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infinite。 The Duke of Marlborough took charge of the most distinguished；
until he could carry them away to England； to grace his triumph there。
He treated them all； even the humblest； with the utmost attention；
consideration； and politeness； and with a modesty that did him even more
honour than his victory。 Those that came under the charge of Prince
Louis of Baden were much less kindly treated。
The King received the cruel news of this battle on the 21st of August； by
a courier from the Marechal de Villeroy。 By this courier the King learnt
that a battle had taken place on the 13th； had lasted from eight o'clock
in the morning until evening； that the entire army of Tallard was killed
or taken prisoners； that it was not known what had become of Tallard
himself； or whether the Elector and Marsin had been at the action。 The
private letters that arrived were all opened to see what news they
contained； but no fresh information could be got from them。 For six days
the King remained in this uncertainty as to the real losses that had been
sustained。 Everybody was afraid to write bad news； all the letters which
from time to time arrived； gave； therefore； but an unsatisfactory account
of what had taken place。 The King used every means in his power to
obtain some news。 Every post that came in was examined by him； but there
was little found to satisfy him。 Neither the King nor anybody else could
understand； from what had reached them； how it was that an entire army
had been placed inside a village； and had surrendered itself by a signed
capitulation。 It puzzled every brain。 At last the details； that had
oozed out little by little； augmented to a perfect stream； by the；
arrival of one of our officers； who； taken prisoner； had been allowed by
the Duke of Marlborough to go to Paris to relate to the King the
misfortune that had happened to him。
We were not accustomed to misfortunes。 This one； very reasonably； was
utterly unexpected。 It seemed in every way the result of bad
generalship； of an unjustifiable disposition of troops； and of a series
of gross and incredible errors。 The commotion was general。 There was
scarcely an illustrious family that had not had one of its members
killed； wounded； or taken prisoner。 Other families were in the same
case。 The public sorrow and indignation burst out without restraint。
Nobody who had taken part in this humiliation was spared； the generals
and the private soldiers alike came in for blame。 Denonville was
ignominiously broken for the speech he had made at Blenheim。 The
generals； however； were entirely let off。 All the punishment fell upon
certain regiments； which were broken； and upon certain unimportant
officersthe guilty and innocent mixed together。 The outcry was
universal。 The grief of the King at this ignominy and this loss； at the
moment when he imagined that the fate of the Emperor was in his hands；
may be imagined。 At a time when he might have counted upon striking a
decisive blow； he saw himself reduced to act simply on the defensive； in
order to preserve his troops； and had to repair the loss of an entire
army； killed or taken prisoners。 The sequel showed not less that the
hand of God was weighty upon us。 All judgment was lost。 We trembled
even in the midst of Alsace。
In the midst of all this public sorrow； the rejoicing and the fetes for
the birth of the Duc de Bretagne son of Monseigneur le Duc de Bourgogne；
were not discontinued。 The city gave a firework fete upon the river；
that Monseigneur； the Princes； his sons； and Madame la Duchesse de
Bourgogne； with many ladies and courtiers； came to see from the windows
of the Louvre； magnificent cheer and refreshments being provided for
them。 This was a contrast which irritated the people； who would not
understand that it was meant for magnanimity。 A few days afterwards the
King gave an illumination and a fete at Marly； to which the Court of
Saint Germain was invited； and which was all in honour of Madame la
Duchesse de Bourgogne。 He thanked the Prevot des Marchand for the
fireworks upon the river； and said that Monseigneur and Madame had found
them very beautiful。
Shortly after this； I received a letter from one of my friends； the Duc
de Montfort； who had always been in the army of the Marechal de Villeroy。
He sent word to me； that upon his return he intended to break his sword；
and retire from the army。 His letter was written in such a despairing
tone that； fearing lest with his burning courage he might commit some
martial folly； I conjured him not to throw himself into danger for the
sake of being killed。 It seemed that I had anticipated his intentions。
A convoy of money was to be sent to Landau。 Twice he asked to be allowed
to take charge of this convoy； and twice he was told it was too
insignificant a charge for a camp…marshal to undertake。 The third time
that he asked this favour； he obtained it by pure importunity。 He
carried the money safely into Landau； without meeting with any obstacle。
On his return he saw some hussars roving about。 Without a moment's
hesitation he resolved to give chase to them。 He was with difficulty
restrained for some time； and a last； breaking away； he set off to attack
them； followed by only two officers。 The hussars dispersed themselves；
and retreated； the Duc de Montfort followed them； rode into the midst of
them； was surrounded on all sides； and soon received a blow which
overturned him。 In a few moments after； being carried off by his men； he
died； having only had time to confess himself； and to arrive at his
quarters。 He was infinitely regretted by everybody who had known him。
The grief of his family may be imagined。
CHAPTER XXX
The King did not long remain without some consolation for the loss of the
battle of Hochstedt （Blenheim）。 The Comte de Toulousevery different in
every respect from his brother； the Duc du Mainewas wearied with
cruising in the Mediterranean； without daring to attack enemies that were
too strong for him。 He had； therefore； obtained reinforcements this
year； so that he was in a state to measure his forces with any opponent。
The English fleet was under the command of Admiral Rooks。 The Comte de
Toulouse wished above all things to attack。 He asked permission to do
so； and； the permission being granted； he set about his enterprise。 He
met the fleet of Admiral Rooks near Malaga； on the 24th of September of
this year； and fought with it from ten o'clock in the morning until eight
o'clock in the evening。 The fleets； as far as the number of vessels was
concerned； were nearly equal。 So furious or so obstinate a sea…fight had
not been seen for a long time。 They had always the wind upon our fleet；
yet all the advantage was on the side of the Comte de Toulouse； who could
boast that he had obtained the victory； and whose vessel fought that of
Rooks； dismasted it； and pursued it all next day towards the coast of
Barbary； where the Admiral retired。 The enemy lost six thousand men； the
ship of the Dutch Vice…Admiral was blown up； several others were sunk；
and some dismasted。 Our fleet lost neither ship nor mast； but the
victory cost the liv