Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/24

 8 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.

civilities showed you by their majesties, which is suitable to the respect they have for the King our Master, and your Lordship's own character," His mission was quite successful, and later events show that he made himself very popular with the new king. On June 3, 1701, Sir Charles Hedges, secretary of state, writes, " I am glad to find that you are parting with that court with so much mutual satisfaction."

Shortly afterwards the war with France again broke out, and it was during Lord Raby's absence on the duty of seeing his regiment embark for Flanders that the king had the un- fortunate accident which so soon ended his life. Raby speedily returned to the bedside of his patron and friend, and was with him every day till his death. " On kissing hands at the accession of Queen Anne, he told her he had lost all his employments with the loss of the king, except his regiment of dragoons, which he came to offer her to dispose of to some other she might think more deserving ; on which her majesty was pleased to reply, ' My Lord Raby, I commend your concern for the king, but am sorry you should offer to resign your regiment, since, were it now vacant, I know no man in England I would sooner give it to than you, for I know you deserve it.' "

In July, 1702, Lord Raby appears with his regiment in Flanders, but the following letter to him, in his great com- mander's own hand, shows him not unwilling to abandon the military profession for something more independent and profitable.

"Camp of Assenlen, /«/j' 5, 1702. " Sir, — I have every day sence I had the favour of yours been in expectation of an opertunity of sending to Bolduck or else you shou'd have heard sooner. Althoe I have re- ceived three names from England which her Ma*y is pleas'd to desire my thoughts which might be proprest for the Government of Jamaca, and having made an answer before I had yours, yet I have not fail'd of sending your desire, which I cou'd wish might succeed since it wou'd be of soe much consequence to you. I may tell you that one of the three

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