1809.

A. D. their services both with territory and with treasure. The result of this connection was, that, by the superior strategy and policy of Europe, several princes became dependent on the British. The Indians, however, soon complained of oppression, especially Hyder Ali, of Mysore, who, supported by the French, became a formidable antagonist between 1779 and 1783. Hyder Ali eventually recovered all the territory of which he had been deprived, and bequeathed it, at his death, to his son, Tippoo Saib. The English, however, in 1792, succeeded in forming an alliance with several Indian princes against Tippoo Saib, and deprived him of a third part of his dominions; and, in 1809, the town of Seringapatam was taken, and the whole kingdom of Mysore, with all its treasures, fell into the hands of the British. Thus a society of English merchants, by the name of the East India Company, obtained command of a country, which is at least double the extent of all the British possessions in Europe.

The Dutch, it is true, still retain some possessions in the East Indian Islands; and the French, Portuguese, and Spanish, have beautiful islands and fruitful territories in South America and the West Indies; still, as the English have the command of the sea, no other vessels but British are permitted to trade in East and West Indian produce, and this the Germans obtain almost exclusively from the English merchants. The English have also invented a variety of in

genious machinery, which gives them a facility in A.D. the manufacture, and therefore the principal trade, 1744. in woollen and cotton stuffs, steel and iron wares, and in various other articles. The steam-engine, for example, is the invention of the English. We may also thank that nation for a more accurate knowledge of different parts of the world.

James Cook, among others, a man of humble birth, and originally a common sailor, rose by his talents and energy of character to the command of a vessel, and made three voyages round the world. In 1768 Captain Cook sailed round the south point of Cape Horn, through the Straits of Le Maire into the South Sea, investigating more especially Otaheite and New Zealand; and, after examining the coast of New Holland and New Guinea, he returned to England in 1771.

On his second voyage, Captain Cook made still further discoveries between 1772 and 1776. The most important result of his observations was, a satisfactory report that no greater extent of land towards the South Pole existed than had been already discovered. In the summer of 1744, Captain Cook penetrated through icebergs further south than any European had ever sailed, till a field of ice, extending further than the eye could reach, put a stop to his further progress. On his voyage home he discovered several islands, among which were New Caledonia and South Georgia, covered with eternal snow. Those islands lying between Asia and Africa, of which the principal is New

A. D. Holland, are called by one common name, Aus1779. tralia, meaning Southland, because they lie for

the most part in the southern hemisphere. In 1776, Captain Cook sailed, for the third time, to discover whether any northern passage existed between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Sailing round the Cape to New Holland and Otaheite, and thence northwards, he discovered the Sandwich Islands; sailed more leisurely through Behring's Straits between Asia and America, but came at last to impenetrable fields of ice, and observed reflections in the heavens showing nothing but ice northwards. He then returned to the Sandwich Isles, where he was killed in a skirmish with the natives, 14th February, 1779. Captain Cook in his second voyage was accompanied by two Germans, named Reinhold Forster, and his son, George Forster.

CHAP. LXIV.

BRITISH COLONIES IN NORTH AMERICA.

A. D. THE eastern coast of North America was colonised

1620.

by the English in 1583, and that part of the country which was first brought into civilisation was called Virginia. In the year 1620 a number of Puritans, emigrating from their native country, founded New Plymouth and also the State of New

BRITISH COLONIES IN N. AMERICA. 197

The

England. In 1632 a third party of settlers went A.D. over and peopled Maryland. All these colonists 1769. received a written declaration that they should remain in the enjoyment of the same rights as in England, and under these favourable circumstances the states they had founded immediately flourished. The first occasion on which they became sensible of their advantages, and fully availed themselves of them, was when the French opposed their settling on the river Ohio, and thus compelled them to take up arms in their own defence. As soon as England recognised the importance of her colonies, she endeavoured after 1763 to place some restrictions on their independence. colonies were forbidden to establish manufactories; duties were imposed on articles of consumption; and in 1765 they were ordered to use stamped paper from England. These restrictions excited universal dissatisfaction. The Americans avoided all commerce with England, and were not even induced by the cheapness to purchase their wares. The consequence was that in 1766 the manufacturers and the merchants of England complained of a dreadful stagnation in trade, and it was found necessary to repeal the Stamp Act. But to compensate for this loss of duties, a duty was laid in 1767 on glass, paper, colours, and tea. At the same time the Americans made an agreement to receive no goods of English manufacture, and at different places the custom-house officers were ill-treated. In 1769 the English sent troops to

A. D. America, to make prisoners of the discontented, 1776. and to send them to England for trial.

Still the Americans would have no dealings with England. Many manufactories were closed, and the duties were obliged to be taken off. One duty only remained, a duty of three-pence a pound on tea. So now the Americans renewed their commerce with England for every article but tea alone. The English now allowed the export of tea to be duty free, and thus were enabled to sell it at a cheaper rate than the Americans could buy it of any other country. They were, however, still forbidden to land it; and in 1773 three hundred and forty-two chests of English tea were thrown into the water at Boston. And now the time was come for trying to reduce the colonists to obedience by force. But they determined on defending themselves. They formed thirteen smaller assemblies of the colonies, and one chief assembly, meeting at Philadelphia. In 1776 they declared themselves a free republic, wholly independent of England; and, supported by all those European powers which had hitherto secretly envied the greatness of England, they maintained their declaration by several victories; and in 1783 England was compelled to recognise the "Independent United States of North America." The General of the United States in this war was Washington. The representative of the colonies in London, their negotiator in Paris, and the legislator of Pennsylvania, the principal State, was Franklin,