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diff --git a/old/53005.txt b/old/53005.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 1a7ea14..0000000 --- a/old/53005.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5091 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook, Walpole and Chatham (1714-1760), by Katharine -Ada Esdaile - - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - - -Title: Walpole and Chatham (1714-1760) - - -Author: Katharine Ada Esdaile - - - -Release Date: September 7, 2016 [eBook #53005] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) - - -***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WALPOLE AND CHATHAM (1714-1760)*** - - -E-text prepared by Chris Pinfield and the Online Distributed Proofreading -Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by -Internet Archive (https://archive.org) - - - -Note: Images of the original pages are available through - Internet Archive. See - https://archive.org/details/walpolechatham1711esda - - -Transcriber's note: - - Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_). - - Text enclosed by plus signs is in bold face (+bold+). - - Text enclosed by equal signs is transliterated Greek - (=Greek=) - - A word that includes a superscript has been spelt out - in full. - - - - - -Bell's English History Source Books - -General Editors: S. E. WINBOLT, M.A., and KENNETH BELL, M.A. - - -WALPOLE AND CHATHAM (1714-1760) - -Compiled by - -KATHARINE A. ESDAILE - -Some Time Scholar of Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford - - - - - - - -[Illustration: bell] - -London -G. Bell & Sons, Ltd. -1912 - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -This series of English History Source Books is intended for use with any -ordinary textbook of English History. Experience has conclusively shown -that such apparatus is a valuable--nay, an indispensable--adjunct to the -history lesson. It is capable of two main uses: either by way of lively -illustration at the close of a lesson, or by way of inference-drawing, -before the textbook is read, at the beginning of the lesson. The kind of -problems and exercises that may be based on the documents are legion, -and are admirably illustrated in a _History of England for Schools_, -Part I., by Keatinge and Frazer, pp. 377-381. However, we have no wish -to prescribe for the teacher the manner in which he shall exercise his -craft, but simply to provide him and his pupils with materials hitherto -not readily accessible for school purposes. The very moderate price of -the books in this series should bring them within the reach of every -secondary school. Source books enable the pupil to take a more active -part than hitherto in the history lesson. Here is the apparatus, the raw -material: its use we leave to teacher and taught. - -Our belief is that the books may profitably be used by all grades of -historical students between the standards of fourth-form boys -in secondary schools and undergraduates at Universities. What -differentiates students at one extreme from those at the other is not so -much the kind of subject-matter dealt with, as the amount they can read -into or extract from it. - -In regard to choice of subject-matter, while trying to satisfy the -natural demand for certain "stock" documents of vital importance, we -hope to introduce much fresh and novel matter. It is our intention that -the majority of the extracts should be lively in style--that is, -personal, or descriptive, or rhetorical, or even strongly partisan--and -should not so much profess to give the truth as supply data for -inference. We aim at the greatest possible variety, and lay under -contribution letters, biographies, ballads and poems, diaries, debates, -and newspaper accounts. Economics, London, municipal, and social life -generally, and local history, are represented in these pages. - -The order of the extracts is strictly chronological, each being -numbered, titled, and dated, and its authority given. The text is -modernised, where necessary, to the extent of leaving no difficulties in -reading. - -We shall be most grateful to teachers and students who may send us -suggestions for improvement. - - S. E. WINBOLT. - KENNETH BELL. - - -NOTE TO THIS VOLUME - -I have to thank the Editors of the _English Historical Review_ for -permission to reprint the passages dealing with the War of Jenkins' Ear, -published by Sir John Laughton in the fourth volume of the _Review_, and -the Scottish History Society for a similar permission with regard to the -Proclamation of James III. and the Landing of the Young Pretender. The -Letters of Horace Walpole are quoted throughout under the dates and -names of correspondents, not from any particular edition, as this -enables a letter to be found without difficulty in any edition; -otherwise the sources are given in full. - -The lover of the eighteenth century is born, but he is also made. It is -the aim of this little book to help in the making. - - K. A. E. - - - - -TABLE OF CONTENTS - - - PAGE - - STATE OF PARTIES AT THE QUEEN'S DEATH (1714) 1 - - PROCLAMATION OF GEORGE I. (1714) 4 - - CHARACTER AND PERSON OF GEORGE I. (1660-1727) 5 - - PUBLIC FEELING AS TO THE NEW DYNASTY (1714) 6 - - THE '15: - I. THE PRETENDER'S DECLARATION 9 - II. THE PROCLAMATION OF JAMES III. 14 - III. FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION EXPLAINED 16 - - THE SEPTENNIAL ACT (1716) 18 - - DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH FLEET OFF SICILY BY ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE - BYNG, JULY 31, 1718 19 - - THE SOUTH SEA BUBBLE (1720): - I. THE PROPOSALS: THE SECOND SCHEME OF THE SOUTH SEA COMPANY 21 - II. THE BUBBLE BURST 25 - - SIR ROBERT WALPOLE AS PRIME MINISTER (1721-1741) 27 - - WOOD'S HALFPENCE: THE FIRST DRAPIER's LETTER (1724) 29 - - CHARACTER OF GEORGE II. (1683-1760) 36 - - THE CONDITION OF THE FLEET PRISON, AS REVEALED BY A PARLIAMENTARY - ENQUIRY (1729): - (_a_) DESCRIPTION OF THE WARDEN, THOMAS BAMBRIDGE 38 - (_b_) HIS CRUELTY 39 - (_c_) FINDINGS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE 40 - - THE EXCISE BILL (1733) 42 - -THE PORTEOUS RIOTS (1736) 45 - - LORD CHESTERFIELD'S SPEECH ON THE BILL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT - OF THE CENSORSHIP OF STAGE PLAYS (1737) 47 - - DEATH OF QUEEN CAROLINE (1737): HER CHARACTER DESCRIBED - BY GEORGE II. 49 - - THE WAR OF JENKINS' EAR (1739) 51 - - THE OPPOSITION SUSPECTS WALPOLE OF DOUBLE-DEALING (1739) 53 - - ADMIRAL VERNON'S VICTORY AT PORTOBELLO (1740): - - I. "ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST" 55 - II. "GREAT BRITAIN'S GLORY; OR, THE STAY-AT-HOME FLEET" 58 - -THE NEW MINISTERS (1742): - I. HERVEY'S ACCOUNT OF THE MINISTRY 58 - II. EPIGRAM ON THE MINISTRY 60 - III. EPIGRAM ON PULTENEY'S ACCEPTANCE OF A PEERAGE 60 - - THE ORIGIN OF THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR (1741-1748) 61 - - THE '45: - I. LANDING OF THE YOUNG PRETENDER; THE RAISING OF THE - STANDARD; SURRENDER OF EDINBURGH 65 - II. TREATMENT OF THE VANQUISHED-- - (_a_) AFTER PRESTON PANS 74 - (_b_) AFTER CULLODEN 76 - III. COLLINS'S "ODE WRITTEN IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 1746" 79 - IV. AN ADVENTURE OF CHARLES EDWARD 79 - - TRIAL OF THE REBEL LORDS (1746) 81 - - TREATY OF AIX-LA-CHAPELLE (1748): - I. LORD BOLINGBROKE ON THE PRELIMINARIES 84 - II. THE ARTICLES OF PEACE 86 - III. A CONTEMPORARY VIEW OF THE PEACE 88 - - LORD CHESTERFIELD'S ACT FOR THE REFORM OF THE CALENDAR (1751): - I. HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE BILL 89 - II. LORD CHESTERFIELD'S OWN ACCOUNT 93 - - SMOLLETT'S CHARACTER OF THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 94 - - THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF ADMIRAL BYNG (1759): - I. HORACE WALPOLE TO SIR HORACE MANN 97 - II. THOMAS POTTER TO MR. GRENVILLE 101 - - THE COALITION GOVERNMENT OF 1757 102 - - THE ENGLISH IN INDIA (1757-1759): - I. THE BLACK HOLE OF CALCUTTA DESCRIBED BY A SURVIVOR 103 - II. CLIVE TO PITT ON ENGLAND'S OPPORTUNITY 105 - - THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM, SEPTEMBER 13, 1759: - I. THE NIGHT ATTACK 109 - II. THE BATTLE 110 - -"THE HEAVEN-BORN MINISTER": HORACE WALPOLE's HOMAGE TO PITT: - I. IN THE GREAT YEAR (1759) 113 - II. CHARACTER OF WILLIAM PITT DESCRIBED IN THE LIGHT - OF SUBSEQUENT HISTORY 114 - - DEATH OF GEORGE II. (1760) 115 - - APPENDIX: LONDON IN 1725-1736: - (_a_) DEFOE'S DESCRIPTION OF LONDON IN 1725 117 - (_b_) PRESENTMENT OF THE MIDDLESEX GRAND JURY (1736) 119 - - - - - WALPOLE AND CHATHAM - - 1714-1760 - - - - -STATE OF PARTIES AT THE QUEEN'S DEATH (1714). - -+Source.+--_Letter to Sir William Windham_, Bolingbroke's Works, 1754. -Vol. i., pp. 28-31. - - -The thunder had long grumbled in the air, and yet when the bolt [the -Queen's death] fell, most of our party appeared as much surprised as if -they had had no reason to expect it. There was a perfect calm and -universal submission throughout the whole kingdom. The Chevalier indeed -set out as if his design had been to gain the coast and to embark for -Great Britain, and the Court of France made a merit to themselves of -stopping him and obliging him to return. But this, to my certain -knowledge, was a farce acted by concert, to keep up an opinion of his -character, when all opinion of his cause seemed to be at an end. He -owned this concert to me at Bar, on the occasion of my telling him that -he would have found no party ready to receive him, and that the -enterprise would have been to the last degree extravagant. He was at -this time far from having any encouragement: no party, numerous enough -to make the least disturbance, was formed in his favour. On the King's -arrival the storm arose. The menaces of the Whigs, backed by some very -rash declarations, by little circumstances of humor which frequently -offend more than real injuries, and by the entire change of all the -persons in employment, blew up the coals. - -At first many of the tories had been made to entertain some faint hopes -that they would be permitted to live in quiet. I have been assured that -the King left Hanover in that resolution. Happy had it been for him and -for us if he had continued in it; if the moderation of his temper had -not been overborne by the violence of party, and his and the national -interest sacrificed to the passions of a few. Others there were among -the tories who had flattered themselves with much greater expectations -than these, and who had depended, not on such imaginary favor and -dangerous advancement as was offered them afterwards, but on real credit -and substantial power under the new government. Such impressions on the -minds of men had rendered the two houses of parliament, which were then -sitting, as good courtiers to King George, as ever they had been to -queen Anne. But all these hopes being at once and with violence -extinguished, despair succeeded in their room. - -Our party began soon to act like men delivered over to their passions, -and unguided by any other principle; not like men fired by a just -resentment and a reasonable ambition to a bold undertaking. They treated -the government like men who were resolved not to live under it, and yet -they took no one measure to support themselves against it. They -expressed, without reserve or circumspection, an eagerness to join in -any attempt against the establishment which they had received and -confirmed, and which many of them had courted but a few weeks before: -and yet in the midst of all this bravery, when the election of the new -parliament came on, some of these very men acted with the coolness of -those who are much better disposed to compound than to take arms. - -The body of the tories being in this temper, it is not to be wondered -at, if they heated one another and began apace to turn their eyes -towards the pretender: and if those few, who had already engaged with -him, applied themselves to improve the conjuncture and endeavour to lift -a party for him. - -I went, about a month after the queen's death, as soon as the seals were -taken from me, into the country, and whilst I continued there, I felt -the general disposition to jacobitism encrease daily among people of all -ranks; among several who had been constantly distinguished by their -aversion to that cause. But at my return to London in the month of -February or March one thousand seven hundred and fifteen, a few weeks -before I left England, I began for the first time in my whole life to -perceive these general dispositions ripen into resolutions, and to -observe some regular workings among many of our principal friends, which -denoted a scheme of this kind. These workings, indeed, were very faint, -for the persons concerned in carrying them on did not think it safe to -speak too plainly to men who were, in truth, ill disposed to the -government, because they neither found their account at present under -it, nor had been managed with art enough to leave them hopes of finding -it hereafter: but who at the same time had not the least affection for -the pretender's person, nor any principle favorable to his interest. - -This was the state of things when the new parliament, which his majesty -had called, assembled. A great majority of the elections had gone in -favour of the Whigs, to which the want of concert among the tories had -contributed as much as the vigor of that party, and the influence of the -new government. The whigs came to the opening of this parliament full of -as much violence as could possess men who expected to make their court, -to confirm themselves in power, and to gratify their resentments by the -same measures. I have heard that it was a dispute among the ministers -how far this spirit should be indulged, and that the king was -determined, or confirmed in determination, to consent to the -prosecutions, and to give the reins to the party by the representations -that were made to him, that great difficulties would arise in the -conduct of the session, if the court should appear inclined to check -this spirit, and by Mr. W[alpole]'s undertaking to carry all the -business successfully through the house of commons if they were at -liberty. Such has often been the unhappy fate of our princes; a real -necessity sometimes, and sometimes a seeming one, has forced them to -compound with a part of the nation at the expense of the whole; and the -success of their business for one year has been purchased at the price -of public disorder for many. - -The conjecture I am speaking of forms a memorable instance of this -truth. If milder measures had been pursued, certain it is, that the -tories had never universally embraced jacobitism. The violence of the -whigs forced them into the arms of the pretender. The court and the -party seemed to vie with one another which should go the greatest -lengths in severity: and the ministers, whose true interest it must at -all times be to calm the minds of men, and who ought never to set the -examples of extraordinary inquiries or extraordinary accusations, were -upon this occasion the tribunes of the people. - - - - -PROCLAMATION OF GEORGE I. (1714). - -+Source.+--Oldmixon's _History of England, George I._, 1735. P. 564. - - -Whereas it hath pleas'd Almighty God to call to his Mercy our late -Soveraign Lady Queen _Anne_, of blessed Memory; by whose Decease, the -Imperial Crowns of _Great Britain_, _France_, and _Ireland_, are solely, -and rightfully come to the High and Mighty Prince _George_, elector of -_Brunswick-Lunenburg_: We therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of -the Realm, being here assisted with those of her late Majesty's Privy -Council, with Numbers of other principal gentlemen of Quality, with the -Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of _London_, do now hereby, with one -full Voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart, publish and proclaim, That -the high and mighty Prince _George_, Elector of _Brunswick-Lunenburg_, -is now, by the Death of our late Soveraign of happy Memory, become our -lawful and rightful Liege Lord, _George_, by the Grace of God, King of -_Great Britain_, _France_ and _Ireland_, Defender of the Faith, _&c._ To -whom we do acknowledge all Faith and constant Obedience, with all hearty -and humble Affection, beseeching God, by whom Kings and Queens do reign, -to bless the Royal King _George_ with long and happy years to reign over -us. - - Given at the Palace of St. _James's_, - the First Day of _August, 1714_. - - GOD SAVE THE KING. - -[Then follow the signatures of 127 peers and commoners, "Lords and -Gentlemen who signed the Proclamation," including Lords Buckingham, -Shrewsbury, Oxford, Bolingbroke, and Sir Christopher Wren.] - - - - -CHARACTER AND PERSON OF GEORGE I. (1660-1727). - - -A. BY LORD CHESTERFIELD. - -+Source.+--Lord Chesterfield (1694-1774), _Characters of Eminent Persons -of His own Time_, 1777. P. 9. - -George the First was an honest and dull German gentleman, as unfit as -unwilling to act the part of a King, which is, to shine and oppress. -Lazy and inactive even in his pleasures; which were therefore lowly and -sensual: He was coolly intrepid, and indolently benevolent. He was -diffident of his own parts, which made him speak little in public[1] and -prefer in his social, which were his favourite, hours, the company of -waggs and buffoons.... His views and affections were singly confined to -the narrow compass of his electorate.--England was too big for him.--If -he had nothing great as a King, he had nothing bad as a Man--and if he -does not adorn, at least he will not stain the annals of this country. -In private life, he would have been loved and esteemed as a good -citizen, a good friend, and a good neighbour.--Happy were it for Europe, -happy for the world, if there were not greater Kings in it! - - -B. BY HORACE WALPOLE. - -+Source.+--_Reminiscences_, in _Works of Horace Walpole_, Earl of -Oxford, 1798. Vol. iv., p. 275; _Letter to Sir Horace Mann, Feb. 25, -1782_. - -"At ten years old [_i.e._, in 1727] I had set my heart on seeing George -I., and being a favourite child, my mother asked leave for me to be -presented to him; which to the First Minister's wife was granted, and I -was carried by the late Lady Chesterfield to kiss his hand as he went to -supper in the Duchess of Kendal's apartment. This was the night but one -before he left England the last time." - -"The person of the King is as perfect in my memory as if I saw him but -yesterday. It was that of an elderly man, rather pale, and exactly like -his pictures and coins, not tall, of an aspect rather good than august, -with a dark tie wig, a plain coat, waistcoat and breeches of -snuff-coloured cloth, with stockings of the same colour and a blue -riband over all." - -[1] Lord Chesterfield does not mention that George I. spoke no -English.--ED. - - - - -PUBLIC FEELING AS TO THE NEW DYNASTY (1714). - - -A. WHIG. - -+Source.+--_Letters of Lady M. W. Montagu._ Vol. 1., p. 86. Bohn's -edition. - - _Aug. 9, 1714._ - -The Archbishop of York has been come to Bishopsthorpe but three days. I -went with my cousin to see the King proclaimed, which was done, the -archbishop walking next the Lord Mayor, all the country gentry -following, with greater crowds of people than I believed to be in York, -vast acclamations, and the appearance of a general satisfaction. The -Pretender afterwards dragged about the streets and burned. Ringing of -bells, bonfires, and illuminations, the mob crying Liberty and Property! -and Long live King George! This morning all the principal men of any -figure took port for London, and we are alarmed with the fear of -attempts from Scotland, though all Protestants here seem unanimous for -the Hanover succession. - - -B. TORY. - -+Source.+--Thomas Hearne [1678-1735], _Reliquiae Hearnianae_, 1869. Vol. i., -pp. 303, 309. - -_Aug. 4._--This day, at two o'clock, the said elector of Brunswick (who -is in the fifty-fifth year of his age, being born May 28th, 1660) was -proclaimed in Oxford. The vice-chancellor, and doctors, and masters met -in the convocation house, and from thence went to St. Mary's, to attend -at the solemnity. There was but a small appearance of doctors and -masters that went from the convocation house. I stood in the Bodleian -gallery where I observed them. Dr. Hudson was amongst them, and all the -heads of houses in town. But there were a great many more doctors and -masters at St. Marie's, where a scaffold was erected for them. - -_Aug. 5._--The illumination and rejoicing in Oxford was very little last -night. The proclamation was published at Abingdon also yesterday, but -there was little appearance. - -A letter having been put into the mayor of Oxford's hands before he -published the proclamation, cautioning him against proclaiming King -George, and advising him to proclaim the pretender by the name of King -James III., the said Mayor, notwithstanding, proclaimed King George, and -yesterday our vice-chancellor, and heads, and proctors, agreed to a -reward of an hundred pounds to be paid to anyone that should discover -the author or authors of the letter; and the order for the same being -printed I have inserted a copy of it here. - - "_At a general meeting of the vice-chancellor, heads of houses, and - proctors of the university of Oxford, at the Apodyterium of the - Convocation House, on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1714._ - - "Whereas a letter directed to Mr. Mayor of the city of Oxford, - containing treasonable matters, was delivered at his house on Monday - night last, betwixt nine and ten of the clock, by a person in an - open-sleeved gown, and in a cinnamon-coloured coat, as yet unknown: - which letter has been communicated to Mr. Vice-Chancellor by the said - Mayor: if any one will discover the author or authors of the said - letter, or the person who delivered it, so as he or they may be brought - to justice, he shall have a reward of one hundred pounds, to be paid - him forthwith by Mr. Vice-Chancellor. - - "BERNARD GARDINER, Vice-Chancellor." - -The letter to which the vice-chancellor's programme refers: - - OXON, _August 2nd, 1714_. - - MR. MAYOR, - -If you are so honest a man as to prefer your duty and allegiance to your -lawfull sovereign before the fear of danger, you will not need this -caution, which comes from your friends to warn you, if you should -receive an order to proclaim Hannover, not to comply with it. For the -hand of God is now at work to set things upon a right foot, and in a few -days you will find wonderfull changes, which if you are wise enough to -foresee, you will obtain grace and favour from the hands of his sacred -majestie king James, by proclaiming him voluntarily, which otherwise you -will be forced to do with disgrace. If you have not the courage to do -this, at least for your own safety delay proclaiming Hannover as long as -you can under pretense of sickness or some other reason. For you cannot -do it without certain hazard of your life, be you ever so well guarded. -I, who am but secretary to the rest, having a particular friendship for -you, and an opinion of your honesty and good inclinations to his -majestie's service, have prevailed with them to let me give you this -warning. If you would know who the rest are, our name is - - LEGION, _and we are many_. - - This note shall be your sufficient warrant in times to come for - proclaiming his majestie King James, and if this does not satisfie you, - upon your first publick notice we will do it in person. - - For Mr. Broadwater, mayor of the City of Oxford, these. - -_Sept. 25._--On Monday last (Sept. 20th) King George (as he is styled) -with his son (who is in the 31st year of his age, and is called prince -of Wales, he having been so created), entered London, and came to the -palace of St. James's, attended with several thousands. It was observed -that the Duke of Marlborough was more huzza'd, upon this occasion, than -King George, and that the acclamation, _God save the Duke of -Marlborough!_ was more frequently repeated than _God save the king!_ In -the evening the illuminations and bonfires were not many. King George -hath begun to change all the ministers, and to put in the _whiggs_, -every post bringing us news of this alteration, to the grievous -mortification of that party called _tories_. The duke of Marlborough is -made captain general of all the forces in room of the duke of Ormond, -not to mention the other great changes. But the tories must thank -themselves for all this, they having acted whilst in power very -unworthily, and instead of preferring worthy scholars and truly honest -men, they put in the quite contrary, and indeed behaved themselves with -very little courage or integrity. I am sorry to write this; but 'tis too -notorious, and they therefore very deservedly suffer now. They have -acted contrary to their principles, and must therefore expect to smart. -But the whiggs, as they have professed bad principles, so they have -acted accordingly, not in the least receding from what they have laid -down as principles. 'Tis to be hoped the tories may now at last see -their folly, and may resolve to act steadily and uniformly, and to -provide for, and take care of, one another, and with true courage and -resolution endeavour to retrieve credit and reputation by practising -those doctrines which will make for the service of the king, and of the -whole nation, and not suffer those enemies the whiggs utterly to ruin -their country, as they have done almost already. - - - - -THE '15. - - -I. - -THE PRETENDER'S DECLARATION (1715). - -+Source.+--A. Boyer's _Political State of Great Britain_, 1720. Vol. x., -pp. 626-630. - -_His Majesty's Most Gracious Declaration._ - - JAMES R. - -James VIII. by the Grace of God, of Scotland, England, France and -Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith &c. To all Our Loving Subjects of -What Degree or Quality soever. Greeting. As we are firmly resolved never -to lose any Opportunity of asserting Our undoubted Title to the Imperial -Crown of these Realms, and of endeavouring to get the Possession of that -Right which is devolv'd upon Us by the Laws of God and Man: so we must -in Justice to the Sentiments of our Heart declare, That nothing in the -World can give Us so great satisfaction, as to owe to the Endeavours of -Our Loyal Subjects both our own and their Restoration to that happy -Settlement which can alone deliver this Church and Nation from the -Calamities which they lie at present under, and from those future -Miseries which must be the Consequences of the present usurpation. -During the Life of Our dear Sister, of Glorious Memory, the Happiness -which Our People enjoy'd softened in some Degree the Hardship of our own -Fate; and we must further confess, That when we reflected on the -Goodness of her Nature, and her Inclination to Justice, we could not but -persuade Our Self, that she intended to establish and perpetuate the -Peace which she had given to these Kingdoms by destroying for ever all -Competition to the Succession of the Crown, and by securing to us, at -last, the Enjoyment of the Inheritance out of which We had been so long -kept, which her Conscience must inform her was our Due, and which her -Principles must bend her to desire that We might obtain. - -But since the Time that it pleased Almighty God to put a Period to her -Life, and not to suffer Us to throw Our Self, as We then fully purposed -to have done, upon Our People, We have not been able to look upon the -Present Condition of Our Kingdoms, or to consider their Future Prospect, -without all the Horror and Indignation which ought to fill the Breast of -every Scotsman. - -We have beheld a Foreign Family, Aliens to our Country, distant in -Blood, and Strangers even to our Language, ascend the Throne. - -We have seen the Reins of Government put into the Hands of a Faction, -and that Authority which was design'd for the Protection of All, -exercis'd by a Few of the Worst, to the oppression of the Best and -Greatest number of our Subjects. Our Sister has not been left at Rest in -her Grave; her name has been scurrilously abused, her Glory, as far as -in these People lay, insolently defaced, and her faithful Servants -inhumanely persecuted. A Parliament has been procur'd by the most -Unwarrantable Influences, and by the Grossest Corruptions, to serve the -Vilest Ends, and they who ought to be the Guardians of the Liberties of -the People, are become the Instruments of Tyranny. Whilst the Principal -Powers, engaged in the Late Wars, enjoy the Blessings of Peace, and are -attentive to discharge their Debts, and ease their People, Great -Britain, in the Midst of Peace, feels all the Load of a War. New Debts -are contracted, New Armies are raised at Home, Dutch Forces are brought -into these Kingdoms, and, by taking Possession of the Dutchy of Bremen, -in Violation of the Public Faith, a Door is opened by the Usurper to let -in an Inundation of Foreigners from Abroad and to reduce these Nations -to the State of a Province, to one of the most inconsiderable Provinces -of the Empire. - -These are some few of the many real Evils into which these Kingdoms have -been betrayed, under Pretence of being rescued and secured from Dangers -purely imaginary, and these are such Consequences of abandoning the Old -constitution, as we persuade Our Selves very many of those who promoted -the present unjust and illegal Settlement, never intended. - -We observe, with the utmost Satisfaction, that the Generality of Our -Subjects are awaken'd with a just Sense of their Danger, and that they -shew themselves disposed to take such Measures as may effectually rescue -them from that Bondage which has, by the Artifice of a few designing -Men, and by the Concurrence of many unhappy Causes, been brought upon -them. - -We adore the Wisdom of the Divine Providence, which has opened a Way to -our Restoration, by the Success of those very Measures that were laid to -disappoint us for ever: And we must earnestly conjure all Our Loving -Subjects, not to suffer that Spirit to faint or die away, which has been -so miraculously raised in all Parts of the Kingdom, but to pursue with -all the Vigour and Hopes of Success, which so just and righteous a Cause -ought to inspire, those methods, which The Finger of God seems to point -out to them. - -We are come to take Our Part in all the Dangers and Difficulties to -which any of Our Subjects, from the Greatest down to the Meanest, may be -exposed on this important Occasion, to relieve Our Subjects of Scotland -from the Hardships they groan under on account of the late unhappy -Union; and to restore the Kingdom in its ancient, free, and independent -State. - -We have before Our Eyes the Example of Our Royal Grandfather, who fell a -Sacrifice to Rebellion, and of Our Royal Uncle, who, by a Train of -Miracles, escaped the Rage of the barbarous and blood-thirsty Rebels, -and lived to exercise his Clemency towards those who had waged war -against his Father and himself; who had driven him to seek Shelter in -Foreign Lands, and who had even set a Price upon his Head. We see the -same Instances of Cruelty renewed against Us, by Men of the same -Principles, without any other Reason than the Consciousness of their own -Guilt, and the implacable Malice of their own Hearts: For in the Account -of such Men, it's a Crime sufficient to be born their King; but God -forbid, that we should tread in those Steps, or that the Cause of a -Lawful Prince, and an Injur'd People, should be carried on like that of -Usurpation and Tyranny, and owe its Support to Assassins. We shall copy -after the Patterns above mentioned, and be ready, with the Former of Our -Royal Ancestors, to seal the Cause of Our Country, if such be the Will -of Heaven, with Our Blood. But we hope for Better Things; we hope, with -the Latter, to see Our just Rights, and those of the Church and People -of Scotland, once more settled in a Free and Independent Scots -Parliament, on their Antient Foundation. To such a Parliament, which we -will immediately call, shall we intirely refer both Our and Their -Interests, being sensible that these Interests, rightly understood, are -always the same. Let the Civil, as well as Religious Rights of all our -Subjects, receive their Confirmation in such a Parliament; let -Consciences truly tender be indulged; let Property of every Kind be -better than ever secured; let an Act of General Grace and Amnesty -extinguish the Fears even of the most Guilty; if possible, let the very -Remembrance of all which have preceded this happy Moment be utterly -blotted out, that Our Subjects may be united to Us, and to Each Other, -on the strictest Bonds of Affection, as well as Interest. - -And that nothing may be omitted which is in Our Power to contribute to -this desirable End, we do, by these Presents, absolutely and -effectually, for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, pardon, remit and -discharge all Crimes of High Treason, Misprision of Treason, and all -other Crimes and Offences whatsoever, done or committed against Us or -Our Royal Father of Blessed Memory, by any of Our Subjects of what -Degree or Quality soever, who shall, at or after Our Landing, and before -they engage in any Action against Us, or Our Forces, from that Time, lay -hold on Mercy, and return to that Duty and Allegiance which they owe to -Us, their only rightful and lawful Sovereign. - -By the joint Endeavours of Us and Our Parliament, urged by these -Motives, and directed by these Views, we may hope to see the Peace and -flourishing Estate of this Kingdom, in a short Time, restored: and We -shall be equally forward to concert with our Parliament such further -Measures as may be thought necessary for leaving the same to future -Generations. - -And We hereby require all Sheriffs of Shires, Stewarts of Stewartries, -or their Deputies, and Magistrates of Burghs, to publish this Our -Declaration immediately after it shall come to their Hands in the Usual -Places and Manner, under the Pain of being proceeded against for Failure -thereof, and forfeiting the Benefit of Our general Pardon. - - Given under Our Sign Manual and Privy Signet, at Our Court at - _Commercy_, the 25th Day of Octob. in the 15th Year of Our Reign. - - -II. - -THE PROCLAMATION OF JAMES III. (1715). - -+Source.