This good fortune, which is often the reward of virtue, and as often the effect of prudence, attended him as well before as after his accession to the crown of Great-Britain. The esta Thus died George the First, who may truly be considered as more fortunate in more important circumstances of his life and affairs, than any prince of the last or present century. breast, tore her hair, and gave signs of extreme grief; and then dismissing the English ladies who accompanied her, took the road to Brunswic, where she continued three months.* "Lord Townshend, who was on his journey to Hanover, repaired instantly to Osnaburg, where he arrived on the 22d, early in the morning; but finding the King demised, he wrote a letter of condolence and congratulation to the new sovereign, and taking post, pursued his journey to England. "Before I conclude the reign of George the First, one remarkable fact must not be omitted. As the King could not readily speak English, nor sir Robert Walpole French, the minister was obliged to deliver his sentiments in Latin; and as neither could converse in that language with readiness and propriety, Walpole was frequently heard to say, that during the reign of the first George, he governed the kingdom by means of bad Latin. It is a matter of wonder, that under such disadvantages, the King should take pleasure in transacting business with him; a circumstance principally owing to the method and perspicuity of his calculations, and to the extreme facility with which he arranged and explained the most abstruse and difficult combinations of finance.. "It has been already observed, that George the First had, by a left-handed marriage, espoused the duchess of Kendal, though his real wife, the unfortunate Sophia Dorothy, was still alive. Sophia was the only child of William duke of Zell, by Eleanor d'Emiers, of the house of Olbreuse, in France; she was born in 1666, and her hand was courted by the most powerful princes of Germany. His father Ernest Augustus having once designed him for the princess Anne, afterwards queen of England; he actually went to England to pay his addresses, and was well received and approved by the whole court. But he was recalled by his father, who had suddenly concluded a match for him with his cousin. "Sophia, at the time of their marriage, was only sixteen years of age, and was a princess of great personal charms and mental endow The duchess of Kendal was sister of Frederic Achatius, count of Schulenburgh and Hedlen. Petronelle Melesina, countess of Walsingham, who afterwards married the earl of Chesterfield, was supposed to be her daughter by George the First, though she was considered as her niece. The duchess returned to England, and died in 1743 at a very advanced age. She principally resided at Kendal House, Isleworth, which was after her death converted into a tea garden. Her immense property was divided amongst her German relations, and the Countess of Chesterfield. ments; yet her attractions did not retain the "Such was the situation of Sophia, when count Konigsmark, a Swedish nobleman, arrived at Hanover. He was a man of a good figure, and professed gallantry; had been formerly enamoured of Sophia at Zell, and was supposed to have made some impression on her heart. On the sight of her, his passion, which had been diminished by absence, broke out with increasing violence; he had the imprudence publicly to renew his attentions; and as George was absent at the army, made his solicitations with redoubled ardour. Information of his attachment, and of his success, was conveyed to Ernest Augustus; and one evening, as the count came out of her apartment, and was crossing a passage, he was put to death by persons placed to intercept him, in the presence of the elector; and tradition still marks the spot where this assassination was committed. Sophia was immediately put under arrest; and though she solemnly protested her innocence, yet circumstances spoke strongly against her. "George, who never loved his wife, gave implicit credit to the account of her infidelity, as related by his father; consented to her imprisonment, and obtained from the ecclesiastical consistory, a divorce, which was passed on the 28th of December 1694. And even her father, the duke of Zell, who doated on his only daughter, does not seem to have en tertained any doubts of her guilt; for he continued upon the strictest terms of friendship with Ernest Augustus, and his son-in law. "The unfortunate Sophia was confined in the castle of Alden, situnted on the small river Aller, in the duchy of Zell. She terminated her miserable existence, after a long captivity of thirty-two years, on the 13th of November 1726, in the sixty-first year of her age, only seven months before the death of George the First; and she was announced in the Gazette, under the title of the Electress Dowager of Hanover. "During her whole coufinement, she he haved with no less mildness than dignity; and on receiving the sacrament once every week, never omitted on that awful occasion, making the most soleinn asseverations, that she was not guilty of the crime laid to her charge. Subsequent circumstances have come to light, which appear to justify her memory; and reports are current at Hanover, that her character was basely defamed, and that she fell a sacrifice to the jealousy and perfidy of the countess of Platen, favourite mistress of