130 MARLBOROUGH AND HIS METHODS OF WARFARE. 
many to study the campaigns of one of the greatest soldiers we have ever had in 
England, one of the greatest soldiers in the world. We have every reason to be 
proud of him. The fact that he was fond of money ought not to prevent our 
being proud of him. There were then, there are now, a great many other people in 
the world who without being great were and still are fond of money. But is not 
this very common failing blotted out by the glory he brought his country? We 
must not forget that, had he not been hunted down by an infamous political 
party for party purposes, he would certainly have achieved the great object he 
aimed at, namely that of dictating terms to Louis Quatorze in that monarch’s 
capital; indeed I believe he would have done so in 1703 had he been given an 
entirely free hand by the States General. He has been abused from time imme- 
morial for wishing to prolong the war. I can only say that any man who will 
read, as I have lately done for days and days, Marlborough’s private letters to 
his wife, will see that his one great longing was to end the war quickly and pass 
the remainder of his days with his wife and children. He was sick and tired of 
war and of all the worries it brings with it. Had he not been held back by stupid 
Dutch deputies, and interfered with by jealous colleagues, I think it is as certain 
as anything can be a certainty in this world, that he would have secured a glorious 
Peace at Paris in 1703 or 1704, and certainly before 1707. We should thus have 
been saved that unfortunate, I might almost say disgraceful, episode in our history, 
the Treaty of Utrecht. 
I have in conclusion, gentlemen, only to convey to the Lecturer on your behalf 
as I do in my own name, our grateful thanks for his kindness in coming here this 
evening to inform us ona very interesting topic, and for the very admirable lecture 
that he has given us (applause). 
APPENDIX 
FRENCH EULOGY ON MARLBOROUGH. 
«Le prince de Vaudemont, parlant de Marlborough au roi Guillaume, a fait de 
lui cet éloge: que la vivacité de Kirk, la conception de Lanier, l’habileté de 
Makay, et la bravoure de Colchester, sembloient réunies dans sa personne. On 
a dit aussi de lui, que dans un seul jour il avoit mérité plus de réputation que 
@autres dans un grand nombre d’années, 
Dans la distribution des emplois, il avait moins d’égard au grade militaire et A 
Vancienneté quwau mérite. Les officers subalternes, dont il savait deméler le 
talent dans leur obscurité, n’avaient besoin, pour s’avancer, ni d’intrigues, ni 
d’un grand nombre de campagnes. Ce que nous appelons l’ordre du tableau, 
étoit, selon lui, le tombeau de l’émulation. Jamais guerrier ne jouit mieux de 
tous ses avantages. On ne pourrait pas dire de lui ce qu’on disait d’Annibal, 
qwil savait vaincre mais non profiter de la victoire. Marchant de succés en 
succés, chaque pas qu il faisait en avant lui valait la conquéte d’un grand pays 
ou d’une forteresse. . 
Ce qui le rendait plus digne d’éloges, c’est que homme brillait en lui avec le 
héros; quwil savait réprimer Vardeur du carnage; que le plus doux de ses 
triomphes ¢toit de pouvoir sauver la vie aux vaincus, et que, fidele & ses 
promesses, il ne s’écarta presque Jamais de V’humanité et de la justice. I] avait 
gagné Vamour et la confiance des troupes par la bonté de son cceur, par son 
affabilité, par son exactitude & pourvoir a leur subsistance, et par son attention 4 
