compelled to relinquish an intercourse against which Marl-
borough had remonstrated in vain; and the king of France
was deprived of the facility, which he had hitherto enjoyed,
of remitting money to the elector of Bavaria and the Italian
army, as well as his subjects of the profitable commerce
which they carried on under the protection of the Dutch flag.

While Marlborough was actively employed in maturing
the military preparations, he was visited by a domestic ca-
lamity of the severest kind, the death of his only son, the
marquis of Blandford. His wife had borne him two sons,
John and Charles, and four daughters. The daughters all
survived; but the second son, Charles, died at an early age.
The elder, a promising youth, still remained, and had now
reached his seventeenth year. He was amiable in disposi-
tion, and united a solid understanding and lively parts with
the most captivating mildness and docility.

After receiving a careful education at Eton, where he dis-
tinguished himself by his classical attainments, he was des-
tined to fill the place of master of the horse to the young
duke of Gloucester, that he might grow up in intimacy with
the future sovereign. But on the death of the prince he was
sent to King's College in the university of Cambridge, and
placed under the tuition of Mr. Hare, afterwards well known
as chaplain to the duke, and bishop of Chichester. Not-
withstanding his high birth, splendid prospects, and courtly
education, he set an example of affability, regularity, and
steadiness, above his years; and in one of his letters to
Lord Godolphin, he expresses the warmest approbation both
of the studies and discipline of the place. He was regular
also in the performance of his religious duties, and a punc-
tual attendant at the administration of the holy sacrament.
The turn of his character was displayed by the choice of his
associates. His steady, affectionate, and studious disposition,
led him to form an intimate friendship with Horace, after-
wards Lord Walpole, who was then a fellow of the same col-
lege, and who not only spoke of his qualities as singularly
excellent and amiable, but at later times never mentioned
his name without expressions of regret.

In this early period of his life, the fame of his illustrious
father inspired the young nobleman with a strong passion
for a military life, and in the midst of the campaign in 1702

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