breast and one of her arms, and all the doctors agreed she would in all probability hold out till to-morrow, except Mead, who pronounced several hours before, she could not live two minutes, and seems uneasy it did not happen so. I did not care to talk much to Arbuthnot, because I heard him cautious in his answers to other people; but by his manner, I fancy he does not yet absolutely despair. The council sat yesterday all day and night, taking it by turns to go out and refresh themselves. They have now adjourned, upon what the doctors said, till five. Last night the speaker and my Lord Chief. Justice Parker were sent for, and the troops from Flanders. This morning the Hanoverian envoy was ordered to attend with the black box, * and the heralds to be in readiness to proclaim the new king. Some of the whigs were at council yesterday but not one failed to-day; and most of the members of that party, in each house, are already come to town. If any change happens before the post goes out, I will send you word in a postscript; and you may conclude her alive, if you hear no more from me, and have no better authority than post-letters to inform you of the contrary. For God's sake do not think of removing from the place where you are, till matters are a little settled.' Ireland is the last retreat you ought to think of; but you can never be better than you are now, till we see how things go.

I had yours with the printed pamphlet, as well as the other, and should have sent it away to-morrow. Pray let me hear from you,

**

* Containing the instrument nominating the persons, in number thirteen, to be added as lords-justices to the seven great officers of the realm.-H.

+ In the original six lines are here erased.---N.

Have you had all mine?

I have failed you but

one post (I think it was the last) for a fortnight or

more.

Eleven at Night.

The queen is something better, and the council again adjourned till eight in the morning.

TO MISS VANHOMRIGH.

Aug. 1, 1714.

WHO told you I was going to Bath? No such thing. I had fixed to set out to-morrow for Ireland, but poor Lord Oxford desires I will go with him to Herefordshire, and only expect his answer whether I shall go there before, or meet him hereabouts; or to Wimple (his son's house), and so go with him down: and I expect to leave this in two or three days one way or other. I will stay with him until the parliament meets again, if he desires it. I am not of your opinion about Lord Bolingbroke; perhaps he may get the staff, but I cannot rely on his love to me he knew I had a mind to be historiographer, though I valued it not, but for the public service, yet it is gone to a worthless rogue that nobody knows. I am writ to earnestly by somebody to come to town, and join with those people now in power, but I will not do it. Say nothing of this, but guess the person. I told Lord Oxford I would go with him, when he was out: and now he begs it of me, and I cannot refuse him.

*

*He alludes to Lady Masham's letter of 29th July:

I meddle not with his faults, as he was a minister of state; but you know his personal kindness to me was excessive he distinguished and chose me above all other men, while he was great; and his letter to me the other day was the most moving imaginable. When I am fixed anywhere, perhaps I may be so gracious to let you know, but I will not promise. Adieu.

FROM MR JOHN BIRCH.

MR DEAN,

Wantage, One o'Clock, Aug. 1, 1714.

AT twelve o'clock Lord Bolingbroke's man rid through Wantage, to call Mr Packer to London, the queen being dead. I am confounded at the melancholy news; yet could not forbear sending it to you. Your truly humble servant,

Jo. BIRCH.*

* Directed "To the reverend the Dean of St Patrick's, Letcombe;" and endorsed, "Mr Birch, of Wantage. Received half after one on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 1, 1714. Queen's death. She died at seven that morning."...H.

FROM LORD BOLINGBROKE.

DEAR DEAN,

Ireland

Aug. 3, 1714.

THE Earl of Oxford was removed on Tuesday: the queen died on Sunday. What a world is this! and how does Fortune banter us! John Barber tells me, you have set your face toward Ireland. Pray do not go. I am against it. I am against it. But this is nothing; John is against it. will be the scene of some disorder, at least it will be the scene of mortification to your friends. Here every thing is quiet, and will continue so. Beside which, as prosperity divided, misfortune may perhaps to some degree unite us. The tories seem to resolve not to be crushed; and that is enough to prevent them from being so. Pope has sent me a letter from Gay being learned in geography, he took Binfield * to be the ready way from Hanover to Whitehall. Adieu. But come to London, if you stay no longer than a fortnight. Ever your's, dear Jonathan, most sincerely.

I have lost all by the death of the queen, but my spirit; and I protest to you, I feel that increase upon me. The whigs are a pack of jacobites; that shall be the cry in a month, if you please.

* A village where Mr Pope's father lived, and whence several of Mr Pope's letters were written. It is in Windsor forest, and lies in Berkshire.---H.

FROM ERASMUS LEWIS, ESQ.

you

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 1714.

I AM Overwhelmed with business, and therefore have only time to tell I received yours of August the first, and think you should come to town, to see how the world goes: for all old schemes, designs, projects, journies, &c. are broke by the great event. We are ill prognosticators. Every thing goes on with a tranquillity we durst not hope for. Earl Berkeley commands the fleet. Lord Dorset compliments the king. The Duke of Bolton, lord-lieutenant of Southampton. Addison, secretary to the regents.

FROM MR BARBER.

HONOURED SIR,

Aug. 3, 1714.

You may easily imagine the concern we were all in on the sudden surprise of the queen's death. I have hardly recovered it yet. Lord Bolingbroke told me last Friday, that he would reconcile you to Lady Somerset, and then it would be easy to set you right with the queen, and that you should be made easy here, and not go over. He said twenty things in your favour, and commanded me to bring you up, whatever was the consequence. He said farther, he would make clear work with them. But all vanished in a minute; and he is now threatened and abused every day by the party, who