our first parents, and the scene of almost every transaction mentioned
in the scriptures: here our Saviour was born, lived and died; and from
hence the gospel was first promulgated to mankind. Its inhabitants,
though formerly celebrated for their refinement, are now, in general, a
lazy, ignorant people. China is celebrated for its productions of silk
and tea, which is a plant almost peculiar to this country, and the
beautiful manufacture of porcelain called China. In the southern part of
Asia the East Indies are situated, and in the West Arabia. The chief
rivers are the Euphrates, Tigris, Indus and Ganges. The principal
mountains are, Azarat, Horeb, Sinai and Lebanon. The most remarkable
Islands are, the Japan isles, the Maiana or Ladrone Islands, Formoso,
Philippines, Moluccas, Banda islands, Celebes or Macassar, the Sunda
islands, Ceylon, Maldives and Jesso isles.
_Anne._ Thank you, mamma, now for Africa.
_Mrs. Harley._ Africa, my dear, though once so highly renowned for the
learning and politeness of its natives is now nearly barbarous. In
Africa, near the northern coast, was situated the once famous city of
Carthage, founded by Queen Dido, and the native country of a famous
general named Hannibal, whose history you will hereafter read. Egypt so
famous for the Nile (an immense river) lies in this part of the world,
and here the arts and sciences were formerly highly cultivated. The
chief rivers are, the Nile, Niger, Gambia, and Senegal. The mountains
are, Mount Atlas in the north, and the Peak of Teneriffe one of the
Canary isles. The principal African Islands are, the Azores, the
Madeiras, Canaries, Cape Verde isles, and St. Helena in the Atlantic
Ocean; Madagascar, Mauritius, Bourbon, Comora isles, and Socotora in
the Indian Ocean.
America, the largest division of the globe, was discovered in the year
1492 by Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa in Italy; though it
derives its name (not quite justly I think) from Americus Vesputius, who
extended the discoveries of Columbus. America is divided into north and
south, and these two peninsulas are joined by the Isthmus of Darien. The
mountains here are much higher and the rivers much larger than those in
the other parts of the world. The Andes, a ridge of mountains in South
America, are considered the highest in the world; their tops are covered
with perpetual snow, notwithstanding the excessive heat of the climate
in which they are situated. In North America are the Appalachian or
Allegany mountains. The principal rivers are, in the southern peninsula,
the river Amazon, the Oronoko, the Rio de la Plata, and the river
Janeiro: in the north, St. Lawrence, Delaware, and Susquehana.
Great part of North America formerly belonged to Great Britain, but some
disputes arising between the mother country (England) and the colonies,
a war ensued, which was, at length, terminated in favour of the
Americans, and in 1783 they were declared a free, sovereign, and
independent nation. This part of America is now distinguished by the
appellation of "the United States." General Washington, of whom you
have frequently heard me speak, was an American.
I must now finish my lecture on geography, which, though very imperfect,
has yet exceeded the usual limits of our lessons; many interesting
circumstances relating to the various countries I have mentioned, have
been entirely omitted, as I was fearful that by telling you too much on
the subject I should prevent you from remembering any of the particulars
so necessary for you to retain.
_Anne._ Oh, dear mamma! how much I thank you for what you have told me
about geography, I think it very entertaining, and I like looking over
maps; but now I should very much like to know the history of all these
countries.
_Mrs. Harley._ To-morrow, my dear, I will give you some account of them,
but to know all the particulars of each nation would require you to
read more volumes than as yet you have patience for. Farewell.
_CHAPTER VII._
WEDNESDAY.
_Mrs. Harley._ We will this morning, my dear, contrary to the usual
custom, begin our instructions with the _Lesson_ instead of the _Story_;
and as the two last days have given you some idea of geography, I think
I cannot better employ the present than by devoting it to History.
_Anne._ You know, mamma, I am always happy to learn what you are so good
as to teach me. Pray, if I was to ask you the meaning of the word
History, how would you answer me?
_Mrs. Harley._ I should say, my dear, that History is a relation of the
past actions of men and women. It is divided into sacred and profane. By
sacred history is meant all the relations that are contained in the Old
and New Testaments.
_Anne._ And of which you have already given me some account, mamma.
_Mrs. Harley._ From your earliest childhood, my dear, it has been my
constant endeavour to store your mind with as much knowledge of sacred
subjects as I thought it capable of receiving.
By profane history is meant the account of all transactions not included
in the sacred volumes. Ancient history relates the events that happened
from the creation of the world to the birth of Jesus Christ: Modern
history, those from the birth of Jesus Christ to the present time.
Ancient history is divided into the four periods or æras of the four
successive monarchies called universal.
