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there before nine, they told me she was just expiring. That account continued above three hours, and a report was carried to town, that she was actually dead. She was not prayed for, even at her own chapel at

him the best intelligence. As to the time when the doctor was sent for, the account in the Biographia is manifestly false; for if the doctor had been sent for only two hours before the queen's death, which happened incontestibly on the first of August, Mr Ford could not have mentioned the fact on the 31st of July, when his letter was dated. Whether Radcliffe was sent for by Lady Masham, or by order of council, is therefore the only point to be determined. That he was generally reported to have been sent for by order of council, is certain; but a letter is printed in the Biographia, said to have been written by the doctor to one of his friends, which, supposing it to be genuine, will prove, that the doctor maintained the contrary. On the fifth of August, four days after the queen's death, a member of the house of commons, a friend of the doctor's, who was also a member, and one who always voted on the same side, moved, that he might be summoned to attend in his place, in order to be censured for not attending on her majesty. Upon this occasion the doctor is said to have written the following letter to another of his friends.

"DEAR SIR,

Carshalton, Aug. 7, 1714.

"I COULD not have thought, that so old an acquaintance, and so good a friend, as Sir John always professed himself, would have made such a motion against me. God knows my will to do her majesty any service has ever got the start of my ability; and I have nothing that gives me greater anxiety and trouble than the death of that great and glorious princess. I must do that justice to the physicians that attended her in her illness, from a sight of the method that was taken for her preservation by Dr Mead, as to declare nothing was omitted for her preservation; but the people about her, the plagues of Egypt fall on them, put it out of the power of physic to be of any benefit to her. I know the nature of attending crowned heads in their last moments too well to be fond of waiting upon them, without being sent for by a proper authority. You have heard of pardons being signed for physicians, before a sovereign's demise; how

St James's; and what is more infamous, stocks arose three per cent. upon it in the city. Before I came away, she had recovered a warmth in her

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ever, ill as I was, I would have went to the queen in a horselitter, had either her majesty, or those in commission next to her, commanded me so to do. You may tell Sir John as much, and assure him from me, that his zeal for her majesty will not excuse his ill-usage of a friend, who has drank many a hundred bottles with him; and cannot, even after this breach of a good understanding that ever was preserved between us, but have a very good esteem for him. I must also desire you to thank Tom Chapman for his speech in my behalf, since I hear it is the first he ever made, which is taken more kindly; and to acquaint him, that I should be glad to see him at Carshalton; since I fear (for so the gout tells me) that we shall never more sit in the house of commons together. I am, &c.

"JOHN RADCLIFFE."

But whatever credit may now be paid to this letter, or however it may now be thought to justify the doctor's refusal to attend her majesty, he became at that time so much the object of popu lar resentment, that he was apprehensive of being assassinated: as appears by the following letter, directed to Dr Mead, at Child's coffeehouse in St Paul's Churchyard.

me.

"DEAR SIR,

Carshalton, Aug. 3, 1714. "I GIVE you, and your brother, many thanks for the favour you intend me to-morrow; and if there is any other friend, that will be agreeable to you, he shall meet with a hearty welcome from Dinner shall be on the table by two, when you may be sure to find me ready to wait upon you. Nor shall be at any other time from home, because I have received several letters, which threaten me with being pulled to pieces, if ever I come to London. After such menaces as these, it is easy to imagine, that the conversation of two such very good friends is not only extremely desirable, but the enjoyment of it will be a great happiness and statisfaction to him, who is, &c. "JOHN RADcliffe."

Radcliffe died on the first of November the same year, having survived the queen just three months; and it is said, that the dread he had of the, populace, and the want of company in the country village, which he did not dare to leave, shortened his life. He was just 64 years old. He was buried in St Mary's church, Oxford...H.

breast and one of her arms, and all the doctors agreed she would in all probability hold out till to-morrow, except Mead, who pronounced several hours before, she could not live two minutes, and seems uneasy it did not happen so, I did not care to talk much to Arbuthnot, because I heard him cautious in his answers to other people; but by his manner, I fancy he does not yet absolutely despair. The council sat yesterday all day and night, taking it by turns to go out and refresh themselves. They have now adjourned, upon what the doctors said, till five. Last night the speaker and my Lord Chief. Justice Parker were sent for, and the troops from Flanders. This morning the Hanoverian envoy was ordered to attend with the black box, * and the heralds to be in readiness to proclaim the new king. Some of the whigs were at council yesterday but not one failed to-day; and most of the members of that party, in each house, are already come to town. If any change happens before the post goes out, I will send you word in a postscript; and you may conclude her alive, if you hear no more from me, and have no better authority than post-letters to inform you of the contrary. For God's sake do not think of removing from the place where you are, till matters are a little settled. Ireland is the last retreat you ought to think of; but you can never be better than you are now, till we see how things go.

I had yours with the printed pamphlet, as well as the other, and should have sent it away to-morrow. Pray let me hear from you, ** **

* Containing the instrument nominating the persons, in number thirteen, to be added as lords-justices to the seven great officers of the realm.-H.

+ In the original six lines are here erased.---N.

Have you had all mine? I have failed you but one post (I think it was the last) for a fortnight or Eleven at Night.

more.

The queen is something better, and the council again adjourned till eight in the morning.

TO MISS VANHOMRIGH.

Aug. 1, 1714.

WHO told you I was going to Bath? No such thing. I had fixed to set out to-morrow for Ireland, but poor Lord Oxford desires I will go with him to Herefordshire, and only expect his answer whether I shall go there before, or meet him hereabouts; or to Wimple (his son's house), and so go with him down and I expect to leave this in two or three days one way or other. I will stay with him until the parliament meets again, if he desires it. I am not of your opinion about Lord Bolingbroke; perhaps he may get the staff, but I cannot rely on his love to me: he knew I had a mind to be historiographer, though I valued it not, but for the public service, yet it is gone to a worthless rogue that nobody knows. I am writ to earnestly by somebody to come to town, and join with those people now in power, but I will not do it. Say nothing of this, but guess the person. I told Lord Oxford I would go with him, when he was out: and now he begs it of me, and I cannot refuse him.

*

*He alludes to Lady Masham's letter of 29th July.

I meddle not with his faults, as he was a minister of state; but you know his personal kindness to me was excessive: he distinguished and chose me above all other men, while he was great; and his letter to me the other day was the most moving imaginable. When I am fixed anywhere, perhaps I may be so gracious to let you know, but I will not promise. Adieu.

FROM MR JOHN BIRCH.

MR DEAN,

Wantage, One O'Clock, Aug. 1, 1714.

AT twelve o'clock Lord Bolingbroke's man rid through Wantage, to call Mr Packer to London, the queen being dead. I am confounded at the melancholy news; yet could not forbear sending it Your truly humble servant,

to you.

Jo. BIRCH.*

* Directed "To the reverend the Dean of St Patrick's, Letcombe;" and endorsed, "Mr Birch, of Wantage. Received half after one on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 1, 1714. Queen's death. She died at seven that morning.".......H.

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