Accession of George II.—Characters of the King and Queen—Adroit Tactics of Walpole—Rise and Fall of Compton—Attitude of the Opposition¹—Congress of Soissons—Causes of Dispute with Spain—Stanhope's successful Negotiations² with King Philip—Retirement³ of Townshend—Walpole Supreme⁴—Peace Abroad and at Home—Walpole's System of Wholesale⁵ Bribery⁷ and Corruption⁹—The Public Prisons—Duel between Pulteney and Lord Hervey—The Excise¹⁰ Scheme—Great Outcry—Withdrawal of the Bill—Walpole's Vengeance¹¹—Attack on the Septennial Act—Wyndham's Speech—Depression of the Opposition—Definitive¹² Peace of Vienna—Gin Act—The Porteous Riots—The Prince of Wales and the Opposition—Application for an Increase of his Allowance—Birth of George III.—Death of Queen Caroline—Attempt to Reduce the Army—Disputes with Spain—"Jenkins' Ear"—Walpole's Negotiations—Secession of the Opposition—Further Difficulties with Spain—Declaration of War—Privateers and Reprisals¹⁴—Vernon's Victory—Frederick invades Silesia—Assistance of England—Parliament Meets—Sandys' Motion—Walpole's Defence—Disasters of Maria Theresa—She throws herself on the Magyars—Misfortunes of the English Fleets—Vernon