CHAPTER 40.

1705.

Continuation of the struggle for the transfer of the great seal-Opposition of the queen -Increasing strength of the whigs in the new elections-Appeal of the queen to Marlborough, and his reply-Cowper appointed lord keeper-Meeting of Parliament -Choice of a whig Speaker-Speech from the throne-Parliamentary proceedings, and party bickerings.

HAVING closed the military operations, settled his journey

to Vienna, and finished his negotiations at the Hague, the duke was employed during his continuance at Herenthals, in completing the new arrangements in the british cabinet, and in giving consistency to that system which he and the treasurer had adopted.

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On his departure from England, the intention of Godolphin and himself was, to suffer the two parties to struggle for the new elections, without any interference from the court, concluding that when thus left to their own strength, they would be nearly balanced, and the queen would be enabled. to turn the scale to either side. In reply to one of the importunate letters from the duchess, pressing him to support the whigs, he observes :

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Hague, April. "You nor any body living can wish more for the having a good parliament than I do, but we may differ in our notions. I will own to you very freely mine; which is, that I think at this time it is for the queen's service, and the good of England, that the choice might be such as that neither party might have a great majority, so that her majesty might be able to influence what might be good for the common interest."

He gives the same advice, and employs the same arguments, in his letters to the queen and Godolphin, and appears to calculate confidently on the success of this scheme.

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To LORD GODOLPHIN.

July 6-17. The composition of the parliament seems to be such, that neither party can carry any point against the other by their own strength. One sort of gentlemen have behaved themselves so, that there remains very little room for debate which the queen should make her's. The care seems to be only, that she may not be in the power of a party; for there are indifferent and unlisted men enough, who will be content and zealous to promote the queen's affairs, though they see persons of a different partý from themselves employed; but though they will be content to see the queen govern, it will be uneasy to them to see a party govern. But I doubt not care will be taken to satisfy every person that deserves it."

He found, however, to his surprise, that he had been mistaken in his calculations, and that the unpopularity of the tories enabled the whigs to gain a considerable superiority. Thus circumstanced, he and Godolphin were compelled to incline still more to that party, whose ascendancy they had hitherto promoted, less from inclination, than from necessity.

The struggle for the removal of Sir Nathan Wright, which had continued in suspense since the spring, was now, renewed with redoubled warmth, and lord Godolphin promoted it with a degree of zeal, which could only have been prompted by the embarrassments of his situation. Continued difficulties, however, arose, from the aversion of the queen to confide to a zealous whig an office which exercised such patronage in the church, and such extensive influence over the civil administration. All the representations of Godolphin proving fruitless, the duchess of Marlborough was next induced to interfere. With persuasion and argument, she blended the most bitter invectives and reproaches for the queen's aversion to the whigs, and her infatuation in favour of the tories. These letters, many of which are printed in the

Conduct, will shew the vehement tone of remonstrance, which the favourite assumed; and we shall scarcely be surprised to find that this dispute increased the alienation which had already taken place in the mind of her royal mistress. Indeed the duchess herself, in one of her manuscript narratives, remarked that the first peevish letter she ever received from the queen, was on this

occasion.

Marlborough could not remain an indifferent spectator of the struggle. Though convinced that the meditated change was indispensable, he knew the difficulty of conquering prejudices which education and habit had inspired, and sincerely sympathised in the anxiety of his royal mistress. To Godolphin he writes:

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Aug 27. I am very sorry for what you tell me of the queen ; but I am confident she esteems you more than all the rest that talk to her, and you may imagine she is pressed by people that do not judge so well as you, and I pity her extremely. However, I hope, and am sure she will always be directed by you in every thing that is good for her service."

