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of the Charente. They were not more successful in Germany, where they lost the battle of Hastenbeck, and were compelled to submit to the humiliating convention of Closter-Seven. But fortune was more propitious in the East. The English defeated the Soubah of Bengal, and wrested from the French the factory of Chandernagore, one of their most important establishments in India. Immense wealth and one hundred and eighty pieces of artillery rewarded the bravery of the captors. 9. CONQUEST OF CANADA.-Pitt, afterwards Earl of Chatham, was now at the head of affairs, and his energy, though often ill directed, soon changed the course of events. In 1758, victory returned to the English standard in America. The French lost Cape Breton and the island of Saint John (now Prince Edward); but repulsed the English with severe loss from Ticonderago,—a success soon compensated by the loss of Fort Frontenac, the centre of Indian commerce, and of Fort Duquesne shortly after. In the next year, General Johnson reduced Fort Niagara, the most important post in French America, as it overawed the Indians of the Six Nations, secured the navigation of the great lakes and the communication between Canada and Louisiana, and opened a passage into the British territories. General Amherst marched against the Forts of Crown Point and Ticonderago, which he found abandoned and destroyed. Finally, General Wolfe laid siege to Quebec, and after a bold manoeuvre, by which he gained possession of a height commanding the city, forced Montcalm to hazard a battle. Both commanders were mortally wounded during the engagement. Quebec fell into the hands of the British, Montreal was taken not long after, and the whole of Canada was soon reduced (1759).

While conquest was crowning the exertions of the British in the New World, at home they had baffled a formidable project of invasion, and by the destruction of the fleet in Quiberon Bay by Admiral Sir E. Hawke, had completely annihilated the maritime power of France. Yet if the splendour of such unprecedented successes flattered their pride, the expense with which they were accompanied began to weigh heavily upon them. The German war, in which a small British contingent contributed to the victory of Minden, proved very burdensome, and they eagerly wished for its termination. Such were the feelings of the people, 1760. when George II. suddenly expired, in the seventyseventh year of his age and thirty-fourth of his reign.

25th Oct.

This was the age of philosophy; but England, too much engrossed by material pursuits, yielded less than the continental states to the new direction communicated to the human mind. Yet the poetic annals of this reign are rich in treasures, and more than one poet has escaped oblivion. Pope, Young, Thomson, Gray, Akenside, Armstrong, Glover, Mallet, Home, Cibber, Mason, the two Whiteheads, the two Wartons, Littleton, and Collins, are names well known in the various walks of poesy. Fielding and Richardson added fresh lustre to prose fiction; and in history there are the works of Guthrie, Ralph, Robertson, and Hume. Nor were the fine arts neglected, although their influence as yet was very trifling.

EXERCISES.

1. Whom did George II. retain as minister? What treaty was negotiated? Describe the nature of the measure which Walpole wished to bring in, but which was strongly opposed. Who was the leader of the opposition to Walpole? How was the opposition conducted?

2. Describe the circumstances which produced a dispute with Spain. How was it accommodated? What produced a final rupture? How did the warlike operations begin? What was the result of the expedition to Carthagena?

3. What was the political effect of the failures in the war? What was expected from the removal of Walpole from power? How were the expectations disappointed? Give an account of the circumstances which induced Britain to take part with Maria Theresa. With what expedition was Britain threatened?

4. What was the result of the sea-fight in which Mathews and Lestock were engaged? How was it received in Britain, France, and Spain? What did Lord Anson accomplish? What events took place in the farther progress of the war? What made the king unpopular?

What circum-
Describe the
How far did

5. Describe the circumstances in which Prince Charles Edward landed in Britain? What effect had the rumour of his arrival? stances placed the nation in great risk from this attempt? progress of the rebellion. How did the Highlanders fight? the insurgents advance into England?

6. What was called the "Black Friday"? In what circumstances did the prince retreat? Where did the Duke of Cumberland gain a victory? What use did he make of it? What title did he earn by his cruelty? How were the episcopal clergy treated? Give an account of some reforms in the administration of justice which followed the rebellion.

7. What successes did the French obtain in India and the continent? What treaty was concluded in 1748? How did it give discontent in this country? What measures were taken to encourage industry? What plan was adopted for the disposal of discharged soldiers and sailors?

8. How was the peace affected by proceedings in India and America? What was the cause of the charges against Byng? What was his fate? What hostilities took place in Europe? What were the main objects cl the French in America? Give an account of the course of the war there. What success had the British in Europe? What did they achieve in India? 9. What great minister changed the course of events? Mention the suocesses of the British troops. Who were mortally wounded at the capture of Quebec? What annihilated the maritime power of France? Give the names of celebrated authors of the reign of George II.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

GEGRGE III. TO THE END OF THE AMERICAN WAR,
A. D. 1760-1783.

Eastern Conquests-The Family Compact-The Bute Ministry-Peace of Paris-Wilkes and the North Briton-The Stamp Act-Disturbances in the North American Colonies-Ministry of Lord North-Revolt of the Colonies-War of Independence-Surrender of Lord Cornwallis.

