«fe Gai ' T^oh >rJ ^dhfG: YOIL S fiitti-'hij hr l;,.h'. S,/iivrong use of the favour and indulgence shown to them at 28 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. . 1718. the revolution, though they had the least share in that happy event : it was, therefore, thought ne- ■ cessary for the legislature to interpose, and put a stop to the scandalous practice of occasional con- formity. He added, that it would be needless to repeal the act against schism, since no advantage had been taken of it to the prejudice of the dis- senters. Dr. Hoadley, bishop of Bangor, en- deavoured to prove, that the occasional and I schism acts were in effect persecuting laws ; and that by admitting the principle of self-defence and self-preservation, in matters of religion, all the persecutions maintained by the heathens against the professors of Christianity, and even the popish inquisition, might be justified. With respect to the power of which many clergymen appeared so fond and so zealous ; he owned the desire of power and riches was natural to all men ; but that he had learned both from reason and from the gospel, that this desire must be kept ■within due bounds, and not entrench upon the rights and liberties of their fellow-creatures and countrymen. After a long debate, the house agreed to leave out some clauses concerning the test and corporation acts : then the bill was com- mitted, and afterwards passed. In the lower house it met with violent opposition, in spite of which it was carried by the majority. 1718. GEORGE I. . 29 WAR DECLARED AGAINST SPAIN. The king on the seventeenth day of December, sent a message to the commons, importing, that all his endeavours to procure redress for the in- juries done to his subjects by the king of Spain having proved ineffectual, he had found it neces- sary to declare war against that monarch. When a motion was made for an address, to assure the king they would cheerfully support him in the prosecution of the war, Mr. Shippen and some other members said, they did not see the necessity of involvins: the nation in a war, on account of some grievances of which the merchants com- plained, as these might be amicably redressed. Mr. Stanhope assured the house, that he had pre- sented five-and- twenty memorials to the ministry of Spain on that subject, without success. Mr, Methuen accounted for the dilatory proceedings of the Spanish court in commercial aifairs, by ex- plaining the great variety of regulations in the several provinces and ports of that kingdom. It was suggested, that the ministry paid very little regard to the trade and interest of the nation ; inasmuch as it appeared by the answer from a se- cretary of state to the letter of the marquis de Monteleone, that they would have overlooked the violation of the treaties of commerce, pro- vided Spain had accepted the conditions stipu- lated in the quadruple aUiance ; for it was there ,30 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1718. expressly said, that his majesty, the king of Great Britain, did not seek to aggrandize himself by any new acquisitions, but was rather inclined to sacrifice something of his own to procure the ge- neral quiet and tranquillity of Europe. A mem- ber observed, that nobody could tell how far that sacrifice would have extended; but certainly it was a very uncommon stretch of condescension. This sacrifice was said to be the cession of Gibral- tar and Port-Mahon, which the regent of France had offered to the king of Spain, provided he would accede to the quadruple alliance. Horatio Walpole observed, that the disposition of Sicily in favour of the emperor was an infraction of the treaty of Utrecht ; and his brother exclaimed against the injustice of attacking the Spanish fleet before a declaration of war. Notwithstandino- all these arguments and objections, the majority agreed to the address ; and such another was car- ried in the upper house without a division. The declaration of war against Spain was published with the usual solenmities ; but this war was not a favourite of the people, and therefore did not produce those acclamations that were usual on such occasions. CONSPIRACY AGAINST THE REGENT OF FRANCE. Meanwhile cardinal Alberoni employed all his intrigues, power, and industry, for the gratification 1-^18. GEORGE I. 31 of his revenge. He caused new ships to be built, the sea-ports to be put in a posture of defence, succours to be sent to Sicily, and the proper measures to be taken for the security of Sardinia. He, by means of the prince de Cellamare, the Spanish ambassador at Paris, caballed with the malcontents of that kingdom, who were numer- ous and powerful. x\ scheme was actually formed for seizing the regent, and securing the person of the king. The duke of Orleans owed the first in- timation of this plot to king George, who gave him to understand, that a conspiracy was formed against his person and government. The regent immediately took measures for watching the con- duct of all suspected persons ; but the whole in- trigue was discovered by accident. The prince de Cellamare entrusted his dispatches to the abb6 Portocarrero, and to a son of the marquis de Mon- teleone. These emissaries set out from Paris in a post-chaise, and were overturned. The postillion overlieard Portocarrero say, he would not have lost his portmanteau for a hundred thousand pi- stoles. The man, at his return to Paris, gave no- tice to the government of what he had observed. The Spaniards, being pursued, were overtaken and seized at Poitiers, with the portmanteau, in M'hich the regent found tM'o letters that made him acquainted with the particulars of the conspiracy. The prince de Cellamare was immediately con- ducted to the frontiers ; the duke of Maine, the marquis de Pompadour, the cardinal de Polignac, 32 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1718. and many other persons of distinction, were com- mitted to different prisons. The regent declared war against Spain, on the twenty-ninth day of Decemher ; and an army of six-and-thirty thou- sand men began its march towards that kingdom in January, under the command of the duke of Berwick. INTENDED INVASION BY THE DUKE OF ORMOND. Cardinal Alberoni had likewise formed a scheme in favour of the pretender. The duke of Ormond repairing to Madrid, held conferences with his eminence ; and measures were concerted for ex- citing another insurrection in Great Britain. The chevaUer de St. George quitted Urbino by stealth ; and embarking at Netteno, landed at Cagliari in March. From thence he took his passage to Roses in Catalonia, and proceeded to Madrid, where he was received with great cordiality, and treated as king of Great Britain. An armament had been equipped of ten ships of war and trans- ports, having on board six thousand regular troops, with arms for twelve thousand men. The com- mand of this fleet was bestowed on the duke of Ormond, with the title of captain-general of his most catholic majesty. He was provided with de- clarations in the name of that king, importing, that for many good reasons he had sent part of his 171S. GEORGE r. 3S land and sea forces into England and Scotland, to act as auxiliaries to king James. His Britannic majesty, having received from the regent of France timely notice of this intended invasion, offered, by proclamations, rewards to those that should apprehend the duke of Ormond, or any gentleman embarked in that expedition. Troops were ordered to assemble in the north, and in the west of England : two thousand men Avere de- manded of the states-general : a strong squadron was equipped to oppose the Spanish armament ; and the duke of Orleans made a proffer to king George of twenty battalions for his service. THREE HUNDRED SPANIARDS LAND AND ARE TAKEN IN SCOTLAND. His majesty having communicated to both houses of parliament the repeated advices he had re- ceived touching this projected descent, they pro- mised to support him against all his enemies. They desired he would augment his forces by sea and land ; and assured him they would make good the extraordinary expence. Two thousand men were landed from Holland, and six battalions of imperialists from the Austrian Netherlands. The duke of Ormond sailed from Cadiz, and pro- ceeded as far as Cape Finisterre, where his fleet was dispersed and disabled by a violent storm, which entirely defeated the purposed expedition. VOL. HI. D U HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1718. Two frigates, however, arrived in Scotland, with the earls Marischal and Seatbrth, the marquis of TuUibardine, some field-officers, three hundred Spaniards, and arms for two thousand men. They were joined by a small body of Highlanders, and possessed themselves of Donan castle. Against these adventurers general Wightman marched with a body of regidar troops from Inverness. They had taken possession of the pass at Glenshiel ; but, at the approach of the king's forces, retired to the pass at Strachell, which they resolved to de- fend. They were attacked and driven from one eminence to another till night, when the High- landers dispersed ; and next day the Spaniards sur- rendered themselves prisoners of v/ar. Marischal, Seaforth, and TuUibardine, with some officers, re- tired to one of the western isles, in order to wait an opportunity of being conveyed to the continent. ACCOUNT OF THE PEERAGE BILL. On the last day of February the duke of Somerset epresented in the house of lords, that the number of peers being very much increased, especially since the union of the two kingdoms, it seemed absolutely necessary to take effectual measures for preventing the inconveniences that might attend the creation of a great number of peers, to serve a present purpose : an expedient which had been actually taken in the late reign. He therefore r 1718. GEORGE I. 35 moved that a bill should be brought in, to settle and limit tlie peerage, in such a manner, that the number of English peers should not be enlarged beyond six above the present number, which, upon faikire of male issue, might be supplied by new creations : that instead of the sixteen elective peers from Scotland, twenty-five should be made hereditary on the part of that kingdom; and, that this number, upon failure of the heirs-male, should be supplied from the other members of the Scot- tish peerage. This bill was intended as a restraint upon the prince of Wales, who happened to be at variance with the present ministry. The motion was supported by the duke of Argyle, now lord- steward of the household, the earl of Sunderland and Carlisle. It was opposed by the earl of Ox- ford, M'ho said, that although he expected nothing from the crown, he would never give his vote for lopping off so valuable a branch of the preroga- tive, which enabled the king to reward merit and virtuous actions. The debate was adjourned to the second day of March, when earl Stanhope de- livered a message from the king, intimating, that as they had under consideration the state of the British peerage, he had so much at heart the set- tling it upon such a foundation, as might secure the freedom and constitution of parhaments in all future ages, that he was willing his prerogative should not stand in the way of so great and neces- sary a work. Another violent debate ensued be- tween the two factions. The question here, as in 2 -3^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1718. almost every other dispute, was not, Whether the measure proj)osed was advantageous to the nation? but. Whether the tory or the whig interest should predominate in parliament? Earl Cowper affirmed, that the part of the bill relating to the Scottish peerage, was a manifest violation of the treaty of union, as well as a flagrant piece of injustice, as it would deprive persons of their right, without being heard, and without any pretence or forfeiture on their part. He observed, that the Scottish peers excluded from the number of the twenty-live would be in a worse condition than any other sub- jects in the kingdom : for they would be neither electing nor elected, neither representing nor re- presented ^ These objections were over-ruled ; several resolutions were taken agreeably to the motion ; and the judges were ordered to prepare and bring in the bill. This measure alarmed the generality of Scottish peers, as well as many Eng- lish commoners, who saw in the bill the avenues of dignity and title shut up against them ; and they did not fail to exclaim against it, as an en- croachment upon the fundamental maxims of the constitution. Treatises were written and pub- lished on both sides of the question : and a na^ tional clamour began to arise, when earl Stanhope observed, in the house, that as the bill had raised strange apprehensions, he thought it advisable to " Annals. Corbet. Tindal. Historical Register. Debates in Parliaraeat. Lives of the Admirals. 1719- GEORGE L 3; postpone the further consideration of it till a more proper opportunity. It was accordingly dropped, and the parliament prorogued on the eighteenth day of April, on which occasion his majesty told both houses, that the Spanish king had acknow- ledged the pretender. COUNT MERCI ASSUMES THE COMMAND OF THE IMPERIAL ARMY IN SICILY. The king having appointed lords-justices to rule the kingdom in his absence, embarked in May for Holland, from whence he proceeded to Hano- ver, where he concluded a peace with Ulrica, the new queen of Sweden. By this treaty Sweden yielded for ever to the royal and electoral house of Brunswick the duchies of Bremen and Ver- den, with all their dependencies : king George obhged himself to pay a million of rix-doUars to the queen of Sweden ; and to renew, as king of Great Britain and elector of Hanover, the aUiances formerly subsisting between his predecessors and that kingdom. He likewise mediated a peace be- tween Sweden and his former allies, the Danes; the Prussians, and the Poles. The czar, however, refused to give up his schemes of conquest. He sent his fleet to the Scheuron, or Batses of Swe- den, where his troops landing to the number of fifteen thousand, committed dreadful outrages t but sir John Norris, who commanded an English' 38 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17I(). squadron in those seas, having orders to support the negociations, and oppose any hostihties that might be committed, the czar, dreading the fate of the Spanish navy, thought proper to recall his fleet. In the Mediterranean, admiral Byng acted with unwearied vigour in assisting the imperialists to finish the conquest of Sicily. The court of Vienna had agreed to send a strong body of forces to finish the reduction of that island ; and the command in this expedition was bestowed upon the count de IVJerci, with whom sir George Byng conferred at Naples. This admiral supplied them with ammunition and artillery from the Spanish prizes. He took the whole reinforcement under his convoy, and saw them safely landed in the bay of Patti, to the number of three thousand five hundred horse, and ten thousand infantry. Count Merci thinking himself more than a match for the Spanish forces commanded by the marquis de Lede, attacked him in a strong camp at Franca- Villa; and was repulsed with the loss of five thou- sand men, himself being dangerously wounded in * the action. Here his army must have perished for want of provision, had they not been supplied by the English navy. ACTIVITY OF ADMIRAL BYNG. Admihal Byng no sooner learned the bad success of the attack at Franca- Villa, than he embarked 1719' GEORGE I. 39 two battalions from the garrison of Melazzo, and about a thousand recruits, whom he sent under a convoy through the Baro to Scheso-bay, in order to reinforce the imperial army. He afterwards assisted at the council of war with the German generals, who, in consequence of his advice, un- dertook the siege of Messina. Then he repaired to Naples, where he proposed to count Gallas, the new viceroy, that the troops destined for the con- quest of Sardinia should be first landed in Sicily, and cooperate towards the conquest of that island. The proposal was immediately dispatched to the court of Vienna. In the mean time, the admiral returned to Sicily, and assisted at the siege of Mes- sina. The town surrendered: the garrison retired into the citadel : and the remains of the Spanish navy, which had escaped at Passaro, were now de- stroyed in the Mole. The emperor approved of the scheme proposed by the English admiral, to whom he wrote a very gracious letter, intimating that he had dispatched orders to tlie governor of Milan, to detach the troops designed for Sardinia to Vado, in order to be transported into Italy. The admiral charged himself with the performance of this service. Having furnished the imperial army before Messina with another supply of can- non, powder, and shot, upon his own credit, he set sail for Vado, where he surmounted number- less difficulties, started by the jealousy of count Bonneval, who was unwilling to see his troops, destined for Sardinia, now diverted to another 40 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1719. expedition, in which he could not enjoy the chief command. At length, admiral Byng saw the forces embarked, and convoyed them to Messina, the citadel of which surrendered in a few days after their arrival. By this time the marquis de Lede had fortified a strong post at Castro-Giovanne, in the centre of the island : and cantoned his troops about Aderno, Palermo, and Catenea. The im- perialists could not pretend to attack him in this situation, nor could they remain in the neigh- bourhood of Messina, on account of the scarcity of provisions. They would, therefore, have been obliged to quit the island during the winter, had not the admiral undertaken to transport them by sea to Trapani, where they could extend them- selves in a plentiful country. He not only exe- cuted this enterprise; but even supplied them with corn from Tunis, as the harvests of Sicily had been gathered into the Spanish magazines. It was the second day of March before the last em- barkation of the imperial troops were landed at Trapani. THE SPANISH TROOPS EVACUATE SICILY. The marquis de Lede immediately retired with his army to Alcano, from whence he sent his mare- schal de camp to count Merci and the English admiral, with overtures for evacuating Sicily. The proposals were not disagreeable to the Germans; 1719. GEORGE I. ' 41 but sir George Byng declared that the Spaniards should not quit the island while the war con- tinued, as he foresaw that these troops would be employed against France or England. He agreed, however, with count Merci, in proposing, that if the marquis would surrender Palermo, and retire into the middle part of the island, they would consent to an armistice for six weeks, until the sentiments of their different courts should be known. The marquis offered to surrender Pa- lermo, in consideration of a suspension of arms for three months ; but, while this negociation was depending, he received advice from Madrid, that a general peace was concluded. Nevertheless, he broke off the treaty, in obedience to a secret order for that purpose. The king of Spain hoped to ob- tain the restitution of St. Sebastian's, Fontarabia, and other places taken in the course of the war, in exchange for the evacuation of Sicily. Hosti- lities were continued until the admiral received advice from the earl of Stair at Paris, that the Spanish ambassador at the Hague had signed the quadruple alliance. By the same courier packets were delivered to the count de ]\lerci and the marquis de Lede, which last gave the adm.iral and imperial general to understand that he looked upon the peace as a thing concluded; and was ready to treat for a cessation of hostilities. They insisted on his delivering up Palermo; on the other hand he urged, that as their masters were in treaty, for settling the terms of evacuating 42 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17^9- Sicily and Sardinia, he did not think himself au- thorised to agree to a cessation, except on condi- tion that each party should remain on the ground they occupied, and expect further orders from their principals. After a fruitless interview be- tween the three chiefs at the Cassine de Rossi- gnola, the imperial general resolved to undertake the siege of Palermo : with this view he decamp- ed from Alcamo on the eighteenth day of April, and followed the marquis de Lede, who retreated before him, and took possession of the advantage- ous posts that commanded the passes into the plain of Palermo : but count Merci, with indefa- tisrahle dilioence, marched over the mountains, while the admiral coasted along shore, attending the motions of the army. The Spanish general perceiving the Germans advancing into the plain, retired under the cannon of Palermo, and fortified his camp with strong entrenchments. On the second day of May the Germans took one of the enemy's redoubts by surprise, and the marquis de Lede ordered all his forces to be drawn out to re- take this fortification : both armies were on the point of engaging when a courier arrived in a felucca, with a packet for the marquis, containing full powers to treat and agree about the evacua- tion of the island, and the transportation of the army to Spain. He forthwith drew oflF his army; and sent a trumpet to the general and admiral, with letters, informing them of the orders he had received : commissioners were appointed on each i;i9. GEORGE I. 43 side, tlie negociations begun, and the convention signed in a very few days. The Germans were put in possession of Palermo, and the Spanish army marched to Tauromini, from whence they were transported to Barcelona. PHILIP OBLIGED TO ACCEDE TO THE QUADRUPLE ALLIANCE. The admiral continued in the Mediterranean until he had seen the islands of Sicily and Sardinia evacuated by the Spaniards, and the mutual ces- sions executed between the emperor and the duke of Savoy, in consequence of which, four, batta- lions of Piedmontese troops were transported from Palermo to Sardinia, and took possession of Cag- liari in the name of their master. In a word, ad- miral Byng bore sucli a considerable share in this war of Sicily, that the fate of the island depended wholly on his courage, vigilance, and conduct. When he waited on his majesty at Hanover, he met with a very gracious reception. The king told him he had found out the secret of oblio-ino* his enemies as well as his friends ; for the court of Spain had mentioned him in the most honourable terms, with respect to his candid and friendly de- portment, in providing transports and other neces- saries for the embarkation of their troops, and in protecting them from oppression, tie was ap- pointed treasurer of the navy, and rear-admiral of 44 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1719. Great Britain : in a little time the king ennobled him, by the title of viscount Torrington : he was declared a privy-counsellor ; and afterwards made knight of the bath, at the revival of that order. During these occurrences in the Mediterranean, the duke of Berwick advanced with the French army to the frontiers of Spain, where he took Fort-Passage and destroj'^ed six ships of war that were on the stocks : then he reduced Fontarabia and St. Sebastian's, together with Port Antonio in the bottom of the bay of Biscay. In this last ex- ploit the French were assisted by a detachment of English seamen, Avho burned two large sliips unfinished, and a great quantity of naval stores. The king of England, with a view to indemnify himself for the expence of the Avar, projected the conquest of Corunna in Biscay, and of Peru in South-America. Four thousand men, command- ed by lord Cobham, were embarked at the Isle of Wight, and sailed on the twenty-first day of Sep- tember, under convoy of five ships of war, con- ducted by admiral Mighels. Instead of making an attempt upon Corunna, they reduced Vigo with very little difficulty; and Point-a-Vedra submitted without resistance : here they found some brass artillery, small arms, and military stores, with which they returned to England. In the mean time captain Johnson, with two English ships of war, destroj^ed the same number of Spanish ships in the port of Ribadeo, to the eastward of Cape Ortegas, so that the naval power of Spain was 1719. GEORGE I. /|5 totally ruined. The expedition to the West-In- dies was prevented by the peace. Spain being oppressed on all sides, and utterly exhausted, Phi- lip saw the necessity of a speedy pacification. He now perceived the madness of Alberoni's ambi- tious projects. That minister was personally dis- agreeable to the emperor, the king of England, and the regent of France, who had declared they would hearken to no proposals while he should continue in office : the Spanish monarch, there- fore, divested him of his employment; and or- dered him to quit the kingdom in three weeks. The marquis de Beretti Landi, minister from the court of Madrid at the Hague, delivered a plan of pacification to the states : but it was rejected by the alhes ; and Philip was obliged at last to accede to the quadruple alliance. BILL FOR SECURING THE DEPENDENCY OF IRELAND UPON THE CROWN. On the fourteenth day of November, king George returned to England, and on the twenty-third opened the session of parliament with a speech in which he told them, that all Europe, as well as Great Britain, was on the point of being delivered from the calamities of war by the influence of British arms and councils. He exhorted the com- mons to concert proper means for lessening the debts of the nation; and concluded with a pane- 4() HISTORY OF ENGLAND. .1719. gyric upon his own government. It must be owned he had acted with equal vigour and dehberation in all the troubles he had encountered since his accession to the throne. The addresses of both houses were as M^arm as he could desire. They in particular extolled him for having interposed in behalf of the protestants of Hungary, Poland, and Germany, who had been oppressed by the practices of the popish clergy, and presented to him memorials, containing a detail of their griev- ances. He and all the other protestant powers warmly interceded in their favour ; but the griev- ances were not redressed. The peerage bill w^as now revived by the duke of Buckingham ; and in spite of all opposition, passed through the house of lords. It had been projected by earl Stanhope, and eagerly supported by the earl of Sunderland ; therefore, Mr. liobei t ^\'alpole attacked it in the house of commons with extraordinary vehemence. Here too it was opposed by a considerable num- ber of whig members ; and, after warm debates, rejected by a large majority. The next object that engrossed the attention of the parliament was a bill for better securing the dependency of Ire- land upon the crown of Great Britain. Maurice Annesley had appealed to the house of peers in England, from a decree of the house of peers in Ireland, which was reversed. The British peers ordered the barons of the exchequer in Ireland to put My. Annesley in possession of the lands he had lost by the decree in that kingdom. The^ 1719- GEORGE I. 47 barons obeyed this order ; and the Irish house of peers passed a vote against them, as having acted in derogation to the king's prerogative in his high court of parhament in Ireland, as also of the rights and privileges of that kingdom, and of the parlia- ment thereof: they, likewise, ordered them to be taken into custody of the usher of the black rod : they transmitted along representation to the king, demonstrating their right to the final judicature of causes : and the duke of Leeds, in the upper house, urged fifteen reasons to support the claim of the Irish peers. Notwithstanding these argu- ments, the house of lords in England resolved that the barons of the exchequer in Ireland had acted with courage, according to law, in support of his majesty's prerogative, and with fidelity to the crown of Great Britain. They addressed the king to confer on them some marks of his royal favour, as a recompence for the ill usage they had under- gone. Finally, they prepared the bill, by which the Irish house of lords was deprived of all right to pass sentence, affirm, or reverse any judgment or decree, given or made in any court within that kingdom. In the house of commons it was op- posed by Mr. Pitt, Mr. Hungerford, lords Moles- worth and Tyrconnell ; but was carried by the majority, and received the royal assent. 48 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;i9. SOUTH-SEA ACT. The kino; liavino- recommended to the commons the consideration of proper means for lessening the national debt, was a prelude to the famous South-Sea act, which became productive of so much miscliief and infatuation. The scheme "was projected by sir Jolin Blunt, who had been bred a scrivener, and was possessed of all the cunning, plausibility, and boldness requisite for such an undertaking. He communicated his plan to Mr. Aislabie, the chancellor of the exche- quer, as well as to one of the secretaries of state. He answered all their objections; and the project was adopted. They foresaw their own private advantage in the execution of the design, which was imparted in the name of the South-Sea com- pany, of which Blunt was a director, who in- fluenced all their proceedings. The pretence for the scheme was to discharge the national debt, by reducing all the funds into one. The bank and South-Sea company outbid each other. The South-Sea company altered their original plan, and offered such high terms to government, that the proposals of the bank were rejected ; and a bill was ordered to be brought into the house of commons, formed on the plan presented by the South-Sea company ^ While this affair was in *" Annals. Corbet. Historical Register. Tindal. Lives of the Admirals. J720. GEORGE I. ^.(> agitation, the stock of that company rose from one hundred and thirty to near four hundred, in consequence of the conduct of the commons, who had rejected a motion for a clause in the bill, to fix wliat share in the capital stock of the company should be vested in those proprietors of the annuities who might voluntarily subscribe ; or how many years' purchase in money they should receive in subscribing, at the choice of the proprietors. In the house of lords, the bill was opposed by lord North and Grey, earl Cowper, the dukes of Wharton, Buckingham, and other peers : they affirmed it was calculated for enrich- ing a few and impoverishing a great number: that it countenanced the fraudulent and perni- cious practice of stock-jobbing, which diverted the genius of the people from trade and industry : that it would give foreigners the opportunity to double and treble the vast sums they had in the public funds; and they would be tempted to realise and withdraw their capital and immense gains to other countries; so that Great-Britain would be drained of all its gold and silver; that the artificial and prodigious rise of the South-Sea stock was a dangerous bait, which might decoy many unwary people to their ruin, alluring them by a false prospect of gain to part with the fruits of their industry, to purchase imaginary riches: that the addition of above thirty millions capital would give such power to the South-Sea company, as might endanger the hberties of the nation; VOL. III. E 50 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 172O. for by their extensive interest they would be able to influence most, if not all the elections of the members ; and consequently over-rule the reso- lutions of the house of commons. Earl Cowper urged, that in all public bargains the individuals of the administration ought to take care, that they shall be more advantageous to the state than to private persons ; but that a contrary method had been followed in the contract made wath the South-Sea company ; for, should the stocks be kept at the advanced price to which they had been raised by the oblique arts of stock- jobbing, either that company or its principal members would gain above thirty millions, of which no more than one fourth part would be given towards the discharge of the national debts. He apprehended that the re-purchase of annuities would meet with insuperable diificulties ; and, in such case, none but a few persons who were in the secret, who had bought stocks at a low rate, and afterwards sold them at a high price, would in the end be gainers by the project. The earl of Sunderland answered their objections. He declared that those who countenanced the scheme of the South-Sea company, had nothing in view but the advantage of the nation. He owned that the managers for that company had undoubtedly a prospect of private gain, either to themselves or to their corporation ; but, he said, when the scheme was accepted, neither the one nor the other could foresee that the stocks would 1/20. GEORGE I. 61 have risen to such a height: that if they had continued as they were, the pubhc would have had the far greater share of the advantage ac- cruing from the scheme ; and should they be kept up to the present high price, it was but reasona- ble that the Soutli-Sea company should enjoy the profits procured to it by the wise management and industry of the directors, which would en- able it to make large dividends, and thereby ac- complish the purpose of the scheme. The bill passed without amendment or division ; and, on the seventh day of April received the royal assent. By this act the South-Sea company was authorised to take in, by purchase or subscription, the irre- deemable debts of the nation, stated at sixteen millions five hundred forty-six thousand four hundred eighty-two pounds, seven shillings, one penny farthing, at such times as they should find convenient before the first day of March of the ensuing year, and without any compulsion on any of the proprietors, at such rates and prices as should be agreed upon between the company and the respective proprietors. They were likewise authorised to take in all the redeemable debts, amounting to the same sum as that of the irre- deemables, either by purchase, by taking sub- scriptions, or by paying oflT the creditors. For the liberty of taking in the national debts, and increasing their capital stock accordingly, the company consented that their present, and to be increased annuity, should be continued at five 2 52 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1/20. per cent, till Midsummer, in the year one thou- sand seven hundred and twenty-seven; from thence to be reduced to four per cent, and be re- deemable by parliament. In consideration of this, and other advantages expressed in the act, the company declared themselves willing to make such payments into the receipt of the Exchequer as were specified for the use of the public, to be applied to the discharge of the pubhc debts in- curred before Christmas, in the j^ear one thousand seven hundred and sixteen. The sums they were obliged to pay for the liberty of taking in the redeemable debts, four years and a half's pur- chase for all long and short annuities that should be subscribed, and one year's purchase for such long annuities as should not be subscribed, amounted on the execution of the act to about seven millions. For enabling the company to raise this sum, they were empowered to make calls for money from their members ; to open books of subscription ; to grant annuities re- deemable by the company ; to borrow money upon any contract or bill under their common seal, or on the credit of their capital stock ; to convert the money demanded of their members into additional stock, without, however, making any addition to the company's annuities, payable out of the public duties. It was enacted, that out of the first monies arising from the sums paid by the company into the exchequer, such public debts, carrying interest at five per cent, incurred 1720. GEORGE I. 53 before the twenty-fifth clay of December, in the year one thousand seven hundred and sixteen, founded upon any former act of parhament, as were now redeemable, or might be redeemed by the twenty-fifth day of December, in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-two, should be discharged in the first place : that then all the remainder should be applied towards pay- ing off so much of the capital stock of the com- pany as should then carry an interest of five per cent. It was likewise provided, that after Mid- summer, in the year one thousand seven hundred and twenty-seven, the company should not be paid off in any sums being less than one million at a time. CHARTERS GRANTED TO THE ROYAL AND LONDON ASSURANCE OFFICES. The heads of the Royal- Assurance and London- Assurance companies, understanding that the civil-list was considerably in arrears, offered to the ministry six hundred thousand pounds towards the discharge of that debt, on condition of their obtaining the king's charter, witha parliamentary sanction, for the establishment of their respective companies. The proposal was embraced; and the king communicated it in a message to the house of commons, desiring their concurrence. A bill was immediately passed, enabling his ma- 5'i HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1720. jesty to grant letters of incorporation to tlie two companies. It soon obtained the royal assent : and, on the eleventh day of June, an end was put to the session. This was the age of interested projects, inspired by a venal spirit of adventure, the natural consequence of that avarice, fraud, and profligacy, which the monied corporations had introduced. This of all others is the most un- favourable asra for an historian. A reader of sen- timent and imagination cannot be entertained or interested by a dry detail of such transactions as admit of no warmth, no colouring, no embellish- ment, a detail which serves only to exhibit an inanimate picture of tasteless vice and meari degeneracy. TREATY OF ALLIANCE WITH SWEDEN, By this time an alliance offensive and defensive was concluded at Stockholm between kino- Georjre and the queen of Sweden, by which his majesty engaged to send a fleet into the Baltick, to act against the czar of Muscovy in case that mon- arch should reject reasonable proposals of peace, Peter loudly complained of the insolent interpo- sition of king George, alledging that he had failed in his engagements, both as elector of Hanover and king of Great-Britain. His resident at London presented a long memorial on this subject, which was answered by the British an4 1720. GEORGE I. 55 Hanoverian ministry. These recriminations served only to inflame the difference. The czar con- tinued to prosecute the war, and at length con- cluded a peace Avithout a mediator. At the in- stances, however, of king George and the regent of France, a treaty of peace was signed between the queen of Sweden and the king of Prussia, to whom that princess ceded the city of Stetin, the district between the rivers Oder and Pehnne, with the isles of WolHn and Usedom. On the other hand, he engaged to join the king of Great- Britain in his endeavours to effect a peace be- tween Sweden and Denmark, on condition that the Danish king should restore to queen Ulrica that part of Pomerania which he had seized ; he likewise promised to pay to that queen two mil- lions of rix-dollars, in consideration of the cessions she had made. The treaty between Sweden and Denmark was signed at Frederickstadt in the month of June, through the mediation of the king of Great-Britain, who became guarantee for the Dane's keeping possession of Sleswick. He con- sented, however, to restore the Upper Pomerania, the isle of Rugen, the city of Wismar, and whatever he had taken from Sweden during the war, in consideration of Sweden's renouncing the exemption from toll in the Sound, and the two Belts : and paying to Denmark six hundred thousand rix-dollars. 56 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1720. THE PRINCE OF HESSE ELECTED KING OF SWEDEN. Sir John Norris had again sailed to the Baltick with a strong squadron, to give weight to the king's mediation. When he arrived at Copen- hagen he wrote a letter to prince Dolgorouki, the czar's ambassador at the comt of Denmark, siff- nifying that he and the king's envoy at Stock- holm were vested with full powers to act jointly or separately in quality of plenipotentiaries, in order to effect a peace between Sweden and Mus- covy, in the way of mediation. The prince answered that the czar had nothing more at heart than peace and tranquillity ; and in case his Bri- tannick majesty had any proposals to make to that prince, he hoped the admiral would excuse him from receiving them, as they might be delivered in a much more compendious way. The English fleet immediately joined that of Sweden as auxi- liaries ; but they had no opportunity of acting against the Russian squadron, which secured itself in Revel. Ulrica, queen of Sweden, and sister to Charles XII. had married the prince of Hesse, and was extremely desirous that he should be joined with her in the administration of the regal power. She wrote a separate letter to each of the Four States, desiring they would confer on him the sovereignty ; and after some opposition i;20. GEORGE I. 51 from the nobles, he was actually elected king of Sweden. He sent one of his general officers to notify his elevation to the czar, who congratulated him upon his accession to the throne : this was the beginning of a negociation which ended in peace, and established the tranquillity of the North. In the midst of these transactions, king George set out from England for his Hanoverian dominions; but, before he departed from Great- Britain, he was reconciled to the prince of Wales, through the endeavours of the duke of Devon- shire and Mr. Walpole, who, with earl Cowper, lord Townsend, Mr. Methuen, and Mr. Pul- teney, were received into favour, and re-united with the ministry. The earls of Dorset and Bridge water were promoted to the title of dukes : lord viscount Castleton was made an earl ; Hugh Boscawen was created a baron, and viscount ial- mouth ; and John Wallop, baron, and viscount Lymington. EFFECTS OF THE SOUTH-SEA SCHEME. While the king was involved at Hanover in a labyrinth of negociations, the South-Sea scheme produced a kind of national delirium in his English dominions. Blunt, the projector, had taken the hint of his plan from the famous Mis- sissippi scheme formed by Law, which in the pre- ceding year had raised such a ferment in France, 58 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1720. and entailed ruin upon many thousand families of that kingdom. In the scheme of Law, there was something substantial. An exclusive trade to Louisiana promised some advantage ; though the design was defeated by the frantic eagerness of the people. LaM^ himself became the dupe of the regent, who transferred the burthen of fifteen hundred millions of the kino-'s debts to the shoulders of the subjects : while the projector was sacrificed as the scape-goat of the political iniquity. The South-Sea scheme promised no commercial advantage of any consequence. It was buoyed up by nothing but the folly and rapaciousness of individuals, which became so blind and extravagant, that Blunt, with moderate talents, m^is able to impose upon the whole na- tion, and make tools of the other directors, to serve his own purposes, and those of a few asso- ciates. When this projector found that the South- Sea stock did not rise according to his expectation upon the bill's being passed, he circulated a re- port, that Gibraltar and Port-Mahon would be exchanged for some places in Peru ; by which means the English trade to the South-Sea would be protected and enlarged. This rumour, diffused by his emissaries, acted like a contagion. In five days the directors opened their books for a subscription of one million, at the rate of three hundred pounds for every hundred pounds ca- •^ital. Persons of all ranks crowded to the house in such a manner, that the first subscription ex- j;20. GEORGE I. 5g ceeded two millions of original stock. In a few days this stock advanced to three hundred and forty pounds ; and the subscriptions were sold for double the price of the first payment. With- out entering into a detail of the proceedings, or explaining the scandalous arts that were practised to enhance the value of the stock, and decoy the unwary, we shall only observe, that by the promise of prodigious dividends, and other in- famous arts, the stock was raised to one thousand; and the whole nation infected with the spirit of stock-jobbing to an astonishing degree. All dis- tinction of party, religion, sex, character, and cir- cumstances, were swallowed up in this universal concern, or in some such pecuniary project. Exchange-Alley was filled with a strange con- course of statesmen and clergymen, churchmen, and dissenters, M'higs and tories, physicians, law- 3^ers, tradesmen, and even with multitudes of females. All other professions and employments were utterly neglected ; and the people's atten- tion wholly engrossed by this and other chimeri- cal schemes, which were known by the deno- mination of bubbles. New companies started up every day under the countenance of the prime nobility. The prince of Wales was constituted governor of the Welch copper company : the duke of Chandos appeared at the head of the York-buildings company : the duke of Bridge- water formed a third, for building houses in London and W^estminster. About an hundred Co HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1720. such schemes were projected and put in execution, to tlie ruin of many thousands. The sums pro- posed to be raised by these expedients amounted to three liundred milhons sterUng, which ex- ceeded tlie vahie of all the lands in England. The nation Mas so intoxicated with the spirit of adventure, that people became a prey to the grossest delusion. An obscure projector, pretend- ing to have formed a very advantageous scheme, which, however, he did not explain, published proposals for a subscription, in which he pro- mised, that in one month the particulars of liis project should be disclosed. In the mean time he declared that every person paying two guineas should be entitled to a subscription for one hundred pounds, which would produce that sum yearly. In one forenoon this adventurer received a thousand of these subscriptions ; and in the evening set out for another kingdom. The king, before his departure, had issued a procla- mation against these unlawful projects ; the lords- justices afterwards dismissed all the petitions that had been presented for charters and patents; and the prince of Wales renounced the company of which he had been elected governor. The South-Sea scheme raised such a flood of eager avidity and extravagant hope, that the majority of the directors were swept along with it, even contrary to their own sense and inclination; but Blunt and his accomplices still directed the stream. 1720. GEORGE I. ig The infatuation prevailed till the eighth day of Septemher, when the stock began to fall. Then did some of the adventurers aAvake from their delirium. The number of the sellers daily increased. On the twenty-ninth day of the month, the stock had sunk to one hundred and fifty : several eminent goldsmiths and bankers, who had lent great sums upon it, were obliged to stop payment, and abscond. The ebb of this portentous tide was so violent, that it bore down every thing in its way ; and an infinite number of families were overwhelmed with ruin. Public credit sustained a terrible shock : the nation -was thrown into a dangerous ferment; and nothing was heard but the ravings of grief, disappoint- ment, and despair. Some principal members of the ministry were deeply concerned in these fraud- ulent transactions : when they saw the price of stock sinking dail}^, they employed all their in- fluence with the bank to support the credit of the South-Sea company. That corporation agreed, though mth reluctance, to subscribe into the stock of the South-Sea company, valued at four Imndred per cent, three millions five hundred thousand pounds, which the company was to re- pay to the bank on Lady-day and Michaelmas of the ensuing year. This transaction was managed by Mr. Robert Walpole, who, Avith his own hand, wrote the minute of agreement, afterwards known by the name of the bank contract. Books were opened at the bank, to take in a 62 ' HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1720. subscription for the support of public credit: and considerable sums of money were brought in. By this expedient the stock was raised at first, and those who contrived it, seized the op- portunity to realize. But the bankruptcy of goldsmiths and the sword-blade company, from the fall of South-Sea stock, occasioned such a run upon the bank, that the money was paid away faster than it could be received from the sub- scription. Then the South-Sea stock sunk again ; and the directors of the bank, finding them- selves in danger of being involved in that com- pany's ruin, renounced the agreement, which, indeed, they were under no obligation to per- form, for it was drawn up in such a manner, as to be no more than the rough draft of a sub- sequent agreement, without due form, penalty, or clause of obligation. All expedients having failed, and the clamours of the people daily in- creasing, expresses were dispatched to Hanover, representing the state of the nation, and pressing the king to return. He accordingly shortened his intended stay in Germany, and arrived in England on the eleventh day of November. A SECRET COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. The parliament being assembled on the eighth day of December, his majest}^ expressed his con- 1720. GEORGE I. 63 cern for the unhappy turn of affairs^ which had so deeply affected the pubhc credit at home : he earnestly desired the commons to consider of the most effectual and speedy methods to restore the national credit, and fix it upon a lasting establishment. The lower house was too much interested in the calamity, to postpone the con- sideration of that subject. The members seemed to lay aside all party distinctions, and vie with each other in promoting an enquiry, by which justice might be done to the injured nation. They ordered the directors to produce an ac- count of all their proceedings. Sir Joseph Jekyll moved, that a select committee might be ap- pointed, to examine the particulars of this trans- action. Mr. Walpole, now paymaster of the forces, observed, that such a method would pro- tract the inquiry, while the public credit lay in a bleeding condition. He told the house he had formed a scheme for restoring public credit ; but, before he would communicate this plan, de- sired to know, whether the subscriptions of pub- lic debts and incumbrances, money-subscriptions and other contracts made with the South-Sea com- pany, should remain in the present state. After a warm debate, the question was carried in the affirmative, with this addition, " Unless alter- " ed for the ease and relief of the proprietors, *' by a general court of the South-Sea company, " or set aside in due course of law." Next day Walpole produced his scheme, to engraft nine 6t HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1720. millions of South-Sea stock into the bank of England, and the like sum into the East-India company, on certain conditions. The house voted, that proposals should be received from the bank, and those two companies, on this subject. These being dclixered, the commons resolved, that an engrossment of nine millions of the capital stock of the South-Sea company, into the capital stock of the bank and East-India company, as proposed by these companies, would contribute very much to the restoring public credit. A bill upon this resolution was brought in, passed through both houses, and received the royal assent. Another bill was enacted into a law, for restraining the sub-governor, deputy-governor, directors, trea- surer, under-treasurer, cashier, secretary, and accomptants, of the South-Sea company, from (]uitting the kingdom, till the end of the next session of parliament ; and for discovering their estates and effects, so as to prevent them from being transported or alienated. A committee of secresy was chosen by ballot, to examine all the books, papers, and proceedings, relating to the execution of the South-Sea act. The lords were not less eager than the com- mons to prosecute this inquiry, though divers members in both houses were deeply involved in the guilt and infamy of the transaction. Earl Stanhope said the estates of the criminals, whe- ther directors or not directors, ought to be con- ^scated, to repair the public losses. He was 1720. GEORGE I. 65 seconded by lord Carteret, and even by the earl of Sunderland. The duke of Wharton declared he would give up the best friend he had, should he be found guilty. He observed, that the na- tion had been plundered in a most flagrant and notorious manner ; therefore, they ought to find out and punish the offenders severely, without respect of persons. The sub and deputy-go- vernors, the directors and officers of the South- Sea company. Mere examined at the bar of the house. Then a bill was brought in, disabling them to enjoy any office in that company, or in the East-India company, or in the bank of Eng- land, Three brokers were likewise examined, and made great discoveries. Knight, the trea- surer of the South-Sea company, who had been entrusted with the secrets of the whole affair, thought proper to withdraw himself from the kingdom. A proclamation was issued to appre- hend him ; and another for preventing any of the directors from escaping out of the kingdom. At this period, the secret committee informed the house of commons, that they had already dis- covered a train of the deepest villany and fraud that hell ever contrived to ruin a nation, which in due time they would lay before the house : in the mean while, they thought it highly necessary to secure the persons of some of the directors and principal officers of the South-Sea company, as well as to seize their papers. An order M'as made to secure the books and papers of Knight, Sutt VOL. III. F 66 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1720. man, and Turner. The persons of sir George Caswell, sir John Blunt, sir John Lambert, sir John Fellows, and Mr. Grigsby, were taken into custody. Sir Theodore Janssen, Mr. Sawbridge, sir Robert Chaplain, and Mr. Eyles were expelled the house, and apprehended. Mr. Aislabie re- signed his employments of cliancellor of the ex- che({uer and lord of the treasury ; and orders were given to remove all directors of the South- Sea company from the places they possessed under the government. , The lords, in the course of their examination, discovered that large portions of South-Sea stock had been given to several persons in the admi- nistration and house of commons, for promoting the passing of the South-Sea act. The house immediately resolved, that this practice was a notorious and most dangerous species of corrup- tion : that the directors of the South-Sea com- pany having ordered great quantities of their stock to be bought for the service of the com-, pany, when it was at a very high price, and on pretence of keej)ing up the price of stock ; and at the same time several of the directors, and other officers belonging to the company, having, in a clandestine manner, sold their own stock to the company, such directors and officers were guilty of a notorious fraud and breach of trust, and their so doing was one great cause of the un- happy turn of affairs, that had so much affected public credit. Many other resolutions were taken 1720. GEORGE I. 67 against that infamous confederacy, in which, however, the innocent were confounded witli the guilty. Sir John Bkmt refusing to answer certain interrogations, a violent debate arose about the manner in which he should be treated. The duke of Wharton observed, that the government of the best princes was sometimes rendered intolera- ble to their subjects by bad ministers: he men- tioned the example of Sejanus, who had made a division in the imperial family, and rendered the reign of Claudius hateful to the Romans. Earl Stanhope conceiving this reflection was aimed at him, was seized with a transport of anger. He undertook to vindicate the ministry ; and spoke Ayith such vehemence as produced a violent head-ach, which obliged him to retire. He un- derwent proper evacuations, and seemed to re- cover: but, next day, in the evening, became lethargic, and being seized with a suffocation, in- stantly expired. The king deeply regretted the death of this favourite minister, which was the more unfortunate, as it happened at such a cri- tical conjuncture ; and he appointed lord Towns- hend to fill his place of secretary. Earl Stan- hope was survived but a few days by the other secretary, Mr. Craggs, who died of the small- pox on the sixteenth day of February. Knight, the cashier of the South-Sea company, being seized at Tirlemont, by the vigilance of Mr. Gan- dot, secretary to Mr. Leathes, the British re- sident at Brussels, was confined in the citadel of 2 68 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1720. Antwerp. Application was made to the court of Vienna, that he shouhl be delivered to such per- sons as might be appointed to receive him : but he had found means to interest the states of Bra- bant in his behalf. They insisted upon their pri- vilege granted by charter, that no person appre- liended for any crime in Brabant should be tried in any other country. The house of commons expressed their indignation at this frivolous pre- tence : instances were renewed to the emperor : and in the mean time Knight escaped from the citadel of Antwerp. THE ESTATES OF THE DIRECTORS OF THE SOUTH-SEA COMPANY CONFISCATED. The committee of secrecy found, that, before any subscription could be made, a fictitious stock of five hundred and seventy-four thousand pounds had been disposed of by the directors, to faci- litate the passing the bill. Great part of this was distributed among the earl of Sunderland, Mr. Craggs, senior, the duchess of Kendal, the countess of Platen, and her two nieces, Mr. se- cretary Craggs, and Mr. Aislabie, chancellor of the exchequer. In consequence of the commit- tee's report, the house came to several severe, though just, resolutions against the directors and officers of the South-Sea company; and a bill was prepared for the relief of the unhappy suf- 1720. GEORGE I. 69 ferers. Mr. Stanhope, one of the secretaries of the treasury, charged in the report with having large quantities of stock and subscriptions, de- sired that he might have an opportunity to clear himself. His request was granted ; and the affair being discussed, he was cleared by a majority of three voices. Fifty thousand pounds in stock . had been taken by Knight for the use of the earl of Sunderland. Great part of the house entered eagerly into this inquiry ; and a violent dispute ensued. The whole strength of the ministry was mustered in his defence. The majority declared him innocent : the nation in general was of another opinion. He resigned his place of first commis- sioner in the treasury, which was bestowed upon Mr. Robert Walpole ; but he still retained the confidence of his master. With respect to Mr. Aislabie, the evidence appeared so strong against him, that the commons resolved, he had promoted the destructive execution of the South-Sea scheme, with a view to his own exorbitant profit, and combined with the directors in their pernicious practices to the ruin of public credit. He was expelled the house, and committed to the Tower. Mr. Craggs, senior, died of the lethargy, before he underwent the censure of the house. Never- theless, they resolved that he was a notorious ac- complice with Robert Knight, and some of the directors, in carrying on their scandalous prac- tices ; and therefore, that all the estate of which he was possessed, from the first day of December 70 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1721. in the preceding year, should be applied towards the relief of the unhappy sufferers in the South- Sea company ^ The directors, in obedience to the orders of the house, delivered in inventories of their estates, which were confiscated by act of parliament, towards making good the damages sustained by the company, after a certain allow- ance was deducted for each, according to his con- duct and circumstances. The delinquents being thus punished by the for- feiture of their fortunes, the house converted their attention to means for repairing the mischiefs wliich the scheme had produced. This was a very difficult task, on account of the contending in- terests of those engaged in the South-Sea com- pany, which rendered it impossible to relieve some but at the expence of others. Several wholesome resolutions were taken, and presented with an ad- dress to the king, explaining the motives of their proceedings. On the twenty-ninth day of July, the parliament was prorogued for two days only. Then his majesty going to the house of peers, de- clared that he had called them together again so suddenly, that they might resume the considera- tion of the state of public credit. The commons immediately prepared a bill upon the resolutions they had taken. The whole capital stock, at the end of the year one thousand seven hundred and * Oldmixon. Annals. Historical Register. Political State. Debates in Parliament. Tindal. i;2l. GEORGE I. 71 twenty, amounted to about thirty-seven millions eight hundred thousand pounds. The stock al- lotted to all the proprietors did not exceed twenty- four millions five hundred thousand pounds : the remaining capital stock belonged to the company in their corporate capacity. It was the profit arising from the execution of the South-Sea scheme ; and out of this the bill enacted, that seven millions should be paid to the public. The present act likewise directed several additions to be made to the stock of the proprietors, out of that possessed by the company in their own right: it made a particular distribution of stock, amount- ing to two millions two hundred thousand pounds: and upon remitting five milHons of the seven to be paid to the public, annihilated two millions of their capital. It was enacted, that, after these distributions, the remaining capital stock should be divided among all the proprietors. This di- vidend amounted to thirty- three pounds six shil- lings and eight-pence per cent, and deprived the company of eight millions nine hundred thousand pounds. They had lent above eleven millions on stock unredeemed ; of which the parliament dis- charged all the debtors, upon their paying ten per cent. Upon this article the company's loss ex- ceeded six millions nine hundred thousand pounds; for many debtors refused to make any payment. The proprietors of the stock loudly complained of their being deprived of two millions ; and the parliament, in the sequel, revived that sum which. 72 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1721. had been annihilated. While this affair was in agitation, petitions from counties, cities, and bo* roughs, in all parts of the kingdom, were present- ed to the house, crying for justice against the vil- lany of the directors. Pamphlets and papers were daily published on the same subject ; so that the whole nation was exasperated to the highest pitch of resentment. Nevertheless, by the wise and vigorous resolutions of the parliament, the South- Sea company was soon in a condition to fulfil their engagements with the public : the ferment of the people subsided ; and the credit of the nation was restored. 1721. GEORGE I. 73 CHAPTER 11. Bill against Atheism and Immorality postponed .... Session closed .... Alliance between Great Britain, France, and Spain .... Plague at Marseilles .... Debates in the House of Lords about Mr. Law the Projector .... Sentiments of some Lords touching the War with Spain .... Petition of the Quakers. The Parliament dissolved .... Rumours of a Conspiracy. The Bishop of Rochester is committed to the Tower .... New Par- liament .... Declaration of the Pretender .... Report of the Secret Committee .... Bill of Pains and Penalties against the Bishop of Rochester .... Who is deprived and driven into per- petual Exile .... Proceedings against those concerned in the Lottery at Harburgh .... Affairs of the Continent .... Clamour in Ireland on Account of Wood's Coinage .... Death of the Duke of Orleans .... An Act for lessening the Public Debts .... Philip, King of Spain, abdicates tlie Throne .... Abuses in Chancery .... Trial of the Earl of Macclesfield .... Debates about the Debts of the Civil List .... A Bill in favour of the late Lord Bolingbroke .... Treaty of Alliance between the Courts of Vienna and Madrid .... Treaty of Hanover .... Approved in Parliament . . . .Riots in Scotland on Account of the Malt-tax .... A small Squadron sent to the Baltic .... Ad- miral Hosier's Expedition to the West-Indies .... Disgrace of the Duke de Ripperda .... Substance of the King's Speech to Parliament .... Debate in the House of Lords upon the ap- proaching Rupture with the Emperor and Spain ... .Memo- rial of Mr. Palms, the Imperial Resident at London .... Con- ventions with Sweden and Hesse-Cassel .... Vote of Credit .... Siege of Gibraltar by the Spaniards .... Preliminaries of Peace .... Death and Character of George I. King of Great Britain. 74 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1721. BILL AGAINST ATHEISM AND IMMORALITY POSTPONED, During the infatuation produced by this in- famous scheme, luxury, vice, and profligacy, in- creased to a shocking degree of extravagaLnCt^. The adventurers, intoxicated by their imaginary wealth, pampered themselves with the rarest dain- ties, and the most expensive wines that could be imported : they purchased the most sumptuous furniture, equipage, and apparel, though without taste or discernment: they indulged their criminal passions to the most scandalous excess : their dis- course was the language of pride, insolence, and the most ridiculous ostentation : they affected to scoff at religion and morality, and even to set heaven at defiance. The earl of Nottingham com- plained in the house of lords of the growth of atheism, profaneness, and immorality; and a bill was brought in for suppressing blasphemy and profaneness. It contained several articles seem- ingly calculated to restrain the liberty granted to nonconformists by the laws of the last session : for that reason it met with violent opposition. It was supported by the archbishop of Canterbury, the earl of Nottingham, lords Bathurst and Trevor, the bishops of London, Winchester, and Litchfield and Coventry. One of these said, he verily be- lieved the present calamity occasioned by the South-Sea project was a judgment of God on the blasphemy and profaneness of the nation. Lord 1721. GEORGE I. 75 Onslow replied, " That noble peer must then be •' a great sinner, for he has lost considerably by " the South-Sea scheme." The duke of Wharton, who had rendered himself famous by his wit and profligacy, said he was not insensible of the com- mon opinion of the town concerning himself, and gladly seized this opportunity of vindicating his character, b}'- declaring he was far from being a patron of blasphemy, or an enemy to religion. On the other hand, he could not but oppose the bill, because he conceived it to be repugnant to the holy scripture. Then pulling an old family bible from his pocket, he quoted several passages from the epistles of St. Peter and St. Paul ; concluding with a desire that the bill might be thrown out. The earl of Peterborough declared, that though he was for a parliamentar}'^ king, yet he did not desire to have a parliamentary God, or a parlia- mentary religion ; and, should the house declare for one of this kind, he would go to Rome, and endeavour to be chosen a cardinal; for he had rather sit in the conclave than with their lordships upon those terms. After a vehement debate, the bill was postponed to a long day, by a considera- ble majority. The season was far advanced before the sup- plies were granted : and at length they were not voted Avith that cheerfulness and good humour which the majority had hitherto manifested on such occasions. On the sixteenth day of June, the king sent a message to the house of commons, 76 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;21. importing, that he had agreed to pay a subsidy to the crown of Sweden, and he hoped they would enable him to make good his engagements. The leaders of the opposition took tire at this inti- mation. They desired to know whether this sub- sidy, amounting to seventy-two thousand pounds, was to be paid to Sweden over and above the ex- pence of maintaining a strong squadron in the Baltic ? Lord Molesworth observed, that, by our late conduct, we were become the allies of the whole world, and the bubbles of all our allies : for we were obliged to pay them well for their assistance. He affirmed that the treaties which had been made with Sweden, at different times, were inconsistent and contradictory : that our late engagements with that crown were contrary to the treaties subsisting with Denmark, and directly opposite to the measures formerly concerted with the czar of Muscovy. He said, that in order to engage the czar to yield what he had gained in the course of the war, the king of Prussia ought to give up Stetin, and the elector of Hanover restore Bremen and Verden : that, after all, England had no business to intermeddle with the affairs of the empire : that we reaped little or no advantage by our trade to the Baltic, but that of procuring naval stores : he owned that hemp M'as a very necessary commodity, particularly at this juncture; but he insisted, that if due encouragement were given to some of our plantations in America, we might be supplied from thence at a much cheaper rate than 1721. GEORGE I. 77 from Sweden and Norway. Notwithstanding these arguments, the Swedish supply was granted : and, in about three weeks, their complaisance was put to another proof. They were given to understand, by a second message, that the debts of the civil list amounted to five hundred and fifty thousand pounds ; and his majesty hoped they would em- power him to raise that sum upon the revenue, as he proposed it should be replaced in the civil list, and reimbursed by a deduction from the salaries and wages of all officers, as well as from the pen- sions and other payments from the crown. A bill was prepared for this purpose, though not without warm opposition ; and, at the same time, an act passed for a general pardon. On the tenth day of August, tlie king closed the session Nvith a speech, in which he expressed his concern for the sufferings of the innocent, and a just indignation against the guilty, with respect to the South-Sea scheme. These professions were judged necessary to clear his own character, which had incurred the suspicion of some people, who whispered that he was not altooether free from connexions with the projectors of that design ; that the emperor had, at his desire, refused to dehver up Knight ; and that he favoured the directors and their accomplices. 78 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1721. ALLIANCE BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND SPAIN. Lords Townshend and Carteret were now ap- pointed secretaries of state: and the earl of Hay was vested with the oflice of lord privy-seal of Scotland. In June the treaty of peace between Great Britain and Spain was signed at Madrid. The contracting parties engaged to restore mutu- ally all the effects seized and confiscated on both sides. In particular, the king of England pro- mised to restore all the ships of the Spanish fleet which had been taken in the Mediterranean, or the value of them, if they were sold. He likewise promised, in a secret article, that he would no longer interfere in the affairs of Italy : and the king of Spain made an absolute cession of Gibral- tar and Port-Mahon. At the same time, a de- fensive alliance was concluded between Great Britain, France, and Spain. All remaining diffi- culties were referred to a congress at Cambray, where they hoped to consolidate a general peace, by determining all differences between the em- peror and his catholic majesty. In the mean time, the powers of Great Britain, France, and Spain, engaged, by virtue of the present treaty, to grant to the duke of Parma a particular protection for the preservation of his territories and rights, and for the support of his dignity. It was also stipu- lated, that the states-general should be invited to accede to this aUiance. The congress at Cambray 1721. GEORGE I. 79 Avas opened : but the demands on both sides were so liigh, that it proved ineffectual. In the mean time, the peace between Russia and Sweden was concluded, on condition that the czar should re- tain Livonia, Ingria, Estonia, part of Carelia, and of the territory of Wyburg, Riga, Revel, and Nerva, in consideration of his restoring part of Finland, and paying two millions of rix-dollars to the king of Sweden. The personal animosity subsisting between king George and the czar seemed to increase. Bastagif, the Russian resid- ent at London, having presented a memorial that contained some unguarded expressions, was or- dered to quit the kingdom in a fortnight. The czar published a declaration at Petersburgh, com- plaining of this outrage, which, he said, ought naturally to have engaged him to use reprisals ; but, as he perceived it was done without any re- gard to the concerns of England, and only in favour of the Hanoverian interest, he was unwill- ing that the English nation should suffer for a piece of injustice in which they had no share He, therefore, granted to them all manner of security, and free liberty to trade in all his dominions. To finish this strange tissue of negociations, king George concluded a treaty with the Moors of Africk, against which the Spaniards loudly ex- claimed. 80 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1721. PLAGUE AT MARSEILLES. In the course of this year, pope Clement XI. died : and the princess of Wales was delivered of a prince, baptized by the name of William-Augustus, the late duke of Cumberland. A dreadful plague raging at Marseilles, a proclamation was publish- ed, forbidding any person to come into England, from any part of France between the Bay of Bis- cay and Dunkirk, without certificates of health. Other precautions were taken to guard against contagion. An act of parliament had passed in the preceding session, for the prevention of in- fection, by building pest-houses, to which all infected persons, and all persons of an infected family, should be conveyed: and, by drawing trenches and lines round any city, town, or place infected. The king, in his speech at opening the session of parliament, on the nineteenth day of October, intimated the pacification of the north, by the conclusion of the treaty between Muscovy and Sweden. He desired the house of commons to consider of means for easing the duties upon the imported commodities used in the manufac- tures of the kingdom. He observed, that the na- tion might be supplied with naval stores from our own colonies in North-America; and that their being employed in this useful and advantageous branch of commerce would divert them from set- ting up manufactures which directly interfered i72l. GEORGE I. 81 with those of Great Britain. He expressed a de- sire that, with respect to the suppHes, his people might reap some immediate benefit from the pre- sent circumstance of affairs abroad : and he earn- estly recommended to their consideration, means for preventing the plague, particularly by provid- ing against the practice of smuggling. DEBATES IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ABOUT MR. LAW THE PROJECTOR. One of the first objects that attracted the atten- tion of the upper house was the case of John Law, the famous projector. The resentment of the people on account of his Mississippi scheme had obliged him to leave France. He retired to Italy; and was said to have visited the pretender at Rome. From thence he repaired to Hanover; and returned to England from the Baltic, in the fleet commanded by sir John Norris. The king favoured him with a private audience : he kept open house, and was visited by great numbers of persons of the first quality. Earl Coningsby re- presented In the house of lords that he could not but entertain some jealousy of a person who had done so much mischief in a neighbouring king- dom ; who, being immensely rich, might do a great deal more hurt here, by tampering Math those who were grown desperate, in consequence of being involved in the calamity occasioned by the fatal imitation of his pernicious projects. He VOL. III. G 82 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1721. observed, that this person was the more dangerous, as he had renounced his natural affection to his country, his allegiance to his lawful sovereign, and his religion, by turning Roman catholic. Lord Carteret replied, that Mr. Law had, many years ago, the misfortune to kill a gentleman in a duel ; but, having at last received the benefit of the king's clemency, and the appeal lodged by the relations of the deceased being taken off, he was come over to plead his majesty's pardon. lie said there was no law to keep an Englishman out of his country; and, as Mr. Law was a subject of Great Britain, it was not even in the king's power to hinder him from coming over. After some dispute, the subject was dropped, and this great projector pleaded his pardon in the king's-bench, accordino- to the usual form. SENTIMENTS OF SOME LORDS TOUCHING THE WAR WITH SPAIN. The ministry had by this time secured such a majority in both houses, as enabled them to carry any point without the least difficulty. Some chiefs of the opposition they had brought over to their measures, and among the rest lord Harcourt, who was created a viscount, and gratified with a pen- sion of four thousand pounds. Nevertheless they could not shut the mouths of the minority, who still preserved the privilege of complaining. Great 1721. GEORGE I. 83 debates were occasioned by the navy-debt, which was increased to one miUion seven hundred thou- sand pounds. Some members in both houses affirmed, that such extraordinary expence could not be for the immediate service of Great Bri- tain ; but, in all probability, for the preservation of foreign acquisitions. The ministers answered, that near two-thirds of the navy debts were con- tracted in the late reign ; and the parliament ac- quiesced in this declaration : but in reality, the navy-debt had been unnecessarily increased, by keeping seamen in pay during the winter, and sending fleets to the Mediterranean and Baltic, in order to support the interests of Germany. The duke of Wharton moved that the treaty with Spain might be laid before the house. The earl of Sunderland said it contained a secret article which the king of Spain desired might not be made public, until after the treaty of Cambray should be discussed. The question was put, and the duke's motion rejected. The earl of Straf- ford asserted, that as the war with Spain had been undertaken without necessity or just provocation, so the peace was concluded without any benefit or advantage; that, contrary to the law of nations, the Spanish fleet had been attacked without any declaration of war; even while a British minister and a secretary of state were treating amicably at Madrid : that the Mar was neither just nor po- litic, since it interrupted one of the most valuable branches of the English commerce, at a time 2 SI HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1721. when the nation groaned under the pressure of heavy debts, incurred by the former long, ex- pensive war. He, therefore, moved for an ad- dress to his majesty, desiring that the instructions given to sir George Byng, now lord Torrington, should be laid before the house. This motion being likewise, upon the question, rejected, a pro- test was entered. They voted an address, how- ever, to know in what manner the king had dis- posed of the ships taken from the Spaniards. Dis- putes arose from the bill to prevent infection. Earl Cowper represented, that the removal of per- sons to a lazaret, or pest-house, by order of the government, and the drawing lines and trenches round places infected, were powers unknown to the British constitution ; inconsistent with the lenity of a free government, such as could never be wisely or usefully put in practice ; the more odious, because copied from the arbitrary govern- ment of France ; and impracticable, except by military compulsion. These obnoxious clauses were accordingly repealed, though not without great opposition. Indeed, nothing can be more absurd than a constitution that will not admit of just and necessary laws and regulations to prevent the dire consequences of the worst of all calami- ties. Such restrictions, instead of favouring the lenity of a free government, would be the most cruel imposition that could be laid on a free peo- ple, as it would act in diametrical opposition to the great principle of society, which is the preserva- tion of the individual. i;21. GEORGE I. 85 PETITION OF THE QUAKERS. The qiiakers having presented a petition to the house of commons, praying that a bill might be brouoht in for omittins: in their solemn affirmation the words '* In the presence of Almighty God," the house complied with their request : but tlie bill gave rise to a warm debate among the peers. Dr. Atterbury, bishop of Rochester, said he did not know why such a distinguishing mark of in- dulgence should be allowed to a set of people who were hardly christians. He was supported by the archbishop of York, the earl of Straflford, and lord North and Grey. A petition was pre- sented against the bill by the London clergy, who expressed a serious concern lest the minds of good men should be grieved and wounded, and the enemies of Christianity triumph, when they should see such condescension made by a christian leo-islature to a set of men who renounce the di- vine institutions of Christ ; particularly that by Avhich the faithful are initiated into his religion, and denominated christians. The petition, though presented by the archbishop of York, was branded by the ministry as a seditious libel, and rejected by the majority. Then, upon a motion by the earl of Sunderland, the house resolved, that such lords as might enter protestations with reasons, should do it before two o'clock on the next sit- ting day, and sign them before the house rises. 86 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1722. The supplies being granted, and the business of the session dispatched as the court was pleased to dictate, on the seventh day of March the par- liament was prorogued. In a few days it was dis- solved, and another convoked by proclamation \ In the election of members for the new parlia- ment, the ministry exerted itself with such suc- cess, as returned a great majority in the house of commons, extremely well adapted for all the purposes of an administration '. In the beginning of May, the king is said to have received from the duke of Orleans full and certain information of a fresh conspiracy formed against his person and government. A camp was immediately formed in Hyde-Park. All military officers Mere ordered to repair to their respective commands. Lieutenant-General Macartney was dispatched to Ireland, to bring •• Annals. Historical Register. Debates in Parliament. Po- litical State. Tindal. ' The earl of Sunderland died in April, after having incurred a great load of popular odium, from his supposed connexions with the directors of the South-Sea company. He was a mi- nister of abilities, but violent, impetuous, and head-strong. His death vi^as soon followed by that of his father-in-law, the great duke of Marlborough, whose faculties had been for some time greatly impaired. He was interred in Westminster-abbey, with such profusion of funeral pomp, as evinced the pride and osten- tation, much more than the taste and concern of those who directed his obsequies. He was succeeded as master of the ord- nance, and colonel of the first regiment of foot guards, by earl Cadogan. J722. GEORGE I. 87 over some troops from that kingdom. Some su- spected persons were apprehended in Scotland : the states of Holland were desired to have their auxiliary or guarantee troops in readiness to be embarked ; and colonel Churchill was sent to the court of France with a private commission. The apprehension raised by this supposed plot affected the public credit. South-Sea stock began to fall; and crowds of people called in their money from the bank. Lord Townshend wrote a letter to the mayor of London, by the king's command, signifying his majesty's having received unques- tionable advices, that several of his subjects had entered into a wicked conspiracy, in concert with traitors abroad, for raising a rebellion in favour of a popish pretender ; but that he was firmly assured the authors of it neither were nor would be supported by any foreign power. This letter was immediately answered by an affectionate ad- dress from the court of aldermen ; and the ex- ample of London was followed by many other cities and boroughs. The king had determined to visit Hanover, and actually settled a regenc}^ in which the prince of Wales was not included : but now this intended journey was laid aside : the court was removed to Kensington, and the prince retired to Richmond. The bishop of Ro- chester having been seized, with his papers, was examined before a committee of the council, who committed him to the Tower for high-treason. The earl of Orrery, lord North and Grey, and 88 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1722. Mr. Cockran, and Mr. Smith, from Scotland, and Mr. Christopher Layer, a young gentleman of the Temple, were confined in the same place. Mr. George Kelly, an Irish clergyman, Mr. Robert Cotton of Huntingdonshire, Mr. Bingley, Mr. Fleetwood, Neynoe, an Irish priest, and several persons, were taken into custody ; and Mr. Ship- pen's house was searched. After bishop Atter- bury had remained a fortnight in the Tower, sir Constantine Phipps presented a petition to the court at the Old -Bailey, in the name of Mrs. Mor- ris that prelate's daughter, praying that, in con- sideration of the bishop's ill state of health, he might be either brought to a speedy trial, bailed, or discharged : but this was over-ruled. The churchmen through the whole kingdom were fill- ed with indignation at the confinement of a bishop, which they said was an outrage upon the church of England, and the episcopal order. Far from concealing their sentiments on this subject, the clergy ventured to offer up public prayers for his health, in almost all the churches and chapels of London and Westminster. In the mean time, the king attended by the prince of Wales, made a summer progress through the western counties. NEW PARLIAMENT. The new parliament being assembled on the ninth day of October, his majesty made them acquaint- 1722. GEORGE I. 89 ed with the nature of the conspiracy. He said the conspirators had, by their emissaries, made the strongest instances for succours from foreign powers ; but were disappointed in their expecta- tions. That, nevertheless, confiding in their num- bers, they had resolved once more, upon their own strength, to attempt the subversion of his govern- ment. He said they had provided considerable sums of money, engaged great numbers of officers from abroad, secured large quantities of arms and ammunition ; and, had not the plot been timely discovered, the whole nation, and particularly the city of London, would have been involved in blood and confusion. He expatiated upon the mildness and integrity of his own government; and in- veighed against the ingratitude, the implacability, and madness of the disaffected, concluding, with an assurance, that he would steadily adhere to the constitution in church and state, and continue to make the laws of the realm the rule and measure of all his actions. Such addresses were presented by both houses, as the fears and attachment of the majority may be supposed to have dictated on such an occasion. A bill was brought into the house of lords, for suspending the Habeas-Corpus act for a whole year ; but they were far from being unanimous in agreeing to such an unusual length of time. By this suspension they, in effect, vested the ministry with a dictatorial power over the liberties of the people. 90 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1722. DECLARATION OF THE PRETENDER. The opposition in the house of commons was so violent, that Mr. Robert Walpole found it neces- gary to alarm their apprehensions by a dreadful story of a design to seize the bank and exchequer, and to proclaim the pretender on the Royal Ex- change. Their passions being inflamed by tliis ridiculous artifice, they passed the bill, which im- mediately received the royal assent. The duke of Norfolk being brought from Bath, was exa- mined before the council, and committed to the Tower, on suspicion of high-treason. On the sixteenth day of November, the king sent to the house of peers the original and printed copy of a declaration signed by the pretender. It was dated at Lucca, on the twentieth day of September, in the present year, and appeared to be a proposal addressed to the subjects of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as to all foreign princes and states. In this paper, the chevalier de St. George, having mentioned the late violation of the freedom of elections, conspiracies invented to give a colour to new oppressions, infamous informers, and the state of proscription in which he supposed every honest man to be, very gravely proposed, that if king George would relinquish to him the throne of Great Britain, he would, in return, bestow upon him the title of king in his native dominions, and invite all other states to confirm it : he like- 1722. GEORGE I. 91 wise promised to leave to king George his suc- cession to the British dominions secure, whenever, in due course, his natural right should take place. The lords unanimously resolved, that this declara- tion was a false, insolent, and traitorous libel ; and ordered it to be burned at the Royal Ex- change. The commons concurred in these reso- lutions. Both houses joined in an address, ex- pressing their utmost astonishujent and indigna- tion at the surprizing insolence of the pretender; and assuring his majesty, they were determined to support his title to the crown with their lives and fortunes. The commons prepared a bill for rais- ing one hundred thousand pounds upon the real and personal estates of all papists, or persons edu- cated in the popish religion, towards defraying the expences occasioned by the late rebellion and disorders. This bill, though strenuously opposed by some moderate members, as a species of perse- cution, was sent up to the house of lords, together with another, obliging all persons, being papists, in Scotland, and all persons in Great Britain, re- fusing or neglecting to take the oaths appointed for the security of the king's person and govern- ment, to register their names and real estates. Both these bills passed through the upper house without amendments, and received the royal sanction. y2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1722. REPORT OF THE SECRET COMMITTEE. Mr. Layer being brought to his trial at the king's-bench, on the twenty-first clay of Novem- ber, was convicted of having inlistecl men for the pretender's service, in order to stir up a rebellion, and received sentence of death. He was reprieved for some time, and examined by a committee of the house of commons : but he either could not, or would not, discover the particulars of the con- spiracy, so that he suffered death at Tyburn, and his head \vas fixed up at Temple-bar. Mr. Pulteney, chairman of the committee, reported to the house, that, from the examination of Layer and others, a design had been formed by persons of figure and distinction at home, in conjunction with traitors abroad, for placing the pretender on the throne of these realms : that their first intention Avas to pro- cure a body of foreign troops to invade the king- dom at the time of the late elections ; but that the conspirators being disappointed in this ex- pectation, resolved to make an attempt at the time that it was generally believed the king in- tended to go to Hanover, by the help of such officers and soldiers as could pass into England unobserved, from abroad, under the command of the late duke of Ormond, who was to have land- ed in the river with a great quantity of arms, pro- vided in Spain for that purpose; at which time the Tower was to have been seized. That this 1732. GEORGE I. 93 scheme being also defeated by the vigilance of the government, they deferred their enterprize till the breaking up of the camp ; and, in the mean time, employed their agents to corrupt and seduce the officers and soldiers of the army : that it appeared from several letters and circumstances, that the late duke of Ormond, the duke of Norfolk, the earl of Orrery, lord North and Grey, and the bishop of Rochester, were concerned in this con- spiracy; that their acting agents were Christopher Layer and John Plunket, who travelled together to Rome ; Dennis Kelly, George Kelly, and Tho- mas Carte, nonjuring clergymen, Neynoe the Irish priest, who by this time was drowned in the river Thames, in attempting to make his escape from the messenger's house, Mrs. Spilman, alias Yallop, and John Sample. BILL OF PAINS AND PENALTIES AGAINST THE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER. This pretended conspiracy, in all likelihood, ex- tended no farther than the first rudiments of a design that was never digested into any regular form ; otherwise the persons said to be concerned in it must have been infatuated to a degree of frenzy: for they were charged with having made application to the regent of France, who was well known to be intimately connected with the king of Great Britain. The house of commons, how- 94: HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1722. ever, resolved, that it was a detestable and horrid conspiracy for raising a rebellion, seizing the Tower and the city of London, laying violent hands upon the persons of his most sacred ma- jestj^ and the prince of Wales, in order to subvert our present happy establishment in church and state, by placing a popish pretender upon the throne : that it was formed and carried on by per- - sons of figure and distinction, and their agents and instruments, in conjunction with traitors abroad. Bills were brought in, and passed, for inflicting pains and penalties against John Plunket and George Kelly, who were by these acts to be kept in close custody during his majesty's pleasure, in any prison in Great Britain ; and that they should not attempt to escape on pain of death, to be in- flicted upon them and their assistants. Mr. Yonge made a motion for a bill of the same nature against the bishop of Rochester. This was immediately brought into the house, though sir William Wynd- ham affirmed there was no evidence against him but conjectures and hearsay K The bishop wrote a letter to the speaker, importing, that, though conscious of his own innocence, he should decline giving the house any trouble that da}^, contenting himself with the opportunity of making his de- fence before another, of which he had the honour to be a member. Counsel being heard for the bill, it was committed to a grand committee on ^ Annals. Tindal. Debates in Parliament. Political State. 1723. GEORGE I. 95 the sixth day of April, when the majority of the tory members quitted the house. It was then moved, that the bishop should be deprived of his office and benefice, and banished the kingdom for ever. Mr. Lawson and Mr. Oglethorpe spoke in his favour. The bill being passed, and sent up to the lords, the bishop was brought to his trial before them on the ninth of May. Himself and his counsel hav- ing been heard, the lords proceeded to consider the articles of the bill. When they read it a third time, a motion was made to pass it, and then a long and warm debate ensued. Earl Paulet demon- strated the danger and injustice of swerving in such an extraordinary manner from the fixed rules o£ evidence. The duke of Wharton, having sum- med up the depositions, and proved the insuffi- ciency of them, concluded with saying, that, let the consequences be Avhat they would, he hoped such a heUish stain would never sully the lustre and glory of that illustrious house as to condemn a man without the least evidence. Lord Bathurst spoke against the bill with equal strength and eloquence. He said, if such extraordinary pro- ceedings were countenanced, he saw nothing re- maining for him and others to do, but to retire to their country houses, and there, if possible, quietly enjoy their estates within their own families, since the least correspondence, the least intercepted letter, might be made criminal. He observed, that cardinal Mazarin boasted, that if he had but 96 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1723. two lines of any man's writing, he could, by means of a few circumstances, attested by witnesses, de- prive him of his life at his pleasure. Turning to the bench of bishops, who had been generally un- favourable to Dr. Atterbury, he said he could hardly account for the inveterate hatred and ma- lice some persons bore the learned and ingenious bishop of Rochester, unless they were intoxicated with the infatuation of some savage Indians, who believed they inherited not only the spoils, but even the abilities of any great enemy whom they had killed in battle. The bill was supported by the duke of Argyle, the earl of Seafield, and lord Lechmere, which last was answered by earl Cow- per. This nobleman observed that the strongest argument urged in behalf of the bill was necessity: but that, for his part, he saw no necessity that could justify such unprecedented and such dan- gerous proceedings, as the conspiracy had above twelve months before been happily discovered, and the effects of it prevented : that, besides the intrinsic weight and strength of the government, the hands of those at the helm had been still fur- ther fortified by the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and the additional troops which had been raised. He said the known rules of evidence, as laid down at fust, and established by the law of the land, were the birth-right of every subject in the nation, and ought to be constantly observed, not only in the inferior courts of judicature, but also in both houses of parliament, till altered by J/23. GEORGE I. Q7 the legislature : that the admitting of the pre- carious and uncertain evidence of the clerks of the post-office was a very dangerous precedent. In former times (said he) it was thought very- grievous that in capital cases a man should be affected by similitude of hands ; but here the case is much worse, since it is allowed that the clerks of the post-office should carry the similitude of liands four months in their minds. He applauded the bishop's noble deportment, in declining to an- swer before the house of commons, whose pro- ceedings in this unprecedented manner, against a lord of parliament, was such an encroachment on the prerogative of the peerage, that if they sub- mitted to it, by passing the bill, they might be termed the last of British peers, for giving up their ancient privileges. The other party were not so solicitous about answering reasons, as eager to put the question, when the bill passed, and a protest was entered. By this act the bishop was deprived of all offices, benefices, and dignities, and render- ed incapable of enjoying any for the future : he was banished the realm, and subjected to the pains of death in case he should return, as were all per- sons who should correspond with him during his exile. Dr. Friend, the celebrated physician, who was a member of the house of commons, and had exerted himself strenuously in behalf of the bishop, was now taken into custody, on suspicion of trea- sonable practices. VOL. in. H 9?! HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1723. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THOSE CONCERNED IN THE LOTTERY AT HARBURGH. The next ol)ject that excited the resentment of the commons was the scheme of a lottery, to be drawn at Harburgh, in the king's Crerman domi- nions. The house appointed a committee to in- quire into this and other lotteries at that time on foot in London. The scheme was published, on pretence of raising a subscription for maintaining a trade between Great Britain and the king's ter- ritories on the Elbe : but it was a mysterious scene of iniquity, which the committee, with all their penetration, could not fully discover. They re- ported, however, that it was an infamous, fraudu- lent undertaking, whereby many unwary persons had been drawn in, to their great loss : that the manner of carrying it on had been a manifest vio- lation of the laws of the kingdom : that the ma- nagers and agents of this lottery had, without any authority for so doing, made use of his majesty's royal name, thereby to give countenance to the infamous project, and induce his majesty's sub- jects to engage or be concerned therein. A bill was brought in to suppress this lottery ; and to oblige the managers of it to make restitution of the money they had received from the contri- butors. At the same time the house resolved, That John lord viscount Barrington had been no- toriously guilty of promoting, abetting, and car- 1723. GEORGE I. 99 rying on that fraudulent uncleitaking ; for which offence he should be expelled the house. The court of Vienna having erected an East-India company at Ostend, upon a scheme formed by one Colebrook, an English merchant, sir Natha- niel Gould represented to the house of commons the great detriment which the English East-India company had already received, and were likely further to sustain, by this Ostend company. The house immediately resolved, That for the subjects of this kingdom to subscribe, or be concerned in encouraging any subscription, to promote an East- India company now erecting in the Austrian Ne- therlands, was a high crime and misdemeanor; and a law was enacted for preventing British sub- jects from engaging in that enterprize. By an- other act, relating to the South-Sea company, the two millions of stock which had been annihilated were revived, added to the capital, and divided among the proprietors. A third law passed, for the more effectual execution of justice in a part of South wark, called the Mint, where a great num- ber of debtors had taken sanctuary, on the sup- position that it was a privileged place. On the twenty-seventh day of May the session was closed, with a speech that breathed nothing but panegy- ric, acknowledgment, and affection to a parlia- ment which had complied with all his majesty's wishes. 