glish to get a larger share in the
lucrative commerce, especially the slave trade, with the New World.
It was another proof that America was now rapidly becoming an
important factor in he politics of Great Britain (SS421, 422).

The announcement of hostilities with Spain was received in London with
delight, and bells pealed from every steeple. "Yes," said Walpole,"
they may ring the bells now, but before long they will be wringing
their hands." This prediction was verified by the heavy losses the
English suffered in an expedition against the Spanish settlement of
Carthagena, South America. But later the British commander, Commodore
Anson, inflicted great damage on the Spanish colonies, and returned to
England with vessels laden with large amounts of captured silver.

542. War of the Austrian Succession, 1741; Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle,
1748.

On the death of Charles VI, of the House of Austria, Emperor of
Germany, his daughter Maria Theresa succeeded to the Austrian
dominions. France now united with Spain, Prussia, and other European
powers to overturn this arrangement, partly out of jealousy of the
Austrian power, and partly from desire to get control of portions of
the Austrian possessions. England and Holland, however, both desired
to maintain Austria as a check against their old enemy France, and
declared war, 1741.

During this war George II went over to the Continent to lead the
English forces in person. He was not a man of commanding appearance,
but he was every inch a soldier, and nothing exhilarated him like the
smell of gunpowder. At the battle of Dettingen, in Bavaria, he got
down from his horse, and drawing his sword, cried: "Come, boys, now
behave like men, and the French will soon run."

With that, followed by his troops, he rused upon the enemy with such
impetuosity that they turned and fled. This was the last battle in
which an English king took part in person. It was followed by that of
Fontenoy, in the Netherlands (Belgium), in which the French gained the
victory. After nearly eight years fighting the treaty of
Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748, secured a peace advantageous for England.

543. Invasion by the "Young Pretender"; "The Forty-Five."[1]

[1] "The Forty-Five": so called from the Scotch rising of 1745.

While the War of the Austrian Succession was in progress, the French
encouraged James II's grandson, Princle Charles Edward, the "Young
Pretender" (S535), to make an attempt on the E