importance, both private and public, were passed in Germany: and at the same time to keep up such into laws by commission, on the twenty-second day a force at home as might frustrate any attempts of of May, when the lord-keeper of the great seal the enemy to invade these kingdoms; such attempts closed the session with a speech to both houses. as had hitherto ended only in their own confusion. He began with an assurance that his majesty looked He took notice that the royal navy was never in a back on their proceedings with entire satisfaction. more flourishing and respectable condition; and the He said, the duty and affection which they had ex- signal victory obtained last winter over the French pressed for the king's person and government, the fleet on their own coast had given lustre to his mazeal and unanimity they had showed in maintaining jesty's arms, fresh spirit to his maritime forces, and the true interest of their country, could only be reduced the naval strength of France to a very low equalled by what his majesty had formerly expe- ebb. He gave them to understand that his majesty rienced from his parliament. He told them it had disposed his squadrons in such a manner as would have given his majesty the most sensible might best conduce to the annoyance of his enemies; pleasure, had he been able to assure them that his to the defence of his own dominions, both in Europe endeavours to promote a general peace had met and America; to the preserving and pursuing his with more suitable returns. He observed that his conquests, as well as to the protection of the trade majesty, in conjunction with his good brother aud of his subjects, which he had extremely at heart. ally the king of Prussia, had chosen to give their He told the commons, that nothing could relieve enemies proofs of this equitable disposition, in the his majesty's royal mind, under the anxiety he felt midst of a series of glorious victories; an opportu for the burdens of his faithful subjects, but the pub nity the most proper to take such a step with dig- lic-spirited cheerfulness with which their house had nity, and to manifest to all Europe the purity and granted him such large supplies, and his conviction moderation of his views. After such a conduct, he that they were necessary for the security and essensaid, the king had the comfort to reflect that the tial interest of his kingdoms; he therefore returned further continuance of the calamities of war could them his hearty thanks for these supplies, and asnot be imputed to him or his allies; that he trusted sured them they should be duly applied to the pur. in the blessing of heaven upon the justice of his poses for which they had been given. Finally, he arms, and upon those ample means which the zeal recommended to both houses the continuance of of the parliament in so good a cause had wisely put that union and good harmony which he had observinto his hands; that his future successes in carry-ed with so much pleasure, and from which he had ing on the war would not fall short of the past: and derived such important effects. He desired they that, in the event, the public tranquillity would be would study to promote these desirable objects, to restored on solid and durable foundations. He support the king's government, and the good order acquainted them that his majesty had taken the of their respective counties, and consult their own most effectual care to augment the combined army real happiness and prosperity. NOTE TO CHAPTER XVIII. 1 The method called overschippen is that of using French boats to load Dutch vessels with the produce of France. CHAPTER XIX. Remarkable Detection of a Murder by William Andrew Horne-Popular Clamour against Lord George Sackville-His Address to the Public-He demands a Court-martial-Substance of the Charge against him-His Defence-Remarks on it-Sentence of the Court-martial-Earl Ferrers apprehended for Murder-Tried by the House of Peers-Convicted and executed at Tyburn-Assassination of Mr. Matthews, by one Stirn, a Hessian-New Bridge begun at Black-friars-Conflagration in Portsmouth Yard-Number of Ships taken by the Enemy-Progress of Monsieur Thurot-He makes a Descent at Carrickfergus-Is slain, and his Ships taken-Exploit of Captain Kennedy-Remarkable Adventure of five Irish Seamen-The Ramillies Man of War wrecked upon the Bolthead-Treaty with the Cherokees-Hostilities recommenced-Their Towns destroyed by Colonel Montgomery-His Expedition to the middle Settlements-Fate of the Garrison at Fort Loudon-The British Interest established on the Ohio-The French undertake the Siege of Quebec-Defeat Brigadier Murray, and oblige him to retire into the town-Quebec besieged-The Enemy's Shipping destroyed-They abandon the SiegeGeneral Amherst reduces the French Fort at the Isle of Royal-and takes Montreal French Ships destroyed in the Bay of Chaleurs-Total Reduction of Canada-Demolition of Louisbourg-Insurrection of the Negroes in Jamaica-Action at Sea off Hispaniola-Gallant Behaviour of the Captains Obrien