lace every where viewed him as a martyr, and received him, in his progress through the country, with the most enthusiastic demonstrations of respect. The Queen too was probably inclined to favour his cause: for the arguments and statements of the managers were such, as could not be pleasing to royal ears. This circumstance was not forgotten by some of those about her Majesty, who reminded her of being taken to school by her ministers, to be instructed in revolution sentiments, as it was supposed, that the royal attendance was in compliance with the wishes of her advisers. The result is well known. The Whigs were soon removed from office: the country was against them: her Majesty was opposed to them: and this trial completed their downfall.[1]
I shall not enter into the question respecting Queen Anne's views of her brother, or whether she wished him to succeed after her death. She died in 1714: and the Elector of Hanover succeeded quietly to the throne. Had the Queen lived some years longer, probably an attempt might have been made to secure the throne to her brother's family. However, all such intentions, if indeed they were entertained, were frustrated by the death of the Queen. The Whigs were overjoyed at her death, for they viewed the event as the harbinger of their return to power: and some of the Dissenters, regardless of their former inconsistency in the reign of James II, were guilty even of profanity in speaking of her Majesty's departure. One person writes: "they were waiting for an opportunity to restore the Pretender: which while they were waiting for, the Divine Providence, that had so often saved a sinking nation, stept in,
- ↑ Life of Bolingbroke, 183, 184.
