Part 6

This being the case, as I am afraid it is, that we can neither secure our constitution at home, nor make a prosperous war abroad, whilst Sir Robert has the sole direction of our affairs, foreign and domestic, there is a preliminary absolutely necessary to the saving of the nation, and that is, the removing of Sir Robert. The question is, How can that be done? I shall freely tell my opinion, with great submission to better judgments. In the first place, there must be a perfect union amongst the leaders of the country party; they must make one common cause of preserving their country, which indeed stands in the utmost danger; all the operations must be directed by one common council. Though there are many great and able men on the side of their country, yet in my opinion the great strength of the party is the people, who are well-disposed to follow their leaders, to save themselves and their country from impending slavery. If the leaders will advise the communities to declare their sentiments on a very few public points, and instruct their representatives in Parliament accordingly, the strength of the country party will very soon appear so very great, that it will very soon put Sir Robert's gang out of countenance, and occasion a great many of them to think of changing their side. At the same time, it will be impossible for Sir Robert to continue to deceive his Majesty, by pretending that either the nation is of his side, or that by means of the Houses of Parliament, which are with him, he can govern the nation as he pleases. This method of proceeding appears to me a certain one, which the leaders of the opposition have entirely in their own power; I can see no objection to the using of it. Does it hinder anything else? If there is any good to be done by negociations, or other ways, does it hinder? On the contrary, must not everybody feel, that the credit of the strength of the people must be very favourable to negociations in either House of Parliament?

I need say no more. In my opinion at this critical moment Britain may not only be saved, but she may come out of this war with safety and honour, nay, with great glory to her deliverers. But if the opportunity of this session of Parliament is neglected, to-morrow will be Sir Robert's and France's, without any possibility of relief.

ADMIRAL VERNON'S VICTORY AT PORTOBELLO (1740).

I. _ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST._

_To the Tune of, "Come and Listen to my Ditty."_

+Source.+--Original broadside of 1740 in the British Museum.

[This ballad, by the Opposition poet and pamphleteer Richard Glover, implies that Walpole would willingly have let Vernon and his fleet perish in 1740 as Hosier and his fleet had perished in 1726.]

I.

As, near _Porto-Bello_ lying, On the Gently swelling Flood, At Midnight, with Streamers flying, Our triumphant Navy rode, There, while _Vernon_ sate all Glorious From the _Spaniards_ late Defeat, And his Crew with Shouts victorious Drank Success to England's Fleet;

II.

On a sudden, shrilly sounding, Hideous Yells and Shrieks were heard; Then, each Heart with fear confounding, A sad Troop of Ghosts appear'd; All in dreary Hammocks shrouded, Which for winding Sheets they wore; And with Looks by Sorrow clouded, Frowning on that hostile Shore.

III.

On them gleam'd the Moon's wan Lustre, When the Shade of _Hosier_ brave His Pale Bands was seen to muster, Rising from their wat'ry Grave; O'er the glimmering Wave he hy'd him, Where the _Burford_[16] rear'd her Sail, With three thousand Ghosts beside him, And in Groans did _Vernon_ hail.

IV.

"Heed, oh heed our fatal Story! "I am _Hosier's_ injur'd Ghost; "You, who now have purchas'd Glory "At this Place, where I was lost; "Tho' in _Porto-Bello's_ ruin "You now triumph, free from fears, "When you think on our undoing, "You will mix your Joy with Tears,

V.

"See these mournful Spectres sweeping, "Ghastly, o'er this hated wave, "Whose wan Cheeks are stain'd with _weeping_, "These were English Captains brave; "Mark those Numbers pale and horrid, "Who were once my Sailors bold; "Lo, each hangs his drooping forehead, "While his dismal Fate is told.

VI.

"I by twenty Sail attended, "Did this _Spanish_ Town affright, "Nothing then its wealth defended, "But my Orders not to fight; "Oh that in this rolling Ocean "I had cast them with disdain, "And obey'd my heart's warm motion "To reduce the Pride of _Spain_.

VII.

"For resistance I could fear none. "But with twenty Ships had done, "What thou, brave and happy _Vernon_, "Hast achiev'd with Six alone. "Then the Bastimentos never "Had our foul Dishonour seen, "Nor the Sea the sad Receiver "Of this gallant train had been.

VIII.

