short and harsh answer, complaining that the duchess had broke her promise of not saying any thing of politics or of Mrs. M. The duchess in her rejoinder-for she never failed to have the last word-assured her majesty that all the politics in her letter was her concern for the duke, making it her last request, that her majesty would only defer the blow till the end of the campaign. This, she added, she begged upon her knees, and left her majesty to judge, whether after such an expression, it was likely that she should ever enter into any thing that could displease her. This meanness only served to add contempt to hatred, and on the 14th June (1710), the seals were taken from lord Sunderland, and given to the earl of Dartmouth. This was considered both at home and abroad, as an open declaration of hostility against the whole Marlborough connection; and if a few weeks elapsed before any farther changes were made, it was merely to settle the necessary arrangements. On the 8th of August ensuing, the earl of Godolphin was ordered to break his staff; and a period was put to his wise, fortunate, and glorious administration.

From this lively picture of human nature, its weaknesses, its prejudices, and its passions, we may learn the inefficacy of violence to influence the will, and the inestimable value, in all circumstances and situations, of a spirit of mildness, equity, and conciliation, when guided and regulated by that superior sagacity, which is necessary to the ultimate success of all human affairs.

Vide conduct of the Duchess of Marlborough,
Tindal, Burnet, &c.

MARESCHAL DE BOUFFLERS

ΤΟ

LOUIS XIV.

A. D. 1709.

(Extract.)

From the Camp at Quesnoy, September 11, 1709. IT is a great affliction to me, sire, that I am unfor. tunately obliged to send you the news of the loss of a new battle: but I can assure your majesty, never was misfortune attended with greater glory. All your majesty's troops have acquired the greatest reputation, as well for their valor as for their firmness and obstinacy, not yielding at last but to the enemy's superiority, having all done perfect wonders. All the marechal de 'Villars's dispositions were entirely good, and the best that could be made by the most accomplished and experienced general. He behaved himself in the action with all imaginable bravery and activity; and besides his good example, gave all possible good orders; but his valor and want of care of his person occasioned his wound, which was very prejudicial to the affair of this unfortunate day. He did me the honor to entrust me with the right, and himself took care of the left. We repulsed the enemy more than three or four times at both attacks, with incredible bravery on the part of the troops; but the centre being somewhat exposed, wo

were forced to carry troops to the left, where they were very much wanted, and the enemy marched so many horse and foot against the centre, where there were none but horse to oppose them, that we were obliged to yield to the infinitely superior number, and prodigious efforts of the enemy, after having charged them, however, at least six times, and with the greatest vigor pushed and broke two or three of the enemy's lines. I can assure your majesty that the enemy's loss is three times greater than ours, and that they can make no other advantage of this unfortunate action, than gaining the field of battle, and that this ill success will not cost you an inch of ground. M. D'Artagnan, who commanded the right of the foot, distinguished himself in a particular manner: the duc de Guiche behaved himself likewise with all possible skill and bravery: M. de Gassion did wonders at the head of your majesty's household: the prince de Rohan and monsieur de Vidame did all that could be expected from persons of the greatest valor. The gendarmerie did wonders also: the cavalry be haved themselves very well; all the foot did wonders and distinguished themselves. Never was a retreat, after so long, bloody, and obstinate a fight, made with more order and firmness. The enemy followed us in battalia, and in very good order, as far as the defile of Givri, but with respect, not daring to attack us.

(Extract II.)

Camp at Quesnoy, September 12, 1709.

PRINCE Eugene and the duke of Marlborough own that there are, on both sides, above 25 or 26,000 men killed; at least 18 or 20,000 were of theirs, which

unanimously confirmed to me, not only by all such of our officers, who, being prisoners, have been sent back with much courtesy, but by several expresses I have sent into their army, and even by Mr. Sheldon, a brigadier, who was taken prisoner near Bossu, doing his duty with valor at the head of 400 horse, and who was in their army during the action. Prince Eugene and my lord Marlborough carried him with them all over the field of battle. He tells us it was dreadful to see such a vast number of dead bodies, which he says amounted to 15 or 16,000, though many of them had already been buried. Prince Eugene declares, that of all the actions he has seen, none were so sharp, so bloody, nor so obstinate as this. We cannot but with concern lament the loss of so many brave men of merit; but we must account a great victory the having retrieved and restored the honor of the whole nation.

Some gasconading expressions in these letters of M. Boufflers, gave occasion to a lively parody upon the marechal's narrative, in the then fashionable periodical paper, stiled, The Tatler, though the account appears to have been, as to essentials, just and proper. The sarcastic epitome of Stecle, the author of this ludicrous jeu d'esprit, is as follows:

SIR-This is to let your majesty understand, that to your immortal honour, and the destruction of the confederates, your troops have lost another battle. Artagnan did wonders; Rohan performed miracles; Guiche did wonders; Gassion performed miracles; the whole army distinguished themselves, and every body did wonders. And to conclude the wonders of the day, I

can assure your majesty, that though you have lost the field of battle, you have not lost an inch of grounds The enemy marched behind us with respect, and we ran away from them as bold as lions.

I

But though the gay and the thoughtless miglit smile at this sally of wit, the nation at large were deeply im pressed with the melancholy reflection, that 25,000 liyes had been sacrificed for no visible end or purpose. This fierce and bloody conflict, which could but just be termed a victory, gave the first great shock to the pos pularity of the war; the professed object of which, the transfer of the Spanish monarchy to the house of Austria, seemed every day to become more extravagant and chimerical. The conduct of the English and imperial ge nerals, in respect to this desperate engagement, was exposed to very severe censure. "In the opinion," says M. Rousset, "of the whole world, our generals were guilty of an irreparable fault in not attacking the ninth, but delaying it in expectation of six-and-twenty battalions and some squadrons, whilst in the mean time, by giving the enemy time to intrench themselves, which was what we had infallibly to expect from a general, so accustomed to it as the mareschal de Villars, we weakened ourselves in proportion as the enemy grew more formidable. Besides, we thereby gave him all the time he could wish to penetrate into our disposition, to recall several detachments, which did not join him till the tenth, and in short to render all those places impenetrable, through which only our troops could break into the plain. In the council of war, which was held the ninth, the deputies of the States General were of opinion,