2 100 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 172^ AFFAIRS OF THE CONTINENT. His majesty, having ennobled the son of Mr. Robert Walpole, in consideration of the father's services, made a good number of church promo- tions. He admitted the imprisoned lords and gen- tlemen to bail; granted a pardon to lord Bohng- broke ; and ordered the bishop of Rochester to be conveyed to the continent. Then he himself set out for Hanover, leaving the administration of his kingdoms in the hands of a regency, lord Har- court being one of the justices. The king was attended by the two secretaries, lords Townshend and Carteret, who were counted able negociators. The affairs of the continent had begun to take a new turn. The interests and connections of the different princes were become perplexed and em- barrassed ; and king George resolved to unravel them by dint of negociation. Understanding that a treaty was on the carpet between the czar and the king of Sweden, favourable to the duke of Holstein's pretensions to Sleswick, the possession of which the elector of Hanover had guaranteed to Denmark, his majesty began to be in pain for Bremen and Verden. The regent of France and the king of Spain had now compromised all differ- ences; and their reconciliation was cemented by a double marriage between Philip's sons and the regent's daughters. The former proposed new treaties to England ; but insisted upon the resti- 1723. GEORGE I. 101 tution of Gibraltar and Port-Mahon, as well as upon the king's openly declaring against the Ostend company. His Britannic majesty was apprehensive, that, should the emperor be hard pressed on that subject, he might join the czar and the king of Sweden, and promote their designs in favour of the duke of Holstein. On the other hand, all the Italian powers exclaimed against the treaty of London. The pope had protested against any thing that might have been decided at Cam- bray to the prejudice of his right. Memorials to the same effect had been presented by the king of Sardinia, the dukes of Tuscany, Parma, and Modena. France and Spain were inclined to sup- port these potentates against the house of Austria. Europe seemed to be on the eve of a new war. King George v^as entangled in such a variety of treaties and interests, that he knew not well how to extricate himself from the troublesome engage- ments he had contracted. By declaring for the emperor, he must have countenanced the new establishment at Ostend, which was so prejudicial to his British subjects, and incurred the resent- ment of France, Spain, and their allies of Italy. In renouncing the interest of the emperor, he would have exposed his German dominions. In vain he exhorted the emperor to relax in his disputes with Spain, and give up the Ostend com- pany, which was so detrimental and disagreeable to his faithful allies: the court of Vienna pro- mised in general to observe the treaties which it 102 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1723* had concluded, but declined entering into any particular discussion ; so that all his majesty's endeavours issued in contracting closer connexions with Prussia and Denmark. All those negociations carried on, all those treaties concluded by king George, with almost every prince and state in Christendom, which succeeded one another so fast, and appear, at first view, so intricate and un- accountable, were founded upon two simple and natural principles, namely, the desire of ascertain- ing his acquisitions as elector of Hanover, and his resolution to secure himself against the disaffec- tion of his British subjects, as well as the efforts of the pretender. ^ CLAMOUR IN IRELAND ON ACCOUNT OF WOOD'S COINAGE. Great-Britain at this period enjoyed profound tranquillity. Ireland was a little ruffled by an in- cident which seemed to have been misrepresented to the people of that kingdom. William Wood had obtained a patent for furnishing Ireland with copper currenc}', in which it was deficient. A great clamour was raised against this coin. The parliament of that kingdom, which met in Sep- tember, resolved. That it would be prejudicial to the revenue, destructive of trade, and of dan- gerous consequence to the rights of the subject : that the patent had been obtained by misrepre- 1723. GEORGE I. 103 sentation : that the half-pence wanted weight: that, even if the terms of the patent had heen comphed witli, there woukl have been a great loss to the nation ; that granting tlie power of coinage to a private person had ever been highly prejudicial to the kingdom, and would at all times be of dangerous consequence. Addresses from both houses were presented to the king on this subject. The affair was referred to the lords of the privy-council of England. They justified the conduct of the patentee, upon the report of sir Isaac Newton and other officers of the INIint, who had made an assay and trial of Wood's half- pence, and found he had complied with the terms of the patent. They declared that this currency exceeded in goodness, fineness, and value of me- tal, all the copper money which had been coined for Ireland, in the reigns of king Charles II. king James II. king William and queen Mary. The privy-council likewise demonstrated, that his majesty's predecessors had always exercised the undoubted prerogative of granting patents for copper coinage in Ireland to private persons : that none of these patents had been so beneficial to the kingdom as this granted to William Wood, who had not obtained it in an unprecedented manner, but after a reference to the attorney and solicitor general, and after sir Isaac Newton had been consulted in every particular : finally, they proved, b}'^ a great number of witnesses, that there was a real want of such money in Ireland. Not- 104 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 172^. Avithstanding this decision, the ferment of the Irish nation was industriously kept up by clamour, pamphlets, papers, and lampoons, \s^ritten by dean Swift and other authors ; so that Wood volun- tarily reduced his coinage from the value of one hundred thousand to forty thousand pounds. Thus the noise was silenced. The commons of Ireland passed an act, for accepting the affirmation of the quakers instead of an oath ; and voted three hun- dred and forty thousand pounds towards discharg- ing the debt of the nation, which amounted to about double that sum. DEATH OF THE DUKE OF ORLEANS. In the month of October, England lost a worthy nobleman in the death of earl Cowper, who had twice discharged the office of lord chancellor, with equal discernment and integrity. He was profoundly skilled in the laws of his country ; in his apprehension quick and penetrating; in his judgment clear and determinate. He possessed a manly eloquence : his manner was agreeable, and his deportment graceful This year was likewise remarkable for the death of the duke of Orleans, regent of France, who, since the decease of Louis XIV. had ruled that nation Avith the most ab- solute authority. He was a prince of taste and spirit, endowed with shining talents for empire, which he did not fail to display, even in the midst 1723. GEORGE I. 105 of effeminate pursuits and idle debauchery. From the infirm constitution of the infant king, he had conceived hopes of ascending the throne, and taken his measures accordingly ; but the young monarch's health began to be established, and all the duke's schemes were defeated by an apoplexj^, of which he died, in the fiftieth year of his age, after havinir nominated the duke of Bourbon as prime-minister. King George immediately re- ceived assurances of the good disposition of the French court, to cultivate and even improve the good understanding so happily established be- tween France and Great-Britain. The king ar- rived in England on the eighteenth day of Decem- ber: and on the ninth day of January the parlia- nlent was assembled. His majesty, in his speech, recommended to the commons the care of the public debts ; and he expressed his satisfaction at seeing the sinking fund improved and augmented, so as to put the debt of the nation into a method of being speedily and gradually discharged. AN ACT FOR LESSENING THE PUBLIC DEBTS. This was the repeated theory of patriotism, which unhappily for the subjects, was never reduced to practice : not but that a beginning of such a laud- able work was made in this very session, by an act for lessening the public debts. This law pro- vided that the annuities at five per cent, charged 106 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1723. on the general fund by a former act, except such as had been subscribed into the South-Sea, toge- ther with the unsubscribed blanks of the lottery in the year one thousand seven hundred and four- teen, shoukl be paid off at Lady-day of the year next ensuing, M'ith the money arising from the sinking fund. The ministry, however, did not persevere in this path of prudent oeconomy. The commons granted all the supoHes that were de- manded. They voted ten thousand seamen ; and the majority, though not without violent oppo- sition, agreed to maintain four thousand addi- tional troops, which had been raised in the pre- ceding year : so that the establishment of the land-forces amounted to eighteen thousand two hundred and sixty-four. The expence of the year was defrayed by a land tax and malt- tax I The commons having dispatched the supply, took into consideration a grievance arising from protections granted by foreign ministers, peers and members of parliament, under which profligate persons used to screen themselves from the prosecution of their just creditors. The commons resolved, That all protections granted by members of that house should be declared void, and immediately with- draw^n. The lords made a declaration to the same purpose, with an exception to menial servants, and those necessarily employed about the estates of ' Oldmixon. Political State. Historical Register. Annals of king George. Mem. Hist. 1724. GEORGE I. 107 peers". On the twenty-fourth day of April, his majesty closed the session in the usual manner, made some alterations in the disposition of the great officers of state, and sent ]\lr. Horatio Wal- pole as ambassador-extraordinary to the court of France. PHILIP, KING OF SPAIN, ABDICATES THE THRONE. In the beginning of this year, Philip king of Spain, retiring with his queen to the monastery of St. Hdefonso, sent the marquis of Grimaldi, his principal secretary of state, to his son Louis, prince of Asturias, with a solemn renunciation of the crown, and a letter of advice in which he exhorted him to cultivate the Blessed Virgin with *" The duke of Newcastle was now appointed secretary of state ; the duke of Grafton, lord chamberlain ; and lord Carteret, lord-lieutenant of Ireland. The king instituted a professorship for the modern languages in each university. In the month of May died Robert Harley, earl of Oxford and earl Mortimer, who had been a munificent patron of genius and literature ; and completed a very valuable collection of ma-- nuscripts. The practice of inoculation for the small pox was by this time introduced into England from Turkey. Prince Frederick, the two princesses Amelia and Carolina, the duke of Bedford and his sister, with many other persons of distinction, underwent this operation with success. Dr. Henr)"^ Sacheverel died in June, after having bequeath- ed five hundred pounds to the late bishop of Rochester. 108 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1724. the Avarmest devotion; and put himself and his kingdoms under her protection. The renuncia- tion was published through the whole monarchy of Spain ; and the council of Castile resolved, That Louis might assume the reins of govern- ment without assembling the Cortez. The Eng- lish minister at Paris was instructed to interpose in behalf of the Frencli protestants, against whom a severe edict had been lately published ; but his remonstrances produced no effect. England, in the mean time, was quite barren of such events as deserve a place in history. The government was now firnd}- established on the neck of opposi- tion ; and commerce ilourished even under the load of grievous impositions. ABUSES IN CHANCERY. The next parliament, which met on the twelfth day of November, seemed to be assembled for no other purpose than that of establishing funds for the exjjence of the ensuing year : yet the session was distino'uished bv a remarkable incident ; — namely, the trial of the earl of Macclesfield, lord chancellor of England. This nobleman had con- nived at certain venal practices touching the sale of places, and the money of suitors deposited with the masters of chancery, so as to incur the general reproach of the nation, lie found it necessary to resign the great seal in the beginning of January. On the ninth day of the ensuing month, the king 1724. GEORGE I. 109 sent a message to the commons, Importing, That his majesty having reason to api)iehen(l that the suitors in the court of chancery were in danger of losing a considerahle sum of money, from the in- sufficiency of some of the masters, thought him- self obhged, injustice and compassion to the said -sufferers, to take the most speedy and proper method the law would allow for inquiring into the state of the masters' accounts, and securing their effects for the benefit of the suitors : and his ma- jesty having had several reports laid before him, in pursuance of the directions he had given, had ordered the reports to be communicated to the house, that they might have as full and as perfect a view of this important affair as the shortness of the time, and the circumstances and nature of the proceedings, would admit. TRIAL OF THE EARL OF MACCLESFIELD. These papers being taken into consideration, sir George Oxenden observed, that enormous abuses had crept into the high court of chancery: that the crimes and misdemeanors of the late lord chancellor were many and various, but might be reduced to the following heads : that he had em- bezzled the estates and effects of many widows, orphans, and lunatics : that he had raised the offices of masters in chancery to an exorbitant price ; trusting in their hands large sums of mo- no HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ir25; iiey belonging to suitors, that tliey might be en- abled to comply with his exorbitant demands; and that in several cases he had made divers irregular orders. He therefore moved, That Thomas earl of Macclesfield should be impeached of high crimes and misdemeanors. Mr. Pulteney moved, That this affair might be left to the consideration of a select committee". Sir William Wyndham asserted, That in proceeding by way of impeach- ment upon reports from above, they would make a dangerous precedent ; and seem to give up the most valuable of their privileges, the inquest after state criminals. The question being put, it was carried for the impeachment. The earl was ac- cordingly impeached at the bar of the upper house : a committee was appointed to prepare articles ; and a bill was brought in, to indemnify the masters in chancery from the penalties of the law, upon discovering what consideration they had paid for their admission to their respective offices. The trial lasted twenty days; the earl was convicted of fraudulent practices ; and condemned in a fine of thirty thousand pounds, with imprisonment un- til that sum should be paid. He was immediately committed to the Tower, where he continued about six weeks ; but upon producing the money he was discharged; and sir Peter King, now created baron of Oakham, succeeded him in the office of chancellor. * Annals. Mem, Hist. Debates in Parliament. 1/25. GEORGE I. m DEBATES ABOUT THE DEBTS OF THE CIVIL LIST. His majesty, on the eighth day of April, gave the house of commons to understand, that having been engaged in some extraordinary expences, he hoped he should be enabled to raise a sum of money, by making use of the funds lately esta- blished for the payment of the civil-list annuities, in order to discharge the debts contracted in the civil government. Mr. Pulteney, cofferer of the household, moved for an address. That an account should be laid before the house of all monies paid for secret service, pensions, and bounties, from the twenty-fifth day of March, in the year one thousand seven hundred and one, to the twenty- fifth of the same month in the present year. This address being voted, a motion was made to con- sider the king's message. Mr. Pulteney urged, that this consideration should be postponed until the house should have examined the papers that were the subject of the address. He expressed his surprize, that a debt amounting to above five hun" dred thousand pounds should be contracted in three years : he said, he did not wonder that some persons should be so eager to make good the de- ficiencies of the civil-list, since they and their friends enjoyed such a share of that revenue ; and he desired to know, whether this was all that was due, or whether they should expect another 113 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;25. recko-iino-? This p-fntleman began to be dissatis- fied with the measures of the ministry; and his sarcasms were aimed at Mr. Walpole, who under- took to answer his objections. The commons took the message into consideration, and passed a bill, enabhng his majesty to raise a sum, not ex- ceeding one million, by exchequer bills, loans, or otherwise, on the credit of the deductions of six- pence per pound, directed by an act of parliament of the seventh year of his majesty, and of the civil list revenues, at an interest not exceeding three pounds per cent, till repayment of the principal. A BILL IN FAVOUR OF THE LATE LORD BOLINGBROKE. On the twentieth day of April, a petition was pre- sented to the house by lord Finch, in behalf of Henry St. John, late viscount Bolingbroke, pray- ing that the execution of the law with respect to his forfeitures might be suspended, as a pardon had suspended it with respect to his life. Mr. Walpole signified to the house, by his majesty's command, that, seven years before, the petitioner ' had made his humble application and submission to the king, with assurances of duty, allegiance, and fidelity: that, from his behaviour since that time, his majesty was convinced of his being a fit object of his mercy; and consented to his petition- ing the house. The petition being read, Mr. 1725. , GEORGE I. 113 Walpole declared himself fully satisfied, that the petitioner had sufficiently atoned for his past offences ; and therefore deserved the favour of that house, so far as to enahle him to enjoy the family inheritance that was settled upon him, which he could not do by virtue of his majesty's pardon, without an act of parliament. Lord Finch moved, That a bill might be brought in for this purpose, and was warmly opposed by ]\Ir. Me- thuen, comptroller of the household, who repre- sented Bolingbroke as a monster of iniquit}' . His remonstrance was supported by lord William Pau- let and Mr. Onslow : nevertheless, the bill was prepared, passed through both houses, and receiv- ed the royal assent. An act being passed for dis- arming the highlanders of Scotland ; another for regulating elections within the city of London ; a third for reducing the interest of several bank annuities, together with some bills of a private nature, the parliament was prorogued in ]\Iay, after the king had, in the warmest terms of ac- knowledgment, expressed his approbation of their conduct. Then he appointed lords-justices to o-overn the nation in his absence ; and set out in June for his German dominions". ° On the fifth day of December the princess of Wales was delivered of a princess, christened by the name of Louisa, and afterwards married to the king of Denmark. She died Decem- ber the nineteenth, one thousand seven hundred and fifty-one. Immediately after the session of parliament, the king revived VOL. III. I lU HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1725. TREATY OF ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE COURTS OF VIENNA AND MADRID. The tide of political interests on the continent had begun to flow in a new channel, so as to ren- der ineffectual the mounds which his Britannic majesty had raised by his multiplicity of negoci- ations. Louis, tlie S^^anish monarch, dying soon after his elevation to the throne, his father Philip resumed the crown which he had resigned ; and gave himself up implicitly to the conduct of his queen, who was a princess of indefatigable intrigue and insatiate ambition. The infanta, who had been married to Louis XV. of France, was so dis- agreeable to her husband, that the whole French nation began to be apprehensive of a civil war, in consequence of his dying without male issue : he therefore determined, with the advice of his coun- cil, to send back the infanta as the nuptials had not been consummated : and she was attended to Madrid by the marquis de Montelone. The queen of Spain resented this insult offered to her daugh- ter; and, in revenge, dismissed mademoiselle de tlie order of the Bath, thirty-eight in number, including the sovereign. William Bateman was created baron of Calmore in Ireland, and viscount Bateman ; and sir Robert Walpole, vv^ho had been one of the revived knights of the Bath, was now honoured with the order of the Garter. i;26. GEORGE I. 115 Beaujolois, one of the regent's daughters, who had been betrothed to her son Don Carlos. As the congress at Cambray had prov^ed ineffectual, she offered to adjust her differences with the emperor, under the sole mediation of Great Britain. This was an honour whicli king George declined. lie was averse to any undertaking that might inter- rupt the harmony subsisting between him and the court of Versailles ; and he had taken umbrage at the emperor's refusing to grant the investiture of Bremen and Verden except upon terms' which he did not choose to embrace. The peace between the courts of Vienna and Madrid, which he re- fused to mediate, was effected by a private nego- ciation, under the management of the duke de Ripperda, a native of the states-general, Avho had renounced the protestant religion, and entered into the service of his catholic majesty. By two trea- ties, signed at Vienna in the month of April, the emperor acknowledged Philip as king of Spain and the Indies, promised that he would not molest him in the possession of those dominions that were secured to him by the treaty of Utrecht. Philip renounced all pretensions to the dominions in Italy and the Netherlands, adjudged to the em- peror by the treaty of London : Charles granted the investiture of the dukedoms of Tuscany, Par- ma, and Placentia, to the eldest son of the queen of Spain, in default of heirs in the present pos- sessors, as masculine fiefs of the empire. Spain became guarantee of the Austrian succession, ac- 3lS HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1725. cording to the pragmatic sanction, by which the dominions of that house were settled on the em- peror's heirs general, and declared to be a per- petual, indivisible, and inseparable feoffment of the primo-geniture. By the commercial treaty of Vienna, the Austrian subjects were entitled to advantages in trade with Spain, which no other nation enjoyed. His catholic majesty guaranteed the Ostend East-India company ; and agreed to pay an annual subsidy of four millions of piastres to the emperor. Great sums were remitted to Vienna : the imperial forces were augmented to a formidable number; and other powers were soli- cited to engage in this alliance, to Avhich the court of Petersburgh actually acceded. TREATY OF HANOVER. The king of Great Britain took the alarm. The emperor and he had for some time treated each other with manifest coolness. He had reason to fear some attempts upon his German dominions; and projected a defensive treaty with France and Prussia. This alliance, limited to the term of fifteen years, was negociated and concluded at Hanover in the month of September. It implied a mutual guarantee of the dominions possessed by the contracting parties, their rights and privi- leges, those of commerce in particular, and an engagement to procure satisfaction to the pro- 1725. GEORGE I. 117 testants of Thorn, wlio bad lately been oppressed by the catholics, contrary to the treaty of OHva. The king having taken these precautions at Han- over, set out on his return for England ; embark- ed at Helvoetsluys in the middle of December ; and after having been exposed to the fury of a dreadful storm, was landed with great difficulty at Rye, from whence he proceeded by land to Lon- don. The parliament meeting on the twentieth day of the next month, he gave them to under- stand, that the distressed condition of some of their protestant brethren abroad, and the negocia- tions and engagements contracted by some foreign powers, which seemed to have laid the foundation of new troubles and disturbances in Europe, and to threaten his subjects with the loss of several of the most advantageous branches of their trade, had obliged him to concert with other powers such measures as might give a check to the ambitious views of those who were endeavouring to render themselves formidable ; and put a stop to the fur- ther progress of such dangerous designs. He told them, that the enemies of his government were already very busy, b}^ their instruments and emis- saries in those courts whose measures seemed most to favour their purposes, in soliciting and promot- ing the cause of the pretender. One sees, at first sight, that the interests of Germany dictated the treaty of Hanover; but, in order to secure the approbation of Great Britain, upon which the support of this alliance chiefly depended, it was 118 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. Ijr25. judged necessary to insert the articles relating to commerce and the protestant religion, as if the engagement had heen contracted purely for the advantage and glory of England. In a word, the ministry began now to ring the changes upon a few words that have been repeated ever since, like cabalistical sounds, by which the nation has been enchanted into a very dangerous connection with the concerns of the continent. They harangued, they insisted upon the machinations of the dis- affected, the designs of a popish pretender, the protestant interest, and the balance of power, un- til these expressions became absolutely terms of ridicule with every person of common sense and reflection. The people were told, that the em- peror and the king of Spain, exclusive of the pub- lic treaties concluded at Vienna, had entered into private engagements, importing that the imperi- alists should join the Spaniards in recovering Gib- raltar and Port-Mahonby force of arms, in case the king of England should refuse to restore them amicably, according to a solemn promise he had made : that a double marriage should take place between the two infants of Spain, and the two archduchesses of Austria ; and that means should be taken to place the pretender on the throne of Great Britain. When the treaties of Vienna and Hanover fell under consideration of the house of commons, Horatio Walpole, afterwards termed in derision, " the balance master," opened the debate with a i;25. GEORGE I. 119 long unanimated oration, giving a detail of the affairs of Europe since the treaty of Utrecht. He enumerated the barrier treaty, the convention for executing tliat treaty, the defensive alliance with the emperor, the other with the most christian king and the states-general, another convention, the quadruple alliance, the congress at Cambray, the treaty at Hanover, and that of Vienna. He explained the nature of each engagement. He said, the main design of the treaty of commerce concluded between the emperor and Spain, was to countenance and support the East-India com- pany established at Ostend, which interfered so essentially with the East-India companies of Eng- land and Holland, and was directly contrary to several solemn treaties still in force. He enlarged upon the danger to which the balance of power would be exposed, should the issue male of this projected marriage between the houses of Austria and Spain ever possess the imperial dignity and the kingdom of Spain together. The reader will take notice, that this very man was one of those who exclaimed against that article of the treaty of Utrecht, which prevented the power of those two houses from being immediately united in the per- son of the emperor. He did not forget to expa- tiate upon the pretended secret engagement con- cerning Gibraltar and Minorca; and the king's pious concern for the distressed protestants of Thorn in Poland. In vain did Mr. Shippen urge, that the treaty of Hanover would engage the Bri- 120 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1725. tish nation in a war for the defence of the king's German dominions, contrary to an express pro- vision made in the act of limitation. These argu- ments had lost all weight. The opposition was so inconsiderable, that the ministry had no reason to be in pain about any measure they should pro- pose. An address was voted and delivered to his majesty, approving the alliance he had concluded at Hanover, in order to obviate and disappoint the dangerous views and consequences of the treaty of peace betwixt the emperor and the king of Spain : and promising to support his majesty against all insults and attacks that should be made upon any of his territories, though not belonging to the crown of Great Britain. An address of the same kind was presented by the house of lords in a body. A bill was brought in, empowering the commissioners of the treasury to compound with Mr. Richard Hampden, late treasurer of the navy, for a debt he owed to the crown, amounting to eight-and-forty thousand pounds. This deficiency was occasioned by his embarking in the South- Sea scheme. The king recommended his petition; and the house complied with his request, in con- sideration of his great grandfather, the famous John Hampden, who made such a noble stand against the arbitrary measures of the first Charles. 1725. GEORGE I. 121 RIOTS IN SCOTLAND ON ACCOUNT OF THE MALT-TAX. The malt- tax was found so grievous to Scot- land, tliat the people refused to pay it, and riots were excited in different parts of the kingdom. At Glasgow, the populace, armed with clubs and staves, rifled the house of Daniel Campbell, their representative in parliament, who had voted for the bill; and maltreated some excisemen, who attempted to take an account of the malt. Ge- neral Wade, who commanded the forces in Scot- land, had sent two companies of soldiers, under the command of captain Bushel, to prevent or ap- pease a disturbance of this nature. That officer drew up his men in the street, where they were pelted with stones by the multitude, which he en- deavoured to disperse by firing among them with- out shot. This expedient failing, he ordered his men to load their pieces with ball, and at a time when the magistrates were advancing towards him in a body, to assist him with their advice and influence, he commanded the soldiers to fire four different ways, without the sanction of the civil authority. About twenty persons were killed or wounded on this occasion. The people seeing so many victims fall, were exasperated beyond all sense of danger. They began to procure arms, and breathed nothing but defiance and re- venge. Bushel thought proper to retreat to the 122 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1729. castle of Dunbarton; and was pursued above five miles by tlie enraged multitude. General Wade being informed of this transaction, assem- bled a body of forces; and being accompanied by Duncan Forbes, lord-advocate, took possession of Glasgow ^ The magistrates were apprehended, and conveyed prisoners to Edinburgh, where the lords justiciary having taken cognizance of the affair, declared them innocent; so that they were immediately discharged. Bushel was tried for murther, convicted, and condemned: but instead of undergoing the penalties of the law, he was in- dulged with a pardon, and promoted in the ser- vice. Daniel Campbell having petitioned the house of commons, that he might be indemnified for the damage he had sustained from the rioters, a bill passed in his favour, granting him a certain sum to be raised from an imposition laid upon all the beer and ale brewed in the city of Glasgow. The malt-tax was so sensibly felt in Scotland, that the convention of the royal burghs presented a re- monstrance against it, as a grievous burthen, which their country could not bear: petitions to the same purpose were delivered to the commons from different shires in that kingdom ''. On the P Oldniixon. Annals. Debates in Parliament. Historical Memoirs. Tindal. 1 The duke of Wharton having consumed his fortune in riot and extravagance, repaired to the court of Vienna, from whence he proceeded to Rome, and offered his service to the Pretender. There he received the order of the garter, and the title of duke of i;26. GEORGE I. 12S twenty- four til day of INIarch, the king sent a inessage to the house by sir Paul Methuen, de- siring an extraordinary supply, that he might be able to augment his maritime force, and concert such other measures as should be necessary in the present conjuncture. A debate ensued; but the majorit}^ complied with the demand. Some mem- bers in the upper house complained that the mes" sage was not sent to both liouses of parliament, and this suggestion gave rise to another debate, in which lord Bathurst and others made some melancholy reflections upon the state of insigni- ficance to which the peers of England were re- duced. Such remarks, however, were very little minded by the ministry ; who had obtained a complete victor}^ over all opposition. The sup- plies, ordinary and extraordinary, being granted, with every thing else which the court thought proper to ask, and several bills passed for the re- gulation of civil oeconomy, the king dismissed the parliament on the twenty-fourth day of May. Northumberland. He was sent by the chevalier de St. George with credentials to the court of Madrid, where he abjured the protest- ant religion, married a lady of the queen of Spain's bed-cham- ber, and obtained the rank and appointment of a lieutenant-colo- nel in the Spanish service. 124 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1726. A SQUADRON SENT TO THE BALTIC. By this time Peter the czar of Muscovy was dead, and his empress Catharine had succeeded him on the Russian throne. This princess had begun to assemble forces in the neighbour- hood of Petersburgh ; and to prepare a formid- able armament for a naval expedition. King George, concluding that her design was against Sweden, sent a strong squadron into the Baltic, under the command of sir Charles Wager, in order to anticipate her views upon his allies. The English fleet being joined at Copenhagen by a Danish squadron, alarmed the court of Russia, which immediately issued orders for reinforcing the garrisons of Wibourg, Cronstadt, Revel, and Riga. The English admiral, having had an audi- ence with his Swedish majesty, steered towards Revel, and sent thither a lieutenant, with a letter from the king of Great Britain to the czarina. This was an expostulation, in which his majesty observed, that he and his allies could not fail of being alarmed at her great preparations by sea and land. He complained that measures had been taken at her court in favour of the pre- tender : that his repeated instances for establishr ing a lasting friendship with the crown of Russia had been treated with neglect ; and he gave her to understand, that he had ordered his admiral to prevent her ships from coming out of her har- 1726. GEORGE I. 125 bours, should she persist in her resohition to exe- cute the designs she had projected. The czarina, in her answer to the king, expressed her surprize that she had not received his majesty's letter until his fleet was at anchor before Revel, since it would have been more agreeable to the custom estab- lished among sovereigns, and to the amity which had so long subsisted between her kingdoms and the crown of Great Britain, to expostulate with her on her armament, and expect her answer, before he had proceeded to such an offensive mea- sure. She assured him that nothing was farther from her thoughts than any design to disturb the peace of the North ; and with regard to the pre- tender, it was a frivolous and stale accusation, which had been frequently used as a pretext to cover all the unkind steps lately undertaken against the Russian empire. Sir Charles Wager continued in his station until he received certain intelligence that the Russian galHes were laid up in their win- ter harbour : then he set sail for the coast of Denmark, from whence he returned to England in the month of November. ADMIRAL HOSIER'S EXPEDITION TO THE WEST-INDIES. King George, that he might not seem to convert all his attention to the affairs of the North, had equipped two other squadrons, one of which was 126 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1726. destined for the West-Indies, under the command of admiral Hosier : the other, conducted by sir John Jennings, having on board a body of land- forces, sailed from St. Helen's on the twentieth day of July, entered the bay of St. Antonio, then visited Lisbon, from whence he directed his course to the bay of Bulls near Cadiz, and cruised off Cape St. Mary's, so as to alarm the coast of Spain, and fill Madrid with consternation. Yet he com- mitted no act of hostility : but was treated with great civility by the Spanish governor of Cadiz, who supplied him with refreshments. Rear-ad- miral Hosier, with seven ships of war, had sailed in April for the' Spanish West-Indies, with in- structions to block up the galleons in the port of that country ; or should they presume to come out, to seize and bring them to England. Before his arrival at theBastimentos, near Porto-Bello, the treasure, consisting of above six millions ster- ling, had been unloaded, and carried back to Pa- nama, in pursuance of an order sent by an ad- vice-boat, which had the start of Hosier. This ' admiral lay inactive on that station, until he became the jest of the Spaniards. He returned to Jamaica, where he found means to reinforce his crews ; then he stood over to Carthagena. The Spaniards had by this time seized the English South-Sea ship at La Vera Cruz, together with all the vessels and effects belonging to that com- pany. Hosier in vain demanded restitution : he took some Spanish ships by way of reprisal, and 1726. GEORGE I. 127 continued cruising in those seas until the greater part of his men perished deplorably by the dis- eases of that unhealthy climate, and his ships were totally ruined by the worms. This brave officer being restricted by his orders from obey- ing the dictates of his courage, seeing his best officers and men daily swept off by an outrageous distemper, and his ships exposed to inevitable destruction, is said to have died of a broken heart ; while the people of England loudly cla- moured against this unfortunate expedition, in which so many lives were thrown away, and so much money expended, without the least ad- vantage to the nation. It seems to have been a mean piratical scheme to rob the court of Spain of its expected treasure, even while a peace sub- sisted between the two nations. The ministry of Great Britain indeed alledged, that the Spanish king had entered into engagements in favour of the pretender. DISGRACE OF THE DUKE DE RIPPERDA. The dukes of Ormond and Wharton, and the earl IMarischal, were certainly at Madrid ; and the duke de Ripperda, now prime-minister of Spain, dropped some expressions to the English envoy, that implied some such design, which, however, the court of Madrid positively denied. Ripperda, as a foreigner, fell a sacrifice to the 128 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1726. jealousy of the Spanish ministers. He was sud- denly dismissed from his employments, with a pension of three thousand pistoles. He forthwith took refuge in the house of Vandermeer the Dutch ambassador, who was unwilling to be trou- bled with such a guest. He therefore conveyed the duke in his coach to the house of colonel Stanhope, the British minister, whose protection he craved and obtained. Nevertheless, he was dragged from thence by force, and committed pri- soner to the castle of Segovia. He afterwards made his escape, and sheltered himself in England, from the resentment of his catholic majesty. Co- lonel Stanhope complained of this violation of the law of nations, which the Spanish ministers endeavoured to excuse. Memorials and letters passed between the two courts ; and every thing tended to a rupture. The king of Spain pur- chased ships of war ; began to make preparations for some important undertaking ; and assembled an army of twenty thousand men at St. Roch, on pretence of rebuilding the old castle of Gibral- tar. Meanwhile the states-general and the king of Sweden acceded to the treaty of Hanover : but the king of Prussia, though his majesty's son-in- law, was detached from the alliance by the em- peror, with whom he contracted new engage- ments. 1726. GEORGE I. 129 SUBSTANCE OF THE KING'S SPEECH TO PAR- LIAMENT. On the seventeenth day of January, the Brit- ish parliament was opened with a long, elaborate speech, importing that the proceedings and trans- actions of the emperor and king of Spain, and the secret offensive alliance concluded between them, had laid the foundation of a most exorbit- ant and formidable power : that they were direct- ly levelled against the most valuable and darling interests and privileges of the EngHsh nation, which must either give up Gibraltar to Spain, and acquiesce in the emperor's usurped exer- cise of commerce, or resolve vigorously to de- fend their undoubted rights against those reci- procal engagements, contracted in defiance and violation of all national faith, and the most so- lemn treaties. He assured them, that one of those secret articles was, the placing the pretender on the throne of Great Britain: and another the conquest of Gibraltar and Port-Mahon. He affirmed that those combinations extended them- selves into Russia; and that the English fleet sea- sonably prevented such designs as would have opened a way to the invasion of these kingdoms. He exhorted the commons to grant such supplies as should be necessary for the defence of their country, and for making good his engagements with the allies of Great Britain. He told them, VOL. III. K 130 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1736. that the khig of Spain had ordered his minister residing in England to quit the kingdom ; and that he had left a memorial little short of a de- claration, in which he insisted upon the restitu- tion of Gibraltar. He did not fail to touch the energetic strings which always moved their pas- sions ; the balance of power in Europe, the se- curity of the British commerce, the designs of a popish pretender, the present happy establish- ment, the religion, liberties, and properties of a protestant people. Such addresses of thanks were penned in both houses as the ministers were pleased to dictate : yet not without opposition from a minority, which was far from being for- midable, though headed by chiefs of uncommon talents and resolution. The commons voted twenty thousand seamen, besides six-and-twenty thou- sand three hundred and eighty-tbree men for the land service ; and, to defray the extraordinary expence, a land-tax of four shillings in the pound Svas granted. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS UPON THE APPROACHING RUPTURE. The house of lords having taken into consider- ation the letters and memorials between the mi- nisters of Great Britain, France, and Spain, and the papers relating to the accession of the states- general to the treaty of Hanover, a warm debate 1726. GEORGE I. 131 ensued. Lord Bathurst took notice, that the ac- cession of the states-general to the treaty was upon condition that this their act should be approved and ratified by the king of Great Bri- tain, the most christian king, and the king of Prussia ; but that the minister of his Prussian majesty had refused to sign the act of accession, Avhich was therefore of no effect : that if the court of France should, for the same reason, think itself disengaged from the Hanover alliance, Britain alone would be obliged to bear the bur- then of an expensive war against two of the greatest potentates of Europe. He said he could not see any just reason for a rupture with Spain : that indeed the duke de Ripperda might have dropped some indiscreet expressions; he was known to be a man of violent temper; and he had been solemnly disavowed by his catholic ma- jesty : that, in the memorial left by the Spanish ambassador, he imputed the violent state of affairs between the two crowns to the ministers of Eng- land ; and mentioned a positive promise made by the king of Great Britain for the restitution of Gibraltar: that methods of accommodation might be tried, before the kingdom engaged in a war which must be attended with dangerous conse- quences : that the nation was loaded with a debt of fifty millions ; and, in order to maintain such a war, would be obhged to raise seven millions yearly ; an annual sum by which the people would soon be exhausted. He observed, that in some 1 1^2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 172©. papers laid before the house, mention was made of great sums distributed in divers places, to bring certain measures to bear. He declared, that for his own part, he had touched neither Spanish nor English gold ; he was neither a Spaniard nor a Frenchman, but a true Englishman, and so long as lie had the honour to sit in that house, he would speak and act for the good of his country. He therefore desired their lordships seriously to con- sider the matter before them, which was of the last consequence and importance to the whole nation. He said nothing could be gained by the war, should it prove successful : and every thing would be lost should it be unprosperous. He was answered by lord Townshend, who affirmed that his majesty had received positive and certain information with respect to the secret article of alliance between the courts of Vienna and Madrid, in favour of the pretender, though the safety of the state did not permit him to lay these advices before the parliament. After much altercation, the majority resolved, that the measures his ma- jesty had thought fit to take were honourable, just, and necessary for preventing the execution of the dangerous engagement entered into in favour of the pretender : for preserving the do- minions belonging to the crown of Great Britain by solemn treaties, and particularly those of Gib- raltar and the island of Minorca ; and for main- taining to his people their most valuable rights and privileges of commerce, and the peace and 1726. GEORGE I. 133 tranquillity of Europe. Seventeen lords entered a protest against this resolution. Disputes of the same nature arose from the same subject in the lower house. Lord Townshend had affirmed in the house of peers, that no promise of restoring Gibraltar had been made: sir Robert Walpole owned such a promise in the house of commons: a motion was made for an address, desiring these engagements might be laid before the house : another member moved for a copy of the memo- rial presented by Mr. Pointz to the king of Swe- den, and for the secret offensive article between the courts of Vienna and Madrid : a third motion was made to address the king for such memorials and representations from the courts of Sweden and Denmark, as induced him, in the course of the preceding year, to send a squadron to the Bakic. In the account of the money granted for the service of the last year, there was an article of one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds charged in general terms as issued out for other engagements and expences over and above such as were specified. Mr. Pulteney moved for an address on this subject ; but each of these mo- tions was rejected on a division : and the majority concurred in an address of thanks to his majesty, for the great wisdom of his conduct. They ex- pressed the most imphcit confidence in his good- ness and discretion : they promised to support him in all such further measures as he should find necessary and expedient, for preventing a rupture, 134 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1726. as well as for consulting the honour and advan- tage of these kingdoms. His majesty's speech gave such umbrage to the court of Vienna, that Mr. Palms, the Imperial resident at London, was ordered to present a warm memorial to the king, and afterwards to publish it to the whole nation. In this bold remonstrance, the king was charged with having declared from the throne, as certain and undoubted facts, seve- ral things that were either wrested, misrepresent- ed, or void of all foundation. The memorialist affirmed, that the treaty of Vienna was built on the quadruple alliance : that the treaty of com- merce was calculated to promote the mutual and lawful advantages of the subjects of both parties, agreeably to the law of nations ; and in no re- spect prejudicial to the British nation. He de- clared, that there was no offensive alliance con- cluded between the two crowns : that the supposed article relating to the pretender was an absolute falsehood : that the insinuation with respect to the siege of Gibraltar was equally untrue, his master having made no engagements with the king of Spain, but such as were specified in the treaty communicated to his Britannic majesty. He said, however, the hostilities notoriously committed in the West-Indies, and elsewhere, against the king of Spain, in violation of treaties, seemed to justify that prince's undertaking the siege of Gibraltar. Finall}^, he demanded, in the name of his Imperial majesty, suitable reparation for the injury his ho- 1726. GEORGE I. 135 nour had sustained from such calumnious imputa- tions. Both houses of parliament expressed tlieir indignation at tlie insolence of this memorial, in an achlress to his majesty ; and Mr. Palms was ordered to depart the kingdom. Virulent de- clarations were presented by the ministers of the emperor and the king of Great Britain to the diet of the empire at Ratisbon ; and such personal re- flections retorted between these two potentates, that all hope of reconciliation vanished. CONVENTIONS WITH SWEDEN AND HESSE- CASSEL. King Georo'e, in order to secure himself asrainst the impending storm, entered into more strict engagements with the French king; and agreed to pay fift}' thousand pounds for three years to the king of Sweden, in consideration of that prince's holding in readiness a body of ten thou- sand troops for the occasions of the alliance. He concluded a fresh treaty with the king of Den- mark, who promised to furnish a certain number of auxiliaries, on account of a large subsidy grant- ed by the king of France. The proportions of troops to be sent into the field in case of a rup- ture, were ascertained. His Britannic majesty engaged for four-and- twenty thousand men, and a strong squadron to be sent into the Baltic. He made a convention with the prince of Hesse- 136 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1726. Cassel, who undertook to provide eight thousand infantry, and four thousand horse, in consideration of seventy-four thousand pounds, to be paid by Great Britain immediately, and fifty thousand pounds more in case the troops should be required, beside their pay and subsistence ". Such was the fruit of all the aUiances so industriously planned since the accession of king George to the throne of Great Britain. In the day of his trouble, the king of Prussia, who had espoused his daughter, deserted his interest ; and the states-general stood aloof. For the security of his German dominions, he had recourse to the king of France, who was a precarious ally ; to the kings of Sweden and Den- mark, and the principality of Hesse-Cassel : but none of these powers would contribute their assist- ance without being gratified with exorbitant sub- sidies, though the danger was common, and the efforts ought to have been equal. Instead of allies, they professed themselves mercenaries. Great Britain paid them for the defence of their own dominions : she, moreover, undertook to main- tain a powerful fleet for their safety. Is there any Briton so weak as to think, or so fool-hardy as to affirm, that this was a British quarrel ^ ■^ Annals. Debates in Parliament. Tindal. Lives of the Admirals, 1727. GEORGE L 137 VOTE OF CREDIT. For the support of those expensive treaties, Mr. Scroope, secretary of the treasury, moved in the house of commons, that in the malt-tax bill they should insert a clause of appropriation, empower- ing the king to apply such sums as should be necessary for defraying the expences and engage- ments Avhich had been, or should be made before the twenty-fifth day of September, in conceiting such measures as he should think most conducive to the security of trade, and restoring the peace of Europe. To little purpose did the members in the opposition urge, that this method of asking and granting supplies was unparliamentary : that such a clause Avould render ineffectual that appro- priation of the public money, which the wisdom of all parliaments had thought a necessary security against misapplication, which was the more to be feared, as no provision was made to call any per- son to account for the money that should be dis- posed of by virtue of this clause : that great sums had already been granted : that such an un- limited power ought never to be given in a free government : that such confidence in the crown might, through the influence of evil ministers, be attended with the most dangerous consequences : that the constitution could not be preserved, but by a strict adherence to those essential parlia- mentary forms of granting supplies upon estimates, and of appropriating these supplies to services and 138 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1727. occasions publicly avowed and judged necessary: that such clauses, if not seasonably checked, would become so frequent, as in time to lodge in the crown and in the ministers an absolute and uncontrolable power of raising money upon the people, which by the constitution is, and with safety can only be, lodged in the whole legisla- ture. The motion was carried, the clause added, and the bill passed through the other house with- out amendment, though not without opposition. Notwithstanding this vote of credit, sir William Yonge moved, that towards the supply granted to the king, the sum of three hundred and seventy thousand pounds should be raised by loans on ex- chequer bills, to be charged on the surplus of the duties on coal and culm, which was reserved for the parliament's disposal. Though this motion was vigorously opposed by sir Joseph Jekyl and Mr. Piilteney, as a dangerous deviation from several votes and acts of parliament, by which the ex- ceedings of the pubhc funds were appropriated to the discharge of the national debt, or to the in- crease of the sinking funds, it was carried by the majority. SIEGE OF GIBRALTAR BY THE SPANIARDS. On the fifteenth day of May the parliament was prorogued, after the king had acknowledged their zeal, liberality, and dispatch ; and given them to understand, that the siege of Gibraltar was actu- 1727. GEORGE I. 139 ally begun. The trenches were opened before this fortress on the eleventh day of February, by the Conde de las Torres, at the head of twenty thou- sand men. The place was well provided for a defence ; and the old earl of Portmore, who was governor, embarked with a reinforcement from England, under convoy of a fleet commanded by sir Charles Wager. He arrived at Gibraltar in the beginning of April, where he landed the troops, with a great quantity of ammunition, warlike stores, and four-and- twenty pieces of cannon. At the same time, five hundred men arrived from Mi- norca ; so that the garrison amounted to six thou- sand, plentifully supplied with fresh provisions from the coast of Barbary, and treated the eiforts of the besiegers with great contempt. The states- general, being apprehensive of an attempt upon their barrier in the Netherlands, desired the king would hold in readiness the ten thousand auxilia- ries stipulated in the treaty. These were imme- diately prepared for embarkation, and the forces of England were augmented with thirty new-rais- ed companies. Sir John Norris set sail Avith a powerful fleet for the Baltic, and was joined by a Danish squadron : but the czarina dying on the seventeenth day of May, he had no occasion to commit hostilities, as the Russian armament was -laid aside. 140 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1727. PRELIMINARIES OF PEACE. Meanwhile the powers at variance, though ex- tremely irritated against each other, were all equally averse to a war that might again emhroil all Europe. The king of France interposed his mediation, which was conducted by the duke de Richlieu, his ambassador at Vienna. Plans and counterplans of pacification were proposed be- tween the two crowns and the allies. At length, all parties agreed to twelve preliminary articles, which were signed in May at Paris, by the mini- sters of the Hanoverian alliance, and afterwards at Vienna, by the Imperial and Spanish ambassa- dors. These imported, that hostilities should im- mediately cease : that the charter of the Ostend company should be suspended for seven years: and that a congress should in four months be opened at Aix-la-Chapelle, for adjusting all differ- ences, and consolidating the peace of Europe. This congress was afterwards transferred to Sois- sons, for the conveniency of the French minister, whose presence was necessary at court. The siege of Gibraltar was raised, after it had lasted four months, during which the Spaniards lost a great number of men by sickness, while the garrison sustained very little damage. The court of Ma- drid, however, started some new difficulties, and for some time would not consent to the restitution of the South-Sea ship, which had been detained at AMishedJuh ■ />. i8o^, by- James Wallisj.fi, faterNestfr Ron: 1727. , GEORGE I. -141 La Vera-Cruz, in the West-Indies ; so that sir Charles Wager continued to cruise on the coast of Spain : but these objections were removed in the sequel. DEATH AND CHARACTER OF GEORGE I. KING OF GREAT BRITAIN. King George, having appointed a regency, em- barked at Greenwich, on the third day of June, and landing in Holland on the seventh, set out on his journey to Hanover. He was suddenly seized with a paralytic disorder on the road : he forthwith lost the faculty of speech, became le- thargic, and was conveyed in a state of insensi- bility to Osnabruck. There he expired on Sun- day the eleventh day of June, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and in the thirteenth of his reign. — George I. was plain and simple in his person and address, grave and composed in his deport- ment, though easy, familiar, and facetious in his hours of relaxation. Before he ascended the throne of Great Britain, he had acquired the cha- racter of a circumspect general, a just and mer- ciful prince, a wise politician, who perfectly un- derstood, and steadily pursued, his own interest. With these qualities, it cannot be doubted but that he came to England extremely well dispos- ed to govern his new subjects according to the maxims of the British constitution, and the ge- 142 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1727. nius of the people ; and if ever he seemed to de- viate from these principles, we may take it for granted that he was misled by the venal sug- gestions of a ministry whose power and influence were founded on corruption*. '^ See note [B], vol. vi. 1727. GEORGE II. 143 CHAPTER III. GEORGE II. George II. ascends the Throne of Great Britain .... Characters of the principal Persons concerned in the Ministry .... De- bates in Parliament concerning the Civil-list .... Changes and Promotions .... New Parliament .... Violent Diapute con- cerning the National Debt.... Vote of Credit .... A double Marriage between the Houses of Spain and Portugal .... Liberality of the Commons .... Debates on the Subsidies of Hesse-Cassel and Wolfenbuttle .... Committee for inspecting the Gaols .... Address touching the Spanish Depredations .... A Sum voted to the King on Account of Arrears due on the Civil-list Revenue .... Proceedings in the House of Lords .... Wise Conduct of the Irish Parliament .... Abdication of the King of Sardinia. Death of Pope Benedict XIII Sub- stance of the King's Speech to both Houses .... Objections to the Treaty of Seville in the House of Lords .... Opposition in tlie Lower House to a standing Army .... Bill prohibiting Loans to Foreign Princes or States .... Charter of the East- India Company prolonged .... The Emperor resents the Treaty of Seville .... Seven Indian Chiefs arrive in England, Revo- lution at Constantinople .... England infested with Robbers, Assassins, and Incendiaries .... BiU against Pensioners, sitting as Members in the House of Commons .... Treaty of Vienna .... Death of the Duke of Parma .... Don Carlos takes Pos- session of his Territories .... France distracted by religious Disputes .... The Ministry violently opposed in Parliament .... Debate on a standing Army .... Account of the Charitable Corporation .... Revival of the Salt-tax .... Mr. Pulteney's Name struck out of the List of Privy-counsellors .... The King : sets out for Hanover. iU HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1727. GEORGE II. ASCENDS THE THRONE OF GREAT BRITAIN. At the accession of George II. the nation had great reason to wish for an alteration of measures. The public debt, notwithstanding the boasted economy and management of the ministers ; not- withstanding the sinking fund, which had been extolled as a growing treasure sacred to the dis- charge of national incumbrances, was now increas- ed to fifty millions two hundred sixtj^-one thou- sand two hundred and six pounds, nineteen shil- lings, eightpence three farthings. The kingdom was bewildered in a labyrinth of treaties and con- v^entions, by which it stood engaged in pecuniary subsidies to many powers upon the continent, M'ith whom its real interests could never be connected. The wealth of the nation had been lavished upon those foreign connections, upon unnecessary wars, and fruitless expeditions. Dangerous encroach- ments had been made upon the constitution, by the repeal of the act for triennial parliaments ; by frequent suspensions of the Habeas Corpus act upon frivolous occasions ; by repealing clauses in the act of settlement; by votes of credit; by habituating the people to a standing army ; and, above all, by establishing a system of corruption, which at all times would secure a majority in par- liament. The nature of prerogative, by which the liberties of the nation had formerly been often J727. GEORGE II. 145 endangered, was now so well understood, and so securely restrained, that it could no longer be used for the same oppressive purposes : besides, an avowed extension of the prerogative required more ability, courage, and resolution, than the present ministry could exert. They understood their own strength, and had recourse to a more safe and effectual expedient. The vice, luxury, and prostitution of the age, the almost total ex- tinction of sentiment, honour, and public spirit, had prepared the minds of men for slavery and corruption. The means were in the hands of the ministry; the public treasure was at their devo- tion : they multiplied places and pensions, to in- crease the number of their dependants : they squandered away the money of the nation without taste, discernment, decency, or remorse: they in- listed an army of the most abandoned emissaries, whom they employed to vindicate the worst mea- sures, in the face of truth, common sense, and common honesty : and they did not fail to stig- matise as Jacobites, and enemies to the govern- ment, all those who presumed to question the merit of their administration. CHARACTERS OF THE PRINCIPAL PERSONS CONCERNED IN THE MINISTRY. The supreme direction of affairs was not yet en- grossed by a single minister. Lord Townshend VOL. Ill, L 145 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1727. had the reputation of conducting the external transactions relating to treaties and negociations. He is said to have understood that province, though he did not always follow the dictates of his own understanding. He possessed an exten- sive fund of knowledge ; and was well acquainted with the functions of his office. The duke of N. his colleague, was not remarkable for any of these qualifications : he owed his promotion to his un- common zeal for the illustrious house of Hanover, and to the strength of his interest in parliament, rather than to his judgment, precision, or any other intellectual merit. Lord C. who may be counted an auxiliary, though not immediately concerned in the administration, had distinguish- ed himself in the character of envoy at several courts in Europe. He had attained an intimate knowledge of all the different interests and con- nections subsisting among the powers of the con- tinent ; and he infinitely surpassed all the mini* sters in learning and capacity. He was indeed the only man of genius employed under this go- vernment. He. spoke with ease and propriety, his conceptions were just and lively; his inferences bold; his counsels vigorous and warm. Yet he depreciated his talents, b}^ acting in a subordinate character to those whom he despised; and seemed to look upon the pernicious measures of a bad ministry with silent contempt, rather than with avowed detestation. The interior government of .Great Britain was chiefly managed by sir Robert J727. GEORGE 11. ut W. a man of extraordinary talents, who had from low beginnings raised himself to the head of the treasury. Having obtained a seat in the lower house, he declared himself one of the most for- ward partisans of the whig faction. He was en- dued with a species of eloquence, which, though neither nervous nor elegant, flowed with great facility, and was so plausible on all subjects, that even when he misrepresented the truth, whether from ignorance or design, he seldom failed to per- suade that part of his audience for whose hearing his harangue was chiefly intended. He was well acquainted with the nature of the public funds, and understood the whole mystery of stock-job- bing. This knowledge produced a connection between him and the money-corporations, which served to enhance his importance. He perceived the bulk of mankind were actuated by a sordid thirst of lucre : he had sagacity enough to con- vert the degeneracy of the times to his own ad- vantage ; and on this, and this alone, he founded the whole superstructure of his subsequent admi- nistration. In the late reign he had, by dint of speaking decisively to every question, by boldly impeaching the conduct of the tory ministers, by his activity in elections, and engaging as a pro- jector in the schemes of the monied-interest, be- come a leading member in the house of commons. By his sufferings under the tory parliament, he attained the rank of a martyr to his party: his interest, his reputation, and his presumption daily 2 148 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1727. increased : he opposed Sunderland as his rival in power, and headed a dangerous defection from the ministry, which evinced the greatness of his influence and authority. He had the glory of being principally concerned in effecting a reconciliation between the late king and the prince of Wales : then he was re-associated in the administration with additional credit; and, from the death of the earls of Sunderland and Stanhope, he had been making long strides towards the office of prime- minister. He knew the maxims he had adopted would subject him to the hatred, the ridicule, and reproach of some individuals, who had not yet resigned all sentiments of patriotism, nor all views of opposition : but the number of these was in- considerable, Mdien compared to that which con- stituted the body of the community; and he would not suffer the consideration of such anta- gonists to come in competition with his schemes of power, affluence, and authority. Nevertheless, low as he had humbled anti-ministerial association, it required all his artifice to elude, all his patience and natural phlegm to bear, the powerful argu- ments that were urged, and the keen satire that was exercised against his measures and manage- ment, by a few members in the opposition. Sir William Wyndham possessed all the energy of elocution: Mr. Shippen was calm, intrepid, shrewd and sarcastic; : Mr. W. P. inherited from nature a good understanding, which he had studiously cul- tivated. He was one of the most learned mem- 1727. GEORGE II. Uij bers in the house of commons, extremely well qualified to judge of literary productions ; well read in history and politics ; deeply skilled in the British constitution, the detail of government, and the nature of the finances. He spoke with freedom, fluency, and uncommon warmth of de- clamation, which M'as said to be the effect of per- sonal animosity to sir R. W. with whom he had been formerly connected. DEBATES IN PARLIAMENT CONCERNING THE CIVIL LIST. Aisr express arriving on the fourteenth day of June, with an account of the king's death, his late majesty king George II. repaired from Rich- mond, where he received this intelligence, to Lei- cester-house; and the members of the privy-coun- cil being assembled, were sworn a-new. The king declared his firm purpose to preserv^e the consti- tution in church and state, and to cultivate those alliances which his father had made with foreign princes. At the same time, he took and sub- scribed the oath for the security of the church of Scotland, as required by the act of union. Next day he was proclaimed king of Great Britain. The parliament assembled in pursuance of the act made for that purpose ; but was immediately pro- rogued by commission to the twenty-seventh day of the month. All the great officers of state 150 HISTORY OF ENGLx\ND. 1727.. continued in their places: sir Kobert Walpole kept possession of the treasury ; and the system of pohtics which the late king had established underwent no sort of alteration. The king, in his speech to both houses at the opening of the session, professed a fixed resolution to merit the love and affection of his people, by maintaining them in the full enjoyment of their religious and civil rights. He promised to lessen the public expence as soon as the circumstances of affairs would permit : he observed to the commons, that the grant of the greatest part of the civil-list re- venues was now determined ; and that it would be necessary for them to make a new provision for the support of him and his family : lastly, he recommended it to both houses to dispatch the business that should be necessarily brought before them, as the season of the year and the circum- stances of time required their presence in the country. Addresses of condolence and congra- tulation being drawn up and presented, the com- mons, in a committee of the whole house, took into consideration a motion for a supply to his majesty. Sir Robert Walpole having observed, that the annual sum of seven hundred thousand pounds granted to, and settled on the late king, had fallen short every year; and that his present majesty's expences were likely to increase, by reason of the largeness of his family, moved, that the entire revenues of the civil-list, which pro- duced about eight hundred thousand pounds per 172/. GEORGE ir. i5l annum, should be settled on the king during his life. Mr. Sliippen opposed this motion, as incon-/ sistent with the trust reposed in them as repre- sentatives of the people, who ought to be very frugal in exercising the right of giving away the public money. He said, the sum of seven hun- dred thousand pounds was not obtained for his late majesty without a long and solemn debate ; and every member who contended for it at that time, allowed it to be an ample royal revenue : that, although his majesty's family should be enlarged,. a circumstance which had been urged as one rea- son for the motion, he presumed the appointments of prince Frederick would be much inferior to those settled on his present majesty when he was prince of Wales : besides, it was to be hoped that many personal, many particular expences in the late reign, especially those for frequent journeys to Hanover, would be discontinued, and entirely cease. He observ^ed that the civil-list branches in the queen's reign did not often exceed the sum of five hundred and fitty pounds ; never- theless, she called upon her parHament but once, in a reign of thirteen years, to pay the debts con- tracted in her civil government ; and these were occasioned by the unparalleled instances of her piety and generosity. She gave the first-fruits and tenths, arising to nineteen thousand pounds, a-year, as an augmentation of the maintenance of the poor clergy. She bestowed five thousand pounds per annum, out of the post-office, on the I5t HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1727. duke of Marlborough: she suffered seven hun- dred pounds to be charged weekly on the same office, for the service of the public : she expended several hundred thousand pounds in building the castle of Blenheim : she allowed four thousand pounds annually to prince Charles of Denmark : she sustained great losses by the tin contract : she supported the poor Palatines : she exhibited many other proofs of royal bounty : and immedi- ately before her death she had formed a plan of retrenchment, which would have reduced her yearly expences to four hundred and fifty-nino thousand nine hundred and forty-one pounds. He affirmed, that a million a-year would not be sufficient to carry on the exorbitant expences, so often and so justly complained of in the house of commons : that over and above the yearly allow- ance of seven hundred thousand pounds, many occasional taxes, many excessive sums were raised, and all sunk in the bottomless gulf of secret ser- vice. Two hundred and fifty thousand pounds were raised in defiance of the ancient parlia- mentary methods, to secure the kingdom from a Swedish invasion : then the two insurance-offices were erected, and paid near three hundred thou- sand pounds for their charters ; our enmity with Sweden being changed into alliance, a subsidy of seventy-two thousand pounds was implicitly grant- ed, to fulfil some secret engagements with that crown: four-and- twenty thousand pounds were given for burning merchant ships arrived from 1727. GEORGE II. 153' infected places, though the goods which ought to have heen destroyed for the pubHc safety were afterwards privately sold : a sum of five hundred thousand pounds M^as demanded, and granted, for paying the debts of the civil-list ; and his majesty declared, by message, he was re- solved to retrench his expences for the future. Notwithstanding this resolution, in less than four 3^ears, a new demand of the like sum was made and granted to discharge new incumbrances : the Spanish ships of war which admiral Byng took in the Mediterranean were sold for a considerable sum of money : one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds were granted in the last session, to be secretly disposed of for the public utility ; and there was still a debt in the civil government, amounting to above six hundred thousand pounds. He took notice, that this amazing extravagance happened under the conduct of persons pretend- ing to surpass all their predecessors in the know- ledge and care of the public revenue : that as none of these sums had been accounted for, they were, in all probability, employed in services not fit to be owned. He said, he heartily wished that time, the great discoverer of hidden truths and concealed iniquities, might produce a Hst of all such as had been perverted from their public duty by private pensions : who had been the hired slaves and the corrupt instruments of a profuse and vain-glorious administration. He proposed^ that instead of granting an addition to the civile 154s HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 172/. list, tliev sliould restrict that revenue to a certain sum, by concluding the question witli tiiese words, in like manner as they were granted and con- tinued to his late majesty, so as to make up the *' clear yearly sum of seven hundred thousand " pounds." To these particulars, which were in- deed unanswerable, no reply was made. Even this mark of decency was laid aside, as idle and superfluous. The house agreed to the motion; and a bill was brought in for the better support of his majesty's household. The commons having received a message from the king, desiring they would make further provision for the queen his consort, resolved. That in case she should survive his majesty, the sum of one hundred thousand pounds should be settled upon her for life, charged upon the revenues of the civil-list, together with his majesty's palace of Somerset-House, and Rich- mond Old park. A bill was formed on this reso- lution, which, as well as the other, passed both houses ; and received the royal assent on the seventeenth day of July, when the king, in a speech to both houses, expressed his satisfaction with their conduct, and congratulated them upon the wealth and glory of the nation, by which they had acquired such weight in holding the balance of Europe. Then the lord-chancellor prorogued the parliament to the twenty-ninth day of August; but on the seventh of that month a proclamation was issued for dissolving this, and convoking another. 1727. GEORGE IL 155 In the interim some chano'es were made in different departments of civil oeconomy. Lord viscount Torrington was placed at tlie head of the admiralty : the earl of Westmoreland was ap- pointed first lord-commissioner of trade and plant- ations. Philip Dormer Stanhope, earl of Ches- terfield, a nobleman remarkable for his wit, elo- quence, and polished manners, was nominated ambassador to the Hague. The privy-council being dissolved, another was appointed of the members then present. The duke of Devonshire was dignified with the place of president ; and the duke of St. Alban's Avas appointed master of the horse. On the eleventh day of October the co- ronation of the king and queen was performed at Westminster- Abbey, Avith the usual solemnity*^. By this time the courts of France and Spain were perfectly reconciled : all Europe was freed from the calamities of war ; and the peace of Great Britain suffered no interruption, except from some transient tumults among the tinners of Cornwall, * King George II. ascended the throne hi the forty-fourth year of his age. On the second day of September, 1705, he espoused tlie princess Wilhelmina Charlotte CaroHne, daughter to Joha Frederick, marquis of Brandenburgh Anspach, by whom he had two sons, Frederick Louis prince of Wales, born at Hanover, on the thirty-first day of January, 170/, and William Augustus, born at London, on the fifteenth day of April, 172I. She had likewise borne four princesses, namely, Anne, Amelia, Caroline, Mary, and was afterwards delivered of Louisa, married in the sequel to the king of Denmark. 156 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 3727. who, being provoked by a scarcity of corn, rose in arms, and plundered the granaries of that county. NEW PARLIAMENT. The elections in England and Scotland for the parliament having succeeded on the new system, according to the wishes of the ministry, the two houses met on the twenty-third day of January, when the commons unanimously chose for their speaker Arthur Onslow, esquire, knight of the shire for Surrey, a gentleman of extensive know- ledge, worth, and probity; grave, eloquent, vene- rable, and every way qualified for the discharge of that honourable and important office. The king, in his speech to this new parliament, de- clared, that by the last advices from abroad, he had reason to hope the difficulties which had hitherto retarded the execution of the prelimina^ lies, and the opening of the congress, would soon be entirely removed : in the mean time, he repre- sented the absolute necessity of continuing the preparation which had hitherto secured the na- tion, and prevented an open rupture in Europe. He promised, that his first care should be to reduce, from time to time, the expence of the public, as often, and as soon as the interest and safety of his people would permit such reduction. He expressed an earnest desire of seeing the foundation laid of an effectual scheme for the If2f. GEORGE II. 157 increase and encouragement of seamen in general, that they might be invited rather than compelled into the service of their country. Finally, he re- commended unanimity, zeal, and dispatch of the public business. Those speeches, penned by the minister, were composed with a view to soothe the minds of the people into an immediate con- currence with the measures of the government ; but without any intention of performing those promises of oeconomy, reformation, and national advantage. The two houses seemed to vie with each other in expressions of applause and affection to his majesty. The lords, in their address, hailed him as the best of kings, and the true father of his country. The commons expressed the warm- est sense of gratitude for the blessings they en- joyed in his reign, though it was not yet eight months old. They approved of all his trans- actions ; they promised to support him in all his undertakings ; and declared they would cheer- fully grant whatever supplies should be wanted* for the public service. Having considered the estimates which were laid before them by order of his majesty, they voted two-and-twenty thou- sand nine hundred and fifty-five men for guards and garrisons; and fifteen thousand seamen for the service of the ensuing year. They granted two hundred and thirty thousand nine hundred and twenty-three pounds, for the maintenance of twelve thousand Hessian troops ; a subsidy of fifty thousand pounds to the king of Sweden ; 1.58 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1727. and half that sum to tlieduke of Brunswick Wol- fenbuttle". The expence of the year amounted to four miUions, raised by a land-tax of three shillings in the pound, a malt-tax, and by bor- rowing of the Bank one million seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds, for which annuities to the amount of seventy thousand pounds, to be raised by duties on coals imported into the city of London, were granted to that corporation. VIOLENT DISPUTE CONCEHNING THE NATIONAL DEBT. All these sums, however, were not granted Avith- out question. The number of land-forces occa- sioned a debate ; and the Hessian auxiliaries were not allowed without dispute and opposition. When they deliberated on the loan of the Bank, Mr. Pulteney observed, that the shifting of funds was but perpetuating taxes, and putting off the evil day : that notwithstanding the great merit which some persons had built on the sinking fund, it appeared that the national debt had been increased since the setting up that pompous project. Some " Nothing could be a greater burlesque upon the negociation than this treaty of alliance concluded with the petty duke of Wol-^ fenbuttle, who very gravely guarantees to his Britannic majesty the possession of his three kingdoms, and obliges himself to sup- ply his majesty with five tliousand men, in consideration of an annual subsidy of five-and-twenty thousand pounds for four years. 1/28. GEORGE ir. 159 warm altercation passed between him and sir Ro- bert Walpole on this subject. The lord-mayor, aldermen, and common-council of London, pre- sented a petition, setting forth, that the duties already laid upon coals and culm, imported into London, affected the trade of that city only ; that the inequality of the burthen was a great dis- couragement to their manufactures, and an hard- ship upon all the trading inhabitants. The peti- tion was rejected, and the tax imposed. The house having addressed the king, for a particular and distinct account of the distribution of two hundred and hfty thousand pounds, charged to have been issued for securing the trade and na- vigation of the kingdom, and preserving and re- storing the peace of Europe, he declined granting their request, but signified in general, that part of the money had been issued, and disbursed by his late majesty, and the remainder by himself, for carrying on the same necessary services, which required the greatest secresy. Such a message in the reign of king William would have raised a dangerous flame in the house of commons. Mr. W. Pulteney inveighed against such a vague and general way of accounting for the public money, as tending to render parliaments altogether in- significant, to cover embezzlements, and to screen corrupt and rapacious ministers. The commons bavin o' taken into consideration the state of the national debt, examined the accounts, and inter- rogated the proper officers. A motion was made .160 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;28. by a court member, that it appeared the monies already issued and applied towards discharging the national debts, together with a sum to be issued at Lady-day, amounted to six millions six hundred forty-eight thousand seven hundred and sixty-two pounds, five shillings, one penny, one farthing. In vain did the leaders of the opposi- tion expose the fallacious tendency of this motion. In vain did they demonstrate the fraudulent ar- tifice used in drawing up the accounts : the mo- tion was carried ; and several resolutions were taken on the state of the national debts. In the particular account of these debts, upon which the house resolved to form a representation to his majesty, an article of three hundred thousand pounds relating to the duty upon wrought plate was totally omitted. This extraordinary omis- sion being discovered, gave rise to a very warm debate, and to very severe reflections against those who superintended the public accounts. This €rror being rectified, a committee appointed for the purpose drew up the representation, containing a particular detail of the national debts discharged and incurred since the twenty-fifth day of December, in the year one thousand seven hundred and six- teen, with a state of the sinking fund and of the public credit. The draft, being approved by the house, was presented to the king, who received it graciously. He took this opportunity of say- ing, that the provision made for gradually dis- ;Charging the national debts was now become so J723. GEORGE II. 1(51 certain and considerable, that nothing but some unforeseen event could alter or diminish it: a circumstance that afforded the fairest prospect of seeing the old debts discharged without any ne- cessity of incurring new incumbrances. This answer, fraught with many other ex- pressions of fatherly tenderness for his people, paved the way for a message to the house, de- manding a vote of credit to fulfil certain engage- ments entered into, and concerted, with the ad- vice and concurrence of the last parliament, for securing the trade and navigation of the kingdom, and for restoring and preserving the peace of Europe. Though a debate ensued upon this mes- sage, the majority resolved that an address should be presented to his majesty, declaring the duty and fidelity of the commons, their entire con- fidence in his royal care and goodness, and their readiness to enable his majesty to fulfil his engagements. A vote of credit passed accord- ingly. During this session, the peers were chiefly employed in exam.ining copies of several treaties and alliances which the king submitted to their perusal : they likewise prepared a bill for amend- ing the statute of limitation, which, however, did not pass into a law: they considered the state of the national debt, a subject fruitful of debates ; they passed the mutiny bill, and those that were sent up from the commons, touching the supplies; to- gether with an act, obliging ships arriving from infected places to perform quarantine; and some VOL. III. M 162 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. . 1728. others of a more private nature. These bills hav- ing received the royal assent, the king closed the session on the twenty-eighth day of May, when he thanked the commons for the effectual supplies they had raised, and, in particular, for having empowered him to borrow five hundred thousand pounds for the discharge of wages due to the sea- men employed in the navy. A DOUBLE MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE HOUSES OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. England was at this period quite barren of remarkable events. The king's uncle, Ernest Augustus, prince of Brunswick, duke of York, and • bishop of Osnabruck, died on the third day of August, and was succeeded in the bishopric by the elector of Cologn, according to the pactum by which Osnabruck is alternately possessed by the house of Brunswick and that elector. In the beginning of December, his majesty's eldest son prince Frederic arrived in England from Hanover^ where he had hitherto resided, was introduced into the privy-council, and created prince of Wales. Signior Como, resident from the duke of Parma, was ordered to quit the kingdom, because his master paid to the pretender the honours due to the king of Great Britain. The congress open- ed at Soissons, for determining all disputes among the powers of Europe, proved ineffectual. Such 1728. , GEOrxGE II. 103 difficulties occurred in settling and reconciling so many different pretensions and interests, that the contracting parties in the aUiance of Hanover pro- posed a provisional treaty, concerning which no definitive answer was given as yet by the courts of Vienna and Madrid. The fate of Europe, there- fore, continued in suspense : the English fleet lay inactive and rotting in the West-Indies; the sailons perished miserably, without daring to avenge their country's wrongs; while the Spanish cruisers com- mitted depredations with impunity on the com- merce of Great Britain. The court of Spain, at this juncture, seemed cold and indifferent with regard to a pacification with England. It had re- newed a good understanding with France, and now strengthened its interests by a double alliance of marriage with the royal family of Portugal. The infanta of this house was betrothed to the prince of Asturias : while the Spanish infanta, formerly affianced to the French king, was now matched with the prince of Brasil, eldest son of his Portuguese majesty. In the month of January^ the two courts met in a wooden house built over the httle river Coy a, that separates the two king- doms, and there the princesses were exchanged. LIBIi^RALITY OF THE COMMONS. The parliament of Great Britain meeting accord* ing to their last prorogation on the twenty-first 2 I6i HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1728. day of January, the king in his speech communi- cated the nature of the negociation at the con- gress. He demanded such supphes as might en- able him to act vigorously in concert with his allies, provided his endeavours to establish an ad- vantageous peace should miscarry ; and he hinted that the dilatory conduct of the courts of Vienna and Madrid proceeded in a great measure from the hopes that were given, of creating discontents and divisions among the subjects of Great Britain. This suggestion was a ministerial artifice to in- flame the zeal and resentment of the nation, and intimidate the members in the opposition. Ac- cordingly the hint was pursued, and in the ad- dresses from both houses, that could not fail of being agreeable, considering the manner in which they were dictated, particular notice was taken of this article : both peers and commons expressed their detestation and abhorrence of those, who, by such base and unnatural artifices, susrs'ested the means of distressing their country, and clamour- ed at the inconveniences which they themselves had occasioned. In these addresses, likewise, the parliament congratulated his majesty on the ar- rival of the prince of Wales in his British domi- nions ; and the commons sent a particular com- pliment to his royal highness on that occasion. The estimates having been examined in the usual form, the house voted fifteen thousand seamen for the ensuing year; but the motion for continuino- the same number of land-forces which had been 1/26. GEORGE II. 165 allowed in the preceding year, was not carried without dispute. All the arguments against a standing army in time of peace, as inconsistent with the British constitution, and dangerous to the liberties of the people, were repeated with great vivacity by Mr. Shippen and Mr. W. Pulte- ney. These, however, were answered, and repre- sented as absurd, by Mr. Horatio Walpole and Mr. D. two staunch adherents of the minister. The first had, in despite of nature, been employed in different negociations : he was blunt, auk ward, and slovenly : an orator without eloquence, an ambassador without dignity, and a plenipoten- tiary without address. The other had natural parts and acquired knowledge ; spoke with con- fidence ; and in dispute was vain, sarcastic, petu- lant, and verbose. DEBATES ON THE SUBSIDIES OF HESSE- CASSEL AND WOLFENBUTTLE. The subsidies to Sweden, Hesse-Cassel, and Wol- fenbuttle were continued, notwithstanding the remonstrances of sir Joseph Jekyll, Mr. Lutwyche, and Mr. Pulteney ; which last observed, that as the landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, and the duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttle, usually maintained a cer- tain number of troops in their pay, it was but rea- sonable that Great Britain should defray no more than the expence of the additional forces which 166 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1728. those powers had raised, in consequence of their conventions with the king of England. Sir Ro- bert Walpole perceiving that this remark made an impression on the house, thought it necessary to vindicate his measure. He expatiated upon the wisdom of the late king, in concluding the Hano- ver alliance. He affirmed, that the convention with Hesse- Cassel had prevented a war in the empire, for which the court of Vienna had made great preparations : that the emperor had not only augmented his own forces by the help of Spanish subsidies, but also retained the troops of three electors ; and if he had not been overawed by the Hessians, would certainly have rejected the preli- minaries, and all other advances towards a pacifi- cation : that, therefore, they ought not to grudge an expence which had already proved so beneficial to the tranquillity of Europe. Sir Joseph Jekyll replied, that whatever gloss might be put upon such measures, they were repugnant to the maxims by which England in former times had steered and squared its conduct with relation to its in- terest abroad : that the navy was the natural strength of Great Britain — its best defence and security: but, if, in order to avoid a war, they should be so free-hearted as to buy and maintain the forces of foreign princes, they were never like to see an end of such extravagant expences. This gentleman, who exercised the office of master of the rolls, had approved himself a zealous defender of whig principles, was an able lawyer, a sensible 1728. GEORGE II. 167 speaker, and a conscientious patriot. The sup- plies were raised by a continuation of the land- tax, the duties upon malt, cyder, and perry, an additional imposition on unmalted corn used in distilling, and by sale of annuities to the Fank not exceeding fifty thousand pounds per annum. COMMITTEE FOR INSPECTING THE GAOLS. Petitions were delivered to the house of com- mons from the merchants of London, Liverpool, and Bristol, complaining of the interruptions they had suffered in their trade for several years, by the depredations of the Spaniards in the West-Indies. These being considered, the house ordered the lords of the admiralty to produce the other memo- rials of the same kind which they had received, that they might be laid before the congress at Soissons : then they addressed his majesty for co- pies of all the letters and instructions which had been sent to admiral Hosier, and those who suc- ceeded him in the command of the West India squadron. Mr. Oglethorpe having been informed of shocking cruelties and oppressions exercised by gaolers upon their prisoners, moved for an exa- mination into these practices, and was chosen chairman of a committee appointed to inquire into the state of the gaols of the kingdom. They be- gan with the Fleet-prison, which they visited in a body: there they found sir William Rich, baronet, loaded with irons, by order of Bambridge the war- IGS HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 3728. den, to whom he had given some shght cause of offence. They made a discovery of many inhu- man barharities, which had been committed by that ruffian, and detected the most iniquitous scenes of fraud, villany, and extortion. When the report was made by the committee, the house unanimously resolved, that Thomas Bambridge, acting warden of the Fleet, had wilfully permitted several debtors to escape ; had been guilty of the most notorious breaches of trust, great extortions, and the highest crimes and misdemeanors in the execution of his office ; that he had arbitrarily and unlawfully loaded with irons, put into dun- geons, and destroyed prisoners for debt, under his charge, treating them in the most barbarous and cruel manner, in high violation and contempt of the laws of the kingdom. John Huggins, esquire, who had been warden of the Fleet-prison, was sub- jected to a resolution of the same nature. The house presented an address to the king, desiring he would direct his attorney-general forthwith to prosecute these persons and their accomplices, who were committed prisoners to Newgate. A bill was brought in, disabling Bambridge to execute the office of warden ; another for the better regu- lating the prison of the Fleet : and for more effectually preventing and punishing arbitrary and illegal practices of the warden of the said prison \ '' It afterwards appeared that some of the members of this in- quest were actuated by other motives than those they professed j and the committee was suffered to sink into oblivion. 1728. GEORGE II. i6() ADDRESS TOUCHING THE SPANISH DEPRE- DATIONS. Other merchants complained by petition of the losses sustained by the Spaniards. The house, in a grand committee, deliberated on this subject, inquired into the particulars, examined evidence, and drew up an address to the king, desiring his majesty would be graciously pleased to use his utmost endeavours for preventing such depre- dations ; for procuring just and reasonable satis- faction ; and for securing to his subjects the free exercise of commerce and navigation to and from the British colonies in America. The kins: assured them he would use his best endeavours to answer the desires and expectations of his people, in an affair of so much importance ; and they, in an- other address, thanked him for his gracious an- swer. They did not, however, receive such a satis- factory reply to a former address, touching the sum of sixty thousand pounds that had been stated in the public account, without specification of the particular uses to which it M'as applied. His ma- jesty gave them to understand that the money had been issued and disbursed for secret services; and that a distinct and particular account of the distribution of it could not be given without a manifest prejudice to the public. A bill was pre- pared for the more effectual preventing bribery and corruption in elections tor members of par- 170 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1728. liament; and it passed through tlie house with- out opposition ; but their attention was chiefly employed upon the Spanish depredations, which had raised a great clamour through the whole kingdom, and excited very warm disputes in par- liament ; for they were generally reputed the fruits of negligence, incapacity, or want of vigour in the ministers. The commons having made fur- ther progress in the inquiry, and received fresh petitions from the merchants, passed some reso- lutions, in which the Spaniards were accused of having violated the treaties subsisting between the two crowns ; and with having treated inhu- manly the masters and crews of ships belonging to Great Britain. They justified the instructions given to admiral Hosier, to seize and detain the flota and galleons of Spain, until justice and satis- faction should be rendered to his majesty and his allies ; nay, even declared that such seizure would have been just, prudent, and necessary, tending to prevent an open rupture, and to preserve the peace and tranquillity of Europe. They again ad- dressed the king to use his endeavours to procure satisfaction; and he promised to comply with their request. Mr. Scroope, member for Bristol, moved for an address intreating his majesty to order an ac- count of the produce of the civil-list revenues for one year to be laid before the house. The address was presented, the account produced, and th^ house, in a grand committee, took this affair into 1728. GEOrxGE II. 171 consideration. The courtiers affirmed that they fell short of the eight hundred thousand pounds settled upon his majesty; and Mr." Scroope pro- posed that the sum of one hundred and fifteen thousand pounds should be granted to the king, on account of those deficiencies and arrears. The motion was vigorously opposed by Mr. Pulteney and other members. They expressed their sur- prize that it should be made so late in the session, when no further demand of money could be rea- sonably expected ; and they said it was the more extraordinary, because it appeared in the former session, from the examination of the accounts then before the house, that the revenues of the civil-list produced yearly a much greater sum than that for which they were given. Mr. Pulte- ney mov^ed, that the accounts and papers should be referred to the examination of a select commit- tee, properly empowered to investigate the truth. The ministers opposed this motion ; and the ques- tion being put, it passed in the negative. The majority voted the sum demanded ; and in a bill for settling the price of imported corn, they in- serted the resolution for granting to his majesty the sum of one hundred and fifteen thousand pounds, on account of arrears due on the civil-list revenues. 1/2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1728. PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. The house of lords having prepared a bill for the more effectual punishment of forgery, which was passed into a law, and ordered the judges to bring in another on the report of a committee appoint- ed to consider the case of imprisoned debtors, at length deliberated upon the state of the nation, particularly the positive demand made by the court of Spain for the restitution of Gibraltar, grounded in a letter written by the late king to his catholic majesty. From a copy of the letter laid before the house, it plainly appeared that king George I. had consented to this restitution. A motion being made for a resolution, importing, that for the honour of his majesty, and the pre- servation and security of the trade and commerce of the kingdom, effectual care should be taken in the present treaty that the king of Spain should renounce all claim and pretension to Gibraltar and Minorca, in plain and strong terms : a debate en- sued, and the question being put, passed in the negative, though not without a protest. Then the majority resolved, that the house did intirely rely upon his majesty, that he would, for main- taining the honour and securing the trade of this kingdom, take effectual care in the present treaty to preserve his undoubted right to Gibraltar and Minorca. When the house examined the papers relating to the Spanish depredations, many severe 1728. GEORGE II. 173 reflections were uttered against the conduct of tlie ministry ; and a motion was made, to resolve that Hosier's expedition was an unreasonable burthen on the nation : but this too was rejected, and oc- casioned another protest. Nor did the clause in the corn-bill, for granting one hundred and fifteen thousand pounds to his majesty, pass through the house of peers without warm opposition. Divers lords alledged, that, instead of a deficienc}'^ in the civil-list revenues, there was a considerable sur- plus : that this was a new grant, and a new bur- then on the people : that the nation was loaded, not to complete, but to augment the sum designed for the civil-list; and this at a time when the public debts were increased ; when the taxes were heavily felt in all parts of the country ; when the foreign trade of Britain was incumbered and di- minished ; when her manufactures were decayed, her poor multiplied, and she was surrounded by many other national calamities. They observed, that if the produce of the civil-list revenue should not amount to the yearly sum of eight hundred thousand pounds, the deficiency must be made good to his majesty by the public ; Avhereas no provision was made, by which, if the produce of these revenues should exceed that sum, the sur- plus could accrue to the benefit of the public; that, by this precedent, not only real deficiencies were to be made good, but also supphes were to be given for arrears standing out at the end of the year, which should come on before the supplies 174 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1729. could be granted, though the supply given to make good arrears in one year would certainly in^ crease the surplusages in another : that the reve- nues of the civil-list were variable in their own nature: and even when there is a deficiency in the produce, there might be arrears in the receipt: these might be easily increased by the manage- ment of designing ministers, by private directions to receivers, and by artful methods of stating accounts. All these arguments, and other ob- jections equally strong and plausible, against this unconscionable and unparliamentary motion, serv- ed only to evince the triumph of the ministry over shame and sentiment, their contempt of public spirit, and their defiance of the national reproach'^. WISE CONDUCT OF THE IRISH PARLIAMENT. The king had, on the twenty-fourth day of March, given the royal assent to five bills; and on the fourteenth day of May, the same sanction was given to thirty other bills, including an act, enabling the queen to be regent in the kingdom during his majesty's absence, without taking the oaths: and another for the relief of insolvent ^ The peers that distinguished themselves in the opposition were Beaufort, Strafford, Craven, Foley, Litchfield, Scarsdale, Gower, Mountjoy, Plymouth, Bathurst, Northampton, Coventry, Oxford, and Mortimer, Willoughby de Broke, Boyle, and War- rington. 