Chapter XII: 1762. Honours heaped on Lord Bute 176

Lord Halifax appointed to the Admiralty 177

First Appearance of “The North Briton” _ib._

Its excessive Audacity 178

Sketch of its Author, John Wilkes 179

Churchill, Wilkes’s Associate 180

Capture and Recapture of Newfoundland 183

The French Camp surprised by Prince Ferdinand _ib._

Propensity of the Court for Peace _ib._

The Empress Catherine 184

Horrible Conspiracy against Peter the Third 185

Catherine raised to the Throne 186

Murder of Peter 187

Effect of the Russian Revolution on the King of Prussia 188

CHAPTER XIII.

1762. August 12th. Birth of the Prince of Wales 190

Treasure of the Hermione _ib._

Conquest of the Havannah _ib._

Indifference of the Court on that event 191

Negotiations for Peace _ib._

Reception in France of the Duke of Bedford _ib._

Beckford elected Lord Mayor 193

Duel between Lord Talbot and Wilkes 194

Disgust at the Union of Bute and Fox 195

Purchase of a Majority to approve the Peace 199

CHAPTER XIV.

1762. Nov. 8th. Preliminaries of Peace with France and Spain 204

Embassy to the Court of Spain offered to Lord Sandwich 205

Insult to the Duke of Cumberland _ib._

Resignation of Lords Ashburnham and Kinnoul 206

Lord Lincoln’s Ingratitude to the Duke of Newcastle 207

The Duke of York obliged to go to Italy 209

Attempt to propitiate Walpole 211

CHAPTER XV.

1762. Conference between the Duke of Cumberland and Mr. Pitt 219

Anxiety of the Ministers 220

Nov. 9th. Debates in both Houses on the Preliminaries
of Peace 222

The Minority on the Division 232

Exultation of the Princess of Wales on the Preliminaries
being carried 233

Severe political Persecution _ib._

Numerous Dismissals from Place 234

CHAPTER XVI.

1763. Jan. 2nd. Death of John Earl Granville 236

Attack on Patent Places 239

Triumph of the Court 241

Favour shown to the Friends of the Stuarts 242

Observance of the Jacobite Fast _ib._

Committee to inspect Madhouses 244

Accounts of the Navy 245

The Standing Army 246

CHAPTER XVII.

1763. Address to the King 248

Sir Francis Dashwood’s Budget 250

Tax on Cider 251

Discussion on Ways and Means _ib._

Ardent Opposition to the Cider Tax _ib._

Petition from Newfoundland 252

March 28th. Debate in the House of Lords on the Cider-bill 253

March 30th. Passing of the Bill _ib._

April 8th. George Grenville first Lord of the Treasury and
Chancellor of the Exchequer 258

Removal of Sir Francis Dashwood _ib._

Ministerial Changes and Promotions 259

CHAPTER XVIII.

1763. The Bedford Faction 260

Ambition of the Duchess of Bedford 261

Reversions granted by Lord Bute before his resignation 265

Walpole’s Feelings towards that Minister _ib._

His Political Acts 266

April 8th. Death of Lord Waldegrave 267