Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

(1794). Vaccination introduced by Dr. Jenner (1796). Colonel Despard and six of his accomplices executed for conspiracy against the king (1803). Perceval, the prime minister, assassinated by Bellingham (1812).

[The Jesuits banished from France, 1762. Corsica conquered by the French, 1769. First partition of Poland by Russia, Prussia, and Austria, 1772. The Society of the Jesuits suppressed by Clement XIV, 1773. Death of the Pretender, 1788. The States-general assembled in France; Taking of the Bastile, 1789. Gustavus, king of Sweden assassinated, 1792. Louis XVI beheaded, 1793. Battle of Warsaw, 1794. Final partition of Poland, 1795. The French victorious on the continent; Battle of Lodi, 1796. Malta taken from the Knights of St. John, 1798. Battles of Marengo and Hohenlinden; Malta taken by the English, 1800. Murder of the Duke d' Enghien, 1804. Battle of Austerlitz, 1805. Battle of Maida; Battle of Jena, 1806. Battles of Eylau and Friedland, 1807. Battles of Abensberg, Landshut, Echmühl, and Ratisbon; Heroic resistance of the Tyrolese under Hofer and Spechbacher; Battles of Aspern, Raab, and Wagram, 1809. Bernadotte chosen Crown Prince of Sweden, 1810. Napoleon invades Russia, 1812. The German war, and battles of Lützen, Bautzen, Dresden, Katzbach, Gross Beeren, Dennewitz, Leipsic, and Hanau, 1813. Abdication of Napoleon; Congress of Vienna, 1814. Battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras, and Waterloo; Murat, ex-king of Naples, and Marshal Ney shot, 1815. The army of occupation withdraw from France, 1818.]

Death. From the year 1811 George III was the victim of confirmed insanity, and his son, the prince regent, exercised the functions of government. The aged king died at Windsor, Jan, 29, 1820.

NOTES ON THE REIGNS OF GEORGE I, II, III.

147

Notes on the reigns of George I, II, III.

The labours of Wesley and Whitfield indirectly influenced other sections of the Christian church, and much solicitude was exhibited towards the close of the eighteenth century for the spread of the truths of the gospel both at home and abroad. Sabbath Schools were founded by Robert Raikes about 1781; the Religious Tract Society in 1799; one or two Missionary Societies about the same time; and the British and Foreign Bible Society in 1804.

The first motion made in parliament for the abolition of the slave-trade was in 1776; but it was not till 1807 that an act was passed, chiefly through the labours of Wilberforce, for the cessation of the iniquitous traffic with our colonies.

The reign of George III is particularly memorable for those important inventions in machinery which have rendered England the first manufacturing country in the world. It was then that Hargreaves, Arkwright, Crompton, Cartwright, and Watt made those wonderful discoveries "which in their final results are destined to overspread and civilize the globe.” *

The earliest English painter of eminence was Hogarth; following him we have Reynolds, Gainsborough, West, Wilson, and other artists too numerous to mention. The Royal Academy was founded in 1768.

Rapid progress was made during the reign of George III in most branches of science, and among the most distinguished investigators were Black (1728-1799); Cavendish (1731— 1810); Hunter (1728-1793); Wollaston (1776-1828); Priestley (1733-1804); Sir William Herschel (1738-1822); Sir John Leslie (1766-1832); and Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829).

The most noted poets of the three reigns were Pope (16881744); Gay (1688-1732); Young (1681-1765); Savage (1698 -1743); Thomson (1700-1748); Shenstone (1714-1763);

Mahon's "History of England."

Gray (1716-1771); Collins (1720-1756); Akenside (17211770): Goldsmith (1728-1774); Cowper (1731-1800); Beattie (1735-1803); Chatterton (1752-1770); Burns (1759—1796); Crabbe (1754-1832); Rogers (1762—1855); Bloomfield (1766 —1823); Coleridge (1772—1834); Wordsworth (1770—1850); Scott (1771—1832); Montgomery (1771—1854); Southey (1774 —-1843); Campbell (1777—1844); Moore (1779—1852); Kirke White (1785-1806); Byron (1788-1824); and Keats (1796 -1820).

Among the principal theological writers were Bishop Butler (1692-1752); Bishop Warburton (1698-1779); Doddridge (1702—1751); Blair (1718—1800); Bishop Watson (1737— 1816); Paley (1743-1805); Robert Hall (1764-1831); John Foster (1770-1843); and Chalmers (1780-1847).

