Chapter II: Front Matter (2)

WILLIAM III. and MARY II. succeeded James II. upon the vote of the Convention. The day after their arrival in London, which was Feb. 13, 1688-9, they were seated under a canopy of state in the Banqueting-house, and both Houses of Convocation waited upon them, proffering them the crown in the names of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and the Commons, assembled at Westminster: Accordingly they were proclaimed King and Queen of Great-Britain the following day, and solemnly crowned at the Abbey on the 21st of April. Several plots were formed against the King, but all of them proved abortive. He carried out a war with France, and with King James's party in Ireland, for nine years successively, till at last France was obliged to acknowledge him lawful King of Great-Britain, in the peace of Ryswic, 1697. He died March 8, 1701, aged 51, after he had survived his consort Mary Stuart, daughter to James II. five years, who died Dec. 21, 1696, and whose funeral was performed with great elegance and solemnity. July 2, 1700, William Duke of Gloucester, the only surviving issue of Princess Anne of Denmark, departed this life at Windsor, aged twelve years. And King James died at St. Germains in Sept. 1721.

ANNE, second daughter to James II. succeeded King William, whose death was joy to France, but a great misfortune to England. Anne was born Feb. 6, 1664, and married George Prince of Denmark, who was High Admiral of England, and a happy assistant to her in steering the ship of state. She was crowned Queen of Great-Britain April 23, 1702. On the 4th of May following war was proclaimed at London, Vienna, and the Hague, against France and Spain. The success of this war is worthy admiration [sic], and almost incredible. The conquest of the Spanish Guelderland, the Electorate of Cologn [sic], and the Bishopric of Liege; the prodigious victory over the French and Bavarians at Blenheim, under the surprising conduct of the Duke of Marlborough; the retaking of Landau; the conquering all the estates of the Duke of Bavaria in Germany; the forcing the French and Bavarians out of their lines in Brabant, which was deemed a thing impracticable; the battle of Ramillies; the victory at Oudenard; the taking of Lisle and Tournay; the defeat of the French army at Blarenies; the reducing of Mons, &c. &c. are such events as will render her Majesty's reign famous to all posterity. If we look towards Spain, how bold and successful was our attempt upon Vigo, where we took and destroyed their whole plate fleet, both men of war and others, to the amount of 38 sail, of which not one escaped: Did we not also take Gibraltar with a small force in one morning, and keep possession of it against the joint strength of France and Spain? Barcelona likewise being taken by the English and Dutch, under the conduct of the Earl of Peterborough, was soon after besieged by King Philip with a great army, which was soon forced to a shameful retreat into France. Hereupon Catalonia, Arragon, Valencia, and other provinces, submitted to Charles III. by the influence of her Majesty's arms. Who could have expected the dismal turn of the affairs of France and Italy, which happened in 1707, by the powerful interest of England? A numerous army of French and Spaniards were destroyed before the walls of Turin, by the Duke of Savoy and Prince Eugene. Thus Piedmont was abandoned, the Mantuan, the Milanese, the Modenese, Parmasan, and Montferrat, yielded up. This Queen also brought about the strict union between England and Scotland, after sundry fruitless attempts of the same kind for a century past. In short, the successes of her reign justly denominate her one of the most triumphant Monarchs of former ages, and her piety and virtue will ever be acknowledged by the British nation. The four last years of Queen Anne's reign were attended with much perplexity, which was owing to her Ministers, who prevailed upon her to consent to the peace of Utrecht; and, 'tis said, her death was occasioned by her ill conduct, which she laid too much to heart. She died Aug. 1, 1714; and in her the succession of the Stuart line ended.

_The House of_ HANOVER.

GEORGE I. who was heir-apparent to the crown of Great-Britain on the death of Queen Anne, and which had been confirmed to him some years before by various Acts of Parliament, and by a special article in the peace of Utrecht, was born 1666, and proclaimed King the very day Queen Anne expired. He landed at Greenwich Sept. 18, 1714, and was crowned Oct. 20. A thorough change in the ministry was made on his accession, wherein he distinguished his friends from his enemies. Among the latter the chief were the Duke of Ormond, the Earl of Oxford, and the Viscount Bolingbroke, who were deemed to be firmly attached to the interest of the Pretender. In 1715 a plot was supposed to be brooding in the West, where several gentlemen were suspected of having a design to bring in the Pretender, and to place him on the throne of his ancestors. He had already been proclaimed King of Scotland, by the Earl of Mar, against whom the Duke of Argyle marched. On the 13th of November they came to a decisive battle near Dumblain, where the rebels were defeated, and put to flight. At the same time a body of 5000 rebels assembled at Preston in Lancashire, headed by the Earl of Derwentwater, of whom General Wills, who commanded some of his Majesty's troops on the borders of Scotland, being informed, he marched directly against them, and obliged them to surrender prisoners of war. They were afterwards sent up to London, and many of the ringleaders tried and condemned. Among these were the Earls of Derwentwater and Kenmure, who were beheaded on Tower-Hill; several others were executed at Tyburn, and the remainder pardoned. Some other conspiracies were formed against the King's person; but, by timely discovery, prevented from being carried into execution. Aug. 2, 1718, the quadruple alliance was signed between their Imperial, Christian, and Britannic Majesties; and the Spanish fleet was destroyed in the Mediterranean by the English. In 1720 Spain acceded to the quadruple alliance, and a fleet was sent into the Baltic in favour of Sweden. This year was also remarkable for the South-Sea scheme, by which many families were deluded and entirely ruined; and the government was obliged to interpose, to prevent the ill consequences of the people's despair. On enquiry into the affair it appeared, that besides stock-jobbers and directors some persons of distinction were concerned in it. This fatal stroke to the British trade was in some measure remedied by the assiento contract, concluded at Madrid in 1722. In the same year, the funeral of the Duke of Marlborough, who, since the accession of King George, had been restored to the honours he so justly deserved, was solemnized with great pomp. In 1723, a conspiracy for raising an insurrection was discovered; hereupon the Duke of Norfolk, Lord North and Grey, the Bishop of Rochester, and Counsellor Layer, were taken into custody; after a long trial the Bishop was banished, and Layer was hanged. In 1724, the Ostend East-India Company was established. In 1725 the Hanover treaty was agreed to, between France, Great-Britain, and Prussia. June 11, 1727, George I. died at Osnaburgh, in the very chamber where he was born, in the 67th year of his age, and the 13th year of his reign.