1. THE Prince of Wales, the son of the late king, having died in 1751, George II. was succeeded by his grandson, the eldest son of that prince, by the title of George III. At the death of his predecessor the national debt amounted to more than one hundred millions sterling, which, however, did not prevent hostilities from being continued in the new reign with increased vigour. The people now began to look upon it as a dishonourable thing to lay aside their arms until they were in a condition to dictate peace and preserve all their conquests. A. D. The English took Belleisle on the coast of France; 1761. while, by the capture of Pondicherry, the French power was destroyed in the east, as by that of Quebec and Montreal it had been ruined in America. In this favourable posture the English ministry listened to propositions of peace from Louis. Plenipotentiaries were named to regulate the bases and conditions of an arrangement. But at the same time the Family Compact was negotiating between France and Spain, by which the court of Madrid, laying aside the neutrality which it had observed during the war, engaged itself to take up arms in behalf of France. Pitt, who still continued at the head of the ministry, having gained secret information of this treaty, immediately proposed in council to anticipate the designs of Spain by a prompt declaration of war. But the majority, alleging the exhausted condition of the national resources, the great advantages derived from the Spanish trade, and their uncertainty with regard to the hostile disposition of his catholic majesty, were of a contrary opinion. The haughty minister could not bear contradiction, and he resigned his office. After his retirement, the very measure that he had proposed was adopted. War was declared against

A. D.

Spain, which in a short time lost Havannah and Manilla, while the French were deprived of Martinique, Grenada, 1762. St Vincent, and St Lucia. The reverses of these two powers soon inclined them to sue for peace. The Earl of Bute, the favourite of the king, and now prime minister, was desirous that hostilities should cease, and notwithstanding the exertions of Pitt and his party, preliminaries of peace were drawn up in a few weeks between France, Spain, and England, and definitively signed at Paris in the month of February 1763. This treaty, the benefits of which were mostly on the side of England, was counterbalanced by a national debt now increased to 139 millions sterling. Shortly after, by the peace of Hubertsburg, the seven years' war was terminated in Germany, and the pacification of Europe complete.

2. JOHN WILKES.-The treaty of 1763 (known as that of Fontainebleau) excited great discontent in France, and did not satisfy England, where a violent outcry was raised against Lord Bute for having yielded part of Newfoundland, and abandoned the King of Prussia. A tax upon cider, which the minister proposed to parliament, to pay the interest of a new loan rendered necessary by the enormous expenses of the late war, increased the general irritation. This tax, in spite of the efforts of the opposition, the clamour of the public, and the violence of the pamphleteers, was approved of by the Commons. The bill had scarcely passed when, to the great surprise of all, Bute tendered his resignation. He was succeeded by Mr George Grenville, who with his coadjutors were said to be mere puppets in the hands of the retired minister. Party spirit now burst out with fresh violence, and the press almost daily issued the most scandalous libels against the government. The most notorious of all these writings was a paper styled THE NORTH BRITON, set on foot by John Wilkes, the member for Aylesbury. In number 45, published about a fortnight after Bute's resignation, the editor charged the king with having uttered a direct falsehood in his speech at the prorogation of parliament. Upon this a general warrant was issued, and Wilkes was apprehended. The warrant was called general, because it did not give the precise names of the persons against whom it was issued, but described them generally as the "authors, printers, and publishers" of a certain work. After a short confinement in the Tower he was brought before the judges by writ of habeas corpus, and released on the ground that he had not forfeited his privilege

as a member of the House of Commons. When parliament met in November, the paper was declared a seditious libel, and condemned to be burnt by the hands of the common hangman. Wilkes afterwards brought an action against the secretaries of state for false imprisonment, when Lord Chiefjustice Pratt declared general warrants illegal, and the jury awarded damages to the extent of £1000. The pretended patriot, who had retired to France, was expelled from the House of Commons. At the elections in 1768 he was thrice returned for the county of Middlesex without opposition, and as often his election was declared invalid. At a fourth election, although he had a majority of more than eight hundred over his opponent Colonel Luttrell, the ministerial candidate, he was again rejected by the Commons, who declared Luttrell to have been duly elected.

3. THE STAMP ACT.-While this contest between the Commons and the constituency of Middlesex was raging, the seeds of dissension were sown between England and her American colonies, which were destined to bear a harvest of sorrow for the mother-country. In 1764, Grenville, with a view of alleviating the oppressive taxation by an increase in the customs, endeavoured to put an end to smuggling by means of a number of small vessels of war continually cruising on the coasts of England and Ireland. He soon extended this measure to America, and under the pretence of making these colonies defray a portion of the expenses for the protection of their commerce, and the prevention of contraband trade, he imposed certain dues on all merchandise imported into America. He next proposed laying a direct tax upon the colonies, and on the 22d of March 1765, after a long and stormy discussion, the famous Stamp Act received the king's assent. The colonists loudly protested against this impost, and asserted that parliament had no right to tax them, as they were not represented in that body. Now that time has softened down all differences, and that much secret information has come to light, there can be little doubt that the abstract theory of the inseparability of taxation and representation did not weigh with the Americans so much as the interruption to their extensive and contraband trade with the Spanish colonies; and it may further be added, in the words of Mr Grenville, that "The seditious spirit of the colonies owed its birth to the factions in the House of Commons.” Massachusetts was the first to show its discontent by acts of

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