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THE
HISTORY OF
FROM
THE REVOLUTION IN 1688,
TO
THE DEATH OF GEORGE IL
DESIGNED AS A CONTINUATION OF HUME.
EMBELLISHED WITH
(2Engtat)ing:iS on Coppet anQ ^ooD,
FROM ORIGINAL DESIGNS.
% T. SMOLLETT, M.D.
VOLUME THE FIFTH.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOE B. SCHOLEY, 46, PATEENOSTEE-ROW,
VERNOR, HOOD, AND SHARPE, POULTRY,
B. CROSBY & CO. STATIONERS'-COURT, LONDON ;
AND J. BALLANTYNE & CO. EDINBURGH.
1811.

YALE

B^m

%x

Edinburgh :
Printed by James Ballantyne and Co.

CONTENTS OF
VOLUME THE FIFTH.

CHAP VIL
GEORGE IL
' Mr Pitt and Mr Legge taken into the Administration
.... Obliged to resign .... Restored to their Em
ployments .... Coalition of Parties .... Descent on
the Coast of France meditated .... Command of the
Fleet given to Sir Edward Hawke, and of the Land
Forces to Sir John Mordaunt .... Fleet sails Sep
tember 8 . . . . Admiral Knowles sent to take Aix
.... Attack artd Surrender of Aix .... A Descent
resolved on ... . The Fleet returns to Spithead ....
His Majesty appoints a Board of Inquiry into the
Reasons of the Fleet's Return . . . Proceedings of the
Court of Inquiry .... Its Report  Sir John
Mordaunt tried by a Cou];t- Martial, and acquitted . . .
Fleets sent to the East and West Indies .... Success
of the English Privateers .... Riots occasioned by

iv CONTENTS.
the high Price of Corn  Operations in America
.... Lord Loudon's Conduct in America .... Fort
William Henry taken by the French  Naval
Transactions in America .... Attempt of M. de
Kersin on Cape Coast Castle in Africa .... State of
Affairs in the East Indies .... Calcutta recovered
.... The Suba's Camp forced, and a new Treaty
concluded with him .... Reduction of Chandema-
gore .... Colonel Clive defeats the Suba at Plaissey,
who is afterwards deposed and put to Death ....
King of France assassinated . . . .Tortures inflicted on
the Assassin .... Changes in the French Ministry . . .
State of the Confederacy against the King of Prussia
.... Precautions taken by his Prussian Majesty. . . .
Skirmishes between the Prussians and Austrians ....
Neutrality of the Emperor, and Behaviour of the
Dutch . , . . The French take Possession of several
Towns in the Low Countries belonging to the King
of Prussia .... Declaration of the Czarina against
the King of Prussia .... F'actions in Poland ....
Fruitless Endeavours of the English to restore the
Tranquillity of Germany .... King of Prussia enters
Bohemia .... Prince of Bevern defeats the Austrians
at Richenberg . . . King of Prussia gains a complete
Victory over the Austrians near Prague .... Mares
chal Schwerin killed  Prague invested . . . And
bombarded .... Brave Defence of- the Besieged . . .
Count Daun takes the Command of the Austrian Ar
my .. . His Character .... King of Prussia defeated

CONTENTS. V
at Kolin .... He raises the Sieg^ of Prague, and
quits Bohemia .... Preparations for the Defence of
Hanover . . , . The Allied Army assembles under the
Duke of Cumberland . . . Skirmishes with the French
. t . . Duke of Cumberland passes the Weser ....
The French follow him, and take Minden and Emb-
den, aud lay Hanover under Contribution  Battle
of Hastenbeck .... The French take Hamelen ....
Duke de Richelieu supersedes Mareschal d' Etr^es in
the Command of the French Army  The French
take Possession of Hanover and Hesse-Cassel ....
And reduce Verden and Bremen .... Duke of Cum
berland signs the Convention of Closter-Seven ... P. 2

CHAPTER Vlll
The French enter the Prussian Dominions, where they
commit great' Disorders .... Reflections on the Mis
conduct of the Allied Aimy . . . Russian Fleet blocks
up the Prussian Ports in the Baltic . . . Russians take
Memel .... Declaration of the King of Prussia on
that Occasion .... Army of the Empire raised with
Difficulty .... The Austrians take Gabel .... And
destroy Zittau .... The Prince of Prussia leaves the
Army .... Communication between England and
Ostend broke off ... . Gueldres capitulates . . . Skir
mishes between the Prussians and Austrians . . . And

vi CONTENTS.
between the Prussians and Russians .... Mareschal
Lehwald attacks the Russians in their Entrenchments
near Norkitten  Hasty Retreat of the Russians
out of Prussia . . . . French and Imperialists take Go-
tha .... Action between the Prussians and Austrians
near Goerlitz .... The French oblige Prince Ferdi
nand to retire .... Berlin laid under Contribution by
the Austrians ; and Leipzig subjected to military
Execution by the Prussians . . . Battle of Rosbach ". . .
The Austrians take Schweidnitz; and defeat the Prince
of Bevern near Breslau . . . Mareschal Keith lays Bo
hemia under Contribution .... King of Prussia de
feats the Austrians at Lissa ; retakes Breslau and
Schweidnitz, and becomes Master of all Silesia ....
Hostilities of the Swedes in Pomerania . . . Mareschal
Lehwald forces the Swedes to retire .... Memorial
presented to the Dutch by Colonel Yorke, relative to
Ostend and Nieuport .... King of Prussia's Letter
to the King of Great Britain .... His Britannic Ma
jesty's Declaration . . . Disputes concerning the Con
vention of Closter Seven .... Progress^ of the Hano
verian Army .... Death of the Queen of Poland . . .
Transactions at Sea .... Fate of Captain Death ....
• Session opeped . . . .Supplies granted .... Funds for
raising the Supplies .... Messages from the King to
the House of Commons .... Second Treaty with the
King of Prussia . . . Bill for fortitying Milford Haven
 Regulations with respect to Corn.... Bills for
the Encouragement of Seamen, and for explaining
9

CONTENTS. ' vii
the Militia Act .... Act for repairing London Bridge
. . . Act for ascertaining the Qualification of Voting
.... BiU for more effectually manning the Navy . .
Amendments in the Habeas-Corpus Act .... Scheme
in favour ofthe Foundling Hospital. . . . Proceedings-
relative to the African Company .... Session closed
.... Vigorous Preparations for War .... Death of
the Princess Caroline . . , Sea-Engagement off Cape.
Frangois . . . Remarkable Success of Captain Forest
.... French evacuate Embdeii . . . Success of Admi
ral Osborne . . . French Fleet driven ashore in Basque
Road . . . Admiral Broderick'5 Ship burnt at Sea . . .
Descent at Cancalle Bay .... Expedition against
Cherbourg . . . Descent at St Maloes . . . English de
feated at St Cas .... Captures from the Enemy ....
Clamours of the Dutch Merchants, on account of the
Capture of their Ships .... Their famous Petition to
the States-General  311

CHAPTER IX.
Expedition against Senegal .... Fort Louis and Sene*
gal taken .... Unsuccessful Attempt upon Goree. . . .
Expedition to Cajie Breton .... Louisbourg taken
.... And St John's .... Unsuccesisful Attempt upon
Ticonderoga .... Fort FrOntenac taken and destroy-

viii CONTENTS.
ed by the English .... Brigadier Forbes takes Fort
du Quesne .... Goree taken .... Shipwreck of Cap
tain Barton . . . Gallant Exploit of Captain Tyrrel . . .
Transactions in the East Indies .... Admiral Pococke
engages the French Fleet . . . Fort St David's taken by
the French .... Second Engagement between Admi
ral Pocbcke and M. d'Apche . . . Progress of M, Lally
. . . Transactions on the Continent of Europe . . . King
of Prussia raises Contributions in Saxony and the Do
minions of the Duke of Wirtemberg . . . State of the
Armies on the Continent . . . The French King changes'
the Administration of Hanover . . . Plan of a Treaty be
tween the French King and the Landgrave of Hesse-
Cassel .... Treaty between the French King and the
Duke of Brunswick .... Decree of the Aulic Coun-
dl against the Elector of Hanovfer and others . . . Bre
men taken by the Duke de Broglio, and retaken by
Prince Ferdinand .... Duke de Richelieu recalled . . .
Generous Conduct of the Duke de Randan .... The
French abandon Hanover . . „ Prince of Brunswick re
duces Hoya and Minden .... Prince Ferdinand de
feats the French at Creveldt, and takes Dusseldorp
.... Prince of Yseinbourg defeated by the Duke de
Broglio . . . General Imhoff defeats M. de Chevert . . .
General Oberg defeated by the French at Landwern-
hagen  Death of the Duke of Marlborough ....
Operations of the King of Prussia at the Beginning of
the Campaign . . . He enters Moravia, and invests 01-
mutz ... He is obliged to raise the Siege, and retires

CONTENTS. ix
into Bohemia, where he take* Komngsgratz .... Pro
gress of the Russians ... .King of Prussia defeats the
Russians at Zorndorf . . . And is defeated by the Aus
trians at Hochkirchen .... He retire* to Silesia ....
Suburbs of Dresden burnt by the Prussian Governor
. . .The King of Prussia raises the Siege of Neiss, and
relieves Dresden. . . Inhabitants, pf Saxony grievously
oppressed .... Progneas of the Swedes in Pomerania
.... Prince Charles of Saxony elected Duke of Cour-
land . . . The King of England's Memorial to the Diet
of the Empire .... D^ath of Pope Benedict .... The
King of Portugal assassinated. . . . Proceedings ofthe
French Ministry . . .Conduct of the King of Denmark
.... Answers to the Charges brought by the Dutgh
against the English Cruisers . . . Conferences between
the British Ambassador and the States-General ....
Further proceedings  • • • 286

CHAPTER X.
Domestic Occurrences in Great Britain . . . Trials of Drs
Hensey and Shebbeare . . • • Institution of the Mag
dalen and Asylum' . . . Society forthe Encouragement
of Arts .... Session opened . . . New Treaty with the
King of Prussia .... Supplies granted .... The King's
Message to the ComQions . . . Bills relating to the Dis-
b

CONTENTS.
tillery and' the Exportation of Corn . . . Petition from
the Justices of Norfolk . . . Bill for the^mportation of
Salted Beef from Ireland continued . . . Regulations
with respect to Privateers . . . New -Militia Laws . . .
Act for the Relief of Debtors revived . . . Bills for the
Importation of Irish Beef and Tallow ... Act relative
to Milford-Haven . . . Bill relative to the Duty on Pen
sions . . . Act relative to the Duty on Plate .... Cam-
brick Act . . . Unsuccessful Bills . . .Case of the insol
vent Debtors . . . Case of Captain Walker . . . Remarks
on the Bankrupt Laws . . . Inquiry into the State of the
Poor . .^; Regulations of Weights and Measures. . . Re
solutions concerning the Foundling Hospital . . . Mes
sages from the King to the Parliament.. ..Session
closed . . . Preparations for War . . . Death ofthe Prin
cess of Orange and Princess Elizabeth Caroline ....
'Examples made of Pirates .... Accounts of some re
markable Murders . . . Murder of Daniel Clarke ....
Majority of the Prince of Wales . . . Resolutions con
cerning a new Bridge at Blackfriars . . .Fire in Corn-
hill. .. Method contrived to find out the Longitude...
Installation at Oxford . . . Deplorable Incident at Sea
.... Captures made by several Cruisers .... Captain
Hood takes the Bellona .... And' Captain Barrington
the Count tie St Floientin  Captain Falkner takes
a French East Indiaman . . .Prizes taken in the West
Indies . . . Engagement between the Hercules and the
Florissant . . . Havre-de-Grape bombarded by Admiral
Rodney . . . Admiral Boseawen defeats M. de laOhje
' 8,

CONTENTS. xi
.... Preparations made by the Frenchfor invading
England .... Account of Thurot .... French Fleet
sails from Brest . . . .Admiral Hawke defeats M. de
Conflans . . . Proceedings of the Irish Parliament . . .
Loyalty of the Irish Catholics .... Dangerous Insur
rection in Dublin .... Alarm of a Descent in Scot
land  '   438

THE
HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

CHAPTER VII.
GEORGE II.

Mr Pitt and Mr Legge taken into the Administration . T. Obliged
to resign .... Restored to their Employments .... Coalition of
Parties .... Descent on the Coast of France njeditatefl ....
Command of the Fleet given to Sir Edward Hawke, and ofthe
Land Forces to Sir John Mordaunt . . . Fleet sails, September 8
 Admiral Knowles sent to take Aix .... Attack and Sur
render of Aix ... A Descent resolved on . . . The Fleet returns
to Spithead .... His Majesty appoints a Board of Enquiry into
the Reasons of the Fleet's Return . . . Proceedings of the Court
of Enquiry .... Its Report  Sir John Mordaunt tried by a
Court-martial, and acquitted . . . . Fleets sent to the East and
West Indies . . . Success of the English Privateers . . . Riots oc
casioned by the high Price of Corn .... Operations in America
.... Lord Loudoun's Conduct in America .... Fort WilHam
Henry taken by the French . . . Naval Transactions in America
.... Attempt of M. de Kersin on Cape Coast Castle in Africa
 State of Affairs in the East Indies . . . Calcutta recovered . . .
The Suba's Camp forced, and a new Treaty concluded with
him  Reduction of Chandernagore .... Colonel Clive de
feats the Suba at Plaissey, who is afterwards deposed and put to
Death . . . King of France assassinated — Tortures inflicted on.
the Assassin .... Changes in the French Ministry .... State of
VOL. V. B

2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
the Confederacy against the King of Prussia .... Precautions
taken by his Prussian Majesty .... Skirmishes between the
Prussians and Austrians .... Neutrality of the Emperor, and
Behaviour of the Dutch .... The French take Possession of
several Towns in the Low Countries belonging to the King of
Prussia . . . Declaration ofthe Czarina against the King of Prus
sia .... Factions in Poland. ..'. Fruitless Endeavours ofthe
English to restore the Tranquillity of Germany. ...Eing of
Prussia enters Bohemia. . .Prince of Bevern defeats the Aus
trians at Richenberg . . . King of Prussia gains a complete Vic
tory over the Austrians near Prague .... Mareschal Schwerin
killed  Prague iirvested .... And bombarded .... Brave de
fence of the besieged .... Count Dawn takes the Command of
the Austrian Army . ^. His Character . . . King of Prussia de
feated at Kolin .... He raises the Siege of Prague, and quits
Bohemia . . . Preparations for the Defence of Hanover . . . The
allied Army assembles under the Duke of Cumberland . .^. .
Skirmishes with the French . . . Duke of Cumberland passes the
Weser . . . The Fi-ench foUow him, and take Minden and Em-
den, and lay Hanover under Contribution .... Battle of Hast
enbeck . . . The French take Hamelen . . . .Duke de Richelieu
supersedes Mareschal D'Etrees in the Command of the French
Army .... The French take Possession of Hanover aud Hesse-
Cassel .... And reduce Verden and Bremen .... Duke of Cum
berland signs the Convention of Closter-Seven.

MR PITT AND MR LEGGE TAKEN INTO THE
ADMINISTRATION.
1 HOUGH the parliament of Great Britain una
nimously concurred in strengthening the hands
af government for a vigorous prosecution of the
war, those liberal supplies had like to have proved
ineffectual through a want of harmony in her

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1757. GEORGE IL 3
councils. In the course of the last year the cla
morous voice of dissatisfaction had been raised
by a series of disappointments and miscarriages,
which were imputed to want of intelligence,
sagacity, and vigour in the administration. The
defeat of Braddock, the reduction of Oswego,
and other forts in America, the delay of arma
ments, the neglect of opportunities, ineffectual
cruises, absurd dispositions of fleets and squa
drons, the disgrace in the Mediterranean, and
the loss of Minorca, were numbered among the
misfortunes that flowed from the crude designs
of a weak, dispirited 'ministry ; and the prospect
of their acquiescilig in a continental war brought
them still farther in contempt and detestation
with the body of the people. In order to con
ciliate the good- will of those whom their conduct
had disobliged, to acquire a fresh stock of credit
with their fellow-subjects, and remove from their
own shoulders part of what future censure might
ensiie, they admitted into a share ofthe adminis
tration a certain set of gentlemen, remarkable
for their talents and popularity, headed by Mr
Pitt and Mr Legge, esteemed the two most illus
trious patriots of Great Britain, alike distinguished
and admired for their unconquerable spirit and
Kintainted integrity. The former of these was
appointed secretary of state, the other chancel
lor of the exchequer; and their friends were
vested with other honourable, though subordi
nate offices.

4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-
So far the people were charmed with the pro
motion of individuals, upon whose virtues and
abilities they Kad the most perfect reliance ; but
these new ingredients would never thoro^ighly
mix with the old leaven. The administration
became an emblem of the image that Nebuchad
nezzar saw in his dream, the leg was of iron, and
the foot was of clay. The old junto found their
new associates very unfit for their purposes. They
could- neither persuade, cajole, nor intimidate
them irtto measures which they thought repug
nant to the true interest of their country. The
new ministers combated in council everv such
plan, however patronised : they openly opposed
in parliament every design which they deemed
unworthy of the crown, or prejudicial to the
people, even though distinguished by the pre
dilection of the sovereign. Far from bargaining
for their places, and surrendering their principles
by capitulation, they maintained in office their
independency and candour with the most vigi
lant circumspectioTJ, and seemed determined to
show, that he is the best minister to the sovereign
who acts with the greatest probity towards the
subject. Those who immediately surrounded the
throne were supposed to have concealed the true
characters of these faithful servants from the
knowledge of their royal master ; to have repre
sented them as obstinate, imperious,^ ignorant,
and even lukewarm in their loyalty; and to have
declared, that, with such colleagues, it would be

1757. GEORGE IL ' 5
impossible tb move, the machine of government
according to his majesty's inclination. These
suggestions, artfuHy inculcated, produced the de
sired effect: on the ninth day of April, Mr Pitt,
by his majesty's command, resigned the seals of
secretary of state for the southern department.
In the room of Mr Legge, the king was pleased
to grant the ofiice of chancellor of the exchequer
to the right honourable lord Mansfield, chief jus
tice of the court of king's bench, the same pjer-
sonage whom we have mentioned before under
the name of Mr Murray, solicitor-general, now
promoted and ennobled for his extraordinary
merit and important services. The fate of Mr Pitt
was extended to some of his principal .friends :
the board of admiralt}'^ was changed, and some
other removals were made with the same inten
tion. What was intended as a disgrace to Mr Pitt
and Mr Legge, turned out one of the most shi
ning circumstances of their characters. The whole
nation seemed to rise up. as one man, in the vin
dication of their fame : every mouth was opened
in their praise ; and a great number of respect
able cities and corporations presented them with
the freedom of their respective societies, enclosed
in gold boxes of curious workmanship, as testi
monies of their peculiar veneration. "What the
people highly esteem, they in a manner idolize.
Not contented with making offerings so flattering
and grateful to conscious virtue, they conceived

S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
the most violent prejudices against those gentle
men who succeeded in the administration ; fully
convinced, that thQ same persons who had sunk
the nation in the present distressful circum
stances, who had brought on her dishonour, and
reduced her to the verge of destruction, were by
no means the fit instruments of her delivery and
redemption. The whole kingdom caught fire at
the late changes ; nor could the power, the cun
ning, and the artifice of a faction, long support
itself against the united voice of Great Britain,
which soon pierced the ears of the sovereign. It
was not possible to persuade the people that sa
lutary measures could be suggested or pursued,
except by the few, Avhose zeal for the honour of
their country, and steady adherence to an upright,
disinterested conduct, had secured their confi
dence, and claimed their veneration. A great
number of addresses, dutifully and loyally ex
pressed, solicited the king, ever ready to meet
half-way the wishes of his faithful people, to re
store Mr Pitt and Mr Legge to their former
employments. Upon this they rested the securi
ty and honour of the nation, as well as the pub
lic expectation of the speedy and successful issue
of a war, hitherto attended with disgraces and
misfortunes. Accordingly, his majesty was gra
ciously pleased to re-deliver the seals to Mr Pitt,
appointing him secretary of state for the southern
department on the tweoty-ninth day of June ;
and, five days after, the office of chancellor of

1757. GEPRGE IL T
the exchequer was restored to Mr Legge : pro
motions that afforded universal satisfaction.

COALITION OF PARTIES.
It would not, perhaps, be possible to exclude,
from a share in the administration, all who were
tiot perfectly agreeable to the people : however
unpopular the late ministry might appear, still
they possessed sufficient influence in the privy-
council, and credit in the house of commons, to
thwart every measure in which they did not them
selves partake. This consideration, and very re
cent experience, probably dictated the necessity
of a coalition, salutary in itself, and prudent, be
cause it was the only means of assuaging the rage
of faction, and healing those divisions, more per
nicious to the public than the most mistaken and
blundering councils. Sir Robert Henley was
made lord- keeper of the great seal, and sworn of
his majesty's privy-council, on the thirteenth day
of June : the custody of the privy-seal was com
mitted to earl Temple: his grace the duke of
Newcastle, Mr Legge, Mr Nugent, lord vis
count Duncannon, and Mr GrenvilleJ, were ap
pointed commissioners for executing the office
of treasurer of his majesty's exchequer : lord
Anson, admirals Boscawen and Forbes, Dr Hay,
Mr West, Mr Hunter, and Mr Elliot, to preside
at the board of admiralty : Mr Fox was gratified

8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-
with the office of receiver and paymaster general
of all his majesty's guards, garrisons, and land-
forces ; and the earl of; Thomond was made trea
surer of the king's household, and sworn of his
majesty's privy-council. Other promotions like
wise took place, with a design to gratify the ad
herents of either party ; and so equally wa? the
royal favour distributed, that the utmost harmony
for a long time subsisted. Ingredients, seemingly
heterogeneous, consolidated into one uniform
mass, so as to produce effects far exceeding the
most sanguine expectations; and this prudent
arrangement proved displeasing only to those
whom violent party attachment had inspired with
a narrow and exclusive spirit.

DESCENT ON THE GO ASF OF FRANCE
MEDITATED.
The accumulated losses and disappointments of
the preceding year made it absolutely necessary
to retrieve the credit of the British arms and
councils by ?ome vigorous and spirited enterprise,
which shouljd, at the same time, produce some
change in the circumstance? of his Prussian ma
jesty, already depressed by the repulse at Kolin,
and in danger of being attacked by the whole
power of Fiance, now ready to fall upon him, like
a torrent, which had so lately swept before it the
army of observation, now on the brink of dis-

1757. GEORGE IL 9
grace. A v.'^ell-planned and vigorous descent on
the coast of France, it was thought, would pro
bably give a decisive blow to the marine of that
kingdom, and at the same time effect a powerful
diversion in favour of the Prussian monarch, and
the duke of Cumberland, driven from all his posts
iri the electorate of Hanover, by . drawing a part
of the French forces to the defence and protec
tion of their own coasts. Both were objects of
great concern, upon which the sovereign and mi
nistry we're sedulously bent. His royal highness
the duke, in a particular manner, urged the ne
cessity of some enterprise of this nature, as the
only expedient to obviate the shameful conven
tion now in agitation. The ininistry foresaw, that,
by destroying the enemy's shipping, all succours
would be cut oft' from America, whither they, were
daily transporting troops ; the British commerce
secured, without those convoys so inconvenient
to the board of admiralty, and to the merchants ;
and those ideal fears of an invasion, that had in
some measure affected the public credit, w)iolly
dispelled.

COMMAND OF THE FLEET GIVEN TO SIR
EDWARD HAWKE, &c.
From these considerations, a powerful fleet was
ordered to be got in readiness to put to sea on
the shortest notice, and ten regiments of foot

10 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175T.
were marched to the Isle of Wight. The naval
armament, consisting of eighteen ships of the
line, besides frigates, fire-ships, bomb-ketches,
and transports, was put under the command of
sir Edward Hawke, an officer whose faithful ser
vices recommended him, above all others, to this
command ; and rear-admiral Knowles was ap
pointed his subaltern. Sir John Mordaunt was
preferred to take the command of the land-forces ;
and both strictly enjoined to act with the utmost
unanimity and harmony. Europe beheld with
astonishment these mighty preparations. The
destination of the armament was wrapped in the
most profound secresy : it exercised the penetra
tion of politicians, and filled France with very
serious alarms. Various were the impediments
which obstructed the embarkation of the troops
for several weeks, while Mr Pitt expressed the
greatest uneasiness at the delay, and repeatedly
urged the commander in chief to expedite his
departure ; but a sufficient number of transports,
owing to some blunder in the contractors, had
not yet arrived. The troops expressed an eager
impatience to signalize themselves against the
enemies of the liberties of Europe ; but the su
perstitious drew unfavourable presages from the
dilatoriness of the embarkation. At last the trans
ports arrived, the troops were put on board with
all expedition, and the fleet got under sail on the
eighth day of September, attended with the pray
ers of every man warmed with the love of his

1757. GEORGE XL II
country, and solicitous for her honour. The pub
lic, big Avith expectation, dubious where the stroke
would fall, but confident of its success, were im
patient for tidings from the fleet ; but it was not
till the fourteenth, that even the troops on board
began to conjecture that a descent was medi
tated on the coast of France, near Rochefort or
Rochelle,

ADMIRAL KNOWLES SENT TO TAKE AIX.
On the twentieth, the fleet made the Isle of
Oleron, and then sir Edward Hawke sent an order
to vice-admiral Knowles, requiring him, if the
wind permitted the fleet, to proceed to Basque
road, to stand in as near tothe Isle of Aix as the
pilot would carry him, with such ships of his di
vision as he thought necessary for the service,
and to batter the fort till the garrison should
either abandon, or surrender it. But the imme
diate execution of this order was frustrated by
a French ship of war's standing in to the very
middle of the fleet, and continuing in that station
for some time before she discovered her mistake,
or any of the captains had a signal thrown out to
give chace. Admiral Knowles, when too late,
ordered the Magnanime, captain Howe, and Tor-
bay, captain Keppel, on that service, and thereby
retarded the attack upon which he was imme
diately sent : A stroke of poUcy greatly to be

12 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
admired, as from hence he gained time to assure
himself of the strength of the fortifications of
Aix, befoie he ran his majesty's ships into danger..

ATTACK AND SURRENDER OF AIX.
While the above ships, with the addition of the-
Royal William, were attending the French ship
of war safe into the river Garonne, the remain
der of the fleet was beating to windward off the
Isle of Oleron ; and the commander in chief pub
lishing orders and regulations which did credit
to his judgment, and would have been highly
useful, had there ever been occasion to put them
in execution. On the twenty-third the van of
the fleet, led by captain Howe in the Magnanime,
stood towards Aix, a small island situated in the
mouth ofthe river Charente, leading up to Roche-
fort, the fortifications half finished, and mounted
with about thirty cannons aud mortars, the gar
rison composed of six hundred men, and the
whole island about five miles in circumference.
As the Magnanime approached, the enemy fired
briskly upon her ; but captain Howe, regardless
of their faint endeavours, kept on his course
without flinching, dropping his anchors close to
the walls, and poured in so incessant a fire as
soon silenced their artillery. It was, however,
near an hour before the fort struck, when some
forces were landed to take possession of so im?

1757. GEORGE IL 13
portant a conquest, with orders to demolish the
fortifications, the care of which was entrusted to
vice-admiral Knowles. <
Inconsiderable as this success n'light apipear,
it greatly elated the troops^ and was deemed an,
happy omen of further advantages ; but, instead
of embarking the troops that night, as was uni
versally expected, several successive days were
spent in councils of war, soundings of the coast,
and deliberations whether the king's express or
ders were practicable, or to be complied with.
Eight days were elapsed since the first appear
ance of the fleet on the coast, and the alarm was
given to the enemy. Sir Edward Hawkey indeed,
proposed laying a sixty-gun ship against Fouras",
and battering that fort, which it was thought
would help to secure the landing of the troops^
and facilitate the enterprise on Rochefort. This
a French pilot on board (Thierry) undertook ;
but, after a ship had been lighted for the purpose,
vice-admiral Knowles reported, that a bomb-
ketch had run a-ground at above the distance of
two miles from the fort ; upon which the project
of battering or bombarding the fort was aban
doned. The admiral likewise proposed to bom
bard Rochelle; but this overture was over-ruled,
for reasons which we need not mention. It was
at length determined, in a council of war held
on the eighth, to make a descent, and attack the
forts leading to and upon the mouth of the river
Charente. An order, in consequence of this re-

U HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-
solution, was immediately issued for the troops
to be ready to embark from the transports in the
boats precisely at twelve o'clock at night. Ac
cordingly, the boats were prepared, and filled
with the men at the time appointed, and now
they remained beating against each other, and
the sides of the ships, for the space of four hours,
while the council were determining whether, after
all the trouble given, they should land ; when,
at length, an order was published for the troops
to return to their respective transports, and all
thoughts ofa descent, to appearance, where wholly
abandoned. The succeeding days were employed
in blowing up and demolishing the fortifications
of Aix ; after which, the land officers, in a coun
cil of war, took the final resolution of returning
to England without any further attempts, fully
satisfied they had done all in their power to exe
cute the designs of the ministry, and choosing
rather to oppose the frowns ofan angry sovereign,
the murmurs of an incensed natiqn, and the con
tempt of mankind, than fight a handful of das
tardly militia. Such was the issue ofan expedi
tion that raised the expectations of all Europe,
threw the coasts of France into the utmost confu
sion, and cost the people of England little less
than a million of money.

1V57. GEORGE IL 1.5

THE FLEET RETURNS TO SPITHEAD.
The fleet was no sooner returned than the whole
nation was in a ferment. The public expectation
had been wound up to the highest pitch, and
now the disappointment was proportioned to the
sanguine hopes conceived, that the pride of
France would have been humbled by so formi
dable an armament. The ministry, and with them
the national voice, exclaimed against the com
manding officers, and the military men retorted
the calumny, by laying the blame on the pro
jectors of the enterprise, who had put the nation
to great expence before they had obtained the
necessary information. Certain it was, that blame^
must fall somewhere, and the ministry resolved
to acquit themselves and fix the accusation, by
requesting his majesty to appoint a board of offi
cers of character and ability, to enquire into the
causes of the late miscarriage. This alone it was
that could appease the public clamours, aud afford
general satisfaction. The enemies of Mr Pitt
endeavoured to wrest the miscarriage of the ex
pedition to his prejudice, but the whispers of fac
tion were soon drowned in the voice of the whole
people of England, who never could persuade
themselves that a gentleman, raised to the height
of power and popularity by mere dint of superior
merit, integrity, and disinterestedness, would now
1

16 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-
sacrifice his reputation by a mock armament, or
hazard incurring the derision of Europe, by neg
lecting to obtain all the necessary previous in
formation, or doing whatever might contribute
to the success of the expedition. It was asked
whether reason or justice dictated, that a late
unfortunate admiral should be capitally punished
for not trying and exerting his utmost ability to
relieve Fort St Philip, invested by a powerful
armv, and surrounded with a numerous fleet,
while no charge of negligence or cowardice was
brought against those who occasioned the mis
carriage of a well-concerted and well-appointed
expedition ? The people, they said, were uot to
be quieted with the resolutions of a council of
war, composed of men, whose inactivity might
frame excuses for declining to expose themselves
to danger. It was publicly mentioned, that such
backwardness appeared among the general offi
cers before the fleet reached the Isle of Oleron,
as occasioned the admiral to declare, with warmth,
that he would comply with his orders, and go
into Basque-road, whatever might be the conse-
quence^ It was asked, why the arniy did not
land on the night of the twenty-third or twenty-
fourth, and whether the officers, sent out to re
connoitre, had returned with such intelligence
as seemed to render a descent impracticable ? It
was asked whether the commander in chief had
complied with his majesty's orders, " To attempt,
as far as should be found practicable, a descent

1757. GEORGE IL 17
on the coast of France, at or near Rochefort, in
order to attack, and, by a vigorous impression,
force that place ; and to burn and destroy, to
the utmost of his power, all docks, magazines,
arsenals, and shipping, as shall be found there ?"
Such rumours as these, every where propagated,
rendered an inquiry no less necessary to the re
putation of the officers on the expedition, than
to the minister who had projected it Accord
ingly a board, consisting of three officers of rank,
reputation, and ability, was appointed by his ma
jesty, to inquire into the reasons why the fleet
returned without having executed his majesty's
orders. '
The , three general officers, who met on the
twenty-first of the same month, were Charles,
duke of Marlborough, lieutenant-general, maJ0;r-
generals lord George Sackville and John Walde
grave. To judge ofthe practicability of executing
his majesty's orders, it was necessary to enquire
into the nature of the intelligence upon which
the expedition was projected. The first and most
important vvas a letter sent to sir John, afterwards
lord Ligonier, by lieutenant-colonel Clark. This
letter had been frequently examined in the privy-
council, and contained, in substance, that colonel
Clark, in returning from Gibraltar, in the year
one thousand seven hundred and fifty-four, had
travelled along the western coast of France, to
observe the condition of the fortifications, and
judge how far a descent would be practicable, ia
VOL. v. c

18 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
case of a rupture between Great Britain and
France. On his coming to Rochefort, where he
was attended by an engineer, he was surprised to
find the greatest part of a good rampart, with a
revetement, flanked only with redans ; no out
works, no covered- way, and, in many places, no
ditch, so that the bottom of the wall was seen at
a distance. He remembered, that in other places,
where the-earth had been taken out to form the
rampart, there was left round them a consider
able height of ground, whence an enemy might
draw a great advantage : that for above the length
of a front, or two or three hundred yards, there
was no rampart, or even entrenchment, but only
small ditches, in the low and marshy grounds
next the river, which, however, were dry at low
water ; yet the bottom remained muddy and slimy.
Towards the river no rampart, no batteries, no
parapet, on either side appeared, and pn the land
side he observed some high ground within the
distance of one hundred and fifty or two hundred
yards ofthe town ; in which condition the colonel
Avas told by the engineer the place had remained
for above seventy years. To prevent giving um
brage, he drew no plan of the place, and even
burnt the few sketches he had by him : however,
as to utility, the colonel declared himself as much
satisfied as if he had taken a plan. He could not
ascertain the direct height of the rampart, but
thought it could not exceed twenty-five feet, in
cluding the parapet. The river might be about

1757. GEORGE IL 19
one hundred and thirty feet broad, and the en
trance defended by two or three small redoubts.
As to forces, none are ever garrisoned at Roche
fort, except marines, which, at the time the
colonel was on the spot, amounted to about one
thousajid. This was the first intelligence the mi
nistry received of the state of Rochefort, which
afforded sufficient room to believe, that an attack
by surprise might be attended with happy conse
quences. It was true, that colonel Clark made
his observations in time of peace ; but it was
likewise probable, that no great alterations were
made on account of the war, as the place had re
mained in the same condition during the two or
three last wars with France, when they had the
same reasons as now to expect their coasts would
be insulted. The next information was obtained
from Joseph Thierry, a French pilot, of the pro
testant religion, who passed several examinations
before the privy-council. This person declared,
that he had followed the business of a pilot on
the coast of France for tbe space of twenty years,
and served as first pilot in several of the king's
ships : thathe had, in particular, piloted the Mag-^
nanime, before she was taken by the English,
for about twenty-two months, and had often con
ducted her into the road of the Isle of Aix ; and
that he was perfectly acquainted with the en
trance, which, indeed, is so easy as to render a
pilot almost unnecessary. The road, he said,
afforded good anchorage in twelve or fourteen

20 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
fathoms water, as far as Bayonne : the channel
between the islands of Oleron and Rhe was three
leagues broad, and the banks necessary to be
avoided lay near the land, except one called the
Boiard, which is easily discerned by the breakers.
He affirmed, that the largest vessels might draw
up close to the fort of Aix, which he would under
take the Magnanime alone should destroy; that
the largest ships might come up to the Vigerot,
two miles distant from the mouth of the river,
with all their cannon and stores ; that men might
be landed to the north of fort Fouras, out of sight
of the fort, upon a meadow where the ground is
firm and level, under cover of the cannon of the
fleet. This landing place he reckoned at about
five miles from Rochefort, the way dry, and no
way intercepted by ditches and morasses. He
said, great part of the city was encompassed by
a wall ; but towards the river, on both sides, for
about sixty paces, it was enclosed only with pal-
lisades, without a fosse. To the intelligence of
colonel Clark and Thierry, the minister added a
secret account obtained of the strength and dis
tribution ofthe French forces, whence it appeared
highly probable that no more than ten thousand
men could be allowed for the defence ofthe whole
coast, from St Valery to Bourdeaux. In conse
quence of the above information the secret ex
pedition was planned ; instructions were given to
sir John Mordaunt and admiral Hawke to make -
a vigorous impression on the French coast, and

1757. GEORGE IL 21
all the other measures projected, which, it was
imagined, would make an effectual diversion, by
obliging the enemy to employ a great part of
their forces at home, disturb and shake the credit
pf their public loans, impair the strength and re
sources of their navy, disconcert their extensive
and dangerous operations of war ; and, finally,
give life, strength, and lustre to the common
cause and his majesty's arms. The board of en
quiry took next into consideration the several
letters and explanatory instructions sent to sir
John Mordaunt, in consequence of some difficul
ties which might possibly occur, stated by that
general in letters to the minister, previous to his
sailing. Then they examined the report made
to sir Edward Hawke by admiral Broderick, and
the captains of men of war sent to sound the
French shore from Rochelle to fort Fouras, dated
September the twenty -ninth; the result of the
councils of war on the twenty-fifth and twenty-
eighth ; sir Edward Hawke's letter to sir John
Mordaunt on the twenty-seventh, and the gene
ral's answer on the twenty-ninth : after which sir
John Mordaunt was called upon to give his rea
sons for not putting his majesty's instructions
and orders into execution. This he did in sub
stance as follows : the attempt on Rochefort, he
understood, was to have been on the footing of
a coup de main or surprise, which it would be im
possible to execute if the design was discovered,
or the alarm taken. He also understood that an

22 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
attempt could not be made, nay, that his majesty
did not require it should, unless a proper place
for debarking, and a safe retreat for the troops,
was discovered, particularly where the ships could
protect them ; and a safe communication with the
fleet, and conveyance of supplies from it, were
found. His sentiments, he said, were confirmed
by a paper to this purpbse, delivered to him by
sir John Ligonier, on his first being appointed to
command the expedition. It was likewise pro
bable, he thought, that although Rochefort should
have remained in the situation in which colonel
Clark and the pilot Thierry had seen it three
years before, yet that a few days preparation
could make it sufficiently defensible against a
coup de main. Judging, therefore, the dependence
on such an operation alone improper, he applied
to the ministry for two more old battalions, and
artillery for a regular attack to force the place,
which, from its construction, appeared as difficult
to be made defensible against the latter, as easily
secured against the former. But this request be
ing refused, he still thought it his duty to obey
his orders on the footing on which the expedition
was planned, especially as , he understood his in
structions were discretionary, regarding the cir
cumstances of the time, the condition of the
place, and the nature of the service. He recited
the positive and credible intelligence received,
as well before the embarkation as during the
voyage, of the alarm given to France, and the

1757. GEORGE IL 22,
preparations made along the French coasts from
Brest and St Maloes to Rochefort : the accidents
that kept the fleets hovering along the coasts, and
prevented the possibility of an attempt by sur
prise : the reports of all the gentlemen employed
in souttdimg the coasts, so contrary to the intelli
gence given by Thierry the pilot : the opinion of
tbe council of war, by which he was enjoined to
act, and with which his own judgment concur
red: the endeavours used, after the twenty-sixth,
to find out some expedient for annoying the enemy
and executing his majesty's instructions : the
attempt made to land, in consequence of the re
solution of the second council of war, which was
prevented by boisterous and stormy weather ;
and, lastly, the reasons that determined him, in
concert with the other land officers, to return to
England. Having considered all these circumstances,
and examined several officers who served in the'
expedition, the court of enquiry gave in the fol
lowing report to his majesty : — " It appears to
us, that one cause of the expedition having failed
is, the nqt attacking fort Fouras by sea, at the
same time that it could have been attacked by
land, agreeably to the first design, which cer
tainly must have been of the greatest utility to
wards carrying your majesty's instructions into
execution. It was at first resolved by admiral
Hawke, (Thierry, the pilot, having undertaken
the safe conduct of a ship to fort Fouras for that

24< HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
purpose,) but afterwards laid aside, upon the re
presentation of vice-admiral Knowles, that the
Barfleur, thc ship designed for that service, was
a-ground, at the distance of between four and
five miles from the shore; but as neither sir Ed
ward Hawke nor the pilot could attend to give
any information upon that head, we cannot pre
sume to offer any certain opinion thereupon. We
conceive another cause of the failure of the ex
pedition to have been, that, instead of attempt
ing to land when' the report was received, on the
twenty-fourth of September, from rear-admiral
Broderick, and the captains who had been out to
sound and reconnoitre, a council of war was sum
moned and held on the twenty-fifth, in which it
was unanimously resolved not to land, as the at
tempt 'on Rochefort was neither adviseable nor
practicable ; but it does not appear to us that
there were then, or at any time afterwards, either
a body of troops or batteries on shore sufficient
to have prevented the attempting a descent, in
pursuance of the instructions signed by your ma
jesty : neither does it appear to us that there
were any reasons sufficient to induce the council
of war to believe that Rochefort was so changed
in respect to its strength, or posture of defence^
since the expedition was first resolved on in Eng
land, as to prevent all attempts of an attack upon
the place, in order to burn and destroy the docks,
magazines, arsenals, and shipping, in obedience
to your majesty's command. And we think our-

1757. GEORGE H. 25
selves obliged to remark, in the council of war
on the twenty-eighth of September, that no rea
son could have existed sufficient to prevent the
attempt of landing the troops, as the council then
unanimously resplved to land with all possible
dispatch. We beg leave also to remark, that
after its being unanimously resolved to land, in
the council of war ofthe twenty-eighth of Sep
tember, the resolution was taken of returning to
England, without any regular or general meeting
of the said council ; but as the whole operation
was of so inconsiderable a nature, we do not offer
this to your majesty as a cause of the failure of
the expedition ; since we cannot but look upon
the expedition to have failed from the time the
great object of it was laid aside in the council of
war of the twenty-fifth."

SIR JOHN MORDAUNT TRIED BY A COURT-
MARTIAL, AND ACQUITTED.
This report, signed by the general officers, Marl
borough, Sackville, and Waldegrave, probably laid
the foundation for the court-martial which sat soon
after upon the conduct of the commander in chief
on the expedition. The enemies of the minister
made a handle of the miscarriage to lessen him
in the esteem of the public, by laying the whole
blame on his forming a project so expensive to
the nation, on intelligence not only slight at the

26 HlSTO'RY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
first view, but false upon further examination.
But the people were still his advocates ; they dis
cerned something mysterious in the whole con
duct of the commander in chief Tbey plainly
perceived that caution took place of vigour, and
that the hours for action were spent in delibera
tions and councils of war. Had he debarked tbe
troops, and made such an attack as would have
distinguished his courage, the voice of the people
would have acquitted him, however unsuccessful,
though prudence, perhaps, might have condemned
him. Even Braddock's rashness they deemed
preferable to Mordaunt's inactivity : the loss of
so many brave lives was thought less injurious
and disgraceful to the nation, than the too safe
return of the present aimament. The one de
monstrated that the British spirit still existed ;
the other seemed to indicate the too powerful
influence of wealth, luxury, and those manners
which tend to debauch and emasculate the mind.
A public trial of the commander in chief was
expected by the people, and it was graciously
granted by his majesty. It is even thought that
sir John Mordaunt himself demanded to have his
conduct scrutinized, by which method alone he
was sensible his character could be re-established.
His majesty's warrant for holding a court-martial
was accordingly signed on the third day of De
cember. The court was composed of nine lieu
tenant-generals, nine major-generals, and three
colonels, who sat on the fourteenth, and con-

1757. ©EORGE IL 27
tinued by several adjournments, to the twentieth.
Lieutenant-general sir John Mordaunt came pri
soner before the court, and the following charge
was exhibited against him : namely, that he be
ing appointed, by the king, commander in chief
of his majesty's forces sent on an expedition to
the coast of France, and having received orders
and instructions relative thereto from his majesty,
under his royal sign-manual, and also by one of
his principal secretaries of state, had disobeyed
his majesty's said orders and instructions. The
proceedings of this court were nearly similar to
those of the court of enquiry. The same evi
dences were examined, with the addition of sir
Edward Hawke's deposition ; and a defence, dif
fering in no essential point from the former, made
by the prisoner, but the judgment given was clear
and explicit. Sir John Mordaunt was unani
mously found Not guilty, and therefore acquit
ted, while the public opinion remained unaltered,
and many persons inveighed as bitterly against
the lenity of the present court-martial as they
had formerly against the severity of the sentence
passed upon a late unfortunate admiral. The
evidence of one gentleman in particular drew at
tention : he was accused of tergiversation, and
t)f showing that partial indulgence which his own
conduct required. He publicly defended his cha
racter : his performance was censured, and him
self dismissed the service of his sovereign.

28 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.

FLEETS SENT TO THE EAST AND WEST
INDIES.
Besides the diversion intended by a descent on
the coast of France, several other methods" were
employed to amuse the enemy, as well as to pro
tect the trade ofthe kingdom, secure our colonies
in the West Indies, and insure the continuance
of the extraordinary success -which had lately
blessed his majesty's arms in the East Indies ;
but these we could not mention before without
breaking the thread of our narration. On the
ninth of February, admiral West sailed with a
squadron of men of war to the westward, as did
admiral Coates with the fleet under his convoy to
the West Indies, and commodore Steevens with the
trade to the East Indies, in the month of March.
Admiral Holbourn and commodore Holms, with
eleven ships of the line, a fire-ship, bomb-ketch,
and fifty transports, sailed from St Helen's for
America, in April. The admiral had on board
six thousand two hundred eftective men, exclu
sive of officers, under the command of general
Hopson, assisted by lord Charles Hay. In May,
admiral Osborne, who had been forced back to
Plymouth with his squadron, by stress of weather,
set sail for the Mediterranean, as did two ships of
war sent to convoy the American trade.
In the mean time, the privateers fitted out by

1757. GEORGE II. 29
private- merchants and societies greatly annoyed
the French commerce. The Antigallican, a pri
vate ship of war, equipped by a society of men
who assumed that name, took the duke de Pen-
thievre Indiaman off the port of Corunna, and
carried her into Cadiz. The prize was estimated
worth two hundred thousand pounds, and imme
diate application was made by France to the court
of Spain for restitution, while the proprietors of
the Antigallican were squandering in mirth, fes
tivity, and riot, the imaginary wealth so easily
and unexpectedly acquired. Such were the re
monstrances made to his catholic majesty with
respect to the illegality of the prize, which the
French East India company asserted was taken
within shot of a neutral port, that the Penthievre
was first violently wrested out of the hands of
the captors, then detained as a deposit, with
sealed hatches, and a Spanish guard on board,
till the claims of both parties could be examined,
and at last adjudged to be an illegal capture, and
consequently restored to the French, to the great
disappointment of the owners of the privateer.
Besides the success which attended a great num
ber of other privateers, the lords of the admiralty
published a list of above thirty ships of war and
privateers taken from the enemy, in the space of
four months, by the English sloops and ships of
war, exclusive ofthe duke d'Aquitaine Indiaman,
now fitted out as a ship of war, taken by the
Eagle and Medway ; the Pondicherry Indiaman,

so

HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.

valued at one hundred and sixty thousand pounds,
taken by the Dover man of war; and above six
privateers brought into port by the diligent and
brave captain Lockhart, for which he was ho
noured with a variety of presents of plate by
several corporations, in testimony of their esteem
and regard. This run of good fortune was not,
however, without some retribution on the side of
the enemy, who, out of twenty-one ships home
ward-bound from Carolina, made prize of nine
teen, whence the merchants sustained consider
able damage, and a great quantity of valuable
commodities, indigo in particular, was lost to this
country.

RIOTS. OCCASIONED BY THE HIGH PRICE OF
CORN.
Notwithstanding the large imports of grain
from different parts of Europe and America, the
artifice of engrossers still kept up the price of corn.
So incensed were the populace at the iniquitous
combinations entered into to frustrate the en
deavours of the legislature, and to oppress the
poor, that they rose in a tumultuous manner in
several counties, sometimes to the number of
five or six thousand, and seized upon the grain
brought to market. Nor was it indeed to be
wondered at, considerii.g the distress to which
many persons were reduced. The difficulty of

1757. GEORGE IL 31
obtaining the necessaries of life raised the price
of labour at the most unseasonable time, when all
manufactures were overstocked for want of a pro
per market, which obliged them to dismiss above
half the hands before employed. Hence arose
the most pitiable condition of several thousands
of useful industrious subjects; a calamity attended
only with one advantage to the public, namely,
the facility with which recruits were raised for
his majesty's service. At last the plentiful crops
with which it pleased Providence to bless these
kingdoms, the prodigious quantities of corn im
ported from foreign countries, and the wise mea
sures of the legislature, broke all the villainous
schemes set on foot by the forestallers and en
grossers, and reduced the price of corn to the
usual standard. The public joy on this event
was greatly augmented by the safe arrival of
the fleet from the Leeward islands, consisting of
ninety-two sail, and of thc Straits fleet, esteemed
worth three millions sterling, whereby the silk
manufacturers in particular were again employed,
and their distresses relieved. About the same
time the India company was highly elated with
the joyful account of the safe arrival and spirited
conduct of three of their captains, attacked in
their passage homeward by two French men of
war, one of sixty-four, the other of twenty-si.x
guns. After a warm engagement, which conti
nued for three hours, they obliged the French
ships to sheer off, with scarce any loss on their

32 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
own side. When the engagement began, the
captains had promised a reward of a thousand
pounds to the crews, by way of incitement to
their valour ; and the cofnpany doubled the sum,
in recompence of their fidelity and courage. His
majesty having taken into consideration the in
credible damage sustained by the commerce of
these kingdoms, for want of proper harbours and
forts on the western coast to receive and protect
merchantmen, was graciously pleased to order,
that a temporary security should be provided for
the shipping which might touch at Milford-haven,
until the fortifications voted in parliament could
be erected. How far his majesty's directions were
complied with, the number of merchant ships
taken by the enemy's privateers upon that coast
Sufficiently indicated.

OPERATIONS IN AMERICA.
Whatever reasons the government had to ex
pect the campaign should be vigorously pushed
in America, almost every circumstance turned
out contrary to expectation. Not all the en
deavours of the earl of Loudoun to quiet the
dissensions among the different provinces, and to
establish unanimity and harmony, could prevail.
Circumstances required that he should act the
part of a mediator, in order to raise the necessary
supphes for prosecuting the war, without which
6

1757. GEORGE IL 33
it was impossible he could appear in the charac
ter of a general. The enemy, in the meantime,
were pursuing the blow given, at Oswego, and
taking advantage ofthe distraction that appeared
in the British councils. By their successes in the
preceding campaign, they remained masters of
all the lakes. Hence they were furnished with"
the means of practising on the Indians, in all the
different districts, and obliging them, by rewards,
promises, and menaces, to act in their favour.
Every accession to their strength was a real dir-
minution of that of the British commander ; but
then the ignorance or pusillanimity of some of
the inferior officers in our back settlements was,
in effect, more beneficial to the enemy than all
the vigilance and activity of Montcalm. In con
sequence of the shameful loss of Oswego, they
voluntarily abandoned to the mercy ofthe French
general the whole country of the Five Nations,
the only^ body of Indians who had inviolably per
formed their engagements, or indeed who had
preserved any sincere regard for the British go
vernment. The communication with these faithful
allies was now cut off, by the imprudent demolir
tion of the forts we possessed at the great Carry
ing-place. A strong fort, indeed, was built at
Winchester, and called Fort Loudoun, after the
commander in chief, and four hundred Cherokee
Indians, joined the English forces at Fort Cumr
berland ; but this reiiiforcement by no means
counterbalanced the losses sustained in conse-
VOL. V. D

34 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
quence of our having imprudently stopped up
Wood-creek, and filled it with logs. Every per
son, the least acquainted with the country, rea
dily perceived the weakness of these measures,
by which our whole frontier was left open and
exposed to the irruption of the savages in the
French interest, who would not fail to profit by
our blunders, too notorious to escape them. By
the removal of these barriers, a path was opened
to our fine settlements on those grounds, called,
the Gennan Flats, and along the Mohawk's river,
which the enemy destroyed with fire and sword
before the end of the comgaign.

LORD LOUDOUN'S CONDUCT IN AMERICA.
In the mean time, lord Loudoun was taking the
most effectual steps to unite the provinces, and
raise a force sufficient to give some decisive blow.
The attack on Crown-Point, which had been so
long meditated, was laid aside, as of less import
ance than the intended expedition to Louisbourg,
now substituted in its place, and undoubtedly a
more considerable object in itself. Admiral Hol
bourn arrived at Hallifax, with the squadron and
transports under his command, on the ninth of
July ; audit was his lordship's intention to repair
^ thither with all possible diligence, in order to
take upon him the command of the expedition;
but a variety of accidents interposed. It was

1757. GEORGE IL 35
with the utmost difficulty he at length assembled
a body of six thousand men, with which he in
stantly began his march to join the troops lately
arrived from England. When the junction was
effected, lhe whole forces amounted to twelve
thousand men ; an army that raised great expec
tations. Immediately some small vessels Avere
sent out to examine and reconnoitre the condi
tion ofthe enemy, and the intermediate time was
employed in embarking the troops, as soon as the
transports arrived. The return of the scouts to
tally altered the face of affairs: they brought the
unwelcome news, that M. dc Bois de la Mothe,
who sailed in the month of May ^rom Brest with
a large fleet of ships of war and transports, was
now safe at anchor in the harbour of Louisbourg.
Their intelligence was supported by the testi
mony of several deserters ; yet still it wanted
confirmation, and many persons believed their
account of the enemy's strength -greatly magni
fied. Such advices, however, could not but oc
casion extraordinary fluctuations in the councils
of war at Hallifax. Some were for setting aside
all thoughts of the expedition for that season ;
while others, more warm in their dispositions,
and sanguine in their expectations, were for pro
secuting it with vigour, in spite of all dangers
and difficulties. Their disputes were carried ou
with great vehemence, when a packet bound from
Louisbourg in France, was taken by one of the
English ships stationed at Newfoundland. She

S6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
had letters on board, which put the enemy's su
periority beyond all doubt, at least by sea. It
clearly appeared, there were at that tiine in Louis
bourg six thousand regular troops, three thousand
natives, and one thousand three hundred Indians,
with seventeen ships of the line, antl three fri
gates moored in the harbour ; that the place was
well supplied with ammunition, provision, and
every kind of military stores; and thatthe enemy
wished for nothing more than an attack, which
it was probable would terminate to the disgrace
of the assailants, and ruin of the British affairs
in America. The commanders at Hallifax were
fully apprised of the consequences of an unsuc
cessful attempt ; it was, therefore, almost unani
mously resolved to postpone the expedition to
some more convenient opportunity, especially as
the season was now far advanced, which alone
T^ould be sufficient to frustrate their endeavours,
and render the enterprise abortive. This resolu
tion seems, indeed, to have been the most eligible
in their circumstances', whatever constructions
might afterwards be given, with intention to pre
judice the public against the commander in chief.

GEORGE IL

FORT WILLIAM HENRY TAKEN BY THE
FRENCH.
Lord Loudoun's departure from New-York, with
all the, forces he was able to collect, afforded the
marquis de Montcalm the fairest occasion of im
proving the successes of the former campaign.
That general had, in the very commencement of
the season, made, three different attacks on Fort
William Henry, in all of which he was repulsed
by the vigour and resolution of the garrison.
But his disappointment here was balanced by an
advantage gained by a party of regulars and
Indians at Ticonderoga. Colonel John Parker,
with a detachment of near four hundred men,
went by water, in whale and bay boats, to attack
the enemy's advanced guard at that place. Land
ing at night on an island, he sent before dawn
three boats to the main land, which the enemy
waylaid and took. Having procured the neces
sary intelligence from the prisoners of the colo
nel's designs, they contrived their measures, placed
three hundred men in ambush behind the point
where he proposed landing, and sent three bat-
teaux to the place of rendezvous. Colonel Parker
mistaking these for his own boats, eagerly put to
shore, was surrounded by the enemy, reinforced
with four hundred men, and attacked with such
impetuosity, that, of the whole detachment, only

38

lilSTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757,

two officers and seventy private men escaped.
Flushed with this advantage, animated by the
absence of the British commander in chief, then
at Hallifax, and fired with a desire to revenge
the disgrace he had lately sustained before Fort
Henry, Montcalm drew together all his forces,
with intention to lay siege to that place. Fort
William Henry stands on the southern coast of
Lake George ; it was built with a view to protect
and cover the frontiers of the English colonies,
as well as to command the lake : the fortifications
were good, defended by a garrison of near three
thousand men, and covered by an army of four
thousand, under the conduct of general Webb,
posted at no great distance. When the marquis
de Montcalm had assembled all the forces, at
Crown-Point, Ticonderoga, and the adjacent posts,
together with a considerable body of Canadians
and Indians, amounting in the whole to near ten
thousand men, he marched directly to the fort,
made his approaches, and began to batter it with
a numerous train of artillery. -On the very day
he invested the place, he sent a letter to colonel
Monro, the governor, telling him, he thought
himself obliged, in humanity, to desire he would
surrender the fort, and not provoke the great
number of savages in the French army by a vain
resistance. " A detachment of your garrison
has lately," says he, " experienced their cruelty ;
I have it yet in my power to restrain them, and
' oblige them to observe a capitulation, as none of

1757. GEORGE II, S9
them hitherto are killed. Your persisting in the
defence of your fort can only retard its fate a
few days, and must of necessity expose an un
fortunate garrison, who can possibly, receive no
relief, considering the precautions taken to pre
vent it. I demand a decisive answer, for which
purpose I have sent the sieur Funtbrune, one of
my aids-du-camp. You may credit what he will
inform you of, from Montcalm." General Webb
beheld his preparations with an indifference and
security bordering on infatuation. Itis credibly
reported, that he had private intelligence of all
the French general's designs and motions ; yet,
either despising his strength, or discrediting the
information, he neglected collecting the militia
in time, which, in conjunction with his own forces,
would probably have obliged Montcalm to relin
quish the attempt, or at least have rendered his
success very doubtful and hazardous. The enemy
meeting with no disturbance from the quarter
they most dreaded, prosecuted the siege with
vigour, and were warmly received by the gar
rison, who fired with great spirit till they had
burst almost all their cannon, and expended their
ammunition. Neither Montcalm's promises or
threats could prevail upon them to surrender,
while they were in a condition to defend them
selves, or could reasonably expect assistance from
general Webb. They even persisted to hold out
after prudence dictated they ought to surrender.
Colonel Monro was sensible of the importance of

40 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-
his charge, and imagined that general Webb,
though slow in his motions, would surely make
some vigorous efforts either to raise the siege,
or fprce a supply of ammunition, provision, and
other necessaries, into tl;ie garrison. At length
necessity obliged him, after sustaining a siege
from the third to the ninth day of August, to
hang out a flag of truce, which was immediately
answered by the French commander. Hostages
were exchanged, and articles of capitulation
signed by both parties. It was stipulated that
the garrison of Fort William Henry, and the
troops in the retrenched camp, should march out
with their arms, the baggage of the officers and
soldiers, and all the usual necessaries of war,
escorted by a detachment of French troops, and
interpreters attached to the savages : that the
gate of the fort should be delivered to the troops
of the most christian king, immediately after
signing the capitulation ; and the retrenched
camp on the departure of the British forces :
that the artillery, warlike stores, provision, and
in general every thing except the eflFects of sol
diers and officers, should, upon honour, be de
livered to the French troops ; for which purpose
it was agreed there should be delivered, with the
capitulation, an exact inventory of the stores
and other particulars specified; that the garrison
of the fort, and the troops in the retrenchment
and dependencies, should not serve for the space
of eighteen months, from the date of the capitu-

1757. , GEORGE IL 4.1
lation, against his most christian majesty, or his
allies: that with the capitulation there should be
delivered an exact state' of the troops, specifying
the names of the officers, engineers, artillerymen,
commissaries and all employed : that the officers
and soldiers, Canadians, women, and savages,
made'prisoners by land since the commencement
of the war in North America, should be delivered
in the space of three months at Carillon ; in re
turn from whom an equal number of the garrison
of Fort WiUiam Henry should be capacitated to
serve agreeably to the return given by the En
glish officer, and the receipt of the French com
manding officers, of the prisoners so delivered:
that an officer should remain as an hostage, till
the safe return of the escort sent with the troops
of his Britannic majesty : that the sick and
wounded, not in a condition to be transported to
Fort Edward, should remain under the protection
of the Marquis de Montcalm ; who engaged to
use them with tenderness and humanity, and to
return them as soon as recovered : that provision
for two days should be issued out for the British
troops : that in testimony of his esteem and re
spect for colonel Monro and his garrison, on
account of their gallant defence, the marquis
de Montcalm should return one cannon, a six-
pounder. — Whether the marquis de Montcalm
was really assiduous to have these articles punc
tually executed we cannot pretend to determine ;
but certain it is, they "were perfidiously broke, in

*2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
almost every instance. The savages, in the French
interest, either paid no regard to the capitulation,
or were permitted, from views of policy, to act
the most treacherous, inhuman, and insidious
part. They fell upon the British troops as they
marched out, despoiled them of their few re
maining effects, dragged the Indians in the Eng
lish service out of their ranks, and assassinated
them with circumstances of unheard-of barbarity.
Some British soldiers, with their wives and chil
dren, are said to have been savagely murdered
by those brutallndians, whose ferocity the French
commander could not effectually restrain. The
greater part of the Enghsh garrison, however,
, arrived at Fort Edward, under the protection of
the French escort. The enemy demolished the
fort, carried off the effects, provision, artillery,
and every thing else left by the garrison, toge
ther with the vessels preserved in the lake, and
departed, without pursuing their success by any
other attempt. Thus ended the third campaign
in America, where, with an evident superiority
over the enemy, an army of twenty thousand re
gular troops/ a great number of provincial forces,
and a prodigious naval power, not less than twenty
ships of the line, we abandoned our allies, ex
posed our people, suffered them to be cruelly
massacred in sight of our troops, and relinquished
a large and valuable tract of country, to the eter
nal reproach and disgrace of the British name.

1767. GEO,RGE II. 43

NAVAL TRANSACTIONS IN AMERICA.
As to the jiaval transactions in this country,
though less infamous, they were not less unfor
tunate. Immediately on lord Loudouti's depar
ture from Hallifax, admiral Holbourn, now freed
from the care of the transports, set sail for Louis
bourg, with fifteen ships of the line, one ship of
fifty guns, three small frigates and a fire-ship.
What the object of this cruise might have been,
can only be conjectured. Some imagine curiosity
was the admiral's sole motive, and the desire of
informing himself with certainty of the enemy's
strength, while others persuade themselves that
he was in hopes of drawing M. de la Mothe to an
engagement, notwithstanding his superiority in
number of ships and weight of metal. Be this as
it may, the British squadron appeared off Louis
bourg, on the twentieth day of August, and, ap
proaching withift two miles of the batteries, saw
the French admiral make the signal to unmoor.
Mr Holbourn was greatly inferior in strength,
and it is obvious that his design was not to fight
the enemy, as he immediately made the best of
his way to Hallifax. About the middle of Sep
tember, being reinforced with four ships of the
line, he again proceeded to Louisbourg, probably
with intention, if possible, to draw the enemy to
an engagement; but he found dc la Mothe too

U HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
prudent to hazard an unnecessary battle, the loss
of which would have greatly exposed all the
French colonies. Here the English squadron con
tinued cruising until the twenty-fifth, when they
were overtaken by a terrible storm from the
southward. When the hurricane began, the fleet
were about forty leagues distant from Louis
bourg ; but were driven, in twelve hours, within
two miles of the rocks and breakers on that coast,
when the wind providentially shifted. The ship
Tilbury was wrecked upon the rocks, and half
her crew drowned. Eleven ships w^ere dismasted,
others threw their guns overboard ; and all re
turned in a very shattered condition to England,
at a very unfavourable season of the year. In
this manner ended the expedition to Louisbourg,
more unfortunate to the nation than the prece
ding designs upon Rochefort; less disgraceful to
the commanders, but equally the occasion of ri
dicule and triumph to our enemies. Indeed, the
unhappy consequences of the political disputes
at home, the instability of the administration,
and the frequent revolutions in our councils, were
strongly manifested by that languor infused into
all our military operations, and general unstea
diness in our pursuits. Faction, in the mother-
country, produced divisions and misconduct in
the colonies. No ambition to signalize them
selves appeared among the officers, from the
uncertainty whether their services were to be
rewarded or condemned.' Their attachment to

1757. GEORGE IL 45
particular persons weakened the love they ought
to have entertained for their country in general,
and destroyed that spirit of enterprise, that firm
ness and resolution, which constitutes the com
mander, and without which the best capacity,
joined to the most uncorruptible integrity, can
effect nothing.
The French king not only exerted himself
against the English in America, but even ex
tended his operations to their settlements in
Africa, whichhe sent oneof his naval commanders^
with a small squadron, to reduce. This gentler
man, whose name was Kersin, had scoured the
coast of Guinea, and made prize of several Eng-
' lish trading ships ; but his chief aim was to re
duce the castle at Cape-coast, of which, had he
gained possession, the other subordinate forts
would have submitted without opposition. When
Mr Bell, the governor of this castle, received
intelligence that M. de Kersin was a few leagues
to windward, and certainly intended to attack
Cape-co^st, his whole garrison did not exceed
thirty white men, exclusive of a few Mulatto
soldiers: his stock of ammunition was reduced to
half a barrel of gunpowder ; andhis fortifications
were so crazy and inconsidera,ble, that, in the
opinion of the best engineers, they could not have
sustained for twenty minutes the fire of one great
ship, had. it been properly directed and main
tained. In these circumstan,ces,,feW people would
have dreamed of making any preparation for

46 HISTORY OF ENGLAND.- 1757.
defence ; but Mr Bell entertained other senti
ments, and acquitted himself with equal courage
and discretion. He forthwith procured a supply
of gunpowder, and a reinforcement of about fifty
men, from certain trading vessels that happened
to be upon that part of the coast. He mounted
some spare cannon upon an occasional battery,
and assembling a body of twelve hundred negroes,
well armed, under the command of their chief,
on whose attachment he could depend, he or
dered them to take post at the place where he
apprehended the enemy would attempt a land
ing. These precautions were hardly taken, when
the French squadron, consisting of two ships of
the line and a large frigate, appeared, and in a
little time their attack began ; but they met with
such a warm reception, that in less thaii two
hours they desisted, leaving the castle very little
damaged, and immediately made sail for the West
Indies, very much to the disappointment and
mortification of the Dutch officers belonging to
the fort of Elmina, in the same neighbourhood,
who made no scruple of expressing their wishes
publicly in favour of the French commodore, and
at a distance viewed the engagement with the
most partial eagerness and impatience. M. de
Kersin was generally blamed for his want of con
duct and resolution in this attempt ; but he is
said to have been deceived in his opinion of the
real state of Cape-coast castle by the vigorous
and resolute exertions of the governor, and was

1757. GEORGE IL 47
apprehensive of losing a mast in the engagement ;
a loss which he could not have repaired on the
whole coast of Africa. Had the fort of Cape-
coast been reduced on this occasion, in all pro-
bability every pe^ty republic of the negroes,
settled under the protection of the forts pn
the Gold-coast, would have revolted from the
British interest : for, while the French squa
dron, in their progress along shore, hovered in
the offing at Annamboe, an English settlement,
a few leagues to leeward of Cape coast, John~
Corrantee, the caboceiro, chief magistrate, and
general of the blacks on that part of the coast,
whose adopted son had, a few years before, been
caressed, and even treated as a pripce in England,
¦ taking it for granted, that this enterprise of the
French would be attended with success, actually
sent some of his descendants, with a present of
refreshments for their commodore ; the delivery
of which, however, was prevented by Mr Brew,
the English chief of the fort, who shattered in
pieces the canoe before it could be launched,
and threatened with his cannon to level the black
town with the dust. The caboceiro, though thus
anticipated -in his design, resolved to be among
the first who should compliment M. de Kersin on
his victory at Cape-coast ; and, with this view,
prepared an embassy or deputation to go there
by land ; but, understanding that the French had
failed in their attempt, he shifted his design,
without thc least hesitation, and dispatched the

48 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
same embassy to Mr Bell, whom he congratu
lated on his victory, assuring him he had kept
his men ready armed to march at the first sum
mons to his assistance.

STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE EAST INDIES.
In the East Indies, the scene was changed greatly
to the honour and advantage of Great Britain.
There the commanders acted with that harmony,
spirit, and unanimity becoming Britons, zealous
for the credit of their king and the interest of
their country. We left adniiral Watson" and co
lonel Clive, advancing to Calcutta, to revenge
the cruel tragedy acted upon their countrymen
the preceding year. On the twenty-eighth of
December, the fleet proceeded up the river : next
day colonel Clive landed, and, with the assistance
of the squadron, in twenty- four hours, made
himself master of Busbudgia, a place of great
«trengthj though very ill defended. On the first
of January, the admiral, with two ships, appeared
before the. town of Calcutta, and was received by
a. brisk fire from the batteries. This salute was"
returned so warmly, that the enemy's guns were
soon silenced, and in less than two hours, the
place and fort were abandoned.' Colonel Clive,
on the pther side, had invested the town, arid
made his attack with that vigour and intrepidity
peculiar to himself, which greatly contributed to
9

1757. GEORGE H. 49
the sudden reduction of the settlement. As soon
as the fort was surrendered, the brave and active
captain Coote, with his majesty's troops, took
possession, and found ninety-one pieces of can
non, four mortars, abundance of ammunition,
stores, and provision, wilh every requisite for
sustaining an obstinate sie^e. Thus the English
were re-established in the two strongest fortresses
in the Ganges, with the inconsiderable loss of
nine seamen killed, and three soldiers. A few
days after, Hughley, a city of great trade, situ
ated higher up the river, was reduced with as
little difficulty, but infinitely greater prejudice
to the nabob, as here his storehouses of salt, and
vast granaries for the support of his army, were
burnt and destroyed. Incensed at the almost
instantaneous loss of all his conquests, and de
molition of the city, of Hughely, the viceroy of
Bengal discouraged all advances to an accommo
dation which was proposed by the admiral and
chiefs ofthe company, and assembled an army of
twenty thousand horse, and fifteen thousand foot,
fully resolved to expel the English out of his
dominions, and take ample vengeance for the
disgraces he had lately sustained. , He was seen
marching by the English camp in his way to
Calcutta, on the second of February, where he
encamped, about a mile from the town. Colonel
Clive immediately made application to the ad
miral for a reinforcement ; and six hundred men,
under the command of captain Warwick, were
VOL. V. K

50 HISTORY OF ENGL7V.ND. 1757.
accordingly drafted from the different ships, and
sent to assist his little army. Clive drew out his
forces, advanced in three columns towards the
enemy, and began the attack so vigorously, that
the viceroy retreated, after a feeble resistance,
with the loss of a thousand men killed, wounded,
and taken prisoners, five hundred horses, great
numbers of draft bullocks, and four elephants.
Though this advantage was less decisive than
could be wished, yet it sufficiently intimidated
the nabob into concessions -much to the honour
and advantage of the company. Admiral Watson
gave him to understand in a letter, that this was
no more than a specimen of what the British
arms, when provoked, could perform. The suba
desired the negociation might be renewed, and
in a few days the treaty was concluded. He
promised not to disturb the English in any of
those privileges or possessions specified in the
firm, and granted by the Mogul : that all mer
chandise belonging to the company should pass
and repass, in every part of the province of Ben
gal, free of duty : that all the English factories
seized the preceding year, or since, should be
restored, with the money, goods, and effects ap^
pertaining : that all dartiages sustained by the
English should be repaired, and their losses: re
paid : that the English should have liberty to
fortify Calcutta in. whatever manner they thought
proper ,without interruption : that they should
have the liberty of coining all the gold and bul-

1757. GEORGE IL 51
lion they imported, which should pass current in
the province : that he would remain in strict
friendship and alliance with the English, use his
utmost endeavours to heal up the late divisions,
and restpre the fprmer gpod understanding be
tween them. All which several articles were
solemnly signed and sealed wi^th the nabob's own
hand.

^ REDUCTION OF CHANDERNAGORE.
Such were the terms obtained for the company,
by the spirited and gallant conduct of the two
English commanders. They had, however, tob
much discernment to rely on the promises of a
barbarian, who had so perfidiously broken former
engagements ; but they prudently dissembled
their sentiments, until they had thoroughly re
instated the affairs of the company, and reduced
the French power in this province. In order to
adjust the points that required discussion, the
select committee for the company's affairs, ap
pointed Mr Watts, who had been released from
his former imprisonment, as their commissary at
the court of the suba, to whom he was personally
known, as well as to his ministers, among whom
he had acquired a considerable influence. No
thing less could have balanced the interest which
the French, by their art of intriguing, had raised
among the favourites of the viceroy. While Mr

52 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
Watts was employed at Muxadavad, in counter
working those intrigues, and keeping the suba
steady to his engagements, the admiral and Mr
Clive resolved to avail themselves of their arma
ment, in attacking the French settlements in Ben
gal. The chief object of their designs was the
reduction of Chandernagore, situated higher up
the river than Calcutta, of considerable strength,
and the chief in importance of any possessed by
that nation in the bay. Colonel Clive being re
inforced by three hundred men from Bombay,
began his march to Chandernagore, at the head
of seven hundred Europeans, and one thousand
six hundred Indians, where, on his first arrival,
he took possession of all the out-posts, except one
redoubt, mounted with eight pieces of cannon,
which he left to be silenced by the admiral. On
the eighteenth of March, the admirals, Watson
and Pococke, arrived within two miles of the
French settlement, with the Kent, Tiger, and
Salisbury men of war, and found their passage
obstructed by booms laid across the river, and
several vessels sunk in the channel. Thege diffi
culties being removed, they advanced early on
the twenty-fourth, and drew up in a line before
the fort, which they battered with great fury for
three hours: while Colonel Clive was- m akin s- his
approaches on the land_side, and playing vigor
ously from the batteries he had raised. Their'
united efforts soon obliged the enemy to sub
mission. A flag of truce was waved over the

1757. GEORGE IL 3S
walls, and the place surrendered by capitulation.
The keys were delivered to captain Latham, of
the Tiger; and in the afternoon, colonel Clive,
with the king's troops, took possession. Thus
the reduction of a strong fortress, garrisoned by
five hundred Europeans, and one thousand two
hundred Indians, defended by one hundred and
twenty-three pieces of cannon and three mor
tars, well provided with all kinds of stores and
necessaries, and of very great importance to the
enemy's commerce in India, was accomplished
with a loss not exceeding forty men on the side,
of the conquerors. By the treaty of capitulation,
the director, counsellors, and inferior servants
of the settlement, were allowed to depart with
their wearing apparel : the Jesuits were permit
ted to take away their churchy ornaments, and
the natives to remain in the full exertion of their
liberties; but the garrison were to continue pri
soners of war. The goods and money found in
the place were considerable; but the principal
advantage arose from the ruin of the head settle
ment of the enemy on the Ganges, which could
not but interfere with the English commerce in
these parts.

,5i HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.

COLONEL CLIVE DEFEATS THE SUBA AT
PLAISSEY, See.
Success had hitherto attended all the operations
of the British commanders, because they were
concerted with foresight and unanimity ; and
executed with that vigour and spirit which de
servedly raised them high in the esteem of their
country. They reduced the nabob to reasonable
terms of accommodation before they alarmed the
French ; and now the power of the latter was de
stroyed, they entered upon measures to oblige
the treacherous viceroy to a strict performance
of the treaty he had so lately signed. However
specious his promises were, they found him ex
tremely dilatory in the execution of several ar
ticles of the treaty, which, in effect, was the
same to the English commerce as if none had
been concluded. The company's goods were
loaded with high duties, and several other in
fractions of the peace committed, upon such fri
volous pretences, as evidently demonstrated, that
he sought to come to an open rupture as soon as
his projects were ripe for execution. In a word,
he discovered all along a manifest partiality to
the French, whose emissaries cajoled him with
promises that he should be joined by such a body
of their European troops, under M. de Bussy, as
would enable him to crush the power of the Eng-

1757. GEORGE IL 55
lish, whom they had taught him to fear and to
hate. As recommencing hostilities against so
powerful a prince was, in itself, dangerous, and,
if .possible, to be avoided, the affair was laid be
fore the council of Calcutta, and canvassed with
all the circumspection and caution that a mea
sure required, on which depended the fate of the
"whole trade of Bengal. Mr Watts, from time to
time, sent them intelligence of every transaction
in the suba's cabinet ; and, although that prince
publicly declared he would cause him to be im
paled as soon as the English troops should be put
in motion within the kingdom of Bengal, he
bravely sacrificed his own safety to the interest
of the company, and exhorted them to proceed
with vigour in their military operations. During
these deliberations, a most fortunate incident oc
curred, that soon determined the council to come
to an open rupture. The leading persons in the
viceroy's court, found themselves oppressed by
his haughtiness and insolence. The same spirit
of discontent appeared among the principal offi
cers of his army : they were well acquainted with
his perfidy, saw his preparations for war, aqd were
sensible that the peace ofthe country could never
be restored, unless either the English were ex
pelled, or the nabob deposed. In consequence,
a plan was concerted for divesting him of all his
power ; and the conspiracy was conducted by
Jaffier Ali Khan, his prime minister and chief
commander, a nobleman of great influence and

se HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17.57.
ajithority in the province. The project was com
municated by Ali Khan to Mr Watts-, and so
improved by the address of that gentleman, as
in a manner to insure success. A treaty was
actually concluded between this Meer Jaffier AU
Khan and the English company ; and a plan con
certed with this nobleman and the other malcon
tents for their defection from the viceroy. These
previous measures being taken, colonel Clive was
.ordered to take the, field with his little army.
Admiral Watson undertook the defence of Chan
dernagore, and the garrison was detached to re
inforce the colonel, together with fifty seamen to
be employed as gunners, and in directing the
artillery. Then Mr Watts, deceiving the suba's
spies, by whom he wg.s surrounded, withdrew
himself from Muxadavad, and reached the Eng
lish camp in safety. On the nineteenth of June,
a detachment was sent to attack Cutwa fort and
town, situated on that branch of the river form
ing the island of Cassimbuzar. This place sur
rendered at the first summons ; and here the
colonel halted with the army for three days, ex
pecting advices from Ali Khan. Disappointed of
the hoped-for intelligence, he crossed the river,
and marched to Plaissey, where he encamped.
On the twenty-third, at day-break, the suba ad
vanced to attack him, at the head of fifteen thou
sand horse, and near thirty thousand infantry,
with about forty pieces of heavy cannon, con
ducted and managed by French gunners, on whose

1^57. GEORGE II. 57
courage and dexterity he placed great depend
ance. They began to cannonade the English
camp about six in the morning; but a severe
shower falling at noon, they withdrew their artil
lery. Colonel Clive seized this opportunity to
take possession of a tank and two other posts of
consequence, which they in vain endeavoured to
retake. Then he stormed an angle of their camp.
Covered with a double breast- work, together with
an eminence which they occupied. At the be
ginning of this attack, some of their chiefs being
slain, the men were so dispirited, that they soon
gave way; but still Meer Jaffier Ali Khan, who
commanded theif left wing, forbore declaring
himself openly. After a short contest the enemy
were put to flight, the nabob's camp, baggage,
and fifty pieces of cannon taken, and a most com
plete victory obtained. The colonel, pursuing
his advantage, marched to Muxadavad, the capi
tal of the province, and was there joined by Ali
Khan and the malcontents. It Was before con
certed, that this nobleman should be invested with
the dignity of nabob ; accordingly, the colonel
proceeded solemnly to depose Suraja Dowlat,
and, with the satoe ceremony, to substitute Ali
Khan in his room, who was publicly acknowledged
by the people as suba, or viceroy, of the pro
vinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Orixa. Soon after,
the late viceroy was taken and put to death by
his successor, who readily complied with- all the
conditions of his elevation. He conferred on his
II

S3 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 175^*
allies very liberal rewards, and granted the com
pany such extraordinary privileges, as fully de
monstrated how justly he merited their assistance.
By this alliance, and the reduction of Chander
nagore, the French were entirely excluded the
commerce of Bengal, and its dependencies ; the
trade of the English company was restored, and
increased beyond their most sanguine liopes ; a
new ally was acquired, whose interest obliged
him to remain firm to his engagements : a vast
sum was paid to the company and the sufferers
at Calcutta, to indemnify them for their losses :
the soldiers and seamen were gratified with six
hundred thousand pounds as a reward for the
courage and intrepidity they exerted ; and a va
riety of other advantages gained, whicli it would
be unnecessary to enumerate. In a word, in the
space of fourteen days a great revolution was
effected, and the government of a vast'country,
superior in wealth, fertility, extent, and number
of inhabitants to most European kingdoms, trans
ferred by a handful of troops, conducted by an
officer untutored in the art of war, and a general
rather by intuition than instruction and expe
rience. But the public joy at these signal suc
cesses was considerably diminished by the death
of Admiral Watson, and the loss of Vizagapatam.,
an English settlement on the Coromandel coast.
The admiral fell a victim to the unwholesomeness
of the climate, on the sixteenth of August uni
versally esteemed and regretted ; and the factory

1757. GEORGE IL 5&
and fort at Vizagapatam were surrendered to the
French, a few days after colonel Clive had de
feated the nabob.

KING OF FRANCE ASSASSINATED. TORTURES
INFLICTED ON THE ASSASSIN.
We now turn our eyes to the continent of Eu
rope, where we see the beginning of the year
marked with a striking instance of the dreadful
effects of frantic enthusiasm. France had long
enjoyed a monarch, easy, complying, good-na
tured, and averse to all that wore the a^ppearance
of business or of war. Contented with the plea
sures of indolence, he sought no greatness beyond
what he enjoyed, nor pursued any ambitious aim
through the dictates of his own disposition. Of
all men on earth, such a prince had the greatest
reason to expect an exemption from plots against
his person, and cabals among his subjects ; yet
was an attempt made upon his life by a man, who,
though placed in the lowest sphere of fortune,
had resolution to face the greatest dangers, and
enthusiasm sufficient to sustain, without shrink
ing, all the tortures which the cruelty of man
could invent, or his crimes render necessary.
The name of this fanatic was Robert Francis
Damien, born in the suburb of St Catharine, in
the city of Arras. He had lived in tlie service
of several families, whence he was generally dis-

60 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-
missed on account ofthe impatience, the melan
choly, and sullenness of his disposition. So hum
ble was the station of a person, who was resolved ,
to step forth from obscurity, and, by one despe
rate effort, draw upon himself the attention of
all Europe. On the fifth day of January, as the
king was stepping into his coach, to return -to
Trianon, whence he had that day come to Ver
sailles, Damien, mingling among his attendants,
stabbed him with a knife on the right side, be
tween the fourth and fifth ribs. His majesty
applying his hand immediately to his side, cried
out, " I am wounded ! Seize him ; but do not
hurt him." Happily, the wound was not danger
ous ; as the knife, taking an oblique direction,
missed the vital parts. As for the assassin, he
made no attempts to escape; but, suffering him->
. self quietly to be seized, was conveyed to the
guard-room, where, being interrogated if he
committed the horrid action, he boldly answered
in the affirmative. A process against him was
instantly commenced at Versailles : many persons,
supposed accessaries to the design upon the king's
life, were sent to the Bastile ; the assassin himself
was put to the torture, and the most excruciating
torments were applied, with intention to extort
a confession of the reasons that could induce him
to so execrable an attempt upon his sovereign.
Incisions were made into the muscular parts of
his legs, arms, and thighs, into which boiling oil
was poured. Every refinement on cruelty, that

1757. GEORGE IL 61
human invention could suggest, was practised
without effect : nothing could overcome his ob
stinacy ; and his silence was construed into a pre
sumption, that he must have had accomplices in
the plot. To render his pifnishment more pub
lic and conspicuous, he Avas removed to Paris,
there to undergo a repetition of all his former
tortures, with such additional circumstances, as
the most fertile and cruel dispositions could de
vise for increasing his misery and torment. Being
conducted to the Cbncergerie, an iron bed, which
likewise served for a chair, was prepared for him,
and to this he was fastened with chains. The
torture was again applied, and a physician or
dered to attend, to see what degree of pain he
could support. Nothing, however, material was
extorted ; for what he one moment confessed, he
recanted the next. It is not within our province,
(and we consider it as a felicity) to relate all the
circumstances of this cruel and tragical event.
Sufficient it is, that, after suffering the most ex
quisite torments that human nature could invent,
or man support, his judges thought proper to
terminate his misery, by a death shocking to ima
gination, and shameful to humanity. On the
twenty-eighth day of March he was conducted,
amidst a vast concourse of the populace, to the
Greve, the common place of execution, stripped
naked, and fastened to the scaffold by iron gyves.
One of his hands was then burnt in liquid fla
ming sulphur : his thighs, legs, and arms were tom

62 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
with red-hot pincers, boiling oil, melted lead,
resin, and sulphur, were poured into the wounds ;
tight ligatures tied round his limbs to' prepare
him for dismemberment; young and -v^igorous
horses applied to the draft, and the unhappy cri
minal pulled, with all their force, to the utmost
extension of his sinews, for the space of an hour;
during all which time he preserved his senses and
constancy. At length the physician and surgeon
attending declared, it would be impossible toac-
comphsh the dismemberment, unless the tendons.
were separated ; upon which orders were giv^en
to the executioner, to cut the sinews at the joints
of the arms and legs. The horses drew afresh :
a thigh and an arm were separated, and, after
several pulls, the unfortunate wretch expired
under the extremity of pain. His body and limbs
were reduced to ashes under the scaffold ; - his
father, wife, daughter, and family banished the
kingdom for ever ; the name of Damien effaced
and obhterated, and the innocent involved' in the
punishment of the guilty. Thus ended the pro
cedure against Damien and his family, in a man
ner not very favourable to the avowed clemency
of Louis, or the acknowledged humanity of the
French nation. It appeared, from undoubted evi
dence, that the attempt on the king's life was
the result of insanity, and a disturbed imagina
tion. Several instances of a disordered mind had
before been observed in his conduct, and the de
testation justly due to the enormity of his crime

1757. GEOUGE IL 68
ought now to have been absorbed in the con
sideration cf his misfprtune, the greatest that can
befal human nature.

CHANGES IN THE FRENCH MINISTRY.
Anpther remarkable' event in France, in the
beginning of this year was the change in the mi
nistry of that nation, by the removal of M. de
Machault, keeper of the seals, from the post of
secretary of state for the marine; "and of M.
d'Argenson from that of secretary at war. Their
/dismission was sudden and unexpected; nor was
any particular reason assigned for this very unex
pected alteration. The French king, to shew the
queen of Hungary how judiciously she had acted
in forming an aUiance with the house of Bourbon,
raised two great ai:mies ; the first of which, com
posed of near eighty thousand men, the flower of
the French troops, with a large train of artillery,
was commanded by M. d'Etrees, a generalof
great reputation ; under Whom served M. de Con-
tades, M. Chevert, and the count de St Germain,
all officers of high character. This formidable
army passed the Rhine early in the spring, and,
' marched by Westphalia, in order to invade the
king of Prussia's dominions, in quality of allies
to the empress-queen, and guardians ofthe liber
ties of the empire. But their real view was to
invade Hanover, a scheme which they knew would

64 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
make a powerful diversion of the British force
from the prosecution of the war in other parts of
th'e world, where the strength of France could
not be fully exerted, and where their most valu
able interests Were at stake. They flattered them
selves, moreover, that the same blow, by which
they hoped to crush the king of Prussia, might
likewise force his Britannic majesty into some
concession with regard to America. The other
army of the French, commanded by the prince
de Soubise, was destined to strengthen the im
perial army of execution, consisting of twentjs-
five thousand men, besides six thousand Bava
rians, and four thousand Wirtembergers. But
before these troops, under Soubise, passed the
Rhine, they made themselves masters of several
places belonging to the king of Prussia upon the
borders of the Low Countries;' whilst a detach
ment from d'Etrees's army seized upon the town
of Embden, and whatever else belonged to the
same monarch in East Friesland.
' The king of Prussia had withdrawn his garrison from Cleves,
not without suspicion of having purposely left this door open to
the enemy, that their irruption into Germany might hasten the
resolutions of the British ministry.

