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