Bolingbroke's the more vigorous, but the less secure. Oxford, it is thought, was entirely for the Hanoverian succession; Bolingbroke had some hopes of bringing in the Pretender. But though they hated each other most sincerely, yet they were for a while kept together by the good offices of their friends and adherents, who had the melancholy prospect of seeing the citadel of their hopes, while openly besieged from without, secretly undermining within.

This was a mortifying prospect to the Tories; but it was more particularly displeasing to the queen, who daily saw her favourite ministry declining, while her own health kept pace with their contentions. Her constitution was now quite broken. One fit of sickness succeeded another; and what completed the ruin of her health was the anxiety of her mind. The councilchamber was for some time turned into a scene of obstinate dispute, and bitter altercation. Even in the queen's presence, the treasurer and secretary, did not abstain from mutual obloquy and reproach. As Oxford foresaw that the Whig ministry would force themselves in, he was for moderate measures. Bolingbroke, on the contrary, was for setting the Whigs at defiance, and flattered the queen, by giving way to all her favourite attachments. At length, their animosities coming to a height, Oxford wrote a letter to the queen, containing a detail of public transactions, in the course of which he endeavoured to justify his own conduct, and expose the turbulent and ambitious spirit of his rival. On the other hand, Bolingbroke accused the treasurer of having invited the duke of Marlborough to return from his voluntary exile, and of maintaining a private correspondence with the house of Hanover. In consequence of this, and the intrigues of lady Masham, who now seconded the aims of Bolingbroke, Oxford

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was removed from his employments, and his rival seemed to triumph in his new victory.

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But this paltry triumph was of short duration. Boe lingbroke for a while seemed to enjoy the confusion he had made, and the whole state being driven into dise order by the suddenness of the treasurer's fall, he sat secure, considering that he must be called upon to res medy every inconvenience. But the queen's declining health soon began to give him a dreadful prospect of his own situation, and the triumph of his enemies.As no plan had been adopted for supplying the vacancy of treasurer, the queen was perplexed and harassed with the choice, and she had no longer strength left to support the fatigue. It had such an effect upon her spirits and constitution, that she declared she could not outlive it, and immediately sunk into a state of lethar gic insensibility. Notwithstanding all the medicines which the physicians could prescribe, the distemper gained ground so fast, that, the day after, they despair. ed of her life, and the privy-council was assembled on the occasion.The dukest of Somerset and Argyle, being informed of the desperate state in which she lay, entered the council-chamber without being summoned, to the great surprise of the Tory members, who did not expect their appearance. The duke of Shrews bury thanked them for their readiness to give their as! sistance at such a critical juncture, and desired them to take their places. The physicians having declared that the queens was still in her senses, the council unanimously agreed that the duke of Shrewsbury was the fittést persono to bed appointed to the vacant office of treasurer. Thus Bolingbroke's ambition was defeated, just when he thought himself secure.Jussion to moniq

All the members of the privy-council, without distinction, being now summoned from the different parts

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of the kingdom, began to provide for the security of the constitution. They sent a letter to the elector of Han over, informing him of the queen's desperate situation, and desiring him to repair to Holland, where he would be attended by a British squadrons to conveybhimbto England. At the same time, they dispatched instruc tions to the earl of Strafford at the Hague, to desire the states-general to be ready to perform the guaranty of the protestant succession. Precautions were taken to secure the sea-ports; and the command of the fleet was bestowed upon the earl of Berkeley, la professed Whig. These measures, which were all dictated by that party, answered a double end. It argued their own alacrity in the cause of their new sovereign, and seemed to imply a danger to the state from the disaf fection of the opposite interest. il con

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bas di sviluo On the thirtieth of July, the queen seemed some what relieved by medicines, rose from her bed about eight o'clock, and walked a little. After some time, casting her eyes on a clock that stood in her chamber, she continued to gaze at it for some minutes. One of the ladies in waiting asked her what she saw there more than usual; to which the queen only answered, by turn ing her eyes upon her with a dying look. Shed was soon after seized with a fit of apoplexy, from which, however, she was somewhat recovered by the assist ance of Dr. Mead. She continued all night in a state of stupefaction. She gave some signs of life between twelve and one the next day; but expired the following morning, August 1, 1714, a little after seven o'clock, in the fiftieth year of her age. She reigned more than twelve years over a people now risen to the highest pitch of refinement; who had attained by their wisdom all the advantages of opulence, and by their valour all the happiness of security and conquest. od „doljonit

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This princess was rather amiable than great, rather pleasing than beautiful; neither her capacity nor learning was remarkable. Like the rest of her family, she seemed rather fitted for the private duties of life than a public station, being a pattern of conjugal fidelity, a good mother, a warm friend, and an indulgent mistress. During her reign, none suffered on the scaffold for treason; for, when an oppressed faction takes the lead, it is seldom cruel. In her ended the line of the Stuarts; a family whose misfortunes and misconduct are not to be paralleled in history; a family, who, less than men themselves, seemed to expect from their followers more than manhood in their defence; a family that never rewarded their friends, and never avenged them of their enemies.

C. Baldwin, Printer, New Bridge-street, London.

END OF VOL. II.