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This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X y 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X The copy filmed her* has been reproduced thanks to the generosity of: Seminary of Quebec Library L'exentplaire film* fut reproduit grAce k la ginArositi de: S, Kl '' ..fi »C ^' ', -it'-' '•%^J. 'IJELilf If ' a'' I I > \.<\ pzirisroox's oatsoh THE CATECHI OP THE xv'#afc^^ m HISTORY OF ENGLAli^b FROM ITS , . EARLIEST PERIOD TO THE • . , -. REIGN OF WILLIAM THE FOURTH ; WRITTEJSr IJV EASY LAJVG UAGE FOR THE USE OF YOUNG VEO^im::: \ y i LONDON :\ PRINTED FOR G, B. W^OTAI^ER ^ RE-PUBLISKED AND SOLD BY C. HrBELCHER, HALIFAX, N. S. 1837. S%1^ \\ ' «'fj^*" ':' ■■■T ^, .J-},-;. ADVERTISEMENT. The little Catechism now offered to the Public, is designed to give British Youth a knoyfledge of the History oj their Native Country, It contains a f ami- liar description of the most remarkable events that have occurred, from the period when the inhabitants were barbarous and uncultivated, to the present time. The whole is intended to be committed to memory at an early age, as comprising an Epitome of that with which every one should be familiarly acquainted ; and forms a very proper Introduction to Pinnock's Improv- ed Edition ofDr, Goldsmith'* s History of England, ^ •■■>..■., ,:i«^ifcfeijJv^«i:Ji'v. CATECHISM OF THE •s . HISTORY OF BNGLimrD* CHAPTER I. Of the Original Inhabitants of Great Britain. Question, Whence is the origin of the first inha- bitants of Great Britani Answer. Their origin is not to be traced with any degree of certainty : the earlier history of this coun- try, as of all others, being extremely vague and romantic, Q, What is the general opinion as to the first in- habitants of this island ? A. The most general, and indeed the only pro- bable opinion is that Britian was peopled at various times from different parts of the continent of Eu- rope ; but th^ precise time when the first settlement took place is unknown. Q. What is the earliest account of the Britons to which we can give credit 1 A. The earliest received account is, that a colony of the subjects of Teutat, king of the Celtae*, em- barking from the coast of France, landed and settled without opposition on the coast of Great Britain. Q. With what view did the Celtas settle on the coasts of Great Britian 1 * The Celta were originally from Celtic Gaul, which country was situated between the river Seine aud the Garonne. Vague, a. unsettled, not clearly ascertained. Roman'tic, a. wild, improbable, fictitious. , .' -if:'- 4 CATECHISM OP THE A. With'"' intention of increasing and extend- ing their commerce, to which they were induced and encouraged by their sovereign, who, on account of his attachment to the commercial interests of the people, was styled mer-cur^ or merchant ; and hence we nave the name of merchant. Q. Who also established themselves in Britain 1 A. The Belgae, a colony from the province of Bretagne, in the north of France. Q. What is the origin of the Celtse and the Belgae 1 A. They were two branches of the Gauls, who were supposed to have been descended from Gomer the son of Japhet, youngest son of Noah. CHAPTER 11. IV. > :^ Description of the Ancient Britons. What is the general character of the ancient Britons 1 , ■ A. In person they were tall, well proportioned, and robust ; they stained their bodies with a sea- weed, called woad, which not only defended the pores of the skin from the inclemency of the weather in winter, but gave them o. formidable and tremend* ous appearance in their manner ; they were consider- ed a brave, warlike and generous people, and they were particularly remarked for their honesty and sincerity. Q* What was their usual dress 1 A. The dress of the chief persons was a kind of party-coloured plaid, which descended from the waist to the middle of the leg ; but this they must Bobust', a. strong, healthy, vigorous* wit Pore, s. a hole or passage in the skin. Inclem'ency, s. severity, roughness. I^'or'inidable; a terribly, dreadful, frightfuL HISTORY OF ENGLA^D. ex the Belgas settled amongst them ? A. Milk, and the flesh of such animals as they killed in hunting ; their common drink was water ; but when the Bclgse came over from Gaul, they brought with them some knowleda;^ of agriculture y and soon taught the inland inhabitttits the art of cultivating their land, so as to produce the grain necessary for making that wholesome food which we distinguish by the name of bread. vi/' ir Q. Who were the inland inhabitants 1 A. The Celtae, who left the sea-coast, and were succeeded by the Belg«. Q. Of what grain jdid the Ancient Britons make their broad 1 A. Sometimes of wheat only, but most commonly of wheat, rye, and barley, mixed together. Q. What was the |Tovernment of the early Britonsi A. Patriarchal ; the head of each familj^ being answerable to the neighbouring tribes for the con- duct of the whole family. '„.»■(: Encamp'ment, .«{. a field of tents, which are generally form-* \* ed of canvas stretchetl upon poles. Di'et, s. food, provisions for satisfying hunger. Agriculture, s. the art of tilling and manuring the ground fcoas to make it fruitful. ,. • Patriar'chal, a. relating to a patriarch, or the father of a family or tribe. The word patriarch is derived from two Greek words, signifying fathnr and chief* SlP^j-S '■>■ con- tonn-i oun4 of a from *. ', i'.'» v(- tV-'l.' .i\ HISTORY OF E?fGLAND. |^ ' i CHAPTER III. iV/ -'f^rvU Of ^^c different Orders among the •Ancient BrttcM, Q. What were the several orders of the ancient Britons 1 A. They were divided into three classes, answer- ing to our nobility^ clergy y and commonalty ; the last of whom were little better than slaves, being depen- dent upon the other two. Q. What was the condition of the nobility ? A. The nobility were considered in f* Jir several states as princes, or chiefs, each being the lord of a certain district. Q. Who were the commonalty 1 ■' ' A. The people of the lower rank, the common or poor people. •, ■< CHAPTER IV. ' ' ' Of the Clergy among the Ancient Britons, ., , Q,. How were the clergy of the ancient Britons ♦divided 1 A. Into three orders ; namely, the Druids, Bards, and Vates ; these had the whole care of religion,. laws and learning. Q. Which was the chief of these orders 1 A. The Druids who had the inspection of air public affairs, under the authority of the high priest, ' Nobility, s, the chiefpersonsof the kingdom, who, by their honours and titles, are exalted above the clergy and ' commons. Cler'gy, .ar^ enlightened, adorned. Celes'tial, a. heavenly. Inspira'tion, s. wisdom, divine wisdom. Ail infusion of ideas by a superior power. HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 9^ Q. What was the religion of the ancient Britons 1 A. Idolatry of the worst kind, for they sometimes offered human sacrifices to their false gods. ' ' Q, What plant did the Druids hold in high esti- mation, and what inanimate objects did they worship'? A. They reverenced the mistletoe and oak, and worshipped rocks, stones and fountains. Q. What became of the Druids 1 A. The greater part of them were put to death by the command of the Roman Emperor Nero. Q. How are we informed of the different events that took place among the Ancient Britons, as it ap- pears they were ignorant of writing and printing 1 A. By their bards, or poets, to whom was intrust- ed the record of national events. CHAPTER V. Of the Governments ivhich existed in Britain before William the Conqueror. Q. Who successively governed England before its conquest by William, duke of Normandy?* * A very rich and fertile province of France. Normandy was conquered by the Normans, a people from Demmark and Norway, under Rollo, in the year 912 ; hence this country received its name. Idol 'atry, s. worship of images, or false gods, being that worship paid to the creature which is due only to the Creator, God. Hu^man, a. belonging to or like man. Sacrifice, s. any thing offered up or destroyed. Human sacrifices — men murdered and made an offering. Mis'tletoe, s. a plant of which there is only one kind in Eu- rope. It never grows on the ground, but always re- ceives its nourishment from some other plant, as the oak, apple-tree, pear-tree, &c. It is sometimes spelled mistletoe, or misseltoe, . 10 CATECHISM OF THE A. It was sutfpessively governed by, 1. The Britons, the original inhabitants ; 2. The Romans ; 3. The Saxons, a people of Germany ; 4. The Danes, natives of Denmark. CHAPTER VI. Invasion of England by Julius Coisar. Q. Who first invaded Britain ? A. The Romans, under Julius Caesar, 53 years before Christ. Q. Did thf? Britons oppose the Romans ? A. Yes ; and several battles ensued, but the Britons being defeated, were compelled to sue for peace ; yet, after a short campaign^ Caesar was obliged to return into Gaul. Q. Did Caesar return again to England ? A. Yes ; in the following summer, with a great increase of force, an army of twenty -thousand foot a considerable body of horse, and a fleet of eight hundred ships. f Q. Who was the commander of the British forces in the time of Julius Caesar 1 , A. Cassivelau'nus, king of the Trinoban'tes. * The inhabitants of Rome, the chief city of Italy, and at one period the capital of the whole world. It received the name of Rome from Romulus, its founder. As this city was situated in the province of Latium, the inhabitants were sometimes called Latini or Latins ; hence the Roman Language is called the Latin Lartgtiage* Ancient Rome, in its full height of power, is said to have been four times as large as London, having had a population of four millions. At present it contains about 200,000 inhabitants, being no more than one twentieth part of its former number. f The Roman ships or vessels were principally gallies, with card. Campaign', s. that space of time that an army keeps the field, without going into winter quarters. lilies, field, HISTORY OP ENGLAND Q. Did the Britons oppose th Caesar 1 A. Yes ; but the contest vanced into the country, capital of Cassivelau'nusf, submit to a yearly tribute ; he again withdrew his for the Britons remained quiet CHAPTER VI History of Britain in the time of the Romans, Q. Who was the next Roman emperor that undertook to conquer Britain 1 A. Claudius Caesar, the fourth emperor of Rome ; but he did not complete his purpose. Q. What British king made a noble stand against him ? A. Carac^tacus, though he was at last taken cap- tive, and carried to Rome. Q. What was his exclamation when led in triumph through Rome 1 * Verulam was situated in Hertfordshire, now St.Alban's. It has also been named Verola'mium. f In the time of Cassivelau'nus, Britain was divided into a great number of petty states or kingdoms, each having- a king or chieftain of its own ; ^nd as Cassivelau'nus was much celebrated for his great prudence and valour he was elected to the supreme command by the other chiefs, and fixed his residence at Ver'ulam. — Ccesars^s Commentaries. Trib'ute, s. a tax which one prince or state is obliged to pay another, as a token of dependence. Con'tinent, s. a tract of land containing many kingdoms, as Europe. ^ Cap'tive, s. a person taken in war and made a prisoner. Tri'umph, s. joy for success. A public and solemn honour. conferred by the Romans on a victorious general, by allowing him a magnificent or grand entry into the city, it CATECHISM OP THE A. " How is it possible, that a people possessed of so much magnificence at home should envy me an humble cottage in Britain V Q. What British queen opposed the Romans with great personal valour 1 A. Boadi'cea queen of the Ice'ni (the inhabitants of Norfolk and Suflfolk), but she was at last defeated and in one great battle, A. D. 61, lost eighty-thou- sand of her men. To avoid the insults of the Ro- mans, she poisoned herself. Q. Did the Romans, by this victory, completely conquer the British 1 A. No ; Britain was not completely conquered till 30 years afterwards, in the roign of Titus*, by Julius Agric'oki, who introduced the arts and sciences of the Romans. It was Agric'ola who defeated the ce- lebrated Gal'gacus on the { Vampian hills, when he made peace with the Caledoniansf . Q. On wha't occasion did the Romans build the famous wall from Carlisle to Newcastle ? A. To prevent the incursions of the PictsJ from Scotland. *Ti'tus Vespa'sian, a Roman emperor, and son of Ves- pa'sian. He was born A. D. 40. t The inhabitant Si of ancient Scotland. i The Piets were a people of Scotland also, but mentioned only by later writers. They were variously named Pechts, Pictif or PictSi and are supposed by some writers to have been so called from painting their naked bodies to terrify those they intended to attack. They are supposed to have originally emigrated from Scythia, into the northern parts of Britain, whence they annoyed the English for a long series of time. The Picts inhabited the Low Lands or the southern part of Scotland, and the Caledo'nians the High Lands, or the North of Scotland. N. B. For a particular account of these people see Cate- chistn of the History of Scotland. Magnificence, s. grandeur of appearance, consisting in buildings, clothes, or furniture. Splendour. !sessed of vy me an lans with liabkants defeated ity-thou- the Ro- mpletely lered till oy J ulius ences of i\ the ce- when he )uild the sj: from of Ves- entioned PechtSt to have terrify to have rn parts a long 5 or the e High e Gate- iting in HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 13 Q. Who huilt the great wall from the Forth to I the Clyde^ and for what purpose % * A. It was built by the Roman emperor Sev'erus, , and for the same purpose as the wall