The Last Years of the Dowager Duchess of Marlborough-Her Aversion to Sir Robert Walpole-Letter from the Bishop of Chichester-Her Grace replies-Quarrels with Her Daughters-Death of Henrietta Duchess of Marlborough-The New Duke-The Dowager's Wrath at His Marriage-Makes a Puppet Show to illustrate Her Grievance -The Singular Punishment of Lady Bateman - Her Grace's Favourite Grandson, Jack Spencer His Prodigality - Fanny Murray's Contempt for Money-The Dowager pleads Her Case in the Court of Chancery-Refuses to part with the Diamond-hilted Sword-Eccentricities of the Duchess of Buckingham-Proud of Her Royal Descent-Intrigues to place James Stuart on the Throne -Her Answer to the Duchess of Marlborough-The Duchess of Shrewsbury diverts the Town - The Dowager Duchess on the Immortality of the Soul-Lively Letters to Lord Marchmont- Engaged in writing an Account of Her Conduct--Her Secretary, Storm produced by the Dowager Duchess's Book-She does not care what Fools or Mad People say-Employs Henry Fielding to help Her in writing a Vindication- The Duchess of Buckingham draws near Her Death-The Ruling Passion strong in Death-She makes Preparations for a Pompous Funeral-Wishes to be laid beside King James-Strange Vicissitudes attending His Majesty's Remains -Candles burn round Them for over a Century-Charles Duke of Marlborough and His Grandmother-He knows not Right or Wrong -The Dowager Duchess erects a Statue to Queen Anne-Dwells on Former Days-Purchases a Chamber Organ Which beguiles Her Loneliness-Anxious to have a Biography of Her Husband written -Collects Papers and Letters for the Purpose-Employs Two Literary Men Whom She instructs-Her Desire is never gratified- JOHN CHURCHILL, FIRST DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH THE DUCHESS OF SOMERSET ELIZABETH CHURCHILL, COUNTESS of BridgeWATER ANNE CHURCHILL, COUNTESS of Sunderland MARY CHURCHILL, Duchess of Montagu HENRIETTA Churchill, Second Duchess of Marlborough CHAPTER I London Town in Ancient Times-Class Distinctions- VOL. II. I CHAPTER I COMPARED with its monstrous overgrowth in COM the present day, London was in the reign of Queen Anne a comparatively small and compact city. And this being an age before class distinctions became lost in a democratic mass, each section of society was marked by its dress and manner, and lived in its own quarter of the town. In this way the staid and busy tradesman, great merchants, and bankers, dwelt with their families above their shops or offices east of Temple Bar; barristers, solicitors, and law students were to be found in and around the Temple; the environs of Drury Lane were given over to the poor players and pamphleteers, the ready-witted writers of lampoons and satires, to singers and musicians, to those who penned comedies and tragedies, or indited fulsome praises to some proud patron. In the vicinity of the Royal Palaces of Whitehall and St. James's lived the courtiers whose great mansions rose in the Strand or Piccadilly; whilst persons of lesser distinction resided in Leicester Square, Covent Garden, or Bloomsbury, from whose new-built Queen's Square, |