Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Second ... Edited ... by ... Lord Holland. Second edition, revised, etc

Preface

AND NOTES, BY THE LATE LORD HOLLAND. J? remits «?Bittau, jacbiSrt. WITH THE ORIGINAL MOTTOES. VOL. II. LONDON: HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1847. CONTENTS 01 THE SECOND VOLUME.

Chapter I

A. D. PACE 1755. Endeavours for Peace with France in vain . . 2 Duke of Dorset removed ; Lord Hartington made Lord- Lieutenant ..... 3 Debate on King Charles's Martyrdom . . ib. Affair of Sheriffs-Depute in Scotland, and Debates thereon ..... 4 Ireland . . . . . .10 History of the Mitehel Election . . . 11 Scotch Sheriff- Depute Bill . . . .14 History of Earl Poulet ... 18 Preparations for War . . . . .19 Ireland ...... ib. Preparations for War in France . . .20 King's Journey to Hanover . . . ib. Duke of Cumberland at head of Regency . .21 Prospects of War . . . ... 22 Affairs of Ireland . . . . .23

Chapter II

1755. Commencement of the War ... 27 War with France . . . . .28 War in America ..... CONTENTS. VI A.D. ™*CE Author avoids detailing Military events minutely . 30 Defeat and Death of General Braddock . . 31 Events at Sea . . . • .32 Spain neutral .... • 33 Fears for Hanover . . . . .ib. Negotiations at Hanover. Treaties made there . 34 Dissensions in Ministry and Royal Family . • 36 Disunion of Fox and Pitt .... 37 Affairs of Leicester House . . . .39 King arrives . .... ib. Ministers endeavour to procure support in Parliament 41 Fox made Secretary of State . . .43 Resignations and Promotions ... 44 Both Ministers insincere and discontented . . 45 ; Sir William Johnson's Victory ... 46 Accession of Bedford Party .... ib. The Parliament meets .... 47 Address in Lords . . . . .48 New Opposition of Pitt, &c. . . 50 Debates on the Treaties .... ib.

Pitt &c. dismissed .... 62 Sir George Lyttelton Chancellor of the Exchequer 63 Complaint of Mr. Fox's Circular to Members of Parliament ...... ib. Debate on Fox's Circular Letter . ■ . .65 Debates on number of Seamen ... 67

Chapter III

1755. Earthquake at Lisbon . . . .77 Debates on a Prize Bill .... 78 Death of the Duke of Devonshire . . .86 Debates on the Army . . . .ib. Remarks on the above Debate . . .96 Debates on a new Militia Bill . . . CONTENTS. VII

Chapter IV

A.D. PAGE 1755. Debates on the Treaties . . . .103 Affair of Hume Campbell and Pitt . . 107 Changes in the Administration settled . .139 Lord Ligonier and Duke of Marlborough . ib. Further Changes and new Appointments . .140 Lord Bavrington and Mr. Ellis . . . 141 Pensions granted to facilitate Changes in Ministry . 1 43 Parliamentary Eloquence .... ib. History of Oratory. Account and comparison of Orators . . . . . .144

Chapter V

1756. Parliament . . . . .150 Negotiations with France .... ib. Accommodation with the King of Prussia . 1 52 Parliament . . . . . . ib. Affair of Admiral Knowles . . . ib. Supplies . . . . . .153 Grants to North America . . . 154 Parliament and Parties .... ib. Hessians sent for . . . .155 Mischiefs produced by Marriage Act . . . ib. Prevot's Regiment . . . .1-56 Debate on Prevot's Regiment . . .157 Author's Speech on Swiss Regiments . . 163 Debate on Swiss Regiments continued . .170 Affair of Fox and Charles Townshend . . 1 72 Divisions . . . • • .174 Swiss Regiment Bill opposed in all its stages .. ib. Swiss Regiment Bill passed the Commons and Lords . 175 Anecdote of Madame Pompadour . . 176 Debates on Budget and Taxes . . .177 New Taxes . .... ib. CONTENTS.

