(1050) “I have the joy to tell you,” writes Mr. Pitt, on the 6th, to Lady Hester, “that our happy victory ne fait que croitre et embellir:  by letters come this day, the hereditary Prince, with his troops, had passed the Weser, and attacked, with part of them, a body of six thousand French, defeated it, took many prisoners, some trophies and cannon:  M. de Contades’s baggage, coaches, mules, letters, and correspondences have fallen into our hands.  Words in letters say, ‘qu’on se lasse de prendre des prisoniers.’” Chatham Correspondence, vol. ii. p. 8.-E.

504 Letter 328 To George Montagu, Esq.  Strawberry Hill, Aug. 9, 1759.

Unless your Colonel Johnson is a man of no note, he is well. for we have not lost one officer of any note—­now will you conclude that we are beaten, and will be crying and roaring all night for Hanover.  Lord! where do you live?  If you had any ears, as I have none left with the noise, you would have heard the racket that was made from morning till night yesterday on the news of the victory(1051) gained by Prince Ferdinand over the French.  He has not left so many alive as there are at any periwig-maker’s in London.  This is all we know, the particulars are to come at their leisure, and with all the gravity due to their importance.  If the King’s heart were not entirely English, I believe he would be complimented with the title of Germanicus from the name of the country where this great event happened; for we don’t at all know the precise spot, nor has the battle yet been christened—­all that is certain is, that the poor Duke(1052) is neither father nor godfather.

I was sent for to town yesterday, as Mrs. Leneve was at the point of death:  but she has had a surprising change, and may linger on still.  I found the town distracted, and at night it was beautiful beyond description.  As the weather was so hot, every window was open, and all the rails illuminated; every street had one or two bonfires, the moon was in all its glory, the very middle of the streets crowded with officers and people of fashion talking of the news.  Every squib in town got drunk, and rioted about the streets till morning.  Two of our regiments are said to have suffered much, of which Napier’s most.  Adieu!  If you should be over-English with this, there is a party of one thousand five hundred men stolen out of Dunkirk, that some weeks hence may bring you to your senses again, provided they are properly planted and watered in Scotland.

(1051) At the battle of Minden.

(1052) Duke of Cumberland.

505 Letter 329
To The Earl Of Strafford. 
Strawberry Hill, Thursday, 3 o’clock, August 9, 1759.