GEORGE II. was proclaimed as soon as as the news of his father's death came to London, and his coronation was solemnized in October following. The new Parliament met on the 2d of January, and chose for their Speaker Arthur Onslow, Esq. and loyal and affectionate addresses were presented to the King by both houses. The land forces were fixed at 22,950 men, and the number of seamen at 15,000. An enquiry was made into the state of the public gaols, and from this it appeared that great cruelties and oppressions had been exercised on the prisoners, particularly on Sir William Rich, Baronet, who was found in the fleet prison loaded with irons, by order of the Warden. For these and the like barbarities, Thomas Bambridge, the Warden, and several of his accomplices, were committed to Newgate. In May, 1729, his Majesty declared his intentions of visiting his German dominions, and leaving the Queen as Regent. His design in going to Germany was to compromise some differences that had lately arisen between the Regency of Hanover and the King of Prussia; and about this time the Duke of Mecklenburgh was deposed by the Emperor, for his cruelty, tyranny, and oppression. By the fall of Emperors and Kings it is that we learn the Omnipotence of the Almighty, whose arm strengthens and supports the crown of the righteous and takes away the kingdom from unjust Princes. About this time great licentiousness prevailed among all ranks of people, particularly among those of the lower class, who indulged themselves in every kind of wickedness; and among other methods of injuring their fellow subjects, circulated incendiary letters, demanding sums of money of certain individuals, on pain of reducing their houses to ashes; this species of villainy had never been known before in England. In the course of the summer seven Indian Chiefs were brought over to England. In 1731 a duel was fought in the Green Park, between Sir William Pulteney and Lord Hervey, on account of a remarkable political pamphlet. Lord Hervey was wounded, and narrowly escaped with his life. The Latin tongue was abolished in all law proceedings, which were ordered for the future to be in English. Rich. Norton, Esq. of Southwick, in Hampshire, left his estate of 600l. per annum, and a personal estate of 60,000l. to be disposed of in charitable uses by the Parliament. One Smith, a book-binder, and his wife, being reduced to extreme poverty, hanged themselves at the same time, and by common consent, after having made away with their only child.

On the 27th of April, 1736, his Royal Highness Frederic, Prince of Wales, espoused Augusta, sister to the Duke of Saxe Gotha. In the course of this year a remarkable riot happened at Edinburgh, occasioned by the execution of one Wilson, a smuggler. Porteus, captain of the city guard, a man of a brutal disposition, and abandoned morals, being provoked by the insults of the mob, commanded his soldiers to fire upon the crowd, by which precipitate orders several innocent persons were killed; Porteus was tried and condemned to die, but obtained a reprieve from the Queen, who was then Regent. The mob, however, were [sic] determined to execute the sentence; they accordingly rose in a tumultuous manner, forced open the prison doors, dragged forth Porteus, and hanged him on a dyer's pole; after which they quietly dispersed. On the 24th of May, 1738, the Princess of Wales was delivered of a Prince, who was christened by the name of George, now our most gracious Sovereign. One Buchanan, a sailor, who had been condemned for murder, was cut down from the gallows by his companions, who actually brought him to life, and carried him off in triumph.

War was declared in form against Spain, at London and Westminster, Oct. 23, 1739. The same year Admiral Vernon destroyed Porto Bello, and the March following demolished Fort Chagre. In 1740 there was a severe and lasting frost, which extended all over Europe, and occasioned a fair to be kept on the River Thames. In 1741 Admiral Vernon, with a strong fleet, joined with General Wentworth, who had a considerable number of forces under his command, made an unsuccessful attempt on Carthagena [sic]; the greater part of the land forces being either killed or cut off by an epidemical distemper. In 1742, Captain Middleton made a fruitless attempt to discover the North West passage into the South Seas. The year following the battle of Dettingen was fought. There was also this year a bloody engagement before Toulon, between the English fleet and that of the French and Spaniards; when that brave commander Captain Cornwall was killed in the Marlborough, after a most resolute and surprising resistance. Commodore Anson returned to England, having made a voyage round the globe; and war was mutually declared between England and France.

