Page images
PDF
EPUB

Austria, Russia, and Prussia. France was reduced to her boundaries of 1790. She was to pay the expenses of the war, to maintain 150,000 of the allied forces in her frontier fortresses for five years, and to compensate the different powers for the spoliations they had suffered at her hands.

319. Bombardment of Algiers, 1816.-To suppress the Algerine pirates, Admiral Lord Exmouth bombarded Algiers, and obliged the Dey to release over 1,000 Christian slaves.

320. GEORGE IV., 1820-1830.-The eldest son of George III.; married, in 1795, to Caroline of Brunswick. The 'First Gentleman in Europe,' as his admirers styled him, was, nevertheless, profligate and prodigal, and has little claim to the respect of posterity. He had been Prince Regent since February 1811, in consequence of the old king's insanity.

321. The Cato Street Conspiracy, 1820.-After the peace of 1815 much distress prevailed. The cessation of war threw many out of employ, taxes were heavy, and bread was dear. The Cato Street conspiracy by Thistlewood and others to assassinate the Ministers, and form a new Government, was one result of the popu lar disquiet. It became known to the authorities in time, and the chief conspirators were executed.

322. The Trial of Queen Caroline, 1820.-The queen had been separated from her husband in 1797. On his accession in 1820 she claimed her rights. She was met by charges of immoradity, and a bill was introduced for her degradation. Owing to the able defence of her advocates, it was abandoned. She died in 1821.

323. War with Burmah, 1824-1826.-Arose from certain disputes respecting frontiers between the Burmese and the East India Company. By the treaty which concluded it, Assam, Aracan, and Tenasserim were added to the British possessions.

324. War with Turkey, 1827.-Greece had revolted against Turkey. England, France, and Russia espoused the cause of the Greeks, and defeated the Turkish and Egyptian fleet, under Ibrahim Pasha, in the Bay of Navarino. This brought about the independence of Greece.

325. The Catholic Emancipation Bill, 1829.-In 1828 the Corporation and Test Acts of Charles II.'s reign (see pp. 50, 51, ss. 199, 210) were repealed. By the Catholic Emancipation Bill of Sir Robert, then Mr. Peel, Roman Catholics were rendered eligible for seats in Parliament, and offices generally, with the exception of those of Regent, Lord Chancellor, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

326. WILLIAM IV., 1830-1837.-Third son of George III.; married in 1818 to Adelaide Louisa of Saxe Meiningen. He was a kind and homely monarch, cordial in his manner, and fond of his people. His disposition was better than his abilities.

327. The Reform Bill, 1832.-By this many of the smaller and less important boroughs were disfranchised, and the number of members returned in others reduced. The memberships thus obtained were transferred to the more populous counties, and various new boroughs were created. The franchise was extended so as to take in the middle class generally. Votes were given to ten-pound householders in the towns; and in the counties to tenants paying a rent of 50l. per annum, or owning land worth 107. per annum. Measures of a similar kind were passed for Scotland and Ireland.

328. Abolition of Slavery, 1833.-This had been set on foot by Mr. Wilberforce as early as 1787. He died while the measure was in progress. Though no less than 20,000,000l. was voted as compensation to the slave-owners, they were still considerable losers(1) because their slaves cost them more than they received; and (2) because the freed slaves would not work so hard in a free state as they had been obliged to do in a state of slavery.

329. The New Poor Law, 1834.-The Local Boards were placed under Government control. The system of indiscriminate out-door relief was done away with, and unions were formed in which able-bodied paupers could earn support by labour.

330. The Quadruple Alliance, 1834.-Between England, France, Spain, and Portugal, to secure the crowns of Spain and Portugal to Isabella II. and Maria, against Dons Carlos and Miguel, who respectively laid claim to them.

331. VICTORIA, 1837.- Daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of George III.; married, in 1840, to her cousin, Prince Albert, of Saxe Coburg Gotha, styled, in 1857, the Prince Consort.'

332. Rebellion in Canada, 1837.-The intention of the insurgents was to found a republic. The attempt was, however, speedily suppressed. It resulted in the union of Upper and Lower Canada, and the change of the seat of government from Quebec to Montreal (1841).

333. The Chartists, 1838.—A body of the working classes, who obtained their name from the 'People's Charter,' which they demanded the six points of which were, '(1) Universal Suffrage, (2) Vote by Ballot, (3) Annual Parliaments, (4) Payment of Representa

tives, (5) Abolition of the Members' Property Qualification, and (6) Equal Electoral Districts.' They committed many outrages. In 1848 a procession of some 20,000 carried a monster petition to Parliament, and serious disturbances were anticipated. The preventive measures of the Government were, however, equal to the occasion, and no riots of any importance ensued.

334. First Chinese War, 1840 (June).-In endeavouring to put a stop to the pernicious trade in opium, the Chinese Government seized and imprisoned certain British opium-traders. A war followed, which was concluded by the Peace of Nankin (1842). Under this the Chinese ceded Hong Kong to England, paid 4,000,000/. to the expenses of the war, and opened Canton, Amoy, Ningpo, Foochoo, and Shanghai to the trade of all nations.

335. Treaty of Constantinople, 1840 (July 15).—Between England, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, to protect the Sultan, against whom the Viceroy of Egypt had revolted. Beyrout and Acre were in consequence bombarded by Admiral Stopford and Sir C. Napier. This had the effect of obliging the Viceroy to evacuate Syria, which he had overrun.

336. The Affghan War, 1841-1842.-The English had interfered in the affairs of Cabul. The Affghans accordingly rebelled and massacred the English at Khyber Pass, but a successful avenging expedition was despatched against them under Nott and Pollock. Several of the native states afterwards took up arms.

