John received the congratulations of the French
minister, Torcy, on the occasion of the French victory over Prince
Eugene at Denain.

In August St John, who had on the 7th of July been created Viscount
Bolingbroke and Baron St John of Lydiard Tregoze, went to France to
conduct negotiations, and signed an armistice between England and France
for four months on the 19th. Finally the treaty of Utrecht was signed on
the 31st of March 1713 by all the allies except the emperor. The first
production of Addison's _Cato_ was made by the Whigs the occasion of a
great demonstration of indignation against the peace, and by Bolingbroke
for presenting the actor Booth with a purse of fifty guineas for
"defending the cause of liberty against a perpetual dictator"
(Marlborough). In the terms granted to England there was perhaps little
to criticize. But the manner of the peacemaking, which had been carried
on by a series of underhand conspiracies with the enemy instead of by
open conferences with the allies, and was characterized throughout by a
violation of the most solemn international assurances, left a deep and
lasting stain upon the national honour and credit; and not less
dishonourable was the abandonment of the Catalans by the treaty. For all
this Bolingbroke must be held primarily responsible. In June his
commercial treaty with France, establishing free trade with that
country, was rejected. Meanwhile the friendship between Bolingbroke and
Harley, which formed the basis of the whole Tory administration, had
been gradually dissolved. In March 1711, by Guiscard's attempt on his
life, Harley got the wound which had been intended for St John, with all
the credit. In May Harley obtained the earldom of Oxford and was made
lord treasurer, while in July St John was greatly disappointed at
receiving only his viscountcy instead of the earldom lately extinct in
his family, and at being passed over for the Garter. In September 1713
Swift came to London, and made a last but vain attempt to reconcile his
two friends. But now a further cause of difference had arisen. The
queen's health was visibly breaking, and the Tory ministers could only
look forward to their own downfall on the accession of the elector of
Hanover. Both Oxford[2] and Bolingbroke had maintained for some time
secret communications with James, and promised their help in restoring
him at the queen's death. The aims of the former, prudent,
procrastinating and vacillating by natur