Accession of George II.--Characters of the King and Queen--Adroit Tactics of Walpole--Rise and Fall of Compton--Attitude of the Opposition--Congress of Soissons--Causes of Dispute with Spain--Stanhope's successful Negotiations with King Philip--Retirement of Townshend--Walpole Supreme--Peace Abroad and at Home--Walpole's System of Wholesale Bribery and Corruption--The Public Prisons--Duel between Pulteney and Lord Hervey--The Excise Scheme--Great Outcry--Withdrawal of the Bill--Walpole's Vengeance--Attack on the Septennial Act--Wyndham's Speech--Depression of the Opposition--Definitive Peace of Vienna--Gin Act--The Porteous Riots--The Prince of Wales and the Opposition--Application for an Increase of his Allowance--Birth of George III.--Death of Queen Caroline--Attempt to Reduce the Army--Disputes with Spain--"Jenkins' Ear"--Walpole's Negotiations--Secession of the Opposition--Further Difficulties with Spain--Declaration of War--Privateers and Reprisals--Vernon's Victory--Frederick invades Silesia--Assistance of England--Parliament meets--Sandys' Motion--Walpole's Defence--Disasters of Maria Theresa--She throws herself on the Magyars--Misfortunes of the English Fleets--Vernon repulsed from Carthagena--Power slips from the Hands of Walpole--His last Battles--The Chippenham Election Petition--His Fall 57 CHAPTER IV. REIGN OF GEORGE II. (_continued_). 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 Diversion 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--Flight 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