By the treaty of Paris, France was reduced to its limits as they stood in 1792. Malta was ceded to England, and England restored all the colonies taken from France and her allies except Tobago, St. Lucia, and the Isle of France.During the war with the United States many engagements took place at sea; and as the Americans usually attacked much smaller vessels than their own, they gained several victories; but the superiority of the British navy was unmistakably proved in the ocean duel between the Shannon and Chesapeake, for the latter, though containing a much larger crew, was taken in fifteen minutes.
By the treaty of Paris, France was reduced to its limits as they stood in 1792. Malta was ceded to England, and England restored all the colonies taken from France and her allies except Tobago, St. Lucia, and the Isle of France.
During the war with the United States many engagements took place at sea; and as the Americans usually attacked much smaller vessels than their own, they gained several victories; but the superiority of the British navy was unmistakably proved in the ocean duel between the Shannon and Chesapeake, for the latter, though containing a much larger crew, was taken in fifteen minutes.
1815. The English, shortly after the peace was signed in Europe, defeated atNew Orleans(Jan. 8). Napoleon escaped from Elba, and returned to France; and the allies declared war against him. The Prussians were defeated by the French atLigny(June 16), butWellingtonrepulsed them atQuatre Bras(June 16), andgained a decisive victory at WATERLOO(June 18). Second abdication of Napoleon, who was sent to St. Helena.Second treaty of Paris(Nov. 20). Enactment of a corn law.
This treaty further restricted the limits of France, provided for the occupation of the northern and eastern frontier, and certain fortresses, by the allies for three years, and fixed the amount to be paid towards the expenses of the war. At the end of this war the total national debt reached nearly £900,000,000.
1816. Algiers bombarded by Lord Exmouth.
1817. Death of the Princess Charlotte, daughter of the Prince Regent.
1819. A public meeting at Manchester forcibly dispersed, and several persons killed and wounded.The Six Actspassed: this unconstitutional code was the latest violation of our free constitution.
George IV.
D.He was the son of George III.B.at St. James’s, 1762.M.Caroline, of Brunswick.Dd.at Windsor, June 26, 1830.R.10½ years (1820 to 1830).
1820. Conspiracy discovered for assassinating the king’s ministers. Bill of pains and penalties introduced against Queen Caroline for adultery, but afterwards abandoned.
1823. War with the Burmese: it ended in 1826.
1827. Death of Lord Liverpool. Canning became premier, and on his death Lord Goderich. The Turkish and Egyptian fleet defeated by the English, French, and Russian fleet atNavarino(Oct. 20).
1828. The duke of Wellington became premier.Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts.
1829.Catholic Emancipation Billpassed.
William IV.
D.He was the brother of George IV.B.at Buckingham House, London, 1765.M.Adelaide, of Saxe-Meiningen.Dd.at Windsor, June 20, 1837.R.7 years (1830 to 1837).
1830. Revolutions in France and Belgium. Earl Grey appointed premier.
1831. Reform Bill introduced and rejected. Riots at Bristol and other towns.
1832.REFORM BILLpassed, by which many towns were disfranchised, and others empowered to return members, while at the same time the franchise was largely extended.
1833. Bill passed for the abolition of slavery.
1834. Lord Melbourne appointed premier.New Poor Lawpassed. Houses of Parliament destroyed by fire. Sir Robert Peel succeeded Lord Melbourne.
1835. Melbourne returned to office.Municipal Corporation Reform Billpassed.
1836. Marriage and Registration Acts passed, as well as an Act for allowing prisoners counsel in cases of felony.
Victoria.
D.She is the only daughter of Edward, duke of Kent, fourth son of George III.B.at Kensington, 1819.M.Albert, prince of Saxe Coburg, who died in 1861.Became QueenJune 20, 1837.
1837. The duke of Cumberland (the queen’s uncle, and eldest male heir of George III.) became king of Hanover, by virtue of the Salic law, which prohibits the accession of females. Rebellion in Canada.
