LORD GODOLPHIN TO THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

June 24, 1707.

*

I am glad to find, by the Duke of Wertemberg's letter, that the forcing of the lines of Holhoffen is not like to have any worse consequences, since the Court of Vienna would not in six months time send a General to the Rhine. One cannot help being the less concerned for any uneasiness of this kind to them, provided it does not leave the French at liberty to send any detachment from thence to Flanders, of which, however, I think we cannot be secure till we hear of the Duke of Savoy's march, which will soon oblige the French to turn their thoughts that way. In the meanwhile their superiority continues in Flanders. You may be sure I shall not press you for a detachment from your army, either for Spain,

or for a descent.

I shall take care of your commands for Dr. Chetwood, and add no more to this letter but an excuse for its being already unreasonably long.

(Addition in the hand of the Duchess of Marlborough.)

Lord Treasurer has desired me to add to this letter, (which he forgot,) that he hopes you will do what you can to recover our prisoners lost in Spain, by the exchange of those that are now, by your favour, at their ease in France.

I remember, in Mr. Montgomery's last letter, he wrote something to you of the great desire 220 had to be in 85, which I cannot but wish may not

be so, for I think nobody should go there that is not in all respects what one would desire, unless there is a necessity of it; and I have known several things of him I do not like. Besides that, he is so near relation to 31, and I believe he has been sufficiently gratified already for any service he has ever done. God send good news from you, my dearest life.

Monsieur Vryburgh writ to me to-day; he goes to Holland, in three or four days, for six weeks.

MR. CRAGGS TO THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH. London, July 22, 1707.

My Lord,

We are three mails in arrear from Flanders, which makes all our politics here in a perfect stagnation, for till the affair of Toulon is decided, our wise men are very cautious in speaking their minds. The accidents of this year have given a great many people the opportunity of expressing their zeal to the administration; and I think the best and only friend is success, for no obligation can tie an ungrateful man. May God Almighty prosper your generous designs for the good of mankind, and grant you health and temper to bear the malice of ungenerous enemies, and ingratitude of false friends.

The only news that I can pretend to tell you is, that Mr. Boucher and Mr. Pauncefort have thrown the Right Hon. Lord Wharton out of the high stewardship of Malmesbury, after his Honour had

treated and threatened the town for ten days together, and at last gave them a farewell benediction, that as they had been an ungrateful perfidious corporation to him, so he would endeavour to extirpate them as such, and would never more be seen within their villainous town. They have chosen Mr. Younge, of about three hundred pounds a year, and one whom his lordship had particularly oppressed to the utmost of his power.

THE DUKE OF SHREWSBURY TO THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

My Lord,

Heathorp, July 26, 1707.

I return you many thanks for the honour of your letter, and the good news your Grace gives of the Duke of Savoy's being entered into Provence, with a design of taking Toulon. If that port could be destroyed, with the men-of-war that are usually laid up in it, it would be a great advantage to England. I have two new plans by me, which I procured the last time his Royal Highness entered into France, in hopes that then something of this nature might have been done; for the place itself towards land was then, and I believe is still, of no great strength. I hope dispositions are more favourable now than they were then to the effecting of this great design, and that the vigour shewn now will make everybody forget how little was done then, and the cause of it.

I perceive your Grace is not satisfied, because you have no prospect of such vast success as you have had some other campaigns; but such victories as Blenheim and Ramilies are not annual plants.

I lately made a visit to my Lady Westmoreland* at Whitton, and did not go to Windsor, because I know the appearance of people at Court who have formerly been in posts does always create discourse, as if one were aiming at something of the same nature. As I have no such design, I judged it best to give no new jealousy to any in places, or in expectation of them, which is no inconsiderable part of the nation. I understand some have since represented it as if I were dissatisfied, and had a mind to shew it by that absence. I am sure my behaviour, in everything that relates to her Majesty's interests, shall, in my small sphere, shew me very far from any such thought, and if going to Windsor on foot were necessary to shew my respect and duty to so great and good a Queen, I should do it most willingly.

Having not seen Blenheim since I waited on the Duchess of Marlborough there, about a month ago, I can give your Grace no fresh news, as from thence I came from Northamptonshire, but have heard it goes on very fast. Mine is above ground, and what

* Dorothy Brudenell, Countess of Westmoreland, widow of Charles Fane, Earl of Westmoreland, who died in 1691. She afterwards married Robert Constable, Viscount Dunbar, and died in 1739. She was aunt to the Duke of Shrewsbury, and the youngest daughter of Robert Brudenell, second Earl of Cardigan.

pleases me most in it is the hopes that the neighbourhood may sometimes afford me an opportunity of waiting on your Grace.

I have seen a letter from Mr. Irons, very full of acknowledgements for the post you have given him. The Duchess of Shrewsbury gives you her most humble service and best wishes for your success and safety. I do the same, and am, &c.

DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH TO LORD GODOLPHIN.

Meldert, July 27th, 1707.

Being obliged to be abroad almost the whole day of the last post, I could not answer yours of the 6th as I ought.

You may be assured that I shall not send the letter to 56, (King of Sweden,) but as corrected and approved by yourself and friends, but by what I have from thence, I am in hopes there will be no occasion of writing; but if there should, I believe we must do it without acquainting 62; for it is certain that 100 (the Dutch) will never consent to have the preliminaries sent; for I am afraid they are of an opinion they will never be obtained of 43, (France,) however, I am of an opinion that 108 (England) must never depart from them.

You will see by my last letter to 199 (Mr. Harley) that I shall delay the answer to 116's (the States) letter, for, by what is written from Vienna of the behaviour of the Hungarians, I think even 116 (the States) will be of an opinion this is not