+--Peter Clarke's _Journal_, in _Miscellany of the Scottish -History Society_, 1893. Vol. i., p. 513. - -SIR,--On Wednesday the second day of November one thousand seaven -hundred and fifteen, the then high sherriff of Cumberland assembled the -_posse comitatus_ on Penrith Fell, Viscount Loynsdale being there as -commander of the militia of Westmoreland, Cumberland and Northumberland, -who were assembled at the place aforesaid for prevention of rebellion -and riots. The Lord Bishop of Carlisle and his daughter were there. By -the strictest observation the numbers were twenty-five thousand men, but -very few of them had any regular armes. At 11 o'clock in the forenoon of -the same day the high sherriff and the two lords received a true account -that the Earl of Derwentwater, together with his army, were within 6 -miles of Penrith. Upon the receipt of this news the said high sherriff -and the said 2 lords, the _posse comitatus_ and the militia fled, -leaving most of their arms vpon the said fell. There is no doubt had the -men stood their ground the said Earl and his men (as it hath since beene -acknowledged by divers of them) wood have retreated. About 3 aclock in -the afternoon on the same day the said Earl, together with his army, in -number about one thousand seaven hundred, entred the said towne of -Penrith, where they proclaimed their king by the name and title of James -the 3d. of England and Ireland, and 8th of Scotland. In this towne they -received what excise was due to the crowne and gave receipts for the -same. A small party were sent to Lowther Hall to search for Lord -Loynsdale, but not finding him there (for he was gone into Yorkshire), -they made bold to take provision for themselves and their horses, such -as the Hall aforded. There were only at that time two old woomen in the -said Hall who received no bodily damage. But provision being scarce in -the said towne, Penrith, they marched betimes next morning for Apleby. -The gentlemen paid their quarters of for what they called for in both -these townes, but the commonality paid little or nothing, neither was -there any person that received any bodily damage in either of the said -townes. If they found any armes they tooke them without paying the -owners for them. Only one man joyned them in their march from Penrith to -Apleby. In this towne they made the same proclamation as they had done -in the former, and received the excise. The weather at this time for -some days before was rainey. They marched out of this towne betimes on -Saturday morning, being the 5th of November, in order for Kendall. In -this day's march none joyned them (excepting one, Mr. Francis -Thornburrow), son of Mr. William Thornburrow of Selfet Hall neare -Kendall. His father sent one of his servant men to wait upon his son -because he was in scarlet cloathes, and stile of Captain Thornburrow. - -About 12 aclock of the same day 6 quartermasters came into the towne of -Kendall, and about 2 aclock in the afternoone Brigadeer Mackintoss and -his men came both a horseback, having both plads on their targets -hanging on their backs, either of them a sord by his side, as also -either a gun and a case of pistols. The said Brigadeer looked with a -grim countenance. He and his man lodged at Alderman Lowrys, a private -house in Highgate Street in this towne. About one houre after came in -the horsemen, and the footmen at the latter end. It rained very hard -here this day, and had for several days before, so that the horse and -the footmen did not draw their swords, nor show their collours, neither -did any drums beat. Onely six highlands bagpipes played. They marched to -the cold-stone or the cross, and read the same proclamation twice over -in English without any mixture of Scotish tongue. I had for about one -month lived and was clerke to Mr. Craikenthorp, attorney at Law, and as -a spectator I went to heare the proclamation read, which I believe was -in print, and began after this manner, viz., Whereas George Elector of -Brunswick has usurped and taken upon him the stile of the king of these -realms, etc. Another clause in it I took particular notice of was this, -viz.--Did immediately after his said fathers decease become our only and -lawful leige. At the end of the proclamation they gave a great shout. A -quaker who stood next to me not puting of his hat at the end of the said -ceremony, a highlander thrust a halbert at him, but it fortunately went -between me and him, so that it did neither of us any damage. So they -dispersed. - - -III. - -FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION EXPLAINED. - -(_a_) _Absence of Foreign Aid._ - -+Source.+--_Letter to Sir William Windham_, Bolingbroke's Works, 1754. -Vol. i, pp. 79, 80. - -The true cause of all the misfortunes which happened to the Scotch and -those who took arms in the north of England, lies here: that they rose -without any previous certainty of foreign help, in direct contradiction -to the scheme which their leaders themselves had formed. The excuse -which I have heard made for this, is that the act of parliament for -curbing the highlanders was near to be put in execution: that they would -have been disarmed and entirely disabled from rising at any other time, -if they had not rose at this. You can judge better than I of the -validity of this excuse. It seems to me that by management they might -have gained time, and that even when they had been reduced to the -dilemma supposed, they ought to have got together under pretence of -resisting the infractions of the union without any mention of the -pretender, and have treated with the government on this foot. By these -means they might probably have preserved themselves in a condition of -avowing their design when they should be sure of being backed from -abroad; at the worst they might have declared for the Chevalier when all -other expedients failed them. In a word I take this excuse not to be -very good, and the true reason of this conduct to have been the rashness -of the people, and the inconsistent measures of their head. - -(_b_) _The Pretender no Leader of Men._ - -+Source.+--_A true Account of the Proceedings at Perth, Written by a -Rebel_, 1716, p. 20. - -I must not conceal that when we saw the man whom they called our King, -we found ourselves not at all animated by his presence, and if he was -disappointed in us, we were tenfold more so in him. We saw nothing in -him that looked like spirit. He never appeared with cheerfulness and -vigour to animate us. His countenance looked extremely heavy. He cared -not to come abroad among us soldiers, or to see us handle our arms or do -our exercises. Some said, the circumstances he found us in dejected him; -I am sure the figure he made dejected us; and had he sent us but 3.000 -men of good hopes, and never himself come among us, we had done other -things than we have now. - -(_c_) _The Nation's Dread of Popery._ - -[Just as in 1745 the Curse of Ernulphus was reprinted in the -_Gentleman's Magazine_ for September "to shew what is to be expected -from the Pope, if he come to be supreme head of the church in this -nation," so in 1715 the same fears were worked upon in innumerable -pamphlets. The first Article of Impeachment of High Treason against Lord -Derwentwater is the charge of re-establishing popery, and is taken from -_A Faithful Register of the Late Rebellion_, 1718, p. 41; the second -extract is from _A Caveat against the Pretender_, 1725, p. 5.] - -(1) ... For many Years past, a most wicked Design and Contrivance has -been formed and carried on, to subvert the ancient and established -Government, and the good Laws of these Kingdoms; to extirpate the true -Protestant Religion therein established, and to destroy its Professors; -and, instead thereof, to introduce and settle Popery and arbitrary -Power; in which unnatural and horrid Conspiracy, great Numbers of -Persons, of different Degrees and Qualities, have concerned themselves, -and acted; and many Protestants, pretending an uncommon Zeal for the -Church of _England_, have join'd themselves with professed Papists, -uniting their Endeavours to accomplish and execute the aforesaid and -traitorous designs. - -(2) The Pretender return! What Flames will this kindle? What burning of -Towns, and ransacking of Cities? What Plunder and Rapine? And what -Blindness, Superstition; Ruin of all Religion, and utter Waste of -Conscience, would be the Issue of his Success!... - -That this is not mere Declamation, and design'd for Amusement, a little -Inspection into that _Mystery of Iniquity_, we call Popery, wou'd -convince the Reader, even to Amazement: But these Papers must be -confin'd to a narrower compass, and shall only fix upon one single Point -of Popery, that of _Persecution and Cruelty_, so natural, and even -essential to it: I shall make it appear that _Popery_ is a Religion _set -on fire of Hell_, the true Molock and Tophet that devours and consumes -all Protestants thro'out the Earth, that are not by interposing -Providence rescu'd from its Jaws. - - - - -THE SEPTENNIAL ACT (1716). - -+Source.+--Danby Pickering, _The Statutes at Large_, 1764. Vol. xiii., -pp. 1713-1717. Cambridge. - - -_Whereas in and by act of parliament made in the sixth year of the reign -of their late Majesties_ King William _and Queen_ Mary (of ever blessed -_memory) intituled_, An Act for the frequent meeting and calling of -parliaments: IT WAS _among other things enacted, That from henceforth no -parliament whatsoever, that should at any time then after be called, -assembled or held, should have any continuance longer than for three -years only at the farthest, to be accounted from the day on which by the -writ of summons the said parliament should be appointed to meet: whereas -it has been found by experience, that the said clause hath proved very -grievous and burthensome, by occasioning much greater and more continued -expences in order to elections of members to serve in parliament, and -more violent and lasting heat and animosities among the subjects of this -realm, than were ever known before the said clause was enacted; and the -said provision, if it should continue, may probably at this juncture, -when a restless and popish faction are designing and endeavouring to -renew the rebellion within this Kingdom, and an invasion from abroad, be -destructive to the peace and security of the government_: be it enacted -by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent -of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons in parliament -assembled, and by the authority of the same, That this present -parliament, and all parliaments that shall at any time hereafter be -called, assembled or held, shall and may respectively have continuance -for seven years, and no longer, to be accounted from the day on which by -the writ of summons this present parliament hath been, or any future -parliament shall be, appointed to meet, unless this present, or any -future parliament hereafter to be summoned shall be sooner dissolved by -his Majesty, his heirs or successors. - - - - -DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH FLEET OFF SICILY BY ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE BYNG, JULY -31, 1718. - -+Source.+--Byng's original despatch in Oldmixon's _History of England: -George I._, 1735. P. 663. - - -_August 6_, O.S.--Early in the Morning, on the 30th of _July_, as we -were standing in for _Messina_, we saw two Scouts of the _Spanish_ fleet -in the _Faro_, very near us; and at the same time a _Felucca_ coming off -from the _Calabrian_ shore, assur'd us they saw from the Hills the -_Spanish Fleet_ lying by; upon which the Admiral stood thro' the _Faro_ -after the scouts, judging they would lead us to their Fleet, which they -did, for before Noon we had a fair sight of all their Ships.... Their -Fleet consisted of 26 Men of War, great and small, two Fireships, four -Bomb Vessels, seven Galleys, and several Ships with Stores and -Provisions. The Admiral order'd the _Kent_, _Superbe_, _Grafton_ and -_Oxford_, the best Sailors in the Fleet, to make what Sail they could to -come up with the _Spaniards_; and that the Ship that could get nearest -to them should carry the Lights usually worn by the Admiral, that he -might not lose sight of them in the Night, and he made what sail he -could with the rest of the Fleet to keep up with them. It being little -Wind the _Spanish_ Galleys tow'd their heaviest Sailors all Night. The -31st in the Morning, as soon as it was day, they finding us pretty near -up with their Fleet, the Galleys and smaller Ships, with the Fireships, -Bomb-Vessels, and Store-Ships separated from their Admiral and bigger -Ships, and stood in for the Shore. After whom the Admiral sent Captain -_Walton_ in the _Canterbury_, with the _Argyle_ and six Ships more. As -those Ships were coming up with them, one of the _Spaniards_ fir'd a -Broadside at the _Argyle_. The Admiral seeing those Ships engag'd with -the _Spanish_ which were making towards the Shore, sent orders to -Captain _Walton_ to rendezvous after the Action at _Syracuse_.... We -held our Chace after the _Spanish_ Admiral with three of his Rear -Admirals and the biggest Ships, which staid by their _Flags_, till we -came near them. The Captains of the _Kent_, _Superbe_, _Grafton_ and -_Orford_ having Orders to make all the Sail they could to place -themselves by the four Headmost Ships, were the first that came up with -them. The Spaniards began by firing their Stern Chace at them. But they -having Orders not to fire unless the _Spanish_ Ships repeated their -firing, made no return at first, but the _Spaniards_ firing again, the -_Orford_ attack'd the _Santa Rosa_, the _St. Charles_ struck without -much Opposition, and the _Kent_ took Possession of her. The _Grafton_ -attack'd the _Prince of Asturias_, formerly call'd the _Cumberland_, in -which was Rear Admiral _Chacon_, but the _Breda_ and _Captain_ coming -up, she left that Ship for them to take, which they soon did, and -stretched ahead after another 60 Gun Ship, which was at her Starboard -Bow while she was engaging the _Prince of Asturias_, and kept firing her -Stern-Chace into the _Grafton_. About One o'clock the _Kent_ and -_Superbe_ engaged the Spanish Admiral, which with two more Ships fir'd -on them, and made a running Fight till about Three, when the _Kent_ -bearing down upon her and under her Stern gave her a Broadside, and went -away to Leeward of her; then the _Superbe_ put for it and laid the -_Spanish_ Admiral on Board, falling on her Weather-Quarter, but the -_Spanish_ Admiral shifting her Helm and avoiding her, the _Superbe_ -rang'd under her Lee-Quarter, on which she struck to her. At the same -time the _Barfleur_ being within Shot of the said _Spanish_ Admiral, one -of their Rear Admirals, and another 60 Gun Ship, which were to Windward -of the _Barfleur_, bore down and gave her three Broadsides, and then -clapt upon a Wind, standing in for the land; the Admiral in the -_Barfleur_ stood after them till it was almost Night, but it being -little Wind ... he left pursuing them and stood away to the Fleet again, -which he found two Hours after Night. The _Essex_ took the _Juno_, the -_Montague_ and _Rupert_ took the _Volante_; Vice Admiral _Cornwall_ -followed the _Grafton_ to support her ... Rear Admiral Delaval with the -_Royal Oak_ chas'd two Ships that went away more Leewardly than the -rest, one of them said to be Rear Admiral Crammock, a Scotch or Irish -_Renegade_, who had serv'd several years in the English Fleet; but we -not having seen them since, know not the Success.[2] - -[2] The result of the battle, in which the English had 1,360 guns, the -Spanish 1,310, was that fifteen Spanish ships of war, 744 guns in all, -one fireship, and one store-ship were taken, and two smaller vessels -burnt, and Byng goes on to say that, "as is usual on such Occasions, -their Mortification after their Defeat was equal to their Presumption -before." - - - - -THE SOUTH SEA BUBBLE (1720). - - -I. - -THE PROPOSALS: THE SECOND SCHEME OF THE SOUTH SEA COMPANY. - -+Source.+--_The Schemes of the South Sea Company and the Bank of England -as Propos'd to the Parliament for the Reducing of the National Debts._ -London, 1720. - -_To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament Assembled._ - -The Corporation of the Governors and Company of Merchants, Trading to -the South Seas and other Parts of America, and for Encouraging the -Fishery, having on the 27th January last presented their Humble Proposal -to this Honourable House, for Enlarging the Capital Stock of the said -Company, by taking thereinto the several Annuities and Publick Debts -therein Mentioned, on the Terms and Conditions in the said Proposal also -Mentioned, in which Proposal such Advantages were offer'd to the -Publick, as the said Corporation did humbly hope would have been to the -entire Satisfaction of this Honourable House, and most conducive to the -certain Discharging and Paying off the whole Debt of the Nation, and to -which Proposal they humbly crave Leave to refer. But the Governors and -Company of the Bank of England having the same day also delivered a -Proposal to this Honourable House, for enlarging their Capital Stock, by -taking in the same Annuities and Debts on the Terms and Conditions in -their Proposal also mentioned. - -This Corporation therefore further, to manifest their Zeal and Earnest -desire to Contribute their utmost to the reducing and paying off the -Publick Debts, crave leave to offer the following Explanations and -Amendments to their said Proposal. - -I. As to the sixth Article of their said former Proposal, wherein they -have humbly desir'd to be Allowed for Charges of Management, for their -to be increased Capital, so much as it now costs the Government for the -Charges of Paying, Assigning and Accounting for the said Debts, or such -Proportion thereof, as the Sum which shall be taken in by the Company, -shall bear to the whole of those Debts. - -They now offer by way of Explanation of that Article, that the -Allowances therein Mentioned, are not to exceed a Proportion to the -Allowance they now have by Act of Parliament on their present Capital -for that purpose. - -II. That whereas, in their seventh Article of their said Proposal it is -Mentioned that the Annuities for the Company's present, and to be -increased Capital, be continued at the Rates therein Mentioned till -Midsummer, 1727. And that from and after that time their then Annuity on -their whole Capital, shall be actually reduced to L4 per Cent. per Ann. -and likewise be from thenceforth redeemable by Parliament. - -They do humbly offer that if this Honourable House do think it more for -the Interest of the Publick, that in lieu of the said seventh Article, -all the Sums to be taken into the Company's Capital, in pursuance of -their proposal, shall be redeemable by Parliament, from and after -Midsummer 1724, in Sums not less than L500,000 at a time they do consent -thereto. - -III. And whereas by the tenth Article of their said former Proposal, -they offer'd for the Liberty of Increasing their Capital Stock, as is -therein aforesaid; that they would give and pay into his Majesty's -Exchequer, for the Service of the Publick, the sum of L3,500,000. - -They now humbly Offer, that over and above the said L3,500,000, They -will farther give and pay into his Majesty's Exchequer, for the use of -the Publick, by four Equal Quarterly Payments on the days Mention'd in -their said former Proposal, L500,000 more certain, and also upon all the -said Annuities for certain Terms of Years which this Company shall take -into their Capital Stock, before the first day of March, 1721, after the -rate of four Year and half purchase, by four Quarterly Payments which if -all the said Annuities be taken into the said Company, will amount to -the Sum of L3,567,503 or thereabouts, to which being added the said -L3,500,000 and the said further Sum of L500,000 will amount in the whole -to the Sum of L7,567,500 or thereabouts. - -IV. That whereas in the eleventh Article of their former Proposal, they -did submit that so much as shall arise by the sinking Fund before -Midsummer 1727 may from and after paying Off such Part of the Publick -Debts, as may be Redeemed within that time, and which shall not be taken -into this Company, be applied at the end of every Year towards paying -off, in even One Hundred Thousand Pounds, that part of the Company's -Capital, which carries L5 _per Cent. per Ann._ - -They do humbly offer in lieu thereof, that if this Honourable House -think fit to make their to be Increased Capital, Redeemable at Midsummer -1724, That the said sinking Fund may till that time be applied half -Yearly, to the paying off that part of the Company's which is to carry -L5 _per Cent. per Ann._ - -V. As to the twelfth Article of this Company's former Proposal, Relating -to the Circulating of L1,000,000 in Exchequer Bills Gratis, and likewise -pay the Interest for that Million, so as no other Exchequer Bills be -issued than what shall be Circulated by the Credit of the Exchequer, -without the aid of Subscription or Contract. - -VI. And Lastly, that this Honourable House may be fully satisfied of the -sincere Intentions of this Company to use their best Endeavours to take -in all the said Annuities for ninety-nine, and ninety-six Years, which -amount to L667,705 8s. 1d. _per Ann._ This Company do further Humbly -offer to give and pay into his Majesty's Exchequer, for the Service of -the Publick, by four Equal Quarterly Payments, one Years Purchase upon -all such of those Annuities as shall happen not to come into the -Company's Capital within the time aforesaid. - -And whereas this Company is very Sensible, that the Prosperity of the -Nation doth greatly depend upon the discharging the Publick Debts (a -Motive which Induced them to make the first Propositions of this Publick -and beneficial nature) They do Humbly submit these Explanations and -Amendments to this Honourable House, flattering themselves that -Readiness and Cheerfulness that Ingaged them so much earlier than any -other Society, to endeavour to reduce that great Debt under which this -Nation is Oppressed, will Intitle them to the favour and preference of -this House, since they are willing and do hereby declare they are ready -to undertake this great work upon whatever Terms may be offered by any -other Company. - - By Order of the General Court. - JOHN FELLOWS, _Sub-Governour_. - CHARLES JOYE, _Dep. Governour_. - - _Feb. 1, 1719_ - - -II. - -THE BUBBLE BURST. - -+Source.+--_The Case of the Borrowers on the South Sea Loans Stated._ -Pp. 1-7. London, 1721. - -Since the Parliament has thought it of service to the Publick, that the -_unhappy sufferers by the South Sea_ should have Relief: and are at -present considering how to give it them: I am persuaded, no one will -think it either improper or unreasonable, that the case of the -_Borrowers on the Loans_ (who in my opinion are the _most unhappy_ of -them all) should be truly stated and made publick. - -For my part, I will endeavour it, as far as I am able, with Justice to -the Company who are their Creditors, and with no more Compassion to -these unfortunate People, than their Circumstances honestly deserve: And -I have this Satisfaction in what I undertake, that as I believe it is -not the Intent of the Members of either of the Honourable Houses to -administer Relief with Partiality, or to neglect any set of Men who -really want it, should I so far succeed, as to show that _these -Borrowers_ do, I can't but hope that _they_ will be esteemed at least -worthy _their Care_ and _Protection_. - -To what purpose these Loans were opened by the _late Directors_, I need -not mention: Every one knows, that without _them_ they could never have -perfected _their Scheme_, as they used to term their _Villainy_. It was -not enough for them to have raised their Stock to such a Price, as to -have been _only_ able to have discharged their Agreement with the -Government; they had larger Views, they were to satisfy their own -Avarice, and could not therefore give too great an imaginary Value to -their Stock. _These Managers_ (unhappily for us) set out with the good -opinion of Mankind: they were esteemed too wise to be deceived -themselves, and too honest to deceive their Friends. Thus qualified for -Mischief, they soon began it: they soon intoxicated the Brains of all -they talked with, gave them wild Notions of the rising Value of their -Stock, and persuaded them at any rate to put themselves in Fortune's -way: Having with great Art and Industry gained a _Credit_ to their -Stock, they immediately upon it took in the first Subscriptions; but -these Subscriptions having drawn a great Quantity of Money into their -hands, they apprehended the rising Spirit of the Stock might soon be -checked for want of Money, and their Project by it injured: For _even -then_ the Species of our Nation was not infinite, it was therefore -necessary to contrive some Means to carry on _quick Circulations_ of it: -and the Means contrived was to issue Money on these Loans. The Success -they had we all remember; the Price increased prodigiously, and, if I am -not mistaken, above L100 _per Cent._ in a Day. And indeed this Success -was very probable: for these Loans served two Ends at once of the -greatest moment to their Schemes: While they furnished the unhappy -Borrowers with Money to purchase Stock with, they gave fresh Credit to -the Stock, and raised the Price: For when the _Directors_, who must be -supposed to know what they were doing, had put so great a confidence in -their Stock, as to lend such Sums upon the Security of _that alone_, -others might with good reason take courage, and trust it too. And their -Cunning upon this occasion was very extraordinary, for they were not -contented with the Credit they gave to their Stock by this Act, which -was a tacit Declaration that they knew it to be intrinsically worth as -much or more than what they ventured to lend on it; but they were -diligent in private Companies to confirm Men in such Opinion of it, by a -constant Ridicule of the Bank for their pitiful and cautious Loan of -L100 _per Cent._ To this Step are greatly owing all our Misfortunes: The -most Prudent now began to blame themselves for the most unjust -Suspicions they had entertain'd of so good a Project. A Man of moderate -Fortune now seem'd poor by the Vast Riches all about him had so suddenly -acquired. All grew impatient and uneasy, who were not in this Stock, the -Managers were idolised, and only they were happy, who had Directors for -their Friends. The Merchant, who thro' a long Diligence and great -Variety of Hazard had gained a small Estate, grew mad to see so many -idle Fellows enrich themselves within a day or two. The honest Country -Gentleman, who by good Management and wise economy had been an Age in -paying off a Mortgage, or saving a few small Portions for his younger -Children, could not bear the big Discourse and Insults of this _New -Race_. Both laid aside their Prudence, and at last became unhappy -Converts to _South Sea_: Both were persuaded now to use their Diligence, -and recover that time their Disbelief had lost them. The one despised -his Trade, and sold his Effects, at any rate, to try his Fortune: The -other mortgaged what he could, or sold it for a _little stock_ or _Third -Subscription_: And now both are undone, both Beggars. I should think -Cases of such Distress as these could not be reflected on without even -Humanity itself becoming painful; and yet, whether it proceeds from such -Cases being frequent and daily seen, or from an Hardness of Heart, which -Providence for a Judgment has suffered to fall on us, I know not; but -such Cases are scarce pitied by us: Every one still pursues his own -Interest, and seems to grudge the Expense even of a few Shillings, to -save thousands from Destruction. - - - - -SIR ROBERT WALPOLE AS PRIME MINISTER (1721-1741). - - -I. - -+Source.