in a fpeech to his parliament, obferved that the late fucceffes of his ally in Germany, had given an happy turn to his affairs, which it would be neceffary to improve. The commons concurred in his fentiments, and liberally granted fupplies both for the fervice of the king of Pruffia, and for enabling the army formed in Hanover to act vigorously in conjunction with him.

From fending money over into Germany, the nation began to extend their benefits; and it was foon confidered that men would be a more grateful fupply. Mr. Pitt, who had at first come into popularity and power by oppofing fuch meafures, was now prevailed on to enter into them with even greater ardour than any of his predeceffors. The hopes of putting a speedy end to the war by vigorous meafures, the connexions with which he was obliged to co-operate, and perhaps the pleafure he found in pleafing the king, all together incited him eagerly to push forward a continental war. However, he only confpired with the general inclinations of the people at this time, who, affured by the noble efforts of their only ally, were unwilling to fee him fall a facrifice to the united ambition of his enemies.

In order to indulge this general inclination of affifting the king of Pruffia, the duke of Marlborough was at first fent into Germany with a fmall body of British forces to join prince Ferdinand, whofe activity against the French began to be crowned with fuccefs. After fome fmall fucceffes gained by the allied army at Crevelt, the duke of Marlborough dying, his command devolved upon lord George Sackville, who was at that time a favourite with the English army. However, a misunderstanding arofe between him and the commander in chief, which foon had an occafion of being difplayed at the battle of Minden, which was fought foon after. The caufe of this fecret difguft on both fides is not clearly known; it is thought that the extenfive genius, and the inquifitive fpirit of the English general, were by no means agreeable to his fuperior in command, who hoped to reap fome pecuniary advantages the other was unwilling to permit. Be this as it will, both armies advancing near the town of Minden, the French began the attack with great vigour,

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and

and a general engagement of the infantry enfued. Lord George, at the head of the British and Hanoverian horse, was ftationed at fome diftance on the right of the infantry, from which they were divided by a feanty wood that bordered on an heath. The French infantry giving ground, the prince thought that this would be a favourable opportunity to pour down the horfe among them, and accordingly fent lord George orders to come on. These orders

were but ill obferved; and whether they were unintelligible, or contradi@ory, ftill remains a point for pofteri ty to debate upon. It is certain that lord George shortly after was recalled, tried by a court-martial, found guilty, and declared incapable of ferving in any military command for the future. The enemy, however, were repulfed in all their attacks with confiderable lofs, and at length giving way, were purfued to the very ramparts of Minden. The victory was fplendid, but laurels were the only advantage reaped from the field of battle.

After thefe victories, which were greatly magnified in England, it was fuppofed that one. reinforcement more of British troops would terminate the war in favour of the allies, and a reinforcement was quickly fent. The Britifh army in Germany now, therefore, amounted to above thirty thoufand men, and the whole nation was flushed with the hopes of immediate conqueft. But these hopes foon vanifhed, in finding victory and defeat fucceffively following each other. The allies were worsted at Cor. back, but retrieved their honour at Exdorf. A victory at Warbourg followed fhortly after, and another at Zierenburg but then they fuffered a defeat at Compen, after which both fides went into winter quarters. The fucceffes thus on either fide might be confidered as a com. pact, by which both engaged to lofe much and gain little; for no advantages whatever followed from victory. The English at length began to open their eyes to their own intereft, and found that they were waging unequal war, and loading themfelves with taxes for conquests that they could neither preferve nor enjoy.

:

It must be confeffed that the efforts of England at this time, over every part of the globe, were amazing; and

the

the expence of her operations greater than had ever been difburfed by any nation before.. The king of Prussia rèceived a fubfidy; a large body of English forces commanded the extenfive peninfula of India; another army of twenty thoufand men confirmed their conquefts in North America; there was thirty thoufand men employed in Germany, and feveral other bodies difperfed in different garrifons in various parts of the world; but all thefe were nothing to the force maintained at fea, which carried command wherever it came, and had totally annihilated the French power on that element. The courage and the conduct of the English admirals had furpaffed whatever had been read of in hiftory; neither fuperior force, nor number, nor even the terrors of the tempeft could intimidate them. Admiral Hawke gained a complete victory over an equal number of French fhips, on the coaft of Bretagne, in Quiberon Bay, in the midst of a tempeft, during the darkness of the night, and what a feaman fears ftill more, upon a rocky fhore.

