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


biography of tho Same commander will be super
seeded by The Lite OF John Churchill. Duke Of
Marlborough. by ield-Marshal Viscount wolseley
bentley Not only docs the present work en-
body the results Of more extended research but
II presents the judgment Of a military expert on
the campaigns Of ono who. with the possible ex-
ception of Wellington. must DO recognized the
greatest captain that England has produced
The two volumes thus far published however
cover only the first fifty two years ofMarlboroughs
lifo They stop short Of the remark Bile military
operations conducted by him in Germany and
the Low Countries. Some remarks on his military
talents are naturally called forth by his experience
under Turennc and by his achievements at Sedge-
moor and in Ireland. but for the authors definite
conclusions relating to Marlboroughs rank among
great soldiers, we must await tho volumes which
are to complete the book. The main purpose
Of the present instalment Of the work is TO defend
the subject against Macauays arraignmcnt
That we'll known essayist and historian assailed,
II will be remembered, both the private and public
character Of John Churchill whom he charged
with having been in his youth the kept man OF tho
Duchess of Cleveland, receiving from her not only
his promotion in the army. but the money needed
for his support, and subsequently,. with having
betrayed. under circumstances Of peculiar baso-
ness. not only his patron and friend James H.
facts are not disputed by Lord Wolseley but an
attempt is made to palliate them which cannot
be dismissed as entirely unsuccessful We defer
a reference to the authors estimate OF Marlbor-
oughs place among commanders until the final
instalment Of the book is published, and restrict
ourselves for the moment to glance at the chapters
in which an e1tcnuaion Of his faults Is attempted
t.
that Lord Wolseey discusses the relations Of
Marlborough to the beautiful Barbara Viicrs,
who. at the age OF eighteen, had married Roger
Palmer. having previously carried on an intrigue
with the Earl Of Chesterfield. and who, after she
became nditrrJse en- tire TO Charles H.. was made
successfully Countess OF Castcmainc and Duchess
Of Cleveland. Her portraits represent her as ex-
quisiely lovely. with the soft almond shaped eyes
and langushing expression which her pictures
reproduce so we'll. She was nine years older than
John Churchill. who, when he met her at tho
ago OF twenty one was. a contemporary por-
trait proves, a strikingly handsome man. pos
sessed of O tall and remarkably graceful figure.
1t was acknowledged even by his cnemi,, that his
manner was irresistible either to man woman.
Lady Castlemnno was second cousin to MARI
borough's mother. Another cousin, Mrs God
frey, sister Of Marlboroughs mother. was tho
governess OF Lady Castlemaines children by tho
King, and Is said TO have designedly thrown
her handsome nephew In the lady way The result
was an immediate intrigue between them. Tho
affair became known TO Charles through tho
Duke Of buckingham who had quarrcllod with
Barbara Palmer. and wished to ruin her In the
Kings favor. Aware OF her intimacy with Church
Ill, he bribed her servant and contrved that the
King should find the young guardsman in he
bedroom. This was too much even for the easy
A xrhir oh h.
been va;iously described, and the result was
Churchill's temporary Punishment from the Court
This love affair must have begun shortly after
Churchill's return from Tangier, In the winter
Of 1901, and It was renewed annually during
his winter vicits to England throughout the Dutch
War, from 1872 to perhaps as late 1916 The
intrigue Of young subnltern in the Foot Guards
with the Kings mistress event which
made some stir in society and was even deemed
worthy of mention by the French Ambassador
in his official dispatches Lord Wolseley admits
that il had an influence upon Churchil's subse-
quent career. Ono OF his fangs nt this period
tendency TO indiscretion OF speech, which
led him at times to talk OF his intimacy with the
Duchess OF Cleveland, and. although We are told
that, with her usual audacty, she took no trouble
TO correct him for doing il added 10 his dfcul-
ties with the King. II Is we'll known that in
their studies Of Marlborough's life Dean Swift
and Lord Macaulay deal severely with this episode
The author Of tho book before us Is more eniont
"No oman 8 character he thinks should be Judged
by the bare record OF his early love affairs, whether
they were innocent or otherwise. Time circum-
stance, opportunity the nature Of the temptations
experienced the amount OF moral strength in
| the man, tho power or weakness Of his religious
convictions, and, above all, his natural tempera-
ment all should be duly weighed before Judgment
| can be Justly pronounced" But what about the
, accusation that Churchill practically lived upon
! tho bounty Of the woman whom he proiesscd
| To love? There is doubt about the fact Tho
Duchess herself in after days told one Of her
relations, who repeated the story TO Lord Dart
mouth, that Marlborough had received a great
deal Of her money "for very little service done "
| Lord Wolseley admits that she had purchased
| for him the position OF Gentleman Of tho Bed
chamber TO the Duke OF York. The Earl Of CheS-
! teraeld was the authority for tho statement that
| in 1874, the Duchess bestowed upon Churchill
as new mark Of her affection the sum OF "a, 500,
and tho author OF this book does not deny tina,
whether the Duchess did or did not supply the
money with which annuity purchased
in 1874 Churchill came into possession OF il about
that time" This strangely constituted young
man was already thinking moro Of tho future