Page:Life of William Shelburne (vol 1).djvu/98

72 to a great degree in his conversation; he criticised himself very freely, and laid bare his failings; he used to harangue the regiment with good success, and had great arts of" popularity. He told me his mother was amiable, but I have not understood since that she was remarkable for her understanding.

"Colonel Barré wrote his letter from Quebec, where he was wore down by the factions and want of discipline among our own troops, promoted by General Murray and Lord Townshend, upon no plan but madness in the last and mischief and malignity in the first.

"His principal talent was forming of troops. His manners were calculated for it. I was much beholden to him. He made me read not only military books, but philosophy; he gave me liberal notions of every kind; he unprejudiced my mind; he advised me in everything, so particularly as to make me lists of company to ask to supper, which, with other such friendly hints, made me popular in the regiment and gained me friends who never quitted me, and he connected me with all the military men of character then coming forward, among others General Clerke, the planner of the expedition against Rochefort, with whom I fell into a most intimate connection, especially after General Wolfe's departure to Louisburg, whither I could not obtain leave to attend him.

"Among the first measures Mr. Pitt set forward, besides the renewal of the German war, was the expedition against Rochefort. It was suggested by General Clerke. The grounds and conduct of it are fully and I believe fairly discussed in the pamphlets of the time, and the trials which followed it. I remember nothing which will not be to be found in those proceedings. I was very young and inexperienced of my age. The imbecility of both generals and admirals was notorious. The best proof of the goodness of General Clerke's intelligence is