Political Women Volume II Part 15

CHAPTER II.

SARAH, d.u.c.h.eSS OF MARLBOROUGH.

THROUGHOUT the political conflicts which agitated the Court of England since the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess of Marlborough had left their native sh.o.r.es, the Duke maintained a steady correspondence with his friends, but expressed a firm refusal to deviate from those principles which had occasioned his exile, or to approve of the Peace of Utrecht, or to abandon his desire for the Hanoverian succession. Distrusting the sincerity of Harley's pretended exertions, he resolutely refused to hold intercourse with a Minister of whose hollowness he had already received many proofs. Nor was the d.u.c.h.ess less determined never to pardon the injuries which she conceived herself and her husband to have sustained from Harley. All offers of his aid, all attempts to lend to him the influence which Marlborough's military and personal character still commanded, were absolutely rejected.

At the Court of Hanover, the Duke and d.u.c.h.ess saw, as it were, reflected the cabals of their native country. Little, indeed, that was rea.s.suring reached them in their foreign retreat, relative to public affairs. The existing policy of Anne's Ministers seemed likely to destroy all that his labours had effected during a long life of toil and danger; and the sacrifice of thousands of lives had gained no advantage which the malice of his enemies could not undo. In short, the friendly relations which were brought about between France and England threatened to change the face of things altogether.

The result of the shrewd d.u.c.h.ess's experience of political life and royal favour was embodied in the sound advice she gave her ill.u.s.trious husband on his return to England, shortly after the death of Anne, and previous to the arrival of her successor, George I. "I begged of the Duke upon my knees," relates the d.u.c.h.ess, "that he would never accept any employment. I said everybody that liked the Revolution and the security of the law had a great esteem for him, that he had a greater fortune than he wanted, and that a man who had had such success, with such an estate, would be of more use to any court than they could be to him; that I would live civilly with them, if they were so to me, but would never put it into the power of any King to use me ill. He was entirely of this opinion, and determined to quit all, and serve them only when he could act honestly and do his country service at the same time."

Though the d.u.c.h.ess witnessed the triumph of the Whigs on their return to power at the accession of George I., she was very far from possessing the influence she had enjoyed during Anne's reign. Her feverish thirst for political and courtly intrigues had returned upon her, despite so many bitter deceptions and the advance of old age. She scolded incessantly her husband for his indolence, when he had really become incapable of any longer taking an active part in public affairs. He confined himself to the enjoyment of his opulence and his high position.

In May, 1716, he experienced a violent attack of paralysis, which for some time deprived him of speech and recollection. His health continued to decline more and more to the close of his life in June, 1722, though the notion of his imbecility appears to have been erroneous.

The Duke of Marlborough was one of the bravest and most kindly-tempered of men. His gentleness and devotion towards his wife and love of his children were not the only proofs which he gave of a kindly nature, and many curious anecdotes are related of the way in which he governed his imperious consort when he had to encounter her tears, sulks, and torrents of pa.s.sionate reproaches, which were among the favourite and irresistible features of her conjugal eloquence. The fiery d.u.c.h.ess survived her ill.u.s.trious husband the long period of twenty-two years.

Notwithstanding her age, and probably on account of her immense fortune, she was sought in marriage by the Duke of Somerset and Lord Coningsby.

The reply she made to the offer of the first-named, an old friend, the "proud Duke," was admirable. She declined a second marriage as unsuitable to her age; but added--"Were I only thirty, and were you able to lay the empire of the world at my feet, I would not allow you to succeed to that heart and hand which has always been devoted wholly to John, Duke of Marlborough." A proof of her good judgment and true dignity! At the same time, it must be owned that, alike through pride and grat.i.tude, she truly owed such a testimony of respect to the memory of a husband who had left behind so great a name, and who was throughout his married life full of amiability, deference, and tenderness towards her, and who had suffered with an exemplary patience all the capriciousness of her imperious character.

The instructive lesson derivable from the extraordinary career and signal disgrace of this remarkable political woman is emphatically given by the d.u.c.h.ess herself, on her retirement, as the results of her own experience of royal favour.

"After what has pa.s.sed, I do solemnly protest, that if it were in my power I would not be a favourite, which few will believe; and since I shall never be able to give any demonstration of that truth, I had as good say no more of it. But as fond as people are of power, I fancy that anybody that had been shut up so many tedious hours as I have been with a person that had no conversation, and yet must be treated with respect, would feel something of what I did, and be very glad when their circ.u.mstances did not want it, to be freed from such a slavery, which must be uneasy at all times; though I do protest, that upon the account of her loving me, and trusting me so entirely as she did, I had a concern for her, which is more than you will easily believe, and I would have served her with the hazard of my life upon any occasion; but after she put me at liberty by using me ill, I was very easy, and liked better that anybody should have her favour than myself, at the price of flattery without which I believe n.o.body can be well with a King or Queen, unless the world should come to be less corrupt or they wiser than any I have seen since I was born."

In another place she says: "Women signify nothing unless they are the mistresses of a Prince or a Prime Minister, which I would not be if I were young; and I think there are very few, if any, women that have understanding or impartiality enough to serve well those they really wish to serve."

The wife of the great captain and hero of Queen Anne's time--the most remarkable woman of her own, or perhaps of any epoch--lived to the age of eighty-four.

"So singular was the fate of this extraordinary woman in private life,"

it has been truly observed, "that scarcely did she possess a tie which was not severed or embittered by worldly or political considerations."

Those who hopelessly covet wealth, honour, and celebrity through the avenues of political strife may contemplate the career of Sarah d.u.c.h.ess of Marlborough with profit, and rise from the study reconciled to a calmer course of life and resigned to a humbler fate.

THE END.