ion, as much as he
disapproved of the conduct, in consequence of which near forty
thousand men were so shamefully disarmed, and lost to his cause. Those
stipulations also met with a very unfavourable reception in England,
where the motions of the allied army, in their retreat before the enemy,
were very freely censured, and some great names exposed to the ridicule
and contempt of the public. This event, so singular in itself, and
so important in its consequences, attracted the attention of the
privy-council, where it is said to have been canvassed with great
warmth and animosity of altercation. The general complained that he was
restricted by peremptory orders from the regency of Hanover; and they
were reported to have used recriminations in their defence. In all
probability, every circumstance of the dispute was not explained to the
satisfaction of all parties, inasmuch as that great commander quitted
the harvest of military glory, and, like another Cincinnatus, retired to
his plough. The convention of Closter-Seven was equally disagreeable to
the courts of London and Versailles. The former saw the electorate of
Hanover left, by this capitulation, at the mercy of the enemy, who had
taken possession of the whole country, seized the revenues, exacted
contributions, and changed the whole form of government, in the name
of his most christian majesty; whilst the French army, which had been
employed in opposing the Hanoverian, was now at liberty to throw their
additional force into the scale against the king of Prussia, who, at
that period, seemed to totter on the verge of destruction. On the
other hand, the French ministry thought their general had granted too
favourable terms to a body of forces, whom he had cooped up in such a
manner that, in a little time, they must have surrendered at discretion.
They, therefore, determined either to provoke the Hanoverians by
ill usage to an infraction of the treaty, or, should that be found
impracticable, renounce it as an imperfect convention, established
without proper authority. Both expedients were used without reserve.
They were no sooner informed of the capitulation, than they refused to
acknowledge its validity, except on condition that the Hanoverian troops
should formally engage to desist from all service against France and her
allies during the present war, and be disarmed on their return to
their own country. At the same time her general, who commanded in the
electorate, exh