The Dog and the Water Lilies

By William Cowper

William Cowper told Lady Hesketh about a walk beside the river at Olney, and the affecting behaviour of his spaniel Beau.

A False Economy

By Samuel Smiles

Thomas Telford told the parish council of St Chad’s Church in Shrewsbury that their leaky roof was the last thing they should worry about.

The First Fleet

By John Patience Chard

Having brought hundreds of convicts to New South Wales, Arthur Phillip then had to conjure order out of their chaos.

The Founding of Australia

By Clay Lane

Within little more than half a century a British penal colony turned into a prosperous, free-trade democracy.