actions. We should consider, if tempted to hurt or kill any such creatures, how we would like any greater being than ourselves to do the same to us. EXERCISES. 1. At the time of the French Revolution, there lived at Frankfort-on-the-Maine, in Germany, a Jewish banker, of limited means but good reputation, named Moses Rothschild. When the French army invaded Germany, the prince of Hesse-Cassel was obliged to flee from his dominions. As he passed through Frankfort, he requested Moses Rothschild to take charge of a large sum of money and some valuable jewels, which he feared might otherwise fall into the hands of the enemy. The Jew would have declined so great a charge; but the prince was so much at a loss for the means of saving his property, that Moses at length consented. He declined, however, giving a receipt for it, as in such dangerous circumstances he could not be answerable for its being safely restored. 2. The money and jewels, to the value of several hundred thousand pounds, were conveyed to Frankfort; and, just as the French entered the town, Mr Rothschild had succeeded in burying it in a corner of his garden. He made no attempt to conceal his own property, which amounted only to six thousand pounds. The French accordingly took this, without suspecting that he had any larger sum in his possession. Had he, on the contrary, pretended to have no money, they would certainly have searched, as they did in many other cases, and might have found and taken the whole. When they left the town, Mr Rothschild dug up the prince's money, and made use of a small portion of it. He now throve in his business, and soon gained much wealth of his own, 3. A few years after, when peace came, the prince of HesseCassel returned to his dominions. He was almost afraid to call on the Frankfort banker; for he readily reflected, that, if the French had not got the money and jewels, Moses might pretend that they had, and thus keep all to himself. To his great astonishment, Mr Rothschild informed him that the whole of the property was safe, and now ready to be returned, E with five per cent. interest on the money. The banker, at the same time, related by what means he had saved it, and apologized for using the money, by representing that, to save it, he had been obliged to sacrifice all his own. The prince was so impressed with the fidelity of Mr Rothschild under his great trust, that he allowed the money to remain in his hands at a small rate of interest. To mark also his gratitude, he recommended the honest Jew to various European sovereigns as a money-lender. Moses was consequently employed in several great transactions for raising loans, by which he realized a vast profit. In time he became immensely rich, and put his three sons into the same kind of business in the three chief capitals of Europe-London, Paris, and Vienna. All of them prospered. They became the wealthiest private men that the world has ever known. He who lived in London left at his death seven millions sterling. The two others have been created barons, and are per- · haps not less wealthy. Thus a family, whose purse has maintained war and brought about peace, owes all its greatness to one act of extraordinary honesty. SECTION VIII. SUBSTITUTION AND ELLIPSIS IN COMPLEX SENTENCES. 1. Substitute appropriate words in the following passage for those printed in italics. EXAMPLE. The events connected with the romantic history of Mary, Queen of Scots, had considerable connexion with the affairs of England during the reign of Elizabeth; but they had still greater influence on the destinies of Scotland. In 1569, a rebellion of the northern counties took place, avowedly with the design of liberating Mary, when she was a captive in England. For the same object, the Babington conspiracy, discovered in 1586, was concocted. These events will have to be spoken of again, in our narrative of the strange adventures of Mary Queen of Scots. CHANGED. The circumstances attached to the extraordinary history of Mary, Queen of Scots, bore an important relation to the concerns of England during the rule of Elizabeth; but they produced a still greater effect on the future condition of Scotland. In 1569, an insurrection of the northern counties broke out, professedly for the purpose of releasing Mary, when she was a prisoner in England. With the same intention, the Babington plot, brought to light in 1586, was formed. These transactions will require to be treated of again, in our account of the singular career of Mary, Queen of Scots. EXERCISES. 