+--John, Baron Hervey (1696-1743), _Memoirs_, 1848. Vol. i., pp. -23-25. - -No man ever was blessed with a clearer head, a truer or quicker -judgment, or a deeper insight into mankind; he knew the strength and -weakness of everybody he had to deal with, and how to make his advantage -of both; he had more warmth of affection and friendship for some -particular people than one could have believed it possible for any one -who had been so long raking in the dirt of mankind to be capable of -feeling for so worthless a species of animals. One should naturally have -imagined that the contempt and distrust he must have had for the species -in gross, would have given him at least an indifference and distrust -towards every particular. Whether his negligence of his enemies, and -never stretching his power to gratify his resentment of the sharpest -injury, was policy or constitution, I shall not determine: but I do not -believe anybody who knows these times will deny that no minister ever -was more outraged, or less apparently revengeful. Some of his friends, -who were not unforgiving themselves, nor very apt to see imaginary -faults in him, have condemned this easiness in his temper as a weakness -that has often exposed him to new injuries, and given encouragement to -his adversaries to insult him with impunity. Brigadier Churchill, a -worthy and good-natured, friendly, and honourable man, who had lived Sir -Robert's intimate friend for many years, and through all the different -stages of his power and retirement, prosperity and disgrace, has often -said that Sir Robert Walpole was so little able to resist the show of -repentance in those from whom he had received the worst usage, that a -few tears and promises of amendment have often washed out the stains -even of ingratitude. - -In all occurrences, and at all times, and in all difficulties, he was -constantly present and cheerful; he had very little of what is generally -called insinuation, and with which people are apt to be taken for the -present, without being gained; but no man ever knew better among those -he had to deal with who was to be had, on what terms, by what methods, -and how the acquisitions would answer. He was not one of those -projecting systematical great geniuses who are always thinking in -theory, and are above common practice: he had been too long conversant -in business not to know that in the fluctuation of human affairs and -variety of accidents to which the best concerted schemes are liable, -they must often be disappointed who build on the certainty of the most -probable events; and therefore seldom turned his thoughts to the -provisional warding off future evils which might or might not happen; or -the scheming of remote advantages, subject to so many intervening -crosses; but always applied himself to the present occurrence, studying -and generally hitting upon the properest method to improve what was -favourable, and the best expedient to extricate himself out of what was -difficult. There never was any minister to whom access was so easy and -so frequent, nor whose answers were more explicit. He knew how to oblige -when he bestowed, and not to shock when he denied: to govern without -oppression, and conquer without triumph. He pursued his ambition without -curbing his pleasures, and his pleasures without neglecting his -business; he did the latter with ease, and indulged himself in the other -without giving scandal or offence. In private life, and to all who had -any dependence upon him, he was kind and indulgent; he was generous -without ostentation, and an economist without penuriousness; not -insolent in success, nor irresolute in distress; faithful to his -friends, and not inveterate to his foes. - - -II. - -+Source.+--Horace Walpole's _Reminiscences_, _Works_, 1798. Vol. iv., -p. 271. - -It was an instance of Sir Robert's singular good fortune, or evidence of -his talents, that he not only preserved his power under two successive -monarchs, but in spite of the efforts of both their mistresses to remove -him. It was perhaps still more remarkable, and an instance unparalleled, -that Sir Robert governed George the first in Latin, the King not -speaking English, and his minister not German, nor even French. It was -much talked of, that Sir Robert, detecting one of the Hanoverian -ministers in some trick or falsehood before the King's face, had the -firmness to say to the German, "Mentiris, impudentissime!" - - - - -WOOD'S HALFPENCE: THE FIRST DRAPIER'S LETTER (1724). - -+Source.+--_Works of Jonathan Swift_. Pp. 13 _seqq._ Bohn's edition, -1903. - - -_To the Tradesmen, Shop-Keepers, Farmers, and Common People in General -of Ireland._ - -BRETHREN, FRIENDS, COUNTRYMEN AND FELLOW-SUBJECTS, - -What I intend now to say to you, is, next to your duty to God and the -care of your salvation, of the greatest concern to yourselves, and your -children, your bread and clothing, and every common necessary of life -entirely depend upon it. Therefore I do most earnestly exhort you as -men, as Christians, as parents, and as lovers of our country, to read -this paper with the utmost attention, or get it read to you by others; -which that you may do at the less expense, I have ordered the printer to -sell it at the lowest rate. - -It is a great fault among you, that when a person writes with no other -intention than to do you good, you will not be at the pains to read his -advice: One copy of this paper may serve a dozen of you, which will be -less than a farthing a-piece. It is your folly that you have no common -or general interest in your view, not even the wisest among you, neither -do you know or enquire, or care who are your friends, or who are your -enemies. - -About three years ago a little book[3] was written to advise all people -to wear the manufactures of this our own dear country: It had no other -design, said nothing against the King or Parliament, or any man, yet the -POOR PRINTER was prosecuted two years, with the utmost violence, and -even some WEAVERS themselves, for whose sake it was written, being upon -the JURY, FOUND HIM GUILTY. This would be enough to discourage any man -from endeavouring to do you good, when you will either neglect him or -fly in his face for his pains, and when he must expect only danger to -himself and loss of money, perhaps to his ruin. - -However I cannot but warn you once more of the manifest destruction -before your eyes, if you do not behave yourselves as you ought. - -I will therefore first tell you the plain story of the fact; and then I -will lay before you how you ought to act in common prudence, and -according to the laws of your country. - -The fact is thus: It having been many years since COPPER HALFPENCE OR -FARTHINGS were last coined in this kingdom, they have been for some time -very scarce, and many counterfeits passed about under the name of -_raps_, several applications were made to England, that we might have -liberty to coin new ones, as in former times we did; but they did not -succeed. At last one Mr. Wood, a mean ordinary man, a hardware dealer, -procured a patent under his Majesty's broad seal to coin fourscore and -ten thousand pounds in copper for this kingdom, which patent however did -not oblige any one here to take them, unless they pleased. Now you must -know, that the halfpence and farthings in England pass for very little -more than they are worth. And if you should beat them to pieces, and -sell them to the brazier you would not lose above a penny in a shilling. -But Mr. Wood made his halfpence of such base metal, and so much smaller -than the English ones, that the brazier would not give you above a penny -of good money for a shilling of his; so that this sum of fourscore and -ten thousand pounds in good gold and silver, must be given for trash -that will not be worth above eight or nine thousand pounds real value. -But this is not the worst, for Mr. Wood, when he pleases, may by stealth -send over another and another fourscore and ten thousand pounds, and buy -all our goods for eleven parts in twelve, under the value. For example, -if a hatter sells a dozen of hats for five shillings a-piece, which -amounts to three pounds, and receives the payment in Mr. Wood's coin, he -really receives only the value of five shillings. - -Perhaps you will wonder how such an ordinary fellow as this Mr. Wood -could have so much interest as to get His Majesty's broad seal for so -great a sum of bad money, to be sent to this poor country, and that all -the nobility and gentry here could not obtain the same favour, and let -us make our own halfpence, as we used to do. Now I will make that matter -very plain. We are at a great distance from the King's court, and have -nobody there to solicit for us, although a great number of lords and -squires, whose estates are here, and are our countrymen, spending all -their lives and fortunes there. But this same Mr. Wood was able to -attend constantly for his own interest; he is an Englishman and had -great friends, and it seems knew very well where to give money, and -those that would speak to others that could speak to the King and could -tell a fair story. And his Majesty, and perhaps the great lord or lords -who advised him, might think it was for our country's good; and so, as -the lawyers express it, "the King was deceived in his grant," which -often happens in all reigns. And I am sure if his Majesty knew that such -a patent, if it should take effect according to the desire of Mr. Wood, -would utterly ruin this kingdom, which hath given such great proof of -its loyalty, he would immediately recall it, and perhaps show his -displeasure to some one or other. But "a word to the wise is enough." -Most of you must have heard, with what anger our honourable House of -Commons received an account of this Wood's patent. There were several -fine speeches made upon it, and plain proof that it was all A WICKED -CHEAT from the bottom to the top, and several smart notes were printed, -which that same Wood had the assurance to answer likewise in print, and -in so confident a way, as if he were a better man than our whole -Parliament put together.... - -The common weight of this halfpence is between four and five to an -ounce, suppose five, then three shillings and four-pence will weigh a -pound, and consequently twenty shillings will weigh six pound butter -weight. Now there are many hundred farmers who pay two hundred pound a -year rent. Therefore when one of these farmers comes with his -half-year's rent, which is one hundred pound, it will be at least six -hundred pound weight, which is three horse load. - -If a 'squire has a mind to come to town to buy clothes and wine and -spices for himself and family, or perhaps to pass the winter here; he -must bring with him five or six horses loaden with sacks as the farmers -bring their corn; and when his lady comes in her coach to our shops, it -must be followed by a car loaden with Mr. Wood's money. And I hope we -shall have the grace to take it for no more than it is worth. - -They say 'Squire Conolly [Speaker of the Irish House of Commons] has -sixteen thousand pounds a year. Now if he sends for his rent to town, as -it is likely he does, he must have two hundred and forty horses to bring -up his half-year's rent, and two or three great cellars in his house for -stowage. But what the bankers will do I cannot tell. For I am assured, -that some great bankers keep by them forty thousand pounds in ready cash -to answer all payments, which sum, in Mr. Wood's money, would require -twelve hundred horses to carry it. - -For my own part, I am already resolved what to do; I have a pretty good -shop of Irish stuffs and silks, and instead of taking Mr. Wood's bad -copper. I intend to truck with my neighbours the butchers, and bakers, -and brewers, and the rest, goods for goods, and the little gold and -silver I have, I will keep by me like my heart's blood till better -times, or till I am just ready to starve, and then I will buy as my -father did the brass money, in K. James's time,[4] I who could buy ten -pound of it with a guinea.... - -When once the kingdom is reduced to such a condition, I will tell you -what must be the end: The gentlemen of estates will all turn off their -tenants for want of payment, because as I told you before, the tenants -are obliged by their leases to pay sterling which is lawful current -money of England; then they will turn their own farmers, as too many of -them do already, run all into sheep where they can, keeping only such -other cattle as are necessary, then they will be their own merchants and -send their wool and butter and hides and linen beyond sea for ready -money and wine and spices and silks. They will keep only a few miserable -cottiers. The farmers must rob or beg, or leave their country. The -shopkeepers in this and every other town, must break and starve: for it -is the landed man that maintains the merchant, and shopkeeper, and -handicraftsman. - -But when the 'squire turns farmer and merchant himself, all the good -money he gets from abroad, he will hoard up or send for England, and -keep some poor tailor or weaver and the like in his own house, who will -be glad to get bread at any rate. - -I should never have done if I were to tell you all the miseries that we -shall undergo if we be so foolish and wicked as to take this CURSED -COIN. It would be very hard if all Ireland should be put into one scale, -and this sorry fellow Wood into the other, that Mr. Wood should weigh -down this whole kingdom, by which England gets above a million of good -money every year clear into their pockets, and that is more than the -English do by all the world besides. - -But your great comfort is, that as His Majesty's patent does not oblige -you to take this money, so the laws have not given the crown a power of -forcing the subjects to take what money the King pleases. For then by -the same reason we might be bound to take pebble-stones or cockle-shells -or stamped leather for current coin, if ever we should happen to live -under an ill prince, who might likewise by the same power make a guinea -pass for ten pounds, a shilling for twenty shillings, and so on, by -which he would in a short time get all the silver and gold of the -kingdom into his own hands, and leave us nothing but brass or leather or -what he pleased. Neither is anything reckoned more cruel or oppressive -in the French government than their common practice of calling in all -their money after they have sunk it very low, and then coining it anew -at a much higher value, which however is not the thousandth part so -wicked as this abominable project of Mr. Wood. For the French give their -subjects silver for silver and gold for gold, but this fellow will not -so much as give us good brass or copper for our gold and silver, nor -even a twelfth part of their worth. - -Having said thus much, I will now go on to tell you the judgments of -some great lawyers in this matter, whom I fee'd on purpose for your -sakes, and got their opinions under their hands, that I might be sure I -went upon good grounds.... - -I will now, my dear friends, to save you the trouble, set before you in -short, what the law obliges you to do, and what it does not oblige you -to. - -First, You are obliged to take all money in payments which is coined by -the King and is of the English standard or weight, provided it be of -gold or silver. - -Secondly, You are not obliged to take any money which is not of gold or -silver, no not the halfpence, or farthings of England, or of any other -country, and it is only for convenience, or ease, that you are content -to take them, because the custom of coining silver halfpence and -farthings hath long been left off, I will suppose on account of their -being subject to be lost. - -Thirdly, Much less are you obliged to take those vile halfpence of that -same Wood, by which you must lose almost eleven-pence in every shilling. - -Therefore my friends, stand to it one and all, refuse this filthy trash. -It is no treason to rebel against Mr. Wood. His Majesty in his patent -obliges nobody to take these halfpence,[5] our gracious prince hath no -so ill advisers about him; or if he had, yet you see the laws have not -left it in the King's power, to force us to take any coin but what is -lawful, of right standard gold and silver; therefore you have nothing to -fear. - -And let me in the next place apply myself particularly to you who are -the poor sort of tradesmen. Perhaps you may think you will not be so -great losers as the rich, if these halfpence should pass, because you -seldom see any silver, and your customers come to your shops or stalls -with nothing but brass, which you likewise find hard to be got. But you -may take my word, whenever this money gains footing among you, you will -be utterly undone; if you carry these halfpence to a shop for tobacco or -brandy, or any other thing you want, the shopkeeper will advance his -goods accordingly, or else he must break, and leave the key under the -door. Do you think I will sell you a yard of tenpenny stuff for twenty -of Mr. Wood's halfpence? No, not under two hundred at least, neither -will I be at the trouble of counting, but weigh them in a lump. I will -tell you one thing further, that if Mr. Wood's project should take, it -will ruin even our beggars; for when I give a beggar an halfpenny, it -will quench his thirst, or go a good way to fill his belly, but the -twelfth part of a halfpenny will do him no more service than if I should -give him three pins out of my sleeve. - -In short these halfpence are like "the accursed thing, which," as the -Scripture tells us, "the children of Israel were forbidden to touch": -they will run about like the plague and destroy every one who lays his -hands upon them. I have heard scholars talk of a man who told a king -that he invented a way to torment people by putting them into a bull of -brass with fire under it, but the prince put the projector first into -his own brazen bull to make the experiment;[6] this very much resembles -the project of Mr. Wood, and the like of this may possibly be Mr. Wood's -fate, that the brass he contrived to torment this kingdom with, may -prove his own torment, and his destruction at last. - - * * * * * - -N.B. The author of this paper is informed by persons who have made it -their business to be exact in their observations on the true value of -these halfpence, that any person may expect to get a quart of twopenny -ale for thirty-six of them. - -I desire all persons may keep this paper carefully by them to refresh -their memories when ever they shall have farther notice of Mr. Wood's -halfpence, or any other the like imposture. - -[3] Swift's own _Proposal for the Universal Use of Irish Manufactures_. - -[4] The famous "gun-money," coined to meet the exigencies of the Stuart -army in Ireland, a crown piece of which was by a proclamation of William -III. of July 10, 1690, to pass current as a penny. - -[5] The words of the patent are "to pass and to be received as current -money, by such as shall or will, voluntarily and wittingly, and not -otherwise, receive the same" (the halfpence and farthings). [T. S.] - -[6] Phalaris, the genuineness of whose _Letters_ had occasioned the -famous controversy which brought about Swift's first venture into -literature with the _Battle of the Books_. - - - - -CHARACTER OF GEORGE II. (1683-1760). - - -A. BY LORD HERVEY. - -+Source.+--_Memoirs._ Vol. i., pp. 145, 146. - -His faults were more the blemishes of a private man than of a King. The -affection and tenderness he invariably showed to a people over whom he -had unbounded rule [in Hanover] forbid our wondering that he used -circumscribed power with moderation [in England]. Often situated in -humiliating circumstances, his resentments seldom operated when the -power of revenge returned. He bore the ascendant of his Ministers, who -seldom were his favourites, with more patience than he suffered any -encroachment on his will from his mistresses. Content to bargain for the -gratification of his two predominant passions, Hanover and money, he was -almost indifferent to the rest of his royal authority, provided exterior -observance was not wanting; for he comforted himself if he did not -perceive the diminution of Majesty, though it was notorious to all the -rest of the world. Yet he was not so totally careless of the affection -and interests of his country as his father had been. George the First -possessed a sounder understanding and a better temper: yet George the -Second gained more by being compared with his eldest son, than he lost -if paralleled with his father. - - -B. BY HORACE WALPOLE. - -+Source.+--_Memoirs of the Reign of George II._ (2nd ed.), 1848. Vol. i., -pp. 175, 176; vol. iii., pp. 303, 304. - -The King had fewer sensations of revenge, or at least knew how to hoard -them better, than any man who ever sat upon a Throne. The insults he -experienced from his own and those obliged servants, never provoked him -enough to make him venture the repose of his people, or his own. If any -object of his hate fell in his way, he did not pique himself upon heroic -forgiveness, but would indulge it at the expense of his integrity, -though not of his safety. He was reckoned strictly honest; but the -burning his father's will must be reckoned an indelible blot upon his -memory; as a much later instance [1749] of his refusing to pardon a -young man who had been condemned at Oxford for a most trifling forgery, -contrary to all example when recommended to mercy by the Judge, merely -because Welles, who was attached to the Prince of Wales, had tried him -and assured him his pardon, will stamp his name with cruelty, though in -general his disposition was merciful if the offence was not murder. His -avarice was much less equivocal than his courage; he had distinguished -the latter early [at Oudenarde]; it grew more doubtful afterwards[7]: -the former he distinguished very near as soon, and never deviated from -it. His understanding was not near so deficient, as it was imagined; but -though his character changed extremely in the world, it was without -foundation; for [whether] he deserved to be so much ridiculed as he had -been in the former part of his reign, or so respected as in the latter, -he was consistent in himself, and uniformly meritorious or absurd. - -[7] This is unjust--George II. displayed conspicuous courage at -Dettingen. - - - - -THE CONDITION OF THE FLEET PRISON, AS REVEALED BY A PARLIAMENTARY -ENQUIRY (1729). - - -A. DESCRIPTION OF THE WARDEN, THOMAS BAMBRIDGE. - -+Source.+--Horace Walpole: _Anecdotes of Painting in England_, 1771. -Vol. iv., p. 71. - -I have a sketch in oil that Hogarth gave me, which he intended to -engrave.[8] It was done at the time when the house of commons appointed -a committee to enquire into the cruelties exercised on prisoners in the -Fleet to extort money from them. The scene is the committee; on the -table are the instruments of torture. A prisoner in rags, half starved, -appears before them; the poor man has a good countenance that adds to -the interest. On the other hand is the inhuman gaoler. It is the very -figure that Salvator Rosa would have drawn of Iago in the moment of -detection. Villainy, fear, and conscience are mixed in yellow and livid -on his countenance, his lips are contracted by tremor, his face advances -as eager to lie, his legs step back as thinking to make his escape; one -hand is thrust precipitately into his bosom, the fingers of the other -are catching uncertainly at his button-holes. - - -B. HIS CRUELTY. - -+Source.+--_Lieutenant Bird's Letter from the Shades to T----s B-m-dge_, -1729. Pp. 37, 38. - -As soon as he had introduced his Marmadons,[9] he began to treat the -Prisoners in a Manner little different from that Dragooning, which, upon -another Account the Protestants some time ago, suffer'd in _France_; -some he clapp'd into Irons, and others he flung into dungeons; so that -it may be said without much Impropriety, that the poor Prisoners -underwent a perfect Persecution from their New Warden. The Effect of -Persecution is always the same, tho' the Pretence may be Religion, or -something else, yet Interest is the true Cause. It soon appear'd that -all this Cruelty of B-mb-ge, was only to make the Prisoners more ready -to comply with his Demands, by striking a previous Terror into their -Minds, and they found out that the only Way to lay that spirit of -Cruelty, which possess'd the New Warden, was to give up to his Avarice -all the Little which was left them, or cou'd be procured from their -Friends to support Life, which every one knows is as much as the -generality of Men in those unfortunate Circumstances can hope or desire -to do, so helpless they are of themselves, and so cold and scanty is the -Charity and Allowance of Friends and Relations; many of those distress'd -People, in order to satisfy his avaricious Demands, and to avoid his -rigorous Treatment, which grew as terrible to them as an Inquisition, -have been obliged to sell their Cloathes off their Backs and give up -every Penny of their little Subsistence, by which Means they have been -ready to perish with cold and hunger, passing many miserable Days -together without eating a Morsel of Victuals. - - -C. FINDINGS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY. - -+Source.+--T. B. Howell: _State Trials_. Vol. xvii., pp. 300-302. - -The Committee of enquiry found amongst other things. That the said -Thomas Bambridge ... caused one Jacob Mendez Solas[10] ... to be seized, -fettered, and carried to Corbett's, the spunging-house, and there kept -for upwards of a week, and when brought back into the prison, Bambridge -caused him to be turned into the dungeon, called the Strong Room of the -Master's side. - -This place is a vault like those in which the dead are interred, and -wherein the bodies of persons dying in the said prison are usually -deposited, till the coroner's inquest hath passed upon them; it has no -chimney nor fire-place, nor any light but what comes over the door, or -through a hole of about eight inches square. It is neither paved nor -boarded; and the rough bricks appear both on the sides and top, being -neither wainscotted nor plastered: what adds to the dampness and stench -of the place is, its being built over the common sewer.... In this -miserable place the poor wretch was kept by the said Bambridge, manacled -and shackled, for near two months. At length, on receiving five guineas -from Mr. Kemp, a friend of Solas's, Bambridge released the prisoner from -his cruel confinement. But though his chains were taken off, his terror -still remained, and the unhappy man was prevailed upon by that terror, -not only to labour _gratis_, for the said Bambridge, but to swear also -at random all that he hath required of him; and the Committee themselves -saw an instance of the deep impression his sufferings had made upon him; -for on his surmising, from something said, that Bambridge was to return -again, as Warden of the Fleet, he fainted, and the blood started out of -his mouth and nose. - -[The sufferings of Captain John Mackpheadnis, who was ruined by being -surety for a man in the South Sea Bubble, are then narrated. He was -forced to pay double fees, his room, which he duly rented and had -himself furnished, was wrecked, and he was forced "to lie in the open -yard called the Bare," where the little hut he built was pulled down, -and he was exposed to the rain all night. Finally Bambridge used actual -torture.] - -Next morning the said Bambridge entered the prison with a detachment of -soldiers, and ordered the prisoner to be dragged to the lodge, and -ironed with great irons, on which he desired to know for what cause, and -by what authority he was to be so cruelly used? Bambridge replied, "It -was by his own authority, and damm him he would do it, and have his -life." The prisoner desired that he might be carried before a -magistrate, that he might know his crime before he was punished; but -Bambridge refused, and put irons upon his legs which were too little, so -that in forcing them on, his legs were like to have been broken; and the -torture was impossible to be endured. Upon which the prisoner -complaining of the grievous pain and the straitness of the irons, -Bambridge answered, "That he did it on purpose to torture him;" on which -the prisoner replying "That by the law of England no man ought to be -tortured"; Bambridge declared, "That he would do it first and answer for -it afterwards;" and caused him to be dragged away to the dungeon, where -he lay without a bed, loaded with irons so close-rivetted that they kept -him in continued torture, and mortified his legs. After long -application[11] his irons were changed, and a surgeon directed to dress -his legs, but his lameness is not, nor ever can be cured. He was kept in -this miserable condition for three weeks, by which his sight is greatly -prejudiced, and in danger of being lost. - -[8] This picture is now in the National Portrait Gallery. - -[9] Myrmidons--_i.e._, the band of soldiers whom Bambridge had procured -under false pretences. - -[10] A Portuguese prisoner for debt. - -[11] _I.e._, after he had made many applications. - - - - -THE EXCISE BILL (1733). - -+Source.