CHAP. XI& Peath of George II.—Accession of George III.—Lord Bute made a Privy Counsellor—Made Ranger of of Richmond Park, in the room of the Princess Amelia-—Views of the new King's party—Methods taken to accomplish those views—A number of writers hired at an enormous expence, to abuse the late King, the Duke of Cumberland, Mr. Pitt, and all the Whigs; to represent the war as ,ruinous, unjust, and impracticable—Parliament dissolved—Mr. Legge turned out—Lord Holdernejfe resigns upon a pension—Lord Bute made Secretary of Mate in his room—she King's MarriageGeneral Grcemes merits on this occasion—French anecdotes—Ohjervations on Royal marriages •with Foreigners—Negotiation with France—Breaks off —Martinico taken—Mr. Pitt prepares for a war with Spain—-HUdefign of attacking the Havana nab. . . XIX.' U N F O R T U Lv A T E L Y for the war, but more ^^z unfortunately for Great Britain, on the 25th of 176c. October, 1760, the venerable George the Second Death of died. '1 he circumstances ot his death are too n^and wel1 known to be repeated here. As to the suc acceffion ceslor, the effects of the wickedness of his ad ofGeorge vjfers have been, and are still, too deeply selt, to be described in any terms adequate to the '' *'."" injuries injuries committed. Posterity, in a subsequent CaAf. age, when truth may be spoken, and the mo- ^^_^, tives of men laid open, will be astonished at the i76q. conduct of their ancestors at this period. Two days after the Kind's accession, the Earl Lord Bute of Bute was introduced into the Privy Council; pr;vy and at the same time, the name of the Duke of counsellor, Cumberland was struck out of the Liturgy. Ano- ^ Ric{jj. ther circumstance not less remarkable, immedi- monJ ately succeeded; this was, Lord Bute was made Park" Ranger of Richmond park, in the room of the Princess Amelia,' who was turned out. It was the sixed design of the party, which the new King brought with him from Leicesterhouse, to remove the ministers and conclude the war;* but the tide of popularity ran so strong in savour of both, they Were obliged to postpone the execution of their design, until they had prepared the nation to receive it. For this Writers purpose a great number of writers were employ- engaged ed, to calumniate the late King, the Duke ofn°at't^ Cumberland, Mr. Pitt, and all the Whigs. late King, The late King was reviled for the affection he &c> had shewn to his native country, for his love of semale society, f and for his attachment to the Whigs. The Duke was charged with inhumanity; he was stiled "a Prince that delighteth in blood;" * The King is made to acknowledge in November 1763, in his speech to parliament, " The re-establifhment of the public tranquility, was thefrjl great objeS ofmy reign." s + Afterthe death of Queen Caroline, he wassond of a game at cards in an evening, with the Countesses of Pembroke, Albemarle, and other ladies. be cau.se Chat, because th? Princess of Wales had sometime ago "^'^' conceived a jealousy of his popularity. Nothing 1760. could be more urjust than this suspicion: there was not a person in the kingdom more firmly attached to the rights of her Ion. The Whigs were called Republicans, a'though many of them had exhausted their fortunes in support ot the monarchy. But Mr. Pitt was the principal object of their calumny. He was assailed in pamphlets, ia news-paper essays, and in every other channel of conveyance to the public. The war upon the continent, was called his German war; his former opposition to German measures, was contrasted with his present conduct; the expences, of former wars, were compared with the present war. The ruin of the country, the annihilation of all public credit, were predicted, and deplored, as the inevitable consequences of the present unjust, impolitic, and impracticable war; for although it was successsul, yet they affirmed, that every victory, and every conquest, was a fresh wound to the kingdom. Mr. Pitfs thirst: for war, they said, was insatiable; his ambition knew no bounds. He was madly ruining the kingdom with conquests. By the conquest of Canada, they affirmed, that all had been obtained, that justice gave us a right to demand; every subsequent conquest, they affirmed, was not only supeifluous, but unjust; that it was now persect suicide to go on conquering what must be surrendered; they wept over our victories. The nation, they said, was destroying itself. At the fame time, they held out flattering flattering and false pictures, of the enemy's Ch^ strength and resources.' Smollet, MalUtt, Francis, Home, Murphy, Matt- 1760, duit, and many others were the instruments employed upon this occasion. It has been sail, that the sum paid to these, and other hired writers, during the sirst three years of the reign of George the Third, exceeded thirty thoufand pounds. And the printing charges amounted to more than twice that sum. In sacilitating the views of the party, the money was well laid out j for the nation was completely duped. And as to the sew, who might attempt to undeceive the public, there was a political Judge ready to pu* nifh their temerity. A person at this time, (thirty years subsequent) may very rationally ask, if there were, any Englishmen weak enough to give credit to these base assertions. The question indeed is natural. And if the answer corresponds with truth, it must be consessed, that such was the industry used in writing and circulating these doctrines, that the new King's saction, in a short time, had their desenders in every town and village in the kingdom. The war indeed went on, and though the conquests and victories were not less brilliant than, heretofore, the ex pence was continually urged as a matter of more importance than the advantage. The unanimity of parliament was not yet disturbed. As the ensuing session was the last session of the present parliament, the King's party jhought Chap, thought it most prudent to postpone any attacks, < r^-/ in either House, until the new pailiament wag J76°- elected. The session commenced .on the 18th of November, 1700, and closed on the 19th of IVlarch, 1761. 1 he parliament was immediately dissolved. And on the same day Mi. Legge was dismissed. Upon the dismission of Mr. Legge, the whole ministry ought immediately to have resigned. A measure of such union and spirit, must have had the hippiest effects. The new King's savourite would have been checked in his design of seizing upon the kingdom; and the K , himself would have been convinced, that the lory principles inculcated at Leicester-house, though amusing in theory, were mischievous in practice. JLordBute Two days after the dismission of Mr Legge, made se- Lord Holdernejfe resigned, upon condition of havstauT^nd in§ a ,arSe pension secured to him, and the reMr. Jen- version of the Cinque Ports. Lord Bute, in kinson his whose favour this resignation was purchased, was instantly appointed secretary of state in his room; and he made Mr. Charles Jenkinfon his confidential commis. Jt was now obvious to every understanding, that there was an end of that unanimity which had for some years sq happily and so honourably prevailed in council, and in parliament. The resolution of the new King's saction, to change the ministry, was now perceptible to every man, who had not lost his penetration, in tljat torrent of popularity, which was artsully managed |
