Young Folks' History of England

CHAPTER XLVIII

VICTORIA

A.D. 1837—1855

The Princess Victoria, daughter of the Duke of Kent, was but eighteen years old when she was Queen of England.

She went with her mother, the Duchess of Kent, to live, sometimes at Buckingham Palace and sometimes at Windsor Castle, and the next year she was crowned in state at Westminster Abbey. Everyone saw then how kind she was, for when one of the lords, who was very old, stumbled on the steps as he came to pay her homage, she sprang up from her throne to help him.

Three years later she was married to Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg, a most excellent men, who made it his whole business to help her in all her duties as sovereign of the great country, without putting himself forward. Nothing ever has been more beautiful than the way those two behaved to one another; she never forgetting that he was her husband and she only his wife, and he always remembering that she was really the queen, and that he had no power at all. He had a clear head and good judgment that everyone trusted to, and yet he always kept himself in the background, that the queen might have all the credit of whatever was done.

He took much pains to get all that was good and beautiful encouraged, and to turn people's minds to doing things not only in the quickest and cheapest, but in the best and most beautiful way possible. One of these plans that he carried out was to set up what he called an International Exhibition, namely—a great building, to which every country was invited to send specimens of all its arts and manufactures. It was called the World's Fair. The house was of glass, and was a beautiful thing in itself. It was opened on the 1st of May, 1851; and, though there have been many great International Exhibitions since, not one has come up to the first.

People talked as if the World's Fair was to make all nations friends; but it is not showing off their laces and their silks, their ironwork and brass, their pictures and statues, that can keep them at peace; and, only two years after the Great Exhibition, a great war broke out in Europe—only a year after the great Duke of Wellington had died, full of years and honors.

The only country in Europe that is not Christian is Turkey; and the Russians have always greatly wished to conquer Turkey, and join it on to their great empire. The Turks have been getting less powerful for a long time past, and finding it harder to govern the country; and one day the Emperor of Russia asked the English ambassador, Sir Hamilton Seymour, if he did not think the Turkish power a very sick man who would soon be dead. Sir Hamilton Seymour knew what this meant; and he knew the English did not think it right that the Russians should drive out the Sultan of Turkey—even though he is not a Christian; so he made the emperor understand that if the sick man did die, it would not be for want of doctors.

Neither the English nor the French could bear that the Russians should get so much power as they would have, if they gained all the countries down to the Mediterranean Sea; so, as soon as ever the Russians began to attack the Turks, the English and French armies were sent to defend them; and they found the best way of doing this was to go and fight the Russians in their own country, namely—the Crimea, the peninsula which hangs as it were, down into the Black Sea. So, in the autumn of the year 1854, the English and French armies, under Lord Raglan and Marshal St. Arnaud, were landed in the Crimea, where they gained a great victory on their first landing, called the battle of the Alma, and then besieged the city of Sebastopol. It was a very long siege, and in the course of it the two armies suffered sadly from the cold and damp, and there was much illness; but a brave English Lady, named Florence Nightingale, went out with a number of nurses to take care of the sick and wounded, and thus she saved a great many lives. There were two more famous battles. One was when six hundred English horsemen were sent by mistake against a whole battery of Russian cannon, and rode on as bravely as if they were not seeing their comrades shot down, till scarcely half were left. This was called the Charge of Balaklava. The other battle was when the Russians crept out, late in the evening of November 5, to attack the English camp: and there was a dreadful fight by night and in the early morning on the heights of Inkerman; but at last the English won the battle, and gave the day a better honor that it had had before. Then came a terrible winter of watching the city and firing at the walls; and when at last, on the 18th of June, 1855, it was assaulted, the defenders beat the attack off; and Lord Raglan, worn out with care and vexation, died a few days after. However, soon another attack was made, and in September half the city was won. The Emperor of Russia had died during the war, and his son made peace, on condition that Sebastopol should not be fortified again, and that the Russians should let the Turks alone, and keep no fleet in the Black Sea.

In this war news flew faster than ever it had done before. You heard how Benjamin Franklin found that electricity—that strange power of which lightning is the visible sign—could be carried along upon metal wire. It has since been made out how to make the touch of a magnet at one end of these wires make the other end move so that letters can be pointed to, words spelt out and messages sent to any distance with really the speed of lightning. This is the wonderful electric telegraph, of which you see the wires upon the railway.

