TO
HENRY HILL, Esq., F.S.A.
ONE OF THE MOST ZEALOUS OF ANTIQUARIES
AND
MOST HOSPITABLE OF FRIENDS
This New and Revised Edition is Inscribed
BY
THE AUTHOR

CONTENTS
OF
THE FIRST VOLUME.

[SOPHIA DOROTHEA, OF ZELL],
WIFE OF GEORGE I.
CHAPTER I.
GEORGE OF BRUNSWICK-ZELL AND ELÉANORA D’OLBREUSE.
PAGE
Woden, the father of the line of Brunswick—The seven brothers at dice, for a wife—D’Esmiers d’Olbreuse and his daughter Eleanora—Love-passages, and a marriage—A Bishop of Osnabrück—Birth of Sophia Dorothea [1]
CHAPTER II.
WIVES AND FAVOURITES.
A ducal household—Elevation in rank of the mother of Sophia Dorothea—Births and deaths—A lover for Sophia—The Bishop of Osnaburgh an imitator of the Grand Monarque—Two successful female adventurers at Osnaburgh [11]
CHAPTER III.
THE BRUNSWICKER IN ENGLAND.
Prince Augustus of Wolfenbüttel, the accepted lover of Sophia—Superstition of the Duke of Zell—Intrigues of Madame von Platen—A rival lover—Prince George Louis: makes an offer of marriage to Princess Anne—Policy of the Prince of Orange—Prince George in England: festivities on account of his visit—Execution of Lord Stafford—Illness of Prince Rupert—The Bill of Exclusion, and the Duke of York at Holyrood—Probable succession of the House of Brunswick—Prince George recalled—Successful intrigues of Sophia, wife of Ernest—A group for an artist—Ill-fated marriage of Sophia—Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia—‘Goody Palsgrave’—The Electress Sophia, and her intellectual skirmishes [18]
CHAPTER IV.
THE HOUSEHOLD OF GEORGE AND SOPHIA.
Reception of Sophia at the Court of Ernest Augustus—Similar position of Marie Antoinette and Sophia—Misfortune of the abigail Use—Compassionated by the Duchess of Zell—Intrigues and revenge of Madame von Platen—A new favourite, Mademoiselle Ermengarda von der Schulenburg—A marriage fête, and intended insult to the Princess Sophia—Gross vice of George Louis [33]
CHAPTER V.
THE ELECTORATE OF HANOVER.
The House of Hanover ranges itself against France—Ernest Augustus created Elector—Domestic rebellion of his son Maximilian—His accomplice, Count von Moltke, beheaded—The Electors of Germany [43]
CHAPTER VI.
THE KÖNIGSMARKS.
Count Charles John Königsmark’s roving and adventurous life—The great heiress—An intriguing countess—‘Tom of Ten Thousand’—The murder of Lord John Thynne—The fate of the count’s accomplices—Court influence shelters the guilty count [49]
CHAPTER VII.
KÖNIGSMARK AT COURT.
Various accomplishments of Count Philip Christopher Königsmark—The early companion of Sophia Dorothea—Her friendship for him—An interesting interview—Intrigues of Madame von Platen—Foiled in her machinations—A dramatic incident—The unlucky glove—Scandal against the honour of the Princess—A mistress enraged on discovery of her using rouge—Indiscretion of the Princess—Her visit to Zell—The Elector’s criminal intimacy with Madame von der Schulenburg—William the Norman’s brutality to his wife—The elder Aymon—Brutality of the Austrian Empress to ‘Madame Royale’—Return of Sophia, and reception by her husband [58]
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CATASTROPHE.
The scheming mother foiled—Count Königsmark too garrulous in his cups—An eaves-dropper—A forged note—A mistress’s revenge—Murder of the count—The Countess Aurora Königsmark’s account of her brother’s intimacy with the Princess—Horror of the Princess on hearing of the count’s death—Seizure and escape of Mademoiselle von Knesebeck—A divorce mooted—The Princess’s declaration of her innocence—Decision of the consistorial court—The sages of the law foiled by the Princess—Condemned to captivity in the castle of Ahlden—Decision procured by bribery—Bribery universal in England—The Countess Aurora Königsmark becomes the mistress of Augustus, King of Poland—Her unsuccessful mission to Charles XII.—Exemplary conduct in her latter years—Becomes prioress of the nunnery of Quedlinburg [72]
CHAPTER IX.
