The Portfolio (Volume 47-48); Monographs on Artistic Subjects

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1906. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VII THE HOUSE OF HANOVER Accession of George I--Impeachment of Harley--The Rebellion of 1715--Execution of Lords Derwentwater and Kenmuir--Escape of Nithisdale--Plots of Atterbury and others in 1722--Imprisonment of Lord Macclesfield--The 45 -- Execution of Lords Kilmarnock, Balmerino, Charles Retcliff, and Lord Lovat-- Imprisonment and Trial of Wilkes and his Friends on the Charge of Treason-- of Alderman Oliver and Lord Mayor Crosby for alleged Condonation of Misdemeanour--of Home Tooke and his Companions for Treason--of Sir Francis Burden for Breach of Privilege--Of the Cato Street Conspirators--The Fire of 1841--The Fenian Conspiracy of 1885--Conclusion. The accession of George I was at once marked by the ascendency of the Whigs, and they lost no time in showing this. Robert Harley, whom Queen Anne had made Earl of Oxford, and who had been a favourite minister of the nation, was impeached on the charge that during the French wars, in his hatred of the Duke of Marlborough, he had instructed the French king as to the best method of capturing Tournai. On June 10, 1715, the House of Commons, of which but a short time before he had been the idol, sent him to the Tower, where he languished for two years, never losing confidence. His continuaL petition to be tried was at last conceded, and he was acquitted in July, 1717. But there was an influential party among the high Tories who were unmistakably anxious to restore the Stuarts, and even the Duke of Marlborough, who all his life through had a passion for intrigue, finding that he was not trusted by King George, seems to have entered into negotiations with the Pretender, the Chevalier de St. George, who in August, 1715, published from France a manifesto, asserting his right to the throne. When the Whig Government impeached ...