CHAPTER XLIX

VICTORIA

A.D. 1857—1860

Peace had been made after the Crimean war, and everybody hoped it was going to last, when very sad news came from India. You know I told you the English people had gone to live in India, and had gradually gained more and more lands there, so that they were making themselves rulers and governors over all that great country. They had some of the regiments of the English army to help them to keep up their power, and a great many soldiers besides—Hindoos, or natives of India, who had English officers, and were taught to fight in the English manner. These Hindoo soldiers were called Sepoys. They were not Christians, but were some of them Mahommedans, and some believed in the strange religion of India, which teached people to believe in a great many gods—some of them very savage and cruel ones, according to their stories, and which forbids them many very simple things. One of the things it forbids is the killing a cow, or touching beef, or any part of it.

Now, it seems the Sepoys had grown discontented with the English; and, besides that, there came out a new sort of cartridge—that is, little parcels of powder and shot with which to load fire-arms. The Sepoys took it into their heads that these cartridges had grease in them taken from cows, and that it was a trick on the part of the English to make them break the rules of their religion, and force them to become Christians. In their anger they made a conspiracy together; and, in many of the places in India, they then suddenly turned upon their English officers, and shot them down on their parade ground, and then they went to the houses and killed every white woman and child they could meet with. Some few had very wonderful escapes, and were treated kindly by native friends; and many showed great bravery and piety in their troubles. After that the Sepoys marched away to the city of Delhi, where an old man lived who had once been king, and they set him up to be king, while every English person left in the city was murdered.

The English regiments in India made haste to come into Bengal, to try to save their country-folk who had shut themselves up in the towns or strong places, and were being besieged there by the Sepoys. A great many were in barracks in Cawnpore. It was not a strong place, and only had a mud wall round; but there was a native prince called the Nana Sahib, who had always seemed a friend to the officers—had gone out hunting with them, and invited them to his house. They thought themselves safe near him; but, to their horror, he forgot all this, and joined the Sepoys. The cannon were turned against them, and the Sepoys watched all day the barrack yard where they were shut in, and shot everyone who went for water. At last, after more pain and misery than we can bear to think of, they gave themselves up to the Nana, and horrible to tell, he killed them all. The men were shot the first day, and the women and little children were then shut up in a house, where they were kept for a night. Then the Nana heard that the English army was coming, and in his fright and rage he sent in his men, who killed everyone of them, and threw their bodies into a deep well. The English came up the next day, and were nearly mad with grief and anger. They could not lay hands on the Nana, but they punished all the people he employed; and they were so furious that they hardly showed any mercy to another Sepoy after that dreadful sight.

There were some more English holding out in the city of Lucknow, and they longed to go to their relief; but first Delhi, where the old king was, had to be taken; and, as it was a very strong place, it was a long time before it was conquered; but at last the gates of the city were blown up by three brave men, and the whole army made their way in. More troops had been sent out from England to help their comrades, and they were able at last to march to Lucknow. There, week after week, the English soldiers, men of business, ladies, soldier's wives, and little children, had bravely waited, with the enemy round, and shot so often coming through the buildings that they had chiefly to live in the cellars; and the food was so scanty and bad, that the sickly people and the little babies mostly died; and no one seemed able to get well if once he was wounded. Help came at last. The brave Sir Colin Campbell, who had been sent out from home, brought the army to their rescue, and they were saved. The Sepoys were beaten in every fight; and at last the terrible time of the mutiny was over, and India quiet again.

In 1860, the queen and all the nation had a grievous loss in the death of the good Prince Consort, Albert, who died of a fever at Windsor Castle, and was mourned for by everyone, as if he had been a relation or friend. He left nine children, of whom the eldest, Victoria, the Princess Royal, was married to the Prince of Prussia. He had done everything to help forward improvements; and the country only found out how wise and good he was after he was taken away.

Pains began to be taken to make the great towns healthier. It is true that the plague has never come to England since the reign of Charles II., but those sad diseases, cholera and typhus fever, come where people will not attend to cleanliness. The first time the cholera came was in the year 1833, under William IV.; and that was the last time of all, because it was a new disease, and the doctors did not know what to do to cure it. But now they understand it much better—both how to treat, and, what is better, how to keep it away; and that is by keeping everything sweet and clean.

CHAPTER L

VICTORIA

A.D. 1860—1872

One more chapter, which, however, does not finish the history of good Queen Victoria, and these Stories of the History of England will be over.

All the nation rejoiced very much when the queen's eldest son, Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales, married Alexandra, daughter to the king of Denmark. Her father and mother brought her to England, and the prince met her on board ship in the mouth of the Thames; and there was a most beautiful and joyous procession through London. When they were married the next day, in St. George's Chapel at Windsor, the whole of England made merry, and there were bonfires on every hill, and illuminations in every town, so that the whole island was glowing with brightness all that Spring evening.

