Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough with His Original Correspondence

1905

[Reprinted from Stereotype plates.]

CONTENTS

THE SECOND VOLUME.

CHAP. LI.-Struggle for the Appointment of Sunderland to the Secretary-

ship of State, in the room of Sir Charles Hedges. Correspondence

on the Subject between the Queen, Godolphin, and Marlborough.

Resolution of Godolphin to resign deprecated by Marlborough.

Firmness of the Queen in her Opposition to the Transfer of the

Secretaryship

Page 1

LII. Interposition of the Duchess of Marlborough in favour of Sun-

derland. Contention between her and the Queen. Suspicions enter-

tained of the Fidelity of Harley. Arrival of Marlborough in England.

Obtains the Appointment of Sunderland

LUI. — Thanks to the Duke of Marlborough from both Houses of
Parliament. Removal of the Colours taken at the Battle of Rami-
lies to Westminster Hall. Extension of the Ducal Title to the Female
Line, and Entail of Blenheim, with the Pension of 5000l. Settlement
of the Union with Scotland. Address for the Appointment of Prince
Eugene to the Command in Spain

LIV.-

Character and Victories of Charles XII. of Sweden. His irrup-
tion into Saxony. Attention of Marlborough to the Designs of the
Swedish Monarch. Departs for the Continent

LV. Journey of Marlborough to the Swedish Camp at Alt Ranstadt.

Visits the Elector of Hanover. His Interview with Count Piper.

Audiences of the King of Sweden. Extracts from his Correspondence.

Conclusion of his Proceedings at Alt Ranstadt. Visits the Court of

Prussia. Arrival at the Hague. Effects of his Success. Curious

Account of his first Audience with Charles XII., transmitted by

Besenval to Louis XIV.

LVI. — Plans of Marlborough for the Reduction of Toulon. Project of

the Imperial Court for the Conquest of Naples. Fatal Defeat the

Allies at the Battle of Almanza. Letters from Lord Galway. Appeal

of Charles for Reinforcements. Military Movements and Correspond-

ence

LVII. Marlborough remains stationary at Meldert. Death of the

Prince of Baden. Irruption of Villars into the Empire. Marlborough

obtains the Transfer of the Command in Germany to the Elector of

Hanover. March of the King of Sweden into Muscovy

Embarrass.

ments from the Intrigues of Lord Peterborough. Correspondence at

Meldert

Page 72

LVIII. Intrigues in the Cabinet. Whig Bickerings with Marlbo-
rough and Godolphin. Imprudent Conduct of Admiral Churchill.
Decline of the Influence of the Duchess with the Queen. Rise of
Mrs. Masham. Cabals of Harley. Impolitic Conduct of Marlborough
and the Treasurer. They offend both the Queen and the Whigs.
Correspondence from Meldert

LIX. Success of the Expedition against Naples. Secret Views of the

Dutch for a Peace with France. Proposal of Godolphin. Prudent

Sentiments of Marlborough. Coldness between the Electoral Family

and the Queen. Intrigues of the Tories with the Electress Sophia 111

LX. Marlborough moves to Genappe, and compels the Enemy to

quit their Position at Gemblours. Advance of the Confederates to

Nivelle, and Preparations for a Battle. March of Marlborough to

Soignies. Correspondence from Soignies. Visit of Lord Peterbo-

rough

LXI.

127

Movement of Marlborough to Helchin, and Retreat of the

French to Lille. Failure of the Enterprise against Toulon. Disputes

between the Courts of Vienna and Turin. Correspondence on that

Subject, on the Domestic Affairs of England, on the Plan for the suc-

ceeding Campaign, and on the Proposal for Eugene to command in

Domestic Affairs. Pertinacity of the Queen in the Nomina-
tion of the two Tory Bishops. Jealousy of the Whigs of Marlborough
and Godolphin. Continuation of the Correspondence

LXIII. Journey of Marlborough to the Hague. Distributes his

Troops into Quarters. Meets the Elector of Hanover and Count

Wratislaw at Frankfort. Increasing Difficulties with the Queen.

Cabals and Letters of Harley

163

LXIV. - Coalition of the Whigs and Tories. Censures of Admiral

Churchill. Speech of Marlborough on the Conduct of the Earl of

Peterborough. Address to the Queen, against the Conclusion of

Peace. Harley suspected of conniving at the Treasonable Practices

of Gregg. Resignation of Harley and his Adherents. Ascendency

of the Whigs

Activity of

LXV. Projected Invasion in favour of the Pretender.

Marlborough in defeating the Attempt. Change in the Character of

the Administration. Design of the Duchess of Marlborough to retire

from Court. Extorts a Promise from the Queen to confer her Offices

on her two Daughters

195

Arrival of Marlborough at the Hague. Political and Mili-

tary Arrangements with Eugene. Feuds in the British Cabinet

relative to the Promotion of Lord Somers. Journey of Marlborough

to Hanover. Complaints of his Friends on his refusal to revisit

England. Correspondence

LXVII. Increasing Aversion of the Queen to the Whigs. Fruitless

Efforts of Marlborough and Godolphin to overcome her Repugnance.

Cabals of the Whigs with the Jacobites, to ensure the Majority in the

205

Elections of Scotland. Indignation of the Queen against Sunderland.

for his Agency in the Cabal. Intrigues and Influence of the Duke of

Somerset

LXVIII.

Commencement of the Campaign.

Detects an Attempt of the French to surprise
Marlborough departs

Antwerp. The two Armies take the Field. Military Movement

on both sides.

with Eugene.

Marlborough prepares to execute the Plan concerted

The French threaten Louvain. Rapid March of

Marlborough to Terbank.

