The order of the extracts is strictly chronological, each being numbered, titled, and dated, and its authority given. The text is modernised, where necessary, to the extent of leaving no difficulties in reading. We shall be most grateful to teachers and students who may send us suggestions for improvement. S. E. WINBOLT. KENNETH BELL. NOTE TO THIS VOLUME I have to thank the Editors of the _English Historical Review_ for permission to reprint the passages dealing with the War of Jenkins' Ear, published by Sir John Laughton in the fourth volume of the _Review_, and the Scottish History Society for a similar permission with regard to the Proclamation of James III. and the Landing of the Young Pretender. The Letters of Horace Walpole are quoted throughout under the dates and names of correspondents, not from any particular edition, as this enables a letter to be found without difficulty in any edition; otherwise the sources are given in full. The lover of the eighteenth century is born, but he is also made. It is the aim of this little book to help in the making. K. A. E. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE STATE OF PARTIES AT THE QUEEN'S DEATH (1714) 1 PROCLAMATION OF GEORGE I. (1714) 4 CHARACTER AND PERSON OF GEORGE I. (1660-1727) 5 PUBLIC FEELING AS TO THE NEW DYNASTY (1714) 6 THE '15: I. THE PRETENDER'S DECLARATION 9 II. THE PROCLAMATION OF JAMES III. 14 III. FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION EXPLAINED 16 THE SEPTENNIAL ACT (1716) 18 DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH FLEET OFF SICILY BY ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE BYNG, JULY 31, 1718 19 THE SOUTH SEA BUBBLE (1720): I. THE PROPOSALS: THE SECOND SCHEME OF THE SOUTH SEA COMPANY 21 II. THE BUBBLE BURST 25 SIR ROBERT WALPOLE AS PRIME MINISTER (1721-1741) 27 WOOD'S HALFPENCE: THE FIRST DRAPIER's LETTER (1724) 29 CHARACTER OF GEORGE II. (1683-1760) 36 THE CONDITION OF THE FLEET PRISON, AS REVEALED BY A PARLIAMENTARY ENQUIRY (1729): (_a_) DESCRIPTION OF THE WARDEN, THOMAS BAMBRIDGE 38 (_b_) HIS CRUELTY 39 (_c_) FINDINGS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE 40 THE EXCISE BILL (1733) 42 THE PORTEOUS RIOTS (1736) 45 LORD CHESTERFIELD'S SPEECH ON THE BILL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENSORSHIP OF STAGE PLAYS (1737) 47