what method it fhould be difclofed. The Captain was first to wait on Mr. Le Grand, and with him to go to Leicester-house, and then to Gloucefter-house, and having communicated the event to the Dukes, his brothers, to proceed to their Majefties, fubmitting it to the King and Queen, in what manner, and by whom, it thould be imparted to his Royal Parent. After his Royal Highnefs had fettled his affairs, he seemed remarkably easy. He declared himself perfectly refigned to the Divine Will; and he spoke of his diffolution, with all the piety and refolution of a chriftian, and a man; acting up to thofe exalted characters, to his latest breath. He was fenfible to his last moment; and the very morning of his death, dictated a letter to their Majefties, his Royal Parent, and the Royal Family; defiring the writer to expedite it, as he had but a few minutes to fpare, and those to employ in ftill more momentous concerns. His Royal Highness was much defirous of being attended by a Proteftant clergyman, and expreffes were fent to several feaports, diftant as well neighbouring, in the hopes of meeting with fome fhips of Commodore Spry's fquadron, on board of which might be a chaplain; but the fearch was fruitlefs. Several portions of fcripture, particularly from the Pfalms, and many of them of the Duke's own pointing out, were however -read, at various times, to him. For fome days, previous to his death, he was, at periods, afflicted with the moft agonizing pains. These he bore with the most astonishing refolution, patience and refignation; yet they were, fometimes, fo intolerably excruciating, that he could not help crying out to his attendants, "Pray to God for my fpeedy diffolution, that I may be delivered from thefe torments." To the honour of the Prince of Monaco, it is not to be forgotten, that his ferene Highness came every day himself to the chamber-door of the Duke of York, most anxiously enquiring after his fituation, and whether any thing was wanting that was in his power to command? And when he was dead, he manifefted a grief, which nothing but the strongest friendship and regard could have produced. The whole palace was immediately hung with black; the Prince, his court, his domeftics, his guards, and every person of any confideration in his little principality, appeared in mourning; the very artillery and bells were covered with fable cloth, and made to exprefs the feelings of their master by the most folemn firings, and the most doleful tollings. To the above account it may not be improper to fubjoin, that Mr. Le Grand was the perfon pitched upon to announce the fatal news to the Princefs Dowager. His name was carried to her Royal Highnefs, and he was ordered in. Mr. Le Grand began by faying, that Capt. Wrottefley was arrived he had no occafion to fay more; her Royal Highness stopped him short, with, "Is Wrottefley come!-There needs no more!I know the reft;" and immediately withdrew, THE POLITICAL REGISTER, For NOVEMBER, 1767. NUMBER VII. For the POLITICAL REGISTER. SIR, The two following Letters, wrote by the late Mr. Charles Townshend, chancellor of the Exchequer, on a very delicate occafion, when he was fecretary at war, deferve to be preferved in your Regifler, in refpect to his character, and likewise to the importance of the queftion then agitated. I am, &c. A. B. SIR, H War-Office, 12th June, 1761. AVING reported to his majefty the complaint delivered to me by Sir John Cuft, of your behaviour to lieutenant colonel Welby, lieutenant colonel of the fouthern battalion of the regiment of Lincolnshire militia, and your anfwer to his complaint, I am directed to inform you, that it is his majefty's determination that, by not enquiring whether any troops were quartered in Stamford, be Fff fore fore the regiment under your command came into that town; by refufing to accept from the Lincolnshire militia the parole, and detail of the town duty, and the other marks of respect and compliment ufually obferved between two corps meeting in the fame town; and by declaring to the officers and private men, in explanation and defence of this conduct, that the militia and your regiment were two separate corps, and therefore could have no fort of connection with each other; you have acted in a manner contrary to the practice of the army, and the established rule of service, and in direct breach of a pofitive and express declaration in the militia acts, and that the diftinction, reasoning, and authority, alledged by you in your vindication, are thought in no degree to juftify your behaviour. I have alfo his majefty's directions to take the opportunity which this occafion too naturally offers, of declaring his entire difapprobation of all diftinctions which in any degree depart from those provifions in the acts for regulating the militia, and in the act for punishing mutiny and