WHEN LONDON BURNED
By G. A. Henty
CONTENTS
CHAPTER II — A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
CHAPTER III — A THIEF SOMEWHERE
CHAPTER VII — SAVED FROM A VILLAIN
CHAPTER VIII — THE CAPTAIN'S YARN
CHAPTER IX — THE FIRE IN THE SAVOY
CHAPTER X — HOW JOHN WILKES FOUGHT THE DUTCH
CHAPTER XIII — THE BATTLE OF LOWESTOFT
CHAPTER XIV — HONOURABLE SCARS
CHAPTER XVIII — A STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE
CHAPTER XIX — TAKING POSSESSION
CHAPTER XX — THE FIGHT OFF DUNKIRK
CHAPTER XXI — LONDON IN FLAMES
PREFACE
We are accustomed to regard the Reign of Charles II. as one of the most inglorious periods of English History; but this was far from being the case. It is true that the extravagance and profligacy of the Court were carried to a point unknown before or since, forming,—by the indignation they excited among the people at large,—the main cause of the overthrow of the House of Stuart. But, on the other hand, the nation made extraordinary advances in commerce and wealth, while the valour of our sailors was as conspicuous under the Dukes of York and Albemarle, Prince Rupert and the Earl of Sandwich, as it had been under Blake himself, and their victories resulted in transferring the commercial as well as the naval supremacy of Holland to this country. In spite of the cruel blows inflicted on the well-being of the country, alike by the extravagance of the Court, the badness of the Government, the Great Plague, and the destruction of London by fire, an extraordinary extension of our trade occurred