UPON THE

CONSEQUENCES HOPED and FEARED

FROM THE

DEATH of the QUEEN.

AUG. 9, 1714.

N order to fet in a clear light what I

IN

have to say upon this subject, it will be convenient to examine the ftate of the nation with reference to the two contending parties; this cannot well be done without some little retrospection into the five laft years of her late Majefty's reign.

I have it from unquestionable authority, that the Duchefs of Marlborough's favour began to decline very foon after the Queen's acceffion to the throne, and that the Earl of Godolphin's held not much above two years longer; although her Majefty (no ill concealer of her affections) did not think fit to deprive them of their power until a long time after.

The Duke of Marlborough and the Earl of Godolphin having fallen early into the interefts

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interests of the lower party, for certain reafons not seasonable here to be mentioned, (but which may deserve a place in the history of that reign) they made large fteps that way upon the death of the Prince of Denmark, taking in several among the warmeft leaders of that fide, into the chief employments of the ftate. Mr. Harley,

then fecretary of ftate, who difliked their proceedings, and had very near overthrown their whole scheme, was removed with the utmoft indignation, and about the fame time, Sir Simon Harcourt and Mr. St. John, with fome others, voluntarily gave up their employments.

But the Queen, who had then a great efteem for the perfon and abilities of Mr. Harley (and in proportion of the other two, although at that time not equally known to her), was deprived of his fervice with some regret, and upon that and other motives well known at court, began to think herself hardly used, and several stories ran about, whether true or falfe, that her Majefty was not always treated with that duty fhe might expect. Mean-time the churchparty were loud in their complaints, furmifing, from the virulence of feveral pamphlets, from certain bills projected to be

brought

brought into parliament, from endeavours to repeal the facramental-teft, from the avowed principles, and free fpeeches of fome perfons in power, and other jealoufies needlefs to repeat, that ill-defigns were forming against the religion established.

Thefe fears were all confirmed by the trial of Dr. Sacheverel, which drew the populace, as one man, into the party againft the miniftry and parliament.

The miniftry were very fufpicious, that the Queen had still a reserve of favour for Mr. Harley, which appeared by a paffage that happened fome days after his removal: For, the Earl of Godolphin's coach and his happening to meet near Kensington, the Earl a few hours after reproached the Queen, that the privately admitted Mr. Harley, and was not without fome difficulty undeceived by her Majefty's affeverations to the contrary.

Soon after the Doctor's trial, this gentleman, by the Queen's command and the intervention of Mrs. Mafham, was brought up the back-ftairs; and that Princefs, fpirited by the addreffes from all parts, which fhewed the inclinations of her fubjects to be very averfe from the proceedings in court and parliament, was refolved to break the uni

ted

ted power of the Marlborough and Godolphin families, and to begin this work, by taking the difpofal of employments into her own hands: for which an opportunity happened by the death of the Earl of Effex, lieutenant of the tower, whofe employment was given to the Earl Rivers, to the great difcontent of the Duke of Marlborough, who intended it for the Duke of Northumberland, then colonel of the Oxford regiment, to which the Earl of Hartford was to fucceed. Some time after, the chamberlain's staff was disposed of to the Duke of Shrew bury in the abfence, and without the privity of the Earl of Godolphin. The Earl of Sunderland's removal followed, and lafly that of the High Treasurer himself, whofe office was put into commission, whereof Mr. Harley (made at the fame time chancellor of the exchequer) was one. I need fay nothing of other removals, which are well enough known and remembered: let it fuffice that, in eight or nine months time, the whole face of the court was altered, and very few friends of the former miniftry left in any great ftations there.

I have good reasons to be affured, that when the Queen began this change, the had

t

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had no intentions to carry it fo far as the church-party expected, and have fince been fo impatient to fee. For, although the were a true profeffor of the religion established, yet the firft motives to this alteration did not arise from any dangers she apprehended to that or the government; but from a defire to get out of the dominion of fome, who fhe thought had kept her too much and too long in pupilage. She was in her own nature extremely dilatory and timorous; yet, upon fome occafions, pofitive to a great degree. And when fhe had got rid of those who had, as she thought, given her the most uneafiness, she was inclined to stop, and entertain a fancy of acting upon a moderating scheme, from whence it was very difficult to remove her. At the fame time I must confefs my belief, that this imagination was put into her head, and made use of as an encouragement to begin that work, after which her advisers might think it easier to prevail with her to go as far as they thought fit. That these were her Majefty's difpofitions in that conjuncture, may be confirmed by many inftances. In the very height of the change, fhe appeared very loth to part with two great officers of ftate of the other par

ty;