Despre această carte
Biblioteca mea
Cărți pe Google Play
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.-A.D. 1755 to A.D. 1757..
Dread of invasion.-Defence of the country by foreign troops.-French fleet at Minorca
-Admiral Byng.-Surrender of St. Philip, in Minorca.-Popular rage against Byng.
-Commencement of the Seven Years' War.-Successes of Frederick of Prussia.-
Household of George, prince of Wales.--Changes of Ministry.-Newcastle retires.-
Administration of the duke of Devonshire and Mr. Pitt.-Altered tone of the king's
speech.-Militia Bill.-Foreign troops sent home.-Subsidy to the king of Prussia.—
Trial of Byng.-His execution.-Pitt and Legge dismissed from their employments.
-National feeling.-Coalition of Newcastle and Pitt.-Affairs of India.-Black Hole
at Calcutta. Surajah Dowlah occupies Calcutta. It is re-taken by Clive and Wat
son. The battle of Plassey.-Surajah Dowlah deposed and killed.-Meer Jaffier
Subahdar of Bengal.-Establishment of the British ascendancy in India.
Page 13-32
CHAPTER II.-A.D. 1757 to A.D. 1760.
The Administration.-Pitt's sole conduct of the war and of foreign affairs.—Frederick's
second campaign.-Victory of Prague.-Defeat at Kolin.-Failure at Rochefort.-
Convention of Closter-Seven.-Failure of expedition against Louisbourg.-Riots
about the Militia Act.-Frederick's victory of Rosbach.-Subsidy to Prussia.-Cher-
bourg taken, and its works demolished.-St. Maloes.-Operations on the African
coast.-Successful expedition against Louisbourg.-The turning point in Pitt's Ad-
ministration.-Frederick's third campaign.-Zorndorf.-Hochkirchen.-Wolfe ap-
pointed to command an expedition to Quebec.-The battle of Minden.—Canada.—
Operations in North America.-Wolfe in the St. Lawrence.-His desponding letter.-
Heights of Abraham. -Death of Wolfe.-Quebec surrendered.-Hawke's victory in
Quiberon Bay.-Death of George the Second.
33-49
CHAPTER III.-A.D. 1760 to A.D. 1763.
Accession of George III.-His education and character.-Lord Bute.-The king's first
speech.-Policy of the new reign.-Independence of the Judges.-The new Parlia-
ment. The king's marriage.-Coronation.-Negotiations for peace.-Warlike opera-
tions.-Affairs of the Continent.-Frederick of Prussia.-Negotiations broken off.—
The Family Compact.-Resignation of Mr. Pitt.-His pension.-Debates in Parlia-
ment. War declared against Spain.-Conquest of the Havannah, and other successes.
-Preliminaries of peace signed.-The Peace of Paris.-Conclusion of the Seven
Year's War.-The cost of the war, and its uses.
50-69
CHAPTER IV.-A.D. 1763 to A.D. 1765.
Lord Bute Prime Minister.-Policy of the Favourite.-John Wilkes.-Lord Bute resigns.
-George Grenville's Ministry.-"North Briton," No. 45.-Arrest of Wilkes.→
Negotiations for Mr. Pitt's return to power.-The king's desire to govern.—The
Wilkite agitation.-Hogarth, Wilkes, and Churchill.-Wilkes ordered to be prose-
cuted.-Expelled the House of Commons.-Great Debates on General Warrants.-
Officers dismissed for votes in Parliament,-Restrictions on the American Colonies.-
Grenville's Resolution on American Taxation.-The Stamp Act passed.-Resist-
ance in America.-Motives for passing the Stamp Act. Page 70-86
CHAPTER V.—A.D. 1765 to A.D. 1768.
Illness of the king.-The Regency Bill.-Overtures to Pitt.-He declines office.-Gren-
ville and Bedford.-The Rockingham Administration.-Disturbances in America.-
Parliament.-Debates on the Stamp Act.-Pitt contends for its Repeal.-Examina-
tion of Dr. Franklin.-Declaratory Bill as to rights over the Colonies.-Repeal of the
Stamp Act.-Weakness of the Rockingham Administration.-They quit office.-Pitt
created earl of Chatham.-His loss of popularity.-His plans for great measures.-
Embargo on Corn.-Chatham's illness.-Disorganization of his ministry.-Parliament
dissolved.
CHAPTER VI.-A.D. 1768 to A.D. 1770.
