the enemy will block them up so close, that they can have little or no assistance from the country. Now, after all, this project must depend upon our success at Lille; and then, if it shall be thought practicable, and can be executed, we must certainly reap a very great advantage by it, by joining them with a good body of troops in the spring, and carrying the war into the heart of France. As I have despatched the messenger back again, as soon as possible, and directed him to use his utmost diligence, I hope he will arrive in time before the fleet sails, that they may receive the necessary instructions. You will please to lay this, with my humble duty, before her majesty and the lords of the council. truly," &c.

To General Erle.

I am

"Werwick, Aug. 6. — Sir; on Friday last one of the queen's messengers arrived here, and brought me a letter of the 18th of July, with the project that by yours just now come in of the 20th, I understand was communicated to you and Sir George Byng that day at Windsor. I despatched the messenger back the same morning, with my reasons against that project (of Abbeville), which I dare answer will be approved by her majesty and the council, since I acquaint them we are no ways in a condition here, at present, to second those designs; and seeing by these last letters, you were put to sea with all expedition, so that I fear the messenger may not arrive in time for you to receive instructions from court, I send this off from the coast of Flanders, to advise you and Sir George Byng of it, that you may not pursue your last instructions, but follow those that were given you first for the coast of Normandy or Brittany; and I hope, if need be, towards the end of the next month, we may be in a posture of seconding you nearer hand."

To Lord Godolphin.

Aug. 6. Since my last, I have received yours of the 20th, as also the instructions of Lieutenant-general Erle, which makes me in pain, fearing he may be landed before he receives contrary orders, which I hope were sent as soon as you received mine of the 3d, it being impossible for us to send any detachment till our siege was over. I earnestly desire that, though he should be landed, you will send orders for their re-embarking, and that they lose no time in going to the coast of Normandy. I shall endeavour to send to Mr. Erle, but it will be great odds it never comes to him, so that nothing is to be relied on but one of the queen's ships. I am in hourly expectation of hearing that our cannon left Brussels this day. The French have several detachments abroad, in order to trouble the march, but I hope to no purpose; for the prince's army is now strengthened from hence by 47 squadrons and 30 battalions, so that I reckon he has 50,000 men with him.

"By some letters from England, I find in all manner of ways I am to be found fault with; for when I am lucky, I am negligent, and do not make use of the occasion; and if I should ever prove unfortunate, no doubt I should run the risk of being a fool or traitor. In my opinion, it is high time for me to think of retiring, by which I should be in nobody's power; but I will take no resolution, except by the advice of the

queen and you; but I hope you will allow me to do it this next winter, which may be a proper time, if what I hear from the Hague be true, which is, that they are resolved to have peace."

CHAP. LXXI.-COURT QUARRELS OF THE DUCHESS.-1708.

THE Duke of Marlborough being stationary for a month at the camp of Werwick, and the military movements suspended, we take this opportunity of resuming our account of the political feuds, and of introducing the interesting correspondence which passed with the queen and his friends in England.

In the midst of the cares and anxieties attendant on the great operations which he was now directing, Marlborough was still fruitlessly employed in combating the prejudices of the queen, and labouring to promote the cause of the party, to whose injurious suspicions and acrimonious reproaches he was continually exposed. Discouraged, however, by the ill success of his own representations, and wearied by the importunities of the duchess and Godolphin, who complained of the instances he had already made, as too lukewarm for the occasion, he forwarded to them the letters which he received from the queen, with draughts of his intended answers, and requested them to furnish, for his replies, such hints and arguments as their intimate knowledge of the state of the court and parties might suggest. Accordingly, we find at this period several draughts of letters, in the hand-writing of the duchess and Godolphin, relating to the topics which had lately been the incessant subjects of discussion and correspondence. Some of these he appears to have adopted, others his better judgment rejected; and the different modifications and changes which he made in their draughts, as well as in his own letters, heighten our respect for his loyalty, circumspection, and firmness.

The discussion relative to the promotion of Somers, and the other demands of the Whigs, which had been suspended in the midst of the preparations for battle. was revived with

redoubled warmth, as soon as the assurance of victory had given a temporary relaxation to his anxious mind.

From Lord Godolphin.

"Windsor, July 6–17., at night. I have troubled you this morning with so long a letter, that I shall only make use of this opportunity of enclosing a letter from the queen, to tell you that when you answer it, I wish, in case you are of my opinion, you would take that occasion to let her see, that when God has blessed her arms with so great success, it would be a right time for her to show mercy and forgiveness to those who may have displeased her, and to put an end to her resentment against Sir J. Montague, which is a thing extremely prejudicial to her service; and I have hitherto been but just able to keep her from coming to extreinities in it, with all the industry and skill imaginable."

66

To the Duchess.

July 19. Since my last I have had none from you; but having had for some time two or three of your former letters to answer, I begin this morning very early, tho' the letters do not go till the evening, so that I may hear from you before this is sealed.

"You give me an account in one of yours of a conversation* that the duke of Somerset had with Lord Wharton; and by the latter's answer, it looks as if he thought that the duke of Somerset spoke the thoughts of the lord treasurer and mine. You know that I have already assured you, that I shall be very far from endeavouring to divide the Whigs; and I beg you will have so kind an opinion of me, as to believe I can't be so indiscreet as to employ the duke of Somerset in any thing that is of consequence. You seem to think that the design of removing Lord Sunderland is over, but by the two enclosed letters I think it is not. My not being well, the battle, and the hurry I have been in, has been my excuse hitherto for my not having answered either of them. I beg that you will let nobody know that I send them to you, only Mr. Montgomery, with whom I desire you will advise what answer I should give.

