Historical and authentic account of the ancient and noble family of Keith, Earls Marichal of Scotland

able than the former. The Swede?, accord-
ingly, published their declaration of war in
the beginning of -August ; and fit the end of
that month, the Russians did 'he same: but
in consequence ot the unb tided prerogatives
ef despotic power, the Russians were much.
sooner ready to take the Held than the Swedes.
Field-marshal Lascy appealed before "\Vy-
bourg at the head of b0\0O0 men. He had
in his army a number >f the ablest generals';
and, of these, Mr. Keith unquestionably meri-
ted to be ranked among th^ first A o. d\ 'f
the Russian army mat'cbed, i n the 3rd of S< jr.
t§mb§r,t« attack ihe Swedish van, commanded
by Wnuigel, which was entrenc i <i inulei the
eanon of Wiilianistrand, The Swedes I uoht
very desperately ; but the Russians were not
behind hand with them in point of-braverp,
and remained victors, Mr. . eith wis great-
ly admired for many instances of most extra-
ordinary courage and conduct : of which the
court beinjj particularly informed, they took
that occasion to augment his annual appoint-
ments considerably.
After this action, Lascy, having made
himself master of Wiilianistrand, returned to
the camp at VVybourg; and then, drawing off
the greater-part of the army to the neighbour-
hood of Petersburg, he left Mr. Keith before
VVybourg with the rest of the troops, and the
Generals Stoffel and Fermor under him. He
could scarcely have given a greater evide ce
of the confidence he placed in Mr. Keith's