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grant a court-martial; that Lord George (1) was not triable by a court-martial; that the Judges had nothing to do with it; and that it was wronger still to refer it to them; and insisted that his dissent to the whole might be entered in the minute, as it is.

I obeyed your command, in acquainting the Lords with your opinion. I was strongly supported in every thing by my Lord Hardwicke (2); who thought the reference extremely proper in a case of this nature, relating to the jurisdiction of an inferior court. Lord Mansfield concurred; but being a judge, desired his name might not be inserted. We agreed unanimously (except my Lord President), that the first question, viz. about the jurisdiction of the court, should be referred immediately to the Judges; and my Lord Keeper (3) is to receive the King's orders for it this morning, and send them this day, at noon, to the Judges.

As to the second question, relating to the punishment which the court could inflict, it was unanimously agreed, that it would be highly improper to refer that to the Judges; as that was, indeed,

() Lord George Sackville, having demanded a court-martial on his conduct at the battle of Minden, was, on the 23d of January, acquainted that he should have one. It met on the 29th of February; but the trial was postponed, as the court was desirous of having the opinion of the Judges, whether a man no longer in the army was subject to martial law.

(2) Ex-chancellor; who, although no longer in office, continued to give his assistance.

(3) Sir Robert Henley, afterwards Lord Northington.

desiring to know of them what the court was to do, which depended upon themselves. I urged the necessity of having a speedy answer from the Judges, but I feared they would not return any till the whole number was here. Some are already gone, most go on Monday, and my Lord Keeper and my Lord Hardwicke said it was impossible now to appoint serjeants, as all the commissions were made out, and the returns made to them. To supply as well as we could the inconveniences of a delay, we directed the Judge-Advocate to propose to the court to proceed immediately to take all the evidence and examine all the witnesses, whereby the facts would be stated and proved, and nothing left but giving sentence; which, if they thought proper, they might delay till the answer came from the Judges, and the officers (the witnesses) be discharged, and return forthwith to Germany. This was all that seemed practicable in the present case. All the lords, except my Lord President, were greatly surprised at the conduct of the court-martial. I am always, dear Sir,

Your most affectionate humble servant,
HOLLES NEWCASTLE. (')

(1) Ten of the Judges (Bathurst and Clive being absent on the circuit) gave their opinion, that Lord George might be tried; but reserved to themselves a further consideration, if any appeal should be made from the sentence. The trial recommenced on the 7th of March, and lasted till the 3d of April. The court pronounced Lord George guilty of having disobeyed Prince Ferdinand's orders, and declared him unfit to serve his Majesty in any military capacity whatever. The King struck

THE DUKE OF NEWCASTLE TO MR. PITT.

DEAR SIR,

St. James's, Thursday, 3 o'clock.
March 13, 1760.

I SHOULD Wait upon you now, but I am just setting out for Claremont, and indeed have nothing more to trouble you with than what is contained in the enclosed papers. I spoke to the Prussian ministers in the sense, and indeed almost in the words made use of by you, and enforced it in the best manner I could. They were a little out of humour at first; would not imagine that the French court did not equally mean to include the King of Prussia in their treaty with us; and finding them in that way, I put down the inclosed minute, read it to them, and Knyphausen corrected it himself. He afterwards read to me a long letter from the King of Prussia, inclosing one from Voltaire to his Prussian majesty, of which he gave me the

his name out of the council-book, and forbad his appearance at court. "Lord George's behaviour during the whole process was," says Walpole, "most extraordinary: he assumed a dictatorial style to the court, and treated the inferiority of their capacities as he would have done if sitting amongst them: he brow-beat the witnesses, gave the lie to Sloper, and used the judge-advocate, though a very clever man, with contempt. Nothing was timid, nothing humble, in his behaviour: his replies were quick and spirited; he prescribed to the court, and they acquiesced. An instant of such resolution at Minden had established his character for ever."

inclosed copy. The other part of the King of Prussia's letter related to an offer made by the Great Duke's minister at Hamburgh to Prince Henry of Prussia, by the canal of one M. Bielfield (1), to send Pechlin to Petersburgh, with a million of crowns, to negotiate for the King of Prussia at that court; and, upon an assurance that the Great Duke would himself be a négotiateur pour le Roi de Prusse, Pechlin is gone, and (as I understand) with the million of crowns. (2) Knyphausen lays

(1) "Baron Bielfield," says Mr. Mitchell, in a letter to Mr.Keith, the British minister at St. Petersburgh, "is the son of a Hamburgh merchant, was created baron by the King of Prussia, and was preceptor to Prince Henry and Prince Ferdinand of Prussia. I hear he is an honest man and a speculative politician, having lately published two volumes in quarto upon that subject — which I have not read." Besides his "Institutions Politiques," the baron wrote " Progrès des Allemands dans les Belles Lettres," "Lettres Familières," and "Erudition Universelle." Of the two last there are English translations. He died in 1770.

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(2) The following extracts from the Mitchell MSS. throw considerable light on this extraordinary mission:

Mr. Mitchell to Mr. Keith, Friburg, March 6:-"It has been suggested to the King of Prussia, that the court of Petersburgh is certainly to be bought; that the Great Duke is well disposed, and can be useful; that a million of crowns will be necessary for this service; and that the English minister at St. Petersburgh is so narrowly watched, that he cannot act in that affair without raising suspicions: to avoid which, it is proposed to send Colonel Pechlin (formerly an officer in the Great Duke's service, and still much connected with that prince), to Petersburgh, upon pretence of soliciting an employment for himself.

"This gentleman, besides the connection he has with the Great Duke, is well acquainted with the court of Russia, and it is thought may be of service. His Prussian Majesty is therefore willing to give a valuable gratification to Colonel Pechlin

a great stress upon these two events, particularly Voltaire's letter, with his word employé. I hope at my return to find you perfectly recovered in health and strength; and am, dear Sir,

Your most affectionate, humble servant,

HOLLES NEWCASTLE.

for his trouble; but as he does not think it safe to trust him with the disposal of one million of crowns, it is proposed to put the money entirely under your direction; that is to say, that Pechlin should have no power to dispose of any sum, without your previous approbation.

"As the King of Prussia's intention is not to throw away this very large sum in bribing of low or insignificant people, you will refuse your concurrence if Pechlin should adopt a plan of this sort; but if you think that the court of Russia can be really gained, and effectually reconciled to Prussia, his Prussian Majesty at present seems willing to bestow the whole sum. In return for this mark of confidence on the part of his Prussian Majesty, it is expected that you will be particularly attentive to all the motions and operations of Pechlin, and that you will write freely and frequently your opinion as to his capacity and conduct."

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Mr. Mitchell to Lord Holdernesse, March 19: "Colonel Pechlin, I hear, by this time is set out for Petersburgh, by the way of Sweden, and it is reckoned he may be there in about four weeks hence. I cannot help saying, that I look upon the whole affair as a wild scheme of a needy projector, who wants to go to Petersburgh at the expense of his Prussian Majesty." -July 25: "Mr. Keith writes me, that he never saw M. Pechlin but twice; that he had very little conversation with him, and that Pechlin gave for the reasons of his sudden departure, that the people of Petersburgh were very intriguing and full of suspicions, as well with regard to his arrival as to his stay. Mr. Keith is of opinion that, at this juncture, nothing could be done; and has therefore desired that the credit furnished him upon Amsterdam may be withdrawn, as there is no probability at present of his being able to make use of it for the purposes for which it was lodged."

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