Chap, in all those places, must have been immense. ^_^Upon a subsequent occasion, the minister em1757. phatically said, "That America had been con"quered in Germany." Experience hath since shewn, that the assertion was well founded.

CHAP.

... .' - '•< •..«.• . •. ->

C H A P. XVII.

•'*<i :v» vRjJ.nafiR iff? jcrll i"'«Tr Meeting of parliament—A/r. Alderman BeckfortFs

explanation of the new principle of the German war—Mr. Pitt's speech on the Rochfort expedition—Effecls of that speech—Successes 0/1758.

JL HE proceedings of parliament, to which Chaf. we will now return, were not distinguished by XVII. any debates, during the remainder of Mt. Pitt's ^TT administration.

Both Houses met on the sirst of December,., .

.. 1 /- 1 • Meeting

1757, according to the singular prorogation, al-0fparlia

feady mentioned. Mr. Pitt delivered a messagemeut-
from the King, acquainting the House that be
had put his army in motion in Hanover, to act
in concert with the King of Prussia, and request-
ing their support. An adequate sum was imme-
diately voted, without a dissenting voice.

Mr. Alderman Beckford faid a sew words upon Alderman

this occasion; which, as they tend to explain ?eck" .! • • 1 c >..> ... . ford's ex

tii e new principle of politics, they will not bepianatioii

improper to insert here. "If the Hanoverians oftnf; new

and Hessians, he said, were to be entirely under J""°£ple

the direction of British councils, the larger the German

sum that was granted, in order to render thatwar"

army effectual, the more likely it would be to

answer the end for which it was given ; that i«,

to try the issue of the war with France; than

• , which.

Chap, which, in his judgment, there never was so savourable an opportunity as the present. But if 17j7. the regency of Hanover were to have the dispofal of the money, and the disposition of the army, he would not give a shilling towards its subsistence."

A new treaty was made with Prussia, which was approved by parliament; and which the reader will sind in the Appendix to this work.

Parliament was. never known to be so unanimous as at this time.

The fleet and army sent against Rochfort, hav

ing returned, without making the impression in

. - ' tended, Sir John Mordaunt, the commander of the army, was put under an arrest; and being a member of parliament, the King sent a message to the Commons, at the beginning of the session, acquainting them of the" restraint put upon one of their members. They thanked the King for his attention to their privileges.

Mr. P>tt's Mr. Pitt reprehended, in terms of great warmth, the speech on indolence, the caution, of those entrusted with the exethe Koch-Cutjon 0£ t}ie miij|j,ry operations, during the last camiort expe- paign* He declared solemnly that his belief was, that 1 lon' there was a determined resolution, both in the naval and »« q military commanders, against any vigorous exertion of the national power. He affirmed, that though his Majesty appeared ready to embrace every measure proposed by his ministers, for the honour and interest of his British dominions, yet scarce a man could be found with whom the execution os any one plan, in which there was the least appearance of danger, could with considence be trusted. He particularized the inactivity of Lord London in America, from whose force the nation had a right to form great expectations; from whom there had been received no intelligence, except one small scrap of

paper,

gaper, containing a sew lines of no moment. He sur- Cha* ther said, that with a force greater than ever the nation XVII. had heretofore maintained, with a.King and ministry v«« ardently desirous of redeeming her glory, and promoting »757« her true interest, a shamesul dislike to the service every where prevailed. Nor was it amongst the officers alone, that indolence and neglect appeared;' those who silled the other departments of military service; seemed to be affected with the same indifference: the victuallers, contractors, purveyors, were never to be found, but upon occasions of their own personal advantage. In conver- . sation they appeared totally ignorant of their own business. The extent of their knowledge, went only to the making of salse accounts: In that science they were adepts.

This detection of the abuses in the several de- Effects of partments, where they had long prevailed ; and the Preof the want of exertion in the commanders in speech; chief, which had also been obvious j operated in a manner highly advantageous to. the public service. Those gentlemen^ as well as the nation, now saw, that there Was a minister at the head of affairs, who not only knew the duties of his office, but the duties of others: and therefore they might expect him to examine their conduct; to traverse all parts of it with a keen and penetrating.eye. This apprehension rouzed them from their lethargy in an instant. They awakened as from a, dream, and seemed to be electrisied by the sire of his mind; they burned with fresh ardour in every subsequent enterprize. The British honour was recovered. The events of the war, placed the name of Great Britain upon the highest pinnacle of national honour.

Vol. I. O the

o

Ch»p. The session closed on the 20th of June, I? 58. JL/. The British arms in this year, were successful 1758. in every quarter of the glube.

In Asia, owing to the reinforcement Ms. Pitt Successes sent by commodore Stevens, when he was in ofBritisti sice 'aft year» tne French were deseated at Masarms in sulipatnm, and in two naval engagements. 175' In America, Louifbourg was taken, also the

Isle ot St. John, and the forts Du Quesne and
Frontenac.

In Africa, Senegal surrendered.
In Europe, admiral O/borne defeated, and took
the French fleet from sou Ion, destined for the
relief ot Louifbourg; and Sir Edward Hawks
drove another fleet upori the sand banks on the
coast ot France, that was equipped at Rochforr, *
for the same purpose. A descent was made ort
the coast of France, near St. Malo, where all
the fhips and vessels were destroyed. Another
was made at Cherbourg, where the ships, mole,
pier, bason, and other works, were all destroy-
ed, and the cannon brought away. A third
descent was made in St. Lunar Bay, which
being sull of rocks, the fleet were obliged to go
to St. Cas, and thus the army and sleet became
separaied. In the re-embarkation at St. Cas,
the rear guard, under general Dtury, were cut
off, by a large body of French troops. How-
ever, these descents kept the whole coast of
France in perpetual alarm, and prevented the
French ministry from sending any troops to re-
inforce their army in Germany. Duke Ferdinand
drove the French army entirely out of Hanover,

and