Effects of Walpole's Administration--Formation of the new Ministry--Attitude of the Malcontents--Committee of Inquiry into Walpole's Administration--Walpole's Protectors--Ministerial Measures--Prorogation of Parliament--Disasters of the French--British Division in the Netherlands--Opening of Parliament--The German Mercenaries--Amendment of the Gin Act--George goes to Germany--Stair and De Noailles in Franconia--Stair in a Trap--Bold Resolution of King George--The Battle of Dettingen--Resignation of Stair--Retreat of the French--Negotiations for Peace--Treaty of Worms--Pelham becomes Prime Minister--The Attacks of Pitt on Carteret--Attempted Invasion of England--Its Failure--Progress of the French Arms--Frederick II. invades Bohemia--His Retirement--Resignation of Carteret--Pelham strengthens his Ministry--Death of the Emperor--Campaign in Flanders--Battle of Fontenoy--Campaign of Frederick II.--The Young Pretender's Preparations--Loss of the _Elizabeth_--Landing in the Hebrides--The Highland Clans join him--The First Brush--Raising of the Standard--Cope's Mistake--He turns aside at Dalwhinnie--Charles makes a Dash for Edinburgh--The March to Stirling--Right of the Dragoons--The "Canter of Coltbridge"--Edinburgh surprised by the Highlanders--Charles marching against Cope--Battle of Prestonpans--Delay in marching South--Discontent of the Highland Chiefs--The Start--Preparations in England--Apathy of the Aristocracy--Arrival of the Duke of Cumberland--Charles crosses the Border--Capture of Carlisle--The March to Derby--Resolution to retreat--"Black Friday"--The Retreat--Recapture of Carlisle--Siege of Stirling--Battle of Falkirk--Retreat to the Highlands--Cumberland's Pursuit--Gradual Collapse of the Highlanders--Battle of Culloden--Termination of the Rebellion--Cruelty of the Duke of Cumberland--Adventures of the Young Pretender--Trials and Executions--Ministerial Crisis. So passed from a long possession of power a Minister who inaugurated a system of corruption, which was not so much abused by himself, as made a ready instrument of immeasurable mischief in the hands of his successors. Had Walpole used the power which he purchased with the country's money more arbitrarily and perniciously, the system must have come much sooner to an end. As it was, the evils which he introduced fell rather on posterity than on his own time.