"I received an answer to this letter on Monday the 10th, in which I was assured, that a court-martial would be granted, as soon as the officers capable of giving evidence could leave their posts, but previously to the receipt of that letter, I was dismissed from all my military employments. Notwithstanding which dismission, I still hope and am informed that I may have the advantage of a legal trial.

"In the mean time, the only indulgence I have to ask is, that the public will suspend its judge. ment till such facts can be produced, from which alone the truth can appear. But if plans of a battle are to be referred to, which can give no just idea of it; if dispositions of the cavalry and the infantry are supposed which never existed; if orders for attacks and pursuits are quoted which never were delivered; and if disobedience to those imaginary orders are asserted as a crime: what can an injured officer, under such circumstances, have recourse to, but claiming that justice which is due to every Englishman, of being heard before he is condemned? The sooner that happens, the happier I shall be; as I am conscious my innocence must appear, when real facts are truly stated and fully proved. "GEORGE SAckville.”

Previous to his leaving the continent, he

wrote a letter to Colonel Fitzroy, demanding an explanation, why his name was omitted in the orders for rejoicing; to which the colonel returned the following answer:

"MY LORD,

"Minden, Aug. 3, 1759.

"HIS Serene Highness, upon some report made to him by the Duke of Richmond of the situation of the enemy, sent Captain Ligonier and myself with orders for the British cavalry to advance. His Serene Highness was at this instant one or two brigades beyond the English infantry, towards the left. Upon my arrival on the right of the cavalry, I found Captain Ligonier with your lordship. Notwithstanding, I declared his Serene Highness's orders to you; upon which you desired I would not be in a hurry: I made answer, that galloping had put me out of breath, which made me speak very quick. I then repeated the orders for the British cavalry to advance toward the left, and at the same time, mentioning the circumstance that occasioned the orders, added, That it was a glorious opportunity for the English to distinguish themselves, and that your lordship, by leading them on, would gain immortal honour.' You yet expressed your surprise at the orders (as they differed so materially from what Captain

T

Ligonier had just brought), saying, it was impossible the duke could mean to break the line. My answer was, that I delivered his Serene Highness's orders, word for word as he gave them. Upon which you asked which way the cavalry was to march and who was to be their guide. I undertook to lead them towards the left, round the little wood on their left, as they were then drawn up, where they might be little exposed to the enemy's cannonade. Your lordship continued to think my orders neither clear nor exactly delivered; and, expressing your desire to see Prince Ferdinand, ordered me to lead you to him; which order I was obeying, when we met his Serene Highness. During this time I did not see the cavalry advance. Cap⚫tain Smith, one of your aids-de-camp, once or twice made me repeat the orders I had before delivered to your lordship, and I hope he will do me the justice to say they were clear and exact. He went up to you whilst we were going to find the duke, as I imagine, being sensible of the clearness of my orders and the necessity of their being immediately obeyed. I heard your lordship give him some orders. What they were I cannot say but he immediately rode back towards the cavalry. Upon my joining the duke, I repeated to him the orders I had delivered to you; and, appealing to his Serene High

ness to know whether they were the same he had honoured me with, I had the satisfaction to hear him declare they were very exact. His Serene Highness immediately asked where the cavalry was; and upon my making answer that Lord George did not understand the orders, but was coming to speak to his Serene Highness, he expressed his surprise strongly.

"I hope your lordship will think I did nothing but my duty as aid-de-camp, in mentioning to his Serene Highness my orders being so much questioned by your lordship.

"I am, &c. &c. &c.

"FITZROY."

To this letter, we may remark that Lord George was not present when the conversation took place between Colonel Fitzroy and Prince Ferdinand; Fitzroy having rode on before, to say Lord George was coming. He was conscious on his arrival that the prince, the Marquis of Granby, and Colonel Fitzroy had endea voured to mislead him.

From the misunderstanding on this occasion, connected with other circumstances in the cabinet, may be attributed his virulent animosity towards the parties, which was afterwards so strongly manifested. Nothing so fully corroborates this statement as the circumstance of his

being deprived of all his military honours, as well as other situations which he held under government, previous to any examination into his conduct or granting him a legal trial.

On Friday the 7th of March, 1760, on the return of the troops from Germany, a courtmartial was held, agreeably to the Secretary of State's promise. It consisted of sixteen officers, and the deputy judge-advocate-general. Ten out of this number were Scotchmen, as well as several of the officers who gave their evidence against him. This may partly account for his antipathy to that nation, to which the pen of Junius gives no quarter, but satirises with the keenest invective and acrimony. Nor did it require this instance of personal bias. His residence in Scotland for twelve months, when fighting under the Duke of Cumberland against the rebels, was a sufficient cause of enmity on both sides. It was during this campaign that he was witness to Lord Ravensworth's assertion of Lord Mansfield having drank the Pretender's health on his knees; with other circumstances alluded to by Junius, which it was utterly impossible any one could have been acquainted with, who had not fought against the Pretender. Lord Ravensworth's testimony afterwards, in 1753, before the privy council, convicted Andrew Stone, brother to the primate of Ireland, as well as