Perhaps you should try some spelling variations:
ref history » reef history, brief history, bief history
2c public » 2 public, 22 public, 21 public
23 great » 13 great, 23 green, 23 get
2 1688 » _ 1688, 5 1688
b 1688 » _ 1688, b 1680, 5 1688
4 1688 » _ 1688, 5 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 %((23 great) OR (3 great)) britain %ref history %((2 1688) OR (((b 1688) OR (4 1688))))-1815%22.
• The words AND, OR and NOT may confuse the search; try adding quotes: "%22finance%2c public %((23 great) OR (3 great)) britain %ref history %((2 1688) or (((b 1688) or (4 1688))))-1815%22".
• Adding a wildcard symbol may retrieve word variants: %22finance%2c public %((23 great) OR (3 great)) britain %ref history %((2 1688) or (((b 1688) or (4 1688))))-1815%22*.