above men- tioned. Q. When did Sev'erus first land in England 1 A. In the year 208, Q. How long was it after that time before the Romans completely abandoned this country ? A. Two hundred and forty years afterwards, A.D. 488 ; their empire being much on the decline, they were not able to preserve so distant a province. Q. How many years were the Britons subject to the Roman power 1 A. About four hundred years. CHAPtER VUI. History of the Britons, from the Departure of the Romans to the Establishment oj the Saxon Hep- tarchy. . ; Q. What people took advantage of the abject state of the Britons when the Romans withdrew their forces 1 A, The Picts and Caledo'nians, the ancient inha- bitants of Scotland, ravaged and desolated the coun- try, merely for a supply of iheir temporary wants. Q. To whom did the Britons apply for aid to assist them in repelling their invaders ? Forth, s. one of the finest rivers in Scotland, emptying itself into the German Ocean, at Leith near Edinburgh. Clyde, 8. a fine and noted river in Scotland, passing by Glasgow, and falling into the Frith of Clyde. This river affords many romantic views, Tem'porary, a. continuing only for a time. Repealing, part, the act of driving back. Resis ing. B 14 CATECHISM OF THE A. The Britons first applied to the Romans, but without success ; they afterwards solicited succour and protection from the Saxons, who complied with the request. Q. Who were the Saxons 1 A. A people of Saxony, in the north of Germany. Q. When did the Saxons first send an army to assist the Britons, and under what commanders 1 A. They sent an army in 450, commanded by Hengist and Horsa, two brothers who were highly re- nowned for their valour, and said to be descended from Woden their chief idol. Q. Were the Saxons successful against the Scots'? A. Yes ; but they had no sooner discomfited them, than they turned their thoughts to the reduction of the Britons ; and, receiving large reinforcements of their countrymen, they reduced England under their power, and founded the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy*. Q. Did all the Britons submit to the Saxon powerl A. No ; )aany of them, rather than submit to the conquerors retired into Wales, then called Cambria, where they were sheltered by the inaccessible moun- tains of that country. Q,. What is the meaning of the word Heptarchy 1 A. It is derived from two Greek words, signi- fying seven and chief; hence it is applied to the Saxon power in England, which consisted of seven kings. Q. What part of Great Britain did the Saxon heptarchy include 1 * Anglo-Saxon, a compound adjective, from the words \Siigle And Saxon. The Anglo-Saxon heptarchy signifies that the people composing it were a mixture of Angles and Saxons, the former principally from Anglia, a province in Denmark , and the latter from Saxony. Soli^cited, parf. begged, asked. an( ans, but succour lied with ermany. array to ersl nded by ighlyre- 3scended le Scots'? ed them, uction of ments ot* der their rchy*. tipowerl lit to the !;Jambria, e raoun- s tarchy 1 , signi- B to the of seven 5 Saxon He words signifies gles and Dvince in HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 15 A. That part of Great Britain called England. Q. Name the several kingdoms of the heptarchy, and by whom they were founded. A. Their names were : — Kent, founded by Hengist. Sussex, Ella. Wessex, Cerdic. Essex, ErchenwJn. Northumberland,. . Ide and Ella. East Anglia, Uffa. Mercia, Crida. Q. Who were the most renowneid defenders of the Britons agaainst the Saxons 1 A. The celebrated Ambro'sius*, and the fe^ous king Arthur ; the latter was killed in battle about the year 546. Q. Did the Saxon princes continue long united 1 A. No ; in a short time they disputed about their several rights, and, after a series of wars, the whole of the heptarchy fell, and became subject to the pow- er of Egbert, king of Wessex, who caused himself to be'crowned at Winchester, by the title of King of England, A. D., 828, nearly 400 years after the first arrival of the Saxons in Britain ; and thus wa^ laid the foundation of the kingdom of England. CHAPTER IX. Of the English line of Kings. Q. Enumerate the English line of Kings. A. The Saxons, Danish, Norman, Plantagenet, Tu-* dor, Stuart, Orange or Nassau, and the line of Han- over or Brunswick. * Arnbro'sius, king of the Britons, was a native of Armo- rica (afterwards named Bretagne or Brittany) a province of France. He died at Winchester in 508. 16 ♦•■■ bATECHISM or THE Q. How many princes of each line 1 A. Teventeen Saxons, three rianes, four Normans, fourteen Plantagenets, five Tudors, six Stuarts, and five of the line of Brunswick. Q. Who was the first king of England 1 A. Egbert, as observed in the last chapter. Q. What people ravaged the coast of Britain dur- ing the reign of Egbert 1 A. The Danes, but they were frequently defeated. Q. Who succeeded Egbert 1 A, His son, Eth'ehvolf, in 838, during whose feeble reign the Danes often returned and continued their depredations but with little interruption. Q. How long did Eth'elwolf reign, and when did he die 1 A. He reigned twenty years, and died in 857. Q. What remarkable event happened in Scotland during the reign of Eth'elwolf 1 A. In this reign, the Picts, so formidable heretofore to the southern Britoi s, were entirely extirpated by their neighbours the Scots, after a long and terrible w .»r between them. Q. What part of Scotland did the Picts inhabit ? A. Scotland was divided into two parts, one called the Highlands, and the other the Lowlands : the Picts inhabited the latter. Q. What was the ancient name of the Highlands of Scotland 1 A. Caledonia; but this name, atone period, was applied to all Scotland, hence the Scots are some- times called Caledonians. Q. To whom did Eth'elwolf leave his dominions and royal power 1 A. To his second son, Eth'elbert ; after him to his third son, Eth'elred ; and then to Alfred, his youngest son ; who all in their turns succeeded to the crown. Q. What became of Eth'elbald, the eldest soni tei sej Et d( Extir^pated jiiar/. rooted out, destroyed. HIStblRY OF ENGLAND. 17 N^ormans, arts, and ^' ain dur- lefeated. se feeble ed their hen did !57. k'otland retofore fated by terrible nhabit ? B called Is : the hlands d, was some- linions A. While Eth^elwolf was at Rome, Eth'elbald en- tered into a conspiracy to dethrone his father, and seize the kingdom ; and made so great a party, that Eth'elwolf was obliged to give up to him the king- dom of Wessex, and to rest content with that of Kent for himself. Q. How long did Eth'elbald reign before his father's death, and how long after 1 A. Two years before his death, and two and half after his death. He died in 860. Q. Did any thing occur worthy - f remark in the reign of Eth'elbert 1 A. Nothing, except the incursions of the Danes. Q. How long did he reign, and when did he die 1 A. He reigned five years after the death of his brother, and died in 866. • Q. What happened in the reign of Eth'elred I ? A. The Danes made fhemnelves masters of Npr- ihumberland, and several other parts of England, but were strongly opposed by Eth'elred, who unfortu- nately received a mortal wound in a battle he' fought with them near Wittingham, A, D. 871, in the sixth year of his reign. He was succeeded by Alfred the Great. Conspir^acy, s. a plot, a private agreement between iwo or more persons to commit some crime. Incur'sion, s. an invasion of a country, not amounting to a conquest. Mor'tal, a. deadly, causing death. to his ungest rown. onl B2 18 CATECHISM or THE h^^ CHAPTER X. Of the Reign of Alfred the Great. Q. When did Alfred succeed to the crown of England 1 A. In the year 872, when the Danes were in the very heart of his dominions, and all the sea ports were filled with their fleets. Q. Did Alfred give them battle ? A. Yes ; and after many engagements, with va- rious success, he was obliged to dismiss his very at- tendants ; and having committed his wife and chil- dren to the care of some ot his trusty subjects, he disguised himself, and lived concealed in the little island of Athelney, in Somersetshire, a few miles below Taunton ; at length the Danes, finding they had no enemy to oppose them, grew negligent. Q. What did Alfred then do 1 " A. He disguised himself as a harper, or minstrel, and having entered the Danish camp, he made his observations, returned to his friends, assembled his troops, and completely routed the enemy. Q. What became of those who escaped 1 A. They fled to a castle, but were soon compelled to surrender to Alfred ; who pardoned them on con- dition that they and their leader, Guthrum, shoukl embrace Christianity ; to which they consented, and Alfred conferred on Guthrum the government of East Anglia and Northumberland. Q. What followed this victory ? A. Alfred was once more seated upon the throne, where he proved himself, with scarcely any excep- tion, the best king that ever reigned. Camp, s. the place occupied by the tents of an army.wnen they lodge in the field. i A HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 10 •own of ; in the I ports ith va- ery at- id chil- cts, he e little V miles ig they Q. Relate the remarkable events of Alfred^s reign besides his defeating the Danes. A. He founded the university of Oxford ; divided England into shires^ hundreds and tythings ; estab- lished a national militia ; encouraged learning and lisarned men : invented a way of measuring time by candles, which were made to burn eight hours each, there being at this period no clocks or watches ; and made the navy very respectable. Q. How long did Alfred reign? A. He reigned twenty-nine and a half years, dying October 28th, 901. CHAPTER XI. Of the Reigns of Edward, Athelstan^ Edmund, Edred, and Edwy. Q. Who succeeded Alfred the Great 1 A. His son, called Edward the Elder, who fought several battles with the Danes, and completely routed them; he afterwards marched against the Welsh, over whom he gained a decisive victory, and com- pelled the Welsh king, Rees ap Madock, to sue for peace, and promise to pay an annual tribute for the future. Q. How long did he reign, when did he die, and where was he interred 1 A. He reigned twenty-four years, died in 925, and 'was interred at Winchester. He was succeeded by his son Athelstan. Q. Did Athelstan perform any thing worthy of notice 1 A. Yes : he obtained a great victory over the Danes in Northumberland, after which he reigned in tran- /•• Univer'sity, s. a school or collection of college!., where iall the arts and sciences are taught. [Shire, s. a division of a kingdom, the same as county, ■^.'dkf-e^if^jt'i^-; ^ CATKCHISM OP TtiK • qiiillity, being Regarded as one of the ablest kitigl of those ancient times. He died in the year 94], and ivas succeeded by his brother Edmund I. Ct. What events happened In the time of Edmundl A. Soon after Edmund began to r^ign, the Danes revolted, and recovered Northumberland, Cumber- land, and Mercia ; but these places were retaken by Edmund. Q. What was the manner of Edmund's death 1 A. He was stabbed at a feast in Gloucester by Leolf, a robber, whom he had sei\tenced to banish^ ment ; he was succeeded by his brother Eured, 946. Q. What events happened in this reign '/ A. The Danes, according to their custom upon the accession of a new king, revolted, and gained over to their side Malcolm, king of Scotland, but Edred marched against them, and obliged Malcolni to sue for peace, and to renew his homage for the lands which he held in England. Q. What churches and monasteries did Edred re- build 1 A. He rebuilt Glastonbury church and monastery^ also Croyland and Abingdon monasteries. Q. How long did he reign 1 A. He reigned nine years, died in 955, and was succeeded by Edwy, the son of Edmund. Q,. What event happened in the reign of Edwy ? A. In the reign of Edwy, Duastan, a proud abbot, who pretended to be a saint, raised Vifaciion against 'Hom'age, s. service, reverence, respect, submission per- formed to a sovereign or superior, Mon'astery, s. a religious house, & convent to which per- sons retire on a religious account. Abbot, s. the chief ruler of a monastery, or abbey ; if a female, she is styled abbess. Saint, s. a person eminent for piety and virtue. Fac'tioA, 8. a party, a tumult, sedition. A HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 91 ihgl of U, and Imundl Danes umber- iken by ithl ster by banish^ Jd, 946. in upon gained nd, but ralcolm for the red re- lastery, id was Idwy? abbot, igainst ion per- ch per- y ; if a him, and becan. . so powerful, that Ed wy was obliged to divide the kingdom with his brother Edgar. He died after a reign of about four years, and was buried at Winchester. CHAPTER XH. Of the Reigns of Edgar, Edward, Ethelredf and Edmund Ironside, Q. By whom was Edwy succeeded 1 A. By his brother Edgar, in-956, whose reign was one continued calm, without any wars or commotions; this was owing to his agreement with Dunstan and the powerful monks, and to his vast preparations both by sea and land, 80 that none dared to attack him ; and, without striking a blow, he obliged the kings of Wales, Ireland, and the Isle of Man, to acknowledge him for their sovereign. Q. What rapacious animals infested England in the time of Edgar, and how did he destroy thenil A. These animals werewolves; and in order to extirpate them, Edgar changed the tribute which the Welsh used to pay in money, into so many wolves* heads, to be paid every year ; this expedient, in a few years, effectually cleared the country, and there have been no wolves in England since, except- ing those brought from abroad. Q. What other particulars relate to Edgar 1 A. He encouraged foreigners to settle in England, reigned sixteen years, died in 975, aged thirty-one, and was interred at Glastonbury. He was succeeded by his son Edward the Martyr, who w^as murdered Rapa^'cious a. ravenous, greedy. Infes't, V. to harass, trouble or plague. .