ment, however eager to re-establish the blessings of peace, has not feared to seek redress and security in war, and that the public honour and public interest were both duly appreciated before both were committed to the issue of the contest. Animated by temperate reflection and firm conviction to meet such a crisis, we have nothing to fear from the efforts of a state greater, and, if possible, more rancorous and inveterate in its hatred than France. For her honour, her freedom, her security, Great Britain, armed and on her guard, has no reason to dread any foe, however powerful and daring. She can, appeal with confidence, to that test, and claim that superintendance which the French Government has the blasphemy to invoke, the JUSTICE OF HER CAUSE, and the GOD OF ARMIES.

ENORMITIES

Committed by the French Troops in the Electorate of Hanover, during the year 1759.

THAT Cruelty and Depredation are not new in the French National

Character, will be evident from the following particulars; which are inserted from the London Chronicle, vol. vi. p. 415.

Translation of a Letter from a Gentleman at Hanover to his friend at London, dated Hanover, Oct. 12, 1759. "If ever the French troops, in contempt of the laws of war, gave the lie to their nation's boast of surpassing all Europe in humanity, it was on occasion of the retreat or flight which they were forced to make after the memorable battle of Minden or Tonhausen.

"The greatest part of the principa lities of Calenberg, Gottingen and Grubenhagen, will bear for many years

the melancholy marks of violence committed by the French troops; which shew too plainly what the King's other dominions would have suffered, had not Providence employed the unparalleled valour and mighty arm of the worthy Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, and the troops under his command, to hinder the execution of instructions given by a Minister respectable for his rank and for his years; but highly to be blamed for his sentiments of inhumanity; proofs of which have fallen into the hands of those whose country, according to him, was to be made a desart.-But let us come to the fact, or rather to the facts, the recital of which makes my hair stand an end; I should be inclined to question the truth of them, if I had not made the strictest enquiry into the facts.

"To constrain the inhabitants on this rout to furnish all the provisions they had in their houses, without leaving any for the subsistence of themselves and their cattle, would have been in some measure excusable in an army; which after losing a battle, and a great part of its baggage, was retiring precipitately, having at its heels the brave Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, the guardian angel of the poor people whose lives and effects were heavily threatened.

"To burn what was not used, and to search for that end, the vaults, granaries and fields, is but little in com parison of the cruelty of those runaways, in forcing the inhabitants without regard to age, by beating them with sticks, by blows with swords, bayonets and muskets, and even by such tortures as are employed only to condemned malefactors put to the question, to declare whether they had any money, and where it was laid.This was done at Esperode in Grohnde Bailiwick.

"To pillage and take away all they could carry; to destroy the rest; to set fire to the towns of Eimbeck, Nordheim, Saltzderhelden, &c. as well as the villages of Laffute, in the bailiwick of Grohnde; at Luethorst in the bailiwick of Ehrichsbury, and many others; to drive away, wound, and even kill those who came to extinguish the flames; to ravish women and maids who were unfortunate enough to be in their way, and to drive away, with blows of swords or muskets, fathers, mothers, husbands or relations, who ran to save them by tears and entreaties, from the brutalities of a fugitive enemy without discipline.

"These, Sir, are exploits of which I could give you a melancholy detail, mentioning the places and persons who have been threatened: But the length of my letter would fatigue you, and the subject be too much for your humanity. We must do the justice to some officers, in whose presence the like violences were attempted, to acknowledge that they were at great pains to curb the licentiousness of the men under their command; but these gentlemen were very few in number; many others discovered great indifference at the sight of those abominable scenes, or shewed by their looks and behaviour that they did not disapprove them.

"Don't imagine, Sir, that this maltreatment was confined to the common people: no, persons of distinction were not spared.

"At Hastenbeck, a Lady of quality received many blows with a stick after she had opened herself all her bureaus, which they pillaged, as well as her whole house; and she would certainly have been left dead on the spot, with all her family, had not an officer interposed. At this place the fugitives carried their rage to the greatest height,

saying, Prince Ferdinand, who had just beat and belaboured them, and had taken their baggage, warlike stores, provisions and artillery, forced them to cross the field of Hastenbeck, (where two years before D'Estrees triumphed over the Duke of Cumberland,) looking as silly as fools and as bare as beggars.'

"The Magistrates of some towns being unable to procure the enormous quantity of provisions and forage which was demanded, were bound with ropes, and carried to the market place, then thrown down on straw and beat so unmercifully, that some of them will be lame as long as they live.

"In Gottingen, an advocate, a burgher and a woman with child, without having given any offence, were through mere wantonness killed in the public street; and the first Magistrates were insulted even on the seat of judg◄ ment.

But what they made Colonel Landsberg and Major-General Hugo suffer, would put even the most brutal troops to the blush: Both are veterans, who have lived many years retired in the country, with a pension from the King. But this did not hinder the first from being treated in a most shocking manner: to personal insult they added the barbarities of robbing him of all his money, furniture, linen and clothes; insomuch that had it not been for a peasants old coat, which he had the good luck to procure, he would have been for some days without enough to cover his nakedness.