e of a cabinet-maker near
Covent-garden, raged with great fury, and reduced near twenty houses to
ashes. Many others were damaged, and several persons either burned in
their apartments, or buried under the ruins. The bad consequences of
this calamity were in a great measure alleviated by the humanity of
the public, and the generous compassion of the prince of Wales, who
contributed liberally to the relief of the sufferers.

CLAMOUR AGAINST LORD SACKVILLE.

But no subject so much engrossed the conversations and passions of the
public as did the case of lord George Sackville, who had by this time
resigned his command in Germany, and returned to England, the country
which, of all others, it would have been his interest to avoid at this
juncture, if he was really conscious of the guilt the imputation of
which his character now sustained. With the first tidings of the battle
fought at Minden the defamation of this officer arrived. He was accused
of having disobeyed orders, and his conduct represented as infamous in
every particular. These were the suggestions of a vague report, which no
person could trace to its origin; yet this report immediately gave birth
to one of the most inflammatory pamphlets that ever was exhibited to the
public. The first charge had alarmed the people of England, jealous in
honour, sudden and rash in their sentiments, and obstinately adhering to
the prejudices they have espoused. The implied accusation in the orders
of prince Ferdinand, and the combustible matter superadded by the
pamphlet-writer, kindled up such a blaze of indignation in the minds of
the people, as admitted of no temperament or control. An abhorrence and
detestation of lord George Sackville, as a coward and a traitor, became
the universal passion, which acted by contagion, infecting all degrees
of people from the cottage to the throne; and no individual, who had the
least regard for his own character and quiet, would venture to preach
up moderation, or even advise a suspension of belief until more certain
information could be received. Fresh fuel was continually thrown in
by obscure authors of pamphlets and newspapers, who stigmatized and
insulted with such virulent perseverance, that no one would have
imagined they were actuated by personal motives, not retained by
mercenary booksellers, against that unfortunate nobleman. Not satisfied
with inventing circumstances to his dishonour, in his conduct on the
last occasion, they