have already gained a large share of knowledge, see that there is much more to be gained; and that after all their studies, and all their labours, they must be ignorant of very many things still. And so they learn to be humble, and to think little of themselves, and to feel their own ignorance, even while they are daily increasing in wisdom, and rising in the esteem of others. When Newton was praised and complimented for the great discoveries he had made, he remarked very beautifully, that he felt only like a child picking up pebbles on the sea-shore; and though he might have sometimes found a brighter shell, or a finer stone than his companions, yet the wide ocean of truth lay unknown and unexplored before him.

Newton lived to a great age, and died in the year 1727, full of honour and renown. And as we now take our leave of him, and close our chapter, may we not hope, that, without becoming philosophers or metaphysicians, we may yet have found something to imitate, as well as much to admire, in the characters of these three 66 great men," Bacon, Locke, and Newton?

XXXVI. A STRUGGLE IN THE NORTH.

A.D. 1714-1746.

There is mist on the mountain, and night on the vale,
But more dark is the sleep of the sons of the Gael.
A stranger commanded,-it sunk on the land,
It has frozen each heart, and benumb'd ev'ry hand.

The dirk and the target lie sordid with dust,
The bloodless claymore is but reddened with rust;
On the hill or the glen if a gun should appear,
It is only to war with the heath-cock or deer.

But the dark hours of night and of slumber are pass'd, The morn on our mountains is dawning at last; Glendaladale's peaks are illumin'd with rays,

And the streams of Glenfinnan leap bright in the blaze.

'Tis the summons of heroes for conquest or death, When the banners are blazing on mountain and heath; They call to the dirk, the claymore, the targe,

To the march and the muster, the line and the charge. W. SCOTT.

GEORGE I. was very joyfully received by the people of England; for as he had already acquired the reputation of being a wise and a just prince, and was also a man of experi

ence, and above all a protestant, there seemed every prospect of a peaceful and happy reign. But the reign of George I. was not without its troubles.

You remember how much Queen Anne had suffered from the disputes between the Whigs and Tories during her government. These disputes still continued, and proved a source. of vexation to her successor also. George himself favoured the Whig party; so the Duke of Marlborough, and others who had been disgraced during the preceding reign, were recalled, and the Tories were sent away. Some of them, on account of certain accusations brought against them, escaped from the country, and their estates were forfeited to the crown. The King's prime minister was Sir Robert Walpole. George having previously resided in Hanover, was not very well acquainted with the English language, and as his minister could not speak either French or German, they were obliged to converse together in Latin.

The government soon became very unpopular on account of the severities I have just mentioned; and strong parties were formed, both in England and Scotland, for the purpose of restoring the Stuart family, and making the Pretender king. The rebellion which followed was headed in Scotland by the Earl of

Mar, who actually went so far as to proclaim the son of James II, king of Scotland. The Duke of Argyle was sent against him, and a battle was fought at Dumblane, which had the effect of checking the rebels. The English part of the insurrection was quelled also. This was headed by the Earl of Derwentwater, Lord Kenmuir, Lord Nithesdale, and some other noblemen, who were taken, and sentenced to be beheaded for rebellion. A great deal of pity and sympathy was felt for these unfortunate men; for although they had acted wrongly in rebelling against the government, yet they were in other respects worthy of esteem. Lord Derwentwater was much beloved for his generosity and kindness to the poor on his estates, whom he was accustomed to feed and provide for; and Lord Kenmuir was also a sensible and honourable man.

After the fatal sentence had been pronounced, the Countess of Nithesdale and Lady Nairne, the wife of another of the condemned noblemen, who had been anxiously awaiting the sad moment, threw themselves at the feet of the king as he passed, and begged him to spare and pardon their husbands. But their tears and entreaties were of no avail. The council had determined that the sentence should be carried out, and the order for the execution had already been given. Derwentwater and

Kenmuir suffered first, and the others a few days after. But Lord Nithesdale, through the unwearied efforts of his wife, contrived to effect his escape, dressed in woman's clothes.

There is not, I think, much more that will interest you in the reign of George I. His reign lasted twelve years; and he died suddenly in Holland, when on his way to his Hanoverian dominions, for you remember that he was Elector of Hanover, as well as king of England. George I. died in the year 1727, and he was succeeded by his son George II.

The early years of this reign passed quietly away without any events which it will be necessary for me to relate. Sir Robert Walpole, who had been a leader of the Whig party in the two preceding reigns, still continued to be prime minister. He managed the affairs of the country very skilfully, and the time of his administration was particularly peaceful.

But

after a while, the people became anxious again for a war, and one was commenced against the Spaniards in South America, which lasted about three years. An expedition was also undertaken against Carthagena, which ended in a complete failure. The people were exceedingly annoyed and disappointed, and the party opposed to Sir Robert Walpole were glad of an opportunity of throwing the blame of the disaster upon him, though indeed he was not