and Taylor in the Leeward Islands-Transactions in the East Indies-Achievements in the Bay of Quiberon-Admiral Rodney destroys some Vessels on the Coast of France-Preparations for a secret Expedition-Astronomers sent to the East Indies-Earthquakes in Syria-Wise Conduct of the Catholic King—Affairs of Portugal-Turkish Ship of the Line carried into Malta-Patriotic Schemes of the King of Denmark-Memorial presented by the British Ambassador to the States-GeneralState of the Powers at War-Death of the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel-Offers made by the Neutral Powers of a Place for holding a Congress-Skirmishes in Westphalia during the Winter-Exactions by the French in Westphalia-Skirmish to the advantage of the Allies at Vacha-Situation of the French Armies-Exploit of Colonel Luckner at Butzbatch-The French advance to Neustadt-The Hereditary Prince of Brunswick defeated at Corback-but retrieves his honour at Exdorf-Victory obtained by the Allies at Warbourg-The Hereditary Prince beats up the Quarters of the French at Zeirenberg-Petty Advantages on both Sides-The Hereditary Prince marches to the Lower RhineIs worsted at Campen-and repasses the Rhine-Attempt of the Enemy against him-Advantages gained by M. de Stainville-The Allies and French go into Winter-quarters. TH DETECTION OF A MURDER. HE successes of the last campaign had flushed the whole nation with the most elevated hope of future conquest, and the government was enabled to take every step which appeared necessary to realize that sanguine expectation: but the war became every day more and more Germanised. Notwithstanding the immense sums that were raised for the expenses of the current year; not withstanding the great number of land-forces main tained in the service, and the numerous fleets that filled the harbours of Great Britain; we do not find that one fresh effort was made to improve the advantages she had gained upon her own element, or for pushing the war on national principles: for the reduction of Canada was no more than the consequence of the measures which had been taken in the preceding campaign. But, before we record the progress of the war, it may be necessary to specify some domestic occurrences that for a little while engrossed the public attention. In the month of December, in the preceding year, William Andrew Horne, a gentleman of some fortune in Derbyshire, was executed at Nottingham, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, for the murder of an infant born of his own sister, in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-four. On the third day after the birth, this brutal ruffian thrust the child into a linen bag, and accompanied by his own brother on horseback, conveyed it to Annesley, in Nottinghamshire, where it was next day found dead under a hay-stack. Though this cruel rustic knew how much he lay at the mercy of his brother, whom he had made privy to this affair, far from endeavouring to engage his secrecy by offices of kindness and marks of affection, he treated him as an alien to his blood; not barely with indifference, but even with the most barbarous rigour. He not only defrauded him of his right, but exacted of him the lowest menial services; beheld him starving in As a cottage, while he lived himself in affluence; and re- who contributed liberally to the relief of the sufferers. These CLAMOUR AGAINST LORD SACKVILLE. BUT no subject so much engrossed the conversation and passions of the public as did the case of lord George Sackville, who had by this time resigned his command in Germany, and returned to England: the country which, of all others, it would have been his interest to avoid at this juncture, if he was really conscious of the guilt the imputation of which his character now sustained. With the first tidings of the battle fought at Minden the defamation of this officer arrived. He was accused of having disobeyed orders, and his conduct represented as infamous in every particular. were the suggestions of a vague report, which no person could trace to its origin; yet this report immediately gave birth to one of the most inflammatory pamphlets that ever was exhibited to the public. The first charge had alarmed the people of England, jealous in honour, sudden and rash in their sentiments, and obstinately adhering to the prejudices they have espoused. The implied accusation in the orders of Prince Ferdinand, and the combustible matter superadded by the pamphlet writer, kindled up such a blaze of indignation in the minds of the people, as admitted of no temperament or control. An abhorrence and detestation of lord George Sackville, as a coward and a traitor, became the universal passion, which acted by contagion, infecting all degrees of people from the cottage to the throne; and no individual, who had the least regard for his own character and quiet, would venture to preach up moderation, or even advise a suspension of belief until more certain information could be received. Fresh fuel was continually thrown in