<.r^' 22 CATECHISM OP THE m at the instigation of his mother-in-law ElfriMa, after reigning three years and a half. Q,, By whom was Edgar succeeded ? A. By his half-brother Eth'elred, the second son of Edgar and Elfri'da. Q. What events happened in this reign 1 A. In this reign the Danes again invaded England ; they at first landed near Southampton in 981, and for ten years afterwards there was nothing but plunder- ings, conflagrations, muyders, and every imaginable misery. Q. What did Eth'elred do to prevent the depre- dations of the Danes. A. He purchased their forbearance with great sums of money, and made an alliance with Richard the Second, duke of Normandy, by marrying Emma, sister to that prince. Q. What barbarous act did Eth'elred commit to rid himself of the Danes / A. All the Danes who resided in England, except those in East Anglia and Mercia, were, by his orders, massacred in one day, the festival of St. Brice, Nov. 13th, 1002. Q. What did Sweyn king of Denmark do when he heard of this bloody acti A. He declared he would never rest till he had avenged so monstrous an outrage ; and thereupon equipping a fleet of two hundred ships, he invaded the country, not for plunder as before, but to des- troy it with fire and sword. Q,. What was the result of this Danish expedition? Instiga'tion, a. the act of urging to a crime. Alliance, s. an union ietween different parties for their mutual defence. ( A n union by marriage.) Mas'sacred, part, murdered. Equip'ped, 2)af ^ fitted out, furnished. Expedition, s. a march or voyage with an intent to attack an enemy. (Speed, haste.) P t «.•, HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 23 da, after ;ond son England ; , and for plunder- aginable 5 depre- ^at sums lard the Emma, mmit to , except i orders, e, Nov. ivhen he I he had ?reupon nvaded to des" idition 1 for their A. Sweyn soon arrived in England, ma4e great havoc among the Brit'nns, obliged them to pay him a large sum of money, and, after a long struggle, com- pelled Eth'elred to take refuge in the court of his bro- ther-in-law, Richard duke of Normandy, 1013. Q. Did Eth^elred return to England any morel Q. Shortly after, Sweyn dying, the nobility invited Eih'elred to return; but he did not long enjoy the throne, for Canute, the successor of Sweyn, proved to be as powerful an enemy as his predecessor. Q. How long did PJth'elred reign"? A. Thirty-seven years : he died in 1016, and was succeeded by his son Edmund; sometimes called Ed- mund Ironside, on account of his hardy valour. Q. What events happened in this reign? A. Numerous contentions between the English and Danes under Canute ; who at last agreed to di- vide the kingdom. Q. What was the character of Edmund*? A. This prince, during his short reign, exhibited proofs of the most wnrfauniec' courage, invincible for- titude, consummate prudence, and sublime generosity. Q. What occasioned his death, and w^here was he interred 1 A. He was treacherously murdered in 1017, at Oxford, and interred at Glastonbury, and thus made way for the succession of Canute the Dune, to the crown of England : at this era the Saxon Monarchy had lasted 190 years from Egbert's establisjiment : 4'S2 from the foundation of the heptarchy ; and 568 from the arrival of Ilengist. attack Re'^uge, s. a shelter from danger. Predeces'sor, s. one going before, ananccBlor. Exhib'ited part, displayed, shown. Undaunted, p«r^ not daunt'ed, very bold, daring. Forti'tude, s. great courage, bravery. Con sum mate, a. complete, perfect. Subli'me, a. high in excellence. 24 CATECHISM OF THE ;•,. < CHAPTER XIII. Of the Danes in England.. Q. What were the names of the Danish kings who reigned in England ? A. ]. Canute the Great ; 2. Harold I. 3. Hardicanute. Q. Who succeeded Edmund Ironside 1 A. Canute the Great, who was proclaimed king of England in the year 1017 ; he divided England into four parts, namely Mercia, Northumberland, East Anglia, and Wessex, and made the government of England such, that every person should be treated alike. Q. Relate a remarkable anecdote that is recorded of that prince 1 A. It is said, that as he was walking one day by the sea side at Southampton, and his flatterers were extolling him to the skies,and even comparing him to God himself, he, to covince them of their folly and impiety^ caused a chair to be brought to him, and seat- ing himself while the tide* was rising, he turned him- self to the sea, and said, *' O sea, thou art under my jurisdiction, and the land where I sit is mine ; I com- mand thee to come no farther, nor to presume to wet thy sovereign's leet." "* The tides are two periodical motions of the sea, called the Jiux and reflux, or the flow an& ebb. The tide is said to flow when it rises or approaches the land ; and to ebb ■when it recedes or flows backwards towards the sea The cause of the tides is the attraction of the sun and moon, but chiefly the latter. Impi'ety, s. ungodliness, wickedness Jurisdiction, s. power, authority. lish kings d king of and into nd, East nment of B treated recorded p day by rs were ighini to Jly and nd seat- led him- ider my I com- e to wet la, called e is said to ebb a The 5on, but ! HISTORY OP ENKLAND. ^ Q. What followed this vain and pompous com- mand 1 / :. ; A. The tide coming as usual, he thence took oc- casion to let his base flatterers know, that none but the King of Heaven, wliom the sea and land obey, deserve the titles, they impiously bestowed upon him. After which, it is said, he would never wear a crown, but caused it to be put on the head of a cruci- fix at Winchester. Q. How long did Canute reign 1 A. Eighteen years. He died in the year 1035, and left three sons ; Sweyn, who had Norway ; Ha-> rold, England ; and Hardicanute, Denmark. Q. What events happened iii Harold's reign T A. None of importance. He died in 1039, without issue^ in the fourth year of his reign, and was suc- ceeded by his brother Hardicanute. -A CHAPTER XIV. • Of the Reign of Hardicanute. Q, What events happened in the reign of flar'di- canute. A. He brought with him to England fifty Danish ships; and soon after he was crowned, he laid a heavy tax upon the nation to pay his fleet, which he sent back to Denmark. This occasioned a great mur- muring and discontent among the people. Q. Did the nation quietly submit to this taxi A. No ; the people of Worcester opposed it with great violence, and two of the persons employed to collect it were killed ; which so incensed the king, that he sent the dukes of Wessex and Mercia, and Cru'cifix. s. a representation of our Saviour on the cross. Is'sue, s. offspring, children. Incen sed,2)ar^ provoked. ' D ■■ r il,'! rm 0AT»€flI8M or THl n ■•it m ilbf»>e«rl of 'Northumberland! with their forces against Worcester, who, after plundering the city for four days, burnt it to the ground. iQ^ What was his general character, and how long .did Jie reign 1 .; A. Me was hfutaUy cruel and vindictive, and iitfa- MQU^for gluttony Vina drunkenness ; he died suddenly ,as he WAS carousing at the wedding of a Danish lord at Lambeth . Q. What was the conduct of the English at his death ? A. They rejoiced; and for several centuries after, observed the day of bis death, June 8th, as a holiday, by the name' of Hoctide 1 Q. In what year did he die? A. In the year 1041, and in the second year of his reign. With him ended the monarchy of the Danes in England, .after it had lasted about twenty-six years though the invasions of these barbarians had harassed the kingdom 250 years. mei r CHAPTER XV. &AXON LINE RESTORED. OJ the Reign of Edward the Confessor, and oj Harold the Second, Q. Who succeeded Hardicanute ? Bru'tally, ad» savagely, inhumanly. Vindicative, a. given to revenge, revengeful, In'famous, a. notorious, vile. Glut 'tony s. excess in eating. Drunk' ennessi, «. excess in drinking strong liquors, or the habit of getting drunk. Carou'8ing,j9art. drinking freely. Lam'beth, s. a village joining London. niSTORT or EirOLANV. 2f es against y for four how long and ir\fa- suddenly inish lord ish at his ries after, 31 holiday, ear of his he Danes venty-six rians had / Harold nfessor* of Elh'felred \. Edward the ( itnma ; who had speni greai pan oi ms me in x^or- mandy. Q. What events happened in the reign of Edward t A. He abolished for ever the tax called Danegelt, lirhich amounted to forty thousand pounds a year, and ||ad been levied for thirty-eight years. f Q. Whom did he marry 1 • A. The daughter of Earl Godwin, an English no- feman of Saxon descent. ; Q,. What, other events happened in the reign of Edward, besides those already mentioned 1 A. Edward built Westminster Abbey, he collect- ed the Saxon laws and customs into one body, which Were thence called by his name, and was the first Monarch who touched for the king's evil, \ Q. By whom was Edward succeeded 1 A. By Harold the Second, son of Earl Godwin, who had all the qualifications requisite for forming a great prince. Q. What events happened in this reign 1 A. In this reio;n, England was invaded by the Nor- fiians under William the Conqueror, who obtained Ihe croY«n by the famous battle of Hastings, which 0ost Harold his life. ^ i Q. Where did William the Conqueror land his forces, when he came over from Normandy 1 A. At Pevensey, in Sussex, Sept 29th, 1066, whence he marched along the shore as far as Hast- ings, where, on the 14th of October was fought the s, or the * He was surnamed the Confessor on account of hiii |iety. Ipa'negelt, s, a tax formerly imposed on the people of Eng-r land by the Danes, on their frequent invasions, as the rbitrary terms of peace. i 28 CATECHISM OF THE battle above mentioned ; and the brave Harold fell in his country's cause ; after a turbulent reign of nine months and nine days ; with him totally ended the empire of the Anglo-Saxons in England, which had begun in the person of Hengist, above five hun- dred years before. A TABLE Of the Kings and Qiieens of England from the Conquest. The Norman Line (a). Reigned from William I. 106t) to 1087 William IL 1087 to 1100 House of Blots, (b) Henry I. 1100 to 1135 Stephen 1135 to 1154 The Plania^enetSf (c). Reigned from Henry IL 1154 to 1189 Richard L 1189 10 1199 John 1199 to 1216 Henry III. 1216 to 1272 Edward 1. 1272 to 1307 .., II. 1307 to 1327 Id. 1327 to 1377 Richard II. 1377 to 1399 i (a) Q. What is meanl by the JVorman Xi/ie of the king» i of England ? A. The J^orman Line so named from William the Conqueror, who came from Normiindy in France. (b) Q. Whence is the name of the House of Blots I A. This House is so named from Adela (the seventh child of William the Conqueror,) who was married to the Count of Blois , of France. (c) Q. Whence have we the name of the Plantagenet Race ? A From Henry the Second, who was the son of Matilda, the second child of Henry the First, and Geoffrey Plantagenet, duke of Anjou, in France. HisT(yi;T OF mvrat»Avn, 29 [arold fell t reign of Jly ended id, which ) five hun- id from is, (c). jned from 4 to 1189 9 to 1J99 9 to 1216 6 to J 272 2 to 1307 to 1S27 7 to 1377 7 to 1399 the kings "^illiam the Blois > e seventh ied to the fitagenet le son of Geoffrey The House of LancaS' ter (d). Reigned from Henry IV. 1399 to 1413 Henry V. 1413 to 1422 Henry VI. 1422 to 1461 The House of York (e) Edward IV 1461 to 1482 Edward V. 1483 Richard III. 1483 to I4S5 7'he House of Tudor (f) Henry VII. 1485 to 1509 HenryVin.l509to 1547 Edward VI. 1547 to 1551 fMary 1553 to 1558 ;l Elizabeth 1558 to 1603 The Hoxue of Stuart (g) Reigned from James I. 1603 to 1629 Charles I. 1625 to 1649 [The Commontoealth] Charles IL 1660 to 1685 James II. 1685 to 1688 [The Revolution] 1688 WilliamIII.]689tol702 Anne 1702 to 1714 House of Brunstvick or Hanover (h) George I. 1714 to 1727 George II. 1727 to 1760 George III. 1760 to 1820 George IV. 1820 to 1830 WiWifkmlVJSSOvivatRex (d) Q. Whence have we the name of the House of Lancaster ? A. This House is so named from Henry the Fourth, who was son of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster. John of Gaunt was the fifth child of EMward the Third (e) Q. Whence is the name of the House of York ? A. This name is derived fromEdward the Fourth, son of Richard, duke of York, who !vas lineally descended ^rom Lionel, duke of Clarence, the second son of Edward the Third. (f) Q. Whence is the name of the House of Ihidor ? A, This House received, its name from Henry the Seventh, who was the son of .