block as if to chide him, then he gently laid it down again and the executioner struck him several times without any effect, and at length threw down his axe, and gave up the attempt. The sheriff, however, obliged him to perform his office; and then, after two more blows, the head was taken off. There was another rebellion going on at the same time in Scotland, under the Duke of Argyle, which was intended to assist the design of the Duke of Monmouth; but this was put down by the King's troops, and the Duke himself was wounded and taken prisoner; he was found standing up to his neck in a pond of water. He was carried to Edinburgh*; and, after enduring great sufferings with a brave spirit, he was publicly executed. The commanders of the King's armies treated the prisoners which they took in battle with dreadful severity; and Judge Jefferies, a monster of cruelty, shewed every instance of savage barbarity in his treatment of those who were tried by him as rebels. In religious matters, too, there was as much cause for discontent. The King encouraged popery; and, if any clergyman attempted to preach against it, he was prevented from preaching at all, or of performing any of the religious duties of his parish. A measure, apparently the very contrary to this, was next adopted. A declaration of indulgence to every sect and sort of religion was put forth, and liberty of conscience was to be proclaimed to all. This had the appearance of liberality; but the real intention of the King was to give an opportunity to the Catholics of again getting into power; and indeed he, at that time, shewed them many very particular acts of favour. By-and-bye, it was or *The capital of Scotland. dered that this declaration of liberty of conscience should be read in all the churches of the kingdom. The clergy saw through the whole scheme, and the greater part of them refused to read the declaration. Seven bishops sent an address to the King, saying that they could not read the declaration, without acting quite against their own consciences, and betraying the Protestant religion. The King was violently angry with them, and they were sent to the Tower. This made a great noise at the time, and the seven bishops received the congratulations and applauses of all the good Protestant subjects in the kingdom. They were afterwards tried for sedition at Westminster-hall; but the jury, after sitting up all night, returned into the court, and said, Not Guilty. There was a shout of delight through the whole hall, which was caught by the people on the outside, and presently spread through all London. It is said that the King heard it at HounslowHeath, where he was encamped. When his Majesty asked the cause of those rejoicings, he was told that it was "nothing but the soldiers shouting. because the bishops were acquitted."-" Do you call that nothing," said the King; "but so much the worse for them." When every thing seemed to be going on as ill as possible, the people began to think that the only way to preserve the Protestant religion, was to encourage William, Prince of Orange, to endeavour to get possession of the kingdom, and to prevent all the evils which seemed to threaten it. This Prince had married the King's daughter, and therefore the thoughts of the people were naturally directed towards him; but they chiefly wished for him, because he was a Protestant. He came over from Holland with a large army, and landed in Devonshire, on the 5th of November. He waited many days before he was joined by a sufficient force to give him a confidence of success. At length vast numbers of the leading people of the country joined him, so that he seemed to carry every thing his own way. Poor King James was deserted by almost all his friends; and even his own daughter Ann, with her husband the Prince of Denmark, went over to the party of William. When the King heard this, he fell into the deepest grief, to think that even "his own children had deserted him." He was now advised to leave the kingdom. He sent away the Queen and his little son, and they arrived safely in France; but the poor King was seized and brought back a prisoner. Soon after this, however, he contrived to make his escape from Rochester, where he was confined, and he then went to France. As the King had thus abdicated (or given up) the throne, it was agreed that the Prince and Princess of Orange should reign in his stead, under the title of King William and Queen Mary. This change, which is called the Revolution, took place in the year 1688. July 7th, 1824. A FEW HINTS TO PARENTS. J. S. TRAIN up your children to early habits of neatness, cleanliness, order, and industry. Do not let them slight their work, or run from one thing to another. Early attention to these points is of great importance. Slovenly habits are more easily prevented than cured. Gentleness of manner should be much attended to in the treatment of children. The want of it, at first terrifies, and then hardens them. How disgraceful is the clamour, that is often to be heard proceeding from a house, almost as soon as you are in sight of it. What is the use of repeating con tinually, "As sure as you are alive, I will flog you, if you do that; I'll lock you up; you sha'nt have a bit of supper;" when you know that you have no such intention. It only teaches them to despise truth, and your authority. Be impartial with your children. It sometimes happens that there will be one unlucky child in a family, that cannot please, whatever he does. Every thing is laid upon him. He is always in fault. Now this is the direct way to make any one give up the attempt to do right. This is the very thing against which parents are cautioned by St. Paul." Provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged." If they see that no allowances are made for them-that, do what they will, they can never please — that old stories are brought up against them-old faults never forgotten-it will discourage them from attempting to amend. Do not allow in children what you think wrong for yourself. If you do not think it right to go to fairs, &c. yourself, do not let them go. No, not when they are children; for when shall the practice be broken through? If you let them go at five or six, they will think it hard to be denied at fifteen or sixteen. SIR, HINT TO THE EDITOR. T. B. P. I WAS once engaged in a periodical work myself, and therefore know the troubles which sometimes assail an Editor. You never can find room for all the communications which are sent you; and it is sometimes difficult to know which to choose. Some sort of things will strike you at once, as being so well suited to the plan of your work, that you will immediately put them into your "approved bundle;" and some will, on the contrary, appear, at first sight, not to be what you want, and there will be no hesitation in rejecting these. The difficulty is, with those sort of things, which are called middling, which you think may do; but which do not seem as if they were particularly wanted by you. Now some magazines take all these doubtful things, and that is the reason why they are generally so very dull. One hint, however, I would give you; it is, never to take any thing if you do not see, at once, what name it ought to be called by. A letter will sometimes come, and, when it is in the printer's hands, he will send you a message to know what is to be the head, that he may know what to put at the head of the article, and on the table of contents. Now, if there be any difficulty in finding "a head," you may conclude, that the article is generally about nothing. I am, Sir, your's, X. Y. Z. But God is present every where, And watches all our thoughts and ways: He marks who humbly join in pray'r, |
