INTRODUCTORY MEMOIR. 2$
that I believe you laugh at me, when you say that his Grace does not meddle in any domestic matters or disposal of civil employments, for I believe all England as well as myself are assured of the contrary ; tho' 'tis the same thing whether his Grace can't or won't do anything for me, I can't but solicit and press my friends to do the same things for me, amongst whom I do really count you one of the chiefest, and flatter myself that what you have left unsaid in my behalf you will add in writing ; nor need I repeat that my request is one of these, — either Commissioner of Trade or Earl of Strafford, — tho' I must add another thing which I think I have all the just pretensions to imaginable, which is to be Ambassador and Plenipotentiary at the General Peace, which, since I must return, is the most honourable for me, and the best pretence for the Government to remove me. . . ."
Writing on April 2, Cadogan says : — " Touching the pre- tensions you have to be Earl of Strafford, I think it extremely just, and that both your birth and services give you an undoubted right to such a favour," and he promises to do all he can with the Duke. His ambition was not, however, destined to be gratified for two or three years yet to come. The power of Marlborough to help him, supposing the will was not wanting, was growing weaker every day, and it was from the Tory party that the coveted distinction was ulti- mately obtained.
In the summer of 1709 the King of Denmark and the King of Poland paid a visit to Berlin at the same time, and honoured the English ambassador there with their presence at a grand dinner, the King and Queen of Prussia being also entertained. His later movements that year are shown in a letter written to his aunt, Lady Bathurst, in the January following : —
" After treating my Kings and a Queen I set out for Italy, and overran all that glorious agreeable countrj^ in two months time. I was above six weeks sick in bed in Rome of a violent fever I got by the excessive heats in travelling thither
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