>From the time the Duke first appeared on the stage of the public, all his father’s ministers had been blind to his Royal Highness’s capacity, or were afraid of it.  Lord Granville, too giddy himself to sound a young Prince, had treated him arrogantly when the King and the Earl had projected a match for him with the Princess of Denmark.  The Duke, accustomed by the Queen and his governor, Mr. Poyntz, to venerate the wisdom of Sir Robert Walpole, then on his death-bed, sent Mr. Poyntz, the day but one before Sir Robert expired, to consult him how to avoid the match.  Sir Robert advised his Royal Highness to stipulate for an ample settlement.  The Duke took the sage counsel, and heard no more of his intended bride.

The low ambition of Lord Hardwicke, the childish passion for power of the Duke of Newcastle, and the peevish jealousy of Mr. Pelham, combined on the death of the Prince of Wales, to exclude the Duke of Cumberland from the regency (in case of minority,) and to make them flatter themselves that they should gain the favour of the Princess-dowager by cheating her with the semblance of power.  The Duke resented the slight, but scorned to make any claim.  The Princess never forgave the insidious homage; and, in concurrence with Lord Bute, totally estranged the affection of the young King from his uncle, nor allowed him a shadow of influence.

(119) He had broken with Frederick, Prince of Wales, on having shared the favours of his mistress, Miss Vane, one of the Queen’s maids of honour.  When she fell in labour at St. James’s, and was delivered of a son, which she ascribed to the Prince, Lord Hervey and Lord Harrington each told Sir Robert Walpole that he believed himself father of the child.

(120) the Duke, in his very childhood, gave a mark of his sense and firmness.  He had displeased the Queen, an(f she sent him up to his chamber.  When he appeared again, he was sullen.  “William,” said the Queen, “what have you been doing?”—­ “Reading.”—­“Reading what?”—­“The Bible.”—­“And what did you read there?”—­“About Jesus and Mary.=—­“And what about them?”—­“Why, that Jesus said to Mary, Woman! what hast thou to do with me?”

CHAPTER IX.

Anecdotes of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough-and of Catherine Duchess of Buckingham.

I have done with royal personages:  shall I add a codicil on some remarkable characters that I remember?  As I am writing for young ladies, I have chiefly dwelt on heroines of your own sex; they, too, shall compose my last chapter:  enter the Duchesses of Marlborough and Buckingham.