[See p. 100.  Reminiscences, Chapter Vii)

I am Of the opinion, from woful experience, that, from flattery and want of understanding, most princes are alike; and, therefore, it is to no purpose to argue against their passions, but to defend ourselves, at all events, against them.

[See P. 100.  Reminiscences, Chapter vii]

Wimbledon, 17th Aug. 1737.  There has been a very extraordinary quarrel at court, which, I believe, nobody will give you so exact an account of as myself.  The 31st of last month the Princess fell in labour.  The King and Queen both knew that she was to lie in -,it St. James’s, where every thing was prepared.  It was her first child, and so little a way to London, that she thought it less hazard to go immediately away from Hampton Court to London, where she had all the assistance that could be, and every thing prepared, than to stay at Hampton Court, where she had nothing, and might be forced to make use of a country midwife.  There was not a minute’s time to be lost in debating this matter, nor in ceremonials; the Princess begging earnestly of the Prince to carry her to St. James’s, in such a hurry that gentlemen went behind the coach like footmen.  They got to St. James’s safe, and she was brought to bed in one hour after.  Her Majesty followed them as soon as she could, but did not come till it was all over.  However, she expressed a great deal of anger to the Prince for having carried her away, tho’ she and the child were very well.  I should have thought it had been most natural for a grandmother to have said she had been mightily frightened, but was glad it was so well over.  The Prince said all the respectful and dutiful things imaginable to her and the King, desiring her Majesty to support the reasons which made him go away as he did without acquainting his Majesty with it:  and, I believe, all human creatures will allow that this was natural, for a man not to debate a thing of this kind, nor to lose a minute’s time in ceremony, which was very useless, considering that it is a great while since the King has spoke to him, or taken the least notice of him.  The Prince told her Majesty he intended to go that morning to pay his duty to the King, but she advised him not.  This was Monday morning, and she said Wednesday was time enough; and, indeed, in that I think her Majesty was in the right. the Prince submitted to her counsel, and only writ a most submissive and respectful letter to his Majesty, giving his reasons for what he had done.  And this conversation ended, that he hoped his Majesty would do him the honour to be godfather to his daughter, and that he would be pleased to name who the godmothers should be; and that he left all the directions of the christening to his Majesty’s pleasure.  The queen answered that it would be thought the asking the King to be godfather was too great a liberty, and advised him not to do it.  When the Prince led the Queen to her coach, which she would not have