Digitized by Google ' - •!?: Digitized by Google Digitized by Google Digitized by Google / ' X'' . 'A'y'r.x’ Digitized by Google {» > ! / V. s- i '4^ “•' -•> f t'is'* V ; -•' ;• > i»' -I'^r ,• . HAC'JHIS, m /i*. Jl^a. I.KX I'.s.A. !>i aC*'" B.-r .'- “ •-' 0, tlT ^ '"t . 0 N a F. V i 4 ’ ! .*> '„ .--- J.- ; «.; a»te; A'fBSJitl. •** . f- HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1848 . Digitized by Google MEMOIES or XKK DUKE OF MAELBOROUGH, WITH HIS OKiamAL GOBRESPONHENCE : CULLBCTED PROM THE FAMILY RECORDS AT BLENHEIM AND OTHER AUTHENTIC SOURCES. BY WILLIAM COXE, M.A. F.R.S. F.S.A. ARCHDEACON OF WILTS. A NEW EDITION, REVISED BY JOHN WADE, LONDON: HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. 1848 . Digitized by Google London: SporrawooDB and Sbaw, ,New-itrcet-Squar«. Digitized by Coogle CONTENTS Q£ THE THIRD VOLUME. Chap. LXXXVI,— Return of Marlborough to England. Speech from the TTiroiie. He. receives the Thanks of both Houses. Public Fei^ ment occasioned by Dr. Sacheverell. His Impeachment. Attempts of Harley to humble Marlborough, llte Queen appoints Lord Rivers Constable of the Tower, and orders the Duke to confer a Regiment on Colonel HilL Marlborough retires to Windsor Lodge. ProiX)3e8 to eitort the Dismission of Mrs. Masham. Counteracted by Godolphin. Correspondence. Marlboroogb is persuaded to accept a Compromise. Page 1 LXXXVn. — Artifices of Harley to hasten the Departure of the Duke for the Continent. Passage of the Duke for Holland. Trial and Sentence of Sacheverell. Hostile Conduct of Shrewsbury, Somerset, and Arygle. Popular Enthusiasm in favour of Sacheverell - 21 LXXXVIII. — Arrival of Marlborough in Holland. Congress of Gertruydenberg. Ineffectual Eipedients 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 a^mble 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 - - 52 XC. — 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 (|ucen and the Comniander-in-chicf, relative to the Promotion of Major Masham and Colonel Hill. Tem- porising Conduct of Godolphin and the Whigs. Forced Acquiescence of Marlborough. Indiscrwt Proposal to reconcile the Duchess an~d - - Mrs. Masham ; ; ; ^ - 65 Digifeed by Googl IV CONTENTS. XCl. — Resolution of the Queen to Hinmim Lord Sunderland. Utmuc- cessful Interposition of Marlborough. Lukewarmness of the Whigs. The Seals transferred from Sunderland to Lord Uartmouth. Marl - borough prevailed upon to retain the Command. Increasing Ascen- - dency of the Tories ' ' ~ ~ . _ 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 Marlborou{;h, and his Remonstrance with the Queen. Controversy between the Queen and the Duchess ; ^ ; - 97 XCII I. — Marlborough baffled by the skilful Dispositions of Villars. Attack and Capture of Bethuiie. 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 Qu^n and Harley to disunite the Whigs. Disnaission of Godolphin. Appointment of the new Treasury Board. Harley Chancellor of the Exchequer. Chagrin and V^exation of Marlborough. He i ill retains the Command, through the Importu- nities of his Friends. Formation of a Tory Ministry7 Marlborough shackled and dispirited in his Military Operations - 122 XCV. — Ferment excited by the Progress of Sacheverell. Dissolution of Parliament. Ascendency of the Tories. Delays in the Works ^ Blenheina. Difficulties in obtaining Money for the Prosecution of the Work. Marlboroush courted by the Tories. Suspicions of the Whigs and the Duchess. Manly Explanation of his Conduct - 1 37 XCVl7— Military Operations in the Netherlands. Sieges and Capture of Aire and St. Venant. State of the War on the Rhine, in Dauphin^ 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 limitary Services. Announces bis 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 