+--Hervey's _Memoirs_. Vol. i., pp. 159-163, 175, 176. - - -But this flame[12] was no sooner extinguished in the nation than another -was kindled, and one that was much more epidemical, and raged with much -greater fury. Faction was never more busy on any occasion; terrors were -never more industriously scattered, and clamour never more universally -raised. - -That which gave rise to these commotions was a project of Sir Robert -Walpole's to ease the land-tax of one shilling in the pound, by turning -the duty on tobacco and wine, then payable on importation, into inland -duties; that is, changing the Customs on those two commodities into -Excises; by which scheme, joined to the continuation of the salt-duty, -he proposed to improve the public revenue L500,000 per annum, in order -to supply the abatement of one shilling in the pound on land, which -raises about that sum. - -The landed men had long complained that they had ever since the -Revolution borne the heat and burden of the day for the support of the -Revolution Government; and as the great pressure of the last war had -chiefly lain on them (the land having for many years been taxed to four -shillings in the pound), they now began to say, that since the public -tranquility both at home and abroad was firmly and universally -established, if ease was not at this time thought of for them, it was a -declaration from the Government that they were never to expect any; and -that two shillings in the pound on land was the least that they or their -posterity, in the most profound peace and fullest tranquility, were ever -to hope to pay. - -This having been the cry of the country gentlemen and landowners for -some time, Sir Robert Walpole thought he could not do a more popular -thing than to form a scheme by which the land-tax should be reduced to -one shilling in the pound, and yet no new tax be substituted in the lieu -thereof, no new duty laid on any commodity whatsoever, and the public -revenue improved L500,000 per annum, merely by this alteration in the -method of management. - -The salt-duty, which had been revised the year before, could raise only -in three years what one shilling in the pound on land raised in one -year; consequently, as that tax was an equivalent only to one-third of a -shilling on land, if the remission of that shilling on land was further -and annually continued, some other fund must be found to supply the -other two-thirds. - -This of Excising tobacco and wine was the equivalent projected by Sir -Robert Walpole, but this scheme, instead of procuring him the popularity -he thought it would, caused more clamour and made him even, whilst the -project was only talked of and in embryo, more vilified and abused by -the universal outcries of the people, than any one Act of his whole -administration. - -The art, vigilance, and industry of his enemies had so contrived to -represent this scheme to the people, and had so generally in every -county and great town throughout all England prejudiced their minds -against it; they had shown it in so formidable a shape and painted it in -such hideous colours, that everybody talked of the scheme as a general -Excise: they believed that food and raiment, and all the necessaries of -life, were to be taxed; that armies of Excise officers were to come into -any house and at any time they pleased; that our liberties were at an -end, trade going to be ruined, Magna Charta overturned, all property -destroyed, the Crown made absolute, and Parliaments themselves no longer -necessary to be called. - -This was the epidemic madness of the nation on this occasion; whilst -most of the boroughs in England, and the city of London itself, sent -formal instructions by way of memorials to their Representatives, -absolutely to oppose all new Excises and all extensions of Excise laws, -if proposed in Parliament, though introduced or modelled in any manner -whatsoever. - -It is easy to imagine that this reception of a scheme by which Sir -Robert Walpole proposed to ingratiate himself so much with the people, -must give him great disquiet. Some of his friends, whose timidity passed -afterwards for judgment, advised him to relinquish it, and said, though -it was in itself so beneficial a scheme to the public, yet since the -public did not see it in that light, that the best part he could take -was to lay it aside. - -Sir Robert Walpole thought, since he was so far embarked, that there was -no listening to such advice without quitting the King's service, for as -it was once known that he designed to execute this scheme, had he given -it up, everything that had been said of its tendency, would have been -taken for granted; and the same men who had prepossessed the minds of -the people, so far as to have these things credited, would very -naturally and easily have persuaded them that their rescue from ruin, -and the stop that had been put to this impending blow, were entirely -owing to their patriotism; that it was the stand they had made had -prevented the universal destruction that had been threatened to the -liberties and fortunes of the people. - -Sir Robert Walpole, therefore (who, if he could have foreseen the -difficulties in which this scheme involved him, would certainly never -have embarked in it at all), in this disagreeable dilemma chose what he -thought the least dangerous path, and resolved, since he had undertaken -it, to try to carry it through. His manner of reasoning was, that if he -had given way to popular clamour on this occasion, it would be raised, -right or wrong, on every future occasion to thwart and check any measure -that could be taken by the Government whilst he should have the -direction of affairs, and that the consequence of that must be, his -resignation of his employment or his dismissal from the King's -service.... - -At the same time, many pamphlets were written and dispersed in the -country, setting forth the dangerous consequences of extending the -Excise Laws, and increasing the number of Excise-officers; showing the -infringement of the one upon liberty, and the influence the other must -necessarily give the Crown in elections. And so universally were these -terrors scattered through the nation, and so artfully were they -instilled into the minds of the people, that this project, which in -reality was nothing more than a mutation of two taxes from Customs to -Excises, with an addition of only one hundred and twenty-six officers in -all England for the collection of it, was so represented to the country, -and so understood by the multitude, that there was hardly a town in -England, great or small, where nine parts in ten of the inhabitants did -not believe that this project was to establish a general Excise, and -that everything they ate or wore was to be taxed; that a colony of -Excise-officers was to be settled in every village in the Kingdom, and -that they were to have a power to enter all houses at all hours;[13] -that every place and every person was to be liable to their search, and -that such immense sums of monies were to be raised by this project, that -the Crown would no longer be under the necessity of calling Parliament -for annual grants to support the Government, but be able to provide for -itself, for the most part; and whenever it wanted any extraordinary -supplies, that the Excise officers, by their power, would be able at any -time to choose just such a Parliament as the Crown should nominate and -direct. - -[12] The attempted repeal of the Test Act. - -[13] This feeling found expression in various scurrilous ballads. The -following verse may serve as a specimen: - - Who would think it a hardship that men so polite - Should enter their houses by day or by night, - To poke in each hole, and examine their stock, - From the cask of right Nantz to their wives' Holland smock? - He's as cross as the devil - Who censures as evil - A visit so courteous, so kind, and so civil; - For to sleep in our beds without their _permit_, - Were in a free country a thing most unfit. - - - - -THE PORTEOUS RIOTS (1736). - -+Source.+--_Gentleman's Magazine_, 1736, p. 230. - - -One Wilson was hang'd at Edinburgh for robbing Collector Stark. He -having made an Attempt to break Prison, and his Comrade having actually -got off, the Magistrates had the City Guards and the Welsh Fusiliers -under Arms during the execution, which was perform'd without -Disturbance; but on the Hangman's cutting down the Corpse (the -Magistrates being withdrawn) the Boys threw, as usual, some Dust and -Stones, which falling among the City Guard, Capt. Porteous fired, and -order'd his Men to fire; whereupon above 20 Persons were wounded, 6 or 7 -kill'd, one shot thro' the Head at a Window up two Pair of Stairs. The -Capt. and several of his Men were after committed to Prison. - -[Captain Porteous was thereupon tried and condemned for murder, but he -was reprieved, to the fury of the populace. A contemporary account of -the sequel is to be found in the same volume of the _Gentleman's -Magazine_, p. 549.] - -_Tuesday, 7 September._ Betwixt 9 and 10 at Night, a Body of Men enter'd -the West Port of _Edinburgh_, seiz'd the Drum, beat to Arms, and calling -out, _Here! All those who dare avenge innocent Blood!_ were instantly -attended by a numerous Crowd. Then they seized and shut up the City -Gates, and posted Guards at each to prevent Surprise by the King's -Forces, while another Detachment disarm'd the City Guards, and advanced -immediately to the Tolbooth or Prison, where not being able to break the -Door with hammers _&c._ they set it on Fire, but at the same Time -provided Water to keep the Flame within the Bounds. Before the outer -Door was near burnt down several rush'd thro' the Flames and oblig'd the -Keeper to open the inner Door and going into Capt. _Porteous'_ -Apartment, call'd, _Where is the Villain Porteous?_ who said I'm here, -what is it you are to do with me? To which he was answered, We are to -carry you to the Place where you shed so much innocent Blood and Hang -you. He made some Resistance, but was soon overcome, for while some set -the whole Prisoners at Liberty, others caught him by the Legs and -dragged him down Stairs, and then led him to the _Grass Market_, where -they agreed to Hang him without further Ceremony.... After he had hung -till suppos'd to be dead, they nail'd the Rope to the Post, then -formally saluting one another, grounded their Arms, and on t'other Rapp -of the Drum retir'd out of Town." - - - - -LORD CHESTERFIELD'S SPEECH ON THE BILL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE -CENSORSHIP OF STAGE PLAYS (1737). - -+Source.+--_Parliamentary History_, 1812. Vol. x., pp. 327-331, 338, 339. - - -My Lords; the Bill now before you I apprehend to be of a very -extraordinary, a very dangerous nature. It seems designed not only as a -restraint on the licentiousness of the stage, but it will prove a most -arbitrary restraint on the liberty of the stage; and I fear it looks yet -farther. I fear it tends towards a restraint on the liberty of the -press, which will be a long stride towards the destruction of liberty -itself.... - -... I am as much for restraining the licentiousness of the stage, and -every other sort of licentiousness, as any of your lordships can be; -but, my Lords, I am, I shall always be extremely cautious and fearful of -making the least incroachment upon liberty; and therefore, when a new -law is proposed against licentiousness, I shall always be for -considering it deliberately and maturely, before I venture to give my -consent to its being passed. This is a sufficient reason for my being -against passing this Bill at so unseasonable a time, and in so -extraordinary a manner[14]; but I have many reasons against passing the -Bill itself, some of which I shall beg leave to explain to your -lordships.... By this Bill you prevent a play's being acted, but you do -not prevent its being printed; therefore, if a licence should be refused -for its being acted, we may depend upon it, the play will be printed. It -will be printed and published, my Lords, with the refusal in capital -letters on the title page. People are always fond of what is forbidden. -_Libri prohibiti_ are in all countries diligently and generally sought -after. It will be much easier to procure a refusal, than ever it was to -procure a good house, or a good sale; therefore we may expect, that -plays will be wrote on purpose to have a refusal; this will certainly -procure a good house, or a good sale. Thus will satires be spread and -dispersed through the whole nation, and thus every man in the Kingdom -may, and probably will, read for sixpence, what a few only could have -seen acted, and that not under the expense of half-a-crown. We shall -then be told, What! will you allow an infamous libel to be printed and -dispersed, which you would not allow to be acted? You have agreed to a -law for preventing its being acted, can you refuse your assent to a law -forbidding its being printed and published? I should really, my Lords, -be glad to hear what excuse, what reason one could give for being -against the latter, after having agreed to the former; for, I protest, I -cannot suggest to myself the least shadow of an excuse. If we agree to -the Bill now before us, we must, perhaps next session, agree to a Bill -for preventing any plays being printed without a licence. Then satires -will be wrote by way of novels, secret histories, dialogues, or under -some such title; and thereupon we shall be told, What! will you allow an -infamous libel to be printed and dispersed, only because it does not -bear the title of a play?... - -If poets and players are to be restrained, let them be restrained as -other subjects are, by the known laws of their country; if they offend, -let them be tried, as every Englishman ought to be, by God and their -country. Do not let us subject them to the arbitrary will and pleasure -of any one man. A power lodged in the hands of one single man, to judge -and determine, without any limitation, without any control or appeal, is -a sort of power unknown to our laws, inconsistent with our constitution. -It is a higher, a more absolute power than we trust even to the King -himself; and, therefore, I must think, we ought not to vest any such -power in his Majesty's lord chamberlain.... - -... The Bill now before us cannot so properly be called a Bill for -restraining licentiousness, as it may be called a Bill for restraining -the liberty of the stage, and for restraining it too in that branch -which in all countries has been the most useful; therefore I must look -upon the Bill as a most dangerous encroachment upon liberty in general. -Nay, farther, my Lords, it is not only an encroachment upon liberty, but -it is likewise an encroachment upon property. Wit, my Lords, is a sort -of property: it is the property of those that have it, and too often the -only property they have to depend on. It is, indeed, but a precarious -dependence. Thank God! we, my Lords, have a dependence of another kind; -we have a much less precarious support, and therefore cannot feel the -inconveniences of the Bill now before us; but it is our duty to -encourage and protect wit, whosoever's property it may be. Those -gentlemen who have any such property, are all, I hope, our friends: do -not let us subject them to any unnecessary and arbitrary restraint. I -must own, I cannot easily agree to the laying of any tax upon wit; but -by this Bill it is to be heavily taxed, it is to be excised;[15] for if -this Bill passes, it cannot be retailed in a proper way without a -permit; and the lord chamberlain is to have the honour of being chief -gauger, supervisor, commissioner, judge and jury: but what is still more -hard, though the poor author, the proprietor I should say, cannot -perhaps dine till he has found out and agreed with a purchaser: yet -before he can propose to seek for a purchaser, he must patiently submit -to have his goods rummaged at this new excise-office, where they may be -detained for fourteen days, and even then he may find them returned as -prohibited goods, by which his chief and best market will be for ever -shut against him; and that without any cause, without the least shadow -of reason, either from the laws of his country, or the laws of the -stage.... - -[14] It had been rushed through the House of Commons at the very end of -the session. - -[15] Walpole's Excise Bill had been withdrawn under strong pressure -four years earlier (see p. 22). Hence the cogency of this allusion here. - - - - -DEATH OF QUEEN CAROLINE (1737): HER CHARACTER DESCRIBED BY GEORGE II. - -+Source.+--Hervey's _Memoirs_. Vol. ii., pp. 531-533. - - -During this time [of the Queen's fatal illness in 1737] the King talked -perpetually to Lord Hervey, the physicians and surgeons, and his -children, who were the only people he ever saw out of the Queen's room, -of the Queen's good qualities, his fondness for her, his anxiety for her -welfare, and the irreparable loss her death would be to him; and -repeated every day, and many times in the day, all her merits in every -capacity with regard to him and every other body she had to do with. He -said she was the best wife, the best mother, the best companion, the -best friend, the best woman that ever was born; that she was the wisest, -the most agreeable, and the most useful body, man or woman, that he had -ever been acquainted with; that he firmly believed she never, since he -first knew her, ever thought of anything she was to do or say, but with -the view of doing or saying it in what manner it would be most agreeable -to his pleasure or most serviceable for his interest; that he had never -seen her out of humour in his life; that he had passed more hours with -her than he believed any other two people in the world had ever passed -together, and that he had never been tired in her company one minute; -and that he was sure he could have been happy with no other woman upon -earth for a wife, and that if she had not been his wife, he had rather -have had her for his mistress than any woman he had ever been acquainted -with; that he believed she never had had a thought of people or things -which she had not communicated to him; that she had the best head, the -best heart, and the best temper that God Almighty had ever given to any -human creature, man or woman; and that she had not only softened all his -leisure hours, but been of more use to him as a minister than any other -body had ever been to him or to any other prince; that with a patience -which he knew _he_ was not master of, she had listened to the nonsense -of all the impertinent fools that wanted to talk to him, and had taken -all that trouble off his hands, reporting nothing to him that was -unnecessary or that would have been tedious for him to hear, and never -forgetting anything that was material, useful, or entertaining for him -to know. He said that, joined to all the softness and delicacy of her -own sex, she had all the personal as well as political courage of the -finest and bravest man; that not only he and her family, but the whole -nation, would feel the loss of her if she died, and that, as to all the -_brillant_ and _enjouement_ of the Court, there would be an end of it -when she was gone; and that there would be no bearing a drawing-room -when the only body that ever enlivened it, and one that always enlivened -it, was no longer there. "Poor woman, how she always found something -obliging, agreeable, and pleasing to say to somebody, and always sent -people away from her better satisfied than they came! _Comme elle -soutenoit sa dignite avec grace, avec politesse, avec douceur!_" - - - - -THE WAR OF JENKINS' EAR (1739). - - -I. - -REAR-ADMIRAL CHARLES STEWART'S LETTER TO THE GOVERNOR OF THE HAVANA AND -THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE. - -+Source.+--_English Historical Review._ Vol. iv., pp. 743, 742. - - _12 Sept., 1731._ - -... I have repeated assurances that you allow vessels to be fitted out -of your harbour, particularly one Fandino and others, who have committed -the most cruel piratical outrages on several ships and vessels of the -King my master's subjects, particularly about the 20th April last [N.S.] -sailed out of your harbour in one of those Guarda Costas [Spanish -revenue cutters], and met a ship of this island [Jamaica] bound for -England; and after using the captain in a most barbarous inhuman manner, -taking all his money, cutting off one of his ears, plundering him of -those necessaries which were to carry the ship safe home, without doubt -with the intent that she should perish in her passage; but as she has -providentially got safe home, and likewise several others that have met -with no better usage off the Havana, and the King my master having so -much reason to believe that these repeated insults on his subjects could -never be continued but by the connivance of several Spanish governors in -these parts, is determined for his own honour as well as for the honour -of his Catholic Majesty who he is now in the strictest friendship with, -to endeavour to put a stop to these piratical proceedings. - - _12 Oct., 1731._ - -... It is without doubt irksome to every honest man to hear such -cruelties are committed in these seas; but give me leave to say that you -only hear one side of the question; and I can assure you the sloops that -sail from this island, manned and armed on that illicit trade, has -(_sic_) more than once bragged to me of their having murdered 7 or 8 -Spaniards on their own shore.... It is, I think, a little unreasonable -for us to do injuries and not know how to bear them. But villainy is -inherent to this climate, and I should be partial if I was to judge -whether the trading part of the Island [Jamaica] or those we complain of -among the Spaniards are most exquisite in that trade.... - -I was a little surprised to hear of the usage Captain Jenkins met with -off the Havana, as I know the Governor there has the character of being -an honest good man, and don't find anybody thinks he would connive or -countenance such villainies. - - -II. - -ACCOUNT OF THE EXAMINATION OF JENKINS BEFORE THE HOUSE OF COMMONS (1738). - -+Source.+--Samuel Boyse: _An Historical Review of the Transactions of -Europe_. Vol. i., p. 29. Reading, 1747. - -There was amongst the rest, one Instance that made so much Noise at this -time, it cannot well be omitted. One Capt. _Jenkins_, Commander of a -_Scotch_ Vessel, was in his Passage home boarded by a _Guarda Costa_, -the Captain of which was an _Irishman_. The _Spaniards_, after -rummaging, finding their Hopes disappointed, tearing off part of his -ear, and bidding him carry it to the _English King_, and tell him they -would serve him in the same manner if they had him in their Power: This -Villainy was attended with other Circumstances of Cruelty too shocking -to mention. The Captain, on his Return, was examined at the Bar of the -House of Commons; and being ask'd what his Sentiments were, when -threaten'd with Death? nobly reply'd, _That he recommended his Soul to -God, and his Cause to his Country_;--which Words, and the Sight of his -Ear, made a visible Impression on that great Assembly. - - - - -THE OPPOSITION SUSPECTS WALPOLE OF DOUBLE-DEALING. - -+Source.+--Memorial from the Earl of Stair to Alexander Earl of -Marchmont, December, 1739. Printed in _Papers of the Earls of -Marchmont_, 1831. Vol. ii., pp. 170-172. - - -I shall take it for granted, that Great Britain has it in her power to -make a prosperous war against Spain, spite of all the opposition that -can possibly be made, even though France should meddle in the quarrel, -by taking the Havannah, which can be done by raising troops in our -colonies of America, headed by a very few regular troops sent from -Britain. I mention the Havannah only, because _cela decide la guerre_. -The Havannah once taken, the body of troops can be employed in several -other expeditions, which may be very useful and very practicable. I say -nothing of the method of raising these troops in America; that is a -consideration of another time and place. I shall only say, that by the -means of our colonies in America Britain should get the better of any -nation in a war in America. By a proper use made of our colonies, I do -not know what we are not able to do in America. - -This proposition is demonstrably true; but, I believe, it is no less -true, that Sir Robert has no such intention. The disposition of raising -men in America would appear; but as no such disposition appears, we may -conclude, that Sir Robert's scheme is different. I am afraid, that it is -to make a treaty with Spain by the mediation of France. If that treaty -should be apparently good, Great Britain will find herself in the state -of the horse in Horace's fable: - - "Sed postquam victor violens discessit at hoste, - Non equitem dorso, non frenum depulit ore." - -This being the case, as I am afraid it is, that we can neither secure -our constitution at home, nor make a prosperous war abroad, whilst Sir -Robert has the sole direction of our affairs, foreign and domestic, -there is a preliminary absolutely necessary to the saving of the nation, -and that is, the removing of Sir Robert. The question is, How can that -be done? I shall freely tell my opinion, with great submission to better -judgments. In the first place, there must be a perfect union amongst the -leaders of the country party; they must make one common cause of -preserving their country, which indeed stands in the utmost danger; all -the operations must be directed by one common council. Though there are -many great and able men on the side of their country, yet in my opinion -the great strength of the party is the people, who are well-disposed to -follow their leaders, to save themselves and their country from -impending slavery. If the leaders will advise the communities to declare -their sentiments on a very few public points, and instruct their -representatives in Parliament accordingly, the strength of the country -party will very soon appear so very great, that it will very soon put -Sir Robert's gang out of countenance, and occasion a great many of them -to think of changing their side. At the same time, it will be impossible -for Sir Robert to continue to deceive his Majesty, by pretending that -either the nation is of his side, or that by means of the Houses of -Parliament, which are with him, he can govern the nation as he pleases. -This method of proceeding appears to me a certain one, which the leaders -of the opposition have entirely in their own power; I can see no -objection to the using of it. Does it hinder anything else? If there is -any good to be done by negociations, or other ways, does it hinder? On -the contrary, must not everybody feel, that the credit of the strength -of the people must be very favourable to negociations in either House of -Parliament? - -I need say no more. In my opinion at this critical moment Britain may -not only be saved, but she may come out of this war with safety and -honour, nay, with great glory to her deliverers. But if the opportunity -of this session of Parliament is neglected, to-morrow will be Sir -Robert's and France's, without any possibility of relief. - - - - -ADMIRAL VERNON'S VICTORY AT PORTOBELLO (1740). - - -I. _ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST._ - -_To the Tune of, "Come and Listen to my Ditty."_ - -+Source.+--Original broadside of 1740 in the British Museum. - -[This ballad, by the Opposition poet and pamphleteer Richard Glover, -implies that Walpole would willingly have let Vernon and his fleet -perish in 1740 as Hosier and his fleet had perished in 1726.] - -I. - - As, near _Porto-Bello_ lying, - On the Gently swelling Flood, - At Midnight, with Streamers flying, - Our triumphant Navy rode, - There, while _Vernon_ sate all Glorious - From the _Spaniards_ late Defeat, - And his Crew with Shouts victorious - Drank Success to England's Fleet; - -II. - - On a sudden, shrilly sounding, - Hideous Yells and Shrieks were heard; - Then, each Heart with fear confounding, - A sad Troop of Ghosts appear'd; - All in dreary Hammocks shrouded, - Which for winding Sheets they wore; - And with Looks by Sorrow clouded, - Frowning on that hostile Shore. - -III. - - On them gleam'd the Moon's wan Lustre, - When the Shade of _Hosier_ brave - His Pale Bands was seen to muster, - Rising from their wat'ry Grave; - O'er the glimmering Wave he hy'd him, - Where the _Burford_[16] rear'd her Sail, - With three thousand Ghosts beside him, - And in Groans did _Vernon_ hail. - -IV. - - "Heed, oh heed our fatal Story! - "I am _Hosier's_ injur'd Ghost; - "You, who now have purchas'd Glory - "At this Place, where I was lost; - "Tho' in _Porto-Bello's_ ruin - "You now triumph, free from fears, - "When you think on our undoing, - "You will mix your Joy with Tears, - -V. - - "See these mournful Spectres sweeping, - "Ghastly, o'er this hated wave, - "Whose wan Cheeks are stain'd with _weeping_, - "These were English Captains brave; - "Mark those Numbers pale and horrid, - "Who were once my Sailors bold; - "Lo, each hangs his drooping forehead, - "While his dismal Fate is told. - -VI. - - "I by twenty Sail attended, - "Did this _Spanish_ Town affright, - "Nothing then its wealth defended, - "But my Orders not to fight; - "Oh that in this rolling Ocean - "I had cast them with disdain, - "And obey'd my heart's warm motion - "To reduce the Pride of _Spain_. - -VII. - - "For resistance I could fear none. - "But with twenty Ships had done, - "What thou, brave and happy _Vernon_, - "Hast achiev'd with Six alone. - "Then the Bastimentos never - "Had our foul Dishonour seen, - "Nor the Sea the sad Receiver - "Of this gallant train had been. - -VIII. - - "Thus, like thee, proud _Spain_ dismaying, - "And her Galleons leading home, - "Tho' condemn'd for disobeying, - "I had met a Traytor's Doom: - "To have fall'n, my Country crying - "He has play'd an _English_ part, - "Had been better far than Dying, - "Of a griev'd and broken Heart. - -IX. - - "Unrepining at thy Glory, - "Thy successful Arms we hail, - "But remember our sad Story - "And let _Hosier's_ wrongs prevail; - "After this proud Foe subduing, - "When your Patriot Friends you see, - "Think of Vengeance for my ruin, - "And for _England_ sham'd in me." - - -II. _GREAT BRITAIN'S GLORY; OR, THE STAY-AT-HOME FLEET._ - -A NEW BALLAD. - -_Tune of, "Packington's Pound."_ - -+Source.+--First verse of original broadside in the British Museum. - - Come, ye Lovers of Peace, who are said to have sold - Your Votes, that the War of Queen _ANNE_ it might cease; - Come, ye lovers of war, who 'tis certain, of old, - Would have hang'd, if ye could, all the lovers of peace; - Come, you _Whigg_ and you _Tory_, - Attend to my Story, - For you ne'er heard the like, nor your Fathers before ye; - How _Britain_, Great _Britain_! is Queen of the main, - And her Navies in Port are the terror of Spain. - -[16] Admiral Vernon's ship. - - - - -THE NEW MINISTERS (1742). - - -I. - -+Source.+--Hervey's _Memoirs_. Vol. ii., p. 581. - -Their _sanctum sanctorum_ is composed of my Lord Carteret, Lord -Winchilsea his adherent, the Duke of Newcastle and his quibbling friend -my Lord Chancellor [Hardwicke], Mr. Pulteney, and Harry Pelham. Lord -Carteret, Duke of Newcastle, and Mr. Pulteney, while they act seemingly -in concert at this juncture, having distinct views and different -interests of their own to pursue, are all striving to deceive and -overreach one another; and each separately relating to their own private -friends what passes at these conferences conducive to their own points, -the whole of the conference, through different channels, flows into the -world. Lord Carteret, feeling he has the strength of the closet and the -confidence and favour of the King, whilst he is making his court by -foreign politics,[17] hates and detests Mr. Pulteney for all the trouble -he gives him in pursuing his points at home; and knowing that the moment -Mr. Pulteney goes into the House of Lords, he will become an absolute -nullity, he is ready to feed the exorbitant appetite of his demands with -any morsels it craves for at present, provided in return he can gain -that one point of Mr. Pulteney's going into the House of Lords. On the -other hand, Mr. Pulteney, knowing he has at present the House of Commons -in his hands, and seeing too plainly that though he has the power of the -closet, he has none of the favour, and that every point he carries there -is extorted, not granted--carried by force, not by persuasion--hates my -Lord Carteret for engrossing that favour which he proposed at least to -share, if not to engross himself; and whilst he is forcing seven or -eight of his followers into employment, proposes to remain himself in -the House of Commons in order to retain the same power, in order to -force a new batch of his friends, three or four months hence, in the -same manner upon the King, which reduces the struggle between Lord -Carteret and him to this short point, that if Mr. Pulteney goes into the -House of Lords, Lord Carteret dupes him; if he does not, he dupes my -Lord Carteret. The Duke of Newcastle, whose envy is so strong that he is -jealous of everybody, and whose understanding is so weak that nobody is -jealous of him, is reciprocally made use of by these two men to promote -their different ends; and being jealous of Lord Carteret from feeling -his superior interest with the King, and jealous of Mr. Pulteney from -his superior interest to his brother [Mr. Pelham] in the House of -Commons, is like the hungry ass in the fable between the two bundles of -hay, and allured by both without knowing which to go to, tastes neither, -and will starve between them. He wants Mr. Pulteney's power in the House -of Commons to be kept as a check and bridle upon Lord Carteret, who has -outrun him so far in the palace, and yet wants Mr. Pulteney out of the -House of Commons to strengthen his own power there by the proxy medium -of his brother. Thus stands the private contest and seeming union among -these present rulers, or rather combatants for rule. - - -II. - -ON THE MINISTRY OF LORD CARTERET, FEB., 1742. - -+Source.