as yourself, there being none whose merit is more univerfally acknowledged by all parties, and who has made himself more friends, and fewer enemies. Your great abilities, and unqueftioned integrity, in those high employments which you have paffed through, would not have been able to have raised you this general approbation, had they not been accompanied with that moderation in an high fortune, and that affability of manners, which are fo confpicuous. through all parts of your life. Your averfion to any oftentatious arts of fetting to show thofe great fervices which you have done the publick, has not likewise a little contributed to that univerfal acknowledgement which is paid you by your country. you The confideration of this part of your character, is that which hinders me from enlarging on those extraordinary talents, which have given fo great a figure in the British fenate, as well as in that elegance and politeness which appear in your more retired converfation. I fhould be unpardonable if, after what I have faid, I fhould longer detain you with an addrefs of this nature; I cannot, however, conclude it without acknowledging thofe great obligations which you have laid upon, Sir, your most obedient, humble fervant, THE SPECTATOR. LETTER LETTER CCCCXIV *. To the Duke of MARLBOROUGH +. MY LORD, A [1712.] S it is natural to have a fondnefs for what has coft us much time and attention to produce, *Prefixed to the fourth volume of "The Spectator." See a former letter to the Duke, p. 322. John Churchill, eldest fon of Sir Winftan Churchill, of Wooten-Baffet, in the county of Wilts, was born June 24, 1650. The Duke of York obtained for him an enfigncy in the guards fo early as 1666; and a company of grenadiers, under the Duke of Monmouth, in 1672, at the fiege of Maeftricht. On his return, he was appointed a lieutenant-colonel, a gentleman of the bedchamber, and master of the robes to the Duke of York. Attending the Duke into Scotland, he had a regiment of dragoons; and was created Baron of Aymouth in that kingdom, Dec. 1, 1682. King James, on his acceffion, appointed him gentleman of the bedchamber, captain of a troop of his life-guard; and created him Baron Churchill of Sandridge, May 14, 1685. At the Revolu tion, he was continued gentleman of the bed-chamber; fworn of the privy council, Feb. 6, 1688-9; created Earl of Marlborough, April 9, 1689; the fame year was commander of the English forces in Flanders, and in 1690 had the fame employment in Ireland. He was, notwithstanding, difmiffed from the King's fervice, and even committed to the Tower on fufpicion of a plot. On the death of Queen Mary, he was recalled to the privy council; and appointed, June 19, 1698, governor to the Duke of Gloucefter, with this extraordinary compliment from the King, "My "Lord, make him but what you are, and my nephew will be all "I wish to fee him." He was three times one of the lords juftices in the King's abfence; and, in 1701, commander in chief of the English forces in Holland, and ambassador extraordinary to the States General. King William having warmly recommended him to the Princefs Anne, he was, about a week after her Majefty's acceffion, elected Knight of the Garter; and, foon after, appointed produce, I hope your Grace will forgive my endeavour to preferve this work from oblivion, by affixing to it your memorable name. I fhall not here prefume to mention the illuftrious paffages of your life, which are celebrated by the whole age, and have been the subject of the most fublime pens; but if I could convey you to pofterity in your private character, and defcribe the ftature, the behaviour, and aspect, of the Duke of Marlborough, I question not but it would fill the reader with more agreeable images, and give him a more delightful entertainment than what can be found in the following, or any other book. One cannot indeed without offence to yourself observe, that you excel the rest of man appointed captain-general of all the forces, and ambassador to The States. In 1702, he commanded the army in Flanders; and, at his return, was created, Dec. 22, Marquis of Blandford and Duke of Marlborough. In 1704, in confequence of the memorable victory at Hock sted, he was appointed a Prince of the Empire; and had Mildenheim affigned for his principality, Nov. 12, 1705. On the 19th of January, 1710-11, finding the Queen's prepoffeffion against his Duchess could not be overcome, he carried a furrender of all her places to her Majefty; and was himself dismissed, Dec, 30, 1711. Upon the Earl of Godolphin's death, resolving to quit this kingdom, he embarked at Dover, Nov. 14, 1712; and the Duchefs followed him in February. On the acceffion of King George I. he returned to London, Aug. 4, 1714; and was again, Sept. 24, appointed captain-general of the land forces, master-general of the ordnance, and colonel of the first regiment of footguards. He died at Windfor Lodge, June 16, 1722, in the 72d year of his age, and was buried with great folemnity in Weftminfter-abbey. kind in the leaft, as well as the greatest endowments. Nor were it a circumftance to be mentioned, if the graces and attractions of your perfon were not the only pre-eminence you have above others, which is left, almoft, unobserved by greater writers. Yet how pleafing would it be to those who fhall read the surprising revolutions in your ftory, to be made acquainted with your ordinary life and deportment! How pleafing would it be to hear that the fame man, who had carried fire and fword into the countries of all that had oppofed the cause of liberty, and struck a terror into the armies of France, had, in the midst of his high station, a behaviour as gentle as is ufual in the first steps towards greatness! And if it were poffible to exprefs that easy grandeur, which did at once perfuade and command; it would appear as clearly to thofe to come, as it does to his contemporaries, that all the great events which were brought to pass under the conduct of fo well-governed a fpirit, were the bleffings of Heaven upon wisdom and valour; and all which seem adverse fell out by divine permiffion, which we are not to fearch into. You have paffed that year of life wherein the moft able and fortunate Captain, before your time, declared he had lived enough both to nature and to glory; and your Grace may make that reflection with much more juftice. He spoke it after he had arrived at empire by an ufurpa tion upon those whom he had enflaved; but the Prince of Mildenheim may rejoice in a fovereignty which was the gift of him whofe dominions he had preserved. Glory established upon the uninterrupted fuccefs of honourable defigns, and actions, is not fubject to diminution; nor can any attempts. prevail against it, but in the proportion which the narrow circuit of rumour bears to the unlimited extent of fame. : We may congratulate your Grace not only upon your high atchievements, but likewife upon the happy expiration of your command, by which your glory is put out of the power of Fortune and when your perfon fhall be fo too, that the Author and Difpofer of all things may place you in that higher manfion of blifs and immortality which is prepared for good princes, law-givers, and heroes, when HE IN HIS due time removes them from the envy of mankind, is the hearty prayer of, my Lord, your Grace's moft obedient, moft devoted, humble fervant, THE SPECTATOR. LETTER |