27. It was also discovered how very useful steam engines might be made; but I fancy nobody then imagined that we should ever travel by steam, or print by steam, or do many other wonderful things, that are now done by that means.
28. Turnpike roads were established all over the kingdom, and travelling thus rendered safer and more expeditious. People were in general much better educated than in the preceding century, and all arts and sciences were greatly improved.
29. And now I will tell you something about the American war. The quarrel began about some taxes which the British government imposed on the Americans, to help to pay the expenses of the wars with France and Spain, which the Americans thought they had nothing to do with; and considered it unjust that they should have to find money towards paying for them.
30. British troops were sent out, to force them to obey the orders of the government; but instead of complying, all the colonies agreed to join together and fight for their liberty; and a very brave and good man, named General Washington, took the command of the American army.
31. This war lasted many years, and the French and Dutch assisted the Americans with troops, ships, and money.
32. There were many gentlemen in the English parliament who wanted to put an end to the war, by giving up all control over the Americans; but others would not consent, the king was unwilling to do so, till, at last, finding there was little chance of success, the English government gave up the contest, and the American colonies became independent of England, and took the name of the United States.
33. This event took place in 1783, after which, there were a few more years of peace, and then the long wars with France were begun, which lasted above twenty years, and were ended by the famous battle of Waterloo.
34. The cause of the war was this. There had been a great revolution in France. The people rose up against king Louis the Sixteenth, who was made prisoner, and beheaded; just as Charles the First was treated here, and for much the same cause. Then a number of persons took the government into their own hands, and governed without a king, and declared war against the king of Great Britain, and also against the stadtholder of Holland, and the king of Spain, for disapproving of what the French people had done.
35. The Spaniards and Dutch were afterwards obliged to join the French, and many battles were fought both on land and at sea, and some naval victories were gained by the British Admirals Duncan, Howe, and Nelson, and other officers.
36. The greatest man in France at this time was Napoleon Bonaparte, an artillery officer, who raised himself to the head of the state, just as Cromwell did here, by getting the soldiers to side with him. He was called consul, at first, but afterwards he was made emperor, and he conquered a great part of Europe, and he made the governments of those countries which he did not conquer do just as he pleased, except England, for he had the largest armies of any sovereign in the world.