1. Charles, after some delay, accepted the conditions imposed on him, and obtained leave to enter Scotland, where, less a king than a prisoner, he was excluded from public affairs and the deliberations of the council. On the news of these events, Cromwell was recalled from Ireland, and named general of the parliamentary troops in the place of Fairfax, who felt some religious scruples about attacking the Scotch. He immediately set out at the head of 16,000 men, and advanced without obstacle as far as Edinburgh. Lesly, who commanded the troops of the Covenanters, was anxious to avoid a general battle; and taking possession of all the difficult passes, reduced Cromwell to such straits, that he is said to have formed the resolution of sending off his foot and artillery by sea, and breaking through, at all hazards, with his cavalry. But the Scottish clergy opposed the prudent measures of their general. They forced him to descend into the plain, that he might attack the English in their retreat; and the consequence was, that he suffered a total defeat near Dunbar. 2. This disaster, by reducing the power of the Covenanters, led to their treating Charles with greater respect; and he was crowned at Scone on the 1st of January 1651. Being al lowed to assume the command of the army in person, he embraced a resolution which his followers deemed worthy of a young prince contending for empire, and advanced by rapid marches into England at the head of 14,000 men. Cromwell promptly followed; and at length, with a force of 30,000 men, overtook him at Worcester, where a most desperate engagement took place on the 3d of September 1651, in which the whole royalist army. were either killed or taken prisoners, Charles himself escaping with the greatest difficulty. He passed through many adventures, assumed many different disguises; and, after wandering about in imminent peril during forty-one days, escaped in a sloop from Shoreham in Sussex, and arrived safe at Fecamp in Normandy. This exercise can be multiplied from daily lesson. 2. Substitute appropriate words of Saxon origin for those printed in italics in the following passage. EXAMPLE. The tranquillity of Europe and of the world was disturbed by the eruption of the French Revolution in 1789. In a very brief space of time, the government of France was demolished, the king and queen were decapitated, and Christianity was disavowed. The pen of the most eloquent historian could but ineffectually describe the horrors that ensued, the torrents of blood that were poured out on the scaffold, or in civil contention, and the universal depravity that pervaded the nation. At length the furious flood burst its banks, and menaced the adjoining countries. These, however, it must be admitted, did not display sufficient caution. Their sovereigns regarded Louis XVI. and his privileges more than they did the French people. The Emperor of Austria, especially, manifested a determination to restore the royal authority to its previous condition. CHANGED. The tranquility of Europe and of the world was broken by the bursting out of the French Revolution in 1789. In a very short space of time, the government of France was overthrown, the king and queen were beheaded, and Christianity was disowned. The pen of the most eloquent writer could but faintly describe the horrors that followed, the streams of blood that were shed upon the scaffold or in civil strife, and the universal wickedness that overspread the nation. At length the furious flood burst its banks, and threatened the neighbouring countries. These, however, it must be acknowledged, did not display sufficient care. Their kings thought more of Louis XVI. and his rights than they did of the French people. The Emperor of Austria, above all, shewed a determination to bring back the kingly authority to its former state. EXERCISES. 1. Encouraged by the destruction of the Spanish Armada, the English, in the succeeding year, began to meditate revenge, and Parliament entreated the queen to punish the insult which had been offered by Philip, and carry hostilities into his dominions. An armament of 200 sail was accordingly collected at Plymouth, which received on board a refugee called Don Antonio, a claimant of the crown of Portugal, that had been usurped by Philip. The expedition was placed under the command of Norris and Drake, who sailed directly to the port of Corruna, and captured several ships, but were repulsed from the town with the sacrifice of many valuable lives. The fleet then sailed to the mouth of the Tagus, and the troops marched without opposition to Lisbon, but not a voice was raised for Don Antonio; and the English were ultimately compelled, by destitution and disease, to abandon the enterprise. Of 21,000 men engaged in this disastrous expedition, one-half had perished, yet an attempt was made to conceal the loss, and to convert the defeat into a second triumph over the power of Spain. 2. Since the decease of Mary Stuart, the English Catholics had concealed their discontent, and appeared to consider their cause desperate. James VI. of Scotland was prevented by the factions in his own country from disturbing England, and his |
