Topographical, Geographical, Historical and otherwise,

ON THE

COLONIAL EMPIRE

OF

GREAT BRITAIN.

Compiled for Use in Primary and other Schools,

Head Master of the Blue Coat Hospital, Warrington.

AUTHOR OF "A Text Book of the Geography of Palestine," &c.
"Notes,
Questions and Answers on the Church Catechism." "The School
Treasurer's Account Book." "The School Register of Conduct,
Progress, Punctuality, Cleanliness," &c.

(SECOND EDITION, REVISED AND CORRECTED.)

"Far as the breeze can bear the billow's foam,
Survey our Empire, and behold our home!'

PUBLISHED BY

THE EDUCATIONAL TRADING COMPANY, LIMITED, 29 AND 30, UNION STREET, BIRMINGHAM.

LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO.

226. K. 140.

BIRMINGHAM:

JAMES UPTON, PRINTER, GREAT CHARLES STREET.

INTRODUCTION.

HE BRITISH EMPIRE consists of Great Britain

THE

and Ireland, together with numerous possessions in various parts of the world. The foreign possessions are sometimes distinguished as Colonies and Dependencies.

The term COLONY (from colo, I cultivate, till, or inhabit) is used to signify-Ist, a body of people sent from the mother country to cultivate and inhabit distant land; and 2ndly, the country so colonized.

A DEPENDENCY is a foreign possession inhabited by nations who have become the subjects of another country.

The Colonies and Dependencies have been acquired either by Conquest, Cession, Purchase, or Settlement.

The Colonies, with the exception of India and Hudson Bay Territory, are under the control of the Colonial Office. India is managed by the India Board, and Hudson Bay Territory by the company whose name it bears. The Queen appoints a Governor for each Colony, who is assisted by a Legislative Council, consisting of some of the leading Colonists. This Council is nominated by the Governor, but sanctioned by the Queen. In Colonies possessing a large British population, self-government is encouraged, and Representative Assemblies, similar to our House of Commons, are established. Colonies which do not possess such assemblies are called Crown Colonies.

iv.

The British flag floats over, at least, one fourth of the whole globe, and over no less than three hundred millions of human beings! Our beloved Queen rules over an empire greater than the greatest of the present or past ages, the population of which exceeds by thirty millions, that of all the states in Europe put together! Classifying this population, we find it contains more Roman Catholics than the Pope rules over; more Mahommedans than the Sultan of Turkey governs ; and more Pagans than are contained in the whole continent of Africa!

GREAT BRITAIN & IRELAND.

HIS group is the centre of the British Empire, and the HOME of industry and bravery, liberty and patriotism. Britons have carried their language, religion, government, laws, and other institutions to the most distant parts of the earth. For art, science, and literature, no land has surpassed, if any has equalled, that which the poet eloquently calls,

"Shakespeare's home and Alfred's realm.

Land where our Chaucer, Spencer, Milton sang,
Where infant truth decked Wickliffe's warrior helm,
Where Bacon burst man's age-worn spirit's film;
Footstool of Newton, while he spanned the sky-
Cradle of glorious names, that fill and whelm
A Briton's heart with love, and pride, and joy."

I.-HELIGOLAND (i.e. HOLY LAND), WITH A SMALL ADJACENT ISLET.

SITUATION. In the German Ocean, about 36 miles N.W. from the mouths of the rivers Elbe and Weser. Lat. 54° II' 36" N.; Long. 7° 53' 12' E.