"Thus, like thee, proud _Spain_ dismaying, "And her Galleons leading home, "Tho' condemn'd for disobeying, "I had met a Traytor's Doom: "To have fall'n, my Country crying "He has play'd an _English_ part, "Had been better far than Dying, "Of a griev'd and broken Heart.

IX.

"Unrepining at thy Glory, "Thy successful Arms we hail, "But remember our sad Story "And let _Hosier's_ wrongs prevail; "After this proud Foe subduing, "When your Patriot Friends you see, "Think of Vengeance for my ruin, "And for _England_ sham'd in me."

II. _GREAT BRITAIN'S GLORY; OR, THE STAY-AT-HOME FLEET._

A NEW BALLAD.

_Tune of, "Packington's Pound."_

+Source.+--First verse of original broadside in the British Museum.

Come, ye Lovers of Peace, who are said to have sold Your Votes, that the War of Queen _ANNE_ it might cease; Come, ye lovers of war, who 'tis certain, of old, Would have hang'd, if ye could, all the lovers of peace; Come, you _Whigg_ and you _Tory_, Attend to my Story, For you ne'er heard the like, nor your Fathers before ye; How _Britain_, Great _Britain_! is Queen of the main, And her Navies in Port are the terror of Spain.

[16] Admiral Vernon's ship.

THE NEW MINISTERS (1742).

I.

+Source.+--Hervey's _Memoirs_. Vol. ii., p. 581.

Their _sanctum sanctorum_ is composed of my Lord Carteret, Lord Winchilsea his adherent, the Duke of Newcastle and his quibbling friend my Lord Chancellor [Hardwicke], Mr. Pulteney, and Harry Pelham. Lord Carteret, Duke of Newcastle, and Mr. Pulteney, while they act seemingly in concert at this juncture, having distinct views and different interests of their own to pursue, are all striving to deceive and overreach one another; and each separately relating to their own private friends what passes at these conferences conducive to their own points, the whole of the conference, through different channels, flows into the world. Lord Carteret, feeling he has the strength of the closet and the confidence and favour of the King, whilst he is making his court by foreign politics,[17] hates and detests Mr. Pulteney for all the trouble he gives him in pursuing his points at home; and knowing that the moment Mr. Pulteney goes into the House of Lords, he will become an absolute nullity, he is ready to feed the exorbitant appetite of his demands with any morsels it craves for at present, provided in return he can gain that one point of Mr. Pulteney's going into the House of Lords. On the other hand, Mr. Pulteney, knowing he has at present the House of Commons in his hands, and seeing too plainly that though he has the power of the closet, he has none of the favour, and that every point he carries there is extorted, not granted--carried by force, not by persuasion--hates my Lord Carteret for engrossing that favour which he proposed at least to share, if not to engross himself; and whilst he is forcing seven or eight of his followers into employment, proposes to remain himself in the House of Commons in order to retain the same power, in order to force a new batch of his friends, three or four months hence, in the same manner upon the King, which reduces the struggle between Lord Carteret and him to this short point, that if Mr. Pulteney goes into the House of Lords, Lord Carteret dupes him; if he does not, he dupes my Lord Carteret. The Duke of Newcastle, whose envy is so strong that he is jealous of everybody, and whose understanding is so weak that nobody is jealous of him, is reciprocally made use of by these two men to promote their different ends; and being jealous of Lord Carteret from feeling his superior interest with the King, and jealous of Mr. Pulteney from his superior interest to his brother [Mr. Pelham] in the House of Commons, is like the hungry ass in the fable between the two bundles of hay, and allured by both without knowing which to go to, tastes neither, and will starve between them. He wants Mr. Pulteney's power in the House of Commons to be kept as a check and bridle upon Lord Carteret, who has outrun him so far in the palace, and yet wants Mr. Pulteney out of the House of Commons to strengthen his own power there by the proxy medium of his brother. Thus stands the private contest and seeming union among these present rulers, or rather combatants for rule.

II.

ON THE MINISTRY OF LORD CARTERET, FEB., 1742.

+Source.+--_Sir Charles Hanbury Williams_, quoted by Horace Walpole to Sir Horace Mann, Sept. 11, 1742; and also to be found in Williams' _Collected Poems_.

O my poor country! is this all You've gain'd by the long-labour'd fall Of Walpole and his tools? He was a knave indeed,--what then? He'd parts,--but this new set of men A'n't only knaves, but fools.

