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 » 3 great, 13 great, 23 green
2f 1688 » 28 1688
24 1688 » 28 1688, 1624 1688, 24th 1688
2 1688 » _ 1688, 5 1688, b 1688
4 1688 » _ 1688, 5 1688, b 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 britain %ref history %((((((2f 1688) OR (24 1688))) OR (22 1688))) OR (((2 1688) OR (4 1688))))-1815%22.
• The words AND, OR and NOT may confuse the search; try adding quotes: "%22finance%2c public %23 great britain %ref history %((((((2f 1688) OR (24 1688))) or (22 1688))) or (((2 1688) or (4 1688))))-1815%22".
• Adding a wildcard symbol may retrieve word variants: %22finance%2c public %23 great britain %ref history %((((((2f 1688) OR (24 1688))) or (22 1688))) or (((2 1688) or (4 1688))))-1815%22*.