He, however, did justice to Marshal Saxe: "There was a discussion the other day as to what battle had reflected most honor on the general commanding," he wrote, a long while after the battle of Fontenoy; "some suggested that of Almanza, others that of Turin; but I suggested--and everybody finally agreed that it was undoubtedly that in which the general had been at death's door when it was delivered." The fortress of Tournai surrendered on the 22d of May; the citadel capitulated on the 19th of June.

Ghent, Bruges, Oudenarde, Dendermonde, Ostend, Nienport, yielded, one after another, to the French armies.

In the month of February, 1746, Marshal Saxe terminated the campaign by taking Brussels.

By the 1st of the previous September Louis XV.

had returned in triumph to Paris.
[Illustration: BRUSSELS----159] Henceforth he remained alone confronting Germany, which was neutral, or had rallied round the restored empire.