and important fortress on the Scheldt, which was connected by water-communication even with Amsterdam, and admirably calculated on that account, as well as its great strength, to form a base for operations, and place d'armes for the invasion of France. When it was subdued, the Allies were to direct their arms to Arras, the last in the triple line of fortresses which covered the French frontier on the north, and which would lay open the direct road to Paris. From thence the Allies were to advance to Calais and Abbeville, which was to be aided by an attack from the coast, and which would open the way for supplies from Great Britain. The possession of these fortresses, giving the Allies a secure base for operations connected both with Holland and England, would, it was thought, enable them to threaten Paris in the next campaign; or, if their terms were not acceded to, to advance at once and dictate peace under its walls. To aid this grand effort, subordinate expeditions were to be undertaken in the south of France by an invasion from Piedmont, in concert with a descent of English troops on the coast of Languedoc-in connection with which, communications had been opened with the disaffected in the Cevennes Mountains.1 CHAP. VIII. 1710. Coxe, v. Hist. de 177-179. Marlb. iii. 190-192. Rousset, ii. 288, 289. 31. parture for the Conti arrival at The secret camarilla which directed the Queen's councils, dreading the influence of Marlborough in Eng- Marlboland, were anxious for an opportunity of getting rid of rough's de him, and for this purpose took the earliest opportunity nent, and of sending him to Holland to superintend the negotia- the Hague. tions in person. In answer to an address from the Commons, the Queen observed, "I am very well pleased with this declaration of your just sense of the Duke of Marlborough's eminent services, which I am so fully convinced of that I shall always esteem him as God Almighty's VOL. II. H VIII. 1710. СНАР. chief instrument of my glory, and my people's happiness, and I will give the necessary orders for sending him immediately into Holland." When the Duke, in pursuance of these orders, commenced his journey to the place of embarkation, in passing through the streets of the capital his carriage was surrounded by multitudes, who expressed their regret for his departure; and many even presented petitions, requesting him not to leave the country during the tumult and agitation which had taken place, in consequence of the preparations for Sacheverell's trial. The Duke, however, deemed his public duty paramount to every other consideration, and proceeded without delay to the place of his destination-though well aware that, in his absence, nothing would be left undone which could lead to his overthrow, and, with it, that of the whole objects for which the war had been prosecuted.1 1 Coxe, v. 150, 151. 32. ment of the agreed on Eugene and rough. War being resolved on, Marlborough and Eugene Commence- met at Tournay on the 28th April, and commenced the campaign campaign by besieging the fort of Mortagne, which capitulated on the same day. Their force already amounted to sixty thousand men, and as the troops were daily coming up from their cantonments, it was expected soon to amount to double that number. The plan of operations was soon settled between these two great men; no difference of opinion ever occurred between them, no jealousy ever marred their co-operation. They determined to commence serious operations by attacking Douai-a strong fortress, and one of the last of the first order which, in that quarter, guarded the French territory. To succeed in this, however, it was necessary to pass the French lines, which were of great strength, and were guarded by Marshal Montes VIII. 1710. quieu at the head of forty battalions and twenty CHAP. squadrons. Douai itself was also strongly protected both by nature and art. On the one side lay the Haine and the Scarpe; in the centre was the canal of Douai ; on the other side were the lines of La Bassée, which had been strengthened with additional works since the close1 Marlboof the campaign. Marlborough was very sanguine of Godolphin, April 20, success, as the French force was not yet collected, and 1710. Coxe, he was considerably superior in number; and he wrote Hist. de to Godolphin on the same night,-"The orders are 190, 191. given for marching this night, so that I hope my next 289. will give you an account of our being in Artois."1 rough to v. 182. Marlb. iii. Rousset, ii. 33. the lines of The Duke operated at once by both wings. On the one wing he detached the Prince of Würtemberg, with Passage of fifteen thousand men, by Pont-à-Tessin to Pont-à-Ven- the Scarpe, April 28. din, where the French lines met the Dyle and the canal of Douai; while on the other Prince Eugene moved forward Count