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Contest for the Throne of Poland. - Election of Stanislaus. - Forcible

Proclamation of Augustus. - France, Spain, and Sardinia declare War

against Austria. — Operations of the Campaigns in Germany and Italy.

-The Emperor claims succours from England. Is refused. Threatens

to open a Negotiation with Spain. - Opening of Parliament. — Policy

of Walpole. - Tactics of the Opposition. - Foreign Affairs. - Military

Prerogative of the Crown assailed. - Motion for an Address concerning

the late Dismissals. - Plan of proceeding of the Anti- Ministerialists.

Attempt to repeal the Septennial Act. - Speeches of Wyndham and

Walpole. — Close of the Session. - Progress of Affairs in the Recess. —

General Election.- Brief and uninteresting Session,-War declared

between Spain and Portugal. - Decisive Interposition of England. —

Arduous Negotiations between the Allies and the Emperor. — General

Pacification
Page 200

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CHAP. X.

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1736-1738.

Proceedings in Parliament. — Tumults occasioned by the Gin Act. -

The King goes to Hanover. - Foreign Policy of Walpole. - Serious

Riots in Edinburgh. - Debates upon them in both Houses. - Bill of

Pains and Penalties against the Provost and Corporation. - Further

Alienation of the Sinking Fund. - Proposal to redeem the South-Sea

Annuities negatived. -Motion to increase the Allowance to the Prince

of Wales. - Dramatic Censorship established.- Differences between the

King and the Prince. - Declining Popularity of Ministers. — Death of

the Queen.-Spanish Depredations in the West Indies. — Efforts of the

Opposition to reduce the Standing Army and to precipitate a War.-

Great Public Excitement. - Energetic Proceedings concerning Spain.

Increasing Difficulties of the Ministry. - Publication of the Debates

prohibited. Close of the Session. - Convention with Spain signed at

Madrid

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219

CHAP. XI.

1739-1741.

Opening of Parliament.

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Violent Opposition to the Convention with

Spain. Ministers carry the Address in both Houses. - Protest and Se-

cession of Wyndham and his Friends.- Death of Wyndham. - Pro-

motion of useful Measures. Repeal of the Test Act negatived. Treaty

with Denmark. Close of the Session. Failure of the Negotiations,

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and Declaration of War against Spain. - Increasing Embarrassments of

Walpole. Progress of the War. — Capture of Porto Bello. - Discom-

fiture at Carthagena. -Successes of Commodore Anson. Dissensions

in the Cabinet. - Last Session of the Parliament. Sandys moves an

Address to the King for the Removal of Walpole. - Debated and ne-

gatived in both Houses. Subsidies granted to the Queen of Hungary.

- Dissolution of Parliament.- Coalition of the Tories and Discontented

Whigs. Violent Proceedings at the Elections. - Unpopularity of Wal-

pole

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Page 244

CHAP. XII.

1741-1748.

Declining Influence of Walpole. - Contested Elections. -Fruitless Over-

tures to the Prince of Wales. - Pulteney's Motion on the State of the

Nation. Resignation of Walpole.- Pulteney forms a Coalition Ad-

ministration, but refuses to take Office, Feuds in the Opposition. —

The new Cabinet adopt the Policy of their Predecessors. Committee

of Inquiry into the Conduct of Walpole. Bill to compel Evidence.

Failure of the Investigation. - Character of Walpole. Apostacy of

Carteret. - Military Disasters Abroad. - Declaration of War against

France. Carteret's Resignation. Reconstruction of the Government.

-Motion for the Repeal of the Septennial Act rejected. - Death of

Charles VII. — Invasion of the Austrian Netherlands. Continued

Failures of the Allies. - Tranquillity of Ireland. - Rebellion of Prince

Charles in Scotland. - Change in the Ministry. - Appointment and Re-

signation of Lord Granville.- Prodigality of the Supplies. - Resumption

of Hostilities. Naval Victories of Anson and Howe.-Treaty of Aix-

la-chapelle

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262

CHAP. XIII.

1749-1753.

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Incon-

Weakness of the Opposition. - Innovations in the Mutiny Bill.

sistencies of Pitt.- Pelham reduces the Interest on the Public Securities.

