King James II. died with great firmness and resolution, and without any bigotry; that is to say, very differently from the manner in which he had lived.  I saw and spoke to him four-and-twenty hours before his death.  “I hope,” I said, “soon to hear of your Majesty’s getting better.”  He smiled and said, “If I should die, shall I not have lived long enough?”

I hardly know how to rejoice at the accession of our Prince George to the Throne of England, for I have no confidence in the English people.  I remember still too well the fine speeches which were made here not long ago by Lord Peterborough.  I would rather that our Elector was Emperor of Germany, and I wish that the King who is here (James II.) was again in possession of England, because the kingdom belongs to him.  I fear that the inconstancy of the English will in the end produce some scheme which may be injurious to us.  Perhaps there was never in any nation a King who had been crowned with more eclat, or tumultuous joy than James II.; and yet the same nation since persecuted him in the most pitiless manner, and has so tormented his innocent son that he can scarcely find an asylum after all his heavy misfortunes.

     [The Duchesse D’Orleans was, by the mother’s side, granddaughter of
     James I, which explains the interest she took in the fate of the
     Stuart family.]

If the English were to be trusted I should say that it is fortunate the Parliaments are in favour of George; but the more one reads the history of English Revolutions, the more one is compelled to remark the eternal hatred which the people of that nation have had towards their Kings, as well as their fickleness (1714).

Have I not reason to fear on George’s account since he has been made King of England, and knowing as I do the desire he had to be King of another country?  I know the accursed English too well to trust them.  May God protect their Majesties the Princes, and all the family, but I confess I fear for them greatly (1715).

The poor Princess of Wales

[Wilhelmina-Dorothea-Charlotte, daughter of John Frederick, Margrave of Anspach, born in 1682, married to the Prince of Wales in 1706.  The particulars of the quarrel between George I. and his son, the Prince of Wales, will be found in Cose’s “Memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole.”]

has caused me great uneasiness since her letter of the 3rd (15th) of February (1718).  She has implored the King’s pardon as one implores the pardon of God, but without success.  I know nothing about it, but dread lest the Prince should partake his mother’s disgrace.  I think, however, since the King has declared the Prince to be his son, he should treat him as such, and not act so haughtily against the Princess, who has never offended him, but has always treated him with the respect due to a father.  Nothing good can result from the present state of affairs; and the King had better put an end to a quarrel which gives occasion to a thousand impertinences, and revives awkward stories which were better forgotten.