the Italian states increased, and became seriously alarming. They captured the vessels, and made slaves of the crews. In the spring of 1816, lord Exmouth was sent from England to remonstrate with the dey of Algiers on these depredations and the dey in consequence released some Christian slaves, and made fair promises for the future. Soon after this, and, as it is said, without the permission or even knowledge of the dey, a body of Algerines attacked some Italians who were engaged in fishing for pearls at Bona. When this news reached England, the people were much exasperated at the apparent want of faith of the dey, and lord Exmouth was again sent out, with orders to compel the Algerines to keep their promises. On the 27th of May, 1816, lord Exmouth came in sight of Algiers, with a large armament and sent to demand of the dey to set all his Christain slaves at liberty. Receiving no answer, after having waited some hours, he began to fire upon the town. The dey's magazines, arsenals, and shipping, were destroyed before his eyes, and great damage done to the town. The next morning the dey sent to inform lord Exmouth that he would agree to the terms demanded; and before noon most of the Christian slaves were released, and the English fleet in a few days sailed from Algiers. The victory of lord Exmouth was not the only service rendered to humanity in this reign. During the short period of Mr. Fox's administration, an act was passed for the abolition of the negro slave trade between Africa and th West Indies. CHAPTER XXXIX CONCLUSION. GEORGE IV. [Years after Christ, 1820-1830.] George III. not only reigned the longest, but also lived to a greater age than any other English king. He was Who was sent from England to remonstrate with the dey of Algiers? When did lord Exmouth compel the dey of Algiers to subm it to his de mands? When was the slave trade abolished? more distinguished by the domestic virtues, and for sıncere piety, than for political wisdom; but, during his long reign, English mind was advancing, and English power and prosperity, were increasing. George III., for many years of his life a maniac, from October, 1788, to April, 1789, was prevented from exercising the duties of a sovereign; and from October, 1810, to January, 1820, he lived under entire deprivation of reason. These ten years were the period of the regency. The prince of Wales, afterwards George IV., was appoin:ed to the royal function and dignity; and, till his father s death, was styled the Prince Regent. George IV. was crowned king, July 19th, 1821. He died at the age of sixty-eight, June 26th, 1830. George IV. received an excellent classical, and a neglected moral and religious education. He might have been instructed in the duties of a man and a sovereign prince; but he was never made to feel that his example might sanction vice, or recommend virtue, and that his natural abilities made him eminently capable to do good to the great kingdom over which he was set. The dissipated and frivolous life of George IV. while a young man, made him unpopular in England; but the first time that he ever spoke in the House of Lords, he declared: "I exist by the love, the friendship, and the benevolence of the people; and their cause I will never forsake as long as I live." This expression of just sentiment awakened in the public mind all the feelings of love and trust due to a patriot prince. George IV. was married to his cousin A. D. 1795. Caroline of Brunswick, whom he never loved, and from whom he was afterwards separated. They had but one child, the princess Charlotte, who died in 1817. Queen Caroline was accused of many crimes, and was brought to a trial on account of them. Whether or not she was guilty, the public opinion is not determined. She died, 1821, and was relieved from the misery and disgrace of doubtful innocence. Was George III. a good man? Why was the Prince of Wales made regent? What was the character of George IV.? How did the prince of Wales commend himself to the English people! George IV. visited different parts of his dominions, and was greeted with enthusiasm in Ireland, Scotland, and Hanover. The latter years of George IV. were passed in retirement. A secluded cottage in Windsor Park, was his favorite residence: he caused royal palaces to be repaired and built, but of the latter he never took possession. George IV. seldom met his parliament in person-very rarely held courts, that is, he rarely received the great nobility, foreign ministers, and distinguished strangers, and he seldom appeared in any public place. He died of dropsy in the summer of 1830, and was committed to the earth with splendid ceremonies, but without the regrets of the grateful and the good. Much might be said of the progress of arts, literature, and science, in these latter reigns of the English kings; but the history of arts and artists, of literature and scholars, of science and philosophers, is too ample to find room in these pages. A list of the names of men of genius would afford no just notion what they were, and what they have done. There also remains much to be told concerning the various discoveries and improvements that have been made during the last sixty years in almost every branch of art and science balloons, steamboats, telegraphs, machines for spinning and weaving, &c. There never was any former period in which human talent and ingenuity were exercised so much or so well. Maritime discovery in this age has done wonders, and English travelers have made important discoveries. The expeditions of Cook and Burney, Franklin, Parry, and Ross, have greatly increased human knowledge; and the What were the circumstances of George's domestic life? Did George IV. visit his dominions? What were the habits of George IV., and when did he die? What was the state of arts, &c. during the reign of George IV.? What are the great enterprises of the reigns of George III. and his Bon? great enterprises of humanity, the abolition of the slave trade, the Bible Society, and missionary adventure to every neglected portion of the earth, may be traced to British origin. The reign of George IV. is marked by Catholic Emancipation. It was mentioned in another part of this history, that no office of government could be exercised by a Roman Catholic; and on this account the Stuarts were expelled from the throne of Britain. An act of parliament, 1829, removed many disabilities from the Catholics, and admitted them to privileges not previously allowed them; this is Catholic Emancipation. WILLIAM IV. [Years after Christ, 1830-1837.1 William Henry, duke of Clarence, succeeded to the throne on the decease of his brother George IV. On the accession of William IV., the English nation manifested a general consciousness of suffering from injustice and misgovernment, and they insisted moreover their own right to redress their grievances. The kingdom was indeed wealthy and prosperous. The face of the country was covered with roads, canals, bridges, and public and private buildings of unsurpassed magnificence. The soil was under skilful cultivation. England was at the head of the maritime powers of Europe. Its manufactures, commerce, and foreign colonies, were immense sources of industry and wealth. The other side of the picture was frightful: the national debt was augmented beyond the means of the country to pay; the poor rates were quadrupled; one-sixth of the population were paupers. The taxation, since the accession of George III., was more than quadrupled; and the state was burthened by the extravagant salaries of government functionaries, and the payment of numerous pensions. Who possesses the great wealth of England? The no What is Catholic Emancipation? Is England highly prosperous? What were the causes of popular discontent in England? bility, the aristocratic commoners, the merchants, bankers, and great manufacturers, have a superabundance; but the laboring classes,-they who cultivate the soil, and who work for the rich in sundry ways, and multitudes who can obtain no work, who people the almshouses and hospitals, are the hungry poor, and their ignorance and want demand redress. All these evils the people believe a wise government might remedy. The people demand this remedy. They have insisted that a better representation in parliament should be granted, and a reformed parliament was obtained, (1832.) William IV. conceded every thing that he could. It may be hoped that a system of reform then commenced will be progressive, and misery may be mitigated, and national virtue be strengthened in that dominion of earth, of which it may be said, "that the world never before saw so vast an amount of wealth and power under one head, as that under the control of the British government." It would be doing injustice to English history, to afford no information of the British empire in India. The trade of Europe with India, has been more or less extensive from time immemorial. From the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, (1496,) this trade became easy by means of navigation. An English East India Company, that is, an English company to carry on traffic with India, was formed in 1600. This company quarrelled with the French, Dutch, and Portuguese, who also traded to India. The English built a factory at Calcutta, 1736. They required troops to defend them there, and a proper force was employed. The native princes of the country quarrelled: the English aided some, and invaded others, and gradually subdued them, till the revenues derived from the India trade, and British possessions in India, amounted (1728) to 22,851,4241. The history of British India is very inter What may be supposed to be a remedy for these national grievances ! When were the English first established in India? What is the present extent of British power in India? |