placed sometime at the school of St. Paul's, under Dr. Crumleholm, then high-master.

Although his father, Sir Winston, was not rich, yet he appears to have possessed considerable interest. This was

exerted so successfully, that his only daughter, Arabella, was introduced at court soon after the restoration, as maid of honour to the first Duchess of York; while John was appointed page of honour to the Duke.

Having evinced his military ardour, in the presence of his patron, (afterwards James II.) that Prince presented him with a pair of colours in one of the two regiments of foot-guards, when he was only sixteen years of age.

His first campaign was spent at the siege of Tangier, then besieged by the Moors; his next, on the continent, under the Duke of Monmouth, who, soon after the debarcation, appointed him a Captain of grenadiers, in his own regiment. It was at the siege of Nimeguen that the youthful warrior first attracted the discerning eye of Turenne, who, from that period, always spoke of him by the familiar appellation of his "handsome Englishman." Next year, he signalised himself before Maestricht, by planting a banner on the rampart; for which service he received the thanks of Louis XIV. at the head of the army; and when the Duke of Monmouth, on his return, presented him to Charles II., he concluded his eulogium, on the merits of the young warrior, by adding: “to the bravery of this gallant officer I owe my life."

We are but little astonished, therefore, to find, that in 1674, young Churchill was nominated, by Louis, Colonel of an English regiment; and, in this new capacity, was present at the battle of Linzheim.

Passing over the irregularities that occurred during the fervour of youth, and were but too much countenanced by the dissolute manners of the age in which he lived, we proceed to his alliance with Sarah, the younger daughter of Richard Jennings, Esq. of Sandridge, near St. Alban's, a gentleman of ancient and distinguished lineage. This lady had been introduced to the court of the Duchess of York, at the early age

of twelve, and soon became the companion and friend of the Princess Anne, afterwards Queen. In the midst of a licentious circle she maintained an unspotted reputation, and was not less respected for the prudence and propriety of her conduct, than the charms of her person, and the vivacity of her conversation. Their marriage took place in 1678, at a period when they were both poor; but he soon after obtained a regiment, and, at length, acquired not only independence but affluence. Nearly at the same period, Colonel Churchill was sent on a secret mission to the Prince of Orange; and we learn that the alliance offensive, and defensive, proposed by Sir William Temple, with the United Provinces, proceeded from a recent umbrage taken by Charles and his brother to the French King," for refusing to encrease the pensions by which he had purchased their connivance at his ambitious designs." On this occasion, he was appointed to the command of a brigade in Flanders; but a speedy accommodation soon enabled him to return home, to enjoy the society of a beloved wife.

We now find General Churchill attending the Duke of York, during his various peregrinations; and he was about this period, through his Royal Highness's influence, a peer of Scotland, by the title of Lord Churchill, of Ayemouth. Meanwhile the favours, conferred on him by that Prince, were equally singular and distinguished; extending even to the preservation of his life, during the wreck of the Gloucester Yacht, in Yarmouth-roads. Lady Churchill became the confidential friend of the Princess Anne; and, in order to lay aside all possible restraint, her Royal Highness, in her correspondence, assumed a feigned name.

On the accession of James II., Lord Churchill was created a British peer, and distinguished by many other marks of the royal favour; among which may be reckoned, an embassy to Paris, to notify His Majesty's accession to the French monarch. On this latter occasion, however, he appears to have intimated to Lord Galway, "that if the King, (James II.) should attempt to change our religion and constitution, he would instantly quit his service."

After the battle of Sedgemoor, in which Lord Churchill distinguished himself, and was rewarded for his services with the colonelcy of the 3d troop of horse-guards, he appears to have been aware of the fate that awaited his royal master, in consequence of the countenance afforded by His Majesty to the "Papists." Accordingly, he was one of the first who made overtures to the Prince of Orange, and, at the same time, announced the "determination of the Princess Anne, rather to abandon her misguided father than to sacrifice her religion:" a resolution, it is added, "to which his exhortations, as well as those of his lady, had essentially contributed."

