JAMES THE SECOND.

9

was while the United Provinces were struggling for existenceagainst the French power that the young Prince on whom all -their hopes were fixed was seized by the small pox. Thatdisease had been fatal to many members of his family, and atfirst wore, in his case, a peculiarly malignant aspect. Thepublic consternation was great. The streets of the Haguewere crowded from daybreak to sunset by persons anxiouslyasking hrw his Highness was. At length his complaint tooka favoura.. } turn. His escape was attributed partly to hisown singular equanimity, and partly to the intrepid and inde-fatigable friendship of Bentinck. From the hands of Bentinckalone William took food and medicine. By Bentinckalone William was lifted from his bed and laid down in it.“ Whether Bentinck slept or not while I was ill,” said Williamto Temple, with great tenderness, “I know not. But thisI know, that, through sixteen days and nights, I never oncecalled for anything but that Bentinck was instantly at myside.” Before the faithful servant had entirely performedhistask, he had himself caught the contagion. Still, however,he bore up against drowsiness and fever till his master waspronounced convalescent. Then, atlength, Bentinck askedleave to go home. It was time: for his limbs would no longersupport him. He was in great danger, but recovered, and,as soon as he left his bed, hastened to the army, where,during many sharp campaigns, he was ever found, as he hadbeen in peril of a different kind, close to William’s side.

Such was the origin of a friendship as warm and pure asany that ancient or modern history records. The descendantsof Bentinck still preserve many letters written by William totheir ancestor: and it is not too much to say that no personwho has not studied those letters can form a correct notion ofthePrince’s character. He whom even his admirers generallyaccounted the most distant and frigid of men here forgets alldistinctions of rank, and pours out all his thoughts withthe ingenuousness of a schoolboy. He imparts without reservesecrets of the highest moment. He explains with perfectsimplicity vast designs affecting all the governments of Eu-rope. Mingled with his communications on such subjects are

CHAP.

vir.

168 T.