Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/123

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OF GEORGE VI.
97

to find how admirably every thing was disposed for his reception; he found it was impossible to attack the Duke with the least prospect of success: he attacked several of his posts, but always met such a reception, as convinced him that nothing could be effected. He turned off towards Paris, after this ineffectual march, and laid siege to Chartres, a strong fortress, and nearer to the capital than any other in the hands of the English.

The King of France had hardly undertaken the siege, before he had intelligence of an event, which both obliged him to raise it, and gave him great uneasiness. General Sommers had commanded an army of twenty thousand English in Flanders, from the opening of the war; Charles had lately detached the Marquis de Sene-traire,