87-102
New Parliament.-Non-publication of Debates.-Wilkes returned for Middlesex.—
Riots. Sentence upon Wilkes.-His expulsions from Parliament and re-elections.-
Debates on the privileges of the Commons.-The letters of Junius.-Personalities of
Junius. His attacks on the duke of Grafton.-Private letters of Junius.-His attack
on the duke of Bedford.-Address of Junius to the king.-Opening of Parliament.-
Lord Chatham.-Chatham's speech on the Address.-Schism in the Ministry.-Lord
Camden disclaims their measures.-Resignation of the duke of Grafton.
CHAPTER VII.-A.D. 1768 to A.D. 1771.
103-122
Lord North's Administration.-Retrospect of Colonial affairs.-Opposition to the Reve-
nue Act.-Debates in Parliament on American proceedings.-Measures of coercion
proposed.-Lord Hillsborough.-Virginia.-Outrages in Boston.-Repeal of duties,
except that on teas.-Encounter with the military at Boston.-Renewal of the con-
flict regarding Wilkes.-Remonstrance of the City of London.-Beckford's Address
to the King.-- Printers arrested for publishing Debates.-Released by the City
authorities.-Riots.-The Lord Mayor and an Alderman committed.-Officers of
123-140
State.
CHAPTER VIII.-A.D. 1770 to A.D. 1773.
Foreign affairs.-Cession of Corsica to France.-The Falkland Islands.-First Partition
of Poland.-War between Turkey and Russia.-Acquisitions of Russia.-Suppres-
sion of the Jesuits.-Home Politics.-Subscription to Thirty-nine Articles.-Test
Act.-Thirtieth of January.-Repeal of laws against forestalling.-The queen of
Denmark. Death of the Princess Dowager.-The Royal Marriage Act.-Retrospect
of Indian affairs.-East India Company's Regulation Act.-Teas, duty free, to the
Colonies. 141-154
CHAPTER IX.-A.D. 1773 to A.D. 1775.
Destruction of Tea in Boston Harbour.-Franklin before the Council.-Boston Port
Bill.-Burke's speech against taxing America.-Chatham's speech.-Sentiments of
the Americans.-State of Parties in America.-Leaders of the House of Commons.-
Reception of the Boston Port Bill.-Military preparations.-Chatham's and Burke's
efforts for conciliation.-Rapid growth of America.-English feelings on the Amer-
ican question.-Hostilities commenced at Lexington.-Ticonderoga and Crown Point
taken.-Washington's view of civil war.-Principles involved in the struggle.
CHAPTER X.-A.D. 1775 to A.D. 1776.
Page 155-172
Franklin's return to America.-Meeting of Congress at Philadelphia.-Washington elect-
ed Commander-in-chief.-Events at Boston.-Battle of Bunker's Hill.-Washing-
ton blockades Boston.-Public opinion in England.-Petition from Congress to the
King. Mr. Penn, the bearer of the petition, examined in the House of Lords.-Lord
North's Prohibitory Bill.-Invasion of Canada.-Silas Deane sent to Paris.-Dec-
laration of Independence adopted by Congress.-Note: The Declaration.
CHAPTER XI.—A.D. 1776 to A.D. 1777.
173-188
Lord Howe, as the British Commissioner, addresses a letter to Washington.-The letter
refused. The British on Long Island.-Battle of Brooklyn.-Washington retreats.-
His exploit at Trenton.-His success at Princetown.-Franklin dispatched by the
Congress to Paris.-Underhand proceedings of France.-John the Painter, the incen-
diary.-Manning the navy.-Defences of the country.-Chatham appears again in
Parliament.-Steuben.-LaFayette.-Kosciusko.-Battle of the Brandywine.-The
British in Phliadelphia.-Burgoyne's army enters the United States from Canada.—
The convention of Saratoga.-Parliament meets.-Chatham's speech on the Address.
-On the employment of Indians.-Washington in winter-quarters at Valley Forge,
-Steuben re-organizes the army. 189-205
CHAPTER XII.-A.D. 1777 to A.D. 1779.
Public opinion on the American War.-Measures of conciliation proposed by lord North.