by obscure authors of pamphlets and newspapers, who stigmatized and insulted with such virulent perseverance, that one would have imagined they were actuated by personal motives, not retained by mercenary booksellers, against that unfortunate nobleman. Not satisfied with inventing circumstances to his dishonour, in his conduct on the last occasion, they pretended to take a retrospective view of his character, and produced a number of anecdotes to his prejudice, which had never before seen the light, and but for this occasion had probably never been known. Not that all the writings which appeared on this subject contained fresh matters of aggravation against lord George Sackville. Some writers, either animated by the hope of advantage, or hired to betray the cause which they undertook to defend, entered the lists as professed champions of the accused, assumed the pen in his behalf, devoid of sense, unfurnished with materials, and produced performances which could not fail to injure his character among all those who believed that he countenanced their endeavours, and supplied them with the facts and arguments of his defence. Such precisely was the state of the dispute when lord George arrived in London. While Prince Ferdi. nand was crowned with laurel, while the king of Great Britain approved his conduct, and, as the most glorious mark of that approbation, invested him with the order of the garter; while his name was celebrated through all England, and extolled, in the warmest expressions of hyperbole, above all the heroes of antiquity; every mouth was opened in execration of the late commander of the British troops in Germany. He was now made acquainted with the particulars of his imputed guilt, which he had before indistinctly learned. He was accused of having disobeyed three successive orders he had received from the general, during the action at Minden, to advance with the cavalry of the right wing, which he commanded, and sustain the infantry that were engaged; and, after the cavalry were put in motion, of having halted them unnecessarily, and marched so slow, that they could not reach the place of action in time to be of any service; by which conduct the opportunity was lost of attacking the enemy when they gave way, and rendering the victory more glorious and decisive. The first step wirich lord George took towards his own vindication with the public, was in printing a short address, entreating them to suspend their belief with respect to his character, until the charge brought against him should be legally discussed by a courtmartial; a trial which he had already solicited, and was in hopes of obtaining. This HE DEMANDS A COURT-MARTIAL FINDING himself unable to stem the tide of popular prejudice, which flowed against him with irresistible impetuosity, he might have retired in quiet and safety, and left it to ebb at leisure. would have been generally deemed a prudential step, by all those who consider the unfavourable medium through which every particular of his conduct must have been viewed at that juucture, even by men who cherished the most candid intentions; when they reflected upon the power, influence, and popularity of his accuser; the danger of ag. gravating the resentment of the sovereign, already too conspicuous; and the risk of hazarding his life on the honour and integrity of witnesses, who might think their fortunes depended upon the na ture of the evidence they should give. Notwithstanding these suggestions, lord George, seemingly impatient of the imputation under which his character laboured, insisted upon the privilege of a legal trial, which was granted accordingly, after the judges had given it as their opinion that he might be tried by a court-martial, though he no longer retained any commission in the service. A court of general officers being appointed and assembled to inquire into his conduct, the judge advocate gave him to understand that he was charged with hav ing disobeyed the orders of prince Ferdinand, relative to the battle of Minden. That the reader may have the more distinct idea of the charge, it is ne cessary to remind him, that lord George Sackville commanded the cavalry of the right wing, consisting of Hanoverian and British horse, disposed in two lines, the British being at the extremity of the right, extending to the village of Hartum; the Hanoverian cavalry forming the left that reached almost to an open wood or grove, which divided the horse from the line of infantry, particularly from that part of the line of infantry consisting of two brigades of British foot, the Hanoverian guards, and Hardenberg's regiment. This was the body of troops which sustained the brunt of the battle with the most incredible courage and perseverance. They of their own accord advanced to attack the left of the enemy's cavalry, through a most dread ful fire of artillery and small arms, to which they were exposed in front and flank; they withstood the repeated attacks of the whole French gendar merie, whom at length they