Chapter VI

A. D. PAGE 1756. Tax on Plate . . . . . .179 Tranquillity restored in Ireland . . . 183* Hessians and Hanoverians sent for . . .184 Private Bill for a new Road, and Dissensions thereupon ...... 186 Hessians . . .- . . .187 Hanoverians . . . . .188 Debate on Hanoverians .... ib. French attack Minorca . . . .190 Militia Bill . . . . . .191 Vote of Credit . . . . .ib. Debates on the Prussian Treaty . . . 19T War declared . . . . .201 Militia Bill in Lords . . . . .ib. Parliament Prorogued .... 202 Troops raised by Individuals .... 203 The Prince of Wales of age 204 History of Lord Bute's favour . . . ib. Scheme of taking the Prince from his Mother . 206

Chapter VII

1756. Minorca ...... 209 Character of Richelieu and Blakeney . . 210 Siege of Minorca . . . . .212 Incapacity of Administration . . . 213 Reinforcements from Gibraltar refused . .214 French Reports from Minorca . . . 215 Public Indignation . ; . . .ib. Admiral Byng's Despatch . . . 217 Remarks on the Character of Government . .218 The Empress Queen joins with France . . 220 Conclusion of the Law -suit about New Park . . CONTENTS. IX A. D. PAGE Continuation of the proceedings with the Prince of Wales . . . . . 221 Death of the Chief Justice Rider, and designation of Murray ...... 223 Loss of Minorca ..... 225 Proceedings on Loss of Minorca . . . 227 General Fowke tried . . . .229 Addresses on the Loss of Minorca . . . 230 Revolution in Sweden . . . .231 Deduction of the Cause of the War in Germany . 232 German Ministers . . . . 233 Bruhl . . . . . . ib.

Kaunitz ...... 234 Views and Conduct of the Courts of Dresden and Vienna . . . . . .235 Character of the Czarina .... 236 League of Russia, Austria, and Saxony . . 238 King of Prussia apprized of the League against him ib. King of Prussia endeavours to secure Peace . . 240 Invasion of Saxony by the King of Prussia . 241 Dresden Conquered, and the Archives searched by the Prussians ..... 242 Campaign in Saxony .... 243

Chapter VIII

1756. Affairs at Home . . . . .245 Mr. Byng publishes a Defence . . . 246 Effect of Byng's Pamphlet . . . .247 Loss of Oswego ..... 248 Affair of the Hanoverian Soldier at Maidstone . ib. The King admits Lord Bute into the Prince's Family 249 Fox discontented with Newcastle, and insists on resigning . . . . . .251 Precarious state of the Ministry . . . CONTENTS. X A. D. PAGB Lord Grenville takes Fox's resignation to the King . 253 Fox, irresolute, applies to the Author . . 254 Author's motives in declining to interfere . . 255 Fox has an Audience .... 256 Pitt's objections and demands . . . 257 Prince of Wales's new Household . . 258 Pitt visits Lady Yarmouth .... 259 State of Parties ..... 260 Duke of Newcastle determines to resign . . 262 Pitt declines acting with Fox . . . ib. Negotiations for the formation of a new Ministry . 263 Fox labours to obstruct the formation of a Ministry 268 The designs of Fox defeated . . .269 Duke of Devonshire accepts the Treasury . . ib.

New Ministry . . ' . . . 270 Duke of Newcastle resigns .... 272 The Chancellor resigns .... 273 The changes settled ..... 274 Pitt Minister . . . . . 275 Parliament meets ..... 276

Chapter IX

1757. Character of the Times .... 278 Contest between the Parliament and Clergy in France 279 France ...... 280 King of France stabbed . . . .281 Torture and execution of Damiens . . . 282 The King compliments Louis on his escape . 283 Trial of Admiral Byng .... 284 Admiral Byng's sentence, and the behaviour of the Court-Martial ..... 287 Author's impressions ..... 288 Sentence of Court-Martial on Byng . . 289 Representation of Court-Martial . . . 292 Remarks on Byng's case .... CONTENTS. XI A- D- PAGE Two Highland Regiments raised . . . 300 Ordnance Estimates .... 301 Guinea Lottery . . , . . ib. Militia Bill .... 302 Ordnance ...... 303

