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diff --git a/16028-h/16028-h.htm b/16028-h/16028-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8bffe90 --- /dev/null +++ b/16028-h/16028-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,14244 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 12, No. 73, November, 1863. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 1em;} + .poem span.i17 {display: block; margin-left: 17em;} + .poem span.i3 {display: block; margin-left: 3em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Atlantic Monthly, Volume 12, No. 73, +November, 1863, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Atlantic Monthly, Volume 12, No. 73, November, 1863 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: June 9, 2005 [EBook #16028] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ATLANTIC MONTHLY, VOLUME 12 *** + + + + +Produced by Cornell University, Joshua Hutchinson, Josephine +Paolucci and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<p><a name="Page_543" id="Page_543"></a></p> +<h1>THE</h1> + +<h1>ATLANTIC MONTHLY.</h1> + +<h2>A MAGAZINE OF LITERATURE, ART, AND POLITICS.</h2> + +<h3>VOL. XII.—NOVEMBER, 1863.—NO. LXXIII.</h3> + +<p>Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by TICKNOR AND +FIELDS, in the Clerk's Office +of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.</p> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p> +<a href="#THE_SPANIARD_AND_THE_HERETIC"><b>THE SPANIARD AND THE HERETIC.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#WEARINESS"><b>WEARINESS.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#MRS_LEWIS"><b>MRS. LEWIS.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#THE_FORMATION_OF_GLACIERS"><b>THE FORMATION OF GLACIERS.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#TWO_SCENES_FROM_THE_LIFE_OF_BLONDEL"><b>TWO SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF BLONDEL.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#NIGHT_AND_MOONLIGHT"><b>NIGHT AND MOONLIGHT.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#ANDANTE"><b>ANDANTE.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#THE_BROTHERS"><b>THE BROTHERS.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#THE_SAM_ADAMS_REGIMENTS_IN_THE_TOWN_OF_BOSTON_CONCLUDED"><b>THE SAM ADAMS REGIMENTS IN THE TOWN OF BOSTON.—CONCLUDED.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#WET-WEATHER_WORK"><b>WET-WEATHER WORK.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#THE_FRENCH_STRUGGLE_FOR_NAVAL_AND_COLONIAL_POWER"><b>THE FRENCH STRUGGLE FOR NAVAL AND COLONIAL POWER.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#SOMETHING_LEFT_UNDONE"><b>SOMETHING LEFT UNDONE.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#THE_GREAT_INSTRUMENT"><b>THE GREAT INSTRUMENT.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#THE_KINGS_WINE"><b>THE KING'S WINE.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#MONOGRAPH_FROM_AN_OLD_NOTE-BOOK_WITH_A_POSTSCRIPT"><b>MONOGRAPH FROM AN OLD NOTE-BOOK; WITH A POSTSCRIPT.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#REVIEWS_AND_LITERARY_NOTICES"><b>REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTICES.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#RECENT_AMERICAN_PUBLICATIONS"><b>RECENT AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS</b></a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SPANIARD_AND_THE_HERETIC" id="THE_SPANIARD_AND_THE_HERETIC"></a>THE SPANIARD AND THE HERETIC.</h2> + +<p>[In the August number of the "Atlantic," under the title of +"The Fleur-de-Lis in Florida," will be found a narrative +of the Huguenot attempts to occupy that country, which, +exciting the jealousy of Spain, gave rise to the crusade +whose history is recorded below.]</p> + + +<p>The monk, the inquisitor, the Jesuit, +these were the lords of Spain,—sovereigns +of her sovereign, for they had formed +and fed the dark and narrow mind +of that tyrannical recluse. They had +formed and fed the minds of her people, +quenched in blood every spark of rising +heresy, and given over a noble nation to +bigotry, dark, blind, inexorable as the +doom of fate. Linked with pride, ambition, +avarice, every passion of a rich, +strong nature, potent for good and ill, it +made the Spaniard of that day a scourge +as dire as ever fell on man.</p> + +<p>Day was breaking on the world. Light, +hope, freedom, pierced with vitalizing ray +the clouds and the miasma that hung so +thick over the prostrate Middle Age, +once noble and mighty, now a foul image +of decay and death. Kindled with new +life, the nations teemed with a progeny +of heroes, and the stormy glories of the +sixteenth century rose on awakened Europe. +But Spain was the citadel of +darkness,—a monastic cell, an inquisitorial +dungeon, where no ray could pierce. +She was the bulwark of the Church, +against whose adamantine front the wrath<a name="Page_544" id="Page_544"></a> +of innovation beat in vain. In every +country of Europe the party of freedom +and reform was the national party, the +party of reaction and absolutism was the +Spanish party, leaning on Spain, looking +to her for help. Above all, it was so +in France; and while within her bounds +there was a semblance of peace, the national +and religious rage burst forth on a +wilder theatre. Thither it is for us to +follow it, where, on the shores of Florida, +the Spaniard and the Frenchman, the +bigot and the Huguenot, met in the grapple +of death.</p> + +<p>In a corridor of the Escurial, Philip +II. was met by a man who had long stood +waiting his approach, and who with proud +reverence placed a petition in the hand +of the pale and sombre King. The petitioner +was Pedro Menendez de Aviles, +one of the ablest and most distinguished +officers of the Spanish marine. He was +born of an ancient Asturian family. His +boyhood had been wayward, ungovernable, +and fierce. He ran off at eight +years of age, and when, after a search +of six months, he was found and brought +back, he ran off again. This time he +was more successful, escaping on board a +fleet bound against the Barbary corsairs, +when his precocious appetite for blood +and blows had reasonable contentment. +A few years later, he found means to +build a small vessel in which he cruised +against the corsairs and the French, and, +though still little more than a boy, displayed +a singular address and daring. +The wonders of the New World now seized +his imagination. He made a voyage +thither, and the ships under his charge +came back freighted with wealth. War +with France was then at its height. As +captain-general of the fleet, he was sent +with troops to Flanders, and to their +prompt arrival was due, it is said, the +victory of St. Quentin, Two years later, +he commanded the luckless armada +which bore back Philip to his native +shore, and nearly drowned him in a storm +off the port of Laredo. This mischance, +or his own violence and insubordination, +wrought to the prejudice of Menendez. +He complained that his services were ill +repaid. Philip lent him a favoring ear, +and despatched him to the Indies as general +of the fleet and army. Here he +found means to amass vast riches; and, +in 1561, returning to Spain, charges were +brought against him of a nature which +his too friendly biographer does not explain. +The Council of the Indies arrested +him. He was imprisoned and sentenced +<a name="Page_545" id="Page_545"></a>to a heavy fine, but, gaining his +release, hastened to Madrid to throw himself +on the royal clemency.</p> + +<p>His petition was most graciously received. +Philip restored his command, +but remitted only half his fine, a strong +presumption of his guilt.</p> + +<p>Menendez kissed the royal hand; he +had still a petition in reserve. His son +had been wrecked near the Bermudas, +and he would fain go thither to find tidings +of his fate. The pious King bade +him trust in God, and promised that he +should be despatched without delay to +the Bermudas and to Florida with a commission +to make an exact survey of those +perilous seas for the profit of future voyagers; +but Menendez was ill content with +such an errand. He knew, he said, nothing +of greater moment to His Majesty +than the conquest and settlement of Florida. +The climate was healthful, the soil +fertile; and, worldly advantages aside, it +was peopled by a race sunk in the thickest +shades of infidelity. "Such grief," +he pursued, "seizes me, when I behold +this multitude of wretched Indians, that +I should choose the conquest and settling +of Florida above all commands, offices, +and dignities which your Majesty might +bestow." Those who think this hypocrisy +do not know the Spaniard of the sixteenth +century.</p> + +<p>The King was edified by his zeal. An +enterprise of such spiritual and temporal +promise was not to be slighted, and Menendez +was empowered to conquer and +convert Florida at his own cost. The +conquest was to be effected within three +years. Menendez was to take with him +five hundred men, and supply them with +five hundred slaves, besides horses, cattle, +sheep, and hogs. Villages were to +be built, with forts to defend them; and +sixteen ecclesiastics, of whom four should +be Jesuits, were to form the nucleus of +a Floridian church. The King, on his +part, granted Menendez free trade with +Hispaniola, Porto Rico, Cuba, and Spain, +the office of Adelantado of Florida for +life, joined to the right of naming his successor, +and large emoluments to be drawn +from the expected conquest.</p> + +<p>The compact struck, Menendez hastened +to his native Asturias to raise money +among his relatives. Scarcely was +he gone, when tidings for the first time +reached Madrid that Florida was already +occupied by a colony of French Protestants, +and that a reinforcement, under +Ribaut, was on <a name="Page_546" id="Page_546"></a>the point of sailing thither. +A French historian of high authority +declares that these advices came from +the Catholic party at the French court, +in whom all sense of the national interest +and honor was smothered under their +hatred of Coligny and the Huguenots. +Of this there can be little doubt, though +information also came from the buccaneer +Frenchmen captured in the West +Indies.</p> + +<p>Foreigners had invaded the territory +of Spain. The trespassers, too, were +heretics, foes of God and liegemen of the +Devil. Their doom was fixed. But how +would France endure an assault, in time +of peace, on subjects who had gone forth +on an enterprise sanctioned by the crown, +undertaken in its name, and under its +commission?</p> + +<p>The throne of France, where the corruption +of the nation seemed gathered to +a head, was trembling between the two +parties of the Catholics and the Huguenots, +whose chiefs aimed at royalty. Flattering +both, caressing both, betraying +both, playing one against the other, Catherine +de Médicis, by a thousand crafty +arts and expedients of the moment, sought +to retain the crown on the heads of her +weak and vicious sons. Of late her crooked +policy had drawn her towards the +Catholic party, in other words, the party +of Spain; and already she had given ear +to the savage Duke of Alva, urging her +to the course which, seven years later, +led to the carnage of St. Bartholomew. +In short, the Spanish policy was ascendant, +and no thought of the national interest +or honor could restrain that basest +of courts from consigning by hundreds to +the national enemy those whom, itself, +it was meditating to immolate by thousands.</p> + +<p>Menendez was summoned back in haste +to the court. There was counsel, deep +and ominous, in the chambers of the Escurial. +His force must be strengthened. +Three hundred and ninety-four men were +added at the royal charge, and a corresponding +number of transport and supply +ships. It was a holy war, a crusade, +and as such was preached by priest and +monk along the western coasts of Spain. +All the Biscayan ports flamed with zeal, +and adventurers crowded to enroll themselves; +since to plunder heretics is good +for the soul as well as the purse, and +broil and massacre have double attraction, +when promoted to a means of salvation: +a fervor, deep and hot, but not +of celestial kindling; nor yet that buoyant +<a name="Page_547" id="Page_547"></a>and inspiring zeal, which, when the +Middle Age was in its youth and prime, +glowed in the soul of Tancred, Godfrey, +and St. Louis, and which, when its day +was long since past, could still find its +home in the great heart of Columbus. A +darker spirit urged the new crusade,—born, +not of hope, but of fear, slavish in +its nature, the creature and the tool of +despotism. For the typical Spaniard of +the sixteenth century was not in strictness +a fanatic; he was bigotry incarnate.</p> + +<p>Heresy was a plague-spot, an ulcer to +be eradicated with fire and the knife, +and this foul abomination was infecting +the shores which the Vicegerent of Christ +had given to the King of Spain, and which +the Most Catholic King had given to +the Adelantado. Thus would countless +heathen tribes be doomed to an eternity +of flame, shut out from that saving communion +with Holy Church, to which, by +the sword and the whip and the fagot, +dungeons and slavery, they would otherwise +have been mercifully driven, to the +salvation of their souls, and the greater +glory of God. And, for the Adelantado +himself, should the vast outlays, the vast +debts, of his bold Floridian venture be +all in vain? Should his fortunes be +wrecked past redemption through these +tools of Satan? As a Catholic, as a +Spaniard, as an adventurer, his course +was clear. Woe, then, to the Huguenot +in the gripe of Pedro Menendez!</p> + +<p>But what was the scope of this enterprise, +and the limits of the Adelantado's +authority? He was invested with power +almost absolute, not merely over the +peninsula which now retains the name of +Florida, but over all North America, from +Labrador to Mexico,—for this was the +Florida of the old Spanish geographers, +and the Florida designated in the commission +of Menendez. It was a continent +which he was to conquer and occupy out +of his own purse. The impoverished King +contracted with his daring and ambitious +subject to win and hold for him the territory +of the future United States and +British Provinces. His plan, as subsequently +developed and exposed at length +in his unpublished letters to Philip II., +was, first, to plant a garrison at Port +Royal, and next to fortify strongly on +Chesapeake Bay, called by him St. Mary's. +He believed that this bay was an +arm of the sea, running northward and +eastward, and communicating with the +Gulf of St. Lawrence, thus making New +England, with adjacent districts, an island. +His proposed fort on the Chesapeake, +giving access, by this imaginary +passage, to the seas of Newfoundland, +would enable the Spaniards to command +the fisheries, on which both the French<a name="Page_548" id="Page_548"></a> +and the English had long encroached, to +the great prejudice of Spanish rights. +Doubtless, too, these inland waters gave +access to the South Sea, and their occupation +was necessary to prevent the +French from penetrating thither; for that +ambitious people, since the time of Cartier, +had never abandoned their schemes +of seizing this portion of the dominions +of the King of Spain. Five hundred +soldiers and one hundred sailors must, +he urges, take possession, without delay, +of Port Royal and the Chesapeake.</p> + +<p>Preparation for his enterprise was +pushed with a furious energy. His force +amounted to two thousand six hundred +and forty-six persons, in thirty-four vessels, +one of which, the San Pelayo, bearing +Menendez himself, was of more than +nine hundred tons' burden, and is described +as one of the finest ships afloat. +There were twelve Franciscans and eight +Jesuits, besides other ecclesiastics; and +many knights of Galicia, Biscay, and the +Asturias bore part in the expedition. +With a slight exception, the whole was +at the Adelantado's charge. Within the +first fourteen months, according to his +admirer, Barcia, the adventure cost him +a million ducats.</p> + +<p>Before the close of the year, Sancho +de Arciniega was commissioned to join +Menendez with an additional force of +fifteen hundred men.</p> + +<p>Red-hot with a determined purpose, +he would brook no delay. To him, says +the chronicler, every day seemed a year. +He was eager to anticipate Ribaut, of +whose designs and whose force he seems +to have been informed to the minutest +particular, but whom he hoped to thwart +and ruin by gaining Fort Caroline before +him. With eleven ships, then, he sailed +from Cadiz on the 29th of June, 1565, +leaving the smaller vessels of his fleet to +follow with what speed they might. He +touched first at the Canaries, and on the +eighth of July left them, steering for +Dominica. A minute account of the +voyage has come down to us from the +pen of Mendoza, chaplain of the expedition, +a somewhat dull and illiterate person, +who busily jots down the incidents +of each passing day, and is constantly +betraying, with a certain awkward simplicity, +how the cares of this world and +the next jostle each other in his thoughts.</p> + +<p>On Friday, the twentieth of July, a +storm fell upon them with appalling fury. +The pilots lost head, the sailors gave +themselves up to their terrors. Throughout +the night, they beset Mendoza for +confession and absolution, a boon not easily +granted, for the seas swept the crowded +decks in cataracts of foam, and the +shriekings of the gale in the rigging +drowned the exhortations of the half-drowned +priest. Cannon, cables, spars, +water-casks, were th<a name="Page_549" id="Page_549"></a>rown overboard, and +the chests of the sailors would have followed, +had not the latter, despite their +fright, raised such a howl of remonstrance +that the order was revoked. At length +day dawned. At least there was light +to die by. Plunging, reeling, half submerged, +quivering under the crashing +shock of the seas, whose mountain ridges +rolled down upon her before the gale, +the ship lay in deadly jeopardy from Friday +till Monday noon. Then the storm +abated; the sun broke forth; and again +she held her course.</p> + +<p>They reached Dominica on Sunday, +the fifth of August. The chaplain tells +us how he went on shore to refresh himself,—how, +while his Italian servant +washed his linen at a brook, he strolled +along the beach and picked up shells,—and +how he was scared, first, by a prodigious +turtle, and next by a vision of +the cannibal natives, which caused his +prompt retreat to the boats.</p> + +<p>On the tenth, they anchored in the +harbor of Porto Rico, where they found +two of their companion-ships, from which +they had parted in the storm. One of +them was the San Pelayo, with Menendez +on board. Mendoza informs us that +in the evening the officers came on board +his ship, when he, the chaplain, regaled +them with sweetmeats, and that Menendez +invited him not only to supper that +night, but to dinner the next day, "for +the which I thanked him, as reason was," +says the gratified churchman.</p> + +<p>Here thirty men deserted, and three +priests also ran off, of which Mendoza +bitterly complains, as increasing his own +work. The motives of the clerical truants +may perhaps be inferred from a +worldly temptation to which the chaplain +himself was subjected. "I was offered +the service of a chapel where I should +have got a <i>peso</i> for every mass I said, +the whole year round; but I did not accept +it, for fear that what I hear said of +the other three would be said of me. +Besides, it is not a place where one can +hope for any great advancement, and I +wished to try whether, in refusing a benefice +for the love of the Lord, He will not +repay me with some other stroke of fortune +before the end of the voyage; for it +is my aim to serve God and His blessed +Mother."</p> + +<p>The original design had been to rendezvous +at Havana, but, with the Adelantado, +the advantages of despatch outweighed +every other consideration. He +resolved to push directly for Florida. +<a name="Page_550" id="Page_550"></a>Five of his scattered ships had by this +time rejoined company, comprising, exclusive +of officers, a force of about five +hundred soldiers, two hundred sailors, +and one hundred colonists. Bearing northward, +he advanced by an unknown and +dangerous course along the coast of Hayti +and through the intricate passes of the +Bahamas. On the night of the twenty-sixth, +the San Pelayo struck three times +on the shoals; "but," says the chaplain, +"inasmuch as our enterprise was undertaken +for the sake of Christ and His blessed +Mother, two heavy seas struck her +abaft, and set her afloat again."</p> + +<p>At length the ships lay becalmed in +the Bahama Channel, slumbering on the +dead and glassy sea, torpid with the heats +of a West-Indian August. Menendez called +a council of the commanders. There +was doubt and indecision. Perhaps Ribaut +had already reached the French +fort, and then to attack the united force +would be a stroke of desperation. Far +better to await their lagging comrades. +But the Adelantado was of another mind; +and, even had his enemy arrived, he was +resolved that he should have no time to +fortify himself.</p> + +<p>"It is God's will," he said, "that our +victory should be due, not to our numbers, +but to His all-powerful aid. Therefore +has He stricken us with tempests and +scattered our ships." And he gave his +voice for instant advance.</p> + +<p>There was much dispute; even the +chaplain remonstrated; but nothing could +bend the iron will of Menendez. Nor +was a sign of celestial approval wanting. +At nine in the evening, a great meteor +burst forth in mid-heaven, and, blazing +like the sun, rolled westward towards the +Floridian coast. The fainting spirits of +the crusaders were kindled anew. Diligent +preparation was begun. Prayers +and masses were said; and, that the temporal +arm might not be wanting, the men +were daily practised on deck in shooting +at marks, in order, says the chronicle, +that the recruits might learn not to be +afraid of their guns.</p> + +<p>The dead calm continued. "We were +all very tired," says the chaplain, "and +I above all, with praying to God for a +fair wind. To-day, at about two in the +afternoon, He took pity on us, and sent +us a breeze." Before night they saw land,—the +faint line of forest, traced along +the watery horizon, that marked the coast +of Florida. But where in all this vast<a name="Page_551" id="Page_551"></a> +monotony was the lurking-place of the +French? Menendez anchored, and sent +fifty men ashore, who presently found a +band of Indians in the woods, and gained +from them the needed information. +He stood northward, till, on the afternoon +of Tuesday, the fourth of September, he +descried four ships anchored near the +mouth of a river. It was the river St. +John's, and the ships were four of Ribaut's +squadron. The prey was in sight. The +Spaniards prepared for battle, and bore +down upon the Lutherans; for, with them, +all reformers alike were branded with +the name of the arch-heretic. Slowly, +before the faint breeze, the ships glided +on their way; but while, excited and impatient, +the fierce crews watched the decreasing +space, and while they were still +three leagues from their prize, the air +ceased to stir, the sails flapped against +the mast, a black cloud with thunder rose +above the coast, and the warm rain of +the South descended on the breathless +sea. It was dark before the wind moved +again, and the ships resumed their course. +At half past eleven they reached the +French. The San Pelayo slowly moved +to windward of Ribaut's flag-ship, the +Trinity, and anchored very near her. +The other ships took similar stations. +While these preparations were making, +a work of two hours, the men labored in +silence, and the French, thronging their +gangways, looked on in equal silence. +"Never, since I came into the world," +writes the chaplain, "did I know such a +stillness."</p> + +<p>It was broken, at length, by a trumpet +from the deck of the San Pelayo. A +French trumpet answered. Then Menendez, +"with much courtesy," says his +Spanish eulogist, demanded, "Gentlemen, +whence does this fleet come?"</p> + +<p>"From France," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"What are you doing here?" pursued +the Adelantado.</p> + +<p>"Bringing soldiers and supplies for a +fort which the King of France has in +this country, and for many others which +he soon will have."</p> + +<p>"Are you Catholics or Lutherans?"</p> + +<p>Many voices cried together, "Lutherans, +of the new religion"; then, in their +turn, they demanded who Menendez was, +and whence he came. The latter answered,—</p> + +<p>"I am Pedro Menendez, General of +the fleet of the King of Spain, Don Philip +the Second, who have come to this +country to <a name="Page_552" id="Page_552"></a>hang and behead all Lutherans +whom I shall find by land or sea, according +to instructions from my King, so +precise that I have power to pardon none +whomsoever; and these commands I shall +fulfil, as you shall know. At daybreak I +shall board your ships, and if I find there +any Catholic, he shall be well treated; +but every heretic shall die."</p> + +<p>The French with one voice raised a +cry of wrath and defiance.</p> + +<p>"If you are a brave man, don't wait +till day. Come on now, and see what +you will get!"</p> + +<p>And they assailed the Adelantado with +a shower of scoffs and insults.</p> + +<p>Menendez broke into a rage, and gave +the order to board. The men slipped the +cables, and the sullen black hulk of the +San Pelayo drifted down upon the Trinity. +The French by no means made good +their defiance. Indeed, they were incapable +of resistance, Ribaut with his +soldiers being ashore at Fort Caroline. +They cut their cables, left their anchors, +made sail, and fled. The Spaniards fired, +the French replied. The other Spanish +ships had imitated the movement of the +San Pelayo; "but," writes the chaplain, +Mendoza, "these devils run mad are +such adroit sailors, and manœuvred so +well, that we did not catch one of them." +Pursuers and pursued ran out to sea, firing +useless volleys at each other.</p> + +<p>In the morning Menendez gave over +the chase, turned, and, with the San Pelayo +alone, ran back for the St. John's. +But here a welcome was prepared for +him. He saw bands of armed men drawn +up on the beach, and the smaller vessels +of Ribaut's squadron, which had crossed +the bar several days before, anchored behind +it to oppose his landing. He would +not venture an attack, but, steering southward, +skirted the coast till he came to an +inlet which he named St. Augustine.</p> + +<p>Here he found three of his ships, already +debarking their troops, guns, and +stores. Two officers, Patiño and Vicente, +had taken possession of the dwelling of +Seloy, an Indian chief, a huge barn-like +structure, strongly framed of entire trunks +of trees, and thatched with palmetto-leaves. +Around it they were throwing +up intrenchments of fascines and sand. +Gangs of negroes, with pick, shovel, and +spade, were toiling at the work. Such +was the birth of St. Augustine, the oldest +town of the United States, and such +the introduction of slave-labor upon their +soil.</p> + +<p>On the eighth, Menendez took formal +possession of his domain. Cannon were +fired, trumpets sounded, and banners displayed, +as, at the head of his officers and +nobles, he landed in state. Mendoza,<a name="Page_553" id="Page_553"></a> +crucifix in hand, came to meet him, +chanting, "<i>Te Deum laudamus</i>," while +the Adelantado and all his company, +kneeling, kissed the cross, and the congregated +Indians gazed in silent wonder.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the tenants of Fort Caroline +were not idle. Two or three soldiers, +strolling along the beach in the +afternoon, had first seen the Spanish +ships and hastily summoned Ribaut. He +came down to the mouth of the river, followed +by an anxious and excited crowd; +but, as they strained their eyes through +the darkness, they could see nothing but +the flashes of the distant guns. The returning +light showed them at length, far +out at sea, the Adelantado in hot chase +of their flying comrades. Pursuers and +pursued were soon out of sight. The +drums beat to arms. After many hours +of suspense, the San Pelayo reappeared, +hovering about the mouth of the river, +then bearing away towards the south. +More anxious hours ensued, when three +other sail came in sight, and they recognized +three of their own returning ships. +Communication was opened, a boat's crew +landed, and they learned from Captain +Cosette, that, confiding in the speed of +his ship, he had followed the Spaniards +to St. Augustine, reconnoitred their position, +and seen them land their negroes +and intrench themselves.</p> + +<p>In his chamber at Fort Caroline, Laudonnière +lay sick in bed, when Ribaut +entered, and with him La Grange, Ste. +Marie, Ottigny, Yonville, and other officers. +At the bedside of the displaced +commandant they held their council of +war. There were three alternatives: +first, to remain where they were and fortify; +next, to push overland for St. Augustine, +and attack the invaders in their +intrenchments; and, finally, to embark, +and assail them by sea. The first plan +would leave their ships a prey to the +Spaniards; and so too, in all likelihood, +would the second, besides the uncertainties +of an overland march through an +unknown wilderness. By sea, the distance +was short and the route explored. +By a sudden blow they could capture or +destroy the Spanish ships, and master +the troops on shore before their reinforcements +could arrive, and before they had +time to complete their defences.</p> + +<p>Such were the views of Ribaut, with +which, not unnaturally, Laudonnière finds +fault, and Le Moyne, judging by results, +echoes the censures of his chief. And +yet the plan seems as well-conceived as +it was bold, lacking nothing but success. +The Spaniards, stricken with terror, owed +<a name="Page_554" id="Page_554"></a>their safety to the elements, or, as they +affirm, to the special interposition of the +Holy Virgin. Let us be just to Menendez. +He was a leader fit to stand with +Cortés and Pizarro; but he was matched +with a man as cool, skilful, prompt, and +daring as himself. The traces that have +come down to us indicate, in Ribaut, one +far above the common stamp: "a distinguished +man, of many high qualities," as +even the fault-finding Le Moyne calls +him, devout after the best spirit of the +Reform, and with a human heart under +his steel breastplate.