PRISON AND PALACE.
The prison of the captive Sophia Dorothea—Employment of her time—The church of Ahlden repaired by her—Cut off from her children—Sympathy of Ernest Augustus for his daughter-in-law—Her father’s returning affection for her—Opening prospects of the House of Hanover—Lord Macclesfield’s embassy to Hanover, and his right-royal reception—Description of the Electress—Toland’s description of Prince George Louis—Magnificent present to Lord Macclesfield—The Princess Sophia and the English liturgy—Death of the Duke of Zell—Visit of Prince George to his captive mother prevented [95]
CHAPTER X.
THE SUCCESSION—DEATH OF THE ELECTRESS.
Marriage of Prince George to Princess Caroline of Anspach, and of his sister to the Crown Prince of Prussia—Honours conferred by Queen Anne on Prince George—Intention to bring over to England the Princess Sophia—Opposed by Queen Anne—Foundation of the kingdom of Prussia—The establishment of this Protestant kingdom promoted by the Jesuits—The Electress Sophia’s visit to Loo—The law granting taxes on births, deaths, and marriages—Complaint of Queen Anne against the Electress—Tom D’Urfey’s doggrel verses on her—Death of the Electress—Character of her [112]
CHAPTER XI.
AHLDEN AND ENGLAND.
The neglected captive of Ahlden—Unnoticed by her son-in-law, except to secure her property—Madame von der Schulenburg—The Queen of Prussia prohibited from corresponding with her imprisoned mother—The captive betrayed by Count de Bar—Death of Queen Anne—Anxiety felt for the arrival of King George—The Duke of Marlborough’s entry—Funeral of the Queen—Public entry of the King—Adulation of Dr. Young—Madame Kielmansegge, the new royal favourite—Horace Walpole’s account of her—‘A Hanover garland’—Ned Ward, the Tory poet—Expression of the public opinion—The Duchess of Kendal bribed by Lord Bolingbroke—Bribery and corruption general—Abhorrence of parade by the King [119]
CHAPTER XII.
CROWN AND GRAVE.
Arrival of Caroline, Princess of Wales—The King dines at the Guildhall—Proclamation of the Pretender—Counter-proclamations—Government prosecutions—A mutiny among the troops—Impeachment of the Duke of Ormond of high treason—Punishment of political offenders—Failure of rebellion in Scotland—Punishment for wearing oak-boughs—Riot at the mug-house in Salisbury Court, and its fatal consequences—The Prince of Wales removed from the palace—Dissensions between the King and the Prince—Attempt on the life of King George—Marriage of the King’s illegitimate daughter—The South-Sea Bubble—Birth of Prince William (Duke of Cumberland)—Death of the Duchess of Zell—Stricter imprisonment of the captive of Ahlden—Her calm death—A new royal favourite, Mrs. Brett—Death of the King—The alleged correspondence of Sophia Dorothea and Königsmark [130]
[CAROLINE WILHELMINA DOROTHEA],
WIFE OF GEORGE II.
CHAPTER I.
BEFORE THE ACCESSION.
Birth of Princess Caroline—Her early married life—Eulogised by the poets—Gaiety of the Court of the Prince and Princess at Leicester House—Beauty of Miss Bellenden—Mrs. Howard, the Prince’s favourite—Intolerable grossness of the Court of George I.—Lord Chesterfield and the Princess—The mad Duchess—Buckingham House—Rural retreat of the Prince at Richmond; the resort of wit and beauty—Swift’s pungent verses—The fortunes of the young adventurers, Mr. and Mrs. Howard—The Queen at her toilette—Mrs. Clayton, her influence with Queen Caroline—The Prince ruled by his wife—Dr. Arbuthnot and Dean Swift—The Princess’s regard for Newton and Halley—Lord Macclesfield’s fall—His superstition, and that of the Princess—Prince Frederick’s vices—Not permitted to come to England—Severe rebuff to Lord Hardwicke—Dr. Mead—Courage of the Prince and Princess—The Princess’s friendship for Dr. Friend—Swift at Leicester House—Royal visit to ‘Bartlemy Fair’ [153]
CHAPTER II.
