Devonshire, by whom he had issue, Winstone, John, and Arabella Churchill, John, the second son, afterwards Duke of Marlborough, having been born at his grandfather's house on the 24th of June, 1650, and baptized by the Rev. Matthew Drake, rector of the parish of Ashe, on the 28th of the same month. Sir Winstone Churchill obtained at the Restoration a subordinate office at Court, and was the author of a political history of slight merit, called Divi Britannia, but his pecuniary resources had withal become very attenuated,-the lordships of Roger de Courcelles having slipped, as lordships often will, from the family's grasp long before. Winstone Churchill died early, and John was consequently heir to his father's possessions, but of such inconsiderable value was that contingency deemed, that it was constantly impressed upon the handsome boy and his beautiful sister Arabella, that their advancement in the world must entirely depend upon the favour they might acquire with the influential people of the Court. A favourable opening for success in the suggested mode of life was procured, by John becoming page to the Duke of York, and Arabella maid of honour to the Duchess. John Churchill's education, such as it was, had been chiefly obtained at St. Paul's School, then presided over by a gentleman of the euphonious name of Dr. Crumlepolm. Whilst there, the military bent of the boy's mind was displayed, according to the following circumstantial testimony, which, however, is rendered somewhat doubtful by the fact that the Duke of Marlborough's knowledge of Latin was of the slenderest kind,— by his partiality, though anything but bookishly inclined, for the study of Vegetius de Re Militari. "From this very book," writes the Rev. Mr. North, rector of Colyton, "from this very book, John Churchill, scholar of this school, afterwards the celebrated Duke of Marlborough, first learnt the elements of the art of war, as was told to me, George North, on Saint Paul's day, 1714-5, by an old clergyman, who said he was a contemporary scholar, was then well acquainted with him, and frequently saw him read it. This I testify to be true. G. North, Rector of Colyton."

At all events, the young man's scholastic studies, civil or military, were neither severe nor protracted, for he was an ensign in the Foot Guards before he was sixteen years of age. The commission was the gift of the Duke of York, to whom he had for some time been page of honour, and has been erroneously attributed to the influence of his sister Arabella with his royal highness-an imputation which seems to be unfoundel, that young lady not having then become the Duke's mistress. The favour was apparently obtained by the bold solicitation of John Churchill himself, who having been present with the Duke of York at a review of the two regiments of Guards, was so fascinated with the pomp and circumstance of war as there displayed, that upon returning to the palace he threw himself at James's feet, and earnestly solicited a commission in one of the royal regiments. His request was granted, all the more readily, according to the scandalous gossip of the time, that the suit of the singularly handsome page was supported by the influence of the Duchess of York. This anecdote, or at least the inference suggested by it, is, there can be little doubt, a calumny; but it is quite certain

that another and quite as influential a lady was so dazzled by the young soldier's appearance in his new uniform that she presented him with a gift of extraordinary munificence. This we have upon the direct and positive authority of Lord Chesterfield. "The Duchess of Cleveland," writes his lordship, was so struck by the beautiful figure of young Churchill when an ensign of the Guards, that she gave him five thousand pounds, with which he bought an annuity for his life of five hundred a-year of my grandfather Halifax." Such an expensive Lothario, it must have occurred to the Duchess of Cleveland's patrons, would be much better, less expensively, at any rate, employed in making conquests of the Moors, instead of the ladies of the Court; for Ensign Churchill was forthwith shipped off to Africa, to assist in defending

Tangiers against the desultory attacks of the Arabs. Arrived there the juvenile officer quickly showed that he was no mere parade holiday soldier, by volunteering in every enterprise which bore the inviting aspect of danger, and promised glory or renown. He was cool, too, as he was daring and adventurous; and well for him that he was, especially upon one occasion, when he found himself on a sudden most unpleasantly circumstanced. He had wandered forth one brilliant moonlight night, for what purpose does not appear, by a circuitous route, to a considerable distance from the lines, and was returning, when he came plump upon a rather numerous party of Moors, when least thinking or desirous of such a rencontre. The Moors were busy with their supper, and before they could get to their feet or their arms, Ensign Churchill was already at a

considerable distance, and speeding along at a rate which rendered foot pursuit and the broken rocky ground precluded the use of horseshopeless. There was, however, a rocky ledge on the other side of a deep chasm, which separated him from the Moors, which he must pass, where their guns could easily reach him. Thither the Moors tumultuously hurried, so that there seemed nothing for it but that the gallant ensign must run the gauntlet past a score of bullets discharged from point blank distance at his handsome person. The situation was a dismal one, and when clearly ascertained, caused the young officer to pause in somewhat anxious doubt, as to what, under the circumstances, had best be done. He had been pursued in a direct line by one Moor, who had started instantly in chase, thinking, of course, to be followed by some of his countrymen, but that not being the case, the instant the Englishman halted, he halted also, in evident unwillingness to encounter the chase single-handed. To give him confidence, Ensign Churchill lowered the point of his sword, and bowed his head in token of surrender. This not succeeding, he threw his sword on the ground, pulled out his watch, and held it temptingly up in the glittering moonlight, at the same time falling upon his knees and laying his forehead in the dust, in token of absolute submission. The Moor, unable to resist the temptation, came quickly up, placed his foot exultingly upon the prostrate Englishman's neck, held out his hand for the proffered watch, and the next moment was sprawling on his back. To disarm and secure the astonished Moor and make him thoroughly comprehend, notwithstanding the ensign's deficiency in the Moorish tongue, that any attempt at disturbing the arrangement about to be carried into effect, would be incontinently followed by his being hurled down the precipice, along the narrow ledge whereof, commanded by the guns of the Moors, it was necessary to pass. This done, Ensign Churchill mounted the Moor upon his back, taking care to carry him in such a way that the bullets of the young man's friends must necessarily pass through the Moor's body before reaching his own more precious person. Thus panoplied, Ensign Churchill boldly presented himself before the opening in the rocks, and safely passed it, though almost stunned by the yells of his friend on his back, shrieking to his countrymen not to fire, for the love of Allah, and the fierce execra tions of the baffled Arabs, mingled, however, with bursts of half-angry laughter. The ravine passed, Ensign Churchill liberated the Moor, and hastened on to rejoin his friends, and did not again on any pretence venture forth in search of African night adventures.

