band acted a conspicuous part. On the third of January the trophies reaped in the battle of Blenheim were removed from their first place of deposit, the Tower, to Westminster Hall. Companies of horse and foot guards led the way; persons of rank were intermixed with the troops, and a hundred and twenty-eight pikemen, each bearing a standard, closed the triumphal procession. The Queen viewed the whole from the windows of the Lord Fitzharding's lodgings in the palace, attended by her favourite, who heard, in the triumphant acclamations of the excited multitude, signals of destruction, ominous not only to our foreign foes, but presaging the downfal of political party opposed to her at home.

A grand entertainment at the city, in the Goldsmiths'-hall, succeeded this interesting display. Marlborough was conveyed to the banquet in one of the royal carriages, and gazed upon with curiosity and enthusiasm by the multitude. At Templebar he was received by the city marshals with the usual ceremonies.*

On the eleventh of the same month, the House of Commons unanimously agreed to send up an address to the Queen, humbly desiring that she would graciously be pleased to consider of some proper means to perpetuate the History of Europe. Lediard. Coxe.

*

memory of those services which had been performed by the Duke of Marlborough.*

The Queen, having returned an answer that she would give the subject her consideration, on the seventeenth sent a message to the House, acquainting the members that she did incline to grant the interest of the crown in the honour and manor of Woodstock, and hundred of Wootton, to the Duke of Marlborough and his heirs; and desired the assistance of the House on this extraordinary occasion.

The lieutenancy and rangerships of the Park of Woodstock and Wootton, with the rent and profits of the manor and hundreds, having been already granted for two lives, her Majesty thought proper that the encumbrance should be cleared.

In compliance with her Majesty's wishes, a bill was immediately brought in and passed, enabling her to carry into effect both these propositions; and the ancient royal domain of Woodstock, under the illustrious name of Blenheim, became the possession of the Duke of Marlborough and his heirs, upon the tribute of " a standard, or colours, with three flowers-de-luce painted on them, for all manner of rent, services," &c., to be presented

annually, on the second of August, to the Queen, her heirs and successors."

This munificent reward was increased soon afterwards by an order from the Queen to the Board of Works, to build, at the royal expense, a palace, which was to be entitled the Castle of Blenheim. A model of this edifice was framed for the approbation of the Queen, and the work begun under the superintendence of the celebrated John Vanburgh, then considered to be one of the most able architects of his time.

The important results of the battle of Blenheim could not be disputed, even by the bitterest enemies of Marlborough. The French, on their part, attached such direful effects on their country to this victory, that a proclamation was published in France, making it unlawful to speak of it; nor could its consequences be concealed from those who would have been most desirous not to perceive them. "The power of France was," says the Duchess, "broken by it to a great degree, and the liberties and peace of Europe were in a fair way to be established on firm and lasting foundations." Yet scandalous reports were, nevertheless, circulated respecting Marlborough, and the ungrateful world scrupled not still to * Lediard, p. 478. + Cunningham, book viii. p. 442. Conduct, p. 147.

say that he carried on the war for his own private advantage, more especially for the accumulation of wealth, to which he was generally supposed to be addicted. But the Duke, although invited by his friends to spend more freely the vast fortune which he was yearly accumulating, adhered to those habits of frugality for which he had been remarkable even in his youth, and which, evincing an orderly mind, may be supposed to have conduced to the success of his plans through life.

CHAPTER III.

Complete triumph of the Whigs-Attempts made to bring Lord Sunderland into the Cabinet-Scheme for insuring the Hanoverian succession - The Queen's resentment at that measure.-1705.

THE gradual removal of the Tory party from the offices of state followed the brilliant successes of the Duke's arms. The privy seal was taken from the Duke of Buckingham; and the Duchess also prevailed on the Queen to remove from his office Sir Nathan Wright, Lord Chancellor, a man who was obnoxious to all parties, and of "no use to the Crown." The celebrated Lord Cowper, distinguished for his abilities and integrity, was appointed his successor.

Lord Somers, " seeing," says Cunningham, "that the Whigs were now united to the court, and fearing lest the principles of our ancestors should be subverted," retired from all public em