defertion, which have fo clearly and fully eftablished the regiments of embodied militia, in actual service, to be upon the fame footing with his majesty's other regiments, and thereby laid the neceffary, and, it was hoped, certain foundation of that equality and harmony in fervice, which is fo much to be wished for and cultivated, both upon the grounds of private fatisfaction, and of public utility. To Major Troughear, of the 72d regiment. I am, Sir, &c. CH. TOWNSHEND. SIR, HAVIN War-Office, 12 June, 1761. AVING reported to his majesty the complaint delivered to me by Sir John Cuft, of the treatment which you and your regiment have received from major Troughear and capt. Morris, of the duke of Richmond's regiment, at Stamford, and the feveral answers of those two officers to that complaint; I am directed to inform you, that it is his majesty's determination, that you had a right to expect that the commanding officer of the duke of Richmond's regiment should have given you a regular notice of his approach to the town, where you commanded; and that by your preparing to receive, and pay thofe reciprocal marks of civility and respect, which, in the courfe of fervice, ufually pafs, and are very prudently established between two corps meeting in the fame town, you have acted agreeably to your duty as an officer, and and to that fpirit of harmony, and equality, which the law has established, and which his majefty is firmly refolved to maintain between the army and the embodied militia, when in actual service. At the fame time I have his majesty's orders to inform you, that by pofting the foldiers of your regiment at the gate of Stamford, to prevent the entrance of capt. Morris's party into that town, you exceeded the limits of your duty, and acted with too little confideration: the irregularity and mifbehaviour of capt. Morris, in not giving you the usual notice of the approach of his corps, being fuch a neglect of duty in him, as rather required a complaint, than called for fuch a method of refistance, in the case of a regiment marching under my order, and coming into an open town; more efpecially as the confequences of the measure you took, might have been extensive and very fatal to the regiments concerned. T HE gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders of every county in England, prefent their compliments to all the rere. fentatives of the fhires and boroughs within the fame, and hope that nothing will prevent them from attending their duty constantly in the next feffion of parliament. The true is critical, as, for the fake of the popularity of a Scotch pelar in fmall wares, the city of L--, ever forward and bufy in var they cannot understand, have agreed upon a most dangerous ac tack upon the landed intereft of these kingdoms; and the wicked machinations of the Thane are too vilibie not o give cause to apprehend the most fatal confequences from train if not timely foreseen, and boldly withftod. It is theretorn earneftly hoped, that no avocations of other bufinefs, i hi or attendance upon their approaching elections, will be n or admitted, as excufes for their non-attendance, when the decifions of this parliament will probably d whether England is to be bond or free. N. B. It is undoubtedly certain, that business of t importance will be brought on immediately after the o the feffion of parliament. Fff 2 For the POLITICAL REGISTER. The following is a genuine Copy of Monfieur de Voltaire's Letter to the Marquis de Villette, who bad dedicated to him the Eloge Hiftorique de Charles V. dit Le Sage. Lettre de Mr. Voltaire à M. Marquis de Villette, Votre fage héros, très peu terrible en guerre, VOTRE OTRE amitié, monfieur, pour Monfieur de la Harpe a empêché de compofer pour l'academie; mais vous avez travaillé pour le public, pour votre gloire, et pour mon plaifir. Je vous ai deux grandes obligations; celle de m'avoir témoigné publiquement l'amitié dont vous m'honorez; et celle de m'avoir fait paffer une heure délicieuse en vous lifant. Puiffiez vous etre auffi heureux que vous étes eloquent! puiffiez vous meprifer et fuir ce même public pour lequel vous avez écrit. M. de la Harpe reviendra bientôt vous voir: il a éte un au chez moi. S'il avoit autant de fortune que de talents et d'efprit, il feroit plus riche que feu Montmartel; il lui fera plus aité d'avoir des prix de l'académie que des penfions du roi. Lui et fa femme jouent la comédie parfaitement: Mr. de Chabanon auffi. Notre petit théatre a mieux valu que celui du Fauxbourg St. Germain: Vous nous avez-bien manqué; vous devez-etre un excellent acteur; car fans rire vous jouez touts vos coutes a faire mourir de rire. Conservez vos bontés pour un viellard, dont elles feront la confolation, et qui vous fera véritablement attaché jufqu'au dernier moment de fa vie. 4 Octobre, 1767, à Ferney. TRANSLATION. |