CHAPTER XII.

Parliamentary calm-Mr. Pelham and the Duke of Newcastle-Mr. Pitt-Naval successesDefeats by land-Battle of Lauffeld-Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle-Charles Edward sent out of France-Pacification of the Highlands-The peace regarded as a hard necessity for Britain-Measures of the Parliament-Reduction of Interest on the National DebtCombination Laws-Parliamentary Privilege-Reform of the Calendar-Death of Frederick, prince of Wales-Official changes -Act for dissection in cases of murder-Act for preventing Thefts and Robberies, and for regulating Places of Public EntertainmentGin Act-The Jew Bill-The Marriage Act. Note on the Stuart Family.

THE interval between the suppression of the Scottish Rebellion in 1746, and the conclusion of the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, is perhaps as little interesting in its details as any period of our history. Nor are there many exciting events to give spirit to a narrative of the remaining six years of that Administration which was broken up by the death of Mr. Pelham in 1754. Opinion became torpid, after the excitement of the rebellion had passed away. Jacobitism slunk to its hiding-places. Patriotism looked out for pensions and sinecures. Party-contests had nearly subsided iuto personal struggles for place and power, which those who are curious as to such mysterious affairs may drowsily meditate upon in the sober narrative of Coxe,* or laugh over in the sarcastic anecdotes of Walpole. During the agony of the rebellion, immediately after the defeat at Falkirk-at a time when it might be supposed that English statesmen would have cast away their petty ambitions-there came what is termed a ministerial crisis. Lord Granville (Carteret), although "Administration of Henry Pelham."

VOL VL