12. The revocation, by Louis XIV., of the Edict of Nantes, granted by Henry IV. for the protection of his Protestant subjects when he himself became a Roman-catholic, deprived France of upwards of half-a-million of its most industrious subjects, who carried into other countries not only vast sums of money, but also those arts and manufactures which had chiefly tended to enrich that kingdom.

ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS.

13. The Offering of Isaac.
14. The Death of Absalom.
15. The Shipwreck of St Paul.
16. The Battle of Morgarten.
17. The Crowning of Charlemagne.
18. The Boy Crusade.

19. Luther at the Diet of Worms.

20. The Battle of Ivry.

21. The Foreign Tour of Peter the Great.

22. The Reign of Terror.

23. The Charge of the Light Brigade.

24. The Relief of Lucknow.

4. BIOGRAPHICAL NARRATION.

95. A Biographical paragraph contains a brief summary of the leading events in a man's life. It should open with a general description of the position which its subject occupied. This is followed by the narrative proper. It may conclude with reflections on his character, and the work which he accomplished in the world.

(a) It is to be observed that the pupil is not expected to produce more than a single comprehensive Paragraph on each subject. In a Theme, a complete paragraph would be devoted to each item in the outline; in the paragraph a sentence to each item, on an average, will be sufficient.

Example.-LORD CLIVE.

1. Outline.

1. Description: The founder of the British Empire in India.

2. Narrative: Born at Styche (Shropshire), 1725 - idle and mischievous at school-goes to Madras-clerk in the E. I. Company-disgusted with the monotony of office life-welcomes the call to military service-English influence in India very low-great success of Clive's exploits-Arcot, 1751-Plassy, 1757-great reputationreturns to England, 1760-made an Irish peer-affairs go wrong in his absence-sent out to put them right, 1764-restores perfect order in eighteen months-returns to England, 1767-his conduct and administration assailed, 1773-acquitted-commits suicide, 1774. 3. Character: Great warrior, and able statesman-resolute and uncompromising-often unscrupulous-always successful-the effects of his labours.

2. Paragraph.

Robert, Lord Clive, Baron of Plassy, the founder of the British Empire in India, was born at Styche, in Shropshire, in 1725. At school, he showed greater aptitude for mischief and acts of recklessness than for learning; and it was a relief to his parents to get him safely shipped off to India in 1744. He entered the civil service of the Company at Madras, at a time when its prosperity had sunk to a very low ebb; and the monotony of his sedentary life so depressed him, that he oftener than once attempted to commit suicide. When French encroachment and intrigue rendered it necessary to take measures to save English influence from total extinction, Clive gladly welcomed the call to active service. His change of profession marks an epoch in the history of India. From the day when he assumed the sword, English interests began sensibly to revive. His first great exploit was the capture and defence of Arcot, with only 500 men, 300 of whom were natives. His crowning triumph was the victory of Plassy, which laid Bengal at the feet of the English. His own reputation was now firmly established, and his name became everywhere a tower of strength. On his return to England in 1760, he received the thanks of the Company, and an Irish peerage from Government. But affairs went wrong in his absence, and in 1764, the Company sent him out again to set them right. This, by his vigorous measures, he very soon succeeded in doing. In the course of eighteen months, perfect order was restored; and on his final return to England in 1767, he was received with the distinction which his great services deserved. But his reforms had given offence to many of those who had profited by the former laxity of affairs; and it is to be regretted that many of his acts were of so questionable a character as to give his enemies a handle against him. In 1773, his administration was made the subject of a parliamentary inquiry. The decision was in his favour; but he was dissatisfied with the terms of the acquittal; and the mere fact of his having been put upon his trial affected him so deeply, that he sought relief in suicide, November 22d, 1774. Clive was one of the greatest warrior-statesmen of whom England can boast. Bold, resolute, and rapid as a soldier, he was equally calm, judicious, and comprehensive as an administrator. It cannot be denied that he was often unscrupulous in opposing cunning with cunning; but he was not cruel; he was not selfish; and his faults have been condoned by the success of his career, and by the splendid services he rendered to his country.

Exercise 27.

1. HORATIO NELSON.

1. Description: The greatest naval hero of England.

2. Narrative: Born at Burnham Thorpe (Norfolk) in 1758-a boy of great spirit and courage-fondness for the sea-joins the Raisonnable as a midshipman, under his uncle, Captain Suckling-sails in Captain Phipps's Arctic expedition, 1773-assists in the reduction of Corsica,

when he lost his right eye at Calvi, 1794-with Sir J. Jervis, defeats the Spaniards off Cape St Vincent, 1797-loses his right arm at Santa Cruz, 1798-gains the battle of the Nile, 1798-created Baron Nelson of the Nile-attacks Copenhagen, 1801-created Viscount—defeats the French and Spaniards at Trafalgar, 1805,-death wound; dies in three hours-great public funeral in St Paul's.

3. Character: Great determination-strong sense of duty-" the greatest sailor since the world began."

2. JAMES WATT.

1. Description: The chief inventor of the steam-engine.

2. Narrative: Born at Greenock, 1736-delicate childhood, educated at home-turn for practical mechanics-apprenticed to a mathematical instrument maker in London, 1755-returns to Glasgow, 1756— patronized by the University-becomes mathematical instrument maker there-plans and executes the Monkland and Crinan Canalssurveys the Caledonian-begins to study the steam-engine, 1759 - repairs the model engine of Glasgow College-patents his improved steam-engine, 1789-sets up engine works, with Boulton, at Soho, near Birmingham, 1775-very prosperous-discovers the elements of water, 1783-introduces gas-lights, 1798-retires from business, 1800-dies at Heathfield, near Birmingham, 1819. 3. Character: Acute, persistent, and laborious-effects of his invention on the progress of the world—upright, generous, simple-minded.

