e are twenty beautiful
lines, but all the rest is commonplace, and Mr. Addison's hymn worth a
thousand such poems.

All the town was indignant at my lord duke's unjust treatment of General
Webb, and applauded the vote of thanks which the House of Commons gave to
the general for his victory at Wynendael. 'Tis certain that the capture of
Lille was the consequence of that lucky achievement, and the humiliation
of the old French king, who was said to suffer more at the loss of this
great city, than from any of the former victories our troops had won over
him. And, I think, no small part of Mr. Webb's exultation at his victory,
arose from the idea that Marlborough had been disappointed of a great
bribe the French king had promised him, should the siege be raised. The
very sum of money offered to him was mentioned by the duke's enemies; and
honest Mr. Webb chuckled at the notion, not only of beating the French,
but of beating Marlborough too, and intercepting a convoy of three
millions of French crowns, that were on their way to the generalissimo's
insatiable pockets. When the general's lady went to the queen's
drawing-room, all the Tory women crowded round her with congratulations,
and made her a train greater than the Duchess of Marlborough's own. Feasts
were given to the general by all the chiefs of the Tory party, who vaunted
him as the duke's equal in military skill; and perhaps used the worthy
soldier as their instrument, whilst he thought they were but acknowledging
his merits as a commander. As the general's aide de camp, and favourite
officer, Mr. Esmond came in for a share of his chief's popularity, and was
presented to her Majesty, and advanced to the rank of lieutenant-colonel,
at the request of his grateful chief.

We may be sure there was one family in which any good fortune that
happened to Esmond, caused such a sincere pride and pleasure, that he, for
his part, was thankful he could make them so happy. With these fond
friends, Blenheim and Oudenarde seemed to be mere trifling incidents of
the war; and Wynendael was its crowning victory. Esmond's mistress never
tired to hear accounts of the battle; and I think General Webb's lady grew
jealous of her, for the general was for ever at Kensington, and talking on
that delightful theme. As for his aide de camp, though, no doubt, Esmond's
own natural vanity was pleased at the little share of reputation which his
good fortune had won him, yet it was chiefly precious to