Page images
PDF
EPUB

the more speedy transmission of news between England and Scotland.

QUESTIONS.-Name the most important event connected with the history of religion in this century.-Describe the plan on which the work was accomplished.—Mention the names of the various classes of dissenters existing at this time.-What is remarked of the Independents?-Describe the acts of the Westminster Assembly.-What portion of the nation suffered during the power of the Long Parliament?-Give the account of Roger Williams.-Describe the condition of dissenters after the Restoration.-Give some account of the burnings for witchcraft in this century.-Mention the colonies in America to which the various classes of the persecuted fled.

Relate the account given of Shakspeare.-Name some of the poets of this age.-Under what circumstances was Milton's most celebrated poem written?-What other distinguished work was the production of this century?-Name other authors of this age.—What institution was founded by Charles II. ?-What benefits did this foundation confer on science?-What discovery was made by Harvey in 1619? What improvements took place in astronomy at this time? Where, by whom, and for what purpose, was the Royal Observatory founded?-Name the first astronomers royal.-Relate the circumstances connected with the founding of Greenwich Hospital.

Name some celebrated painters who flourished in this age.— Describe the Cartoons.-What work of Rubens's art remains?— Describe the work of Gibbons the sculptor -Name the collections of antiquities made during this period.-In what work was Wren employed?What mention is made of him in connection with St. Paul's Cathedral?-When was the national anthem composed ?— Mention the first English newspaper.-Why could not newspapers be independent?-When were these restrictions removed?-Describe the papers of that day. When was the first post-office established?

CHAPTER LII.

CONDITION OF ENGLAND DURING THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

ROADS-CONDITION OF LONDON-COMMERCE-MANUFACTURES-BANK OF ENGLAND-STYLE OF LIVING-CLASSES OF SOCIETY-REVENUE-WHIG

AND TORY-NATIONAL DEBT.

IN 1663, turnpikes or toll-gates were first erected, and some regard was paid to the improvement of the highways, which, however, continued to a much later period in a wretched condition. In many districts six horses were not sufficient to drag the family coach out of the sloughs and quagmires, which abounded in the king's highway. Bold highwaymen and daring robbers added to the perils of the traveller. Journeys were chiefly made on horseback, as the public conveyances were few, and subjected the traveller to much inconvenience. In 1669, a wonderful vehicle, described as "The Flying Coach," performed the entire journey between Oxford and London (fifty-two miles) in a single day. The success of this experiment gave rise to the establishment of numerous lines of stage-coaches.

The streets of the capital were in a sad condition: they were unpaved, narrow, and dirty, and one writer complains not only of the "ill and uneasy form of paving underfoot," but also of the "troublesome and malicious disposure of the spouts and gutters overhead." The streets moreover were frequented by daring cut-purses, and the scene of constant fights among the apprentices. Coaches, wagons, and sedan chairs jostled each other, and the ear was stunned by the loud variety of cries uttered by the venders of every kind of ware. The importunate seller, walking before his shop-door, cried: "What d'ye lack, madam?" "What d'ye lack, sir?" to every passer-by, telling over at the same time, as loud and fast as possible, a list of all the commodities in which he dealt.

Such was shopping in the seventeenth century. Large painted signs, projecting into the streets, gave a gay appearance to the shops. There were "Saracen's Heads," "Red Lions," "Golden Lambs," "Hogs in Armor," "Swans with two Necks," "Spread Eagles," and others of the most grotesque character.

At night the streets of London were more dangerous than by day, for they were unlighted for the most part, save by the torches, links, or lanterns which were carried by the few footpassengers who ventured to thread their dark and narrow intricacies. In 1662, an act was passed obliging householders to hang out some description of light on the side of the house next the street, every night between Michaelmas and Lady Day, from dark until nine o'clock in the evening. The remainder of the year, and the rest of the night, the streets were left in darkness. The houses were chiefly of wood, and the streets so dirty, that bonfires were frequently lighted, to keep off disease. London was better built after the fire.