</p> + +<p>La Grange and other officers took part +with Laudonnière and opposed the plan +of an attack by sea; but Ribaut's conviction +was unshaken, and the order was +given. All his own soldiers fit for duty +embarked in haste, and with them went +La Caille, Arlac, and, as it seems, Ottigny, +with the best of Laudonnière's +men. Even Le Moyne, though wounded +in the fight with Outina's warriors, went +on board to bear his part in the fray, and +would have sailed with the rest, had not +Ottigny, seeing his disabled condition, +ordered him back to the fort.</p> + +<p>On the tenth, the ships, crowded with +troops, set sail. Ribaut was gone, and +with him the pith and sinew of the colony. +The miserable remnant watched his +receding sails with dreary foreboding, a +foreboding which seemed but too just, +when, on the next day, a storm, more +violent than the Indians had ever known, +howled through the forest and lashed the +ocean into fury, Most forlorn was the +plight of these exiles, left, it might be, +the prey of a band of ferocious bigots +more terrible than the fiercest hordes of +the wilderness. And when night closed +on the stormy river and the gloomy waste +of pines, what dreams of terror may not +have haunted the helpless women who +crouched under the hovels of Fort Caroline!</p> + +<p>The fort was in a ruinous state, the +palisade on the water side broken down, +and three breaches in the rampart. In +the driving rain, urged by the sick Laudonnière, +the men, bedrenched and disheartened, +labored as they might to +strengthen their defences. Their muster-roll +shows but a beggarly array. +"Now," says Laudonnière, "let them +which have bene bold to say that I had +men ynongh left me, so that I had meanes +to defend my selfe, give care a little now +vnto mee, and if they have eyes in their +heads, let them see what men I had." +Of Ribaut's followers left at the fort, +only nine or ten had weapons, while only +two or three knew how to use them. Four +of them were boys, who <a name="Page_555" id="Page_555"></a>kept Ribaut's +dogs, and another was his cook. Besides +these, he had left a brewer, an old crossbow-maker, +two shoemakers, a player on +the spinet, four valets, a carpenter of +threescore—Challeux, no doubt, who +has left us the story of his woes,—and +a crowd of women, children, and eighty-six +camp-followers. To these were added +the remnant of Laudonnière's men, of +whom seventeen could bear arms, the +rest being sick or disabled by wounds +received in the fight with Outina.</p> + +<p>Laudonnière divided his force, such as +it was, into two watches, over which he +placed two officers, St. Cler and La Vigne, +gave them lanterns to go the rounds, and +an hour-glass to set the time; while he +himself, giddy with weakness and fever, +was every night at the guard-room.</p> + +<p>It was the night of the nineteenth of +September; floods of rain bedrenched +the sentries on the rampart, and as day +dawned on the dripping barracks and +deluged parade, the storm increased in +violence. What enemy could have ventured +forth on such a night? La Vigne, +who had the watch, took pity on the sentries +and on himself, dismissed them, and +went to his quarters. He little knew +what mortal energies, urged by ambition, +avarice, bigotry, desperation, will dare +and do.</p> + +<p>To return to the Spaniards at St. Augustine. +On the morning of the eleventh, +the crew of one of their smaller vessels, lying +outside the bar, saw through the twilight +of early dawn two of Ribaut's ships +close upon them. Not a breath of air +was stirring. There was no escape, and +the Spaniards fell on their knees in supplication +to Our Lady of Utrera, explaining +to her that the heretics were upon +them, and begging her to send them a +little wind. "Forthwith," says Mendoza, +"one would have said that Our Lady +herself came down upon the vessel." A +wind sprang up, and the Spaniards found +refuge behind the bar. The returning +day showed to their astonished eyes all +the ships of Ribaut, their decks black +with men, hovering off the entrance of +the port; but Heaven had them in its +charge, and again they experienced its +protecting care. The breeze sent by Our +Lady of Utrera rose to a gale, then to a +furious tempest; and the grateful Adelantado +saw through rack and mist the ships +of his enemy tossed wildly among the +raging waters as they struggled to gain +an offing. With exultation at his heart +the skilful seaman read their danger, and +saw them in his mind's eye dashed to +utter wreck among the sand-bars and +breakers of the lee-shore.</p> + +<p>A bold thought seized him. He would +march overland with five hun<a name="Page_556" id="Page_556"></a>dred men +and attack Fort Caroline while its defenders +were absent. First he ordered a +mass; then he called a council. Doubtless, +it was in that great Indian lodge of +Seloy, where he had made his head-quarters; +and here, in this dim and smoky +concave, nobles, officers, priests, gathered +at his summons. There were fears and +doubts and murmurings, but Menendez +was desperate. Not the mad desperation +that strikes wildly and at random, but +the still red heat that melts and burns +and seethes with a steady, unquenchable +fierceness. "Comrades," he said, +"the time has come to show our courage +and our zeal. This is God's war, +and we must not flinch. It is a war with +Lutherans, and we must wage it with +blood and fire."</p> + +<p>But his hearers would not respond. +They had not a million of ducats at +stake, and were nowise ready for a cast +so desperate. A clamor of remonstrance +rose from the circle. Many voices, that +of Mendoza among the rest, urged waiting +till their main forces should arrive. +The excitement spread to the men without, +and the swarthy, black-bearded +crowd broke into tumults mounting almost +to mutiny, while an officer was +heard to say that he would not go on +such a hare-brained errand to be butchered +like a beast. But nothing could +move the Adelantado. His appeals or +his threats did their work at last; the +confusion was quelled, and preparation +was made for the march.</p> + +<p>Five hundred arquebusiers and pikemen +were drawn up before the camp.</p> + +<p>To each was given a sack of bread and +a flagon of wine. Two Indians and a +renegade Frenchman, called François +Jean, were to guide them, and twenty +Biscayan axe-men moved to the front to +clear the way. Through floods of driving +rain, a hoarse voice shouted the word of +command, and the sullen march began.</p> + +<p>With dire misgiving, Mendoza watched +the last files as they vanished in the +tempestuous forest. Two days of suspense +ensued, when a messenger came +back with a letter from the Adelantado +announcing that he had nearly reached +the French fort, and that on the morrow, +September twentieth, at sunrise, he hoped +to assault it. "May the Divine Majesty +deign to protect us, for He knows that +we have need of it," writes the scared +chaplain; "the Adelantado's great zeal +and courage make us hope he will succeed, +but for the good of His Majesty's +service he ought to be a little less ardent +in pursuing his schemes."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the five hundred had pushed +their march through forest and quagmire, +through swollen streams and inundated +savannas, toiling knee-deep +through m<a name="Page_557" id="Page_557"></a>ud, rushes, and the rank, tangled +grass,—hacking their way through +thickets of the <i>yucca</i> or Spanish bayonet, +with its clumps of dagger-like leaves, or +defiling in gloomy procession through the +drenched forest, to the moan, roar, and +howl of the storm-racked pines. As they +bent before the tempest, the water trickling +from the rusty headpiece crept clammy +and cold betwixt the armor and the +skin; and when they made their wretched +bivouac, their bed was the spongy soil, +and the exhaustless clouds their tent.</p> + +<p>The night of Wednesday, the nineteenth, +found their vanguard in a deep +forest of pines, less than a mile from +Fort Caroline, and near the low hills +which extended in its rear, and formed +a continuation of St. John's Bluff. All +around was one great morass. In pitchy +darkness, knee-deep in weeds and water, +half starved, worn with toil and lack of +sleep, drenched to the skin, their provision +spoiled, their ammunition wet, their +spirit chilled out of them, they stood in +shivering groups, cursing the enterprise +and the author of it. Menendez heard +an ensign say aloud to his comrades,—</p> + +<p>"This Asturian <i>corito</i>, who knows no +more of war on shore than an ass, has +ruined us all. By ——, if my advice had +been followed, he would have had his +deserts the day he set out on this cursed +journey!"</p> + +<p>The Adelantado pretended not to hear.</p> + +<p>Two hours before dawn he called his +officers about him. All night, he said, he +had been praying to God and the Virgin.</p> + +<p>"Señores, what shall we resolve on? +Our ammunition and provisions are gone. +Our case is desperate." And he urged +a bold rush on the fort.</p> + +<p>But men and officers alike were disheartened +and disgusted. They listened +coldly and sullenly; many were for returning +at every risk; none were in a +mood for fight. Menendez put forth all +his eloquence, till at length the dashed +spirits of his followers were so far rekindled +that they consented to follow him.</p> + +<p>All fell on their knees in the marsh; +then, rising, they formed their ranks and +began to advance, guided by the renegade +Frenchman, whose hands, to make +sure of him, were tied behind his back. +Groping and stumbling in the dark among +trees, roots, and underbrush, buffeted by +wind and rain, and slashed in the face by +the recoiling boughs which they could +not see, they soon lost their way, fell into +confusion, and came to a stand, in a mood +more savagely desponding than before. +But soon a glimmer of returning day +<a name="Page_558" id="Page_558"></a>came to their aid, and showed them the +dusky sky, and the dark columns of the +surrounding pines. Menendez ordered +the men forward on pain of death. They +obeyed, and presently, emerging from +the forest, could dimly discern the ridge +of a low hill, behind which, the Frenchman +told them, was the fort. Menendez, +with a few officers and men, cautiously +mounted to the top. Beneath lay Fort +Caroline, three gunshots distant; but the +rain, the imperfect light, and a cluster +of intervening houses prevented his seeing +clearly, and he sent two officers to +reconnoitre. Descending, they met a +solitary Frenchman, a straggler from the +fort. They knocked him down with a +sheathed sword, took him prisoner, then +stabbed him in cold blood. This done, +and their observations made, they returned +to the top of the hill, behind +which, clutching their weapons in fierce +expectancy, all the gang stood waiting.</p> + +<p>"Santiago!" cried Menendez. "At +them! God is with us!"</p> + +<p>And, shouting their hoarse war-cries, +the Spaniards rushed down the slope like +starved wolves.</p> + +<p>Not a sentry was on the rampart. La +Vigne, the officer of the guard, had just +gone to his quarters, but a trumpeter, +who chanced to remain, saw, through +sheets of rain, the black swarm of assailants +sweeping down the hill. He blew +the alarm, and at his shrill summons a +few half-naked soldiers ran wildly out of +the barracks. It was too late. Through +the breaches, over the ramparts, the +Spaniards came pouring in.</p> + +<p>"Santiago! Santiago! Down with +the Lutherans!"</p> + +<p>Sick men leaped from their beds. +Women and children, blind with fright, +darted shrieking from the houses. A +fierce gaunt visage, the thrust of a pike +or blow of a rusty halberd,—such was +the greeting that met all alike. Laudonnière +snatched his sword and target, and +ran towards the principal breach, calling +to his soldiers. A rush of Spaniards met +him; his men were cut down around +him; and he, with a soldier named Bartholomew, +was forced back into the courtyard +of his house. Here a tent was pitched, +and as the pursuers stumbled among +the cords, he escaped behind Ottigny's +house, sprang through the breach in the +western rampart, and fled for the woods.</p> + +<p>Le Moyne had been one of the guard. +Scarcely had he thrown himself into a +hammock which was slung in his room, +when a savage shout, and a wild uproar +<a name="Page_559" id="Page_559"></a>of shrieks, outcries, and the clash of weapons, +brought him to his feet. He rushed +past two Spaniards in the door-way, ran +behind the guard-house leaped through +an embrasure into the ditch, and escaped +to the forest.</p> + +<p>Challeux, the carpenter, was going betimes +to his work, a chisel in his hand. +He was old, but pike and partisan brandished +at his back gave wings to his +flight. In the ecstasy of his terror, he +leaped upward at the top of the palisade, +and, clutching it, threw himself over with +the agility of a boy. He ran up the hill, +no one pursuing, and as he neared the +edge of the forest, turned and looked +back. From the high ground where +he stood he could see the butchery, the fury +of the conquerors, the agonized gestures +of the victims. He turned again in horror, +and plunged into the woods. As he +tore his way through the briers and thickets, +he met several fugitives, escaped like +himself. Others presently came up, haggard +and wild, like men broke loose from +the jaws of fate. They gathered and consulted +together. One of them, in great +repute for his knowledge of the Bible, was +for returning and surrendering to the +Spaniards. "They are men," he said; +"perhaps when their fury is over they +will spare our lives, and even if they kill +us, it will only be a few moments' pain. +Better so than to starve here in the woods +or be torn to pieces by wild beasts."</p> + +<p>The greater part of the naked and despairing +company assented, but Challeux +was of a different mind. The old Huguenot +quoted Scripture, and called up the +names of prophets and apostles to witness, +that, in direst extremity, God would not +abandon those who rested their faith in +Him. Six of the fugitives, however, still +held to their desperate purpose. Issuing +from the woods, they descended towards +the fort, and as with beating hearts their +comrades watched the result, a troop of +Spaniards rushed forth, hewed them down +with swords and halberds, and dragged +their bodies to the brink of the river, +where the victims of the massacre were +already flung in heaps.</p> + +<p>Le Moyne, with a soldier named Grandchemin, +whom he had met in his flight, +toiled all day through the woods, in the +hope of reaching the small vessels anchored +behind the bar. Night found them in +a morass. No vessels could be seen, and +the soldier, in despair, broke into angry +upbraidings against his companion,—saying +that he would go back and give himself +up. Le Moyne at first opposed him, +then yielded. But when they drew near +the fort, and heard the howl of savage +revelry that rose from within, the artist's +heart failed him. He embraced his <a name="Page_560" id="Page_560"></a>companion, +and the soldier advanced alone. +A party of Spaniards came out to meet +him. He kneeled, and begged for his +life. He was answered by a death-blow; +and the horrified Le Moyne, from his +hiding-place in the thickets, saw his limbs +hacked apart, thrust on pikes, and borne +off in triumph.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Menendez, mustering his +followers, had offered thanks to God for +their victory; and this pious butcher +wept with emotion as he recounted the +favors which Heaven had showered upon +their enterprise. His admiring historian +gives it in proof of his humanity, that, after +the rage of the assault was spent, he +ordered that women, infants, and boys +under fifteen should thenceforth be spared. +Of these, by his own account, there +were about fifty. Writing in October to +the King, he says that they cause him +great anxiety, since he fears the anger +of God, should he now put them to death, +while, on the other hand, he is in dread +lest the venom of their heresy should infect +his men.</p> + +<p>A hundred and forty-two persons were +slain in and around the fort, and their +bodies lay heaped together on the shore. +Nearly opposite was anchored a small +vessel, called the Pearl, commanded by +James Ribaut, son of the Admiral. The +ferocious soldiery, maddened with victory +and drunk with blood, crowded to the +beach, shouting insults to those on board, +mangling the corpses, tearing out their +eyes, and throwing them towards the +vessel from the points of their daggers. +Thus did the Most Catholic Philip champion +the cause of Heaven in the New +World.</p> + +<p>It was currently believed in France, and, +though no eye-witness attests it, +there is reason to think it true, that among +those murdered at Fort Caroline there +were some who died a death of peculiar +ignominy. Menendez, it is affirmed, +hanged his prisoners on trees, and placed +over them the inscription, "I do this, not +as to Frenchmen, but as to Lutherans."</p> + +<p>The Spaniards gained a great booty: +armor, clothing, and provision. "Nevertheless," +says the devout Mendoza, after +closing his inventory of the plunder, "the +greatest profit of this victory is the triumph +which our Lord has granted us, +whereby His holy gospel will be introduced +into this country, a thing so needful +for saving so many souls from perdition." +Again, he wri<a name="Page_561" id="Page_561"></a>tes in his journal,—"We +owe to God and His Mother, more than +to human strength, this victory over the +adversaries of the holy Catholic religion."</p> + +<p>To whatever influence, celestial or +other, the exploit may best be ascribed, +the victors were not yet quite content +with their success. Two small French +vessels, besides that of James Ribaut, still +lay within range of the fort. When the +storm had a little abated, the cannon +were turned on them. One of them was +sunk, but Ribaut, with the others, escaped +down the river, at the mouth of which +several light craft, including that bought +from the English, had been anchored +since the arrival of his father's squadron.</p> + +<p>While this was passing, the wretched +fugitives were flying from the scene of +massacre through a tempest, of whose +pertinacious violence all the narratives +speak with wonder. Exhausted, starved, +half-clothed,—for most of them had +escaped in their shirts,—they pushed +their toilsome way amid the ceaseless +howl of the elements. A few sought +refuge in Indian villages; but these, it is +said, were afterwards killed by the Spaniards. +The greater number attempted to +reach the vessels at the mouth of the +river. Of the latter was Le Moyne, who, +despite his former failure, was toiling +through the maze of tangled forests when +he met a Belgian soldier with the woman +described as Laudonnière's maid-servant, +the latter wounded in the breast, +and, urging their flight towards the vessels, +they fell in with other fugitives, +among them Laudonnière himself. As +they struggled through the salt-marsh, +the rank sedge cut their naked limbs, and +the tide rose to their waists. Presently +they descried others, toiling like themselves +through the matted vegetation, and +recognized Challeux<a name="Page_562" id="Page_562"></a> and his companions, +also in quest of the vessels. The old +man still, as he tells us, held fast to his +chisel, which had done good service in +cutting poles to aid the party to cross the +deep creeks that channelled the morass. +The united band, twenty-six in all, were +relieved at length by the sight of a moving +sail. It was the vessel of Captain +Mallard, who, informed of the massacre, +was standing along-shore in the hope of +picking up some of the fugitives. He +saw their signals, and sent boats to their +rescue; but such was their exhaustion, +that, had not the sailors, wading to their +armpits among the rushes, borne them +out on their shoulders, few could have +escaped. Laudonnière was so feeble that +nothing but the support of a soldier, who +held him upright in his arms, had saved +him from drowning in the marsh.</p> + +<p>Gaining the friendly decks, the fugitives +counselled together. One and all, +they sickened for the sight of France.</p> + +<p>After waiting a few days, and saving a +few more stragglers from the marsh, they +prepared to sail. Young Ribaut, though +ignorant of his father's fate, assented +with something more than willingness; +indeed, his behavior throughout had been +stamped with weakness and poltroonery. +On the twenty-fifth of September, they +put to sea in two vessels; and, after a +voyage whose privations were fatal to +many of them, they arrived, one party +at Rochelle, the other at Swansea, in +Wales.</p> + +<p>In suspense and fear, hourly looking seaward +for the dreaded fleet of John Ribaut, +the chaplain Mendoza and his brother +priests held watch and ward at St. Augustine, +in the Adelantado's absence. Besides +the celestial guardians whom they ceased +not to invoke, they had as protectors +Bartholomew Menendez, the brother of +the Adelantado, and about a hundred +soldiers. Day and night, the latter toiled +to throw up earthworks and strengthen +their position.</p> + +<p>A week elapsed, when they saw a man +running towards their fort, shouting <a name="Page_563" id="Page_563"></a>as he +ran.</p> + +<p>Mendoza went out to meet him.</p> + +<p>"Victory! Victory!" gasped the +breathless messenger. "The French +fort is ours!" And he flung his arms +about the chaplain's neck.</p> + +<p>"To-day," writes the latter in his journal, +"Monday, the twenty-fourth, came +our good general himself, with fifty soldiers, +very tired, like all those who were +with him. As soon as they told me he +was coming, I ran to my lodging, took a +new cassock, the best I had, put on my +surplice, and went out to meet him with +a crucifix in my hand; whereupon he, +like a gentleman and a good Christian, +kneeled down with all his followers, and +gave the Lord a thousand thanks for the +great favors he had received from Him."</p> + +<p>In solemn procession, four priests in +front chanting the <i>Te Deum</i>, the victors +entered St. Augustine in triumph.</p> + +<p>On the twenty-eighth, when the weary +Adelantado was taking his <i>siesta</i> under +the sylvan roof of Seloy, a troop of Indians +came in with news that quickly +roused him from his slumbers. They had +seen a French vessel wrecked on the +coast towards the south. Those who escaped +from her were some four leagues +off, on the banks of a river or arm of the +sea, which they could not cross.</p> + +<p>Menendez instantly sent forty or fifty +men in boats to reconnoitre. Next, he +called the chaplain,—for he would fain +have him at his elbow to countenance the +devilish deeds he meditated,—and embarked, +with him, twelve soldiers, and two +Indian guides, in another boat. They +rowed along the channel between Anastasia +Island and the main shore; then +landed, struck across the country on foot, +traversed plains and marshes, readied +the sea towards night, and searched along-shore +till ten o'clock to find their comrades +who had gone before. At length, +with mutual joy, the two parties met, and +bivouacked together on the sands. Not +far distant they could see lights. They +were the camp-fires of the shipwrecked +French.</p> + +<p>And now, to relate the fortunes of +these unhappy men. To do so with precision +is impossible, for henceforward the +French narratives are no longer the narratives +of eye-witnesses.</p> + +<p>It has been seen how, when on the point +of assailing the Spaniards of St. Augustine, +John Ribaut was thwarted by a gale +which the former hailed as a divine interposition. +The gale rose to a tempest +of strange fury. Within a few days, all +the French ships were cast on shore, the +greater number near Cape Canaveral<a name="Page_564" id="Page_564"></a>. +According to the letter of Menendez, +many of those on board were lost, but +others affirm that all escaped but the +captain, La Grange, an officer of high +merit, who was washed from a floating +mast. One of the ships was wrecked at +a point farther northward than the rest, +and it was her company whose camp-fires +were seen by the Spaniards at their +bivouac among the sands of Anastasia +Island. They were endeavoring to reach +Fort Caroline, of whose fate they knew +nothing, while Ribaut with the remainder +was farther southward, struggling +through the wilderness towards the same +goal. What befell the latter will appear +hereafter. Of the fate of the former +party there is no French record. What +we know of it is due to three Spanish +writers, Mendoza, Doctor Solis de las +Meras, and Menendez himself. Solis was +a priest, and brother-in-law to Menendez. +Like Mendoza, he minutely describes +what he saw, and, like him, was a red-hot +zealot, lavishing applause on the +darkest deeds of his chief. Before me +lie the long despatches, now first brought +to light from the archives of Seville, which +Menendez sent from Florida to the King, +a cool record of atrocities never surpassed, +and inscribed on the back with the royal +indorsement,—"Say to him that he has +done well."</p> + +<p>When the Adelantado saw the French +fires in the distance, he lay close in his +bivouac, and sent two soldiers to reconnoitre. +At two in the morning they came +back and reported that it was impossible +to get at the enemy, since they were on +the farther side of an arm of the sea, +probably Matanzas Inlet. Menendez, +however, gave orders to march, and before +daybreak reached the hither bank, +where he hid his men in a bushy hollow. +Thence, as it grew light, they could discern +the enemy, many of whom were +searching along the sands and shallows +for shell-fish, for they were famishing. +A thought struck Menendez, an inspiration, +says Mendoza, of the Holy Spirit. +He put on the clothes of a sailor, entered +a boat which had been brought to the +spot, and rowed towards the shipwrecked +men, the better to learn their condition. +A Frenchman swam out to meet +him. Menendez demanded what men +they were.</p> + +<p>"Followers of Ribaut," answered the +swimmer, "Viceroy of the King of +France."</p> + +<p>"Are you Catholics or Lutherans?"</p> + +<p>"All Lutherans."</p> + +<p>A brief dialogue ensued, during which +the Adelantado declared his name and +character. The Frenchman swam back +to his companions, but soon returned, +and asked safe con<a name="Page_565" id="Page_565"></a>duct for his captain +and four other gentlemen who wished to +hold conference with the Spanish general. +Menendez gave his word for their +safety, and, returning to the shore, sent +his boat to bring them over. On their +landing, he met them very courteously. +His followers were kept at a distance, so +disposed behind hills and clumps of bushes +as to give an exaggerated idea of their +force,—a precaution the more needful +as they were only about sixty in number, +while the French, says Solis, were +above two hundred, though Menendez +declares that they did not exceed a hundred +and forty. The French officer told +him the story of their shipwreck, and +begged him to lend them a boat to aid +them in crossing the rivers which lay +between them and a fort of their King, +whither they were making their way.</p> + +<p>Then came again the ominous question,—</p> + +<p>"Are you Catholics or Lutherans?"</p> + +<p>"We are Lutherans."</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," pursued Menendez, +"your fort is taken, and all in it put to +the sword." And in proof of his declaration +he caused articles plundered from +Fort Caroline to be shown to the unhappy +petitioners. He then left them, to +breakfast with his officers, first ordering +food to be placed before them. His repast +over, he returned to them.</p> + +<p>"Are you convinced now," he asked, +"that what I have told you is true?"</p> + +<p>The French captain assented, and implored +him to lend them ships in which +to return home. Menendez answered, +that he would do so willingly, if they +were Catholics, and if he had ships to +spare, but he had none. The supplicants +then expressed the hope, that, at +least, they and their followers would be +allowed to remain with the Spaniards till +ships could be sent to their relief, since +there was peace between the two nations, +whose kings were friends and brothers.</p> + +<p>"All Catholics," retorted the Spaniard, +"I will befriend; but as you are of the +New Sect, I hold you as enemies, and +wage deadly war against you; and this +I will do with all cruelty [<i>crueldad</i>] in +this country, where I command as Viceroy +and Captain-General for my King. I +am here to plant the holy gospel, that +the Indians may be enlightened and come +to the knowledge of the holy Catholic +faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the +Roman Church teaches it. If you will +give up your arms and banners, and place +yourselves at my mercy, you ma<a name="Page_566" id="Page_566"></a>y do so, +and I will act towards you as God shall +give me grace. Do as you will, for other +than this you can have neither truce +nor friendship with me."</p> + +<p>Such were the Adelantado's words, as +reported by a by-stander, his admiring +brother-in-law; and that they contain +an implied assurance of mercy has been +held, not only by Protestants, but by +Catholics and Spaniards. The report +of Menendez himself is more brief and +sufficiently equivocal:—</p> + +<p>"I answered, that they could give up +their arms and place themselves under +my mercy,—that I should do with them +what our Lord should order; and from +that I did not depart, nor would I, unless +God our Lord should otherwise inspire."</p> + +<p>One of the Frenchmen recrossed to +consult with his companions. In two +hours he returned, and offered fifty thousand +ducats to secure their lives; but +Menendez, says his brother-in-law, would +give no pledges. On the other hand, expressions +in his own despatches point to +the inference that a virtual pledge was +given, at least to certain individuals.</p> + +<p>The starving French saw no resource +but to yield themselves to his mercy. +The boat was again sent across the river. +It returned, laden with banners, +arquebuses, swords, targets, and helmets. +The Adelantado ordered twenty soldiers +to bring over the prisoners by tens at a +time. He then took the French officers +aside behind a ridge of sand, two gunshots +from the bank. Here, with courtesy +on his lips and murder reeking at +his heart, he said,—</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, I have but few men, +and you are so many, that, if you were +free, it would be easy for you to take +your satisfaction on us for the people we +killed when we took your fort. Therefore +it is necessary that you should go to +my camp, four leagues from this place, +with your hands tied."