Mohun Appears for the Last Time in This History explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Politics and Loyalty

  Esmond navigates political patronage, writes for the Tory cause, and witnesses the rise and fall of powerful figures like Marlborough and Webb.

• Love and Duty

  Esmond's actions are driven by his love for Beatrix; he declines the Duke of Hamilton's offer to avoid attending her marriage, and reflects on how women shape men's lives.

• Honor and Sacrifice

  Esmond refuses to attack Marlborough's courage, only his selfishness, and reflects on the motives that drive men to desperate acts in war and politics.

Characters to notice

• Henry Esmond

  Colonel Esmond declines the Duke of Hamilton's offer of a secretary position, writes political papers for the Tory Post-Boy, and has a confrontation with Dr. Swift.

• Beatrix Esmond

  Mentioned as the object of Esmond's affections; he cannot bear to attend her marriage, and she sends him on an errand for gloves or a fan.

• Duke of Hamilton

  Offers Esmond a position as secretary on his Paris embassy, but the offer is declined.

• General Webb

  Esmond's old commander, now Lieutenant-General of the Land Forces, celebrated by the Ministry and the public, and triumphant over Marlborough's disgrace.

• Duke of Marlborough

  Utterly disgraced; his fall is described in detail, including loss of offices and humiliation before General Webb.

• Henry St. John

  Holds out flattering hopes of advancement to Esmond; criticized for his tyrannical treatment of men of letters.

• Jonathan Swift

  Confronts Esmond at the printer's shop, behaving haughtily; Esmond later reflects on Swift's character and his own dislike of him.

• Robert Harley

  Now Lord Oxford and Mortimer, offers Esmond a seat in Parliament.

Key passages

• “Besides my Lord Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, who for family reasons had kindly promised his protection and patronage to Colonel Esmond, he had other great friends in power now, both able and willing to assist him”

  In addition to the Duke of Hamilton, who had offered his support for family reasons, Esmond now had other powerful friends ready to help him.

  Esmond's political connections are expanding beyond the Duke of Hamilton.

• “His Grace was magnanimous enough to offer to take Mr. Esmond as secretary on his Paris embassy, but no doubt he intended that proposal should be rejected; at any rate, Esmond could not bear the thoughts of attending his mistress farther than the church-door after her marriage, and so declined that offer which his generous rival made him.”

  The Duke generously offered Esmond a position as secretary for his Paris embassy, but likely expected it to be refused; Esmond could not stand the idea of accompanying Beatrix beyond the church after her wedding, so he turned down the offer from his noble rival.

  Esmond's refusal is motivated by his love for Beatrix, who is marrying the Duke.

• “I have asked about men in my own company, (new drafts of poor country boys were perpetually coming over to us during the wars, and brought from the ploughshare to the sword,) and found that a half of them under the flags were driven thither on account of a woman”

  I questioned the soldiers in my own unit—fresh recruits from the countryside constantly arriving during the wars, taken from farming to fighting—and discovered that half of them had enlisted because of a woman.

  Esmond reflects on how romantic troubles drive men to become soldiers.