parts, at least in the beginning of the year, for they will have nothing to apprehend upon the Rhine till the month of July; and if the emperor can't force the elector of Bavaria this winter to quit the french interest, I believe it will be impossible to strengthen prince Eugene's army, so as to put him in a condition of acting offensively."

In closing our narrative of military transactions, we cannot neglect to render justice to the candour and liberality of Athlone. The veteran general, instead of indulging that jealousy, which too often rankles in less noble minds, seized an early opportunity to acknowledge his own errors, and applaud the merits of his illustrious colleague. "The success of this campaign," he said, "is solely due to this incomparable chief, since I confess that I, serving as second in command, opposed in all circumstances his opinion and proposals." No panegyric can equal this candid avowal. It is alike honourable to the general by whom it was made, and to him whom no obstructions could divert from the accomplishment of his beneficial designs.

A plan for the reduction of Cadiz had been formed by William, and the scheme was approved, and promoted by Marlborough among his friends in the ministry. Of this enterprise the detail belongs not to our history. It is sufficient to observe, that by a series of singular mismanagements, the scheme was frustrated, and that the spanish people, whom it was the interest of the allies to conciliate, were rendered inveterately hostile against the english and dutch, by the excesses and misconduct of the troops.

From the ill success of this attempt, the commanders of the expedition were induced to undertake an attack against Vigo, where a rich flota from America had taken refuge. By accident rather than skill, they succeeded in forcing their way into the harbour. But the plunder did not answer their expectations, or compensate for the charges of the armament; for the flota was destroyed in the conflict, and the principal part of the cargoes either sunk, or conveyed into the interior.

This partial success, therefore, did not weaken the sense of shame for the disgrace before Cadiz. The duke of Ormond and

Sir George Rooke, commanders of the army and fleet, accused each other for their failure, and the animosity of both parties proved their resolution to make the conduct and result of the expedition a subject of parliamentary inquiry.

Marlborough was aware that such an investigation could neither remedy the past, nor produce advantage for the future; while he was conscious that it would give rise to party feuds, which could not fail to prove highly detrimental to the common cause in general, and to England in particular. He therefore laboured to soothe the irritation of the respective chiefs, and by his correspondence with lord Godolphin, endeavoured to prevent the effects of an illtimed appeal to the public.

“Nov. 21, 1702. My letters tell me that the duke of Ormond is governed by people that will incline him to accuse Sir George Rooke. By what I am told here, I should think it would be more for his grace's service, and all the rest of the officers, that the conduct at Cadiz should not be inquired into; for what can be said for staying 26 days at Port St. Mary; for if Cadiz was to be attacked, they should not have staid there; and if the taking of Cadiz was not thought feasible, then they should not have lost time, but have reimbarked, to have attempted what was in their instructions. I forget that I am in a very idle place, and you, where you have little time to yourself, so that I must give you no farther trouble, but beg my most humble duty may be given to her majesty and the prince."

The contending chiefs appear to have been swayed by the prudent admonitions of Marlborough. They desisted from their mutual accusations; and the public, overlooking their failure at Cadiz, acknowledged their unexpected success at Vigo, with higher applause than it deserved. The scandalous disorders which marked the conduct of the troops, were no otherwise punished, than by the removal of a few officers, whose neglect of discipline had been too notorious to be treated with indulgence.

CHAPTER 14.

1702.

Return of the earl of Marlborough to England-Addressed by both houses on his success-The queen confers on him a dukedom, with a pension of £.5,000 a year from the post-office-The proposal to unite this grant with the title rejected by the commons-Marlborough supports the grant of a settlement to the prince of Denmark-His chagrin at the opposition it encountered from the whigs, particularly his son in law, lord Sunderland-Supports the bill against occasional conformity.

BEFORE the return of Marlborough to England, the queen had summoned a new parliament. The tories, by the influence of the crown and their own exertions, secured a considerable majority; Harley was rechosen speaker, without opposition, and the decisions of contested elections unequivocally manifested their ascendancy.

