Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/33

Rh George V. was a wise and virtuous prince, but the kingdom suffered from the want of capacity in his ministers, and felt a very severe shock in the conquest of Holland. He came to the crown in one of the most critical moments that it is possible one Prince can succeed another; his kingdom was in the greatest confusion; occasioned by a long and unfortunate war with Russia. In vain had his predecessors endeavoured at an immense expence to prevent the fatal aggrandizement of that empire; in vain had the parliament granted every necessary supply to prevent the northern kingdoms from being swallowed into one prodigious monarchy; every effort which the fifth grand alliance Europe had seen, could make, was ineffectual: Sweden and Denmark, notwithstanding their being so powerfully assisted, were unable to defend themselves; every thing submitted to the rapidity of Peter's arms, and the