Letters of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, to Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford...

Letters of John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, to Robert Harley, Earl of Oxford (1711), as Speaker (1701-5), Secretary of State (1704-8), Chancellor of the Exchequer (1710-11), and Lord Treasurer (1711-14); 11 Oct., 1703-29 Jan., 1714, N.S. Mostly holograph.

At the beginning are contemporary copies of (a) A commission from Queen Anne to the Earl of Marlborough to be Commander in Chief of the Forces sent to Holland, 9 Mar., 1701-1702 (f.1); - (b) A warrant from the same to the Earl "for deducting 2½ per cent from the pay of the Foreign Troops" in English service, 6 July, 1702 (f.3).

The first letter, dat Alderbeeston, 30 Sept. - 11 Oct. 1703, expresses regret at what Harley had written of "the heats that continue betwine the two Partys" and a confirmed desire "of retiring from these uneassy and troublesome broils" (f.5). This is followed by contemporary copies of four letters on movements of the army, etc., after the battle of Blenheim, 21 Aug. - 3 Sept., 1704 (ff.7-14). Among other subjects referred to in succeeding letters are:- on the "happy turn" with regard to the "Occasional Bill", 16 Dec., 1704 (f.15); desiring Harley to find out the authors of certain letters from the army, "tho, as long as God blesses us with success, their writting can have litle weight", 8 July, 1706 (f.31); on the refusal of Sir George Rooke to sign "the Kentish Adress", and the expedition under Lord Rivers to the Peninsula [see PO/VOL. VIII], 26 July, 1706 (f.37); expressing fear "that some of our friends have a peace more at heart then the carrying the warr on with vigor", 5 Aug., 1706 (f.38); on Vendôme's intention to relieve Menin, etc., 16 Aug. (f.40); on the "passion of jealousy" leading some to fear "the French may be brought to Loo" and the futility of relying on "anything France shall promis", 20 Sept. (f.48); "for the good of Europe, I think this war must continue another yeare, and I hope all honest Englishmen will be for itt", 7 Oct. (f.50); on a libel, "If I can't have justice done me, I must find some friend that will break his and the printer's bones", 11 Oct. (f.52); sending a copy of his answer to the King of Prussia about the Triple Alliance, 18 Oct. (f.54); on his projected mission to the King of Sweden, 31 Mar., 1707. (f.62); on the growing strength of the French, but "with the blessing of God we shou'd beat them, which wou'd put a happy end to this troublesome warr, of which your humble servant is very weary", 2 June (f.66); has "sent the Queens letter to the King of Sweden, I do hope it may do good, but it is certain the Emperors beheavior is unaccountable", 5-16 June (f.68); on the agreement of Sweden and the Emperor and the need of not giving offence to the former, 12 Sept. (f.74); on the advantage to France "if any pretence whatsoever shou'd bring the King of Sweden againe into Germany", 22 Sept. (f.76); on the need of vigour "to bring France to reason", etc; 29 Sept. 1707 (f.78); on his intended meeting with the Elector of Hanover, "to take measures for the next campayne", 7 Oct. (f.82); desiring that the £5000 "may in the first place go to Lady Marlborough", n.d. (f.86); on his uneasiness "at the great diminution of our army to what it was the last year", 10 Mar., 1710-1711 (f.106); (to Mr Travers) as to "the reason of the moneys not being order'd for Blenheim", 14 Apr., 1711. (f.110); on the Emperor's having the small-pox, and the confusion into which his death would put the affairs of the allies, so "that they can have no recourse under God but to England for their safety", 22 Apr. (f.112); on the difficulty of maintaining discipline, "if it be not made visible to the officers that I have the Queens protection", 28 May, (f.116); on his anxiety as to the building of Blenheim etc., 8 June (f.118); congratulating Harley on becoming Earl of Oxford and Lord Treasurer, 22 June (f.120); on a project to keep the army in the field all the winter, 5 July (f.122); referring Harley to Lord Stair, "who will fully explain every article of the project", 26 July. (f.126); giving an account of his "having pass'd the enemys line", etc., 6 Aug. (f.128); as to Lord Stair's mission, the building of Blenheim, etc, 13 Aug. (f.130); on the investing of Bouchain, 20 Aug. (f.132); on the siege of Bouchain, the war in the Peninsula, etc, 3 Sept. (f.134); on the auditing of the accounts for the building of Blenheim, 9 Sept. (f.136); on the surrender of Bouchain, 14 Sept. (f.138); on the French overtures for a general peace, 11 Sept. (f.140); on the means for putting the war in the Peninsula "on a better foot", 24 Sept. (f.144); on his plans for the winter, 15 Oct. (f.146); complaining of libels, 19 Oct. (f.148); on "the gracious manner in which the Queen is pleased to encorage the prosecution of the project", etc, 22 Oct. (f.150); on the unreasonable claims of the States, his winter plans, etc., 26 Oct. (f.152); complaining of the manner in which his "name was brought before the Commissioners of Accounts", with copy of his letter to them, 10 Nov. (ff.154, 156); on his arrival at Antwerp, his intended movements and his going to Geneva in the spring, "in order to live as much retier'd as possible", 4 Dec, 1712 (f.189); thanking Lord Oxford for the orders he has given and for his "obliging assurances", Antwerp, 29 Jan, 1714 (f.191).

Included also are:- (a) Letters to Lord Oxford from A. Maynwaring on the obtaining for the Duke of Marlborough (generally spoken of as "the person" or "the gentleman") a pass to go abroad, 27 Sept.-3 Nov. 1712, and undated (ff.163-181); and (b) Letters to the same, as R. Harley Sec. of State from Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, 25 Aug., 1704-18 Sept., 1706, and undated (ff.193-217).

Quarto, ff.222.