"I am very sorry to see by yours that the queen is fonder of Mrs. Masham than ever; I am sure, as long as that is, there can be no happiness, I mean quietness.

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By what you write me of Lady Tyrconnel †, I believe her discourse

* The duke here alludes to a conversation in which the duke of Somerset endeavoured to lure Wharton from his party, by the offer of some post under the government, and justified the queen's exclusion of Lord Somers, on the plea that he had personally offended the prince of Denmark. Lord Wharton contemptuously rejected the overture. An account of this conversation is given in one of Mr. Maynwaring's letters to the duchess.

† Lady Tyrconnel, the sister of the duchess, was at this period allowed to return to England, to obtain the payment of her jointure,

to you has been much the same as it was with me, which was, not to rely upon any body, and persuading me to think the government of this country to be the greatest and happiest thing that could happen to me. I could also perceive that she thought you and I were not so well with the queen as formerly. I do not wonder at that, for I believe it is the opinion of every body; but if I can end this war well, and you are kind, nothing can make me unhappy.

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Having writ thus far, I have received your two letters of the 28th of the last month, and the 2d of this. The two enclosed you have sent me of Mrs. Morley's are as one would wish; but I think, in prudence, you must not seem to have any doubts, and that may in length of time enable you to do good to the nation and the queen. I am very sensible of the very unreasonable opiniatrety of the queen; however, knowing the faults of those which were before her, and what, I fear, will be in those that are to follow her, I do from my heart wish her a long and prosperous reign, so that you must take pains; for the happiness of England depends upon her doing what is right and just. Besides my love to my country, I own to you I have a tenderness for the queen, being persuaded that it is the fault of those whom she loves, and not her own, when she does what is wrong. God has been pleased to make me the instrument of doing her again some service; I wish she may make a right use of it. I send you back your two letters, as you desire, with the two writ to me, which I again beg nobody may know but Mr. Montgomery.”

To the Queen.

(In reply to her congratulatory letter of July 6. o. s.)

"July 23.-Madam; I have the honour of your majesty's letter of the 6th, and am very thankful for all your goodness to me; and I am sure it will always be my intention, as well as duty, to be ready to venture my life for your service.

"As I have formerly told your majesty that I am desirous to serve you in the army, but not as a minister, I am every day more and more confirmed in that opinion. And I think myself obliged, upon all accounts, on this occasion, to speak my mind freely to you. The circumstances in this last battle, I think, show the hand of God; for we were obliged not only to march five leagues that morning, but to pass a river before the enemy, and to engage them before the whole army was passed, which was a visible mark of the favour of Heaven to you and your arms. Your majesty shall be convinced from this time, that I have no ambition, or any thing to ask for myself or family; but I will end the few years which I have to live in endeavouring to serve you, and to give God Almighty thanks for his infinite goodness to me. But as I have taken this resolution to myself, give me leave to say, that I think you are obliged, in conscience, and as a good Christian, to forgive, and to have

which had run in arrear, in consequence of her absence abroad, and the exile of her deceased husband, for his attachment to the dethroned sovereign.

no more resentments to any particular person or party, but to make use of such as will carry on this just war with vigour, which is the only way to preserve our religion and liberties, and the crown on your head; which, that you may long enjoy, and be a blessing to your people, shall be the constant wish and prayer of him, that is with the greatest truth and duty."

*

The letter of July 12., which Marlborough had written on the field of battle to the duchess, was communicated by her to the queen, and she accompanied it with a commentary, containing the severest reflections on the ungrateful return which her majesty had made to the instrument of such success. She even indulged herself in pointed censures against Admiral Churchill, whom she indirectly accused of exerting his influence to the detriment of his own brother, and then launched out into a still more acrimonious invective against Mrs. Masham.

This imprudent effusion did not tend to soothe the wounded feelings of the irritated sovereign. She not only replied in a style of similar invective, but wrote to the duke himself, adverting to the misconstrued expression in his letter, and justifying her own conduct.

"Windsor, July 13-24. — I cannot let Lord Stair go without giving him a letter, and assuring you, that as soon as it is convenient for my affairs, I will do for him what he desires†; and, indeed, I think I owe it to him, he certainly having lost his election in Scotland, by being at that time doing his duty in Flanders.

"We have had the satisfaction to-day of hearing more good news by the way of Ostend, and I hope to-morrow we shall have it confirmed from you, and that I shall have another letter to thank you for by the next. I was showed a letter the other day, by a friend of yours, that you writ soon after the battle, and I must beg that you will explain to me one expression in it. You say, after being thankful for being the in strument of so much good to the nation and me, if I would please to make use of it. I am sure I never will make an ill use of so great a blessing, but according to the best of my understanding, make the best use of it I can, and should be glad to know what is the use you would kave me make of it, and then I will tell you my thoughts very freely and sincerely.

"I will not trouble you with any more now, but I beg you would never have any doubts of my sincere esteem and friendship for you, which I do assure you shall be lasting as my life."

* Printed in the Conduct, p. 258.

This was a request of Marlborough that Stair should be raised to the British peerage.