Her recommendation of Walpole was not based, it is believed, upon any very exalted motives. Walpole himself, in his official connections with the Sovereign, was certainly likely to take every advantage of the opportunity to create favourable convictions of his ability. Caroline, in praising his ability to the King, suggested that Sir Robert was rich enough to be honest, and had so little private business of his own that he had all the more leisure to devote to that of the King. ‘New leeches would be not the less hungry;’ and with this very indifferent sort of testimony to her favourite’s worth, Caroline secured a servant for the King and a minister for herself. The tact of the Queen was so admirable that the husband, who followed her counsel in all things, never even himself suspected but that he was leading her. This was the very triumph of the Queen’s art, and the crowning proof of the simplicity and silliness of the King. It is said that he sneered at Charles I. for being governed by _his_ wife; at Charles II. for being governed by his mistresses; at James led by priests; at William duped by men; at Queen Anne deceived by her favourites; and at his father, who allowed himself to be ruled by any one who could approach him. And he finished his catalogue of scorn by proudly asking, ‘Who governs now?’ The courtiers probably smiled behind their jaunty hats. The wits, and some of them were courtiers too, answered the query more roughly, and they remarked, in rugged rhyme and bad grammar-- You may strut, dapper George, but ’twill all be in vain; We know ’tis Queen Caroline, not you that reign-- You govern no more than Don Philip of Spain. Then if you would have us fall down and adore you, Lock up your fat spouse, as your dad did before you. The two were otherwise described by other poetasters, as-- So strutting a king and so prating a queen.