History of England comprising the Reign of Queen Anne until the Peace of Utrecht. 1701-1713

Preface

. This volume has been written, in accordance with, the wish expressed to me by several persons, as a connecting link between the close of Lord Macaulay's History of England and the commencement of that from the Peace of Utrecht, which I published while still bearing the title of Mahon. It is to be observed, that Lord Macau lay did not live to complete, as was hoped, the reign of William the Third. It is sometimes supposed that he did so, since his final volume, as published by his family, contains an excellent account of the last illness and decease of the King. But this is only a detached passage which stands separate from the rest. Of the last part of that reign, a period of between one and two years, there is unhappily with one other exception no record from his pen. That deficiency has here to be supplied.

In the reign of Anne the main figure in war and politics — around which it may be said that all the others centre — is undoubtedly Marlborough. I have to the best of my ability endeavoured to weigh his character in the scales of impartial justice — believing as I do that these scales have not been held even in the hands of preceding writers. In some we may trace

PREFACE.

. VI blind adulation ; in some others most unsparing hos tilitv. Although in several points of my narrative I differ from the conclusions which Archdeacon Coxe has formed, I have constantly derived the greatest advantage from the ample extracts of the Blenheim Papers which he has inserted in his Life of Marlborough. I allude es pecially to the confidential correspondence of the Duke with the Duchess and Lord Godolphin. There are some further extracts from these Papers which Arch deacon Coxe had made but did not publish, and which (forming part of his large manuscript collection) are now at the British Museum. Of these also I have been able to make use. But, on the other hand, I cannot acknowledge any obligation to the series of Marl borough's letters, taken from Mr. Cardonnel's copy books, and published by Sir George Murray in 1845.

Of these letters, filling five large volumes, by far the greater part as I conceive was neither written nor dictated by the Duke but prepared by his Secretaries, at his order and for his signature. They are merely formal or relative to matters of minute detail, and scarce ever in my judgment afford any thing of historical interest. It will be seen by my notes, where and how far I have availed myself of other family papers hitherto unpublished. But I desire at this place to express my great obligation to the Government of His Majesty the Emperor Napoleon, which in the most liberal manner allowed me access to the Archives of the Foreign Office at Paris during the last years of Louis the Fourteenth. Thus I was enabled to obtain transcripts ofthe secret

PREFACE.

. VII letters addressed to M. de Torcy by Abbe Gaultier, during his negotiations in England, — letters of the highest value to the history of parties at that time. Considerable extracts from them had been already made by Sir James Mackintosh in 1814; but these have remained in manuscript, with the exception of some passages cited in the Edinburgh Review, as I had occasion to explain in a note (vol. i. p. 43) to my History of England. It should be borne in mind throughout this work that, as in my previous History, dates when not otherwise specified are given in England according to the Old Style which was then the legal one ; but in foreign countries, except Russia and Sweden, according to the New. There is some inconvenience in this method, but, as it seems to me, there would be more in any other. Grosvenor Place, February 1870. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

A. d. Page 1700 Prospects of the Spanish Succession - - - 1 Death of Charles the Second of Spain - - 2 His Will ...... 3 Philip, Duke of Anjou, proclaimed - - - 4 Close of the Session in England - - -5 Lord Somers dismissed - - - - - 6 Disturbances at Edinburgh - - - 7 Death of the Duke of Gloucester - - - 8 Jacobite intrigues - - - - -9 Bombardment of Copenhagen - - - - 10 William returns to England - - - - 11 Calls the Tories to his Councils - - -12 1701 The General Election - - - - - 13 Intercepted letters from France - - 14 "Jack Howe" - - - - - -15 Negotiations at the Hague - - - - 16 Act of Settlement passed - - - - 17 The Electress Sophia - - - - - 19 Impeachment of Lord Somers - - - 20 Articles of charge against him - - - - 21 The Kentish Petition - - - - 23 The five Kentish gentlemen sent to prison - - 24 The Legion Memorial - - - - - 25 Case of Lord Haversham - - - -26 Lord Somers acquitted - - - - - 27 Basis of the Grand Alliance - - - - 28 Death of James the Second - - - - 29 General Election in England - - - - 30 1702 Change of Ministry - - - - - 31 Case of Thomas Colepepper .... 32 Act of Abjuration - - - - - 33 Death of William the Third - - - - 34 His character - - - - - - CONTENTS. X