In 1745 the battle of Fontenoy was fought, in which the French had the advantage, which was followed by the taking of Tournay. A rebellion broke out in Scotland; the rebels defeated Sir John Cope, at Preston Pans, came forward into England, took Carlisle, and marched to Derby, from whence they were obliged to make a precipitate retreat, being closely pursued by the Duke of Cumberland, who retook Carlisle. When the rebels were returned into Scotland, they defeated the King's forces under General Hawley, near Falkirk, and laid siege to Stirling, but raised it on the Duke's approach. This year Cape-Breton was taken by Admiral Warren. In 1746 the memorable battle of Culloden, in Scotland, was fought, wherein the rebels were totally destroyed: The Earls of Balmerino and Kilmarnock, with Mr. Ratcliff, brother to the late Earl of Derwentwater, were taken prisoners, and beheaded on Tower-Hill; as was Lord Lovat in the year following. Now also the French took all Dutch Flanders, and there was a battle between them and part of the allied army, after which the latter retreated under the cannon of Maestricht. Admirals Anson and Warren, after a hot engagement, took several French men of war in the Mediterranean, among which was the ship in which their Admiral sailed. In 1748 a Congress was held at Aix-la-Chapelle for a general pacification, and the articles of peace therein agreed to were signed in April. A Bill was passed for the encouragement of the British herring fishery; and a proclamation issued for inciting disbanded soldiers and sailors to settle in Nova Scotia. Mr. Pelham now lowered the interest of money in the funds, first to three and a half per cent. afterwards to three. The importation of iron from America was allowed; and the African trade laid open.

In the year 1752, the French spirited up the Indians against our colonies of Nova Scotia, and built a chain of forts on the back of our American settlements. This occasioned a new war, carried on with great cruelty in those parts. Monckton drove the French from their encroachments in Nova Scotia; and General Johnson gave them a defeat; but Braddock, through his own rashness, was defeated and slain. The English took many ships from the enemy, without declaring war.

In 1756, the Hessians and Hanoverians were brought over, to the number of ten thousand. Presently after Minorca was taken by the French; and Admiral Byng was shot at Portsmouth for not having relieved it. On the 17th of May, war was declared in form, and the King entered into a treaty with the Empress of Russia for the security of Hanover; and afterwards into an alliance with Prussia. This was followed by an unnatural [sic] treaty between France and the Queen of Hungary, to which the Empress of Russia acceded. And a war was kindled by the intrigues of France between Prussia and Sweden; while the Elector of Saxony favoured the Austrians. The King of Prussia therefore entered Saxony, and obliged the Saxon troops at Pirna to surrender prisoners of war. He invaded Bohemia, defeated the Austrian General, and gained another victory near Prague. But attacking the Austrians at a disadvantage near Kolin, he was defeated, and obliged to raise the siege of Prague. The French now passed the Weser, and drove the Hanoverians before them. They made a stand however at Hastenbeck, under the Duke of Cumberland, where they were attacked, and forced to retreat towards Stade, and laid down their arms in consequence of the treaty of Closterseven.

In the East-Indies we were also successful; for, by Colonel Clive's vigilance and courage, the province of Arcot was cleared of the enemy, the French general taken prisoner, and the favourite Nabob, whom we supported, was reinstated in his government. But some months after, the Viceroy of Bengal declared against the English, and took Calcutta by assault. Here one hundred and forty-six persons were crowded into a narrow prison, called the Black-Hole, where they were suffocated for want of air, only twenty-three surviving; several of whom died by putrid fevers, after they were set free.

The Dutch at Batavia now dispatched seven armed ships to Bengal, having eleven hundred land forces, with orders strongly to fortify their settlement at Chincura, and secure the salt-petre trade to themselves. But the ships were all taken by three English East-India ships, which were in the river, and their troops were totally defeated at land by Colonel Ford.

Colonel Coote also took the city of Wandewash, reduced the fortress of Carangoly, and defeated Lally. This was followed by the surrender of the city of Arcot. Pondicherry now sustained a siege in turn, and the French therein were reduced to feed on dogs and cats. Eight crowns were given for the flesh of a dog. At length the English took possession of the place. And this conquest terminated the power of France in India.

Mr. Pitt was at the head of the English Ministry, when Louisbourg in Cape Breton was besieged by General Amherst, and surrendered by capitulation. The French lost a fine navy in the harbour. Fort Du Quesne also was taken. But the operations against Crown Point and Ticonderoga miscarried.

The year 1759 was remarkable for the conquest of Canada. The French deserted Crown Point and Ticonderoga, which were possessed by General Amherst. Sir William Johnson defeated them, and became master of the Fort of Niagara. And the Admirals Saunders, Holmes, and Durel, sailed for Quebec, attended by a land army, under General Wolfe. In the battle which ensued, both Wolfe and Montcalm, the chief commanders on each side, were slain, and Quebec surrendered. In 1760 the French forces endeavoured to recover Quebec, but the place was relieved by an English fleet under Lord Colvill. Montreal submitted to General Amherst, and that extensive country fell totally under the power of Great Britain; a larger territory than ever was subject to the Roman empire. The prodigious march of Amherst, on this occasion, can be compared only to that of Jenghiz Can, or Tamerlane, who over-ran all Asia with their Tartars.

In Europe the operations of war were astonishing, and the great efforts of the King of Prussia secured his safety beyond all human expectation. Almost the whole power of the Continent was united against him. The King of Great Britain, his only ally, seemed inclined to forsake him. In this terrible situation he relied on his natural subjects, and still adhered to his fortitude. Yet he expostulated warmly, and his expostulations at last succeeded.

The French forces, and those of the Imperialists, had made a successful campaign in the summer; yet seemed determined that the rigour of the winter should not interrupt their proceedings. In the depth of it, they laid siege to Leipsic, and were confident of carrying that important city. This greatly alarmed his Prussian Majesty. He contrived his measures so artfully, as to appear before the place when he was least expected. Vanquished as he was, the terror of his arms raised the siege. The French army, though greatly superior in number, rose and retreated with precipitation.

His Prussian Majesty, not satisfied with having raised the siege of Leipsic, followed the French army, whose fears, he imagined, would befriend him. He came up with them near a little village, called Rosbach. An action came on, and he obtained one of the most signal victories recorded in history. Had not the night saved them, their whole army had been devoted to destruction.

