"The astounding progress of Her Majesty's arms under the Earl of
Marlborough has brilliantly restored the honour of the English
nation". This was the motion passed by the House of Commons in 1709,
in praise of one of England's greatest commanders in the field.
 The latter reproduced here, written by him to
General Townshend, gives news of the battle of Malplaquet (1709), the
last important engagement with the French in the War of the Spanish
Succession.
The "Peace" which Marlborough predicts in the letter came three
years later, with the signing of the Peace of Utrecht, June 1712.
(British Museum)
[Marlborough, Duke of (1650-1722), was one of England's
greatest generals. He won a series of brilliant victories at
Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenaarde, and Malplaquet in his campaigns in
the War of the Spanish Succession]
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