the great mass of the people, and a reliance on the patriotism of the moderate tories, to whom Harley owed his election, encouraged the king to make a farther change in the ministry. On the 27th of December lord Carlisle was appointed first lord of the treasury, and some modifications were made in the privy council. Lord Somers, by whose advice the king had been principally guided, was sensible of the critical state of affairs, and not only declined accepting an office, but induced the chief members of his party to withdraw their pretensions, and give a disinterested support to government.

The speech from the throne, which was the composition of Somers, contained an animated appeal to the spirit and honour of the nation. The affront offered to the british crown by the acknowledgment of the pretended prince of Wales, was described in terms of dignified resentment, and the parliament was urged to adopt the most effectual means for securing the protestant succession, and frustrating the hopes of those who meditated the overthrow of the established government. The manly eloquence of this speech excited a transport of enthusiasm. The peers announced their concurrence by a loyal address, which was laid on the table for signature, that it might appear no less the act of each individual than the determination of the whole body. It was signed by seventy peers, including those of every distinction and party. In the House of Commons also the moderate tories vied with the whigs in testifying their zeal and patriotism.

The temper of the two houses induced the king to make farther changes. On the 4th of January, secretary Hedges was superseded by the earl of Manchester, the earl of Pembroke was appointed lord high admiral, and his place of president of the council transferred to the duke of Somerset. Lord Rochester was suffered to retain the office of lord lieutenant of Ireland, only because it was difficult to find a proper successor. By these modifications the ministry and household consisted of a motly mixture of whigs and moderate tories.

The concern of Marlborough for the resignation of Godolphin, and the dissolution of the parliament was considerably tempered

by the countenance shewn to that moderate class of his party with whom he was identified, and particularly by the distinction conferred on his confidential friend Harley. He had the additional satisfaction to observe the concurrence of the parliament and ministry in that system of policy, which he had in vain recommended to his colleagues.

The treaties which he had concluded were received with the most unqualified approbation, and liberal supplies voted for the prosecution of the war. An address was presented from the house of commons, requesting the king to introduce an article in the treaties of alliance stipulating that no peace should be concluded with France, until reparation was made for the great indignity offered to the nation, by the acknowledgment of the pretended prince of Wales; nor were the cares of the legislature confined to precautions against a foreign enemy. Convinced that no system of policy could be stable, while the domestic establishment remained in uncertainty, the parliament passed several bills for securing the protestant succession. An act of attainder, against the pretended prince of Wales, and the queen dowager, was followed by another, for the security of his majesty's person, and the succession to the crown in the protestant line. This act also contained a clause enjoining all persons to abjure the pretended prince of Wales; and a second making it equally criminal to imagine or compass the death of the princess of Denmark, as that of the king's eldest son and heir. Strenuous opposition was made to these measures, by the high tories, at the head of whom was Nottingham; but their efforts. only served to shew their general unpopularity.

The bill of abjuration was the last public act of our great deliverer. His health had been so long declining, and his infirmities were much increased by anxiety of mind arising from the recent feuds at home, and embarrassments abroad, that during the preceding summer, he had repeatedly prognosticated to his friends his approaching dissolution. His death was accelerated by an accidental fall from his horse, while hunting in the park at Hampton Court. Supported by the energy of his mind, his constitution struggled for several weeks against the progress of decay, and his dissolution

was suspended by Providence, until he had completed the great edifice of civil and religious liberty. When the bill of abjuration was presented for his signature, his hand was too feeble to perform its office, and he stamped his name to this national legacy, a few hours before he breathed his last. He expired on the 8th of of his age, and the fourteenth

March 1702, in the fifty-second year of his reign.

