rest and glory coincide,
and an immense extent of country added by conquest to her dominions. The
people, confiding in the integrity and abilities of their own minister,
and elevated by the repeated sounds of triumph, became enamoured of the
war, and granted such liberal subsidies for its support, as no other
minister would have presumed to ask, as no other nation believed they
could afford. Nor did they murmur at seeing great part of their treasure
diverted into foreign channels; nor did they seem to bestow a serious
thought on the accumulating load of the national debt, which already
exceeded the immense sum of one hundred millions.

In a word, they were intoxicated with victory; and as the king happened
to die in the midst of their transports, occasioned by the final
conquest of Canada, their good humour garnished his character with
a prodigality of encomiums. A thousand pens were drawn to paint the
beauties and sublimity of his character, in poetry as well as prose.
They extolled him above Alexander in courage and heroism, above Augustus
in liberality, Titus in clemency, Antoninus in piety and benevolence,
Solomon in wisdom, and Saint Edward in devotion. Such hyperbolical
eulogiums served only to throw a ridicule upon a character which was
otherwise respectable. The two universities vied with each other in
lamenting his death; and each published a huge collection of elegies
on the subject: nor did they fail to exalt his praise, with the warmest
expressions of affection and regret, in the compliments of condolence
and congratulation which they presented to his successor. The same
panegyric and pathos appeared in all the addresses with which every
other community in the kingdom approached the throne of our present
sovereign: insomuch that we may venture to say, no prince was ever more
popular at the time of his decease. The English are naturally warm and
impetuous; and in generous natures, affection is as apt as any other
passion to run riot. The sudden death of the king was lamented as a
national misfortune by many, who felt a truly filial affection for their
country; not that they implicitly subscribed to all the exaggerated
praise which had been so liberally poured forth on his character, but
because the nation was deprived of him at a critical juncture, while
involved in a dangerous and expensive war, of which he had been
personally the chief mover and support. They knew the burden of royalty
devolved upon a young