- France concludes a treaty of amity with America.-Chatham's last speech in Parlia-
ment. His sudden illness in the House of Lords.-His death.-Propositions of lord
North rejected by Congress.-French fleet under d'Estaing arrives in America.-
Attack on Rhode Island impeded by fleet under lord Howe.-Admiral Keppel takes
the command of the Channel Fleet.-Engagement off Ushant.-Court-martial on
Keppel.-Burgoyne's defence of himself in Parliament.-Destruction of Wyoming.
-Spain declares war against Great Britain.-Apprehensions of invasion.—The na-
tional spirit roused.-Enterprises of Paul Jones.-Military operations in America in
1779. 206-220
CHAPTER XIII.-A.D. 1780.
Associations for redress of grievances.-Meetings in Yorkshire and other Counties.-
Burke's proposals for Economical Reform.-Dunning's motion on the influence of
the Crown.-Decreasing strength of the Opposition.-Protestant Associations in
Scotland. They extend to England.-Lord George Gordon.-Procession to Parlia-
ment.-Roman Catholic chapels burnt.-Newgate set on fire.-Lord Mansfield's
House sacked.-The library burnt.-Continued riots.-A council called.-Wedder-
burn's opinion on the employment of military.-The riots stopped by military force.
-Naval affairs.-The war in America.-Charleston taken by the British-Lord
Cornwallis. His severeties.-French armament under Rochambeau.-Treachery of
Benedict Arnold.-Major André seized.-Verdict of a Council of Officers.-His
execution.
221-239
CHAPTER XIV.-A.D. 1780 to A.D. 1781.
Elections of 1780.-Burke rejected for Bristol.-War with Holland.-French attack upon
Jersey. Capture of St. Eustatius by Rodney.-Privateering.-Action off the Dog
ger Bank.-Difficulties of Washington's army.-Mutinies.-Cornwallis in the Caro-
linas.-He is defeated at Cowpens.-His victory at Guilford.-Cornwallis marches
into Virginia. Fleet of De Grasse arrives in the Chesapeake.-Washington's march
to Virginia.-Cornwallis fortifies York Town.-He is besieged, and his supplies cut
off. He capitulates.-Surrender of the British army.-The disastrous news received
in London. Page 240-256
CHAPTER XV.-A.D. 1781 to A.D. 1782.
The king announces to Parliament the capitulation of Cornwallis.-Debates on the Ad-
dress very hostile to the ministry. --Strong expressions of Fox.--More prudent lan-
guage of Pitt.-Differences in the Cabinet.-Lord G. Germaine retires.-Losses of
West India Islands and Minorca.-The government in a minority.-Lord North an-
nounces that his administration is at an end.-The Rockingham ministry.-Rodney's
victory over De Grasse.-Breaking the Line.-Capture of the Ville de Paris.-Change
of costume in the House of Commons.-Burke's Bill for Economical Reform.-Bills
on Revenue Officers and Contractors.-Pitt's motion for Parliamentary Reform.—
Arming the People.--Retrospect of the state of Ireland.--Irish Parliament.--Grattan.--
His efforts for legislative independence.-The Volunteers of Ireland.-The king's
message to the British and Irish Parliaments.-The Statute of George I. asserting
the dependence of Ireland repealed. 257-278
CHAPTER XVI.-A.D. 1782.
Overtures for Peace between Franklin and Shelburne.-Rival negotiators from England.
-Death of Lord Rockingham.-Resignation of the Secretaryship by Mr. Fox.-The
Siege of Gibraltar.-Naval affairs.-Lord Howe.-Loss of the Royal George.-
Howe's relief of Gibraltar after the first bombardment.-Negotiations for Peace
concluded. The Preliminaries laid before Parliament.-Parliamentary censures of
the terms of Peace.-Lord Shelburne being defeated, resigns.-The king and the
American minister.-Washington's farewell to his army, and his retirement. 279-295
CHAPTER XVII.-A.D. 1760 to A.D. 1783.
Political despondency at the close of the American War.-Supposed decay of Population.
-Its real increase.-Development of the productive power of the country.—Agricul-
ture extended and improved.-Agricultural condition of the Eastern, South Midland,
North Midland, and South Eastern, counties.-Norfolk.-Mr. Coke.-Suffolk.-
Essex. Buckinghamshire. - Oxfordshire. - Northamptonshire. - Bedfordshire.
Francis, duke of Bedford.-Improved breeds of sheep and oxen.-Robert Bakewell.
