did, the laurels were the only advantage reaped from the field of battle. An unsatisfactory warfare still continued, as the successes on either side were so nearly balanced, that victory and defeat might be said successively to have followed each other. At length the British began to open their eyes to their own interest, and found that they were waging unequal war, and loading themselves with taxes for conquests which they could neither preserve nor enjoy. The efforts of Great Britain over every part of the globe, at this time, were amazing; and the expence of her operations greater than had ever been disbursed by any nation before. The King of Prussia received a subsidy; a large body of British forces commanded the extensive peninsula of India; another army of twenty thousand men confirmed their conquests in North America; there were thirty thousand men employed in Germany; and several other bodies dispersed in different garrisons in various parts of the world; but all these were nothing to the force maintained at sea, which carried command wherever it came, and had totally annihilated the French power on that element. Admiral Hawke gained a complete victory over an equal number of French ships on the coast of Bretague, in Quiberon Bay, in the midst of a tempest, during the darkness, and what a seaman fears more upon a rocky shore.

Such was the glorious figure displayed by the British nation when she had unexpectedly to deplore the loss of her sovereign, who without having complained of any previous disorder, was found by his domestics expiring in his chamber. After his death, which took place on the 25th of October, 1760, the surgeons, upon opening him, discovered that the right ventricle of the heart had been actually ruptured, and that a great quantity of blood had been discharged through the aperture. George 2nd died in the seventy-seventh year of his age, and the thirty-third of his reign.

EXERCISES.

In what year did the reign of George II begin and end? Were his abilities equal to those of his father? To what part of his dominions had he a strong partiality? Give an account of Sir Robert Walpole. On what footing was the peace of Europe settled by the treaty of Vienna? Relate the nature and consequences of the charitable corporation. What was asserted in the House of Lords with respect to the forfeited estates? What occasioned a difference between the

Spaniards in America, and the British merchants? What gave the latter an opportunity of disposing of their contraband commodities? How did the Spaniards attempt to remedy that evil? How were the subjects of Britain treated by the Spaniards? Did the Spanish guardships seize only the guilty? What discovery was made when the subject was brought before Parliament? What did the Spaniards lose in the Mediterranean? Who was appointed to command a fleet in the West Indies, and what was his character? What did he accomplish? Who received the command in the South Seas, and how was he directed to act? Describe the course, intentions, and success of Anson With what design did Anson set out? Of what did the armament consist? Who commanded the land forces? Who succeeded him? Was the attack on Carthagena successful? In what situation did the Queen of Hungary find herself upon her father's death? Who seized on Silesia? Who attacked the rest of her dominions? Who assisted her? With what forces did the king of Britain make a diversion in her favour? Where, and with how many men, did the French attempt to prevent a junction of the Austrian and British forces? In what condition were the British forces when the King arrived? Where was he attacked by the French army, and under whose command? With what loss were the French obliged to repass the Mayne? Who commanded the British forces at Fontenoy, and who gained the victory? What was the loss on both sides? Of whom was Charles Edward Stuart the son and grandson? What was his character? What number of officers did he bring with him, and how many stand of arms? Where did he proclaim his father king of Great Britain ? Where did he gain a victory over the king's forces, and by whom were they commanded? What want of judgment did he discover after this success? What induced the prince to make an irruption into England? What English town did he take, and what did he find there? In what did George II. find security? What was the character of the Highland chiefs? In what were they now unanimous ? Relate the retreat of the rebels into Scotland. Who joined the king's forces when they had retreated to Edinburgh? Who assumed the command of the king's forces? Where did he bring the rebel army to an engagement? Relate the battle. Relate the adventures of Charles in Scotland. What cruelty was displayed after the victory? Who were beheaded on Tower-hill? What island possessed by Britain, did the French attack? When did fort St. Philip capitulate? Who was sent to it's relief? How did he act? What was the opinion of the nation respecting his conduct? What was his fate? Relate the character and achievements of Mr. Clive. Describe the fate of the garrison of Calcutta. What secured the Britons from the terror of the Indians? Ilow many expeditions were undertaken in North America at the same time, and by whom were they commanded? Which of them succeeded first? What was the success of General Amherst? What town would now put the Britons in possession of all North America? Who had the command against it by sea and by land? Describe the situation of Quebec, and the manner in which it was attacked. Who was the French commander? Relate the conduct of General Wolfe during the close of the battle, and his fate. What were the consequences of this victory? To whom did Britain

now afford aid against the French? Where were the French defeated? Did any advantage result from the victory at Minden? Describe the efforts of Britain and the disposal of her forces. Where, and under what disadvantages did Admiral Hawke defeat a French fleet? Relate the particulars and date of the king's death. His age, and the length of his reign.

