CHAPTER XXXVII. GEORGE THE THIRD-FROM 1760 TO 1820. I HAVE now to relate to you the history of the longest reign of any of our English kings,-that of George the third, who might justly be called, "the father of his people." He had been educated by his mother, and his piety, and strict integrity, reflected the greatest credit on her early training. Errors of judgment may occasionally have been imputed to him, but not a single stain rests upon his private character, which was exemplary in all the relations of husband, son, and father. The Bible was his rule of life, and he was scrupulously exact in the observance of all the means of grace, while his humility was so unfeigned, that, on one occasion, when a clergyman had praised him very much in a sermon, the king sent for him, and desired him to abstain from such flattery in future, as he went to church to hear God's praises, and not his own. George the third married, soon after his accession, the princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg Strelitz, an excellent woman, WAR WITH FRANCE. 375 who became the mother of a great many children, one of whom, Edward, duke of Kent, was the father of our beloved queen Victoria. The war with France was still carried on vigorously. Mr. Pitt, who was prime minister, foreseeing that a war with Spain also would become inevitable, advised that the first blow should be struck at once, instead of making peace with France. Finding his advice disregarded, he resigned his office, and was created earl of Chatham. He was succeeded by lord Bute. After all, the war with Spain was commenced, and England acquired many rich possessions in its course. Some of the West Indian Islands were taken from France; and the Havannah, in Cuba, and the Philippine Islands from Spain. At length peace was made in 1763, Canada and the Floridas were ceded to Great Britain, and the British power was much extended in the East Indies. The Havannah, however, was restored to Spain. The East India Company was originally established in the reign of queen Elizabeth; when a few English merchants obtained a charter to open a trade with that country, then principally engrossed by the Portuguese. In the course of time, the possessions of the Company increased into such importance as to become involved in the continental wars of England. The French especially, endeavoured to wrest them from us, and to extend their own dominions in India. Lord Clive had successfully resisted their encroachments, and made so many new acquisitions of territory, that it was become too gigantic an empire to be left solely in the hands of the Company. It was thought necessary to send out a viceroy, who, under the title of governor-general of India, represents the royal authority. Warren Hastings was the first who bore this title. He was afterwards impeached on a charge of cruelty and oppression in his government; but after a long trial, which gave rise to some of the most dazzling eloquence that ever woke the echoes of the houses of parliament, he was acquitted. You cannot but be struck, my dear children, with the gradual changes that have occurred in the destinies of our country in the course of ages. As it has been well remarked by a modern writer, "The history of England, instead of being as formerly the narrative of petty struggles between the feudal sovereign and his powerful vassals, now embraced the transactions of mighty empires in the east and west, with which the interests of British commerce and British ascendancy were closely interwoven." In the great empire IDOLATRY IN INDIA. 377 of India alone, millions of native subjects are living beneath the sway and protection of a British viceroy, and immense wealth is derived to our country from the productions and manufactures of that torrid clime. But we should remember, that it is not to increase our wealth alone that God has permitted so great an extension of our dominion among foreign nations. Wherever the British flag is planted there also should the Gospel be preached. Many missionaries have gone out, Bible in hand, on this labour of love; and in various parts of India, God has blessed their exertions to the turning of many poor heathens from the darkness of idolatry to the light of the Sun of Righteousness. But, alas! these are but as drops in the ocean, compared with the numbers yet unconverted, and offering up a horrid worship to false gods, whose attributes should rather entitle them to be called devils. Even in Calcutta, the very seat of British government, the streets are polluted by idolatrous processions, and the air too often resounds with the discordant music of some heathen rite, and the melancholy chant which calls the scarcely less deluded followers of Mahomet to the worship of their false prophet. From a residence of some years in that city, Aunt Anne can add her testimony to the truth of this sad statement, and confirm the sorrowful assertion of one of the most devoted of the missionaries to that benighted country, that even Christians find it difficult to maintain the spirituality of their faith uncontaminated amidst the universal depravity which there surrounds them. But it is thought by the most observant, that the reign of idolatry is drawing to a close in India, and that the blessed time approaches when "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." O may all who have it in their power contribute to so great an end! Every child who has a little pocket-money can offer its mite; and he who has no money can give his prayers. "The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into the harvest." "What, though the spicy breezes * Leupolt. |