-Useful Labours of the Session. - Riots at the Westminster Election.

Arbitrary Proceedings of the House of Commons. — Death of the Prince

of Wales. - Regency Bill. — Education of the young Prince. - Foreign

Protestants' Naturalisation Bill.- Gregorian Calendar adopted.-Deaths

in the Royal Families of Europe. - Subsidy Treaties with the German

Princes. The Election of the King of Rome abandoned. - Enactments

of the Session. - Feeble Motives of the Opposition. - Prussian Demand

of Reparation for Captures. — Reduction of Expenditure. — Bill for the

Naturalisation of the Jews. Bill for the Prevention of Clandestine

Marriages. Execution of Dr. Cameron. - State of Europe.

285

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Timidity of Ministers.— Repeal of the Jews' Naturalisation Bill. - Death

of Mr. Pelham. - Duke of Newcastle appointed Prime Minister. Ge-

neral Election. - Differences with the Irish Parliament. — Controversy

in France concerning the Bull Unigenitus. - Affairs of Nova Scotia.-

Remonstrance of the English Ambassador. - Hostile Proceedings of the

French in America. — British Fleet off Newfoundland makes Reprisals

on France. Unsuccessful Campaigns in America. — Alliances formed

with Hesse Cassel, Russia, and Prussia. - Violent Opposition to the

Treaties. Pitt and his Friends dismissed. - Fox appointed Secretary

of State. Disunion in the Cabinet. Hanoverian Mercenaries arrive

in England.. Descent on Minorca. - Conduct of Admiral Byng. -

Minorca surrenders to the French. - Parliamentary Inquiry into the

Causes. Resignation of Fox and the Duke of Newcastle.-Trial and

Execution of Byng

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Page 311

CHAP. XV.

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1757-1759.

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Paper Controversies.- Election for Rochester. - The King's aversion to

his Ministers.- Duke of Cumberland appointed to the Command in

Hanover. Dismissal of Pitt and his Friends. Hopeless Negotiations

to form an Administration. The Inter-Ministerium. - The King

abandons the Attempt. Pitt recalled. - Conduct of the Prince of

Wales. Failure of the Expedition to Rochefort. - Sir John Mordaunt

tried by Court Martial. Disasters in Germany. Convention of

Cloister-Seven. - -Duplicity of the King. Secret History of that

Transaction. - The Duke of Cumberland resigns all his Employments.

Riots about the Militia Bill. - Support voted to the King of Prussia.

-Pitt's Objections to the German War.- Deaths of the Queen of Poland

and the Princess Caroline. - Violation of the Convention of Cloister-

Seven. - French driven out of Hanover. - Triumphs of Abercrombie

and Amherst in America. - Successes in Africa and the West Indies.

- Unfortunate Affair at St. Cas. - Upwards of Twelve Millions voted

for the Year. - Fresh Rumours of Invasion

338

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CHAP. XVI.

1759-1760.

Brilliant Succession of Naval Victories. - Engagement off Gibraltar. —

Defeat of the French Squadron in the Bay of Quiberon. - Thurot's En-

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terprise. Campaign in America.-Siege and Conquest of Quebec. —
Death of Wolfe.-Campaign in Germany. Battle of Minden.- Con-
duct of Lord George Sackville. - Munificent Supplies voted by Parlia-
ment. Parliamentary Qualification Act. — Clamour in Ireland against
the Union. - Deaths in the Royal Families of Europe.-Campaign in
Germany. Final Acquisition of Canada. - A Court Martial on Lord
George Sackville. - Death of George II. His Character Page 360

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Arrest of some of the Members of the House of Commons 18

Severity of the Government against the Tories

Battle of Dunblane

1716.

Landing of the Pretender near Aberdeen

His Obstinacy and Fanaticism

21

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27

23

29

Trial of Derwentwater, Nithisdale, and others for High

Treason

Their Execution

Introduction of the Septennial Act

Opposition of the House of Commons

Is finally passed on the 26th of April

Constitutional Objections

Sir Richard Steel argues in its Favour

Mr. Shippen against it

Argument on the Validity of the Act

George I. visits Hanover

Policy of the Prince of Wales in his Absence

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