THE KING OF PRUSSIA TO MR. PITT. MONSIEUR, A` Meissen ce 7e Novembre, 1760. Je viens d'apprendre avec une sensible douleur la perte que nous venons de faire. Quoique la termination to prosecute the war in the manner the most likely to bring on an honourable and lasting peace, in concert with his Allies. "The young king." says Walpole, in a letter to Mr. Montagu of this date," has behaved with the greatest propriety, dignity, and decency. He read his speech to the council with much grace, and dismissed the guards on himself to wait on his grandfather's body. It is intimated that he means to employ the same ministers, but with reserve to himself of more authority than has lately been in fashion. The Duke of York and Lord Bute are named of the cabinet council." Again, on the 31st, he writes: When you have changed the cipher of George the Second into that of George the Third, and have shifted a few lords and grooms of the bed-chamber, you are master of the history of the new reign, which is indeed but a new lease of the old one. The Favourite took it up in a high style; but having forgot to ensure either house of parliament, or the mob, the third house of parliament, he drove all the rest to unite. They have united, and have notified their resolution of governing as before: not but the Duke of Newcastle cried for his old master, desponded for himself, protested he would retire, consulted every body whose interest it was to advise him to stay, and has accepted to-day. For the King himself, he seems all good-nature, and wishing to satisfy every body: all his speeches are obliging; I was surprised to find the levee room had lost so entirely the air of the lion's den. This sovereign don't stand in one spot, with his eyes fixed royally on the ground, and dropping bits of German news; he walks about and speaks to every body. I saw him afterwards on the throne, where he is graceful and genteel, sits with dignity, and reads his answers to addresses well it was the Cambridge address, carried by the Duke of Newcastle in his doctor's gown, and looking like the médecin malgré lui." : mort du Roi mon Oncle ne soit pas prématurée, cet événement subit, dans les conjonctures où nous nous trouvons, ne laisse pas que de m'affliger infiniment. Je mets ma confiance en vous, Monsieur, et dans ce caractère d'un vrai Romain, dont vous avez donné des marques si éclatantes durant votre ministère ; je me repose sur vous sans que j'appréhende de me tromper; et je ne doute point que vous ne continuez à travailler avec le même zèle pour le bien de la cause commune, que vous n'avez fait jusqu'ici durant le regne du Roi mon Oncle. Nous avons eu des succès d'un côté, mais à parler franchement, ils ont été contrebalancé par des événemens favorables à nos ennemis. (') He (1) This letter was written only four days after the desperate battle of Torgau, of which Walpole gives the following animated relation: "The two armies encamped near Torgau; Marshal Daun with every advantage of position. The King of Prussia's situation was tremendous. Winter advanced, and Frederick had nothing but a ruined country to receive him if defeated. saw the gulf that surrounded him. He determined to fight, and told his troops that he was resolved to conquer or die. Under the awfulness of despair they attacked the enemy. Fury animated the Prussians; intrepidity sustained the Austrians. The event was long in suspense, and fluctuated alternately. The Prussians at last threw the enemy into disorder; and the marshal himself receiving a dangerous wound in the thigh, Colonel O'Donnel, who succeeded to the command, found it vain to dispute the field any longer. It was nine at night of the 3d of November; the battle had lasted from two in the afternoon; a retreat was sounded, and made in good order by the Austrians. Dearly did the Prussians buy their victory; but in such a crisis, what was too dear for Frederick to pay? His loss was computed at thirteen thousand men. The Austrians had not suffered less; in prisoners abundantly. Four generals, two hundred and sixteen Leur nombre nous est trop supérieur pour que nous puissions nous flatter avec raison de pouvoir remporter sur eux des avantages décisifs et capables de faire plier leur orgueil et les vûes très etendûes de leur ambition. Vous êtes peut-être le seul homme en Europe qui, par vos sages mesures, pourrez trouver un tempérament propre à finir d'une manière glorieuse une guerre ruineuse et funeste à toutes les parties belligérantes également. Je le répète, je mets toute ma confiance en vous; c'est vous assurer de toute mon estime, et des sentimens avec les quels je désire de vous prouver que je suis votre véritable ami, FREDERIC. ANDREW MITCHELL, ESQ. TO MR. PITT. Glogau, November 10, 1760. DEAR SIR, YOUR private letter of the 9th September, which I received here about a week ago, gave me most sincere joy, and I shall not fail to communicate to the Hero I attend, the friendly and manly sentiments it conveys. I most heartily congratulate you on the glorious success of his Majesty's arms in America (which officers, and eight thousand private men taken, with possession of the field, were decisive in favour of the Prussians. The recovery of all Saxony, but Dresden, made the victory indisputable." Memoirs of Geo. II. vol. ii. p. 449. is your own work), as well as on another unexpected victory obtained by the King of Prussia on the 3d instant near Torgau. It is said to have been great and complete; but as I have yet seen no authentic relation, I forbear saying more. The news of his late Majesty's death struck an universal damp upon the spirits of all the wellwishers to the common cause, which nothing but his present Majesty's wise and well-timed declaration in council could have dissipated. Thank Heaven, it has had the effect; and people here look for their salvation from England. My Lord Holdernesse having acquainted me, that it is his Majesty's gracious intention to send me new letters of credence to this court, I think myself highly honoured by this mark of his Majesty's favour; and as I am, Sir, probably indebted to you for the favourable opinion the King has of me, accept of my most hearty thanks. The friendly manner in which you write emboldens me to ask your assistance in a pretension I made, about two years ago, for one of the vacant red ribbons. My reasons for asking it were, as a public mark of the King's approbation of my conduct, and as a sort of protection to my person; for I have unfortunately, even during this last campaign, been in divers situations, where a mark of distinction would have been of the greatest use. I am, dear Sir, Your most obliged and most humble Servant, ANDREW MITCHELL. THE EARL OF HARDWICKE TO MR. PITT. DEAR SIR, Grosvenor-Square, Tuesday Morning, LATE last night I received your note, together with the draught of a paragraph inclosed, and think myself much honoured by the communication. I make no doubt of the candour with which it is proposed, nor of that with which it will be considered. This will be a day of hurry ('); but I (1) The funeral of George the Second, which took place on the evening of this day in Westminster Abbey, is thus admirably described by Walpole, in a letter to Mr. Montagu: - "It was absolutely a noble sight. The Prince's chamber, hung with purple, and a quantity of silver lamps, the coffin under a canopy of purple velvet, and six vast chandeliers of silver on high stands, had a very good effect. The procession, through a line of foot-guards every seventh man bearing a torch, the horse-guards lining the outside, their officers with drawn sabres and crape sashes on horseback, the drums muffled, the fifes, bells tolling, and minute guns all this was very solemn. But the charm was the entrance of the Abbey, where we were received by the dean and chapter in rich robes, the choir and almsmen bearing torches ; the whole Abbey so illuminated, that one saw it to greater advantage than by day; the tombs, long aisles, and fretted roof, all appearing distinctly, and with the happiest chiaro scuro. *** When we came to the Chapel of Henry the Seventh, all solemnity and decorum ceased; no order was observed, people sat or stood where they could or would; the yeomen of the guards were crying out for help, oppressed by the immense weight of the coffin; the bishop read sadly, and blundered in the prayers; the fine chapter, Man that is born of a woman, was chaunted, not read, and the anthem, besides being immeasurably tedious, would have served as well for a nuptial. The real serious part was the figure of the Duke of Cumberland, heightened by a thousand melancholy circumstances. He had a dark brown |