Not satisfied with an inactive life on that island, he made his escape with a few followers, and landing in France, he was received with open arms by his old companions, the soldiers, and by the most vigorous exertions, he was soon in a condition to renew the contest.

Then followed the celebrated battle of Waterloo, in which his army was completely defeated, and to avoid being taken prisoner, he fled to the coast, and delivered himself up to an English ship of war.

Napoleon was sent to the island of St. Hele'na, where he was strictly guarded, at the same time receiving every attention due to his exalted rank; he remained there till his death, in the year 1821.

This reign was prolific of great men, among whom may be named the Duke of Wellington in the army; Nelson, Howe, St. Vicent, Duncan, and Rodney in the navy and Walpole, Pitt, Fox, Burke and Sheridan in the senate.

George's reign continued fifty-nine years, it being the longest recorded in the annals of England; and it is a remarkable fact, that the three thirds should be the longest mentioned in English history; Henry III. having reigned fifty-six years, Edward III. fifty, and George III. fifty-nine.

During this reign, Sunday schools were first established.-Ireland was united to Great Britain.-The slave trade was abolished.-Gas was first used for lighting streets and houses.-Steam was first used for impelling ships, and vaccination was introduced.

George III. was succeeded by his eldest son, George IV. in the year 1820. Soon after George's accession to power, a bill was brought into the House of Lords, to deprive his consort, Queen Caroline, of her title, and

to dissolve the marriage, in consequence of alleged impropriety of conduct while travelling on the continent.

A majority was obtained against her, but it was so small that the bill was abandoned, and those that were friendly to her cause, and those in opposition to the government, testified their joy by a general illumination.

During this reign, the Catholic Relief Bill was passed; for a length of time the Roman Catholics had not enjoyed the same privileges as their Protestant fellow subjects, and this bill was brought in to remove their disabilities.

The bill was passed by a large majority, thus proving that a spirit of liberality was gaining ground, and that the day was coming when all animosity, on account of religious opinions, would die away.

George's reign was peaceful, and generally favourable to his subjects; it only continued ten years, during which time, the first stone of the New London Bridge was laid.-Steam carriages were first used,-and the police force was established.

LESSON XCL

A HYMN OF PRAISE.-KINDNESS.-THE WOODMAN.

Begin, my soul, the exalted lay,
Let each enraptur'd thought obey,

And praise the Almighty's name;
Lo, heav'n and earth and seas and skies,
In one melodious concert rise,

To swell the inspiring theme!

Whate'er a blooming world contains,
That wings the air, that skims the plains,

United praise bestow;

All creatures sound his awful name
To heav'n aloud; and roar acclaim,
Ye swelling deeps below.

Ye flocks, that haunt the humble vale,
Ye insects fluttering on the gale,
In mutual concourse rise;
Crop the gay rose's vermeil bloom,
And waft its spoils, a sweet perfume,
In incense to the skies.

Wake, all ye mounting tribes and sing,
Ye plumy warblers of the spring,
Harmonious anthems raise-

To him who shap'd your finer mould,
Who tipp'd your glitt'ring wings with gold,
And tun'd your voice to praise.

Let man by nobler passions sway'd,
The feeling heart, the judging head,
In heav'nly praise employ ;

Spread his tremendous name around,

Till heav'n's broad arch rings back the sound,

The gen'ral burst of joy.

Ye, whom the charms of grandeur please,

Nurs'd on the downy lap of ease,

Fall prostrate at his throne;

Ye princes, rulers, all adore;

Praise Him, ye kings, who makes your pow'r

An image of his own!

Ye fair, by nature form'd to move,

O praise the eternal source of love,
With youth's enliv'ning fire;
Let age take up the tuneful lay,
Speak his bless'd name, then soar away,
And ask an angel's lyre!

Kindness can woo the lion from his den-
(A moral lesson to the sons of men.)
His mighty heart in silken bonds can draw,
And bend his nature to sweet Pity's law.
Kindness can lure the eagle from her nest,
'Midst sun-beams plac'd, content with man to rest;
Can make the elephant, whose bulk supplies
The warrior-tower, compassionate as wise:
Make the fell tigress (from her chain unbound,
Herself unfed, her craving offspring round,)
Forget the force of hunger and of blood,
Meekly receive from man her long-wish'd food;
Take too the chastisement, and (if 'tis just)
Submissive take it, crouching to the dust.
Kindness can habits, nay, the nature change,
Of all that swim the deep, or forest range;
And for the mild, domestic train, which come,
The dog-the steed-with thee to find a home,
Gladly they serve thee; serve thee better too,
When only happy beings meet their view:
Ah! then, let gentler accents, gentler looks, supply
The thunders of thy voice, the lightnings of thine eye.

Forth goes the woodman, leaving unconcern'd
The cheerful haunts of men, to wield the axe,
And drive the wedge in yonder forest drear,
From morn till eve his solitary task.
Shaggy, and lean, and shrewd, with pointed ears,
And tail cropp'd short, half lurcher and half cur,
His dog attends him. Close behind his heel,
Now creeps he slow; and now with many a frisk
Wide scampering, snatches up the drifted snow
With ivory teeth, or ploughs it with his nose,
Then shakes his powder'd coat, and barks for joy.

Pratt.

Heedless of all his pranks, the sturdy churl
Moves towards the destin'd mark nor stops for au
But now and then, with pressure of the thumb,
To adjust the fragrant charge of a short pipe,
That fumes beneath him, scenting all the air.

Cowper.

LESSON XCII.

THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

The UNITED KINGDOM consists of two large islands and a number of smaller ones. GREAT BRITAIN is much the largest island in Europe, and comprises England, Wales, and Scotland.

ENGLAND occupies the southern part of the island of Great Britain, and measures about three hundred and sixty miles in length, and including Wales, averages rather more than two hundred and twenty in width. Its population is about nineteen millions.

Great Britain, of herself, cannot boast of large extent, nor of a great population, yet she may, perhaps, be considered the most powerful nation, not only in Europe, but in the whole world, for it is supposed she rules over an extent of country fifty-times as large as herself, and over a population eight times greater than her own.

She has foreign possessions to a great extent in every quarter of the globe, and the sun never sets on her dominions, that is, when it is setting in one part, it is rising in another; and she is the only nation in Europe that has not been invaded since the time of William the Conqueror, in the year 1066.