population, are, indeed, inviting topics, but cannot be treated of in this place, either generally or with reference to our own nation in particular. In every department in which mind can be exercised a wonderful progress was made during these sixty years. We cannot do more than mention a few leading names in each department. In Poetry-Cowper, Burns, Scott, Coleridge, Wordsworth, Rogers, Southey, Byron. In History-Gibbon, Sir James Mackintosh. In the Fine Arts-Sir Joshua Reynolds, Banks, Gainsborough. In the Law-Sir William Blackstone, Lord Thurlow, Lord Stowell, Lord Eldon. In the practical application of Science-Brindley, Watt, Arkwright, Smeaton. In Astronomy-Herschel. In Philology-Kennicott, Hurd, Porson, Parr, Dobree. A great improvement in the warmth of the Church's teaching is traceable throughout this reign. Her missionary exertions continued, and also her endeavours to diffuse Christian knowledge at home. Greater attention began to be paid to education. The Universities revised their systems, and thus a more learned clergy were sent throughout the land. In the year 1811 the National Society was established, for the express purpose of instructing the children of the poor; week-day and Sunday schools raised their heads in the most remote parishes; men began to feel that it was a sounder and more Christian practice to prevent than to punish crime; to rear in holiness than to visit for sin; to train in the paths of the Church than to recal from those of separatism. Many names occur in the annals of the English Episcopate, which adorn this period by the learning or piety of their possessors. Warburton, bishop of Gloucester; Lowth, bishop of Oxford; Barrington, bishop of Durham; Porteus, bishop of London; Watson, bishop of Llandaff; Horsley, bishop of St. Asaph; Horne, bishop of Norwich; Burgess, bishop of Salisbury; and Van Mildert, bishop of Durham. These are a few out of the goodly catalogue of men, of whom it is not too much to say, that to the latest days of the Church "the people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will show forth their praise." CHAPTER XLII. GEORGE IV. Born at St. James's 10 years. Palace. Buried at Windsor. Reigned WILLIAM IV. Born at Buckingham House. Buried at Windsor. Reigned 7 years. From A.D. 1830 to A.D. 1837. VICTORIA. Born at Kensington Palace, May 24, 1819. Became Queen A.D. 1837, whom God preserve! Archbishops of Canterbury. Charles Manners Sutton, A.D. 1805 -1828. William Howley,A.D. 1828-1848. THE prince who became George IV. had for some years exercised the functions of royalty; the change, therefore, occasioned by his father's death was merely nominal. He had long been separated from his wife, who died in 1821. The lamented Princess Charlotte was his only child. Having survived his second brother, Frederic, Duke of York, he was succeeded by William, Duke of Clarence, who became William IV. in 1830. William IV. died after a short reign, in 1837, and was survived by Queen Adelaide', his consort, a princess of Saxe Meiningen. He was succeeded in his English dominions by Victoria, the only daughter of his deceased brother the Duke of Kent. As no female can inherit the crown of Hanover, it devolved on Ernest, Duke of Cumberland, the fifth son of George III. (He was succeeded by his son, George V., in 1851.) On the 10th of February, 1840, her Majesty espoused her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe Gotha. An heir-apparent was born Nov. 9, 1841, and shortly afterwards received the name of Albert. Born Duke of Cornwall, he was within a few months created Prince of Wales. Her Majesty has also at this time (March, 1858) five daughters, and three other sons. The Queen's eldest daughter, Victoria, Prin 1 This amiable queen died in the autumn of 1849, to the great grief of the whole nation. GEORGE IV.-WILLIAM IV.-VICTORIA. 179 cess Royal, was married in January, 1858, to Prince Frederic-William of Prussia. We abstain from entering into the details of the thirtyseven years which have elapsed since the death of George III. The time has scarcely arrived for judging calmly either of the measures which have been effected during that interval, or of the characters of the men who have been mainly instrumental in effecting them. In several respects we have reason to be eminently thankful to Almighty God. Great revolutions have taken place in part of the Turkish empire in Europe, in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and France. The year 1848 saw almost every throne of the continent shaken. In France the kingship of the younger branch of the Bourbons gave way to a republic. This republic has since given way to an empire. Italy was in commotion from the Alps to its southern extremity. The pope became an exile, dependent on the hospitality of a neighbouring prince, who was himself in fear of being deprived of half his territory. Austria was in danger of losing her Italian dominions and the kingdom of Hungary; Prussia, troubled by a population newly admitted to political privileges, and ignorant how to use them. But all this while England has not been engaged in any protracted European struggle, such as that which happily came to an end in 1815. It has indeed been necessary for her, from time to time, to send forth armaments from her shores; as, for instance, in 1827, when an English fleet co-operated with those of France and Russia in the battle of Navarino. For three years, from 1854 to 1856, she was embroiled in a severe contest with Russia, attended by great suffering to her troops, and vast expenditures of treasure. But her energy, and that of her brave allies, France, Sardinia, and Turkey, were, under God's blessing, at length crowned with success. In the extreme East, also, partial wars have several times occurred; and she has now (1858) on her hands a quarrel with China, which at one time threatened to be serious. The year 1857 was one of great trial to England. It witnessed the outbreak of that formidable mutiny in Bengal which made her tremble for her Indian possessions, and at the same time, it is to be hoped, consider her many shortcomings of Christian duty in regard to them. But these are very different things from being entangled in a war with near neighbours, or with nations very closely connected with her in blood and in religion. Again, various disturbances have at times occurred in England. The manufacturing districts, especially Manchester, were disaffected soon after the accession of George IV. Tumults took place in several parts of the country in the years 1831-2. Ireland has been for some years in an unsettled state; distress, local and general, agricultural and commercial, has more than once afflicted the empire. A new and terrible disease has invaded our shores; and the patience of the population has thus been sorely tried in many ways. But their general loyalty has not failed them. The Church has taught them to be faithful subjects and good citizens. The whirlwind which has uprooted other governments has passed harmless over these islands. This was especially evident during the course of the year 1848, when, with the news of the recent French revolution ringing in their ears, the whole nation rose, as one man, against those who would sow sedition, to defend the cause of order and religion. The world, so to speak, was assembled in London in the summer of 1851, on the occasion of the "Great Exhibition of the Industry of all Nations." Not only was there no disturbance, but the year itself was singularly marked by the absence of ordinary crimes and offences. Among the important measures which have received the royal assent, may be mentioned, the bill to restore to the members of the Romish Church the political privileges which had been withheld from them since the reign of Charles II. This act was passed under the ministry of the Duke of Wellington 2 and Mr. Peel in the year 1829. A bill of great importance was passed in 1832, under the government of Earl Grey, to reform the constitution of the House of Commons, by giving a more equal representation to the various boroughs and counties in the United Kingdom. In this brief review it would be wrong to omit a bill for 2 This great man died at a very advanced age in the autumn of 1852. His memory was honoured by a public funeral, and his remains were deposited in St. Paul's cathedral, by the side of those of Lord Nelson, |