_Anne._ Why were they called universal monarchies, mamma?
_Mrs. Harley._ Because they extended over the greatest part of the
_then_ known world. The first was the Assyrian monarchy, founded by
Nimrod, the grandson of Ham, who, you know, was the son of Noah. Nimrod
was a very courageous man, and a famous hunter of wild beasts, which
impressed his friends with so high an idea of his abilities, that they
agreed to elect him their king; he taught his subjects the arts of
hunting and building cities, besides several other useful things: he
founded the Assyrian monarchy about 1800 years after the creation.
Nimrod was succeeded by his son Ninus, and at his death the crown
devolved to his Queen Semiramis, remarkable for her extraordinary
valour; she was slain in battle by the Indians, who, in those days, made
use of elephants in their armies. This monarchy ended under
Sardanapalus, who was a very weak prince. The capitals of the Assyrian
empire were Babylon upon the river Euphrates, and Nineveh on the Tigris.
It was divided, after the death of Sardanapalus, into three kingdoms,
called, the Median, Babylonian, and the second Assyrian. Belshazzar, the
last king of Babylon, was a very wicked man, and treated the Jews (who
had been brought captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, a former king)
with great cruelty. At a splendid entertainment which he one night gave
to the lords of his court, he ordered the vessels that had been taken
from Solomon's temple to be brought to him, and, with his guests,
insulted the Jewish religion by drinking out of them; his impiety was,
however, speedily punished, for that very night Cyrus entered Babylon
with a powerful army, made himself master of the kingdom, and
Belshazzar was slain.
Cyrus becoming, soon after this event, by the death of his father and
uncle, king of Persia, Media, and Babylon, established the second
universal monarchy called the Persian. He was a very good prince, and
permitted the Jews to return to their own land and rebuild their city.
_Anne._ Which was called Jerusalem, was it not, mamma?
_Mrs. Harley._ Yes, my dear, I am glad to find you recollect what you
read. Cyrus lived to be very old, and was succeeded by his son Cambyses,
who, far from following the virtuous example of his father, committed
numberless crimes, among which was the murder of his own brother. After
him reigned Smerdis the impostor, who pretended to be the true Smerdis
that had been killed by Cambyses: next to him Darius, who was chosen
because his horse neighed before any of those belonging to the other
competitors for the crown: then Xerxes, a very vain-glorious prince, who
attempted to conquer Greece, but was himself beaten, and obliged to make
his escape from thence in a little fishing boat: he was succeeded by his
son Artaxerxes, and at length, after several other kings, Darius
ascended the throne, who, had he not been proud of his riches, might
have been a wise and good sovereign. During his reign, the Greeks (who
inhabited that country which is now the southern part of Turkey in
Europe) determined, under the command of the famous Alexander, to make
the Persians submit to their power: accordingly, an immense army invaded
the Persian dominions, and after several battles, they were completely
conquered, and Darius was killed by one of his own nobles. Thus
Alexander putting an end to the Persian monarchy, established the third
Universal Empire about 330 years before Christ.
The capital of Persia was Susa.
_Anne._ I suppose then, that Alexander was a native of Greece, pray tell
me a little about that country?
_Mrs. Harley._ Long before the time of Alexander, Greece had been
highly celebrated. It was divided into several small states, the
principal of which were, Sparta and Athens. Sparta was governed by
kings; Lycurgus was their famous legislator; he framed many wise laws,
which greatly added to the prosperity of the kingdom. Athens was a
commonwealth, and even more renowned for wisdom than Sparta. Solon was
their lawgiver, and his laws tended much more to the refinement of the
people, than those of Lycurgus, some of which were very cruel. Macedon
was a state of little consequence till the time of Philip, who greatly
increased its importance: he procured himself to be appointed
commander-in-chief of all the armies destined for the invasion of
Persia, but he was killed before he set out on this expedition. He was
succeeded by his son Alexander, both as king of Macedon and
generalissimo of Greece, who, after settling the affairs of his native
country, marched into Persia; not contented with conquering this vast
country, he turned his arms against the Indian princes, many of whom
were obliged to submit to his authority; one of them was named Porus, a
man of extraordinary stature, who afterwards became the sincere friend
of the conqueror.
Thus Alexander having subdued so many nations, was at last obliged to
yield to the instances of his soldiers, and to think of returning back
to Macedon. He entered Babylon in triumph, and spent much of his time,
while there, in feasting and drinking. The excesses he committed, at
times deranged his mind, and in one fit of intoxication he killed a
faithful old friend named Clitus: many more of his actions were totally
unworthy of a prince who assumed the name of _Great_, this appellation
was certainly bestowed upon him rather for his extensive conquests, than
for any benefits his subjects derived from his reign, nor could _Good_
with any propriety have been added to the title of Great.