1729. GEORGE 11. 17s debtors. At the same time two-and-thirty private bills were passed : then the king expressed his ap- probation of the parliament, signified his intention to visit his German dominions, and ordered the chancellor to prorogue both houses. His ma- jesty having appointed the queen regent of the realm, set out for Hanover on the seventeenth day of May, in order to remove a petty misunderstand- ing which had happened between that electorate and the court of Berlin. Some Hanoverian sub- jects had been pressed or decoyed into the service of Prussia; and the regents of Hanover had seiz- ed certain Prussian officers, by way of reprisal The whole united kingdom of Great Britain at this juncture enjoyed uninterrupted repose ; and com- merce continued to increase, in spite of all re- striction and discouragement. The people of Ireland found themselves happy under the go- vernment of lord Carteret ; and their parliament, assembling in the month of September, approved themselves the fathers of their country. They established funds for the discharge of their na- tional debt, and for maintaining the expence of government : they enacted wholesome laws for the encouragement of manufactures, trade, and agri- culture; and they formed wise regulations in dif- ferent branches of civil economy. Some time after this session, which was conducted with so much harmony and patriotism, lord Carteret re- turned to England ; and was succeeded by the duke of Dorset in the government of that king- 176 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1729. dom. In the month of May, Charles lord Towns- end resigned the seals, which were given to colonel Stanhope, now created earl of Harrington; so that sir R. W. now reigned without a rival, James earl of Waldergrave was appointed ambassador to the court of France, which, about that time, was fill- ed with joy by the birth of a dauphin. ABDICATION OF THE KING OF SARDINIA. DEATH OF POPE BENEDICT XIII. In the month of September, Victor Amadeus, king of Sardinia, resigned his crown to his son Charles Emanuel, prince of Piedmont. The father re- served to himself a revenue of one hundred thou- sand pistoles per annum, retired to the castle of Chamberry, and espoused the countess dowager of St. Sebastian, who declined the title of queen, but assumed that of marchioness of Somerive. Though the congress at Soissons proved abortive, conferences were begun at Seville, between the plenipotentiaries of England, France, and Spain ; and a treaty was concluded on the ninth day of November, not only without the concurrence of the emperor, but even contrary to his right, as established by the quadruple alliance. • On this subject, he communicated an imperial commis- sorial decree to the states of the empire assembled in the diet at Ratisbon, which was answered by the French minister de Chavigny. In October, 1729. GEORGE II. 177 Peter II. czar of Muscovy, and grandson of Peter I. died in the fifteenth year of his age, at Mos- cow, and was succeeded on the Russian throne by the princess Anne Ivanowna, second daughter of John Alexowitz, elder brother of the first Peter, and widow of Frederick William duke of Cour- land. The following month was rendered re- markable by the death of pope Benedict XIII. in whose room cardinal Laurence Corsini was raised to the pontificate, and assumed the name of Cle- ment XII. SUBSTANCE OF THE KING'S SPEECH TO BOTH HOUSES. The British parliament assembling on the thir- teenth day of January, the king gave them to understand, that the peace of Europe was now established by the treaty of Seville, built upon the foundation of former treaties, and tending to ren- der more effectual what the contracting powers in the quadruple alliance were before engaged to see performed. He assured them, that all former con- ventions made with Spain in favour of the British trade and navigation were renewed and confirm- ed : that the free, uninterrupted exercise of their commerce was restored : that the court of Spain had agreed to an ample restitution and reparation for unlawful seizures and depredations : that all rights, privileges, and possessions, belonging to VOL. III. N 178 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1729. him and his allies, were solemnly re-established, confirmed, and guaranteed; and that not one con- cession was made to the prejudice of his subjects. He told them he had given orders for reducing a great number of his land-forces, and for laying up great part of the fleet ; and observed that there would be a considerable saving in the expence of the current year. After both houses had present- ed their addresses of thanks and congratulation to the king on the peace of Seville, the lords took that treaty into consideration, and it did not pass inquiry without severe animadversion. OBJECTIONS TO THE TREATY OF SEVILLE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. The lords in the opposition excepted to the arti- cle by which the merchants of Great Britain were obliged to make proof of their losses at the court of Spain. They said this stipulation was a hard- ship upon British subjects, and dishonourable to the nation: that few would care to undertake such a troublesome and expensive journey, espe- cially as they had reason to apprehend their claims would be counterbalanced by the Spaniards ; and, after all, they would have no more than the slen- der comfort of hoping to obtain that redress by commissaries which they had not been able to pro- cure by plenipotentiaries. They thought it very extraordinary, that Great Britain should be bound 1729. GEORGE IL i;^. to ratify and guarantee whatever agreement should be made between the king of Spain and the duke of Parma and Tuscany, concerning the garrisons once estabUshed in their countries : that the Eng- lish should be obliged to assist in eifectuating the introduction of six thousand Spanish troops into the towns of Tuscany and Parma, without any specification of the methods to be taken, or the charge to be incurred in giving that assistance : that they should guarantee for ever, not only to Don Carlos, but even to all his successors, the possession of the estates of Tuscany and Parma ; astipulation which in all probability would involve Great Britain in endless quarrels and disputes, about a country with which they had no concern. They affirmed that the treaty of Seville, instead of confirming other treaties, was contradictory to the quadruple alliance, particularly in the article of introducing Spanish troops into Tuscany and Par- ma, in the room of neutral forces stipulated by the former alhance; and agreeing that they should there remain until Don Carlos and his successors should be secure and exempt from all events. They complained that these alterations, from the tenor of the quadruple alhance, were made with- out the concurrence of the emperor, and even without inviting him to accede; an affront which might alienate his friendship from England, and hazard the loss of such an ancient, powerful, and faithful ally ; they declared that throughout the whole treaty there seemed to be an artful omission 2 180 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. I72p. of any express stipulation, to secure Great Britain in her right to Gibraltar and Minorca. Such was the substance of the objections made to the peace: then lord Bathurst moved for a resolution, that the agreement on the treaty of Seville, to secure the succession of Don Carlos to the duchies of Tuscany, Parma, and Placentia, with Spanish troops, was a manifest violation of the fifth article of the quadruple alliance, tending to involve the nation in a dangerous and expensive war, and to destroy the balance of power in Europe. The question was put, and the motion rejected. Such too was the fate of two other motions, to resolve that Great Britain's right of sovereignty, domi- nion, possession, and claim to Gibraltar and Mi- norca, were not ascertained by the treaty of Se- ville : and that the stipulations in that treaty for repairing the losses of the British merchants were insufficient and precarious. The majority, far from stigmatising this transaction, resolved, that the treaty did contain all necessary stipulations for maintaining and securing the honour, dignity, dghts, and possessions of the crown : that all due care was taken therein for the support of the trade of the kingdom, and for repairing the losses sus- tained by the British merchants. On these reso- lutions an address of approbation was founded : but when a motion was made for an address to his majesty, that he would order to be laid before the house a list of all pensions payable to the crown, it was immediately resolved in the negative. Di- mg. GEORGE II, asi vers contests of the same kind arose upon the mutiny- bill, the pension- bill, and the maintenance of the twelve thousand Hessians; but the ministry- bore down all opposition, though their triumphs were clogged with vigorous protests, which did not fail to make impression upon the body of the people. OPPOSITION IN THE LOWER HOUSE TO A STANDING ARMY, Nor was the success of the court interest in the house of commons altogether pure, and free from exception and dispute. When the charge of the land forces fell under the consideration of the commons, and Mr. Henry Pelham, secretary at war, moved that the number of effective men for the land service of the ensuing year should be fixed at seventeen thousand seven hundred and nine, Mr. Pulteney insisted upon its being reduc- ed to twelve thousand. Mr. Shippen affirmed, that Mr. Pelham's motion was a flat negative to the address for which he voted on the first day of the session, as it plainly implied a distrust of the validity of the late treaty, which he then assured the house would immediately produce all the bless- ings of an absolute peace, and deliver the king- dom from the apprehensions and inconveniences of a war. He said the motion tended directly towards the establishment of an army in Great X62 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1729. Britain, which he hoped would never be so far germanized, as tamely to submit to a military government. He observed that the nation could have no occasion for all the troops that were de- manded, considering the glorious scene of affairs which was now opened to all Europe. " They are *' not necessary (said he) to awe Spain into afirrn, " adherence to its own treaty ; they are not ne- *' cessary to force the emperor into an immediate *' accession, nor are they in any sort necessary for " the safety of his majesty's person and govern- '* ment. Force and violence are the resort of ''usurpers and tyrants only; because they are, " with good reason, distrustful of the people whom *' they oppress ; and because they have no other ''security for the continuance of their unlawful " and unnatural dominion, than what depends " entirely on the strength of their armies." The motion, however, was carried in the affirmative. BILL PROHIBITING LOANS TO FOREIGN PRINCES OR STATES. Another warm debate was excited by a bill which the courtiers brought in, to prevent any subjects of Great Britain from advancing sums of money to foreign princes or states, without hav- ing obtained licence from his majesty, under his privy -seal, or some great authority. The minister pretended that this law was proposed to disable 1729- GEORGE H. IBX: the emperor, who wanted to borrow a great sum of the Enghsh merchants, from raising and main-v, taining troops to disturb the tranqnilHty of Eu- rope. The bill contained a clause, empowering the king to prohibit by proclamation all such loans of money, jewels, or bullion: the attorney-general was empowered to compel, by English bill, in the court of exchequer, the effectual discovery, on oath, of any such loans ; and it was enacted, that in default of an answer to any such bill the court should decree a limited sum against the person refusing to answer. Mr. Daniel Pulteney, a gen- tleman of uncommon talents and ability, and par- ticularly acquainted with every branch of com- merce, argued strenuously against this bill, as a restraint upon trade that would render Holland the market of Europe, and the mart of money to the nations of the continent. He said that by this general prohibition, extending to all princes, states, or potentates, the English were totally disabled from assisting their best allies : that among others the king of Portugal frequently borrowed money of the English merchants residing within his do- minions ; that while the licensing power remained in the crown, the licenses would be issued through the hands of the minister, who by this new trade might gain twenty, thirty, or forty thousand a- year : that the bill would render the exchequer a court of inquisition : and that whilst it restrain- ed our merchants from assisting the princes and powers of Europe, it permitted our stock-jobbers ISi HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1729. to trade in their funds without interruption. Other arguments of equal weight were enforced hy Mr. Barnard, a merchant of London, Avho perfectly understood trade in all its branches, spoke with judgment and precision, and upon all occasions steadily adhered to the interest and liberties of his country. After having explained his reasons, he declared he should never consent to a bill which he deemed a violation of our fundamental laws, a breach of our dearest liberties, and a very terrible hardship on mankind. Sir William Wynd- ham distinguished himself on the same side of the question ; the bill was vindicated by sir Ro- bert Walpole, Mr. Pelham, and sir Philip Yorke, attorney-general ; and being supported by the whole weight of ministerial influence, not only passed through the house, but was afterwards enacted into a law. CHARTER OF THE EAST-INDIA COMPANY PROLONGED. The subsidies were continued to the landarave of Hesse- Cassel and the duke of Brunswick-Wolfen- buttle, in spite of all that could be urged against these extraneous incumbrances ; and the supply for the ensuing year was granted according to the estimates which the ministry thought proper to produce, amounting to about two millions two hundred and eighty thousand pounds. It must 1729. GEORGE II. 185 be owned, however, for the credit of the session, that the house appropriated one milHon of the sur- plusses arising from the sinking fund towards the discharge of the national debt ; and by another act extinguished the duties upon salt, by which expedient the subject was eased of a heavy bur- then, not only in being freed from the duty, but also from a considerable charge of salaries given to a great number of officers employed to collect this imposition. They likewise encouraged the colony of Carolina with an act, allowing the planters and traders of that province to export rice directly to any part of Europe southward of Cape Finisterre ; and they permitted salt from Europe to be imported into the colony of New- York. The term of the exclusive trade granted by act of parliament to the East-India company drawing towards a period, many considerable merchants and others made application for being incorporated and vested with the privilege of trading to those countries, proposing to lay that branch of trade open to all the subjects of Great- Britain, on certain conditions. In consideration of an act of parliament for this purpose, they offered to advance three millions two hundred thousand pounds, for redeeming the fund and trade of the present East-India company. This proposal was rejected: and the exclusive privilege vested in the company was, by act of parliament, protracted to the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, upon the following conditions: 185 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1730. That they should pay into the exchequer the sum of two hundred thousand pounds towards the sup- pHes of the year, without interest or addition to their capital stock : that the annuity or yearly fund of one hundred and sixty thousand pounds, payable to them from the public, should be re- duced to one hundred and twenty-eight thousand; that after the year one thousand seven hundred and sixty-six, their right to the exclusive trade should be liable to be taken away by parliament, on three years' notice, and repayment of their capital. THE EMPEROR RESENTS THE TREATY OF SEVILLE. On the fifteenth day of May the king went to the house of peers, and closed the session. In his speech he expressed his joy, that notwithstanding all the clamours which were raised, the parliament had approved of those matters which, he said, could not fail to inspire all mankind with a just detestation of those incendiaries, who, by scan- dalous libels, laboured to alienate those affections of his people; to fill their minds with groundless jealousies and unjust complaints, in dishonour of him and his government, and in defiance of the jsense of both houses of parliament ^ The emperor ' In the course of the session the commons passed a bill for making more effectual the laws in being, for disabling persons 1730. GEORGE II. 187 was so much incensed at the insult offered him in the treaty of Seville, with respect to the garrisons of Tuscany and Parma, that he prohibited the subjects of Great Britain from trading in his do- minions : he began to make preparations for war, and actually detached bodies of troops to Italy with such dispatch as had been very seldom ex- erted by the house of Austria. Yet the article of which he complained was not so much a real injury as an affront put upon the head of the empire; for eventual succession to those Italian duchies had been secured to the infant, Don Car- los, by the quadruple alliance ; and all that the emperor required was, that this prince should re- ceive the investiture of them as fiefs of the empire. SEVEN INDIAN CHIEFS AllRIVE IN ENGLAND. REVOLUTION AT CONSTANTI-NOPLE. In Great Britain, this year was not distinguished by any transaction of great moment. Seven chiefs of the Cherokee nations of Indians in America from being chosen members of parliament who enjoyed any pen- sion during pleasure, or for any number of years, or any offices holden in trust for them, by obliging all persons hereafter to be chosen to serve for the commons in parliament to take the oath therein mentioned. In all probability this bill would not have made its way through the house of commons, had not the mini- ster been well assured it would stick with the upper house, where it was rejected at the second reading, though not without violent opposition. ISS HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1730. were brought to England by sir Alexander Cumin. Being introduced to the king, they laid their crown and regaHa at his feet ; and by an authentic deed acknowledged themselves subjects to his do- minion, in the name of all their compatriots, who had vested them with full powers for this purpose. They were amazed and confounded at the riches and magnificence of the British court : they com^ pared the king and queen to the sun and moon, the princes to the stars of heaven, and themselves to nothing. They gave their assent in the most solemn manner to articles of friendship and com^ merce, proposed by the lords commissioners for trade and plantations ; and being loaded with pre- sents of necessaries, arms and ammunition, were re-conveyed to their own country, which borders on the province of South-Carolina. In the month of September, a surprising revolution was eflfect- ed at Constantinople, without bloodshed or con- fusion. A few mean Janissaries displayed a flag in the streets, exclaiming that all true Mussul- men ought to follow them, and assist in reform- ing the government. They soon increased to the number of one hundred thousand, marched to the seraglio, and demanded the grand vizir, the kiaja, and captain pacha. These unhappy ministers were immediately strangled. Their bodies being de- livered to the insurgents, were dragged through the streets, and afterwards thrown to the dogs to be devoured. Not contented with this sacrifice, the revolters deposed the grand signor Achmet, 1730. GEORGE II. IS9 who was confined to the same prison from whence they brought his nephew Machmut, and raised this last to the throne, after he had lived seven- and-twenty years in confinement. England was at this period infested with rob- bers, assassins, and incendiaries, the natural con- sequences of degeneracy, corruption, and the want of police in the interior government of the king- dom. This defect, in a great measure, arose from an absurd notion, that laws necessary to prevent those acts of cruelty, violence, and rapine, would be incompatible with the liberty of the British subjects ; a notion that confounds all distinctions between liberty and brutal licentiousness, as if that freedom was desirable, in the enjoyment of which people find no security for their lives or effects. The pecufiar depravity of the times was visible even in the conduct of those who preyed upon the commonwealth. Thieves and robbers were now become more desperate and savage than ever they had appeared since mankind was civiliz- ed. In the exercise of their rapine, they wound- ed, maimed, and even murdered the unhappy suf- ferers, through a wantonness of barbarity. They circulated letters, demanding sums of money from certain individuals, on pain of reducing their houses to ashes, and their families to ruin ; and even set fire to the house of a rich merchant in Bristol, who had refused to comply with their demand. The same species of villany was prac- tised in different parts of the kingdom ; so that KJO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1730. the government was obliged to interpose, and offer a considerable reward for discovering the ruffians concerned in such execrable designs. BILL AGAINST PENSIONERS SITTING AS MEM- BERS IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. In the speech with which the king opened the session of parliament on the twenty-first day of January, he told them that the present critical conjuncture seemed in a very particular manner to deserve their attention ; that as the transactions then depending in the several courts of Europe were upon the point of being determined, the great event of peace or war might be very much affected bv their first resolutions, which were ex- pected by different powers with great impatience. He said, the continuance of that zeal and vigour with which they had hitherto supported him and his engagements must at this time be of the greatest weight and importance both with regard to his allies, and to those who might be disposed, before the season of action, to prevent, by an ac- commodation, the fatal consequences of a general rupture. The former scene was repeated. Both houses in their addresses, promised to support his majesty, in all his engagements : yet the members in the opposition demonstrated the absurdity of promising to fulfil engagements, before they could possibly know whether or not they were for the i;30. GEORGE II. 191. service of Great Britain. Another bill was brought into the house of commons, to prevent pensioners from sitting as members of parliament ; and after a third reading, carried up to the lords for their concurrence. When the supply fell under con- sideration, the debates were renewed upon the subsidies to the landgrave of Hesse-Cassel and the duke of Wolfenbuttle, which, however, were continued ; and every article was granted accord- ing to the estimates given in for the expence of the ensuing year. Two petitions being presented to the conim9ns, representing the delays of just- ice, occasioned by the use of the Latin tongue in proceedings at law, a bill was brought in for changing this practice, and enacting, that all those processes and pleadings should be entered in the English language. Though one would imagine that very little could be advanced against such a regulation, the bill met with warm op- position, on pretence that it would render useless the ancient records which were written in that language, and introduce confusion and delay of justice, by altering the established form and me- thod of pleading: in spite of these objections it passed through both houses, and obtained the royal assent. A great number of merchants from different parts of the kingdom having repeated their complaints of depredations and cruelties com- mitted by the Spaniards in the West-Indies, their petitions were referred to the consideration of a grand committee. Their complaints upon exa- J92 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;30. mination appeared to be well founded. The house presented an address to the king, desiring his ma- jesty would be graciously pleased to continue his endeavours to prevent such depredations for the future; to procure full satisfaction for the damages already sustained ; and to secure to the British subjects the full and uninterrupted exercise of their trade and navigation to and from the British colonies in America. The bill against pensions produced a warm debate in the house of lords, where it was violently opposed by the dukes of Newcastle and Argyle ; the earl of Hay, and Dr. Sherlock, bishop of Bangor. This prelate, in a remarkable speech, represented it as a scheme to enlarge the power of the house of commons, and to break the balance between the powers essential to the constitution, so as, sooner or later, to prove the ruin of the whole. The great barrier provided against bribery and corruption by this bill consisted in an oath to be imposed on all members of the lower house, by which they must have solemnly sworn and declared, that they had not directly, nor indirectly, any pension during pleasure, or for any number of years, or any office in part, or in the whole, held for them, or for their benefit, by any persons whatsoever; and that they would not accept any such pensions or offices, without signifying the same to the house within fourteen days after they should be received or accepted. The bill was vindicated as just and necessary by the earls of Winchelsea and Straf- i;31. GEORGE II. 193 ford, lord Batburst, and lord Carteret, who had by this time joined as an auxiliary in the oppo- sition". TREATY OF VIENNA. The house of peers proceeded to consider the state of the national debt : they read a bill for the free importation of wool from Ireland into England, which was fiercely opposed, and laid aside, con* trary to all the rules of sound policy. They passed the bill for carrying on proceedings at lav/ in the English language; and a fruitless motion v/as made by lord Batburst for an address, to desire his majesty would give directions for discharging the Hessian troops that were in the pay of Great Britain. On the seventh day of JNIay the parlia- ment was prorogued, after the king had given them to understand, that all apprehensions of war were now happil}'' removed, by a treaty signed at Vienna between him and the emperor. He said it was communicated to the courts of France and Spain, as parties to the treaty of Se* ville, the execution of which it principally re- garded ; and that it likewise was submitted to the consideration of the states-general. He observed, that the conditions and engagements into which he Irad entered on this occasion were agreeable to that necessary concern which the British nation ■ See note [C], vol. vi. VOL. III. ^ 194 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1731. must always have for the security and preservation of the balance of power in Europe : and that this liappy turn, duly improved with a just regard to former alliances, yielded a favourable prospect of seeing the public tranquillity re-established. DEATH OF THE DUKE OF PARMA. In the month of January the duke of Parma died, after having made a will in which he declared his duchess was three months advanced in her preg- nany; entreating the allied powers of Europe to have compassion upon his people, and defer the execution of their projects until his consort should be delivered. In case the child should be still born, or die after the birth, he bequeathed his dominions and allodial estates to the infant Don Carlos of Spain ; and appointed five regents to govern the duchy. Notwithstanding this dispo- sition, a body of Imperial troops immediately took possession of Parma and Placentia, under the command of general Stampa, who declared they should conduct themselves v^ith all possible regu- larity and moderation, and leave the administra- tion entirely to the regents whom the duke had appointed. They publicly proclaimed in the market-place, that they took possession of these duchies for the infant, Don Carlos : and that if the duchess dowager should not be delivered of a prince, the said intant might receive the invest- 1/31. GEORGE II. 195 iture from the emperor whenever he would, pro- vided he should come without an army. Though these steps seemed to threaten an immediate war, the king of Great Britain and the states-general interposed their mediation so effectually with the court of Vienna, that the emperor desisted from the prosecution of his design ; and on the sixteenth day of March concluded at Vienna a treaty with his Britannic majesty, hy which he consented to withdraw his troops from Parma and Placentia. He agreed, that the king of Spain might take possession of these places in favour of liis son Don Carlos, according to the treaty of Seville. He likewise agreed, that the Ostend company, which had given such umbrage to the maritime powers, should be totally dissolved, on condition that the contracting powers concerned in the treaty of Se- ville should guarantee the pragmatic sanction, or succession of the Austrian hereditary dominion to the heirs female of the emperor, in case he should die without male issue. The Dutch minister re- siding at the Imperial court did not subscribe this treaty, because, by the maxims received in that republic, and the nature of her government, he could not be vested with full powers so soon as it would have been necessary : nevertheless the states-general were, by a separate article, expressly named as a principal contracting party. 2 196 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1731. DON CARLOS TAKES POSSESSION OF HIS TERIUTOllIES. On the twenty-second day of July a new treaty was signed at Vienna between the emperor and the kings of Great Britain and Spain, tending to confirm the former. In August a treaty of union and defensive alliance between the electorates of Saxony and Hanover was executed at Dresden. The court of Spain expressing some doubts with regard to the pregnancy of the duchess of Parma, she underwent a formal examination by five mid- wives of different nations in presence of the elder duchess dowager, several ladies of quality, three j)hysicians and a surgeon ; and was declared with child : nevertheless, after having kept all Europe in suspense for six months, she owned she had been deceived ; and general Stampa, with the Im- perial forces, took formal possession of the duchies of Parma and Placentia. Spain and the great duke of Tuscany having acceded to the last treaty of Vienna, the crown of Great Britain engaged to equip an armament that should convoy Don Carlos to his new dominions. Accordingly, sir Charles Wager sailed with a strong squadron from Portsmouth on the twenty-sixth day of August ; and in September arrived at Barcelona, where being joined by the Spanish fleet and transports, they sailed together to Leghorn ; from whence the admiral returned to England. Don Carlos 1731. GEORGE II. iQ2 passed through part of France, and embarking at Antibes on board of the Spanish galHes, arrived at Leghorn in December. Then the Imperial general withdrew his forces into the Milanese ; and the infant took possession of his new territories. FRANCE DISTRACTED BY RELIGIOUS DISPUTES. During these transactions France was distracted by religious disputes, occasioned by the bull Uni- genitus thundered against the doctrines of Jan- senius ; a bill which had produced a schism in the Galilean church, and well nigh involved that country in civil war and confusion. It was op- posed by the parliaments and lay tribunals of the kingdom ; but many bishops, and the Jesuits in general, were its most strenuous assertors. All the artifices of priest-craft were practised on both sides to inflame the enthusiasm, and manage the superstition of the people. Pretended miracles were wrought at the tomb of abb6 Paris, who had died without accepting the bull, consequently was declared damned by the abettors of that con- stitution. On the other hand, the Jesuits exerted all their abilities and industry in preaching against the Jansenists ; in establishing an opinion of their superior sanctity ; and inspiring a spirit of quiet- ism among their votaries, who were transported into the delirium of possession, illumination and supernatural converse. These arts were often 198 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17SI. used for the most infamous purposes. Female enthusiasts were wrought up to such a violence of agitation, that nature fainted under the struggle, and the pseudo saint seized this opportunity of violating the chastity of his penitent. Such was said to be the case of Mademoiselle la Cadiere, a young gentlewoman of Toulon, abused in this manner by the lust and villany of Pere Girard, a noted Jesuit, who underwent a trial before the parliament of Aix, and very narrowly escaped the stake. THE MINISTRY VIOLENTLY OPPOSED IN PARLIAMENT. The parliament of Great Britain meeting on the thirteenth day of January, the king in his speech declared, that the general tranquillity of Europe was restored and established by the last treaty of Vienna ; and Don Carlos Avas actually possessed of Parma and Placentia: that six thousand Spa- niards were quietly admitted and quartered in the duchy of Tuscany, to secure, by the express con- sent and agreement of the great duke, the re- version of his dominions; and that a family con- vention was made between the courts of Spain and Tuscany, for preserving mutual peace and friendship in the two houses. He told the com- mons, that the estimates for the service of the current year would be considerably less than those 1731. GEORGE II. 199 of former years. He recommended unanimity : he observed that his government had no security but what was equally conducive to their happi- ness, and to the protection of his people : that their prosperity had no foundation but in the defence and support of his government. " Our *' safety (said he) is mutual, and our interests are *' inseparable." The opposition to the court mea- sures appears to have been uncommonly spirited during the course of this session. The minister's motions were attacked with all the artillery of elocution. His principal emissaries were obliged to task their faculties to their full exertion, to puzzle and perplex where they could not demon- strate and convince, to misrepresent Avhat they could not vindicate, and to elude the arguments which they could not refute. In the house of commons lord Hervey, lately appointed vice chamberlain of his majesty's household, made a motion for an address of thanks, in which they should declare their entire approbation of the king's conduct, acknowledge the blessings they enjoyed under his government, express their con- fidence in the wisdom of his councils ; and de- clare their readiness to grant the necessary sup- plies. This member, son to the earl of Bristol, was a nobleman of some parts, which, however, were more specious than solid. He condescended to act as a subaltern to the minister, and approved himself extremely active in forwarding all his de- signs, whether as a secret emissary or public orator; :iOO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1731. in which last capacity he appears to have been pert, frivolous, and frothy. His motion was se- conded by Mr. Clutterbuck, and opposed by sir Wilfred Lawson, Mr. Shippen, M. W. PLdteney, sir William Wyndham, and Mr. Oglethorpe. They did not argue against a general address of thanks ; but exposed the absurdity and bad tendency of expressions which implied a blind approbation of all the measures of the ministry. Sir Wilfred Lawson observed, that notwithstanding the great things we had done for the crown of Spain, and the favours we had procured for the royal family of that kingdom, little or no satisfaction had as yet been received for the injuries our merchants had sustained from that nation. Mr. Pulteney took notice, that the nation, by becoming gua- rantee to the pragmatic sanction, laid itself under an obhgation to assist the Austrian family when attacked by any potentate whatever, except the grand signor : that they might be attacked when it would be much against the interest of the king- dom to engage itself in a war upon any foreign account : that it might one day be for the interest of the nation to join against them, in order to preserve the balance of Europe, the establishing of which had already cost England such immense sums of money. He insisted upon the absurdity of concluding such a number of inconsistent treaties ; and concluded \vith saying, that if affairs abroad were now happily established, the ministry which conducted them might be compared to a 1731. GEORGE II. 201 pilot, who, though there was a clear, safe, and straight channel into port, yet took it in his head to carry the ship a great way about, through sands, rocks, and shallows ; who, after having lost a great number of seamen, destroyed a great deal of tackle and rigging, and subjected the owners to an enormous expence, at last by chance hits the port, and triumphs in his good conduct. Sir William Wyndham spoke to the same purpose. Mr. Oglethorpe, a gentleman of unblemished character, brave, generous, and humane, affirmed that many other things related more nearly to the honour and interest of the nation than did the guarantee of the pragmatic sanction. He said he wished to have heard that the new works at Dun- kirk had been entirely rased and destroyed : that the nation had received full and complete satis- faction for the depredations committed by the natives of Spain : that more care was taken in disciplining the militia, on whose valour the na- tion must chiefly depend in case of invasion ; and that some regard had been shown to the oppressed protestants in Germany. He expressed his satis- faction to find that the English were not so closely united to France as formerly ; for he had generally observed, that when two dogs were in a leash to- gether, the stronger generally ran away with the weaker ; and this he was afraid had been the case between France and Great Britain. The motion was vigorously defended by Mr. Pelham, pay- master of the forces, and brother to the duke of 202 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1731. Newcastle, a man whose greatest fault was his heing concerned in supporting the measure of a corrupt ministry. In other respects he was liberal, candid, benevolent, and even attached to the interest of his country, though egregiously mistaken in his notions of government. On this occasion he asserted that it was no way inconsist- ent with the honour or dignity of that house to thank his majesty in the most particular terms for every thing he had been pleased to communicate in his speech from the throne : that no expressions of approbation in the address could be any way made use of to prevent an inquiry into the mea- sures which had been pursued, when the treaties should be laid before the house. He said, at the opening of a session the eyes of all Europe were turned towards Great Britain, and from the par- liament's first resolves all the neighbouring pow- ers judged of the unanimity that would ensue be- tween his majesty and the representatives of his people : that their appearing jealous or diffident of his majesty's conduct would weaken his influence upon the councils of foreign states and potentates, and perhaps put it out of his power to rectify any false step that might have been made by his mini- sters. His arguments were reinforced by a long sj)eech from Mr. H. Walpole, The question was put, the motion carried, and the address presented. 1731. GEORGE II. 203 DEBATE ON A STANDING ARMY. The next subject of debate was the number of land-forces. When the supply fell under consi- deration, sir W. Strickland, secretary at war, moved that the same number Avhich had been maintained in the preceding year should be con- tinued in pay. On the other hand, lord Morpeth, having demonstrated the danger to which the liberties of the nation might be exposed, by main- taining a numerous standing army in time of peace, made a motion that the number should be re- duced to twelve thousand. A warm debate en- suing, was managed in favour of the first motion by lord Hervey, sir Robert Walpole, and his bro- ther, Mr. Pelham, and sir Philip Yorke, attorney- general. This gentleman was counted a better lawyer than a politician, and shone more as an advocate at the bar than as an orator in the house of commons. The last partisan of the ministry was sir William Yonge, one of the lords com- missioners in the treasury ; a man who rendered himself serviceable and necessary, by stooping to all compliances, running upon every scent and haranguing on every subject with an even, un- interrupted, tedious flow of dull declamation, com- posed of assertions without veracity, conclusions from false premises, words without meaning, and language without propriety. Lord Morpeth's mo- tion was espoused by Mr. Watkin Williams Wynne, 204 HISTOFxY OF ENGLAND, 1731. a gentleman of an ancient family and opulent fortune in Wales, brave, open, hospitable, and warmly attached to the ancient constitution and hierarchy : he was supported by Mr. Walter Plu- mer, who spoke with weight, precision, and se- verity, by sir W. Wyndham, Mr. Shippen, Mr. W. Pulteney, and Mr. Barnard. The courtiers argued that it was necessary to maintain such a number of land-forces as might defeat the designs of malcontents, secure the interior tranquillity of the kingdom, defend it from external assaults, over- awe its neighbours, and enable it to take vigorous measures in case the peace of Europe should be re-embroiled. They affirmed, the science^of war was so much altered, and required so much at- tention, that no dependance was to be placed upon a miHtia : that all nations were obliged to maintain standing armies, for their security against the encroachments of neighbouring powers : that the number of troops in Great Britain was too in- considerable to excite the jealousy of the people, even under an ambitious monarch : that his ma- jesty never entertained the least thought of in- fringing the liberties of his subjects : that it could not be supposed that the officers, among whom were many gentlemen of family and fortune, would ever concur in a design to enslave their country ; and that the forces now in pay could not be properly deemed a standing army, inasmuch as they were voted and maintained from year to year by the parliament, which was the represent- 1731. GEORGE II. 305 ative of the people. To these arguments the members in the opposition rephed, that a stand- ing force in time of peace was unconstitutional, . and had been always thought dangerous; that a militia was as capable of discipline as a standing- army, and would have more incentives to courage and perseverance : that the civil magistrate was able to preserve the peace of the country : that the number of the malcontents was altogether con- temptible, though it might be considerably aug- mented by maintaining a standing army, and other such arbitrary measures : that other nations had been enslaved by standing armies ; and how- soever they might find themselves necessitated to depend upon a military force for security against encroaching neighbours, the case was very differ- ent with regard to Great Britain, for the defence of which nature had provided in a peculiar man- ner : that this provision was strengthened and im- proved by a numerous navy, which secured her dominion of the sea; and, if properly disposed, would render all invasion impracticable, or at least ineffectual ; that the land-army of Great Britain, though sufficient to endanger the liber- ties of an unarmed people, could not possibly secure such an extent of coast, and therefore could be of very little service in preventing an invasion: that though they had all imaginable confidence in his majesty's regard to the liberty of his subjects, they could not help apprehending, that should a standing army become part of the 206 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1731. constitution, another prince of more dangerous talents, and more fatal designs, might arise, and employ it for the worst purposes of ambition : that though many officers were gentlemen of honour and probity, these might be easily discarded, and the army gradually moulded into a quite differ- ent temper. By these means, practised in former times, an army had been new modelled to such a degree, that they turned their swords against the parliament, for whose defence they had been raised, and destroyed the constitution both in church and state : that with respect to its being wholly dependent on the parliament, the people of England would have reason to complain of the same hardship, whether a standing army should be declared at once indispensible, or regularly voted from year to year, according to the direction of the ministry : that the sanction of the legislature granted to measures which in themselves are un- constitutional, burthensome, odious, and repug- nant to the genius of the nation, instead of yield- ing consolation, would serve only to demonstrate, that the most effisctual method of forjrino; the chains of national slavery would be that of minis- terial influence operating upon a venal parliament. Such were the reasons uro-ed ac:ainst a standina: army, of what number soever it might be com- posed : but the expediency of reducing the num- ber from about eighteen thousand to twelve thou- sand, was insisted upon as the natural consequence of his majesty's declaration, by which they were j;3l. GEORGE II. 207 given to understand that the peace of Europe was established ; and that he had nothing so much at heart as the ease and prosperity of his people. It vv^as suggested, that if eighteen thousand men were sufficient on the supposed eve of a general war in Europe, it was surely reasonable to think that a less number would suffice when peace was per- fectly re-established. Whatever effect these rea- sons had upon the body of the nation, they made no converts in the house, where the majority re- solved that the standing army should be main- tained without reduction. Mr, Plumer complain- ed, that the country was oppressed by an arbitrary method of quartering soldiers, in an undue pro- portion, upon those publicans who refused to vote in elections according to the direction of the mi- nistry. IVlr. Pulteney asserted, that the money raised for the subsistence of eighteen thousand men in England would maintain sixty thousand French or Germans, or the same number of almost any other people on the continent. Sir William Wyndham declared, that eighteen thousand of the English troops in the late war were maintained on less than two-thirds of the sum demanded for the like iiumber : but no regard was paid to these allegations. I 208 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1731. ACCOUNT OF THE CHARITABLE CORPORATION. The next object of importance that attracted the notice of the house, was the state of the charita- ble corporation. This company was first erected in the year one thousand seven hundred and seven. Their professed intention was to lend money at legal interest to the poor, upon small pledges ; and to persons of better rank upon an indubitable security of goods impawned. Their capital was at first hmited to thirty thousand pounds ; but, by licences from the crown, they increased it to six hundred thousand pounds, though their charter was never confirmed by act of parliament. In the month of October, George Robinson, esquire, member for Marlow, the ca- shier, and John Thompson, warehouse- keeper of the corporation, disappeared in one day. The proprietors, alarmed at this incident, held several general courts, and appointed a committee to in- spect the state of their affairs. They reported, that for a capital of above five hundred thousand pounds no equivalent was found ; inasmuch n^ their effects did not amount to the value of thirty thousand, the remainder having been embezzled by means which they could not discover. The proprietors, in a petition to the house of com- mons, represented that by the most notorious breach of trust in several persons to whom the 1731. GEORGE ir. 20() care and management of their affairs were com- mitted, the corporation had heen defrauded of the greatest part of their capital ; and that many of the petitioners were reduced to the utmost degree of miser}^ and distress; they, therefore, prayed, that as they were unable to detect the coml)inations of those who had ruined them, or to bring the dehnquents to justice, without the aid of the power and authority of parliament, the house would vouchsafe to inquire into the state of the corporation, and the conduct of their ma- nagers ; and give such relief to the petitioners as to the house should seem meet. The petition was graciously received, and a secret committee ap- pointed to proceed on the inquiry. They soon discovered a most iniquitous scene of fraud, Avhich had been acted by Robinson and Thomp- son, in concert with some of the directors, for embezzling the capital, and cheating the pro- prietors. Many persons of rank and quality were concerned in this infamous conspiracy : some of the first characters in the nation did not escape suspicion and censure. Sir Robert Sutton and sir Archibald Grant were expelled the house of commons, as having had a considerable share in those fraudulent practices: a bill was brought in to restrain them and other delinquents from leav- ino' the kini>'dom, or alienating their effects. In the mean time, the committee received a letter from signor John Angelo Belloni, an eminent banker at Rome, giving them to understand, that VOL, III. r 210 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1731. Thompson was secured in that city, with all his papers, and confined to tlie castle of St. Angelo ; and that the papers were transmitted to his cor- respondent at Paris, who would deliver them up, on certain conditions stipulated in favour of the prisoner. This letter was considered as an artifice to insinuate a favourable opinion of the pretender, as if he had taken measures for securing Thomp- son, from his zeal for justice, and affection for the English people. On this supposition, the proposals were rejected with disdain; and both houses concurred in an order that the letter should be burned at the Royal Exchange, by the hands of the common hangman. The lower house resolved, that it was an insolent and audacious libel, absurd and contradictory ; that the whole transaction was a scandalous artifice, calculated to delude the unhappy, and to disguise and con- ceal the wicked practices of the professed enemies to his majesty's person, crown, and dignity. REVIVAL OF THE SALT-TAX. No motion, during this session, produced such a warm contest as did that of sir Robert Walpole, when, after a long preamble, he proposed that the duties on salt, which about two years before had been abolished, should now be revived, and granted to his majesty, his heirs and successors, for the term of three years. In order to sweeten i;.3l. GEORGE II. 211 tliis proposal, he declared that the land-tax for the ensuing year should be reduced to one shil- ling in the pound. All the members of the coun- try party were immediately in commotion. They expressed their surprize at the grossness of the imposition. They observed, that two years had scarce elapsed since the king, in a speech from the throne, had exhorted them to abolish some of the taxes that were the most burthensome to the poor: the house was then of opinion, that the tax upon salt was the most burthensome, and the most pernicious to the trade of the kingdom, of all the impositions to which the poor were subjected, and therefore it was taken off: but that no good reason could be produced for altering their opi- nion so suddenly, and resolving to grind the faces of the poor, in order to ease a few rich men of the landed interest. They affirmed, that the most general taxes are not always the least burthen- some : that after a nation is obliged to extend their taxes farther than the luxuries of their coun- try, those taxes that can be raised with the least charge to the public are the most convenient and easiest to the people : but they ought carefully to avoid taxing those things which are necessary for the subsistence of the poor. The price of all ne- cessaries being thus enhanced, the wages of the tradesman and manufacturer must be increased ; and where these are high the manufacturers will be undersold by those of cheaper countries. The trade must of consequence be ruined ; and it is 2 212 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1731. not to be supposed that the landed gentleman would choose to save a shilling in the pound from the land-tax, by means of an expedient that would ruin the manufactures of his country, and decrease the value of his own fortune. They alledged that the salt-tax particularly affected the poor, who could not afford to eat fresh provisions; and that, as it formerly occasioned murmurs and discontents among the lower class of people, the revival of it would, in all probability, exasperate them into open sedition. They observed, that Avhile it was exacted in England, a great number of merchants sent their ships to Ireland, to be victualled for their respective voyages; that since it had been abolished, many experiments had been successfully tried with salt for the improvement of agriculture, which would be entirely defeated by the revival of this imposition. They suggested that the land-tax was raised at a very small expence, and subject to no fraud, whereas that upon salt would employ a great number of ad- ditional officers in the revenue, wholly depending upon the ministry, whose influence in elections they would proportionably increase. They even hinted, that this consideration was one powerful motive for proposing the revival of an odious tax, which was in effect an excise, and would be deemed a step towards a general excise upon all sorts of provisions. Finally, they demonstrated that the salt-tax introduced numberless frauds and peijuries in different articles of trallfic. Sir j;31. GEORGE II. 213 Robert Walpole endeavoured to obviate all these objections in a long speech, which was minutely answered and refuted in every article by Mr. Pulteney. Nevertheless, the question being put, the minister's motion was carried in the affirma- tive, and the duty revived : yet, before the bill passed, divers motions were made, and additional clauses proposed by the members in the opposi- tion. New debates were raised on every new ob- jection, and the courtiers were obliged to dis^ pute their ground by inches. MR. PULTENEY'S NAME STRUCK OUT OF THE LIST OF PRIVY-COUNSELLORS. The pension-bill was revived, and for the third time rejected in the house of lords. A bill for the encouragement of the sugar colonies passed through the lower house with great difficulty, but was lost among the peers : another, for the better securing the freedom of parliaments, by further qualifying members to sit in the house of com- mons, was read the third time, and tinown out upon the question. A committee had been ap- pointed to inquire into a sale of the estate which had belono-ed to the late earl of Der went water. It appeared by the report, that the sale had been fraudulent : a bill was prepared to make it void : Dennis Bond, esquire, and serjeant Birch, com- missioners for the sale of the forfeited estates, Avere 214 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1731. I declared guilty of notorious breach of trust, and expelled the house, of which they were members: George Robinson, esquire, underwent the same sentence, on account of the part he acted in the charitable corporation, as he and Thompson had neglected to surrender themselves, according to the terms of a bill which had passed for that pur- pose. During this session, five members of parlia- ment were expelled for the most sordid acts of knavery; a sure sign of national degeneracy and dishonour. All the supplies were granted, and among other articles, the sum of two-and-twenty thousand six hundred ninety-four pounds, seven shiUings, and sixpence, for the agio or difference of the subsidies payable to the crown of Denmark, in pursuance of the treaty subsisting between the late king and that monarch : but this was not ob- tained without a violent dispute. Mr. Pulteney, who bore a considerable share in all these debates, became in a little time so remarkable as to be thought worthy of a very particular mark of his majesty's displeasure. The king, on the first day of July, called for the council-book, and with his own hand struck the name of William Pulteney, esquire, out of the list of privy-counsellors : his majesty further ordered him to be put out of all the commissions of the peace. The several lord- lieutenants, from whom he had received deputa- tions, were commanded to revoke them; and the lord-chancellor and secretaries of state were direct-; ed to give the necessary orders for that purpose. 1731. GEORGE II. 215 THE KING SETS OUT FOR HANOVER. Nor did the house of peers tamely and unani- mously submit to the measures of the ministry. The pension-bill being read, was again rejected, and a protest entered. A debate arose about the number of standing forces ; and the earl of Ches- terfield argued for the court motion. The earl of Oxford moved that they might be reduced to twelve thousand effective men. The earl of Win- chelsea observed, that a standing army rendered ministers of state more daring than otherwise they would be, in contriving and executing pro- jects that were grievous to the people : schemes that never could enter into the heads of any but those who were drunk with excess of power. The marquis of Tweedalc, in reasoning against such a number as the ministry proposed, took occasion to observe, that not one shilling of the forfeited estates was ever applied to the use of the public : he likewise took notice, that the eighteen thou- sand men, demanded as a standing force, were modelled in such a manner, that they might be speedily augmented to forty thousand men on any emergency. The duke of Argyle endeavoured to demonstrate the danger of depending for the safety of the kingdom upon an undisciplined mi- htia, a fleet, or an army of auxiliaries. Then he represented the necessity of having recourse to a regular army in case of invasion , and after all, 2l6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1732. acknowledged, that the number proposed was no way sufficient for that purpose. All his arguments were answered and refuted in an excellent speech by lord Carteret : nevertheless, victory declared for the minister. The parliament having granted every branch of the supply, towards the payment of which they borrowed a sum from the sinking- fund, and passed divers other acts for the encou- ragement of commerce and agriculture, the king, on the first day of June, gave the royal assent to the bills that were prepared, and closed the session, after having informed both houses that the states- general had acceded to the treaty of Vienna; that he had determined to visit his German dominions, and to leave the queen regent in his absence. He accordingly set out for Hanover in the beginning of June. By this time the pragmatic sanction was confirmed by the diet of the empire, though not without a formal protest by the electors Pala- tine, Bavaria, and Saxony. (George tlje ^econti. Richard Smith, a bookbinder, and prisoner for debt within the hberties of the King's Bench, persuaded his wife to follow his example in making away with herself after they had murdered their little infant. This wretched pair were, in the month of April, found hanging in tlieir bed chamber, at about a yard distance from each other. i;32. GEORGE II. 217 CHAPTER IV. Remarkable instance of Suicide .... Affairs of the Continent"..,. Meeting of the Parhament .... Address to the King touching the Spanish Depredations .... The Excise Scheme proposed by Sir Robert Walpole .... Opposition to the Scheme .... Bill for a Dower to the Princess Royal .... Debate in the House of Lords concerning the Estates of the late Directors of the South- Sea Company Double Election of a King in Poland .... The Kings of France, Spain, and Sardinia join against the Em- peror .... The Prince of Orange arrives in England .... Alter- cation in the House of Commons .... Debate about the Re- moval of the Duke of Bolton and Lord Viscount Cobham from tlieir respective Regiments .... Motion for the Repeal of the Septennial Act .... Conclusion of a remarkable Speech by Sir W. Wyndham .... Message from the King for Powers to aug- ment the Forces in the Intervals between the two Parliaments .... Opposition in the House of Peers, Parliament dis- solved .... Dantzick besieged by the Russians .... Philips- burgh taken by the French. Don Carlos takes Possession of Naples .... Battle of Parma .... The Imperialists are again worsted at Gustalla. An Edict in France compelling the British Subjects in that Kingdom to inlist in the French Army .... New Parliament in Great Britain .... Debate on a Sub- sidy to Denmark .... Petition of some Scottish Noblemen to the House of Peers .... Bill explaining an Act of the Scot- tish Parliament touching wronguous Imprisonment .... Mis- understanding between the Courts of Spain and Portugal. Sir John Norris sails with a strong Squadron to Lisbon .... Prehminaries signed by tlie Emperor and the King of France .... Proceedings in Parliament .... Bill for preventing the Retail of Spirituous Liquors. Another for the Relief of Quakers in the Article of Titlies .... Mortmain Act .... Remai kable 218 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1732. Riot at Edinburgh .... Rupture between the Czarina and the Ottoman Porte The Session of Parliament opened by Com- mission Motion in both Houses for a Settlement on the Prince of Wales .... Fierce Debate on this Subject .... Scheme by Sir John Barnard for reducing the Interest of the National Debt .... Bill against tlie City of Edinburgh .... Play-house Bill. REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF SUICIDE. The most remarkable incident that distinguish- ed this year in England was a very uncommon instance of suicide; an act of despair so frequent among the English, that in other countries it is objected to them as a national reproach. Though it may be generally termed the effect of lunacy proceeding from natural causes operating on the human body, in some few instances it seems to have been the result of cool deliberation. Richard Smith, a bookbinder, and prisoner for debt within the liberties of the King's-bench, persuaded his wife to follow his example in making away with herself, after they had murdered their httle in- fant. This wretched pair were in the month of April found hanging in their bed-chamber, at about a yard's distance from each other ; and in a separate apartment the child lay dead in a cradle. They left two papers enclosed in a short letter to their landlord, whose kindness they implored in favour of their dog and cat. They even left mo- ney to pay the porter who should carry the en- j;32. GEORGE II. 219 closed papers to the person for whom they were addressed. In one of these the husband thanked that person for the marks of friendship he had received at his hands ; and complained of the ill offices he had undergone from a different quarter. The other paper, subscribed by the husband and wife, contained the reasons which induced them to act such a tragedy on themselves and their offspring. This letter was altogether surprizing for the calm resolution, the good humour, and the propriety with which it was written. They declared, that they withdrew themselves from poverty and rags; evils that, through a train of unlucky accidents, were become inevitable. They appealed to their neighbours for the industry with which they had endeavoured to earn a livelihood. They justified the murder of their child, by say- ing, it was less cruelty to take her with them, than to leave her friendless in the world, exposed to ignorance and misery. They professed their be- lief and confidence in an Almighty God, the fountain of goodness and beneficence, who could not possibly take delight in the misery of his creatures : they, therefore, resigned up their lives to him without any terrible apprehensions; sub- mitting themselves to those ways which, in his goodness, he should appoint after death. These unfortunate suicides had been always industrious and frugal, invincibly honest, and remarkable for conjugal aftection. 220 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. AFFAIRS OF THE CONTINENT. Trustees having been appointed by charter to superintend a new settlement in Georgia, situated to the southward of Carohna in America, Mr. Oglethorpe, as general, and governor of the pro- vince, embarked at Gravesend, with a number of poor families, to plant that colony. The king of Spain having equipped a very powerful armament, the fleet sailed on the fourth day of June from the road of Alicant, under the command of the count de Montemar, and arrived on the coast of Barbary in the neio-hbourhood of Oran, where a considera^ ble body of troops was landed without much op- position. Next day, however, they were attack- ed by a numerous army of Moors, over whom they obtained a complete victory. The bey or governor of Oran immediately retired with his garrison, and the Spaniards took possession of the place, from which they had been driven in the year one thousand seven hundred and eight. The strong fort of Mazalaquivir was likewise surren- dered to the victors at the first summons ; so that this expedition answered all the views with which it had been projected. Victor Amadous, the ab- dicated king of Sardinia, having, at the instigation of his wife, engaged in some intrigues, in order to reascend the throne, his son, the reigning king, ordered his person to be seized at Montcalier, and conveyed to Rivoli, under a strong escort. His 1?32. GEORGE II. 221 wife, the marchioness de Spigno, was conducted to Seva. The old king's confessor, his physician, and eight-and-forty persons of distinction were imprisoned. The citadel of Turin was secured with a strong garrison ; and new instructions were given to the governor and senate of Chamberri. The dispute which had long subsisted between the king of Prussia and the young prince of Orange, touching the succession to the estates possessed by king William III. as head of the house of Orange, was at last accommodated by a formal treaty signed at Berlin and Dierin. ( The Dutch were greatly alarmed about this time with an apprehension of being overwhelmed by an in- undation, occasioned by worms, which were said ^ to have consumed the piles and timber-work that supported their dykes. They prayed and fasted with uncommon zeal, in terror of this calamity, which they did not know how to avert in any other manner. At length they were delivered from their fears by a hard frost, which effectually destroyed those dangerous animals.^ About this time, Mr. Dieden, plenipotentiary from the elector of Hanover, received, in the name of his master, the investiture of Bremen and Verden from the hands of the emperor. 222 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1/32. MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENT. The history of England at this period cannot he very interesting, as it chiefly consists in an an- nual revolution of debates in parliament. De- bates, in which the same arguments perpetually recur on the same subjects. When the session was opened on the sixteenth day of January, the king declared, that the situation of affairs both at home and abroad rendered it unnecessary for him to lay before the two houses any other reasons for calling them together, but the ordinary dispatch of the public business, and his desire of receiving their advice in such affairs as should require the care and consideration of parliament. The mo- tion made in the house of commons for an address of thanks implied, that they should express their satisfaction at the present situation of affairs both at home and abroad. The motion was carried, notwithstanding the opposition of those who ob- served, that the nation had very little reason to be pleased with the present posture of affairs ; that the French were employed in fortifying and re- storing the harbour of Dunkirk, contrary to the faith of the most solemn treaties ; that the British merchants had received no redress for the depre- dations committed by the Spaniards ; that the commerce of England daily decreased : that no sort of trade throve but the traffic of 'Change- alley, where the most abominable frauds Avere i;32. GEORGE 11. 223 practised ; and that every session of parliament opened a new scene of villany and imposition. ADDRESS TO THE KING TOUCHING THE SPANISH DEPREDATIONS. The pension-bill was once more revived, and lost again in the house of peers. All the reasons formerly advanced against a standing army were now repeated ; and a reduction of the number in- sisted upon with such warmth, that the ministerial party were obliged to have recourse to the old phantom of the pretender. Sir Archer Croft said a continuation of the same number of forces was the more necessary, because, to his knowledge, popery was increasing very fast in the country ; for, in one parish which he knew, there were seven popish priests ; and that the danger from the pre- tender was the more to be feared, because they did not know but he was then breeding his son a protestant. Sir Robert Walpole observed, that a reduction of the army was the chief thing wished for and desired by all the Jacobites in the king- dom : that no rei^uction had ever been made but what gave fresii hopes to that party, and encour- aged them to raise tumults against the govern- ment; and he did not doubt but that, if they should resolve to reduce any part of the army, there would be post-horses employed that very night to carry the good news beyond sea to the 324 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1732. pretender. His brother Horatio added, that tlie iiumber of troops then proposed was absolutely necessary to isupport his majesty's government, and would be necessary as long as the nation en- joyed the happiness of having the present illus- trious family on the throne. The futility, the self-contradiction, and the ridiculous absurdity of these suggestions were properly exposed : never- theless, the army was voted without any reduc- tion. Sir Wilfred Lawson having made a motion for an address to the king, to know what satis- faction had been made by Spain for the depreda- tions committed on the British merchants, it was after a violent debate approved, and the address presented. The king in answer to this remon- strance gave them to understand, that the meet- ins: of the commissaries of the two crowns had been so long delayed by unforeseen accidents, that the conferences were not opened till the lat- ter end of the preceding February : and that as the courts of London and Madrid had agreed that the term of three years stipulated for finishing the commission should be computed from their first meeting, a perfect account of their proceed- ings could not as yet be laid before the house of commons. A bill had been long depending for granting encouragement to the sugar-colonies in the West-Indies; but, as it was founded upon a prohibition that would have put a stop to all com- merce between the French islands and the British settlements in North- America, it met with a very 1/32. GEORGE II. 225 warm opposition from those who had the pro- sperity of those northern colonies at heart. But the bill being patronised and supported by the court interest, surmounted all ol)jections ; and afterwards passed into a law. While the com- mons deliberated upon the supply, sir Robert Wal- pole moved, that five hundred thousand pounds should be issued out of the sinking fund for the service of the ensuing year. Sir William W^ynd- ham, Mr. Pultene}^ and sir John Barnard, ex- patiated upon the iniquity of pillaging a sacred deposit, solemnly appropriated to the discharge of the national debt. They might have demonstrat- ed the egregious folly of a measure, by which the public, for a little temporary ease, lost the ad- vantage of the accumulating interest which would have arisen from the sinking-fund if properly managed and reserved. All objections vanished before the powers of ministerial influence, which nothing now could check but the immediate dan- ger of popular commotion. Such hazardous in- terposition actually defeated a scheme which had been adopted by the minister, and even before its appearance alarmed all the trading part of the nation. VOL. III. Q 226 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1/32. THE EXCISE SCHEME PROPOSED BY SIR ROBERT WALPOLE. The house having resolved itself into a commit- tee, to deliberate upon the most proper methods for the better security and improvement of the duties and revenues charged upon tobacco and wines, all the papers relating to these duties were submitted to the perusal of the members : the commissioners of the customs and excise were ordered to attend the house, the avenues of which were crowded with multitudes of people ; and the members in the opposition waited impatiently for a proposal, in which they thought the liberties of their country so deeply interested. In a word, there had been a call of the house on the preced- ing day. The session was frequent and full ; and both sides appeared ready and eager for the con- test when sir Robert Walpole broached his design. He took notice of the arts which had been used to prejudice the people against his plan before it was known. He affirmed that the clamours oc- casioned b}^ these prejudices had originally risen from smugglers and fraudulent dealers, who had enriched themselves by cheating the public ; and that these had been strenuously assisted and sup- ported by another set of men, fond of every op- portunity to stir up the people of Great Britain to mutiny and sedition. He expatiated on the frauds that were committed in that branch of the i;32. GEORGE ir. 227 revenue arising from the duties on tobacco ; upon tlie liardships to which the American planters were subjected by tlie heavy duties payable on importa- tion, as well as by the ill usage they had met with from their factors and correspondents in England, who, from being their servants were now become their masters; upon the injury done to the fair trader; and the loss sustained by the public with respect to the revenue. He asserted that the scheme he was about to propose would remove all these inconveniences, prevent numberless frauds, perjuries, and false entries, and add two or three hundred thousand pounds per annum to the public revenue. He entered into a long detail of frauds practised by the knavish dealers in those- commo- dities : he recited the several acts of parliaments that related to the duties on wine and tobacco : he declared he had no intention to promote a general excise : he endeavoured to obviate some objections that might be made to his plan, the nature of which he at length explained. He pro- posed to join the laws of excise to those of the customs : that the further subsidy of three far- things per pound charged upon imported tobacco should be still levied at the custom-house, and payable to his majesty's civil-list as heretofore : that then the tobacco should be lodged in ware- liouses, to be appointed for that purpose by the commissioners of the excise : that the keeper of each warehouse, appointed likewise by the com- missioners, should have one lock and key, and the 2 228 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1732. merchant-importer have another: and that the tobacco shoLikl be thus secured until the merchant should find vent for it, either by exportation or home consumption : that the part designed for exportation should be weighed at the custom house, discharged of the three farthings per pound which had been paid at its first importation, and then exported Av^ithout farther trouble ; that the portion destined for home consumption should, in presence of the warehouse-keeper, be delivered to the purchaser, upon his paying the inland duty of four-pence per pound weight, to the proper officer appointed to receive it ; by Avhich means the mer- chant would be eased of the inconvenience of paying the duty upon importation, or of granting bonds and finding sureties for the payment, before he had found a market for the commodity ; that all penalties and forfeitures, so far as they formerly belonged to the crown, should for the future be applied to the use of the public : that appeals in this, as well as in all other cases relating to the excise, should be heard and determined by two or three of the judges, to be named by his ma- jest}' ; and in the country, by the judge of assize upon the next circuit, who should hear and deter- mine such appeals in the most summary manner, without the formality of proceedings in courts of law or equity. Such was the substance of the famous excise scheme, in favour of which sir Robert Walpole moved, that the duties and subsidies on tobacco 1/32. GEORGE II. 2'J9 should from and after tlie twenty- fourth day of June cease and determine. The debate wliicli ensued was managed and maintained by all the able speakers on both sides of the question. Sir Robert Walpole was answered by Mr. Perry, mem- ber for the city of London. Sir Paul Methuen joined in the opposition. Sir John Barnard, an- other representative of London, distinguished himself in the same cause. He was supported by Mr. Pulteney, sir William Wyndham, and other patriots. The scheme was espoused by sir Philip Yorke, appointed lord-chief-justice of theKing's- bench, and ennobled in the course of the ensuing year. Sir Joseph Jekyll approved of the project, which was likewise strenuously defended by lord Hervey, sir Thomas Robinson, sir William Yonge, Mr. Pelham, and Mr. Winnington, which last excelled all his contemporaries of the ministry in talents and address. Those who aro'ued ao-ainst the scheme accused the minister of bavin"- misre- presented the frauds, and made false calculations. With respect to the supposed hardships under which the planters were said to labour, they affirmed that no planter had ever dreamed of com- plaining, until instigated by letters and applica- tions from London : that this scheme, far from reheving the planters, M^ould expose the factors to such grievous oppression, that they would not be able to continue the trade, consequently the planters would be entirely ruined; and, after all, it would not prevent those frauds against wjiich it 230 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1732. was said to be provided : that from the examina- tion of the commissioners of the customs, it ap- peared that tliose frauds did not exceed forty thousand pounds per annum, and might in a great measure be abolished, by a due execution of the laws in being ; consequently this scheme was un- necessary, would be ineffectual in augmenting the revenue, destructive to trade, and dangerous to the liberties of the subject, as it tended to pro- mote a general excise, which was in all countries considered as a grievous oppression. They sug- gested that it would produce an additional swarm of excise-officers and warehouse-keepers, appoint- ed and paid by the treasury, so as to multiply the dependents on the crown, and enable it still fur- ther to influence the freedom of elections : that the traders would become slaves to excisemen and warehouse-keepers, as they would be debarred all access to their commodities, except at certain hours, when attended by those officers : that the merchant, for every quantity of tobacco he could sell, wotdd be obliged to make a journey, or send a messenger to the office for a permit, which could not be obtained without trouble, expence, and delay : and that should a law be enacted in con- sequence of this motion, it woidd in all probabi- lity be some time or other used as a precedent for introducing excise laws into every branch of the revenue ; in which case the liberty of Great Bri- tain would be no more. In the course of this de- bate, sir Robert Walpole took notice of the mul- 1733. GEORGE II. 231 titudes which had beset all the approaches to the house. He said it woidd be an easy task for a designing seditious person to raise a tumult and disorder among them : that gentlemen might give them what name they should think fit, and affirm they were come as humble suppliants ; but he knew whom the law called sturdy beggars : and those who brought them to that place could not be certain but that they might behave in the same manner. This insinuation was resented by sir Jolni Barnard, who observed that merchants of character had a right to come down to the court of requests, and lobb}' of the house of commons, in order to solicit their friends and acquaintance against any scheme or project which they might think prejudicial to their commerce : that when he came into the house, he saw none but such as deserved the appellation of sturdy beggars as little as the honourable gentleman himself, or any gen- tleman whatever. After a warm dispute the mo- tion was carried by a majority of sixty-one voices. Several resolutions were founded on the proposal : and to these the house agreed, though not without another violent contest. The resolutions produced a bill, against which petitions were preferred by the lord-mayor, aldermen, and common-council of London, the city of Coventry and Nottingham. A motion was made that counsel should be heard for the city of London ; but it was rejected by the majority, and the petitions were ordered to lie upon the table. Had the minister encountered 232 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. no opposition but tliat which appeared within doors, his project would have certainly been car- ried into execution : but the whole nation was alarmed, and clamoured loudly against the excise- bill. The populace still crowded around West- minster-hall, blocking up all the avenues to the house of commons. They even insulted the per- sons of those members who had voted for the ministry on this occasion ; and sir Robert Wal- pole began to be in fear of his life. He, there- fore, thought proper to drop the design, by mov- ing that the second reading of the bill might be postponed till the twelfth day of June. Then, complaint being made of the insolence of the populace, who had maltreated several members, divers resolutions were taken against those tu- multuous crowds, and their abettors; these re- solves were communicated to the lord-mayor of London, the sheriff of Middlesex, and the high- bailiff of Westminster. Some individuals were apprehended in the court of requests, as having fomented the disturbances; but they were soon released. The miscarriage of the bill was cele- brated with public rejoicings in London and West- minster ; and the minister was burned in effigy by the populace. After the miscarriage of the excise scheme, the house unanimously resolved to inquire into the frauds and abuses in the customs ; and a committee of twenty-one persons was chosen by ballot for this purpose. 1733. GEORGE II. 233 BILL FOR A DOWER TO THE PRINCESS ROYAL. The subsequent debates of this session were oc- casioned by a bill to prev^ent the infamous practice of stock-jobbing, which with great difficulty made its way to the house of lords, who proposed some amendments, in consequence of which it was laid aside ; and succeeded by another bill establishing a lottery, to raise five hundred thousand pounds for the relief of those who had suffered by the charitable corporation. After having undergone some alterations it passed through both houses, and obtained the royal assent. The king, by message to parliament, had signified his intention to give the princess royal in marriage to the prince of Orange, promising himself their concurrence and assistance, that he might be enabled to be- stow such a portion with his eldest daughter as should be suitable to the occasion. The com- mons immediately resolved, that out of the mo- nies arising from the sale of lands in the island of* St. Christopher's, his majesty should be empower- ed to apply fourscore thousand pounds, as a mar- riage dower for his daughter; and a clause for this purpose was inserted in the bill, for enabling his majesty to apply five hundred thousand pounds out of the sinking-fund for the service of the cur- rent year. The opposition in the house of lords was still 23i HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. more animated, though ineffectual. The debates chiefly turned upon the pension-bill, the number of land forces, and a motion made by lord Ba- th urst for an account of the produce of the for- feited estates which had belonged to the directors of the South-Sea company. The trustees for these estates had charged themselves with a great sum of money, and the lords in the opposition thought they had a right to know how it had been dispos- ed. The ministry had reasons to stifle this in- quiry ; and, therefore, opposed it Avith all their vigour. Nevertheless, the motion was carried, after a warm dispute, and the directors of the South- Sea company were ordered to lay the ac- counts before the house. From this, it appeared that the large sums of money arising from the for- feited estates had been distributed among the pro- prietors, by way of dividend, even before recourse was had to parliament for directions in what man- ner that produce should be applied : lord Ba- thurst, therefore, moved for a resolution of the house, that the disposal of this money, by way of dividend, without any order or direction of a ge- neral court for that purpose, was a violation of the act of parliament made for the disposal thereof, and a manifest injustice done to the proprietors of that stock. The duke of Newcastle, in order to gain time, moved, that as the account was con- fused, and almost unintelligible, the present di- rectors of the company might be ordered to lay before the house a further and more distinct ac- 1733. GEORGE II. 235 count of the manner in which the money had been disposed. A violent contest ensued, in the course of which tlie house divided, and of fifty-seven peers who voted for the delay, forty-six were such as enjoyed preferment in the church, commissions in the army, or civil employments under the go- vernment. At lengtli lord Bathurst waved his motion for that time : then the house ordered that the present and former directors of the South-Sea company, together with the late inspectors of their accounts, should attend and be examined. They were accordingly interrogated, and gave so little satisfaction, that lord Bathurst moved for a committee of inquiry ; but the question being put, was carried in the negative : yet a very strong protest was entered by the lords in the opposition. The next subject of altercation was the bill for misapplying part of the produce of the sinking- fund. It was attacked with all the force of argu- ment, wit, and declamation, by the earl of Straf- ford, lords Bathurst and Carteret, and particularly by the earl of Chesterlield, who had by this time resigned his stafl' of lord-steward of the house- hold, and renounced all connection with the nii- nistry. Lord Bathurst moved for a resolution, importing that, in the opinion of the house, the sinking-fund ought for the future to be applied,. in time of peace and public tranquillity, to the redemption of those taxes wliich were most pre- judicial to the trade, most burthensome on the manufactures, and most opi)pressive on the poor 236 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. of the nation. This motion was over-ruled, and the bill adopted by the majority. On the eleventh day of June, the king gave the royal assent to the bills that were prepared, and closed the session with a speech, in which he took notice of the wicked endeavours that had been lately used to inflame the minds of the people, b}^ the most un- just misrepresentations. DOUBLE ELECTION OF A KING IN POLAND. Europe was now rein vol ved in fresh troubles, by a vacancy on the throne of Poland. Augustus died at Warsaw in the end of January, and the neighbouring powers were immediately in com- motion. The elector of Saxony, son to the late king, and Stanislaus, whose daughter was married to the French monarch, declared themselves can- didates for the Polish throne. The emperor, the czarina, and the king of Prussia espoused the in- terests of the Saxon : the king of France sup- ported the pretensions of his father-in-law. The foreign ministers at Warsaw forthwith began to form intrigues among the electors : the marquis de Monti, ambassador from France, exerted him- self so successfully, that he soon gained over the primate, and a majority of the catholic dietines, to the interests of Stanislaus ; while the imperial and Russian troops hovered on the frontiers of Poland. The French king no sooner understood 1733. GEORGE 11. 237 that a body of the emperor's forces was encamped at Silesia, than he ordered tlie duke of Berwick to assemble an army on the Rhine, and take measures for entering Germany, in case the imperialists should march into Poland. A French fleet set sail for Dantzick, while Stanislaus travelled through Germany in disguise to Poland, and concealed himself in the house of the French ambassador at Warsaw. As the day of election approached, the Imperial, Russian, and Prussian ministers deliver- ed in their several declarations, by way of protest against the contingent election of Stanislaus, as a person proscribed, disqualified, depending upon a foreign power, and connected with the Turks, and other infidels. The Russian general Lasci entered Poland at the head of fifty thousand men: the diet of the election was opened with the usual ceremony on the twenty-fifth day of August. Prince Viesazowski, chief of the Saxon interest, retired to the other side of the Vistula, with three thousand men including some of the nobility who adhered to that party. Nevertheless, the primate proceeded to the election : Stanislaus was unani- mously chosen king; and appeared in the electoral field, where he was received with loud acclama- tions. The opposite party soon increased to ten thousand men; protested against the election, and joined the Russian army, which advanced by speedy marches. King Stanislaus finding himself unable to cope with such adversaries, retired with the primate and French ambassador to Dantzick 238 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. leaving the palatine of Kiow at Warsaw. This general attacked the Saxon palace, which was sur- rendered upon terms : then the soldiers and inha- bitants plundered the houses belono'iuir to the grandees who had declared for Augustus, as well as the hotel of the Russian minister. In the mean time, the Poles, who had joined the Muscovites, finding it impracticable to pass the Vistula before the expiration of the time fixed for the session of the diet, erected a kelo at Cracow, where the elector of Saxony was chosen and proclaimed, by the bishop of Cracow, king of Poland, under the name of Augustus III. on the sixth day of Octo- ber. They afterwards passed the river, and the palatine of Kiow retiring towards Cracow, they took possession of Warsaw, where in their turn they plundered the palaces and houses belonging to the opposite party. CONFEDERACY FORMED AGAINST THE EMPEROR. During these transactions, the French kins; con- eluded a treaty with Spain and Sardinia, by which those powers agreed to declare war against the emperor. Manifestos were published reciprocally by all the contracting powers. The duke of Ber- wick passed the Rhine in October, and undertook the siege of fort Kehl, which in a few days was surrendered on capitulation : then he repassed the 1733. GEORGE ir. 239 river, and returned to Versailles. The king of Sardinia having declared war against the emperor, joined a body of French forces commanded by mareschal de Villars, and drove the imperialists out of the Milanese. His imperial majesty dread- ing the effects of such a powerful confederacy against him, offered to compromise all differences with the crown of Spain, under the mediation of the king of Great Britain ; and Mr. Keene, the British minister at Madrid, proposed an accom- modation. Philip expressed his acknowledge- ments to the king of England, declaring, how- ever, that the emperor's advances were too late; and that his own resolutions were ahead v taken. Nevertheless, he sent orders to the count de !Montijo, his ambassador at London, to commu- nicate to his Britannic majesty the motives which had induced him to take these resolutions. In the mean time he detached a powerful armament to Italy, where they invested the imperial fortress of Aula, the garrison of which was obliged to sur- render themselves prisoners of war. The republic of Venice declared she would take no share in the disputes of Italy: the states-general signed a neu- trality with the French king for the Austrian Ne- therlands, without consulting the emperor or the king of Great Britain ; and the English councils seemed to be altogether pacific. 240 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1735. THE PRINCE OF ORANGE ARRIVES IN ENGLAND. In November the prince of Orange arrived at Greenwich, in order to espouse the princess royal: but the marriage was postponed on account of his being taken ill : and he repaired to Bath in Somer- setshire, to drink the water for the recovery of his strength. Henrietta, the young duchess of Marl- borough, dying about this time, the title devolved to her sister's son, the earl of Sunderland. Lord King resigning his office of chancellor, it was con- ferred upon I\Ir. Talbot, solicitor-general, toge- ther with the title of baron; a promotion that reflected honour upon those by whom it was ad- vised. He possessed the spirit of a Roman senator, the elegance of an Atticus, and the integrity of a Cato. At the meeting of the parliament in Ja- nuary, the king told them, in his speech, that though he was no way engaged in the war which had begun to rage in Europe, except by the good offices he had employed among the contendin«- powers, he could not sit regardless of the present events, or be unconcerned for the consequences of a war undertaken and supported by such a powerful alliance. He said, he had thought pro^ per to take time to examine the facts alledged on both sides, and to wait the result of the councils of those powers that were more immediately in- terested in the consequences of the rupture. He 1733. GEORGE IL 241 declared he would concert with his allies, more particularly with the states-general of the United Provinces, such measures as should be thought most adviseable for their common safety, and for restoring the peace of Europe. In the mean time, he expressed his hope that the}^ would make such provision as should secure his kingdom, rights, and possessions from all dangers and insults, and maintain the respect due to the British nation. He said, that whatever part it might in the end be most reasonable for him to act, it would in all views be necessary, when all Europe was prepar- ing for arms, to put his kingdoms in a posture of defence. The motion for an address of thanks produced, as usual, a debate in both houses, which, it must be owned, appears to have proceeded from a spirit of cavilling, rather than from any reason- able cause of objection. ALTERCATION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. The house of commons resolved to address his majesty for a copy of the treaty of Vienna. Sir John Rushout moved for another, desiring that the letters and instructions relating to the exe- cution of the treaty of Seville should be submit- ted to the inspection of the commons ; but, after a hard struggle, it was over-ruled. The next mo- tion was made by Mr. Sandys, a gentleman who had for some time appeared strenuous in the op- VOL. III. R 242 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. position, and wrangled with great perseverance. He proposed that the house should examine the instructions which had been given to the British minister in Poland, some years before the death of king Augustus, that they might be the better able to judge of the causes which produced this new rupture among the powers of Europe. The mo- tion being opposed by all the court members, a contest ensued, in the course of which Mr. Pulte- ney compared the ministry to an empyric, and the constitution of England to his patient. This pre- tender in physic (said he) being consulted, tells the distempered person, there were but two or three ways of treating his disease : and he was afraid that none of them would succeed. A vomit miaht throw him into convulsions that would oc- casion immediate death ; a purge might bring on a diarrhoea that would carry him off in a short time ; and he had been already bled so much, and so often, that he could bear it no longer. The unfortunate patient, shocked at this declaration, replies, ' Sir, you have always pretended to be a * regular doctor; but now I find you are an arrant * quack. I had an excellent constitution when I * first fell into your hands, but you have quite * destroyed it ; and now I find I have no other * chance for saving my life, but by calling for the * help of some regular physician.' In the debate, the members on both sides seemed to wander from the question, and indulge themselves with ludi- crous personalities. Mr. H. Walpole took occasion 1733. GEORGE 11. 