The historians were Hume (1711-1776); Henry (17181790); Robertson (1721-1793); Gibbon (1737-1794); and Mackintosh (1765-1832). The imaginative prose writers were Richardson (1689-1761); Fielding (1707-1754); Smollett (1721—1771); Miss Burney (1752—1840); Mrs. Radcliffe (1764 -1823); and Sir Walter Scott. The chief miscellaneous writers were Johnson (1709–1784); Adam Smith (1723—1790); Blackstone (1723-1780); Burke (1730-1797); Horne Tooke (1736 -1812); Hannah More (1745-1833); Bentham (1749-1832); and Sydney Smith (1771-1845).

GEORGE IV.

Reigned from 1820 to 1830.

Birth.-George IV was born at St. James's Palace, Aug. 12,

1762.

Descent.-He was the eldest son of his predecessor.

Marriage. He espoused Princess Caroline of Brunswick. Child.-Princess Charlotte, who married Prince Leopold of Saxe Coburg, and died in 1817.

Important Events.-A few days after the king's accession, a

plot, known as the Cato-street conspiracy, was formed to assassinate the cabinet ministers; but the traitors were detected, and five of them, including Thistlewood the principal, were executed (May 1, 1820).

In June, Queen Caroline, who for some years had resided abroad, returned to England to claim the rights of her station. On the alleged ground that she had been guilty of unchaste conduct, a bill of pains and penalties was introduced against her, but after a long trial it was abandoned. The unfortunate queen, who, whatever were her faults, had been cruelly treated by her husband, died in the following year.

In 1825 much distress resulted from a commercial panic which had been caused by excessive speculation; and in 1826 a war, which had for some time been going on in Burmah, was brought to a successful close.

In 1821 the Greeks rebelled against the Turkish government, and the contest continued for several years. Much sympathy was shown in England for the insurgents; and in 1827 the French, Russian, and British fleet under Sir Edward Codrington nearly destroyed the Turco-Egyptian fleet at NAVARINO (Oct. 20).

Lord Liverpool, who had been prime minister for fifteen years, was attacked by apoplexy in 1827, and Canning occupied his post; but the latter died in a few months. After a brief interval, the Duke of Wellington was placed at the helm of affairs. The Test and Corporation Acts, which imposed civil disabilities on Protestant dissenters, were repealed in 1828, and in the succeeding year the Roman Catholics secured nearly equal political privileges by the Catholic Emancipation Bill.

The severity of the criminal code was diminished in this reign; and the new police force was established in the metropolis. The London Mechanics Institute was founded (1823), and the London University opened (1828). Menai Suspension Bridge was completed (1826). A part of York Minster was burned by Martin, a fanatic (1829).

[Revolt of the Janizaries at Constantinople, 1826. Russia declares war against Turkey, 1828. Treaty of Adrianople, by which Turkey recognises the independence of Greece, 1829.] Death.-George IV expired at Windsor, June 26, 1830.

WILLIAM IV.

Reigned from 1830 to 1837.

Birth.-William was born at Buckingham House, August 21, 1765.

Descent. He was third son of George III.

Marriage. He espoused Princess Adelaide of Saxe Meiningen. They had no surviving issue.

Important Events.-The revolutions in France and Belgium, which were almost contemporaneous with the king's accession, increased the desire for parliamentary reform, which had been for some time manifesting itself in England; and in 1832, after much resistance on the part of the Tories, and a few popular disturbances, a Reform Bill was passed under the auspices of Earl Grey. This measure greatly increased the political influence of the middle class, as all ten-pound householders in parliamentary boroughs were, under certain conditions, entitled to vote at the elections.

The ensuing year an end was put to West Indian slavery, as far as England was concerned, by an act which declared that on August 1, 1834, all children under six years old should be free, and that all other persons should after a limited period of apprenticeship obtain the same right.

The Liverpool and Manchester railway was opened (1830). The cholera first appeared in England; the new London Bridge was opened (1831). The Poor Law Amendment Act was passed; The Houses of Parliament were destroyed by fire (1834). The Municipal Corporation Act (1835). The Commutation of Tithe Act (1836).

[Abdication of Charles X of France, and accession of Lou

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »