Historical Characters in the Reign of Queen AnneOliphant, Mrs. (Margaret)
History
Historical Characters in the Reign of Queen Anne
Oliphant, Mrs. (Margaret)
Addison, Joseph, 1672-1719; Anne, Queen of Great Britain, 1665-1714; Defoe, Daniel, 1661?-1731; Swift, Jonathan, 1667-1745
I give dear Mrs. Freeman a thousand thanks for her letter which
gives me an account of her concerns; and that is what I desire more
to know than other news. I shall reckon the days and hours and
think it very long till the time is out, both for your sake and my
Lord Marlborough’s, and that he may be at liberty and your mind at
ease. And, dear Mrs. Freeman, don’t say when I can see you if I
come to town, therefore I ask which day will be most convenient for
you. I confess I long to see you, but am not so unreasonable to
desire that satisfaction till it is easy to you. I wish with all my
soul that you may not be a true prophetess, and that it may soon be
in our power to enjoy one another’s company more than it has been
of late, which is all I covet in this world....
I am sorry with all my heart Mrs. Freeman meets with so many
delays, but it is a comfort they cannot keep my Lord Marlborough in
the Tower longer than the end of the term, and I hope when the
Parliament sits care will be taken that people may not be clapt up
for nothing, or else there will be no living in quiet for anybody
but insolent Dutch and sneaking mercenary Englishmen. Dear Mrs.
Freeman, farewell--be assured your faithful Mrs. Morley can never
change, and I hope you do not in the least doubt of her kindness,
which, if it be possible, increases every day, and that can never
have an end but with her life. Mrs. Morley hopes her dear Mrs.
Freeman will let her have the satisfaction of hearing again from
her to-morrow....
Dear Mrs. Freeman may easily imagine I cannot have much to say
since I saw her. However, I must write two words, for though I
believe she does not doubt of my constancy, feeling how base and
false all the world is, I am of that temper I think I can never say
enough to assure you of it. Therefore give me leave to assure you
they can never change me. And there is no misery I cannot readily
resolve to suffer rather than the thoughts of parting from you. And
I do swear I would sooner be torn in pieces than alter this my
resolution. My dear Mrs. Freeman, I long to hear from you.
This pretty correspondence changed a little, but only to grow more
impassioned, when the princess had gone to Bath and the friends were
less near each other.
Anne was, however, pursued by the royal displeasure even in her invalid
journey to Bath, and no less a person than Lord Nottingham, the lord
chamberlain, was employed to warn the mayor of that city that his
civilities to the princess were ill-timed. Such a disclosure of the
family quarrel evinced a determination and bitterness which perhaps
frightened even Lady Marlborough, courageous as she was; and she seems
to have offered and even pressed her resignation as a means of making
peace. But nothing altered the devotion of her faithful princess.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account