42                                       Dallas Pratt

of my philosophers demonstrate plainly that, I do think there
must be rewards and punishments after this life. And I ha\'e read
lately linl some of my dear friends the philosophers tliat there
was an opinion that the soul never died, that it went into some
other man or beast. And that seems in my way of thinking to be
on the side of the argument for the immortality of the soul. And
though the philosophers prove nothing to my understanding
certain, yet I have a grear mind to believe that kings' and first
Ministers' souls when they die go into chimney-sweepers . . .
What gave me this thought of a cliimncy-sweeper was an acci¬
dent. .My servants that are very careful of me were fearful that
having a fire night and day four months together in my chamber,
thought I might be frightened when I could not rise out of my
bed if the chimney was on fire, and persuaded nic to have it
swept, which I consented to. And one of the chimney-sweepers
was a little boy, a most miserable creature, without shoes, stock¬
ings, bteeches or shirt. When it was over I sent a servant of mine
to Windsor with him to equip this poor creature with what he
wanted, which cost very little, not being so well dressed as the
last Privy Seal."' (C 15).

In the same year as this letter the printed version of her "vindi¬
cation" appeared: "An account of the Conduct of the Dowager
Duchess of Marlborough from her first coming to Court until
the year 17 10." Since most of the people mentioned in it were
dead, she had the last word, as always. She was still talking and
writing, ironic and incisive as e\er in her eighty-fifth year, when
death interrupted her. Her exit was even easier than that of her
dear friend Socrates.
 

'" Lord Hervey