As Queen Anne died without leaving an heir to the throne (S515),
George, Elector of Hanover, in accordance with the Act of Settlement
(S497), now came into possession of the English crown. (See
Genealogical Table opposite.) The new King had no desire whatever to
go to England.
As he owed his new position to Whig legislation (S479), he naturally
favored that party and turned his back on the Tories (S479), who,
deprived of the sunshine of royal favor, were as unhappy as their
rivals were jubilant. The triumphant Whigs denounced "the shameful
Peace of Utrecht" (S512). Next, they impeached the three fallen Tory
leaders,[2] of whom Harley was the chief (S510), on a charge of
treason. The indictment accused them of having given back to
Louis XIV, in the late war, more captured territory than was
necessary. Furthermore, they were said to be guilty of having
intrigued to restore the House of Stuart with the design of making the
"Pretender" King (SS490, 491). Harley was sent to the Tower of London
for a time; he was then acquitted and released. Meanwhile his two
indicted associates had fled to France.
[2] The three Tory leaders were Harley, now Earl of Oxford (S510),
St. John (Viscount Bolingbroke), and Butler (Duke of Ormonde).
Bolingbroke and Ormonde fled to Frnce, where the first entered the
service of the "Pretender," but he was ultimately permitted to return
to England. Ormonde never came back. Harley, as stated above, was
sent to the Tower; while there he secretly wrote to the "Pretender"
(S490), and offered him his services.
Later, the Whigs repealed two harsh religious statutes (S511) directed
against Dissenters (S472), which the Tories and the High Churchmen had
enacted in the previous reign for the purpose of keeping themselves in
power.