The genius of Marlborough had thwarted the ambitions of Louis XIV of in Europe. The Peace of Utrecht in 1713, which terminated the war, was followed by a period of tranquillity and prosperity in Holland, but in 1744 war broke out again. England , Holland, Austria and Saxony joined in a quad¬ ruple alliance against (under Louis XV ) and Spain. Holland was invaded, but her sons stoutly defended themselves. In 1747, however, the greater part of the country was in the hands of the French, due largely to dissentions among the several provinces that comprised Holland. At this period of depression, the Hollanders became united and elected William IV of Orange as stadholder, and their fortunes began to improve immediately. In 1748 peace was declared at Aix-la-Chapelle, and everything Holland had lost during the war was restored to her. The new stadholder married Anne, a daughter of George II of England , who, upon her husband's death in 1751, became Regent for her young son. The latter became stadholder in 1766 as William V. Anne 's death occurred in 1759, but Holland remained at peace. In 1749 Lieutenant Samuel van Hollandt married Gertrude Hasse at Nim- wegen. She was a sister of two officers in his corps, to whom he was indebted largely for his training in military mathematics. It is probable that no children were born of this union as none are mentioned by his wife or by him in subsequent documents. Whether the talented and ambitious young lieutenant found life in Holland dull and irksome during this period of peace, or whether he perceived greater opportunities of advancement elsewhere, or whether domestic troubles decided his course, cannot now be definitely ascertained; but in the year 1754 he parted amicably from his wife and passed over to England never to return to his native country. During his early military service he had no doubt met many British army officers, and among them the Duke of Richmond , to whom he applied for employment upon his arrival in England . He presented his credentials and exhibited plans he had prepared during the late war in Holland, which were con¬ sidered so satisfactory by the Duke that he procured for young Holland a Lieutenancy in the 60th Regiment , then being raised. Shortly afterwards he was introduced to Lord Loudon , a young man only a few years his senior, by whom he was employed at first as draughtsman. Holland was now about twenty-six years of age, with several years' military experience on active service to his credit. He was an excellent draughtsman, trained in military engineering, understood several languages, and had the faculty of impressing his superior officers favourably. He sought adventures and was ambitious, a man who was particularly well fitted for the active and arduous career which was about to open for him on the . In the Seven Years' War, 1755-1763. • In 1754 disputes had arisen in between the British and the French colonists and a battle or skirmish had been fought at Great Meadows in the western part of Pennsylvania . George Washington , in command of a