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Page 217

Marlborough departs

from the Hague. Detects an Attempt of the French to surprise

Antwerp. The two Armies take the Field. Military Movements

on both sides. Marlborough prepares to execute the Plan concerted

with Eugene. The French threaten Louvain. Rapid March of

Marlborough to Terbank. Correspondence on Military Affairs.

Arrangements for the Junction of Eugene

234

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

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to the Camp of Lessines. Retreat of the French towards the Scheldt.
Resolution of Marlborough and Eugene to risk an Engagement. Ad-
vance towards the Scheldt. Description of Oudenard and its Vicinity.
Passage of the Scheldt. Victory of Oudenard. Retreat and Loss of
the French Army. Letters written from the Field of Battle
LXX. Designs of the Confederate Generals. Capture of the French
Lines between Ypres and Warneton. Advance of Marlborough to
Werwick. Correspondence on Military Affairs, and on the State of
the Public Mind in England. Proposal of Marlborough to mask
Lille, and penetrate into France, opposed by Eugene, and counteracted
by the Dutch Deputies

266
- 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. Successful March of the Convoy of Artillery
and Ammunition from Brussels to the Allied Camp. Investment of
Lille by Eugene. Progress of the Besiegers. Junction of Vendome
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. Receives from King Charles the Offer of the
Government of the Netherlands for Life
LXXIII. Descent at Ostend. March of a grand Convoy to the
Camp. Action at Wynendale. The Enemy repulsed, and the Convoy
preserved by General Webb. Movements of Marlborough. Death of
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. French Army distri-
buted into Winter-quarters. Investment of Ghent. Evacuation of

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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

· 375

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 at the Head
of the Admiralty. Increasing Perplexities of Marlborough
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

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LXXXI. Movements before the Battle of Malplaquet
LXXXII. - Battle of Malplaquet. Retreat of the French
LXXXIII. Siege and Capture of Mons
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 and
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

MEMOIRS

OF

JOHN DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

CHAP. LI.-MINISTERIAL CRISIS.-1706.

DURING the greater part of 1705, the whole nation had been kept in suspense by the struggle in the cabinet, and by the contention between the two parties relative to the office of lord keeper. The present year did not less teem with similar feuds, and Marlborough was exposed to superior disquietude, in consequence of the struggle which arose from the determination of the Whigs to persist in their purpose of transferring the seals of the secretaryship of state from Sir Charles Hedges to the earl of Sunderland.

On returning from the embassy to Vienna, which he had filled with great prudence and ability, Sunderland expected o be rewarded by an immediate admission into the ministry; and his hopes were encouraged by the other Whig leaders, who had promoted his appointment to the embassy, as an introductory step to an office of trust and dignity at home.

We have already mentioned the opposition of Marlborough to the appointment of Sunderland, and his unwillingness to wound the feelings of the queen, by pressing his admission into the cabinet. This opinion he strongly manifested to the duchess, who displayed even more than usual zeal for the advancement of her son-in-law.

"Helchin, August 9.·

* You know that I have often

disputes with you concerning the queen; and by what I have always

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