The Confederate generals suspected that the French would make an attempt upon Ghent, and therefore despatched Lieut.-General Baron de Molck to Ghent to reinforce the garrison of that fortress. The troops appointed for this service were Sir Robert Rich’s (fourth) dragoons, three squadrons of Slipperbach’s dragoons, and two squadrons of the regiments of Ligne and Styrum, and seven hundred hussars; with a battalion of the Royal regiment of foot, and Bligh’s and HANDASYD’S regiments (Twentieth and THIRTY-FIRST foot); in all about four thousand men. The Baron de Molck led his column along the cause-way of Alost, until he reached the Priory of _Melle_ (_Pas du Mésle_), when it was suddenly assailed by a volley from two batteries near the priory, and the next moment from ten to fifteen thousand French sprang from their concealment among the trees and surrounded the detachment. The Baron de Molck attacked them with such resolution, that he forced a passage, and arrived safely in Ghent with the fourth dragoons, the Royals, and the hussars. Brigadier Bligh, finding it impossible to follow the Lieut.-General, drew off to the right with his own regiment (the 20th), the THIRTY-FIRST, and the Austrian and Dutch dragoons, forced a passage through the enemy, gained an adjacent wood, and retired thence to Dendermond, twelve miles east of Ghent. The loss of the Allies amounted to about six hundred men. This action, which was fought on the 9th of July, is called by the French the combat of _La Mésle_. In the account of this affair published at the time, it was stated that “our troops behaved with incredible bravery, and have acquired immortal honor.” Ghent was shortly afterwards taken by the French. The allied army remained entrenched between Antwerp and Brussels until the French Marshal had reduced the chief fortified places in Austrian Flanders.[17] On the 2nd of September the Grand-Duke of Tuscany was elected Emperor of Germany, by the title of Francis I. At this period the rebellion in Scotland began to assume a formidable aspect. Prince Charles Edward, eldest son of the Pretender, who had arrived in the Highlands towards the end of July, had been joined by several clans, and on the 16th of September proclaimed his father King of Great Britain, at Edinburgh. The success gained over the Royal army, under Lieutenant-General Sir John Cope, at _Preston-Pans_, on the 21st of September, caused numerous adherents to flock to the Prince’s standard. Several regiments were in consequence recalled from the Continent, and the THIRTY-FIRST, with other corps, arrived in the river Thames on the 25th of October.[18]