Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough

Marlborough departs

from the Hague. Detects an Attempt of the French to surprise

Antwerp. The two Armies take the Field. Military Movements

on both sides. Marlborough prepares to execute the Plan concerted

with Eugene. The French threaten Louvain. Rapid March of

Marlborough to Terbank. Correspondence on Military Affairs.

Arrangements for the Junction of Eugene

234

LXIX. Plans of the French Commanders for the Recovery of the
conquered Places in Flanders. Surprise of Ghent and Bruges. Move-
ment of the French to cover the Siege of Oudenard. Arrival of
Prince Eugene. Temporary Illness of Marlborough. Rapid March
to the Camp of Lessines. Retreat of the French towards the Scheldt.
Resolution of Marlborough and Eugene to risk an Engagement. Ad-
vance towards the Scheldt. Description of Oudenard and its Vicinity.
Passage of the Scheldt. Victory of Oudenard. Retreat and Loss of
the French Army. Letters written from the Field of Battle

LXX. Designs of the Confederate Generals. Capture of the French

Lines between Ypres and Warneton. Advance of Marlborough to

Werwick. Correspondence on Military Affairs, and on the State of

the Public Mind in England. Proposal of Marlborough to mask

Lille, and penetrate into France, opposed by Eugene, and counteracted

by the Dutch Deputies

247

266

LXXI. Increasing Contentions between the Duchess and the Queen.

Their violent Altercation soon after the Thanksgiving for the Victory

of Oudenard. She adopts the Resolution of suspending her Corre-

spondence and Remonstrances with the Queen

278

LXXII. — Allies adopt the Resolution to besiege Lille. Situation and
Defences of the Place. Successful March of the Convoy of Artillery
and Ammunition from Brussels to the Allied Camp. Investment of
Lille by Eugene. Progress of the Besiegers. Junction of Vendome
with Berwick, and March of their combined Force round the Sources
of the Dyle, to raise the Siege. Camp of Marlborough at Fretin. In-
decision of the French Commanders. Eugene wounded in the Attack
of the Counterscarp. Marlborough superintends the Operations both
of the besieging and covering Armies. Complains of the Mismanage-
ment of the Engineers. Receives from King Charles the Offer of the
Government of the Netherlands for Life
LXXIII. Descent at Ostend. March of a grand Convoy to the
Camp. Action at Wynendale. The Enemy repulsed, and the Convoy
preserved by General Webb. Movements of Marlborough. Death of
Overkirk. Capture of Leffinghen by the Enemy. Surrender of Lille.
Attack of the Citadel of Lille. Plan of the French to surprise
Brussels. Marlborough and Eugene force the Passage of the Scheldt,
and defeat the Design
316
LXXIV. Reduction of the Citadel of Lille. French Army distri-
buted into Winter-quarters. Investment of Ghent. Evacuation of

298

Bruges, Plassendael, and Leffinghen. Close of the Campaign. State

of the War in Spain. Proposals of the Duke of Orleans to the Allies.

Military Operations in Italy. Dispute between the Emperor and the

Pope. Transactions on the Rhine. Dissatisfaction of the Elector of

Hanover

Page 338

LXXV. - Renewal of the Struggle for the Promotion of Somers.

Accusation against Admiral Churchill. Threatened Censure of the

Prince of Denmark. Death of the Prince. Somers appointed Pre-

sident of the Council, Wharton Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and Lord

Pembroke High Admiral. Temporary Renewal of the Intercourse

between the Queen and the Duchess

LXXVI.

Arrangements at the Hague. Marlborough induces the
Dutch to consent to an Augmentation of Troops. Obtains from the
Emperor a promise, that his Troops should winter in the Netherlands.
Ineffectual Labours to conciliate the Duke of Savoy, and to reconcile
him with the Court of Vienna. Arrangements with the King of
Prussia for the Augmentation of his Troops

LXXVII. - Vote of Thanks to General Webb, for the Action at Wy-

nendale. Counter Address to the Queen on the Successes of the

Campaign. Vote of Thanks to Marlborough. Alienation of the

Queen from Godolphin. Dissatisfaction of Halifax and Sunderland.