+--_Sir Charles Hanbury Williams_, quoted by Horace Walpole to -Sir Horace Mann, Sept. 11, 1742; and also to be found in Williams' -_Collected Poems_. - - O my poor country! is this all - You've gain'd by the long-labour'd fall - Of Walpole and his tools? - He was a knave indeed,--what then? - He'd parts,--but this new set of men - A'n't only knaves, but fools. - - -III. - -ON PULTENEY'S ACCEPTANCE OF A PEERAGE, JULY, 1742. - -+Source.+--_A Collection of Poems, principally consisting of the most -celebrated pieces of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams_, 1763, p. 36. The -names in the British Museum copy, from which this and the following are -transcribed, are filled in by Horace Walpole, to whom this copy belonged. - - I'm not the man you knew before, - For I am P[ultene]y now no more, - My titles hide my name. - (Oh how I blush to own my case!) - My dignity was my disgrace, - And I was rais'd to shame. - -[17] _I.e._, by advancing the King's views in favour of Hanover and -encouraging the passion for war which Walpole had so long repressed. -Carteret attended George II. throughout the campaign of 1743, and was -even present--the last prime minister to take part in an action--at the -Battle of Dettingen. He spoke German well, which greatly endeared him to -the King. - - - - -THE ORIGIN OF THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR (1741-1748). - -+Source.+--Samuel Boyse: _Historical Review of the Transactions -of Europe_, 1739-45, pp. 69-73. - - -The late Emperor, in order to preserve the Succession of his hereditary -Dominions entire, had obtain'd from the chief Powers in _Europe_, the -_Guarantee_ of the _Pragmatic Sanction_ of which it is therefore -necessary to give the Reader some Account. _Leopold_, his Father, -apprehensive of the Troubles which the Failure of the Male Line in his -Family might excite not only in _Germany_, but in _Europe_, form'd the -Design of settling the Succession in the Female Line, as the only way to -prevent all Disputes, and keep his Dominions entire. He communicated his -Intentions to his Sons _Joseph_ and _Charles_ (who both succeeded him) -by whom this Regulation was approved; and afterwards by his Ministers he -had it ratify'd in the Imperial Dyet. _Joseph_, his Successor, made no -Alteration in it, and died without Male Issue. _Charles_ VI. seven Years -after his Accession, having no Male Heir, and seeing that if the Male -Line should end in him, the right of Succession would remain in his -Nieces, and not his Daughters, in order to secure the Succession to his -own Posterity, by confining the Entail, had a new Instrument drawn up, -which in 1720, after being approved by his Council, was sworn to by all -the Estates of his hereditary Dominions. But foreign Courts, foreseeing -the Difficulties that might attend it, were averse to intermeddle with -it. In 1724 _Great Britain_ and _France_ refused to guarantee it, tho' -then Mediators between the _Emperor_ and _Spain_. This occasion'd the -first Treaty of _Vienna_ in 1725, in which this Prince threw himself -into the Hands of _Spain_, and gave up _Naples_ and _Sicily_ on the sole -Condition of that Crown's guaranteeing the _Pragmatic Sanction_. In 1726 -he obtain'd the Guarantee of _Russia_, and some Months after the -Imperial Dyet confirmed it as a Publick irrevocable Law. In 1731, by the -second Treaty of _Vienna_, we consented to give it our Sanction; and in -1732, the King of _Denmark_, and the _States General_ follow'd our -Example. The Elector of _Saxony_ in 1733 acquiesced in it, on account of -the Emperor's contributing to raise him to the Throne of _Poland_, and -by the last Treaty of _Vienna_ in 1738, _France_ also confirm'd it, in -Consideration of the Cession of _Lorrain_. Yet both the Courts of -_Paris_ and _Madrid_, who had obtain'd large Accessions of Territory for -their Guarantees, were the first to violate their Engagements; whereas -_Great Britain_, _Holland_ and _Russia_, who got nothing by theirs, -continued firm to what they had promis'd. - -The only Princes who refus'd to acknowledge it at the Emperor's Death, -were the Electors of _Bavaria_, _Cologne_, and _Palatine_. As to the two -first, their Interests were too nearly concern'd not to oppose a measure -that defeated the Claim of their House to so rich and powerful a -Succession: As to the latter, it is not well known what his Motives -were, unless a Disinclination to the _Austrian_ Interests, which he -discover'd all his Life. - -The Emperor in 1736, had married the Archduchess _Mary Teresa_, his -eldest Daughter, to the Duke of _Lorrain_, for whom, by the succeeding -Treaty of _Vienna_, he obtain'd the Grand Duchy of _Tuscany_. The -eminent Services his august House had received from this Prince and his -Ancestors, very well entitled him to this illustrious Alliance. Had this -monarch liv'd a little longer, it is thought he would have procured his -Son-in-Law the Dignity of King of the _Romans_, a Step that would, in a -great measure, have prevented the Confusions that follow'd, and which -almost brought his Family to the Brink of Ruin. This fatal Neglect was -owing to the Empress's Youth, and the Hopes conceived she might still -have a Male Heir. - -The Emperor was no sooner dead, than pursuant to his will, Mary Teresa, -his eldest Daughter, was declared Queen of _Hungary_ and _Bohemia_, and -peaceably invested in the Sovereignty of all his hereditary Dominions. -This Princess immediately took care to notify her Accession to the -different Courts of _Europe_, by whom she was acknowledged, and -especially by that of _France_, who on this occasion renew'd its -Assurance, in the strongest Terms, of performing its Guarantee of the -_Pragmatic Sanction_. But her Letters of Notification to the Court of -_Munich_ were returned unopen'd, the Elector declaring he could not -acknowledge the Princess's Titles, without Prejudice to his own Claim, -as founded on the Will of _Ferdinand I._, which imported, "That the -eldest Archduchess, Daughter of the said _Ferdinand_, who should be -alive when the said Succession should be _open_, should succeed to the -two Crowns of _Hungary_ and _Bohemia_, in case there be no _Male Heir_ -of any of the three Brothers of that Emperor." Now the Male Line of that -House being extinct by the Death of _Charles_ VI., the Elector being -descended from _Anne_, second daughter to _Ferdinand I._ (the eldest -dying issueless) claimed the Succession as now _open_ by the Terms of -the Will. On the other hand, the Court of _Vienna_ maintain'd that the -Succession was not _open_, the last Words of the Will, according to the -original Copy in the _Austrian_ Archives being "in case there shall be -no _lawful Heir_ living of any of the Emperor's three Brothers." - -It is easy to see, the Elector's Claim was to no less than the _Whole_ -of the late Emperor's succession. The King of _Spain_ also publish'd his -Pretensions to all the late Emperor's Dominions, and made Preparations -for invading _Italy_. In short the new Queen beheld that Storm -gathering, which quickly overspread _Germany_, and which gave her but -too much Occasion for exerting that Magnanimity and Constancy of Mind, -which heighten her eminent Virtues, and have render'd her justly the -Admiration of her Enemies themselves. - -To these Claimants, whose Pretensions might have been foreseen, appear'd -a third no way expected, but whose Title seem'd to be as well founded, -as his Power to support it was unquestionable. This was the young King -of _Prussia_, who claim'd the Principality of _Silesia_, as antiently -belonging to the _Brandenburgh_ Family, from whom the House of _Austria_ -had gain'd it by unjust means. As this Prince assembled a numerous Army -on the _Emperor's_ Death, every one imagined it was to support the -_Pragmatic Sanction_. But, instead of this, in _November_ he enter'd -_Silesia_, at the head of 30,000 Men, and soon made himself master of -_Breslaw_, the Capital, and the greatest Part of the Country, the -_Austrians_ being in no Condition to oppose him. His Behaviour to the -vanquish'd was so generous, as easily won their Affections; the rather, -as the major Part of that People were of the reform'd Communion, and had -suffer'd on that Account much Persecution from the House of _Austria_; -whereas the Court of _Berlin_ had always declared and often interposed -in their Favour. - -As soon as the King of _Prussia_ had struck his Blow, he caused, by his -Ministers, the following verbal Proposals to be laid before the Court of -_Vienna_: - -I. _That he would guarantee the Queen's Dominions in_ Germany _with his -whole Force. And for that End_ - -II. _He would enter into a close Alliance with the Courts of_ Vienna, -Petersburgh, _and the Maritime_ Powers. - -III. _That he would use his utmost Endeavours to get the D. of_ Lorrain -_raised to the Imperial Throne_. - -IV. _That he would advance the Queen in ready Money two Millions of -Florins._ - -V. _In Consideration of all which, he only desired the absolute cession -of Silesia._ - -The Queen's Answer was strong and peremptory: She thank'd the King for -his Offers with regard to the D. of Lorrain; but as the Election, by the -Golden Rule, should be free, she thought raising a War in Germany was no -likely means of contributing to that End. That as to the Offer of two -Millions, the contributions his Army had raised in Silesia amounted to -more: And, as to the cession of that Province, her Majesty being -resolved to maintain the Pragmatic Sanction, could never consent to the -Dismembring any Province belonging to the Succession handed down to her, -without violating her Honour and her Conscience.... - - - - -THE '45. - - -I. - -LANDING OF THE YOUNG PRETENDER; THE RAISING OF THE STANDARD; SURRENDER -OF EDINBURGH. - -+Source.+--Robert Forbes: _The Lyon in Mourning_. Edited by H. Paton for -the Scottish History Society 1895. Vol. xx., pp. 201-210. - -_Journal of the Prince's imbarkation and arrival, etc., the greatest -part of which was taken from Duncan Cameron at several different -conversations I had with him._ - -After the battle of Fontenoy and taking of Tournay, among other -regiments the one commanded by Lord John Drummond was garrisoned in -Tournay, in which corps Duncan Cameron (some time servant to old Lochiel -at Boulogne in France) served. When Duncan was in Tournay he received a -letter from Mr. AEneas MacDonald, banker in Paris, desiring him forthwith -to repair to Amiens, and if possible to post it without sleeping, where -he should receive orders about what he was to do. Accordingly Duncan set -out, and in a very short time posted to Amiens, from whence AEneas, etc., -had set out, but had left a letter for Duncan, ordering him to follow -them to Nantes, to which place he set out without taking any rest, where -he found the Prince and his small retinue, consisting of seven only, -besides servants. - -The seven were the Duke of Athol, Sir Thomas Sheridan, Sir John -Macdonald, Colonel Strickland, Captain O'Sullivan, Mr. George Kelly (a -nonjurant clergyman), and AEneas MacDonald, banker at Paris, brother to -Kinlochmoidart. - -As Duncan Cameron had been brought up in the island of Barra, and knew -the coast of the Long Isle well, in some part of which the Prince -intended to land first, so Duncan's business was to descry to them the -Long Isle. - -At Nantes the Prince and his few attendants waited about fifteen days -before the _Elizabeth_ ship of war came, which was to be their convoy in -the expedition. To cover the design the better, Sir Thomas Sheridan -passed for the father, and the Prince for the son, for none knew the -Prince to be in company but the seven, some few others, and Mr. Welch -(an Irishman, a very rich merchant in Nantes) who was to command the -frigate of sixteen guns, on board of which the Prince and the few -faithful friends with the servants were to imbark. - -After the Prince was on board he dispatched letters to his father, and -the King of France, and the King of Spain, advising them of his design, -and no doubt desiring assistance. - -The Prince when in Scotland, used to say that the 10th of June was the -day on which he stole off, and that he did not mind it to be his -father's birth-day till night was far spent. From whence some have -affirmed that to have been the day of the embarkation, and others to -have been the day when he left Paris and began to be incog. - -They had not been above five or six days at sea till one evening the -_Lyon_ ship of war appeared, and came pretty near them and then -disappeared. Next morning she came again in view and disappeared. She -continued to do so three or four times, and the last time of her -appearing she came within a mile or so of them: when the captain of the -_Elizabeth_ (a Frenchman) came on board the frigate, and told Mr. Welch -if he would assist him by keeping one side of the _Lyon_ in play at a -distance, he would immediately put all things in order for the attack. -Mr. Welch, well knowing the trust he had on board, answered him civilly, -and told him it was what he could not think of doing, and withal -remarked to him it was his humble opinion that he should not think of -fighting unless he should happen to be attacked, because his business -was to be convoy to the frigate in the voyage. However, he said, as he -pretended not to any command over him, he might do as he thought proper. - -The French captain to all this replied, that from the _Lion's_ appearing -and disappearing so often, it seemed as if she were looking out for -another ship to assist her, and if she should happen to be joined by any -other, they no doubt would instantly fall upon the _Elizabeth_ and the -frigate, and devour them both: and therefore he behoved to think it the -wisest course to fight the _Lion_ when single, because the _Elizabeth_ -in that case was fit enough for the engagement, and would bid fair -enough to give a good account of the _Lion_. Upon this the French -captain drew his sword, took leave of Mr. Welch and his company, went on -board the _Elizabeth_ with his sword still drawn in his hand, and gave -the necessary orders for the attack. - -Immediately the _Elizabeth_ bore down upon the _Lion_ (each of them -consisting of about sixty guns, and therefore equally matched), and -begun the attack with great briskness. The fight continued for five or -six hours, when the _Lion_ was obliged to sheer off like a tub upon the -water. - -About the time when the captain came on board the frigate, the Prince -was making ready to go on board the _Elizabeth_ for more air and greater -conveniency every way, the frigate being crowded with the gentlemen, the -servants, and the crew. His friends reckoned it very lucky that he had -not gone on board. - -The frigate all the time of the engagement lay at such a small distance, -that (as the Prince observed to several friends in Scotland) the _Lion_ -might have sunk her with the greatest ease. But he said it was their -good fortune that the _Lion_ had despised them, and thought not the -frigate worth the while. Besides the _Lion_ found enough of employment -for all her hands in playing her part against the _Elizabeth_. - -During the time of the fight the Prince several times observed to Mr. -Welch what a small assistance would serve to give the _Elizabeth_ the -possession of the _Lion_, and importuned him to engage in the quarrel. -But Mr. Welch positively refused, and at last behoved to desire the -Prince not to insist any more, otherwise he would order him down to the -cabin. - -After the fight was all over, Mr. Welch sailed round the _Elizabeth_, -and enquired particularly how matters stood with the captain and the -crew. A lieutenant came upon deck from the captain, who was wounded in -his cabin, and told Mr. Welch that between thirty and forty officers and -gentlemen (besides common men) were killed and wounded, and that if Mr. -Welch could supply him with a mainmast and some rigging, he would still -make out the voyage with him. - -Mr. Welch replied that he could not furnish him with either mainmast or -rigging, and that although he should have happened to be capable to -serve him in these things, yet he would not have made it his choice to -lose so much time as it would require to put the _Elizabeth_ in some -better order. He desired to tell the captain it was his opinion he -should without loss of time return to France, and that he himself would -do his best to make out the intended voyage. The _Elizabeth_ accordingly -returned to France, and the frigate continued her course to the coast of -Scotland. She had not been long parted from the _Elizabeth_ till the -crew descried two ships of war at some distance, which they could not -have well got off from, but that a mist luckily intervened, and brought -them out of sight. - -Two or three hours before landing, an eagle came hovering over the -frigate, and continued so to do until they were all safe on shore. -Before dinner the Duke of Athol had spied the eagle: but (as he told -several friends in Scotland) he did not chuse then to take any notice of -it, lest they should have called it a Highland freit[18] in him. When he -came upon deck after dinner, he saw the eagle still hovering about in -the same manner, and following the frigate in her course, and then he -could not help remarking it to the Prince and his small retinue, which -they looked upon with pleasure. His grace, turning to the prince, said, -"Sir, I hope this is an excellent omen, and promises good things to us. -The King of birds is come to welcome your royal highness upon your -arrival in Scotland." - -When they were near the shore of the Long Isle, Duncan Cameron was sent -out in the long boat to fetch them a proper pilot. When he landed he -accidentally met with Barra's piper, who was his old acquaintance, and -brought him on board. The piper piloted them safely into Eriska (about -July 21st), a small island lying between Barra and South Uist. "At this -time," said Duncan Cameron, "there was a _devil of a minister_ that -happened to be in the island of Barra, who did us a' the mischief that -lay in his power. For when he had got any inkling about us, he -dispatched away expresses with information against us. But as the good -luck was, he was not well believed, or else we would have been a' tane -by the neck." - -When Duncan spoke these words, "_a devil of a minister_," he bowed low -and said to me, "Sir, I ask you ten thousand pardons for saying so in -your presence. But, good faith, I can assure you, sir (asking your -pardon), he was nothing else but the _devil of a minister_." - -When they landed in Eriska, they could not find a grain of meal or one -inch of bread. But they catched some flounders, which they roasted upon -the bare coals in a mean low hut they had gone into near the shore, and -Duncan Cameron stood cook. The Prince sat at the cheek of the little -ingle, upon a fail[19] sunk, and laughed heartily at Duncan's cookery, -for he himself owned he played his part awkwardly enough. - -Next day the Prince sent for young Clanranald's uncle (Alexander -MacDonald of Boisdale), who lived in South Uist, and discovered himself -to him. This gentleman spoke in a very discouraging manner to the -Prince, and advised him to return home. To which it is said the Prince -replied, "I am come home, sir, and I will entertain no notion at all of -returning to that place from whence I came; for that I am persuaded my -faithful Highlanders will stand by me." Mr. MacDonald told him he was -afraid he would find the contrary. The Prince condescended upon Sir -Alexander MacDonald and the Laird of MacLeod as persons he might confide -in. Mr. MacDonald begged leave to tell him that he had pitched upon the -wrong persons; for from his own certain knowledge he could assure him -these gentlemen would not adhere in his interest; on the contrary, they -might chance to act an opposite part. And seeing the Prince had been -pleased to mention Sir Alexander MacDonald's name, Boisdale desired he -might run off an express to him, and let his return be the test of what -he had advanced. He added withal, that if Sir Alexander MacDonald and -the Laird of MacLeod declared for him, it was his opinion he might then -land on the continent, for that he doubted not but he would succeed in -the attempt. But if they should happen to refuse their assistance (which -he still insisted would be the case) then their example would prove of -bad consequence, and would tend only to make others backward and to keep -at home. And in that event he still thought it advisable to suggest his -returning back to where he came from. - -According to this advice the Prince did send a message to Sir Alexander -MacDonald, intimating his arrival, and demanding assistance. Before the -messenger could return, AEneas MacDonald (anxious to have the honour -of seeing the Prince in the house of his brother, the Laird of -Kinlochmoidart) prevailed upon the Prince to set out for the continent, -and they arrived at Boradale in Moidart, or rather Arisaig, upon July -25th, St. James's day, 1745. When the messenger returned to the Prince -he brought no answer with him, for Sir Alexander refused to give any. - -It is worth remarking here that though MacDonald of Boisdale had played -the game of the government by doing all he could to dissuade the Prince -from making the attempt: and after the standard was set up, by keeping -back all Clanranald's men (to the number of four or five hundred good -stout fellows) that lived in South Uist and the other isles, yet his -conduct could not screen him from rough and severe treatment. For after -the battle of Culloden he suffered in his effects as well as others, and -had the misfortune to be made a prisoner and to be carried to London by -sea, in which expedition he had the additional affliction of having his -brother, the Laird of Clanranald, senior (who had never stirred from his -own fireside), and his lady to bear him company, and none of them were -released till the 4th July, 1747. However, to do Boisdale justice, he -was of very great use to the Prince (as Donald MacLeod and Malcolm have -both declared) when wandering up and down through South Uist, Benbicula, -and other parts of the Long Isle, and exerted his utmost power to keep -him out of the hands of his enemies. - -After the Prince's arrival upon the continent [mainland] some friends -met to consult what was to be done, and I have heard it affirmed by good -authority the Keppoch honestly and bravely gave it as his opinion that -since the Prince had risqued his person and generously thrown himself -into the hands of his friends, therefore it was their duty to raise -their men instantly merely for the protection of his person, let the -consequence be what it would. Certain it is that if Keppoch, Lochiel, -young Clanranald, etc., had not joined him, he would either have fallen -into the hands of his enemies or been forced immediately to cross the -seas again. - -The royal standard was set up at Glenfinnan (August 19th), the property -of Clanranald, at the head of Lochshiel, which marches with Lochiel's -ground, and lies about ten miles west from Fort William. The Prince -had been a full week before this, viz. from Sunday the 11th at -Kinlochmoydart's house, and Lochiel had been raising his men who came up -with them just as the standard was setting up. - -The Prince stayed where the standard was set up two days, and I have -heard Major MacDonell frequently say in the Castle of Edinburgh, that, -he had never seen the Prince more cheerful at any time, and in higher -spirits than when he had got together four or five hundred men about the -standard. Major MacDonell presented the Prince with the first good horse -he mounted in Scotland, which the Major had taken from Captain Scott, -son of Scotstarvet. - -On Friday, August 23d, the Prince lodged in Fassafern, three miles down -the Loch Eil, and about five miles from Fort William. On sight of a -warship which lay opposite to the garrison, the Prince crossed a hill, -and went to Moy or Moidh, a village on the river Lochy belonging to -Lochiel. There he stayed till Monday, August 26th, waiting intelligence -about General Cope; and that day he crossed the river Lochy, and lodged -in a village called Leterfinla, on the side of Loch Lochy. At 12 o'clock -at night, being very stormy and boisterous, he learned that General Cope -was at Garvaimor, whereupon the men stood to arms all night. But the -General had altered his route, and by forced marches was making the best -of his way to Inverness, which (as was given out) happened by an express -from President Forbes advising the General not to attempt going up the -country to attack the Highlanders at the Pass of Corierag (very strong -ground) where they had posted themselves, but to make all the haste he -could to Inverness, where he might expect the Monroes, etc., to join -him, whereby he would be considerably reinforced. - -Upon notice that the General was marching towards Inverness, about six -hundred of the Highlanders urged the being allowed to follow him under -cloud of night and promised to come up with him, and to give a good -account of him and his command. But the Prince would not hear of such an -attempt, and desired them to wait for a more favourable opportunity. It -was with much difficulty that they could be prevailed upon to lay aside -the thoughts of any such enterprise. This I had from the brave Major -MacDonell. - -When the Prince was coming down the Highlands to meet General Cope (as -was supposed) he walked sixteen miles in boots, and one of the heels -happening to come off, the Highlanders said they were unco glad to hear -it, for they hoped the want of the heel would make him march at more -leisure. So speedily he marched that he was like to fatigue them all. - -_August 27th._ The Prince slept at Glengary's house, and next night lay -at Aberchallader, a village belonging to Glengary. - -_August 30th._ The Prince and his army were at Dalnacardoch, a publick -house in Wade's Road, as appears from a letter writ by the Duke of Athol -to a lady desiring her to repair to Blair Castle to put it in some -order, and to do the honours of that house when the Prince should happen -to come there, which he did the day following, August 31st. I saw the -letter and took the date of it. - -When the Prince was at Blair he went into the garden, and taking a walk -upon the bowling-green, he said he had never seen a bowling-green -before. Upon which the above lady called for some bowls that he might -see them; but he told her that he had got a present of some bowls sent -him as a curiosity to Rome from England. - -_September 2d._ He left Blair and went to the house of Lude, where he -was very cheerful and took his share in several dances, such as minuets, -Highland reels (the first reel the Prince called for was, "This is not -mine ain house," etc.), and a Strathspey minuet. - -_September 3d._ He was at Dunkeld, and next day he dined at Nairn House -where some of the Company happening to observe what a thoughtful state -his father would now be in from the consideration of those dangers and -difficulties he had to encounter with, and that upon this account he was -much to be pitied, because his mind behoved to be much upon the -rack--the Prince replied that he did not half so much pity his -father as his brother. "For," said he, "the king has been inured to -disappointments and distresses and has learnt to bear up easily under -the misfortunes of life. But poor Harry! his young and tender years make -him much to be pitied, for few brothers love as we do!" - -_September 4th._ In the evening he made his entrance into Perth upon the -horse that Major MacDonell had presented him with. - -_September 11th._ Early in the morning he went on foot attended by few -and took a view of the house of Scoon; and leaving Perth that day, he -took a second breakfast at Gask, dined at Tullibardine, and that night -went towards Dumblain and next day to Down. - -_September 14th._ In the morning the Prince after refreshing himself and -his army at the Laird of Leckie's house, marched by Stirling Castle and -through St. Ninians. From Stirling Castle a six-pounder was discharged -four times at him, which determined Lord Nairn, who was bringing up the -second division of the army, to go farther up the country in order to be -out of the reach of the canon of the Castle. When the Prince was in St. -Ninians with the first division, Mr. Christie, provost of Stirling, sent -out to them from Stirling a quantity of bread, cheese, and ale in -abundance, an order having come before by little Andrew Symmer desiring -such a refreshment. Colonel Gardiner and his dragoons had galloped off -towards Edinburgh from their camp near Stirling Castle the night before, -or rather the same morning, when it was dark, September 14th, without -beat of drum. - -_September 16th._ The Prince and his army were at Gray's Mill upon the -Water of Leith, when he sent a summons to the Provost and Town Council -of Edinburgh to receive him quietly and peacably into the city. Two -several deputations were sent from Edinburgh to the Prince begging a -delay till they should deliberate upon what was fittest to be done. -Meantime eight or nine hundred Highlanders under the command of Keppoch, -young Lochiel, and O'Sullivan, marched in between the Long Dykes without -a hush of noise, under the favour of a dark night, and lurked at the -head of the Canongate about the Nether Bow Port till they should find a -favourable opportunity for their design, which soon happened. The -hackney coach, which brought back the second deputation, entered at the -West Port, and after setting down the deputies at their proper place -upon the street, drove down the street towards the Canongate, and when -the Nether Bow Port was made open to let out the coach, the lurking -Highlanders rushed in (it being then peep of day) and made themselves -masters of the city without any opposition, or the smallest noise. - - -II. - -TREATMENT OF THE VANQUISHED. - -1. _After Preston Pans._ - -+Source.+--_Lockhart Papers._ Quoted in Jesse, _Memoirs of the -Pretenders_, p. 187. - -(_a_) After the battle of Preston Pans,--when one of the Prince's -followers congratulated him on the victory which he had obtained, and, -pointing to the field of battle, exclaimed, "Sir, there are your enemies -at your feet!"