The old man's objections, however, were overcome; and the two great houses of Russell and Cavendish, which had long been closely connected by friendship and by marriage, by common opinions, common sufferings and common triumphs, received on the same day the greatest honour which it is in the power of the Crown to confer.

[531] The Gazette which announced these creations announced also that the King had set out for the Continent.

He had, before his departure, consulted with his ministers about the means of counteracting a plan of naval operations which had been formed by the French government.

Hitherto the maritime war had been carried on chiefly in the Channel and the Atlantic.

But Lewis had now determined to concentrate his maritime forces in the Mediterranean.