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263. Hostilities in India, 1746-1757.-During the war of the Austrian Succession, hostilities had broken out in India between the English and French settlers; and, at first, the English cause seemed hopeless. By the Capture of Arcot, Clive, who then appeared upon the scene, retrieved the English fortunes.

In 1757 Clive fought the Battle of Plassey, defeating Surajah Dowlah, the infamous hero of the Black Hole of Calcutta, a dungeon eighteen feet square, into which he crowded 146 Englishmen, of whom 123 died before morning. From Plassey dates the foundation of the British Indian Empire.

264. Seven Years' War, 1756-1763.-The attacks made by the French upon the English North American settlements led to a general European war, the chief combatants in which were England and Prussia on the one side, against France and Austria on the other.

265. Expedition against Minorca, 1756.- Admiral Byng having been despatched, under great disadvantages, to relieve Minorca, which had been taken by the Duc de Richelieu, failed in the attempt, and was shot by sentence of a court-martial.

266. The Kloster Seven Convention, 1757.-By this, Hanover was surrendered to the French, in consequence of the defeat of the Duke of Cumberland by the Duc de Richelieu.

267. Battle of Minden, 1759.-Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick and Lord George Sackville defeated the French, but the victory was rendered incomplete through Lord George's insubordination.

268. Taking of Quebec, 1759.- Both the French general, Montcalm, and the English general, Wolfe, were killed in this decisive battle, which resulted in the capture of all Canada by the English.

269. GEORGE III., 1760–1820.—Was the grandson of George II., his father being Frederick, Prince of Wales, who died in 1751; married Charlotte Sophia of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz in 1761. His worst fault was the pertinacity with which he clung to opinions he had erroneously formed. On the whole, he was popular with his people. During part of his reign he was insane.

270. Treaty of Paris, or Fontainebleau, 1763.-Terminated the Seven Years' War. By it England gained Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape Breton, Newfoundland, P. Edward Island, and Senegal. Belle Isle, which had been taken from the French in 1761, was given in exchange for Minorca; and Florida was ceded by Spain for the Havannah.

271. Prosecution of John Wilkes, 1763.-John Wilkes was member for Aylesbury, and editor of a scurrilous paper called the 'North Briton.' He was prosecuted for libelling the king, but es caped by pleading his parliamentary privilege. Although a man of infamous character, he became for some years a popular hero.

272. The War of American Independence, 1775-1783.With a view of repairing the losses caused by the 'Seven Years' War,' England attempted to tax her American colonies; first a stamp tax was imposed (1765) and repealed; after that a duty on tea (1767). Thereupon they revolted.

273. Battle of Lexington, 1775.-This was the first encounter between the Colonists and the Royal troops. It was followed by the 274. Battle of Bunker's Hill, 1775.-The English defeated the Colonists; but no decisive results succeeded.

275. Surrender at Saratoga, 1777.-In 1776 the revolted colonies issued a Declaration of Independence. George Washington, the American Commander-in-chief, was defeated at Brooklyn (1776) and Brandywine (1777), and the insurgent capital, Philadelphia, was taken. These successes were however counterbalanced by the disaster at Saratoga, where General Burgoyne surrendered with his troops to the American general Gates.

276. Siege of Gibraltar, 1779-1783.-Spain and France had espoused the cause of the Americans. This led to the brilliant defence of Gibraltar by General Elliott, who held that fortress successfully for nearly three years against the combined fleets and armies of France and Spain, until the siege was raised by Lord Howe, in February 1783.

277. The 'No-Popery' Riots, 1780.-In consequence of the abolition of a penal enactment against the Roman Catholics, the rabble, inflamed by the speeches of Lord George Gordon and others, committed many acts of violence. Prisons were broken open, houses and Roman Catholic chapels burned and pillaged, and the metropolis was for some days under the absolute control of a lawless mob.

278. Battle of York Town, 1781.-Lord Cornwallis surrendered to the combined army of the French and Americans under Count Rochambeau and General George Washington.

279. Treaties of Versailles, 1783.-Between England, the United States, Spain, France, and Holland. England recognised the United States of America. France received St. Lucia, Tobago, Chandernagore, and Pondicherry, in exchange for Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent, and other West Indian Islands. Spain received Florida and Minorca, and Holland all her possessions except Negapatam.

280. Impeachment of Warren Hastings, 1786.-Warren Hastings was Governor-General of India. He was accused of cruelty and misgovernment; and impeached by Burke, Fox, Sheridan, and others. His trial, which commenced in 1788, was prolonged until 1795, when he was acquitted, and pensioned by the East India Company.

281. Wars with France, 1793-1803, 1803-1815.-Commenced shortly after the execution of Louis XVI., in 1793; and ended with the final downfall of Napoleon Bonaparte, in 1815.

282. Howe's Victory of the 1st of June, 1794.-The Brest, fleet were defeated off Ushant, and twelve ships of the line captured. 283. Capture of the Cape, 1795.-The Dutch had leagued themselves with France, and war was declared with Holland. The Cape was taken by Admiral Elphinstone.

284. Battle of Cape St. Vincent, 1797 (February 14).-War was declared against England by Spain, and the Spanish fleet were defeated by Admiral Sir John Jervis, aided by Nelson and Collingwood.

285. Bank Restriction Bill, 1797 (March).To allow the Bank to pay in notes instead of specie.

286. Mutiny at Spithead and the Nore, 1797 (April 6 and June 12). The complaints of the seamen were bad pay, bad provisions, and general neglect. The first mutiny was quelled by Lord Howe; the second, led by one Richard Parker, and more serious, was also quelled. The ringleaders were hanged.

