close friend of George III. Three months later (January, 1762) the war broke out. In this war which continued to the close of the year, the English were uniformly successful. Two expeditions were at once sent out: one against Havana and the other against Manila in the Philippine Islands. Havana fell during the summer; Manila was taken in the Havana and autumn. When peace was made, Havana was exchanged for Florida, while Manila was restored to Spain. Manila. 436. The Peace of Paris. 1763. In the treaty of Paris, February, 1763, England received great additions to her empire. Her supremacy in India was secured, and her boundaries in America were advanced to the Mississippi River. The island of Minorca was restored to her, and thus England continued to be a power in the Mediterranean. England also received several small islands in the West Indies Territorial and a foothold in West Africa (Senegal). France additions. withdrew entirely from the mainland of North America: Canada and nearly all of the territory east of the Mississippi River were added to England; Louisiana was transferred to Spain; France was allowed to keep the Miquelon Islands near the south coast of Newfoundland, and these are still a French possession. But great as the territorial acquisitions of England were, there were Englishmen who felt that too many of Pitt's conquests were being restored. William Pitt fought the Unpopularity treaty in the house of commons; and not until of the treaty Newcastle, through his old accomplice Henry Fox, had made extensive purchases of parliamentary votes, was the treaty sure of ratification. of Paris. 437. Summary. After nearly thirty years of peace in the "age of Walpole” came a period of more than twenty years of almost continual warfare. During these years England fought six separate wars. 1. The first war with Spain was A period of a failure in the treaty nothing was said about the six wars. English grievances against the Spanish coast guards. 2. The War of the Austrian Succession was a draw: it brought no advantage either to England or to her old enemy France. 3. The war in India between the French and the English East India Companies resulted in victory for the English flag: the king of England is to-day the emperor of India. 4. The French and Indian War in America was won by the colonials: England took possession of Canada and the West to the Missi sippi River. 5. The Seven Years' War brought no advantages to England, except such as came from the destruction of the rival French fleet. 6. The second war with Spain added Florida to the British Empire. Many great men contributed to the Achievements English successes: Clive, Washington, Wolfe, Hawke, and others; but more than to any one else the honors must be given to William Pitt, the "Great Commoner" who organized victory in the British foreign office. of William Pitt. REFERENCES THE JACOBITE RISING OF "45.". Brown, Short History of Scotland, 536550; Fletcher, Introductory History of England, II, i, 264-277; Innes, History of England, 597-601; Lang, Short History of Scotland, c. xxxiii; Oman, History of England, 504-510; Ransome, Advanced History of England, 773-782; Tout, Advanced History of Great Britain, 555-559. WILLIAM PITT AND THE CONQUEST OF CANADA. — Beard, Introduction to the English Historians, 452–465 (Mahon); Fletcher, II, i, 198-214; Gardiner, Student's History of England, 749-756; Green, William Pitt, 139-145; Harrison, Chatham, 94-113; Innes, 622-629; Oman, 524-529; Ransome, 792-797; Tout, 564-569; Woodward, Expansion of the British Empire, 182–196. THE ENGLISH AND THE FRENCH IN INDIA. Beard, 443-451 (Lyall); Gardiner, 758-762; Innes, 602-608, 629–635; Oman, 529–531; Ransome, 797 800; Tout, 561-564; Woodward, 196–203. CHAPTER XXII THE REVOLT OF THE AMERICAN COLONIES 438. George III. George III was the grandson of George II. At the time of his accession he was twenty-two years old and for nearly sixty years he bore the crown of England. Prince George was a most excellent and proper youth Personal and was in this respect such a contrast to his royal characteristics of George III. ancestors that he promised to be a popular king. There was also the fact that he was born in England and took pride in his British nationality. The year after his accession he married a German princess, Charlotte, who had all the domestic virtues that her royal husband appreciated so highly but very few of the qualities needed in a queen. George III was a man of the best intentions: he strove manfully to be a model king; but the task was GEORGE III After a portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds. too much for him. Like his Hanoverian ancestors he was firm and resolute when he chose to be; but his resolution was not always founded on good sense. His intellect was not strong, his thoughts were often vague, his speech was rambling and stut tering. Several times the strain of administration proved too great for his mind and attacks of insanity came upon him; during the last dozen years of his life he was hopelessly insane. 439. A "Patriot King." His father Frederick, the Prince of Wales, had died nine years before, and George had received His political most of his education from his mother, who came training. from a little absolute monarchy in Germany. Her training of the young prince centered about the repeated admonition, "George, be a king." George took the advice to heart and resolved to be a real king, such a king as William III had been. Between his father and his grandfather there had been constant hostility. The opposition to Walpole had centered about the Prince of Wales: at his residence the followers of Bolingbroke and Pulteney had frequently gathered to plan measures and determine on action.2 Bolingbroke's ideas were the accepted political philosophy of this group, and George III tried to realize it in his own government. The "patriot king" should be above party, he should be free to select his ministers, and they should be responsible to him. This was the idea of Bolingbroke and George III; the king should govern according to the constitution, but monOpposition to archy should have greater initiative and discretion. It was not the purpose of King George to establish an absolute régime like that of France or A follower of the cabinet system. to imitate the personal monarchy of the Stuarts: he wished to regain the power that had passed from the king to the cabinet and especially to the prime minister. George III and William Pitt. George III realized perfectly that no experiment with strong government according to Bolingbroke's ideas could be made while the nation was at war. Until peace was made he had to be satisfied to leave the actual power in the hands of William Pitt; the king therefore was anxious for peace. An early peace, however, was not a part of Pitt's plan. England was roused; her enemies were beaten; her navy was in an excellent condition; and William Pitt held 1 Masterman, 168-169; Innes, II, 239-244. 2 Review sec. 418. THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN 1763 473 that peace should not be made until all the enemies of Britain were thoroughly defeated. King George was anxious to retain Pitt in his cabinet; Pitt had been a "Patriot" Whig and had expressed his belief in Bolingbroke's political theory; perhaps he could be useful in carrying out the new plans. But the great statesman opposed the plan to end the war and found it convenient to resign. Factional dif 440. The Political Situation in 1763.1 The year 1763 saw the king free to begin his experiment with a stronger kingship. In many respects the times were favorable for such a move. The king was popular. The cabinet ferences in the Whig party. was friendly. The party which had robbed the monarchy of its ancient rights and powers was split up into factions. One of these, a group led by the duke of Bedford, was always for sale as a group. Another faction was led by the marquis of Rockingham who, though a highly respected peer, lacked the qualities of statesmanship. A small number of members rallied around William Pitt who was temperamentally unable to work with strong minds and consequently could not build up a strong following. A fourth faction looked for leadership to Grenville, Pitt's brother-in-law, a narrow politician with good intentions but a sluggish and prosy mind. George III did not enter upon any opposition to the Whigs, nor did he try to reorganize the remnants of the old Tory party; he proceeded to build up a following of his own, The "King's the "King's Friends." The chief members of this Friends." party were Whigs; but circumstances forced them in the direction of Toryism, for it was impossible to accept the ideas of George III without taking Tory ground. In securing the support of these men, the most dubious methods were used; bribery in all its forms was resorted to: titles, honors, and decorations were awarded; offices were given when it was found necessary; and when these considerations were ineffective, the appeal was made in cold cash. In his political methods, George III, whose honor in private life 1 Gardiner, 767-768; Masterman, 169–170. Political methods of the king. |