On the landing of William, he immediately joined his banners, while Lady Churchill, assisted by the Bishop of London, conducted the daughter of the abdicated James to the camp of his son-in-law. Soon after this, her husband was nominated a lord of the bed-chamber, sworn in a member of the PrivyCouncil, and raised to the dignity of Earl of Marlborough. Having now obtained the confidence of the new sovereign, the subject of this memoir was sent to Ireland, and here he greatly distinguished himself by the reduction of Cork and Kinsale. In the midst, however, of all the favour thus munificently bestowed, it appears that both he and Godolphin, the lord-treasurer, actually entered into a secret and treasonable correspondence with the exiled king, after having powerfully and successfully contributed to the stability of the throne of William III.

In 1692, we find the Earl of Marlborough not only disgraced, but sent a close prisoner to the Tower; and when, at length, admitted to bail, his name was struck from the list of privycouncillors. In the course of a short time, however, we discover this wonderful man, not only restored to his military rank and employments, but made governor to the Duke of Gloucester. Soon after this, his two daughters, the ladies Henrietta and Anne, were married to Mr. Godolphin and Lord Spencer.

"Lord Spencer," we are told, "was highly favoured by nature, and no less liberally gifted with intellectual endowments, which he had improved by assiduous study. He was remark

able for a sedateness above his years; but in him, a bold and impetuous spirit was concealed under a cold and reserved exterior. Imbued with that ardent love of liberty which the youthful mind generally draws from the writers of Greece and Rome, and educated amidst the effervescence which produced the Revolution, he was a zealous champion of the Whig doctrines, in their most enlarged sense. Associating with the remnant of republicans who had survived the commonwealth he caught their spirit. He was an animated speaker: and, in the warmth of debate, disdained to spare the prejudices or failings, even of those with whom he was most intimately connected. His political idol was Lord Somers, though he wanted both the prudence and temper of so distinguished a leader. The deportment of the young nobleman in private life,” it is added, "was ill calculated to win the esteem of those, who could not regard with indulgence the defects of his public character. Abhorring the shadow of adulation, he carried his freedom of speech to a degree of bluntness which was often offensive."

Meanwhile, his father-in-law accompanied William to the Netherlands, who invested him with high powers, both political and military. On the demise of James II., Louis XIV. acknowledged his son as King of England, and thus rendered a war inevitable.

Meanwhile, William III. expired in the 52d year of his age; and, on this occasion, magnanimously forgetting all his prejudices against Marlborough, his dying request to his successor was, to recommend him "as the most proper person in her dominions, to lead her armies and direct her counsels."

Accordingly, he now commenced a career of victory, unexampled in our history. Having repaired to the allied army on the Continent, he was at first prevented from engaging in many enterprises, equally useful and brilliant, by the Dutch field-deputies; but we pass over both the impediments which he experienced and the triumphs he achieved until August 13, 1704, when, after effecting the passage of the Danube, he gained the battle of Blenheim. Between eleven and twelve

thousand of the enemy, together with their general Tallard, were made prisoners on this memorable occasion; and the effects produced by the victory are incalculable. "During

the whole of this tremendous conflict," observes our author, "the Duke of Marlborough exerted himself with his characteristic coolness, vigilance, and energy, superintending the manœuvres in every part, and appearing in every point where the presence of the general was necessary to revive the courage, to restore the order, or to direct the attack of his troops. The author of the Campaign' (Addison) has caught the spirit of his hero, and described the effects of his superintending direction, in language equal to the subject."

On his return to England, Marlborough, who had already obtained a dukedom, was distinguished by accumulated honours and rewards. The Queen immediately conferred on him the manor of Woodstock, and ordered the palace of Blenheim to be built for his residence, under the inspection of Sir John Vanburgh, who furnished the plans. The Emperor of Germany, at the same time, to demonstrate his gratitude, made him an offer of a patent as a Prince of the Empire, with a grant of Munderkingen, which was afterwards exchanged for the Lordship of Mindleheim. In 1705, we find him at the head of the allied army, forcing the French lines at Heilesheim, and defeating the enemy, whom he afterwards drove beyond the Dyle.

The battle of Ramilies, gained in 1706, cost the enemy 13,000 in killed, wounded, and prisoners; the desertion that followed swelled their loss to 15,000; many distinguished French officers were taken prisoners, while the spoils of this memorable day amounted to 80 standards, and almost all the French artillery and baggage. The surrender of Brussels, Ghent, and Antwerp, followed soon after. This produced an extension, on the part of the Queen, of the ducal title to the female line, and a collateral entail of Blenheim, together with a pension of 5000l.

The campaign of 1708 was chiefly occupied with grand manœuvres and sieges, for the battle of Oudenarde was not so