Chapter X

1757. Baker's Contract ..... 304 Parliamentary Inquiries limited to Minorca . . 305 Byng's Sentence produces various impressions . 306 The Sentence of the Court-Martial referred to the Judges . . . . . . 307 Conduct of the Judges on the Case referred to them 308 Conduct of Fox . . . . .309 The Admiralty sign the Sentence . . 311 The Sentence notified to the House of Commons . 312 Mr. Pitt demands Money for Hanover . . 313 Lord G. Sackville declares for Pitt . . .314 Motives of Lord G. Sackville . . . 315 Approaching Execution of Byng . . .317 House of Commons . . . .318 Sir Francis Dashwood animadverts on Byng's Sentence . . . . . . ib. Debate on Byng's Sentence . . . ib. Some applications to the King for mercy . - 326 Members of Court-Martial desirous to be absolved from their Oaths . . . .327 Author urges Keppel to apply to House of Commons . . . . . . ib.

Author promotes anapplication to House of Commons . . . . . . 328 Sir Francis Dashwood applies for Mr. Keppel . ib. Keppel's application to House of Commons . ib. Debate on Keppel's application . . . 329 Keppel's application considered in Cabinet . CONTENTS. A. D. PAGE The King's Message on respiting Byng . 332 Breach of Privilege in the King's Message 332 Debate on the King's Message . . .ib. Bill to release Court-Martial from Oath . . 335 Sensations excited by proceedings in House of Commons ...... 341 Holmes and Geary disavow Keppel . . 342 Further debate on Court-Martial Bill . . 344 Court-Martial Bill passes House of Commons . 350

Chapter XI

1757. Debate in Lords ..... 351 Debate in Lords on proposal to examine the Members of Court-Martial .... 354 Court-Martial ordered to attend House of Lords . 358 Examination of Court-Martial in House of Lords . 359 Bill debated and dropped in House of Lords . . 366 Result of Proceedings in Parliament . . 367 Petition for Mercy from City intended and dropped . 368 Death of Admiral Byng . . . .369 Reflections on Admiral Byng's behaviour . . 370 Rochester Election .... 372 Death of Archbishop Herring . . . 374 Abolition of the Office of Commissioners of Wine- Licences ..... 375 Intrigues to dismiss Mr. Pitt, and form a new Ministry 376 The Duke goes to Hanover to command the Army . 378 Change in Ministry .... 379 Appendix ....... KING GEORGE THE SECOND 1755. Invenies etiam disjecti membra. — Hor.

Chapter I

Fruitlessness of our efforts to maintain Peace with France at the commencement of the year 1755 — Lord Hartington, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland — Debate on King Charles's Martyrdom — Scotch Sheriff-Depute Bill — Speeches in the House of Commons — The St. Michael Election — History of Earl Powlett — Preparations for War — The King's Journey to Hanover — Duke of Cumberland at the head of the Regency — Affairs of Ireland. The tranquillity of the Administration continued to be disturbed by repeated accounts of great arma ments preparing in France for the West Indies; of which General Wall was believed to have given us the first intimation. Their marine grew formidable, but their insults unwisely outstripped their increas ing power. We took the alarm ; two regiments were ordered from Ireland ; and by the beginning of February a fleet of thirty ships of tbe line was VOL. II.

B fitted out with equal spirit and expedition. Lord Anson had great merit' in that province where he presided. The Earl of Hertford, a man of most unblemished morals, but rather too gentle and cautious to combat so presumptuous a Court, was named Embassador to Paris, whither Monsieur de Mirepoix was desired to write, that if they meaned well, we would send a man of the first quality and character. The Duke of Marlborough succeeded Lord Gower in the Privy Seal, and the Duke of Rutland, a nobleman of great worth and goodness, returned to Court, which he had long quitted, yet without en listing in any faction, though governed too much by a mercenary brother; and was appointed Lord Steward. France sent a haughty answer, accompanied with these inadmissible proposals ; that each nation should destroy all their forts on the south of the Ohio, which would leave them in possession of all the north side of that river; and whereas the Five Nations were allotted, to the division of England by the Treaty of Utrecht, and the French had built forts amongst them contrary to that Treaty, and we agreeably to it, they demanded that we should destroy such forts, while they should be permitted to maintain theirs.

