complete the humiliation of their enemies. It was hoped, however, that a change of politics would take place; that the young king, from his known attachment to his native country, would no longer suffer the public treasure to be squandered in pensions to foreign princes, under the name of subsidies, to enable them to fight their own battles; nor the blood of the British soldiery spilt, to water the forests, and fertilize the plains, of Germany. But how much soever the new monarch might disapprove of the continental system, his subjects were aware that he could not immediately adopt a change of measures, without an implied censure upon the conduct of his predecessor. Nor could he instantaneously abandon his German confederates, after the important steps that had been taken in conjunction with them, without tarnishing the lustre of the British crown, and inflicting a wound on the faith of the nation. Considerations such as these operated greatly in favour of the new king; and while his declaration to prosecute the war quieted the throbbing breasts of his allies, the liberal supplies granted by the British parliament for supporting the war during the ensuing campaign [1761], amounting to nearly the immense sum of twenty millions sterling, astonished all Europe, and made France and Austria fully sensible of the necessity of proposing terms of peace.

The marriage of the king was an event which signalized the occurrences of this year, and it was equally unexpected and joyful to the country. Without any previous intimation or public discussion, his majesty convened a council extraordinary, and declared his intention of soliciting in marriage the princess Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburg Strelitz. The earl of Harcourt was accordingly sent over to negotiate the union, and lord Anson to conduct the princess to England. The princess embarked at Stade, and after a dangerous and difficult passage,

arrived in London on the 8th of September, 1761. The nuptial ceremony was performed during the same evening in the royal chapel, at St. James's Palace, and was succeeded, a few days afterwards, by the coronation. On the 12th of August, 1762, his royal highness the prince of Wales was born. A pension of a hundred thousand pounds a year was settled on her majesty, with the palace of Somerset House, and the lands and lodge of Richmond Park.

The collision of parties did not immediately commence on the king's accession to the throne. Possessing an amiable disposition, and of the most unblemished manners, he became highly popular; and his first speech to his parliament excited the fondest hopes of a patriotic reign. "Born and educated in this country, I glory," said he, "in the name of BRITON." A proclamation was issued for repressing vice and immorality, which gave general satisfaction: loyal and affectionate addresses poured in from every part of the country; and all regret for the late monarch appeared to be buried with him. A powerful and popular administration having been framed in 1757, the various departments of office were filled by men of talents. As the ostensible head of the ministry stood the duke of Newcastle, a veteran in whig principles, and in the highest honours of the state. Lord Granville filled the office of president of the council, with great reputation for argumentative eloquence in the senate, and for attention to business. He was a man of eminent talents, and proudly conscious of his own importance. Lord Temple, the nephew and heir of lord Cobham, succeeded in the state to his uncle's influence: his merits will be traced in the political transactions which we shall have to record. The honourable H. B. Legge was one of the most distinguished members of administration. He had passed through

the several offices of secretary to the treasury,envoy to the court of Berlin,-treasurer of the navy, —a commissioner of the treasury,—and at last attained the high station of chancellor of the exchequer. Mr. Henry Fox, whose eloquence and genius were of the most respectable order, filled the situation of paymaster of the forces. Lord Northington was lord keeper; lord Holdernesse, secretary of state; and the duke of Devonshire, first lord of the admiralty.

But the life and soul of the administration was the honourable William Pitt, afterwards earl of Chatham, who sustained the office of secretary of war for the southern department. The war in which the country was now involved, though originating with the king of Prussia, had in a great measure been of Mr. Pitt's concerting; and it had hitherto been successfully conducted. France was so en

feebled and reduced that her further efforts were not regarded as objects of dread. Her finances were low, and her navy was ruined; her affairs in America and the West Indies were irretrievable; and her West India possessions she was sensible must surrender to the first English armament that should appear upon their coasts. Russia and Sweden seemed tired of a war in which they had acquired neither honour nor advantage. The elector of Saxony was in a hopeless plight, and his Polish subjects refused to interpose in his behalf.

The business of parliament was this session speedily and smoothly conducted. The civil list was arranged and fixed at eight hundred thousand pounds per annum. To raise still higher the patriotic intentions of the crown, it was recommended by his majesty in his speech from the throne, to secure the independence and uprightness of the judges, by extending their commissions for life, unless forfeited by improper behaviour in their office, and making

provision that their salaries should be as permanent as their commissions. Before the end of the session, the venerable Onslow, who had filled the office of speaker of the house of commons during thirty years, with great reputation, announced his intention of retiring from public life. He was honoured with a vote of thanks from the honourable house; and his services were recompensed by a pension of three thousand pounds per annum.

From the moment of the king's accession, the earl of Bute had become an object of jealousy, and his conduct was vigilantly scrutinized. This nobleman had been much about the person of the prince before his elevation to the throne, and the attachment of his royal master to him was no secret. A general expectation prevailed, that he was soon to obtain a place in the ministry, and a variety of efforts were adopted to inflame the public mind against him. The people were taught to believe that every unpopular act was the result of his advice. Towards paying the interest of the large sum voted for the supplies of the year, a tax of three shillings each barrel had been levied on beer. This was imputed to lord Bute; and the mob vented their indignation by a riot at one of the country theatres. But notwithstanding these efforts, the king, on the resignation of lord Holdernesse, appointed lord Bute secretary of state. He also dismissed Mr. Legge from the office of chancellor of the exchequer1, and gave the seals to lord Barrington. Matters were not yet ripe for the removal of Mr. Pitt, and the duke of Newcastle;

1 Mr. Legge, in the year 1759, had stood candidate to represent Southampton in parliament, in competition with sir Simeon Stuart, a relation and protegé of Lord Bute. The latter gave Mr. Legge to understand that, unless he receded from his competition, he should forfeit the prince's favour. Mr. Legge scorned to recede on those grounds, and his dismissal from office was the consequence. See Appendix to the Life of Lord Chatham.

and though the changes that had taken place were not much relished by the former, yet as this able and successful minister was allowed to conduct the war in his own way, he did not think himself justified in relinquishing his office. The war still continued to be waged under his happy auspices.

Negotiations for peace, which had been unsuccessfully attempted at the close of the year 1759, were renewed in the first year of the reign of George III. and with more probability of success. The courts of Petersburg, Vienna, France, Sweden, and Poland, agreed jointly and severally to offer proposals towards a negotiation. France was the principal and prime mover; for, as it was her inordinate ambition that made the war so general, so it was her wealth which chiefly supported it. But that nation had so severely suffered by the war, that the people earnestly wished for peace; and Louis XV. in concurrence with his allies, proposed that a congress should be held at Augsburg for carrying it into effect. But though this congress did not take place, a negotiation between France and England was formally opened between Mons. Bussy in London, and Mr. Stanley in Paris, and was continued during the whole spring and summer of the year 1761, though apparently with little sincerity on either side. Things were not yet ripe for a general pacification, and a particular treaty could not be concluded between the two powers, without sacrifices of interest and fidelity which neither of them was willing to make. But it will be proper to notice the more immediate cause of the failure of this famous negotiation.

While the French and English ministers were engaged in the mutual interchange of papers, a note was delivered by M. Bussy, which, though pacific in itself, was accompanied by a private memorial, of such a nature as abruptly to put a period to the negotiation. It contained a proposal that Spain