Frazer—Playing Cards of Reign of Queen Anne. 309 
LII.—Description oF A SERIES oF PLayInG CARDS RELATING TO THE 
Potrricat Hisrory or Rey. Dr. SAcHEVERELL IN THE REIGN OF 
Qurrn Anne, By Wittram Frazer, F.R.C.S.1., M.R.I.A. 
[ Read, December 8, 1884.] 
Tue literature of that remarkable period in our English history ex- 
tending from 1709 to 1711, the year 1710 being its central point of 
interest, abounded in political excitement. Pamphlets from opposite 
sides of the question were published absolutely in hundreds, and 
eagerly read. Party strife reached its boiling point and convulsed the 
kingdom. The question of Ministerial power and responsibility, of 
Royal influence, of the rights of the English people, of the ultimate 
chances of succession to the throne of a Stuart or Hanoverian Prince, 
the long-continued and close intimacy between Queen Anne and the 
Duchess of Marlborough, now coming to an unexpected disruption, 
the prosperous tide of warlike successes of the great Duke of Marl- 
borough himself, when he had succeeded in humbling the troops of 
Louis XIV. by successive defeats, suddenly arrested, and his honesty 
even brought into question—all these matters were made subjects of 
fierce contention, and of alternate blame or praise by party zeal. 
The supporters of Dr. Sacheverell appealed to the non-juring 
clergy, to the still existing sentiments of cavalier loyalty in the gentry 
and nobles, and to the thorough-paced advocates of Regal Rights, who 
still formed a large section of the community; whilst the successors 
of the old Cromwellian party, those who detested the politics and court 
life of Charles II. and his unfortunate brother James II., and who had 
succeeded in bringing about’ the Revolution under William and Mary, 
were equally resolute in their efforts to uphold the Bill of Rights, and 
the principles of limited constitutional government. In the words of 
Defoe, so eminently characteristic of his style and mode of thought, 
we find him saying, ‘‘I have nothing to say to the man; I owe him 
neither good or ill; let him be punished or escape punishment. It is 
the temper of insulting the laws and preaching up tyranny—'tis this I 
oppose, and this I will oppose.” 
No less than seventeen portraits of Dr. Sacheverell are described 
in Noble’s Biographical History : there were medals also struck to 
commemorate the strife, and caricatures in large number testify still 
further to the interest taken in the burning questions of 1710. 
On consulting the Catalogue of Satirical Prints and Drawings in. 
the British Museum, from 1689 to 1783, vol. 11., No. 1546, we read 
the following statement :— 
‘This sheet consists of twenty-six engraved subjects, illustrative of 
the career of Sacherevell; they were prepared for a pack of cards, 
and belong to the suits of diamonds and hearts: the e/ubs and spades 
are not known. A few of the subjects refer to general affairs un- 
