The illness with which the king had been attacked in the early part of 1830, terminated in his death; which took place at Windsor Castle, on the 25th of June following. George the Fourth, at the period of his death, was in the 68th year of his age; he had reigned ten years; and his remains were consigned to the family tomb at Windsor.

EXERCISES.

WHEN was George the Fourth proclaimed king? Under what circumstances did George the Fourth ascend the throne? When was parliament opened? What enquiries had been made in former years relative to the conduct of Queen Caroline? After the year 1814, what were the proceedings of parliament in regard to the Queen? What treatment did she experience? and when did her death take place? What minister for foreign affairs committed suicide? By whom was he succeeded? When did Louis the XVIII assemble an army on the frontiers of Spain? and what was the success of his general, the Duke D'Angouleme, against the constitutional liberty of the Spaniards? What alleviated the distresses of the British farmers in 1824? What was the general state of the kingdom? With what speculations, and from what causes, did the nation now become embarrassed? When did Louis XVIII. expire? and by whom was he succeeded? What race once famous in history did a spirit of independence now arouse? What was the success of the Greek patriots? What additional forces did they obtain? and what loans did they receive? How did parliament proceed in regard to the Catholic Association in 1825? Describe the memorable panic, as it was called. How was confidence partially restored? On the death of John VI. of Portugal, to whom did Don Pedro relinquish his right of succession? For what was Don Pedro's brother Miguel ambitious? What proceedings occurred in regard to Great Britain? On the departure of the British troops, what was the conduct of Don Miguel? What paved the way for the admission of Mr. Canning to the premiership? When did Mr. Canning die? By whom was he succeeded? When did the representatives of England, France, and Russia, sign a treaty for the pacification of Greece? Describe the battle of Navarino? What were the provisions of the Test and Corporation acts? and when were they repealed? How was the Catholic Emancipation Bill recommended to parliament? With what majority did the bill pass both houses? When and where did George the Fourth die? What was his age? How long did he reign? and where was he interred?

THE

WILLIAM IV.

HE accession of William IV. to the throne was hailed with a general enthusiasm. His career had hitherto been popular. Introduced at an early period of life into the navy, he had risen, step by step, from the station of midshipman, to the highest post in the admiralty. In the discharge of his duties his behaviour had been marked by a frankness, condescension, and affability, which won all hearts, and justly endeared him to every member of the naval profession. The simplicity of his habits and manners, divested of all ostentation, added to his maturity of years and experience in life, all contributed to interest the public in his favour, and incline them to draw a happy omen from his accession.

While favourable expectations were thus formed in England, the aspect of France foreboded the approach of some great political convulsion.

Inroads had been made in the French constitution, by the restored sovereigns; the liberty of the press had been invaded; the system of representation previously existing, had been cancelled; and a new system of election had been adopted; the effect of which was to restrict the powers of the chamber of deputies, and render it subservient to the royal will.

The agitation of the Parisians on receiving an intimation of the projected new form of government soon became manifest, and although no outward demonstrations of turbulence were

displayed during the day, yet as evening advanced, and the working classes were liberated from employment, groups of people, intent upon resistance, began to assemble in different parts of the capital. The public excitement was kept on the increase by newspaper declamation, the editors inveighing in unmeasured terms against the invasion of the national rights, and the restrictions laid upon the liberty of the press, boldly declaring that an end was put to legal government, and that a government of force had usurped its place.

On the ensuing morning, the 27th of July, the gend'armerie, who had received orders to destroy all the printingpresses of the refractory journalists, commenced their work of demolition. These ill-judged and arbitrary decrees, threw out of employment thirty thousand persons connected with printing; and this immense body joining the populace, increased the general ferment, and made a formidable addition to the strength of the insurrectionary party. In this state of affairs, business of every kind experienced a stagnation, confidence no longer existed, the funds fell 7 per cent., in one day, and the Bank refused to discount bills.

The garrison of Paris was committed to the charge of Marshal Marmont; but the career of the insurgents, whose numhad increased to seventy or eighty thousand, had been every where marked with such success, and so many of the troops had joined with the people, that he declared Paris to be in a state of siege and added, that the increasing tumult was no longer a riot, but the outbreak of a revolution.

This civil war, confined to the limits of one great metropolis, was an event of singular occurrence; the revolution commenced and terminated in three days; and a new dynasty had been actually formed, before some of the distant parts of the king, dom had received intelligence of the first outbreak.

