and Landau gave the Allies a firm footing on the left bank of that river. The submission of Bavaria deprived the French of that great outwork, of which they have always made such good use in their German wars; the Hungarian insurrection, disappointed of the expected aid from the armies on the Rhine, was pacified. Prussia was induced by this great triumph to co-operate in a more efficient manner in the common cause-she sent eight thousand men across the Alps, to aid the Duke of Savoy in defending his dominions; the parsimony of the Dutch gave way before the joy of success; and the Empire, delivered from invasion, was preparing to carry its victorious arms into the heart of France. Such achievements require no comment-they speak for themselves, and deservedly place Marlborough in the very highest rank of military commanders. The campaigns of Napoleon exhibit no more decisive or important results. * CHAP. III. 1704. 63. Honours and rewards Marlbo Honours and emoluments of every description were showered on the English hero for this glorious success. He was created a prince of the Holy Roman Empire, bestowed on and a tract of land in Germany, at Mindelsheim, erected rough. into a principality in his favour. His humanity to the wounded, alike of the enemy's army and his own, and his courtesy to the vanquished, were the theme of uni * The holograph letter of the Emperor, announcing this honour, said, with equal truth and justice-"I am induced to assign to your highness a place among the princes of the Empire, in order that it may universally appear how much I acknowledge myself and the Empire to be indebted to the Queen of Great Britain, who sent her arms as far as Bavaria at a time when the affairs of the Empire, by the defection of the Bavarians to the French, most needed that assistance and support :-And to your Grace, likewise, to whose prudence and courage, together with the bravery of the forces fighting under your command, the two victories lately granted by Providence to the Allies are principally attributed, not only by the voice of fame, but by the general officers in my army who had their share in your labour and your glory.”— The Emperor Leopold to Marlborough, 28th August 1704; Desp. i. 538. CHAP. III. 1704. versal admiration. The coolness with which he gave his orders in the hottest of the fire, and the admirable presence of mind with which he carried succour to every part of the field which required it, were admitted by all to have caused the triumph. On one occasion he met an officer flying at the head of his troop out of the reach of fire. "You are wrong," said Marlborough, "you will not find the enemy there; the enemy is on the other side." The officer turned with his troop and repulsed his pursuers. He had repeatedly been in imminent danger during the battle: on one occasion a cannon-ball grazed his horse, and wounded it badly; on another he was covered with earth torn up at his feet by a twenty-four pounder. In In company with Eugene he visited Marshal Tallard the day after the battle, offering every comfort and accommodation which it was in his power to bestow, and charming every heart by the great kindness of his manner. I am sorry," said Marlborough to Tallard, that so great a catastrophe should have happened to a warrior for whom I entertain so high a respect." "On my part," answered Tallard, "I congratulate you upon having vanquished the best troops in the world." "Allow me," replied Marlborough, "to believe that mine are the best in the world, since they have conquered those whom you regard as such." Among the prisoners was a common soldier, whose gallantry during the action had particularly attracted the notice of the English general. "Your master," said he to him, "would be 1 Hist. de invincible if he had many soldiers such as you." King," answered the soldier, "does not want soldiers such as me, but a general such as you." Marlb. ii. 1-23. 66 My His reception at the courts of Berlin and Hanover resembled that of a sovereign prince; the acclamations III. 1704. 64. tion at the courts of Berlin and and acqui Blenheim. of the people, in all the towns through which he passed, CHAP. rent the air; at the Hague his influence was such that he was regarded as the real Stadtholder. More substantial rewards awaited him in his own country. The His recepmunificence of the Queen and the gratitude of Parliament conferred upon him the extensive Honour and Hanover, manor of Woodstock, long a royal palace, and once the sition of scene of the loves of Henry II. and the Fair Rosamond. By order of the Queen, not only was this noble estate settled on the Duke and his heirs, but the royal comptroller commenced a magnificent palace for the Duke on a scale worthy of his services and England's gratitude. From this origin the superb palace of Blenheim has taken its rise, which, although not built in the purest taste, or after the most approved models, remains, and will long remain, a splendid monument of a nation's gratitude, and of the genius of Vanbrugh. But a yet more enduring monument was raised in the lines of the poet, which, even at this distance of time, are felt to be deserved : ""Twas then great Marlborough's mighty soul was proved, Amidst confusion, horror, and despair, In peaceful thought the field of death surveyed, -ADDISON. CHAPTER IV. CHAP. IV. 1705. 1. lity of getting the English to make durable public efforts. CAMPAIGNS OF 1705 AND 1706.-BATTLE OF RAMILIES AND IT is remarkable that while the English people are the nation of all others recorded in history set on practical objects, and the acquisition of ultimate benefit in Impossibi- return for present sacrifices, they are the one which, in every age, has most frequently sacrificed or foregone the fruits of the victory, and suffered the greatest national sacrifices, the most heroic public achievements, to remain without any lasting benefit to the country. There is no nation which has gained so many victories, there is none which has derived so little benefit from them. If a great success has been obtained, the people immediately expect that the contest is to be over, and remonstrate against any farther expense. If a glorious peace has been concluded, the cry for economy invariably becomes so strong, that such a reduction of the national armaments takes place that disaster is certain to be incurred on the next breaking out of hostilities, by which all its advantages are wellnigh lost. In periods of disaster, or under the influence of general terror, they have often made extraordinary and almost incredible efforts, and continued them for a very long time together; but it has always been found impossible to get them to continue these efforts when the peril obvious to every capacity is once over. The moment that is the case, the cry for economy revives, and the resistance to vigorous efforts becomes so great that the whole advantages of previous successes are often sacrificed. CHAP. IV. 1705. 2. ness of the Parliament supplies. The year which followed the battle of Blenheim afforded a memorable example of the truth of these Backwardobservations. Notwithstanding the invaluable services English thus rendered by Marlborough, both to the Emperor of in voting Germany and the Queen of Great Britain, he was far from experiencing from either potentate that liberal support for the future prosecution of the war which the inestimable opportunity now placed in their hands, and the formidable power still at the disposal of the enemy, so loudly required. As usual, the English Parliament were exceedingly backward in voting supplies either of men or money; nor was the cabinet of Vienna or that of the Hague inclined to be more liberal in their exertions. Though the House of Commons agreed to give £4,670,000 for the service of the ensuing year, yet the land forces voted were only forty thousand men. The population of Great Britain and Ireland could not be at that period under ten millions, while France, with about twenty millions, had above two hundred thousand under arms. It is this excessive and invariable reluctance of the English Parliament ever to make those efforts at the commencement of a war, which are necessary to turn to a good account the inherent bravery of its inhabitants, that is the cause of the long duration of our Continental contests, and of three-fourths of the national debt which now oppresses the empire, and, in its ultimate results, will endanger its existence. The national forces are, by the cry for economy and reduc |