Chapter II

a. d. Pago 1702 Accession of Anne - - - - - 37 Her character - - - - - - 38 Her first speech in Parliament - - - - 39 Ascendency of Marlborough - - - - 41 His embassy to Holland - - - - 42 The Coronation - - - - - - 43 Godolphin named Lord Treasurer - - - 44 Rochester dissatisfied - - - - - 45 Prince George named Lord High Admiral - - 46 Progress of the Grand Alliance - - - - 47 Marlborough takes the field - - - - 48 Siege of Kaiserswerth - . - - - - 49 The Hanoverian troops - - - - - 50 Campaign upon the Meuse - - - - 51 Fort St. Michael stormed - - - - 52 Liege surrendered - - - - - 53 Marlborough seized by freebooters - - - ib. His escape - - - - - - 54 Plot of the French in North Holland - - 55 The Elector of Bavaria - - - - - 56 Philip of Spain - - - - - -57 Victor Amadeus of Savoy - - - - 58 English expedition against Cadiz - - - 59 The Spanish galleons destroyed at Vigo - - 60 General Election in England - - - - 61 Visit of the Queen to Oxford - - - - 62 Meeting of Parliament - - - - - 63 Election Petitions - - - - - 64 Marlborough created a Duke - - - - 65 Great generosity of the Queen - - = - 66

Chapter III

Character of Marlborough - - - - 67 His great qualities - - - - - 69 Charm of his manner and address - - - 70 His two acts of treachery - . . - 72 His love of money - - - - 73 Parallel between him and Belisarius - - -75 Death of his only son - - - . - 76 Provision for Prince George - - - . - 77 Bill to prevent Occasional Conformity - - - CONTENTS. xi A. n. Page 1702 Eag erly pressed by the Queen - - - - 80 1703 But defeated by the Lords - - - , - 81 Rochester resigns - - - - - 82 Cabals of the High Tories - - - - 83 Project of Union with Scotland - - - 84 The new Scottish Parliament - - - 85 Letter from the Queen to the Privy Council - - 86 Resentment of the Estates .... 87" Fletcher of Saltoun - - .- - - 88 The Act of Security - - - - - 89 Close of the Session at Edinburgh - - - 90 Order of the Thistle revived - - - - 91 Rising of the Protestants in Languedoc - - 92 Accession of Portugal to the Grand Alliance - - 93 Campaign in Southern Germany - - - 94 Victory of the French at Hochstadt - - - 95 And at Spires - - - - - - 96 Marlborough at the Hague - - - - 97 Dilatory counsels of the Dutch - - - 98 General Obdam defeated - - - - 99 Insurrection in Hungary ... - 101 The Archduke Charles - - - - - 102

Chapter IV

The Great Storm - - - 104 Havoc throughout the country - - - - 106 Loss of life - - - - - - 107 Proclamation for a General Fast ... 108 The Houses of Convocation at strife ... 109 The Occasional Conformity Bill revived - - 110 But again defeated - - - - -111 The Methuen Treaty with Portugal - - - ib. The Archduke at Windsor - - - - 112 1704 And at Lisbon - - - - - - 113 The Queensberry Plot - - - - - 114 Trial of David Baillie - - - - - 115 Arrest of Sir John Maclean - - - - 116 Case of Ashby and White - - -' - 117 Queen Anne's Bounty - - - - -118 The Session closed - - - ' - - 120 Nottingham resigns - 121 Robert Harley - - - - - - 122 Henry St. John - - - - - ib. Armies set on foot by France - - - CONTENTS. A. D. 1704 Page Marshal Marsin in Bavaria - - - - 124 Plans of Marlborough - - - - -125 Politics of the Court of Berlin - - - - 127 Marlborough marches to Mayence - 128 Prince Eugene ------ 129 The Margrave of Baden - - - - 130 Marlborough on the Danube - - - - 132 His victory on the Schellenberg heights - - 133 Negotiations with the Elector of Bavaria - - 135 Advance of Marshal Tallard ... - 136 He marches with the Elector to Dillingen - - 137 Marlborough and Eugene at Dapfheim ... 138 Preparations for battle - - - - - 139

