During this interval his correspondence displays the same
character, and the domestic broils occupied more of his atten-
tion than the foreign transactions.

To Lord Godophin.

" Helchin, Oct. 3. -- I shall go to-morrow towards the Hague, where
I intend to stay but two days at most, being resolved to return to this
camp. I have though, as well as I can, how to leave the business of
this country, at my return to England, and I think it must be to Cado-
gan; so that if the queen pleases I shall acquaint the States-general, and
the council of state of this country, that in the absence of Mr. Stepney,
he is charged with the care of her majesty's business. My journey this
time to the Hague will not only enable me to take measures for the
operations on the Rhine, for the next campaign, but also make my stay
much shorter at the end of the campaign.

"You will have known by the last letters from France that the king
has given orders, as they write, for an augmentation of 30 regiments of
foot and 20 of horse. This, added to the superiority they had the last
campaign in Germany, Flanders, and Spain, as also the advantage they
probably will have of having some of their troops from Spain, must give
a very melancholy prospect for the next year's service, if we are not will-
ing and able to make a considerable augmentation. I shall endeavour to
make them sensible of this at the Hague, though I am aware their ex-
pense is already so great, that, tho' they should have the will, I fear they
have not the power. You shall be sure to know by the next post from
the Hague in what humour I find them; and if there should be a neces-
sity of my going to Frankfort, I shall do it, so as not to delay my coming
for England; for if I do go I will return to this army before they sepa-
rate, so that I desire the yachts may be in Holland by the end of October,
old style."

Marlborough, leaving Helchin on the 4th of October,
reached the Hague at nine in the morning, on the 6th, and
without a moment's delay visited the pensionary and secre-
tary to the council of state, with whom he deliberated on the
objects of his journey. In the afternoon he held a conference
with the deputies of the States, and communicated the orders
which he had received from the queen, to repair to Frank-
fort, for the purpose of settling, with the elector of Hanover
and Count Wratislaw, the operations of the next campaign.
The same afternoon he held another conference with the
deputies, and obtained the concurrence of the Dutch govern-
ment in all the plans which he thought proper to submit to
their consideration. During his short stay at the Hague, we
find some interesting communications both on foreign and
domestic affairs.

-164-