very soon. I return you his letter, with my opinion, that it should be sent to Mrs. Morley; for, tho' it be no news to her, it may be of use to see he continues of the same mind, and will be so when he comes hither; for which reason, as well as others, I confess I am extremely impatient to have him here. I am glad you did not send him word of Lord Sunderland's apprehensions, since there is not the least ground for them, and they would only have made him uneasy with him. I am sorry he and his friends continue so uneasy, since we have no other bottom to stand upon. Nothing shall be omitted by me to make them easier, tho' the queen is very far yet from being sensible of her circumstances in that particular.

Our letters to-day from Scotland are full of hopes to carry the union. Lord Sunderland is much pleased with this news, and Lord Somers much more, which shows me the other would be so too, if he had not uneasiness upon the other account. All Mr. Johnston's friends have behaved themselves well, so I am now as fond of him as you are of his letter."

In this state of suspense, the presence of Marlborough produced an instantaneous effect. Departing from the Hague, he landed at Margate on the 16th of November, and reached London on the 18th. The recollection of his services, and the burst of popularity which his appearance_awakened, gave weight to his personal representations. In his first private audience, the queen again recurred to the compromise which she had before proposed to Godolphin, but without effect. At length dreading, lest farther hesitation should provoke the Whigs, not only to turn their attacks against Harley, but to oppose the measures of government, she reluctantly acquiesced in the removal of Sir Charles Hedges, and the promotion of Sunderland. His appointment was announced only on the 3rd of December, the very day fixed for the meeting of parliament.

This important step being taken, less difficulty remained on inferior points. Several promotions were made in the peerage, in favour of the Whigs, among which we particularly notice Mr. Cowper and Sir Thomas Pelham, who were created barons, and Lord Wharton and Lord Cholmondely, who were raised to earldoms. The same rank was also conferred on Godolphin himself.

Soon afterwards farther changes were made. Sir James Montagu, brother of Lord Halifax, was appointed solicitorgeneral; and Lord Stamford, with Lord Herbert of Cherbury, and Mr. Pulteney, were constituted commissioners of trade, in the room of Viscount Weymouth, Mr. Monkton,

and Mr. Prior. In consenting to this arrangement, Marlborough proved that neither political expedience, nor party interest, outweighed his respect for merit. He not only continued to manifest the same friendship toward the disgraced poet, but procured him a pension, as some compensation for the loss of his post, and laboured to soothe his chagrin by marks of personal regard. Indeed Prior, for a considerable period, looked up to his noble patron for advancement, and by his interest endeavoured to obtain first an increase of his pension, and afterwards the post of envoy at the Hague or Brussels.* But on the decline of Marlborough's favour, and the restoration of his former friends to office, Prior was among the earliest who abandoned the fallen commander, and vied with Harley and St. John in repaying his past kindness with ingratitude.

The queen also removed from the privy council the chiefs of the Tory party, among whom we particularly notice the duke of Buckingham, the earls of Nottingham, Rochester, and Jersey; Lord Gower, and Sir George Rooke. The administration now therefore assumed a new character, and may be considered as established on a Whig basis; Harley and St. John being the only Tories of any note, who were suffered to retain a place of distinction and responsibility.

CHAP. LIII.-PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.-1706, 1707.

THIS triumph over the prejudices of the queen, and the combined efforts of the violent Tories, as well as over the secret, but powerful opposition of Harley, stimulated the Whigs to exert all their influence in favour of the government, and to continue, with unabating zeal, their support of the war and the political system of Marlborough. They also vied with Godolphin in bestowing due reward on his eminent services. As their party predominated in the House of Lords, and was considerable in the Commons, the session passed with unusual

• Letters from Prior to the Duke of Marlborough, in 1707 and 1708 - Marlborough Papers.

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unanimity, and scarcely any opposition occurred, except on the union with Scotland, which was too much a national and party question to be carried without a vigorous struggle. The session opened on the 3rd of December, and the speech from the throne was perfectly in unison with the sentiments of the two ministers and the Whigs. "I hope," the queen observed, we are met together at this time, with hearts truly thankful to Almighty God for the glorious successes with which he has blessed our arms and those of our allies, and with steady and serious resolutions to prosecute the advantages we have gained, till we reap the desired fruits of them in an honourable and durable peace." After a few remarks on the necessity of establishing a balance of power in Europe, she appealed to the Commons to grant such effectual supplies as might enable her to profit by the advantages of this successful campaign. Adverting to the arrangements for the union with Scotland, she recommended despatch in public affairs, that both friends and enemies might be convinced of their firmness and vigour.