243 to say, that the opposition treated the ministry as he himself was treated by some of his acquaint- ance, with respect to his dress. " If I am in *' plain clothes (said he) then they call me a " slovenly, dirty fellow ; and if by chance I wear *' a laced suit, they cry, What, shall such an awk- " ward fellow wear fine clothes?" He continued to sport in this kind of idle buffoonery. He com- pared the present administration to a ship at sea. As long as the wind was fair, and proper for car- rying us to our designed port, the word was, *' Steady, steady!" but when the wind began to shift and change, the word wsls necessarily altered to ^' Thus, thus, and no nearer." The motion "was overpowered by the majority ; and this was the fate of several other proposals made by the members in the opposition. Sir John Barnard pre- sented a petition from the druggists, and other dealers in tea, complaining of the insults and op- pression to which they were subjected by the excise laws, and imploring relief Sir John and ]\Ir. Perry, another of the city members, explain- ed the grievous hardships which those traders sustained, and moved that the petition might be referred to the consideration of the whole house. They were opposed by Mr. Winnington, Sir W. Yonge, and other partisans of the ministry ; and these skirmishes brought on a general engagement of the two parties, in which every weapon of satire, argument, reason, and truth, was wielded against 2 244 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. that odious, arbitrary, and oppressive method of collecting the public revenue. Nevertheless, the motion in favour of the sufferers was rejected. When the commons deliberated upon the sup- ply, Mv. Andrews, deputy-paymaster of the army, moved for an addition of eighteen hundred men to the number of land forces which had been con- tinued since the preceding year. The members in the opposition disputed this small augmenta- tion with too much heat and eagerness. It must be acknowledged, they were by this time irritated into such personal animosity against the minister, that they resolved to oppose all his measures, whe- ther they might or might not be necessary for the safety and advantage of the kingdom. Nor in- deed were they altogether blameable for acting on this maxim, if their sole aim was to remove from the confidence and councils of their sove- reign, a man whose conduct they thought preju- dicial to the interest and liberties of their country. They could not, however, prevent the augmenta- tion proposed ; but they resolved, if they could not wholly stop the career of the ministry, to throw in such a number of rubs as should at least retard their progress. The duke of Bolton and lord Cobham had been deprived of the regiments they commanded, because they refused to concur in every project of the administration. It was in consequence of their dismission, that lord Mor- peth moved for a bill to prevent any commission- 1733. GEORGE II. 245 ed officer, not above the rank of a colonel, from being removed, unless by a court-martial, or by address of either house of parliament. Such an attack on the prerogative might have succeeded in the latter part of the reign of the first Charles ; but at this juncture could not fail to miscarry : yet it was sustained with great vigour and address. When the proposal was set aside by the majority, Mr. Sandys moved for an address to the king, de- siring to know who advised his majesty to remove the duke of Bolton and lord Cobham from their respective regiments. He was seconded by Mr. Pulteney and sir William Wyndham: but the mi- nistry foreseeing another tedious dispute, called for the question, and the motion was carried in the negative. The next source of contention was a bill for securing the freedom of parliament, by limiting the number of officers in the house of com- mons. It was read a first and second time: but, when a motion was made for its being committed, it met with a powerful opposition, and produced a warm debate that issued in a question, which, like the former, passed in the negative. A cler- gyman having insinuated in conversation that sir William Milner, baronet, member for York, re- ceived a pension from the ministry, the house took cognizance of this report : the clergyman acknowledged at the bar that he might have drop- ped such a hint from hearsay. The accused mem- ber protested, upon his honour, that he never did 246 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. nor ever would receive, place, pension, gratuity, or reward from the court, either directly or indi- rectly, for voting in parliament, or upon any other account whatever. The accusation was voted false and scandalous, and the accuser taken into custody : but in a few days he Mas discharged upon his humble petition, and his begging pardon of the member whom he had calumniated. The duty upon salt was prolonged for eight years ; and a bill passed against stock-jobbing. MOTION FOR THE REPEAL OF THE SEPTEN- NL\L ACT. But the subject which of all others employed the eloquence and abilities on both sides to the most vigorous exertion, was a motion made by Mr. Bromley, who proposed that a bill should be brought in for repealing the septennial act, and for the more frequent meeting and calling of par- liaments. The arguments for and against septen- nial parliaments have already been stated. The ministry now insisted upon the increase of papists and Jacobites, which rendered it dangerous to weaken the hands of the goyernment : they chal- lenged the opposition to produce one instance in which the least encroachment had been made on the liberties of the people since the septennial act took place : and they defied the most ingenious malice to prove that his present majesty had ever 1733. GEORGE II. 1\^ endeavoured to extend any branch of the prero- gative beyond its legal bounds. Sir John Hinde Cotton affirmed, that in many parts of England the papists had already begun to use all their influence in favour of those candidates who were recommended by the ministers as members in the ensuing parliament. With respect to his majesty's conduct, he said he would not answer one word : but as to the grievances introduced since the law was enacted for septennial parliaments, he thought himself more at liberty to declare his sentiments. He asserted, that the septennial law itself was an encroachment on the rights of the people : a law passed by a parliament that made itself septennial. He observed, that the laws of treason with regard to trials were altered since that period ; that in former times a man was tried by a jury of his neighbours, within the county where the crimes alledged against him were said to be committed ; but by an act of a septennial parliament he might be removed and tried in any place where the crown, or rather the ministry, could find a jury proper for their purpose ; where the prisoner could not bring any witnesses in his justification, with- out an expence which perhaps his circumstances would not bear. He asked, if the riot act was not an encroachment on the rights of the people ? An act by which a little dirty justice of the peace, the meanest and vilest tool a minister can use, who, perhaps subsists by his being in the com- 218 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. mission, and may be deprived of that subsistence at the pleasure of his patron, had it in his power to put twenty or thirty of the best subjects in England to immediate death, without any trial or form but that of reading a proclamation. " Was ' not the fatal South-Sea scheme (said he) esta- ' blished by the act of a septennial parliament ? ' And can any man ask, whether that law was ' attended with any inconvenience : to the glo- ' rious catalogue I might have added the late ' excise bill, if it had passed into a law ; but, ' thank heaven, the septennial parliament was ' near expiring jjefore that famous measure was * introduced," CONCLUSION OF A REMARKABLE SPEECH BY SIR W. WYNDHAM. Sir William Wyndham concluded an excellent speech, that spoke him the unrivalled orator, the uncorrupted Briton, and the unshaken patriot, in words to this effect: ^' Let us suppose a man " abandoned to all notions of virtue and honour, " of no great family, and but a mean fortune, " raised to be chief minister of state, by the con- *' currence of mau}^ whimsical events; afraid, or *' unwilling, to trust any but creatures of his own ■* making ; lost to all sense of shame and reputa- *'tion; ignorant of his country's true interest; 1733. GEORGE II. 249 pursuing no aim but that of aggrandizing him- self and his favourites ; in foreign affairs trust- ing none but those who, from the nature of their education, cannot possibly be qualified for the service of their country, or give weight and credit to their negociations. Let us sup- pose the true interest of the nation, by such means, neglected, or misunderstood, her ho- nour tarnished, her importance lost, her trade insulted, her merchants plundered, and her sailors murdered; and all these circumstances overlooked, lest his administration should be endangered. Suppose him next possessed of immense wealth, the plunder of the nation, with a parliament chiefly composed of members whose seats are purchased, and whose votes are bought at the expence of the public treasure. In such a parliament suppose all attempts made to in- quire into his conduct, or to relieve the nation from the distress which has been entailed upon it by his administration. Suppose him screened by a corrupt majority of his creatures, whom he retains in daily pay, or engages in his particular interest, by distributing among them those posts and places which ought never to be bestowed upon any but for the good of the public. Let him plume himself upon his scandalous victory, because he has obtained a parliament like a packed jury ready to acquit him at all adven- tures. Let us suppose him domineering with 150 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. ** insolence over all the men of ancient families, ** over all the men of sense, figure, or fortune in *' the nation; as he has no virtue of his own, " ridiculing it in others, and endeavouring to de- " stroy or corrupt it in all. With such a minister, " and such a parliament, let us suppose a case " which I hope will never happen : a prince upon '* the throne, uninformed, ignorant, and unac- ** quainted with the incUnations and true interest *' of his people, weak, capricious, transported with " unbounded ambition, and possessed with insa- *' tiable avarice. I hope such a case will never *' occur: but, as it possibly may, could any greater *' curse happen to a nation than such a prince on " the throne, advised, and solely advised, by such " a minister, and that minister supported by such " a parliament ? The nature of mankind cannot *' be altered by human laws: the existence of such " a prince or such a minister we cannot prevent *' by act of parliament ; but the existence of such " a parliament I think we may prevent ; as it is " much more likely to exist, and may do more *' mischief while the septennial law remains in *' force, than if it w^ere repealed: therefore I am *' heartily for its being repealed." Notwithstand- ing the most warm, the most nervous, the most pathetic remonstrances in favour of the motion, the question was put, and it was suppressed by mere dint of number. The triumph of the ministry was still more 173i. GEORGE II. 251 complete in the success of a message delivered from the crown in the latter end of the session, when a great many members of the other party had retired to their respective habitations in the country. Sir Robert Walpole delivered this com- mission to the house, importing that his majesty might be enabled to augment his forces, if occa- sion should require such an augmentation, be- tween the dissolution of this parliament and the election of another. Such an important point, that was said to strike at the foundation of our liberties, was not tamely yielded ; but, on the con- trary, contested with uncommon ardour. The mo- tion for taking the message into consideration was carried in the affirmative ; and an address presented to the king, signifying their compliance with his desire. In consequence of a subsequent message, they prepared and passed a bill, enabling his ma- jesty to settle an annuity of live thousand pounds for life on the princess royal, as a mark of his pa- ternal favour and affection. PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED. The opposition in the house of peers kept pace with that in the house of commons, and was sup- ported with equal abilities, under the auspices of the lords Bathurst and Carteret, the earls of Ches- terfield and Abingdon. The duke of Marlbo- 252 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1734. brough made a motion for a bill to regulate the army, equivalent to that which had been rejected in the lower house : and it met with the same fate after a warm dispute. Then lord Carteret moved for an address to the king, that he would be gra- ciously pleased to acquaint the house who advised his majesty to remove the duke of Bolton and lord viscount Cobham from their respective regiments ; and what crimes were laid to their charge. This proposal was likewise rejected, at the end of a de- bate in which the duke of Argyle observed, that two lords had been removed, but only one soldier lost his commission. Such a great majority of the Scottish representatives had always voted for the ministry since the accession of the late king, and so many of these enjoyed places and preferments in the gift of the crown, that several attempts were made by the lords in the opposition, to pre- vent for the future the ministerial influence from extending itself to the elections of North-Britain. Accordingly, two motions for this purpose were made by the earl of Marchmont and the duke of Bedford ; and sustained by the earls of Chester- field, Winchelsea, and Stair, lords Willoughby de Broke, Bathurst and Carteret. They were op- posed by the dukes of Newcastle and Argyle, the earl of Cholmondely, earl Paulet, lord Harvey, now called up by Avrit to the house of peers, and lord Talbot. The question being put on both, they were of course defeated ; and the earl of Stair 1734. GEORGE II. 252 was deprived of his regiment of dragoons, after having performed the most signal services to the royal flimily, and exhausted his fortune in sup- porting the interest and dignity of the crown. Strenuous protests were entered against the de- cision of the majority concerning the king's mes- sage, demanding a power to augment his forces during the recess of parliament ; as also against a bill for enabhng his majesty to apply the sum of one million two hundred thousand pounds out of the sinking fund, for the service of the current year. The business of the session being dis- patched, the king repaired to the house of lords on the sixteenth day of April, and having passed all the bills that were ready for the royal assent, took leave of this parliament, with the warmest acknowledgement of their zeal, duty, and af- fection. It was at first prorogued, then dissolved, and another convoked by the same proclamation. On the fourteenth day of March, the nuptials of the prince of Orange and the princess royal were solemnized with great magnificence ; and this match was attended with addresses of congratu- lation to his majesty from different parts of the kingdom. 25i HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1734. DANTZICK BESIEGED BY THE RUSSIANS. The powers at war upon the continent acted with surprising vigour. The Russian and Saxon army invested the city of Dantzick, in hopes of secur- ing the person of king Stanislaus. The town was strong, the garrison numerous, and animated by the examples of the French and Poles, made a very obstinate defence. For some time they were supplied by sea with recruits, arms, and ammu- nition. On the eleventh day of May a reinforce- ment of fifteen hundred men was landed from two French ships of war and some transports, under fort Wechselmunde, which was so much in want of provisions, that they were not admitted : they therefore re-embarked, and sailed back to Copen- hagen. But afterwards a larger number was landed in the same place, and attacked the Rus- sian entrenchments, in order to force their way into the city. They were repulsed in this at- tempt, but retired in good order. At length the Russian fleet arrived, under the command of ad- miral Gordon ; and now the siege was carried on with great fury. Fort Wechselmunde was sur- rendered : the French troops capitulated, and were embarked in the Russian ships, to be con- veyed to some port in the Baltick. Stanislaus escaped in the disguise of a peasant to Marien- warder in the Prussian territories. The city of 1734. , GEORGE II. 255 Dantzick submitted to the dominion of Augustus III. king of Poland, and was obliged to defray the ""expence of the war to the Russian general count de Munich, who had assumed the command after the siege was begun. The Polish lords at Dantzick signed an act of submission to king Augustus, who, on the tenth day of July, arrived at the convent of Oliva. There a council was held in his presence. The recusant noblemen took the oath which he proposed. Then a general amnesty was proclaimed; and the king set out on his return to Dresden. PHILIPSBUPtGH TAKEN BY THE FRENCH. DON CARLOS ENTERS NAPLES. On the Rhine the French arms bore down all re- sistance. The count De Bellisle besieged and took Traerbach. The duke of Berwick, at the head of sixty thousand men, invested Philipsburgh, while prince Eugene was obliged to remain on the defensive, in the strong camp at Heilbron, wait- ing for the troops of the empire. On the twelfth da}^ of June, the duke of Ber^yick, in visiting the trenches, was killed by a cannon-ball, and the command devolved upon the marquis d'Asfeldt, who carried on the operations of the siege with equal vigour and capacity. Prince Eugene being joined by the different reinforcements he expected, 256 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1734. marched towards the French hnes; but found them so strono; that he would not hazard an at- tack; and such precautions taken, that with all his military talents he could not relieve the be- sieged. At length general Watgenau, the go- vernor, capitulated, after having made a noble defence, and obtained the most honourable con- ditions. Prince Eugene retired to Heidelberg; and the campaign ended about the beginning of October. The Imperial arms were not more suc- cessful in Italy. The infant Don Carlos had received so many invitations from the Neapolitan nobility, that he resolved to take possession of that kingdom. He began his march in February, at the head of the Spanish forces : published a manifesto, declaring he was .sent by his father to relieve the kingdom of Naples from the oppression under which it groaned ; and entered the capital amidst the acclamations of the people ; while the count de Visconti, the German viceroy, finding himself unable to cope with the invaders, thought proper to retire, after having thrown succours into Gaeta and Capua. When he arrived at Nocera, he bcffan to assemble the militia, with intent to form a camp at Barletta. The count de Monte- mar marched with a body of forces against this general, and obtained over him a complete victory at Bitonto in Apuglia, on the twenty-fifth of May, when the Imperialists were entirely routed, and a great number of principal officers taken pri- 1734. GEORGE 11. 257 soners. Don Carlos being proclaimed, and ac- knowledged king of Naples, created the count de Montemar duke of Bitonto ; reduced Gaeta, and all other parts of the kingdom which were garrisoned with Imperial troops ; and resolved to subdue the island of Sicily. About twenty thou- sand troops being destined for this expedition were landed in the road of Solanto in August, under the command of the new duke of Bitonto, who being favoured by the natives, proceeded in his conquests with great rapidity. The people acknowledged Don Carlos as their sovereign, and took arms in support of his government; so that the Imperial troops were driven before them, and the Spaniards possessed the whole kingdom, ex- cept Messina, Syracuse, and Trepani, when the infant determined to visit the island in person. BATTLE OF PARMA, While Don Carlos was thus employed in the conquest of Naples and Sicily, the Imperialists were hard pressed in Lombardy by the united forces of France and Piedmont, commanded by the king of Sardinia and the old mareschal duke de Villars. In the month of January they under- took the siege of Tortona, which they reduced ; while the troops of the emperor began to pour in great numbers into the Mantuan. In the begin- VOL. HI. s 258 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;34. ning of May, count Merci, wlio commanded them, passed the Po in the face of the allies, notwith- standing all the skill of Villars, obliged him to retreat from the banks of that river, and took the Castle of Colorno. The old French general being taken ill, quitted the army, and retired to Turin, where in a little time he died ; and the king of Sardinia retiring to the same place, the command of the allied forces devolved upon the mareschal de Coigny. The confederates were posted at San- guina, and the Imperialists at Sorbola, when the count de Merci made a motion to San Prospero, as if he intended either to attack the enemy, or take possession of Parma. The mareschal de Coigny forthwith made a disposition for an en- gagement ; and, on the twenty-ninth day of June, the Imperial general having passed the Parma, began the attack with great impetuosity. He charged in person at the head of his troops, and was killed soon after the battle began. Never- theless, the prince of Wirtemberg assuming the command, both armies fought with great obsti- nacy, from eleven in the forenoon till four in the afternoon, when the Imperialists retired towards Monte Cirugalo, leaving five thousand men dead on the field of battle, and among these many offi- cers of distinction. The loss of the allies was very considerable, and they reaped no solid fruits from their victory. l/3'l. GEORGE U. 25(j THE IMPERIALISTS ARE AGAIN WORSTED AT GUSTALLA. The Imperial forces retreated to Reggio, and from thence moved to the plains of Carpi, on the right of the Secchia, where they received some rein- forcements : then o-eneral connt Konio'seo-o- ar- riving in the camp, took upon himself the com- mand of the army. His first step was to take post at Quingentolo, by which motion he secured Mirandola, that was threatened with a siege. On the fifteenth of February he forded the river Sec- chia, and surprized the quarters of mareschal de Broglio, who escaped in his shirt with great difli- cult3^ The French retired with such precipitation, that they left all their baggage behind, and above two thousand were taken prisoners. They posted themselves under Gustalla, where, on the nine- teenth day of the month, they were vigorously attacked by the Imperialists, and a general en- gagement ensued. Konigsegg made several de- sperate efforts to break the French cavalry, upon which, however, he could make no impression. The infantry on both sides fought with uncommon ardour for six hours, and the field was covered with carnage. At length, the Imperial general retreated to Lazara, after having lost above five thousand men, including the prince of Wirtem- berg, the generals Valpareze and Colminero, with 260 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1734. many other officers of distinction : nor was the damage sustained by the French greatly inferior to that of the Germans, who repassed the Po, and took post on the banks of the OgHo. The aUies crossed the same river, and the marquis de Mail- libois was sent Avith a detachment to attack Mi- randola; but the ImperiaUsts marching to the re- lief of the place, compelled him to abandon the enterprize : then he rejoined his army, which re- tired under the walls of Cremona, to wait for suc- cours from Don Carlos. So little respect did the French court pay to the British nation, at this juncture, that in the month of November, an edict was published at Paris, commanding all the British subjects in France, who were not actually in employment, from the age of eighteen to fifty, to quit the kingdom in fifteen days, or inlist in some of the Irish regiments, on pain of being treated as vagabonds, and sent to the gallies. This edict was executed with the utmost rigour. The pri- sons of Paris were crowded with the subjects of Great Britain, who were surprised and cut off from all communication with their friends, and must have perished by cold and hunger, had not they been relieved by the active charity of the Jansenists. The earl of Waldegrave, who then Tesided at Paris, as ambassador from the kino- of Great Britain, made such vigorous remonstrances to the French ministry upon this unheard-of out- rage against a nation with which they had been 1734. GEORGE II. 2(5l SO long in alliance, that they thought proper to set the prisoners at liberty, and publish another edict, by which the meaning of the former M^as explained away. NEW PARLIAMENT IN GREAT BRITAIN. While these transactions occurred on the con- tinent, the king of Great Britain augmented his land-forces ; and warm contests were maintained throuoh the whole united kino-dom in electinor re- presentatives for the new parliament. But in all these struggles the ministerial power predomi- nated ; and the new members appeared with the old complexion. The two houses assembled on the fourteenth day of January, and Mr. Onslow was re-elected speaker. The leaders of both par- ties in all debates, were the self-same persons who had conducted those of the former parliament; and the same measures were pursued in the same manner. The king in his speech at the opening of the session, gave them to understand, that he had concerted with the states-general of the United Provinces such measures as were thought most adviseable for their common safety, and for restoring the peace of Europe : that they had con- sidered on one side the pressing applications made by the imperial court both in England and Hol- land, for obtaining succours against the powers '262 ^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1734. at war with the house of Austria ; and, on the other side, the repeated professions made hy the alHes of their sincere disposition to put an end to the present troubles upon honourable and solid terms : that he and the states-general had con- curred in a resolution to employ their joint and earnest instances to bring matters to a speedy and happy accommodation ; that their good offices were at length accepted ; and in a short time a plan would be offered to the consideration of all parties engaged in the war, as a basis for a general negociation of peace. He told them he had used the power vested in him by the last parliament with great moderation; and concluded a treaty with the crown of Denmark of great importance in the present conjuncture. He observed, that whilst many of the principal powers of Europe were actually engaged in a war, Great Britain must be more or less affected with the conse- quences ; and as the best concerted measures are liable to uncertainty, the nation ought to be pre- pared against all events. He, therefore, expressed liis hope, that his good subjects would not repine at the necessary means of procuring the blessings of peace and universal tranquillity, or of putting him in a condition to act that part which it might be necessary and incumbent upon him to take. The address of thanks produced a dispute as usual, which ended with an acquiescence in the motion. The house, in a grand committee on the supply, i;34. GEORGE II. 263 resolved, That thirty thousand seamen should be employed for the service of the ensuing year ; and that the land forces should be augmented to the number of twenty-five thousand seven hun- dred and forty-four effective men. But these resolutions were not taken without dispute and division. The minister's opponents not only re- produced all the reasons which had been formerly advanced against a standing army, but they op- posed this augmentation with extraordinary ar- dour, as a huge stride towards the establislnnent of arbitrary power. They refuted those fears of external broils on which the ministry pretended to ground the necessity of such an augmentation ; and they exposed the weak conduct of the admi- nistration, in having contributed to destroy the balance of power, by assisting Spain against the emperor in Italy, so as to aggrandize the house of Bourbon. DEBATE ON A SUBSIDY TO DENMARK. Sir William Wyndham moved, that the estimate of the navy for the ensuing year might be refer- red to a select committee. He expressed his sur- prize, that notwithstanding the vast sums which had been yearly raised, and the long continuance of the peace, the people had not been quite de- livered of any one tax incurred in the preceding 264 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1734. war. He said, he could not comprehend how it was possible to find pretences for exposing the nation to such exorbitant charges ; and he took notice of some unconscionable articles in the ac- counts of the navy-debt that lay upon the table. He was seconded by Mr. Sandys, and supported by sir Joseph Jekyll and Mr. Pulteney : but after some debate, the motion was carried in the nega- tive. When the new treaty with Denmark fell under consideration in a grand committee, Mr. H. Walpole moved, that the sum of fifty-six thou- sand tM^o hundred and fifty pounds should be granted to his majesty, as a subsidy to the Dane, pursuant to the said treaty, for the service of the ensuin<>; vear. The demand did not meet with immediate compliance. All the leaders in the op- position exclaimed against the subsidy as unne- cessary and unreasonable. They observed, that as the English had no particular interest of their own for inducing them to engage in the present war, but only the danger to which the balance of power might be exposed by that event; and as all the powers of Europe were as much, if not more, interested than the English in the preserva- tion of that balance, should it ever be really en- dangered, they would certainly engage in its de- fence, without receiving any valuable considera- tion from Great Britain : but should the English be always the first to take the alarm upon any rupture, and oft'ev bribes and pensions to all the 1734. GEORGE 11. 265 princes in Europe, the whole charge of preserving that balance would fall upon Great Britain : every state would expect a gratification from her, for doing that which it would otherwise be obliged to do for its own preservation : even the Dutch might at last refuse to assist in trimming this ba- lance, unless Britain should submit to make the grand pensionary of Holland a pensionary of Eng- land, and take a number of their forces into Eng- lish pay. The debate having had its free course, the question was put, and the motion approved by the majority. The ministry allowed a bill to be brought in for limiting the number of officers in the house of commons : but at the second read- ing it was rejected upon a division, after a learned debate, in which it appeared that the opposition had gained a valuable auxiliary in the person of lord Polwarth, son to the earl of JMarchmont, a nobleman of elegant parts, keen penetration, and uncommon vivacity, who spoke with all the flu- ency and fervour of elocution. PETITION OF SOME SCOTTISH NOBLEMEN TO THE HOUSE OF PEERS. The minority in the house of lords were not less vigilant and resolute in detecting and opposing every measure which they thought would redound to the prejudice of their country. But the most 266 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1734. remarkable object that employed their attention during this session was a very extraordinary peti- tion, subscribed by the dukes of Hamilton, Queens- berry, and Montrose, the earls of Dundonald, Marchmont, and Stair, representing that undue influence had been used for carrying on the elec- tion of the sixteen peers for Scotland. The duke of Bedford, whq delivered their petition to the liouse, proposed a day for taking it into considera- tion ; and to this they agreed. It was afterwards moved, that the consideration of it should be ad- journed to a short day, before which the peti- tioners should be ordered to declare whether they intended to controvert the last election of all the sixteen peers, or the election of any, and which of them. This affair was of such an unprecedented nature, that the house seemed to be divided in opi- nion about the manner in which they ought to proceed. The partisans of the ministry would have willingly stifled the inquiry in the begin- ning ; but the petitioners were so strenuously sup- ported in their claim to some notice, by the earls of Chesterfield, Abingdon, and Strafford, the lords Bathurst and Carteret, that they could not dis- miss it at once with any regard to decorum. The order of the house, according to the motion ex- plained above, being communicated by the lord chancellor to the petitioners, they waited on him with a declaration, importing, that they did not intend to controvert the election or return of the i;34. GEORGE 11. 267 sixteen peers for Scotland ; but they thought it their duty to lay before their lordships the evid- ence of such facts and undue methods as appear- ed to them to be dangerous to the constitution ; and might in future elections equally affect the right of the present sixteen peers, as that of the other peers of Scotland, if not prevented by a pro- per remedy. This declaration being repeated to the house, the duke of Devonshire made a mo- tion, that the petitioners might be ordered to lay before the house in writing, instances of those un- due methods and illegal practices upon which they intended to proceed, and the names of the persons they suspected to be guilty. He was warmly opposed by the country party ; and a long debate ensued, after which the question was car- ried in favour of the motion, and the order signi- fied to the petitioners. Next day their answer was read to the house to this effect : That as they had no intention to state themselves accusers, they could not take upon them to name particu- lar persons who might have been concerned in those illegal practices ; but who they were would undoubtedly appear to their lordships upon their taking the proper examinations : nevertheless, they did humbly acquaint their lordships, that the petition was laid before them upon information, that the list of the sixteen peers for Scotland had been framed previous to the election, by persons in high trust under the crown : that this list was 258 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1735. shewn to peers, as a list approved by the crown ; and was called the king's list, from which there was to be no variation, unless to make way for one or two particular peers, on condition they should conform to measures : that peers were so- licited to vote for this list, without the liberty of making any alteration : that endeavours were used to engage peers to vote for this list by promise of pensions, and offices civil and military to them- selves and relations, as well as by offers of money : that sums were given for this purpose : that pen- sions, offices, and releases of debts owing to the crown were actually granted to peers who con- curred in voting for this list, and to their rela- tions : that on the day of election a battalion of his majesty's troops were drawn up in the Abbey- court of Edinburgh, contrary to custom, and with- out any apparent cause but that of over-awing the electors. This answer gave rise to another violent dispute ; but the majority voted it unsa- tisfactory, and the petition was rejected, though the resolution was clogged with a vigorous protest. Notwithstanding this discouragement, the earl of Abingdon moved. That although the petition was dismissed, an inquiry might be set on foot touching an affair of such consequence to the liberties of the kingdom. The earl of Hay declar- ing his belief, that no such illegal methods had been practised, the other produced a pamphlet, in- tituled, The Protests of a great Number of Noble 1/35. GEOrxGE II. 269 Lords, entered by them at the last Election of Peers for Scotland. Exceptions being taken to a pamphlet, as an object unworthy of their notice, lord Bathurst exhibited an authentic copy of those protests, extracted from the journal of that elec- tion, signed by the two principal clerks, and wit- nessed by two gentlemen then attending in the lobby. These were accordingly read, and plainly demonstrated the truth of the alle2:ations con- tained in the petition. Nothing could be more scandalous, arrogant, and shamefully flagrant than the conduct and deportment of those who acted the part of understrappers to the ministry on this occasion. But all this demonstration, adorned and enforced by the charms and energy of eloquence, was like preaching in a desert. A motion was made for adjourning, and carried in the affirma- tive : a protest was entered, and the whole affiiir consigned to oblivion. Divers other motions were made successively by the lords in the opposition, and rejected by the invincible power of a majori- ty. The uninterrupted success of the ministry did not, however, prevent them from renewing the struggle as often as an opportunity offered. They disputed the continuation of the salt-tax, and the bill for enabling the king to apply the sum of one million out of the sinking fund for the service of the current year, though success did not attend their endeavours. They supported with all their might a bill sent up from the com- 2;o HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1735. mons, explaining and amending an act of the Scottish parliament, for preventing wronguous imprisonment, and against undue delays in trials. This was all the natives of Scotland had in lieu of the Habeas Corpus act ; though it did not screen them from oppression. Yet the earl of Hay un- dertook to prove they were on a footing with their neighbours of England in this respect ; and the bill was thrown out on a division. The session was closed on the fifteenth of May, when the king in his speech to both houses declared, that the plan of pacification concerted between him and the states-general had not produced the desired effect. He thanked the commons for the sup- plies they had granted with such cheerfulness and dispatch. He signified his intention to visit his German dominions ; and told them he should con- stitute the queen regent of the realm in his ab- sence. Immediately after the prorogation his ma- jesty embarked for Holland, in his way to Hanover. MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE COURTS OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL. By this time the good understanding between the courts of Madrid and Lisbon was destroj^ed by a remarkable incident. The Portuguese ambassa- dor at Madrid having allowed his servants to rescue a criminal from the oflScers of justice, all j;35. GEORGE II. 271 the servants concerned in that rescue were draar- ged from his house to prison, by the Spanish king's order, with circumstances of rigour and disgrace. His Portuguese majesty being informed of this outrage, ordered reprisals to be made upon the servants of the Spanish ambassador in Lisbon. The two ministers withdrew abruptly to their re- spective courts. The two monarchs expressed their mutual resentment. The king of Spain assembled a body of troops on the frontiers of Portugal; and his Portuguese majesty had re- course to the assistance of king George. Don Marcos Antonio d'Alzeveda was dispatched to London, with the character of envoy extraordi- nary ; and succeeded in his commission according to his wish. In a little time after the king's de- parture from England, sir John Norris sailed from Spithead with a powerful squadron, in order to protect the Portuguese against the Spaniards ; and on the ninth day of June arrived at Lisbon, where he was welcomed as a deliverer. Mr. Keene, the British envoy at the court of Spain, had commu- nicated to his catholic majesty the resolution of his master to send a powerful squadron to Lisbon, with orders to guard that coast from insults, and secure the Brazil fleet, in which the merchants of Great Britain were deeply interested. Don Joseph Patinho, minister of his catholic majesty, deliver- ed a memorial to Mr. Keene, representing that such an expedition would affect the commerce of 272 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1735. Spain, by intimidating foreign merchants from embarking their merchandise in the flota. But, in all probabihty, it prevented a rapture between the two crowns, and disposed the king of Spain to listen to terms of accommodation. PRELIMINAHIES SIGNED BY THE EMPEROR AND THE KING OF FRANCE. The powers in alliance against the house of Aus- tria having rejected the plan of pacification con- certed by the king of Great Britain and the states- general, Mr. Walpole, ambassador at the Hague, presented a memorial to their high mightinesses, desiring they would, without loss of time, put themselves in a posture of defence by an aug- mentation of their forces at sea and land : that they might take such vigorous steps in concert with Great Britain, as the future conjuncture of affairs might require. But before they would subject themselves to such expence, they resolved to make further trial of their influence with the powers in alliance against the emperor; and con- ferences were renewed with the ministers of those allies. The affairs of Poland became more and more unfavourable to the interest of Stanislaus ; for though a great number of the Polish nobility engaged in a confederacy to support his claim, and made repeated efforts in his behalf, the pala- J735. GEOrxGE ir. 2/3 tine of Kiow submitted to Augustus ; and even liis brother the primate, after having sustained a long imprisonment, and many extraordinary hard- ships, was obliged to acknowledge that prince his sovereign. In Italy the arms of tlie allies still con- tinued to prosper. Don Carlos landed in Sicily, and reduced the whole island, almost without op- position; while the imperialists were forced to abandon all the territories they possessed in Italy, except the Mantuan. The emperor being equally unable to cope with the French armies on the Rhine, implored succours of the czarina, who sent thirty thousand men to his assistance. This vi- gorous interposition, and the success of Augustus in Poland, disposed the court of Versailles to a pacification. A secret negociation M^as begun be- tween France and the house of Austria ; and the preliminaries were signed without the concurrence or knowledge of Spain, Sardinia, and the maritime powers. In these articles it was stipulated, that France should restore all the conquests she had made in Germany : that the reversion of the duke- dom of Tuscany should be vested in the duke of Lorraine: that Lorraine should be allotted to king Stanislaus; and after his death be united to the crown of France : that the emperor should possess the Milanese, the Mantuan, and Parma : that the king of Sardinia should enjoy Vigevano and No- vara: that Don Carlos should be acknowledged king of Naples and Sicily, and retain the island VOL. III. T 274 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ^ 1735. of Elba, with all the Spanish territories on the coast of Tuscany ; and that France should gua- rantee the pragmatic sanction. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. The king of Great Britain returned from Hanover to England in the month of November; and on the fifteenth day of January opened the session of parliament. On this occasion he congratulated them on the near prospect of a general peace in Europe in consequence of the preliminary articles which the emperor and the king of France had agreed ; and of which he had expressed his appro- bation, as they did not differ in any essential point from the plan of pacification which he and the states-general had offered to the beUigerent powers. He told them, that he had already ordered a con- siderable reduction to be made in his forces both by sea and land ; but at the same time observed it would be necessary to continue some extraordi- nary expence, until a more perfect reconcihation should be established among the several powers of Europe. An address of thanks was unani- mously voted, presented, and graciously received. After the house had received several petitions from different counties and gentlemen, complain- ing of undue influence in elections for members of parliament, it proceeded to consider of the sup- 1735. GEORGE II. 275 ply, and sir Charles Wager moving that fifteen thousand seamen should be emi)Ioyed for the service of the ensuing year, the proposal was ap- proved without opposition. But this was not the • case with a motion made by Mr. Pulteney, " That *' the ordinary estimate of the navy should be *' referred to a select committee." The ministry discouraged all such prying measures : a debate was produced, the house divided, and the motion was rejected. Such was the fate of a motion for raising the supplies within the year, made by Mr. Sandys, and supported by sir John Barnard, Mr. Willimot, and other patriots, who demonstrated, that this was a speedy and practicable expedient for discharging the national debt, loAvering the interest of money, reducing the price of labour, and encouraging a spirit of commerce. BILL FOR THE RELIEF OF QUAKERS IN THE ARTICLES OF TITHES. The bill for limiting the number of officers in the house of commons was again revived. The king- was empowered to borrow six hundred thousand pounds, chargeable on the sinking-fund, for the service of the ensuing year, though this power was not easily granted ; and the house resolved to lay a duty of twenty shillings per gallon on all spirituous liquors, after it had appeared to the S 276 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1730. committee appointed for that purpose, that those spirits were pernicious to the health and morals of the people. To this resolution was added an- other, which amounted to a total prohibition, namely, that fifty pounds should be yearly paid to his majesty for a licence to be annually taken out by every person who should vend, barter, or utter any such spirituous liquors. Mr. Walter Plumer, in a well-concerted speech, moved for the repeal of some clauses in the Test act : these he represented as a species of persecution, in which protestant dissenters were confounded with the Roman catholics and enemies to the establish- ment. He was sustained by lord Polwarth and Mr. Heathcote; but sir Robert Walpole was join- ed by Mr. Shippen against the motion as danger- ous to the established church : and the question being put, it was carried in the negative. When sir Joseph Jekyll presented to the house, accord- ing to order, a bill founded on the resolutions they had taken against spirituous liquors, sir Ro- bert Walpole acquainted them, by his majesty's command, that as the alterations proposed to be made by that bill in the duties charged upon all spirituous liquors might, in a great degree, affect some part of the civil-list revenues, his majesty, for the sake of remedying so great an evil as was intended by that bill to be prevented, did consent to accept any other revenue of equal value, to be settled and appropriated in lieu of his iuterejst in 1736. GEORGE ir. 277 the said duties. The bill was read a second time, and consigned to a committee of the whole house ; but that for limiting the number of officers in the house of commons was thrown out at the second readinsr. Petitions ao-ainst the bill touchins; the retail of spirituous liquors were presented by the traders to the British sugar colonies, by the mer- chants of Bristol and Liverpool, representing the hardships to which they would be exposed by a law which amounted to a prohibition of rum and spirits distilled from melasses. In consequence of these remonstrances, a mitigating clause was in- serted, in favour of the composition known by the name of punch, and distillers were permitted to exercise any other employment. The sum of seventy thousand pounds was voted for making good the deficiencies that might happen in the civil-list by this bill, which at length passed through the house, though not without reiterated disputes and warm altercation. Violent opposition was likewise made to a bill for the relief of the people called quakers, who offered a petition, represent- ing, that though from motives of conscience they refused the payment of tithes, church-rates, obla- tions, and ecclesiastical dues, they were exposed to grievous sufferings by prosecution in the ex- chequer, ecclesiastical, and other courts, to the imprisonment of their persons, and the ruin of them and their families. A bill being prepared for their relief, was read and printed : then peti- 278 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1736. t'ions were preferred against it by the clergy of Middlesex, and of many other parts of the king- dom. Counsel was heard in behalf of those peti- tioners, and several alterations proposed in the bill, which after long and repeated debates surmount- ed all opposition, and was sent up to the lords. MORTMAIN ACT. In the month of February the king had sent two members of the privy-council to the prince of Wales, with a message, proposing a marriage be- tween his royal highness and the princess of Saxe- gotha. The proposal being agreeable to the prince, the marriage was celebrated on the twenty-seventh day of April. Upon this occasion Mr. Pulteney moved for an address of congratulation to his ma- jesty, and was supported by Mr. George Lyttleton and Mr. William Pitt, who seized this opportunity of pronouncing elegant panegyrics on the prince of Wales and his amiable consort. These two young members soon distinguished themselves in the house by their eloquence and superior talents. The attention of the house was afterwards convert- ed to a bill for the preventing of smuggling ; and another for explaining the act for the more effec- tual preventing bribery and corruption in the elec- tion of members to serve in parliament. Both made their way through the lower house, and were 173S. GEORGE II. 2;f> sent up to the lords for their concurrence. The number of land forces voted for the service of the current year was reduced to seventeen thousand seven hundred and four effective men. The sup- plies were raised by the malt-tax, and land-tax at two shillings in the pound, additional duties on mum, cider, and perry, stamped vellum, parch- ment, and paper; and by an act empowering his majesty to borrow six hundred thousand pounds of the sinking-fund. In this session the parlia- ment repealed the old statutes of England and Scotland against conjuration, witchcraft, and deal- ing with evil spirits. The commons likewise pre- pared a bill to restrain the disposition of lands in mortmain, whereby they became unalienable. Against this measure petitions were presented by the two universities, the colleges of Eton, Win- chester, and Westminster, and divers hospitals that subsisted by charitable donations. In favour of the universities and colleges a particular ex- empting clause ^yas inserted. Several other amend- ments were made in the bill, which passed through both houses, and obtained the royal assent. Among the acts passed in this session, was one for natura- lizing her royal highness the princess of Wales ; and another for building a bridge across the Thames from New Palace-yard, in the city of Westminster, to the opposite shore in the county of Surrey. The points chiefly debated in the house of lords were the address of thanks for his 280 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1736. majesty's speech, the Mortmain bill, the Quakers' bill, which was thrown out, and that for the pre- vention of smuggling, which did not pass without division and protest. On the twentieth day of May the king closed the session with a speech, in which he told both houses, that a further conven- tion touching the execution of the preliminaries, had been made and communicated to him by the emperor and most christian king : and that nego- ciations were carrying on by the several powers engaged in the late war, in order to settle a gene- ral pacification. He expressed great concern at seeing such seeds of dissatisfaction sown among his people : he protested it was his desire, and should be his care, to preserve the present consti- tution in church and state, as by law established : he recommended harmony and mutual affection among all protestants of the nation, as the great security of that happy establishment: and signi- fied his intention to visit his German dominions. Accordingly, the parliament was no sooner pro- rogued, than he set out for Hanover, after having appointed the queen regent in his absence. REMARKABLE RIOT AT EDINBURGH. Such a degree of licentiousness prevailed over the whole nation, that the kingdom was filled with tu- mult and riots, which might have been prevented (George tfje ^econtr* The populace assembled in different bodies about ten o'clock at night. They blocked up the gates of the city, to prevent the admission of the troops that were quartered in the suburbs. They surprised and disarmed the town guards. They broke open the prison doors, dragged Porteus from thence to the place of execu- tion, and leaving him hanging by the neck on a dyers' pole, quietly dispersed to their several habitations. J736. GEOrxGE II. 281 by proper regulations of the civil government in a due execution of the laws. The most remarka- ble of these disturbances happened at Edinburgh, on the seventh day of September. John Porteous, who commanded the guard paid by that city, a man of brutal disposition and abandoned morals, had, at the execution of a smuggler, been pro- voked by some insults from the populace to order his men, without using the previous formalities of the law, to fire with shot among the crowd ; by which precipitate order several innocent per- sons lost their lives. Porteous was tried for mur- der, convicted, and received sentence of death; but the queen, as guardian of the realm, thought proper to indulge him with a reprieve. The com- mon people of Edinburgh resented this lenity shewn to a criminal, who was the object of their detestation. They remembered that pardons had been granted to divers military delinquents in that country, who had been condemned by legal trial. They seemed to think those were encouragements to oppression : they were fired by a national jeal- ousy : they were stimulated by the relations and friends of those who had been murdered: and they resolved to wreak their vengeance on the author of that tragedy, by depriving him of life on the very day which the judges had fixed for his execution. Thus determined, they assembled in difterent bodies, about ten o'clock at night. They blocked up the gates of the city, to prevent 282 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1736. tlie admission of the troops that were quartered in the suburhs. They surprized and disarmed the town-guards; they broke open the prison doors; dragged Porteous from thence to the place of execution ; and, leaving him hanging by the neck on a dyer's pole, quietly dispersed to their several habitations. This exploit was performed with such conduct and deliberation as seemed to be the result of a plan formed by some persons of con- sequence ; it, therefore, became the object of a very severe inquiry. RUPTURE BETWEEN THE CZARINA AND THE OTTOMAN PORTE. During this summer a rupture happened between the Turks and the Russians, which last reduced the city of Asoph on the Black Sea, and over-ran the greatest part of Crim Tartary. The czarina declared war against the Ottoman porte, because the Tartars of the Crimea had made incursions upon her frontiers; and, when she complained of tliese disorders to the vizir, she received no sa- tisfaction ; besides, a large body of Tartars had, by order of that minister, marched through the Russian provinces in despite of the empress, and committed terrible havock in their route. Tlie emperor was obliged to engage as a party in this war, by a treaty offensive and defensive, which he 1736. GEORGE II. 283 had many years before concluded witli the czarina. Yet, before he dechired liiniself, lie johicd tlic maritime powers in ottering his mediation to the sultan, who was very well disposed to peace; but the czarina insisted upon her retaining Asoph, which her forces hud reduced; and this prelimi- nary article being rejected, as dishonourable to the Ottoman empire, the court of Vienna began to make preparations for war. By this time all the belligerent powers in Italy had agreed to the pre- hminaries of jjcace concluded between the emperor and France. Tbe duke of Lorraine had espoused the emperor's eldest daughter, the archduchess' Maria Theresa, and ceded Lorraine to France, even before he succeeded to Tuscany. Don Car- los was crowned king of Sicily; Stanislaus abdi- cated the crown of J'oland ; and Augustus was universally acknowledged sovereign of that king- dom. The preliminaries were approved and ac- cepted by the diet of the empire: the king of Spain sent orders for his troops to evacuate Tus- cany ; and the provinces in Italy yielded to the house of Austria. Prince Eugene, who had ma- naged the interest of the emperor on this occasion, did not live to see the haj>j)y fruits of this nego- ciation. He died at Vienna, in April, at the age of seventy-three, leaving behind him the character of an invincible hero and consummate politician. He was not long survived by count Staremberg, another imperial general who ranked next to the 284 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1736. prince in military reputation. About the same time Great Britain sustained a national loss in the death of lord chancellor Talbot, who, by his worth, probity, and acquired accomplishments, had dig- nified the great office to which he had been rais- ed. He died universally lamented, in the month of February, at the age of fifty-two ; and was suc- ceeded on the bench by lord Hardwicke. THE SESSION OF PARLIAMENT OPENED BY COMMISSION. The king being indisposed, in consequence of having been fatigued by a very tempestuous pass- age from Holland, the parliament was prorogued from the twenty-first day of January to the first of February, and then the session was opened by commission. The lord chancellor, as one of the peers authorised by this commission, made a speech in his majesty's name to both houses. With re- spect to foreign affairs, he told them, that the respective acts of cession being exchanged, and orders given for the evacuation and possession of the several countries and places by the powers concerned, according to the allotment and disposi- tion of the preliminary articles, the great work of re-establishing the general tranquillity was far ad- vanced : that, hoMever, common prudence called upon them to be very attentive to the final con- 1736. GEORGE If. 2S5 elusion of the new settlement. He said, his ma- jesty could not without surprize and concern ob- serve the many contrivances and attempts carried on, in various shapes, and in different parts of the nation, tumultuously to resist and obstruct the execution of the laws, and to violate the peace of the kingdom. He observed, that the considera- tion of the height to which these audacious prac- tices might rise, if not timely suppressed, affbrded a melancholy prospect, and required particular at- tention, lest they should affect private persons in the quiet enjoyment of their property, as well as the general peace and good order of the whole. After the commons had agreed to an address, and heard counsel on some controverted elections, , they proceeded to take the supply into considera- tion. They voted ten thousand men for the sea- service. They continued for the land-service the same number they had maintained in times of tranquillity, amounting to seventeen thousand seven hundred and four: but this measure was not adopted without opposition ; the money was raised by the land and malt-taxes, reinforced with one milUon granted out of the sinking-fund. 280 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 173(5. MOTION IN BOTH HOUSES FOR A SETTLE- MENT ON THE PRINCE OF WALES. The chief subject of contention that presented itself in the course of this session, was a motion which Mr. Pulteney made for an address to his majesty, that he would be pleased to settle one hundred thousand pounds a-year upon the prince of Wales. He represented that such provision was conformable to the practice of ancient time : that what he proposed had been enjoyed by his present majesty in the life-time of his father; and that a settlement of this nature was reasonable and necessary to ascertain the independency of the apparent heir to the crown. The motion was vigorously opposed by sir Robert Walpole, as an encroachment on the prerogative ; as an officious intermeddling in the king's family affairs; and as an effort to set his majesty and the prince at variance. But a misunderstanding, it seems, had already happened in the royal family. The mini- ster in the midst of his harangue told the house, by his majesty's command, that on the preceding day the king had sent a message to the prince by several noblemen of the first quality, importing, that his majesty had given order for settling a jointure upon the princess of Wales, suitable to her high rank and dignity, M'hich he would in a proper time lay before parliament, in order to be 1736. GEORGE II. 287 rendered more certain and effectual : that, al- though his royal highness had not thought fit, hy any application to his majesty, to desire that his allowance of fifty thousand pounds might be ren- dered less precarious, the king, to prevent the bad consequences which he apprehended might follow from the undutiful measures which his majesty was informed the prince had been advised to pur- sue, would grant to his royal highness, for his majesty's life, the said fifty thousand pounds per annum, to be issued out of the civil-list revenues, over and above the prince's revenues arising from the duchy of Cornwall, which his majesty thought a very competent allowance, considering his own numerous issue, and the great expence which did and must necessarily attend an honourable provi- sion for the whole royal family : that the prince, by a verbal answer, desired their lordships to lay him with all humility at his majesty's feet : to assure him that he did, and ever should, retain the utmost duty for his royal person : that he was very thankful for any instance of his majesty's goodness to him or to the princess, and particu- larly for his majesty's gracious intention of settling a jointure upon her royal highness; but that, as to the message, the affair was now out of his hands, and, therefore, he could give no answer to it ; that his royal highness afterwards used many duti- ful expressions towards his majesty; adding, " In- *' deed, my lords, it is in other hands, and I am 288 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1736. *' sorry for it;" or words to that effect. Sir Ro- bert Walpole then endeavoured to demonstrate, that the annual sum of fifty thousand pounds was as much as the king could afford to allow for the prince's maintenance ; and he expatiated upon the bad consequences that might ensue, if the son should be rendered altogether independent of the father. These suggestions did not pass unanswered. Sir Robert Walpole had asserted, that the parlia- ment had no right to interfere in the creation or maintenance of a prince of Wales; and that in the case of Richard II. who, upon the death of his father, the Black Prince, was created prince of Wales, in consequence of an address or petition from parliament, that measure was in all probabi- lity directed by the king himself. In answer to this assertion it was observed, that probably the king would not have been so forward in creating his grandson prince of Wales, if he had not been forced into this step by his parliament ; for Ed- ward in his old age fell into a sort of love dotage, and gave himself entirely up to the management of his mistress, Alice Pierce, and his second son, the duke of Lancaster ; a circumstance that raised a most reasonable jealousy in the Black Prince, at that time on his death-bed, who could not but be anxious about the safety and right of his only son, whom he found he was soon to leave a child in the hands of a doating grandfather and an ambi- 1736. GEORGE 11. 289 tious aspiring uncle. The supporters of the mo- tion observed, that the allowance of fifty thousand pounds was not sufficient to defray the prince's yearly expence, without allotting one shilling for acts of charit}'- and munificence ; and that the several deductions for land-taxes and fees reduced it to forty-three thousand pounds. They affirm- ed, that his whole income, including the revenues of the duchy of Cornwall, did not exceed fifty- two thousand pounds a-year, though, by his ma- jesty's own regulation, the expence of the prince's household amounted to sixty-three thousand. They proved, that the produce of the civil-fist ex- ceeded nine hundred thousand pounds, a sum above one hundred thousand pounds a-year more than was enjoyed by his late majesty; and that, in the first year of the late king^ the whole expence of his household and civil government did not much exceed four hundred and fifty thousand pounds a-year. They observed, that the parliament add- ed one hundred and forty thousand pounds annu- ally for acts of charity and bounty, together with the article of secret-service money ; and allowed one hundred thousand pounds for the maintenance of the prince of Wales : that the article of secret- service money had prodigiously increased in the late reign : by an account which happened to be laid before the parliament, it appeared that vast sums of money had been given for purposes which nobody understood, and to persons whom nobody VOL. III. u 900 inSTOKY Of KKGLAXa 17»tf' several mf:ifi\/tt^ \>ih]) c//ri*irlcration ; but tb^; iTi^juiry wa* v/iirthA oiWty the other party, w}io ame argfimcnt*, and j»»iiing in tlie *anie tern)i nation. HrjiKMK FOff iu,i>(;ri,V/ /hi. r.fKKj'.sT of iiJK NA'/IONAL DKlii 'i >(/. n';/,t, remarkable cont4;*t wa«> occfi*ioned by a n>r;tion of nir i»,. VValpole, who (>ropr)V;d the Hum r.f on', ff/illion should be granted to Ijit majesty, toward^* redeenjing tlje like 'lum of the jncreav;d caj/ital of the Soiith-S<;a company, commonly call- ed SrMith-S*;a AfjniiiticH. S<;veral mend^ern argiicrl lo/ the ex(;ediency of applyi/i^^ thin Hurn to the payment of the debt duf; to tho iia/jk, a-i pajt, of that incumbrance wan saddled witli an intercut, of hiK percent, wherean the int/rcHt paid forthf (,Ui(-r hum» tfiat con.'^titiited the public debt did uot, ex- ceed four per cent Many plausible argurueritii were (dfered on bfith fciden of the que^tjon ; arid 173(5. ck()iu;k If. ■201 at Icnj'-tli llic motion m.is ciinicd in ihc ;irrmn;itivc. TIk! house Ii;i\iii!^' resolved itseli'into ;i. coininiltec to eonsidci- ol" ( lie nalioii.d dil)l, sir John I5arn;ird made ;i inol ion, lor enahTniL;- his majesty to raise money either hy the salt' ol' annnitiivs, or hy hor- ro\vini> al an interest not. exceedini;- three |)er cent, to he a|)|)lied toward re(Niemint;- the Sontli-Sea nnnnities; and that sneli ol (he said annnilants as shoidvernmenl al the wame intorest, shoidd hooks ol" suhscription \n'. c)p(med lor tliat purpose, with an assurance that no pari ol' I he principal shouM he paid oil for lour- teen yew law must, therefore, be unnecessary; and 308 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1737- in the present case it cannot be unnecessary Avithout being dangerous. Every unnecessary restraint is a fetter upon the legs, is a shackle upon the hands, of liberty. One of the greatest blessings we enjoy, one of the greatest blessings a people can enjoy, is liberty. But every good in this life has its allay of evil. Licentiousness is the allay of liberty. It is an ebullition, an excrescence; it is a speck upon the eye of the political body, which I can never touch but with a gentle, with a trembling hand; lest I destroy the body, lest I injure the eye, upon which it is apt to appear. If the stage becomes at any time licentious, if a play appears to be a libel upon the government, or upon any particular man, the king's courts are open; the law is sufficient to punish the offender. If poets and players are to be restrained, let them be restrained as other subjects are, by the known laws of their coun- try; if they offend, let them be tried as every Englishman ought to be, by God and their country. Do not let us subject them to the arbitrary will and pleasure of any one man. A power lodged in the hands of a single man to judge and determine without limitation, control, or appeal, is a sort of power unknown to our laws, inconsistent with our constitution. It is a higher, a more absolute power than we trust eveit to the king himself; and, therefore, I must think we ought not to vest any such pov/er in his 1/37. GEORGE II. 309 his majesty's lord-chamberlain." His arguments had no effect, though the house admired his elo- cution; and the playhouse bill passed into a law. On the twenty-first day of June the king made a short speech to both houses, and the lord chan- cellor prorogued the parliament. 310 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1737. CHAPTER VI. The Russians take Oczakow. . . . Death of Gaston de Medicis, duke of Tuscany. . .Death of CaroHne, queen consort of Eng- land. . . . Dispute in parliament about the standing army. . . . Spanish depredations. . . . Motives of the minister for avoiding a war. . . . Address to the king on the subject of the depreda- tions. . . . Bill for securing tlie trade of his majesty's subjects in America. . . . Debates in the house of lords, . . . Birth of prince George. Admiral Haddock sails with a squadron to the Mediterranean. . . . Progress of the war against the Turks. . . Dispute and rupture between Hanover and Denmark. ... Sir Robert Walpole extols the convention in the house of com- mons .... Motion for an address, that the representations, letters, &c. relating to the Spanish depredations should be laid before the house. . .Petitions against the convention. . . . Sub- stance of that agreement. . . . Debate in the house of commons on the convention. , . . Secession of the chief members in the opposition. . . . Debate in the house of lords upon an address to his majesty touching the convention, . . . Message from the throne touching a subsidy to Denmark, and a power to aug- ment the forces of the kingdom. . . . Parliament prorogued. . . The king of Spain publishes a manifesto. . . . The emperor and Czarina conclude a peace with the Turks. . . . Preparations for war in England. . . , Apology in the house of commons for the seceding members Pension- bill revived, and lost. . .Porto- Bello taken by admiral Vernon. . . . Hard frost. , . . Marriage of the princess Mary to the prince of Hesse. . . . Strong armament sent to the West Indies. . . . Death of the emperor and czarina .... Proceedings in parliament. . . . Seamen's bill. . . . Discon- tents against the ministry. . . . Motion for removing sir Robert Walpole from his majesty's councils and presence for ever. . . Debate on the mutiny bill. ... Proceedings in the house of lords. . . . Close of the last session of this parliament. i;37. GEORGE ir. 911 THE RUSSIANS TAKE OCZAKOW. A. CONGRESS had been opened at Niemerow in Poland, to compromise the differences between the czarina and the grand signor; but this prov- ing ineffectual, the emperor declared war against the Turks, and demanded assistance from the diet of the empire. He concerted the operations of the campaign with the empress of Muscovy. It was agreed, that the imperialists under count Seckendorf should attack Widin in Servia, while the Russians, commanded by count de INIunich, should penetrate to the Ukraine, and besiege Oczakow, on the Boristhenes. They g.ccordingly advanced against this place, which was garrisoned by twenty thousand men; and on the side of the Boristhenes defended by eighteen gallies. The Muscovites carried on their approaches with such impetuosity and perseverance, that the Turks were terrified at their valour, and in a few days capitulated. Among those who signalised them- selves by uncommon marks of prowess in these attacks, was general Keith, now field-marshal in the Prussian service, who M^as dangerously wounded on this occasion. Meanwhile count Seckendorf, finding it impossible to reduce Widin without a squadron of ships on the Danube, turned his arms against Nissa, which was surrendered to 312 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. J^s;. him on the eight and twentieth day of July; but this was the farthest verge of his good fortune. The Turks attacked the post Mhich the imperial- ists occupied along the Danube. They took the fort of Padudil, burned the town of Has inWal- lachia, and plundered the neighbouring villages. The prince of Saxe-Hildburghausen, who had in- vested Bagnalack in Bosnia, was defeated,, and obliged to repass the Saave. Count Seckendorf was recalled to Vienna; and the command of the army devolved upon count Philippi. Count Ke- venhuller was obliged to retreat from Servia; and Nissa was retaken by the Mussulmen. The conferences at Niemerow were broken off; and the Turkish plenipotentiaries returned to Con- stantinople. The kingdom of Poland now enjoyed the most perfect repose under tlie dominion of Augustus. Ferdinand, the old duke of Courland, dying with- out issue, the succession was disputed by the Teutonic order and the kingdom of Poland, while the states of Courland claimed a right of election, and sent deputies to Petersburgh, im- ploring the protection of the czarina. A body of Russian troops immediately entered that coun- try; and the states elected the count de Biron, high-chamberlain to the empress of Muscovy. The elector of Cologn, as grand-master of the Teutonic order, protested against this election; but the king of Poland agreed to it, on certain 1737. GEORGE II. 313 conditions settled at Dantzick with the com- missaries of the new duke and those of the czarina. In the month of July, John Gaston de Medicis, great duke of Tuscany, died at Florence; and the prince de Craon took possession of his terri- tories, in the name of the duke of Lorraine, to whom the emperor had already granted the even- tual investiture of that duchy. DEATH OF CAROLINE, QUEEN CONSORT OF ENGLAND. In England, the attention of the public was at- tracted by an open breach in the royal family. The princess of Wales had advanced to the very last month of her pregnancy before the king and queen were informed of her being with child. She was twice conveyed from Hampton Court to the palace of St. James's, when her labour-pains were supposed to be approaching; and at length was delivered of a princess in about two hours after her arrival. The king being apprised of this event, sent a message by the earl of Essex to the prince, expressing his displeasure at the con- duct of his royal highness, as an indignity offered to himself and the queen. The prince deprecated his majesty's anger in several submissive letters, and implored the queen's mediation. The prin- cess joined her entreaties to those of his royal 314 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1737. highness; but all their humility and supplication proved inefFectua). The king, in another mes- sage sent by the duke of Grafton, observed, that the prince had removed the princess twice in the week immediately preceding the day of her de- livery from the place of his majesty's residence, in expectation of her labour; and both times, on his return, industriously concealed from the knowledge of the king and queen every circum- stance relating to this important affair: that at last, without giving any notice to their majesties, he had precipitately hurried the princess from Hampton Court, in a condition not to be named: that the whole tenor of his conduct, for a con- siderable time, had been so entirely void of all real duty to the king, that his majesty had reason to be highly offended with him. He gave him to understand, that until he should withdraw his regard and confidence from those by whose instigation and advice he w^as directed and en- couraged in his unwarrantable behaviour to his majesty and the queen, and return to his duty, he should not reside in the palace: he, therefore, signified his pleasure that he should leave St. James's, with all his family, when it could be done without prejudice or inconvenience to the princess. In obedience to this order the prince retired to Kew, and made other efforts to be re- admitted into his majesty's favour, which, how- ever, he could not retrieve. Whatever might 1737. GEORGE II, 315 have been his design in concealing so long from the king and queen the pregnancy of the prin- cess, and afterwards hurrying her from place to place in such a condition, to the manifest hazard of her life, his majesty had certainly cause to be offended at this part of his conduct; though the punishment seems to have been severe, if not rigorous; for he was not even admitted into the presence of the queen his mother, to express his duty to her, in her last moments, to implore her forgiveness, and receive her last blessing. She died of a mortification in her bowels, on the twentieth day of November, in the fifty-fifth year of her age, regretted as a princess of un- common sagacity, and as a pattern of conjugal virtue. DISPUTE IN PARLIAMENT ABOUT THE STAND- ING ARMY. The king opened the session of parliament on the twenty-fourth day of January, with a short speech recommending the dispatch of the public business with prudence and unanimity. Each house presented a warm address of condolence on the queen's death, with which he seemed to be extremely affected. Though the house of commons unanimously sympathised with the king in his affliction, the minister still met with 31<5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1737. contradiction in some of his favourite measures. One would imagine that all the arguments for and against a standing army in time of peace had been already exhausted ; but, when it was moved that the same number of land forces which they had voted in the preceding year should be con- tinued in pay for the ensuing year, the dispute was renewed with surprising viv^acity, and pro- duced some reasons which had not been sug-o-ested before. The adherents of the minister fairly owned, that if the arm}^ should be disbanded, or even considerably reduced, they believed the tory interest would prevail; that the present number of forces was absolutely necessary to maintain the peace of the kingdom, which was filled with clamour and discontent, as well as to support the whig interest; and that they would vote for keep- ing up four times the number, should it be found expedient for that purpose. The members in the opposition replied, that this declaration was a severe satire on the ministry, whose conduct had given birth to such a spirit of discontent. They said it was in effect a tacit acknowledgment, that what they called the whig interest was no more than an inconsiderable party, which had engrossed the administration by indirect methods; which acted contrarv to the sense of the nation ; and depended for support upon a military power, by which the people in general were overawed, and consequently enslaved. They affirmed, that the 1737. GEORGE ir, S17 discontent of which the ministry complained was in a great measure owing to that very standing army, which perpetuated their taxes, and hung over their heads as the instruments of arbitrary poM^er and oppression. Lord Polworth explained the nature of whig principles, and demonstrated that the party which distinguished itself by this appellation, no longer retained the maxims by which the whigs were originally characterised. Sir John Hynde Cotton, who spoke with the courage and freedom of an old English baron, declared, he never knew a member of that house, who acted on true whig principles, vote for a standing army in time of peace. " I have heard of whigs (said he) who opposed all unlimited votes of credit : I have heard of whigs who looked upon corruption as the greatest curse that could befall any nation: I have heard of whigs who esteemed the liberty of the press to be the most valuable privilege of a free people, and triennial parliaments as the greatest bulwark of their liber- ties; and I have heard of a whig administration which has resented injuries done to the trade of the nation, and revenged insults offered to the British flag." — The ministry triumphed as usual, and the same number offerees was continued. 318. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1737. SPANISH DEPREDATIONS. Ever since the treaty of Seville, the Spaniards in America had almost incessantly insulted and (distressed the commerce of Great Britain. They disputed the right of English traders to cut log- wood in the bay of Campeachy, and gather salt on the island of Tortugas; though that right was acknowledged by implication in all the treaties which had been lately concluded between the two nations. The captains of their armed ves- sels, known by the name of guarda-costas, had made a practice of boarding and plundering Bri- tish ships, on pretence of searching for contra- band commodities, on which occasions they had behaved with the utmost insolence, cruelty, atid rapine. Some of their ships of war had actually attacked a fleet of English merchant ships at the island of Tortugas, as if they had been at open enmity with England. They had seized and detained a great number of British vessels, im- prisoned their crews, and confiscated their car- goes, in violation of treaties, in defiance of com- mon justice and humanity. Repeated memorials were presented to the court of Spain, by the Bri- tish ambassador at Madrid. He was amused with evasive answers, vague promises of enquiry, and cedulas of instructions sent to the Spanish gover- nors in America, to which they paid no sort of regard. Not but that the Spaniards had reason 1737. GEORGE 11. 319 to complain, in their turn, of the iUicit commerce which the English traders from Jamaica and other islands carried on with their subjects on the con- tinent of South America; though this could not justify the depredations and cruelties which the commanders of the guarda-costas had committed, without provocation or pretence. MOTIVES OF THE MINISTER FOR AVOIDING A WAR. The merchants of England loudly complained of these outrages: the nation was fired with resent- ment, and cried for vengeance; but the minister appeared cold, phlegmatic, and timorous. He knew that a war would involve him in such dif- ficulties as must of necessity endanger his admi- nistration. The treasure which he now employed for domestic purposes, must in that case be ex- pended in military armaments : the wheels of that machine on which he had raised his influence would no longer move: the opposition would of consequence gain ground, and the imposition of fresh taxes, necessary for the maintenance of the war, would fill up the measure of popular resent- ment against his person and ministry. Moved by these considerations, he industriously endea- voured to avoid a rupture, and to obtain some sort of satisfaction by dint of memorials and ne- 320 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1737. gociations, in which he betrayed his own fears to sucha degree, as animated the Spaniards to persist in their depredations, and encouraged the court of Madrid to disregard the remonstrances of the British ambassador. But this apprehension of war did not proceed from Spain only: the two branches of the house of Bourbon were now united by pohtics, as well as by consanguinity; and he did not doubt that in case of a rupture with Spain, they would join their forces against Great Britain. Petitions were delivered to the house by merchants from different parts of the kingdom, explaining the repeated violences to which they had been exposed, and imploring re- lief of the parliament. These were referred to a committee of the whole house; and an order was made to admit the petitioners, if they should think fit, to be heard by themselves or by coun- sel. Sir John Barnard moved for an address to the king, that all the memorials and papers re- lating to the Spanish depredations should be laid before the house; and this, with some alteration proposed by sir Robert Walpole, was actually presented. In compliance with the request, an enormous multitude of letters and memorials was produced. The house, in a grand committee, proceeded to hear counsel for the merchants, and examine evidence; by which it appeared that amazing acts of wanton cruelty and injustice had been 1737. GEORGE II. 321 perpetrated by Spaniards on the subjects of Great Britain. Mr. Pulteney expatiated upon these cir- cumstances of barbarity. He demonstrated, from treaties, the right of the British traders to the logwood of Campeachy, and to the salt of Tor- tugas: he exposed the pusillanimity of the minis- ter, and the futility of his negociations : he moved for such resolutions as would evince the resent- ment of an injured nation, and the vigour of a British parliament. These were warmly combated by sir Robert Walpole, who affirmed, they would cramp the ministers in their endeavours to com- promise these differences: that they would frus- trate their negociations, entrench upon the king's prerogative, and precipitate the nation into aa unnecessary and expensive war. Answers pro- duced replies, and a general debate ensued. A resolution was reported; but the question being put for recommitting it, was carried in the nega- tive. The house, however, agreed to an address, beseeching his majesty to use his endeavours to obtain eft'ectual relief for his injured subjects, to convince the court of Spain that his majesty could no longer suffer such constant and repeated in- sults and injuries to be carried on, to the dis- honour of his crown, and to the ruin of his trading subjects; and assuring him, that in case his royal and friendly instances with the catholic king should miscarry, the house would effectually sup- port his majesty in taking such measures as VOL. III. Y 322 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;38. honour and justice should make it necessary for him to pursue. To this address the king made a favourable answer. BILL FOR SECURING THE TRADE OF HIS MA- JESTY^S SUBJECTS IN AMERICA. The next important subject on which both sides exercised their talents, was a bill prepared and brought in by Mr. Pulteney, for the more effec- tual securing the trade of his majesty's subjects . in America. This was no other than the revival of part of two acts passed in the reign of queen Anne, by which the property of all prizes taken from the enemy was vested in the captors; w4iile the sovereign was empowered to grant commis- sions or charters to any persons or societies, for taking any ships, goods, harbours, lands, or for- tifications of the nation's enemies in America, and for holding and enjoying the same as their own property and estate for ever. The ministry endeavoured to evade the discussion of this bill, by amusing the house with other business, until an end should be put to the session. A mean artifice was practised with this view; and some severe altercation passed between sir Robert Wal- pole and Mr. Pulteney. At length the bill was read, and gave rise to a very long and warm con- test, in which the greatest orators of both sides found opportunities to display their eloquence 1738. GEORGE II. 323 and satire. Mr. Pulteney defended ths bill with all the ardour of paternal affection ; but, notwith- standing his warmest endeavours, it was rejected upon a division. When the mutiny-bill was sent up to the house of lords, a long debate arose upon the number of troops voted for the ensuing year. Lord Car- teret explained the situation of affairs, in almost every nation of Europe, M^ith great conciseness and precision. He demonstrated the improba- bility of a rupture between Great Britain and any power against which a land army could be of any service. He examined the domestic cir- cumstances of the nation; and proved, that what- ever discontents there might be in the kingdom, there was little or no disaffection, and no seem- ing design to overturn or disturb the government. In answer to an argument, that such a number of regular forces was necessary for preventing or quelling tumults, and for enabling the civil ma- o-istrate to execute the laws of his country, he expressed his hope that he should never see the nation reduced to such unfortunate circum- stances: he said, a law which the civil power was unable to execute, must either be in itself op- pressive, or such a one as afforded a handle for oppression. In arguing for a reduction of the forces, he took notice of the great increase of the national expence. He observed, that before the revolution, the people of England did not raise above two millions for the whole of the pub- H'll HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1733. lie charge; but now what was called the current expence, for which the parhament annually pro- vided, exceeded that sum; besides the civil list, the interest due to the public creditors, and the sinking fund, which, added together, composed a burthen of six millions yearly. The earl of Chesterfield, on the same subject, affirmed, that slavery and arbitrary power were the certain consequences of keeping up a standing army for any number of years. It is the machine by which the chains of slavery are rivetted upon a free people. They may be secretly prepared by corruption ; but, unless a standing army protected those that forged them, the people would break them asunder, and chop off the polluted hands by which they were prepared. By degrees a free people must be accustomed to be governed by an army; by degrees that army must be made strong enough to hold them in subjection. England had for many years been accustomed to a standing army, under pretence of its being necessary to assist the civil power; and by degrees the num- ber and strength of it have been increasing. At the accession of the late kins: it did not exceed six thousand; it soon amounted to double that number, which has been since augmented under various pretences. He therefore concluded, that slavery, under the disguise of an army for pro- tecting the liberties of the people, was creeping in upon them by degrees; if no reduction should be made, he declared he should expect in a few 1738. GEORGE II. S15 years to hear some minister, or favourite of a mi- nister, terrifying the house with imaginary plots and invasions, and making the tour of Europe in search of possible dangers, to show the necessity of keeping up a mercenary standing army, three times as numerous as the present. In spite of those suggestions, the standing army maintained its ground. The same noblemen, assisted by lord Bathurst, distinguished themselves in a debate upon the Spanish depredations, Avhich compre- hended the same arguments that were used in the house of commons. They met whh the same success in both. Resolutions equivalent to those of the lower house were taken; an address was presented ; and his majesty assured them he would repeat, in the most pressing manner, his instances at the court of Spain in order to obtain satisfac- tion and security for his subjects trading to America. This assurance was renewed in his speech at the close of the session, on the twen- tieth of IVIay, when the parliament was pro- rogued. BIRTH OF PRINCE GEORGE. At this period the princess of Wales M'as de- livered of a son, who was baptised by the name of George, now king of Great Britain. His birth was celebrated with uncommon rejoicings: addresses of congratulation were presented to the 325 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1738. king- by the two universities, and by almost all the cities and communities of the kingdom. But the prince of Wales still laboured under the dis- pleasure of his majesty, who had ordered the lord chamberlain to signify in the gazette, that no person who visited the prince should be ad- mitted to the court of St. James's. His royal highness was divested of all the external marks of royalty, and lived like a private gentleman, cultivating the virtues of asocial life, and enjoy- ing the best fruits of conjugal felicity. In the latter end of this month, rear-admiral Haddock set sail with a strong squadron for the Mediter- ranean, Avhich it was hoped would give weight to the negociation of the British minister at the court of Madrid. The act to discourage the re- tail of spirituous liquors had incensed the popu- lace to such a degree as occasioned numberless tumults in the cities of London and Westminster. They were so addicted to the use of that perni- cious compound, known by the appellation of gin or geneva, that they ran all risks rather than forego it entirely; and so little regard was paid to the law by which it was prohibited, that in less than two years twelve thousand persons within the bills of mortality were convicted of having sold it illegally. Nearly one half of that number were cast in the penalty of one hundred pounds; and three thousand persons paid ten pounds each, for an exemption from the disgrace of being committed to the house of correction. 1738. GEORGE II. 327 PROGRESS OF THE WAR AGAINST THE TURKS. The Av^ar maintained by the emperor and the czarina against the Ottoman Porte, had not yet produced any decisive event. Count Seckendorf was disgraced and confined on account of his ill success in the last campaign. General Doxat was tiied by a council of war at Belgrade, and con- demned to death, for having surrendered to the enemy the town of Nissa, in which he com- manded. The diet of the empire granted a sub- sidy of fifty Roman months to the emperor, who began to make vigorous preparations for the en- suing campaign; but, in the mean time, Ragotrfki, vaivode of Transylvania, revolted against the house of Austria, and brought a considerable army into the field, under the protection of the grand signor. He Avas immediately proclaimed a rebel, and a price set upon his head by the court of Vienna. The Turks taking the field early, reduced the fort of UsitzaandJMeadia, and under- took the siege of Orsova, which, however, they abandoned at the approach of the imperial army, commanded by the grand duke of Tuscany, as- sisted by count Konigsegg. The Turks, being reinforced, marched back, and attacked the im- perialists, by whom they were repulsed after an obstinate engagement. The Germans, notwith- 328 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1738. standing this advantage, repassed the Danube; and then the infidels made themselves masters of Orsova, where they found a fine train of artil- lery, designed for the siege of Widin. By the conquest of this place, the Turks laid the Danube open to their gallies and vessels; and the Ger- mans retired under the cannon of Belgrade. In the Ukraine, the Russians under general count Munich obtained the advantage over the Turks in two engagements; and general Lacy routed the Tartars of the Crimea; but they returned in greater numbers, and harassed the jMuscovites in such a manner, by intercepting their provi- sions, and destroying the country, that they were obhged to abandon the lines of Precops. DISPUTE AND RUPTURE BETWEEN HANOVER AND DENMARK. In the month of October, an affair of very small importance produced a rupture between the king of Denmark and the elector of Hanover. A de- tachment of Hanoverians took by assault the castle of Steinhorst, belonging to the privy coun- sellor Wederkop, and defended by thirty Danish dragoons, who had received orders to repel force by force. Several men were killed on both sides, before the Hanoverians could enter the place, when the garrison was disarmed, and conducted to the frontiers. This petty dispute, about a small 1738. GEORGE II. J29 territory which did not yield the value of one thousand pounds a year, had well nigh involved Hanover in a war, m hich, in all probability, Great Britain must have maintained; but this dispute was compromised by a convention between the king of England and Denmark. The session of parliament was opened on the first day of February, Mdien the king in his speech to both houses, gave them to understand, that a convention was concluded and ratified between liim and the king of Spain, who had obliged him- self to make reparation to the British subjects for their losses, by certain stipulated payments: the plenipotentiaries were named and appointed for regulating, within a limited time, all those griev- ances and abuses which had hitherto interrupted the commerce of Great Britain in the American seas; and for settling all matters in dispute, in such a manner as might for the future prevent and remove all new causes and pretences of com- plaint. The motion for an address of approbation was disputed as usual. Though the convention was not yet laid before the house, the nature of it was well known to the leaders of the opposition. Sir William Wyndham observed, that if the mi- nistry had made the resolutions taken by the parliament in the last session the foundation of their demands; if they had discovered a resolu- tion to break off all treating, rather than depart from the sense of parliament, either a defensive treaty might have been obtained, or by this time 330 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1738. the worst would have been known; but, by what appeared from his majesty's sneech, the conven- tion was no other than a preliminary; and, in all probability, a very bad preliminary. He sup- posed the minister had ventured to clothe some of his creatures with full powers to give up the rights of the nation ; for they might do it if they ^ durst. Sir Robert Walpole, in answer to these suggestions, affirmed, that the ministry had on this occasion obtained more than ever on like occasions was known to be obtained; that they had reconciled the peace of their country with her true interest: that this peace was attended with all the advantages that the most successful arms could have procured : that future ages would consider this as the most glorious period of our history, and do justice to the councils that pro- duced the happy event, which ever}^ gentleman divested of passion and prejudice was ready to do; and which, he believed, the present age, ■Nvhen rightly informed, would not refuse. In a word, he extolled his own convention with the most extravagant encomiums. The house resolved to address the king, that copies of all the memorials, representations, let- ters, and papers, presented to his majesty, or his secretary of state, relating to depredations, should be submitted to the perusal of the house; but some members in the opposition were not con- tented M'ith this resolution. Then ]\Ir. Sandys, who may be termed the *' Motion-maker," moved / I73S. GEORGE If. 331 for an address, desiring that the house might in- spect all letters written, and instructions given by the secretaries of state, or commissioners of the admiralty, to any of the British governors in America, or any commander in chief, or cap- tains of his majesty's ships of war, or his majesty's minister at the court of Spain, or any of his majesty's consuls in Europe, since the treaty of. Seville, relating to losses which the British suh- jects had sustained by means of depredations committed by the subjects of Spain in Europe and America. This was an unreasonable pro- posal, suggested by the spirit of animosity and faction. IMr. H. Walpole justly observed, that a compliance with such an address might lay open the most private transactions of the cabinet, and discover secrets that ought, for the good of the kingdom, to be concealed. It would discover to the court of Spain the ultimatum of the king's demands and concessions, and the nation would thereby be deprived of many advantages which it might reap, were no such discovery made. He said, that as soon •as the differences betwixt the two courts should arrive at such a crisis, and not before the consuls were instructed to give notice to the merchants, that they might retire in time with their eifects; but should such in- struction come to the knowledge of the Spaniards, it would be a kind of watch- word to put them on their guard, and unavoidably occasion the ruin of many thousands of British subjects. Certain 332 HISTORY Of ENGLAND. ]73§. it is, no gOA^ernment could act either in external or domestic affiiirs with proper influence, dignity, and dispatch, if every letter and instruction re- lating to an unfinished negociation should be exposed to the view of such a numerous assem- bly, composed of individuals actuated by motives in themselves diametrically opposite. The motion being rejected by the majority, the same gentle- man moved again for an address, that his majesty would give directions for laying before the house copies of such memorials or representations as had been made, either to the king of Spain or to his ministers, since the treaty of Seville, relating to the depredations committed in Europe or Ame- rica. A debate ensued; and, upon a division, the question passed in the negative. PETITIONS AGAINST THE CONVENTION. The house, in a committee of supply, voted twelve thousand seamen for the service of the ensuino- year, and the standing army was continued with- out reduction, though powerfully attacked by the whole strength of the opposition. The com- mons likewise ordered an address to his majesty, for the copies of several memorials since the treaty of Seville, touching the rights of Great Britain, or any infraction of treaties which had not been laid before them. These were accord- ingly submitted to the inspection of the house. 1738. GEORGE II. 353 By this time the convention itself was not only presented to the commons, but also published for the information of the people. Divers merchants, planters, and the others trading to America, the cities of London and Bristol, the merchants of Liverpool, and owners of sundry ships which had been seized by the Spaniards, offered petitions against the convention, by which the subjects of Spain were so far from giving up their groundless and unjustifiable practice of visiting and search- ing British ships sailing to and from the British plantations, that they appeared to have claimed the power of doing it as a right ; for they insisted that the differences which had arisen concerning it should be referred to plenipotentiaries, to be discussed by them without even agreeing to ab- stain from such visitation and search during the time that the discussion of this affair might last. They, therefore, prayed that they might have an opportunity of being heard, and allowed to re- present the great importance of the British trade to and from the plantations in America; the clear indisputable right which they had to enjoy it, without being stopped, visited, or searched by the Spaniards, on any pretence whatsoever; and the certain inevitable destruction of all the riches and strength derived to Great Britain from that trade, if a search of British ships sailing to and from their own plantations should be tolerated upon any pretext, or under any restrictions, or «ven if the freedom of this navigation should 334 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i73S, continue much longer in a state of uncertainty. These petitions were referred to the committee appointed to consider of the convention. Another remonstrance was likewise presented by the trus- tees for establishing the colony of Georgia, set- ting forth, that the king of Spain claimed that colony as part of his territories; and that by the convention, the regulation of the limits of Caro- lina and Florida was referred to the determina- tion of plenipotentiaries; so that the colony of Georgia, which undoubtedly belonged to the crown of Great Britain, was left in dispute, Avhile the settlers remained in the most precarious and dangerous situation. It was moved that the merchants should be heard by their counsel; but the proposal was strenuously opposed by the. mi- nistry, and rejected upon a division. This famous convention, concluded at the Pardo on the fourteenth day of January, im- ported, that within six weeks to be reckoned from the day on which the ratifications were ex- changed, two ministers plenipotentiaries should meet at Madrid, to confer, and finally regulate the respective pretensions of the two crowns, with relation to the trade and navi2:ation in Ame- rica and Europe, and to the limits of Florida and Carolina, as well as concerning other points which remained likewise to be adjusted, according to the former treaties subsisting between the two nations: that the plenipotentiaries should finish their conferences within the space of eight months: 1733. GEORGE II. 335 that in the mean time no progress should be made in the fortifications of Florida and Carolina: that his catholic majesty should pay to the king of Great Britain, the sum of ninety-fiv^e thousand pounds, for a balance due to the crown and sub- jects of Great Britain, after deduction made of the demands of the crown and subjects of Spain: that this sum should be employed for the satis- faction, discharge, and payment of the demands of the British subjects upon the crown of Spain : that this reciprocal discharge, however, should not extend or relate to the accounts and differ- ences which subsisted and were to be settled between the crown of Spain and the Assiento company, nor to any particular or private con- tracts that might subsist between either of the two crowns, or their ministers, with the subjects of the other; or between the subjects and sub- jects of each nation respectively : that his catho- lic majesty should cause the sum of ninety-five thousand pounds to be paid at London within four months, to be reckoned from the day on which the ratifications were exchanged. Such was the substance of that convention, -which alarmed and provoked the merchants and traders of Great Britain, excited the indignation of all those who retained any regard for the honour of their coun- try, and raised a general cry against the minister who stood at the helm of administration. 33(5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;37. