XXXII. Marlborough au Grand-Pensionnaire

Rousselaer (*), June 24% 1706.

Sir , |

Yours of the 19th which you by mistake sent to Mons: Auverkerk, [ receiv’d yesterday , and am extreamly of your opinion that the business of Portugale is (+) very wrongly govern'd, and if it were possible, to have two new men there before the opening of the next campagne , it must do good ; but in my opinion there is not time for itt, so that I am afraid we must at this time be conténted to write very strongly to the King of Portugale, as well as to our own Minesters, who certainly are to blame as well as the Portuguess. Yon may depend that the Queen will do in this matter what ever you shall think proper; so that you shoüd lose no time in sending over your dispatches to Mons. Phriberg ((). I am asur’d from England that the transportshipes shal be at Ostend (**) for the English troupes by the end of this month new stile; and

(*) Le Duc était au camp de Rousselaer depuis le 18 Juin. Dispatches, II. 601. É

(+) Dispatches, II. 611. ,, We are still in hopes that, upon the news of the King’s success, our Portugal friends may be gone towards Madrid.”

($) Marinus v. Vrybergen.

(**) Dispatches, II. 628, 629.

L shoûd think that woüd also be the properest place for you to embarque your troupes, so that our convoye might take care of them to Portchmouth. — It is very unlucky that the siege of Ostend meets with delays (*) for the want of almost every thing ; for in this season we shoüd lose no time. I expect Mons. Gilder-Malsen (+) here to morrow , and Î shall endeavour to setle every thing with him (() that we may lose no time, as soon as that of Ostend is over, that we may attack Menin, which will give us an entrance into their Païs Conqui. — The Elector of Bavaria has taken the advantage of the siege of Ostend and the covering that siece, to put into Tendremont, one battalion of ffoot, and one hundred dragoons, by which thay are more masters of the bursors (**). — I have sent Brigadier Cadogan to see if it be possible to block it so, as that thay may not be able to put in more succors ; 1f this can be done without weakening to much the army, [ shall do itt, since it is a place of great con-

(*) Dispatches, II. 611. Lettre à; Harley, 21 Juin 1706, 614, 618, 623,

(t) Adrien de Borssele ,, l’habile membre du conseil d'État >” Seigneur de Geldermalsen. Coxe, III. 2. Lamberty, IV. 41.

($) Dispatches, II. 448 (15 Mars 1706). ,, Quoique je me ferais un véritable plaisir de vous avoir auprès de nous en campagne, & que le public en tirerait un très-crand avantage par votre expérience dans les affaires de la guerre,” &c. Il y a un fort grand nombre de lettres du Duc à M. Gueldermalsen. — Après la victoire de Ramilies il lui écrivit: C’est à présent, Monsieur, que j'ai le plus de besoin de votre présence pour m'assister dans mes grandes fatigues. J’ai écrit à la Haye qu'on vous donne les ordres de vous y rendre au plus-tôt, & je vous conjure de vous :hâter: autant qu’il sera possible après que vous aurez mis les Hessièns en train de marcher vers l'Italie.” — IT, 533.

(**) Dispatches, II. 611. ,,1 find the Elector will endeavour to be troublesome in Brabant while we are at this distance.” Lettre à Harley, 21 Juin 1706; 615, 618, 620.

sequence, and as Î am asur’d not much provision in iti. [ shoûd be olad to know what certainty you have of the detachement from Garmany. If it be trew that the Duke of Savoye has rejoyced for the victory obtain’d in this country, the news of Paris of his having sign’d the peace cânt be trew. — £ am with truth.

Sir , Your most obedient humble servant ,

Marlborough.