ship of war from Blathwayte to Henry St. John. This youthful statesman, who now commenced his public career, was the friend of Harley, and by him appears to have been introduced to the notice of the duke. His splendid and premature talents soon strengthened the impression made by his captivating amenity of manners, and he rapidly ingratiated himself with his noble patron, by an affectation of the most zealous attachment. Marlborough took the warmest interest in his promotion, and recommended him to Godolphin as one on whose integrity he might securely rely. "I am very

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glad," he says, you are so well pleased with Mr. St. John's diligence, and I am very confident he will never deceive you.

you."*

Marlborough was indeed so impatient for the appointment of Harley, that in one of his letters he earnestly requests Godolphin to take no excuse, but to insist on his acceptance of the seals, as soon as Nottingham was dismissed.

In another of the 2d of June he observes, "Now that the speaker is in the privy council, I hope it will not be long before you will have the ease of having him in the place of lord Nottingham."

At length when his wishes were gratified, we find him expressing his satisfaction to Harley himself.

"June 1-12.-I am favoured with your letter of the 19-30, and hope the office you have entered upon will be no less agreeable to you, than your service therein advantageous to the public; to both of which I am assured her majesty has especial re

* Burkeim, July 13. 1704.

gard in the choice she has been pleased to make of a person so fitly qualified, by experience and fidelity, for a post of that importance and trust. In my own particular I am sensible of the advantage I shall reap by it, in having so good a friend near her majesty's person, to represent in the truest light my faithful endeavours for her service, and the advantage of the public, which shall always be sole aim wherever I am, and wherein I must very much depend on your good advice and direction for my guidance."

my

Many of the zealous whigs were highly offended at these appointments, which they regarded as a slight to their party; and their complaints were imparted to Marlborough by his son-in-law, lord Sunderland. But he had still more vehement expostulations to encounter from his duchess. She depicted the attachment and zeal professed by Harley, as mere artifices to clothe his consummate subtlety; and her keen sagacity equally discovered the insatiable ambition and party zeal, which in St. John was cloaked with the appearance of unaffected candour, and careless vivacity. She conjured her husband to moderate his confidence towards two persons, whom she regarded as doubtful friends, if not dangerous enemies. Marlborough, however, neglected these warnings, from the honourable motive of regarding merit and abilities in the choice of his confidents, and from a native magnanimity of character, which was as unsuspicious as it was itself above suspicion. He thus unconsciously prepared the way for his subsequent mortification and final disgrace.

CHAPTER 21.

1704.

Arrangements of Marlborough for the campaign. Returns ·Difficulties in obtaining aid from the

to the continent.

States. Commences his march towards the Danube.Gradual developement of his plans. — Arrival at Mentz. -March of french reinforcements into Bavaria. - Negligence of the margrave of Baden in permitting their junction with the elector.

DURING his short stay in England, Marlborough exerted himself in dispatching the recruits and reinforcements to the continent, and maturing the military arrangements. Conscious how much his future success depended on secresy, he professed in England, as in Holland, his design of acting on the Moselle; and even to the queen and lord Godolphin, he appears to have made only a partial disclosure of his views.

Through the agency of prince Eugene, with whom he had secretly arranged the whole plan of the campaign*, he induced the emperor to write a confidential letter to the queen, claiming assistance proportionate to the magnitude of his danger;

* Letters from Eugene to Marlborough, in the Blenheim Papers, also Vie du Prince Eugene, t. ii. p. 156.

and on the 2d of April the imperial minister privately made a similar appeal in the name of his master. On this ground Marlborough procured a general instruction from the cabinet, which is dated the 4th, empowering him to repair to Holland, and concert with the States such measures as should be deemed proper for relieving the emperor, and reducing the elector of Bavaria. *

Even the partial hints which thus transpired, of a vigorous effort in Germany, appear to have awakened party jealousy. The high tories renewed their clamours against the system of offensive war, and dwelt with their usual emphasis on the hazard of distant enterprises, and the impolicy of continental connections.

Despising, however, these idle declamations, Marlborough hastened to fulfil his instructions, and to prepare for his momentous undertaking.

On the 19th of April, N. S. he embarked at Harwich with his brother, general Churchill, the earl of Orkney, and other officers; landed at Maeslandsluys, and reached the Hague on the 21st. His first care was to combat the constitutional tardiness of the margrave of Baden. He affected to adopt a plan, which that prince had furnished for a campaign on the Moselle, communicated the arrangements which were then pending with the States, and urged the necessity of an early and vigorous effort against the elector of Bavaria, because he should himself be obliged to return to the Netherlands towards the end of

Instructions to John duke of Marlborough, April 4. 1704.

July. The next object was, to complete the dispositions which he had left unfinished in his recent visit to the Hague. Still, however, he found extreme difficulty in prompting a timid and commercial people, whose whole views were confined to temporary safety, to engage even in the modified plan which he had hitherto suggested, for an expedition to the Moselle. The design was opposed with peculiar warmth and pertinacity by the provinces of Zealand and Friesland.

Marlborough held several discussions with the deputies of the States, but with little effect.

He observes to Godolphin, April 11-22:-" The measures they are willing to take here for this campaign, in my opinion, are very wrong; for they would have an army on the Moselle of only 15,000 men, and the rest in Flanders, without any design but that of taking such advantage as the enemy should give. I am sure if I cannot prevail with them to change this measure, I shall have very little heart to serve."

After passing several days in combating the alarms of some, and the factious opposition of others, he resolved to extort that aid from their fears which he could not obtain from their public spirit, by declaring his intention to lead the english troops alone to the Moselle.

"I am afraid," he feelingly writes to the duchess, April 17-28, "this world is made more for trouble than happiness; for at this time I am hagged out of my life, so that I long extremely for Monday, which is the day I intend to leave this place. I shall go to the army on the Meuse