[50] George Walpole, third Earl of Orford, grandson of Sir Robert Walpole. Lord Orford, whose intellects were never very sound, and which were afterwards much disordered, showed at no time a disposition to tread in the principles of his grandfather and family. He lived almost always in the country, and was chiefly influenced in politics, when he did take any part in them, by George Lord Townshend, who had deviated still more from the Whig principles of _his_ grandfather; being poisoned by his mother, the celebrated Ethelreda, Lady Townshend. That lady had been very affected. She had a great deal of wit, which was seldom delicate, and had turned Jacobite on some disregard from the Duke of Cumberland. One day that she was very severe on the Royal Family, Margaret Cecil, Lady Brown, said to her, “Lady Townshend, it was very well, while you was only _affected_; but now you are _disaffected_, it is intolerable.” A famous _bon mot_ of Lady Townshend on the Royal Family was occasioned by seeing them often at Ranelagh: she said, “This is the cheapest family to see, and the dearest to keep, that ever was.” [51] Afterwards Sir George Brydges Rodney; much more known in the years 1780 and 1781. CHAPTER VIII. Opening of the Campaign in Germany under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick--Reports of the Battle of Minden--Lord Granby and Lord George Sackville--Reflections on the latter--His Lordship’s conduct at the Battle of Minden--He returns to England--Correspondence of French Generals--King of Prussia’s Campaign--His Army defeated at Cunnersdorf--He saves Berlin and retrieves his Affairs--Spain and Naples--Charles III. of Spain sets aside his eldest son in the succession, in consequence of weakness of intellect--Admiral Boscawen defeats the French Fleet--Conquests in America--Lord George Sackville--Death of the Bishop of Worcester.