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VII.

1709.

with the States to induce them to accept the barrier CHAP. offered. He exerted himself to the utmost to get them to recede from the rigorous demands in regard to the fortified towns. He so far succeeded that, on the very day after his return to the Hague, he wrote both to Lord Godolphin and the Duchess of Marlborough, that he had prevailed on the Dutch commissioners to accede to the principal articles, and that he had no doubt the negotiation would terminate in an honourable peace. These flattering prospects, however, were soon overcast. The Dutch renewed their demand of having their barrier strengthened at the expense of Austria, and insisted that the Flemish fortresses of Dendermonde and Ghent, forming part of the Imperial dominions, should be included in it. To this both Eugene and Marlborough objected, and the Dutch, in spite, refused to stipulate for 1 Mem. de the demolition of Dunkirk. So violent an altercation 169 edit. took place on the subject, between the Pensionary Heinsius and Marlborough, that it had wellnigh produced a 24, 25. schism in the Grand Alliance.1

Torcy, 164

Petitot.

Hist. de

Marlb. iii.

Torcy se

M. de Torcy at first endeavoured to mitigate the 14. demands of the Dutch government; but finding them M. de altogether immovable, he addressed himself privately cretly of to Marlborough, offering him enormous bribes could procure more favourable terms for France. offers were 2,000,000 livres (£80,000) if he

fers bribes

if he to Marl

The

could

"M. de Torcy has offered so much, that I have no doubt it will end in

a good peace."-Marlborough to Godolphin, 19th May, 1707.

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'Everything goes on so well here that there is no doubt of its ending in a good peace. Government have in readiness the sideboard of plate, and the chairs of state and canopy; and I beg it may be made so as to form part of a bed when I am done with it here, which I hope may be by the end of this summer, so that I may enjoy your dear society in quiet, which is the greatest satisfaction I am capable of having.”—Marlborough to the Duchess, 19th May, 1709; Coxe, iv. 393.

borough, which are refused.

CHAP.
VII.

secure Naples and Sicily, or even Naples alone, for the grandson of the King of France; and 4,000,000 livres 1709. (£160,000) if, in addition to this, he could save Strasburg, Dunkirk, and Landau, for France. Marlborough turned away from the disgraceful proposal with coldness and contempt; but enforced in the most earnest manner, on the French king, the prudence, and even 1 Swift's necessity, of yielding to the proffered terms, if he would the Allies, save his country from dismemberment and himself from iv. 395-415. ruin. His efforts, however, to bring matters to an acMarlb. iii. commodation with France proved ineffectual; and after some weeks spent in proposals and counter proposals, the ultimatum of the Allies was finally delivered to the French plenipotentiary by the Pensionary of Holland.1

Conduct of

72.

Coxe,

Hist. de

24, 25. Mém de.

Torcy, ii. 104-111.

15.

conversa

tion of M.

de Torcy

with Marl

borough.

M. de Torcy, the able negotiator of Louis XIV. at Remarkable the Hague, has left a very interesting account of his private conference with Marlborough, in a letter to the king on this important occasion. "After the Duke," says he, "had made me many compliments and apologies for the liberty he had taken in fixing an hour, and not anticipating my visit, I went to him after dinner. If I should recount to your Majesty all the protestations which he made of his profound respect and attachment, and of his desire one day to merit your protection, I should fill this letter with things less essential than I actually have to recount. His conversation was animated in the extreme. He spoke of the restoration of Newfoundland, and evinced an earnest desire to be able to serve the Prince of Wales, as the son of a prince for whom he would so willingly sacrifice his blood and his life. He said he would have remained in Holland, instead of returning to England, if he had been aware that a minister of your Majesty was coming. He

1709.

expressed great regret at not having been previously CHAP. informed that such was to be the case, as he might VII. easily have been, if the Duke of Berwick had been instructed to communicate to him on the subject. In addition to the affectation on his part in naming the Duke of Berwick, he evinced great tenderness for a nephew worthy of the esteem and friendship of all who knew him.

16.

timents

expressed Torey on

to M. de

a peace.