^argarc* and Edmund Tu- dor. Margaret was a lineal descendant from John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster. Edmund Tudor was the son of Owen Tudor, who married the widow of Henry the Fifth, (g) Q. Whence is the origin of the House of Stuart ? A. From James the First, who was the son of Mary, I^Queen of Scots, and Henry Stuart 9 earl of Darnley. (h) Q. Whence is derived the name of the JEfonte of irunsvficki m 30 CATECHISM OF THK ^ vv; CHAPTER XVI. Of William the Conqueror. Q. Who was William the Conqueror 1 A. The Natural son of Robert the First, duke of Normandy. Q. What is meant by the Norman Conquest ? A. The Conquest of England by William the Nor- man. Q. What pretence had William to the sovereignty of England 1 A. He pretended, that Edward, the last kincf of the Saxon line, during his stay in Normandy, whither he was obliged to fly on account of the usurpation of the Danes, had, in gratitude for the favours he had received, promised him his kingdom ; which at his death, William came over to claim. Q. When was William crowned king of England 1 A. On Christmas day, in the year J066. Q. What were the principal events in the time of William the Conqueror'? A. Doomsday-book was compiled; the curfew- bell established ; shcrij^s, and the four terms of law 3 it ^S 0^ f 3. -:('!' A. From George the First, who was the eldest son ofErnestus Augustus, duke (afterwards elector) of Bruns- wick Luneburgh, (for Hanover), by PrincessS©phia, daugh- ter of Frederic, king of Bohemia, and of Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of king James the Firs'. The Electors of Brunswick Luneburgh are morecommonly called Elector of Hanover. It is lo be observed, that the House of Brunswick is divided into two lines, that of Luneburgh and Wolfenbuttelj so named from the cities of Luneburgh and Wolfenbuttel, the residences of the former princes. The younger branch is that of Brunswick-i^uneburgh, the present line of the kings of England; and the elder branch of Bruns- wick, Wolfenbuttel, the line of the noble and heroic duke of Brunswick, who gloriously fell, in avenging his coun- try's cause, at Quatre-Bras, on the 15th of June, 1815. She'riflF, s. the chief officer of a county who is intrusted with the execution of the laws ; he is chosen yearly. t, duke of uestt the Nor- vereignty nsfof the whither pation of rs he had :h at his Jngland 1 3 time of curfew- 5 of law Idqst son )f Bruns- , daugh- 3eth, the dors of Elector louse of irgh and jrgh and s. The ! present f Bruns- ^icduke is coun« }15. 1 trusted m HISTORY OF ENGLAND. appointed ; the New Forest in Hampshire laid out ; and the feudal law introduced. Q. What was doomsday-book 1 A. An account of the vahie of every man's estate, and of the cattle and servants upon it. Q. What was the curfew-bell 1 r|i A. A bell ordered to be rung every night at eight ^o'clock, when the Engfljsh ^vere obliged to put out their fires and candles. Q. What was the feudal-law, or feudal tenure 1 A. An cstale in land, given by the lord to his vassals instead of wages, upon condition of their as- sisting the lord in his wars, or doing him some other service. The vassal was obliged to appear in the field upon the lord's summons to follow his standard, [to protect his person, never to desert him in danger, and to pay aids and taxes. Q. What invention took place in this reign? A. That of musical notes, by a Frenchman. Q. What was the chnracter of William 1 A. He was a prince of great courage, capacity, and ambition ; politic^ stern, and vindictive. His stature was rather low, but his body large and powerful, his constitutionj robust, and his bones and muscles so >strong, that there was hardly a man of that'age who could bend his bow or handle his arms. Q. What were the dominions of William 1 A. England and Normandy. He reigned in Nor- mandy twenty-two years, and twenty-one in England. ; He died Sept. 9th, 1087, in the 61st year of his age. Vas'sal, s. a dependent, a slave. > Sum'mons, s. a call of authority, a demand. I Stand'ard, s. an ensign, a flag. t Pol 'itic, rt. relating to the art of government. ? Constitu'tion, s. a frame of body or mind ; form of govern- ment. ^ i CATECHISM OF TRC CHAPTER XVII. Of the Reigns of William RiifuSf Hennf the Firsi^ and Stephen, Q. WHd succeeded William the Conqueror t A. His third son, William Rufus, who, in the thirteenth year of his reign, was shot by accident, as he was hunting in the New Forest, A. D. 1100. He was buried at Winchester. Q. What was his character? A. He was courageous almost to ferocity, and seems to have been endued with very few virtues. Q. What were his dominions 1 A. England and Normandy. Q. Had he any children ? A. No. Q,. What were the remarkable events of his reign ? • A. The crusades, or holy wars, were set on foot ; the design of which was to recover the Holy Land, and especially Jerusalem, out of the hands of the Saracens. In 1081), William re-built London-Bridge raised a new wall round the tower, and erected the famous hall at Westminster. Q. Why was he named Rufus 1 A. On account of his red hair, and florid com- flexion. Q. Who was the successor of William I1 1 A, Henry the First, named 6eauclerk,or the Scho- lar, on account of his great learning : he was the youngest son of William the Conqueror. Q. Whom did he marry ? A. Matilda, daughter of Malcolm, king of Scot- land. Q. What event happened in the reign of Henry ! A. His only son, William, and a natural daughter, were lost in sight of the English shore in their pas- Sar'acens, b. the inhabitants of Arabia. Flor'id, a. flushed with red ; red Complexion, «. the colour of the face. :.''' :-^ :.<-^ HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 33 he First, 'ort , in the dent, as 100. He ity, and tues. 8 reign ? on foot ; y Land, 9 of the -Bridge cted the id com- e Scho- iras the f Scot- 3enry ! ugbter, eir pas- age from Normandy, by the unskilfulness of the ilots^ which affected Henry so deeply, that he never miled afterwards. Q. What was his character, and when did he die ? A. He was an excellent monarch for the age in Ivhich he lived, of noble presence, valiant and politic. fie died 1st December 1 135, aged sixty -seven, having teigned thirty-five years. Q. Who succeeded Henry the First 1 A. Stephen of Hlois nephew of Henry, and son of dela, the fourth daughter of William the Conque- or. ThoughStephen had taken the oath of allegiance o Maud or Matilda, the daughter of Henry the First, ■^in case he died, without issue male, he found means to supplant her, and get the crown upon his own viiead. I Q. What remarkable event happened in the reign I of Stephen'? A. During his reign, England was one continued scene of bloodshed and horror, from the contest be- tween Maud, Stephen, and the barons ; at length, on the death of Stephen's only son Eustace, it was agreed, that Stephen should enjoy the crown during bis lite, and then it should descend to young Henry, son of Maud. Q. Kow long did he reign and when did he die 1 A. He reigned eighteen years, and died Oct. 2.^th, '; 1 154, in the fiftieth year of his age. 4 Q. What were the possessions of Stephen 1 J A. England only. Pi'lot, fs> one who conducts a ship, S; ; Blois, 8. a town of France. B^Oath, Si a solem vow or affirmation, wherein we appeal to M God as a witness of the truth of what we say. -;; Alle'giance, s, the duty of a subject to a prince. ffiK 34 CATSCHI8M or THV CHAPTER XVIII. THE LINE OF PLANTAGENET. Henry the Second. Q. Who succeeded Stephen ? A. Henry Plantngenet, the son of Maud and Geof- frey FlantHgenet Count of Anjou. Q. What distinguished persons lived in this reign ? A. Inthij reign lived the celebrated Fair Rosa- mond, daughter of Lord Clifford, who was mistress to Henry the Second. Her beauty and fate have rendered her name famous ; Thomas-a-Berket was also a celebrated personage at this time ; he had been raised from a mean station to the Archbishopric of Canterbury. ' Q. What were Henry's possessions 1 A. England, Normandy, Anjou, Guienne^ Poictou, and Ireland, which he subdued. Q. How many children had Henry 1 M Seven; namely, Geoffrey, Henry, Richard, John, and three daughters; the two younger sons succeeded to the throne. Q. When did Henry die 1 A. July Cth, 1189. in the fifty-seventh year of his age, and thirty-fifth of his reign. He established the. circuits of the Judges. CHAPTER XIX. Richard the First, and John, or Lack Land.. Q. Who succeeded Henry the Second 1 A. His son Richard, surnamed Coeur de Lion, or Lion Hearted. Q. What was the character of Richard 1 A- He was a man of great ability and wit, and -^ HIITORT OF ENGLAND. 3i> full of the heroic valour of the times ; ho went to Palestine, or the Holy Land, with the crusaders, and seemed to forget that h)B wns king of England — Richard was the first who assumed the motto of **God and my right,*' and affixed it to his arms. Q. What action of Richard the First does history record most in favour of his generous mind ? A. The pardon of his brother John, after repeated treasons ; when he said, ** 1 forgive you, and wish I could as easily forget your injuries as you will my pardon." Q. What occasioned Richard's death 1 A. He was shot at the seige of the Castle of Cha- lons*, near Limognes, in France, and died eleven days after, on the Cth of April, 1199. Q. By whom was Richard succeeded ? A. By his brother John, surnamed Sans Terre, or Lack Land. Q. What was the character of John ? A. He appears to have been possessed of few good qualities, and to have been as unfortunate as he was weak. He was engaged in continual wars with the barons, and contests with the popes. Q. What wicked act is he accused of 1 A. He is accused of murdering his nephew Arthur, Son of Geoffrey, the eldest son of Henry the Second, and lawful heir to the crown. Shakspeare has writ- ten a fine tragedy on this circumstance. Q. How long did he reign, when did he die, and where was he interred 1 A. He reigned seventeen years, died Oct. 18th 1216, and was buried at the Cathedral of Worcester. — John was the first who coined English money. — Q. How many children had John 1 3 Pronounced Skalong. Mot 'to, 9. a sentence added to any device or emblem. CATECHISM OF TB£ A. Five. Henry, his eldest son succeeded him. Q. Who signed Magna Charta* 1 - A. John. Q. What was Magna Charta 1 A, A bill, or act of parliament, granting to the barons and citizens greater privileges than they had ever enjoyed before : by this act tiie feudal law was abolished, and English freedom restored. In 1215, the first mayor and sheriffs of London took those titles. CHAPTER XX. Henry the Third, Q. Who succeeded John 1 A. His son, Henry the Third, who was born at Winchester. Q. What was his character 1 A. He was a very weak monarch, a narrow genius, without courage or conduct ; perhaps occasioned by his succeeding to the throne so young, he being only nine years old when his father died. Q. When was the Court of Common Pleasf first instituted, and when were aldermen} first appointed ? * Magna is a Latin word signi^^ying great ; Charta, signifies a deed, or written evidence of things done between two parties. [Pronounced Katta.] t The Court of Common Pleas is held at Westminster, and its object is to take cognizance of all pleas that are not pleas of the crown. J Alderman, the name given to the twenty-six persons who preside over the twenty-six wards into which the City of london is divided ; out of which the Lord Mayor is generally chosen by rotation. Other cities besides^London have also their Aldermen. HISTORY OP SNGLAKX). 34^ A. In the reign of Henry the Third. The first feguXsir parliament was called by Henry. Q. When was marriage first solemnized in churches? A. In the reign of Henry the Third. Magnifying glasses and magic lanterns were also invented in this reign by Roger Bacon the Monk. Q. What other improvements were introduced in the reign of Henry the Third ? A. Cider, linen, and tapestry^ were first made in England, and the mariner's compass^ said to be in- vented by the French. Q. When was the inquisition established in this country 1 A. In the reign of this prince. Q. What was the inquisition ? A. A cruel court, composed of monks and friars^ appointed to take cognizance of every thing sup- posed to be heretical or contrary to the established religion, which was then Roman Catholic. Q. How many children had Henry 1 A. Nine : but only four survived him. He was succeeded by his son Edward. Q. When did he die, and where was he interred 1 Parliament, s. the assembly of the king, lords, and com- mons, whose object is to debate on matters relating to the state. Tap'estry, ^. cloth woven with various figures, for hang- ings, &c. Monk, s. a person who retires from the world to give him- self wholly up to devotion, and to live in abstinence and solitude. Fri'ar, s. a religious brother or companion in some regular order among the Roman Catholics. Cog'nizance, s. judicial notice, knowledge. Heretical, a. containing heresy ,which opposes the opinion* of the Catholic church. B 158 CATECHISM OF THE A. He died Nov. 16th, 1272, having feigned fifty- six years, and was interred in the abbey church of Westminster, near the shrine of Kdward the Con- fessor. CHAPTER XXI. Edward the Firsts surnamed Longshanks, Q. What was the character of Edward, his son and successor % A. Edward proved himself to be a brave and wise king. He subdued Wales, and annexed it to Eng- land : he also carried on a war in Scotland with great success : and was careful of extending the com- merce of his people. Q. Was not Edward very cruel to the Jews 1 A. Yes ; not fewer than 15,000 were in his reign robbed of their effects, and banished the kingdom, Q. What is related of the birth of Edward's eldest .son 1 A. The eldest son of Edward the First was born ni Carnarvon, in Wales, and at the age of seventeen he was invested with the principality of that coun- try, and from that time the king's eldest son has been styled Prince of Wales. Q. How long did he reign, and wjien and where did he die % A. He reigned 'nrty-four years, and died at Car- lisle, July 7th, 1307, aged sixty eight years. Q. What were the improvements and discoveries in the reign of Edward the First 1 A. Geography and the use of the globes were in- troduced ; tallow candles and coals were first used in common; wind-nr)ills were invented; and in his reign wine was onty sold as 2l cordial in apothecaries f^hops. Shrine, s. a ca«e in which something Hacrcd is deposited. Cor'dial, ;». a cherishing draught [draft'\. /ipoth'ecary, s. a person who prepares and sells medicinci. HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 39 CHAPTER XXII. Reign of Edward the Second, Q. Who succeeded Edward I he First 1 H. His son, Edward of Carnarvon/ who was a weak prince. Q. What was his fate 1 A. He was deposed at the end of a turbulent reign of twenty years, the regal authority devolving upon his queen, by whose orders he was cruelly murdered in Berkley Castle, A. D. 1327. His nominal suc- cessor was his son Edward, Prince of Wales, who was born at Windsor. CHAPTER XXIII. Reign of Edward the Third, Q. What was the character of Edward the Third ? A. He was a wise king, and one of the most re- nowned monarchs that ever sat on the English throne. Q. How many children had Edward 1 A. Nine : five sons and four daughters ; the most celebrated was Edward, the eldest, called the Black Prince, from the colour of his armour . he died before his father ; the other sons were Lionel, duke of Cla- rence ; John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster ; Edmund, duke of York ; and Thomas, duke of Gloucester. Q. What are the principal events that happened in his reign 1 A. The battles of Crecy* and Poictiors ; the de- feat of the Scots ; the surrender ol Calais to the English ; and a great navaL victory gained over the French. * Crecy, Poictierg, and Calaii, are three celebrated towns of France. 