--Charles is said not only to have refrained from joining -in the exultation of the moment, but to have warmly expressed the -sincerest compassion for those whom he termed "his father's deluded -subjects." Previous to the battle, he had strongly exhorted his -followers to adopt the side of mercy; and when the victory was gained, -his first thoughts were for the unhappy sufferers, and his first hours -employed in providing for the comfort of his wounded adversaries as well -as his friends. His exhortations and example produced the happiest -effects. In the words of one of his gallant followers,--"Not only did I -often hear our common clansmen ask the soldiers if they wanted quarter, -and not only did we, the officers, exert our utmost pains to save those -who were stubborn or who could not make themselves understood, but I saw -some of our private men, after the battle, run to Port Seton for ale and -other liquors to support the wounded. As one proof for all, of my own -particular observation, I saw a Highlander, carefully and with patient -kindness, carry a poor wounded soldier on his back into a house, where -he left him with a sixpence to pay his charges. In all this we followed -not only the dictates of humanity, but also the orders of our Prince, -who acted in everything as the true father of his country." - -+Source.+--_The MS. of Lord George Murray, Commander-in-Chief._ Printed -by Bishop Forbes in his _Jacobite Memoirs_, Edinburgh, 1834, p. 29. - -(_b_) His Royal Highness caused take the same care of their wounded as -of his own.... In the evening I went with the officer prisoners to a -house in Musselburgh, that was allotted for them. Those who were worst -wounded, were left at Colonel Gardner's house, where surgeons attended -them; the others walked, as I did alongst with them, without a guard, -(as they had given me their parole;) and to some, who were not well able -to walk, I gave my own horses. It was a new finished house that was got -for them, where there was neither table, bed, chair, or chimney grate. I -caused buy some new thrashed straw, and had, by good fortune, as much -cold provisions and liquor of my own, as made a tolerable meal to them -all; and when I was going to retire, they entreated me not to leave -them, for, as they had no guard, they were afraid that some of the -Highlanders who had got liquor, might come in upon them, and insult or -plunder them. I lay on a floor by them all night. Some of them, who were -valetudinary, went to the minister's house, and I sent an officer with -them, and they got beds: this was the quarter designed for myself. Next -morning, after his Royal Highness went for Edinburgh, I carried these -gentlemen to the house of Pinkey, where they were tolerably well -accommodated. After I had returned to the field of battle, and given -directions about the cannon, and seen about the wounded prisoners, to -get all the care possible taken of them, and given other necessary -orders, I returned to Pinkey, where I stayed all night. I got what -provisions could possibly be had to the common men prisoners, who were -that night in the gardens of Pinkey; and the night before, I had got -some of their own biscuit carried from Cokenny to Colonel Gardner's -courts and gardens, for their use. - -2. _After Culloden._ - -+Source.+--Forbes: _Jacobite Memoirs_. Pp. 232, 233, 251, 252, 296-298. - -It is a fact undeniable, and known to almost everybody, that upon Friday -the 18th of April, which was the second day after the battle, a party -was regularly detached to put to death all the wounded men that were -found in and about the field of battle. That such men were accordingly -put to death is also undeniable, for it is declared by creditable -people, who were eye-witnesses to that most miserable and bloody scene. -I myself was told by William Ross, who was then grieve[20] to my Lord -President, that twelve wounded men were carried out of his house, and -shot in a hollow, which is within very short distance of the place of -action.... Orders were given, on the Friday, to an officer, Hobbie, or -such a name, that he should go to the field of battle, and cause carry -there all the wounded in the neighbouring houses, at a mile's distance, -some more, some less, and kill them upon the field, which orders were -obeyed accordingly. When these orders were given at the knee, an officer -who was well pleased told it to his comrades; one of them replied, -"D----n him who had taken that order! He could not do an inhuman thing; -though no mercy should be shewn to the rebels." - -An officer was heard more than once say, that he saw seventy-two killed, -and, as he termed it, knocked on the head. He was a young captain.... A -little house into which a good many of the wounded had been carried, was -set on fire about their ears, and every soul in it burnt alive, of which -number was Colonel Orelli, a brave old gentleman, who was either in the -French or Spanish service.... The Presbyterian minister at Petty, Mr. -Laughlan Shaw, being a cousin of this Kinrara's,[21] had obtained leave -of the Duke of Cumberland to carry off his friend, in return for the -good services the said Mr. Laughlan had done the government; for he had -been very active in dissuading his parishioners and clan from joining -the Prince, and had likewise, as I am told, sent the Duke very pointed -intelligence of all the Prince's motions. In consequence of this, on the -Saturday after the battle, he went to the place where his friend was, -designing to carry him to his own house. But as he came near, he saw an -officer's Command, with the officer at their head, fire a platoon at -fourteen of the wounded Highlanders, whom they had taken all out of that -house, and bring them all down at once; and when he came up, he found -his cousin and his servant were two of that unfortunate number. I -questioned Mr. Shaw himself about this story, who plainly acknowledged -the fact, and was indeed the person who informed me of the precise -number; and when I asked him if he knew of any more that were murdered -in that manner on the same day, he told me that he believed there were -in all two-and-twenty. - - * * * * * - -[The next extract is one of the less sickening accounts of the treatment -of the prisoners whose lives were spared:] - -+Source.+--A paper read by Mr. James Bradshaw, and delivered by him to -the Sheriff of Surrey, just before his execution on Friday, November 28, -1746. Quoted by Jesse, _Memoirs of the Pretenders_. Pp. 270, 274, 275. -Bohn's edition. - -I was put into one of the Scotch kirks, together with a great number of -wounded prisoners, who were stripped naked, and then left to die of -their wounds without the least assistance; and though we had a surgeon -of our own, a prisoner in the same place, yet he was not permitted to -dress their wounds, but his instruments were taken from him on purpose -to prevent it, and in consequence of this many expired in the utmost -agonies. Several of the wounded were put on board the "Jean" of Leith, -and there died in lingering tortures. Our general allowance, while we -were prisoners there, was half a pound of meal a-day, which was -sometimes increased to a pound, but never exceeded it; and I myself was -an eyewitness, that great numbers were starved to death. Their barbarity -extended so far as not to suffer the men who were put on board the -"Jean" to lie down even on planks, but they were obliged to sit on large -stones, by which means their legs swelled as big almost as their bodies. -These are some few of the cruelties exercised, which being almost -incredible in a Christian country, I am obliged to add an asseveration -to the truth of them; and I do assure you, upon the word of a dying man, -as I hope for mercy at the day of judgment, I assert nothing but what I -know to be true. - - -III. - -_ODE WRITTEN IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR 1746._ - -+Source.+--_The Poetical Works of William Collins; with the Commentary -of Langhorne._ London. Printed by Charles Whittingham for John Sharpe, -1804. - - How sleep the brave, who sink to rest, - By all their country's wishes blest! - When Spring, with dewy fingers cold, - Returns to deck their hallow'd mould, - She there shall dress a sweeter sod - Than Fancy's feet have ever trod. - - By fairy hands their knell is rung; - By forms unseen their dirge is sung; - There Honour comes, a pilgrim grey, - To bless the turf that wraps their clay; - And Freedom shall a while repair, - To dwell a weeping hermit there! - - -IV. - -AN ADVENTURE OF CHARLES EDWARD. - -+Source.+--_The Young Chevalier; or a General Narrative of all that -befel that Unfortunate Adventurer, from his Fatal Defeat to His final -Escape._ By a gentleman (1746). Pp. 75-78. - -Here it was [upon the coast of Glenelg] that the _Chevalier_ went -through one of the oddest Adventures, that perhaps ever happened to any -Man; for at this place a Company of Militia (the _Monroe's_, if I -mistake not) were waiting, in hopes the unhappy Fugitive might fall into -their Hands: To make the more sure of their Prize, they had with them a -Blood-hound, to trace him out. The Dog was within a Stone's throw of -them, and the Man not much farther off, when _McKinnon_ observed them, -and particularly suspected the Animal. Whereupon he advised his -Passenger instantly to pull off all his Cloaths, and enter the Water up -to the Neck: "For," said he, "if you go in with your Cloaths on, you may -catch your Death. In the mean time I will divert the smell of the Dog, -with these Fishes," he having some on a string in his hand. The -affrighted _Chevalier_ instantly did as he was directed, and _McKinnon_ -having hid the _Chevalier's_ Cloaths in a Clift of a Rock, began to -amuse the Dog with his Fish. The Artifice succeeded so well, as -effectually to secure the _Chevalier_; but the Animal would not quit the -Fisherman till he was secured by the Militia-Men, who kept him all -Night, and Part of the next Day. They examined him, but to no Purpose; -and upon his telling his true Name, _viz._ McLeod, they became -indifferent about him; and he representing that his Family was starving, -having nothing to subsist on but the Product of his Industry as a -Fisherman, they dismissed him. When he left them, he set out, as if he -intended a very different Course to that he really intended, and -afterwards struck into; for when he judged himself out of their Reach, -he turned into the Road leading to the Place where he supposed the -_Chevalier_ yet was. He found him there indeed, and employ'd in such a -Manner, as could not but strike even the rough Heart of the hardy -Fisherman, innur'd to all the Extremities of Wind and Weather, Hunger -and Cold. He found him seeking out Muscles and other small Shell-Fish, -upon the Craigs, and breaking them between two Stones, eating the Fish -as he opened them, to satisfy the Cravings of an Appetite, never in all -Probability so Keen before. He told _McKinnon_ "that he had continued in -the Water for several Hours, after he left him; but at last ventured -out, and put on his Cloaths; but durst not offer to remove from that -desert spot, judging it too hazardous to go up into the Country, to -which he was an utter Stranger."... As soon as he set Eyes on -_M'Kinnon_, he fell down on his Knees, and with up-lifted Hands, thank'd -Heaven for returning him his Friend; which he did in these Words, as -near as could possibly be remember'd by the Fisherman, who heard him, -and who repeated them to the Person from whom I had my Information. "O -God," said he, "I thank thee that I have not fallen into the Hands of my -Enemies; and _surely thou hast still something for me to do_, since in -this strange Place thou hast sent me back my Guide." - -[18] Superstition. - -[19] A turf seat. - -[20] Bailiff. - -[21] A wounded Jacobite whose servant had refused to abandon him, and -had therefore been taken prisoner along with his master. - - - - -TRIAL OF THE REBEL LORDS, 1746. - -+Source.+--Walpole's _Letters_. Vol. i., p. 133. Bohn's edition. - - -_Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann, Aug. 1, 1746._ - - ARLINGTON STREET, - _Aug. 1, 1746_. - -I am this moment come from the conclusion of the greatest and most -melancholy scene I ever yet saw. You will easily guess it was the trials -of the rebel Lords. As it was the most interesting sight, it was the -most solemn and fine: a coronation is a puppet-show, and all the -splendour of it idle; but this sight at once feasted one's eyes, and -engaged all one's passions. It began last Monday; three-quarters of -Westminster Hall were enclosed with galleries, and hung with scarlet; -and the whole ceremony was concluded with the most awful solemnity and -decency, except in the one point of leaving the prisoners at the bar, -amidst the idle curiosity of some crowd, and even with the witnesses who -had sworn against them, while the Lords adjourned to their own House to -consult. No part of the royal family was there, which was a proper -regard to the unhappy men, who were become their victims. One hundred -and thirty-nine Lords were present, and made a noble sight on their -benches _frequent and full_! The Chancellor [Hardwicke] was Lord High -Steward; but though a most comely personage, with a fine voice, his -behaviour was mean, curiously searching for occasion to bow to the -Minister that is no peer [Pelham], and consequently applying to the -other Ministers, in a manner, for their orders; and not even ready at -the ceremonial. To the prisoners he was peevish; and instead of keeping -up the humane dignity of the law of England, whose character is to point -out favour to the criminal, he crossed them, and almost scolded at any -offer they made towards defence. I had armed myself with all the -resolution I could, with the thought of their crimes and of the danger -past, and was assisted by the sight of the Marquis of Lothian, in -weepers for his son, who fell at Culloden; but the first appearance of -the prisoners shocked me!--their behaviour melted me! Lord Kilmarnock -and Lord Cromartie are both past forty, but look younger. Lord -Kilmarnock is tall and slender, with an extreme fine person: his -behaviour a most just mixture between dispute and submission; if in -anything to be reprehended, a little affected, and his hair too exactly -dressed for a man in his situation; but when I say this, it is not to -find fault with him, but to show how little fault there was to be found. -Lord Cromartie is an indifferent figure, appeared much dejected and -rather sullen: he dropped a few tears the first day, and swooned as soon -as he got back to his cell. - -For Lord Balmerino, he is the most natural brave old fellow I ever saw; -the highest intrepidity, even to indifference. At the bar he behaved -like a soldier and a man; in the intervals of form, with carelessness -and humour. He pressed extremely to have his wife--his pretty -Peggy--with him in the Tower. Lady Cromartie only sees her husband -through the grate, not choosing to be shut up with him, as she thinks -she can serve him better by her intercession without; she is big with -child, and very handsome; so are her daughters. When they were to be -brought from the Tower in separate coaches, there was some dispute in -which the axe must go. Old Balmerino cried, "Come, come, put it with -me." At the bar, he plays with his fingers upon the axe, while he talks -to the gentleman-gaoler; and one day, somebody coming up to listen, he -took the blade and held it like a fan between their faces. During the -trial a little boy was near him, but not tall enough to see; he made -room for the child, and placed him near himself. When the trial begun, -the two Earls pleaded guilty; Balmerino not guilty, saying he would -prove his not being at the taking of the castle of Carlisle, as laid in -the indictment. Then the King's counsel opened, and Sergeant Skinner -pronounced the most absurd speech imaginable; and mentioned the Duke of -Perth, _who_, said he, _I see by the papers is dead_. Then some -witnesses were examined, whom afterwards the old hero shook cordially by -the hand. The Lords withdrew to their House, and returning, demanded of -the Judges, whether, one point not being proved, though all the rest -were, the indictment was false? to which they unanimously answered in -the negative. Then the Lord High Steward asked the Peers severally, -whether Lord Balmerino was guilty! All said, _Guilty upon honour_, and -then adjourned, the prisoner having begged pardon for giving them so -much trouble. While the Lords were withdrawn, the Solicitor-General -Murray [afterwards Lord Mansfield] (brother of the Pretender's minister) -officiously and insolently went up to Lord Balmerino, and asked him, how -he could give the Lords so much trouble, when his Solicitor had informed -him, that his plea could be of no use to him? Balmerino asked the -bystanders, who this person was? and being told, he said, "Oh, Mr. -Murray! I am extremely glad to see you; I have been with several of your -relations; the good lady, your mother, was of great use to us at Perth." -Are you not charmed with this speech? how just it was! As he went away, -he said, "They call me Jacobite; I am no more a Jacobite than any that -tried me; but if the Great Mogul had set up his standard, I should have -followed it, for I could not starve." - -[Gray, in a letter to Wharton, gives the last sentence as follows: "My -Lord (says he) for the two Kings and their Rights I cared not a Farthing -which prevailed; but I was starving; and by God if Mahomet had set up -his Standard in the Highlands, I had been a good Musselman for Bread, -and stuck close to the Party, for I must eat."] - - - - -TREATY OF AIX-LA-CHAPELLE (1748). - - -I. - -LORD BOLINGBROKE ON THE PRELIMINARIES. - -+Source.+--_The Marchmont Papers_, 1831. Vol. ii., pp. 314-319. - -Our true interests require, that we should take few engagements on the -Continent, and never those of making a land war, unless the conjuncture -be such, that nothing less than the weight of Britain can prevent the -scales of power from being quite overturned. This was the case surely, -when we arrived in the Netherlands (1743) and when we marched into -Germany. The first did some good, and as it was managed, some hurt. It -divided the attention of France, and became a reason the more for -recalling the army of Maillebois. But the fierce memorials, with which -it was accompanied, and which breathed an immediate and direct war -against France, frightened those, whom our arriving should have -encouraged, and gave much advantage to the French in the Seven -Provinces. The last, I mean our march to the Mayn [where the English -encamped in May, 1744] and vast diversion we made by it, has had a full -effect. The Bavarians are reduced to a neutrality, and the French, who -threatened Vienna, to the defence of their own provinces. The defensive -war the Queen of Hungary made on that side, is therefore at an end, -strictly speaking; and your Lordship may think perhaps, that, this being -so the case, wherein alone Great Britain ought to make war on the -Continent, exists, no longer. It is, I own, very provoking to see, that -the French are able at any time to invade their neighbours, to give law -if they succeed, and not to receive it if they fail, but to retire -behind their barrier, and defy from thence the just resentment of the -enemies they have made; and yet we ought to consider very coolly, how -far we suffer this provocation to have any share in determining our -conduct in the present circumstances. I have seen the time, when the -French would have given up the very barrier, that secures them now. We -would not take it then. Can we force it now? I said once, that Bouchain -had cost our nation above six millions; and they who were angry at the -assertion [the Whigs] could not contradict it, since Bouchain was the -sole conquest of 1711, and since the expence of that year's war amounted -to little less. Are we able to purchase at such a rate? or do we hope to -purchase at a cheaper, when my Lord Marlborough and Prince Eugene are no -more?... We shall have a very nice game to play, for if our friends, the -Austrians, would take advantage of too much facility to continue the -war, our enemies, the Spaniards and the French, would certainly take -advantage of too much haste to conclude it. This reflection becomes the -more important, because the war we have with Spain, seems more likely to -be determined in Italy than in America; and somewhere or other it must -be determined to our advantage.... In all events, my dear Lord, and -whatever peace we make, it will become an indispensable point of policy -to be on our guard, after what has happened, against the joint ambition -of the two branches of Bourbon, whom no acquisitions can satisfy, nor -any treaties bind, and who have begun to act in late instances, as the -two branches of Austria did in the last century. The treaty of quadruple -alliance, and a long course of timid unmeaning negociations, unmeaning -relatively to the interest of Great Britain, have encouraged this -spirit. A contrary conduct must check it; and I will venture to say, -that, the peace once made on terms less exorbitant, than some sanguine -persons would expect, this may be done; and that vigor sufficient for -this purpose will be found on the whole less expensive, with prudent -management abroad, and honest economy at home, than the pusillanimity of -that administration, which has made us despised by some of our -neighbours, and distrusted by others, till France had a fair chance for -giving the law to all Europe. But it is more than time that I should put -an end to this political ramble. I mean it for you alone, and I am used -to your indulgence. It is hardly possible, that you should write in -answer to this letter, that is to come to me in France. It seemed to me, -by the little conversation I had with some of your ministers when I was -at London, that their way of thinking was not very distant from mine, -about foreign affairs at least. Great Britain must have a peace, my -Lord. Her ability to carry on this war, as little as it is, is greater, -in my opinion, than that of France. But there are other invincible -reasons against it. I repeat, therefore, we must have a peace as soon as -possible. To have a good one, vigor in your measures, and moderation in -your views, are, I suppose, equally necessary. - - -II. - -THE ARTICLES OF PEACE. - -+Source.+--Coxe's _Pelham Administration_. Vol. ii., p. 41, 42. The -Treaty is to be found at length in Tindal's Continuation of Rapin's -_History of England_. Vol. xxi., pp. 357-366. - -The following is an abstract of the articles of the definitive treaty, -in which the reader will recognize a general conformity with the -preliminaries. - -ARTICLE I. Renewal of peace between all the contracting powers. - -ART. II. Restitution of all conquests, and the _status quo ante bellum_, -with the exceptions herein mentioned. - -ART. III. Renewal of the treaties of Westphalia, 1648; of Madrid, -between England and Spain, 1667, 1678 and 1679; of Ryswick, 1697; of -Utrecht, 1713; of Baden, 1714; of the triple alliance, 1717; of the -quadruple alliance, 1718; and of the treaty of Vienna, 1738. - -ART. IV. Mutual restoration of prisoners, six weeks after the -ratification. - -ART. V. Mutual restitution of conquests, and specification of the -cessions assigned by Austria, to Don Philip, according to the -preliminaries. - -ART. VI. All the restitutions in Europe, specified in this treaty, to be -made within the term of six weeks after the ratifications, and in -particular all the Low Countries to be restored to the Empress Queen, -and likewise those Barrier Towns, the sovereignty of which belonged to -the House of Austria, to be evacuated, for the admission of the troops -of the States-General. - -ART. VII. Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla, to be delivered to Don -Philip, at the time that Nice and Savoy are restored to the King of -Sardinia. - -ART. VIII. Measures to be adopted for insuring the restitutions, within -the period appointed. - -ART. IX. The King of England engages to send two hostages of rank to -Paris, until Cape Breton, and all his conquests in the West and East -Indies, shall be restored. - -ART. X. The revenues and taxes of the conquered countries, to belong to -the powers in possession, until the day of the ratification. - -ART. XI. All archives to be restored within two months, or as soon -afterwards as possible. - -ART. XII. The king of Sardinia to retain possession of all the -territories, conceded to him by the treaty of Worms, excepting Finale -and Placentia; namely, the Vigevenasco, part of the Pavesaeno, and the -county of Anghiera. - -ART. XIII. The Duke of Modena to be restored to all his dominions. - -ART. XIV. Genoa to be reinstated in all her possessions and rights, and -her subjects in the enjoyment of all the funds belonging to them, in the -Austrian and Sardinian banks. - -ART. XV. All things in Italy to remain as before the war, with the -exceptions contained in the preceding articles. - -ART. XVI. The Assiento Treaty, and the privilege of sending the annual -ship to the Spanish colonies, confirmed for four years, according to the -right possessed before the war. - -ART. XVII. Dunkirk to remain fortified on the side of the land, in its -existing condition; and, on that of the sea, to be left on the footing -of antient treaties. - -ART. XVIII. Certain claims of money, by the King of England, as elector -of Hanover, on the crown of Spain; the differences concerning the abbey -of St. Hubert, and the boundaries of Hainault; and the courts of justice -recently established in the Low Countries, as also the pretensions of -the elector-palatine, to be amicably adjusted by commissaries. - -ART. XIX. Confirmation of the guaranty of the Protestant Succession of -the House of Brunswick, in all its descendants, as fully stipulated in -the fifth article of the quadruple alliance. - -ART. XX. All the German territories of the King of England, as elector -of Brunswick-Lunenberg guarantied. - -ART. XXI. All the contracting powers, who guarantied the Pragmatic -Sanction of the 19th of April, 1713, now guaranty the entire inheritance -of Charles the Sixth, in favour of his daughter, Maria Theresa, and her -descendants, excepting those cessions previously made by Charles the -Sixth or by Maria Theresa herself, and those included in the present -treaty. - -ART. XXII. Silesia and Glataz guarantied to the King of Prussia. - -ART. XXIII. All the powers interested in this treaty jointly guaranty -its execution. - -ART. XXIV. Exchange of the ratifications to be made at Aix la Chapelle, -by all the contracting powers within a month after the signatures. - - -III. - -A CONTEMPORARY VIEW OF THE PEACE. - -+Source.+--_Letters of Mary Lepel, Lady Hervey_, 1821, p. 126. - - _May 31st, 1748._ - -... I am as glad of the peace, sir, as you can be, for without it we -were certainly undone; for which reason I am, I confess, astonished that -the French, who had the whole in their hands, should give it us. There -are four people who have certainly had a narrow escape by it; for one -campaign more, and the Duke of Cumberland, with his little army, would -have been cut to pieces; the Prince of Orange would have been deposed, -and the Duke of Newcastle and Lord Sandwich would, or should have been -called to an account, which I fancy they could not have made up and -balanced to their advantage. - - - - -LORD CHESTERFIELD'S ACT FOR THE REFORM OF THE CALENDAR (1751). - - -I. - -HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF THE BILL. - -+Source.