Constitutional History of England, Henry VII to George II. Volume 3 of 3
CHAPTER XVI
ON THE STATE OF THE CONSTITUTION IN THE REIGNS OF ANNE, GEORGE I., AND GEORGE II.
Termination of Contest between the Crown and Parliament -- Distinctive Principles of Whigs and Tories -- Changes effected in these by Circumstances -- Impeachment of Sacheverel displays them again -- Revolutions in the Ministry under Anne -- War of the Succession -- Treaty of Peace broken off -- Renewed again by the Tory Government -- Arguments for and against the Treaty of Utrecht -- The Negotiation mismanaged -- Intrigues of the Jacobites -- Some of the Ministers engage in them -- Just alarm for the Hanover Succession -- Accession of George I. -- Whigs come into Power -- Great Disaffection in the Kingdom -- Impeachment of Tory Ministers -- Bill for septennial Parliaments -- Peerage Bill -- Jacobitism among the Clergy -- Convocation -- Its Encroachments -- Hoadley -- Convocation no longer suffered to sit -- Infringements of the Toleration by Statutes under Anne -- They are repealed by the Whigs -- Principles of Toleration fully established -- Banishment of Atterbury -- Decline of the Jacobites -- Prejudices against the reigning Family -- Jealousy of the Crown -- Changes in the Constitution whereon it was founded -- Permanent military Force -- Apprehensions from it -- Establishment of Militia -- Influence over Parliament by Places and Pensions -- Attempts to restrain it -- Place Bill of 1743 -- Secret Corruption -- Commitments for Breach of Privilege -- of Members for Offences -- of Strangers for Offences against Members -- or for Offences against the House -- Kentish Petition of 1701 -- Dispute with Lords about Aylesbury Election -- Proceedings against Mr. Murray in 1751 -- Commitments for Offences unconnected with the House -- Privileges of the House not controllable by Courts of Law -- Danger of stretching this too far -- Extension of Penal Laws -- Diminution of personal Authority of the Crown -- Causes of this -- Party Connections -- Influence of Political Writings -- Publication of Debates -- Increased Influence of the Middle Ranks Page 175