‘When I came to court she was at cards, but was so full of these letters that she got up and ordered me to follow her into the garden, where she gave them to me to read, and walked, and spoke a great deal in relation to them. I believe she walked three hours that night. The next morning, which was Thursday, I heard that she was out of order, and on going immediately to court, she ordered me to be called into her bed-chamber. She gave me the letters I sent you to copy; she bade me send them next post, and bring them afterwards to her to court. This was on Friday. In the morning, on Friday, they told me she was very well, but seemed much chagrined. She was dressed, and dined with the Elector as usual. At four, she did me the honour to send to town for some other copies of the same letters; and then she was still perfectly well. She walked and talked very heartily in the orangery. After that, about six, she went out to walk in the garden, and was still very well. A shower of rain came, and as she was walking pretty fast to get to shelter, they told her she was walking a little too fast. She answered, “I believe I do,” and dropped down on saying these words, which were her last. They raised her up, chafed her with spirits, tried to bleed her; but it was all in vain, and when I came up, she was as dead as if she had been four days so.’[2] Such was the end, on the 10th of June 1714, of a very remarkable woman. CHAPTER XI. AHLDEN AND ENGLAND. The neglected captive of Ahlden--Unnoticed by her son-in-law, except to secure her property--Madame von Schulenburg--The Queen of Prussia prohibited from corresponding with her imprisoned mother--The captive betrayed by Count de Bar--Death of Queen Anne--Anxiety felt for the arrival of King George--The Duke of Marlborough’s entry--Funeral of the Queen--Public entry of the King--Adulation of Dr. Young--Madame Kielmansegge, the new royal favourite--Horace Walpole’s account of her--‘A Hanover garland’--Ned Ward, the Tory poet--Expression of the public opinion--The Duchess of Kendal bribed by Lord Bolingbroke-- Bribery and corruption general--Abhorrence of parade by the King. During marriage festivals and court _fêtes_ held to celebrate some step in greatness, Sophia Dorothea continued to vegetate in Ahlden. She was politically dead; and even in the domestic occurrences of her family, events in which a mother might be gracefully allowed to have a part, she enjoyed no share. The marriages of her children and the births of _their_ children were not officially communicated to her. She was left to learn them through chance or the courtesy of individuals.