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, as each party landed, +they were led out of sight behind the +sand-hill, and their hands tied at their +backs with the match-cords of the arquebuses,—though +not before each had +been supplied with food. The whole +day passed before all were brought together, +bound and helpless, under the +eye of the inexorable Adelantado. But +now Mendoza interposed. "I was a +priest," he says, "and had the bowels +of a man." He asked, that, if there were +Christians, that is to say Catholics, among +the prisoners, they should be set apart. +Twelve Bre<a name="Page_567" id="Page_567"></a>ton sailors professed themselves +to be such; and these, together +with four carpenters and calkers, "of +whom," writes Menendez, "I was in +great need," were put on board the boat +and sent to St. Augustine. The rest +were ordered to march thither by land.</p> + +<p>The Adelantado walked in advance +till he came to a lonely spot, not far +distant, deep among the bush-covered +hills. Here he stopped, and with his +cane drew a line in the sand. The sun +was set when the captive Huguenots, +with their escort, reached the fatal goal +thus marked out. And now let the curtain +drop; for here, in the name of +Heaven, the hounds of hell were turned +loose, and the savage soldiery, like wolves +in a sheepfold, rioted in slaughter. Of +all that wretched company, not one was +left alive.</p> + +<p>"I had their hands tied behind their +backs," writes the chief criminal, "and +themselves passed under the knife. It +appeared to me, that, by thus chastising +them, God our Lord and your Majesty +were served; whereby in future they +will leave us more free from their evil +sect, to plant the gospel in these parts."</p> + +<p>Again Menendez returned triumphant +to St. Augustine, and behind him marched +his band of butchers, steeped in blood +to the elbows, but still unsated. Great +as had been his success, he still had cause +for anxiety. There was ill news of his +fleet. Some of the ships were lost, others +scattered, or lagging tardily on their +way. Of his whole force, but a fraction +had reached Florida, and of this a large +part was still at Fort Caroline. Ribaut +could not be far off; and whatever might +be the condition of his shipwrecked company, +their numbers would make them +formidable, unless taken at advantage. +Urged by fear and fortified by fanaticism, +Menendez had well begun his work +of slaughter; but rest for him there was +none; a darker deed was behind.</p> + +<p>On the next day, Indians came with +the tidings that at the spot where the +French had been found was now another +party, still larger. This murder-loving +race looked with great respect on Menendez +for his wholesale butchery of the +night before,—an exploit rarely equalled +in their own annals of massacre. On +his part, he doubted not that Ribaut was +at hand. Marching with a hundred and +fifty men, he reached the inlet at midnight, +and again, like a savage, ambushed +himself on the bank. Day broke, and +he could plainly see the French on the +farther side. They had made a raft, +which lay in the water, ready for crossing. +Menendez and his men showed +themselves, when, forthwith, the French +displayed their banners, sounded drums +and trumpets, and set their sick and +starving ranks in array of battle. But +the Adelantado, regardless of this warlike +show, ordered his men to seat themselves +at breakfast, while he with three +officers walked unconcernedly along the +shore. His coolness had its effect. The +<a name="Page_568" id="Page_568"></a>French blew a trumpet of parley, and +showed a white flag. The Spaniards replied. +A Frenchman came out upon +the raft, and, shouting across the water, +asked that a Spanish envoy should be +sent over.</p> + +<p>"You have a raft," was the reply; +"come yourselves."</p> + +<p>An Indian canoe lay under the bank on +the Spanish side. A French sailor swam +to it, paddled back unmolested, and presently +returned, bringing with him La +Caille, Ribaut's sergeant-major. He told +Menendez that the French were three +hundred and fifty in all, on their way to +Fort Caroline; and, like the officers of +the former party, begged for boats to +aid them in crossing the river.</p> + +<p>"My brother," said Menendez, "go +and tell your general, that, if he wishes +to speak with me, he may come with four +or six companions, and that I pledge my +word he shall go back safe."</p> + +<p>La Caille returned; and Ribaut, with +eight gentlemen, soon came over in the +canoe. Menendez met them courteously, +caused wine and preserved fruits to be +placed before them,—he had come with +well-stocked larder on his errand of +blood,—and next led Ribaut to the reeking +Golgotha, where, in heaps upon the +sands, lay the corpses of his slaughtered +followers. Ribaut was prepared for +the spectacle; La Caille had already +seen it; but he would not believe that +Fort Caroline was taken till a part of the +plunder was shown him. Then, mastering +his despair, he turned to the conqueror.</p> + +<p>"What has befallen us," he said, "may +one day befall you." And, urging that +the kings of France and Spain were +brothers and close friends, he begged, +in the name of that friendship, that the +Spaniard would aid him in conveying his +followers home. Menendez gave him the +same equivocal answer that he had given +the former party, and Ribaut returned +to consult with his officers. After three +hours of absence, he came back in the +canoe, and told the Adelantado that some +of his people were ready to surrender at +discretion, but that many refused.</p> + +<p>"They can do as they please," was +the reply.</p> + +<p>In behalf of those who surrendered +Ribaut offered a ransom of a hundred +thousand ducats.</p> + +<p>"It grieves me much," said Menendez, +"that I cannot accept it; for I have great +need of it."</p> + +<p>Ribaut was much encouraged. Menendez +could scarcely forego such a prize, +and he thought, says the Spanish narrator, +that the lives of his followers would +now be safe. He asked to be allowed +the night for deliberation, and at <a name="Page_569" id="Page_569"></a>sunset +recrossed the river. In the morning he +reappeared among the Spaniards and reported +that two hundred of his men had +retreated from the spot, but that the remaining +one hundred and fifty would +surrender. At the same time he gave +into the hands of Menendez the royal +standard and other flags, with his sword, +dagger, helmet, buckler, and his official +seal, given him by Coligny. Menendez +directed an officer to enter the boat and +bring over the French by tens. He next +led Ribaut among the bushes behind the +neighboring sand-hill, and ordered his +hands to be bound fast. Then the scales +fell from the prisoner's eyes. Face to +face his hideous fate rose up before him. +He saw his followers and himself entrapped,—the +dupe of words artfully framed +to lure them to their ruin. The day +wore on; and, as band after band of prisoners +was brought over, they were led +behind the sand-hill, out of sight from +the farther shore, and bound like their +general. At length the transit was complete. +With bloodshot eyes and weapons +bared, the fierce Spaniards closed +around their victims.</p> + +<p>"Are you Catholics or Lutherans? +and is there any one among you who will +go to confession?"</p> + +<p>Ribaut answered,—</p> + +<p>"I and all here are of the Reformed +Faith."</p> + +<p>And he recited the Psalm, "<i>Domine, +memento mei</i>."</p> + +<p>"We are of earth," he continued, "and +to earth we must return; twenty years +more or less can matter little"; and, +turning to the Adelantado, he bade him +do his will.</p> + +<p>The stony-hearted bigot gave the signal; +and those who will may paint to +themselves the horrors of the scene. A +few, however, were spared.</p> + +<p>"I saved," writes Menendez, "the +lives of two young gentlemen of about +eighteen years of age, as well as of three +others, the fifer, the drummer, and the +trumpeter; and I caused Jean Ribaut +with all the rest to be passed under the +knife, judging this to be expedient for +the service of God our Lord, and of your +Majesty. And I consider it great good +fortune that he (Jean Ribaut) should be +dead, for the King of France could effect +more with him and five hundred ducats +than with other men and five thousand, +and he would do more in one year than +another in ten, for he was the most experienced +sailor and naval commander +ever known, and of great skill in this +passage to the Indies and the coast of +Florida. He was, besides, greatly liked +in England, in which kingdom his repu<a name="Page_570" id="Page_570"></a>tation +is such that he was appointed +Captain-General of all the British fleet +against the French Catholics in the war +between England and France some years +ago."</p> + +<p>Such is the sum of the Spanish accounts,—the +self-damning testimony of +the author and abettors of the crime. +A picture of lurid and awful coloring; +and yet there is reason to believe that +the truth was more hideous still. Among +those spared was one Christophe le Breton, +who was carried to Spain, escaped +to France, and told his story to Challeux. +Among those struck down in the carnage +was a sailor of Dieppe, stunned and left +for dead under a heap of corpses. In +the night he revived, contrived to draw +his knife, cut the cords that bound his +hands, and make his way to an Indian +village. The Indians, though not without +reluctance, abandoned him to the +Spaniards. The latter sold him as a +slave; but on his way in fetters to Portugal, +the ship was taken by the Huguenots, +the sailor set free, and his story +published in the narrative of Le Moyne. +When the massacre was known in France, +the friends and relatives of the victims +sent to the King, Charles IX., a vehement +petition for redress; and their memorial +recounts many incidents of the +tragedy. From these three sources is to +be drawn the French version of the story. +The following is its substance:—</p> + +<p>Famished and desperate, the followers +of Ribaut were toiling northward to seek +refuge at Fort Caroline, when they found +the Spaniards in their path. Some were +filled with dismay; others, in their misery, +almost hailed them as deliverers. La +Caille, the sergeant-major, crossed the +river. Menendez met him with a face +of friendship, and protested that he would +spare the lives of the shipwrecked men, +sealing the promise with an oath, a kiss, +and many signs of the cross. He even +gave it in writing, under seal. Still, +there were many among the French who +would not place themselves in his power. +The most credulous crossed the river in +a boat. As each successive party landed, +their hands were bound fast at their +backs; and thus, except a few who were +set apart, they were all driven towards +the fort, like cattle to the shambles, with +curses and scurrilous abuse. Then, at +sound of drums and trumpets, the Spaniards +fell upon them, striking them down +with swords, pikes, and halberds. Ribaut +vainly called on the Adelantado to remember +his oath. By the latter's order, +a soldier plunged a dagger into his heart; +and Ottigny, who stood near, met a similar +fate. Ribaut's beard was cut off, and +portions of it sent in a letter to Philip II. +His head was hewn into four parts, one +of which was displayed on the point of +a lance at each corner of Fort St. Augustine. +Great fires were kindled, and +the bodies of the murdered burned to +ashes.</p> + +<p>Such is the sum of the French accounts. +The charge of breach of faith +contained in them was believed by Catholics +as well as Protestants, and it was as +a defence against this charge that the +narrative of the Adelantado's brother-in-law +was published. That Ribaut, a +man whose good sense and bravery we<a name="Page_571" id="Page_571"></a>re +both reputed high, should have submitted +himself and his men to Menendez without +positive assurance of safety is scarcely +credible; nor is it lack of charity to +believe that a miscreant so savage in heart +and so perverted in conscience would act +on the maxim, current among the bigots +of the day, that faith ought not to be +kept with heretics.</p> + +<p>It was night when the Adelantado +again entered St. Augustine. Some there +were who blamed his cruelty; but many +applauded. "Even if the French had +been Catholics,"—such was their language,—"he +would have done right, +for, with the little provision we have, +they would all have starved; besides, +there were so many of them that they +would have cut our throats."</p> + +<p>And now Menendez again addressed +himself to the despatch, already begun, +in which he recounts to the King his labors +and his triumphs, a deliberate and +business-like document, mingling narratives +of butchery with recommendations +for promotions, commissary details, and +petitions for supplies; enlarging, too, on +the vast schemes of encroachment which +his successful generalship had brought to +nought. The French, he says, had planned +a military and naval depot at Los +Martires, whence they would make a +descent upon Havana, and another at +the Bay of Ponce de Leon, whence they +could threaten Vera Cruz. They had +long been encroaching on Spanish rights +at Newfoundland, from which a great arm +of the sea—the St. Lawrence—would +give them access to the Moluccas and other +parts of the East Indies. Moreover, +he adds in a later despatch, by this passage +they may reach the mines of Zacatecas +and St. Martin, as well as every +part of the South Sea. And, as already +mentioned, he urges immediate occupation +of Chesapeake Bay, which, by its +supposed water-communication with the +St. Lawrence, would enable Spain to +vindicate her rights, control the fisheries +of Newfoundland, and thwart her +rival in her vast designs of commercial +and territorial aggrandizement. Thus did +France and Spain dispute the possession +of North America long before England +became a party to the strife.</p> + +<p>Some twenty days after Menendez returned +to St. Augustine, the Indians, +enamored of carnage, and exulting to +see their invaders mowed down, came to +tell him that on the coast southward, +near Cape Canaveral, a great number +of Frenchmen were intrenching themselves. +They were those of Ribaut's +party who had refused to surrender. Retreating +to the spot where their ships had +been cast ashore, they were endeavorin<a name="Page_572" id="Page_572"></a>g +to build a vessel from the fragments of +the wrecks.</p> + +<p>In all haste Menendez despatched messengers +to Fort Caroline,—named by +him San Mateo,—ordering a reinforcement +of a hundred and fifty men. In a +few days they came. He added some of +his own soldiers, and, with a united force +of two hundred and fifty, set forth, as +he tells us, on the second of November, +pushing southward along the shore with +such merciless energy that some of his +men dropped dead with wading night +and day through the loose sands. When, +from behind their frail defences, the +French saw the Spanish pikes and partisans +glittering into view, they fled in +a panic, and took refuge among the hills. +Menendez sent a trumpet to summon +them, pledging his honor for their safety. +The commander and several others told +the messenger that they would sooner +be eaten by the savages than trust themselves +to Spaniards; and, escaping, they +fled to the Indian towns. The rest surrendered; +and Menendez kept his word. +The comparative number of his own men +made his prisoners no longer dangerous. +They were led back to St. Augustine, +where, as the Spanish writer affirms, they +were well treated. Those of good birth +sat at the Adelantado's table, eating the +bread of a homicide crimsoned with the +slaughter of their comrades. The priests +essayed their pious efforts, and, under +the gloomy menace of the Inquisition, +some of the heretics renounced their errors. +The fate of the captives may be +gathered from the indorsement, in the +handwriting of the King, on the back of +the despatch of Menendez of December +twelfth.</p> + +<p>"Say to him," writes Philip II., "that, +as to those he has killed, he has done +well, and as for those he has saved, they +shall be sent to the galleys."</p> + +<p>Thus did Spain make good her claim +to North America, and crush the upas of +heresy in its germ. Within her bounds +the tidings were hailed with acclamation, +while in France a cry of horror and execration +rose from the Huguenots, and +found an echo even among the Catholics. +But the weak and ferocious son of Catherine +de Médicis gave no response. The +victims were Huguenots, disturbers of +the realm, followers of Coligny, the man +above all others a thorn in his side. True, +the enterprise was a national enterprise, +undertaken at the national charge, with +royal commission, and under the royal +standard. True, it had been assailed in +tim<a name="Page_573" id="Page_573"></a>e of peace by a power professing the +closest amity. Yet Huguenot influence, +had prompted and Huguenot hands executed +it. That influence had now ebbed +low; Coligny's power had waned; and +the Spanish party was ascendant. Charles +IX., long vacillating, was fast subsiding +into the deathly embrace of Spain, for +whom, at last, on the bloody eve of St. +Bartholomew, he was destined to become +the assassin of his own best subjects.</p> + +<p>In vain the relatives of the slain petitioned +him for redress; and had the honor +of the nation rested in the keeping of her +king, the blood of hundreds of murdered +Frenchmen would have cried from the +ground in vain. But it was not so to be. +Injured humanity found an avenger, and +outraged France a champion. Her chivalrous +annals may be searched in vain for +a deed of more romantic daring than the +vengeance of Dominic de Gourgue.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="WEARINESS" id="WEARINESS"></a>WEARINESS.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O little feet, that such long years<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Must wander on through doubts and fears,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Must ache and bleed beneath your load!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I, nearer to the way-side inn<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where toil shall cease and rest begin,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Am weary, thinking of your road.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O little hands, that, weak or strong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Have still to serve or rule so long,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Have still so long to give or ask!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I, who so much with book and pen<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Have toiled among my fellow-men,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Am weary, thinking of your task.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O little hearts, that throb and beat<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With such impatient, feverish heat,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Such limitless and strong desires!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mine, that, so long has glowed and burned,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With passions into ashes turned,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now covers and conceals its fires.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O little souls, as pure and white<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And crystalline as rays of light<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Direct from heaven, their source divine!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Refracted through the mist of years,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How red my setting sun appears,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How lurid looks this soul, of mine!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MRS_LEWIS" id="MRS_LEWIS"></a>MRS. LEWIS.</h2> + +<p>A STORY IN THREE PARTS.</p> + +<p>PART III.</p> + + +<p>XI.</p> + +<p>When we returned from <a name="Page_574" id="Page_574"></a>our journey, +Lulu was among the first to greet us, and +with a cordial animation quite unlike the +gentle, dawdling way she used to have. +Indeed, I was struck the first evening +with a new impulse, and a healthful +mental current, that gave glow and freshness +to everything she said. Mr. Lewis +was gone to Cuba, she told us, and would +be away a month more, but "George" +was with her continually, and the days +were all too short for what they had to do. +She seemed to have attacked all the arts +and sciences simultaneously, and with an +eagerness very amusing to see. George +had begun a numismatic collection for +her, and she had made out an historic table +from the coins, writing down all that +was most important under each king's +reign. George had brought home some +fine specimens of stones, and had interested +her much in mineralogy. George liked +riding, and had taught her to ride; +and she now perpetually made her appearance +in her riding-habit and little jockey-cap, +wishing she could do something for me +here or there. George moulded, and +taught her to mould; and she was dabbling +in clay and plaster of Paris all the +morning. George painted beautifully in +water-colors, and taught her to sketch +from Nature, which she often did now, in +their rides, when the days were pleasant +enough. George not only thrummed a +Spanish guitar, but liked singing; so music +went on with wonderful force and improvement. +Nothing that George liked +better than botany, metaphysics, and micrology. +And now Lulu was screaming at +dreadful dragons' heads on a pin's point, +or delighted with diamond-beetles and +spiders' eyes. She fairly revelled in the +new worlds that were opened to her eager +eye and hungry mind. No more long, +tiresome mornings now. Every hour was +occupied. Intelligent smiles dimpled her +beautiful mouth; the weary, unoccupied, +childish look vanished from her eyes; and +her talk was animated and animating. +For though she might not tell much that +was new, she told it in a new way and +with the fresh light of recent experience. +Thus she became in a wonderfully short +time a quite different woman from the +Lulu of the early winter.</p> + +<p>We acknowledged that she was become +an agreeable companion. In a few +weeks of home-education her soul had +expanded to a tropi<a name="Page_575" id="Page_575"></a>cal and rich growth. +This we were talking over one night, +when Lulu had been with us, and when +George had come for her and extinguished +us with his great hearty laugh and +abundant health and activity, as the +sun's effulgence does a house-candle.</p> + +<p>"I don't like that Remington, either," +said the minister, after we were left in +this state of darkness.</p> + +<p>"But, surely, he has given Lulu's mind +a most desirable impulse and direction. +How glad Mr. Lewis will be to see her +so happy, so animated, and so sensible, +when he comes home!"</p> + +<p>"If that makes him happy, he could +have had it before, I suppose. But do +you notice anything unhealthy in this +mental cultivation,—anything forced in +this luxuriant flowering? Now the light +of heaven expands the whole nature, I +hold, into healthy and proportioned beauty. +If anything is lacking or exuberant, +the influence is not heavenly, be sure. +What do you think of this statement?"</p> + +<p>"Very sensible, but very Hebrew to +me."</p> + +<p>"I never thought Lulu's were 'household +eyes,'—but now she never speaks +of husband or children, of house or home. +Now that is not a suitable mental condition. +Let us hope that this intellectual +effervescence will subside, and leave her +some thoughtfulness and care for others, +and the meditation which will make her +accomplishments something to enrich and +strengthen, rather than excite and overrun +her mind."</p> + +<p>"Ah! well, it is only a few weeks, +not more than six, since she found out +she had a soul. No wonder she feels she +has been such a laggard in the race, she +must keep on the gallop now to make up +for lost time."</p> + +<p>"But,—about the husband and children?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, they will come in in due time +and take their true place. She is a young +artist, and hasn't got her perspectives arranged. +Be sure they will be in the foreground +presently," said I, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>"Let us hope so. For a wife, mother, +and house-mistress to be racing after so +many ologies, and ignoring her daily duties, +is a spectacle of doubtful utility<a name="Page_576" id="Page_576"></a> to +me."</p> + +<p>To tell the truth, this want of domestic +interest had often struck me also. One +day, as we were talking about my children, +Lulu had said that she believed herself +destitute of the maternal instinct; for +although she liked to see the children, of +course, yet she did not miss them when +away from her. And after the death of +young Lewis, which happened while they +were at Cuba, and which distressed my +Johnnie so much that he could not for a +long time bear either books or play, for +want of his beloved playmate, his mother, +apparently, did not lament him at all.</p> + +<p>"I never liked to have him with me," +she said to me,—"partly, I suppose, because +he reminded me of Montalli, and +of a period of great suffering in my life. +I should be glad never to think of him +again. But William seemed to love and +pity him always. Gave him his name, +and always treated him like an only and +elder son. And William is fond of the +little girls, too. I don't mean that I am +not fond of them, but not as he is. He +will go and spend a week at a time playing +and driving with them."</p> + +<p>Indeed, she very often reminded me +of Undine in her soulless days.</p> + +<p>As she scarcely went into society, during +the absence of Mr. Lewis, Lulu had +time for all this multifarious culture that +I have been describing, and she was gradually +coming also to reason and reflect on +what she read and heard, though her appetite +for knowledge continued with the +same keenness. Her artistic eye, which +naturally grouped and arranged with +taste whatever was about her, stood her +in good stead of experience; and with a +very little instruction, she was able to do +wonders in both a plastic and pictorial +way.</p> + +<p>One day she showed me a fine drawing +of the Faun of Praxiteles, with some +verses written beneath. The lines seemed +to me full of vigor and harmony. They +implied and breathed, too, such an intimacy +with classical thought, that I was +astonished when, in answer to my inquiry, +she told me she wrote them herself.</p> + +<p>"How delighted Mr. Lewis will be with +this!" I exclaimed, looking at the beautifully +finished drawing; "to think how +you have improved, Lulu!"</p><p><a name="Page_577" id="Page_577"></a></p> + +<p>"You think so?" she answered, with +glistening eyes. "I, too, feel that I have, +and am so happy!"</p> + +<p>"I am sure Mr. Lewis will be so, too," +I continued, persistently.</p> + +<p>She answered in a sharp tone, dropping +her eyes, and, as it were, all the +joy out of them,—</p> + +<p>"Surely, I have told you often enough +that Mr. Lewis hates literary women! I +am not goose enough to expect him to +sympathize with any intellectual pursuits +of mine. No. Fatima in the harem, or +Nourmahal thrumming her lute under a +palm-tree, is his <i>belle-idéale</i>; failing that, +a housekeeper and drudge."</p> + +<p>I cannot describe the scorn with which +she said this. She changed the subject, +however, at once, instead of pursuing it +as she would formerly have done, and +soon after left me for a drive over Milton +Hills with George, with a hammer and +sketch-book in the chaise.</p> + +<p>Mr. Lewis's business in Cuba was prolonged +into May. He had estates there, +and desired to dispose of them, Lulu said, +so that they might for the future live entirely +at the North, which they both liked +better.</p> + +<p>I could not help seeing that her affections +drifted farther and farther every +week from their lawful haven, and I wished +Mr. Lewis safe back again and overlooking +his Northern estates. I guessed +how, through her pride of awakened intellect, +Lulu's gratitude had wrought a +deep interest in her cousin. He had rescued +her from the idleness and inanity +of her daily life, pointed out to her the +broad fields of literary enjoyment and +excellence, and inevitably associated his +own image with all the new and varied +occupations with which her now busy days +were filled. The poetry she read he +brought to her; the songs she sang were +of his selection. His mind and taste, +his observations and reflections, were all +written over every page she read, over +every hour of her life. She had been +on a desert island in her intellectual loneliness. +She could hardly help loving the +hand that had guided her to the palm-tree +and the fountain, especially when +she glanced back at the long sandy reach +of her life.</p> + +<p>Naturally enough, <a name="Page_578" id="Page_578"></a>I watched and distrusted +Mr. Remington, who was a man +of the world, and knew very well what +he was about. Of all things, he dearly +loved to be excited, occupied, and amused. +Of course, I was not disturbed about +his heart, nor seriously supposed he would +get into any entanglement of the affections +and the duties of life, but I thought +he might do a great deal of harm for all +that.</p> + +<p>At last, in the middle of May, Mr. +Lewis returned, having failed in his desired +arrangement for a permanent residence +in New England. The first evening +I saw them together without company, +I perceived that he was struck with the +new life in Lulu's manner and conversation. +He watched and listened to her +with an astonishment which he could +not conceal.