d; ratification of it refused by both Courts, by
the French Court first, if that was any matter:--and the only thing now
memorable of it is, that IT was a total Futility; but, that there ensued
from it a Fact still of importance; namely:--

"That on the 5th of October following, Royal Highness quitted Stade,
and his wrecked Army hanging sorrowful there, like a flight of plucked
cranes in mid-air;--arrived at Kensington, October 12th; heard the
paternal Majesty say, that evening, 'Here is my son who has ruined
me, and disgraced himself!'--and thereupon indignantly laid down his
military offices, all and sundry; and ceased altogether to command
Armies, English or other, in this world. [In WALPOLE (iii. 59-64) the
amplest minuteness of detail.] Whereby, in the then and now diagram of
things, Kloster-Zeven, as a mathematical point, continues memorable in
History, though shrunk otherwise to zero!

"Pitt's magnanimity to Royal Highness was conspicuous. Royal Highness,
it is said, had been very badly used in this matter by his poor peddling
Father and the Hanover Ministers; the matter being one puddle of
imbecilities from beginning to end. He was the soul of honor; brave as
a Welf lion; but, of dim poor head; and had not the faintest vestige
[ALLERGERINGSTE says Mauvillon] of military skill: awful in the extreme
to see in command of British Armies! Adieu to him, forever and a day."

Ever since July 29th, three days after Hastenbeck, Pitt had been in
Office again; such the bombardment by Corporation-Boxes and Events
impinging on Britannic Majesty: but not till now, as I fancy, had Pitt's
way, in regard to those German matters, been clear to him. The question
of a German Army, if you must, have a No-General at the top of it, might
well be problematical to Pitt. To equip your strong fighting man,
and send him on your errand, regardless of expense; and, by way of
preliminary, cut the head off him, before saying "Good-speed to you,
strong man!" But with a General, Pitt sees that it can be different;
that perhaps "America can be conquered in Germany," and that, with a
Britannic Majesty so disposed, there is no other way of trying it. To
this course Pitt stands henceforth, heedless of the gazetteer cackle,
"Hah, our Pitt too become German, after all his talking!"--like a
seventy-four under full sail, with sea, wind, pilot all of one mind, and
only certain water-fowl objecting. And is King of England for the next
Four Years; the one