We have seen how in the last century voyages were made to India and the East. Early in the present century the English merchants had established factories in India, in the islands of Sumatra and Java, and even in Japan. The East India Company fitted out large ships, which brought to England valuable cargoes. Tea and coffee were introduced; they came, however, but slowly into general use, and were for a long time very expensive luxuries. The East India Company in 1664, wishing to present some valuable rarity to the king, was obliged to pay forty shillings a pound for some tea, and even at that price could only get two pounds two ounces.

A gentleman writing in his diary under date of September, 1661, says: "I sent for a cup of tea (a Chinese drink), of which I had never drunk before." Pepper, cloves, ginger, and all the East India spices were now brought into England, as also calico, so called from Calicut, a town in southern India, and various other Indian manufactures.

In some of their quarrels with the Dutch, who were formidable rivals of the English in the East India trade, the latter

lost the island of Java, which has ever since remained a valuable possession to Holland. In 1651 the English gained St. Helena. A few years previously they had established themselves at Madras, which soon became one of their most important possessions in India. In 1669, the town of Bombay was granted to the East India Company by King Charles II, he having received it as a part of the marriage dower of Queen Catherine, who was a princess of Portugal.

The trade of England in America, Turkey, the Levant, and elsewhere, became so considerable in Charles II.'s reign, that a "Council of Commerce" was appointed to take charge of its extended interests. This was the origin of the Board of Trade. The number of whalers visiting the shores of Greenland and Spitzbergen increased, and whalebone was found to be a useful article of commerce. Hitherto the whale had

been valued only for its oil.

The plantation trade, or that carried on with the colonies in America, was daily growing more and more important. Early in the century, in 1607, the first permanent English colony was founded at Jamestown, in Virginia. In 1620, the first settlement in New England was made, and before the close of the seventeenth century, twelve of the old thirteen colonies had been planted on the Atlantic coast of America. The mother country was already beginning to reap an annual revenue from the productions raised in the forests of the New World, and at the close of the century, no less than five hundred vessels were employed in trade with these colonies and the West Indies. Some of these were engaged in the

traffic of slaves.

Tobacco became an article of commerce. It takes its name from Tabaco, a place in Yucatan, whence it was first brought. James I. particularly disliked this noxious weed, and wrote a book against it, called "The Counterblaste to Tobacco." But despite the king's book, and the additional duty which he caused to be laid upon the hateful drug, the use of tobacco became more and more popular Sir Walter Raleigh was very fond of smoking, and introduced the custom into

England. The first time he indulged in this practice, his servant, happening to enter the room with a jug of water, saw Sir Walter enveloped in smoke, and, very naturally, supposing him to be on fire, dashed the contents of the jug over his master's head, to save him, as he believed, from a terrible death.

The cotton manufactures of England took their rise in this century. Manchester is spoken of in the reign of Charles I., as being engaged in this important branch of industry, which, however, was yet in its infancy. In 1685, Louis XIV. issued his famous revocation of the Edict of Nantes. This edict, for more than eighty years, had granted protection to the Protestants in France. That protection was now withdrawn, and cruel dragoons, riding into every Huguenot village, hunted the poor artisan or manufacturer to the death. Thousands, fleeing from this persecution in their native country, came to England. Among them were the silk-weavers, who established at Spitalfields, London, their celebrated and beautiful manufacture.

The Dutch and Flemings who came into England, taught many excellent lessons of agriculture. They introduced cauliflowers, cabbages, turnips, carrots, parsnips, and pease, all of which useful vegetables were brought from Holland in the early part of this century. Many of the beautiful hop-gardens of England were planted by the Flemings, nearly three hundred years ago.

The Bank of England was established in King William's reign. Its operations began in Grocers' Hall, in 1694. Then fifty-four persons were employed in the transaction of its business. Now its employees number nine hundred In 1695, all the clipped and base money of the kingdom was called in, melted down, and a new coinage struck. Sir Isaac Newton was appointed warden of the mint. Under his direc

tion nineteen mills were in operation at the Tower, and soon one hundred and twenty thousand pounds of silver coin were issued weekly from the mint The new currency, "the finest and most beautiful in all Europe," came into circulation in

« PreviousContinue »