SIR ROBERT WALPOLE. From the painting by J. B. Van Loo in the National Portrait Gallery 46 HAMPTON COURT, TEMP. GEORGE II. 60 HENRIETTA HOWARD (COUNTESS OF SUFFOLK) 78 THE PRINCESS AMELIA (SECOND DAUGHTER OF GEORGE II.) 96 LETTER OF QUEEN CAROLINE TO THE KING OF FRANCE 114 THE ALTSTADT, HANOVER 130 THE PRINCESS CLEMENTINA (CONSORT OF PRINCE JAMES FRANCIS EDWARD STUART). From the painting in the National Portrait Gallery 146 MRS. CLAYTON (VISCOUNTESS SUNDON) 162 JOHN, LORD HERVEY 178 PHILIP STANHOPE, EARL OF CHESTERFIELD. From the painting in the National Portrait Gallery 194 FREDERICK, PRINCE OF WALES 214 BENJAMIN HOADLEY, BISHOP OF WINCHESTER. From a painting by Mrs. Hoadley in the National Portrait Gallery 238 ANNE, PRINCESS ROYAL, AND THE PRINCE OF ORANGE 256 AUGUSTA, PRINCESS OF WALES, AT THE TIME OF HER MARRIAGE 284 THE OLD TOLBOOTH, EDINBURGH, TEMP. 1736. From an old print 308 THE PRINCESSES MARY AND LOUISA (DAUGHTERS OF GEORGE II.) 328 THE PRINCESS CAROLINE (THIRD DAUGHTER OF GEORGE II.) 348 HENRY VII.’S CHAPEL, WESTMINSTER ABBEY, TEMP. 1737 364 BOOK III. QUEEN CONSORT AND QUEEN REGENT. CHAPTER I. THE NEW REIGN. 1737. The news of George the First’s death reached England four days after he had breathed his last at Osnabrück. A messenger, bearing sealed despatches from Lord Townshend, arrived at Sir Robert Walpole’s house in Arlington Street at noon on Wednesday, June 14th. He was told that the Prime Minister was at Chelsea, and he at once repaired thither. He found the great man at dinner. Walpole was thunderstruck at the news, for the old King was of so strong a constitution that, despite his occasional fainting fits, every one expected him to live to a green old age, as his mother had done before him. His sudden death, too, might mean the end of the Prime Minister’s political career. But there was no time for vain regrets--the King was dead, long live the King. So ordering his horse to be saddled, Walpole rode off at full speed to Richmond, where George Augustus then was, to announce the tidings and pay homage to his new Sovereign. The day was hot, and so furiously did he ride that he killed, his son tells us, two horses between Chelsea and Richmond; but then his son was given to exaggeration.