+--Anderson's _Origin of Commerce_, 1751. Vol. ii., pp. 283, -284-286. - -On Wednesday the twenty-second of May 1751, the ever-famous Act of the -British legislature, of the twenty-fourth year of King George the -Second, received the royal assent, For regulating the Commencement of -the Year, and for correcting the Calendar now in Use,--_i.e._ For -abolishing the old stile, and establishing the new stile, already in use -in most parts of Christendom. - -Its preamble sets forth, "That the legal supputation of the year in -England, which begins on the twenty-fifth of March, hath been attended -with divers inconveniences," (strange that this was not rectified long -ago!) "as it differs from other nations, and the legal method of -computation in Scotland, and the common usage throughout the whole -kingdom; and that thereby frequent mistakes in the dates of deeds and -other writings are occasioned, and disputes arise therefrom and that the -Julian Calendar, now in use throughout the British dominions, hath been -discovered to be erroneous, by means whereof, the vernal equinox, which -at the time of the Council of Nice, in the year 325, happened on or -about the twenty-first of March, now happens on the ninth or tenth of -the same month: and the error still increasing, and, if not remedied, -would, in time, occasion the several equinoxes and solstices to fall at -very different times in the civil year from what they formerly did, -which might tend to mislead persons ignorant of such alteration. And as -a method of correcting the calendar, so as that the equinoxes and -solstices may for the future fall on the same nominal days on which they -happened at the time of the said General Council, hath been established, -and is now generally practised by almost all other nations of Europe: -and, as it will be of general convenience to merchants, and other -persons corresponding with other nations and countries and will tend to -prevent mistakes and disputes concerning the dates of letters and -accounts, if the like correction be received and established in his -Majesty's dominions." - -"That, throughout all his Majesty's dominions in Europe, Asia, Africa -and America, the said old supputation shall not be used after the last -day of December 1751, and that the first of January following shall be -accounted the first day of the year 1752, and so on, in every year -after: and after the said first of January 1752, the days of the month -shall go on and be reckoned in the same order, and the feast of Easter, -and other moveable feasts depending thereon, shall be ascertained -according to the same method they now are, until the second of September -in 1752, inclusive, and the next day shall be accounted the fourteenth -of September, omitting, for that time only, the eleven intermediate -nominal days: and the following days shall be numbered forward in -numerical order from the said fourteenth of September, as now used in -the present calendar: and all acts and writings which shall be made or -executed upon or after the said first of January 1752, shall bear date -according to the new method of supputation; and the two fixed terms of -St. Hilary and St. Michael in England, and the courts of the great -sessions in the counties palatine and in Wales, and the courts of -general quarter sessions, and general sessions of the peace, and all -other courts and meetings and assemblies of any bodies politic or -corporate, for the election of officers or members, or for officers -entering upon the execution of their respective offices, or for any -other purpose, which by law or usage, &c., are to be held on any fixed -day of any month, or on any day depending on the beginning, or any -certain day of any month, (excepting courts usually holden with fairs or -marts) shall, after the said second of September, be held on the same -nominal days and times whereon they are now to be holden, but computed -according to the new method of numbering, that is, eleven days sooner -than the respective days whereon the same are now kept. - -"The years 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300, or any other hundredth year, -except every fourth hundredth, whereof the year 2000 shall be the first, -shall be deemed common years, consisting of three hundred and sixty-five -days; and the years 2000, 2400, 2800 and every other fourth hundredth -years from the year 2000, inclusive, and all other years which by the -present supputation are esteemed to be Bissextile, or leap-years, shall -for the future be esteemed to be Bissextile, or leap-years, consisting -of three hundred and sixty-six days, as is now used with respect to -every fourth year. - -"The feast of Easter, and the moveable feasts thereon depending, shall -be no longer observed according to the method of supputation now used, -or the table prefixed to the book of Common Prayer: and the said table, -and also the column of golden numbers, as they are now prefixed to the -respective days of the month in the calendar, shall be left out in all -future editions of the said book: and the new calendar, tables, and -rules, annexed to the act, are to be prefixed in the stead thereof: and, -from and after the said second of September, the fixed feasts, -holy-days, and fasts, of the church of England, and also the several -solemn days of thanksgiving and of fasting and humiliation, enjoined to -be observed by Parliament, shall be observed on the respective nominal -days marked for the celebration of the same in the new calendar; that is -to say, on the respective nominal days, and the feast of Easter, and -other moveable feasts thereon depending, shall be celebrated according -to the said annexed calendar; and the two moveable terms of Easter and -Trinity, and all courts, meetings and assemblies, of any bodies, politic -or corporate, and all markets, fairs, and marts, and courts thereunto -belonging, which, by any law, statute, charter or usage, are to be held -and kept at any moveable time depending upon Easter, or other moveable -feast, shall, after the said second of September, be held and kept on -the same days and times whereon the same shall happen, according to the -falling of Easter by the new calendar. - -"The meetings of the Court of Sessions, and terms fixed for the Court of -Exchequer in Scotland; the April meeting of the conservators of the -great Level of the Fens, and the holding and keeping of markets, fairs, -and marts, for the sale of goods or cattle, or for hiring of servants, -or for other purposes, which are fixed to certain nominal days of the -month, or depending on the beginning, or any certain day of any month, -and all courts kept with such fairs or marts; shall, after the said -second of September, be kept upon the same natural days upon which the -same would have been held if this act had not been made; i.e. eleven -days later than the same would happen according to the nominal days of -the new supputation of time, by which the commencement of each month, -and the nominal days thereof, are brought forward eleven days. - -"But this act shall not accelerate or anticipate the days for the -opening, inclosing or shutting up of grounds, common or pasture, or the -days and times on which a temporary and distinct property and right in -any such lands or grounds is to commence: but they shall be respectively -opened, and inclosed, or shut up, and shall commence on the same natural -days and times, after the said second of September, as before the making -of this Act: that is, eleven days later than the same would happen -according to the new supputation of time. - -"Neither shall this act accelerate or anticipate the times of payment of -rents, annuities, or other monies, which shall become payable in -consequence of any custom, usage, lease, deed, writing, or other -contract or agreement, now subsisting, or which shall be entered into -before the said fourteenth of September, or which shall become payable -by virtue of any act of Parliament. Not to accelerate the payment, or -increase the interest of any money which shall become payable as -aforesaid, or at the time of the delivery of any goods or other things -whatsoever, or the commencement, or determination of any leases or -demises of lands, &c., or other contracts or agreements, annuity, or -rent, or of any grant for a term of years, &c., or the time of attaining -the age of twenty-one years, or any other age requisite by law, usage, -or writing, for the doing any act, or for any other purpose, by any -persons now born, or who shall be born before the said fourteenth of -September; or the time of the determination of any apprenticeship or -other service by indenture, or by articles under seal, or by reason of -any simple contract or hiring; but all these shall commence, cease, and -determine, at and upon the said natural days and times on which they -would have happened if this act had not been made." - - -II. - -LORD CHESTERFIELD'S OWN ACCOUNT. - -+Source.+--_Letters of the Earl of Chesterfield._ Edited by Lord Mahon, -1845-53. Vol. ii., pp. 115, 116. - - LONDON, - _March 18_, O.S. 1751. - - MY DEAR FRIEND, - -I acquainted you in a former letter that I had brought in a bill into -the House of Lords, for correcting and reforming our present calendar, -which is the Julian, and for adopting the Gregorian. I will now give you -a more particular account of that affair, from which reflections will -naturally occur to you that I hope may be useful, and which I fear you -have not made. It was notorious, that the Julian calendar was erroneous, -and had overcharged the solar year with eleven days. Pope Gregory XIII. -corrected this error [in 1582]; his reformed calendar was immediately -received by all the Catholic Powers of Europe, and afterwards adopted by -all the Protestant ones, except Russia [which still (1912) adheres to -the old style.--ED.], Sweden and England. It was not, in my opinion, -very honourable for England to remain in a gross and avowed error, -especially in such company; the inconvenience of it was likewise felt by -all those who had foreign correspondences whether political or -mercantile. I determined, therefore, to attempt the reformation; I -consulted the best lawyers, and the most skilful astronomers, and we -cooked up a bill for that purpose. But then my difficulty began; I was -to bring in this bill, which was necessarily composed of law jargon and -astronomical calculations, to both of which I am an utter stranger. -However, it was absolutely necessary to make the House of Lords think -that I knew something of the matter, and also to make them believe that -they knew something of it themselves, which they do not. For my own -part, I could just as soon have talked Celtic or Sclavonian to them as -astronomy, and they would have understood me full as well; so I resolved -to do better than speak to the purpose, and to please instead of -informing them. I gave them, therefore, only an historical account of -calendars, from the Egyptian down to the Gregorian, amusing them now and -then with little episodes; but I was particularly attentive to the -choice of my words, to the harmony and roundness of my periods, to my -eloquence, to my action. This succeeded, and ever will succeed; they -thought I informed, because I pleased them; and many of them said, that -I had made the whole very clear to them, when, God knows, I had not even -attempted it. Lord Macclesfield, who had the greatest share in forming -the bill and who is one of the greatest mathematicians and astronomers -in Europe, spoke afterwards with infinite knowledge, and all the -clearness that so intricate a matter would admit of; but as his words, -his periods and his utterance were not near so good as mine, the -preference was most unanimously, though most unjustly, given to me.... - - - - -SMOLLETT'S CHARACTER OF THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE.[22] - -+Source.+--T. Smollett: _Humphrey Clinker_, 1831. Pp. 110, 124, 126. - - -His eulogium was interrupted by the arrival of the old duke of N----, -who, squeezing into the circle, with a busy face of importance, thrust -his head into every countenance, as if he had been in search of -somebody, to whom he wanted to impart something of great consequence. My -uncle, who had been formerly known to him, bowed as he passed: and the -duke, seeing himself saluted so respectfully by a well-dressed person, -was not slow in returning the courtesy. He even came up, and, taking him -cordially by the hand,--"My dear friend, Mr. A----," said he, "I am -rejoiced to see you. How long have you come from abroad? How did you -leave our good friends the Dutch? The king of Prussia don't think of -another war, ah? He's a great king, a great conqueror--a very great -conqueror! Your Alexanders and Hannibals were nothing at all to him, -Sir! corporals, drummers! dross! mere trash--damn'd trash, heh?" His -grace, being by this time out of breath, my uncle took the opportunity -to tell him he had not been out of England, that his name was Bramble, -and that he had the honour to sit in the last parliament but one of the -late king, as representative for the borough of Dymkymraig. "Odso!" -cried the duke, "I remember you perfectly well, my dear Mr. Bramble. You -was always a good and loyal subject--a staunch friend to administration. -I made your brother an Irish bishop." "Pardon me, my lord," said the -squire, "I once had a brother, but he was a captain in the army."--"Ha!" -said his grace, "he was so--he was indeed! But who was the bishop then? -Bishop Blackberry--sure it was bishop Blackberry. Perhaps some relation -of yours?"--"Very likely, my lord!" replied my uncle; "the blackberry is -the fruit of the bramble: but I believe the bishop is not a berry of our -bush."--"No more he is, no more he is, ha, ha, ha!" exclaimed the duke; -"there you give me a scratch, good Mr. Bramble, ha, ha, ha! Well, I -shall be glad to see you at Lincoln's Inn Fields. You know the way; -times are altered. Though I have lost the power, I retain the -inclination; your very humble servant, good Mr. Blackberry." So saying, -he shoved to another corner of the room. "What a fine old gentleman!" -cried Mr. Barton, "what spirits! what a memory! he never forgets an old -friend."--"He does me too much honour to rank me among the number. -Whilst I sat in parliament I never voted with the ministry but three -times, when my conscience told me they were in the right: however, if he -still keeps levee, I will carry my nephew thither, that he may see, and -learn to avoid the scene; for I think an English gentleman never appears -to such disadvantage as at the levee of a minister. Of his grace I shall -say nothing at present, but that for thirty years he was the constant -and common butt of ridicule and execration. He was generally laughed at -as an ape in politics, whose office and influence served only to render -his folly the more notorious; and the opposition cursed him as the -indefatigable drudge of a first mover, who was justly styled and -stigmatized as the father of corruption: but this ridiculous ape, this -venal drudge, no sooner lost the places he was so ill qualified to fill, -and unfurled the banners of faction, than he was metamorphosed into a -pattern of public virtue; the very people, who reviled him before, now -extolled him to the skies, as a wise experienced statesman, chief pillar -of the protestant succession, and corner-stone of English liberty...." - -[Another day] Captain C---- entered into conversation with us in the -most familiar manner, and treated the duke's character without any -ceremony. "This wiseacre," said he, "is still a-bed; and, I think, the -best thing he can do is to sleep on till Christmas; for when he gets up, -he does nothing but expose his own folly. Since Grenville was turned -out, there has been no minister in this nation worth the meal that -whitened his periwig. They are so ignorant they scarce know a crab from -a cauliflower; and then they are such dunces, that there's no making -them comprehend the plainest proposition. In the beginning of the war, -this poor half-witted creature told me, in a great fright, that thirty -thousand French had marched from Acadia to Cape Breton. "Where did they -find transports?" said I. "Transports!" cried he, "I tell you they -marched by land."--"By land, to the island of Cape Breton?"--"What! is -Cape Breton an island?"--"Certainly."--"Hah! are you sure of that?" When -I pointed it out on the map, he examined it earnestly with his -spectacles; then taking me in his arms, "My dear C----," cried he, "you -always bring us good news. Egad, I'll go directly, and tell the king -that Cape Breton is an island." - -[22] This scene is, of course, fiction, but it was published only three -years after Newcastle's death, and that it is absolutely true to life -every student of the period admits. - - - - -THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF ADMIRAL BYNG. - - -I. - -HORACE WALPOLE TO SIR HORACE MANN. - - ARLINGTON STREET, - _January 30, 1757_. - -... All England is again occupied with Admiral Byng; he and his friends -were quite persuaded of his acquittal. The court-martial, after the -trial was finished, kept the whole world in suspense for a week; after -great debates and divisions amongst themselves, and despatching -messengers hither to consult lawyers whether they could not mitigate the -article of war, to which a negative was returned, they pronounced this -extraordinary sentence on Thursday: they condemn him to death for -_negligence_, but acquit him of _disaffection_ and _cowardice_ (the -other heads of the article) specifying the testimony of Lord Robert -Bertie in his favour, and unanimously recommending him to mercy; and -accompanying their sentence with a most earnest letter to the Lords of -the Admiralty to intercede for his pardon, saying, that finding -themselves tied up from moderating the article of war, and not being -able in conscience to pronounce that he had done all he could, they had -been forced to bring him in guilty, but beg he may be spared. The -discussions, and difference of opinions on this sentence is incredible. -The Cabinet Council, I believe, will be to determine whether the King -shall pardon him or not: some who wish to make him the scapegoat for -their own neglects, I fear, will try to complete his fate, but I should -think the new Administration will not be biassed to blood by such -interested attempts. He bore well his unexpected sentence, as he has all -the outrageous indignities and cruelties heaped upon him. Last week -happened an odd event, I can scarce say in his favour, as the World -seems to think it the effect of the arts of some of his friends: -Voltaire sent him from Switzerland an accidental letter of the Duc de -Richelieu, bearing witness to the Admiral's good behaviour in the -engagement. - - STRAWBERRY HILL, - _February 13, 1757_. - -... After a fortnight of the greatest variety of opinions, Byng's fate -is still in suspense. The court and the late ministry have been most -bitter against him; the new Admiralty most good-natured; the King would -not pardon him. They would not execute the sentence, as many lawyers are -clear that it is not a legal one. At last the council has referred it to -the twelve judges to give their opinion: if not a favourable one, he -dies! He has had many fortunate chances; had the late Admiralty -continued, one knows how little any would have availed him. Their -bitterness will always be recorded against themselves: it will be -difficult to persuade posterity that all the same of last summer was the -fault of Byng! Exact evidence of whose fault it was I believe posterity -will never have: the long-expected inquiries are begun, that is, some -papers have been moved for, but so coldly that it is plain George -Townshend and the Tories are unwilling to push researches that must -necessarily re-unite Newcastle and Fox. - - ARLINGTON STREET, - _March 3, 1757_. - -I have deferred writing to you, till I could tell you something certain -of the fate of Admiral Byng: no history was ever so extraordinary, or -produced such variety of surprising turns. In my last I told you that -his sentence was referred to the twelve judges. They have made law of -that, of which no one else would make sense. The Admiralty immediately -signed the warrant for his execution on the last of February--that is, -three signed: Admiral Forbes positively refused, and would have resigned -sooner. The Speaker would have had Byng expelled the House, but his -tigers were pitiful. Sir Francis Dashwood tried to call for the -Court-martial's letter; but the tigers were not so tender as that came -to. Some of the Court-martial grew to feel, as the execution advanced: -the City grew impatient for it. Mr. Fox tried to represent the new -ministry as compassionate, and has damaged their popularity. Three of -the Court-martial applied on Wednesday last to Lord Temple to renew -their solicitation for mercy. Sir Francis Dashwood moved a repeal of the -bloody twelfth article [of Byng's indictment:] the House was savage -enough; yet Mr. Doddington softened them, and not one man spoke directly -against mercy. They had nothing to fear: the man who, of all defects, -hates cowardice and avarice most and who has some little objection to a -mob in St. James's-street, has magnanimously forgot all the services of -the great Lord Torrington [the victor of Cape Passano, 1718]. On -Thursday seven of the Court-martial applied for mercy: they were -rejected. On Friday a most strange event happened. I was told at the -House that Captain Keppel and Admiral Norris desired a bill to absolve -them from their Oath of Secrecy, [as members of the Court-martial on -Byng] that they might unfold something very material towards the saving -the prisoner's life. I was out of Parliament myself during my -re-election, but I ran to Keppel; he said he had never spoken in public, -and could not, but would give authority to anybody else. The Speaker was -putting the question for the orders of the day, after which no motion -could be made; it was Friday. The House would not sit on Saturday, the -execution was fixed for Monday. I felt all this in an instant, dragged -Mr. Keppel to Sir Francis Dashwood, and he on the floor before he had -taken his place, called out to the Speaker, and though the orders were -passed, Sir Francis was suffered to speak. The House was wondrously -softened: pains were taken to prove to Mr. Keppel that he might speak, -notwithstanding his oath; but he adhering to it, he had time given him -till next morning to consider and consult some of his brethren who had -commissioned him to desire the bill. The next day the King sent a -message to our House, that he had respited Mr. Byng for a fortnight, -till the bill could be passed, and he should know whether the Admiral -was unjustly condemned. The bill was read twice in our House that day, -and went through the Committee; Mr. Keppel affirming that he had -something, in his opinion, of weight to tell, and which it was material -his Majesty should know, and naming four of his associates, who desired -to be empowered to speak. On Sunday all was confusion again, on news -that the four disclaimed what Mr. Keppel had said for them. On Monday, -he told the House that in one he had been mistaken; that another did not -declare off, but wished all were to be compelled to speak; and from the -two others he produced a letter upholding him in what he had said. The -bill passed by 153 to 23. On Tuesday it was treated very differently by -the Lords. The new Chief Justice [Mansfield] and the late Chancellor -[Hardwicke] pleaded against Byng like little attorneys, and did all they -could to stifle truth. That all was a good deal. They prevailed to have -the whole Court-martial at their bar. Lord Hardwicke urged for the -intervention of a day, on the pretence of a trifling cause of an Irish -bankruptcy then depending before the Lords, though Lord Temple showed -them that some of the Captains and Admirals were under sailing orders -for America. But Lord Hardwicke and Lord Anson were expeditious enough -to do what they wanted in one night's time; and for the next day, -yesterday, every one of the Court-martial defended their sentence, and -even the three conscientious said not one syllable of their desire of -the bill, which was accordingly unanimously rejected, and with great -marks of contempt for the House of Commons. - -This is as brief and as clear an abstract as I can give you of a most -complicated affair, in which I have been a most unfortunate actor, -having to my infinite grief, which I shall feel till the man is at -peace, been instrumental in protracting his misery a fortnight, by what -I meant as the kindest thing I could do. I never knew poor Byng -enough to bow to--but the great doubtfulness of his crime, and the -extraordinariness of his sentence, the persecution of his enemies, who -sacrifice him for their own guilt, and the rage of a blinded nation, -have called forth all my pity for him. His enemies triumph, but who can -envy the triumph of murder? - - -II. - -THOMAS POTTER TO MR. GRENVILLE, SEPTEMBER 11, 1756. - -+Source.+--_Grenville Papers_, 1852. Vol. i., p. 173. - -This morning I heard the whole city of Westminster disturbed by the song -of a hundred ballad-singers, the burthen of which was, "To the block -with Newcastle, and the yard arm with Byng." - -[This ballad is to be found as a single sheet broadside in the British -Museum in a volume lettered _Ballads and Broadsides_; the first verse is -as follows:--] - -_THE BLOCK AND YARD ARM_ - - A NEW BALLAD ON THE LOSS OF "MINORCA," AND THE DANGER OF OUR "AMERICAN" - RIGHTS AND POSSESSIONS. - -_To Tune of the "Whose e'er been at Baldock," &c._ - - Draw nigh my good Folks whilst to you I Sing - Great Blak'ney[23] betray'd by N[ewcastle] and B[yng], - Before such a Story ne'er has been told - We're bought all, my Friends, by shining _French_ gold. - - _Chorus._ To the Block with N[ewcastle] and Yard Arm with B[yng]. - _Terra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ring._ - -[23] The Governor of Minorca, then eighty-five, "that gallant old man," -as Lady Hervey (_Letters_, p. 219) justly calls him, "who had behaved -like a hero of antiquity," had held out in Fort St. Philip for five -weeks after Byng's retreat. - - - - -THE COALITION GOVERNMENT OF 1757. - -+Source.+--Baron FitzMaurice's _Life of William Earl of Shelburne_, -1875-76. Vol. i., pp. 85-87. - - -[By the new Coalition] there was produced a strong Council and a strong -Government. The Cabinet Council was composed of the Duke of Newcastle, -Mr. Pitt, Secretary of State, Lord Keeper Henley, Lord Hardwicke, Lord -Mansfield, Lord Granville, Lord Holdernesse, Lord Anson, and Lord -Ligonier. There were no party politics, and consequently no difference -of opinion. I have heard Lord Chatham say they were the most agreeable -conversations he ever experienced. The Duke of Newcastle, a very -good-humoured man, was abundantly content with the whole patronage being -left to him.... Lord Hardwicke ... was kept in order by Lord Granville's -wit, who took advantage of the meeting of the balance of all parties to -pay off old scores, and to return all he owed to the Pelhams and the -Yorkes. He had a rooted aversion to Lord Hardwicke and to all his -family. I don't know precisely for what reason, but he got the secret of -cowing Lord Hardwicke, whose pretensions to classical learning gave Lord -Granville, who really was a very fine classical scholar, a great -opportunity. To this was added his knowledge of civil law,[24] in which -Lord Hardwicke was deficient, and above all, his wit; but whatever way -he got the key, he used it on all occasions unmercifully. In one of the -short-lived administrations at the commencement of the war, Lord -Granville, who had generally dined, turned round to say, "I am thinking -that all over Europe they are waiting our determination and canvassing -our characters. The Duke of Newcastle, they'll say, is a man of great -fortune, who has spent a great deal of it in support of the present -family."[25] "Fox, they'll say, is an impudent fellow who has fought his -war through the House of Commons; as for me, they know me throughout -Europe, they know my talents and my character; but I am thinking they -will all be asking, _Qui est ce diable de Chancelier?_ How came he here?" - -[24] In illustration of this, and as a great statesman's verdict on a -great period, it seems not inappropriate to quote here the famous story -of Carteret's death, as told by Robert Wood in his _Essay on the -Original Genius of Homer_, 1776, pp. v.-vi.: "Being directed to call -upon his Lordship, a few days before he died, with the preliminary -articles of the Treaty of Paris, I found him so languid that I proposed -postponing my business for another time; but he insisted that I should -stay, saying it could not prolong his life to neglect his duty; and, -repeating the following passage out of Sarpedon's speech, dwelled with -particular emphasis on the third line, which recalled the distinguishing -part he had taken in public affairs--=O pepon=, etc. His Lordship -repeated the last word [=iomen=] several times with a calm and -determined resignation; and, after a serious pause of some minutes, he -desired to hear the Treaty read, to which he listened with great -attention, and recovered spirits enough to declare the approbation of a -dying statesman (I use his own words) on the most glorious War, and most -honourable Peace, this nation ever saw." - -[25] This was so true that Newcastle, after a public life of five and -forty years, died L300,000 the poorer for it.--ED. - - - - -THE ENGLISH IN INDIA (1757-1759). - - -I. - -THE BLACK HOLE OF CALCUTTA DESCRIBED BY A SURVIVOR. - -+Source.+--_A Complete History of the War in India, from the Year 1749 -to the Taking of Pondicherry in 1761._ Pp. 18-21. - -[The nabob of Bengal marched on Calcutta, which was abandoned by the -commanding officer and the principal inhabitants.] Mr. Holwell, with a -few gallant friends, and the remains of a feeble garrison, bravely -defended the fort to the last extremity; but it was insufficient to -protect an untenable place, or to affect an ungenerous enemy. The fort -was taken on the twentieth day of June, 1756, and the whole garrison, -consisting of 146 persons, being made prisoners, were thrust into a -dungeon, called the Black-hole, from whence Mr. Holwell, with twenty-one -others, came out alive, to paint a scene of the most cruel distress, -which perhaps human nature ever suffered or survived. - -When he came to England, in the year 1757, he published, in a letter, an -account of this shocking barbarity, in terms so pathetic and moving as -cannot fail drawing pity from the most obdurate and savage breast. -"Figure to yourself, says he, if possible, the situation of one hundred -and forty-six wretches, exhausted by continual fatigue and action, thus -crammed together, in a cube of eighteen feet, in a close sultry night in -Bengal; shut up to the eastward and southward, the only quarters from -whence air could come to us, by dead walls, and a door open only to the -westward by two windows strongly barred within; from whence we could -receive scarce any the least circulation of fresh air. - -"Such was the residence of those unhappy victims for the space of twelve -hours. When they had been in but a little while, a profuse sweat broke -out on every individual; and this was attended with an insatiable -thirst, which became the more intolerable as the body was drained of its -moisture. In vain these miserable objects stripped themselves of their -cloaths, squatted down on their hams, and fanned the air with their -hats, to produce a refreshing undulation. Many were unable to rise again -from this posture, but falling down, were trod to death or suffocated. -The dreadful symptom of thirst was now accompanied with a difficulty of -respiration, and every individual gasped for breath. Their despair -became outrageous. The cry of _water! water!_ issued from every mouth; -even the jemmadar [the serjeant of the Indian guard] was moved to -compassion, at their distress. He ordered his soldiers to bring some -skins of water, which served only to enrage their appetite and increase -the general agitation. There was no other way of conveying it through -the windows but by hats, and this was rendered ineffectual by the -eagerness and transports of the wretched prisoners; who, at sight of it, -struggled and raved even into fits of delirium. In consequence of these -contests, very little reached those that stood nearest the windows; -while the rest, at the farther end of the prison, were totally excluded -from all relief, and continued calling on their friends for assistance, -and conjuring them by all the tender ties of pity and affection. To -those who were indulged it proved pernicious; for, instead of allaying -their thirst, it enraged their impatience for more. The confusion became -general and horrid, all was clamour and contest; those who were at a -distance endeavoured to force their passage to the windows, and the weak -were pressed down to the ground, never to rise again. The inhuman -ruffians without derived entertainment, from their misery; they supplied -the prisoners with more water, and held up lights to the bars, that they -might enjoy the inhuman pleasure of seeing them fight for the baneful -indulgence. The miserable prisoners perceiving that water rather -aggravated than relieved their distress, grew clamorous for air; they -insulted the guard, in order to provoke them to fire upon them; and -loaded the _Suba_ [the nabob of Bengal] with the most virulent reproach; -from railing they had recourse to prayers, beseeching Heaven to put an -end to their misery. - -"They now began to drop on all hands, but a steam arose from the living -and the dead as pungent and volatile as spirit of hartshorn; so that all -who could not approach the window were suffocated. Mr. Holwell, being -weary of life, retired, as he had done once before, from the window, and -went and stretched himself by the reverend Mr. Jervas Bellamy, who, -together with his son, a lieutenant, lay dead in each other's embrace. -In this situation he was soon deprived of sense, and lay, to all -appearance, dead, till day broke, when his body was discovered and -removed by his surviving friends to one of the windows, where the fresh -air revived him, and he was restored to his sight and senses." - - -II. - -CLIVE TO PITT ON ENGLAND'S OPPORTUNITY. - -+Source.+--_Correspondence of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham._ Edition of -1838-1840. Vol. i., pp. 387-392. - - CALCUTTA, - _January 7, 1759_. - - SIR, - -Suffer an admirer of yours at this distance to congratulate himself on -the glory and advantage which are likely to accrue to the nation by your -being at its head, and at the same time to return his most grateful -thanks for the distinguished manner you have been pleased to speak of -his successes in these parts, far indeed beyond his deservings.