It shows genius to strike anything so new as her achievements.

Though we have many uncommon personages, it is not easy for them to be so superiorly particular." More generally interesting than these domestic matters was the political situation.

Queen Anne's life had for some time been hanging in the balance.

It was thought that she might linger for some time, but there was no hope of her recovery.

The fight that was carried on between the supporters of the Hanoverian succession and the adherents of the Pretender is, of course, a matter of history.