and Miss Vane-Lady Archibald Hamilton-The Prince wishes to get Rid of Miss Vane-Feelings of the Royal Family towards him-His Passion for Music— The Prince courts Popularity-The King's Danger at Sea -Suspense of the Queen and Courtiers-Expected Birth of an Heir-The Prince carries his Wife from Hampton Court-A royal Quarrel and its Results———— The Prince's Behaviour during the Queen's illness- Lady Middlesex-Reconciliation of the King and William Duke of Cumberland-His first Campaign—Made Commander of the Forces-Battle of Fontenoy--De- feat at Laffelt-Culloden-' Billy the Butcher '—His Last Battle-Indignation of the Nation-His Amuse- ments-The Princess Royal-Her Marriage with the Social Life at Court-The King's Love for Hanover-The Queen made Regent-The Court at Claremont-Mrs. Howard resigns her Appointment-The King visits Hanover again-Madame Walmoden-The Royal Letters-His Majesty returns-The Queen seeks Advice-Royal Birthdays-The Town becomes Dull- The King's Anxiety to leave England-Madame Walmoden and the Garden Ladder-A Hard Lesson' The King's Unpopularity-His Return-Court Reception on Sunday-The Poet Gay-The Duchess of Queens- bury and the King-Dean Swift and her Grace-Her Majesty the Patroness of Poets-The Queen's Illness- 'An Ill that Nobody knows of '-Her Majesty's Fare- CHAPTER IX. The Rising in Scotland-Jacobite Toasts-Lord Lovat's 270 COURT LIFE BELOW STAIRS. CHAPTER I. The Coronation-Description of the Scene-The late King's Will-Hereditary Dishonesty of the Royal Family-Mrs. Howard and the King-Lady Sundon— Lord Hervey-Queen Caroline's Influence-Mrs. Clayton and the Courtiers-She distributes Appointments -Dorothy Dyves and her Lover-The Favourite's Influence concerning Church Matters-Alexander Pope's Revenge-Extract from Letters on Court Life. HOUGH the new king had come to the throne THOUG in June, it was not until the following October that his coronation took place. He was desirous that that ceremony should be conducted with all the pomp and state possible to the occasion. George I. invariably shrank from all display, but his successor was of another way of thinking. The coronation was VOL. II. B therefore made a pageant from which nothing that could add to its splendour was missing. Lord Hervey tells us that the dress of the queen on this occasion was as fine as the accumulated riches of the City and suburbs could make it; for, besides her own jewels (which were a great number, and very valuable), she had, on her head and on her shoulders, all the pearls she could borrow of the ladies of quality at one end of the town, and on her petticoat all the diamonds she could hire of the Jews and jewellers at the other.' 6 Lady Mary Wortley Montagu has left a racy description of the ceremony. I saw the procession much at my ease,' she writes, with a house filled with my own company, and then got into Westminster Hall without much trouble, where it was very entertaining to observe the variety of airs that all meant the same thing. The business of every walker there was to conceal vanity and give admiration. For these purposes some languished and others strutted; but a visible satisfaction was diffused over every countenance as soon as the coronet was clapped on the head. But she that drew the greater |