some time previously；and then England decided to give up the strife.A treaty was drawn up，by which the independence of the States was acknowledged.A general peace soon followed，embracing not onlyAmerica，but also France，Spain，and Holland，which，during the struggle with the States，had been united against England.
7.The United States of America then set up a Republic，the head of which is a President，who is elected for a term of four years.George Washington was the first President.After his first term of office，he was re-elected for other four years.
8.England，once more at rest from war，was prosperous at home，and was following the arts of peace；but a fresh source of trouble arose when a terrible Revolution broke out in France，which threw Europe into the deepest gloom.At Paris，a mob，excited by poverty and bad government，rose against King Louis the Sixteenth，whom，with his Queen，they beheaded.
9.France was declared a Republic，the law was set at nought，and a number of fearful events followed during twenty-two years，by which nations were shaken，thrones were overturned，and fertile districts were drenched in blood.
a Yorktown.-In Virginia；50miles south-east of Richmond.
b Saratoga.-In New York State；32miles north of Albany，and the same distance from Lake Champlain.
中文阅读
1.乔治三世是已故英王的孙子。他22岁那年继承王位，当时英国已经成为世界上最强大的国家。英国在“七年战争”期间与普鲁士结盟，对付奥地利、俄国和法国联军，获得了25个岛屿、9座城市和1200万英磅的财富。双方通过签订《巴黎和约》重新恢复和平。
2.随后便爆发了英国与美洲移民的著名争端。尽管美洲移民并没有向英国国会派遣议员，但英国政府却宣称有权向他们征税，并由此通过了《印花税法》。这种做法激起了一股愤怒声讨的浪潮，以至于该法案被迫取消。但是，英国仍然声索征税权，虽然皮特、福克斯和伯克都不断提醒政府，但政府仍然向茶叶和其他进口到美洲的商品收税。
3.然而，美洲人民拒绝交税。从英国运往波士顿a的几船交过税的茶叶，在波士顿港口被一帮化妆成“印第安红鬼”的当地居民掀翻到船外。英国决定用武力征服这些移民，于是派出了大量军队。
4.美洲人招募了一支军队用于自卫，受乔治·华盛顿指挥。随后，他们起草了《独立宣言》，形成了由十三个州组成的联邦，取名为美利坚合众国。
5.一场你死我活的斗争进行了七年，期间进行了许多血腥的战役。最后，带着7000英军的康沃利斯男爵b在约克敦c被华盛顿包围，并被迫投降。
6.另一支由伯戈因d率领的英国军队，不久前已经在萨拉托加e投降，于是，英国决定结束战争。英国起草了和约，声明承认美利坚合众国独立。随之而来的是广泛的和平，其中不仅包括美国，而且还包括法国、西班牙和荷兰。这些国家在战争中与美国作对，现在都联合起来反对英国。
7.美利坚合众国于是成立了共和政府，政府的首脑是总统，由民选产生，任期四年。乔治·华盛顿是首任总统。他第一届任职期满后，又再次当选总统任职四年。
8.再次远离战争的英国国内欣欣向荣，并深谙和平之道。但是，当将整个欧洲笼罩在最浓重阴云中的可怕的大革命在法国爆发时，又出现了新的苦难之源。在巴黎，一群暴徒受穷苦人和无为政府的煽动，起而反对国王路易十六，将国王和王后一起送上断头台。
9.法国宣布成立共和国，法律毫无作用，而在二十二年期间，一连串可怕的事件接二连三发生。这些事件动摇了国家根基，推翻了王权，使富饶的土地被鲜血浸透。
a 波士顿：马萨诸塞州首府。
b 查尔斯·康沃利斯（1738~1805）：美国革命中指挥北卡罗来纳州士兵的英国军事和政治领导人。1781年在约克敦投降，标志着英国的最终失败。--译者注c 约克敦：位于弗吉尼亚州，里士满东南50英里处。
d 约翰·伯戈因（1722~1792）：英国将军和戏剧家，美国独立战争期间占领了提康德罗加要塞，但在萨拉托加战役中失守。《女继承人》（1786年）是他最受欢迎的剧本。--译者注e 萨拉托加：位于纽约州，奥尔巴尼北部32英里处，离尚普兰湖也有同样的距离。
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THE TEA CHESTS OF BOSTON
波士顿的茶叶箱
accomplish，effect.ammunition，powder and shot.announced，made known.cargo，ship’s load.
costume，dress.
determined，resolved.
intention，purpose.
muster，gathering.
precaution，plan；step taken be forehand.
retreating，retiring.
unavailing，useless.
1.A ship once sailed into Boston Harbour，on the North American shore，having a cargo of one hundred chests of tea.It came to anchor close to a place called Griffin‘s Wharf.The people of the town，angry at taxation which the British Government was trying to impose on them，determined that they would allow no tea，which was one of the things taxed，to be landed.They placed a guard on the wharf，with orders to ring the alarum-bell if any attempt should be made by night to bring the chests ashore.Two other ships laden with tea also arrived，and were moored close by.
2.As the intention of the people was to send all the tea back to England，the merchant to whom these cargoes had been sent asked the Governor ofathe castle for a certificate of clearance，without which the ships could notleave the harbour.This demand Was rejected by the Governor，who said that it would be dishonouring to the laws and to the King to grant such a certificate.
3.When this reply was announced in the public assembly of the citizens，a man in the gallery，who was dressed and painted like an Indian，gave a war-whoop，which brought the whole mass of people to their feet in an instant.They rushed down to the wharf；and then about twenty other men，who were in fact either sailors or carpenters，but who had disguised themselves in thecostume of the red men，went on board the tea-ships with hammers and chisels in their hands，and in less than two hours broke open and emptied into the sea three hundred and forty chests.
a Certificate of clearance.-A writing to show that a ship has been cleared at the custom-house.
4.There was little noise，and no injury whatever was done to the ships or to their crews.A great crowd stood on the wharf，“watching the harbour grow black；”and，when all was over，each man went home to think of the results likely to spring from a step so daring and decided.
5.One evening in April，a party of British officers left the city of Boston，which was then held for King George the Third，by General Gage，for the purpose，to all appearance，of dining at the townaof Cambridge，and passing a pleasant
evening there.Their real object was to
b
guard the roads leading to Concord，
lest any messengers from Boston might give warning that a British force would advance that ver y night to seize and destroy the arms and ammunition which had been collected there by the colonists.The precaution，however，was unavailing；for men who knew the country reached Lexington，and there bells began toring and cannon to fire the alarm，which soon spread far and wide.