In reply to the speech from the throne, the peers warmly congratulated the queen on the great successes of her arms during this "wonderful year;" particularly on the ever memorable victory gained at Ramilies, under the command of her wise and valiant general, the Duke of Marlborough. Then delicately alluding to the conduct of the emperor, they testified the satisfaction which the country in general derived from the public declaration of the queen and the States, that no negotiation for peace should be undertaken without the concurrence of all the members of the Grand Alliance. They expressed their hope that such an example would inspire them with a noble emulation; and if any had been wanting in time past, that her majesty would find means to apprise them that the only amends which they could make to public liberty was, by redoubling their efforts at so important a juncture. "This," they added, "will be the true way to obtain such a peace as all good men desire, which may secure to your majesty's subjects the Protestant succession, and all the advantages of trade and commerce; may restore the whole monarchy of Spain to King Charles III.; may fix such a barrier for the States-general (in whose security we must always think the interest of England is engaged), as

may be to their just satisfaction, and may procure such terms and conditions for all the allies as may be just, safe, and honourable. Such a peace as may be durable and lasting, by reducing effectually the exorbitant power of a prince, whose restless ambition nothing could satisfy, and who has always despised the obligations of the most sacred leagues and treaties."

The address of the Commons was brief, but, if possible, still more honourable to the Duke of Marlborough. After acknowledging their gratitude for the queen's most gracious speech, they added, "And with all thankfulness to Almighty God, we congratulate your majesty upon the signal victory obtained by your arms and those of your allies, under the command of the Duke of Marlborough, at Ramilies; a victory so glorious and great in its consequences, and attended with such continued successes, through the whole course of this year, that no age can equal."

Having testified their resolution of suffering no pretence to divert them from their steady resolution of enabling her majesty to improve, in all cases, the advantages of the campaign, they continued, "their experience of the great care and management shown in the application of the public aids, encouraged them to assure her, that they would cheerfully give such speedy and effectual supplies as, by the continuance of God's blessing upon her arms, might establish the balance of power in Europe, by a safe, honourable, and lasting peace."

Both houses proved their sincerity, by hastening to redeem the pledge given in their respective addresses. Having examined the estimates, the Commons, in less than a week, voted six millions for the ensuing year; and no discordance occurred, except a feeble but fruitless attempt to oppose the sanction of the extraordinaries advanced on the faith of parliament. These were declared to have been expended for the preservation of the duke of Savoy, the interest of King Charles III. in Spain, and the safety and honour of the nation. Alluding to the despatch which had marked the proceedings of both houses, the speaker, in presenting the money bills to the queen, pertinently observed, as the glorious victory, obtained by the Duke of Marlborough, at Ramilies, was fought before the enemy was apprised that

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very soon. I return you his letter, with my opinion, that it should be sent to Mrs. Morley; for, tho' it be no news to her, it may be of use to see he continues of the same mind, and will be so when he comes hither; for which reason, as well as others, I confess I am extremely impatient to have him here. I am glad you did not send him word of Lord Sunderland's apprehensions, since there is not the least ground for them, and they would only have made him uneasy with him. I am sorry he and his friends continue so uneasy, since we have no other bottom to stand upon. Nothing shall be omitted by me to make them easier, tho' the queen is very far yet from being sensible of her circumstances in that particular.

"Our letters to-day from Scotland are full of hopes to carry the union. Lord Sunderland is much pleased with this news, and Lord Somers much more, which shows me the other would be so too, if he had not uneasiness upon the other account. All Mr. Johnston's friends have behaved themselves well, so I am now as fond of him as you are of his letter."

In this state of suspense, the presence of Marlborough produced an instantaneous effect. Departing from the Hague, he landed at Margate on the 16th of November, and reached London on the 18th. The recollection of his services, and the burst of popularity which his appearance_awakened, gave weight to his personal representations. In his first private audience, the queen again recurred to the compromise which she had before proposed to Godolphin, but without effect. At length dreading, lest farther hesitation should provoke the Whigs, not only to turn their attacks against Harley, but to oppose the measures of government, she reluctantly acquiesced in the removal of Sir Charles Hedges, and the promotion of Sunderland. His appointment was announced only on the 3rd of December, the very day fixed for the meeting of parliament.

This important step being taken, less difficulty remained on inferior points. Several promotions were made in the peerage, in favour of the Whigs, among which we particularly notice Mr. Cowper and Sir Thomas Pelham, who were created barons, and Lord Wharton and Lord Cholmondely, who were raised to earldoms. The same rank was also conferred on Godolphin himself.

Soon afterwards farther changes were made. Sir James Montagu, brother of Lord Halifax, was appointed solicitorgeneral; and Lord Stamford, with Lord Herbert of Cherbury, and Mr. Pulteney, were constituted commissioners of trade, in the room of Viscount Weymouth, Mr. Monkton,