Chapter VII: Reign of George III

Accession of George III.--His Conduct--Ascendency of Bute--Meeting
of Parliament--Enthusiastic Reception of the King's Speech--Bute's
Cabals--Hostility to Pitt--Ministerial Changes--Marriage of the
King--Queen Charlotte--Misfortunes of Frederick--Ferdinand of
Brunswick's Campaign--Defeat of the French in the East and West
Indies--Negotiations for Peace--Pitt's large Demands--Obstinacy of
Choiseul--The Family Compact suspected--Resignation of Pitt--Bute's
Ministry--War with Spain--Abandonment of Frederick--Policy of
the new Czar--Resignation of Newcastle--Bute at the Head of the
Treasury--Successes in the West Indies--Capture of Manila--Bute's
Eagerness for Peace--The Terms--Bute's Unpopularity--Close of
the Seven Years' War--Successes of Clive--Defeat of the Dutch in
India--Final Overthrow of the French in India--Fate of the Count
de Lally--Bute and the Princess of Wales--The Cider Tax--Bute's
Vengeance--His Resignation--George Grenville in Office--No. 45 of
the _North Briton_--Arrest of Wilkes--His Acquittal--Vengeance
against him--The King negotiates with Pitt--Wilkes's Affairs in
Parliament--The Wilkes Riots--The Question of Privilege--The
Illegality of General Warrants declared--Wilkes expelled the
House--Debates on General Warrants--Rejoicing in the City of London
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