like the Protestants, founded their colony on the broad basis of civil and religious liberty.

The Bourbon Kings of France oppressed their protestant subjects, and in 1663, a colony of French fled from their own "vine-clad fields," and commenced a settlement on the Mississippi river. The same causes continuing to operate in France, other colonists followed, who settled in different places in the Western and South Western States.

The English, in the French and Indian wars which commenced in 1755, and ended with the peace of 1763, drove the French from a part of the territory they claimed, and the remainder of it was purchased of France by the United States, in 1803, for fifteen millions of dollars.

Thus, the French claim to lands in North America was extinguished, and the United States acquired undisputed title to that vast extent of country, then known by the general name of Louisiana.

So, we perceive, that the attempt of England, Spain, and France, to crush the rising spirit of liberty in Western Europe, was the means of peopling the United States with a class of men whose love of freedom outweighed other considerations.

Or, as one of the eminent writers of that day ex

What is said of a colony of French?

When did the French and Indian war commence and end?

How was the French title to lands in America extinguished?

How much did the United States pay for Louisiana?

What was the effect of the attempt to crush the rising spirit of liberty in Europe?

What was said by a writer of that day?

pressed it-"The LORD has sifted three nations for good seed to sow the wilderness."

ORIGIN OF THE REVOLUTION.

The increasing prosperity and wealth of the English colonies in America, at length began to excite the avarice of the mother country.

With the hope of raising a revenue, she commenced and continued a course of unjust and oppressive legislation, which cost her an expensive war of seven years, and ended with the loss of thirteen of her most valuable colonies.

In 1651, she passed the Navigation Act, requiring all the Colonial trade to be carried on by English vessels, and soon after imposed heavy duties on all exports from the colonies. She prohibited all trade from one colony to another in home manufactured articles. She prohibited the manufacture of steel and iron. She would not allow a forge to be erected in America, and therefore the Colonists were compelled to send to England, at great expense, for all their steel and manufactured iron of every description.

The revenue derived by England, from all of these several sources, finally amounted to ten millions of dollars, annually; but she was still unsatisfied, and

What excited the avarice of the mother country?

What did the unjust legislation of England cost her?
What did the Navigation Act require?

How great was the revenue paid to England before this act?

another mode of increasing her revenue was resolved upon, namely, taxation.

Accordingly, in 1765, the " Stamp Act" was passed, imposing a tax on all mortgages, conveyances, wills, letters of administration, insurances, bills of lading, clearances of vessels, promissory notes, receipts, &c.; in a word, upon every piece of paper or parchment used in the civil or criminal courts. The tax on a single paper of some kinds, was upwards of forty dollars. Newspapers and Almanacs were taxed double their cost. A single advertisement was taxed over forty cents.

The news of the passage of this act, caused a universal burst of indignation through the colonies. Public meetings were held, and resolutions passed, denouncing the act. The officers who were appointed to distribute the stamped paper and collect the tax, were all compelled, by the people, to resign their offices.

And when the paper arrived from England, the people would not allow any of it to be landed, so every piece of it was returned to England.

When the English government found the Stamp Act could not be enforced, it was repealed. But its repeal was coupled with another Act almost as odious

What other mode was adopted to increase her revenue?
When was the Stamp act passed?

On what did this act impose a tax?

What effect did the passage of this act produce in the colonies? What did the officers do whose duty it was to collect the tax?

What became of the paper?

Was the Stamp act repealed?

What other odious act was passed at the same time?

to the people, declaring that Parliament had a right to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever.

In 1768, British soldiers were sent over, and stationed in Boston, Massachusetts, to "dragoon the Bostonians into what was called their duty."

England next imposed a burdensome duty on Tea, Glass, Painter's Colors, &c.

In 1773, three vessels laden with this taxed tea, arrived in the harbor of Boston. Immediately after its arrival some thirty persons, disguised as Indians, rushed on board the vessels and threw all the tea into the harbor.

This occurrence so incensed Parliament, that in March, 1774, they passed the famous "Boston Port Bill," prohibiting all trade with the city of Boston. By this bill the port of Boston was ordered to be closed, and goods of all descriptions were prevented from being either shipped or landed.

These unjust and oppressive measures at length aroused the people, and a general meeting of all the colonies was called, to meet at Philadelphia on the 4th of September, 1774, to consult for the common welfare and defence of the country.

The breach between the mother country and her colonies was now rapidly widening; and on the 19th of April, 1775, the battle of Lexington was fought,

When were British soldiers sent to Boston?

On what was a duty next imposed?

What became of the tea which was brought to Boston?
What bill did Parliament then pass, and what prohibit?

When and where was a general meeting of the colonies called?
When was the battle of Lexington fought?

which commenced the great drama of the Revolutionary War.

All hope of reconciliation with England was now abandoned, and on the 4th of July, 1776, the Continental Congress, then assembled at Philadelphia, declared that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States."

This act severed the thirteen American Colonies forever from England, and established a new nation which has since been known and recognized by the name of the United States of America.

On the 3d of September, 1783, Great Britain entered into a treaty with the United States, by which she recognized their Independence, and relinquished forever all claim to them.

Thus, all the title which England had to the territory comprised within the thirteen colonies, became then securely vested in the United States.

NATURE AND ORIGIN OF LAWS.

Were a man to live separate and apart from all other persons, like Robinson Crusoe, on the Island of Juan Fernandez, he would be independent of all human governments, and all civil laws. He would

When was the Declaration of Independence made?

When did Great Britain enter into a treaty with the U. States? What became of England's title to territory in the colonies? Under what circumstances would a man be independent of all human governments?