Lord Hertford's journey was suspended; at the same time that his brother, Colonel Conway, rose merely on the basis of his merit to a distinguished situation, entirely unsought, uncanvassed. The Ministry had perceived that it was unsafe to venture Ireland again under the Duke of Dorset's rule ; and they had fixed on Lord Hart ington to succeed, as the most devoted to their views, and as the least likely, from the wariness of his temper, to throw himself into the scale of either faction. He refused, to accept so uncommon an honour, unless Mr. Conway, with whom he was scarce acquainted, would consent to accompany him as Secretary and .Minister. Mr. Conway 's friends would not let him hesitate. January 29th Mr. Fox having proposed that the House should sit the next day, to read some Bill for which the time pressed, the Speaker urged the Act of Parliament that sets apart that day for the commemoration of what is ridiculously termed King Charles's Martyrdom.

It occasioned a warm squabble between the Speaker and Fox, and between Sir George Lyttelton 1 and General Mor daunt; and though Sir Francis Dashwood talked of moving for a repeal of the Act, the Speaker prevailed for observing the solemnity. One can scarce con ceive a greater absurdity than retaining the three holidays dedicated to the house of Stuart. Was the preservation of James the First a greater blessing to 1 He had formerly written a letter against a Bishop's sermon, which had carried very high the respect due to that day. B2 England than the destruction of the Spanish Ar mada, for which no festival is established? Are we more or less free for the execution of King Charles? Are we at this day still guilty of his blood? When is the stain to be washed out? What sense is there in thanking Heaven for the restoration of a family, which it so soon became necessary to expel again?

What action of Charles the Second pro claimed him the — Sent of God ? In fact, does not the superstitious jargon, rehearsed on those days, tend to annex an idea of sainthood to a worthless and exploded race ? and how easy to make the populace believe, that there was a divine right inherent in a family, the remarkable events of whose reigns are melted into our religion, and form a part of our established worship ! February 20th. — The new Lord Advocate of Scot land moved that the Bill, passed seven years before, for subjecting their Sheriffs-depute to the King's pleasure during that term, and which was on the point of expiring, after which they were to hold their offices for life, should continue some time longer on the present foot. It was opposed with great eloquence and knowledge by one Elliot, a young Scotch civilian, lately chosen into Parliament.

The measure had been one of the steps taken after the late Rebellion, to create greater dependence on the Crown, and to empower it to commit places of trust to more loyal hands, as it should be found necessary. 26th. — The House went again upon the Scotch Bill. Charles Townshend warmly opposed the Ministerial plan, urged that the independence of the Sheriffs-depute was a case connected with every thing sacred, and hoped that the most habituallyattached to a Ministry, who are generally the most unfeeling, would think on this. What signifies the best constitution, if the Judges [are] not independent, and their judgments [not] impartial? If the people are oppressed, what matters it by whom ? That this alteration was a breach of faith to Scotland — that these Sheriffs are formed according to the claim of right, and to the Act of Settlement ; would not the King have sufficient power over them if they were to hold their offices only quarn diu se bend gesserint? that he was sorry to see that basis shaken, on which this Administration stands, or it ought to stand on none.''* That this will be regarded with fear and amaze; with fear, for the people will not know what is to follow, or whether this is not an attempt to try how far they will bear : with amaze, for Murray had pronounced that there was not one Jacobite left in Scotland.

That he neither meaned ambition nor courted popularity, but looked upon himself as an executor of those who had planned the Revolution. Lord George Sackville replied well, and ridiculed the importance with which Mr. Townshend had treated so immaterial a business, the utmost extent of the jurisdiction of the Sheriffs not extending to decide finally upon property of above the value of 12/. Yet, whoever had come into the House, not knowing the subject, would have concluded that a question was agitating for taking away the Judges from Westminster-hall. The lawyers, he said, were not agreed as to the extent of their criminal jurisdiction : in cases of treason, it is agreed, they have none. That the Sheriffs-depute, if supported by military authority, might have suppressed the last Rebellion. With such resources for good, and so tied up from ill, would you not entrust the disposition of them with the Crown?

The more this family encroaches illegally, the more they lessen their tenure in the Crown. But this measure was taken at the request of the people of Scotland; have any there petitioned against it? Nor is it a breach of faith, for one Parliament may correct the acts of a preceding. The Attorney-General laboured, in a speech extremely artful, to convince the Speaker, whose Whig spirit had groaned over this attempt, that it was no breach of the principles of the Revolu tion ; and he insisted that it was by no means the sense of Scotland, that these little magistrates should be for life. He owned, that Judges, who H. 7 are to decide on questions of State, should be for life, as in cases of treason, where it is not sit to trust the Crown with its own revenge; in cases of charters, &c. ; but it is not necessary to be so strict in mere cases of meum and tuum.

