Chapter V: REIGN OF GEORGE II. (concluded)

Progress of the War on the Continent--Lethargic Condition of
Politics--Battle of Laufeldt--Capture of Bergen-op-Zoom--Disasters
of the French on the Sea and in Italy--Negotiations for
Peace--Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle--Conditions of Peace--Peace
at Home--Commercial Treaty with Spain--Death of the Prince
of Wales--Popular feeling against the Bill for Naturalising
the Jews--Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act--Foundation
of the British Museum--Death of Pelham--Newcastle's
Difficulties--Failure of Robinson--Approaching Danger from
America--A State of Undeclared War--The Battles of Boscawen
and Braddock--George's Anxiety for Hanover--Subsidiary
Treaties against Prussia--Pitt's Opposition--Debate in the
House of Commons--Danger of England--French Expedition against
Minorca--The Failure of Byng--Newcastle resigns--Attempts
to form a Ministry--Devonshire succeeds--Weakness of
the Ministry--Coalition against Prussia--Alliance with
England--Commencement of the Seven Years' War--Frederick
conquers Saxony--Gloominess of Affairs--Court-Martial on Byng,
and his Death--Dismissal of Pitt--The Pitt and Newcastle
Coalition--Failure of the Attack on Rochefort and of that on
Louisburg--Convention of Closter-Seven--Frederick's Campaign;
Kolin, Rossbach, and Lissa--Successes elsewhere--Wolfe and
Clive--Battle of Plassey--Capture of Louisburg--Ticonderoga
and Fort Duquesne--Attacks on St. Malo and Cherbourg--Victory
of Crefeld--Frederick's Campaign--Commencement of 1759;
Blockade of the French Coast--Pitt's Plans for the Conquest
of Canada--Amherst's and Prideaux's Columns--Wolfe before
Quebec--Position of the City--Wolfe fails to draw Montcalm from his
Position--Apparent Hopelessness of the Expedition--Wolfe scales
the Heights of Abraham--The Battle--Successes in India--Battle
of Quibéron--Frederick's Fortunes--Campaign of Ferdinand of
Brunswick--Battle of Minden--Glorious Termination of the
Year--French Descent on Carrickfergus--Attempt of the French to
Recover Quebec--Their Expulsion from North America--Frederick's
Fourth Campaign--Successes of Ferdinand of Brunswick--Death of
George II. 111