Chapter III: The Reign of George II

Accession of George II.--Characters of the King and Queen--Adroit
Tactics of Walpole--Rise and Fall of Compton--Attitude of
the Opposition--Congress of Soissons--Causes of Dispute
with Spain--Stanhope's successful Negotiations with King
Philip--Retirement of Townshend--Walpole Supreme--Peace
Abroad and at Home--Walpole's System of Wholesale Bribery
and Corruption--The Public Prisons--Duel between Pulteney
and Lord Hervey--The Excise Scheme--Great Outcry--Withdrawal
of the Bill--Walpole's Vengeance--Attack on the Septennial
Act--Wyndham's Speech--Depression of the Opposition--Definitive
Peace of Vienna--Gin Act--The Porteous Riots--The Prince of
Wales and the Opposition--Application for an Increase of his
Allowance--Birth of George III.--Death of Queen Caroline--Attempt
to Reduce the Army--Disputes with Spain--"Jenkins' Ear"--Walpole's
Negotiations--Secession of the Opposition--Further
Difficulties with Spain--Declaration of War--Privateers and
Reprisals--Vernon's Victory--Frederick invades Silesia--Assistance
of England--Parliament meets--Sandys' Motion--Walpole's
Defence--Disasters of Maria Theresa--She throws herself on the
Magyars--Misfortunes of the English Fleets--Vernon repulsed from
Carthagena--Power slips from the Hands of Walpole--His last
Battles--The Chippenham Election Petition--His Fall 57