Chronological, biographical, historical, and miscellaneous exercises

Front matter

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Preface

While Chronology (which fixes the dates of the various events recorded in History, and arranges them according to the several divisions of time, in the order in which they happened) derives its principal light from History, it also, in return, serves History as an accurate and a faithful guide.* To read history with much pleasure, and yet be without some knowledge of Chronology, is impossible. To be able to ascertain when an event happened, is that which alone, in many cases, stamps importance on the fact itself.

The present volume is partly Biographical. To the admiration and gratitude of the rising generation are held up the names of several of our heroes, who, at sea or by land, have triumphed over the enemies of their native isle ;-j* of statesmen, whose wisdom maintained harmony in all the orders of the community ; of patriots, who were prodigal of their blood in the cause of their country;+ of philanthropists, whose labours have been successfully ex-

* Chronology and Geography are the eyes of History. The former informs when a fact happened, the latter where .

Chesterfield’s Letters.

f ■-“ Hence Youth will be

Induced to act their fathers o’er again ;

Fir’d, when they hear how Agincourt was strow’d ' With Gallic corps, and Cressy swam in blood.”

♦ See Virgil’s yEn. vi. 600.

A 2

IV

PREFACE.

erted for the benefit of mankind; of martyrs, who have expired in the flames, when attesting the constancy of their resolution and sincerity of their faith; of divines and lay¬ men, whose writings have allured to brighter worlds, while their unblemished lives and pious deaths pointed out the way ; * and of authors, and men of genius of every description, who have extended the bounds of useful know¬ ledge, and augmented the stock of public happiness. Nor are altogether forgotten those who, on the stage, endowed with varied powers of imitation, have soothed the cares of life by the fleeting effusions of mimic gaiety ; those who, in the creation of works of art, have been distin¬ guished by industry and success; or those who, in the wide region of poetry, have charmed by their harmonious numbers and novel thoughts, by the felicity of their com¬ binations and the sublimity of their images. Having thus, though in a very limited degree, brought before my young friends some of the most illustrious characters of ancient and modern times, it is hoped that these eminent exam¬ ples will have a tendency to form their sentiments, or to fire their emulation. The few opposite characters that have been introduced into this miscellany, will, it is hoped, inspire the juvenile reader with a just abhorrence of those follies and vices which have led to disgrace and ruin. Thus may Biography answer the most valuable purpose in education, as it communicates what comes home to ourselves, and what we can actually turn to advantage. In this point of view, Biography is, to persons in private stations, certainly of more use than History. This part of

* Saints, who taught and led the way to heaven.

TlC KELL.

PREFACE.

V the work, it is admitted, is occasionally rather calculated to excite, than completely to gratify, curiosity; a cir¬ cumstance which, however, is less to be regretted, as many of the articles thus abbreviated may be found in an en¬ larged state in Biographical Dictionaries.*

As the Sacred Scripture, especially the New Testament, has our consolation and support in all the varying scenes of this transitory pilgrimage for its great design and aim, and our resurrection from the state of death, and happiness to all eternity, for its ultimate and most glorious object;— and as, in proportion to the degree of veneration in which its contents are held, the interests of virtue and holiness flourish, and the mind is formed to rational devotion, diffusive benevolence, steady fortitude, and, in short, “ made ready for every good word and work—it is reasonable to imagine, that whatever tends to direct the attention of the rising generation to the records of that

I

Divine Book, must be of great importance to their present and future happiness. It is hoped, therefore, that the Scripture Biography will be found a valuable portion of the work; more especially if care be taken to make the pupil thoroughly acquainted with the numerous passages of Holy Writ which are referred to in this and in other parts of the book.

In the Historical part of the publication, such facts have usually been selected as^ have a connexion, either indirect or immediate, with the affairs of our own country ; and that

* The Biographical work frequently consulted in these Exer¬ cises, is Jones’s “ New Biographical Dictionary an elegant and comprehensive pocket volume.

VI

PREFACE.

every well-educated female should be conversant with

•r

them, is a principle in modern education which is univer¬ sally admitted. It is observed by Rollin, in his piece on Education, that no study is more proper ,to adorn the minds of Young Ladies than History. This pleasing department of literature, he adds, opens a vast field, in which they may be employed to great advantage, and with the utmost satisfaction to themselves, during several years.

Though among those articles which may be termed Miscellaneous, there are, doubtless, some of inferior im¬ portance ; yet it is presumed, that even the least valuable, under the direction of a judicious instructor, will furnish young readers with ideas, upon which they may reflect when alone, or converse when in company. And though many of the subjects discussed in this volume may be familiar to the majority of adult readers, they will, to those for whom it is chiefly designed, be in general new.

As the names of the days of the week, and months of the year, are not explained in any mere school-book, the account of their origin will, perhaps, be deemed a not uninteresting part of the performance.

Since there is a necessary connexion between memora¬ ble achievements, and the scenes or situations where they were performed, the latter have commonly been pointed out with exactness. For a similar reason, the birth-places of eminent individuals are noticed. This mode of uniting

to

them has also a further advantage: by the law of the association of ideas, when either is mentioned, the other

PREFACE.

Vll will naturally suggest itself to the recollection. To find these places on a map will be a pleasing, as well as an improving exercise for the scholar.* Who would not wish to know the spot which has acquired eminence byhaving given birth to a Shakspeare, or a Milton, to a New¬ ton, a Locke, or a Howard ; and, with an almost super¬ stitious reverence,

“-to kiss with sacred joy the earth,

That gave a Hampden or a Russell birth” ?