1838. Chartist movement. Commencement of the agitation for the repeal of the corn laws.
The Chartists were so called because they drew up what they termed the People’s Charter, in which were embodied their demands. They were—1, Annual parliaments; 2, Universal suffrage; 3, Vote by ballot; 4, Equal electoral districts; 5, Abolition of property qualification for members of parliament; 6, Payment of members of parliament. Some of the demagogues soon began to talk about resorting to physical force for the accomplishment of their objects, and several disturbances occurred, but the only serious attempt at insurrection was at Newport, where more than twenty persons were killed (1839).
1840. Penny Postage established.War with China, which arose out of disputes about the opium trade. England assisted Turkey against Mehemet Ali, the pasha of Egypt, who had seized on Syria: Acre stormed by the British fleet, on which he agreed to evacuate Syria.
1841. Sir Robert Peel appointed premier.
1842. Late in 1841 the Afghans rose against the English, who were compelled to make a disastrous retreat. Generals Nott and Pollock restored the prestige of the British army, and then retired from Afghanistan.Peace with China.
Besides the payment of about four and a quarter millions, the Chinese ceded Hong Kong, and opened five of their ports to our merchants.
1843.War with the Ameers of Scinde: Sir Charles Napier defeated them at Meeanee (Feb. 17), and Hyderabad (Mar. 24). Rebecca riots in Wales. Secession of many of the clergy of the Scotch established church; and formation of the Free Church.War in Gwalior.Sir Hugh Gough gained a decisive victory at Maharajpoor (Dec. 29), and General Grey, on the same day, was victorious at Punniar. The agitation in Ireland for the Repeal of the Union assumed a very serious character; Daniel O’Connell and other leaders were arrested for conspiracy and sedition.
1844. Trial and conviction of Daniel O’Connell, and the other conspirators; the sentence was afterwards reversed by the House of Lords.
1845.War with the Sikhs.Sir Hugh Gough and Sir Henry Hardinge defeated them at Moodkee (Dec. 18), and Ferozeshah (Dec. 21, 22).
1846. Sir Harry Smith gained a complete victory over the Sikhs at Aliwal (Jan. 28); and Gough completely routed them at Sobraon (Feb. 10). The conquerors dictated terms of peace. Failure of the potato crop in Ireland, which led to a famine in the ensuing winter.REPEAL OF THE CORN LAWS.Lord John Russell appointed premier. Minutes of Council on education issued.
1848.Revolution in France, and Prince Louis Napoleon, nephew of the emperor, elected president of the French Republic. Smith O’Brien tried to raise an insurrection in Ireland, and signally failed.War with the Sikhs, and indecisive battle of Ramnuggur (Nov. 22).
1849. Lord Gough again met the Sikhs at Chilianwallah, where a sanguinary and indecisive battle was fought (Jan. 13), but he soon after gained a great victory at Goojerat (Feb. 21).Annexation of the Punjaub.
1850. Death of Sir Robert Peel.
1851. The Great Exhibition of Industry, open for twenty-four weeks, and attended by 6,000,000 people.
1852. Louis Napoleon elected president for life. War with the Burmese, and annexation of Pegu. The earl of Derby appointed premier, and succeeded, several months after, by the earl of Aberdeen, at the head of a coalition ministry. Death of the duke of Wellington. Louis Napoleon elected emperor.
1853. The Sultan declared war against Russia on account of the aggressive measures of the Emperor Nicholas.
1854. England and France determined to assist Turkey, and declared war against Russia. THE CRIMEAN WAR. The allies invaded the Crimea, and defeated the Russians atThe Alma(Sept. 20). Siege of Sebastopol. The Russians defeated atBalaclava(Oct. 25), andInkermann(Nov. 5). Sir Charles Napier destroyed Bomarsund, on the Aland Isles (Aug.).
1855. Lord Palmerston became premier. Death of the Emperor Nicholas. Sir Edmund Lyons took Kertch and other towns. Final bombardment of Sebastopol: the Russians effected a masterly retreat to the northern side of the town (Sept.).
1856.Annexation of Oude.Peace concluded with Russia(March). Hostilities with China, on account of the Chinese authorities seizing a small vessel bearing the British flag.
Russia receded from all her previous demands, agreed to dismantle the fortifications of Sebastopol, and pledged herself not to keep ships of war in the Black Sea. The national debt and interest, at the close of this war, reached £836,000,000.
