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 as Coxe asserts (iii. 106), but apparently without grounds, contrarv to Marlborough's orders, and repulsed with tremendous loss. The slaughter of the infantry was such that the allies could not pursue the French (Private Correspondence, ii. 399), who retreated in perfect order. The official returns state the loss of the infantry at 5,554 killed and 12,706 wounded and missing. The loss of the Dutch alone was ten thousand, chiefly in the attack under the Prince of Orange. The whole loss was not less than twenty thousand, and the French put it at thirty thousand, while their own loss is variously estimated at from six thousand to sixteen thousand. Marlborough was deeply affected by the horrors of the scene, and speaks with real pathos of his misery at seeing so many old comrades killed when they thought themselves sure of a peace. He attributes a severe illness chiefly to this cause.

The army now besieged Mons, after the usual delays in bringing up stores, and it finally surrendered on 20 Oct., and the campaign then concluded.

The weary party struggles had gone on as usual. Marlborough was teased into supporting the claims of Lord Orford, whom he specially disliked, to a post, and he was ultimately placed at. the admiralty. A specially absurd quarrel about the duchess's demand or a new entrance to her apartments at St. James’s Palace led to a fresh outbreak of temper. The duchess sent the queen a memorial with extracts about friendship from the ‘Whole Duty of Man,' the prayer-book, and the works of Jeremy Taylor (Conduct, p. 224). These religious admonitions had ‘no apparent effect on her majesty,' except that she smiled pleasantly but ambiguously as she was going to receive the communion. The queen was thrown back upon Harley, who was now intriguing with the Duke of Somerset and Shrewsbury. Meanwhile, popular feeling was shifting. The war seemed to be endless; it was terribly expensive, and the bloody battle of Malplaquet had no such results as former victories. English blood and money were being wasted to secure a good barrier for our Dutch rivals. The failure of the peace negotiations strengthened the belief that Marlborough was promoting the war in his own interests. As if to give fresh colour to such imputations, he now made the strange request that he should be appointed captain-general for life. Cowper assured him that there was no precedent. Even Monck, it appeared, had only held his office during pleasure. Marlborough, however, applied to the queen, and on her refusal wrote a reproachful letter, dwelling on all the offensive topics.

Parliament voted thanks and supplies without any signs of declining zeal. But parliaments were shortlived under the Triennial Act, and the whigs felt that a new House of Commons might withdraw its support. They foolishly attempted to impress public opinion by the impeachment of Sacheverell. The effect was only to rouse the growing sentiment of opposition. Acting under Harley’s advice, the queen now began to attempt her own liberation. She first attacked Marlborough by giving the lieutenancy of the Tower to Lord Rivers, without waiting, as usual. for the recommendation of the commander-in-chief, and by offering a vacant regiment to Colonel Hill, Mrs. Masham's brother. Marlborough protested against the last appointment, as injurious to his influence in the army. The whigs promised support, and he demanded the dismissal either of Mrs. Masham or himself. Angry interviews followed between the queen and the various whig leaders, Sunderland even proposing to bring the matter before parliament. Marlborough retired to Windsor Lodge and absented himself from a council meeting where no notice was taken of his absence. It gradually became evident that he could not reckon upon the support of the party or of Godolphin. Marlborough, after long resistance, withdrew his demand for the dismissal of the favourite, and was a owed to give the regiment to Colonel Meredith, though Hill was immediately afterwards consoled by a pension of 1,000l. a year.

The Dutch were asking for Marlborough's presence at the Hague. A complimentary address, asking that he should be ordered to depart, was carried in the house, to which the queen gave a reply calculated to insinuate a suspicion that he had been anxious to stay in England. He reached the Hague on 18 Feb. 1710. The party disintegration continued; Harley attracted waverers to his side; Sacheverell became a popular hero; while Marlborough, though he attended the conferences now held at Gertruydenberg, felt himself deprived of any home support, and confined himself to formally obeying the decisions of the cabinet. He declares his conviction that the French were not in earnest (Despatches, iv. 717). A final interview between the duchess and the queen, with flood of tears and vehement recriminations, received with sullen resentment, took place on 6 April (Conduct, 238–44; Private Corrrespondence, i. 295–9); and Harley further weakened the whigs by obtaining the support of Shrewsbury, who was appointed chamberlain 13 April. Godolphin submitted to this appointment, though made without his knowledge, and the ministry began to lose all