CHAPTER VII.

REIGN OF GEORGE III.

Accession of George III.--His Conduct--Ascendency of Bute--Meeting of Parliament--Enthusiastic Reception of the King's Speech--Bute's Cabals--Hostility to Pitt--Ministerial Changes--Marriage of the King--Queen Charlotte--Misfortunes of Frederick--Ferdinand of Brunswick's Campaign--Defeat of the French in the East and West Indies--Negotiations for Peace--Pitt's large Demands--Obstinacy of Choiseul--The Family Compact suspected--Resignation of Pitt--Bute's Ministry--War with Spain--Abandonment of Frederick--Policy of the new Czar--Resignation of Newcastle--Bute at the Head of the Treasury--Successes in the West Indies--Capture of Manila--Bute's Eagerness for Peace--The Terms--Bute's Unpopularity--Close of the Seven Years' War--Successes of Clive--Defeat of the Dutch in India--Final Overthrow of the French in India--Fate of the Count de Lally--Bute and the Princess of Wales--The Cider Tax--Bute's Vengeance--His Resignation--George Grenville in Office--No. 45 of the _North Briton_--Arrest of Wilkes--His Acquittal--Vengeance against him--The King negotiates with Pitt--Wilkes's Affairs in Parliament--The Wilkes Riots--The Question of Privilege--The Illegality of General Warrants declared--Wilkes expelled the House--Debates on General Warrants--Rejoicing in the City of London 168