CHAPTER V.

REIGN OF GEORGE II. (_concluded_).

Progress of the War on the Continent--Lethargic Condition of Politics--Battle of Laufeldt--Capture of Bergen-op-Zoom--Disasters of the French on the Sea and in Italy--Negotiations for Peace--Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle--Conditions of Peace--Peace at Home--Commercial Treaty with Spain--Death of the Prince of Wales--Popular feeling against the Bill for Naturalising the Jews--Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act--Foundation of the British Museum--Death of Pelham--Newcastle's Difficulties--Failure of Robinson--Approaching Danger from America--A State of Undeclared War--The Battles of Boscawen and Braddock--George's Anxiety for Hanover--Subsidiary Treaties against Prussia--Pitt's Opposition--Debate in the House of Commons--Danger of England--French Expedition against Minorca--The Failure of Byng--Newcastle resigns--Attempts to form a Ministry--Devonshire succeeds--Weakness of the Ministry--Coalition against Prussia--Alliance with England--Commencement of the Seven Years' War--Frederick conquers Saxony--Gloominess of Affairs--Court-Martial on Byng, and his Death--Dismissal of Pitt--The Pitt and Newcastle Coalition--Failure of the Attack on Rochefort and of that on Louisburg--Convention of Closter-Seven--Frederick's Campaign; Kolin, Rossbach, and Lissa--Successes elsewhere--Wolfe and Clive--Battle of Plassey--Capture of Louisburg--Ticonderoga and Fort Duquesne--Attacks on St. Malo and Cherbourg--Victory of Crefeld--Frederick's Campaign--Commencement of 1759; Blockade of the French Coast--Pitt's Plans for the Conquest of Canada--Amherst's and Prideaux's Columns--Wolfe before Quebec--Position of the City--Wolfe fails to draw Montcalm from his Position--Apparent Hopelessness of the Expedition--Wolfe scales the Heights of Abraham--The Battle--Successes in India--Battle of Quibéron--Frederick's Fortunes--Campaign of Ferdinand of Brunswick--Battle of Minden--Glorious Termination of the Year--French Descent on Carrickfergus--Attempt of the French to Recover Quebec--Their Expulsion from North America--Frederick's Fourth Campaign--Successes of Ferdinand of Brunswick--Death of George II. 111