Still, however, the objections of the queen were rather silenced than overcome; and as a last resource she appealed to Marlborough, without the knowledge of lord Godolphin or the duchess, hoping from his congenial sentiments and attachment, that he would save her from so heartfelt a mortification. Her letter has not been preserved; but his answer will shew the strength and nature of her appeal, and will prove that he himself now found it necessary to combat her sentiments, and to resist the views of the tories, as the only expedient for continuing the contest against France, and rescuing England and the continent from dependence. Sept. 29, 1705, O. S. Your majesty has too much goodness for your servant, in but thinking of an excuse for your not writing. My obligations, as well as zealous inclinations for your service, are such as that you have but to command, and your majesty shall always find in me obedience."

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After adverting to his intended journey to Vienna, he proceeds: "Not knowing when I may have the honour of seeing your

majesty, I cannot end this letter without lamenting your condition; for I am afraid I see too plainly that you will be obliged by the heat and malice of some that would not stay in your service, to do more than otherwise would be necessary. What I say is from my heart and soul for your service; and if I had the honour of being with you, I should beg on my knees that you would lose no time in knowing of my lord treasurer what is fit to be done, that you might be in a condition of carrying on the war, and of opposing the extravagances of these mad people. If your majesty should have difficulty of doing this, I see no remedy under heaven, but that of sending for lord Rochester and lord Nottingham, and let them take your business into their hands, the consequences of which are very much to be feared; for I think they have neither courage nor temper enough to serve your majesty and the nation, in this difficult time, nor have they any support in England, but what they have from being thought violently at the head of a party, which will have the consequence of the other party's opposing them with all their strength.

"As I am sure your majesty has no thoughts but what are for the good of England, so I have no doubt but God will bless and direct you to do what may be best for yourself and for Europe."

This letter produced its due effect. The queen made no farther objection; and as the new parliament was on the point of meeting, the whigs were at length gratified with the removal of Sir Nathan Wright, and the transfer of the seals to Mr. Cowper, which took place on the 11th of October.

Soon after this change, the new parliament assembled. The primary question on the choice of a Speaker, evinced the decreasing strength of the tories. Mr. Smith, one of the most able, zealous, and honest of the other party, who was assisted by the influence of the crown, the interest of Marlborough, and the warm support of Harley, was elected by a majority of 43 votes, in preference to Mr. Bromley, to the great mortification of the moderate tories; who, though in concurrence with the crown, they opposed Bromley, yet wished for a more moderate party man than Smith, as we find from a letter of St. John to the duke.

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My lord;

"Whitehall, July 27, O. S., 1705. "It is a sin to give your grace any trouble in this manner, when you have so many of all kinds to torment you abroad; but your grace is so indulgent a master, that your servants are apt to presume. Her majesty having been pleased to direct her servants to promote all they can Mr. Smith's advancement to the chair of the house of commons, makes it too late to wish for another. It had been happy if that man could have been found, whom the whigs would have voted for, and who might have reconciled a great many of those people to him, that may cease to be tories, but can never become whigs. I anı afraid there is a prospect of much struggle in the winter; and I should be infinitely more so, if I did not live by faith in your grace. I depend upon your working some more miracles, to save us abroad and help support us at home."

Harley, however, did not participate, or at least did not appear to participate in the sentiments of his adherents; and he acquired fresh confidence by the zeal with which he espoused the new system of his patron.

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My lord;

October 6.

Yesterday the parliament met, and a very full house of commons. Mr. Smith and Mr. Bromley candidates, the former carried it by 43; viz., 248 to 205: the zeal of gentlemen was greater than their knowledge, which brought them up with so much heat, and to be headed by people whose chief excellence was Billingsgate language, which had no other effect than to expose them to the scorn of the rest of mankind. I do not question but with care and application several of the misled gentlemen, who acted not out of malice but ignorance, will be reduced to a better sense and opinion of the queen's government."

On this choice Marlborough makes a few observations to lord Godolphin.

"Vienna, Nov. 14.

"I am sorry to see that there is so great a struggle for the Speaker; I hope it will be carried to your heart's desire, by such a superiority as may for the rest of this session make the queen's