As we in Sir R. Walpole's place, I should have done very few things that he has done; and, as ill as he has used me, if he were put in my place, and he had been so treated, I should have prevented it had I been in power." The King refused the princess's request. have seen, he had no particular love for his daughter-inlaw, "Cette Diablesse Madame la Princesse," as he called her, nor had he any desire to conciliate the Duchess of Marlborough now that the duke, her husband, whom he had admired, was dead. Hence the refusal. Sir Robert would not again apply to his Majesty. The Duchess of Buckingham, Sarah's bête noire, was a most extraordinary woman, both silly and conceited. Some doubt is thrown on her royal parentage, it being thought Colonel Graham, and not James, was her father. Her grandfather, Sir Charles Sedley, was among the first to promote the revolution of 1688; so keen was he that it was thought he had private reasons for his rancour. Sedley was one day asked why he appeared so inflamed against the King, to whom he owed so much. “I hate ingratitude," the famous wit replied, "and, therefore, as the King has made my daughter a countess, I will endeavour to make his daughter a Queen." The Duchess of Marlborough had no other way of leaving Marlborough House but by the entrance into Pall Mall, which, to judge from the following letter, was not always in a savoury condition. There was hardly room enough for a coach and six horses to enter or leave. DIANA SPENCER (for the duchess) to LORD TREasurer. “MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, 7th July 1725. "Some days ago Mr. Saunders measured the buildings in the Pall Mall to the passage that turns into Marlborough House, and, upon examining the leases of those houses from the turn, he told the Duchess of Marlborough they had encroached eight feet into the breadth of the way to her house, and since this report they have built out several sheds and more cellars, which do not only make it narrower, but from their setting out benches, drays coming to carry things into the cellars, it is sometimes difficult for chairs to pass it; besides this they let stalls for herbs and stinking things that is a nuisance in the passage to her house, &c. Duchess desires no more than to have the passage remain as it was without encroachments, and suggests to the Lord of the Treasury to signify to the owners that the leases are forfeited by their encroachment of eight feet, but that they will not pull their houses down if they will themselves pull down these things which they have encroached since this reign." The paper is endorsed "22nd July 1725. Write to surveyor's, acquaint him duchess's complaint. Matter inquired into. Rectified." 1 In referring to her dispute with Sir Robert Walpole, Dr. Hare answers the duchess that he is sorry to see where there is so much to charm there is also so much to blame. He assures her he has an affectionate regard and esteem for her, and really admires her for her fine understanding and good sense, and for the just and noble sentiments she expresses on all occasions in the best language and the most agreeable manner; but that the more he admires the more concerned he feels to see blemishes in so fine a character. In particular he blames her freedom of speech in expressing her resentment of persons so unguardedly, and tells her it lessens exceedingly the influence she might otherwise possess, and makes enemies. He apologises for thus writing, and "It proceeds from the great esteem and respect I have for you." In reply, the duchess thanks him for his letter and says, as she has read Montaigne, she knows 1 Treasury Papers, Record Office. says, Ų there is no greater proof of friendship than venturing to disoblige a friend in order to serve them. "I am entirely of his opinion," she continues, "and even when I be not convinced that I have done wrong I always take it kindly, and therefore I am confident I shall never forget it, though you desire me, and in this I imitate your humble servant Di (her granddaughter), for when I made a sort of apology for telling her anything that may prevent mischief to her, she always says she loves me better for telling her of any fault, and I desire you will believe my nature is the same, and I beg you will not have the least scruple in telling me anything you think, for I am not so partial to myself not to know that I have many imperfections." The following year was marked by the death of George I. The King, not having seen his German dominions for two years, had set out for Hanover on the 3rd June. He embarked on board the Caroline yacht at Greenwich, and landed at the Hague on the 7th. He stayed one or two nights at Vaert, and then proceeded to Delden between 10 and II P.M. Here he supped heartily, eating part of a melon, which disagreed with his digestion, for the following day he was taken ill in his coach, and complained he had lost the use of one hand. On his arrival at Linden he could eat nothing, and was bled. His attendants advised him to remain at Linden, but he insisted on going on, urging his coachman to drive as fast as possible. About ten o'clock that night he arrived at his brother's (the Bishop of Osnaburgh) palace, where he fell into a lethargic slumber, and expired about eleven o'clock next day, the 11th June. The King's body was conveyed to Hanover for interment in the family vault. He left only one son, George II., and one daughter, married to the King of Prussia. CHAPTER XIII UNDER GEORGE II "What is the worst of woes, that wait on age, What stamps the wrinkle deepest on the brow? GEORGE II. was crowned at Westminster on the 11th of October; the day was celebrated with universal rejoicing. His eldest son, Prince Frederick, born in 1707, whom his parents cordially disliked, had remained in Hanover, and did not arrive in this country until the end of 1717. Having been represented as an idiot and a driveller by the Jacobites and other enemies, his appearance when he was introduced to the Privy Council as Prince of Wales created a favourable impression. He became the centre of the Opposition, and gathered round him the clever writers of the day whom Walpole had estranged, and whose pens were consequently turned against the minister. Catering for popularity, the prince remained till the day of his death a thorn in the side of the King, who seems hardly to have possessed natural affection for any of his children. George II. was an utterly selfish man of low tastes; how he obtained and kept the affection of Queen Caroline, who was so superior to him in intellect and character, must always be a matter of wonder. Prince Frederick had pleasing manners, which endeared him to the people, a love of music and art, and a taste for literature. In character he was obstinate, and some say false and treacherous, but his peculiar bringingup would not tend to bring out many noble qualities. According to Lord Hervey, "he had a father who abhorred him, a mother who despised him, sisters that betrayed him, a brother set up against him, and a set of servants who neglected him." An income of £5000 was voted by Parliament for the prince, but he held this sum entirely at the King's pleasure, an arrangement sure to entail friction sooner or later. The young man got into wild company, and consequently into debt. The persecution on the part of the King and Queen was enough to awaken the Duchess of Marlborough's sympathies. Hearing of his money difficulties, and not being averse to establishing her granddaughter in so exalted a position, the Duchess of Marlborough asked him to honour her with a call, and proposed that the prince should marry her granddaughter, Lady Diana Spencer, on whom she would settle £100,000. The impecunious young prince willingly consented to this proposal, and the ceremony was arranged to take place privately at Windsor Lodge, but Walpole got wind of the affair and took steps to prevent it. Possibly before this negotiation, the exact date of which is not available, but is somewhere about the year 1729 or 1730, the Duchess of Marlborough lost a favourite grandson, Robert, eldest son of her daughter, Lady Sunderland. He died in Paris in 1729, seven years after his father. Sarah was greatly concerned, and said, if she had only known of his illness, notwithstanding her age and infirmities, she would have gone to Paris to nurse him; she felt sure he was not well treated by the doctors, or |