The American Encyclopedia of History, Biography and Travel: Comprising Ancient and Modern History: the Biography of Eminent Men of Europe and America, and the Lives of Distinguished Travelers.Prescott, Thomas H.
History
The American Encyclopedia of History, Biography and Travel: Comprising Ancient and Modern History: the Biography of Eminent Men of Europe and America, and the Lives of Distinguished Travelers.
Prescott, Thomas H.
Biography; World history
The reign of Queen Anne is not more distinguished by the wonderful
series of victories gained by Marlborough, than by the brilliant list
of literary men who now flourished, and who have caused this to be
styled the Augustan age of English literature, as resembling that of
the Roman Emperor Augustus. Alexander Pope stands unrivaled in
polished verse on moral subjects. Jonathan Swift is a miscellaneous
writer of singular vigor and an extraordinary kind of humor. Joseph
Addison wrote on familiar life and on moral and critical subjects with
a degree of elegance before unknown. Sir Richard Steele was a lively
writer of miscellaneous essays. This last author, with assistance from
Addison and others, set on foot the ‘Tatler,’ ‘Spectator,’ and
‘Guardian,’ the earliest examples of small periodical papers in
England, and which continue to this day to be regarded as standard
works. Cibber, Congreve, Vanburgh, and Farquhar, were distinguished
writers of comedy; and Prior, Philips, and Rowe, were pleasing poets.
In graver literature, this age is not less eminent. Dr. Berkeley
shines as a metaphysician; Drs. Sherlock, Atterbury, and Clark as
divines; and Bentley as a critic of the Roman classics.
ACCESSION OF THE HOUSE OF HANOVER――REBELLION OF 1715-16.
The new sovereign lost no time in coming over to Britain, and fixing
himself in that heritage which his family has ever since retained. He
was fifty-four years of age, of a good, though not brilliant
understanding, and very firm in his principles. Knowing well that the
whigs were his only true friends, he at once called them into the
administration. It was the custom of that period for every party, on
getting into power, to try to annihilate their opponents. Not only
were the whole Tory party insulted by the king, but a committee of the
House of Commons was appointed to prepare articles of impeachment
against Oxford, Bolingbroke, the Duke of Ormond, and the earl of
Strafford. Bolingbroke, perceiving his life to be in danger, fled to
the continent; and his attainder was in consequence moved and carried
by his rival Walpole. Ormond suffered a similar fate. Oxford, after a
protracted trial, was only saved in consequence of a differance
between the Lords and Commons.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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