1757. GEORGE IL ^

STATE OF THE CONFEDERACY AGAINSTTHE
KING OF PRUSSIA.
At the close of the last campaign, the king of
Prussia having gained a petty advantage over
the Imperialists, under the command of mareschal
Brown, and incorporated into his own troops a
great part ofthe Saxon army, taken prisoners at
Pirna, as was observed before, retired into win
ter quarters, until the season should permit him
to improve these advantages. His maj.esty and
mareschal Keith wintered in Saxony, having their
cantonments between Pirna and the frontier along
the Elbe ; and mareschal Schwerin, returning into
Silesia, took up his quarters in the country of
Glatz. In the mean time, the empress-queen,
finding the force which she had sent out against
the king of Prussia, was not sufficient to prevent
his designs, made th^ necessary requisitions to
her allies, for the auxiliaries they had engaged
to furnish. In consequence of these requisitions,
the czarina, true to her engagements, dispatched
above an hundred thousand of her troops, who
began their march in the month of November,
and proceeded to the borders of Lithuania, with
design particularly to invade Ducal Prussia, whilst
a strong fleet was equipped in the Baltic, to aid
the operations of this numerous army. The
Austrian army, assembled iu Bohemia, amounted
VOL. V. V

66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
to upwards of fourscore thousand men, com
manded by prince Charles of Lorrain and ma
reschal Brown. The Swedes' had not yet openly
declared themselves ; but it was well,known, that
though their king was allied in blood and incli
nation to his Prussian majesty, yet the jealousy
which the senate of Sweden entertained of their
sovereign, and the hope of recovering their an
cient possessions in Pomerania, by means of the
present troubles, together with their old attach
ment to France, newly cemented by intrigues
ahd subsidies, would certainly induce them to
join the general confederacy. The duke of Meck-
lenbourg took the same party, and agreed fo join
the Swedish army, when it should be assembled,
with six thousand men. Besides all the pre
parations against the king of Prussia, he was, in
his -quality of elector of Brandenbourg, put under
the ban of the empire, by the Aulic council ; de
clared deprived of all his rights, privileges, and
prerogatives ; his fiefs were escheated into the
exchequer of the empire; and all the circles ac
cordingly ordered to furnish their respective
contingencies for putting this sentence into exe
cution. In this dangerous situation, thus menaced on
all sides, and seemingly on the very brink of in
evitable destruction, the Prussian monarch owed
his preservation to his own courage and activity.
The Russians, knowing that the country they
were to pass through, in their way to Lithuania,

1757. GEORGE IL 67
would not be able to subsist their prodigious
numbers, had taken care to furnish themselves
with provisions for their march, depending upbn
the resources they expected to find in Lithuania
after their arrival in that country. These pro
visions were exhausted by the time they reached
the borders of that province, where they found
themselves suddenly and unexpectedly destitute
,, of subsistence, either to. return back or to pro
ceed forward. The king of Prussia had, with
great prudence and foresight, secured plenty to
himself, and distress and famine to his enemies,
by buying up all the corn and forage of the coun
try, which these last were entering. Notwith-
stahding these precautions, his Prussian majesty,
to guard as much as could be against every pos
sible event, sent a great number of gunners and
matrosses from Pomerania to Memel, with three
regiments of his troops to reinforce the garrison
of that place. He visited all the posts which his
troops possessed in Silesia, and gave the neces
sary orders for their security. He repaired to
Neiss, where he settled with mareschal Schwerin
the general plan of the operations of the ap
proaching campaign. There it was agreed, that
the mareschal's army in Silesia, which consisted
of fifty thousand men, should have in constant
view the rhbtions of the royal army, by which its
own were to be regulated, that they might both
act in concert, as circumstances should require.
At the same time other armies were assembled

6S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757
by the king of Prussia in Lusatia and Voigtland ;
twenty thousand men were collected at Zwickaw,
on the frontiers of Bohemia, towards Egra, under
the command of prince Maurice of Anhalt-Des-
sau ; and sixty thousand chosen troops began
their march towards Great Zedhtz, where their
head quarters were settled. In the mean while,
the Austrian troops began to form on the fron
tiers of Saxony, where some of their detachments
appeared to watch the motions of the Prussians,
who still continued to pursue their operations
with great activity and resolution. All possible
care was taken by the Prussians at Dresden to
secure a retreat in case of a defeat. As- only
one regiment of Prussians could be spared to re
main there in garrison, the burghers were dis
armed, their arms deposited in the arsenal, and
a detachment was posted at Konigstein, to oblige
that fortress to observe a strict neutrality. All
correspondence with the enemy was strictly pro
hibited ; and it having been discovered that the
countess of Ogilvy, one of the queen's maids of
honour, had disobeyed his majesty's commands,
she was arrested ; but, on the queen's intercession,
afterwards released. The countess of Bruhl, lady
of the Saxon prime minister, was also arrested by
his Prussian majesty's order; and, on her making
light of her ponfinement, and resolving to see
company, she was ordered to quit the court, and
retire from Saxony. M. Henwin, the Frencli
niinister, was told that his presence was unneces-

1757. GEORGE IL 69
sary at Dresden ; and on his replying, that his
master had commanded him to stay, he was again
desired to depart ; on which he thought proper
to obey. The count de Wackerbath, minister of
the cabinet, and grand-master of the household
to the prince royal of Poland, was arrested, and
conducted to Custrin, by the express command
of his majesty. The king of Prussia, having
thrown two bridges ov^r the Elbe early in the
spring, ordered the several districts of the elec
torate of Saxony to supply him with a great
number of waggons, each drawn by four horses.
The circles of Misnia and Leipsick were enjoined
to furnish four h,undred each, and the other cir
cles in proportion.

SKIRMISHES BETWEEN THE PRUSSIANS AND
AUSTRIANS.
While the king of" Prussia was taking these mea
sures in Saxony, two skirmishes happened' on the
frontiers of Bohemia, between his troops and the
Austrians. On the twentieth of February, a body
of six thousand Austrians surrounded the little
town of Hirschfeld, in Upper Lusatia, garrisoned
by a battalion of Prussian foot. The first attack
was made at four/ in the morning, on two re
doubts without the gates, each of which was
defended by two field-pieces : and though the
Austrians were several times repulsed, they at

70 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
last made themselves masters of one of the re
doubts, and carried off the two pieces of cannon.
In their retreat, they were pursued by the Prus
sians, who fell upon their rear, killed some, ^nd
took many prisoners : this affair coast the Austri
ans at least five hundred men. About a fortnight
iafter, the prince of Bevern marched out of Zit
tau, with a body of near nine thousand men, in
order to destroy the remaining strong holds pos
sessed by the Austrians on the frontiers. In this
expedition he took the Austrian magazine at
Friedland, in Bohemia, consisting of nine thou
sand sacks of meal, and great store of ammuni
tion ; and, after making himself master of Reich-
enberg, he returned to Zittau. The van of his
troops, consisting of a hundred and fifty hussars
of the regiment of Putkammer, met with a body
of six hundred Croats, sustained by two hundred
Austrian dragoons of Bathiania, at their enter
ing Bohemia; and immediately fell upon them
sword in hand, killed about fifty, took thirty
horses, and made ten dragoons prisoners. The
Prussians, it is said, did not lose a single man on
this occasion ; and two soldiers only were slightly
wounded, the Austrians having made but a slight
resistance.

1757. GEORGE IL 71

NEUTRALITY OF THE EMPEROR, AND BEHA-
VIOUR OF THE DUTCH.
Whatever the conduct of the court of Vienna
might have been to the allies of Great Britain,
still, however, proper regard was shewn to the
subjects of this crown : for an edict was published
at Florence on the thirteenth of February, where
in his imperial majesty, as grand duke of Tus
cany, declared his intention of observing the
most scrupulous neutrality in the then situation
of affairs. All the ports in that duchy were
accordingly enjoined to pay a strict regard to
this declaration, in all cases relating to the French
or Enghsh ships in the Mediterranean. The good
effects of this injunction soon appeared ; for two
prizes, taken by the English, having put into Porto
Ferraro, the captains of two Frehch privateers
addressed themselves to the governor, alledging,
that they were captures of a pirate, and request
ing that they might be obliged to put to sea;
but the governor prudently rephed, that, as they
came in under English colours, he would protect
them ; and forbad the privateers, at their peril,
to commit any violence. They, however, little
regarding the governor's orders, prepared for
sailing, and sent their boats to cut out one oTthe
prizes. The captain, firing at their boats, Jkilled
one of their men, which alarming the sentinels,
1

72 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
notice was sent to the governor ; and he, in con
sequence, ordered the two privateers immediately
to depart. — The conduct of the Dutch was rather
cautious than spirited Whilst his Prussian ma
jesty was employed on the side of Bohemia and
Saxony, the French auxiliaries began their march
to harass his defenceless territories in the neigh
bourhood of the Low Countries. A free passage
Avas demanded of the states-general through Na
mur and Maestricht, for the provisions, ammu
nition, and artillery belongingto this new army;
and though the English ambassador remonstrated
against their compliance, and represented it as a
breach of the neutrality their high mightinesses
declared they would observe, yet, after some
hesitation, the demand was granted ; and their
inability to prevent the passage of the French
troops, should it be attempted by force, pleaded
in excuse of their conduct.
Scarce had the French army, commanded by
the prince de Soubise, set foot in the territories
of Juliers and Cologn, when they found them
selves in possession of the duchy of Cleves and
the county of Marck, where all things were left
open to them, the Prussians, who evacuated their
posts, taking their rout along the river Lippe,
in order to join some regiments from Magde-
bourg, who were sent to facilitate their retreat
The distressed inhabitants, thus exposed to the
calamities of war from an unprovoked enemy,
were instantly ordered to furnish contributions,

1757. GEORGE IL 73
forage, and provisions, for the use of their in
vaders ; and what was still more terrifying to
them, the partisan Fischer, whose cruelties, the
last war, they still remembered with horror, was
again let loose upon them by the inhumanity of
the empress-queen. Wesel was immediately oc
cupied by the French : Emtnerick and Maseyk
soon shared the same fate ; and the city of Guel
dres was besieged, the Prussians seeming resolved
to defend this last place : to which end they
opened the sluices, and laid the country under
water. Those who retreated, filing off to the
north-west of Paderborn, entered the county of
Ritberg, the property of count Caunitz Ritberg,
great chancellor to the empress-queen. After
taking his castle, in which the}' found thirty
pieces of cannon, they raised contributions, in the
district, to the amount of forty thousand crowns.
As the Prussians retired, the French took pos
session of the country they quitted in the name
of the empress-queen, whose commissary attended
them for that purpose. The general rendezvous
of these troops, under prince Soubise, was ap
pointed at Neuss, in the electorate of Cologn,
where a laige body of French was assembled by
the first of April. The Austrians, in their turn,
were not idle. Marshal Brown visited the forti
fications of Brinn and Koninsgratz ; reviewed
the army of the late prince Picolomini, now under
the command of general Serbelloni; and put his

74 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
own army in march for Kostlitz, on the Elbe,
where he proposed to establish his head-quarters.

DECLARATION OF THE CZARINA AGAINST
THE KING OF PRUSSIA.
During the recess of the armies, while the
rigours of winter forced them to suspend their
hostile operations, and the greatest preparations
were making to open the campaign with all pos
sible vigour, count Bestucheff, great chancellor
of Russia, wrote a circular letter to the primate,
senators, and ministers of the republic of Po
land, setting forth, " That the empress of Russia
was extremely affected with the King of Poland's
distress, which she thought could not but excite
the compassion of all other powers, but more
especially of his allies : that the fatal consequences
which might result from the rash step taken by
the king of Prussia, not only with respect to the
tranquillity of Europe in general, but of each
power in particular, and more especially of the
neighbouring countries, were so evident, that the
interest and safety of the several princes ren
dered it absolutely necessary they should make
it a common cause : not only to obtain proper
satisfaction for those courts whose dominions had
been so unjustly attacked, but likewise to pre
scribe such bounds to the king of Prussia as

1757. GEORGE IL 75
might secure them from any future apprelien-
sions from so enterprising and restless a neigh
bour : that, with this view, the empress was
determined to assist the king of Poland with a
considerable body of troops, which Avere actually
upon their march,' under the command of gene
ral Apraxin ; and that, as there would be an ab
solute necessity for, their marching through part
of the territories of Poland, her imperial majesty
hoped the republic would not fail to facilitate
their march as much as possible." She further
recommended to the republic, to take some sa
lutary measures for frustrating the designs of the
king of Prussia, and restoring harmony among
themselves, as the most conducive measure to
these good purposes. In this, however, the Poles
were so far from following heradvice, that, though
sure of being sacrificed in this contest, which
side soever prevailed, they divided into parties,
with no less zeal, than if they had as much to
hope from the prevalence of one side, as to fear
from that of the other. Some of the Palatines
were for denying a passage to the Russians, and
others were for affording them the utmost assist
ance in their power. With this cause of con
tention, others of a more privale nature fatally
concurred, by means of a misunderstanding be
tween the prince Czartorinski and count Mnisnec.
' This letter was written in December ; and thc Russians, as
we observed before, began their march in November.

76 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
Almost every inhabitant of Warsaw was involved
in the quarrel ; and the violence of these factions
was so great, that scarce a night passed without
bloodshed, many dead bodies, chiefly Saxons,
being found in the streets every morning.
In the mean time. Great Britain, unsettled
in her ministry and councils at home, unsuccess
ful in her attempts abroad, judging peace, if it
could be obtained on just and honourable terms,
more eligible than a continental war, proposed
several expedients to the empress-queen for re
storing the tranquillity of Germany ; but her
answer was, " That, whenever she perceived'
that the expedients proposed would indemnify
her for the extraordinary expences she had in
curred in her own defence, repair the heavy
losses sustained by her ally the king of Poland,
and afford a proper security for their future
safety, she would be ready to give the same proofs
she had always given of her desire to restore
peace ; but it could not be expected she should
listen to expedients, of which the king of Prussia
was to reap the whole advantage, after Jiaving
begun the war, and wasted the dominions of a
prince, who relied for his security upon the faith
of treaties, and the appearance of harmony be
tween them. " Upon the receipt of this answer,
the court of London made several proposals to
the czarina, to interpose as meadiatrix between
the courts of Vienna and Berlin, but they were
rejected with marks of displeasure and resent-

1757. GEORGE IL . 77
ment. When sir Charles Hanbury Williams, the
British ambassador, continued to urge his soli
citations very strongly, and even with some hints
of menaces, an answer was delivered to him by
order of the empress, purporting, " That her
imperial majesty was astonished at his demand,
after he had already been made acquainted with
the measures she had taken to effect a reconcili
ation between the courts of Vienna and Berlin.
He might easily conceive, as matters were then
situated, that the earnestness with which he now
urged the same proposition must necessarily sur
prise her" imperial majesty, as it showed but little
regard to her former declaration. The empress,
therefore, commanded his excellency to be told
that, as her intentions contained in her first an
swer remained absolutely invariable, no ulterior
propositions for a mediation would be listened
to ; and that as for the menaces made use of by
his excellency, and particularly that the king of
Prussia himself would soon attack the Russian
army, such threats served only to weaken the
ambassador's proposals ; to confirm still more,
were it possible, the empress in her resolutions ;
to justify them to the whole world, and to render
the king of Prussia more blameable."

78 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.

KFNfG OF PRUSSIA ENTERS BOHEMIA. THE
AUSTRIANS DEFEATED AT REICHENBERG.
The season now drawing on in which the troops
of the contending powers would be able to take
the field, and the alarming progress of the Rus
sians being happily stopped, his Prussian majesty,
whose maxim it has always been to keep the seat
of war as far as possible from his own dominions,
resolved to car];'y it into Bohemia, and there to
attack the Austrians on all sides. To this end he
ordered his armies in Saxony, Misnia, Lusatia,
and Silesia, to enter Bohemia in four different
and opposite places, nearly at the same time. The
first of these he commanded in person, assisted
by mareschal Keith ; the second was led by prince
Maurice of Anhalt-Dessau, the third by prince
"Ferdinand of Brunswick-Bevern, and the fourth
by mareschal Schwerin. In consequence of this
plan, mareschal Schwerin's army entered Bohemia
on tbe eighteenth of April, in five columns, at as
many different places. The design was so well
concerted, that the Austrians had not the least
suspicion of their approach till they were past the
frontiers, and then they filled the dangerous de
file of Gulder-Oelse with pandours, to dispute
that passage ; but they were no sooner discovered,
than two battalions of Prussian grenadiers at
tacked them with their bayonets fixed, and routed

1757. GEORGE IL 79
them. The prince of Anhalt passed tlie frontiers,
from Misnia, and penetrated into Bohemia on
the twenty-first of April, without any resistance.
The prince of Bevern, on the twentieth of the
same month, having marched at the head of a
body of the army, which was in Lusatia, from
the quarterns of cantonment near Zittau, possessed
himself immediately of the first post on the fron
tier of Bohemia, at Krouttau and Grasenstein,
without the loss of a single man : drove away the
enemy the same day from Kratzen, and proceeded
to Machendorf, near Reichenberg. The same
morning, Putkammer's hussars, who formed part
of a corps, commanded by a colonel and major,
routed some hundreds of the enemy's cuirassiers,
posted before Cohlin, under the conduct of prince
Lichtenstein, took three officers and upwards of
sixty horse prisoners, and sP dispersed the rest,
that they were scarcely able to rally near Kratzen.
Night coming on obliged the troops to remain
in the open air till the next morning, when, at
break of day, the Prussians marched in two co
lumns by Habendoff, towards the enemy's army,
amounting to twenty- eight thousand men, com
manded by count Konigseg, and posted near Reich
enberg. As soon as the troops were formed, they
advanced towards the enemy's cavalry, drawn up
in three lines of about thirty squadrons. The two
wings were sustained by the infantry, which was
posted among felled trees and entrenchments.
The Prussians immediately cannonaded the epe-

80 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
my's cavalry, who received it with resolution,
having on their right hand a village, and on their
left a wood, where they had entrenched them
selves. But the prince of Bevern having caused
fifteen squadrons of dragoons of the second line
to advance, and the wood on his right to be at
tacked at the same time by the battalions of
grenadiers of Kahlden and of Moellendorf, and
by the regiment of the prince of Prussia, his dra
goons, who, by clearing the ground, and possess
ing the entrenchment, had their flanks covered,
entirely routed the enemy's cavalry. In the mean
time, colonel Putkammer and major Schenfield,
with their hussars, though flanked by the enemy's ,
artillery, gave the Austrian horse grenadiers a
very warm reception, whilst general Lestewitz,
with the left wing of the Prussians, attacked the
redoubts that covered Reichenberg. Though
there were many defiles and rising grounds to
pass, all occupied by the Austrians, yet the regi
ment of Darmstadt forced the redoubt, and put
to flight and pursued the enemy, after some dis
charge of their artillery and small arms, from one
eminence to another, for the distance of a mile,
when they left off the pursuit. The action be
gan at half an hour after six, and continued till
eleven. About one thousand of the Austrians
were killed and wounded ; among the former were
general Porporati and count Hohenfelds, and
among the latter, prince Lichtenstein and count
Mansfeld. Twenty of their officers, and four

1757. GEORGE IL 81
hundred soldiers, were taken prisoners, and they
also lost three standards. On the side of the
Prussians, seven subalterns, and about an hundred
men, were killed, and sixteen officers and an
hundred and fifty men wounded. After this
battle, mareschal Schwerin joined the prince of
Bevern, made himself master of the greatest part
of the circle of Buntzlau, and took a consider
able magazine from the Austrians, whom he dis
lodged. The prince Anhalt-Dessau, with his
corps, drew near the king of Prussia's army ;
then the latter advanced as far as Budin, from
whence the Austrians, who had an advantageous
camp there, retired to Westwarn, half way be
tween Budin and Prague ; and his Prussian ma
jesty having passed the Egra, his army, and that
of mareschal Schwerin, were so situated, as to be
able to act jointly.
These advantages were but a prelude to a
much more decisive victory, which the king
himself gained a few days after. Preparing to
enter Bohemia, at a distance from any of the
corps commanded by his generals, he made a
movement as if he had intended to march to
wards Egra. The enemy, deceived by this" feint,
and iijaagining he was going to execute some
design, distinct from the object of other armies,
detached a body of twenty thousand men to ob
serve his motions ; then he made a sudden and
masterly movement to the left, by which he cut
off all communication between that detachment
VOL. V, 6

82 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
and the main army of the Austrians, which, ha
ving been reinforced by the army of Moravia, by
the remains of the corps lately defeated, by the
duke of Bevern, and by several regiments of the
garrison of Prague, amounted to near an hundred
thousand men. They were strongly entrenched
on the banks of the Moldaw, to the north of
Prague, in a camp so fortified b y every advan
tage of nature, and every contrivance of art, as
to be deemed almost impregnable. The left wing
of the Austrians, thus situated, was guarded by
the mpuntains of Ziscka, and the right extended
as far as Herboholi : prince Charles of Lorraine,
and mareschal Brown, who commanded them,
seemed determined to maintain this advantage
ous post; but the king of Prussia overlooked all
difficulties. Having thrown several bridges oyer
the Moldaw on the fifth of May, he passed that.
river in the morning of the sixth, with thirty
thousand men, leaving the rest ofthe army under
the command of the prince of Anhalt-Dessau ;
and being immediately joined by the troops under
mareschal Schwerin and the prince of Bevern,
resolved to attack the enemy on the same day.
In consequence of this resolution, his army filed
off on the left by Potschernitz ; and at the same
time, count Brown wheeled to the right, to avoid
being flanked. The Prussians continued their
march. to BichwitZj traversing several defiles and
morasses, which, for a little time, separated the
infantry from the rest of the army. The foot

1757. GEORGE IL 83
began the attack too precipitately, and were at
first repulsed, but they soon recovered them
selves. While the king of Prussia took the'enemy
in flank, mareschal Schwerin advanced to a
marshy ground, which suddenly stopping his ar
my, threatened to disconcert the whole plan of
operation. In this emergency, he immediately
dismounted, and taking the standard of the re
giment in his hand, boldl}' entered the morass,
crying out, " Let all brave Prussians follow me."
Inspired by the example of this greatcommander,
now eighty-two years of age, all the troops pressed
fbrward, and though he was unfortunately killed
by the first fire, their ardour abated not till they
had totally defeated the enemy. Thus fell ma
reschal Schwerin, loaded with years and glory,
an officer, whose superior talents in the military
art had been displayed in a long course of faith
ful service. In the mean time, the Prussian in
fantry, which had been separated in the march,
forming themselves afresh, renewed the attack
on the enemy's right, and entirely broke it, while
their cavalry, after three charges, obliged that
of the Austrians to retire in great confusion, the
centre being at the same time totally routed.
The left wing of the Prussians then marched
immediately towards Michely, and being there
joined by the horse, renewed their attack, while
the enemy were retreating hastily towards Sasza-
war. Meanwhile, the troops on the right of the
Prussian army attacked the remains of the left

84 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. W57.
wing ofthe Austrians, and made themselves mas
ters of three batteries. But the behaviour of the
infantry, in the last attack, was so successful, as
to leave little room for this part of the cavdlry to
act. Prince Henry of Prussia, and the prince of
Bevern, signalized themselves on this occasion
in storming two batteries ; prince Ferdinand of
Brunswick took the left wing ofthe Austrians in
flank, while the king, with his left, and a body of
cavalry, secured the passage bf the Moldaw. In
short, after a very long and obstinate engage
ment, and many signal examples of valour on both
sides, the Austrians were forced to abandon the
field of battle, leaving behind sixty pieces of
cannon, all their tents, baggage, military chest,
and, m a word, their whole camp. The weight
of the battle fell upon the right wing ofthe Aus
trians, the remains of which, to the amount of
ten or twelve thousand men, fled towards Benes-
chau, where they afterwards assembled under M.
Pretlach, general of horse. The infantry retired
towards Prague, and threw themselves into that
city with their comma"nders, prince Charles of
Lorraine, and mareschal Brown ; but they were
much harassed in their retreat by a'detachment
of the Prussians under mareschal Keith. The
Prussians took, on this occasion, ten standards,
and upwards of four thousand prisoners, thirty of
whom were officers of'rank. Their loss amounted
to about two thousand five hundred killed, and
about three thousand wounded. Among the

1757 GEORGE IL S3
former were general d'Amstel, the'princepf HpI-
stein-Beck, the cplonels Goltze and Manstein, arid
the lieutenant-colonel Roke. Among the lattery
the generals Wenterfield, De la Mothe, Feuque,
Hautcharmoy, Blakensee, and Plettenberg. The
number of the killed and wounded on the side of
the Austrians was much greater. Among these
last was mareschal Brown, who received a wound,
which, from the chagrin he suffered, rather than
from its own nature, proved mortal. The day
after the battle, colonel Meyer was detached
with a battalion of Prussian pandours, and four
hundred hussars, to destroy a very considerable
and valuable magazine of the Austrians at Pilsen,
and this service he performed. He also com
pleted the destruction of several others of less
importance ; by the los^ of -which, however, all
possibility of subsistence was cut off from any
succours the Austrians might have expected from
the empire.

PRAGUE INVESTED.
The Prussians following their blow, immediately
invested Prague on both sides of the river, the
king commanding on one side and mareschal
Keith on the other. In four days the whole city
was surrounded with lines and entrenchments,
by which all communication from without was
entirely cut off: prince Charles of Lorraine and

m HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
mareschal Brown, the-twO princes of Saxony, the
prince of Modena, the duke d'Aremberg, count
Lacy, and several other persons of great distinc
tion, were shut up Avithin the Avails, together, with
above twenty thousand of the Austrian army, who
had taken refuge in Prague after their defeat.
Every thing continued quiet on both sides, scarce
a cannon shot being fired by either for some time
after this blockade was formed ; and in the mean
time, after this blockade, niade themselves mas
ters of Cziscaberg, an eminence which commands
the town, where the Austrians had a strong re
doubt, continuing likewise to strengthen their-
works. Already they had made a sally, and taken
some other ineffectual steps to recover this post :
but a more decisive stroke was necessary. Ac
cordingly, a design was formed of attacking the
Prussian army in the night with a body of twelve
thousand men, to be sustained by all the grena
diers, volunteers, pandours, and Hungarian in
fantry. In case an impression could be made on
the king's lines, it was intended to open a way,
sword in hand, through the camp of the besieg-,.
ers, and to ease Prague of the multitude of forces
locked up useless within the walls, serving only
to consume the provisions of the garrison, and
hasten the surrender of the place. Happily a
deserter gave the prince of Prussia intelligence
of the enemy's design about eleven o'clock at
night. Proper measures were immediately taken
for their reception, and, in less than a quarter of
9

1757. GEORGE H. 87
an hpur, the whole -army was under arms. This
desigrL was conducted with so much silence, that,
though the Prussians were warned of it, they could
discover nothing before the enemy had charged
their advanced posts. Their attack was begun
on the side of the little town, against mareschal
Keith's camp, and the left wing of the Prussian
army encamped on the Moldaw. From hence,
it is probable, the Austrians proposed not only to
destroy the batteries that were raising, but to
attack the bridges of communication Avhich the
Prussians threw over the Moldaw, at about a ,
quarter ofa German mile above and below Prague,
at Branig and Podbaba. The greatest alarm be
gan about two p'clock, when the enemy hoped
to have come silently and unexpectedly upon tbe
miners, but they had left work about a quarter
of an hour before. At the report of the first
piece which they, fired, the piquet pf the third
battalion of Prussian guards, to the number of
an hundred men, who marched out of the camp
to sustain the body Avhich covered the works,
was thrown into some confusion, from the dark
ness of the iiight, which prevented their dis
tinguishing the Austrian troops from their own.
Lieutenant Jork, detached with two platoons to
reconnoitre the enemy, attempting to discover
their disposition by kindling a fire, captain Rodig,
by the light of this fire, perceived the enemy's
situation, immediately formed the design of fall
ing upon thein in flank, and gave orders to. his

88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1737., (
men to fire in platoon's, which they performed,
mutually repeating the signal given by their
commander. The enemy fled with the greater
precipitation, as they were ignorant of the weak
ness of the piquet, and as the shouting of the
Prussian soldiers made them mistake it for a nu
merous body. Many of them deserted, many
took shelter in Prague, and many more were
driven into the river and drowned. At the same
time this attack began, a regiment of horse gre
nadiers fell upon a redoubt which the Prussians
had thrown up, supported by the Hungarian in
fantry : they returned three times to the assault,
and were as often beat back by the Prussians,
whom they found it impossible to dislodge;
though prince ^ Ferdinand of Brunswick's bat
talion, which guarded this post, suffered ex
tremely. During this attack the enemy kept an
incessant fire with their musquetry upon the
whole front of the Prussians, from the convent
of St Margaret to the river. At three in the
morning the Prussians quitted their camp to en
gage the enemy. The battalion of Pannewitz
attacked a building called the Red-house, situ
ated at the bottom of a decHvity before Wellas-
towitz. The pandours, who had taken possession
of this house, fired upon them incessantly from
all the doors and windows until they were dis
lodged; and the Prussian battahons were obhged
to sustain the fire both of cannon and musquetry,
for above two hours, when the enemy retired to

1757. GEORGE IL 89
the city, except the pandours, Avho again took
possession ofthe Red-house, which the Prussians
were forced to abandon, because,the artillery of
Prague kept a continual fire upon it froni the
moment it was known to be in their hands.
The Austrians left behind them many dead and
wounded, besides deserters ; and the Prussians,
notwithstanding the loss of several officers and
private men, made some prisoners. Prince, Fer
dinand, the king of Prussia's youngest brother,
had a horse killed under him, and was slightly
wounded in the face.
The Prussian works being completed, and
heavy artillery arrived, four batteries erected
on the banks of the MoldaAV, began to play with
great fury. Near three hundred bombs, besides
an infinity of ignited balls, Avere thrown into the
city in the space of twenty-four hours. The
scene was lamentable, houses, men, and horses
wrapped in flames, and reduced to ashes. The
confusion within, together with the want of pro
per artillery and ammunition, obhged the Aus
trians to cease firing, and furnished his Prussian
majesty with all the opportunity he could wish of
pouring destrCiction upon this unfortunate city.
The horrors of war seemed to have extinguished
the principles of humanity. No regard Avas paid
to the distress of the inhabitants ; the Austrians
obstinately maintained possession, and the Prus
sians practised every stratagem, every barbarous
refinement, that constitutes the mihtary art, to

90 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
oblige them to capitulate. After the conflagra
tion had lasted three days, and consumed a pro
digious number of buildings, the principal in
habitants, burghers, and clergy, perceiving their
city on the point of being reduced to a heap of
rubbish, besought the commander, in a body, to
hearken to terms ; but he was deaf to the voice
of pity, and, instead of being moved Avith their
supplications, drove out twelve thousand persons,
the least .useful in defending the city. These, by
order of his Prussian majesty, were again forced
back, which soon produced so great a scarcity
of provision within the walls, that the Austrians
were reduced to the necessity of eating horse
flesh, forty horses being daily distributed to the
troops, and the same food sold at four-pence a
pound to the inhabitants. However, as there
still remained great abundance of corn, they were
far from being brought to the last extremity.
Two vigorous and well-conducted sallies were
made, but they proved unsuccessful. The only
advantage resulting from them, Avas the perpe
tual alarm in which they kept the Prussian camp,
and the vigilance required to guard against the
attacks of a numerous, resolute, and desperate
garrison.

1757. GEORGE IL 91

COUNT DAUN TAKES THE COMMAND OF THE
^ AUSTRIAN ARMY. HIS CHARACTER.
Whatever difficulties might have attended the
conquest pf Prague, certain it is, that the affairs
of the empress-queen were in the most critical
and desperate situation. Her grand army dis
persed in parties, and flying for subsistence in
small corps; their princes and commanders cooped
up in Prague; that capital in imminent dg,nger
of being taken, the flourishing kingdom of Bo
hemia ready to fall into the hands of the con-
qlieror ; a considerable army on the point of
surrendering prisoners of war; all the queen's
hereditary dominions open aniexposed,the whole
fertile tract of country from Egra to the Moldaw,
in actual possession of the Prussians, the distance
to the archduchy of Austria not very consider
able, and secured only by the Danube'; Vienna
under the utmost apprehensions of a siege, and
the imperial family ready to take refuge in Hun
gary ; the Prussian forces deemed invincible,
and the sanguine friends of that monarch already
sharing with him, in imagination, the spoils of
the ancient and illustrious house of Austria. Such
was the aspect of affairs, and such the difficulties
to be combated, when Leopold, count Daun, was
appointed to the command of the Austrian forces,
to stem the torrent of disgrace, and turn the for-

92, HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
tune of the Avar. This general, tutored by long
experience, under the best officers in Europe, and
the particular favourite ofthe great Kevenhuller,
was now, for the first time, raised to act. in chief,
at the head of an army on which depended the
fate of Austria and the empire. Born of a noble
family, he relied solely upon his own merit, with
out soliciting court favour ; he aspired after the
highest preferment, and succeeded by mere dint
of superior worth. His progress from the station
of a subaltern was slow and silent ; his promotion
to the chief command was received with uni
versal esteem and applause. Cautious, steady,
penetrating, and sagacious, he Avas opposed as
another Fabius to the modern Hannibal, to check
the fire and vigour of that monarch by prudent
foresight and Avary circumspection. Arriving at
Boemischbrod, within a fe\v miles of Prague, the
day after the late defeat, he halted to collect the
fugitive corps and broken remains ofthe Austrian
army, and soon drew together a force so con
siderable, as to attract the notice of his Prussian
majesty, who detached the prince of Bevern, with
twenty battalions, and thirty squadrons, to at
tack him before numbers should render him
formidable. Daun was too prudent to give battle,
with dispirited troops, to an army flushed with
victory. He retired on the first advice that
the Prussians were advancing, and took post at
Kolin, where he entrenched himself strongly,
opened the way for the daily supply of recruits

1757. GEORGE IL 93
sent to his army, and inspired the garrison of
Prague Avith fresh courage, in expectation of be
ing soon relieved. Here he kept close within
his camp, divided the Prussian force, by obliging
the king to employ near half his army in watch
ing his designs, weakened his efforts against
Prague, harassed the enemy by cutting off their
convoys, and restored, by degrees, the languish
ing and almost desponding spirits of his troops.
Perfectly acquainted with the ardout and disci
pline ofthe Prussian forces, with the enterprising
and impetuous disposition of that monarch, and
sensible that his situation would prove irksome
and embarrassing to the enemy, he improved it
to the best advantage, seemed to foresee all the
consequences, and directed every measure to
produce them. Thus he retarded the enemy's
operations, and assiduously avoided precipitating
an action until the Prussian vigour should be ex
hausted, their strength impaired by losses and
desertion,, the first fire and ardour of their ge
nius extinguished by continual fatigue and in
cessant alarms, and until the impression made on
bis own men, by the late defeat, should, in, some
degree, be effaced. The event justified Daun's
conduct. His army grew every day more nu
merous, while his Prussian majesty began to ex
press the utmost impatience at the length of the
siege. When that monarch first invested Prague,
it was on the presumption, that the numerous
forces within the walls would, by consuming all

94 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ' 1757.
the provision, oblige it to surrender in a few
days ; but, perceiving that the Austrians had still a
considerable quantity of corn, that count Daun's
army was daily increasing, and would soon be
powerful enough, not only to cope with the de
tachment under the prince of Bevern, but in a
condition to raise the siege, he determined to
give the count battle with one part of his army,
while he kept Prague blocked up with the other.
The Austrians, amounting now to sixty thousand
men, were deeply entrenched, and defended by
a numerous train of artillery, placed on redoubts
and batteries erected on the most advantageous
posts. Every accessible part of the camp was
fortified with lines and heavy pieces of battering
cannon, and the foot of the hills secured by dif
ficult defiles. Yet, strong as this situation might
appear, formidable as the Austrian forces cer
tainly were, his Prussian majesty undertook to
dislodge them with a body of horse and foot not
exceeding thirty-two thousand men.

KING OF PRUSSIA DEFEATED AT KOLIN.
On the thirteenth day of June, the king of Prus
sia quitted the camp before Prague, escorted by
a few battalions and squadrons, with Avhich he
joined the prince of Bevern at Milkowitz. Ma
reschal Keith, it is said, strenuously opposed this
measure, and advised either raising the siege

1757. GEORGE IL 95
entirely, and attacking the Austrians Avith the
united forces of Prussia, or postponing the attack
on the camp at Kolin, until his majesty should
either gain possession of the city, or some at
tempts should be made to oblige him to quit his
posts. From either measure, an advantage would
have resulted. With his whole army, he might
probably have defeated count Daun, or at least
have obliged him to retreat. Had he continued
Avithin his lines at Prague, the Austrian general
could not have constrained him to raise the siege
without losing his own advantageous situation,
and giving battle upon terms nearly equal. But
the king, elated with success, impetuous in his
valour, and confident of the superiority of his
own troops, in ppint of discipline, thought all re
sistance must sink under the weight of his victo
rious arm, and yield to that courage which had
already surmounted such difficulties, disregarded
the mareschal's sage counsel, and marched up to
the attack undaunted, and even assured of suc
cess. By the eighteenth, the two armies were in
sight, and his majesty found, that count Daun
had not only fortified his camp with all the heavy
cannon of Olmutz, but was strongly reinforced
with troops from Moravia and Austria, which had
joined him after the king's departure from Prague.
He found the Austrians drawn up in three lines
upon the high grounds between Genlitz and St
John the Baptist. Diffic ult as it was to approach
their situation, the Prussian infantry marched up

m HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
with firmness, while shot was poured- like hail
from the enemy's batteries, and began the attack
about three in the afternoon. They drove the
Austrians Avith irresistible intrepidity from two
eminences secured with heavy cannon, and two
villages defended by several battalions ; but, in
attacking the third eminence, were flanked by
the Austrian cavalry, by grape-shot poured from
the batteries ; and, after a violent conflict, and
prodigious loss of men, thrown into disorder.
Animated with the king's presence, they rallied,
and returned w^ith double ardour to the charge,
but were a second time repulsed. Seven times
successively did prince Ferdinand renew the at
tack, performing every duty of a great general
and valiant soldier, though always with the same
fortune. The inferiority of the Prussian infantry,
the disadvantages of ground, where the cavalry
could not act, the advantageous situation of the
enemy, their numerous artillery, their entrench
ments, niimbers, and obstinacy, joined to the skill
and conduct of their general, all conspired to
defeat the hopes of the Prussians, to surmount
their valour, and oblige them to retreat. The
king then made a last and furious effort, at the
head of the cavalry, on the enemy's left Aving,
but with as little success as all the former at
tacks, Every effort was made, and every attempt
was productive only of greater losses and mis
fortunes. At last, after exposing his person in
the most perilous situations, his Prussian majesty
2

1757. GEORGE IL 97
drew off his forces from the field of battle, re
tiring in such good order, in sight of the enemy,
as prevented a pursuit, or the loss of his artillery
and baggage. Almost all the officers on either
side distinguished themselves ; and count Daun,
Avhose conduct emulated that of his Prussian ma
jesty, received two slight AVOunds, and-had a horse
killed under him. The losses of both armies were
very considerable ; on that of the Prussians, the
killed and wounded amounted to eight thousand ;
less pernicious, however, to his majesty's cause
than the frequent desertion, and other innumer
able ill consequences that ensued.
When the Prussian army arrived at Nim-
burgh, his majesty, leaving the command with
the prince of Bevern, took horse, and, escorted
by twelve or fourteen hussars, set out for Prague,
Avhere he arrived next morning without halting,
after having been the Avhole preceding day on
horseback. Immediately he gave orders for send-
ingoff all his artillery, ammunition, and baggage;
these were executed with so much expedition,
that the tents were strudk, and the army on their
march, before the garrison were informed of the
king's defeat. Thus terminated the battle of
Kolin and siege of Prague, in which the acknow
ledged errors of. his Prussian majesty were, in
some measure, atpned by the candpur with vvhich
he pwned his mistake, both in a letter to the
earl mareschal," and in conversation with several
' See note [A], vol. vi.
VOL, V. H

m HISTORY OF ENGLAND. l757.
of his general officers. Most people, indeed,
imagined the king highly blameable for check
ing the ardour of his troops to stop and lay siege
to Prague. They thought he should have pur
sued his conquests, over-run Austria, Moravia,
and all the hereditary dominions, from which
alone the empress-queen could draw speedy sue
cours. A body of twenty or thirty thousand men
would have blocked up Prague, while the remain
der of the Prussian forces might have obliged
the imperial family tp retire from Vienna, and
effectually prevented count Daun from assem
bling another army. It Avas universally expected
he would have bent his march straight to this
capital ; but he dreaded leaving the numerous
army in Prague behind, and it was of great im
portance to complete the conquest of Bohemia.
The prince of Prussia marched all night with his
corps to Nimburg, where he joined the prince
of Bevern, and mareschal Keith retreated next
day. Count Brown having died before, of the
wounds he received on the sixth of May, prince
Charles of Lorraine sallied out with a large body
of Austrians, and attacked thte rear of the Prus
sians ; but did no further mischief than killing
about two hundred of their men. The siege of
Prague being thus raised, the imprisoned Aus
trians received their deliverer, count Daun, with
inexpressible j,oy, and their united forces became
greatly superior to those of the king bf Prussia,
who was in a short time obliged to evacuate Bq»
12

1757. GEORGE IL 99
hemia, and take refuge in Saxony. The Austrians
harassed him as much as possible in his retreat ;
but their armies, though- superior in numbers,
were not in a condition, from their late suffer
ings, to make any decisive attempt upon him, as
the frontiers of Saxony abound with situations
easily defended.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEFENCE OF
HANOVER.
Having thus described the progress of the Prus
sians in Bohemia, we must cast our eyes on the
transactions which distinguished the campaign in
Westphalia. To guard against the storm which
menaced Hanover in particular, orders were trans
mitted thither to recruit the troops that had been
sent back from England, to augment each com
pany, to remount the cavalry with the utmost
expedition ; not to suffer any horses to be con
veyed out of the electorate ; to furnish the ma
gazines in that country with all things necessary
for fifty thousand men. Of these, twenty-six
thousand were to be Hanoverians, and, in con
sequence of engagements entered into for that
purpose, twelve thousand Hessians, six thousand
Brunswickers, two thousand Saxe-Gothans, and
a thousand Lunenburghers, to be joined by a con
siderable body of Prussians, the whole commanded
by l]is royal highness the duke of Cumberland.

100 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
The king of England having published a mani
festo, dated at Hanover, specifying his motives
for taking the field in Westphalia, the troops of
the confederated states that Avere to compose the
allied army, under the nfme of an army of ob^
servation, began to assemble with all possible
dihgence near Bielefeldt. Thither the generals,
appointed to command the several divisions, re
paired to settle the plan of operations with their
commander, the duke of Cumberland, who, ha
ving left London on the ninth of April, arrived
on the sixteenth at Hanover, and from thence
repaired to the army, which, having been joined
by three Prussian regiments that retired from
Wesel, consisted of thirty-seven battalions and
thirty- four squadrons. Of these, six battalions
and six squadrons were posted at Bielefeldt, under
the command of lieutenant-general baron de
Sporcken ; six battalions, under lieutenant-gene
ral de Block, at Hervorden ; six battalions and
four squadrons, under major-general Ledebour,
between Hervorden and Minden; seven battalions
' and ten squadrons, under lieutenant-general
d'Obergin the neighbourhood of Hamelen; and
five battalions and four squadrons, under major-
general de Hans, near Nienburg. The head-.
quarters of his royal highness Avere at Bielefeldt,

1757. GEORGE IL 101

SKIRMISHES WITH THE FRENCH.
In the mean time, the French on the Lower
Rhine continued filing off incessantly. The siege
of Gueldres was converted into a blockade, oc
casioned by the difficulties the enemy found in
raising batteries ; and a party of Hanoverians
having passed the Weser, as well to ravage the
country of Paderbourn as to reconnoitre the
French, carried off several waggons loaded Avith
wheat and oats, destined for the territories of the
elector of Cologn. On the other hand, colonel
Fischer having had an engagement with a small
body of Hanoverians, in the county of Tecklen-
burgh, routed them, 'and made some prisoners.
After several other petty skirmishes between the
French and the Hanoverians, the duke of Cum
berland altered the position of his camp, by
placing it between Bielefeldt and Hervorden, in
hopes of frustrating the design of the enemy ;
who, declining to attack him on the side of Brac-
wede, after having reconnoitred his situation
several days, made a motion on their left, as if
they meant to get between him and the Weser.
This step was no sooner taken, than, pn the thir
teenth of June in the afternoon, having received
advice that the enemy had caused a large body
of troops, followed by a second, to ijiarch on his
right to Burghotte, he ordered his army to march

1G2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
that evening toAvards Hervorden ; and, at thc
same time, major-general Hardenberg marched
with four battalions of grenadiers, and a regi
ment of horse, to reinforce that post. Count
Schulenberg covered the left of the, march Avith
a battalion of grenadiers, a regiment of horse,
and the light troops of Buckeburgh. The whole
army marched in two columns The right, com
posed of horse, and followed by two battalions,
to cover their passage through the enclosures and
defiles, passed by the right; of Bielefeldt ; and the
left, consisting of infantry, marched by the left
of the same town. The van-guard of the French
army attacked the rear-guard of the allies, com
manded by major-general Einsiedel, very briskly,
and at first put them into some confusion, but
they immediately recovered themselves. This
was ii> the beginning of the night. At break of
day the enemy's reinforcements returned to the
charge, but were again repulsed, nor could they
once break through lieutenant colonel Alfeldt's
Hanoverian guards, which closed the army's march
with a detachment of regular troops, and a ncAV-
raised corps of hunters.

DUKE OF CUMBERLAND PASSES THE WESER,
The allies encamped at Cofeldt the fourteenth,
and remained there all the next day, when the
enemy's detachments advanced to the gates of

1757. GEORGE IL WB
Hervorden, and made a feint as if they wotild
attaick the town, after having summoned it to
surrender; but they retired without attempting
any thing further ; and, in the mean time, the
troops that were posted at Hervorden, and formed
the rear-guard, passed the Weser on the side of
Remen, without any molestation, and encaimped
at Holtzuysen. A body of troops, which had been
left at Bielefeldt, to cover the duke's retreat,
after some skirmishes with the French, rejoined
the army in the neighbourhood of Herfort; and
a few days after, his royal highness drew near
his bridges on the Weser, and sent over his artil
lery, baggage, and ammunition. At the same
time some detachments passed the river on the
right, between Minden and Oldendorp; and
marked out a new camp advantageously situated,
having the Weser in front, and the right and left
covered with eminences and marshes. There the
army under hisroyal highness re-assembled, and
the French fixed their head-quarters at Bielefeldt,
which the Hanoverians had quitted, leaving in it
only a part of a magazine, which had been set on
fire. B}'^ this time the French were in such want
of forage, that M. d'Etrees himself, the princes
of the blood, and all the officers without excep
tion, were obliged to send back part of their
horses. However, on the tenth of June, their
whole army, consisting of seventy battalions and
forty squadrons, Avith fifty-two pieces of cannon,
besides a body t)f cavalry, left at Ruremonde fpr

104. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
the conveniency of forage, Avas put in motion. In
spite of almost impassable forests, famine, and
every other obstacle that could be thrown in
their way by a vigilant and experienced general,
they at length surmounted all difficulties, and
advanced into a country abounding with plenty,
and unused to the ravages of war. It was ima
gined that the passage of the Weser, which de
fends Hanover from foreign attacks, would have
been vigorously opposed by the army of the
allies ; but whether, in the present situation of
affairs, it was thought advisable to ict only upon
the defensive, and not to begin the attack in a
country that was not concerned as a principal in
the war, or the duke of Cumberland found him
self too weak to make head against the enemy,
is a question we shall not pretend to determine.
However that may have been, the whole French
army passed the Weser on the tenth and eleventh
of July, without the loss of a man. The manner
of effecting this passage is thus related : — Mare
schal d'Etrees, being informed that his magazines
of provisions Avere Avell furnished, his ovens esta
blished, and the artillery and pontoons arrived at
the destined places, ordered lieutenant-general
Broglio, Avith ten battalions, twelve squadrons,
and ten pieces of cannon, to march to Engheren ;
lieutenant-general M. de Chevert, with sixteen
battalions, three brigades of carabineers, the royal
hunters, and six hundred hussars, tp march to
Hervorden, and Ueutenant-general marquis d'Ar-

1757. GEORGE IL lOS
mentieres, with twelve battalions, and ten squa
drons, to march to" Ulrickhausen. All these troops
being arrived in their camp on the fourth of
July, halted the fifth. On the sixth, twenty-two
battalions, and thirty-two squadrons, under the
command of the duke of Orleans, who was now
arrived at the army, marched to Ulrickhausen,
from whence M. d'Armentieres, had set out early
in the morning, with the troops under his com
mand, and by hasty marches, got, on the seventh,
by eleven at night, to Blankenhoven, where he
found the boats which had gone from Ahrensberg.
The bridges were built, the cannon planted, and
the entrenchments, at the head of the bridges,
completed in the night between the seventh and
eighth. The mareschal having sent away part
of his baggage from Bielefeldt on the sixth, went
in person, on the seventh, at eleven o'clock, to
Horn, and on the eighth, to Braket. On advice
that M. d'Armentieres had thrown his bridges
across Avithout opposition, and was at Avork on
his entrenchments, he went, on the ninth, toBlank-
enhoven, to see the bridges and entrenchments ;
and afterwards advanced to examine the first
position he intended 'for his army, and came
down to the right side of the Weser to the abbey
ofCorvey, Avhere he forded the river, with the
princes of the blood, and their attendants. On
the tenth, in the morning, he got on horseback by
four o'clock, to see the dukfe of Orleans's division
file off, which arrived at Corvey at ten o'clock ;

lOS HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
as also that of M.. d'Armentieres, Avhich arrived
at eleven, and that of M. Souvre, AA'hich arrived
at noon. The mareschal having examined the
course of the river, caused the bridges of pon-
tpons to be laid within gun-shot of the abbey,
Avhere the viscount de Turenne passed that river
in the year one thousand six hundred and seventy-
three, and where the divisions under Broglio and
Chevart now passed it on the twelfth and thir
teenth. These two generals being informed of
what Avas to be done upon the Upper Weser, at
tacked Minden, and carried it, whilst a detach
ment of the Freneh entered the country of East
Friesland, under the command of the marquis
d'Auvel ; and, after taking possession of Lier,
marched on the right of the Ems to Embden, the-
only §ea-port the king of Prussia had, which at
first seemed determined to make a defence ; but
the inhabitants were not agreed upon the me
thods to be taken for that purpose. They, there
fore, met to deliberate, but in the mean time,
their gates being shut, M. d'Auvel caused some
cannon to be brought to beat them doAvn ; and
the garrison, composed of four hundred Prus
sians, not being strong enough to defend the
town, the soldiers mutinied against their officers,
whereupon a capitulation was agreed on, and the
gates Avere opened to the French commander,
who made his troops enter with a great deal of
order, assured the magistrates that care should
be taken to make them observe a good discipline.

1757. ©EORGE IL IOT
and published two ordinances, one for the secu
rity of the religion and commerce of the city,
and the other for prohibiting the exportation of
corn and forage out of that principality. The
inhabitants were, however, obliged to take an
oath of allegiance to the French king.

BATTLE OF HASTENBECK.
On Sunday, the twenty-fourth of July, the French,
after having laid part of the electorate of Ha
nover under contribution, inarched in three
columns, with their artillery, towards the village
of Latford, when major-general Fustenbuigh, who
commanded the out-ports in the village, sent an
officer to inform the duke of Cumberland of their
approach. His royal highness immediately re
inforced those pos,ts with a body of troops, under
the command of lieutenant-general Sporcken ;
"but finding it impossible to support the village,
as it was commanded by^ the heights opposite to
it, which were possessed by the enemy, and be
ing sensible that it would be always in his power
to retake it, from its situation in a bottom be
tween f wo hills, he withdrew his post from Latford.
The French then made two attacks, one at the
po'int of the wood, and the other higher up in
the same wood, opposite to the grenadiers, com
manded by major-general Hardenberg, but they
failed in both ; and, though the fire of their artil-

108 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
lery Avas very hot, they were obliged to retire.
The French army encamping on the heights, op
posite to the duke of Cumberland's posts, the
intelligence received, that M. d'Etrees had assem
bled all his troops, and was furnished with a very
considerable train of artillery, left his royal high
ness no room to doubt of his intending to attack
him. He, therefore, resolved to change his camp
for a more advantageous situation, by drawing
up his army on the eminen9e between the WeSer
and the woods, leaving the Hamelen river on
his right, the village of Hastenbeck in his front,
and his left close to the wood, at the point of
Avhich, his royal highness had a battery of twelve-
pounders and haubitzers. There was a hollow
way from the left of the village to the battery,
and a morass on the other side of Hastenbeck to
his right. Major-general Schulenberg, with the
hunters, and two battalions of grenadiers, Avas
posted in the corner of the wood, upon the left
of the battery ; his royal highness ordered the
village pf Hastenbeck to be cleared to his front,
to prevent it being in the power of the enemy to
keep possession of it, and the Avays by which the
allies had a communication Avith that village du-
. ring their encampment, to be rendered impassable.
In the evening, he withdrew all his outposts, and,
in this position, the army lay upon their arms all
night On the twenty-fifth, in the morning, the
French ajmy marched forwards in columns, and
began to cannonade the allies very jseverely, ,

1757. GEORGE IL 1Q9
marching and countermarching' continually, and
seeming to intend three attacks, on the right,
the left, and the centre. In the evening, their
artillery appeared much superior to that of- the
allies. The army was again ordered to lie all
night on their arms; his royal highness caused
a battery at the end of the wood to be repaired ;
count Schulenberg to be reinforced with a bat
talion of grenadiers, and two field-pieces of can
non; and that battery to be also supported by
four more battalions of grenadiers, under the
command of major-genera,l Hardenberg. He
likewise caused a battery to.be erected of twelve
six-pounders, behind the village of HastenbecJc,
and took all the precautions he could think of to
give the enemy a warm reception. As soon as
it was day light, he mounted on horseback to re
connoitre the position of the enemy, whom he
found in the same situation as the day before.
At a little after five, a very smart cannonading
began, against the battery behind the village,
Avhich AVas supported by the Hessian infantry
and cavalry, who stood a most severe fire with
surprising steadiness .and resolution. Between
seven and eight, the firing, of small arms began
on the left of the allies, Avhen his royal highness
ordered major-general Behr, with three batta
lions of Brunswick, to sustain the grenadiers in
the wood, if their assistance should be wanted.
The cannonading continued above six hours, du
ring which, the troops that were exposed to it.

no , HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17S7. A,
never once abated of their firmness. The fire
of the small arms'on the left increasing, and the
French seeming to gain ground, his royal high
ness detached the colonels Darkenhausen and
Bredenbach, with three Hanoverian battalions
and six squadrons, round the wood by Afferde,
who, towards the close of the day, drove several
squadrons of the enemy back to their army, with
out giving them any opportunity to charge. At
length the grenadiers in the wood, apprehensive
of being surrounded, from the great numbers of
the enemy that appeared there, and were march-'
ing round on that side,- though they repulsed
every thing that appeared in their front, thought
it advisable to retire nearer the left of the army,
a motion which gave the enemy an opportunity
of possessing themselves of that battery without
opposition. Here the hereditary prince of Bruns
wick distinguished himself at the head of a bat
talion of Wolfenbuttel guards, and another of
Hanoverians, who attacked and repulsed, with
their bayonets, a superior force of the. enem}',
and retook the battery. But the French being
in possession of an eminence, which commanded
and flanked both the lines of the infantry, and
the battery of the allies, and where, they were
able to support their attack under the cover ofa
hill, his royal highness, considering the superior
numbers of the enemy, near double to his, and
the impossibility of dislodging them from their
post, without exposing his own troops too much.,

1757. GEORGE IL . Ill
ordered a retreat ; in consequence of Avhich his
army retired, first to Hamelen, Avhere he left a
garrison, then to Nienburgh, and afterwards to
Hoya; in the neighbourhood of which town, after
sending away all the magazines, sick, and wound
ed, he encamped, in order to cover Bremen and
Verden, and to preserve, a communication Avith
Stade, to which place the archives, and most
valuable effects of Hanover, had been removed.
In this engagement, colonel Bredenbach attacked
four brigades very strongly posted, with a, bat
tery of fourteen pieces of cannon, repulsed, and
drove them down a precipice, and took all their
artillerj' and ammunition ; but, preferring the
care of his wounded to the glory of carrying
away the cannon, he brought off only six, nail
ing up and destroying the rest. The loss of the
allies in all the skirmishes, which lasted three
days, was three hundred and twenty-seven men
killed, nine hundred and seven Avounded, and
two hundred and twenty missing, or taken pri
soners ; whilst that of the French, according to
their own accounts, amounted to fifteen hundred
men, '
The French, being left masters of the field,
soon reduced Hamelen, which was far from being
well fortified, obliged the garrison to capitulate,
and took out of the town sixty brass cannon,
several mortars, forty ovens, part of the equipage
of the duke's army, and large quantities of pro
visions and ammunition, which they found in it.

11^ HISTORY OF EIsTGLAND. 1757.
together Avith a gre^t many sick and wounded,
who, not being included in the capitulation, were
made prisoners of Avar. Whether the court of
France had any reason to find fault with the con
duct of the mareschal d'Etrees, or whether its
monarch Avas blindly guided by the counsels of
his favourite, the marquise de Pompadour, who,
desirous to testify her gratitude to the man who
had been one of the chief instruments of her high
promotion, was glad of an opportunity to retrieve
his shattered fortunes, and, at the same time, to
add to her own -already immense treasures, we
shall not pretend to determine ; though the event
seems plainly to speak the last. Even at the
time, no comparison was made between the mili
tary skill of the mareschal d'Etrees, and that of
the duke de Richelieu; but, however that may
have been, this last, Avho, if he had not shone in
the character of a soldier, excelled all, or at least
most of his contemporaries in the more refined
arts bf a courtier, Avas, just before the battle avc
have been speaking of, appointed to supersede
the former in the command of the French army
in Lower Saxony, where he arrived on the sixth
of August, with the title of Mareschal of France;
and M. d'Etri^es immediately resigned the com
mand.

1757. GEORGE Ef. 11^

THE FRENCH TAKE POSSESSION OF HANOVER
AND HESSE-CASSEL.
Immediately after the battle of Hastenbeck,
the French sent a detachment of four thousand
men to lay under contribution the countries of
Hanover and Brunswick- Wolfenbuttel, as Avell as
the duchies of Bremen and Verden ; and two days
after the arrival of this new commander, the duke
de Chevreuse was detached with two thousand
men to take possession of Hanover itself, with
the title of governor of that city. He accord
ingly inarched thither ; and, upon his arrival, the
Hanoverian garrison was disarmed, and left at
liberty to retire where they pleased. About the
same time, M. de Contades, with a detachment
from the French army, was sent to make himself
master of the territories of Hesse Cassel, where
he fpund no opposition. He was met at Warberg
by that prince's master of the horse, who de
clared, that they were ready to furnish the French
army with all the succours the country could
afford ; and accordingly, the magistrates of Cassel
presented him with the keys as soon as he entered
their city. Gottingen was ordered by M. d'Ar
mentieres to prepare for him within a limited
time, upon pain of military execution, four thou
sand pounds of white bread, two thousand bushels
of oats, a greatter quantity than could be found
VOL. V. I

IH HISTORY OF EJT^3^LAND. 17.S7
in the wliole countiy, an hundred loads of hay,
and other provisions.

THE FRENCH REDUCE VERDEN AND BREMEN.
The duke of Cumberland remained encamped in
the neighbourhood of Hoya till the twenty-fourth
of August, Avhen, upon advice that the enemy
had laid tAvo bridges over the Aller in the night,
and had passed that river with a large body of
troops, he ordered his army to march, to secure
the important post and passage of Rothenbourg,
lest they should attempt to march round on his
left. He encamped that night at Hansen, having
detached lieutenant-general Oberg, with eight
battalions and six squadrons, to Ottersberg, to
which place he marched next day, and encamped
behind the Wummer, in a very strong situation,
between Ottersberg and Rothenbourg. The
French took possession of Verden on the twenty-
sixth of August, and one of their detachments
went, on the twenty- ninth, to Bremen, Avhere the
gates were immediately opened to them. The
duke of Cumberland, noAV closely pressed on all
sides, and in danger of having his communication
with Stade cut off, which the enemy Avas endea
vouring to effect, by seizing upon all the posts
round him, found it necessary to decamp again ;
to abandon Rothenbourg, of which the French
immediately took possession ; to retreat to Sels*

1757 GEORGE IL 115
ingen, where his head-quarters were, on tlie first
of September; and from thence, on the third of
the same month, to retire under the cannon of
Stade. Here it was imagined, that his army would
have been able to maintain their ground between
the Aller and the Elbe, till' the severity of the
season should put an end to the campaign. Ac
cordingly, his royal highness, upon his taking
this position, sent a detachment of his forces to
Buck-Schantz, with some artillery, and orders to
defend that place to the utmost ; but as it could
not possibly have held out many days, and as the
French, who how hemmed him on all sides, by
making themselves masters of a little fort at the
mouth of the river Swinga, Avould have cut off
his communication with the Elbe, so that four
English men of war, then in that river, could
have been of no service to him, he was forced
to accept of a mediation offered by the king of
Denmark, by his minister, the count de Lynar,
and to sign the famous convention of Closter-
Seven,' by which thirty-eight thousand Hanove
rians laid down their arms, and were dispersed
into different quarters of cantonment,
' S?e note [B], vol. vj.

116 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.

CHAPTER VIII.
The French enter the Prussian Dominions, where they commit
great Disorders . . . Reflections on the Misconduct ofthe AlHed
Army  Russian Fleet blocks up the Prussian Ports in the
Baltic .... Russians take Memel .... Declaration of the King
of Prussia on that Occasion .... Army of the Empire raised
with, Difficulty .... The Austrians take Gabel .... And destroy
Zittau .... The Prince of Prussia leaves the Army .... Com
munication between England and Ostend broke off  Guel
dres capitulates .... Skirmishes between the Prussians and
Austrians. .. And between the Prussians and Russians....
Mareschal Lehwald attacks the Russians in their Entrench
ments near Norkitten .... Hasty Retreat of the Russians out of
Prussia .... French and Imperialists take Gotha .... Action
between the Prussians and Austrians near Goerlitz .... The
French oblige Prince Ferdinand to retire .... Berlin laid under
Contribution by the Austrians ; and Leipzig subjected to
Military Execution by the Prussians . . . Battle of Rosbach . . .
The Austrians take Schweidnitz ; and defeat the Prince of
Bevern near Breslau .... Mareschal Keith lays Bohemia under
Contribution. . .King of Prussia defeats the Austrians at Lissa ;
retakes Breslau and Schweidnitz, and becomes Master of all
Silesia  Hostilities of the Swedes in Pomerania  Mares
chal Lehwald forces the Swedes to retire .... Memorial pre
sented to the Dutch by Colonel Yorke, relative to Ostend and
Nieuport  King of Prussia's Letter to the King of Great
Britain .... His Britannic Majesty's Declaration .... Disputes
concerning the Convention of Closter-Seven .... Progress of
the Hanoverian Army . . . Death ofthe Queen of Poland . . . Trans
actions at Sea .... Fate of Captain Death .... Session opened
.... Supplies granted .... Funds for raising the Supplies ....
Messages from the King to the House of Commons . . . Second
Treaty with the King of Prussia .... Bill for fortifying Milford
12

1757. GEORGE IL 117
Haven . . . Regulations with respect to Com .... Bills for the
Encouragement of Seamen, and for explaining the Militia Act
.... Act for repairing London Bridge . . . Act for ascertaining
the Qualification of Voting .... Bill for more eifectually Man
ning the Navy  A.mendments in the Habeas-Corpus Act . . .
Scheme in favour of the Foundling Hospital .... Proceedings
relative to the African Company .... Session closed . . . Vigor
ous Preparations for War. . . Death ofthe F"ncess Caroline ...>
Sea Engagement off Cape Fran9ois . . • Remarkable Success of
Captain Forest . . . French evacuate Embden . . . Success of Ad
miral Osborne . . .French Fleet driven ashore in Basque Road . . .
Admiral Broderick's Ship burnt at Sea — . Descent at Can-
calle-bay .... Expedition against Cherbourg .... Descent at
St Maloes .... English defeated at St Cas .... Captures from
{he Enemy .... Clamours of the Dutch Merchants, on account
of the Capture of their Ships .... Their famous Petition te
the States-General.

THE FRENCH ENTER THE PRUSSIAN DOMI
NIONS, AND COMMIT GREAT DISORDERS.
The Hanoverians being now quite subdued,
and the whole force of the French let loose
against the King of Prussia by this treaty, mare
schal Richelieu immediately ordered lieutenant-
general Berchini to march Avith all possible ex
pedition, with the troops under his command, to
join the prince de Soubise : the gens-d'armes,
and other troops that were in the Landgraviate
of Hesse-Cassel, received the same order ; and
sixty battalions of foot, and the greatest part of
the horse belonging to the French army, were
directed to attack the Prussian territories. Mare-

lis HISTORY OF ElSTGLAND. 1757.
schal Richelieu himself arrived at Brunswick on
the fifteenth of September ; and having, in a few
days after, assembled an hundred and ten, bat
talions, and an hundred and fifty squadrons, with
an hundred pieces of cannon, near Wolfenbuttel,
he entered the king of Prussia's dominions, with
his army, on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of the same
month, in three columns, Avhich penetrated into
Halberstadt and Brandenburgh, plundering the
towns, exacting contributions, and committing
many enormities, at Avhich their general is said
to have connived. In the mean time, the duke
of Cumberland returned to England, where he
arrived on the llth of October, and shortly after
resigned all his military commands.
Had the allied army, after the battle of Has
tenbeck, marched directly to the Leine, as it
might easily have done, and then taken post on
the other side of Wolfenbuttel, Halberstadt, and
Magdebourg, it might have wai ted securely under
the cannon of the latter place for the junction of
the Prussian forces ; instead of which, they inju
diciously turned off to the Lower Weser, retiring
successively from Hamelen to Nienburgh, Ver
den, Rothenbourg, Buxtchude, and lastly to Stade,
where, for want of subsistence and elbow-room,
the troops were all made prisoners of Avar at large.
They made a march of an hundred and fifty miles
to be cooped up in a nook, instead of taking the
other route, which was only about an hundred
miles, ^nd would have led them to a place of

1757. GEORGE IL .119
safety. By this unaccountable conduct, the king
of Prussia was not only deprived of the assistance
of near forty thousand good troops, which, in
the close of the campaign, might have' put him
upon an equality with the French, and the army
ofthe empire; but also exposed to, and actually
invaded by, his numerous enemies on all sides,
insortiuch, that his situation became now more
dangerous than ever; and the fate which seemed
to have threatened the empress a few months be
fbre, through his means, was, to all 'appearance,
turned against himself. His ruin was predicted,
nor could human prudence foresee how he might
be extricated from his complicated distress ; foi^
besides the invasion of his territories by the
French, under the duke de Richelieu, the Russians,
who had made for a long time a dilatory march,
and seemed uncertain of their own resolutions,
all at once quickened their motions, and entered
Ducal Prussia, under mareschal Apraxin and
general Fermor, marking their progress by every
inhumanity that upbridled cruelty, lust, and ra
pine can be imagined capable of committing. A
large body of Austrians entered Silesia, and pene
trated as far as Breslau ; then tijrning back, they
laid siege to the important fortress of Schweid
nitz, the key of that country. A second body
entered Lusatia, another quarter of the Prussian
territories, and made themselves masters of Zit
tau. Twenty-two thousand Swedes penetrated in
to Prussian Pomerania, took the towns of Anclam

120 HISTORY OF FNGLAND. 1757.
and Demmin, and laid the whole country under
contribution. The army of the empire, reinforced
by that of prince Soubise, after many delays, was
at last in full march to enter Saxony ; and this
motion left the Austrians at liberty to turn the
greatest part of their forces to the reduction of
Silesia. An Austrian general, penetrating through
Lusatia, passed by the Prussian- armies, and sud
denly presenting himself before the gates of Ber
lin, laid the whole country under contribution;
and though he retired on the approach of a body
of Prussians, yet he still found means to interrupt
the communication of these last with Silesia.
The Prussians, it is true, exerted themselves
bravely on all sides, and their enemies fled before
them ; but Avhilst one body was pursuing, another
gained upon them in some other part. The win
ter approached, their strength decayed, and their
adversaries multiplied daily. Their king harassed,
and almost spent with incessant fatigue both of
body and of mind, was, in a manner, excluded
from the empire. The greatest part of his domi
nions were either taken from him, or laid under
contribution, and possessed by his enemies ; who
collected the public revenues, fattened on the
contributions, and with the riches which they
drew from the electorate of Hanover, and other
conquests, defrayed the expences of the war;
and by the convention of Closter-Seven, he was
deprived of his allies, and left without any assist
ance whatever, excepting what the British parlia-

ii7sr. g^eorge il . 121
ment might think fit to supply. How different
is this picture from that which the king of Prus
sia exhibited when he took arms to enter Saxony!
But, in order to form a clear idea of these events,
of the situation of his Prussian majesty, andof
.the steps he took to defeat the designs of his an
tagonists, and extricate himself from his great
and numerous distresses, it will be proper now to
take a view of the several transactions of his
enemies, as well during his stay in Bohemia, as
from the time of his leaving it, down to that
which we are now speaking of.

A RUSSIAN FLEET BLOCKS UP THE PRUSSIAN
PORTS IN THE BALTIC.
Whilst the king of Prussia was in Bohemia,
the empress of Russia ordered notice to be given
to all masters of ships, that if any of them
were found assisting the Prussians, by the trans
portation of troops, artillery, and ammunition,
they should be condemned as legal prizes; and
her fleet, consisting of fifteen men of war and
frigates, with two bomb-.ketches, was sent to
block up the Prussian ports in the Baltic, where
it took several ships of that nation, which were
employed in carrying provisions and merchandise
from pne port to another. One of these ships of
war appearing before Memel,, a town of Poland,
but subject to Prussia, the commandant sent an

122 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. . I7S7.
ofiicer to the Captain, to knoAV AA'hether he came
as a friend or, an enemy ; to which interrogation
the Russian captain replied, That, notwithstand
ing the dispositions of the empress of both the
Russias were sufficiently known, yet he would
further explain them, by declaring that his orders,
and those of the other Russian commanders, were,
in conformity to the laAvs of war, to seize on all
the Prussian vessels they met with on their cruise.
Upon which the commandant of Memel imme
diately gave orders for pointing the cannon to
fire upon all Russian ships that should approach
that place.
The land forces of the Russians had now
lingered on their march upwards of six months;
and it was prettj- generally doubted, by those
who were supposed to have the best intelligence,
Avhether they ever were designed really to pass
into the Prussian territories, not only on account
of their long stay on the borders of Lithuania,
but also because several of their cossacs had been.
severely punished for plundering the waggons
of some Prussian peasants upon the frontiers of
Courland, and the damage of the peasants com
pensated with money, though general Apraxin's
army Avas at the same time greatly distressed by
the want of provisions ; when, on a sudden, they
quickened their motions, and showed they were,
in earnest, determined to accomplish the ruin of
Prussia. Their first act of hostility was the at
tack of Memel, Avhich surrendered ; and, by the

1757. GEDRGE IL 123
articles of capitulation, it was agreed, that the
garrison should march out with all the honours
of w^ar, after having engaged not to serve ag'ainst
the empress, or any of her aUies, for the space of
one year.
His Prussian majesty, justly foreseeing the
great enormities that Avere to be expected from
these savage eneinies, who were unaccustomed to
make war, except upon nations as barbarous as
themselves, who looked upon war only as an op
portunity for plunder, and every country througli
which they happened to march as theirs by right
of conquest, published the following declaration :
" It is sufficiently known, that the king of Prus
sia, after the example of his glorious predecessors,
has, ever since his accession to the crown, laid
it down as a maxim to seek the friendship of the
iinperial court of Russia, and cultivate it by every
method. His Prussian majesty hath had the sa
tisfaction to live, for several successive years, iu
the strictest harmony with the reigning empress;
and this happy union would.be still subsisting, if
evil-minded potentates had not broke it by their
secret machinations, and carried things to such
a height, that the ministers on both sides~ have
been recalled, and the correspondence broken
-off. However melancholy these circumstances.
might be for the king, his majesty was never
theless most attentive to prevent any thing that
might incrdlase the alienation ofthe Russian court.
He hath been particularly careful, during the disr

12* HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
turbances of the Avar that -now unhappily rages,
to aA'oid whatever might involve him in a dif
ference with that court, notwithstanding the great
grievances he hath to alledge against it; and that
it was publicly known the court of Vienna had
at last drawn that of Russia into its destructive
views, and made it serve as an instrument for
favouring the schemes of Austria. His majesty
"hath given the whole world incontestible proofs,
that he was under an indispensable necessity of
having recourse to the measures he hath taken
against the courts of Vienna and Saxony, Avho
forced him by their conduct to take up arms for
his defence. Yet, even since things have been
brought to this extremity, the king hath offered
to lay down his arms, if proper securities should
be granted to him. His majesty hath not neg
lected to expose the artifices by which the im
perial court of Russia hath been draAvn into
measures so opposite to the empress's sentiments,
and Avhich would excite the utmost indignation
of that great princess, if the truth could be
placed before her without disguise. The king
did more : he suggested to her imperial majesty
sufficient means either to excuse her not taking
any part in the present war, or to avoid, upon
the justest grounds, the execution of those en
gagements which the court of Vienna claimed by
a manifest abuse of obligations, which they em
ployed to palliate their unlawful views. It wholly
depended upon the empress of Russia to extin-

1757. GEORGE IL 125
guish the flames of the war, without unsheathing
the sword, iay pursuing the measures suggested
by the king. This conduct Avould have immor
talized her reign throughout all Europe. It would
have gained her more lasting glory than can be
acquired by the greatest triumphs. The king
finds with regret, that all his precautions and care
to maintain peace Avith the Russian empire are
fruitless, and that the intrigues of his ehemies
have prevailed. His majesty sees all the consider
ations of friendship and good neighbourhood set
aside by the imperial court of Russia, as well as
the observance of its engagements with his ma-*
jesty. He sees that court marching its troops
through the territories of a foreign power, and,
contrary to the tenor of treaties, in order to at
tack the king in his dominions ; and thus taking
part in a war, in which his enemies have involved
the Russian empire. In such circumstances, the
king hath no other part to take, but to employ
the power which God hath entrusted to hira in
defending himself, protecting his subjects, and
repeUing every unjust attack. His majesty will
never lose sight of the rules Avhich are observed,
even. in the midst of war, among civilized na
tions. But if, contrary to all hope and expecta
tion, these rules should be violated by the troops
bf Russia, if they commit in the king's territories
disorders and excesses disallowed by the law of
arms, bis majesty must not be blamed if he makes
reprisals in Saxony ; and if, instead of that good

126 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
order and rigorous discipline Avhich have hitherto
been observed by his army, avoiding all sorts of
violence, he finds himself forced, contrary to his
inclination, to suffer the provinces and subjects
of Saxony to be treated in the same manner as
his own territories shall be treated. As to the
rest, the king will soon publish to the whole world
the futility of the reasons alledged by the impe
rial court of Russia to justify its aggression; and,
as his majesty is forced upon making his defence,
he has room to hope, with confidence, that the
Lord of Hosts will bless his righteous arms : that
"he Avill disappoint the unjust enterprises of his
enemies, and grant him his powerful assistance,
to enable him to make head against them."

ARMY OF THE EMPIRE RAISED WITH
DIFFICULTY,
When the king of Prussia was put under the ban
of the empire, the several princes who compose
that body Avere required, by the decree of the
Aulic council, as we observed before, to furnish
their respective contingents against him. Those
Avho feared him looked upon this as a fair oppor
tunity of reducing him ; and those Avho stood in
awe of the house of Austria Avere, through neces
sity, compelled to support that power Avhich they
dreaded. Besides, they were accustomed to the
influence of a family, in which the empire had.

1757. -GEORGE IL 127
for a long time, been in a manner hereditary;
and were also intimidated by the appearance of a
confederacy, the most formidable, perhaps, that
the world had ever seen. Yet, notwithstanding
all this, the contingents, both of men and money,
were collected slowly ; the troops were ba'dly
composed ; and many of those, not only of the
protestant princes, but also of the catholics,
showed the utmost reluctance to act against his
Prussian majesty, Avhich, indeed, none of them
would have been able to do, had it not been for
the assistance of the French under the prince de
Soubise. The elector-palatine lost above a thou
sand men by desertion. Four thousand of the
troops belonging to the duke of Wirtemberg
being delivered to the French commissary on the
twenty-fourth of June, were immediately review
ed ; but the review was scarcely finished, Avhen
they began to cry aloud, that they were sold.
Next morning thirty of them deserted at once,
and were soon followed by parties of tAventy and
thirty each, Avho forced their way through the
detachments that guarded the gates of Stutgard,
and in the evening the mutiny became general.
They fired upon the officers in their barracks,
and let their general know, that if he did not
immediately withdraw, they would put him to
death. Meanwhile, some of the officers having
pursued the deserters, brought back a part of
them prisoners, when the rest of the soldiers de
clared, that if they were not immediately released,

128 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
they would set fire to the stadthouse and bar-
facks; upon which the prisoners were set at
liberty late in the evening. Next morning the
soldieis assembled, and, having seized some ofthe
officers, three or four hundred of them marched
out of the town at that time, with the music of
the regiments playing before them ; and in this
manner near three thousand of them filed off, and
the remainder were afterwards discharged.

THE AUSTRIANS TAKE GABEL.
The king of Prussia, upon his leaving Bohemia,
after the battle of Kolin, retired towards Saxony,
as we observed before; and having sent his heavy
artillery and mortars up the Elbe to Dresden,
fixed his camp on the banks ofthe river, at Leit-
meritz, where his main army was strongly en
trenched, whilst mareschal Keith, Avith the troops
under- his command, encamped on the opposite
shore ; a free communication being kept open
by means of a bridge. At the same time, detach
ments were ordered to secure the passes into
« Saxony. As this position of the king of Prussia
prevented the Austrians from being able to pene
trate into Saxony by the way of the Elbe, they
moved, by slow marches, into the circle of Buntz
lau, and, at last, with a detachment, commanded
by the duke d'Aremberg and M. Macguire, on
the eighteenth of June, fell suddenly upon, and

1757. GEORGE II. 129
took the important post at Gabel, situated be
tween Boemish Leypa, and Zittau, after an obsti
nate defence made by, the Prussian garrison, under
major-general Putkammer, consisting of four bat
talions, who were obliged to surrender prisoners
of war. The Austrians having by this motion
gained a march towards Lusatia, upon a corps
which had been detached under the command of
the prince of Prussia to Avatch them, his Prussian
majesty thought proper to leave Leitmeritz ori
the twentieth in the morning, and lay that night
at Lickowitz, a village opposite to Leitmeritz, of
which a battahon of his troops still kept possession,
Avhile the rest of his army remained encamped in
the plain before that place. Next morning, at
break of day, prince Henry decamped, and made
so good a disposition for his retreat, that he did
not lose a single man, though he marched in
sight of the whole body pf Austrian irregulars.
He passed the bridge at Leitmeritz, after with
drawing the battalion that was^in the town, and
having burnt the bridge, the Avhole army united,
and made a small movement towards the passes
of the mountains ; the king then lying at Sulp-
witz, near the field where the battle of Lowos-
chutz was foUght on the first of October of the
]preceding year. The heavy baggage was sent
on in the afternoon, with a proper escorte; and
in the morning of the twenty-second the army
marched in two columns, and encamped on the
high grounds at Lusecfiitz, a little beyond Lenai,
VOL. v. K

ISO HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1757.
where it halted the twenty-third. No attack
was made upon the rear-guard, though great
numbers of Austrian hussars, and other irregulars,
had appeared the evening before within cannon
shot of the Prussian camp. On, the twenty-fourth
the army marched lo Nellendorf ; on the twenty-
fifth it encamped near Cotta, on the twenty-sixth
near Pirna, where it halted the next day; and on
the twenty-eighth it crossed the river near that
place, and entered Lusatia, Avhere, by the end of;
the month, it encamped near Bautzen.
The king's army made this retreat with all
the success that could be wished ; but the corps
under the prince of Prussia had not the same
good fortune : for the Austrians, immediately
after their taking Gabel,, sent a strong detach
ment against Zittau, a trading town in the circle
pf Upper Saxony, where the Prussians had large
magazines, and a garrison of six battalions, and,
in his sight, attacked it Avith uncommon rage.
Paying no regard to the inhabitants as being
friends or allies, but determined to reduce the
place before the king of Prussia could have time
to march to its telief, they no sooner arrived be
fore it, / than they bombarded and cannonaded it
with such fury, that most qf the garrison, finding
themselves unable to resist, made their escape,
and carried off as much as they could of the ma
gazines, leaving only three or four hundred men
in the town, under colonel Diricke, to hold it
out as long as possible; which he accordingly
6

1757. <JEORGE IL 131
did, till the whole place was almost destroyed.
The cannonading begaii on the twenty* third of
July, at eleven in the mornings and lasted till
five in the evening. In this space of time four
thousand balls, many of them red-hot, were fired
into this unfortunate city, with so little inter
mission, that it was soon set on fire in several
places. In the confusion which the conflagration
produced, the Austrians entered the town, and
the inhabitants imagined that they had then no
thing further to fear ; and that their friends the
Austrians would assist them in extinguishing the
flames, and saving the place ; but in this particu
lar their expectations were disappointed. The
Pandours and Sclavonians, who rushed in with the
regular troops, made no distinctioii between the
Prussians and the inhabitants of Zittau : instead
of helping to quench the flames, they began to
plunder the warehouses which the fire had not
reached ; so that all the valuable merchandize
they contained was either carried off, or reduced
to ashes. Upwards of six hundred houses, and
almost all tbe public buildings, the cathedrals of
St John and St James, the orphan-house, eight
parsonage-houses, eight schools, the town-house,
and every thing contained in it, the public weigh-
house, the prison, the archives, and all the other
documents of the town-council, the plate, and
other things of value, presented to the town,
from time to time, by the emperors, kings, and
other princes and noblemen, werp entirely de-

132 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
stroyed, and more than four hundred citizens
were killed in this assault. Of the Av^hole town
there Avas left standing only one hundred and
thirty-eight houses, two churches, the council,
library, and the salt-work. The queen of Poland
was so affected by this melancholy account, that
she is said to have fainted away upon hearing it*
As this city belonged to their friend the king of
Poland, the Austrians thought proper to publish
an excuse for their conduct, ascribing it entirely
to the necessity they were under, and the obsti
nate defence made by the Prussian garrison. But
what excuses can atone for such barbarity?

THE PRINCE OF PRUSSIA LEAVES THE
ARMY.
The corps under the prince of Prussia, which had
been witnesses to the destruction of this unhappy
place, was, by the king's march to Bautzen, for
tunately extricated from the danger of being
surrounded by the Austrians, who, upon his ma
jesty's approach, retired from their posts on the
right. Soon after this event, the prince of Prus
sia, finding his health much impaired by the
fatigues of the campaign,' quitted the army, and
' This was the reason that was publicly assigned for his quit
ting the army ; buf, a much more probable one, which was only
whispered, seems bo have been, that this prince, than whom none
ever was more reifnarkable for humanity and the social virtues.

1757. GEORGE IL 133
returned to Berlin. In the mean time, mareschal
Keith, who had been left upon the frontier, to
guard the passes of the mountains of Bohemia,
arrived at Pirna, having been much harassed in
his march by the enemy's irregular troops, and
lost some waggons of provisions and baggage.
After resting a day at Pima, he pursued his march
through Dresden with twenty battalions, and
forty squadrons, and encamped on the right of
the Elbe, before the gate of the new city, from
whence he joined the king between Bautzen and
Coerlitz. The Prussian army, now reassembled
at this place, amounted to about sixty thousand
men, besides twelve battalions and ten squadrons
Avhich remained in the famous camp at Pirna^
under the prince of Anhalt Dessau, to cover
Dresden, secure the gorges of the mountains,
and check the incursions of the Austrian irregu
lars, with whom, as they were continually flying
about the skirts of the Prussian army, as well in
their encampments as on J;heh- marches, almost
daily skirmishes happened, with various success.
Though some of these encounters were very
bloody, they cost the Prussians much fewer men
disliking the violent proceedings of the king his brother, could
not refrain from expostulating with him on that subject ; upon
vvhich his majesty, with an air ofgreat disapprobation, told him,
" That the air of Berlin would be better for him than that of the
camp." The prince accordingly retired to Berlin, where he died
soon after ; grief and concern for the welfare of his brother, and
fbr the steps taken by him, having no small share in his death,

ISi HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
than they lost by desertion since the ba4;tle of
Kolin. The reason seems obvious : — the Prussian
army had been recruited, in times of peace, from
all parts of, Germany; and though this way of
recruiting may be very proper in such times, yet
it cannot be expected to answer in a state of.
actual war, especially an unfortunate war; be
cause the fidelity of such soldiers can never be
so much depended on as that of natives, who
serve their natural sovereign from principle, and
not merely for pay, and who must desert their
country, their parents, and their friends, at the
same time that they desert their prince.

COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ENGLAND AND
OSTEND BROKE OFF.
It Avill be proper here to take notice of some
events which could not easily be mentioned be
fore, Avithout breaking through the order we have
proposed to ourselves in the Avriting of this his
tory. — The empress-queen, more embittered than'
ever against the king of Prussia and his allies,
recalled her ministers, count Coloredo and Mon
sieur Zohern, from Lpndon, towards the begin
ning of July; and about the same time count
Kaunitz, great' chancellor of the empire, informed
Mr Keith, the British minister at Vienna, that
the court of London, by the succours it had
given, md still continued to give, the king of

1757. GEORGE II- 133
Prussia, as well as by other circumstances rela
ting to the present state of affairs, having broken
the solemn engagements which united this crown
withthe house of Austria, her majesty the em
press-queen had thought proper to recal her
minister from England, and consequently to break
off all correspondence. Mr Keith, in pursuance
of this notice, set out from Vienna on the twenty-
ninth of July ; as did also Mr Desrolles, his Bri
tannic majesty's minister at the court of Brussels,
from this last place, about the same time. On
the seventh of July, general Pisa, commandant
of Ostend, Nieuport, and the maritime ports of
Flanders, sent his adjutant to the English vice-
consul at Ostend, at six o'clock in the morning,
to tell him, that, by orders from his court, all,
communication Avith England was broke off; and
desired the vice-consul to intimate to thepapket-
boats and British shipping at Ostend, Bruges,
and Nieuport, to depart in tAventy-four hours,
and not to return into any of the ports of the
empress-queen till further disposition should be
made. The reasons alledged by the court of
Vienna for debarring the subjects of his Britan
nic majesty from the use of these ports, obtained
for the house of Austria by the arms and trea
sures of Great Britain, were, " That her iinperial
majesty the empfess-queen, could not, with in-
differenge, see England, instead of giving the
succours due to her by the most solemn treaties,
enter into an alliance with her enemy the king

136 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-
of Prussia, and actually afford hlrp all manner of
assistance, assembling armies to oppose those
which the most christian king, her ally, had sent
to her aid, and suffering privateers to exercise
open violence in her roads, under the cannon of
her ports and coasts, without giving the least satis
faction or answer to the complaints made on that
account ; and the king of Great Britain himself,
at the very time she A\'as offering him a neutrality
for Hanover, publishing, by a message to his par
liament, that she had formed, with the most
christian king, dangerous designs against that
electorate ; therefore, her majesty, desirous of
providing for the security of her ports, judged
it expedient to give the forementioned orders ;
and at the same time to declare, that she could
no longer permit a free communica^tion between
her subjects and the English, which had hitherto
been founded upon treaties, that Great Britain
had, without scruple, openly violated." Notwith
standing these orders, the English packet-boats,
with letters, were alloAved to pass as usual to and
frota Ostend; the ministers of her imperialma-
jesty wisely considering how good a revenue the
postage of English letters brings in to the post-
office 9f the Austrian Netherlands. Ostend and
Nieuport, by order of her imperial majesty, re
ceived each of them a Frencli garrison ; the for
mer on the nineteenth of July, and the latter
the next day, under the command of M. de la
Motte, upon whose arrival the Austrian troops

1757. GEORGE IL 137
evacuated those places; though the empress-
queen still reserved to herself, in both of them,
the full and free exercise of all her rights of
sovereignty ; to which purpose an oath Avas ad
ministered to the French commandant by her
majesty's minister -plenipotentiary for tlie go
vernment of the Low-Countries. At the same
time, their imperial and most christian majesties
notified to the magistracy of Hamburgh, that
they must not admit any English men of war, or
transports, into their port, on pain of having a
French garrison imposed on them. The city of
Gueldres, which had been blocked up by the
French ever since the beginnitig of summer, was
forced by famine to capitulate on the twenty-
fourth of August, and the garrison marched out
with all the honours of war, in order to be con
ducted to Berlin ; but so many of them deserted,
that, when they passed by Cologn, the whole gar
rison consisted only of the commandant and
forty-seven men. By the surrender of this place
the whole country lay open to the French aud
their allies quite up to" Magdebourg ; and the
empress- queen immediately received two hundred
thousand crowns from the revenues of Cleves
and la Marcke alone.
To return to the affairs more immediately re
lating to the king of Prussia. The advanced
posts of the prince of Anhalt-Dessau at Pirna
were attacked, on the tenth of August, by a body
of hussars, and other irregular troops of the

138 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i757.
Austrians ; but the Prussians soon obliged them
to retire, with the loss of several men and two
pieces of cannon. On the nineteenth of the same
month, early in the morning, a great number of
Austrian pandours surrounded a little town called
Gotliebe, in which a Prussian garrison was quar
tered, Avith a design to take it by surprise. The
pandours attacked it on all sides, and in the
beginning killed twenty- three Prussians, and
wounded many; but the Prussians having rallied,
repulsed the assailants AVith great loss. These,
however, were but a sort of preludes to much
more decisive actions Avhich happened soon after.
Silesia, which had hitherto been undisturbed this
year, began now to feel the effects of Avar. Baron
Jahnus, an Austrian colonel, entering that coun
try with only a handful of menj made himself
master of Hirschberg, Waldenberg, Gottesburg,
Frankenstein, and Landshut. They were, indeed,
but open places ; and he was repulsed in an at
tempt upon Strigau. On the side of Franconia
the army of the empire was assemblifig with all
speed, under the prince of Saxe-Hildburghausen;
the French were marching a second army from
their interior provinces into Alsace, in order to
join the imperialists : the first division of their
troops had already entered the empire, and were
advanced as far as Hanau. The Swedes Avere
noAv preparing, with the utmost expedition, to
send a numerous army into Pomerania ; and the
Russians, who, since the taking of Memel, had

1737. GEORGE IL 139
not done the king of Prussia much damage, be
sides that of obliging him to keep an army in
Prussia to oppose them, and interrupting the trade
of Koningsberg by their squadrons, Avere again
advancing with hasty strides towards Prussia,
marking their steps with horrid desolation. Field-
mareschal Lehwald, who had been left in Prussia,
Avitb an army of thirty thousand men, to guard
that kingdom during the absence of his master,
was encamped near Velau, when the Russians,
to the number of eighty thousand, after taking
Memel, advanced against the territories of the
Prussian king, whose situation now drew upon
him the attention of all Europe. In the night
between the seventh and eighth of August, colo
nel Malachowsti, one of mareschal Lehwald's
officers, marched to reconnoitre the position of
the enemy, when a skirmish happened, which
lasted near two hours, between his advanced
ranks and a Russian detachment, three times
stronger than the Prussians. The Russjans were
repulsed, and fled into the Avoods, after having
fifty men killed, and. a great number wounded.
The Prussians lost but one man, and had fourteen
AVOunded.

