Perhaps you should try some spelling variations:
ref history » reef history, brief history, bief history
8 public » 2 public, 4 public, 5 public
3 public » 2 public
23 great » 13 great, 23 green
2f 1688 » 2 1688, 22 1688, 24 1688
23 get » 13 get, 23 geo, 33 get

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%((8 public) OR (3 public)) %((((23 great) OR (23 get))) OR (3 great)) britain %ref history %2f 1688-1815%22.
• The words AND, OR and NOT may confuse the search; try adding quotes: "%22finance%((8 public) or (3 public)) %((((23 great) OR (23 get))) or (3 great)) britain %ref history %2f 1688-1815%22".
• Adding a wildcard symbol may retrieve word variants: %22finance%((8 public) or (3 public)) %((((23 great) OR (23 get))) or (3 great)) britain %ref history %2f 1688-1815%22*.