mort du Roi mon Oncle ne soit pas prématurée, cet événement subit, dans les conjonctures où nous nous trouvons, ne laisse pas que de m'affliger infiniment. Je mets ma confiance en vous, Monsieur, et dans ce caractère d'un vrai Romain, dont vous avez donné des marques si éclatantes durant votre ministère; je me repose sur vous sans que j'appréhende de me tromper; et je ne doute point que vous ne continuez à travailler avec le même zèle pour le bien de la cause commune, que vous n'avez fait jusqu'ici durant le regne du Roi mon Oncle. Nous avons eu des succès d'un côté, mais à parler franchement, ils ont été contrebalancé par des événemens favorables à nos ennemis. (') -: (1) This letter was written only four days after the desperate battle of Torgau, of which Walpole gives the following animated relation : "The two armies encamped near Torgau; Marshal Daun with every advantage of position. The King of Prussia's situation was tremendous. Winter advanced, and Frederick had nothing but a ruined country to receive him if defeated. He saw the gulf that surrounded him. He determined to fight, and told his troops that he was resolved to conquer or die. Under the awfulness of despair they attacked the enemy. Fury animated the Prussians; intrepidity sustained the Austrians. The event was long in suspense, and fluctuated alternately. The Prussians at last threw the enemy into disorder; and the marshal himself receiving a dangerous wound in the thigh, Colonel O'Donnel, who succeeded to the command, found it vain to dispute the field any longer. It was nine at night of the 3d of November; the battle had lasted from two in the afternoon; a retreat was sounded, and made in good order by the Austrians. Dearly did the Prussians buy their victory; but in such a crisis, what was too dear for Frederick to pay? His loss was computed at thirteen thousand men. The Austrians had not suffered less; in prisoners abundantly. Four generals, two hundred and sixteen Leur nombre nous est trop supérieur pour que nous puissions nous flatter avec raison de pouvoir remporter sur eux des avantages décisifs et capables de faire plier leur orgueil et les vûes très etendûes de leur ambition. Vous êtes peut-être le seul homme en Europe qui, par vos sages mesures, pourrez trouver un tempérament propre à finir d'une manière glorieuse une guerre ruineuse et funeste à toutes les parties belligérantes également. Je le répète, je mets toute ma confiance en vous; c'est vous assurer de toute mon estime, et des sentimens avec les quels je désire de vous prouver que je suis votre véritable ami, FREDERIC. ANDREW MITCHELL, ESQ. TO MR. PITT. Glogau, November 10, 1760. DEAR SIR, YOUR private letter of the 9th September, which I received here about a week ago, gave me most sincere joy, and I shall not fail to communicate to the Hero I attend, the friendly and manly sentiments it conveys. I most heartily congratulate you on the glorious success of his Majesty's arms in America (which officers, and eight thousand private men taken, with possession of the field, were decisive in favour of the Prussians. The recovery of all Saxony, but Dresden, made the victory indisputable." Memoirs of Geo. II. vol. ii. p. 449. is your own work), as well as on another unexpected victory obtained by the King of Prussia on the 3d instant near Torgau. It is said to have been great and complete; but as I have yet seen no authentic relation, I forbear saying more. The news of his late Majesty's death struck an universal damp upon the spirits of all the wellwishers to the common cause, which nothing but his present Majesty's wise and well-timed declaration in council could have dissipated. Thank Heaven, it has had the effect; and people here look for their salvation from England. My Lord Holdernesse having acquainted me, that it is his Majesty's gracious intention to send me new letters of credence to this court, I think myself highly honoured by this mark of his Majesty's favour; and as I am, Sir, probably indebted to you for the favourable opinion the King has of me, accept of my most hearty thanks. The friendly manner in which you write emboldens me to ask your assistance in a pretension I made, about two years ago, for one of the vacant red ribbons. My reasons for asking it were, as a public mark of the King's approbation of my conduct, and as a sort of protection to my person; for I have unfortunately, even during this last campaign, been in divers situations, where a mark of distinction would have been of the greatest use. I am, dear Sir, Your most obliged and most humble Servant, ANDREW MITCHELL. THE EARL OF HARDWICKE TO MR. PITT. DEAR SIR, Grosvenor-Square, Tuesday Morning, LATE last night I received your note, together with the draught of a paragraph inclosed, and think myself much honoured by the communication. I make no doubt of the candour with which it is proposed, nor of that with which it will be considered. This will be a day of hurry ('); but I (1) The funeral of George the Second, which took place on the evening of this day in Westminster Abbey, is thus admirably described by Walpole, in a letter to Mr. Montagu : "It was absolutely a noble sight. The Prince's chamber, hung with purple, and a quantity of silver lamps, the coffin under a canopy of purple velvet, and six vast chandeliers of silver on high stands, had a very good effect. The procession, through a line of foot-guards every seventh man bearing a torch, the horse-guards lining the outside, their officers with drawn sabres and crape sashes on horseback, the drums muffled, the fifes, bells tolling, and minute guns - all this was very solemn. But the charm was the entrance of the Abbey, where we were received by the dean and chapter in rich robes, the choir and almısmen bearing torches; the whole Abbey so illuminated, that one saw it to greater advantage than by day; the tombs, long aisles, and fretted roof, all appearing distinctly, and with the happiest chiaro scuro. * When we came to the Chapel of Henry the Seventh, all solemnity and decorum ceased; no order was observed, people sat or stood where they could or would; the yeomen of the guards were crying out for help, oppressed by the immense weight of the coffin; the bishop read sadly, and blundered in the prayers; the fine chapter, Man that is born of a woman, was chaunted, not read, and the anthem, besides being immeasurably tedious, would have served as well for a nuptial. The real serious part was the figure of the Duke of Cumberland, heightened by a thousand melancholy circumstances. He had a dark brown beg you will give me leave to wait upon you tomorrow with an entire draught of the Speech (1); upon which I shall be happy to learn your thoughts in the first place. I imagine this will be the best way, and will receive your commands as to the hour, at the meeting at St. James's this forenoon. I am always, with the greatest truth and respect, dear Sir, Your most obedient and faithful humble servant, HARDWICKE. (2) adonis, and a cloak of black cloth, with a train of five yards. Attending the funeral of a father could not be pleasant: his leg extremely bad, yet forced to stand upon it for two hours; his face bloated and distorted with his late paralytic stroke, and placed over the mouth of the vault into which, in all probability, he must himself so soon descend! It was very theatric to look down into the vault, where the coffin lay, attended by mourners with lights." (1) The Speech to be delivered by the King on the 18th, upon opening the session. It appears by the Hardwicke Papers, that after the draught of it had been settled by the cabinet, the following words were inserted in his Majesty's own hand: "Born and educated in this country, I glory in the name of Briton; and the peculiar happiness of my life will ever consist in promoting the welfare of a people, whose loyalty and warm affection to me, I consider as the greatest and most permanent security of my throne." (2) Sir Joseph Yorke, writing shortly after to Mr. Mitchell, says: "Lord Hardwicke has been much caressed by the King and his ministers, and continues to give his helping hand without place or pension. The young monarch has ascended the throne in the happiest æra of the British nation, the first of his family born in England, in the prime of life, with a good constitution, and with the good opinion of his subjects. He has many amiable and virtuous qualities, is rather timid, but since his accession, I am told he represents well, and spoke his Speech |