MO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.

MARESCHAL LEHWALD ATTACKS THE RUS
SIANS NEAR NORKITTEN.
Several other little skirmishes happened be
tween straggling parties of'the two armies; and
the Russians Avent pn pillaging and laying waste
every thing before them, till at length the two
armies having approached one another in Bran-
denburgh-Prussia, mareschal Lehwald, finding it
impossible to spare detachments from so small
a number as his Avas, compared to that of the
enemy, to cover the Avretched inhabitants from
the outrages committed on them by the Russian
cossacks,and other barbarians belonging to them,
judged it absolutely necessary to 'attack their
main army, and accordingly, notwithstanding his
great disadvantage in almost every respect, he
resolved to hazard a battle on the thirtieth of
August. The Russians, consisting, as Ave before
observed, of eighty thousand regulars, under the
command of mareschal Apraxin, avoiding the
open field, were entrenched in a most advan
tageous camp near Norkitten in Prussia. Their
army Avas composed of four lines, each of which
Avas guarded by an entrenchment, and the whole
was defended by two hundred pieces of cannon,
batteries being placed upon all the eminences,
mareschal Lehwald's army scarcely amounting
to thirty thousand men. The action began at

1757- GEORGE IL 141
five in the morning, and was carried pn with so
much vigour, that the Prussians entirely broke
the whole first line of the enemy, and forced all
their batteries. The prince of Holstein-Gottorp,
brother to the king of Sweden, at the head of hi^
regiment of dragoons, routed the Russian cavalry,
and afterwards fell upon a regiment of grena
diers, which Avas cut to pieces ; but when the
Prussians came to the second entrenchment,
mareschal Lehwald, seeing that he could not at
tempt to carry it without exposing his army too
much, took the resolution to retire. The Prus
sians returned to their former camp at Velau,
and the Russians remained in their present situ
ation. The loss of the Prussians, little exceeding
two thousand killed and wounded, was immedi
ately replaced out of the disciplined militia. The
Russians lost a much greater number. General
Lapuchin was wounded and taken prisoner, with
a colonel of the Russian artillery ; but the former
was sent back on his parole. The Prussian army
had, at first, mad^ themselves masters of above*
eighty pieces of cannon ; but were afterAvards
obliged to abandon them with eleven of their
own, for want of carriages. Three Russian ge
nerals were killed ; but the Prussians lost no
general or officer of distinction, of Which rank
count Dohna was the only one that was wounded.

142 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.

HASTY RETREAT OF THE RUSSIANS OUT OF
PRUSSIA.
After this engagement, mareschal Lehwald
changed the position of his army, by drawing
towards Peterswald; and the Russians, after
remaining quite inactive till the thirteenth of
September, on a sudden, to the great surprise
of every one, retreated out of Prussia with such
precipitation, that they left all their sick and
wounded behind them, to the amount of fifteen
or sixteen thousand men, together with eighty
pieces of cannon, and a considerable part of their
military stores. Mareschal Apraxin masked his
design by advancing all his irregulars towards
the Prussian army ; so that mareschal Lehwald
was not informed of it till the third day, when
he detached prince George of Holstein with ten
thousand horse to pursue them ; but with little
hopes of coming up Avith them, as they made
forced marches, in order to be the sooner in their
own country. However, the Prussians took some
of them prisoners, and many stragglers were
killed by the country people in their flight to
wards Tilsit, Avhich they abandoned, though they
still kept Memel, and shortly after added some
ncAV fortifications to that place. They made their
retreat in two columns, one of which directed its
course towards Memel ; while the other took the

1757. GEORGE IL 143
nearest way through thebaihwick of Absternen,
and threw bridges over the river Jura. Both
columns burnt every village they passed through
without distinction. The Prussians Avere obliged
to desist from the pivrsuit of these barbarians,
because the bridges thrown over the river Me
mel, had been destroyed by the violence of the
stream. The Russian army suffered greatly for
want of bread, as all the countries were ruined
through which it passed, so that they could pro
cure no sort of subsistence but herbage and rye-
bread. All the roads were strewed with dead
bodies of men and horses. The real cause of this
sudden retreat is as great a mystery as the rea
son of stopping so long, the year before, on the
borders of Lithuania; though the occasion of it
is said ,to have been the illness of the czarina,
who was Seized with a kind of apoplectic fit, and
had made some new regulations in case of a va
cancy of the throne, Avhich rendered it expedient
that the regular forces should be at hand, to sup
port the measures taken by the government.

FRENCH AND IMPERIALISTS TAKE GOTHA.
The king of Prussia, after remaining for some
time encamped between Bautzen and Goerlitz,
removed his head-quarters to Bernstedel; and on
the fifteenth of August, his army came in sight
of the Austrian camp, and within cannon shot of

liA H'ISTORY of ENGLAND. 1757.
it : upon which, the Austrians struck their tents,,
and drew up in order of battle before their camp.
The king formed his army over against them, and
immediately went to reconnoitre the ground be
tween the armies ; but, as it was then late, he
.deferred the more exact examination of that
circumstance till the, next day. The two armies
continued under arms all night. Next morning,
at break of day, the king found the Au.strians
encamped with their right at the river Weisle ;
the rest of their army extended along a rising
ground at the foot of a mountain covered with
wood, which protected their left; and before
their front, at the bottom of the hill on which
they were drawn up, Avas a small brook passable
only in three places, and for no more than four
or five men a-breast. Towards the left of their
army was an opening, .Avhere three or four bat
talions might have marched in front ; but behind
it they had placed three lines of infantry, and on
a hill which flanked this opening, within musket-
shot, were placed four thousand foot, with forty
or fifty pieces of cannon ; so that, in reality, this
was the strongest part of their camp. The king
left nothing undone to bring the Austrians to a
battle ; but finding them absolutely bent on avoid
ing it, after lying four days before them, he and
his ajmy returned to their camp at BernstedeL
They werefollowed by some of the enemy's hus
sars and pandours, who, however, had not the
satisfaction to take the smallest booty in this re-

1757. GEORGE IL 145
treat. The Austrian army, which thus declined
engaging, was, by their own account, an hundred
and thirty thousand strong, more thaii double
the number of the king of Prussia, Avho, thq day
he returned lo Bernstedel, after he had retired
about two thousand yards, again drew up his
army in line of battle, and remained so upwards
ofan hour, but not a man stirred from the Aus
trian camp. The army of the empire, commanded
by the prince of Saxe-Hildburghausen, and that
of the French, under the prince de Soubise, ma
king together about fifty thousand men, half of
which were French, had by this time joined, and
advanced as far as.Erfurth, in Saxony ; upou which
his Prussian majesty, finding that all his endea
vours could not bring the Austrians to an en-
gagem6ntj set out from Lusatia, accompanied by
mareschal Keith, with sixteen battalions and forty
squadrons of hi§ troops, and arrived at Dresden
on the twenty-ninth of August, leaving the rest
of the army in a strong camp, under the prince
of Bevern. With this detachment, which, by tlie
junction of several bodies of troops, amounted
to about forty thousand men, he made a quick
march, by the Avay of Leipzig towards Erfurth,
to give battle to the united army of the French
and the empire. But by the time he atrived at
Erfurth, which was on the fourteenth of Septem
ber, the enemy had retreated towards Gotha;
and upon his further approach, they retired to
Eyesenach, Avhere they entrenched themselves in
VOL. V. L

146 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
a very strong camp. His majesty's head-quarters
were at Kirschlaben, near Erfurth. While the
two armies were thus situated, major-general
Seydelitz; who occupied the town of Gotha, be
ing informed, on the nineteenth, that a large
body of the enemy was coming towards him, and
that it consisted of two regiments of Austrian
hussars, one regiment of French hussars, and a
detachment made up of French grenadiers, troops
of the army of the empire, and a great number
of Croats and pandours, retired, and posted him
self at some distance. The enemy immediately
took possession of the town and castle ; but ge
neral Seydelitz, having been reinforced, attacked
the enemy with such vigour, that he soon obliged
them to abandon this new conquest, and to retire
with great precipitation ; a report having been
spread that the Prussian army was advancing
against them, with the king himself in person.
The Prussian hussars took a considerable booty
on this occasion, and general Seydelitz sent pri
soners to the camp, one lieutenant-colonel, three
majors, fbur lieutenants, and sixty-tAvo soldiers
of the enemy, who had also about an hundred
and thirty killed. After this action, his Prussian
majesty advanced near Eyesenach, with a design
to attack the combined army ; but they were so
strongly entrenched, that he found it impracti
cable. His provisions falling short, he Avas obliged
to retire towards Erfurth, and soon after to
Naumburgh, on the river Sala; whereupon tbe

i7J7. GEORGE H. 'Uf
combined army marched, and again took pos
session .of Gotha, Erfurth, and Wieman : which
last place, however, they soon after quitted.

ACTION BETWEEN THE PRUSSUNS AND
AUSTRIANS NEAR GOERLITZ.
Upon the king of Prussia's leaving Bernstedel,
the Austrians took possession of it on the sixth
of September, and made prisoners a Prussian bat
talion Avhich had been left there. The next day,
fifteen thousand Austrians attacked two battalions
of general Winterfield's troops, being part of the
prince of Bevern's army, who were posted on a
high ground on the other side of the Niefs, near
Hennersdorff, in the neighbourhood of Goerlitz ;
and, after being repulsed several times, at last
made themselves masters of the eminence. The
loss, in this action, was considerable on both sides,
but greatest on that of the Prussians, not so much
by the number of their slain, which scarcely
exceeded that of the Austrians, as by the death
of their brave general Winterfield, who, as he
was leading up succours to the battalions that
were engaged, received a shot from a cannon, of
Avhich he died the night following. The generals
Nadasti and Clerici, count d'Arberg, colonel
Elrickhausen, and several other persons of dis
tinction, were AVounded, and the young count of

148 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
(Grroesbeck^ and the marquis d'Asque killed on
the side of the Austrians, who took six pieces of
the Prussian cannon, six pair of their colours,
and made general Kemeke, the count d'Anhalt,
and some other officers, prisoners. After this
skirmish, the prince of Bevern, with the Prussian
army under his command, retreated from Goer
litz tp Rothenberg, then passed the Queiss at
Sygersdorff, from whence he marched to Buntlau,
in Silesia, and on the first of October, reached
Breslau, Avithout suffering any loss, though the
numerous army of the Austrians followed him
for some days. Upon his arrival there, he chose
a very strong camp.on the other side of the Oder,
in order to cover the city of Breslau, to the for
tifications of which he immediately added several
new works. Though neither side had any very
signal advantage in this engagement, more than
that the Austrians remained masters of the field,
yet great rejoicings, were made at Vienna on ac
count of it. The death of general Winterfield
Avas, indeed, an irreparable loss to his Prussian
majesty, who received, at the same time, the news
of this misfortune, and of the Swedes having now
actually begun hostihties in Pomerania.

1757. - GEORGE IL 14S

THE FRENCH OBLIGE PRmCE FERDINAND
TO RETIRE. .
A BODY of the French, who, let loose against the
king of Prussia, by the ever-memorable and
shameful convention of Closter-Seven, had en
tered the territories of Halberstadt and Magde
burgh, were worsted at Egleil by a party of six
hundred men, under the command of count Horn,
whom prince Ferdinand of Brunswick had de
tached from a body of troops with which his
Prussian majesty had sent him to defend those
countries. The Prussians took prisoners the count
de Lusignan, colonel, eighteen other French of
ficers, and four hundred soldiers, and made them
selves masters of a considerable booty in bag
gage, &c., with the loss of only two men; and,
moreover, a French officer and forty men were
made prisoners at Halberstadt. Upon this check,
the French evacuated fhe country of Halberstadt
for a little while, but returning again on the
twenty-ninth of September, with a considerable
reinforcement from mareschal Richelieu's army,
which he now could easily spare, prince Ferdinand
was obliged to retire to Winsleben, near the city
of Magdeburgh. The dangers which had been
hitherto kept at a distance from the Prussian do
minions, by the surprising activity of their king,
now drew nearer, and menaced them on all sides.

150 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
Mareschal Richelieu, with eight battalions and
an hundred squadrons, entered the country of
Halberstadt, and levied immense contributions;
whilst the allied army of the French and impe
rialists, being joined by six thousand men, under
general Laudohn, who had just defeated a regi
ment of Prussian cavalry near Erfurth, marched
to Wissenfels, a city in the very centre of Thu-
xingia. The Swedes had actually taken some
towns in Pomerania, and were advancing to be
siege Stetin, and the Austrians, who had made
themselves masters of Lignitz, and a consider
able part of Silesia, had now laid siege to Schweid
nitz, and were preparing to pass the Oder, in
order to attack the prince of Bevern in his camp
near Breslau. In the mean time, they made fre
quent and always destructive incursions int@
Brandenburgh ; to oppose which, his Prussian ma
jesty ordered detachments from all his regiments
in those parts to join the militia of the country,
and sent the prince of Anhalt-Dessau from Leip
zig, with a body of ten thousand men, to guard
Berlin, A\fhilsthe himself marched with the troops
under his command to Interbeck, on the frontier
of the Lower Lusatia, to be the more at hand to
cover Brandenburgh, and preserve the commu
nication with Silesia.
' Whilst these precautions were taking, general
Haddick, with fifteen or sixteen thousand Aus
trians, entered Brandenburgh on the sixteenth
of October, and the next day arrived before Ber-
n

1737. GEORGE iL I5l
lin, of which city he demanded a contribution
of six hundred thousand crowns ; but contented
himself with two hundred and ten thousand. The
Austrians pillaged two ofthe suburbs ; but, before
they could do any further mischief, they were
obliged to reiire in great haste, at the approach
of the prince of Anhalt-Dessau,. whose vanguard
entered the city in the evening of their departure.
This alarm, however, obliged the queen and the
royal family of Prussia to remove to Magdeburgh
on the twenty-third ; and the most valuable re
cords were sent to the fort of Spandau, at the
coiiflux of the Havel and the Sphre. On tlje
other hand, the unfortunate inhabitants of Leip
zig now felt most severely the cruel effects of the
power of their new master. The Prussian com
mandant in that city had, by order of the king,
demanded of them three hundred thousand
crowns, a sum far greater than it was in their
power to raise. This truth they represented, but
in vain. The short time allowed them to furnish
their contingents being expired, and all their ef
forts to comply with this demand having proved
ineffectual, they were subjected to the rigours
of military execution ; in consequence of which,
their houses were occupied by the soldiery," who
seized upon the best apartments, and lived at
discretion ; but the sum demanded could not be
found. Such was the situation of this distressed
city, when, on the fifteenth of October, an ex
press arrived, Avith advice, that his Prussian ma-

152 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
jesty would soon be there ; and accordingly he
arrived a few minutes after, attended by his life
guards. At the same time, a rumour was spread
thatthe city would be delivered up to, pillage,
which threw the inhabitants into the utmost con
sternation. Their fears, however, in that respect
were soon abated, by his majesty's declaring,
that he was willing to spare the place, upon con
dition tbat half the sum required should be im
mediately paid. All that could be done was to
collect among the merchants, traders, and others,
fifty thousand crowns ; bills of exchange were
drawn upon Amsterdam and London, for seventy
thousand crowns, and hostages were given, by
Avay of security, for the payment of thirty thou
sand more within a time which was agreed on.
But still, notwithstanding this, the military exe
cution was continued, even with greater rigour
than before, and all the comfort the wretched
inhabitants could obtain was, that it should cease
AvhencA'er advice should be received that their
bills were accepted.

BATTLE OF ROSBACH.
The king of Prussia had tried several times to
bring the combined array under the princes Saxe-
Hilburghausen and Soubise to an engagement
upon fair ground; but,„finding them bent on de
clining it, notwithstanding the superiority of their

1757. GEORGE IL " 153
numbers, he had recourse to one of those strokes
in war, by which a general is better seen thaji
by the gaining of a victory. He made a feint,
soon after the beginning of October, as if he
intended nothing more than to secure his own
dominions, and march his army into winter-
quarters back to Berlin, leaving mareschal Keith,
with only seven or eight thousand men, to de
fend Leipzig. Upon this the enemy took courage,
passed the Sala, and having marched up to the
city, summoned the mareschal to surrender; to
which be answered, that the king, his master,
had ordered him to defend the place to the last
extreinity, and he would obey his orders. The
enemy then thought of besieging the city ; but,
before they could prepare any one implement for
that purpose, they were alarmed by the approach
of the king of Prussia, who, judging that his feint
would probably induce tbem to take the step they
did, had, by previous and private orders, col
lected together all his distant detachments, some
of which were twenty leagues asunder, and was
advancing, by long marches, to Leipzig ; upon
notice of which the enemy repassed the Sala.
The Prussian army was re-assembled on the
twenty-seventh of October, and remained at
Leipzig the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth,
when every body expected a battle Avould be
fought in the plains of Lutzen. On the thirtieth,
the king drdAv nigh that place, and on the thirty-
first, in his way through, Weissenfells and Meres-

1S4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
bourg, he made five hundred men prisoners of
war. The combined army had repassed the Sala
at Weissenfells, Meresbourg, aiid Halle, where
they broke down the bridges ; but these were
soon repaired, and the whole Prussian army,
amounting to no more than twenty thousand men,
having passed that river, through these towns, in
each of which they left a battalion, joined again
on the third of November, in the evening, over
against the enemy, whose forces consisted of forty
thousand French, and tAventy-five thousand im
perialists. Oil the fifth, about nine o'clock in
the morning, the Prussians received intelligence
that the enemy Avere every where in motion.
They likewise heard the drums beating the march,
and, so near were the two armies to each other,
plainly perceived from their camp, that their
whole infantry, which had drawn nearer upon
the rising grounds over against them, was filing
off towards their right. Np certain judgment
could, however, yet be formed of the enemy's
real design, and, as they were in want of bread,
it Avas thought probable that they intended to re
pass the Unstrut ; but jt was soon perceived that
their several motions Avere contradictory to each
other. At the same time that some of their in
fantry were filing off towards their right, a large
bpdy of cavalry wheeled round toAvards their left,
directing its march all along to the rising grounds
Avith which the Avhole Prussian camp, that lay iij
a bottom between the villages of Rederow and

I 1757, ©EORGE IL 15S
Rosbach, was surrounded within the reach of
large cannon. Soon after that, . the cavalry were
seen to halt, and afterward to fall back to the
right; though some of them still remained wiiere
they Avere, whilst the rest marched back. About
two in the afternoon the doubts of the Prussians
were cleared up ; it plainly appearing then that
the enemy intended to attack them, and that
their dispositions Avere made with a view to sur
round them, and to ppen the action by attacking
them in the rear. A-body of reserve was posted
' over against Rederow, to fall upon their routed
troops, in case they should be defeated, and to
prevent their retiring to Meresbourg, the only
retreat Avhich could then have been left them. In
this situation the king of Prussia resolved to at
tack them. His majesty had determined to make
the attack with one wing only, and the disposition
of the enemy made it necessary that it should be
the left wing. The \'ery instant the battie AVas
going to begin, his majesty ordered the general
who commanded the right wing to decline enga
ging, to take a proper position in consequence
thereof, and, above all, to prevent his being sur
rounded. All the cavalry of the right wing of the
Prussians, except two or three squadrons, had
already marched to the left at full gallop ; and,
being arrived at the place assigned them, they
formed over against that of the enemy. They
then moved on immediately, the enemy's ad
vanced to meet them, and the charge was very

156 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
fierce, several regiments of the French coming
on with great resolution. The advantage, how
ever, was "entirely on the side of the Prussians.
The enemy's cavalry being routed, were pursued
for a considerable time with great spirit, but
having afterwards reached an eminence, which
gave them an opportunity of rallying, the Prus
sian cavalry fell upon them afresh, and gave them
so total a defeat, that they fled in the utmost
disorder. This happened at four in the afternoon.
Whilst the cavalry of the Prussians charged, their
infantry opened. The enemy cannonaded them
briskly during this interval, and did some exe
cution, but the Prussian artillery was not idle.
After this cannonading had continued on both
sides a full quarter of an hour, without the least
intermission, the fire of the infantry began. The
enemy could not stand it, nor resist the valour
of the Prussian foot, who gallantly marched up
to their batteries. The batteries were carried
one after another, and the enemy were forced to
give way, Avhich they did in great confusion. As
the left wing of the Prussians advanced, the right
changed its position, and having soon met with
a small rising ground, they availed themselves
of it, by planting it Avith sixteen pieces of heavy
artillery. The fire from thence Avas partly pointed
at the enemy's right, to increase the disorder
there, and took their left wing in front, which
was excessively galled thereby. At five the vic
tory was decided, the cannonading ceased, and

1757- GEORGE IL 157
the enemy fled on all sides. They were pursued
as long as there Avas any light to distinguish them,
and it may be said, that night alone was the pre
servation of this army, which had been so for
midable in the morning. They took the benefit
of the darkness to hurry into Fryburgh, and there
to repass the Unstrut, which they did on the
morning of the sixth, after a whole night's march.
The king of Prussia set out early in the morning
to pursue them with all his cavalry, supported by
four battalions of grenadiers, the infantry follow
ing them in two columns. The enemy had passed
the Unstrut at Fryburgh, when the Prussians
arrived on its banks, and as they had burnt the
bridge, it became necessary to make another,
which, however, was soon done. The cavalry
passed first, but could not come up with the enemy
till five in the evening, upon, the hills of Eckers-
bcrg. It was then too late to force them there,
for which reason the king thought proper to can
ton his army in the nearest villages, and to be
satisfied Avith the success his hussars had in ta
king near three hundred baggage waggons, and
every thing they contained. The Avhole loss of
the Prussians, in this important engagement, did
not exceed five hundred men killed and wounded.
Among the former was general Meincke, and
among the latter prince Henry and general Seyde
litz. The enemy lost sixty-four pieces of cannon,
a great many standards and colours, near three
thousand men killed on the field of battle, and
3

158 HIST6RY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
npAvards of eight thousand taken prisoners, among
whom were several generals, and other officers
of distinction. Three hundred waggons were
sent to Leipzig, laden with wounded French and
Swiss. Upon the approach of the Prussians to
wards Eckersberg, the enemy retreated with great
precipitation ; and, after marching all night, ar
rived the next day at Erfurth, in the utmost want
of every necessary of life, not having had a mor
sel of bread for two days, during which they had
been obhged to live upon turnips, radishes, and
other roots, which they dug out of the earth.
The French, under fhe duke de Richelieu, Avere
preparing to go into winter quarters ; but, upon
the news of this defeat of the combined army,
,they again put themselves in motion, and a large
detachment of them advanced as far as Duder-
stadt, to favour the retreat of their countrymen
under the prince de Soubise, Avho, with great
precipitancy, made the best of their way from
Erfurth to the county of Hohenstein, and from
thence bent their march towards Halberstadt.
Of the remains of the imperial army, which Avas
now almost entirely dispersed, whole bodies de
serted, and Avent over to the king of Prussi^
goon after the battle.

1757. GEORGE IL 159

THE AUSTRIANS TAKE SCHWEIDNITZ. '
Whilst his Prussian majesty was thus successful
against the French and imperialists, the Austrians,
who had carefully avoided coming to an open
engagement Avith him, gained ground apace in
Silesia. A detachment of their army, under the
command of count Nadasti, had already invested
Schweidnitz, and opened the trenches before it
on the twenty-sixth of October. The Prussian
garrison, commanded by general de la Motte
Fouquet, determined to defend the place as long
as possible; and accordingly on the thirtieth they
made a sally, in which they killed, wounded, and
took prisoners, eight hundred bf the besiegers,
and did some damage to their works ; but on the
sixth of November the Austrians begaii to can
nonade the city furiously, and on the eleventh
made themselves masters of the ramparts by as
sault. The garrison, however, having taken care,
during the siege, to throw up a strong entrench
ment in the market-place, retreated thither, and
held out till the next day, Avheii they surrendered
themselves prisoners of war. After the reduction
of this place, general Nadasti, leaving in it a suf
ficient garrison, marched with the remainder of
his troops, and joined the main army of the Aus
trians, under the command of prince Charles of
Lorraine and mareschal Daun, Avho, Avhilst he was

160 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
busied in the siege of Schweidnitz, had invested
Breslau on the left of the Oder; the, prince of
Bevern defending it on the right, Avhere he Avas
strongly encamped, with his little army, under
the cannon of the city. The whole army of the
Austrians being now re-assembled, and intelli
gence having been brought, not only of the king
of Prussia's late victory near Leipzig, but also
that he was advancing to the relief of the prince
of Bevern, it Avas resolved immediately to attack
the last in his entrenchments. Accordingly, on
the twenty-second of November, about nine in
the morning, the Austrians began a most furious
discharge of their cannon, forty of which Avere
twenty-four pounders, and this continued with
out ceasing till one, when it was succeeded by a
severe fire of their small arms, which lasted till
five in the- evening. The Prussians, with un
daunted resolution, stood two of the most violent
attacks that ever were made; hut at the third,
overpowered by numbers, and assailed on both
sides, they began to lose ground, and were forced
to retire from one entrenchment to another. In
this extremity, night coming on, the Prussian
generals fearing their entrenchments Avould be
entirely forced, and that tbey should then be
totally defeated, thought proper to retreat. The
prince of Bevern, with the greatest part of the
army, retired to an eminence on the banks of the
Oder, whilst the rest of the troops thrcAV them
selves into Breslau, Avhich they might have de-

1757. GEORGE IL 161
fended, in all probability, till the king had come
to its relief. But, on the twenty-fourth, their
commander in. chief, the prince of Bevern, going
to reconnoitre the enemy, with only a single
groom to attend him, fell in among a party of
Croats, Avho took him prisoner.' His army, thus
deprived of their general, retreated northward
that night, leaving in Breslau only four battalions,
who, the next day, surrendered the place by
capitulation, one of the articles of which was,
that they should not serve against the empress,
or her allies, for two years. All the magazines,
chests, artillery, &c. remained in the hands pf
the Austrians. The garrison marched out with
all military honours, conducted by general Les-
witz, governor of Breslau. Though the Austrians
sung Te Deum for this victory, they owned that
' We are told, that he mistook these Croats for Prussian hus
sars. But some of the circumstances of this mysterious affair were
interpreted into a premeditated design in the prince to be taken
prisoner. It cannot otherwise be supposed, that a man of his rank,
a prince, a commander in chief, should officiously undertake the
always dangerous task of reconnoitering the enemy, with so slight
an attendance as only one man, and that but a groom, even if he '
had judged jt necessary to see things with his own eyes. Some
secret dissatisfaction, hitherto unknown to us, may possibly have
been the cause of his taking this step ; or, which seems still more
probable, he might be ashamed, or, perhaps, even afraid to see
the king, his' master, after having so injudiciously abandoned the
defence of Breslau, by quitting his lines, which, it is asserted, his
Prussian majesty had sent him express orders not to quit on any
account whatever, for that he would certainly be with him by tliQ
fifth of December, in which, we shall find, he kept his word,
VOL. V, M

1Q2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1737.
such another would put an end to their army, for
it cost them the lives of twelve thousand men ;
a number almost equal to the Avhole ofthe Prus
sian army before the battle. They had four al
most inaccessible entrenchments to force, planted
thick with cannon, which fired cartridge- shot
from nine in the morning till the evening, and-
the Prussians, Avhen attacked, were never once
put into the least confusion. Among the slain,
on the side of the Austrians, were general Wur-
ben, and several other officers of distinction. The
loss of the Prussians did not much exceed three
thousand men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners,
of which last there were about sixteen hundred.
Their general, Kleist, was found dead on the field
of battle.

MARESCHAL KEITH LAYS BOHEMIA UNDER
CON TRIBUTION.
The king of Prussia, Avho, like Caesar, thought
nothing was done, while any thing was left un
done, stayed no longer at Rosbach than till the
routed forces of the French and imperialists,
whom he had defeated there, on the fifth of No
vember, were totally dispersed. Then he marched
directly, with the greatest part of his army, for
Silesia, and, on the twenty-fourth of that month,
arrived at Naumburg, on the Queiss, a little river
Avhich runs into the Bobber; having in his route

1757, GEORGE IL 163
detached mareschal Keith, with the rest of his
army, to clear Saxony frbm all the Austrian par
ties, and then to make an irruption into Bohemia,
a service which he performed so effectually, as
to raise large contributions in the circles of Satz
and Leitmeritz, and even to give an alarm to
Prague itself. His majesty reserved for himself
only fifteen thousand men, Avith whom he ad
vanced, with his usual rapidity, to Barchwitz,
where, notAvithstanding all that had happened at
Schweidnitz and at Breslau, he was joined by
twenty-four thousand more ; part of them troops
Avhich he had ordered from Saxony, part the re
mains ofthe army lately commanded by the prince
of Bevern, and part the late garrison of Schweid
nitz, Avhich had found means to escape from the
Austrians, and accidentally joined their king
upon his march.' With this force, though greatly
' Whilst the Austrians were conducting them to prison, on
their route, they chanced to hear of the victory their master had
gained at Rosbach. Animated by these tidings, they unanimously
rose upon the escort that guarded them, which, happening not to
be very strong, they entirely dispersed. Thus freed, they marched
on, not very certain of their way, in hopes to rejoin some corps
of the Prussian troops, their countrymen. The same fortune
which freed them, led them directly to the army commanded by
the king himself, which was hastening to their relief, as well as
to that of the prince of Bevern. This unexpected meeting was
equally pleasing to both, the prisoners not having heard any thing
of his majesty's march ; and, at the same time, this lucky inci
dent, whilst it added a considerable strength to the army, added
likewise to its confidence, for the slightest occurrence is construed
into an omen by an army at the eve ofan engagement.

164 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
inferior in number to that of the enemy, he re
solved to attack the Austrians, who were en
trenched at Lissa, near Breslau. On the fourth
of December, he seized upon their ovens at Neu-
mark, and upon a considerable magazine, guarded
by two regiments of Croats, who retired to a
rising ground, where his majesty ordered his
hussars to surround them, and send a trumpet to
summon them to surrender themselves prison
ers of war. Upon their refusal, the hussars of
Ziethen fell upon them, sabre in hand, and some
hundreds of them having been cut in pieces, the
rest threw down then- arms, begging for quarter
on their knees. After this seizure, and after
having distributed to his army the bread pre
pared for his' enemies, he began again, the next
morning, his march towards Lissa. General
Ziethen, who led the vanguard of light-horse,
about seven in the morning, fell in with a body
of Austrian hussars, and three regiments of Saxon
¦dVagoons, which were the very best cavalry the
enemy had left after the battle of the twenty-
second. They had been detached by the Aus
trians, in order to retard the king's inarch, and
to conceal their OAvn, till their batteries should
be completed ; for, as they held the small number
of the Prussians in contempt, their intention was
to have met the king two German miles from'
their entrenchments. The Austrian cavalry ha
ving been vigorously repulsed to a considerable
distance, general Ziethen perceived, that their

1757. GEORGE IL 165
whole army was forming. He immediately ac
quainted the king with Avhat he had discovered,
and his majesty, after having himself observed
the disposition of the enemy, m^de his own with
that sagacity and dispatch for which he has al
ways been remarkable. The action began by
attacking a battery of forty pieces of large can
non, which covered the right wing of the enemy.
The two battalions of guards. With the regiments
ofthe margrave Charles and of Itzenplitz, marched
up, amidst amost terrible fire, to the very mouths
of the cannon, with their bayonets screwed. In
this attack, the Prussians sustained their greatest
loss, though the battery was carried as soon al
most as they could reach it: then the enemy's
artillery, now turned against themselves, played
furiously upon them with their own powder.
From that instant, the two wings and the centre
of the Prussians continued to drive the enemy
before them, advancing all the time with that
firm and regular pace, for which they have always
been renowned, without ever halting or giving
way. The ground Avhich the Austrians occupied
was very advantageous, and every circumstance
that could render it more so had been improved
to the utmost, by the diligence and skill of count
Daun, who, remembering his former success, was
emboldened to enter the lists again with his royal
antagonist. The Prussians, however, no way ter
rified by the enemy's situation, nor their num
bers, went calmly and dreadfully forward. It

166 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1757.
Avas almost impossible, in the beginning, for the
Prussian cavalry to act, on account of the im
pediments of fallen trees, which the enemy had'
cut down, and laid in the field of battle, to retard
their approach ; but a judicious disposition which
the king made overcame that disadvantage.
When he first formed his army, he had placed
four battalions behind the cavalry of his right
wing, foreseeing that general Nadasti, Avho was
placed with a corps of reserve on the enemy's
left, designed to take him in flank. It happened,
as he had foreseen: This general's horse attacked
the king's right wing Avith great fury ; but he
was received with so severe a fire from the four
battalions, that he Avas obliged to retire in dis
order. The enemy gave Avay on all sides ; but at
some distance recovered themselves, and rallied
three times, animated by their officers, and by
the superiority of their numbers. Every time
they made a stand, the Prussians attacked them
with redoubled vigour, and Avith success equal to
their bravery. Towards night, the enemy, still
retreating, fell into disorder. Their two wings
fled in confusipn ; one of them, closely pressed
by the king, retired towards Breslau, and took
shelter under the cannon of that city ; the other,
pursued by the greatest part of the light cavalry,
took their flight towards Canth and Schweidnitz.
Six thousand Austrians fell in this engagement,
and the Prussians, who had only five hundred
men killed, and two thousand three hundred

1757.' GEORGE IL l67
wounded, made upwards of ten thousand of the
enemy prisoners, among whom were two hundred
and ninety-one officers. They took also an hun
dred and sixteen cannon, fifty-one colours and
standards, and four thousand waggons of ammu
nition and baggage. The consequences that
followed this victory declared its importance.
Future ages will read with astonishment, that the
same prince, who, but a few months before, seemed
on the verge of inevitable ruin, merely by the
dint of his own abilities, without the assistance
of .any friend whatever, with troops perpetually
harassed by long and painful marches, and by
continual skirmishes and battles, not only re
trieved his affairs, which almost every one, except
himself, thought past redress ; but, in the midst
of winter, in countries where it was judged next
to impossible for any troops to keep the field at
that season, conquered the united force of France
and the empire at Rosbach, on the fifth of No
vember; and on the same day of the very next
month, with a great part of the same army, was
at Lissa, where he again triumphed over all the
power of the house of Austria. Pursuing his
advantage, he immediately invested Breslau, and
within two days after this great victory, every
thing was in readiness to besiege it in form. His
troops, flushed with success, Avere at first for
storming it, but the king, knowing the strength
of the garrison, Avhich consisted of upwards of
thirteen thousand men, and considering both the

168 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
fatigues which his own soldiers bad-lately under
gone, and the fatal consequences that might
ensue, should they fail of success in this attempt,
ordered the approaches to be carried on in the
usual form. His commands were obeyed, and
Breslau surrendered to him on the twentieth of
December, in the morning. The garrison, of
which ten thousand bore arms, and between three
and four thousand lay sick or wounded, were
made prisoners of war. Fourteen of these pri
soners, Avere officers of high rank. The military
chest, a vast treasure, with eighty pieces of can
non, fell into the hands of the victors, who lost
only about twenty men in their approaches. Du
ring the siege, a magazine of powder was set on
fire by a bomb, which occasioned great confusion
among the besieged, and damaged one of the
bastions. The strong fortress of Schweidnitz still
remained in the enemy's possession, defended by
a garrison so numerous, that it might be com-r
pared to a small army, and whilst that continued
so, the king of Prussia's victories in Silesia were
of no decisive effect. For this reason, though it
was now the dead of winter, and the soldiers
stood in need of repose, his majesty resolved, if
possible, to become master of that place before
the end of the year ; but as a close siege was im
practicable, a blockade was formed, as strictly as
the rigour of the season would permit.' It was
T Such was the rigour of the season, that some hundreds of
the sentinels dropped down dead on their several posts, unable to

1757. GEORGE IL 169
not, however, till the beginning of the ensuing
campaign that this place was taken. The Prus
sians opened their trenches before it on the third
of April, one thousand seven hundred and fifty-
eight, and erected two large batteries, which
kept a continual fire upon the town. The artil
lery of the besiegers consisted of three hundred
pieces of cannon, of different dimensions, and
eighty mortars ; an amazing artillery, and such
as we have never heard of in former campaigns.
On the night of the fourteenth, the Prussians car
ried one of the chief works by assault, and lodged
themselves therein : the commandant capitulated
the next day, Avith the garrison, Avhich was now
grea,tly reduced in number, being not half of
what it amounted to at the beginning of the
blockade. Thus, all the parts of Silesia which the
king of Prussia had lost by one unfortunate blow,
fell again into his possession ; and his affairs,
which, but a few months before, seemed irretriev
able, were now re-established upon a firmer basis
than ever. , The Prussian parties not only re
possessed themselves of those parts of Silesia
which belonged to their king, but penetrated
into the Austrian division, reduced Jagerndorf,
Troppau, Tretchen, and several other places, and
sustain the severity of the cold. The Germans lie under the ge
neral reproach of paying very little regard to the lives of their
soldiers, and indeed, this practice of winter campaigns, in such a ,
cold country, bespeaks very little regard to the dictates of hu
manity.

170 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
left the empress-qiieen scarce any footing in that
country, in which, a few days before, she reck
oned her dominion perfectly established.

HOSTILITIES OF THE SWEDES IN POME
RANIA.
The Swedes, after many debates between their
king and senate, had at length resolved upon an
open declaration against the king of Prussia, and,
in consequence of that resolution, sent so many
troops into Pomerania, that, by the end of Au
gust, their army in that country amounted to
twenty-five thousand men. Their first act of hos
tility, Ava's the seizure of Anclam and Demmin,
two towns that lay in the way to Stetin, against
which their principal design was levelled. But
before they proceeded farther, general Hamil
ton, their commander, by way of justifying the
conduct of his master, published a declaration,
setting forth, " That the king of Sweden, as
guarantee of the treaty of Westphalia, could not
help sending his troops into the upper part of
the duchy of Pomerania, belonging to the king
of Prussia; and that, therefore, all the officers
appointed to receive the public revenue in that
country, must pay what money they had in their
hands, to him who was commissioned to receive
it for his Swedish majesty : that, moreover, an
exact account was required, within eight dayi?,

1757. GEORGE IL 171
of the revenues of the country ; Tint that no more
than ordinary contributions would be demanded
of the inhabitants, Avho might rest assured that
the Swedish troops should observe the strictest
discipline." After this declaration, they attacked
the little fortress of Penemunde, upon the river
Pene, and on the twenty-third of September,
after a siege of nine days, obliged the garrison,
which consisted only of militia, to surrender
themselves prisoners of war. This alternative
the commanding officer chose, rather than en
gage not to serve for two years, observing, that
such an engagement was inconsistent with his
honour, whilst his prince had so much occasion
for his service ; and the Swedish general, touched
with thisn oble way of thinking, Avas, on his part,
so generous as to give him his liberty. On the
other hand, general Manteuffel, who commanded
the Prussian forces then in Pomerania, amount
ing to twelve thousand men, Avith whom he was
encamped before Stetin, to cover that place, pub
lished, in answer to this, a declaration, enjoining
the inhabitants of Pomerania to remain faithful
to the king of Prussia, their lawful sovereign,
under pain of incurring his just indignation, and
absolutely forbidding them to pay any regard to
the Swedish manifesto.
In the mean time, mareschal Lehwald, imme
diately after the battle of Norkitten, Avhen the
Russians began their retreat, detached prince
George of Holstein-Gottorp, Avith a considerable

172 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17,57.
body of forces, to the rehef of Pomerania ; and,
shortly after, the Russian forces having totally
evacuated every part of Prussia, except Memel,
and most of them being actually gone into win
ter quarters, he himself followed with an addi
tional reinforcement of sixteen thousand men.
Upon his approach, the Swedes, who Avere then
encamped at Ferdinandshoff, and had begun to
fill up the harbour of Swinnemunde, by way of
previous preparation for the siege of Stetin, re
tired with such precipitation, that they did not
allow themselves time to draw off a little garrison
they had at Wollin, consisting of tAvo hundred
and ten men, who were made prisoners of Avar.
Demmin was cannonaded by tbe Prussians on
the twenty-ninth of December; and the Swedes
having lost one officer and forty men; desired to
capitulate. As, in order to ease the troops, it
was not thought proper to continue the siege in
so sharp a season, their request was granted, and
they had leave to retire with two pieces of can
non. The Prussians took possession of the town
on the second day of January, after the Swedes
had, on the thirtieth of December, likewise given
up Anclam, Avhere the conquerors took an hun
dred and fifty prisoners, and found a considerable
magazine of provisions and ammunition. Mare
schal Lehwald then passed the Pene, entered
Swedish Pomerania, and reduced Gutzkow, Loitz,
Tripsus, and Nebringen. At the same time, lieu
tenant-general Schorlemmer passed with his corps

1757. GEORGE IL 173
from the isle of Wollin into the isle of Usedom,
and from thence to Wolgast, the Swedes having
abandoned this town, as well as Schwinemunde,
and the fort of Penemunde. The prince of Hol
stein advanced as far as Grimm and Grieffswalde,
and the Swedes, losing one town after another,
till they had nothing left in Pomerania, but the
port of Stralsund, continued retreating till they
had reached this last place. The French party
in Sweden, to comfort the people, called this re
treat, or rather flight, going into winter quarters.
The Prussian hussars- were not idle wherever they
penetrated; for, besides plundering and pilla
ging, they raised a contribution of an hundred
and sixty thousand crowns in SAvedish Pomerania.
The Mecklenburghers, who had joined the Swedes
with six thousand of their troops, now found
cause to repent of their forwardness, being left
quite exposed to the resentment of the victors,
who chastised them with the most severe exac
tions. The array of the Swedes, though they did
not fight a battle, was, by sickness, desertion,
and other accidents, reduced to half the number
it consisted of Avhen they took the field. The
Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, soon after his terri
tories were invaded by the French, in consequence
of their advantage in the affair of Hastenbeck,
had apphed to the king of Sweden, as one of the
guarantees of the treaty of Westphalia, desiring
him to employ his good offices with the court of
France, to obtain a more favourable treatment

m HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757,
for his dominions ; but his Swedish majesty, by
the advice of the senate, thought proper to refuse
complying with this request, alleging, that as
the crown of Sweden was one of the principal
guarantees of the treaty of Westphalia, it would
be highly improper to take such a step, ih favour
of a prince who had not only broke the laws and
constitutions of the empire, in refusing to furnish
his contingent, but had even assisted with his
troops, a power known to be its declared enemy.
The Aulic council, too, seeing, or pretending to
see, the behaviour of the Landgrave In the same
light, issued a decree against his serene highness
towards the end of this year.

MEMORIAL PRESENTED TO THE DUTCH BY
COLONEL YORKE.
The court of Great Britain, justly displeased with
the Dutch, on account of the extreme facility
with which they- had granted the French a free
passage through Namur and Maestricht for their
provisions, ammunition, and artillery. In the be
ginning of this campaign, had very properly re
monstrated against that step, before it was abso
lutely resolved on, or at least declared to be so ;
but in vain; a pusillanimous answer being all the
satisfaction that was obtained. The tameness
and indifference with which the states-general
had since seen Ostend and Nieuport put into thc
12

1757. GEORGE IL 175
hands of the French, drew upon their high mighti
nesses a . further remonstrance, which was de
livered to them on the twenty-eighth of Novem
ber of this year, by colonel Yorke, his Britannic
majesty's plenipotentiary at the Hague, in the
folloAving terms, well calculated to awaken in
them a due sense of their own danger, as well as
to evince the injustice of the proceedings of the
house of Austria : — " Considering the critical
situation Avhich Europe has been in during the
course of this year, in consequence of measures
concerted to embroil all Europe, the king of
Great Britain was wiUing to flatter himself, that
the courts of Vienna and Versailles, out of .re
gard to the circumspect conduct observed by
your high mightinesses, would have at least in
formed you of the changes they have thought
proper to make in the Austrian Netherlands. It
was with the utmost si^rprise the king heard, that,
without any previous consent of your's, and al
most without giving you any notice, the court
of Vienna had thought proper to put the towns
of Ostend and Nieuport into the hands of the
French troops, and to withdraw her own, as well
as her artillery and stores, whilst France con
tinues to send thither a formidable quantity of
both. The conduct of the court of Vienna to
wards his majesty, is, indeed, so unmerited and so
extraordinary, that it is difficult to find words to
express it; but whatever fallacious pretexts she
may have made use of to palliate her behaviour

176 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
towards England, it dpth npt appear that they
can be extended so far as to excuse the infringe
ment, in concert Avith France, of the most solemn
treaties between her and your high mightinesses.
The king never doubted that your high mighti
nesses would have made proper representations
to the two courts newly allied, to demonstrate
the injustice of such a proceeding, and the dan
ger that might afterwards result from it. Your
high mightinesses will have perceived, that your
silence on the first step encouraged the two
courts, newly allied, to attempt others ; and who
can say where they will stop? The pretext at
first was, the need which the empress-queen stood
in of the troops for the Avar kindled in the em
pire, and the necessity of providing for the safety
of those important places, and afterwards, of their
imaginary danger from England. But, high and
mighty lords, it is but too evident, that the two
powers, who have taken these measures in con
cert, have other projects in view, and have made
new regulations with regard to that country,
which cannot but alarm the neighbouring states.
The late demand made to your high mightinesses,
of a passage for a large train df warlike imple
ments through some of the barrier towns, in order
to be sent to Ostend and Nieuport, could not
fail to awaken the king's attention. The sincere
friendship, and parity of interests, of Great Bri
tain and Holland, require, that they should no
longer keep silence, lest, In the issue, it should
3

1757. GEORGE IL 177
be considered as a tacit consent, and as a relin
quishment of all our rights. The king commands
me, therefore, to recal to your high mightinesses
the two-fold right you have acquired to keep the
Austrian Netherlands under the government of
the house of Austria ; and that no other has a
title to make the least alteration therein, Avith
out the consent of your high mightinesses ; unless
the new allies have resolved to set aside all prior
treaties, and to dispose at pleasure of every thing
that may suit their private interest. In the treaty
between your high mightinesses and the crown
of France, signed at Utrecht, on the eleventh of
April, one thousand seven hundred and thirteen,
in the fifteenth article, are these words : ' It is
also agreed, that no province, fort, town, or city
of the said Netherlands, or of those which are
given up by his catholick majesty, shall ever be
ceded, transferred, or given, or shall ever de
volve tb the crown of France, or any prince or
princess of the house or line of France, either by
virtue of any gift, exchange, marriage-contract,
succession by avIU, or by any other title whatever,
to the power and authority of the most christian
king, or of any prince or princess of the house or
line of France.' In the barrier treaty, these very
stipulations are repeated in the first article : ' His
imperial and catholick majesty promises and en
gages, that no province, city, town, fortress, or
territory of the said country, shall be ceded,
transferred, given, or devolve to the crown of
VOL« V. N

178 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
France, or to any other but the successor of the
German dominions ofthe house of Austria, either
by donation, sale, exchange, marriage-contract,
heritage, testamentary succession, nor under any
other pretext whatsoever ; so that no province,
town, fortress, or territory of the said Nether
lands shall ever be subject to any other prince,
but to the successor of the states of the house
of Austria alone, excepting what has been
yielded by the present treaty to the said lords
the states-general.' A bare reading of these two
articles, is sufficient to evince all that I have
just represented to your high mightinesses-: and
whatever pretext the courts of Vienna and Ver
sailles may alledge, to cover the infraction of
these treaties, the thing remains, nevertheless-,
evident, whilst these two courts are unable to
prove that the towns of Ostend and Nieuport are
not actually in the power of France. If their
designs are just, or agreeable to those treaties,
they will doubtless not scruple, in the least, to
make your high mightinesses easy on that head,
by openly explaining themselves to a quiet and
pacific neighbour, and by giving you indisputa
ble proofs of their intentions to fulfil the stipu
lations of the said two treaties, with regard to
the Netherlands. The king hath so much con
fidence in the good sense, prudence, and friend
ship of your high mightinesses, that he makes
not the least doubt of your taking the most effi
cacious measures to clear up an affair of such

xm. GEORGE II 179
importance; and of your being pleased, in con
cert with his majesty, to watch over the fate of
a country, whose situation and independence
have, for more than a century, been regarded as
one of the principal supports of your liberty and
commerce." It does not appear that this re
monstrance had the desired effect upon the states-
general, who were apprehensive -of embroiling
themselves with an enemy so remarkably alert in
taking all advantages. The truth is, they were
not only unprepared for a rupture with France,
but extremely unwilling to forego the commercial
profits which they derived from their neutrality.
The king of Prussia, about this period, began
to harbour a suspicion, that certain other powers
longed eagerly to enjoy the same respite from
the dangers and inconveniencies of war, and that
he ran the risk of being abandoned by his sole
patron and ally, who seemed greatly alarmed at
his defeat in Bohemia, and desirous of detaching
himself from a connexion which might be pro
ductive of the most disagreeable consequences
to his continental Interest. Stimulated by this
opinion, his Prussian majesty is said to have writ
ten an expostulatory letter ' to the king of Great
Britain, in which he very plainly taxes that mo
narch with having, instigated him to commence
hostilities ; and insists upon his remembering the
engagements by which he was so solemnly bound.
' See note [C], vol. vi.

180 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
From the strain of this letter, and the Prussian's
declaration to the British minister when he first
set out for Saxony, importing, that he was going
to fight the king of England's battles, a notion
was generally conceived, that those two poAvers
had agreed to certain private pacta or conven
tions, the particulars of which have not yet tran
spired. Certain it is, a declaration was delivered
to the Prussian resident at London, which ap
pears to have been calculated as an answer to the
letter. In that paper, the king of Great Britain
declared, that the overtures made by his majesty's
electoral ministers in Germany touching the
checks received on the continent, should have
no influence on his majesty as king : that he saw,
in the same light as before, the pernicious effects
of the union between the courts of Vienna and
Versailles, threatening a subversion of the whole
system of public liberty, and of the independence
ofthe European powers: that he considered .as a
fatal consequence of this dangerous connexion,
the cession made by the court of Vienna of the
ports in the Netherlands to France, in such a
critical situation, and contrary to the faith of the
most solemn treaties : that whatever might be
the success of his arms, his majesty was deter
mined to act in constant concert with the king
of Prussia, in employing the most efficacious
means to frustrate the unjust and oppressive de
signs of their common enemies. He concluded
Avith assuring the king of Prussia, that the British

1757, GEORGE IL 181
crown would continue to fulfil, Avith the greatest
punctuality, its engagements with his Prussian
majesty, and to support him with firmness and
vigour. Such a representation could not fail of
being agreeable to a prince, who, at this junc
ture, _stood in need of an extraordinary cordial.
He knew he could securely depend, not only on
the good faith of an English ministry, but also
on the good plight of the British nation, which,
like an indulgent nurse, hath always presented
the nipple to her meagre German allies. Those,
however, who pretended to consider and canvas
events without prejudice and prepossession, could
not help owning their surprise, at hearing an
alliance stigmatized as pernicious to the system
of public liberty, and subversive of the independ
ence of the European powers, as they remembered
that this alliance was the effect of necessity, to
AvhIch the house of Austria was reduced, for its
own preservation ; reduced, as its friends and
partisans affirm, by tho'se very potentates that
now reproached her Avith these connexions.

DISPUTES CONCERNING THE CONVENTION
OF CLOSTER-SEVEN.
His Britannic majesty Avas resolved that the
king of Prussia should have no cause to complain
of his indifference, Avhatever reasons he had to
exclaim against the convention of Closter-Seven,
4

182 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
which he did not scruple to condemn as a very
scandalous capitulation, as much as he disapproved
of the conduct, in consequence of which, near
forty thousand men were so shamefully disarmed,
and lost to his cause. Those stipulations also
met with a very unfavourable reception in Eng
land,, where the motions of the allied army, in
their retreat before the enemy, were very freely
censured, and some great names exposed to the
ridicule and contempt of the public. This event,
so singular in Itself, and so important in its con
sequences, attracted the attention of the privy-
council, where it is said to have been canvassed
with great warmth and animosity of altercation.
The general complained that he was restricted by
peremptory orders from the regency of Hanover;
and they were reported to have used recrimina
tions in their defence. In all probability, every
circumstance of the dispute was not explained to
the satisfaction of all parties, inasmuch as that
great commander quitted the harvest of military
glory, and, like another Cincinnatus, retired to
his plough. The convention of Closter-Seven
was equally disagreeable to the courts of London
and Versailles. The former saw the electorate of
Hanover left, by this capitulation, at the mercy
of the enemy, who had taken possession of the
whole country, seized the revenues, exacted con
tributions, and changed the whole form of go
vernment in the name of his most christian
majesty : while the French army, Avhich had been
12

1757. GEORGE II. 183
employed in opposing the Hanoverians, was noAV
at liberty to throw their additional force into the
scale against the king of Prussia, who at that
period seemed to totter on the verge of destruc
tion. On the other hand, the French ministry
thought their general had granted too favour
able terms to a body of forces, whom he had
cooped up in such a manner^ that, in a little time,
they must have surrendered at discretion. They,
therefore, determined either to provoke the Ha
noverians; by ill usage, to an infraction -of the
treaty, or, should that be found impracticable,
renounce it as an imperfect convention, esta
blished without proper authority. Both expedi
ents were used withour reserve. They Avere no
sooner informed of the capitulation, than they
refused to acknowledge its validity, except on
condition that the Hanoverian troops should
formally engage to desist from all service against
France and her allies during the present war,
and be disarmed on their return to their own
country. At the same time, her general, who
commanded in the electorate, exhausted the
country, by levying exorbitant contributions,
and connived at such outrages as degraded his
own dignity, and reflected disgrace on the cha
racter of his nation. The court of London, to
make a merit of necessity, affected to consider
the conventional act as a provisional armistice,
to pave the way for a negociation that might
terminate in a general peace, and propoiialis were

184 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-
offered for that purpose ; but the French ministry
kept aloof, and seemed resolved that the electo
rate of Hanover should be annexed to their king's
dominions. At least they were bent upon keep
ing it as a precious depositum, AvhIch, In the plan
of a general pacification, they imagined, would
counterbalance any advantage that Great Britain
might obtain in other parts of the Avorld. Had
they been alloAved to keep this deposit, the king
dom of Great Britain would have saved about
twenty millions of money, together with the lives
of her best soldiers ; and Westphalia would have
continued to enjoy all the blessings of security
and peace. But the king of England's tender
ness for Hanover was one of the chief sources of
the misfortunes Avhich befel the electorate. He
could not bear the thoughts of seeing it, even
for a season, in the hands of the enemy ; and his
own sentiments in this particular were reinforced
by the pressing remonstrances of the Prussian
monarch, whom, at this juncture, he thought it
dangerous to disobhge. Actuated by these mo
tives, he was pleased to see the articles of the
convention so palpably contravened, because the
violation unbound his hands, and enabled him,
consistently AvIth good faith, to take effectual
steps for the assistance of his ally, and the re
covery of his own dominions. He, therefore,
in quality of elector of Brunswick-Lunenbourg,
published a declaration, observing, " That his
royal highness the duke of Cumberland had, on

1757. GEORGE IL 185
his part, honestly fulfilled all the conditions of
the convention ; but the duke de Richelieu de
manded that the troops should enter into an
engagement specified above, and lay down their
arms ; although it Avas expressly stipulated in the
convention, that they should not be regarded as
prisoners of war, under which quality alone they
could be disarmed : that the French court pre
tended to treat the convention as a military re
gulation only ; and, indeed, it was originally
nothing more; but as they had expressly dis
owned its A'alidity, and a negociation had been
actually begun for disarming the auxiliaries, upon
certain conditions, though the French general
would never answer categorically, but waited
always for fresh instructions from Versailles, the
nature of that act was totally changed, and what
was at first an agreement between general and
general, Avas now become a matter of state be
tween the two courts of London and Versailles :
that, however hard the conditions of the conven
tion appeared to be for the troops of Hanover,
his Britannic majesty would have acquiesced in
them, had not the French glaringly discovered
their design of totally ruining his army, and his
dominions ; and, by the most outrageous con
duct, freed his Britannic majesty from every
obligation under which he had been laid by the
convention : that, in the midst of the armistice,
the most open hostilities had been committed :
the castle of Schartzfels had been forcibly seized

186 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1757.
and pillaged, and the garrison made prisoners of
war: the prisoners made by the French before
the convention had not been restored, according
to an express article stipulated between the ge
nerals, though it had been fulfilled on the part
of the electorate, by the immediate release of
the French prisoners ; the bailies of those dis
tricts from which the French troops were ex
cluded by mutual agreement, had been summoned,
on pain of military execution, to appear before
the French commissary, and compelled to deliver
into his hands the public revenue ; the French
had appropriated to themselves part of those
magazines, which, by express agreement, Avere
destined for the use of the electoral troops ; and
they had seized the houses, revenue, and corn
belonging to the king of England in the city of
Bremen, in violation of their engagement to
consider that city as a place absolutely free and
neutral. He took notice, that they had proceeded
to menaces unheard of among civilized people,
of burning, sacking, and destroying every thing
that fell in their way, should the least hesitation
be made in executing the convention according
to their interpretation." — Such Avere the pro
fessed considerations that determined his Britan
nic majesty to renounce the agreement which
they had violated, and have recourse to arms for
the relief of his subjects and allies. It Avas in
consequence of this determination that he con
ferred the command of his electoral army on

1757. GEORGE II. 187
prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, brother to the
duke of that name who had distinguished him
self in the Prussian army, by bis great military
talents, and was, by blood and inclination, as well
as interest, supposed warmly attached to his Bri
tannic majesty. The truth is, the king of Prus
sia recommended him to this command, because
he knew he could depend upon his concurring
with all his measures, in conducting the opera
tions of the British army. The duke de Richelieu
Avas no sooner informed of these particulars, than
he sent a letter to prince Ferdinand, specifying,
" That although for some days he had perceived
the Hanoverian troops in motion, in order to
form themselves Into a body, he could not ima
gine the object of these movements was to in
fringe the convention of neutrality which had
been established between the duke of Cumber
land and himself, as French general; that he
was blinded so far by his confidence in the good
faith of the elector of Hanover, Avho had signed
that convention, as to believe the troops were
assembled for no other purpose than to be dis
tributed into winter quarters, which had been
assigned them by the agreement; but his eyes
were at last opened, by repeated advices which
he had received from all quarters, importing,
that the Hanoverians intended to infringe those
articles which ought to be sacred and inviolable :
he affirmed, the king his master was still wilhng
to give fresh proofs of his moderation, and his

188 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
desire to spare the effusion of human blood : with
that view, he declared to his serene highness, in
the name of his most christian majesty, that he
persisted in his resolution of fulfilling exactly all
the points ofthe convention, provided they should
be equally observed by the Hanoverian army ;
but he could not help apprising his serene high
ness, that if this army should take any equivocal
step, and, still more, should it commit any act of
hostility, he would then push matters to the last
extremity, looking upon himself as authorised so
to do by the rules of war; that he would set fire
to all palaces, houses, and gardens ; sack all the
towns and villages, without sparing the most in
considerable cottage, and subject the country to
all the horrors of war and devastation. He con
jured his serene highness to reflect on these par
ticulars, and begged he would not lay- him under
the necessity of taking steps so contrary to his
own personal character, as well as to the natural
humanity of the French nation." To this letter,
which was seconded by the count de Lynar, the
Danish ambassador, Avho had meditated the con
vention, prince Ferdinand returned a very laco
nic answer, intimating, that he would give the
duke de Richelieu his answer in person at the
head of his army. At this particular juncture,
the French general was disposed to abide by the
original articles of the convention, rather than ,
draw upon himself the hostilities of an army which
he knew to be brave, resolute, and well appointed,

1757. GEORGE IL 189
and which he saw at present animated with an
eager desire of wiping out the disgrace they had
sustained by the capitulation, as Avell as of reliev
ing their country from the grievous oppression
under which it groaned.

PROGRESS OF THE HANOVERIAN ARMY.
About the latter end of November, the Hano
verian army was wholly assembled at Stade, under
the! auspices of prince Ferdinand, who resolved,
Avithout delay, to drive the French from the elec
torate, whither they now began their march.
Part of the enemy's rear, consisting of two thou
sand men, Avas, in their march back to Zell, at
tacked In the bailiwick of Ebstorff, and entirely
defeated by general Schuylenbourg ; and, in a
few days after this action, another happened upon
the river Aller, between two considerable bodies
of each army, in Avhich the Hanoverians, com
manded by general Zastrow, remained masters
of the field. These petty advantages served to
encourage the allies, and put them in possession
of Lunenberg, Zell, and part of the Brunswick
dominions, which the enemy Avere obliged to
abandon. The operations of prince Ferdinand,
however, Avere retarded by the resolution and
obstinate perseverance of the French officer who
commanded the garrison of Harbourg. When
the Hanoverian troops made themselves masters

190 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757.
of the town, he retired into the castle, Avhich he
held out against a considerable detachment of the
allied army, by whom it was invested ; at length,
however, the fortifications being entirely demo
lished, he surrendered upon capitulation. On
the sixth day of December, prince Ferdinand
began his march towards Zell, where the French
^rmy had taken post, under the command of the
duke de Richelieu, who, at the approach of the
Hanoverians, called in his advanced parties, aban
doned several magazines, burned all the farm
houses and buildings belonging to the sheep- Avalks
of his Britannic majesty, without paying the
least regard to the representations made by prince
Ferdinand on this subject ; reduced the suburbs
of Zell to ashes, after having allowed his men to
plunder the houses, and even set fire to the or
phan hospital, in which a great number of help
less children are said to have perished. One
cannot, without horrour, reflect upon such brutal
acts of inhumanity. The French troops on divers
occasions, and in different parts of the empire,
acted tragedies of the same nature, which are
not easily reconcileable to the character of a
nation famed for sentiment and civility. The
Hanoverians having advanced Avithin a league
pf Zell, the two armies began to cannonade each
other ; the French troops, posted on the right o£
the Aller, burned their magazines, and retired into
the town, Avherethey Avere so strongly entrenched,
that prince Ferdinand could not attempt the river.

1757. GEORGE IL 191
the passes of wh,ich were strongly guarded by
the enemy. At the same time, his troops were
exposed to great hardships from the severity of
the weather; he therefore retreated to Ultzen
and Lunenbourg, where his army was put into
Avinter quarters, and executed several small en
terprises by detachment, while the French gene
ral fixed his head quarters in the city of Hanover,
his cantonments extending as far as Zell, in the
neighbourhood of Avhich many sharp skirmishes
Avere fought from the out-parties with various
success. Their imperial majesties were no sooner
apprised of these transactions, Avhich thej" con
sidered as infractions of the convention, than
they sent an intimation to the baron de Stein
berg, minister from the king of Great Britain as
elector of Hanover, that he should appear no
more at court, or confer with their ministers;
and that his residing at Vienna, as he might
easily conceive, could not be very agreeable : in
consequence of which message, he retired, after
having obtained the necessary passports for his
departure. The chagrin occasioned at the court
of Vienna, by the Hanoverian army's having re
course to their arms again, Avas, in some measure,
alleviated by the certain tidings received from
Petersburgh, that the czarina had signed her ac
cession in form to the treaty between the courts
of Vienna, Versailles, and Stockholm.

192 , HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-

DEATH OF THE QUEEN OF POLAND. TRANS
ACTIONS AT SEA.
Ik closing our account of this year's transactions
on the continent, we may observe, that ' on the
l6th day of November, the queenof Poland died at
Berlin of an apoplexy, supposed to be occasioned
by the shock she received on hearing that the
French were totally defeated at Rosbach. She
was a lady of exemplary virtue and piety, Avhose
constitution had been broke by grief and anxiety
conceived from the distress of her own family,
as well as from the misery tp which she saw her
people exposed. With respect to the European
powers, that were not actually engaged as prin
cipals in the war, they seemed industriously to
avoid every step that might be construed a de
viation from the most scrupulous neutrality. The
states-general proceeded with great circumspec
tion, in the middle course between two powerful
neighbours, equally jealous and formidable ; and
the king of Spain was gratified for his forbear
ance, with a convention settled between him and
the belligerent powers, implying, that his sub
jects should pursue their commerce at sea without
molestation, provided they should not transport
those articles of merchandise which were deemed
contraband by all nations. The operations at se^

1757. GEORGE IL 193
during the course of this year, either in Europe
or America, were far from being decisive or im
portant. The commerce of Great Britain sus
tained considerable damage from the activity
and success of French privateers, of which a
great number had been equipped in the islands
of Martinique and Guadaloupe. The Greenwich
ship of war, mounted with fifty guns, and a fri
gate of twenty, fell into the hands of the enemy,
together with a A'ery considerable number of
trading vessels. On the other hand, the English
cruisers and privateers acquitted themselves with
equal vigilance and valour. The due d'Aquitaine,
a large ship of fifty guns, was taken in the month
of June by two British ships of war, after a se
vere engagement ; and, about the same time, the
Aquilon, of nearly the same force, was driven
ashore and destroyed near Brest by the Antelope,
one of the British cruisers. A French frigate of
twenty-six guns, called the Emeraude, was taken
in the channel, after a Avarm engagement, by an
English ship of inferior force, under the com
mand of captain Gilchrist, a gallant and alert
officer, who. In the sequel, signalized ^imself on
divers occasions, by very extraordinary acts of
valour. All the sea-officers seemed to be anima
ted with a noble emulation to distinguish them
selves in the service of their country, and the
spirit descended even to the captains of priva
teers, Avho, instead of imitating the former com
manders of that class, in avoiding ships of force,
VOL. V. «

im- HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1757-
and centering their whole attention in advan
tageous prizes, now encountered the armed ships
of the enemy, and fought with the most obsti-,
nate valour in the pursuit of national glory.

FATE OF CAPTAIN DEATH.
Perhaps history cannot afford a more remark
able instance of desperate courage than that
which Avas exerted in December of the prece
ding year, by the officers and crew of an English
privateer, called the Terrible, under the command
of captain William Death, equipped Avith twenty-
six carriage guns, and manned with two hundred
sailors. On the twenty- third day of the month
he engaged and made prize of a large French
ship from St Domiilgo, after an obstinate battle,
in which he lost his own brother and sixteen
seamen : then he secured with forty men his
prize, Avhich contained a valuable cargo, and di
rected his Course to England ; but in a few days
he had the misfortune to fall in with the Venge
ance, a privateer of St Maloes, carrying thirty-
Six large cannon, Avith a complement of three
hundred and sixty men. Their first step was to
attack the prize, which was easily retaken ; then
the two ships bore dbw^n upon the Terrible, Avhose
main-mast was shot away by the first broadside.
Notwithstanding this disaster, the Terrible main
tained such a furious engagement against both as

1757. GEORGE IL 195
can hardly be paralleled in the annals of Britain.
The French commander and his second Avere killr
ed, Avith two- thirds of his company ; but the galr
lant captain Death, with the greater part of his
officers, and almost his whole crew, having met
with the same fate, his ship was boarded by th6
enemy, who found no more than twenty-six per
sons alive, sixteen of whom were mutilated by
the loss of leg or arm, and the other ten griev
ously wounded. The ship itself was so shattered,
that it could scarce be kept above water, and the
whole exhibited a scene of blood, horror, and de
solation. The victor itself lay like a Avreck on
the surface ; and in this condition made shift,
with great difficulty, to tow the Terrible' into
St Maloes, Avhere she was not beheld Avithout
astonishment and terror. This adventure was
no, sooner known in England, than a liberal sub
scription was raised for the support of Death's
widow, and that part of the crew which survived
the engagement. In this, and every sea ren
counter that happened within the present year,
the superiority in skill and resolution was ascer
tained to the British mariners ; for even when.
they fought against great odds, their courage
was generally crowned with success. In the
month of November, captain Lockhart, a young
' There was a strange combinatiou of names belonging to this
privateer ; the Terrible, equipped at Execution Dock, command
ed by captain Death, whose lieutenant was called Devil, and who
had one Ghost for surgeon.

196 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. nsf
gentleman, who had already rendered himself a
terror to the enemy as commander of a small
frigate, noAV added considerably to his reputation,
by reducing the Melampe, a French privateer of
Bayonne, greatly superior to his own ship in num
ber of men and weight of mptal. This exploit
was seconded by another of the same nature. In
his conquest of another French adventurer, called
the countess of Gramont; and a third large pri
vateer of Bayonne was taken by captain Sauma-
rez, commander of the Antelope. In a word, the
narrow seas were so well guarded, that in a little
time scarce a French ship durst appear in the
English channel, which the British traders navi
gated without molestation.

SESSION OPENED.
On the first day of December, the king of Great
Britain opened the session of parliament with a
speech from the throne^ which seemed calculated
to prepare the nation for the expence of main
taining a new war on the continent of Europe.
His majesty graciously declared, that it would
have given him a most sensible pleasure to ac
quaint them, at the opening of the session, that
his success in carrying on the war had been equal
to the justice, of his cause, and the extent and
vigour of the measures formed for that purpose.
He expressed the firmest confidence, that the

1757. GEORGE IL 197
spirit and bravery of the nation, so renowned in
all times, Avhich had formerly surmounted so
many difficulties, were not to be abated by a few
disappointments, which, he trusted, might be re
trieved by the blessing of God, and the zeal and
ardour of his parliament for his majesty's honour
and the advantage of their country. He said it
was his determined resolution to apply his utmost
effbrts for the security of his kingdoms, and for
the recovery and protection of the possessions
and rights of his crown and subjects in America,
and elsewhere, as well by the strongest exertion
of his naval force, as by all other methods. He
signified, that another great object which he had
at heart, was the preservation of the protestant
rehgion, and the liberties of Europe ; and, in that
view, to encourage and adhere to his allies. For
this cause, he assured them, he would decline no
inconveniencies, and in this cause, he earnestly
solicited their hearty concurrence and vigorous
assistance. He observed, that the late signal
success in Germany had given a happy turn to
affairs, which it Avas incumbent on them to im
prove ; and that, in such a critical conjuncture,
the eyes of all Europe were upon them. He par
ticularly recommended to them, that his good
brother and ally the king of Prussia might be
supported in such a manner as his magnanimity
and active zeal for the common cause appeared
to deserve. To the commons he expressed big
concern that the large supplies they had already

lyS HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17.57.
granted did not produce all the good fruits they
had reason to expect ; but he had so great a reli
ance on their wisdom, as not to doubt of their
perseverance. He only desired such supplies as
should be necessary for the public service, and
told them they might depend upon it, that the
best and most faithful economy should be used.
He took notice of that spirit of disorder which
had shown itself among the common people in
some parts of the kingdom ; he laid injunctions
upon them to use their endeavours for discou
raging and suppressing such abuses, and for
maintaining the laws and lawful authority. He
concluded with observing, that nothing would so
effectually conduce to the defence of all that was
dear to the nation, as well as to the reducing
their enemies to reason, as union and harmony
among themselves. The time was, when every
paragraph of this harangue, which the reader will
perceive is not remarkable for its elegance and
propriety, Avould have been canvassed and im
pugned by the country party in the house of
commons. They would have imputed the bad
success of the war to the indiscretion of the
ministry, in taking preposterous measures, and
appointing commanders unequal to the service.
They would have inquired in what manner the
protestant religion was endangered ; and, if it
was, how it could be preserved or promoted by
adhering to allies, who, without provocation, had
Avell nigh ruined the first and principal protestant

1757. GEORGE IL 199
country of the empire. They would have started
doubts with' respect to the late signal success in
Germany, and hinted, that it would only serve to
protract the burden of a continental war. They
would have owned that the eyes of all Europe
were upon them, and drawn this consequence,
that it therefore behoved them to act with th?
more delicacy and caution in discharge of the
sacred trust reposed in them by their constitu
ents : a trust Avhich their consciences AVPnld not
alloAV to be faithfully discharged, should the;^
rush precipitately into the destructive measures
of a rash and prodigal ministry, squander way
the wealth of the nation, and add to the griev
ous incumbrances under which it groaned, in
support of connexions and alliances that were
equally foreign to her consideration, and perni
cious to her interest. They would have investi
gated that cause which was so warmly recom
mended for support, and pretended to discover
that it was a cause in which Great Britain ought
to have had no concern, because it produced a
certainty pf loss without the least prospect of
advantage. They would h^ve varied essentially
in their opinions of the necessary supplies, from
the sentiments of those who prepared the esti
mates, and even declared some doubts about the
economy to be used in managing the national
expence : finally, they would have represented
the impossibility of union between the two parr
ties, one of which seemed bent upon reducing

200 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175^,
the other to beggary and contempt. Such Avas
the strain that used to flow from an opposition,
said to consist of disloyalty and disappointed am
bition. But that malignant spirit was now hap
pily extinguished. The voice of the sovereign
was adored as the oracle of a divinity, and those
happy days were now approaching that saAV the
commons of England pour their treasures, in
support of a German prince, with such a gene
rous hand, that posterity Avill be amazed at their
liberality. To the speech of his majesty the house of
lords returned an address, in such terms of com
placency as had long distinguished that illustri
ous assembly. The commons expressed their
approbation and confidence with equal ardour,
ahd not one objection was made to the form or
nature of the address, though one gentleman,
equally independent in his mind and fortune, took
exceptions to some of the measures which had
been lately pursued. Their complaisance Avas
more substantially specified in the resolutions of
the house, as soon as the two great committees
of supply were appointed. They granted for the
sea service of the ensuing year sixty thousand
men, including fourteen thousand eight hundred
and forty-five marines, and the standing army,
comprehending four thousand invalids, Avas fixed
at fifty-three thousand seven hundred and se-
yenty-seven effective men, commission and non2
commission officers included. For the mainte-

1758. • GEORGE IL SOI
nance of these forces, by sea and land, the charge
of guards and garrisons, at home and abroad, the
expence of the ordnance, and in order to make
good the sum which had been issued by his ma
jesty's orders, in pursuance of the address from
the commons, they now allotted four millions,
twenty-two thousand, eight hundred and seven
pounds, seven shillings, and three-pence. They
unanimously granted, as a present supply in the
then critical exigency, towards enabling his ma
jesty to maintain and keep together the army
formed last year in his electoral dominions, and
then ^gain put in motion, and actually employed
against the common enemy, in concert with the
king of Prussia, the sum of one hundred thou
sand pounds : for the ordinary of the navy, in
cluding half-pay to the sea-officers, they allowed
two hundred twenty-four thousand, four hundred
twenty-one pounds, five shillings and eight-pence :
towards the building and support of the three
hospitals for seamen at Gosport, Plymouth, and
Greenwich, thirty thousand pounds : for the re
duced officers of the land forces and marines,
pensions to the widows of officers, and other such
military contingencies, forty thousand nine hun
dred and twenty-six pounds, seventeen shillings
and eleven-pence : towards building, rebuilding,
and repairs of his majesty's ships for the ensuing
year, the sum of two hundred thousand pounds ;
for defraying the charge of two thousand one
hundred and twenty horse, and nine thousand
4

202 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
nine hundred infantry, together with the general
and staff officers, the officers of the hospital and
the train of artillery, being the troops of the
Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel in the pay of Great
Britain, for sixty days, together with the subsidy
for the said time, pursuant to treaty, they assigned
thirty-eight thousand three hundred and sixty
pounds, nineteen shillings and ten-pence three
farthings. To the Foundling-hospital they gave
forty thousand pounds, for the maintenance and
education of deserted young children, as Avell as
for the reception of all such as should be pre
sented under a certain age, to be limited by the
governors and guardians of that charity. Three
hundred thousand pounds were given towards
discharging the debt of the navy, and two hun
dred and eighty-four thousand eight hundred
and two pounds for making up the deficiency of
the grants for the service of the preceding year.
The Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel was, moreover,
gratified with the further sum of two hundred
and three thousand five hundred and thirty-six
pounds, four shillings and nine-pence farthing,
for the maintenance of his forces, and the re
mainder of his subsidy. They granted six hun
dred and seventy thousand pounds for enabling
his majesty to make good his engagements Avith
the king of Prussia, pursuant to a convention
lately concluded with that potentate. For de
fraying the charge of thirty-eight thousand men
of the troops of HanoA^er, Wolfenbuttel, Saxe-

1758. GEORGE II. 203
Gotha, and the count of Buckebourg, together
with that of general and staff-officers actually
employed against the common enemy, in concert
with the king of Prussia, from the twenty-eighth
day of November in the last, to the twenty-fourth
of December in the present year inclusive, to be
issued in advance every two months, they allot
ted the sum pf four .hundred and sixty-three
thousand eighty-four pounds, six shillings and
ten-pence ; and furthermore they granted three
hundred eighty-six thousand, nine hundred and
fifteen pounds, thirteen shiUings and two-pence,
to defray the charges of forage, bread-waggons,
train of artillery, provisions, wood, straw, and
all other extraordinary expences, contingencies,
and losses whatsoever, incurred, or to be incurred,
on account of his majesty's army,' consisting of
thirty-eight thousand men, actually employed
against the common enemy, in concert with the
king of Prussia, from November last to next
December Inclusive. For the extraordinary ex
pences of the land-forces, and other services,
incurred In the course of the last year, and not
provided for by parliament, they allowed one
hundred forty-five thousand, four hundred fifty-
four pounds, fifteen shillings and one farthing.
They provided eight hundred thousand pounds
to enable his majesty to defray the like sum raised
in pursuance of an act made in the last session of
parliament, and charged upon the first aids and
supplies to be granted in the current session.

204 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
Twenty- six thousand pounds were bestowed on
the out-pensioners of Chelsea-hospital ; above
twenty thousand for the expence of maintaining
the colonies of Nova Scotia and Georgia; for
reimbursing to the province of Massachuset's-
bay, and the colony of Connecticut, their ex-
pence in furnishing provisions and stores to the
troops raised by them, for his majesty's service,
in the campaign of the year one thousand seven
hundred and fifty-six, the sum of forty-one thou
sand, one hundred, seventeen pounds, seventeen
shillings and six-pence halfpenny ; to be applied
towards the rebuilding of London bridge, carry
ing on the AVorks for fortifying and securing the
harbour of Milford, and repairing the parish
church of St Margaret, in Westminster, they
allotted tAVenty-nine thousand pounds. The East
India Company Avere Indulged with twenty thou
sand pounds on account, towards enabling them
to defray the expence of a military force in their
settlements, to be maintained by them in lieu of
the battalion of his majesty's forces Avithdrawn
from those settlements ; the sum of ten thousand
pounds was given, as usual, for maintaining and
supporting the British forts and settlements on
the coast of Africa ; and eleven thousand four
hundred and fifty were granted as an augmen
tation to the salaries ofthe judges in the superior
courts of judicature.- They likewise provided
one hundred thousand pounds for deiraying the
charge of pay and clothing to the mihtia, and

17S8. GEORGE II. 205
advanced eight hundred thousand pounds, to en
able his majesty to defray any extraordinary ex
pences of the war, incurred or to be incurred,
for the service of the current year; and to. take
all such measures as might be necessary to dis
appoint or defeat any enterprises or designs of
his enemies, as the exigency of his affairs might
require. The whole supplies of this session
amounted to the enormous sum of ten millions,
four hundred eighty-six thousand, four hundred
fifty-seven pounds, and one penny. Nothing
could so plainly demonstrate the implicit confi
dence which the parliament, at this juncture, re
posed in the sovereign and the ministry, as their
conduct in granting such liberal supplies, great
part of AvhIch were bestowed in favour of our
German allies, whom the British nation thus ge
nerously paid for fighting their own battles. Be-*
sides the sum of one million, eight hundred sixty-
one thousand, eight hundred ninety-seven pounds,
four shillings and eight-pence, expressly assigned
for the support of these continental connexions,
a sum considerably exceeding the whole of the
revenue raised in the reign of Charles the Second,
and what part of the sum granted to the king
for extraordinary expences might be applied to
the same use, the article might not improperly
be swelled with the vast expence incurred by
expeditions to the coast of France ; the chief, if
not sole, design of which seemed to be a diver-

206 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
sion In favour of the nation's aUIes in Germany,
by preventing France from sending such nume
rous armies into that country, as it could have
spared, had not Its sea-coasts required a consider
able body of forces for its defence against the
attempts of the English. Indeed the partisans
of the ministry were at great pains to suggest
and inculcate a belief, that the war in Germany
was chiefly supported as a necessary diversion in
favour of Great Britain and her plantations, which
would have been exposed to Insult and invasion,
had not the enemy's forces been otherwise em
ployed. But the absurdity of this notion Avill at
once appear to those who consider, that by this
time Great Britain Avas sole mistress of the sea;
that the navy of France was almost ruined, and
her commerce on the ocean quite extinguished ;
that she could not, with the least prospect of suc
cess, hazard any expedition of consequence against
Great Britain, or any part of her dominions. While
the ocean Avas covered with such powerful navies
belonging to that nation ; and that if one third
part of the money, annually ingulfed in the Ger
man vortex, had been employed In augmenting
the naval forces of England, and those forces
properly exerted, not a single cruiser would have
been able to stir from the harbours of France ;
all ber colonies in the West Indies Avould have
fallen an easy prey to the arms of Great Britain ;
and, thus cut off from the resources of commerce,

1758. GEORGE II. 207
she must have been content to embrace such
terms of peace as the victor should have thought
proper to prescribe.
The funds established by the committee of
ways and means, in order to realise those articles
of supply, consisted of the malt-tax, the land-tax
at four shillings in the pound, sums remaining in
the exchequer, produced from the sinking fund,
four millions five hundred thpusand pounds to be
raised by annuities, at three pounds ten shillings
per cent, per ann. and five hundred thousand
pounds by a lottery, attended with annuities re
deemable by parliament, after the rate of three
ppunds per cent, per ann. these several annuities
to be transferable at the bank of England, and
charged upon a fund to be established in this
sessiort of parliament for payment thereof, and for
which the sinking fund should be a collateral secu
rity ' — one million, six hundred and six thousand
and seventy-six pounds, five shillings, one penny,
one farthing, issued and applied out of such mo
nies as should or might arise from the surplusses,
excesses, and other revenues composing the sink
ing fund — a tax of one shilling in the pound to
be annually paid from all salaries, fees, and per
quisites of offices and employments in Great Bri
tain, and from all pensions and other gratuities
payable out of any revenues belonging to his
majesty in Great Britain, exceeding the yearlv
' See note [D,] vol. vi.

208 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175S.
value of one hundred pounds— an imposition of
one shilling annually upon every dwelling-house
inhabited AvIthin the kingdom of Great Britain
over, and above all o\her duties already charge
able upon them, to couimence from the fifth day
of April — an additional tax of sixpence yearly'
for every window or light in every dwelling
house inhabited in Britain which shall contain
fifteen windows or upwards ; a continuation of
certain acts near expiring, with respect to the
duties payable on foreign sail-cloth imported into
Great Britain, the exportation of British gun
powder, the securing and encouraging the trade
of his majesty's sugar colonies in America, and
the empowering the importers and proprietors of
spirits from the British sugar plantations to land
them before payment of the duties of excise, and
to lodge theni in warehouses at their OAvn ex-
pence— -an annual tax of forty shillings for a
licence to be taken out by every person trading
in, selling, or vending gold or silver plate, in lieu
of the duty of sixpence per ounce on all silver
plate, made or wrought, or which ought to be
touched, assayed, or marked in this kingdom,
which duty now ceased and determined — a ces
sation of all drawbacks payable on the exporta
tion of silver plate — a law prohibiting all persons
from selling, by retail, any sweet or made Avine,
without having first procured a licence for that
purpose — and a loan by exchequer bills for eight
hundred thousand pounds, to be charged on the

1758. GEORGE IL 209
first aids to be granted in the next session of
parliament. These provisions amounted to the
sum of eleven miUions, seventy-nine thousand,
sevdn hundred and twenty-two pounds, six shil
lings, and ten-pence, exceeding the grants in the
sum of five hundred ninety-three thousand, two
hundred and sixty-five pounds, six shillings and
nine-pence, so that the nation had reason to hope
that this surplus of above half a million would
prevent any demand for deficiencies in the next
session. By these copious grants of a house of
commons, whose complaisance knew no bounds,
the national debt was, at this juncture, swelled
to the astonishing sum of eighty-seven millions,
three hundred and sixty-scA^en thousand, two
hundred and ten pounds, nineteen shillings, and
ten-pence farthing ; a load that would have
crushed the national credit of any other state in
Christendom. The liberality of the parliament was like the
rock in the wilderness^ which flowed with the
welcome stream when touched by the rod of
Moses. The present supply which the commons
granted for the subsistence of the Hanoverian
army was, in pursuance of a message from his
majesty, communicated to the house by Mr Se
cretary Pitt, signifying, that the king had ordered
his electoral army to be put again in motion, that
it might act with vigour against the common
enemy, in concert with his good brother and
ally, the king of Prussia; that the exljausted and
VOL. v. P

210 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
ruined state of the electorate having rendered it
incapable of maintaining that army, until the fur
ther necessary charge thereof, as well as the more
particular measures then concerting for the ef
fectual support of his Prussian majesty, could be
laid before the house, the king, relying on the
constant zeal of his faithful commons for the sup
port of the protestant religion, and ofthe liber
ties of Europe against the dangerous designs of
France and her confederates, found himself, in
the meantime, under the absolute necessity of
recommending to the house the speedy consider
ation of such a present supply as might enable
his majesty, in this critical conjuncture, to subsist
and keep together the said army. This address
Avas no sooner recited by the speaker, than it Avas
unanimously referred to the committee of supply,
who gratified his majesty's, wish with an immedi
ate resolution ; and, considering their generous
disposition, doubtless the same compliance Avould
have appeared, even though no mention had been
made of the protestant religion, which, to men
of ordinary penetration, appeared to have no na
tural concern in the present dispute between the
belhgerent powers, although former ministers
had often violently Introduced it into messages
and speeches from the throne, in order to dazzle
the eyes ofthe populace, even Avliile they insulted
the understanding of those Avho were capable of
exercising their own reason. This pretext was
Avorn so threadbare, that, among the sensible part

1758. GEORGE IL 211
of mankind, it could no longer be used without
incurring contempt and ridicule. In order to
persuade mankind that the protestant religion was
in danger, it would have been necessary to spe-
• cify the designs that were formed against it, as
well as the nature of the conspiracy, and to de
scend to particulars^ properly authenticated. In
that case, great part of Europe would have been,
justly alarmed. The states-general of the United
Provinces, Avho have made such glorious and in
defatigable efforts in support of the protestant
religion, wpuld surely have lent an helping hand
towards its preservation. The Danes would not
have stood tamely neutral, and seen the religion.
they profess exposed to the rage of such a power-
, ful confederacy. It Is not to be imagined that
the Swedes, who have so zealously maintained
the purity of the protestant faith, would now join
an association whose aim was the ruin of that
religion. , It is not credible that even the Hun
garians, who profess the same faith, and other
protestant states of the empire, would enter so
heartily into the interests of those who were bent
upon its destruction ; or that the Russians would ^
contribute to the aggrandisement of the catho
lic faith and discipline, so opposite to that of
the Greek church, which they espouse. As, •
therefore, no particular of such a design was ex
plained, no act of oppression towards any pro
testant state or society pointed out, except those
that Avere exercised by the protestants them-

212 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
selves; and as the court of Vienna repeatedly
disavowed any such design in the most solemn
manner, the unprejudiced part of mankind will
be apt to conclude that the cry of religion was
used, as in former times, to arouse, alarm, and
inflame ; nor did the artifice prove altogether
unsuccessful. Notwithstanding the general luke-
Warmth of the age in matters of religion, it pro
duced considerable effect among the fanatick
sectaries that swarm through the kingdom of
England. The leaders of those blind enthusiasts,
either actuated by the spirit of delusion, or de
sirous of recommending themselves to the pro
tection of the higher powers, immediately seized,
the hint, expatiating vehemently on the danger
that impended over God's people ; and exerting
all their faculties to impress the belief of a reli
gious war, AvhIch never fails to exasperate and
impel the minds of men to such deeds of cruelty
and revenge as must discredit all religion, and
even disgrace humanity. The signal trust and
confidence whicli the parliament of England re-
posedin the king, at this juncture, was in nothing
more conspicuous than in leaving to the crown
the unlimited application of the sum granted for
augmenting the salaries of the judges. In the
reign of king William, when the act of settlement
was passed, the parliament, jealous of the influ
ence which the crown might acquire over the
judges, provided, by an express clause of that
act, that the commissions of the judges should

1758, GEORGE IL 213
subsist quamdiu se bene gesserint, and that their
salaries should be established ; but now we find a
sum of money granted for the augmentation of
their salaries, and the crown vested with a dis
cretionary power to proportion and apply this
augmentation : a stretch of complaisance, which,
how safe soever it may appear during the reign
of a prince famed for integrity and moderation,
will perhaps one day be considered as a very dan
gerous accession to the prerogative.

