that ushered in this memorable motion would not have disgraced a Cicero. It contained a retrospect of all the pub lic measures which had been pursued since the revolution. It explained the nature of every treaty, whether right or wrong, which had been concluded under the present administration. It described the political connexions subsisting between the different powers in Europe. It exposed the weakness, the misconduct, and the iniquity of the minister, both in his foreign and domestic transactions. It was embellished with all the ornaments of rhetoric, and warmed with a noble spirit of patriotic indignation. The duke of Argyle, lord Bathurst, and his other colleagues, seemed to be animated with uncommon fervour, and even inspired, by the subject.* A man of imagination, in reading their speeches, will think himself transported into the Roman senate, before the ruin of that republic. Nevertheless, the minister still triumphed by dint of numbers; though his victory was dearly purchased. Thirty peers entered a vigorous protest; and Walpole's character sustained such a rude shock from this opposition, that his authority seemed to be drawing near a period. Immediately after this contest was decided, the duke of Marlborough moved for a resolution, that any attempt to inflict any kind of punishment on any person, without allowing him an opportunity to make his defence, or without any proof of any crime or misdemeanor committed by him, is contrary to natural justice, the fundamental laws of the realm, and the ancient established usage of parliament; and is a high infringement of the liberties of the subject. It was seconded by the duke of Devonshire and lord Lovel; and opposed by lord Gower, as an intended censure on the proceedings of the day. This sentiment was so warmly espoused by lord Talbot, who had distinguished himself in the former debate, that he seemed to be transported beyond the bounds of moderation. He was interrupted by the earl of Cholmondeley, who charged him with having violated the order and decorum which ought to be preserved in such an assembly. His passion was inflamed by this rebuke: he declared himself an indepen

dent lord; a character which he would not forfeit for the smiles of a court, the profit of an employment, or the reward of a pension: he said, when he was engaged on the side of truth, he would trample on the insolence that should command him to suppress his sentiments.-On a division, however, the motion was carried.

§ XXXVIII. In the beginning of April, the king repairing to the house of peers, passed some acts that were ready for the royal assent. Then, in his speech to both houses, he gave them to understand, that the queen of Hungary had made a requisition of the twelve thousand men stipulated by treaty; and that he had ordered the subsidy troops of Denmark and Hesse Cassel to be in readiness to march to her assistance. He observed, that in this complicated and uncertain state of affairs, many incidents might arise, and render it necessary for him to incur extraordinary expenses for maintaining the pragmatic sanction, at a time when he could not possibly have recourse to the advice and assistance of his parliament. He, therefore, demanded of the commons such a supply as might be requisite for these ends; and promised to manage it with all possible frugality. The lower house, in their address, approved of all his measures; declared they would effectually support him against all insults and attacks that might be made upon any of his territories, though not belonging to the crown of Great Britain; and that they would enable him to contribute, in the most effectual manner, to the support of the queen of Hungary. Sir Robert Walpole moved, that an aid of two hundred thousand pounds should be granted to that princess. Mr. Shippen protested against any interposition in the affairs of Germany. He expressed his dislike of the promise which had been made to defend his majesty's foreign dominions; a promise, in his opinion, inconsistent with that important and inviolable law, the act of settlement: a promise which, could it have been foreknown, would perhaps have for ever precluded from the succession that illustrious family to which the nation owed such numberless blessings, such continued felicity. The motion however passed, though not without further opposition; and the house resolved, that three hundred thousand pounds should be

f

granted to his majesty, to enable him effectually to support the queen of Hungary. Towards the expense of this year, a million was deducted from the sinking fund; and the land tax continued at four shillings in the pound. The preparations for this war had already cost five millions. The session was closed on the twenty-fifth day of April, when the king took his leave of this parliament, with warm expressions of tenderness and satisfaction.. Henry Bromley, Stephen Fox, and John Howe, three members of the lower house, who had signalized themselves in defence of the minister, were now ennobled, and created barons of Montford, Ilchester, and Chedworth. A camp was formed near Colchester: and the king having appointed a regency, set out in May for his German dominions.

e Sir William Wyndham died the preceding year, deeply regretted as an orator, a patriot, and a man, the constant asserter of British liberty, and one of the chief ornaments of the English nation. In the course of the same year, general Oglethorpe, governor of Georgia, had, with some succours obtained from the colony of Carolina, and a small squadron of king's ships, made an attempt upon Fort Augustine, the capital of Spanish Florida; and actually reduced some small forts in the neighbourhood of the place; but the Carolinians withdrawing in disgust, dissensions prevailing among the sea officers, the hurricane months ap proaching, and the enemy having received a supply and reinforcement, he abandoned the enterprise, and returned to Georgia.