Perplexities of Marlborough

LXXVIII. Negotiations for Peace between France and Holland.
Marlborough's Correspondence with the Treasurer. Returns to England.
His Anxiety at the Alienation of the Queen, and the Change of Popular
Opinion. Resolution of the Whigs to place Lord Orford a': the Head
of the Admiralty. Increasing Perplexities of Marlborough

LXXIX. Marlborough receives fresh Instructions. Lord Townshend

appointed Joint Plenipotentiary. Renewal of the Negotiations. Con-

ferences with Torcy. The Pensionary delivers the Preliminaries, in

the Name of the Allies. Louis XIV. refuses his Ratification. Vindi-

cation of Marlborough from the Charge of obstructing the Peace 395

LXXX.

Strong Position of Villars

behind the Lines of La Bassée. The Armies of Eugene and Marlbo-

rough assemble on both Sides of the Upper Dyle. Stratagems to

deceive Villars. Sudden March, and Investment of Tournay. Inef-

fectual Attempts of Villars to relieve it. Surrender of the Town.

Siege of the Citadel. Dreadful Effects of the subterraneous Warfare

in the Mines.

LXXXI. Movements before the Battle of Malplaquet

LXXXII. Battle of Malplaquet. Retreat of the French

LXXXIII. Siege and Capture of Mons

LXXXIV. - Military Operations on the Rhine.

jected Invasion of France. Defeat of Count Merci on the Rhine

Disputes between the Courts of Turin and Vienna. Spirit an

Energy of Philip and the Castilians. Disputes between the French

and Spanish Troops. Capture of Balaguer by the Allies. Embarrass

ments of Marlborough from the Claims of the King of Spain. Affairs

of Portugal. Wretched State of the Country. Fatal Defeat of

Opening of the Campaign.

Surrender of the Citadel

Failure of the pro-

Charles XII. of Sweden. Confederacy between the Northern Powers

for the Partition of the Kingdom
Page 470

LXXXV. Increasing Influence of the Whigs. Resolve to place the

Earl of Orford at the Head of the Admiralty. Timidity of Godol-

phin. Objections of the Queen, and her Appeal to Marlborough.

Marlborough supports their Demands. Compliance of the Queen

extorted for the Nomination of the Board. Increasing Broils between

the Queen and the Duchess. Cabals of Harley. Marlborough solicits

the Office of Captain-General and Master of the Ordnance for Life.

The Queen. alarmed and offended, refuses his Request

482

Appendix of Notes and Illustrations

495

MEMOIRS

ОР

JOHN DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

CHAP. LI.-MINISTERIAL CRISIS.— 1706.

DURING the greater part of 1705, the whole nation had been kept in suspense by the struggle in the cabinet, and by the contention between the two parties relative to the office of lord keeper. The present year did not less teem with similar feuds, and Marlborough was exposed to superior disquietude, in consequence of the struggle which arose from the determination of the Whigs to persist in their purpose of transferring the seals of the secretaryship of state from Sir Charles Hedges to the earl of Sunderland.

On returning from the embassy to Vienna, which he had filled with great prudence and ability, Sunderland expected to be rewarded by an immediate admission into the ministry; and his hopes were encouraged by the other Whig leaders, who had promoted his appointment to the embassy, as an introductory step to an office of trust and dignity at home.

We have already mentioned the opposition of Marlborough to the appointment of Sunderland, and his unwillingness to wound the feelings of the queen, by pressing his admission into the cabinet. This opinion he strongly manifested to the duchess, who displayed even more than usual zeal for the advancement of her son-in-law.

"Helchin, August 9.

* You know that I have often disputes with you concerning the queen; and by what I have always

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Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough: With His Original ..., Volume 2