The zeal which Marlborough had manifested in concluding the treaties of alliance, and in promoting the grand designs of William, joined with the fullest conviction of his great talents, as a general and statesman, obliterated the royal prejudices against his person, and the doubts entertained of his fidelity. Considering him as the most proper agent to consolidate the protestant succession, and carry into effect the extensive system which had been formed for the preservation of civil and religious liberty, the last advice of William to his successor was, a strong recommendation of Marlborough, as the most proper person in her dominions, to lead her armies, and direct her counsels.*

Indeed the subsequent conduct of Marlborough verified the profound judgment of the dying monarch. Whatever may have been his errors and his faults in the preceding period of doubt and infidelity; whatever intercourse he had hitherto maintained with his former sovereign and benefactor, or which he afterwards held with the Stuart family, he religiously fulfilled the great trust reposed in him, by his sovereign and his country, and more than any individual, contributed to consolidate the great work of the revolution, to baffle the hopes and machinations of the Stuarts and their adherents, and to smite that great colossus of power, which threatened the destruction of civil and religious liberty, and on which they placed their hopes of effecting a counter-revolution.

* Life of Marlborough, p. 30.-Ledyard v. 1, p. 136.

CHAPTER 10.

1702.

ACCESSION OF ANNE-Favours conferred on the earl and countess of Mariborough as well as their relatives and friends-Godolphin placed at the head of the treasury -Formation of a tory administration-Mission of Marlborough to the HagueSituation of the queen, and the countess of Marlborough―Their party bickerings— Embarrassments of Marlborough and Godolphin, from the Whig partialities of the

countess.

ON

N the death of William the crown devolved on Anne, in conformity with the order of succession, established at the revolution. At the time of the queen's accession, the doubts which she had formerly entertained, were suppressed by the change of circumstances, or the brilliant prospect which opened to her view. The recent death of her father relieved her from the scruples which she had felt at his exclusion, and the disputed legitimacy of her brother induced her to acquiesce in the arrangements of the legislature ; for even if he was not supposititious, she persuaded herself that he was disqualified by his religious principles, and considered her assumption of the crown as necessary to secure the existence of the established church.*

The first exercise of her power was the nomination of the prince her husband to the offices of generalissimo of the forces, and lord high admiral. Being regarded only as a subject, he still continued to occupy a seat in the house of peers, in the quality of duke of Cumberland.

The distinguished merits of the earl of Marlborough, his former zeal and services, his disgrace on her account, and her own romantic affection to his countess, were powerful recommendations to her

* The duchess observes :-"When I saw she had such a partiality to those that I knew to be jacobites, I asked her one day whether she had a mind to give up her crown, for if it had been her conscience not to wear it, I do solemnly protest I would not have disturbed her, or struggled as I did. But she told me she was not sure the prince of Wales was her brother, and that it was not practicable for him to come here, without ruin to the religion and country." Narrative upon Mrs. Morley's coming to the crown. St. Alban's, Oct. 29, 1709.

favour and confidence. Accordingly the honours which his talents had extorted from William, were but the prelude to higher distinctions and employments. Three days after her accession he was nominated knight of the garter. On the ensuing day he was appointed captain general of the english forces, at home and abroad, and soon afterwards master of the ordnance. His countess was also made groom of the stole and mistress of the robes, and intrusted with the management of the privy purse.

66

To the countess the queen also gave an additional and delicate proof of her regard. Recollecting that in their excursions through Windsor park she had repeatedly admired the situation of the great lodge, the queen seized the earliest opportunity of offering her the rangership, to which that lodge was attached. In one of her familiar notes, after alluding to lord Portland, who had been ranger under the late king, she added, Mentioning this worthy person puts me in mind to ask dear Mrs. Freeman a question which I would have done some time ago; and that is, if you would have the lodge for your life, because the warrant must be made accordingly; and any thing that is of so much satisfaction as this poor place seems to be to you, I would give dear Mrs. Freeman for all her days, which I pray God may be as many and as truly happy as this world can make you."* The countess gratefully accepted this offer, embellished the lodge at a great expense, and

it became her favourite residence.

Similar proofs of favour flowed on those who were connected with Marlborough and his lady by blood or friendship. Lady Harriet Godolphin and lady Spencer, their two daughters, were nominated ladies of the bed chamber. The Sunderland family also felt the beneficial effects of their powerful interest. At the particular intercession of the countess, Robert, earl of Sunderland obtained the renewal of the annual pension of £.2,000 which had been granted him by the late king, together with the payment of the arrears since its suspension. By such an unexpected instance of

*The queen to lady Marlborough, May 19, 1702.