Chapter V

Strength of the two armies .... 140 The ground at Blenheim described ... 141 The Allies march forward ... - 142 Public prayers - - ... . . 143 The battle begins ..... 145 Conflict of Eugene on the right - . . . 146 And of Marlborough on the left - . . 147 The victory is decided ..... 148 Marshal Tallard made prisoner .... 149 The French infantry surrenders - - - 150 Flight of the Elector and Marsin - . - 151 Interview of Tallard with Marlborough and Eugene - 152 Losses of the French ..... 153 Magnanimity of Louis the Fourteenth - - - 154 Marlborough and Eugene at Ulm ... 156 Cabals in England - - - . - 157 Siege and reduction of Landau - - - - 158 The campaign in Italy - - - . - 159 Marlborough goes to Berlin - - . - 160 Jean Cavalier - - - . . -161 War in Portugal - - . . - 162 British fleet in the Mediterranean - - - 163 Gibraltar taken - - . . jg^.

Meeting of the Scottish Parliament - 1(35 And of the English ..... jgg Conflict between them - . . . -167 Occasional Conformity Bill .... igg Marlborough returns to England ... i«q CONTENTS. XIII a. d. Page 1704 Grant to him of Blenheim .... 170 And of Mindelheim - - - - - 171 1705 Case of Ashby and White continued - - - 173 Visit of the Queen to Cambridge - - - 174 The Whig Junto of Five Peers - - - - 175 They negotiate with Godolphin - - - 176 The General Election - - - - - 177

Chapter VI

Plans for the next campaign - - - - 178 Death of the Emperor ..... 179 Marshal Villeroy advances - - - 180 Marlborough joins Overkirk .... 181 And forces the French lines .... 182 Affair at Neer Ische ..... 183 General Slangenberg ..... 184 Marlborough marches to Genappe - - - 185 Battle designed at Waterloo ... - 186 The Dutch chiefs - - - - - 187 Prince Louis of Baden ----- 188 Gibraltar besieged by the Spaniards - - - 189 Lord Peterborough in command ... 190 He touches at Al tea - - - - - 191 And proceeds to Barcelona - - - - 192 His design on Montjuich - - - - 193 His entire success ..... 194 Lord Charlemont's failure - - - 195 Retrieved by Peterborough .... 196 Barcelona surrenders ----- 197 Great energy of Peterborough - - . - 198 His railing correspondence .... 200 State of affairs at Edinburgh .... 201 The " Squadrone Volante " - - - - 202 Lord Sunderland sent to Vienna - - - 203 Cowper appointed Lord Keeper - - - 204 Address moved by Lord Haversham ... 205 The Regency Bill - - - - - 206 Cry of " the Church in danger " - - - 207 Debate in the Lords ... - - 208 Marlborough at Vienna - 209 1706 His return to England ----- 210 Commissioners for Union with Scotland - - 211 Their first meetings .... - CONTENTS. A. D. 1706

Chapter VII

Page Design of Marlborough upon Italy His discussions with the Dutch His command in Flanders 213 214 215 216 He comes in sight of the French army Battle of Ramillies 217 Losses on both sides 219 220 Brussels and Ghent surrendered Antwerp and Ostend reduced Siege of Menin - - - 221 222 And of Dendermond 223 Government of the Low Countries Eugene marches to Turin 224 225 His victory over Marsin 226 Success of Peterborough at San Mateo - And at Fuente de Higuera 227 228 Barcelona besieged by the French Peterborough summoned back - He goes on board the British fleet And raises the siege 229 230 231 232 A Council of War 233 Peterborough returns to Valencia Balls and Bullfights given by him The Portugal army 234 235 236 It marches to Madrid Aragon rises in revolt - " The Vienna crew " King Charles at Zaragoza 237 238 239 240 Madrid relinquished by the Allies Complaints of Peterborough 241 242 He quits the army 243 His adventure at Huete He embarks for Italy 244 245 Retreat of the Allies from Castille Disappointment in England Overtures for peace 246 247 248 Opposed by Marlborough 249

