VIII. 1710. Revolution, had been appointed, soon after it, Secretary of State in the Whig cabinet. In the close of King William's reign, however, he withdrew from politics, and retired to Rome; and though earnestly pressed by Godolphin and Marlborough to take office, he still declined to do so, though he intrusted Marlborough with his proxy in the House of Lords. He professed, however, the warmest regard for Marlborough, and stood firm by him in the struggle for Harley's dismissal. In one of his letters he said, "I own it is hard at first to choose one's friendships well; but when they are once fixed upon a merit like the person you mention [Marlborough,] and their worth experienced by a long conversation, it is past my comprehension how that should ever be lessened or shaken, especially by the cunning Shrewsbury insinuations of one [Mrs Masham] who, every step she Aug. 1706. advances towards it, must discover the basest ingratitude imaginable to a benefactor, who has made her what she is."1 1 Duke of to Vernon, Coxe, v. 212. 53. the secret with Shrews bury, 1709. It was in the most secret manner that Harley and Progress of the Duke of Buckingham made their advances to this intrigue important nobleman. They first urged him to concur with them in forming a ministry on a broad basis-that is, of the moderate men of both parties, to the exclusion of the Whig junto, which had lorded it equally over the Queen, Godolphin, and Marlborough. These efforts, however, were at the time unsuccessful; but in the year 1709 Shrewsbury lent a more willing ear to Harley's insinuations, in consequence of several circumstances which had produced a coldness between him and the Whig leaders. He had been refused Godolphin's interest to procure for him a pension from the Queen; and he had also been refused the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland, VIII. 1710. which had been bestowed on Lord Wharton. But the CHAP. most unpardonable affront of all was the coldness shown. by the Duchess of Marlborough, and other Whig ladies, to his lady, an Italian by birth, who, after having been his mistress, was privately married to him at Rome. Harley, aware of these circumstances, redoubled his assiduities to the fascinating Duke, and prevailed on the Queen to offer to put at his disposal some elevated 239-242. situation, and to flatter his Duchess with delicate atten- ham, ii. 217, tions-which formed a striking contrast to the studied 212, 213. coldness of the Whig ladies of rank.1 These prudent steps on the part of Harley were not lost on Shrewsbury, whom we find, so early as July 1709, busily intriguing underhand with that astute courtier. Shrewsbury, however, in outward form, was still in the full confidence of Marlborough; and he continued to solicit and obtain numerous favours from him for his friends and adherents. He did not take a decided part against the Whigs till Sacheverell's trial, on which occasion he exerted himself to obtain a verdict of acquittal. Marlborough's absence on the Continent, Godolphin's accidental visit to Newmarket, and the prorogation of Parliament, which took place on 5th April, at length gave the Queen an opportunity of rewarding this conduct; and accordingly she sent her chamberlain, the Marquess of Kent, on the 13th, with orders to deliver his staff of office to the Duke of Shrewsbury, promising * "At home, politicians are busier than ever, especially Mr Harley, who omits no art or industry to strengthen his party, or to spread all the malicious insinuations imaginable against you and me. If one would believe Lord Rivers, who is very deep in all the measures and designs of the Tories, Mr Harley and Lord Rivers seem to take it for granted that the Duke of Shrewsbury is very fast engaged with them; for certain, he has been lately with the Queen."-Godolphin to Marlborough, July 29, 1709; Coxe, v. 213. 1 Conduct, Cunning Coxe, v. 54. Shrewsbury the Tories, openly joins March 1710. CHAP. VIII. the Marquess, at the same time, a dukedom in return for his ready compliance with her wishes. On the same 1710. evening she announced the appointment as a matter of course to Godolphin, who had not the slightest idea that mixon, 447. such a thing was in contemplation, upon whom it fell 215, 216. like a flash of lightning.1* 1 Conduct, 242. Old Coxe, v. 55. Had Godolphin been a man of greater decision and Godolphin's resolution of character, he would, on learning of this temporising conduct on appointment, which so clearly betrayed a secret influence the appoint- behind the throne, more powerful than that of the hearing of ment. ministry, have instantly resigned, and allowed the real advisers of the Queen to become her responsible servants. But he was deterred by the consideration that such a step would, as a necessary consequence, draw after it peace with France and the entire abandonment of all the objects of the war, and in all probability pave the way for the restoration of the Stuart line, and the utter ruin of all those who had taken an