Ernest Augustus. Being enamoured of count Konig blishment of the electoral dignity in his family, was a work which, though begun by his father, was reserved for him finally to accomplish. A large accession of dominion fell to him by his succeeding to the dukedom of Zell, whereby he became one of the greatest princes of Germany, and by far the most powerful person that ever stood next heir to the British throne. The duchy of Bremen, and the bishopric of Osnaburg, considerably strengthened his interests in the empire, and gave an additional weight to the Protestant cause. But his good fortune appeared in nothing so remarkable as in the removal of those seemingly invincible obstacles to his succession to the crown of these kingdoms. Queen Anne had high notions of hereditary right; and, in the latter part of her reign, slavish doctrines in support of the indefeasibleness of that right, were avowed in numerous addresses. Preparations were made for the execution of purposes well understood, though not expressly avowed. The ministers, and all who had been the sure supports of the Hanover succession, had been disgraced. Many favourable con cessions were made to our often defeated enemies, who, both by interest and inclination, were the protectors and friends of the Presmark, who slighted her overtures, jealousy took possession of her breast: she determined to sacrifice both the lover and the princess to her vengeance, and circumstances favoured her design. "The prince was absent at the army: Ernest Augustus was a man of warm passions and violent temper, easily irritated, and when irritated, incapable of controul. Sophia herself had treated count Konigsmark with regard and attention, and the lover was hot-headed, selfzufficient, priding himself on his personal accomplishments, and accustomed to succeed in affairs of gallantry. "Those who exculpate Sophia, assert either that a common visit was construed into an act of criminality; or that the countess of Platen, at a late hour, summoned count Konigsmark in the name of the princess, though without her connivance; that on being introduced, Sophia was surprised at his intrusion; that on quitting the apartment, he was discovered by Ernest Augustus, whom the countess had placed in the gallery, and was instantly assassi nated by persons whom she had suborned for that purpose. "It is impossible, at this distance of time, to discover and trace the circumstances of this mysterious transaction, on which no person at the court of Hanover durst at that time deliver his opinion. But the sudden murder of count Konigsmark may be urged as a corroboration of this statement: for had his guilt, and that of Sophia been unequivocal, would be not have been arrested and brought to a trial for the purpose of proving their connection and confronting him with the unfortunate princess? "Many persons of credit at Hanover have tender. The administration of affairs was committed to the most daring and determined, and the nation deluded into madness for destruction. But, amidst these apprehensions and dangers, the queen's sudden and unexpected death gave the fortunate elector of Hanover an easy and unmolested accession to the throne. King George did not labour under king William's first disadvantages. His and their countries enemies were well known, and could with no colour of right demand confidence and power. After strong professions of submission and loyalty, many actually entered into rebellion; and greater numbers wished it success. The murmurings and complaints, which were occasioned by the disgrace of the general and ministry, who had raised the credit and glory of the nation to an height before unknown, had been resented as unpardonable affronts to the royal prerogative: And yet, when the successor removed those, from whom he had received many indignities, and of whose measures and designs to defeat him of his royal dignity, he had many and undoubted proofs, this was represented as extreme partiality and injustice; and in public, and on the most solemn occasions, it was pleaded as a just provonot scrupled, since the death of Ernest Augustus and George the First, to express their belief that the imputation cast on Sophia was false and unjust. It is also reported, that her husband having made an offer of reconciliation, she gave this noble and disdainful answer of haughty virtue, unconscious of stain: what I am accused of is true, I am unworthy of his bed; and if my accusation is false, be is unworthy of me; will not accept his offers." George the Second, who doated on his mother, was fully convinced of her innocence. He once made an attempt to see her, and even crossed the Aller on horseback, opposite to the castle, but was prevented from having an interview by the baron de Bulow, to whose care the elector, her husband, had committed her. Had she survived his accession, he intended to restore her to liberty, and acknowledge her as queen dowager. Her memory was so dear to him, that he secretly kept her portrait in his possession: and the morning after the news of the death of George the First had reached London, Mr. Howard observed (in the antichamber of the king's apartment) a picture of a woman in the electoral robes, which proved to be that of Sophia. If "George the Second told queen Caroline, that in making some repairs in the palace of Hanover, the bones of count Konigsinark were found under