44

SAXONY RECOVERED.

CH. I.

engagement as the more expedient course to take. The hardest winter that had been experienced for many years had now set in; his troops were harassed by long and rapid marches; and so devastated had his own country been by war, that it could not afford subsistence to his army during the winter; exhausted by conscription, it could no longer supply recruits; nor did it offer any position where he could lie secure from the attacks of his numerous enemies.

Under these desperate circumstances was fought the bloodiest battle of the whole war. The Prussians, who had previously been informed by their great commander of his determination to dislodge the enemy or perish in the attempt, replied with the devotion of an army which has confidence in its leader. The loss, on both sides, in killed and wounded was said to have been upwards of thirty thousand. But the energy of the Prussians finally prevailed; and the Austrians were forced to retreat. Saxony, with the exception of Dresden, being thus recovered, Frederick retired into winter quarters at, Leipsic.

Prince Ferdinand, during this campaign, being greatly over-matched in numbers, could do little more than keep the French in check. But all his

efforts, though well planned and ably executed, were insufficient to protect Hesse; and the French army established their winter quarters before the city of Cassel.

Such was the state of the war at the close of its fifth campaign, and at the demise of the British crown by the death of George the Second.

1760.

ACCESSION OF GEORGE THE THIRD.

45

CHAPTER II.

ACCESSION OF GEORGE THE THIRD-HIS CHARACTER HIS POLICYEARL OF BUTE CHIEF MINISTER-PROGRESS OF THE WAR-NEGOTIATION FOR PEACE-FAMILY COMPACT-PITT ADVISES A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST SPAIN HIS COUNSEL REJECTED - HIS RESIGNATION-WAR WITH SPAIN-TRIUMPHS OF THE BRITISH ARMS -TREATY OF PEACE.

National

the accession.

THE THRONE of these realms was never filled under happier auspices than those which attended the accession of the young King. The prosperity at pretensions which, during the previous seventy years, had menaced the dynasty of the Revolution were at length utterly extinguished, and George the Third began his reign not only with an undisputed title, but without those disadvantages of foreign birth and manners, which were so distasteful to the people. The King himself, with a happy recognition of his good fortune, in his speech to the Parliament, boasted of his English birth and education, a topic which seemed to revive in the nation that generous sentiment of loyalty which had remained in abeyance since the expulsion of the lineal race of kings. A constitutional and gracious act, supposed to emanate from the young King himself, was also well calculated to recommend him to the respect and affection of the people. A generation still existing could almost recollect the tyrannical outrages perpetrated under the forms of law through the instrumentality of the judicial bench. The Stuarts had always employed these formidable tools, which were entirely at their command, for the

46

the judges hold

life.

DOMESTIC HISTORY OF

CH. II.

violation of the laws of the land, and the ancient rights and liberties of the subject. The supreme administration had consequently become, during that period of misrule which preceded the Revolution, the object of terror, hatred, and contempt, throughout the kingdom. An act of William the Third, by which the judges were to hold their offices during good behaviour, instead of during the pleasure of the Crown, went far to remedy this enormous grievance; but it was reserved for George the Third to inaugurate his long reign by the complete emancipation of justice from its baneful dependence on the Court. In purEnactment that suance of a royal message to Parliatheir offices for ment, it was enacted that the judges, whose commissions expired by a demise of the Crown, should thenceforward hold their offices for life, subject only to removal, as already provided by the statute of William, upon the joint address of both Houses. Since that time, the conduct of a judge has seldom been the subject of public animadversion, or of inquiry in Parliament. former reigns, a state trial was a safer and more effectual mode of assailing the life, liberty, or property of the subject than a direct stretch of prerogative. During the last century, state trials have taken place under circumstances of extraordinary excitement; yet in no instance has there been any well-founded complaint that the presiding judge has attempted to strain the law for the purpose of obtaining a conviction.

early years of

George the

In

Yet the hopes of the new reign arose, for the most Education and part, from that loyal faith and generous confidence which are ever ready, upon Third. the smallest promise, to give ample credit to a new sovereign. The little that was known of the education and early years of George the Third was, however, hardly calculated to justify much expectation of constitutional or enlightened rule.

1760.

GEORGE THE THIRD.

47

Deprived of his father at an early age-a bereavement, however, which cannot be considered a misfortune-he was brought up under

Death of his

the eye of his surviving parent, a princess father. who had deeply imbibed the exaggerated notions of sovereignty which prevailed in the petty courts of the Continent. Her chief object, apparently, was to establish her own influence over the mind of the heir-apparént. It must have been with this view that she kept him always at home, seldom allowing him to go to Court, or to associate with young people of quality. For the same reason, the dignified governors, whom the King placed about his grandson, were treated by the princess with marked coldness and reserve, while their authority was set at nought by the sub-preceptors, who had been appointed by her royal highness. Lord Harcourt, the Bishop of Norwich, and Lord Waldegrave, successively resigned the office of Governor to the Prince. In vain did these eminent noblemen represent to the King that the heir-apparent was in the hands of persons who insinuated unconstitutional principles. into his mind. In vain did many of the leading Whigs express their apprehensions on this subject. The King declined to interfere, and even rebuked the officiousness which reported such scandal.*

There appears, however, to have been good ground for these reports. Scott and Cresset, two of the preceptors, had been recommended by Bolingbroke, an illustrious patron, indeed, but a dangerous guide for the education of an English prince. Stone, the other sub-preceptor, had been implicated, with a much greater man, Lord Mansfield, in a charge of having professed jacobitical opinions; and, though he was formally acquitted with the other parties, there is reason to believe that he

*Coxe's Pelham.

48

A ROYAL PORTRAIT.

CH. II.

had instilled into the mind of his pupil the doctrines of the exiled dynasty.* A book, containing a defence of James the Second, and compiled by his confessor, the celebrated Père d'Orleans, was found in the Prince's possession. Upon inquiry being made, he said his brother Edward had given it. to him; but his royal highness was not always scrupulous on the point of veracity.†

Lord Waldegrave, a shrewd observer, and a devoted adherent of the House of Hanover, has drawn the character of his royal pupil.

Waldegrave's character of George 111.

A less amiable portrait has seldom been delineated. The Prince is described as not altogether deficient in ability, but wholly without power of application; strictly honest, but without the frank and open behaviour which makes honesty amiable; sincerely pious, but rather too attentive to the sins of his neighbours; resolute, but obstinate, and strong in prejudices; having his passions under command, but with a certain unhappiness in his temper: Whenever he is displeased, his anger does not break out with heat and violence, but he becomes sullen and silent, and retires to his closet; not to compose his mind by study and contemplation, but merely to indulge the melancholy enjoyment of his own ill-humour. Even when the fit is ended, unfavourable symptoms very frequently return, which

*Lord Campbell's Life of Lord Mansfield.-Lives of the Chief Justices, vol. ii. p. 373.

A trifling incident which occurred on his accession showed the power he had acquired over his countenance and manner. He had arranged beforehand with one of his grandfather's attendants, that a particular message or note should signify to him the death of George the Second. The note was brought

to him when he was riding. He showed no emotion; but, observing that his horse was lame, turned his head homewards; when he got off his horse, he told the groom, in a whisper, that he had said the horse was lame, and desired that he might not be contradicted.'-LORD J. RUSSELL'S Introduction to Bedford Correspondence, vol. iii.--From WALPOLE'S Memoirs of George the Third.