sed through both
houses without the least difficulty. On the twenty-sixth day of June,
the king closed the session with a speech upon the usual tonics, in
which, however, he observed, that the numerous instances of mercy he
had shown served only to encourage the faction of the pretender, whose
partisans acted with such insolence and folly, as if they intended to
convince the world that they were not to be reclaimed by gentle methods.
He intimated his purpose of visiting his dominions in Germany; and gave
them to understand, that he had constituted his beloved son, the prince
of Wales, guardian of the kingdom in his absence. About this period
general Macartney, who had returned to England at the accession of
king George, presented himself to trial for the murder of the duke of
Hamilton. The deposition of colonel Hamilton was contradicted by two
park-keepers; the general was acquitted of the charge, restored to his
rank in the army, and gratified with the command of a regiment. The
king's brother, prince Ernest, bishop of Osnabruck, was created duke of
York and Albany, and earl of Ulster. The duke of Argyle, and his brother
the earl of Hay, to whom his majesty owed, in a great measure, his
peaceable accession to the throne, as well as the extinction of the
rebellion in Scotland, were now dismissed from all their employments.
General Carpenter succeeded the duke in the chief command of the forces
in North Britain, and in the government of Port Mahon; and the duke of
Montrose was appointed lord-register of Scotland in the room of the earl
of Hay.

THE TRIPLE ALLIANCE.

On the seventh day of July, the king embarked at Gravesend, landed on
the ninth in Holland, through which he passed incognito to Hanover,
and from thence set out for Pyrmont. His aim was to secure his German
dominions from the Swede, and Great Britain from the pretender. These
two princes had already begun to form a design, in conjunction, of
invading his kingdom. He knew the duke of Orleans was resolved to ascend
the throne of France, in case the young king, who was a sickly child,
should die without male issue. The regent was not ignorant that Philip
of Spain would powerfully contest that succession, notwithstanding
his renunciation; and he was glad of an opportunity to strengthen his
interest by an alliance with the maritime powers of England and Holland.
The king of England sounded him on this subject, and found him eager to
engage in such an asso