Lot 215
Churchill, John - First Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722) 1st Duke of Marlborough; one of England's greatest generals; ancestor of Winston Churchill. Autograph Letter Signed "Marlborough," 2 pp, 8¾x6¾", "Camp at Ganap" [Genappe, France], 11 Aug. 1707. Very good; boldly penned, with some unevenness at left edge lightly touching a few letters on both sides. Marlborough writes to "My Lord," who, according to Bryan Bevan, author of Marlborough the Man is probably the Lord Treasurer, Sidney, Lord Godolphin, or possibly to Lord Cowper, the Whig, Lord Chancellor (Bevan's letter is included in this lot). Marlborough says, in part: "As to what you are pleas'd to mention of the Ecclesiastical preferments…I am intirely of opinion with you, and am persuaded the Queen has so just a sence of your Lordships zeal and Integrity, that she will always have a due regard to whatever you represent to Her Majesty to be for her Service, and therefore I hope you will not be over modest in a matter of this concern." He goes on to discuss matters during the War of the Spanish Succession, "…our Project in Provence is like to meet with a happy Success. They tell us that the Duke of Savoye had forced the Enemys retrenchment before Thoulon, without any further particulars, but Monsr. de Vandomes [Vendôme] making a Detachment of twelve Battalions, & nine Squadrons seems to me a sufficient confirmation, that their affairs do not go well…." The Churchills enjoyed great favor at court because Marlborough's wife, Sarah, was Queen Anne's closest friend; in 1711, however, Sarah's Whig sympathies alienated the Queen and she was dismissed. The Marlboroughs retired to Blenheim Palace in 1721 and Marlborough died a year later.
Estimated Value $1,200 - 1,500.
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| Realized $949 |