1857. INDIAN MUTINY. The rebels capturedDelhi, and treacherously massacred the English at Cawnpore. General Havelock repeatedly defeated the rebels, and temporarily relieved Lucknow, which was finally relieved by Sir Colin Campbell (Nov. 17), who had been sent from England as commander-in-chief. Death of Havelock.Delhiwas recovered immediately before the first relief of Lucknow (Sept. 14).Cantontaken by the English.
1858. Lord Derby appointed premier. The mutiny completely suppressed.Treaty of Tien-Tsin, between England and China. Commercial treaty with Japan.Abolition of the East India Company.
1859. Lord Palmerston succeeded Lord Derby. The volunteer movement originated.
1860. Renewal of the war with China. Occupation of Pekin; andConvention of Pekin(Oct.).
1861.The Southern States seceded from the United States, and war ensued.Death of the Prince Consort.Repeal of the paper duty.
1862. Distress in the cotton districts, from the want of the usual supplies of cotton from America. International Exhibition open for more than six months. Discussions in parliament concerning popular education.
1863. Marriage of the prince of Wales. Continuance of the war in America. Sir John Lawrence, who had mainly contributed to save India at the time of the mutiny, appointed governor-general on the death of Lord Elgin.
1864. The Ionian Isles annexed to Greece.
1865. The Southern States subjugated. Death of Lord Palmerston. Earl Russell became premier, and Mr. Gladstone chancellor of the exchequer. The Fenian conspiracy assumed a serious aspect. Outbreak of the cattle plague.
1866. The ministry, being defeated on one of the clauses of a Reform Bill, resigned. Earl Derby appointed premier, and Disraeli chancellor of the exchequer. Atlantic cable laid. Overend and Gurney’s great bank failure for £10,000,000.
1867.REFORM BILLpassed (August 16). War with Abyssinia.
This act confers the franchise in boroughs on all householders and on all lodgers paying a rent of not less than £10 per annum, and in counties on all householders rated at £12 and upwards. It partially disfranchises several constituencies, and creates others.
1868. Disraeli appointed premier (March), resigns (Dec.) owing to defeat of the government, and is succeeded by Mr. Gladstone.Magdalataken, and Abyssinian War ended. Death of Lord Brougham (May). First private execution (Aug.).
1869. Suez Canal opened (March).Disestablishment and disendowment of the Irish Church(July). Earl Derby died (Oct.).
1870. Mr. Gladstone’s first Irish Land Act, and Forster’sELEMENTARY EDUCATION ACTpassed.
This Act provides for the election of School Boards, empowered to raise funds for the building and maintenance of schools, and of compelling the attendance of children at efficient schools, either voluntary or board.
Russia repudiates her pledges made at the Treaty of Peace in 1856, with regard to the Black Sea clause. Suppression of the Red River Rebellion (Aug.). Loss of H.M.S. “Captain” and 523 hands (Sep.). Half-penny Postcards came into use.
1871. Serious illness of the Prince of Wales. Army purchase abolished.Treaty of Washington, between Great Britain and the United States, providing for the settlement, by arbitration, of the “Alabama” claims, which resulted in the United States receiving 15,000,000 dollars (about £3,000,000), awarded by the Tribunal of Arbitration, which met at Geneva in the following year.
1872. The Queen and royal family attend a public thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, for the recovery of the Prince of Wales.The Ballot Actpassed. Assassination of Lord Mayo, Viceroy of India.
1873. Death of Napoleon III. at Chislehurst, Kent (Jan.).Ashantee Warcommenced. Constitution of the Supreme Court of Judicature.
1874. End of the first Gladstone Ministry. Disraeli became premier. Capture ofCoomassie, and termination of the Ashantee War.Annexation of the Fiji Islands.
1875. The postal union ratified.
1876.The Queen proclaimed “Empress of India.”Disraeli created Earl of Beaconsfield. Purchase of the Khedive’s share of the Suez Canal for £4,000,000. Terrible famine in Southern India.
1877. Lord Salisbury represented England at the Conference held at Constantinople to discuss the Eastern question. War between Russia and Turkey.