Handsome Churchill was not long condemned to banishment in Africa. The Duke of York recalled him, and for a long time he was permitted to bask in the smiles of the fair and facile ladies of the court, and save money by their lavish liberality in the way of presents. It was not long either before his sister, the beautiful Arabella Churchill, was promoted from the service of the Duchess to that of the Duke of York; Ensign Churchill meanwhile becoming, as was but just, Captain Churchill -and subsequently, through the same influence, reaching higher grades in the service. The love of military adventure burned with equal ardour in his bosom as his chivalrous ambition and the love of money, and he

gladly made a campaign under Turenne and Condé, in Holland. At the siege of Nimeguen "the handsome Englishman" greatly distinguished himself by his dashing bravery, conjoined with cool imperturbable skill and judgment. Turenne formed a high opinion of his military capabilities, and in consequence of his report, the King of France openly complimented Captain Churchill in the face of the troops. The Marshal once, with a want of consideration unusual with him, put the personal daring of his foreign favourite to a severe test, and for an inadequate object. A French lieutenant-colonel had been driven out of a post during the siege of Nimeguen, and he alleged in excuse that it was impossible for any one to have maintained it with the force he commanded. "I will wager a supper and a dozen of claret," rejoined Turenne, "that the handsome Englishman will retake it with half the number." The wager was accepted; Captain Churchill, informed of what was expected of him, selected his men at once, retook the post, and maintained it till relieved by another officer. He not very long afterwards returned to England.

It is another amongst the inconsistencies of this strangely-compounded soldier—a man of the most heroic and the meanest impulses-of soaring ambition and grovelling propensities, that he was capable of the fervent passion with which portionless Sarah Jennings, one of two beautiful sisters, the eldest of whom became Duchess of Richmond-the daughters of Mr. Jennings, of Sandridge, near St. Albans-inspired him. The Earl of Lindsay was a rival suitor, but Churchill carried off the prize, and spite of the lady's Tartar tongue, it is morally certain that but for Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, that name would not have acquired the lustre which attaches to it, dimmed as it is by the great Duke's defects of character, the more to be regretted because associated with high and noble qualities. There is one man in English history between whom and the Duke of Marlborough there is in many respects a striking resemblance, though their powerful minds were cast in entirely different moulds, and their pursuits were of a totally opposite character-Lord Chancellor Bacon. In both, grandeur of intellect was dwarfed and sullied by mean, ignoble cravings; the one plundered the suitors of his court the other, the soldiers upon whose blood he had been floated to victory and fortune. Bacon was corrupted by the vanities of the court of the first James-Marlborough by the example of the second; and both have left a name immortalized by the genius which at once illustrates and brands it.

BOUT the same time that the memorable struggle between Charles

And the Long Parliament was taking place in England, the German

Romanoffs had begun to erect an autocratic throne upon the crumbling ruins of the disjointed feudalism of Muscovy, thereby clearing the way, and initiating, in some sort unconsciously, the subsequent advance of the Russian power to its present influential position, territorial as well as political, in Europe. At the accession of Alexius, the second of the Romanoffs, and father of Peter I., usually styled the Great, the government of Muscovy was little better than a ferocious anarchy, dominated and varied from time to time by the unscrupulous use of the knout and the capricious violence of the Strelitz, a privileged militia, much resembling the Turkish janissaries, about 10,000 of whom kept Moscow in a state of chronic perturbation and dismay. Alexius did much to evoke something like order from out this chaos. The landed Boyards who claimed and exercised unquestioned power-to the taking away of lifeover their serfs, were in some measure restrained in their lawless violence, and brought under subjection to the Czar's authority,-the courts of justice ceased grossly and audaciously to prostitute the functions they were professedly instituted to administer, -the first two vessels of the Russian commercial marine were built; and had his life been longer spared, it is probable that Alexius would have reduced the Strelitz to submission by means less ruthless and sanguinary than were subsequently had recourse to by his celebrated son. The growing interest felt by the new race of Czars in the politics of Europe was evidenced by the special embassy which Alexius sent to this country to congratulate Charles II. upon his restoration to the British throne; albeit Clarendon's suggestion of furthering the intercourse between the two nations by a treaty of commerce was not entertained by Alexius, he, like nearly all persons groping in the twilight of economical science,