He was admirably fitted to manage a personal negotiation, to soften resentment, to soothe wounded pride, to select, among all the objects of human desire, the very bait which was most likely to allure the mind with which he was dealing.

On this occasion his task was not difficult.

He had two excellent assistants, Marlborough in the household of Anne, and Somers in the cabinet of William.
Marlborough was now as desirous to support the government as he had once been to subvert it.

The death of Mary had produced a complete change in all his schemes.

There was one event to which he looked forward with the most intense longing, the accession of the Princess to the English throne.