warm, to control the violent and inflammatory, to avoid the shoals and breakers of the law."

When

he was not allowed, although elected, to take his seat in Parliament as member for Clare, because he was a Roman Catholic, the discontent which had long existed in Ireland increased to such a degree, that the country seemed on the verge of a civil war. To avoid this, the Duke of Wellington resolved to propose the measure that he and his party had so long resisted. The Roman Catholic Emancipation Act was passed in 1829, and received a reluctant assent from the king. There had been for some time a wide-spread and increasing desire in the country for a change in the representation of the people in the House of Commons, rendered necessary by changes in the country itself. In the course of time, many new and important towns, like Birmingham and Manchester, had grown up, and they returned no members; whilst many insignificant places, with but few inhabitants, possessed the right of choosing a representative. Various proposals were brought forward on this subject, but before any decision was made, the reign of George IV. came to an end. He died at Windsor Castle on the 26th of June 1830, and was succeeded by his brother, the Duke of Clarence, who ascended the throne as William IV.

SUMMARY.-George IV. succeeded his brother in 1820. He had been for some time separated from his wife, Caroline of Brunswick. He refused to permit her to be crowned, or even to be present at his coronation. The long pressure of the European war, the increase of taxation, and a succession of bad harvests, caused distress and discontent among the people. In 1821 the Government took possession of forts on the western coast of

Africa. A war with the Ashantees followed, which continued at intervals for nearly three years, and was brought to a close by the defeat of the Ashantees in 1826. In the same year a British force was sent to Portugal to support the Princess Regent, and speedily put down the rebellion. The question of Roman Catholic emancipation was brought to a decision by the election for Clare of Mr O'Connell, a Roman Catholic. After much agitation and excitement, the Roman Catholic Emancipation Act was passed in 1829. Proposals were made for a change in the representation of the people. George IV. died on the 26th of June 1830.

QUESTIONS.

How long had George IV. been Regent before his father's death; and when did he succeed to the crown? What was his conduct to his wife? Name some of the causes of distress and discontent in England? Who was appointed governor of the forts on the western coast of Africa, belonging to this country? Against what African nation were hostilities commenced; how long did they continue; and when were they brought to a close? To which European country was a British force sent; and for what purpose? Who was the leader of the agitation to obtain the admission of Roman Catholics into Parliament? the Roman Catholic Emancipation Act passed? George IV. die?

THE BRITISH CONSTITUTION.

When was When did

The government of Great Britain and Ireland is constitutional, or possesses a regular form, in which the civil rights of all classes are acknowledged and guaranteed. The sovereign is the head or directing power in the state. The assent of the sovereign is necessary to every new law. The legislative part of the government of the country is composed of two deliberating bodies-the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords consists of Dukes of the blood royal, all English or British peers, 16 representative peers of Scotland, 28 representative peers of Ireland. The House of Commons consists of 658 members, the representatives of counties, cities, boroughs, and universities. The presiding member of the House of Commons is called the Speaker. The task of managing the government of the country is deputed by the sovereign to persons who are styled ministers, and sometimes the Cabinet. The first Lord of the Treasury is the Prime Minister, or Premier.

We had still the big stag in prospect, and another hour brought us to the top of the ridge. Here we slowly raised our heads, and, noiselessly opening our glasses, examined the sides of the opposite corrie. There was the stag still lying down; and we saw

that most of the hinds we had previously observed between him and our present position had fortunately grazed nearer the river on each side of him, so that if we could only get over the first thirty or forty yards of the crest of the hill, which was naked and slaty, without being observed, we might reach the burn and some birch trees, after which the banks, although low, would suffice to screen us from the hinds as we crawled through the bed of the stream. Leaving the gillie, therefore, and the dogs at the other side, we commenced operations by turning over on our backs and half-sliding, half-wriggling, feet foremost, down the steep incline. We successfully accomplished this, the most difficult part of our task, and then commenced crawling over the stones in the bed of the burn, every now and then immersed in a pool of water, as the banks were still too low to admit even of a stooping posture. At last we gained the friendly shelter of some birch trees, and rising to our feet advanced with comparatively little difficulty until we reached the base of a naked elevated mound overhanging the bed of the stream, which afforded an opportunity of ascertaining our exact position. Slow and stealthy was our progress as we crept up to the ridge of the rough slope, when I ventured, as cautiously as possible, to peep into the glen below. It was a magnificent sight. There, within three hundred yards of me, was the big stag, still lying down, but with his head turned away from us. Even when thus foreshortened, he looked a giant among the others, two or three of whom, as well as several hinds, were grazing on each side of

him. The wind, too, was all right; and M'Kay, the keeper, urged that no time should be lost in backing out of our position as cautiously as we had reached it, and after returning by our former track to the burn, that we should crawl down it again as far as a stunted birch-tree on the same side of the bank, not more than 200 hundred yards off, under cover of which I could get a broadside shot at the stag when he rose from his lair and commenced feeding. Before retiring, however, I could not help throwing one more admiring glance on the landscape below. The lofty hill of Corryhabbie, and beyond this the still higher Ben Rennis, with white clouds capping its summit, rose at the opposite side of Glenfiddich, while a limited view of the middle distance, immediately in front, was bounded to the right and left by the sides of the corrie, which in dark shadow seemed to frame the sides of the picture. Hardly had I obtained more than a glimpse at this lovely scene when a distant, croaking sound attracted my attention. I had no difficulty in recognising it, although it was the first time I had heard it in a deer forest, and for a few moments it caused me no apprehension. Suddenly, however, the deep hoarse notes, that at first had reached my ear at regular intervals, were followed by a succession of rapidly repeated angry barks in a higher key. These soon became louder and louder, and turning up my eyes, I saw, to my consternation, just over our heads, a large raven. He had come over from Blackwater Forest, in our rear, having probably got sight of the gillie with the dogs on the