Chapter VIII

Progress of the Scottish Treaty - The Equivalent 251 252 The National Debts Political arrangements 253 CONTENTS. XV A. d. Page 1706 The Houses of Parliament .... 255 Articles of Union agreed to - - - - 256 State of parties in Scotland .... 257 The Cameronians - - - - . 258 Petitions and addresses .... 259 Great speech of Lord Belhaven ... 260 Decisive division ..... 262 Riots at Glasgow - 263 The Act of Security - - - . - 264 Points of Excise and Finance - - . . 265 Lord Sunderland, Secretary of State - . - 266 Promotions in the Peerage - 267 1707 Supplementary Estimates moved by St. John - - 268 The Scottish Parliament meets - 269 Intended Protest -. - - - - 270 Death of Lord Stair - - - . - 271 The Treaty of Union passed - - - . 272 The Scottish Peers - - - - - 273 Debates upon the Union in England ... 274 Views of the High Churchmen - - - . 275 Sir John Packington - - - - - 276 Talhot, Bishop of Oxford - - - - 277 Speeches of Halifax and Nottingham - - - 278 The Royal Assent - - - - - 279 Subsequent results of the Union ... 280 Charge of bribery in its passing ... 282 Case of Lord Banff - 284 Lingering national prejudices .... 285 Apprehended frauds in trade - - - - 286 The new Great Seal of the United Kingdom - . 287 Last patents of Scottish peerage • - - - ' 288

Chapter IX

Peterborough again in Spain .... 289 His advice at a Council of War - - . 290 Charges against him in England ... 291 His recall - - - - . - - 292 He goes back to Italy - 293 Divided command in Valencia - - - . 294 Galway and Das Minas advance - - - 295 Their defeat at Almanza .... 296 Taunts of Peterborough .... 298 Valencia recovered by the French ... 291) a CONTENTS. A D. 1707 1708 Page And Zaragoza ------ ««- Death of the Margrave of Baden ... - 300 Charles the Twelfth near Leipsick - - - 301 Marlborough goes to visit him - 302 The Swedes retire from Saxony - - - 303 Defeat of the Margrave of Bareith - - - 304 Invasion of Provence ----- 305 Conquest of the kingdom of Naples - - - 306 Toulon besieged .... - 307 The Allies retire from Provence ... 308 Campaign in Flanders - - - - - ib. Visit of Peterborough to Charles the Twelfth - - 309 Successes of the French in this year - - - 310 Shipwreck off the Scilly Isles ... - 311 Sir Cloudesley Shovel ----- 312 Cabals at the English Court ... - 313 Mrs. Abigail Hill - - - - - 314 Secret influence of Harley - - ■ - - 315 The Sees of Exeter and Chester ... 316 Dr. Trimnel promoted - - - - - 317 Admiral Churchill accused - 318 Meeting of Parliament ----- 319 Conduct of the High Tory chiefs - - - 320 Lord Peterborough's case - - - - 321 Debate in the Lords upon it - - - - 322 Speech of Marlborough ... - 323 A Select Committee ..... 325 Joint Address to the Queen - - - - 326

Chapter X

Discontents in Scotland - - - - 327 Secret mission of Colonel Hooke - - . 328 Bill to render the Union more complete - - 329 Charge against Harley ..... 330 William. Gregg brought to trial ... 331 Distress of the Queen - - - . . 333 Great speech of Somers - - - . 334 Harley and St. John resign - 335 Robert Walpole in office - - - . 335 Treaty of Commerce with Spain ... 337 French expedition to Scotland - 339 The Pretender on board - - . .. 340 Failure of the enterprise .... 34^ CONTENTS. XVII A. D. Page 1708 Numerous arrests Vendome in Flanders 342 343 Staremberg and Stanhope in Spain Marlborough at the Hague 344 345 His visit to Hanover 346 The campaign commences 347 Ghent and Bruges surprised by the French And Oudenarde besieged 348 349 March of Marlborough and Eugene Battle of Oudenarde 350 351 Project of invading France Lille invested - 354 355 Volunteers in the Allies' camp Marshal Boufflers 356 357 The city of Lille surrenders And the citadel also 358 359 Ghent recovered ib.

Campaign in Catalonia 360 Expedition against Minorca Active measures of Stanhope St. Philip's Castle taken 361 362 363 Port Mahon 364 Negotiation with the Duke of Orleans 365

Chapter XI

Meeting of Parliament 366 The appointment of Somers pressed Cabal with the Duke of Hamilton 367 368 Imprisonment and death of Belhaven Lord Griffin and the Jacobite chiefs 369 370 Conversations with Marlborough Somers restored to office 371 372 Death of Prince George 1709 Addresses to the Queen 373 374 Lord Orford 375 376 The Laws of Treason Act of Grace and Free Pardon Public distress in France 377 378 Ovei-tures for Peace President Rouille 379 380 Terms insisted on by the Allies - 381 Marquis de Torcy at the Hague His offer of a bribe to Marlborough 382 383 a2 CONTENTS. A. D, 1709 1710 Page 384 Further conference between them Concessions tendered by Torcy - Difficulties felt by the Allies 385 386 387 Their Preliminary Articles The negotiation broken off Marlborough and Eugene in Flanders Project of besieging Mons 388 390 391 392 Battle of Malplaquet Heavy losses on both sides The Duchess of Marlborough " Malbrook s'en va en guerre " Mons surrenders 395 396 397 398 399 Campaign in Portugal The Swedes defeated at Pultawa Home politics - - - 400 ib. 401 Office of Captain General for life New Board of Admiralty 402

