Page:History of the Kings & Queens of England and Scotland.pdf/19

 claration of independence on the fourth of July, 1776. The Americans were unsuccessful in the south, but in the north, General Burgoyne surrendered to General Gates at Saratoga, who after this was enabled to send reinforcements to Washington in the south, which made him more than a match for his opponents. France after this acknowledged the independence of the United States, and was followed by Spain and Holland.

In 1780 some serious riots took place in London, in consequence of the repeal of certain penal laws against the Roman Catholics, when after destroying Romish chapels, burning the prisons, &c., the mob were dispersed after a great many of their numbers were killed and wounded. In America Lord Cornwallis was attacked by the armies of France and America at York-town, and forced to surrender. The French navy was almost entirely destroyed by Rodney's victory over Count de Grasse, in the West Indies. At home, Lord North, not being supported by parliament, resigned; and after other ministerial changes, the independence of the United States was acknowledged, and peace concluded in 1783. After this, the celebrated William Pitt, second son of William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, came into office. In 1788 the king was seized with a serious illness, which unfitted him for the duties of government; and after some warm debates about a regency, he unexpectedly recovered. After this, one of the most important events recorded in history took place; that is the French Revolution, to attempt to give any account of which would far exceed our limits; suffice it to say, that it produced a war in which Great Britain took a prominent part. The French, who had put their king and his queen to death, and established a