totally routed, together with a body of Saxon troops on their left; and to their valour the victory was chiefly owing. The ground from which these troops advanced was a kind of heath or plain, which opened a consider able way to the left, where the rest of the army was formed in order of battle; but on the right it was bounded by the wood, on the other side of which the cavalry of the right wing was posted, having in front the village of Halen, from whence the French had been driven by the picquets in the army there posted, and in front of them a windmill, situated in the middle space between them and a battery placed on the left of the enemy. Early in the morning captain Malhorti had, by order of prince Ferdinand, posted the cavalry of the right wing in the situation we have just des cribed; the village of Hartum with enclosures on the right, a narrow wood on the left, the village of Halen in their front, and a windmill in the middle of an open plain, which led directly to the enemy. In this position lord George Sackville was directed to refain, until he should receive further orders; and here it was those orders were given which he was said to have disobeyed. Indeed he was previously charged with having neglected the orders of the preceding evening, which imported, that the horses should be saddled at one in the morning, though the tents were not to be struck, nor the troops under arms, until they should receive further orders. He was accused of having disobeyed these orders, and of having come late into the field, after the cavalry was formed. Captain Winchingrode, aide-du-camp to prince Ferdinand declared upon oath, that while the infantry of the right wing were advancing towards the enemy for the second time, he was sent with orders to lord George Sackville to advance with the cavalry of the right wing, and sustain the infantry, which was going to engage, by forming the horse under his command upon the heath, in a third line behind the regiments; that he delivered these orders to lord George Sackville, giving him to understand, that 531 ne should march the cavalry through the wood advancing forwards; that when he received the oror trees on his left to the heath, where they were der from Winchingrode to form the line, and adto be formed; that on his return to the heath, he vance, he still imagined this was his route, and on met colonel Fitzroy riding at full gallop towards this supposition immediately detached an aide-dulord George; and that he (Winchingrode) followed camp to remove a regiment of Saxe-Gotba which him back, in order to hasten the march of the caval- was in the front; that he sent a second to observe ry. Colonel Ligonier, another of the prince's aides- the place where the infantry were, and a third to du-camp, deposed, that he carried orders from the reconnoitre the enemy; that in a few minutes colongeneral to lord George to advance with the cavalry, el Ligonier coming up with an order from prince in order to profit from the disorder which appeared Ferdinand to advance the cavalry, his lordship immein the enemy's cavalry; that lord George made no diately drew his sword, and ordered them to march answer to these orders, but turning to the troops, forward by the windmill. The colonel declared that commanded them to draw their swords, and march; when he delivered the order, he added, "by the that the colonel seeing them advance a few paces left;" but lord George affirmed that he heard no on the right forwards, told his lordship he must such direction, nor did it reach the ears of any other march to the left; that in the mean time colonel person then present, except of that officer who witFitzroy arriving with orders for the British cavalry nessed to the same direction given by Winchingonly to advance, lord George said the orders were rode. It was proved that immediately after the contradictory; and colonel Ligonier replied, they troops were put in motion, colonel Fitzroy arrived differed only in numbers, but the destination of his with an order from prince Ferdinand, importing march was the same, to the left. Colonel Fitzroy, that the British cavalry only should advance by the the third aide-du-camp to prince Ferdinand, gave left; that lord George declared their orders were evidence that when he told lord George it was the contradictory, and seemed the more puzzled, as he prince's order for the British cavalry to advance understood that both these gentlemen came off towards the left, his lordship observed that it was nearly at the same time from the prince, and were different from the order brought by colonel Ligon- probably directed to communicate the same order. ier, and he could not think the prince intended It was therefore natural to suppose there was a to break the line; that he asked which way the mistake, as there might be danger in breaking the cavalry was to march, and who was to be their line, as the route by the wood appeared more diffiguide; that when he (the aide-du-camp) offered to cult and tedious than that by