'I WILL BE SURE.

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and would in all things do as he desired her. Her manners and ways were yet those of a child, as may be judged from the fact that a great part of her time was spent in nursing a big jointed doll, which she dressed and undressed several times a day at one of the windows of her apartments, unconscious of the staring footmen and sentinels, who were much diverted by her occupation.

The royal family were at this time staying at Hampton Court, where the king intended the Prince's child, if such really existed, should be born. But Frederick, from some foolish whim, or now unknown reason, desired the event should take place in London. It was therefore resolved that a message expressing the king's wish should be sent by Sir Robert Walpole to the Prince, but this was delayed, as it was thought the birth could not take place for some months. The queen determined to be present at it, for she was still suspicious of some trick on her son's part. She cannot be brought to bed,' said Her Majesty, in language that may have lacked elegance, but not force, as quick as one can blow one's nose, and I will be sure it is her child.'

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On Sunday, the 31st of July, 1737, the Princess of Wales dined in public with the king and queen, and afterwards retired to her apartments at the opposite side of the court to that occupied by their Majesties. The king, in the evening, played at commerce, the queen at quadrille, and the Princess Caroline and Lord Hervey at cribbage, for it was a time when cards were mightily in vogue: at ten o'clock they all retired, and were in bed about eleven.

Meanwhile a different scene was being enacted in Frederick's apartments. The Princess had become ill, and it was evident that the hour of her confinement was at hand. The Prince immediately gave orders that his coach should be got ready with all despatch, in order that he might secretly carry his wife to London. She continued in great pain, but her husband, with a barbarity that scarcely seems credible, kept to his resolution, and had her assisted downstairs and along the passage, his favourite and confidant Dunoyer, the dancing-master, having a hold of one of her arms, an equerry taking the other, whilst the Princess kept crying out for God's sake to let her stay still, as her pain

FLIGHT FROM HAMPTON COURT.

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was great. This procession was brought up by Lady Archibald Hamilton, and Mr. Townshend who remonstrated with the Prince in vain. He then warned all his servants not to say that he had gone, and got into the coach; his valet, who was a surgeon and accoucheur, getting on the box, and two or three of his gentlemen-in-waiting jumping up behind. They then drove to St. James's Palace, where no preparations had been made, and where the Princess gave birth to a child, who afterwards became Duchess of Brunswick.

A couple of hours after this event happening, news reached Hampton Court that the Princess was about being confined. One of the women of the bed-chamber went to wake the king and queen; when Her Majesty, being disturbed so suddenly and at such an hour, asked if the house was on fire. Then Mrs. Tichburne, who had entered the room, gave her message. 'My God,' said the queen, not yet knowing of the flight which had taken place; ‘my nightgown, I'll go to her this minute,' to which Mrs. Tichburne replied, Your night-gown and your coaches too, your Majesty, the Princess is at St.

James's.' Then the queen asked her good Tichburne if she were mad, or asleep, or dreaming; and, being assured she was neither, the king sat up in bed, flew into a right royal passion, and abused the queen in German, as

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that was the language which gave him the greatest scope for his eloquence. You see now, with all your wisdom, how they have outwitted you,' he said. This is all your fault. There is a false child will be put upon you, and how will you answer it to all your children. This has been fine care and fine management for your son William: he is mightily obliged to you.'

The queen was stunned by surprise; but, as soon as she could, drove off in the middle of the night, accompanied by two of her daughters and my Lords Grafton and Hervey, and was met by Prince Fred at the Palace, attired in his night-cap and night-gown, who told her a daughter had been born unto him. Then the queen went to see the Princess, and Lady Archibald Hamilton brought in the little morsel of humanity wrapped in a red mantle, for it had as yet no clothes. The queen kissed it, and

'PLAYED THE DEVIL.

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said, God bless you, poor little creature, you have come into a disagreeable world.' The Prince then began to tell the story of the journey, and the Princess's illness, with great complacency, when the queen declared it was a miracle that mother and child were not killed. When she withdrew she said she had no longer any doubt of this poor little bit of a thing' being the Princess's child: though I own,' she added, 'I had my doubts upon the road that there would be some juggle; and, if instead of this poor little ugly she mouse there had been a brave, large, fat, jolly boy, I should not have been cured of my suspicions; nay, I believe they would have been so much increased, or, rather, that I should have been so confirmed in that opinion, that I should have gone about his house like a madwoman, played the devil, and insisted on knowing what chairman's brat he had bought.'

She then wrote a letter to the king and sent for Sir Robert Walpole, who came presently looking vexed and out of countenance, and they both joined in hearty abuse of the Prince. The minister said this conduct was intolerable, and