Proceedings on the death of queen Anne-George I. proclaimed king-His arrival in EnglandSophia, princess of Zell-Ministerial arrangements-Parliament-Impeachments of queen Anne's late ministers-Riots in England-Insurrection in Scotland-Insurrection in England-The march to Preston-Surrender of the rebels at Preston-Battle of Sheriffmuir-The Pretender in Scotland-His flight to France-Impeachments of the rebel lords-Executions and escapes of leaders-Fate of the humbler insurgents. Ar seven o'clock of the morning of the first of August, 1714, queen Anne died. The course of proceeding under this event had been determined by Statute in 1705. The Council was immediately to meet, and then to open three sealed packets, which contained the names of persons nominated by the Protestant successor to the throne, to act with seven great officers of state named in the statute, as Lord Justices. No contest, therefore, could arise about the temporary possession of authority. When the dying queen appointed Shrewsbury Lord High Treasurer, the hopes of the Jacobite party received a fatal blow. When the sealed packets were opened, and eighteen peers, the greater number of whom were Whigs, were nominated by the Elector of Hanover, the schemes for the restoration of the exiled family, which had been gradually maturing in the last four years of the reign of Anne, were more effectually crushed. The French agent wrote to Louis XIV. that Bolingbroke was grievously disappointed; for he had said, that in six weeks, VOL. VI. B |