■WILLIAM AND MART.

89

his liberty without entirely regaining his honour.*. He hadalways been disliked both by Louvois and by Lewis. Yet thewar against the European coalition had lasted but a very shorttime when both the minister and the King felt that the gene-ral who was personally odious to them was necessary to thestate. Conde and Turenne were no more; and Luxemburgwas without dispute the first soldier that France still possessed.In vigilance, diligence and perseverance he was deficient. Heseemed to reserve his great qualities for great emergencies. Itwas on a pitched field of battle that he was all himself. Hisglance w r as rapid and unerring. His judgment was clearestand surest when responsibility pressed heaviest on him andwhen difficulties gathered thickest around him. To his skill,energy and presence of mind his country owed some gloriousdays. But, though eminently successful in battles, he w-as noteminently successful in campaigns. He gained immense renownat William’s expense; and yet there was, as respected theobjects of the war, little to choose between the two com-manders. Luxemburg was repeatedly victorious: hut he hadnot the art of improving a victory. William was repeatedlydefeated; but of all generals he was the best qualified to repaira defeat.

In the month of July William’s headquarters were at Lam-beque. About six miles off, atSteinkirk, Luxemburg had en-camped with the main body of his army; and about six milesfurther off lay a considerable force commanded by the

* Mdraoires do Saint Simon; Voltaire, Sifecle de Louis XIV. Voltairespeaks with a contempt which is probably just of the account of this affairin the Causes Cdlfebres. See also the Letters of Madame de Sdvignd duringthe months of January and February 1680. In several English lampoonsLuxemburg is nicknamed .^isop, from his deformity, and called a wizard,in allusion to his dealings with La Voisin. In one Jacobite allegory he isthe necromancer Grandorsio. In Narcissus Luttrell’s Diary for June 1692he is called a conjuror. I have seen two or three English caricatures ofLuxemburg’s figure.

CHAP.

XIX.

169 ::.