ON

N the the death of George the Second, his grandson George the Third, eldest son of Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales, by the Princess of Saxe Gotha, ascended the throne. The prepossessions in favour of the young sovereign were confirmed by the excellent speech which he delivered at the opening of Parliament; and one of his first acts was to render the twelve judges independent of the crown, which the nation admired as a distinguished proof of his justice, moderation, and public spirit.

On the 8th of September 1761, George the Third was united by marriage to Charlotte of Mecklenburgh Strelitz; and the young couple were crowned together on the 22nd of the same month.

The changes gradually accomplished by the Earl of Bute, at last produced a tory administration; which did not fail to

offend and irritate the powerful whig families who had long given law to the throne. Disgusted by the violent opposition and virulent abuse of the whig party, the Earl of Bute resigned his office: which the king bestowed on Mr. George Grenville, on the 8th of April, 1763.

Scarcely had Mr. Grenville entered on his office, when the king's speech on the prorogation of parliament was attacked with great rudeness and asperity, in No. 45 of a periodical called the North Briton, by John Wilkes, a man of abilities, but unprincipled and vicious. Such calumny and abuse merited both reprehension and punishment; but the ministry carried their indignation beyond the bounds of law; and by their illegal treatment raised to great distinction a man who otherwise could never have obtained the notice of the public. The business of Wilkes kept the state in a kind of ferment, and formed a common topic of conversation, for upwards of six years. The House of Commons not only expelled him, but declared him incapable of being again a member. When twice elected by the freeholders of Middlesex, the House superseded the nomination, and declared Colonel Lutterel representative, when he had only 296 votes, and Wilkes had 1143. The public loudly condemned these proceedings as irregular, and an open infringement of the rights of the people. That the Commons acted rashly and illegally, must be allowed, since they afterwards fell from their decision, and offered no objection to him as a member when Lord Mayor of London. Besides the libel already mentioned, Wilkes wrote a number of papers, which could not be held up to too great detestation.

The resignation of the Marquis of Bute, and the appointment of Mr. Grenville, gradually produced a new ministry; in which the Marquis of Rockingham obtained the office of first lord of the treasury; and from being considered the premier, the administration has generally been called by his

name.

Considerable discontent was manifested by the American colonists, in consequence of certain prohibitory statutes, enacted to prevent them from continuing any commercial intercourse with the French and Spanish settlements in that quarter of the world; as well as from carrying on an illicit trade with the French West India Islands The severity with which the law was enforced by the revenue officers, almost destroyed the legal trade of the Americans. The ministry therefore listened to these grievances of the colonists, amelio

rated the former orders, and passed some fresh laws in favour of American commerce; but negatived the gracious act by proposing a starch duty to be paid.

The Americans, still dissatisfied, raised a loud clamour at the proposal of charging them with stamp duties. The stamp bill having passed into a law, violent proceedings ensued in America: and the enemies of the parent country employed every effort to excite indignation and tumult.

The Assembly of some of the Provinces voted that Britain had exercised an unconstitutional power; and therefore proposed that deputies from the legislative body of each province should meet at New York, for the consideration of grievances. Resolutions were framed, condemning in unqualified terms the Stamp Act; and asserting their rights, as British subjects, to be taxed only by their own representatives. The affair occasioned much discussion in Parliament, and unfortunately for Great Britain, Pitt and Lord Camden advocated the cause of the Americans.

In consequence of the petitions sent from America, ministers rescinded the Stamp Act, the repeal of which the colonists no doubt considered to be a victory on their part; but the joy which it was calculated to excite was quickly depressed by the passing of another bill, declaratory of the right of Parliament to make laws binding on the Americans in every possible case.

A change of ministry took place on the 31st of October, 1765. To the Rockingham succeeded the Grafton Administration; that Duke filled the office of first commissioner of e treasury, Charles Townsend, that of chancellor of the exche. quer; and Mr. Pitt, that of privy seal, with the title of the Earl of Chatham. Mr. Townshend, in 1767, proposed to raise a revenue in America, by a duty upon tea, glass, paper, and colours, whenever they should be imported into any of the provinces. The Americans failed not to view this bill in the same light as the Stamp Act; and their enmity was further increased by Parliament suspending the legislative power of the Assembly in New York; because that body had refused the sum required by Parliament for the support of the British troops stationed in that province. An Assembly at Boston framed a circular letter, censuring with severity the conduct of Britain, and advising an association on purpose to procure a redress of colonial grievances. Notwithstanding the intercession of the governor, the resolution was carried by a great majority; and the populace broke out into acts of riot,