1878. The Berlin Congress on the Eastern question, at which England was represented by Lords Beaconsfield and Salisbury, brought to a successful issue.Treaty of Berlin.Cyprus ceded to England by Turkey. Shere Ali, of Cabul, having refused to receive a British ambassador, the SECOND AFGHAN WAR commenced (Sep.). Death of Prince Alice (Dec. 14).
1879.War in Zululand.The Prince Imperial (only son of the late Emperor Napoleon III.), who had accompanied the British troops, killed by Zulus. Cetewayo, the Zulu king, captured, and the war ended. Zululand divided among a number of chiefs subject to British rule.
1880. Dissolution of parliament. Mr. Gladstone became premier.Burial Laws Amendment Actpassed, permitting nonconformists to be buried in Church of England burial grounds, without the service of that church. The Speaker of the House of Commons invested with the power of the Closure. Rising of the Boers in the Transvaal. Abdul Rahman (nephew of Shere Ali) proclaimed Ameer of Cabul by the British: and end of the second Afghan war.
1881. Defeat of the British by the Boers at Majuba Hill. Assassination of Alexander II., Emperor of Russia. Death of Lord Beaconsfield. Irish Land Act passed, to improve the relations between landlord and tenant.
1882. Assassination of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Mr. Burke in Phœnix Park, Dublin.English occupation of Egypt.Alexandria bombarded.Battles of KassassinandTel-el-kebir. Arabi Pasha taken prisoner and sent into exile.
1883.War in the Soudan.Destruction by the Mahdi (leader of the rebels) of the army of Hicks Pasha.
1884. Continuance of the War in the Soudan. Defeat of the Mahdi atEl Teb.REPRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLE ACT passed, which extended the household and lodger franchise of the boroughs to the counties, and added about 2½ million voters.
1885. Betrayal and assassination of General Gordon at Khartoum. Mr. Gladstone resigns the premiership, and is succeeded by Lord Salisbury.Redistribution of Seats Actpassed, by which the parliamentary representatives were increased from 658 to 670. Revised version of the Bible, the result of fourteen years’ preparation, was published.
1886.Annexation of Upper Burmah.Lord Salisbury resigns the premiership, and is succeeded by Mr. Gladstone, who gives up office on the rejection of his measure for Home Rule in Ireland, and the Conservatives under Lord Salisbury return to power, supported by about eighty Liberals, since known as “Liberal Unionists,” who could not follow Mr. Gladstone in reference to the Irish question.
1887. THE JUBILEE OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA.Prevention of Crimes (Ireland) Actpassed. Proclamation of the Irish National League.
1888. Death of the Emperor William of Germany, followed by that of his son, the Emperor Frederick William.THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTreceived Royal Assent.
The principal object of this Act is the division of England and Wales into counties and county boroughs for local government, with boundaries as nearly as possible corresponding to the geographical counties, and the establishment in each of a representative Council having control over most of the administrative business and finance of the district it represents. The Metropolitan Board of Works ceases to exist, and its powers, business, and officers are transferred to the London County Council.
The national debt and interest at this date slightly exceeded £705,000,000.
1889. Local Government Act for Scotland passed, establishing Elective County Councils. H. M. Stanley reached the East Coast of Africa with Emin Pasha, whom he had gone to relieve.
1890. Heligoland ceded to Germany, and the protectorate of Zanzibar granted to Great Britain. The Forth Bridge, which cost £4,000,000, and is the largest bridge in the world, opened.
1891. Death of Parnell, leader of the Irish party.
1892. Duke of Clarence died. The Conservative Ministry defeated. Mr. Gladstone returns to power. Death of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poet-Laureate.
1893. The Imperial Institute inaugurated. Marriage of the Duke of York and Princess Victoria Maud of Teck.
1894. Parish and District Councils appointed. The Manchester Ship-Canal opened for traffic. The Tower Bridge, London, completed.
1895. Advance against Umra Khan, usurper of Chitral. The “Unionists” return to power with a majority of 152.
1896. Dr. Jameson made an unsuccessful raid into the South-African Republic. The National Debt and interest at this date amounted to nearly £657,000,000.