In another part of the empire the Austrians were again victorious, and took the Prince of Bevern, the King of Prussia's Generalissimo, prisoner. The King himself, in the depth of winter, made a march of two hundred miles, and engaged the enemy in the neighbourhood of Breslau, the capital of Silesia. He was much inferior in strength, but his forces were disposed with such admirable judgment [sic], that he gained a compleat [sic] victory, in which he took fifteen thousand prisoners. Breslau itself, after the battle, surrendered to the Conqueror, tho' it had a garrison of ten thousand men. These successes disheartened his enemies, and raised the spirit of his friends.

The magnanimous King of Prussia now began to fight with his enemies upon more equal terms. He attacked them every where, was attended for the most part with remarkable success, and rarely met with any considerable disadvantage. He carried on the campaign throughout the winter, escaped many dangers, was exhausted by no fatigues, nor terrified by any numbers.

England is so happily situated, that she has little need to concern herself with the disturbances on the Continent. Yet the people in general at this time seemed in a disposition to encourage and assist the German subjects of their King.

At the meeting of the Parliament, the reasonableness of engaging in a war upon the Continent was taken into consideration, and admitted. Liberal supplies were granted, to enable the army, now collected in the King's Hanoverian dominions, to act with vigour, in conjunction with the King of Prussia. Supplies were also granted to his Prussian Majesty.

A spirit of enterprise now seemed to animate all ranks of people. A body of British forces was sent into Germany, under the command of the Duke of Marlborough, to assist Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick and the Hanoverians; and who afterwards behaved with great bravery. The English fleet in the mean time invaded France, and burnt the French shipping at St. Malo's. It then moved towards Cherburgh, but was obliged by the weather to return home.

On the 1st of August, 1758, the fleet under Commodore Howe, with the transports, again set sail for Cherburgh. They landed with little opposition from the French, and entered the town. Immense sums had been there laid out upon the fortifications, and the harbour was one of the strongest in Europe. The work of all this labour and expence [sic] was now totally destroyed by the English, who found more difficulty in demolishing than in conquering the place. All the ships in the harbour were burnt, and a contribution raised upon the town.

On the 16th of August, the British fleet and army having remained in France unmolested for ten days, set sail for Cherburgh, and carried off all the brass cannon and mortars taken there.

The English troops landed again in the Bay of St. Lunar, in the neighbourhood of St. Malo, but found it impracticable to make any impression upon the place. While the troops were ashore the Commodore found himself obliged, from the danger of the coast, to move up to the Bay of St. Cas, about three leagues to the westward; while the army marched over land to the same place, where they all embarked, except the last division, consisting of the grenadiers of the army, and the first regiment of guards. These were attacked by the Duke d'Aiguillon, Governor of Brittany, at the head of twelve battalions, and six squadrons of regulars, besides two regiments of militia, against whom, though they made a most gallant resistance, about six hundred of them were killed, and four hundred taken prisoners, not being able to reach the boats.

The English had already made themselves masters of Senegal and Goree, in Africa; and though they had now lost Minorca, yet they remained victorious in the Mediterranean, and continued to ruin the French marine.

Towards the end of the year, a squadron of nine ships of the line, with sixty transports, containing six regiments of foot, was fitting out for the conquest of Martinico. But tho' a conquest of that island was judged, after a slight attempt, to be impracticable, they achieved the more important reduction of Guadaloupe.

On the 28th of July, the Hereditary Prince was detached with six thousand men to cut off the enemy's communication with Paderborn. And on the 29th, Prince Ferdinand advanced from his camp on the Weser, leaving a body of troops under Wangenheim, on the borders of that river.

The next day was fought the battle of Minden, as glorious to the English, as those of Cressy and Agincourt had been to their ancestors. The centre of the French was entirely composed of horse, who attacked six English regiments, supported by two battalions of Hanoverian guards. These sustained the whole shock of the battle, and, to the amazement of the German General himself, obtained a compleat victory. The French lost seven thousand men, and the English twelve hundred.

The French were greatly disappointed in their views by sea this year. Thurot, a marine freebooter, with three ships and a considerable body of land forces, landed in Ireland, and alarmed the people of Carrickfergus. Putting to sea again, he was met by three British frigates, of a force inferior to his own, and after a severe encounter he was killed, and his ships led in triumph by the English commanders to the Isle of Man.

A grand fleet was intended to invade England, under Marshal Conflans and the Duke d'Aiguillon; but this fleet was ruined by Admiral Hawke on the 20th of November.

In the year 1760, Lord George Sackville was tried by a court-martial for his conduct in the battle of Minden, and declared incapable of serving his Majesty for the future in any military capacity whatever; he was however afterwards raised to the highest civil employments, being secretary of state to George III. and having a considerable share in those unfortunate councils, which severed for ever thirteen provinces from the crown of England. On the 5th of May, Lawrence Shirley, Earl Ferrers, was hanged at Tyburn for the murder of Mr. Johnson, his steward. On the 25th of October, between seven and eight o'clock in the morning, died King George II. in the 77th year of his age, and the 34th of his reign. He had risen at his usual hour, called his page, drunk his chocolate, and inquired about the wind, as if anxious for the arrival of foreign mails; soon after which he fell speechless on the ground, and being laid on his bed, expired in a few minutes.

GEORGE III. grandson of George II. and eldest son of the late Frederick Prince of Wales, succeeded to the throne, and was proclaimed King on the day after the death of his grand father. He was married on the 8th of September, 1761, to his Queen, Charlotte, Princess of Mecklenburgh Strelitz, and they were solemnly crowned together on the 22d of the same month.

