The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08

IMAM OF the present Bitter experience had taught
him the miseries Of poverty, and the money how
ever he camo by H. was handed over to Lord Hall.
fax, who. in consideration thereof, settled $500
per annum upon him for life Lord wolscloy's
comment on this incident runs as follows: That
he should take money from the woman he In.
utgued with Is often denounced as the worst and
most ignoblo acton gentleman could be capable
Of. This was not the opinion entertained OF the
transaction by his contemporaries II was 70.
gardcd AZ quite natural that q handsome young
soldier should be selected by the mistress Of the
King ono Of her lovers, and that penniless az
ho was she should mako him large prescnts-
Our author adds that throughout this intrigue
with Barbara Palmer he did nothing more than
was done by many others by the Duke Of Mon
mouth. for instance who when In exile, lived
chiefly upon tho bounty OF his mistress Lady
Wentworth Yet Monmouth has not been held
up 10 everlasting obloquy No English gentle
man Of to-day would act as Marlborough and
Monmouth did, but their conduct was not TO-
gardcd al tho time as either dsrcputable or
unusual. and IL Is by contemporary law and cus-
| tom that We must Judge them, and not by our
| own code Of morality and honor" De Grammont
| says that the particular one Of Barbara Palmer's
| daughters whom Charles dlsavowed was Mari.
| boroughs child. This must refer 10 her daugh.
| ter Barbara who became q nun in Pontoisc.
Not counting Barbara, tho Duchess had two
| daughters and three sons by Chorlca Even Ma
caulay rejects Mrs Manley's story that when the
| Duchess Of Cleveland became poor the lover 10
| whom she had been generous in the days OF her
power refused to lend her a few pounds when sho
lost at baaset Careful as Marlborough was about
| money, he knew how 10 be generous on occasions
| TO comradc, and II is therefore, exceedingly
| improbable that he would have refused any re-
quest Of the Duchess. His vito answered tho
accusation Of sordidness which had been 30 freely
flung against him: Il have heard him solemnly
| swear. she wrote, when il was OF no signihca-
ton TO do II to me. that ho in the whole reign
OF Queen Anne sold one commission. tito OF any
thing TO anybody, though he had so much favor
from Queen Anne He had a great deal Of COM
! passion in his nature and 10 those whom he
had been long acquainted with no gave money
out OF his own pocket TO those who were poor.
| though they were not Of his opinion. l am o
living witness Of this. for was directed by him
! TO pay some pensions when abroad. and have
letters to prove II from the persons"
II Ia In pages rs SO OF the second volume that
! Lord Woseoy examines tho question, Was
| Lord Churchill's desertion of James Ii. justi6-
| abe?" There is doubt that James ii. had
been generous and constant friend OF Churchnl's,
| that he had bestowed upon him both Scottish
and an English peersge that he relied on his fidel
treachery, he could not have been ovcrthrovn-
| Our author, however, does not hesitate 10 conf
| pare the treason which Churchill committed
in 1888. with that Of which Washington guilty
| in 1776 II Ia admitted that, could II be proved
| that Churchill was actuatod by unworthy motives
| in 1888 denunciation Of his conduct could
| be too severe, but Lord Wolseley mainta that
| In joining tho conspiracy against Jamcs the
| subject Of this biography relinqushed the al
| air fan
men usually most anxious 10 secure He
| quilted the services OF king who was attached
| TO him and would presumably, have advanced
his fortune TO throw in his lot with a prince who
| might not even succeed Ii his enterprise and.
! II he did succeed, might prove TO be no friend.
| There Is good evidence" we read, "of the e1-
| tremo reluctance with which Churchill entered
into reasonable correspondence with William.
and with what ropugnanoe he plotted against
| his old master. Nor did he finally decide 10 take
part in the Revolution until he had taken the adj
vice OF his friend, the Bishop OF Ely. The Bishop
| told him that IL would be rebellion against God
| II he sided with those who sought 10 destroy the
civil and religious rights Of the people and that.
| 10 refuse assistance 10 those who 'camo 10 the
| help Of the Lord against the mighty would BIO
| TO Incur the curse pronounced against Meroz."
| Lord Woseley goes on to say that Churchill
had striven earnestly to find excuses for Jamess
Of his conscience and his deep interest in the
preservation OF Protestant liberty would no
| longer allow him to remain with q king who had
30 slgnaly disrega rdcd his promises and his
Coronation Oath. Churchill had no personal
affection for James but he felt grateful 10 the
master who had afforded him opportunities to
rise in life. and was deeply panied at being COM
PEELED TO Join that masters enemies" What
church, had laid out for himself and what he
| ,isad 10 do 1 Ia landed in
land that he did for, as he wrote: Il think il il
what owe TO God and MY count j." Lord VOL
seley submits that no dBpassonate Judge cen
withhold his admiration for this man y, honest
and steadiast resol uton. To this d. we have
reason TO be thankful that he preferred the cause
OF the Reformation TO the loyal prompt!ngs Of
his heart and 10 oil immediate confederation Of
his own personal interest" II Is at the samo
time, acknowledged that tho thought OF English
gentlemen and officers deliberately planning
10 desert their sovereign and TO bring about do
| sertion on the part OF the men under their
mand is repugnant TO our ideas OF honor and
duty. Before however we condemn those who
went 10 tho Prince OF Orange at tho Revolu-
tion should In justice consider their position.
Fortunately for Churchill's reputation, lie had
| openly announced that he would abandon James
II he attacked the English laws and Church.
Lord Woseey finds 1t moro difficult TO excuse
his subjects subsequent betrayal OF william Ill
| Although, at first, created Earl OF Marlborough
for hi services Churchill seems soon to have
excited jealousy and suspicion on the part OF his
new master, and, eventually, he was deprived Of
all Lis Offices and committed 10 the Tower IL
was after his release from Imprisonment that he
entered into reasonable correspondence with
James H.. warning him. for instance. OF the ex-
petition under Gen. Tollemache which was In
tended 10 burn the town OF Brest and to destroy
the French men of-war lying in its harbor. Tho
defeat Of this expedition caused great loss Of
English life Lord Wolscley admits that Judged
by the modern standard OF right and wrong.
nothing could Justify Marlborough's letter 10
James H." and, although he points ont that, as
matter OF fact. it had nothing to do with bringing
about tho disaster in Cameret Bay, he does not
hesitate 10 denounce II as treason against tho
England. which we believe 10 be tho heritage Of
the English people But, in his day, every State