had him done, there was a great concourse of people; and, notwithstanding all that had passed before, she expressed so much kindness that she hugged and kissed him with great passion. the King, after this, sent a message in writing, by my Lord Essex, in the following words:-that his Majesty looked upon what the Prince had done, in carrying the Princess to London in such a manner, as a deliberate indignity offered to himself and to the Queen, and resented it in the highest degree, and forbid him the Court.  I must own I cleared Sir Robert in my own mind of this counsel, thinking he was not in town:  but it has proved otherwise, for he was in town; and the message is drawn up in such a manner that nobody doubts of its being done by sir Robert.  All the sycophants and agents of the court spread millions of falsities on this occasion; and all the language there was, that this was so great a crime that even those who went with the Prince ought to be proscribed.  How this will end nobody yet knows; at least I am sure I don’t; but I know there was a council today held at Hampton court.  I have not heard yet of any christening being directed, but for that I am in no manner of pain:  for, if it be never christened, I think ’tis in a better state than a great many devout people that I know.  Some talk as if they designed to take the child away from the Princess, to be under the care of her Majesty, who professes vast kindness to the Princess; and all the anger is at the Prince.  Among common subjects I think the law is, that nobody that has any interest in an estate is to have any thing to do with the person who is heir to it.  What prejudice this sucking child can do to the crown I don’t see; but, to be sure, her Majesty will be very careful of it.  What I apprehend most. is, that the crown will be lost long before this little Princess can possibly enjoy it; and, if what I have heard to-day be true, I think the scheme of France is going to open; for I was told there was an ambassador to come from France whose goods had been landed in England, and that they have been sent back.  But I won’t answer for the truth of that, as I will upon every thing else in this letter.

[See p. 100.  Reminiscences, Chapter vii]

June 20th, 1738.  My Lord, I write to you this post, to give you an account of what I believe nobody else will so particularly, that Madame Walmond (130) was presented in the drawing-room to his Majesty on Thursday.  As she arrived some days before, there can be no doubt that it was not the first meeting, tho’ the manner of her reception had the appearance of it; for his Majesty went up to her and kissed her on both sides, which is an honour, I believe, never any lady had from a king in public.  And when his Majesty went away, Lord Harrington presented the great men in the ministry and the foreign ministers in the drawing-room; the former of which performed their part with the utmost respect and submission.  This is, likewise, quite new; for, though all kings have had mistresses, they were attended at their own lodgings, and not in so public a manner.  I conclude they performed that ceremony too; but they could not lose the first opportunity of paying their respects, though ever so improperly.