The war was still carried on betwixt France and England, in Germany, when Augsburgh was pitched upon by both parties as a proper place to negociate [sic] a peace in; and, with respect to the disputes in America, Mr. Bussey was named by the French Court to repair to London, as Mr. Stanley was by the English to treat at Paris. The former of these offers a memorial to the British minister, importing that the King of Spain apprehended a new war, unless the British court would make satisfaction to Spain for ships taken under Spanish colours; permit the claim of Spain to a share in the Newfoundland fishery; and destroy the English fortifications in the bay of Honduras. This put an end to the negociation.

The French and Spanish courts now entered into a Family Compact, in which the two Sicilies were included; the most extraordinary treaty which this age can produce; it being a consolidation of the rights and interests of the two crowns and their subjects in all respects, but those relating to the Spanish American commerce.

Mr. Pitt, the British minster, gained intelligence of the family compact, and made strong remonstrances at the council-board for an immediate declaration of war against Spain, which were not relished. On this Mr. Pitt resigned.

The flota arrived in the bay of Cadiz, and the Spaniards resolved on a war with England.

January 2, 1762, his Britannic Majesty's proclamation of war against Spain was published in London. And the King of Spain proclaimed war against England on the 16th of the same month.

The French and Spaniards insisted upon the King of Portugal's taking part in the war against England. He declined the invitation, and vindicated his alliance with England.

The Spanish army marched towards the frontiers of Portugal, and all commerce between the two kingdoms was prohibited. And war was declared by the King of Spain against that kingdom on the 15th of June.

Many English officers repaired to the assistance of the King of Portugal, and were followed by large supplies of troops, artillery, arms, provisions, and money.

A small army of English and Portuguese take the field. Count La Lippe is sent over to command them. Brigadier Burgoyne surprizes [sic] Valenca d'Alcantara in Spain, and destroys one of their best regiments there. A sejeant [sic] and six men only engage a Spanish subaltern with twenty-five dragoons, unbroken, kill six of their men, and bring in the rest prisoners, with every horse of the party. Soon after Brigadier Burgoyne and Colonel Lee surprize the Spanish camp at Villa Vehla; and the Spaniards are obliged to leave Portugal, and to make winter quarters in their own country. On the 12th of August, his Royal Highness George Augustus-Frederick, Prince of Wales, was born.

The English take Martinico and Granada from the French, and the city of Havannah, in the island of Cuba, from the Spaniards. This induces both powers to think of peace, for which a negociation was set on foot; and the negociators on all sides having adjusted the points in dispute between Great Britain and Portugal on the one side, and France and Spain on the other, a definitive treaty was signed at Paris on the 10th of Feb. 1763; by which peace was once more restored to Europe.

By this glorious war, England acquired the large and extensive province of Canada, East and West Florida, in America, together with several large and valuable islands in the West Indies; among which is the island of Granada, one of the most extensive and important colonies belonging to the empire. This island, which produces pine-apples, oranges, citrons, and all the most delicious tropical fruits, is beautifully interspersed with an infinite variety of rivers, which, with the warmth and salubrity of the climate, render it the most pleasing situation between the tropics; it is the residence of a number of rich planters and merchants, who have acquired large fortunes therein, and live in the greatest splendour and hospitality. It is not improperly called the Princess of the isles of the Western world.

From the year 1763 to 1774, England felt all the blessings of peace; agriculture and commerce were improved and extended; the polite arts, such as painting and sculpture, were patronized by his Majesty, and a royal academy instituted for the purpose, in the year 1768. We might call this the Augustine age; and Great-Britain promised to its posterity universal empire. But the colonies of North America revolted from their allegiance to Great-Britain in the year 1775, and formed a congress, under the title _The Congress of the Thirteen United Provinces_, which assumed all the powers of government; in the following year it declared the States of America independent of the crown and parliament of Great-Britain. The government of France assisted them against the forces of this nation both by sea and land; and Spain also declared war against this country, as a diversion to its arms in favour of America. Holland also became a party in the cause, to humble a nation which had arrived to such a pitch of greatness; and the general struggle at last terminated in the peace of 1783, in which the government of Great-Britain acknowledged the Americans to be independent; in consequence, the provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia only remain to us, of all our immense possessions on the continent of America.

This country, in the year 1787, began to arm in favour of the Prince Stadtholder of the Seven United Provinces, who had been driven from his palace by a French party; but that business was terminated by their submission to the Duke of Brunswick, who entered Holland, and restored the former government. The Spaniards dispossessing our settlers at Nootka Sound, in 1790, was made the pretext for equipping a formidable armament; and though the difference with the Spaniards was speedily settled by negociation [sic], the jealousy entertained of the French Anarchists occasioned our Government to keep the country in armed preparation; till the indignation universally excited by the decapitation of the unfortunate French King, and the invasion of Holland by the armies of the French Republic, caused us to enter into that war, whose wide-extended fluence has deluged the continent of Europe with blood, tumbled the papal throne in ruins, dethroned the Kings of Naples and Sardinia, the former of whom is however yet struggling for his rights, annihilated the ancient Republics of Venice, Genoa, &c. &c. extinguished the authority of the House of Orange in Holland, endangered the very existence of the House of Austria and the Germanic Empire, and by the invasion of the Egypt and Syria, has even alarmed the Sultan of the Turks for the safety of his capital, whilst the hardy bands of Russia have been called forth into action both to defend her former inveterate foes, and to wrest the classic ground of Italy from the gripe [sic] of the modern Vandals, the French! Yet amid all this carnage, the horrors of the war, if we except the enormous expenditure attending it, have scarcely been felt in this country; two attempts of invasion by the enemy have been frustrated; the captured fleets of France, Spain, and Holland, have been triumphantly brought into our harbours; our own Colonies and distant settlements have been secured, many of the most important of those of the enemy have been taken; and the India Company has established its power, by the complete conquest of the kingdom of Mysore, Tippoo Sultaun having fallen in defending hispalace at Seringapatam. But it is a remarkable feature in this war, that after so sanguinary a contest for seven years, Peace appears, at the close of the year 1799, more distant than it did at its commencement.

