Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1855-11-08

v
in a revolution would become second Ar
nolds, with all the treason in their hearts
which marked the betrayer of Washington
but with none of his bravery.
OTMr. THACKERAY commenced series
of Lectures in the city Of New York on the
LIST inst, on the "Four Georges of which
the papers are speaking in flattering terms.
From the Journal Of Commerce we extract
the following. more for its historic reminis-
cences than for its notice of the Lecturer
THAcKERAY AND GEORGE THE FIRsr.-Much in
erest is felt among lecture-goers just now, in
the course which Mr.. Thackeray opens this
evening before the Mercantile Library Associa-
/ ton. He proposes to deliver four lectures on
the four Georges, assigning one lecture to each
reign. This will embrace period of English
history exceedingly interesting, and one which
will afford the lecturer sample scope for dis
playing his powers of analysis and critical acu-
men. The reign of George l., though not as re-
plete with stirring events as some which imme-
diately proceeded and followed it, is yet by nc
means devoid Of interest 1t was eminently An
age of treaties, subsidies, and political combi-
nations. In this reign there were concluded
no less than nine treaties; but they proved to
be expensive negotiations. entered into for pc.
litical purposes, which amused for while, but
have since been neglected. George ascended
the throne i'm l7l4 The treaty of peace and
commerce between England and France had
just been concluded-a peace which was
thought to have secured TO England both inter
est aud glory; which took from France all claim
TO Hudson's Bay, Nova Scotia, and Newfound
land: which took from Spain all right to Gil
braIler and the Island of Minorca; which SCI
free the French Proiestants confined in tn,
prisons and galleys for their religion; and
which seemed to have formed into one great re
public. all the different parts of Europe.
The line of the Stuarts had Just ended in Tia,
death of Queen Anne, who expired on the frs
of August, TIA, in the forty-ninth year of he
age, after reigning "more than twelve year
over people that was now risen to the highes
: pitch OF refinement; that had attained by thei
wisdom all the advantages of opulence, and b,
their yalor all the happiness OF security ant
conquest" Unlike the Stuart family, whom h
+, succeeded, and who were ever accused of Flea
wing their friends in extremity" King George
! soon after he arrived in England, was heard l.
say, "Ny maxim is, never TO abandon IN,
friends 10 do justice to all the world, aud L
fear no man." But to this maxim he did no
> always adhere. Born and bred in Germany
where all sovereignty was possessed upon sucl
precarious tenures, he sought TO introduce tn
same spirit into the British constitution. Hi
I. chief aim was to secure TO himself his domin
ions in Germany, and exclude the PreteRde
from those of Britain. Many severe restriction
upon the liberty of the subject were passed b
; Parliament during this reign. One Of thes
acts declared that elf any persons, to the mum
Der of twelve. unlawfully assembled, shoul
, continue together one hour after being require
I, to dispense by IA Justice of the peace, or othe
Il LA a afa haar INST NJ
> read in public, they should be deemed guilty G
(, felony, without benefit of clergy" And tn
vindictive proceedings which King George in
!; stituted against the persons who composed tn
! ministry Of the late Queen, and who, as Gold
!, smith says, concluded more beneficial treat
of peace than England ever obtained either be
fore or since, the vengeance with which b
pursued these persons, detracts much from th
. lustre of his fame
1t was in the early part Of his reign, tina
Horace Walpole impeached Lord Bolingbrok
! of high treason that Lord Oxford and the Duk
= of Ormond were accused of the same offence
and the former was imprisoned in the Tower
Articles of impeachment were also voted agains
T. Lord STAFFORD; but he was afterwards includes
with others in an act Of indemnity. Severa
lords and gentlemen, suspected of being en-
, gagged in the instruction in Scotland, wer
seized and mprisoned: and some of the noble
.
that instruction, We're shot by order of a court
martial. The generous and noble-hearte'
. Earls Derwentw alter and Kenmuir were execute,
on Tower-IIill, for an alleged participation in tn
rebellion; and four or five were hanged, draw,
, and quartered. at Ty burn. More than twent,
. were executed at Preston and Manchester, au,
about thousand were transported to th
country. Much Of this severity is doubles
attributable to the contentious then existing be
tween the Wings and Tories-or, as they thel
styled themselves the Hanoverians and tn
yacooites; bit the King was at the helm, and i
he had been so disposed, be could have pre-
vented 4 large shareof this public evil. Glen
ency i'm the Government at that time, as ba,
been Justly remarked. would probably have ex
tinguished all that factious spirit which has
since continued TO disturb public tranquility
, But it is probable that Mr.. Thackeray will trea
less of the political and more of the literary
, features and condition of this reign: George l
was the son of Ernest Augustus, Elector o
Hanover, by Sophia, daughter of Frederick
Elector- Palatine, and grand daughter of james
/. He was born in 1863; was trained to arm:
under his father; married his cousin, Sophi;
Dorothea, daughter of the Duke of Tell, 1852
served three campaigns with the Emperor
army against the Turks in Hungary; and sue
ceeded to the Electorate in 1900 In l7O6 h,
was created Duke of Cambridge, and succeeded
TO the throne of England on the death Of Queer
\ Anne. i'm l7li He died in 1921.