Even Charles, and James the Second, permitted other Judges to be for life, as the Master of the Rolls, the Judge of the Marshalsea, &c, because the Crown could remove trials into the King's Bench. This, with many more details of law, too long to rehearse, were poorly answered by Lord Egmont; by Pitt, with great fire, in one of his best-worded and most spirited declamations for liberty, but which, like others of his fine orations, cannot be delivered adequately without his own language; nor will they appear so cold to the reader, as they even do to myself, when I attempt to sketch them, and cannot forget with what soul and grace they were uttered. He did not directly oppose, but wished rather to send the Bill to the Committee, to see how it could be amended. Was glad that Murray would defend the King, only with a salvo to the rights of the Revolution ; he commended his abilities, but tortured him on his distinctions and refinements.

He himself indeed had more scruples ; it might be a Whig delicacy — but even that is a solid principle. He had more dread of arbitrary power dressing itself in the long robe, than even of military power. When master principles are concerned, he dreaded accuracy of distinction : he feared that sort of reasoning : if you class everything, you will soon reduce everything into a particular; you will then lose great general maxims. Gentlemen may analyze a question till it is lost. If I can show him, says Murray, that it is not My Lord Judge, but Mr. Judge, I have got him into a class. For his part, could he be drawn to violate liberty, it should be regnandi causa, for this King's reigning. He would not recur for precedents to the diabolic divans of the second Charles and James — he did not date his principles of the liberty of this country from the Revolution : they are eternal rights; and when God said, " let justice be justice," he made it independent.

The Act of Parliament that you are going to repeal is a proof of the importance of Sheriffs-depute : formerly they were instruments of tyranny. Why is this attempted? is it to make Mr. Pelham more regretted ? He would have been tender of cramming" down the throats of people what they are averse to swallow. Whig and Minister were conjuncts he always wished to see. He deprecated those, who had more weight than himself in the Administration, to drop this; or besought that they would take it for any term that may comprehend the King's life; for seven years, for fourteen, though he was not disposed to weigh things in such golden scales. n. Fox said, that he was undetermined, and would reserve himself for the Committee; that he only spoke now, to show it was not crammed down his throat; which was in no man's power to do.

That in the Committee he would be free, which he feared Pitt had not left it in his own power to be, so well he had spoken on one side. That he reverenced liberty and Pitt, because nobody could speak so well on its behalf. Nugent made an impertinent and buffoon speech, though not without argument, the tenour of which was to impeach professors of liberty, who, he said, (and which he surely could say on knowledge,) always became bankrupts to the public. He perceived, he said, that the House was impatient to rise — they were not worthy of liberty ! — yet, what were they to stay to hear? vague notions of liberty, which my Lord Egmont could even admire in Poland, and in the dungeons of the Barons ! The Craftsman1 and Common Sense, which had often very little common sense, had wound the notions of liberty too high.

That he had read the Craftsman over again two years ago, and had found it poor stuff! that this was no more a breach of public faith, than the innovations which had been made in the Act of Settlement. Though the House sat till ten at night, no division ensued. 1 Two Papers published weekly by the Opposition against Sir R. Walpole. 27th. — The Chancellor and Newcastle acquainted the Duke of Dorset that he was to return no more to Ireland. He bore the notification ill, and pro duced a letter from the Primate, which announced a calmer posture of affairs, and mentioned a meeting of the Opposition, at which no offensive healths had been suffered. Lord George Sackville, who was present, had more command of himself, and owned, that one temperate meeting did not afford sufficient grounds to say, that animosities were composed ; and he agreed to the prudential measure of their not going over again.