SECOND TREATY WITH THE KING OF
PRUSSIA.
So fully persuaded AVere the ministry, that the
commons Avould cheerfully enable them to pay
what subsidies they might promise to their Ger
man allies, that on the eleventh of April they
concluded a new treaty of convention with his
Prussian majesty, Avhich, that it might have the
firmer consistence, and the greater authority,
was, on the part of Great Britain, transacted
and signed by almost all the privy counsellors
who had any share in the administration,' This
' These were, sir Robert Henly, lord keeper of the great seal ;
John, earl of Granville, president ofthe council ; Themas Holies,
duke of Newcastle, first commissioner of the treasury ; Robert,
earl of Holdernesse, one of the priwipal secretaries of state; Philip,
earl of Hardwicke ; and William Pitt, esq. another of the prin
cipal secretaries of state. In the name and on the part of his-

214 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
treaty, which was signed at Westminster, imported,
" That the cont?:acting powers have mutually re
solved to continue their effprts for their recipro
cal defence and security, for the recovery of their
possessions, the protection of their allies, and the
support of the liberties of the Germanic body,
bis Britannic majesty had, from these consider
ations, determined to grant to his Prussian ma
jesty an immediate succour in money, as bein^
the most ready and the most efficacious ; and
their majesties having judged it proper that
thereupon a convention should be made, for de
claring and fixing their intentions upon this
head, they had nominated and authorised their
respective ministers, who, after having commu
nicated their full powers to one another, agreed
to the following stipulations : — The king of Great
Britain engaged to pay in the city of London, to
such persons as should be authorised to receive it
by his Prussian majesty, the sum of four millions
of German crowns, amounting to six hundred
and seventy thousand pounds sterling, to be paid
at once, and in one whole, sum, immediately after
the exchange of ratification, upon being demanded
by his Prussian majesty. This prince, on his part,
obliged, himself to apply that sum to the main
taining and augmenting his forces, which should
Prussian majesty, the Sieurs Dado Henry, baron of Kn3rphausen,
his privy-couns6llor of embassy, and minister plenipotentiary at
the court of London ; and Louis Michel, his resident and charge
d'affeires.

1758. GEORGE IL 215
act in the best manner for the good of the com
mon cause, and for the purpose of reciprocal de
fence and mutual security, proposed by their said
majesties. Moreover, the high contracting par
ties engaged not to conclude any treaty of peace,
truce, or neutrality, nor any other sort of con
vention or agreement, with the powers engaged
in the present war, but in concert and by mutual
agreement, Avherein both should be nominally
comprehended. Finally, it was stipulated that this
convention should be ratified, and the ratifica
tions exchanged on both sides, within the term
of six weeks, to be computed from the day of
signing this present convention, or sooner, if
possible." .All the resolutions to which the committee of
Avays and means agreed were executed by bills,
or clauses in bills, which afterwards received the
royal sanction. The militia still continued to be
an object of parliamentary care and attention ;
but the institution was notyet heartily embraced,
because seemingly discountenanced by the rem
nant of the old ministry, which still maintained
a capital place in the late coalition, and indeed
almost wholly engrossed in the distribution of
pensions and places. The commons having pre
sented an address to his majesty, with respect to
the harbour of Milford-haven, a book of plans
and estimates for fortifying that harbour was laid
before the house, and a committee appointed to
examine the particulars. They Avere of opinion.
4

216 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
that the mouth of the harbour was too wide to
admit of any fortification, or effectual defence ;
but that the passage called Nailand-point, lying
higher than Hubberstone-road, might be forti
fied, so as to afford safe riding and protection to
the trade and navy of Great Britain : that, if it
should be thought proper hereafter to establish a
yard and dock for building and equipping fleets
at Milford, no place could, from the situation,
nature, soil, and a general concurrence of all
necessary local circumstances, be more fitted for
such a design ; that if a proper use were made of
this valuable though long-neglected harbour, the
distressful delays too often embarrassing and dis
appointing the nation in her naval operations,
might be, in a great measure, happily removed,
to the infinite relief and enlargement of the king
dom in the means of improving its naval force ;
the necessary progress and free execution of
which was now so unhappily and frequently re
strained and frustrated, by the want of a harbour
like that pf Milford-haven, framed by nature with
such local advantages. This report appeared to
be so well supported by evidence, that a bill was
framed, and passed into an act, for granting ten
thousand pounds towards carrying on the works
for fortifying and securing the harbour of Mil
ford, in the county of Pembroke. Other laws of
national consequence were enacted, in the course
of this session, with little or no opposition. On
the very first day of their sitting, the commons

1758, GEORGE IL 217
received a petition from the mayor, magistrates,
merchants, and inhabitants of Liverpool, com
plaining of the high price of wheat, and other
grain; expressing their apprehension that it would
continue to rise, unless the time for the importa
tion of foreign corn, duty free, should be pro
longed, or some other salutary measure taken by
parliament, to prevent dealers from engrossing
corn ; submitting to the wisdom of the house a
total prohibition of distilling and exporting grain
Avhile the high price should continue : praying
they would take the premises into consideration,
and grant a seasonable relief to the petitioners,
by a continuance of a free importation, and ta
king such other effectual means to reduce the
growing price of corn as to them should seem
necessary and expedient. This being an urgent
case, that equally interested the humanity of the
legislature and the manufactures of the kingdom,
it was deliberated upon, and discussed with re
markable dispatch. In a few days a bill was pre
pared, passed through both houses, and enacted
into a law, continuing till the twenty -fourth day
of December, in the present year, the three acts
of last session ; for prohibiting the exportation of
corn ; for prohibiting the distillation of spirits ;
and for allowing the importation of corn, diity .
free. A second law Avas established, regulating
the price and assize of bread, and subjecting tp
severe penalties those who should be concerned
in its adulteration. In consequence of certain

218 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
resolutions, taken in a committee of the Avhole
house, a bill Avas presented for prohibiting the
payment of the bounty upon the exportation of
corn, unless sold at a lower price than is allowed
in an act passed in the first year of the reign of
William and Mary ; but this bill, after having
been read a second time, and committed, waS.
neglected and proved abortive. "^

BILLS FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF
SEAMEN, &c.
In consequence of a motion made by Mr Gren
ville, a humane bill was prepared and brought in
for the encouragement of seamen employed in
the royal navy, establishing a regular method for
the punctual, frequent, and certain payment of
their wages ; enabhng thejn more easily and rea
dily to remit money for the support of their wives
and families, and preventing the frauds and abuses
attending such payments. This bill, having pass
ed the loAver house, engaged, in a very particular
manner the attention of the lords, vvho, by divers
messages to the house of commons, desired the
attendance of several members. These messages
being taken into consideration, several prece
dents were recited: a debate arose about their
formality, and the house unanimously resolved
that a message should be sent to the lords, ac
quainting them thatthe hpuse pf cpmmpns, npt

1758. GEORGE IL 219
being sufficiently informed by their messages
upon what grounds, or for what purposes, their ^
lordships desired the house would give leave to
such of their members as were named in the said
messages to attend the house of lords, in order
to be examined upon the second reading of the
bill, the commons hoped their lordships Avould
make them acquainted with their intention. The
lords, in answer to this intimation, gave the com
mons to understand, that they desired the attend
ance of the members mentioned in their mes
sages, that they might be examined as Avitnesses
upon the second reading of the biU. This ex
planation being deemed satisfactory, the mem
bers attended at the house of lords, where they
were carefully and fully examined, as persons
conversant in sea affairs, touching the incon
veniencies which had formerly attended the sea
service, as well as the remedies now proposed ;
and the bill having passed through their house,
though not Avithout warm opposition, was enacted
into a law by his majesty's assent. The militia
act, as it passed in the last session, being found
upon trial defective, Mr ToAvnshend moved for
leave to bring in a new bill, to explain, amend,~
and enforce it : this was accordingly allowed,
prepared and passed into a law; though it did
not seem altogether free from material objec
tions, some of which Avere of an alarming nature.
The pbwer vested by law in the croAvn over
the militia, is even more independent than that

220 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175s.
which it exercises over the standing army : for
this last expires at the end of the year, if not
continued by a new act of parliament ; whereas
the militia is subjected to the power of the
, crown for the term of five years, during Avhich
it may be called out into actual service Avltliout
consent of parliament, and consequently em
ployed for sinister purposes. A commission-offi
cer in the militia may be detained, as subject to
the articles of war, until the crown shall allow
the miUtia to return to their respective parishes ;
and thus engaged, he is liable to death as a mu
tineer, or deserter, should he refuse to appear in
arms, and fight in support of the worst measures
of the worst niinister. Several merchants and
manufacturers of silk offered a petition, repre
senting, that in consequence of the act passed in
the last session, allowing the importation of fine
organzine Italian thrown silk till the first day of
December, in the year one thousand seven hun
dred and fifty-seven, they had given orders to
their corresponden;ts abroad to send large quan
tities of such silk through Germany to Hamburgh
and Holland, which, in the common course of
things, might probably have arrived in London
before the act expired, if their carriage had not
been protracted by the great rains and inunda
tions in Italy and Germany, in the months of
August and September last, which rendered the
roads for many weeks impassable : that from un
lucky accidents on shore, and storms and con-

1758. GEORGE IL 221
trary winds after the silk was shipped, it could
not possibly arrive within the time limited by
the act ; and unless it should be admitted to an
entr)% they, the petitioners, would be great suf
ferers, the manufacturers greatly prejudiced, and
the good end and purpose of the act in a great
measure frustrated : they therefore prayed leave
to bring in a bUl for allowing the introduction
of all such fine Italian organeined silk as should
appear to have been shipped in Holland and Ham
burgh for London on or before the first day of
December. The petition being referred to a
committee, which reported that these allegations
Avere true, the house complied with their request,
and the bill having passed, was enacted into a
law in the usual form. A speedy passage was
Ukewise granted to the mutiny billi and the other
annual measure for regulating the marine forces,
which contained nothing new or extraordinary.
A committee being appointed to inquire what
laws were already expired, or near expiring, they
performed this difficult task with indefatigable
patience and perseverance ; and, in pursuance of
their resolutions, three bills were prepared and
passed into laws, continuing some acts for a cer
tain time, and rendering others perpetual. '
The lord-mayor, aldermen, and commons of
the city of London, in common council assem
bled, having drawn up a petition to the house of
' See note [E], vol. p.

222 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1753.
commons, alledging that the toll upon loaded
vessels or other craft, passing throngh the arches
of London bridge, granted by a former act, passed
in the year one thousand Seven hundred and fifty,
for improving, widening, and enlarging the pas
sage both under and over the said bridge, was
altogether precarious, and insufficient to defray
the expence, including that ofa temporary wooden
bridge already erected ; and praying that a bill
might be prepared, for explaining and rendering
that act effectual ; a committee was appointed to
examine the contents, and a bill brought in ac
cording to their request. This, however, was
opposed by a petition from several persons, own
ers of barges, and other craft navigating the
river Thames, who affirmed, that if the bill should
pass into a law as it then stood, it would be ex
tremely injurious to the petitioners in particular,
and to the public in general. These Avere heard
by their counsel before the committee, but "no re
port was yet given, Avhen the temporary bridge
was reduced to ashes. Then the mayor, alder
men, and commons of London, presented another
petition, alledging, that in pursuance of thc
powers vested in them by act of parUament, they
had already demolished a good number of the '
houses on London bridge, and directed the rest
that were standing to be taken down with all
convenient expedition, that two of the arches
might be laid into one for the improvement of
the navigation ; that they had, at a very great

1758. GEORiJEIL 223
expence, erected a temporary wooden bridge, to
preserve a public passage to and from the city,
until the great arch could be finished, which tem
porary bridge being consumed by fire, they must
rebuild it with the greatest expedition, at a fur
ther considerable expence ; that the sum neces
sary for carrying on and completing this great
and useful work, including the rebuilding of the
said temporary bridge, was estimated at fourscore
thousand pounds ; and as the improving, Aviden-
ing, and enlarging London bridge, Avas calculated
for the general good of the public, for the ad
vancement of trade and commerce, and for ma
king the navigation upon the river Thames more
safe and secure; they, therefore, prayed the house
to take the premises into consideration. This
petition being recommended by his majesty to
the consideration of the house, was referred to
the committee of supply, and produced the reso
lution of granting fifteen thousand pounds to
wards the rebuilding of London bridge. A bill
Avas prepared, under the title of an act to im
prove, widen, and enlarge the passage over and
through London bridge, enforcing the payment
of the toll imposed upon loaded vessels, which
had been found extremely burdensome to trade;
but this incumbrance Avas prevented by another
petition of several merchants, tradesmen, and
other inhabitants of the borough of Southwark,
taking notice of the fifteen thousand pounds
granted towards the repair of London bridge,

224. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
and, as they were informed, intended to make
the said bridge free for all his majesty's subjects ;
they said they hoped to partake of this public
bounty ; but afterwards hearing that the bill then
depending was confined to the tolls formerly
granted for repairing the said bridge, they re
presented the hardships which they and aU tra
ders Avould continue to labour under ; they al
ledged, that the surveyors and Avorkmen, then
employed upon this work, had discovered the
true principles on which the bridge Avas built;
that the foundation of the piers consisted of hard
durable stone, well cemented together, and now
as strong and firm as when first built; that when
the bridge should be finished, great savings would
be made in keeping it in repair, from the sums
formerly expended, on a mistaken opinion, that
the foundation was of wood : that there were
very considerable estates appointed solely for the
repairs of the bridge, which they apprehended
would be sufficient to maintain it Avithout any
toll ; or if they should not be thought adequate
to that purpose, they hoped the deficiency would
not be made up by a toll upon trade and com
merce, but rather by an imposition on coaches,
chariots, chaises, and saddle horses. This remon
strance made no impression on the house. The
. bill being, on a motion of sir John Philips, read
a third time, passed through both houses, and
obtained the royal assent.

1758. GEORGE IL 225

ACT FOR ASCERTAINING THE QUALIFI
CATION OP VOTING.
The interest of the manufacturers Avas also con
sulted in an act encouraging the growth of
madder, a plant essentially necessary in dying
and printing callicoes, which may be raised in
England without the least inconvenience. It was
judged, upon inquiry, that the most effectual
means to encourage the growth of this commo
dity would be to ascertain the tithe of it ; and a
bill was brought in for that purpose. The rate
of the tithe was established at five shillings an
acre ; and it was enacted, that this laAV should
continue in force for fourteen years, and to the
end of next session of parliament; but where
fore this encouragement was made temporary it
is not easy to determine. The laws relating to
the poor, though equally numerous and oppres
sive to the subject, having been found defective,
a new clause, relating to the settlement of ser
vants and apprentices, was now added to an act
passed in the twentieth year of the present reign,
intituled, " An Act for -the better adjusting and
more easily recovering of the Wages of certain
Servants, and of certain Apprentices." No coun
try in -the universe can produce so many laws
made in behalf of the poor as those that are daily
accumulating in England : in no other country
VOL. V. Q

296 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758,
is there so much money raised for their support,
by private charity, as Avell as public taxation;
yet this, as much as any country, swarms with
vagrant beggars, and teems with objects of mi
sery and distress ; a sure sign either of miscon
duct in the legislature, or a shameful relaxation
in the executive part of the civil administration.
— The scenes of corruption, perjury, riot, and in
temperance, which every election for a member
of parliament had lately produced, were now
grown so infamously open and intolerable, and
the right of voting was rendered so obscure and
perplexed by the pretensions and proceedings of
all the candidates for Oxfordshire in the last elec
tion, that the fundamentals of the constitution
seemed to shake, and the very essence of parlia
ments to be in danger. Actuated by these appre
hensions, sir John Philips, a gentleman of Wales,
who had long distinguished himself in the oppo
sition by his courage and independent spirit,
moved for leave to bring in a bill that should
obviate any doubts which might arise concern
ing the electors of knights of the shire to serve
in parliament for England, and further regulate
the proceedings of such elections. He was ac
cordingly permitted to bring in such a bUl, in
conjunction with Mr Townshend, Mr Cornwall,
and lords North and Carysfort ; and in the usual
course, the bill being prepared, Avas enacted into
a law, under the title of, " An act for further ex
plaining the Laws touching the Electors of Knights

1758. GEORGE IL 227
of the Shire to serve in Parliament for that Part
of Great Britain called England." The preamble
specified, that though, by an act passed in the
eighteenth year of the present reign, it was pro
vided, that no person might vote at the election
of a knight or knights of a shire within England
and Wales, without having a freehold estate, in
the county for which he votes, of the clear yearly
value of forty shillings, over and above all rents
and charges, payable out of or in respect to the
same ; nevertheless, certain persons, who hold
their estates by copy of court-roll, pretend to a
right of voting, and have, at certain times, pre
sumed to vote at such elections : this act, there
fore, ordained, that from and after the twenty-
ninth day of June, in the present year, no person
who holds his estate by copy of court-roll should
be entitled thereby to vote at the election of any
knight or knights of a shire within England or
Wales ; but every such vote should be void, and
the person so voting should forfeit fifty pounds
to any candidate for whom such vote should not
have been given, and who should first sue for the
same, to be recovered with full costs, by action
of debt, in any court of judicature.' So far the
¦ For the more easy recovery of this forfeit, it was enacted,
that the plaintiff in such action might only set forth, in the de
claration or bill, that the defendant was indebted to him in the
sum of fiAy pounds, alleging the offence for which the suit should
be brought, and that the defendant had acted contrary to this act,
without mentioning the writ of summons to parliament, or the
8

228 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
act, thus procured, may be attended with salu
tary consequences ; but, in all probabiUty, the
intention of its first movers and patrons was not
fully answered ; inasmuch as no provision Was
made for putting a stop to that spirit of licence,
drunkenness, and debauchery, which prevails at
almost every election, and has a very pernicious
eftect upon the morals ofthe people.

BILL FOR MORE EFFECTUALLY MANNING
THE NAVY.
Among the bills that miscarried in the course of
this session, some turned on points of great con
sequence to the community. Lord Barrington,
Mr Thomas Gore, and Mr Charles Townshend,
were ordered by the house to prepare a bill for
the speedy and effectual recruiting his majesty's
land-forces and marines, which Avas no more than
a transcript of the temporary act passed in the
preceding session under the same title ; but the
majority were averse to its being continued for
another year, as it was attended with some pre-
return thereof ; and, upon trial of any issue, the plaintiff should
not be obliged to prove the writ of summons to parliament, or the
return thereof, or any warrant or authority to the sheriff upon any
guch writ : that every such action should be commenced within
pine months after the fact committed ; and that, if the plaintiff
should discontinue his action, or be non-suited, or have judgment
,giyen against him, the defendant should recover treble costs,

1758. GEORGE IL 229
judice to the liberty of the subject Objections
of the same nature might have been as justly
started against another bill, for the more effectu
ally manning of his majesty's navy, for preventing
desertion, and for the relief and encouragement
of seamen belonging to ships and vessels In the
service of the merchants. The purport of this
project was to establish registers or muster-rolls
of all seamen, fishermen, lightermen, and water
men ; obliging ship-masters to leave subscribed
lists of their respective crews at offices maintained
for that purpose, that a certain number of them
might be chosen by lot for his majesty's service,
in any case of emergency. This expedient, how
ever, Avas rejected, as an unnecessary and inef
fectual incumbrance on commerce, which would
hamper navigation, and, in a little time, diminish
the number of seamen, of consequence act dia
metrically opposite to the purpose for which it
was contrived. — Numberless frauds having been
committed, and incessant law-suits produced, by
private and clandestine conveyances, a motion
was made, and leave given, to form a bill for the
public registering of all deeds, conveyances, wills,
and other incumbrances, that might affect any
honours, manors, lands, tenements, and heredita
ments, within the kingdom of England, wherein
public registers were not already appointed by
act of parliament; but this measure, so necessary
to the ascertainmen't and possession of property,
met with a violent opposition ; and Avas finally

230 HISTORY OF ENGLAND., 1758.
dropped, as some people imagine, through the in
fluence of those who, perhaps, had particular rea
sons for countenancing the present mysterious
forms of conveyancing. Such a bill must also
have been disagreeable and mortifying to the
pride of those landholders whose estates were
incumbered, because, in consequence of such a
register, every mortgage under which they la
boured would be exactly known. The next ob
ject to which the house converted its attention,
was a bill explaining and amending a late act for
establishing a fish-market in the city of Westmin
ster, and preventing scandalous monopolies of a
few engrossing fishmongers, who imposed exorbi
tant prices on their fish, and, in this particular
branch of traffic, gave law to above six hundred
thousand of their fellow-citizens. Abundance of
pains was taken to render this bUl effectual, for
putting an end to such flagrant imposition. In
quiries were made, petitions read, counsel heard,
and alterations proposed : at length the bill, ha
ving passed through the lower house, was convey
ed to the lords, among whom it was suffered to
expire, on pretence that there was not tinie suf
ficient to deliberate maturely on the subject.

175J5. GEORGE IL 23^1

AMENDMENTS IN THE HABEAS-CORPUS ACT.
The occasion that produced the next bill which
miscarried we shall explain, as an incident equally
extraordinary and interesting. By an act passed
in the preceding session, for recruiting his ma
jesty's land-forces and marines, we have already
observed, that the commissioners thereby ap
pointed were vested with a power of judging
ultimately, whether the persons brought before
them were such as ought, by the rules prescribed
in the act, to be impressed into the service ; for
it was expressly provided, that no person, so im
pressed by those commissioners, should be taken
out of his majesty's service by any process, other
than for some criminal accusation. During the
recess of parliament, a gentleman having been
impressed before the commissioners, and confined
in the Savoy, his friends made application for a
habeas-corpus, which produced some hesitation,
and indeed an insurmountable difficulty ; for, ac
cording to the writ of habeas-corpus, passed in
the reign of Charles the Second, this privilege
relates only to persons committed for criminal or
supposed criminal matters, and the gentleman
did not stand in that predicament. Before the
question could be determined he was discharged,
in consequence of an application to the secretary
at war ; but the nature of the case plainly pointed

2S2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
out a defect in the act, seemingly of the most
dangerous consequence to-the Uberty of the sub
ject. In order to remedy this defect, a bill for
giving a more speedy relief to the subject upon
the AvrIt of habeas-corpus was prepared, and pre
sented to the house of commons, which formed
itself into a committee, and made several amend
ments. It Imported, that the several provisions
made in the aforesaid act, passed in the reign of
Charles 11. for the awarding of writs of habeas-
corpus, in cases of commitment or detainer, for
any criminal or supposed criminal matter, should,'
in like manner, extend to all cases where any
person, not being committed or detained for any
criminal or supposed criminal matter, should be
confined, or restrained of his or her liberty, under
any colour or pretence Avhatsoever : that, upon
oath made by such person so confined or re
strained, or by any other on his or her behalf,
of any actual confinement or restraint, and that
such confinement or restraint, to the best of the
knowledge and belief of the person so applying,
Avas not by virtue of any commitment or detainer
for any criminal or supposed criminal matter, an
habeas-corpus, directed to the, person or persons
so confining or restraining the party, as afore
said, should be awarded and granted, in the same
manner as Is directed, and under the same pe
nalties as are provided by the said act, in the
case of persons committed and detained for any
criminal or supposed criminal matter : that the

1758. GEORGE IL 233
person or persons before whom the party so con
fined or restrained should be brought, by virtue
of any habeas-corpUs granted in the vacation
time, under the authority of this act, might and
should, within three days after the return made,
proceed to examine Into the facts contained in
such return, and into the cause of such confine
ment and restraint; and thereupon either dis
charge, or bail, or remand the parties so brought,
as the case should require, and as to justice should
appertain. The rest of the bill related to the re
turn of the writ In three days, and the penalties
incurred by those who should neglect or refuse
to make the due return, or to comply Avith any
other clause of this regulation. The commons
seemed hearty in rearing up this additional but
tress to the liberty of their fellow-subjects, and
passed the bill with the most laudable alacrity ;
but in the house of lords such a great number of
objections was started, that it sunk at the second
reading, and the judges were ordered to prepare
a bill for the same purpose, to be laid before that
house in the next session.

SCHEME IN FAVOUR OF THE FOUNDLING
HOSPITAL.
His majesty having recommended the care of
the Foundling-hospital to the house of commons,
Avhich cheerfully granted forty thousand ppunds

23* HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758.
for the support of that charity, the growing
annual expence of it appeared worthy of further
consideration, and leave was granted to bring in
a bill for obliging all the parishes of England and
Wales to keep registers of all their deaths, births,
and marriages, that from these a fund might be
raised towards the support of the said hospital.
The bill Avas accordingly prepared by a committee
appointed for the purpose ; but before the house
could take the report into consideration, the par
liament was prorogued. The proprietors of the
privateer called the Antigallican, which had taken
a rich French ship homeward bound from China,
and carried her Into Cadiz, where the Spanish
government had wrested her by violence from
the captors, and delivered her to the French
owners, now presented a petition to the house of
commons, complaining of this interposition as an
act of partiality and injustice ; representing the
great expence at which the privateer had been
equipped, the legality of the capture, the loss
and hardships which they the petitioners had
sustained, and imploring such relief as the house
should think requisite. Though these allegations
were supported by a species of evidence that
seemed strong and convincing, and it might be
thought incumbent on the parliament to vindi
cate the honour of the nation, when thus insulted
by a foreign power, the house, upon this occasion,
treated the petition with the most mortifying
neglect, either giving little credit to the asser-

1758. ©EORGE IL 235
tions it contained, or unwilling to take any step
which might at this juncture embroil the nation
with the court of Spain on such a frivolous sub
ject. True it is, the Spanish government alleged,
in their own justification, that the prize Avas taken
under the guns of Corunna, insomuch that the
shot fired by the privateer entered that place,
and damaged some houses ; but this allegation
was never properly sustained, and the prize was
certainly condemned as legal by the court of ad
miralty at Gibraltar.

PROCEEDINGS RELATIVE TO THE AFRICAljI
COMPANY.

As we have already given a detail of the trial
of sir John Mordaunt, it will be unnecessary
to recapitulate any circumstances of that affair,
except such as relate to its connexion with the
proceedings of parUament. In the beginning
of this session, lord Barrington, as secretary at
war, informed the house, by his majesty's com
mand, that lieutenant-general sir John Mordaunt,
a member of that house, was in arrest for diso
bedience of his majesty's orders, while employed
on the late expedition to the coast of France.
The commons immediately resolved, that an ad
dress should be presented to his majesty, return
ing him the thanks of this house for his gracious
message of that day, in the communication he

236 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758,
had been pleased to make of the reason for put
ting Ueutenant-general sir John Mordaunt in
arrest. Among the various objects of commerce
that employed the attention of the house, one of
the most considerable was the trade to the coast
of Africa, for the protection of which an annual
sum had been granted for some years, to be ex
pended In the maintenance and repairs of castles
and factories. While a committee was employed
in perusing the accounts relating to the sum
granted in the preceding session for this purpose,
a petition from the committee of the African
company, recommended in a message from his
majesty, Avas presented to the house, soliciting
further assistance for the ensuing year. In the
mean time, a remonstrance Avas offered by cer
tain planters and merchants, interested in tra
ding to the British sugar colonies In America,
alleging, that the price of negroes was greatly
advanced since the forts and settlements on the
coast of Africa had been under the direction of
the committee of the company of merchants
trading to that coast; a circumstance that greatly
distressed and alarmed the petitioners, prevented
the cultivation of the British colonies, and Avas a
great detriment to the trade and navigation of
the kingdom : that this misfortune, they believed,
Avas in some measure owing to the ruinous state
and condition of the forts and settlements : that,
in their opinion, the most effectual method for
maintaining the interest of that trade on a re-

1758. ' GEORGE IL 237
spectable footing, next to tbat of an incorporated
joint-stock company, would be putting those forts
and settlements under the sole direction of the
commissioners for trade and plantations : that
the preservation or ruin of the American sugar
colonies went hand In hand with that of the slave
trade to Africa : that, by an act passed in the
year one thousand seven hundred and fifty, for
extending and Improving this trade, the British
subjects were debarred from lodging their slaves
and merchandize in the forts and settlements on
the coast : they, therefore, prayed that this part
of the act might be repealed ; that all com
manders of British and American vessels, free
merchants, and all other his majesty's subjects,
who Avere settled, or might at any time there
after settle in Africa, should have free liberty,
from sun-rise to sun-set, to enter the forts and
settlements, and to deposit their goods and mer
chandize in the warehouses thereunto belonging;
to secure their slaves or other purchases Avithout
paying any consideration for the same ; but the
slaves to be victualled at the proper cost and
charge of their respective owners. The house
having taken this petition into consideration, in
quired into the proceedings of the company, and
revised the act for extending and improving the
trade to Africa, resolved, that the committee of
the African company had faithfully discharged
the trust reposed in them, and granted ten thou
sand pounds for maintaining the British forts and

238 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
settlements in that part of the world. The enemy
were perfectly well acquainted with the weakness
of the British castles on the coast of Africa ; and
had they known as well how to execute with
spirit, as to plan with sagacity, the attempt which,
in the course of the preceding year, they made
upou the principal British fort in Guinea, wquld
have succeeded, and all the other settlements
would have fallen into their hands without op
position. '
' Robert Hunter Morris represented, in a petition to the
house, that as no salt was made in the British colonies in Ame
rica, they were obliged to depend upon a precarious supply of
that commodity from foreigners ; he, therefore, offered to under
take the making of marine-salt at a moderate price in one of those
colonies, at his own risk and charge, provided he could be secured
in the enjoyment of the profits which the work might produce,
for such a term of years as might seem to the house a proper and
adequate compensation for so great an undertaking. The petition
was ordered to lie upon the table ; afterwards read, and referred
to a committee, which, however, made no report, — a circum
stance not easily accounted for, unless we suppose the house of
commons were of opinion, that such an enterprise might contri
bute towards rendering our colonies too independent of their
mother-country. Equally unaccountable was the miscarriage of
another bill, brought in for regulating the manner of licensing
alehouses, which was read for the first time ; but when a motion
was made for a second reading, the question was put, and it passed
in the negative.

1758. GEORGE IL 259

SESSION CLOSED.
The longest and warmest debate which was main
tained in the course of this session arose from a
motion for leave to bring in a bill for shortening
the term and duration of future' parliaments ; a
measure truly patriotic, against which no sub
stantial argument could be produced, although
the motion Avas rejected by the majority, on pre
tence, that, whilst the nation was engaged in
such a dangerous and expensive war, it would be
improper to think of introducing such an altera
tion in the form of government. Reasons of equal
strength and solidity will never be wanting to
the patrons and ministers of corruption and
venaUty. The alteration proposed was nothing
less than removing and annulling an encroach
ment which had been made on the constitution ;
it might have been effected Avithout the least
pang or convulsion, to the general satisfaction of
the nation : far from being unreasonable at this
juncture, it would have enhanced the national
reputation abroad, and rendered the war more
formidable to the enemies of Great Britain, by
convincing them that it was supported by a mi
nistry and parliament, Avho stood upon such good
terms with the people. Indeed, a quick succes
sion of parliaments might have disconcerted, and
perhaps expelled that spirit of confidence and

240 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758.
o-eneroslty AvhIch now so remarkably espoused
and gratified the sovereign's predilection for the
interest of Hanover. Other committees were
established, to inquire into the expence inciured
by new lines and fortifications raised at Gibral
tar ; to examine the original standards of weights
and measures used In England ; consider the laws
relating to them, and report their observations,
together Avitli their opinion of the most effectual
means for ascertaining and enforcing uniform
standards to be used for the future. The com
mons were perfectly satisfied Avith the new works
which had been raised at Gibraltar ; and with
respect to the weights and measures, the com
mittee agreed to certain resolutions, but no fur
ther progress Avas made in this inquiry, except
an order for printing these resolutions, Avith the
appendix ; however, as the boxes containing the
standards Avere ordered to be locked up by the
clerk of the house, in all probability their inten
tion was to proceed on this subject in some future
session. On the ninth day of June sundry bills
received the royal assent by commission, his ma
jesty being indisposed ; and on the twentieth
day of the same month, the lords commissioners
closed the session with a speech to both houses,
expressing his majesty's deep sense of their loy
alty and good affection, demonstrated in their
late proceedings, in their zeal for his honour and
real interest In all parts, in their earnestness to
surmount every difficulty, in their ardour to main-
3

1758. GEORGE IL 241
tain the war Avith the utmost vigour ; proofs which
must convince mankind that the ancient spirit
of the British nation still subsisted in its full
force. They were given to understand that the
king had taken all such mea.sures as appeared
the most conducive to the accomplishment of
their public-spirited views and wishes ; that with
their assistance, crowned by the blessing of God
upon the conduct and bravery of the combined
army, his majesty had been enabled, not only to
deliver his dominions in Germany from the op
pressions and devastations of the French, but also
to push his advantages on this side the Rhine ;
that he had cemented the union between him
and his good brother the king of Prussia, by ucav
engagements ; that the British fleets and armies
were now actually employed in such expeditions
as appeared likely to annoy the enemy in the
most sensible manner, and to promote the welfare
and prosperity of these kingdoms ; in particular,
to preserve the British rights and poseessions in
America, and to make France feel, in those parts,
the real strength and importance of Great Bri
tain. The commons were thanked for the ample
supplies which they had so freely and unanimously
given, and assured on the part of his majesty
that they should be managed with the most fru
gal economy. They Avere desired, in consequence
of the king's earnest recommendation, to pro
mote harmony and good agreement amongst his
faithful subjects ; tp make the people acquainted
VOL. V. R

242 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
with the rectitude and purity of his intentions
and measures, and to exert themselves in main
taining the peace and good order of the country,
by enforcing obedience to the laws and lawfiri
authority.

VIGOROUS PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. DEATH
OF THE PRINCESS CAROLINE.
Never, surely, had any sovereign more reason
to be pleased with the conduct of his ministers,
and the spirit of his people. The Avhole nation
reposed the most unbounded confidence in the
courage and discretion, as avcU as in the Inte
grity of the minister, who seemed eager upon
prosecuting the war with such vigour and acti
vity as appeared almost unexampled in the annals
of Great Britain. New levies were made, new
ships put in commission, fresh expeditions un
dertaken, and fresh conquests projected. Such
was the credit of the administration, that people
subscribed to the government loans with sur
prising eagerness. An unusual spirit of enterprise
and resolution seemed to inspire all the individu
als that constituted the army and navy ; and the
passion for military fame diffused itself through
all ranks in the civil department of life, even to
the very dregs of the populace : such a remark
able change from indolence to activity, from
indifi'erence to zeal, from timorous caution to

1758. GEORGE tt. 243
fearless execution, was effected by the influence
and example of an intelligent and intrepid niini
ster, who, chagrined at the inactivity and dis
graces of the preceding campaign, had, on a very
solemn occasion, lately declared his belief that
there was a determined resolution, both in the
naval and military commanders, against any vi
gorous exertion of the national power in the ser
vice of the country. He affirmed, that though
his majesty appeared ready to embrace eyery
measure proposed by his ministers for the honour
and inte;rest of his British dominions, yet scarce
a man could be found with whom the execution
of any one plan in which there was the least ap
pearance of any danger could with confidence be
trusted. He particularised the inactivity of one
general in North America, from whose abilities
and personal bravery the nation had conceived
great expectations : he complained, that this no
ble commander had expressed the- most con
temptuous disregard for the civil power, from
which he derived l;iis authority, by neglecting to
transmit, for. a considerable length of time, any
other advice of his proceedings but what appeared
on a written scrap of paper : he observed, that
Avith a force by land and sea greater than ever
the nation had heretofore maintained, with a
king and ministry ardently desirous of redeem
ing her glory, succouring her allies, and promo
ting her true interest, a shameful disUke to the
service every Avhere prevailed, and few seemed

244 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
affected with any other zeal than that of aspiring
to the highest posts, and grasping the largest
salaries. The censure levelled at the commander
in America was founded on mistake : the inac
tivity of that noble lord was not more disappoint
ing to the ministry than disagreeable to his own
inclination. He used his utmost endeavours to
answer the expectation of the public, but his
hands were effectually tied by an absolute impos
sibiUty of success, and his conduct stood justified
in the eyes of his sovereign. A particular and
accurate detail of his proceedings he transmitted
through a channel, which he imagined Avould
have directly conveyed it to the foot of the
throne ; but the packet was said to have been
purposely intercepted and suppressed. Perhaps
he was not altogether excusable for having cor
responded so slightly with the secretary of state;
but he was said to have gone abroad in full per
suasion that the ministry would be changed, and
therefore his assiduities were principally directed
to the great personage, Avho, in that case, Avould
have superintended and directed all the opera
tions of the army. All sorts of military prepara
tions in founderles, docks, arsenals, raising and
exercising troops, and victualling transports, were
now carried on with such diligence and dispatch
as seemed to promise an exertion that would soon
obliterate the disagreeable remembrance of past
disgrace. The beginning of the year Avas, how
ever, a little clouded by a general concern for

1758. GEORGE IL 245
the deatli of his majesty's third daughter, the
princess Caroline, a lady of the most exemplary
virtue and amiable character, who died at thc
age of forty-five, sincerely regretted as a pat
tern of unaffected piety and unbounded bene
volence. The British cruisers kept the sea during all
the severity of.AvInter, in order to protect the
commerce of the kingdom, and annoy that of the
eneniy. They exerted themselves with such ac
tivity, and their vigilance was attended with such
success, that a great number of prizes were taken,
and the trade of France almost totally extin
guished. A very gallant exploit Avas atchieved
by one captain Bray, commander of the Adven
ture, a small armed vessel in the government's
serviccj falling in with the Machault, a large
privateer of Dunkirk, near Dungenness, he ran
her aboard, fastened her boltsprit to his capstan,
and, after a warm engagement, compelled her
commander to submit. A French frigate of thirty-
six guns was taken by captain Parker, in a new
fire-ship of inferior force. Divers privateers of
the enemy were sunk, burned, or taken, and a
great number of merchant ships fell into the
hands of the English. Nor was the success of
the British ships of war confined to the English
channel. At this period the board of admiralty
received information from admiral Cotes in Ja
maica, ofan action Avhich happened off the island
of Hispaniola, in the month of October of the

246 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
|)receding year, between three English ships of
Avar and a French squadron. Captain Forrest, an
officer of distinguished merit in the service, had
in the ship Augusta, sailed from Port Royal in
Jamaica, accompanied by the Dreadnought and
Edinburgh, under the command of the captains
Suckling and Langdon. He was ordered to cruise
off Cape Francois, and this service he Uterally
performed in the face of the French squadron
under Kersin, lately arrived at that place from
the coast of Africa. This commander, piqued at
seeing himself thus Insulted by an inferior arma
ment, resolved to come forth and give them
battle ; and that he might either take them, or
at least drive them out of the seas, so as to afford
a free passage to a great number of merchant
ships then lying at the Cape, bound for Europe,
he took every precaution which he thought
necessary to insure success. He reinforced his
squadron with some store ships, mounted with
guns, and armed for the occasion, and supplied
the deficiency in his complements, by taking
on board seamen from the merchant ships, and
soldiers from the garrison. Thus prepared, he
weighed anchor, and stood out to sea, having
under his command four large ships of the line,
and three stout frigates, They were no sooner
perceived advancing, than captain Forrest held
a short council with his tAvo captains. " Gentle
men, (said he,) you know our own strength, and
gee that of the enemy; shall we give them battler"

1758. GEORGE IL 247
They replying in the afiirmative, he added, " Then
fight them we will ; there is no time to be lost ;
return to your ships, and get them ready for en
gaging." After this laconic consultation among
these three gallant officers, they bore down upon
the French squadron without further hesitation,
and between three and four in the afternoon the
action began with great impetuosity. The enemy
exerted themselves with uncommon spirit, con
scious that their honour was peculiarly at stake,
and that they fought in sight, as it were, of their
own coast, AvhIch was lined with people, expect
ing to see them return in triumph. But, notwith
standing all their endeavours, their commodore,
after having sustained a severe engagement, that
lasted two hours and a half, found his ship in
such a shattered condition, that he made signal
for one of his frigates to come and tow him out
of the line. His example was followed by the
rest of his squadron, Avhich, by this assistance,
Avith the favour of the land breeze and the ap
proach of night, made shift to accomplish their
escape from the three British ships, which were
too much disabled in their masts and rigging to
prosecute their victory. One of the French squa
dron was rendered altogether unserviceable for
action ; their loss in men amounted to three hun
dred killed, and as many wounded ; whereas that
of the English did not much exceed one third of
this number. Nevertheless, they were so much
damaged, that, being unable to keep the sea, they

24S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
returned to Jamaica, and the French commodore
seized the opportunity of sailing with a great
convoy for Europe. The courage of captain For
rest was not more conspicuous in his engagement
with the French squadron near Cape Frangois,
than his conduct and sagacity in a subsequent
adventure near Port-au-Prince, a French har
bour, situated at the bottom of a bay on the
western part of Hispaniola, behind the small
island of Gonave. After M. de Kersin had taken
his departure from Cape Frangols for Europe,
admiral Cotes, beating up to windward from Port
Royal in Jamaica with three ships of the line,
received intelligence that there was a French fleet
at Port-au-Prince, ready to sail on their return
to Europe : captain Forrest then presented the
admiral with a plan for an attack on this place,
and urged it earnestly. This, hoAvever, Avas de
clined, and captain Forrest directed to cruise off
the island Gonave for two days only, the admiral
enjoining him to return at the expiration of the
time, and rejoin the squadron at Cape Nicholas.
Accordingly, captain Forrest, in the Augusta,
proceeded up the bay, betAveen the island Gonave
and Hispaniola, AvIth a view to execute a plan
which he had himself projected. Next day in
the afternoon, though he perceived two sloops,
he forbore chasing, that he might not risk a
discovery ; for the same purpose he hoisted Dutch
colours, and disguised his ship with tarpaulins.
At five in the afternoon he discovered seven sail

1758. GEORGE IL ^ 24»
of ships steering to the Avestward, and hauled
from them, to avoid suspicion ; but at the ap
proach of night gave chace Avith all the sail he
could carry. About ten he perceived two sail,
one of which fired a gun, and the other made thc
best of her way for Leoganne, another harbour
in the bay. At this period captain Forrest reck
oned eight sail to leCAvard, near another port
called Petit Goave ; coming up with the ship
which had fired the gun, she submitted Avithout
opposition, after he had hailed and told her cap
tain what he was, produced two of his largest
cannon, and threatened to sink her if she should
give the least alarm. He forthwith shifted the
prisoners from this prize, and placed on board of
her five and thirty of his own crew, with orders
to stand for Petit Goave, and intercept any.of thc
fleet that might attempt to reach that harbour.
Then he made sail after the rest, and in the dawn
of the morning, finding himself in the middle of
their fleet, he began to fire at them all in their
turns, as he could bring his guns to bear : They
returned the fire for some time ; at length the
Marguerite, th6 Solide, and the Theodore s'truck
their colours. These being secured, " Avere after
wards used in taking the Maurice, Le Grand, and
La Flore ; the BrilUant also submitted, and the
Mars .made sail, in hopes of escaping, but the
Augusta coming up Avith her about noon, she
likewise fell into the hands of the victor. Thus,
by a Avell-conducted stratagem, a whole fleet of

250 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175S.
nine sail were taken by a single ship, in the neigh
bourhood of four or five harbojirs, in any one of
which they would have found immediate shelter
and security. The prizes, which happened to be
richly laden, were safely conveyed to Jamaica,
and there sold at public auction, for the benefit
pf the captors, Avho may safely challenge history
to produce such another instance of success.

FRENCH EVACUATE EMBDEN. SUCCESS OF
ADMIRAL OSBORNE.
The ministry having determined to make vigor
ous efforts against the enemy in North America,
admiral Boscawen was vested with the command
of the fleet destined for that service, qnd sailed
from St Helen's on the nineteenth day of Febru
ary, when the Invincible, of seventy-four guns,
one of the best ships that constituted his squa
dron, ran aground, and perished ; but her men,
stores, and artillery, were saved. In the course of
the succeeding month, sir Edward Hawke steered
into the bay of Biscay with another squadron, in
order to intercept any supplies from France de
signed for Cape Breton or Canada; and about
the same time the toAvn of Embden, belonging to
his Prussian majesty, which had fallen into the
hands of the enemy, was suddenly retrieved by
the conduct of commodore Holmes, stationed on
that coast, who sent up tAVO of his small ships to

1758. GEORGE IL 251
anchor in the river between Knock and the city.
The garrison, amounting to three thousand seven
hundred men, finding themselves thus cut off
from all communication with the country below,
abandoned the place with great precipitation, and
some of their baggage being sent off by water,
was taken by the boats which the commodore
armed for that purpose. It Avas in the same
month that the admiralty received advice of an
other advantage by sea, vi'hich had been gained
by admiral Osborne, while he cruised betAveen
Cape de Gatt and Carthagena, on the coast of
Spain. On the twenty-eighth day of March he
fell in with a French squadron, commanded by
the marquis du Quesne, consisting of four ships,
namely, the Foudroyant, of eighty guns, the
Orph^e, of sixty-four, the Oriflamme, of fifty,
and the Pleiade frigate, of twenty-four, in their
passage from Toulon to reinforce M. de la Clue,
Avho had for some time been blocked up by ad
miral Osborne in the harbour of Carthagena. The
enemy no sooner perceived the English squadron
than they dispersed, and steered different courses :
then Mr Osborne detached divers ships in pur
suit of each, while he himself, with the body of
his fleet, stood off for the bay of Carthagena, to
watch the motions of the French squadron which
lay there at anchor. About seven in the even
ing, the Orphic, having on board five hundred
men, struck to captain Storr, In the Revenge,
Avho lost the calf of one leg in the engagementi

252 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
during which he was sustained by the ships Ber-
Avick and Preston. The Monmouth of sixty-four
guns, commanded by captain Gardener, engaged
the Foudroyant, one of the largest ships in the
French navy, 'mounted with fourscore cannon,
and containing eight hundred men, under thc
direction of the marquis du Quesne. The action
Avas maintained with great fury on both sides,
and the gallant captain Gardener lost his life ;
nevertheless the fight was continued Avith un-
abating vigour by his lieutenant, Mr Carkett,
and the Foudroyant disabled in such a manner,
that her commander struck, as soon as the other
English ships, the Swiftsure and the Hampton-
Court, appeared. This mortifying step, however,
he did not take until he saw his ship lie like a
Avreck upon the water, and the decks covered
Avith carnage. The Oriflamme Avas driven on
shore under the castle of Aiglos, by the ships
Montague and Monarque, commanded by the
captains Rowley and Montague, Avho could not
complete their destruction Avithout violating the
neutrality of Spain. As for the Pleiade frigate,
she made her escape by being a prime sailer. This
Avas a severe stroke upon the enemy, who not
only lost two of their capital ships, but saw them
added to the navy of Great Britain, and the dis
aster Avas followed close by another, Avhich they
could not help feeling with equal sensibiUty of
mortification and chagrin. In the beginning of
-April, sir Edward Hawke, steering Avith his squa-

1758. GEORGE 11. 253
dron into Basque-road, on the coast of Poictou,
discovered, off the isle of Aix, a French fleet at
anchor, consisting of five ships of the line, with
six frigates, and forty transports, having on board
three thousand troops, and a large quantity of
stores and provisions, intended as a supply for
their settlements In North America. They no
sooner saw the English admiral advancing, than
they began to slip their cables, and fly in the
utmost confusion. Some of them escaped by sea,
but a great number ran into shoal water, where
they could not be pursued ; and next morning
they appeared aground, lying on their broadsides.
Sir Edward Hawke, who had rode all night at
anchor abreast of the isle of Aix, furnished the
ships Intrepid and Medway Avith trusty pilots,
and sent them farther in when the flood began
to make, with orders to sound ahead, that he
might know whether there Avas any possibility of
attacking the enemy, but the Avant of a sufficient
depth of Avater rendered the scheme impractica
ble. In the mean time, the French threw over
board their cannon, stores, and ballast; and boats
and launches from Rochefort were employed in
carrying out warps, to drag their ships through
the soft mud, as soon as they should be water-
borne by the flowing tide. By these means their
large ships of war, and many of their transports,
escaped Into the river Charente ; but their load
ing was lost, and the end of their equipment
fbtally defeated. Another convoy of merchant

254 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175®.
ships, under the protection of three frigates, sir
Edward Hawke, a fcAV days before^ had chased
into the harbour of St Martin's, in the isle of
Rhe, where they still remained, waiting an op
portunity for hazarding a second departure : a
third, consisting of twelve sail, bound from Bour
deaux to Quebec, under convoy of a frigate and
armed vessel, was encountered at sea by one Bri
tish ship of the line and two fire-ships, which took
the frigate and armed vessel, and two ofthe con
voy afterwards met with the same fate ; but this
advantage was over-balanced by the loss of cap
tain James Hume, commander of the Pluto fire-
ship, a brave accomplished officer, who, in an un
equal combat with the enemy, refused to quit the
deck, even when he was disabled, and fell glori
ously, covered with AVOunds, exhorting the peo
ple, with his latest breath, to continue the en
gagement while the ship could swim, and acquit
themselves with honour in the service of their
country.

ADMIRAL BRODERICK'S SHIP BURNT AT
SEA.
On the tAventy-nlnth day of May the Ralsonable,
a French ship of the line, mounted with sixty-
four cannon, having on board six hundred and
thirty men, commanded by the prince de Mom-
bazon, chevalier de Rohan, was, iu her passage

1758. GEORGE IL i53
from Port I'Orient to Brest, attacked by captain
Dennis, in the Dorsetshire, of seventy guns, and
taken after an obstinate engagement, in which
one hundred and sixty men of the prince's com
plement were killed or wounded, and he sustain
ed great damage in his hull, sails, and rigging.
These successes were moreover chequered by the
tidings of a lamentable disaster that befel the
ship Prince George, of eighty guns, commanded
by rear-admiral Broderick, in his passage to the
Mediterranean. On the .thirteenth day of April,
between one and two in the afternoon, a dread
ful fire broke out in the fore part of the ship, and
raged with such fury, that notwithstanding all
the efforts of the officers and men for several
hours, the flames increased, and the ship being
consumed to the Avater's edge, the remnant sunk
about six o'clock in the evening. The horror
and consternation of such a scene are not easily
described. When all endeavours proved fruit
less, and no hope of preserving the ship remained,
the barge was hoisted out for the preservation of
the admiral, who entered it accordingly ; but all
distinction of persons being now abolished, the
seamen rushed into it in such croAvds, that in a
fcAV moments it overset, The admiral, foresee
ing that this Avould be the case, stripped off' his
clothes, and committing himself to the mercy of
the Avaves, Avas saved by the boat of a merchant-
ship, after he had sustained himself in the sea a
full hour by swimming. Captain Payton, Avho

256 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175S.
was the second in command, remained upon the
quarter-deck as long as it was possible to keep
that station, and then, descending by the stern
ladder, had the good fortune to be taken into a
boat belonging to the Alderney sloop. The hull of
the ship, masts, and rigging, were now in ablaze,
bursting tremendously in several parts through
horrid clouds of smoke ; nothing Avas heard but
the crackling of the flames, mingled with the dis
mal cries of terror and distraction ; nothing was
seen but acts of phrenzy and desperation.' The
miserable wretches, affrighted at the horrors of
such a conflagration, sought a fate less dreadful,
by plunging into the sea, and about three hun
dred men were preserved by the boats belonging
to some ships that accompanied the admiral in
his voyage, but five hundred perished in the
ocean.

DESCENT AT CANCALLE-BAY.
The king of Great Britain being determined to
renew his attempt upon the coast of France,
ordered a very formidable armament to be equip
ped for that purpose. Two poAverful squadrona,
by sea were destined for the service of this ex
pedition ; the first, consisting of eleven great
ships, was commanded by lord Anson and sir
Edward Hawke : the other, composed of four
ships of the line, seven frigates, six sloops, two
4

175& GEORGE IL 257
fire-sbips, two bombs, ten cutters, twenty, tenders,
ten stpre-sfilps, and one hundred transpprts, Avas
put unidi^r 1;h^ direction of commodore Howe,
whp. had signalized himself by his gallantry and
ccjciduct in tbe cpurse pf the last fruitless expe
dition. The plan of a descent uppn France ha
ving been adopted by the ministry, a body pf
trpp,ps, consisting of sixteen regiments, nine troops
of light horse, and six thousand marines, was
assembled for the execution of this design, and
embarked under the command of the duke of
Marlbprpugh! ; a nptJleman, who, though he did
not Inherit all the military genius of his grand
father, yet far excelled him in the amiable and
social qualitie? of the heart: he was brave be
yond all questipn; generpus to profusion, and
good-natured to excess. On this occasion he
Avas, asjsAsted by the councils of lord George Sack
viUe, second in command, son to the duke of
Dorset; an oflScer pf experience and reputatipn,
who h^d, in the civil departments of government,
exhibited propfs of extraordinary genius and un
common appUcation. The tjoops, having been
encamped fpr some time upon thp Isle of Wight,
were embarked in the latter end of May, and the
two fleets sailed in the beginning of June for
the coasst of Bretagne, leaving the people of Eng
land flushed with the gayest hopes of victory and
conquest. The two fleets parted at sea : lord
Anson, with his squadron, proceeded to the bay
of Biscay, in prder tb watch the metions of the
VOL. V. s

258 HISTORY OF ENGLAND- 1758.
enemy's ships, and harass their navigation ; while
commodore Howe, with the land-forces, steered
directly towards St Maloes, a strong place of
considerable commerce, situated on the coast of
Bretagne, against which the purposed invasion
seemed to be chiefly intended. The town, how
ever, was found too well fortified, both by art
and nature, to admit of an attempt by sea with
any prospect of success ; and, therefore, it was
resolved to make a descent in the neighbourhood.
After the fieet had been, by contrary winds, de
tained several days in sight of the French coast,
it arrived in the bay of Cancalle, about two
leagues to the eastward of St Maloes, and Mr
Howe having silenced a small battery which the
enemy had occasionally raised upon the beach,
the troops were landed, Avithout further oppo
sition, on the sixth day of June. The duke of
Marlborough immediately began his march to
wards St Servan, with a view to destroy such
shipping and magazines as might be in any ac
cessible parts of the river ; and this scheme was
executed with success, A great quantity of naval
stores, two ships of war, several privateers, and
about fourscore vessels of different sorts, Avere
set on fire and reduced to ashes, almost under
the cannon of the place, Avhich, hoAvever, they
could not pretend to besiege in form. His grace
having received repeated advices that the enemy
Avere busily employed in assembling forces to
march against him, returned to CancaUe^ Avhere

1758. GEORGE IL 259
Mr Howe had made such a masterly disposition
of the boats and transports, that the re-embark
ation of the troops was performed with surprising
ease and expedition. The forces, while they re
mained on shore, were restrained from all out
rages by the most sievere discipline ; and the
French houses, which their inhabitants had aban
doned, were left untouched. Immediately after
their landing, the duke of Marlborough, as com
mander in chief, published and distributed a ma
nifesto, addressed to the people of Bretagne,
giving them to understand, that his descent upon
the coast was not effected with a design to make
war on the inhabitants of the open country, ex
cept such as should be found in arms, or other
wise opposing the operations of his Britannic
majesty : that all who were willing to continue
in peaceable possession of their effects, might re
main unmolested in their respective dwellings,
and follow their usual occupations : that, besides
the customs and taxes they used to pay to their
own king, nothing should be required of them
but what was absolutely necessary for the sub
sistence of the army ; and that, for all provisions
brought in, they should be paid in ready money.
He concluded this notice with declaring, that
^f, notwithstanding these assurances of protec
tion, they should carry off their effects and pro
visions, and abandon the places of their habitation,
he would treat them as enemies, and destroy their
houses with fire and sword. To the magistracy

260 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1,758.
of St Maloei^ he lil^ewise sent a letter,; imppf tij^,
that as all the inhabilfants. of the tQvms and vUt
lages between Dinant, Rennes, and Doll, now in
liis possession, had deserted thielr habitations^
probably to avoid the payment of the uauial con
tributions ; and be being informed that the ma
gistrates had compelled the people of th^cbuntry
to retire into the town of St Maloes ; he nayf
gave them notice, that if thfey did not immedi
ately send them back to their houses, and come
themselves to his head-quarters, to settle the
contributions, he should think himself obliged to
proceed; to military execution. These threats,
however, Avere not put in force, although the
magistrates of St Maloes did not think proper to
comply Avith his injunction, But^ It was found
altogether impossible to prevent irregularities
among troops that yvere naturally licentious.
Some houses were pillaged, and not without acts
of barbarity ; but the offenders were brought tp
immediate justice ; and it must be owned, as an
incontes.tahle proof of the general's humanity,
that in destrpying the magazines of the enemy
at St Servan, Avhich may be termed the suburbs
of St Maloe§, he, ordered one small storehouse
to be spared, because it could not be set on fire
without endangering the whole district. The
British forces being re- em barked, including about
five hundred Ught-horse, which had been dis
ciplined and carried over with a view to scour
the country, the fleet Avas detained by contrary

17S8. GEORGE IL 261
wiwds in the ba^ of Cancalle foi; Bevieral days,
during which a design seems to have been formed
fbr attteldiag. Granville, which liad been recon
noitred by some of the engineers ; but, in con-
seqiven-ee of their report, the scheme was laid
aside, and the fleet stood out to sea, where it was
exposed to some rough weather. In a few days,
the wind blowing in a northern direction, they
steered again towards the French coast, and ran
in with the land near Havre-de-Grace, where the
flat-bottomed boats, provided for landing, were
Ihoisted out, anid a second disembairkatioh ex-
^ec(ted. But the wind blowibg violently tbwards
tihe evening, the boats were re-shipped, and the
fleeit abli-ged to quit lhe landi in order to avoid
the dangers of alee shoa<e. Next day> the weathe*-
-beiHg more moderate, they retihoied to, the same
station, aind Olde rs were given to prepare for ,a
descent; but (the .diike of Marlborough having
tatken a view of tke coast, in an open cutter, ac-
coteipanied by commodore Hofkre, thought proper
to wave the attem-pt. Their li^jtt stdp was ifco
'bear .away before rtke wind fbr Cherbourg, in the
iiieighbouThood of w;hich place the fleet came to
^nohror. Here some df tbi6 transports jeceived
ithieifiTe of si-x differemt ^batteries ; and a consider
able body ^aftmaps appeared in atais to dispute
the )labding ; neveitiielefes, Afe general 'resolved
that the farts Querqueville,il!HQihmelt; and Galet
should be attacked in the nigibt by the first regi
ment ofrguatds.: The soldiers were actually .di«-

262 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
tributed in the flat-bottomed boats, and every
preparation made for this enterprise, when the
wind began to blow with such violence, that the
troops could not be landed without the most
imminent danger and difficulty, nor properly
sustained in case of a repulse, even if the disem
barkation could have been effected. This at-
tehipt, therefore, was laid aside, but at the same
time a resolution taken to stand in towards the
shore with the whole fleet, to cover a general
landing. A disposition was made accordingly;
but the storm increasing, the transports ran foul
of each other, and the ships were exposed to all
the perils of a lee-shore, for the gale blew di
rectly upon the coast ; besides, the provisions
began to fail, and the hay for the horses was
almost consumed. These concurring reasons in
duced the commanders to postpone the disem
barkation to a more favourable opportunity. Thc
fleet stood out to sea, and the tempest abating,
they steered for the Isle of Wight, and next day
anchored at St Helen's. Such was the issue of an
enterprise atchieved with considerable success, if
we consider the damage done to the enemy's
shipping, and the other objects which the minis
ter had in view ; namely, to secure the navigation
of the channel, and make a diversion in favour
of the German allies, by alarming the French
king, and obliging him to employ a great num
ber of troops to defend his coast from insult and
invasion ; but whether such a mighty armament

1758. GEORGE IL 263
was necessary for the accomplishment of these
petty aims, and whether the same armament
might not have been employed in executing
schemes of infinitely greater advantage to the
nation, we shall leave to the judicious reader's
own reflection.

EXPEDITION AGAINST CHERBOURG.
The designs upon the coast of France, though
interrupted by tempestuous weather, were not
as yet laid aside for the whole season; but, in
the mean time, the troops were disembarked on
the Isle of Wight ; and one brigade marched to
the northward, to join a body of troops, with
which the government resolved to augment the
army of the allies in Germany, commanded by
prince Ferdinand of Brunswick. The duke of
Marlborough and lord George Sackville . being
appointed to conduct this British corps upon the
continent, the command of the marine expedi
tions devolved to lieutenant-general Bligh, an
old experienced officer, who had served with re
putation ; and his royal highness prince Edward,
afterwards created duke of York, entered as a
volunteer with commodore Howe, in order to
learn the rudiments of the sea service, The re
mainder of the troops being re-embarked, and
every thing prepared for the second expedition,
the fleet sailed from St Helen's on the first of

264 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, l7gS.
August ; and, after a tedious pa-SsagC from calms
and contrary winds, anchored on the seventh i»n,
the bay of Cherbourg. By this time the enemy
had entrenched themselves within a line, extend
ing from the fort EciaeurdeviUe, which stands
about two miles to the Avestward 6'f Chei'bourg,
albng the coast for the space of four miles, for
tified with several batteries at proper distances.
Behitid this retrencTimeht a body of horse and
infantry appeared in red and blue uniforms; but
as they did not advance to the open beach, the
less risk was run in landing the British forces.
At first a bomb-ketch had been sent to anchor
near the town, and throw some shells into the
place, as a feint to amuse the enemy, and deceive
them with regard to the place of disembarkation,
while the -genei'al had determined to land about
a league to the westward of QuerquevIUe, the
most western fort in the bay. The other bomb-
ketches, being posted along shore, did considet-
able execution upon the entrenchments, not only
by throwing shells in the usual Way, but also by
using ball-iliortars, filled Avith great quantities df
balls, which may be thrown to a great distance,
and, by scattering as they fly, do abundance of
mischief. While the ketches fired without ceas
ing, the grenadiers and guards were rowed re
gularly ashore in the flat-bottomed boats, and,
landing without opposition. Instantly formed. On
a small open portion of the beach, with a natural
breast-'work in their front, having on the other

1738, 'GE051GE IL 265
side a hollow way, and a \^illage rising heyond it
with a sudden ascent: on the left, the ground
Avas intersected by hedges, and 'covered with
orchards, and from this quarter the enemy ad
vanced In pirder. The British troops immediately
¦qtsitlied the breast-work, in ofder to meet them
half way, and a striaggUng fire began; but the
French edging to thie left, took possession of the
hill, from ivhence they picqueered with the ad
vanced posts of the EngUsh. In the mean time,
the rest of the infahtry were disembarked, and
the enemy at night retired, As the light troops
were not yet landed, general Bligh encamped that
night at the village of Er ville, on, a piece of
ground that did not extend above four hundred
paces : so that the tents were pitched in a
crowded and irregular manner. Next morning,
the getieral having received intelUgence that no
parties of the -enemy were seen moving on the
hill, or in tbe plain, and that fort QuerquevIUe
was entirely abandoned, made a disposition for
marching in tU^o colurivns to Cherbourg. An
advanced party took imntediate possession of
Querqueville ; and the lines and batteries along
the shofe were now deserted by the enemy. The
British forces marcHing behind St Aulne, Ecosur-
deville, ;Hommet, and La Galet, found the town
of Cherbourg likewise abandoned, and the gates
being opien, entered it without opposition.* The
citizens, encouraged by a manifesto containing a
promise of protection, which had been published

266 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
and distributed, in order to quiet their appre
hensions, received their new guests with a good
grace, overwhelming them with civilities, for
which they met with a very ungrateful return^- for
as the bulk ofthe army Avasnot regularly encamp
ed and superintended, the soldiers were at liberty
to indulge themselves in riot and licentiousness.
All nightlong they ravaged the adjacent coun
try without restraint; and as no guards had been
regularly placed in the streets and avenues of
Cherbourg, to prevent disorders, the town itself
Was not exempted from pillage and brutality.
These outrages, however, were no sooner known,
than the general took immediate steps for putting
a stop to them for the present, and preventing
all irregularities for the future. Next morning
the place being reconnoitred, he determined to
destroy, without delay, all the forts and the ba
son ; and the execution of this design Avas left to
the engineers, assisted by the ofiicers of the fleet
and artillery. Great sums of money had been
expended upon the harbour and bason of Cher
bourg, which at one time was considered by the
French court as an object of great importance,
from its situation respecting the river Seine, as
well as the opposite coast of England ; but as the
works were left unfinished, in all appearance the
plan had grown into disreputation. The enemy
had raised several unconnected batteries along
the bay ; but the town itself was quite open and
defenceless. While the engineers were employed

1758, GEORGE IL 267
in demolishing the works, the light horse scoured
the country, and detachments were every day
sent out towards Walloign, at the distance of
four leagues from Cherbourg, where the enemy
were encamped, and every hour received rein
forcements. Several skirmishes were fought by
the out-parties" of each army, in one of which,
captain Lindsay, a gallant young ofiicer, who had
been very instrumental in training the light horse,
was mortally wounded. The harbour and bason
' of Cherbourg being destroyed, together with all
the forts in the neighbourhood, and about tAventy
pieces of brass cannon secured on board the Eng
lish ships, a contribution, amounting to about
three thousand pounds sterling, was exacted upon
the town, and a plan of re- embarkation con-^
certed ; as it appeared from the reports of pea
sants and deserters, that the enemy were already
increased to a formidable number, A slight en
trenchment being raised, suflficient to defend the
last division that should be re-embarked> the
stores and artillery were shipped, and the light
horses conveyed on board their respective trans
ports, by means of platforms laid in the fiat-
bottomed vessels. On the sixteenth day of Au
gust, at three o'clock in the morning, the forces
marched from OherbouEg down to the beach",
and re- embarked at fort ©alet, without the least
disturbance from the enemy.

ti6t HISTORY OF ENGLAND. / 1798.

DESCENT AT ST MALOES,
This service being happily performed, the fleet
set sail for the coast of England, and anchnred
in tbe road of Weymouth, under the high land
of Portland. In two days it weighed and stood
again to the southward ; but Avas obliged, by con
trary winds, to return to the same riding. The
secolid effort, however, was more effectuaL The
fieet with some difficulty kept the sea,. and steer
ing to the French coast, came to anchor In the
bay of St Lunaire, two leagues to the westwtei
of St Maloes, against which it was determined to
make another attempt. The sloops and ketches
being ranged along shore to cover the disem
barkation, the troops landed on a fair open beach,
and a detachment of grenadiers was sent to the
harbour of St Briac, above the town of St Ma
loes, where they destroyed about fifteen small
vessels; but St Maloes itself being properly sur
veyed, appeared to be above insult, either from
the land-forces or the shipping. The mouth of
the river that forms its bason, extends ahovre two
miles in breadth at its narrowest part, so as to
be out of the reach of land batteries, and the
entrance is defended 43y such forts and bafibteries
as the ships of Avar could not pretend to silence,
considering the difficult navigation of the chan
nels ; besides fifty pieces of large cannon planted

(feorge ti)t ^mtib.

Among the prisoners was baron Dieskau, whom they found at a
little distance from the field of battle dangerously wounded, and
leaning on the stump of a tree for his support.

1758, GEORGE. II. ^9
*
on those forts and batteries, the enemy h,ad
mounted forty on the Avest side of the town ; and
the bason was, moreover, strengthened by seven
frigates or arnied vessels, whose guns might have
been brought to bear upon any batteries that
could be raised on shore, as well as upon ships
entering by the usual channel. For these sub
stantial reasons the design against St Maloes was
dropped ; but the general being unwiUing to re-
embark, without having taken some step for the
further annoyance of the enemy, resolved to pe
netrate into the country, conducting his motions,
however, so as to be near the fleet,^ which had, by
this time, quitted the bay of St Lunaire, where
it could not ride with any safety, and, anehered
in the bay of St Cas, about three leagues to thc
westward.

ENGLISH DEFEATED AT ST CAS.
On Friday the eighth of September, general
Bligh, Avith his little army, began his march for
Guildo, at the distance of nine miles, which he
reached in the evening : next day he crossed a
little gut or inlet pf the sea, at Ipw water, and his
trpops being incommoded by the peasants, who
fired at them from hedges and houses, he sent
a priest with a message, intimating, that if they
would not desist, he would reduce their houses to
ashes. No regard being paid to this intimation.

,270 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758.
the houses Avere actually set on fire as soon as the
troops had formed their camp about tAVO miles
on the other side of the inlet. Next morning
he proceeded to the village of Matignon, where,
after some smart skirmishing, the French picquets
appeared, drawn up in order, to the number of
two battalions ; but liaving sustained a few shot
from the English field-pieces, and seeing the gre
nadiers advance, they suddenly dispersed. Gene
ral Bligh continuing his route through the village,
encamped in the open ground, about three miles
from the bay of St Cas, which was this day re
connoitred for re- embarkation ; for he now re
ceived undoubted intelUgence, that the duke
d'Aiguillon had advanced from Brest to Lambale,
within six miles of the English camp, at the head
of twelve regular battalions, six squadrons, two
regiments of militia, eight mortars, and ten pieces
of cannon. The bay of St Cas was covered by
an entrenchment Avhich the enemy had thrown
up, to prevent or oppose any disembarkation ;
and on the outside of this work there was a range
of sand hills extending along shore, which could
have served as a cover to the enemy, from whence
they might have annoyed the troops in re-em
barking ; for this reason a proposal was made to
the general, that the forces should be re-embarked
from a fair open beach on the left, betAveen St
Cas and Guildo ; but this advice was rejected,
and, indeed, the subsequent operations of the ar
my savoured strongly of blind security and rash

1758. G-EORGE IL 271
presumption. Had the troops decamped in the
night without noise, in all probability they would
have arrived at the beach before the French had
received the least intelligence of their motion ;
and, in that case, the whole army, consisting of
about six thousand men, might have been re-em
barked without the least interruption ; biit, in
stead of this cautious manner of proceeding, the
drums were beaten at two o'clock in the morn
ing, as if with intention -to give notice to the
enemy, who forthwith repeated the same signal.
The troops were in motion before three, and
though the length of the march did not exceed
three miles, ' the halts and interruptions were so
numerous and frequent, that they did not arrive
on the beach of St Cas till nine. Then the em
barkation was begun, and might have been hap
pily finished, had the transports lain near the
shore, and received the men as fast as the boats
could have conveyed them on board, without
distinction ; but many ships rode at a consider
able distance, and every boat carried the men on
board the respective transports to which they
belonged ; a punctilio of disposition by which a
great deal of time was unnecessarily consumed.
The small ships and bomb-ketches were brought
near the shore, to cover the embarkation ; and
a considerable number of sea-officers were sta
tioned on the beach, to superintend the boats'
crews, and regulate the service ; but, notn'ith-
standing all their attention and authority, some

272 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
of the boats were otherwise employed than ii^
conveying the unhappy soldiers- Had all the
cutters and small craft belonging to the fleet been
properly occupied in this service, the disgrace
and disaster of the day would, scarce have happen
ed. The British forces had skirmished a little on
the march, but no considerable body of the ene
my appeared until the embarkation was begun ;
then they took possession of an eminence by
a windmill, and forthwith opened a battery of
ten cannon and eight mortars, from whence they
fired with considerable effect upon the soldiers
on the beach, and on the boats in their passage.
They afterwards began tp march down the hill,
partly covered by a hollow way on their left, with
a design to gain a wood, where they might form
and extend themselves along the front of the
English, and advance against them under shelter
pf the sand-hills ; but in their descent they suf
fered extremely from the cannon and mortars
of the shipping, which made great havpck, and
threw them into confusion. Their line of march
down the hill was staggered, and for some time
continued In suspense; then they turned off tp
pne side, extended themselves alpng a hill to their
left, and advanced in a hollow way, from whence
they suddenly rushed out to the attack. Though
the greater part of the British troops were al
ready embarked, the rear-guard, consisting of
all the grenadiers, and half of the first regiment
of guards, remained on the shore, to the. number
1

1758. GEORGE IL ,273
of fifteen hundred, under the- command of major-
general Dury. This officer, seeing the French
advance, ordered his troops to fonn in grand
divisions, and march from behind the bank that
covered them, in order to charge the enemy be
fore they could be formed on the plain. Had
this step been taken when it was first suggested
to Mr Dury, before the French were disengaged
from the hollow way, perhaps it might have so
far succeeded as to disconcert and throw them
into confusion ; but by this time they had ex
tended themselves into a very formidable front,
and no hope remained of being able to withstand
such a superior number. Instead of attempting
to fight against such odds in an open field of
battle, they might have retreated along the beach
to a rock on the left, in Avhich progress their
right flank Avould have been secured by the en
trenchment ; and the enemy could not have pur
sued them along the shore, Avithout being exposed
to such a fire from the shipping, as in all proba
bility they could not have sustained. This scheme
was likewise proposed to Mr Dury ; but he seemed
to be actuated by a spirit of infatuation. The
English line being drawn up in uneven ground,
began the action with an irregular fire from right
to left, which the enemy returned ; but their
usual fortitiide and resolution seemed to forsake
them on this occasion. They saw themselves in
danger of being surrounded and cut in pieces ;
their officers dropped on every side ; and all hope
vot. v, T

274 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
of retreat was noAV intercepted. In this cruel
dilemma, their spirits failed ; they were seized
with a panic ; they faultered, they broke ; and
in less than five minutes after the engagement
began they fled in the utmost confusion, pursued
by the enemy, Avho no sooner saw them give Avay
than they fell in among them with their bayonets
fixed, and made a great carnage. General Dury
being dangerously wounded, ran into the sea,
Avhere he perished ; and this was the fate of a
great number, officers as well as soldiers. Many
swam towards the boats and vessels, which were
ordered to give them all manner of assistance;
but by far the greater number were either butch
ered on the beach, or drowned In the water : a
small body, however, instead of throwing them
selves into the sea, retired to the rock on the
left, Avhere they made a stand, until they had ex
hausted their ammunition, and then surrendered
at discretion. The havock was, moreover, in
creased by the shot and shells discharged from
the battery which the enemy had raised on the
hill. The slaughter would not have been so great,
had not the French soldiers been exasperated by
the fire from the frigates, which was still main
tained even after the English troops Avere routed ;
but this was no sooner silenced by a signal from
the commodore, than the enemy exhibited a
noble example of moderation and humanity, in
granting immediate quarter and protection to
the vanquished. About one thousand chosen men

1758. GEORGE IL . 275
of the EngUsh army were killed and taken pri
soners on this occasion ; nor was the advantage
cheaply purchased by the French troops, among
whom the shot and shells from the frigates and
ketches had done great execution. The clemency
of. the victors was the more remarkable, as the
British troops in this expedition had been shame
fully guilty of marauding, pillaging, burning, and
other excesses. War Is so dreadful In itself, and
so severe in its consequences, that the exercise
of generosity and compassion, by which its hor
rors are mitigated, ought ever to be applauded,
encouraged, and imitated. We ought also to use
our best endeavours to deserve this treatment at
the hands of a civilized enemy. Let us be hu
mane in our turn to those whom the fate of war
has subjected to our power : let us. In prosecu
ting our military operations, maintain the most
rigid discipline among the troops, and religiously
abstain from all acts of violence and oppression.
Thus, a laudable emulation will undoubtedly en
sue, and the poAvers at Avar vie with each other
in humanity and politeness. In other respects,
the commander of an invading armament Avill
ahvays find his account in being well with the
common people of the countiy in which the de
scent is made. By civil treatment and season
able gratifications they will be encouraged to
bring into the camp regular suppUes of provision
and refreshment; they AviUmingle with the sol
diers, and even form friendships among them :

276 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
serve as guides, messengers, and interpreters ;
let out their cattle for hire as draft horses ; work
with their OAvn persons as day-labourers ; discover
proper fords, bridges, roads, passes, and defiles ;
and, if artfully managed, communicate many
useful hints of intelligence. If great care and
circumspection be not exerted in maintaining
discipline, and bridling the licentious disposition
of the soldiers, such invasions w\\\ be productive
of nothing but miscarriage and disgrace : for
this, at best, is but a piratical Avay of carrying on
war ; and the troops engaged in it are, in some
measure, debauched by the nature ofthe service.
They are crowded together in transports, Avhere
the minute particulars of military order cannot
be observed, even though the good of the ser
vice greatly depends upon a due observance of
these forms. The soldiers grow negligent, and
inattentive to cleanness and the exterior orna
ments of dress : they become slovenly, slothful,
and altogether unfit for a return of duty : they
are tumbled about occasionally in ships and boats,
landed and re-embarked in a tumultuous manner,
under a divided and disorderly command : they
are accustomed to retire at the first report of
an approaching enemy, and to take shelter on
another element ; nay, their small pillaging par
ties are often obliged to fly before unarmed pea
sants. Their duty on such occasions is the most
unmanly part of a soldier's office ; namely, to
ruin, ravage, and destroy. They soon yield to

1758, GEORGE IL 277
the temptation of pillage, and are habituated to
rapine : they give loose to intemperance, riot,
and intoxication; commit a thousand excesses;
and, when the enemy appears, run on board the
ships Avith their booty. Thus the dignity of the
service is debased : they lose all sense of honour
and of shame : they are no longer restricted by
military laws, nor Overawed by the authority of
officers : in a word, they degenerate into a spe
cies of lawless buccaneers. From such a total re
laxation of morals and discipUne, what can ensue
but riot, confusion, dishonour, and defeat? All
the advantage that can be expected from these
sudden starts of invasion, will scarce overbalance
the evils we have mentioned, together with the
extraordinary expence of equipping armaments
of this nature. True it is, these descents oblige
the French king to employ a considerable num
ber of bis troops for the defence of his maritime
places : they serve to ruin the trade of his sub
jects, protect the navigation of Great Britain,
and secure its coast from invasion ; but these
purposes might be as effectually answered, at a
much smaller expence, by the shipping alone.
Should it be judged expedient, however, to prose
cute this desultory kind of war, the commanders
employed in it will do well to Consider, that a de
scent ought never to be hazarded in an enemy's
country, without having taken proper precau
tions to secure a retreat ; that the severest dis
cipUne ought to be preserved during all the

278 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
operations of the campaign ; that a general ought
never to disembark but upon a well-concerted
plan, nor commence his military transactions
without some immediate point or object in view;
that a re-embarkation ought never to be attempt
ed, except from a clear open beach, where the
approaches of an enemy may be seen, and the
troops covered by the fire of their shipping.
Those who presume to reflect upon the particu
lars of this last expedition, owned themselves at
a loss to account for the conduct of the general,
in remaining on shore after the design upon St
Maloes was laid aside; in penetrating so far into
the country, Avithout any visible object; neglect
ing the repeated intelligence Avhich he received;
communicating, by beat of drum, his midnight
motions to an enemy of double his force; loiter
ing near seven hours in a march of three miles;
and, lastly, attempting the re-embarkation of the
troops at a place where no proper measures had
been taken for their cover and defence. After
the action of St Cas, some civilities, by message,
passed between the duke d'Aiguillon and the
English commanders, who Avere favoured with a
list of the prisoners, including four sea-captains ;
and assured that the wounded should receive all
possible comfort and assistance. These matters
being adjusted, commodore Howe returned Avith
the fleet to Spithead, and the soldiers were dis
embarked.

1758. GEORGE IL , 279
The success of the attempt upon Cherbourg
had elevated the people to a degree of childish
triumph ; and the government thought proper
to indulge this petulant spirit of exultation, by
exposing twenty-one pieces of French cannon
in Hyde-park, from whence they Avere drawn
in procession to the Tower, amidst the acclama
tions of the populace. From this pinnacle of
elation and pride they were precipitated to the
abyss of despondence or dejection, by the ac
count of the miscarriage at St Cas, which buoyed
up the spirits of the French in the same propor
tion. The people of that nation began to stand
in need of some such cordial after the losses they
had sustained, and the ministry of Versailles did
not fail to make the most ofthis advantage : they
pubUshed a pompous narrative of the battle at
St Cas, and magnified into a mighty victory the
puny check Avhicli they had given to the rear
guard of an inconsiderable detachment. The
people received it with implicit belief, because it
was agreeable to their passions, and congratu
lated themselves upon their success in hyperboles,
dictated by that vivacity so peculiar to the French
nation. Indeed, these are artifices Avhich the
ministers of every nation find it necessary to use
at certain conjunctures. In governing the turbu
lent and capricious multitude. After the misfor
tune at St Cas, nothing further was attempted
by that armament ; nor was any enterprise of im
portance atchieved by the British ships in Europe

280" HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17SS.
during the course of this summer. The cruisers,
however, still continued active and alert. Cap
tain Hervey, In the ship Monmouth, destroyed a
French ship of forty guns in the island of Malta;
an exploit of which the Maltese loudly com
plained, as a violation of their neutraUty. About
twenty sail of small French vessels were driven
ashore on the rocks of Bretagne, by some cruisers
belonging to the fleet commanded by lord Anson,
after a smart engagement with two frigates, under
whose convoy they sailed. In the month of
November the BelUqueux, a French ship ef war,
mounted with sixty-four guns, having, by mis
take, run up St George's channel, and anchored
in Lundy-road, captain Saumarez, ofthe Antelope,
then lying in King-road, immediately weighed
and went in quest of her, according to the advice
he had received. When he appeared, the French
captain heaved up his anchor, and made a shoAV
of preparing for an engagement ; but soon hauled
dow^n his colours, and, Avithout firing a shot, sur
rendered, with a complement of four hundred
and seventeen men, to a ship of inferior force,
both in number of hands and weight of metal.
By this time the English privateers sAvarmed to
such a degree in the channel, that scarce a French
vessel durst quit the harbour, and consequently
there was little or no booty to be obtained. In
this dearth of legal prizes, some of the adven
turers were tempted to commit acts of piracy,
and actually rifled the ships of neutral nations

1758. GEORGE IL 281
A Dutch vessel, having on board the baggage
and domestics belonging to the marquis de Pig-
natelli, ambassador from the court of Spain to
the king of Denmark, was boarded three times
successively by the crews of three different pri
vateers, who forced the hatches, rummaged the
hold, broke open and rifled the trunks and boxes
of the ambassador, insulted and even cruelly
bruised his officers, stripped his domestics, and
carried off his effects, together Avitli letters of
credit, and a bill of exchange. Complaints of
these outrages being made to the court of Lon
don, the lords of the admiralty promised, in thc
gazette, a reward of five hundred pounds, with
out deduction, to any person who should discover
the offenders concerned in these acts of piracy;
Some of them Avere detected accordingly, and
brought to condign punishment.

CLAMOURS OF THE DUTCH MERCHANTS, &c.
The Dutch had for some time carried on a very
considerable traffic, not only in taking the fair
advantages of their neutrality, but also in supply
ing the French with naval stores, and transport
ing the produce of the French sugar colonies to
Europe, as carriers hired by the proprietors. The
English government, incensed at this unfair com
merce, prosecuted with such flagrant partiality for

^82 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
their enemies, issued orders for the cruisers to ar
rest all ships of neutral powers that should have
French property on board ; and these orders were
executed with rigour and severity. A great num
ber of Dutch ships Avere taken, and condemned
as legal prizes, both in England and Jamaica :
sometimes the owners met with hard measure,
and some crews were treated with insolence and
barbarity. The subjects of the United Provinces
raised a loud clamour against the English, for
having, by these captures, violated the law of
nations, and the particular treaty of commerce
subsisting betAveen Great Britain and the repub
lic. Remonstrances were made to the English
ministry, Avho expostulated, in their turn^ with
the deputies of the states-general ; and the two
nations were inflamed against each other Avith
the most bitter animosity. The British resident
at the Hague, in a conference with the states,
represented, that the king his master could not
hope to see peace speedily re-established, if the
neutral princes should assume a right of carrying
on the trade of his enemies ; that he expected,
from their known justice, and the alliance by
which they were so nearly connected with his
subjects, they would honestly abandon this frau
dulent commerce, and agree that naval stores
should be comprehended In the class of contra
band commodities. He answered some articles
of the complaints they had made with an appear-

1758. GEORGE IL ^8S
ance of candour and moderation ; declared his
majesty's abhorrence of the violences which had
been committed upon the subjects of the United
Provinces ; explained the steps which had been
taken by the English government to bring the
offenders to justice, as well as to prevent such
outrages for the future ; and assured them, that
his Britannic majesty had nothing more at heart
than to renew and maintain. In full force, the
mutual confidence and friendship by Avhich the
maritime powers of England and Holland had
been so long united.
These professions of esteem and affection were
not sufficient to quiet the mlnds,-and appease the
resentment of the Dutch merchants ; and the
French party, Avhicli was both numerous and
powerful, employed all their art and influence to
exasperate their passions, and widen the breach
between the two nations. The court of Versailles-
did not fail to seize this opportunity of insinu
ation : Avhile, on one hand, their ministers and
emissaries in Holland exaggerated the indignities
and injuries which the states had sustained from
the insolence and rapacity of the EngUsh; they,
on the other hand, flattered and cajoled them
with little advantages in trade, and formal pro
fessions of respect. Such was the memorial de
livered by the count d'Aff'ry, intimating that the
empress-queen being under an absolute necessity
of employing all her forces to defend her here
ditary dominions in Germany, she had been

284 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
obliged to withdraw her troops from Ostend and
Nieuport, and applied to the French king, as her
ally nearest at hand, to garrison these tAVo places,
which, however, should be restored at the peace,
or sooner, should her imperial majesty think pro
per. The spirit of the Dutch merchants, at this
juncture, and their sentiments with respect to
England, appeared with very high colouring in
a memorial to the states-general, subscribed by
two hundred and sixty-nine traders, composed
and presented with equal secresy and circum
spection. In this famous remonstrance they
complained, that the violences and unjust depre
dations committed by the English ships of war
and privateers on the vessels and effects of them
and their fellow-subjects, were not only continu
ed, but daily multiplied ; and cruelty and excess
carried to such a pitch of wanton barbarity, that
the petitioners were forced to implore the assist
ance of their high mightinesses to protect, in the
most efficacious manner, the commerce and na
vigation, which Avere the two sinews of the re
public. For this necessary purpose they offered
to contribute each his contingent, and to arm at
their own charge ; and other propositions were
made for an immediate augmentation of the ma
rine. WhUe this party industriously exerted all
their power and credit to effect a rupture with
England, the princess Gouvernante employed all
her Interest and address to divert them from
this object, and alarm them Avith respect to the

1758. GEORGE IL - 285
power and designs of France ; against which she
earnestly exhorted them to augment their mili
tary forces by land, that they might be prepared
to defend themselves against all invasion. At
the same time she spared no pains to adjust the
differences between her husband's country and
her father's kingdom ; and, without doubt, her
healing councils were of great efficacy in pre
venting matters from coming to a very danger
ous extremity.

