Memoirs of King
George the Third

His Life and Reign

30 VIMU AIMMORLIAD

CONTENTS.

J5
1902

v. 2

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

Debates on the Repeal of the Stamp Act-First Speech
of Edmund Burke- The King's Private Opinion on the
Question of Repeal — His Bearing toward His Ministers
- Alleged Continued Influence of Bute · Ministers and
Opposition Alike Improperly Use the King's Name to
Influence Votes - The King's Displeasure with Ministers
on This Ground - Unsuccessful Intrigue of the Bed-
ford and Grenville Whigs to Gain the Ear of the King 11

CHAPTER II.

The King's Health Suffers from Mental Excitement - Pop-
ularity Hunting of the Rockingham Administration —
Ministers Disinterested in Their Conduct of Public
Affairs Further Unsuccessful Attempts to Induce Pitt
to Enter the Cabinet - The King, by the Advice of
Lord Chancellor Northington, Reopens Negotiations
with Pitt-Idle Attempt of Princess Amelia to Bring
the King and Lord Bute Together - Consequences of
the Popular Opinion That Lord Bute Continued to Influ-
ence the King's Mind

· 32

CHAPTER III.

The King's Letter to Mr. Pitt - Interview at Richmond

- Pitt Receives a Carte Blanche for Forming an Admin-

348

istration - Earl Temple, after Negotiations, Declines to

Take Part - General Satisfaction at Pitt's Return to

Power Dissatisfaction at His Acceptance of a Peerage

as Earl of Chatham - Diminution of His Influence on

Continental Politics in Consequence of His Elevation in

Rank His Pompous Manner in Transacting Public

Business Bread Riots - Suspension of Exportation

of Grain by Order in Council - Challenged in Parlia-

ment Lord Chatham's Defence - Bill of Indemnity

-

— The King's Attention to Business

PAGE

51

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CHAPTER IV.

Lord Chatham's Haughtiness Offensive to His Colleagues

-Changes in the Ministry - Decline of Chatham's In-

fluence Weakness of the Government - Anxiety of

the King - Prostration of Chatham's Health - Charles

Townshend, Chancellor of the Exchequer - His Pro-

posal to Reimpose Taxes on the Colonies - Carried in

Both Houses - Death of Mr. Townshend - Death of

the King's Brother, Prince Frederick - Career and

Death of the Duke of York-Return of John Wilkes

as Member for Middlesex - Wilkes Committed to the

King's Bench Prison-Attempt of the Populace to

Force the Prison-Riot and Loss of Life Wilkes

at the Bar of the House of Commons - Elected a

Second, Third, and Fourth Time for Middlesex - Not

Allowed to Take His Seat - Popular Tumults - Lord

Bute Retires to the Continent.

81

CHAPTER V.

Death of the King's Sister, Princess Louisa Anne — Birth

of Princess Augusta - Christian VII. of Denmark,

Brother-in-law of the King, Visits England - Received

with Coolness at Court, and Warmly by the People —

Lord Chatham Recovers His Mental Faculties - Re-

signs Office- Is Succeeded as Premier by the Duke of

Grafton-Lord Chatham Takes Part in the Debate on

the Address Resignation of Lord Chancellor Camden

-

- Succeeded by the Honourable Charles Yorke — Dis-

tressing Death of the New Lord Chancellor

PAGE

. 159

CHAPTER VI.

Resignation of the Duke of Grafton - Perplexity of the

King Lord North Appointed Premier - His Qualities

as a Minister-Deputations to the King-Lord Mayor

Beckford His Celebrated Speech to the King - Con-

test between the City of London and the House of

Commons - The Lord Mayor and Alderman Oliver

Committed to the Tower - The Proceedings against

Alderman Wilkes Abandoned by the House - Wilkes's

Subsequent Career

-

-

. 194

CHAPTER VII.

Connection of the North American Colonies with Eng-

land The Americans, and Especially Massachusetts,

Take Their Stand Against Taxation by the Home

Government - Arbitrary Behaviour of Lord Hillsbor-

ough, Secretary of State-Assembly of Massachusetts

Abruptly Dissolved by Sir John Bernard, the Governor

-“Committees of Correspondence" Established in the

Provinces - Infatuation of the English Ministers in Ref-

erence to Colonial Affairs - - Customs Riots at Boston

Coercion Continued by Government - Organised Resist-

ance in the American Provinces - Public Feeling in Eng-

land.

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CHAPTER VIII.

Recall of Governor Bernard- Conflict in Boston, with

Loss of Life-Repeal of Colonial Import Duties, ex-

242