to the utmost. Instead of losing consideration by being only second in command, he gained considerably in the eyes of the army. He took every advantage of the Duke of Marlborough's goodness and weakness of character, and in point of manner trespassed upon him without measure. Everything that was well done, every one that was served, it was all Lord George's doing. Everything that was neglected or ill done, every fault that was committed, every person that was disobliged, it was all the poor Duke of Marlborough. Lord George's favourites, emissaries, and expectants in the army, which were naturally without number, as there was no one else to look up to or fear, were perpetually occupied in running down the Duke of Marlborough for the purpose of crying up Lord G. Sackville, while the Duke of Marlborough had no one about him except a very shy son, and two or three good people, without any party or plan of making one, having ambitioned the command pretty much as a boy from school does a scarlet coat. Besides, his character was not made in any respect to resist or detect any man. He therefore naturally sunk under the art and management of the person next in command, but what is scarcely credible, yet what I know to be true, all the time he did so, he was in the habit of describing Lord G. Sackville in the most odious colours possible, and pointing out every failing which he had, but he did not know how to emancipate himself. Lord George took an equal lead in appearance though not in reality over Lord Howe, who, though in many respects the opposite of the Duke of Marlborough and disposed in consequence on most occasions to resist Lord George, yet did it in so awkward a manner, as only to give Lord George's talents for intrigue a little employment. Lord George's pride, which was naturally very great, grew into the most intolerable insolence. Everything fell before him till the fleet approached the coast. It would have been well for Lord George and perhaps for the public, at least so far as the particular service was concerned, if Lord George could have made the enemy feel any part of those powers which he displayed on board the