</p> + +<p>I never saw anything like jealousy in +Mr. Lewis's manner, either at this time, +or before. He was always tender and +dignified, when speaking to or of her. If +he felt any uneasiness now, he did not +betray it. In looking back, I am sure +of this. Afterwards, in company, where +he might be supposed to be proud of his +wife, he often looked at her with the +same astonishment, and sometimes with +unaffected admiration. He could not +help seeing the great change in her,—that +the days were taken up with rational +and elegant pursuits, and that the +hours were vocal with poetry and taste. +The illuminating mind had brought her +tulip beauty into a brighter and more +gorgeous glow, and her movements were +full of graceful meaning. Everything +was touched and inspired but the heart. +I don't know that he felt this, or that he +missed anything. She had the same easy +self-possession in his presence which she +had always had,—the same pet names +of endearment. It was always "Willie, +dear," or "Yes, my love," which makes +the usual matrimonial vocabulary, and +which does not reward study. But he +always looked at her with a calm delight, +perfectly satisfied with all she said and +did, and with a Southern indolence of +mind and body, that precluded effort. I +think he never once lost entire confidence +in her, or was jealous of the hand that +had unlocked such mental treasures for +her.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile her eager lip quaffed the +bright cup so cautiously presented, and +<a name="Page_579" id="Page_579"></a>drained it with ever new delight. If it +was mingled with delicate flattery, it only +sparkled more merrily; and if there +were poison there, I am sure she never +guessed it, even when it burnt in her +cheek or thrilled in her dancing veins.</p> + + +<p>XII.</p> + +<p>The Lewises, with Mr. Remington +and a large party of pleasure-seekers, +went about this time on a tour to Quebec +and the Falls of Montmorency. They decided +to shut their house in Boston, and +Lulu asked me if I would employ and +look after a <i>protégée</i> of hers, in whom she +took some interest. The woman was a +tolerable seamstress, she said, and would +come to me the next day. She knew +nothing about her except that she was +poor and could sew.</p> + +<p>When the woman came in, I was puzzled +to think where I could have seen +her, which I was sure I had done somewhere, +though I could not recall the where +or when. In answer to my particular inquiries, +as she could give me no references, +she told me her husband was living, +but was sick and could do nothing for his +family,—in fact, that she and three children +were kept alive by her efforts of +various sorts. These were, sewing when +she could get it, washing and scrubbing +when she could not. She was very poorly dressed, +but had a Yankee, go-ahead +expression, as if she would get a living +on the top of a bare rock.</p> + +<p>Still puzzling over the likeness in her +face to somebody I had known, I continued +to ask questions and to observe face, +manner, and voice, in hope to catch the +clue of which I was in search. When +she admitted that her husband's intemperance +had lost him his place and forbade +his getting another, and said his +name was Jim Ruggles, "a light broke +in upon my brain." I remembered my +vision of the fresh young girl who had +sprung out on our path like a morning-glory, +on our way to New York seven +years before. The poor morning-glory +was sadly trodden in the dust. It hadn't +done "no good," as the driver had +remarked, to forewarn her of the consequences +of marrying a sponge. She had +accepted her lot, and, strangely enough, +was quite happy in it. There could be +no mistake in the cheerful expression of<a name="Page_580" id="Page_580"></a> +her worn face. Whatever Jim might be +to other people, she said, he was always +good to her and the children; and she +pitied him, loved him, and took care of +him. It wasn't at all in the fashion the +Temperance Society would have liked; +for when I first went to the house, I +found her pouring out a glass of strong +waters for him, and handing it to his pale +and trembling lips herself. As soon as I +was seated, she locked bottle and glass +carefully. Before I left her, she had given +him stimulants of various sorts from +the same source, which he received with +grateful smiles, and then went on coughing +as before.</p> + +<p>"It's no time now for him to be forming +new habits," said she, in answer to +my open-eyed surprise; "and it's best +he should have all the comfort and ease +he can get. As long as I can get it for +him, he shall have it."</p> + +<p>She spoke very quietly, but very much +as if the same will of her own which had +led her to marry Jim Ruggles, when a +gay, dissipated fellow, kept her determined +to give him what he wanted, even +to the doubtful extreme I saw. So she +struggled bravely on during the next four +weeks of Jim's existence, keeping herself +and her three children on hasty pudding, +and buying for Jim's consumptively craving +appetite rich mince-pies and platefuls +of good rich food from an eating-house +hard by. At the end of the four +weeks he died most peacefully and suddenly, +having not five minutes before +swallowed a glass of gin sling, prepared +by the loving hand of his wife, and saying +to her, with a firm, clear voice, and +a grateful smile, "Good Amy! always +good!" So the weak man's soul passed +away. And as Amy told me about it, +with sorrowful sobs, I was not ready to +say or think she had done wrong, although +both her conduct and my opinion were +entirely uncanonical.</p> + +<p>Before Mrs. Lewis returned, Amy was +one day at my room and asked me when +I expected her back.</p> + +<p>"Is Mr. Lewis with her, Ma'am?" +said she, hesitatingly.</p> + +<p>"Of course; at least, I suppose so. +Why, what makes you ask?" said I, +with surprise at her downcast eyes and +flushed face.</p><p><a name="Page_581" id="Page_581"></a></p> + +<p>"I heard he had gone away. And +that—<i>that</i> Mr. Remington was there with +her. But you know about it, most likely."</p> + +<p>"No, I know nothing about it, Amy."</p> + +<p>"It was their old cook told me, Mrs. +Butler. And she said,—oh! all sorts of +things, that I am sure couldn't be true, +for Mrs. Lewis is such a kind, beautiful +woman! I couldn't believe a word she +said!"</p> + +<p>In my quality of minister's wife, and +with a general distrust of cooks' opinions, +I told Amy that there was always scandal +enough, and it was a waste of time to listen +to it. But after she left me, I confess +to a whole hour wasted in speculations +and anxious reflections on Amy's communication, +and also to having taken +the Dominie away from his sermon for +a like space of time to consider the matter +fully.</p> + +<p>I was relieved when the whole party +came back, and when the blooming, happy +face of Lulu showed that she, at least, +had neither thought nor done anything +very bad.</p> + +<p>The summer was becoming warm and +oppressive in Boston, and we prepared to +take the children and go to Weston for a +few weeks. While we should be among +the mountains, the Lewises proposed a +voyage to Scotland, and we hoped that +sometime in the early autumn we should +all be together once more. +The evening before our departure Mr. +Remington and Lulu spent with us, Mr. +Lewis coming in at a later hour. I remember +vividly the conversation during +the whole of that last evening we ever +passed together.</p> + + +<p>XIII.</p> + +<p>While Mrs. Lewis and I were chatting +in one corner on interests specially +feminine, the Dominie had got Mr. Remington +into a metaphysical discussion of +some length. From time to time we +heard, "Pascal's idea seems to be," and +then, "The notion of Descartes and all +that school of thinkers"; and feeling that +they were plunging quite beyond our +depth, we continued babbling of dry +goods, a<a name="Page_582" id="Page_582"></a>nd what was becoming, till Mr. +Remington leaned back laughing to us, +and said,—</p> + +<p>"What do you think, ladies? or are +you of the opinion of somebody who said +of metaphysics, 'Whoever troubles himself +to skin a flint should have the skin +for his pains'?"</p> + +<p>"But that is a most unfair comparison!" +said the minister, eagerly, "and what +I will by no means allow. By so much +more as the mind is better than the body, +nay, because the mind is all that is worth +anything about a man, metaphysics is the +noblest science, and most worthy"—</p> + +<p>"I give in! I am down!" said Remington.</p> + +<p>"But what are you disputing about?" +said I.</p> + +<p>"Oh, only Infinity!" said Remington. +"But then you know metaphysics +does not hesitate at anything. I say, it +is impossible for the mind to go back to +a first cause, and if the mind of a man +cannot conceive an idea, why of course +that idea can never be true to him. I +can think of no cause that may not be +an effect."</p> + +<p>"Nor of infinite space, nor of infinite +time?" said the minister.</p> + +<p>"No,—of nothing that cannot be divided, +and nothing that cannot be extended."</p> + +<p>"Very good. Perhaps you can't. I +suppose we cannot comprehend infinity, +because we are essentially finite ourselves. +But it by no means follows that we cannot +apprehend and believe in attributes +which we are unable to comprehend. We +can certainly do that."</p> + +<p>"No. After you reach your limit of +comprehension, you may say, all beyond +that is infinite,—but you only push the +object of your thought out of view. After +you have reiterated the years till you +are tired, you say, beyond that is infinite. +You only mean that you are tired of +computing and adding."</p><p><a name="Page_583" id="Page_583"></a></p> + +<p>"Then you cannot believe in an Infinite +Creator?" said the minister.</p> + +<p>"I can believe in nothing that is not +founded on reason. I should be very +glad to believe in an Infinite Creator, +only it is entirely impossible, you see, for +the mind to conceive of a being who is +not himself created."</p> + +<p>"Yet you can believe in a world that +is not created?" said the minister. "You +can believe that a world full of adaptations, +full of signs of intelligence and design, +could be uncreated. How do you +make that out?"</p> + +<p>"There remains no greater difficulty to +me," said Remington, "in believing in an +uncreated world than you have in believing +in an uncreated God. Why is it stranger +that Chaos should produce harmony +than that Nothing should produce God?"</p> + +<p>He looked at us, smiling as he said this, +which he evidently considered unanswerable.</p> + +<p>"You are quite right," said my husband, +gravely. "It is impossible that +nothing should produce God, and therefore +I say God is eternal. It is not impossible +that something should produce +the world, and therefore I believe the +world is not eternal. That point is the +one on which the whole argument hangs +in my mind."</p> + +<p>"It does not become me to dispute a +clergyman," said Mr. Remington, smiling +affectedly, as if only courtesy prevented +his coming in with an entirely demolishing +argument.</p> + +<p>To my great surprise Lulu instantly +answered, and with an intelligence that +showed she had followed the argument +entirely,—</p> + +<p>"I am certain, George, that Mr. Prince +has altogether the best of it. Yours is +merely a technical d<a name="Page_584" id="Page_584"></a>ifficulty,—merely +words. You can conceive a thousand +things which you can never fully comprehend. +And this, too, is a proof of the +Infinite Father in our very reasoning,—that, +if we could comprehend Him, we +should be ourselves infinite. As it is, we +can believe and adore,—and, more than +that, rejoice that we cannot in this finite +life of ours do more."</p> + +<p>"If we believed we could comprehend +Him," said I, "we should soon begin to +meddle with God's administration of affairs."</p> + +<p>"Yes,—and in fatalism I have always +thought there was a profound reverence," +said Lulu.</p> + +<p>"Oh, are you going into theological +mysteries, too?" said Remington, with a +laugh in which none of us joined; "what +care you, Lulu, for the quiddities of Absolute +Illimitation and Infinite Illimitation? +After all, what matters it whether +one believes in a God, who you allow +to be the personation of all excellence, +if only one endeavors to act up to the +highest conceivable standard of perfection,—I +mean of human perfection,—leaving, +of course, a liberal margin for +human frailties and defects? One wouldn't +like to leave out mercy, you know."</p> + +<p>Whatever might be the real sentiments +of the man, there was an air of levity in +his mode of treating the most important +subjects of thought which displeased me, +especially when he said, "You adore +the Incomprehensible; I am contented +to adore, with silent reverence, the lovely +works of His hand." He pointed his +remark without hesitation at LuLu, who +sat looking into the fire, and did not notice +him or it.</p> +<p><a name="Page_585" id="Page_585"></a></p> +<p>"You are quite right, Mr. Prince, and +my cousin, is quite wrong," said she, looking +up with a docile, childlike expression, +at the minister. "One feels that all +through, though one may not be able to +reason or argue about it."</p> + +<p>"And the best evidence of all truth, +my dear," answered the delighted Dominie, +"is that intuition which is before all +reasoning, and by which we must try reasoning +itself. The moral is before the intellectual; +and that is why we preachers +continually insist on faith as an illuminator +of the reason."</p> + +<p>"You mean that we should cultivate +faith," I said.</p> + +<p>"Yes: not the faith that is blind, but +the faith that sees, that is positive; that +which leads, not that which follows; the +faith that weighs argument and decides +on it; in short, the native intuitions which +are a necessary part of the mind."</p> + +<p>"I see, and I shall remember," said +Lulu. "I shall never forget all you say, +Mr. Prince."</p> + +<p>It was this sweet frankness, and the +clearness with which her lately developed +intellect acted, that made us begin to respect +Lulu as well as to love her. She +seemed to be getting right-minded at last.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Lewis came, the conversation +turned on other subjects; but it was +quite late at night before we were willing +to part with our friends. The shadow of +misgiving which hangs over even short +separations was deeper than usual with +me from the thought of the voyage. Lulu +had been so many times across the sea +that she had no fear of it; and she went +up-stairs with me to say last words and +give last commissions with her usual cheerfulness. +Notwithstanding the relief which +I had felt during the evening from her +expressions of a moral and religious kind, +I yet had a brooding fear of the effect of +association with a mind so lively and so +full of error as Remington's. What help +or what sustaining power for her there +might be in her husband I could not +tell; but be it more or less, I feared she +would not avail herself of it. Indeed, I +feared that she was daily becoming more +alienated from him, as she pursued onward +and upward the bright mental track +on which she had entered. And it was +seeing that she had not yet begun to con +the alphabet of true knowledge, that disturbed +me most. If I could have seen +her thoughtful for others, humble in her +endeavor after duty, I should have hailed, +rejoicingly, her intellectual illumination. +As it was, I could not help saying +<a name="Page_586" id="Page_586"></a>to her, anxiously, before we went downstairs,—</p> + +<p>"I don't like Mr. Remington's notions +at all, my dear!—I don't mean merely +his theological notions, but his ideas of +life and duty seem to me wrong and poor. +You will forgive me, if I say, you cannot +be too careful how you allow his views +to act on your own sense of right and +wrong."</p> + +<p>"What!—George? Oh, dear friend, +it is only his nonsense! He will take any +side for the time, only to hear himself +talk. But he <i>is</i> the best fellow that ever +breathed. Oh, if you only knew his excellence +as well as I do!"</p> + +<p>"My dear Lulu!" I expostulated, +greatly pained to see her glowing face +and the almost tearful sparkle of her +eyes, as she defended her cousin, "your +husband is a great deal the best guide for +you,—in action, and I presume in opinion. +At all events, you are safest under +the shadow of his wing. There is the +truest peace for a wife."</p> + +<p>Whether she guessed what was in my +mind I don't know; I did not try much +to conceal it. But she shook her curls +away from her face as if irritated, and +answered in a tone from which all the +animation had been quenched,—</p> + +<p>"No. I have been a child. I am one +no longer. Don't ask me to go back. I +am a living, feeling, understanding woman! +George himself allows it is perfectly +shocking to be treated as I am,—a mere +toy! a plaything!"</p> + +<p>George again! I could scarcely restrain +my impatience. Yet how to make her +understand?</p> + +<p>"Don't you see, Lulu, that George +ought never to have dared to name the +subject of your and your husband's differences? +and do you not see that you +can never discuss the subject with anybody +with propriety? If, unhappily, all +is not as you, as we, wish it, let us hope +for the effect of time and right feeling in +both; but don't, don't allow any gentleman +to talk to you of your husband's +treatment of you!"</p> + +<p>Lulu listened in quiet wonderment, +while, with agitated voice and trembling +mouth, I addressed her as I had never +before done. I had constantly avoided +speaking to her on the subject. She looked +at me now with clear, innocent eyes, +<a name="Page_587" id="Page_587"></a>(I am so glad to remember them!) and +placed her two hands affectionately on +my shoulders.</p> + +<p>"I know what you mean,—and what +you fear. That I shall say something, +or do something undignified, or possibly +wrong. But that, with God's help, I +shall never do. Such happiness as I +can procure, aside from my husband, and +which I had a right to expect through him,—such +enjoyment as comes from intellectual +improvement and the exercise of +my faculties, this is surely innocent pleasure, +this I shall have. And George,—you +must not blame him for being indignant, +when he sees me treated so unworthily,—or +for calling Lewis a Pacha, +as he always does. You must think, +my dear, that it isn't pleasant to be +treated only like a Circassian slave, and +that one may have something better to +do in life than to twirl jewelled armlets, +or to light my lord's <i>chibouk!</i>"</p> + +<p>She looked all radiant with scorn, as +she said this,—her eyes flashing, and her +very forehead crimson. I could see she +was remembering long months and years +in that moment of indignant anger. Seeing +them with her eyes, I could not say +she was unjust, or that her estrangement +was unnatural.</p> + +<p>"Now, then, good friend, good bye! +Don't look anxious. Don't fear for me. +I am not happy, but I shall know how to +keep myself from misery. You and your +excellent husband have done more for +me than you know or think; and I shall +try to keep right."</p> + +<p>She left me with this, and we parted +from both with a lingering sweet friendliness +that dwells still in our memories.</p> + +<p>"It would be horrible to be on these +terms, if she loved him," said the minister, +that night, after I had told him of +our parting interview.</p> + +<p>"Well, she don't, you see. Did she +ever?"</p> + +<p>"With such mind and heart as she +had, I suppose. On the other hand, +what did he marry?"</p> + +<p>"Grace and beauty—and promise. +Of course, like every man in love, he +took everything good for granted."</p> + +<p>"The sweetest flower in my garden," +said the minister, "should perfume no +stranger's vase, however, nor dangle at a +knave's button-hole."</p> + +<p>"Because you would watch it and care +for it, water and train it, and make it +doubly your own. But if you did neither?"</p> +<p><a name="Page_588" id="Page_588"></a></p> +<p>"I should deserve my fate," said he, +sorrowfully.</p> + + +<p>XIV.</p> + +<p>The first letter we received from Mrs. +Lewis was from the North of Scotland, +where the party of three, increased to one +much larger, were making the tour of the +Hebrides. I cannot say much for either +the penmanship or the orthography of the +letter, which was incorrect as usual; but +the abundant beauty of her descriptions, +and the fine sense she seemed to have of +lofty and wild scenery, made her journey +a living picture. All her keen sense of +external life was brought into activity, +and she projected on the paper before her +groups of people, or groups of mountains, +with a vividness that showed she had only +to transfer them from the retina: they +had no need of any additional processes. +She made no remarks on society, or inferences +from what she saw in the present +to what had been in the past or might +be in the future. It was simply a power +of representation, unequalled in its way, +and yet more remarkable to us for what +it failed of doing than for what it did.</p> + +<p>We could not but perceive two things. +One, that she never spoke of home-ties, +or children, or husband: not an allusion +to either. The other, that every hill and +every vale, the mounting mist and the +resting shadow, all that gave life and +beauty to her every-day pursuits, which +seemed, indeed, all pictorial,—all these +were informed and permeated, as it were, +with one influence,—that of Remington. +An uncomfortable sense of this made me +say, as I finished the letter,—</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for the poor bird!"</p> + +<p>"So am I," answered the minister, +with a clouded brow; "and the more, as +I think I see the bird is limed."</p> + +<p>"How?" I said, with a sort of horrified +retreat from the expressed thought, +though the thought itself haunted me.</p> + +<p>My husband seemed thinking the matter +over, as if to clear it in his own mind +before he spoke again.</p> + +<p>"I suppose there is a moral disease, +which, through its connection with a +newly awakened and brilliant intellect, +does not enervate the whole character. +I mean that this connection of moral +weakness with the intellect gives a fatal +strength to the character,—do you take +me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think so," said I.</p> + +<p>"She is lofty, self-poised,—confident +in what never yet supported any one. +Pride of character does not keep us from +falling. Humility would help us in that +way. Unfortunately, that, too, is often +bought dearly. I mean that this virtue +of humbleness, which makes us tender of +others and afraid for ourselves, is at the<a name="Page_589" id="Page_589"></a> +expense of sorrowful and humiliating experience."</p> + +<p>"You speak as if you feared more for +her than I do," said I, struck by the foreboding +look in his face.</p> + +<p>"You women judge only by your own +hearts, or by solitary instances; and you +forget the inevitable downward course of +wrong tendencies. Besides, she has neither +lofty principle nor a strong will. +You will think I mistake here; but I +don't mean she has not wilfulness enough. +A strong will generally excludes wilfulness,—and +the converse."</p> + +<p>This conversation made me nervous.</p> + +<p>I had such an intense anxiety for her +now, that I could not avoid expressing +it often and strongly in my letters to +her. I wondered Lewis was not more +open-eyed. I blamed him for letting her +run on so heedlessly into habits which +might compromise her reputation for dignity +and discretion, if no worse. Then +I would recall her manner the last evening +she was with us, when, although her +want of self-regulation was very apparent, +not less so was the native nobleness +and purity of her soul. I could not think +of this "unsphered angel wofully astray" +without inward tears that dimmed the +vision of my foreboding heart.</p> + +<p>Could Lewis mistake her indifference? +Could he avoid suffering from it? Could +he, for a moment, accept her conventional +expletives in place of the irrepressible and +endearing tokens of a real love? Could +he see what had weaned her from him, +and was still, like a baleful star, wiling +her farther and farther on its treacherously +lighted path? Could he see,—feel?—had +he a heart? These questions I incessantly +asked myself.</p><p><a name="Page_590" id="Page_590"></a></p> + +<p>In the last days of summer we went +with the children to Nantasket Beach.</p> + +<p>We had walked to a point of rocks at +some distance from the bay, above which +we lodged, and were sitting in the luxury +of quiet companionship, gazing out +on the water.</p> + +<p>The ineffable, still beauty of Nature, +separated from the usual noises of actual +life,—the brilliant effect of the long reaches +of color from the plunging sun, as it dipped, +and reappeared, and dipped again, +as loath to leave its field of beauty,—then +the still plash against the rocks, and the +subsidence in murmurs of the retiring +wave, with all its gathered treasure of +pebbles and shells,—all these sounds and +sights of reposeful life suggested unspeakable +thoughts and memories that clung +to silence. We had not been without so +much sorrow in life as does not well afford +to dwell on its own images; and we +rose to retrace our steps to the measure +of the eternal and significant psalm of +the sea.</p> + +<p>As we turned away, we both perceived +at once a sail in the distance, against the +western sky. It had just rounded the +nearest point and was coming slowly in +with a gentle breeze, when it suddenly +tacked and put out to sea again. It had +come so near, however, that with our +glass we saw that it was a small boat, +holding two persons, and with a single +sail.</p> + +<p>Immediately after, a dead calm succeeded +the light wind which had before +rippled the distant waves, and we watched +the boat, lying as if asleep and floating +lazily on the red water against the +blazing sky,—or rather, itself like a cradle, +so pavilioned was it with gorgeous +cloud-curtains, and fit home for the two +water-sprites lying in the slant sunbeams.</p> + +<p>Walking slowly borne, we felt the air +to be full of oppressive languor, and turned +now and then to see if the distant sail +were yet lightened by the coming breeze. +When we reached the inner bay, we +mounted a rock, from which, with the +lessened interval between us, I could distinctly +see the boat. One of the occupants—a +lady—wore a dark hat with a +scarlet plume drooping from it. She leaned +over the gunwale, dipping her hands +in the blazing water and holding them +up against the light, as if playing rainbows +in the sunset. The other figure +was busy in fastening up the sail, ready +to catch the first breath of wind.</p> + +<p>As we stood looking, the water, which +during the last few minutes had changed +from flaming red to the many-colored +hues of a dolphin's back, suddenly turned +slate-colored, almost black. Then a low +scud crept stealthily and quickly along the +surface, bringing with it a steady breeze, +for perhaps five minutes. We watched +the little boat, as it yielded gracefully +to t<a name="Page_591" id="Page_591"></a>he welcome impetus, and swept +rapidly to the shore. Fearing, however, +from the sudden change of weather, that +it would soon rain, we cast a parting look +at the boat, and started on a rapid walk +to the house.</p> + +<p>This last glimpse of the boat showed +us a tall figure standing upright against +the mast, and fastening or holding something +to it, while the lady still played +with the water, bending her head so low +that the red plume in her hat almost +touched it. She seemed in a pleasant +reverie, and rocked softly with the rocking +waves. It was a peaceful picture,—the +sail set, and full of heaven's breath, +as it seemed.</p> + +<p>Before we could grasp anything,—even +if there had been anything to grasp +on the level sand,—we were both taken +at once off our feet and thrown violently +to the ground. I had felt the force of +water before, but never that of wind, and +had no idea of the utter helplessness of +man or woman before a wind that is really +in earnest. It was with a very novel +sense of more than childish incapacity +that I suffered the Dominie to gather up +capes, canes, hats, and shawls, and, last +of all, an astonished woman, and put +them on their way homewards. However, +long before we reached the house-door +we were drenched to the skin. The +rain poured in blinding sheets, and the +thunder was like a hundred cannon about +our ears. It was so sudden and so frightful +to me that I had but one idea, that +of getting into the piazza, where was +comparative safety. Having reached it, +we turned to face the elements. Nothing +could be seen through the thick deluge. +The ocean itself, tossing and tumbling +in angry darkness, seemed fighting +with the other ocean that poured +from the black wall above, and all was +one tumult of thunderous fury. This +elemental war lasted but a short time, +and gave place to a quiet as sudden as its +angry burst. It was my first experience +of a squall. It is always difficult for me +to feel that a storm is a natural occurrence,—so +that I have a great reverence +for a Dominie who stands with head uncovered, +with calm eyes, looking tranquilly +out on the loudest tempest.</p> + +<p>"Beautiful! wonderful!" he murmured, +as the lightning fiercely shot over us, +and the roar died away in long billows +of heavy sound.</p> + +<p>Afterwards he told me he had the <a name="Page_592" id="Page_592"></a>same +unbounded delight in a great storm as he +had at the foot of Niagara, or in looking +at the stars on a winter night: that it +stirred in his soul all that was loftiest,—that +for the time he could comprehend Deity, +and that "the noise of the thundering +of His waters" was an anthem that +struck the highest chords of his nature. +What is really sublime takes us out of +ourselves, so that we have no room for +personal terror, and we mingle with the +elemental roar in spirit as with something +kindred to us. I guessed this, and meditated +on it, while I stopped my ears and +shut my eyes and trembled with overwhelming +terror myself. Clearly, I am a +coward, in spite of my admiration of the +sublime. The Dominie, being as good as +he is great, does not require a woman +to be sublime, luckily; and I think, as I +like him all the better for his strength, +he really does not object to a moderate +amount of weakness on my part, which +is unaffected and not to be helped. When +animal magnetism becomes a science, it +will be seen why some spirits revel and +soar, and some cower and shrink, at the +same amount of electricity. So the Dominie +says now; and then—he said nothing.</p> + + +<p>XV.