GRAMMAR (continued)9.—A Manual of Grammatical Analysis.With copious Exercises, Analytical and Synthetical. 90,000 sold. Fcap.-/6“One of the completest works on this subject we have seen.”—National Schoolmaster.“A very clear and excellent manual.”—School Board Chronicle.“Not only good, but thoroughly cheap.”—Literary World.“It is remarkable for its simplicity and comprehensiveness, and is written by one well acquainted with the English language.”—Midland Counties Herald.“A neat and well-arranged manual, with a double set of exercises, both synthetical and analytical,—that is, one set with blanks which require to be filled in, and the other containing sentences in which the various parts of which they consist are to be pointed out and described. The plan and arrangement are clear and well worked out.”—Educational Times.10.—A Manual of English Etymology.Fcap. 27,000 sold.-/6“This is a most useful little book; and it contains much more accurate knowledge than is usually furnished in such books for the use of schools. The notes are especially valuable.”—Educational Review.“Really well done.”—Papers for the Schoolmaster.“Compiled with the greatest care.”—Norfolk News.11.—A First Book of Grammar and Analysis.With copious Exercises. 21,000 sold. Fcap.-/3“A handy and thoroughly well-got-up little manual.”—Scholastic Register.“This is aworkingbook. It is full of exercises, and the exercises are very full and clear.”—National Schoolmaster.GEOGRAPHY.12.—Outlines of Geography.211,000 sold. Fcap.-/6“Excessively cheap.”—School Board Chronicle.“A most excellent little manual of geography, complete, yet concise, and with its facts put in a form likely to attract the attention of the scholar.”—Court Circular.13.—Geography of Great Britain and Ireland.28,000 sold. Fcap.-/6“An excellent little treatise, which we can cordially recommend for school use; it is full, accurate, and concise.”—Educational Reporter.“A very useful and compact manual. It contains a large amount of useful matter, well arranged and clearly set out.”—Educational Times.“This is really an excellent little work. We approve very much of the method pursued in dealing with the outlines and general features of each country.”—Irish Teachers’ Journal.14.—A First Book of Geography.12,000 sold. Fcap.-/3“It is clearly arranged, well printed, and just the treatise to push its way.”—Scholastic Register.“Mr. Curtis has a happy knack of condensing his materials, and at the same time making them intelligible.”—Educational Register.READERS.15.—The Poetical Reader.139,000 sold.1/-“An excellent selection, made with great judgment.”—Nonconformist.“A mass of brilliancy, wit, humour and pathos which it would be difficult to surpass.”—British Standard.16.—The New Poetical Reader.35,000 sold. Fcap.1/-“An exquisite series of extracts. The volume needs only to be known to be highly appreciated.”—Educational Reporter.17.—The Complete Poetical Reader.Being “The Poetical Reader” and “The New Poetical Reader” in one volume2/-18.—The Junior Reader.Fcap.1/-“An admirable little Reader.”—Norfolk News.ARITHMETIC.19.—The New School Arithmetic.Upon a new and improved plan. With copious Exercises. Fcap.-/620.—Answers to the above-/3SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & Co., Ltd.
GRAMMAR (continued)
9.—A Manual of Grammatical Analysis.With copious Exercises, Analytical and Synthetical. 90,000 sold. Fcap.-/6
“One of the completest works on this subject we have seen.”—National Schoolmaster.“A very clear and excellent manual.”—School Board Chronicle.“Not only good, but thoroughly cheap.”—Literary World.“It is remarkable for its simplicity and comprehensiveness, and is written by one well acquainted with the English language.”—Midland Counties Herald.“A neat and well-arranged manual, with a double set of exercises, both synthetical and analytical,—that is, one set with blanks which require to be filled in, and the other containing sentences in which the various parts of which they consist are to be pointed out and described. The plan and arrangement are clear and well worked out.”—Educational Times.
“One of the completest works on this subject we have seen.”—National Schoolmaster.
“A very clear and excellent manual.”—School Board Chronicle.
“Not only good, but thoroughly cheap.”—Literary World.
“It is remarkable for its simplicity and comprehensiveness, and is written by one well acquainted with the English language.”—Midland Counties Herald.
“A neat and well-arranged manual, with a double set of exercises, both synthetical and analytical,—that is, one set with blanks which require to be filled in, and the other containing sentences in which the various parts of which they consist are to be pointed out and described. The plan and arrangement are clear and well worked out.”—Educational Times.
