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their Dutch allies off Camperdown by the gallant Duncan -these, and such victories, crushed the naval power of the Republic and checked its career of conquest.

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One of the greatest of the naval encounters of this war was the famous Battle of the Nile, won by Nelson in 1798. That illustrious admiral had intended to attack the French fleet as it bore Napoleon's army to Egypt; but it escaped him, and he was able to come up with it only on the coast of Egypt at Aboukir Bay.' The determining event of the battle was the destruction of the "Orient," the admiral's ship. Admiral Brueys himself was there. He was wounded thrice, but refused to go below. Then a chain-shot tore him so terribly that he died almost at once, still refusing to be taken from the deck. The vessel then took fire. She blazed like a huge torch,

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NELSON.

and threw a light so clear over the bay that even the colours of the ships could be distinguished. Whilst her crew were still continuing the combat from the lower deck, she blew up with so terrible a report that every ship in the bay shook, and the awe-struck combatants suspended their efforts.

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Of the thirteen ships of the line with which the French entered the battle, two only escaped. Victory," said Nelson, "is not a name strong enough for such a scene." Still another great exploit of Nelson requires to be

mentioned. Russia, Sweden, and Denmark had again joined in an armed neutrality against England.20 To prevent the formidable fleet of the latter power from being used against this country, an expedition was sent to Copenhagen. In this, Nelson gained a great victory, and thus broke up the dangerous northern league."

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Both nations now needed rest; and so, on March 27, 1802, peace was concluded at Amiens. By this treaty, England restored all her colonial conquests except Ceylon and Trinidad, and acknowledged Napoleon. Sheridan expressed the general opinion when he said, "This is a peace which all men are glad of, but no man can be proud of." 22

England and Ireland.-The first year of the nineteenth century witnessed a change of the utmost importance in the government of this country-the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland. That island had for centuries laboured under great evils, for England had never been able to make its inhabitants contented with her yoke. The ruling class was separated by race, religion, position, and interest from those they ruled the former was Saxon, Protestant, land-owning; the latter were Celtic, Roman Catholic, and peasants. The making of the laws was entirely in the hands of the Protestant minority, and the Parliament they elected was more corrupt than the English Parliament had been in its worst days. Further, the land was held under a system 23 which left the peasantry but little hope in harvest industry; and the whole trade of Ireland was discouraged lest it should come into competition with that of England.

Ireland was accordingly ripe for rebellion, and an insurrection broke out in 1798. Both the rising and its suppression were marked by great cruelty.

The better class of Catholics had not taken part in the revolt. Pitt was convinced that no harm could arise to Britain if justice was done them; and they, knowing his inclination, were ready to support him in the plan he now disclosed for a union between the Parliaments of the two countries.

The landholders, however, offered sturdy opposition to the proposed union. More than a million was, therefore, spent in buying them over, and there was a lavish bestowal of honours. An effective majority was thus secured. A party, of whom Grattan 24 was the chief, and who believed that the interests of Ireland were best served by a separate Parliament, still opposed it. But they were powerless; the majority in favour of the Union resolutions was no less than 46; 25 and the Parliament of Ireland was incorporated with that of Great Britain.2

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1. Pitt became minister in 1783, and, with an interval from 1801-1804, he remained in power till 1806.

15.

2. See p. 147.

Hohenlinden, in the south-east of Bavaria, between the rivers Inn and Isar. The battle was fought on the 2d of December 1800.

3. The last meeting of the French representa- 16. Peace was made between France and Austria tives had been held in 1614.

4. They met on the 5th May 1789. 5. Privileges of the nobility.

on February 9, 1801. 17. In 1794.

Among other 18. This battle took place in 1797; the Spanish ships had been intended to help in the invasion of England.

privileges the governing classes paid no
taxes, so that all the burden fell upon the
masses of the people.

6. War was declared against Austria in April
1792,

7. The king was suspended on August 10, 1792. 8. The Republic was proclaimed on September 12, 1792.

9. February 8, 1793.

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10. The last power to hold out was Austria, but 23. The Land System of Ireland was a very bad it was forced to yield by Napoleon's brilliant Italian campaign. Peace was made between it and France on the 17th October 1797.

11. 1798.

12. Napoleon left Egypt in 1799.

13. In 1801. The British leader was the brave Sir Ralph Abercrombie, who was mortally wounded in the battle.

one. 'Middle-men' collected the rents for the landlords and the tithes for the clergy. The wealthier proprietors and clergy were absentees, and were thus a continual drain upon the resources of the unhappy country. 24. Grattan. See note 4, p. 176.

25. The bill received the royal assent on August 2, 1800, and the first United Parliament met in 1801, which is always taken as the actual date of the union.

14. After leading his army across the Alps, Napoleon won the great battle of Marengo, 26. in Piedmont.

Ireland was to send 100 Commons, 24 temporal and 4 spiritual peers.

ENGLAND AND NAPOLEON:
THE PENINSULAR WAR.

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NAPOLEON BUONAPARTE.

HE Period before the Peninsular War.-After little more than a year of peace, Napoleon once more declared war against this country.1 He saw that England was the one power in Europe which, in spite of his victories, could shield his enemies, condemn his ambition, and confront him as an equal.

Tidings of vast armaments which were being

equipped in France soon roused the people of this country to make preparations for the defence of their homes, and Napoleon was only prevented from ever disembarking his vaunted army of England' by two obstacles-- Pitt's able European policy, and the triumphant success of the British fleet under the heroic Nelson.

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When the French emperor saw that his scheme of invasion had become hopeless, he collected his troops for a series of gigantic attacks upon his continental foes. The year that followed was the most glorious in his history. He had a few months before proclaimed himself King of Italy; and he now within six weeks forced an Austrian army to capitulate, entered Vienna, and broke up the union between Austria and Russia by the great battle of Austerlitz.5 Prussia was afterwards completely over

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thrown at Jena, and Napoleon entered Berlin in triumph.

The Battle of Trafalgar: Death of Nelson.-As Napoleon triumphed on land, so did England at sea. Two days after the Austrian army had capitulated on the banks of the Danube, Nelson destroyed the French fleet in the great battle of Trafalgar.

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The British fleet attacked the French in two lines- -one led by Nelson, dashing at the centre of the enemy; the other, commanded by the noble Collingwood, sweeping down upon the rear. Although the French fleet was a good deal stronger than the British, the issue was never for a moment doubtful; for in spite of the most desperate bravery, twenty of their ships were taken. Alas! the moment of triumph became likewise that of sorrow, for the heroic Nelson was slain. His last signal was England expects every man to do his duty;" his last words, again and again repeated, were, "Thank God, I have done my duty." It was in the thickest of the fight that he received his death-wound. He knew it was mortal, but still was able to give directions for the safety of the fleet; and his last moments were soothed by the knowledge that he had gained a great and splendid victory.

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Nelson's was a simple, pious, and heroic nature. Ho was generous even to a fault, passionate and warmhearted. Daring, yet cautious and far-seeing, fear was to him unknown. English seamen held his name as something sacred; pieces of his flag and of the coffin that brought home. his remains were claimed as relics; while the nation felt that even Trafalgar was dearly purchased by the loss of Nelson.

Death of Pitt.-Scarcely three months afterwards,

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