THE FIRST YEARS OF A REIGN.
Death of George I.—Adroitness of Sir Robert Walpole—The first royal reception—Unceremonious treatment of the late King’s will—The coronation—Magnificent dress of Queen Caroline—Mrs. Oldfield, as Anne Boleyn, in ‘Henry VIII.’—The King’s revenue and the Queen’s jointure, the result of Walpole’s exertions—His success—Management of the King by Queen Caroline—Unseemly dialogue between Walpole and Lord Townshend—Gay’s ‘Beggars’ Opera,’ and satire on Walpole—Origin of the opera—Its great success—Gay’s cause espoused by the Duchess of Queensberry—Her smart reply to a royal message—The tragedy of ‘Frederick, Duke of Brunswick’—The Queen appointed Regent—Prince Frederick becomes chief of the opposition—His silly reflections on the King—Agitation about the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts—The Queen’s ineffectual efforts to gain over Bishop Hoadly—Sir Robert extricates himself—The Church made the scapegoat—Queen Caroline earnest about trifles—Etiquette of the toilette—Fracas between Mr. Howard and the Queen—Modest request of Mrs. Howard—Lord Chesterfield’s description of her [177]
CHAPTER III.
THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ANNE.
Violent opposition to the King by Prince Frederick—Readings at Windsor Castle—The Queen’s patronage of Stephen Duck—His melancholy end—Glance at passing events—Precipitate flight of Dr. Nichols—Princess Anne’s determination to get a husband—Louis XV. proposed as a suitor: negotiation broken off—The Prince of Orange’s offer accepted—Ugly and deformed—The King and Queen averse to the union—Dowry settled on the Princess—Anecdote of the Duchess of Marlborough—Illness of the bridegroom—Ceremonies attendant on the marriage—Mortification of the Queen—The public nuptial chamber—Offence given to the Irish peers—The Queen and Lady Suffolk—Homage paid by the Princess to her deformed husband—Discontent of Prince Frederick—His anxiety not unnatural—Congratulatory addresses by the Lords and Commons—Spirited conduct of the Queen—Lord Chesterfield—Agitations on Walpole’s celebrated Excise scheme—Lord Stair delegated to remonstrate with the Queen—Awkward performance of his mission—Sharply rebuked by the Queen—Details of the interview—The Queen’s success in overcoming the King’s antipathy to Walpole—Comments of the populace—Royal interview with a bishop [200]
CHAPTER IV.
FAMILY AND NATIONAL QUARRELS.
Retirement of Lady Suffolk—Tact of Queen Caroline—Arrogance of Princess Anne—Private life of the royal family—The Count de Roncy, the French refugee—German predilections of the Queen—A scene at Court—Queen Caroline’s declining health—Ambitious aspirations of Princess Anne—Bishop Hoadly and the see of Winchester—The Queen and the clergy—The Queen appointed Regent—The King and Madame Walmoden—Lord Hervey’s imaginary post-obit diary—The Queen’s farewell interview with Lady Suffolk—Grief made fashionable—The temper of the King on his return—A scene: dramatis personæ, the King, Queen, and Lord Hervey—Lady Deloraine (Pope’s Delia) a royal favourite—An angry scene; between the King and Queen—The King’s opinion of Bishop Hoadly—Dissension between the King and Prince—The royal libertine at Hanover—Court revels—Lady Bolingbroke and the Queen [223]
CHAPTER V.
THE MARRIAGE OF FREDERICK, PRINCE OF WALES.
The Queen’s cleverness—Princess Augusta of Saxe Gotha, the selected bride of Prince Frederick—Spirited conduct of Miss Vane, the Prince’s mistress—The King anxious for a matrimonial alliance with the Court of Prussia—Prussian intrigue to prevent this—The Prussian mandats for entrapping recruits—Quarrels and challenge to duel, between King George and the Prussian monarch—The silly duel prevented—Arrival of the bride—The royal lovers—Disgraceful squabbles of the Princes and Princesses—The marriage—Brilliant assemblage in the bridal chamber—Lady Diana Spencer proposed as a match for the Prince—Débût of Mr. Pitt, afterwards Lord Chatham, in the House of Commons—Riot of the footmen at Drury Lane Theatre—Ill-humour exhibited by the Prince towards the Queen [262]
CHAPTER VI.
