Page images
PDF
EPUB

which this country has since been engaged, and especially by the French revolutionary war. It now (1870) amounts to 749,314,1337.; interest, 26,650,2531. annually.

240. ANNE, 1702-1714.-Second daughter of James II., by his first wife, Anne Hyde; married Prince George of Denmark in 1683. Her abilities were moderate, her nature indolent, but she was amiable and generous.

241. War of the Spanish Succession, 1702–1713.—In pursuance of the Grand Alliance (See p. 55, s. 237), war was declared against France and Spain. John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough, commanded the forces of the Allies.

242. Battle of Blenheim, 1704.—Marlborough defeated Tallard.

243. Battle of Ramillies, 1706.-Marlborough defeated Villeroy.

244. The Act of Union, 1707.-United England with Scotland as one kingdom, under the name of Great Britain. The succession was to remain vested in the House of Hanover; there was to be one Parliament, to which Scotland was to send sixteen peers and forty-five commoners; both nations were to have equal freedom of trade, and the Scotch were to retain their religion and civil laws.

245. Battle of Oudenarde, 1708.- Marlborough defeated Vendôme.

246. Battle of Malplaquet, 1709.— Marlborough defeated Villars.

247. Treaty of Utrecht, 1713.-Concluded the war of the Spanish Succession. France acknowledged the Hanoverian succession; Spain was to be held by Louis' grandson (Philip V.), but France and Spain were never to be united under one sovereign. Minorca and Gibraltar (which latter, during this war, had been taken by Admiral Sir G. Rooke in 1704) were ceded to this country by Spain; Hudson's Bay Territory, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland by France.

[blocks in formation]

*These numbers are continued from the table on p. 43.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE HOUSE OF HANOVER, 1714

248. GEORGE I., 1714-1727.-Was the son of the Electress Sophia of Hanover, on whom the succession devolved by the Act of Settlement. (See p. 55, s. 238.) His wife was Sophia Dorothea of Zell, whom he married in 1682. He was brave, and possessed of considerable ability, but was unpopular in England on account of his German habits and manners.

249. Earl of Mar's Rebellion, 1715.-This was in favour of James, commonly called the 'Old Pretender,' son of James II. by Mary d'Este, his second wife. Another rising took place in the north of England, under Mr. Forster and the Earl of Derwentwater. Mar was defeated by the Royalists at the Battle of Sheriffmuir. On the same day the royal troops defeated Derwentwater at Preston, and that unfortunate young nobleman, Lord Kenmure, and thirty others, were afterwards executed.

250. The Riot Act, 1715.-Passed to prevent the frequent disturbances arising from disorderly political assemblies.

251. The Septennial Act, 1716.-Passed in the fear that, under the Triennial Act of 1694 (See p. 55, s. 233), the Jacobites would come into power. It enabled Parliament to sit seven years without a dissolution. This is the present arrangement.

252. The Triple and Quadruple Alliances, 1717, 1718.Between Great Britain, France, Austria, and Holland, to prevent Philip of Spain from violating the Treaty of Utrecht. (See p. 56, s. 247.)

253. The South Sea Scheme, or Bubble, 1720. This was an association for carrying on a trade with the countries situate along the Pacific. In return for the exclusive right to do this, the Company were to take the responsibility of the National Debt. By the dishonourable devices of the Directors, London was filled with speculators, and numerous schemes were projected in imitation of the South Sea scheme. Thousands of families were ruined by this popular mania.

254. GEORGE II., 1727-1760.-Was the only son of George I. by Sophia Dorothea of Zell. Married Caroline of Anspach. No less German in his manners than his father, he possessed great personal courage, and was the last English king that appeared in battle.

255. War with Spain, 1739-1748.-Arose from the contraband trade carried on by this country with the Spanish colonies. In 1739 Admiral Vernon took Porto Bello with six ships, and in 1741 an unsuccessful attack was made on Carthagena. Admiral Anson at this time circumnavigated the globe in the Centurion,' and took a Spanish treasure ship worth 300,0007.

256. War of the Austrian Succession, 1740-1748.-By a decree of 1713, styled the 'Pragmatic Sanction,' the Emperor Charles VI. of Germany had secured the succession of his hereditary dominions to his daughter, Maria Theresa. This, at his death, gave rise to the war of the Austrian Succession, in which England and Holland espoused the cause of Maria Theresa against the Elector of Bavaria and Frederick of Prussia, who were supported by France and Spain. Frederick of Prussia claimed Silesia.

257. Battle of Dettingen, 1743.-The French, under Marshal Noailles, were defeated by the Allies, commanded by King George in person. But this advantage was soon after more than counterbalanced by the

258. Battle of Fontenoy, 1745, in which Marshal Saxe defeated the Duke of Cumberland. This was the worst defeat we ever sustained at the hands of France.

259. Rebellion of the Young Pretender, 1745–1746.-This was Charles Edward, grandson of James II., also called the 'Young Chevalier,' who landed at Scotland, and was crowned in Edinburgh.

260. Battle of Preston Pans, 1745.-The king's troops, under Sir John Cope, were defeated by Charles Edward.

261. Battle of Culloden, 1746.-The Duke of Cumberland here finally overthrew the Pretender, who escaped to France. He died at Rome, in 1788.

262. Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748.—In 1746 actions took place off Finisterre under Anson, and at Belle Isle under Hawke, in which the English were victorious. The Spanish war and the war of the Austrian Succession were finally terminated by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle between England, Holland, and Austria, and France and Spain. Its chief features were the mutual restoration of conuests; the fortifications of Dunkirk were to be demolished; and the ng of Prussia was to retain Silesia.

« PreviousContinue »