"Sir,

"St. Alban's, April 24, 1715.

"I HAVE juft now received the favour of CK your letter from Madrid of the 15th of this "month, which is fo very oblidging, that I can't "let the poft go without returning my thanks "to you. The account you have given me of

your travels made me laugh more than I have "done for a great while: for which if you are

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angry, I beg your pardon; for I remember, "when I was in the fame condition, I thought "it paft a jeft. But I hope these sorts of suffer "ings will make you have a great relish for "the conveniences that I defign to make this "fummer at Blenheim, where I promise you "that all my friends shall have whatever I think

can contribute to make them ftay with us. "When I talked with our Ambaffadour of his

going abroad, I thought hee did not feem fo "fond of his journey as to make me apprehend "he will be offended at me for wishing him, as

foon as poffible, at one of my country-houses, "where he and you fhall always have a very

hearty wellcome; and, to tell you the truth, "Tam fimple enough to like that way of life much better than any Court.

"It was very natural, after your description "of Madrid, to reflect upon the blood and "treasure that it has coft to make the Emperor "mafter of it; and I would fain flatter my"felf, from the melancholy account which you

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give me of the chief place in it, that the "laft honeft Miniftry have not done us fo much "mischief as they intended, by giving it to "France.

さ

"Pray let me know if there is any thing worth your buying for me, in any place you come "through in your way home, that can come "without trouble to you. If there is, I will return your money, for I love to buy any thing, whenever I can, that is pritty and ufe"ful. But in this great affair I must defire

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you to confult a little with the Ambassadour; "which you won't take ill, fince you remember, that at Antwerp you did not fo much

depend upon your own experience as not to

" employ me. The Duke of Marlborough

"tells me, hee will write to you in this letter, and therefore 'tis time for me to conclude, "and to affure you that I am

"Your moft faithful and

moft humble fervant,

"S. MARLBOROUGH.

My

"My humble fervifs to the Ambaffadour and "Mr. Egerton."

"LADY MARLB. letter is very long, that I "muft onely take this opportunity of thanking « you for your kind remembrance; and I defir

you will be fo good as to make my fincere "compliments to my Lord Ambassador."

This fingular woman in the latter part of her life became bed-ridden. Paper, pen, and ink were laid by the fide of her bed, and she ufed occafionally to write down either what the remembered, or what came into her head. A felection from these loose papers of the Duchefs was made fome years ago, with great judgement, by the learned and ingenious Sir David Dalrymple, Bart. under the title of "The Opinions of "Sarah Duchefs of Marlborough, published "from Original MSS." Edinburgh 1788.

In this work her Grace entertains the following opinion, which will moft probably not be thought very wide of the truth, under the article "Patriots, 1738"-" I think that all the

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people in places, and thofe of the patriots

"that have a mind to have them, will keep and

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get all the employments to the last moment, "without any regard to what may happen in "England,"

Under

Under the article "Purchase of Land," her Grace fays, with as much truth as most predictions dictated by fpleen and ill-humour contain, under the year 1738" From fear of a "fponge, I have fold my stock low and bought "land dear, which I did because I thought that "would hold longest."

Under the next year fhe fays, "Went in "the City to bid for Lord Yarmouth's estate, "which I believe I fhall have; and I do think "it neceffary to do it, because land will be the "laft thing taken from us; and I expect, a "little fooner or latter, a fponge which will put

an end to all stocks and money lent to the "Government,

The Duchefs, like many other perfons of a violent temper, and of disappointed pride, is but too apt to impute the caufe of her misery to the defects of others, inftead of defcending to the fource of it in herself.

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1739. As to my own particular," fays the Duchefs, "I have nothing to reproach myself " with; and I think it very improbable that I "fhould live to fuffer what others will do who "have contributed to the ruin of their country:

I have always thought, that the greatest happi

"nefs

nefs of life was to love and value fomebody

extremely that returned it, and to fee them " often; and if one has an eafy fortune, that is "what make one's life pafs away agreeably. "But, alas! there is fuch a change in the "world fince I knew it first, that though one's "natural pleasure is to love people, the gene"rality of the world are in fomething so dif

agreeable that it is impoffible to do it; and "added to this, I am a cripple, lifted about like a child, and very feldom free from " pain."

The two following fhort letters have perhaps little to recommend them, but that they are Original Letters of this celebrated Lady.

"I BEG you will give me leave to trouble you "with this letter, and beg the favour of you to "fhew it to the Prince. There are perpetualy

a thousand lies of me-That I am very indif"ferent about; but I hear now that it is faid "I was angry with Dr. Hollands for waiting

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upon the Prince. Upon my word, fo far "from it, that I never once named his High"nefs: I think I have the honour to be enough "known to him, that he will not doubt of "the truth of this, after I have given my "word upon it. If I had not a refpect for the

"Prince,