and across the Rhine. The King of Prujiaea- Chap. tirely subdued Silesia, and entered Bohemia and XVI1Moravia. 1758. All the terrors of invasion being now transserred, from Great Britain to France, the British troops were all sent to scenes of active and important service; and the desence of the island was entrusted to a constitutional and well regulated militia; which had been raised, disciplined, and officered by the gentlemen of the coun.« try. O 2 CHAP. CHAP. XVIII. Meeting of Parliament—"Successes of 1759—^°r^ Bute's first interference—He goes to the Duke of Newcastle, and demands Lord Befborough\ [eat at the Treasury Board, for Sir Gilbert Elliot—' He also demands the representation of the county of Southampton, for Sir Simeon Stuart. Xvili. ^ N tne 23d of November, 17^8, parliament * 1—-/met. The same unanimity prevailed. All the l75S' supplies were voted, wrhout the least hesita Meeting tion; and the session' closed on the zd of June, of parlia- 1750, without any debates. j7eo. The most ample preparations were made for another vigorous campaign. The successes of the last campaign, had inspired every individual, both in the army and navy, with a passion for glory, that was nothing short of enthusiasm.' In Arherica, Quebec and Niagara were taken'. And in the West Indies, Guadeloupe, and othef islands. In Europe, another squadron fitted out at Toulon, was deseated in the Mediterranean, by admiral Boscawen. Havre was bombarded by Sir George Rodney; and Brest was blocked up by .Sir Edward Hawke. Duke Ferdinand defeated the French at Minden: And the King of Prussia, though surrounded by his numerous enemies, maintained maintained himself with astonishing skill and Chaf, valour. 'J^ After the French had been deseated at Min- 1759. den, they faw it was in vain to press forward their whole strength in Germany; and therefore they resolved upon making their next effort by sea. For this purpose they equipped all the naval force they had at Brest, and other ports in the Atlantic; and, with an army, which was in readiness to embark, they intended to make a descent upon Ireland, with a view of diverting the' attention of the British cabinet from Germany, and the West-Indies. Sir Edward Hawke lay off Brest, to intercept their failing; and his squadron was reinforced from time to time, At length the French came out, and Sir Edward Hawke gained a compleat victory over them, on the twentieth of November, 1759.— This victory annihilated the naval power of France. . It was in this year of unanimity and victory, that the seeds were sown of those divisions, which' appeared soon after the accession of George the Third. The patronage of places, that never-sailing Lord source of discord, was claimed by Lord Bute. j?ut<\* Upon Lord Be/borough going to the post-office, serence. in the month of May, 1759, *n -tr]e room of Lord Leicester, deceased, there was a vacancy at the Treasury-board, and the Duke of Newcastle proposed to sill it with Mr. James Oswald, from the Board of Trade, who was recommended by Lord Halifax; but Lord Bute intersered ;—he pkj the Duke of Newcastle, "he came to him, Chap. "in the name of all them on that side of the XVIII. 'i administration, who thought they had as good V^/ "a right to recommend as any other party what"ever; and it was their wish, that Mr. (aster"wards; Sir Gilbert Elliot, of the admiralty, «' might be appointed." The Duke of Newcastle sinding himself impeded in his own wishes, and resolving not to comply with those of Lord Bute, appointed Lord North to sill the vacancy. This was the first cause of difference. The second related to Mr. Legge; and happened a sew months asterwards in the same year. Lord There being a vacancy in the representation of But^.d'' the county of Southampton, by the Marquis of represen- Winchester becoming Duke of Bolton, it was the tation of desire of the Prince of Wales, signisied by Lord ampton Bute to Mr. Legge j that though Mr. Legge had for Sir S. been invited by a great majority of the gentlemen of the county* to represent them, yet that he must not accept of those invitations, but yield all pretensions in this matter to Sir Simeon Stuart, who had his (Lord fi's) recommendation. Mr. Legge lamented, that he had not known the Prince's inclinations sooner; that his engagements were made, and he could not break them. Mr. Legge was elected. But when the Prince became King, although Mr. Legge had been made Chancellor of the Exchequer by the voice of the nation, and his conduct in office distinguished by the strictest integrity, yet he was turned mt. On the 13th of November, 1759, parliament met. The Prince of fVales took his seat on the Stuart. |