III.

ON PULTENEY'S ACCEPTANCE OF A PEERAGE, JULY, 1742.

+Source.+--_A Collection of Poems, principally consisting of the most celebrated pieces of Sir Charles Hanbury Williams_, 1763, p. 36. The names in the British Museum copy, from which this and the following are transcribed, are filled in by Horace Walpole, to whom this copy belonged.

I'm not the man you knew before, For I am P[ultene]y now no more, My titles hide my name. (Oh how I blush to own my case!) My dignity was my disgrace, And I was rais'd to shame.

[17] _I.e._, by advancing the King's views in favour of Hanover and encouraging the passion for war which Walpole had so long repressed. Carteret attended George II. throughout the campaign of 1743, and was even present--the last prime minister to take part in an action--at the Battle of Dettingen. He spoke German well, which greatly endeared him to the King.

THE ORIGIN OF THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR (1741-1748).

+Source.+--Samuel Boyse: _Historical Review of the Transactions of Europe_, 1739-45, pp. 69-73.

The late Emperor, in order to preserve the Succession of his hereditary Dominions entire, had obtain'd from the chief Powers in _Europe_, the _Guarantee_ of the _Pragmatic Sanction_ of which it is therefore necessary to give the Reader some Account. _Leopold_, his Father, apprehensive of the Troubles which the Failure of the Male Line in his Family might excite not only in _Germany_, but in _Europe_, form'd the Design of settling the Succession in the Female Line, as the only way to prevent all Disputes, and keep his Dominions entire. He communicated his Intentions to his Sons _Joseph_ and _Charles_ (who both succeeded him) by whom this Regulation was approved; and afterwards by his Ministers he had it ratify'd in the Imperial Dyet. _Joseph_, his Successor, made no Alteration in it, and died without Male Issue. _Charles_ VI. seven Years after his Accession, having no Male Heir, and seeing that if the Male Line should end in him, the right of Succession would remain in his Nieces, and not his Daughters, in order to secure the Succession to his own Posterity, by confining the Entail, had a new Instrument drawn up, which in 1720, after being approved by his Council, was sworn to by all the Estates of his hereditary Dominions. But foreign Courts, foreseeing the Difficulties that might attend it, were averse to intermeddle with it. In 1724 _Great Britain_ and _France_ refused to guarantee it, tho' then Mediators between the _Emperor_ and _Spain_. This occasion'd the first Treaty of _Vienna_ in 1725, in which this Prince threw himself into the Hands of _Spain_, and gave up _Naples_ and _Sicily_ on the sole Condition of that Crown's guaranteeing the _Pragmatic Sanction_. In 1726 he obtain'd the Guarantee of _Russia_, and some Months after the Imperial Dyet confirmed it as a Publick irrevocable Law. In 1731, by the second Treaty of _Vienna_, we consented to give it our Sanction; and in 1732, the King of _Denmark_, and the _States General_ follow'd our Example. The Elector of _Saxony_ in 1733 acquiesced in it, on account of the Emperor's contributing to raise him to the Throne of _Poland_, and by the last Treaty of _Vienna_ in 1738, _France_ also confirm'd it, in Consideration of the Cession of _Lorrain_. Yet both the Courts of _Paris_ and _Madrid_, who had obtain'd large Accessions of Territory for their Guarantees, were the first to violate their Engagements; whereas _Great Britain_, _Holland_ and _Russia_, who got nothing by theirs, continued firm to what they had promis'd.

The only Princes who refus'd to acknowledge it at the Emperor's Death, were the Electors of _Bavaria_, _Cologne_, and _Palatine_. As to the two first, their Interests were too nearly concern'd not to oppose a measure that defeated the Claim of their House to so rich and powerful a Succession: As to the latter, it is not well known what his Motives were, unless a Disinclination to the _Austrian_ Interests, which he discover'd all his Life.

The Emperor in 1736, had married the Archduchess _Mary Teresa_, his eldest Daughter, to the Duke of _Lorrain_, for whom, by the succeeding Treaty of _Vienna_, he obtain'd the Grand Duchy of _Tuscany_. The eminent Services his august House had received from this Prince and his Ancestors, very well entitled him to this illustrious Alliance. Had this monarch liv'd a little longer, it is thought he would have procured his Son-in-Law the Dignity of King of the _Romans_, a Step that would, in a great measure, have prevented the Confusions that follow'd, and which almost brought his Family to the Brink of Ruin. This fatal Neglect was owing to the Empress's Youth, and the Hopes conceived she might still have a Male Heir.

