CHAPTER XVI.

THE REIGN OF QUEEN ANNE.

Accession of the Queen--Meeting of the Houses of Parliament--Scotland and Ireland--Power of Marlborough--The Revenue--Tory Colour of the Ministry--The Coronation--Declaration of War--Marlborough goes to the Seat of War--General Aspect of Affairs--Marlborough's Difficulties--His Campaign--Operations by Sea--Meeting of Parliament--Supply--Marlborough's Dukedom--The Occasional Conformity Bill--Dismissal of Rochester--Opening of the Campaign of 1703--Fall of Bonn--Failure to take Antwerp--Savoy and Portugal join the Allies--Visit of the Archduke Charles to England--The Storm--Jacobite Conspiracy--Ashby _versus_ White--Queen Anne's Bounty--Marlborough's Great Plans--The States-General hoodwinked--His March--Dismay of the French--Junction with Eugene--Advance on the Danube--Assault of the Schellenberg--The Prince of Baden's Conceit--Approach of Tallard--The Eve of Blenheim--The Battle--Conclusion of the Campaign--Marlborough's Diplomacy--Capture of Gibraltar--Battle of Malaga--Proceedings in Parliament--The Campaign of 1705--Attempt to recover Gibraltar--Peterborough's Exploits in Spain--Proposal to Invite the Electress Sophia to England--Consequent Legislation--Battle of Ramillies--Eugene relieves Turin--Disasters in Spain--Meeting of the Commissioners for the Union--Condition of the Treaty--Opposition in Scotland--Riots in Edinburgh--Conduct of the Opposition--The Measure carried by Bribery--Its Discussion in the English Parliament--The Royal Assent given 535