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John, a despicable prince-Authur of Bretagne-John loses Normandy

quarrels with the Pope-persecutes the Jews-John makes submis

sion to the Pope-opposed by the barons-grants Magna Charta--De
pressed condition of the English people in this reign-John's death.

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CHAPTER XXXVII.

354

George II.-engages in a continental war-Prince Charles, the young
pretender kindles war in Scotland-advances into England-is forced
back defeated at Culloden-War in America with the French-Treaty
of Aix-la-Chapelle-George II. dies-The last of the Stuarts.

ENGLISH HISTORY.

THE BRITISH EMPIRE

Of all countries upon the globe there is none of which he history is more interesting to the American than Great Britain. To most of us it is the country of our ancestors, and is that from which our language and many of our institutions are derived. At the present time there is no nation upon earth of greater resources in learning and science, in wise men and useful arts; no nation, in despite of some traits of character which are neither to be admired or imitated, in which religion and literature, virtue and happiness, liberty of thought and freedom of speech, security of property and authority of law, are so generally enjoyed as in England.

We have only to go back in past time, a little more than eighteen centuries, and we shall find the present highly cultivated, civilized, and wealthy country of Great Britain, the abode of savage and hostile tribes, sunk in heathenism and ignorance, without comfortable habitations or decent garments.

Time was, when clothing sumptuous or for use
Save their own painted skins, our sires had none."
COWPER'S TASK.

At the present time, (1848,) the country which was once so rude and poor, is not only a powerful and rich kingdom within itself, but its dominions extends to every sea, and every quarter of the globe. The following account of the British Empire is taken from Hale's Geography.

THE KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

The kingdom of Great Britian consists of the ancient Kingdoms of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland Besides these, the British empire includes a great number of foreign possessions, viz :

In Europe, Gibraltar, the Island of Malta, in the Mediterranean sea, and Heligoland, in the German Ocean.

In America, Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, and New-Brunswick, Prince Edward's Island, and Newfoundland. Besides these Colonies, British America embraces extensive tracts of unsettled country north of Canada. Jamaica and other islands in the West Indies, also belong to the British.

Extensive possessions in India, New Holland, Van Diemen's Land, the Cape of Good Hope, and other parts of Africa, are subject to Britain.

ENGLAND AND WALES.

This country is bounded north by Scotland, east by the German Ocean, south by the English channel, which separates it from France, and west by St. George's channal, which separates it from Ireland. England consists of the southern part of the island of Great Britain, and Wales occupies the western part. England is divided into 40, and Wales into 12 counties.

The principal rivers in England, are the Thames, Severn, Medway, Trent, Ouse, Mersey, and Avon. The present population of England and Wales, is 16,000,000 About one-third of the inhabitants are employed in agri culture, and nearly half in trade, manufactures, and the mechanic arts. The nobility and great proprietors of land, being about one-sixth of the whole population, derive their subsistence from their estates.

England is the most commercial country in the world,

Of what does the kingdom of Great Britain and Ire.and consist? What are the British possessions in Europe ?--In An erica ?-Asia? -and Africa?

What are England and Wales, and how divided?

What is the population of England and Wales, 18331

How do the people subsist?

What is the commerce of England?

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