THE HISTORY OF THE _PRESENT STATE OF ENGLAND._

_Its Situation._

SOUTH-BRITAIN, that is, properly speaking, ENGLAND and WALES, is situate in the Atlantic Ocean, between two degrees east, and six degrees odd minutes western longitude, and between 49 degrees 55 minutes, and 55 degrees 55 minutes north latitude; and being of a triangular figure, is bounded by Scotland on the north; the German sea, which separates it from Germany and the Netherlands, on the east; by the English Channel, which divides it from France, on the south; and by St. George's Channel, which separates it from Ireland, on the west. It is 525 statute miles in length on its west side, 345 on its east side, and 340 on its south side, nearly in straight lines; and about 100 only across the north.

_Its Air_.] Is much warmer here than in the Netherlands and Germany, tho' under the same parallel; and, unless in the fens and marshy grounds, it is for the most part very healthy.

There are very few mountains; the highest hills, however, are in Wales, and in the west and north of England. The rest of the country consists of moderate hills and vallies [sic], woodlands, pasture and meadow grounds; extensive corn fields, and plains which feed numberless flocks of sheep, horses, and other cattle. Though the largest oxen, horses, and sheep, are to be met with in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire; yet the finest breed of horses for running and hunting are produced in Yorkshire. And besides there are a great number of royal forests, chaces, and parks, which afford plenty of deer and other game.

_Its Soil_.] Is either clay, or gravel, or sand; the clays produce excellent wheat and beans; the gravel and sand, rye, barley, peas, and oats; and of late years the light lands have been improved, and rendered as valuable as the clays, by sowing them with turnips, clover, saintfoin, &c. but more particularly in wet years; a wet season, however, by no means agrees with the clay. In such years, for the most part, there is a great scarcity of wheat; but then, to compensate for that deficiency, there is a plenty of pasture and other grain.

_Its Trees_.] The timber that grows in England is oak, ash, elm, beech, and hornbeam. The walnut-tree is particularly used in cabinets, and other curiosities of the like nature. But besides these, there are a great number of other trees, which, though they do not fall, indeed, under the denomination of timber, serve for shade, ornament, and inferior uses.

In Kent there are extensive orchards, the trees whereof produce abundance of cherries. In Devonshire and Herefordshire likewise are vast quantities of apple-trees, the produce whereof makes far better cider than any other county whatever can boast of.

_Its Plantations_.] In Kent, as well as Worcestershire, Surrey, &c. are large plantations of hops; and in divers other counties, of flax and hemp.

In Essex and Cambridgeshire are large plantations of saffron; and in Bedfordshire there are large fields of woad or wad, for the use of dyers.

_Its Rivers_.] Its principal rivers are, 1. The Thames, 2. The Medway. 3. The Trent. And, 4. The Severn.

The Thames, on which the two cities of London and Oxford stand, runs generally from west to east. This river is navigable for ships as high as London, which is one of the largest ports in the world. The Medway unites with the Thames near its mouth, and receives the largest men of war as high as Chatham; where, if we except our own arsenals at Portsmouth and Plymouth, are the finest docks, yards, and magazines of naval stores, in Europe.

The Trent runs from the south-west to the north-east across England, and divides it into north and south. When united with other streams near its mouth, it is called the Humber, which discharges itself into the German ocean.

The Severn rises from North Wales, and, running for the most part south, falls into the Irish sea. On this river stand the two cities of Worcester and Gloucester.

_Its Contents_.] In England and Wales there are 52 counties, 2 archbishoprics, 24 bishoprics, 2 universities, 29 cities, upwards of 800 towns, and near 10,000 parishes; in which are about seven millions of people.

There are scarce any manufactures in Europe which are not brought to great perfection in England.

_Its Constitution_.] England is a limited monarchy; the power of making and altering laws, and raising taxes, being lodged in the King, Lords, and Commons.

_Its Administration of Justice_.] This is the business of the courts in Westminster-hall, viz. the Court of Chancery, the Courts of King's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer; the courts of the respective corporations, the sheriffs, and other inferior courts; the last resort, in all civil cases, being to the House of Peers.

_Its Ecclesiastical Government_.] Is in the archbishops and bishops, who administer justice in their respective courts by their chancellors, officials, archdeacons, and other officers.

_Of the Convocation_.] Whenever a parliament is called, the King always convokes a national synod of the clergy, to consider of the state of the church.

The clergy of the province of Canterbury, of the generality, assemble in St. Paul's cathedral, in London, and from thence adjourn to the chapter-house, or Westminster.

In this province there are two houses, the upper and the lower; the former consists of 22 bishops, of whom the archbishop is president; the latter consists of all the deans, archdeacons, the proctors of every chapter, and two proctors for the clergy of each diocese; in all 166.

The archbishop of York may hold a convocation of his clergy at the same time; but neither the one nor the other has been suffered to enter upon business for many years, though they are always regularly summoned to meet with every parliament, being looked upon as an essential part of the constitution.

_Of the Parliament_.] Every parliament is summoned by the King's writs to meet forty-eight days before they assemble. A writ is directed to every particular lord, spiritual and temporal, commanding him to appear at a certain time and place, to treat and advise of certain weighty affairs relating both to church and state. Writs also are sent to the sheriff of every county to summon those who have a right to vote for representatives, to elect two knights for each county, two citizens for each city, and one or two burgesses for each borough.