40 CAVtctHsM at rati m Q. Describe the battle ofCrecy. A. In the year 1346, the famous battle of Crecy was fought between the French and English ; the French army consisted of 100,000 men, out of which about 37,000 were slain, besides many prisoners, and the others put to flight. The English ariny con- sisted of 30,000 men. Q. Who were the most celebrated among the slain? A. The kings of Bohemia and Majorca. The crest of the king of Bohemia was three ostrich feathers, and his motto these German words — /c^rficn, "I serve ;" which the Prince of Wales, the BlackPrince, adopted in memory of this great victory, and his suc- cessors have borne them ever since. Q. What other events happened in this reign ? A. The order of the Garter was instituted, and gold was first coined. In this reign lived the cele- brated Wickliffe, the first reformer of religion. CHAPTER XXIV, Reign of Richard the Second. Q. Who was Richard the Second 1 A. The son of Edward the Black Prince ; he was only eleven years old when he succeeded his grand- father in 1377. Q. What was his character 1 A. He was admired while a boy, as having a good and open spirit, but when he grew up he became weak and effeminate. He was deprived of his crown by Henry, duke of Lancaster, and starved to death in Pomfret castle, 1399. Bohe'mia, 8, a considerable country of Europe, subject to the House of Austria. Major'ea, s» a considerable island in the Mediterranean sea, subject to Spain. HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 41 Jrecy ; the yrbich •ners, con- slain? crest Lhers, n, "I rince, ssuc- 1? 1, and I cele- crand- good icame irown death bjecl to ian sea, Q. What events happened in the reign of Richard the Second 1 A, The principal were, an insurrection against the poll tax, headed by Wat Tyler, and the usurpation of Henry, duke of Lancaster. Q. To what did the usurpation of Henry give rise? A. To the numerous and fatal contests of the White and Red Rose, or houses of York and Lan- caster. Q. When were cards invented 1 A. In the time of Richard the Second. Q. For whom were they invented ? A. For Charles the Sixth, king of France, called the Well-beloved ; he was insane the greater part of his reign ; and during his intervals of reason, card« were produced as an amusement to him. CHAPTER XXV. Reign of Henry the Fourth. Q. Who succeeded Richard the Second ? A. Henry the Fourth, duke of Lancaster, surnamed Bolingbroke ; he was the eldest son of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster; fourth son of Edward HL He was crowned October 13th, 1399, and ascended the throne upon the forced resignation of Richard, whose death at Pomfret followed close upon hic^ deposition. Q. What distinguished characters lived in this and the preceding reigns 1 A. Chaucer and Gower, both English poets ; and William of Wykham, bishop of Winchester. Q. What happened to the eldest son of Henry, when Prince of Wsles t A. Sir William Gascoigne, the Lord Chief Justice, sent him to prison for contempt of his authority. loga'ue, a. mad^ gone out of one's mind. E2 4^ eATBCflfSM OF tRfe Q. Relate the ^lircumstances 1 A. One ot his dissolute companions being brought before 'this magistrate for felony, Henry, who was present, was so provoked at the issue of the trial, that he struck the judge in open court. Sir William fully sensible of the reverence due to his authority, com> mitted the prince to prison. Q. What did the king say when he heard of it 1 A. He exclaimed, " Happy is the king who has a subject endowed with courage to execute the laws upon such an offender : and still more happy in having a son willing to submit to such a chastisement !" Q. How many children had Henry. A. ^i'X; four sons and two daughters. He was 9ucceeded-by«hia eldest son Henry. CHAPTER XXVI. Reign of Henry the Fifth, Q. What was the character of Henry the Fifth? A. His valour was such that no danger could star- tle, and no difficulty resist; nor was his policy infe- rior to his courage. He was chaste, temperate, and modest, and without an equal in the art of war and government. Q. What was the principal event of his reign 1 A. The conquest of France, which he undertook as soon as he came to the throne. It was Henry who gained the celebrated victory of AgincourL No battle was ever more fatal to the French, by the number of princes and nobility slain and taken pri- soners. Henry was afterwards declared Regent of France, and heir to the French monarchy. Q. How many children had the kingi , A Only one, the Prince of Wales, who was not a year old in 1422, when his father died. The queen, Agincourt, «. a village in France. HtS'TORY OP fMVGLMfD. 49 after the death of Henry, married Sir Owen Tudor, a Welch gentleman, who is said to have been de- scended from the princes of that cout try, by yvhova she had two sons. CHAPTER XXVn. Reign dj Henry the Sixth. Q. What were the most remarkable events of ttiis rei^n ? A. The loss of France through the celebrated MaidofOrleans, and the dreadful contests between the houses of Lancaster and York, called the factions of the Red and White Roses : that of Lancaster be- ing termed the Red Rose, and York the White. The duke of York was killed, but his son Edward con- tinued the claim, and routed Henry the Sixth, who was imprisoned in the Tower, and most probably murdered in 1572. Q. Had Henry any children'? A. Yes: a son, Edward, prince of Wales, who was also murdered. THE LINE OF YORK, Edward the Faurth, Earl of March. Q. What was the character of Edward IV. A. He was brave, active, enterprising, but severe, revengeful, and luxurious. Q. What was the most memorable invention of this period ? A. The art of printingwas discovered in Germany, and introduced into England by Caxton in the year 1471. Q. What events happened in his reign f 44 CATECHISM OF THE A. The death of the Duke of Clarence, Edward'fl brother, whom he caused to be drowned in a butt of wine. The celebrated June Shore was mistress to this king. Q. How long did he reign ? A, He reigned twenty-two years, and died April 9th, 1483, aged forty-one years, leaving six children, viz. two sons and four daughters. The eldest, the prince of Wales, succeeded him at thirteen years of age, as Edward V. Q. What was the character of this prince 1 A- As he came to the (hrono so young, and was either murdered, or carried out of the kingdom, soon after his accession, his character cannot be known. Some say he was smothered in the Tower with his brother, the duke of York, in 1483. CHAPTER XXIX. Reign of Richard the Third* Q. Who succeeded Edward the Fifth 1 . A. Richard the Thifd, surnamed Crook-back (duke of Gloucester.) He was brother to Edward the Fourth, and appointed Guardian to Edward the Fifth and his brother. Q. How long did he reign 1 A. Twoyeai'Sj he was proclaimed king of Eng- land the 20th of June, 1483, and was killed at the famous battle of Bosworth, in Leicestershire, con- tending for the kingdom with Henry, then earl of Richmond, August 24th, 1485. Q. What was his character ? A. He was the supposed murderer of his two nephews,and has generally been represented as a com- pound, both in mind and person, of cruelty and defor- mity. He nevertheless passed several excellent laws. Q. What children had Richard 7 A. One son, who died before him. With Richard ended the line of York, or Plantagenet HISTORY OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER XXX. 45 THE LINE OF TUDOR. Reign oj Henry the Seventh, Q. Who succeeded Richard the Third? • A. Henry the Seventh, earl of Richmond, who was crowned in Bos worth field immediately after the battle. Henry was the son of Edmund Tudor, earl of Richmond, and of Margaret, a descendant from John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster. He, by marry- ing Elizabeth, daughter of Edward IV. united the houses of York and Lancaster, and by that means put an end to the civil war. Q. What discoveries were made in this reign ? A. America was discoved by Christopher Colum- bus, a native of Genoa* ; and a passage to the East Indies was discovered by the Portuguese . Q. What rebellions happened in this reign 1 A. One by Lambert Simncl, which was speedily suppressed, and a second, more prolonged and dan- gerous, headed by Perkin Warbeck, who pretended to be the son of Edward the Fourth ; but the pru- dence and sagacity of Henry defeated these and every other plot against the government. Q. How many children had Henry 1 A. Seven; Arthur and Edmund, who died before him, Henry, his successor, and Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, and Katherine. Q. How long did he reign 1 A. He reigned twenty-three years, and died at Richmond, April 22, 1509, aged fifty-one. CHAPTER XXXI. Reign of Henry the Eighth, Q. What was the character of Henry the VIII. 1 * Genoa is a city in the north of Italy, and capital of a republic of the aame name; 46 CATECHISM 07 THE A. Henry was learned, but obstinate, despotic, and cruel. Q. Relate the most remarkable events of his reignl A. The Keformation was begun; church registers were enacted to be kept; and (he famous battle of Flodden Field was fought, in which James the Fourth, king of Scotland, with the flower of his no- bility, fell. Q. Who were the wives of Henry the Eighth 1 A. 1st. Catherine, who was his brother*s widow, from whom he was divorced ; ^d. Anna Boleyn, who was falsely accused and beheaded ; 3d. Jane Sey- mour, who died in child-bed ; 4th. Anne of Cleves, whom he disliked and divorced; 5(h. Catherine How- ard, who was beheaded ; (ith. Catharine Parr, who survived him. Q. How many children had Henry the Eighth 1 A. Three : Edward, prince oi Wales, by lady Jane Seymour ; this prince succeeded him ; Mary, hia daughter, by his first queen, and Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Anna Boleyn. Q. How long did the king reign 1 A. Thirty-eight years. CHAPTER XXXH. Of the Reformation. Q. What is meant by the Reformationi A. By the Reformation is meant, the reforming of the Christian religion from the errors of Popery, and reducing it nearer to its pnmitive purity. Q. Who made the first attack on the extravagant superstitions then prevailing] A. Martin Luther, a native of Isleben, in Ger- many. Prim'itive, a. original, first. HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 47 Q. What was the religion called which was pro- fessed in England before the Reformation ? A. It was called the Roman Catholic; and it is curious that Henry, who was declared, by the Pope, " Defender of the Faith," for writing a tract against Luther, should be the first king to throw off the Romish yoke. CHAPTER XXXni. Reign cf Edward the Sixth. Q. When did Edward the Sixth corae to the crown, and what was iiis character 1 A. He succeeded iiis father at the age of nine years and three fnonths, A. D. 1547 ; he was a very amiable, learned, and pious young man, and died July 6th, 155:^. in the sixteenth year of his age. He left the crown to lady Jane Grey, his cousin; she reipicd only ten days, and was then deposed by Mary, Edward's sister. CHAPTER XXXIV. Reign of Queen Marij, Q.. Who was q'een Maryl A. The daughter of Henry the Eight ; she was crowned October 1st, 1553. Q. What was the character of Mary 1 A. She was extremely bigoled io the Catholic re- ligion ; also proud, imperious^ and austere. Q. To whom was Mary married 1 A. To Philip the second, kin" of Spain. Q. What are the most remarkable events in the reign of Mary 1 A. The persecution of the Protestants, great num- Big'otcd, part, foolishly attached to an opinion. Impe'riouH, a. overbearing, commanding in a haughty and insolent manner. Persecu'tioD, s, the act of pursuing with enmity, hatred, Ite. I 48 CATECHISM OF THB bers of whom tvcre burnt in Smithfield as heretics; amongst the most remnrkciblo wote biehops Latimer, Cranmer, Hooper, and HuUey. Calais, the lant of the English possessions in France, was lost in this reign. Q. How long did Mary reign 1 A. About five years; she died Nov. 17th, 1558, aged forty-two, and was succeeded by her sister Elizabeth. , CHAPTER XXXV. Reign of Queen Elizabeth. Q. Who was queen Elizabeth 1 A. The daughter of Henry the Eighth, by Anna Boleyn, and hall sister to Mary and Edward. Q. What was her character 1 A. She was a woman of great spirit, judgment and address; she understood the dead and living /a/i- fcuages, made great proficiency in the sciences, and was well read in history ; hut her putting Mary Stuart, queen of Scots, to death, is a great stain on her character. Q. Who was