Commander-in-Chief at Gibraltar._
War-office, May 12, 1756. "Sir,--I wrote to you by general Steward: if
that order is not complied with, then you are now to make a detachment
of seven hundred men out of your own regiment and Guise's; and also
another detachment out of Pulteney's and Panmure's regiments, and send
them on board the fleet for the relief of Mahon. But if that order has
been complied with, then you are to make only one detachment of seven
hundred men, to be commanded by another lieutenant-colonel and major,
and to send it to Mahon; and you are also to detain all such empty
vessels as shall come into your harbour, and keep them in readiness for
any further transportation of troops. I have also his royal highness
the duke of Cumberland's commands, to desire that you will keep your
garrison as alert as possible during this critical time, and give such
other assistance as may be in your power for the relief of Minorca;
taking care, however, not to fatigue or endanger your own garrison."]

[Footnote 387: Note 3 C, p. 387. His majesty seems to have abated of
this respect in the sequel, if we may believe the assertions of his
Polish majesty's queen and the court of Vienna, who affirmed, that
sentinels were posted within the palace where the queen and royal family
resided; as also at the door of the secret cabinet, where the papers
relating to foreign transactions were deposited. The keys of this
cabinet were seized, and all the writings demanded. The whole Saxon
ministry were discharged from their respective employments, and a new
commission was established by the king of Prussia for the administration
of affairs in general. When the queen entreated this prince to remove
the sentinels posted within the palace and contiguous passages,
agreeably to his assurances that all due respect should be observed
towards the royal family, the king ordered the guards to be doubled, and
sent an officer to demand of her majesty the keys of the secret cabinet.
The queen obtained this officer's consent that the doors should be
sealed up, but afterwards he returned with orders to break them open:
then her majesty, placing herself before the door, said, she trusted so
much to the promise of the king of Prussia, that she could not believe
he had given such orders. The officer declaring that his orders were
positive, and that he durst not disobey them, she continued in the same
place, declaring, that if violence was to be used, he mus