April 12. Thomas lord marquis of Wbarton, lord privy-feal, died.

April 18. Watfon and Marfon, two printers, were apprehended for printing a paper, containing reflections on the King's Speech; and Kelley was alfo taken up

for difperfing it.

April 22. There was a total eclipfe of the fun about nine in the morning: the darkness was fo great for three minutes and thirteen feconds, that the ftars appeared, and the birds and other animals feemed to be in great confternation.

April 27. Dr. John Potter, Regius Profeffor of divinity in Oxford, was made bifhop of Oxford.

Sir George Downing having been married about thirteen years to Mrs. Mary Forefter, a maid of honour to queen Anne, when he 'was about 15, and fhe 12, Sir George, upon his return from his travels, declared he had no inclination for his bride, and refused to cohabit with her : whereupon fhe was perfuaded to prefer a petition to the Houfe of Lords to be divorced. But it was refolved by a majority of two voices only, viz. 50 against 48, that the petition fhould be rejected. All the bishops were against granting the divorce.

April 28. Richard Steele, efq. knighted by his Majefty.

May 3. War was proclaimed by the Vezetians against the Turks.

May 5 The artillery company prevailed with the prince of Wales to be their captain-general; and his Majesty declared his royal highnefs the prince of Wales captain-general of the artillery company accordingly.

His Majefty having granted his royal licence to the Convocation to enter upon bufinefs, directed them what fubjects they fhould take under their confideration, in a letter to the archbishop.

May 11. The royal affent was given to an act for granting an aid to his Majefty, to be raised by land-tax in Great Britain, for the fervice of the year 1715. This tax was two fhillings in the pound.

May 15. Charles Montague, earl of Halifax, and first commiflioner of the treafury, died.

May 18. A fquadron of twenty men of war, commanded by Sir John Norris, admiral of the blue, failed to the Baltic.

May 20. Richard earl of Burlington, was made lord lieutenant of the county of York, and of the city of York.

Robert Clavering, M. A. was conftituted

Hebrew profeffor in the university of Ox ford.

Major Thomas Talmafh was made lieute nant governor of the inland of Montferrat.

The earl of Halifax dying, Charles earl of Carlisle was made firft commiffioner of the Treasury; Sir Richard Onflow, bart. chancellor and under-treafurer of the Exchequer; and Sir William St. Quintin, bart. Edward Wortley Montague, and Paul Methuen, efqrs. were commiffioners for executing the office of treasurer of his Majefty's Exchequer.

May 22. Charles earl of Carlife, Sir Richard Onflow, Sir William St. Quintin, baris, Edward Wortley Montague, and Paul Methuen, efqrs. were made lords commiffioners of the Treasury.

May 24. The princess Carolina, youngest daughter of the prince of Wales, arrived from Hanover.

May 28, 29. The first being the King's birth-day, and the last the anniversary of the restoration, there were very great mobs; but the Whigs complained, that, on the 29th, they were infulted by the Tories, if they refufed to cry out, bigh church and the duke of Ormond. The windows of feveral houfes were broken, that were not illuminated; and several companies of the trained bands, being upon guard at the Exchange, apprehended fome of the rioters.

The guards alfo began to grow mutinous, on their receiving fuch coarse cloaths, and efpecially linen, as was not fit to be worn, on the King's birth-day; and particularly the firft regiment of guards, of which the duke of Marlborough was colonel. The foldiers threw fome of their fhirts over into the King's and Duke's gardens in the Park z and others they expofed in the streets, crying, thefe are Hanover fhirts: and fuch confequences were apprehended from the fraud, that the duke of Marlborough thought fit to make a speech to his regiment, and promise them new cloaths, laying the blame upon the agent, and tradesmen that were concerned in cloathing them: whereupon the latter endeavour to justify themfelves in the daily papers; and, though the roguery was fo notoriens, that orders were fent to the guards at Whitehall to burn the new fhirts, yet nobody was punished. And indeed the foldiers were too often imposed upon in this manner in the war with France, when it was not uncommon for the officers of the guards to burn the new linen fent them over to Flanders, at the head of the battalions of guards, being not only coarse,

but

Another proclamation was iffued, for dfcovering and apprehending the perfons who wounded and maimed John Mac Allen, an officer of the excife in Scotland, in the execution of his office.

Jan. 17. A proclamation was iffued for electing the fixteen peers of Scotland.

Jan. 18. The Imperialists took possesfion of the provinces of Luxemberg and Limberg.

About this time Mr. Steele was made governor of the play-house.

Jan. 20. Being appointed a day of thanksgiving for his Majefty's acceffion, the King, with the Prince and Princess, went in the ufual ftate to St. Paul's, where they heard a fermon on the occafion, which was preached by Dr. Richard Willis, bishop of Glocefter.