337. War with Scinde, 1843.-The forces of the Ameers of Scinde were defeated by Sir Charles Napier at Meanee and Dubba, and Scinde was annexed to the Indian Empire.

338. The First Sikh War, 1845-1846.-The Sikhs first attacked the British at Ferozepore. After the battle of Moodkee, in which Sir Robert Sale received wounds of which he afterwards died, the English won the battles of Ferozeshah, Aliwal, and Sobraon, the last named terminating the war.

339. Repeal of the Corn Laws, 1846. The restrictions placed on the importation of foreign corn pressed heavily on the country. Great efforts were made for some years by the Anti-Corn-Law League,' an association which was formed at Manchester in 1838, to procure its free importation. In 1846, by the conversion of Sir Robert Peel to the cause, its efforts were crowned with success, and a small fixed duty was substituted for the sliding scale then in force.

340. Repeal of Sugar Duties and Navigation Laws, 1846 and 1849. By the former measure, passed by Lord J. Russell, foreign

slave-grown sugar was imported into England at the same duty as from British colonies. By the latter, foreign vessels were admitted to all the privileges of British ships.

341. The Second Sikh War, 1848-1849.-In 1848 war broke out again, and battles at Kennyree, Ramnugger, and Chilianwallah were followed by the complete defeat of the Sikhs by Lord Gough at Goojerat (1849). The Punjaub was, in consequence, annexed to the Indian Empire. Rangoon and Pegu were gained in a subsequent War with Burmah in 1851-3; and in 1856 the kingdom of Oude was added to the British territories.

342. The Crimean War, 1854-1856.-Arose from the designs of Russia upon Turkey, for whose protection England and France, in 1854, entered into an offensive and defensive alliance. They were joined in 1855 by Sardinia. The English forces were successively commanded by Lord Raglan, General Simpson, and General Codrington; the French by Marshal St. Arnaud, General Canrobert, and General Pelissier. The Russians were defeated at Alma, Balaclava, and Inkerman; but these advantages were counterbalanced by the destruction of the Turkish fleet at Sinope, and the capitulation of Kars, long held gallantly by General Williams. War was terminated by the Taking of Sebastopol, and the Treaty of Paris (1856), between Russia, and England, France, Austria, Sardinia, and Turkey. By this treaty the Danubian Principalities (Moldavia and Wallachia) were withdrawn from the protectorate of Russia; the fortifications of Sebastopol were to be demolished; and Russia and Turkey were only to maintain a few ships of war on the Black Sea. In 1856 the Crimea was evacuated.

343. The Second and Third Chinese Wars, 1856-1858; 1859-1860.-Commenced by an outrage of the Chinese on the British flag. After the taking of Canton peace was concluded by the Treaty of Tien-sin (1858). As this was not observed, the war recommenced in 1859. The Taku Forts were captured, Pekin was invested and surrendered, and hostilities ceased with the ratification of the above-mentioned treaty, and the Convention of Pekin (1860).

344. The Indian Mutiny, 1856-1858.--In 1856 broke out the terrible mutiny of the Sepoys, arising from various causes, but chiefly from the fancied disregard by the English of their religious ideas. Brutal massacres of the Europeans took place in 1857 at Delhi, Meerut, Lucknow, and Cawnpore. By the vigour of Havelock, Outram, Lawrence, and other officers, made illustrious by their exertions in this unhappy outbreak, it was at last suppressed in 1858.

The Government of India then passed from the East India Company into the hands of the Crown.

345. The Volunteer Movement, 1859.-Originated in the fears of French invasion, resulting from the anti-English feeling in France, after Orsini's attempt to assassinate Napoleon III. Corps of rifle volunteers were rapidly formed in all parts of the country. The movement has endured to the present time (1870). In 1860 the force numbered 190,000 men, and an annual camp is still formed at Wimbledon.

346. Death of Prince Albert, 1861.-Married to the Queen in 1840, Prince Albert was deservedly respected by the people of his adoption. At his suggestion were commenced the International Exhibitions which, since the first in 1851, have been so general.

347. The Revised Educational Code, 1861.-Established in consequence of the Report of the Commission appointed to enquire into the state of popular education. It was very ill received by the clergy and schoolmasters, and a compromise was finally made.

348. The Cotton Famine, 1861-1865.-Resulted from the reduction in the supply of cotton, caused by the American Civil War (1861-5). Great distress ensued in the Lancashire district, and thousands of operatives were thrown out of work. The liberal subscriptions which flowed in from all parts of the country tended greatly to alleviate the misery of this calamity.

349. The Fenian Brotherhood, 1863.-An association formed in America, chiefly by Irish emigrants, with the intention of revolutionising Ireland. The presumed chief, or head-centre,' is one James Stephens. Many of them have at different times been arrested. In 1867 they rose in Ireland, but were suppressed, and in the same year they caused great loss of life by blowing in the wall of Clerkenwell prison, with the intent of releasing prisoners. In 1866 and in the present year (1870) they made unsuccessful attempts upon Canada.

350. The Jamaica Mutiny, 1865.-An insurrection of the black population of Jamaica, who committed many atrocities. It was eventually suppressed, and some two hundred rebels were shot. The Governor of the island, General Eyre, by whose energy this was mainly effected, was recalled in 1866, upon a charge of undue severity, but the grand jury rejected the bill of indictment against him.

351. The Reform Bill, 1867.-After several attempts on the part of the Liberals and of the Conservatives, a measure of reform, on the basis of household and ten-pound suffrage, was introduced

« PreviousContinue »