28S, HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 174&

CHAPTER IX.

Expedition against Senegal. . . . Fort Louis and Senegal taken. . . .
Unsuccessful Attempt upon Goree  Expedition to Cape--
Breton. . . . Louisbourg taken. . . . And St John's. . . . Unsuc
cessful Attempt upon Ticonderoga  Fort Ffontenac taken
and destroyedT)y the English  Brigadier Forbes takes Fort
du Quesne  Goree taken  Shipwreck pf Captain Barton
. . . Gallant Exploit of Captain Tyrrel. . . . Transactions in the
East Indies.... Admiral Pococke engages the French Fleet 
Fort St David's taken by the French  Second Engagement
between Admiral Pococke andM. d'Apche  Progress of M.
Lally  Transactions on tlie Continent of Europe  King
of Prussia raises Contributions in Saxony, and the Dominions
of the Duke of AVirtemberg. . . State ofthe Armies on the Con
tinent. • . • The French King changes the Administration of
Hanover. . . . Plan of a Treaty between tlie French King and
the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel — Treaty between the French
King and the Duke of Brunswick. . . • Decree of the Aulic
Council against the Elector of Hanover and others. . . . Bremen
taken by the Duke de Broglio, and retaken by Prince Ferdi
nand. • • • Duke de Richelieu recalled... . Generous Conduct of
the Duke de Randan. . . The French abandon Hanover. . . . Prince
of Brunswick reduces Hoya and Minden. . . . Prince Ferdinand
defeats the French at Creveldt, and takes Dusseldorp. . . .
Prince of Ysembourg defeated by the Duke de Broglio. ¦ • ,
General Imhoff defeats M. de Chevert. ... General Oberg de
feated by the French at Landwernhagen  Death of the Duke
of Marlborough. . . . Operations of the King of Prussia at the
Beginning of the Campaign. ... He enters Moravia, and invests
Olmutz  He is obliged to raise the Siege, and retires into
Bohemia, where he takes Koningsgratz- . . . Progress of the
Russians. . . . King of Prussia defeats the Russians at Zorndorf
 And is defeated by the Austrians at Hoclikirchen, ... He

1758, GEORGE IL 287
retires to Silesia . . . Suburbs pf Dresden burnt by the Prussiatt
Govemor . . .The King of Prussia raises the Siege of Neiss, and
relieves Dresden. . . Inhabitants of Saxony grievously oppressed
. . . .Progress of the Swedes in Pomerania .... Prince Charles
of Saxony elected Duke of Courland. . . The King of England's
Memorial to the Diet of the Empire . . . Death of Pope Bene
dict . . . The King of Portugal assassinated .... Proceedings of
the French Ministry .... Conduct ofthe King of Denmark . . .
Answers to the Charges brought by the Dutch against the
English Cruisers . . . Conferences between the British Anlbas-
sador and the States-general . . . Further Proceedings.

EXPEDITION AGAINST SENEGAL.
The whole strength of Great Britain, during
this campaign, was not exhausted in pdtty des
cents upon the coast of France. The continent
of America was the great theatre on which her
chief vigour was displayed ; nor did she fail to
exert herself in successful efforts against the
French settlements on the coast of Africa. The
whole gum trade, from Cape Blanco to the river
Gambia, an extent of five hundred miles, had
been engrossed by the French, who built Fort
Louis within the mouth of the Senegal, extend
ing their factories near three hundred leagues up
that river, and on the same coast had fortified
the island of Goree, in which they maintained a
considerable garrison. The gum senega, of which
a great quantity is used by the manufacturers of
England, being wholly in the hands of the enemy,
the English dealers Avere obliged to buy it at
12

288 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
second hand from the Dutch, Avho purchased it of
the French, and exacted an exorbitant price for
that comra'odlty. This consideration forwarded
the plan for annexing the country to the pos
session of Great Britain. The project was first
conceived by Mr Thomas Gumming, a sensible
quaker, who, as a private merchant, had made a
voyage to Portenderrick, an adjoining part of
the coast, and contracted a personal acquaintance
Avith Amir, the Moorish king of Legibelll.' He
found this African prince extremely well disposed
towards the subjects of Great Britain, whom he
publicly preferred to all other Europeans, and so
exasperated against the French, that he declared
he should never be easy till they Avere extermi
nated from the river Senegal. At that very time
he had commenced hostilities against them, and
earnestly desired that the king of England Avould
send out an armament to reduce Fort Louis and
Goree, with some ships of force to protect the
traders. In that case, he promised to join his
Britannic majesty's forces, and grant an ex
clusive trade to his subjects. Mr Cumming not
only perceived the advantages that would result
from such an exclusive privilege Avith regard to
the gum, but foresaw many other important
consequences of an extensive trade in a country,
' The name the natives give to that part of South Barbary,
known to merchants and navigators by that of the Gum Coast,
and called in maps, The Sandy Desert of Sara, and sometimee
Zara.

1758. GEORGE IL 289
which, over and above the gum senega, contains
many valuable articles,such as gold dust, elephants'
teeth, hides, cotton, bees-wax, slaves, ostrich fea
thers,^ indigo, ambergris, and civet. Elevated
Avith the prospect ot an acquisition so valuable to
his country, this honest quaker was equally mi
nute and indefatigable in his inquiries touching
the commerce of the coast, as well as the strength
and situation of the French settlements on the
river Senegal ; and, at his return to England,
actually formed the plan of an expedition for the
conquest of Fort Louis. This Avas presented to
the board of trade, by whom it was approved,
after a severe examination ; but it required the
patriotic zeal, and invincible perseverance of
Cumming, to surmount a variety of obstacles
before it was adopted by the ministry ; and even
then it was not executed in its full extent. He
Avas abridged of one large ship, and in lieu of six
hundred land forces, to be drafted from different
regiments, Avhich he in vain demanded, first from
the duke of Cumberland, and afterAvards from
lord Ligonier, the lords of the admiralty allotted
two hundred marines only for this service. After
repeated solicitation, he, in the year one thou
sand seven hundred and fifty-seven, obtained an
order, that the two annual ships bound to the
coast of Guinea should be joined by a sloop and
two busses, and make an attempt upon the French
settlement in the river Senegal. These ships,
however, Avere detained by contrary Avinds until
VOL. V. u

2D0 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758,
the season was too far advanced to admit a pro
bability of success, and therefore the design was
postponed. In the beginning of the present year,
Mr Cumming being reinforced with the interest
of a considerable merchant in the city, to Avhom
he had communicated the plan, rencAved his ap
plication to the ministry, and they resolved to
hazard the enterprise. A small squadron was
equipped for this expedition, under the command
of captain Marsh, having on board a body of ma
rines, commanded by major Mason, Avith a de
tachment pf artillery, ten pieces of cannon, eight
mortars, and a considerable quantity of warlike
stores and ammunition. Captain Walker Avas ap
pointed engineer ; and Mr Cumming Avas con
cerned as a principal director and promoter of
the expedition.' This little armament sailed in
the beginning of March ; and in their passage
touched at the island of Teneriffe, Avhere, Avhile
the ships supplied themselves Avith wine and water,
' On this occasion Mr Cumming may seem to have acted di
rectly contrary to the tenets of his religious profession ; but he
ever declared to the ministry, th^t he was fully persuaded his
schemes might be accomplished without the effusion of human
blood ; and that if he thought otherwise, he would by no means
have concerned himself about them. He also desired, let the con
sequence be what it might, his brethren should not be chargeable
with what was his own single act. If it was the first mUitary
scheme of any quaker, let it be remembered it was also the first
successful expedition of this war, and one of the first that ever
was carried on according to the pacific system of the quakers,
without the loss of a drop of blood on either side.
12

1758. GEORGE IL 291
Mr Cumming proceeded in the Swan sloop to
Portenderrick, being charged Avith a letter of
credence to his old friend the king of .that coun
try, who had favoured him in his last visit with
an exclusive trade on that coast, by a formal
charter, written In the Arabic language. This
prince Avas now up the country, engaged in a Avar
with his neighbours, called the Diable ' Moors ;
and the queen-dowager, who remained at Porten
derrick, gave Mr Cumming to understand, that
she could not at present spare any troops to join
the English in their expedition against Senegal ;
but she assured him, that, should the French be
exterminated, she and their subjects would go
thither and settle. In the mean time, one of the
chiefs, called prince Amir, dispatched a messen
ger to the king, with advice of their arrival and
design. He declared that he would, Avith all
possible diligence, assemble three hundred war
riors to join the English troops, and that, in his
opinion, the king Avould reinforce them Avith a
detachment from his army. By this time, cap
tain Marsh, Avith the rest of the armament, had
arrived at Portenderrick, and fearing that the
enemy might receive intimation of his design,
resolved tp proceed on the expedition, Avithout
waiting for the promised auxiliaries. On the
tAventy-second day of April he weighed anchor,
' This is t;he name by which the subjects of Legibelli distin
guish those of Brackna, who inhabit the country farther up the
river Senegal, and are in constant alliance with the French,

292 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
and next day, at four o'clock, discovered the
French flag flying upon Fort Louis, situated in
the midst ef a pretty considerable town, which
exhibited a very agreeable apjiearance. The
commodore having made prize of a Dutch ship,
richly laden with gum, which lay at anchor Avith
out the bar, came to anchor in Senegal-road at
the mouth of the river ; and here he perceived
several armed sloops which the enemy had de
tached to defend the passage of the bar, which
is extremely dangerous. All the boats Avere em
ployed in conveying the stores into the small
craft, while three of the sloops continued ex
changing fire over a narrow tongue of land with
the vessels of the enemy, consisting of one brig
and six armed sloops, mounted with great guns
and swivels. At length the channel being dis
covered, and the wind, Avhich generally blows
down the river, chopping about, captain Millar,
pf the London buss, seized that opportunity ; and
passing the bar with a flowing sheet, dropped
anchor on the inside, Avhere he lay till night, ex
posed to the whole fire of the enemy. Next day
he was joined by the Other small vessels, and a
regular engagement ensued, This was Avarmly
maintained on both sides, until the busses and
one dogger running aground, immediately bul
ged, and were filled with Avater. Then the, trpops
they contained took to their bo^ts, and with some
difficulty reached the shore ; Avhere they formed
in a body, and were soon joined by their com-

1758. GEORGE IL - 293
panions from the other vessels ; so that row the
Avhole amounted to three hundred and ninety ma
rines, besides the detachment of artillery. As they
laid their account with being attacked by the na
tives who lined the shore at some distance, seem
ingly determined to oppose the descent, they
forthwith threw up an entrenchment, and began
to disembark the stores, great part of which lay
under water. While they were employed in rais
ing this occasional defence, the negroes came in
great numbers and submitted ; and on the suc
ceeding day they were reinforced by three hun
dred and fifty seamen, who passed the bar in
sloops, Avith their ensigns and colours flying.

FORT LOUIS AND SENEGAL TAKEN.
They had made no further pi-ogress in their
operations, when two French deputies arrived at
the entrenchment, with proposals for a capitu
lation from the governor of Fort Louis. After
some hesitation, captain Marsh and major Mason
agreed, that all the white people belonging to
the French company at Senegal should be safely
conducted to France in an English vessel, with
out being deprived of their private effects, pro
vided all the merchandise and uncoined treasure
should be delivered up to the victors ; and that
all the forts, storehouses, vessels, arms, pro
visions, and every article belonging to the com-

294 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
pany In that river, should be put into the hands
of the English immediately after the capitulation
could be signed. They promised that the free
natives living at Fort Louis should remain in-
quiet possession of their effects, and in the free
exercise of their religion ; and that all negroes,
mulattoes, and others, who could prove them
selves free, should have It in their option either
to remain in the place, or remove to any other
part of the country.' The captains Campbell-
and Walker AA^ere immediately sent up the river
with a flag of truce, to see the articles signed
and executed ; but they were so retarded by the
rapidity of tbe stream, that they did not ap
proach the fort till three in the morning. As
soon as the day broke they hoisted their flag,
and roAved up towards a battery on a point of
the island, where they lay upon their oars very
near a full hour, beating the chamade ; but no
notice Avas taken of their approach. This re
serve appearing mysterious, they retired down
the river to their entrenchment, where they un
derstood that the negroes on the island Avere in
arras, and had blocked up the French in Fort
Louis, resolving to defend the place to the last
extremity, unless they should be included in the
' The victors, however, committed a very great mistake in al
lowing them to carry off their books and accounts, the perusal of
which would have been of infinite service to the English mer
chants, by informing them of the commodities, their value, the
proper seasons, and methods of prosecuting the trade.

1758., GEORGE IL 293
capitulation. This intelligence was communi
cated in a second letter from the governor, who
likewise informed the English commander, that
unless the French direfctor-general should be per
mitted to remain with the natives, as a surety
for that article of the capitulation in Avhich they
Avere concerned, they would allow themselves to
be cut in pieces rather than submit. .This re
quest being granted, the English forces began
their march to Fort Louis, accompanied by a
number of long boats, in Avhich the artillery and
stores had been embarked. The French seeing
them advance, immediately struck their flag ;
and major Mason took possession of tbe castle,
Avliere he found ninety-two pieces of cannon, with
treasure and merchandise to a considerable value.
The corporation and burghers of the town of
Senegal submitted, and SAVore allegiance to his
Britannic majesty : the neighbouring princes, at
tended by numerous retinues, visited the com
mander, and concluded treaties with the EngUsh
nation, and the king of Portenderrick, or Legi
belll, sent an ambassador from bis camp to major
Mason, Avith presents, compliments of congratu
lation, and assurances of friendship. The num
ber of free independent negroes and mulattoes,
settled at Senegal, amounted to three thousand,
and many of these enjoyed slaves and possessions
of their own. The two French factories of Po-
dore and Galam, the latter situated nine hundred
iniles farther up the river, AVere included in the

296 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
capitulation ; so that Great Britain, almost with
out striking a blow, found herself possessed ofa
conquest, from which, with proper management,
she may derive inconceivable riches. This im
portant acquisition was in a great measure, if not
entirely, owing to the sagacity, zeal, and inde
fatigable efforts of Mr Cumming, who not only
formed the plan, and solicited the armament, but
also attended the execution of it in person, at
the hazard of his life, and to the interruption of
his private concerns.
Fort Louis being secured Avith an English gar
rison, and some armed vessels left to guard the pas
sage ofthe bar, at the mouth ofthe river, the great
ships proceeded to make an attempt upon the
island of Goree, which lies at the distance of thirty
leagues from Senegal. There the French company
had considerable magazines and warehouses, and
lodged the negro slaves until they could be ship
ped for the West Indies. If the additional force
which Mr Cumming proposed for the conquest
of this island had been added to the armament,
in all probability the island would have been re
duced, and in that case the nation Avould have
saved the considerable expence of a subsequent
expedition against it, under the conduct of com
modore Keppel. At present, the ships by which
Goree Avas attacked Avere found unequal to the
attempt, and the expedition miscarried accord
ingly, though the miscarriage Avas attended Avitk
little or no damage to the assailants.

1758. GEORGE IL 297

EXPEDITION TO CAPE RRETON.
ScEUES of still greater importance were acted in
North America, where, exclusive of the fleet and
marines, the government had assembled about
fifty thousand men, including two and tAventy
thousand regular troops. The earl of Loudoun
having returned to England, the chief command
in America devolved on major-general Abercrom
bie ; but as the objects of operation were vari
ous, the forces were divided into three detached
bodies, under as many different commanders.
About twelve thousand w^ere destinedv to under
take the siege of Louisbourg, on the island of
Cape Breton. The general himself reserved near
sixteen thousand for the reduction of Crown
Point, a fort situated on Lake Champlain : eight
thousand, under the conduct of brigadier-gene
ral Forbes, were allotted for the conquest of
Fort Du Quesne, which stood a great way to the
southward, near the river Ohio ; and a consider
able garrison was left at Annapolis, in Nova-
Scotia. The reduction of Louisbourg and the
island of Cape Breton being an object of imme
diate consideration, was undertaken with all pos
sible dispatch. Major-general Amherst being
joined by admiral Boscawen, with the fleet and
forces from England, the whole armament, con
sisting of one hundred and fifty-seven sail, took
their departure from the harbour of Halifax, in

298 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
Nova- Scotia, on the twenty-eighth of May ; and
on the second of June part of the transports an
chored in the bay of Gabarus, about seven miles
to the westward of Louisbourg. The garrison of
this place, commanded by the chevalier Drucour,
consisted of two thousand five hundred regular
troops, three hundred militia, formed of the
burghers, and toAvards the end of the siege they
Avere reinforced by three hundred and fifty Ca
nadians, including three-score Indians. The har
bour was secured by six ships of the line, and
five frigates,' three of which the enemy sunk
across the harbour's mouth, in order to render it
inaccessible to the English shipping. The fortifi
cations Avere in bad repair, many parts of them
crumbling down the covered way, and several
bastions exposed in such a manner as to be en
filaded by the besiegers, and no part of the town
secure from the effects of cannonading and bom
bardment. The governor had taken all the pre
cautions in his power to prevent a landing, by
establishing a chain of posts, that extended two
leagues and a half along the most inaccessible
part of the beach : entrenchments were thrown
up, and batteries erected ; but there were some
intermediate places, Avhicli could not be properly
secured, and in one of these the English troops
' The Prudent, of seventy-four guns ; the Entreprenant, of
seventy-four guns ; the Capricieux, Celebre, and Bienfaisant, of
sixty-four guns each ; the Apollo, of fifty guns ; the Cbevre,
Biche, Fidelle, Diana, and Echo frigates.

1758, GEORGE IL 299
were disembarked. The disposition being made
for landing, a detachment, in several sloops under
convoy, passed by the mouth of the harbour to
wards Lorembec, in order to draw the enemy's
attention that way,Avhile the landing should really
be effected on the other side of the town. On
the eighth day of June, the troops being assem
bled In the boats before day-break, in three
divisions^ several sloops and frigates, that were
stationed along shore in the bay of Gabarus, be
gan to scour the beach Avith their shot ; and after
the fire had continued about a quarter of an hour,
the boats, containing the division on the left,
Avere rowed toward the shore, under the com
mand of brigadier-general Wolfe, an accomplished
officer, who, in the sequel, displayed very extra
ordinary proofs of military genius. At the same
time the two other divisions, on the right and In
the centre, commanded by the brigadiers Whit
more and Laurence, made a show of landing, in
order to divide and distract the enemy. Not
withstanding an impetuous surf, by Avhich many
boats Avere overset, and a very severe fire of
canndn and musquetry from the enemy's batte
ries, Avhich did considerable execution, brigadier
Wolfe pursued his point with admirable courage
and deliberation. The soldiers leaped into the
water with the most eager alacrity, and, gaining
the shore, attacked the enemy in such a manner,
that in a few minutes they abandoned their Avorks
and artillery, and fled in the utmost confusion.

300 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
The other divisions landed also, but not Avithout
an obstinate opposition ; and the stores, Avith the
artillery,' being brought on shore, the town of
Louisbourg was formally invested. The difficulty
of landing stores and implements in boisterous
weather, and the nature of the ground, which
being marshy, was unfit for the conveyance of
heavy cannon, retarded the operations of the
siege. Mr Amherst made his approaches Avith
great circumspection, securing his camp with
redoubts and epaulements from any attacks of
Canadians, of which he imagined there Avas a
considerable body behind him on the island, as
well as from the fire of the French shipping in
the harbour, which would otherwise have annoy
ed him extremely in his advances.

LOUISBOURG TAKEN.
The governor of Louisbourg having destroyed
the grand battery, which was detached from thc
body of the place, and recalled his out-posts,
prepared for making a vigorous defence. A very
severe fire, well directed, was maintained against
the besiegers and their works, from the town,
the island battery,- and the ships in the harbour ;
and divers sallies were made, though without
much effect. In the mean time brigadier Wolfe,
Avith a strong detachment, had marched round
the north-east part of the harbour, and taken
4

1758. GEORGE IL 301
possession of the Lighthouse-point, where he
erected several batteries against the ships and
the island fortification, which last Avas soon si
lenced. On the nineteenth day of June the
Echo, a French frigate, was taken by the Eng
lish cruisers, after having escaped from the har
bour ; from the officers on board of this ship the
admli-al learned that the Bizarre, another frigate,
had sailed from thence on the day of the dis
embarkation, and the Com etc had successfully
followed licr example. Besides the regular ap
proaches to the town, conducted by the engineers
under the immediate command and inspection of
general Amherst, divers batteries were raised by
the detached corps under brigadier Wolfe, Avho
exerted himself Avitli amazing activity, and griev
ously incommoded the enemy, both of the toAvn
and shipping. On the twenty-first day of July
the three great ships, the Entreprenant, Capri
cieux, and Celebre, were set on fire by a bomb
shell, and burned to ashes, so that none remained
but the Prudent and Bienfaisant, which the ad
miral undertook to destroy. For this purpose, in
the night between the twenty-fifth and tA\'^enty-
sixth days of the month, the boats ofthe squadron
Avere in two divisions detached into the harbour,
under the command of two young captains, La-
forey and Balfour. They accordingly penetrated,
in the dark, through a terrible fire of cannon
and musquetry, and boarded the enemy sword in
hand. The Prudent, being aground, was set on

302 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175S.
fire, and destroyed, but the Bienfaisant was towed
out of the harbour in triumph. In the prosecu
tion of the siege, the admiral and general co
operated with remarkable harmony ; the former
cheerfully assisting the latter with cannon and
other implements ; with detachments of marines
to maintain posts on shore, with parties of sea
men to act as pioneers, and concur in Avorking
the guns and mortars. The fire of the town Avas
managed with equal skill and activity, and kept
up with great perseverance ; until, at length,
their shipping being all taken and destroyed,
the caserns' ruined In the two principal bastions,
forty out of fifty-two pieces of cannon dismount
ed, broke, or rendered unserviceable, and divers
practicable breaches effected, the governor, in
a letter to Mr Amherst, proposed a capitulation
pn the same articles that Avere granted to the
English at Port Mahon. In ansAver to this pro
posal he Avas given to understand, that he and his
garrison must surrender themselves prisoners of
war, otherwise he might next morniug expect a
geiieral assault by the shipping under admiral
BoscaAven. The chevalier Drucour, piqued at the
' It may not be amiss to observe, that a cavaljer, which admi
ral Knowles had built at an enormous expence to the nation,
while Louisbourg remained in the hands of the English in the
last war, was, in the course of this siege, entirely demolished by
two or three shots fr&m one of the British batteries ; so admira
bly had this piece of fortificatioin been contrived and executed,
under the eye of that profound engineer,.

1758. GEORGE IL 303
severity of these terms, replied, that he would,
rather than comply with them, stand an assault ;
but the commissary-general, and intendant pf
the colony, presented a petition from the traders
and inhabitants of the place, in consequence of
which he submitted. On the twenty-seventh
day of July three companies of grenadiers, com
manded by major Farquhar, took possession of
the western gate ; and brigadier Whitmore was
detached into the toAvn, to see the garrispn lay
ddown their arms, and deliver up their colours on
the esplanade, and to post the necessary guards
on the stores, magazines, and ramparts. Thus,
at the expence of about four hundred men killed
and wounded, the English obtained possession
of the important island of Cape Breton, and the
strong town of Louisbourg, in which the victors
found two hundred and twenty-one pieces of
cannon, with eighteen mortars, and a consider
able quantity of stores and ammunition. The
merchants and inhabitants Avere sent to France
in English bottoms; but the garrison, together
with the sea-officers, marines, and mariners,
amounting in all to five thousand six hundred
and thirty-seven prisoners, were transported to
England. The loss of Louisbourg was the more
severely felt by the French king, as it had been
attended with the destruction of so many con
siderable ships and frigates. The particulars of
this transaction were immediately brought to Eng
land, in a vessel dispatched for that purpose, with

304 HISTORY OF ENGLAND- 1758.
captain Amherst, brother to the commander, Avho
¦was also entrusted Avith eleven pair of colours ta
ken at Louisbourg. These were, by his majesty's
order, carried in pompous parade, escorted by de
tachments of horse and foot guards, with kettle
drums and trumpets, from the palace of Ken
sington to St Paul's cathedral, where they were
deposited as trophies, under a discharge of can
non, and other noisy expressions of triumph and
exultation. Indeed the public rejoicings for the
conquest of Louisbourg were diffused through
every part of the British dominions, and ad
dresses of congratulation Avere presented to the
king, by a great number of fiourishing towns and
corporations. After the reduction of Cape Breton, some
ships were detached, Avith a body of troops under
the command of lieutenant-colonel lord Rollo, to
take possession of the island of St John, which
also lies In the Gulph of St Laurence, and, by
its fertility in corn and cattle, had, since the
beginning of the war, supplied Quebec Avith
considerable quantities of provision. It was like
wise the asylum to which the French neutrals of
Annapolis fled for shelter from the EngUsh go
vernment ; and the retreat from Avhence they
and the Indians used to make their sudden irrup
tions into Nova Scotia, Avhere they perpetrated
the most inhuman barbarities on the defenceless
subjects of Great Britain. The number of in
habitants amounted to four thousand one hun-

1758. GEORGE IL 305
dred, who submitted and brought in their arms ;
then lord Rollo took possession of the governor's
quarters, where he found several scalps of Eng
lishmen, whom the savages had assassinated, in
consequence of the encouragement they received
from their French patrons and allies, who grati
fied them with a certain premium for every scalp
they produced. The island was i^tocked with
above ten thousand head of black cattle, and
some of the farmers raised each twelve hun
dred bushels of corn annually for the market pf
Quebec.

UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT UPON TICON
DEROGA.
The jpy and satisfaction arising from the Con
quest of Louisbourg and St John, was not a little
checked by the disaster which befel the main
body of the British forces in America, under the
immediate conduct of general Abercrombie, who,
as we have already observed, had proposed the re
duction of the French forts on the Lakes George
and Champlain, as the chief objects of his enter
prize, with a view to secure the frontier of the
British colonies, and open a passage for the future
conquest of Canada. In the beginning of July
his forces, amounting to near seven thousand
regular troops, and ten thousand provincials, em
barked on the Lake George, in the neighbour-
VOL. v. X

306 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1Y58.
hood of Lake Champlain, on board of nine hun
dred batteaus, and one hundred and thirty-five
Avhale-boats, with provision, artillery, and ammu
nition ; several pieces of cannon being mounted
on rafts to cover the purposed landing, which
was next day effected without opposition. The
general's design was to invest Ticonderoga, a
fort situated on a tongue of land, extending be
tAveen Lake George and a narrow gut that com
municates with Lake Champlain. This fortifica
tion was, on three sides, surrounded Avith Ava
ter, and in front nature had secured It with a
morass. The English troops being disembarked,
Avere immediately formed into three columns,
and began their march to the enemy's advanced
post, consisting of one battalion, encamped be
hind a breast-work of logs, Avhich they now
abandoned with precipitation, after having set
them on fire, and burned their tents and imple
ments. The British forces continued their march
in the same order ; but the route lying through
a thick wood that did not admit of any regular
progression or passage, and the guides proving
extremely ignorant, the troops were bewildered,
and the columns broken by falUng in one upon
another. Lord Howe being advanced at the
head of the right centre column, encountered
a Frpnch detachment who had likewise lost their
way in the retreat from the advanced post, and
a Avarm skirmish ensuing, the enemy were routed
with considerable loss, a good number were kUled,

1758. GEORGE IL , 307
and one hundred and forty-eight were taken pri
soners, including five officers. This petty advan
tage was dearly bought with the loss of lord Howe,
who fell In the beginning of the action, unspeak
ably regretted as a young nobleman of the most
promising talents, Avho had distinguished himself
in a peculiar manner by his courage, activity,
and rigid obserA'^ation of miUtary discipline, and'
had acquired the esteem and affection of the sol
diery by his generosity, sweetness of manners,
and engaging address. The general, perceiving
the troops were greatly fatigued and disordered
from want of rest and refreshment, thought it ad
visable to march back to the landing place, Avhich
they reached about eight in the morning. Then
he detached lieutenant- colonel Bradstreet, with
one regular regiment, six companies of the Royal
Americans, with the batteau-men, and a body of
rangers, to take possession of a saw-mill in the
neighbourhood of Ticonderoga, which the enemy
had abandoned. This post being secured, the
general advanced again towards Ticonderoga,
where, he understood from the prisoners, the
enemy had assembled eight battalions, with a body
of Canadians and Indians, amounting in all to six
thousand. These, they said, being encamped be
fore the fort, were employed in making a formida
ble entrenchment, where they Intended to wait
for a reinforcement of three thousand men, who
had been detached under the command of M. de
. Levi, to make a diversion on the side of the Mo-

308 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
hawk river ; ' but, upon intelligence of Mr Aber-
crombie's approach, were now recalled for the
defence of Ticonderoga. This information de
termined the English general to strike, if possible,
some decisive stroke before the junction could
be effected. He, therefore, early next morning
sent his engineer across the river on the opposite
side of the fort, to reconnoitre the enemy's en
trenchments ; and he reported that the works
being stUl unfinished, might be attempted with a
good prospect of success. A disposition was made
accordingly for the attack, and, after proper
guards had been left at the saw-mill and the land
ing-place, the whole army was put in motion.
They advanced with great alacrity towards the
entrenchment, which, however, they found alto
gether impracticable. The breast- work was raised
eight feet high, and the ground before it covered
with an abbatis, or felled trees, AvIth their boughs
pointing outwards, and projecting in such a man
ner as to render the entrenchment almpst in
accessible. Notwithstanding these discouraging
difficulties, the British troops marched up to the
assault with an undaunted resolution, and sustained
a terrible fire withpjut flinching. They endeavoured
' This officer intended to have made an iri-uption through the
pass of Oneida on the Mohawk river, but was recalled before he
could execute his design. General Abercrombie afterwards sent
thither brigadier Stanwix, with a considerable body of Provinci
als, and this important pass was secured by a fort built at that
juncture.

1758. GEORGE IL 309
to cut their way through these embarrassments
with their swords, and some of them even mounted
the parapet ; but the enemy were so well covered,
that they could deliberately direct their fire with
out the least danger to themselves : the carnage
was therefore considerable, and the troops began
to fall into confusion, after several repeated at
tacks, which lasted above four hours, under the
most disadvantageous circumstances. The gene
ral, by this time, saw plainly that no hope of suc
cess remained ; and, in order to prevent a total
defeat, took measures for the retreat of the army,
Avhich retired unmolested to their former camp,
with the loss of about eighteen hundred men
killed or wounded, including a great number of
officers. Every corps of regular troops behaved,
on this unfortunate occasion, with remarkable in
trepidity ; but the greatest loss was sustained by
lord John Murray's Highland regiment, of which
above one half of the private men, and twenty-
five officers, were either slain upon the spot, or
desperately Abounded. Mr Abercrombie, unwil
ling to stay in the neighbourhood of the enemy
w^ith forces which had received such a dispiriting
check, retired to his batteaux, and re-embarking
the troops, returned to the camp at Lake George,
from whence he had taken his departure. Cen
sure, which always attends miscarriage, did not
spare the character of this commander ; his attack
was condemned as rash, and his retreat as pusil
lanimous, In such case allowances must be made

310 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1755,
for the peevishness of disappointment, and the
clamour of connexion. How far Mr Abercrombie
acquitted himself in the duty of a general, we
shall not pretend to determine ; but if he could
depend upon the courage and discipline of his
forces,, he surely had nothing to fear, after the
action, from the attempts of the enemy, to whom
he would have been superior in number, even
though they had been joined by the ex;,pected re
inforcement : he might, therefore, have remained
on the spot, in order to execute some other enter
prize when he should be reinforced In his turn ;
for general Amherst no sooner heard of his disas
ter than he returned Avith the troops from Cape
Breton to New England, after having left a strong
garrison in Louisbourg. At the head of six regi
ments he began his march to Albany, about the
middle of September, in order to join the forces
on the lake, that they might undertake some
other service before the season should be ex
hausted.

FORT FRONTENAC TAKEN AND DESTROYED
BY THE ENGLISH.
I^f the mean time, general Abercrombie had de
tached lieutenant-colonel Bradstreet, with a body
of three thousand men, chiefly provincials, to
execute a plan which this officer had formed
against Cadaraqui, or Fort Frontenac, situated

1758. GEORGE IL 311
on the north side of the river St Laurence, just
where it takes its origin from the Lake Ontario.
To the side of this lake he penetrated with his
detachment, and embarking in some sloops and
batteaux, provided for the purpose, landed within
a mile of Fort Frontenac, the garrison of which,
consisting of one hundred and ten men, Avith a few
Indians, immediately surrendered at discretion.
Considering the importance of this post, which,
in a great measure, commanded the mouth of the
river St Laurence, and served as a magazine to
the more southern castles, the French general
Avas Inexcusable for leaving it in such a defence
less condition. The fortification itself was in
considerable and ill contrived ; nevertheless, it
contained sixty pieces of cannon, sixteen small
mortars, with an immense quantity of merchan
dise and provisions, deposited for the use of the
French forces detached against brigadier Forbes,
their western garrisons, and Indian allies, as well
as for the subsistence of the corps commanded
by M. de Levi, on his enterprize against the Mo
hawk river. Mr Bradstreet not only reduced
the fort without bloodshed, but also rriade him
self master of all the enemy's shipping On the
lake, amounting to nine armed vessels, some of
which carried eighteen guns. Two of these Mr
Bradstreet conveyed to Oswego, whither he re
turned with his troops, after he had destroyed
Fort Frontenac, Avith all the artillery, stores, pro
vision and merchandise which it contained. In

318 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
consequence of this exploit, the French troops to
the southward were exposed to the hazard of
starving ; but it is not easy to conceive the ge
neral's reason for giving orders to abandon and
destroy a fort, which, if properly strengthened
and sustained, might have rendered the English
masters of the Lake Ontario, and grievously
harassed the enemy, both in their commerce, and
expeditions to the westAvard. Indeed, great part
of the Indian trade centered at Frontenac, to
which place the Indians annually repaired from
all parts of America, some of them at the distance
of a thousand miles, and here exchanged their
furs for European commodities. So much did the
French traders excel the English in the art of
conciliating the affection of those savage tribes,
that great part of them, in their yearly progress
to this remote market, actually passed by the
British settlement of Albany, in New York, where
they might have been supplied with what articles
they wanted, much more cheap than they could
purchase them at Frontenac or Montreal ; nay,
the French traders used to furnish themselves
with those very commodities from the merchants
of New York, and found this traffic much more
profitable than that of procuring the same articles
from France, loaded with the expence of a tedi
ous and dangerous navigation, from the sea to
the source of the river St Laurence.

1758. GEORGE IL 313

BRIGADIER FORBES TAKES FORT DU
QUESNE.
In all probability, the destruction of Frontenac
facilitated the expedition against Fortdu Quesne,,
entrusted to the conduct of brigadier Forbes,
who, with his little army, began bis march in the
beginning of July from Philadelphia for the river
Ohio, a prodigious tract of country A'ery little
known, destitute of military roads, incumbered
with mountains, morasses, and woods, that Avere
almpst impenetrable. It was npt without incredi
ble exertion of industry, that he procured pro
visions and carriages for this expedition, formed
new roads, extended scouting parties, secured
camps, and surmounted many other difficulties in
the course of his tedious march, during which he
was also harassed by small detachments of the
enemy's Indians, Having penetrated with the
main body as far as Ray's-Town, at the distance of
ninety miles from Fort du Quesne, and advanced
colonel Bouquet, with two thousand men, about
fifty miles farther, to a place called Lyal-Henning,
this officer detached major Grant, at the head of
eight hundred men, to reconnoitre the fort and
its out-works. The enemy perceiving him ap
proach, sent a body of troops against him, suffi
cient to surround his Avhole detachment : a very
severe action began, which the EngUsh maintained

314 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
with their usual courage for three hours, against
cruel odds ; but at length, being overpowered by
numbers, they were obliged to give way, and re
tired in disorder to Lyal-Henning, with the loss
of about three hundred men killed or taken, in
cluding major Grant, who Avas carried prisoner
to Fort du Quesne, and nineteen officers. Not
withstanding this mortifying check, brigadier
Forbes advanced with the army, resolved to pro
secute his operations with vigour; but the enemy,
dreading the prospect of a siege, dismantled and
abandoned the fort, and retired down the river
Ohio, to their settlements on theMIssIssIppI. They
quitted the fort on the twenty-fourth day of No
vember, and next day it was possessed by the
British forces. As for the Indians of this coun
try, they seemed heartily to renounce their
connexions with France, and be perfectly recon
ciled to the government of his Britannic ma
jesty.' Brigadier Forbes having repaired the fort,
changed its name from Du Quesne to Pittsburgh,
secured it with a garrison of provincials, and
concluded treaties of friendship and alliance with
the Indian tribes. Then he marched back to
Philadelphia, and in his retreat built a block
house, near Lyal-Henning, for the defence of
Pennsylvania; but he himself did not long sur
vive these transactions, his constitution having
been exhausted by the incredible fatigues of
the service. Thus have we given a particular
detail of all the remarkable operations by which

1758, GEORGE IL 315
this campaign Avas distinguished on the conti
nent of America ; the reader will be convinced,
that notwithstanding the defeat at Ticonderoga,
and the disaster of the advanced party in the
neighbourhood of Fort du Quesne, the arms of
Great Britain acquired many important advan
tages ; and, indeed, paved the way for the re
duction of Quebec, and conquest of all Canada.
In the mean time, the admirals Boscawen and
Hardy, having left a considerable squadron at
Halifax, in Nova-Scotia, returned Avith four ships
of the line to England, where they arrived in
the beginning of November, after having given
chace to six large French ships, which they de
scried to the westward of Scilly, but could not
overtake or bring to an engagement.
The conquest of the French settlement In the
river Senegal being deemed imperfeet and incom
plete, whilst France still kept possession of the
island of Goree, the ministry of Great Britain
resolved to crown the campaign in Africa with
the reduction of that fortress. For this purpose
commodore Keppel, brother to the earl of Albe
marle, was vested with the command of a squa
dron, consisting of four ships of the line, several
frigates, two bomb-ketches, and some transports,
having on board seven hundred men of the re
gular troops, commanded by colonel Worge, and
embarked In the harbour of Cork in Ireland,
from whence this whole armament tppk their

316 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
departure on the eleventh day of November.
After a tempestuous passage, in which they
touched at the isle of Teneriffe, they arrived at
Goree in the latter end of December, and the
commodore made a disposition for attacking this
island, AA'^hich was remarkably strong by nature,
but veiy indifferently fortified. Goree is a small
barren island, extending about three quarters of
a mile in length, of a triangular form ; and on
the south-west side rising into a rocky hill, on
which the paltry fort of St Michael is situated.
There is another, still more inconsiderable, called
St Francis, towards the other extremity of the
island ; and several batteries were raised around
its sweep, mounted Avith about one hundred
pieces of cannon, and four mortars. The French
governor, M. de St Jean, had great plenty of
ammunition, and his garrison amounted to about
three hundred men, exclusive of as many negro
inhabitants. The flat-bottomed boats, for dis
embarking the troops, being hoisted out, and
disposed along-side of the different transports,
the commodore stationed his ships on the west
side of the island, and the engagement began
Avith a shell from one of the ketches. This was
a signal for the great ships, which poured in their
broadsides without intermission, and the fire was
returned with equal vivacity from all the bat
teries of the island. In the course of the action
the cannonading from the ships became so severe

1758. GEORGE IL 317
and terrible, that the French garrison deserted
their quarters, in spite of all the efforts of the
governor, who acquitted himself like a man of
honour ; but he Avas obliged to strike his colours,
and surrender at discretion, after a short but
warm dispute, in which the loss of the British
commodore did not exceed one hundred men
killed and wounded. The success of the day Avas'
the more extraordinary, as the French garrison
had not lost a man, except one negro killed by
the bursting of a bomb-shell, and the number of
their wounded was very Inconsiderable. While
the attack lasted, the opposite shore of the con
tinent was lined with a concourse of negroes,
assembled to view the combat, who expressed
their sentiments and surprise in loud clamour
and uncouth gesticulations, and seemed to be im
pressed with awe and astonishment at the power
and execution of the British squadron. The
French colours being struck, as a signal of sub
mission, the commodore sent a detachment of
marines on shore, who disarmed the garrison, *
and hoisted the British flag upon the castle of
St Michael. In the mean time, the governor
and the rest of the prisoners were secured among
the shipping. Thus the important island of Goree
fell into the hands of the English, together with
two trading vessels that chanced to be at anchor
in the read, and stpres, mpney, and merchandise,
tP the value pf twenty thousand pounds. Part
of the troops being left in garrison a-t Goree,

318 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
under the command of major Newton, together
with three sloops for his service, the squadron
being watered and refreshed from the continent,
that part of AvhIch Is governed by one of the
Jalof kings, and the prisoners, with their bag
gage, being dismissed in three cartel ships to
France, the commodore set sail for Senegal, and
reinforced Fort Louis Avith the rest of the troops
under colonel Worge, who was at this juncture
favoured AvIth a visit by the king of Legibelll ;
but very little pains were taken to dismiss this
potentate in good humour, or maintain the dis
position he professed to favour the commerce
of Great Britain. True it is, he was desirous of
engaging the English in his quarrels Avith somcj
neighbouring nations ; and such engagements.
were cautiously and politically avoided, because
it was tbe interest of Great Britain to be upon
good terms Avith every African prince Avho could
promote and extend the commerce of her sub
jects.

Shipwreck of captain barton.
Commodore Keppel having reduced Goree, and
reinforced the garrison of Senegal, returned to
England, where all his ships arrived, after a very
tempestuous voyage. In which the squadron had
been dispersed. This expedition, however suc
cessful in the main, Avas attended with one mis-
12

1758. GEORGE IL 319
fortune, the loss of the Lichfield ship of war,
commanded by captain Barton, which, together
with one transport and a bomb-tender, was wreck
ed on the coast of Barbary, about nine leagues
to the northward of Saffy, in the dominions of
Morocco. One hundred and thirty men, inclu
ding several officers, perished on this occasion ;
but the captain and the rest of the company, to
the number of two hundred and tAventy, made
shift to reach the shore, where they ran the risk
of starving, and were cruelly used by the natives,
although a treaty of peace at that time subsisted
between Great Britain and Morocco ; nay, they
were even enslaved by the emperor, Avho detained
them in captivity until they were ransomed by
the British government : so little dependence can
be placed on the faith of such barbarian princes,
Avith whom it is even a disgrace for any civilized
nation to be in alliance, Avhatever commercial ad
vantages may arise from the connexion.

GALLANT EXPLOIT OF CAPTAIN TYRREL.
The incidents of the war that happened in tho
West Indies, during these occurrences, may be
reduced to a small compass. Nothing extra
ordinary Avas achieved in the neighbourhood of
Jamaica, where admiral Coates commanded a
small squadron, from Avhich he detached cruisers

320 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
occasionally for the protection of the British com
merce ; and at Antigua the trade was effectually
secured by the vigilance of captain Tyrrel, whose
courage and activity were equal to his conduct
and circumspection. In the month of March,
this gentleman, with his own ship the Bucking
ham, and the Cambridge, another of the line,
demolished a fort on the island of Martinique,
and destroyed four privateers riding under its
protection ; but his valour appeared much more
conspicuous in a subsequent engagement, which
happened in the month of November. Being
detached on a cruise in his oavu ship, the Buck
ingham, by commodore Moore, who commanded
at the Leeward Islands, he fell In with the Weazle
sloop, commanded by captain Boles, between the
islands of Montserrat and Guadaloupe, and im
mediately discovered a fleet of nineteen sail,
under convoy of a French ship of war carrying
seventy-four cannon, and tAvo large frigates.
Captain Tyrrel immediately gave chase with all
the sail he could carry, and the Weazle running
close to the enemy, received a whole broadside
from the large ship, which, however, she sus
tained without much damage ; nevertheless, Mr
Tyrrel ordered her commander to keep aloof, as
he could not be supposed able to bear the shock
of large metal, and he himself prepared for the
engagement. The enemy's large ship, the Flo
rissant, though of much greater force than the

1758. GEORGE IL 321
Buckingham, instead of lying-to for his comipg
up, made a running fight Avith her stprn-chase,
while the two frigates annoyed him in his course,
sometimes raking him fore and aft, and somcr
times lying on his quarter. At length ,he came
along-side of the Florissant, Avithin pistol shot,
and pou,red in a whole broadside, Avhich did con
siderable execution. The salutation Avas returned
Avith equal vivacity, and a furious engagement
ensued. Captain Tyrrel was wounded in the face,
and lost three fingers of his right hand ; so that,
being entirely disabled, he Avas obliged to dele
gate the command of the ship to his first lieur
tenant Mr JMarshal, who continued the battle
AvIth great gallantry until he lost his life : .then
the charge devolved to the second lieutenant,
who acquitted himself with equal honour, and
sustained a desperate fight against three ships of
the enemy. The officers and crew of the Buck
ingham exerted themselves with equal vigour
and deUberation, and captain Troy, Avhp com
manded a detachment of marines on the poop,
plied his small arms so effectually, as to drive the
French from their quarters. At length confusion,
terror, and uproar prevailing on board the Flo
rissant, her firing ceased, and her colours were
haulecl down about twilight; but her commander
perceiving that the Buckingham was too much
damaged in her rigging to pursue in any hope of
success, ordeied all his sails to be set, and fled in
the dark Avith his two consorts. Nothing but
VOL. V. Y

322 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758,
this circumstance could have prevented a British
ship of sixty-five guns, indifferently manned in
respect to number, from taking a French ship of
the line, mounted with seventy-four pieces of
cannon, provided with seven hundred men, and
assisted by two large frigates, one of thirty -eight
guns, and the other wanting two of this number.
The loss of the Buckingham, in this action, did
not exceed twenty men kiUed and Avounded ;
whereas the number of the slain on board the
Florissant did not fall short of one hundred and
eighty, and that of her wounded is said to have
exceeded three hundred. She vs'^as so disabled in
her hull, that she could hardly be kept afloat
until she reached Martinique, Avhere she was re
paired ; and the largest frigate, together with the
loss of forty men, received such damage as to be
for some time quite unserviceable.

TRANSACTIONS IN THE EAST INDIES. ADM.
POCOCKE ENGAGES THE FRENCH FLEET.
In the East Indies the transactions of the war
were chequered with a variety of success; but,
on the whole, the designs of the enemy were en
tirely defeated. The French commander, M. de
Bussy, had, in the year one thousand seven hun
dred and fifty-six, quarreUed with Salabatzing,
viceroy of Decan, because this last would not put
him in possession of the fortress of Golconda. In

1758. GEORGE IL 323
the course of the next year, Avhile the English
forces were employed in Bengal, M. de Bussy
made himself master of the British factories of
Ingeram, Bandermalanka, and Vizagapatam, and
the reduction of this last left the enemy in pos
session of the Avhole coast of Coromandel, from
Ganjam to Massulapatam. While a body of the
English company's forces, under captain Caillaud
endeavoured to reduce tbe important fortress and
town of Madura, the French, under M, D'Anteuil,
invested Trichlnopoly. Caillaud no sooner re
ceived intelligence of the danger to Avhich this
place was exposed, than he hastened to its relief,
and obliged the enemy to abandon the siege.
Then he returned to Madura, and, after an un
successful assault, made himself master of it by
capitulation. During these transactions colonel
Forde made an attempt upon the fort of Nelloure,
a strong place, at the distance of twenty-four
miles from Madras, but miscarried; and Jjils was
also the fate of an expedition against Wande-
wash, undertaken by colonel Aldercron. The first
was repulsed in storming the place, the other Avas
anticipated by the French army, which marched
from .Pondicherry to the relief of the garrison.
The French king had sent a considerable rein
forcement to the East Indies, under the com
mand of general LaUy, an officer of Irish ex
traction, together with such a number of ships
as rendered tbe squadron of M. d'Apcb^ superior
to that of admiral Pococke, who had succeeded

324. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
admiral Watson, lately deceased, in the com
mand of the English squadron stationed on the
coast of Coromandel, which, in the beginning
of this year, Avas reinforced from England with
several ships, under the direction of commodore
Steevens. Immediately after this junction, which
was effected in the road of Madras on the twenty-
fourth day of March, admiral Pococke, Avho had
already signalized himself by his courage, vi
gilance, and conduct, sailed to windward, Avith
a view to intercept the French squadron, of
which he had received intelligence. In two
days he descried in the road of Fort St DaA^id
the enemy's fleet, consisting of nine ships, which
immediately stood out to sea, and formed the
line of battle a-head. The admiral took the
same precaution, and bearing down upon M.
d'Apch^, the engagement began about three in
the afternoon. The French commodore, having
sustained a warm action for about two hours,
bore away Avith his whole fleet, and being joined
by two ships, formed a line of battle again to
leeward. Admiral Pococke's OAvn ship, and some
others, being greatly damaged in their masts
and rigging, two of his captains having mis
behaved in the action, and night coming on, he
did not think it advisable to pursue them with
all the sail he could carry ; but, nevertheless, he
followed them at a proper distance, standing to
the south-west, in order to maintain the Aveather-
gage, in case he should be able to rencAV the

1758. GEORGE IL 325
action in the morning. In this expectation, how
ever, he was disappointed ; the enemy shewed no
lights, nor made any signals that could be ob
served ; and in the morning not the least vestige
of thein appeared. Mr Pococke, on the suppo
sition that they had weathered them in the night,
endeavoured to Avork up after him to Avindward ;
but finding he lost ground considerably, he drop
ped anchor about three leagues to the northward
of Sadras, and received intelligence from the
chief of that settlement, that one of the largest-
French ships, having been disabled in the en
gagement, was run ashore to the southward bf
Alemparve, where their Avhole squadron lay at
anchor. Such was the issue of the first action
between the English and French squadrons in the
East Indies, Avhich, over and above the loss of a
capital ship, is said to have cost the enemy about
five hundred men, whereas the British admiral did
not lose one-fifth part of that number. Being dis
satisfied with the behaviour of three captains, he,
on his return to Madras, appointed a court-martial
to inquire into their conduct ; two were dismissed
from the service, and the third was sentenced to
lose one year's rank as a post-captain.
In the mean time Mr Lally had disembarked
his troops at Pondicherry, and taking the field,
immediately invested the fort of St David, Avhile
the squadron blocked it up by sea. Two Eng
lish ships being at anchor in the road Avhen the
enemy arrived, their captains seeing no possibility

326 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
of escaping, ran them on shore, set them on fire,
and retired with their men into the fortress,
which, however, was in a few days surrendered.
A much more resolute defence was expected
from the courage and conduct of major Poller,
who commanded the garrison. When he arrived
at Madras he was subjected to a court of inquiry,
which acquitted him of cowardice, but were of
opinion that the place might have held out much
longer, and that the terms an Avhich it surren
dered Avere shameful, as the enemy were not
even masters of the outward covered Avay, as
they had made no breach, and had a wet ditch
to fill up and pass, before the tOAAm could have
been properly assaulted. Poller, In order to Avipe
off this disgrace, desired to serve as a volunteer
Avith colonel Draper, and was mortally wounded
in a sally at the siege of Madras. Admiral Po
cocke having, to the best of his power, repaired
his shattered ships, set sail again on the tenth
pf May, in order to attempt the relief of fort
St David's ; but, notwithstanding his utmost en
deavours, he could not reach It in time to be of
any service. On the thirtieth day of the month
he came in sight of Pondicherry, from Avhence
the French squadron stood away early next morn
ing, nor was it in his power to come up with them,
though he made all possible efforts for that pur
pose. Then receiving intelligence that fort St
David's Avas surrendered to the enemy, he re
turned again to Madras, in order to refresh his

1758. GEORGE IL 327
squadron. On the twenty-fifth day of July, he
sailed a third time in quest of M. d'Apch6, and
in two days perceived his squadron, consisting
of eight ships of the line, and a frigate, at anchor
in the road of Pondicherry. They no sooner
descried him advancing than they stood out to
sea as before, and he continued to chace, in hopes^
of bringing them to an engagement ; but all his
endeavours proved fruitless till the third day of
August, when, having obtained the weather-gage,
he bore doAvn upon them in order of battle. The
engagement began AvIth great impetuosity on
both sides ; but in little more than ten minutes
M. d'Apch6 set his fore-sail, and bore away, his
whole squadron following his example, and main
taining a running fight in a very irregular line.
The British admiral then hoisted the signal for
a general chace, AvhIch the enemy perceiving,
thought proper to cut away their boats, and
crowd with all the sail they could carry. They
escaped; by favour of the night, into the road
of Pondicherry, and Mr Pococke anchored with
his squadron off Carical, a French settlement,
having thus obtained an undisputed victory, Avith
the loss of thirty men killed, and one hundred and
sixteen AVOunded, including commodore Steevens
and captain Martin, though their wounds were
not dangerous. The number of killed and wounded
on board the French squadron amounted, accord
ing to report, to five hundred and forty; and
their fleet was so much damaged, that in the

328 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
beo-inning of September their commodore sailed
fbr the island of Bourbon, in the same latitude
with Madagascar, in order to refit ; thus leaving
the cdmtjiand and sovereignty of the Indian seas
to the EtigUsh admiral, Avhose fleet, from the
beginning of this campaign, had been much in
ferior to the French squadron in number of ships
arid men, as A\fell as in weight of metal.
Mr Lally having reduced Cuddalore and fort
St David's, ' resolved to extort a sum of money
from the king of Tanjour, on pretence that, in
the last Avar, he had granted an obligation to the
French governor for a certain sum, which had
never been paid. Lally accordingly marched
with a body of three thousand men into the do
minions of Tanjour, and demanded seventy-two
lacks of rupees. This extravagant demand be
ing rejected; he plundered Nagare, a trading
town on the sea-coast, and afterwards invested
the capital ; but after he had prosecuted the siege
until a breach was made, his provisions and am
munition beginning to fail, severalvigorous^ sal
lies being made by the forces of the king of
Tanjour, and the place well defended by Euro
pean gunneis, sent from the English garrison at
Trichlnopoly, he found himself obUged to raise
' Cuddalore was in such a defenceless condition, that it could
make no resistance ; and there being no place in Fort St David's
bomb-proof, nor any provisions or fresh water, the garrison sur
rendered in twelve days, on capitulation, after having sustained
a severe bombardment. 4

1758, GEORGE IL S29
the siege, and retreat with precipitation, leaving
his cannon behind. He arrived at Carical about
the middle of August, and frbm thence retired
to Pondicherry towards the end of September.
He afterwards cantoned his troops in the prd-
vince of Arcot, entered the city without oppo
sition, and began to make preparations for the
siege of Madras, which shall be recorded aihorig
the incidents of the succeeding year. In thfe
mean time, the land-forces belonging to the East
India Company were so much out-numbered by
the reinforcements which arrived with Mr Lally,
that they could not pretend to keep the field,
but were obliged to remain on the defensive, and
provide as well as they could for the security of
fort St George, and the other settlements in that
part of India.

TRANSACTIONS ON THE CONTINENT OF
EUROPE.
Having particularized the events of the war
Avhich distinguished this year in America, Africa,
and Asia, those remote scenes in which the in
terest of Great Britain was immediately and in
timately concerned, it now remains to record the
incidents of the miUtary operations in Germany,
supported by British subsidies, and enforced by
British troops, to favour the abominable designs
©f an ally, from whose soUtary friendship the

330 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175S.
British nation can nevei" reap any solid benefit ;
and to defend a foreign elector, in whose behalf
she had already lavished an Immensity of trea-
surCi Notwithstanding the bloodshed and ra
vages which had signalized the former campaign,
the mutual losses of the belligerent powers, the
incredible expence of money, the difficulty of
recruiting armies thinned by sword and distem
per, the scarcity of forage and provision, the
distresses of Saxony In particular, and the cala
mities of war, which desolated the greatest part
of the empire, no proposition of peace was hinted
by either of the parties concerned ; but the
powers at variance seemed to be exasperated
against each other with the most implacable re
sentment. Jarring interests were harmonised,
old prejudices rooted up, inveterate jealousies
assuaged, and even inconsistencies reconciled,
in connecting the confederacy Avliich was uoav
formed and estabUshed against the king of Prus
sia ; and, on the other hand, the king of Great
Britain seemed determined to employ the whole
power and influence of his croAvn in supporting
this monarch. Yet the members of the grand
confederacy were differently actuated by dis
agreeing motives, which, In the sequel, operated
for the preservation of his Prussian majesty,
by preventing the full exertion of their united
strength. The empress-queen, over and above
her desire of retrieving Silesia, which Avas her
primary aim, gave way to the suggestions of

1758. GEORGE IL 831
personal hatred and revenge, to the gratification
of which she may be said to have sacrificed, in
some measure, the interests of her family; as
well as the repose of the empire, by admitting
the natural enemies of her house into the Aus
trian Netherlands, and inviting them to invade
the dominions of her co-estates with a formidable
army. France, true to her old political maxims,
wished to see the house of Austria weakened by
the divisions In the empire, which she accord
ingly fomented : for this reason it could not be
her interest to effect the ruin of the house of
Brandenburgh ; and therefore she had^ no doubt.
Set bounds to the prosecution of her schemes in
concert with the court of Vienna ; but her de
signs against Hanover amounted to absolute con
quest: in pursuance of these, she sent an army
of one hundred and twenty thousand men across
the Rhine, instead of four and twenty thousand,
which she had engaged to furnish by the origi
nal treaty with the empress-queen of Hungary^
who is said to have shared in the spoils of the
electorate. The czarina, by co-operating with
the houses of Bourbon and Austria, gratified her
personal disgust towards the Prussian monarch,
augmented her finances by considerable subsidies
from both, and perhaps amused herself AvIth the
hope of obtaining an establishment in the Ger
man empire ; but whether she Avavered In her own
sentiments, or her ministry fluctuated between
the promises of France and the presents of Great

332 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
Britain, certain it is, her forces had not acted with
vigour in Pomerania ; and her general Apraxin,
instead of prosecuting his advantage, had re
treated immediately after the Prussians miscar
ried in their attack. He was indeed disgraced,
and tried for having thus retired without orders;
but in all probabiUty this trial was no other than
a farce, acted to amuse the other confederates,
while the empress of Russia gained time to de
liberate upon the offers that were made, and
determine Avith regard to the advantages or dis
advantages that might accrue to her from per
severing in the engagements which she had con
tracted. As for the Swedes, although they had
been instigated to hostilities against Prussia by
the intrigues of France, and flattered with hopes
of retrieving Pomerania, they prosecuted the war
in such a dispirited and ineffectual manner, as
plainly proved fhat either the ancient valour of
that people was extinct, or that the nation was
not heartily engaged in the quarrel.
When the Russian general Apraxin retreated
from Pomerania, mareschal LehAvald, Avho com
manded the Prussians in that country, was left
at liberty to turn his arms against the Swedes,
and accordingly drove them before him almost
Avithout opposition. By the beginning of January
they had evacuated all Prussian Pomerania, and
Lehwald invaded their dominions in his turn.
He, in a little time, made himself master of all
Swedish Pomerania, except Stralsund and the isle

1758. GEORGE IL 333
of Rugen, and possessed himself of several ma
gazines which the enemy had erected. The Aus
trian army, after their defeat at Breslau, had re
tired into Bohemia, where they were cantoned,
the head-quarters being fixed at Koninsgratz.
The king of Prussia having cleared all his part
of Silesia, except the town of Schweidnitz, which
he circumscribed with a blockade, sent detach
ments from his army cantoned in the neighbour
hood of Breslau, to penetrate into the Austrian
or southern part of Silesia, where they surprised
Troppau and Jaggernsdorf, while he himself re
mained at Breslau, entertaining, his officers with
concerts of music. Not that he suffered these
amusements to divert his attention from subjects
of greater importance. He laid SAvedish Pome
rania under contribution, and made a fresh de
mand of five hundred thousand crowns from the
electorate pf Saxony. Having received , intima
tion that the duke of Mecklenbourg was employed
in providing magazines for the French army, he
detached a body of troops into that country, who
not only secured the magazines, but levied con
siderable contributions ; and the duke retired to
Lubeck, attended by the French minister. The
states of Saxony having proved a little dilatory
in obeying his Prussian majesty's injunction, re
ceived a second intimation, importing that they
should levy and deliver, within a certain time,
eighteen thousand recruits for his army, pay into
the hands of his commissary one year's revenue

334 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
of the electorate in advance ; and Leipzic was
taxed with an extraordinary subsidy of eight
hundred thousand croAvns, on pain of military
execution. The states were immediately con
voked at Leipsic in order to deliberate on these
demands ; and the city being unable to pay such
a considerable sum, the Prussian troops began to
put their monarch's threats in execution He
justified these proceedings, by declaring that the
enemy had practised the same violence and op
pression on the territories of his allies ; but hoAV
the practice of his declared enemies, in the coun
tries which they had invaded and subdued in
common course of Avar, should justify him in pil
laging and oppressing a people with whom neither
he nor his allies were at Avar, It is not easy to
conceive. As little can we reconcile this con
duct to the character of a prince, assuming the
title of protector ofthe protestant religion, which
is the established faith among those very Saxons
who were subjected to such grievous imposi
tions; impositions the more grievous and un
merited, as they had never taken any share in
the present Avar, but cautiously avoided every
step that might be construed into provocation,
since the king of Prussia declared they might
depend upon his protection.

1758. GEORGE IL

STATE OF THE ARMIES ON THE CONTINENT.
Befoke we proceed to enumerate the events of
the campaign, it may be necessary to inform the
reader, that the forces brought into the field by
the empress-queen of Hungary, and the states of
the empire, the czarina, the kings of France and
Sweden, fell very little short of three hundred
thousand men ; and all these were destined to
act against the king of Prussia and the elector
of Hanover. In opposition to this. formidable
confederacy, his Prussian majesty was, by the
subsidy from England, the spoils of Saxony, and
the revenues of Brandenbourg, enabled to main
tain an army of one hundred and forty thousand
men : while the elector of Hanover assembled a
body of sixty thousand men, composed of his own
electoral troops, with the auxiliary mercenaries
of Hesse-Cassel, Buckebourg, Saxegotha, and
Brunswick Wolfenbuttel, all of them maintained
, by the pay of Great Britain. At this juncture,
indeed, there was no other fund for their subsist
ence, as the countries of Hanover and Hesse were
possessed by the enemy, and m the former the
government was entirely changed.

336 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175»,

THE FRENCH KING CHANGES THE ADMI
NISTRATION OF HANOVER,
In the month of December in the preceding year,
a farmer of the revenues from Paris arrived, at
Hanover, where he established his office, in order
to act by virtue of powers from one John Faidy,
to whom the French king granted the direction,
receipt, and administration of all the duties and
revenues of the electorate. This director was,
by a decree of the council of state, empowered
to receive the revenues, not only of Hanover,
but also of all other countries that should be sub
jected to his most christian majesty in the course
of the campaign ; to remove the receivers whp
had been employed in any part of the direction,
receipt, and administration of the duties and re
venues of Hanover, and appoint others in their
room. The French king, by the same decree,
ordained, that all persons who had been entrusted
under the preceding government with titles, pa
pers, accounts, registers, or estimates, relating to
the administration of the revenues, should com
municate them to John Faidy, or his attornies ;
that the magistrates of the towns, districts, and
commonalties, as Avell as those Avho directed the
administration of particular states and provinces,
should deliver to the said John Faidy, or his
attornies, the produce of six years of the duties

1758. GEORGE IL 337
and revenues belonging to the said towns, dis
tricts, and provinces, reckoning from the first of
January in the year one thousand seven hundred
and fifty-one, together with an authentic account
of the sums they had paid during that term to
the preceding sovereign, and of the charges ne
cessarily incurred. It appears from the nature
of this decree, which was dated on the eighteenth
day of October, that immediately after the con
ventions of Closter-Seven and • Bremenworden,
the court of Versailles had determined to change
the government and system of the electorate,
contrary to an express article of the capitulation
granted to the city of Hanover, when it surren
dered on the ninth day of August ; and that the
croAvn of France intended to take advantage of
the cessation of arms, in seizing places and pro
vinces which were not yet subdued ; for, by the
decree above-mentioned the administration of
John Faidy extended to the countries which
might hereafter be conquered. With what re
gard to justice, then, could the French govern- ,
ment charge the elector of Hanover with the
infraction of articles ? or what respect to good
faith and humanity did the duke de Richelieu
observe, in the order issued from Zell, towards
• Six days after the convention was signed at Closter-Seven,
another act of accommodation was concluded at Bremenworden,
between the generals Sporcken and Villemur, relating to the re
lease of prisoners, and some other points omitted i» the couyen-
tion. VOL, V. Z

838 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1753.
the end ofthe year, importing, that as the treaty
made with the country of Hanover had been ren
dered void by the violation of the articles signed
at Closter-Seven, all the effects belonging to the
officers, or others, employed in the Hanoverian
army, should be confiscated for the use of his
most christian majesty ?
The Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, being desi
rous of averting a like storm from his dominions,
not only promised to renounce all connexion with
the kings of Great Britain and Prussia, but even
solicited the court of France to receive him among
the number of its dependents ; for, on the eigh
teenth day of October, the minister of the Due
de Deuxponts, delivered at Versailles, in the name
of the Landgrave, the plan of a treaty founded on
the folloAving conditions : the Landgrave, after
having expressed an ardent desire of attaching
himself wholly to France, proposed these articles :
that he should enter into no engagement against
the king and his aUies; and give no assistance,
directly or indirectly, to the enemies of his ma
jesty and his allies : that he should never give his
vote, in the general or particular assembUes of
the empire, against his majesty's interest ; but,
on the contrary, employ his interest, jointly Avith
France, to quiet the troubles of the empire : that,
for this end, his troops, which had served in the
Hanoverian army, should engage in the service of
France, on condition that they should not act in
the present war against his Britannic majesty:
7

1758. GEORGE IL 339
that, immediately after the ratification of the
treaty, his most christian majesty should restore
the dominions of the Landgrave in the same con
dition they were in when subdued by the French
forces : that these dominions should be exempted
from all further contributions, either in money,
corn, forage, Avood, or cattle, though already im
posed on the subjects of Hesse ; and the French
troops pay for all the provision with which they
might be suppUed : in which case the Landgrave
should exact no toll for warlike stores, provisions,
or other articles of that nature, which might pass
through his dominions : that the king of France
should guarantee all his estates, all the rights of
the house of Hesse-Cassel, particularly the act of
assurance signed by his son, the hereditary prince,
with regard to religion ; use his interest with the
emperor and the empress-queen, that, in conside
ration of the immense losses and damages his most
serene highness had suffered since the French in
vaded his country, and ofthe great sums he should
lose with England in arrears and subsidies by this
accommodation, he inight be excused from fur
nishing his contingent to the army of the empire,
as well as from paying the Roman months granted
by the diet ofthe empire; and if, in resentment
of this convention, the states of his serene high
ness should be attacked, his most christian ma
jesty should afford the most speedy and effectual
succours. These proposals will speak for them
selves to the reader's apprehension; and if he is

StO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
not blinded by the darkest mists of prejudice,
exhibit a clear and distinct idea of a genuine
German ally. The Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel
had been fed with the good things of England,
even in time of peace, when his friendship could
not avail, nor his aversion prejudice the interests
of Great Britain ; but he was retained in that sea
son of tranquillity as a friend, on whose services
the most impUcit dependence might be placed
in any future storm or commotion. How far he
merited this confidence and favour might have
been determined by reflecting on his conduct
during the former war : in the course of which
his troops were hired to the king of Great Britain
and his enemies alternately, as the scale of con
venience happened to preponderate. Since the
commencement of the present troubles, he had
acted as a mercenary to Great Britain, although
he was a principal in the dispute, and stood con
nected with her designs by solemn treaty, as Avell
as by all the ties of gratitude and honour; but
now that the cause of Hanover seemed to be on
the decline, and his OAvn dominions had suffered
by the fate of the war, he not only appeared Avil
ling to abandon his benefactor and ally, but even
sued to be enlisted in the service of his adversary.
This intended defection was, however, prevented
by a sudden turn of fortune, which he could not
possibly foresee ; and his troops continued to act
in conjunction with the Hanoverians,

1758. GEORGE IL SM

TREATY BETWEEN THE FRENCH KING AND
THE DUKE OF BRUNSWICK.
The Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel was not singular
in making such advances to the French monarch.
The Duke of Brunswick, still more nearly con
nected Avith the king of Great Britain, used such
uncommon expedition in detaching himself from
the tottering fortune of Hanover, that in ten
days after the convention of Closter-Seven he had
concluded a treaty with the courts of Vienna and
Versailles ; so that the negociation must have
been begun before that convention took place.
On the twentieth day of September his minister
at Vienna, by virtue of full powers from the duke
of Brunswick, accepted and signed the condi
tions Avhich the French king and his Austrian ally
thought proper to impose. These imported, that
his most christian majesty should keep possession
of the cities of Brunswick and Wolfenbuttel du
ring the war, and make use of the artillery, arms,
and military stpres deposited in their arsenals ;
that the duke's forces, on their return from the
camp of the duke of Cumberland, should be dis
banded and disarmed; and take an oath, that
they should not, during the present war, serve
against the king or his allies : that the duke
should be permitted to maintain a battalion of
foot, and two squadrons of horse, for the guard

342 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
of his person and castles ; but the regulations
made by mareschal Richelieu and the intendant
of his army should subsist on their present foot
ing : that the duke should furnish his contingent
in money and troops, agreeably to the laws of the
empire : that his forces should immediately join
those which the Germanic body had assembled ;
and that he should order his minister at Ratisbon
to vote conformably to the resolutions of the
diet, approved and confirmed by the emperor.
In consideration of all these concessions, the
duke was restored to the favour of the French
king, who graciously promised that neither his
revenues nor his treasure should be touched, nor
the adrinnistration of justice invaded ; and that
nothing further should be demanded, but winter-
quarters for the regiments which should pass
that season in the country of Brunswick. How
scrupulously soever the duke might have intended
to observe the articles of this treaty, his inten
tions were frustrated by the conduct of his bro
ther prince Ferdinand, Avho, being Invested Avith
the command of the Hanoverian army, and or
dered to resume the operations of war against the
enemy, detained the troops of Brunswick, as well
as his nephew the hereditary prince, notwith
standing the treaty which his brother had signed,
and the injunction which he had laid upon his
son to quit the army, and make a tour to Hol
land. The duke wrote an expostulatory letter to
prince Ferdinand, pathetically complaining that

1758. GEORGE IL 34-3
he had seduced his troops, decoyed his son, and
disgraced his family ; insisting upon the prince's
pursuing his journey, as well as upon the return
of the troops : and threatening, in case of non
compliance, to use other means that should be
more effectual. ' Notwithstanding this Avarm re
monstrance, prince Ferdinand adhered to his plan.
He detained the troops and the hereditary prince,
who, being fond of the service, in a little time
signalised himself by very extraordinary acts of
bravery and conduct ; and means were found to
reconcile his father to measures that expressly
contradicted his engagements with the courts of
Vienna and Versailles.

DECREE OF THE AULIC COUNCIL AGAINST
THE ELECTOR OF HANOVER AND OTHERS.
The defeat of the French army at Rosbach, and
the retreat of the Russians from Pomerania, had
entirely changed the face of affairs in the empire.
The French king was soon obliged to abandon
his conquests on that side of the Rhine, and his
threats sounded no longer terrible in the ears of
the Hanoverian and Prussian allies. As little
formidable were the denunciations of the em
peror, who had, by a decree of the Aulic council,
communicated to the diet certain mandates, issued
' See note [F], vol. vi.

344 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758.
in the month of August in the preceding year,
on pain of the ban of the empire, with avocatoiy
letters annexed, against the king of Great Bri
tain, elector of Hanover, and the other princes
acting in concert with the king of Prussia. The
French court likewise published a virulent me
morial, after the convention of Closter-Seven had
been violated, and set aside, drawing an invidious
parallel between the conduct of the French king
and the proceedings of his Britannic majesty ;
in Avhich the latter is taxed with breach of faith,
and almost every meanness that could stain the
character of a monarch. In ansAver to the em
peror's decree, and this virulent charge, baron
Gimmengen, the electoral minister of Brunswick
Lunenbourg, presented to the diet, in November,
a long memorial, recapitulating the important
services his sovereign had done the house of Aus
tria, and the ungrateful returns he had reaped,
in the queen's refusing to assist him, Avhen his
dominions were threatened with an invasion. He
enumerated many instances In which she had
assisted, encouraged, and even joined the enemies
of the electorate, in contempt of her former en
gagements, and directly contrary to the consti
tution of the empire. He refuted every article
ofthe charge which the French court had brought
against him in their virulent libel, retorted the
imputations of perfidy and ambition, and with
respect to France, justified every particular of his
pAvn conduct.

1758, GEORGE IL 3i5

BREMEN TAKEN BY THE DUKE DE BROGLIO,
AND RETAKEN BY PRINCE FERDINAND.
While the French and HanoA'erian armies re
mained in their Avinter quarters, the former at
Zell, and the latter at Lunenbourg, divers petty
enterprises were executed by detachments with
various success. The Hanoverian general Junch-
eim, having taken post at Halberstadt andQued-
limbourg, from whence he made excursions even
to the gates of Brunswick, and kept the French
army in continual alarm, was visited by a large
body of the enemy, who compelled him to retire
to Achersleben, committed great excesses in the
town of Halberstadt and its neighbourhood, and
carried off hostages for the payment of contribu
tions. General Hardenberg, another Hanoverian
officer, having dislodged the French detachments
that occupied Burgh, Vogelsack, and Ritterhude,
and cleared the whole territory of Bremen, in the
month of January the duke de Broglio assembled
a considerable corps of troops that were canton
ed at Ottersburg, Rothenburg, and the adjacent
country, and advancing to Bremen, demanded
admittance, threatening that, in case of a refu
sal, he would have recourse to extremities, and
punish the inhabitants severely, should they
make the least opposition. When their depu
ties waited upon l^im, to desire a short time for

346 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17S8.
deliberation, he answered, " Not a moment — the
duke de Richelieu's orders are peremptory, and
admit of no delay." He accordingly ordered the
cannon to advance ; the Avail was scaled, and the
gates would have been forced open, had not the
magistrates, at the earnest importunity of the
people, resolved to comply with his demand. A
second deputation was immediately dispatched to
the duke de Broglio, signifying their compliance ;
and the gates being opened, he marched into the
city at midnight, after having promised upon his
honour that no attempt should be made to the
prejudice of its rights and prerogatives, and no
outrage offered to the privileges of the regency,
to the liberty, religion, and commerce of the in
habitants. This conquest, however, was of short
duration. Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick being
joined by a body of Prussian horse, under the
command of prince George of Holstein Gottorp,
the AA'^hole army Avas put in motion, and advanced
to the country of Bremen about the middle of
February. The enemy were dislodged from Ro
thenburg, Ottersburg, and Verden, and they aban
doned the city of Bremen at the approach ofthe
Hanoverian general, who took possession of it
without opposition.
By this time the court of Versa,illes, being
dissatisfied with the conduct ofthe duke de Riche
lieu, had recalled that general from Germany,
Avhere his place was supplied by the count de Cler
mont, to the general satisfaction of the army, as

1758. GEORGE IL 347
well as the joy ofthe Hanoverian subjects, among
whom Richelieu had committed many flagrant
and inhuman acts of rapine and oppression. The
new commander found his master's forces re
duced to a deplorable condition, by the accidents
of A\'-ar, and distempers arising from hard duty,
severe weather, and the want of necessaries. As
he could not pretend, with such a wretched rem
nant, to oppose the designs of prince Ferdinand
in the field, or even maintain the footing Avhich
his predecessor had gained, he found himself
under the necessity of retiring with all possible
expedition towards the Rhine. As the allies ad
vanced, his troops retreated from their distant
quarters with such precipitation, as to leave be
hind all their sick, together with a great part
of their baggage and artillery, besides a great
number of officers and soldiers, that fell into the
hands of those parties by whom they were pur
sued. The inhabitants of Hanover, perceiving
the French Intended to abandon that city, were
overAvhelmed with the fear of being subjected to
everj?^ species of violence and abuse ; but their
apprehensions Avere happil)'^ disappointed by the
honour and integrity of the duke de Randan,
the French governor, who not only took effectual
measures for restraining the soldiers within the
bounds of the most rigid discipline and modera
tion, but likewise exhibited a noble proof of
generosity, almost without example. Instead of
destroying his magazine of provisions, according

348 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
to the usual practice of war, he ordered the whole
to be either sold at a low price, or distributed
among the poor of the city, Avho had been long
exposed to the horrors of famine : an act of god
like humanity, Avhich ought to dignify the charac
ter of that worthy nobleman above all the titles
that military fame can deserve, or arbitrary mo
narchs bestOAV. The regency of Hanover Avere
so deeply impressed Avitli a sense of his heroic
behaviour on this occasion, that they gratefully
acknowledged it, in a letter of thanks to him and
the count de Clermont ; and on the day of solemn
thanksgiving to heaven, for their being delivered
from their enemies, the clergy, in their sermons,
did not fail to celebrate and extol the charity and
benevolence of the duke de Randan. Such glori
ous testimonies, even from enemies, must have af
forded the most exquisite pleasure to a mind en
dued with sensibility ; and this, no doubt, may be
termed one of the fairest triumphs of humanity.

THE FRENCH ABANDON HANOVER. PRINCE OF
BRUNSWICK REDUCES HOYA AND MINDEN.
The two grand divisions of the French army,
quartered at Zell and Hanover, retired in good
order to Hamelen, Avhere they collected all their
troops, except those that were left in Hoya, and
about four thousand men placed in garrison at
Minden, to retard the operations of the combined

1758, GEORGE II. 349
army. Towards the latter end of February, prince
Ferdinand of Brunswick, having received intelli
gence that the count de Chabot was posted with
a considerable body of troops at Hoya, upon the
Weser, detached the hereditary prince of Bruns
wick, Avith four battalions, and some light troops
and dragoons, to dislodge them from that neigh
bourhood. This enterprise Avas executed with the
utmost intrepidity. The hereditary prince passed
the Weser at Bremen with part of his detachment,
while the rest advanced on this side of the river ;
and the enemy, being attacked in front and rear,
were In a little time forced, and thrown into con
fusion. The bridge being abandoned, and near
seven hundred men taken prisoners, the count
de Chabot threw himself, Avith two battalions,
into the castle, where he resolved to support him
self, in hope of being relieved. The regiment of
Bretagne, and some detachments of dragoons,
were actually on the march to his assistance. The
hereditary prince being made acquainted with
this circumstance, being also destitute of heavy
artillery to besiege the place in form, and taking
it for granted he should not be able to maintain
the post after it might be taken, he listened to
the terms of capitulation proposed by the French
general, whose garrison was suffered to march
out with the honours of Avar ; but their cannon,
stores, and ammunition were surrendered to the
victor. This Avas the first exploit of the heredi
tary prtnce, whose valour and activity, on many

350 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1753,
subsequent occasions, shone Avith distinguished
lustre. He had no sooner reduced Hoya, tiian
he marched to the attack of Minden, which he
invested on the fifth day of March, and on the
fourteenth the garrison surrendered at discretion.
After the reduction of this city, the combined
army advanced towards Hamelen, where the
French general had established his head-quarters ;
but he abandoned them at the approach of the
allies, and leaving behind all his sick and wound
ed, with part of his magazines, retired without
halting to Paderborn, and from thence to the
Rhine, recalling in his march the troops that
were in Embden, Cassel, and the landgraviate
of Hesse, all which places were now evacuated.
They were terribly harassed in their retreat by
the Prussian hussars, and a body of light horse,
distinguished by the name of Hanoverian hunters,
who took a great number of prisoners, together
with many baggage-waggons, and some artillery.
Such was the precipitation of the enemy's re
treat, that they could not find time to destroy
all their magazines of provision and forage ; and
even forgot to call in the garrison of Vechte, a
small fortress in the neighbourhood of Diepholt,
who- were made prisoners of Avar, and here was
found a complete train of battering cannon and
mortars. The count de Clermont, having reached
the banks of the Rhine, distributed his forces
into quarters of cantonment in Wesel and the
adjoining country, while prince Ferdinand can-

1758. GEORGE IL 351
toned the allied army in the bishopric of Mun
ster : here, however, he did not long remain
inactive. In the latter end of May he ordered
a detachment to pass the Rhine at Duysbourg,
under the command of colonel Scheither, Avho
executed his order without loss, defeated three
battalions of the enemy, and took five pieces of
cannon. In the beginning of June the whole
army passed the Rhine, on a bridge constructed
for the occasion, defeated a body of French
cavalry, and obtained divers other advantages
in their march towards Wesel. Kaisersworth was
surprised, the greater part of the garrison either
killed or taken ; and prince Ferdinand began to
make preparations for the siege of Dusseldorp.
In the mean time, the count de Clermont, be
ing unable to stop the rapidity of his progress,
was obUged to secure his troops Avith strong en
trenchments, until he should be properly rein
forced.

PRINCE FERDINAND DEFEATS THE FRENCH
AT CREVELDT, AND TAKES DUSSELDORP.
The court of Versailles, though equally mortified
and confounded at the turn of their affairs in
Germany, did not sit tamely and behold this re
verse ; but exerted their usual spirit and expedi
tion in retrieving the losses they had sustained.
They assembled a body of troops at Hanau, under

352 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1753.
the direction of the prince de Soubise, who, it
was said, had received orders to penetrate, by
the way of Donawert, Ingolstadt, and Arnberg,
into Bohemia. In the mean time, reinforcements
daily arrived in the camp of the count de Cler
mont ; and, as repeated complaints had been
made of the want of discipline and subordination
in that army, measures Avere taken for reform
ing the troops by severity and example. The
mareschal duke de Belleisle, who now acted as
secretary at war Avith uncommon ability, wrote
a letter directed to all the colonels of infantry,
threatening them, in the king's name, with the
loss of their regiments, should they connive any
longer at the scandalous practice of buying com
missions ; an abuse which had crept into the
service under various pretexts, to the discourage
ment of merit, the relaxation of discipline, and
the total extinction of laudable emulation. The
prince of Clermont having quitted his strong
camp at Rhinefeldt, retired to Nuys, a little
higher up the river, and detached a considerable
corps, under the command of the count de St
Germain, to take post at Creveldt, situated in a
plain between his army and the camp ofthe allies,
which fronted the tOAvn of Meurs : after several
motions on both sides, prince Ferdinand resolved
to attack the enemy, and forthAvith made a dispo
sition for this purpose. He assigned the command
ofthe Avhole left Aving, consisting of eighteen bat
talions and twenty-eight squadrons, to lieutenant-

1758, GEORGE IL 353
general Sporcken : the conduct of the right wing,
composed of sixteen battalions and fourteen squar
drons, was entrusted to the hereditary prince and
major-general Wangenheim ; the squadrons, with
the addition of two regiments of Prussian dra
goons, were under the immediate direction of the
prince of Holstein, while the hereditary prince
commanded the infantry. The light troops, con
sisting of five squadrons of hussars, were divided
between the prince of Holstein and lieutenant-
general Sporcken. Major Luckner's squadron,
together with Scheither'^s corps, were ordered to
observe the flank of the enemy's right, and with
this view were posted in the village of Papen-
deick ; and a battalion of the troops of Wolfen
buttel were left in the town of Hulste, to-cover
the rear of the army. Prince Ferdinand's de
sign was to attack the enemy on their left flank ;
but the execution was rendered extremely diffi
cult by the woods and ditches that embarrassed
the route, and the numerous ditches that inter
sected this party of the country. On the twenty-
third day of June, at four in the morning, the
army began to move; the right advancing in
two columns as far as St Anthony, and the left
marching up within half a league of Crevelt. The
prince having viewed the position of the enemy
from the steeple of St Anthony, procured guides,
and having received all the necessary hints of
information, proceeded to the right, in order to
charge the enemy's left flank by the villages of
VOL. V. 2 A

354 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
Worst and Anrath ; but, in order to divide their
attention, and keep them in suspense with re
spect to the nature of his principal attack, he
directed the generals Sporcken and Oberg to
advance against them by the Avay of Crevelt and
St Anthony, and, in particular, to make the most
of their artillery, that, being employed in three
different places at once, they might be prevented
from sending any reinforcement to the left, where
the chief attack was intended. These precau
tions being taken, prince Ferdinand, putting him
self at the head of the grenadiers of the right
wing, continued his march in two columns to
the village of Anrath, where he fell in with a,n
advanced party of the French, which, after a few
discharges of musquetry, retired to their camp
and gave the alarm. In the mean time, both
armies were drawn up in order of battle ; the
troops of the allies in the plain between the vil
lages of Anrath and Willich, opposite to the
French forces, whose left was covered with a
wood. The action began about one in the after
noon, with a severe cannonading on the part of
prince Ferdinand, which, though Avell supported,
proved ineffectual in drawing the enemy from
their cover : he, therefore, determined to dis
lodge them from the wood by dint of small arms.
The hereditary prince immediately advanced with
the whole front, and a very obstinate action en
sued. Meanwhile, the cavalry on the right in
vain attempted to penetrate the wppd on the

11S&. GEORGE IL 3^5=
other side, where the enemy had raised two bat
teries, which were sustained by forty squadrons
of horse. After a terrible fire had been main
tained on both sides, till five in the afternoon,
the grenadiers forced the entrenchments in the
wood, which were lined by the French infantry.
These giving way, abandoned the wood in the
utmost disorder ; but the pursuit was checked
by the conduct and resolution of the enemy's
cavalry, which, notwithstanding a dreadful fire
from the artillery of the allies, maintained their
ground, and covered the foot in their retreat to
Nuys. The success of the day was, in a good
measure, owing to the artillery on the left and
in the centre, with which the generals Sporcken
and Oberg had done great execution, and em
ployed the attention of the enemy on that side,
while prince Ferdinand prosecuted his attack on
the other quarter. It must be owned, however,
that their right wing and centre retired in great
order to Nuys, though the left was defeated,
with the loss of some standards, colours, and
pieces of cannon, and six thousand men killed,
wounded, or taken prisoners. ' This victory, how-
' Amongst the French officers who lost their lives in this engage
ment, was the count de Gisors, only son of the mareschal duke
de Belleisle, and last hope of that illustrious family, a young no
bleman of extraordinary accomplishments, who finished a short
life of honour in the embrace of military glory, and fell gallantly
fighting at the head of his own regiment, "to the inexpressible
grief of his aged father, noi the universal regret of his country.

sss HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
ever, which cost the allies about fifteen hundred
men, was not at all decisive in its consequences ;
and, indeed, the plan seemed only calculated to
display the enterprising genius of the Hanoverian
general. True it is, the French army took refuge
under the cannon of Cologn, where they remained,
without hazarding any step for the relief of Dus
seldorp, which prince Ferdinand immediately in
vested, and in a few days reduced, the garrison
being allowed to march out with the honours of
war, on condition that they should not, for the
space of one year, carry arms against the allies.