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON THE CONVENTION. The eyes of the whole kingdom were now turned upon the house of commons. The two contend- ing parties summoned their whole force for the approaching dispute; on the day appointed for considering the convention, four hundred mem- bers had taken their seats by eight in the morn- ing. In a committee of the whole house, certain West India merchants and planters were heard against the convention; so that this and the fol- lowing day were employed in reading papers, and obtaining information. On the eighth day of March, Mr. H. Walpole having launched out in the praise of that agreement, moved for an ad- dress of approbation to his majesty. He was seconded by Mr. Campbell, of Pembrokeshire; and the debate began with extraordinary ardour. He who first distinguished himself in the lists was sir Thomas Sanderson, at that time treasurer to the prince of VFales, afterwards earl of Scar- borough. All the officers and adherents of his royal highness had joined the opposition; and he himself on this occasion sat in the gallery, to hear the debate on such an important transaction. Sir Thomas Sanderson observed, that the Spa- niards by the convention, instead of giving us reparation, had obliged us to give them a general i;39. GEORGE II. 537 release. They had not allowed the word Satis- faction to be so much as once mentioned in the treaty. Even the Spanish pirate who had cut off the ear of captain Jenkins/ and used the most insulting expression towards the person of the king — an expression which no British subject could decently repeat — an expression which no man that had a regard for his sovereign could ever forgive — even this fellow lived to enjoy the fruits of his rapine, and remained a living testimony of the cowardly tameness and mean submission of Great Britain; of the triumphant haughtiness and stubborn pride of Spain. Lord Gage, one of the most keen, spirited, and sarcas- tic orators in the house, stated in this manner the account of the satisfaction obtained from the court of Spain by the convention: the losses sustained by the Spanish depredations amounted to three hundred and forty thousand pounds; the commissary, by a stroke of his pen, reduced this demand to two hundred thousand pounds; then forty -live thousand were struck off for prompt payment: he next allotted sixty thou- sand pounds as the remaining part of a debt pre- tended to be due to Spain, for the destruction of her fleet by sir George Byng, though it appeared by the instructions on the table, that Spain had been already amply satisfied on that head; these deductions reduced the balance to ninety-five * See note [D], voI.tL VOL. III. Z ■1/ 338 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;38. thousand pounds; but the king of Spain insisted upon the South-sea Company's paying immedi- ately the sum of sixty-eight thousand pounds, as a debt due to him on one head of accounts, though, in other articles, his cathohc majesty was indebted to the company a million over and above the demand: the remainder to be paid by Spain did not exceed seven and twenty thousand pounds, from which she insisted upon deducting whatever she might have already given in satis- faction for any of the British ships that had been taken; and on being allowed the value of the St. Theresa, a Spanish ship which had been seized in the port of Dublin. Mr. W. Pitt, with an energy of argument and diction peculiar to him- self, declaimed against the convention, as in- secure, unsatisfactory, and dishonourable to Great Britain. He said the great national objection, the searching of British ships, was not admitted, in- deed, in the preamble; but stood there as the reproach of the whole, as the strongest evidence of the fatal submission that followed; on the part of Spain, an usurpation, an inhuman tyranny claimed and exercised over the American seas ; on the part of England, an undoubted right by treaties, and from God and nature declared and asserted in the resolutions of parliament, were nov/ referred to the discussion of plenipotenti- aries, upon one and the same equal foot. This undoubted right was to be discussed and regu- lated; and if to regulate be to prescribe rules, a;^ 1738. ■ GEORGE II. 333 in all construction it is, that right was, by the express words of the convention, to be given up and sacrificed; for it must cease to be any thing from the moment it is submitted to limitation. Mr. Lyttelton, with equal force and fluency, an- swered the speech of Mr. H. Walpole. "After he had used many arguments to persuade us to peace (said he) to any peace, good or bad, by pointing out the dangers of a war, dangers I by no means allow to be such as he represents them, he crowned all those terrors with the name of the pretender. It would be the cause of the pre- tender. The pretender would come. Is the ho- nourable gentleman sensible what this language imports? The people of England complain of the greatest wrongs and indignities: they complain of the interruption, the destruction of their trade: they think the peace has left them in a worse condition than before; and in answer to all these complaints, what are they told? Why, that their continuing to suffer all this, is the price they must pay to keep the king and his family on the throne of these realms. If this were true, it ought not to be owned; but it is far from truth; the very reverse is true. Nothing can weaken the family; nothing shake the establishment, but such measures as these, and such language as this." He affirmed, that if the ministers had proceeded conformably to the intentions of par- liament, they would either have acted with vigour, or have obtained a real security in an express 340 HISTORY OF ENGLAND: 17S8. acknowledsfment of our ri2;ht not to be searched as a preliminary, sine qua non, to our treating at all. Instead of this, they had referred it to plenipotentiaries. " Would you, sir, (said he) submit to a reference, whether you may travel unmolested from your house in town to your house in the country? Your right is clear and undeniable, why would you have it discussed? but much less would you refer it, if two of your judges belonged to a gang which has often stop- ped and robbed you in your way thither before." The ministers, in vindication of the convention, asserted, that the satisfaction granted by Spain was adequate to the injury received: that it was only the preliminary of a treaty which would remove all causes of complaint; that war was always expensive and detrimental to a trading nation, as well as uncertain in its events: that France and Spain would certainly join their forces in case of a rupture with Great Britain: that there was not one power in Europe upon which the English could depend for eifectual assistance; and that war would favour the cause and designs of a popish pretender. The house, upon a divi- sion, agreed to the address; but when a motion was made for its being recommitted, the two parties renewed the engagement with redoubled eagerness and impetuosity. Sir William Wynd- ham and Mr. Pulteney poured all the thunder of their eloquence against the insolence of Spain, and the concessions of the British ministry. Sir i;36. GEQRGS II. 341 Robert Walpole exerted all his fortitude and dex- terity in defence of himself and his measures, and the question being put, the resolutions for the address were carried by a small majority. SECESSION OF THE CHIEF MEMBERS IN THE OPPOSITION. Then sir William "Wyndham, standing up, made a pathetic remonstrance upon this determination. *• This address (said he) is intended to convince mankind, that the treaty under our considera- tion is a reasonable and an honourable treaty. But if a majority of twenty-eight in such a full house should fail of that success; if the people should not implicitly resign their reason to a vote of this house, what will be the consequence? Will not the parliament lose its authority? Will it not be thought, that even in the parliament we are governed by a faction? and what the consequence of this may be, I leave to those gentlemen to consider, who are now to give their vote for this address; for my own part, I will trouble you no more, but, with these my last words, I sincerely pray to Almighty God, who has so often wonder- fully protected these kingdoms, that he will gra- ciously continue his protection over them, by preserving us from that impending danger m hich threatens the nation from without, and likewise from that impending danger which threatens our S« HISTORY OF ENGLAND. l/SS. constitution from within." The minister was on this occasion deserted by his usual temper, and even provoked into personal abuse. He declared, that the gentleman mIio was now the mouth of his opponents had been looked upon as the head of those traitors, who twenty-five years before conspired the destruction of their country and of the royal family, in order to set a popish pre- tender upon the throne: that he was seized by the vigilance of the then government, and par- doned by its clemency, but all the use he had ungratefully made of that clemency, was to qua- lify himself according to law, that he and his party might some time or other have an oppor- tunity to overthrow all law. He branded them all as traitors, and expressed his hope, that their behaviour would unite all the true friends of the present happy establishment. To such a degree of mutual animosity were both sides inflamed, that the most eminent members of the minority actually retired from parliament; and were by the nation in general revered as martyrs to the liberty of the people. THE HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE UPON AN ADDRESS TO HIS MAJESTY TOUCHING THE CONVENTION. The dispute occasioned by the convention in the house of lords, was maintained with equal warmth, and perhaps with more abilities. After this fa- {^38. GEORGE II. 34S mou3 treaty had been considered, lord Carteret suggested, that possibly one of the contracting powers had presented a protest or declaration, importing that she acceded to such or such a measure, only upon condition that the terms of that protest or declaration should be made good. He said, that until his mind sliould be free from the most distant suspicion that such a paper might exist in the present case, he could not form a just opinion of the transaction himself, nor com- municate to their lordships any light which might be necessary for that purpose. The adherents to the ministry endeavoured to evade his curiosity in this particular, by general assertions; but he insisted on his suspicion with such perseverance, that at length the ministry produced the copy of a declaration made by the king of Spain before he ratified the convention, signifying that his catholic majesty reserved to himself, in its full force, the right of being able to suspend the assiento of negroes, in case the company should not pay within a short time the sum of sixty- eight thousand pounds sterling, owing to Spain on the duty of negroes, or on the profit of the ship Caroline: that under the validity and force of this protest, the signing of the said conven- tion might be proceeded on, and in no other manner. In the debate that ensued, lord Car- teret displayed a surprising extent of political knowledge, recommended by all the graces of elocution, chaste, pure, dignified, and delicate. 344 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1738. Lord Bathurst argued against the articles of con- vention with his usual spirit, integrity, and good sense, particularly animated by an honest indig- nation which the wrongs of his country had in- spired. The earl of Chesterfield attacked this inglorious measure with all the weight of argu- ment, and all the poignancy of satire. The duke of Argyle, no longer a partisan of the ministry, inveighed against it as infamous, treacherous, and destructive, with all the fire, impetuosity, and enthusiasm of declamation. It was defended with unequal arms by the duke of Newcastle, the earl of Cholmondeley, lord liervey, the lord chancellor, the bishop of Salisbury, and in par- ticular by the earl of Hay, a nobleman of ex- tensive capacity and uncommon erudition; re- markable for his knowledge of the civil law, and seemingly formed by nature for a politician; cool, discerning, plausible, artful, and enterpris- ing, staunch to the minister, and invariably true to his own interest. The dispute was learned, long, and obstinate; but ended as usual in the discomfiture of those who had stigmatised the treaty. The house agreed to an address, in which they thanked his majesty for his gracious con- descension in laying before them the convention. They acknowledged his great prudence in bring- ing the demands of his subjects for their past losses, which had been so long depending, to a final adjustment; in procuring an express stipu- lation for a speedy payment; and in laying a 1739. GEORGE 11. 34S foundation for accomplishing the great and de- sirable ends of obtaining future security, and preserving the peace between the two nations. They declared their confidence in his royal wis- dom, that in the treaty to be concluded in pur- suance of the convention, proper provisions would be made for the redress of the grievances of which the nation had so justly complained: they assured his majesty, that in case his just expec- tations should not be answered, the house would heartily and zealously concur in all such measures as should be necessary to vindicate his majesty's honour, and to preserve to his subjects the full enjoyment of all those rights to which they were entitled by treaty and the law of nations. This was an hard-won victory. At the head of those who voted against the address we find the prince of Wales. His example was followed by six dukes, two and twenty earls, four viscounts, eighteen barons, four bishops; and their party was rein- forced by sixteen proxies. A spirited protest was entered and subscribed by nine and thirty peers, comprehending all the noblemen of the kingdom who were most eminent for their talents, inte- grity, and virtue. A message having been delivered to the house from his majesty, importing, that he had settled nine and thirty thousand pounds per annum on the younger children of the royal family ; and desiring their lordships would bring in a bill to enable his majesty to make that provision good 3'i6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1739. out of the hereditary revenues of the crown, some lords in the opposition observed that the next heir to the crown might look upon this set- tlement as a mortgage of his revenue, which a parliament had no power to make: that formerly no daughter of the royal family was ever pro- vided for by parliament, except the eldest, and that never was by way of annuity, but an express provision of a determinate sum of money paid by way of dowry. These objections were over- ruled; and the house complied with his majesty's request. Then the duke of Newcastle produced a subsidy-treaty, by which his majesty obliged himself to pay to the king of Denmark seventy thousand pounds per annum, on condition of the Dane's furnishing to his Britannick majesty a body of six thousand men, when demanded. At the same time his grace delivered a message from the king, desiring the house would enable him to fulfil this engagement; and also to raise what money and troops the exigency of affairs, during the approaching recess, might require. Another vehement dispute arose from this pro- posal. With respect to the treaty, lord Carteret observed, that no use could be made of the Da- nish troops in any expedition undertaken against Spain, because it was stipulated in the treaty, that they should not be used either in Italy, or on board of the fleet, or be transported in whole or in part beyond sea, after they should have marched out of the territories of Denmark, ex- 17S9. GEORGE II. 347 cept for the defence of the kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland; nay, should France join against the English, the Danes could not act against that power or Spain, except as part of an. army formed in Germany or Flanders. This body of Danes may be said, therefore, to have been retained for the defence and protection of Han- over; or, if the interest of Britain was at all consulted in the treaty, it must have been in pre- venting the Danes from joining their fleets to those of France and Spain. Then he argued against the second part of the message with great vivacity. He said nothing could be more dan- serous to the constitution than a general and unlimited vote of credit. Such a demand our ancestors would have heard with amazement, and rejected with scorn. He affirmed that the prac- tice was but of modern date in England: that it was never heard of before the revolution; and never became frequent until the nation m^is blessed with the present wise administration. He said, if ever a general vote of credit and confi- dence should become a customary compliment from the parliament to the crown at the end of every session, or as often as the minister might think fit to desire it, parliaments would grow despicable in the eyes of the people; then a pro- clamation might be easily substituted in its stead, and happy would it be for the nation if that should be sufficient; for when a parliament ceases to be a check upon ministers, it becomes an use- S48 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17S9. less, an unnecessary burden on the people. The representatives must always be paid some way or other; if their wages are not paid openly and surely by their respective constituents, as they were formerly, a majority of them may in future times be always ready to accept of wages from the administration, and these must come out of the pockets of the people. The duke of Argyle and the earl of Chesterfield enlarged upon the same topics. Nevertheless, the house complied with the message; and presented an address, in which they not only approved of the treaty with Denmark, but likewise assured his majesty they would concur with his measures, and support him in fulfilling his engagements, as well as in making such further augmentation of his forces by sea and land, as he should think necessary for the honour, interest, and safety of these kingdoms. PARLIAMENT PROROGUED. The same message being communicated to the commons, they voted seventy thousand five hun- dred and eighty-three pounds, for the subsidy to Denmark, and five hundred thousand pounds for augmenting the forces on any emergency. As Great Britain stood engaged by the convention to pay to the crown of Spain the sum of sixty thousand pounds in consideration of the ships 1739. GEORGE 11. 349 taken and destroyed by sir George Byng, which sum was to be applied to the relief of the British merchants who had suiFered by the Spanish de- predations, the commons inserted in a bill a clause providing for this sum to be paid by the parlia- ment. When the bill was read in the house of lords a motion was made by lord Bathurst for an address, to know, whether Spain had paid the money stipulated by the convention, as the time limited for the payment of it was now expired. The duke of Newcastle, by his majesty's per- mission, acquainted the house, that it was not paid ; and that Spain had as yet given no reason for the non-payment. Then a day was appointed to consider the state of the nation, when lord Carteret moved for a resolution, that the failure of Spain in this particular was a breach of the convention, a high indignity to his majesty, and an injustice to the nation; but, after a warm de- bate, this motion was overruled by the majority. The minister, in order to atone in some measure for the unpopular step he had taken in the con- vention, allowed a salutary law to pass for the encouragement of the woollen manufacture, and two bills in behalf of the sugar colonies ; one per- mitting them, for a limited time, to export their produce directly to foreign parts, under proper restrictions; and the other making more effec- tual provisions for securing the duties laid upon the importation of foreign sugars, rum, and me- lasses into Great Britain, and his majesty's plan- 350 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. I73g. tations in America. The supplies bei'^g voted, the funds established, and the crown gratified in every particular, the king closed the session with a speech on the fourteenth day of June, when the chancellor in his majesty's name prorogued the parliament.'' THE KING OF SPAIN PUBLISHES A MANI- FESTO. Letters of marque and reprisal were granted against the Spaniards; a promotion was made of general officers; the troops were augmented; a great fleet was assembled at Spithead; a rein- forcement sent out to admiral Haddock; and an embargo laid on all merchant ships outward bound. Notwithstanding these preparations of war, Mr. Keen, the British minister at Madrid, declared to the court of Spain, that his master, although he had permitted his subjects to make reprisals, would not be understood to have broken the peace; and that this permission would be re- called as soon as his catholic majesty should be disposed to make the satisfaction which had been so justly demanded. He was given to under- stand, that the king of Spain looked upon those reprisals as acts of hostility; and that he hoped, with the assistance of heaven and his allies, he ^ See note [E], vol. n. If 59. GEORGE II. 35 J should bp able to support a good cause against his adversaries. He published a manifesto in justification of his own conduct, complaining that admiral Haddock had received orders to cruise -sdth his squadron between the capes St. Vincent and St. Mary, in order to surprise the Assogue ships; that letters of reprisal had been published at London in an indecent style, and even carried into execution in different parts of the world. He excused his non-payment of the ninety-five thousand pounds stipulated in the convention, by affirming that the British court had first contravened the articles of that treaty, by the orders sent to Haddock; by continuing to fortify Georgia; by reinforcing the squadron at Jamaica; and by eluding the payment of the sixty-eight thousand pounds due to Spain from the South-sea Company, on the assiento for ne- groes. The French ambassador at the Hague, declared that the king his master was obliged by treaties to assist his catholic majesty by sea and land, in case he should be attacked; he dis- suaded the states-general from espousing the quarrel of Great Britain; and they assured him they would observe a strict neutrality, though they could not avoid furnishing his Britannic majesty with such succours as he could demand, by virtue of the treaties subsisting between the two powers. The people of England were inspired with uncommon alacrity at the near prospect of war, for which they had' so long 352 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1739. clamoured ; and the ministry seeing it unavoid- able, began to be earnest and effectual in their preparations. THE EMPEROR AND CZARINA CONCLUDE A PEACE WITH THE TURKS. The events of war were still unfavourable to the emperor. He had bestowed the command of his army upon velt-mareschal count Wallis, who as- sembled his forces in the neighbourhood of Bel- grade; and advanced towards Crotska, where he was attacked by the Turks with such impetuosity and perseverance, that he was obliged to give ground, after a long and obstinate engagement, in which he lost above six thousand men. The earl of Crawford, who served as a volunteer in the imperial army, signalized his courage in an extraordinary manner on this occasion, and re- ceived a dangerous wound, of which he never perfectly recovered. The Turks were afterwards worsted at Jabouka, nevertheless, their grand army invested Belgrade on the side of Servia, and carried on the operations of the siege with extraordinary vigour. The emperor, dreading the loss of this place, seeing his finances exhausted, and his army considerably diminished, consented to a neci'ociation for peace, which was transacted under the mediation of the French ambassador at the Ottoman Porte. The count de Neuperg, as 1739. GEORGE II. 353 imperial plenipotentiary, signed the preliminaries on the first day of September. They were rati- fied by the emperor, though he pretended to be dissatisfied with the articles; and declared that his minister had exceeded his powers. By this treaty the house of Austria ceded to the grand signor, Belgrade, Sabatz, Servia, Austrian Wal- lachia, the isle and fortress of Orsova, with the fort of St. Elizabeth; and the contracting powers agreed that the Danube and the Saave should serve as boundaries to the two empires. The emperor published a circular letter, addressed to his ministers at all the courts in Europe, blaming count Wallis for the bad success of the last cam- paign, and disowning the negociations of count Neuperg; nay, these two ofhcers were actually disgraced, and confined in different castles. This, however, was no other than a sacrifice to the resentment of the czarina, who loudly complained, that the emperor had concluded a separate peace, contrary to his engagements with the Russian empire. Her general, count Munich, had ob- tained a victory over the Turks at Choczim in Moldavia, and made himself master of that place, in which he found two hundred pieces of artil- lery; but the country was so ruined by the in- cursions of the Tartars, that the Muscovites could not subsist in it during the winter. The czarina, finding herself abandoned by the emperor, and unable to cope with the whole power of the Otto- man empire, took the first opportunity of putting VOL. III. 2A 354 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17'^9- an end to the war upon honourable terms. After a short negociation, the conferences ended in a treaty, by which she was left in possession of Asoph, on condition that its fortifications should be demolished; and the ancient limits were re- established between the two empires. PREPARATIONS FOR WAR IN ENGLAND. A RUPTURE between Great Britain and Spain was now become inevitable. The English squa- dron in the Mediterranean had already made prize of two rich Caracca ships. The king had issued orders for augmenting his land forces, and raising a body of marines; and a great number of ships of war were put in commission. Admiral Vernon had been sent to the West Indies, to assume the command of the squadron in those seas, and to annoy the trade and settlements of the Spaniards. This gentleman had rendered himself considerable in the house of commons, by loudly condemning all the measures of the ministry, and bluntly speaking his sentiments, whatever they were, without respect of persons, and sometimes without any regard to decorum. He was counted a good officer, and this boister- ous manner seemed to enhance his character. As he had once commanded a squadron in Jamaica, he was perfectly well acquainted with those seas; and in a debate upon the Spanish depredations, 1739. GEORGE II. 355 he chanced to affirm^ that Porto-Bello on the Spa- nish main might be easily taken; nay, he even undertook to reduce it with six ships only. This offer was echoed from the mouths of all the mem- bers in the opposition. Vernon was extolled as another Drake or Raleigh: he became the idol of a party, and his praise resounded from all cor- ners of the kingdom. The minister, in order to appease the clamours of the people on this sub- ject, sent him as commander in chief to the West Indies. He was pleased with an opportunity to remove such a troublesome censor from the house of commons; and, perhaps, he was not without hope, that Vernon would disgrace himself and his party, by failing in the exploit he had undertaken. His catholic majesty having ordered all the British ships in his harbours to be seized and detained, the king of England would keep measures with him no longer, but denounced war against him on the twenty-third day of October. Many Eng- lish merchants began to equip privateers, and arm their trading vessels, to protect their own commerce, as well as to distress that of the enemy. The session of parliament was opened in Novem- ber, when the king, in his speech to both houses, declared, that he had augmented his forces by sea and land, pursuant to the power vested in him by parliament for the security of his domi- nions, the protection of trade, and the annoyance of the enemy; and he expressed his apprehension, that the heats and animosities which had been 356 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1739. industriously fomented throughout the kingdom, encouraged Spain to act in such a manner as ren- dered it necessary for him to have recourse to arms. In answer to this speech, affectionate ad- dresses were presented hy both houses, without any considerable opposition. The seceding members had again resumed their seats in the house of commons; and Mr. Pulteney thought proper to vindicate the extra- ordinary step which they had taken. He said, tlrey thought that step was necessary, as affairs then stood, for clearing their characters to pos- terity from the imputation of sitting in an assem- bly, where a determined majority gave a sanction to measures evidently to the disgrace of his ma- jesty and the nation. He observed, that their conduct was so fully justified by the declaration of war against Spain, that any further vindication would be superfluous; for every assertion con- tained in it had been almost in the same words insisted upon by those who opposed the conven- tion: " Every sentence in it (added he) is an echo of what was said in our reasonings against that treaty; every positive truth which the de- claration lays down, was denied with the utmost confidence by those who spoke for the conven- tion; and, since that time, there has not one event happened which was not then foreseen and foretold." He proposed, that in maintaining the war, the Spanish settlements in the West Indies should be attacked; and that the ministry should 1739. GEORGE II. 357 not have the power to give up the conquests that might be made. He said he heartily wished, for his majesty's honour and service, that no men- tion had been made of heats and animosities in the king's speech; and gave it as his opinion, they should take no notice of that clause in their address. He was answered by sir Robert Walpole, who took occasion to say, he was in no great concern lest the service of his majesty or the na- tion should suffer by the absence of those mem- bers who had quitted the house: he affirmed, the nation was generally sensible, that the many use- ful and popular acts which passed towards the end of the last session, were greatly forwarded and facilitated by the secession of those gentle- men; and, if they were returned only to oppose and perplex, he should not be at all sorry to see them secede again. PENSION-BILL REVIVED AND LOST. Mr. Pulteney revived the bill which he had for- med}^ prepared for the encouragement of sea- men. After a long dispute, and eager opposition by the ministry, it passed both houses, and ob- tained the royal assent. Mr. Sandys having observed that there could be no immediate use for a great number of forces in the kingdom; and explained how little service could be ex- pected from raw and undisciplined men; pro- 358 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1739. posed an address to the king, desiring that the body of marines should be composed of drafts from the old regiments: that as few officers should be appointed as the nature of the case would per- mit; and he expressed his hope, that the house would recommend this method to his majesty, in tender compassion to his people, already burdened with many heavy and grievous taxes. This scheme was repugnant to the intention of the ministry, whose aim was to increase the number of their dependents, and extend their parliamentary in- terest, by granting a great number of commis- sions. The proposal was, therefore, after a long debate, rejected by the majority. Motions were made for an enquiry into the conduct of those who concluded the convention; but they were overruled. The pension bill was revived, and so powerfully supported by the eloquence of sir William Wyndham, Mr. Pulteney, antl Mr. Lyt- telton, that it made its way through the com- mons to the upper house, where it was again lost, upon a division, after a very long debate. As the seamen of the kingdom expressed uncommon aversion to the service of the government, and the fleet could not be manned without great dif- ficulty, the ministry prepared a bill, which was brought in by sir Charles Wager, for registering all seamen, M^atermen, fishermen, and lighter- men, throughout his majesty's dominions. Had this bill passed into a law, a British sailor would have been reduced to the most abject degree of 1739. GEORGE II. 359 slavery; had he removed from a certain district allotted for the place of his residence, he would have been deemed a deserter, and punished ac- cordingly: he must have appeared, when sum- moned, at all hazards, whatever might have been the circumstances of his family, or the state of his private affairs; had he been incumbered with debt, he must either have incurred the penalties of this law, or lain at the mercy of his creditors; had he acquired by industry, or received by in- heritance, an ample fortune, he would have been liable to be torn from his possessions, and sub- jected to hardships which no man would endure but from the sense of fear or indigence. The bill was so vigorously opposed by sir John Bar- nard and others, as a flagrant encroachment on the liberties of the people, that the house re- jected it on the second reading. PORTO-BELLO TAKEN BY ADMIRAL VERNON. The king having by message communicated to the house his intention of disposing of the princess IVfary in marriage to prince Frederick of Hesse; and expressing his hope, that the commons would enable him to give a suitable portion to his daugh- ter, they unanimously resolved to grant forty thousand pounds for that purpose; and presented an address of thanks to his majesty, for having communicated to the house this intended mar- 360 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1739. riage. On tlie thirteenth clay of March a ship arrived from the West Indies, dispatched by ad- miral Vernon, with an account of his having taken Porto Bello, on the isthmus of Darien, with six ships only, and demolished all the for- tifications of the place. The Spaniards acted with such pusillanimity on this occasion, that their forts were taken almost without bloodshed. The two houses of parliament joined in an address of congratulation upon this success of his majesty's arms; and the nation in general was wonderfully elated by an exploit which was magnified much above its merit. The commons granted every thing the crown thought proper to demand. They provided for eight and twenty thousand land forces, besides six thousand marines. They enabled his majesty to equip a very powerful navy; they voted the subsidy to the king of Denmark; and they empowered their sovereign to defray certain extraordinary expences not specified in the estimates. To answer these un- common grants, they imposed a land-tax of four, shillings in the pound; and enabled his majesty to deduct twelve hundred thousand pounds from the sinking fund; in a word, the expence of the war, during the course of the ensuing year, amounted to about four millions. The session was closed on the twenty-ninth day of April, when the king thanked the commons for the sup- plies they had so liberally granted, and recom- mended union and moderation to both houses. 1740. GEORGE 11. 361 During the greatest part of this winter, the poor had been grievously afflicted in consequence of a severe frost, Arhich began at Christmas, and continued till the latter end of February. The river Thames M'as covered with such a crust of ice, that a multitude of people dwelled upon it in tents, and a great number of booths were erected for the entertainment of the populace. The navigation was entirely stopped; the water- men and fishermen were disabled from earning a livelihood; the fruits of the earth were destroyed by the cold, which was so extreme, that many persons Avere chilled to death; and this calamity was the more deeply felt, as the poor could not afford to supply themselves with coals and fuel, which were advanced in price, in proportion to the severity and continuance of the frost. The lower class of labourers, who worked in the open air, were now deprived of all means of subsist- ence ; many kinds of manufacture were laid aside, because it Mas found impracticable to carry them on. The price of all sorts of provision rose al- most to a dearth; even M'ater was sold in the streets of London. In this season of distress, many wretched families must have perished by cold and hunger, had not those of opulent for- tunes been inspired with a remarkable spirit of compassion and humanity. Nothing can more redound to the honour of the English nation, than did those instances of benevolence and well- conducted charity which were then exhibited. 362 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1740. The liberal hand was not only opened to the pro- fessed beggar, and the poor that owned their distress; but uncommon pains were taken to find out and relieve those more unhappy objects, who from motives of false pride, or ingenuous shame, endeavoured to conceal their miser}^ These were assisted almost in their own despite. The solitary habitations of the widow, the fatherless, and the unfortunate, were visited by the benefi- cent, who felt for the woes of their fellow crea- tures ; and, to such as refused to receive a por- tion of the public charity, the necessaries of life were privately conveyed, in such a manner as could least shock the delicacy of their dispo- sitions. MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS MARY TO THE PRINCE OF HESSE. In the beginning of May, the king of Great Britain set out for Hanover, after having ap- pointed a regency, and concerted vigorous mea- sures for distressing the enemy. In a few days after his departure, the spousals of the princess Mary were celebrated by proxy, the duke of Cumberland representing the prince of Hesse, and in June the princess embarked for the con- tinent. About the same time, a sloop arrived in England with dispatches from admiral Vernon, who, since his adventure at Porto Bello, had 1740. GEORGE ir. 36s bombarded Cartliagena, and taken the fort of San Lorenzo, on the river of Chagre, in the neigh- bourhood of his former conquest. This month was hkewise marked by the death of his Prussian majesty, a prince by no means remarkable for great or amiable qualities. He was succeeded on the throne by Frederick his eldest son, the late king of that realm, who has so eminently - distinguished himself as a warrior and legislator. In August, the king of Great Britain concluded a treaty with the Landgrave of Hesse, who en- o-ao-ed to furnish him with a body of six thousand men for four years, in consideration of an an- nual subsidy of two hundred and fifty thousand crowns. STRONG ARMAMENT SENT TO THE WEST INDIES. Meanwhile, preparations of war were vigor- ously carried on by the ministry in England. They had wisely resolved to annoy the Spaniards in their American possessions. Three ships of war, cruising in the bay of Biscay, fell in with a large Spanish ship of the line strongly manned, and took her after a very obstinate engagement; but the assogue ships arrived, Avith the treasure, in Spain, notwithstanding the vigilance of the English commanders, who were stationed in a certain latitude to intercept that flota. One 3(54 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;4'>. camp M^as formed on Hounslow-heath; and six thousand marines lately levied were encamped on the Isle of Wight, in order to be embarked for the West Indies. Intelligence being re- ceive' hat a strong squadron of Spanish ships of w? vaited at Ferrol for orders to sail to their Ame can settlements, sir John Norris sailed with a po -verful fleet from Spithead, to dispute their voyage; and the duke of Cumberland served in person as a volunteer in this expedition; but, after divers fruitless efforts, he was, by contrary winds, obliged to lie inactive for the greatest part of the summer in Torbay ; and, upon advice that the French and Spanish squadrons had sailed to the West Indies in conjunction, the design against Ferrol was wholly laid aside. In Septem- ber, a small squadron of ships commanded by commodore Anson, set sail for the South-sea, in order to act against the enemy on the coast of Chili and Peru, and co-operate occasionally with admiral^ Vernon across the isthmus of Darien. The scheme was well laid, but ruined by unne- cessary delays, and unforeseen accidents. But the hopes of the nation centered chiefly in a for- midable armament designed for the northern coast of new Spain, and his catholic majesty's other settlements on that side of the Atlantick. Commissions had been issued for raising a regi- ment of four battalions in the English colonies of North America, that they might be transported to Jamaica, and join the forces from England. 1740. GEORGE II. 36.5 These, consisting of the marines, and detachments from some old regiments, were embarked in Oc- tober at the Isle of Wight, under the command of lord Cathcart, a nobleman of approved honour, and great experience in the art of war; and they sailed under convoy of sir Chaloner Ogle, with a fleet of seven and twenty ships of the line, be- sides frigates, fire-ships, bomb ketches, and ten- ders. They were likewise furnished Avith hos- pital ships, and store-ships, laden with provision, ammunition, all sorts of warlike implements, and every kind of convenience. Never was an ar- mament more completely equipped; and never had the nation more reason to hope for extra- ordinary success. DEATH OF THE EMPEROR AND CZARINA. On the twentieth day of October, Charles VI. emperor of Germany, the last prince of the house of Austria, died at Vienna, and was succeeded in his hereditary dominions by his eldest daughter, the archduchess Maria Theresa, married to the grand duke of Tuscany. Though this princess succeeded as queen of Hungary, by virtue of the pragmatic sanction guaranteed by all the powers in Europe, her succession produced such contests as kindled a cruel war in the empire. The young king of Prussia was no sooner informed of the emperor's death, than he entered Silesia at the 366 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1740. head of twenty thousand men; seized certain fiefs to which his family laid claim ; and published a manifesto, declaring that he had no intention to contravene the pragmatic sanction. The elec- tor of Bavaria refused to acknowledge the arch- duchess as queen of Hungary and Bohemia; alledging, that he himself had pretensions to those countries, as the descendant of the emperor Ferdinand I. who was head of the German branch of the house of Austria. Charles VI. was sur- vived but a few days by his ally, the czarina Anne Iwanowna, who died in the forty-fifth year of her age, after having bequeathed her crown to Iwan, or John, the infant son of her niece, the princess Anne of Mecklenburgh, who had been married to Anthony Ulrick, duke of Brunswick Luncnbourg-Bevern. She appointed the duke of Courland regent of the empire, and even guar- dian of the young czar, though his own parents were alive; but this disposition was not long- maintained. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. The king of Great Britain having returned to England from his German dominions, the ses- sion of parliament was opened in November. His majesty assured them, on this occasion, that he was determined to prosecute the war vigor- ously, even though France should espouse the i;40. GEORGE II. 367 cause of Spain, as her late conduct seemed to favour this supposition. He took notice of the emperor's death, as an event which in all likeli- hood would open a new scene of affairs in Europe: he therefore recommended to their consideration the necessary supplies for putting the nation in such a posture that it should have nothing to fear from any emergency. Finally, he desired them to consider of some proper regulations for preventing the exportation of corn, and for more effectual methods to man the fleet at this conjuncture. The commons, after having voted an address of thanks, brought in a bill for pro- hibiting the exportation of corn and provisions, for a limited time, out of Great Britain, Ireland, and the American plantations. This was a mea- sure calculated to distress the enemy, who were supposed to be in want of these necessaries. The French had contracted for a very large quantity of beef and pork in Ireland for the use of their own and the Spanish navy; and an embargo had been laid upon the ships of that kingdom. The bill met with a vigorous opposition; yet the house unanimously resolved, that his majesty should be addressed to lay an immediate embargo upon all ships laden with corn, grain, starch, rice, beef, pork, and other provisions, to be exported to foreign parts. They likewise resolved, that the thanks of the house should be given to vice- admiral Vernon, for the services he had done to his king and country in the West Indies. One 368 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1740. William Cooley was examined at the bar of the house, and committed to prison, after having owned himself author of a paper, intituled, " Con- siderations upon the embargo on provision of victual." The performance contained many shrewd and severe animadversions upon the go- vernment, for having taken a step which, without answering the purpose of distressing the enenty, would prove a grievous discouragement to trade, and ruin all the oraziers of Ireland. Notwith- standing the arguments used in this remonstrance, and several petitions that were presented against the corn-bill, it passed by mere dint of ministe- rial influence. The other party endeavoured, by various motions, to set on foot an enquiry into the orders, letters, and instructions, which had been sent to admiral Vernon and admiral Had- dock; but all such investigations were carefully avoided. A very hot contest arose from a bill which the ministry brought in under the specious title of, A bill for the encouragement and increase of seamen, and for the better and speedier manning his majesty's fleet. This was a revival of the op- pressive scheme which had been rejected in the former session; a scheme by which the justices of the peace M'cre empowered to issue warrants to constables and headboroughs, to search by day or nisfht for such seafarins; men as should con- ceal themselves within their respective jurisdic- tions. These searchers were vested with autho- 1740. George II. 369 rity to force open doors, in case of resistance; and encouraged to this violence by a reward for every seamen they should discover; while the unhappy wretches so discovered were dragged into the service, and their names entered in a register to be kept at the navy or the admiralty- office. Such a plan of tyranny did not pass un- censured. Every exceptionable clause produced a warm debate, in which sir John Barnard, Mr. Pulteney, Mr. Sandys, lord Gage, Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Lyttelton, signalized themselves nobly in defending the liberties of their fellow subjects. Mr. Pitt having expressed a laudable indignation at such a large stride towards despotic power, in justification of which nothing could be urged but the plea of necessity, Mr. H. Walpole thought proper to attack him with some personal sarcasms. He reflected upon his youth; and observed that the discovery of truth was very little promoted by pompous diction and theatrical emotion. These insinuations exposed him to a severe reply. Mr. Pitt standing up again, said, " He would not undertake to determine whether youth could be justly imputed to any man as a reproach; but he affirmed, that the wretch, who after having seen the consequences of repeated errors, continues still to blunder, and whose age has only added obstinacy to stupidity, is surely the object of either abhorrence or contempt, and deserves not that his grey head should secure him from in- sults ; much more is he to be abhorred, who, a^ VOL. III. ^^ 8;o HISTORY OF ENGLAND. ir-IO. he has advanced in age, has receded from virtue, and becomes more wicked with less temptation f who prostitutes himself for money which he can- not enjoy; and spends the remains of his life in the ruin of his country." — Petitions were pre- sented from the city of London, and county of Gloucester, against the bill, as detrimental to the trade and navigation of the kingdom, by dis- couraging rather than encouraging sailors, and destructive to the liberties of the subject; but they were both rejected as insults upon the house of commons. After very long debates, main- tained on both sides with extraordinary ardour and emotion, the severe clauses were dropped, and the bill passed with amendments. DISCONTENTS AGAINST THE MINISTRY. But the most remarkable incident of this session, was an open and personal attack upon the minis- ter, who was become extremely unpopular all over the kingdom. The people were now, more than ever, sensible of the grievous taxes under which they groaned; and saw their burdens daily increasing. No effectual attempt had as yet been made to annoy the enemy. Expensive squadrons had been equipped; had made excursions, and returned without striking a blow. The Spanish fleet had sailed first from Cadiz, and then from Ferrol, without any interruption from admiral 1740. GEORGE II. S7l Haddock, who commanded the British squadron in the Mediterranean, and who was supposed to be restricted by the instructions he had received from the ministry, though in fact his want of success was owing to accident. Admiral Vernon had written from the West Indies to his private friends, that he was neglected, and in danger of beino- sacrificed. Notwithstandino- the numerous navy which the nation maintained, the Spanish privateers made prize of the British merchant ships with impunity. In violation of treaties, and in contempt of that intimate connection which had been so long cultivated between the French and English ministry, the king of France had ordered the harbour and fortifications of Dunkirk to be repaired: his fleet had sailed to the West Indies, in conjunction with that of Spain ; and the merchants of England began to tremble for Jamaica; finally, commerce was in a manner suspended, by the practice of pressing sailors into the service, and by the embargo which had been laid upon ships, in all the ports of Great Britain and Ireland. These causes of popular discontent, added to other complaints which had been so long repeated against the minister, exaggerated and inculcated by his ene- mies with unwearied industry, at length rendered him so universally odious, that his name was sel- dom or never mentioned with decency, except by his own dependents. 3;2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1740. MOTION FOR REMOVING SIR ROBERT WAL- POLE FROM HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCILS. Thh country-party in parliament seized this, op- portunity of vengeance. Mr. Sandys went up to sir Robert Walpole in the house, and told him, that on Friday next lie should bring a charge against him in public. The minister seemed to be surprised at this unexpected intimation; but, after a short pause, thanked him politely for this previous notice, and said he desired no favour, but fair play.^ Mr. Sandys, at the time which he had appointed for this accusation, stood up, and in a studied speech entered into a long deduc- tion of the minister's misconduct. He insisted upon the discontents of the nation, in consequence of the measures which had been for many years pursued at home and abroad, tie professed his belief that there was not a gentleman in the house who did not know that one single person in the administration was the chief, if not the sole adviser and promoter of all those measures. *' This (added he) is known without doors, as a Upon this occasion he misquoted Horace. " As I am not conscious of any crime (said he) I do not doubt of being able to make a proper defence. Nil conscire sibi nulli pallescere culpce," He was corrected by Mr. Pulteneyj but insisted upon his being in the right, and actually laid a wager on the justness of his quotation. 1740. GEORGE IT. S73 well as within; therefore, the discontents, the reproaches, and even the curses of the people, are all directed against that single person. They complain of present measures : they have suffered by past measures: they expect no redress; they expect no alteration or amendment, \Ahilst he has a share in directing or advising our future administration. These, sir, are the sentiments of the people in regard to that minister : these sentiments we are in honour and duty bound to represent to his majesty; and the proper method for doing this, as established by our constitution, is to address his majesty to remove him from his councils.'' He then proceeded to explain the particulars of the minister's misconduct in the whole series of his negociations abroad. Pie charged him with having endeavoured to sup- port his own interest, and to erect a kind of despotic government, by the practice of corrup- tion; with having betrayed the interest and honour of Great Britain in the late conven- tion; with having neglected to prosecute the war against Spain; and he concluded with a motion for an address to the king, that he would be pleased to remove sir Robert Walpole from his presence and councils for ever. He was answered by Mr. Pelham, who undertook to defend or excuse all the measures Avhich the other had condemned; and acquitted himself as a warm friend and unshaken adherent. A^-ainst this champion sir John Barnard entered the lists, and 374 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1740. was sustained by Mr. Pulteney, who, with equal spirit and precision, pointed out and exposed all the material errors and mal-practices of the ad- ministration. Sir RobertWalpole spoke with great temper and deliberation in behalf of himself. With respect to the article of bribery and cor- ruption, he said if any one instance had been mentioned; if it had been shown that he ever offered a reward to any member of either house, or ever threatened to deprive any member of his office or employment, in order to influence his voting in parliament, there might have been some g:round for this chars^e; but when it was so generally laid, he did not know v/hat he could say to it, unless to deny it as generally and as positively as it had been asserted. — Such a decla- ration as this, in the hearing of so many persons, -who not only knew, but subsisted by his wages of corruption, was a strong proof of the minis- ter's being dead to all sense of shame, and all regard to veracity. The debate was protracted by the court members till three o'clock in the morning, when about sixty of the opposite party having retired, the motion was rejected by a con- siderable majority. 1740. GEORGE II. 37j DEBATE ON THE MUTINY BILL. A BILL was brought in for prohibiting the prac- tice of insuring ships belonging to the enemies of the nation; but it was vigorously opposed by sir John Barnard and Mr. Willimot, who demon- strated that this kind of traffic was advantageous to the kingdom; and the scheme was dropped. Another warm contest arose upon a clause of the mutiny-bill, relating to the quartering of soldiers upon innkeepers and publicans, who complained of their being distressed in furnishing those guests with provisions and necessaries at the rates pre- scribed by law or custom. There Avere not want- ing advocates to expatiate upon the nature of this grievance, which, however, was not redressed. A new trade was at this time opened witli Persia, through the dominions of the czar, and vested with an exclusive privilege in the Russian com- pany, by an act of parliament. The commons voted forty thousand seamen for the service of the ensuing year, and about thirty thousand men for the establishment of land-forces. They pro- vided for the subsidies granted to the king of Denmark and the Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel; and took every step which was suggested for the ease and the convenience of the govern^ ment. 375 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1740. PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. The parties in the house of lords were influenced by the same motives which actuated the com- mons. The duke of Argyle, who had by this time resigned all his places, declared open war against the ministry. In the beginning of the session, the king's speech was no sooner reported by the chancellor, than this nobleman stood up, and moved that a general address of thanks should be presented to his majesty, instead of a recapi- tulation of every paragraph of the king's speech, re-echoed from the parliament to the throne, with expressions of blind approbation, implying a general concurrence with all the measures of the minister. He spoke on this subject with an astonishing impetuosity of eloquence, that rolled like a river which had overflowed its banks and deluged the whole adjacent country. The mo- tion was supported by lord Bathurst, lord Car- teret, the earl of Chesterfield, and lord Gower, who, though they displayed all the talents of oratory, were outvoted by the opposite party, headed by the duke of Newcastle, the earl of Cholmondeley, lord Ilervey, and the lord chan- cellor. The motion was rejected, and the address composed in the usual strain. The same motions for an enquir;/ into orders and instructions which had miscarried in the lower house, were here re- 1740. GEORGE II. i'jy peated with the same bad success: in the debates, which ensued, the young earls of Halhfax and Sandwich acquired a considerable share of repu- tation, for the strength of argument and elocution with which they contended against the adherents of the ministry. When the house took into con- sideration the state of the army, the duke of Argyle having harangued with equal skill and energy on military affairs, proposed that the forces should be augmented by adding new levies to the old companies, without increasing the number of officers; as such an augmentation served only to debase the dignity of the service, by raising the lowest of mankind to the rank of gentlemen; and to extend the influence of the minister, by multiplying his dependents. He, therefore, moved for a resolution, that the augmenting the army by raising regiments, as it is the most unneces- sary and most expensive method of augmenta- tion, was also the most dangerous to the liberties of the nation. This proposal was likewise over- ruled, after a short though warm contention. This was the fate of all the other motions made by the lords in the opposition, though the victory of the courtiers was always clogged with a nervous and spirited protest. Two days were expended in the debate produced by lord Carteret's motion for an address, beseeching his majesty to remove sir Robert Walpole from his presence and coun- cils for ever. The speech that ushered in this memorable motion would not have disgraced a 378 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i74}. Cicero. It contained a retrospect of all the pub- lic measures which had been pursued since the revolution. It explained the nature of every treaty, whether right or wrong, which had been concluded under the present administration. It described the political connexions subsisting be- tween the different powers in Europe. It exposed the weakness, the misconduct, and the iniquity of the minister, both in his foreign and domestic transactions. It was embellished with all the ornaments of rhetoric, and warmed Mnth a noble spirit of patriotic indignation. The duke of Ar- gyle, lord Bathurst, and his other colleagues, seemed to be animated with uncommon fervour, and even inspired, by the subject. A man of imagination, in reading their speeches, will think himself transported into the Roman senate, be- fore the ruin of that republic. Nevertheless, the minister still triumphed by dint of numbers; though his victory was dearly purchased. Thirty peers entered a vigorous protest; and Walpole's character sustained such a rude shock from this opposition, that his authority seemed to be draw- ing near a period. Immediately after this con- test was decided, the duke of Marlborough moved for a resolution, that any attempt to inflict any kind of punishment on any person, without allow- ing him an opportunity to make his defence, or without any proof of any crime or misdemeanour committed by him, is contrary to natural justice, the fundamental laws of the realm, and the ancieni 1741. GEORGE 11. . S79 established usage of parliament ; and is a high infringement of the liberties of the subject. It was seconded by the duke of Devonshire and lord Lovel; and opposed by lord Gower, as an intended censure on the proceedings of the day. This sentiment was so warmly espoused by lord Talbot, who had distinguished himself in the former debate, that he seemed to be transported beyond the bounds of moderation. He was in- terrupted by the earl of Cholmondeley, who charged him with having violated the order and decorum which ought to be preserved in such an assembly. His passion was inflamed by this re- buke : he declared himself an independent lord ; a character which he would not forfeit for the smiles of a court, the profit of an employment, or the reward of a pension: he said, when he was en- gaged on the side of truth, he would trample on the insolence that should command him to sup- press his sentiments. — On a division, however, the motion was carried. In the beginning of April, the king repairing to the house of peers, passed some acts that were ready for the royal assent. Then, in his speech to both houses, he gave them to understand, that the queen of Hungary had made a requisition of the twelve thousand men stipulated by treaty; and that he had ordered the subsidy troops of Denmark and Hesse-Cassel to be in readiness to march to her assistance. He observed, that in ihis comphcated and uncertain state of affairs, 380 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. many incidents might arise, and render it neces- sary for him to incur extraordinary expences for maintaining the pragmatic sanction, at a time when he could not possibly have recourse to the advice and assistance of his parliament. He, therefore, demanded of the commons such a sup- ply as might be requisite for these ends; and promised to manage it with all possible frugality. The lower house, in their address, approved of all his measures; declared they would effectually support him against all insults and attacks that might be made upon any of his territories, though not belonging to the crown of Great Britain; and that they would enable him to contribute, in the most effectual manner, to the support of the queen of Hungary. Sir Robert Walpole moved, that an aid of two hundred thousand pounds should be granted to that princess. Mr. Shippen protested against any interposition in the affairs of Germany. He expressed his dis- like of the promise which had been made to de- fend his majesty 's'foreign dominions; a promise, in his opinion, inconsistent Avith that important and inviolable law, the act of settlement: a pro- mise which, could it have been foreknown, would perhaps have for ever precluded from the suc- cession that illustrious family to which the nation owed such numberless blessings, such continued felicity. The motion however passed, though not without further opposition ; and the house re- solved, that three hundred thousand pounds J741. GEORGE II. 881 should be granted to his majesty, to enable him effectually to support the queen of Hungary. To- wards the expence of this year, a million was deducted from the sinking fund ; and the land- tax continued at four shillings in the pound. The preparations for this war had already cost five millions. The session was closed on the twenty- fifth day of April, when the king took his leave of this parliament, with warm expressions of ten- derness and satisfaction. Henry Bromley, Ste- phen Fox, and John Howe, three members of the lower house, who had signalized themselves in defence of the minister, were now ennobled, and created barons of Montford, Uchester, and Ched- worth. A camp was formed near Colchester; and the king having appointed a regency, set out in May for his German dominions.'' *^ Sir William Wyndham died the preceding year, deeply re- gretted as an orator, a patriot, and a man, the constant asserter of British liberty, and one of the chief ornaments of the English na- tion. In the course of the same year, general Oglethorpe, gover- nor of Georgia, had, with some succours obtained from the colony of Carolina, and a small squadron of king's ships, made an attempt upon Fort Augustine, the capital of Spanish Florida ; and actually reduced some small forts in the neighbourhood of the place ; but the Carolinians withdrawing in disgust, dissensions prevailing among the sea-officers, the hurricane months approaching, and the enemy having received a supply and reinforcement, he abandoned the enterprise, and returned to Georgia. asa HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. CHAPTER VII. The armj under lord Cathcart and sir Chaloner 0^\e proceeds Vo the West Indies, . .Nature of the climate on the Spanish main .... Admiral Vernon sails to Carthagena. , . . Attack of Fort Lazar. . . . Expedition to Cuba. . . . Rupture between the queen of Hungary and the king of Prussia. . . . Battle of Molwitz, . . The king of Great Britain concludes a treaty of neutrality with France for the electorate of Hanover .... A body of French forces join the elector of Bavaria, . . .He is crowned king of Bohemia at Prague. . . .Fidelity of the Hungarians... .War between Russia and Sweden. . . . Revolution in Russia. . . . The Spanish aud French squadrons pass unmolested by the English ndmiral in the Mediterranean. . .. Inactivity of die naval power of Great Britain. . . , Obstinate struggle in electing members in the new parliament, . . . Remarkable motion in the house of commons by lord Noel Somerset. . . . The country party obtain a majority in the house of commons, ... Sir Robert Walpole created earl of Orford. . . . Change in the ministry. . .Enquiry into the administration of sir Piobert Walpole. . . , Obstructed by the new ministry. . . . Reports of the secret committee, . . . The elector of Bavaria chosen emperor. . . . The king of Prussia gains the battle at Czaslaw. Treaty at Breslaw. . .The French troops retire under the cannon of Prague. A fresh body sent with the mareschal de Mallebois to bring them off. . . . Extra- ordmary retreat of M. de Belleisle. . . . The king of Great Bri- tain forms an army in Flanders. . . Progress of the war between Russia and Sweden, , . , The king of Sardinia declares for the house of Austria. . . . Motions of the Spaniards in Italy and Savoy. . . . Conduct of admiral Matthews in the Mediterranean .... Operations in the West Indies. . . . The attention of the ministry turned chiefly on the affairs of the continent. . . . Ex- traordinary motion in the house of lords by earl Stanhope. . , . Warm and obstinate debate on the repeal of the gin-act. , . . 1741. GEORGE II. 383 Bill for quieting corporations. . . .Convention between the em- peror and the queen of Hungary. . . . Difierence between the king of Prussia and the elector of Hanover. . . . The king of Great Britain obtains a victory over the Fiench at Dettingen. . Treaty of Worms. . . .Conclusion of the campaign .... Affairs in the North. . . . Battle of Campo Santo. . . .Transactions of the British fleet in the Mediterranean . . .Unsuccessful attempts upon the Spanish settlements in the West Indies. THE ARMY UNDER LORD CATHCART, &c. PRO- CEEDS TO THE WEST INDIES. J. HE British armament had by this time pro- ceeded to action in the West Indies. Sir Cha- loner Ogle, who sailed from Spithead, had been overtaken by a tempest in the bay of Biscay, by which the fleet, consisting of about one hundred and seventy sail, were scattered and dispersed. Nevertheless, he prosecuted his voyage, and an- chored M'ith a view to provide wood and M'ater, in the neutral island of Dominica, where the in- tended expedition sustained a terrible shock in the death of the gallant lord Cathcart, who was carried off by a dysentery. The loss of this noble- man was the more severely felt, as the command of the land-forces devolved upon general Went- worth, an officer without experience, authority, and resolution. As the fleet sailed along the island of Hispaniola, in its way to Jamaica, four large ships of war were discovered; and sir Chaloner detached an equal number of his squa- 384 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. dron to give them chase, while he himself pro- ceeded on his voyage. As those strange ships refused to bring to, lord Augustus Fitzroy, the commodore of the four British ships, saluted one of them witli a broadside, and a smart engage- ment ensued. After they had fought during the best part of the night, the enemy hoisted their colours in the morning, and appeared to be part of the French squadron, which had sailed from Europe, under the command of the marquis d'An- tin, with orders to assist the Spanish admiral, De Torres, in attacking and distressing the Eng- lish ships and colonies. War was not yet declared between France and England; therefore hostili- ties ceased: the English and French commanders complimented each other; excused themselves mutually, for the mistake which had happened; and parted as friends, with a considerable loss of men on both sides. NATURE OF THE CLIMATE ON THE SPANISH MAIN. In the mean time sir Chaloner Ogle arrived at Jamaica, where he joined vice-admiral Vernon, who now found himself at the head of the most formidable fleet and army that ever visited those seas, with ftdl power to act at discretion. The conjoined squadrons consisted of nine and twenty ships of the line, with almost an equal number of i;4i. GEORGE 11. 385 frigates, fire-ships, and bomb-ketches, well man- ned, and plentifully supplied with all kinds of provisions, stores, and necessaries. The number of seamen amounted to fifteen thousand: that of the land-forces, including the American regiment of four battalions, and a body of negroes inlisted at Jamaica, did not fall short of twelve thousand. Had this armament been ready to act in the pro- per season of the year, under the conduct of wise, experienced officers, united in councils, and steadily attached to the interest and honour of their country, the Havannah, and whole island of Cuba, might have been easily reduced; the whole treasure of the Spanish West Indies would have been intercepted ; and Spain must have been humbled into the most abject submission. But several unfavourable circumstances concurred to frustrate the hopes of the public. The ministry had detained sir Chaloner Ogle at Spithead with- out any visible cause, until the season for action was almost exhausted ; for, on the continent of new Spain, the periodical rains begin about the end of April; and this change in the atmosphere is always attended with epidemical distempers which render the climate extremely unhealthy; besides, the rain is so excessive, that for the space of two months no army can keep the field. VOL. III. 2C 3^:5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND; J741. ADMIRAL VERNON SAILS TO CARTHAGENA. Sir Chaloner Ogle arrived at Jamaica on the ninth day of January; and admiral Vernon did not sail on his intended expedition till towards the end of the month. Instead of directing his course to the Havannah, which lay to leeward, and might have been reached in less than three days, he resolved to beat up against the wind to Hispaniola, in order to observe the motion of the French squadron, commanded by the marquis d'Antin. The fifteenth day of February had elapsed before he received certain information that the French admiral had sailed for Europe, in great distress, for want of men and provisions, Avhich he could not procure in the West Indies. Admiral Vernon, thus disappointed, called a coun- cil of war, in which it was determined to proceed for Carthagena. The fleet being supplied Math wood and water at Hispaniola, set sail for the continent of New Spain, and on the fourth of March anchored in Playa Grande, to the wind- ward of Carthagena. Admiral de Torres had already sailed to the Havannah; but Carthagena was strongly fortified, and the garrison reinforced by the crews of a small squadron of large ships, commanded by don Bias de Leso, an officer of experience and reputation. Here the English admiral lay inactive till the ninth, when the 1741. GEORGE II. 387 troops were landed on the island of Tierra Bomba, near the mouth of the harbour, known by the name of Boca-chica, or Little-mouth, which was surprisinglyfortified with castles, batteries, booms, chains, cables, and ships of war. The British forces erected a battery on shore, with which they made a breach in the principal fort, while the admiral sent in a number of ships to divide the fire of the enemy, and co-operate with the en- deavours of the army. Lord Aubrey Beauclerc, a gallant officer, who commanded one of these ships, was slain on this occasion. The breach being deemed practicable, the forces advanced to the attack; but the forts and batteries were abandoned: the Spanish ships that lay athwart the harbour's mouth were destroyed or taken: the passage was opened, and the fleet entered without farther opposition. Then the forces were reimbarked with the artillery, and landed M^thiii a mile of Carthagena, where they were opposed by about seven hundred Spaniards, whom they obliged to retire. The admiral and general had contracted a hearty contempt for each other, and took all opportunities of expressing their mutual dislike: far from acting vigorously in concert, for the advantage of the community, they main- tained a mutual reserve, and separate cabals; and each proved more eager for the disgrace of his rival, than zealous for the honour of the nation. The general complained that the fleet lay idle 3S8 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. IMI. while his troops M^ere harassed and diminished by hard duty and distemper. The admiral af- firmed, that his ships could not lie near enough to hatter the town of Carthagena: he upbraided the general with inactivity and want of resolu- tion to attack the fort of St. Lazar which com- manded the town, and might be taken by scalade. Wentworth, stimulated by these reproaches, re- solved to try the experiment. His forces marched up to the attack; but the guides being slain, they mistook their route, and advanced to the strongest part of the fortification, where they were more- over exposed to the fire of the town. Colonel Grant, who commanded the grenadiers, was mor- tally wounded: the scaling-ladders were found too short : the oflficers were perplexed for Avant of orders and directions; yet the soldiers sus- tained a severe fire for several hours with sur- prising intrepidity, and at length retreated, leaving about six hundred killed or wounded on the spot. Their number was now so much re- duced, that they could no longer maintain their footing on shore; besides, the rainy season had begun with such violence, as rendered it impos- sible for them to live in camp. They were, therefore, reimbarked ; and all hope of further success immediately vanished. The admiral, how- ever, in order to demonstrate the impracticability of taking the place by sea, sent in the Gallicia, one of the Spanish ships which had been taken at Boca-chica, to cannonade the town, with six- 1741. GEORGE II. SSQ teen guns mounted on one side, like a floating battery. This vessel, manned by detachments of volunteers from different ships, and commanded by captain Hore, was warped into the inner har- bour, and moored before day, at a considerable distance from the walls, in very shallow water. In this position she stood the fire of several bat- teries for some hours, without doing or sustain- ing much damage: then the admiral ordered the men to be brought off in boats, and the cables to be cut; so that she drove with the sea-breeze upon a shoal, where she was soon filled with Avater. This exploit was absurd, and the inference which the admiral drew from it altogether fallacious. He said it plainl}' proved, that there was not depth of water in the inner harbour, sufficient to admit large ships near enough to batter the town with any prospect of success. This, indeed, was the case in that part of the harbour to which the Gallicia was conducted ; but a little farther to the left, he might have stationed four or five of his largest ships abreast, within pist©l-shot of the walls; and if this step had been taken, when the land-forces marched to the attack of St. Lazar, in all probability the town would have been surrendered. 3f)0 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;^l. EXPEDITION TO CUBA. After the reimbarkation of the troops, the dis- tempers peculiar to the climate and season began . to rage M'ith redoubled fury ; and great numbers of those who escaped the vengeance of the enemy perished by a more painful and inglorious fate. Nothing was heard but complaints and execra- tions : the groans of the dying, and the service for the dead : nothing was seen but objects of woe, and images of dejection. The conductors of this unfortunate expedition, agreed in nothing but the expediency of a speedy retreat from this scene of misery and disgrace. The fortifications of the harbour were demolished, and the fleet returned to Jamaica. — The miscarriage of this expedition, which had cost the nation an immense sum of money, was no sooner known in England, than the kingdom was filled Avith murmurs and discontent, and the people were depressed in pro- portion to that sanguine hope by which they had been elevated. Admiral Vernon, instead of un- dertaking any enterprize which might have re- trieved the honour of the British arms, set sail from Jamaica with the forces in July, and an- chored at the south-east part of Cuba, in a bay, on which he bestowed the appellation of Cum- berland harbour. The troops were landed, and encamped at the distance of twenty miles further 1741. GEORGE II. 391 up the river, where they remained totally in- active, and suhsisted chiefly on salt and damaged provisions, till the month of November, when, being" considerably diminished by sickness, they were put on board again, and re-conveyed to Jamaica. He was afterwards reinforced from England by four ships of war, and about three thousand soldiers; but he performed nothing worthy of the reputation he had acquired; and the people began to perceive that they had mis- taken his character. RUPTURE BETWEEN THE QUEEN OF HUN- GARY AND THE KING OF PRUSSIA. The affairs on the continent of Europe were now more than ever embroiled. The king of Prussia had demanded of the court of Vienna part of Silesia, by virtue of old treaties of co-fraternity, which were either obsolete or annulled; and pro- mised to assist the queen with all his forces, in case she should comply with his demand; but this being rejected with disdain, he entered Si- lesia at the head of an army, and prosecuted his conquests with great rapidity. In the mean time, the queen of Hungary was crowned at Presburgh, after having signed a capitulation, by which the liberties of that kingdom were confirmed; and the grand duke her consort was, at her request, associated with her for ten years in the govern- 392 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. ment. At the same time the states of Hungary refused to receive a memorial from the elector of Bavaria. During these transactions, his Prussian majesty made his public entrance into Breslau, and confirmed all the privileges of the inhabit- ants. One of his generals surprised the town and fortress of Jablunka, on the confines of Hungary; prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau,who commanded another army, which formed the blockade of Great Glogau on the Oder, took the place by scalade, made the generals Wallis and Reyski prisoners, with a thousand men that were in gar- rison; here, likewise, the victor found the mili- tary chest, fifty pieces of brass cannon, and a great quantity of ammunition. The queen of Hungary had solicited the ma- ritime powers for assistance, but found them fearful and backward. Being obliged, therefore, to exert herself with the more vigour, she or- dered count Neuperg to assemble a body of forces, and endeavour to stop the progress of the Prus- sians in Silesia. The two armies encountered each other in the neighbourhood of Neiss, at a village called Molwitz; and, after an obstinate dispute, theAustrians were obliged to retire, with the loss of four thousand men killed, wounded, or taken. The advantage was dearly purchased by the king of Prussia. His kinsman, Frederick, Margrave of Brand enburgh, and lieutenant-ge- neral Schuylemberg, were killed in the engage- ment, together with a great number of general 1/41. GEORGE II. 393 officers, and about two thousand soldiers. After this action, Brieg was surrendered to the Prussian, and he forced the important pass of Fryewalde, which was defended by four thousand Austrian hussars. The Enghsh and Dutch ministers, who accompanied him in his progress, spared no pains to effect an accommodation; but the two sove- reigns were too much irritated against each other to acquiesce in any terms that could be proposed. The queen of Hungary was incensed to find her- self attacked, in the day of her distress, by a prince to whom she had given no sort of provo- cation; and his Prussian majesty charged the court of Vienna with a design either to assassi- nate, or carry him off by treachery; a design which was disowned with expressions of indigna- tion and disdain. Count Neuperg being obliged to abandon Silesia, in order to oppose the Bava- rian arms in Bohemia, the king of Prussia sent thither a detachment to join the elector, under the command of count Deslau, who, in his route, reduced Glatz and Neiss, almost without opposi- tion : then his master received the homage of the Silesian states at Breslaw, and returned to Berlin. In December, the Prussian army was distributed in winter-quarters in Moravia, after having taken Olmutz, the capital of that province; and in March his Prussian majesty formed a camp of observation in the neighbourhood of Magde- burgh. 39i HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. A TREATY OF NEUTRALITY CONCLUDED \\ ITH FRANCE FOR HANOVER. The elector of Hanover was alarmed at the suc- cess of the king of Prussia, in apprehension that he would become too formidable a neighbour. A scheme was said to have been proposed to the court of Vienna, for attacking that prince's elec- toral dominions, and dividing the conquest; but it never was put in execution. Nevertheless, the troops of Hanover were augmented: the auxiliary Danes and Hessians in the pay of Great Britain were ordered to be in readiness to march; and a good number of British forces encamped and pre- pared for embarkation. The subsidy of three hundred thousand pounds, granted by parliament, was remitted to the queen of Hungary; and every thing seemed to presage the vigorous interposi- tion of his Britannic majesty. But in a little time after his arrival at Hanover, that spirit of action seemed to flag, even while her Hungarian majesty tottered on the verge of ruin. France resolved to seize this opportunity of crushing the house of Austria. In order to intimidate the elector of Hanover, mareschal Mallebois was sent with a numerous army into Westphalia; and this expedient proved effectual. A treaty of neutra- lity was concluded ; and the king of Great Britain engaged to vote for the elector of Bavaria at the i;4l. GEORGE II. 395 ensuing election of an emperor. The design of the French court was to raise this prince to the imperial dignity, and furnish him with such suc- cours as should enable him to deprive the queen of Hungary of her hereditary dominions. A BODY OF FRENCH FORCES JOIN THE ELECTOR OF BAVARIA. While the French minister at Vienna endea- voured to amuse the queen with the strongest assurances of his master's friendship, a body of five and thirty thousand men began their march for Germany, in order to join the elector of Ba- varia; another French army was assembled upon the Rhine; and the count de Belleisle being pro- vided with large sums of money, was sent to negociate with different electors. Having thus secured a majority of voices, he proceeded to Munich, where he presented the elector of Ba- varia with a commission, appointing him gene- ralissimo of the French troops marching to his assistance; and now the treaty of Nymphenburgh was concluded. The French king engaged to assist the elector with his whole power, towards raising him to the imperial throne: the elector promised, that after his elevation he would never attempt to recover any of the towns or provinces of the empire which France had conquered : that he would in his imperial capacity, renounce the 3p<5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. barrier- treaty; and agree that France should ir- revocably retain whatever places she should sub- due in the Austrian Netherlands. The next step of Belleisle was to negociate another treaty be- tween France and Prussia, importing, that the elector of Bavaria should possess Bohemia, Upper Austria, and the Tyrolese: that the king of Po- land should be gratified with Moravia and Upper Silesia; and that his Prussian majesty should re- tain Lower Silesia, with the town of Neiss and the county of Glatz. These precautions being taken, the count de Belleisle repaired to Franck- fort, in quality of ambassador and plenipotentiary from France, at the imperial diet of election. It was in this city that the French king published a declaration, signifying, that as the king of Great Britain had assembled an armv to influence the approaching election of an emperor, his most christian majesty, as guarantee of the treaty of Westphalia, had ordered some troops to advance towards the Rhine, with a view to maintain the tranquillity of the Germanic body, and secure the freedom of the imperial election. In Jul}^, the elector of Bavaria being joined by the French forces under mareschal Bro^lio, surprised the imperial city of Passau, upon the Danube; and entering Upper Austria, at the head of seventy thousand men, took possession of Lintz, where he received the homage of the states of that country. Understanding that the garrison of Vienna was very numerous, and that count 1741. GEORGE ir. 397 Palli had assembled thirty thousand Hungarians in the neighbourhood of this capital, he made no farther progress in Austria, but marched into Bohemia, Mhere he was reinforced by a consider- able body of Saxons, under the command of count Rutowski, natural son to the late king of Poland. By this time his Polish majesty had acceded to the treaty of Nymphenbourg, and declared war against the queen of Hungary, on the most frivo- lous pretences. The elector of Bavaria advanced to Prague, which was taken in the night by sca- lade: an atchievement in which Maurice count of Saxe, another natural son of the king of Po- land, distinguished himself at the head of the French forces. In December the elector of Bava- ria made his public entry into his capital, where he was proclaimed king of Bohemia, and inaugu- rated with the usual solemnities; then he set out for Franckfort, to be present at the diet of election. At this period the queen of Hungary saw her- self abandoned by all her allies, and seemingly devoted to destruction. She was not, however, forsaken by her courage; nor destitute of good officers, and an able ministry. She retired to Presburgh, and in a pathetic Latin speech to the states, expressed her confidence in the loyalty and valour of her Hungarian subjects. The no- bility of that kingdom, touched vv^ith her presence and distress, assured her, unanimously, that they would sacrifice their lives and fortunes in her 398 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. J7il. defence. The ban being raised, that brave people crowded to her standard; and the diet expressed their sentiments against her enemy by a public edict, excluding for ever the electoral house of Bavaria from the succession to the crown of Hungary; yet, without the subsidy she received from Great Britain, their courage and attach- ment would have proved ineffectual. By this supply she was enabled to pay her army, erect magazines, complete her warlike preparations, and put her strong places in a posture of defence. In December, her generals, Berenclau and Ment- zel, defeated count Thoring, who commanded eight thousand men, at the pass of Scardingen, and opening their way into Bavaria, laid the whole country under contribution; while count KhevenhuUer retook the city of Lintz, and drove the French troops out of Austria. The grand signor assured the queen of Hungary, that far from taking advantage of her troubles, h& should seize all opportunities to convince her of his friendship; the pope permitted her to levy a tenth on the revenues of the clergy within her domi- nions; and even to use all the church-plate for the support of the war. 1741. * GEORGE II. 309 WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND SWEDEN. As the czarina expressed an inclination to assist this unfortunate princess, the French court re- solved to find her employment in another quarter. They had already gained over to their interest count Gyllenburgh, prime-minister and president of the chancery in Sweden. A dispute happening between him and Mr. Burnaby, the British resi- dent at Stockholm, some warm altercation passed ; Mr. Burnaby was forbid the court, and published a memorial in his own vindication; on the other hand, the king of Sweden justified his conduct in a rescript sent to all the foreign ministers. The king of Great Britain had proposed a subsidy- treaty to Sweden, which, from the influence of French councils, was rejected. The Swedes hav- ing assembled a numerous army in Finland, and equipped a large squadron of ships, declared war against Russia, upon the most trifling pretences; and the fleet puttino- to sea, commenced hostili- ties by blocking up the Russian ports in Livonia. A body of eleven thousand Swedes commanded by general Wrangle, having advanced to Will- menstrand, were, in August, attacked and defeated by general Lasci, at the head of thirty thousand Russians. Count Lewenhaupt, who commanded the main army of the Swedes, resolved to take 400 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. vengeance for this disgrace, after the Russian troops had retired into winter- quarters. In De- cember he marched towards Wybourg; but re- ceiving letters from the prince of Hesse-Hom- bourg and the marquis de la Chetardie, the French ambassador at Petersburgh, informing him of the surprising revolution which had just happened in Russia, and proposing a suspension of hostilities, he retreated with his army, in order to wait for further instructions ; and the two courts agreed to a cessation of arms for three months. REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA. The Russians had been for some time discon- tented with their government. The late czarina was influenced chiefly by German councils, and employed a great number of foreigners in her service. These causes of discontent produced factions and conspiracies; and when they were discovered, the empress treated the authors of them with such severity as increased the general disaffection. Besides, they were displeased at the manner in which she had settled the succession. The prince of Brunswick-Lunenburgh Bevern, father to the young czar, was not at all agree- able to the Russian nobility, and his consort, the princess Anne of Mecklenburgh, having assumed the reins of government during her son's mino- rity, seemed to follow the maxims of her aunt, 1/41. GEORGE II. 401 the late czarina. The Russian grandees and gene- rals, theretore, turned their eyes upon the princess Elizabeth, who was daughter of Peter the Great, and the darling of the empire. The French am- bassador gladly concurred in a project for depos- ing a princess who was well affected to the house of Austria. General Lasci approved of the de- sign, which was chiefly conducted by the prince of Plesse-Hombourg, who, in the reigns of the em- press Catherine and Peter II. had been generalis- simo of the Russian army. The good-will and concurrence of the troops being secured, two regiments of guards took possession of all the avenues of the imperial palace at Petersburgh. The princess Elizabeth, putting herself at the head of one thousand men, on the fifth day of Decem- ber entered the winter palace, where the princess of Mecklenburgh and the infant czar resided. She advanced into the chamber where the princess and her consort lay, and desired them to rise, and quit the palace, adding that their persons were safe ; and that they could not justly blame her for asserting her right. At the same time, the counts Osterman, Golofhairkin, Mingden, and Munich, were arrested; their papers and effects were seized, and their persons conveyed to Schlis- selbourg, a fortress on the Neva. Early in the morning the senate assembling, declared all that had passed since the reign of Peter II. to be usurpation ; and that the imperial dignity belong- ed of right to the princess Elizabeth : she was im- VOL. III. D D 402 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17^^- mediately proclaimed empress of all the Russias, and recognized by the army in Finland. She forthwith piibhshed a general act of indemnity : she created the prince of Hesse-Hombourg, gene- ralissimo of her armies ; she restored the Dolgo- rucky family to their honours and estates : she recalled and rewarded all those who had been ba- nished for favouring her pretensions: she mitigat- ed the exile of the duke of Courland, by indulg- ing him with a maintenance more suitable to his rank: she released general Wrangle, count Wasa- burg, and the other Swedish officers, who had been taken at the battle of Willmenstrand : and the princess Ann of Mecklenburgh, with her con- sort and children, were sent under a strong guard to Riga, the capital of Livonia. Amidst these tempests of war and revolution, the states-general wisely determined to preserve their own tranquillity. It was, doubtless, their interest to avoid the dangers and expence of a war, and to profit by that stagnation of commerce which would necessarily happen among their neighbours that w^ere at open enmity with each other : besides, they were over-awed by the de- clarations of the French monarch on one side; by the power, activity, and pretensions of his Prussian majesty on the other; and they dreaded the prospect of a stadtholder at the head of their army. These at least were the sentiments of many- Dutch patriots, reinforced by others that acted under French influence. But the prince of Orange 1741. GEORGE ir. 40S numbered among his partisans and adherents many persons of dignity and credit in the common- wealth : he was adored by the populace, who loudly exclaimed against their governors, and clamoured for a war, without ceasing. This na- tional spirit, joined to the remonstrances and requisitions made by the courts of Vienna and London, obliged the states to issue orders for an augmentation of their forces : but these were exe- cuted so slowly, that neither France nor Prussia had much cause to take umbrage at their prepara- tions. In Italy the king: of Sardinia declared for the house of Austria: the republic of Genoa was deeply engaged in the French interest : the pope, the Venetians, and the dukedom of Tuscany were neutral : the king of Naples resolved to support the claim of his family to the Austrian dominions in Italy, and began to make preparations accord- ingly. His mother, the queen of Spain, had formed a plan for erecting these dominions into a monarchy for her second son Don PhiHp ; and a body of fifteen thousand men being embarked at Barcelona, were transported to Orbitello, under the convoy of the united squadrons of France and Spain. While admiral Haddock, with twelve ships of the line, lay at anchor in the bay of Gibraltar, the Spanish fleet passed the straits in the night, and was joined by the French squadron from Tou- lon. The British admiral sailing from Gibraltar, fell in with them in a few days, and found both ^uaclrons drawn up in line of battle. As he bore 2 404 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. down upon the Spanish fleet, the French admiral sent a flag of truce, to inform him that as the French and Spaniards were engaged in a joint-ex- pedition, he should be obliged to act in concert with his master's allies. This interposition pre- vented an engagement. The combined fleets amounting to double the number of the English squadron, admiral Haddock was obliged to desist; and proceeded to Port Mahon, leaving the enemy to prosecute their voyage without molestation. The people of England were incensed at this transaction, and did not scruple to affirm, that the hands of the British admiral were tied up by the neutrality of Hanover*". * In the month of July two ships of Haddock's squadron fall- ing in with three French ships of war, captain Barnet^ the Eng- lish commodore, supposing them to be Spanish register ships, fired a shot, in order to bring them to j and they refusing to com- ply with this signal, a sharp engagement ensued : after they had fought several hours, the French commander ceased firing, and thought proper to come to an explanation, when he and Barnet parted with mutual apologies. In the course of this year a dangerous conspiracy was disco- vered at New York, in North- America. One Hewson, a low pubUcan, had engaged several negroes in a design to destroy the tovra, and massacre the people. Fire was set to several parts of the city j nine or ten negroes were apprehended, convicted, and burned alive. Hewson, with his wife, and a servant-maid privy to the plot, were found guilty and hanged, though they died pro- testing their innocence. 1741. GEORGE 11. 405 INACTIVITY OF THE NAVAL POWER OF GREAT BRITAIN. The court of Madrid seemed to have shaken off that indolence and phlegm which had formerly- disgraced the councils of Spain. They no sooner learned the destination of commodore Anson, who had sailed from Spithead in the course of the pre- ceding year, than they sent Don Pizzaro with a more powerful squadron upon the same voyage, to defeat his design. He accordingly steered the same course, and actually fell in Avith one or two ships of the British armament, near the straits of Magellan; but he could not weather a long and furious tempest, through which Mr. Anson pro- ceeded into the South-Sea. One of the Spanish ships perished at sea : another was wrecked on the coast of Brazil : and Pizzaro bore away for the Rio de la Plata, where he arrived with the three remaining ships, in a shattered condition, after having lost twelve hundred men by sickness and famine. The Spaniards exerted the same vigil- ance and activity in Europe. Their privateers were so industrious and successful, that in the beginning of this year they had taken, since the commencement of the war, four hundred and seven ships belonging to the subjects of Great Britain, valued at near four millions of piastres. The traders had, therefore, too much cause to complain, considering the formidable fleets which f06 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17U. were maintained for the protection of commerce. In the course of the summer, sir John Norris had twice sailed towards the coast of Spain, at the head of a powerful squadron, without taking any effectual step for annoying the enemy, as if the sole intention of the ministry had been to expose the nation to the ridicule and contempt of its ene- mies. The inactivity of the British arms appears the more inexcusable, when we consider the great armaments which had been prepared. The land- forces of Great Britain, exclusive of the Danish and Hessian auxiliaries, amounted to sixty thou- sand men ; and the fleet consisted of above one hundred ships of war, manned by fifty-four thou- sand sailors. The general discontent of the people had a manifest influence upon the election of members for the new parliament, which produced one of the most violent contests between the two parties which had happened since the Revolution. All the adherents of the prince of Wales concurred with the country party, in opposition to the mini- ster ; and the duke of Argyle exerted himself so successfully among the shires and boroughs of Scotland, that the partisans of the ministry could not secure six members out of the whole number returned from North-Britain. They were, how- ever, much more fortunate in the election of the sixteen peers, who were chosen literally according to the list transmitted from court. Instructions were delivered by the constituents to a great num- 1741. GEORGE 11. 40/ ber of members returned for cities and counties, exhorting and requiring them to oppose a stand- ing army in time of peace : to vote for the miti- gation of excise laws ; for the repeal of septennial parhaments; and for the hmltatlon of placemen in the house of commons. They, likewise, insist" ed upon their examining into the particulars of the public expence, and endeavouring to redress the grievances of the nation. Obstinate strug- gles were maintained in all parts of the united kingdoms with uncommon ardour and persever- ance ; and such a national spirit of opposition pre- vailed, that, notwithstanding the whole weight of ministerial influence, the contrary interest seemed to preponderate in the new parliament, REMARKABLE MOTION IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS BY LORD NOEL SOMERSET. The king returned to England in the month of October ; and on the first day of December the session was opened. Mr. Onslow being rechosen speaker was approved of by his majesty, who spoke in the usual stile to both houses. He observed, that the former parliament had formed the strong- est resolutions in favour of the queen of Hungary, for the maintenance of the pragmatic sanction ; for the preservation of the balance of power, and the peace and liberties of Europe ; and that if the other powers which were under the like engage- 408 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. ments with him had answered the just expecta- tions so solemnly given, the support of the com- mon cause would have been attended with less difficulty. He said, he had endeavoured, by the most proper and early applications, to induce other powers that were united with him by the ties of common interest to concert such measures as so important and critical a conjuncture required : that where an accommodation seemed necessary, he had laboured to reconcile princes whose union would have been the most effectual means to pre- vent the mischiefs which had happened, and the best security for the interest and safety of the ■whole. He owned his endeavours had not hitherto produced the desired effect : though he was not without hope, that a just sense of approaching danger would give a more favourable turn to the councils of other nations. He represented the necessity of putting the kingdom in such a posture of defence as would enable him to improve all op- portunities of maintaining the liberties of Europe, and defeat any attempts that should be made against him and his dominions ; and he recom- mended unanimity, vigour, and dispatch. The house of commons having appointed their several committees, the speaker reported the king's speech ; and Mr. Herbert moved for an address of thanks, including an approbation of the means by which the war had been prosecuted. The mo- tion being seconded by Mr. Trevor, lord Noel Somerset stood up and moved, that the house 1741. , GEORGE II. 40d would in tlieir address desire his majesty not to engage these kingdoms in a war for the preserva- tion of his foreign dominions. He was supported by that incorruptible patriot, Mr. Shippen, who declared he was neither ashamed nor afraid to affirm, that thirty years had made no change in any of his political opinions. He said he was grown old in the house of commons ; that time had verified the predictions he had formerly utter- ed ; and that he had seen his conjectures ripened into knowledge. " If my country (added he) " has been so unfortunate as once more to com- *' mit her interest to men who propose to tliem- *' selves no advantage from their trust but that *' of selling it, I may, perhaps, fall once more un- *' der censure for declaring my opinion, and be *' once more treated as a criminal, for asserting ''what they who punish me cannot deny; for " maintaining that Hanoverian maxims are in- *' consistent with the happiness of this nation; " and for preserving the caution so strongly in- " culcated by those patriots who framed the Act *' of Settlement, and conferred upon the present *' royal family their title to the throne." He par- ticularized the instances in which the ministry had acted in diametrical opposition to that neces- sary constitution; and he insisted on the necessity of taking some step to remove the apprehensions of the people, who began to think themselves in danger of being sacrificed to the security of fo- reign dominions. Mr, Gibbon, who spoke on the ^10 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. same side of the question, expatiated upon the absurdity of returning* thanks for the prosecution of a war which had been egregiously mismanaged. " What! (said he) are our thanks to be solemnly " returned for defeats, disgrace, and losses, the "ruin of our merchants, the imprisonment of our *' sailors, idle shows of armaments, and useless " expences?" Sir Robert Walpole having made a short speech in defence of the first motion for an address, was answered by Mr. Pulteney, who seemed to be animated with a double proportion of patriot indignation. He asserted, that from a review of that minister's conduct since the begin- ning of the dispute with Spain, it would appear that he had been guilty not only of single errors, but of deliberate treachery : that he had always co-operated with the enemies of his country, and sacrificed to his private interest the happiness and honour of the British nation. He then entered into a detail of that conduct against which he had so often declaimed ; and being transported by an over-heated imagination, accused him of personal attachment and affection to the enemies of the kingdom. A charge that was doubtless the result of exaggerated animosity, and served only to in- validate the other articles of imputation that were much better founded. His objections were over- ruled ; and the address, as at first proposed, waa presented to his majesty. l^/Jl. GEORGE IL 4lt THE COUNTRY PARTY OBTAIN A MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. This small advantage, however, the minister did not consider as a proof of his having ascertained an undoubted majority in the house of commons. There was a great number of disputed elections ; and the discussion of these was the point on which the people had turned their eyes, as the criterion of the minister's power and credit. In the first which was heard at the bar of the house, he car- ried his point by a majority of six only; and tbis he looked upon as a defeat rather than a victory. His enemies exulted in their strength ; as they knew they should be joined, in matters of import- ance, by several members who voted against them on this occasion. The inconsiderable majority that appeared on the side of the administration plainly proved that the influence of the minister was greatly diminished, and seemed to prognosti- cate his further decline. This consideration in- duced some individuals to declare against him as a setting sun, from whose beams they could ex- pect no further warmth. His adherents began to tremble ; and he himself had occasion for all his art and equanimity. The court-interest was not sufficient to support the election of their own members for Westminster. The high-bailiff had been guilty of some illegal practices at the poll; and three justices of the peace had, on pretence 412 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. of preventing riots, sent for a military force to over-awe the election. A petition presented by the electors of Westminster was taken into con- sideration by the house ; and the election was de- clared void by a majority of four voices. The high-bailiff was taken into custody : the officer who ordered the soldiers to march, and the three justices, who signed the letter, in consequence of which he acted, were reprimanded on their knees at the bar of the house. SIR ROBERT WALPOLE CREATED EARL OF OJIFORD. The country-party maintained the advantage they had gained in deciding upon several other con- troverted elections ; and sir Robert Walpole tot- tered on the brink of ruin. He knew that the majority of a single vote would at any time com- mit him prisoner to the Tower, should ever the motion be made : and he saw that his safety could be effected by no other expedient but that of di- viding the opposition. Towards the accomplish- ment of this purpose he employed all his credit and dexterity. His emissaries did not fail to tam- per with those members of the opposite party who were the most hkely to be converted by their ar- guments. A message was sent by the bishop of Oxford to the prince of Wales, importing, That if his royal highness would write a letter of conde- Rit&^Ud fyJiUfKs Wallii. ■iKPjirrrhvtrrr.yr.