It is evident from daily experience, says an elegant writer, that the manners of the stronger sex receive their polish from the common intercourse of female society. It cannot, therefore, but follow, that the friendship of women of superior character and accomplishments must have the same effect upon the minds of men, and proportionably improve and adorn them. Hence it becomes the indis¬ pensable duty of those who are concerned in directing female education, if they are really well-wishers to the amelioration of their species, not only to see that their pupils acquire such a general knowledge as will fill up their time innocently and usefully, when they have con¬ cluded the course of school-education ; but to impart to them a taste above fantastic levities; to render them agree¬ able acquaintance, amiable friends, and domestic charac¬ ters ; to enable them to give a zest to

“ The circling pleasures of the evening fire,

Where friendship meets and love connubial smiles;”

in a word, to make them good daughters, good wives, and good mothers.

* See the Preface to the late author’s Arithmetical Questions.

Vlll

PREFACE.

But as I have already, in the prefaces to my Arithmetical Questions and Exercises on the Globes , explained at con¬ siderable length my ideas of the benefits which may be expected hereafter to result to society from the influence of well-educated females, it will be here sufficient for me to express my entire conviction, that if the present world is ever to become the terrestrial paradise which some mo¬ dern philosophers predict, the grand instruments of refor¬ mation will be women.

As this work is chiefly designed to be a medium of instruction in Ladies’ Schools, it may, perhaps, without impropriety, be suggested what appears to its Author the best mode of using it. Every day the pupil should be required to recite the chief particulars of the event or events which are registered as having occurred on that day. When there is an extensive school-library, such scholars as are capable should apply to books which treat more fully on the subject. Of the events they should furnish a more ample account; and, besides pointing out the places in an Atlas, briefly describe them by means of a well-selected Gazetteer. The words in the Index might also be advan¬ tageously given as a school-task ; and the number of words so allotted be proportioned to the age of the pupils and the rank of their class. At stated periods, perhaps once a week, a repetition might be profitably made. That this volume may be employed daily , and without intermission , is the great and novel advantage to which it presumes to lay claim ; and thus in the course of a single year, under a preceptor of zeal and judgment, it is not perhaps too much to assert, that a vast accession of interesting and im¬ portant knowledge might be communicated and acquired.

PREFACE.

IX

In a compilation—as the present, in a great measure, confessedly is, and from its nature indeed must be—the style will naturally be various; because, though it has sometimes sustained alteration, the several authors who supplied the materials are more frequently left to speak for themselves. Should, however, invidious disingenuity affect to extend the charge of transcription, from a con¬ siderable part, to the whole of the undertaking, the Author will readily console himself with Rollin’s rational reflec¬ tion ; “ Que n’importe d’ou il soit, pourvu qu’il se trouve utile”—If the things themselves be good, it is not material whose they are.

WILLIAM BUTLER.

EDITOR’S PREFACE.

The additions which were made to the last edition ot the Chronological Exercises having met with the approbation of the public, the Editor has been induced to render the present edition still more acceptable, by adding much important historical, biographical, and miscellaneous information.

Whether the additions have been made with that judicious discrimination Which his late father-in-law evinced in his selection of appropriate subjects to excite attention and gratify curiosity, the Editor humbly submits to the candid judgment of the public.

The Editor has not to lament the loss of this judicious friend before he had appreciated his worth or profited from his experience, but feels a grateful recollection that by following his advice, and by imitating his example, in addition to the precepts received in early life from his own affectionate parents, he has maintained an honourable character, and his success has been commensurate with his expectations.

Grateful for the late Mr. Butler’s kindness, and con¬ scious of the pleasure it would afford his sensitive heart to observe any co-operation in his plans for the benefit of the young, the Editor compiled a Gazetteer, and, as a

XI editor’s preface.

small tribute of respect, dedicated the first edition, in 1807, to this revered father-in-law. This he frequently men¬ tioned as being the most gratifying offering he had ever received, and requested that in every succeeding edition it might be continued, as a memorial of the mutual esteem which subsisted between himself and the Editor, and of that filial attention with which he had been invariably solaced and cheered.

The Editor has expressed, at October 12, page 419, his opinion of this friend, of whose virtues he shall never cease to think but with affection, and whose loss he ever shall deplore with unfeigned concern, consoling himself, how¬ ever, with the consciousness of having, while he was living , deserved his esteem by actively and zealously assisting him for more than 30 years in his arduous duties.

Rather let him whose proffer’d love would claim The festive honours of fair friendship’s name,

While life remains , each kind attention show,

And, ere too late, what friendship asks, bestow.

Though this work is principally intended for youth, and as an incitement to the perusal of more copious and me¬ thodical, historical, and biographical performances, yet it is presumed that the veteran in literature may be most use¬ fully reminded of much former knowledge, and led into many new trains of thought, and that the judicious teacher may impart every day a considerable portion of instruction, by communicating some additional information connected with the event of the day.

T. BOURN.

ERRATA.

Page 15, line 36, for Pantalogia read “ Pantologia.” 67, Feb. 22, for 1721 read “ 1371.”

315, line 1, for pemanship read “penmanship.” 492, line 16, for January read “ February.”