him, and he cannot be sure of having the same credit with his successor, nor that Young (Princess Anne) himself will be then in being, and in a condition to support him. Edward's (England's) best relations speak well of Manly (the king) at present, and the generality of Wheatley's family (the English) are dissatisfied with Harper's (Hanover's) late behaviour; but these gentlemen being changeable, their hearts may cool. All this considered, I confess I cannot see any prudent reason for Baker's (Harley's) dilatory proceedings;1 but he being the chiefest lawyer, and his own interest so much concerned, Manly (the king) must be governed by him, and comply with what he cannot help, and in the mean time have patience, and hope the best."

[Here follows a paragraph in which names occur for which there is no key in the whole correspondence.]

'Plessington (the king) is, God be thanked, in very good health, and receives all the friendship and kindness from the gentleman (Duke of Lorraine) in whose house he lodges at present; but he hopes Aitkins will invite him to a better house before it be long." 2

1 He seems to have had no real intentions of furthering the Chevalier's succession. (Smollett.)

2 Original Papers. This wish was never to be fulfilled.

CHAPTER VII.

Peace of Utrecht signed-Rejoicings at Chaillot-Lady Middleton's fears that the queen's prayers will injure her health-Endeavours of her Majesty to amuse her ladies-Middleton resigns his office, December 14th, 1713-Reports in consequence that the Chevalier is about to change his religion-Denies the truth of these in a letter to his mother-Anne's reason for not appointing her brother her successor Middleton returns to St. Germains, and is appointed to the office of Great Chamberlain-Harley and Marlborough make public proof of their perfidy towards the exiled family--Lord Clermont made prisoner a second time during the rebellion of 1715 -Released probably in 1717-Queen Mary Beatrice dies, 1718— Middleton's death in the following year-His sons die without issue some time after-Lady Middleton survives until 1745-The dates of her daughters' deaths.

To Mr. Lamb (Lesley).1

"March 21st, 1713.

"My Welsh uncle,2 Josias Jenkins (the king), has always looked upon his nurse Hannah (Mr. Lesley) as

1 Charles Lesley, Chancellor of Cloyne, in Ireland, and author of "A Short Method with Deists." Although a fervent Protestant, he manifested the greatest devotion for the cause of the Stuarts, and followed the fortunes of the Pretender. In his old age, however, he obtained permission to return to his own country. Born about 1650, died 1772. (Beeton.)

2 A Welsh uncle is a cousin.

the most necessary to him in his housekeeping, and, indeed, in all other concerns; so he took time to consider where and in what station she might be most useful, and now his inclination has determined him to have her with him, and ordered me to tell her so, that she might take her measures for that purpose, and to sell out with convenient speed the shortest way.

"Pray speak to your friend Mr. Lilly, to indorse the bills in his custody, and lodge them with a trusty person for the use they are destined. In the mean time there is nothing to be said of our present affairs, for all directions must be suspended till we have Hannah's informations." 1

The Peace of Utrecht was signed March 30th, but not solemnly ratified until some weeks afterwards. A printed copy of the treaty was sent to Queen Mary Beatrice. She did not read it, as it was so bulky a document; but told Lady Middleton to open it, who looked for what concerned her, but made no further search.

A

On May 5th the queen went again to Chaillot. few days after her arrival, the abbess was obliged to tell her that a solemn Te Deum for the peace was appointed to be sung in their church on the day of

the Ascension. To this the queen only answered with a sigh, knowing that the abbess had no choice in the matter, and directly afterwards turned the conversation. On the evening of the 28th, she asked the nun who waited on her if she had looked at the paper on the chimney-piece. "I have not had courage to do so," was the answer. "Ah, well!" answered the queen, “then I must for you.". She put on her spectacles, and began to read it aloud, but on reaching the fourth and fifth articles paused and said, with a sigh, "The King of France knows whether my son is unjustly styled king or not; I am sure he is more grieved at this than we can be; but hard necessity has no law. The King of France had no power to act otherwise, for the English would not have made peace on any other condition. God will take care of us: in Him we repose our destinies.” Her ladies, when they arrived on the following day, were full of the rejoicings in England. At this time the Chevalier and his suite thought it advisable to leave Bar-le-duc for a while, and go on a short visit to Luneville.

Lady Middleton, fearing that the life the queen led at Chaillot would injure her health, said angrily one day to the nuns, "The queen spends too much time in prayer at Chaillot; it is killing her. If the King of France knew the sort of life she leads here,

he would come himself, I am sure, and take her away." This speech offended the Sisters, who, looking upon Lady Middleton's words as an insult to the convent, repeated them to the queen. Mary Beatrice only smiled at the idea that the King of France should be supposed to take so much interest in her. "I do not think," she said, "that the King of France will trouble himself about my prayers, or that he is likely to interfere with my stay at Chaillot. My ladies, who like better to be at St. Germains, speak according to their own tastes, and are thinking more for themselves than for me, I doubt, in wishing to return. They may find pleasure in it; but for me, think you the life I lead at St. Germains can be very agreeable, when I am shut up alone in my cabinet every evening after supper till I go to bed, writing three or four hours? When I am here, I write in the morning, which is a relief to my eyes; there, all my time is spent among the miserable, for of such alone is my society composed. Here I have, at least, cheerful company after my meals; and if I have a moment of comfort in life it is here."

Perhaps in hopes of enlivening her ladies a little she took about this time several little walks and expeditions. One day she drove with Lady Middleton, Lady Sophia Bulkeley, and Madame Molza to the Bois de Boulogne. Lady Middleton and Lady