Arrangements for the Junction of Eugene

Correspondence on Military Affairs.

LXIX. Plans of the French Commanders for the Recovery of the

conquered Places in Flanders. Surprise of Ghent and Bruges. Move-

ment of the French to cover the Siege of Oudenard. Arrival of

Prince Eugene. Temporary Illness of Marlborough. Rapid March

to the Camp of Lessines.

Resolution of Marlborough and Eugene to risk an Engagement. Ad-
Retreat of the French towards the Scheldt.
vance towards the Scheldt. Description of Oudenard and its Vicinity.
Passage of the Scheldt. Victory of Oudenard.
the French Army. Letters written from the Field of Battle
Retreat and Loss of

LXX. -Designs of the Confederate Generals. Capture of the French

Lines between Ypres and Warneton.

Werwick. Correspondence on Military Affairs, and on the State of

Advance of Marlborough to

the Public Mind in England. Proposal of Marlborough to mask

Lille, and penetrate into France, opposed by Eugene, and counteracted

by the Dutch Deputies

LXXI. — Increasing Contentions between the Duchess and the Queen.

Their violent Altercation soon after the Thanksgiving for the Victory

of Oudenard. She adopts the Resolution of suspending her Corre-

spondence and Remonstrances with the Queen

LXXII. - Allies adopt the Resolution to besiege Lille. Situation and

Defences of the Place.

and Ammunition from Brussels to the Allied Camp.

Successful March of the Convoy of Artillery

Lille by Eugene. Progress of the Besiegers. Junction of Vendome

Investment of

with Berwick, and March of their combined Force round the Sources
of the Dyle, to raise the Siege. Camp of Marlborough at Fretin. In-
decision of the French Commanders. Eugene wounded in the Attack
of the Counterscarp. Marlborough superintends the Operations both
of the besieging and covering Armies. Complains of the Mismanage-
ment of the Engineers.
Government of the Netherlands for Life
Receives from King Charles the Offer of the
LXXIII. Descent at Ostend.
Camp. Action at Wynendale. The Enemy repulsed, and the Convoy
March of a grand Convoy to the
preserved by General Webb. Movements of Marlborough.
Overkirk. Capture of Leffinghen by the Enemy. Surrender of Lille.
Attack of the Citadel of Lille. Plan of the French to surprise
Brussels. Marlborough and Eugene force the Passage of the Scheldt,
and defeat the Design

LXXIV. Reduction of the Citadel of Lille.

266

278

298

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buted into Winter-quarters. Investment of Ghent. Evacuation of

363

Bruges, Plassendael, and Leffinghen. Close of the Campaign. State

of the War in Spain. Proposals of the Duke of Orleans to the Allies.

Military Operations in Italy. Dispute between the Emperor and the

Pope. Transactions on the Rhine. Dissatisfaction of the Elector of

Hanover

Page 338

LXXV. Renewal of the Struggle for the Promotion of Somers.

Accusation against Admiral Churchill. Threatened Censure of the

Prince of Denmark. Death of the Prince. Somers appointed Pre-

sident of the Council, Wharton Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and Lord

Pembroke High Admiral. Temporary Renewal of the Intercourse

between the Queen and the Duchess

354

LXXVI.. Arrangements at the Hague. Marlborough induces the

Dutch to consent to an Augmentation of Troops. Obtains from the

Emperor a promise, that his Troops should winter in the Netherlands.

Ineffectual Labours to conciliate the Duke of Savoy, and to reconcile

him with the Court of Vienna. Arrangements with the King of

Prussia for the Augmentation of his Troops

LXXVII. Vote of Thanks to General Webb, for the Action at Wy-

nendale. Counter Address to the Queen on the Successes of the

Campaign. Vote of Thanks to Marlborough. Alienation of the

Queen from Godolphin. Dissatisfaction of Halifax and Sunderland.

Perplexities of Marlborough

LXXVIII. - Negotiations for Peace between France and Holland.

Marlborough's Correspondence with the Treasurer. Returns to England.

His Anxiety at the Alienation of the Queen, and the Change of Popular

Opinion. Resolution of the Whigs to place Lord Orford a': the Head

of the Admiralty. Increasing Perplexities of Marlborough 385

LXXIX. - Marlborough receives fresh Instructions. Lord Townshend

appointed Joint Plenipotentiary. Renewal of the Negotiations. Con-

ferences with Torcy. The Pensionary delivers the Preliminaries, in

the Name of the Allies. Louis XIV. refuses his Ratification. Vindi-

cation of Marlborough from the Charge of obstructing the Peace 395

LXXX.. - Opening of the Campaign. Strong Position of Villars
behind the Lines of La Bassée. The Armies of Eugene and Marlbo-
rough assemble on both Sides of the Upper Dyle. Stratagems to
deceive Villars. Sudden March, and Investment of Tournay. Inef-
fectual Attempts of Villars to relieve it. Surrender of the Town.
Siege of the Citadel. Dreadful Effects of the subterraneous Warfare
in the Mines. Surrender of the Citadel
LXXXI. Movements before the Battle of Malplaquet
LXXXII.. - Battle of Malplaquet. Retreat of the French
LXXXIII. Siege and Capture of Mons

375

LXXXIV. - Military Operations on the Rhine. Failure of the pro-
jected Invasion of France. Defeat of Count Merci on the Rhine,
Disputes between the Courts of Turin and Vienna. Spirit an
Energy of Philip and the Castilians. Disputes between the French
and Spanish Troops. Capture of Balaguer by the Allies. Embarrass.
ments of Marlborough from the Claims of the King of Spain. Affairs
of Portugal. Wretched State of the Country. Fatal Defeat of

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Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough with His Original ..., Volume 2