Quebec, gravée sur un marbre, qui soit posé sur la tombe du Marquis de Montcalm. En cas que cette permission nous soit accordée, oserois-je vous supplier, Monsieur, d'avoir la bonté de me faire savoir, et de m'envoyer en même tems un passeport, pour que le marbre soit reçu à bord d'un vaisseau Anglois, et que Monsieur Murray, gouverneur de Quebec, permette qu'il y soit placé dans l'église des Urselines. Je vous demande pardon, Monsieur, de vous détourner pour un objet étranger à vos importantes occupations, mais c'est vous rendre hommage que de chercher à immortaliser les hommes illustres et les grands citoyens. Je suis avec respect, Monsieur, Votre très-humble et très-obéissant serviteur, (1) Jean-Pierre de Bougainville was secretary to the French Academy of Inscriptions. He published a translation of Cardinal de Polignac's "Anti-Lucretius," wrote many able papers in the memoirs of the Academy, and died in 1763, at the age of forty-one, of asthma, brought on by intense application. His brother, Louis-Antoine, the celebrated circumnavigator, who had been Montcalm's aide-de-camp, retired from the service in 1790. He was afterwards made a count and senator by Buonaparte, became member of the national institute, and of the royal society cf London, and closed his long and useful career at Paris, in 1811, at the age of eighty-two. A translation of his "Voyage autour du Monde" was published in London, in 1772. MR. PITT TO M. DE BOUGAINVILLE. MONSIEUR, A` Londres, ce 10me Avril, 1761. CE m'est une vraie satisfaction de pouvoir vous envoyer l'agrément du Roi, sur un sujet aussi intéressant qu'est l'Epitaphe ('), qui est d'une beauté achevée, que l'Académie des Inscriptions de Paris a faite pour M. le Marquis de Montcalm, et qu'on désire d'envoyer à Québec, gravée sur un marbre, qui doit être posé sur la tombe de cet illustre militaire. On ne peut qu'applaudir à la noblesse de sentimens des troupes Françoises qui ont servi en Canada, en voulant rendre un pareil tribut à la mémoire de leur général, qu'elles ont vu mourir à leur tête, d'une manière digne d'elles et de luimême. Je me ferai un plaisir, Monsieur, de faciliter, en toutes choses, d'intentions si respectables; et d'abord qu'on me fera savoir les arrangemens qu'on aura pris pour faire embarquer ce marbre, je ne manquerai pas de vous faire parvenir aussitôt le passeport que vous désirez, et d'envoyer au gouverneur de Québec les ordres pour sa réception. Au reste, Monsieur, je vous supplie d'être persuadé de ma juste sensibilité sur ce qu'il y a de si obligeant, à mon sujet, dans la lettre dont vous m'avez honoré, et de croire que je saisis comme un (1) For a copy of the epitaph, see Annual Register, vol. v. p 267. bonheur l'occasion de vous témoigner les sentimens d'estime et de considération distinguées avec lesquels j'ai l'honneur d'être, &c. W. PITT. THE COUNT DE FUENTES TO M. WALL. (1) London, March 27, 1761. THE troops for the expedition are embarking, which, with the addition of Loudon's regiment, will, I believe, make more than seven thousand men. They will probably sail soon, if the wind permits; and though it is generally said they are going to the islands of Bourbon and Mauritius, there seem to be too many troops for this object. It is said they will carry with them some flat-bottomed boats, which are getting ready; but this precaution does not tally with that of the ships having been sheathed: perhaps it may be only a blind, in order to deceive. Recruits are sending in all haste to Germany, to complete the troops there; but the greater part has been draughted from the regi ments here, which are left very weak. My Lord Bute's new employment has discontented many; though they dissemble. It is not possible it can last long, on account of the circumstance of his country, of the events which may happen in the present crisis, and because (1) Endorsed, “translation of a letter in cypher.” Mr. Pitt will not care to cease to be absolute, nor my Lord Bute to depend upon him, as he is in such favour with the King. Perhaps their having flattered themselves too much with the speedy effect of France's declarations concerning peace may have anticipated these changes prematurely. The Duke of Newcastle and his party are persuaded that Mr. Pitt and my Lord Bute have united, in order to demolish him, and form their own. The putting my Lord Talbot into the Duke of Rutland's place is believed to be the work of the Princess of Wales, of whom they speak with too much liberty. (') (1) On the 21st of the month, Lord Talbot was created an earl, and on the 25th appointed steward of the household. In Dodington's Diary of the 16th of January, there is the following curious entry: "Lord Bute came to me, and said that he was now sure that Pitt had no thoughts of abandoning the continent, and that he was madder than ever. He was uneasy with Talbot, as he would have put the steward's staff in Talbot's hands the first day, if he could: that he had heard that Talbot thought Granby could persuade his father to quit it: that Talbot would make an excellent officer to reform that most corrupt office : that in whatever he should do for his friends, he should always, at the same time, consider the service of his master and of the public. I pressed him much for Talbot; to which he replied, that he had marks of all the distinctions that were going; the council accepted, and refused; in the promotions of peerage, an earldom: that he perceived Talbot meant a place of more consequence than he (Bute) wished; he was sorry for it, for he was violent, and would be impracticable in business. He said that Henley owed his being made chancellor, from keeper, entirely to him; and that he had brought Henley's letter to show me. I begged him to preserve that letter, as well as some others he had shown me, properly labelled and tied up; for the ingratitude of mankind might make it of use to have I believe Mr. Pitt, by avoiding seeing me, endeavours to gain time, either in order to wait the result of his messenger to my Lord Bristol, or the effect of the rumours of peace; flattering us now, in order to make fools of us afterwards, when they are persuaded we shall not talk so big. I have not seen Mr. Pitt since the audience I demanded of him when I dispatched my messenger. FUENTES. THE KING OF PRUSSIA TO MR. PITT. [From the original in the King's handwriting.] MONSIEUR, [Without place or date. (1)] Je viens de recevoir une dépêche de mes ministres à Londres, qui m'a fait soupçonner quelque mésentendu de leur part. J'ai cru qu'il était à propos de m'expliquer immédiatement avec vous, Monsieur, pour rectifier le faux sens qu'ils ont donné aux déclarations que vous et M. Bute leur ont faites. preserved them. He smiled, and said he had already found it so: he said, that to those who had proposed to him to unite with the Duke of Newcastle upon conditions, he had said, he would agree to no conditions till he saw Talbot, Dashwood, and Charles Townshend had such places as he wished." (1) Addressed, " à Monsieur le Chevalier de Pitt, ministre et secrétaire d'état de sa Majesté le Roi de la Grande Bretagne, à Londres. |