Eutin (1751), under whom several interior quarrels took place, such as those of the bonuets and chapeaux.

We remark Gustavus III., an amiable prince and a great king, who, in 1772, overthrew the constitution of Ulrica, and restored to the throne its misused authority, to Sweden repose and political influence. He was assassinated at a ball in 1792. Gustavus IV., Adolphus, his son, who was only fourteen years of age, succeeded him, under the regency of the Duke of Sudermania, his uncle, afterwards Charles XIII.

In 1809 he was obliged to abdicate the throne.

Charles XIII. being without a direct heir, adopted first Prince Christian Augustus of Schleswig Holstein, but dying suddenly, August 21, 1810, the Diet of Orabo chose Marshal Bernadotte to replace him, Prince of Ponte Corvo, a Frenchman, who was adopted by the king, under the name of Charles John, who mounted the throne on the death of Charles XIII., which took place the 5th of February, 1818. He died in 1844. His son, Oscar I., succeeded him.

NORWEGIANS.

The hordes of Danes, Normans, and Scandinavians who immortalised themselves by their conquests in France, England, Italie, and Greece, came originally from Norway. Oleäus, called the saint, established Christianity in Norway about the 9th century. The spirit of reform commenced there about 1528, and took place about 1537, and from that time Lutheranism became the popular religion. Haguin, on espousing Marguerite de Valdemar, became King of Norway and of Denmark, and on his deathbed left his wife on the double throne. Both crowns remained united up to 1814, when Norway was reunited to Sweden by the treaty of Kiel. The Norwegians opposed the measure at first, and appointed themselves a king; but were obliged to give in. At the present time, Norway, although governed by the same king as Sweden, forms a separate state and preserves its own laws and constitution.

ENGLISH.

In the first five centuries the Celts occupied Great Britain. Their government, their religion, their Druids, and their customs resemble that of the inhabitants of Gaul. In the 1st century Britain was vanquished by the Romans (Julius Cæsar), and

after having been under their protection for four centuries, was desolated and nearly destroyed by the Picts and the Caledonians. They claimed the protection of the Angles and the Saxons (Germans). They took possession of their country and forced the British nation to take refuge in the mountains of Wales, and to emigrate into Gaul Armorica. The Angles and the Saxons founded the Heptarchy; that is to say, a kingdom composed of seven separate governments, which were united in 827, under the dominion of Egbert, King of Wessex.

Nine families have reigned successively over England:

1. That of the Anglo-saxons, whose first king was Egbert, in the 9th century (827).

2. That of the Danes, whose first king was Sweyn, in the 11th century (1014).

3. That of the Normans, whose first king was William the Conqueror; 11th century (1066).

4. That of the Plantagenets, or Angovins, whose first king was Henry II.; 12th century (1154).

5. That of the Lancastrians, whose first king was Henry IV.; 14th century (1399).

6. That of the Yorks, whose first king was Edward IV.; 15th century (1461).

7. That of the Tudors, whose first king was Henry VII.; 15th century (1485).

8. That of the Stuarts, whose first king was James I.; 17th century (1603).

9. That of the Brunswicks, whose first king was George 1.; in the 18th century (1714).

Amongst the Saxons we remark Alfred the Great, a virtuous prince, a clever warrior, and a wise legislator. He founded the University of Oxford.

The Danish family presents us with Canute the Great, a prince whose name is celebrated in the century in which he lived. He conquered Norway, retired to a monastery, and died amongst the Normans.

We perceive foremost for courage and power William the Conqueror, who won the battle of Hastings from Harold, his competitor, in 1066. He caused a revolution in the laws, manners, and language. This prince introduced into England the feudal sytem. 2nd. Henry I., the son of William I., introduced uniformity of weights and measures. He signed a charter,

and accorded many privileges to the nation. He was surnamed Beau Clerc, owing to his learning.

In the family of the Plantagenets, Henry II., then the most. powerful prince in Europe. He married Eleanor of Guyenne, the divorced wife of Louis VII., who brought him a number of French provinces as her portion. The tranquility and peace of his household were upset by domestic troubles, the revolt of his sons and the death of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas à Beckett; but death shortened his days.

Richard Cœur de Leon, the hero of the third crusade, attracts us through his misfortunes, his griefs, his courage, and above all, the romance of his history and his chivalrous conduct. He was detained prisoner by Henry VI., King of Germany, and died at the siege of the chateau of Chalus, in Soissons, in 1190. John Sans Terre, who was obliged to sign a charter presented by his barons, which we regard as the palladium of our liberty. Edward III., so famous in the annals of France; he vanquished Philip VI. at Cressy, and Jean le Bon at Poictiers, owing to the skill of his son, Edward the Black Prince. He made prisoners of the Count of Blois, the King of Scotland, and the King of France (1399).