Such was the glorious figure the British nation appear. ed in to all the world at this time. But while their arms profpered in every effort tending to the real interefts of the nation, an event happened, which, for a while obfcured the fplendour of her victories. On the twentyfifth of October, the king, without having complained of any previous diforder, was found, by his domestics, expiring in his chamber. He had arifen at his ufual hour, and obferved to his attendants, that as the weather was fine, he would take a walk in the gardens of Kenfington, where he then refided. In a few minutes after his return, being left alone, he was heard to fall down upon the floor. The noife of this bringing his attendants into the room, they lifted him into bed, where he defired, with a faint voice, that the princess Amelia might be fent for, but before she could reach the apart ment he expired. An attempt was made to bleed him, but without effect; and afterwards the furgeons, upon opening him, difcovered that the right ventricle of the heart was actually ruptured, and that a great quantity of blood was difcharged through the aperture.

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George

George the Second died in the feventy-feO. 25. venth year of his age, and the thirty-third of 1760. his reign; lamented by his fubjects, and in the midst of victory. If any monarch was happy in the peculiar mode of his death, and the precife time of its arrival, it was he. The universal enthusiasm of the people for conqueft was now beginning to fubfide, and fober reafon to take her turn in the administration of affairs. The factions which had been nurfing during his long reign had not yet come to maturity; but threa tened, with all their virulence, to afflict his fucceffor. He was himself of no fhining abilities; and while he was permitted to guide and affift his German dominions, he intrufted the care of Britain to his minifters at home. However, as we ftand too near to be impartial judges of his merits or defects, let us ftate his character as delivered by two writers of oppofite opinions.

"On whatever fide," fays his panegyrift, "we look upon his character, we fhall find ample matter for just and unfufpected praife. None of his predeceffors on the throne of England lived to fo great an age, or enjoyed longer felicity. His fubjects were ftill improving under him, in commerce and arts; and his own economy fet a prudent example to the nation, which however they did not follow. He was in his temper fudden and violent; but this, though it influenced his conduct, made no change. in his behaviour, which was generally guided by reafon. He was plain and direct in his intentions; true to his word, steady in his favour and protection to his fervants, not parting even with his minifters till compelled to it by the violence of faction. In fhort, through the whole of his life, he appeared rather to live for the cultivation of useful virtues than fplendid ones; and fatisfied with being good, left others their unenvied greatnefs."

Such is the picture given by his friends, but there are others who reverfe the medal. "As to the extent of his anderftanding, or the fplendour of his virtue, we rather with for opportunities of praife, than undertake the task ourfelves. His public character was marked with a predilection for his native country, and to that he facrificed all other confiderations. He was not only unlearned him. felf,

felf, but he defpifed learning in others, and though genius might have flourished in his reign, yet he neither promoted it by his influence or example. His frugality bordered upon avarice, and he hoarded not for his fubjects, but himself. He was remarkable for no one great virtue, and was known to practise feveral of the meaner vices.' Which of thefe two characters are true, or whether they may not in part be both fo, I will not pretend to decide. If his favourers are numerous, fo are those who oppose them: let pofterity, therefore, decide

the conteft.

A. D.

GEORGE III.

EORGE the Second was fucceeded by his grandfon, king George the Third, our pre1760. fent mot gracious fovereign, whofe father never afcended the throne, having died while he was only prince of Wales. His majesty's first care after his acceffion, was to affemble the parliament, which met in November, and fettled the annual fum of 800,000l. upon the king for the fupport of his houfhold, and of the honour and dignity of his crown, or, as it is ufually cal

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led,