Pitt speak him cordial to the business of peace. “I have been told,” he said, “that some time before he should have been well contented to bring France on her knees; now he would not rest till he had laid her on her back.” During these events of _éclat_, an incident happened that led to a discovery of some of the secret politics of the Heir-Apparent’s Court. A seat for the county of Hampshire was become vacant, the Marquis of Winchester,[78] one of its members, succeeding his father in the Dukedom. Legge, about the same time, had likewise vacated his seat for the same county, a patent-place devolving to him by the death of his brother. Lord Bute took that opportunity of notifying his resentment to Legge, who stood for the county, and carried it against one Stewart,[79] recommended by the Earl. Pitt did not favour Legge; and was as little inclined to favour the views of the Prince’s Court. Their mutual haughtiness and reserve had early impaired the connexion of Lord Bute and Pitt. The Prince’s Court had secrets of their own; nor was Pitt more communicative to the successor of his grandfather’s measures. The affair of Lord George Sackville, who was patronized by the Prince, widened the breach. Rewards were now bestowed on the meritorious Commanders. Sir Edward Hawke, a man void of ostentation or ambition, was rewarded with an annual pension of 1500_l._ for thirty years. Admiral Boscawen was made General of Marines, and Saunders Lieutenant-General; the former with 5_l._ a day, the latter with 4_l._ A present of twenty thousand pounds was given to Prince Ferdinand by the King, but brought into the House of Commons with other charges of the year. Sir John Philipps, obliquely to make the King’s parsimony remarked, who had made a present to his General at the expense of his people, found fault with the manner, and said that the gift of the House ought to have been transacted in a handsomer manner. Pitt took the advice on himself, and descanted on the merit of the Prince, who had served us for two years without pay; talked on the rewards to the Duke of Marlborough; and quoted Lord Stair for having in one article charged 40,000_l._ for putting the Austrians in motion. But neither was the present itself blamed, nor could the Prince be said to have served for nothing. Twelve thousand pounds a year were paid to him for his table and stables: he had the Garter, and a pension of two thousand a year on Ireland. If he suffered his German agents to embezzle millions without accounting with him, he had less _prudence_ than the Duke of Marlborough--and yet did not escape similar suspicions.