There is a country in Abyssinia, south of Egypt. The people there are Christians, but they have had very little to do with other nations, and have grown very dull and half savage; indeed they have many horrid and disgusting customs, and have forgotten all the teaching that would have made them better. Of late years there had been some attempt to wake them up and teach them; and they had a clever king named Theodore, who seemed pleased and willing to improve himself and his nation. He allowed missionaries to come and try to teach his people what Christianity means a little better than they knew before, and invited skilled workmen to come and teach his people. They came; but not long after Theodore was affronted by the English Government, and shut them all up in prison. Messages were sent to insist upon his releasing them, but he did not attend or understand; and at last an army was sent to land on the coast from the east, under General Napier, and march to his capital, which was called Magdala, and stood on a hill.

General Napier managed so well that there was no fighting on the road. He came to the gates of Magdala, and threatened to fire upon it if the prisoners were not given up to him. He waited till the time was up, and then caused his troops to begin the attack. The Abyssinians fled away, and close by one of the gates Theodore was found lying dead, shot through. No one is quite sure whether one of his servants killed him treacherously, or whether he killed himself in his rage and despair. England did not try to keep Abyssinia though it was conquered; but it was left to the royal family whom Theodore had turned out, and Theodore's little son, about five years old, was brought to England; but, as he could not bear the cold winter, he was sent to a school in India.

This, which was in the year 1868, was the last war the English have had. There has been fighting all round and about in Europe, especially a great war between France and Prussia in 1870; but the only thing the English had to do with that, was the sending out of doctors and nurses, with all the good things for sick people that could be thought of, to take care of all the poor wounded on both sides, and lessen their suffering as much as possible. They all wore red crosses on their sleeves, and put up a red-cross flag over the houses where they were taking care of the sick and wounded, and then no one on either side fired upon them.

An Act of Parliament has given the right to vote, at the election of the House of Commons, to much poorer men than used to have it. It is to be hoped that they will learn to use wisely this power of helping to choose those who make the laws and govern the country. To give them a better chance of doing so, a law has been made that no child shall be allowed to grow up without any teaching at all, but that those who are too poor to pay for their own schooling shall be paid for by the State, and that their parents shall be obliged to send them. The great thing is to learn to know and do one's duty. If one only learns to be clever with one's head, without trying to be good at the same time, it is of very little use. But I hope you will try to mind your duty—first to God and then to man; and if you do that, God will prosper you and bless you.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION

