was opposed to
all enlistments, both at home and from outside, and he tried hard to limit
it after the close of the Seven Years' War. When, however, in 1777, the
Hessian Parliament concluded its treaty of alliance, which provided for
Hessian troops to serve in the British army, it was necessary to increase
the force, and there was a rush of volunteers from all parts of Germany,
and the Elector republished an order of December 16, 1762, substantially
as follows: "Officers guilty of enlisting men by force or unfair means
will be dismissed the service; non-commissioned officers and privates for
the like offence will receive corporeal punishment, and the orders of
their superiors will not protect them. Soldiers enlisted by force or trick
shall be released at once without expense to them or any charge for food
or pay, which shall be collected from the officer responsible for such
illegal enlistment."

No foreign subject was ever retained in the Hessian service against his
will. All those who voluntarily enlisted for the American war were, on
their return, regularly and honorably discharged, and received as a reward
half a month's pay at the high English rate as the personal gift of the
Elector. All of this is proved by the official records. During his whole
reign the Elector made a steadfast effort to prevent forcible enlistment,
and went so far in opposition to neighboring sovereigns, who acted
differently, that once, at least, this led to a formal declaration of war.

His conduct was met by false reports industriously spread abroad to his
injury. Frederick of Prussia knew that the Hessian government neither
could nor would allow Hessian subjects to be enlisted against their will
in foreign service. With consent of the Parliament, Hessian troops could
serve as allies for a time regulated by treaty with any friendly power,
but the State could never sell its individual citizens into foreign
service. King Frederick could never introduce in Hesse the servitude that
put his Brandenburg and Pomeranian subjects at his beck and nod. As early
as 1760 the Hessian troops took the oath under the Hessian constitution,
but the Prussian and Brandenburg people were helplessly bound to the
nobility and princes as chattels down to 1808, and it was not until 1848
that the Prussian constitution, as the outcome of a revolution, gave the
people the protection which the Hessians had always enjoyed.

The Elector was libelled as no prince was eve