cester, established by an excellent gentleman, Mr. Raikes.

In 1786, a mad woman, named Margaret Nicholson, attempted to stab the King with a knife, as he was getting out of his carriage. This unhappy creature was confined in Bedlam, where she remains at this day.

About this time, began the trial of Mr. Hastings, for supposed ill conduct as governor of India. This affair lasted about nine years, and at last ended in his favour.

In the year 1788, the King was seized with a serious illness, so that he could not attend to the affairs of the nation. Happily, however, whilst arrangements were making about appointing the Prince of Wales as Regent, his Majesty recovered. There were rejoicings and a general thanksgiving for this good news all over the kingdom; and the King, like a pious Christian, went to St. Paul's Church to return thanks to the Almighty for having restored him to his family and his subjects. This was on the 23d of April, 1789.

About this time, the Revolution in France began. You have heard of the miseries which this occasioned, and the dreadful cruelties which were practised. The people talked of liberty and equality, and I don't know what. To be sure, the people in France had not the liberty which we have in England; but the way that they set about bettering themselves only made things a great deal worse. There seemed to be nothing but force and violence; the government of a furious mob, at one time; and, at another, the dreadful butcheries of their national assemblies. These things went on for several years, with first one man at their head and then another: but almost all of them were monsters of cruelty. At length, they made Buonaparte first consul, because they did not like the name of a king, and afterwards he

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was made Emperor; so that, with all their complaints against arbitrary power, and all their fighting and bloodshed, they were now under a more tyrannical government than ever they had been before the Revolution. There is a wonderful deal to write about during all the troubles in France; but, as these do not properly belong to English history, we need not attempt particularly to describe them. All nations, however, seemed so much interested in these things at the time, that we listened to the accounts which came over as much as if they had belonged to our country. You know that they beheaded their King, Louis the Sixteenth; this was in the year 1793. Soon afterwards they also beheaded the Queen, as well as other members of the royal family and, in short, they went on slaying and murdering, as if their only object was cruelty and bloodshed. I remember, when all these things began in France, there were some people in England that seemed as if they should like to have a revolution here too; however, I think the miseries which were experienced in France, taught us to be thankful for the blessings we enjoyed, instead of bringing troubles and distresses on ourselves for no purpose. I think we have quite as much liberty as is good for us :-we have full liberty to do all that is right, and I am sure we ought not to wish for liberty to do wrong. And, as to equality, which they used to talk about, it is all perfect nonsense people are grown wiser now than to talk about such things. If we were all equal to-day, if all the property in the country were to be equally divided amongst us, we should not be all equal tomorrow. In a twelvemonth, idle Tom Guzzle would be in gaol, and Will Careful would have doubled his property; so that there would presently be gentlemen and beggars again. We need not, however, talk about this now, as I say we all seem to have grown wiser than we were in those

days. I should like, however, to tell you a few things relating to our history; but, as we have not room for much, I wish I knew what you would like best to hear about.

You are aware that the nations of Europe did not look quietly on, and witness all the cruelties which were going on in France; neither could they help seeing that their own states were in danger from the violence of the French, and the bad principles which they encouraged and spread abroad. The Austrians and the Prussians went to war with the French; and, about the year 1793, the English joined them. Since that time, till within the last few years, we have had nothing but war. It continued more than twenty years. There was, indeed, a short peace about the year 1801, which, however, lasted but a very short time, for Buonaparte was too ambitious to be long at peace if he could help it. During this war, the French overran almost all Europe: however, Buonaparte was at length completely beaten by the Duke of Wellington, at the battle of Waterloo. If I had room, I could tell you, too, about the great battles that were fought at sea, when the British sailors shewed that, if they ever fought, they made sure of conquering. There was a great victory by the brave Lord Howe, in the year 1794; and another, in the year 1797, by Sir John Jervis, who was, in consequence of his bravery and skill, made Lord St. Vincent. Then Lord Duncan gained a capital victory over the Dutch fleet, in the same year; and in 1798, Lord Nelson won the great battle of the Nile; and the same great and noble admiral lost his life in 1805, at the battle of Trafalgar, after having completely beaten the French fleet. I could tell you of plenty more, too, of our gallant sailors who fought like true Englishmen during this long war; but I must be short. Our soldiers, too, shewed themselves equally brave; and there would be no end

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of telling you of all that they did in the battles in Spain and other parts of the world; and we all know how nobly they fought at Waterloo. I must, however, end my letter.

Our late excellent King, George the Third, died in the year 1820, after a long illness, during which his present gracious Majesty, then Prince of Wales, acted as Regent. I think I must now conclude my history, as you know what happened during the present King's reign as well as I do. I think you have tried to remember what I have written; and it will be a sort of introduction to any larger history that you may meet with and find it convenient to read.

I am, your affectionate Father,

I. S.

THE following verses, though very indifferent ones, may assist some of our young readers in remembering the order of the English Kings.

CHAPTER OF KINGS.

The Romans in England once did sway,
And the Saxons after them led the way,
They tugged with the Danes till an overthrow,
Which each of them got by the Norman bow.
So barring all pother, the one and the other
Were all of them kings in their turn.

First William the Conqueror long did reign,
And William his son by an arrow was slain,
And Henry the First was a learned wight,
And Stephen was forced for his crown to fight.
So barring, &c.

Second Henry Platagenets' name did bear,
And Coeur de Lion was his son and heir,
And Magna Charta was gained from John,
Which Henry the Third put his seal upon.
So barring, &c,

There was Edward the First, a tiger bold,
But the Second by rebels was bought and sold,
And Edward the Third was his subjects' pride,
But his grandson Richard was popp'd aside.
So barring, &c.

There was Henry the Fourth, a warlike wight,
And Henry the Fifth like a cock did fight,
But Henry the Sixth like a chick did pout
When Edward his cousin had kicked him out.
So barring, &c.

Poor Edward the Fifth was killed in bed,

By butchering Dick *, who was knocked on the head,
And Henry the Seventh with fame grew big,
And Henry the Eighth was as fat as a pig.
So barring, &c.

With Edward the Sixth we had tranquil days,
But Mary made fire and faggot blaze,
And good Queen Bess was a glorious dame,
And bonny King Jammy + from Scotland came.
So barring, &c.

Poor Charles the First was a martyr made,
And Charles his son was a comical blade,
And James the Second, when hotly spurr'd,
Ran away, do you see, from William the Third.
So barring, &c.

Queen Anne was victorious by land and sea,
And George the First did with glory sway.
Now George the Second has long been dead,
And we mourn the good George we had in his stead.
But his noble Son, at the end of our chapter,
Is now our good king in his turn.

*Richard the Third.

↑ James the First.

EPITAPH ON AN INFANT.

ERE age could blight, or sorrow fade,
Death came with friendly care,
The opening bud to Heaven convey'd
And bade it blossom there.