</p> + +<p>In the fright, excitement, and thorough +wetting, I forgot about the boat,—or rather, +no misgiving seized me as to its safety. +But, on coming to breakfast the next +morning, we felt that there was a great +commotion in the house. Everybody was +out on the piazza, and a crowd was gathered +a short distance off. Somebody had +taken off the doors from the south entrance, +and there was a sort of procession +already formed on each side of these +two doors. We went out in front of the +house to listen to a rough fisherman who +described the storm in which the little +boat capsized. He had stood on the +shore and just finished fastening his own +boat, for he well knew the signs of the +storm, when he caught sight of the little +sail scudding with lightning-speed to the +landing. Suddenly it stopped short, shook +all over as if in an ague, and capsized in +an instant. The storm broke, and although +he tried to discern some traces +of the boat or its occupants, nothing +could be seen but the white foam on the +black water, glistening like a shark's +teeth when he has seized his prey. In +the early morning he had found two +bodies on the sand. The water, he said, +must have tossed them with considerable +force,—yet not against the rocks at all, +for they were not disfigured, nor their +clothing much torn. As the man ceased +relating the story, the bodies were brought +past us, covered by a piano-cloth which +somebody had considerately snatched up +and taken to the shore. They were placed +in the long parlor on a table.</p> + +<p>My husband beckoned to me to come +to him. Turning down the cloth, he +showed me the faces I dreamily expected +to see. I don't know when I thought of +it, but suppose I recognized the air and +movement so familiar, even in the distant +dimness. No matter how clearly and +fully death is expected, when it comes +it is with a death-shock,—how much<a name="Page_593" id="Page_593"></a> +more, coming as this did, as if with a bolt +from the clear sky!</p> + +<p>In their prime,—in their beauty,—in +their pride of youth,—in their pleasure, +they died. What was the strong man or +the smiling woman,—what was the smooth +sea, the shining sail,—what was strength, +skill, loveliness, against the great and terrible +wind of the Lord?</p> + +<p>So here they lay, white and quiet as +sculptured stone, and as placid as if they +had only fallen asleep in the midst of the +tempestuous uproar. All the clamor and +talking about the house had subsided in +the real presence of death; and every +one went lightly and softly around, as if +afraid of wakening the sleepers.</p> + +<p>She had never looked so beautiful, +even in her utmost pride of health and +bloom. Her dark luxuriant hair lay in +masses over brow and bosom, and her +face expressed the unspeakable calm and +perfect peace which are suggested only by +the sleep of childhood. The long eyelashes +seemed to say, in their close adherence +to the cheek, how gladly they shut +out the tumult of life; and the whole cast +of the face was so elevated by death as +to look rather angelic than mortal.</p> + +<p>His face was quiet, too,—the manliness +and massive character of the features +giving a majestic and severe cast to the +whole countenance, far more elevated +than it had while living.</p> + +<p>We could only weep over these relics. +But where was the deepest mourner? +No one had even seen these two before, +or could give any account of them.</p> + +<p>On making stricter inquiry and looking +at the books, we found that Mr. and +Mrs. Lewis had arrived first. Mr. Lewis +had taken his gun and a boat, and gone +out at once to shoot. The lady had +been in her room but a short time, when +another gentleman arrived, wrote his +name, and ordered a boat. She had +scarcely seen any one, but the boatman +saw her step into the boat, and described +her dress.</p> + +<p>A message was at once sent to "the +Glades," where Mr. Lewis had gone, and +where he was detained, as we had supposed, +by the storm. Before he reached +the house, however, all necessary arrangements +were completed for removing +any associations of suffering. No confusion +remained; the room was gently darkened, +and the bodies, robed in white, lay +in such peaceful silence as soothes and +quiets the mourner.</p> + +<p>As the carriage drew up to the door, +we both hastened to meet Mr. Lewis, to +take him by the hand, and to lead him, +by our evident sympathy, to accept his +terrible affliction with somethin<a name="Page_594" id="Page_594"></a>g like +composure. In our entire uncertainty +as to his feelings, we could only weep +silently, and hold his hands, which were +as cold as death.</p> + +<p>He looked surprised a little at seeing +us, but otherwise his face was like stone. +His eyes,—they, too, looked stony, and as +if all the expression and life were turned +inward. Outwardly, there seemed hardly +consciousness. He sat down between +us, while we related all the particulars +of the accident, which he seemed greedy +to hear,—turning, as one ceased, to the +other, with an eager, hungry look, most +painful to witness. He made us describe, +repeatedly, our last glimpse of the unconscious +victims, and then, pressing our +hands with a vice-cold grip, said, in a dry +whisper,—</p> + +<p>"Where are they?"</p> + +<p>We led him to the door. He went in, +and we softly closed it after him. As we +went up-stairs to our own room we heard +deep groans of anguish. We knew that +his heart could not relieve itself by tears. +My husband read the "prayer for persons +in great affliction," and then we sat +silently looking out on the peaceful sea. +In the great stillness of the house, we +heard the calm wave plash up on the +smiling sands, and watched the silver +specks in the distance as they hovered +over the blue sea. So soft, so still, it had +been the day before,—and where we +now saw the placid wave we had seen it +then. Yet there had two lives gone out, +as suddenly as one quenches a lamp.</p> + +<p>Thinking, but not speaking, we waited. +The report of a pistol in the house +struck us to the heart. I believe we felt +sure, both of us, of what it must be. He +had loved her so much! And now we +were sure, that in the tension of his +grief, reason had given way. When we +saw them next, there were three where +two had been, in the marble calm of +death.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FORMATION_OF_GLACIERS" id="THE_FORMATION_OF_GLACIERS"></a>THE FORMATION OF GLACIERS.</h2> + + +<p>The long summer was over. For ages +a tropical climate had prevailed over a +great part of the earth, and animals whose +home is now beneath the Equator roamed +over the world from the far South to +the very borders of the Arctics. The +gigantic quadrupeds, the Mastodons, Elephants, +Tigers, Lions, Hyenas, Bears, +whose remains are found in Europe from +its southern promontories to the northernmost +limits of Siberia and Scandinavia, +and in America from the Southern States +to Greenland and the Melville Islands, +may indeed be said to have possessed the +earth in those days. But their reign was +over. A sudden intense winter, that was +also to last for ages, fell upon our globe; +<a name="Page_595" id="Page_595"></a>it spread over the very countries where +these tropical animals had their homes, +and so suddenly did it come upon them +that they were embalmed beneath masses +of snow and ice, without time even +for the decay which follows death. The +Elephant whose story was told at length +in the preceding article was by no means +a solitary specimen; upon further investigation +it was found that the disinterment +of these large tropical animals in +Northern Russia and Asia was no unusual +occurrence. Indeed, their frequent +discoveries of this kind had given rise +among the ignorant inhabitants to the +singular superstition already alluded to, +that gigantic moles lived under the earth, +which crumbled away and turned to dust +as soon as they came to the upper air. +This tradition, no doubt, arose from the +fact, that, when in digging they came +upon the bodies of these animals, they +often found them perfectly preserved under +the frozen ground, but the moment +they were exposed to heat and light +they decayed and fell to pieces at once. +Admiral Wrangel, whose Arctic explorations +have been so valuable to science, +tells us that the remains of these animals +are heaped up in such quantities in certain +parts of Siberia that he and his men +climbed over ridges and mounds consisting +entirely of the bones of Elephants, +Rhinoceroses, etc. From these facts it +would seem that they roamed over all +these northern regions in troops as large +and numerous as the Buffalo herds that +wander over our Western prairies now. +We are indebted to Russian naturalists, +and especially to Rathke, for the most minute +investigations of these remains, in +which even the texture of the hair, the +skin, and flesh has been subjected by him +to microscopic examination as accurate +as if made upon any living animal.</p> + +<p>We have as yet no clue to the source +of this great and sudden change of climate. +Various suggestions have been +made,—among others, that formerly the +inclination of the earth's axis was greater, +or that a submersion of the continents under +water might have produced a decided +increase of cold; but none of these +explanations are satisfactory, and science +has yet to find any cause which accounts +for all the phenomena connected with it. +It seems, however, unquestionable that +since the opening of the Tertiary age a +cosmic summer and winter have succeeded +each other, during which a Tropical +heat and an Arctic cold have alternately +prevailed over a great portion of the +globe. In the so-called drift (a superficial +deposit subsequent to the Tertiaries, +of the origin of which I shall speak presently) +there are found far to the south +of their present abode the remains of animals +whose home now is in the Arctics +or the coldest parts of the Temperate +Zones. Among them are the Musk-Ox, +the Reindeer, the Walrus, the Seal, and +many kinds of Shells characteristic of +the Arctic regions. The northernmost +part of Norway and Sweden is at this +day the southern limit of the Reindeer +in Europe; but their fossil remains are +found in large quantities in the drift about +the neighborhood of Paris, where their +presence would, of course, indicate a climate +similar to the one now prevailing +in Northern Scandinavia. Side by side +with the remains of the Reindeer are +<a name="Page_596" id="Page_596"></a>found those of the European Marmot, +whose present home is in the mountains, +about six thousand feet above the level +of the sea. The occurrence of these +animals in the superficial deposits of the +plains of Central Europe, one of which is +now confined to the high North, and the +other to mountain-heights, certainly indicates +an entire change of climatic conditions +since the time of their existence. +European Shells now confined to the +Northern Ocean are found as fossils in +Italy,—showing, that, while the present +Arctic climate prevailed in the Temperate +Zone, that of the Temperate Zone +extended much farther south to the regions +we now call sub-tropical. In America +there is abundant evidence of the +same kind; throughout the recent marine +deposits of the Temperate Zone, +covering the low lands above tide-water +on this continent, are found fossil Shells +whose present home is on the shores of +Greenland. It is not only in the Northern +hemisphere that these remains occur, +but in Africa and in South America, +wherever there has been an opportunity +for investigation, the drift is found to +contain the traces of animals whose presence +indicates a climate many degree +colder than that now prevailing there.</p> + +<p>But these organic remains are not the +only evidence of the geological winter. +There are a number of phenomena indicating +that during this period two vast +caps of ice stretched from the Northern +pole southward and from the Southern +pole northward, extending in each case +far toward the Equator,—and that ice-fields, +such as now spread over the Arctics, +covered a great part of the Temperate +Zones, while the line of perpetual +ice and snow in the tropical mountain-ranges +descended far below its present +limits. As the explanation of these facts +has been drawn from the study of glacial +action, I shall devote this and subsequent +articles to some account of glaciers and +of the phenomena connected with them.</p> + +<p>The first essential condition for the +formation of glaciers in mountain-ranges +is the shape of their valleys. Glaciers +are by no means in proportion to the +height and extent of mountains. There +are many mountain-chains as high or +higher than the Alps, which can boast +of but few and small glaciers, if, indeed, +they have any. In the Andes, the +Rocky Mountains, the Pyrenees, the +Caucasus, the few glaciers remaining +from the great ice-period are insignificant +in size. The volcanic, cone-like +shape of the Andes gives, indeed, but little +chance for the formation of glaciers, +though their summits are capped with +snow. The glaciers of the Rocky Mountains +have been little explored, but it is +known that they are by no means extensive. +In the Pyrenees there is but one +great glacier, though the height of these +mountains is such, that, were the shape +of their valleys favorable to the accumulation +of snow, they might present beautiful +glaciers. In the Tyrol, on the cont<a name="Page_597" id="Page_597"></a>rary, +as well as in Norway and Sweden, we +find glaciers almost as fine as those of +Switzerland, in mountain-ranges much +lower than either of the above-named +chains. But they are of diversified forms, +and have valleys widening upward on +the slope of long crests. The glaciers on +the Caucasus are very small in proportion +to the height of the range; but on +the northern side of the Himalaya there +are large and beautiful ones, while the +southern slope is almost destitute of +them. Spitzbergen and Greenland are +famous for their extensive glaciers, coming +down to the sea-shore, where huge +masses of ice, many hundred feet in +thickness, break off and float away into +the ocean as icebergs. At the Aletsch in +Switzerland, where a little lake lies in a +deep cup between the mountains, with +the glacier coming down to its brink, we +have these Arctic phenomena on a small +scale; a miniature iceberg may often be +seen to break off from the edge of the +larger mass, and float out upon the surface +of the water. Icebergs were first +traced back to their true origin by the +nature of the land-ice of which they are +always composed, and which is quite distinct +in structure and consistency from +the marine ice produced by frozen sea-water, +and called "ice-flow" by the Arctic +explorers, as well as from the pond +or river ice, resulting from the simple +congelation of fresh water.</p> + +<p>Water is changed to ice at a certain +temperature under the same law of crystallization +by which any inorganic bodies +in a fluid state may assume a solid condition, +taking the shape of perfectly regular +crystals, which combine at certain +angles with mathematical precision. The +frost does not form a solid, continuous +sheet of ice over an expanse of water, +but produces crystals, little ice-blades, as +it were, which shoot into each other at +angles of thirty or sixty degrees, forming +the closest net-work. Of course, under +the process of alternate freezing and +thawing, these crystals lose their regularity, +and soon become merged in each +other. But even then a mass of ice is not +continuous or compact throughout, for it +is rendered completely porous by air-bubbles, +the presence of which is easily explained. +Ice being in a measure transparent +to heat, the water below any frozen +surface is nearly as susceptible to the elevation +of the temperature without as if it +were in immediate contact with it. Such +changes of temperature produce air-bubbles, +which float upward against the lower +surface of the ice and are stranded +there. At night there may come a severe +frost; new ice is then formed below<a name="Page_598" id="Page_598"></a> +the air-bubbles, and they are thus caught +and imprisoned, a layer of air-bubbles +between two layers of ice, and this process +may be continued until we have a +succession of such parallel layers, forming +a body of ice more or less permeated +with air. These air-bubbles have the +power also of extending their own area, +and thus rendering the whole mass still +more porous; for, since the ice offers little +or no obstacle to the passage of heat, such +an air-bubble may easily become heated +during the day; the moment it reaches +a temperature above thirty-two degrees, +it melts the ice around it, thus clearing +a little space for itself, and rises through +the water produced by the action of its +own warmth. The spaces so formed are +so many vertical tubes in the ice, filled +with water, and having an air-bubble at +the upper extremity.</p> + +<p>Ice of this kind, resulting from the direct +congelation of water, is easily recognized +under all circumstances by its +regular stratification, the alternate beds +varying in thickness according to the intensity +of the cold, and its continuance +below the freezing-point during a longer +or shorter period. Singly, these layers +consist of irregular crystals confusedly +blended together, as in large masses of +crystalline rocks in which a crystalline +structure prevails, though regular crystals +occur but rarely. The appearance of +stratification is the result of the circumstances +under which the water congeals. +The temperature varies much more rapidly +in the atmosphere around the earth +than in the waters upon its surface. +When the atmosphere above any sheet +of water sinks below the freezing-point, +there stretches over its surface a stratum +of cold air, determining by its intensity +and duration the formation of the first +stratum of ice. According to the alternations +of temperature, this process goes +on with varying activity until the sheet +of ice is so thick that it becomes itself a +shelter to the water below, and protects +it, to a certain degree, from the cold +without. Thus a given thickness of ice +may cause a suspension of the freezing +process, and the first ice-stratum may +even be partially thawed before the cold +is renewed with such intensity as to continue +the thickening of the ice-sheet by +the addition of fresh layers. The strata +or beds of ice increase gradually in this +manner, their separation being rendered +still more distinct by the accumulation of +air-bubbles, which, during a hot and clear +day, may rise from a muddy bottom in +great numbers. In consequence of these +occasional collections of air-bubbles, the +layers differ, not only in density and +closeness, but also in color, the more +compact strata being blue and transparent, +while those containing a greater +quantity of air-bubbles are opaque and +whitish, like water beaten to froth.</p> + +<p>A cake of pond-ice, such as is daily +left in summer at our doors, if held against +the light and turned in different directions, +will exhibit all these phenomena<a name="Page_599" id="Page_599"></a> +very distinctly, and we may learn still +more of its structure by watching its gradual +melting. The process of decomposition +is as different in fresh-water ice and +in land-or glacier-ice and that of their formation. +Pond-ice, in contact with warm +air, melts uniformly over its whole surface, +the mass being thus gradually reduces +from the exterior till it vanishes +completely. If the process be slow, the +temperature of the air-bubbles contained +in it may be so raised as to form the vertical +funnels or tubes alluded to above. +By the anastomosing of these funnels, the +whole mass may be reduced to a collection +of angular pyramids, more or less +closely united by cross-beams of ice, and it +finally falls to pieces when the spaces in +the interior have become for numerous as +to render it completely cavernous. Such +a breaking-up of ice is always caused +by the enlargement of the open spaces +produces by the elevated temperature +of the air-bubbles, these spaces being +necessarily more or less parallel with one +another, and vertical in their position, owing +to the natural tendency of the air-bubbles +to work their way upward till they +reach the surface, where they escape. A +sheet of ice, of this kind, floating upon +water, dissolves in the same manner, melting +wholly from the surface, if the process +be sufficiently rapid, or falling to pieces, +if the air-bubbles are gradually raised in +their temperature sufficiently to render +the whole mass cavernous and incoherent. +If we now compare these facts with +what is known of the structure of land-ice, +we shall see that the mode of formation +in the two cases differs essentially.</p> + +<p>Land-ice, of which both the ice-fields +of the Arctics and glaciers consist, is produced +by the slow and gradual transformation +of snow into ice; and though the +ice thus formed may eventually be as +clear and transparent as the purest pond- or +river-ice, its structure is nevertheless +entirely distinct. We may trace these +different processes during any moderately +cold winter in the ponds and snow-meadows +immediately about us. We need +not join an Arctic exploring expedition, +nor even undertake a more tempting trip +to the Alps, in order to investigate these +phenomena for ourselves, if we have any +curiosity to do so. The first warm day +after a thick fall of light, dry snow, such +as occurs in the coldest of our winter +weather, is sufficient to melt its surface. +As this snow is porous, the water readily +penetrates it, having also a tendency to +sink by its own weight, so that the whole +mass becomes more or less filled with +moisture in the course of the day. Daring +the lower temperature of the night, however, +the water is frozen again, and the +snow is now filled with new ice-particles. +Let this process be continued long enough, +and the mass of snow is changed to a kind +of ice-gravel, or, if the grains adhere together, +to something like what we call<a name="Page_600" id="Page_600"></a> +pudding-stone, allowing, of course, for +the difference of material; the snow, +which has been rendered cohesive by the +process of partial melting and regelation, +holding the ice-globules together, just as +the loose materials of the pudding-stone +are held together by the cement which +unites them.</p> + +<p>Within this mass, air is intercepted and +held inclosed between the particles of ice. +The process by which snow-flakes or snow-crystals +are transformed into grains of +ice, more or less compact, is easily understood. +It is the result of a partial thawing, +under a temperature maintained very +nearly at thirty-two degrees, falling sometimes +a little below, and then rising a +little above the freezing-point, and thus +producing constant alternations of freezing +and thawing in the same mass of +snow. This process amounts to a kind of +kneading of the snow, and when combined +with the cohesion among the particles +more closely held together in one snow-flake, +it produces granular ice. Of course, +the change takes place gradually, and is +unequal in its progress at different depths +in the same bed of recently fallen snow. +It depends greatly on the amount of moisture +infiltrating the mass, whether derived +from the melting of its own surface, +or from the accumulation of dew or the +falling of rain or mist upon it. The +amount of water retained within the +mass will also be greatly affected by the +bottom on which it rests and by the state +of the atmosphere. Under a certain temperature, +the snow may only be glazed +at the surface by the formation of a thin, +icy crust, an outer membrane, as it were, +protecting the mass below from a deeper +transformation into ice; or it may be +rapidly soaked throughout its whole bulk, +the snow being thus changed into a kind +of soft pulp, what we commonly call slosh, +which, upon freezing, becomes at once +compact ice; or, the water sinking rapidly, +the lower layers only may be soaked, +while the upper portion remains comparatively +dry. But, under all these various +circumstances, frost will transform the +crystalline snow into more or less compact +ice, the mass of which will be composed +of an infinite number of aggregated +snow-particles, very unequal in regularity +of outline, and cemented by ice of +another kind, derived from the freezing +of the infiltrated moisture, the whole being +interspersed with air. Let the temperature +rise, and such a mass, rigid before, +will resolve itself again into disconnected +ice-particles, like grains more or +less rounded. The process may be repeated +till the whole mass is transformed +into very compact, almost uniformly +transparent and blue ice, broken only +by the intervening air-bubbles. Such a +mass of ice, when exposed to a temperature +sufficiently high to dissolve it, does +not melt from the surface and disappear +by a gradual diminution of its bulk, like +pond-ice, but crumbles into its original +granular fragments, each one of which +melts separately. This accounts for the +sudden disappearance icebergs, which, +instead of slowly dissolving into the ocean, +are often seen to fall to pi<a name="Page_601" id="Page_601"></a>eces and vanish +at once.</p> + +<p>Ice of this kind may be seen forming +every winter on our sidewalks, on the +edge of the little ditches which drain +them, or on the summits of broad gateposts +when capped with snow. Of such +ice glaciers are composed; but, in the +glacier, another element comes in which +we have not considered as yet,—that of +immense pressure in consequence of the +vast accumulations of snow within circumscribed +spaces. We see the same effects +produced on a small scale, when +snow is transformed into a snowball between +the hands. Every boy who balls +a mass of snow in his hands illustrates +one side of glacial phenomena. Loose +snow, light and porous, and pure white +from the amount of air contained in it, +is in this way presently converted into +hard, compact, almost transparent ice. +This change will take place sooner, if the +snow be damp at first,—but if dry, the +action of the hand will presently produce +moisture enough to complete the process. +In this case, mere pressure produces the +same effect which, in the cases we have +been considering above, was brought +about by alternate thawing and freezing,—only +that in the latter the ice is +distinctly granular, instead of being uniform +throughout, as when formed under +pressure. In the glaciers we have the +two processes combined. But the investigators +of glacial phenomena have considered +too exclusively one or the other: +some of them attributing glacial motion +wholly to the dilatation produced by the +freezing of infiltrated moisture in the +mass of snow; others accounting for it +entirely by weight and pressure. There +is yet a third class, who, disregarding the +real properties of ice, would have us believe, +that, because tar, for instance, is +viscid when it moves, therefore ice is +viscid because it moves. We shall see +hereafter that the phenomena exhibited +in the onward movement of glaciers are +far more diversified than has generally +been supposed.</p> + +<p>There is no chain of mountains in +which the shape of the valleys is more +favorable to the formation of glaciers +than the Alps. Contracted at their lower +extremity, these valleys widen upward, +spreading into deep, broad, trough-like +depressions. Take, for instance, the +valley of Hassli, <a name="Page_602" id="Page_602"></a>which is not more than +half a mile wide where you enter it +above Meyringen; it opens gradually upward, +till, above the Grimsel, at the foot +of the Finster-Aarhorn, it measures several +miles across. These huge mountain-troughs +form admirable cradles for the +snow, which collects in immense quantities +within them, and, as it moves slowly +down from the upper ranges, is transformed +into ice on its way, and compactly +crowded into the narrower space below. +At the lower extremity of the glacier +the ice is pure, blue and transparent, +but, as we ascend, it appears less +compact, more porous and granular, assuming +gradually the character of snow, +till in the higher regions the snow is as +light, as shifting, and incoherent, as the +sand of the desert. A snow-storm on a +mountain-summit is very different from +a snow-storm on the plain, on account of +the different degrees of moisture in the +atmosphere. At great heights, there is +never dampness enough to allow the +fine snow-crystals to coalesce and form +what are called "snow-flakes." I have +even stood on the summit of the Jungfrau +when a frozen cloud filled the air +with ice-needles, while I could see the +same cloud pouring down sheet of rain +upon Lauterbrunnen below. I remember +this spectacle as one of the most impressive +I have witnessed in my long experience +of Alpine scenery. The air immediately +about me seemed filled with +rainbow-dust, for the ice-needles glittered +with a thousand hues under the decomposition +of light upon them, while +the dark storm in the valley below offered +a strange contract to the brilliancy +of the upper region in which I stood. +One wonder where even so much vapor +as may be transformed into the +finest snow should come from at such +heights. But the warm winds, creeping +up the sides of the valleys, the walls of +which become heated during the middle +of the day, come laden with moisture +which is changed to a dry snow like dust +as soon as it comes into contact with the +intense cold above.</p> + +<p>Currents of warm air affect the extent +of the glaciers, and influence also the +line of perpetual snow, which is by no +means at the same level even in neighboring +localities. The size of glaciers, of +course, determines to a great degree the +height at which they terminate, simply +because a small mass of ice will melt +more rapidly, and at a lower temperature, +than a large<a name="Page_603" id="Page_603"></a>r one. Thus, the small +glaciers, such as those of the Rothhorn or +of Trift, above the Grimsel, terminate at +a considerable height above the plain, +while the Mer de Glace, fed from the great +snow-caldrons of Mont Blanc, forces its +way down to the bottom of the valley of +Chamouni, and the glacier of Grindelwald, +constantly renewed from the deep +reservoirs where the Jungfrau hoards her +vast supplies of snow, descends to about +four thousand feet above the sea-level. +But the glacier of the Aar, though also +very large, comes to a pause at about six +thousand feet above the level of the sea; +for the south wind from the other side of +the Alps, the warm sirocco of Italy, blows +across it, and it consequently melts at a +higher level than either the Mer de Glace +or the Grindelwald. It is a curious fact, +that in the valley of Hassli the temperature +frequently rises instead of falling as +you ascend; at the Grimsel, the temperature +is at times higher than at Meyringen +below, where the warmer winds are +not felt so directly. The glacier of +Aletsch, on the southern slope of the +Jungfrau, and into which many other +glaciers enter, terminates also at a considerable +height, because it turns into the +valley of the Rhone, through which the +southern winds blow constantly.