3. CARDINAL WOLSEY.

1. Description: The great minister of Henry VIII.

2. Narrative: Thomas Wolsey, born at Ipswich, 1471-his father said to have been a butcher there-goes to Oxford-called "the boy bachelor"-connexion with the Dorset family-presented to the living of Lymington- becomes royal chaplain, 1508-service to Henry VII.-king's almoner to Henry VIII.-acquires ascendancy over the king—becomes lord treasurer, 1512-bishop of Lincoln— archbishop of York-cardinal and pope's legate, 1515-lord chancellor influence supreme-contemplates the reform of the church -supports the king's divorce from Catherine-the king alienated by its failure opposition of the nobles-antipathy of Anne Boleyn -deprived of his offices, 1529-retires to Esher-arrested at York for high treason, 1530-dies at Leicester on his way to London. 3. Character: Ambitious, haughty, arrogant-but an impartial judge, and an able administrator.

4. MARTIN LUTHER.

1. Description: The leader of the Reformation in Germany.

2. Narrative: Born at Eisleben, 1483-poverty of his youth-studies law at Erfurt-finds copy of the Vulgate-enters the monastery of St Augustine-his spiritual struggle-kindness of Staupitz-ordained a priest, 1507-Professor at Wittemberg—his great popularity—

sent to Rome, 1510-disgust with the corruption of the clergy— sale of indulgences-controversy with Tetzel-burns the pope's bull-summoned to the Diet of Worms, 1521-carried off to Wartburg-translates the New Testament into German-returns to Wittemberg-marries-great activity-Diet of Augsburg, 1530Melancthon's confession-last days at Wittemberg-goes to Eisleben, and dies, 1546.

3. Character: Honesty, determination, fearlessness - eloquence - the effects of his labours on the world.

5. MUNGO PARK.

1. Description: Great African traveller.

2. Narrative: Born at Fowlshiels, near Selkirk-destined for the church -studies medicine-apprentice in Selkirk-goes to Edinburghappointed assistant-surgeon to the Worcester, East Indiaman, 1792 -offers his services to the African Association-Arrives at the Gambia, 1795-penetrates to Sego, and returns, 1796-kindness of Karfa Taura-returns to London, 1797-publishes his travels, 1799 -practises in Peebles, 1801-returns to Africa, 1805-reaches Bambakoo, on the Niger-approaches Sego-murdered, or drowned. self-sacrifice-endurance of

3. Character: Courage and perseverance

fatigue and hardships-results of his labours.

6. GEORGE WASHINGTON.

1. Description: The founder of the Republic of the United States. 2. Narrative: Born at Bridge's Creek, in Virginia, 1732-education, simple and meagre-early military predilections-nearly enters the British navy-becomes public surveyor to Lord Fairfax-appointed adjutant-general of militia, 1751-encroachments of the French— is appointed commissioner to remonstrate with them-serves in the expedition to the Ohio, and in various campaigns against the French-marries and settles at Mount Vernon-outbreak of the War of Independence-appointed commander-in-chief, 1775-defeated at Brandywine, 1777-capitulation of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, 1781-enters New York, 1783-resigns, and returns to private life for six years-delegate from Virginia in the federal convention, 1787 -elected first President of the United States, 1789-re-elected, 1793 -retires, 1796-dies, 1799.

.

3. Character: Simple, truthful, sincere, patriotic-patient, persevering, conciliatory, disinterested-his influence on the infant republic.

ADDITIONAL SUBJECTS.

7. Oliver Cromwell.

13. Alfred the Great.

8. Wellington.
9. Marlborough.
10. Napoleon.

11. Warren Hastings.
12. William Pitt.

14. Peter the Great.

15. Alexander the Great.

16. Charlemagne.

17. Julius Cæsar.

18. William of Orange.

Chapter III.-Description.

96. It is the purpose of the Descriptive Paragraph to explain what an object is, to describe its nature, its structure or the combination of its parts, its qualities, and the uses to which it is applied.

The

97. Description may be either general or particular. former corresponds with logical definition. It states the species or class to which an object belongs, comparing and contrasting it with other objects of the same genus. The latter embraces an enumeration of all the particulars regarding the object which are necessary to make our knowledge of it clear and complete. A general description may be contained in a single sentence. A particular description extends over several sentences, or an entire paragraph. A complete Descriptive Paragraph should include both kinds of description, starting with the general description, and passing from this to particulars. It admits also of the introduction of occasional reflections on the qualities of objects, and the purposes which they serve.

98. The general outline of a Descriptive Paragraph will therefore embrace these elements :—

1. A General Description: the class to which the object belongs, and the points of agreement and difference between it and other objects of the same class.

2. A Particular Description: its appearance, form, size, colour, etc.-its locality or situation-its structure, with a description of its parts-its characteristic features, or points of special interest-its habits (if it be an animal) -its kinds or varieties.

3. Reflections its qualities-its uses.

(a) It is not necessary to mention all these particulars in connexion with every object. Neither is it necessary that the elements should follow one another in the above order. In particular, reflections may be introduced at various points in the paragraph, as they are frequently suggested by particular features in the description. The mode in which the general scheme is applied to special classes of objects will appear in the outlines given under each of the following exercises.