Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/271

Rh to Lord George, to whom he always behaved with more than respect, and a degree of honour which went the length of delicacy on all occasions, and refinement upon some, but from motives of probity, generosity of nature, and a laudable ambition. A little anecdote may serve to show how much Lord George risked in regard to Prince Ferdinand, and of how much imprudence he was capable.

"The night but one before the Battle of Minden at supper at the head-quarters, Lord George dwelt during the whole supper upon the character of the Maréchal de Contades, who commanded the French army, extolling him in the highest degree. Prince Ferdinand, who was naturally touchy, bore it for a considerable time, till his patience becoming exhausted, he could not help breaking out, Mais pourtant j'ai vu le dos du Maréchal de Contades; il n'a jamais vu le mien; to which Lord George replied, Où Monseigneur Prince Ferdinand, à Crévelt? Upon this Lord George proceeded to prove that Crévelt was only an affair and not a battle.

"What happened at the Battle of Minden sufficiently appears from the papers of the time. No military man can have any difficulty in forming a just judgment of Lord George's conduct, who compares the paper he wrote and circulated immediately upon Prince Ferdinand's issuing the order which reflected upon him with his defence at his court-martial. The conduct of the army towards him was scandalous; he was universally deserted. Those who were accustomed to fawn upon him even after the battle, when the order came to be issued neglected, nay even insulted him. It may be curious to observe, to show his habit of imposing, that immediately after the battle he came up to the 20th Regiment, with whom he was always unpopular, talked of the glory of the day, and confounded the officers, who had just come out of the heat of the action, by addressing himself to Colonel Tenant, who was then Captain of Grenadiers, and saying 'how happy we have all done our duty.'

"Upon his return he was tried, and sentenced in terms