It was natural that a parliament so constituted should not be sparing in its praise of a general, who had hitherto distinguished himself by his attachment to tory principles. Yet the intrinsic value of his exploits was not so much regarded, as the contrast they presented to the less fortunate operations of king William. In the address of the commons, this sentiment was shewn by the expression, "The wonderful success of your majesty's arms, under the conduct of the earl of Marlborough, has signally retrieved the antient honour of this nation." The whigs made a vigorous effort to change this invidious term, but after a warm debate, they lost their amendment by a majority of an hundred voices.

As if to humble the commander, who had contravened their darling principles of foreign policy, they coupled his exploits with the trifling success at Vigo, by distinguishing the duke of Ormond

and Sir George Rooke, with similar testimonies of approbation, The public joy was testified by a thanksgiving at St. Paul's, which was attended by the queen and both houses of parliament. The general applause which the exploits of Marlborough awakened, favoured the intention which the queen had conceived before his return from the continent, of raising him to the highest rank which a subject can attain; and the votes of thanks from both houses, which he received on his arrival, gave her reason to hope that no opposition would be made, to the rewards which she designed to confer on a commander who had deserved so well of his country.

It has been generally imagined that the ducal title, with which Marlborough was soon afterwards honoured, was obtained solely by the influence of his countess. This was, however, on the contrary, the spontaneous act of the queen, suggested by the warmest sentiments of friendship and gratitude, and offered with the most flattering delicacy.

Lord Godolphin was first apprised of the queen's intention, and in forwarding to the countess the address of the house of lords, he observed, "I am apt to think Mrs. Morley may have something to say to you upon this subject, which perhaps you may not like, but I think it should be endured on such an occasion, when it is visible to the whole world that it is not done upon your own account."

Before the countess could reply, a letter arrived from the queen. After some affectionate expressions on her absence, she added: “Lord treasurer intends to send you a copy of the address of the house of lords, which is to be given me to-morrow, and that gives me an opportunity of mentioning a thing to you that I did not intend to do yet. It is It is very uneasy to your poor unfortunate faithful Morley, to think that she has so very little in her power to shew how truly sensible I am of all my lord Marlborough's kindness, especially at a time when he deserves all that a rich crown could give. But since there is nothing else at this time, I hope you will give me leave as soon as he comes, to make him a duke. I know my dear Mrs. Freeman does not care for any thing of that kind, nor am I satisfied with it, because it does not enough

express

the value I have for Mr. Freeman, nor nothing ever can,

how passionately I am yours my dear Mrs. Freeman."*

The reply of the countess to so kind and flattering a proposal is not preserved; but her sentiments on the subject are fully expressed in a letter afterwards written to one of her friends..

"I believe," she says, "there are very few in the world that did not think me very much pleased with the increase of honour the queen gave lord Marlborough when he commanded the army at her coming to the crown; and perhaps it is so ridiculous, at least what so few people will believe, that I would not mention it but to those that I could shew the orignal letters to. If there be any truth in a mortal it was so uneasy to me, that when I read the letter first upon it, I let it drop out of my hand, and was for some minutes like one that had received the news of the death of one of their dear friends; I was so sorry for any thing of that kind, having before all that was of any use.

"I fear you will think what I say upon this subject is affected; and therefore I must repeat again, that it was more uneasy to me for a time than can easily be believed. I do think there is no advantage but in going in at a door; and when a rule is settled, I like as well to follow five hundred as one, And the title of duke in a family, where there are many sons, is often a great burthen. Though at that time I had myself but one, yet I might have had more, and the next generation a great many. To conclude, a higher title was not my feat, and if I saw you, I could convince you of it."

In these declarations she is fully supported by the correspondence yet preserved. As she persisted in declining the proffered dignity, the lord treasurer next addressed himself to the queen, and pressed her to consult the delicacy of her friend, but his expostulations were as fruitless with her majesty as with the countess.+

*The queen to the countess of Marlborough, St. James's, Oct. 22. Conduct, p. 302, 304. M. S. letter in the Marlborough Papers.

Letter of Godolphin, printed in the Conduct, p. 304..