CHAPTER I

1. What were the people called who used to live here?

2. Who were the fiercer natives who came and made war on them?

3. What was the General of the Romans called?

4. Where did Julius Caesar land?

5. In what year?

6. How often did Julius Caesar land in Britain?

7. What did he make the Britons give him?

8. How did the old Britons dress?

9. What did they eat?

10. What sort of houses had they?

11. How did they fight?

CHAPTER II

1. When did any more Romans come to Britain?

2. Who was the Emperor under whom it was conquered?

3. What brave British chief resisted Claudius?

4. How far north did the Romans gain Britain?

5. What did they do to keep back the north-people?

6. How may you know what towns were built by Romans?

7. How long did the Romans keep Britain?

8. What did they teach the Britons?

9. What enemies had the Britons beyond sea?

10. What were their two names?

11. What became of the Romans?

12. Who was King Arthur?

13. Who gained possession of the country?

14. What did they call it?

15. What became of the Britons?

16. What do we call their descendants?

CHAPTER III

1. Can you tell me any of the old English idols?

2. What days of the week are called after them?

3. How many kings were there at once in England?

4. What cruel things did they do?

5. Who saw some little English slave children?

6. What did Gregory say about the little Angles?

7. Whom did he send to England?

8. Who received Augustine?

9. Where was the first English Church?

10. What is the chief English Bishop called?

11. What were the men called who lived apart from the world?

12. What were the women called?

13. What were their houses called?

CHAPTER IV

1. Who were the enemies of the old English?

2. Where did the Northmen and Danes come from?

3. What mischief did they do?

4. Who was the first king of all England?

5. Who was the greatest and best king?

6. With whom did Alfred fight?

7. What good did he do his people?

8. How did he teach them?

9. When did he die?

10. What was the Council of the old English called?

CHAPTER V

1. What was the name of the king who reigned peaceably?

2. What honor was done to Edgar the Peaceable?

3. What were the Northmen and Danes about?

4. What were their leaders called?

5. What sea-king settled in France?

6. What was the part of France called where Rollo settled?

7. What was the name of Edgar's son?

8. How did Ethelred the Unready try to make the Danes go away?

9. How did he treat those that stayed in England?

10. How was he punished?

11. What sort of King was Cnut?

12. What parts of England were settled by the Danes?

CHAPTER VI

1. What great nobleman managed English affairs?

2. Whom did he make king?

3. Why was Edward called Confessor?

4. Of whom was the Confessor most fond?

5. Who were the Normans?

6. To whom did Edward want to leave England?

7. Whom did the English wish to have made king?

8. What did Harold promise?

9. Did he keep his promise?

10. Who fought with him?

11. Where did William land?

12. Where was the battle fought between William and Harold?

13. What came of the battle of Hastings?

14. In what year was it fought?

15. Tell me the four conquests of England.

CHAPTER VII

1. When did William I. begin to reign?

2. Who rose up against him?

3. What did he do to Northumberland?

4. What did he do in Hampshire?

5. What is his hunting-ground called?

6. What is the curfew?

7. What is the Doomsday-book?

8. What were knights?

9. How were men dressed when they went to battle?

10. How many sons had William?

11. What were their names?

12. What was the quarrel with Robert?

13. What was the cause of William's death?

14. Where did he die?

15. In what year did he die?

16. What possessions had he besides England?

CHAPTER VIII

1. When did William II. begin to reign?

2. What was his nickname, and what did it mean?

3. Was he the eldest son?

4. So how came he to reign?

5. What did Robert have?

6. What enterprise did Robert undertake?

7. What were the Crusades?

8. What city did the Crusaders want to win back

9. Why were they called Crusaders?

10. Who preached the first Crusade?

11. What sort of king was William Rufus.

12. Who was the Archbishop in his time?

13. Where was William Rufus killed?

14. How had the New Forest been made?

15. Who was thought to have shot the arrow?

16. In what year did WIlliam II. die?

CHAPTER IX

1. In what year did Henry I. begin to reign?

2. What was his nickname, and what did it mean?

3. Whose son was he?

4. How did he make himself king?

5. Whom did he marry?

6. Whom did he take prisoner?

7. Where was Robert imprisoned?

8. How long was Robert in captivity?

9. Who were Henry's two children?

10. What became of William?

11. What was the name of the ship in which he was drowned?

12. Whom did Henry wish to make queen?

13. Whom did Maude marry?

14. What sort of king was Henry?

15. What caused his death?

16. In what year did Henry I. die?

CHAPTER X

1. When did Stephen's reign begin?

2. Who was Stephen?

3. What relation was he to William the Conqueror?

4. Ought Stephen to have been king?

5. Who ought to have reigned?

6. What harm came of Stephen's reign?

7. What happened when he tried to keep order?

8. Who fought for Maude?

9. Where were the Scots beaten?

10. Where was Stephen made prisoner?

11. How did Maude behave?

12. How did she escape from Oxford?

13. What agreement was made between Stephen and Maude's son?

14. What name was given to Maude's husband?

15. Who was Maude's son?

16. When did Stephen die?

17. What became of Maude?

CHAPTER XI

1. When did Henry II. begin to reign?

2. What family began with him?

3. Why were they called Plantagenet?

4. What sort of man was Henry II.?

5. Who was his wife?

6. What were Henry's possessions in France?

7. Who was Archbishop?

8. What law did the King and Archbishop dispute about?

9. Where was the Archbishop obliged to go?

10. How long did Becket stay away?

11. What was done as soon as he came home?

12. How did the King show his sorrow?

13. What island was gained in Henry's time?

14. Who gained part of Ireland?

15. What were Henry's troubles?

16. What were the names of his sons?

17. Which of his sons died before him?

18. But what was his greatest grief?

19. When did he die?

CHAPTER XII

1. When did Richard I. come to the throne?

2. What was he called?

3. On what expedition did he go?

4. Who went with him?

5. What Island did he conquer on his way?

6. Who was the great Prince of the Saracens?

7. What city was taken by the Crusaders?

8. With whom did Richard quarrel?

9. Why did Philip return?

10. What great battle did Richard fight?

11. What fresh quarrel had he with Leopold?

12. Why was he obliged to come home?

13. What happened to him as he came home?

14. How was he set free?

15. Who had tried to rebel in his absence?

16. What caused his death?

17. In what year did he die?

CHAPTER XIII

1. When did John come to the throne?

2. What was his nickname?

3. Whose son was he?

4. Who was his nephew?

5. What possessions were Arthur's proper inheritance?

6. Who took his part?

7. What became of Arthur?

8. What did John lose?

9. What is left to England of Normandy?

10. What do you mean by the Pope?

11. What quarrel had John with the Pope?

12. What is an interdict?

13. How did John make peace?

14. How did the legate treat him?

15. How did John use the kingdom?

16. What was he made to sign?

17. Where was Magna Charta signed?

18. Who was invited from France?

19. What caused John's death?

20. In what year?

CHAPTER XIV

1. When did Henry III. begin to reign?