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1794, gained a signal victory over the French fleet at Ushant, when two ships were sunk, two burnt, and six captured.

5. From 1793 to 1795 many state prosecutions were carried on against persons who were charged with attempts to subvert the government, and imitate the French revolutionists. In England these trials were generally defeated, for, however unpopular were the principles of the persons accused, liberty of opinion and the integrity of jury trial were considered of more importance than the suppression of dangerous sentiments. Thus the celebrated philologist John Horne Tooke, when tried for treason in 1794, was acquitted. The ministry were more fortunate in their trials in Scotland, where, through defects in the jury system, convictions were obtained against Thomas Muir and others, who were sentenced to transportation.

For the next two years England was little more than a spectator in the affairs of the continent, until Spain, in 1797, took part with France, already in possession of all the naval resources of Holland. The Spanish fleet was defeated off Cape St Vincent by Sir John Jervis in February, and the Dutch fleet by Duncan off Camperdown in October. Thus England single-handed, for Austria and Prussia had made peace with France, was enabled to maintain her supremacy on the ocean.

MUTINY OF THE FLEET.-The same year was remarkable at home by the restriction of cash-payments by the Bank of England, and the mutinies at Spithead and the Nore. The former was occasioned by the threatened invasion by France, an attempt considered very probable after the unexampled success of the French arms on the continent. Alarm spread through the country, and a run was made upon the bank for gold in exchange for its notes. As the resources of this establishment were insufficient to meet so great and sudden a call, an order in council authorized it to suspend cash-payments. The mutiny among the seamen was of a more serious nature. It broke out at Spithead, where the sailors demanded an increase of pay and the redress of various grievances. When these were granted, order was immediately restored; but the flame soon burst forth again at the Nore, where the mutineers, upon the refusal of their demands, blockaded the mouth of the Thames. This was indeed a critical moment for the maritime existence of England; but the firmness of the government prevailed, and discipline was restored. The ringleaders, of whom Richard Parker, a young seaman of considerable ability, was the chief, were tried and executed

IRISH REBELLION.-In 1798, a fierce rebellion broke out in Ireland, at the instigation of a disaffected party who were in communication with France. The counties of Wexford and Wicklow were its chief theatre, and became a horrible scene of contention and slaughter. The strong position of the rebels at Vinegar Hill was taken after a desperate and bloody struggle: a large body was driven out of Wexford; and a number of their leaders, including several men of rank and station, were taken and executed.

6. BATTLE OF THE NILE.-For a season the war was discontinued on the continent, and Napoleon Bonaparte, who had risen from a comparatively humble position to the command of the French army, transferred the seat of hostilities to Egypt, then a dependency of Turkey, a power at peace with France. Hither he was followed by Nelson, who, though too late to intercept the expedition, attacked and utterly destroyed the French fleet in Aboukir Bay. By land the French •} troops were everywhere successful until they were repulsed from the walls of Acre, principally by Sir Sidney Smith at the head of a few seamen and marines. Bonaparte soon after returned to France, where he became First Consul; but his army remained in Egypt until 1801, in which year, after suffering a defeat near Alexandria from the British under General Abercromby, who fell in the battle, it surrendered to his successor, General Hutchinson.

1st Aug. 1798.

THE UNION.-In 1798, the French Republic, in order to create a powerful diversion against England, and to strike at the very vitals of her power, despatched a body of troops to Ireland, where it was expected that the sympathies of the people would be more with the invaders than with the British government. But the vessels employed to bring over the force were met and defeated by Admiral Warren off the coast of Ulster. The danger thus providentially averted, and the necessity of strict concord between the governments of the two islands, led to the formation of a union similar to that by which Scotland had been joined to England in the beginning of the preceding century. The three countries were formed into one kingdom, styled "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland," the latter country being represented in the imperial parliament by four spiritual peers sitting in rotation, by twentyeight temporal peers elected for life, and by one hundred The Union dates from the 1st of January 1801. The success of the French arms under Moreau and Napoleon

commoners.

having compelled Austria to sign the treaty of Luneville, the Czar Paul also made peace with France, and seized all the British vessels in his harbours. Exerting his influence over Sweden and Denmark, he succeeded in persuading them to combine with him in reviving the "armed neutrality," to break up which confederacy, Sir Hyde Parker and Nelson were sent into the Baltic, when the latter, after a severe engagement before Copenhagen, compelled the Danes to withdraw from the Russian alliance (1801).

All nations were now wearied with the long continuance of hostilities, and in order to facilitate an arrangement Mr Pitt retired from the ministry, and was succeeded by Mr Addington, afterwards Viscount Sidmouth, by whom the definitive treaty of Amiens was signed on the 25th of March 1802.

EXERCISES.

1. What were the consequences of the French government's aiding the Americans? What nations were concerned in the war which immediately followed? What was the result of the siege of Gibraltar? Describe the events which occurred on the passing of the act for the relief of Romancatholics.

2. What was the nature of the new ministry? What famous measure did Mr Fox bring in? What was the result of his attempt to carry the India bills? Who was put at the head of the new ministry? Describe the events which occurred in Ireland from 1783 to 1785.

