86

HISTORY OP ENGLAND.

CHAP.

VII.

1687 .

In the reign of James she was regarded as nothing worse thana fine high-spirited young woman, who could now and thenbe cross and arbitrary, but whose flaws of temper might wellbe pardoned in consideration of her charms.

It is a common observation that differences of taste, under-standing, and disposition, are no impediments to friendship,and that the closest intimacies often exist between minds eachof which supplies what is wanting to the other. Lady Churchillwas loved and even worshipped by Anne. The Princess couldnot live apart from the object of her romantic fondness. Shemarried, and was a faithful and even an affectionate wife.But Prince George, a dull man whose chief pleasures werederived from his dinner and his bottle, acquired over her noinfluence comparable to that exercised by her female friend,and soon gave himself up with stupid patience to the dominionof that vehement and commanding spirit by which his wifewas governed. Children were born to the royal pair: andAnne was by no means without the feelings of a mother. Butthe tenderness which she felt for her offspring was languidwhen compared with her devotion to the companion of herearly years. At length the Princess became impatient of therestraint which etiquette imposed on her. She could not bearto hear the words Madam and Royal Highness from the lipsof one who was more to her than a sister. Such words wereindeed necessary in the gallery or the drawing-room; but theywere disused in the closet. Anne was Mrs. Morley: LadyChurchill was Mrs. Freeman; and under these childish nameswas carried on during twenty years a correspondence onwhich at last the fate of administrations and dynasties de-pended. But as yet Anne had no political power and littlepatronage. Her friend attended her as first Lady of the Bed-chamber, with a salary of only four hundred pounds a year.There is reason, however, to believe that, even at this time,Churchill was able to gratify his ruling passion by means ofhis wife’s influence. The Princess, though her incomo waslarge and her tastes simple, contracted debts which her father,not without some murmurs, discharged: and it was rumoured