43. In the reign of George the Third, there were National and Sunday schools established in almost every part of England, so that the poor people might be able to have their children taught to read and write, which was a great blessing to them; for although there had long been charity schools in London, there were few in the country, and many of the shopkeepers in country towns, who had become quite respectable people by their industry, were so ignorant that they could not even make out their own bills, or keep their own accounts. 44. There were two more great improvements before the death of George the Third; the one was the invention of gas lights, which make the streets much lighter at night than the dim oil lamps that were formerly used; and the other was the introduction of steam boats, which had lately been invented in America. QUESTIONS. 1. Who succeeded queen Anne? 3. Who was the Pretender? 4. What was the Rebellion? 5. How did it end? 6. What was the state of the American colonies at this period? 8. Who succeeded George the First? 12. How was the country improved in this reign? 13. With whom did the English go to war, and why? 14. How were sailors forcibly obtained? 15. Were there any other wars in this reign? 16. What was the Rebellion of ’45? 18. Where was the final battle fought? 19. What great conquest was made in this reign? 20. What gave rise to the war? 21. What battle decided the contest? 22. Which of our Generals was killed in the moment of victory? 23. Who succeeded George the Second? 29. What was the cause of the American war? 30. Who was the leader of the Americans? 32. How did the war terminate? 34. What gave rise to the last war with France? 36. Who was Bonaparte? 37. What victory put an end to the war? 38. Who ruled in England at this time? 41. When did the Union with Ireland take place? 42. What other improvements took place during the reign of George III.? CHAPTER XVIII. FROM THE DEATH OF GEORGE THE THIRD, 1830, TO THE PRESENT TIME. [Illustration: QUEEN VICTORIA’S VISIT TO THE CITY OF LONDON.] 1. George the Fourth, who had been regent ten years, reigned as a king from 1820, to 1830. During that time, every improvement that had been begun was carried to a greater extent. The education of all classes of people was conducted on a better system, and greater numbers of cheap books were published for the instruction of the working classes. 2. London was greatly improved by the building, in some parts, of wide handsome streets, in the place of narrow, dirty, crowded ones, and the manners of the English were improved also, by their intercourse with foreign nations; for after the peace, people began to visit France, Italy, and other parts of Europe, while a great number of foreigners came here, and we adopted such of their customs as were superior to our own; for people may always improve from each other.