In this extract, Voltaire discusses Queen Anne of England. He writes that Anne was moved by the speeches of her favourite, Madame Masham, and intimidated by the Tory prelates who surrounded her, so she reproached herself. The Duchess of Marlborough was persuaded that the Queen had brought her brother in secret to England, kissed him, and would have made him her successor despite his Roman Catholic religious views. Voltaire notes that it is claimed that on the eve of her death, Anne wrote several times: ‘Ah! My brother, my dear brother!’ She died of apoplexy aged 49 on 12th August 1714 and both her followers and enemies agreed that she was a mediocre woman. However, Voltaire claims that there has been no glorious reign, no great captains on land or sea, no high ministers, and no eloquent speakers since those of Edward III and Henry V. The date of Anne’s death given by Voltaire in this manuscript—12th August 1714—differs to that given in the printed edition—22nd August 1714.