Page:The Queens of England.djvu/560

 5o8 THE QUEENS OF ENGLAND. silently watched for a moment proper for overturning the new designations, did not lose a moment in observing to the king 'how prejudicial it would be to his affairs to prefer to the minister in possession a man in whose own judgment his pre- decessor was the fittest person to execute his office.' " The queen also took another early opportunity of declaring her sentiments. Horace Walpole says — "Their majesties had removed from Richmond to their temporary residence in Lei- cester Fields on the very evening of their receiving notice of their accession to the crown, and the next day all the nobility and gentry in town crowded to kiss their hands, my mother among the rest, who, Sir Spencer Compton's designation, and not its evaporation being known, could not make her way be- tween the scornful backs and elbows of her late devotees, nor could approach nearer. to the queen than the third or fourth row; but no sooner was she descried by her majesty, than the queen said aloud, 'There I am sure I see a friend !' The tor- rent divided, and shrunk to either side ; and as I came away, said my mother, T might have walked over their heads if I had pleased.' " It may be that the penetration of Walpole early discovered that influence really lay with the queen, and that he paid his court accordingly ; or some more honorable feeling may have originated the cordiality between them. Caroline appears to have taken great pleasure in the society of Sir Robert and Lady Walpole, and frequently dined at their house at Chelsea. On these occasions, however, the rigor of etiquette was main- tained. Sir Robert did not sit down to table with his royal guest, but "stood behind her chair, and gave her the first plate, and then retired himself to a separate table." Lady Walpole took her seat at table in company with the lady in waiting ; but when we call to mind that in those days it was esteemed the - indispensable duty of a hostess to carve, the exception in her favor may perhaps be explained ! Caroline had been esteemed handsome in her youth ; but her beauty was subsequently marred by that pitiless scourge, the small-pox, and later in life an exceeding stoutness destroyed the symmetry of her figure. Her hand and arm were greatly admired for their whiteness and beauty of form, and her counte- nance is reported to have had that best beauty, the beauty of expression. A poet has lauded her smile as "celestial." She must have been a good conversationist, possessing the rare and delicate tact of adapting her discourse to the character and