Mary, Queen of Scots ? A. Daugliter of .lames the Filth, king of Scotland, and cousin of Elizabeth ; she was fanned for her beauty and misfortunes. Q. How long was Mary prisoner in England 1 A. Eighteen years, and was at length beheaded at Folheringay castle, in Northamptonshire. Q. Wnat are the other principal events in the reign of Elizabeth ] A. The destruction, in 1588, of the Spanish m-ma- da, intended for the conquest of England, and per- Dead language a language not spoken in any country. Arma'da, s. a fleet of men of Whf, but generally applied by way ol' eminence, to the large one fitted out by the Spaniards, with the intention to conquer £ng- land, as mentioned above. , HISTORY 6P ENGLAND. l9 * haps, the largest fleet ever fitted out by any nation ; the success of the Reformation, a most important event, which fixed the present religious establish- ment of the country ; and the discovery of Virginia in America. Q. How long did Elizabeth reign? A. Queen Elizabeth reigned forty-four years ; she died March 2(ith, l(J03, aged seventy, and was suc- ceeded by James the First ol England, and sixth of Scotland. England was prosperous at home and abroad during her reign. CHAPTER XXXVI. CROWNS OP ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND UNITED. TheReign of James the First oj England, and Sixth of Scotland. Q. Who was James the Firsts A. The great grandson of Margaret, eldest daugh- ter of Henry the Seventh, who married James the fourth of Scotland ; he was son of the unfortunate Mary Stuart, queen of Scotland. Q. Relate the principal events of this reign. A. The gunpowder j)lot, and the beheading of the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh. Q. What was the gunpowder plotl A. A scheme of the Roman Catholics, to blow up both houses of parliament, by laying a train of gun- powder under them, when the king, princes, lords, and commons, should be assembled, Nov. 5, 1605. Q. How did the conspirators cause the powder to be placed under the parliament house? A. They had hired a cellar under the parliament house, under the pretence, of using it for a store house for coals, in which they placed thirty-six bar- rels of gunpowder ; these they covered over with coals and faggots ; and one Guy Faux, who was to have set fire to the train, was actually taken in the F 99 CATECHISM OP THE cellar with a dark lant*»r»:, tinder-boX, and matches in his pocket. , Q. In what manner was the plot discovered % A. It _was discovered by an anonymous letter be- ing sent, through private friendship, from . ne of the conspirators to lord Monteagle, in order to prevent his going that day to parliament, and thus to avoid the dreadful catastrophe, Q, Who was Sir Walter Raleigh 1 A. A famous historian and navigator, Q. How long was James king of Scotland before he succeeded to the English crown 1 A. Thirty-six years ; and twenty-two years king of England. He died A. D. 16'25, aged fifty-eight. He was crowned king of Scotland, when he was only a year old. Q. What was the general character of his reign 1 A. Eminently tranquil and beneficial. The con- dition of the country ameliorated, arts and sciences flourished. The Bible, as we have it now, was translated and published under the royal authority. CHAPTER XXXVH. Reign of Charles the First. Q. Who was Charles the First 1 A. The second son of James the First of England: he succeeded his father, March 27, 1625. Q. What are the most striking events in the reign of Charies the First 1 A. The civil wars between Charles andhisParlia- w.ant ; t'le execution of Lord Strafford and Arch- bishop Laud; and afterwards that of the King him- Anon'ymous, a. wanting a name. Catas'trophe, s. a dreadful event, or accident, Nav'igator, s, a seaman, one who conducts a ship. HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 51 self; who was taken prisoner by the parliament, and at last beheaded, January 80, 1648. Q. What discoveries and inventions were madein the reign of Charles the First 1 A. Barometers and Thermometers were invented ; newspapers were first published ; the circulation of the blood discovered : and coffee was brought to Eng-land. CHAPTER XXXVIII. The Commonwealth. Q. When was Oliver Cromwell chosen protector of England 1 A. A. D. 1653, being four years and three months after the commencement of the Commoi)wealth ; which before was managed by parliament. Q. How long was Cromwell protector 1 A, Nearly five years ; he died Septembers, J658; and was succeeded in the protectorship by his eldest son Richard, who retained the situation only three months. Q. What was the character of Oliver Cromwell ? A. He was a man of great courage, ambition, and hypocrisy. Q. What are the principal events of his timel A. A war with the Dutch, who were defeated in several great sea-fights ; and the conquest o( Jamaica, Ml *• J Barom'eter. s. an instrument for measuring the weight of the air or atmosphere, in order to determine the changes of the weather. A weatherglass. The word barometer comes from two Greek words sig- nifying weight and measure. Thermom'eter, s. an instrument for measuring the degree of heat or cold of the air, or any other body. It is derived from two Greek words, heat and measure, Dutch s. the inhabitants of Holland. m dATtcttisv or Tttfi which was made an English colony. Th6 great poet Milton, lived in the time of Cromwell, to whom he wai Latin Secretary. Cromwell was a nativq of Huntingdon. CHAPTER XXXIX. RESTORATION OF THE REGAL POWER. Rrdgn of Charles the Second, Q. Who was kin^ Charles the Second 1 A. The son of Charles the First, born May 29, 1630. On July 3, 1646, he went from Jersey into France, and remained abroad till May, 1660, when he arrived at Whitehall, and entered London in tri- umph, as king, on his birth-day, the 29th of the same month. Q. What are the principal events of his reign 1 A. The great fire in London, 1666, and the plague the year before. In this reign the Royal Society was established, and the Test-act passed. Q. What men of genius flourished m this reign ? A. Shaftesbury, Boyle, Dry den, Otway, Butler, Hobbes, Temple, Waller,^Cowley, Halley, and earl Clarendon. Q. How long did Charles the second reign 7 A, He reigned twenty-four years, and died Feb. 6, 1684, in the 55th year of his age, and was succeed- ed by his brother James. CHAPTER XL. Reign of James the Second. Q. What was the character of James the Second ] Jamai'ca, 8. an island in the West-Indies, ed by Columbus. It was discover* HISTORY OF ENGLAND. 53 A. He was a bigot to the Romish religion, and and fond of arbitrary power. " v ^ Q. What are the principal events of this reign 1 A. The duke of Monmouth's rebellion; he was proclaimed king at Taunton, but being afterwards taken prisoner, he was beheaded in London. Q. What became of James the Second ^ A. His attempts to restore the Roman Catholic religion and despotism, obliged him to abdicate the throne ; he reigned three years ami nine months, and retired to France, where he died A. D. 1701. Q. How many children, who survived him, had James the Second ? A, Three ; James, Mary, and Anne. CHAPTER XLI. THE REVOLUTION. William the Third and Mary the Second. Q. Who was William the Third 1 A. He was the son of William prince of Orange, and of Henrietta Maria, daughter of Chares 1 . He was born at the Hague, in Holland, in 1650, and was married to Mary, the eldest daughter of James II. Q. What was the character of this prince 1 A. He was a great warrior, and a steady friend to the protestant religion and civil liberty. Q,. What was the character of Mary % A. Though her father was a devoted papist, she was a firm protestant ; she was an excellent wife, and a truly pious woman. Her person was very handsome ; she died before William, in 1694. Q. Relate the principal events of thfs reign. A. The battle of the Boyne, in Ireland, where *1 II Rebel'lion, s, opposition to lawful authority. Boyne, s, a river rising in the county of Kildare, Ireland. £2 54 OATKQHlSIf OF TUS 1.6 king T^wes H. wm defe^ted^ ws^t fought ; the French fleet was defeated at La Hogue ; anil the Baiik of England w«9 98tabiifthe<}. r^ Q,, What great men 9hed lustre on this reign 1 A. Newton, Xiocke, Tillotson, Prior, and Burnet* Q. Had William and Mary c^ny children 1 A. No ; they were auc^e^ded by Anne, second daughter of Jan^es 11. who was married to prince George, brother to the I^ing o^ Denmark. CHAPTER XUI. Reign of Queen Anne. Q. What is the character of queen Anne \ A. Queen Anne possessed many excellent quali- ties : her memory is cherished on account of her piety and unlimited charity. Q. Relate the principal events of her reign ? A. The Battles of Blenheim^ Ramillies, and seve- ral others, won by the great duke of Marlborough; Sir George Rooke defeated the combined fleets of France and Spain ; GihraUar was taken by the English ; Union of England and Scotland under the title of Great Britian, 1707. Q. How many children had prince George of Den- mark and Anne 1 A. Six; but all died in their infancy. Queen Anne reigned twelve years and a half. La Hogue, s. a cape near the town of La Hogue in France. Blein'heim, s. a small village in Germany : hence is named thQ niagnifieent palace called Blenheim-house, near Woodstock , Oxon, which was presented to the duke of Marlborough for hjs services and in commemora- tion of the above victory. Ram lilies, «. a village in the Netherlands. Gibraltar, s, a town and cape in the' southern part of Spain. HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 55 Q. Who were the most celebrated literary cha- racters in her reign 1 ii. P0| e, Swift, Congreve, Rowe, Prior, Phillips, Gay, Bolingbroke, Shaftesbury, Addison, Steele, and many others* CHAPTER XLIIL LINE OF BRUNSWICK, OR HANOVBR. George the First. Q. Who succeeded Anne 1 A. Georg€ the First, in 1714, who was previously elector of Hanover, Brunswick, and Luneburg ; a descendant, by his viother, Sophia, of James the First whose grand-daughter she was ; he was a good king, and an enemy to every species of tyranny. Q,. What are the principal events of this reign 1 A. The rebellion of the Scots in favour of tlie son of James the Second, which was soon quelled, and the. pretender obliged to retire into France, 1717* The electorate of Hanover was annexed to the British crown; inoculation first introduced into England and successfully tried upon two condemned crimi- nals, who were pardoned on submitting to the opera- tion, 1721. Q. How old was the king at the time of his death! A. In the sixty-eighth year of his age, and thir- teenth of his reign. He died in Osnaburgh, June n, J727. Elec'torate, s. the territory or dominion of an elector. Inocula'tion, s. (in medicine,) the act of communicating the small-pox, by m^ans of inserting its matter into the veins of a person who has not had that distemper. ff 56 CATECHISM OF THE ' ! I I • CHAPTER XLIV. Reign of George the Second. Q. By whom was George the First succeeded ? A. By his son, George the Second, who reigned from 1727, to October 1760, when he died suddenly, aged seventy-seven. Q. Relate the principal events of this reign. A. The river Thames was frozen, and a fair held on it, 1740. The Scots again in 1745, rebelled in favour of the Pretender, but were finally defeated at Culloden : Westminster bridge was built : admiral Anson circumnavigated the world, and took a Spanish ship, with treasure to an immense amount ; the bat- tles of Dettingen and Fontenoy were fought; an unsuccessful war on the Continent terminated by the shameful peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1748; our Indian Empire formed, by the victories of Colonel Clive and other commanders ; Quebec^ with which all North America fell, was taken, and General Wolfe killed. Q,. How many children had George the Second ? A. Seven ; two sons, and five daughters ; the eldest son. Frederick prince of Wales, died before his father, but left nine children, the eldest of whom was George William Frederick, our late King. CHAPTER XLV. Reign of George the Third, Q. When did George the Third succeed his grand- father on the throne of England ? A. On the 25th of October, 1760, being then twenty-two years of age. He was married to Char- Quebec, 8. the capital of JLower Canada^ in North America. HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 57 lotte Sophia, Princess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz*, and were crowned on the 20th of September, 1761. Q. What important events occurred during the reign of George the Third 1 A. A war was declared with America, through which that country eventually threw ofFits allegiance to Great Britain, and became independent in the year 1776; and war was declared against France, Spain, and Holland, 1778, and 1779. Great riots took place in London in 1780, grounded on an idea of im- proper indulgence being granted by Parliament to the Roman Catholics. Great naval victories were gained by Hood, Howe, St. Vincent, Duncan and Nelson. The Union of Great Britain and Ireland took place in 1801 ; and the abolition of the slave trade was passed to the immortal glory of Great Britain. Q. What gave rise to the war with America 1 A. The levying of certain duties, to be payable by the American colonies in aid of the public revenue, which being" resisted, measures were resorted to, which occasioned an open defiance on the part of that country, to the legislation of the British go- vernment. Q. When did the revolution take place in France 1 A. It commenced in 1789, and the regal govern- ment being subverted. France exhibited for a long time, scenes of bloodshed, rapine, and misery, under the delusive idea of civil liberty. The king, Louis XVI, with the qneen, a greatnumber of the nobility, and innumerable other persons of every rank, were * Mecklenburgh is a duchy in the north part of Lower Saxony. This house is divided between two lines ; namely, Schwerin andJ(.Strelitz. Rev'enue, s. income. Rap'ine, s. plunder the act of taking away the goods of another by violence , f 58 CATECHISM OF THE ll: sacrificed to the resentment and caprice of the various factions which successively acquired the ascendant. Q. Was England engaged in a war at this time I A. Yes; in the East Indies, conducted by Earl Cornwallis against TippooSail^, who was at last com- pelled to conclude a peace, and to give his two sons fks hostages for the due performance of its conditions. Q. Was the tranquility of this country disturbed by the French revolution 1 A. Yes : after the death of the king of France, England and Holland engaged i^ a war with that country; Austria and Prussia, being alarmed at the principles dissc minuted by the French, had previous- ly declared war against France, in their own defence. Q. What v/as the result of the cjirly events of this war? A. The continental powers bning defeated, and their kingdoms overrun by the. French, they were obliged to make peace, and Great Britain was for some time left to contend alone with France. Q. Who was at the head of the French govern-' ment at this period 1 A. After that country had suffered under the des- potism of several factions, a form of government was at length settled, consisting of three consuls^ whereof the first, as chief, was Napoleon Buonaparte, a Cor- sican by birth, and a general in the French service, who afterwards altered the government, and caused himself to be declared emperor of France. Capri 'ce, s. (ka-presse) a whim, fancy. Host'age, s. a person given up as a pledge for the perform- ance of a condition. Di&sem'inated, /)a^^ dispersed, spread abroad. Con'sul, s. a chief magistrate. Cor'sican, s. /rom Corsica, an island in tne Mediterranean Sea, belonging to France. HISTORy OP ENGLAND. 