THE GENEROUS GRANBY 



among the field, and I note too that there were four parsons 

 in the lists, showing that the Lincolnshire clergy shared in 

 the pleasures as well as the troubles of their parishioners in 

 those early days of hunting. 



Lord Granby left England in 1759, and was present at the 

 battle of Minden, where he helped to save the credit of 

 the English cavalry. Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick had 

 induced De Broglie and Soubise to give him battle in a 

 position in which they were at a great disadvantage. With 

 inferior forces he had shaken the French infantry, and he 

 desired to complete the destruction of the foot soldiers of 

 the enemy by the shock of his massed cavalry. It was the 

 supreme opportunity of the battle, that chance of great and 

 brilliant action which comes so seldom. Lord George Sack- 

 ville had famous regiments behind him, led by men who saw 

 the opportunity and chafed to be let loose ; but when Prince 

 Ferdinand sent officers galloping in hot haste to order the 

 advance, the cavalry still halted. Thinking that possibly 

 Lord George Sackville distrusted the Hanoverians he had 

 under him, the Prince sent again and yet again, while he 

 watched eagerly for the rattle of bit and spur, the thunder of 

 hoofs and the dust of the charge. But it never came. Lord 

 George, who had hitherto served with credit, had been seized 

 with one of those panics which all who have seen war know 

 are possible even to the brave. He temporised, questioned, 

 and did not act, showing that rare courage of cowardice 

 which could face the blighting scorn in the eyes of his 

 subordinates in order to save his skin. The opportunity 

 passed, but Lord Granby's eagerness to repair the mischief 

 was plain, and he did all he could in the face of the inaction 

 of his chief He soon after became the commander of the 

 British forces, and in 1760 led that splendid charge at War- 

 burg which is the best remembered of his many exploits. 

 He was perhaps the first M.F.H. who ever led a cavalry 

 charge ; certainly he was the most distinguished. Always to 

 the front, always ready to fight, he and his men were ever in 

 the place of danger. Generous to his officers, considerate of 

 his men, careful of the sick and wounded, and forgetful of 



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