the windmill, which lead the column through the wood on the left, his led directly through open ground to the enemy; lordship seemed still dissatisfied with the order, and as he could not think that if a body of horse saying, it did not agree with the order brought by was immediately wanted the general would send for colonel Ligonier, and desired to be conducted in the British, that were at the farthest extremity of person to the prince, that he might have an explan- the wing, rather than for the Hanoverian cavalry ation from his own mouth; a resolution which was who formed the left of the line, and consequently immediately executed. The next evidence, an offi. were much nearer the scene of action. It was cer of rank in the army, made oath that, in his proved that lord George, in this uncertainty, resolvopinion, when the orders were delivered to lorded to apply for an explanation to the prince in George, his lordship was alarmed to a very great person, who he understood was at a small distance; degree, and seemed to be in the utmost confusion. that with this view he set out with all possible exA certain nobleman, of high rank and unblemished pedition; that having entered the wood, and perreputation, declared, that captain Winchingrode ceived that the country beyond it opened sooner to having told him it was absolutely necessary that the the left than he had imagined, and captain Smith, cavalry should march, and form a line to support his aide-du-camp, advising that the British cavalry the foot, he had given orders to the second line to should be put in motion, he sent back that gentlemarch, and form a line to support the foot; that as man, with orders for them to advance by the left soon as they arrived at the place where the action with all possible despatch; that he rode up to the began, he was met by colonel Fitzroy, with an order general, who received him without any marks of for the cavalry to advance as fast as possible; that displeasure, and ordered him to bring up the whole in marching to this place, an order came to halt, cavalry of the right wing in a line upon the heath; until they could be joined by the first line of caval an order, as the reader will perceive, quite different ry; that afterwards, in advancing, they were again from that which was so warmly espoused by the halted by lord George Sackville; that, in his opin- aide-du-camp; that as the marquis of Granby had ion, they might have marched with more expedi- already put the second line in motion, according to tion, and even come up time enough to act against a separate order which he had received, and the the enemy: some other officers who were examined head of his column was already in view, coming out on this subject, agreed with the marquis in these of the wood, lord George thought it necessary to sentiments. halt the troops on the left until the right should come into the line; and afterwards sent them orders to march slower, that two regiments, which had been thrown out of the line, might have an opportunity to replace themselves in their proper stations. Lord George, in his defence, proved, by undeniable evidence, that he never received the orders issued on the eve of the battle, nor any sort of intimation or plan of action, although he was certainly entitled to some such communication, as commander in chief of the British forces; that, nevertheless, the orders concerning the horses were obeyed by those who received them; that lord George, instead of loitering or losing time while the troops were forming, prepared to put himself at the head of the cavalry on the first notice that they were in motion; that he was so eager to perform his duty, as to set out from his quarters without even waiting for an aide-du-camp to attend him, and was in the field before any general officer of his division. He declared that, when captain Winchingrode delivered the order to form the cavalry in one line, making a third, to advance and sustain the infantry, he neither heard him say he was to march by the left, nor saw him point with his sword to the wood through which he was to pass. Neither of these directions were observed by any of the aides-du-camp or officers then present, except one gentleman, the person who bore witness to the confusion in the looks and deportment of his lordship. It was proved that the nearest and most practicable way of advancing against the enemy was by the way of the windmill, to the left of the village of Halen. It appeared that lord George imagined this was the only way by which he should be ordered to advance; that, in this persuasion, he had sent an officer to reconnoitre the village of Halen, as an object of importance, as it would have been upon the flank of the cavalry in With respect to the confusion which one officer affirmed was perceivable in the countenance and deportment of this commander, a considerable number of other officers then present being interrogated by his lordship, unanimously declared that they saw no such marks of confusion, but that