the floor of the antichamber which led to the apartment of Sophia. The queen mentioned this fact to sir Robert Walpole, and in various conversations which she held on this subject, she appeared fully convinces of her innocence; an opinion which the minister himself constantly adhered to." Coxe's Walpole. cation to rebellion, and all punishments of the authors of so much mischief and misery were opposed under the pretence of being acts of inhumanity and cruelty. There are many circumstances not publicly known, which, if brought to the light, would demonstrate the king's extraordinary good fortune in defeating the rebellion. Besides what broke out in the North, the associations and preparations in the South and the West were great and numerous. Caution, fearfulness, and delay, prevented the execution of measures, which Could hardly have failed of proving fatal to the government. Such a multitude of enemies in so many places would have divided the troops, and have rendered the army insignificant in the defence of the whole. The march of part of the rebels into England, their trifling at Preston, and their speedy defeat, were of unspeakable advantage, by effectually discouraging insurrections in many other places; whereas a few days march further would have very much swelled their numbers, and given them a dangerous strength. But nothing could be more fortunate to the king than the death of Lewis 14, of France. From him the rebels would have received all sorts of succours and supplies. Bigotry and revenge animated the whole French nation with unanimous zeal for the success of the Pretender. And even a minority, a contested regency, and the probable need, which the regent might have of our support, did not prevent all assistance. However, those circumstances proved a powerful restraint; and the situation of the neighbouring nations was an eminent security to this reign. The utmost degree of aversion and jealousy subsisted between the regent of France and the court of Madrid; which was properly improved by destroying the growing naval power of Spain; and our surprizing and complete advantage in this affair utterly disappointed the vast designs of an able and enterprising minister. The invasion and rebellion, in 1719, are the less remembered, because not one person suffered death on that account. The Spanish fleet with 5,000 soldiers suffered so much in a storm, as to be obliged to return home; but about 400 of them landed in Scotland, where they were joined by a considerable body of Highlanders, but were soon defeated, by an inferior number of the king's forces. more happy, not only for the nation but for the lasting tranquillity and liberties of Europe. France would then have been compelled to give up the Spanish monarchy. By advantages in trading to the dominions of Spain, in Europe and America, and by several concessions, we should have had ample means of repairing the losses sustained in a long and expensive war. The House of Bourbon had been reduced within their proper bounds, and ceased to have been the terror and scourge of their neighbours. To this may be added, that king George came to a people who had been corrupted both in their political and religious notions, and had been taught an aversion to our natural allies, and to all foreign Protestants, while 'an esteem and affection for France, and a tenderness for many doctrines of Popery had been infused into them with great success; and these prejudices had indisposed the nation to submit to a Protestant prince, while the dan gers from a popish one were not attended to. The advantages likewise of a prosperous war, and many valuable branches of commerce had been given up or neglected; and the revenue was loaded with a very heavy debt. The a thors of these calamities had the art and at surance to impute the consequences of them to the king and his ministers; and their peacemaking had left Europe in such a state, and their principles infected the nation to such a degree, that a good body of regular troops was absolutely necessary to the safety of the nation; and yet this was exclaimed against as inslaving it. The moderate and sure methods of discharging the public debts which had been offered, having been neglected, the South-Sea scheme took place, to the great misfortune and disgrace of this reign, as well as of the nation in general; and though men of all parties and degrees upon this occasion equally renounced common sense and honesty, yet they trans ferred the whole blame from themselves to the government. But whatever mistakes or mis fortunes bappened, they cannot justly be imputed to the king, whose integrity and good designs were eminent and undoubted, and his resolution to govern agreeable to our laws and constitution steady and unalterable; though the best understanding, and the best disposition are not always secure from the arts of bold and ambitious men. The king of Sweden's death was far from With regard to the management of affairs being the least considerable of many favour-abroad, a due attention was paid to the feeble able events; for, had that implacable monarch lived, his designs against Denmark would probably have succeeded; and then he would have had full leisure and opportunity for transporting his hardy troops into Scotland. and corrupt state of our allies; and the eager and hasty disposition of the people for war, their perpetual