This signal success, which was effected with so trifling a loss, was immediately announced to Godolphin, from Oudenard, where the general took up his quarters the night after

the passage.

"Oudenard, Nov. 28. The disagreeableness of the French having it in their power to see all our letters, has made me for some time not very regular in writing. But from henceforward I shall write very punctually, for yesterday morning we forced the Scheldt, and beat the troops that were posted about this town. Prince Eugene is gone back this morning for Lille, and I am marching for the relief of Brussels, which, if it be not taken by to-morrow night, I do not doubt, with the blessing of God, the saving of it. After which, there is necessity of my getting more powder to Lille, by which you may see that our campaign is not at an end, though my next letter must be dated in December, which is very unusual in this country.

My Lord Haversham may be angry, but Prince Eugene and myself shall have that inward satisfaction of knowing that we have struggled with more difficulties, and have been blessed with more success, than ever was known before in one campaign. If at last it shall bring a safe and honourable peace to the queen, I shall esteem myself happy. When you see a proper time, you will assure her of my concern for the death of the prince. I have four of your letters to thank you for, but I am in such a hurry, with the many orders I am obliged to give, for this march to Brussels, that I have not time: but I cannot end this without telling you that I very much approve of Mr. Webb's being gratified with a government, but I do not think it for her majesty's service to give a promise before the vacancy happens, especially since he shall be made a lieut.general this winter. I have for some days been so tormented with a sore throat, that if the time could permit it, my chamber were the properest place for me."

After the passage of the Scheldt, Eugene returned to prosecute the siege of the citadel, and Marlborough, having stationed the main body of his troops at Omberg, proceeded with a strong detachment to Alost. Here he left part of his escort and departed for Brussels, where he arrived on the 29th, a little before noon, as well to testify his satisfaction with the governor and garrison for their brave defence, as to take measures for continuing the supplies to the army at Lille. He was received with demonstrations of joy and gratitude, being met without the gates by the gallant governor and the officers of the garrison. After commending their courage and conduct, he repaired to the governor's house, where he was complimented by the council of state, the magistrates of the town, and the deputies of the States,

who gratefully attributed their deliverance to his rapid and skilful march. He was accompanied on this occasion by the dethroned king Augustus, who had personally engaged in all the operations before Lille. From Brussels he again wrote to Godolphin.

"Nov. 29.-I gave you an account, in mine of yesterday, of our having forced the passage of the Scheldt. At my arrival last night at Alost, I

had an account of the precipitate retreat of the elector of Bavaria. He began to draw off from the siege two hours after he had knowledge of my passage, fearing I might have fallen upon him, if he had stayed for the carrying of his cannon and wounded men, the leaving of which is most scandalous; and consequently must be a great mortification to the elector. Lord Hertford having a mind to return for England, I send these letters by him, so that there needs be no present; but the opportunity being safe, I shall venture to tell you, that the forcing of the Scheldt was not only necessary for the saving of Brabant, but also for the sending more ammunition to Lille. So that as soon as I have given the necessary orders in this town, I shall return this evening to the army, to take such measures as may secure the passage of one thousand barrels of powder from Ath to Lille.

* * *

"I cannot prove what I am going to say, but I really believe we have been, from the very beginning of that siege, betrayed; for great part of our stores have been embezzled. God is most certainly with us, or it would have been impossible to overcome the many difficulties we have met with.

"You are so pressing in your letters for my return, that I must tell you the truth, and beg you will not think it vanity, that if I should leave the army, it would not be in any body's power to keep them in the field; so that you see the necessity. The truth is, that I am very ill in my health, so that if we should have very ill weather, it may kill me. But I must venture every thing, rather than quit, before we have perfected this campaign. My heart is in England, and nobody has greater desire for the enjoying quietness there than myself; but should I take ease at this time, I should hurt the queen and my country more than my whole life could repair."

After partaking of a splendid entertainment given by the governor, Marlborough returned the same evening to Ålost, where he received the glad tidings that the besiegers had effected a lodgment on the second counterscarp of the citadel. From his correspondence, we find that in the midst of these extraordinary exertions he was labouring under one of those feverish attacks to which he was constitutionally subject. His tender solicitude on this occasion to spare the feelings of the duchess, is no less conspicuous than that energy of

character which sustained him under bodily exertion, suffering, and debility.

To the Duchess.

"Dec. 3. As my greatest happiness is in your tenderness, and that I do flatter myself with your having a tender concern for me, I have endeavoured all I could, not to let the army know the ill condition of my health for these three last weeks, fearing some officers might write it to England, by which you might be made uneasy. But I thank God I am

now much better, and if I could have two or three days' quiet, I do not doubt but it would set me right, for my greatest uneasiness is a constant drought."

"Dec. 6. I have received your dear letter of the 19th, by which I see the kind concern you had at that time for me, which I shall ever, by my kindness, endeavour to deserve. You will have known by Lord Hertford, by this time, the success God has been pleased to bless us with : considering the pains they had taken, by fortifying every place of the river, where they thought we could pass, I think it next to a miracle our surprising them as we did. Our passage has had all the happy effects we could propose, which has encouraged me to take measures for the siege of Ghent, though the season is so far advanced, that I tremble every day for fear of ill weather. If we take Ghent, I think we shall have a certainty of a good peace, which is every day more and more wished for by me.

