, without consulting the court of Madrid, such advantageous proposals to the King of Sardinia, that they were instantly accepted, cessation of hostilities took place ; but the jealousy and indignation of the Spa nish Monarch were so great, that the treaty was annulled. The consequence, however, was injurious to France, as, from the misunderstanding, the French and Spanish ar mies for some time effected nothing. The king of Sardi nia, on the breaking off the treaty, made himself master of Asti, which was garrisoned by 5000 French troops. This circumstance tended still more to foment the jealousy be tween France and Spain, the French general being accused of treachery in not succouring this place. The Spaniards immediately raised the siege of Milan, and the French, afraid that their communication with Provence might be cut off, retired to Novi. This misunderstanding and jea lousy being at last removed, the French and Spanish ar mies again united, and attacked the Austrian camp at St Lazaro; but they were compelled to retire after suffering a very severe loss.
On the death of the king of Spain, the generals of the combined armies, doubtful in what manner his successor would act, were desirous of securing a communication with France, and accordingly commenced a retreat, which was conducted with great ability by the Count de Maillebois, son of the Marshal of that name. The King of Sardinia pursued, and endeavoured to harass them: at Rotto Fredo he brought them to battle, and defeating them, Placentia was obliged to surrender. The French and Spaniards next took shelter under the cannon of Genoa ; but not deeming this situation secure, they left the city to its fate, and re• treated, the latter into Provence, and the former into Savoy.
The King of Sardinia being desirous of turning the vic torious Austrians aside from Italy, persuaded them, in cork junction with the British cabinet, to invade France. Count Brunn, who commanded the Austrians, accordingly invaded Provence ; but, by the masterly conduct of Marshal lid leisle, he was under the necessity of repassing the Var. Towards the end of this year, the King of France discov ered some wish to make peace, and a congress was open ed at Breda ; it came to nothing, however, as the French were exorbitant, and even insolent, in their demands. After the rupture of this negotiation, the States General agreed to unite with Britain and Austria in opposing the ambitious projects of Louis : they were to fur nish 40,000, the King of Great Britain an equal number, and Maria Theresa 60,000, all of which were to act in the Netherlands. Another army of 90,000 Austrians and Pi edmontese, under the King of Sardinia, was to enter Provence. To oppose the first army, Louis assembled 150,000 men in the Netherlands, over whom was placed Marshal Saxe, with the title of Mareschal de Cmne Gene rale. The Spanish army in Savoy was greatly augmented, and 60,000 French troops were stationed in Provence.
The grand army of the confederates took the field in March, 1747 ; but it lay inactive for six weeks, exposed to the inclemency of the weather ; while Marshal Saxe's army was within their cantonments at Bruges, Antwerp, and Brussels, furnished with plenty of provisions, and un fatigued. In May, the King of France arrived at Brussels,
and resolved to besiege Maastricht. The allies being ex tremely desirous to preserve this city, the battle of Val, fought on the 1st of July, was the consequence, in which, after various turns of fortune, the Duke of Cumberland, who commanded the allies, was obliged to quit the field, and retire to Maestricht. Marshal Saxe immediately dis patched Count Lauendahl with 30,000 men to invest Ber gen-op-Zoom, the strongest fortification in Dutch Brabant. It was taken by storm on the 14th of September, and the French thus rendered masters of the whole navigation of the Scheldt.
The French were equally active on the side .of Italy ; for Marshal Belleisle having passed the Var, took posses sion of Nice, and reduced the fortresses of Montalban, Villa Franca, and Ventimiglia. While, however, the French were thus successful in this part of Italy, a powerful army of Austrians and Piedmontese invested Genoa, and proba bly would have succeeded in their enterprise, had they not been alarmed at the rapid progress of Marshal Belleisle, which induced them to raise the siege, in order to cover Piedmont and Lombardy. The apprehensions of the King of Sardinia respecting Piedmont were by no means ground less ; for the Count Belleisle, brother to the Marshal, endeavoured to penetrate into it by the route of Dauphine. He was, however, killed, in attempting to force the pass of Exilles ; and his army, having been repeatedly repulsed, was obliged to retire with considerable loss. As soon as the Marshal was informed of this misfortune, he deemed it prudent to retreat towards the Var.
In her naval transactions of this year, France was very unfortunate; six French ships of war, and four East India men, being taken by the English fleet, commanded by Ad mirals Anson and Warren ; while 46 West Indiamen were captured by Commodore Fox. These losses, however great, were increased by the defeat of a French squadron off' Belleisle, and the capture of six ships of the line by Admiral Hawke. Louis, perceiving that his naval power was nearly annihilated, while his victories by land were more splendid than advantageous, began seriously to wish for peace ; and all the other parties being heartily tired of the war, a congress was opened at Aix-la-Chapelle, in the beginning of 1748. Marshal Saxe was not, however, in the mean time idle : he invested qaestricht ; and though the state of the siege was unfavourable to the French when the intelligence arrived of the signing of the preli minaries, yet it was agreed, '' that for the glory of the arms of his Most Christian Majesty, the place should be immediately surrendered to his general, but restored on the conclusion of peace." On the 7th of October the definitive treaty was signed, and hostilities ceased in all quarters.