His birth. Sketch of his father, and anecdote.-St. John
educated among the Puritans. - Sent to Eton. Sir Robert
Walpole one of his school-fellows.
Church, Oxford. His alternate fits of idleness and study
there. His profligacy on leaving college. His unsuccessful
attempts at poetry. - Verses addressed to Miss Clara Atkins.
His visit to the Continent, and subsequent marriage to the
wealthy daughter of Sir Henry Winchescomb. His separa-
tion from his wife. Her letters to Swift and Harley. - St.
John enters the House of Commons, and distinguishes him-
self by his eloquence. He unites himself to Harley's party,
and is appointed, in his twenty-sixth year, Secretary at War.
His respect for the Duke of Marlborough.-The Duke's
kindly feelings towards him. His retirement, with Harley,
from office. His letter to the Duke of Marlborough. Returns,
with Harley, to office, and is appointed Secretary of State.
-Extract from Goldsmith's Life of Bolingbroke. - Queen
Anne's dislike of St. John.-Extracts from Swift's journal to
Stella. St. John's difficulties in negotiating the Peace of
Utrecht.. His visit to Paris.- Ratification of the Peace of
Utrecht, and elevation of St. John to the Peerage, by the title
of Viscount Bolingbroke.