He at length, fell a victim to his intemperance in the thirty-third year
of his age, about 323 years before Christ. Leaving no proper person to
succeed him; four of his generals, after many disputes and battles
divided his extensive dominions among themselves. To relate the
particular histories of these kingdoms would engross too much of our
time; I shall therefore proceed to the Roman Empire which was the fourth
universal monarchy; and was founded by Romulus about 752 years before
Christ. Perhaps a short account of its origin will be entertaining to
you.
Romulus and Remus were the twin sons of a lady named Rhea Sylvia. As
soon as they were born they were condemned by their cruel uncle Amulius
king of Alba (in Italy) to be thrown into the Tiber, this was executed,
but they were found and preserved by a herdsman named Faustulus, who
brought them up as his own sons till they arrived at years of
discretion; when becoming acquainted with the history of their birth,
they determined to dethrone their wicked uncle Amulius, and restore
their grandfather Numitor to the crown his brother had unjustly deprived
him of. They succeeded, and then formed a plan for building themselves a
city, among those hills on which they had spent their earliest years.
They could not, however, agree concerning the best situation for it, but
the opinion of Romulus at length prevailing, Remus, to vex his brother,
leaped contemptuously over the city wall: this so irritated Romulus that
a violent quarrel ensued, they fought, and either by accident or design
Romulus killed his brother, and then the whole government of the new
state devolved upon himself: it was called Rome after its founder.
Inhabitants flocked from every part of the surrounding country into the
new city, and it soon became a very considerable kingdom. After the
death of Romulus six other kings succeeded to the throne all of whom,
excepting the last, were great and good men, their names were,
Romulus the Founder,
Numa Pompilius,
Tullus Hostilius,
Ancus Martius,
Tarquinius Priscus,
Servius Tullius, and
Tarquinius Superbus.
Under whom ended the regal state. A Commonwealth ensued. Many great men
flourished during this period: but at length the government changed once
more, and Rome became an empire. The first twelve emperors were
distinguished by the appellation of the twelve Cæsars, their names were
Julius Cæsar, the first Roman emperor.
Augustus, in whose reign our Saviour Jesus Christ came into the
world.
Tiberius,
Caligula,
Claudius,
Nero,
Sergius Galba,
Otho,
Vitellius,
Vespasian,
Titus, and
Domitian.
Many emperors succeeded these, until Constantine the Great, the 41st
emperor, removed the seat of empire from Rome to Constantinople, which,
before his time, was called Byzantium. Constantine was a very good man,
and was the first Roman emperor who embraced the Christian religion, but
he pursued a system of politics that hastened the destruction of the
empire. After his death the sovereignty was divided between his sons,
and soon after Rome, which had once given laws to the world, became a
prey to merciless barbarians, and sunk into comparative insignificance.
_Anne._ O! thank you, mamma, for this entertaining account of Rome, I
shall be very glad when I am old enough to read the Roman History.
_Mrs. Harley._ Age, my dear, is not the only thing necessary for the
accomplishment of your wish. Let me see you attentive to your present
employments, and I shall have much pleasure in reading with you a
history that I am sure will engage your attention. I will now tell you a
very little about our own country.
Britain was little known to the rest of the world, till about 52 years
before the common æra; when Julius Cæsar invaded the country with a
powerful army: the natives, assisted by their Druids or priests, opposed
his landing, but they were unable long to resist so warlike a people as
the Romans, who soon after making themselves masters of the island,
maintained possession of the most fertile parts of it near 500 years.
Their own affairs then requiring their attention at home, they abandoned
it, and the Saxons made their appearance. These people came from a
province in Germany, and when they had subdued Britain, they divided it
into seven kingdoms called the Saxon Heptarchy.
Kent, which included the isles of Thanet and Sheppey.
Northumberland, contained Northumberland, Durham, Lancashire,
and Yorkshire.
East Anglia, contained Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Norfolk.
Mercia, contained all the middle countries from the Severn
between East Anglia and Wessex.
Essex, or East Saxony, contained Essex, Middlesex, and part of
Hertfordshire.
Sussex, or South Saxony, contained Surry, Sussex, and the New
Forest.
Wessex, or West Saxony, included Hampshire, Dorsetshire,
Wiltshire, Berkshire, and the Isle of Wight.
Egbert, king of Wessex, at length subduing the other princes of the
Heptarchy, united the whole country under one monarchy, and became
himself the first king of England, in the year 827 after Christ.