^fan-'jA- lAV. i;41. GEORGE II. 411 scension to the king, he and all his counsellors should be taken into favour ; that fifty thousand pounds should be added to his revenue ; four times that sum be disbursed immediately for the payment of his debts ; and suitable provision be made in due time for all his followers. The prince declined this proposal. He declared that he would accept no such conditions while sir Robert Wal- pole continued to direct the public affairs : that he looked upon him as a bar between his majesty and the affections of his people ; as the author of the national grievances both at home and abroad ; and as the sole cause of that contempt which Great Britain had incurred in all the courts of Europe. His royal highness was now chief of this formidable party, revered by the whole nation — a party which had gained the ascendency in the house of commons ; which professed to act upon the principles of public virtue ; which demanded the fall of an odious minister, as a sacrifice due to an injured people; and declared that no tempta- tion could shake their virtue ; that no art could dissolve the cement by which they were united. Sir Robert Walpole, though repulsed in his attempt upon the prince of Wales, was more successful in his other endeavours. He resolved to try his strength once more in the house of commons, in another disputed election; and had the mortifica- tion to see the majority augmented to sixteen voices. He declared he would never more sit in that house ; and next day, which was the third 0/ 414 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. l/4l. February, the king adjourned both houses of par- liament to the eighteenth day of the same month. In this interim sir Robert Walpole was created earl of Orford, and resigned all his employments* CHANGE IN THE MINISTRY. At no time of his life did he acquit himself Avith such prudential policy as he now displayed. He found means to separate the parts that composed the opposition, and to transfer the popular odium from himself to those who had professed them- selves liis keenest adversaries. The country-party consisted of the tories, reinforced by discontented Avhigs, who had either been disappointed in their own ambitious views, or felt for the distresses of their country, occasioned by a weak and worth- less administration. The old patriots, and the whigs whom they had joined, acted upon very different, and, indeed, upon opposite principles of government; and, therefore, they were united only by the ties of convenience. A coalition was projected between the discontented whigs, and those of the same denomination who acted in the ministry. Some were gratified with titles and offices ; and all were assured, that in the manage- ment of affairs a new system would be adopted, according to the plan they themselves should pro- pose. The court required nothing of them, but that the earl of Orford should escape with impu- 1741. GEORGE IL 415 nity. His place of chancellor of the exchequer was bestowed upon Mr. Sandys, who was likewise appointed a lord of the treasury : and the earl of Wilmington succeeded him as first commissioner of that board. Lord Harrington being dignified with the title of earl, was declared president of the council; and in his room lord Carteret became secretary of state. The duke of Argyle was made master-general of the ordnance, colonel of his majesty's royal regiment of horse guards, field- marshal and commander in chief of all the forces in South-Britain ; but, finding himself disappoint- ed in his expectations of the coalition, he, in less than a month, renounced all these employments. The marquis of Tweedale was appointed secretary of state for Scotland, a post which had been long suppressed : Mr. Pulteney was sworn of the privy- council, and afterwards created earl of Bath. The earl of Winchelsea and Nottingham was preferred to the head of the admiralty, in the room of sir Charles Wager ; and, after the resignation of the duke of Argyle, the earl of Stair was appointed field-marshal of all his majesty's forces, as well as ambassador-extraordinary to the states-general. On the seventeenth day of February the prince of Wales, attended by a numerous retinue of his ad- herents, waited on his majesty, who received him graciously, and ordered his guards to be restored. Lord Carteret and Mr. Sandys were the first who embraced the ofi'ers of the court, without the con- sent or privity of any other leaders in the opposi- 416 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. tion, except that of Mr. Pulteney ; but they de- clared to their friends, they would still proceed upon patriot principles ; that they would concur in promoting an enquiry into past measures ; and in enacting necessary laws to secure the consti- tution from the practices of corruption. These professions were believed, not only by their old coadjutors in the house of commons, but also by the nation in general. The reconciliation between the king and the prince of Wales, together with the change in the ministry, were celebrated with public rejoicings all over the kingdom ; and im- mediately after the adjournment nothing but con- cord appeared in the house of commons. ENQUIRY INTO THE ADMINISTRATION OF SIR ROBERT WALPOLE. But this harmony was of short duration. It soon appeared, that those who had declaimed the loud- est for the liberties of their country had been actuated solely by the most sordid, and even the most ridiculous motives of self-interest. Jealousy and mutual distrust ensued between them and their former confederates. The nation complain- ed, that, instead of a total change of men and measures, they saw the old ministry strengthened by this coalition ; and the same interest in parlia- ment predominating with redoubled influence. They branded the new converts as apostates and 1741, GEORGE IL 417 betrayers of their country ; and in the transports of their indignation, they entirely overlooked the old object of their resentment. That a nobleman of pliant principles, narrow fortune, and unbound- ed ambition, should forsake his party for the blandishments of affluence, power, and authority, will not appear strange to any person acquainted with the human heart ; but the sensible part of mankind will always reflect M'ith amazement upon the conduct of a man, who seeing himself idolized by his fellow-citizens, as the first and firmest pa- triot in the kingdom, as one of the most shining ornaments of his country, could give up all his popularity, and incur the contempt or detestation of mankind, for the wretched consideration of an empty title, without office, influence, or the least substanstial appendage. One cannot, without an emotion of grief, contemplate such an instance of infatuation — one cannot but lament, that such glory should have been so weakly forfeited : that such talents should have been lost to the cause of liberty and virtue. Doubtless he flatteted him- self with the hope of one day directing the coun- cils of his sovereign ; but this was never accom- plished, and he remained a solitary monument of blasted ambition. Before the chano-e in the mini- stry, My. Pulteney moved, that the several papers relating to the conduct of the war, which had been laid before the house, should be referred to a select committee, who should examine strictly into the particulars, and make a report to the VOL. III. E E ^18 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1711. house of tliclr remarks and objections. The mo- tion introduced a debate ; but, upon a division, was rejected by a majority of three voices. Peti- tions having been presented by the merchants of London, Bristol, Liverpool, Glasgow, and almost all the trading towns in the kingdom, complain- ing of the losses they had sustained by the bad conduct of the war, the house resolved itself into a committee, to deliberate on these remonstrances. The articles of the London petition were explain- ed by Mr. Glover, an eminent merchant of that city. Six days were spent in perusing papers and examining witnesses : then the same gentleman summed up the evidence, and in a pathetic speech endeavoured to demonstrate, that the commerce of Great Britain had been exposed to the insults and rapine of the Spaniards, not by inattention or accident, but by one uniform and continued de- sign. This enquiry being resumed after the ad- journment, copies of instructions to admirals and captains of cruising ships were laid before the house : the commons passed several resolutions, upon which a bill was prepared for the better protecting and securing the trade and navigation of the kingdom. It made its way through the lower house; but was thrown out by the lords. The pension-bill was revived, and sent up to the peers, where it was again rejected, lord Carteret voting against that very measure which he had so lately endeavoured to promote. On the ninth day of March, lord Limerick made a motion for 17^2. GEORGE ir. 41iJ appointing a committee to enquire into the con- duct of aifairs for the last twenty years : lie was seconded by sir John St. Aub^ai, and supported by Mr. Velters Cornwall, Mr. Phillips, Mr. W. Pi4:t, and lord Percival, the new member for West- minster, who had already signalized himself by his eloquence and capacity. The motion was op* posed by sir Charles Wager, Mr. Pelbam, and Mr. Henry Fox, surveyor-general to his majesty's works, and brother to lord Ilchester. Thou"h the opposition was faint and frivolous, the pro* posal was rejected by a majority of two voices. Lord Limerick, not yet discouraged, made a mo- tion, on the twenty-third day of March, for an enquiry into the conduct of Robert earl of Or- ford for the last ten years of his administration ; and, after a sharp debate, it was carried in the affirmative. The house resolved to choose a secret committee by ballot ; and in the mean time pre- sented an address to the king, assuring him of their fidelity, zeal, and affection. Sir Robert Godschall having moved for leave to bring in a bill to repeal the act for septennial parliaments, he was seconded by Sir John Bar- nard ; but warmly opposed by Mr. Pulteney and i\Ir. Sandys; and the question passed in the ne- gative. The committee of secrecy being chosen, beffan to examine evidence, and Mv. Paxton, soli- citor to the treasury, refusing to answer such questions as were put to him, lord Limerick, chair- man of the committee, complained to the house 420 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1742. of his obstinacy. He was first taken into custody; and still persisting in his refusal, committed to Newgate. Then his lordship moved, that leave should be given to bring in a bill for indemnify- ing evidence against the earl of Orford ; and it was actually prepared by a decision of the ma- jority. In the house of lords it Avas vigorously opposed by lord Carteret, and as strenuously sup- ported by the duke of Argyle ; but fell upon a division, by the weight of superior numbers. Those members in the house of commons who heartily wished that the enquiry might be prose- cuted were extremely incensed at the fate of this bill. A committee was appointed to search the journals of the lords for precedents : their report being read, lord Strange, son of the earl of Derby, moved for a resolution, *' That the lords refusing to concur M'ith the commons of Great Britain, in an indemnification necessary to the effectual car- rying on the enquiry, now depending in parlia- ment, is an obstruction to justice, and may prove fatal to the liberties of this nation." — This motion, which was seconded by lord Quarendon, son of the earl of Lichfield, gave rise to a warm debate ; and Mr. Sandys declaimed against it, as a step that would bring on an immediate dissolution of the present form of government. It is really amaz- ing to see with what etlVontery some men can shift their maxims, and openly contradict the whole tenor of their former conduct. Mr. Sandys did not pass uncensured : he sustained some severe J712. GEORGE IL 421 sarcasms on his apostacy from sir John Hyntle Cotton, who refuted all his ohjections : nevertlie- less, the motion passed in the negative. Notwitli- standing this great obstruction, purposely tlirown in the way of the enquiry, the secret committee discovered many flagrant instances of fraud and corruption in which the earl of Orford had been concerned. It appeared, that he had granted fraudulent contracts for paying the troops in the West-Indies : that he had employed iniquitous arts to influence elections : that for secret-service, during the last ten years, he hq,d touched one million four hundred fifty-three thousand four hundred pounds of public money : that above fifty thousand pounds of this sum had been paid to authors and printers of newspapers and political tracts written in defence of the ministry : that on the very day which preceded his resignation, he' had signed orders on the civil-list revenues for above thirty thousand pounds : but as the cash remaining in the exchequer did not much exceed fourteen thousand pounds, he had raised the re- maining part of the thirty thousand, by pawning the orders to a banker. The committee proceed- ed to make further progress in their scrutiny, and had almost prepared a third report, when they were interrupted by the prorogation of par- liament. The ministry finding it was necessary to take some step for conciliating the affection of the people, gave way to a bill for excluding certain 422 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1742. officers from seats in the house of commons. They passed another for encouraging the hnen manufacture ; a third for regulating the trade of the plantations ; and a fourth to prevent the mar- riage of hmatics. They voted forty thousand seamen, and sixty-two thousand five hundred landmen for the service of the current year. They provided for the subsidies to Denmark and Hesse- Cassel, and voted five hundred thousand pounds to the queen of Hungary. The expence of the year amounted to near six milhons, raised by the land-tax at four shillings in the pound, by the malt-tax, by one million from the sinking-fund, by annuities granted upon it for eight hundred thousand pounds, and a loan of one million six hun- dred thousand pounds from the bank. In the month of July, John lord Gower was appointed keeper of his majesty's privy-seal : Allen lord Bathurst was made captain of the band of pensioners ; and on the fifteenth day of the month, Mr. Pulteney took his seat in the house of peers as earl of Bath. The king closed the session in the usual way, after having given them to understand, that a treaty of peace was concluded between the queen of Hun- gary and the king of Prussia, under his niedia- tion ; and that the late successes of tlie Austrian arms were in a great measure owing to the gene- rous assistance attorded by the British nation. 1742. GEOFxGE II. 423 THE ELECTOR OF BAVARIA CHOSEN EMPEROR. By this time great changes had happened in the affairs of the continent. The elector of Bavaria was chosen emperor of Germany at Franckfort on the Maine, and crowned by the name of Charles VII. on the twelfth day of February. Thither the imperial diet Avas removed from Ratisbon : they confirmed his election, and indulged him with a subsidy of fifty Roman months, amounting to about two hundred thousand pounds sterling. In the mean time, the Austrian general, Kheven- huller, ravaged his electorate, and made himself master of Munich, the capital of Bavaria : he like- wise laid part of the Palatinate under contribution, in resentment for that elector's having sent a body of his troops to reinforce the imperial army. In March, count Saxe, with a detachment of French and Bavarians, reduced Egra; and the Austrians were obliged to evacuate Bavaria, though they afterwards returned. Khevenhuller took post in the neighbourhood of Passau, and detached gene- ral Bernclau to Dinglesing on the Iser, to observe the motions of the enemy, who were now become extremely formidable. In May, a detachment of French and Bavarians advanced to the castle of Hilkersbergh on the Danube, with a view to take possession of a bridge over the river : the Austrian garrison immediately marched out to give them 424 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1742. battle, and a severe action ensued, in wliich the imperialists were defeated. THE KING OF PRUSSIA GAINS THE BATTLE AT CZASLAW. TREATY AT BRESLAW. Jn the beginning of the year the queen of Hun- gary had assembled two considerable armies in INIoravia and Bohemia. Prince Charles of Lor- raine, at the head of fifty thousand men, advanced against the Saxons and Prussians, who thought proper to retire with precipitation from Moravia, Avhich they had invaded. Then the prince took the route to Bohemia; and marshal Broglio, who commanded the French forces in that country, must have fallen a sacrifice, had not the king of Prussia received a strong reinforcement, and en- tered that kingdom before his allies could be at- tacked. The two armies advanced towards each other; and on the seventeenth of May, joined battle at Czaslaw, where the Austrians at first gained a manifest advantage, and penetrated as far as the Prussian baggage : then the irregulars began to plunder so eagerly, that they neglected every other consideration. The Prussian infantry took this opportunity to rally : the battle was re- newed, and, after a very obstinate contest, the victory was snatched out of the hands of the Aus- trians, who were obliged to retire, with the loss of live thousand men killed, and twelve hundred 1742. GEORGE II, 425 taken by the enemy. The Prussians paid dear for the honour of remaining on the field of battle; and from the circumstances of this action, the king is said to have conceived a disgust to the war. When the Austrians made such progress in the beginning of the engagement, he rode off with great expedition, until he was recalled by a message from his general, the count de Schwerin, assuring his majesty that there was no danger of a defeat. Immediately after this battle, he disco- vered an inclination to accommodate all differ- ences Math the queen of Hungary. The earl of Hyndford, ambassador from the court of Great Britain, who accompanied him in this campaign, and was vested with full powers by her Hungarian majesty, did not fail to cultivate this favourable disposition : and on the first day of June, a treaty of peace between the two powers was concluded at Bieslau. The queen ceded to his Prussian ma- jesty the Upper and Lower Silesia, with the county of Glatz in Bohemia; and he charged himself with the payment of the sum lent by the merchants of London to the late emperor, on the Silesian reve- nues. He likevs'ise engaged to observe a strict neutrality during the war, and to withdraw his forces from Bohemia in fifteen days after the rati- fication of the treaty, in which were comprehend- ed the king of Great Britain elector of Hanover, the czarina, the king of Denmark, the states-ge- neral, the house of Wolfenbuttle, and the king of 426 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17-12. Poland elector of Saxony, on certain conditions, which were accepted. The king of Prussia recalled his troops ; Avhile mareschal Broglio, who commanded the French auxiliaries in that kingdom, and the count de Belleisle, abandoned their magazines and baggage, and retired with precipitation under the cannon of Prague. There they entrenched themselves in an advantageous situation ; and prince Charles being joined by the other body of Austrians, under prince Lobkowitz, encamped in sight of them, on the hills of Girinsnitz. The grand duke of Tus- cany arrived in the Austrian army, of which he took the command ; and the French generals offered to surrender Prague, Egra, and all the other places they possessed in Bohemia, provided they might be allowed to march off with their arms, artillery, and ])aggage. The proposal was rejected, and Prague invested on all sides about the end of July. Though the operations of the siege were carried on in an aukward and slovenly manner, the place was so effectually blocked up, that famine must have compelled the French to surrender at discretion, had not very extraordinary efforts been made for their relief. The emperor had made advances to the queen of Hungary, He promised that the French forces should quit Bohe- mia, and evacuate the empire ; and he offei ed to renounce all pretensions to the kingdom of Bohe- mia, on condition that the Austrians would restore 1742. GEORGE II. 427 Bavaria: but these conditions were declined by the court of Vienna. The king of France was no sooner apprized of the condition to which the ge- nerals Broglio and Belleisle were reduced, than he sent orders to marshal Maillebois, who command- ed his army on the Rhine, to march to tiieir relief. His troops were immediately put in motion ; and when they reached Amberg in the Upper Palatin- ate, M'ere joined by the French and Imperialists from Bavaria. Prince Charles of Lorraine having received intelligence of their junction and design, left eighteen thousand men to maintain the block- ade of Prague, under the command of general Festititz, while he himself, with the rest of his army, advanced to Haydon on the frontiers of Bohemia. There he was joined by count Kheven- huller, who from Bavaria had followed the enemy, now commanded by count Seckendorff, and the count de Saxe. Seckendorff, however, was sent back to Bavaria, while marshal Maillebois entered Bohemia on the twenty-fifth day of September. But he marched with such precaution, that prince Charles could not bring him to an engagement. IVIeanwhile Festititz, for want of sufficient force, Avas obliged to abandon the blockade of Prague ; and the French generals being now at liberty, took post at Leutmaritz. Maillebois advanced as far as Kadan,: but seeing the Austrians possessed of all the passes of the mountains, he marched back to the Palatinate, and was miserably harassed in his retreat by prince Charles, who had left a 428 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1742. strong body with prince Lobkowitz, to watch the motions of Belleisle and Broglio. EXTRAORDINARY RETREAT OF M. DE RELLEISLE. These generals seeing themselves surrounded on all hands, returned to Prague, from whence Bro- glio made his escape in the habit of a courier, and was sent to command the army of Maillebois, who was by this time disgraced. Prince Lob- kowitz, who now directed the blockade of Prague, had so effectually cut off all communication be- tween that place and the adjacent country, that in a little time the French troops were reduced to great extremity, both from the severity of the season, and the want of provision. They were already reduced to the necessity of eating horse flesh, and unclean animals; and they had no other prospect but that of perishing by famine or war, when their commander formed the scheme of a retreat, which was actually put in execution.. Having taken some artful precautions to deceive the enemy, he, in the middle of December, de- parted from Prague at midnight, with about four- teen thousand men, thirt}^ pieces of artillery, and some of the principal citizens as hostages for the safety of nine hundred soldiers whom he had left in garrison. Notwithstanding the difficulties he must have encountered at that season of the year> i;42. GEORGE ir. 429 in a broken and unfrequented road, which lie purposely chose, he marched with such expedition, tliat he had gained the passes of the mountains, before he was overtaken by the horse and hussars of prince Lobkowitz. The fatigue and hardships wliich tlie miserable soldiers underwent are inex- pressible. A great number perished in the snow, and many hundreds, fainting with weariness, cold, and hunger, were left to the mercy of the Aus- trian irregulars, consisting of the most barbarous people on the face of the earth. The count de Belleisle, though tortured with the hip-gout, be- haved with surprising resolution and activity. He caused himself to be carried in a litter to every place where he thought his presence was neces- sary, and made such dispositions, that the pur- suers never could make an impression upon the body of his troops : but all his artillery, baggage, and even his own equipage, fell into the hands of the enemy. On the twenty-ninth day of Decem- ber, he arrived at Egra, from whence he proceeded to Alsace without further molestation : but, when he returned to Versailles, he met with a very cold reception, notwithstanding the gallant exploit which he had performed. After his escape, prince Lobkowitz returned to Prague, and the small gar- rison which Belleisle had left in that place sur- rendered upon honourable terms; so that this capital reverted to the house of Austria. 430 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1742. THE KING OF GREAT BRITAIN FORMS AN ARMY IN FLANDERS. The king of Great Britain resolving to make a powerful diversion in the Netherlands, had in the month of April, ordered sixteen thousand effective men to be embarked for that country ; but, as this step was taken without any previous concert with the states-general, the earl of Stair, destined to the command of the forces in Flanders, was in the mean time appointed ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to their high mightinesses, in order to persuade them to co-operate vigorously in the plan which his Britannic majesty had form- ed : a plan by which Great Britain was engaged as a principal in a foreign dispute, and entailed upon herself the whole burthen of an expensive war, big with ruin and disgrace. England, from being the umpire, was now become a part}^ in all continental quarrels; and, instead of trimming the balance of Europe, lavished away her blood and treasure in supporting the interest and allies of a puny electorate in the north of Germany. The king of Prussia had been at variance with the elector of Hanover. The duchy of JMecklenburgh was the avowed subject of dispute : but his Prus- sian majesty is said to have had other more pro- voking causes of complaint, which, however, he did not think proper to divulge. The king of Great Britain found it convenient to accommo- 1743. GEORGE II. 431 date these differences. In the course of this sum- mer, the two powers concluded a convention, in consequence of which the troops of Hanover eva- cuated Mecklenburgh, and three regiments of Brandenburgh took possession of those baihwicks that were mortgaged to the king of Prussia. The elector of Hanover being now secured from dan- ger, sixteen thousand troops of that country, to- gether with the six thousand auxiliar}^ Hessians, began their march for the Netherlands ; and about the middle of October arrived in the neighbour- hood of Brussels, where they encamped. The earl of Stair repaired to Ghent, Avhere the British forces were quartered: a body of Austrians was assembled ; and though the season was far ad- vanced, he seemed determined upon some expe- dition : but all of a sudden the troops were sent into winter-quarters. The Austrians retired to Luxembourg : the English and Hessians remained in Flanders ; and the Hanoverians marched into the county of Liege, without paying any regard to the bishop's protestation. PROGRESS OF THE WAR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND SWEDEN. The states-general had made a considerable aug- mentation of their forces by sea and land ; but, notwithstanding the repeated instances of the earl of Stair, they resolved to adhere to their neu- 432 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. trality : they dreaded the neighbourhood of the French ; and they were far from being pleased to see the Enirhsh o-et footing: i^"^ the Netlierlands. The friends of the house of Orange began to exert themselves: the states of Groningen and West- Friesland protested, in fa v- our of the prince, against the promotion of foreign generals which had lately been made : but his interest was powerfully op- posed by the provinces of Zealand and Holland, which had the greatest weight in the republic. The revolution in Russia did not put an end to the war with Sweden. These two powers had agreed to an armistice of three months, during which the czarina augmented her forces in Fin- land. She likewise ordered the counts Osterman and Munich, with their adherents, to be tried : they were condemned to death, but pardoned on the scaffold, and sent in exile to Siberia. The Swedes, still encouraged by the intrigues of France, refused to listen to any terms of accommodation, unless Carelia, and the other conquests of the czar Peter, should be restored. The French court had expected to bring over the new empress to their measures : but they found her as well disposed as her predecessor to assist the house of Austria. She remitted a considerable sum of money to the queen of Hungary ; and at that same time con- p-ratulated the elector of Bavaria on his elevation to the imperial throne. The ceremony of her coronation was performed in May, with great solemnity, at Moscow; and in November she de- 1712. GEOPxGE II, 433 clared her nephew, the duke of Holsteiii-Gottorpj- her successorj hy the title of grand pnnce of all the Russias. The cessation of arms l)eing expired, general Lasci reduced Fredericksheim, and ob- liged the Swedish army, commanded by count Lewenhaupt, to retire before him, from one place to another, until at length they were quite sur- rounded near Helsingsors. In this emergency^ the Swedish general submitted to a eapitulationj by which his infantry were transported by sea to Sweden ; his cav^alry marched by land to Abo ; and his artillery and magazines remained in the hands of the Russians. The kinjy of Sweden be- ing of an advanced age, the diet assembled in order to settle the succession ; and the duke of Holstein-Gottorp, as grandson to the eldest sister to Charles XII. was declared next heir to the crown. A courier was Immediately dispatched to Moscow, to notify to the duke this'determination of the diet ; and this message was followed by a deputation ; but when they understood that he had embraced the religion of the Greek churchy and been acknowledged successor to the throne of Russia, they annulled his election for Sweden, and resolved that the succession should not be re- established, until a peace should be concluded with the czarina. Conferences were opened at Abo for this purpose. In the mean time, the events of war had been so long unfortunate for Sweden, that it was absolutely necessary to ap- pease the indignation of the people with some VOL. III. F F 43-t HISTORY OF ENGLAND. I7i2. sacrifice. The generals Lewenhaupt and Boden- brock were tried by a court-martial for miscon- duct : being found guilty and condemned to death, they applied to the diet, by which the sen- tence Avas confirmed. The term of the subsidy- treaty between Great Britain and Denmark ex- piring, his Danish majesty refused to renew it; nor would he accede to the peace of Breslau. On the other hand, he became subsidiary to France, with which also he concluded a new treaty of commerce. THE KING OF SARDINIA DECLARES FOR THE HOUSE OF AUSTRIA. The court of Versailles were now heartily tired of maintainiiig the war in Germany, and had actu- ally made eqiiitable proposals of peace to the queen of Hungary, by whom they were rejected. Thus repulsed, they redoubled their preparations ; and endeavoured, by advantageous offers, to detach the king of Sardinia from the interest of the house of Austria. This prince had espoused a sister to the grand duke, who pressed him to declare for her brother, and the queen of Hungary promised to gratify him with some territories in the Milan- ese : besides, he thought the Spaniards had already gained too much ground in Italy : but, at the same time, he was afraid of being crushed between France and Spain, before he could be properly I7i2. GEORGE IT. 435 supported. He therefore temporised, and pro- tracted the negociation, until he was alarmed at the progress of the Spanish arms in Italy, and fixed in his determination by the subsidies of Great Britain. Tlie Spanish army assembled at Rimini, under the duke de Montemar ; and being joined by the Neapolitan forces, amounted to sixty thousand men, furnished with a large train of artillery. About the beginning of May, they entered the Bolognese : then the king of Sardinia declaring against them, joined the Austrian army commanded by count Traun ; marched into the duchy of Parma ; and understanding that the duke of Modena had engaged in a treaty with the Spaniards, dispossessed that prince of his domi- nions. The duke de Montemar, seeing his army diminished by sickness and desertion, retreated to the kingdom of Naples, and was followed by the king of Sardinia, as far as Rimini. Here he received intelligence, that Don Philip, third son of his catholic majesty, had made an irruption into Savoy with another army of Span- iards, and already taken possession of Chamberri, the capital. He forthwith began his march for Piedmont. Don Philip abandoned Savo}'' at his approach, and retreating into Dauphin^, took post under the cannon of fort Barreaux. The king pursued him thither, and both armies remained in siirht of each other till the month of December, when the marquis de Minas, an active and enter- prising general, arrived from Madrid, and took 2 436 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1742. upon him the command of the forces under Don Philip. This general's first exploit was against the castle of Aspremont, in the neighbourhood of the Sardinian camp. He attacked it so vigorously, that the garrison was obliged to capitulate in four- and-forty hours. The loss of this important post compelled the king to retire into Piedmont, and the Spaniards marched back into Savoy, where they established their winter-quarters. In the mean time, the duke de jMontemar, who directed the other Spanish army, though the duke of Mo- dena was nominal generalissimo, resigned his com- mand to count Gages, who attempted to pene- trate into Tuscany ; but was prevented by the vigilance of count Traun, the Austrian general. In December he quartered his troops in the Bo- lognese and Romagna; while the Austrians and Piedmontese were distributed in the Modenese and Parmesan. The pope was passive during the whole campaign : the Venetians maintained their neutrality, and the king of the two Sicilies was overawed by the British fleet in the Mediterranean. The new ministry in England had sent out ad- miral IMatthews to assume the command of this squadron, which had been for some time conduct* ed by Lestock, an inferior officer, as Haddock had been obliged to resign his commission, on account of his ill state of health. Matthews was likewise invested with the character of minister- plenipotentiary to the king of Sardinia and the states of Italy. Immediately after he had taken i;^42. GEORGE ir. 437 possession of his command, he ordered captain Norris to destroy five S{3anish gallies Avhich had put into the bay of St. Tropez ; and this service was effectually performed. In May he detached commodore Rowley, with eight sail, to cruize off the harbour of Toulon ; and a great number of merchant ships belonging to the enemy fell into his hands. In August he sent commodore ^lar- tin with another squadron into the bay of Naples, to bombard that city, uidess his Sicilian majesty would immediately recal his troops, which had joined the Spanish army, and promise to remain neuter during the continuance of the war. Naples was immediately filled v/ith consternation; the king subscribed to these conditions; and the Eng- lish squadron rejoined the admiral on the road of Hieres, M'hich he had chosen for his winter sta- tion. Before this period he had landed some men at St. Remo, in the territories of Genoa, and de- stro3^ed the magazines that were erected for the use of the Spanish army. He had likewise ordered two of his cruizers to attack a Spanish ship of the line, which lay at anchor in the port of Ajaccio, in the island of Corsica ; but the Spanish captain set his men on shore, and blew up his ship, rather than she should fall into the hands of the English. 438 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17^2. OPERATIONS IN THE WEST-INDIES. In the course of this year admiral Vernon and general Wentworth made another effort in the West-Indies. They had in January received a reinforcement from England, and planned a new expedition, in concert with the governor of Ja- maica, who accompanied them in their voyage. Their design was to disembark the troops at Porto- Bello, and march across the isthmus of Darien, to attack the rich town of Panama. They sailed from Jamaica on the ninth day of March, and on the twenty-eighth arrived at Porto-Bello. There they held a council of war, in which it was re- solved, that as the troops were sickly, the rainy season begun, and several transports not yet ar- rived, the intended expedition was become im- practicable. In pursuance of this determination the armament immediately returned to Jamaica, exhibiting a ridiculous spectacle of folly and irre- solution*^. In August, a ship of war was sent '' In May;, hvo English frigates, commanded by captain Smith and captain Stuart, fell in with three Spanish ships of war, near the island of St. Christopher's, They forthwith engaged, and the action continued till night, by the favour of which tlie enemy re- tired to Porto Rico in a shattered condition. In the month of September the Tilbury ship of war, of sixty gunsj was accidentally set on fire, and destroyed, off the island of Hispaniola, on which occasion one hundred and twenty-seven men perished j the rest were saved by captain Hoare, of the De- fiance, who happened to be on the same cruize. i;-i2. GEORGE IT. 439 from thence, with about three hundred soldiers, to the small island Rattan, in the bay of Honduras, of which they took possession. In September, Vernon and Went worth received orders to return to England with such troops as remained alive : these did not amount to a tenth part of the num- ber which had been sent abroad in that inglorious service. The inferior officers fell ignobly by sick- ness and despair, without an opportunity of sig- nalizing their courage, and tlie commanders lived to feel the scorn and reproach of their country. In the month of June the new colony of Georgia was invaded by an armament from St. Augustine, commanded by Don Marinel de Monteano, go- vernor of that fortress. It consisted of six-and- thirty ships, from which four thousand men were landed at St. Simon's ; and began their march for Frederica. General Oglethorpe, with a handful of men, took such wise precautions for opposing their progress, and harassed them in their march with such activity and resolution, that after two of their detachments had been defeated, they retired to their ships, and totally abandoned the enterprize. In England the merchants still complained that their commerce was not properly protected, and the people clamoured against the conduct of the war. They said, their burthens were increased to maintain quarrels with which they had no con- cern ; to defray the enormous expence of inactive fleets and pacific armies. Lord C. had by this 440 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1742. time insinuated himself into the confidence of his sovereign, and engrossed the whole direction of public affairs. The war with Spain was now be- come a secondary consideration, and neglected accordingly ; m hile the chief attention of the new minister was turned upon the afiairs of the con- tinent. The dispute with Spain concerned Britain only. The interests of Hanover were connected with the troubles of the empire. By pursuing this object he soothed the wishes of his master, and opened a more ample field for his own cim- bition. He had studied the policy of the con- tinent with peculiar eagerness. This was the favourite subject of his reflection, upon which he thought and spoke with a degree of enthusiasm. The intolerable taxes, the poverty, the ruined commerce of his country, the iniquity of standing armies, votes of credit, and foreign connections, ^ upon which he had so often expatiated, were now forgotten, or overlooked. He saw nothing but glory, conquest, or acquired dominion. He set the power of France at defiance ; and as if Great Britain had felt no distress, but teemed with trea- sure which she could not otherwise employ, he poured forth her millions with a rash and desperate hand, in purchasing beggarly allies, and maintain- ing mercenary armies. The earl of Stair had arrived in England towards the end of August, and conferred with his majesty. A privy-council was summoned ; and in a few days that nobleman returned to Holland. Lord Carteret was sent with 1742. GEOrxGE II. 441 a commission to the Hague in September; and when he returned, the baggage of the king and the duke of Cumberland, which had been shipped for Flanders, was ordered to be brought on shore. The parliament met on the sixteenth day of No- vember, when his majesty told them, that he had augmented the British forces in the Low Countries with sixteen thousand Hanoverians and the Hes- sian auxiliaries, in order to form such a force, in conjunction with the Austrian troops, as might be of service to the common c:iuse at all events. He extolled the magnanimity and fortitude of the queen of Hungary, as well as the resolute con- duct of the king of Sardinia, and that prince's strict adherence to his engagements, tliougU at- tacked in his own dominions. He mentioned the requisition made by Sweden, of his good otiiccs for procuring a peace between that nation a;ul Russia ; the defensive alliances which he had con- cluded with the czarina, and with the king of Prussia; as events which could not ha\e been expected, if Great Britain had not manifested a seasonable spirit and vigour, in defence and assist- ance of her ancient allies, and in maintaining the liberties of Europe. He said, the honour and ni- terest of his crown and kingdoms, the success of the war with Spain, the re-establishment of the balance and tranquillit}- of Euro()e would greaiiy depend on the prudence and vigour of their reso- lution. The marquis of Tweedale moved for an address of thanks, which was opposed by the earl 442 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1742. of Chesterfield, for the reasons so often urged on the same occasion ; but supported by Lord C. on his new-adopted maxims, with those specious argu- ments Avhich he could at all times produce, deli- vered with amazincf serenity and assurance. The motion was agreed to, and the address presented to his majesty. About this period a treaty of mutual defence and guarantee between his ma- jesty and the king of Prussia was signed at West- minster. In the house of commons Mr. Lyttle- ton made a motion for reviving the place-bill ; but it was opposed by a great number of members who had formerly been strenuous advocates for this measure, and rejected upon a division. This was also the fate of a motion made to renew the enquiry into the conduct of Robert earl of Orford. As many strong presumptions of guilt had appear- ed against him in the reports of the secret com- mittee, the nation had reason to expect that this proposal would have been embraced by a great majority : but several members, who in the pre- ceding session had been loud in their demands of justice, now shamefully contributed their talents and interest in stifling the enquiry. EXTRAORDINARY MOTION IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS BY EARL STANHOPE. When tlie house of lords took into consideration the several estimates of the expence occasioned 1742. GEORGE II. 443 by the forces in the pay of Great Britain, earl Stanhope, at the close of an elegant speech, moved for an address, to beseech and advise his majesty, that in compassion to his people, loaded already with such numerous and heavy taxes, such large and growing debts, and greater annual ex- pences than the nation at any time before had ever sustained, he would exonerate his subjects of the charge and burthen of those mercenaries who were taken into the service last year, without the advice or consent of parliament. The motion was supported hy the earl of Sandwich, who took occasion to speak with great contempt of Hano- ver, and, in mentioning the royal family, seemed to forget that decorum which the subject requir- ed. He had, indeed, reason to talk with asperity on the contract by v»diich the Hanoverians had been taken into the pay of Great Britain. Levy- money was charged to the account, though they were engaged for one year only, and though not a single regiment had been raised on this occa- sion : they had been levied for the security of the electorate ; and would have been maintained if England had never engaged in the affairs of the continent. The duke of Bedford enlarged upon the same subject. He said it had been suspected, nor was the suspicion without foundation, that the measures of the English ministry had long been regulated by the interest of his majesty's electoral territories : that these had been long considered as a gulf into which the treasures of 444 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;43. Great Britain had been thrown : tliat the state of Hanover had been changed, without any visible cause, since the accession of its princes to the throne of England : affluence had begun to wanton in their towns, and gold to glitter in their cot- tages, without the discovery of mines, or the in- crease of their commerce ; and new dominions had been purchased, of which the value was never paid from the revenues of Hanover. The motion was hunted down by the new minister, the patriot lord Bathurst, and the carl of Bath, which last nobleman declared, that he considered it as an act of cowardice and meanness, to fall passively down the stream of popularity, to suffer his reason and integrity to be overborne by the noise of vulgar clamours, wliich had been raised against the mea- sures of government by the low arts of exaggera- tion, fallacious reasonings, and partial representa- tions. This is the very language which sir Robert Walpole had often used against Mr. Pulteney and his confederates in the house of commons. The associates of the new secretary pleaded the cause of Hanover, and insisted upon the necessity of a land- war against France, with all the vehemence of declamation. Tbeir suo'&estions were answered : their conduct was severely stigmatized by the earl of Chesterfield, who observed, that the assembling an army in Flanders, without the concurrence of the states-general, or any other power engaged by treaty, or bound by interest, to support the queen of Hungary, was a rash and ridiculous measure: 37^2. GEORGE ir. 415 the taking sixteen thousand Hanoverians into British pay, without consulting the parhanient, seemed higlily derogatory to the rights and chg- nity of the great council of the nation, and a very dangerous precedent to future times : that these troops could not be employed against the emperor, whom they had already recognized : that the arms and wealth of Britain alone were altogether insuf- ficient to raise the house of Austria to its former strength, dominion, and influence: that the assem- bling an army in Flanders would engage the na- tion as principals in an expensive and ruinous Vv^ar, with a power which it ought not to provoke, and could not pretend to withstand in that man- ner : that while Great Britain exhausted herself almost to ruin, in pursuance of schemes founded on engagements, to the queen of Hungary, the electorate of Hanover, though under the same engagements, and governed by the same prince, did not appear to contribute any thing as an ally to her assistance, but was paid by Great Britain for all the forces it had sent into the field, at a very exorbitant price ; that nothing could be more absurd and iniquitous than to hire these merce- naries, while a numerous army lay inactive at home, and the nation groaned under such into- lerable burthens. " It may be proper (added lie) *' to repeat what may be forgotten in the multi- *' tude of other objects, that this nation, after *' having exalted the elector of Hanover from a " state of obscurity, to the crown, is condemned 446 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. '* to hire the troops of that electorate to fight *' their own cause; to hire them at a rate which *' was never demanded before ; and to pay levy- " money for them, though it is known to all " Europe that they were not raised for this occa- "sion." All the partisans of the old ministry joined in the opposition to earl Stanhope's motion, which was rejected by the majority. Then the earl of Scarborough moved for an address, to ap- prove of the measures which had been taken on the continent ; and this was likewise carried by dint of numbers. It was not, however, a very eligible victory : what they gained in parliament they lost with the people. The new ministers be- came more odious than their predecessors ; and that people began to think public virtue was an empty name. But the most severe opposition they under- went was in their endeavours to support a bill which they had concerted, and which had passed through the house of commons with great preci- pitation : it repealed certain duties on spirituous liquors, and licences for retailing these liquors; and imposed others at an easier rate. When those severe duties, amounting almost to a prohibition, were imposed, the populace of London were sunk into the most brutal degeneracy, by drinking to excess the pernicious spirit called gin, which was sold so cheap that the lowest class of the people could afford to indulge themselves in one conti- nued state of intoxication, to the destruction of i;42. GEORGE 11. 447 all morals, industry, and order. Such a shameful degree of profligacy prevailed, that the retailers of this poisonous compound setup painted boards in public, inviting people to be drunk for the small expence of one penny ; assuring them they might be dead drunk for two-pence, and have straw for nothing. They accordingly provided cellars and places strewed with straw, to which they conveyed those wretches who were overwhelmed with in- toxication. In these dismal caverns they lay until they recovered some use of their faculties, and then they had recourse to the same mischievous potion ; thus consuming their health, and ruining their families, in hideous receptacles of the most filthy vice, resounding with riot, execration, and blasphemy. Such beastly practices too plainly denoted a total want of all policy and civil regu- lations, and would have reflected disgrace upon the most barbarous community. In order to re- strain this evil, which was become intolerable, the legislature enacted that law which we have already mentioned. But the populace soon broke through all restraint. Though no licence was obtained, and no duty paid, the liquor continued to be sold in all corners of the streets : informers were inti- midated by the threats of the people ; and the justices of the peace, cither from indolence or corruption, neglected to put the law in execution. The new ministers foresaw that a great revenue would accrue to the crown from a repeal of this actj and this measure they thought they might 448 - HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17^3. the more decently take, as the law had proved ineffectual : for it appeared that the consump- tion of gin had considerably increased every year since those heavy duties were imposed. They, therefore, pretended, that should the price of the liquor be moderately raised, and licences granted at twenty shillings each to the retailers, the lowest class of people would be debarred the use of it to excess : their morals would of consequence be mended; and a considerable sum of money might be raised for the support of the war, by mortgag- ing the revenue arising from the duty and the licences. Upon these maxims the new bill was founded, and passed through the lower house without opposition : but among the peers it pro- duced the most obstinate dispute which had hap- pened since the beginning of this parliament. The first assault it sustained was from lord Hervey, who had been divested of his post of privy-seal, M'hich was bestowed on lord Gower; and these two noblemen exchanged principles from that instant. The first was hardened into a sturdy patriot ; the other suppled into an obsequious courtier. Lord Hervey, on this occasion, made a florid harangue upon the pernicious effects of that destructive spirit they were about to let loose upon their fellow-creatures. Several prelates expatiated on the same topics : but the earl of Chesterfield attacked the bill with the united powers of reason, wit, and ridicule. Lord Carteret^ lord Bathurst, and the earl of Bath, were numbered among its 1742. GEORGE ll. 4-I9 advocates ; and shrewd arguments were advanced on both sides of the question. After very long, warm, and repeated debates, the bill passed M'ith- out amendments, thou2:h the whole bench of bishops voted against it ; and we cannot help owning, that it has not been attended with those dismal consequences Arhich the lords in the oppo- sition foretold. When the question was put for committing this bill, and the earl of Chesterfield saw the bishops join in his division, " I am in " doubt (said he) whether I have not got on the " other side of the question ; for I have not had " the honour to divide with so many lawn sleeves ** for several years." BILL FOR QUIETING CORPORATIONS. By the report of the secret committee it appeared that the then minister had commenced prosecu- tions against the mayors of boroughs who opposed his influence in the elections of members of par- liament. These prosecutions were founded on ambiguities in charters, or trivial informalities in the choice of magistrates. An appeal on such a process was brought into the house of lords; and this evil falling under consideration, a bill was pre- pared for securing the indei)endency of corpora- tions : but as it tended to diminish the influence of the ministry, they argued against it with their usual eagerness and success ; and it was rejected VOL. III. ^ ^^ 450 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. on a division. Tiie mutiny bill and several others passed through both houses. The commons grant- ed supplies to the amount of six millions, raised by the land-tax, the malt- tax, duties on spirituous liquors, and licences, and a loan from the sinking fund. In two years the national debt had suffered an increase of two millions four hundred thousand pounds. On the twenty-first day of April the session was closed in the usual manner. The king in his speech to both houses, told them, that, at the requisition of the queen of Hungary, he had ordered his army, in conjunction with the Austri- ans, to pass the Rhine for her support and assist- ance : that he continued one squadron of ships in the Mediterranean, and another in the West-In- dies. He thanked the commons for the ample supplies they had granted ; and declared it was the fixed purpose of his heart to promote the true interest and happiness of his kingdoms. Imme- diately after the prorogation of parliament he em- barked for Germany, accompanied by the duke of Cumberland, lord Carteret, and other persons of distinction. CONVENTION BETWEEN THE EMPEROR AND THE QUEEN OF HUNGARY. At this period the queen of Hungary seemed to triumph over all her enemies. The French were driven out of Bohemia and part of the Upper-Pa- J743. GEORGE II. 451 latinate ; and their forces under mareschal Brodio were posted on the Danube. Prince Charles of Lorraine, at the head of the Austrian army, en- tered Bavaria; and in April obtained a victory over a body of Bavarians at Braunau ; at tlie same time, three bodies of Croatians penetrating through the passes of the Tyroleze, ravaged the whole country to the very gates of Munich. The em- peror pressed the French general to hazard a bat- tle ; but he refused to run the risk, though he had received a strong reinforcement from France. His Imperial majesty, thinking himself unsafe in Mu- nich, retired to Augsburgh : mareschal Secken- dorf retreated with the Bavarian troops to Ingold- stadt, where he Avas afterwards joined by mareschal Broglio, whose troops had in this retreat been pursued and terribly harassed by the Austrian cavalry and hussars. Prince Charles had opened a free communication with Munich, which now for the third time fell into the hands of the queen of Hungary. Her arms likewise reduced Fried- berg and Landsperg, while prince Charles conti- nued to pursue the French to Donawert, where they were joined by twelve thousand men from the Rhine. Broglio still avoided an engagement, and retreated before the enemy to Hailbron. The emperor being thus abandoned by his allies, and stripped of all his dominions, repaired to Francfort, where he lived in indigence and ob- scurity. He now made advances towards an ac- commodation with the queen of Hungary. His 2 452 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17'43. general, Seckenclorf, had an interview with count Khevenhuller at the convent of Lowersconfiekl, where a convention was signed. This treaty im- ported, That the emperor should remain neuter during the continuance of the present war; and, that his troops should be quartered in Franconia : that the queen of Hungary should keep possession of Bavaria till the peace : that Braunau and Scard- ing should be delivered up to the Austrians : that the French garrison of Ingoldstadt should be per- mitted to withdraw, and be replaced by Bavarians; but that the Austrian generals should be put in possession of ail the artillery, magazines, and war- like stores belonging to the French, which should be found in the place. The governors of Egra and Ingoldstadt refusing to acquiesce in the capi- tulation, the Austrians had recourse to the opera- tions of war; and both places were reduced. In Ingoldstadt they found all the emperor's domestic treasure, jewels, plate, pictures, cabinets, and cu- riosities, with the archives of the house of Bavaria, the most valuable eifects belonging to the nobility of that electorate, a prodigious train of artillery, and a vast quantity of provisions, arms and am- munition. 1713. GEORGE 11. 453 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE KING OF PRUSSIA AND THE ELECTOR OF HANOVER. The French king, baffled in all the efforts he had hitherto made for the support of the emperor, ordered his minister at Francfort to deliver a de- claration to the diet, professing himself extremely well pleased to hear they intended to interpose their mediation for terminating the war. He said, he was no less satisfied with the treaty of neutrality which the emperor had concluded with the queen of Hungary ; an event of which he was no sooner informed, than he had ordered his troops to return to the frontiers of his dominions, that the Ger- manic body might be convinced of his equity and moderation. To this declaration the queen of Hungary answered in a rescript, that the design of France was to embarrass her affairs, and deprive her of the assistance of her allies : that the elector of Bavaria could not be considered as a neutral party in his own cause : that the mediation of the empire could only produce a peace either with or without the concurrence of France : that in the former case no solid peace could be expected ; in the latter, it was easy to foresee, that France would pay no regard to a peace in which she should have no concern. She affirmed, that the aim of the French king was solely to gain time to repair his losses, that he might afterwards revive the troubles of the empire. The elector of Mentz, who had 454 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. favoured the emperor, was now dead, and his suc- cessor inclhied to the Austrian interest. He al- lowed this rescript to be entered in the journal of the diet, together Math the protests which had been made when the vote of Bohemia Avas sup- pressed in the late election. The emperor com- plained in a circular letter of this transaction, as a stroke levelled at his imperial dignity ; and it gave rise to a warm dispute among the members of the Germanic body. Several princes resented the haughty conduct, and began to be alarmed at the success of the house of Austria ; Avliile others pitied the deplorable situation of the emperor. The kings of Great Britain and Prussia, as electors of Hanover and Brandenburgh, espoused opposite sides in this contest. His Prussian majesty pro- tested against the investiture of the duchy of Saxe- Lawenburgh, claimed by the king of Great Bri- tain : he had an interview with general Seckendorf at Anspach ; and was said to have privately visited the emperor at Francfort. THE ENGLISH OBTAIN A VICTORY OVER THE FRENCH AT DETTINGEN. The troops which the king of Great Britain had assembled in the Netherlands, began their march for the Rhine in the latter end of February, and in May they encamped near Hoech on the river IMayne, under the command of the earl of Stair. 17^5. GEORGE II. ijj This nobleman sent major-general Bland to Franc- fort, with a compliment to the emperor, assuring him, in the name of his Britannic majesty, that the respect owing to his dignity should not be violated, nor the place of his residence disturbed. Notwithstanding this assurance, the emperor re- tired to ]\Iunich, though he was afterwards com- pelled to return, by the success of the Austrians in Bavaria. The French king, in order to prevent the junction of the British forces with prince Charles of Lorraine, ordered the mareschal de Noailles to assemble sixty thousand men upon the Mayne ; while Coigny was sent into Alsace with a numerous army, to defend that province, and op- pose prince Charles, should he attempt to pass the Rhine. The mareschal de Noailles, having secured the towns of Spire, Worms, and Oppenheim, passed the Rhine in the beginning of June, and posted himself on the east side of that river, above Franc- fort. The earl of Stair advanced towards him, and encamped at Killenbach, between the river Mayne and the forest of D'Armstadt : from this situation he made a motion to Aschaflfenburo'h, with a view to secure the navigation of the Upper Mayne ; but he was anticipated by the enemy, who lay on the other side of the river, and had taken possession of the posts above, so as to inter- cept all supplies. They were posted on the other side of the river, opposite to the allies, whose camp they overlooked ; and they found means, by their parties and other precautions, to cut oft* the com- 455 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. munlcation by water between Francfort and the confederates. The duke of Cumberland had al- ready come to make his first campaign, and his majesty arrived in the camp on the ninth day of June. He found his army amounting to about forty thousand men, in danger of starving: he received intelligence, that a reinforcement of twelve thousand Hanoverians and Hessians had reached Hanau ; and he resolved to march thither, both M'ith a view to eftect the junction, and to procure provision for his forces. With this view he decamped on the twenty-sixth day of June. He had no sooner quitted Aschaffenburgh, than it was seized by the French general : he had not inarched above three leagues, when he perceived the enem}^ to the number of thirty thousand, had passed the river farther down, at Selingenstadt, and were drawn up in order of battle at the village of Dettingen, to dispute his passage. Thus he found himself cooped up in a very dangerous situa- tion. The enemy had possessed themselves of Aschaffenburgh behind, so as to prevent his re- treat : his troops were conlined in a narrow plain, bounded by hills and woods on the right, flanked on the left by the river Mayne, on the opposite side of which the French had erected batteries that annoyed the allies on their march : in the front a considerable part of the French army was drawn up, with a narrow pass before them, the village of Dettingen on their right, a Mood on their left, and a morass in the centre. Thus en- 1743. GEORGE II. 457 viroiied, the confederates must either have fought at a very great disadvantage, or surrendered them- selves prisoners of war, had not the duke de Gra- mont, who commanded the enemy, been instigated by the spirit of madness to forego these advantages. He passed the defile, and advancing towards the allies, a battle ensued. The French horse charged with great impetuosity, and some regiments of British cavalry were put in disorder : but the in- fantry of the allies behaved with such intrepidity and deliberation, under the eye of their sovereign, as soon determined the fate of the day : the French " were obliged to give way, and repass the ^layne with great precipitation, having lost about five thousand men killed, wounded, or taken. Had they been properly pursued before they recollect- ed themselves from their first confusion, in all pro- bability they would have sustained a total over- throw. The earl of Stair proposed that a body of cav^alry should be detached on this service ; but his advice was over-ruled. Tlie loss of the allies in this action amounted to two thousand men. The generals Clayton and Monroy were killed : the duke of Cumberland, who exhibited uncom- mon proofs of courage, was shot through the calf of the leg : the earl of Albemarle, general Huske, and several other officers of distinction, were wounded. The king exposed his person to a severe fire of cannon as well as musquctry : he rode be- tween the first and second lines with his sword drawn, and encouraged the troops to fight for the 4.18 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;43. honour of England. Immediately after the action he continued his march to Hanau, where he was joined by the reinforcement. The earl of Stair sent a trumpet to mareschal de Noailles, recom- mending to his protection the sick and wounded that were left on the field of battle; and these the French general treated with great care and tenderness. Such generosity softens the rigours of war, and does honour to humanity. "TREATY OF WORMS. The two armies continued on different sides of the river till the twelfth day of July, when the French general receiving intelligence that prince Charles of Lorraine had approached the Neckar, he suddenly retired, and repassed the Rhine be- tween Worms and Oppenheim. The king of Great Britain was visited by prince Charles and count Khevenhuller at Hanau, where the future Operations of the campaign were regulated. On the twenty-seventh day of August, the allied army passed the Rhine at Mentz, and the king fixed his head-quarters in the episcopal palace at Worms. Here the forces lay encamped till the latter end of September, Avhen they advanced to Spire, where they were joined by twenty thousand Dutch auxi- liaries from the Netherlands. Mareschal Noailles having retreated into Upper Alsace, the allies took possession of Germersheim, and demolished the 1743. GEORGE II. 450 entrenchments which the enemy had raised on the Qiieich; then they returned to Mentz, and in October were distributed into winter-quarters, after an inactive campaign that redounded very little to the honour of those by whom the motions of the army were conducted. In September a treaty had been conchided at Worms between his Britannic majesty, the king of Sardinia, and the queen of Hungary. She engaged to maintain thirty thousand men in Italy : the king of Sardi- nia obliged himself to employ forty thousand in- fantry and five thousand horse, in consideration of his commanding the combined army, and re- ceiving an annual subsidy of two hundred thou- sand pounds from Great Britain. As a further gratification, the queen yielded to him the city of Placentia, with several districts in the dutchy of Pa via, and in the Novarese : and all her right and pretensions to Final, at present possessed by the republic of Genoa, which, they hoped, would give it up, on being repaid the purchase money, amount- ing to three hundred thousand pounds. This sum the king of England promised to disburse ; and moreover to maintain a strong squadron in the Mediterranean, the commander of which should act in concert with his Sardinian majesty. Finally, the contracting powers agreed, that Final should be constituted a free-port, like that of Leghorn. Nothing could be more unjust than this treaty, by vv'hich the Genoese were negociated out of their property. They had purchased the marquis- 460 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. ate of Final of the late emperor for a valuable consideration, and the purchase had been guaran- teed by Great Britain. It could not, therefore, be expected that they would part with this acqui- sition to a prince whose power they thought already too formidable ; especially, on condition of its be- ing made a free port, to the prejudice of their own commerce. They presented remonstrances against this article, by their ministers at the courts of London, Vienna, and Turin ; and, as very little regard was paid to their representations, they threvv^ themselves into the arms of France and Spain for protection. After the battle of Dettingen, colonel Mentzel, at the head of a large body of irregulars belono"in«- to the queen of Hungary, made an irruption into Lorraine, part of which they ravaged without mercy. In September prince Charles, with the Austrian army, entered the Brisgaw, and attempt- ed to pass the Rhine ; but mareschal Coigny had taken such precautions for guarding it on the other side, that he was obliged to abandon his de- sign, and marching back into the Upper-Pala- tinate, quartered his troops in that country, and in Bavaria. By this time the earl of Stair had so- licited and obtained leave to resign his command. He had for some time thought himself neglected ; and was unwilling that his reputation should suffer on account of measures in which he had no con- cern. In October the king of Great Britain re- turned to Hanover, and the army separated. The 1743. GEORGE II. 461 troops in British pay marched back to the Ne- therlands, and the rest took their route to their respective countries. The states-general still wa- vered between their own immediate interest and their desire to support the house of Austria. At length, however, they supplied her with a subsidy, and ordered twenty thousand men to march to her assistance, notwithstanding the intrigues of the marquis de Fenelon, the French ambassador at the Hague, and the declaration of the king of Prussia, who disapproved of this measure, and refused them a passage through his territories to the Rhine. AFFAIRS IN THE NORTH. Sweden was filled with discontents, and divided into factions. The generals Bodenbrock and Lewenhaupt were beheaded, having been sacri- ficed as scape-goats for the ministry. Some unsuc- cessful efforts by sea and land were made against the Russians. At last the peace of Abo was con- cluded ; and the duke of Holstein-Utin, uncle to the successor of the Russian throne, was chosen as next heir to the crown of Sweden. A party had been formed in favour of the prince of Denmark ; and the order of the peasants actually elected him as successor. The debates in the college of nobles rose to a very dangerous degree of animosity, and were appeased by an harangue in Swedish verse, 462 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 174S. which one of the senators pronounced. The pea- sants yielded the point, and the succession was settled on the duke of Holstein. Denmark, in- stigated by French councils, began to make pre- parations of war against Sweden: but a body of Russian auxiliaries arriving in that kingdom, un- der the command of general Keith, and the czarina declaring she would assist the Swedes with her whole force, the king of Denmark thought proper to disarm. It had been an old maxim of French policy to embroil the courts of the North, that they might be too much employed at home to inter- meddle in the affairs of Germany, while France was at war with the house of Austria. The good understanding between the czarina and the queen of Hungary was at this period destroyed, in con- sequence of a conspiracy, which had been formed by some persons of distinction at the court of Petersburgh, for removing the empress Elizabeth, and recalling the princess Anne to the admini- stration. This design being discovered, the prin- cipal conspirators were corporally punished, and sent in exile to Siberia. The marquis de Botta, the Austrian minister, who had resided at the court of the czarina, was suspected of having been con- cerned in the plot; though the grounds of this suspicion did not appear until after he was recall- ed, and sent as ambassador to the court of Berlin. The empress demanded satisfaction 'of the queen of Hungary, who appointed commissioners to en- quire into his conduct, and he was acquitted: but 174S. GEORGE lU 463 the czarina was not at all satisfied of his innocence. In February a defensive treaty of alliance was con- cluded between this princess and the king of Great Britain. BATTLE OF CAMPO-SANTO. By this time France was deprived of her ablest minister, in the death of the cardinal de Fleury, who had for many years managed the affairs of that kingdom. He is said to have possessed a lively genius, and an insinuating address ; to have been regular in his deportment, and moderate in his disposition ; but at the same time he has been branded as deceitful, dissembling, and vindictive. His scheme of politics was altogether pacific : he endeavoured to accomplish his purposes by raising and fomenting intrigues at foreign courts : he did not seem to pay much regard to the military glory of France ; and he too much neglected the naval power of that kingdom. Since Broglio was driverj out of Germany, the French court affected un» common moderation. They pretended that their troops had only acted as auxiliaries while they remained in the empire : being, however, appre- hensive of an irruption into their own dominions, they declared, that those troops were no longer to be considered in that light, but as subjects acting in the service of France. The campaign in Italy proved unfavourable to the Spaniards. In the 464 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. beginning of February count Gages, who com- manded the Spanish army in the Bolognese, amount- ing to four- and- twenty thousand men, passed the Penaro, and advanced to Campo-Santo, wdiere he encountered the Imperial and Piedmontese forces, commanded by the counts Traun and Aspremont. The strength of the two armies was nearly equal. The action was obstinate and bloody, though inde- cisive. The Spaniards lost about four thousand men, killed, wounded, or taken. The damage sustained by the confederates was not quite so great. Some cannon and colours were taken on both sides ; and each claimed the victory. Count Gages repassed the Penaro ; retreated suddenly from Bologna; and marched to Rimini in the ecclesiastical state, where he fortified his camp in an advantageous situation, after having suffered severely by desertion. Count Traun remained in- active in the Modenese till September, when he resigned his command to prince Lobkowitz. This general entered the Bolognese in October, and then advanced towards count Gages, who, with his forces, now reduced to seven thousand, retreated to Fano; but afterwards took possession of Pesaro, and fortified all the passes of the river Foglia. The season was far advanced before the Spanish troops, commanded by Don Philip, in Savoy, entered upon action. In all probability, the courts of Versailles and Madrid carried on some private negociation with the king of Sardinia. This ex- pedient failing, Don Philip decamped from Cham- 1743. GEORGE II. 465 berri in the latter end of August, and defiling through Dauphine towards Briancon, was joined by the prince of Conti, at the head of twenty thousand French auxiliaries. Thus reinforced, he attacked the Piedmontese lines at Chateau Dau- phin^ ; but was repulsed in several attempts, and obliged to retreat with considerable loss. The French established their winter-quarters in Dau- phin6 and Provence; and the Spaniards maintain- ed their footing in Savoy. TRANSACTIONS OF THE BRITISH FLEET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. The British fleet commanded by admiral Mat- thews over-awed all the states that bordered on the Mediterranean. This officer, about the end of June, understanding that fourteen xebecks, laden with artillery and annnunition for the Span- ish army, had arrived at Genoa, sailed thither from the road of Hieres, and demanded of the republic that they would either oblige these ves- sels with the stores to quit their harbour, or se- quester their lading until a general peace should be established. After some dispute, it was agreed that the cannon and stores should be deposited in the castle of Bonifacio, situated on a rock at the south end of Corsica; and that the xebecks shouki have leave to retire without molestation. Tlie Corsicans had some years before revolted, and VOL. III. H n 466 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. shaken off the dominion of the Genoese, under which their island had remained for many cen- turies. They found themselves oppressed, and resolved to assert their freedom. They conferred the sovereign authority on a German adventurer, who was solemnly proclaimed, by the name of king Theodore. He had supplied them with some arms and ammunition, which he had brought from Tunis ; and amused them with promises of being assisted by foreign powers in retrieving their independency : but as these promises were not performed, they treated him so roughly, that he had thought proper to quit the island, and they submitted again to their old masters. The trou- bles of Corsica were now revived. Theodore re- visited his kingdom, and was recognized by the principal chiefs of the island. He published a manifesto : he granted a general pardon to all his subjects who should return to their obedience ; he pretended to be countenanced and supported by the king of Great Britain and the queen of Hungary. He was certainly thought a proper instrument to perplex and harass the Genoese, and supplied at this juncture with a sum of money to purchase arms for the Corsicans : but a change soon happened in the British ministry, and then he was suffered to relapse into his original ob- scurity. Admiral Matthews, though he did not undertake any expedition of importance against the maritime towns of Spain, continued to assert the British empire at sea through the whole ex- 1743. GEORGE II. 467 tent of the Mediterranean. The Spanish army under Don Phihp was no sooner in motion, than the English admiral ordered some troops and can- non to be disembarked for the security of Vdla- Franca. Some stores having been landed at Ci- vita-Vecchia, for the use of the Spanish forces under count Gages, Matthews interpreted this transaction into a violation of the neutrality which the pope had professed ; and sent thither a squad- ron to bombard the place. The city of Rome was filled with consternation ; and the pope had recourse to the oood offices of his Sardinian ma- jesty, in consequence of which the English squad- ron was ordered to withdraw. The captains of single cruising ships, by their activity and vigil- ance, wholly interrupted the commerce of Spain; cannonaded and burned some towns on the sea- side ; and kept the whole coast in continual alarm *. FRUITLESS ATTEMPTS UPON THE SPANISH SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST-INDIES. In the West-Indies some unsuccessful efforts were made by an English squadron, commanded by commodore Knowles. He attacked La Gueira on the coast of Carraccas, in the month of February; but met with such a warm reception, that he was * See note [F], vol. vi. 2 468 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. obliged to desist, and make tlie best of his way for the Dutch island Curacoa, where he repaired the damage he had sustained. His ships being refitted, he made another attempt upon Porto Cavallo in April, which like the former miscarried. Twelve hundred marines being landed in the neighbourhood of the place, were seized with such a panic, that it was found necessary to reimbark them without delay. Then the commodore aban- doned the enterprize, and sailed back to his station at the Leeward Islands, without having added much to his reputation, either as to conduct or resolution. On the continent of America the operations of the war were very inconsiderable. General Oglethorpe having received intelligence, that the Spaniards prepared for another invasion from St. Augustine, assembled a body of Indians, as a reinforcement to part of his own regiment, with the highlanders and rangers, and in the spring began his march, in order to anticipate the enemy. He encamped for some time in the neighbourhood of St. Augustine, by way of a de- fiance : but they did not think proper to hazard an engagement ; and as he was in no condition to undertake a siege, he returned to Georgia. In October the princess Louisa, youngest daughter of his Britannic majesty, was married by proxy, at Hanover, to the prince-royal of Denmark, who met her at Altena, and conducted her to Copen- hagen. 1743. GEORGE II. 409 CHAPTER Vm. Debate in Parliament against the Hanoverian Troops .... Sup- plies granted .... Projected Invasion of Great Britain .... A French Squadron sails up the English Channel .... The King- dom is put in a Posture of Defence .... The Design of the French defeated. War between France and England .... Bill against those who should correspond with the Sons of the Pretender .... Naval Engagement off Toulon .... Advances towards Peace made by the Emperor .... Treaty of Frankfort .... Progress of the French King in the Netherlands .... Prince Charles of Lorraine passes the Rhine The King of Prussia makes an Irruption into Bohemia .... Campaign in Bavaria and Flanders .... The King of Naples joins Count Gages in Italy .... Battle of Coni .... Return of Commodore Anson. Sir John Balchen perishes at Sea .... Revolution in the British Ministry. Session of Parliament .... Death of the Emperor Charles VII. Accommodation between the Queen of Hungary and the young Elector of Bavaria .... The King of Prussia gains two successive Battles at Friedberg and Sohr, over the Austrian and Saxon Forces .... Treaty of Dres- den, The Grand-duke of Tuscany elected Emperor of Ger- many .... The Allies are defeated at Fontenoy .... The King of Sardinia is almost stripped of his Dominions .... The English Forces take Cape Breton .... The Importance of this Conquest .... Project of an Insurrection in Great Britain .... The eldest Son of the Chevalier de St. George lands in Scotland .... Takes Possession of Edinburgli .... Defeats Sir John Cope at Preston-Pans .... Efforts of the Friends of Government in Scotland .... Precautions taken in England .... The Prince Pretender reduces Carlisle, and penetrates as far as Derby. Ccuisternation of the Londoners .... The Rebels retreat into Scotland .... They invest the Castle of Stirling .... The 47b HISTOHY OF ENGLAND. 1743. King's Troops under Hawley are worsted at Falkirk'. . . . The Duke of Cumberland assumes the Command of the Forces in Scotland. . . .The Rebels undertake the Siege of Fort William. DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT AGAINST THE HANOVERIAN TROOPS. 1 HE discontents of England were artfully in- flamed by anti-ministerial writers, who not only exaggerated the burthens of the people, and drew frightful pictures of the distress and misery which, they said, impended over the nation, but also em- ployed the arts of calumny and misrepresentation, to excite a jealousy and national quarrel between the English and Hanoverians. They affirmed that in the last campaign the British general had been neglected and despised ; while the councils of foreign officers, greatly inferior to him in capa- city, quality, and reputation, had been followed, to the prejudice of the common cause: that the British troops sustained daily insults from their own mercenaries, who were indulged with parti- cular marks of royal favour : that the sovereign himself appeared at Dettingen in a Hanoverian scarf; and that his electoral troops were of very little service in that engagement. Though the most material of these assertions were certainly false, they made a strong impression on the minds of the people, already irritated by the enormous expence of a continental war maintained for the interest of Germany. When the parliament met 1743. GEORGE II. 471 in the beginning of December, a motion was made in tlie house of peers, by the earl of Sandwich, for an address, beseeching his majesty to discontinue the Hanoverian troops in British pay, in order to remove the popular discontent, and stop the mur- murs of the English troops abroad. He was sup- ported by the duke of Bedford, the earl of Ches- terfield, and all the leaders in the opposition, who did not fail to enumerate, and insist upon all the circumstances we have mentioned. They more- over observed, that better troops might be hired at a smaller expence : that it M'ould be a vain and endless task to exhaust the national treasure, in enriching a hungry and barren electorate: that the popular dissatisfaction against these mercena- ries was so general, and raised to such violence, as nothing but their dismission could appease : that if such hirelino's should be thus continued from year to year, they might at last become a burthen entailed upon the nation, and be made subservient, under some ambitious prince, to purposes destruct- ive of British liberty. These were the suggestions of spleen and animosity : for, granting the neces- sity of a land war, the Hanoverians were the most natural allies and auxiliaries which Great Britain could engage and employ. How insolent soever some few individual generals of that electorate might have been in their private deportment, cer- tain it is, their troops behaved with great sobriety, discipline, and decorum ; and in the day of battle did their duty with as much courage and alacrity 472 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. as any body of men ever displayed on tlie like occasion. The motion was rejected by the ma- jority ; but, when the term for keeping them in the British pay was nearly expired, and the esti- mates for their being continued the ensuing year were laid before the house, the earl of Sandwich renewed his motion. The lord chancellor, as speaker of tlie house, interposing, declared, that by their rules a question once rejected could not be revived during the same session. A debate ensued, and the second motion was over-ruled. The Hanoverian troops were voted in the house of commons : nevertheless, the same nobleman moved in the upper house, that the continuing sixteen thousand Hanoverians in British pay was prejudicial to his majesty's true interest, useless to the common cause, and dangerous to the wel- fare and tranquillity of tlie nation. He was seconded by the duke of Marlborough, who had resigned his commission in disgust; and the pro- posal gave birth to another warm dispute : but victory declared, as usual, for the ministry. In the house of commons they sustained di- vers attacks. A motion was made for laying a duty of eight shillings in the pound on all places and pensions. Mr. Grenville moved for an ad- dress, to beseech his majesty, that he would not engage the British nation any further in the war on the continent, without the concurrence of the states-general on certain stipulated proportions of force and expence, as in the late war. These 1743. GEORGE ir. 47s proposals begat vigorous debates, in wbich the country party were always foiled by dint of supe- rior number. Such was the credit and influence of the ministry in parliament, that although the national debt \7as increased by above six millions since the commencement of the war, the com- mons indulged them with an enormous sum for - the expence of the ensuing year. The grants specified in the votes amounted to six millions and a half: to this sum were added three millions and a half paid to the sinking-fund in perpetual taxes ; so that this year's expence rose to ten millions. The funds established for the annual charge were the land and malt taxes : one million paid by the East-India company for the renewal, of their charter, twelve hundred thousand pounds by annuities, one million from the sinking-fund, six and thirt}^ thousand pounds from the coinage, and six hundred thousand pounds by a lottery — an expedient which for some time had been annually repeated ; and which, in a great measure, contri buted to debauch the morals of the public, by introducing a spirit of gaming, destructive of all industry and virtue. PROJECTED INVASION OF GREAT BRITAIN. The dissensions of the British parliament were suddenly suspended by an event that seemed to unite both parties in the prosecution of the same measures. This was the intelligence of an in^ 474 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;43. tended invasion. By the parliamentary disputes, the loud clamours, and the general dissatisfaction of the people in Great Britain, the French mini- stry were persuaded that the nation was ripe for a revolt. This belief was corroborated by the assertions of their emissaries in different parts of Great Britain and Ireland. These were papists and Jacobites of strong prejudices and warm ima" ginations, who saw things through the medium of passion and party, and spoke rather from extra- vagant zeal than from sober conviction. They gave the court of Versailles to understand, that if the chevalier de St. George, or his eldest son, Charles Edward, should appear at the head of a French army in Great Britain, a revolution would instantly follow in his favour. This intimation was agreeable to cardinal de Tencin, who, since the death of Fleury, had borne a share in the ad- ministration of France. He was of a violent eur terprising temper. He had been recommended to the purple by the chevalier de St. George, and was seemingly attached to the Stuart family. His ambition was flattered with the prospect of giving a king to Great Britain ; of performing such emir nent service to his benefactor, and of restoring to the throne of their ancestors a family connected by the ties of blood with all the greatest princes of Europe. The ministry of France foresaw, that even if this aim should miscarr}', a descent upon Great Britain would make a considerable diver- sion from the continent in favour of France, and xKJBJbojfft ^o- 1743. GEORGE II. 475 embroil and embarrass liis Britannic majesty, who was the chief support of the house of Austria, and all its allies. Actuated by these motives, he con- certed measures with the chevalier de St. George at Rome, Avho being too much advanced in years to engage personally in such an expedition, agreed to delegate his pretensions and authority to his son Charles, a youth of promising talents, sage, secret, brave, and enterprising, amiable in his per? son, grave, and even reserved in his deportment. He approved himself in the sequel composed and moderate in success, wonderfully firm in ad- versity ; and though tenderly nursed in all the delights of an efteminate country, and gentle climate, patient almost beyond belief of cold, bun- per, and fatio'ue. Such was the adventurer now destined to fill the hope which the French mini- stry had conceived, from the projected invasion of Great Britain. A FRENCH SQUADRON SAILS UP THE ENGLISH CHANNEL. Count Saxe was appointed by the French king commander of the troops designed for this expe- dition, which amounted to fifteen thousand men. They began their march to Picardy, and a great number of vessels was assembled for their em- barkation at Dunkirk, Calais, and Boulogn. It was determined that they should be landed in 4;(5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. Kent, under convoy of a strong squadron equip- ped at Brest, and commanded by monsieur de Roquefeuille, an officer of experience and capa- city. The chevalier de St. George is said to have required the personal service of the duke of Or- mond, who excused himself on account of his advanced age : be that as it will, prince Charles departed from Rome about the end of December, in the disguise of a Spanish courier, attended by one servant only, and furnished with passports by cardinal Aquaviva. He travelled through Tuscany to Genoa, from whence he proceeded to Savona, where he embarked for Antibes, and prosecuting his journey to Paris, was indulged with a private audience of the French king : then he set out incognito for the coast of Picardy. The British ministry being apprised of his arrival in France, at once comprehended the destination of the armaments prepared at Brest and Boulogn. Mr. Thompson, the English resident at Paris, received orders to make a remonstrance to the French ministry, on the violation of those treaties by which the pretender to the crown of Great Britain was excluded from the territories of France. But he was given to understand, that his most christian majesty would not explain himself on that subject, until the king of England should have given satisfaction on the repeated com- plaints which had been made to him, touching the infractions of those very treaties which had been so often violated by his orders. In the 1743. GEORGE II. A']^ month of January, M. de Roquefeuille sailed from Brest, directing his course up the English chan- nel, with twenty ships of war. They were imme- diately discovered by an English cruiser, which ran into Plymouth ; and the intelligence was conveyed by land to the board of admiralty. Sir John Norris was forthwith ordered to take the command of the squadron at Spithead, with which he sailed round to the Downs, where he was join- ed by some ships of the line from Chatham, and then he found himself at the head of a squadron considerably stronger than tl*at of the enemy. THE KINGDOM IS PUT IN A POSTURE OF DEFENCE. Several regiments marched to the southern coast of England : all governors and commanders were ordered to repair immediately to their re- spective posts : the forts at the mouths of the Thames and Medway were put in a posture of defence ; and directions were issued to assemble the Kentish militia, to defend the coast in case of an invasion. On the fifteenth day of Febru- ary, the king sent a message to both houses of parliament, intimating the arrival of the preten- der's son in France, the preparations at Dunkirk, and the appearance of a French fleet in the Eng- lish channel. They joined in an address, declaring their indignation and abhorrence of the deiiign 478 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. formed in favour of a popish pretender ; and assuring his majesty, that they would, with the warmest zeal and unanimity, take such measures as would enable him to frustrate and defeat so desperate and insolent an attempt. Addresses of the same kind were presented by the city of London, both universities, the principal towns of Great Britain, the clergy, the dissenting mini- sters, the quakers, and almost all the corporations and communities of the kingdom. A requisition was made of the six thousand auxiliaries, which the states-general were by treaty obliged to fur- nish on such occasions ; and these were granted with great alacrity and expedition. The earl of Stair, forgetting his wrongs, took this opportu- nity of offering his services to government, and was re-invested with the chief command of the forces in Great Britain. His example was fol- lowed by several noblemen of the first rank. The duke of Montague was permitted to raise a regi- ment of horse ; and orders were sent to bring over six thousand of the British troops from Flan- ders, in case the invasion should actually take place. His majesty was in another address from parliament, exhorted to augment his forces by sea and land : the Habeas Corpus act was suspend- ed for six months, and several persons of distinc- tion were apprehended on suspicion of treasonable practices : a proclamation was issued for putting the laws in execution against papists and non- jurors, who were commanded to retire ten miles 1743. GEORGE II. 47<) from London ; and every precaution was taken which seemed necessary for the preservation of the public tranquillity. THE DESIGN OF THE FRENCH DEFEATED. WAR BETWEEN FRANCE AND ENGLAND. Mean while the French court proceeded with their preparations at Boulogn and Dunkirk, under the eye of the young pretender ; and seven thou- sand men were actually embarked. M. de Roque- feuille sailed up the channel as far as Dungeness, a promontory on the coast of Kent, after having detached M. de Barred, with five ships, to hasten the embarkation at Dunkirk. While the French admiral anchored oft' Dungeness, he perceived, on the twenty- fourth day of February, the British fleet, under sir John Norris, doubling the South- Foreland from the Downs ; and though the wind was against him, taking the opportunity of the tide to come up and engage the French squadron. Roquefeuille, who little expected such a visit, could not be altogether composed, considering the great superiority of his enemies : but the tide failing, the English admiral was obliged to anchor two leagues short of the enemy. In this interval, M. de Roquefeuille called a council of war, in which it was determined to avoid an engagement, Aveigh anchor at sun-set, and make the best of their way to the place from whence they had set ABO HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1743. sail. This resolution was favoured by a very hard gale of wind, which began to blow from the nortli- east, and carried them down the channel Avith in- credible expedition. But the same storm which, in all probability, saved their fleet from destruc- tion, utterly disconcerted the design of invading England. A great number of their transports was driven ashore and destroyed, and the rest were so damaged that they could not be speedily repaired. The English were now masters at sea, and their coast was so well guarded, that the en- terprize could not be prosecuted with any proba- bility of success. The French generals nominat- ed to serve in this expedition returned to Paris, and the young pretender resolved to wait a more favourable opportunity. In the mean time he remained in Paris, or that neighbourhood, incog- nito, and almost totally neglected by the court of France. Finding himself in this disagreeable situation, and being visited by John Murray of Broughton, who magnified the power of his friends in Great Britain, he resolved to make some bold effort, even without the assistance of Louis, in whose sincerity he had no faith, and forthwith took proper measures to obtain exact information touching the number, inclinations, and influence of his father's adherents in England and Scotland. The French king no longer pre- served any measures with the court of London : the British resident at Paris was given to under- stand, that a declaration of war must ensue ; and ,744. GEORGE II. '^31 this was actually published on the twentieth day of March. The king of Great Britain was taxed with having dissuaded the court of Vienna from entertaining any thoughts of an accommodation ; with havino- infrino-ed the convention of Han- over ; with having exercised piracy upon the sub- jects of France, and with having blocked up the harbour of Toulon. On the thirty-first day of March, a like denunciation of war against France was published at London amidst the acclamations of the people. BILL AGAINST THOSE WHO SHOULD CORRE- SPOND WITH THE PRETENDER'S SONS. T^E commons of England, in order to evince their loyalty, brought in a bill, denouncing the penalties of high treason, against those who should maintain correspondence with the sons of the pretender. In the upper house, lord Hardwicke, the chancellor, moVed, that a clause should be inserted, extending the crime of treason to the posterity of the offenders, during the lives of the pretender's sons. The motion, which was sup- ported by the whole strength of the ministry, produced a warm debate, in which the duke of Bedford, the earl of Chesterfield, the lords Talbot and Hervey, argued against it in the most pathe- tic manner, as an illiberal expedient, contrary to the dictates of humanity, the law of nature, the VOL. III. I I 482 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1744. rules of common justice, and the precepts of reli- gion ; an expedient that would involve the inno- cent with the guilty, and tend to the augmenta- tion of ministerial power, for which purpose it was undoubtedly calculated. Notwithstanding these suggestions, the clause was carried in the affirmative, and the bill sent back to the com- mons, where the amendment was vigorously op- posed by lord Strange, lord Guernsey, Mr. W. Pitt, and other members, by whom the original bill had been countenanced^: the majority, how- ever, declared for the amendment, and the bill obtained the royal assent. The session of parlia- ment was closed in May, when the king told them, that the French had made vast preparations on the side of the Netherlands; and that the states-general had agreed to furnish the succours Stipulated by treaties. NAVAL ENGAGEMENT OFF TOULON. By this time an action had happened in the Me- diterranean, between the British fleet commanded by admiral Matthews, and the combined squadrons ^ The opposition had sustained a heavy blow in the death of the duke of Avgyle, a nobleman of shining qualifications for the senate and the field, whose character would have been still more illustrious, had not some parts of his conduct subjected him to the suspicion of selfishness and inconstancy. He was succeeded in that title by his brother, Archibald earl of Hay. 17'J4. GEORGE II. 483 of France and Spain, M'hich had been for some time blocked up in the harbour of Toulon. On the ninth day of February they were perceived standing out of the road, to the number of four- and-thirty sail: the English admiral immediately M'eighed from Hieres bay : and on the eleventh, part of the fleets engaged. Matthews attacked the Spanish admiral, Don Navarro, whose ship, the Real, was a first rate, mounted with above an hundred guns. Rear-admiral Rowley singled out M. de Court, who commanded the French squa- dron ; and a very i'ew captains followed the ex- ample of their commanders: but vice-admiral Lestock, with his whole division, remained at a great distance astern ; and several captains, who were immediately under the eye of Matthews, behaved in such a manner as reflected disgrace upon their country. The whole transaction Avas conducted without order or dehberation. The French and Spaniards would have willingly avoid- ed an engagement, as the British squadron was superior to them in strength and number. M. de Court, therefore, made the best of his May to- wards the Straits mouth, probably with intention to join the Brest squadron : but he had orders to protect the Spanish fleet ; and as they sailed heavily, he v/as obliged to wait for them, at the hazard of maintaining a battle with the English. Thus circumstanced he made sail and lay to by turns ; so that the British admiral could not en- gage them in proper order ; and as they outsailed 2 484 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1741. his ships, he began to fear they would escape him altogether, should he wait for vice-admiral Le- stock, who was so far astern. Under this appre- hension he made the signal for engaging, while that for the line of battle was still displayed ; and this inconsistency naturally introduced confusion. The fight was maintained with great vivacity by the few who engaged. The Real being quite dis- abled, and lying like a wreck upon the water, Mr. Matthews sent a fire-ship to destroy her; but the expedient did not take effect. The ship or- dered to cover this machine did not obey the signal; so that the captain of the fire-ship was' exposed to the whole fire of the enemy. Never- theless he continued to advance until he found the vessel sinking : and being within a few yards of the Real, he set fire to the fusees. TJie ship was immediately in flames, in the midst of which he and his lieutenant, with twelve men, perished. This Avas likewise the fate of the Spanish launch, which had been manned with fifty sailors, to pre- vent the fire-ship from running on board the Real. One ship of the line belonging to a Spanish squa- dron struck to captain Hawke, who sent a lieute- nant to take possession of her : she was afterwards retaken by the French squadron ; but was found so disabled, that they left her deserted, and she was next day burned by order of admiral Mat- thews. At night the action ceased ; and the ad- miral found his own ship so much damaged, that he moved his flag into another. Captain Corn- 1744. GEORGE 11. 