</p> + +<p>Under ordinary conditions, vegetation +fades in these mountains at the height of +six thousand feet, but, in consequence of +prevailing winds, and the sheltering influence +of the mountain-walls, there is no +uniformity in the limit of perpetual snow +and ice. Where currents of warm air +are very constant, glaciers do not occur +at all, even where other circumstances are +favorable to their formation. There are +valleys in the Alps far above six thousand +feet which have no glaciers, and where +perpetual snow is seen only on their +northern sides. These contrasts in temperature +lead to the most wonderful contrasts +in the aspect of the soil; summer +and winter lie side by side, and bright +flowers look out from the edge of snows +that never melt. Where the warm winds +prevail, there may be sheltered spots at +a height of ten or eleven thousand feet, +isolated nooks opening southward where +the most exquisite flowers bloom in the +midst of perpetual snow and ice; and +occasionally I have seen a bright little +flower with a cap of snow over it that +seemed to be its shelter. The flowers +give, indeed, a peculiar charm to these +high Alpine regions.<a name="Page_604" id="Page_604"></a> Occurring often in +beds of the same kind, forming green, +blue or yellow patches, they seem nestled +close together in sheltered spots, or even +in fissures and chasms of the rock, where +they gather in dense quantities. Even +in the sternest scenery of the Alps some +sign of vegetation lingers; and I remember +to have found a tuft of lichen +growing on the only rock which pierced +through the ice on the summit of the +Jungfrau. The absolute solitude, the intense +stillness of the upper Alps is most +impressive; no cattle, no pasturage, no +bird, nor any sound of life,—and, indeed, +even if there were, the rarity of the air +in these high regions is such that sound +is hardly transmissible. The deep repose, +the purity of aspect of every object, +the snow, broken only by ridges +of angular rocks, produce an effect no +less beautiful than solemn. Sometimes, +in the midst of the wide expanse, one +comes upon a patch of the so-called red +snow of the Alps. At a distance, one +would say that such a spot marked some +terrible scene of blood, but, as you come +nearer, the hues are so tender and delicate, +as they fade from deep red to rose, +and so die into the pure colorless snow +around, that the first impression is completely +dispelled. This red snow is an +organic growth, a plant springing up in +such abundance that it colors extensive +surfaces, just as the microscopic plants +dye our pools with green in the spring. +It is an <i>Alga</i> well known in the Arctics, +where it forms wide fields in the summer. +With the above facts before us concerning +the materials of which glaciers are +composed, we may now proceed to consider +their structure more fully in connection +with their movements and the +effects they produce on the surfaces over +which they extend. It has already been +stated that the ice of the glaciers has not +the same appearance everywhere, but differs +according to the level at which it +stands. In consequence of this we distinguish +three very distinct regions in +these frozen fields, the uppermost of +which, upon the sides of the steepest and +highest slopes of the mountain-ridges, consists +chiefly of layers of snow piled one +above another by the successive snowfalls +of the colder seasons, and which +would remain in uniform superposition +but for the change to which they are subjected +in consequence of a gradual downward +movement, causing the mass to descend +by slow degrees, while new accumulations +in the higher regions ann<a name="Page_605" id="Page_605"></a>ually +replace the snow which has been thus +removed to an inferior level. We shall +consider hereafter the process by which +this change of position is brought about. +For the present it is sufficient to state +that such a transfer, by which a balance +is preserved in the distribution of the +snow, takes place in all glaciers, so that, +instead of increasing indefinitely in the +upper regions, where on account of the +extreme cold there is little melting, they +permanently preserve about the same +thickness, being yearly reduced by their +downward motion in a proportion equal to +their annual increase by fresh additions +of snow. Indeed, these reservoirs of snow +maintain themselves at the same level, +much as a stream, into which many rivulets +empty, remains within its usual limits +in consequence of the drainage of the +average supply. Of course, very heavy +rains or sudden thaws at certain seasons +or in particular years may cause an occasional +overflow of such a stream; and +irregularities of the same kind are observed +during certain years or at different +periods of the same year in the accumulations +of snow, in consequence of +which the successive strata may vary in +thickness. But in ordinary times layers +from six to eight feet deep are regularly +added annually to the accumulation of +snow in the higher regions,—not taking +into account, of course, the heavy drifts +heaped up in particular localities, but estimating +the uniform average increase +over wide fields. This snow is gradually +transformed into more or less compact +ice, passing through an intermediate condition +analogous to the slosh of our roads, +and in that condition chiefly occupies the +upper part of the extensive troughs into +which these masses descend from the loftier +heights. This region is called the +region of the <i>névé</i>. It is properly the +birthplace of the glaciers, for it is here +that the transformation of the snow into +ice begins. The <i>névé</i> ice, though varying +in the degree of its compactness and +solidity, is always very porous and whitish +in color, resembling somewhat frozen +slosh, while lower down in the region of +the glacier proper the ice is close, solid, +transparent, and of a bluish tint.</p> + +<p>But besides the differences in solidity +and in external appearance, there are +also many other important changes taking +place in the ice of these diffe<a name="Page_606" id="Page_606"></a>rent regions, +to which we shall return presently. +Such modifications arise chiefly from the +pressure to which it is subjected in its +downward progress, and to the alterations, +in consequence of this displacement, +in the relative position of the snow- and +ice-beds, as well as to the influence exerted +by the form of the valleys themselves, +not only upon the external aspect +of the glaciers, but upon their internal +structure also. The surface of a glacier +varies greatly in character in these different +regions. The uniform even surfaces +of the upper snow-fields gradually +pass into a more undulating outline, the +pure white fields become strewn with +dust and sand in the lower levels, while +broken bits of stone and larger fragments +of rock collect upon them, which assume +a regular arrangement, and produce a +variety of features most startling and +incomprehensible at first sight, but more +easily understood when studied in connection +with the whole series of glacial +phenomena. They are then seen to be +the consequence of the general movement +of the glacier, and of certain effects +which the course of the seasons, +the action of the sun, the rain, the reflected +heat from the sides of the valley, +or the disintegration of its rocky walls, +may produce upon the surface of the ice. +In the next article we shall consider in +detail all these phenomena, and trace +them in their natural connection. Once +familiar with these facts, it will not be +difficult correctly to appreciate the movement +of the glacier and the cause of its +inequalities. We shall see, that, in consequence +of the greater or less rapidity +in the movement of certain portions of +the mass, its centre progressing faster +than its sides, and the upper, middle, and +lower regions of the same glacier advancing +at different rates, the strata which +in the higher ranges of the snow-fields +were evenly spread over wide expanses, +become bent and folded to such a degree +that the primitive stratification is nearly +obliterated, while the internal mass of +the ice has also assumed new features +under these new circumstances. There +is, indeed, as much difference between the +newly formed beds of snow in the upper +region and the condition of the ice at the +lower end of a glacier as between a recent +deposit of coral sand or a mud-bed +in an estuary and the metamorphic limestone +or clay slate twisted and broken as +they are seen in the very chains of moun<a name="Page_607" id="Page_607"></a>tains +from which the glaciers descend. A +geologist, familiar with all the changes to +which a bed of rock may be subjected +from the time it was deposited in horizontal +layers up to the time when it was +raised by Plutonic agencies along the +sides of a mountain-ridge, bent and distorted +in a thousand directions, broken +through the thickness of its mass, and +traversed by innumerable fissures which +are themselves filled with new materials, +will best be able to understand how the +stratification of snow may be modified +by pressure and displacement so as finally +to appear like a laminated mass full +of cracks and crevices, in which the original +stratification is recognized only by +the practical student. I trust in my next +article I shall be able to explain intelligibly +to my readers even these extreme +alterations in the condition of the primitive +snow of the Alpine summits.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="TWO_SCENES_FROM_THE_LIFE_OF_BLONDEL" id="TWO_SCENES_FROM_THE_LIFE_OF_BLONDEL"></a>TWO SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF BLONDEL.</h2> + + +<p>SCENE I.—<i>Near a Castle in Germany.</i></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Twere no hard task, perchance, to win<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The popular laurel for my song;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twere only to comply with sin,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And own the crown, though snatched by wrong:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rather Truth's chaplet let me wear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though sharp as death its thorns may sting;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Loyal to Loyalty, I bear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No badge but of my rightful king.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Patient by town and tower I wait,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or o'er the blustering moorland go;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I buy no praise at cheaper rate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or what faint hearts may fancy so:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For me, no joy in lady's bower,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or hall, or tourney, will I sing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till the slow stars wheel round the hour<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That crowns my hero and my king.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">While all the land runs red with strife,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And wealth is won by peddler-crimes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let who will find content in life<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And tinkle in unmanly rhymes:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I wait and seek; through dark and light,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Safe in my heart my hope I bring,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till I once more my faith may plight<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To him my whole soul owns her king.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">When power is filched by drone and dolt,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, with caught breath and flashing eye,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her knuckles whitening round the bolt,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Vengeance leans eager from the sky,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While this and that the people guess,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And to the skirts of praters cling,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who court the crowd they should compress,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I turn in scorn to seek my king.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Shut in what tower of darkling chance<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or dungeon of a narrow doom,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dream'st thou of battle-axe and lance<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That for the cross make crashing room?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come! with strained eyes the battle waits<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the wild van thy mace's swing;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While doubters parley with their fates,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Make thou thine own and ours, my king!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oh, strong to keep upright the old,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And wise to buttress with the new,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Prudent, as only are the bold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Clear-eyed, as only are the true,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To foes benign, to friendship stern,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Intent to imp Law's broken wing,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who would not die, if death might earn<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The right to kiss thy hand, my king?<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p>SCENE II.—<i>An Inn near the Château of Chalus.</i></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Well, the whole thing is over, and here I sit<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With one arm in a sling and a milk-score of gashes,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And this flagon of Cyprus must e'en warm my wit,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Since what's left of youth's flame is a head flecked with ashes.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I remember I sat in this very same inn,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I was young then, and one young man thought I was handsome,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I had found out what prison King Richard was in,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And was spurring for England to push on the ransom.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">How I scorned the dull souls that sat guzzling around,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And knew not my secret nor recked my derision!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let the world sink or swim, John or Richard be crowned,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All one, so the beer-tax got lenient revision.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How little I dreamed, as I tramped up and down,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That granting our wish one of Fate's saddest jokes is!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I had mine with a vengeance,—my king got his crown,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And made his whole business to break other folks's.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I might as well join in the safe old <i>tum</i>, <i>tum</i>:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A hero's an excellent loadstar,—but, bless ye,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What infinite odds 'twixt a hero to come<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And your only too palpable hero <i>in esse</i>!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Precisely the odds (such examples are rife)<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twixt the poem conceived and the rhyme we make show of,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twixt the boy's morning dream and the wake-up of life,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twixt the Blondel God meant and a Blondel I know of!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But the world's better off, I'm convinced of it now,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than if heroes, like buns, could be bought for a penny,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To regard all mankind as their haltered milch-cow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And just care for themselves. Well, God cares for the many;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And somehow the poor old Earth blunders along,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each son of hers adding his mite of unfitness,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, choosing the sure way of coming out wrong,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gets to port, as the next generation will witness.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">You think her old ribs have come all crashing through,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If a whisk of Fate's broom snap your cobweb asunder;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But her rivets were clinched by a wiser than you,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And our sins cannot push the Lord's right hand from under.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Better one honest man who can wait for God's mind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In our poor shifting scene here, though heroes were plenty!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Better one bite, at forty, of truth's bitter rind<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than the hot wine that gushed from the vintage of twenty!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I see it all now: when I wanted a king,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas the kingship that failed in myself I was seeking,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis so much less easy to do than to sing,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">So much simpler to reign by a proxy than <i>be</i> king!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yes, I think I <i>do</i> see: after all's said and sung,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Take this one rule of life and you never will rue it,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis but do your own duty and hold your own tongue,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Blondel were royal himself, if he knew it!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="NIGHT_AND_MOONLIGHT" id="NIGHT_AND_MOONLIGHT"></a>NIGHT AND MOONLIGHT.</h2> + + +<p>Chancing to take a memorable walk +by moonlight some years ago, I resolved +to take more such walks, and make acquaintance +with another side of Nature. +I have done so.</p> + +<p>According to Pliny, there is a stone in +Arabia called Selenites, "wherein is a +white, which increases and decreases with +the moon." My journal for the last year +or two has been <i>selenitic</i> in this sense.</p> + +<p>Is not the midnight like Central Africa +to most of us? Are we not tempted to +explore it,—to penetrate to the shores +of its Lake Tchad, and discover the source +of its Nile, perchance the Mountains of +the Moon? Who knows what fertility +and beauty, moral and natural, are there +to be found<a name="Page_610" id="Page_610"></a>? In the Mountains of the +Moon, in the Central Africa of the night, +there is where all Niles have their hidden +heads. The expeditions up the Nile as +yet extend but to the Cataracts, or perchance +to the mouth of the White Nile; +but it is the Black Nile that concerns +us.</p> + +<p>I shall be a benefactor, if I conquer +some realms from the night,—if I report +to the gazettes anything transpiring about +us at that season worthy of their attention,—if +I can show men that there is +some beauty awake while they are asleep,—if +I add to the domains of poetry.</p> + +<p>Night is certainly more novel and less +profane than day. I soon discovered that +I was acquainted only with its complexion; +and as for the moon, I had seen her +only as it were through a crevice in a +shutter, occasionally. Why not walk a +little way in her light?</p> + +<p>Suppose you attend to the suggestions +which the moon makes for one month, +commonly in vain, will it not be very +different from anything in literature or +religion? But why not study this Sanscrit? +What if one moon has come and +gone, with its world of poetry, its weird +teachings, its oracular suggestions,—so +divine a creature freighted with hints for +me, and I have not used her,—one moon +gone by unnoticed?</p> + +<p>I think it was Dr. Chalmers who said, +criticizing Coleridge, that for his part +he wanted ideas which he could see all +round, and not such as he must look at +away up in the heavens. Such a man, +one would say, would never look at the +moon, because she never turns her other +side to us. The light which comes from +ideas which have their orbit as distant +from the earth, and which is no less +cheering and enlightening to the benighted +traveller than that of the moon +and stars, is naturally reproached or nicknamed +as moonshine by such. They are +moonshine, are they? Well, then, do +your night-travelling when there is no +moon to light you; but I will be thankful +for the light that reaches me from the +star of least magnitude. Stars are lesser +or greater only as they appear to us so. +I will be thankful that I see so much as +one side of a celestial idea, one side of the +rainbow and the sunset sky.</p> +<p><a name="Page_611" id="Page_611"></a></p> +<p>Men talk glibly enough about moonshine, +as if they knew its qualities very +well, and despised them,—as owls might +talk of sunshine. None of your sunshine!—but +this word commonly means merely +something which they do not understand, +which they are abed and asleep to, however +much it may be worth their while to +be up and awake to it.</p> + +<p>It must be allowed that the light of the +moon, sufficient though it is for the pensive +walker, and not disproportionate to +the inner light we have, is very inferior +in quality and intensity to that of the +sun. But the moon is not to be judged +alone by the quantity of light she sends to +us, but also by her influence on the earth +and its inhabitants. "The moon gravitates +toward the earth, and the earth reciprocally +toward the moon." The poet +who walks by moonlight is conscious of a +tide in his thought which is to be referred +to lunar influence. I will endeavor to +separate the tide in my thoughts from the +current distractions of the day. I would +warn my hearers that they must not try +my thoughts by a daylight standard, but +endeavor to realize that I speak out of +the night. All depends on your point +of view. In Drake's "Collection of +Voyages," Wafer says of some Albinos +among the Indians of Darien,—"They +are quite white, but their whiteness is +like that of a horse, quite different from +the fair or pale European, as they have +not the least tincture of a blush or sanguine +complexion.... Their eyebrows +are milk-white, as is likewise the hair of +their heads, which is very fine.... +They seldom go abroad in the daytime, +the sun being disagreeable to them, and +causing their eyes, which are weak and +poring, to water, especially if it shines +towards them; yet they see very well by +moonlight, from which we call them mooneyed."</p> + +<p>Neither in our thoughts in these moonlight +walks, methinks, is there "the least +tincture of a blush or sanguine complexion," +but we are intellectually and morally +Albinos,—children of Endymion,—such +is the effect of conversing much with +the moon.</p> + +<p>I complain of Arctic voyages that they +do not enough remind us of the constant +peculiar dreariness of the scenery, and +the perpetual twilight of the Arctic night. +So he whose theme is moonlight, though +he may find it difficult, must, as it were, +illustrate it with the light of the moon +alone.</p> +<p><a name="Page_612" id="Page_612"></a></p> +<p>Many men walk by day; few walk +by night. It is a very different season. +Take a July night, for instance. About +ten o'clock,—when man is asleep, and +day fairly forgotten,—the beauty of +moonlight is seen over lonely pastures +where cattle are silently feeding. On all +sides novelties present themselves. Instead +of the sun, there are the moon and +stars; instead of the wood-thrush, there +is the whippoorwill; instead of butterflies +in the meadows, fire-flies, winged +sparks of fire!—who would have believed +it? What kind of cool, deliberate life +dwells in those dewy abodes associated +with a spark of fire? So man has fire in +his eyes, or blood, or brain. Instead of +singing-birds, the half-throttled note of a +cuckoo flying over, the croaking of frogs, +and the intenser dream of crickets,—but +above all, the wonderful trump of the +bull-frog, ringing from Maine to Georgia. +The potato-vines stand upright, the corn +grows apace, the bushes loom, the grain-fields +are boundless. On our open river-terraces, +once cultivated by the Indian, +they appear to occupy the ground like +an army,—their heads nodding in the +breeze. Small trees and shrubs are seen +in the midst, overwhelmed as by an inundation. +The shadows of rocks and +trees and shrubs and hills are more +conspicuous than the objects themselves. +The slightest irregularities in the ground +are revealed by the shadows, and what +the feet find comparatively smooth appears +rough and diversified in consequence. +For the same reason the whole +landscape is more variegated and picturesque +than by day. The smallest recesses +in the rocks are dim and cavernous; +the ferns in the wood appear of tropical +size. The sweet-fern and indigo in +overgrown wood-paths wet you with dew +up to your middle. The leaves of the +shrub-oak are shining as if a liquid +were flowing over them. The pools seen +through the trees are as full of light as +the sky. "The light of the day takes refuge +in their bosoms," as the Purana says +of the ocean. All white objects are more +remarkable than by day. A distant cliff +looks like a phosphorescent space on a +hill-side. The woods are heavy and dark. +Nature slumbers. You see the moonlight +reflected from particular stumps in the +recesses of the forest, as if she selected +what to shine on. These small fractions +of her light remind one of the plant +called moon-seed,—as if the moon were +sowing it in such places.</p><p><a name="Page_613" id="Page_613"></a></p> + +<p>In the night the eyes are partly closed, +or retire into the head. Other senses +take the lead. The walker is guided as +well by the sense of smell. Every plant +and field and forest emits its odor now,—swamp-pink +in the meadow, and tansy in +the road; and there is the peculiar dry +scent of corn which has begun to show +its tassels. The senses both of hearing +and smelling are more alert. We hear +the tinkling of rills which we never detected +before. From time to time, high +up on the sides of hills, you pass through +a stratum of warm air: a blast which +has come up from the sultry plains of +noon. It tells of the day, of sunny noon-tide +hours and banks, of the laborer wiping +his brow and the bee humming amid +flowers. It is an air in which work has +been done,—which men have breathed. +It circulates about from wood-side to hill-side, +like a dog that has lost its master, +now that the sun is gone. The rocks retain +all night the warmth of the sun which +they have absorbed. And so does the +sand: if you dig a few inches into it, +you find a warm bed.</p> + +<p>You lie on your back on a rock in a +pasture on the top of some bare hill at +midnight, and speculate on the height of +the starry canopy. The stars are the +jewels of the night, and perchance surpass +anything which day has to show. +A companion with whom I was sailing, +one very windy, but bright moonlight +night, when the stars were few and faint, +thought that a man could get along with +<i>them</i>, though he was considerably reduced +in his circumstances,—that they were +a kind of bread and cheese that never +failed.</p> + +<p>No wonder that there have been astrologers,—that +some have conceived +that they were personally related to particular +stars. Du Bartas, as translated +by Sylvester, says he'll</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i1">"not believe that the Great Architect<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With all these fires the heavenly arches decked<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Only for shew, and with these glistering shields,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'T awake poor shepherds, watching in the fields,"—<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>he'll</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"not believe that the least flower which pranks<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our garden-borders or our common banks,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the least stone that in her warming lap<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our Mother Earth doth covetously wrap,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hath some peculiar virtue of its own,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And that the glorious stars of heaven have none."