Jan. 25. The duke of Bavaria took poffeffion of his electorate again.

Jan. 28. A call of fourteen ferjeants at

law.

Feb. 6. The treaty of peace between Spain and Portugal, was figned at Utrecht. Feb. 18. The prince of Wales was chofen governor of the South Sea company.

Feb. 28. Lord Cornwallis and James Craggs, fen. efq. were made poft-mastersgeneral, in the room of Sir Thomas Frankland and Sir John Evelyn.

March 9. The ambaffadors of the States General made their public entry, and on the 12th were admitted to their audience.

March 17. Dr. Gilbert Burnet, bishop of Salisbury, died.

The. Parliament of Great Britain met; and the Commons being directed to chufe a Speaker, they elected Spencer Compton, efq. who was approved by his Majesty the 21st.

March 21. The King delivered a speech to the Houses, wherein he thanked his loving fubjects for that zeal and firmness they had fhewn in defence of the Protestant fucceffion, against all the open and fecret practices, that had been used to defeat it; and faid, he should never forget his obligations to those who had diftinguished themfelves on this occafion. He reflected on the infecurity of the prefent peace; told them, that the Pretender threatened to disturb him; that trade was rendered impracticable; and if it was not retrieved, muft deftroy their manufactures and navigation; and that the public debts were very great, and furprisingly increafed fince the fatal ceffation of arms: he defired fupplies; that they would fupport public credit, and VOL. II.

make a provifion for the prince of Wales: and he affured them, that the established conftitution in church and ftate fhould be the rule of his government; and the happinefs, eafe and profperity of his people, the chief care of his life.

The duke of Montague was made colonel and captain of the first troop of horseguards, in the room of the lord Afhburnbam; the earl of Hertford, colonel and captain of the fecond troop, in the room of the duke of Northumberland; lieutenantgeneral Cholmondley, colonel and captain of the third troop, in the room of the earl of Arran; and lord Lumley, fon of the earl of Scarborough, captain and colonel of the first troop of horse-grenadiers, in the room of lieutenant-general Cholmondley.

In the Commons addrefs of thanks for his Majefty's fpeech, the paragraph most objected to by the Tories was this:"

We are fenfibly touched not only with the difappointment, but the reproach, brought upon the nation by the unfuitable conclufion of a war, which was carried on at fo vaft an expence, and was attended with fuch unparalleled fucceffes: but as that dishonour cannot in juftice be imputed to the whole nation, fo we firmly hope and believe, that through your Majefty's great wifdom, and the faithful endeavours of your Commons, the reputation of your kingdoms will in due time be vindicated and restored.

1715, March 25. The lord viscount Bolingbroke, obferving a storm arifing, thought fit to withdraw; and, on the 26th, embarked at Dover for France.

March 31. Peregrine lord Willougby of Erefby, was fummoned by writ to the

Houfe of Peers.

April 1. The Commons addreffed the King to lay the negociation of peace and commerce, &c. before the House; with which Majefty having complied, a fecret committee was appointed to infpect them, confifting of twenty-one members, chofen by ballot; of which committee Robert Walpole, efq. was appointed chairman.

These fat de die in diem, to discover the defects in the late adminiftration and rendered themselves exceedingly terrible.

Mr. Matthew Prior, one of the late plenipotentiaries, underwent a ftrict examina tion by a committee of the privy-council.

April 2. The ratifications of peace between Spain and Portugal were exchanged. April 10. William Thompson, efq. was made recorder of the eity of London. April

April 22. There was a total eclipfe of the fun about nine in the morning: the darkness was fo great for three minutes and thirteen feconds, that the ftars appeared, and the birds and other animals feemed to be in great confternation.

April 27. Dr. John Potter, Regius Profeffor of divinity in Oxford, was made bifhop of Oxford.

Sir George Downing having been married about thirteen years to Mrs. Mary Forefter, a maid of honour to queen Anne, when he ' was about 15, and the 12, Sir George, upon his return from his travels, declared he had no inclination for his bride, and refused to cohabit with her : whereupon fhe was perfuaded to prefer a petition to the Houfe of Lords to be divorced. But it was refolved by a majority of two voices only, viz. 50 against 48, that the petition fhould be rejected. All the bishops were against granting the divorce.

April 28. Richard Steele, esq. knighted by his Majefty.

May 3. War was proclaimed by the Vezetians against the Turks.

May 5 The artillery company prevailed with the prince of Wales to be their captain-general; and his Majesty declared his royal highnefs the prince of Wales captain-general of the artillery company accordingly.

His Majefty having granted his royal licence to the Convocation to enter upon bufinefs, directed them what subjects they fhould take under their confideration, in a letter to the archbishop.