PRINCE OF YSEMBOURG DEFEATED BY THE
DUKE DE BROGLIO.
It was at this period that count de Clermont re
signed his command, Avhich was conferred upon
M. de Contades, and the French army was con
siderably reinforced. He even threatened to at
tack prince Ferdinand in his turn, and made some
motions with that design, but was prcA'cnted by
the little river Erff, behind which the prince re
solved to Ue quiet, until he should be joined by
the body of British troops under the command pf
the duke of Marlborough, the first division of
which had just landed at Embden. He flattered
himself that the prince of Ysembourg, at the head
of the Hessian troops, would find employment for
the prince de Soubise, who had marched frpm

1758. GEORGE IL 357
Hanau, with a design to penetrate into the land
graviate of Hesse-Cassel : , his vanguard had been
already surprised and defeated by the militia of
the country ; and the prince of Ysembourg Avas
at the head of a considerable body of regular
forces, assembled to oppose his fm-ther progress.
Prince Ferdinand, therefore, hoped that the ope
rations of the French general would be effectually
impeded, until he himself, being joined by the
British troops, should be in a condition to pass
the Meuse, transfer the seat of war into the ene
my's country, thus make a diversion from the
Khine, and perhaps oblige the prince de Soubise
to come to the assistance of the principal French
army commanded by M. de Contades, He had
formed a plan which would have answered these
purposes effectually, and, in execution of it,
marched to Ruremond on the Maese, Avhen his
measures Avere totally disconcerted by a variety
of incidents which he could not fpresee. The
prince of Ysembourg was, on the twenty-third
day of July, defeated at Sangarshausen by the
duke de Broglio, whom the prince de Soubise
had detached against him with a number of troops
greatly superior to that which the Hessian gene
ral commanded. The duke de Broglio, who com
manded the corps that formed the vanguard of
Soubise's army, having learned at Cassel, that the
Hessian troops, under the prince of Ysembourg,
Avere retiring towards Munden, he advanced, on
the twenty-third of July, with a body of eight

358 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
thousand men, to the village of Sangarshausen,
where he found them drawn up in order of battle,
and forthwith made a disposition for the attack.
At first his cavalry were repulsed by the Hessian
horse, which charged the French infantry, and
were broke in their turn. The Hessians, though
greatly inferior in number to the enemy, made
a very obstinate resistance, by favour of a rock
in the Fulde that covered their right, and a wood
by which their left was secured. The dispute
was so obstinate, that the enemy's left was obliged
to give ground ; but the duke de Broglio, order
ing a fresh corps to advance, changed the for
tune of the day. The Hessians, overpowered by
numbers, gave way ; part plunged into the river,
where many perished, and part threw themselves
into the wood, through which they escaped from
the pursuit of the hussars, who took above two
hundred soldiers and fifty officers, including the
count de Canitz, who was ^second in command.
They likeAvise found on the field of battle seven
pieces of cannon, and eight at Munden ; but the
carnage was pretty considerable, and nearly equal
on both sides. Tlie number of the killed and
wounded, on the side of the French, exceeded
tAVO thoui^and ; the loss of the Hessians was not
so great. The prince of Ysembourg, having col
lected the remains of his little army, took post
at Elmbeck, where he soon was reinforced, and
found himself at the head of twelve thousand
men ; but, in consequence of this advantage, the

1758. GEORGE IL 359
enemy became masters of the Weser, and opened
to themselves a free passage into Westphalia.

GENERAL IMHOFF DEFEATS M. DE CHEVERT.
The progress of prince Ferdinand upon the
Maese, had been retarded by a long succession
of heavy rains, which broke up the roads, and
rendered the country Impassable; and now the
certain information of this unlucky check left
him no alternative but a battle or retreat across
the Rhine : -the first was carefully avoided by
the enemy ; the latter resolution, therefore, he
found himself under a necessity to embrace. In
his present ppsition he was hampered by the
French army on one wing, on the other by the
fortress of Gueldres, the garrison of which had
been lately reinforced, as well as by divers other
posts, capable of obstructing the convoys and
subsistence of the combined army; besides, he
had reason to apprehend, that the prince de Sou
bise would endeavour to intercept the British
troops in their march from Embden. Induced
by these considerations, he determined to repass
the Rhine, after having offered battle to the
enemy, and made several motipns fpr that pur-
pese. Finding them averse to an engagement,
he made his dispositions for forcing the strong
pass of Wachtendonck, an island surrounded by

360 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
NIers, of very difficult approach, and situated
exactly in his route to the Rhine. This service
was performed by the hereditary prince of Bruns
wick, who, perceiving the enemy had drawn up
the bridge, rushed into the river at the head of
his grenadiers, who drove them away with their
bayonets, and cleared the bridges for the passage
of the army towards Rhinebergen. At this place
prince Ferdinand received intelligence, that M,
de Chevert, reputed one of the best officers in
the French service, had passed the LIppe with
fourteen battalions and several squadrons, to join
the garrison of Wesel, and fall upon Ueutenant-
general Imhoff, who commanded a detached
corps of the combined army at Meer, that he
might be at hand to guard the bridge which the
prince had thrown over the Rhine at Rees, His
serene highness was extremely desirous of send
ing succours to general Imhoff; but the troops
were too much fatigued to begin another march
before morning; and the Rhine had overflowed
its banks in such a manner as to render the
bridge at Rees impassable, so that M. Imhoff
Was left to the resources of his own conduct and
the bravery of his troops, consisting of six bat
taUons and four squadrons, already weakened
by the absence of different detachments. This
general having received advice, on the fourth of
August, that the enemy intended to pass the
Lippe the same evening with a considerable train

1758, GEORGE IL S6l
of artiUery, in order to burn the bridge at Eees,
decamped with a view to cover this place, and
join two battahons which had passed the Rhine
in boats, under the command of general Zastrow,
who reinforced him accordingly ; but the enemy
not appearing, he concluded the information was
false, and resolved to resume his advantageous
post at Meer, Of this he had no sooner repos
sessed himself, than his advanced guards were
engaged with the enemy, who marched to the
attack from Wesel, under the command of lieu
tenant-general de Chevert, consisting ofthe whole
corp's intended for the siege of Dusseldorp, Im-
hoffs front was covered by coppjces and ditches,
there being a rising ground on his right, from
whence he could plainly discern the whole force
that advanced against him, together with the
manner of their approach. Perceiving them
engaged in that difficult ground, he posted one
regiment in a coppice, with orders to fall upon
the left flank of the enemy, which appeared quite
uncovered; and as soon as their fire began, ad
vanced with the rest of his forces to attack them
in front. The bayonet was used on this occasion,
and the charge given with such impetuosity and
resolution, that, after a short resistance, the
enemy fell into confusion, and fled tOAvards
Wesel, leaving on the spot eleven pieces of can
non, with a great number of waggons and other
carriages ; besides the killed and wounded, who
amounted to a pretty considerable number, the

562 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758,
victor took three hundred and fifty-four prisoners,
including eleven officers; whereas, on his part, the
victory was purchased at a very small expence.

GENERAL OBERG DEFEATED BY THE
FRENCH AT LANDWERNHAGEN.
Immediately after this action, general Wangen
heim passed the Rhine with several squadrons
and battalions, to reinforce general Imhoff, and
enable him to prosecute the adA^antage he had
gained, while prince Ferdinand marched with
the rest of the army to Santen : from Avhence he
proceeded to Rhineberg, where he intended to
pass ; but the river had overflowed to such a
degree, that here, as well as at Rees, the shore
was inaccessible ; so that he found it necessary
to march farther doAvn the river, and lay a bridge
at Gtiethuyzen. The enemy had contrived four
vessels for the destruction of this bridge; but
they were all taken before they could put the
design in execution, and the whole army passed
on the tenth day of August, without any loss
or further interruption. At the same time the
prince withdrew his garrison from Dusseldorp,
of which the French immediately took possession.
Immediately after his passage he received a letter
from the Duke of Marlborough, acquainting him
that the British troops had arrived at Lingen, in
their route to Coesfeldt : to which place general

1758. GEORGE IL 363
Ittihoff was sent to receive them, with a strong
detachment. Notwithstanding this junction, the
two armies on the Rhine were so equally match
ed, that no stroke of importance was struck on
either side during the remaining part of the
campaign. M. de Contades, seeing no prospect
of obtaining the least advantage over prince
Ferdinand, detached prince Xaverius of Saxony
with a strong reinforcement to the prince de
Soubise, who had taken possession of Gotten gen,
and seemed determined to attack the prince of
Ysembourg at Elmbeck. That this officer might
be able to give him a proper reception, prince
Ferdinand detached general Oberg with ten
thousand men to Lipstadt, from whence, should
occasion require, they might continue their
march and join the Hessians, The whole body,
when "thus reinforced, did not exceed twenty
thousand men, of whom general Oberg now as
sumed the command : Avhereas the troops of
Soubise were increased to the number of thirty
thousand. The allies had taken post upon the
liver Fulde at Sangarshausen, where they hoped
the French would attack them ; but the design
of Soubise was first to dislodge them from that
advantageous situation. With this view, he made
a motion, as if he had intended to turn the
camp of the allies by the road of Munden. In
order to prevent the execution of this supposed
design, general Oberg decamped on the tenth
of October, and, passing by the village of Land-

3€4> HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758.
wernhagen, advanced towards Luttenberg, where,
understanding the enemy were at his heels, he
forthwith formed his troops in order of battle,
his right to the Fulde, and his left extending to
a thicket upon an eminence, where he planted
five field- pieces. The cavalry supported the
wings in a third line, the village of Luttenberg
was in the rear, and four pieces of cannon were
mounted on a rising ground that flanked this
village. The French having likewise passed
Landwernhagen, posted their left towards the
Fulde, their right extending far beyond the left
of the allies, and their front being strengthened
with above thirty pieces of cannon. At four in
the afternoon the enemy began the battle with
a severe cannonading-, and at the same time the
first line of their infantry attacked major-ge
neral Zastrow, who was posted on the left wing
of the allies. This body of the French was re
pulsed ; but in the same moment, a consider.
able line of cavalry advancing, charged the
allies in front and fiank. These were supported
by a fresh body of infantry with cannon, which,
after a warm dispute, obliged the confederates
to give way ; and general Oberg, in order to
prevent a total defeat, made a disposition for
a retreat, which was performed in tolerable or
der ; not but that he suffered greatly, in passing
through a defile, from the fire of the enemy's
cannon, which was brought up, and managed
under the direction of the duke de Brbglio.

1758. GTEORGE il 365
Having marched through Munden by midnight,
the retiring army lay till morning under arms
in the little plain near Grupen, on the other side
of the Weser ; but at day-break prosecuted their
march, after having withdrawn the garrison from
Munden, until they arrived in the neighbour
hood of Guntershelm, where they encamped. In
this engagement general Oberg lost about fif
teen hundred men, his artillery, baggage, and
ammunition. He was obliged to abandon a ma
gazine of hay and straw at Munden, and leave
part of his wounded men in that place to the hu
manity of the victor. But, after all, the Frehch
general reaped very little advantage from his
victory.

DEATH OF THE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.
By this time prince Ferdinand had retired into
Westphalia, and fixed his head-quarters at Mun
ster, while M. de Contades encamped near Ham
upon the Lippe ; so that, although he had obliged
the French army to evacuate Hanover and Hesse
in the beginning of the year, when they were
weakened by death and distemper, and even
driven them beyond the Rhine, where they sus
tained a defeat; yet they were soon put in a con
dition to baffle all his future endeavours, and
penetrate again into Westphalia, Avhere they esta
blished their winter-quarters, extending them-

sm HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1753,
selves in such a manner as to command the whole
course of the Rhine on both sides, while the al
lies were disposed in the landgraviate of Hesse-
Cassel, and in the bishoprics of Munster, Pader
born, and Hildesheim. The British troops ,had
joined them so late in the season, that they had
no opportunity to signalize therpselves in the
field ; yet the fatigues of the campaign, which
they had severely felt, proved fatal to their com
mander, the duke of Marlborough, who died of
a dysentery at Munster, universally lamented.

OPERATIONS OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA AT
THE BEGINNING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Having thus particularised the . operations of
the allied army since the commencement of the
campaign, Ave shall uoav endeavour to trace the
steps of the king of Prussia, from the period to
which his army was assembled for action. Ha
ving collected his force as soon as the season
would permit, he undertook the siege of Schweid
nitz In form on the twenty-first day of March ;
and carried on his operations with such vigour,
that in thii-teen days the garrison surrendered
themselves prisoners of war, after having lost
one half of their number in the defence of the
place. While one part of his troops were en
gaged in this service, he himself, at the head
of another, advanced to the eastern frontier of
12

1758.

GEORGE IL 567

Bohemia, and sent a detachment as far as Traute-
naw, garrisoned by a, body of Austrians, who,
after an obstinate resistance, abandoned the
place, and retreated towards their grand army.
By this success he opened to himself a way into
Bohemia, by which he poured in detachments
of light troops, to raise contributions, and harass
the out-posts of the enemy. At the same time
the baron de la Mothe Fouquet marched with
another body against the Austrian general Jah
nus, posted in the county of Glatz, whom he
obUged to abandon all the posts he occupied in
that country, and pursued as far as Nachod, within
twenty miles of Koningsgratz, Avhere the grand
Austrian army Avas encamped, under the com
mand of mareschal Daun, who had lately arrived
from Vienna. ' Over and above these excursions,
the king ordered a body of thirty thousand men
to be assembled, to act under the command of
his brother prince Henry, an accomplished war
rior, against the army of the empire, which
the prince de Deuxponts, with great difficulty,
made a shift to form again near Bamberg, in
Franconia.
> At this juncture the Prussian commandant of Dresden be
ing admitted into the Japan palace, to see the curious procelaine
with which it is adorned, perceived a door built up ; and order
ing the passage to be opened, entered a large apartment, where
he found three thousand tents, and other field utensils. These
had been concealed here when the Prussians first took possession
of the city ; they were immediately seized by the commandant,
and distributed among^he troops of prince Henry's army.

%S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. IJSB.
The king of Prussia, whose designs A^^ere per
haps even greater than he cared to own, resolved
to shift the theatre of the war, and penetrate
into Moravia, a fertile country, which had hi
therto been kept sacred from ravage and contri
bution. Having formed an army of fifty thousand
choice troops, near Niess, in Silesia, he divided
them Into three columns ; the first commanded
by mareschal Kelth^ the second by himself in
person, and the third conducted by prince Mau
rice of Anhault-Dessau. In the latter end of
April they began their march towards Moravia;
and general De la Ville, who commanded a body
of troops in that countrj^, retired as they ad
vanced, after having thrown a strong reinforce^
ment into Olmutz, which the king Avas determined
to besiege. Had he passed by this fortress, which
was strongly fortified and well provided for a
vigorous defence, he might have advanced to
the gates of Vienna, and reduced the emperor
to the necessity of suing for peace on his own
terms; but it seems he was unwilling to deviate
so far from the common maxims of war as to
leave a fortified place in the rear ; and, there
fore, he determined to make himself master pf
it before he should proceed. , For this purpose
it Avas' immediately invested: orders were issued
to hasten up the heavy artillery, and mareschal
Keith was appointed to superintend and direct
the operations of the siege. Meanwhile, the Ausr
trian commander, count Daun, being informed
4

1758. GEORGE IL S^
of his Prussian majesty's motions and designsi,
quitted his camp at Leutomyssel, iri Bohemia, and
entered Moravia by the Avay of Billa. Being
still too weak to encounter the Prussians in the
field, he extended his troops in the heighbouf-
hood of the king's army, betv>rixt GeWitz and
Littau, in a mountainous situation, where he ran
little or nb risk of being Attacked. Here he re
mained for some time in quiet, with the fertile
country of Bohemia in his rear, from whence he
drew plentiful suppUes, and received daily rein
forcements. His scheme was to relieve the be
sieged Occasionally ; to harass the bifesiegersj and
to intercept their convoys from Silesia ; and this
scheme succeeded to his wish. Olrtiutz is so ex*
tensive in its works, and so peculiarly situated
on the fiver Morava, that it could not be com*
pletely invested without AVeakening the posts of
the besieging army, by extending them to a pro-i
digious circuit; so that in some parts they were
easily fofced by detachments in the night, who
fell upon them suddenly, and seldom failed to
introduce into thc place supplies of meii, pro
visions, and ammuhition. The forage in the
neighbourhood of the city having been previ
ously destroyed, the Prussian horse were obliged
to make excursions at a great distance, conse
quently exposed to fatigue, and liable to surprise ;
and, in a Avordj the Prussians were not very ex
pert in the art of town-takiiig.
Count Daun kiiew how to take advantage of
VOL. v. 2 b

370 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758,
these circumstances, Avithout hazarding a battle,
to which thie king provoked him in vain. While
the garrison made repeated sallies to retard the
operations of the besiegers, the Austrian general
harassed their foraging parties, fell upon differ
ent quarters of their army in the nighty and kept
them in continual alarm. Nevertheless, the kins
finished his first parallel ; and proceeded with such
vigour as seemed to promise a speedy reduction
of the place, when his design was entirely frus
trated by an untoward incident. Mareschal Daun,
having received intelligence that a large convov
had set put from Silesia for the Prussian camp,
resolved to seize this opportunity of compelling
the king to desist from his enterprise. He sent
general Jahnus, Avith a strong body of troops,
towards Bahrn, and another detachment to Stad-
toliebe, with instructions to attack the convoy
on different sides ; while he himself advanced to
wards the besiegers, as if he intended to give
them battie. The king of Prussia, far from be
ing deceived by this feint, began, from the mo
tions of the Austrian general, to suspect his real
scheme, and immediately dispatched general Zie
then, Avith a strong reinforcement, to protect the
convoy, which Avas escorted by eight battalions,
and about four thousand men, Avho had been sick,
and were just recovered. Before this officer
joined them, the convoy had been attacked, on
the twenty-elglith day of June ; but the assailants
were repulsed Avith considerable loss. Mareschal

1758. GEORGE IL 371
Daun, however, took care that they should be
irnmediately reinforced ; and next day the attack
Avas renewed with much greater effect. Four hun
dred waggons, guarded by four battalions, and
about one thousand troopers, had just passed the
defiles of Domstadt, when the Austrians charged
them furiously on every side : the communication
between the head and the rest of the convoy was
cut off'; and general Ziethen, after, having ex
erted all his efforts for its preservation, being
obliged to abandon the waggons, retired to Trop
pan. Thus the Avhole convoy fell into tlie hands
of the enemy, who took above six hundred pri
soners, together AvIth general Putkammer ; and
tHe king of Prussia was obliged to relinquish his
enterprise. This Avas a mortifying necessity to
a prince of his high spirit, at a time Avhen he saw
himself on the eve of reducing the place, not
Avithstanding the gaUant defence Avhichhad been
made by general Marshal, the governor. Nothing
nOAV remained but to raise the siege, and retire
without loss in the face of a vigilant enemy, pre
pared to seize every opportunity of advantage :
a task which, how hard soever it may appear, he
performed Avith equal dexterity and success. In
stead of retiring into Silesia, he resolved tp avert
the war frpm his own dominions, and take the
route of Bohemia, the frontiers pf Avhich Avere
left uncovered by mareschal Daun's last motion,
Avhen he advanced his quarters to Ppsnitz, in
order to. succour Olmutz the more effectually.

372 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
After the king had taken his measures, he care
fully concealed his design from the enemy, and,
notwithstanding the loss of his convoy, prose
cuted the operations of the siege with redoubled
vigour, till the first day of July, when he de
camped in tlie night, and began his march to
Bohemia. He himself^ with one division, took
the road to Konitz ; and mareschal Keith having
brought aAvay all the artillery, except four mor
tars, and pne disabled cannon, pursued his march
by the way of Littau to Muglitz and Tribau.
Although his Prussian majesty had gained an en
tire march upon the Austrians, their light troops,
commanded by the generals Buccow and Laudohn,
did not fail to attend and harass his army in their
retreat ; but their endeavours were in a great
measure^frustrated by the conduct and circum
spection of the Prussian commanders. After the
rear of the army had passed the defiles of Krenau,
general Lasci, who was posted at Gibau with a
large body of Austrian troops, occupied the vil
lage of Krenau with a detachment of grenadiers,
who were soon dislodged ; and the Prussians pur
sued their march by Zwittau to Leutomyssel,
where they seized a magazine of meal and forage.
In the mean time, general de Ratzow, who con
ducted the provisions and artillery, found the
hills of HoUitz possessed by the enemy, who can
nonaded him as he advanced ; but mareschal Keith
coming up, ordered him to be attacked in the
rear, and they fled into a wood Avith precipitation.

1758. GEORGE H; 373
with the loss of six officers and three hundred
men, who wene taken prisoners. While the mare
schal was thus employed, the king proceeded
from Leutomyssel to Koningsgratz, Avhere ge
neral Buccow, who had got the start of him,
was posted Avith seven thousand men behind the
Elbe, and in the entrenchments which they had
thrown up all around the city. The Prussian
troops as they arrived passed over the little rivcF
Adler, and as the enemy had broken down the.
bridges over the Elbe, the king ordered them to
be repaired with all exj>edition, being determined
to attack the Austrian entrenchments ; but genC'-
ral Buccow did not wait for his approach. He
abandpned his entrenchments, and retired with
his troops to Clumetz ; so that the king took pos
session of the most important post of KoningS'
gratz without further opposition. An Austrian
corps having taken post between him and Hollitz,
in order to obstruct the march of tbe artillery,
he advanced against them in person, and. haying
driven them from the place, all his cannon, mili
tary stores, provision, with fifteen hundred sick
and wounded men, arrived in safety at Konings
gratz, where the whole army encamped. His in
tention was to transfer the seat of war from Mo
ravia to Bohemia, where he should be able to
maintain a more easy communication with his
oAvn dominions; but a more powerful motive soon
obUged him to change his resolution.

374 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.

PROGRESS OF THE RUSSIANS.
After the Russian troops under Apraxin had
retreated from Pomerania in the course of the.
preceding year, and the czarina seemed ready to
change her system, the courts of Vienna and
Versailles had, by dint pf subsidies, promises,
presents, and intrigues, attached her, in all ap
pearance, more firmly than ever to the confede
racy, and even induced her to augment the num
ber of troops destined to act against the Prussian
monarch. She not only signed her accession in
form to the quadruple alliance Avith the empress-
queen and the kings of France and Sweden, but,
in order to manifest her zeal to the common
cause, she disgraced her chancellor, count Bes-
tuchef, Avho was supposed averse to the Avar:
she divided her forces into separate bodies,
under the command of the generals Fermer and
Browne, and ordered them to put their troops
in motion in the middle of winter. Fermer ac
cordingly began Hs march in the beginning of
January, and on the twenty- second his light
troops took possession of Koningsberg, the capi
tal of Prussia, without opposition : for the king's
forces had quitted that country, in order to pro
secute the war in the western parts of Pomerania.
They did not, however, maintain themselves In
this part of the country ; but, after havingra--

17^8. ¦ GEORGE n.fgi'^ . 37?
vaged some'districts, returned to the maili body,
which halted on the Vistula, to the no small
disturbance of the ' city of Dantzic. The resi'-
dent of the czarina actually demanded -that the
magistrates should receive a Russian garrison :
a demand which they npt only peremptorily re
fused, but ordered all the citizens to arms, and
took every other method to provide for their
defence. At length, after some negociation with
general Fermer, the affair was compromised : he
desisted from the demand, and part of his troops
passed the Vistula, seemingly to invade Pome
rania, in the eastern part pf Avhich count Dohna
had assembled an army of Prussians to oppose
their progress. But after they had pillaged the
ppen country, , they rejoined their main body ;
and general Fermer, turning to the left, ad
vanced to Silesia, in order to co-<0perate with
the other Russian army commanded by Browne,
Avho had taken his route through Poland, and
already passed the Posna. By the first of July,
both bodies had reached the frontiers of Silesia,
and some of their cossacks, penetrating into that
province, had committed dreadful ravages, and
overwhelmed the inhabitants with consternation.
Count. Dohna, with the Prussian army under his
command, had attended their motions, and even
passed, the Oder at Frankfort, as if he had in
tended to give them battle ; but he Avas too much
inferior in number to hazard such a step, Avhich
became an object of his sovereign's own personal

376 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758.
attention, Maresqhal Daun had folloAved the
king into Bohemia, and, on the twenty-second
day of July, encamped on the bills of Libischau,
a (situation almost inaccessible, where he resolved
to remain and watch the motions of the Prussian
monarch, until some opportunity should offer of
acting to advantage. Nature seems to have
expressly formed this commander with talents
to penetrate the designs, embarrass the genius,
and check the impetuosity of the Prussian mo
narch. He was justly compared to Fabius Maxi-
mus, distinguished by the epithet of Cunctator.
He possessed all the vigilance, caution, and saga
city of that celebrated Roman. Like him, he
hovered on the skirts of the enemy, harassing
their parties, accustoming the soldiers to strict
discipline, hard service, and the face of a formi
dable fpe, and watching for opportunities, which
he knew how to seize with equal courage and
celerity.

KING OF PRUSSIA DEFEATS THE RUSSIANS
AT ZORNDORF.
The king of Prussia, being induced by a con
currence of motives to stop the progress of the
Russians in Silesia, made his dispositions for re
treating from Bohemia, and, on the twenty-fifth
day of July quitted the camp at Koningsgratz.
He was attended in his march by three thousand

1758, fiEORGE IL 377
Austrian light troops, who did not fail to incom
mode his rear ; but, notwithstanding these im
pediments, he passed the Mittau, proceeded on
his route, and on the ninth day of August ar
rived at Landshut, From thence he hastened
with a detachment towards Frankfort on the
Oder, and joined the army commanded by lieu
tenant-general Dohna at Gorgas. Then the whole
army passed the Oder by a bridge thrown over
at Gatavise, and having rested one day, advanced
to Dertmitzel, where he encamped. The Rus
sians under general Fenmer were posted ori the
other side of the little river Mitzel, their right
extending to the village of Zicker, and their left
to Quertchem. The king being determined to
hazard a battle, passed the Mitzel on the twenty-
fifth in the morning, and turning the flank ofthe
enemy, drew up his army in order of battle in
the plain between the Uttle river and the toAvn
of Zorndorf. The Russians, by whom he was
putnumbered, did not decline the dispute ; but
as the ground did not permit them to extend
themselves, they appeared in four lines, forming
a front on every side, defended by cannon and
a chevaux-de-frise, their right flank covered by
the village of Zwicker. After a warm cannonade,
the Prussian infantry were ordered to attack the
village, and a body of grenadiers advanced to
the assault ; but this brigade unexpectedly giving
way, occaaioned a considerable opening in the
Une, and left the Avhole left flank of the infantry

378 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1755.
uncovered. Before the enemy could take ad
vantage of this incident, the interval was filled
up by the cavalry under the command, of general
Seydlitz ; and the king, with his usual presence of
mind, substituted another choice body of troops
to carry on the attack. This began about noon,
and continued for some time, during which both
sides fought with equal courage and perseverance : -
at length general Seydlitz, having routed the
Russian cavalry, fell upon the flank of the in
fantry Avith great fury, which being also dread
fully annoyed by . the Prussian artillery, they
abandoned the village, together with their mili
tary chest, and great part of their baggage.
Notwithstanding this loss, which had greatly dis
ordered their right wing, they continued to stand
their ground, and terrible havock Avas made among
them, not only with the sword and bayonet, but
also by the cannon, which were loaded with grape
shot, and being excellently served, did great exe
cution. Towards evening the confusion among
them increased to such a degree, that in all pro
bability they would have been entirely routeld,
had they not been favoured by the approaching
darkness, as Avell as by a particular, operation,.
Avhich was very gallantly performed. One of the
Russian generals perceiving the fortune of the
day turned against them, rallied a select body of
troops, and made a vigorous impression on the
right wing of the Prussians, This effort diverted
their attention so strongly to that quarter, that

1758. GEORGE IL 379
the right of the Russians enjoyed a. respite, du
ring which they retired in tolerable, order, :a:nd
occupied a ncAV post on the right, where the rest
of their; forces were the more easily assembled.
In this battle they are said to have lost above
fifteen thousand men, thirty-seven colours, five
standards, twelve mortars, the greater part of
their baggage, and above one hundred pieces of
cannon. Among the prisoners that fell into the
hands of the victor, were several general officers,
and a good number lost their lives on the field of
battle. The victory cost the king above two thou
sand men, including some officers of distinction,
particularly .two aldes-du-camp, Avho attended his
own person, which he exposed without scruple to
all the perils of the day. It Avould have redounded
still more to his glory, had he put a stop to the
carnage; for, after all resistance was at an end,
the wretched Russians Avere hewn down without
mercy. It must be owned, indeed, that the Prus
sian soldiers were, in a peculiar manner, exas
perated against this enemy, because they had laid
waste the country, burned the vUlages, ruined
the peasants, and committed many horrid acts of
barbarity, which the practice of war could not
authorise." The Prussian army passejd the night
under arms, and .next morning the cannonade
was rencAved against the enemy, Avho, neverthe
less, maintained that position, without flinching.
' See note (G), vol. vi.
4

3"80 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
On the twenty-seventh, they seemed determined
to hazard another action, and even attack tbe
conquerors : instead of advancing, however, they
took the route of Landsberg; but afterwards
turned off towards Vietzel, and posted themselves
between the rivers Warta and that village. Im
mediately after the battle, general Fermer, ' Avho
had received a slight wound in the action, sent
a trumpet with a letter to lieutenant-general
Dohna, desiring a suspension of arms for two or
three days, to bury the dead, and take care of the
AVOunded ; and presenting to his Prussian ma
jesty the humble request of general BroAvne, Avho
was much weakened with the loss of blood, that
he might have a passport, by virtue of which he
could be removed to a place Avhere be should find
such accpmmodation as his situation required. In
answer to this message, count Dohna gave the
Russian general taunderstand, thatas his Prussian
majesty remained roaster of the field, he ATOuld
give the necessary order* for interring the dead,
and taking care of the wounded on both sides;
he refused a suspension of arms^ but granted the
request of general Browne ; and concluded his
letter by complaining of the outrages whieh the
Russian troops still continued to commit; in pil
laging and burning the king's villages.
The king of Prussia had no sooner repulsed
the enemy in one quarter, than his presence was
actuSraisro7Nrth°'BSb:' '"'"'^^

1758, - GEORGE IL 381
required in another. When he quitted Bohemia,
mareschal Daun, at the head of the Austrian
army, and the prince de Deuxponts, who com
manded the forces of the empire, advanced to
the Elbe, in order to surround the king's brother
prince Henry, who, without immediate succour,
would not have been able to preserve his footing
in Saxony. The Prussian monarch, therefore,
determined to support him with all possible ex
pedition. In a few days after the battle, he
began his march from Custrin with a reinforce
ment of twenty-four battalions and great part
of his cavalry, and pursued his route with such
unwearied diligence, that by the fifth day of Sep
tember he reached Torgau, and on the eleventh
joined his brother. Mareschal Daun had posted
himself at Stolpen, to the eastward of the Elbe,
in order to preserve an easy communication with
the army of the empire encamped in the neigh
bourhood of Koningstein, to favour the opera
tions of general Laudohn, who had advanced
through the Lower Lusatia to the frontiers of
Brandenburg; to make a diversion from the
southern parts of Silesia, Avhcre a body of Aus
trian troops acted under the command of the
generals Haarache and De Ville ; and to inter
rupt the communication between prince Henry
and the capital of Saxony, On the fifth day of
September, the garrison in the strong fortress of
Koningstein surrendered themselves prisoners
of war, after a very feeble resistance, to the
b

382 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
J
prince de Deuxponts, Avho forthwith took pos
session of the strong camp at Pirna. When the
king of Prussia therefore arrived at Dresden, he
found the army of the empire in this position,
and mareschal Daun in a -still stronger situation
at Stolpen, with bridges of communication throA\'-n
over the Elbe, so. that he could not attack them
Avith any prospect of advantage. He had no
other resolution to take but that of endeavour
ing to cut them off from supplies of provision,
and with this view he marched to Bautzen, which
he occupied. This riiotion obliged the Austrian
general to quit his camp at Stolpen, but he chose
another of equal strength at Libau ; yet he after
wards advanced to Rittlitz, that he might be at
hand to seize the first favourable occasion of
executing the resolution he had formed to at
tack the Prussians. The king having detached
general Ratzow on his left, to take possession
of Welssenberg, marched forAvards with the body
.of his army, and posted himself in the neigh
bourhood of. Hochkirchen, after having dis
lodged the Austrians from that village. Matters
were now brought to such a delicate crisis, that
a battle seemed inevitable, and equally desired
by both parties, as an event that would deter
mine whether the Austrians should be obliged to
retreat for winter quarters into Bohemia, or be
enabled to maintain their ground in Saxony. In
this situation mareschal Daun resolved to act
pffensively ; and formed a scheme for attacking

1758. GEORGE IL S83
the right flank of the Prussians by surprise.
This measure was suggested to him by an over
sight of the Prussians, Avho had neglected to
occupy the heights that commanded the village
of Hochkirchen, which was only guarded by a
few free companies. He determined to take the
advantage of a very dark night, and to employ
the flower of his Avhole army on this important
service, well knoAving that, should they pene
trate through the flank of the enemy, the Avhole
Prussian army would be disconcerted, and in all
probability entirely ruined. Having taken his
measures with wonderful secrecy and circum
spection, the troops began to move in the night
between the thirteenth and fourteenth of Octo
ber, favoured by a thick fog, which greatly in
creased the darkness of the night. Their first
care was to take possession of the hill that com
manded Hochkirchen, from whence they poured
down upon the village, of Avhich they took pos
session, after having cut in pieces the free com
panies posted there. The action began in this
quarter about four in the morning, and con
tinued several hours with great fury ; for, not
Avithstanding the impetuous effprts of the Aus
trian troops, and the Confusion occasioned among
the Prussians by the surprise, a vigorous stand
was made by some general officers, who, with
admirable exTpedition and presence of mind,
assembled and»arranged the troops as they could
take to their arms, and led them up to the

SS4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175S.
attack without distinction of regiment, place, or
precedence. While the action was obstinately
and desperately maintained in this place, amidst
all the horrors of darkness, fcarnage, and con
fusion, the king being alarmed, exerted all his
personal activity, address, and recollection, in
drawing regularity from disorder, arranging the
different corps, altering positions, reinforcing
Aveak posts, encouraging the soldiery, and op*
posing the efforts of the enemy ; for although
they made their chief impression upon the right,
by the village of Hochkirchen, mareschal Daun^
in order to divide the attention of the king,
made another attack upon the left, which was
Avitli difficulty sustained, and effectually pre
vented him from sending reinforcements to the
right, Avhcre mareschal Keith, under the greatest
disadvantages, bore the brunt of the enemy's
chief endeavours. Thus the battle raged till
nine in the morning, when this gallant officer
was shot through the heart. Prince Francis of
Brunswick had met with the same fate ; prince
Maurice of Anhalt Avas AVounded and taken pri^
soner, and many others were either slain or dis
abled. . As the right wing had been surprised,
the tents continued standing, and greatly em
barrassed them In their defence. The soldiers
had never been properly draAvn up in order ;
the enemy stiU persevered in their attack with
successive reinforcements and redoubled reso
lution ; and a considerable slaughter Avas made

1758. GEORGE IL 385
by their artillery, Avhich they had brought up to
the heights of Hochkirchen. All these circum
stances concurring, could not fail to increase the
confusion and disaster of the Prussians ; so that
about ten the king Avas obliged to retire to Do-
breschutz, with the loss of sca'cu thousand men,
of all his tents, and part of his baggage. Nor
had the Austrian general much cause to boast of
his victory. His loss of men was pretty nearly
equal to that of the Prussian monarch : and, what
ever reputation he might have acquired in foiling
that enterprising prince, certainly his design did
not take effect In its full extent, for the Prussians
Avere next day in a condition to hazard another
engagement. The king of Prussia had sustained
no damage which he could not easily repair, ex
cept the death of mareschal Keith, AvhIch was
doubtless an irreparable misfortune.'
His Prussian majesty remained with his army
ten days at Dobreschutz, during AvhIch he endea
voured to bring the Austrians to a second en
gagement ; but count Daun declined the invita
tion, and kept his forces advantageously posted
on eminences planted with artillery. His aim
having been frustrated at Hochkirchen, Avhere
he fought Avith many advantages on his side, he
Avould not hazard another battle upon equal
terms, with such an enterprising enemy, render
ed more vigilant by the check he had received,
' See note (H), yoI. vi.
VOL. V. 2 c

386 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
already reinforced from the army of prince
Henry, and eager for an opportunity to retrieve
the laurel Avhich had been snatched from him
by the wiles of stratagem, rather than by the
hand of valour. Count Daun, having nothing
more to hope from the active operations of his
own army, contented himself with amusing the
Prussian monarch in Lusatia, while the Austrian
generals, Harsche and De Ville, should prose
cute the reduction of Neiss and Cosel, in Silesia,
which they now actually invested. As the Prus
sian monarch could not spare detachments to
oppose every different corps of his enemies that
acted against him In different parts of his domi
nions, he resolved to make up in activity Avhat
he wanted in number, and, if possible, to raise
the siege of Neiss in person. With this vIcav he
decamped from Dobreschutz, and, in sight of
the enemy, marched to Gorlitz Avithout the least
interruption. From thence he proceeded towards
Silesia with his usual expedition, notwithstand
ing all the endeavours and activity of general
Laudohn, who harassed the rear of the Prussians,
and gained some petty advantages over them.
Count Daun not only sent this detached corps
to retard them in their march ; but, at the same
time, by another route, detached a strong re
inforcement to the army of the besiegers. In
the mean time, having received intelligence that
the army of prince Henry in Saxony was con
siderably weakened, be himself marched thither.

1758. GEORGE IL 387
in hopes of expelling the prince from that country,
and reducing the capital in the king's absence.
Indeed, his designs Avere still more extensive, for
he proposed to reduce Dresden, Leipsic, and Tor
gau at the same time ; the first with the main
body under his own direction, the second by the
army of the empire under the prince de Deux
ponts, and the third by a corps under general
Haddick, whilst the forces directed by Laudohn
should exclude the king from Lusatia. In exe
cution of this plan he marched directly to the
Elbe, which he passed at Pirna, and advanced to
Dresden, which he hoped would surrender with
out putting him to the trouble of a formal siege.
The army of prince Henry had already retired to
the westward of this capital before the prince de
Deuxponts, who had found means to cut off his
communication AvIth Leipsic, and even invested
that city. During these transactions general
Haddick advanced against Torgau.

SUBURBS OF DRESDEN BURNT BY THE PRUS
SIAN GOVERNOR.
The field-mareschal count Dauri appearing pn
the sixth day of November within sight of Dres
den, at the head of sixty thousand men, encamp
ed next day at Lockowltz, and on the eighth his
advanced troops attacked the Prussian hussars
and independent battalipns, which were posted at.

a88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
Strlessen and Gruenewiese. Count Schmettau,
w^ho commanded the garrison, amounting to ten
thousand men, apprehensive that, in the course
of skirmishing, the Austrian troops might enter
the suburbs pellmell, posted colonel ItzenpUtz,
with seven hundred men, in the redoubts that
surrounded the suburbs, that in case of emer
gency they might support the irregulars : at the
same time, as the houses that constituted the
suburbs were generally so high as to overlook
the ramparts, and command the city, he prepared
combustibles, and gave notice to the maglstiates
that they Avould be set on fire as soon as an Aus
trian should appear AvithIn the place. This must
have been a dreadful declaration to the inhabit
ants of these suburbs, Avhich compose one of the
most elegant towns in Europe. In these houses,
which were generally lofty and magnificent, the
fashionable and Avealthy class of people resided,
and here a number of artists carried on a variety
of curious manufactures. In vain the magis
trates implored the mercy and forbearance of
the Prussian governor, arid represented, in the
most submissive strain, that as they were uncon
cerned in the Avar, they hoped they should be ex
empted from the horrors of devastation. In vain
the royal family, v/ho remained at Dresden, con
jured him to spare that last refuge of distressed
royalty, and allow them at least a secure resi
dence, since they were deprived of every other
comfort. He continued inflexible, or rather de-

17SS. GEORGE IL 389
termined to execute the orders of his master,
which indeed he could not disobey Avith any re
gard to his own safety. On the ninth day of
November, about noon, the Austrian vanguard
attacked the advanced post of the garrison, re
pelled the hussars, drove the independent bat
talions into the suburbs, and forced three of the
redoubts, Avhile their cannon played upon the
town. The governor, expecting a vigorous attack
next day, recalled his troops within the city, after
they had set fire to the suburbs. At three in the
morning the signal was made for this terrible con
flagration, which In a little time reduced to ashes
the beautiful suburbs of Pirna, Avhich had so lately
flourished as the seat of gaiety, pleasure, and the
ingenious arts. Every bosom warmed with be
nevolence must be affected at the recital of such
calamities. It excites not only our compassion
for the unhappy sufferers, but also our resent
ment against the perpetrators of such enormity.
Next day mareschal Daun sent an officer to count
Schmettau, with a message, expressing his surprise
at the destruction of the suburbs in a royal resi
dence, an act of inhumanity unheard of among
christians. He desired to know If it was by the
governor's order this measure was taken ; and
assured him, that he should be responsible, in his
person, for whatever outrages had been or might
be committed against a place in which a royal
family resided. Schmettau gave him to under
stand, that he had orders to'defend the town to

S90 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1753;
the last extriemity, and that the preservation of
what remained depended entirely on the conduct
of his excellency ; for, should he think proper to
attack the place, he (the governor) would defend
himself from house to house, and from street to
street, and even make bis last effort in the royal
palace, rather than abandon the city. He ex
cused the destruction of the suburbs as a neces
sary measure, authorised by the practice of war;
but he would have found it a difficult task to re
concile this step to the laws of eternal justice,
and far less to the dictates of common humanity.
Indeed, if the scene had happened in an enemy's
country, or if no other step could have saved the
lives and liberties of himself and his garrison,
such a desperate remedy might have stood ex
cused by the law of nature and of nations ; but
on this occasion he occupied a neutral city, over
which he could exercise no other power and au
thority but that which he derived from illegal
force and violence ; nor Avas he at all reduced to
the necessity of sacrificing the place to his own
safety, inasmuch as he might have retired unmo
lested, by virtue of an honourable capitulation,
which however he did not demand. Whether the
peremptory order of a superior will, in foro con-
scientice, justify an officer Avho hath committed an
illegal or inhuman action, is a question that an
English reader avIU scarce leave to the determi
nation of a German casuist with one hundred and
fifty thousand armed men in his retinue. Be this

1758. GEORGE' IL 391
as it wUl, Mr Ponickau, the Saxon minister, im
mediately after this tragedy was acted, without
waiting for his master's orders, presented a me
morial to the diet of the empire, complaining of
it as an action reserved for the history of the war
which the king of Prussia had kindled in Germa
ny, to be transmitted to future ages. He affirmed,
that, in execution of Schmettau's orders, the sol
diers had dispersed themselves in the streets of
the Pirna and Witchen suburbs, broke open the
houses and shops, set fire to the combustibles, add
ed fresh fuel, and then shut the doors ; that the
violence of the flames Avas kept up by red-hot
balls fired into the houses and along the streets ;
that the Avretched inhabitants, who forsook their
burning houses, were slain by the fire of the can
non and small arms ; that those who endeavoured
to save their persons and effects Avere pushed
down and destroyed by the bayonets of the Prus
sian soldiers posted in the streets for that purpose :
he enumerated particular instances of inhuman
barbarity, and declared that a great number of
people perished, either amidst the flames, or un
der the ruins of the houses. The destruction of
two hundred and fifty elegant houses, and the to
tal ruin of the inhabitants, Avere bircumstances in
themselves so deplorable, as to need no aggra
vation ; but the account of the Saxon minister
was shamefully exaggerated, and all the particular
instances of cruelty false in every circumstance.
Baron Plotho, the minister of Brandenburgh,

392 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
did not fail to answer every article of the Saxon
memorial, and refute the particulars therein al
leged, in a fair detail, authenticated by certificates
under the hands of the magistrates, judges, and
principal inhabitants of Dresden. The most ex
traordinary part of this defence or vindication
Avas the conclusion, in Avhich the baron soleirinly
assured the diet, that the king of Prussia, from his
great love to mankind, always felt the greatest
emotion of soul, and the most exquisite concern,
at the effusion of blood, the devastation of cities
and countries, and the horrors of war, by which
so many thousand fellow- creatures were over
whelmed ; and that if his sincere and honest in
clination to procure peace to Germany, his dear
country, had met with the least regard, the pre
sent Avar, attended Avith such bloodshed and deso
lation, would have been prevented and avoided.
He therefore declared, that those who excited
the present troubles, who, instead of extinguish
ing, threw oil upon the fiames, must answer to
God for the seas of blood that had been, and would
be shed, for the devastation pf so many countries,
and the entire ruin of so many innocent indi
viduals. Such declarations cost nothing to those
hardened politicians, who, feeling no internal
check, are determined to sacrifice CA'cry consi
deration to the motives of rapacity and ambition.
It would be happy, however, for mankind, Avere
princes taught to believe, that there is really an
omnipotent and all-judging Power, that wUl exact

1758. GEORGE IL 393
a severe account of their condudt, and punish
them for their guilt, without any respect to their
persons ; that pillaging a whole people is more
cruel than robbing a single person ; and that the
massacre of thousands is, at least, as criminal as a
private murder.

THE KING OF PRUSSIA RAISES THE SIEGE
OF NEISS, AND RELIEVES DRESDEN.
While count Daun Avas employed in making a
fruitless attempt upon the capital of Saxony, the
king of Prussia proceeded In his march to Neiss,
which was completely invested on the third day
of October. The operations of the siege were
carried on with great vigour by the Austrian
general De Harsche, and the place was as A-igor-
ously defended by the Prussian governor Thes-
kau, till the first day of November, when the
Prussian monarch approached, and obliged the
besiegers to abandon their enterprise. M. de
Harsche having raised the siege, the king de
tached general Fouquet with a body of troops
across the river Neiss, and immediately the
blockade of Cosel Avas likewise abandoned. De
Harsche retired to Bohemia, and De Ville hovered
about Jagernsdorf. The fortress of Neiss Avas no
sooner relieved, than the king of Prussia began
his march on his return to- Saxony, Avhere his
immediate presence Avas required. At the same

39* HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
time, the two bodies under the generals Dohna
and Wedel penetrated by different routes into
that country. The former had been left at Cus
trin, to watch the motions of the Russians, who
had by this time retreated to the Vistula, and
even crossed that river at Thorn, and the other
had, during the campaign, observed the Swedes,
who had noAv entirely evacuated the Prussian
territories, so that Wedel was at liberty to co
operate with the king in Saxony. He accord
ingly marched to Torgau, the siege of which
had been undertaken by the Austrian general
Haddick, who was repulsed by Wedel, and even
pursued to the neighbourhood of Eulenbourg.
Wedel, being afterwards joined by Dohna, drove
him from thence Avith considerable loss, and then
raised the siege of Leipsic. MeanAvhIle, the
king prosecuted his march towards the capital of
Saxony, driving before him the body of Austrian
troops under Laudohn, Avho retreated to Zittau.
On the tenth day of November count Daun re
tired from Dresden, and with the army of the
empire fell back towards Bohemia ; and on the
twentieth the king arrived in that city, where
he approved of the governor's conduct. The
Russian general foreseeing that he should not
be able to maintain his ground during the Avin
ter in Pomerania, unless he could secure some
sea- port on the Baltic, by AvhIch he might be
supplied with provisions, detached gene4al Palm-
bach, Avith fifteen thousand men, to besiege the

1758. GEORGE IL 395
town of Colberg, an inconsiderable place, very
meanly fortified. It was accordingly invested
on the third day of October ; but the besiegers
were either so ill provided with proper imple
ments, or so little acquainted with operations
of this nature, that the garrison, though feeble,
maintained the place against all their attacks
for six and twenty days ; at the expiration of
Avhich they abandoned their enterprise, and cru
elly ravaged the open country in their retreat.
Thus, by the activity and valour ofthe Prussian
monarch, Hs generals and officers, six sieges
were raised almost at the same period, namely,
those of Colberg, Neiss, Cosel, Torgau, Leipsic,-
and Dresden.

INHABITANTS OF SAXONY GRIEVOUSLY
OPPRESSED.
The variety of fortune AvhIch the king of Prussia
experienced in the course of this campaign was
very remarkable ; but the spirit of his conduct,
and the rapidity of his motions, Avere altogether
without example. In the former campaign Ave
Avere dazzled with the lustre of his victories ; in
this Ave admire his fortitude and skill hi stemming
the different torrents of adversity, and rising su
perior to his evil fortune. One can hardly Avithout
astonishment recollect, that in the course of a few
months he invaded Moravia, invested Olmutz,
12

396 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1755.
and was obliged to relinquish that design ; that
he marched through an enemy's country, in the
face of a great army, which, though it harassed
him in his retreat, could not, in a route of an
hundred miles, obtain any advantage over him ;
that in spite Of his disaster at Olmutz, and the
difficulties of such a march, he penetrated into
Bohemia, drove the enemy from Koningsgratz,
executed another dangerous and fatiguing march
to the Oder, defeated a great army of Russians,
and returned by the Avay of Saxony, from whence
he drove the Austrian and imperial armies ; that
after his defeat at Hochkirchen, Avhere he lost two
of his best generals, and was obliged to leave his
tents standing, he baffled the vigilance and supe
rior number of the victorious army, rushed like a
whirlwind to the relief of Silesia, invaded by an
Austrian army, which he compelled to retire with
precipitation from that province ; that, Avith the
same rapidity of motion, he wheeled about to
Saxony, and once more rescued it from the hands
of his adversaries ; that in one campaign he
made twice the circuit of his dominions, relieved
them all in their turns, and kept all his posses--
sions entire against the united efforts of nu
merous armies, conducted by generals of con
summate skill and undaunted resolution. His
character would have been still more complete,
if his moderation had been equal to his courage ;
but in this particular we cannot applaud his
conduct. Incensed by the persecuting spirit of

1758. GEORGE II. 397
his enemies, he Avreaked his vengeance on those
who had done him no injury ; and the cruel
ties which the Russians had committed In his
dominions Avere retaliated upon the unfortunate
inhabitants of Saxony. In the latter end of
September, the president of the Prussian mili
tary directory sent a letter to the magistrates of
Leipsic, requiring them, in the king's name,
to pay a new contribution of six hundred thou
sand croAvns, and to begin immediately Avith the
payment of one-third part, on pain of military
execution. In answer to this demand, the magis
trates represented that tbe city having been ex
hausted by the enormous contributions ialready
raised, was absolutely incapable of furnishing
further supplies ; that the trade Avas stagnated
and ruined, and the inhabitants' so impoverished,
that they could no longer pay the ordinary taxes.
This remonstrance made no Impression. At five
in the morning the Prussian soldiers assembled,
and Avere posted in all the streets, squares,
market-places, cemeteries, toAvers, and steeples ;
then the gates being shut, in order to exclude
the populace of the suburbs from the city, the
senators Avere brought into tlje town-hall, and
accosted by general Hauss, Avho told them, the
king his master Avould have money ; and, if
they refused to part Avith it, the city should
be plundered. To this peremptory address they
repUed to this effect : — " We have no more
money, — avc have nothing left but life ; and wc

398 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758,
recommend ourselves to the king's mercy," In
consequence of this declaration, dispositions Avere
made for giving up the city to be plundered.
Cannon were planted In all the streets, the in
habitants were ordered to remain within doors,
and every house resounded Avith dismal cries
and lamentations. The dreaded pillage, however,
was converted into a regular exaction, A party
of soldiers, commanded by a subaltern, went from
house to house, signifying to every burgher that
he should produce all his specie, on pain of im
mediate pillage and massacre ; and every in
habitant delivered up his all without further
hesitation. About six in the evening, the sol
diers returned to their quarters ; but the ma
gistrates were detained in confinement, and all
the citizens Avere overwhelmed with grief and
consternation. Happy Britain, who knowest such
grievances only by report ! When the king of
Prussia first entered Saxony, at the beginning of
the Avar, he declared he had no design to make
a conquest of that electorate, but only to keep
it as a depositum for the security of his own
dominions, until he could oblige his enemies to
acquiesce in reasonable terms of peace ; but
upon his last arrival at Dresden he adopted a
ncAv resolution. In the beginning of December,
the Prussian directory of Avar issued a decree to
the deputies of the states of the electorate, de*
manding a certain quantity of fiour and forage,
according to the convention formerly settled-;

1758. GEORGE IL 39®
at the same time signifying, that though the king
of Prussia had hitherto treated the electorate
as a country taken under his special protection,
the face of affairs was now changed in such a
manner, that for the future he Avould consider
it in no other light than that of a conquered
country. The Russians had seized in Prussia all
the estates and effects belonging to the king's
officers : a retaliation was now made upon the
effects of the Saxon officers, who served in the
Russian army. Seals Avere put on all the cabi
nets containing papers belonging to the privy-
counsellors of his Polish majesty, and they them
selves ordered to depart for Warsaw at a very
short warning. Though the city had been im
poverished by former exactions, and very lately
subjected to military execution, the king of
Prussia demanded fresh contributions, and even
extorted them by dint of severities that shock
humanity. He surrounded the exchange with
soldiers, and confining the merchants to straw
beds and naked apartments, obliged them to
draw bills for very large sums on their foreign
correspondents : a method of proceeding much
more suitable to the despotism of a Persian sophi
towards a conquered people who professed a dif
ferent faith, than reconcileable to the character
of a protestant prince towards a peaceable nation
of brethren, with whom he was connected by the
common ties of neighbourhood and rehgion. Even
if they had acted as declared enemies, and beeu

400 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
subdued Avith arms in their hands, the excesses of
Avar on the side of the conqueror ought to have
ceased with the hostilities of the conquered, vvho,
by submitting to his sway, Avould have become
his subjects, and in that capacity had a claim to
his protection. To retaliate upon the Saxons,
who had espoused no quarrel, the barbarities com
mitted by the Russians, with whom he was actu
ally at Avar ; and to treat as a conquered province
a neutral country, which his enemies had enter
ed by violence, and been obliged to evacuate by
force of arms, was a species of conduct founded
on pretences Avhich overturn all right, and con
found all reason.

PROGRESS OF THE SWEDES IN POMERANIA.
Having recorded all the transactions of the
campaign, except those in which the Swedes Avere
concerned, it noAV remains that we should par
ticularise the progress which Avas made in Pome
rania by the troops of that nation, under the
command of count Hamilton. We have already
observed, that in the beginning of the year the
Prussian general LehAvald had compelled them
to evacuate the whole province, except Stral
sund, which was likewise inv^ested. This, in all
probability, would have been besieged in form,
had not LehAvald resigned the command of the
Prussians, on account of his great age and iii-
1

(S^eorge tfje ^etonD.

The body of this great officer, (Mareschal Keitii) being thus shamefully
abandoned, was soon stripped by the Austrian stragglers, and lay exposed
and undistinguished on the field of battle. Iu this situation it was per
ceived by count Lasci, son of the general of that name, with whom ma
reschal Keith had served in Russia. This young count had been the ma
reschal's pupil, and revered him as his military father, though employed
in the Austrian service. He recognized the body by the large scar ofa
dangerous wound, which general Keith had received in his thigh at the
siege of Ockzakow, and could not help bursting into tears to see his ho
noured master thus extended at his feet, a naked, lifeless, and deserted
corpse. He forthwith caused the body to be covered and interred.

1758. GEORGE Tl. iol
firmitffes,;'and his ^ successor count Dohna been
obliged' to withdraw his troops, in order to op-
jiose the Russian army on the other side of
Pomerariia. The' blockade' of Stralsund bding
consequently raised, and that part of the couritry
entirely evacuated by tbe Prussians, the Swedish
troops advanced again = from,- the isle of Rugeri,
to which they had retired ; but the supplies and
reinforcements they expected from Stockholrii
Avere delayed in such a manner, either from a
deficiency in the subsidies promised by France,
or from the management of those who ^&re
averse to the war, that great part of the seasbu
was elapsed before they undertook any iinportant
enterprise. Indeed, Avhile they lay ericamped
under the cannon of Stralsund, Avai ting fbr these
supplies, their operations were retarded by the
explosion ofa whple ship-load of gunpoAvder in
tended for their use ; an event irrtputed to the
practices bf the Prussian party in Sweden, which
at this period seemed to gain ground^ and even
threateiied a change in the ministry. At length
the reinforcement arrived about the latter end
of June, 'aliid^ their general seemed determined
to act with vigbUr. In the beginning of July^
his armj*' being put in motion, lie sent a de-
tachmettt 'to dislodge the few Prussian troops
that were left at Anclam, Demmin, and other
plac'ei?, to 'guard that frontier ; and they re
treated" accordingly. Count Hamilton having
nbthirig furthet to oppose him in the field, in a
VOL, V, ' S D

iOi HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
very little : time recovered all Swedish pPome-
rania, and. even made hot incursions into the
Prussian territories. Meanwhile, -a combined
fleet bf; thirty-three Russian' and seven Swedish
ships of war appeared in the' Baltic, and an
chored between the isles of Dragoe and Amagh ;
but they neither landed trbops, [nor committed
hostilities. [The Swedish general advanced as
far as i Fehrbellin, : sent put parties, that raised
contributipns within five and twenty rriilesrof
Berlin, and threw the inhabitants of that capi
tal into the utmost consternation. The king t)f
Prussia, alarmed., at their, progress; dispatched
general Wedel from Dresden, with a body f of
troopsthat were augmented on their march ; so
that, on the ; twentieth of September, he. found.
himself at Berlin with eleven thousand effective
men, at the head of whom he proceeded against
count Hamilton, while the prince of Bevern, with
five thousand, advanced on the other side from
Stetin. At their approach theSwedish commander
retired, after having left a garrison of fourteen
hundred men at Fehrbellin, in-order to retard
the Prussians, and secure the retreat of his army.
Th^ place was immediately attacked by general
Wedel; and though the .Swedes disputed -the
ground from house to house with uncommon ob
stinacy, he at last drove them put of the town/
Avith the loss of; one half of their number either
killed or taken prisoners. The bpdy of the Swe
dish army, without hazarding any other- actioii,

1758. 1 K.. GEORGE II. 403,.
immediately evacuated i the Prussian territories,
and returned to ithe neighbourhood of Stralsund,
intending to take Avinter quarters, in the isle of
Rugen. Cpunt Hamilton, either disgusted at the
r'estrictipns he had been , laid under, pr finding
himself unable to act in ; such a, manner as might
redound tothe advantage of his reputation, thrcAW
up;his command, yetired fipm the array, and re-
signpd.aU his pther employments.,; ,

PRINCE CHARLES OF SAXONY, ELECTED
DUKE; OF COU:^LAND. ,
The king of Prussia was not only favoured by a
considerable party in Sweden, but he had also
raifeed a strong interest in Polandj among such
Palatines as had al#ay.i opposed the measures of
the reigning family; These iwere now relnfbrced
by many patriots, who dreaded the vicirilty, and
suspected tbe designs of the Russian armyi. The
diet of I the republic was opened on the second
day of November ; and, after warm debates, M^
Malachpwski was unanimously elected mareschal;
but nb sooner hiad the chambers -of" nuncios be
gun their deliberations;. than anumberiof voices
were raised against the encroachments of the
Russian troops, who, had taken Up^thear. resi
dence iui Poland; and, heavy complalntsii were
made;of the damages sustained' from their cruelty
and rapine. Greut pains were taken to appease

404. HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758.
these clamours ; and many Avere prevailed upon
te refer these grievances to the king in senate ;
but when this dilficulty seemed almost Surmount
ed, Padhorski, the nuncio of Volhinia, Stobd up,
and declared that he would not permit any other
point to be discussed in the diet, while the Rus
sians maintained the least footing ' within the
territories of the republic: ' Vain were all the
attempts of the courtiers .to persuade and mol
lify this inflexible patriot ; he solemnly protested
against their proceedings, and hastily withdrew ;
sb that the niarefschal was obliged tb dissolve the
assembly, and recourse Avas had to a senatus con-
cilimn, to concert proper measures to be taken
in the present conjuncture. The king of Poland
was, on ' this occasion, UkcAvise disappointed in
his vicAvs of providing for his son, prince Charles^
in the duchy of Courland. He had been recom
mended by the court of Russia, and even ap
proved by the states of, that country; but tv^o
dilficulities occurred. The states declared, they
could not proceed to a new election during- the
life of their former duke count Biron, who AVas
still aUve, though a prisoner In Siberia, unless
their duchy should' be declared* vacant by the
king and republic of i Poland ; and, according
to the laws of that country, no prince could be
elected until he s.hould have declared himself
of the Augsburgh confession, i His Polish ma
jesty, howevei", being deterinined to sui'mount
all obstacles to his son's interest, ordered count

1758. .u;^Ai GEORGE IL T8in -4^5
MalaciiM)fW4k:ijjfe*gh^han'Cellof of ^Poland, to de
liver to. prince Charles a diploftia, by which the
king granted jpecmission to the states of Couiv
land to elect that prince for their duke, and ap
pointed the day for his election and, instalment;
which accordingly took place in the month of
January, notwithstanding the clamour of many
Polish grandeesi'who persisted in affirming that
the king had no power tb grant sucli permission
Avithout the consent of the diet. The vicissi
tudes of tfec' campaig-n had produced no revp-
lutloos in tlie severial systems adopted [by the
diffetent (jowei^ in Europe. The caarinaj. who
in the month of June' had signified her senti
ments and designs (against the king of Prussia,
in a declaratioh deUvered to all the foreign mi
nisters at Petersburgh, seemed now, more than
everj determined tb act vigorously j in behalf
of the ettipress-queen of Hungary, and the un
fortunate king of Poland, whp still resided at
Warsaw. The court of Vienna distributed among
the imperial ministers at the several courts of
the empire copies of a rescript, explaining the
conduct of her 'generals since the beginning of
the campaign, and concluding with expressions
of self-ajjpi^obatlon to this efiect,: " Though the
issue of the ciahipaign be not as yet entirely satis
factory, and such as might be desired, the impe-^
rial court enjoys, at least, the sincere sali^^faction
of reflecting, I that, according to ithe change of
cirDumstariies^ it instantly took the most vigor-

406 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
bus resolutions; that it was never deficient. in
any thing that might contribute to the good of
the common cause, and is now employed in ma
king preparations, from which the most happy
consequences may be expected." - •
'Wj;!!' . ..'Om. ¦ ¦ ,¦ ';.i''. . - : , .: .' -j.;
THE EING OF ENGLAND'S MEMORIAL TO
THEJ)IET OF THE EMPIRE. ;,;
We have a:lready hinted at a decree of the Aulic
council of the empire, published in the month of
August, enjoining all directors of circles, all im
perial towns, and the noblesse of the empire, to
transiriit to Vienna an exact list of all those w^ho
had disobeyed the avocatoria of the empire, and
adhered to the rebellion raised by the elector
of Brandenburgh ; that their revenues niight be
sequestered, and themselves punished in their
honours, persons, and effects. As the elector cf
Hanovfer was plainly pointed out, and, indeed,
expressly mentioned in this decree, the king of
Great Britain, by the hands of barpn Gemmegen,
his- electoral minister, presented a memorial to
the diet: of the empire in the month of Novem
ber, enumerating the instances in Avhich he ex
erted himself, and even exposed his life, for the
preservation and 'aggratadisemerit of the house
of Austria. In return -for these important ser
vices, he observed, that the empress-queen had
refused him the assistance stipulated in treaties

Rsa. .QMA GEORGE IL 0T8.H 4.07
against an Invasion planned by France, whose
hatred he had drawn upon himself by his friend
ship to tbat princess ; and his imperial majesty
even denied him the dictatorial letters which he
solicited ; that the court bf Vienna had signed a
treaty with the crown ©f .France, in which it Avas
stipulated that the French troops should pass the
Weser, and ^invade the electorate of Hanover,
where they were joined by the 'troops of the
empress-queen, Avho ravaged his Britannic ma
jesty's dominions with greater cruelty than eyen
the French^ had practised ;' and 1 the same duke
bf Cumberland, ' who had beeri wounded at Det-
tingen in the defence of her ^imperial majesty,
was obliged to fight at Hastenbeck against the
troops of that very princess, in defence of his
father's dominions; that she sent commissaries
to Hanover, who shared with the crown of France
the contributions extorted from' that electorate :
rejected all proposals of peace, tand dismissed
from her court the minister of Brunswick-Lu
nenbourg ; that his imperial^majesty, Avho had
sworn to protect the empire, 'arid oppose the
entrarice of foreign troops destined to oppress
any of the states of Germany, afterwards re
quired the king of England' tol xvithdraw his
troops from the countries which they occupied,
that the French army might again have free
passage into his German dqmiriions : that the
emperor had recalled these troops, released them
from their allegiauce to their sovereign, enjoined

408 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
them to abandon their ppsts, their colours, and
the service in which they were embarked, on
pain of being punished in body, horiour, and
estate;, and that the king of England himself
was threatened with the. ban of the empire. He
took notice, that, in quality of elector, he, had
been accused of refusing to concur with the re
solutions of the diet taken in the preceding year,
of entering into aUiance Avith the king of Prussia,
joining his troops to the armies of that prince,
employing auxiliaries belonging to the States of
the empire, sending EngUsh forces intp Gerihany,
where they bad taken possession Of Embden,. and
exacting Cbntributioris in different parts of Ger
many. In ansAVer to these imputations, he al
leged that he could not, consistent with his own
safety, or the, dictates of Common sense, concur
with a majority, in joining his troops, which
Avere immediately necessary for his own defence,
to those Avhich, from the arbitrary views of the
coUrt'bf Vienna, Avere led against his friend and
ally the king of Pirussia, by a prince- who did
not belong to the generality of the empire, and
on whom the command; had been conferred^
without a previous conclusum pf the Germanic
body.; that, with respect to his alliance Avith the
king of Prussia, he had a, right, Avhen deserted
by his former allies, tp seek assistance where
soever it could be procured ; and .surely no just
ground of complaint could be offered against
that Avhick his Prussian majesty lent, tb deliver

1758. GEORGE IL ,, 409
thfe electoral fetatfes of ^Brunswick, as well as those
of BrunsAviek- Wolfenbuttel, Hesse, and Bucke
bourg, from the oppressions of their commoli
enemyj , Posterity, he said, would hardly beheve,
that at a time wheri the troops of Austria, the
Palatinate, and Wirtemberg, were engaged to
invade the countries of the empire, other mem
bers of the Germanic body, who employed auxi
liaries ^in their defence, should be threatened
with outlawry, and sequestration^ He owned
that,; in quality of king, he had sent over Eng
lish troops to Germany, and taken possession of
Em]bden ; steps for which he was accountable to
no power upon earth, although the constitutions
of the empire perniit the co-estates to make use
of foreign: troops, not indeed for the purppse of
invasion or conquest in Germany, but for their
defence and preservation. He also acknowledged
that he had resented the conduct, and chastised
the injustice, of those co-estates who had assisted
his enemies, and helped to ravage Hs dominions :
inferring, that if the crpwn of France was free
to pillage the estates of the duke of Brunswick,
and the landgrave of Hesse-CasSel, because they
had supplied the king of England with auxili
aries; if the eriipress-queen had a right to ap
propriate to herself half of the contributions
raised by the French king in these countries;
surely his Britannic riiajesty had an equal right
to make those fieel the burden of the war who had
favoured the unjust enterprises of his enemies.

t)

410 ' HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
He expressed his hope, that the diet, after ha-
-ving duly considered these circumstances, Avbuld,
by way of advice, propose to' his Imperial ma-
jesty'that he should annul his most inconsistent
mandates, and not only ' take effectual measurers
to protect the electorate and its allies, but also
give orders for commencing against the em-
pfess-^queen, as archduchess of Austria, the elec
tor Palatine, and the duke of Wirtemberg, sueh
proceedings as she wanted to enforce against
his Britannic majesty, elector of BrunsAvick-Lu-
nenbourg. For this purpose the minister now
requested their excellencies to ask immediately
tlie necessary instructions for their principals.
The rest of this long memorial contained a justi
fication of his Britannic majesty's conduct in de
viating from the capitulation of Closter-Seven;
with a refutation of the arguments adduced, and
a retortion of the reproaches leA^eUed against
the king of England, in the paper or manifesto
composed and published under the direction of
the Frerich ministry, and intituled, " A Parallel
of the Conduct of the King of France with that
of the King of England, relative to the Breach
of the Capitulation of Closter-Seven by the Ha
noverians," But to this invective a more cir
cumstantial answer was published: in which,
among other curious particulars, the letter of
expostulation, said to have been written by the
Prussian monarch to the king of Great Britain
after the defeat at Kolin, is treated as an in-
12

,1758. .aVfA.; GEORGE H.^'^Sni 411
famous piece of forgery, produced by some venal
pen employed to impose upon the public. The ,
author, also, in his endeavours to demonstrate
his Britannic majesty's 'aversion to a continen
tal war, very justly observes, that -'none but
such asi are unacquainted AvIth the maritime
force of England .can: beUeve,' that, Avithout a
diversion on the continent, to employ part of
the enemy's^ force; she is. not in a condition to
hope for success, and. maintain her superiority
at sea. 'Erigland, therefore, had no interest to
foment quarrels or wars in Europe ; but, forthe
same reason, there was room to fear that France
Avould embrace a different system : accordingly,
she took no pains to conceal her views, and her
envoys declared' publicly, that a war upon the
contirient vi^as inevitable ; and that the king's
dominions in Germany would be its principal
object. He afterwards, in the course of his ar
gumentation, adds, " That they must be very
ignorant, indeed, who imagine that the forces of
England ^are not able to resist those bf FrancCj
unless ther latter be hindered from turning all
her efforts to the sea. In case of a war upon
the continent, the two powers must pay sub
sidies ; only with this difference, that France can
employ her own land forces, and aspire at con-
quests." Such Avere the professed sentiments: iof
the British ministry, founded upon eternal truth
and demonstration, and openly avowed, when
the business Avas to prove that it was not the

412 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. nsg.
interest of Great Britain to maintain a war upon
the continent ; but, afterwards, when this con
tinental war was eagerly espoused, fostered, and
cherished by the blood and treasure of the Eng^
lish nation, then the partisans of that very mi
nistry, which had thus declared that England,
without any diversion on the continent of Eu
rope, was an overmatch for France by sea, which
may be termed the British element ; then their
partisans, their champions, ideclaimers, and de
pendents, Were taught to rise in, rebellion against
their former doctrine, and,, in defiance of com
mon sense and reflection,, afiirm that a diversion
in Germany was absolutely necessary to the suc
cessful issue of Erigland's operations in Asia,
Africa, and America. Notwithstanding all the
facts and arguments assembled in this elaborate
memorial, to expose the ingratitude of the em
press-queen, and deirionstrate the oppressive mea
sures adopted by the imperial pbwer, it remains
to be proved, that the member of a commnnity
is not obliged to yield obedience to the resolu
tions taken, and the decrees published, by the
majority of those who compose this community ;
especially when reinforced with the aadiority of
the supreme magistrate, and not repugnant to
the fundamental constitution ori which that com
munity Avas established.

1758. GEORGE IL «!. 4lS

DEATH OF POPE BENEDICT. ¦
,'> ¦' )r[j
If the ertipress-queen AVas not gratified to the
extent of her Avishes in the fortune of the cam
paign, at least her self-importance was flattered
in another point, which could not fail of being
interesting to a princess famed for a glowing
zeal and inviolable attachment to the religion of
Rbme. In the month of August the pope con
ferred upon her the title of apostolical queert
of Hungary, conveyed by a brief, in which he
extolled her piety, and launched out into re
trospective eulogiums of her predecessors, the
princes of Hungary,. -who hadi been ahvays ac
customed to fight and overcome for the catholic
faith under this holy banner. This compliment,
however, she did not derive from the regard
of Prosper Lambertini; who exercised the papal
sway under the assumed name of Benedict XIV.
That pontiff, universally esteemed for his gOod
sense, riioderatlori, and humanity, had ¦breatji'ed
his last in the month of April, in the eighty-
fourth year of his age ; and in July was succeeded
in the papacy by cardinal Charles Rezzonicp,
bishop of Patlua, by birth a Venetian. He Avas
formerly auditor of the Rota; afterwards pro
moted to the purple; by pope Clement Xll. at
the nomination *of the republic bf Venice; was
distinguished by the title bf St Maria d'Ara Coeli,

414 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i?58.
the principal convent of the Cordeliers, and no
minated protector of the Pandours, or Illyrians.
When he ascended the papal. chair, he assumed
the name of Clement XHI, in gratitude to the
last of that name, who was his benefactor. Though,
of a disa,greeable person, and even defprmed In
his body, he enjoyed good health, and a vigor---
ous constitution. As an ecclesiastic, his life was
exemplary ; his morals were pure and unim
peached ; In his character he is said to have been
learned, diligent, steady, devout, and,, in every
respect, worthy to succeed such a predecessor as
Benedict. , . ¦

THE KING OF PORTUGAL ASSASSINATED.
The king of Spain wisely persisted in reaping
the advantages, of a neutrality,' notwithstanding
the Intrigues of the French partisans at the court
of Madrid, who endeavoured to alarm his .jea
lousy by the conquests which .tlie English r had
projected in' Americp,. ,; The , king i of Sardinia
sagaciously kept alppf, iresplving, in imitation pf
his predecessors, to maintain his power, on a re
spectable footing, and be ready to seize all op
portunities tp extend and pronipte the interest
of his crown, and the advantage of his countiy.
As for the king pf Portugal, he had prudently
embraced the; same systeni of forbearance ; but
in the latter end of the season; his attention was

1758. , GEORGE IL 415
engrossed by a. domestic incident of a very extra
ordinary n0,ture. Whether he had,: by particu
lar instances of severity, exasperated the minds:)
of' certain individuals, and exercised his domi
nion in , such acts of arbitrary , power as excited
a .general spirit of disaffection among his no
bUity ; pr,' lastly, by the vigorous irieasures pur
sued against, the encroaching Jesuits in Paraguay,
and their correspondents in Portugal, ha,d, ip^
eurred the resentment pf that spciety, we shall
not pretend- to determine : .perhaps all these mo
tives concurred in giving Ijirth tp a conspiracy
againstihIsIife,,AvhIch was actually executed at
this juniqture with the most desperate resolution.
Qn„the third day of September, the king,, ac
cording to custom, going out in , a carriage to
take .the air,. accpropanip4 by one dpine^tic, was,
in the night, at a solitary place near Belem, at
tacked by three men on horseback, -armed with,
musquetooniS, one of whpm fired his piece at the
coachinan without effect. The man, however,
terrified both on his own account and that ojf
his sovereign's, drove the, mules at fujl speed;
a: circumstance which, in soine measure, disqon-^
certed the other two conspirators, whp pursued
him at full gallop, and having po leisur;e to take
aim, discl^arged: their pieces at random, through,
thp. back pf the carriage. The slugs with which
they were, Ipad^qd happened tp pass between the
king's right arm and his breast, dilacerating tl^e

iie HISTORY OP^ ENGLAND. 1758.
parts frpm the shoulder to the- elbow, but with
out damaging the bone, or penetrating into the
cavityof the body. Finding himself grievously
Avounded, arid the blood 'floAvirig apace, he, with
such presence of mind as cannot be sufficiently
admired, instead of prbceeding to the palace,
which was at some distance, ordered the coach
man to return to Juniqueria, where his principal
surgeon resided, and there his Avounds were im
mediately dressed. By this resolution he not
only prevented the irreparable mischief that
might have arisen from an excessive effusion of
blood, but, without all doubt, saved his life from
the hands of other assassins, posted on the road
to accomplish the regicide, in case he should
escape alive from the first attack. This instance
of the king's recollection was magnified into a
miracle, on a supposition that it must have been
the effect pf divine inspiration ; and, indeed,
among a people addicted to superstition, might
Aveir pass for a favourable interposition of Provi
dence. The king being thus disabled in his right
arm, issued a decree, investing the queen with
the absolute power of government. In the mean
time, no person had access to his presence but
herself, the first minister, the cardinal de Sal-
danha, the physicians, arid, sutgebris. An embargo
Was immediately laid on all the shippirig in the
port of Lisbon. Rewards Avere pubUcly offered,
together Avith the promise of pardon to the ac-
4

1758. GEORGE IL 417
complices, for detecting any of, the assassins ; and
such other measures used, that in a little time
the Avhole conspiracy was . discovered : a conspi
racy the more (dangerous, as it appeared to have
been formed by persons of the first quality and
influence. The duke de Aveirb, of the family of
Mascarenhas ; the marqui'? de Tavora, who had
been viceroy of Goa, and uoav actually enjoyed
the commission of general ofthe horse ; the count
de Attougui, the marquis de Allorra, together
with their wives, children, and whole families,
were arrested immediately after the assassination,'
as principals in the design ; and many pther ac-
cpmplices, . including some Jesuits, were appre
hended in the, seqUel. The further proceedings
on this mysterious affair, with the fate of the con
spirators, will be particularised among the trans
actions of the following year. At present it will
be sufficient to observe, that the king's wounds
were attended with no bad consequences ; nor
did the imprisonment of those noblemen produce
any disturbance in the kingdom.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE FRENCH MINISTRY.
The domestic occurrences of France were tissued
with a continuation of the disputes between the
parliaments and clergy, touching the bull Uni-
genitus. In vain the king had interposed his' au
thority : first proposing an accommodation ; theri
VOL, v, 2 E

m HISTORV OF ENGLAND. 1758.
commandirig the parllanient to forbear taking
cognizante bf a religious cbntest, which did not
fall urider their jurisdiction ; and, thirdly, banish
ing their persoris, and abrogating their power.
He' afterwards found it necessary to the'peace of
his dominions to recal and reinstate those ve
nerable patriots ; arid being convinced of the
intolerable insolence and turbulent spirit of the
archbishop of Paris, had exiled that prelate in
his tui-n. He was rio sborier readmitted to his
function, than he resumed his forriier coridUct,
touching the denlaL bf the sacraments to those
who refused to acknowledge the bull UnigCriitus :
he even acted Avith redoubled zeal ; intrigued
with the bther prelates ; caballed among the
inferior clergy; and not only revived, but aug-
mCrited, the trbubles thrbughbut the whole king
dom. Bishops, curates, and monks presumed to
withhold spiritual consolation from persons in
extremity, arid were puni)shed by the civil power.
Other parliaments of the kingdom followed the
example exhibited by that of Paris, in asserting
their authority and privileges. The king com
manded them to desist, on pain of incurring his
indignation; they-remanstrated, and persevered;
while the archbishop repeated his injunctions
and censures, and continued fo inflame the dis
pute to such a dangerous degree, that he was
given to understand he should be again obligfeti
to quit the capital, if he did not pi*oceed With
more moderation. But the chief care of the
4

1758. : . .GEORGE IL 419
French ministry was employed in regulating
the finarices, and establishing funds of credit for
raising money to pay subsidies, and maintain the
War in Europe and Anterica, Iji the course of
thi? year they j had not only considerably rein-'
forced their armies in Germany, but made sur
prising efforts to supply; the colony of Canada
with troops, artillery, stores, and ammunition,
for its defence agairist the operations pf the
British forces, which greatly outnumbered the
Frenchiupon the continent. The cpurt of Ver
sailles practised every stratagem to elude the
vigilance of the EngUsh cruisers. The ships
dejstined for America they detached, both singk
and in convoys, sometimes from the Meditei-
ranean, spmetimes from their harbours in the
channel. They assembled transports in one port,
in arder to withdraw the attention of their ene
mies from another, where their convoys lay ready
for sailing; and in boisterous weather, when the
EngUsh could no longer block up their harbours,
their' store-ships .came forth, arid hazarded the
Voyage, for the relief of their American settle
ments. Those that had the good foj*tune to arrive
on the coast of that continent were obliged to have
recourse to different expedients for escaping the
British squadrons Stationed at Halifax, or cruising'
in the bay of St Laurence, They either Ventured'
to navigate the river before it was clear of the ice,
so early in the spring, that the enemy had not
yet quitted the harbour of Novaj-Scbtia ; or they

420 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1758,
waited on the coast of Newfoundland for such
thick fogs as might screen them from the notice
of the English cruisers, in saiUng up the gulf; or, '
lastly, they penetrated through the Sttaits of
Belleisle, a dangerous passage, which, however,'
led therii directly into the river St Laurence, at
a considerable distance above the station of the
British squadron. Though the French navy was
by this time so reduced, that it could neither
face the English at sea, nor furnish proper con
voys for commerce, her ministry, nevertheless,
attempted to alarm the subjects of Great Britain
with the project of an invasion. Flat-bottomed
boats were built, transports collected, large ships
of the line equipped, and troops ordered to as
semble on the coast for embarkation ; but this
was no more than a feint to arouse the apprehen
sion of the English, disconcert the administra-.
tion, prejudice the national credit, and deter
the government from sending forces to keep alive
the Avar in Germany, A much more effectual
method they took to distress the trade of Eng
land, by laying up their useless ships of war, and
encouraging the equipment of stout privateers,
which did considerable damage to the commerce
bf Great Britain arid Ireland, by cruising in the
seas bf Europe and America, Some of them lay
close in the harbours of the channel,^ fronting the
coast of England, and darted out occasionally on
the. trading ships of this nation, as they received
intelligence from boats employed for that pur-

1758. GEORGE IL' 421
pose. Some chose their station in the North-sea,
where a great number of captures were made
upon the coast of Scotland ; othets cruised in
the chops of the chanriel, and even to the west
ward of Ireland ; but the far greater number
scoured the seas in the neighbourhood of. the
Lee\*rard Islands in the West Indies; where they
took a prodigious number pf British ships, sail
ing to and from the sugar colonies, and conveyed
them to their OAvn settlements in Martinique,
Guadaloupe, or St Domingo.

CONDUCT OF THE KING OF DENMARK.
With respect to the war that raged in Gerniany,
the king of Denmark wisely pursued that course,
which happily preserved him from being involved
in those troubles by which great part of Europe
was agitated, and terminated in, that point of
national advantage which a king ought ever to
have in view for the benefit of l^is people. By
observing a scrupulous neutrality, he enhariced
his importance among his neighbours: he, saw
himself courted hy all the belligerent powers:
he saved the: blood and treasure of his subjects:
he received large subsidies, in consideration of
his forbearance ; and enjoyed, unmolested, a much
more considerable share of commerce than he
could, expect to carry on, even in times of uni
versal tranquilUty. He gpuld not perceiv? ;tliat

422 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17584
the protestant religion had any thing to appre-'
hend from the confederacy which was formfed
against the Prussian mbnarch ; nbr was he mis*
led into all the expence, the' perils, and disquiets
of a sanguinary AV^ar, by tbat ignis fatuus An^hich
hath seduced and impoverished other bpulent
nations, under the Specious title of the baloncfe
of power in Germany. Howsoever he might be
swayed by private inclination, he did not think
it Was a point of cbrisCquence to his klngdorii,
whether Pomerania \vas possessed by Sweden oi-
Prussia ; Avhetber the French army was driven
back beyond the Rhine, or penetrated once more
into the electorate of Hdnbver : whether the fem-
press-queen Avas stripped of her remaining pos
sessions in Silesia^ or the king bf Prussia cireuni-
scribed within the qriginal bbund of his dominiob.
He took it for granted that France; for her own
sake, Vould prevent the tuin of that enterprising
monarch ; arid that the hoUsb of Austria would
not be so impolitic, and blind to its own in
terest, as to permit the empress of Russia to
make and rietaih cdnquests in the empire ; but
everi if these powers should be weak enough to
sacrifice all the maxihis of sbund policy to ca
price or resentment, he did riot think himself sb
deeply concerned in the event, as, for the dis
tant prospect of Avhat might possibly happen, to
plunge headlbWg into a war that must be attended
with certain and immediate disadvantages. True
it is, he had rib hereditary electorate in Ger-

1758. . , ' / . ^GEOHPE IL j j ^ , . 423
many that was threateaed, with invasion; nor,
if he had, is it to be supposed that a prince of
his sagacity and patriotism ,)ypuld have impo
verished his kirigdom of Denmark, for the pre
carious defence of a distant ^ territory. It was
reserved for another nation to adopt the per
nicious absurdity pf wasting its bipod and treai-
sure, exhausting liitSf revenues, loading its OAVn
back Ayith the riiojst grievous impositions, incur
ring an enorinous debtj big with bankruptcy
and ruin ; in a word, of expending above an hun
dred and fifty millions sterling in fruitless efforts
to defend a distant country, the entire property
of which was never valued at one twentieth pa,rt
of that sum ; a country with which it had no
natural connexion, but a common alUance a,rlsing
from accident. jjiThe king of Denihark, though
himself a prince of the empire, and possessed of
dominions in Germany, almost contiguous to the
scenes of the present war, did not yet think
himself so nearly concerned in the issue, as to
declare Hmself either principal or auxiliary in
the quarrel ; yet he took care to maintain his
forces by sea and land upon a respectable foot
ing; arid by this conduct, he not only provided
for the security pf his Pwn cpuntry, but over
awed the belligerent powers, who considered hiiri
as a prince capable tof making either scale pre
ponderate, just as he might ehoose tp trim the
balance. Thus he preserved his wealth, cpm-
merce, and consequence undiminished ; andj in-

424 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17581
stead of being harassed as- a party, was honoured
as an umpire.
The United Provinces, though as adver-se as
his Danish majesty to any participation in the
war, did not, however, so scrupulously observe
the neutraUty they professed ; at least the traders
of that republic, either from an inordinate thirst
of lucre, or a secret bias in favour of the ene
mies of Great Britain, assisted the French com
merce with all the appearance of the most flagrant
partialityi We have, in the beginning of this
year's transactions, observed, that a great num
ber of their ships were taken by the English
cruisers, and condemned as legal prizes, for ha
ving French property on board : that the Dutch
merchants, exasperated by their losses, exclaimed
against the English as pirates and robbers, peti
tioned the states for redress in very high terms,.
and even loudly clamoured for a war against
Great Britain, ' The charge of violence and in
justice, which they brought against the EngUsh,
for taking and confiscating the ships that trans
ported to Europe the produce of the French
islands in the West Indies, they founded on the
tenth article of the treaty of commerce between
GreatBritain and the states-general of the United
Provinces, concluded in the year one thousand
six hundred and sixty-eight, stipulating, " That
whateyer shall be found on board the ships of thp
subjects of the United Provinces, though the la
ding, or part thereof, may belong to the enemies

IY58. GEORGE IL 425
of Great Britain, shall be free and unmolested,
except these be prohibited goods, which are to
be served in the manner described by the fore
going articles." From this article: the Dutch
merchants argued, that, if there be no prohibited
goods on board, the English had no right to stop
or molest any of their ships, or make the least in
quiry to whom the merchandise belonged, whence
it was brbught, or whither bound. This plea the
English casuists would by no means admit, for
the following reasons : A general and perpetual
licence to carry on the whole trade of their enemy
would be such a glaring absurdity, as no conven^'
tion could authorise : common sense has dictated,
and Grotius declared, that no man can be sup
posed to have consented to an absurdity; there
fore the interpretation given by the Dutch to
this article could not be supposed to be its true
and genuine meaning ; which, indeed, relates to
nothing more than the common course of trade,
as it was usually carried on in time of peace.
But, even should this interpretation ht accepted^
the article, and the treaty itself would be super
seded and annulled by a subsequent treaty, conr
eluded between the two nations in the year one
thousand six hundred and seven tyrfive, and often
confirmed since that period, stipulating, in a se
cret article, that neither of the contracting parties
should giye,.nQr consent that any of their subjects
and inhabitants should, give, any aid, favpur, Pr
ppunsel, directiy pr indirectly, by land qr sea, qv

426 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758,
on the fresh AJ/'aters ; nor shbUld furnish, or per
mit the feubjects or inhabitants pf their respective
territories tb furnish, any ships, soldicrSj seamen,
victuals, mbniesj instruments bf Avar, gunpowder,
or any other necessaries for making war, tb the
enemies of either party, of any rank or condition
soever. Now, the Dutch • have infringed this
article in many instances during the present war,
both in Europe and America ; and, as they have
so openly contravened orie treaty, the English
are not obliged to observe another. They^ more-
overj forfeited all right to the observance of the
treaty in question, by refusing the succours with
whieh they were bound, in the most solemn man
ner, to furnish the king of Great Britain, iri case
any of his territories in Europe should be attacked :
for nothing could be more Aveak and frivolous
than the allegation upon which this 'refusal was
founded ; namely, that the hostilities in Europe
were commenced by the English, Avhen they seized
and confiscated the veskels of France ; and they,
being the aggressors, had no right to insist upon
the succours stipulated in a treaty which was
purely defensive. If this argument has any weight,
the treaty itself can have no signification. The
French, as in the present case, will always com
mence the war in America ; and when their shipSj
containing reinforcements and stores fbr the
maintenance of that Avar, shall be taken bn the
European seas, perhaps In consequence of their
being exposed for that purppse, they will exclaim

1758. GEORGE H. 427
that the English were the aggressors in Europe,
consequently deprived of all benefit accruing from
the defensive treaty subsisting between them and
the states'-general of the United Provinces. It
being impossible for the English to terminate the
war, while their enemies derive the sinews of it
from their commetce carried on in neutral bot
toms) they are obliged to suppress such collusions,
by that necessity which GrotlUs himself hath al
lowed to be a sufficient excuse for deviating from
the letter of any treaty whatsoever. In time of
peace no Dutch ships were permitted to catry the
produce of ahy Frjench sugar islarid, or even to
trade in any of the French ports in America ot
the West Indies ; consequently the treaty Avhich
they ijuote can never justify them iri Carrying
on a commerce, which, as it did not exist, arid
was not foreseen, could not possibly be guarded
against when that convention was ratified. Gro
tius, Avhose authority is held in such veneration
among the Dutch, has determined that every
nation has a right to seize and confiscate the
goods of any neutral power, which shall attempt
to carry therri into any place which is blocked
up by that nation, either by land or sea. The
French islands in the West Indies were so blocked
up by the EngUsh cruisers, that they could re
ceive no relief from their own government, con
sequently no neutral power could attempt to
supply them without faUing under this predica'

428 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
ment.' It was for these reasons that the king of
England declared, by the mouth of Mr Yorke,
his minister plenipotentiary at the Hague, in a
conference held in the month of August with the
deputies of the states-general, that though he was
ready to concur in every measure that should
be proposed for giving satisfaction to their high
mightinesses, with whom he had always studied
to live in the most perfect union, he was never
theless determined not to suffer the trade of the
French colonies in America to be carried on by
the subjects of other powers, under the specious
pretext of neutrality : nor to permit words to be
interpreted as a licence to drive a trade with his
enemies, Avhich, though not particularly specified
in the articles of contraband, was nevertheless
rendered such in all respects, and in every sense,
by the nature of the circumstances. It is not at
* In the r^ign of king William, when the English and Dutch
were engaged in a war against France, Ae northern powers of
Sweden and Denmark attempted to carry on the French com
merce, under the shade of neutrality ; but the Dutch and Eng
lish joined in seizing the vessels that were thus employed. Com
plaints of these captures were made ^t London and the Hague,
and the complainants were given to understand at both places,
that they should not be allowed to carry on any trade with France,
but what was usual in time of peace. In consequence of this de
claration, Mr Groning formed the design of writing a treatise on
the freedorp pf navigation, and pommunicated the' plan of hjs
work to the celebrated PijffendprfF, who signified his sentiments
in a letter, which is preserved by the learned Barbeyrac, in his
notes upon that author's treatise on the Law of Nature and
Nations.

