for the King of Poland's neutrality, which he thought 1756. a better way than asking leave to pass, a ceremony which he omitted. But I see he has ordered the General that will march within two leagues of Dresden to send a most polite message in his name to the king and all the royal family. I do not guess what will be the consequence; but I thought it so extraordinary an event, that your Grace should have as early an account of it as I could with any certainty give you. If the Duke of Marlborough is with your Grace, may I beg my best respects to him. I have called this an extraordinary event, and it is plainly to be seen in the faces of all the foreign ministers that it is so, but not one of them will hazard a conjecture of what it will produce at last. Colonel Jeffreys is come from Minorca: no men ever behaved better than the garrison of Fort St. Philip's. There would not have been the least difficulty in landing succours, had we but tried. I beg, my Lord Duke, my best compliments to the Duchess, and that you would believe me, With the greatest gratitude, &c. September 7. 1756. MR. RIGBY TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. London, September 25. 1756. Here is not the least tittle of news stirring worth sending your Grace, but the King of Prussia's 1756. proceedings, which are extremely rapid and violent. He has possessed himself of the electorate of Saxony entirely, has seized the revenues, suspended the civil government, and sent to Berlin for a governor, to whom he has ordered all obedience to be paid; in short, he is himself as much elector of Saxony as of Brandenburgh. When he entered Dresden, he found the Queen of Poland in the palace: he sent her, as he has wrote to her husband, the civilest assurances of his friendship, but necessity and his own safety demanded his present conduct, and made him also demand the key of a certain closet in the palace. Her Majesty placed her back against the door of it, and told the officer it should be by depriving her of her life that he entered there, but her spirit availed her little, and she was forced to submit in the end. The King of Prussia is said to have kept this expedition so secret, that when the garrison marched out of Berlin, there was not a general officer knew whither they were going, and not even Podewits had been trusted. His Majesty will most likely grow angry at being delayed by his brother of Poland in his camp at Pirna, which it seems is very strong, and the poor devils of inhabitants may suffer grievously. It is certain he thought the other would run away into Poland; and has liberally sent him word, if he will go there, he shall find post-horses and all conveniences ready to convey him. I rode out all this morning with Mr. Fox and Lady Hilsborough, and dined since at Holland House with the Duke of Richmond, but have been able to pick up no opera news for the Duchess or political for yourself. Mr. Fox knows nothing of the time the camps are likely to break up, and still less of any treaty with the people Lady Betty hinted at. The one at Leicester House is certainly concluded entirely to H. R. Highness's satisfaction, old Wall to have nothing to do with them; and I rather think, from putting all circumstances together, Pitt left in the lurch, and Legge if he dares; Lord Bute contra Pitt; but all the history I have of this it is impossible to convey in a letter. I am to dine to-morrow at Gashry's with Admiral Knowles, who is to furnish me with materials for his justification. The Duke of Marlborough is to be at your camp on Thursday or Friday next, and the Duke of Cumberland is quite recovered from his gout. Johnny and Betty I called upon, but they do not come to town till Monday. 1756. MR. RIGBY TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. I am summoned to town from my visit to Houghton, some days sooner than I intended, by an express from Mr. Fox. He has communicated a letter to me which my Lord Granville is to carry to the King to-morrow. It contains an humble and most dutiful offer of quitting his service in his 1756. present employment; and when he comes to be Leicester Fields, Thursday evening, MR. RIGBY TO THE DUKE OF BEDFORD. Holland House, Oct. 15. 1756. Lord Granville was with the King this morning with Mr. Fox's letter. His Majesty is wondrous angry, talked of his insatiable ambition, and the many favours he had granted him, and the much greater degree of power than ever he meant to have granted him. His Lordship, who always laughs at his brother ministers for fools, and then follows their opinions, managed his message (as your Grace will hear hereafter with the greatest exactness from Mr. Fox) with very indifferent discretion; omitted some things he should have said, and added others he should not have said. The event ended in the King's sending back to Mr. Fox, and putting it to his honour and conscience if he would desert his service at this critical time (Mr. Fox bids me add, without departing from his system of governing by the Duke of Newcastle singly). Thus it stands at present; and at this minute, I suppose, if they have not already been rejected by him, they have some emissary with Mr. Pitt with carte blanche. I shall continue to give your Grace an account of this whole transaction as soon as I am made acquainted with every step during its progress, but imagine it will be some time before there will be an absolute decision. I am, &c. &c. RICHARD RIGBY. P. S. Mr. Fox desires your Grace will impart this to Lord Digby, to whom he will write to-morrow. 1756. |