Abolition of the Office of Commissioners of Wine-Licences 375 Intrigues to dismiss Mr. Pitt, and form a new Ministry 376 The Duke goes to Hanover to command the Army 378 Change in Ministry 379 ------ APPENDIX 383 ILLUSTRATIONS. VOL. I. GEORGE II. _Frontispiece_. MR. PELHAM p. 378 VOL. II. MR. FOX _Frontispiece_. DUKE OF BEDFORD 270 VOL. III. MR. PITT _Frontispiece_. DUKE OF NEWCASTLE 182 MEMOIRS OF THE REIGN OF KING GEORGE THE SECOND. 1755. Invenies etiam disjecti membra.--_Hor._ CHAPTER I. Fruitlessness of our efforts to maintain Peace with France at the commencement of the year 1755--Lord Hartington, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland--Debate on King Charles’s Martyrdom--Scotch Sheriff-Depute Bill--Speeches in the House of Commons--The St. Michael Election--History of Earl Powlett--Preparations for War--The King’s Journey to Hanover--Duke of Cumberland at the head of the Regency--Affairs of Ireland. The tranquillity of the Administration continued to be disturbed by repeated accounts of great armaments preparing in France for the West Indies; of which General Wall was believed to have given us the first intimation. Their marine grew formidable, but their insults unwisely outstripped their increasing power. We took the alarm; two regiments were ordered from Ireland; and by the beginning of February a fleet of thirty ships of the line was fitted out with equal spirit and expedition. Lord Anson had great merit in that province where he presided. The Earl of Hertford, a man of most unblemished morals, but rather too gentle and cautious to combat so presumptuous a Court, was named Embassador to Paris, whither Monsieur de Mirepoix was desired to write, that if they meaned well, we would send a man of the first quality and character. The Duke of Marlborough succeeded Lord Gower in the Privy Seal, and the Duke of Rutland, a nobleman of great worth and goodness, returned to Court, which he had long quitted, yet without enlisting in any faction, though governed too much by a mercenary brother; and was appointed Lord Steward.