His father rejoined, that if the situation of affairs should prove to be mended, he hoped his honour might be saved, and he be permitted to return to his government. The next morning Andrew Stone conceded for his brother the Primate, who, he owned, was suffici ently elevated, and would be better without power. At last the Duke of Dorset begged a little respite, and that the King might not yet be acquainted with the scheme. He wanted to fill up Malone's place of Prime Serjeant, and to obtain the dismission of Clements. The next business in Parliament did not deserve to be noticed for any importance in itself; the scenes, to which it gave rise, made it very me morable. Lord Sandwich, who could never be unemployed, but to whose busy nature any trifle was food, and who was as indefatigable in the election of an Alderman, as in a Revolution of State, had been traversed at Mitchel1 in Cornwall, a borough belonging to his nephew, by the families of Edgecombe and Boscawen.

His candidates were returned by his intrigues, but a petition was lodged against them. He had scarce effected their return, but he applied to all parties for support, against the cause should be heard in Parliament ; and had even worked so artfully as to engage the Chancellor on his side ; and having once engaged him, pleaded his countenance, as a proof that it was a private affair, unconnected with party. Mr. Fox eagerly supported him as a creature of the Duke, which soon threw the whole into a cause of faction. The Duke of Newcastle at first did not appear in it; but Lord Lincoln, pretending to espouse the Edge combes, commanded all their dependents to vote against Lord Sandwich. The second hearing of the petition was on the 28th, when Mr. Fox, at tacking and attacked by the law, of which body was Hussey, one of the petitioners, beat four lawyers and Nugent, and carried a division by 26; in which he was aided by Potter, one of the tellers, who counted five votes twice.

The Tories, who had promised their votes in discriminately as their affections led them, perceiv ing that this election was to decide whether Fox or Newcastle should carry the House of Commons, 1 [St. Michael, Cornwall.] E. and that at least in this affair the members were nearly balanced, came to a sudden resolution of giving their little body importance, and at once, as if to add to their weight, threw all their passions and resentments into the scale. Northey, the re presentative of their anger, proposed to the Duke of Newcastle, that if he would give up the Oxford election, and dismiss both Fox and Pitt, they would support him without asking a single reward. The proposal was tempting — the Tories did not hate Fox and Pitt, the one for always attacking, the other for having deserted them, more than the Duke of Newcastle hated both for acting with him.

The defect of the proposal was, that besides dis gusting the whole body of Whigs by sacrificing the Oxford election, the Jacobites would deprive his Grace of the two ablest speakers in the House, with all their followers, and could replace them with nothing but about a hundred of the silentest and most impotent votes. Though his Grace would have embraced a whole majority of mutes, he took care not to fling himself away on such a forlorn hope. This notable project being evaporated, the Tories were summoned, on the 5th of March, to the Horn Tavern. Fazakerley informed them that they were to take measures for acting in a body on the Mitchel election : he understood that it was not to be decided by the merits, but was a contest for power between Newcastle and Fox : whoever carried it, would be Minister : that he for every reason should be for the former. * Beckford told him, he did not understand there was any such contest : that he did not love to nominate Ministers : were he obliged to name, he would prefer Mr. Fox.

The meeting, equally unready at speeches and ex pedients, broke up in confusion. This business, however remarkable, does not deserve to be dwelt upon too long; and therefore I shall finish it at once, though it spun out near a month longer. Mr. Fox, who apprehended these Tory cabals, proposed to Murray a compromise of one and one ; but Admiral Boscawen, the most obstinate of an ob stinate family, refused it. Murray's friends sus pected, that the Chancellor's unnatural support of Lord Sandwich was only calculated to inflame a division between Murray and Fox. 7th. — Sixty-two Tories met again at the Horn, where they agreed to secrecy, though they observed it not; and determined to vote, according to their several engagements, on previous questions, but not on the conclusive question in the Committee. 12th The last day in the Committee Lord Sandwich triumphed by 158 to 141.

Of the Tories all retired but eight, who were equally divided. Forty of them, having omitted to summon twenty nine, had met again to consider if they should adhere to their last resolution. 24th. — The morning of the report, the Tories met again at the Horn, and here took the shameless resolution of cancelling all their engagements, in order to defeat Fox. The merits of elections have long been out of the question: promises, private friendships, reasons of party, have almost always influenced in their decision. However, a decency was observed, and conscience always pretexted. It was reserved to the wretched remnant of the Tories, who having suffered most by, had been most cla morous against, engagements and bias in elections, to throw off the mask entirely, and crown their pro fligacy by breach of promises.