young Hero was always expos’d to the most cruel Reverses of that very Fortune, which in his early Years seem’d to delight in heaping Favors on him. Mean time the two Families in competition for the Crown of _Spain_ had not yet sheath’d their Swords. The King of _Sweden_ was even yet in the Electorate of _Saxony_ when the _French_ lost the famous Battle of _Ramellies_, which procur’d the Allies the greatest part of the _Spanish Netherlands_. The Troops in _Italy_ also distinguish’d themselves, and particularly the _Prussians_, who had so great a share in the raising of the Siege of _Turin_, that the Duke of _Savoy_ wrote a Letter to the King, in which he extolled the Valor of the _Prussian_ Generals and Soldiers. “Yesterday, _said he_, the Enemy’s Army was intirely put to the rout in their own Lines before this place (_Turin_), in which your Majesty’s Troops had the greatest share, and I can never enough commend their Bravery, nor the notable Valour of the Prince of _Anhalt_, who led them on, _&c._” This Letter was dated the 8th of _September_, 1706. The Prince of _Anhalt_ too sent an Express with the same News to the King, and gave a great Character of the Troops under his Command. “As your Majesty’s Troops, _said he, in his Letter_, were the first that enter’d the Enemy’s Trenches, so they have suffer’d very much, and especially the Grenadiers. I may say that your Majesty’s Forces have behav’d so well, that they are intitled to universal Praise and Admiration, _&c_.” Then he enter’d into the Detail of the Losses sustain’d by the _French_, which were indeed very considerable. ’Twas upon this occasion that the Marshal _de Marsin_ was wounded and taken Prisoner, and besides forty-five Pieces of heavy Cannon and one hundred and forty lesser that were taken from them, they lost a great Convoy of two thousand Mules and one thousand Horses, which was guarded by the Regiment of Dragoons of _Chatillon_. The raising of this Siege, and the Reputation the _Prussian_ Troops thereby acquired was very acceptable News to the King, and while the Court was rejoicing for this, there arriv’d other Advices which gave them no less pleasure; and that was the raising of the Siege of _Barcelona_. This City had been besieg’d for some time by the Marshal _de Tesse_; but King _Charles_ who defended it made so stout a Resistance and such destructive Sallies upon the _French_ Army, that the latter was oblig’d to retire. The King was inform’d of it by an Express from King _Charles_.