I will give you a chronological list of the kings of England, not that I
wish you to learn it at present, but because it will be useful to refer
to when you are reading the history. Some knowledge of dates is
desirable, as it enables you to ascertain the periods when any
particular events occurred, and under whose reign. The Danes made
frequent incursions into England during the time of the Saxons, and
caused great devastation in the country. Alfred, the most excellent
prince mentioned in history, was obliged, owing to these barbarians, to
abandon his throne and retire to an obscure cottage, where, however, he
occupied his time in forming the best plans for his own
re-establishment, and the restoration of tranquility to his distracted
country: his wise measures were successful and for some time the Danes
were entirely quelled, but they soon renewed their usual predatory
warfare, and Canute became king of England.
SAXON KINGS OF ENGLAND.
800 Egbert
838 Ethelwolf
857 Ethelbald
860 Ethelbert
866 Ethelred
871 Alfred the Great
901 Edward the Elder
925 Athelston
941 Edmund
946 Edred
955 Edwy
959 Edgar
975 Edward the Martyr
978 Ethelred II
1016 Edmund II, or Ironside.
DANISH KINGS.
1017 Canute
1035 Harold
1039 Hardicanute
1041 Edward the Confessor
1065 Harold II.
William the first (commonly called the Conqueror,) Duke of Normandy,
invaded England with a powerful army, and slew Harold at the battle of
Hastings. This victory is called the Conquest; it was gained on the 14th
of October, 1066.
NORMAN LINE.
Kings names. Began to reign. Reigned years.
William I 1066 20 Duke of Normandy
William II 1087 12 Son to the Conqueror
Henry I 1100 35 Brother to William II
Stephen 1135 18 Grandson to the Conqueror by
his daughter Adela, who
married the Earl of Blois.
LINE OF PLANTAGENET.
Henry II 1154 34 Grandson to Henry I by his
daughter Matilda, who married
the Earl of Anjou
Richard I 1189 9 Son to Henry I
John 1199 17 Brother to Richard I
Henry III 1216 56 Son to John
Edward I 1272 34 Son to Henry III
Edward II 1307 19 Son to Edward I
Edward III 1327 50 Son to Edward II.
Richard II 1377 22 Grandson to Edward III by his
eldest son, the Black Prince.
LINE OF LANCASTER.
Henry IV 1399 13 Son to John of Gaunt, Duke of
Lancaster, fourth son of
Edward III
Henry V 1413 9 Son to Henry IV
Henry VI 1422 38 Son to Henry V.
LINE OF YORK.
Edward IV 1461 22 Son to Richard Duke of York,
a descendant by the mother's
side from Lionel, the third
son of Edward III
Edward V 1483 2ms. Son of Edward IV
Richard III 1483 2 Uncle to Edward V.
LINE OF TUDOR,
In which were united the Houses of York and Lancaster, by the
marriage of Henry VII, son of the Countess of Richmond, of the
House of Lancaster, to Elizabeth daughter of Edward IV.
Henry VII 1485 23 Earl of Richmond
Henry VIII 1509 37 Son to Henry VII
Edward VI 1547 6 Son to Henry VIII
Mary 1553 5 Sister to Edward VI
Elizabeth 1558 44 Sister to Mary.
LINE OF STUART.
James I 1603 22 Son to Mary queen of Scots,
who was descended from
Henry VII
Charles I 1625 23 Son to James I. (Charles was
beheaded in 1649.)
COMMON-WEALTH AND PROTECTORATE OF CROMWELL.
Charles II 1660 24 Son to Charles I
James II 1685 4 Brother to Charles II.
(James II abdicated
the throne in 1689.)
LINE OF ORANGE.
{William III 1689 13 Nephew and Son-in-law to
{& James II
{Mary II Stuart Daughter to James II
Anne 1702 12 Daughter to James II.
LINE OF BRUNSWICK.
George I 1714 12 Son to the Princess Sophia,
Electress of Hanover, and
grandaughter of James I
George II 1728 33 Son to George I
George III 1760 Grandson to George II.
I will not, my dear, enter into the history of any of these sovereigns,
as there are many English histories extant, which will give you better
information upon this subject, than you could receive from any
description of mine: indeed, the little I have now been telling you of
history in general, is only intended to awaken in your mind a desire for
the attainment of this useful knowledge. Modern History we shall defer
for several years, but I will to-morrow give you Rollin's Ancient
History, a work, I think, particularly well calculated for young people;
when you have read this, you shall proceed to the Roman History, after
which you may be able to enter into the accounts of more modern times.
In the mean while, let me beg you to continue attentive to the
instructions you receive, and new lessons and more stories shall then be
prepared for your next
BIRTH-DAY PRESENT.
THE END.
H. Bryer, Printer, Bridge-Street, Blackfriars, London.