will use their best efforts to gain the superiority to our detriment. It is, therefore, more than ever necessary, in so alarming a crisis, that the conduct of both sides should be extremely prudent. On our part, we must not impute the ill success of this campaign to the counsels of the English ministry, in order not to discredit them with the nation; while on your part you ought not to render us odious to a people, from whom we must draw the means of continuing the war."

He concluded with proposing that Prince Eugene, or some other minister from the court of Vienna, should have a personal interview with Marlborough, to arrange the plan of future operations.

From Lord Godolphin.

"Windsor, Sept. 9.- -I am very much afraid the miscarriage of Toulon is owing to the little good understanding betwixt those two princes, or rather, in truth, betwixt the imperial court and the duke of Savoy; for which reason I think little or nothing can be hoped from them in this year, nor I doubt in the next neither, unless measures are taken this winter, to remove and cure the jealousies between the emperor and the duke of Savoy. This makes me repeat once more to you the necessity of Count Wratislaw's meeting you at the ague, at the end of the campaign, that both this thing, which is extremely essential, and also Prince Eugene's going into Spain, may be there concerted and settled. The latter of these will be a very popular thing in England, and very much contribute to obtain the necessary subsidies in parliament.

"I am the more particular upon what relates to Spain and Italy, because those places being most remote, the necessary measures for carrying on the war there ought to be adjusted, in the first place; because else there will want time to put them in execution. Spain cannot be supported this winter without Prince Eugene and some troops from Italy; and Italy cannot be made useful next year to the common cause, but by putting the duke of Savoy at the head of an army to act offensively against France, and by giving him the view and assurance of it immediately."

After proposing to procure from the king of Sweden a body of troops to serve under the elector of Hanover, he adds,

"As to Flanders, I am sorry to find you think there will be a necessity of augmenting that army. I doubt it will prove no small difficulty here to keep it upon the foot it now stands, considering how little fruit the Dutch have suffered it to yield us this summer. Nor how they are like to be persuaded to any augmentation on their part, can I see much ground to hope. What you say of their aversion to let King Charles's own subjects take the oath of fidelity to their sovereign, and of their renewing at this time their instances about settling their barrier, seem to

me as if they sought rather for a handle to be cross than really to join heartily with us in prosecuting the war. If they had, as they have not, any just pretension to the sovereignty of any part of Flanders hereafter, upon a peace, the taking the oath of fidelity to King Charles in the mean time, till such stipulation be made, does not interfere with that pretension; and as to their barrier, I continue of opinion that England never will, nor can, admit that Ostend should be in their possession, but in the possession of King Charles. That being granted, I think we might agree with them in the other desires they make as to their barrier, provided they will agree with us in an augmentation of their forces and a vigorous prosecution of the war the next year. But for all these things poor Mr. Stepney will be extremely much wanted, for his condition is thought desperate by most people here; and if it were possible for him to recover, it would be impossible for him to assist in these things, which come to bear immediately and will continue all this winter to require a man in that station of the best sense and integrity. If you can spare Cadogan till spring, I believe he is the most sufficient for this service. you are the best judge of the whole, as well as of this particular.

But

"I doubt the season is too far spent for you to think of any siege, otherwise Ypres or Nieuport would open a way to Dunkirk next year, and, consequently, give a pleasing prospect to our people.

66

By our letters from Lisbon of the 3d, I find they will expect more regiments from us for the defence of their frontier, or take a handle from the want of them to make up with France and Spain. I think, therefore we must send them two or three regiments more by this convoy.

66

By the next post the queen tells me she will give me an answer to your letter."

To Lord Godolphin.

"Helchin, Sept. 22. The winds have been so contrary that I believe this may come at the same time with what I wrote by Mr. Hill. Since that, I have received the enclosed letters concerning the march of the palatines for Catalonia. I have sent copies of them also to the pensioner, desiring him to lose no time in returning an answer, and that I should take upon me, in the queen's name, so that the troops might be immediately sent; but I fear the States will not willingly promise what is desired by the elector.

"I have not yet seen Brigadier Palmes, but expect him daily. I hope he will bring Prince Eugene's consent to serve in Spain, since you say it is what is desired in England. If there be need of it, I shall be sure to press him. Besides, as the commands are now settled, he can serve no where but in Spain or Hungary.

"The king of Sweden will certainly not come into the grand alliance, since that would put him out of all hopes of his mediatorship, with which we must continue to flatter him. For the troops of King Augustus, it is just that they should be entertained by the emperor and empire, but I fear they are not able to comply with the expense; however, they ought to be pressed by England and Holland.

"It were to be wished that we could please the Portuguese, without sending any more troops, since they must be useless.”

CHAP. LXII. DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.-1707.

WHILE the perplexing state of affairs abroad, and the embarrassments arising from the failure of the enterprise against Toulon, called forth all the exertions of Marlborough, he experienced additional disquietude from the continued feuds in the cabinet, and the increasing jealousy of the Whigs. He was now fully sensible of the secret cabals of Harley and Mrs. Masham, and their rapid advances in the favour of the queen; but he was convinced that the influence of Harley was too powerful to be eradicated, and either from the remains of former confidence, or from a reliance on his asseverations, he still flattered himself that he might venture to employ, as heretofore, his interest and services.

This apparent indecision, and the inflexible determination of the queen to persevere in the appointment of the two bishops, inflamed the resentment of the Whigs; and they recurred, as before, to threats of a separation of interests, and parliamentary hostility. Their determination was announced by Lord Sunderland, in a letter, which is now lost, but of which the substance may be collected from the reply of the duke.