Chapter XII

Henry Sacheverell 404 His Sermon at St. Paul's 405 Proceedings of the House of Commons Sacheverell committed to custody Case of Colonel Hill 406 407 408 Sacheverell impeached 409 His trial by the House of Lords His defence by Sir Simon Harcourt Popular feeling in his favor 411 412 413 His own speech 414 Sentence of the Peers Popular rejoicings Close of the Session 415 416 417 Shrewsbury called to office Pretensions of Marlborough 418 419 Conferences for Peace at Gertruydenberg Opposition of Austria and Savoy 420 421 The war recommences 422 Project of surprising Calais Douay taken 423 424 Dismissal of Sunderland 425 Joint Memorial to Marlborousrh Violent course of the Duchess Landing in Languedoc - 426 427 CONTENTS. XIX A. D. 1710 1711 Page Campaign in Catalonia 429 Staremberg and Stanhope advance They pass the river Noguera Battle of Almenara 431 432 433 March to the Ebro 434 "Barranca de los Muertos" Battle of Zaragoza 435 436 Flight of King Philip . Dismissal of Godolphin - 437 438 Resignation of the Whig Ministers New appointments 439 44Q Whigs and Tories of 1710 441

Chapter XIII

The General Election Contest at Westminster 443 444 Close of the Flanders' campaign 445 Staremberg and Stanhope at Zaragoza - They march into Castille ib. 446 And enter Madrid The Portugal army 447 448 The Duke de Vendome - 450 The Albes at Ciempozuelos and Toledo - Their Councd of War ... 451 452 They commence their retreat Active pursuit of Vendome 453 454 He surrounds the English at Brihuega - Capitulation of Stanhope 455 456 Dilatory march of Staremberg Battle of Villa Viciosa - 457 458 St. Leocadia 459 Spanish Ballads and broad-sides Meeting of Parliament - 460 461 Vote of Thanks to Marlborough refused Return of the Duke to England His interview with the Ministers 462 463 464 He desires to be reconciled He supports Lord Galway On his knees to the Queen 465 466 467 The resignation of the Duchess compelled Negotiation for Peace - 468 469 Abbe Gaultier 470 His secret letters to Torcy His mission to Paris 471 XX CONTENTS. A. D, 1711 1712

Chapter XIV

Page 474 Case of the Palatine emigrants - Harley assailed by Guiscard Guiscard dies of his wounds Proceedings in Parliament Vote to build fifty new churches Death of the Emperor - 476 477 478 479 480 481 Harley created Earl of Oxford - Deaths of three Cabinet Ministers Plans for the campaign in Flanders Eugene summoned home 482 483 484 The Non Plus Ultra 485 Tokens of respect to Fenelon Bouchain taken - 486 487 Expedition against Quebec Its utter failure - 488 489 Negotiation with France continued Prior sent to Paris ib. 490 And Mesnager to London Preliminary Articles signed Dissatisfaction of the Dutch 491 492 493 Count Gallas forbid the Court of England Pamphlets and lampoons 494 495 Pageant designed in London streets Plans of the Whig chiefs 496 497 Their coalition with Nottingham Memorial from Hanover 498 499 Contest in the Lords The Whigs prevail 500 501 The Occasional Conformity Bill The Scottish Peers 502 503 Deposition of Sir Solomon Medina Statement in reply of Marlborough The Duke dismissed from all his employments Creation of twelve new Peers 504 505 506 507 Lady Masham 508

