| CHAPTER I. |
| A. D. | | PAGE |
| 1755. | Endeavours for Peace with France in vain | [2] |
| Duke of Dorset removed; Lord Hartington made Lord-Lieutenant | [3] |
| Debate on King Charles’s Martyrdom | ib. |
| Affair of Sheriffs-Depute in Scotland, and Debates thereon | [4] |
| Ireland | [10] |
| History of the Mitchel Election | [11] |
| Scotch Sheriff-Depute Bill | [14] |
| History of Earl Poulet | [18] |
| Preparations for War | [19] |
| Ireland | ib. |
| Preparations for War in France | [20] |
| King’s Journey to Hanover | ib. |
| Duke of Cumberland at head of Regency | [21] |
| Prospects of War | [22] |
| Affairs of Ireland | [23] |
| CHAPTER II. |
| 1755. | Commencement of the War | [27] |
| War with France | [28] |
| War in America | [29] |
| Author avoids detailing Military events minutely | [30] |
| Defeat and Death of General Braddock | [31] |
| Events at Sea | [32] |
| Spain neutral | [33] |
| Fears for Hanover | ib. |
| Negotiations at Hanover. Treaties made there | [34] |
| Dissensions in Ministry and Royal Family | [36] |
| Disunion of Fox and Pitt | [37] |
| Affairs of Leicester House | [39] |
| King arrives | ib. |
| Ministers endeavour to procure support in Parliament | [41] |
| Fox made Secretary of State | [43] |
| Resignations and Promotions | [44] |
| Both Ministers insincere and discontented | [45] |
| Sir William Johnson’s Victory | [46] |
| Accession of Bedford Party | ib. |
| The Parliament meets | [47] |
| Address in Lords | [48] |
| New Opposition of Pitt, &c. | [50] |
| Debates on the Treaties | ib. |
| Pitt &c. dismissed | [62] |
| Sir George Lyttelton Chancellor of the Exchequer | [63] |
| Complaint of Mr. Fox’s Circular to Members of Parliament | ib. |
| Debate on Fox’s Circular Letter | [65] |
| Debates on number of Seamen | [67] |
| CHAPTER III. |
| 1755. | Earthquake at Lisbon | [77] |
| Debates on a Prize Bill | [78] |
| Death of the Duke of Devonshire | [86] |
| Debates on the Army | ib. |
| Remarks on the above Debate | [96] |
| Debates on a new Militia Bill | [97] |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| 1755. | Debates on the Treaties | [103] |
| Affair of Hume Campbell and Pitt | [107] |
| Changes in the Administration settled | [139] |
| Lord Ligonier and Duke of Marlborough | ib. |
| Further Changes and new Appointments | [140] |
| Lord Barrington and Mr. Ellis | [141] |
| Pensions granted to facilitate Changes in Ministry | [143] |
| Parliamentary Eloquence | ib. |
| History of Oratory. Account and comparison of Orators | [144] |
| CHAPTER V. |
| 1756. | Parliament | [150] |
| Negotiations with France | ib. |
| Accommodation with the King of Prussia | [152] |
| Parliament | ib. |
| Affair of Admiral Knowles | ib. |
| Supplies | [153] |
| Grants to North America | [154] |
| Parliament and Parties | ib. |
| Hessians sent for | [155] |
| Mischiefs produced by Marriage Act | ib. |
| Prevot’s Regiment | [156] |
| Debate on Prevot’s Regiment | [157] |
| Author’s Speech on Swiss Regiments | [163] |
| Debate on Swiss Regiments continued | [170] |
| Affair of Fox and Charles Townshend | [172] |
| Divisions | [174] |
| Swiss Regiment Bill opposed in all its stages | ib. |
| Swiss Regiment Bill passed the Commons and Lords | [175] |
| Anecdote of Madame Pompadour | [176] |
| Debates on Budget and Taxes | [177] |
| New Taxes | ib. |
| CHAPTER VI. |
| 1756. | Tax on Plate | [179] |
| Tranquillity restored in Ireland | [183] |
| Hessians and Hanoverians sent for | [184] |
| Private Bill for a new Road, and Dissensions thereupon | [186] |
| Hessians | [187] |
| Hanoverians | [188] |
| Debate on Hanoverians | ib. |
| French attack Minorca | [190] |
| Militia Bill | [191] |
| Vote of Credit | ib. |
| Debates on the Prussian Treaty | [197] |
| War declared | [201] |
| Militia Bill in Lords | ib. |
| Parliament Prorogued | [202] |
| Troops raised by Individuals | [203] |
| The Prince of Wales of age | [204] |
| History of Lord Bute’s favour | ib. |
| Scheme of taking the Prince from his Mother | [206] |
| CHAPTER VII. |
| 1756. | Minorca | [209] |
| Character of Richelieu and Blakeney | [210] |
| Siege of Minorca | [212] |
| Incapacity of Administration | [213] |
| Reinforcements from Gibraltar refused | [214] |
| French Reports from Minorca | [215] |
| Public Indignation | ib. |
| Admiral Byng’s Despatch | [217] |
| Remarks on the Character of Government | [218] |
| The Empress-Queen joins with France | [220] |
| Conclusion of the Law-suit about New Park | [221] |
| Continuation of the proceedings with the Prince of Wales | [221] |
| Death of the Chief Justice Rider, and designation of Murray | [223] |
| Loss of Minorca | [225] |
| Proceedings on Loss of Minorca | [227] |
| General Fowke tried | [229] |
| Addresses on the Loss of Minorca | [230] |
| Revolution in Sweden | [231] |
| Deduction of the Cause of the War in Germany | [232] |
