nuous effort
to improve the condition of the population of these islands. He had at
least a full comprehension of the fact that domestic prosperity has a
good deal to do with sound finance, and that sound finance depends very
much upon a sound foreign policy. But the utter defeat of his excise
scheme had put Walpole out of the mood for making experiments which
might prove to be in advance of the age. He had no ambition to be in
advance of his age. He was not dispirited or disheartened; he was not
a man to be dispirited or disheartened, but he was made cautious. He
had got into a frame of mind with regard to financial reform something
like that into which the younger Pitt grew in his later years with
regard to Catholic emancipation: he knew what ought to be done, but
felt that he was not able to do it, and therefore shrugged his
shoulders and let the world go its way. Walpole was honestly proud of
his peace policy; more {37} than once he declared with exultation that
while there were fifty thousand men killed in Europe during the
struggle just ended, the field of dead did not contain the body of a
single Englishman. Seldom in the history of England has English
statesmanship had such a tale to tell.

{38}

CHAPTER XXIII.

ROYAL FAMILY AFFAIRS.

[Sidenote: 1736--The Sovereign of Hanover]

George, and his wife Caroline Wilhelmina Dorothea, had a somewhat large
family. Their eldest son, Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales and Duke of
Gloucester, was born on January 20, 1706. Two other sons died, one the
moment after his birth, the other after scarcely a year of breath.
William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, was born in 1721. There were
five daughters: Anne, Amelia or Emily, Caroline, Mary, and Louisa. The
Princess Caroline seems to have been by far the most lovable of the
whole family. She inherited much of her mother's cleverness without
her mother's coarseness. "Princess Caroline," says Lord Hervey, "had
affability without meanness, dignity without pride, cheerfulness
without levity, and prudence without falsehood." Her figure indeed is
one of the bright redeeming visions in all that chapter of Court
history. She stands out among the rough, coarse, self-seeking men and
women somewhat as Sophy Western does among the personages of "Tom
Jones." Her tender inclination towards Lord Hervey makes her seem all
the more sweet and womanly; her influence over him is always apparent.
He never speaks of her wit