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>And Sir Walter Raleigh well says, +"The stars are instruments of far greater +use than to give an obscure light, and for +men to gaze on after sunset"; and he +quotes Plotinus as affirming that they +"are significant, but not efficient"; and +also Augustine as saying, "<i>Deus regit +inferiora corpora per superiora</i>": God +rules the bodies below by those above. +But best of all is this, which another +writer has expressed: "<i>Sapiens adjuvabit +opus astrorum quemadmodum agricola +terræ naturam</i>": A wise man assisteth +the work of the stars as the husbandman +helpeth the nature of the soil.</p> + +<p>It does not concern men who are asleep +in their beds, but it is very important to +the traveller, whether the moon shines +brightly or is obscured. It is not easy to +realize the serene joy of all the earth, +when she commences to shine unobstructedly, +unless you have often been abroad +alone in moonlight nights. She seems +to be waging continual war with the +clouds in your behalf. Yet we fancy the +clouds to be <i>her</i> foes also. She comes on +magnifying her dangers by her light, revealing, +displaying them in all their hugeness +and blackness,—then suddenly casts +them behind into the light concealed, and +goes her way triumphant through a small +space of clear sky.</p> + +<p>In short, the moon traversing, or appearing +to traverse, the small clouds which +lie in her way, now obscured by them, +now easily dissipating and shining through +them, makes the drama of the moonlight +night to all watchers and night-travellers. +Sailors speak of it as the moon eating up +the clouds. The traveller all alone, the +moon all alone, except for his sympathy, +overcoming with incessant victory whole +squadrons of clouds above the forests and +lakes and hills. When she is obscured, +he so sympathizes with her that he could +whip a dog for her relief, as Indians do. +When she enters on a clear field of great +extent in the heavens, and shines unobstructedly, +he is glad. And when she +has fought her way through all the squadron +of her foes, and rides majestic in a +clear sky unscathed, and t<a name="Page_615" id="Page_615"></a>here are no +more any obstructions in her path, he +cheerfully and confidently pursues his +way, and rejoices in his heart, and the +cricket also seems to express joy in its +song.</p> + +<p>How insupportable would be the days, +if the night, with its dews and darkness, +did not come to restore the drooping +world! As the shades begin to gather +around us, our primeval instincts are +aroused, and we steal forth from our +lairs, like the inhabitants of the jungle, +in search of those silent and brooding +thoughts which are the natural prey of +the intellect.</p> + +<p>Richter says, that "the earth is every +day overspread with the veil of night for +the same reason as the cages of birds are +darkened, namely, that we may the more +readily apprehend the higher harmonies +of thought in the hush and quiet of darkness. +Thoughts which day turns into +smoke and mist stand about us in the +night as light and flames; even as the +column which fluctuates above the crater +of Vesuvius in the daytime appears a +pillar of cloud, but by night a pillar of +fire."</p> + +<p>There are nights in this climate of such +serene and majestic beauty, so medicinal +and fertilizing to the spirit, that methinks +a sensitive nature would not devote them +to oblivion, and perhaps there is no man +but would be better and wiser for spending +them out of doors, though he should +sleep all the next day to pay for it, +should sleep an Endymion sleep, as the +ancients expressed it,—nights which +warrant the Grecian epithet <i>ambrosial</i>, +when, as in the land of Beulah, the atmosphere +is charged with dewy fragrance, +and with music, and we take our repose +and have our dreams awake,—when the +moon, not secondary to the sun,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i3">"gives us his blaze again,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Void of its flame, and sheds a softer day.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now through the passing cloud she seems to stoop,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now up the pure cerulean rides sublime."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Diana still hunts in the New-England +sky.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In heaven queen she is among the spheres;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She, mistress-like, makes all things to be pure;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Eternity in her oft change she bears;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She Beauty is; by her the fair endure.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Time wears her not; she doth his chariot guide;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mortality below her orb is placed;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By her the virtues of the stars down slide;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By her is Virtue's perfect image cast."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><a name="Page_616" id="Page_616"></a>The Hindoos compare the moon to a +saintly being who has reached the last +stage of bodily existence.</p> + +<p>Great restorer of antiquity, great enchanter! +In a mild night, when the harvest +or hunter's moon shines unobstructedly, +the houses in our village, whatever +architect they may have had by day, acknowledge +only a master. The village +street is then as wild as the forest. New +and old things are confounded. I know +not whether I am sitting on the ruins of +a wall, or on the material which is to +compose a new one. Nature is an instructed +and impartial teacher, spreading +no crude opinions, and flattering +none; she will be neither radical nor +conservative. Consider the moonlight, +so civil, yet so savage!</p> + +<p>The light is more proportionate to our +knowledge than that of day. It is no +more dusky in ordinary nights than our +mind's habitual atmosphere, and the +moonlight is as bright as our most illuminated +moments are.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In such a night let me abroad remain<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till morning breaks, and all's confused again."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Of what significance the light of day, +if it is not the reflection of an inward +dawn?—to what purpose is the veil of +night withdrawn, if the morning reveals +nothing to the soul? It is merely garish +and glaring.</p> + +<p>When Ossian, in his address to the +Sun, exclaims,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Where has darkness its dwelling?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where is the cavernous home of the stars,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When thou quickly followest their steps,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pursuing them like a hunter in the sky,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou climbing the lofty hills,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They descending on barren mountains?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>who does not in his thought accompany +the stars to their "cavernous home," "descending" +with them "on barren mountains"?</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, even by night the sky is +blue and not black; for we see through +the shadow of the earth into the distant +atmosphere of day, where the sunbeams +are revelling.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ANDANTE" id="ANDANTE"></a>ANDANTE.</h2> +<p><a name="Page_617" id="Page_617"></a></p> +<h3>BEETHOVEN'S SIXTH SYMPHONY.</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sounding above the warring of the years,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Over their stretch of toils and pains and fears,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Comes the well-loved refrain,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That ancient voice again.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Sweeter than when beside the river's marge<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We lay and watched, like Innocence at large,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The changeful waters flow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Speaks this brave music now.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Tender as sunlight upon childhood's head,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Serene as moonlight upon childhood's bed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Comes the remembered power<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of that forgotten hour.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The little brook with merry voice and low,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The gentle ripples rippling far below,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Talked with no idle voice,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Though idling were their choice.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now through the tumult and the pride of life,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gentler, yet firmly soothing all its strife,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nature draws near once more,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And knocks at the world's door.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">She walks within her wild, harmonious maze,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Evolving melodies from doubt and haze,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And leaves us freed from care,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Like children standing there.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_BROTHERS" id="THE_BROTHERS"></a>THE BROTHERS.</h2> + + +<p>Doctor Franck came in as I sat +sewing up the rents in an old shirt, that +Tom might go tidily to his grave. New +shirts were needed for the living, and +there was no wife or mother to "dress +him handsome when he went to meet the +Lord," as one woman said, describing the +fine funeral she had pinched herself to +give her son.</p> + +<p>"Miss Dane, I'm in a quandary," began +the Doctor, with that expression of +countenance which says as plainly as +words, "I want to ask a favor, but I +wish you'd save me the trouble."</p> + +<p>"Can I help you out of it?"</p> + +<p>"Faith! I don't like to propose it, but +you certainly can, if you please."</p> +<p><a name="Page_618" id="Page_618"></a></p> +<p>"Then give it a name, I beg."</p> + +<p>"You see a Reb has just been brought +in crazy with typhoid; a bad case every +way; a drunken, rascally little captain +somebody took the trouble to capture, but +whom nobody wants to take the trouble +to cure. The wards are full, the ladies +worked to death, and willing to be for +our own boys, but rather slow to risk their +lives for a Reb. Now you've had the fever, +you like queer patients, your mate +will see to your ward for a while, and I +will find you a good attendant. The fellow +won't last long, I fancy; but he can't +die without some sort of care, you know. +I've put him in the fourth story of the +west wing, away from the rest. It is airy, +quiet, and comfortable there. I'm on that +ward, and will do my best for you in every +way. Now, then, will you go?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I will, out of perversity, +if not common charity; for some of these +people think that because I'm an abolitionist +I am also a heathen, and I should +rather like to show them, that, though I +cannot quite love my enemies, I am willing +to take care of them."</p> + +<p>"Very good; I thought you'd go; +and speaking of abolition reminds me +that you can have a contraband for servant, +if you like. It is that fine mulatto +fellow who was found burying his Rebel +master after the fight, and, being badly +cut over the head, our boys brought him +along. Will you have him?"</p> + +<p>"By all means,—for I'll stand to my +guns on that point, as on the other; these +black boys are far more faithful and handy +than some of the white scamps given me +to serve, instead of being served by. But +is this man well enough?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, for that sort of work, and I +think you'll like him. He must have +been a handsome fellow before he got his +face slashed; not much darker than myself; +his master's son, I dare say, and the +white blood makes him rather high and +haughty about some things. He was in +a bad way when he came in, but vowed +he'd die in the street rather than turn in +with the black fellows below; so I put +him up in the west wing, to be out of the +way, and he's seen to the captain all the +morning. "When can you go up?"</p> + +<p>"As soon <a name="Page_619" id="Page_619"></a>as Tom is laid out, Skinner +moved, Haywood washed, Marble dressed, +Charley rubbed, Downs taken up, +Upham laid down, and the whole forty +fed."</p> + +<p>We both laughed, though the Doctor +was on his way to the dead-house and I +held a shroud on my lap. But in a hospital +one learns that cheerfulness is one's +salvation; for, in an atmosphere of suffering +and death, heaviness of heart would +soon paralyze usefulness of hand, if the +blessed gift of smiles had been denied us.</p> + +<p>In an hour I took possession of my new +charge, finding a dissipated-looking boy +of nineteen or twenty raving in the solitary +little room, with no one near him but +the contraband in the room adjoining. +Feeling decidedly more interest in the +black man than in the white, yet remembering +the Doctor's hint of his being +"high and haughty," I glanced furtively +at him as I scattered chloride of +lime about the room to purify the air, +and settled matters to suit myself. I had +seen many contrabands, but never one +so attractive as this. All colored men +are called "boys," even if their heads +are white; this boy was five-and-twenty +at least, strong-limbed and manly, and +had the look of one who never had been +cowed by abuse or worn with oppressive +labor. He sat on his bed doing nothing; +no book, no pipe, no pen or paper anywhere +appeared, yet anything less indolent +or listless than his attitude and expression +I never saw. Erect he sat, with +a hand on either knee, and eyes fixed on +the bare wall opposite, so rapt in some +absorbing thought as to be unconscious +of my presence, though the door stood +wide open and my movements were by +no means noiseless. His face was half +averted, but I instantly approved the +Doctor's taste, for the profile which I saw +possessed all the attributes of comeliness +belonging to his mixed race. He was +more quadroon than mulatto, with Saxon +features, Spanish complexion darkened +by exposure, color in lips and cheek, waving +hair, and an eye full of the passionate +melancholy which in such men always +seems to utter a mute protest against the +broken law that doomed them at their +birth. What could he be thinking of? +The sick boy cursed and raved, I rustled +to and fro, steps passed the door, bells +rang, and the steady rumble of army-wagons +came up from the street, still he +<a name="Page_620" id="Page_620"></a>never stirred. I had seen colored people +in what they call "the black sulks," when, +for days, they neither smiled nor spoke, +and scarcely ate. But this was something +more than that; for the man was not +dully brooding over some small grievance; +he seemed to see an all-absorbing +fact or fancy recorded on the wall, which +was a blank to me. I wondered if it were +some deep wrong or sorrow, kept alive by +memory and impotent regret; if he mourned +for the dead master to whom he had +been faithful to the end; or if the liberty +now his were robbed of half its sweetness +by the knowledge that some one near +and dear to him still languished in the +hell from which he had escaped. My +heart quite warmed to him at that idea; +I wanted to know and comfort him; and, +following the impulse of the moment, I +went in and touched him on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>In an instant the man vanished and the +slave appeared. Freedom was too new a +boon to have wrought its blessed changes +yet, and as he started up, with his hand +at his temple and an obsequious "Yes, +Ma'am," any romance that had gathered +round him fled away, leaving the saddest +of all sad facts in living guise before me. +Not only did the manhood seem to die +out of him, but the comeliness that first +attracted me; for, as he turned, I saw +the ghastly wound that had laid open +cheek and forehead. Being partly healed, +it was no longer bandaged, but held +together with strips of that transparent +plaster which I never see without a shiver +and swift recollections of the scenes +with which it is associated in my mind. +Part of his black hair had been shorn +away, and one eye was nearly closed; +pain so distorted, and the cruel sabre-cut +so marred that portion of his face, that, +when I saw it, I felt as if a fine medal +had been suddenly reversed, showing me +a far more striking type of human suffering +and wrong than Michel Angelo's +bronze prisoner. By one of those inexplicable +processes that often teach us how +little we understand ourselves, my purpose +was suddenly changed, and though +I went in to offer comfort as a friend, I +merely gave an order as a mistress.</p> + +<p>"Will you open these windows? this +man needs more air."</p> + +<p>He obeyed at once, and, as he slowly +urged up the unruly sash, the handsome +profile was again turned toward me, and +again I was possessed by my first impression +so strongly that I involuntarily +said,—</p><p><a name="Page_621" id="Page_621"></a></p> + +<p>"Thank you, Sir."</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was fancy, but I thought +that in the look of mingled surprise and +something like reproach which he gave +me there was also a trace of grateful +pleasure. But he said, in that tone of +spiritless humility these poor souls learn +so soon,—</p> + +<p>"I a'n't a white man, Ma'am, I'm a +contraband."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know it; but a contraband is +a free man, and I heartily congratulate +you."</p> + +<p>He liked that; his face shone, he squared +his shoulders, lifted his head, and looked +me full in the eye with a brisk—</p> + +<p>"Thank ye, Ma'am; anything more +to do fer yer?"</p> + +<p>"Doctor Franck thought you would +help me with this man, as there are many +patients and few nurses or attendants. +Have you had the fever?"</p> + +<p>"No, Ma'am."</p> + +<p>"They should have thought of that +when they put him here; wounds and +fevers should not be together. I'll try +to get you moved."</p> + +<p>He laughed a sudden laugh,—if he +had been a white man, I should have called +it scornful; as he was a few shades +darker than myself, I suppose it must be +considered an insolent, or at least an unmannerly +one.</p> + +<p>"It don't matter, Ma'am. I'd rather +be up here with the fever than down with +those niggers; and there a'n't no other +place fer me."</p> + +<p>Poor fellow! that was true. No ward +in all the hospital would take him in to +lie side by side with the most miserable +white wreck there. Like the bat in +Æsop's fable, he belonged to neither +race; and the pride of one, the helplessness +of the other, kept him hovering alone +in the twilight a great sin has brought +to overshadow the whole land.</p> + +<p>"You shall stay, then; <a name="Page_622" id="Page_622"></a>for I would far +rather have you than my lazy Jack. But +are you well and strong enough?"</p> + +<p>"I guess I'll do, Ma'am."</p> + +<p>He spoke with a passive sort of acquiescence,—as +if it did not much matter, +if he were not able, and no one would +particularly rejoice, if he were.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I think you will. By what name +shall I call you?"</p> + +<p>"Bob, Ma'am."</p> + +<p>Every woman has her pet whim; one +of mine was to teach the men self-respect +by treating them respectfully. Tom, +Dick, and Harry would pass, when lads +rejoiced in those familiar abbreviations; +but to address men often old enough to +be my father in that style did not suit +my old-fashioned ideas of propriety. This +"Bob" would never do; I should have +found it as easy to call the chaplain "Gus" +as my tragical-looking contraband by a +title so strongly associated with the tail +of a kite.</p> + +<p>"What is your other name?" I asked. +"I like to call my attendants by their +last names rather than by their first."</p> + +<p>"I've got no other, Ma'am; we have +our masters' names, or do without. Mine's +dead, and I won't have anything of his +about me."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll call you Robert, then, and +you may fill this pitcher for me, if you +will be so kind."</p> + +<p>He went; but, through all the tame +obedience years of servitude had taught +him, I could see that the proud spirit his +father gave him was not yet subdued, for +the look and gesture w<a name="Page_623" id="Page_623"></a>ith which he repudiated +his master's name were a more +effective declaration of independence +than any Fourth-of-July orator could +have prepared.</p> + +<p>We spent a curious week together. +Robert seldom left his room, except upon +my errands; and I was a prisoner all day, +often all night, by the bedside of the +Rebel. The fever burned itself rapidly +away, for there seemed little vitality to +feed it in the feeble frame of this old +young man, whose life had been none of +the most righteous, judging from the revelations +made by his unconscious lips; since +more than once Robert authoritatively +silenced him, when my gentler hushings +were of no avail, and blasphemous wanderings +or ribald camp-songs made my +cheeks burn and Robert's face assume an +aspect of disgust. The captain was a +gentleman in the world's eye, but the +contraband was the gentleman in mine;—I +was a fanatic, and that accounts for +such depravity of taste, I hope. I never +asked Robert of himself, feeling that +somewhere there was a spot still too sore +to bear the lightest touch; but, from his +language, manner, and intelligence, I inferred +that his color had procured for him +the few advantages within the reach of a +quick-witted, kindly treated slave. Silent, +grave, and thoughtful, but most serviceable, +was my contraband; glad of the +books I brought him, faithful in the performance +of the duties I assigned to him, +grateful for the friendliness I could not +but feel and show toward him. Often I +longed to ask what purpose was so visibly +altering his aspect with such daily deepening +gloom. But I never dared, and no +one else had either time or desire to pry +into the past of this specimen of one +branch of the chivalrous "F.F.Vs."</p> + +<p>On the seventh night, Dr. Franck suggested +that it would be well for some one, +besides the general watchman of the ward, +to be with the captain, as it might be +his last. Although the greater part of +the two preceding nights had been spent +there, of course I offered to remain,—for +there is a strange fascination in these +scenes, which renders one careless of +fatigue and unconscious of fear until the +crisis is passed.</p> + +<p>"Give him water as long as he can +drink, and if he drops into a natural +sleep, it may save him. I'll look in at +midnight, when some change will probably +take place. Nothing but sleep or +a miracle will keep him now. Good +night."</p> + +<p><a name="Page_624" id="Page_624"></a>Away went the Doctor; and, devouring +a whole mouthful of gapes, I lowered +the lamp, wet the captain's head, and sat +down on a hard stool to begin my watch. +The captain lay with his hot, haggard face +turned toward me, filling the air with his +poisonous breath, and feebly muttering, +with lips and tongue so parched that the +sanest speech would have been difficult +to understand. Robert was stretched on +his bed in the inner room, the door of +which stood ajar, that a fresh draught +from his open window might carry the +fever-fumes away through mine. I could +just see a long, dark figure, with the lighter +outline of a face, and, having little else +to do just then, I fell to thinking of this +curious contraband, who evidently prized +his freedom highly, yet seemed in no +haste to enjoy it. Doctor Franck had +offered to send him on to safer quarters, +but he had said, "No, thank yer, Sir, not +yet," and then had gone away to fall into +one of those black moods of his, which began +to disturb me, because I had no power +to lighten them. As I sat listening to +the clocks from the steeples all about us, +I amused myself with planning Robert's +future, as I often did my own, and had +dealt out to him a generous hand of +trumps wherewith to play this game of +life which hitherto had gone so cruelly +against him, when a harsh, choked voice +called,—</p> + +<p>"Lucy!"</p> + +<p>It was the captain, and some new terror +seemed to have gifted him with momentary +strength.</p> + +<p>"Yes, here's Lucy," I answered, hoping +that by following the fancy I might +quiet him,—for his face was damp with +the clammy moisture, and his frame shaken +with the nervous tremor that so often +precedes death. His dull eye fixed upon +me, dilating with a bewildered look of +incredulity and wrath, till he broke out +fiercely,—</p> + +<p>"That's a lie! she's dead,—and so's +Bob, damn him!"</p> + +<p>Finding speech a failure, I began to +sing the quiet tune that had often soothed +delirium like this; but hardly had the +line,</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"See gentle patience smile on pain,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>passed my lips, when he clutched me by +the wrist, w<a name="Page_625" id="Page_625"></a>hispering like one in mortal +fear,—</p> + +<p>"Hush! she used to sing that way to +Bob, but she never would to me. I +swore I'd whip the Devil out of her, and +I did; but you know before she cut her +throat she said she'd haunt me, and +there she is!"</p> + +<p>He pointed behind me with an aspect +of such pale dismay, that I involuntarily +glanced over my shoulder and started as +if I had seen a veritable ghost; for, peering +from the gloom of that inner room, I +saw a shadowy face, with dark hair all +about it, and a glimpse of scarlet at the +throat. An instant showed me that it +was only Robert leaning from his bed's-foot, +wrapped in a gray army-blanket, +with his red shirt just visible above it, +and his long hair disordered by sleep. +But what a strange expression was on +his face! The unmarred side was toward +me, fixed and motionless as when +I first observed it,—less absorbed now, +but more intent. His eye glittered, his +lips were apart like one who listened +with every sense, and his whole aspect +reminded me of a hound to which some +wind had brought the scent of unsuspected +prey.</p> + +<p>"Do you know him, Robert? Does +he mean you?"</p> + +<p>"Lord, no, Ma'am; they all own half a +dozen Bobs: but hearin' my name woke +me; that's all."</p> + +<p>He spoke quite naturally, and lay +down again, while I returned to my +charge, thinking that this paroxysm was +probably his last. But by another hour +I perceived a hopeful change, for the +tremor had subsided, the cold dew was +gone, his breathing was more regular, and +Sleep, the healer, had descended to save +or take him gently away. Doctor Franck +looked in at midnight, bade me keep all +cool and quiet, and not fail to administer +a certain draught as soon as the captain +woke. Very much relieved, I laid my +head on my arms, uncomfortably folded +on the little table, and fancied I was +about to perform one of the feats which +practice renders possible,—"sleeping +with one eye open," as we say: a half-and-half +doze, for all senses sleep but +that of hearing; the faintest murmur, +sigh, or motion will break it, and give +one back one's wits much brightened by +the brief permission to "stand at ease." +On this night, the experiment was a failure, +for previous vigils, confinement, a<a name="Page_626" id="Page_626"></a>nd +much care had rendered naps a dangerous +indulgence. Having roused half a +dozen times in an hour to find all quiet, +I dropped my heavy head on my arms, +and, drowsily resolving to look up again +in fifteen minutes, fell fast asleep.</p> + +<p>The striking of a deep-voiced clock +woke me with a start. "That is one," +thought I, but, to my dismay, two more +strokes followed; and in remorseful haste +I sprang up to see what harm my long +oblivion had done. A strong hand put +me back into my seat, and held me there. +It was Robert. The instant my eye met +his my heart began to beat, and all along +my nerves tingled that electric flash which +foretells a danger that we cannot see. +He was very pale, his mouth grim, and +both eyes full of sombre fire,—for even +the wounded one was open now, all the +more sinister for the deep scar above and +below. But his touch was steady, his +voice quiet, as he said,—</p> + +<p>"Sit still, Ma'am; I won't hurt yer, nor +even scare yer, if I can help it, but yer +waked too soon."</p> + +<p>"Let me go, Robert,—the, captain is +stirring,—I must give him something."</p> + +<p>"No, Ma'am, yer can't stir an inch. +Look here!"</p> + +<p>Holding me with one hand, with the +other he took up the glass in which I had +left the draught, and showed me it was +empty.</p> + +<p>"Has he taken it?" I asked, more and +more bewildered.</p> + +<p>"I flung it out o' winder, Ma'am; he'll +have to do without."</p> + +<p>"But why, Robert? why did you do +it?"</p> + +<p>"Because I hate him!"</p> + +<p>Impossible to doubt the truth of that; +his whole face showed it, as he spoke +through his set teeth, and launched a +fiery glance at the unconscious captain. +I could only hold my breath and stare +blankly at him, wondering what mad act +was coming next. I suppose I shook and +turned white, as women have a foolish +habit of doing when sudden danger daunts +them; for Robert released my arm, sat +down upon the bedside just in front of +me, and said, with the ominous quietude +that made me cold to see and hear,—</p> + +<p>"Don't yer be frightened, Ma'am: +don't try to run away, fer the door's +locked an' the key in my pocket; don't +yer cry out, fer yer'd have to scream a +long while, with my hand on yer mouth, +before yer was heard. Be still, an' I'l<a name="Page_627" id="Page_627"></a>l +tell yer what I'm goin' to do."