Poor Anne! The mother of nineteen children, all of whom died in infancy or early youth, those rows of little coffins in Westminster Abbey tell in heartbreaking accents the tragedy of her life. She was afflicted with gout, and, having lost her husband, to whom she was devoted, no wonder she found it easier to let Society take care of itself, and Sarah Jennings and Mrs. Masham rule over her. Society did go on, but went too far and too fast. There is an old Satire containing many quaint descriptions of the modes of the day in Hyde Park. It is too wordy to be reprinted in full, but the part here given will suffice for the purpose: The CIRCUS: OR, BRITISH OLYMPICKS A SATYR ON THE RING in Hide-Park. Sunt quos Curriculo Pulverem Olympicum. Colegisse juvat. HORAT. _Od._ I. LONDON. Printed: and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster. 1709. Price One Penny. THE CIRCUS: or BRITISH OLYMPICKS, &c. From vulgar Eyes, on Plains exalted high, Where noble Dust does in Confusion fly, Whither the Wealthy and the Great repair, To draw Contagion from polluted Air. In gilded Chariots some delight to ride, And with their Folly, gratify their Pride, While the vile ends they court from this Address, Gives them false Notions of true Happiness. * * * * * A thousand diff’rent whims possess the Mind, To-day they love, to-Morrow are Inclin’d Fantastically to vary like the Wind, Flora her-self, tho’ much more nice and gay, Changes her Liv’ry not so oft as they. * * * * * But Heavens, is’t possible for to believe Mankind should study Mankind to deceive, To see such glorious Shows of outside shine And find no kind of furniture within, Ensigns of Grandeur painted at the Door, But all within diminutively poor? The gawdy Slaves may show their Master’s vain, And cheat the unwary with a num’rous Train; That spite of all the tawdry Coat and Lace, Th’ unthinking Thing will peep out of the Glass, And shew the Multitude his Monkey-Face. Sometimes alone th’ insipid Ideot rowls The Admiration of fond gazing Fools, Whose slender Opticks can no further go, Than to the Splendor of the gilded Show. Sometimes to prove their Conversation bright, They bring with them a Gamester, Rake, or Wit; Then decently deride the beauteous _Ring_, And bawdy Jests around the Circle fling. With bouncing Bell a lusheous Chat they hold, Squabble with _Mall_, or _Orange Betty_ scold, Then laugh immoderately, vain and loud, To raise the wonder of th’ attentive Crowd; At last to finish here their Puppy-Show The Bawd’s dispatched to serve a Billet doux. * * * * *