Memoirs of the Reign of King George the Third, Volume 1 (of 4)

Prorogation of the Parliament.--Walpole’s Conduct on the dismissal of General Conway for voting against Ministers on the Question of the legality of General Warrants.--Trial of...

Marriage of the Princess Augusta with the Hereditary Duke of Brunswick.--His marked opposition to the wishes of the King.-- Debates on Wilkes’s complaint of Breach of Privilege....

Mr. Pitt’s Enemies.--Debates in Parliament on the German war, and on our Affairs with Spain.--Speeches of the leading Members.--Mr. Pitt’s Defence of himself.--Colonel Barré’s i...

Debates on the legality of General Warrants, and the conduct of Wilkes, continued.--Treatise entitled “Droit le Roi,” condemned by the Lords.--Wilkes found guilty of being the A...

Mr. Wilkes’s censures on the King’s Speech, seconded by Dempster.-- The Debate on continuing the War.--Speeches of Beckford, Cust, Harvey, Forester, Pitt, and George Grenville.-...

Conference between the Duke of Cumberland and Mr. Pitt.--Pitt’s lofty style and inconclusive manner.--Want of union in the Opposition.--Anxiety of the Ministers.--Debates in bot...

Important Question as to the Privilege of Parliament.--Liberty of the Press.--Scandalous Resignation of Privilege by the House of Commons.--Abandonment of General Warrants.--Deb...

Countenance shown to Tories.--Effect of Tory Politics on the Nation.--Plan to carry the Prerogative to an unusual height.-- Unpopularity and Seclusion of the Princess of Wales.-...

Debate in the House of Commons on a Vote of Credit and the Support of Portugal.--The German War.--Pitt’s Speech.--Colonel Barré’s Reply to Mr. Pitt.--Lord Bute’s Ambition.--The...

Motives for writing these Memoirs.--Their assistance to History.-- Causes of contradictory Opinions in the Writer.--Career of George II.--Auspicious circumstances under which Ge...

Fuentes, the Spanish Ambassador, quits England.--Return of Lord Bristol from Madrid.--War declared against Spain.--Projects of Lord Bute, Mr. Fox, and the Duke of Cumberland.--T...

Solemn and unusual Summons of the Council.--Announcement of the King’s intended Marriage with the Princess of Mecklenberg Strelitz.--The Princess Dowager’s aversion to her Son’s...

Perplexity of the “Triumvirate.”--Lord Bute’s unsuccessful Manœuvres.--Lord Halifax and Mr. Grenville remonstrate with the King.--The Duchess of Bedford’s animosity to Lord Bute...

Conquest of Martinico.--War in Portugal.--Lord Tyrawley.-- Count la Lippe.--The Cock-Lane Ghost.--Pacific disposition of the new Czar.--His Popular Measures.--Count Schouvalow.-...

Mr. Pitt’s opinion on the Army Reductions.--Address to the King.-- Symptoms of disunion among Ministers.--Fox’s rage.--Apprehensive of treachery, he seeks to propitiate his old...

Preliminaries of Peace with France and Spain.--Secret springs of Political actions.--Embassy to the Court of Spain offered to Lord Sandwich.--Insult to the Duke of Cumberland.--...

Birth of the Prince of Wales.--Treasure of the Hermione.--Conquest of the Havannah.--Indifference of the Court on that event.-- Negotiations for Peace.--Not popular in England.-...

Opening of Parliament.--Lord Gower and Lord Temple.--Wilkes’s “Essay on Woman” laid before the House of Lords.--Hypocrisy of Lord Sandwich.--Bishop Warburton.--Kidgell.--Persecu...

Honours heaped on Lord Bute.--His first Levée.--Archbishop Secker.--Lord Halifax appointed to the Admiralty.--Lord Melcomb a Cabinet Councillor.--Lord Bute’s Haughtiness.--First...

The Earl of Egmont.--The Budget.--Taxation of the American Colonies.--New Bridge at Blackfriars.--Appearance of the “Lettres, Mémoires, et Négotiations du Chevalier d’Eon,” &c.-...

Interposition of Spain in behalf of France.--The Duke of Bedford and Bussy.--Mr. Pitt’s indignation at the demands of Spain.-- Resignation of Mr. Pitt and Lord Temple.--Exultati...

Lord Bute’s pretended abdication of business.--The “Triumvirate” (Mr. Grenville, Lord Egremont, and Lord Halifax) who succeeded him.--Character of those personages.--Grenville’s...

New Promotions.--Pitt and Grenville.--Aggrandizement of Lord Bute.--His haughtiness.--Sir Henry Erskine, Home, and Worseley.-- Debt to the Chancery of Hanover.--Secret Article i...

Thanks of the House of Commons to Mr. Onslow, their Speaker.-- His Character.--Sir John Philipps.--Mr. Legge.--Mr. More, of Shrewsbury.--Mr. Onslow’s retirement.--His last addre...

Secret power of Lord Bute.--His rupture with Pitt.--The late Prince of Wales’s character of Bute.--Extraordinary Anecdote.-- Mr. Legge’s imprudent Manœuvre.--Unanimous attempt t...

Lord Sandwich’s unpopularity.--He offers himself for the High Stewardship of Cambridge.--Animosity between him and Lord Royston, the other candidate.--Lord Sandwich’s “Flying Pe...

Death of John Earl Granville.--His character.--Political persecution originating in Fox.--Want of cordiality in the Ministerial League between him and Bute.--Attack on Patent Pl...

The Bedford Faction.--Ambition of the Duchess of Bedford.--The Dukes of Marlborough and Rutland.--Lord Gower.--Fox raised to the Peerage.--Ingratitude of his friends, particular...