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 ii. 559 n.), though scarcely with full acknowledgment. A vote of thanks to Webb was passed in the House of Commons, when some insinuations were made against Marlborough's supposed jealousy. Marlborough was delayed upon the continent by the negotiations for peace. He was appointed plenipotentiary, and Lord Townshend, to Halifax s great indignation, was appointed his colleague. Berwick states (, lxvi. 138) that Marlborough had tried to open negotiations through him during the siege of Lille, and had been repulsed so offensively by Louis XIV as to be permanently prejudiced against peace. Louis had made overtures to Holland and the emperor, and the Dutch consulted Marlborough. He paid a short visit to England, and discussed the question of terms. The Dutch roused fresh jealousy by their claims for a barrier. At last, on 18 May, Marlborough and Townshend reached the Hague, where they met Torcy, the French minister. In an interview with Marlborough, Torcy was empowered to offer him large bribes, rising from two million to four million livres, on condition of his obtaining certain specified terms (Mémoires de Torcy,, lxvii. 269-65). He hinted also sufficantly at Marlborough's Jacobite correspondence. Marlborough met the proposals with dignity, and with florid references to Providence, which rather disgusted Torcy, and simply urged sufficient concessions. The discussions finally broke off upon the demand of the allies that Louis should take part in, if necessary, expelling his grandson from Spain. The insistence upon this offensive proposal has been generally condemned. It gave good ground for Louis' resolution to appeal to his people for a continuance of the war. According to Coxe, Marlborough was sincerely anxious for peace; his hands were tied by his instructions, and letters quoted by Coxe (iii. 40) show that he considered, in fact, that the allies might have sufficient security without pushing this demand (see also letters in Private Correspondence, i. 172-9). There seems to be no reason to doubt that he really desired and expected peace, but it cannot be said that he fully exerted his influence in favour of practicable terms. He did his utmost to protest against the barrier treaty, by which the Dutch were to be secured in their demands without being pledged to secure the evacuation of Spain and the demolition of Dunkirk. In consequence of his strong objection this treaty was signed by Townshend alone.

The expectation of peace had delayed the preparations of the allies, while Louis was enabled to make a great effort. All available troops were sent to oppose Marlborough. The general distress drove recruits to the ranks, and a large army was confided to Villars, the ablest of Marlborough's antagonists, who took up a strong position between Douay and Betnune to guard against an invasion of the frontier. Marlborough and Eugene with 110,000 men confronted him in the neighbourhood of Lille. Finding that it would be too hazardous to assail Villars, they moved to their left and formed the siege of Toumay, the garrison of which had been weakened by Villars, who expected a movement in the opposite direction towards Picardy. Trenches were opened 7 July 1709, and in spite of some attempt of Villars for its relief, the town surrendered on 28 July. The citadel was still defended, and an elaborate system of mines caused desperate encounters of peculiar horror. The siege lasted through August, and the citadel surrendered 3 Sept. The town was of great importance as covering Spanish Flanders, but the delay had been great. Marlborough and Eugene now resolved to attack Mons. By a rapid march the Prince of Hesse seized a position near Mons on 6 Sept. The main army followed, and Villars hastened to interrupt the siege. The town was now completely invested, and Villars approached from the south. A broken country, covered in great part by forests, pierced by narrow glades, fills the angle between the Hain and the Trouille, two rivers which join at Mons. Villars formed a strong position in face of two little valleys which intersect this region. Each army appears to have consisted of over ninety thousand men. The allies, after observing Villars's position, resolved to take the offensive. Councils of war were held on 9 and 10 Sept., and it was decided to wait for reinforcements. Marlborough seems on the second occasion to have desired an immediate attack (see, iii. 73, 77). Villars made use of the delay by forming strong entrenchments and abattis along the edge of the woods. The allies attacked him on 11 Sept. The 'very murdering battle,' as Marlborough calls it, of Malplaquet (sometimes called Blaregnies) ensued. The assault was made upon a narrow front, in woods which broke up the order of the troops, and against the skilfully arranged defences. Villars was wounded and carried off the field at an important crisis. The allies gradually carried the position after a confused series of desperate conflicts. Marlborough took advantage of a movement by which Villars had weakened his centre to resist Eugene on his left by a sudden attack, which carried the entrenchments in the centre and decided the battle. An attack of the Dutch under the Prince of Orange was made,