when they fired, to pick out the officers, and as it was pretty certain that Nelson would be specially aimed at, his sailors begged him to cover the stars on his coat. "No," said he; "in honour I gained them, in honour I will die with them." The battle began, and the firing was incessant on both sides. But one of the enemy's ships left off firing her large guns; and so Nelson, always humane, ordered that she should not be fired upon, as she seemed unable to defend herself. A ball sent from the mizen-top of the very vessel which he had spared, struck Nelson, and he fell. He was carried down-stairs, and it was at once seen that he could not live. Knowing that nothing could save him, he sent the doctor away, telling him to go where he could be of some use. Just before the brave admiral died, Captain Hardy, a great friend of his, came to tell him that the English had gained a complete victory. Then, and not till then, when he had asked many questions about the fight, did Nelson tell the captain that he knew he was dying, adding, "Don't throw me overboard, but let me be buried by my parents, unless the king orders otherwise." Three hours and a quarter after he had been wounded, the hero died, saying, "Thank God, I have done my duty." The king did not allow Nelson to be buried by his parents in his country home. His body lies in St. Paul's Cathedral. He had a public funeral; and when his flag was going to be lowered into the grave, the sailors present seized it, and, tearing it up, divided it amongst themselves, that each might keep a relic of England's great naval hero.

While Nelson made the English ships and sailors feared, the soldiers on land were in nowise behind them.

On land our troops were commanded by a wonderfully clever general, Sir Arthur Wellesley, afterwards made Duke of Wellington. It is said he never lost a British gun. He fought against the French in one place after another, especially in Spain and Portugal. The war in these countries went by the name of the Peninsular War, because Spain and Portugal together form a peninsula. Here Wellington got one victory after another, and Buonaparte's power began to decrease. Still, English

people were terribly frightened lest he should invade England. Everybody who possibly could, became a volunteer. Sailors watched our southern ports by day and night, and many towers or fortresses were built along our coasts; but the French did not come. Many little children in those days went to bed frightened, and lay awake trembling lest the French should arrive before morning. Still, by slow and sure degrees, Napoleon Buonaparte's power fell, and at last he gave up even France, and said he would live in the little island of Elba, as a private gentleman, giving no more trouble to any one. The crown of France was given to Louis XVIII., not much of a man, but the right heir. Europe was at peace the first time for many years. Great were the rejoicings of the allies, as those countries were called which had joined against Buonaparte. Numbers of English, who had been before afraid to travel, went abroad to see foreign lands. Many spent some time at Brussels.

And so, at last, the allies thought the war was over. The King of France was on his throne, and already felt enough at home to begin to quarrel with his subjects.

The

Meanwhile the Russians and Prussians wrangled a little about the division of the countries which had been saved from Napoleon's clutches. But suddenly a report got about that a little vessel, sailing from the island of Elba, had carried Napoleon Buonaparte as a passenger. That report was true. The Emperor Napoleon landed in France. At every place on the way to Paris numbers of his old soldiers joined him. It is curious that none had to buy new the three-coloured cockade which Napoleon's men had been accustomed to wear. Every man had kept his old one; for Napoleon was most popular among the soldiers whom he had so often led to victory. increase of his army on his march to Paris was like the progress of a snowball, getting bigger as it moves on. The King of France left off quarrelling with his subjects, and ran away from them instead. The Russians and Prussians, instead of talking about how to divide their land, became anxious lest they should lose it. English volunteers again drilled, and little English children were again frightened. But days and weeks passed, and Napoleon did not leave France. All the better for the allies! They were glad to bide their time. An English army, under the Duke of Wellington, was

quartered at

Brussels, to await the coming of the French. During the peace, as I told you, many English families had travelled to the Continent, and Brussels was a very favourite place with them. So the soldiers, when they had nothing else to do, went in the evenings to parties given by their countrymen.

On the night of the 15th of June, 1815, an English lady gave a large ball, and many officers were present,

F

amongst others the great Duke of Wellington himself. He stayed until rather a late hour, was cheerful and pleasant as usual, and only the soldiers of the party knew that danger was near. In the middle of the night, when the ball-room lights were put out, and the guests who had been present, tired out with the pleasures of the evening, were dropping into their first sleep, bugle calls were heard. Regiment after regiment of English soldiers filed out of the town in order; for the news had come that the French were advancing. And on the 18th of June was fought the great battle of Waterloo. Napoleon and Wellington had never met before. Both sides fought splendidly-the French for glory, the English for their country. Probably the French would have gained the day, and England might at this moment have belonged to the Emperor of France, if the Prussians had not come up to the help of the English just in the nick of time. The French were utterly beaten. Napoleon, when he saw all was up, ran off. This time the allies would not trust Buonaparte, and when he was caught he was sent to St. Helena, a rocky little island in the Atlantic, and closely guarded until his death.

was ruled by his Towards the end

And all this time what part did George III. take? Poor man, victory or defeat did not matter to him. He had lost his senses, and the kingdom eldest son, who was called the Regent. of his life the poor king became blind. He had been a very good man, fond of his country, kind to his subjects, a good father and husband. It is said that it was grief for the loss of one of his daughters which brought on his illness. He lived to be a very old man, and had, we

hope, not a very unhappy life. He wandered about a number of rooms set aside on purpose for him, and now and then played a few notes on a harpsichord-for he loved music. He died in the year 1820, at the age of nearly eighty-two, having reigned more than fifty-nine years.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

GEORGE IV., 1820-1830.

Married Caroline of Brunswick.
Child, Charlotte.

GEORGE IV. became king in the year 1820; but he haä really governed, as you know, for some time before this, on account of the state of his father's health. There is not much to tell of George IV. which it is pleasant to hear. He was called the first gentleman in Europe, and if fine clothes and spending a great deal of money make a gentleman, we cannot dispute his right to the title. But fine feathers will not make fine birds, and people who get into debt often do not care how much money they spend. George had got over head and ears in debt long before his father's death. On the whole, I do not know that he was the first gentleman in Europe, for it is true that

"No debtor's hands are clean

However white they be.
Who digs, and pays his way,
The gentleman is he.”

George cared so much about his dress that it was a hard matter to get a tailor who could please him. When