he delivered his orders with all the marks of coolness and deliberation. The candid reader will of himself determine, whether a man's heart is to be judged by any change of his complexion, granting such a change to have happened; whether the evidence of one witness, in such a case, will weigh against the concurrent testimony of all the officers whose immediate business it was to attend and observe the commander: whether it was likely that an officer, who had been more than once in actual service, and behaved without reproach, so as to attain such an eminent rank in the army, should exhibit symptoms of fear and confusion, when there was in reality no appearance of danger; for none of the orders imported that he should attack the enemy, but only advance to sustain the infantry. The time which elapsed from the first order he received by captain Winchingrode, to the arrival of colonel Ligonier, did not exceed eight minutes, during which his aide-du-camp, captain Hugo, was employed in removing the Saxe-Gotha regimeat from the front, by which he proposed to advance. and clamour, we ought to consider it as a mob-ac cusation, which the bravest of men, even the great duke of Marlborough, could not escape; we ought to receive it as a dangerous supposition, which strikes at the root of character, and may blast that honour in a moment which the soldier has acquired in a long course of painful service, at the continual hazard of his life; we ought to distrust it as a malignant charge, altogether inconsistent with the former conduct of the person accused, as well as with his subsequent impatience and perseverance in demanding a trial, to which he never would have been called; a trial which, though his life was at stake, and his cause out of countenance, he sustained with such courage, fortitude, and presence of mind, as even his enemies themselves could not help admiring. Thus have we given a succinct detail of this remarkable affair, with that spirit of impartiality, that sacred regard to truth, which the importance of history demands. To the best of our recollection, we have forgot no essential article of the accusation, nor suppressed any material circumstance urged in defence of lord George Sackville. Unknown to his person, unconnected with his friends, unmoved by fear, unbiassed by interest, we have candidly obeyed the dictates of justice, and the calls of humanity, in our endeavours to dissipate the clouds of prejudice and misapprehension; warmed, perhaps, with an honest disdain at the ungenerous, and in our opinion, unjust persecu tion, which previous to his trial, an officer of rank, service, and character, the descendant of an illus trious family, the son of a nobleman universally respected, a Briton, a fellow-subject, had undergone. SENTENCE OF THE COURT-MARTIAL. From that period till the cavalry actually marched | ing multitude, and circulated with such industry in consequence of an order from lord George, the length of time was differently estimated in the opinion of different witnesses, but at a medium computed by the judge-advocate at fifteen minutes, during which the following circumstances were transacted: The troops were first ordered to advance forwards, then halted; the contradictory orders arrived and were disputed; the commander desired the two aides-du-camp to agree about which was the precise order, and he would obey it immediately each insisting upon that which he had delivered, lord George hastened to the general for an explanation; and, as he passed the wood, sent back captain Smith to the right of the cavalry, which was at a considerable distance, to put the British horse in motion. We shall not pretend to determine whether the commander of such an important body may be excusable for hesitating, when he received contradictory orders at the same time, especially when both orders run counter to his own judgment, whether in that case it is allowable for him to suspend the operation for a few minutes, in order to consult in person the commander in chief about a step of such consequence to the preservation of the whole army. Neither will we venture to decide dogmatically on the merits of the march, after the cavalry were put in motion; whether they marched too slow, or were unnecessarily halted in their way to the heath. It was proved, indeed, that lord George was always remarkably slow in his movements of cavalry, on the supposition that if horses are blown they must be unfit for service, and that the least hurry is apt to disorder the line of horse to such a degree, as would rob them of their proper effect, and render all their efforts abortive. This being the system of lord George Sackville, it may deserve consideration, whether he could deviate from it on this delicate occasion, without renouncing the dictates of his own judgment and discretion; and whether he was at liberty to use his own judg ment, after having received the order to advance. After all, whether he was intentionally guilty; and what were the motives by which he