At the commencement of the revolution a novel mode of warfare was adopted by the populace, the streets were barricaded with wagons, carts, and other vehicles; intermixed with piles of heavy paving stones; the iron railings from before the houses were torn down and used as weapons of offence; and the soldiery were assailed from the windows and roofs of the houses, with coping stones, bricks, and other heavy missiles. Ammunition and arms were afterwards obtained in abundance; an unanimity prevailed among the greater portion of the Parisian population; and by the afternoon of the 29th, they had full possession of the capital.

The number of persons who were killed and wounded on

this memorable occasion, was certainly considerable; but the accounts were exaggerated, the estimation being made at several thousands. The killed and wounded of the guards and gens d'armes do not appear to have exceeded 370. On the assembling of the deputies, they adopted the resolution of excluding from the throne not only Charles the Tenth, but the whole family of that branch of the Bourbons, and of offering the crown to the duke of Orleans, Louis Philippe. The Duke arrived in Paris on the 30th of July; and in a most flattering proclamation announced his acceptance of the vacant throne. Charles the Tenth repairing to Cherbourg, sailed for England; and proceeding thence to Edinburgh, took up his abode in the ancient palace of Holyrood House. His death took place a few years afterwards.

The successful issue of this revolution produced its effects in other states of Europe, in which it excited a spirit of imitation. After the downfal of Bonaparte, Belgium had been united to Holland; but the inhabitants of the two countries differed widely in many respects; jealousy and distrust soon arose between them; and the Belgians were anxious to effect their independence. Following the example set by the Parisians, the inhabitants of Brussels rose in insurrection; and having succeeded in overturning the government, effected their separation from Holland.

On the convocation of a national congress, they proclaimed the independence of the Netherlands; and excluding from the throne the house of Orange, proceeded to the election of a new king. But this was an object which they did not effect without much difficulty. The duke of Leuchtenberg was first proposed, but as France discountenanced his election, the crown was offered to the duke of Nemours, the second son of the king of France. The Duke, however, objecting to their choice, their election was at length fixed upon Prince Leopold of Saxe Cobourg, who after some protracted stipulations, accepted the crown.

Parliamentary reform, which for years had been gaining ground, was now countenanced by a large proportion of the rank, influence, and property of Great Britain. The successful issue of the Catholic emancipation bill had raised expectations that this question would be met, and dealt with in the same liberal spirit, and it was generally supposed that the Duke of Wellington would bring forward some measure at least for a moderate reform. Parliament opened on the 2nd of November, but the subject of reform was altogether omitted

in the king's speech; and in the debate on the address, the Duke of Wellington took occasion to observe, that he had never met with any plan of Parliamentary reform which could satisfy his mind that the representation could be improved; : and that under such circumstances he was not only unprepared to bring forward any measure of this nature, but should feel it his duty to resist any such measure when proposed by others. The duke's party was now much weakened: the old and staunch tories, whom he had alienated by his concessions to the Catholics, had not yet been conciliated, and the manifestations given of an united opposition were most formidable. Ministers having suffered a defeat by a majority of twentynine, on the question for a settlement of the civil list, immediately resigned their offices.

His Majesty now called to office the principal leaders of the whig party, combined with whom were also nominated some of the disciples of the late Mr. Canning.

Under the new arrangement, Earl Grey became first lord of the treasury; Mr. Brougham, lord chancellor; Lord Althorp, ! chancellor of the exchequer; Lord Melbourne, home secretary: Lord Palmerston, secretary for foreign affairs; Lord Goderich, colonial secretary; Sir James Graham, first lord of the admiralty; Mr. Denman, attorney general; Lord Hill, commanderin-chief; Lord John Russell, paymaster of the forces; and the Duke of Richmond, postmaster general.

On coming into office, the ministry held themselves engaged to a retrenchment of expenditure, to a reform in the House of Commons, and to a non-interference with the arrangements of foreign states.

Ministers were soon busied in the construction of their plans for parliamentary reform, and meetings were held in every part of the country, for the purpose of getting up petitions in favour of that measure. Parliament met on the 3rd of February, and the measure for reform was introduced into the Commons by Lord John Russell on the 1st of March.

The bill was brought in on the 14th, and read a first time, but its progress was suspended, after a lengthened discussion, by the king, who dissolved the parliament. The excitement for a reform of the representation ran so high, and the election which ensued turned out so favourably for ministers, that the reform bill, under numerous alterations, ran through its stages in the House of Commons, and was finally passed by a majority of 109, on the 21st of September. The bill was next day brought into the House of Lords, where it was read for the