10.—A Manual of English Etymology.Fcap. 27,000 sold.-/6
“This is a most useful little book; and it contains much more accurate knowledge than is usually furnished in such books for the use of schools. The notes are especially valuable.”—Educational Review.“Really well done.”—Papers for the Schoolmaster.“Compiled with the greatest care.”—Norfolk News.
“This is a most useful little book; and it contains much more accurate knowledge than is usually furnished in such books for the use of schools. The notes are especially valuable.”—Educational Review.
“Really well done.”—Papers for the Schoolmaster.
“Compiled with the greatest care.”—Norfolk News.
11.—A First Book of Grammar and Analysis.With copious Exercises. 21,000 sold. Fcap.-/3
“A handy and thoroughly well-got-up little manual.”—Scholastic Register.“This is aworkingbook. It is full of exercises, and the exercises are very full and clear.”—National Schoolmaster.
“A handy and thoroughly well-got-up little manual.”—Scholastic Register.
“This is aworkingbook. It is full of exercises, and the exercises are very full and clear.”—National Schoolmaster.
GEOGRAPHY.
12.—Outlines of Geography.211,000 sold. Fcap.-/6
“Excessively cheap.”—School Board Chronicle.“A most excellent little manual of geography, complete, yet concise, and with its facts put in a form likely to attract the attention of the scholar.”—Court Circular.
“Excessively cheap.”—School Board Chronicle.
“A most excellent little manual of geography, complete, yet concise, and with its facts put in a form likely to attract the attention of the scholar.”—Court Circular.
13.—Geography of Great Britain and Ireland.28,000 sold. Fcap.-/6
“An excellent little treatise, which we can cordially recommend for school use; it is full, accurate, and concise.”—Educational Reporter.“A very useful and compact manual. It contains a large amount of useful matter, well arranged and clearly set out.”—Educational Times.“This is really an excellent little work. We approve very much of the method pursued in dealing with the outlines and general features of each country.”—Irish Teachers’ Journal.
“An excellent little treatise, which we can cordially recommend for school use; it is full, accurate, and concise.”—Educational Reporter.
“A very useful and compact manual. It contains a large amount of useful matter, well arranged and clearly set out.”—Educational Times.
“This is really an excellent little work. We approve very much of the method pursued in dealing with the outlines and general features of each country.”—Irish Teachers’ Journal.
14.—A First Book of Geography.12,000 sold. Fcap.-/3
“It is clearly arranged, well printed, and just the treatise to push its way.”—Scholastic Register.“Mr. Curtis has a happy knack of condensing his materials, and at the same time making them intelligible.”—Educational Register.
“It is clearly arranged, well printed, and just the treatise to push its way.”—Scholastic Register.
“Mr. Curtis has a happy knack of condensing his materials, and at the same time making them intelligible.”—Educational Register.
READERS.
15.—The Poetical Reader.139,000 sold.1/-
“An excellent selection, made with great judgment.”—Nonconformist.“A mass of brilliancy, wit, humour and pathos which it would be difficult to surpass.”—British Standard.
“An excellent selection, made with great judgment.”—Nonconformist.
“A mass of brilliancy, wit, humour and pathos which it would be difficult to surpass.”—British Standard.
16.—The New Poetical Reader.35,000 sold. Fcap.1/-
“An exquisite series of extracts. The volume needs only to be known to be highly appreciated.”—Educational Reporter.
“An exquisite series of extracts. The volume needs only to be known to be highly appreciated.”—Educational Reporter.
17.—The Complete Poetical Reader.Being “The Poetical Reader” and “The New Poetical Reader” in one volume2/-
18.—The Junior Reader.Fcap.1/-
“An admirable little Reader.”—Norfolk News.
“An admirable little Reader.”—Norfolk News.
ARITHMETIC.
19.—The New School Arithmetic.Upon a new and improved plan. With copious Exercises. Fcap.-/6
20.—Answers to the above-/3
SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & Co., Ltd.
Footnotes:
[1]D., descent;B., born;M., married;Dd., died;R.reigned.
[2]I.e.if we regard the Convention Parliament as the first.