Austrian Charles; but the Emperor Joseph had died, and Charles was elected in his stead. If the union of Spain with France was dangerous, not less so would be its union with the Empire. One life still existed between the succession of Louis XIV. and his grandson, the Spanish king; but the amalgamation of Spain and Austria would take place at once. So when Philip had made formal renunciation of any possible claim he might have to France, an armistice was proclaimed, and the Congress of Utrecht finally put an end to the war. (April, 1713.) England reserved to herself, as a memorial of all her labours, the privilege of supplying the Spanish West India Islands with slaves for thirty years, the settlements of Newfoundland and Hudson's Bay, and the undivided possession of the island of St. Kitt's. She also procured an acknowledgment of the queen's title to the throne, and the succession of the House of Hanover. The only other valuable consideration she retained was the Island of Minorca; but she destroyed the hope of real amity with France by insisting on the demolition of the walls of Dunkirk, and the filling up of the harbour. This was an insult more difficult for a high-spirited nation to bear than a loss; and with forced expressions of respect and very insincere declarations of attachment, the late enemies became friends, and hated each other more bitterly than before. § 15. Party madness now reached its height. Whig and Tory statesmen attacked each other with the pen, and their political supporters seconded the blows with prosecutions for libel. Steele, the friend of Addison, and chief contributor to the "Spectator" and "Tatler," was expelled the House of Commons for a pamphlet. Swift, the worst of clergymen and most brutal of writers, was advertised for in order to be tried for the defamation of a whole nation; for the Scots threw themselves on the House of Lords for protection against the ridicule of the Irish Rabelais. He accused them of great poverty, and a neglect of soap; and that sensitive and A.D. 1714.] THE JACOBITE FACTIONS. 679 modest population had no means of retaliation except a trial at the bar. Quarrels of the same immitigable fury broke out between the ministers themselves. Harley, now Lord Oxford and Treasurer, was accused by his colleague, St. John, now Lord Bolingbroke, of dangerous practices and designs; and as Harley had had the misfortune to offend his relation, Abigail Hill, now Lady Masham, the queen decided against the Treasurer, and turned him out of his place. § 16. The Jacobites were in great expectation of success; for they were always sure that a disappointed or offended courtier in London would open communications with Charles Edward, who at this time was in Lorraine. But Oxford had been supplanted in that intriguing Court by his more powerful rival. Ready at any moment to overthrow the Act of Settlement on the mere abjuration by the Pretender of his religious beliefs, he had been greatly surprised to learn that even so small an effort as a false oath would not be made by the conscientious prince. He had then reflected that so obdurate a conscience would probably be accompanied by as obdurate a dislike of the ministers of the Revolution; and the sagacious politician attempted to shape his conduct so as to be safe whatever might be the result of the plots on foot. Bolingbroke, who had, if possible, less regard for principle than Oxford, was equally at a loss how to proceed. He had tried to make himself the champion of High Church and Jacobitism by forcing through the Act against Schism, by which Dissenters were exposed to the same severities as Papists. After this he could hardly expect to win over the Whigs to his plan of a restoration. Yet that seemed the likeliest cause. The queen was known to be secretly in favour of her brother; and George, the Prince of Hanover, who was next in succession, had none of the graces or qualities that inspire affection or respect. He had been created Duke of Cambridge, and had proposed to reside in England. But Anne saw danger in the vicinity of a To con rival so near the throne, and opposed his visit. ceal her real sentiments, however, she agreed to the publication of a reward of a hundred thousand pounds for the arrest of the Pretender; and to the penalties of high treason against any one who enlisted in his service. Yet everybody felt that a crisis was come. A kingdom divided against itself could not stand; and public uneasiness reached its highest point when it was known that the queen had fallen into a lethargy from which nothing could rouse her, and that there was no hope of her living many days. (July 29.) § 17. The Duke of Shrewsbury, in right of his rank and character, took the lead under these circumstances, and arranged measures to tranquillize the nation's mind. Anne had only consciousness enough left to approve of his proceedings. In sign of her consent, she gave him the white staff of the Treasurership, and he thus found himself Prime Minister as well as Lord Chamberlain and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Somerset and Argyle, the chief nobles of their respective countries, came to his aid. They summoned a meeting of all the Privy Councillors who happened to be in London, and this wise measure secured such a balance of parties that neither could have its own way. Preparations were made against the death which was beating at the royal door, as if it had been an invading army. Troops were sent for home. No vessel was allowed to leave the harbours. George was invited to hurry to Holland, where a British squadron would be in waiting to convoy him over; and when the peaceful daughter of James II. closed her eyes, the land was alive with military excitement, and a struggle of the greatest magnitude seemed close at hand. (August 1st.) § 18. A ruler who relies on favourites abdicates all the duties of his office, and should receive none of the praises of success. Anne, with the feeblest abilities and no personal spirit, had the good fortune to live in the period when literature first began to be important as an instrument of power, A.D. 1714.] DEATH AND CHARACTER OF ANNE. 681 and when Marlborough carried our military fame to a height it had never reached. Some portion of these glories has been reflected on the queen; but we know from all her conduct how little she could appreciate the genius of her authors or the valour of her soldiers. Selfish enough to retain the throne during her own life, she was unpatriotic enough not to care for the nation's liberties after her decease. She compensated for her want of affection to her father by attachment to her husband; and was perhaps the only person who honoured or even noticed the demise of that insignificant gentleman. The last of the English Stuarts did not belie the character of the line. She was exacting of her small rights, and punctilious about trifles. Otherwise calm-tempered and obliging, she obtained the epithet of the Good Queen Anne; but her picture, instead of showing her between the true supporters of a monarchy-its constitutional advisers -ought to present her-like that of Shakspeare between Tragedy and Comedy--between the majestic Sarah Jennings and the intriguing Abigail Hill. A.D. LANDMARKS OF CHRONOLOGY. 1702. Accession of Queen Anne, the only surviving daughter of 1 James II. War of the Spanish succession The States-General give the A.D. 1704. The battle of Blenheim. 1706. Battle of Ramillies. 1708. The French defeated by Marl- war of succession to the Earl 1709. Battle of Malplaquet gained by of Marlborough. Sir George Rooke's attack on the Duke of Marlborough. 1710. Trial of Dr. Sacheverell. is deprived of all his offices. of Marlborough 1712. Battle of Denain, between the EMPEROR OF GERMANY.-Charles VI. POPES.-Clement XI.; Innocent XIII.; Benedict XIII. PRUSSIA. Frederick William I. RUSSIA. Peter I. (the Great, who in 1721 assumed the imperial § 1. Accession of George I. of the House of Brunswick. His character. Allies himself with the Whigs. Impeachment of Bolingbroke and Lord Oxford.-§ 2. State of parties and popular disturbances.§ 3. Rebellion of the Earl of Mar in favour of the Pretender. The Scotch army defeated at Preston.-§ 4. Battle of Sheriff Moor. The Pretender arrives in Scotland. The rebellion subdued. The Pretender's flight.--§ 5. Wholesale executions for treason, and numerous forfeitures.-§ 6. The Triennial Act annulled, and the sitting of Parliament extended to seven years.-§ 7. George enters into the intricacies of continental affairs as connected with his kingdom of Hanover.-§ 8. The Quadruple Alliance. War with Spain, and destruction of the Spanish fleet by Admiral Byng. Its important results. § 9. Domestic struggles and party strife. Opposition of |