active part in bringing about the Revolution. Influenced by these pressing considerations, which the evident change in the temper of the nation, as evinced in Sacheverell's trial, rendered more important, he resolved to steer a middle course, and, without at once resigning, to remonstrate in the strongest manner against the appointment, and to point out the ruinous effect which such a public and decided "Since you went to Newmarket, I have received several assurances from the Duke of Shrewsbury of his readiness to serve me upon all occasions, and his willingness to come into my service; which offer I was very willing to accept of, having a very good opinion of him, and believing he may be of great use in these troublesome times. For these reasons I have resolved to part with the Duke of Kent, who, as I hope, will be easy in this matter by being made a duke. And I hope that this change will meet with your approbation, which I wish I may have in all my actions. I have not yet declared my intentions of giving the staff and key to the Duke of Shrewsbury, because I would be the first to acquaint you with it."-Queen Anne to Godolphin, April 13, 1709; OLDMIXON, 447. CHAP. VIII. 1710. proof of the transference of her confidence to another party would have upon her Allies abroad, the issue of the negotiations pending with France, and the probability of success in the attempts of that power to impose the Pretender upon this country. After alluding to the cabals of Shrewsbury with Harley and the Tories, and remonstrating against his appointment, he added, "What consequence can this possibly have, but to make every man that is now in your cabinet council, except the Duke of Somerset, to run from it as they would from the plague? and I leave it to your Majesty to judge what effect this entire change of your ministers will have among your Allies abroad, and how well this war is like to be carried on, in their opinions, by those who have all 1 Godolphin along opposed and obstructed it, and who will like any Anne, April peace the better, the more it leaves France at liberty Conduct, to take their time of imposing the Pretender on this v. 217. country. to Queen 16, 1710. 247. Coxe, rough's hearing of ment, May Godolphin, however, did not carry his threat into 56. execution; the Whigs did not run away in a body from Marlbothe cabinet, and he himself gave the first example of views on remaining in it. He even succeeded in convincing his the appointmore impetuous colleague, Sunderland, of the propriety 5. of keeping quiet, and neither resigning nor dissolving Parliament in the present temper of the nation. In this opinion Lord Somers concurred, deeming it better, in the mean time, to dissemble, in hopes that the storm would blow over.* Marlborough received the unwelcome and unexpected intelligence in a more worthy spirit, and, without concealing the important consequences * "I have seen Lord Somers and Lord Sunderland to-day; both appear to be as much mortified as myself, but thinking it reasonable enough to dissemble. I believe the good news from Lord Marlborough contributes something to that."-Godolphin to the Duchess of Marlborough, v. 219. CHAP. 1710. of the step, resolved only to confine himself to the faithful discharge of his public duties. "I confess to you that I am very much surprised at the courage of the Duke of Shrewsbury to come so freely into a storm: I think you and I may see very plainly, by neither the Queen nor his ever taking notice of it to us, that they have another scheme than what would be approved of by us. However, I cannot hinder wishing that the Queen may prosper; but I think it is impossible for her to have any quiet or ease in the hands I think she is running into. If we have a battle, it must be the last ; for it will be in all likelihood in a plain where there is neither tree nor hedge. I hope God will bless me with another opportunity of giving a mark of my zeal for the Queen and my country, and then I shall be the less concerned at the behaviour I have received of late." The really great are never, on a crisis, unworthy of themMay 5, 1710, selves. Marlborough was determined to be avenged on his enemies; but his was the vengeance of a noble mind."1 1 Marlborough to Godolphin, Coxe, v. 225. 57. Renewed contest Col. Hill's He, however, soon had convincing proof that the faithful and patriotic discharge of his duty as commanderregarding in-chief would save him from none of the vexations promotion. Consequent on the loss of his influence at court. Even in the promotion of officers in his own army, and of whose merit or claims to advancement he alone was cognisant, he was made to feel that he was fettered. After his brilliant exploit of forcing the French lines in the outset of the campaign, he laid before the Queen a list of officers for promotion on account of their conduct on the occasion; and in this last he confined the list of brigadiers to a single name before that of Colonel Hill, and of colonels to three names before that of Mr. |