XCVII I 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 CONTENTS. Jf of Office. Expedient of the Duchess to obtain the Arrears of the Pension of gOOOi. Disposal of her Offices. She offends the Queen by her disrespertful Conduct on quitting her Apartments in the Palace ~ ~ ' - Page 172 _ XCIX. —- Decline in the Popularity of MarlhorouRh. ly^tof the Examiner” other politicd Writinfp of Swift Md Prior. In- quiry into the Causes of the Disasters in Spain. Renewal of the Controversy relative to the Conduct of PetcrborouRb and Galway. Irksome Situation of Marlborough - ... 182 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 Rlarshal Villars. Marl- borough joins the Army. Interview and Operation of Eugene and Marlborough. Camp of Marlborough on the Plains of Lens - 190 Cl. — 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. Death of Harley’s Rival, Lord Rochester. Created Earl of Oxford, and appointed Lord High Treasurer. Address to the Queen announc- ing a Deficit of I'hirty-nve Millions unaccounted for. Oxford deceives the Whigs, and courts the Duke of Marlborough - • 208 CII. — Marlborough’s Operations preparatory to the Investment of Bouchain. Skilful Movements to delude Villars. Rapid March, and successful Passage of the French Lines. Passes the Scheldt. Replies to the Censures on his Conduct, and vindicates his Operations, in a Letter to Count Zinzendorf - - - - - 221 cm. — The Investment of Bouchain. Obstacles and Progress of the Line of Circumvallation. Correspondence. Termination of the Sieg^ Generous Conduct of the British Commander towards Fenelon. Arch - bishop of Cambray - - - - - 232 CIV. — Marlborough proposes to besiege Quesnoy. Correspondence with Lord Treasurer Oxford. Sends Lord Stair to London, to pr^ nnote a more cordial Understanding with the Minister, and to disclose his Project for the Invasion of France in the Spring. Return of Lord Stair, and Duplicity of Oxford. Result of the secret Negotiation with France. Close of the Campaign. Elevation of Charles to the Throne of the Empire. State of the War in Spain, on the Rhine, and on the Side of the .^Ips - - - - - - 242 CV. Marlborough complains to the Ministers of the Libels with which be was assailed. Charged with Fraud and Peculation in the Depo- sition of Sir Solomon Medina, one of the Army Contractors. Vindi- cation of his Conduct. Returns to England. Remonstrates with the Queen against the Peace. Expedients adopted by the Opposition to annoy the Ministry. Union of Marlborough with the Whigs and Nottingham - - - - - - 259 VI CONTENTS. CVI. —' Ineffectual attempt of the Minirtry to gain Marlborough. Opening of the Parliament. Speech of the Duke of jMarlborou(Th. Aleurns of the Ministry and the Queen. Charges of Feculation brought forward against Marlborough. Dismission of the Duke. The Ministers obtain a Majority by the Creation of Twelve new Peers - - - - - - - Page 270 CVII.^^— Disposal of the Places held by Marlborough. Decision of Parliament against Marlborough, for accepting Gratuities from thF Army Contractors, and Two and a Half per Cent, from the Pay of the foreign Auxiliaries. An Order issued to the Attorney-general to in- stitute a Prosecution. Refutation of the Charges. Arrival of Prince Eugene in England. His Memorials and Remonstrances treated with Contempt. Departure of Eugene. Charges against the House of Austria and the Dutch for neglecting to supply their Contingents. Censure of the Barrier Treaty in the House of Commons - 283 CVI 1 1. — Opening of the Conferences at Utrecht. Contradictory De- mands of the Allies. Embarrassment of the British Ministry. Deaths of the Dauphin, his Consort, and their eldest Son. Attempts to pre- vent the L'nion of Prance and Spain under the same Head.