also heard that you are making a very interesting operation in your family, by inoculating some of your children. I know how affecting a crisis that must be to the mind of so tender a parent, and beg leave to offer my sincerest vows for the happy success of it. I am always, with sentiments of the utmost respect and truth, dear Sir, &c. HARDWICKE. THE MARQUIS OF GRANBY TO MR. PITT. SIR, Warbourg, October 13, 1760. I HAVE, by his Serene Highness's orders, acquainted Lord Holdernesse with the unfortunate event of the loss of Berlin ('); the garrison of which capitulated on the 9th, and surrendered themselves prisoners of war to Generals Tottleben and Lascy. The Duke of Wirtemberg, with General Hulsen who had joined him, thinking it imprudent to risk an action against so superior a force, as the capital would most probably have been totally ruined, had they lost the day, retreated to Spandau. and united. Would you believe it! no more noise or stir about elections, than if the parliament was to continue six sessions longer. That is as extraordinary an event, as any of these marvellous times." Mitchell MSS. (1) The Austrian and Prussian troops entered Berlin on the 9th of October, and quitted it on the 13th; on hearing that the King of Prussia was in full march to the relief of his capital. You will see, Sir, by my letter to Lord Holder.. nesse, that the Duke of Wirtemberg has joined the greatest part of his forces with the army of the empire; and that they are now besieging Wittenburg. The situation of his Prussian Majesty's affairs in these parts seems to be very critical. They implore assistance, and indeed they seem to be in very great want of it; but I am afraid my hands are full, and that it will not be in his Serene Highness's power to make any diversion in their favour. His Serene Highness desired, Sir, that I would acquaint you with my having wrote to Lord Holdernesse to acquaint him with the present situation of affairs; which he thought on every part to be near the eve of producing some decisive stroke. He thought it his duty to state the matters of fact as they were, that his Majesty and his ministers might consider if any thing could be done immediately to reinforce us, as the present situation of affairs, if there was a possibility, required it. Should it be impracticable to send any more troops over, he submitted to their consideration, whether any appearance of a diversion on the coasts of France or Flanders might not retard the march of those troops now marching for the Bas Rhine. At the same time, his Serene Highness desired that I would inform you, Sir, that though he thought it his duty to state the situation of affairs and to acquaint you with his wishes, that in the present critical situation of things here, a reinforcement could be sent over, yet he hopes that you will not think that he desponds, or considers them in any shape desperate. On the contrary, notwithstanding the superior force of the enemy, he does not doubt, from the zeal and goodness of the troops under his command, that when the decisive stroke comes, the event will prove successful to the allied army. I am, with the greatest esteem and truth, Sir, La mort inopinée qui vient d'enlever le plus respecté des Rois (1) à ses peuples et à la cause (1) "On the 25th of October, the King rose as usual at six, and drank his chocolate; for all his actions were invariably methodic. A quarter after seven he went into a little closet; his German valet-de-chambre in waiting heard a noise, and, running in, found the King dead on the floor. In falling, he had cut his face against the corner of a bureau. He was laid on a bed and blooded, but not a drop followed; the ventricle of his heart had burst. Princess Amelia was called, and told the King wanted her. She went immediately, and thought him in a fit being deaf herself, she saw nothing in the chamber that indicated his being dead; and putting her face close to his, to commune, dans un moment si critique, eût été un événement aussi peu susceptible de ressource qu'il hear if he spoke to her, she then first perceived he was lifeless. What an enviable death! In the greatest period of the glory of this country and of his reign, in perfect tranquillity at home, at seventy-seven, growing blind and deaf, to die without a pang, before any reverse of fortune, or any distasted peace; nay, but two days before a ship-load of bad news: could he have chosen such another moment? See Walpole's Memoirs of Geo. II. vol. ii. p. 454, and Letters to Horace Mann, vol. iii. p. 382. Smollett concludes a recapitulation of the leading events of this reign in these words: "The unpropitious beginning of the war against France, being imputed to the misconduct of the administration, excited such a ferment among the people, as seemed to threaten a dangerous insurrection. The King found himself obliged to accept of a minister presented by the people; and this measure was attended with consequences as favourable as his wish could form. From that instant all clamour was hushed; all opposition ceased. The enterprising spirit of Mr. Pitt seemed to diffuse itself through all the operations of the war; and conquest every where attended the efforts of the British arms. England for the first time saw a minister of state in full possession of popularity. Under the auspices of this minister, it saw the military genius of Great Britain revive, and shine with redoubled lustre; it saw her interest and glory coincide, and an immense extent of country added by conquest to her dominions." In his "Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontents," published in 1770, Mr. Burke pays the following beautiful tribute to the memory of the deceased monarch: "In times full of doubt and danger to his person and family, George the Second maintained the dignity of his crown connected with the liberty of his people, not only unimpaired, but improved, for the space of thirty-three years. He carried the glory, the power, the commerce of England, to a height unknown even to this renowned nation in the times of its greatest prosperity; and he left his succession resting on the true and only foundations of all natural and all regal greatness; affection at home, reputation abroad, trust in allies, terror in rival nations. The most ardent lover of his country cannot wish for Great Britain est affligeant, si le jeune monarque qui lui succède n'y eût donné d'abord, en montant le trône, les témoignages d'une fermeté et d'un magnanimité qui l'anime, et qui annoncent à l'Europe combien les intérêts de ses alliés (1) lui seront toujours chers, et que la cause commune ne cessera de trouver en sa Majesté un appui inébranlable. Et ce qui comble mes vœux et soutiennent mes espérences pour la conservation des libertés de l'Europe, et pour la défence de la cause Protestante, c'est l'étendue de la confiance et de l'admiration que sa Majesté témoigne pour les illustres défenseurs du salut publique; qui, dans des circonstances les plus difficiles, soutiennent constamment la gloire des armes de sa Majesté, au plus haut point où elle a été porté sous les auspices de la sérénissime maison de Brunswic. Agréez, Monseigneur, que dans un crise si intéressante, j'offre de nouveau à V. A. S. et à Monseigneur le Prince Héréditaire les hommages d'un cœur rempli d'une vénération et d'un dévouement, qui ne cesseront qu'avec la vie. Je suis, &c. W. PITT. a happier fate than to continue as she was then left. A people, emulous as we are in affection to our present sovereign, know not how to form a prayer to heaven for a greater blessing upon his virtues, or a higher state of felicity and glory, than that he should live, and should reign, and, when Providence ordains it, should die, exactly like his illustrious predecessor." (1) In his declaration to the privy council, on the day of George the Second's decease, the new monarch had expressed his de |