The Emperor was no sooner dead, than pursuant to his will, Mary Teresa, his eldest Daughter, was declared Queen of _Hungary_ and _Bohemia_, and peaceably invested in the Sovereignty of all his hereditary Dominions. This Princess immediately took care to notify her Accession to the different Courts of _Europe_, by whom she was acknowledged, and especially by that of _France_, who on this occasion renew'd its Assurance, in the strongest Terms, of performing its Guarantee of the _Pragmatic Sanction_. But her Letters of Notification to the Court of _Munich_ were returned unopen'd, the Elector declaring he could not acknowledge the Princess's Titles, without Prejudice to his own Claim, as founded on the Will of _Ferdinand I._, which imported, "That the eldest Archduchess, Daughter of the said _Ferdinand_, who should be alive when the said Succession should be _open_, should succeed to the two Crowns of _Hungary_ and _Bohemia_, in case there be no _Male Heir_ of any of the three Brothers of that Emperor." Now the Male Line of that House being extinct by the Death of _Charles_ VI., the Elector being descended from _Anne_, second daughter to _Ferdinand I._ (the eldest dying issueless) claimed the Succession as now _open_ by the Terms of the Will. On the other hand, the Court of _Vienna_ maintain'd that the Succession was not _open_, the last Words of the Will, according to the original Copy in the _Austrian_ Archives being "in case there shall be no _lawful Heir_ living of any of the Emperor's three Brothers."

It is easy to see, the Elector's Claim was to no less than the _Whole_ of the late Emperor's succession. The King of _Spain_ also publish'd his Pretensions to all the late Emperor's Dominions, and made Preparations for invading _Italy_. In short the new Queen beheld that Storm gathering, which quickly overspread _Germany_, and which gave her but too much Occasion for exerting that Magnanimity and Constancy of Mind, which heighten her eminent Virtues, and have render'd her justly the Admiration of her Enemies themselves.

To these Claimants, whose Pretensions might have been foreseen, appear'd a third no way expected, but whose Title seem'd to be as well founded, as his Power to support it was unquestionable. This was the young King of _Prussia_, who claim'd the Principality of _Silesia_, as antiently belonging to the _Brandenburgh_ Family, from whom the House of _Austria_ had gain'd it by unjust means. As this Prince assembled a numerous Army on the _Emperor's_ Death, every one imagined it was to support the _Pragmatic Sanction_. But, instead of this, in _November_ he enter'd _Silesia_, at the head of 30,000 Men, and soon made himself master of _Breslaw_, the Capital, and the greatest Part of the Country, the _Austrians_ being in no Condition to oppose him. His Behaviour to the vanquish'd was so generous, as easily won their Affections; the rather, as the major Part of that People were of the reform'd Communion, and had suffer'd on that Account much Persecution from the House of _Austria_; whereas the Court of _Berlin_ had always declared and often interposed in their Favour.

As soon as the King of _Prussia_ had struck his Blow, he caused, by his Ministers, the following verbal Proposals to be laid before the Court of _Vienna_:

I. _That he would guarantee the Queen's Dominions in_ Germany _with his whole Force. And for that End_

II. _He would enter into a close Alliance with the Courts of_ Vienna, Petersburgh, _and the Maritime_ Powers.

III. _That he would use his utmost Endeavours to get the D. of_ Lorrain _raised to the Imperial Throne_.

IV. _That he would advance the Queen in ready Money two Millions of Florins._

V. _In Consideration of all which, he only desired the absolute cession of Silesia._

The Queen's Answer was strong and peremptory: She thank'd the King for his Offers with regard to the D. of Lorrain; but as the Election, by the Golden Rule, should be free, she thought raising a War in Germany was no likely means of contributing to that End. That as to the Offer of two Millions, the contributions his Army had raised in Silesia amounted to more: And, as to the cession of that Province, her Majesty being resolved to maintain the Pragmatic Sanction, could never consent to the Dismembring any Province belonging to the Succession handed down to her, without violating her Honour and her Conscience....

THE '45.

