1760.

CONQUEST OF CANADA.

379

in the retreat from the English cavalry, commanded by lord Grandby. By this movement, however, the landgraviate of Hesse was exposed to marshal Broglio, who rapidly reduced Cassel, Minden, Gottingen, and Elmbeck, and was once more on the eve of regaining possession of Hanover. Nor could any steps be taken this season to arrest his progress, for the allies had already retired into their winter quarters.

In America, the war was brought to a triumphant conclusion, while these interruptions and doubtful successes retarded the progress of the allied arms in Europe. General Murray had been appointed governor of Quebec; and as the fleet had been compelled to retire at the approach of the frost, he adopted all the precautions that prudence could suggest for the defence of the city. The event proved that his caution was not superfluous. M. Levi, who had succeeded Montcalm, assembled a body of French, Canadians, and Indians, to the number of 10,000; and, marching from Montreal in the month of April, encamped under the walls of Quebec, hoping to effect the conquest before succours could be received from England. General Murray, although his force was inferior, having scarcely 7000 men at his command, marched out and attacked the besiegers; but was defeated, with the loss of his cannon, effecting his retreat into the citadel with considerable difficulty. Levi, encouraged by this piece of good fortune, immediately invested the city by sea and land. On the 9th of May, however, lord Colville arrived with two frigates; entered the river, and destroyed the French armament, consisting of six frigates. Levi witnessed this defeat from the opposite heights, and, perceiving the hopelessness of his situation, broke up his camp, and retreated in confusion. This movement was so precipitate, that his provisions and artillery fell into the hands of the British. There now remained in possession of the French only the single fortress of Montreal. Here, the marquis de Vaudreuil, governor-general of the province, collected all his magazines, and waited the approach of general

Amherst, who had already crossed Lake Ontario, and reduced Isle Royale, which commands the entrance of the St. Lawrence. Passing the cataracts with inconsiderable loss, he was joined by general Murray at the head of his disposable force, and further strengthened by colonel Haviland, who had taken the Isle aux Noix, and advanced to the south bank of the river opposite to Montreal. Finding himself completely invested, and and having no expectation of relief, the marquis de Vaudreuil capitulated, and surrendered the garrison prisoners of war. This bloodless victory completed the conquest of Canada the most important accession to crown of England that had been made throughout a long and costly w

war.

This glorious event transported the nation with joy, and was hailed with appropriate congratulations. Parliament had become every session more indifferent to the expenses of these triumphant campaigns, and Pitt's boast that his supplies had doubled the expense of any year of queen Anne's reign was received with acclamations. Upwards of 16,000,000l. were voted for the present year.

In the midst of the ardour of victory, lord George Sackville demanded a court-martial to inquire into his conduct at the battle of Minden. He waited until the officers had returned from Germany, that they might be present at the investigation. Some legal doubts were entertained as to whether he was amenable to such a tribunal, under the peculiar circumstances of his case; and his friends, of whom he had but few, endeavoured to take advantage of them to arrest the disgrace that hung over him. It was urged that the disobedience of orders of which he was accused had taken place under the command of a foreign general, and could not, therefore, be recognized by an English court; and that as he had already resigned his commission, he was no longer subject to military law. But he pertinaciously insisted upon a trial; and, as the opinion of the law officers of the crown were in favour of the legality of

1760.

DEATH OF GEORGE II.

381

the proceeding, his demand was complied with. His lordship's bearing throughout the inquiry was strangely contrasted with his indecision on the field of battle; he browbeat the witnesses, insulted his judges, and dictated peremptorily upon every point that elicited discussion; and it was acutely observed that an instant of such resolution at Minden would have established his character for ever. The sentence surprised nobody except the accused, who believed to the last that the superiority of his talents would extricate him from the difficulty in which his temper or his cowardice had involved him. He was pronounced guilty of having disobeyed prince Ferdinand's orders, and declared unfit to serve his majesty in any capacity whatever.

This decision was promptly confirmed by the king, who increased its severity by striking out the name of lord George Sackville with his own hand from the list of privy councillors, forbidding him at the same time to appear at court, and causing the lord chamberlain to notify the prohibition to the prince and princess dowager of Wales. His witnesses, friends, and servants were treated with similar severity, and he passed into oblivion covered with universal contempt.

Ob

With this year the reign of George II. closed. serving his usual system, which pervaded all his actions, he rose at six o'clock on the morning of the 25th of October, and drank chocolate, his morning beverage. At a quarter past seven, he retired to a private chamber; and shortly afterwards his German valet, hearing a noise, ran into the room, and found his majesty lying bleeding and senseless on the floor. He had fallen against a bureau in an aplopetic fit, and cut his face. Recovering slightly, he desired to see the princess Amelia. She was immediately sent for; but when she reached the apartment his majesty was dead.

The character of George II. has been sufficiently exhibited through the vicissitudes of a reign which, expensive as it was to England, increased her power to a greater height than ever it had attained before. His

German prejudices marred his desire to render useful services to England; but the vigorous administration which was forced upon him in the latter part of his life redeemed the early error of his hereditary predilections. His predominant passions were Hanover and money; Pitt curbed the one, his mistresses made some successful assaults upon the other. He nearly lost Hanover, but he died rich. His policy out of England was narrow, weak, and profligate; but in England it was just, tolerant, and frequently liberal. The executive power was wielded with equity and mildness, and no attempts were made to trespass upon the constitution. In all other respects George II. exhibited few traits to command the admiration of posterity, Capable of the meanest dissimulation, he betrayed the honour of the duke of Cumberland, but attempted to repair it by remembering him handsomely in his will. His understanding was originally circumscribed, and he took no pains to enlarge it. He was utterly destitute of all taste for literature or the arts; choleric in temper; obstinate in opinion; and the slave of inveterate prejudices. It was not surprising to find strong superstition grafted upon such qualities; and it is confidently affirmed that he believed in vampires,

INDEX.