Every candidate for a county ought to be possessed of an estate of 600l. per annum; and every candidate for a city, or corporation, of 300l. per annum.

The Lord Chancellor, or keeper for the time being, is always Speaker in the House of Peers; but the Commons elect their Speaker, who must be approved by the King.

No Roman Catholic can sit in either house; nor any member vote till he has taken the oaths to the government.

_The ancient_ STATE _of_ ENGLAND.

Having thus given our young readers a transient idea of the present state of South-Britain; we shall now proceed to give a succinct account of the ancient state of England, which, in regard to its constitution, was originally a monarchy, under the primitive Britons; after that, a province, subordinate to the Romans; then an heptarchical government under the Saxons; then again a kingdom in subjection to the Danes; next after them, under the power and dominion of the Normans; but at present, (after all the before-mentioned revolutions,) a monarchy again under the English; of all which we shall treat, as briefly as possible, in their proper order.

The whole island was anciently called Albion, which seems to have been softened from the word Alpion; because the word Alp, in some of the original western languages, generally signifies high lands, or hills, as this isle appears to those who approach it from the Continent. It was likewise called Olbion, which, in the Greek language, signifies happy; but of those times there is no certainty in history, more than that it had the denomination, and was very little known by the rest of the world.

As the name of Britain, however, excepting that of Albion, or Olbion, just before mentioned, has been liable to as many derivations as the origin of the Britons; we shall content ourselves (for brevity's sake) with the following extract from Camden, who has given (in our humble opinion at least) the best and most natural derivation of the term.

"The ancient Britons (says he) painted their naked bodies and small shields with woad of an azure-blue colour, which by them was called Brith; on this account the inhabitants received the common appellation from the strangers who came into the island to traffic from the coasts of Gaul, or Germany; to which the Greeks, by adding the word tania, or country, formed the word Britannia, or the country of the painted men, and the Romans afterwards called it Britannia."

Here it may be observed, that the Romans were extremely fond of giving their own terminations to many uncivilized countries, and of forming easy and pleasant sounds out of the harshest and most offensive, to such elegant tongues and ears as their own.

_Their_ GOVERNMENT.

Their government, like that of the ancient Gauls, consisted of several small nations, under divers petty Princes, apparently the original governments of the world, deduced from the natural force and right of paternal dominion; such were the hords [sic] among the Goths, the clans in Scotland, and the septs in Ireland: but whether these small British principalities descended by succession, or were elected according to merit, is uncertain.

Their language and customs were, for the most part, the same with those of the Gauls before the Roman conquests in that province; but they were entirely governed in their religion and laws by their Druids, Bards, and Eubates.

Their Druids were held in such high veneration by the people, that their authority was almost absolute. No public affairs were transacted without their approbation; nor could any malefactor (though his crimes were ever so heinous) be put to death without their consent.

Their Bardi, or Bards, were priests of an inferior order of their Druids; their principal business being to celebrate the praises of their heroes in verses and songs, which were set to music and sung to their harps.

Their Eubates were a third sort of priests, who applied themselves to the study of philosophy.

Each order of these priests led very simple and innocent lives, and resided either in woods, caverns, or hollow trees. Their food consisted of acorns, berries, or other mast; and their drink was nothing but water. By this abstemious course of life, however, they procured an universal esteem, not only for their superior knowledge, but their generous contempt of all those enjoyments of life which all others so highly valued, and so industriously pursued.

_The most remarkable_ TENETS _of their_ DRUIDS.

1. Every thing derives its origin from heaven. 2. Great care is to be taken in the education of children. 3. Souls are immortal. 4. The souls of men after death go into other bodies. 5. If ever the world should happen to be destroyed, it will be either by fire or water. 6. All commerce with strangers should be prohibited. 7. He who comes last to the Assembly of the states ought to be punished with death. 8. Children should be brought up apart from their parents, till they are fourteen years of age. 9. There is another world; and they who kill themselves to accompany their friends thither will live with them there. 10. All masters of families are kings in their own houses; and have a power of life and death over their wives, children, and slaves.

_Their_ ANCIENT STATES.

STATES. COUNTIES. 1. _Danmonii_, _Cornwall_ and _Devon_. 2. _Durotriges_, _Dorset_. 3. _Belgæ_, _Somerset_, _Wilts_, and the north part of _Hants_. 4. _Attrebatii_, _Berks_. 5. _Regni_, _Surrey_, _Sussex_, and the south part of _Hants_. 6. _Cantii_, _Kent_. 7. _Trinobantes_, _Middlesex_, _Hertfordshire_, & _Essex_. 8. _Iceni_, _Suffolk_, _Norfolk_, _Cambridge_, and _Huntingdon_. 9. _Catieuchlani_, _Bucks_ and _Bedford_. 10. _Dobuni_, _Gloucester_ and _Oxford_. 11. _Silures_, _Hereford_, _Monmouth_, _Radnor_, _Brecon_, & _Glamorgan_. 12. _Dimetæ_, _Carmarthen_, _Pembroke_, and _Cardigan_. 13. _Ordovices_, _Flint_, _Denbigh_, _Merioneth_, _Montgomery_, & _Carnarvon_. 14. _Cornavii_, _Chester_, _Salop_, _Stafford_, _Warwick_, and _Worcester_. 15. _Coritani_, _Lincoln_, _Nottingham_, _Derby_, _Leicester_, _Rutland_, and _Northampton_. 16. _Brigantes_, _York_, _Lancaster_, _Westmoreland_, _Cumberland_, & _Durham_. 17. _Ottadini_, _Northumberland_.

