people, by her superior prudence, from
those confusions in which theological controversy had involved all
the neighboring nations: and though her enemies were the most powerful
princes of Europe, the most active, the most enterprising, the least
scrupulous, she was able by her vigor to make deep impressions on their
states; her own greatness, meanwhile, remained untouched and unimpaired.

The wise ministers and brave warriors who flourished under her reign,
share the praise of her success; but instead of lessening the applause
due to her, they make great addition to it. They owed all of them their
advancement to her choice; they were supported by her constancy; and,
with all their abilities, they were never able to acquire any undue
ascendant over her. In her family, in her court, in her kingdom, she
remained equally mistress: the force of the tender passions was great
over her, but the force of her mind was still superior; and the combat
which her victory visibly cost her, serves only to display the firmness
of her resolution, and the loftiness of her ambitious sentiments.

The fame of this princess, though it has surmounted the prejudices both
of faction and bigotry, yet lies still exposed to another prejudice,
which is more durable because more natural, and which, according to the
different views in which we survey her, is capable either of exalting
beyond measure, or diminishing the lustre of her character. This
prejudice is founded on the consideration of her sex. When we
contemplate her as a woman, we are apt to be struck with the highest
admiration of her great qualities and extensive capacity; but we are
also apt to require some more softness of disposition, some greater
lenity of temper, some of those amiable weaknesses by which her sex is
distinguished. But the true method of estimating her merit, is to lay
aside all these considerations, and consider her merely as a rational
being placed in authority, and intrusted with the government of mankind.
We may find it difficult to reconcile our fancy to her as a wife or
a mistress; but her qualities as a sovereign, though with some
considerable exceptions, are the object of undisputed applause and
approbation.

APPENDIX III

The party among us who have distinguished themselves by their adhering
to liberty and a popular government, have long indulged their prejudices
against the succeeding race of princes, by bestowing unbounded
panegyrics on the virtue an