complaints of the wisest conduct, cavilling at the most affectitig successes, soon growing weary of the expence, and longing for peace on any terms, were well con-insidered; but at the same time the dignity and honour of the nation were maintained in our methods of composing the disorders and disturbances; which was performed with as little expence and hazard as possible; and prevedtative and defensive measures were the wise 2 P But, on the other hand, how great and uncommon soever the king's good fortune was removing all obstructions, and firmly establishing himself in the throne, it was not without some allay. Had his succession taken place before the change of the ministry, and the disgrace of the general, it would have been infinitely VOL. VIII. and safe politics, the happiness and glory of his reign. As king James, instead of giving the laws their proper course, assumed a power to dispense with them; and as queen Anne was Aattered into a persuasion that the legal authority was unlimited; King George, on the contrary, desired no power but what enabled him to promote the welfare of his subjects, and was too wise to deem those his friends who would have made their court to him by the profession of an obedience which they never practised, and which has always proved fatal to those princes who have put it to the trial. He had given a proof his sovereign virtues before he exercised them in this nation. His natural inclination to justice led him to rule his German subjects in the same manner that our constitution directed him to govern the English. He regarded civil liberties as the natural rights of mankind, and therefore indulged them to a people who pleaded no other claim to them than his own goodness. The consistency of his behaviour was such that he inflexibly pursued those measures which appeared the most just and equitable. As he was most prudent in laying proper schemes, he was no less remarkable for his steadiness in accomplishing what he had once concerted. To this uniformity and firmness of mind which appeared in all his proceedings, the successes that attended him were chiefly owing. His martial virtues were no less conspicuous than his civil, though for the good of bis subjects he studied to decline all occasions of military glory. He had acquired great reputation in his younger days, in Hungary and the Morea, when he fought against the Turks, as well as in Germany and Flanders, where he commanded against the disturber of the peace of Europe. And, as if personal courage was an hereditary virtue of his family, three of his brothers fell gloriously in the field, fighting against the enemies of their country, and his son (his present majesty king George 2.) fought with the bravery of his father at the battle of Audenarde, when the sons of France and the Pretender fled before him. As to his more private virtues, he was of a grave, easy, and calm temper, and generous upon all occasions; and the serenity and benignity of his mind discovered themselves in his countenance, and captivated the love and veneration of all, who approached him.* Tindal. GEORGE THE SECOND. A. D. 1727. ACCESSION OF GEORGE THE SECOND.]. On, Wednesday the 14th of June 1727, about three o'clock in the afternoon, a messenger brought the news of the death of King George the first to sir Robert Walpole, then at Chelsea, who immediately carried it to the Prince and Princess of Wales at Richmond; Whereupon their "The news of the king's death had no sooner reached London, than a general belief was current that the administration would be totally changed. It was credited, that sir Robert Walpole had irretrievably offended the new king, when prince of Wales, as he had been frequently heard to protest, that when he came to the throne, that minister should never be employed. "Pulteney, before their open rupture, had informed the prince of Wales of some disrespectful expressions used on a former occasion, and told him that he was sold to his father's ministers, by persons who considered nothing but themselves and their own interest, and were in haste to make their fortunes. Since their quarrel, he had undoubtedly exaggerated royal highnesses came with all speed to Leicester House. Here they found several Lords of the Privy Council, and many other persons of distinction, who drew up and signed a Proclamation for proclaiming his royal highness King of these realms; but it being then late at night, the ceremony was put off till the next this representation, and, as he continued on good terms at Leicester house, naturally used his whole credit against Walpole. Bolingbroke and the Tories had also caballed at Leicester house, and were supported by the whole weight and influence of the fa vourite, Mrs. Howard. Swift also, in a letter to his friend Dr. Sheridan, mentions the hopes of the Tories, and the certain dismission of Walpole. In fact, Walpole himself was at this moment convinced of his renoval, and yet was well satisfied that his exclusion could not be of long continuance. In conformity with these sentiments, he said to his friend sir William Yonge, I shall certainly go out; but 'let me recommend you not to go into violent opposition, as we must soon come in again. 