59 arioui ndant. time J y Earl tcorn- sons iitions. tuibed 'ranee, th that 1 at the svious- efence. of this 3d, and sy were was for • govern - he des- ent was V hereof , a Cor- service, caused perform- Q. Were there not some important victories gain- ed about this period ? A. Yes ; in Ej^ypt, where the French had sent an expedition to subdue thnt country, under their gen- eral, Buonaparte ; their fleet was attacked, in the bay of Aboukir, in Egypt, by Admiral Lord Nelson, who completely defeated Ihern, with great loss both of ships and men, which memorable action was called the victory of the Nile*. The French army was also beaten by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, who lost his life in the moment of victory. These great events at length obliged the enemy to abandon their views on Egypt. Q. When was the war between England and France brought to a conclusion. A. In the year 1802, by the treaty of Amiens ; but peace was of short duration, for the restless ambition of the French ruler led to new disputes between the two governments, and war was resumed the follow- ing year. Q. Were any great naval advantages gained by this country soon after the renewal of the war 1 A. Yes ; the ever-memorable battle ok' Trafalgar, in which the undaunted hero admiral Lord Nelson, . achieved a splendid victory, but, unhappily for his country, was himself slain. In testimony of grate- ful respect, his remains were honoured withapublic and splendid funeral in St. Paul's church ; and his death was deplored us a national calamity. Q. Was England solicited by Portugal and Spain to cssist in defending those countiies from the ag- gressions of the French 1 A. Yes ; and a large military force was sent over to them under the command of Sir Arthur Wel- iesiey. now duke of Wellington, whose impor^ tant services and talents delivered Portugal erranean, ^ Nile, 5, a celebrated river in Egypt. 60 CATECHISM OF THE from the enemy, and whose subsequent achieve- ments and victories at Almei'da, Albue'ra, Tala- ve'ra, Salaman'ca, and Vitto'ria, in Spain, were principally instrumental in obliging the French to evacuate that country likewise. The French armies were followed by the same illustrious com- mander into France, and finally defeated at Thou- louse, while the allies were marching on Paris. Q. What remarkable occurence happened in the year 1807 1 A. The British government having obtained infor- mation that the Danish fleet was to bo placed under the control of France, a British fleet under admiral Gambler, and a land force under Lord Cathcart, were sent to Copenhagen, and on the 7th September 1807, they obliged the Danes to deliver up by capi- tulatmi, their whole fleet, consisting of eighteen ships of the line, fifteen frigates, six small vessels, and twenty five gun-boats, together with all the stores. Q. Were there not some very important events on the Continent, alfecting the welfare of England, brought about by the French ruler ? A. The French i)ower having prevailed in redu- cing Austria, Prussia, Russia, Holland, Switzerland, and the Italian States, to a state of humih'ation, those countries were compelled to make peace with France, and to submit to tlie condition of resisting the intro- duction of Englii?h goo's into any of tlieir respective ports, with the view of ruining t!ie commerce of this kingdom. Q. Did not this state of things lead to some con- sequences prejudicial to the French arms 1 A. The shutting up of the Continent from English Capitula'tion, s. the surrender of a place upon, certain con- ditions. Prejudicial, a. injurious, hurtful. HISTORY OP ENGLAND. hieve- Tala- were ich to rrench I com- Thou- 3. in the 1 infor- i under idmiral athcart, >lember by capi- ighteen vessels, all the redu- zerland, n, those .^rance, le intro- me con- English rtain con- commerro having been enforced bylhe most arbitra- ry and oppressive conduct on the part of the French government, it was found intolerable ; Russia, there- fore, abandoned her alliance with France, and this rupture induced the French to invade the Russian dominions with a force of nearly 300,000 men •. they reached the city of Moscow, which was burnt, and Buonaparte compelled to commence a retreat in the depth of winter. Harassed by the Russians, on every side, his army was not only defeated, but al- most annihilated^ by sickness and various calamities. Q. What other events occurred upon the Conti- nent of a similar kind, favourable to the welfare of England? A. The disastrous termination of the French expe- dition to Russia, gave an opportunity for Austria and Prussia to abandon their connection with Franco and enter into an alliance with Russia. To counter- act this, the French emperor, the following year, 1813, collected a powerful army, in Saxony, and be- ing attacked by the allied powers, and defeated at the tremendous battle of Leipsic, he was compelled to retreat to France, pursued by the united forces of- his enemies, who, in their turn, invaded and penetra- ted into the very heart of France, to seek and to en* sure peace to Europe. Q,. To what important events did the prowess of of Great Britain and her allies more immediately lead ? A. The overthrow of Buonaparte, who, having abdicated the throne which he had usurped, was al- lowed to retire to the island of Elba, in the Mediter- ranean sea, the sovereignty of which island he ac- cepted, in lieu of his former extensive dominions. M I.I , . ■- Ar'bitrary, a. absolute, positive. Anni'hilat€d,p«rf. destroyed. PrOw'ess, s. bravery, military courage. Ah dkixiei], part, resigned, given up. , G 62 CATRCHISM or THE Louis XVIII. was placed on the throne of his a;ice^ torst and a treaty of peace signed by all the belligerant powers. • Q. What part did England take in the common cause 1 A. England, after sustaining the burden of a con- tinued war of upwards of twenty years, was stili ready to assist and animate her allies on every oc- casion^ and put forth her strength with undiminished ardour. England has been uniform, persevering, undaunted, and undismayed in a contest of unex- ampled dilliculty, her conduct having brought the war to a glorious conclusion, has gained her the admiration of Europe; as worthy the character of a viagnanimouSf brave, and generous people. Q. What was the state of Europe after the peace of Paris 1 A general congress was held at Vienna, by the principal sovereigns of Europe, for the purpose of establishing a balance of power*, and securing the tranquillity of the Continent. Their deliberations were first attended with every success, and seemed to prognosticate Q, happy termination of their labours; v/hen the escape of Buonaparte from his retreat ob- liged them oiu^e more to lead their armies to the field of battle. Q. When did Napoleon make his escape, and what was his success ? * Balance of power, an equality of power, s( that one state should not infringe upon the rights of another. An'cestors, s. forefathers. Belli^garent, a. (fce/-/it(/c'-e-ranf) carrying on war, engaging in war. An'imate, v. to enliven, to stir up. Ardour, s. zeal, warmth. Magnan'imous. a. great in mind, noble, heroic. Con gress, s. meeting, assembly. Prognosticate, v> to foretel. HISTORY OF ENOLAM). 03 I anceff- igerant ommon a con- ns still ery oc- linished jveiing, t' unex- ight the her the acter of • le peace I ^y ^^^, irpose of iring the erations seemed labours; treat ob- the field md what ;r. A. lie landed on the coast of Franco in March, I M5, and being joined by the greater part of those officers who owed their elevation to his favour, and by that army which had V)een so long accustomed to serve him, he marched without opposition to Paris, from which the king fled, and again seated himself on the French throne. No sooner was the news of this event communicated to the allied sovereigns, assem- bled at Vienna, than, with an unaimous voice, they resolved to support the cause of the French monarch, and to hurl the usurper from his throne. Q. What was the result of their endeavours? A. Both sides prepared with great energy to take the field ; and Buonaparte, in hopes of overthrowing the British and Prussians before the other allies could assemble their forces, led a very powerful army into Belgium. After defeating the Prussians, an action commenced in the neighbourhood of Charleroi, on the ]Gth June, which seemed at first to promise suc- cess to Napoleon, but nothing was able to withstand the courage of the brave English, under the Duke of Wellington, who, after a most obstinate battle on the 18th, gained a complete victory at Waterloo. Q. What was the consequence of this success 1 A. The military power of France being literally annihilated, nothing could oppose the progress of the British and Prussian forces, who made themselves masters of the French metropolis, and ended the campaign, and with it the war, in less than fourteen days. The French royal family was restored, and Buonaparte, having in vain attempted to make his escape, delivered himself up to the English. He was conveyed to our coast in the Bellerophon, and re- mained off Plymouth for 10 days, till at length it was determined to send him to the Island of St. Helena as a place of security. Q. Were there iv < ^3me afflicting circumstances in regard to the king's health 1 iS4 CATECHISM OF THE A. Yes ; in the year 1788, the king was attacked with a temporary privation of reason, but happily re- covered in the following year : the malady , however returned in 1810, he was not afterwards able to ex- ercise the duties of his high station ; in consequence of which melancholy event, the prince of Wales, who was the heir apparent* to the crown, governed the kingdom under the title of Regent. Q,. Did not Great Britain signalize herself by the chastisement of the Algerines about this time ? A. Yes ; many atrocities having" been committed by the Algerines, in their piratical attacks on the ships of almost every European nr.tion, and their barbanty to the unhappy victims who h\\ into their bands, the English go\<;rnment equipped a fleet un- der the command of Lord Exmouth, to compel them lo abandon their inhuman practices. Q. How did he succeed ? A. In the first instance, willing to effect his object by treaty, for the sake of humanity, he entered into a negociation with the Dey, and received his assur- ances, that every satisfaction should be rendered to those nations and individuals who had suffered from their merciless depredatiors. Q. Was the treaty observed 1 A. No; British forbearance only served to in- crease the insolenct, of the pirates ; and his Lordship Heir apparent is he on -.vhom ihe succession is so settled that it cannot be altered , v»ithout altering the laws of succes- sion ; the heir presumptive is ihe nearest relation to the present succession, who, without the particular will of the teaiatoTf cannot be set aside. Marady, s. a disease, an illness. pay, s. the sovereign prince of Algiers, as the Bey is of Tuni s. ll.ljlllllTOJPIIIJJ.!. tacked jily re- iwevev to ex- qiience Wales, iverned by the imitted I on the id their to their eet un- el them is object red into is assur- lered to ed from to in- ^ordship so settled of !*ucces- on to the n\\ of the HISICRY OP ENGLAND. 