was really actuated, are questions which his own conscience alone can solve. Even granting him to have hesitated from perplexity, to have lingered from vexation, to have failed through error of judgment, he will probably find favour with the candid and humane part of his fellow-subjects, when they reflect upon the nature of his situation, placed at the head of such a body of cavalry, uninstructed and uninform ed of plan or circumstance, divided from the rest of the army, unacquainted with the operations of the day, chagrined with doubt and disappointment, and perplexed by contradictory orders, neither of which he could execute without offering violence to his own judgment; when they consider the endeavours he used to manifest his obedience; the last distinct order which he in person received and executed; that mankind are liable to mistakes; that the cav. alry were not originally intended to act, as appears in the account of the battle published at the Hague, by the authority of prince Ferdinand, expressly declaring that the cavalry on the right did not act, because it was destined to sustain the infantry in a third line; that if it had really been designed for action, it ought either to have been posted in another place, or permitted to advance straight forwards by the windmill, according to the idea of its commander; finally, when they recall to view the general confusion that seems to have prevailed through the manoeuvres of that morning, and remember some particulars of the action; that the brigades of British artillery had no orders until they applied to lord George Sackville, who directed them to the spot where they acquitted themselves with so much honour and effect, in contributing to the success of the day; that the glory and advantage acquired by the few brigades of infantry, who may be said to have defeated the whole French army, was in no respect owing to any general or particular orders or instructions, but entirely flowing from the native valour of the troops, and the spirited conduct of their immediate commanders; and that a great number of officers in the allied army, even of those who remained on the open heath, never saw the face of the enemy, or saw them at such a distance that they could not distinguish more than the hats and the arms of the British regiments with which they were engaged. With respect to the imputation of cowardice levelled at lord George by the unthink. THE Court-martial having examined the evidence and heard the defence, gave judgment in these words: "The court, upon due consideration of the whole matter before them, is of opinion that lord George Sackville is guilty of having disobeyed the orders of prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, whom he was, by his commission and instructions, directed to obey as commander in chief, according to the rules of war; and it is the further opinion of this court, that the said lord George Sackville is, and he is hereby adjudged, unfit to serve his majesty in any military capacity whatsoever." His sentence was confirmed by the king, who moreover signified his pleasure that it should be given out in public orders, not only in Britain, but in America, and every quarter of the globe where any English troops happened to be, that officers being convinced that neither high birth nor great employments can shelter offences of such a nature, and that seeing they are subject to censures much worse than death to a man who has any sense of honour, they may avoid the fatal consequences arising from disobedience of orders. To complete the disgrace of this unfortunate general, his majesty in council called for the council-book, and ordered the name of lord George Sackville to be struck out of the list of privy-counsellors. EARL FERRERS APPREhended. THIS summer was distinguished by another trial still more remarkable. Laurence earl Ferrers, a nobleman of a violent spirit, who had committed many outrages, and, in the opinion of all who knew him, given manifold proofs of insanity, at length perpetrated a murder, which subjected him to the cognizance of justice. His deportment to his lady was so brutal, that application had been made to the house of peers, and a separation effected by act of parliament. Trustees were nominated; and one Mr. Johnson, who had, during the best part of his life, been employed in the family, was now ap. pointed receiver of the estates, at the earl's own request. The conduct of this man, in the course of his stewardship, gave umbrage to lord Ferrers, whose disposition was equally jealous and vindictive. He imagined all his own family had conspired against his interest, and that Johnson was one of their accomplices; that he had been instrumental in obtaining the act of parliament, which his lordship considered as a grievous hardship; that he had disappointed him in regard to a certain contract about coal-mines; in a word, that there was a collusion between Johnson and the earl's adversaries. Fired with these suppositions, he first expressed |