forbade any European country to have any intercourse or trade with Great Britain. Europe was forced to obey. The Emperor of Russia had formed an alliance with the French Emperor, and all the Continent was subdued and overshadowed by two mighty tyrannies. Napoleon had placed kings of his own choosing-his brothers or his generals-on the thrones of many lands; in 1808 the King of Spain was dispossessed to make way for Joseph Bonaparte. 21. There followed a general uprising, both in Portugal and Spain, against the insupportable tyranny of France. Sir Arthur Wellesley was sent from England to aid the undisciplined peasant soldiery with regular troops. The French had long been accustomed to defeat by the English on the sea, but they were quite taken by surprise when Wellesley gained a decided victory at Vimiera, August 1808. In the same year a brave English commander, Sir John Moore, who had advanced far into Spain, found he must effect a retreat. A terrible march it was in the bitter winter cold, and the soldiers arrived weary and worn-out at Corunna. Here they gained a decided victory over the French, who came up with them. Sir John Moore died on the battlefield, and was buried there before the troops embarked for England, nuary 1809. In the course of the same year, Sir Arthur succeeded in driving the French out of Portugal; but he found the Spaniards such wretched and untrustworthy helpers, that he could at present make no progress. He gained a battle at Talavera, and then retired slowly to the heights of Torres Vedras, which he had strongly fortified. He had about 30,000 British soldiers, and the French under Massena numbered above 138,000 men. On his way to Torres Vedras, he fought and won a terrible battle at Busaco. Once entrenched in those strong lines, the French could do nothing against him, and were soon themselves in need of supplies. In the spring of 1811 they retired into Spain. 22. Napoleon himself had left Spain in 1807. Austria had once more taken up arms and been defeated by him. In 1812 he invaded Russia, and entered Moscow. Fires broke out by night, Moscow was burnt to the ground, and the French army forced to a retreat amidst all the horrors of the pitiless Russian winter. The suffering endured on that long homeward march was indescribable, and only a remnant saw France again. Germany now took heart, and rose with one accord against the tyrant. Napoleon, who had levied new armies after the great Russian disaster, was overwhelmed by numbers, and sustained a fearful defeat from the allied continental forces at Leipsic, 1813. 23. Meantime Wellesley (Lord Wellington) had not been idle. On the retreat of the French from before Torres Vedras, 1811, he followed them. He gained a victory at Salamanca, and entered Madrid, 1812. In 1813 he won another battle at Vittoria, and entered France in the same month as that in which the allies defeated Napoleon at Leipsic. In 1814 Napoleon abandoned the struggle, abdicated, and retired to the small Island of Elba. 24. Hardly had Europe time to realize the blessing of peace, when news came that Napoleon had escaped from Elba and entered France, where his old soldiers were gathering enthusiastically around him. War was instantly declared by the nations of Europe, and two armies assembled in Belgium; the Prussian under Blücher, the British and other allies under the Duke of Wellington. Napoleon's aim was to separate and attack them singly. He forced the Prussians to a retreat, June 16, 1815; on the 18th he met the English on the plains of Waterloo. The French numbered about 80,000; Wellington's army rather less, and about 28,000 of them were British soldiers. The Prussian General had promised Wellington that he should not long be left to fight alone. Again and again Napoleon charged the British lines, but was repulsed, though at a fearful cost. The day wore on, and still Wellington stood firm, though anxiously looking out for his ally. Just as evening drew on, and the French had made their last and fiercest charge, and the Imperial Guard itself had recoiled before the British infantry, Blücher came up. The generals met on the battlefield, and the pursuit of the flying foe was left to the Prussians. Wellington's forces were worn-out by the fatigues of the battle. Their loss was terrible. It amounted, in killed, wounded, and missing, to above 22,000 men. The Duke was so saddened by personal losses, that he had no heart to rejoice in the great victory. The cost was terrible indeed, but the battle of Waterloo ended the war. After attempting an escape to America, Napoleon surrendered to the British Government, and was sent prisoner to the distant island of St Helena, where he died in 1821. The general peace that followed the battle of Waterloo, in 1815, was not seriously disturbed until 1854. 25. George III. died in 1820, but had ceased to reign ten years sooner. Twice before he had suffered from attacks of insanity; but in 1810 he lost his reason irrecoverably, and his son George was appointed Regent. SUMMARY.-War was renewed in 1803. In 1804 Napoleon was crowned Emperor of the French. On October 21, 1805, Nelson defeated the French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar, but was killed in the battle. He was buried in St Paul's Cathedral. Next year Mr Pitt died, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. Napoleon declared the British Isles in a state of blockade. There was a general uprising in Portugal and Spain against the tyranny of France. Sir Arthur Wellesley was sent with British troops to aid the Spaniards and Portugese. His principal victories were at Vimiera, 1808; Salamanca, 1812; Vittoria, 1813. Napoleon invaded Russia, 1812. After he entered Moscow, the Russians set it on fire, and he was compelled to retreat through the snow in the most inclement season, whereby he lost nearly the whole of his army. All the powers of Europe now allied themselves against him; he was defeated at Leipsic, and driven back to Paris, where he was compelled to abdicate, and retire to the Island of Elba. From this he escaped in 1815, but was finally defeated at Waterloo, was obliged to surrender to the British, and was sent to St Helena, where he died in 1821. QUESTIONS. When was war renewed? When was Napoleon crowned Emperor? When was the battle of Trafalgar fought? What great admiral was killed? Who was sent to aid the Portuguese and Spaniards? Name some of his principal victories. When did Napoleon invade Russia, and what was the result? Where was Napoleon finally defeated? What became of him after this, and when did he die? The Rev. Charles Wolfe was born in Dublin in 1791. He was educated at Winchester, and at Trinity College, Dublin, and obtained the curacy of Ballyclog, which he exchanged for that of Castle Caulfield. He wrote several poems of considerable merit. His poem on the Burial of Sir John Moore was pronounced by Lord Byron "the most perfect ode in the language." He died in February 1823, in the 32d year of his age. It may be interesting to prefix to the poem the paragraph on the narrative of Sir John Moore's burial which produced so strong an emotion in Mr Wolfe's mind, and prompted this immediate and spontaneous effusion of poetic genius :-" Sir John Moore had often said, that, if he was killed in battle, he wished to be buried where he fell. The body was removed at midnight to the citadel of Corunna. A grave was dug for him on the rampart there, by a party of the 9th regiment, the aides-de-camp attending by turns. No coffin could be procured, and the officers of his staff wrapped the body, dressed as it was, in a military cloak and blankets. The interment was hastened; for, about eight in the morning, some firing was heard, and the officers feared that, if a serious attack were made, they should be ordered away, and not suffered to pay their last duty. The officers of his staff bore him to the grave; the funeral service was read by the chaplain; and the corpse was covered with earth."-Edinburgh Annual Register. Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note, |