287. Battle of Camperdown, 1797 (October 11).-A victory of Admiral Duncan over the Dutch Admiral De Winter.

288. Lord Edward Fitzgerald's Rebellion, 1798.-Arose from the disturbing influence of the French Revolution and opposition made by England to legislative reform and extended commercial rights in Ireland. It was put down by the energy of Lord Cornwallis and General Lake, who finally defeated the insurgents at Vinegar Hill. Lord Edward was mortally wounded whilst being arrested, and died in prison before trial.

289. Battle of the Nile, or Aboukir, 1798.-Ended in the total defeat of the French fleet by Nelson. Nine line-of-battle ships fell into the hands of the English. This is held to be one of the fifteen decisive battles of the world, and with it collapsed Bonaparte's projected empire in the East.

290. Siege of Acre, 1799.—Bonaparte was repulsed by Sir Sidney Smith.

291. Union of Great Britain and Ireland, 1801 (January 1).

-This was chiefly the result of the Irish Rebellion. By the union of the Parliaments of England and Ireland, it was arranged that there should be 100 Irish members in the House of Commons, and 32 in the House of Lords, i.e. 28 peers and 4 bishops.

292. Battle of Alexandria, 1801 (March 21).-The French were defeated by Sir Ralph Abercrombie.

293. Battle of Copenhagen, 1801 (April 2).—The Danish fleet was defeated by Nelson. Eighteen vessels were taken or destroyed. 294. Treaty of Amiens, 1802.-Between England and France, Spain, and Holland. England restored all her colonial conquests to France, Spain, and Holland, retaining only Ceylon and Trinidad. The peace lasted until May 1803, when the war with France was renewed.

295. The Boulogne Flotilla, 1803.-Equipped by Bonaparte for the invasion of England. The project came to nothing.

296. Battle of Assaye, 1803.-A victory won by General Sir Arthur Wellesley over the Mahrattas.

297. Battle of Trafalgar, 1805.-Resulted in the total defeat of the combined French and Spanish fleets by Nelson and Collingwood. Nineteen vessels were taken or destroyed and 20,000 prisoners were made, but Nelson was killed.

298. Battle of Maida, 1806.—The French, under Regnier, were defeated by Sir John Stuart.

299. Secret Treaty of Tilsit, 1807.-Russia, France, and Prussia agreed to close their ports against England, and the Danes were to be compelled to place their fleet at the disposal of the French, who were in want of ships. To prevent this an English armament was sent to take charge of the Danish fleet. The opposition of the Danes to this latter arrangement led to the

300. Bombardment of Copenhagen, 1807.-The Danes surrendered their fleet to Gambier, Cathcart, and Wellesley.

301. Battle of Vimiera, 1808.-England had allied herself to Spain and Portugal against the French, and the Peninsular War commenced. After a battle gained by the English at Rolica, Sir Arthar Wellesley defeated Junot at Vimiera, and by the Convention of Cintra the French army evacuated Portugal.

302. Battle of Corunna, 1809 (January 16).-Soult was defeated by Sir John Moore, who was killed in the moment of victory.

303. Basque or Aix Roads, 1809 (April).-Lord Cochrane here blew up four French ships of the line, and destroyed a number of merchant and other vessels.

304. Walcheren Expedition, 1809. Under the Earl of

Chatham and Sir R. Strachan, to attack Antwerp. It was a complete failure, which is said to have cost 20,000,0002.

305. Battle of Talavera, 1809 (July 28).-Sir A. Wellesley defeated Victor, and was, in consequence, created Duke of Wellington.

306. Battle of Busaco, 1810.-Wellington defeated Massena. 307. Battle of Barossa, 1811 (March 5).-Graham defeated Victor.

308. Battle of Fuentes d'Onoro, 1811 (May 3).—Wellington again defeated Massena, who was thereupon recalled by Napoleon. 309. Battle of Albuera, 1811 (May 16).-Beresford defeated Soult.

310. Captures of Ciudad-Rodrigo and Badajoz, 1812 (January 19 and April 6).- Both these towns were taken by Wellington.

311. Battle of Salamanca, 1812 (July 22).—Wellington defeated Marmont.

312. Battle of Vittoria, 1813 (June 21).—Wellington defeated Jourdan and Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain.

313. Battle of the Pyrenees, 1813 (July 28).-Wellington defeated Massena.

314. Battle of Toulouse, 1814 (April 10).—After gaining the Battle of Orthès (February 27), Wellington advanced towards the Garonne and defeated Soult at Toulouse.

315. Treaty of Paris, 1814.—Between France, and England, Austria, Russia, and Prussia. France was reduced to her boundaries of 1792. The Bourbons were restored; Napoleon, retaining his title of emperor, retired to the island of Elba; and England gave back all her colonial conquests except the Mauritius, Tobago, Malta, and St. Lucia.

316. Treaty of Ghent, 1814.-During the French war hostilities had also broken out with America, chiefly on account of the right of search exercised by us for English seamen serving in American vessels. The Treaty of Ghent effected a reconciliation.

317. Battles of Quatre-Bras and Waterloo, 1815.-Wellington defeated Napoleon, who had returned from Elba. This war is called the War of the Hundred Days,' that period having elapsed since Napoleon's escape. After his defeat at Waterloo he surrendered himself to the English, and was sent into exile at St. Helena, under charge at first of Admiral Cockburn, and, after him, Sir Hudson Lowe. There he died, six years afterwards, in 1821.

318. Treaty of Paris, 1815.—Between France, and England,

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