65 had scarcely reached England before he received or- ders from the government to return, and satisfy the vengeance of insulted Europe ; which he most glo- riously effected on the 27th of August ; when in con- junction with a small Dutch squadron, he commenced a bombardment on the city and port of Algiers, de- ' stroying two-thirds of their city, their whole navy, and nearly all their forts and arsenals. It was a tre- mendous conflict ; the Algerines lost nearly 7000 men in killed and wounded ; and the British and Dutch, 833. Q. What advantages were gained by this attack ? A. The entire submission of the Dey to the terms proposed to him : namely, the abolition for ever, of Christian slavery ; the delivery of all Christian slaves in his dominions ; and reparation for all losses sustained by those European powers who had been more particularly the object of barbarian aggression. Q. What was the internal state of Great Britain at this period ? A. The sudden change from a state of war to that of peace, did not, at the same time, bring with it the blessings of repose ; but, on the contrary, our com- mercial and manufacturing interests were seriously affected bj*^ it, and the want of sufficient employment pressed heaviiy on the lower orders of the people. Q. Was not the public mind much agitated by numerous meetings of the populace which took place in various parts of the country 1 A. Yes ; under pretence of petitioning the legisla- ture for a reform of parliament, immense multitudes assembled in London and other large towns, and the inflammatory speeches which were there delivered, Bombard^ment, s. an attack made upon a city, by throwing bombs into it. Fort, 8. lortified place, or a place of defence. Arsenal, s. a magazine, a place wherein all warlike stores are kept. G2 66 CATECHISM OF THE exciteii the turbulent part of the populace to acts of violence. Q. At what places did this spirit of insubordina- tion manifest itself? A. In London, Manchester, Derby, &c. ; in con* sequence of which the parliament passed a Bill for the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act, and some of the most active ringleaders were apprehended under warrants from the Secretary of State. Q. What was the consequence 1 A. Several were tried on charges of High Treason, and acquitted, others were found guilty and execu- ted, while the greater part, after having been con- fined for a -considerable length of time, were libera- ted^ and the Suspension Bill was repealed. Q. What tragical event in the history of the country took place in 1817 1 A. The death of the Princess Charlotte of Wales. On the 5th of November, this accomplished and amiable princess died, after having given birth to a still born son. Q, How did the public feel on this melancholy occasion 1 A. So unexpected and calamitous an event, hap- |>ening at a moment when the whole nation was elated with the prospect of having an heir to the throne, the offspring of their beloved princess, cast a gloom not over the countenances, but filled the hearts of every one with unexampled grief. Q. Was not her funeral observed with great so- lemnity 1 A. Yes ; never wa§ grief more sincere, or the ex- pression of it more respectful. The day of her fune- ral- was observed in every part oi the empire as one of general mourning and humiliation; and the sor- row that pervaded every heart on this occasion, af- fords an undeniable testimony of the high estimation in which her virtues were held. cts of rdina- a con* iiU for some lended eason, execu- n con- libera- of the Wales. 3d and :ih to a ncholy it, hap- )n was • to the casta ed the 3at 80- he ex- r fune- as one le sor- ion, af- mation HISTORY OP ENGLAND. ^ Q. To what events did the lamented death of the Princess Charlotte give rise 1 A. The death of this amiable princess having in- terrupted the direct line of succession to the throne, her unmarried uncles soon sought alliances with such of the illustrious females, as their own rank and the interests of the kin2;doir> iemanded. Q. What marriages ^^ok place in consequence 1 A. The Duke of Cambridge was married in April,' 1818, to the princess of Hesse Cassel; in three months after the duke of Kent wa5 united to the princess of Leiningen, and the Duke of Clarence, on the same day, wedded the Princess of Saxe Mei- ningen. The Princess Elizabeth was also married to the prince of Hesse Hombourg*'. Q. What important political transactions distin- guished the year 18 18 1 A. The first which demands our notice is the general Election, which took place throughout the United Kingdom, and which, as is usual on such oc- casions, occupied the attention of all classes during its continuance. Q. Did not a meeting of those sovereignls with- whom England had lately been in alliance take place' about the same time ? A. Yes; peace being fully established in Europe a meeting of the allied sovereigns was held at Aix- la-Chapelle, where it was agreed that the troops which had been left in France, for the purpose of * Hesse Hombourg, Hesse Cassel, Leiningen, and Saxe" Meiningen, are each small German principalities, unequal in point of extent and value to the estates of some of our * English nobility ; but by the laws of England, no members of the Royal Faxnily are permitted to espouse a subject however opulent, or to form a matrimonial alliance with ' any Court, however great and powerful, where the Protes- tant religion is not professed- 68 CATECHISM OF THE giving stability to the monarchial power, were now no longer necessary, and they were accordingly re- called. Q. What accounts were received from India during the year 1 A. A very numerous body of the natives, called Pindarics, having resisted the British power in that extensive empire, the Marquis of Hastings, the governor, undertook a vigorous campaign against them, and had the satisfaction of reducing them to obedience, and adding considerably to the British possessions there. Q. What melancholy circumstance happened at the close of this year 1 A. The death of her gracious Majesty Queen Charlotte. A year had scarcely elapsed since the Princess Charlotte was consigned to the tomb, when death summoned the virtuous consort of the vene- rable and afflicted sovereign from a sublunary world to the mansions of everlasting bliss. Her long life had been devoted to her domestic duties, and amid the cares, the vices, and the follies of a court, she was an example of conjugal affection and parental tendernes... Q. When and ^i^here did the queen die 1 and what was her age ? A. Queen Charlotte died at Kew, on the 17th of November, 1818, aged seventy-five, having been married to His Majesty fifty-seven years. Q. What events of a political nature took place in England during the year 18191 A. The country was in a state of considerable agi- tation from the large and numerous meetings of the populace, who were styled Radical Reformers, which at length terminated very fatally at Man- chester. Q. Relate the circumstances attending it. A. On the 16th of August an immense multitudj of persons assembled at Manchester, with banners ^'"Jll W'Ml'^T^wp^Wf''"!''' .''■ f ' "W" "Jl HISTORY OP ENGLAND. e9 at what indicative of their principles, headed by Mr. Hunt, a person who had made himself notorious at similar meetings on former occasions. The magistracy, considering such an assemblage likely to proceed to violence, had called to the aid of the civil power two regiments of yeoraanryj and some regular troops; a party of the former of who»T), being ordered to assist in securing the leaders, and to disperse the people, a scenje of terror and confusion ensued, whereby several persons lost their lives, and many \vere 867 riously wounded. Q. To what did this lead 1 A, The government thought it expedient to pre- vent such meetings of the people in future, unless they were convened by persons in authority ; arid for that and other purposes, restrictive acts were passed : not, however, without considerable opposi- tion to them by those members who advocated the cause of parliamentary Reform. Q- What was the most important eve^it of the year 1820 1 A. On Saturday the 29th of January, 1820, his Majesty George the Third expired in the 60th year of his reign, and the 83rd of his age. The long and severe malady this just and amiable monarch had endured, had prepared his affectionate subjects for the melancholy event ; but though long expected his death was sincerely lamented, and his memory will be revered so long as truth shall guide the pen of the historian. His Majesty's fourth son, Edward duke of Kent, died about a week before his royal father. » CHAPTER XL VI. Reign of George the Fourth. Q. By whom was George the Third succeededl A. He was immediately succeeded by his eldest 70 CATECHISM OF THE son, George, Prince of Wales, at tliat time Regent of the kingdom; who, on Monday, the lUst of January, was publicly proclaimed in London and West- minster. Q. What discovery was made soon after the king's accession 1 A. A number of obscure and wretched individuals had associated together for treasonable practices, and it was discovered that no less a crime than the assassination of his Majesty's ministers had been finally determined upon by them. Accordingly a party of police officers, under the direction of Mr. Birnie the magistrate, and a company of the foot guards, commanded by Captain Fitzclarence, repaired to their place of meeting, which was in a stable in Cato-street, and succeeded in securing several, though in the scuffle one of the police of- ficers, named Smithers, was killed by Arthur Thistle- wood the chief conspirator. Q. By what other occurrences has the year been distinguished 1 A. By a general Election throughout the United Kingdoms, and by the Trials of Mr. Hunt, with others, at York, on a charge of attending. &,c. the meeting at Manchester, (which was decreed an ille- gal one,) and of Sir Francis Burdett, at Leicester, for writing a letter on that occasion reflecting on the conduct of Government ; in both which instances the defendants were found guilty, and imprisoned. Also, by the trials and convictions of the Cato-street conspirators. Q. What other event, of still g? ♦- r importance, occurrred during the year 1820 1 A. On the 6th of June, her Majesty Queen Caro- line, who had for several years been residing abroad, and who in her absence had been accused of improper conduct, arrived at Dover, to meet the charges which had been made against her. HISTORY OP ENGLAND. 71 Legent nuary, West- ir the ictices, lan the \ been rdingly tion of of the arence, vas in a ecuring )lice of- rhistle- jar been United it, with &c. the an illc- eicester, cting on islances risoned. ,0-strect lovtance, m Caro- abroad, mproper charges Q. To what did her arrival lead ? A. It led to her public trial by the peers of the realm, in the house of lords, where she appeared personally; and although the ministerial influence so far prevailed as to obtain a small majority of votes against her, the government deemed it advis- able to drop the proceedings, and allow her £50,000 per annum, to support the dignity of her station. Q. What was the next event of great public in- terest 1 A. The coronation of His Majesty George the Fourth, in Westminster Abbey, which took place on the 19th of July, 1821, and was celebrated with a degree of unexampled magnificence. Q. What event followed the coronation 1 A. His Majesty's visit to Ireland, whither he went on the 31st of J uly, and was received by his Irish subjects with the most rapturous expressions of joy. Q. State what occurred in London, during his absence ? A. The queen died on the 7th of August, after an illness of only eight days. Her remains were taken to Brunswick ; to be interred in the family vault ; but the funeral procession being ordered, by the govern- ment not to pass through the city of London, and the populace being resolved that it should pass by no other route, serious disturbances took place, and two men were shot by the military. Q. What is the next event worthy of commem- moration 1 A. The king's return from Ireland, and subsequent visit to Hanover, from which place he returned on the 8th November. Q. Did not His Majesty in the following year visit another portion of his dominions 1 A. Yes ; in the summer of 1822, His Majesty paid a visit to his subjects in Scotland, where he was received with every dcmonstiation of loyalty ; but a melancholy event which happened ut the time, tended irr^ ,1 ■ tie'i; "■.(•■ .'■.»" Tit . CATECHISM, &C. to throw a gloom over the general joy that was man^- ifested on his arrival. Q. State what it was ?- A. The death of the Marquis of Londonderry, who, in a fit of derangement, put an end to his exis- tence. Q. What melancholy event occurred in 18301 A. The deaih of His Majesty George the Fourth, who f-piredat Windso Hasvl , < n the 26th June, 1830, in the 68th ) -aj." oi" is ; , ;ag«, and the 10th of his reign. Q. What was the character of il *s reign 7 A. The history of this reign is dlsli.iguished by the circumstance, that the general current of its policy, both foreign and domestic, has been eminently suc- cessful ; and that, with one or two exceptions, every measure efftcted or attempted during its course, has been stamped by the deliberate approbation of the country. Q. By whom was George the Fourth succeeded ? A. He was immediately succeeded by his eldest surviving brother, William Henry, Duke of Clarence, under the title of William the Fourth, who was pub- licly proclaimed in London on the 26th of June, 1830. William the Fourth was born 21st of August, 1765, aod was married on the 11th of July, 1818, to her se* rene Highness, AdeUide, Amelia, Louisa^ Catherine, eldest daughter of G eorge, late Duke ot Saxe-Mei-^ nj^pgen. Q- What is the government of Great Britain ? A. A limited monarchy, composed of king, lords, and commons ; the crown is hereditary; and females have the right of succession. Q. What is the power of the king 1 A« The king alone has the power of making war and peace; and disposing of all employments, both civil and military. » THE END. 'J lis