485 wall fell in the engagement, after having exhi- bited- a remarkable proof of courage and intre- pidity : but the loss of men was very inconsider- able. Next day the enemy appeared to leeward, and the admiral 2:ave chase till nic'ht, when he brought to, that he might be joined by the ships astern. They were perceived again on the thir- teenth at a considerable distance, and pursued till the evening. In the morning of the four- teenth, twenty sail of them were seen distinctly, and Lestock AV^ith his division had gained ground of them considerably by noon ; but admiral Mat- thews displayed the signal for leaving off chase, and bore away for Port-j\Iahon, to repair the damao:e he had sustained. Meanwhile the com- bined squadrons continued their course towards the coast of Spain. M. de Court, with his divi- sion, anchored in the road of Alicant ; and Don Navarro sailed into the harbour of Carthagena. Admiral ]\Iatthews, on his arrival at Minorca, ac- cused Lestock of having misbehaved on the day of action ; suspended him from his office, and sent him prisoner to England, where, in his turn, he accused his accuser. Long before the engage- ment, these two officers had expressed the most virulent resentment against each other. IMatthews was brave, open, and undisguised; but proud, imperious, and precipitate. Lestock had signa- lized his courage on many occasions, and per- fectly understood the whole discipline of the navy; but he was cool, cunning, and vindictive. 486 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1744. He had been treated superciliously by Matthews, and in revenge took advantage of his errors and precipitation. To gratify this passion he betrayed the interest and glory of his country ; for it is not to be doubted, but that he might have come up in time to engage ; and, in that case, the fleets of France and Spain would, in all likelihood, have been destroyed : but he entrenched himself within the punctilios of discipline, and saw Avith pleasure his antagonist expose himself to the hazard of death, ruin, and disgrace. Matthews himself, in the sequel, sacrificed his duty to his resentment, in restraining Lestock from pursuing and attack- ing the combined squadrons on the third day after the engagement, when they appeared dis- abled, and in manifest disorder, and would have fallen an easy prey, had they been vigorously at- tacked. One can hardly, without indignation, reflect upon these instances in which a commu- nity has so severely suffered from the personal animosity of individuals. The miscarriage off Toulon became the subject of a parliamentary enquiry in England. The commons, in an ad- dress to the throne, desired that a court-martial might be appointed to try the delinquents. By this time Lestock had accused Matthews, and all the captains of his division who misbehaved on the day of battle. The court-martial was con- stituted, and proceeded to trial. Several com- manders of ships were cashiered : vice-admiral Lestock was honourably acquitted ; and admiral i;44. GEORGE 11. 487 Matthews rendered incapable of serving for the future in his majesty's navy. All the world knew that Lestock kept aloof, and that Matthews rush- ed into the hottest part of the engagement. Yet the former triumphed on his trial, and the latter narrowly escaped the sentence of death for cowardice and misconduct. Such decisions are not to be accounted for, except from prejudice and faction. The war in Germany, which had been almost extinguished in the last campaign, began to re- vive, and raged with redoubled violence. The emperor had solicited the mediation of his Britan- nic majesty, for compromising the differences between him and the court of Vienna. Prince William of Hesse- Cassel had conferred with the king of England on this subject ; and a negocia- tion was begun at Hanau. The emperor offered to dismiss the French auxiliaries, provided the Austrians would evacuate his hereditary domi- nions. Nay, prince William and lord Carteret, as plenipotentiaries, actually agreed to preliminaries, by which his imperial majesty engaged to re- nounce the alliance of France, and throw himself into the arms of the maritime powers ; to resign all pretensions to the succession of the house of Austria; and to revive the vote of Bohemia in the electoral college, on condition of his being re-established in the possession of his dominions, recognized as emperor by the queen of Hungary, and acconnnodated with a monthly subsidy for 488 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1744. liis maintenance, as his own territories were ex- hausted and impoverished by the war. By a separate article, the king of Great Britain pro- mised to furnish him with three hundred thousand crowns, and to interpose his good offices with the queen of Hungary, that his electoral dominions should be favourably treated. These prelimina- ries, though settled, were not signed. The court of Vienna was unwilling to part with their con- quests in Bavaria and the Upper-Palatinate. The queen trusted too much to the valour of her troops, and the Avealth of her allies, to listen to such terms of accommodation ; and whatever arguments were used with the king of Great Bri- tain, certain it is the negociation was dropped, on pretence that the articles were disapproved by the ministry of England. The emperor, environed with distress, renewed his application to the king of Great Britain ; and even declared that he would refer his cause to the determination of the mari- time powers : but all his advances were discoun- tenanced ; and the tleaty of Worms dispelled all hope of accommodation. In this manner did the British ministry reject the fairest opportunity^ that could possibly occur of terminating the war in Germany with honour and advantage, and of free- ing their country from that insufferable burthen of expence under which she groaned. J744, GEORGE If. 489 TREATY OF FRANCFORT. The inflexibility of the house of iVustria, and its chief ally, proved serviceable to the emperor. The forlorn situation of this unfortunate prince excited the compassion of divers princes : they resented the insolence with which the head of the empire had been treated by the court of Vienna ; and they were alarmed at the increasing power of a family noted for pride, tyranny, and ambition. These considerations gave rise to the treaty of Francfort, concluded in May between tbe em- peror, the king of Prussia, the king of Sweden as landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, and the elector Pala- tine. They engaged to preserve the constitution of the empire, according to the treaty of West- phalia, and to support the emperor in his rank and dignity. They agreed to employ their good offices with the queen of Hungary, that she might be induced to acknowledge the emperor, to re- store his hereditary dominions, and give up the archives of the empire that were in her possession. They guaranteed to each other their respective territories: the disputes about the succession of the late emperor they referred to the decision of the states of the empire : they promised to assist one another in case of being attacked • and they in^/ited the king of Poland, the elector of Cologn, and the bishop of Liege, to accede to this treaty. Such was the confederacy that broke all the 490 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1744. measures which had been concerted between the king of Great Britain and her Hungarian majesty, for the operations of the campaign. In the mean time, the French king declared war against this princess, on pretence that she was obstinately deaf to all terms of accommodation, and determined to carry the war into the territories of France. In her counter-declaration she taxed Louis with having infringed the most solemn engagement, with respect to the pragmatic sanction ; with having spirited up diiferent pretenders, to lay claim to the succession of the late emperor ; with having endeavoured to instigate the common enemy of Christendom against her; and with hav- ing acted the incendiary in the north of Europe, that the czarina might be prevented from assisting the house of Austria, while his numerous armies overspread the empire and desolated her heredi- tary countries. These recriminations were literally true. The houses of Bourbon and Austria have, for many centuries, been the common disturbers and plagues of Europe. PROGRESS OF THE FRENCH KING IN THE NETHERLANDS. The king of France, though in himself pacific and unenterprising, was stimulated by his mini- stry to taste the glory of conquest in the Nether- lands, where he had assembled an army of one 1744. GEORGE II. 491 hundred and twenty thousand men, provided with a very formidable train of artiller}'-. The chief command was vested in the mareschal count do Saxe, who possessed great mihtary talents, and proved to be one of the most fortunate generals of the age in which he lived. The allied forces, consisting of English, Hanoverians, Dutch, and Austrians, to the number of seventy thousand effective men, were in the month of May assem- bled in the neighbourhood of Brussels, from whence they marched towards Oudenarde, and posted themselves behind the Schelde, being un- able to retard the progress of the enemy. The French monarch, attended by his favourite ladies, with all the pomp of eastern luxury, arrived at Lisle on the twelfth day of the same month ; and in the adjacent plain reviewed his army. The states-general, alarmed at his preparations, had, in a conference with his ambassador at the Hague, expressed their apprehensions, and entreated his most christian majesty would desist from his design of attacking their barrier. Their remon- strances having proved ineffectual, they now sent a minister to wait upon that monarch, to enforce their former representations, and repeat their en- treaties : but no regard was paid to his request. The French king told him, he Avas determined to prosecute the war with vigour, as his moderation hitherto had served to no other purpose but that of rendering his enemies more intractable. Ac- cordingly, his troops invested Menin, Avhich was 402 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. lyu, in seven da3^s surrendered upon capitulation. Ypres, Fort Knocke, and Furnes, underwent the same fate ; and on the twenty-ninth day of June the king of France entered Dunkirk in triumph. PRINCE CHARLES OF LORRAINE PASSES THE RHINE. He had taken such precautions for the defence of Alsace, which was guarded by considerable armies under the command of Coigny and Seckendorff, that he thought he had nothing to fear from the Austrians in that quarter : besides, he had receiv- ed secret assurances that the king of Prussia Avould declare for the emperor ; so that he resolved to pursue his conquests in the Netherlands. But all his measures were defeated by the activity of prince Charles of Lorraine, and his officers, who found means to pass the Rhine, and oblige the French and Bavarian generals to retire to Lam- pertheim, that they might cover Strasburgh. The Austrians made themselves masters of Haguenau and Saverne : they secured the passes of Lorraine : and laid all the country of Lower Alsace under contribution. The king of France was no sooner apprized of the prince's having passed the Rhine, and penetrated into this province, than he sent off a detachment of thirty thousand men from his army in Flanders to reinforce that under the mareschal de Coigny ; and he himself began his 1744. GEORGE II. 493 journey from the Rhine, that he might in person check the progress of the enemy : but this design was anticipated by a severe distemper that over- took him at Mentz in Lorraine. The pliysicians despaired of his Ufe. The queen, with her children, and all the princes of the blood, hastened from Versailles to pay the last duties to their dying sovereign, who, as a true penitent, dismissed his concubines, and began to prepare himself for death : yet the strength of his constitution tri- umphed over the fever, and his recovery was celebrated all over his dominions with uncommon marks of joy and affection. In the mean time the schemes of the Austrian general were frustrated by the king of Prussia, who, in the month of August, entered the elector- ate of Saxony, at the head of" a numerous army. There he declared, in a public manifesto, that his aims were only to re-establish the peace of the empire, and to support the dignity of its head. He assured the inhabitants that they might de- pend upon his protection, in case the}^ should remain quiet ; but threatened them with fire and sword should they presume to oppose his arms. In a rescript, addressed to his ministers at foreign courts, he accused the queen of Hungary of ob- stinacy, in refusing to acknowledge the emperor, and restore his hereditary dominions : he said, he had engaged in the league of Francfort, to hin- der the head of the empire from being oppressed : that he had no intention to violate the peace of 494 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1744. Breslau, or enter as a principal into this war : he affirmed, that his design was to act as auxihary to the emperor, and estabhsh the quiet of Germany. He penetrated into Bohemia and undertook the siege of Prague, the governor of which surren- dered himself and his garrison prisoners of war on the sixteenth day of September. He after- wards reduced Tabor, Bodweis, and Teyn, and in a word subdued the greatest part of the kingdom ; the Austrian forces in that country being in no condition to stop his progress. Nevertheless, he was soon obliged to relinquish his conquests. Prince Charles of Lorraine was recalled from Al- sace, and repassed the Rhine in the face of the French army, commanded by the mareschals de Coigny, Noaillcs, and Belleisle. Then he marched to the Danube, laid the Upper-Palatinate under contribution, and entering Bohemia, joined the troops under Bathiani at Merotiz. The king of Poland, elector of Saxony, at this juncture, de- clared in favour of her Hungarian majesty. A convention for the mutual guarantee of their dominions, had been signed between those two powers in December ; and now prince Charles of Lorraine was reinforced by twenty thousand Saxon troops, under the conduct of the duke of Saxe- Wessenfels. The combined army was superior to that of his Prussian majesty, whom they resolved to engage. But he retired before them, and hav- ing evacuated all the places he had garrisoned in Bohemia, retreated with precipitation into Silesia. 3744. GEORGE II. 495 There his troops were put into winter-quarters ; and he himself returned to Berhn, extremely mor- tified at the issue of the campaign. CAMPAIGN IN BAVARIA AND FLANDERS. During these transactions, count Seckendorff marched into Bavaria, at the head of a strong army, drove the Austrians out of that electorate, and the emperor regained possession of Munich, his capital, 'on the twenty-second day of October. In August the French army passed the Rhine at Fort-Louis, and invested the strong and import- ant city of Fribourg, defended by general Dem- nitz, at the head of nine thousand veterans. The king of France arrived in the camp on the eleventh day of October; and the siege was carried on M'ith uncommon vigour. The Austrian governor made incredible efforts in the defence of the place, which he maintained until it was reduced to a heap of ruins, and one half of the garrison de- stroyed. At length, however, they were obliged to surrender themselves prisoners of war, after the trenches had been open five-and-forty days, during which they had killed above fifteen thou- sand of the besiegers. With this conquest the French king closed the campaign, and his army was cantoned along the Rhine, under the inspec- tion of the count de Maillebois. By the detach- ments drawn from the French army in Flanders, 4g6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. . 1744. count Saxe had found himself considerably weaker than the confederates : he threw up strong en- trenchments behind the Lys, where he remained on the defensive, until he was reinforced by count de Clermont, who connnanded a separate body on the side of Newport. The allies, to the num- ber of seventy thousand, passed the Schelde, and advanced towards Helchin : but the enemy being so advantageously posted, that they could not attack him with any |)rospect of advantage, they filed on in sight of Tournay; and on the eighth day of August encamped in the plains of Lisle, in hope of drawing count Saxe from the situation in which he was so strongly fortified. Here they foraged for several days, and laid the open coun- try under contribution : however, they made no attempt on the place itself, which in all probabi- lity would have fallen into their hands had they invested it at their first approach ; for then there was no other garrison but two or three battalions of militia: but count Saxe soon threw in a con- siderable reinforcement. The allies were unpro- vided with a train of battering cannon ; and their commanders would not deviate from the usual form of war. Besides, they were divided in their opinions, and despised one another. General Wade, who commanded the English and Hano- verians, Mas a vain, weak man, without confidence, weight, or authority ; and the Austrian general, the duke d'Aremberg, was a proud, rapacious glutton, devoid of talents and sentiment. Aftej 1744. GEORGE II. 407 having remained for some time in sight of Lisle, and made a general forage without molestation, they retired to their former camp on the Schelde, from whence they soon marched into winter-quar- ters. Count Saxe at length quitted his lines ; and by way of retaliation, sent out detachments to ravage the Low-countries, to the very gates of Ghent and Bruges. The conduct of the allied generals was severely censured in England, ridi- culed in France, not only in private conversation but also on their public theatres, where it became the subject of farces and pantomimes. The campaign in Italy produced divers vicis- situdes of fortune. The king of Naples having assembled an army joined count Gages, and pub- lished a manifesto in vindication of his conduct, which was a direct violation of the neutrality he had promised to observe. He maintained, that his moderation had been undervalued by the courts of London and Vienna ; that his frontiers were tbreatened with the calamities of war; and that the queen of Hungary made no secret of her intention to invade his dominions. This charge was not without foundation. The emissaries of the house of Austria endeavoured to excite a rebellion in Naples, which prince Lobkowitz had orders to favour by an invasion. This general was encamped at Monte Rotundo, in the neigh- bourhood of Rome, when, in the month of June, the confederates advanced to Velletri. While the two armies remained in sight of each other, prince VOL. III. K K 4(ja HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17^4 Lobkowitz detached a strong body of forces, un- der count Soro and general Gorani, who made an irruption into the province of Abruzzo, and took the city of Aquilla, where tliey distributed a ma- nifesto, in which the queen of Hungary exhorted the Neapohtans to shake off the Spanish yoke, and submit again to the house of Austria. This step, however, produced little or no effect; and the Austrian detachment retired at the approach of the duke of Vieuville, M^ith a superior number of forces. In August, count Brown, at the head of an Austrian detachment, surprised Velletri in the night ; and the king of the Two Sicilies, with the duke of Modena, Avere in the utmost danger of being taken. They escaped by a postern with great difficulty, and repaired to the quar- ters of count Gages, who performed the part of a great general on this occasion. He rallied the fugitives, dispelled the panic and confusion which had begun to prevail in his camp, and made a disposition for cutting off the retreat of the Austrians. Count BroAvn, finding him- self in danger of being surrounded, thought proper to secure his retreat, which he effected with great art and gallantry, carrying off a pro- digious booty. Three thousand Spaniards are said to have fallen in this action ; and eight hun- dred men were taken, with some standards and colours. Count Mariani, a Neapolitan general, was among the prisoners. The Austrians lost about six hundred men ; and general Novati fell 1/4/. GEORGE II. 499 into the hands of the enemy : but the exploit produced no consequence of importance. The heats of autumn proved so fatal to the austrians, who were not accustomed to the climate, that prince Lobkowitz saw his army mouldering away, without any possibility of its being recruited: besides, the country was so drained that he could no longer procure subsistence. Impelled by these considerations, he meditated a retreat. On the eleventh day of November, he decamped from Faiola, marched under the walls of Rome, passed the Tiber at Ponte Molle, formerly known by the name of Pons Milvius, which he had just time to break down behind him, when the vanguard of the Spaniards and Neapolitans appeared. Part of his rear-guard, however, was taken, with count Soro who commanded it, at Nocero ; and his army suffered greatly by desertion. Neverthe- less, he continued his retreat with equal skill and expedition, passed the mountains of Gubio, and by the way of Viterbo reached the Bolognese. The pope was altogether passive. In the begin- ning of the campaign he had caressed Lobkowitz; and now he received the king of the Two Sicilies with marks of the warmest affection. That prince having visited the chief curiosities of Rome, re- turned to Naples, leaving part of his troops under the command of count Gages. S2 500 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1744. BATTLE OF CONL Fortune likewise favoured his brother Don Phi- lip, in Savoy and Piedmont. He was, early in the season, joined at Antibes by the French army, under the conduct of the prince of Conti. In the latter end of March, the combined forces passed the Var, reduced the castle of Aspremont, and entered the city of Nice, without opposition. In April, they attacked the king of Sardinia, who, with twenty thousand men, was strongly entrench- ed among the mountains at Villa-Franca. The action was obstinate and bloody ; but their num- bers and perseverance prevailed. He was obliged to abandon his posts, and embark on board of the British squadron, which transported him and his troops to Vado. The intention of Don Philip Avas to penetrate through the territories of Genoa into the Milanese; but admiral Matthews, who hovered with a strong squadron on that coast, sent a message to the republic, declaring, that should the combined army be suffered to pass through her dominions, the king of Great Britain would consider such a step as a breach of their neutrality. The senate, intimidated by this in- timation, entreated the princes to desist from their design, and they resolved to choose another route. They defiled towards Piedmont, and assaulted the strong post of Chateau-Dauphin^, defended by the king of Sardinia in person. Af- J7J4. GEORGE IL SOI ter a desperate attack, in which they lost four thousand men, the place was taken : the garrison of Demont surrendered at discretion, and the whole country of Piedmont was laid under con- tribution. His Sardinian majesty was not in a condition to hazard a battle : and, therefore, post- ed liimself at Saluzzes, in order to cover his capi- tal. The combined army advanced to the strong and important town of Coni, which was invested in the beginning of September. Baron Leutrum the governor made an obstinate defence, and the situation of the place was such as rendered the siege difficult, tedious, and bloody. The king of Sardinia being reinforced by ten thousand Aus- trians, under general Pallavicini, advanced to its relief) and a battle ensued. The action was main- tained with great vigour on both sides, till night, when his majesty finding it impracticable to force the enemy's entrenchments, retired in good order to his camp at Murasso. He afterwards found means to throw a reinforcement and supply of provisions into Coni ; and the heavy rains that fell at this period, not only retarded, but even dispirited the besiegers. Nevertheless, the princes persisted in their design, notwithstanding a dearth of provisions, and the approach of winter, till the latter end of November, when the chevalier de Soto entered the place with six hundred fresh men. This incident was no sooner known, than the princes abandoned their enterprize ; and leaving their sick and w^ounded to the mercy 502 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1744. of the Piedmontese, marched back to Demon t. Having dismantled the fortifications of this place, they retreated with great precipitation to Dau- phin6, and were dreadfully harassed by the Vau- dois and light troops in the service of his Sardi- nian majesty, who now again saw himself in possession of Piedmont. The French troops were quartered in Dauphin6; but Don Philip still maintained his footing in Savoy, the inhabitants of which he fleeced without mercy. RETURN OF COMMODORE ANSON. After the action at Toulon, nothing of conse- quence was achieved by the British squadron in the Mediterranean ; and indeed the naval power of Great Britain was, during the summer, quite inactive. In the month of June, commodore Anson returned from his voyage of three years and nine months, in which he had surrounded the terraqueous globe. We have formerly ob- served, that he sailed with a small squadron to the South-Sea, in order to annoy the Spanish set- tlements of Chili and Peru. Two of his large ships having been separated from him in a storm before he weathered Cape-Horn, had put in at Rio de Janeiro, on the coast of Brasil, from whence they returned to Europe. A frigate com- manded by captain Cheap, was shipwrecked on a desolate island in the South-Sea. Mr. Anson 17U. , GEORGE II. 50a having undergone a dreadful tempest, which di- spersed his fleet, arrived at the island of Juan Fernandez, where he M^as joined liy the Gloucester, a ship of the line, a sloop, and a pink loaded with provisions. These were the remains of his s({ua- dron. He made prize of several vessels ; took and burned the little town of Payta ; set sail from the coast of Mexico for the Philippine Isles ; and in this passage the Gloucester was abandoned and sunk : the other vessels had been destroyed for want of men to navigate them, so that nothing now remained but the commodore's own ship, the Centurion, and that but very indiiferently man- ned ; for the crews had been horribly thinned by sickness. Incredible were the hardships and misery they sustained from the shattered condi- tion of the ships, and the scorbutic disorder, M'hen they reached the plentiful island of Tinian, where they were supplied with the necessary refresh- ments. Thence they prosecuted their voyage to the river of Canton in China, M'here the commo- dore ordered the ship to be sheathed, and found means to procure a reinforcement of sailors. The chief object of his attention was the rich annual ship that sails between Acapulco, in Mexico, and Manilla, one of the Philippine Islands. In hopes of intercepting her, he set sail from Canton, and steered his course back to the straits of Manilla, where she actually fell into his hands, after a short but vigorous engagement. The prize was called Neustra Signora de Cabodonga, mounted 504 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 174L with forty guns, manned with six hundred sailors, and loaded with treasure and eflfects to the value of three hundred and thirteen thousand pounds sterling : with this windfal he returned to Can- ton ; from whence he proceeded to the Cape of Good Hope, and prosecuted his voyage to Eng- land, where he arrived in safety. Though this fortunate commander enriched hfmself hy an oc- currence that may be termed almost accidental, the British nation was not indemnified for the ex- pence of the expedition ; and the original design was entirely defeated. Had the Manilla ship escaped the vigilance of the English commodore, he might have been, at his return to England, laid aside as a superannuated captain, and died in obscurity, but his great wealth invested him with considerable influence, and added lustre to his talents. He soon became the oracle which was consulted in all naval deliberations; and the king raised him to the dignity of a peerage. In July, sir John Balchen, an admiral of approved valour and great experience, sailed from Spithead with a strong squadron, in quest of an opportunity to attack the French fleet at Brest, under the com- mand of M. de Rochambault. In the bay of Biscay he was overtaken by a violent storm, that dispersed the ships, and drove them up the Eng- lish channel. Admiral Stewart, with the greater part of them, arrived at Plymouth ; but sir John Balchen's own ship, the Victory, which was count- ed the most beautiful first-rate in the world, i;4'l. GEORGE II. 505 foundered at sea; and this brave commander perished, with all his officers, volunteers, and crew, amounting to eleven hundred choice seamen. On the fourth day of October, after the siege of Fribourg, the marshal duke de Belleisle, and his brother, happened, in their way to Berlin, to halt at a village in the forest of Hartz, dependent on the electorate of Hanover. There they were ap- prehended by the bailiff of the place, and con- ducted as prisoners to Osterode ; from whence they were removed to Stade on the Elbe, where they embarked for England. They resided at Windsor till the following year, when they were allowed the benefit of the cartel which had been established between Great Britain and France at Francfort, and released accordingly, after they had been treated by the British nobility with that respect and hospitality which was due to their rank and merit ^ REVOLUTION IN THE BRITISH MINISTRY. The dissensions in the British cabinet were now ripened into another revolution in the ministry. Lord Carteret, who was by this time earl Gran- ville, in consequence of his mother's death, had * Mr. Pope, the celebrated poet, died in the month of June. In October, the old duchess of Marlborough resigned her breath, in the eighty-fifth year of her age, immensely rich, and very little regretted, either by her own family, or the world in general. 50(5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1744. engrossed the royal favour so much, that the duke of N and his brother are said to have taken umbrage at his influence and greatness. He had incurred the resentment of those who were distin- guished by the appellation of patriots, and entirely forfeited his popularity. The two brothers were very powerful by their parliamentary interest; they knew their own strength, and engaged in a political alliance with the leading men in the opposition, against the prime minister and his measures. This coalition was dignified with the epithet of " The Broad Bottom," as if it had been established on a true constitutional founda- tion, comprehending individuals of every class, without distinction of party. The appellation, however, which they assumed was afterwards con- verted into a term of derision. The earl of Gran- ville perceiving the gathering storm, and foresee- ing the impossibility of withstanding such an opposition in parliament, wisely avoided the im- pending danger and disgrace, by a voluntary resignation of his employments. The earl of Harrington succeeded him as secretary of state. The duke of Bedford was appointed first lord of the admiralty, and the earl of Chesterfield de- clared lord-lieutenant of Ireland. The lords Gower and Cobham were re-established in the offices they had resigned ; Mr. Lyttleton was admitted as a commissioner of the treasury; even sir John Hynde Cotton accepted of a place at court ; and sir John Philips sat at the board of i;'i4. GEORGE II. 507 trade and plantations, tlioiigh he soon renounced this employment. This M^as rather a change of men than of measures, and turned out to the ease and advantage of the sovereign ; for his views were no longer tliMarted hy an ohstinate opposi- tion in parliament. The session was opened on the twenty-eighth day of November, in the usual manner. The commons unanimously granted about six millions and an half for the service of the ensuing year, to be raised by the land, the malt, and the salt taxes, the sinking-fund, and an additional duty on wines. In January the earl of Chesterfield set out for the Hague, m ith the cha- racter of ambassador extraordinary, to persuade, if possible, the states-general to engage heartily in the M'ar. About the same time, a treaty of quadruple alliance was signed at Warsaw, by the queen of Hungary, the king of Poland, and the maritime powers. This was a mutual guarantee of the dominions belonging to the contracting parties : but his Polish majest}' M^as paid for his concurrence, with an annual subsidy of one hun- dred and fifty thousand pounds, two thirds of which were defrayed by England, and the remain- der was disbursed by the United Provinces ^ '' Robert earl of Orford, late prime minister, died in March, after having for a very short time enjoyed a pension of four thou- sand pounds granted by the crown, in consideration of his past- services. Though he had for such a length of time directed tlie application of the public treasure, his circumstances were not affluent : he was liberal in his disposition, and had such a number of rapacious dependents to gratify, that little was left for his own private occasions. 508 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. The business of the British parliament being discussed, the session Avas closed in the beginning of May ; and, immediately after the prorogation, the king set out for Hanover. The death of the emperor Charles VII. which happened in the month of January, had entirely changed the face of affairs in the empire, and all the princes of Ger- many were in commotion. The grand duke of Tuscany, consort to her Hungarian majesty, was immediately declared a candidate for the imperial crown ; while his pretensions were warmly op- posed by the French king and his allies. The court of Vienna, taking advantage of the late emperor's death, sent an army to invade Bavaria in the month of March, under the conduct of general Bathiani, who routed the French and Pala- tine troops at Psiffenhoven ; took possession of liain ; surrounded and disarmed six thousand Hessians in the neighbourhood of Ingoldstadt ; and drove the Bavarian forces out of the elector- ate. The young elector was obliged to abandon his capital, and retire to Augsburgh, where he found himself in danger of losing all his domi- nions. In this emergency, he yielded to the earnest solicitations of the empress his mother, enforced by the advice of his uncle, the elector of Cologn, and of his general, count Seckendorff, who ex- horted him to be reconciled to the court of Vienna. A negociation was immediately begun at Fuessen, where, in April, the treaty was con- cluded. The queen consented to recognize the imperial dignity, as having been vested in the 1/45. GEORGE II. 509 person of his father ; to acknowledge his mother as emjDress dowager; to restore his dominions, with all the fortresses, artillery, stores, and am- munition which she had taken : on the other hand, he renounced all claim to the succession of her father, and became guarantee of the prag- matic sanction : he acknowledged the validity of the electoral vote of Bohemia in the person of the queen; and engaged to give his voice for the grand duke at the ensuing election of a king of the Romans. Until that should be determined, both parties agreed that Ingoldstadt should be garrisoned by neutral troops; and that Braunau and Schardingen, with all the country lying be- tween the Inn and the Saltza, should remain in the queen's possession, though without prejudice to the civil government, or the elector's revenue. In the mean time he dismissed the auxiliaries that were in his pay, and they were permitted to retire without molestation. The court of Vienna had now secured the votes of all the electors, except those of Branden- burgh and the Palatinate. Nevertheless, France assembled a powerful army in the neighbourhood of Francfort, in order to influence the election. But the Austrian army, commanded by the grand duke in person, marched thither from the Da- nube ; and the prince of Conti was obliged to repass the Rhine at Nordlingen. Then the great duke repaired to Francfort, where, on the second day of September, he was by a majority of voices 510 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1715. declared king of the Romans, and emperor of Germany. Mean while the kins: of Prussia had made great progress in tlie conquest of Silesia. Tlie campaign began in January, when the Hun- garian insurgents were obh'ged to retire into Moravia. In the following month the Prussian general Lehwald defeated a body of twelve thou- sand Austrians, commanded by general Helsrich ; the town of Ratibor was taken by assault; and the king entered Silesia, in IVIay, at the head of seventy thousand men. Prince Charles of Lor- raine, being joined by the duke of Saxe-Wessen- fels and twent}^ thousand Saxons, penetrated into Silesia by the defiles of Landshut ; and were at- tacked by his Prussian majesty in the plains of Striegan, near Friedberg. The battle was main- tained from morning till noon, when the Saxons giving way, prince Charles was obliged to retire with the loss of twelve thousand men, and a great number of colours, standards, and artillery. This victory, obtained on the fourth day of June, com- plete as it was, did not prove decisive; for, though the victor transferred the seat of the war into Bohemia, and maintained his army by raising con- tributions in that country, the Austrians resolved to hazard another engagement. Their aim was to surprize him in his camp at Sohr, which they attacked on the thirtieth of September, at day- break : but they met with such a warm reception, that notwithstanding their repeated efforts during the space of four hours, they were repulsed with J745. GEORGE II. 511 considerable damage, and retreated to Jaromire, leaving five thousand killed upon the spot, besides two thousand that were taken, with many stand- ards, and twenty pieces of cannon. The loss of this battle was in a great measure owing to the avarice of the irregulars, who having penetrated into the Prussian camp, began to pillage with great eagerness, giving the king an opportunity to rally his disordered troops, and restore the battle : nevertheless, they retired with the plunder of his baggage, including his military chest, the officers of his chancery, his own secretary, and all the papers of his cabinet. TREATY OF DRESDEN. THE GRAND DUKE OF TUSCANY ELECTED EMPEROR. After this action his Prussian majesty returned to Berlin, and breathed nothing but peace and moderation. In August he had signed a con- vention with the king of Great Britain, who be- came guarantee of his possessions in Silesia, as yielded b}' the treaty of Breslau ; and he promised to vote for the grand duke of Tuscany at the election of an emperor. This was intended as the basis of a more general accommodation. But he now pretended to have received undoubted in- telligence, that the king of Poland and the queen of Hungary had agreed to invade Brandenburgh with three different armies ; and that, for this pur- 512 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. pose, his Polish majesty had demanded of the czarina the succours stipulated by treaty between the two crowns. Alarmed, or seemingly alarmed, at this information, he solicited the maritime powers to fulfil their engagements, and interpose their good offices with the court of Petersburgh. Yet, far from waiting for the result of these re- monstrances, he made a sudden irruption into Lusatia, took possession of Gorlitz, and obliged prince Charles of Lorraine to retire before him into Bohemia. Then he entered Leipsick, and laid Saxony under contribution. The king of Poland, unable to resist the torrent, quitted his capital, and took refuge in Prague. His troops, reinforced by a body of Austrians, were defeated at Pima on the fifteenth day of December ; and his Prussian majesty became master of Dresden without further opposition. The king of Poland, thus deprived of his hereditary dominions, was fain to acquiesce in such terms as the conqueror thought proper to impose; and the treaty of Dres- den was concluded under the mediation of his Britannic majesty. By this convention the king* of Prussia retained all the contributions he had levied in Saxony ; and was entitled to a million of German crowns, to be paid by his Polish ma- jesty at the next fair of Leipsick. He and the elector Palatine consented to acknowledge the grand duke as emperor of Germany ; and this last confirmed to his Prussian majesty certain privi- leges de non cmcanclo, which had b^en granted by 1745. GEOUGE li. 513 the late emperor, with regard to some territories possessed by the king of Prussia, though not be- longing to the electorate of Brandenburgh. Im- mediately after the ratification of this treaty, the Prussian troops evacuated Saxony ; and the peace of Germany was restored. THE ALLIES ARE DEFEATED AT FONTENOY. Though the French king could not prevent the elevation of the grand duke to the imperial throne, he resolved to humble the house of Austria, by making a conquest of the Netherlands. A pro- digious army was there assembled, under the auspices of mareschal count de Saxe ; and his most christian majesty, with the dauphin, arriv- ing in the camp, they invested the strong town of To urn ay on the thirtieth day of April. The Dutch garrison consisted of eight thousand men, commanded by the old baron Dorth, who made a vigorous defence. The duke of Cumberland as- sumed the chief command of the allied army, assembled at Soio-nies : he was assisted with the advice of the count Konigseg, an Austrian gene- ral, and the prince of Waldeck, commander of the Dutch forces. Their army was greatly inferior in number to that of the enemy ; nevertheless, they resolved to march to the relief of Tournay. They accordingly advanced to Leuse ; and on the twenty-eighth day of April took post at Alaulbre, VOL. III. L L 514 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. in sight of the French army, which was encamped on an eminence, from the village of Antoine to a large wood beyond Vezon, having Fontenoy in their front. Next day was employed by the allies in driving the enemy from some outposts, and clearing the defiles through which they were obliged to advance to the attack ; while the French completed their batteries, and made the most formidable preparations for their reception. On the thirtieth day of April, the duke of Cum- berland, having made the proper dispositions, be- gan his march to the enemy at two o'clock in the morninp': a brisk cannonade ensued ; and about nine both armies were engaged. The British in- fantry drove the French beyond their lines : but the left wing failing in the attack on the village of Fontenoy, and the cavalry forbearing to ad- vance on the flanks, they measured back their ground with some disorder, from the prodigious fire of the French batteries. They rallied, how- ever, and returning to the charge with redoubled ardour, repulsed the enemy to their camp with great slaughter; but, being wholly unsupported by the other v/ing, and exposed both in front and flank to a dreadful fire, which did great execution, the duke was obliged to make the necessary dis- positions for a retreat about three o'clock in the afternoon ; and this M^as ejected in tolerable order. The battle was fought with great obsti- nacy, and the carnage on both sides was very considerable. The allies lost about twelve thou- 1745. GEORGE II. , 515 sand men, including a good number of officers ; among these were lieutenant-general Campbell, and major-general Ponsonby. The victory cost the French almost an equal number of lives; and no honour was lost by the vanquished. Had the allies given battle on the preceding day, before the enemy had taken their measures, and received all their reinforcements, they might have succeeded in their endeavours to relieve Tournay. Although the attack v/as generally judged rash and preci- pitate, tlie British and Hanoverian troops fought with such intrepidity and perseverance, that if they had been properly sustained by the Dutch forces, and their flanks covered by the cavalry, the French, in all likelihood, would have been obHged to abandon their enterprize. The duke of Cumberland left his sick and wounded to the humanity of the victors; and retiring to Aeth, encamped in an advantageous situation at Les- sines. The garrison of Tournay, though now deprived of all hope of succour, maintained the place to the twenty-first day of June, when the governor obtained an honourable capitulation. After the conquest of this frontier, which was dismantled, the duke of Cumberland, apprehend- ing the enemy had a design upon Ghent, sent a detachment of four thousand men to reinforce the garrison of that city: but they fell into an ambuscade at Pas-du-m^le; and were killed or taken, except a few dragoons that escaped to Ostend : on that very night, which was the twelfth 2 51(5 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. of June, Ghent was surprised by a detachment of the French army. Then they invested Ostend, which, though defended by an English garrison, and open to the sea, was, after a short siege, sur- rendered by capitulation on the fourteenth day of August. Dendermonde, Oudenarde, Newport, and Aeth, underwent the same fate ; while the allied army lay entrenched beyond the canal of Antwerp. The French king having subdued the greatest part of the Austrian Netherlands, return- ed to Paris, which he entered in triumph. THE KING OF SARDINIA IS ALMOST STRIPPED OF HIS DOMINIONS. The campaign in Italy was unpropitious to the queen of Mungary and the king of Sardinia. Count Gages passed the Appennines, and entered the state of Lucca : from thence he proceeded by the eastern coast of Genoa to Lestride-Levante. The junction of the two armies was thus accom- plished, and reinforced with ten thousand Ge- noese : mean while prince Lobkowitz decamped from Modena and took post at Parma : but he was soon succeeded by count Schuylemberg, and sent to command the Austrians in Bohemia. The Spaniards entered the Milanese without further opposition. Count Gages, with thirty thousand men, took possession of Serravalle ; and advanc- ing towards Placentia, obliged the Austrians to 1745. GEORGE II. 517 retire under the cannon of Tortona; but wlien Don Philip, at the liead of forty thousand troops, made himself master of Acqui, the king of Sardi- nia, and the Austrian general, unable to stem the torrent, retreated behind the Tanaro. The strong citadel of Tortona was taken by the Spaniards, who likewise reduced Parma and Placentia; and forcing the passage of the Tanaro, compelled his Sardinian majesty to take shelter on the other side of the Po. Then Pavia was won bv scalade : and the city of JMilan submitted to the infant, though the Austrian ""arrison still maintained the citadel ; all Piedmont, on both sides of the Po, as far as Turin, was reduced, and even that capital threat- ened with a siege ; so that by the month of Octo- ber the territories belonging to the house of Aus- tria, in Italy, were Mdiolly subdued ; and the king of Sardinia stripped of all his dominions: yet he continued iirai and true to his engagements, and deaf to all proposals of a separate accommodation. THE ENGLISH FORCES TAKE CxVPE BRETON. The naval transactions of Great Britain Avere in the course of this year remarkably spirited. In the Mediterranean, admiral Rowley had succeeded Matthews in the command: Savona, Genoa, Fi- nal, St. Remo, with Bastia, the capital of Corsica, were bombarded : several Spanish ships were taken : but he could not prevent the safe arrival 518 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. of their rich Havaniiah squachon at Corunna. Commodore Barnet, in tlie East-Indies, made prize of several Frencli sliips, richly laden ; and commodore Townshend, in the latitude of Marti- nico, took about thirty merchant ships belonging to the enemy, under convoy of four ships of Avar, two of which were destroyed. The English pri- vateers likewise met with uncommon success. But the most important atchievement was the conquest of Louisbourg on the isle of Cape Bre- ton, in North-America : a place of great conse- quence, which the French had fortified at a pro- digious expence. The scheme of reducing this fortress was planned in Boston, reconmiended by their general assembly, and approved by his ma- jesty, who sent instructions to commodore War- ren, stationed off the Leeward Islands, to sail for the northern parts of America, and co-operate with the forces of New-England in this expedi- tion. A body of six thousand men was formed under the conduct of Mr. Pepperel, a trader of Piscataquay, whose influence was extensive in that country ; though he was a man of little or no education, and utterly unacquainted with milittiry operations. In April Mr. Warren arrived at Canso with ten ships of war ; and the troops of New- England being embarked in transports, sailed immediately for the isle of Cape Breton, where they landed without opposition. The enemy abandoned their grand battery, which was de- tached from the town : and the immediate seizure i;45. GEORGE II. 519 of it contributed in a good measure to the suc- cess of the enterprize. While the American troops, reinforced by eight hundred marines, carried on their approaches by land, the squadron blocked up the place by sea in such a manner, that no suc- cours could be introduced. A French ship of the line, with some smaller vessels destined for the relief of the garrison, were intercepted and taken by the British cruisers; and, indeed, the reduction of Louisbourg was chiefly owing to the vigilance and activity of Mr. Warren, one of the bravest and best ollicers in the service of Eng- land. The operations of the siege were wholly conducted by the engineers and officers who commanded the British marines ; and the Ameri- cans, being ignorant of war, were contented to act under their directions. The town being con- siderably damaged by the bombs and bullets of the besiegers, and the garrison despairing of relief, the governor capitulated on the seventeenth day of June, when the city of Louisbourg, and the isle of Cape Breton, were surrendered to his Bri- tannic majesty. The garrison and inhabitants engaged that they Avould not bear arms for twelve months against Great Britain or her allies; and being embarked in fourteen cartel ships, were transported to Rochefort. In a few days after the surrender of Louisbourg, two French East- India ships, and another from Peru, laden with treasure, sailed into the harbour, on the supposi- 520 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. tion that it still belonged to France, and were taken by the English squadron. The news of this conquest being transmitted to England, Mr. Pepperel was preferred to the dignity of a baronet of Great Britain, and con- gratulatory addresses were presented to the king on the success of his majesty's arms. The posses- sion of Cape Breton was, doubtless, a vahiable acquisition to Great Britain. It not only distress- ed the French in their fishery and navigation, but removed all fears of encroaclnuent and rival- ship from the English fishers on the banks of Newfoundland. It freed New-England from the terrors of a dangerous neighbour; overawed the Indians of that country ; and secured the pos- session of Acadia to the crown of Great Britain. The plan of this conquest was originally laid by Mr. Auchmuty, judge-advocate of the court of admiralty in New-England. He demonstrated, that the reduction of Cape Breton would put the English in sole possession of the fishery of North- America, v/hich would annually return to Great Britain two millions sterling for the manufactures yearly shipped to the plantations ; employ many thousand famiUes that were otherwise unservice- able to the public ; increase the shipping and mariners; extend navigation; cut off all com- munication between France and Canada by the river St. Laurence ; so that Quebeck would fall of course into the hands of the English, who 1745. GEORGE II. 521 might expel the French entirely from America, open a correspondence with the remote Indians, and render themselves masters of the profitahle fur-trade, which was now engrossed by the enemy. The natives of New-England acquired great glory from the success of this enterprize. Britain, which had in some instances behaved like a step- mother to her own colonies, was now convinced of their importance; and treated those as brethren whom she had too long considered as aliens and rivals. Circumstanced as the nation is, the legis- lature cannot too tenderly cherish the interests of the British plantations in America. They are in- habited by a brave, hardy, industrious people, animated with an active spirit of commerce; in- spired with a noble zeal for liberty and independ- ence. The trade of Great Britain, clogged with heavy taxes and impositions, has for some time languished in many valuable branches. The French have undersold our cloths, and spoiled our markets in the Levant. Spain is no longer supplied as usual with the commodities of Eng- land : the exports to Germany must be consider- ably diminished by the misunderstanding between Great Britain and the house of Austria; conse- quently, her greatest resource must be in her communication with her own colonies, which con- sume her manufactures, and make immense returns in sugar, rum, tobacco, fish, timber, nav^al stores, iron, furs, drugs, rice, and indigo. The southern plantations likewise produce silk ; and Avith due 522 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. encoumgenient might funiish every thing that could be expected from the most fertile soil and the liappiest climate. The continent of North- America, if properly cultivated, will prove an in- exhaustible fund of wealth and strength to Great Britain ; and perhaps it may become the last asylum of British liberty. When the nation is enslaved by domestic despotism or foreign domi- nion ; when her substance is wasted, her spirit broke, and the laws and constitution of England are no more ; then those colonies, sent off by our fathers, may receive and entertain their sons as hapless exiles, and ruined refugees. PROJECT OF AN INSUREECTION IN GREAT BRITAIN. While the continent of Europe and the isles of America were thus exposed to the ravages of war, and subjected to such vicissitudes of fortune. Great Britain underwent a dangerous convulsion in her own bowels. The son of the chevalier de St. George, fired with ambition, and animated with the hope of ascending the throne of his an- cestors, resolved to make an effort for that pur- pose, which, though it might not be crowned with success, should at least astonish all Christendom. The Jacobites in England and Scotland had pro- mised, that if he would land in Britain at the head of a regular army, they would supply him 1745. GEORGE II. 523 with provisions, carriages, and horses, and a great number of them declared they would take up arms, and join his standard : but they disapprov- ed of his coming over witliout forces, as a dan- gerous enterprize, that would in all probability end in the ruin of himself and all his adherents. This advice, including an exact detail of his father's interest, with the dispositions of his par- ticular friends in every town and county, was transmitted to London in January, in order to be forwarded to prince Charles : but the person with whom it was entrusted could find no safe method of conveyance ; so that he sent it back to Scot- land, from whence it was dispatched to France ; but before it reached Paris, Charles had left that kingdom. Had the paper come to his hands in due time, perhaps he would not have embarked in the undertaking, though he was stimulated to the attempt by many concurring motives. Certain it is, he was cajoled by the sanguine misrepresenta- tions of a few adventurers, vrho hoped to profit by the expedition. They assured him, that the whole nation was disaffected to the reigning family : that the people could no longer bear the immense load of taxes, which was daily increas- ing; and that the most considerable persons of the kingdom would gladly seize the first oppor- tunity of crowding to his standard. On the other hand, he knew the British government had taken some effectual steps to alienate the friends of his house from the principles they had hitherto pro- 524 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. fessed. Some of them had accepted posts and pensions: others were preferred in the army; and the parliament \yere so attaclied to the reigning family, that he had nothing to hope from their deliberations. He expected no material succour from the court of France : he foresaw that delay would diminish the number of his adherents in Great Britain ; and, therefore, resolved to seize the present occasion, which in many respects was propitious to his design. Without doubt, had he been properly supported, he could not have found a more favourable opportunity of exciting an in- testine commotion in Great Britain : for Scotland was quite unfurnished with troops; king George was in Germany; the duke of Cumberland, at the head of the British army, was employed in Flan- ders, and great part of the Highlanders were keen for insurrection. Their natural principles were on this occasion stimulated by the suggestions of revenge. At the beginning of the war a regiment of those people had been formed, and transported with the rest of the British troops to Flanders. Before they were embarked, a number of them deserted with their arms, on pretence that they had been decoyed into the service, by promises and assurances that they should never be sent abroad ; and this was really the case. They were overtaken by a body of horse, persuaded to sub- mit, brought back to London pinioned like male- factors, and tried for desertion. They Avere shot to death in terror cm ; and the rest were sent in 1745. GEORGE ir. 525 exile to the plantations. Those who suffered were persons of some consequence in their own country ; and their fate was deeply resented by the clans to which they belonged. It was considered as a na- tional outrage : and the highlanders, who are na- turally^ vindictive, waited impatiently for an oppor- tunity of vengeance. THE ELDEST SON OF THE CHEVALIER DE ST. GEORGE LANDS IN SCOTLAND. The young pretender being furnished A^^ith a sum of money, and a supply of arms, on his pri- vate credit, without the knowledge of the French court, wrote letters to his friends in Scotland, ex- plaining his design and situation, intimating the place where he intended to land, communicating a private signal, and assuring them he should be with them by the middle of June. These precau- tions being taken, he embarked on board of a small frigate at Port St. Nazaire, accompanied by the marquis of Tullibardine, sir Thomas Sheridan, sir John Macdonald, with a few other Irish and Scottish adventurers; and setting sail on the fourteenth of July, was joined off Belleisle by the Elisabeth, a French ship of war, mounted with sixty-six guns, as his convoy K Their design was • The Elisabethj a king's ship^ was procured as a convoy, by the interest of Mr. Walsh;, an Irish merchant at Nantes ; and on board of her fifty French young gentlemen embarked as volunteers. 526 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. to sail round Ireland, and land in the western part of Scotland ; but falling in with the Lion, an English ship of the line, a very obstinate and bloody action ensued. The Elisabeth was so dis- abled that she could not prosecute the voyage, and with difficulty reached the harbour of Brest ; but the Lion was shattered to such a degree, |that she floated like a wreck upon the water. The dis- aster of the Elisabeth was a great misfortune to the adventurer, as by her being disabled he lost a great quantity of arms, and about one hundred able officers, who were embarked on board of her for the benefit of his expedition. Had this ship arrived in Scotland, she could easily have reduced Fort William, situated in the midst of the clans attached to the Stuart family. Such a conquest, by giving lustre to the prince's arms, would have allured many to his standard, who were indifferent in point of principle ; and encouraged a great number of highlanders to join 111111,^110 were re- stricted by the apprehension, that their wives and families would be subject to insults from the English garrison of this fortress. Prince Charles, in the trigate, continued his course to the western isles of Scotland. After a voyage of eighteen days he landed on a little island between Barra and South- Inst, two of the Hebrides': then he reimbarked, and in a few day sarrived at Borodale in Arnsacy, on the confines of Lochnannach, where he was in a little time joined by a considerable number of hardy mountaineers, under their respective chiefs 1745. GEORGE II. 527 or leaders. On the nineteenth clay of August, the marquis of TullilDardine erected the Pretender's standard at Glensinnan. Some of those, however, on whom Charles principally depended, now stood aloof, either fluctuating in their principles, astonished at the boldness of the undertaking, or startled at the remonstrances of their friends, Avho did not fail to represent, in aggravated co- lours, all the danger of embarking in such a de- sperate enterprize. Had the government acted with proper vigour when they received intelli- gence of his arrival, the adventurer must have been crushed in embrio, before any considerable number of his adherents could have been brought together : but the lords of the regency seemed to slight the information, and even to suspect the integrity of those by whom it was conveyed. They were soon convinced of their mistake. Prince Charles having assembled about twelve hundred men, encamped in the neighbourhood of Fort- AVilliam ; and inunediately liostiHties were com- menced. A handful of Keppoclfs clan, com- manded by major Donald ]\Iac Donald, even be- fore they joined the pretender, attacked two com- panies of new raised soldiers, who, with their offi- cer, were disarmed after an obstinate dispute : another captain of the king's forces, faUing into their hands, was courteously dismissed with one of the pretender's manifestos, and a passport for his personal safet}'. The administration was now effectually alarmed. The lords of the regency 52tJ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17-45. issued a proclamation, offering a reward of thirty thousand pounds to any person who should appre- hend the prince-adventurer. The same price was set upon the head of the elector of Hanover, in a proclamation published by the pretender. A courier was dispatched to Holland, to hasten the return of his majesty, who arrived in England about the latter end of August. A requisition was made of the six thousand Dutch auxiliaries ; and several British regiments were recalled from the Netherlands. A loyal address was presented to the king by the city of London ; and the mer- chants of this metropolis resolved to raise two re- giments at their own expence. Orders were issued to keep the trained-bands in readiness ; to array the militia of Westminster; and instructions to the same effect were sent to all the lords-lieutenants of the counties throughout the kingdom. The principal noblemen of the nation made a tender of their services to their sovereign ; and some of them received commissions to levy regiments to- wards the suppression of the rebellion. Bodies of volunteers were incorporated in London, and many other places; associations were formed, large contributions raised in different towns, counties, and communities; and a great number of eminent merchants in London agreed to support the public credit, by receiving, as usual, Bank notes in pay- ment for the' purposes of traffic. The Protestant clergy of all denominations exerted themselves with extraordinary ardour, in preaching against 17i5. GEORGE II. 529 the religion of Rome and the pretender; and the friends of the government were encouraged, ani- mated, and confirmed in their principles, by seve- ral spiritual productions published for the occasion. In a word, the bulk of the nation seemed una- nimously bent upon opposing the enterprize of the pretender, who, nevertheless, had already made surprising progress. His arrival in Scotland was no sooner confirmed, than sir John Cope, who commanded the troops in that kingdom, assembled ^\ hat force he could bring together, and advanced against the rebels. Understanding, however, that they had taken possession of a strong pass, he changed his rout, and proceeded northwards as far as Inverness, leaving the capital and the southern parts of North Britain wholly exposed to the in- cursions of the enemy. The highlanders forthwith marched to Pertl'i, where thechevalier deSt. George was proclaimed king of Great Britain, and the pub- lic mone}^ seized for his use : the same steps were taken at Dundee and other places. Prince Charles was joined by the nobleman who assumed the title of duke of Perth, the viscount Strathallan, lord Nairn, lord George Murray, and many persons of distinction, with their followers. The marquis of Tullibaidine, who had accompanied him from France, took possession of Athol, as heir of blood to the titles and estates which his younger brother enjoyed in consequence of his attainder; and met w^ith some success in arming the tenants for the support of that cause which he avowed. The rebel VOL. III. MM 530 History of England. 1745. army being considerably augmented, tbough very ill provided with arms, crossed the Forth in the neighbourhood of Stirling, and advanced towards Edinburgh, Avhere they Avere joined by lord Elcho, son of the earl of Wemys, and other persons of some distinction. On the sixteenth day of Sep- tember Charles summoned the town to surrender. The inhabitants were divided by faction, and di- stracted by fear : the place was not in a posture of defence, and the magistrates would not expose the people to the uncertain issue of an assault. Several deputations were sent from the town to the pretender, in order to negociate terms of ca- pitulation. In the mean time, one of the gates being opened for the admission of a coach, Came- ron of Lochiel, one of the most powerful of the liighland chiefs, rushed into the place with a party of his men, and secured it without opposition. Next morning the whole rebel army entered, and their prince took possession of the royal palace of Holyrood-house in the suburbs. Then he caused hisjather to be proclaimed at the market cross; there also the manifesto was read, in which the chevalier de St. George declared his son Charles /regent of his dominions, promised to dissolve the •union, and redress the grievances of Scotland. His being in possession of the capital encouraged his followers, and added reputation to his arms : but the treasure belonging to the two banks of that kingdom had been previously conveyed into the castle, a strong fortress, with a good garrison. 1745. GEORGE II. 531 under the command of general Guest, an old officer of experience and cajoacity. During these transactions, sir John Cope marched back from Inverness to x\berdeen, where he embarked with his troops, and on the seven- teenth day of September landed at Dunbar, about twenty miles to the eastward of Edinburgh. Here he was joined by two regiments of dragoons which had retired with precipitation from the capital at the approach of the highland army. With this reinforcement, his troops amounted to near three thousand men ; and he began his march to Edin- burgh, in order to give battle to the enemy. On the twentieth day of the month, he encamped in the neighbourhood of Preston-pans, having the village of Tranent in his front, and the sea in his rear. Early next morning he was attacked by the young pretender, at the head of about two thou- sand four hundred highlanders half-armed, who charged them sword in hand with such impetuosity, that in less than ten minutes after the battle began, the king's troops were broken and totally routed. The dragoons fled in the utmost confusion at the first onset; the general officers having made some unsuccessful efforts to rally them, thought proper to consult their own safety by an expccUtious re- treat towards Coldstream on the Tweed. All the infantry were either killed or taken ; and the co- lours, artillery, tents, baggage, and military chest, fell into the hands of the victor, who returned in 3 532 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. triumph to Edinburgh. Never was victory more complete, or obtained at a smaller expence ; for not above fifty of the rebels lost their lives in the engagement. Five hundred of the king's troops Avere killed on the field of battle; and among these colonel Gardiner, a gallant officer, who dis- dained to save his life at the expence of his honour. When al)andoned by his own regiment of dra- goons, he alighted from his horse, joined the in- fantry, and fought on foot, until he fell covered with wounds, in sigbt of his own threshold. Prince Charles bore his good fortune with mode- ration. He prohibited all rejoicings for the vic- tory he had obtained : the wounded soldiers were treated -with humanity ; and the officers were sent into Fife and Angus, where they were left afe hberty on their parole, which the greater part of them shamefully broke in the sequel. Fjom this victory the pretender reaped manifold and import- ant advantages. His followers were armed, his party encouraged, and his enemies intimidated. He Avas supplied with a train of field-artillery, and a considerable sum of money, and saw himself possessed of all Scotland, except the fortresses, the reduction of wliich he could not pretend to undertake without proper implements and en- gineers. After the battle he was joined by a small detachment from the highlands ; and some chiefs, who had hitherto been on the reserve, be- gan to exert their influence in his favour. But 1745. GEORGE II, 533- lie was not yet in a condition to take advantage of tliat consternation which his late success had diffused through the kingdom of England. EFFORTS OF THE FRIENDS OF GOVERNIVIENT IN SCOTLAND. ^ Charles continued to reside in tlie pakace of Holy rood-house ^ ; and took measures for cutting off the communication hetween the castle and the city. General Guest declared that he would de- molish the city, unless the hlockade should be raised, so as that provision might be carried ir.to the castle. After having waited the return of an express which he had found means to dispatch to court, he began to put his threats in execution, by firing upon the town. Some houses were beaten down, and several persons killed even at the market-cross. The citizens, alarmed at this disaster, sent a deputation to the prince, entreat- ing him to raise the blockade; and he complied with their request. He levied a regiment in Edin- '' While he resided at Edinburgh, some of the presbyteriaa clergy continued to preach in the churches" of that city, and pub- licly prayed lor king George, without suffering the least punish- ment or molestation. C le minister in particular, of the name of Mac Vicar, being solicited by some highlanders to pray for their prince, promised to comply with their request, and performed his promise in words to this effect : " And as for the young prince, *' who is come hither in quest of an earthly crown, grant, O *' Lord, that he may speedily receive a crown of glory." .'334 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745* burgh and the neiglibouihood. He imposed taxes ; seized the merchandize that was deposited in the king's wareliouses at Leith, and other places ; and compelled the city of Glasgow to ac- commodate him with a large sum, to be repaid when the peace of the kingdom should be re-esta- blished. The number of his followers daily in- creased : and he received considerable supplies of money, artillery, and ammunition, by single ships that arrived from France, where his interest seem- ed to rise in proportion to the success of his arms. The greater and richer part of Scotland was averse to his family and pretensions : but the people were unarmed and undisciplined, consequently passive under his dominion. By this time, however, the prince-pretender was joined by the earl of Kil- marnock, the lords Elcho, Balmerino, Ogilvie, Pitsligo ; and the eldest son of lord Lovat had begun to assemble his father's clan, in order to reinforce the victor, whose army lay encamped at Duddingston, in the neighbourhood of Edin- burgh. Kilmarnock and Bahiierino were men of broken and desperatfe fortune : Elcho and Ogilvie were sons to the earls of Wemys and Airly ; so that their influence was far from being extensive. Pitsligo was a nobleman of a very amiable cha- racter, as well as of great personal interest; and great dependence was placed upon the power and attachment of lord Lovat, who had entered into private engagements with the chevalier de St. George, though he still wore the mask of loyalty 1745. GEORGE ir. 535 to tlie government, and disavowed the conduct of his son when lie declared for the pretender. This old nobleman is the same Simon Fraser Mdiom we have had occasion to mention as a partisan and emissary of the court of St. Germain's, in the 3'ear one thousand seven hundred and three. He had renounced his connexions m ith that family ; and, in the rebellion immediately after the acces- sion of king George I. approved himself a warm friend to the protestant succession. Since that period he had been induced, by disgust and am- bition, to change his principles again, and was, in secret, an enthusiast in jacobitism. He had greatly augmented his estate, and obtained a con- siderable interest in the highlands, where, how- ever, he was rather dreaded than beloved. He was bold, enterprising, vain, arbitrary, rapacious, cruel, and deceitful : but his character was chiefly marked by a species of low cunning and dissimu^- lation, which, however, overshot his purpose, and contributed to his own ruin. While Charles re- sided at Edinburgh, the marquis de Guilles arrived at Montrose, as envoy from the French king, with several officers, some cannon, and a consi- derable quantity of small arms for the use of that adventurer \ ' He solicited^ and is said to have obtained of the clievalier de St. George, the patent of a duke, and a comiiiission for being lord-lieutenant of all the highlands. Slid HISTORY OF ENGLAND. l^-li. PRECAUTIONS TAKEN IN ENGLAND. Wpiile tlie young pretender endeavoured to im- prove the advantages he had gained^ the ministry of Great Britain took every possible measure to retard his progress. Several powerful cliiefs in the liighlands were attached to the government, and exerted themselves in its defence. The duke of Argyle began to arm his vassals; but not be- fore he had obtained the sanction of the legisla- ture. Twelve hundred men were raised by the earl of Sutherland : the lord Rae brought a con- siderable number to the field : the Grants and IMonroes appeared under their respective leaders for the service of his majesty : sir Alexajider Mac- donald declared for king George, and the laird of !Macleod sent two thousand hardy islanders from Skie, to strengthen the same interest. These gen- tlemen, though supposed to be otherwise affected, were governed and directed by the advice of Duncan Forbes, president of the college of justice at Edinburgh; a man of extensive knowledge, agreeable manners, and unblemished integrity. He procured commissions for raising twenty inde- pendent companies, and some of these he bestowed upon individuals who were either attached by principle, or engaged by promise, to the pretender. He acted with indefatigable zeal for the interest of the reigning family; and greatly injured an opulent fortune in their service. He confirmed 1745. GEORGE II. 53/ several chiefs who began to waver in their princi- ples : some he actually converted by the energy of his arguments, and brought over to the assist- ance of the government, Mhich thev had deter- mined to oppose : others he persuaded to remain quiet, without taking any share in the present troubles. Certain it is, this gentleman, by his industry and address, prevented the insurrection of ten thousand highlanders, who would other- wise have joined the pretender ; and, therefore, he may be said to have been one great cause of that adventurer's miscarriau:e. The earl of Loudon repaired to Inverness, vvhere he completed his regiment of higlilanders ; directed the conduct of the clans who had taken arms in behalf of his majesty ; and, by his vigilance, over-awed the disaffected chieftains of that country, who had not yet openly engaged in the rebellion. Imme- diately after the defeat of Cope, six -thousand Dutch troops'" arrived in England, and three battalions of guards, with seven regiments of in- fantry, were recalled from Flanders, for the de- fence of the kingdom. They forthwith began their march to the North, under the command of general Wade, who received orders to assemble " They were composed of tlie forces who had been in garrison at Tournay and Dendermonde when those places were taken, and engaged by capitulation, that they should not perform any mili- tary function before the first day of January, in the year 17-^7 i so they could not have acted in England without the infringement of a solemn treaty. 538 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17^!^' an army, which proceeded to Newcastle. Tlie parhament meeting on the sixteenth day of Octo- ber, his majesty gave them to understand, that an unnatural rebellion had broke out in Scotland, towards the suppression of which he craved their advice and assistance. He found both houses cordial in their addresses, and zealous in their attachment to his person and government. The commons forthwith suspended the Habeas Corpus act ; and several persons \vere apprehended on suspicion of treasonable practices. Immediately after the session was opened, the duke of Cum- berland arrived from the Netherlands, and was followed by another detachment of dragoons and infantry. The train bands of London were review- ed by his majesty : the county regiments were completed ; the volunteers, in different parts of the kingdom, employed themselves industriously in the exercise of arms ; and the whole English nation seemed to rise up as one man against this formidable invader. The government being ap- prehensive of a descent from France, appointed admiral Vernon to command a squadron in tlie Downs, to observe the motions of the enemy by sea, especially in the harbours of Dunkirk and Boulogn ; and his cruisers took several ships laden with soldiers, officers, and ammunition, destined for the service of the pretender in Scotland. This enterprising youth, having collected about five thousand men, resolved to make an irruption into England, which he accordingly entered by 1745. GEORGE II. 539 the west border on the sixth clay of November. CarHsle was invested, and in less than three days surrendered : the keys were delivered to him at Brampton, by the mayor and aldermen on their knees. Here he found a considerable quantity of arms : his father was proclaimed king of Great Britain, and himself regent, by the magistrates in their formalities. General Wade being apprised of his progress, decamped from Newcastle, and advanced across the country as far as Hexham, though the fields were covered Math snow, and the roads almost impassable. There he received intelligence that Carlisle was reduced, and forth- with returned to his former station. In the mean time, orders M^ere issued for assembling another army in Staffordshire, under the command of sir John Ligonier. Prince Charles, notwithstanding this formidable opposition, determined to pro- ceed. He had received assurances fram France, that a considerable body of troops would be land- ed on the southern coast of Britain, to make a diversion in his favour ; and he never doubted but that he should be joined by all the English malcontents, as soon as he could penetrate into the heart of the kingdom. Leaving a small garrison in the castle of Carlisle, he advanced to Penrith, marching on foot in the highland garb, at the head of his forces; and continued his route through Lancaster and Preston to Man- chester, where, on the twenty-ninth day of the month, he established his head quarters. There 5^0 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745, he was joined by about two hundred Englishmen, who were formed into a regiment, under the command of colonel Townley. The inhabitants seemed to receive him with marks of affection ; and his arrival was celebrated by illuminations, and other public rejoicings. His supposed inten- tion was to prosecute his march by the way of Chester into Wales, where he hoped to find a ffreat number of adherents : but all the brid<>:es over the river Mersey being broken down, he chose the route to Stockport, and forded the river at the head of his division, though the water rose to his middle. He passed through Macclesfield and Congleton ; and on the fourth day of December entered the town of Derby, in which his army was quartered, and his father proclaimed with great formality. He had now advanced within one hundred miles of the capital, which M'as filled with terror and confusion. Wade lingered in Yorkshire : the duke of Cumberland had assumed the command of the other army assembled in the neighbourhood of Lichfield. He had marched from Stafford to Stone ; so that the rebels, in turning off from Ashborne to Derby, had gained a march between him and London. Had Charles proceeded in his career Avith that expedition which he had hitherto used, he might have made him- self master of the metropolis, where he would have been certainly joined by a considerable number of his well-wishers, who waited impatiently for his approach : yet this exploit could not have been 171-5. GEORGE II. 541 atchieved without hazarding an engagement, and running the risk of being enclosed within three armies, each greatly superior to his own in num- ber and artillery. Orders were given for forming a camp on Finchley-common, where the king- resolved to take the field in person, accompanied by the earl of Stair, field-mareschal and commander in chief of the forces in South-Britain. Some Romish priests were apprehended : the militia of London and Middlesex were kept in readiness to march : double watches were posted at the city- gates, and signals of alarm appointed. The vo- lunteers of the city were incorporated into a regi- ment : the practitioners of the law, headed by the judges, weavers of Spital-fields, and other com- munities, engaged in associations ; and even the managers of the theatres offered to raise a body of their dependents for the service of the govern- ment. Notwithstanding these precautions and appearances of unanimity, the trading part of the city, and those concerned in the money-corpora- tions, were overwhelmed with fear and dejection. They reposed a very little confidence in the cour- age or discipline of their militia and volunteers : they had received intelligence that the French were employed in making preparations at Dunkirk and Calais for a descent upon England : they dreaded an insurrection of the Roman catholics, and other friends of the house of Stuart; and they reflected that the highlanders, of whom by this time they had conceived a most terrible idea, 512 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. were within four days march of the capital. Alarmed by these considerations, they prognos- ticated their own ruin in the approaching revo- lution ; and their countenances exhibited tlie plainest marks of horror and despair. On the other liand, the Jacobites were elevated to an insolence of hope, which they were at no pains to conceal; while many people, Mdio had no private property to lose, and thought no change would be for the worse, waited the issue of this crisis with the most calm indifference. THE REBELS RETREAT INTO SCOTLAND. This state of suspence was of short duration. The young pretender found himself miserably disappointed in his expectations. He had now advanced into the middle of the kingdom, and except a few that joined him at Manchester, not a soul appeared in his behalf: one would have imagined that all the Jacobites of England had been annihilated. The Welch took no step to excite an insurrection in his favour : the French made no attempt towards an invasion : his court was divided into factions : the highland chiefs began to murmur, and their clans to be unruly: he saw himself with a handful of men hemmed in between two considerable armies, in the middle of winter, and in a country disaffected to his cause. He J^new he could not proceed to the metropolis 1745. GEORGE II, 543 without hazarding a hattle, and that a defeat would be attended with the inevitable destruction of himself and all his adherents ; and he had re- ceived information that his friends and officers had assembled a body of forces in the North, superior in number to those by whom he was at- tended. He called a council at Derby ; and pro- posed to advance towards London : the proposal was supported by lord Nairn with great vehe- mence ; but, after violent disputes, the majority determined that they should retreat to Scotland with all possible expedition. Accordingly, they abandoned Derby on the sixth day of December, early in the morning, and measured back the route by which they had advanced. On the ninth their vanguard arrived at Manchester : on the twelfth they entered Preston, and continued their march northwards. The duke of Cumberland, who was encamped at Meriden, when first apprised of their retreat, detached the horse and dragoons in pur- suit of them ; while general Wade began his march from Ferry-bridge in Yorkshire, with a view of intercepting them in their route : but at Wakefield he understood that they had already reached Wigan : he, therefore, repaired to his old post at Newcastle, after having detached general Oglethorpe, with his horse and dragoons, to join those who had been sent otf from the duke's army. They pursued with such alacrity, that they overtook the rear of the rebels, with which they skirmished, in Lancashire. The militia of 5i4 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. Cumberland and Westmoreland were raised and armed by the duke's order, to harass them in their march. The bridges were broken down, the roads damaged, and the beacons hghted to alarm the country. Nevertheless, they retreated regularly with their small train of artillery. They were overtaken at the village of Clifton, in the neigh- bourhood of Penrith, by two regiments of dra- goons. These alighted, and lined the hedges, in order to harass part of the enemy's rear-guard, commanded by lord John Murray ; who, at the head of the Macphersons, attacked the dragoons sword in hand, and repulsed them with some loss. On the nineteenth day of the month, the high- land army reached Carlisle, where the majority of the English in the service of the pretender were left, at their own desire. Charles, having rein- forced the garrison of the place, crossed the rivers Eden and Solway into Scotland, having thus ac- complished one of the most surprising retreats that ever was performed. But the most remarka- ble circumstance of this expedition, was the mo- deration and regularity with which those ferocious people conducted themselves in a country abound- ing with plunder. No violence was oifered ; no outrage committed ; and they were effectually restrained from the exercise of rapine. Notwith- standing the excessive cold, the hunger, and fatigue, to which they must have been exposed, they left behind no sick, and lost a very few stragglers; but rt^tired with deliberation, and car- 1745. GEORGE II. 5'IB ried oiF their cannon in the face of their enemy. The duke of Cumberland invested Carhsle with his whole army on the twenty-first day of Decem- ber, and on the thirtieth the garrison surrendered on a sort of capitulation made with the duke of Richmond. The prisoners, amounting to about four hundred, were imprisoned in different gaols in England, and the duke returned to London. The pretender proceeded by the way of Dum- fries to Glasgow, from which last city he exacted severe contributions, on account of its attachment to the government, for whose service it had raised a regiment of nine hundred men under the com- mand of the earl of Home. Having continued several days at Glasgow, he advanced towards Stirling, and was joined by some forces which had been assembled in his absence by lords Lewis Gordon and John Drummond, brothers to the dukes of Gordon and Perth. This last nobleman had arrived from France in November, with a small reinforcement of French and Irish, and a commission as general of these auxiliaries. He fixed his head quarters at Perth, where he was reinforced by the earl of Cromartie and other clans, to the number of two thousand, and he was accommodated with a small train of artiller}'. They had found means to surprize a sloop of war at Montrose, with the guns of which they fortified that harbour. They had received a considerable sum of money from Spain. They took possession of Dundee, Dumblaine, Downcastle, and laid Fife VOL. III. N N 545 HISTORY OF ENGLAND* 17^5. under contribution. The earl of Loudon remained at Inverness, with about two thousand highlanders in the service of his majesty. He convoyed pro- visions to Fort-Augustus and Fort-William : he secured the person of lord Lovat, who still tempo- rised, and at length this cunning veteran accom- plished his escape. The laird of Macleod, and Mr. Monro of Culcairn, being detached from Inverness towards Aberdeenshire, were surprized and routed by lord Lewis Gordon at Inverary; and that interest seemed to preponderate in the north of Scotland. Prince Charles being joined by lord John Drummond, invested the castle of Stirling, in which general Blakeney commanded : but, his people were so little used to enterprizes of this kind, that they made very little progress in their operations. THE KING'S TROOPS UNDER HAWLEY ARE WORSTED AT FALKIRK. By this time, a considerable body of forces was assembled at Edinburgh, under the conduct of general Hawley, who determined to relieve Stir- ling-castle, and advanced to Linlithgow on the thirteenth day of January : next day his whole army rendezvoused at Falkirk, while the rebels were cantoned about BannOckburn. On the seventeenth day of the month, they began their march in two columns to attack the king's forces, ms. GEORGE ir. 54T and had forded the water of Carven, within three miles of Hawley's camp, before he discovered their intention. Such was his obstinacy, self conceit, or contempt of the enemy, that he slight- ed the repeated intelligence he had received of their motions and design, firmly believing they durst not hazard an engagement. At length, perceiving they had occupied the rising ground to the southward of Falkirk, he ordered his ca- valry to advance, and drive them from the emi- nence; while his infantry formed, and were drawn up in order of battle. The highlanders kept up their fire, and took aim so well, that the assailants were broke by the first volley : they retreated with precipitation, and fell in amongst the infan- try, which were likewise discomposed by the wind and rain beating with great violence in their faces, wetting their powder, and disturbing their eye-sight. Some of the dragoons rallied, and advanced again to the charge, with pait of the infantry which had not been engaged : then the pretender marched up at the head of his corps de reserve, consisting of the regiment of lord John Drummond, and the Irish piquets. These rein- forcino; the Camerons and the Stuarts in the front line, immediately obliged the dragoons to give way a second time ; and they again disordered the foot in their retreat. They set fire to their camp, and abandoned Falkirk with their baggage and train, which last had never reached the field of battle. The rebels followed their first blow, C) 548 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. and great part of the royal army, after one irre- gular discharge, turned their backs, and fled in the utmost consternation. In all probability few- er none of them would have escaped, had not general Huske, and brigadier Cholmondeley, ral- hed part of some regiments, and made a gallant stand, which fiivoured the retreat of the rest to Falkirk, from whence they retired in confusion to Edinburgh, leaving the field of battle, with part of their tents and artillery, to the rebels: but their loss of men did not exceed three hundred, including sir Robert Monro, colonel Whitney, and some other officers of distinction. It w^as at this period, that the officers wdio had been taken at the battle of Preston-pans, and conveyed to Angus and Fife, finding themselves unguarded, broke their parole, and returned to Edinburgh, on pretence of their having been forcibly released by the inhabitants of those parts ". THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND ASSUMES THE COMMAND OF THE ROYAL TROOPS. General Hawley, who had boasted that, with two regiments of dragoons, he would drive the rebel army from one end of the kingdom to the ° Sir Peter Halket, captain Lucy Scott, lieutenants Farquhar- son and Gumming, with a few other gentlemen, adhered punctu- ally to their parole, and their conduct was approved by his majesty. /■..M..I,., /,../„„,,,, tr.„„.,.jc.,:„„„..„^ n-.Ki^.-.s.-s. i;45. GEORGE II. 549 other, incurred abundance of censure for the dis-. position he made, as well as for his conduct be- fore and after the action : but he found means to vindicate himself to the satisfaction of his sove- reign. Nevertheless, it was judged necessary that the army in Scotland should be commanded by a general in whom the soldiers might have some confidence ; and the duke of Cumberland was chosen for this purpose. Over and above his be- ing beloved by the army, it was suggested, that the appearance of a prince of the blood in Scot- land might have a favourable effect upon the minds of people in that kingdom : he, therefore, began to prepare for his northern expedition. Mean while, the French minister at the Hague having represented to the states-general, that the auxiharies which they had sent into Great Britain were part of the garrisons of Tournay and Den- dermonde, and restricted by the capitulation from bearing arms against France for a certain term, the states thought proper to recall them, rather than come to an open rupture with his most christian majesty. In the room of those troops six thousand Hessians were transported from Flan- ders to Leith, where they arrived in the begin- ning of February, under the command of their prince, Frederick of Hesse, son-in-law to his Bri- tannic majesty. By this time the duke of Cum- berland had put himself at the head of the troops in Edinburgh, consisting of fourteen battalions of infantry, two regiments of dragoons, and twelve 550 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. hundred higlilanders from Argyleshire, under the command of colonel Campbell. On the last day of January, his royal highness began his march to Linlithgow; and the enemy, who had renewed the siege of Stirling-castle, not only abandoned that enterprize, but crossed the river Forth with precipitation. Their prince found great difficulty in maintaining his forces, that part of the country being quite exhausted. He ho])ed to be rein- forced in the Highlands, and to receive supplies of all kinds from France and Spain : he, there- fore, retired by Badenoch towards Inverness, which the earl of Loudon abandoned at his ap- proach. The fort was surrendered to him almost without opposition, and here he fixed his head- quarters. His next exploit was the siege of Fort- Augustus, which he in a little time reduced. The duke of Cumberland having secured the import- ant posts of Stirling and Perth, ^vlth the Hessian battalions, advanced with the army to Aberdeen, where he was joined by the duke of Gordon, the earls of Aberdeen and Findlater, the laird of Grant, and other pcrsojis of distinction. THE REBELS UNDERTAKE THE SIEGE OF FORT-WILLIAM. While he remained in this place, refreshing his troops, and preparing magazines, a party of the rebels surprized a detachment of Kingston's horse, I74a. GEORGE Tl. 551 and about seventy Argyleshire highlanders, at Keith, who were either killed or taken. Several advanced parties of that miHtia met with the same fate in different places. Lord George Murray invested the castle of Blair, which was defended by sir Andrew Agnew, until a body of Hessians marched to its relief, and obliged the rebels to retire. The prince-pretender ordered all his forces to assemble, in order to begin their march for Aberdeen, to attack the duke of Cumberland ; but, in consequence of a remonstrance from the clans, who declined leaving their families at the mercy of the king's garrison in Fort- William, he resolved previously to reduce that fortress, the siege of which was undertaken by brigadier Sta- pleton, an engineer in the French service : but the place was so vigorously maintained by captain Scot, that in the beginning of April they thought proper to relinquish the enterprize. The earl of Loudon had retired into Sutherland, and taken post at Dornoch, where his quarters were beat up by a strong detachment of the rebels, commanded by the duke of Perth : a major and sixty men were taken prisoners ; and the earl was obliged to take shelter in the Isle of Skye. These little checks were counterbalanced by some advan- tages which his majesty's arms obtained. The sloop of war which the rebels had surprised at Montrose was re-taken in Sutherland, with a con- siderable sum of money, and a great quantity of arms on board, which she had brought from France ^^2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. for the use of the pretender. In the same county, the earl of Cromartie fell into an ambuscade, and was taken by the militia of Sutherland, who like- wise defeated a body of the rebels at Goldspie. This action happened on the very day which has been rendered famous by the victory obtained at Culloden. StoTQt tlje ^econti* ^'.^S^ Chap. IX. But, understanding his disguise was discovered, he assumed the habit of a travelHng mountaineer, and wandered about among the woods and heaths, with a matted beard and squaHd looks, exposed to hunger, thirst, and weariness, and in continual danger of being apprehended. 1746. GEORGE II. 553 CHAPTER IX. The Rebels are totally defeated at Culloden The Duke of Cumberland takes Possession of Inverness, and afterwards en- camps at Fort- Augustus .... The Prince-Pretender escapes to France .... Convulsion in the Ministry .... Liberality of the Commons Trial of the Rebels. Kilmarnock, Balmerino, Lovat, and Mr, RatclifF, are beheaded on Tower-hill .... The States- General alarmed at the Progress of the French in tlie Netherlands .... Count Saxe subdues all Flanders, Brabant, and Hainault Reduces the strong Fortress of Namur, and defeats the allied Army at Raucoux .... The French and Spaniards are compelled to abandon Piedmont and the Milanese .... Don Philip is worsted at Codogno, and afterwards at Porto Freddo .... The Austrians take Possession of Genoa. Count Brown penetrates into Provence .... The Genoese ex- pel the Austrians from their City .... Madras in the East- Indies taken by the French .... Expedition to the Coast of Bretagne, and Attempt upon Port L'Orient .... Naval Trans- actions in the West-Indies. Conferences at Breda .... Vast Supplies granted by the Commons of England .... Parliament dissolved .... The French and Allies take tlie Field in Flanders .... Prince of Orange elected Stadtholder^ Captain-general, and Admiral of the United Provinces .... The Confederates defeated at LafFeldt .... Siege of Bergen-op-Zoom .... The Austrians undertake the Siege of Geno, which, however, they abandon . . . .The Chevalier de Belleisle slain in the Attack of Exilles .... A French Squadron defeated and taken by the Admirals Anson and Warren .... Admiral Hawke obtains an- other Victory over the French at Sea .... Other Naval Trans- actions . . . Congress at Aix-la-Chapelle . . . Compliant Temper of the new Parliament. Preliminaries signed .... Preparations for the Campaign in the Netherlands .... Siege of Maestricht. 554 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. Cessation of Arms .... Transactions in the East and West- Indies .... Conclusion of the Definitive Treaty at Aix-la- Chapelle, THE REBELS ATIE TOTALLY DEFEATED AT CULLODEN. IN the beginning of April, the duke of Cumber- land began his march from Aberdeen, and on the twelfth passed the deep and rapid river Spey, "without opposition from the rebels, though a de- tachment of them appeared on the opposite side. Why they did not dispute the passage is not easy to be conceived : but, indeed, from this instance of neglect, and their subsequent conduct, we may conclude they were under a total infatuation. His royal highness proceeded to Nairn, where he received intelligence, that the enemy had ad- vanced from Inverness to Culloden, about the distance of nine miles from the royal army, with intention to give him battle. The design of Charles was to march in the night from Culloden and surprize the duke's army at day-break : for this purpose the English camp had been recon- noitred ; and on the night of the fifteenth the highland army began to march in two columns. Their design was to surround the enemy, and at- tack them at once on all quarters : but the length of the columns embarrassed the march, so that the army was obliged to make many halts : the men 1746. GEORGE 11. 