Our arms, in the East Indies, were distinguished by splendid achievements. The war, in that remote quarter, began by each power siding with two contending native princes ; and thus, by degrees, becoming principals in the dispute. The viceroy of Bengal, declaring against the English, laid siege to Calcutta, a fort, which was in no situation to repel the attack even of barbarians. It was taken by assault, and a part of the garrison, to the number of 146 persons, were crowded into a small prison, called the black hole of Calcutta,"and perished in cir cumstances horrible to be related. General Clive,how ever, soon avenged this dreadful transaction, and re trieved the affairs of our eastern dominions. Aided by a fleet under Admiral \Vatson, he first subdued a pirati cal Prince Angria, who had annoyed the company's set tlements in the neighbourhood of Bombay ; then march ing into Bengal, defeated the forces of the reigning Subah with a handful of men, assisted his subjects in dethroning him, and placed another attached to the English interests in his stead. The affairs of the com pany being thus triumphantly in the nor thern provinces, the attention of their council and com manders was called to the coast of Coromandel. General Lally, an active military character in the service of France, laid siege to Madras, in 1758 ; but he was driven from thence, by the arrival of Captain Kempen felt, with reinforcements to the garrison, and retreated precipitately to Arcot. A year after this event, Lally was completely defeated, by General. Coote, in the Car natic, and was, at last, blockaded by sea and land in Pondicherry The fortunate capture of this proud and opulent capital of the French Indian dominions comple ted our triumphs in the cast.
The disgraceful convention of Closter-Seven had spread dissatisfaction through England, but as soon as it was known that Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick had put himself at the head of the Hanoverian army, the most sanguine expectations were excited, and the most liberal supplies were granted by parliament. The renewed energy, in the conduct of the German war, as far as England was concerned, was indeed no less owing to the character of the minister than of the peo ple. The interest of the nation was deeply excited by the dangers, the difficulties, and the romantic exploits of Frederick of Prussia. Mr Pitt, himself, who had risen to popularity by declaiming against Germ3n sub sidies, whether smitten by this contagious sympathy, or i anxious to finish the war by vigorous measures, in a quarter where he saw that his sovereign's inclination was unchangeably bent on hostilities, acquiesced in the alliances, and in the warlike measures which he had formerly so much condemned. A body of British forces were sent over to join Piaice Ferdinand, under the duke of Marlborough. Ths; command of these devolved, by the death of Marlborough, on Lord George Sackville, after a few inconsiderable successes of the allies at Crevelt. In the glorious and decisive battle of Minden, the British cavalry were brought forward, by Sackvillc, too late in the action to be of the smallest service ; but the English infantry, commanded by \Valdegrave and Kingsley, bore the brunt and chief credit of the day.
They not only sustained, with the utmost intrepidity, the repeated attacks of the French, but charged thew in their turn, and totally routed the Gendarmerie carabi Deers, and the choicest veterans of the French. Alter this victory, it was expected that another reinforcement would totally turn the scale of fortune, in favour of the allies, but the reinforcement arrived, and no advantage accrued. The English, at last, began to open their eyes to their own interest, and to see that in Germany they were waging unequal war, and assuming new loads of taxes, for conquests which they could neither pre serve nor enjoy. Amidst the events which ultimately contributed to this change of sentiment, George II. died suddenly on the 20th of October 1760. fie had risen at his usual hour, and expressed an intention, as the weather was fine, of walking out. In a few minutes, being left alone, he was heard to fall upon the floor. When his attendants, who were brought into the room by the noise of his fall, lifted him into bed, he desired that the Princess Amelia might be sent for ; but, before her arrival, he expired, in the 77th year of his age, and in the 33d of his reign. In his private character, though his temper was violent, his principles were good, and his conduct frugal, plain, and sincere. His public virtue cannot entirely be sullied by the charge of a predilection for his native country, since that passion itself was a partial virtue. tVithnut having the merit of extending patronage, he saw the arts flourish under his reign ; and, with an ordinary capacity, he enjoyed the longest and most glorious of all English reigns.
All historians concur in representing the period of his present majesty's accession as singularly auspicious. The war was conducted successfully, by a most popular administration. The natural partiality of subjects, for a young sovereign, was increased by the purity of his morals, and the singular graciousness of his manners. The speech delivered from the throne, at the first meeting of parliament, was well calculated to support and increase this popularity. " Born and bred a Briton," said the young monarch, " I hold the civil and religious rights of my people equally dear to me, with the greatest prerogatives of my crown." It was strongly recom mended, to parliament, to support our great ally the king of Prussia, and the liberality of parliament was evinced in voting more than 19 millions, (including a subsidy of 650,0001. for his Prussian Majesty,) for the support of 50,000 land forces, and 70,000 seamen.* The civil list was settled at 800,0001. per annum, a sum now charged on the aggregate fund, in lieu of the hereditary and other specific revenues, which had been assigned to the late king. A most popular act distinguished this session, which passed at the imme diate recommendation of the throne. Hitherto the commissions of the judges expired, according to law, with the demise of the sovereign ; and though, in fact, no instance had °cue-Ted, since the Revolution, in which the new successor had everted his privilege of chang ing them, yet it was thong's.« proper to complete their independence, by extending commissions during good behaviour.