Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 59, No. 364, February 1846

"Count Piper said, 'We made war on Poland only to subsist; our design in Saxony is only to terminate the war; but for the Muscovite he shall pay les pots cassées, and we will treat the Czar in a manner which posterity will hardly believe.' I secretly wished that already he was in the heart of Muscovy. After dinner he conveyed me to headquarters, and introduced me to his Majesty. He asked me whence I came, and where I had served. I replied, and mentioned my good fortune in having served three campaigns under your Highness. He questioned me much, particularly concerning your Highness and the English troops; and you may readily believe that I delineated my hero in the most lively and natural colours. Among other particulars, he asked me if your Highness yourself led the troops to the charge. I replied, that as all the troops were animated with the same ardour for fighting, that was not necessary; but that you were every where, and always in the hottest of the action, and gave your orders with that coolness which excites general admiration. I then related to him that you had been thrown from your horse, the death of your aide-de-camp Borafield, and many other things. He took great pleasure in this recital, and made me repeat the same thing twice. I also said that your Highness always spoke of his Majesty with esteem and admiration, and ardently desired to pay you his respects. He observed, 'That is not likely, but I should be delighted to see a general of whom I have heard so much.' They intend vigorously to attack the Muscovites, and expect to dethrone the Czar, compelling him to discharge all his foreign officers, and pay several millions as an indemnity. Should he refuse such conditions, the King is resolved to exterminate the Muscovites, and make their country a desert. God grant he may persist in this decision, rather than demand the restitution, as some assert, of the Protestant churches in Silesia! The Swedes in general are modest, but do not scruple to declare themselves invincible when the King is at their head." —General Grumbkow to Marlborough, Jan. 11 and 31, 1707. Coxe, III. 159-161.

12

Coxe, III. 167-169. The authenticity of this speech is placed beyond doubt by Lediard, who was then in Saxony, and gives it verbatim.

13

Coxe, III. 174-182.

14

"I cannot venture unless I am certain of success; for the inclinations in Holland are so strong for peace, that, if we had the least disadvantage, it would make them act very extravagant. I must own every country we have to do with, acts, in my opinion, so contrary to the general good, that it makes me quite weary of serving. The Emperor is in the wrong in almost every thing he does." —Marlborough to Godolphin, June 27, 1707; Coxe, III. 261.

15

Despatches, III. 142-207. – So much were the Dutch alienated from the common cause at this time, and set on acquisitions of their own, that they beheld with undisguised satisfaction the battle of Almanza, and disasters in Spain, as likely to render the Emperor more tractable in considering their proceedings in Flanders. "The States," says Marlborough, "received the news of this fatal stroke with less concern than I expected. This blow has made so little impression in the great towns in this country, that the generality of the people have shown satisfaction at it rather then otherwise, which I attribute mainly to the aversion to the present government." —Marlborough to Godolphin, May 13, 1707. Coxe, III. 204.

16

Coxe, III. 196-205.

17

Marlborough's Despatches, IV. 49.

18

Desp. IV. 95-101. Coxe, IV. 128-131.

19

Desp. IV. 79-102. Coxe, IV. 130-132.

20

"The treachery of Ghent, continual marching, and some letters I have received from England, (from the Queen and the Duchess,) have so vexed me, that I was yesterday in so great a fever, that the doctor would have persuaded me to have gone to Brussels; but I thank God I am now better, and by the next post I hope to answer your letters. The States have used this country so ill, that I noways doubt but all the towns in it will play us the same trick as Ghent if they have the power." —Marlborough to Godolphin, July 9, 1708.Coxe, IV. 38.

21

The above description of the field of Oudenarde is mainly taken from Coxe, IV. 134-135; but the author, from personal inspection of the field, can attest its accuracy.

22

Coxe, IV. 140-143.

23

Marlborough to Count Piper, 15th July 1708. – Desp. IV. 115. Coxe, IV. 144-145.

24

Coxe, IV. 146-151. Marlborouqh to Count Piper, 16th July 1708. – Desp. IV. 115. Duke of Berwck's Mem. II. 12.

25

Marlborough à M. De Themgue, 15th July 1708. – Desp. IV. 111.

26

Desp. IV. 111. Berwick himself states the prisoners at 9000. —Marlborough, II. 12. Marlborough to the Duchess, July 16, 1708. —Coxe, IV. 157.

27

Marlborough to Lord Godolphin, July 16 and 19, 1708.—Coxe, IV. 158, 159.

28

Conscious of the panic which prevailed in France, and aware that some brilliant enterprise was requisite to prevent the Dutch from listening to separate overtures for peace, Marlborough proposed to meet at Lille, and penetrate by the northern frontier into the heart of France. An expedition fitted out in England was to co-operate on the coast. But the design of penetrating direct into France seemed too bold even to Eugene, and, of course, encouraged strong opposition from a government so timid and vacillating as that of Holland. —Coxe, IV. 165.

29

Marlborough to Godolphin, July 23, 1708.—Coxe, IV. 165.

30

"I need not tell you how much I desire the nation may be at last eased of a burdensome war, by an honourable peace; and no one can judge better than yourself of the sincerity of my wishes to enjoy a little retirement at a place you have contributed in a great measure to make so desirable. I thank you for your good wishes to myself on this occasion. I dare say, Prince Eugene and I shall never differ about our laurels." —Marlborough to Mr Travers, July 30, 1708.

31

Coxe, IV. 216-219.

32

Marlborough to Godolphin, August 30, 1708.—Coxe, IV. 222.

33

Desp. IV. 241-260.

34

Desp. IV. 260-271. Marlborough to Godolphin, September 24, 1708.—Coxe, IV. 243.

35

Marlborough to Godolphin, October 1, 1708.—Coxe, IV. 254.

36