a village of the Netherlands, in Hainault, famous for a most bloody battle fought here on the 11th of September 1709, between the French under old marshal Villars, and the allies commanded by prince Eugene and the duke of Marlborough. The French army amounted to 120,000 men; and were posted behind the woods of La Marte and Taniers, in the neighbourhood of Malplaquet. They had fortified their situation in such a manner with lines, hedges, and trees laid across, that they seemed to be quite inaccessible. In this situation they expected certain victory; and even the common soldiers were so eager to engage, that they flung away the bread which had been just given them, though they had taken no sustenance for a whole day before. The allied army began the attack early in the morning, being favoured by a thick fog. The chief fury of their impression was made upon the left of the enemy; and with such suc- MALT

Malt is the sum of £50,000, raised every year by parliament since 1697, by a duty of 6d. on the bushel of malt, and a proportional sum on certain liquors, such as cider and perry, which might otherwise prevent the consumption of malt. This is under the management of the commissioners of the excise; and is indeed itself no other than the annual excise. In 1766, an additional perpetual excise of 3d. per bushel was laid upon malt; and in 1763, a proportional excise was laid upon cider and perry, but new-modelled in 1766. See Excise.