May 11. The royal affent was given to an act for granting an aid to his Majesty, to be raised by land-tax in Great Britain, for the fervice of the year 1715. This tax was two fhillings in the pound.

May 15. Charles Montague, earl of Halifax, and first commiffioner of the treafury, died.

May 18. A fquadron of twenty men of war, commanded by Sir John Norris, admiral of the blue, failed to the Baltic.

May 20. Richard earl of Burlington, was made lord lieutenant of the county of York, and of the city of York.

Robert Clavering, M. A. was conftituted

Hebrew profeffor in the university of Oxford.

Major Thomas Talmash was made lieute nant governor of the island of Montserrat.

The earl of Halifax dying, Charles earl of Carlisle was made first commiffioner of the Treafury; Sir Richard Onflow, bart. chancellor and under-treafurer of the Exchequer; and Sir William St. Quintin, bart. Edward Wortley Montague, and Paul Methuen, efqrs. were commiffioners for executing the office of treasurer of his Majefty's Exchequer.

May 22. Charles earl of Carlife, Sir Richard Onflow, Sir William St. Quintin, baris, Edward Wortley Montague, and Paul Methuen, efqrs. were made lords commiffioners of the Treasury.

May 24. The princess Carolina, youngest daughter of the prince of Wales, arrived from Hanover.

May 28, 29. The first being the King's birth-day, and the laft the anniversary of the restoration, there were very great mobs; but the Whigs complained, that, on the 29th, they were infulted by the Tories, if they refused to cry out, bigh church and the duke of Ormond. The windows of several houfes were broken, that were not illuminated; and several companies of the trained bands, being upon guard at the Exchange, apprehended fome of the rioters.

The guards alfo began to grow mutinous, on their receiving fuch coarfe cloaths, and especially linen, as was not fit to be worn, on the King's birth-day; and particularly the first regiment of guards, of which the duke of Marlborough was colonel. The foldiers threw fome of their fhirts over into the King's and Duke's gardens in the Park; and others they expofed in the streets, crying, these are Hanover fhirts: and such confequences were apprehended from the fraud, that the duke of Marlborough thought fit to make a speech to his regiment, and promise them new cloaths, laying the blame upon the agent, and tradesmen that were concerned in cloathing them: whereupon the latter endeavour to justify themfelves in the daily papers; and, though the roguery was fo notorions, that orders were fent to the guards at Whitehall to burn the new fhirts, yet nobody was punished. And indeed the foldiers were too often imposed upon in this manner in the war with France, when it was not uncommon for the officers of the guards to burn the new linen fent them over to Flanders, at the head of the battalions of guards, being not only coarfe,

but damaged cloth, good for nothing; and the foldiers have had money deducted out of the poor remainder of their pay to find them more.

The reafon of this is, the agent too often gives the colonel money to have the benefit of cloathing the regiment, which he endeavours to repay himself, in the first place, by purchafing cloaths of lefs value than the government allows, and the agent and his tradefmen ufually, sharp a great deal more; fo that it often happened, there was not, in reality, a third part of the money laid out in the cloathing, which the government provided for that purpose.

June 9. The committee of fecrecy made their report; but firft Mr. Walpole, the chairman, moved, that a warrant fhould be iffued by Mr. Speaker, to apprehend fuch perfons as he fhould name, in order to their being examined; and that no member might be permitted to go out of the Houfe: which being agreed to, Mr. Speaker ifued warrants for apprehending Mr. Matthew Prior, and Mr. Thomas Harley, and feveral others; and accordingly Mr. Prior was apprehended fome hours after.

Mr. Walpole delivered in two books at the table, one of which, he faid, contained the report; and the other was an appendix to it, which contained at large those letters and papers, which were referred to in the report.

The report was in reading from one o'clock to half an hour paft eight at night, when the farther confideration thereof was adjourned till the next morning. The next day it was read a fecond time, and ordered to be printed.

June 10. After the fecond reading the report, Mr. Walpole, moved to impeach the lord viscount Bolingbroke of high treason, and other high crimes and misdemeanors; and the lord Coningsby alfo moved to impeach the earl of Oxford in like manner; which impeachments were agreed to.

The Turks invaded the Morea, and beheged Napoli de Romania.

June 13. The Danes and Pruffians made themselves masters of the ifle of Ufedom, belonging to Sweden.

June 14. Majorca was reduced to king Philip's obedience,

June 17. The Commons ordered Mr. Prior into clofe cuftody; and that no perfon fhould be admitted to fee him, without leave of the Speaker.

treason, and other high crimes and misde meanors. Whereupon the Duke, fhortly after, withdrew out of the kingdom, by bishop Atterbury's perfuafion, as it was thought; and arrived at Paris on the 8th of Auguft.

John Aiflabie, efq. impeached Thomas earl of Strafford of the like crimes.