1758. GEORGE IL 429
all more surprising that the Dutch merchants
should complain, than that the English govern
ment should persist in corifiscating the ships that
were found to contain the merchandise of their
enemies. The individual traders of every mer
cantile nation will run considerable risks in ex
tending their particular commerce, even when
they know it must be detrimental to the general
interest of their country^ . Iu the war maintairied
by the confederates against Louis XIV. of France,
the mercharit ships of the Dutch carried on an
uninterrupted trade to the French ports ; and,
notwithstanding the repeated solicitations of Eng
land, the states-general could riever be prevailed
Upon to prohibit this commerce, Avhicli undoubt
edly enabled France to prptract the war. The
truth is, they gave the British ministry to under
stand, that unless they connived at this traffic,
their subjects could not possibly defray their pro
portion of the expence at which the Avar was
maintained. It is well known through all Eu
rope, that the subjects of the United Provinces
reaped considerable advantage, not only from
this braricb of illicit trade, but also by providing
for both armies in Flanders, and by the practice
of stock-jobbing in England ;- consequently it
Avas not the interest, either of the states-general,
or the English general, between whom there Avas
a very good understanding, to bring that war to
a speedy conclusion ; nor indeed ought we to^ fix
the imputation of partiality upon a Avhole nation.

430 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
for the private conduct of individuals, influenced
by motives of self-iriterest, which co-operate with
the same energy in Holland, and among the sub
jects of Great Britain, In the course of the
former war, such a scandalous appetite for gain
prevailed in different parts of the British domi
nions, that the French islands were actually sup
plied with provisions, slaves, and lumber, frori:j
Ireland and the British colonies in North Ame
rica ; and Martinique, in particular, must have
surrendered to the commander of the English
squadron stationed in those seas, had it not been
thus supported by EngUsh subjects. Certain it
is, the Dutch had some reason to complain that
they were decoyed into this species pf traffic by
the article of a treaty, which, in their opinion,
admitted of no limitation j and that the govern
ment of Great Britain, without any previous
warning, or explaining its sentiments on this sub
ject, swept the sea at once of all their vessels em
ployed in this commerce, and condemned them,
without mitigation, to the entire ruin of many
thousand families. Considering the intimate
connexion of mutual interest subsisting between
Great Britain and the states of the United Pro
vinces, they seem to have had some right to an
intimation of this nature, Avhich, in all probabili
ty, would have induced them to resign all pro
spect of advantage from the prosecution of such
traffic.

1758. GEORGE IL 431

CONFERENCES BETWEEN THE BRITISH' AM-
BASSADOR AND THE STATES-GENERAL-
Besides the universal clamour excited in Hol
land, and the famous memorial presented to the
states- general, which we have already meritioned
in anothei'place,*a deputation of mercharits waited
four i times successively on the princess regent*
tb explain their grievances, and demand her con-
currenoB in augmenting the navy for the pre
servation of theif commerce. She promised to
ihterpoSe her best offices with the court of Great
Britain; and these corbperating with represen-
tatioas made by the states- general, the English,
minister was empowered to open conferences at
the Hague^ in order to bring all matters in dis
pute to an amicable accommodation. These en
deavours, hbwever, proved ineffectual. The
British cruisers continued to take, and the Erit
tish courts to condetnn, all Dutch vessels con
taining the prbdiice of the French sugar islands.
The merchants cif HoUand and Zealarid renewed
their complaints' with redoubled clamour, and all
the trading part of the nation, reinforced by the
Avhole patty that opposed the house df Orange,
cried aloud for an immediate augmentation of
the marine, and reprisals upon thc pirates of
Englandi The p-rincess, in order to avoid ex
tremities; Avas obliged not only to employ all

432f HISTORY, OF ENGLAND. ' 1758.
her personal influence with the states-general,
but also to play off one faction against another,
in the way of remonstrance and exclamation.
As far back as the mbnth of June, she presented
a memorial to the. states-general, reminding
them, that in tbe beginning of the war between
France and England,^ she had advised an a!ug-
mentation should be made in their land forces,
to strengthen the garrisons of thh frontier towns,
and cover the territories of the republic from
invasion. She gaVe them to understand, that the
provinces of Gueldres and Overyssel, intimidated
by the proximity of two formidable armies, had
resolved to demand that the augmentation of
their land forces should be taken into consider
ation by the other provinces ; and requested her
to reinforce their solicitations that this measure
might immediately take place. This request, she
said, she the more readily granted, as she could
not but be sensible of the imminent danger that
threatened the republic, especially since the Ha
noverian army had .passed the Rhine ; and as
it behoved the state to put itself in a condition
to hinder eithet army from retiring into the ter
ritories of the repubUc, if it should be defeated ;
for, in that case, the conqueror being authorised
to pursue his eneniy wherever he can find him.
Would bring the AA'ar into the heart of their coun
try. This representation had no other effect
than that of suspending the measure which each
party proposed. The princess, in her answer to
1

1758. GEORGE IL 433
the fourth deputation of the merchants, declared
tbat she beheld the present state of their trade
with the most arixious concern ; that its want of
protection was not her fault, but that of the towns
of Dort, Haerlem, Amsterdam, Torgau, Rotter
dam, and the Brille, to whose conduct it AA-^as
owing, that the forces of the state, by sea and
land, were not now on a better footing. The
deputies were afterwards referred to her minis
ter, M. de la Lar rey, to whom they represented,
that the augmentation of the land forces, and the
equipment of a fleet, were matters as distinct
from each , other as light from darkness ; that
there was no pressing motive for an augmenta
tion of the army, whereas, innumerable reasons
rendered the equipment of a fieet a matter of the
most urgent necessity. In a few days after this
representation was made, the princess, in an as
sembly of the states-general, requested their high
nyghtinesses, that seeing their earnest and re
peated efforts to induce the provinces of Holland,
Zealand, Friesland, and West Friesland, to ac
quiesce In the proppsed augmentatipn pf forces
by sea and land, had not hitherto met with suc
cess, they would now consider and deliberate
upon some expedient for terminating this affair,
and the sooner the better, in order, on one hand,
to satisfy the strong and Avell-grounded instances
made by the provinces of Gueldres, Utrecht,
Overyssel, an,d Groningen ; and, on the other, to
comply with the ardent and just desires expressed
VOL. V, . 3 F

434. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
by the commercial inhabitants of the country.
She told them, that the deputation which waited
on her consisted of forty merchants, a number
that merited attention no less than the speech
they pronounced, of which a great number of
printed copies were distributed through all parts
of the countiy. Without making any particular
remarks on the harangue, she only observed, that
the drift of it did not tend to facilitate the nego
ciation begun with Great Britain, nor to induce
the nation to' prefer a convention to a rupture
with that croAvn. From this circumstance she
inferred, it was more than time to finish the de
liberations on the proposal for augmenting the
forces both by sea and land ; a measure, without
which she was convinced in her conscience the
state was, and would always remain exposed to
all sorts of misfortune and danger, both now and
hereafter. In consequence of this interposition, the
states-general that same day sent a letter to the
states of Holland and West Friesland, communi
cating the sentiments of the princess-regent, and
insisting upon the necesslt}^ of complying with
her proposal of the double augmentation. They
observed, that an augmentation of the land forces,
for the defence of the frontiers, was unavoidable,
as well as an equipment by sea for the security
of commerce: that the states of the provinces
of Gueldres, Utrecht, Overyssel, and Groningen,
joined with them in the same opinion; and ac-

1758. GEORGE IL . 4S5
cordingly had insisted, by divers letters and pro
positions, on those two points so essential to the
public interest. They represented tfie danger of
delay, and the fatal effects of discord : they pro
posed, that by a reciprocal indulgence one party
should comply with the sentiments of the other,
in order to avoid a schism and dangerous division
among the confederates, the consequences of
which would be very deplorable ; while the re
public, in the mean time, wpuld remain in a
defenceless ccnditipn, bpth by sea and land, and
depend uppn the arbitrary pPAver of its neigh
bours. They conjured them, therefore, as they
valued the safety of their country, and all that
was dear to them, as they regarded the protec
tion of the good inhabitants, the concord and
harmony which at all times, but especially at the
present critical juncture, was of the last neces
sity, that they Avould seriously reflect "upon the
exhortations of her royal highness, as well as on
the repeated instances of the majority of the
confederates, and take a Avise and salutary reso
lution with regard to the proposed augmentation
of the land forces, so that this addition, together
with an equipment at sea, might, the soonei^ the
better, be unanimously brought to a conclusion.
It was undoubtedly the duty of all Avho wished
Avell to their country, to moderate the heat and
precipitation of those, Avho, provoked by their
losses, and stimulated by resentment, endeavoured
at this period to involve their nation in a war

4.36 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
with Great Britain. Had matters been pushed
to this extremity, in a few months the repubUc
would, in all probability, have been brbught to
the brink of ruin. The Dutch were distracted
by internal divisions ; they were altogether un
provided for hostilities by sea ; the ocean was
covered with their trading vessels ; and the naval
armaments of Great Britain were so numerous
and powerful, as to render all resistance on that
element equally vain and pernicious. The Eng
lish could not only have scoured the seas, and
made prize of their shipping, but were also in a
condition to reduce or demolish all their towns
in Zealand, where they would hardly have met
with any opposition.

(S^eorge tjje ^mxib.

m

.:^'s&

>4!,f "^.^

Vi f

Shrunk within his dismal cell, surrounded by haggard poverty and her
gaunt attendants, hollow-eyed famine, shivering cold, and wan disease, he
the unhappy debtor wildly cast his eyes around : he sees the tender part
ner of his heart weeping in silent woe ; he hears his helpless babes clamor
ous for sustenance ; he sees himself the importunate cravings of human
nature, which he cannot satisfy; and groans with all the complicated
pangs of internal anguish, horror, and despair.

1758. GEORGE, IL *37.

CHAPTER X.

Domestic Occurrences in Great Britain .. .Trials of-Drs Hensey
and Shebbeare .... Institution of the Magdalen and Asylum
..... Society for the Encouragement of Arts , . Session opened
.... New Treaty with the King of Prussia . . . Supplies granted
.... The King's Message to the Commons . . . Bills relating to
the Distillery and the Exportation of Corn .... Petition from
the Justices of Norfolk .... Bill for the Importation of Salted
Beef from Ireland continued .... Regulations with respect to
Privateers . . . New Mihtia Laws . . . Act for the Relief of Debtors
revived , . .Bills for the Importation of Irish Beef and Tallow . . ,
Act relative to Milford-Haven . . . Bill relative to the Duty on
Pensions . . , , Act relative to the Duty on Plate .... Cambric
Act , , , , Unsuccessful Bills .... Case of the Insolvent Debtors
.... Case of Captain Walker .... Remarks on the Bankrupt
Laws .... Inquiry into the State of the Poor .... Regulations
of Weights and Measures .... Resolutions concerning the
Foundling Hospital . . . Messages from the King to the PaHia-
ment . . . Session closed . . . Preparations for War . . . Death
ofthe Princess of Orange and Princess Elizabeth Caroline ....
Examples made of Pirates . . . Accounts of some remarkable
Murders .... Murder of Daniel Clarke .... Majority of the
Pi;ince of Wales .... Resolutions concerning a new Bridge at
Blackfriars .... Fire in Cornhill .... Method contrived to find
out the Longitude .... Installation at Oxford .... Deplorable
Incident at Sea .... Captures made by septate Cruizers ....
Captain Hood takes the Bellona .... and Captain Barrington
the Count de St Florentin .... Captain Falkner takes a French
East Indiaman .... Prizes taken in the West Indies . , , , En
gagement between the Hercules and the Florissant .... Havre-

438 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
de-Grace bombarded by Admiral Rodney .... Admiral Bos
cawen defeats M. de la Clue .... Preparations made by the
French for invading England .... Account of Thurot ....
French Fleet sails from Brest .... Admiral Hawke defeats M.
de Conflans ... Proceedings ofthe Irish Parhament... Loyalty
ofthe Irish Catholics . • . Dangerous Insurrection in Dublin. . .
Alarm of a Descent in Scotland.

DOMESTIC OCCURRENCES IN GREAT
BRITAIN.
W^HILE the operations of the Avar were prose
cuted through the four quarters of the globe,
the island of Great Britain, which may be termed
the centre that gave motion to this vast machine,
enjoyed all the tranquillity of the most profound
peace, and saw jiothing of Avar but the prepara
tions and trophies, Avbich served only to animate
the nation to a desire of further conquest ; for
the dejection occasioned by the misfortune at
St Cas spon vanished befpre the prospect of vic
tory and success. Considering the agitation
naturally produced among the common people,
by the practice of pressing men into the service
of the navy, which, in the beginning of the year,
had been carried on with unusual violence, the
levy of so many new corps of soldiers, and the
endeavours used in forming the national miUtia,
very few disturbances happened to interrupt the
internal repose of the nation. From private acts
of malice, fraud, violence, and rapine, no com-

1758. GEORGE IL 439
munity whatsoever is exempted. In the month
of April, the temporary wooden bridge over the
Thames, built for the conveniency of carriages
and passengers, while the workmen should be em
ployed in widening and repairing London bridge,
was maliciously set on fire in the night, and con
tinued burning till noon next ,day, when the
ruins of it fell into the river. The destruction
ofthis conveniency proved very detrimental to
the commerce of the city, notwithstanding the
vigilancy and discretion of the magistrates, in
applying remedies for this misforturie. A pro
mise bf the king's pardon was offered in a public
advertisement, by the secretary of state, and a
reward of two hundred pounds by the city of
London, to any person who should discover the
perpetrator of such wicked outrage ; but never
theless he escaped detection. No individual, nor
any society of men, could have the least interest
in the execution pf such a scheme, except the
bpdy of London watei;men ; but as no discovery
was made tp the prejudice of any person belong
ing to that society, the deed was imputed to the
malice of some secret enemy to the public. Even
after a new temporary bridge was erected, an
other attempt was made (in all probability by the
same incendiary) to reduce the whole to ashes, but
happily miscarried, and a guard was appointed,
to prevent any such atrocious efforts in the se
quel. Dangerous tumults were raised iu and
about Manchester, by a prodigious number of

440 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
manufacturers, Avho had left off Avorking, and
entered into a combination to raise, by force,
the price of their labour. They had formed a
regular plan, and collected large sums for the
maintenance ofthe poorer sort, while they refused
to work for their families. They insulted and
abused all those who would not join in this de
fection ; dispersed incendiary letters, and denoun
ced terrible threats against all such as should
presume to oppose their proceedings. But these
menaces had no effect upon the magistrates and
justices, who did their duty with such discretion
and courage, that the ringleaders being singled
out, and punished by law, the rest were soon re
duced to order.

TRIALS OF DRS HENSEY AND SHEBBEARE.
In the month of June Florence Herisey, an ob
scure physician, and native of Ireland, who had
been apprehended for treasonable practices, was
tried in the court of King's-Bench, on an indict
ment for high treason. In the course of the trial
it appeared that he had been employed as a spy
for the French ministry : to which, in considera
tion of a paltry pension, he sent intelligence of
every material occurrence in Great Britain. The
correspondence Avas managed by his brother, a
Jesuit, who acted as chaplain and secretary to

1758. GEORGE IL 441
the Spanish ambassador at the Hague. The Bri
tish resident at that court having learned from
the Spanish minister some secrets relating to
England, even before they were communicated
to him from the English ministry, was induced
to set on foot an inquiry touching the source of
this information, and soon received an assurance,
that the secretary of the Spanish ambassador had
a brother, a physician in London. The suspicion
naturally arising from this circumstance being
imparted to the ministry of England, Hensey was
narrowly watched, and twenty-nine of his letters
were intercepted. From the contents of these
he was convicted of having given the French
court the first notice of the expedition to North
America, the capture of the two ships, the Alcide
and Lys, the sailing and destination of every
squadron and armament, and the difficulties that
occurred in raising money for the service of the
public. He had even informed them, that the
.secret expedition of the foregoing year was in
tended against Rochefort, and advised a descent
upon Great Britain, at a certain time and place,
as the most effectual method of distressing the
government, and affecting the public credit.
After a long trial he was found guilty of treason,
and received the sentence of death usually pro
nounced on such occasions ; but whether he
earned forgiveness by some material discovery
or the minister found him so insensible and in
significant that he was ashamed to take his life.

442 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
he escaped execution, and Avas pardoned, on con
dition of going into perpetual exile. The seve
rity of the government Avas much about the same
period exercised on Dr Shebbeare, a public wri
ter, who, in a series of printed letters to the peo
ple of England, had animadverted on the conduct
of the ministry in the most acrimonious terms,
stigmatised some great names Avith all the viru
lence of censure, and even assaulted the throne
itself with oblique insinuation and ironical satire.
The ministry, incensed at the boldness, and still
more enraged at the success of this author, whose
writings were bought with avidity by the public,
determined to punish him severely for his arro
gance and abuse, and he was apprehended by a
warrant from the secretary's ofiice. His sixth let
ter to the people of England was pitched upon as
the foundation of a prosecution. After a short
trial in the court of King's-Bench, he was found
guilty of having written the sixth letter to the
people of England, adjudged a libellous pamphlet,
sentenced to stand in the pillory, to pay a small
fine, to be imprisoned three years, and give secu
rity for his future good behaviour ; so that, in
effect, this good man suffered more for having
given vent to the unguarded effusions of mistaken
zeal, couched in the language of passion and scur
rility, than was inflicted upon Hensey, a convict
ed traitor, who had acted as spy for France, and
betrayed his own country for hire.
Ig

1758. GEORGE IL 443

INSTITUTION OF THE MAGDALEN AND
ASYLUM.
Amidst a variety of crimes and disorders, arising
from impetuosity of temper, unreined passion,
luxury, extravagance, and an almost total want
of police and subordination, the virtues of bene
volence are always springing up to an extra
ordinary growth in the British soil ; and here
eharities are often established by the humanity^
of individuals, which In any other country would
be honoured as national institutions : witness the
great number of hospitals and infirmaries in Lon
don and Westminster, erected and maintained by
voluntary contributions, or raised by the princely
donations of private founders. In the course of
this year the public began to enjoy the benefit
of several admirable institutions. Mr Henry
Raine, a private gentleman of Middlesex, had,
in his life- time, built and endowed an hospital
for the maintenance of forty poor maidens. By
his will he bequeathed a certain sum of money to
accumulate at interest, under the management of
trustees, until the yearly produce should amount
to two hundred and ten pounds, to be given in
marriage portions to two of the maidens educated
in his hospital, at the age of twenty-two, Avho
should be the best recommended for piety and
industry by the masters or mistresses whom they

444 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17S8.
had served. In the month of March, the sum
destined for this laudable purpose was completed :
when the trustees, by public advertisement, sum
moned the maidens educated in the hospital to
appear on a certain day, with proper certificates
of their behaviour asd circumstances, that six ot
the most deserving might be selected to draw lots
for the prize of one hundred pounds, to be paid
as her marriage portion, provided she married a
man of an unblemished character, a member of
the church of England, residing within certain
specified parishes, and approved by the trustees.
Accordingly, on the first of May the candidates
appeared, and the prize being gained by one
young woman. In presence of a numerous assem
bly of all ranks, attracted by curiosity, the other
five maidens, with a sixth, added in lieu of her
who had been successful, were marked for a se
cond chance on the same day of the following
year, when a second prize of the same value would
be presented : thus a new candidate will be added
every year, that every maiden who has been edu
cated in this hospital, and preserved her character
without reproach, may have a chance for the no
ble donation, which is also accompanied with the
sum of five pounds to defray the expence of the
Avedding entertainment. One scarce knows whe
ther most to admire the plan, or commend the
humanity of this exceUent institution. Of equal
and perhaps superior merit was another charitable
estabUshment, Avhich also took effect about this pe-

1758. GEORGE IL 445
riod. A small number of humane individuals,
chiefly citizens of London, deeply affected with
the situation of common prostitutes, who are cer
tainly the most forlorn of all human creaturps,
formed a generous resolution in their favour,
such as even the best of men of the kingdom had
never before the courage to avow. They consi
dered that many of these unhappy creatures, so
wretched in themselves, and so productive of
mischief to society, had been seduced to vice in
their tender years by the perfidious artifice of the
other sex, or the violence of unruly passion, be
fore they had acquired experience to guard against
the one, or foresight to perceive the fatal conse
quences of the other : that the jewel, reputation,
being thus irretrievably lost, perhaps in one un
guarded moment, they were covered with shame
and disgrace, abandoned by their families, ex
cluded from all pity, regard, and assistance : that,
stung by self-conviction, insulted with reproach,
denied the privilege of penitence and contrition,
cut off from all hope, impelled by indigence, and
maddened Avith despair, they had plunged into a
life of infamy, in which they were exposed to de
plorable vicissitudes of misery, and the most ex
cruciating pangs of reflection that any human be
ing could sustain : that, whatever remorse they
might feel, howsoever they might detest their
own vice, or long for an opportunity of amend
ment, they were entirely destitute of all means of
reformation : they were not only deprived of all
1

446 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17£8.
possibility of profiting by those jprecibus riib-
ments of repentance, and becoming again useful
members of society ; but, in order to earn a mi
serable subsistence, were obliged to persevere in
the paths of prostitution, and act as the instru
ments of heaven's vengeance in propagating dis
temper and profligacy, in ruining the bodies and
debauching the minds of their fellow-creatures.
Moved to sympathy and compassion by these
considerations, this virtuous band of associates
determined to provide a comfortable asylum for
female penitents, to which they might fly for
shelter from the receptacles of vice, the miseries
of Ufe, and the scorn of mankind ; where they
might indulge the salutary sentiments of remorse,
make their peace with heaven, accustom them
selves to Industry and temperance, and be profit
ably re-united to society, from which they had
been so unhappily dissevered. The plan of this
excellent institution being formed, was put in ex
ecution by means of voluntary subscription, and
the house opened In Goodman's Fields, under the
name of the Magdalen-Hospital, in the month of
August; when fifty petitions were presented by
penitent prostitutes, soliciting admittance. An
other asylum was also opened by the hand of pri
vate charity, on the Surry side of Westminster
bridge, for the reception and education of female
orphans, and children abandoned by their parents.

175S. GEORGE IL 447

SOCIETY FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT
OF ARTS.
Nor was encouragement refused to those Avho
distinguished themselves by extraordinary talents
in any branch of the liberal and useful arts and
sciences, though no Maecenas appeared among
the ministers, and not the least ray of patronage
gUmmered from the throne. The protection,
countenance, and gratification secured in other
countries by the institution of academies, and
the liberalities of princes, the ingenious in Eng
land derived from the generosity of a public,
endued with taste and sensibility, eager for imr
provement, and proud of patronizing extraordi
nary merit. Several years had already elapsed
since a society of private persons was instituted
at London, for the encouragement of arts, ma
nufactures, and- commerce. It consisted of a
president, vice-president, secretary, register, col
lector, and other officers, elected from a very
considerable number of members, who pay a cer
tain yearly contribution for the purposes of the
institution. In. the course of every year they held
eight general meetings in a large assembly-room,
built and furnished at the common expence ; be
sides the ordinary meetings of the society, held
every week, from the second Wednesday in No
vember to the last Wednesday in May ; and In
the intermediate time, on the first and third

44S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
Wednesday of every month. At these ordinary
meetings, provided the number then present ex
ceeded ten, the members had a right to proceed
on business, and power to appoint such commit
tees as they should think necessary. The money
contributed by this association, after the neces
sary expence of the society had been deducted,
Avas expended In premiums for planting and hus
bandry ; for discoveries and improvements in
chemistry, dying, and mineralogy ; for promo
ting the ingenious arts of drawing, engraving,
casting, painting, statuary, and sculpture; for
the improvement of manufactures, and machines
in the various articles of hats, crapes, druggets,
mills,marbled-paper, ship-blocks, spinning-wheels,
toys, yarn, knitting, and weaving. They like
wise allotted sums for the advantage of the Bri
tish colonies in America, and bestowed premiums
on those settlers who should excel in curing
cochineal, planting logwood trees, cultivating
olive-trees, producing myrtle-wax, making pot
ash, preserving raisins, curing safilour, making-
silk and wines, importing sturgeon, preparing
issinglass, planting hemp and cinnamon, extract
ing opium and the gum of the persimon-tree,
collecting stones of the mango, which. should be
found to vegetate in the West Indies ; raising
silk-grass, and laying out provincial gardens.
They, moreover, allowed a gold medal, in honour
of him Avhp should compose the best treatise on
the arts of peace, containing an historical account

1758. GEORGE IL 449
of the progressive improvements of agriculture,
manufactures, and commerce in the kingdom of
England, with the effects of those improvements
on the morals and manners of the people, and
pointing out the most proper means for their
future advancement. In a word, the society is
so numerous, the contributions so considerable,
the plan so judiciously laid, and executed with
such discretion and spirit, as to promise much
more effectual and extensive advantage to the
pubUc than ever accrued from all. the boasted
academies of Christendom. The artists of Lon
don had long maintained a private academy for
improvement in the art of drawing from living
figures ; but, in order to extend this advantage,
which was not attained without difficulty and ex-
pence, the duke of Richmond, a young nobleman
of the most amiable character, provided a large
apartment at Whitehall, for the use of those who
studied the art of painting, sculpture, and en
graving ; and furnished it with a collection of
original plaister casts from the best antique sta
tues and busts at Rome and Florence. Here any
learner had liberty to draw, or make models, un
der the eye and instructions of two eminent art
ists ; and twice a year the munificent founder
bestowed premiums of silver medals on the four
pupils who excelled the rest in drawing from a
certain figure, and making the best model of it
in basso-relievo.'
I See Note (I), vol, vi.
VOL. V. 2 0

450 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 175&
On the twenty-third day of November both
houses of parliament met at Westminster, when
his majesty being indisposed, the session was
opened by commission, and the lord keeper ha
rangued them to this effect. He told them, his
majesty had directed the lords of the commission
to assure his parliament that he always received
the highest satisfaction in beluii able to lay be
fore them any event that might promote the ho
nour and interest of his kingdoms ; that in con
sequence of their advice, and enabled by the
assistance which they unanimously gave, his ma
jesty had exerted his endeavours to carry on the
war in the most vigorous manner, in order to at
tain that desirable end, always to be Avished, a
safe and honourable peace ; * that it had pleased
the Divine Providence to bless his measures and
arms with success In several parts, and to make
the enemies of the nation feel, that the strength
of Great Britain is not lo/be provoked with Im
punity : that the conquest ofthe strong fortress
of Louisbourgh, with the Islands of Cape Breton
and St John ; the demplltlon of Frontenac, of
the highest importance to his operations in Ame
rica, and the reduction of Senegal, could not fail
to bring great distress on the French commerce
and colonies, and, in proportion, to procure great
' In the month of August, the king; in quality of elector of
Hunover, having occasion for two hundred thousand pounds,^
a loan by subscription for that sum was opened at the Bank, and
filled immediately by seven or eight money-dealers of Londop,

1758, GEORGE IL 451
advantage to those of Great Britain, He ob
served, that France had also been made sensible,
that Avhilst her forces are sent forth to invade and
ravage the dominions of her neighbours, her own
coasts are not inaccessible to his majesty's fleets
and armies : a truth which she had experienced
in the demolition of the works at Cherbourg,
erected at a great expence, with a particular view
to annoy England, as well as in the loss of a great
number of ships and vessels; but no treatment,
hoAveverlnjurioiTs to his majesty, could tempthim
to make retaliation on the Innocent subjects of
that crown. He told them, that in Germany his
majesty's good brother the king of Prussia, and
prince Ferdinand of BrunsAvick, had found full
employment for the enemies of France and her
confederates, from which the EngUsh operations,
both by sea and in America, had derived the most
evident advantage : their successes, owing,' under
God, to their able conduct, and the bravery of
his majesty's troops, and those of his allies, ha
ving been signal and glorious. The king, more
over, commanded them to declare, that the com
mon cause of liberty and independency Avas still
making noble and glorious efforts against the
unnatural union formed to oppress it : that the
commerce of his subjects, the source of national
riches, had, by the vigilant protection received
from his majesty's' fleet, flourished in a manner
not to be paralleled during such troubles : In this
state of things, he said, the king in his wisdom,

452 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758,
thought it unnecessary to use many words to per
suade them to bear up against all difficulties, ef
fectually to stand by, and defend his majesty,
vigorously to support the king of Prussia, and the
rest of his majesty's allies, and to exert themselves
to reduce their enemies to equitable terms of acr
commodation. He observed to the house of com
mons, that the uncommon extent of this war, in
different parts, occasioned it to be uncommonly
expensive : that the king had ordered them to
declare to the commons, that he sincerely lament
ed, and deeply felt, for the burthens of his peo
ple : that the several estimates were ordered to be
laid before them : and that he desired*only such
supplies as should be requisite to push the war
with advantage, and be adequate to the necessary
services. In the last place, he assured them the
king took so much satisfaction in that good har
mony which subsisted among his faithful subjects,
that It was more proper for him now to thank
them for it, than to repeat his exhortation to it :
that this union, necessary at all times, Avas more
especially so in such critical conjunctures ; and
his majesty doubted not but the good effects the
nation had found from it Avould be the strongest
motives to them to pursue it. — The reader will,
no doubt, be surprised to find this harangue
abound with hafshness of period and inelegancy
of expression : he Avill wonder that, in particu
larising the successes of the year in America, no
mention is made of the reduction of Fort Du«i

1758. ' GEORGE IL 453
X
Quesne on the river Ohio ; a place of great im
portance, both from its strength -and situation,
the erection of which had been one great motive
to the war between the two nations : but he will
be still more surprised to hear it declared from
the throne, that the operations, both by sea and
in America, had derived the most evident advan
tage from the Avar in Germany. An assertiori the
more extraordinary, as the British ministry, in
their answer to the Parallel, which we have already
mentioned, had expressly affirmed, that " none
" but such as are unacquainted with the maritime
" force of England can believe, that Avithout a
" diversion on the continent, to employ part of
" the enemy's force, she is not in a condition to
" hope for success and maintain her superiority
" at sea. That they must be very ignorant in-
" deed, who imagine that the forces of England
" are not able to resist those of France unless the
" latter be hindered from turning all her efforts
" to the sea." It is very remarkable that the
British ministry should declare that the war in
Germany was favourable to the English opera
tions by sea and In America, and almost in the
same breath accuse the French king of having
fomented that war. Let us suppose that France
had no war to maintain In Europe; and ask in
what manner she, in that case, would have opposed
the progress of the British arms by sea and in
America ? Her navy was reduced to such a con
dition that it durst not quit her harbours ; her
merchant ships Avere all taken, her mariners con-

i.54> HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ' 1758.
fined in England, and the sea was covered AvIth
British cruisers : in these circumstances, what
expedients could she have contrived for sending
supplies and reinforcements to America, or for
opposing the naval armaments of Great Britain in
any other part of the world ? — None. ^Without
ships and mariners, her troops, ammunition, and
stores were, in this respect, as useless as money
to a man shipwrecked on a desolate island. But
granting that the war in Germany had, in some
measure, diverted the attention of the French mi
nistry from the prosecution of their operations In
America, (and this Is granting more than ought
to be allowed,) the question is not, whether the
hostilities upon the continent of Europe prevent
ed France from sending in a great number of
troops to Canada ; but Avhether the war in Ger
many was either necessary or expedient for dis
tressing the French more effectually in other
parts of the world ? Surely every intelligent man
of candour must answer in the negative. The
expence incurred by England for subsidies and
armies in the empire, exceeded three millions ster
ling' annually ; and this eriormous. expence, with
out being able to protect Hanover, only served to
keep the war alive in different parts of Germany.
Had one half of this sum been employed in aug
menting and extending the naval armaments of
Great Britain, and in reinforcing her troops in
America, and the West Indies, France Avould have
been, at this day, deprived of all her sugar colo
nies, as well as of her settlements on the continent

1758. GEORGE IL 455
of America ; and, being absolutely cut off from
these sources of wealth, would have found it im
practicable either to gratify her subsidiaries, or
to maintain such formidable armies to annoy her
neighbours. These are truths which avIU appear
to the conviction of the public, when the illusive
spells of unsubstantial victory are dissolved, and
time shall have dispersed the thick mists of pre
judice which now seem to darken and perplex the
understanding of the people.

NEW TREATY WITH THE KING OF PRUSSIA.
The conduct of the administration' was so agree
able to both houses of parliament, that in their ad
dress to the throne they expressed their unshaken
zeal and loyalty to his majesty's person, congratu
lated him on the success of his arms, and pro
mised to support his measures and allies with
steadiness and alacrity.' It was probably in con-
' That the charge of disaffection to the king's person, which
was so loudly trumpeted by former ministers and their adherents
against those who had honesty and courage to oppose the measures
of a weak and corrupt administration, was entirely false and with
out foundation, appeared at this juncture, when in the midst of a
' cruel, oppressive, and continental war, maintained by the blood
and treasure of Great Britain, all opposition ceased in both houses
of parliament. The addresses of thanks to his majesty, which
are always dictated by the immediate servants of the crown, were
unanimously adopted in both houses, and not only couched in
terms of applause, but even inflated with expressions of rapture

i'56 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1758.
sequence of this assurance that a new treaty be
tween Great Britain and Prussia was concluded
at London on the seventh day of December, im
porting. That as the burthensome war, in which
the king of Prussia is engaged, lays him under
the necessity of making fresh efforts to defend
himself against the multitude of enemies who
attack his dominions, he is obliged to take new
measures with the king of England, for their reci
procal defence and s.afety ; and his Britannic ma
jesty hath at the same time signified his earnest
desire to strengthen the friendship subsisting be
tween the two courts, and in consequence thereof,
to conclude a formal convention, for granting to
his Prussian majesty speedy and powerful assist
ance, their majesties have nominated and autho
rised their ministers to concert and settle the fol
lowing articles : — All formal treaties betAveen the
two crowns, particularly that signed at Westmin
ster on the l6th day of January in the year 1755,
and the convention of the llth of April in the
year 1758, are confirmed by the present conven
tion of the llth of April in the year 1758, in their
whole tenor, as if they Avere herein inserted word
for word. The king of Great Britain shall cause
to be paid at London, to such person or persons
and admiration. They declared themselves sensible, that the
operations of Great Britain both by sea and in America, had re
ceived the most evident and important advantages from the main
tenance ofthe war in Germany, and seemed eager to espouse any
measure that might gratify the inclination of the sovereign.

1758. GEORGE U. 457
as shall be authorised by the king of Prussia for
that end, the sum of four millions of rix-dollars,
making six hundred and seventy thousand pounds
sterling, at one payment, immediately on the ex
change of the ratification, if the king of Prussia
shall so require. His Prussian majesty shall em
ploy the said sum in supporting and augmenting
his forces, which shall act in such manner as shall
be of the greatest service to the common cause, and
contribute most to the mutual defence and safety
of their said majesties. The king of Great Britain,
both as king and elector, and the king of Prus
sia, reciprocally bind themselves not to conclude
with the powers that have taken part in the pre
sent war any treaty of peace, truce, or other such
like convention, but by common advice and con
sent, each expressly including therein the other.
The ratification of the present convention shall
be exchanged within six weeks, or sooner, if pos
sible. In eftect, this treaty was no other than a
renewal of the subsidy from year to year, because
it was not thought proper to stipulate in the first
subsidiary convention an annual supply of such
importance until the war should be terminated,
lest the people of England should be alarmed at
the prospect of such successive burthens, and the
complaisance of the commons be in some future
session exhausted. On the whole, this Avas per
haps the most extraordinary treaty that ever Avas
concluded ; for it contains no specification of ar
ticles, except the payment of the subsidy : every

458 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
other article was left to the interpretation of his
Prussian majesty.

SUPPLIES GRANTED.
The parliament, having performed the ceremony
of addresses to the throne, immediately proceed
ed to the great work of the supply. The two
committees in the house of commons Avere imme
diately established, and continued by adjourn
ments to the month of May, by the twenty-third
day of which all their resolutions Avere taken.
They voted sixty thousand men, including four
teen thousand eight hundred and forty-five ma
rines, for the service of the ensuing year ; and
for the operations by land, a body of troops
amounting to fifty-two thousand five hundred and
fifty-three effective men, besides the auxiUaries
of Hanover, Hesse, Brunswick, Saxe-Gotha, and
Buckebourg, to the number of fifty thousand,
and five battalions on the Irish establishment in
actual service in America and Africa, . For the
maintenance ofthe sixty thousand men employed
in the sea-service, they granted three millions one
hundred and twenty thousand pounds ; for the
land forces, one million two hundred fifty-six
thousand one hundred and thirty pounds, fifteen
shillings, and two-pence; for the charge of the
additional five battalions, forty thousand eight
hundred and seventy-nine pounds, thirteen shil-
12

1759. GEORGE IL 459
lings, and nine-pence ; for the pay of the general
and staff-officers, and hospitals of the land forces,
fifty-two thousand four hundred and eighty-four
pounds, one shUling, and eight-pence ; for main
taining the garrispns in the plantatipns, Gibral
tar, Npva-Scptia, Newfoundland, Providence,
Cape Breton, and Senegal, the sum of seven hun
dred and forty-two thousand five hundred and
thirty-one pounds, five shillings, and seven-pence ;
for the charge of ordnance for land-service, two
hundred and twenty thousand seven hundred and
eighty-nine pounds, eleven shillings, and nine-
pence ; for extraordinary service performed by
the same office, and not provided for by parlia
ment in the course of the preceding year, three
hundred twenty-three thousand nine hundred and
eighty-seven pounds, thirteen shillings, and three
pence ; for the ordinary of the navy, including
half-pay to sea-oificers, two hundred and thirty-
eight thousand four hundred and ninety-one
pounds, nine shilUngs, and eight-pence ; towards
the support of Greenwich-hospital, and for the
out-pensioners of Chelsea-college, the sum of
thirty-six thousand pounds. They allotted for
one year's expence, incurred by the foreign troops
in the pay of Great Britain, one million two hun
dred thirty-eight thousand one hundred and
seventy-seven pounds, nineteen shillings, and ten-
pence, over and above sixty thousand pounds for
enablinghis majesty to fulfil his engagements with
the landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, pursuant to the

4Qfi HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759.
separate article of a ncAV treaty concluded between
them in the month of January of this current
year, stipulating, that this sum should be paid to
his serene highness In order to facilitate the means
by which he might again fix his residence in his
own dominions, and by his presence give fresh
courage to his faithful subjects. Eighty thou
sand pounds were granted for enabling his ma
jesty to discharge the like sum raised in pur
suance of an act passed In the preceding session,
and charged upon the first aids or suppUes to be
granted In this session of parliament. The sum
of tAVO hundred thousand pounds was voted to
wards the building and repairing ships of war for
the ensuing year. Fifteen thousand pounds Avere
allowed for improving London bridge ; and forty
thousand on account for the Foundling-hospital.
For the charge of transports to be employed in
the course of the year they assigned six hundred
sixty-seven thousand seven hundred and twenty-
one pounds, nineteen shillings, and seven-pence :
for'malntalnlrig the colonies of Nova Scotia and
Georgia they bestowed twenty-five thousand two
hundred and thirty-eight pounds, thirteen shil-
lings, and five-pence. To replace sums taken
from the sinking fund, thirty-three thousand two
hundred and fifty-two pounds, eighteen shillings,
and ten-pence half-penny ; for maintaining the
British forts and settlements on the coast of
Africa, ten thousand pounds, and for paying off
the mortgage on an estate devised for the endow-

1759, GEORGE IL 461
ment ofa professorship In the university of Cam
bridge, the sum of twelve hundred and eighty
pounds. For the expence of the militia they
voted ninety thousand pounds : for extraordinary
expences relating to the land forces, incurred in
the course of last year, and unprovided for by par
liament, the sum of four hundred fifty-six thou
sand seven hundred and eighty five pounds, ten
shillings, and five-pence three farthings. For the
purchase of certain lands and hereditaments, iti
order to secure the king's docks at Portsmouth,
Chatham, and Plymouth, they granted thirty-six
thousand nine hundred and sixty-six pounds, two
shillings, and ten-pence. They voted two hun
dred thousand pounds for enabling his majesty ta
give proper compensation to the respective pro
vinces in North America, for the expences that
had been incurred in levying and maintaining
troops for the service of the public. They grant
ed twenty thousand pounds to the East-India
Company, towards enabling them to defray the
expence of a military force in their settlements :
and the same sum was granted for carrying on
the fortification to secure the harbour of Milford.
To make good several sums issued'by his majesty,
for indemnifying the inn-holders and victuallers
of Hampshire for the expences they had incurred
in quartering the Hessian auxiliaries in England ;
for an addition to the salaries of judges, and other
less considerable purposes, they allowed the sum
of twenty-six thousand one hundred and seventy-
12

462 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
eight pounds, sixteen shUUngs, and six-pence. Fi
nally, they voted one million, upon account, for
enabling the king to defray any extraordinary ex-
pence of the war, incurred, or to be incurred, for
the service pf the current year ; and to take all
such measures as might be necessary to disappoint
or defeat any enterprises or designs of his ene
mies as the exigency of affairs should require.
The sum of all the grants voted by the committee
of supply amounted to twelve millions seven hun
dred sixty-one thousand three hundred and ten
pounds, nineteen shillings, and five-pence.

THE KING'S MESSAGE TO THE COMMONS.
'tuE commons were still employed in deliberations
on Avays and means on the tAventy-second day of
May, when Mr Secretary Pitt communicated to
them a message from the king, couched in these
terms : His majesty, relying on the experienced
zeal and affection of his faithful commons, and
considering that,In this critical conjuncture, emer
gencies may arise, which may be of the utmost
importance, and be attended with the most perni
cious consequences, if proper means should not
immediately be applied to prevent or defeat them,
is desirous that this house will enable him to de
fray any extraordinary expences ofthe war incur
red or to be incurred, for the service of the year
one thousand seven hundred and fifty -nine> and to

1759. GEORGE IL 463
take all such measures as may be necessary to dis
appoint or defeat any enterprises or designs of his
enemies, and as the exigencies of affairs may re
quire. This message being read, a motion was
made, and agreed to nem. con. that it should be
referred to the committee, who forthwith formed
upon it the resolution, whereby one million was
granted, to be raised by loans or exchequer-bills,
chargeable on the first aids that should be given
in the next session. This produced a bill enabling
his majesty to raise the sum of one million, for the
uses and purposes therein mentioned, comprehend
ing a clause, allowing the Bank of England to ad
vance on the credit of the loan therein mentioned
any sum not exceeding a million, notwithstanding
the act of the fifth and sixth year in the reign
of WiUiam and Mary, by which the Bank was
established.

BILLS RELATING TO THE DISTILLERY AND
THE EXPORTATION OF CORN.
The bills relating solely to the supply being dis
cussed and expedited, the house proceeded, as
usual, to enact other laws for the advantage ofthe
community. Petitions having been presented by
the cities of Bristol and New Sarum, alledging,
that since the laws prohibiting the making of low
wines and spirits from grain, meal, and flour had
been in force, the commonalty appeared mpre

464 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
sober, healthy, and Industrious : representing the
iU consequences which they apprehended would
attend the repeal of these laws, and therefore
praying their continuance : a committee of the
whole house resolved that the prohibition to ex
port corn should be continued to the tAventy-fourth
day of December, in the year one thousand seven
hundred and fifty-nine ; subject nevertheless to
such provisions for shortening the said term of its
continuance as should therefore be made by an
act of that session, or by his majesty with the ad
vice of his privy-council during the recess of par
liament ; that the act for discontinuing the duties
upon corn and flour imported, or brought in as
prize, was not proper to be further continued :
and that the prohibition to make low wines or
spirits from any sort of grain, meal, or flour, should
be continued to the twenty -fourth day of Decem
ber, in the year one thousand seven hundred and
fifty-nine. Before the bill was formed on these
resolutions, petitions arrived from Liverpool and
Bath, to the same purport as those of Bristol and
Sarum ; while on the other hand, a remonstrance
was presented by a great number ofthe malt-distil
lers of the city and suburbs of London, alledging,
that it having been deemed expedient to prohibit
the distilling of spirits from any sort of grain to
the twenty-fourth day of December then instant,
some of the petitioners had entirely ceased to
carry on the business of distilling, while others,
merely with a view to preserve their custcmers.

1759. GEORGE H. 465
the compound distillers; and employ some of their
servants, horses, and utensils, had submitted to
carry pn the distUlation bf spirits from melasses
and sugars under great disadvantages, in full hope
that the restraint would cease at the expiration of
the limited time, or at least when the necessity
which occasioned that restraint should be re
moved ; that it was Avith great concern they ob
served a bill Avould be brought in for protracting
the said prohibition, at a time when the price of
all manner of grain, and particularly of wheat and
barley, was considerably reduced, and, as they
humbly conceived, at a reasonable medium. They
expatiated on the great loss they, as well as many
traders and artificers, dependents upon them, must
sustain in case the said bill should be passed into
a law. They prayed the house to take these cir
cumstances into consideration, and either permit
them to carry on the distillation from wheat,
malt, and other grain, under such restrictions as
should be judged necessary ; or to grant them
such other relief, in respect of their several losses
and incumbrances, as to the house shall seem rea
sonable and expedient. This petition, though
strenuously urged by a powerful and clamorous
body withput doors, did not meet great encou
ragement within. It was ordered to lie upon the
table, and an instruction Avas given to the com
mittee, empowering them to receive a clause or
clauses to allow the transportations of certain
quantities of meal, flour, bread, and biscuit to thc
VOL. V. 2 H

466 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759,
islands of Guernsey and Jersey for the sole use
of the Inhabitants ; and another to prohibit the
making of Ioav wines and spirits from bran. Much
more attention Avas paid to a petition of several
farmers in the county of Norfolk, representing,
that their farms consisted chiefly of arable land,
which produced much greater quantities of corn
than could be consumed within that county ; that
in the last harvest there was a great and plentiful
crop of all sorts of grain, the greatest part of
which had by unfavourable Aveather been rendered
unfit for sale at London, or other markets for home
consumption ; that large quantities of malt were
then lying at London, arising chiefly from the
crops of barley growing in the year one thousand
seven hundred and fifty-seven, the sale of Avhich
was stagnated ; that the petitioners being informed
the house had ordered in a bill to continue the
prohibition of corn exported,, they begged leave
to observe, that, should it pass into a law, it AA'ould
be extremely prejudicial to all, and ruin many
farmers of that county, as they had offered their
corn for sale at divers ports and markets of the
said county ; but the merchants refused to buy it
at any place, alledging its being unfit for the Lon
don market : the great quantity of corn Avith
which that market was already overstocked, and
their not being alloAved either to export it or make
it into malt for exportation, they therefore prayed
this prohibition might be remove'd, or they the
petitionersindulged with some other kind of relief

1759. GEORGE IL 4Sl
Although this remonstrance was duly considered,
the bill passed with the amendments because of
the proviso, by which his majesty in council was
empoAvered to shorten the date ofthe prohibition
with respect to the exportation of corn during the
recess of parliament : but the temporary restraint
laid upon distillation was made absolute, without
any such condition, to the' no small disappoint
ment and mortification of the distillers, Avho had
spared no pains and expence by private solicitation,
and strenuous dispute in the public papers, to re
commend their cause to the favour of the commu
nity. They urged, that malt-spirits, when used in
moderation, far from being prejudicial to the
health of individuals, were in many damp and
marshy parts of the kingdom absolutely necessary
for preserving the field-labourers from agues and
other distempers produced by the cold and mois
ture of the climate ; that if they were debarred
the use of malt-spirits they would have recourse
to French brandy, Avith Avliich, as they generally
reside near the sea-coast, the smugglers would
provide them almost as cheap as the malt-spirits
could be afforded : thus the increased consump
tion of French spirit would drain the nation of
ready money to a considerable amount, and pre
judice the king's revenue in the same propor
tion. They observed, that many distillers had al
ready quitted that branch of trade, and disposed
of their materials ; that all of them would probably
take the same resolution should the bill pass into

468 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
a law, as no man could foresee when the prohibi
tion would cease should it be continued at a time
when all sorts of grain abounded in such plenty :
that the very waste of materials by disuse, over
and above the lying out of the money, would be
ofgreat prejudice to the proprietor: thus the bu
siness of distilling, by which so many famiUes were
supported, would be banished from the kingdom
entirely ; especially as the expence of establishing
a large distillery was so great, that no man would
choose to employ his money for this purpose,
judging from experience that some future acci
dental scarcity of corn might induce the legisla
ture to interpose a ruinous delay in this branch of
business. They affirmed, that from the excessive
use of malt-spirits no good argument could be
drawn against this branch of traffic no more than
against any other conveniency of life : that the
excessive use of common beer and ale was preju
dicial to the health and morals of the people, yet
no person ever thought of putting an end to the
practice of brewing, in order to prevent the abuse
of brewed liquors. They urged, that in all parts
of Great Britain there are some parcels of land
that produce nothing to advantage but a coarse
kind of barley called big, Avhich, though neither
fit for brewing nor for baking, may nevertheless
be used in the distillery, and is accordingly pur
chased by those concerned in thi* branch at such
an encouraging price, as enables many farmers to
pay a higher rent to their landlprds than they

1759. GEORGE IL 469
could otherwise afford : that there are every year
some parcels of all sorts of grain so damaged by
unseasonable weather, or other accidents, as to be
rendered altogether unfit for bread or brewery,
and would prove a very great misfortune to the
farmer, if there was no distillery, for the use of
Avhieh he could sell his damaged commodity. They
asserted, that malt spirits Avere absolutely necessa-
sary for prosecuting some branches of foreign com
merce, particularly the trade to the coast of Africa,
for which traffic no assortment could be made up
without a large quantity of geneva, of which the
natives are so fond, that they avIU not traflSc with
any merchant Avho has not a considerable quan
tity, not only for sale, but also for presents to
their chiefs and rulers : that the merchants of
Great Britain must either have this commodity
of their own produce, or import it at a great na
tional expence from Holland : that the charge of
this importation, together Avith the duties payable
upon it, some part of which is not to be drawn
back on exportation, will render it impossible for
the traders to sell it so cheap on the coast of
Africa, as it might be sold by the Dutch, who are
the great rivals of Great Britain in this branch of
commerce. To these arguments, all of which
were plausible, and some of them unansAverable,
it was replied, that malt-spirits might be consi
dered as a fatal and bewitching poison, Avhich
had actually debauched the minds, and enervated
the bodies of the common people, to a very de?

470 HISTORY ot" ENGLAND. 1750.
plorable degree ; that, Avithout entering further
into a comparison between the use and abuse of
the two liquors, beer and geneva, it would be suf
ficient to observe, that the useof beer and ale had
produced none of those dreadful effects which
were the consequences of drinking geneva ; and
since the prohibition of thedistillery of malt-spirits
had taken place, the common people were become
apparently more sober, decent, healthy, and indus
trious : a circumstance sufficient to luduce the
legislature not only to intermit, but even totally
to abolish the practice of distillation, Avhich has
ever been productive of such intoxication, riot,
disorder, and distemper, among the loAver class of
the people, as might be deemed the greatest evils
incident to a well-regulated commonwealth. Their
assertion with respect to the coarse kind of barley,
called big, was contradicted as a deviation from
truth, inasmuch as it Avas used in making malt, as
well as in making bread : and with respect to da
maged corn, those Avho understood the nature of
grain affirmed, that if it was spoiled to such a de
gree as to be altogether unfit for either of these
purposes, the distillers Avould not purchase it at
such a price as would indemnify the farmer for the
charge of threshing and carriage ; for the distil
lers are very sensible, that their great profit is de
rived from their distilling the malt made from the
best barley, so that the increase ofthe produce far
exceeded in proportion the advance of the price.
It was not, however, an easy matter to prove that

1759. GEORGE IL 471
the distillation of malt-spirits was not necessary
to an advantageous prosecution of the commerce
on the coast of Guinea, as well as among the In
dians in some parts of North America. Certain
it is, that in these branches of traffic, the Avant of
geneva may be supplied by spirits distilled frotn
sugars and melasses. After all, it must be owned,
that the good and salutary effects of the prohibi
tion were visible in every part of the kingdom,
and no evil consequence ensued, except a dimi
nution ofthe revenue in this article: a considi-r-
ation AvhIch, at all times, ought to be sacrificed to
the health and morals of the people : nor will this
consideration be found of any great weight, when
Ave reflect that the less the malt spirit is drunk,
the greater quantity of beer and ale will be con
sumed, and the produce of the duties and excise
upon the brewery be augmented accordingly.
In the mean time, all sorts of grain continuing
to fall in price, and great plenty appearing in
every part of the kingdom, the justices of the
peace, and of the grand juries, assembled at the
general quarter sessions of the peace, held for the
county of Norfolk, composed and presented to
the house of commons, in the beginning of Fe
bruary, a petition, representing, that the weather
proving unfavourable in the harvest, great part
of the barley raised in that county Avas much da
maged, and rendered unfit for any other use than
that of being made into malt for exportation;
that unless it should be speedily manufactured for
4

472 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
that purpbse, it would be entirely spoiled, and
perish in the hands of the growers ; a loss that
must be very sensibly felt by the land-owners :
they, therefore, entreated that leave might be
given for the exportation of malt ; and that they
might be favoured with such further relief, as to
the house should seem just and reasonable. In
consequence of this petition, the house resolved
itself into a Committee, to deliberate upon the
subject; and as it appeared, upon examination,
that the price of grain Avas reduced very Ioav, and
great abundance diffused through the kingdom,
they resolved, that the continuance of that part
of the act prohibiting the exportation of grain,
Ought to be abridged and shortened, and the ex
portation of these commodities allowed, under
proper regulations, Avith respect to the time of
such exportation, and the allowance of bounties
thereupon- A bill being founded on these reso
lutions, Avas discussed, and underwent several
amendments : at length it was sent with a new
title to the lords, who passed it without further
altera;tibii, and then it bbtained the royal sanction.
While this affair was under the deliberation of
the comniittee, the commons unanimously issued
an order for4eave to bring in a bill to continue,
for a limited time, the act of last session, permit
ting the importation of salted beef from Ireland
intb Great Britain, with an instruction to receive
a clause extending this permission to all sorts of
salted pork, or hog-meat, as the ofiicers of the

1759: GEORGE IL 473
custom-house had refused to admit hams from
Ireland to an entry. The bill likewise received
another considerable alteration, importing. That
instead of the duty of one shilling and three
pence, charged by the former act on every hun
dred weight of salted beef or pork imported from
Ireland, which was found not adequate to the
duty payable for such a quantity of salt as is re
quisite to be used in curing and salting thereof;
and to prevent as well the expence to the reve
nue, as the detriment and loss which would ac
crue to the owner and iinporter, from opening the
casks in which the provision is generally deposit
ed, with the pickle or brine proper for preserving
the same, in order to ascertain the net weight of
the provision liable to the said duties ; for these
reasons it was enacted, That from and after the
twenty-fourth day of last December, and during
the continuance of this act, a duty of three shil
lings and four-pence should be paid upon impor
tation for every barrel or cask of salted beef or
pork containing thirty-two gallons ; and one shil
ling and three-pence for every hundred weight
of salted beef, called dried beef, dried neats-
tongues, or dried hog-meat, and so in proportion
for any greater or lesser quantity.

12

474 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759,

REGULATIONS WITH RESPECT TO PRIVA
TEERS.
Repeated complaints having been made to the
-government by neutral nations, especiaUy the
Dutch, that their ships had been plundered, and
their crews maltreated by some of the English
privateers, the legislature resolved to provide ef
fectually against any such outrageous practices
for the future : and AvIth this view the commons
ordered a bill to be brought In for amending and
explaining an act of the twenty-ninth year of his
late majesty's reign, intituled, " An Act for the
" Encouragement of Seamen, and more speedy
" and effectual Manning of his Majesty's Navy."
While the committee was employed in perusing
commissions and papers relating to private ships
of war, that they might be fully acquainted Avith
the nature of the subject, a considerable number
of merchants and others, Inhabiting the islands pf
Guernsey and Jersey, presented a petition to the
house, alledging, that the inhabitants of those
Islands, which lie In the British channel, AA^thin
sight ofthe French coast, had now, as well as in
former Avars, embarked their fortunes In equipping
small privateers, AvhIch used to run in close Avith
the French shore, and being disguised like fishing-
boats, had not only taken a considerable number
of prizes, to the great annoyance of the enemy,
but also obtained material intelligence of their

17S8. GEORGE IL 475
designs on many important occasions ; that these
services could not be performed by large vessels,
Avhich durst not approach so near the coast, and
indeed could not appear A\uthout giving the alarm,
which was communicated from place to place by
appointed signals. Being informed that a bill
was depending, in order to prohibit privateers of
small burthen, they declared that such a law, if
extended to privateers equipped in those islands,
would ruin such as had invested their fortunes in
small privateers, and not only deprive the kingdom
of the before-mentioned advantages, but expose
Great Britain to infinite prejudice from the small
armed vessels of France, which the enemy, in that
case, would pour abroad over the Avhole channel,
to the great annoyance of navigation and com
merce. They prayed, therefore, that such priva
teers as belonged to the islands of Guernsey and
Jersey might be wholly excepted from the penal
ties contained in the bill, or that they (the peti
tioners) might be heard by their counsel, and be
indulged with such relief as the house should
judge expedient. This representation being re
ferred to the consideration of the committee, pro
duced divers amendments to the bill, Avhich at
length obtained the royal assent, and contained
these regulations : That, after the first day of
January in the present year, no commission should
be granted to a privateer in Europe under the bur
then of one hundred tons, the force of ten car
riage guns, being three-pounders or above, Avith

475 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
forty men at the least, unless the lords of the ad
miralty, or persons authorised by them, should
think fit to grant the same to any ship of inferior
force or burthen, the owners thereof giving such
bail or security as should be prescribed : that the
lords of the admiralty might at any time revoke,
by an order in writing under their hands, any
commission granted to a privateer ; this revoca
tion being subject to an appeal to his majesty in
council, whose determination should be final : that,,
previous to the granting any commission, the per
sons proposing to be bound, and give security,
should severally make oath of their being respec
tively worth more money than the sum for which
they were then to be bound, over and above the
payment of all their just debts : that persons ap
plying for such commissions should make appli
cation in writing, and therein set forth a particu
lar and exact description of the vessel, specifying
the burthen, and the number and nature of the
guns on board, to what place belonging, as well
as the name or names of the principal owner or
owners, and the number of men : these particulars
to be inserted in the commission ; and every com
mander to produce such commission to the custom
house officer who should examine the vessel, and,
finding her answer the description, give a certi
ficate thereof gratis, to be deemed a necessary
clearance, without which the commander shbuld
not depart : that if, after the first day of July,
any captain of a privateer should agree for the

I7SS. GEORGE IL * 477
ransom'of any neutral vessel, or the cargo, br any
-part thereof, after it should have been taken as
prize, and in pursuance of such agreement should
actually discharge such prize, he should be deemed
guilty of piracy ; but that with respect to contra
band merchandize, he might take it on board his
own ship, Avith the consent ofthe commander of
the neutral vessel, and then set her at liberty ; and
that no person should purloin or embezzle the said
merchandize before condeflination : that no judge,
or other person belonging to any cburt of admi
ralty, should be concerned in any privateer : that
owners of vessels, not being under fifty, or above
one hundred tons, Avhose commissions are declared
void, should be indemnified for their loss by the
public : that a court of oyer and terminer, and
gaol delivery, for the trial of offences committed
within the jurisdiction of the admiralty, should
be held twice a-year in the Old-Bailey at Lon
don, or in such other place Avithin England as
the board of admiralty should appoint : that the
judge of any court of admiralty, after an ap
peal interposed, as well as before, shpuld, at
the request of the captor or claimant, issue an
order for appraising the capture, when the parties
do not agree upon the value, and an inventory to
be taken ; then exact security for the full value,
and cause the capture to be delivered to the per
son giving such security : but, should objection
be made to the taking such security, the judge
should, at the request of either party, order such

478 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759,
merchandize to be entered, landed, and sold at
public auction, and the produce be deposited at
the Bank, or in some public securities : and in
case of security being given, the judge should
grant a pass in favour of the capture. Finally,
the force of this act was limited to the duration
of the then war with France only. This regulation
very clearly demonstrated, that whatever vio
lences might have been committed on the ships
of neutral nations, they were by no means coun
tenanced by the legislature, or the body of the
people. NEW MILITIA LAWS.
EvEiiT circumstance relating to the reformation
of the marine, must be an important object to a
nation whose Avealth and power depend upon na
vigation and commerce : but a consideration of
equal Aveight was the establishment of the militia,
which, notwithstanding the repeated endeavours
of the parUament, was found still incomplete, and
in want of further assistance from the legislature.
His majesty having, by the chancellor of the ex
chequer, recommended to the house the making
suitable provision for defraying the charges of the
militia during the current year, the accounts of
the expence already incurred by this establish
ment Avere referred to the committee of supply,
who, after having duly perused them, resolved,
that ninety thousand pounds should be granted on

17S9. GEORGE IL ' 479
account, towards defraying the charges of pay and
clothing for the militia, from the last day of thc
last year to the tAventy-fifth day of March, in the
year one thousand seven hundred and sixty, and
for repaying a sum advanced by the king for this
service. Leave Avas given to bring in one bill pur
suant to this resolution, and another to enforce
the execution of the laAvs relating to the militia,
remove certain difficulties, and prevent the incon
veniences by which it might be attended. So
intent were the majority on both sides upon this
national measure, that they not only carried both
bills to the throne, where they received the royal
assent, but they presented an address to the king,
desiring his majesty would give directions to his
lieutenants of the several counties, ridings, and
places In England, to use their utmost diligence
and attention for carrying into execution the se
veral acts of pari ament relating to the militia.
By this time all the individuals that constituted
the representatives of the people, except such as
actually served in the army, were become very
well dispbSed towards this institution. Those who
really wished well to their country had always ex
erted themselves in its favour : and it was now
likewise espoused by those who foresaAV that the
establishment of a national militia would enable
the administration to send the greater number of
regular troops to fight the battles of Germany.
Yet how zealous soever the legislature might be
in promoting this institution, and notwithstanding
the success Avith which many patriots exerted

480 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i^fjcj^
Iheir endeavours thTOugh dIffereUt parts of the
kingdom, in raising and disciplining the mlUtia,
it was found not only dlffiGult, but almost imprac
ticable, to execute the intention of the parliament
in some particular counties, where the gentlemen
Avere indolent and enervated^ or in those places
where they looked upon their commander Avith
contempt. Even Middlesex itself, where the king
resides. Was one of the last counties in which the
militia could be arrayed. In allusion to this back
wardness, the preamble or first clause in one of
the present acts Imported, that certain countiesj
ridings, and places In England, had made some
progress in establishing the militia, without com
pleting the same, and that, in certain other coun
ties, little progress, had been made therein, his
majesty's lieutenants and the deputy-lieutenants,
and all others within such counties or districts,
were therefore strictly required speedily and diU
gently to put these acts in execution. The truth
is, some of these unAvarlike commanders failed
through ignorance and inactivity ; others gave, or
offered c'bmmissions tb such people as threw a ri
dicule and contempt upon the whole establish
ment, and consequently hindered many gentle
men of Avorth, spirit, and capacity, from engaging
in the service. The mutiny-biU, and that for the
regulation of the marine-forces while on shore,
passed through the usual forms, as annual mea
sures, without any dispute or alteration,'
' See Note (K),vol, vi.

1759. GEORGE IL 48i

ACT FOR THE RELIEF OF DEBTORS
REVIVED,
A COMMITTEE having been appointed to inquire
what laws were expired, or near expiring, and to
report their opinion to the house touching the re
vival or continuation of these laws, they agreed to
several resolutions ; in consequence of which the
following bills were brought in, and enacted into
laws ; namely, an act for regulating the lastage
and balastage of the river Thames ; an act for
continuing the law relating to the punishment of
persons going armed or disguised ; an act for
continuing several laws near expiring ; an act
concerning the admeasurement of coals ; an act
for the relief of debtors, with respect to the im
prisonment of their persons. This last Avas almost
totally metamorphosed by alterations, amend
ments, and additions, among Avhich the most re
markable were these : that where more creditors
than one shall charge any prisoner in execution,
and desire to have him detained in prison, they
shall only respectively pay him each such weekly
sum, not exceeding one shilling and sixpence
per week, as the court, at the time of his being
remanded, shall direct : that if any prisoner, de
scribed by the act, shall remain in prison three
months after being committed, any creditor may
compel him to give into court, upon oath, an ac
count of his real and personal estate, to be dis-
VOL. v. 2 I

482 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759.
posed of for the benefit of his creditors, they con
senting to his being discharged. Why the hu
manity of this law was confined to those prisoners
only who are not charged in execution with any
debt exceeding one hundred pounds, cannot easily
be conceived. A man who, through unavoidable
misfortunes, hath sunk from affluence to misery
and indigence, is generally a greater object of
compassion than he Avho never knew the delicacies
of life, nor ever enjoyed credit sufficient to con
tract debts to any considerable amount ; yet the
latter is by this law entitled to his discharge, or
at least to a maintenance in prison ; while the
former is left to starve in gaol, or undergo perpe
tual imprisonment amidst all the horrors of misery,
if he owes above one hundred pounds to a revenge
ful and unrelenting creditor. Wherefore, in a
country, the people of which justly pique them
selves upon charity and benevolence, an unhappy
fellow-citizen, reduced to a state of bankruptcy by
unforeseen losses intrade, should be subjected to a
punishment, which, of all others, must be the most
grievous to a free-born Briton, namely, the entire
loss of liberty ; a punishment which the most fla
grant crime can hardly deserve in a nation that
disclaims the torture; for, doubtless, perpetual
imprisonment must be a torture infinitely more
severe than death, because protracted through a
series of years spent in misery and despair, without
one glimmering ray of hope, without the most
distant prospect of deliverance ? Wherefore thc

1759. GEORGE IL 483
legislature should extend its humanity to those
only Avho are the least sensible of the benefit, be
cause the most able to struggle under misfortune ?
and wherefore many valuable individuals should,
for no guilt of their own, be not only ruined to
themselves, but lost to the community ? are ques
tions which we cannot resolve to the satisfaction
of the reader. Of all imprisoned debtors, those
who are confined for large sums may be deemed
the most wretched and forlorn, because they have
generally fallen from a sphere of life where they
had little acquaintance with necessity, and Avere
altogether ignorant of the arts by which the seve
rities of indigence are alleviated. On the other
hand, those of the lower class of mankind, whose
debts are small in proportion to the narrowness of
their former credit, have not the same delicate
feelings of calamity. They are inured to hardship,
and accustomed to the labour of their hands, by
Avhich, even in a prison, they can earn a subsist
ence. Their reverse of fortune is not so great, nor
the transition so affecting. Their sensations are
not delicate ; nor are they, like their betters in
misfortune, cut off from hope, which is the wretch's
last comfort. It is the man of sentiment and sen
sibility, Avho in this situation, is overwhelmed
withacompUcationofmiseryandineffable distress.
The mortification of his pride, his ambition blast
ed, his family undone, himself deprived of liberty,
reduced from opulence to extreme want, from the
elegancies of life to the most squalid and frightful
4

484 HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 1759,
scenes of poverty and affliction ; divested of com
fort, destitute of hope, and doomed to linger out
a Avretched being in the midst of insult, violence,
riot and uproar; these are reflections so replete Avith
horror, as to render him, in all respects, the most
miserable object on the face of the earth. He,
alas ! though possessed of talents that might have
essentially served and even adorned society, while
thus restrained in prison, and affected in mind,
can exert no faculty, nor stoop to any condescen
sion, by which the horrors of his fate might be as
suaged. He scorns to execute the lowest offices
of menial services, particularly in attending those
who are the objects of contempt or abhorrence :
he is incapable of exercising any mechanic art,
which might afford a happy though a scanty inde- ,
pendence. Shrunk within his dismal cell, sur
rounded by haggard poverty, and her gaunt at
tendants, hollow-eyed famine, shivering cold, and
Avan disease, he wildly casts his eyes around : he
sees the tender, partner of his heart weeping in si
lent woe ; he hears his helpless babes clamorous
for sustenance ; he feels himself the importunate
cravings of human nature, which he cannot sa
tisfy ; and groans with all the complicated pangs
of internal anguish, horror, and despair. These
are not the fictions of idle fancy, but real pictures,
drawn from nature, of which almost every prison
in England avIU affprd but tpp many priginals.

1759 GEORGE IL 485
:Ht ¦
BILLS FOR THE IMPORTATION OF IRISH
BEEF AND TALLOW,
Among other new measures, a successful attempt
was made in favour of Ireland, by a bill, permit
ting the free importation of cattle from that king
dom for a limited time. This, hoAvever, was not
carried through both houses Avithput,considerable
opposition, arising from the particular interests of
certain counties and districts in several parts of
Great Britain, from whence petitions against the
bill were transmitted to the coninions. Divers
artifices were also used Avithin doors to saddle the
bill with such clauses as might overcharge the
scheme, and render it odious or alarming to the
public : but the promoters of it being aware of
the design, conducted it iu such a manner as to
frustrate all their views, and convey it safely to
the throne, where it wa.s enacted into a law. The
like success attended another effort in behalf of
our fellow-subjects of Ireland. The bill for the
importation of Irish cattle was no sooner brdered
to be brought in, than the house proceeded to
take into consideration the duties then payable on
the importation of tallow from the same kingdom ;
and several witnesses being examined, the com
mittee agreed to a resolution, that these duties
should cease and determine for a limited time. A
bill being formed accordingly, passed through
both houses without opposition, though in the

485 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
preceding session a bill to the same purpose had
miscarried ampng the peers : a miscarriage proba
bly owing to their being unacquainted with the
sentiments of his majesty, as some of the duties
upon tallow constituted part of one of the branches
appropriated for the civil list revenue. This ob
jection, however, was obviated in the case ofthe
present bill, by the king's message to the house
of commons, signifying his majesty's consent, as
far as Hs interest was concerned in the affair. By
this new act the free importation of Irish tallow
was permitted for the term of five years.
In the month of February the commons pre
sented an address to his majesty, requesting that
he would give directions for laying before the
house an account of what had been done, since the
beginning of last year, towards securing the har
bour of Milford, in pursuance of any directions
from his majesty. These accounts being perused,
and the king having, by the chancellor ofthe ex
chequer, exhorted them to make provision for
fortifying the said harbour, a bill was brought in
to explain, amend, and render more effectual, the
act of the last session relating to this subject ;
and, passjng through both houses, received the
royal assent without opposition. By this act se
veral engineers Avere added to the commissioners
formerly appointed ; and it was ordained that for
tifications should be erected at Peter-church-point,
Westlanyon-point and Neyland-point, as being
the most proper and best situated places for forti-

ns9. GEORGE IL fc87
fying the interior parts of the harbour. It was
also enacted, that the commissioners should ap
point proper secretaries, clerks, assistants, and
other officers, for carrying the two acts into exe
cution, and that an account of the application of
the money should be laid before parUament within
twenty days of the opening of every session. What
next attracted the attention of the house was
an affair of the utmost importance to the com
merce of the kingdom, which equally affected the
interest of the nation, and the character of the na
tives. In the latter end of February complaint
was made to the house, that, since the commence
ment ofthe war, an infamous traffic had been set
on foot by some merchants of London, of import
ing French cloths into several ports of the Levant
on account of British subjects. Five persons were
summoned to attend the house, and the fact was
fully proved, not only by their evidence, but also
by some papers submitted to the house by the
Turkey company, A bill was immediately con
trived for putting a stop to this scandalous prac
tice, reciting in the preamble, that such traffic
' was not only a manifest discouragement and pre
judice to the woollen manufactures of Great
Britain, but also a relief to the enemy, in conse
quence of which they vvere enabled to maintain
the war against these kingdoms.
The next object that employed the attention
of the commons was to explain and amend a law
made in the last session for granting to his ma-

^488 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
jesty several rates and duties upon offices and
pensions. The directions specified in the former
act for levying this imposition having been found
inconvenient in many respects, new regulations
Averenow established, importing, thatthose deduc
tions should be paid into the hands of receivers
appointed by the king for that purppse ; that all
sums deducted under this act should be accounted
for to such receivers, and the accounts audited
and passed by them, and not by the auditors of
the impress, or of the exchequer : that all disputes
relating to the collection of this duty should-be
finally, and in a summary way, determined by the
barons of the ex;chequer in England and Scotland
respectively : that the commissioners of the land-
tax should fix and ascertain thesum total or amount
of the perquisites of every office and employment
within their respective districts, distinct from the
salary thereunto belonging, to be dedueted under
the said act, independently of any former valuation
or assessment pf the same to the land-tax ; and
should rate or assess aU offices and employments,
the perquisites whereof should be found to exceed
the sum of one hundred pounds per annum, at one
shilling for every twenty thence arising; that the
receivers should transmit to the commissioners in
every district where any office or employment is
to be assessed, an account of such offices and em
ployments, that upon being certified of the truth
of their amount they might be rated and assessed
accordingly ; that in all future assessments ofthe

1759. GEORGE IL 489
land-tax the said offices and employments should
not be valued at higher rates than those at which
they were assessed towards the land-tax of the
/thirty-first. year of the present reign; that the
word perquisite should be understood to mean
such profits of offices and employments a!s arise
from fees established by custom or authority, and
payable either by the crown or the subjects, in
consideration of business done in the course of
executing such offices and employments ; and
that a commissioner possessed of any office or
employment might not interfere in the execution
of the said act, except in what might relate to his
own employment. By the four last clauses several
salaries Avere exempted from the payment of this
duty. The objections made without doors to this
new law were the accession of pecuniary influence
to the crown, by the creation of a new office and
officers, whereas this duty might have been easily
collected and received by the commissioners of
the land-tax already appointed, and the inconsist
ency that appeared between the fifth and seventh
clauses : in the former of these the commissioners
of the land-tax were vested Avith the power of as
sessing the perquisites of every office within their
respective districts, independent of any former
valuation or assessment of the same to the land-
tax ; and by the latter they are restricted from
assessing any office at a higher rate than that of
the thirty.first year of the reign of George II.

490 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
In the beginning of March petitions were of
fered to the house by the merchants of Birming
ham, in Warwickshire, and Sheffield^ in Yorkshire,
specifying that the toy trade of these and many
other towns consisted generally of articles in
which gold and silver might be said to be manu
factured, though in a small proportion, inasmuch
as the sale of them depended upon slight orna
ments of gold and silver : that by a clause passed
in the last session of parliament, obliging every
person who should sell goods or wares in which
any gold or silver was manufactured to take out
an annual licence of forty shillings, they the peti
tioners were laid under great difficulties and dis
advantages : that not only the first seller, but
every person through whose hands the goods or
wares passed to the consumer, was required to take
out the said licence ; they therefore requested
that the house would take these hardships and in
equalities into consideration, and indulge them
with reasonable relief. The committee, to which
this affair was referred, having resolved that this
imposition was found detrimental to the toy and
cutlery trade ofthe kingdom, the house agreed to
the resolution, and a bill being prepared, under
the title of " An Act to amend the Act made in
" the last Session, for repealing the Duty granted
*' by an Act of the sixth Year of the Reign of his
'' late Majesty, on Silver Plate, and for granting
" a Duty on Licences to be taken out by all Persons

1759, GEORGE H. 491
" dealing in Gold and Silver Plate," was enacted
into a law by the royal sanction. By this new
regulation, small quantities of gold and silver
plate were allowed to be sold without licence.
Instead of the duty before payable upon licences,
another was granted, to be taken out by certain
dealers in gold and silver plate, pawnbrokers, and
refiners. This affair being discussed, the house
took into consideration the claims of the proprie
tors of lands purchased for the better securing of
his majesty's docks, ships, and stores at Chatham,
Portsmouth, and Plymouth ; and for better forti
fying the town of Portsmouth, and citadel of Ply
mouth, in pursuance of an act passed in the last
session. We have already specified the sum grant
ed for this purpose, in consequence of a resolu
tion of the house, upon Avhich a bill being found
ed, soon passed into a law without opposition,'
• fhe next bill which was brought intp the house related ^
the summons issued by the commissioners of the excise, and
justices of the peace, for the appearance of persons offending
against, or for forfeitures incurred by the laws of excise. As
some doubts had arisen with respect to the method of summoning
In such cases, this bill, which obtained the royal assent in due
course, enacted, that the summoqs lefl at the house, or usual
place of residence, or with the wife, child, or menial servants of
the person so summoned, should be held as legal notice, as well
as the leiaving such notice at the house, workhouse, warehouse,
•hop, cellar, vault, or usual place of residence of such person, di
rected to htm by his right or assumed name ; and all dealers in
coffee, tea, or chocolate, were subjected to the penalty of twenty
pounds, as often as they should lieglect to attend the commis-
sioners of excise, when summoned in thi^ ntanner.

492 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
In the month of April a bill was brought in for
the more effectual preventing the fraudulent im
portation of cambrics ; and while it Avas under
deliberation several merchants and wholesale dra
pers of the city of London presented a petition,
"representing the grievances to which they, and'
many thousand of other traders, would be sub
jected, should the bill, as it then stood, be passed
into a law. According to their request, they
were heard by their counsel on the merits ofthis
remonstrance, and some amendments Avere made
to the bill in their favour. At length it received
the royal assent, and became a law to the following
effect ; It enacted, that no cambrics, French lawns,
or linens of this kind, usually entered under the
denomination of cambrics, should be imported af
ter the first day of nextAugust, but in bales, cases,
or boxes, covered with sackcloth or canvas, con
taining each one hundred whole pieces, or two
hundred half pieces, on penalty of forfeiting the
whole : that cambrics and French lawns should be
imported for exportation only, lodged in the
king's Avarehoiises, and delivered out under like
security and restrictions as prohibited East-India
merchandise ; and, on importation, pay only the
half subsidy : that all cambrics and French lawns
in the custody of any persons should be deposited,
by the first of August, in the king's warehouses, the
bonds thereupon be delivered up, and the drawback
on exportation paid ; yet the goods should not be
deUvered out again but for exportation : that cam-

1759. GEORGE IL 49S
brics and French lawns exposed to sale, or found in
the possession of private persons, after the said day,
should be forfeited, and liable to be searched for,
and seized, in Uke manner as other prohibited and
uncustomed goods are; and the offender should
forfeit two hundred pounds over and above all
other penalties and forfeitures inflicted by any
fprmer act : that if any doubt should arise con
cerning the species or quality of the goods, or the
place where they were manufactured, the proof
should lie on the OAvner : finally, that the penalty
of five ppunds infiicted by a former act, and pay
able to the informer, on any person that should
wear any cambric or French lawns, should still re
main in force, and be recoverable, on conviction,
by oath of one witness, before one justice of the
peace.— The last successful bill which this session
produced, was that relating to the augmentation
of the salaries of the judges in his majesty's supe
rior courts of justice, A motion having been
made for an instruction to the committee of sup
ply, to consider of the said augmentation, the
chancellor of the exchequer acquainted the house
that thi^ augmentation was recommended to them
by his majesty. Nevertheless, the motion was
opposed, and a warm debate ensued. At length,
however, being carried in the affirmative, the
committee agreed to certain resolutions, on which
a bill was founded. While it remained under dis
cussion, a motion was made for an instruction to
the committee, that they should have power to re-
3

494 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
ceive a clause or clauses for restraining the judges,
comprehended within the provisions of the bill,
from receiving any fee, gift, present, or enter
tainment, from any city, town, borough, or cor
poration, or from any sheriff, gaoler, or other offi
cer, upon their several respective circuits, and from
taking any gratuity from any office or officer of
any of the courts of laAV. Another motion Avas
made, for a clause restraining such judges, barons,
and justices, as Avere comprehended within thc
provisions of the bill, from interfering, otherwise
than by giving their own votes, in any election of
members to serve in parliament ; but both these
proposals, being put to the vote, AA'ere carried in
the negative. These two motions being over
ruled by the majority, the bill underwent some
amendments; and having passed through both
houses in the ordinary course, Avas enacted into a
law by the royal sanction. With respect to the
import of this act, it is no other than the esta
bUshment of the several stamp-duties, applied to
the augmentation ; and the appropriation of their
produce in such a manner, that the crown cannot
alter the application of the sums thus granted in
parliament. But on this occasion, no attempt was
made in favour ofthe independency of the judges,
Avhich seems to have been invaded by a late in
terpretation of, or rather by a deviation from, the
act of settlement ; in which it is expressly ordain
ed, that the commissions of the judges should con
tinue in force quamdiu ss bene gesserint ; that their

1759, GEORGE IL 49S
salaries should be fixed, and none of them re-
moveable but by an address of both houses of par
liament. It was then, without aU doubt, the in
tention of the legislature that every judge should
enjoy his office during life, unless convicted by
legal trial of some misbehaviour, or unless both
houses of parliament should concur in desiring his
removal : but the doctrine now adopted imports,
that no commission can continue in force longer
than the life of the king by whom it was granted ;
that therefore the commissions of the judges must
be renewed by a new king at his accession, who
should have it in his power to employ either those
whom he finds acting as judges at his accession,
or confer their offices on others, with no other
restraint than that the condition of new commis
sions should be quamdiu se bene gesserint. Thus
the office of a judge is more precarious, and the
influence of the crown receives a considerable re
inforcement. Among the bills that miscarried in the course
of -this session, we may number a second attempt
to carry into execution the scheme which was of
fered last year for the more effectual manning the
naA'y, preventing desertion, and relieving and en
couraging the seamen of Great Britain, A bill
Avas accordingly brought in, couched in nearly
the same terms which had been rejected in the
last session ; and it was supported by a consider
able number of members, animated with a true
spirit of patriotism : but to the trading part bf the

496 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. V759.
nation it appeared one of those plausible projects
which, though agreeable in speculation, can never
be reduced into practice without a concomitancy
of greater evils than those they were intended to
remove. While the bill remained under the consi
deration of the house, petitions were presented
against it by the merchants of Bristol, Scarbo
rough, Whitby, Kingston-upon-HuU, and Lancas
ter, repj-esenting, that by such a laAV the trade of
the kingdom, which is the nursery and support of
seamen at all times, and that spirit of equipping
private ships of Avar, which had been of distin
guished service to the nation, would be laid under
such difficulties as might cause a great stagnation
in the former, and a total suppression ofthe latter;
the bill, therefore, would be highly prejudicial to
the marine of the kingdom, and altogether inef
fectual for the purposes intended. A great num
ber of books and papers, relating to trading ships
and vessels, as well as to seamen, and other persons
protected or pressed into the navy, and to expences
occasioned by pressing men into the navy, were
examined in a committee of the whole house, and
the bill was improved with many amendments :
nay, after it was printed and engrossed, seve
ral clauses were added by way of rider; yet still
the experiment seemed dangerous. The motion
for its being past was violently opposed ; warm
debates ensued ; they were adjourned, and re
sumed ; and the arguments against the bill appear
ed at length in such a striking light, that, when

1759. GEORGE IL 497
the question Avas put, the majprity declared for
the negative. The regulatipns which had been
made in, parliament during the twenty-sixth, the
tAventy-eighth, and thirtieth years ofthe present
reign, for the preservation of the public roads,
being attended Avith some inconveniences in cer
tain parts of the kingdom, petitions were brought
from some counties in Wales, as well aS.from the
freeholders of Herefordshire, the farmers of Mid
dlesex, and others, enumerating the difficulties
attending the use of broad wheels in one case,
and the limitation of horses used in drawing car
riages with narrow wheels in the other. The mat
ter of these remonstrances was considered in a
committee of the whole house, which resolved,
that the weight to be carried by all waggons and
carts, travelling on the turnpike roads, should be
limited. On this resolution a bill was framed, for
amending and reducing Into one act of parliament
the three acts before mentioned for the preserva
tion of the public highways : but some objections
being started, and a petition interposed by the
landhplders of Suffolk and Norfolk, alledging that
the bUl, if passed into a laAv, would render it im
possible to bring fresh provisions from those coun
ties to London, as the supply depended absolutely
upon the quickness of conveyance, the further
consideration of it was postponed to a longer day,
and never resumed in the sequel: so that the at
tempt miscarried.
VOL, v. 2 k

HlStORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.

CASE OF THE INSOLVENT DEBTORS.
Of all the subjects which, in the course of this
session, fell under the cognizance of parliament,
there was none that more interested the humanity,
or challenged the redress of the legislature, than
did the case of thepoorinsolventdebtors, who lan
guished under all the miseries of indigence and
imprisonment. In the month of February a peti
tion was offered to the commons in behalf of bank
rupts, who represented, that having scrupulously
conformed to the laws made concerning bank
ruptcy, by surrendering their all upon oath, for
the benefit of their creditors, they had neverthe
less been refused their certificates, without any
probability of relief; that by this cruel refusal,
many bankrupts have been obliged to abscond,
while others were immured in prison, and these
unhappy sufferers groaned under the particular
hardship of being excluded from the benefit of
laws occasionally made for the relief of insolvent
debtors ; that the power vested in creditors of re
fusing certificates to their bankrupts was, as the
petitioners conceived, founded upou apresumption
that such power would be tenderly exercised, and
never but in notorious cases ; but the great in-
creasein the number of bankrupts within two years
past, and the small proportion of those who had
been able to obtain their certificates, seemed to
demonstrate that the power had been used for

1759. GEORGE II. 499
cruel and unjust purposes, contrary to the inten
tion of the legislature : that as the greater part of
the petitioners, and their fellow-sufferers, must in
evitably and speetUly perish, with their distressed
families, unless seasonably relieved by the interpo
sition of parUament, they implored the compassion
of the hou.se, from which they hoped immediate
favour and relief. This petition was accompanied
with a printed case, explaining the nature ofthe
laws relating to bankrupts, and pointing out their
defects in point of policy as well as humanity ; but
little regard Av'as seemingly paid to either remon
strance. Other petitions, however, being present
ed by insolvent debtors, imprisoned ih different
gaols within the kingdom, leave was given tobring
in a bill for their relief, and a committee appoint
ed to examine the laws relating to bankruptcy.

CASE OF' CAPTAIN WALKER.
Among other petitionary remonstrances on this
subject, the members Avere separately presented
with the printed case of captain George Walker,
a prisoner in the gaol of the King's-Bench, avIio
had been declared a bankrupt, and complained,
that he had been subjected to some flagrant acts
of injustice and oppression. The case contained
such extraordinary allegations, and the captain's
character was so remarkably fair and interesting,
that the committee, which were empowered to send

500 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
for persons, papers, and records, resolved to in
quire into the particulars of his misfortune. A
motion was made and agreed to, that the marshal
of the prison should bring the captain before the
committee ; and the speaker's warrant was issued
accordingly. The prisoner was produced, and
examined at several sittings ; and some of the
members expressed a laudable eagerness to do him
justice : but his antagonists were very powerful,
and left no stone unturned to frustrate the pur
pose of the inquiry, which was dropped of course
at the, end of the session. Thus the unfortunate
captain Walker, who had, in the late war, remark
ably distinguished himself at sea by his courage
and conduct,repeatedly signallzinghlmself against
the enemies of his country, was sent back, without
redress, to the .gloomy mansions ofa gaol, where
he had already pined for several years, useless to
himself, and lost to the community, while he
might have been profitably employed in retrieving
his oAvn fortune, and exerting his talents for the
-general advantage of the nation. While this affair
was in agitation, the bill for the relief of insolvent
debtors Avas prepared, printed, and read a second
time ; but, when the motion was made for its being
committed, a debate arose, and this was adjourned
from time to time till the end of the session. In
the mean time, the committee continued to deli
berate upon the laws relating to bankruptcy ; and
in the beginning of June reported their resolution
to the house, that, in their opinion, some amend-

1759, GEORGE IL 501
ments might be made to the laws concerning
bankruptcy ; to the advantage of creditors,' and
reUef of insolvents. Such was the notice vouch
safed to the cries of many British subjects, de
prived of Uberty, and destitute of the common
necessaries of life.

