ding article. Some twelve years later than this the
brilliant pen of Bolingbroke, who, if he had lived at a period nearer to
our own, might have been an unrivalled writer of leading articles, was
able to obtain for the series of pamphlets called "The Craftsman" a
circulation greater than that ever enjoyed by the _Spectator_. Pulteney
co-operated with him for a time in the work. Steele, as we have said,
had been expelled from the House of Commons for his pamphlet "The
Crisis." The caricature which played so important a part in political
controversy all through the reigns of the Georges had just come into
recognized existence. Countless caricatures of Bolingbroke, of Walpole,
of Shrewsbury, of Marlborough, began to fly about London. Scurrilous
ballads were of course in great demand, nor was the supply inadequate to
the demand.

[Sidenote: 1714--Malbrouck de Retour]

One of the most successful of these compositions described the return of
the Duke of Marlborough to London. On the very day of the Queen's death
Marlborough landed at Dover. He came quickly on to London, and there,
according to the descriptions given by his admirers, he was received like
a restored sovereign returning to his throne. A procession of two
hundred gentlemen on {53} horseback met him on the road to London, and
the procession was joined shortly after by a long train of carriages. As
he entered London the enthusiasm deepened with every foot of the way; the
streets were lined with crowds of applauding admirers. Marlborough's
carriage broke down near Temple Bar, and he had to exchange it for
another. The little incident was only a new cause for demonstrations of
enthusiasm. It was a fresh delight to see the hero more nearly than he
could be seen through his carriage-windows. It was something to have
delayed him for a moment, and to have compelled him to stand among the
crowd of those who were pressing round to express their homage. This was
the Whig description. According to Tory accounts Marlborough was more
hissed than huzzaed, and at Temple Bar the hissing was loudest. The work
of the historian would be comparatively easy if eye-witnesses could only
agree as to any, even the most important, facts.

Enthusiastic Whig pamphleteers called upon their countrymen to love and
honor their invincible hero, and declared that the wretch would be
esteemed a disgrace to humanity, and should be transmitted to posterity
with infamy, who would da