AT HOME AND OVER THE WATER.
The Queen and Walpole govern the kingdom—The bishops reproved by the Queen—Good wishes for the bishops entertained by the King—Anecdote of Bishop Hare—Riots—An infernal machine—Wilson the smuggler and the Porteous mob—General Moyle—Coldness of the Queen for the King—Walpole advises her Majesty—Unworthy conduct of Caroline and vice of her worthless husband—Questionable fidelity of Madame Walmoden—Conduct of the Princess at the Chapel Royal—The Princess and her doll—Pasquinades, &c. on the King—Farewell royal supper at Hanover—Dangerous voyage of the King—Anxiety of the Court about him—Unjust blame thrown on Admiral Wager—The Queen congratulates the King on his escape—The King’s warm reply—Discussions about the Prince’s revenue—Investigation into the affairs of the Porteous mob—The Queen and the Bill for reduction of the National Debt—Vice in high life universal—Represented on the stage, occasions the censorship—Animosity of the Queen and Princess towards Prince Frederick [282]
CHAPTER VII.
THE BIRTH OF AN HEIRESS.
Russian invasion of the Crimea—Announcement of an heir disbelieved by the Queen—The Princess of Wales convened to St. James’s by the Prince in a state of labour—Birth of a Princess—Hampton Court Palace on this night—The palace in an uproar—Indignation of Caroline—Reception of the Queen by the Prince—Minute particulars afforded her by him—Explanatory notes between the royal family—Message of the King—His severity to the Prince—The Princess Amelia double-sided—Message of Princess Caroline to the Prince—Unseemly conduct of the Prince—The Prince an agreeable ‘rattle’—The Queen’s anger never subsided—The Prince ejected from the palace—The Queen and Lord Carteret—Reconciliation of the royal family attempted—Popularity of the Prince—The Queen’s outspoken opinion of the Prince—An interview between the King, Queen, and Lord Hervey—Bishop Sherlock and the Queen—The King a purchaser of lottery-tickets [316]
CHAPTER VIII.
DEATH OF CAROLINE.
Indisposition of the Queen—Her anxiety to conceal the cause—Walpole closeted with her—Her illness assumes a grave character—Obliged to retire from the Drawing-room—Affectionate attentions of Princess Caroline—Continued bitter feeling towards the Prince—Discussions of the physicians—The Queen takes leave of the Duke of Cumberland—Parting scene with the King—Interview with Walpole—The Prince denied the palace—Great patience of the Queen—The Archbishop summoned to the palace—Eulogy on the Queen pronounced by the King—His oddities—The Queen’s exemplary conduct—Her death—Terror of Dr. Hulse—Singular conduct of the King—Opposition to Sir R. Walpole—Lord Chesterfield pays court to the Prince’s favourite [339]
CHAPTER IX.
CAROLINE, HER TIMES AND CONTEMPORARIES.
Whiston patronised by Queen Caroline—His boldness and reproof of the Queen—Vanity of the poet Young punished—Dr. Potter, a high churchman—A benefice missed—Masquerades denounced by the clergy—Anger of the Court—Warburton, a favourite of the Queen—Butler’s ‘Analogy,’ her ordinary companion—Rise of Secker—The Queen’s regard for Dr. Berkeley—Her fondness for witnessing intellectual struggles between Clarke and Leibnitz—Character of Queen Caroline by Lord Chesterfield—The King encouraged in his wickedness by the Queen—General grossness of manners—The King managed by the Queen—Feeling exhibited by the King on sight of her portrait—The Duchess of Brunswick’s daughters—Standard of morality low—Ridicule of Marlborough by Peterborough—Morality of General Cadogan—Anecdote of General Webb—Lord Cobham—Dishonourable conduct of Lord Stair—General Hawley and his singular will—Disgraceful state of the prisons, and cruelty to prisoners—Roads bad and ill-lighted—Brutal punishment—Insolent treatment of a British naval officer by the Sultan—Brutality of a mob—Encroachment on Hyde Park by Queen Caroline—Ambitious projects of Princess Anne—Eulogy on the Queen—The children of King George and Queen Caroline—-Verses on the Queen’s death [359]
CHAPTER X.
