Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/270

244 On his arrival in Germany he continued to play the same game as before in regard to the Duke of Marlborough; but Duke Ferdinand of Brunswick formed a very different chapter from any he had ever yet to deal with. The Duke was bred not only in the camp but in the Court of Prussia; he was in all respects an experienced soldier, and a proud high man; he was in the habit of doing his business within himself, and had besides officers of character and experience who knew their business and were attached to him. He was the near relation of the King of Prussia, and recommended by him to the command of the allied army; he was likewise related to our King, and corresponded directly with him, while he was sure of Mr. Pitt's vigorous support from motives of common interest; he had a corps of his own family troops in the army under the command of his nephew, the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, besides a corps of Prussians, and the bulk of the army were Germans. He must have immediately seen Lord George's inefficiency as a military man, and very quickly saw through his tricks, so that he knew what he had to expect, nor was he of a temper easily to endure any rival near the throne. Lord George on his part immediately set himself to make a distinction and draw a line between English and German, to cultivate a line of popularity among the former which his very nature opposed, to pry into the accounts and the expenditure of the army, and to criticise and nibble at every move which Prince Ferdinand made, assuming as much in point of manner as the Duke's own manner, who was himself a pretty good master of that science, would let him do. The Duke of Marlborough died of a fever at Munster. Lord George succeeded to be Commanderin-Chief of the British troops, and Lord Granby succeeded to be second in command, who was made for popularity, had all the good qualities of the Duke of Marlborough, but more force of character, more activity, and a natural turn to the army. He had his quarters, his purse, and his heart perpetually open to the whole army without the least spirit of intrigue. He took decidedly the line of Prince Ferdinand from no motive of jealousy or ill-will