ends of the earth," (characteristically so called by the London Society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts,) felt the warmth of his invigorating mind, which produced industry, regularity, and despatch. There was then harmony at Head Quarters, and unanimity in Parliament. Forty-four French ships of the line, sixty-one frigates, and twenty-six sloops of war, were taken or destroyed by the British; and with them the commerce of France was in a manner annihilated. In about three years, Pitt wrested from France all her most valuable islands and possessions in both Indies. Nor did his victories stop there; he prostrated her dangerous power on this continent by the entire conquest of Canada. The annals of no two equally civilized nations afford a parallel instance. Prior to this, France was more renowned for arts and arms than England. The modern language of Mars was the French tongue, and we ourselves could not talk properly of the theory or the practice of war, without using it.

At that epoch, the whole British Empire, in all its vastness, these now United States being then a part of it, included a portion of what used to be called the Mogul Empire, with many islands and colonies in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. They all looked up with grateful admiration to the Right Hon. William Pitt, as the origin, fountain, and cause of this extraordinary prosperity. Beside the advantages derived from conquests over France and her ally, Spain, that minister had the everlasting honor to leave the late thirteen British colonies in perfect security and happiness; the inhabitants glowing with

warm affection for the parent country, and rejoicing to see riches and glory flow in upon her, from all quarters of the habitable globe. This was the acme of England's power and glory, and of our colonial contentment and good-humor.

In the midst of this unexampled prosperity, colonial contentment, ministerial cordiality, and kingly gratification, George the Second, in the plenitude of health and ruddy old age, dropt dead, as suddenly as if shot, without any previous indisposition. The cause of so sudden extinction of life in an apparently healthy man was accounted extraordinary among physicians, a bursting of the heart.* The public astonishment was great, and the first effects astounding.

We have mentioned with approbation a well written work entitled "Anecdotes of the Life of the Right Hon. William Pitt, Earl of Chatham; and of the principal Events of his Time, with his Speeches in Parliament." This modest publication without a name, was evidently countenanced from the first edition, by EARL TEMPLE, and by his sister, the Dowager COUNTESS OF CHATHAM, the first LORD LYTTLETON, Governor Pownall, and several other noblemen and gentlemen. The nineteenth chapter opens thus :

Unfortunately for the glory and interest of Great Britain, on the 25th of October, 1760, the venerable

* A rupture of either ventricle of the heart is very rare, especially when there was no violent muscular exertion, or mental rage. We may, however, remark as a fact, that, in our medical books, there are more instances of Germans dying suddenly from suppressed violent passion, than of any other people. In phlegmatic habits, it is apt to sink them into insanity.

GEORGE the Second died. As to the successor, the effects of the wickedness of his advisers have been, and are still, too deeply felt to be described in any terms adequate to the injuries committed. Posterity, in a subsequent age, when truth may be spoken, and the motives of men laid open, will be astonished at the conduct of their ancestors at this period." Leaving opinions, let us return to facts.

When Frederic, Prince of Wales, died (in 1751), he left behind a little fretful court where vegetated, in a hot-bed of toryism, his son Prince GEORGE, the future King of England. To this picture we must add the figure of a Saxo-Gothic Princess Dowager of Wales, smiling in her weeds with the hope of retaining under her entire influence this her eldest son, that she might govern him as heretofore, after he should become king. This is the woman whom the indignant JUNIUS called the Dæmon of Discord, who watched with a kind of providential malignity over the work of her hands, to correct, improve, and preserve it. "I consider her," says that caustic writer, "not only as the original creating cause of the shameful and deplorable condition of this country, but as a being whose operation is uniform and permanent.'

The Earl of Waldegrave, Governor to Prince George, informs us, that in the year 1755, after George the Second returned from Hanover, where he went almost every year, he sent for the Prince of Wales into his closet, to find out the extent of his

* Letter lxxxvii, 17th Jan. 1771, under the signature of Domitian, recognised by JUNIUS to Mr. Woodfall.

political knowledge, to sift him in relation to Hanover, and to caution him against evil counsellors; that the discourse was short, the substance kind and affectionate, but the manner not quite gracious; that the Prince was flustered and sulky; bowed, but scarce made any answer; so the conference ended, very little to the satisfaction of either party. The judicious Lord Waldegrave tacks to the anecdote this remark:-"Here his Majesty was guilty of a very capital mistake; instead of sending for the Prince, he should have spoken firmly to the mother; told her, that as she governed her son, she should be answerable for his conduct; that he would overlook what was past, and treat her still like a friend, if she behaved in a proper manner; but, on the other hand, if either herself, her son, or any person influenced by them, should give any future disturbance, she must expect no quarter." To which, the noble Governor subjoins this cutting sentence:-" He might then have ended his admonition, by whispering a word in her ear, which would have made her tremble, in spite of her spotless innocence." *

Mr. Nichols tells us, that Lord Camden, at that time, Mr. Attorney General Pratt, said to his father, (who was physician in ordinary to George the Second,)" I see, Doctor, already, that this will be a weak and inglorious reign." That illustrious nobleman and eminent lawyer, the intimate and dear friend of Lord Chatham, lived to see and to feel his prediction amply verified; yet was this unpromising Prince George destined to be the long-lived king of

* Lord Waldegrave's Memoirs, p. 51.

the Britons, the Irish, and of a great portion of the Eastern and Western world; and to occupy, by his misfortunes, an uncommonly large space in English history.

The Leicester-House faction, or fragments of the late systematized opposition, worked with redoubled diligence after the death of the King in sowing the seeds of ambition and mischief, which taking root in a congenial soil produced a baleful fruit, that first poisoned the obstinate mind of George the Third, and finally destroyed it. The evil had been engendering as far back as the "glorious year fifty-nine"; when Parliament were unanimous in favor of all Pitt's warlike measures, and the British arms every where victorious. We need not say that he was the object of envy and hatred. It followed of course in a mind marked by a strong will and weak judgment. The evil or inflamed eye was pained by Pitt's dazzling brightness, and it was resolved to eclipse it by the intervention of Lord Bute; accordingly this Scotch nobleman was pushed forward and promoted in so extraordinary a manner, that he soon obtained the odious name of Favorite.

There were very few signs of cordiality between. Frederic, Prince of Wales, and his German spouse. He was not a man of talents, nor studious of the British constitution. He was not a bad man. "He amassed no private treasures, nor adopted any sinister advice with a view to obtain them; he was not insane, nor under the private tuition of the Princess." * This exalted lady had the reputation of

* Anecdotes of the Life of Chatham, chap. 8.