I have done in the integrity of my heart-indeed BOOK II. in the great integrity of my heart*."

1694.

Death of

the Queen:

But the nation was destined at this period to Illness and feel another and yet heavier loss. In December the queen was attacked with what appeared a transient indisposition, from which she soon in a great degree recovered. But the disorder returning with more serious symptoms, the physicians of the household were called in, who pronounced it to be the measles; and very improper remedies were applied, for it was soon ascertained to

* It is a soothing and consolatory reflection, that men who think and act in a manner widely different may be equally deserving of esteem and reverence. Of archbishop Tillotson king William said to Mr. Chadwick, his son-in-law," I loved your father: I never knew an honester man, and never had a better friend." Bishop Burnet preached his funeral sermon: "the most moving," says Mr. Oldmixon, "I ever heard, and to the most crouded auditory I ever saw-interrupted only by sighs and tears." Of archbishop Sancroft it is affirmed by Mr. Wagstaff, a clergyman who published an account of that prelate's last illness," any man might read the pleasure in his breast by the constant serenity and cheerfulness of his aspect. It was indeed," says he, "an unspeakable comfort and satisfaction to us, and we reflected on the mighty power of a well-spent life. Drawing near his end, he said, that his profession was real and conscientious; and that, if the same thing was to be acted over again, he would quit ali he had in the world rather than violate his conscience." The archbishop died November 24, 1693, and was buried, according to his own directions, in the church-yard of the parish of Fresingfield, where he resided.

BOOK II. be the small-pox of the confluent and most malig 1694. nant sort. She probably thought herself in dan

ger from the first, as in an carly stage of the
illness she shut herself up in her closet for many
hours, and, burning many papers, put the rest
in order. The new archbishop attended her;
and when no hope of recovery remained, he,
with the king's approbation, communicated to her
the true state of her condition. She received the
intelligence with the most perfeet composure,
and said, "she thanked God she had always
carried this in her mind, that nothing was to be
left till the last hour-she had nothing then to do
but to look up to God and submit to his will;"
and continued to the last uniformly calm and
resigned. She gave orders to look carefully for a
small escritoire, to be delivered to the king. The
day before she died she received the sacrament-
all the bishops who were attending being admitted
to receive it with ler; after which she had her
last interview with the king, to whom she ad-
dressed a few broken sentences imperfectly un-
derstood. Cordials were administered, but in
vain. She lay silent for some hours, and from a
few words which then dropped from her lips it
was perceived that her thoughts were wandering.
In conclusion, she died on the 28th of December
1694, about one in the morning, in the thirty-
third year of her age
and sixth of her reign.

She

1694.

was buried at Westminster with unusual honors, BOOK II both houses of parliament assisting at the solemnity and her memory was consecrated by the tears of the nation. All distinctions of party seemed for a moment to be forgotten and absorbed in one general sentiment of affectionate and grateful admiration*. The king was justly inconsolable for her loss. During her illness he had given way to the most passionate bursts of grief and after her death he seemed for many weeks and months plunged into the deepest melancholy. The necessity of attending to the great affairs of government at length roused him in some measure from his lethargy; and he gradually recovered his composure of mind; but to the last moment of his life he retained the fondest and tenderest affection for her

memory.

Denmark

The misunderstanding between the king and Princess of queen and the prince and princess of Denmark reconciled had arisen to a great height: but during the to the illuess of the queen the princess had requested to be permitted to visit her. This was civilly

* Yet such is the tendency of faction to debase and brutalise the mind, that a certain non-juring clergyman was capable of insulting the memory of this accomplished princess, by preaching, on the occasion of her funeral, on the following remarkable text: "Go now see this accursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter."

King.

BOOK II. declined, the physicians deeming it not advisa1694. ble; but a forgiving message was sent by the queen to the princess, and after her decease a reconciliation was effected between the king and the princess, through the sole intervention of the earl of Sunderland*. By his advice a letter of respectful condolence was written to his majesty by the princess, who was again received at court, and treated with great demonstrations of regard†.

* Vide duchess of Marlborough's Account, p. 110.

The letter was expressed in the following handsome terms: SIR, I beg your majesty's favorable acceptance of my sincere and hearty sorrow for your great affliction in the loss of the queen; and I do assure your majesty I am as sensibly touched with this sad misfortune as if I had never been so unhappy as to have fallen into her displeasure. It is my earnest desire your majesty would give me leave to wait upon you as soon as it can be without inconvenience to you, and without danger of increasing your affliction, that I may have an opportunity myself, not only of repeating this, but of assuring your majesty of my real intention to omit no occasion of giving you constant proofs of my sincere respect and concern for your person and interest, as becomes, SIR, your majesty's most affectionate sister and servant, ANNE." What appears most extraordinary in this reconciliation is, that lord Sunderland should have had the address to acquire for himself the merit of accomplishing it. By what arts of insinuation he ingratiated himself into the confidence of the princess we are not informed; but certain it is, that she had at a former period expressed herself in very vehement and indignant terms respecting him. In a letter addressed to her sister, the princess of Orange, a short time previous to the Revolution, she styles him "the subtilest workingest villain

The king appropriated the palace of St. James's BOOK II. for her residence, and presented her with the 1694. greater part of the queen's jewels-but a mutual jealousy and dislike subsisted under these exteriors of friendship and esteem.

On the demise of the queen, a very perplexing question of law was started in the upper house by the lords Rochester and Nottingham, the chiefs of the tory party, who insisted that the parliament was dissolved in consequence of that event, the writs being issued in the joint names of the king and queen. The earl of Portland with indignation replied, "that this was a matter not fit to be mentioned, and much less debated"

on the face of the earth." It is worthy of remark, that at this precise period we find lord Arran, in a dispatch to king James, dated March 13, 1695, thus expressing himself: "With regard to news, it is certain that the preparations that are made here for the Mediterranean are designed for attacking Toulon, if it is possible. It is lord Sunderland who has given me in charge to assure your majesty of this." M'Pherson, vol. i. p. 487. On comparing this intelligence with a letter from admiral Russel to the earl of Galway, it appears strongly corroborated. The admiral desires his lordship "to let him know, whether there was a probability of doing any service with the fleet at the French ports; and particularly, if with our troops, and such strength as the duke of Savoy could add to them, they and the fleet together might not attempt even TOULON itself with hopes of success." This letter was communicated to his royal highness and the marquis Leganez, who were of opinion, "that not any thing could be done therein."