July 4. The duke of Argyle, and his brother the earl of Ifla, were removed from all their places.

July 8. The duke of Bolton was made lord chamberlain of the houfhold, in the room of the duke of Shrewsbury.

July 9. The articles of impeachment again the earl of Oxford having been read this day in the Houfe of Commons, and agreed to, after feveral debates; the lord Coningsby carried them up, and at the bar of the Houfe of Lords impeached the earl of Oxford of high-treafon, &c. pray ing in conclufion, tha: he might be fequef tered from Parliament, and committed to fafe custody. Whereupon he was put into cuftody of the Black Rod at his own house. And having received a copy of the articles against him, and being allowed a month to anfwer them, he was fent to the Tower.

July 20. The royal affent was given to an act for charging and continuing the duties on malt, mum, cyder, and perry, for the fervice of the year 1715; and for making forth duplicates of Exchequer bills and lottery tickets loft, burnt or destroyed; and for inlarging the time for adjusting claims in feveral lotteries; and for making forth new orders in lieu of certain lottery orders obliterated or defective; and for continuing certain duties on hops until the first day of Auguft 1715.

An act for the better regulating the forces to be continued in his Majefty's fervice, and for the payment of the faid forces, and of their quarters.

An act to explain the act made in the twelfth year of the reign of king William III. intitled, an act for the further limitation of the crown, and better fecuring the rights and liberties of the fubject.

An act for preventing tumults and riotous affemblies, and for the more speedy and effectual punishing rioters.

C 2

faid

After which, his Majefty made a fpeech to both Houfes; wherein he acquainted them with the advice he had received, that the Pretender was preparing to invade his dominions, being encouraged, he faid, by a reftle's party here; and defired they would make provifion for their defence. Whereupon the Houfes refpectively addressed his Majefty, affuring him, they would ftand by him with their lives and fortunes,

They alfo voted, that 3000 dragoons, and 4000 foot, fhould be raised, and four companies be added to the Coldftream regiment of guards.

Addreffes came from all parts of the kingdom.

The Parliament paffed an act, for fufpending the Habeas Corpus act; and a clause was added to a money bill, for a reward of 100,000l. to fuch as fhould feize the Pretender dead or alive.

July 25. Commiffions were iffued for raifing thirteen regiments of dragoons, and eight regiments of foot.

July 28. The royal affent was given to an act to impower his Majefty to fecure and detain fuch perfons as his Majesty should fufpect were conspiring against his perfon and government.

July 29. The Commons addreffed, that the half-pay officers might be allowed full pay, that they might be in a readiness to ferve.

July 30. Orders were given for fitting out a fquadron of men of war, under the command of Sir George Byng.

July 31. The horfe and foot guards encamped in Hyde-Park; and a train of artillery was fent thither from the Tower.

The Danes and Prufians reduced the ifland of Ufedem in Swedish Pomerania.

Aug. 1. The earl of Mar retired from court, and went by fea to Newcastle, and from thence to Scotland; where he affembled the friends and adherents of the Pretender on the 16th; viz. the marquifes of Huntley and Tullibardine; the earls of Nitbifdale, Linlithgow, Traquair, Soutbesk, Marifchall, and Carnwath, the vilcounts

Killyth, Kenmure, Kingßon, and Stormount; and the lords Drummond and Rolio, &c.

Aug. 2. The royal affent was given to an act for the better preventing mutiny and defertion, by enforcing and making more effectual an act of this prefent Parliament, intitled, an act for the better regulating the forces to be continued in his Majesty's fervice, and for the payment of the faid forces, and their quarters.

An act for making more effectual her late Majefty's moft gracious intention for augmenting the maintenance of the poor clergy.

An act to restrain all waggoners, carriers, and others, from drawing any carriage with more than five horfes at length.

The lord Coring fby carried up further articles of impeachment against Robert earl of Oxford.

dug 3. A cobler of Highgate was whipped from Holloway to that place, for reflecting on the government.

The mob demolished the pulpit, pews, &c. in a meeting houfe at Nuneaton in Warwickshire; as they did at Oxford, and feveral other parts of England, about this time.

Upon advice of an intended invafion, and infurrection, two affociations were formed and figned at Edinburgh, by feveral perfons.

The earl of Oxford defired a longer time to answer the farther articles exhibited against him the day before, being fick in bed; and had a fortnight's further time allowed him.

Aug. 4. The articles of impeachment against the lord Bolingbroke were read and agreed to in the House of Commons, and carried up to the Lords by Robert Walpole, efq. two days after.

Aug. 5. James duke of Montrofe refigned the place of fecretary of state for Scotland.

Aug. 6. Mr. Secretary Stanhope carried up the impeachment against James duke of

Ormond.