(720) The King of Prussia was said to have fled from the first battle, though it proved a victory.

(721) He had procured copies of all Count Bruhl’s despatches by bribing a secretary.

(722) The second wife of the Dauphin was daughter of Augustus King of Poland.

(723) John Stuart, Earl of Bute, who played so conspicuous a part in the succeeding reign.-D.

(724) Upon this appointment Edward Wortley Montagu thus writes to lady Mary:—­“I have something to mention that I believe will be agreeable to you:  I mean some particulars relating to Lord Bute.  He stood higher in the late Prince Of Wales’s favour than any man.  His attendance was frequent at Leicester-house, where this young Prince has resided, and since his father’s death has continued without intermission, till new officers were to be placed under him.  It is said that another person was to be groom of the stole, but that the Prince’s earnest request was complied with in my lord’s favour.  It is supposed that the governors, preceptors, etc. who were about him before will be now set aside, and that my lord is the principal adviser, This young Prince is supposed to know the true state of the country, and to have the best inclinations to do all in his power to make it flourish."-E.

(725) The Duke of Newcastle.

(726) “Oct. 19.  Mr. Pitt was sent for to town, and came.  He returned, rejecting all terms, till the Duke of Newcastle was removed.”  Dodington, p. 346-E.

(727) The Right Hon. John Ponsonby, brother of Lord Besborough.-D.

344 Letter 199 To George Montagu, Esq.  Arlington Street, Oct. 28, 1756.

Can you recommend one a first minister?  We want one so much, that we do not insist upon his having a character from his last place:  there will be good vails.—­But I forget; one ought to condole with you:  the Duke of Newcastle is your cousin, and as I know by experience how much one loves one’s relations, I sympathize with you!  But, alas! all first ministers are mortal; and, as Sir Jonathan Swift said, crowned heads and cane heads, good heads and no heads at all, may all come to disgrace.  My father, who had no capacity, and the Duke of Newcastle, who has so much, have equally experienced the mutability of this world.  Well-a-day, well-a-day! his grace is gone!  He has bid adieu to courts, retires to a hermitage, and Will let his beard grow as long as his Duchess’s.

so you are surprised! and the next question you will ask will be, who succeeds?  Truly that used to be a question the easiest in the world to be resolved upon change of ministers.  It is now the most unanswerable.  I can only tell you that all the atoms are dancing, and as atoms always do, I suppose. will range themselves into the most durable system imaginable.  Beyond the past hour I know not a syllable; a good deal of’ the preceding hours—­a volume would not contain it.  There is some notion that the Duke of Bedford and your cousin Halifax are to be the secretaries of state—­as Witwould says, they will sputter at one another like roasted apples.