-Consumption of animal food in England.-Cambridgeshire.-Lincolnshire.-The
Great Level of the Fens.-Lincoln Heath and the Wolds. Nottinghamshire. -
Derbyshire.-Surrey.-Middlesex.-Kent.-Sussex,-Hants.-Berkshire.-Windsor
Forest.
-
CHAPTER XVIII.-A.D. 1760 to A.D. 1783.
296-317
Agricultural condition of the South Western Counties.-Wiltshire.-Dorsetshire.-Devon-
shire. Somersetshire.- Cornwall.-Wales.-The West Midland Counties.-The
North Midland.-Yorkshire.-Improvers of the Moors.-James Croft, an agricultural
collier.-Northern Counties. -Durham.- Northumberland.-Westmorland.- The
Lake District.-Agricultural condition of Scotland.-The Lothians.-Sheep flocks.—
Ayrshire.-Burns.-Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.-North-western parts.-Agricul-
tural condition of Ireland.-The potatoe cultivation.
Page 318-339
CHAPTER XIX.-A.D. 1760 to A.D. 1783.
Revolution in the peaceful Arts.-Great captains of Industry raised up in Britain.-The
duke of Bridgewater and Brindley.-Canals first constructed in England.—The
Cotton manufacture.-The fly-shuttle of Kay.-Cotton-spinning machines.-The
spinning-jenny of Hargreaves.-Cotton spinning ceasing to be a domestic employ- |
ment.-Richard Arkwright.-His water-frame spinning machine.-The first water
spinning mill.-Samuel Crompton.-His Hall-in-the-Wood wheel,known as the mule.
-General rush to engage in spinning cotton.-Rapid increase of Lancashire towns.-
Dr. Cartwright.-His power-loom.-Dr. Roebuck.-First furnace at Carron for
smelting iron by pit-coal.-Wedgwood.-Potteries of Staffordshire.-Commercial
treaty with France.-Watt.-Progress of his improved steam-engine.-Its final suc-
340-363
cess.
CHAPTER XX.-A.D. 1760 to A.D. 1783.
State of Art in the reign of George II.-Inferiority of native artists.-Formation of an
English School of Painting.-Academies.-First Exhibition of Works of English
Artists.-Exhibition of Sign-paintings.-Foundation of the Royal Academy.-Early
Exhibitions.-Reynolds, Gainsborough, Wilson, and West.-Engraving.—Strange
and Woollett.-Mezzotint.-MacArdell, &c.-Boydell and commerce in English
engravings.-Sculpture.-Banks, Bacon, and Flaxman.-Architecture.-Sir William
Chambers.-Bridge-building.
364-382
CHAPTER XXI.-A.D. 1737 to A.D. 1783.
Manners as depicted in the Literature of the period.-Changes in the commerce of
Literature. Samuel Johnson the link between two periods.-Literature of George
the Second's time.-The Novelists.-Richardson.-Fielding.-Smollett.-Sterne.-
Goldsmith.-Literature of the first quarter of a century of the reign of George the
Third. Manners.-Stage Coaches.- Highwaymen.- The Post.- Inns.- Public
refreshment places of London.-Ranelagh.-Vauxhall.-The Pantheon.-The Thea-
tre.-Garrick.-Bath.-Gaming Tables.
383-402
CHAPTER XXII.-A.D. 1737 to A.D. 1783.
View of manners continued.-The Duke of Queensberry.-Club-life.-Excessive Gaming.
-Excesses of Charles Fox.-Dress.-Conversation.-The Squires of England.-The
Country Justice.-The Clergy of England.--The Universities.-Professional Classes.
-The Mercantile Class.-The Lower orders.-The Rabble.-Mobs.-Police of Lon-
don. The Prisons.-Social Reformers.-Howard.-Coram.-Hanway.-Raikes.-
Education.-Rise and Growth of Methodism.
CHAPTER XXIII.-A.D. 1773 to A.D. 1784.
403-426
Retrospect of Indian affairs.-Hastings Governor-General.-Rohilla war.-New Council
at Calcutta. Hastings and the Council opposed to each other.-Nuncomar.-His ex-
ecution.-Dissentions at Madras.-Mahratta war.-Capture of Gwalior.-Hyder Ali.-
The Carnatic ravaged.-Hyder defeated by Coote.-Death of Hyder.-Succeeded by
his son Tippoo Saib.-Benares. Oude.-The Begums.-Committee of the Houses of
Parliament on Indian Affairs.
427-438