should leave any children, the succession to the crown should be settled on the Princess Sophia, Electress of Hanover, the daughter of Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia, who was the daughter of James I.

1. Princess Sophia died before Queen Anne, and her inheritance, as fixed by Parliament, descended to her

son.

He was accordingly proclaimed upon Anne's death, and generally recognised. In SCOTLAND amongst the Highland clans, and in the north and west of England, there existed a lingering attachment to the direct line, and in 1715 there was a rising in favour of THE PRETENDER, as James (son of James II.) was called. But it effected nothing; the leaders, however, suffered the penalties of high treason.

The Pretender, who had appeared in Scotland whilst the movement was on foot, had done much by his coming to damage his own cause. No enthusiasm was possible for the gloomy sullen man he showed himself to be. It was evident also that if he should become king he would prove a tyrant and a bigot like his father. Certainly there was no enthusiasm for the foreigner-cold, dull, and incapable even of speaking English-who occupied the throne; but every one knew that the laws and liberties of England were safe so long as he was there.

2. Neither George I. nor his son were able to take part in the deliberations of their ministers in the English language, and they were frequently absent on the Continent. Thus the PERSONAL INFLUENCE of the sovereign considerably DECLINED, and the

minister who presided in the Council guided the policy of the country so long as the House of Commons supported him and his measures.

3. In 1720 the failure of THE SOUTH SEA COMPANY caused enormous losses and distress. It was the skill and prudence of SIR ROBERT WALPOLE, a member of the government, that restored anything like public credit and confidence. For nearly twentyone years afterwards he was prime minister, and, in point of fact, ruler of England.

4. George I. died of apoplexy, in Hanover, in 1727, and his son, GEORGE II., succeeded. He had always been at enmity with his father, and opposed him in everything, and would therefore very likely have dismissed Robert Walpole but for the influence of Queen Caroline, a clever and accomplished woman, who had great influence over her dull and uninteresting husband, and was a warm friend of Walpole. Walpole was an able and dexterous man; he was bent on MAINTAINING PEACE abroad, AVOIDING CHANGES at home, and KEEPING POWER and place for himself. Any means would serve his ends, and he, according to the general habit of the day, freely employed bribery of all kinds, believing, or professing to believe, that every man had his price.

The peace policy of the prime minister was of great benefit to England and her trade, but it was against the feelings of the king, who, though diminutive in stature, was not lacking in courage, and was rather ambitious of distinction on the battle-field; besides through Hanover he had a personal interest

in Continental matters. Many years of peace had passed by when the impatient eagerness of the people forced on a declaration of war. There had long been much mutual provocation between the English and the Spaniards; and exaggerated tales of insult and violence were currently believed. Walpole sought to negotiate, but the people were excited and irritated; against his own convictions the minister consented to a declaration of WAR AGAINST SPAIN, 1739. He thus sacrificed his own convictions to maintain power; but his influence was gone, and in 1742 he resigned his office, and retired from public life.

SUMMARY.-The crown of England has ever been hereditary, but subject to limitations by parliament. After King James II. quitted England in 1688, the crown was given first to William and Mary (she being the elder daughter of King James); then to the Princess Anne, his second daughter; and after her to the Princess Sophia, Electress of Hanover, granddaughter of James I. Her son George I. succeeded to the crown, but there was a rising in favour of the son of James II., which was unsuccessful. George I. and his son were frequently absent from England, and thus the personal influence of the sovereign declined. In 1720 the failure of the South Sea Company caused enormous losses and distress. Public confidence was restored by Sir Robert Walpole, who was prime minister for nearly twenty-one years. George I. died in 1727, and was succeeded by his son George II. Sir Robert Walpole continued to be prime minister. He was bent on maintaining peace and avoiding changes; but, against his convictions, he consented to a declaration of war against Spain in 1739. He thus lost his influence, and in 1742 he resigned his office and retired from public life.

QUESTIONS.

1. On whom was the succession settled according to Act of Parliament? Where was James's son recognised? With what success? What was his character?

2. How did royal influence decline?

3. What event caused wide-spread ruin? Who restored confidence? How long was he prime minister?

4. Who succeeded in 1727? What was Walpole's policy? How was war forced on?

It was a hot, sultry evening, without a breath of wind; and nearly all the workmen, when work was over and supper done, loitered about smoking their pipes in the open air. John Hooper, one of the group, stood leaning on the barn door, watching his little Jack and Nelly at play with their kittens, and his wife, who sat on the step with baby in her arms, stroking puss, and teaching baby not to be frightened at her.

"Here comes Master Frank, with his brown dog," said Hooper. Frank was the farmer's son, and a general favourite.

"When is my sister to have the kitten?" asked Frank.

"This very evening, if you please, sir," she answered. 66 Pray walk in and choose which you

like."

"This is Whitefoot, sir, running after the ball," said Jack; "and those are Minnie and Jetty: and Vevvy--that means Velvet, sir-is playing by herself out there; which will you have?"

Frank stepped across the threshold, but his dog ran in before him, and was instantly attacked by the cat, furious in defence of her four children. A scene of confusion followed. In vain did Frank call "Wolf! lie down, sir!" The cat growled, spat, and scratched; Wolf barked and flew at her; the kittens scampered off in every direction; Jack and Nelly rushed about to protect them; and the baby screamed more loudly than all.

Peace was restored at last, but not till puss and her kittens had vanished from the field of battle; not a tail or a whisker was to be seen, and Wolf had slunk behind his master, looking very much ashamed. Jack and Nelly, assisted by Frank, now began to search for their pets, and soon found three of the kittensone behind the press, another on a shelf among the teacups, a third under some straw in the barn.

Puss herself was not to be seen, but that was no matter: she was most likely up a tree or on the roof. The fourth kitten, however, was not to be found, and they looked everywhere in vain.

At last Nelly's voice was heard from the end of the