BOOK II.

CHAP. VII.

SI. The Army under Lord Cathcart and Sir Chaloner Ogle proceeds to the West Indies. § II. Nature of the climate on the Spanish main. § III. Admiral Vernon sails to Carthagena. IV. Attack of Fort Lazar. §. V. Expedition to Cuba. VI. Rupture between the queen of Hungary and the King of Prussia. VII. Battle of § Molwitz. VIII. The King of Great Britain concludes a treaty of neutrality with France for the electorate of Hanover. § IX. A body of French forces join the Elector of Bavaria. X. He is crowned King of Bohemia at Prague. § XI. Fidelity of the Hungarians. § XII. War between Russia and Sweden. § XIII. Revolution in Russia. § XIV. The Spanish and French squadrons pass unmolested by the English Admiral in the Mediterranean. § XV. Inactivity of the naval power of Great Britain. § XVI. Obstinate struggle in electing members in the New Parliament. § XVII. Remarkable motion in the House of Commons by Lord Noel Somerset. § XVIII. The country party obtain a majority in the House of Commons. XIX. Sir Robert Walpole created Earl of Orford. § XX. Change in the ministry. § XXI. Inquiry into the administration of Sir Robert Walpole. § XXII. Obstructed by the new ministry. § XXIII. Reports of the secret committee. XXIV. The Elector of Bavaria chosen Emperor. § XXV. The King of Prussia gains the battle at Czaslaw. Treaty at Breslaw. § XXVI. The French troops retire under the cannon of Prague. A fresh body sent with the Mareschal de Mallebois to bring them off. § XXVII. Extraordinary retreat of M. de Belleisle. § XXVIII. The King of Great Britain forms an army in Flanders. § XXIX. Progress of the war between Russia and Sweden.

§ XXX. The King of Sardinia declares for the House of Austria. § XXXI. Motions of the Spaniards in Italy and Savoy. § XXXII. Conduct of Admiral Matthews in the Mediterranean. § XXXIII. Operations in the West Indies. XXXIV. The attention of the ministry turned chiefly on the affairs of the Continent. XXXV. Extraordinary motion in the House of Lords by Earl Stanhope. XXXVI. Warm and obstinate debate on the repeal of the Gin act. 6 XXXVII. Bill for quieting Corporations. § XXXVIII. Convention between the Emperor and the Queen of Hungary. § XXXIX. Difference between the King of Prussia and the Elector of Hanover. § XL. The King of Great Britain obtains a victory over the French at Dettingen. § XLI. Treaty of Worms. § XLII. Conclusion of the campaign. § XLIII. Affairs in the North. § XLIV. Battle of Campo-Santo. XLV. Transactions of the British fleet in the Mediterranean. § XLVI. Unsuccessful attempts upon the Spanish settlements in the West Indies.

§ I. THE British armament had by this time proceeded to action in the West Indies. Sir Chaloner Ogle, who sailed from Spithead, had been overtaken by a tempest in the bay of Biscay, by which the fleet, consisting of about one hundred and seventy sail, were scattered and dispersed. Nevertheless, he prosecuted his voyage, and anchored with a view to provide wood and water, in the neutral island of Dominica, where the intended expedition sustained a terrible shock in the death of the gallant lord Cathcart, who was carried off by a dysentery. The loss of this nobleman was the more severely felt, as the command of the land forces devolved upon general Wentworth, an officer without experience, authority, and resolution. As the fleet sailed along the island of Hispaniola, in its way to Jamaica, four large ships of war were discovered; and sir Chaloner detached an equal number of his squadron to give them chase, while he himself proceeded on his voyage. As those strange ships refused to bring to, lord Augustus Fitzroy, the commodore of the four British ships, saluted one of them with a broadside, and a smart engagement ensued. After they had fought during the best part of the