Memoirs of the Duke of Marlborough

LXXXVII. — Artifices of Harley to hasten the Departure of the Duke
for the Continent. Passage of the Dúke for Holland. Trial and
Sentence of Sacheverell. Hostile Conduct of Shrewsbury, Somerset,
and Arygle. Popular Enthusiasm in favour of Sacheverell
LXXXVIII. Arrival of Marlborough in Holland. Congress of
Gertruydenberg. Ineffectual Expedients to modify the Article rela-
tive to the Evacuation of Spain. Louis rejects the Demands of the
Allies. Rupture of the Negotiation. Cautious Conduct of Marlbo-
rough. Further Refutation of the Charge of prolonging the War.
Plan of the Campaign. Eugene and Marlborough assemble the
Army in the Vicinity of Tournay. Force the French Lines. Sur-
render of Douay and Fort Scarpe
31

LXXXIX. -Violent Altercations between the Duchess and the Queen.

Their final Interview. Harley persuades the Queen to adopt a re-

gular Plan for the Dissolution of the Ministry. The Duke of Shrews-

bury appointed Lord Chamberlain without the Knowledge of the other

Ministers. Godolphin's Interview with the Queen

X C. Marlborough receives notice of the Duke of Shrewsbury's Ap-

pointment. Artful Conduct of Shrewsbury. Infatuation of Godol-

phin and the Whigs in giving credit to his Professions. Correspon-

dence. Struggle between the Queen and the Commander-in-chief,

relative to the Promotion of Major Masham and Colonel Hill. Tem-

porising Conduct of Godolphin and the Whigs. Forced Acquiescence

of Marlborough. Indiscreet Proposal to reconcile the Duchess and

Mrs. Masham

6.5

XCI.

Resolution of the Queen to dismiss Lord Sunderland. Unsuc-

cessful Interposition of Marlborough. Lukewarmness of the Whigs.

The Seals transferred from Sunderland to Lord Dartmouth. Marl-

borough prevailed upon to retain the Command. Increasing Ascen-

dency of the Tories

Page 77

XCII. Preponderance of the Tories. Alarm of the monied Men.

Deputation from the Bank. Apprehensions of the Allies. Fruitless

Interposition of the States. Letter of the Emperor to Marlborough,

and his Remonstrance with the Queen. Controversy between the

Queen and the Duchess

XCIII. Marlborough baffled by the skilful Dispositions of Villars.

Attack and Capture of Bethune. Domestic Affairs. Subtlety of

Harley in dividing the Whigs. Slights and Insults offered to the

Treasurer. Attempt of Harley to conciliate the Court of Hanover.

Artful Conduct of Shrewsbury

105

XCIV. Attempts of the Queen and Harley to disunite the Whigs.

Dismission of Godolphin. Appointment of the new Treasury Board.

Harley Chancellor of the Exchequer. Chagrin and Vexation of

Marlborough. He still retains the Command, through the Importu-

nities of his Friends. Formation of a Tory Ministry. Marlborough

shackled and dispirited in his Military Operations

XCV. Ferment excited by the Progress of Sacheverell.

122

Dissolution

- 137

of Parliament. Ascendency of the Tories. Delays in the Works at
Blenheim. Difficulties in obtaining Money for the Prosecution of
the Work. Marlborough courted by the Tories. Suspicions of the
Whigs and the Duchess. Manly Explanation of his Conduct

XCVI.-Military Operations in the Netherlands. Sieges and Capture

of Aire and St. Venant. State of the War on the Rhine, in Dauphiné,

and in Spain. The Duke of Savoy declines to take the Field. Failure

of the Campaign on the Side of the Alps, and of the Expedition on

the Coast of Languedoc. Campaign in the Peninsula. Advance of

the Confederates to Madrid. Formation of a new Army under the

command of Vendome. Capture of General Stanhope and the British

Troops at Brihuega. Battle of Villa Viciosa. Retreat of Staremberg

into Catalonia. Marlborough solicits the Government of the Nether-

lands

146

XCVII. Marlborough quits the Army and repairs to the Hague.

Receives discouraging Accounts of the State of Affairs in England.

Omission by Parliament of the customary Vote of Thanks for his

Military Services. Announces his Resolution to resign if the Duchess

is removed. Artful Intervention of the Duke of Shrewsbury. Com-

munications of the Duchess to the Queen, through the Agency of

Sir David Hamilton. Alarms of the Queen, lest the Duchess should

publish her, Private Letters. Intervention of Shrewsbury. The

Duchess vindicates herself against the Charge of Peculation and cor-

rupt Sale of Offices

162

XCVIJI.

Return of Marlborough to England. Audience of the
Queen. Endeavours to prevent the Disgrace of the Duchess. In-
teresting Audiences of the Queen. He in vain solicits the Supension
of his Wife's Disgrace. The Queen peremptorily demands her Key

of Office. Expedient of the Duchess to obtain the Arrears of the

Pension of 20001. Disposal of her Offices. She offends the Queen

by her disrespectful Conduct on quitting her Apartments in the

Palace

XCIX.

182

Page 172

Decline in the Popularity of Marlborough. Effect of the
"Examiner" and other political Writings of Swift and Prior. In-
quiry into the Causes of the Disasters in Spain. Renewal of the
Controversy relative to the Conduct of Peterborough and Galway.
Irksome Situation of Marlborough

C.- Arrival of Marlborough at the Hague. Progress of the secret

Negotiation between France and England. Preparations for the

Campaign. Domestic Occurrences in England. Harley and St. John

court Marlborough. Attempt of Guiscard to assassinate Harley.

Illness and sudden Death of the Emperor Joseph. The Allies support

the Claims of Charles for the Throne of the Empire. Opening of the

Campaign. Lines of Defence constructed by Marshal Villars. Marl-

borough joins the Army. Interview and Separation of Eugene and

Marlborough. Camp of Marlborough on the Plains of Lens 190

CI. Progress of the Negotiation with France. The preliminary Pro-

posals transmitted to the British Cabinet concealed from Marlborough.

Harley lays before the Commons his grand Scheme of Finance.