| German Ministers | [233] |
| Bruhl | ib. |
| Kaunitz | [234] |
| Views and Conduct of the Courts of Dresden and Vienna | [235] |
| Character of the Czarina | [236] |
| League of Russia, Austria, and Saxony | [238] |
| King of Prussia apprized of the League against him | ib. |
| King of Prussia endeavours to secure Peace | [240] |
| Invasion of Saxony by the King of Prussia | [241] |
| Dresden Conquered, and the Archives searched by the Prussians | [242] |
| Campaign in Saxony | [243] |
| CHAPTER VIII. |
| 1756. | Affairs at Home | [245] |
| Mr. Byng publishes a Defence | [246] |
| Effect of Byng’s Pamphlet | [247] |
| Loss of Oswego | [248] |
| Affair of the Hanoverian Soldier at Maidstone | ib. |
| The King admits Lord Bute into the Prince’s Family | [249] |
| Fox discontented with Newcastle, and insists on resigning | [251] |
| Precarious state of the Ministry | [252] |
| Lord Grenville takes Fox’s resignation to the King | [253] |
| Fox, irresolute, applies to the Author | [254] |
| Author’s motives in declining to interfere | [255] |
| Fox has an Audience | [256] |
| Pitt’s objections and demands | [257] |
| Prince of Wales’s new Household | [258] |
| Pitt visits Lady Yarmouth | [259] |
| State of Parties | [260] |
| Duke of Newcastle determines to resign | [262] |
| Pitt declines acting with Fox | ib. |
| Negotiations for the formation of a new Ministry | [263] |
| Fox labours to obstruct the formation of a Ministry | [268] |
| The designs of Fox defeated | [269] |
| Duke of Devonshire accepts the Treasury | ib. |
| New Ministry | [270] |
| Duke of Newcastle resigns | [272] |
| The Chancellor resigns | [273] |
| The changes settled | [274] |
| Pitt Minister | [275] |
| Parliament meets | [276] |
| CHAPTER IX. |
| 1757. | Character of the Times | [278] |
| Contest between the Parliament and Clergy in France | [279] |
| France | [280] |
| King of France stabbed | [281] |
| Torture and execution of Damiens | [282] |
| The King compliments Louis on his escape | [283] |
| Trial of Admiral Byng | [284] |
| Admiral Byng’s sentence, and the behaviour of the Court-Martial | [287] |
| Author’s impressions | [288] |
| Sentence of Court-Martial on Byng | [289] |
| Representation of Court-Martial | [292] |
| Remarks on Byng’s case | [293] |
| Two Highland Regiments raised | [300] |
| Ordnance Estimates | [301] |
| Guinea Lottery | ib. |
| Militia Bill | [302] |
| Ordnance | [303] |
| CHAPTER X. |
| 1757. | Baker’s Contract | [304] |
| Parliamentary Inquiries limited to Minorca | [305] |
| Byng’s Sentence produces various impressions | [306] |
| The Sentence of the Court-Martial referred to the Judges | [307] |
| Conduct of the Judges on the Case referred to them | [308] |
| Conduct of Fox | [309] |
| The Admiralty sign the Sentence | [311] |
| The Sentence notified to the House of Commons | [312] |
| Mr. Pitt demands Money for Hanover | [313] |
| Lord G. Sackville declares for Pitt | [314] |
| Motives of Lord G. Sackville | [315] |
| Approaching Execution of Byng | [317] |
| House of Commons | [318] |
| Sir Francis Dashwood animadverts on Byng’s Sentence | ib. |
| Debate on Byng’s Sentence | ib. |
| Some applications to the King for mercy | [326] |
| Members of Court-Martial desirous to be absolved from their Oaths | [327] |
| Author urges Keppel to apply to House of Commons | ib. |
| Author promotes an application to House of Commons | [328] |
| Sir Francis Dashwood applies for Mr. Keppel | ib. |
| Keppel’s application to House of Commons | ib. |
| Debate on Keppel’s application | [329] |
| Keppel’s application considered in Cabinet | [331] |
| The King’s Message on respiting Byng | [332] |
| Breach of Privilege in the King’s Message | [332] |
| Debate on the King’s Message | ib. |
| Bill to release Court-Martial from Oath | [335] |
| Sensations excited by proceedings in House of Commons | [341] |
| Holmes and Geary disavow Keppel | [342] |
| Further debate on Court-Martial Bill | [344] |
| Court-Martial Bill passes House of Commons | [350] |
| CHAPTER XI. |
| 1757. | Debate in Lords | [351] |
| Debate in Lords on proposal to examine the Members of Court-Martial | [354] |
| Court-Martial ordered to attend House of Lords | [358] |
| Examination of Court-Martial in House of Lords | [359] |
| Bill debated and dropped in House of Lords | [366] |
| Result of Proceedings in Parliament | [367] |
| Petition for Mercy from City intended and dropped | [368] |
| Death of Admiral Byng | [369] |
| Reflections on Admiral Byng’s behaviour | [370] |
| Rochester Election | [372] |
| Death of Archbishop Herring | [374] |
| Abolition of the Office of Commissioners of Wine-Licences | [375] |
| Intrigues to dismiss Mr. Pitt, and form a new Ministry | [376] |
| The Duke goes to Hanover to command the Army | [378] |
| Change in Ministry | [379] |
| ——— |
| Appendix | [383] |