JOHN CHURCHILL, DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH, AND PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE. Born 1650.-Died 1722. From 2d Charles II., to 8th George I. Immortal chief! of Albion's isle the pride, By martial deeds to greatest names allied; The highest pitch of human bliss you prov'd: Unlike those pests who fought for fame alone; BLENHEIM, a Poem. Of this illustrious ornament and bulwark of his country and of Europe, it is almost impossible to speak but in the language of enthusiasm. Equally fitted for the cabinet and the field; formed to shine at the levee, and to spread the terror of his arms over hostile nations; in whatever light we contemplate the character of Churchill, he will appear one of those few men whom nature has gifted with extraordinary endowments, and fortune propitiously induiged with an opportunity of displaying them. His achievements, however, fill such an ample space, that his career can here be only glanced at with a rapidity emblematic of his success; but far unworthy of his deserts, did his fame rest on the present attempt to do him justice. Yet the most superficial sketch of his life can scarcely fail to inspire ardent emotions of glory and heroism. This great man was the second son of sir Winston Churchill, of Dorsetshire; a gentleman of tried loyalty, for which he greatly suffered. His mother was a daughter of sir John Drake, of Ashe, in Devonshire; at whose seat the hero was born. He received the first rudiments of his education under a clergyman in the vicinity: but his elder brother dying, his father, who enjoyed considerable posts at court under Charles the Second, judged it expedient to introduce his son into early life; and at twelve years of age he was made page of honour to the duke of York, by whom he was much caressed and zealously patronized. About 1666 he received a pair of colours in the Guards; and never was the bent of genius more happily consulted, than by indulging his early bias for the profession of arms. This soon proved to be his delight and his glory. Having obtained leave to serve at Tangier, then besieged by the Moors, he signalized himself in various skirmishes with that nation, and on his return to court was equally a favourite with Charles and with the duke of York. In 1672, when the duke of Monmouth commanded a body of auxiliaries in the service of France, Mr. Churchill attended him, and was promoted to the rank of captain of grenadiers in his grace's own regiment. In all the actions of that famous campaign against the Dutch, he had his full share of danger and of glory; and was particularly distinguished by marshal Turenne, who gave him the appellation of "the handsome Englishman ;" a title which he long retained among the French. Here his military talents began to display themselves; and on the reduction of Maestricht, the French king personally thanked him at the head of the line, and promised to acquaint his own sovereign with his merits. The duke of Monmouth too was eager to second this honourable testimony of his courage and conduct; and the road to pre ferment being once opened, his worth, prudence, and accomplishments, secured the rest. It is, however, .deserving of remark, that Churchill was considerably indebted for his original reputation and success, to the recommendation of a monarch, whom he afterwards humbled in the severest manner. Such are the vicissitudes of life and the caprices of fortune, that no one can tell into what situation he may be cast. The patriotism of Churchill, in the sequel, obliged him to desert his warm benefactor, the duke of York, and to combat that nation in whose service he had gathered his first laurels. He speedily rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel; and was appointed gentleman of the bedchamber to the duke of York, and master of the robes. From the political contests of the times he prudently kept himself at a distance; but when his master was obliged to retire for a time, he attended him till a calm permitted him to return. While he waited on the duke in Scotland, he was complimented with a regiment of dragoons: and soon after married miss Sarah Jennings, of Sandbridge in Hertfordshire, one of the most beautiful and accomplished ladies of the court, and in the household of the princess Anne; in whose service she long continued, and acted a very conspicuous part in the great scenes of her subsequent reign. In a short time after he had strengthened his influence by this connexion, he was raised to the dignity of the peerage, by the title of lord Churchill of Eymouth, in Scotland. On the accession of the duke of York to the throne by the title of James the Second, whose unabated favour he enjoyed, his lordship was sent ambassador to France to notify this event, and was continued in all his posts. On his return he assisted at the coronation; and, as a further pledge of royal regard, was created a peer al England in May, 1685, by the title of baron Churchill of Sandbridge. A month after this new addition of honour, being then brigadier-general, he was sent into the west under the earl of Feversham, to supress the duke of Monmouth's rebellion. This business he accomplished with celerity and success, and his reception at court was suitable to the service which he had performed. There is good reason for supposing that lord Churchill from this time saw the intention of the deluded James to overawe the nation by a standing army, and to subvert their liberties; but neither gratitude to an indulgent master, nor allegiance to his sovereign, could overcome the superior duty which he owed to his country. Though it is probable that the struggle between the partial attachment to his master, and the higher obligations of conscience, was long and severe, his lordship was guilty of no mean compliances; and when he saw too plainly that the devoted king was rushing to ruin, notwithstanding the remonstrances of his best friends, he joined in the application made to the prince and princess of Orange, inviting them to rescue the British nation from popery and slavery. James, however, continued to place such confidence in lord Churchill, that on the landing of the prince of Orange, he gave him the command of a brigade of five thousand men; nor would he listen to any insinuations against his favourite, though the earl of Feversham had dropped an intimation of the suspected disaffection of his mind. In this situation, in which a wise man would hesitate and a good man feel some difficulty how to act, lord Churchill acquitted himself with his usual prudence and address. Animated by the purest patriotism, though with all the honourable feelings of personal attachment to James, he singly went over to the prince of Orange; and transmitted a letter to the king, which shews the conflict he had suffered between his love and his duty. He therein painted the necessity which the latter imposed on him, of acting contrary to his gratitude and his former allegiance; and, with a delicate hand, pointed to the causes which had led to this important catastrophe. That lord Churchill was actuated solely by a sense of duty, and entertained the highest ideas of honour, is apparent from this circumstance: he betrayed no trust; he carried off no troops; and gave notice of his allegiance being dissolved before he entered on a new service. The prince of Orange appreciated his merits as they deserved, and received him with open arms. He invested him with the rank of lieutenant-general; and was indebted not only to the military services of this accomplished officer in the reduction of Cork and Kinsale; but in a very essential degree to his influence, and that of his lady, with the princess of Denmark (James's other daughter) and her husband, who had also joined the banners of liberty. As soon as the new government was settled, lord Churchill was sworn of the privy-council, made one of the gen tlemen of the bed-chamber,and created earl of Marlborough. Soon after the coronation, king William, being obliged to fight for the support of his crown in Ireland, appointed the earl of Marlborough commander in chief of the English forces in Holland. In the battle of Walcourt, fought August 15, 1689, he gave such extraordinary proofs of military genius, that the prince of Waldeck publicly declared that he saw more into the art of war in a single day, than some generals in many years. On this occasion he laid the solid foundation of his fame among foreigners. King William, who was also a warrior himself, and an excellent judge of merit, was pleased to compliment him by saying that he knew no man so fit for a general, who had seen so few campaigns. Yet notwithstanding his shining talents and his recent services, it was his fate to experience the versatility of a court. In 1691 he was suddenly stript of all his employ |