[7] "In my last, I had but just time to tell you we had passed the lines. I hope this happy beginning will produce such success this campaign as must put an end to the war. I bless God for putting it into their heads not to defend their lines; for at Pont-a-Vendin, when I passed, the Marshal D'Artagnan was with twenty thousand men, which, if he had staid, must have rendered the event very doubtful. But, God be praised, we are come without the loss of any men. The excuse the French make is, that we came four days before they expected us."--_Marlborough to the Duchess_, 21st April 1710. Coxe, ix. 184. [8] "I hope God will so bless our efforts, that if the Queen should not be so happy as to have a prospect of peace before the opening of the next session of parliament, she and all her subjects may be convinced we do our best here in the army to put a speedy and good period to this bloody war." _Marlborough to the Duchess_, May 12, 1710. "I hear of so many disagreeable things, that make it very reasonable, both for myself and you, to take no steps but what may lead to a quiet life. This being the case, am I not to be pitied that am every day in danger of exposing my life for the good of those who are seeking my ruin? God's will be done. If I can be so blessed as to end this campaign with success, things must very much alter to persuade me to come again at the head of the army." _Marlborough to the Duchess_, 19th May 1710. Coxe, iv. 191, 192. [9] Marlborough to Godolphin, 26th May and 2d June 1710. [10] Marlborough to the Duchess, 12th June 1710. Coxe, iv. 197. [11] Marlborough to Godolphin, 26th June 1710. _Disp._ iv. 696. [12] _Considerat. sur la Camp. de 1710, par M. le Marshal Villars_; and Coxe, iv. 192. [13] Marlborough to Godolphin, 29th August 1710. _Disp._ iv. 581. Coxe, iv. 294. [14] Coxe, iv. 343, 344. [15] "I am of opinion that, after the siege of Aire, I shall have it in my power to attack Calais. This is a conquest which would very much prejudice France, and ought to have a good effect for the Queen's service in England; but I see so much malice levelled at me, that I am afraid it is not safe for me to make any proposition, lest, if it should not succeed, my enemies should turn it to my disadvantage." _Marlborough to Godolphin_, 11th August 1710. Coxe, iv. 343. [16] "Till within these few days, during these _nine years_ I have never had occasion to send ill news. Our powder and other stores, for the carrying on these two sieges, left Ghent last Thursday, under the convoy of twelve hundred foot and four hundred and fifty horse. They were attacked by the enemy and beaten, so that they blew up the powder, and sunk the store-boats." _Marlborough to the Duchess_, 22d September 1710. Coxe, iv. 365. [17] "Take it we must, for we cannot draw the guns from the batteries. But God knows when we shall have it: night and day our poor men are up to the knees in mud and water." _Marlborough to Godolphin_, 27th October 1710.