Fels, with a considerable corps, towards Pont Auby on the same canal. The whole army followed in two columns, the left commanded by Eugene and the right by Marlborough. The English general secured the passage at Pont-à-Vendin without resistance; and Eugene, though baffled at Pont Auby, succeeded in getting over the canal at Sant and Courières without serious loss. The first defences were thus forced; and that night the two wings, having formed a junction, lay on their arms in the plain of Lens, while Montesquieu precipitately retired behind the Scarpe, in the neighbourhood of Vitry. Next morning the troops, overjoyed at their success, continued their advance. Montesquieu fell back behind the Senyet. Marlborough sent forward General Cadogan, at the head of the English troops, to Pont-à-Rache, CHAP. VIII. 1710. rough to the to circumscribe the garrison of Douai, on the canal of Marchiennes, on the north; while Eugene, encamping on the other side of the Scarpe, completed the investment on the west. The perfect success of this enterprise without any loss was matter of equal surprise and 1 Marlbo- joy to the Duke, who wrote to the Duchess in the Duchess, highest strain of satisfaction at his bloodless triumph. April 21, 1710, Coxe, It was entirely owing to the suddenness and secresy of to Mr Stan- his movements, which took the enemy completely unawares; for, had the enterprise been delayed four days longer, its issue would have been extremely doubtful, and thousands of men must, at all events, have been sacrificed.1* v. 184; and hope, April 25, 1710. Des. v. 7. Hist. de Marlb. iii. 191. 34. of Douai. Douai, which was immediately invested after this Description success, is a fortress of considerable strength, in the second line which covers the French province of Artois. Less populous than Lille, it embraces a wider circuit within its ample walls. Its principal defence consists in the marshes, which, on the side of Tournay, where the attack might be expected, render it extremely difficult of approach, especially in the rainy season. Access to it is defended by Fort Scarpe, a powerful outwork, capable of standing a separate siege. Douai was taken by Louis XIV. in 1667, and secured to him by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The walls are irregular, and several old towers are of ancient construction; * "In my last I had but just time to tell you we had passed the lines. I hope this happy beginning will produce such success this campaign as must put an end to the war. I bless God for putting it into their heads not to defend their lines; for at Pont-à-Vendin, when I passed, the Marshal d'Artagnan was with twenty thousand men, which, if he had stayed, must have rendered the event very doubtful. But, God be praised, we are come without the loss of any men. The excuse the French make is, that we came four days before they expected us."-Marlborough to the Duchess, 21st April 1710; CoxE, ix. 184. VIII. 1710. but the ditch was deep and full of water, and the CHAP. covered-way in excellent condition. The Scarpe, which takes its rise some leagues from Arras, flows through its walls, and augments the difficulty of attack, because its inundations are so extensive as to render very long lines of circumvallation necessary. The garrison consisted of eight thousand men under the command of the Marquis Albergotti, an officer of the highest talent and bravery ; and under him were the renowned Valory, to direct the engineers, and the not less celebrated Chevalier de Jaucourt, to command the artillery. From a fortress of such strength, so defended, the most resolute resistance 185, 186. might be expected, and no efforts were spared on the 291. part of the Allied generals to overcome it.1 Hist. de Marlb. iii. 191, 192. Coxe, v. Rousset, ii. ment and Villars tries May 11. The investment was completed on the 4th, and the 35. trenches opened on the 5th May. On the 7th, the Its investhead of the sap was advanced to within two hundred siege, which and fifty yards of the exterior palisades: but the to raise, besiegers that night experienced a severe check from a vigorous sally of the besieged with twelve hundred men, by which two English regiments were nearly cut to pieces. But, on the 9th, a great train of artillery, consisting of two hundred pieces, with a large supply of ammunition, arrived from Tournay; on the 11th, the advanced works were strongly armed, and the batteries were pushed up to the covered-way, where they thundered across the ditch against the rampart. imminent danger of this important stronghold now seriously alarmed the French court; and Marshal Villars, who commanded their great army on the Flemish frontier, received the most positive orders to advance to its relief. By great exertions, he had now collected one hundred and fifty-three battalions and two The |