Numerous places fell during the year, and the successes of the French inclined both Holland and England to come to terms.
Negotiations went on during the winter; but in April, 1748, Saxe invested Maestricht.

This forced a peace.
Meanwhile, though languishing, the sea war was not wholly uneventful.
Two encounters between English and French squadrons happened during the year 1747, completing the destruction of the French fighting navy.

In both cases the English were decidedly superior; and though there was given opportunity for some brilliant fighting by particular captains, and for the display of heroic endurance on the part of the French, greatly outnumbered but resisting to the last, only one tactical lesson is afforded.

This lesson is, that when an enemy, either as the result of battle or from original inequality, is greatly inferior in force, obliged to fly without standing on the order of his flying, the regard otherwise due to order must be in a measure at least dismissed, and a general chase ordered.

The mistake of Tourville in this respect after Beachy Head has already been noted.