"Politeness characterised everything which he said. He omitted no opportunity of speaking of his respect, His senI may even say attachment, to your Majesty's person. It was in France, and under Turenne, he said, that he had learned the art of war; he would never forget it. His expressions were accompanied by protestations of sincerity to which deeds have not corresponded, of oaths on his honour and his conscience, frequently mentioning the name of God, to whom he appealed as a witness of the uprightness of his intentions. He spoke of the marvels of Providence, to which he ascribed the whole events of the war, in order to convince me that France had not a moment to lose in concluding a peace; that its salvation depended on the immediate termination of the war, at any price, and on any condition. He frequently said that it was to the hand of the Almighty that was to be ascribed the concord of the eight nations which composed the Alliance, all of which thought and acted as one man; and that is, it must be admitted, a prodigy without example in the history of leagues. spoke very contemptuously of Lord Townsend, saying he was merely the shadow of a plenipotentiary; and descanted largely on the extravagant ideas of his countrymen, saying that there was no limit to their expectations; that they thought it was for their interest,

He

CHAP.

VII.

1709.

1 De Torcy's Mém. 186

edit. Petit. Hist. de

Marlb. iii.

27, 28.

17.

of the Al

is rejected

as well as in their power, to ruin France, although the few wise people who have not the power are persuaded, like himself, that the time had now arrived when it was proper to conclude an advantageous peace." Marlborough, continued De Torcy, "falsely protested that he wished for peace, and would do all in his power to bring it about. He constantly alleged that France was in the wrong, in not agreeing to it; that its interest required that it should be concluded, and that they should accede without delay to the conditions proposed. Pettekurn answered on our side, that the king would probably break off the negotiation, rather than admit them. So much the worse for France,' answered Marlborough; for if once the campaign is commenced, matters will go farther than the king imagines.'

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By the ultimatum of the Allies, Charles was to be Ultimatum acknowledged King of Spain and the Indies, and the lies, which whole Spanish monarchy was to be ceded by France. by France. All the conquests of Louis in the Low Countries were to be given up; the Duke of Anjou was to surrender Spain and Sicily in two months, and if these kingdoms were not then delivered, Louis was to concur with the Allies for his expulsion. The barrier towns, so eagerly coveted by the Dutch, were to be given up to them. Namur, Menin, Charleroi, Luxembourg, Condé, Tournay, Maubeuge, Nieuport, Fismes, and Ypres, were to be put into the possession of the Allies. De Torcy objected to the articles regarding the cession of the whole Spanish monarchy in two months; though he declared his willingness to go to Paris in order to persuade the French monarch to comply with them, and actually set off for that purpose. On the way to the French capital, he

1709.

traversed crowds who, with almost menacing supplica- CHAP. tions, entreated him to conclude peace. When he VII. arrived at Versailles, however, a cabinet council was summoned, at which the Dauphin assisted, and by it the proposals were unanimously refused. "If I must continue the war," said Louis, with a spirit worthy of his race, "it is better to contend with my enemies than my own family." So firmly had it been believed, both at the Hague and in London, that peace was not only probable, but actually concluded, that letters of congratulation poured in on the Duke from all quarters, celebrating his dexterity and address in negotiation not less than his prowess in arms. So confident, indeed, was Marlborough that peace would be concluded, that he was grievously disappointed by the rupture of the negotiations; and he never ceased to strive, during the whole summer, to smooth away difficulties, and bring the Allies to such terms as the French king would accept.1

Coxe, iv. Hist. de

397-399.

Marlb. iii.

30-35.

The messenger bringing the ultimatum of the French 18.

rough still

effect a pa

king, declining the proposals of the Allies, arrived at the MarlboHague on the 5th June, and conveyed to Rouillé an labours to order to notify the decision in form to the Duke of cification. Marlborough, as well as the other plenipotentiaries. Notwithstanding the great disappointment which he felt at this breaking off of the negotiations, the English general continued to entertain the hopes of peace, and never ceased to regret the rupture. He still clung

2 Marlbo

to the belief that an accommodation would be arrived at, and in his confidential letters expressed not only a sanguine hope, but a confident belief, that the pre- rough to Godolphin, liminaries would yet be ratified. 2 He was so confi- June 4, dent in this expectation that he even commenced iv, 400, 401. arrangements with the Lord-Treasurer for the return of

VOL. II.

B

1709. Coxe,

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