Tho  fort  of  la  Prt,  wliich  covered  the  landing-place,  they  n^kcted,
iliotr^h  it  might  have  been  taken  without  any  trouble;  and  was  a  phoe
of  so  ji^rcat  consequence,  that  if  it  had  been  in  the  hands  of  the  Enriish,
it  would  have  prevented  the  French  fiom  obtaining  supplies.  At  firat  the
r'rench  court  was  exceedingly  alarmed ;  and,  it  is  said,  the  king  fell  sick
upon  it ;  bwt  their  terrors  quickly  diminished,  when  they  were  informed
the  duke  had  no  great  capacity  as  a  commander,  and  too  much  piide  to
take  advice.
The  town  of  St.  Mattings,  however,  was  speedily  taken  by  the  English,
and  the  duke  then  invested  thecitadd ;  though  he  had  given  evident  proofs
of  his  want  of  military  skill  in  the  manajpement  of  the  siege.  On  the  Gfli
of  November,  he  made  a  general  assault ;  when  it  appi^red  tlie  place  was
ijni>rr\;iutblc :  at  least  to  forcx-s  un<Ier  swli  lin.umsian'A's  as  his  were ;  and


IIATAL  HilMfElKr  OP  OMUT  BMTAIir.  125

in  two  dajfB  after  he  resolted  upon  a  retreat,  which  was  as  ill  oonduded  as
the  rest  of  ^expedition.  Itwasmafleinthesightof  an  enemy  as  strong  in
foot,  and  more  nmderous  in  hone  than  diemselves,  over  a  narrow  cause-
way, with  salt  pits  on  each  side :  yei  dieie  was  no  precantoi  taken  hy
erecting  a  Ibrt,  or  so  much  as  throwing  up  an  entrendmient  to  cover  the
entrance  of  the  passage ;  by  whidi  neglect  the  army  was  so  much  ex-
posed, that  abundance  of  brave  men  were  killed,  which  the  best  accounts
now  extantsam  np  thus :  fifty  officers  of  all  ranks,  two  thousand  common
scMers,  and  thirty  five  volnnteers  of  note.