_Their general_ CHARACTER.

They were a great and glorious people, fond of liberty and property; but peculiarly remarkable for their rigid virtue, and their readiness to die with pleasure for the good of their country. They long lived in a perfect state of peace and tranquility till the year of the world 3950, at which time its monarchy, by the boundless envy and ambition of Julius Cæsar, (when Rome was in the meridian of all her glory) was totally subverted, and Britannia became a province subordinatte [sic] to the Romans.

_The_ ROMAN GOVERNMENT.

Cæsar, at his first landing on the island, found it not under a sole monarchy, but divided into divers provinces, or petty kingdoms. Soon after having defeated Cassibelan, and taken several British provinces, he left the island, and the Romans entirely abandoned it for ninety years and upwards.

However, in the year of our Lord 42, Claudius Cæsar, the 5th Emperor of Rome, sent his General Plautius, with great force, into Britain, and following him soon after in person, subdued a great part of the island, by which means he procured the title of Britannicus.

In the year 50, London is supposed to have been built by the Romans. In this year Ostorius, the Roman general, defeated Caractacus, the chief of the British Princes, and having taken him prisoner, carried him to Rome.

The Christian religion, about this time, was first planted in Britain.

In the year 61, the Britons, under the conduct of Boadicea, a British Queen, destroyed 70,000 Romans.

The next year Suetonius, the Roman general, defeated the Britons, and killed 80,000 of them upon the spot; whereupon Boadicea poisoned herself.

In the year 63, the gospel was first preached in Britain by Joseph of Arimathea, and eleven of St. Philip's disciples.

_The_ PERSECUTIONS _against the_ CHRISTIANS _consequent thereupon_.

1. First persecution was begun by Nero, soon after he had burnt the city of Rome, which was in the year 65. 2. The second, by Flavius Domitian, in the year 83. 3. The third, by Ulpius Trajan, in the year 111. 4. In the year 162, the fourth was raised by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and his associate Lucius Verus. 5. The fifth was begun by Septimus Severus, in the year 193. 6. In 235, the sixth was raised by Maximinus. 7. Trajanus began the seventh in the year 253. 8. In 255, the eighth was raised by Valerianus. 9. Valerianus Aurelianus began the ninth in the year 272. And 10. Dioclesian [sic] and Maximianus carried on the tenth with the utmost severity.

After the Romans, however, had been in the possession of Britain for near 500 years, they left it to its ancient inhabitants again, who being at that time sunk into the lowest state of degeneracy, were soon after invaded by the Scots and the Picts; and trembling at the approaching storm, they were prevailed on by Vortigern, their chief monarch, about the year 447, to send a deputation to the Saxons, who were the only persons (as he insinuated) capable of giving them that aid and assistance which the unhappy situation of their affairs immediately required. This plausible pretence of that Prince succeeded, and one and all concurred in his opinion; and by the resolution which they then took thereupon, they brought on the total destruction of their country.

Ambassadors from the Britons were accordingly sent to Witigisel, the then Saxon general, who immediately summoned an assembly to hear what the Britons had to propose. The latter (like men in absolute despair) offered to submit to any terms that their said assembly should think proper, provided they did but protect and stand by them so far in their pressing necessities, as to enable them to drive their enemies out of their country. The proposal was approved of, and the negociation [sic] accordingly concluded.

The terms were, that the Saxons should send 9000 men into Britain, who were to be put into possession of the Isle of Thanet, and to be paid and maintained likewise at the expence [sic] of the Britons. Hengist and Horsa, both sons of the Saxon General Witigisel, who were brave and resolute men, fit for, and fond of such an expedition, were appointed, in the year 450, to command the Saxon troops intended for the relief of Britain.

Tho' these two heroes arrived at Ebbesfleet, in the island of Thanet, with 1500 men only, instead of 9000, yet they were received with the utmost respect by Vortigern, who put them immediately, according to promise, in full possession of that island.

As the Picts and Scots, at that time, were advancing their forces against the Britons, Hengist joined Vortigern, and inspiring the British troops with new courage, a battle was fought near Stamford, in Lincolnshire, wherein the Picts and Scots were so absolutely defeated, that they were obliged to abandon their conquests, and retire into their own country.

Hengist had a beautiful daughter, named Rowena, with whom Vortigern fell deeply in love, and demanded her in marriage of her father, who, ever attentive to enlarge his dominions, refused his consent, unless the amorous Briton would put him in possession of the whole county of Kent. The terms were readily accepted, and the match concluded. In short, this love-sick passion, this seemingly trivial circumstance, occasioned the greatest revolution that had ever been felt in Britain.

_The_ SAXON HEPTARCHY.

We shall now take a transient view of the Saxon Heptarchy, consequent thereupon.

I. _The Kingdom of Kent_.

The first was the kingdom of Kent, founded by Hengist, in 453, and contained only that county; being inhabited by the Jutes. It continued 368 years, and ended in 823, having been governed by ten of its own Kings, and seven doubtful or foreign Princes; of whom four were Pagans and three Christians. Its principal places were Canterbury, Dover, Rochester, Sandwich, Deal, Folkstone, and Reculver.

II. _The Kingdom of the South Saxons_.

The second was the kingdom of the South Saxons, founded by Ella in 491, and contained the counties of Sussex and Surrey, whose principal city was Chichester. It continued about 109 years, and ended about the year 600; having only five monarchs, of whom two were Pagans, and three Christians: it was mostly under the power of the Kings of Kent, and the West Saxons.

III. _The Kingdom of the West Saxons_.