To Lord Sunderland.

"Meldert, July 27.-Aug. 7. I had not by the last post time to acknowledge the favour of yours of the 8th. As to the affairs of the church, I have done what in me is, so God's will be done. I am very much obliged to you for your friendly and sincere manner of letting me know what must happen next winter, if the queen is not governed by her friends in the matter of the bishops. I do with all my heart wish every thing may be as you desire, for the sake of the queen and England; but I am very sensible there is no content except in a quiet life.

"The enclosed is from Sir Cloudesley Shovel, which will give you an account of the duke of Savoy's passing the Var. I have sent lord treasurer a copy of my letter to Prince Eugene, by which you will see they intend the siege of Toulon as the first place, which is certainly right; for the other sieges would have lost time. If this expedition succeeds, we may live to see happy days, or, as the Dutch are so weary of war, we must have an ill peace. The business of Hungary is as wrong as possible; but I cannot but hope the king of Sweden will at last do well, for he is certainly no friend to France. May you and yours be happy, is the hearty wish and prayer of," &c.

The perplexity which these threats created, and the disappointment which Marlborough himself felt, in the failure of his efforts to vanquish the opposition of the queen, may be traced in the subsequent letters.

To the Duchess.

"July 27.—I have a letter from lord Sunderland, in which he lets me see the ill consequences that must happen, if the queen cannot be prevailed with in the affairs of the church. It is pretty hard to me to give him an honest answer, since it would lay too great a weight upon the queen. If other things go well, that will be done as they wish; but I am rather despairing than otherwise. I have done what I can, and let what will happen, I hope to have nothing to reproach myself with, and then God's will be done."

From Lord Sunderland.

"Whitehall, Aug. 5-16.. I give you many thanks for your kind letter of the 27th of July, and assure you what I wrote to you last, concerning the affair of the church, was sincerely meant for the service of the queen, your grace, and lord treasurer. I will only say one thing more on this occasion; that there are so many uneasy things preparing by the common enemy against next sessions, and by the management of the court, so little confidence between them and the only people that either will or can support them, that I own I have terrible apprehensions of the consequences.

"I can't help taking notice, upon this occasion, of the letter from Hanover *, which you sent enclosed to the lord treasurer. That letter does really set that matter in so true a light, that one would be astonished at the blindness of the queen, or any about her, considering how much they apprehend that foolish thing. But really if the queen does go on a little longer in the way she is at present, mankind will be quite uneasy, and will think of Sir Miles Wharton's old saying, "not to anger two courts at once. I only mention these things, as what are sincerely my apprehensions, but hope you and lord treasurer will be able to prevent the mischief which seems hanging over us all.

"I am very well pleased with the resolution of the States, which you sent to the lord treasurer, for I think it leaves it entirely in the power of the deputies; and the march your grace has lately made shows it is so.

"I send enclosed a letter, writ by lord treasurer's direction, to Lord Galway. I think it essentially agrees with your thoughts of that matter; and, indeed, as Lord Rivers has ordered it, it is impossible the poor man should venture there with any satisfaction to himself, or so as to be of any use.

"I am very much afraid of the king of Sweden, by the accounts the last letters give us, though one can hardly bring oneself to think he is in measures with France."

* Alluding to the invitation.

To Lord Sunderland, in reply.

"Soignies, Aug. 22. I have had the favour of yours of the 5th, and am sorry for the apprehensions you have for the next winter. As for myself, I have done what I can at this distance. I do not say this to make my court, for really I am weary of struggling, but to do myself justice to you; for I writ✶ the very next post after I received yours, and sent the copy of my letter to my lord treasurer; but I am as yet ignorant of the effect it has had. I think what you say as to Lord Galway is so very right, that I hope he will approve of it, for his own sake and that of the public. I intended to have stayed but one night in this camp, but the continual rains are such, that God knows when I shall be able to march."

From Lord Sunderland.

"Althorpe, Aug. 30.-Sept. 10. I have the honour of yours of the 22d, since which we have the melancholy news of our disappointment at Toulon. The greatest apprehension I have from it is, the effect it may have upon Holland; that makes it the more necessary for England to show a spirit upon this occasion, if there should be that humour amongst them in Holland. For I am confident that people will be of the side of England in this, whenever they are spoken plainly to, notwithstanding Buys and his friends, who I take to be the Harley of Holland.

"I should be very sorry your grace should be weary of struggling, as you say you are; but if so, what must the Whigs be, at least of struggling upon the foot they have hitherto done?"

Reply of the Duke.

"Helchin, Sept. 19. - I received yesterday the favour of yours of the 30th of the last month, from Althorpe. I agree entirely with you, that the success the French have had, is very discouraging; and if care be not taken, in the manner you mention, the consequences may be dangerous with Holland; for I have received very desponding letters from those parts. Either we were in the wrong in the beginning of the war, or we have reason to continue it with vigour, or content ourselves with losing our liberties; for the French are very insolent in success, notwithstanding their great desire of peace. If the allies continue firm this winter, I am of opinion the enemy will, at the entrance of the next campaign, venture a battle in this country, since they see that success in any other part of the world cannot give them peace.

"You may be sure that I long extremely for quietness; but, at the same time, I am very sensible that during this war I must continue in the galley. My greatest uneasiness is, what I hear from England; and my concern for the lord treasurer is such, that, as a friend, I could wish he would take the resolution of retiring; for, by the letters I receive, he will unavoidably be mortified, and consequently, not be able to serve England with the success he has done hitherto. I do, with all my heart,

To the Queen.