was, the lessening of the duties, or taxes, on many articles of necessity, thereby reducing their prices, so that the poor people could live much better than they had formerly.
16. The harvests were also plentiful for several years, so that bread was very cheap, and the prices of all kinds of clothing were less than in previous years.
17. Upon the whole, there had never been a better time in England than the seven years that William the Fourth occupied the throne. He died in 1837, and was succeeded by her present Majesty, queen Victoria, who was the daughter of his deceased brother, the Duke of Kent.
18. In 1840, she married her cousin, Prince Albert, of Saxe Coburg and Gotha. Their family now consists of eight children, four princes, and four princesses.
19. The most remarkable events that have yet happened in the reign of queen Victoria, are the wars in China and India: but I ought to have mentioned an alteration made in the last reign, with regard to the East India trade, which you, perhaps, remember was carried on solely by the East India Company, according to a charter granted by queen Elizabeth, and renewed, from time to time, by other sovereigns.
20. In 1813, however, it was made lawful for