I.

LANDING OF THE YOUNG PRETENDER; THE RAISING OF THE STANDARD; SURRENDER OF EDINBURGH.

+Source.+--Robert Forbes: _The Lyon in Mourning_. Edited by H. Paton for the Scottish History Society 1895. Vol. xx., pp. 201-210.

_Journal of the Prince's imbarkation and arrival, etc., the greatest part of which was taken from Duncan Cameron at several different conversations I had with him._

After the battle of Fontenoy and taking of Tournay, among other regiments the one commanded by Lord John Drummond was garrisoned in Tournay, in which corps Duncan Cameron (some time servant to old Lochiel at Boulogne in France) served. When Duncan was in Tournay he received a letter from Mr. Æneas MacDonald, banker in Paris, desiring him forthwith to repair to Amiens, and if possible to post it without sleeping, where he should receive orders about what he was to do. Accordingly Duncan set out, and in a very short time posted to Amiens, from whence Æneas, etc., had set out, but had left a letter for Duncan, ordering him to follow them to Nantes, to which place he set out without taking any rest, where he found the Prince and his small retinue, consisting of seven only, besides servants.

The seven were the Duke of Athol, Sir Thomas Sheridan, Sir John Macdonald, Colonel Strickland, Captain O'Sullivan, Mr. George Kelly (a nonjurant clergyman), and Æneas MacDonald, banker at Paris, brother to Kinlochmoidart.

As Duncan Cameron had been brought up in the island of Barra, and knew the coast of the Long Isle well, in some part of which the Prince intended to land first, so Duncan's business was to descry to them the Long Isle.

At Nantes the Prince and his few attendants waited about fifteen days before the _Elizabeth_ ship of war came, which was to be their convoy in the expedition. To cover the design the better, Sir Thomas Sheridan passed for the father, and the Prince for the son, for none knew the Prince to be in company but the seven, some few others, and Mr. Welch (an Irishman, a very rich merchant in Nantes) who was to command the frigate of sixteen guns, on board of which the Prince and the few faithful friends with the servants were to imbark.

After the Prince was on board he dispatched letters to his father, and the King of France, and the King of Spain, advising them of his design, and no doubt desiring assistance.

The Prince when in Scotland, used to say that the 10th of June was the day on which he stole off, and that he did not mind it to be his father's birth-day till night was far spent. From whence some have affirmed that to have been the day of the embarkation, and others to have been the day when he left Paris and began to be incog.

They had not been above five or six days at sea till one evening the _Lyon_ ship of war appeared, and came pretty near them and then disappeared. Next morning she came again in view and disappeared. She continued to do so three or four times, and the last time of her appearing she came within a mile or so of them: when the captain of the _Elizabeth_ (a Frenchman) came on board the frigate, and told Mr. Welch if he would assist him by keeping one side of the _Lyon_ in play at a distance, he would immediately put all things in order for the attack. Mr. Welch, well knowing the trust he had on board, answered him civilly, and told him it was what he could not think of doing, and withal remarked to him it was his humble opinion that he should not think of fighting unless he should happen to be attacked, because his business was to be convoy to the frigate in the voyage. However, he said, as he pretended not to any command over him, he might do as he thought proper.

The French captain to all this replied, that from the _Lion's_ appearing and disappearing so often, it seemed as if she were looking out for another ship to assist her, and if she should happen to be joined by any other, they no doubt would instantly fall upon the _Elizabeth_ and the frigate, and devour them both: and therefore he behoved to think it the wisest course to fight the _Lion_ when single, because the _Elizabeth_ in that case was fit enough for the engagement, and would bid fair enough to give a good account of the _Lion_. Upon this the French captain drew his sword, took leave of Mr. Welch and his company, went on board the _Elizabeth_ with his sword still drawn in his hand, and gave the necessary orders for the attack.

Immediately the _Elizabeth_ bore down upon the _Lion_ (each of them consisting of about sixty guns, and therefore equally matched), and begun the attack with great briskness. The fight continued for five or six hours, when the _Lion_ was obliged to sheer off like a tub upon the water.

About the time when the captain came on board the frigate, the Prince was making ready to go on board the _Elizabeth_ for more air and greater conveniency every way, the frigate being crowded with the gentlemen, the servants, and the crew. His friends reckoned it very lucky that he had not gone on board.