1717 The Triple Alliance,

Forster defeated at Preston,

Mar defeated at Sheriffmuir,

1716 The Pretender arrives, but shortly withdraws again,

Punishment of the rebels,

The Septennial Act,

First signs of the disruption of the ministry,

George goes to Hanover with Stanhope,

Negotiations with France,

Hanover threatened by Charles XII.,

Dismissal of Townshend,

Stanhope's ministry,

936

Threatening state of Europe,

Danger to England from Charles XII.,

And from Alberoni, .

943

944

945

1718 The Quadruple Alliance,

1719 Fall of Alberoni,

946

1722 Bishop Atterbury's plot,

956

1723 Quarrel between Carteret and Walpole,

957

1724 Excitement in Ireland,

957

1725 Disturbances in Scotland,

Spanish difficulties,

958

1725 Intrigues of Ripperda,

Treaty of Vienna,

The secret treaty,

1726 The Treaty of Hanover,

Excitement of Europe,

1727 Preliminaries of peace signed at Paris,

Opposition to Walpole headed by Bolingbroke,

Walpole retains his influence with the King,

1738 The Opposition attacks his pacific policy,

George desires war,

1739 Negotiations with Spain,

Walpole declares war rather than resign,

1747 Effect of the rebellion on the continental war,

1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle,

Results of the war,

Pelham's conciliatory government,

1750 His financial measures,

Increase of wealth and of trade,

1751 Reform of the Calendar,

1753 Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act,

Decay of the Church,

1730 Rise of the Wesleyans,

1754 Pelham's death gives the Government to Newcastle,

1008

1008

1009

13

1754 Approaching danger from India and America,

Newcastle tries to confine the war to the colonies,

George's anxiety for Hanover,

1755 His subsidiary treaties against Prussia,
1756 The French capture Minorca,
Newcastle resigns,

1757 Pitt's vigorous government,

1754 Europe prepares for war,

1756 The Seven Years' War begins,

Alliance between England and Prussia,

Frederick's first campaign,

Foreign policy of the various parties in England,

1757 Disasters of the year,

Bute's influence over the young King,
George's view of royalty,

1761 Signs of a change of ministry,

The campaign of 1761 produces a desire for peace,

Negotiations between France and England,

Pitt, suspecting the Family Compact, opposes peace,

CONTENTS

PAGE

1771 The liberty of reporting Parliamentary debates,

1765 The King's illness,

The Regency Bill,

Negotiations for a change of ministry,

Pitt retires into private life,

Ministry of the Whig Houses,

The question of American taxation,

1766 Return of Pitt and his declaration of views,

The Stamp Act repealed,

Weakness of the Government,

Pitt becomes Lord Chatham and Prime Minister,

His comprehensive plans,

1767 His illness and mental failure,

Townshend's financial measures,

1768 Corruption of Parliament,

Wilkes elected for Middlesex,

1769 Increase of American difficulties,

The Letters of Junius,

Weakness of the ministry,

1770 Camden, Granby, and Grafton resign,

North's ministry. Triumph of the King's policy,

Grenville's reform of election petitions,

Increased irritation in America,

Affair of the Falkland Islands,

North's ministry gathers strength, .

1772 Royal Marriage Law,

Fate of the Queen of Denmark,

1064

Division of Poland, .

Constitution of Poland,

1773 Organized opposition in America,

1774 Dunning's petition rejected,

1772 The India Company's difficulties,

1774 Boston Port Bill,

Massachusetts Government Bill,

Crisis of the quarrel,

Acts of the General Congress,

1775 Chatham's motions for reconciliation,

Skirmish at Lexington,

The Canada Bill,

The Congress assumes sovereign authority,

Washington commander-in-chief,

Battle of Bunker's Hill,

The Olive Branch Petition,

Attack on Canada,

1776 Howe retires to Halifax,

Fresh offers of conciliation rejected,

Declaration of Independence,

Battle of Brooklyn, .

1077

1077