553 had been under arms during the whole preceding niglit, were faint with hunger and fatigue, and many of them overpowered with sleep. Some were unable to proceed ; others dropped off un- perceived in the dark ; and the march was retard- ed in such a manner, that it would have been impossible to reach the duke's camp before sun- rise. The design being thus frustrated, the prince- pretender was with great reluctance prevailed upon by his general officers to measure back his way to CuUoden ; at v.hich place he had no sooner arrived, than great numbers of his followers di- spersed in quest of pi>iovision ; and -many, over- come with weariness and sleep, threw themselves down on the heath, and along the park walls. Their repose, however, was soon interrupted in a very disagreeable manner. Their prince receiv- inii' intellijience that his enemies Mere in full march to attack him, resolved to hazard an engagement, and ordered his troops to be formed for that pur- pose. On the sixteenth day of April, the duke of Cumberland having made the proper dispositions, decamped from Nairn early in the morning, and after a march of nine miles perceived the high- landers drawn up in order of battle, to the num- ber of four thousand men, in thirteen divisions, supplied with some pieces of artillery. The royal army, which was much more numerous, the duke immediately formed into three lines, disposed in excellent order : and about one o'clock in the af- ternoon the cannonading began. The artillery of 556 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. the rebels was ill served, and did very little exe- cution ; but that of the king's troops made dread- ful havock among the enemy. Impatient of this fire, their front-line advanced to the attack, and about five hundred of the clans charged the duke's left wing with their usual impetuosity. One regi- ment was disordered by the weight of this column ; but two battalions advancing from the second, line, sustained the first, and soon put a stop to their career, by a severe fire, that killed a great number. At the same time, the dragoons under Hawley, and the Argyleshire militia pulled down a park wall that covered their right flank, and the cavalry falling in among the rebels sword in hand, completed their confusion. The French picquets on their left, covered the retreat of thehighlanders by a close and regular fire : and then retired to Inverness, where they surrendered themselves prisoners of Avar. An entire body of the rebels marched oif the field in order, with their pipes playing, and the pretender's standard displayed ; the rest were routed with great slaughter; and their prince was with reluctance prevailed upon to retire. In less than thirty minutes they were totally defeated, and the field covered with the slain. The road, as far as Inverness, was strewed with dead bodies; and a great number of people, who, from motives of curiosity, had come to see the battle, were sacrificed to the undistinguished vengeance of the victors. Twelve hundred rebels were slain or wounded on the field, and in the i;46. GEORGE II. 557 pursuit. The earl of Kilmarnock was taken ; and in a few days lord Balmerino surrendered to a country gentleman, at whose house he jDresented himself for this purpose. The glory of the victory was sullied by the barbarity of the soldiers. They had been provoked by their former disgraces to the most savage thirst of revenge. Not con- tented with the blood which was so profusely shed in the heat of action, they traversed the field after the battle, and massacred those miserable wretches who lay maimed and expiring : nay, some officers acted a part in this cruel scene of assassination, the triumph of low illiberal minds, uninspired by sentiment, untinctured by humanity. The van- quished adventurer rode off the field, accompanied by the duke of Perth, lord Elcho, and a few horse- men : he crossed the water of Nairn, and retired to the house of a gentleman in Struttharick, where he conferred with old lord Lovat ; then he dis- missed his followers, and wandered about, a wretched and solitary fugitive, among the isles and mountains for the space of five months, dur- ing which he underwent such a series of dangers, hardships, and misery, as no other person ever out-lived. Thus, in one short hour, all his hope vanished, and the rebellion was entirely extin- guished. One would almost imagine, the con- ductors of this desperate enterprize had conspired their own destruction, as they certainly neglected every step that might have contributed to their safety or success. They might have opposed the 558 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 174(5. duke of Cumberland at the passage of the Spey; they might, by proper conduct, have afterwards attacked his camp in the night, with a good pro- spect of success. As they were greatly inferior to him in number, and weakened with hunger and fatigue, they might have retired to the hills and fastnesses, where they would have found plenty of live cattle for provision, recruited their regiments, and been joined by a strong reinforce- ment, which was actually in full march to their assistance. But they were distracted by dissen- sions and jealousies : they obeyed the dictates of despair, and wilfully devoted themselves to ruin and death. When the news of the battle arrived in England, the nation was transported with joy, and extolled the duke of Cumberland as a hero and deliverer. Both houses of parliament con- gratulated his majesty on the auspicious event. They decreed, in the most solemn manner, their public thanks to his royal highness, which were transmitted to him by the speakers; and the commons, by bill, added five-and-twenty thousand pounds per annum to his former revenue. THE DUKE OF CUMBERLAND TAKES POSSES- SION OF INVERNESS. Immediately after the decisive action at Cul loden, the duke took possession of Inverness, M'hcre six-and-thirty deserters, convicted by a 3746. GEORGE If. 55Q court-martial, were ordered to be executed : then he detached several parties to ravage the country. One of these apprehended the lad}- Mackintosh, who was sent prisoner to Inverness. They did not plunder her house, but drove away her cattle, though her husband was actually in the service of government. The castle of lord Lovat was destroyed. The French prisoners were sent to Carlisle and Penrith : Kilmarnock, Balmerino, Cromartie, and his son the lord JNIacleod, were conveyed by sea to London ; and those of an in- ferior rank were confined in different prisons. The marquis of TulHbardine, together with a brother of the earl of Dunmore, were seized, and transported to the Tower of London, to which the earl of Traquire had been committed on suspi- cion : in a few months after the battle of Culloden, INIurray, the pretender's secretar}', was apprehend- ed ; and the eldest son of lord Lovat, having surrendered himself, was imprisoned in the castle of Edinburgh. In a word, all the gaols of Great Britain, from the capital northwards, were filled with those unfortunate captives; and great num- bers of them were crouded together in the holds of ships, where they perished in the most deplora- ble manner, for want of necessaries, air, and ex- ercise. Some rebel chiefs escaped in two French frigates, which had arrived on the coast of Locha- ber about the end of April, and engaged three vessels belonging to his Britannic majesty, which they obliged to retire. Others embarked on board 560 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. of a ship on the coast of Buchan, and were con- veyed to Norway ; from thence they travelled to Sweden. In the month of May, the duke of Cumberland advanced with the army into the highlands, as far as Fort- Augustus, where he en- camped, and sent off detachments on all hands, to hunt down the fugitives, and lay waste the country with fire and sword. The castles of Glengary and Lochiel were plundered and burn- ed : every house, hut, or habitation, met with the same fate, without distinction : all the cattle and provision were carried off: the men were either shot upon the mountains, like wild beasts, or put to death in cold blood, without form of trial : the women, after having seen their husbands and fathers murdered, were subjected to brutal viola- tion, and then turned out naked, with their child- ren, to starve on the barren heaths. One whole family was enclosed in a barn, and consumed to ashes. Those ministers of vengeance were so alert in the execution of their office, that in a few days there Avas neither house, cottage, man, nor beast, to be seen in the compass of fifty miles: all was ruin, silence, and desolation. THE PRINCE-PRETENDER ESCAPES TO FRANCE. The humane reader cannot reflect upon such a scene without grief and horror : what then must have been the sensation of the fugitive prince, (George tlft mton^* Chap. IX. Sect. 3. At length a privateer of St. Malo, hired by young Sheridan and some other adherents, arrived in Lochnannach ; and on the twentieth day of September, this unfortunate prince (ihe Pre- tender) embarked in the habit which he wore for disguise. His eye was hollow, his visage wan, and his constitution greatly im- paired by famine and fatigue. i;46. GEORGE II. 561 ■when lie beheld these spectacles of woe, the dis- mal fruit of his ambition ? He was now surrounded by armed troops, that chased him from hill to dale, from rock to cavern, and from shore to shore. Sometimes he lurked in caves and cottages, with- out attendants, or any other support but that which the poorest peasant could supply. Some- times he was rowed in fisher-boats from isle to isle, among the Hebrides, and often in sight of his pursuers. For some days he appeared in woman's attire, and even passed through the midst of his enemies unknown. But, under- standing his disguise was discovered, he assumed the habit of a travelling mountaineer, and wan- dered about among the woods and heaths, with a matted beard, and squalid looks, exposed to hunger, thirst, and weariness, and in continual danger of being apprehended. He was obliged to trust his life to the fidelity of above fifty indi- viduals, and many of these were in the lowest paths of fortune. They knew that a price of thirty thousand pounds Avas set upon his head ; and that, by betraying him, they should enjoy wealth and affluence : but they detested the thought of obtaining riches on such infamous terms, and ministered to his necessities with the utmost zeal and fidelitv, even at the hazard of their own destruction. In the course of these peregrinations, he was more than once hemmed in by his pursuers, in such a manner as seemed to preclude all possibility of escaping : yet he was VOL. III. o o 562 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 174^. never abandoned by his hope and recollection : he still found some expedient that saved him from captivity and death ; and through the whole course of his distresses maintained the most amaz- ing- equanimity and good humour. At length a privateer of St. Malo, hired by the young Sheri- dan and some other Irish adherents, arrived in Lochnannach ; and on the twentieth day of Sep- tember, this unfortunate prince embarked in the habit which he wore for disguise. His eye Avas hollow, his visage wan, and his constitution greatly impaired by famine and fatigue. He was accom* panied by Cameron of Lochiel, and his brother, with a few other exiles. They set sail for France, and after having passed unseen, by means of a thick fog, through a British squadron command- ed by admiral Lestock, and been chased by two English ships of war, arrived in safety at Roseau, near Morlaix, in Bretagne. Perhaps he would have found it still more difficult to escape, had not the vigilance and eagerness of the govern- ment been relaxed, in consequence of a report, that he had already fallen among some persons that were slain by a volley from one of the duke's detachments. CONVULSION IN THE MINISTRY. -Having thus explained the rise, progress, and extinction of the rebellion, it will be necessary 1746. GEORGE II. 563 to take a retrospective view of the proceedings in parliament. The necessary steps being taken for quieting the intestine commotions of the king- dom, the two houses began to convert their at- tention to the affairs of the continent. On the fourteenth day of January, the king repaired to the house of peers, and in a speech from the throne gave his parHament to understand^ that the states- general had made pressing instances for his as- sistance in the present conjuncture, when they were in such danger of being oppressed by tlie power of France in the Netherlands ; that he had promised to co-operate with them towards oppos- ing the further progress of their enemies ; and even concerted measures for that purpose. He declared it was with regret that he asked any farther aids of his people : he exhorted them to watch over the public credit; and expressed his entire dependence on their zeal and unanimity. He was favoured with loyal addresses, couched in the warmest terms of duty and affection: but the supplies were retarded by new convulsions in the ministry. The earl of Granville had made an effort to retrieve his influence in the cabinet, and his sovereign fiivoured his pretensions. The two brothers, who knew his aspiring genius, and dread- ed his superior talents, refused to admit such a colleai>:ue into the administration : thev even re* solved to strengthen their party, by introducing fresh auxdiaries into the office of state. Some of these were personally disagreeable to his majesty, 504 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;46. who accordingly rejected the suit by which they were recommended. The did^e of Newcastle and liis brother, with all their adherents, immediately resigned their employments. The earl of Gran- ville was appointed secretary of state, and resumed the reins of administration: but, finding himself unequal to the accumulated opposition that pre- ponderated against him; foreseeing that he should not be able to secure the supplies in parliament; and dreading the consequences of that confusion A\'hich his restoration had already produced, he, in three days, voluntarily quitted the helm ; and his majesty acquiesced in the measures proposed by the opposite party. The seals were re-delivered to the duke of Newcastle and the earl of Har- rington : ]Mr. Pelham, and all the rest who had resigned, Avere reinstated in their respective em- ployments ; and offices were conferred on several individuals who had never before been in the service of the government. William Pitt, esq. was appointed vice-treasurer of Ireland, and soon promoted to the place of paymaster-general of the forces ; at the same time the king declared him a privy-counsellor. This gentleman had been originally designed for the army, in which he actually bore a commission ; but fate reserved him a more important station. In point of for- tune he A\^as barely qualified to be elected member of ])arliament, when he obtained a seat in the house of commons, where he soon outshone all his compatriots. He displayed a surprising ex- 1746, GEORGE U. 565 tent and precision of political knowledge, an irre- sistible energy of argument, and such poMTr of elocution, as struck his hearers with astonishment and admiration. It flashed like the Hghtning of heaven against the ministers and sons of cor- ruption, blasting where it smote, and withering the nerves of opposition : but his more substantial praise M'as founded upon his disinterested inte- grity, his incorruptible heart, his unconquerable spirit of independence, and his invariable attach- ment to the interest and liberty of his country. The quiet of the ministr}'- being re-establis]ied, the house of commons provided for forty thou- sand seamen, nearly the same number of land- forces, besides fifteen regiments raised by the nobility, on account of the rebellion, and about twelve thousand marines. They settled funds for the maintenance of the Dutch and Hessian troops that were in England, as well as for the subsidy to the lando-rave. Thev o-ranted three hundred thousand pounds to the king of Sardinia ; four hundred thousand pounds to the queen of Hun- gary ; three hundred and ten thousand pounds to defray the expence of eighteen thousand Hano- verians ; about three-and-thirty thousand pounds in subsidies to the electors of INlentz and Cologn ; and five hundred thousand pounds in a vote of credit and confidence to his majesty. The whole charge of the current year amounted to seven millions two hundred and fifty thousand pounds, Avhich was raised by the land and malt-taxes, an- l66 history of ENGLAND. 1746. nuities on the additioiial duties imposed on glass, and spirituous liquors, a lottery, a deduction from the sinking-lund, and exchequer bills, chargeable on the first aids that should be granted in the next session of parliament. TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF THE REBELS. The rebellion being quelled, the legislature re- solved to make examples of those who had been concerned in disturbing the peace of their country. In June, an act of attainder was passed against the principal persons who had embarked in that desperate undertaking ; and courts were opened in different parts of Englapd, for the trial of the prisoners. Seventeen persons who had borne arms in the rebel army M^ere executed at Kennington Common, in the neighbourhood of London, and suffered with great constancy under the dreadful tortures which their sentence prescribed : nine Avere put to death, in the same manner, at Car- lisle ; six at Erumpton, seven at l^enrith, eleven at York : of these a considerable number were gentlemen, and had acted as officers ; about fifty liad been executed as deserters in different parts of Scotland : eighty-one sufiered the pains of the law as traitors. A i'ew obtained pardons, and a considerable number were transported to the plant- ations. Bills of indictment for high-treason were found by the county of Surry against the earls of 1/419. GEORGE II. 56"; Kilmarnock and Cromartie, and lord Balmerino. These noblemen were tried by their peers in West- minster-hall, the lord chancellor presiding as lord high-steward for the occasion. The two earls confessed their crimes, and in pFithetic speeches recommended themselves to his majesty's mercy. Lord Balmerino pleaded not guilty: he denied his having been at Carlisle at the time specified in the indictment, but this exception was over-ruled : then he moved a point of law in arrest of judg- ment, and was allowed to be heard by his counsel. They might have expatiated on the hardship of being tried by an e.v post facto law ; and claimed the privilege of trial in the county where the act of treason was said to have been committed. The same hardship was imposed upon all the impri- soned rebels : they were dragged in captivity to a strange country, far from their friends and con- nections, destitute of means to produce evidence in their favour, even if they had been innocent of the charge. Balmerino waved this plea, and sub- mitted to the court, which pronounced sentence of death upon him and his two associates. Cro- martie's life was spared ; but the other two were beheaded, in the month of August, on Tower-hill. JCilmarnock was a nobleman of fine personal ac- complishments \ he had been educated in revolu- tion principles, and engaged in the rebellion, partly from the desperate situation of his fortune, and partly from resentment to the government, on his being deprived of a pension which he had 508 ~ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. for some time enjoyed. He was convinced of his having acted criminally, and died v/ith marks of penitence and contrition. Balmerino had been bred up to arms, and acted upon principle : he was gallant, brave, rough, and resolute ; he eyed the implements of death with the most careless familiarit}^, and seemed to triumph in his suifer- ings. In November, Mr. Ratcliffe, the titular earl of Derwentwater, who had been taken in a ship bound to Scotland, was arraigned on a former sentence, passed against him in the year one thou- sand seven hundred and sixteen : he refused to acknowledge the authority of the court, and pleaded that he was a subject of France, honoured with a commission in the service of his most christian majesty. The identity of his person be- ing proved, a rule was made for his execution : and on the eighth day of December he suffered decapitation, with the most perfect composure and serenity. Lord Lovat, now turned of ibur- sco.re, was impeached b}^ the commons, and tried in Westminster-hall before the lord high-steward. John Murray, secretary to the prince-pretender, and some of his own domestics appearing against him, he was convicted of high-treason, and con- denmed. Notwithstanding his age, infirmities, and the recollection of his conscience, which was supposed to be not altogether void of offence, he died like an old Roman, exclaiming, " didce et de- *' corum est pro patina mori." He surveyed the crowd with attention, examined the ax, jested with 1746. GEORGE II. 56() the executioner, and laid his head upon the block with the utmost indifference. From this last scene of his life one would have concluded, that he had approved himself a patriot from his youth, and never deviated from the paths of virtue. THE STATES-GENERAL ALARMED AT THE PROGRESS OF THE FRENCH. The flame of war on the continent did not expire at the election of an emperor, and the re-esta- blishment of peace among the princes of the em- pire. On the contrary, it raged with double vio- lence in consequence of these events; for the force that was before divided being now united in one body, exerted itself with great vigour and rapidity. The states-general were overwhelmed with consternation. Notwithstanding the pains they had taken to avoid a war, and the condescen- sion with which they had soothed and supplicated the French monarch in repeated embassies and memorials, they saw themselves stripped of their barrier, and once more in danger of being over- whelmed by that ambitious nation. The city of Brussels had been reduced during the winter; so that the enemy were in possession of all the Au- strian Netherlands, except a few fortresses. Great part of the forces belonging to the republic Avere restricted from action by capitulations, to which they had subscribed. The states were divided in V 570 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. their councils between the two factions which had long subsisted. They trembled at the prospect of seeing Zealand invaded in the spring. The Orange party loudly called for an augmentation of their forces by sea and land, that they might prosecute the war with vigour. The common people, fond of novelty, dazzled by the splendor of greatness, and fulled persuaded that nothing but a chief was wanting to their securit}^, demanded the prince of Orange as a stadtholder ; and even mingled me- naces with their demands. The opposite faction dreaded alike the power of a stadtholder, the neighbourhood of a French army, and the sedi- tious disposition of the populace. An ambassador was sent to London with representations of the imminent dangers which threatened the republic, and he was ordered to solicit in the most pressing terms the assistance of his Britannic majesty, that the allies might have a superiority in the Nether- lands by the beginning of the campaign. The king was very well disposed to comply with their request ; but the rebellion in his kingdom, and the dissensions in his cabinet, had retarded the supplies, and embarrassed him so much, that he found it impossible to make those early prepara- tions that Avere necessary to check the career of the enemy. 1746. GEORGE 11. 571 COUNT SAXE SUBDUES ALL FLANDERS, BRA- BANT, AND HAINAULT. The king of France, with his general, the count de Saxe, took the field in the latter end of April, at the head of one hundred and twenty thousand men, and advanced towards the allies, who, to the numherof four-and-forty thousand, were entrench- ed behind the Demer, under the conduct of th^ Austrian general Bathiani, who retired before them, and took post in the neighbourhood of Breda, the capital of Dutch Brabant. Mareschal Saxe im- mediately invested Antwerp, which in a few days was surrendered. Then he appeared before the strong town of ]\Ions in Hainault, witli an irre- sistible train of artillery, an immense quantity of bombs and warlike implements. He carried on his approaches with such unabating impetuosity, that, notwithstanding a very vigorous defence, the garrison was obHged to capitulate on the twenty-seventh day of June, in about eight-and- tv.'enty days after the place had been invested. Sieves were not now carried on by the tedious method of sapping. The French king found it much more expeditious and effectual to bring into the field a prodigious train of battering cannon, and enormous mortars, that kept up such a tire as no garrison could sustain, and discharged such an incessant hail of bombs and bullets, as in a very little time reduced to ruins the place, with all its 572 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1745. fortifications. St. Guislain and Charleroy met with the fate of Mons and Antwerp ; so that by the middle of July the French king was absolute master of Flanders, Brabant, and Hainault. Prince Charles of Lorraine had by this time assumed the command of the confederate army at Terheyde, which being reinforced by the Hessian troops from Scotland, and a fresh body of Austri- ans under count Palfi, amounted to eighty-seven thonsand men, including the Dutch forces com- manded by the prince of Waldeck. The generals, supposing the next storm would fall upon Namur, marched tOAv^ards that place, and took post in an advantageous situation on the eighteenth day of July, in sight of the French army, which was en- camped at Gemblours. Here they remained till the eighth day of August, when a detachment of the enemy, commanded by count Lowendahl, took possession of Huy, where he found a large magazine belonging to the confederates; and their communication with Maestricht was cut off. Mareschal Saxe, on the other side^ took his mea- sures so well, that they were utterly deprived of all subsistence. Then prince Charles, retiring across the Maese, abandoned Namur to the efforts of the enemy, by whom it was immediately invested. The trenches were opened on the second day of September ; and the garrison, consisting of seven thousand Austrians, defended themselves with equal skill and resolution : but the cannonading and bombardment were so terrible, that in a few 1746. GEORGE II. 5/3 days the place was converted into a heap of rub- bish ; and on the twenty-third day of the month the French monarch took possession of this strong fortress, which had formerly sustained such dread- ful attacks. Meanwhile the allied army encamp- ed at Maestricht were joined by sir John Ligonier, with some British and Bavarian battalions ; and prince Charles resolved to give the enemy battle. With this view he passed the JMaese on the thir- teenth day of September, and advanced towards mareschal Saxe, whom he found so advantage- ously posted at Tongres, that he thought proper to march back to Maestricht. On the twenty-sixth day of September he crossed the Jaar in his re- treat ; and his rear was attacked by the enemy, who Mere repulsed. But count Saxe being rein- forced by a bod}' of troops, under the count de Clermont, determined to bring the confederates to an engagement. On the thirteenth day of the month he passed the Jaar ; while he took posses- sion of the villages of Liers, Warem, and Roucoux, drew up their forces in order of battle, and made preparations for giving him a warm reception. On the first day of October the enemy advanced in three columns: and a terrible cannonadini^.- be- gan about noon. At two o'clock prince Waldeck on the left was charged with great fury ; and after an obstinate defence overpowered by numbers. The villages were attacked in columns, and as one brigade was repulsed another succeeded ; so that the allies were obliged to abandon these posts, 574 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. and retreat towards Maestricht, with the loss of five thousand men, and thirty pieces of artillery. The victory, however, cost the French general a much greater numher of lives; and was attended with no solid advantage. Sir John Ligonier, the earls of Crawford ° and Rothes, brigadier Douglas, and other officers of the British troops, distin- guished themselves by their gallantry and conduct on this occasion. This action terminated the campaign, Tise allies passing the Maese, took up their winter quarters in the duchies of Limburgh and Luxembourg; while the French cantoned their troops in the places which they had newly conquered. THE FRENCH AND SPANIARDS ABANDON PIED- MONT AND THE MILANESE. The campaign in Italy was altogether unfavoura- ble to the French and Spaniards. The house of Austria being no longer pressed on the side of Germany, was enabled to make the stronger efforts in this country ; and the British subsidy encouraged the king of Sardinia to act with re- doubled vivacity. Mareschal Maillebois occupied the greater part of Piedmont with about thirty thousand men. Don Philip and the count de Gages were at the head of a greater number in " See note [G], vol. vi. 1746. <5E0RGE ir. S75 the neighbourhood of ^lilan; and the duke of Modena, with eight thousand, secured his own dominions. The king of Sardinia augmented his forces to six-and-thirty thousand ; and the Au- strian arm}^ under the prince of Lichtenstein, amounted to a much greater number; so that the enemy were reduced to the necessity of acting on the defensive, and retired towards the Man- tuan. In February, baron Leutrum, the Pied- montese general, invested and took the strong fortress of Aste. He afterwards reheved the citadel of Alexandria, which the Spaniards had blocked up in the winter, reduced Casal, recovered Va- lencia, and obliged Maillebois to retire to the neighbourhood of Genoa. On the other side, Don Philip and count Gages abandoned Milan, Pavia, and Parma, retreating before the Austrians with the utmost precipitation to Placentia, where they were joined cm the third of June by the French forces under Maillebois. Before this junction was eifected the Spanish general, Pignatelli, had passed the river Po in the night with a strong detachment, and beaten up the quarters of seven thousand Austrians posted at Codogno. Don Philip, finding himself at the head of two-and-fift}^ thousand men by his junc- tion with the French general, resolved to attack the Austrians in their camp at San Lazaro, before they should be reinforced by his Sardinian ma- jesty. Accordingly, on the fourth day of June, in the evening, he marched with equal silence and 576 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. expedition, and entered the Austrian trenches about eleven, when a desperate battle ensued. The Austrians were prepared for the attack, which they sustained with great vigour till morning. Then they quitted their entrenchments, and charged the enemy in their turn with such fury, that after an obstinate resistance the combined army was broke, and retired with precipitation to Placentia, leaving on the field fifteen thousand men killed, Avounded, and taken, together with sixty colours, and ten pieces of artillery. In a few weeks the Austrians were joined by the Pied- montese : the king of Sardinia assumed the chief command; and prince Lichtenstein being indis- posed, his place was supplied by the marquis de Botta. Don Philip retired to the other side of the Po, and extended his conquests in the open country of the Milanese. The king of Sardinia called a council of war, in which it was deter- mined that he should pass the river with a strong body of troops, in order to straiten the enemy on one side ; while the marquis de Botta should march up the Tydone, to cut off their communi- cation with Placentia. They forthwith quitted all the posts they had occupied between the Lam- bro and Adda, resolving to repass the Po, and retreat to Tortona. With this view they threw bridges of boats over that river, and began to pass on the ninth day of August in the evening. They were attacked at Rotto Freddo by a detachment of Austrians, under general Serbelloni, who main- 1746. GEORGE IL 577 tained the engagement till ten in the morning, when Botta arrived : the battle was renewed with redoubled rage, and lasted till four in the after- noon, when the enemy retired in o:reat disorder to Tortona, with the loss of eight thousand men, a good number of colours and standards, and eighteen pieces of cannon. This victory cost the Austrians four thousand men killed upon the spot, including the gallant general Bernclau. The vic- tors immediately summoned Placentia to surren- der; and the garrison, consisting of nine thousand men, were made prisoners of war : Don Philip continued his retreat, and of all his forces brought six-and-twenty thousand only into the territories of Genoa. THE AUSTRIANS TAKE POSSESSION OF GENOA. COUNT BROWN ENTERS PROVENCE. The Piedmontese and Austrians rejoining in the neighbourhood of Pavia, advanced to Tortona, of which they took possession without resistance, while the enemy sheltered themselves under the cannon of Genoa. They did not long continue in this situation : for on the twenty-second day of August they Avere again in motion, and retired into Provence. The court of Madrid imputing the bad success of this campaign to the miscon- duct of count Gages, recalled that general, and sent the marquis de las Minas to resume the com- VOL. III. P V 578 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. mand of the forces. In the mean time, the victo- rious confederates appeared before Genoa on the fourth day of December : and the senate of that city thinking it incapable of defence, submitted to a very mortifying capitulation, by which the gates were delivered up to the Austrians, together with all their arms, artillery, and ammunition: and the city was subjected to the most cruel con- tributions. The marquis de Botta being left at Genoa with sixteen thousand men, the king of Sardinia resolved to pass the Var, and pursue the French and Spaniards into Provence : but, that monarch being seized with the small-pox, the con- duct of this expedition was entrusted to count Brown, an Austrian general of Irish extract, who had given repeated proofs of uncommon valour and capacity. He was on this occasion assisted by vice-admiral Medley, who commanded the British squadron in the Mediterranean. The French forces had fortified the passes of the Var, under the conduct of the mareschal de Belleisle, who thought proper to abandon his posts at the approach of count Brown ; and this general, at the head of fifty thousand men, passed the river, without opposition, on the ninth day of Novem- ber. While he advanced as far as Drao-uitrnan, laying the open countrj^ under contribution, baron Roth, with four-and-twenty battalions, invested Antibes, which was at the same time bombarded on the side of the sea by the British squadron. The trenches were opened on the twentieth day i;46. GEORGE II. 579 of September : but Belleisle having assembled a numerous army, superior to that of the confeder- ates, and the Genoese having expelled their Au- strian guests, count Brown abandoned the en- terprise, and repassed the Var, not without some damage from the enemy. THE GENOESE EXPEL THE AUSTRIANS FROM THEIR CITY. The court of Vienna, which has always patronised oppression, exacted such heavy contribution from the Genoese, and its directions were so rigorously put in execution, that the people were reduced to despair ; and resolved to make a last effort for the recovery of their liberty and independence. Ac- cordingly, they took arms in secret, seized several important posts of the city ; surprised some bat- talions of the Austrians ; surrounded others, and cut them in pieces ; and, in a word, drove them out with great slaughter. The marquis de Botta acted with caution and spirit : but being over- powered by numbers, and apprehensive of the peasants in the country, who were in arms, he retreated to the pass of the Brochetta on the side of Lombardy, where he secured himself in an ad- vantageous situation, until he could receive rein- forcements. The loss he had sustained at Genoa did not hinder him from reducing Savona, a sea- port town belonging to that republic; and he 2 580 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. afterwards made himself master of Gavi. The Genoese, on the contrary, exerted themselves with wonderful industry in fortifying their city, rais- ing troops, and in taking other measures for a vigorous defence, in case they should again be insulted. MADRAS IN THE EAST-INDIES TAKEN BY THE FRENCH. The naval transactions of this year reflected very little honour on the British nation. Commodore Peyton, who commanded six ships of war in the East-Indies, shamefully declined a decisive en- gagement with a French squadron of inferior force ; and abandoned the important settlement of Madras on the coast of Coromandel, which was taken Avithout opposition in the month of September by the French commodore, de la Bour- donnais. Fort St. David, and the other British factories in India, would probably have shared the same fate, had not the enemy's naval force in that country been shattered and partly destroyed by a terrible tempest. No event of consequence happened in America, though it was a scene that seemed to promise the greatest success to the arms of England. The reduction of Cape Breton had encouraged the ministry to project the con- quest of Quebec, the capital of Canada, situated upon the river of St. Laurence. Commissions 174(5. GEORGE II. 581 were sent to the governors of the British colonies in North-America, empowering them to raise com- panies to join the armament from England; and eight thousand troops were actually raised in con- sequence of these directions ; while a powerful squadron and transports, having six regiments on board, were prepared at Portsmouth for this ex- pedition. But their departure was postponed by unaccountable delays, until the season was judged too far advanced to risk the great ships on the boisterous coast of North-America. That the armament, however, might not be wholly useless to the nation, it was employed in making a de- scent upon the coast of Bretagne, on the supposi- tion that Port L'Orient, the repository of all the stores and ships belonging to the French East- India company, might be surprised ; or, that this invasion would alarm the enemy, and, by making a diversion, facilitate the operations of the Au- strian general in Provence. The naval force intended for this service con- sisted of sixteen great ships, and eight frigates, besides bomb-ketches and store ships, commanded by Richard Lestock, appointed admiral of the blue division. Six battalions of land troops, with a detachment of matrosses and bombardiers, A\^ere embarked in thirty transports, under the conduct of lieutenant-general Sinclair; and the whole fleet set sail from Plymouth on the fourteenth day of September. On the twentieth the troops were landed in Quimperlay-bay, at the distance often 5S2 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. miles from Port L'Orient. The militia, reinforced by some detachments from diiferent regiments, were assembled to the number of two thousand, and seemed resolved to oppose the disembarka- tion : but, seeing the British troops determined to land at all events, they thought proper to retire. Next day general Sinclair advanced into the country, skirmishing with the enemy in his route ; and arriving at the village of Plemure, within half a league from Port L'Orient, summoned that place to surrender. He was visited by a deputation from the town, which offered to admit the British forces, on condition that they should be restrained from pillaging the inhabitants, and touching the magazines ; and that they should pay a just price for their provisions. These terms being rejected, the inhabitants prepared for a vigorous defence ; and the English general resolved to besiege the place in form, though he had neither time, artil- lery, nor forces sufficient for such an enterprise. This strange resolution was owino; to the declara- tion of the engineers, who promised to lay the place in ashes in the space of four-and-twenty hours. All his cannon amounted to no more than a few field-pieces ; and he was obliged to wait for two iron guns, which the sailors dragged up from the shipping. Had he given the assault on the first night after his arrival, when the town was filled with terror and confusion, and destitute of regular troops, in all probability it would have been easily taken by scaladc : but the reduction 1745. GEORGE II. 583 of it Avas rendered impracticable by his delay. The ramparts were mounted with cannon from the ships in the harbour : new works were raised with great industry : the garrison was reinforced by several bodies of regular troops ; and great numbers were assembling from all parts; so that the British forces were in dano-er of beings sur- rounded in an enemy's country. Notwithstand- ing these discouragements, they opened a small battery against the town, which was set on fire in several places by their bombs and red-hot bullets : they likewise repulsed part of the garrison which had made a sally to destroy their works : but their cannon producing no effect upon the fortifica- tions, the fire from the town daily increasing, the engineers owning they could not perform their promise, and admiral Lestock declaring, in repeat- ed messages, that he could no longer expose the ships on an open coast at such a season of the year, general Sinclair abandoned the siege. Hav- ing caused the two iron pieces of cannon and the mortars to be spiked, he retreated in good order to the sea-side, where his troops were re-embark- ed, having sustained very inconsiderable damage since their first landing. He expected reinforce- ments from England, and was resolved to wait a little longer for their arrival, in hopes of being able to annoy the enemy more effectually. In the beginning of October the fleet sailed to Quiberon- bay, where they destroyed the Ardent, a French ship of war of sixty-four guns : and a detachment 584 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. of the forces being landed, took possession of a fort on the peninsula; Avhile the little islands of Houat and Heydic were reduced by the sailors. In this situation the admiral and general conti- nued till the seventeenth day of the month, when the forts being dismantled, and the troops re-em- barked, the fleet sailed from the French coast : the admiral returned to England, and the trans- ports with the soldiers proceeded to Ireland, where they arrived in safety. NAVAL TRANSACTIONS IN THE WEST-INDIES. This expedition, weak and frivolous as it may seem, was resented by the French nation as one of the greatest insults they had ever sustained ; and demonstrated the possibility of hurting France in her tenderest parts, by means of an armament of this nature, well timed, and vigorously conduct- ed. Indeed, nothing could be more absurd or precipitate than an attempt to distress the enemy by landing a handful of troops, without draft- horses, tents, or artillery, from a fleet of ships lying on an open beach, exposed to the uncer- tainty of weather in the most tempestuous season of the year, so as to render the retreat and re- endjarkation altogether precarious. The British squadrons in the W est-Indies performed no exploit of consequence in the course of this year. The commerce was but indifferently protected. Com- 1746. GEORGE II. 585 niodore Lee, stationed off Martinlco, alloM^d a French fleet of merchant-ships, and their convoy, to pass by his squadron unmolested ; and commo- dore Mitchel behaved scandalously in a rencontre with the French squadron, under the conduct of monsieur de Conflans, who in his return to Europe took the Severn, an English ship of fifty guns. The cruisers on all sides, English, French, and Spaniards, were extremely alert; and though the English lost the greater number of ships, this dif- ference was more than overbalanced by the supe- rior value of the prizes taken from th'e enemy. In the course of this year two-and-twent}^ Spanish privateers, and sixty-six merchant vessels, includ- ing ten register ships, fell into the hands of the British cruisers : from the French they took seven ships of war, ninety privateers, and about three hundred ships of commerce. The new king of Spain P being supposed well-affected to the British nation, an effort was made to detach him from the interests of France, by means of the marquis de Tabernega, who had formerly been his favour- ite, and resided many years as a refugee in Eng- p In the month of July, Philip king of Spain dying, in the sixty-third year of his age, was succeeded by his eldest son Fer- dinand, born of Maria-Louisa Gabriela, sister to the late king of Sardinia. He espoused Donna Maria Magdalena, infanta of Por- tugal, but had no issue. Philip was but two days survived by his daughter, the dauphiness of France. I'he same month was re- markable for the death of Christiern VI. king of Denmark, suc- ceeded by his son Frederick V. who had married the princess Louisa, youngest daughter to the king of Great Britain. 586 HISTORY OF ENGLAND, 1746. land. This nobleman proceeded to Lisbon, where a negociation was set on foot with the court of Madrid. But his efforts miscarried ; and the in- fluence of the queen-mother continued to predo- minate in the Spanish councils. The states-general had for some years endeavoured to promote a pacification by remonstrances, and even intreaties, at the court of Versailles : the French king at length discovered an inclination to peace, and in September a congress was opened at Breda, the capital of Dutch Brabant, where the plenipoten- tiaries of the emperor, Great Britain, France, and Holland, were assembled : but the French were so insolent in their demands, that the conferences were soon interrupted. The parliament of Great Britain meeting in November, the king exhorted them to concert with all possible expedition the proper measures for pursuing the war with vigour, that the con- federate army in the Netherlands might be sea- sonably augmented : he, likewise, gave them to understand, that the funds appropriated for the support of his civil government had for some years past fiillen short of the revenue intended and granted by parliament; and said he relied on their known affection to find out some method to make good this deficiency. As all those who had con- ducted the opposition were now concerned in the administration, little or no objection was made to any demand or proposal of the government and its ministers. The commons having considered 1746. GEORGE II. 587 the estimates, voted forty thousand seamen for the service of the ensuing year, and about sixty thousand land-forces, including eleven thousand five hundred marines. They granted four hun- dred and thirty-three thousand pounds to the empress queen of Hungary ; three hundred thou- sand pounds to the king of Sardinia; four hundred and ten thousand pounds for the maintenance of eighteen thousand Hanoverian auxiliaries ; one hundred and sixty-one thousand six hundred and seven pounds for six thousand Hessians; subsidies to the electors of Cologn, Mentz, and Bavaria; and the sum of five hundred thousand pounds to enable his majesty to prosecute the war with ad- vantage. In a word, the supplies amounted to nine millions four hundred twenty-five thousand two hundred and fifty-four pounds ; a sum almost incredible, if we consider how the kingdom had been already drained of its treasure. It was raised by the usual taxes, reinforced with new imposi- tions on windows, carriages, and spirituous liquors, a lottery, and a loan from the sinking-fund. The new taxes were mortgaged for four millions by transferrable annuities, at an interest of four, and a premium of ten per centum. By reflecting on these enormous grants, one would imagine the ministry had been determined to impoverish the nation : but, from the eagerness and expedition with which the people subscribed for the money, one would conclude that the riches of the kins- dom were inexhaustible. It may not be amiss to 588 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1746. observe, that the supplies of this year exceeded, by two millions and a half, the greatest annual sum that was raised during the reign of queen Anne, though she maintained as great a number of troops as was now in the pay of Great Britain, and her armies and fleets acquired every year fresh harvests of glory and advantage : whereas this war had proved an almost uninterrupted series of events big with disaster and dishonour. During the last two years, the naval expence of England had exceeded that of France about five millions sterlinp-: thouoh her fleets had not obtained one signal advantage over the enemy at sea, nor been able to protect her commerce from their depreda- tions. She was at once a prey to her declared adversaries and professed friends. Before the end of summer, she numbered among her merce- naries two empresses, five German princes, and a powerful monarch, whom she hired to assist her in trimming the balance of Europe, in which they themselves were immediately interested, and she had no more than a secondary concern. Had these fruitless subsidies been saved ; had the national revenue been applied with economy to national purposes ; had it been employed in liquidating gradually the public incumbrances ; in augment- ing the navy, improving manufactures, encourag- ing and securing the colonies, and extending trade and navigation ; corruption would have become altogether unnecessary, and disaffection would have vanished : the people would have been eased 1746. GEORGE II. SScj of their burthens, and ceased to complain : com- merce would have flourislied, and produced such affluence as must have raised Great Britain to the highest pinnacle of maritime power, above all rival- ship or competition. She would have been dread- ed by her enemies ; revered by her neighbours : oppressed nations would have crept under her wings for protection ; contending potentates would have appealed to her decision ; and she would have shone the universal arbitress of Europe. How diff^erent is her present situation ! her debts are enormous, her taxes intolerable, her people dis- contented, and the sinews of her government relaxed. Without conduct, confidence, or con- cert, she engages in blundering negociations : she involves herself rashly in foreign quarrels, and lavishes her substance with the most dangerous precipitation : she is even deserted by her wonted vigour, steadiness, and intrepidity : she grows vain, fantastical, arid pusillanimous : her arms are despised by her enemies ; and her councils ridi- culed through all Christendom. PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED. The king, in order to exhibit a specimen of his desire to diminish the public expence, ordered the third and fourth troops of his life-guards to be disbanded, and reduced three regiments of horse to the quality of dragoons. The house of .com- 590 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747. mons presented an address of thanks for this in- stance of economy, by which the annual sum of seventy thousand pounds was saved to the nation. Notwithstanding this seeming harmony between the king and the great council of the nation, his majesty resolved, with the advice of his council, to dissolve the present parliament, though the term of seven years was not yet expired since its first meeting. The ministry aifected to insinuate, that the states-general were unwilling to concur with his majesty in vigorous measures against France, during the existence of a parliament which had undergone such a vicissitude of complexion. The allies of Great Britain, far from being suspi- cious of this assembly, which had supplied them so liberally, saw with concern, that, according to law, it would soon be dismissed ; and they doubt- ed whether another could be procured equally agreeable to their purposes. In order to remove this doubt, the ministry resolved to surprise the kingdom with a new election, before the malcon- tents should be prepared to oppose the friends of the government. Accordingly, when the busi- ness of the session was dispatched, the king hav- ing given the royal assent to the several acts they had prepared, dismissed them in the month of June, with an affectionate speech, that breathed nothing but tenderness and gratitude. The par- liament was immediately dissolved by proclama- tion, and new writs were issued for convoking an- other. Among the laws passed in this session, m?' GEORGE II. 591 was an act abolishing the heritable jurisdictions, and taking away the tenure of wardholdings in Scotland, which, were reckoned among the prin- cipal sources of those rebellions that had been excited since the revolution. In the hiohlands they certainly kept the common people in sub- jection to their chiefs, whom they implicitly fol- lowed and obeyed in all their undertakings. By this act these mountaineers were legally emanci- pated from slavery : but as the tenants enjoyed no leases, and were at all times liable to be ejected from their farms, they still depended on the plea- sure of their lords, notwithstanding this interposi- tion of the legislature, which granted a valuable consideration in money to every nobleman and petty baron, who was thus deprived of one part of his inheritance. The forfeited estates indeed were divided into small farms, and let by the govern- ment on leases at an under value ; so that those who had the good fortune to obtain such leases tasted the sweets of independence : but the high- landers in general were left in their original in- digence and incapacity, at the mercy of their superiors. Had manufactures and fisheries been established in different parts of their country, they would have seen and felt the happy conse- quences of industry, and in a little time been effectually detached from all their slavish con- nections. 59'i HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747, THE FRENCH AND ALLIES TAKE THE FIELD IN FLANDERS. The operations of the campaign had been con- certed in the winter at the Hague, between the duke of Cumberland and the states-general of the United Provinces, who were by this time gene- rally convinced of France's design to encroach upon their territories. They, therefore, deter- mined to take eftectual measures against that rest- less and ambitious neighbour. The allied poM^ers agreed to assemble a vast army in the Nether- lands ; and it was resolved that the Austrians and Piedmontese should once more penetrate into Provence. The Dutch patriots, however, were not roused into this exertion, until all their re- monstrances had failed at the court of Versailles ; until they had been urged by repeated memorials of the English ambassador, and stimulated by the immediate danger to which their country Avas ex- posed : for France was by this time possessed of all the Austrian Netherlands, and seemed bent upon penetrating into the territories of the United Provinces. In February, the duke of Cumber- land began to assemble the allied forces ; and in the latter end of March they took the field in three separate bodies. His royal highness, with the English, Hanoverians, and Hessians, fixed his' head-quarters at the village of Tilberg : the prince of Waldeck was posted with the Dutch troops at 17^7' GEORGE H, 593 Breda; and mareschal Bathiaiii collected tlie Au- strians and Bavarians in the neighbourliood of Venlo. The whole army amounted to one hun- dred and twent}'^ thousand men, ^\'ho lay inactiv^e six weeks, exposed to the inclemency of the wea- ther, and almost destitute of forage and provision. Count Saxe, by this time created mareschal-ge- neral of France, continued his troops within their cantonments at Bruges, Antwerp, and Brussels, declaring, that v/hen the allied army should be weakened by sickness and mortality, he would convince the duke of Cumberland, that the first duty of a general is to provide for the health and preservation of his troops. In April this fortunate commander took the field, at the head of one liundred and forty thousand men ; and the count de Clermont commanded a separate body of nine- teen battalions and thirty s(}uadrons. Count Lowendahl m\^s detached on the sixteenth day of the month, with seven-and-twenty thousand men, to invade Dutch Flanders : at the same time, the French minister at the Hague presented a memo-^ rial to the states, intimating, that his master was obliged to take this step by the necessity of war ; but that his troops should observe the strictest discipline, without interfering with the religion, government, or commerce of the republic ; he likcMase declared, that the countries and places of which he might be obliged to take possession should be detained no otherwise than as a pledge, to be restored as soon as the United Provinces VOL. III. Q Q 591 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747, should give convincing proofs that they would no longer furnish the enemies of France with succours. PRINCE OF ORANGE ELECTED STADTHOLDER OF THE UNITED PROVINCES. While the states deliberated upon this declara- tion, count Lowendahl entered Dutch Brabant, and invested the town and fortress of Sluys, the garrison of which surrendered themselves prisoners of war on the nineteenth day of April. This was likewise the fate of Sas-van-Ghent, while the marquis de Contades, with another detachment, reduced the forts Perle and Leifkenshoek, with the town of Philippine, even within hearing of the confederate army. The fort of Sanberg was vigorously defended by two Enghsh battalions : but they were overpowered, and obliged to retire to Welsthoorden ; and count Lowendahl under- took the siege of Hulst, which was shamefully surrendered by La Roque, the Dutch governor, though he knew that a reinforcement of nine bat- talions was on the march to his relief Then the French general took possession of Axei and Ter- neuse, and began to prepare flat-bottomed boats for a descent on the island of Zealand. The Dutch people were now struck with consternation. They saw the enemy at their doors, and owed their immediate preservation to the British squa- 1/47. GEORGE II. 595 dron stationed at the Swin, under the command of commodore Mitchel ''j M'ho, by means of his sloops, tenders, and small craft, took such mea- sures as defeated the intention of Lowendahl. The common people in Zealand being reduced to despair, began to clamour loudly against their governors, as if they had not taken the proper measures for their security. The friends of the prince of Orange did not neglect this opportunity of promoting his interest. They encouraged their discontent, and exaggerated the danger : they reminded them of the year one thousand six hun- dred and seventy-two, when the French king was at the gates of Amsterdam, and the republic was saved by the choice of a stadtholder : they ex- horted them to turn their eyes on the descendant of those heroes who had established the liberty and independence of the United Provinces ; they extolled his virtue and ability; his generosity, his justice, his unshaken love to his countr3^ The people in several towns, inflamed by such repre- sentations to tumult and sedition, compelled their magistrates to declare the prince of Orange stadt- holder. He himself, in a letter to the states of Zealand, offered his services for the defence of the province. On the twenty-eighth day of April he was nominated captain-general and admiral of Zealand. Their example was followed by Rot- terdam and the whole province of Holland ; and ' Not the person who commanded in the West-Indies. 2 596 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747. on the second day of ^May, the prince of Orange was, in the assembly of the states-general, invested with the power and dignity of stadtholder, cap- tain-general, and admiral of the United Provinces. The vigorous consequences of this resolution im- mediately appeared. All commerce and contracts with the French were prohibited : the peasants were armed and exercised ; a resolution passed for making a considerable augmentation of the army : a council of war was established for enquiring in- to the conduct of the governors who had given up the frontier places; and orders were issued to commence hostilities against the French, both by sea and land. INleanwhile, the duke of Cumberland took post with his whole army between the two Nethes, to cover Bergen-op-Zoom and IMaestricht ; and marcschal Saxe called in his detachments, with a view to hazard a general engagement. In the latter end of May, the French king arrived at Brussels ; and his general resolved to undertake the siege of Maestricht. For this purpose he ad- vanced towards Louvain ; and the confederates perceiving his drift, began their march to take post between the town and the enemy. On the twentieth day of June, they took possession of their ground, and were drawn up in order of bat- tle, with their right at Bilsen, and their left ex-^ tending to Wirle, within a mile of Maestricht, having in the front of their left wing the village of Laffeldt, in which they posted several batta- ^1-^7' GEORGE II. 5Ci7 lions of British infantry. The French had taken possession of the heights of lierdeeren, immedi- ately above the alhes ; and both armies cannon- aded each other till the evening. In the morn- ing, the enemy's infantry marched down the hill, in a prodigious column, and attacked the village of Laffeldt, which was well fortified, and defended with amazing obstinacy. The assailants suffered terribly in their approach, from the cannon of the confederates, which was served with surprising dexterity and success ; and they met with such a warm reception from the British musquetry as they could not withstand : but, when they were broken and dispersed, fresh brigades succeeded with astonishing perseverance. The confederates Avere driven out of the village : yet being sustain- ed by three regiments, they measured back their ground, and repulsed the enemy with great slaughter. Nevertheless, count Saxe continued pouring in other battalions, and the French re- gained and maintained their footing in the village, after it had been three times lost and carried. The action was chiefly confined to this post, where the field exhibited a horrible scene of car- nage. At noon the duke of Cumberland ordered the whole left wing to advance against the enemy, whose infantry gave way : prince Waldeck led up the centre: mareschal Bathiani made a motion with the right wing towards Herdeeren, and vic- tory seemed ready to declare for the confederates, when the fortune of the day took a sudden turn 598 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747. to their prejudice. Several squadrons of Dutch horse, posted in the centre, gave way, and flying at full gallop, overthrew five hattalions of infantry that were advancing from the body of reserve. The French cavalry charged them with great impetuosity, increasing the confusion that was already produced, and penetrating through the lines of the allied army, which v/as thus divided about the centre. The duke of Cumberland, who exerted himself with equal courage and activity in attempting to remedy this disorder, was in danger- of being taken ; and the defeat would in all pro- bability have been total, had not sir John Ligonier taken the resolution of sacrificing himself and a part of the troops to the safety of the army. At the head of three British regiments of dragoons, and some squadrons of imperial horse, he charged the whole line of the French cavalry, with such intrepidity and success, that he overthrew all that 0])posed him, and made such a diversion as ena- bled the duke of Cumberland to effect an orderly retreat to Maestricht. He himself was taken by a French carabineer, after his horse had been killed : but the regiments he commanded retired with deliberation. The confederates retreated to Maestricht, Avithoot having sustained much dam- age from the pursuit, and even brought off all their artillery, except sixteen pieces of cannon. Their loss did not exceed six thousand men killed and taken ; whereas the French general purchased the victory at a much greater expence. The com- I7't7. GEOrxGE II. 5gg mon cause of the confederate powers is said to have suffered from the pride and ignorance of their generals. On the eve of the hattle, when the detachment of the count de Clermont appear- ed on the hill of Herdeeren, mareschal Bathiani asked permission of the commander in chief to attack them before they should be reinforced, de- claring he would answer for the success of the enterprize. No regard was paid to this proposal : but the superior asked in his turn, where the mareschal would be in case he should be wanted ? He replied, " I shall always be found at the head " of my troops," and retired in disgust. The subsequent disposition has likewise been blamed, inasmuch as not above one half of the army could act, while the enemy exerted their whole force. SIEGE OF BERGEN-OP-ZOOM. The confederates passed the Maese, and encamp- ed in the duchy of Limburgh, so as to cover Maestricht; while the French king remained with his army in the neighbourhood of Tongres. JNIare- schal Saxe, having amused the allies with marches and counter-marches, at length detached count Lowendahl with six-and-thirty thousand men to besiege Bergen-op-Zoom, the strongest fortifica- tion of Dutch Brabant, the favourite work of the famous engineer Coehorn, never conquered, and generally esteemed invincible. It was secured 600 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747. with a garrison of three thousand men, and well provided Avith artillery, ammunition, and maga- zines. The enemy appeared before it on the twelfth day of July, and summoned the governor to surrender. The prince of Saxe-Hildburghausen was sent to its relief, with twenty battalions and fourteen squadrons of the troops that could be most conveniently assembled; he entered the lines of Ijergen-ojD-Zoom, where he remained in expectation of a strong reinforcement from the confederate army ; and the old baron Cronstrom, whom the stadtholder had appointed governor of Brabant, assumed the command of the garrison. The besiegers carried on their operations with great vivacity ; and the troops in the town de- fended it with equal vigour. The eyes of all Europe were turned upon this important siege : count Lowendahl received divers reinforcements; and a considerable body of troops was detached from the allied army, under the command of baron Schwartzember, to co-operate with the prince of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The French general lost a great number of men by the close and continual fire of the besieged ; while he, in his turn, opened such a number of batteries, and plied them so warmly, that the defences began to give way. From the sixteenth day of July to the fifteenth of September, the siege produced an unintermitting scene of horror and destruction : desperate sallies were made, and mines sprung with the most dread- ful effects : the works began to be shattered ; the 1747. GEORGE II. 6oi town was laid in ashes ; the trenches were filled with carnage ; nothing was seen hut fire and smoke ; nothing heard but one continued roar of bombs and cannon. But still the damage fell chiefly on the besiegers, who were slain in heaps ; -while the garrison suffered very little, and could be occa- sionally relieved or reinforced from the lines. In a word, it was generally believed that count Lowendahl would be baffled in his endeavours; and by this belief the governor of Bergen-op- Zoom seems to have been lulled into a blind se- curity. At length, some inconsiderable breaches were made in one ravelin and two bastions, and these the French general resolved to storm, though Cronstrom believed they were impracticable ; and on that supposition presumed that the enemy would not attempt an assault. For this very reason count Lowendahl resolved to hazard the attack, before the preparations should be made for his reception. He accordingly regulated his disposi- tions, and at four o'clock in the morning, on the sixteenth day of September, the signal was made for the assault. A prodigious quantity of bombs being thrown into the ravelin, his troops threw themselves into the fosse, mounted the breaches, forced open a sally-port, and entered the place, almost without resistance. In a word, they had time to extend themselves along the curtains, and form in order of battle, before the garrison could be assembled. Cronstrom was asleep, and the soldiers upon duty had been surprized by the sud- 602 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747- deniiess and impetuosity of the attack. Though the French had taken possession of the ramparts, they did not gain the town without opposition. Two hattahons of the Scottish troops, in the pay of the states-general, were assembled in the market- place, and attacked them with such fury, that they were driven from street to street, until fresh reinforcements arriving, compelled the Scots to retreat in their turn; yet they disputed every inch of ground, and fought until two-thirds of them were killed upon the spot. Then they brought off the old governor, abandoning the town to the enemy : the troops that were en- camped in the lines retreating with great preci- pitation, all the forts in the neighbourhood im- mediately surrendered to the victors, who now became masters of the whole navigation of the Schelde. The French king was no sooner informed of Lowendahl's success, than he promoted him to the rank of mareschal of France ; appointed count Saxe governor of the conquered Netherlands; and returned in triumph to Versailles. In a little time after this transaction, both armies were di- stributed into winter-quarters, and the duke of Cumberland embarked for England. In Italy, the French arms did not triumph with equal success, though the mareschal de Belle- isle saw himself at the head of a powerful army in Provence. In April he passed the Var Mdthout opposition, and took possession of Nice. He met with little or no resistance in reducing Montal- 1747. GEORGE II. 603 ban, Villafranca, and Ventimiglia ; while general Brown, with eight-and-twenty thousand Austrians, retired towards Final and Savona. In the mean time, another large body, under count Schuylem- berg, who had succeeded the marquis de Botta, co-operated with fifteen thousand Piedmontese in an attempt to recover the city of Genoa. The French king had sent their supplies, succours, and engineers, with the duke de Boufflers, as ambas- sador to the republic, who likewise acted as com- mander in chief of the forces employed for its defence. The Austrian general assembled his troops in the Milanese : having forced the pass- age of the Bochetta on the thirteenth of January, he advanced into the territories of Genoa, and the Riviera was ravaoed without mercy. On the last day of March he appeared before the city, at the head of forty thousand men, and summoned the revolters to lay down their arms. The answer he received was, that the republic had fifty-four thousand men in arms, two hundred and sixty cannon, thirty-four mortars, with abundance of ammunition and provision ; that they would de- fend their liberty with their last blood, and be buried in the ruins of their capital, rather than submit to the clemency of the court of Vienna, except by an honourable capitulation, guaranteed by the kings of Great Britain and Sardinia, the republic of Venice and the United Provinces. In the beginning of May, Genoa was invested on all sides ; a furious sally was made by tlie duke de (504 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747. BoLifflers, who drove the besiegers from their posts; but the Austrians rallying, he was repulsed in his turn, with the loss of seven hundred men. Gene- ral Schuylemberg carried on his operations with such skill, vigour, and intrepidity, that he made himself master of the suburbs of Bisagno ; and in all probability would have reduced the city, had he not been obliged to desist, in consequence of the repeated remonstrances made by the king of Sardinia and count Brown, who represented the necessity of his abandoning his enterprize, and drawing off his army, to cover Piedmont and Lom- bardy from the efforts of mareschal de Belleisle. Accordingly, he raised the siege on the tenth day of June, and returned into the Milanese, in order to join his Sardinian majesty; while the Genoese made an irruption into the Parmesan and Placen- tin, where they committed terrible outrages, in revenge for the mischiefs they had undergone. THE CHEVALIER DE BELLEISLE SLAIN IN THE ATTACK OF EXILLES. While the mareschal de Belleisle remained at Ventimiglia, his brother, at the head of four-and- thirty thousand French and Spaniards, attempted to penetrate into Piedmont: on the sixth day of July he arrived at the pass of Exilles, a strong fortress on the frontiers of Dauphine, situated on the north, side of the river Doria. The. defence of 1747. GEORGE II. e05 this important post the king of Sardinia had com- mitted to the care of the count de Brigueras, who formed an encampment behind the hnes, with fourteen battahons of Piedmontese and Austrians, while divers detachments were posted along all the passes of the Alps. On the eighth day of the month the Piedmontese entrenchments were attacked by the chevalier de Eelleisle, with in- credible intrepidity; but the columns were re- pulsed with great loss in three successive attacks. Impatient of this obstinate opposition, and deter- mined not to survive a miscarriage, this impetu- ous general seized a pair of colours, and advancing at the head of his troops, through a prodigious fire, pitched them with his own hand on the enemy's entrenchments. At that instant he fell dead, having received two musquet balls and the thrust of a bayonet in his body. The assailants were so much dispirited by the death of their commander, that they forthwith gave way, and retreated with precipitation towards Sesteries, having lost near five thousand men in the attack. The mareschal was no sooner informed of his bro- ther's misfortune, than he retreated towards the Var, to join the troops from Exilles, while the king of Sardinia, having assembled an army of seventy thousand men, threatened Dauphin6 with an invasion ; but the excessive rains prevented the execution of his design. General Leutrum was detached with twenty battalions, to drive the French from Ventimiglia ; but, Belleisle march- 6o6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. i;47. ing back, that scheme was hkewise frustrated : and thus ended the campaign. A FRENCH SQUADHON TAKEN BY ADMIRALS ANSON AND WARREN. In tliis manner was the Frencli king baffled in his projects upon Italy ; nor was he more fortunate in his naval operations. He had, in the preceding year, equipped an expensive armament, under the command of the duke d'Anville, for the recovery of Cape Breton ; but it was rendered ineffectual by storms, distempers, and the death of the com- mander. Not yet discouraged by these disasters, he resolved to renew his efforts against the British colonies in North- America, and their settlements in the East-Indies. For these purposes two squa- drons Mere prepared at Brest, one to be command- ed by the commodore de la Jonquiere ; and the other destined for India, by monsieur de St. George. The ministry of Great Britain, being- apprised of these measures, resolved to intercept both squadrons, which were to set sail together. For this purpose vice-admiral Anson and rear-ad- miral Warren took their departure from Plymouth with a formidable fleet, and steered their course to Cape Finisterre on the coast of Gallicia. On the third day of May they fell in M'ith the French squadrons, commanded by La Jonquiere and St. George, consisting of six large ships of war, as 1747. GEORGE 11. 607 many frigates, and four armed vessels equipped by their East-India company, having under their convoy about thirty ships laden with merchandize. Those prepared for war immediately shortened sail, and formed a line of battle ; while the rest, under the protection of the six frigates, proceed- ed on their voyage with all the sail they could carry. The British squadron was likewise drawn up in line of battle ; but Mr. Warren, perceiving that the enemy began to sheer off, now their con- voy was at a considerable distance, advised admi- ral Anson to haul in the signal for the line, and hoist another for giving chase and engaging, otherwise the French would, in all probability, escape by favour of the night. The proposal was embraced ; and in a little time the engagement began with great fury, about four o'clock in the afternoon. The enemy sustained the battle with equal conduct and valour, until they were over- powered by numbers, and then they struck their colours. The admiral detached three ships in pursuit of the convoy, nine sail of which were taken ; but the rest were saved by the interven- ing darkness. About seven hundred of the French were killed and wounded in this action. The English lost about five hundred ; and among ' these captain Grenville, commander of the ship Defiance. Fie was nephew to the lord viscount Cobham, a youth of the most amiable character and promising genius, animated with the noblest sentiments of honour and patriotism. Eager in Cos HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 174;. the pursuit of glory, lie rushed into the midst of the battle, ^vhere both his legs were cut off by a cannon ball. He submitted to his fate with the most lieroic resignation, and died universally lamented and beloved. The success of the Bri- tish arms in this engagement was chiefly owing to the conduct, activity, and courage of the rear- admiral. A considerable quantity of bullion was found in the prizes, which was brought to Spit- head in triumph; and the treasure being landed, was conveyed in twenty waggons to the bank of London. Admiral Anson was ennobled, and Mr. Warren honoured with the order of the Bath. ADMIRAL HAWKE OBTAINS ANOTHER VIC- TORY OVER THE FRENCH. About the middle of June, commodore Fox, Avith six ships of war, cruising in the latitude of Cape Ortegal in Gallicia, took above forty French ships, richly laden from St. Domingo, after they had been abandoned by their convoy. But the French king sustained another more important loss at sea, in the month of October. Rear-admiral Hawke sailed from Plymouth in the beginning of August, with fourteen ships of the line, to intercept a fleet of French merchant-ships bound for the West- Indies. He cruised for some time on the coast of Bretagne ; and at length the French fleet sailed from the isle of Aix, under convoy of nine ships of J747. GEORGE II. Cog the line, besides frigates, commanded by monsieur de Letendeur. On the fourteenth day of Octo- ber the two squadrons were in sight of each other, in the latitude of Belleisle. The French commo- dore immediately ordered one of his great ships, and the frigates, to proceed with the trading ships, while he formed the line of battle, and waited the attack. At eleven in the forenoon admiral Hawke displa3'ed the signal to chase, and in half an hour both fleets were engaged. The battle lastetl till night, Mdien all the French squa- dron, except tlie Intrepide and Tonant, had struck to the English flag. These two capital ships escaped in the dark, and retuined to Brest in a shattered condition. Ihe French captains sus- tained the unequal fight with uncommon bravery and resolution ; and did not yield until their ships were disabled. Their loss in men amounted to eight hundred : the number of English killed in this engagement did not exceed two hundred, in- cluding captain Saumarez, a gallant officer, who had served under lord Anson in his expedition to the Pacific Ocean. Indeed, it must be owned, for the honour of that nobleman, that all the officers formed under his example, and raised by his influence, approved themselves in all respects Avorthy of the commands to which they were pre- ferred. Immediately after the action, admiral Hawke dispatched a sloop to commodore Legge, whose squadron was stationed at the Leeward Islands, with intelligence of the French fleet of VOL. III. R R 610 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747. merchant ships, outward-bound, that he might take the proper measures for intercepting them in their passage to Martinique, and the other French islands. In consequence of this advice, he re- doubled his vigilance, and a good number of them fell into his hands. Admiral Hawke conducted his prizes to Spithead ; and in his letter to the board of admiralty declared, that all his captains behaved like men of honour during the engage- ment, except Mr. Fox, whose conduct he desired might be subjected to an enquiry. That gentle- man was accordingly tried by a court-martial, and suspended from his command, for having followed the advice of his officers, contrary to his own better judgment : but he M^as soon restored, and afterwards promoted to the rank of admiral ; while Mr. MatthcAvs, whose courage never incurred su- spicion, still laboured under a suspension for that which had been successfully practised in both these late actions, namely, engaging the enemy without any regard to the line of battle. ' In the Mediterranean, vice-admiral Medley blocked up the Spanish squadron in Carthagena; assisted the Austrian general on the coast of Vil- lafranca; and intercepted some of the succours sent from France to the assistance of the Genoese. At his death, which happened in the beginning of August, the command of that squadron devolved upon rear-admiral Byng, who proceeded on the same plan of operation. In the summer, two British ships of war, having under their convoy a J747. GEORGE II. 6il fleet of merchant ships bound to North-America, fell in with the Glorioso, a Spanish ship of eighty guns, in the latitude of the Western-Isles. She had sailed from the Havannah, with an immense treasure on board, and must have fallen a prize to the English ships, had each captain done his duty. Captain Erskirie, in the Warwick of sixty guns, attacked her with great intrepidity, and fought until his ship was entirely disabled ; but being unsustained by his consort, he was obliged to liaul off, and the Glorioso arrived in safety, at Ferrol : there the silver was landed, and she pro- ceeded on her voyage to Cadiz, which, however, she did not reach. She was encountered by the Dartmouth, a British frigate of forty guns, com- manded by captain Hamilton, a gallant youth, who, notwithstanding the inequality of force, en- gaged her without hesitation : but in the heat of the action, his ship being set on fire by accident, was blown up, and he perished with all his crew, except a midshipman and ten or eleven sailors, who were taken up alive by a privateer that hap- pened to be in sight. Favourable as this accident may seem to the Glorioso, she did not escape. An English ship of eighty guns, under the com- mand of captain Buckle, came up, and obliged the Spaniards to surrender, after a short, but vigorous engagement. Commodore Griffin had been sent, with a reinforcement of ships, to assume the command of the squadron in the East-Indies; and although his arrival secured Fort St. David's, 612 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747- and the other British settlements in that country, from the insults of monsieur de la Bourdonnais, his strength was not sufficient to enable him to undertake any enterprize of importance against the enemy : the ministry of England, therefore, resolved to equip a fresh armament, that, when joined by the ships in India, should be in a con- dition to besiege Pondicherry, the principal set- tlement belonging to the French on the coast of Coromandel. For this service, a good number of independent companies was raised, and set sail, in the sequel, with a strong squadron under the conduct of rear-admiral Boscawen, an officer of unquestioned valour and capacity. In the course of this year, the British cruizers were so alert and successful, that they took six hundred and forty- four prizes from the French and Spaniards, where- as the loss of Great Britain in the same time did •not exceed five hundred and fifty. CONGRESS AT AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. All the belligerent powers were by this time heartily tired of a war which had consumed an immensit}^ of treasure, had been productive of so much mischief, and in the events of which, all, in their turns, had found themselves disappointed. Immediately after the battle of Laflfeldt, the king of France had, in a personal conversation with sir John Ligonier, expressed his desire of a pacifica- K47- GEOPxGE II. 61 tion ; and afterwards his minister at tlie Hague presented a declaration on the same subject to the deputies of the states-general. The signal success of tlie British arms at sea confirmed him in these sentiments, which were likewise reinforced by a variety of other considerations. His finances were almost exhausted, and his supplies from -the Span- ish West-Indies rendered so precarious by the vigilance of the British cruizers, that he could no longer depend upon their arrival. The trading part of his subjects had sustained such losses, that his kingdom was filled with bankruptcies; and the best part of his navy now contributed to strengthen the fleets of his enemies. The election of a stadtholder had united the whole power of the states-general against him, in taking the most resolute measures for their own safety : his views in German}^ were intirely frustrated by the eleva- tion of the grand duke to the Imperial throne, and the re-establishment of peace between the Jiouses of Austria and Branden burgh : the success of his arms in Italy had not at all answered his expectation ; and Genoa was become an expensive ally. He had the mortification to see the com- merce of Britain flourish in the midst of Avar, while his own people were utterly impoverished. The parliament of England granted, and the na- tion paid such incredible sums as enabled their sovereign not only to maintain invincible navies and formidable armies, but likewise to give sub- sidies to all the powers of Europe. He knew that 614 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 174/. a treaty of this kind was actually upon the anvil between his Britannic majesty and the czarina, and he began to be apprehensive of seeing an army of Russians in the Netherlands. His fears from this quarter were not Avithout foundation. In the month of November, the earl of Hynd- ford, ambassador from the king of Great Britain at the court of Russia, concluded a treaty of subsidy, by which the czarina engaged to hold in readiness thirty thousand men, and forty gallies, to be employed in the service of the confederates, on the first requisition. The states-general ac- ceded to this agreement, and even consented to pay one-fourth of the subsidy. His most christian majesty, moved by these considerations, made fur- ther advances towards an accommodation both at the Hague and in London ; and the contending powers agreed to another congress, which was actually opened in March at Aix-la-Chapelle, where the earl of Sandwich and sir Thomas Robin- son assisted as plenipotentiaries from the king of Great Britain. COMPLIANT TEMPER OF THE NEW PARLIAMENT. The elections for the new parliament in England had been conducted so as fully to answer the pur- poses of the duke of NeM'castle, and his brother Mr. Pelham, who had for some time wholly en- 1/47. GEORGE II. 615' grossed the administration. Both houses were assembled on the tenth day of November, when Mr. Onslow was unanimously re-elected speaker of the commons. The session was opened as usual, b}^ a speech from the throne, congratulat- ino* them on the sio-nal successes of the British navy, and the happy alteration in the govern- ment of the United Provinces. His majesty gave them to understand, that a congress would speedi- ly be opened at Aix-la-Chapelle, to concert the means for effecting a general pacification ; and reminded them that nothing would more conduce to the success of this neo'ociation than the vi<>;our and unanimity of their proceedings. He received such addresses as the ministers were pleased to dictate. Opposition now languished at their feet. The duke of Bedford was become a courtier, and in a little time appointed secretary of state, in the room of the earl of Chesterfield, who had lately executed that office, which he now resigned ; and the earl of Sandwich no longer harangued against the administration. This nevv^ house of commons, in imitation of the liberahty of their predecessors, readily gratified all the requests of the govern- ment. They voted forty thousand seamen, forty- nine thousand land-forces, besides eleven thou- sand five hundred marines; the subsidies for the queen of Hungary, the czarina, the king of Sar- dinia, the electors of Mentz and Ba\ aria, the Hessians, and the duke of Wolfenbuttle : the sum of two hundred thirty-five thousand seven hun- 6l6 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1747- dred and forty-nine pounds was granted to the provinces of New England, to reimburse them for tJie expence of reducing Cape Breton : five hundred thousand pounds were given to his ma- jesty for the vigorous prosecution of the war; and about one hundred and fifty-two thousand pounds to the Scottish claimants in lieu of their jurisdiction. Tlie supplies for the ensuing year fell very httle short of nine millions, of which the greater part was raised on a loan by subscription, chargeable on a new subsidy of poundage exacted from all merchandise imported into Great Britain. Immediately after the rebellion was suppressed, the legislature had established some regulations in Scotland, which were thought necessary to prevent such commotions for the future. The highlanders were disarmed, and an act passed, for abolishing their peculiarity of garb, which was supposed to keep up party distinctions, to encour- age their martial disposition, and preserve the memory of the exploits achieved by their ances- tors. In this session a bill was brought in to in- force the execution of that law, and passed with another act for the more effectual punishment of high-treason in the highlands of Scotland. The practice of insuring French and Spanish ships at London being deemed the sole circumstance that prevented a total stagnation of coipmerce in those countries, it was prohibited by law under severe penalties ; and this step of the British parliament accelerated the conclusion of the treaty. Several 17^3. GEORGE II. 617 other prudent measures were taken in the course of this session, for the benefit of the public ; and among these we may reckon an act for encourag- ing the manufacture of indigo in the British plant- ations of North-America ; an article for which Great Britain used to pay two hundred thousand pounds yearly to the subjects of France. The session was closed on the thirteenth day of May, when the king declared to both houses, that the preliminaries of a general peace were actually signed at Aix-la-Chapelle by the ministers of Great Britain, France, and the United Provinces; and that the basis of this accommodation was a general restitution of the concjuests which had been made during the war. Immediately after the prorogation of parliament his majesty set out for his German dominions, after having appointed a regency to rule the realm in his absence. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN IN THE NETHERLANDS. The articles might have been made much less unfavourable to Great Britain and her allies, had the ministry made a proper use of the treaty with the czarina ; and if the confederates had acted with more vigour and expedition in the beginning of the campaign. The Russian auxiliaries might have been transported by sea to Lubeck before the end of the preceding summer, in their own 618 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1748. gallies, which had been lying- ready for use since ' the month of July. Had this expedient been used, the Russian troops would have joined the confederate army before the conclusion of the last campaign. But this easy and expeditious method of conveyance was rejected for a march by land, of incredible length and difficulty, which could not be begun before the month of January, nor accomphshed till midsummer. The opera- tions of the campaign had been concerted at the Hague in January, by the respective ministers of the allies, who resolved to bring an army of one hundred and ninety thousand men into the Ne- therlands, in order to compel the French to aban- don the barrier Mhich they had conquered. The towns of Holland became the scenes of tumult and insurrection. The populace plundered the farmeis of the revenue, abolished the taxes, and insulted the magistrates ; so that the states-gene- ral, seeing their country on the brink of anarchy and confusion, authorised the prince of Orange to make such alterations as he should see convenient. They presented him with a diploma, by which he was constituted hereditary stadtholder and cap- tain-general of Dutch Brabant, Flanders, and the upper quarter of Guelderland ; and the East-India company appointed him director and governor- general of their commerce and settlements in the Indies. Thus invested with authority unknown to his ancestors, he exerted himself with equal industry and discretion in new modelling, aug- 1748. GEORGE II. 619 meriting, and assembling the troops of the repub- lic. The confederates knew that tlie count de Saxe had a design upon ]\Iaestricht : the Austrian general Bathiani made repeated remonstrances to the British ministry, entreating them to take speedy measures for the preservation of that fort- ress. He in the month of January proposed that the duke of Cumberland should cross the sea, and confer with the prince of Orange on this subject : he undertook, at the peril of his head, to cover Maastricht with seventy thousand men, from all attacks of the enemy : but his repre- sentations seemed to have made very little im- pression on those to whom they were addressed. The duke of Cumberland did not depart from England till towards the latter end of February : part of March was elapsed before the transports sailed from the Nore with the additional troops and artillery ; and the last drafts from the foot- guards were not embarked till the middle of August. 13IEGE OF MAESTRICHT. CESSATION OF ARiMS. The different bodies of the confederate forces joined each other, and encamped in the neigh- bourhood of Ruremond, to the number of one hundred and ten thousand men ; and the French army invested Maastricht, without opposition, on 620 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1?48. tlie third day of April. The garrison consisted of Imperial and Dutch troops, under the conduct of the governor, baron d'Aylva, who defended the place with extraordinary skill and resolution. He annoyed the besiegers in repeated sallies ; but they were determined to surmount all opposition, and prosecuted their approaches with incredible ardour. They assaulted the covered way, and there effected a lodgement, after an obstinate dis- pute, in Avhich they lost two thousand of their best troops : but next day they were entirely dis- lodged by the gallantry of the garrison. These hostilities were suddenly suspended, in conse- quence of the preliminaries signed at Aix-la-Cha- pelle. The plenipotentiaries agreed, that, for the glory of his christian majesty's arms, the town of Maestricht should be surrendered to his general, on condition that it should be restored with all the magazines and artillery. He accordingly took possession of it on the third day of May, when the garrison marched out with all the ho- nours of war; and a cessation of arms immediately ensued. By this time the Russian auxiliaries, to the number of thirty-seven thousand, commanded by prince Repnin, had arrived in Moravia, where they were reviewed by their imj)erial majesties ; then they proceeded to the confines of Franconia, where they were ordered to halt, after they had marched seven hundred miles since the beoinnina: of the year. The French king declared, that should they advance farther, he would demolish 1748. GEORGE II. -621 the fortifications of Maestricht and Bergen-op- Zoom. This dispute was referred to the plenipo- tentiaries, who, in the beginning of August, con- ckided a convention, importing, that the Russian troops shonld return to their own country; and tliat the French king should disband an equal number of his forces. The season being far ad- vanced, the Russians were provided with winter- quarters in Bohemia and JNIoravia, where they continued till the spring, when they marched back to Livonia. In the mean time seven-and-thirty thousand French troops were withdrawn from Flanders into Picardy, and the tMo armies remain- ed quiet till the conclusion of the definitive treaty. The suspension of arms was proclaimed at Lon- don, and in all the capitals of the contracting powers : orders Avere sent to the respective admi- rals in different parts of the world, to refrain from hostilities ; and a communication of trade and in- telligence was again opened between the nations which had been at variance. No material trans- action distinguished the campaign in Italy. The French and Spanish troops who had joined the Genoese in the territories of the republic amount- ed to thirty thousand men, under the direction of the duke de Richelieu, who was sent from France to assume that command, on the death of the duke de Boufflers ; while mareschal de Belle- isle, at the head of fifty thousand men, covered the western Riviera, which was threatened with an invasion by forty thousand Austrians arid Pied- 622 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1748. montese, under general Leutrum. At the same time general Brown, with a more numerous army, prepared to re-enter the eastern Riviera, and re- commence the siege of Genoa. But these in- tended operations were prevented by an armistice, whicli took place as soon as the belligerent powers had acceded to the prehminaries. TRANSACTIONS IN THE EAST AND WEST INDIES. In the East-Indies, rear-admiral Boscawen under- took the siege of Pondicherry, which, in the month of August, he blocked up by sea with his squadron, and invested by land with a small army of four thousand Europeans, and about two thou- sand natives of that country. He prosecuted the enterprise with great spirit, and took the fort of Area Coupan, at the distance of three miles from the town : then he made his approaches to the place, against which he opened batteries, while it was bombarded and cannonaded by the shipping. But the fortifications were so strong, the garrison so numerous, and the engineers of the enemy so expert in their profession, that he made very little progress, and sustained considerable damage. At length, his army being diminished by sickness, and the rainy season approaching, he ordered the artillery and stores to be re-embarked ; and rais- ing the siege on the sixth day of October, returned 1/48. GEORGE II. 623 to fort St. David, after having lost about a thou- sand men in this expedition. In tlie sequel, several ships of his squadron, and above twelve hundred sailors, perished in a hurricane. Tlie naval force of Great Britain was more successful in the West-Indies. Rear-admiral Knowles, with a squadron of eight ships, attacked Fort Louis, on the south side of Hispaniola, which after a warm action of three hours was surrendered on capitulation, and dismantled. Then he made an abortive attempt upon St. Jago de Cuba, and re- turned to Jamaica, extremely chagrined at his disappointment, which he imputed to the miscon- duct of captain Dent, who was tried in England by a court-martial, and honourably acquitted. On the first day of.pctober, the same admiral cruis- ing in the neighbourhood of the Havannah, with eight ships of the line, encountered a Spanish squadron of nearly the same strength, under the command of the admirals lleggio and Spinola. The engagement began between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, and continued with in- tervals till eight in the evening, when the enemy retired to the Havannah, with the loss of two ships; one of which struck to the British admi- ral, and the other was, two days after, set on fife by her own commander, that she might not fall into the hands of the English. Mr. Knowles taxed some of his captains with misbehaviour, and they recriminated on his conduct. On their re- turn to England, a court-martial was the conse- 624 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 1748. quence of the mutual accusations. Those who aflliered to the commander, and the others whom he impeached, were inflamed against eacli othet* with the most rancorous resentment. The admi- ral himself did not escape uncensured : two of his captains were reprimanded : hut captain Holmes, who had displayed uncommon courage, was lio- nourahly acquitted. Their animosities did not end with the court-martial. A hloodless encounter happened between the admiral and captain Pow^ lett : but captain Innes and captain Clarke, meet- ing by appointment in Hyde-Park with pistols, the former was mortally wounded, and died next morning; the latter was tried, and condemned for murder, but indulged with his majesty's par- don. No naval transaction of any consequence happened in the European seas, during the course of this summer. In January, indeed, the Mag- nanime, a French ship of the line, ^vas taken in the Channel by two English cruisers, after an obstinate engagement ; and the privateers took a considerable number of merchant ships from the enemy. CONCLUSION OF THE DEFINITIVE TREATY AT AIX-LA-CHAPELLE. The plenipotentiaries still continued at Aix-la- ChapcUc, discussing all the articles of the defini- tive treaty, which was at length concluded and 1748. GEORGE II. 62i signed on the seventh of October. It was founded on former treaties, which were now expressly con- firmed, from that of Westphalia to the last con- cluded at London and Vienna. The contracting parties agreed, That all prisoners on each side should be mutually released, without ransom, and all conquests restored : that the duchies of Parma, Placentia, and Guastalla, should be ceded as a settlement to the infant Don Philip, and the heirs male of his body ; but in case of his ascending the throne of Spain, or of the two Sicilies, or his dying without male issue, that they should revert to the house of Austria: that the king of Great Britain should, immediately after the ratification of this treaty, send two persons of rank and distinc- tion, to reside in France, as hostages, until resti- tution should be made of Cape Breton, and all the other conquests which his Britannic majesty should have achieved in the East or West Indies, before or after the preliminaries were signed : that the assiento contract, with the article of the annual ship, should be confirmed for four years, during which the enjoyment of that privilege M'as suspended since the commencement of the pre- sent war : that Dunkirk should remain fortified on the land side, and towards the sea continuing on the footing of former treaties. All the con- tracting powers became guarantees to the king of Prussia for the duchy of Silesia and the county of Glatz, as he at present possessed them ; and they likewise engaged to secure the empress-queen VOL, III. s s 626 HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 17-18. of Hungary and Bohemia in possession of her he- reditary dominions, according to the pragmatic sanction. Tlie other articles regulated the forms and times fixed for this mutual restitution, as well as for the termination of hostilities in different parts of the world. But the right of English sub- jects to navigate in the American seas, without being subject to search, was not once mentioned, though this claim was the original source of the differences between Great Britain and Spain : nor were the limits of Acadia ascertained. This and all other disputes were left to the discussion of commissaries. We have already observed, that after the troubles of the empire began, the war was no longer maintained on British principles. It became a continental contest, and was prose- cuted on the side of the allies without conduct, spirit, or unanimity. In the Netherlands they were outnumbered, and outwitted by the enemy. They never hazarded a battle without sustaining a defeat. Their vast armies, paid by Great Bri- tain, lay inactive, and beheld one fortress reduced after another, until the whole country was sub- dued ; and as their generals fought, their pleni- potentiaries negociated. At a time when their affairs began to wear the most promising aspect, when the arrival of the Russian auxiliaries would have secured an undoubted superiority in the field ; when the British fleets had trampled on the naval power of France and Spain, intercepted their supplies of treasure, and cut oft' all their resources 1748. GEORGE ir. 6t7 of commerce ; the British ministers seemed to treat, without the least regard to the honour and advantage of their country. They left her most valuable and necessary rights of trade unowned and undecided : they subscribed to the insolent demand of sending the nobles of the realm to grace the court, and adorn the triumphs of her enemy : and they tamely gave up her conquests in North-America, of more consequence to her traffick than all the other dominions for which the powers at war contended : they gave up the important isle of Cape Breton, in exchange for a petty factory in the East-Indies, belonging to a private company, whose existence had been deem- ed prejudicial to the commonwealth. What then were the fruits which Britain reaped from this long and desperate Avar ? A dreadful expence of blood and treasure", disgrace upon disgrace, an additional load of grievous impositions, and the national debt accumulated to the enormous sum of eighty millions sterling. ^ See note [H], vol. vi. END OF THE THIRD VOLUME. Thomas Davison, Printer, Whitcfriars. Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. MAY 1 6 tm^ -^5 2 3 196 SEP2 519?2 MAR 1 1 1975 Hl- mL APR 1 1 1935 'oj ihi JVIAY ■/ 1300 NOV 2 0198? RFC'D ID-own OfSCHARRE-URl 5^ ^q^^ MAR 19 1981 RECD LD-URL JUL 519& APk Form L9-32»i-8,'57(,C8680s4)444 JUNO 2 1987 1 IIMIIIIIIII Hill 3 1158 00673 7 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRA A A 000106 701