employers or the people amongst whom they lived. Now no one knows how they vote. It was thought at the time that the ballot would prevent voters from taking bribes. This, however, has not been the case, and we can only hope that men will some day be ashamed of taking money for their vote. Not much more than a hundred years ago noblemen and gentlemen took money or something that was worth money for their vote in Parliament, and perhaps a hundred years hence some writer will be able to speak of it as a wonderful thing that there had been a time when some people took money for their votes at elections.

6. The Franco-German War.-Whilst these things were being done in England, great events were taking place on the Continent. In 1866 there had been a war between Prussia and Austria, in which Prussia was completely successful. Italy had helped Prussia, and obtained the country about Venice at the end of the war, so that Austria was now entirely excluded from Italy. The French grew extremely jealous of Prussia, and in 1870 the Emperor Napoleon picked a quarrel with the King of Prussia. In the war which followed, all Germany took part with Prussia. The Germans invaded France, and defeated the French armies in several great battles. The Emperor Napoleon was taken prisoner, and France again became a Republic. Then siege was laid to Paris. After bearing much hardship, the great city was starved out and surrendered. France had to give up some of her provinces. The King of Prussia became the German Emperor and the little States

of Germany united together to form the German Empire. The Italians, too, took possession of Rome, and there was now at last a United Italy under one king.

7. The End of the First Gladstone Ministry.In England the Gladstone Ministry had been very busy, and, as often happens, people got tired of seeing so many changes made. Some of the Ministers, too, behaved rudely to those who had business with them, and when, in 1874, a new Parliament was elected, it had a large Conservative majority. Mr. Disraeli became Prime Minister, and remained in office for six years.

8. Mr. Disraeli's Ministry and the Turkish Disturbances.- - After some time there were fresh troubles in Turkey. Some of the Christian inhabitants rose against their oppressors, and in one place the Turks massacred men, women, and children. The European States sent ambassadors to Constantinople, to see what could be done, but though they gave some good advice to the Sultan, the Sultan, as is always the case, refused to take it. All the States except Russia thought there was no more to be done. Russia declared war against the Sultan, to make him do what he had been advised to do. The war lasted about a year. The Russians had great difficulties, and lost a great number of men, but in the end they beat the Turks thoroughly, They made a treaty with the Sultan, by which a great part of the provinces of Turkey in Europe were taken away from the Sultan and given to the people who lived in them. Mr. Disraeli, who had

now become Earl of Beaconsfield, thought that Russia would make the people in these provinces obey its orders, and would in this way become too powerful. He and the English Government insisted that Russia should consult the other European States and make a new treaty, and he was prepared to go to war if thi were not done. This made him very popular i England, though there were many people who did no wish to have a war with Russia. At last Russia gav way, and the different States sent Ambassadors t Berlin, where a new treaty was drawn up, by which though many of the Christian peoples were set free some, who had been taken away from under the rule of the Sultan by the Russian treaty, were placed under it again. There have been more troubles since, and they are not likely to end as long as the Sultan continues to rule, because it does not seem possible to teach him to govern well, or to make him care to learn.

9. The End of the Conservative Ministry.-AA this there were wars in other parts of the world. There was another invasion of Afghanistan and a war in Zulu Land. In 1880 there was again a n " Parliament. This time the people thought that the Conservative ministry was too fond of war, and the new Parliament had a large Liberal majority. Mr. Gladstone became Prime Minister a second time.

10. Conclusion.-So far we have come in the sto of England. What lies beyond we cannot tell; but this we can tell, that England has prospered most when she has most sought to do that which it was her duty to do. Each generation has been better

in something than the one before it, and it is for all people to make the generation in which they live better than the last one for the sake of their children who will come after them. We need not be very great or very learned to help in this work. Each person, as he or she grows up, can do something. Every time we choose the good and avoid the evil, we set a good example to others. Thousands of small right acts done come to a great deal when they are taken together. Much of the grandest work ever done by Englishman has blessed their American descendents as well as their English ones, and as we read what men of old have done for us, we can fitly think of their deeds as the poet Browning thought when he was sailing off the Spanish coast. His mind dwelt on Nelson and the old warriors who had fought and died there for their country. Trafalgar was in front and St. Vincent behind. Then, as he turned to think of himself, the words that rose to his lips were

Here and here did England help me; how can I help
England? Say

Whoso turns as I, this evening, turn to God to praise
and pray.

THE END.