CHAPTER I. GEORGE I., 1714-1727 (13 years). Born 1660; married, 1682, Sophia of Brunswick. Chief Characters of the Reign.-Viscount Townshend; Sir Robert Walpole; Earl Stanhope; Sunderland; the Earl of Mar; the Duke of Argyll; Forster; Aislabie; Bolingbroke; Atterbury; Lord Carteret; Joseph Addison; Dean Swift; Pulteney. of George I. He TILL the arrival of the new king, the government was carried on by the seven great officers of State, and eighteen "Lords Justices." Characteristics In September, George himself arrived in England. The new king had many excellent qualities. He was diligent and business-like, kind to his friends and forgiving towards his enemies, and he was universally regretted by the inhabitants of Hanover. But he was not likely to be a very popular king, for his merits made little show, while his failings were easily seen. was fifty-four years of age, and therefore not likely to exchange the habits of Germany for those of England; and he was not able to speak English. As was also natural, he cared more for his old subjects than he did for his new ones. But, when this has been said, the worst has been told, and George had one great merit which in the eyes of Englishmen ought to outweigh all defects. He thoroughly trusted his ministers, and though he often wished to have his own way in Hanover, he allowed them to do what they thought best in England. Such a king was exactly what England wanted; for, under George's unostentatious rule, the system of party government which we have seen growing up during the last two reigns took root and became a recognized principle of the English constitution. Unlike William and Marlborough, George made no attempt to form a mixed ministry, but at once gave his confidence to the Whigs; and Townshend, Stanhope, and Walpole The Whig became the leaders of a new administration. Towns- ministry. hend was a conscientious but not a brilliant statesman, who had good business qualities, and had distinguished himself as a negotiator. Stanhope had been chiefly known as a general in Spain, where he had been most popular. It is related that he always said "Come on," and not "Go on," to his men. At home he had taken a leading part in the prosecution of Sacheverell. Walpole had distinguished himself as Secretary at War, and his prosecution in 1711 had raised him into the front rank among the Whig leaders. Action of the new ministry towards the leaders of the old. The question at once arose, What was to be done with the leaders of the late ministry, who were accused by the Whigs of having sacrificed English interests by the treaty of Utrecht, and of having intrigued to restore the Pretender? It was determined to impeach them; but Bolingbroke and Ormond fled to France, and Oxford alone was arrested and committed to the Tower. Bolingbroke and Ormond were attainted in their absence. The elections which took place on the accession of George had been the scenes of such riots and disorders that a Riot Act was passed, by which the magistrates were empowered to employ soldiers to break up any mob of more than twelve persons who refused to disperse when ordered to do so in the king's name. This Act still remains in force. The Riot Act. country. The riots were only symptoms of the prevalence of a very dangerous feeling. There is no doubt that Jacobitism, as adherence to the cause of the Stuarts was called, was very Dangerous widespread, though in England no insurrection had feeling in the the slightest chance which was not backed by a regular army. In Scotland, dissatisfaction with the Union, joined to the usual antagonism of the Highland clans to constituted authority, were thought likely to make a successful revolt possible, and in 1715 the Earl of Mar in Scotland, Insurrections and in England, Forster, member for Northumber- in the North. land, and the Earl of Derwentwater attempted an insurrection. In Scotland, as usual, the government were able to depend on the Y |