Perhaps you should try some spelling variations:
ref history » reef history, brief history, bief history
2c public » 2 public, 21 public, c public
22 public » 2 public, 3 public, 4 public
12 public » 2 public, 11 public, 5 public
23 great » 13 great, 23 green, 23 get
24 1688 » 2 1688, 4 1688, 22 1688

Try widening your search to All Fields.

You may be able to get more results by adjusting your search query.

• If you are trying to use Boolean operators, they must be ALL CAPS: %22finance%((2c public) OR (((22 public) OR (12 public)))) %((23 great) OR (3 great)) britain %ref history %24 1688-1815%22.
• The words AND, OR and NOT may confuse the search; try adding quotes: "%22finance%((2c public) or (((22 public) OR (12 public)))) %((23 great) or (3 great)) britain %ref history %24 1688-1815%22".
• Adding a wildcard symbol may retrieve word variants: %22finance%((2c public) or (((22 public) OR (12 public)))) %((23 great) or (3 great)) britain %ref history %24 1688-1815%22*.