Chapter XV

, Mission of Prince Eugene to England - Conferences at Utrecht begun - The Pretender writes to the Queen Robert Walpole sent to the Tower Votes against Marlborough and Cardonnel 510 511 512 514 CONTENTS. XXI A. D 1712 1713 Page The Duke's own vindication French project of a peace Dissatisfaction in England 515 516 517- The Duke of Ormond goes to Flanders - New proposals from France 518 519 Counter project of the English Ministers Secret advices from Gaultier 520 521 The " restraining orders " 522 Objections stated by Marlborough His challenge to Earl Poulett - 524 525 Message of the Queen on the terms of Peace Debates in both Houses 526- 528. Armistice concluded with France Ormond separates from Eugene - 529 530 St. John created Viscount Bolingbroke - His visit to Paris 531 532 "Harre et Robin" 533 Duel of the Dukes of Hamilton and Lord Mohun Success of tbe French at Denain 534 535 Death of Vendome And of Godolphin 536 537 The Godolphin Papers 538 Marlborough departs from England The Pretender departs from France Delays in the negotiation 539 540- 541 Peremptory language of Bolingbroke Its powerful effect 542- 543 Peace of Utrecht signed 544

Chapter XVI. The Age Op Anne

545 Galaxy of great names - Honor paid to literature on all sides The party writers : Swift 546 548 Defoe 549 Anonymous pamphlets Satires and parodies The New Atalantis First rise of Addison His tragedy of Cato 551 552 554 555 556 Collections of periodical essays The Tatler 558 CONTENTS. a. n. Page 1713 The Spectator - - - - - - 560 Sir Roger de Coverley ----- 561 State prosecutions ----- 562 The Guardian - - - - - - 564 The Court of Queen Anne .... 565- Country life in her reign - - - - 567 Life in cities and towns ----- 569 Trades and professions - - - - - 570 High spirit of the people - - - - CHAP. I. 1700 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

Chapter I

The first year of the new century found the Peace of Ryswick still unbroken. All the great nations desired its continuance, all shrunk from any possible renewal of the conflict. Yet all felt that one black cloud still remained upon the sky. So long as the Spanish succession was unsettled no peace in Europe could be deemed secure. To guard against this danger, so far as human fore sight could avail, the second Treaty of Partition was signed in March 1700. The contracting parties were England, Holland and France. In this treaty as in the preceding . dominions were parcelled out as more or less convenient to their rulers and with no view whatever to the welfare or the feeling of the nations to be ruled. The sole object was to trim the balance between the rival claimants, the Dauphin and the Archduke Charles.

It was stipulated that the Archduke should succeed as King of Spain, his monarchy to comprise besides Spain itself, the Indies and the Netherlands. The Dauphin on the other hand was to receive the kingdom of Naples and Sicily and the province of Guipuzcoa. There were further clauses enabling him to obtain the Duchy of Lorraine in exchange for the Duchy of Milan and providing against any possible junction on the same head of the Spanish and Imperial Crowns. B To make this scheme effectual it should have been kept secret ; and this among other causes the popular forms of the Dutch Government forbade. Even the first rumours that such a treaty was pending aroused all the pride of Castille. It was not against France however that the resentment of the Spanish statesmen was directed. Their only chance to maintain their monarchy entire lay in some possible change of purpose in Louis the Fourteenth.

It was against England that their anger blazed high. "While the Dutch and French diplomatists were suffered to remain at Madrid, Mr. Alexander Stanhope the English Envoy received an order from the King of Spain to depart from the Spanish dominions. Charles the Second the unhappy King of Spain was already a decrepit old man before the age of thirty-nine. Childless, and without the hope of children, weak alike in body and in mind, he faltered in helpless perplexity when pressed to make a Will. Sometimes his inclination pointed to the Austrian Princes as his nearest kinsmen, and sometimes to the Bourbon Princes because they might keep his monarchy entire. Cardinal Porto Carrero the Archbishop of Toledo and at this time his principal adviser took the latter side. So did also the courtiers that were most around him.

One of whom he sought counsel was the Count San Estevan. " Speak freely," said the King. " Tell me what yon think would be the evil of the Partition Treaty." " Sir," replied the Count in a mystic tone, " recollect that our Saviour in the Garden of Olives found consolation in the thou<>'ht ' of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.' " * The King it is added was moved even to tears. Under such impulses the poor King decided, or to speak more truly allowed others to decide for him. He signed and sealed in due form the Will which they prepared. On the 1st of November, at three o'clock in 1 St. John, Gospel ch. xviii. ver. 0; MtSmoires de Louville, vol. i. p. 99. CHAP. I. 1700, the morning, that " long disease his life " came to a close. Then all was stir in the palace. The ante chamber was thronged with priests and nobles with diplomatists and statesmen, while the Will was opened by the Ministers within.