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  TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

  This is Volume 2 of 3. The first volume can be found in Project
  Gutenberg at: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57016

  The List of Illustrations has been copied from Volume I. This list
  describes six illustrations, two in each volume.

  As the Editor notes in his Preface in Volume I, “Some, though very
  few, coarse expressions, have been suppressed by the Editor, and the
  vacant spaces filled up by asterisks.” There is one such occurrence
  in this volume (on page 205). Some omitted text is indicated by * * *
  (on page 416.)

  The Editor has also inserted the occasional [word] in brackets, when
  that makes the passage more sensible.

  Italic text is denoted by _underscores_.

  A superscript is denoted by ^x or ^{xx}, for example M^R.

  Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been
  placed at the end of each chapter.

  Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book.




  MEMOIRS

  OF THE REIGN OF

  KING GEORGE THE SECOND.


  VOL. II.


[Illustration: M^R. FOX.

London, Henry Colburn, 1846.]




  MEMOIRS

  OF THE REIGN OF

  KING GEORGE THE SECOND.


  BY

  HORACE WALPOLE,

  YOUNGEST SON OF SIR ROBERT WALPOLE, EARL OF ORFORD.


  EDITED, FROM THE ORIGINAL MSS.

  WITH A PREFACE AND NOTES,

  BY THE LATE

  LORD HOLLAND.


  Second Edition, Revised.

  _WITH THE ORIGINAL MOTTOES._


  VOL. II.


  LONDON:
  HENRY COLBURN, PUBLISHER,
  GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET.
  1847.




CONTENTS

OF

THE SECOND VOLUME.


             CHAPTER I.

  A. D.                                                         PAGE

  1755.  Endeavours for Peace with France in vain                  2

         Duke of Dorset removed; Lord Hartington made
           Lord-Lieutenant                                         3

         Debate on King Charles’s Martyrdom                     _ib._

         Affair of Sheriffs-Depute in Scotland, and Debates
           thereon                                                 4

         Ireland                                                  10

         History of the Mitchel Election                          11

         Scotch Sheriff-Depute Bill                               14

         History of Earl Poulet                                   18

         Preparations for War                                     19

         Ireland                                                _ib._

         Preparations for War in France                           20

         King’s Journey to Hanover                              _ib._

         Duke of Cumberland at head of Regency                    21

         Prospects of War                                         22

         Affairs of Ireland                                       23


             CHAPTER II.

  1755.  Commencement of the War                                  27

         War with France                                          28

         War in America                                           29

         Author avoids detailing Military events minutely         30

         Defeat and Death of General Braddock                     31

         Events at Sea                                            32

         Spain neutral                                            33

         Fears for Hanover                                      _ib._

         Negotiations at Hanover. Treaties made there             34

         Dissensions in Ministry and Royal Family                 36

         Disunion of Fox and Pitt                                 37

         Affairs of Leicester House                               39

         King arrives                                           _ib._

         Ministers endeavour to procure support in Parliament     41

         Fox made Secretary of State                              43

         Resignations and Promotions                              44

         Both Ministers insincere and discontented                45

         Sir William Johnson’s Victory                            46

         Accession of Bedford Party                             _ib._

         The Parliament meets                                     47

         Address in Lords                                         48

         New Opposition of Pitt, &c.                              50

         Debates on the Treaties                                _ib._

         Pitt &c. dismissed                                       62

         Sir George Lyttelton Chancellor of the Exchequer         63

         Complaint of Mr. Fox’s Circular to Members of
           Parliament                                           _ib._

         Debate on Fox’s Circular Letter                          65

         Debates on number of Seamen                              67


             CHAPTER III.

  1755.  Earthquake at Lisbon                                     77

         Debates on a Prize Bill                                  78

         Death of the Duke of Devonshire                          86

         Debates on the Army                                    _ib._

         Remarks on the above Debate                              96

         Debates on a new Militia Bill                            97


             CHAPTER IV.

  1755.  Debates on the Treaties                                 103

         Affair of Hume Campbell and Pitt                        107

         Changes in the Administration settled                   139

         Lord Ligonier and Duke of Marlborough                  _ib._

         Further Changes and new Appointments                    140

         Lord Barrington and Mr. Ellis                           141

         Pensions granted to facilitate Changes in Ministry      143

         Parliamentary Eloquence                                _ib._

         History of Oratory. Account and comparison of Orators   144


             CHAPTER V.

  1756.  Parliament                                              150

         Negotiations with France                               _ib._

         Accommodation with the King of Prussia                  152

         Parliament                                             _ib._

         Affair of Admiral Knowles                              _ib._

         Supplies                                                153

         Grants to North America                                 154

         Parliament and Parties                                 _ib._

         Hessians sent for                                       155

         Mischiefs produced by Marriage Act                     _ib._

         Prevot’s Regiment                                       156

         Debate on Prevot’s Regiment                             157

         Author’s Speech on Swiss Regiments                      163

         Debate on Swiss Regiments continued                     170

         Affair of Fox and Charles Townshend                     172

         Divisions                                               174

         Swiss Regiment Bill opposed in all its stages          _ib._

         Swiss Regiment Bill passed the Commons and Lords        175

         Anecdote of