3. Who was chosen governor-general of India in 1773? What proceedings were begun against Warren Hastings? What were the principal charges against him? How long did the proceedings last? What was the result of them? What rendered a regency necessary? What was the state of the country at the king's recovery? Describe the Nootka Sound quarrel.

4. State the great events in France which tended to disturb the tranquillity of Europe. What was the conduct of the Emperor of Austria? What was the effect of the beginning of the French Revolution on this country? Mention an instance of the unpopularity of the sympathizers with the revolutionists of France. What events immediately caused the war? What was the result of the Duke of York's expedition to the Netherlands? By what victory was it counterbalanced?

5. What prosecutions were carried on in England? What was generally their result? How did they end in Scotland? What naval victories were gained by Britain? What important event occurred as to the Bank of England? Describe the mutinies of Spithead and the Norc. Mention the principal events connected with the Irish rebellion.

6. How and by whom were hostilities transferred to Egypt? Who was chiefly instrumental in repelling the French from Acre? What general defeated the French near Alexandria? What was the result of an attempt to invade Ireland? What remarkable event occurred at the beginning of the century? What was the conduct of the Czar Paul? What is the dete of the treaty of Amiens?

CHAPTER XXXV.

FROM THE TREATY OF AMIENS TO THE DEATH OF
GEORGE III., A. D. 1802-1820.

Renewal of the War-Victory of Trafalgar-Death of Pitt and Fox-Unsuccessful foreign Expeditions-Bombardment of Copenhagen-Peninsular War-Convention of Cintra-Battle of Corunna-Walcheren Expedition-Sir Francis Burdett-The Regency-Liverpool Ministry— Orders in Council-War with the United States-Waterloo-Bombardment of Algiers-Popular Disturbances.

1. TRAFALGAR.—The peace was not of long duration: disputes soon arose as to various articles of the treaty, and Bonaparte's demands were so unreasonable, that the British ambassador, Lord Whitworth, was recalled from Paris, and the war renewed in May 1803. In the following year, Mr Pitt returned to office, and succeeded in organizing another coalition, consisting of Russia, Sweden, Austria, and Naples, against the ambition of the French emperor, for such was the title assumed by Bonaparte in 1804. The latter, having at his absolute disposal all the resources of Holland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, endeavoured to become as supreme on the ocean as he was already on land, and the combined fleets of France and Spain were prepared for sea. These Nelson encountered off Cape Trafalgar, and in a glorious victory, dearly purchased by the hero's death, the navies of the allied powers were almost annihilated.

21st Oct.}

Mr Pitt died on the 23d of January 1806, and Mr Fox, his great antagonist and successor in office, followed him to the grave on the 13th September of the same year.

Several foreign expeditions, planned by the whig ministry, were attended with the most unfortunate results. A fleet was sent out to Constantinople to compel the sultan to relinquish his suspicious state of neutrality. It forced the passage of the Dardanelles, but found the approaches to the capital so strongly fortified as to be obliged to retire not without loss. General Whitelocke was sent to Buenos Ayres, and after taking possession of the town, was forced to capitulate. On his return home he was tried for misconduct, and dismissed the service. A third expedition was sent against Egypt, and

although Alexandria was taken, the troops were compelled to retreat before superior forces. These failures, combined with other causes, led to the retirement of the whigs, who were replaced by a tory administration, at the head of which was Mr Percival, and among whose colleagues were Lords Castlereagh and Hawkesbury, and Mr Canning.

One of the first measures of the new ministry was an expedition to Copenhagen, to demand the surrender of the Danish fleet into safe keeping during the war, that it might not fall into the hands of Bonaparte. It was not until their capital had suffered all the horrors of a bombardment both by land and sea, that the Danes yielded, and their fleet was brought to England. This affair has been severely criticised both at home and abroad; but it has generally been viewed as an act of self-defence, and as such, justifiable by the example of individuals as well as nations (1807).

2. PENINSULAR WAR.-During the year 1808, Napoleon reached the height of his prosperity, and commenced that line of conduct which led to his downfal. After inveigling the King of Spain and his son into France, he made them prisoners, and placed his brother Joseph on the Spanish throne. The flames of insurrection immediately burst forth throughout the whole kingdom, and deputies were sent to England praying for assistance. This was readily granted, and an army under Sir Arthur Wellesley was despatched to Portugal, then in the hands of the French. The British landed in Mondego Bay, and defeated the invaders at Roliça and Vimiero. But the fruits of victory were lost through a change of generals, and the French soldiery were allowed by the inglorious convention of Cintra to retire to France, instead of being compelled to surrender as prisoners of war. In the following November, Sir John Moore arrived with another army; but, after penetrating into the heart of Spain, he was compelled to retreat toward the sea. In front of Corunna (January 7, 1809), he made a noble stand, and the French, whom their pursuit had highly elated, were defeated by the enfeebled and dispirited British army. Moore fell during the battle, and his remains were interred on the ramparts of Corunna.

WALCHEREN EXPEDITION. -In 1809, an ill planned and worse conducted expedition of 100,000 men was despatched to Holland under the command of the Earl of Chatham, Pitt's elder brother. Before anything could be done toward the object of the campaign the unhealthy season came on, and that

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