observed, when she thinks herself in the right, she needs no advice
to help her to be very firm and positive. But I doubt but a very little
time will set this of Lord Sunderland very right, for you may see by
the letter that she has a good opinion of him. I have writ as my
friends would have me, for I had much rather be governed than govern.
But otherwise I have really so much esteem and kindness for him,
and have so much knowledge of the place you would have for him,
that I have my apprehensions he will be very uneasy in it; and that
when it is too late, you will be of my opinion, that it would have been
much happier if he had been employed in any other place of profit and
honour. I have formerly said so much to you on this subject, and to so
little purpose, that I ought not now to have troubled you with all this,
knowing very well that you rely on other people's judgment in this
matter. I do not doubt but they wish him very well; but in this they
have other considerations than his good, and I have none but that of a
kind friend, that would neither have him, nor my daughter uneasy
Writing this by candle light, I am so blind that I cannot read it, so that
if there be any thing in it that should not be seen, burn it, and think
kindly of one who loves you with all his hear!"

Notwithstanding the reluctance which he here manifests,
he suffered himself to be overcome by the importunities of
the treasurer, and wrote to the queen, urging the appoint-
ment with all the arguments which the circumstances of the
case suggested. Supported by this recommendation, Godol-
phin renewed his instances with additional zeal, proposing to
remunerate Sir Charles Hedges for the loss of his office, by a
place of a more permanent and profitable nature. But the
queen still continued inflexible, and, dreading a personal
altercation, expressed by letter the poignancy of her feelings
and her aversion to the meditated change.

"August 30.- Sept. 10. -- I think one should always speak one's mind
freely to one's friends on every occasion, but sometimes one is apt to hope
things may not come to that extremity, as to make it necessary to trouble
them, and therefore it is very natural to defer doing so as long as one
possibly can. The difficulties I labour under at this time are so great,
and so uneasy to me, that they will not suffer me any longer to keep my
thoughts to myself; and I choose this way of explaining them to you,
rather than endeavour to begin to speak, and not be able to go on. I
have been considering the business we have so often spoke about, ever
since I saw you, and cannot but continue of the same mind, that it is a
great hardship to persuade any body to part with a place they are in
possession of, in hopes of another that is not yet vacant. Besides, I
must own freely to you, I am of the opinion, that making a party man
secretary of state, when there are so many of their friends in employment
of all kinds already, is throwing myself into the hands of a party, which
is a thing I have been desirous to avoid. May be some may think I

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