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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,

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La mort inopinée qui vient d'enlever le plus respecté des Rois (') 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."

() In his declaration to the privy council, on the day of George the Second's decease, the new monarch had expressed his de

THE KING OF PRUSSIA TO MR. PITT.

MONSIEUR,

A Meissen ce 7e Novembre, 1760.

Je viens d'apprendre avec une sensible douleur la perte que nous venons de faire. Quoique la

termination to prosecute the war in the manner the most likely to bring on an honourable and lasting peace, in concert with his Allies. "The young king," says Walpole, in a letter to Mr. Montagu of this date," has behaved with the greatest propriety, dignity, and decency. He read his speech to the council with much grace, and dismissed the guards on himself to wait on his grandfather's body. It is intimated that he means to employ the same ministers, but with reserve to himself of more authority than has lately been in fashion. The Duke of York and Lord Bute are named of the cabinet council." Again, on the 31st, he writes: "When you have changed the cipher of George the Second into that of George the Third, and have shifted a few lords and grooms of the bed-chamber, you are master of the history of the new reign, which is indeed but a new lease of the old one. The Favourite took it up in a high style; but having forgot to ensure either house of parliament, or the mob, the third house of parliament, he drove all the rest to unite. They have united, and have notified their resolution of governing as before: not but the Duke of Newcastle cried for his old master, desponded for himself, protested he would retire, consulted every body whose interest it was to advise him to stay, and has accepted to-day. For the King himself, he seems all good-nature, and wishing to satisfy every body: all his speeches are obliging; I was surprised to find the levee room had lost so entirely the air of the lion's den. This sovereign don't stand in one spot, with his eyes fixed royally on the ground, and dropping bits of German news; he walks about and speaks to every body. I saw him afterwards on the throne, where he is graceful and genteel, sits with dignity, and reads his answers to addresses well it was the Cambridge address, carried by the Duke of Newcastle in his doctor's gown, and looking like the médecin malgré lui."

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

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