The early years of the war were neither fortunate nor creditable to Great Britain. After the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, the Army within the three kingdoms had been reduced to about eighteen thousand men. In December 1755, an increase of fifteen thousand men had been voted. But armies are not made in a day, and the direction of affairs was in incompetent hands. Pitt, who alone commanded the confidence of the country, was regarded with disfavour by the King. In November 1756, Pitt was recalled to office, and a new spirit was infused into the management of affairs. A Militia Bill was introduced, the regular Army was increased to forty-five thousand men, and steps were taken for enlisting into the service of the State the Highland clans who had so recently been in arms against the Crown. In April 1757, Pitt was dismissed from office, and all again was confusion. For three months England was without a Government; at the end of that time, Pitt was again in office. But the ill effects of the political contest at home were reflected in the ill-success of our arms abroad, and two years were to elapse before the nation felt secure. The year 1757 was a gloomy one in England. A French invasion was believed to be imminent: an expedition, dispatched in May, against Louisbourg in America, failed, owing to the feebleness and tardiness of execution on the part of those to whom it was entrusted: Fort William Henry was taken by Montcalm, and its garrison massacred by the Indians. In Europe, an expedition, dispatched in September, against Rochefort, failed, through the disagreements of the naval and military officers in command. The Duke of Cumberland was forced to evacuate Hanover, and sign the convention of Kloster-Severn, and many months were to elapse before the triumph of Clive at Plassy became known in England. In 1758, matters improved somewhat. In July, Louisbourg was taken, but an attack on Ticonderago in the same month was defeated, and Lord Howe, described by Wolfe as “the noblest Englishman that has appeared in my time, and the best soldier in the British army,” was slain in a skirmish. In Germany, the British troops, under Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick, drove the French out of Hanover, while two successful raids were made on the French coast, in which Cherbourg and St. Servan were temporarily occupied, and a great quantity of warlike stores destroyed or captured.