Death of George I.--Adroitness of Sir Robert Walpole--The first royal reception--Unceremonious treatment of the late King’s will--The coronation--Magnificent dress of Queen Caroline--Mrs. Oldfield, as Anne Boleyn, in ‘Henry VIII.’--The King’s revenue and the Queen’s jointure, the result of Walpole’s exertions--His success--Management of the King by Queen Caroline--Unseemly dialogue between Walpole and Lord Townshend--Gay’s ‘Beggars’ Opera,’ and satire on Walpole--Origin of the opera--Its great success --Gay’s cause espoused by the Duchess of Queensberry--Her smart reply to a royal message--The tragedy of ‘Frederick, Duke of Brunswick’--The Queen appointed Regent--Prince Frederick becomes chief of the opposition--His silly reflections on the King--Agitation about the repeal of the Corporation and Test Acts--The Queen’s ineffectual efforts to gain over Bishop Hoadly--Sir Robert extricates himself --The Church made the scapegoat--Queen Caroline earnest about trifles--Etiquette of the toilette--_Fracas_ between Mr. Howard and the Queen--Modest request of Mrs. Howard-- Lord Chesterfield’s description of her 177 CHAPTER III. THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ANNE. Violent opposition to the King by Prince Frederick--Readings at Windsor Castle--The Queen’s patronage of Stephen Duck-- His melancholy end--Glance at passing events--Precipitate flight of Dr. Nichols--Princess Anne’s determination to get a husband--Louis XV. proposed as a suitor: negotiation broken off--The Prince of Orange’s offer accepted--Ugly and deformed--The King and Queen averse to the union-- Dowry settled on the Princess--Anecdote of the Duchess of Marlborough--Illness of the bridegroom--Ceremonies attendant on the marriage--Mortification of the Queen-- The public nuptial chamber--Offence given to the Irish peers--The Queen and Lady Suffolk--Homage paid by the Princess to her deformed husband--Discontent of Prince Frederick--His anxiety not unnatural--Congratulatory addresses by the Lords and Commons--Spirited conduct of the Queen--Lord Chesterfield--Agitations on Walpole’s celebrated Excise scheme--Lord Stair delegated to remonstrate with the Queen--Awkward performance of his mission--Sharply rebuked by the Queen--Details of the interview--The Queen’s success in overcoming the King’s antipathy to Walpole--Comments of the populace--Royal interview with a bishop 200 CHAPTER IV. FAMILY AND NATIONAL QUARRELS.