Decline of the Monarchical Sentiment in England Disappearance of the miracle of the royal touch Directs Spanish policy-gradually diverges from England. Turkish war of 1715. Alberoni secretly assists the Turks. Northern politics. Contest between Sweden and Russia Conspiracy supported by Alberoni for seizing the French Its failure. Last efforts of Alberoni Spanish expedition to Scotland. France invades Spain Banishment and later history of Alberoni Pacification of Europe. Congress of Cambray (1724)` Discussions on the Sacramental Test. Its history and Unsuccessful efforts to repeal it Repeal of the Schism and Occasional Conformity Acts The position of the Catholics unimproved Peculiarity of the position of Catholicism in Europe Monotony of English party politics. Tories still esteemed His care in avoiding violent concussions of opinion Connection between the Revolution and the National Debt 396 HISTORY OF ENGLAND IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY. CHAPTER I. THE political history of England in the eighteenth century falls naturally into two great divisions. After a brief period of rapid fluctuations, extending over the latter days of William and through the reign of Anne, the balance of parties was determined on the accession of George I. The Whigs acquired an ascendency so complete that their adversaries were scarcely able even to modify the course of legislation, and that ascendency continued without intermission, and almost without obstruction, for more than forty-five years. But on the accession of George III. the long period of Whig rule terminated. After about ten years of weak governments and party anarchy, Lord North succeeded, in 1770, in forming a Tory ministry of commanding strength. The dominion of the party was, indeed, broken in 1782 for a few months, in consequence of the disasters of the American war; but on the failure of the Coalition Ministry it was speedily re-established. It became as absolute as the Whig ascendency had ever been. It lasted, without a break, to the end of the VOL. I. B |