and negligence which, in his opinion, the cabinet of Vienna
had manifested in the course of the campaign. In this spirit
he received the formal application of the imperial court for
succours in men and money with studied coldness, and when
at length a reply was extorted, it was written in terms of
unusual acrimony. This irritating document roused the re-
sentment of the emperor; and Count Wratislaw complained
to Marlborough that the minister of finance appeared to con-
ceive the rescue of the duke of Savoy might be effected by
invectives against the court of Vienna. The emperor him-
self did not condescend to give a written reply, but stated,
through his ministers, that his care and attention had rather
deserved praise than reproach from the allies; and requested
that in future such replies should not be given in writing,
because they would remain as public documents in the
archives.

Marlborough felt that decision was as necessary in this
political arrangement as in the operations of the field.
Instead of listening to the petty scruples of his friend the
treasurer, or contemplating the more serious obstacles which
arose in his way, he steadily persisted in his purpose, and
not only extorted from the British cabinet such powers as
were necessary for the perfect accomplishment of his project,
but exacted a promise that they would consent to the loan,
and advance the first payment in October.* ^* He was equally
pressing for a similar engagement from the States. "If I
have not assurances from the Dutch," he writes to the
duchess, "that what I promise shall be made good, my jour-
ney can only be a trouble to myself, and of no use to the
public. But if they would trust me, I think I could then
take such measures with the emperor that the next year's
campaign might be much the better for my going. I will,
however, have no opinion in this matter, but pay obedience
to what is directed."

To attain this object he did not rely on distant negotiation,
which he was conscious could only produce delay; but re-
paired to the Hague, that, by his personal exertions, he might
overrule the formalities of the Dutch government. He im-
mediately held conferences with the pensionary, the presi-
dent of the week, and other leading members of the republic,

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