고 morning. In the mean time, his Majesty And afterwards, his Majesty, in council, caused all the Lords and others of the late was pleased to make the following Declara- In this moment of probable disgrace, Walpole was deserted by many of his friends; and sir Spencer Compton, whom the king had already avowed his intention of appointing minister, became the idol of the day. But the event turned out otherwise, and the public expectations were disappointed. "It is now well known, that the continuance of the new administration was principally owing to the influence of queen Caroline; and writers of great credit, but not acquainted with the interior situation of Leicester house at that period, have not scrupled to ascribe her patronage of sir Robert Walpole, solely to the offers which he made to obtain from parliament a jointure of 100,000l. a year, when sir Spencer Compton could only venture to propose 60,000l. as if motives of sordid interest had alone induced the queen to protect the minister; and as if her conduct was derived from an instantaneous impulse, unconnected with any previous communication or intercourse. The offer had doubtless its due effect; but a number of circumstances combined to influence her in favour of sir Robert Walpole. "The queen was by no means ignorant of his character and abilities. While he was in opposition to government, from 1717 to 1720, he had continued in the highest favour with the prince of Wales. During this period, a woman of her good sense, could not fail of distinguishing that capacity for business, those powers of intellect, which raised him to the head of his party; and his wise and able conduct upon the failure of the South Sea scheme, naturally increased this prepossession in his favour. "He had, in conjunction with lord Townshend, gratified the prince of Wales, by obtaining from the king the garter for the earl of Scarborough. And count Broglio, the French embassador, observes on this occasion, That 'ministers not unfrequently procured places 'for those persons who were attached to the prince, from the consideration that the time might come, when such a conduct would turn out to their advantage.' "The sudden and unexpected death of the the duke of Devonshire to the princess, and that she persuaded him to relinquish the design. "But the principal cause which secured to him the protection of the queen, was his prudent behaviour in regard to Mrs. Howard. He had penetration sufficient to foresee, that George the Second would be governed by his wife, whom he adored, and of whose abilities and good sense he had formed the highest idea, and not by his mistress, of whose judgment he never entertained any favourable opinion. The minister had always treated the princess of Wales with the highest respect, and declined paying court to Mrs. Howard; a mode of conduct, which, according to the opinion of superficial observers would inevitably bring on bis disgrace, but which, in effect, contributed to his continuance in office. A contrary mode of proceeding had inspired the queen with an invincible aversion to Pulteney, Bolingbroke, and the Tories. Hence she used all her influence with the king not to change the administration. "The account of the king's death was brought first to the minister at Chelsea, in a dispatch from lord Townshend, who had accompanied George the first to the continent. He instantly repaired to the palace at Richmond. The king was then retired, as was his usual custom, to his afternoon's nap. On being informed that his father was dead, he continued for some time incredulous, until he was told that the minister was waiting in the antichamber with the express. He at length started up, and made his appearance half dressed; but he still retained his unbelief, until the dis patch from Townshend was produced. Walpole having knelt down, and kissed his hand, inquired whom his Majesty would be pleased to appoint to draw up the declaration to the privy council? " Compton," replied the king with great abruptness, and-Walpole quitted the apartment under the most mortifying impres sions. He immediately waited on sir Spencer Compton with the king's commands, who, unacquainted with the etiquette and forms of expression used on the occasion, avowed his ignorance, and requested the minister to draw up the declaration. Walpole complied, and Compton conveyed it to the king. "The duke of Devonshire, who had always been the great friend and supporter of Walpole, had continued on good terms with the princess of Wales. He had strongly impressed "Walpole passed the two days which immeher with sentiments of high regard for his abi-diately followed the accession of the new King, lities and ministerial capacity, and had repre- in great agitation and concern, and held seve sented him as the person who had principally ral conferences with his friends at Devonshire counteracted the intrigues of the Jacobites, House. Scrope, secretary to the treasury, who discovered the plot of bishop Atterbury, and was admitted to one of these meetings, dewhose good offices were essentially employed scribed the whole company, absorbed in gloom in preserving the family on the throne. Nor and consternation. Either the next, or the can a stronger proof be alledged of the height following day, Scrope repeated his visit to the to which this confidential intercourse was car- desponding minister, and found no alteration in ried, than that the resolution which he had his mien and appearance. He first encouraged once formed to resign, was communicated by him in general terms to hope, and then added |