Page:The Annual Register 1758.djvu/226

 212 ANNUAL R EG I S TE R, i75g.

it be fuppofed that a prince, whofe of the capitulation, had difowned couiage all Europe has beheld^ Uie Duke of Cumberland his ge- would have .■.(ktd to capitulate at neral arid fon, ftill would the king the head of an army of near 40,000 have had caufe of compLint, mili- men, under the cannon of the town, t:iry conventions not requiring a ra- and in a port of dihicult accefs and tification ; but, at leaft, there would well intrenched } but this prince, have been in this proceeding an ap- whofe capacity gave him to per- pearancc of good faith ; but totem-' ceive, that no retreat remained for porize during near three months, him in cafe he fliould be beaten, in feeking cccafion for breaking the preferred the glory of fiving the capitulation with impunity, let the king his father's troops, and thofe French army march away for Hal- of his allies, to the vain honour of btrftadt, wait till it was feparated fighting the king's army, without in the bad feafon, lay hold of the any grounded hope of fuccefs. The circumflances of a check to come more of his felf-Iove he had by out of the prefcribed limits under this fiep facrinced to the good of pretence of extending qucirters, af- the king his father, the more fa- terwards take advantageous ports, cred and inviolable did the capitu- equally contrary t6 the cor.vention; latlon, which he had afked and ob- make every difpof;iion for the fiege tained, become to him. It is un- of Harburg, without any previous queftionable in the rules of honour declaration of war; and when all and war, that a capitulation is thefe preparations are made, and never 10 bp afked of an enemy till the enemy is thought to be fuffi- at arj extremity ; but vvhen reduced ciently weakened and deceived, to to it, it is not lawful to employ be fought with advantage, to de- thofe arms againft him, which by clave to him, that holHlities are to promife were to be laid down. Ho- be renewed, and that the capltula- nour would lock on fuch a proce- tion is looked on as broken, at the dure with indignation ; and if pri- very fame moment that the troops vate perfons deleft a treachery of are marching to him, and his polls this nature, i? it not ftill more un- are attacked ; to cngaee one prince, worthy cf forcreigns, who are the by feducement, to violate this capi- proteflors of good faith, and who tulation, and to hinder another by are more concerned than private open force from executing it; to perfons to preferve their glory and imprifon the general of the latter, reputation ? ' and detain his troops, and take

Accordingly the Duke of Cum- away his fon from him, to make berland, by laying down his mili- him ferve as an inllrument to the tary employmfnts, was for faving treachery; this is trampling on the himfelf the inf.imy of breaking fuch laws of nations, on the Lws of facred engagement?; he has proved jullice, honour, and good faith; by that ftep that he is incapable of the rights of fovereignty of the being fo fir wanting to himfelf; but flates of the empire; the ties of in fheltering his own honour, why nature and of biood ; it is to fear has he not been afraid of expofing neither the judjjment of cotempo- that of the king his father ? raries, or of pollerity ; it is wilfully

If the King of England, Elevftor branding one'? life and memory »f Hanover, on his receiving advice with an indelible mark of infamy ;

in