Misfortune trod on the heels of misfortune. Prince Eugene attempted to
take Toulon, the chief naval station in the Mediterranean, but failed
to accomplish the task he had set himself. On the Rhine the Prince of
Baden was badly defeated by Villars, at Stollhofen, the disaster
laying Germany open to invasion by Louis. The gallant Sir Cloudesley
Shovel, who had risen from the position of cabin-boy, was drowned in a
great storm off the Scilly Islands, England thereby losing one of her
ablest admirals.
Glad were George and Matthew when, after a dull winter, the Duke
opened his campaign of 1708. The young men were now greater friends
than ever, and not unnaturally so, after all that had happened and was
happening. The reports they had occasionally from the elder Fairburn
were in the highest degree cheering. The two ladies were well; the
pits were prospering marvellously.
The feeling at home, rumour said, was setting strongly in favour of
ending the war and coming to terms with France. This discontent at
home was supplemented by murmurings among the troops quartered at
Antwerp, and still more by the uneasiness of the Dutch, who were
disposed to make a separate treaty with France and drop out of the
conflict. Marlborough felt that he must achieve some brilliant success
before that campaign was ended.
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