THE J3 ROME-WALTON FAMILY. 
233 
voted; 20,000 men were added to the army; the Militia Bill (as we now 
have it) passed; the foreign troops in England sent away; France was 
to be conquered through America, and not one British soldier to be 
sent to Hanover. One significant characteristic of Pitt at this juncture 
was his personal selection of professional soldiers as general and divi¬ 
sional Commanders for the expedition destined against Louisbourg in 
the spring of 1757. On 9th April, Pitt suddenly resigned, owing to 
his policy of continental abstention: but a ministry without the people’s 
idol was impossible, and on 29th June he was brought in again as 
coalition Premier. 1 2 
The army, of 31,000 at end of 1748, in England, was now increased 
to 80,000—exclusive of the Irish establishment,—55,000 seamen were 
added to the navy; and the Royal Artillery, by augmentation of 
four companies, formed into two battalions 3 of twelve companies each 
(including cadet company, 1st battalion, and the company of Sappers 
and Miners, which was incorporated into the 2nd battalion in 1757, 
after return from the unsuccessful expedition to Minorca with Byng’s 
fleet). The spirit infused into the nation was indescribable ; 3 the ex¬ 
pectations of the people were raised to the highest pitch ; fall swing 
was to be given to the “ Little England” plans of conducting a war 
alone against the most formidable land and sea nation of Europe; and 
a lesson of experience to be acquired by Britain which will be remem¬ 
bered to the end of time. One of Pitt’s first accredited acts was to 
propose the surrender of Gibraltar in exchange for Minorca, so as to 
detach Spain from the French alliance. 4 With all his industry and 
dominant individuality, his powers of organisation, genius in raising 
“ the ships, the men, and the money too,” and his faculty of discerning 
and courage in rewarding merit, Pitt cannot be allowed to have 
developed into the “ Great Statesman” until the true, manly instinct of 
the British nation—aroused, in the summer of 1758, after temporary 
aberration, by a sense of shame at the heroic achievements of our 
deserted ally, the Great Frederick, single handed against the combined 
armies of Europe, and by contrasting our ignominious loss of Hanover— 
impelled the “ Great Commoner” to abandon his “ Little England” 
convictions of the tradesman, and to organise and equip the unrivalled 
land fighting force for the continent which, on 1st August, 1759, by 
the glorious victory of Minden (the Waterloo of the 18th century, 
in its results), demoralised the French army, recovered Hanover, and 
secured for Europe the blessings of twenty years of peace. 
Home Defence. 
The volumes of Ordnance records (1756/7) teem with “Pitt” warrants, 
not only for home but for colonial exigencies, bearing witness to the 
extraordinary activity and care of this Secretary of War and Foreign 
Minister (at this time 48 years of age) ; but Pitt’s first efforts in the role 
1 “Annual Register.” 1757, “ Naval and Military Memoirs” (Beatson), Yol. II., p. 6. 
2 “ Royal Warrant,” 8th. March, 1757, signed W. Pitt, to Charles Duke of Marlborough, Master- 
General of the Ordnance. 
3 “ Annual Register” and “ Gentleman’s Magazine,” 1757. 
4 “Appals of War,” 1757 (Sir E. Oust), p. 201. 