REMARKS ON THE BANKRUPT-LAWS.
It would engage us in a long digressive discus
sion were we to inquire how the spirit of the laws
in England, so famed for lenity, has been exaspe
rated into such severity against insolvent debtors ;
and why, among a people so distinguished for ge
nerosity and compassion, the gaols should be more
filled with prisoners than they are in any other
part of Christendom. Perhaps both these devia
tions from a general character are violent efforts
of a wary legislature made in behalf of trade,
which cannot be too much cherished in a nation
that principally depends upon commerce. The
question is, whether this laudable aim may not be
more effectually accomplished, without subjecting
individuals to oppression, arising from the cruelty
and revenge of one another. As the laws are
modelled at present, it cannot be denied that the
debtor, in some cases, lies, in a peculiar manner,
at the mercy of his creditor. By the original and
common law of England, no man could be impri
soned for debt. The plaintiff in any civil action

502 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
could have no execution upon his judgment
against either the body or the lands ofthe defend
ant : even with respect to his goods and Chattels,.
which were subject to execution, he was obliged
to leave him such articles as were necessary for
agriculture. But, in process of time, this indul
gence being found prejudicial to commerce, a law
was enacted, In the reign of Edward the First, al
lowing execution on the person of the debtor,
provided his goods and chattels were not suffici
ent to pay the debt which he had contracted.
This law was still attended Avith a very obvious
inconvenience. The debtor, who possessed an
estate in lands, was tempted to secrete his moveable
effects, and live in concealment on the produce of
his lands, while the sheriff connived at his retire
ment. To remove tJiis evil, a second statute was
enacted in the same reign, granting immediate ex
ecution against the body, lands, and goods of the
debtor ; yet his effects could not be sold for the be
nefit of his creditors till the expiration of three
months, during which he himself could dispose of
them for ready money, in order to discharge his in
cumbrances. If the creditor Avas not satisfied in
thismanner, he continued in possession of the debt
or's lands, and detained the debtor himself in pri
son, Avhere he was obliged to supply him Avith bread
and water for his support, until the debt was dis
charged. Other severe regulations Avere made in
the sequel, particularly in the reign of Edward the
Third, which gave rise to the v/nt of capias ad satis-

1759. GEORGE IL 503
faciendum. This, indeed, rendered the preceding
laws, called statute-merchant, and statute- staple,
altcgether unnecessary. Though the liberty of the
subject, and the security of the landholder, were
thus, in some measure, sacrificed to the advantage
of commerce, an imprisoned debtor was not left
entirely at the mercy of an inexorable creditor.
If he made all the satisfaction in his power, and
could show that his insolvency was owing to real
misfortunes, the court of Chancery interposed on
his petition, and actually ordered him to be dis
charged from prison, when no good reason for de
taining him could be assigned. This interposition,
which seems naturally to belong to a court of
equity, constituted with a view to mitigate the
rigour of the common law, ceased, in all probabi
lity, after the restoration of Charles the Second,
and of consequence the prisons Avere filled with
debtors. Then the legislature charged themselves
with the extension, ofa power, which perhaps a
chancellor no longer thought himself safe in exer
cising ; and in theyear one thousand six hundred
and seventy, passed the first act for the relief pf
insolvent debtors, granting a release to all pri
soners for debt, without distinction or inquiry.
By this general indulgence, which has even in a
great measure continued in all subsequent acts
ofthe same kind, the lenity ofthe parliament may
be sometimes misapplied, inasmuch as insolvency
is often criminal, arising from profligacy and ex
travagance, whichdeserve tobeseverely punished.

504 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759,
Yet, even for this species' of insblvency, perpetual
imprisonment, aggravated by the miseries of ex
treme indigence, and the danger of perishing
through famine, may be deemed a punishment
too severe. How cruel then must it be to leave
the most innocent bankrupt exposed to this pu
nishment, from the revenge or sinister design ofa
merciless creditor ; a creditor, by whose fraud the
prisoner became a bankrupt, and by Avhose craft
he is detained in gaol, lest by bis discharge from
prison, he should be enabled to seek that redress
in Chancery to which he is entitled on -a fair ac
count! The severity ofthe law was certainly in
tended against fraudulent bankrupts only ; and
the statute of bankruptcy is, doubtiess, favourable
to insolvents, as it discharges from all former
debts those who obtained their certificates. As
British subjects, they are surely entitled to the
same Indulgence which is granted to other in
solvents.. They were ahvays Included in every act
passed for the relief of insolvent debtors, till the
sixth year of George I., when they were first ex
cepted from this benefit. By a law enacted in the
reign of queen Anne, relating to bankruptcy, any
creditor Avas at liberty to object to the confirma
tion, of the bankrupt's certificate; but the chan
cellor had power to judge Avhether the objection
Avas frivolous or Avell-founded : yet, by a later act
the chancellor is obliged to confirm the certificate,
if it Is agreeable to four-fifths in numberand value
of the creditors ; whereas he cannot confirm it.

1759. GEORGE IL 505
should he be opposed, even without any reason
assigned, by one creditor to whom the greatest
part of the debt is owing. It might, therefore,
deserve the consideration of parliament, whether,
in extending their clemency to the poor, it shbuld
not be equally diffused to bankrupts and other in
solvents ; whether proper distinction ought not
to be made between the innocent bankrupt who
fails through misfortunes in trade, and him who
becomes insolvent from fraud or profligacy : and
finally, whether the inquiry and trial of all such
cases would not properly fall within the province
of Chancery, a tribunal instituted for the mitiga
tion of common law.

INQUIRY INTO THE STATE OF THE POOR.
The house of commons se?ms to have been de
termined on another measure, Avhichj however,
does not admit of explanation. An order was
made in the monthof February, that leave should
be given to bring in a bill to explain, amend and
render effectual so much of an act, passed in the
thirteenth year of George II. against the excessive
increase of horse-races, and deceitful gaming as
related to that increase. The bill was accordingly
presented, read, printed, and ordered to be com
mitted to a committee of the whole house ; but
the order was delayed from time to time till the
end of the session. Some progress Avas likewise
8

506 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
made in another affair of greater consequence to
the community. A committee was appointed in
the month of March, to take into consideration
the state of the poor In England, as well as the
laws enacted for their maintenance. The clerks
of the peace belonging to all the counties, cities,
and towns in England and Wales, were ordered to
transmit, for the perusal of the house, an account
of the annual expence of passing vagrants through
their respective divisions and districts for four
years: and the committee began to deUberate on
this important subject. In the latter end of May
the house Avas made acquainted with their resolu
tions, importing, that the present methods of re
lieving the poor in the respective parishes, where
no workhouses have been provided for their re
ception and employment, are, in general, very bur
thensome to the inhabitants, and tend to render
the poor miserable to themsejlves, and useless to
the community : that the present method of giv
ing money out of the parochial rates to persons
capable of labour, in order to prevent them from
claiming an entire subsistence for themselves and
their families, is contrary to the spirit and intention
pf the laws for the relief of the poor, is a dangerous
power in thehands of parochial officers, amisappU-
cation of the public money, and a greatencourage-
ment to idleness and intemperance ; that the em
ployment of the poor, under proper direction and
management, in such works and manufactures as
are suited to their respective capacities, would be

1759.

GEORGE IL 507

of great utility to the public : that settling th^
poor in workhouses, to be provided in the several
counties and ridings in England and Wales, under
the direction and management of governors and
trustees to be appointed for that purpose, Avould
be the most effectual method of reUeving such
poor persons, as, by age, infirmities, or diseases,
are rendered incgj^able of ppporting themselvi^s
by their labour : of employing the able and indus
trious, reforming the idle and profligate, and pf
educa.l;ing poor children in religion and industry :
that the poor in such workhouses would be bette.r
regulated and maintained, and managed with more
advantage tp the public, by guardians, governors,
or trustees, to be specially appointed, or chosen
for that purpose, and incorporated with such
powers, and under such restrictions, as the legis
lature should deem proper, than by the annual pa
rochial officers : that erecting workhouses upon
the waste lands, and appropriating a certain quan
tity of such lands to be cultivated, in order to
produce provision for the poor in the said houses
would not only be the means of instructing and
employing many of the said poor in agriculture,
but lessen the expence of the public : that con
troversies and law-suits concerning the settlements
of poor persons occasioned a very great, and, in
general, an useless expence to the public, amount
ing to many thousand pounds per annum ;. and
that often more money is expended in ascertaining
such settlements by eacb of the contending pa-

508 HISTORY OF ENGLA^JD. 1759.
rishes than would be sufficient to maintain the
paupers : that should Avorkhouses be established
for the general reception of the poor, ih the re
spective counties and ridings of England, the
laws relating^to the settlements of the poor, and
the passing of vagrants, might be repealed : that
Avhile the present laws relating to the poor subsist,
the compelling parish-officers to grant certificates
to the poor would. In all probability, prevent the
hardships they now suffler, in being debarred gain
ing their livelihood, where they can do it most
usefully to themselves and the public. From
these sensible resolutions, the reader may conceive
some idea of the misconduct that attends the ma
nagement of the poor in England, as Avell as of
the grievous burthens entailed upbn the people by
the present laws which constitute this branch of
the legislature. The committee's resolves being
read at the table, an order was made that they
should be taken into consideration on a certain
day, when the order Avas again put off, and in th^
interim the parliament was prorogued. While the
committee deliberated upon this affair, leave was
given to prepare a bill for preventing tenants, un
der a certain yearly rent,from gaining settlements
in any particular parish, by being there rated in
any land-tax, assessment, and paying for the land
lord the money so charged. This order was after
wards discharged ; and another bill brought in to
prevent any person from gaining a settlement, by
being rated by virtue of an act of parliament for

1759. GEORGE IL 509
granting an aid to his majesty by ^ lafid-tax, and
paying the same. The bill was accordingly pre
sented, read, cpmmitted, and passed the Ipwer
hpuse; but ampng the Iprds it miscarried. It
can never be expected that the ppor will be ma
naged with economy and integrity, while the ex
ecution of the laws relating to their maintenance
is left in the hands of low tradesmen, whb derive
private advantage from supplying them with ne
cessaries, and often favour the imposition of one
, another Avith the most scandalous collusion. This
is an evil Avhich will never be remedied, until per
sons of Independent fortune, and unblemished in
tegrity, actuated by a spirit of true patriotism,
shall rescUe their fellow-citizens from the power
of such interested miscreants, by taking their
poor into their own management and protection.
Instead of multiplying laws with respect to the
settlement and management of the poor, which
serve only to puzzle and perplex the parish and
peace officers, it would become the sagacity of
the legislature to take some effectual precautions
to prevent the increase of paupers and vagrants,
which is become an intolerable nuisance to the
commonwealth. Towards this salutary end, surely
nothing would more contribute than a reformation
of the police, that would abolish those infamous
places of entertainment, Avhich swarm in eyery cor
ner of the metropolis, seducing people of aU ranks
to extravagance, profligacy, and ruin ; and would
restrict within due bounds the number of pubUc-

510 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
houses, which are augmented to an enormous de
gree, affording so many asylums for riot and de
bauchery, and corrupting the morals of the com
mon people to such a pitch of licentious indecency,
as must be a reproach to every civilized nation.
Let it not be affirmed, to the disgrace of Great ¦
Britain, that such receptacles of vice and impunity
subsist under the connivance of the government,
according to the narrow views and confined spe
culation of those shallow politicians, who imagine
that the revenue is increased in proportion to the
quantity of strong liquors consumed in such in
famous recesses of intemperance. Were this in
reality the case, that administration would deserve
to be branded with eternal infamy, which could
sacrifice to such a base consideration the health,
the lives, and the morals of their fellow-creatures :
but nothing can be more fallacious than the sup
position, that the revenue of any government can
be increased by the augmented intemperance .of
the people ; for intemperance is the bane of indus
try, as well as of population ; and what the go
vernment gains in the articles ofthe duty on malt,
and the excise upon liquors, will always be great
ly over-balanced by the loss In other articles, ari
sing from the diminution of hands, and the ne
glect of labour. 12

1759.

GEORGE IL SU

REGULATIONS OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Exclusive of the bills that were actually pre
pared, though they did not pass in the course of
this session, the commons deliberated on other
important subjects, which, however, were not
finally discussed. In the beginning of the session,
a committee being appointed to resume the inr
quiry touching the regulation of Aveights and mea
sures, a subject we have mentioned in the history
ofthe preceding session, the box which contained
a troy pound weight, locked up by order of the
house, was again produced by the clerk in whose
custody it had been deposited. This affair being
carefully investigated, the committee agreed to
fourteen resolutions.' In the mean time it was
ordered, that all the weights, referred to in the re
port, should be delivered to the clerk ofthe house
to be locked up, and brought forth occasionally.

RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING THE FOUND
LING HOSPITAL.
The hbuse of commons, among other articles of
domestic economy, betoAved some attention on
the hospital for fpuhdlings, which was now, more
than ever, becbilie a matter of national considera-

' See note [L], vol, vi.

512 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759.
tion. The accounts relating to this charity ha
ving been demanded, and subjected to the inspec
tion of the members, were, together with the
king's recommendation, referred to the committee
of supply, w^here they produced the resolutions
which we have already specified among the other
grants ofthe year. The house afterwards resolved
itself into a committee to deliberate on the state
of the hospital, and examine Its accounts. On the
third day of May their resolutions were reported
to the following effect : that the appointing, by
the governors and guardians of the said hospital,
places in the several counties, ridings, or divisions
in this kingdom, for the first reception of exposed
and deserted young children, would be attended
with many evil consequences ; and that the con
veying of children from the country to the said
hospital is attended with many evil consequences,
and ought to be prevented. A bill was ordered
to be brought in, founded upon this last resolu
tion, but never presented ; therefore the inquiry
produced no effect. Notwithstanding the institu
tion of this charity, for the support of which great
sums are yearly levied on the public, it does not
appear that the bills of mortality, respecting new
born children, are decreased, npr the shoclcing
crime of infant-murder rendered less frequent than
heretofore. It may, therefore, not be improperly
styled a heavy additional tax forthe propagation
of bastardy, and the encouragement of idleness,
among the common people ; besides the tendency

1759. GEORGE IL £15
it has to extinguish the feeUngs of the heart, and
dissolve those family ties of blood by which the
charities are connected.
In the month of March leave was given to
bring in a bill for the more effectual preventing
of the melting'doAVn and exporting the gold and
silver coin of the kingdom, and the persons were
nominated to prepare it ; but the bill never apr
peared, and no further inquiry was made about
the matter. Perhaps it was supposed that such
a measure might be thought an encroachment on
the prerogative of the crOAvn, which hath always
exercised the power of fixing the standard, and
regulating the currency of the coin. Perhaps
such a step was deferred on account of the Avar,
during which a great quantity of gold and silver
was necessarily exported to the continent, for the
support of the allies and armies in the pay of
Great Britain. The legislature, however, woUld do
well to consider this eternal maxim in computa
tion, that when a greater quantity of bullion is
exported, in waste, than can be replaced by com
merce, the nation must be hastening to a state of
insolvency. Over and above these proceedings
in this session of parliament, it may not be unne
cessary to mention several messages which were
sent by the king to the house of commons. That
relating to the vote of credit we have already spe
cified in our account of the supply. On the
twenty-sixth day of April the chancellor of th?
VOL, V. Q I

S14 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
exchequer presented to the house two messages,
signed by his majesty, one in favour of his sub--
jects in North America, and the other in behalf of
the East India Company : the former recommend
ing to their consideration the zfeal and Vigour with
which his faithful subjects in North America had
exerted themselves in defence of his just rights
and possessions ; desiring he might be enabled to
give them a proper compensation for the expences
incurred by the respective provinces in levying,
clothing, and paying the troops raised in that
country, according as the active vigour and stre-
liuous efforts of the several colonies should appear
to merit : in the latter, he desired the house would
empower him to assist the East India Company in
defraying the expence of a military force in the
East Indies, to be maintairied by them, in lieu of
a battalion of regular- troops withdraAvn from
thence, and returned to Ireland. Both these mes
sages were referred to the committee of supt^ly,
and produced the resolutions upon each subject
which we have already explained. The message
relating to a projected invasion by the enemies of
Great Britain we shall particularize in its proper
place, when Ave come to record the circumstafices
and miscarrlageof that design. In the mean time,
it may not be improper to observe, that the thanks
ofthe house of commons Avere voted and given to
admiral BoscaAven and major-general Amherst, for
the services they had done their king and countiy

1759.- GEORGE IL S15
in North America ; and the same domplimejrt was
paid to admiral Osborne, for the success of bis
cruise in the Mediterranean.
The session was closed on the second day of
June with a spefech to both bouses, from the com
missioners appoiilted by Hs majesty for that pur
pose. In this harangue the parliament was given
to understand, that the king approved of their
conduct, and returned them his thanks for their
condescension ; that the hopes he had conceived
of their surmounting the difficulties which la^ id
the way were founded on the Avisdom; zeal, and
affection of so good a parliament, and that bis ex
pectations were fuUy ansAvered ; that they had
considered the war in all its parts, and notwithi-
standing its long continuance, through the obsti
nacy of the enemy, had made such provision for
the many different operations as ought to convince
the adversaries of Great Britain, that it would be
for their interest, as well as for the ease and relief
of all Europe, to embrace equitabie arid honour-
a;ble terms of accommodation. They were told
that, by their assistance, the cpmbined army in
Germany had been completed ; powerful squa^
drons, as well as numerous bodies of land-forces,
were employed in America, in order to maintain
the British rights and possessions, and annoy the
enemy in the most sensible manner in that coun
try : that, as France AV^as making considerable pre
parations in her different ports, he had taken care
to put his fleet at home in the best condition, both

SIS HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759-
of strength and situation, to guard against and re
pel any attempts that might be meditated against
his kingdoms : that all his measures had been di
rected to assert the honour of his croAvn ; to pre
serve the essential interests of his faithful subr
jects ; to support the cause of the protestant re
ligion, and public liberty: he therefore trusted
that the uprightness of his intentions would draw
down the blessing of Heaven upon his endeavours.
He expressed his hope, that the precautions they
had taken to prevent and correct the excesses of
the privateers would produce the desired effect : a
consideration Avhich the king had much at heart ;
for, though sensible of the utility of that service,
when under proper regulations, he was determined
to do his utmost to prevent any injuries or hard
ships which miglit be sustained by the subjects of
neutral powers, as far as might be practicable and
consistentwith his majesty's just right toblnder the
trade of his enemies from being coUusively and
fraudulently covered. He not only thanked the
commons, but applauded the firmness and vigour
with which they had acted, as well as their pru
dence in judglijg, tliatnotwithstandingthe present
burthens, the making ample provision for carrying
on the war was the most probable means to bring
it to an honourable and happy conclusion. He
assured them that no attention should be wanting,
on his part, for the faithful application of what
had been granted. They were informed he had
nothing further to desire, but that they Avpuld
1

1759. GEORGE IL 517
carry down the same good dispositions, and pro
pagate them in their several countiesi^ which they
had shewn in their proceedings during the ses
sion. These declarations being pronounced, the
parliament Avas prorogued.
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
The pebple of England, provoked on one hand by
the intrigues, the hostilities, and menaces of
France, and animated on the other by the pride
and triumph of success, which never fails to re
concile them to difficulties, howsoever great, and
expence, howcA'cr enormous, atthisperiodbreath-
ed nothing but war, and discoursed about nothing
but new plans of conquests We have seen how
liberally the parUament bestowed the nation's
money; and the acquiescence of the. subjects in
general under the additional burthens which had
been imposed, appeared in the remarkable eager
ness with which they embarked in the subscription
planned by the- legislature ; in the vigorous as
sistance they contributed towards manning the
navy, recruiting the army, and levying additional
forces ; and the warlike spirit which began to dif
fuse itself through all ranks of the people. This
was aspirit which the ministry carefully cherished
and cultivated, for the support of the war, which,;.
it must be owned, was prosecuted with an ardour
and efficacy peculiar to the present administration.
True it is, the German war had been for some
time adopted as an object of importance by the

51S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
British councils, and a resplution Avas taken to
maintain it without flinching : at the same time,
it must be allowed, that this consideration had not
hitherto weakened the attention ofthe ministry to
the operations in America, Avhere alone the war
may be said to have been carried on and prose
cuted on British principles, so as to distress the
enemy in their most tender part; and at the same
time acquire the most substantial advantages to
the subjects of Britain, For these two purposes,
every preparation was made that sagacity could
suggest, or vigour execute. The nayy was re
paired and augmented ; and, in order to man the
different squadrons, theexpedientof pressing, that
disgrace to a British administration, was practised
both by land and water with extraordinary rigour
and vivacity, A proclamation was issued, offering
a considerable bounty for every seaman and every
landman tbat should, by a certain day, enter vo
luntarily into the service. As an additional en
couragement to this class of people, the king pro
mised his pardon to all seamen who had deserted
from their respcctiye ships to which they belonged,
provided they should return to their duty by the
third day of July ; but at the same time he de
clared, thq,t those who should neglect this oppor
tunity, at a time Avhen their country so much re
quired their service, would, upon being appre
hended, incur the penalty of a court-martial, and,
if convicted, be deemed unfit objects of the royal
mercy. All justices of the peace, mayors, and
magistrates of corporations throughoiit Great

1759. GEORGE IL 519
Britain Avere commanded to makeparticular search
for straggling seamen fit for the service, and to
send all that should be found to the nearest sea
port, that they might be sent on board by the sea-
officer there commanding. Other methods, more
gentle and effectual, were taken to levy and recruit
the land forces, Ncav regiments Avere raised, ou
his majesty's promise that every man should be
entitled to his discharge at the end of three years,
and the premiums for enlisting were increased.
Over and above these indulgences, considerable
bounties were offered and given by cities, towns^
corporations, and even by individuals, so univer
sally were the people possessed with a spirit of
chivalry and adventure. The example was sf t by
the metropolis, where the common-council resol
ved that vbluntary subscriptions shouldbe received
in the chamber of London, to be appropriated as
bounty-money to such persons as should engage
in his majesty's service. The city subscribed a con
siderable sum for that purpose ; and a committee
of aldermen and commoners was appointed to at
tend at Guildhall, to receive and apply the sub
scriptions. As a further encouragement to volun
teers, they moreover resolved, that every person
so entering should be entitled to the freedoni
of the city, at the expiration of three years or
sopner if the war should be brought to a conclu
sion. These resolutions being communicated to
the king, he was pleased to signify his approba
tion, and return his thanjis to the city, in a letter

520 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759,
from the secretary of state to the lord-mayor.
Large sums Avere immediately subscribed by dif
ferent companies, and some private persons ; and
in imitation of the capital, (bounties were offered
by many different communities in every quarter
of the united kingdom. At the same time, such
care and diligence were used in disciplining the
militia, that, before the close of the year, the
greaterpart of those truly constitutional battaUons
rivalled the regular troops in the perfection of
their exercise, and seemed to be, in all respects,
as fit for actual service.

DEATH OP THE PRINCESS OF ORANGE AND
PRINCESS ELIZABETH CAROLINE.
Before we proceed to record the transactions of
the campaign that succeeded these preparations,
we shall take notice of some domestic events,
which, though not very important in themselves,
may nevertheless claim a place in the History of
England. In the beginning of the year, the court
of London was overAvhelmed with affliction at
the death of the princess dowager of Orange and
Nassau, governante of theUnited Provinces in thc
minority of her son, the present stadtholder. She
was the eldest daughter of his Britannic majesty,
possessed of many personal accomplishments and
exemplary virtues ; pious, moderate, sensible, and
circumspect. She had exercised her authority
with equal sagacity and resolution, respected even

(greorge tjje ^econti.

The princess dowager of Orange and Nassau feeling her end approach
ing, she delivered a key to one of her attendants, directing him to fetch
two papers, which she signed with her own hand. One was a contract
of marriage between her daughter and the prince of Nassau- Weilburgh ;
the other was a letter to the states-general, beseeching them to consent
to this marriage, and preserve inviolate the regulations she had made,
touching the education and tutelage of the young stadtholder. These
two papers being signed and sealed, she sent for ber children, exhorted
them to make proper improvements on the education they had received,
and to live in harmony with each other. Then she implored Heaven to
shower its blessings on them both, and embraced them with the most af
fecting marks of maternal tenderness. She afterwards continued to con
verse calmly and deliberately with her friends, and in a few hours ex
pired.

522 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1753.
resolution of Holland, with respect to his guardian,;
ship ; and In the evening the different colleges of
the government sent formal deputations to the
young stadtholder, and the princess Caroline, his
sister, in whose names and presence they were re
ceived, and ansAvered by their guardian and repre
sentative. A formal intimation of the death of
the princess was communicated to the king her
father, in a pathetic letter, by the states-general ;
who condoled Avith him on the irreparable loss
which he as well as they had sustained by this me
lancholy event, and assured him they Avould em
ploy all their care and attention in securing and
defending the rights and interest of the young
stadtholder and the princess Hs sister, whom they
considered as the children of the republic. The
royal family of England suffered another disaster
in the course of this year, by the decease of the
princess Elizabeth-Caroline, second daughter of
his late royal highness Frederick prince of Wales,
a lady of the most amiable character, Avho died at
Kew in the month of September, before she had
attained the eighteenth year of her age.
EXAMPLES MADE' OF PIRATES.
Certain privateers continuing their excesses at
sea, andrlflingneutral ships without distinction or
authority, the government resolved to vindicate
the honour of the nation, by making examples of

1759. GEORGE H. m
those pirates, who, as fast as they could be de
tected and secured, were brbught to trial, and
upon conviction sacrificed to justice. While these
steps were taken to rescue the nation from the re
proach of violence and rapacity, which her neigh,»
hours had urged with such eagerness, equal spirij:
was exerted jn convincing neutral powers that
they should not with impunity contravene the
law of nations, in favouring the enemies of Great
Britain. A great number of causes were tried
relating to disputed captures, and many Dutch
vessels, with their cargoes, were condemned, after
a fair hearing, notwithstanding the loud clamours
of that people, and the repeated remonstrances of
^he states-general.
The reputation of the English was not so much
affected by the irregularities of her privateers^
armed for rapine, as by the neglect of internal po
lice, and an ingredient of savage ferocity mingled
in the national ghgracter ; an ingredient that ap«
peared but top cpnspicupus in the particulars of
several shocking murders brought to light about
this period,— Que Halsey, who commanded a mer
chant ship in the voyage from Jamaica to Eng
land, having conceived some personal disUke to a
poor sailor, insulted him with such abuse, exposed
him to such hardships, and punished him A\'ith such
wantpnness of barbarity, that the poor wretch
leaped overboard in despair. His inhuman tyrant
envying him that death, which would have rescued
a miserable object from his brutality, plunged

524 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759,
into the sea after him, and brought him oh board,
declaring, he should not escape so while there
Avere any torments left to inflict* Accordingly,
he exercised his tyranny upon him with redoubled
rigour, until the pbor creature expired, in conse
quence of the inhuman treatment he had sustained.
This savage ruffian was likewise indiiited for thc
murder of another mariner, but being convicted
onthe first trial, the second was found unnecessary,
and the criminal suffered death according to the
law, Avhichis perhaps too mild to malefactors con
victed of such aggravated cruelty. Another bar-
barousmurder was perpetrated in thecountry, near
Birmingham, upon a sheriff's officer, by the sons
bf one Darby, whose effects the bailiff had seized,
on a distress for rent. The two young assassins,
encouraged by the father, attacked the unhappy
wretch with clubs, and mangled him in a terrible
manner, so that he hardly retained any signs of
life. Not contented with this cruel execution,
they stripped him naked, and dragging him outof
the house, scourged him with a Avaggoner's Avhip,
until the flesh was cut from the bones. In this
miserable condition he was found weltering in his
blood, and conveyed to a neighbouring house,
where he immediately expired. The three barba
rians Avere apprehended, after having made a des
perate resistance. They were tried, convicted,
and executed : the sons were hung in chains, and
the body. of the father dissected. The widow of
a timber-merchant in Rotherhithe being cruelly .

(iJeorge tfje ^econU.

Another barbarous murder was perpetrated in the country near Bir
mingham, upon a Sheriff's Officer, by the sons of one Darby, whose
effects the baihffs seized on a distress for rent. The two young assassins,
encouraged by the father, attacked the unhappy wretch with clubs, and
mangled him in a terrible manner, so that he hardly retained signs of
life. Not contented with this cruel execution, they stripped him naked,
and dragged him out of the house, scourging him with a Warner's whip
until the flesh was cut from his bones.

1759, GEORGE IL 52S
murdered in her own house, Mary Edmonson, a
young woman, her niece, ran out into the; street
with ber arms cut across, and gave the alarm, de
claring her aunt had been assassinated by four
men, who forced their Avay into the house, and that
she (the niece) had received those wounds, in at»
tempting to defend her relation. According to
the circumstances that appeared, this unnatural
wretch had cut the throat of her aunt and bene
factress Avith a case-knife; then dragged the body
from the Avash-house to the parlour ; that she had
stolen a watch and some silver spoons, and con
cealed them, together with the knife and her own
apron, Avhich was soaked with the blood of her
parent. After having acted this horrid tragedy,
the bare recital of which the humane reader will
not peruse without horror, she put on another
apron, and wounded her. own flesh, the better to
conceal her guilt. Notwithstanding these precau
tions she was suspected, and committed to pri
son. Being brought to trial, she was convicted
and condemned upon circumstantial evidence,
and finally executed on Kennington-common,
though she denied the fact to the last moment of
her life. At the place of execution she behaved
with great composure, and, after having spent
some minutes in devotion, protested she Avas inno
cent ofthe crime laid to her charge. Wha,t seemed
to corroborate this protestation, was the condition
and character of.the young woman, who had been
educated in a sphere above the vulgar, and mali^-.

S2B HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
tained a reputation without reproach ih the coun
try, where she was actually betrothed to a clergy
man. On the other hand^ the circumstances that
appeared against her almost amounted to a cer
tainty, though nothing Aveaker than proof positive
ought to determine a jury in capital cases to give
a verdict against the person accused. After all,
this is one of those problematic events which
elude the force of all evidence, and serve to con
found the pride bf human reason. — A miscreant,
whose name was Haines, having espoused the
daughter of a farmer in the neighbourhood of
Gloucester, who possessed a small estate, which
he intended to divide among seven children, was
so abandoned as to form the design of poisoning
the whole family, that by virtue of his wife he
might enjoy the whole inheritance. For the exe
cution of this ihfetnal scheme, he employed his
own father tp purchase a quantity of arsenic j
part of vvhich he administered to three of the
children, who were immediately seized with the
dreadful symptoms produced by this mineral, and
the eldest expired. He afterwards mixed it Avith
three apple cakes, Avhich he bought for the pur
pose, and presented to the three other children,
who underwent the same violence of operation
which had proved fatal to the eldest brother. The
instantaneous effects of the poison created a sus
picion of Haines, Avho being examined, the whole
scene of villainy stood disclosed. Nevertheless,
the villain found means to escape.-s-The uncom'

George tfje ^mnti.

Five French prisoners, confined on board the King's ship the Royal Oak,
were convicted of having murdered one De Manaux, their countrjman
and fellow-prisoner, in revenge for his having discovered that they had
formed plans to facilitate their escape. Exasperated at this detection,
they seized this unfortunate informer in the place of their confinement,
gagged his mouth, stripped him naked, tied him with a strong cord to a
ring-bolt, and scourged his body with the most brutal perseverance. By
dint of struggling the poor wretch disengaged himself from the cord with
which he had been tied, then they finished the tragedy by leaping and
stamping on his breast, till the chest was broke, and he expired.

1759. GEORGE IL ^27
mon spirit of assassination which raged at this
period seemed to communicate itself even to fo
reigners, who breathed EngUsh air. Five French
prisoners confined on board the king's ship the
Royal Oak were convicted of having murdered
one Jean de Manaux, their countryman and felloAV-
prisoner, in revenge for his having discovered that
they had forged passes to facilitate their escape.
Exasperated at this detection, they seized this un
fortunate informer in the place of their confine
ment, gagged his mouth, stripped him naked, tied
him with a strong cord to a ring-bolt, and scourged
his bpdy with the mpst brutal perseA'erance. By
dint of struggling, the poor wretch disengaged
himself from the cord Avith Avhich he had been tledj
then they finished the tragedy, by leaping ^iid
stamping on his breast, till the chest Avas broke,
and he expired. They afterAvards severed the body
into smallpieces, and these they conveyed at dif
ferent times into the sea, through the funnel of
a convenience to which they had access: but one
of.the other prisoners gave information of the
murder ; in consequence of which they were se
cured, brought to trial, condemned, and punished
with death. — -Nor were the instances of cruel as-
sassitiation, which prevailed at this juncture, coti-
fined to Great Britain. At the latter end of the
foregoing year, an atrocious massacre was perpe
trated by two Genoese mariners upon the mastei'
and crew of an English vessel, among whom they
were enrolled. These monsters of cruelty were in
4 '

528 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
different watches, a circumstance thatfavoured the
execution of the horrid plan they had concerted.
When one of them retired to rest with his fel
lows of the watch, consisting ofthe mate and two
seamen, he waited till they Avere fast asleep, and
then butchered them all with a knife. Having
so far succeeded without discovery, he returned
to the deck, and communicated the exploit to his
associate : then they suddenly attacked the master
of the vessel, and cleft his head Avith a hatchet,
Avhich they likewise used in murdering the man
that stood at the helm ; a third was llkeAvise dis
patched, and no EngUshman remained alive but
the master's son, a boy, Avho lamented his father's
death with incessant tears and cries for three days,
at the expiration of AvhIch he was llkcAvIse sacri
ficed, because the assassins were disturbed by his
clamour. This barbarous scene was acted within
sixty leagues of the rock of Lisbon ; but the ves
sel was taken AvithIn the Capes Ortugal and Fi
nisterre, by the captain of the French privateer,
called La Favorite, Avho seeing the deck stained
with blood, and finding all the papers of the ship
destroyed, began to suspect that the master and
crew bad been murdered. He accordingly taxed
them Avith the murdei-, and they confessed the
particulars. The privateer touched at Vigo, Avhere
the captain Imparted this detail to the EngUsh con
sul ; but the prize, Avith the two villains on board,
was sent to Bayonne in France, Avhere they Avere
brought to condign punishment,

(Btox^t tfje ^etonti^

Chap. X.

A person, called Eugene Aram, suffered at York, in the course of the
year 1759. This man, who exercised the profession ofa schoolmaster at
Knaresborough, had, as far back as the year 1745, been concerned with
one Houseman, in robbing and murdering Daniel Clarke, whom they had
previously persuaded to borrow a considerable quantity of valuable effects
from different persons in the neighbourhood, on false pretences, that he
might retire with the booty. He had accordinglj' filled a sack with these
particulars, and began his retreat with his two perfidious associates, who
suddenly fell upon him, deprived him of life, and, having buried the body
in a cave, took possession of the plunder.

1759. GEORGE IL 529

MURDER OF DANIEL CLARKE.
We shall close this register bf blood with the ac
count of a piurder remarkable in all its circum
stances, for which a person, called Eugene Aram,
suffered at York, iu the course of this year. This
man, who exercised the profession of a school
master at Knaresborough, had, as far back as the
year one thousand seven hundred and forty^five,
been concerned with one Houseman, in robbing
and murdering Daniel Clarke, whom they had pre
viously persuaded to borrow a considerable quan
tity of valuable effects from different persons in
the neighbourhood on false pretences, that he
might retire with the booty; He had according
ly filled a sack with these particulars, and began
his retreat with his two perfidious associates, whb
suddenly fell upon himj deprived him of life, and,
having buried the body in a cave; took possession
of the plunder. Though Clarke disappeared at
once in such a mysterious manner, no suspicion
fell on the assassins ; and Aram, w^ho was the chief
contriver and agent in the murder, moved his ha
bitation to another part of the country. In the
summer of the present year. Houseman being em
ployed, among other labburers, in repairing the
pubhc highway, they, in digging for gravel by the
road side, discovered the skeleton of a human crea
ture, which the majority supposed to be the bones
of Daniel Clarke. This opinion was no sppner
vol. v; g M

530 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759.
broached, than Houseman, as it were by some su
pernatural impulse which he could not resist, de
clared that It Avas not the skeleton of Clarke, in
asmuch as his body had been interred at a place
called St Robert's Cave, where they Avould find it,
Avitli the head turned to a certain corner. He Avas
immediately apprehended, examined, admitted as
evidence for the crown, and discovered the parti
culars of the murder. The skeleton of Clarke
being found exactly in the place and manner he
had described, Eugene Aram, who now acted as
usher to a grammar-school in the county of Nor
folk, AA'as secured, and brought to trial at the York
assizes. There, his own wife corroborating the
testimony of Houseman, he Avas found guilty,
and received sentence of death ; notwithstanding
a very artful and learned defence, in Avhich he
proved, from argument and example, the danger
of convicting a man upon circumstantial evidence.
Finding all his remonstrances ineffectual, he re
commended himself in pathetic terms to the king's
mercy ; and If ever murder was entitled to Indul
gence, perhaps it might have been extended not
improperly to this man, Avliose genius, in itself
prodigious, might have exerted itself In Avorks of
general utility. He had, in spite of all the dis
advantages attending low birth and straitened cir
cumstances, by the dint of his OAvn capacity and
inclination, made considerable progress in ma
thematics and philosophy, acquired all the lan
guages ancient and modern, and executed part of

1759, GEORGE IL 531
a Celtic dictionary, which, had he lived to finish it,
might have thrown some essential light upon the
origin and obscurities of the European history.
Convinced, at last, that he had nothing to hope from
the clemency ofthe government, he wrote a short
poem in defence of suicide ; and, on the day fix-
edforhisexecution, opened the veins ofhis left arm
with a razor, which he had concealed for tbat pur
pose. Though he Avas much weakened by the ef
fusion of blood, before this attempt was discover
ed, yet as the instrument had missed the artery,
he did not expire until he was carried to the gib
bet, and underwent the sentence of the law. His
body was conveyed to Knaresborough-forest, and
hung in chains, near the place where the murder
Avas perpetrated. These are some ofthe most re
markable that appeared amongst many other in
stances of homicide : a crime that prevails to a
degree alike deplorable and surprising, even in a
nation renowned for compassion and placability.
But this will generally be the case among people,
whose passions, naturally impetuous, are ill re
strained by laws and the regulations of civil so
ciety ; which the licentious do not fear, and the
wicked hppe tp evade.

MAJORITY OF THE PRINCE OF WALES,
The prince of Wales having in the beginning of
June entered the two-and-twentieth year of his

532 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
age, the anniversary of his birth was celebrated
with great rejoicings at court, and the king re
ceived compliments of congratulation on the ma
jority of a prince, who seemed born to fulfil the
hopes and complete the happiness of Great Bri
tain. The city of London presented an address
to the king on this occasion, replete with expres
sions of loyalty and affection, assuring his majesty,
that no hostile threats could intimidate a people
animated by the love of liberty, who, confiding in
the Divine Providence, and in his majesty's experi
enced wisdom and vigorous councils, were resolved
to exert their utmost efforts tOAvards enabling their
sovereign to repel the insults, and defeat the at
tempts made by the ancient enemies of his crown
and kingdom. Congratulations of the same kind
were offered by other cities, toAvns, corporations,
and communities, who vied with each other in
professions of attachment ; and, indeed, there was
not the least trace of disaffection perceivable at
this juncture in any part of the island.

RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING A NEW
BRIDGE AT BLACE-FRIARS.
So little Avere the citizens of London distressed by
the expence, or incommoded by the operations of
the war, that they found leisure to plan and funds
to execute magnificent works of art, for the orna
ment of the metropolis, and the convenience of

1759. GEORGE IL 53$
commerce. They had obtained an act of parlia
ment, empowering them to build a new bridge
over the Thames, from Black-friars to the opposite
shore, about midway between those of London
and Westminster. Commissioners were appointed
to put this act in execution : and, at a court of
common-council, it was resolved that a sum not
exceeding one hundred and forty-four thousand
pounds should be forthAvith raised, within the
space of eight years, by instalments ; not exceed
ing thirty thousand pounds in one year, to be paid
into the chamber of London ; that the persons ad
vancing the money should have an interest at the
rate of four pounds per cent, per annum, to be
paid half yearly by the chamberlain, yet redeema
ble at the expiration ofthe first ten years ; and that
the chamberlain should affix the city's seal to such
instruments as- the committee might think fit to
give for securing the payment of the said annui
ties. Such were the first effectual steps taken to
wards the execution of a laudable measure, which
met with the most obstinate opposition in the se
quel, from the narrow views of particular people,
as well as from the prejudice of party.

FIRE IN CORNHILL,
The spirit that now animated the citizens of Lon
don was such as small difficulties did not retard,
and even considerable losses could not discourage.

53* HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17S&.
In the month of November the city was exposed
to a dangerous conflagration, kindled in the night
by accident in the neighbourhood of the Royal-
Exchange, AvhIch burned Avitli great fury, notwith
standing the assistance ofthe firemen and engines
employed under the personal direction ofthe ma
gistracy, consumed a great number of houses, and
damaged many more. That whole quarter of the
town was filled with consternation : some indivi
duals were beggared ; one or tAVo perished in the
flames, and some were buried in the ruins of the
houses that sunk under the disaster.

METHOD CONTRIVED TO FIND OUT THE
LONGITUDE,
The ferment of mind so peculiar to the natives
of Great Britain, excited by a strange mixture of
genius and caprice, passion and philosophy, study
and conjecture, produced at this period some
flowers of improvement, in different arts and
sciences, that seemed to promise fruit of public
utility. Several persons invented methods for dis
covering the longitude at sea, that great desidera
tum in navigation, for the ascertainment of which
so many nations have offered a public recompense,
and In the investigation of which so many mathe
matical heads have been disordered. Some of those
who now appeared candidates for the prize de
served encouragement for the ingenuity of their
8

1759. GEORGE IL JJ5
several systems ; but he who seemed to enjoy the
pre-eminence in the opinion and favour of the
public was Mr IrAvin, a native of Ireland, who
contrived a chair so artfully poised, that a person
sitting in it on board a ship, even in a rough sea,
can, through a telescope, observe the immersion
and emersion of Jupiter's satellites, Avithout being
interrupted or incommoded by the motion of the
vessel. This gentleman was favoured with the as
sistance and protection of commodore lord Howe,
in whose presence the experiment was tried in
several ships at sea Avith such success, that he
granted a certificate, signifying his approbation ;
and in consequence of this, Mr Irwin is said to
have obtained a considerable reward from the
board of admiralty.

INSTALLATION AT OXFORD.
The people of England, happy in their situation,
feltnone ofthe storms of war anddesolation which
ravaged the neighbouring countries : but, en
riched by a surprising augmentation of commerce,
enjoyed all the security of peace, and all the plea
sures of taste and affluence. The university of
Oxford having conferred the office of their chan
cellor, vacant by the death of the earl of Arran,
upon another nobleman of equal honour and in
tegrity, namely, the earl of Westmoreland, he
made a public entrance into that celebrated seat
©f learning with great magnificence, and was in-

536 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
stalled amidst the Encaenia, which were celebrated
with such classical elegance of pomp, as might
have rivalled the chief Roman festival of the Au
gustan age. The chancellor elect was attended
by a splendid train of the nobility and persons of
distinction. The city of Oxford was filled with a
Vast concourse of strangers. The processions were
contrived AvIth taste, and conducted with deco
rum. The installation was performed with the
most striking solemnity. The congratulatory
verses, and public speeches, breathed the spirit of
old Rome ; and the ceremony was closed by Dr
King, that venerable sage of St Mary Hall, who
pronounced an oration in praise of the new chan
cellor with all the flow of Tully, animated by the
fire of Dembsthenes.
We shall conclude the remarkable incidents of
this year,' that are detached from the prosecution

' In the spring of the year the liberal arts sustained a lamenta
ble loss in the death of George Frederick Handel, the most cele
brated master in music which this age had produced. He was by-
birth a G erman ; but had studied in Italy, and afterwards settled
in England, where he met with the most favourable reception,
and resided above half a century, universally admired for his stu
pendous genius in the sublime parts of musical composition.
One would be apt to imagine, that there was something in the
constitution ofthe air at this period, which was particularly unfa
vourable to old age ; inasmuch as, in the compass ofa few months,
the following persons, remarkable for their longevity, died in the
kingdom of Scotland : William Barnes, who had been above se
venty years a servant in the family of Brodie, died there, at the
age of one hundred and nine. Catherine Mackenzie died in Ross-

1759, GEORGE IL £37
bf the war, Avith the detail of an event equally
surprising and deplorable. — A sloop called the
Dolphin, bound from the Canaries to New York,
met with such unfavourable weather, that she was
detained one hundred and sixty-five days in the
passage, and the provision of the ship was alto
gether expended before the first fifty days were
elapsed. The wretched crew had devoured their
dog, cat, and all their shoes on board : at length,
being reduced to the utmost extremity, they
agreed to cast lots for their lives, that the body of
him upon whom the lot should fall might serve
for some time to support the survivors.- The
Avretched victim was one AntoniGalatia, a Spanish
gentleman and passenger. Him they shot with a
inusquet ; and having cut off his head, threw it
overboard ; but the entrails and the rest of the
carcase they greedily devoured. This horrid ban
quet having, as it were, fleshed the famished crew,
they began to talk of another sacrifice, from whicb,
however, they were diverted by the Influence and
remonstrances of their captain, who prevailed
upon them to be satisfied with a miserable allow
ance tp each per diem, cut frem a pair of leather

shire, at the age of one hundred and eighteen. Janet Blair, de-
(peased at Monemusk, in the shire of Aberdeen, turned of one hun
dred and twelve. Alexander Stephens, in Bam£ihire, at the age
of one hundred and eight. Janet Harper, at Bains-holes, at the
age of one hundred and seven. Daniel Cameron, in Rannach,
married when he was turned of one hundred, and siirvived his
marriage thirty years. 12

538 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
breeches found in the cabin. Upon this calamit
ous pittance, reinforced with the grass which
grew plentifully upon the deck, these poor ob
jects made shift to subsist for twenty days, at the
expiration of which they were relieved, and taken
on board one captain Bradshaw, who chanced to
fall in with them at sea. By this time the whole
crew, consisting of seven men, Avere so squalid
and emaciated, as to exhibit an appearance at
once piteous and terrible ; and so reduced in
point of strength, that it was found necessary to
use ropes and tackle for hoisting them from one
ship to the other. The circumstance of the lot
falling upon the Spaniard, who was the only fo
reigner on board, encourages a suspicion that foul
play was offered to this unfortunate stranger;
but the most remarkable part of this whole incident
is, that the master and crew could not contrive
some sort of tackle to catch fish, with which the
sea every where abounds, and which, no doubt,
might be caught with the help ofa little ingenuity.
If implements ofthis kind were provided in every
ship, they would probably prevent all those tragi
cal events at sea that are occasioned by famine.

CAPTURES MADE BY SEPARATE CRUISERS.
Phevious to the more capital operations in war,
we shall particularise the most remarkable captures
that were made upon the enemyby single ships of

1759. GEORGE IL 539
war during the course of this summer and autumn.
In the month of Tebruary, a French privateer be
longing to GranviUe, called the Marquis de Ma-
rigny, having on board near two hundred men,
and mounted with twenty cannon, was taken by
captain Parker, commander of his majesty's ship
the Montague ; who likewise made a prize of a
smaller armed vessel, from Dunkirk, of eight
cannon and sixty men. About the same period,
captain Graves, of the Unicorn, brought in the
Moras privateer, of St Maloes, carrying two hun
dred men, and two-and-twenty cannon. Two
large merchant- ships, lAden on the French king's
account for Martinique, With provision, clothing,
and arms, for the troops on that island, were taken
by captain Lendrick, commander ofthe Brilliant;
and an English transport from St John's, having
four hundred French prisoners on board, perished
near the Western Islands. Within the circle of
the same month, a large French ship from St Do
mingo, richly laden, fell in Avith the Favourite
ship of war, and was carried into Gibraltar.
In the month of February, captain Hood, of
his- majesty's frigate the Vestal, belonging to a
small squadron commanded by admiral Holmes;
who hadsailedfor the West Indies in January, be
ing advanced a considerable way a-head of the
fleet, descried and gave chase to a sail, which
proved to be a French frigate called the BeUona,
of two hundred and twenty men, and two-and-
thirty great guns, commanded by the count de

^i© HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759.
Beauhonoire, Captain Hood, having made a sig
nal to the admiral, continued the chase until he
advanced within half musquet-shot of the enemy,
and then poured in a broadside, which was imme
diately retorted. The engagement thus begun
was maintained with great vigour on both sides for
the space of four hours ; at the expiration of Avhich
the Bellona struck, after having lost all her masts
and rigging, together with about forty men killed
in the action. Nor was the victor in a much bet
ter condition. Thirty men were killed and wound
ed on board the Vestal. Immediately after the
enemy submitted, all her rigging being destroyed
by the shot, the topmasts fell overboard ; and she
was otherwise so much damaged, that she could
not proceed on her voyage. Captain Hood, there
fore, returned with his prize to Spithead; and af
terwards met with a gracious reception from his
majesty, on account of the valour and conduct he
had displayed on this occasion. The Bellona had
sailed in January from the island of Martinique,
along with the Florissant, and another French
frigate, from Avhich she had been separated in the
passage. Immediately after this exploit, captain
Elliot of the Eolus frigate, accompanied by the
Isis, made prize of a French ship, the Mignonne, of
twenty guns, and one hundred and forty men, one
of four frigates employed as convoy to a large
fleet of merchant-ships, near the island of Rhee.
In the month of March, the English frigates
the Southampton and Melampe, commanded by

175». GEORGE IL 54-1
the captains Gilchrist and Hotham, being at sea
to the northward on a cruise, fell In Avith the Da
nae, a French ship of forty cannon, and three hun
dred and thirty men, which Avas engaged by cap
tain Hotham in a ship of half the force, who main
tained the battle a considerable time with admira
ble gallantry, before his consort could come to his
assistance. As they fought in the dark, captain
Gilchrist was obliged to lie by for some time, be
cause he could not distinguish the one from the
other ; but no sooner did the day appear, than he
bore down upon the Danae with his usual impetu
osity, and soon compelled her to surrender : she
did not strike, however, until thirty or forty of her
men were slain : and the gallant captain Gilchrist
received a grape-shot in his shoulder, which,
though it did not deprive him of life, yet render
ed him incapable of future service : a misfortune
the more to be lamented, as it happened to a brave
ofiicer in the vigour of his age, and in the midst
of a sanguinary Avar, which might have afforded
him many other opportunities of signalizing his
courage for the honour and advantage of his
country. Another remarkable exploit was achiev
ed about the same juncture by captain Barring
ton, commander of the ship Achilles, miounted
with sixty cannon, who, to the westAvard of Cape
Finisterre, encountered a French ship of equal
force, called the Count de St Florintin, bound
from Cape Francois on the island of Hispaniola to
Rochefort, under the command of the sieur dc

542 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759,
Montay, whb was obliged to strike, after a close
and obstinate engagement, in which he himself
was mortally wounded, a great number ofhis men
' slain, and his ship so damaged, that she was with
difficulty brought into Falmouth. Captain Bar
rington obtained the victory at the expence of
about five-and-twenty men killed and wounded,
and all his rigging, which the enemy's shot ren
dered useless. Two small privateers from Dun
kirk were also taken, one called the Marquis de
Bareil, by the Brilliant, which carried her into
Kinsale in Ireland ; the other called the Carillo-
neur, which struck to the Grace cutter, assisted
by the boats of the ship Rochester, commanded
by captain Duff, who sent her into the Downs.
About the latter end of March, captain Samuel
Falkner, in the ship Windsor, of sixty guns,
cruising to the westward, discovered four large
ships to leeward, which, when he approached them,
formed the line of battle a-head, in order to give
him a warm reception. He accordingly closed
with the sternmost ship, which sustained his fire
about an hour : then the other three bearing away
with all the sail they could carry, she struck her
colours, and was conducted to Lisbon. She pro
ved to be the Due de Chartres, pierced for sixty
cannon, though at that time carrying no more
than four-and- twenty, Avith a complement of three
hundred men, about thirty of whom were killed
in the action. She belonged, with the other three
that escaped, to the French East India Company,

1759. GEORGE IL 543
was laden with gunpowder and naval stores, and
bound for Pondicherry. Two privateers, calledLa
Chasseur and Le Conquerant, the one from Dun
kirk, and the other from Cherbourg, Avere taken
and carried into Plymouth by captain Hughes, of
his majesty's frigate the Tamer. A third, called
the Dispatch, froniMorlalx, was brought in to Pen
zance by the DUigence sloop, under the command
of captain Eastwood. A fourth, called the Basque,
from Bayonne, furnished with two-and-twenty
guns, and above two hundred men, fell into the
hands of captain Barker, ofthe Brilliant, who con
veyed her into Plymouth. Captain Antrobus, of
the Surprise, took the Viex, a privateer of Bour
deaux ; and a fifth, from Dunkirk, struck to cap
tain Knight of the Liverpool, off Yarmouth. In
tbe month of May, a French frigate, called the
Arethusa, mounted Avith two-and-thirty cannon
manned with a large complement of hands, under
the command of the marquis de Vaudreuil, sub
mitted to two British frigates, the Venus and the
Thames, commanded by the captains Harrison and
Colby, after a warm engagement, in Avhich sixty
men were killed and wounded on the side of the
eneniy. In the beginning of June an armed ship
belonging to Dunkirk was brought into the
Downs, by captain Angel of the Stag; and a
privateer of force, called the CounteSs de la Serre,
Avas subdued and taken, after an obstinate action,
by captain Mopre, pf his majesty's ship the Ad
venture.

.544 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.

PRIZES TAKEN IN THE WEST-INDIES.
Several armed ships of the enemy, and rich
prizes, were taken in the West-Indies, particularly
tAVO French frigates, and two Dutch ships with
French commodities, all richly laden, by some of
the ships of the squadron which vice-admiral
Coats commanded on the Jamaica station. A fifth
called the Velour, from St Domingo, with a va
luable cargo on board, being fortified witii twenty
cannon, and above one hundred men, fell in with
the Favourite sloop of war, under the command of
captain Edwards, who, after an obstinate dispute,
carried her in triumph to Gibraltar. At St Chris
topher's, in the West-Indies, captain CoUingwood,
commander of the king's ship the Crescent, at
tacked two French frigates, the Amethyste and
Berkeley ; the former of which escaped, after a
vi'arm engagement, in Avhich the Crescent's rigging
was so much damaged, that she could not pursue :
but the other was taken, and conveyed into the
harbour of Basseterre. Notwithstanding the vi
gilance and courage of the English cruisers in
those seas, the French privateers SAvarmed to such
a degree, that in the course of this year they took
above two hundred sail of British ships, valued at
six hundred thousand pounds sterling. This their
success is the more remarkable, as by this time the
island of Guadaloupe Avas in possession of the
English, and commodore Moore commanded a nur
merous squadron in those very latitudes.

1759, flfiO'ReE IL Si5

ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE HERCULES
AND THE FLORISSANT.
In the beginning of October, the Hercules ship
of war, mounted with seventy -four guns, under
the command of captain Porter, cruising in the
chops of the channel, descried to windward a
large ship, which proved to be the Florissant, of
the same force with the Hercules. Her com
mander, perceiving the English ship giving chase,
did not seem tp decline the action ; but bore
. ^ down upon her in a slanting direction, and the
engagement began with great fury. In a little
time, the Hercules having lost her top-mast, and
all her rigging being shot away, the enemy took
advantage ofthis disaster, made the best of his
way, and was pursued till eight o'clock next
morning, when he escaped behind the isle of Ole
ron. Captain Porter was wounded in the head
with a grape-shot, and lost the use of one leg in
¦the engagement.

HAVRE-DE-GRACE BOMBARDED BY ADMI
RAL RODNEY.
Having taken notice of all the remarkable cap
tures and exploits that were made and achieved
by single ships since the commencement of the
present year, we shall noA^r proceed to describe the
VOL, V. 2 N

; HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759,
tions that were performed in this period by the
ferent squadrons that constituted the naval
Wer of Great Britain. Intelligence having been
reived that the enemy meditated an invasion up-
some ofthe British territories, and that a num-
r of flat-bottomed boats were prepared at Havre-
:- Grace, for the purpose of disembarking troops,
ar-admiral Rodney was, in the beginning of July,
;tached'with a small squadron of ships and bombs
annoy and overawe that part of the coast of
:ance. He accordingly anchored in the road of
avre, and made a disposition to execute the in-
ructions he had receivedr The bomb vessels, be-
g placed in the narrow channel ofthe river lead-
ig to Honfleur, began to throAV their shells, and
)ntinued the bombardment for two-and-fifty
3urs, without intermission, during which a nume-
ms body of Freneh troops were employed in throw-
ig up entrenchments, erecting new batteries, and
ring both with shot and shells upon the assailants.
he town was set on fire in several places, and
urned with great fury; some of the boats were
verturned, and a few of them reduced to ashes,
'^hile the inhabitants forsook the place in the
tmost consternation : nevertheless, the damage
one to the enemy was too inconsiderable to make
mends for the expence ofthe armament, and the
ass of nineteenhundred shells and eleven hundred
arcasses, which were expended in this expedition.
Jombardments of this kind are at best but ex-
)ensive and unprofitable operations, and may be

1759. GEORGE IL 547
deemed a barbarous method of prosecuting war,
inasmuch as the damage falls upon the wretched
inhabitants, who have given no cause of offence,
and who are generally spared by a humane enemy,
unless they have committed some particular act of
provocation.

ADMIRAL BOSCAWEN DEFEATS M, DE LA
CLUE.
The honour of the British flag was much more
effectually asserted by the gallant admiral Bos
cawen, who, as we have already observed, was en
trusted with the conduct of a squadron in the
Mediterranean. It must be owned, hoAvever, that
his first attempt savoured of temerity. Having in
vain displayed the British flag in sight of Toulon,
by way of defiance to the French fleet that lay
there at anchor, he ordered three ships of the line,
commanded by the captains Smith, Harland, and
Barker, to advance and burn two ships that lay
close to the mouth of the harbour. They accord
ingly approached with great intrepidity, and met
with a very warm reception from divers batteries,
which they had not before pferceived. Two small
forts they attempted to destroy, and cannonaded
for some time with great fury ; but being over
matched by superior force, and the wind subsiding
into a calm, they sustained considerable damage,
and were towed off with great difficulty in a very

3 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
attered condition. The admiral seeing three of
s best ships so roughly handled in this enterprise,
turned to Gibraltar in order to refit ; and M. de
Clue, the French commander of the squadron
Toulon, seized this opportunity of sailing in
)pes of passing the Straits mouth unobserved,
s fleet consisting of twelve large ships and three
igates. Admiral Boscawen, who commanded four-
!en sail ofthe line with two frigates, and as many
:e ships, having refitted his squadron, detached
le frigate to cruise off Malaga, and another to
Dver between Estepona and Ceuta-point ; with a
lew to keep a good look-out, and give timely no-
ce in case the enemy should approach. On th'e
:venteenth day of August, at eight in the even-
ig, the Gibraltar frigate made a signal that four-
:en sail appeared on the Barbary. shore, to the
Cstward of Ceuta ; upon which the English ad-
iral immediately heaved up his anchors and went
) sea : at day-light he descried seven large
lips lying-to ; but when the English squadron
(rbore to ansAver their signal, they discovered
leir mistake, set all their sails, and made the
est of their way. This was the greater part of
le French squadron, commanded by M. de la
lue, from whom five of his large ships and three
igates had separated in the night. Even now,
erhaps, he might have escaped, had he not been
bilged to wait for the Souveraine which Avas a
eavy sailer. At noon the wind, which had blown
heavy gale, died away, and although admiral

1759. GEORGE IL 549
Boscawen had made signal to chase, and engage
in a line of battle a-head, it was not till half an
hour after two that some of his headmost ships.
could close with the rear of the enemy ; which,
though greatly out-numbered, foUght with un
common bravery. The English admiral, without
waiting to return the fire of the sternmost, which
he received as he passed^ used all his endeavours to
come up with the Ocean, Avhich M. de la Clue
commanded in person ; and about four o'clock in
the afternoon, running athwart her hawse, poured
into her a furious broadside : thus the engagement
began with equal vigour on both sides. This dis
pute, however, was of short duration. In aboul:
half an hour admiral Boscawen's mizen-mast and
topsail-yards were shot aAvay ; and the enemy
hoisted all the sail they could carry, Mr Bos
cawen having shifted his flag from the Namur to
the Newark, joined some other ships in attacking
the Centaur, of seventy-four guns, which, being
thus overpowered, was obliged to surrender. The
British admiral pursued them all night, during
which the Souveraine and the Guerrier altered
their course, and deserted their commander. At
day-break, M. de la Clue, whose left leg had been
broke in the engagement, perceiving the English
squadron crowding all their sails to come up with
him, and finding himself on the coast of Portugal,
determined to burn his ships rather than they
should fall into the hands of the victors. The
Ocean was run ashore two leagues frpm Lagps,

> HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759,
;ar the fort of Almadana, the commander of
hich fired three shot at the English ; another
iptain of the French squadron followed the ex-
nple of his commander, and both endeavoured
I disembark their men ; but the sea being rough,
lis proved a very tedious and difficult attempt.
he captains of the Temeraire and Modeste, in-
ead of destroying their ships, anchored as near
; they could to the forts Xavier and Lagres, in
opes of enjoying their protection : but in this
ope they Avere disappointed. M. de la Clue had
een landed, and the command of the Ocean was
ft to the count de Carne, who, having received
tie broadside from the America, struck his co-
»urs, and the English took possession of this noble
rize, the best ship in the FrencHnavy, mounted
'ith eighty cannon. Captain Bentley, of the
l^arspight, Avho had remarkably signalized himself
y his courage during the action of the preceding
ay, attacked the Temeraire, of seventy-four guns,
nd brought her off with little damage. Vice-ad-
liral Broderick, the second in command, advan-
ing with his division, burned the Redoubtable, of
eventy-four guns, which was bulged, and aban-
oned by her men and officers ; but they made
irize of the Modeste, carrying sixty-four guns,
/hich had not been much injured in the engage-
iient. This victory was obtained by the English
dmiral at a very small expence of men ; the whole
umber of the kiUed and wounded not exceeding
wo hundred and fifty on board of the British

1759, GEORGE IL 551
squadron, though the carnage among the enemy
must have been much more considerable, as M, de
la Clue, in his letter to the French ambassador at
Lisbon, owned, that on board of his own ship, the
Ocean, one hundred men were killed on the spot,
and seventy dangerously wounded : but the most
severe circumstance of this disaster was the loss
of four capital ships, two of which were destroy
ed, and the other two brought in triumph to
England, to be numbered among the best bot
toms pf the British navy. What augmented the
good fortune of the victors was, that not one of
ficer lost bis life in the engagement. Captain
Bentley, whom the admiral dispatched to Erig
land with the tidings of his success, met with a
gracious reception from the king, who knighted
him for his gallantry.

PREPARATIONS MADE BY THE FRENCH FOR
INVADING ENGLAND.
As we propose to thrpw together all the naval
transactions of the year, especially those that hap
pened in the European seas, that they may be
comprehenc^ed, as it were, in one view, we must
now, without regarding the order cf time, postpone
many previous events of importance, and record
the last action by sea, that in the course of this
year distinguished the flag of Great Britain, The
court of Versailles, in order to embarrass the Bri-

552 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
tish ministry, and divert their attention from all
external expeditions, had inthe winter projected
a plan for invading some part of the British domi
nions ; and in the beginning of the year had actu
ally begun to make preparations on different parts
of their coast for carrying this design into execu
tion. Even as far back as the latter end of May,
messages^ from the king to both houses of parlia
ment were delivered by tbe Earl of Holdernesse
and Mr Pitt, the two secretaries of state, signify
ing that his majesty had received, advices of pre
parations making by the French court, with a de
sign to invade Great Britain : that though per
suaded, by the universal zeal and affection of his
people, any such attempt must, under the blessing
of God, end in the destruction of those who en«-
gaged in it, yet he appre^bended he should not
act consistent with that paternal care and concern
which he had ahvays shown for the safety and pre
servation of his subjects, if he omitted any means
in his power which tnight be 'riecessary for their
defence : he therefore acquainted the parliament
with his having received repeated intelUgence df
the enemy's preparations, to the end that his ma
jesty might, if he should think proper, in pursu
ance ofthe late act of parliament, cause the militia,
or such part thereof as should be necessary, to be
drawn out and embodied;'in order to march as oc
casion should require. These messages were no
sbbner read, than each house separately resolved
, to present an address, thanking his majesty for

1759. GfiORGE II. 553
having communicated this intelligence ; assuring
him, that they would, with their lives and fortunes,
support him against all attempts whatever : that,
warmed with affection and zeal for his person and
government, and animated by indignation at the
daringdesigns ofan enemy whose fleet,had hitherto
shunned the terror of the British navy, they would
cheerfully exert their utmost efforts to repel all
insults, and effectually enable their sovereign not
only to disappoint the attempts of France, but,
by the blessing of God, turn them to their own
confusion. The commons at the same time re
solved upon another address, desiring his ma
jesty would give directions to his lieutenants of
the several counties, ridings, and places within
South Britain, to use their utmost diligence and
attention in executing the several acts of parlia
ment made for the better ordering the militia.

ACCOUNT OF THUROT.
These and other precautionary steps were accord
ingly talcen ; but the administration wisely placed
their chief dependence upon the strength of the
^^vy, part of which was so divided and stationed as
toblpck up all the harbours of France in which the
enemy were known to make any naval armament
of consequence. We'have seen in what manner
rear-admiral Rodney visited the town and harbour
of Havre-de Grace, and scoured that part of the

554

HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759,

coast in successive cruises ; we have also recorded
the expedition and victory pf admiral Boscawen
over the squadron of La Clue, which was equipped
at Toulon, with a design to assist In the projected
invasion. Notwithstanding this disaster, the
French ministry persisted in their design ; towards
the execution of which they had prepared another
considerable fleet, in the harbours of Rochefort,
Brest, and Port- Louis, to be commanded by M.
de Conflans, and reinforced by a considerable
body of troops, which were actually assembled
under the due d'Aiguillon, at Vannes, in Lower
Bretagne, Flat-bottomed boats and transports to
be used in this expedition were prepared in dif
ferent ports on the coast of France ; and a small
squadron was equipped at Dunkirk, under the
command of an enterprising adventurer, called
Thurot, who had, in the course of the preceding
year, signalised his courage and conduct in a large
privateer called the Belleisle, which had scoured
the Notth Seas, taken a number of ships, and at
one time maintained an obstinate battle against
two English frigates, which were obliged to desist
after having received considerable damage. This
man's name became a terror to the merchants of
GreatBritain; for his valour Avas not more remark
able in battle than his conduct in eluding the
pursuit pf the British cruisers, who were succes
sively detached in quest of him, through every
part of the German Ocean and North Sea, as far
as the islands of Orkney, It must be Ukewise

1V59, GEORGE IL 553
pwned, for the honour of human nature, that this
bold mariner, though destitute of the advantages
pf birth and educatipn, was remarkably distin
guished by his generpsity and compassion to those
who had the misfortune to fall into his power;
and that his deportment in every respect entitled
him to a much more honourable rank in the service
ofhis country. The court of Versailles was not
insensible to his merit. He obtained a commis
sion from the French king, and was vested with
the command of the small araiament now fitting
out in the harbour of Dunkirk, The British go
vernment, being apprised of all these particulars,'
took such measures to defeat the purposed inva
sion as must have conveyed -a very high idea of
the power of Great Britain to those who considered,
that, exclusive ofthe force opposed, to this design,
they at the same time carried on the most vigorous
and important operations of war in Germany,
America, the East and West Indies, Thurot's ar
mament at Dunkirk was watched by an English
squadron in the Dovvns, commanded by commo
dore Boys ; the port of Havre was guarded by
rear-admiral Rodney ; Mr Boscawen had been
stationed off Toulon, and the coast of Vannes was
scoured by a»small squadron detached from sir
Edward Hawke, who had, during the summer,
blocked up the harbour of Brest, Avhere Con
flans lay with his fieet, in order to be joined by
the other divisions of the armament. These dif
ferent squadrons of the British navy were con-

556 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, I7sa
nected by a chain of separate cruisers ; sb that the
whole coast of France, from Dunkirk to the ex
tremity of Bretagne, was distressed by an actual
blockade.

FRENCH FLEET SAILS FROM BREST,
The French fleet being thus hampered,, forbore
their attempt upon Britain ; and the projected in
vasion seemed to hang in suspense till the month
of August, in the beginnirig of which their army
in Germany was defeated at Minden. Their de
signs in that countiy being baffled by this disas
ter, they seemed to convert their chief attention
to their sea-armament ; the preparations were
resumed with redoubled vigour ; and even after
the defeat of La Clue, they resolved to try their
fortune in a descent. They now proposed to dis
embark a body of troops in Ireland. Thurot
received orders to sail from Dunkirk with the
first opportunity, and shape his course round the
northern parts of Scotland, that he might alarm
the coast of Ireland, and make a diversion from
that part where Conflans intended to effectuate
the disembarkation of his forces. The transports
and ships of war were assembled at Brest and
Rochefort, having on board a train of artillery,
with saddles, and other accoutrements for cavalry,
to be mounted in Ireland ; and a body of French
troops, including part of the Irish brigade, Avas

1759. GEORGE IL 557
kept in readiness to embark. The execution of
this scheme was, however, prevented by the vi
gilance of sir Edward Hawke, who blocked up the
harbour bf Brest with a fleet of tAventy-three capi
tal ships; while another squadron of smaller ships
and frigates, under the command of captain Duff,
continued to cruise along the French coast, from
port L'Orient, in Bretagne, to the point of St
Gilles, in Poitou. At length, however, in the
beginning of November, the British squadron,
commanded by , sir Edward HaAvke, sir Charles
Hardy, and rear admiral Geary, were driven from
the coast of France by stress of weather, and on
the ninth day of the month anchored in Torbay.
The French admiral, Conflans, snatched this op
portunity of sailing from Brest, with one-and-
twenty sail of the line and four frigates, in hopes
of being able to destroy 4;he English squadron
commanded by captain Duff, before the large
fleet could return from the coast of England-
Sir Edward Hawke, having received intelligence
that the French fleet had sailed from Brest, imme
diately stood to sea, in order to pursue them ; and
in the mean time, the government issued orders
for guarding all those parts of the coast that were
thought the most exposed to a descent. The
land-forces Avere put in motion, and quartered
along the shore of Kent and Sussex : all the ships
of Avar in the different harbours, even those that
had just arrived from America, Avere ordered to

558 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759,
put to sea, and every step was taken tp disconcert
the designs of the enemy.

ADMIRAL HAWKE DEFEATS M. DE CON-
FLANS.
While these measures were takeri with equal
vigour and deliberation, sir Edward Hawke steered
his course directlyforQuiberon, on thecoast of Bre
tagne, which he supposed would be the rendezvous
of the French squadron : but, notwithstanding his
utmost efforts, he was driven by a hard gale con
siderably to the westward, where he was joined
by two frigates, the Maids tone and Coventry.
These he directed tokeep a- head ofthe squadron.
The weather growing more moderate, the former
made the signal for seeing a fleet, on the twen
tieth day of November, at half an hour past eight
o'clock in the morning, and in an hour afterAvards
discovered them to be the enemy's squadron. They
were at that time in chase of captain Duff's squa
dron, which now joined the large fleet, after having
run some risque of being taken. Sir Edward
HaAvke, who, when the Maidstone gave the first
notice, had formed the line a-breast, now percei
ving that the French admiral endeavoured to escape
with all the sail he could carry, thrcAV out a signal
for seven ofhis ships that were nearest the enemy
to chase, and endeavour to detain them, until they
could be reinforced by the rest of the squadron.

1759, GEORGE IL 559
which were ordered to form into a line-of-battle
a-head, as they chased, that nb time might be lost
in the pursuit. Considering the roughness ofthe
weather, which was extremely tempestuous ; the
nature of the coast, which is in this place ren
dered very hazardous by a great number of sand
banks, shoals, rocks, and islands, as entirely un
known to the British sailors, as they Avere familiar
to the French navigators ; the dangers of a short
day, dark night, and lee-shore ; it required extra
ordinary resolution in the English admiral to at
tempt hostilities on this occasion : but sir EdAvard
Hawke, steeled with the integrity and fortitude
of his own heart, animated by a warm love for
his country, and well acquainted with the import
ance of the stake on Avhich the safety of that
country in a great measure depended, was resolved
to run extraordinary risques in his endeavours to
frustrate at once a boasted scheme projected for
the annoyance of his fellow-subjects. With respect
to his ships of the line, he had but the advantage
of one in point of number, and no superiority in
men or metal ; consequently M, de Conflans
might have hazarded a fair battle on the open sea,
without any imputation of temerity ; but he
thought proper to play a more artful game, though
it did not succeed according to his expectation.
He kept his fleet in a body, and retired close in
shore, with a view to draw the English sqUadron
among the shoals and islands, on which he hoped
.they would pay dear for their rashness and impe-

B60 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759,
tuosity, while he and his officers, Avho were per
fectly acquainted with the navigation, could either
stay, and take advantage of the disaster, or, if
hard pressed, retire through channels unknown to ,
the British pilots. At half an hour.after two the van
of the English flieet began the engagement with
the rear of the enemy, in the neighbpurhood of
Belleisle. Every ship, as she advanced, poured
in a broadside on the sternmost of the French,
and bore down upon their van, leaving the rear to
those that came after. Sir Edward Hawke, in the
Royal George, of one hundred and ten guns, re
served his fire in passing through the rear of the
enemy, and ordered his master to bring him along
side of the French admiral, Avho commanded in
person on board the Soleil Royal, a ship mounted
with eighty cannon, and provided with a comple
ment of twelve hundred men. When the pilot
remonstrated thathe could not obey his command
without the most imminent risque of running
upon a shoal, the veteran replied, " You have
" done your duty in showing the danger ; now
" you are to comply with my order, and lay me
" along-side the Soleil Royal." His wish was
gratified : the Royal George ranged up Avith the
French admiral. The Thesse, another large ship
ofthe enemy, running up between the two com
manders, sustained the fire that was reserved for
the Soleil Royal ; but in returning the first broad
side foundered, in consequence of the high sea
that entered her loAver deck-ports, and filled her
3

1759, GEORXJE IL 561
with water. NotAvithstanding the boisterous wea
ther, a great number of ships on both sides fought
with equal fury and dubious success, till about
four in the afternoon,, when the Formidable strUck
her colours. The Superbe shared the fate of the
Thesee in going to the bottom. The Hero hauled
dovirn her colours in token of submission, and
dropped anchor ; but the wind was so high, that
no boat could be sent to take possession. By
this time day -light began to fail, and the greater
part of the French fleet escaped under cover
of the darkness. , Night approaching, the wind
blowing with augmented violence, on a lee-shore,
and the British squadron being entangled among
unknown shoals and islands, sir Edward Hawke
made the signal for anchoring to the westward of
the small island Dumet; and her-c the fleet re
mained all night in a very dangerbus riding,
alarmed by the fury of the storin, and the incesr
sant firiifg of guns of distress, without their know
ing whether it proceeded from friend or enemy.
The Soleil Royal had, under favour /of the night,
anchored also in the midst ofthe British squadron;
but at day-break M. de Conflans ordered her cable
to be cut, and she drove a-shore to the Avestward
of Crozie. The English admiral immediately made
signal to the Essex to slip cable, and pursue her^
and in obeying this order, she ran unfortunately
on a sand-bank, called Lefour, where the Resolu
tion, another ship of the British squadr')n, was al
ready grounded. Here tbey were botl itrecover-
VOL, V. go

S62 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759.
ably lost, in spite of all the assistance that could
be given ; but all their men, and part of their
stores, were saved, and the wrecks set on fire by
prder of the admiral. He likewise detached the
Portland, Chatham, and Vengeance, to destroy
the Soleil Royal, Avhich was burned by her own
people before the English ships could approach :
but they arrived time enough to reduce the Hero
to ashes on the Lefour, where she had been also
stranded; and the Juste, another of their great
ships, perished in the mouth of the Loire. The
admiral, perceiving seven large ships of the^nemy
riding at anchor between Ppint Penvas and the
mouth of the river Vilaine, made the signal to
weigh, in order to attack them ; but the fury of
the storm increased to such a degree, that he was
obliged to remain at anchor, and even ordered
the top-gallant masts to be struck. In the mean
time, the French ships being lightened of their
cannon, their officers took advantage of the flood,
and a more moderate gale under the land, to enter
the Vilaine, where they laid within half a mile of
the entrance, protected by some occasional bat
teries erected on the shore, and by two large fri
gates moored across the mouth of the harboUr.
Thus they were effectually secured from any at
tempts of small vessels ; and as for large ships,
there was not water sufficient to float them within
fighting distance of the enemy. On the whole,
this battle, in which a very considerable number
of lives was lost, may be considered as one ofthe

1759. GEORGE IL 563
most perilous and important actions that ever
happened in any war between the two nations ;
for it not only defeated the projected invasion,
which had hung menacing so long over the ap
prehensions of Great Britain, but it gave the-
finishing blow to the naval power of France, which
was totally disabled from undertaking any thing
of consequence in the sequel.' By this time, in
deed, Thurot had escaped from Dunkirk, and di
rected his course to the North-Sea, whither he
was followed by commodore Boys, who neverthe
less Avas disappointed in his pursuit; but the fate
of that enterprising adventurer falls under the
annals ofthe ensuing year, among the transactions
of AvhIch it shall be recorded. As for sir Edward
HaAvkcj he continued cruising pff the cpast of
Brbtagne for a considerable time after the victory
he had bbtainedj taking particular care tc block
up the mouth cf the river Vilaine, that the seven
French ships might npt escape and jpiri M. Con
flans, who niadte shift to reach Rochefort with the
shattered remains of his squadron. Indeed, this
service became such a considerable object in the
' During this war, the Ehglish had already taken and destroy
ed twenty-seven French ships of the line and thirty-one frigates ;
two of their great ships and four frigates perished ; so that their
whole loss, in this particular, amounted to sixty-fouf : whereas
the loss of Great Britain did not exceed seven sail of' the line and
five frigates. It may be easily conceived how the French marine,
at first greatly inferior to the naval power of Britain, must have
been affected by this dreadful balance to its prejudice.

564 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759
¦eyes of the British ministry, that a large fleet Avas
maintained upon this coast, apparently for no
other purppse, daring a whole year ; and, after all,
the enemy eluded their vigilance. Sir Edward
HaAvke, having undergone a long and dangerous
conflict with tempestuous weather, was at length
recalled, and presented to his sovereign, who gra
tified him Avith a considerable pension, for the
courage and conduct he had so often and so long
displayed in the service of his country ; and his
extraordinary merit was afterwards honoured with
the approbation of the parUament. The people
of France were so dispirited by the defeat of their
army at Minden, and the disaster of their squa
dron at Lagos, that the ministry of VersaiUes
thought proper to conceal the extent of their last
misfortunes under a palliating detail published in
the gazette of Paris, as a letter from M- Conflans
to thC/ count de St Florentin, secretary of the
marine. In this partial misrepresentation their ad
miral was made to affirm, that the British fleet con
sisted of forty ships of the line-of-battle, besides
frigates ; that the Soleil Royal had obliged the
Royal George to sheer off; that the seven
sHps which retreated into the river Vilaine had
received very Uttle damage, and would be soon
repaired ; and that, by the junction of Bompart's
squadron, he should be soon able to give a good
account of the English admiral. These tumid as
sertions, so void of truth, are not to be imputed
to an ilUberal spirit pf vain glory, so much as t©

1759. GEORGE IL 565
a political design of extenuating the national ca
lamity, and supporting the spirit of the people.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT.
The alarm ofthe French invasion, which was thus
so happily frustrated, not only disturbed the quiet
of Great Britain, but also diffused itself to the
kingdom of Ireland, where it Avas productive of
some public disorder. In the latter end of Octo
ber, the two houses of parliament, assembled at'
Dublin, received a formal message from the duke
of Bedford, lord-lieutenant of that kingdom, to
the following effect : That, by a letter from the
secretary of state, written by his majesty's express
command, it appeared that France, far from resign
ing her plan of invasion, on account of the disaster
that befel her Toulon squadron, was more and
more confii'med in her purpose, and even instigated
by despaii: itself to attempt, at all hazards, the
only resource she seemed to have left for thwart
ing, by a diversion at home, the measures of
England abroad in prosecuting a war which hi
therto opened, in all parts of the world, so unfa
vourable a prospect to the views of Frencli ambi
tion : that, in case the bcdy pf French trppps,
ampuntihg tp eighteen thousand men, under the
command of the due d'Aiguillon, assembled at
Vannes, where also a sufficient number of trans
ports was prepared, should be able to elude the

5Q6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1759.
British squadron, Ireland would, in all probability,
be one of their chief objects ; his grace thought
it, therefore, incumbent upon him, in a matter of
such high importance to the welfare of that king
dom, to cpmmunicate this intelUgence tP the Irish
parliament. He told them, his majesty would
make np doubt but that the zeal of his faithful
protestant subjects in that kingdoni had been al
ready sufficiently quickened by the repeated ac
counts received of the enemy's dangerous designs
and actual preparations made, at a vast expence,
in order to invade the several parts of the British
dominions. He gave them to understand he had
received his sovereign's commands to use his ut
most endeavours to animate and excite his loyal
people of Ireland to exert their well-known zeal
and spirit in support of his majesty's government,
and in defence of all that Avas dear to, them, by
timely preparation to resist and frustrate any at
tempts of the enemy to disturb the quiet and
shake the security of this kingdom : he therefore,
in the strongest manner, recommended it to them
to manifest, upon this occasion, tha,t zeal for tfie
present happy establishment, and that aftection for
his majesty's person and government, by whichi the
parliament of that nation had been, sp, often distin
guished. Immediately after this message Avas
communicated, the houseof commons unanimous
ly resplved tp present an address to the lord^Ueu^
tenant, thanking his grace for the care and con
cern he had shewn for the safety of Ireland) ia

1759. GEORGE IL , S67
having imparted intelligence of so great import
ance ; desiring him to make use of such means
as should appear to him the most effectual for tbe
security and defence of the kingdom; and assu
ring him, that the house would make good what
ever expence should be necessarily incurred for
that purpose. This intimation, and the steps that
were taken in consequence of it for the defence
of Ireland, produced such apprehensions and dis
traction among the people of that kingdom, as
had well nigh proved fatal to the public credit
In the first transports of popular fear, there wa*
such an extraordinary run upon the banks of
Dublin, tliat several considerable bankers were
obliged to stop payment; and the circulation waS'
in danger of being suddenly stagnated, when the
lord-lieuteuant, the members of both houses of
parliament, the lord-mayor, aldermen, merchants,.
and principal traders of Dublin, engaged in an as
sociation to support public credit, by taking the
notes of bankers in payment : a resolution which
effectually answered the purpose intended.

LOYALTY OF THE IRISH CATHOLICS.
Howsoever the court of Versailles might havd
flattered itself that their invading army would in
Ireland be joined by a great number of the na
tives, in all probabUity it AVould have befen disap-

56JK HISTORY OF ENGLAND. , 1759.
pointed in this hope, had their purposed descent
even been carried into execution, for no signs of
disaffection to the reigning family appeared at
this juncture. On the contrary, the wealthy in
dividuals of the Romish persuasion offered to ac
commodate the government with large sums of
money, in case of neeessity, to support the present
establishment against all Its enemies ; and the Ro
man Catholics of the city of Cork, in a body,
presented an address to the lord-Ueutenant, ex
pressing their loyalty in the warmest terms of
assurance. ' After liaving congratulated his grace
on the unparalleled success which had attended
his majesty's arms, and expressed their sense of '
the king's paternal tenderness for his kingdom
of'ireland, they acknowledged, Avith the deepest
sense of gratitude, that protection and indulgence
they had ¦ enjoyed under his majesty's mild and
auspicious reign. They professed the warmest
indignation at the threatened invasion of the
kingdom by an enemy Avho, grown desperate
from repeated defeats, might possibly make that
attempt as a last effort, vainly flattered with the
imaginary hope of assistance in Ireland from the
former attachment of their deluded predecessors.
The assured his grace, in the most solemn man
ner, that such schemes were altogether incon
sistent with their principles and intentions : that
they would, to the utmost exertion of their abi
lities, with their lives and fortunes, join in the

1759. GEORGE IL 569
defence and support of big majesty's royal person
and government against all invaders whatsoever :
that they should be always ready to concur in
such measures, and to act such parts in defence
ofthe kingdom, in common with the rest of his
majesty's subjects, as his grace in his great wis
dom should be pleased to appoint; and think
themselves particularly happy to be under t'he di
rection and command of so known an assertor of
liberty, such an important and distinguished go
vernor. Finally, they expressed the most earnest
wijsh, that his majesty's arms might be crowned
with such a continuance of success, as should en
able him to defeat the devices of all his enemies,
and obtain a speedy and honourable peace. This
cordial address, which was transmitted to the earl
of Shannon, and by him presented to the duke of
Bedford, must have been very agreeable to the
government at such a critical conjuncture.

DANGEROUS INSURRECTION IN DUBLIN.
Although no traces of disaffection to his ma
jesty's family appeared on this trying occasion, it
must nevertheless be acknowledged, that a spirit
of dissatisfaction broke out with extraordinary
violence among the populace of Dublin. The
present lord-Ueutenant was not remarkably popu
lar in his administration. He had bestowed one
place of considerable importance upon agenileman

570 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1759.
whose person Avas obnoxious to many people in
that kingdom, and perhaps failed in that affability
and condescension which a free and ferocious
nation expects to find in the character of him to
whose rule they are subjected. Whether the of
fence taken at his deportment had created ene
mies to his person, or the nation in general began
to entertain doubts and jealousies of the govern
ment's designs, certain it is, great pains AVere
taken to propagate a belief among the lower sort
of people, that an union Avould soon be effected
between Great Britain and Ireland; in Avliich
case this last kingdom Avould be deprived of its
parliament and independency, and be subjected
to the same taxes that are levied upon the people
of England. This notion inflamed the populace
to such a degree, that they assembled in a prodi
gious multitude, broke into the house of lords, in
sulted the peers, seated an old Avoman on the
throne, and searched for the journals, Avhich, had
they been found, they Avould have committed to
the flames. Not content with this outrage, they
compelled the members of both houses, A\'hom
they met in the streets, to take an oath that they
never Avoukl consent to such an union, or give
any vote contrary to the true Interest of Ireland.
Divers coaches belonging to obnoxious persons
Avere destroyed, and their horses killed ; and a
gibbet Avas erected for one gentleman in particu
lar, Avho nariPAvly escaped the ungpvernable rage
©f those riotous Insurgents. A body of hprse and

1759. GEORGE IL 571
infantry were drawn out on this occasion, in order
to overawe the multitude, which at night dispersed
of itself. Next day addresses to the Ibrd-lieute-
nant were agreed to by both houses of parliament,
and a committee of inquiry appointed, that the
ringleaders of the tumult might be discovered,
and brought to condign punishment.

ALARM OF A DESCENT IN SCOTLAND. 7
When the ministry of England received the first
advice, that M. Thurot had escaped from Dunkirk
with a small squadron of armed "ships, having on
board a body of land- troops, designed for a, pri-'
vate expedition on the coast of Scotland or Ire
land, expresses Avere -immediately dispatched to
the commanding officers of the forces In Nmth-
Britain, Avith orders to put the fprts alpng the
coast of that kingdom In the best posture of de
fence ; and to hold every thing in readiness, to
repel the enemy,- in case they should attempt a
descent In consequence of these instructions,
beacons Avere erected for the immediate communi
cation of intelligence ; places of rendezvous ap
pointed for the regular trpops and militia ; and
strict orders issued, that no officer should absent
himself from his duty, on any pretence whatever.
The greatest encomium that can be given to the
character of this partizan, is an account of the
alarm which the sailing of his puny armament

57^

HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

1759.

spread through the whole extent pf such a power
ful kingdom, whose fleets covered the 'ocean.
Perhaps Thurot's career would have been sooner
stopped, had commodore Boys been victualled for
a longer cruise ; but this commander Avas obliged
to put into Leith for a supply of provisions, at the
very time when Thurot Avas seen hovering on the
eoast near Aberdeen ; and, before the English
squadron Avas provided for the prosecution of the
cruise, the other had taken shelter at Gotten-
burgh, in Sweden,

END OF the fifth VOLUME.

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