_Archbishops._ | _Chancellors._ Wake, 1715. | King, 1725. Potter, 1737. | Talbot, 1733. Herring, 1747. | Hardwick, 1737. Hutton, 1757. | Northington, 1757. Secker, 1758. | _First Lords of the Treasury._ | _Chancellors of the Exchequer._ 1727. Walpole. | 1727. Walpole. 1742. Wilmington. | 1742. Sandys. 1743. Pelham. | 1743. Pelham. 1754. Newcastle. | 1754. Legge. 1756. Devonshire. | 1755. Lyttleton. 1757. Newcastle. | 1756. Legge. _Secretaries of State._ 1727-1757. Newcastle. 1730. Harrington. 1742. Carteret. 1744. Harrington. 1746. Chesterfield. 1748. Bedford. 1751. Holderness. 1754. Robinson. 1755. Fox. 1757. {Pitt. {Holderness. [Sidenote: Walpole retains his position.] The ascendancy of Walpole was in great jeopardy on the death of George I. Bolingbroke's intrigues against him, backed by all the influence of the Duchess of Kendal, had indeed been thwarted by the straightforward manner in which George I. had put all complaints against him into the minister's own hands--a striking instance of that love of justice and fidelity to old friends which were the redeeming traits of his otherwise uninteresting character. But Walpole had now to do with a sovereign whom as Prince of Wales he had always opposed, and who had been known to use strong expressions of disapprobation with regard to him. George II., a little, dry man, gifted with the hereditary bravery and obstinacy of his family, but with very limited abilities, and a mind far more easily touched by little things than by broad interests, could not be expected to forget Walpole's opposition, nor to appreciate his calm, tolerant wisdom. When Walpole brought him the news of his father's death, he was at once directed to apply to Sir Spencer Compton, a dull, orderly man, Speaker of the House of Commons and Treasurer to the Prince of Wales. Walpole was wise enough to profess friendship for the new favourite, who even employed the ability of his predecessor to draw up the speech which the King was to deliver to the Council. For some days it was believed that Walpole's power was gone. His usual throng of followers deserted him and crowded to Sir Spencer Compton's levée. But before any definite arrangements had been made, Sir Spencer unwisely gave Walpole opportunities for personally explaining himself to the King. He was thus able to remove the bad impression the King had received as to his foreign policy, and to outbid his rivals in the arrangements he proposed to make for the Civil List, a point very close to the King's heart. He completely succeeded in winning the Queen to his interests; and when she