THE REIGN OF THE WIDOWER.
Success of Admiral Vernon—Royal visit to ‘Bartlemy Fair’—Party-spirit runs high about the King and Prince—Lady Pomfret—The mad Duchess of Buckingham—Anecdote of Lady Sundon—Witty remark of Lady Mary Wortley—Fracas at Kensington Palace—The battle of Dettingen—A precocious child—Marriage of Princess Mary—A new opposition—Prince George—Lady Yarmouth installed at Kensington—Death of Prince Frederick—Conduct of the King on heaving of this event—Bubb Dodington’s extravagant grief—The funeral scant—Conduct of the widowed Princess—Opposition of the Prince to the King not undignified—Jacobite epitaph on the Prince—The Prince’s rebuke for a frivolous jeer on Lady Huntingdon—The Prince’s patronage of literary men—Lady Archibald Hamilton, the Prince’s favourite—The Prince and the Quakers—Anecdote of Prince George—Princely appreciation of Lady Huntingdon [386]
CHAPTER XI.
THE LAST YEARS OF A REIGN.
Princess Augusta named Regent in the event of a minority—Cause of the Prince’s death—Death of the Prince of Orange—The King’s fondness for the theatre—Allusion to the King’s age—Death of the Queen of Denmark—Her married life unhappy—Suffered from a similar cause with her mother—Rage of Lady Suffolk at a sermon by Whitfield—Lady Huntingdon insulted by her—War in Canada—Daily life of the King—Establishments of the sons of Frederick—Death of the truth-loving Princess Caroline—Deaths of Princess Elizabeth and Princess Anne—Queen Caroline’s rebuke of her—Death of the King—Dr. Porteous’s eulogistic epitaph on him—The King’s personal property—The royal funeral—The burlesque Duke of Newcastle [408]
[CHARLOTTE SOPHIA],
WIFE OF GEORGE III.
CHAPTER I.
THE COMING OF THE BRIDE.
Lady Sarah Lennox, the object of George III.’s early affections—The fair Quaker—Matrimonial commission of Colonel Græme—Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburgh—Her spirited letter to the King of Prussia—Demanded in marriage by George III.—Arrival in England—Her progress to London—Colchester and its candied eringo-root—Entertained by Lord Abercorn—Arrival in London, and reception—Claim of the Irish peeresses advocated by Lord Charlemont—The royal marriage—The first Drawing-room—A comic anecdote—The King and Queen at the Chapel Royal—At the theatre; accidents on the occasion—The coronation—Incidents and anecdotes connected with it—The young Pretender said to have been present—The coronation produced at the theatre [423]
CHAPTER II.
COURT AND CITY.
The levée—The King goes to parliament—The first night of the opera—Garrick grievously offended—The King and Queen present on the Lord Mayor’s Day—Entertained by Robert Barclay, the Quaker—Banquet at Guildhall to the King and Queen—Popular enthusiasm for Mr. Pitt—Buckingham House purchased by the King for Queen Charlotte—Defoe’s account of it—The Duke of Buckingham’s description of it—West and his pictures—The house demolished by George IV.—First illness of the King—Domestic life of the King and Queen—Royal carriage—Selwyn’s joke on the royal frugality—Prince Charles of Strelitz—Costume—Graceful action of the Queen—Birth of Prince George [462]
CHAPTER III.
ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS.
Scenes, and personal sketches of Queen Charlotte—Her fondness for diamonds—Visit to Mrs. Garrick—Orphan establishment at Bedford founded by the Queen—Her benevolence on the breaking of the Windsor bank—Marriage of Princess Caroline Matilda—Unfounded rumours about the Queen—Hannah Lightfoot—The King’s illness—A Regency recommended by the King—Discussions relative to it—Birth of Prince Frederick—Failing Health of the Duke of Cumberland [479]

LIVES
OF THE
QUEENS OF ENGLAND.

SOPHIA DOROTHEA, OF ZELL,
WIFE OF GEORGE I.

Das Glänzende ist nicht immer das Bessere.

Kotzebue, Bruder Moritz.

CHAPTER I.
GEORGE OF BRUNSWICK-ZELL AND ELEANORE D’OLBREUSE.