From Alost, Marlborough again moved on the 1st of December, and encamped between Belleghem and Oudenard. General Dedem with 20 battalions here passed the Scheldt and posted himself beyond, while General Hompesch remained on the side of Menin with a corps of 38 squadrons and eight battalions. The communications with Eugene were thus secured on every point, and avenues again opened for the passage of supplies.

During this interval, the approaches had been continued against the citadel, and the batteries were already preparing. The first care of Eugene, on returning to the spot, was to apprise Boufflers of the passage of the Scheldt, and offer him the most honourable conditions. But the marshal was too sensible of the importance of retarding the allies to accept the overture. The siege was accordingly prosecuted with new vigour. On the 1st of December the salient angles of the second covert-way were carried; and before the 6th, the necessary lodgments and communications were made for raising breaching batteries on the counterscarp.

CHAP. LXXIV. — CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. —1708.

He

WHILE the British commander was anxiously expecting the surrender of the citadel, his active mind was employed in forming plans for the recovery of Bruges and Ghent. was still also devising means for the farther prosecution of the war, and earnestly solicited his friends, both in England and Holland, to obtain such an augmentation of force as would enable him to open the ensuing campaign at an early period, and with a decided superiority. Writing to Lord Godolphin, who had complained of the protraction of the campaign, under date of Dec. 3., he says:

"I agree with you that this campaign is already much longer than has been usual in this country; but you will remember that I have formerly told you, we must end this campaign with the re-taking of Ghent, if possible. The length of the siege of Lille puts us to great difficulties; for from henceforward, if we continue the army together, we must subsist them with dry forage, which is very difficult and expensive. This expense must be made by England and Holland; for even with that, we shall find it very difficult to persuade the foreign troops that it is reasonable, at this time of the year, to be from their winter quarters. But I think the taking of Ghent and Bruges, with the augmentation which I hope will be made by England and Holland, will procure an honourable and safe peace. I have proposed this expense to Holland by the last letters; and if they agree to it, I hope her majesty will ap.. prove of it.

"I acquainted you in a former letter that I had ordered Lieut.-general Erle to send five battalions to Antwerp, upon the first notice I had of the attempt on Brussels. I have now ordered him to leave at Ostend a brigadier with the six battalions, and himself and the rest of the general officers to return for England. I have also directed him to take as many officers as is possible of those six regiments with him for England, so as to recruit them, if possible, they being extremely weak.

"For the troops of augmentation, there must be early care taken with the king of Prussia and others, to let them see that there must be no advance money given; but that we shall be willing to pay such troops as are not already in the service. If there be not great care taken in this matter, my Lord Raby, by his flattery to the king of Prussia and that court, will spoil all. The 50,000 odd crowns was last year promised so solemnly, that they must be paid as soon as he has signed the treaty for this year; but I think it should stay for that. You know also, that the queen is engaged in honour to pay this winter the 200,000 crowns to the

landgrave of Hesse. I know all these things must give you great trouble, but for God's sake let the queen's promises be kept sacred; for that will for ever establish her reputation, which is now very great.

"I cannot end this letter without assuring you that I know the difficulties of Holland to be so great, that I hope every honest man in England will be contented with their furnishing only one-third in the augmentation; for it is most certain that they now subsist only by credit, and that the ill-affected in that country have no hopes left but that England will insist upon their giving one half.

"I have been troubled some time with the Count Guiscard, which has given me the opportunity of being sure that his head is turned to impracticable projects; he has desired me to send you the enclosed paper, and at the same time tells me he has no money. You must let me know what I am to say to him. If you can make any use of him, he is better any where than in England. *

"I have this minute received a letter from Prince Eugene, writ last night, that he hopes by Thursday to have all his batteries ready, and then he will summon the marshal, and at the same time let him know that he may send an officer to see our cannon and ammunition. After which, if he obliges us to make the breach, he must expect no other capitulation but that of being prisoners of war. The 1000 barrels of powder I send to Lille are this morning come out of Ath, and will be with the prince on Wednesday night; so that on Thursday or Friday I hope the French will be obliged to see or hear them. I think the last will be the better, for though there are not above 4000 men in the citadel, they consist of two regiments of horse, two of dragoons, and twenty-two of foot, so that there will be a great number of officers, and consequently an impossibility of raising the regiments for the next campaign. If we can be so happy to get every thing necessary for the attack of Ghent, I think to direct it, and the prince to cover the siege with the troops that shall march with him from Lille.

"God has blessed us for a long time with good weather, so that it would be ungrateful to complain; but this day we have rain with a southerly wind, which makes us fear we must expect much more." Since my last I have received yours of the 19th, by which

"Dec. 6.

* In reply to his remarks on Guiscard, Godolphin observes: "Dec. 2.—I agree entirely in your character of him, and that he is better any where than here, as also that he wants money to carry him any where, though he had 500l. when he went from hence, to carry him first to you, and afterwards, by your approbation, to the duke of Savoy, and to concert with him how he might be of most use to his operations next year, either by his intelligences in Dauphiné, or in the Cevennes, to both which he pretends. I can propose nothing better for him than to follow his first intentions; and if, in order to it, you will direct Mr. Cardonel to help him with his credit at Amsterdam or Brussels, with any sum not exceeding 400l. or 500l., I will see it repaid; and he must give Mr. Cardonei an account of his proceedings from time to time."