e of these wars,
with that of the American Revolution, the National Debt of Great
Britain rose to a height which rendered the burden of taxation
well-nigh insupportable.

The second war with the United States in 1812 made America independent
on the sea, and eventually compelled England to give up her assumed
right to search American vessels. The two greatest reforms of the
period were the abolition of the slave trade and the mitigation of the
laws against debt and crime; the chief material improvement was the
extension of canals and the application of steam to manufacturing and
to navigation. The "Industrial Revolution" transformed the North of
England.

GEORGE IV--1820-1830

569. Accession and Character of George IV.

George IV, eldest son of the late King, came to the throne in his
fifty-eighth year; but, owing to his father's insanity, he had
virtually been King for nearly ten years (S567). His habits of life
had made him a selfish, dissolute spendthrift, who, like Charles II,
cared only for pleasure. Though while Prince of Wales he had received
for many years an income upwards of 100,000 pounds, which was largely
increased at a later period, yet he was always hopelessly in debt.

Parliament (1795) appropriated over 600,000 pounds to relieve him from
his most pressing creditors, but his wild extravagance soon involved
him in difficulties again, so that had it not been for help given by
the long-suffering taxpayers, His Royal Highness must have become as
bankrupt in purse as he was in character.

After his accession matters became worse rather than better. At his
coronation, which cost the nation over 200,000 pounds, he appeared in
hired jewels, which he forgot to return, and which Parliament had to
pay for. Not only did he waste the nation's money more recklessly
than ever, but he used whatever political influence he had to
opposesuch measures of reform as the times demanded.

570. Discontent; the "Manchester Massacre" (1819).

When (1811) George, then Prince of Wales, became regent (S567), he
desired to form a Whig ministry, not because he cared for Whig
principles (S479), but solely because he would thereby be acting in
opposition to his father's wishes. Finding his purpose impracticable,
he accepted Tory rule (S479), and a Cabinet (S534) was formed with
Lord Liverpool as Prime Minister. It had for its main object the
continued exclusion of Catholics from representation in