opinion as to the affair of Mrs. Masham's brother; I was at a losse what measures to take, in which I thought noe body soe proper to be consulted as the lord treasurer, who was of opinion that the queen should be told that your grace seem'd by your letter under great mortifications that any body should have power enough with the queen to impose any thing in the army disagreeable to you; but however I was of opinion that you did expect this would be done. The queen upon this immediately ask'd for the letter which was not proper to be produc'd, but I explain'd what I thought was your sense. The queen was not a little at a losse what to do, and seemed both unwilling to comply, or deny ; at last desir'd it might be done, but in the softest manner that was possible. The comission is therefore to be taken out by me and sent over to your grace to be deliver'd at the end of the campaign, or when you shall think fit. The queen promised to write this night to your grace, to assure you that noe mortification was meant to you; and I must say that in this, and the last conference, there seem'd a great struggle betwixt the desire of doeing the thing, and not putting a mortification upon your grace.

I hope I have not erred in this matter, wherein I have work'd the queen to a better manner of doing it, than was at first determin'd, and not haveing any posi tive directions from your grace, I consulted the lord treasurer, lord Sunderland, and Mr. Craggs, who all thought the dispute was best to be ended in this

manner.

The commissions will now be all sign'd and I believe sent over to your grace together next post. I have had the honour to wait upon lady Marlborough, and hope I have given full satisfaction. I have noe commands from your grace about Pulteney and Bissett, I find they both think 'tis left entirely to me; I beg your grace's directions what you would have done, for which I shall wait.

I wish your grace all possible successe and glory, altho' your enemies may chance to reap the fruits of the great services which you doe your country, and which noe body else could doe.

THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH TO ROBERT WALPOLE.

[Walpole Papers.]

Proposes if colonel Hill's commission should not come to declare him a brigadier, to show his forwardness in obliging the queen— French have repassed the Scarp, and seem to decline a battle-wishes for peace.

SIR;

June the 19th, 1710.

WEE received the day before yesterday the two mails of the 26th and 30th of the last month, by which you acquaint me with her majesty's pleasure as to coll. Hills comission, I shall expect it by the next post, but if itt shou'd not then come, I intend to send for coll. Hill, and declare him brigadier, so that I may the better show my forwardness, in executing what is so earnestly desir'd by the queen; you will see by the letters of this post, that the French have repass'd the Scarp, by which I have been oblig'd to repass the Scarp also with the army I command, that of prince Eugene continues behind the entrenchement, the duke of Berwick is return'd to Paris, so that I beleive their designe of a battel is very much cool'd, thay having also sent 13 battalions into Bethun, and the ridgment of Alsasse into Ypres; I have so many reasons to wish for peace, that you may be sure if a good occasion offer'd, I should be glad to put a speedy end to this warr by a battel, but I think France must be madd if they venture it upon equall terms: I am with truth, &c.

Sends a commission for Mr. Hill-Rumours prevail that Sunderland is to be dismissed-Harley possesses the principal influence over the queen-Duke of Shrewsbury connected with Mrs. Masham and

Harley.

MY LORD;

Whitehall, June 2, 1710.

I SEND you now under a cover by itself the commission that has caused soe much trouble, 'tis by order of the queen that 'tis sent to your grace to be delivered when you shall think fitt: the queen ordered me to write this post to Mrs. Masham's brother, and to lett him know that his commission was sent over and in your custody to be delivered when it should be thought proper, to which effect I now write. All the general officers commissions are now sign'd, and will be sent over to Mr. Cardonnel as the agents take them out. Your grace knows that all the lt. generals are of one date, viz. January 1st, that if you design otherwise you will give the orders to Mr. Cardonnel before they are deliver❜d out. The town has been this week in a new ferment about alterations, and particularly lord Sunderland, was on Wednesday positively said to be out. Your grace must have better accounts of these things than I can give you, but 'it is plain to me from my observation that Mr. Harley by Mrs. Masham has the cheif and allmost sole influence upon the queen. The duke of Shrewsbury is in with them, and when I see it, I shall believe that he differs with Harley as much as he pretends, which I think is not much neither. In my poor opinion, there never was any thing of half the con 'sequence as removeing lord Sunderland, talk'd on so long, without some industry to obviate a blow that strikes directly at the whigs, and can scarce be thought on without regard to your grace, to whom I have such

infinite obligations and such a perfect honour for, that let what will happen, you shall solely govern, and may entirely depend upon me. 'Tis impossible to imagine the dragoons commission should be delay'd, till 'tis in other peoples power to give it. I send coll. Hill's letter with a flying seal for your grace's perusall. Be pleased to have it seal'd and delivered when you have read it.

ROBERT WALPOLE TO THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.

[Walpole Papers.]

Laments the situation of affairs in England-Hints that Sunderland will be dismissed—and that no attempts are made to save him-and conjectures that his dismission will be followed by the disgrace of Godolphin and Marlborough.

MY LORD;

Whitehall, June 6th, 1710.

I YESTERDAY had the honour of your grace's commands of the 2d instant, which I communicated to those you were pleased to command me, and by their advice, read it to the queen, who said little to it, but was cheifly solicitous to consider whither this letter was wrote before a letter from the queen to your grace was received, which 'twas most plain it was; but nothing else pass'd worth your notice. I have received orders to notifie for sir R. Temple's commission, which was done without any thing being said at all but a bare

consent.

I think our affairs here at home in a most unaccountable situation. Lord Sunderland 'tis agreed by all is to be remov'd, and by none endeavoured to be sav'd. I don't know what this means, but I am sure it must end in the dissolution of this parliament, and in the distruction of the whigs; and I wish to God your grace and the lord treasurer can be safe in those circumstances.

I cannot tell whither you have been acquainted that lord Somers has wrote to lord Townshend to bring it about if he can, that the pensionary should write to M. Vryberg* upon the reports that are abroad of the changes expected here, and to represent the fatal consequences that may attend such a step, and how far the state may be induc'd thereby to make an ill peace. This surely must make an impression upon the queen, or at least leave such a weight upon those whose advice is now taken, that certainly the duke of Shrewsbury is much alter'd, if Mr. Harley can prevail with him, who is at present the only vissible minister to take such a step. Your grace is better advised; but I am fully of opinion, that if you can conceive that the lord treasurer is backward upon this occasion, too much cannot be said to quicken him; and pardon an overzeal that thinks the saveing lord Sunderland deserves the uttmost industry, which alone can preserve the parliament upon which the whigs entirely depend, and I am afraid your grace has no surer friend. But lett what will happen, I am entirely devoted to your service, and will for ever be so,

THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH TO ROBERT WALPOLE. [Walpole Papers.]

(Endorsed "Received 28, 1710, O. S.")

Expresses his uneasiness at the situation of affairs in England-Will act in conjunction with his friends-Is of opinion that the measures adopted will delay the conclusion of a peace.

SIR; Tournay, June 23, 1710. I AM now to thank you for yours of the 2d, and be assur'd I shall always endeavour to deserve the conti

* In the first edition, the cypher 65, was explained for count Gallas; that of 116, for the emperor, and 62 was not identified; but from the Marlborough Papers it appears that 116 meant the states, 62 the pensionary, and 65 for M. Vryberg, minister of the states in England.