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CHAPTER XVII.

BLACKHEATH.-LONDON.-BATH.

OCTOBER-DECEMBER, 1757.

NEVER was there a greater national disappointment than that caused by the failure of the expedition against Rochefort, for the people had counted on success. They could not believe that the first great war-measure of their Minister, whose energy had been displayed in the magnitude of the preparations, could possibly miscarry ; but, like other men, Pitt had to purchase experience. Nor did this mortification come singly. The cause of England's only ally seemed to be rendered irremediable by the disastrous battle of Kolin; the Duke of Cumberland likewise had been defeated at Hastenbeck, and agreed to a convention whereby his army was disbanded, and France was at liberty to turn her arms against Prussia. The intelligence from America was also disheartening, while at home, owing chiefly to the dearness of provisions and the agitation consequent upon the Militia Bill, the lower orders were "dissatisfied, mutinous, and ripe for insurrection." No Minister but Pitt could have successfully struggled against such a state of things,the natural result of the mismanagement of his prede

cessors.

On the opening of Parliament he reprehended with great warmth the indolence and caution of those entrusted with the execution of military operations. He declared his solemn belief that there was a determined resolution, in both naval and military commanders, against any vigorous exertion of the national power; and affirmed, that though the King was ready to embrace every measure proposed by his Ministers for the honour and interest of the country, yet scarcely a man could be found with whom the conduct of any design, in which there was the least appearance of danger, could with confidence be trusted. With a force much greater than the nation had ever maintained, and a Government ardently desirous of redeeming her glory and promoting her welfare, a shameful dislike to the service everywhere prevailed. Nor was it, he said, amongst the military officers alone that inactivity and neglect appeared; those who filled other departments were affected with a like indifference. Contractors, purveyors, victuallers were never to be found but upon occasions of their own personal advantage; in conversation they appeared totally ignorant of their business. The extent of their knowledge went no further than making of false accounts; in that science they were adepts.*

But Pitt, indefatigable and punctual in the fulfilment of his own official duties, by his example and authority soon awakened all those who were under him to a consciousness of their responsibility to a master whose keen penetration was not to be deceived. His detection and exposure of abuses in the several departments wherein

* Almon, vol. i. p. 332.

they had been long prevalent, eventually operated to the public advantage; and the superior officers of the army, as if electrified by the fire of the great Minister's mind, were aroused from their lethargy. The consequence was, that ere long order and promptitude were observed in the transaction of civil affairs, and the military renown of the nation was restored.

Returning to Wolfe, who had sought the retirement of Blackheath. On the 17th of October he writes to his mother:

To save myself the trouble of answering questions, and for the sake of fresh air and exercise, I have taken up my quarters at your house, and, with Mrs. Eleanor's assistance, am like to do well. By the bye, her husband was very useful to me on board the 'Ramillies.' I was glad you were gone to the Bath, though I lost the pleasure of seeing you for a time. It is a little melancholy to be left alone, especially to one who was a witness of our late miscarriage. By this trial I find that the cheerfullest temper requires the aid and prop of society. When Françoise comes to know what I would have for dinner, he distresses me with the question. Whenever I keep house somebody must direct, for I cannot.

As to the expedition, it has been conducted so ill that I am ashamed to have been of the party. The public could not do better than dismiss six or eight of us from the service. No zeal, no ardour, no care or concern for the good and honour of the country. I have begun to dismiss myself by surrendering up my office of Quartermaster-General for Ireland. They thought proper to put a younger lieutenant-colonel over me, and I thought it proper to resign. My Lord Barrington says he has nothing to do with Irish affairs, so refers me to Mr.

*Eleanor White, a domestic, to whom Mrs. Wolfe bequeathed an annuity of £20. To other servants, who had lived with her for two years and upwards, she left £20 each.

Secretary Rigby ;* but his Lordship desired me to suspend my operations for a few days, which accordingly I do. I will certainly not go to Ireland without the rauk of colonel, and am indifferent whether I get it or not. I can't part with my other employment, because I have nothing else to trust to; nor do I think it consistent with honour to sneak off in the middle of a war.

Next day, Wolfe writes the following epitome of the late proceedings to his uncle Walter :

Dear Sir,

Blackheath, October 18th, 1757.

"Nous avons manqué un beau coup," as the French prisoners told us, after we had loitered away three or four days in consultations, deliberations, and councils of war. The season of the year and nature of the enterprise called for the quickest and most vigorous execution, whereas our proceedings were quite otherwise. We were in sight of the Isle of Rhé the 20th September, consequently were seen by the enemy (as their signals left us no room to doubt), and it was the 23rd before we fired a gun. That afternoon and night slipped through our hands, the lucky moment of confusion and consternation among our enemies. The 24th,-Admirals and Generals consult together, and resolve upon nothing between them but to hold a council of war. The 25th,-this famous council sat from morning till late at night, and the result of the debates was unanimously not to attack the place they were ordered to attack, and for reasons that no soldier will allow to be sufficient. The 26th,-the Admiral sends a message to the General, intimating that if they did not determine to do something there he would go to another place. The 27th, the Generals and Admirals view the land with glasses, and agree upon a

*William, second Viscount Barrington, was at this time Secretaryat-War. Richard Rigby, the son of a linendraper who had enriched himself as factor of the South Sea Company, was secretary to the Duke of Bedford, Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. See Walpole's Letters, Junius, etc.

second council of war, having by this time discovered their mistake. The 28th,-they deliberate, and resolve to land that night. Orders are issued out accordingly, but the wind springing up after the troops had been two or three hours in the boats, the officers of the navy declare it difficult and dangerous to attempt the landing. The troops are commanded back to their transports, and so ended the expedition! The true state of the case is, that our sea-officers do not care to be engaged in any business of this sort, where little is to be had but blows and reputation; and the officers of the infantry are so profoundly ignorant, that an enterprise of any vigour astonishes them to that degree that they have not strength of mind nor confidence to carry it through.

I look upon this as the greatest design that the nation has engaged in for many years, and it must have done honour to us all if the execution had answered the intentions of the projector. The Court of Versailles, and the whole French nation, were alarmed beyond measure. "Les Anglois ont attrapé notre foible," disent-ils. Alas! we have only discovered our own.† I see no remedy, for we have no officers from the Commander-in-chief down to Mr. Webb and Lord Howe; and the navy list is not much better. If they would even blunder on and fight a little, making some amends to the public by their courage for their want of skill; but this excessive degree of caution, or whatever name it deserves, leaves exceeding bad impressions among the troops, who, to do them justice, upon this occasion showed all the signs of spirit and goodwill. My health is a little injured by this summer's inactivity, as I have not been able to get ten times

* "Milord Holdernesse, long-tems ministre, avec qui j'en ai parlé depuis à Londres, m'a dit que de toutes les entreprises qui s'étoient faites sur nos côtes, c'étoit la seule qu'il eût approuvée, et qui dût réussir si elle eût été mieux conduite." (Duclos, Mémoires Secrets,' vol. ii. p. 456.)

+ It was affirmed that Louis XV. said at a levée :-"By this time the English are in possession of Rochefort, and it will cost me more than thirty millions of livres to repair the injury they will do me." (Grenville Correspondence, vol. i. p. 217.)