[26] - -The close attention you bestow on the affairs of the British nation in -general has induced me to trouble you with a few particulars relative to -India, and to lay before you an exact account of the revenues of this -country; the genuineness whereof you may depend upon, as it has been -faithfully copied from the minister's books. - -The great revolution that has been effected here by the success of the -English arms, and the vast advantages gained to the Company by a treaty -concluded in consequence thereof, have, I observe, in some measure -engaged the public attention; but much more may yet in time be done, if -the Company will exert themselves in the manner the importance of their -present possessions and future prospects deserves. I have represented to -them in the strongest terms the expediency of sending out and keeping up -constantly such a force as will enable them to embrace the first -opportunity of further aggrandizing themselves; and I dare pronounce, -from a thorough knowledge of this country government and of the genius -of the people, acquired by two years' application and experience, that -such an opportunity will soon offer. The reigning Subah, whom the -victory at Plassey invested with the sovereignty of these provinces, -still, it is true, retains his attachment to us, and probably, while he -has no other support, will continue to do so; but Mussulmans are so -little influenced by gratitude, that should he ever think it his -interest to break with us, the obligations he owes us would prove no -restraint: and this is very evident from his having very lately removed -his prime minister, and cut off two or three of his principal officers, -all attached to our interest, and who had a share in his elevation. -Moreover, he is advanced in years; and his son is so cruel and worthless -a young fellow, and so apparently an enemy to the English, that it will -be almost useless trusting him with the succession. So small a body as -two thousand Europeans will secure us against any apprehensions from -either the one or the other, and in case of their daring to be -troublesome, enable the company to take the sovereignty upon themselves. - -There will be the less difficulty in bringing about such an event, as -the natives themselves have no attachment whatever to particular -princes; and as, under the present government, they have no security for -their lives or properties, they would rejoice in so happy an exchange as -that of a mild for a despotic government; and there is little room to -doubt our easily obtaining the mogul's sannud (or grant) in confirmation -thereof, provided we agree to pay him the stipulated allotment out of -the revenues. That this would be agreeable to him can hardly be -questioned, as it would be so much to his interest to have these -countries under the dominion of a nation famed for their good faith, -rather than in the hands of people who, a long experience has convinced -him, never will pay him his proportion of the revenues, unless awed into -it by the fear of the imperial army marching to force them thereto. - -But so large a sovereignty may possibly be an object too extensive for a -mercantile company; and it is to be feared they are not of themselves -able, without the nation's assistance, to maintain so wide a dominion. I -have, therefore, presumed, Sir, to represent this matter to you, and -submit it to your consideration, whether the execution of a design, that -may hereafter be still carried to greater lengths, be worthy of the -government's taking it in hand. - -I flatter myself I have made it pretty clear to you, that there will be -little or no difficulty in obtaining the absolute possession of these -rich kingdoms; and that with the mogul's own consent, on condition of -paying him less than a fifth of the revenues thereof. Now I leave you to -judge whether an income yearly of upwards of two millions sterling, with -the possession of three provinces abounding in the most valuable -productions of nature and art, be an object deserving the public -attention; and whether it be worth the nation's while to take the proper -measures to secure such an acquisition,--an acquisition which, under the -management of so able and disinterested a minister, would prove a source -of immense wealth to the kingdom, and might in time be appropriated in -part as a fund towards diminishing the heavy load of debt under which we -at present labour. - -Add to these advantages the influence we shall thereby acquire over the -several European nations engaged in the commerce here, which these could -no longer carry on but through our indulgence, and under such -limitations as we should think fit to prescribe. It is well worthy -consideration, that this project may be brought about without draining -the mother country, as has been too much the case with our possessions -in America. A small force from home will be sufficient, as we always -make sure of any number we please of black troops, who being much better -paid and treated by us than by the country powers, will very readily -enter into our service. - -Mr. Walsh, who will have the honour of delivering you this, having been -my secretary during the late fortunate expedition, is a thorough master -of the subject, and will be able to explain to you the whole design, and -the facility with which it may be executed, much more to your -satisfaction, and with greater perspicuity, than can possibly be done in -a letter. I shall therefore only further remark, that I have -communicated it to no other person but yourself; nor should I have -troubled you, Sir, but from a conviction that you will give a favourable -reception to any proposal intended for the public good. - -The greatest part of the troops belonging to this establishment are now -employed in an expedition against the French in the Deccan: and, by the -accounts lately received from thence, I have great hopes we shall -succeed in extirpating them from the province of Golconda, where they -have reigned lords paramount so long, and from whence they have drawn -their principal resources during the troubles upon the coast. - -Notwithstanding the extraordinary efforts made by the French for sending -out M. Lally with a considerable force the last year, I am confident, -before the end of this, they will be near their last gasp in the -Carnatic, unless some very unforeseen event interpose in their favour. -The superiority of our squadron, and the plenty of money and supplies of -all kinds which our friends on the coast will be furnished with from -this province, while the enemy are in total want of everything, without -any visible means of redress, are such advantages as, if properly -attended to, cannot fail of wholly effecting their ruin in that as well -as in every part of India. - -May your zeal, and the vigorous measures projected for the service of -the nation, which have so eminently distinguished your ministry, be -crowned with all the success they deserve, is the most fervent wish of -him, who is with the greatest respect, Sir, - - Your most devoted humble servant, - ROB. CLIVE. - -[26] Mr. Pitt, in his speech on the Mutiny Bill, in December, 1757, -after adverting to the recent disgraces which had attended the British -arms, said, "We have lost our glory, honour, and reputation everywhere -but in India: there the country had a heaven-born general, who had never -learned the art of war, nor was his name enrolled among the great -officers who had for many years received their country's pay; yet was he -not afraid to attack a numerous army with a handful of men." - - - - -THE PLAINS OF ABRAHAM. - -_September 13, 1759._ - - -I. - -THE NIGHT ATTACK. - -+Source.+--The following passages rest on the same authority, that of -Professor Robison, who, as a youth, served as midshipman in the same -boat with Wolfe--or, according to another account, commanded the boat -next to his--on the eventful night. The first quotation is taken from W. -W. Currie's _Life of James Currie_, 1831, vol. ii., p. 248; the second -from Dr. James Graham's _History of North America_, 1836, vol. iv., p. -51. - -(_a_) "General Wolfe kept his intention of attacking Quebec a most -profound secret, not even disclosing it to the Second in Command, and -the night before the attack nothing was known. The boats were ordered to -drop down the St. Lawrence." (_b_) "Silence was commanded under pain of -death, which was indeed doubly menaced: and a death-like stillness -was observed in every boat, except the one which conveyed the -commander-in-chief, where, in accents barely audible to the profound -attention of his listening officers, Wolfe repeated that noble effusion -of solemn thought and poetic genius, Gray's _Elegy in a Country -Churchyard_, which had been recently published in London, and of which a -copy had been brought to him, by the last packet from England. When he -had finished his recitation, he added in a tone still guardedly low, but -earnest and emphatic,--'Now, gentlemen, I would rather be the author of -that poem than take Quebec.'" - - -II. - -THE BATTLE. - -+Source.+--_An Historical Journal of the Campaigns in North America_, by -Captain John Knox, 1769. Vol. ii., pp. 66-71, 77-79. - -Before day-break this morning we made a descent upon the north shore [of -the St. Lawrence], about half a quarter of a mile to the eastward of -Sillez; and the light troops were fortunately, by the rapidity of the -current, carried lower down, between us and Cape Diamond; we had in this -debarkation, thirty flat-bottomed boats, containing about sixteen -hundred men. This was a great surprise on the enemy, who, from the -natural strength of the place, did not suspect, and consequently were -not prepared against, so bold an attempt. The chain of sentries, which -they had posted along the summit of the heights, galled us a little, and -picked off several men, and some Officers, before our light infantry got -up to dislodge them. This grand enterprise was conducted and executed -with great good order and discretion; as fast as we landed, the boats -put off for reinforcements, and the troops formed with much regularity: -the General, with Brigadiers Monckton and Murray, were a-shore with the -first division. We lost nothing here, but clambered up one of the -steepest precipices that can be conceived, being almost a perpendicular, -and of an incredible height. As soon as we gained the summit, all was -quiet, and not a shot was heard, owing to the excellent conduct of the -light infantry under Colonel Howe; it was by this time clear daylight. -Here we formed again, the river and the south country in our rear, our -right extending to the town, and our left to Sillez, and halted a few -minutes. The general then detached the light troops to our left to route -the enemy from their battery, and to disable their guns, except they -could be rendered serviceable to the party who were to remain there: and -this service was soon performed. We then faced to the right, and marched -towards the town by files, till we came to the plains of Abraham, which -Mr. Wolfe had made choice of, while we stood forming upon the hill. -Weather showery; about six o'clock the enemy first made their appearance -upon the heights, between us and the town; whereupon we halted, and -wheeled to the right, thereby forming the line of battle.... General -Wolfe, Brigadiers Monckton and Murray, to our front line; and the second -was composed of the fifteenth, and two battalions of the sixtieth -regiment, under Colonel Burton, drawn up in four grand divisions, with -large intervals. The enemy had now likewise formed the line of battle, -and got some cannon to play on us, with round and canister shot: but -what galled us most was a body of Indians and other marksmen they had -concealed in the corn opposite to the front of our right wing, and a -coppice that stood opposite to our center, inclining towards our left: -but the Colonel Hale, by Brigadier Monckton's orders, advanced some -platoons, alternately, from the forty-seventh regiment, which, after a -few rounds, obliged these sculkers to retire.... About ten o'clock the -enemy began to advance briskly in three columns, with loud shouts and -recovered arms, two of them inclining to the left of our army, and the -third towards our right, firing obliquely at the two extremities of our -line, from the distance of one hundred and thirty--until they came -within forty yards; which our troops withstood with the greatest -intrepidity and firmness, still reserving their fire, and paying the -strictest obedience to their officers: this uncommon steadiness, -together with the havoc which the grape-shot from our field-pieces made -among them, threw them into some disorder, and was most critically -maintained by a well-timed, regular, and heavy discharge of our small -arms, such as they could no longer oppose; hereupon they gave way, and -fled with precipitation, so that, by the time the cloud of smoke was -vanished, our men were again loaded, and, profiting by the advantage we -had over them, pursued them almost to the gates of the town, and the -bridge over the little river, redoubling our fire with great eagerness, -making many Officers and men prisoners. The weather cleared up, with a -comfortably warm sunshine: the Highlanders chased them vigorously -towards Charles's river, and the fifty-eighth to the suburb close to -John's gate, until they were checked by the cannon from the two hulks; -at the same time a gun, which the town had brought to bear upon us with -grape-shot, galled the progress of the regiments to the right, who were -likewise pursuing with equal ardour, while Colonel Hunt Walsh, by a very -judicious movement, wheeled the battalions of Bragg and Kennedy to the -left, and flanked the coppice where a body of the enemy made a stand, as -if willing to renew the action; but a few platoons from these corps -completed our victory. Our joy at this success is irrepressibly damped -by the loss we sustained of one of the greatest heroes which this or any -other age can boast of,--GENERAL JAMES WOLFE, who received his mortal -wound, as he was exerting himself at the head of the grenadiers of -Louisbourg.... After our late worthy General, of renowned memory, was -carried off wounded, to the rear of the front line, he desired those who -were about him to lay him down; being asked if he would have a surgeon? -he replied, "it is needless; it is all over with me." One of them then -cried out, "they run, see how they run." "Who runs!" demanded our hero, -with great earnestness, like a person roused from sleep. The Officer -answered, "The enemy, Sir; Egad, they give way every-where." Thereupon -the General rejoined, "_Go one of you, my lads, to Colonel Burton;--tell -him to march Webb's regiment with all speed down to Charles's river, to -cut off the retreat of the fugitives from the bridge_." Then, turning on -his side, he added, "_Now, God be praised, I will die in peace_": and -thus expired.... - -The Sieur de Montcalm died late last night when his wound was dressed, -and he settled in bed, the Surgeons who attended him were desired to -acquaint him ingenuously with their sentiments of him, and, being -answered that his wound was mortal, he calmly replied, "he was glad of -it"; his Excellency then demanded,--"whether he could survive it long, -and how long?" He was told, "about a dozen hours, perhaps more, -peradventure less." "So much the better," rejoined this eminent warrior; -"I am happy I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec."... Some -time before this great man departed, we are assured he paid us this -compliment,--"Since it was my misfortune to be discomfited, and mortally -wounded, it is a great consolation to me to be vanquished by so brave -and generous an enemy: If I could survive this wound, I would engage to -beat three times the number of such forces as I commanded this morning -with a third of their number of British troops." - - - - -"THE HEAVEN-BORN MINISTER": HORACE WALPOLE'S HOMAGE TO PITT. - - -I. - -IN THE GREAT YEAR. - -+Source.+--_Works of Horace Walpole, Earl of Oxford_, 1798. Vol. ii., -P. 375. - - _To the Rt. Hon. William Pitt._ - - _November 19, 1759._ - SIR, - -On my coming to the town I did myself the honour of waiting on you and -lady Hesther Pitt, and though I think myself extremely distinguished by -your obliging note, I should be sorry for having given you the trouble -of writing it, if it did not lend me a very pardonable opportunity of -saying what I much wished to express, but thought myself too private a -person, and of too little consequence to take the liberty to say. In -short, sir, I was eager to congratulate you on the lustre you have -thrown on this country; I wished to thank you for the security you have -fixed to me of enjoying the happiness I do enjoy. You have placed -England in a situation in which it never saw itself--a task the more -difficult, as you had not to improve, but recover. In a trifling book -written two or three years ago, I said (speaking of the name in the -world the most venerable to me), "Sixteen unfortunate and inglorious -years since his removal have already written his eulogium" [in the -account of Sir Robert Walpole in the _Catalogue of Royal and Noble -Authors_]. It is but justice to you, sir, to add that that period ended -when your administration began. - - -II. - -CHARACTER OF WILLIAM PITT, DESCRIBED BY WALPOLE IN THE LIGHT OF -SUBSEQUENT HISTORY. - -+Source.+--_Memoirs of the Reign of George II._, 1847. Vol. iii., -pp. 84, 85, 86, 176. - -Pitt was now arrived at undisturbed possession of that influence in -affairs at which his ambition had aimed, and which his presumption had -made him flatter himself he could exert like those men of superior -genius, whose talents have been called forth by some crisis to retrieve -a sinking nation. He had said the last year to the Duke of Devonshire. -"My Lord, I am sure I can save this country, and no one else can." It -were ingratitude to him to say that he did not give such a reverberation -to our stagnating Councils, as exceedingly altered the appearance of our -fortune. He warded off the evil hour that seemed approaching; he infused -vigour into our arms; he taught the nation to speak again as England -used to speak to Foreign Powers; and so far from dreading invasions from -France, he affected to turn us into invaders. Indeed, these efforts were -so puny, so ill-concerted, so ineffectual to any essential purpose, that -France looked down with scorn on such boyish flippancies, which Pitt -deemed heroic, which Europe thought ridiculous, and which humanity saw -were only wasteful of lives, and precedents of a more barbarous warfare -than France had hitherto been authorized to carry on. In fact, Pitt had -neither all the talents he supposed in himself, nor which he seemed to -possess from the vacancy of great men around him.... - -Pitt's was an unfinished greatness: considering how much of it depended -on his words, one may almost call his an artificial greatness; but his -passion for fame and the grandeur of his ideas compensated for his -defects. He aspired to redeem the honour of his country, and to place it -in a point of giving law to nations. His ambition was to be the most -illustrious man of the first country in Europe; and he thought that the -eminence of glory could not be sullied by the steps to it being passed -irregularly. He wished to aggrandize Britain in general, but thought not -of obliging or benefiting individuals.... - -Posterity, this is an impartial picture. I am neither dazzled by the -blaze of the times in which I have lived, nor, if there are spots in the -sun, do I deny that I see them. It is a man I am describing, and one -whose greatness will bear to have his blemishes fairly delivered to -you--not from a love of censure in me, but of truth; and because it is -history I am writing, not romance. - - - - -DEATH OF GEORGE II. (1760). - - -_Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann._ - - ARLINGTON ST., - _October 28, 1760_. - -... This is Tuesday; on Friday night the King went to bed in perfect -health, and rose so the next morning at his usual hour of six; he called -for and drank his chocolate. At seven, for everything with him was exact -and periodic, he went into the closet.... Coming from thence, his _valet -de chambre_ heard a noise; waited a moment, and heard something like a -groan. He ran in, and in a small room between the closet and bedchamber -he found the King on the floor, who had cut the right side of his face -against the edge of a bureau, and who after a gasp expired. Lady -Yarmouth was called, and sent for Princess Amelia; but they only told -the latter that the King was ill and wanted her. She had been confined -some days with a rheumatism, but hurried down, and saw her father -extended on the bed. She is very purblind and more than a little deaf. -They had not closed his eyes; she bent down close to his face, and -concluded he spoke to her, though she could not hear him--guess what a -shock when she found the truth. She wrote to the Prince of Wales, but so -had one of the _valets de chambre_ first. He came to town, and saw the -Duke [of Cumberland] and the Privy Council. He was extremely kind at the -first--and in general 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. The late King's -will is not yet opened. To-day everybody kissed hands at Leicester -House, and this week, I believe, the King will go to St. James's. The -body has been _opened_; the great ventricle of the heart had burst. 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? - - - - -APPENDIX - -LONDON IN 1725-1736. - - -DEFOE'S DESCRIPTION OF LONDON IN 1725. - -+Source.+--_A Tour through the Whole Island of Great Britain_, 1724-7. -Vol. ii., pp. 94-97. - -_London_, as a City only, and as its Walls and Liberties live it out, -might, indeed, be viewed in a small Compass; but, when I speak of -_London_, now in the Modern Acceptation, you expect I shall take in all -that vast Mass of Buildings, reaching from _Black Wall_ in the _East_ to -_Tothill Fields_ in the _West_; and extended in an unequal Breadth, from -the Bridge, or River, on the _South_, to _Islington North_; and from -_Peterburgh House_ on the Bank Side in _Westminster_, to _Cavendish -Square_, and all the new Buildings by, and beyond _Hanover Square_, by -which the City of _London_, for so it is still to be called, is extended -to _Hyde Park Corner_ in the _Brentford Road_, and almost to _Maribone_ -in the _Acton Road_, and how much farther may it spread, who knows? New -Squares, and new Streets rising up every Day to such a Prodigy of -Buildings, that nothing in the world does, or ever did, equal it, except -old _Rome_ in _Trajan's_ time, when the walls were Fifty Miles in -Compass, and the Number of Inhabitants Six Millions Eight Hundred -Thousand Souls. - -It is the Disaster of _London_, as to the Beauty of its Figure, that it -is thus stretched out in Buildings, just at the pleasure of every -Builder, or Undertaker of Buildings, and as the Convenience of the -People directs, whether for Trade, or otherwise; and this has spread the -Face of it in a most straggling, confus'd Manner, out of all Shape, -uncompact, and unequal; neither long nor broad, round or square; whereas -the City of _Rome_, though a monster for its Greatness, yet was, in a -manner, round, with very few Irregularities in its Shape. - -At _London_, including the Buildings on both Sides the Water, one sees -it, in some Places, Three Miles broad, as from St. _George's_ in -_Southwark_, to _Shoreditch_ in _Middlesex_; or Two Miles, as from -_Peterburgh House_ to _Montague House_; and in some Places, not half a -Mile, as in _Wapping_; and much less, as in _Redriff_ [Rotherhithe]. - -We see several Villages, formerly standing, as it were, in the County -and at a great Distance, now joyn'd to the Streets by continued -Buildings, and more making haste to meet in the like Manner; for -Example, 1. _Deptford_, This Town was formerly reckoned at least Two -Miles off from _Redriff_, and that over the Marshes too, a Place -unlikely ever to be inhabited; and yet now, by the Encrease of Buildings -in that Town itself, and by the Docks and Buildings-Yard on the River -Side, which stand between both the Town of _Deptford_, and the Streets -of _Redriff_ (or Rotherhith as they write it) are effectually joyn'd, -and the Buildings daily increasing; so that _Deptford_ is now more a -separated Town, but is become a Part of the great Mass, and infinitely -full of People also; Here they have, within the last Two or Three Years, -built a fine new Church, and were the Town of Deptford now separated, -and rated by itself. I believe it contains more People, and stands upon -more Ground, than the City of _Wells_. - -The Town of _Islington_ on the _North_ side of the City, is in like -Manner joyn'd to the Streets of _London_, excepting one small Field, and -which is in itself so small, that there is no Doubt, but in a very few -years, they will be intirely joyn'd, and the same may be said of -_Mile-End_, on the _East_ End of the Town. - -_Newington_, called _Newington Butts_, in _Surrey_, reaches out her Hand -_North_, and is so near joining to _Southwark_, that it cannot now be -properly called a Town by itself, but a Suburb to the Burrough, and if, -_as they now tell us is undertaken_, St. _George's Fields_ should be -built with Squares and Streets, a very little Time will shew us -_Newington_, _Lambeth_, and the _Burrough_, all making but one -_Southwark_. - -The Westminster is in a fair Way to shake Hands with Chelsea, as St. -_Gyles's_ is with _Marybone_; and Great _Russel Street_ by _Montague -House_, with _Tottenham Court_: all this is very evident, and yet all -these put together are still to be called _London_: Whither will this -monstrous City then extend? and where must a Circumvallation or -Communication Line of it be placed? - - -THE PRESENTMENT OF THE MIDDLESEX GRAND JURY, JANUARY SESSION -(1735-1736). - -+Source.+--_Distilled Spirituous Liquors the Bane of the Nation_, 1736. - -We the Grand Jury for the County of _Middlesex_ taking notice of the -vast number of _Brandy_ and _Geneva-Shops_, _Sheds_, and _Cellars_, of -late set up and opened, for the retailing of _Gin_ and other _Spirituous -Liquors_, which being sold at a very low Rate, the Meaner, though -Useful, Part of the Nation, as Day-Labourers, Men and Women Servants, -and common Soldiers, nay even Children, are enticed and seduced to -taste, like, and approve of those pernicious _Liquors_ sold for such -small Sums of Money, whereby they are daily intoxicated and get drunk, -and are frequently seen in our streets in a Condition abhorrent to -reasonable Creatures. - -It is visible, that by this destructive Practice, the strength and -Constitution of Numbers is greatly weakened and destroyed, and many are -thereby rendered useless to themselves as well as to the Community, many -die suddenly by drinking it to Excess, and infinite Numbers lay the -Foundation of Distempers which shorten their Lives, or make them -miserable, weak, feeble, unable and unwilling to Work, a Scandal and -Burthen to their Country. - -But it does not stop here; the unhappy Influence reaches to the -Posterity of those poor unhappy Wretches, to the Children yet unborn, -who come half burnt and shrivelled into the World, who as soon as born, -suck in this deadly spirituous Poison with their Nurse's Milk; the -barbarous Mothers also often giving the detestable spirits to poor -Infants in their Arms; so that, if the Infection spreads, as it lately -has done, it must needs make a general Havock, especially among the -laborious Part of Mankind, who are seen manifestly to degenerate from -the more manly and robust Constitutions of preceding Generations. - -The natural Consequences of which will be, that his Majesty will lose -Numbers of his Subjects, the Publick the Labour and Industry of her -People, the Soldiery will be greatly weakened and enfeebled, and Masters -will every Day have greater Reason to complain of bad and dishonest -Servants, especially whilst that scandalous Custom prevails amongst -Chandlers and other lower Trades, of giving Drams, making them uncapable -of doing their Business, saucy to their Superiors, and in the End tempts -them to cheat and rob their Masters, to supply themselves with large -quantities of this destructive Liquor. - -We therefore the Grand Jury aforesaid, do present all such _Brandy_ and -_Geneva-Shops_, _Sheds_ and _Cellars_, where _Gin_ and other _Spirituous -Liquors_ are sold and vended by Retail, as publick Nuisances, which -harbour, entertain and shelter the indolent, dissolute, and incorrigibly -Wicked, that they are a high Grievance, and of the greatest ill -Consequence to all our Fellow Subjects, as most plainly appear by the -daily Meetings and Associations of Numbers of loose and disorderly -Persons of both Sexes in these Places, where after they have drank of -this most pernicious Liquor, they are ready for, and actually do spirit -up each other to perpetrate and execute the most bold, daring, and -mischievous Enterprizes, and shaking off all Fear and Sham, become -audaciously impudent in all manner of Vice, Lewdness, Immorality, and -Profaneness, in Defiance of all Laws, Human and Divine. - -We therefore earnestly hope, that the Magistrates will unanimously and -vigorously put the Laws already made, and which have any relation to the -rooting out this pernicious Custom, in full Execution: That they will -punish severely all Transgressors of them, and use their utmost -Endeavours to put some stop to the bold Encroachments of this terrible -Destroyer of our Fellow-Creatures, which we apprehend will greatly -conduce to the Honour and Glory of God, to the Safety, Happiness, -Welfare, and Benefit of the Nation in general, and of every Family in -particular, and will be a Means to secure the Health and Strength of our -Posterity. - -If the Laws already made should not be found sufficient to put a stop to -a Custom so universal, and yet plainly, so destructive; As it is now -become a National Concern, and the ill Consequences arising therefrom -universally felt and confessed, we do not doubt but it will be thought -worthy the most serious Consideration of the Legislature, and of his -most gracious Majesty, the most tender Father of his People. - -[Here follow the signatures of the Grand Jury.] - - -BILLING AND SONS, LTD., PRINTERS, GUILDFORD. - - - - -BELL'S ENGLISH HISTORY SOURCE BOOKS - -Scope of the Series and Arrangement of Volumes. - - - 1. Roman Britain to 449. - 2. 449-1066. - 3. 1066-1154. - 4. 1154-1216. - 5. 1216-1307. - 6. 1307-1399. - 7. 1399-1485. - 8. 1485-1547. _Ready Immediately._ - 9. 1547-1603. _Now Ready._ - 10. 1603-1660. " - 11. 1660-1714. " - 12. 1714-1760. " - 13. 1760-1801. " - 14. 1801-1815. " - 15. 1815-1837. - 16. 1837-1856. - 17. 1856-1876. - 18. 1876-1887. - 19. 1887-1901. - 20. 1901-1912. - - _The volumes are issued in uniform style. - Price 1s. net each._ - - - - - * * * * * * - - - - -Transcriber's note: - -Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. - -Two occurrences of unpaired doublel quotation marks were left unchanged. - -Notices of other books in the series have been moved to the end of the -text. - - - -***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WALPOLE AND CHATHAM (1714-1760)*** - - -******* This file should be named 53005.txt or 53005.zip ******* - - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/5/3/0/0/53005 - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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