In the branch of Lancaster, we perceive Henry V., whose youth was licentious and his reign brilliant. He made himself master of France after the battle of Agincourt, and owing to the Treaty of Troy (1420), Henry VI. lost both his life and crown, notwithstanding the heroic courage of Margaret of Anjou, his wife. England was distracted with the internal factions of the white and red roses (1461).

Richard III., of the House of York, has left behind him a frightful reputation. He murdered both nephews, although some historians have tried ineffectually to defend him. The house of Tudor presents us with Henry VII., looked upon as the Solomon of England. Henry VIII., whose reign was remarkable for the schism that took place in England; at that time he had had six wives, some of whom he had murdered. His daughter Mary, the cruel and suspicious tyrant, sacrificed the life of the beautiful Jane Grey, re-established the Catholic religion, and burnt an immense number of Protestants; she married Philip II., of Spain. Elizabeth's brilliant reign was disgraced by the death of Mary Stuart; she overcame the Spaniards sent against England by Phillip II.; Leicester and Essex were her favourites (1603).

The Stuart family. James I., the son of Mary Stuart, is well known for his irresolute character and feeble mind; he occupied himself chiefly with theology. A conspiracy was formed against him, called the gunpowder plot. Charles I., who lost his life on the scaffold. He was succeeded by Cromwell, who reigned with glory under the title of Protector. Charles II., whom Monk assisted to the throne; this prince was celebrated for his wit, his good taste, and his love of the fair sex; it has been remarked that "he never said a foolish thing, and never did a wise one." James II. was not endued with the power of making himself loved; all his subjects hated the hard-featured, morose, and bigoted king; he re-established the Catholic religion, and, owing to his arbitrary conduct, was obliged to take refuge in France (1688). William III., of Nassau, the happy rival of Louis XIV., succeeded him. In his reign and that of Anne, his successor, the marvellous mechanism of the English Constitution was completed, owing to the influence of the House of Commons and that of the House of Lords, and the independence of the Crown.

The House of Brunswick. George II. took the part of Maria Theresa in the war of the succession of Austria; he was beaten at Fontenoy; he overthrew Charles, the Pretender, at Culloden; his principal ministers were William Pitt and Lord Chatham. The reign of George III. is replete with great events that appertain to the history of Europe. England lost America in 1783. George IV. became regent during the malady of his father. General Wellington, after a series of victories, overthrew the French at Waterloo. Buonaparte in vain trusted to England when he threw himself on its mercy; he was exiled to St. Helena, where he died in 1821. Victoria I. is now on the throne of Great Britain.

THE SCOTCH.

The Scotch, called in ancient times, Caledonians.

In the 5th century they made frequent invasions into Britain, and maintained their independence under their own kings. Edward III. tried, in the 13th century, to unite both kingdoms; but the Scotch regained their independence under Robert Bruce. In 1371 the crown passed into the hands of the Stuart family, all the kings belonging to this race died miserably. Marie Stuart, after being detained eighteen years by Elizabeth, Queen of England, was unmercifully beheaded by Elizabeth, Queen of

England in 1587, James VI., her son, ascended the throne of England, and happily united both countries; after some troubles they became one country in heart.

IRELAND.

The origin of the Irish is obscure; they were governed by kings up to 1172, when Henry II. (Plantagenet), profiting by the internal troubles that had arisen, seized the kingdom for his son John, surnamed Sans Terre, who united it to England in 1199. Revolution after revolution upset this country, which became finally subjected in the 16th century. Ireland retained its own Parliament up to 1801, when it was united to Great Britain in spite of a violent opposition on the part of Ireland.

POLAND.

The Poles consider themselves of Sarmatian origin. Lechus, the brother of the Duke of Bohemia, Zeek, is considered as the founder of the nation; he lived in the sixth century. The history of Poland does not become interesting until the virtuous Piastus, in 842, rendered himself dear to Poland, who for centuries cherished his memory. About the 11th century, Boleslas II. crowned himself king of Poland; but the most celebrated family who governed this country was that of the Jagellons. It occupied the throne for 186 years. The crown then became elective. Amongst the principal kings of this epoch we remark :

1st. Henry I. of Valois, the brother of Charles IX., who fled precipitately from Cracovia to be crowned king of France.

2nd. John Casimir, abdicated in 1688. He left Poland and returned to France, where Louis XIV. gave him the Abbey of St. German des Pres; he died at Nevers without posterity (1672).

3rd. John Sobieski, who delivered Vienna, besieged by the Turks in 1683.

4th. Stanislaus I. Luzinski was protected by Charles XII He could not retain his authority, and fled to Lorraine, where he reigned and was venerated for his virtues. His daughter Mary was married to Louis XV., King of France.

The elective form of government was the source of the continual misfortunes that have deluged Poland with blood. It was successively dismembered and divided between Russia, Austria, and Prussia. In 1795 it was entirely erased from

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