George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 4, 15th edition.

[398] after the battle of Cannae,—your great Queen Eliza-

chap. XVII.} 1761. June.

beth, against Philip the Second and the invincible armada,—Gustavus Vasa, who restored Sweden,—the Prince of Orange, whose magnanimity, valor, and perseverance founded the republic of the United Provinces,—these are the models I follow. You, who have grandeur and elevation of soul, disapprove my choice, if you can,

All Europe turns its eye on the beginning of the reign of kings, and by the first fruits infers the future. The king of England has but to elect, whether, in negotiating peace, he will think only of his own kingdom, or, preserving his word and his glory, he will also have care for the welfare of his allies. If he chooses the latter course, I shall owe him a lively gratitude; and posterity, which judges kings, will crown him with benedictions.

‘Would to God,’ replied Pitt, ‘that the moments of anxiety for the states and the safety of the most invincible of monarchs were entirely passed, away;’ and Stanley, in his first interview with Choiseul, avowed the purpose of England to support its great ally ‘with efficacy and good faith.’ But France had no motive to ruin Prussia; a just regard for whose interests would have been no insurmountable obstacle to the peace.

When France expressed a hope of recovering Canada, as a compensation for her German conquests, ‘They must not be put in the scale,’ said Pitt to Bussy. ‘The members of the Empire and your own allies will never allow you to hold one inch of ground in Germany. The whole fruit of your expeditions, after the immense waste of treasure and men, will be to make the house of Austria more powerful.’ ‘I ’