</p> + +<p>"Lord help us! he has taken the +fever in some sudden, violent way, and +is out of his head. I must humor him till +some one comes"; in pursuance of which +swift determination, I tried to say, quite +composedly,—</p> + +<p>"I will be still and hear you; but open +the window. Why did you shut it?"</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I can't do it, Ma'am; but +yer'd jump out, or call, if I did, an' I'm +not ready yet. I shut it to make yer +sleep, an' heat would do it quicker 'n +anything else I could do."</p> + +<p>The captain moved, and feebly muttered, +"Water!" Instinctively I rose, +to give it to him, but the heavy hand +came down upon my shoulder, and in the +same decided tone Robert said,—</p> + +<p>"The water went with the physic; let +him call."</p> + +<p>"Do let me go to him! he'll die without +care!"</p> + +<p>"I mean he shall;—don't yer interfere, +if yer please, Ma'am."</p> + +<p>In spite of his quiet tone and respectful +manner, I saw murder in his eyes, and +turned faint with fear; yet the fear excited +me, and, hardly knowing what I +did, I seized the hands that had seized +me, crying,—</p> + +<p>"No, no, you shall not kill him! it is +base to hurt a helpless man. Why do +you hate him? He is not your master?"</p> + +<p>"He's my brother."</p> + +<p>I felt that answer from head to foot, +and seemed to fathom what was coming, +with a prescience vague, but unmistakable. +One appeal was left to me, and I +made it.</p> + +<p>"Robert, tell me what it means? Do +not commit a crime and make me accessory +to it. There is a better way of righting +wrong than by violence;—let me +help you find it."</p> + +<p>My voice trembled as I spoke, and +I heard the frightened flutter of my +heart; so did he, and if any little act of +mine had ever won affection or respect +from him, the memory of it served me +then. He looked down, and seemed to +put some question to himself; whatever +it was, the answer was in my favor, for +<a name="Page_628" id="Page_628"></a>when his eyes rose again, they were +gloomy, but not desperate.</p> + +<p>"I <i>will</i> tell you, Ma'am; but mind, +this makes no difference; the boy is mine. +I'll give the Lord a chance to take him +fust; if He don't, I shall."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! remember, he is your brother."</p> + +<p>An unwise speech; I felt it as it passed +my lips, for a black frown gathered on +Robert's face, and his strong hands closed +with an ugly sort of grip. But he did +not touch the poor soul gasping there behind +him, and seemed content to let the +slow suffocation of that stifling room end +his frail life.</p> + +<p>"I'm not like to forget that, Ma'am, +when I've been thinkin' of it all this +week. I knew him when they fetched +him in, an' would 'a' done it long 'fore +this, but I wanted to ask where Lucy +was; he knows,—he told to-night—an' +now he's done for."</p> + +<p>"Who is Lucy?" I asked hurriedly, +intent on keeping his mind busy with any +thought but murder.</p> + +<p>With one of the swift transitions of a +mixed temperament like this, at my question +Robert's deep eyes filled, the clenched +hands were spread before his face, and +all I heard were the broken words,—</p> + +<p>"My wife,—he took her"—</p> + +<p>In that instant every thought of fear +was swallowed up in burning indignation +for the wrong, and a perfect passion of +pity for the desperate man so tempted to +avenge an injury for which there seemed +no redress but this. He was no longer +slave or contraband, no drop of black +blood marred him in my sight, but an infinite +compassion yearned to save, to help, +to comfort him. Words seemed so powerless +I offered none, only put my hand +on his poor head, wounded, homeless, +bowed down with grief for which I had +no cure, and softly smoothed the long +neglected hair, pitifully wondering the +while where was the wife who must have +loved this tender-hearted man so well.</p> + +<p>The captain moaned again, and faintly +whispered, "Air!" but I never stirred. +God forgive me! just then I hated him +as only a woman thinking of a sister +woman's wrong could hate. Robert looked +up; his eyes were dry again, his mouth +grim. I saw that, said, "Tell me more," +and he did,—for sympathy is a gift the +poorest may give, the proudest stoop to +receive.</p> + +<p>"Yer see, Ma'am, his father,—I might +say ours, if I warn't ashamed of both of +'em,—his father died two years ago, an' +left us al<a name="Page_629" id="Page_629"></a>l to Marster Ned,—that's him +here, eighteen then. He always hated +me, I looked so like old Marster: he don't,—only +the light skin an' hair. Old Marster +was kind to all of us, me 'specially, +an' bought Lucy off the next plantation +down there in South Car'lina, when he +found I liked her. I married her, all I +could, Ma'am; it warn't much, but we +was true to one another till Marster Ned +come home a year after an' made hell +fur both of us. He sent my old mother to +be used up in his rice-swamp in Georgy; +he found me with my pretty Lucy, an' +though young Miss cried, an' I prayed to +him on my knees, an' Lucy run away, +he wouldn't have no mercy; he brought +her back, an'—took her, Ma'am."</p> + +<p>"Oh! what did you do?" I cried, hot +with helpless pain and passion.</p> + +<p>How the man's outraged heart sent the +blood flaming up into his face and deepened +the tones of his impetuous voice, as +he stretched his arm across the bed, saying, +with a terribly expressive gesture,—</p> + +<p>"I half murdered him, an' to-night +I'll finish."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes,—but go on now; what +came next?"</p> + +<p>He gave me a look that showed no +white man could have felt a deeper degradation +in remembering and confining +these last acts of brotherly oppression.</p> + +<p>"They whipped me till I couldn't +stand, an' then they sold me further +South. Yer thought I was a white man +once;—look here!"</p> + +<p>With a sudden wrench he tore the +shirt from neck to waist, and on his strong +brown shoulders showed me furrows deeply +ploughed, wounds which, though healed, +were ghastlier to me than any in that +house. I could not speak to him, and, +with the pathetic dignity a great grief +lends the humblest sufferer, he ended his +brief tragedy by simply saying,—</p> + +<p>"That's all, Ma'am. I've never seen +her since, an' now I never shall in this +world,—maybe not in t' other."</p> + +<p>"But, Robert, why think her dead? +The captain was wandering when he said +those sad things; perhaps he will retract +them when he is sane. Don't despair; +don't give up yet."</p> +<p><a name="Page_630" id="Page_630"></a></p> +<p>"No, Ma'am, I guess he's right; she +was too proud to bear that long. It's +like her to kill herself. I told her to, if +there was no other way; an' she always +minded me, Lucy did. My poor girl! +Oh, it warn't right! No, by God, it +warn't!"</p> + +<p>As the memory of this bitter wrong, +this double bereavement, burned in his +sore heart, the devil that lurks in every +strong man's blood leaped up; he put +his hand upon his brother's throat, and, +watching the white face before him, muttered +low between his teeth,—</p> + +<p>"I'm lettin' him go too easy; there's +no pain in this; we a'n't even yet. I +wish he knew me. Marster Ned! it's +Bob; where's Lucy?"</p> + +<p>From the captain's lips there came a +long faint sigh, and nothing but a flutter +of the eyelids showed that he still lived. +A strange stillness filled the room as the +elder brother held the younger's life suspended +in his hand, while wavering between +a dim hope and a deadly hate. In +the whirl of thoughts that went on in my +brain, only one was clear enough to act +upon. I must prevent murder, if I could,—but +how? What could I do up there +alone, locked in with a dying man and a +lunatic?—for any mind yielded utterly to +any unrighteous impulse is mad while the +impulse rules it. Strength I had not, nor +much courage, neither time nor wit for +stratagem, and chance only could bring +me help before it was too late. But one +weapon I possessed,—a tongue,—often +a woman's best defence; and sympathy, +stronger than fear, gave me power to +use it. What I said Heaven only knows, +but surely Heaven helped me; words +burned on my lips, tears streamed from +my eyes, and some good angel prompted +me to use the one name that had power +to arrest my hearer's hand and touch his +heart. For at that moment I heartily believed +that Lucy lived, and this earnest +faith rousted in him a like belief.</p> + +<p>He listened with the lowering look of +one in whom brute instinct was sovereign +for the time,—a look that makes the noblest +countenance base. He was but a +man,—a poor, untaught, outcast, outraged +man. Life had few joys for him; the +world offered him no honors, no success, +no home, no love. What future would +this crime mar? and why should he deny +himself that sweet, yet bitter morsel called +revenge? How many white men, +with all New England's freedom, culture, +Christianity, would not have felt as he +felt then? Should I have reproached<a name="Page_631" id="Page_631"></a> +him for a human anguish, a human longing +for redress, all now left him from the +ruin of his few poor hopes? Who had +taught him that self-control, self-sacrifice, +are attributes that make men masters of +the earth and lift them nearer heaven? +Should I have urged the beauty of forgiveness, +the duty of devout submission? +He had no religion, for he was no saintly +"Uncle Tom," and Slavery's black shadow +seemed to darken all the world to him +and shut out God. Should I have warned +him of penalties, of judgments, and the +potency of law? What did he know of +justice, or the mercy that should temper +that stern virtue, when every law, human +and divine, had been broken on his hearthstone? +Should I have tried to touch him +by appeals to filial duty, to brotherly +love? How had his appeals been answered? +What memories had father and +brother stored up in his heart to plead +for either now? No,—all these influences, +these associations, would have proved +worse than useless, had I been calm enough +to try them. I was not; but instinct, +subtler than reason, showed me the one +safe clue by which to lead this troubled +soul from the labyrinth in which it groped +and nearly fell. When I paused, breathless, +Robert turned to me, asking, as if +human assurances could strengthen his +faith in Divine Omnipotence,—</p> + +<p>"Do you believe, if I let Marster Ned +live, the Lord will give me back my Lucy?"</p> + +<p>"As surely as there is a Lord, you will +find her here or in the beautiful hereafter, +where there is no black or white, no +master and no slave."</p> + +<p>He took his hand from his brother's +throat, lifted his eyes from my face to the +wintry sky beyond, as if searching for that +blessed country, happier even than the +happy North. Alas, it was the darkest +hour before the dawn!—there was no star +above, no light below but the pale glimmer +of the lamp that showed the brother +who had made him desolate. Like a blind +man who believes there is a sun, yet cannot +see it, he shook his head, let his arms +drop nervelessly upon his knees, and sat +there dumbly asking that question which +many a soul whose faith is firmer fixed +than his has asked in hours less dark than +this,—"Where is God?" I saw the tide +had turned, and strenuously tried to keep +this rudderless life-boat from slipping back +into the whirlpool wherein it had been so +nearly lost.</p> + +<p>"I have listened to you, Robert; now +hear me, and heed what I sa<a name="Page_632" id="Page_632"></a>y, because +my heart is full of pity for you, full of +hope for your future, and a desire to help +you now. I want you to go away from +here, from the temptation of this place, +and the sad thoughts that haunt it. You +have conquered yourself once, and I honor +you for it, because, the harder the battle, +the more glorious the victory; but it is +safer to put a greater distance between +you and this man. I will write you letters, +give you money, and send you to +good old Massachusetts to begin your new +life a freeman,—yes, and a happy man; +for when the captain is himself again, I +will learn where Lucy is, and move heaven +and earth to find and give her back to +you. Will you do this, Robert?"</p> + +<p>Slowly, very slowly, the answer came; +for the purpose of a week, perhaps a year, +was hard to relinquish in an hour.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ma'am, I will."</p> + +<p>"Good! Now you are the man I thought +you, and I'll work for you with all my +heart. You need sleep, my poor fellow; +go, and try to forget. The captain is +still alive, and as yet you are spared that +sin. No, don't look there; I'll care for +him. Come, Robert, for Lucy's sake."</p> + +<p>Thank Heaven for the immortality of +love! for when all other means of salvation +failed, a spark of this vital fire softened +the man's iron will until a woman's +hand could bend it. He let me take from +him the key, let me draw him gently away +and lead him to the solitude which now +was the most healing balm I could bestow. +Once in his little room, he fell down on +his bed and lay there as if spent with the +sharpest conflict of his life. I slipped the +bolt across his door, and unlocked my +own, flung up the window, steadied myself +with a breath of air, then rushed +to Doctor Franck. He came; and till +dawn we worked together, saving one +brother's life, and taking earnest thought +how best to secure the other's liberty. +When the sun came up as blithely as if it +shone only upon happy homes, the Doctor +went to Robert. For an hour I heard +the murmur of their voices; once I caught +the sound of heavy sobs, and for a time +a reverent hush, as if in the silence that +good man were ministering to soul as well +as sense. When he departed he took +Robert with him, pausing to tell me he +should get him off as soon as possible, but +not before we met again.</p> + +<p>Nothing more was seen of them all +day; another surgeon came to see the +captain, and another attendant came to +fill the empty place. I tried to rest, but +could not, wi<a name="Page_633" id="Page_633"></a>th the thought of poor Lucy +tugging at my heart, and was soon back +at my post again, anxiously hoping that +my contraband had not been too hastily +spirited away. Just as night fell there +came a tap, and opening, I saw Robert +literally "clothed and in his right mind." +The Doctor had replaced the ragged suit +with tidy garments, and no trace of that +tempestuous night remained but deeper +lines upon the forehead and the docile +look of a repentant child. He did not +cross the threshold, did not offer me his +hand,—only took off his cap, saying, +with a traitorous falter in his voice,—</p> + +<p>"God bless you, Ma'am! I'm goin'."</p> + +<p>I put out both my hands, and held his +fast.</p> + +<p>"Good bye, Robert! Keep up good +heart, and when I come home to Massachusetts +we'll meet in a happier place +than this. Are you quite ready, quite +comfortable for your journey?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ma'am, yes; the Doctor's fixed +everything; I'm goin' with a friend +of his; my papers are all right, an' I'm +as happy as I can be till I find"—</p> + +<p>He stopped there; then went on, with +a glance into the room,—</p> + +<p>"I'm glad I didn't do it, an' I thank +yer, Ma'am, fer hinderin' me,—thank +yer hearty; but I'm afraid I hate him +jest the same."</p> + +<p>Of course he did; and so did I; for +these faulty hearts of ours cannot turn +perfect in a night, but need frost and fire, +wind and rain, to ripen and make them +ready for the great harvest-home. Wishing +to divert his mind, I put my poor +mite into his hand, and, remembering +the magic of a certain little book, I gave +him mine, on whose dark cover whitely +shone the Virgin Mother and the Child, +the grand history of whose life the book +contained. The money went into Robert's +pocket with a grateful murmur, the +book into his bosom with a long look and +a tremulous—</p> + +<p>"I never saw <i>my</i> baby, Ma'am."</p> + +<p>I broke down then; and though my +eyes were too dim to see, I felt the touch +of lips upon my hands, heard the sound +of departing feet, and knew my contraband +was gone.</p> + +<p><a name="Page_634" id="Page_634"></a>When one feels an intense dislike, the +less one says about the subject of it the +better; therefore I shall merely record +that the captain lived,—in time was +exchanged; and that, whoever the other +party was, I am convinced the Government +got the best of the bargain. But +long before this occurred, I had fulfilled +my promise to Robert; for as soon as +my patient recovered strength of memory +enough to make his answer trustworthy, +I asked, without any circumlocution,—</p> + +<p>"Captain Fairfax, where is Lucy?"</p> + +<p>And too feeble to be angry, surprised, +or insincere, he straightway answered,—</p> + +<p>"Dead, Miss Dane."</p> + +<p>"And she killed herself, when you sold +Bob?"</p> + +<p>"How the Devil did you know that?" +he muttered, with an expression half-remorseful, +half-amazed; but I was satisfied, +and said no more.</p> + +<p>Of course, this went to Robert, waiting +far away there in a lonely home,—waiting, +working, hoping for his Lucy. It +almost broke my heart to do it; but delay +was weak, deceit was wicked; so I +sent the heavy tidings, and very soon the +answer came,—only three lines; but I +felt that the sustaining power of the man's +life was gone.</p> + +<p>"I thought I'd never see her any +more; I'm glad to know she's out of +trouble. I thank yer, Ma'am; an' if +they let us, I'll fight fer yer till I'm +killed, which I hope will be 'fore long."</p> + +<p>Six months later he had his wish, and +kept his word.</p> + +<p>Every one knows the story of the attack +on Fort Wagner; but we should +not tire yet of recalling how our Fifty-Fourth, +spent with three sleepless nights, +a day's fast, and a march under the +July sun, stormed the fort as night fell, +facing death in many shapes, following +their brave leaders through a fiery rain +of shot and shell, fighting valiantly for +"God and Governor Andrew,"—how +the regiment that went into action seven +hundred strong came out having had +nearly half its number captured, killed, +or wounded, leaving their young commander +to be buried, like a chief of earlier +times, with his body-guard around +him, faithful to the death. Surely, the +insult turns to honor, and the wide grave +<a name="Page_635" id="Page_635"></a>needs no monument but the heroism that +consecrates it in our sight; surely, the +hearts that held him nearest see through +their tears a noble victory in the seeming +sad defeat; and surely, God's benediction +was bestowed, when this loyal +soul answered, as Death called the roll, +"Lord, here am I, with the brothers +Thou hast given me!"</p> + +<p>The future must show how well that +fight was fought; for though Fort Wagner +still defies us, public prejudice is +down; and through the cannon-smoke +of that black night the manhood of the +colored race shines before many eyes that +would not see, rings in many ears that +would not hear, wins many hearts that +would not hitherto believe.</p> + +<p>When the news came that we were +needed, there was none so glad as I to +leave teaching contrabands, the new work +I had taken up, and go to nurse "our +boys," as my dusky flock so proudly called +the wounded of the Fifty-Fourth. +Feeling more satisfaction, as I assumed +my big apron and turned up my cuffs, +than if dressing for the President's levee, +I fell to work on board the hospital-ship +in Hilton-Head harbor. The scene was +most familiar, and yet strange; for only +dark faces looked up at me from the pallets +so thickly laid along the floor, and I +missed the sharp accent of my Yankee +boys in the slower, softer voices calling +cheerily to one another, or answering my +questions with a stout, "We'll never give +it up, Ma'am, till the last Reb's dead," +or, "If our people's free, we can afford +to die."</p> + +<p>Passing from bed to bed, intent on +making one pair of hands do the work +of three, at least, I gradually washed, fed, +and bandaged my way down the long +line of sable heroes, and coming to the +very last, found that he was my contraband. +So old, so worn, so deathly weak +and wan, I never should have known +him but for the deep scar on his cheek. +That side lay uppermost, and caught my +eye at once; but even then I doubted, +such an awful change had come upon him, +when, turning to the ticket just above his +head, I saw the name, "Robert Dane." +That both assured and touched me, for, +remembering that he had no name, I +knew that he had taken mine. I longed +for him to speak to me, to tell how he +had fared since I lost sight of him, and +<a name="Page_636" id="Page_636"></a>let me perform some little service for him +in return for many he had done for me; +but he seemed asleep; and as I stood reliving +that strange night again, a bright +lad, who lay next him softly waving an +old fan across both beds, looked up and +said,—</p> + +<p>"I guess you know him, Ma'am?"</p> + +<p>"You are right. Do you?"</p> + +<p>"As much as any one was able to, +Ma'am."</p> + +<p>"Why do you say 'was,' as if the +man were dead and gone?"</p> + +<p>"I s'pose because I know he'll have +to go. He's got a bad jab in the breast, +an' is bleedin' inside, the Doctor says. +He don't suffer any, only gets weaker +'n' weaker every minute. I've been +fannin' him this long while, an' he's +talked a little; but he don't know me +now, so he's most gone, I guess."</p> + +<p>There was so much sorrow and affection +in the boy's face, that I remembered +something, and asked, with redoubled interest,—</p> + +<p>"Are you the one that brought him +off? I was told about a boy who nearly +lost his life in saving that of his mate."</p> + +<p>I dare say the young fellow blushed, +as any modest lad might have done; I +could not see it, but I heard the chuckle +of satisfaction that escaped him, as +he glanced from his shattered arm and +bandaged side to the pale figure opposite.</p> + +<p>"Lord, Ma'am, that's nothin'; we +boys always stan' by one another, an' +I warn't goin' to leave him to be tormented +any more by them cussed Rebs. +He's been a slave once, though he don't +look half so much like it as me, an' I +was born in Boston."</p> + +<p>He did not; for the speaker was as +black as the ace of spades,—being a sturdy +specimen, the knave of clubs would +perhaps be a fitter representative,—but +the dark freeman looked at the white +slave with the pitiful, yet puzzled expression +I have so often seen on the faces of +our wisest men, when this tangled question +of Slavery presents itself, asking to +be cut or patiently undone.</p> + +<p>"Tell me what you know of this man; +for, even if he were awake, he is too weak +to talk."</p><p><a name="Page_637" id="Page_637"></a></p> + +<p>"I never saw him till I joined the regiment, +an' no one 'peared to have got +much out of him. He was a shut-up sort +of feller, an' didn't seem to care for +anything but gettin' at the Rebs. Some +say he was the fust man of us that enlisted; +I know he fretted till we were off, +an' when we pitched into old Wagner, +he fought like the Devil."</p> + +<p>"Were you with him when he was +wounded? How was it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Ma'am. There was somethin' +queer about it; for he 'peared to know +the chap that killed him, an' the chap +knew him. I don't dare to ask, but I +rather guess one owned the other some +time,—for, when they clinched, the chap +sung out, 'Bob!' an' Dane, 'Marster +Ned!'—then they went at it."</p> + +<p>I sat down suddenly, for the old anger +and compassion struggled in my heart, +and I both longed and feared to hear +what was to follow.</p> + +<p>"You see, when the Colonel—Lord +keep an' send him back to us!—it a'n't +certain yet, you know, Ma'am, though it's +two days ago we lost him—well, when +the Colonel shouted, 'Rush on, boys, +rush on!' Dane tore away as if he was +goin' to take the fort alone; I was next +him, an' kept close as we went through +the ditch an' up the wall. Hi! warn't +that a rusher!" and the boy flung up his +well arm with a whoop, as if the mere +memory of that stirring moment came +over him in a gust of irrepressible excitement.</p> + +<p>"Were you afraid?" I said,—asking +the question women often put, and receiving +the answer they seldom fail to +get.</p> + +<p>"No, Ma'am!"—emphasis on the +"Ma'am,"—"I never thought of anything +but the damn' Rebs, that scalp, +slash, an' cut our ears off, when they git +us. I was bound to let daylight into one +of 'em at least, an' I did. Hope he liked it!"</p> + +<p>"It is evident that you did, and I +don't blame you in the least. Now go on +about Robert, for I should be at work."</p> + +<p>"He was one of the fust up; I was +just behind, an' though the whole thing +happened in a minute, I remember how +it was, for all I was yellin' an' knockin' +round like mad. Just where we were, +some sort of an officer was wavin' his +sword an' cheerin' on his men; Dane +saw him by a big flash that come by;<a name="Page_638" id="Page_638"></a> +he flung away his gun, give a leap, an' +went at that feller as if he was Jeff, Beauregard, +an' Lee, all in one. I scrabbled +after as quick as I could, but was only up +in time to see him git the sword straight +through him an' drop into the ditch. +You needn't ask what I did next, Ma'am, +for I don't quite know myself; all I'm +clear about is, that I managed somehow +to pitch that Reb into the fort as dead as +Moses, git hold of Dane, an' bring him +off. Poor old feller! we said we went +in to live or die; he said he went in to +die, an' he's done it."</p> + +<p>I had been intently watching the excited +speaker; but as he regretfully added +those last words I turned again, and +Robert's eyes met mine,—those melancholy +eyes, so full of an intelligence that +proved he had heard, remembered, and +reflected with that preternatural power +which often outlives all other faculties. +He knew me, yet gave no greeting; was +glad to see a woman's face, yet had no +smile wherewith to welcome it; felt that +he was dying, yet uttered no farewell. +He was too far across the river to return +or linger now; departing thought, +strength, breath, were spent in one grateful +look, one murmur of submission to the +last pang he could ever feel. His lips +moved, and, bending to them, a whisper +chilled my cheek, as it shaped the broken +words,—</p> + +<p>"I would have done it,—but it's better +so,—I'm satisfied."</p> + +<p>Ah! well he might be,—for, as he turned +his face from the shadow of the life +that was, the sunshine of the life to be +touched it with a beautiful content, and +in the drawing of a breath my contraband +found wife and home, eternal liberty and God.</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_SAM_ADAMS_REGIMENTS_IN_THE_TOWN_OF_BOSTON_CONCLUDED" id="THE_SAM_ADAMS_REGIMENTS_IN_THE_TOWN_OF_BOSTON_CONCLUDED"></a>THE SAM ADAMS REGIMENTS IN THE TOWN OF BOSTON.—CONCLUDED.</h2> + +<p>THE REMOVAL.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + + +<p>"I have been in constant panic," +wrote Franklin in London to Dr. Cooper +in Boston, "since I heard of troops +assembling in Boston, lest the madness +of mobs, or the interference of soldiers, +or both, when too near each other, might +occasion some mischief difficult to be prevented +or repaired, and which might +spread far and wide."</p> + +<p>The people wore indignant at the introduction +of the troops, and the cro<a name="Page_639" id="Page_639"></a>wn +officials were arrogant and goading; but +so wise and forbearing were the popular +leaders, that, for ten months, from October, +1768, to August, 1769, no detriment +came to their cause from the madness +of mobs or the insolence of soldiers. +The Loyalists, in this public order, saw +the wholesome terror with which military +force had imbued the community; they +said this "had prevented, if it had not +put a final period to, its most pestilential +town-meetings": but they termed this +quiet "only a truce procured from the +dread of the bayonet"; and they held +that nothing would reach and suppress +the rising spirit of independence but a +radical stroke at the democratic element +in the local Constitution. They relied on +physical force to carry out such a policy, +and hence they looked on the demand of +the people for a withdrawal of the troops +as equivalent to a demand for the abandonment +of their policy and the abdication +of the Government. The partial +removal already made caused great chagrin. +The report, at first, was hardly +credited in British political circles, and, +when confirmed, was construed into inability, +inconsistency, and concession by +the Administration, and a sign that things +were growing worse in America.</p> + +<p>General Gage had withdrawn the Sixty-Fourth +and Sixty-Fifth Regiments, the +detachment of the Fifty-Ninth, and the +company of artillery, which left the +Fourteenth Regiment under Lieutenant-Colonel +Dalrymple and the Twenty-Ninth +under Lieutenant-Colonel Carr,—the +two regiments which Lord North +termed "the Sam Adams Regiments,"—not +enough, if the Ministers intended +to govern by military force, and too +many, if they did not intend this. They +continued under General Mackay until +he left for England, when the command +devolved on Lieutenant-Colonel Dalrymple, +the senior officer, under whom they +had landed, who was exacting, severe in +his judgment on the Patriots, and impatient +of professional service. Commodore +Hood and his family also sailed for Halifax. +Both Mackay and Hood, aiming at +reconciliation, and liberal in non-essentials, +easily won the general good-will. +The disuse of the press-gang, which even +"Junius" was now justifying, and which +England had not learned to abominate, +but which rowelled the differently trained +mind of the Colonies, was regarded as +a great concession to personal liberty; +and the discontinuance of parades and +horse-racing on Sundays was accepted as +a concession to a religious sentiment that +was very general, and which, so far from +deser<a name="Page_640" id="Page_640"></a>ving the sneer of being hypocritical, +indicated the wide growth of respect +for things noble and divine. These officers +seemed, at least, to steer clear of +political matters, to keep to the line of +their profession, and to make the best +of an irksome duty. They lived on good +terms with the popular leaders, were invited +to visit the common-schools with +the Selectmen, appeared at the public +festivals, and, on their departure, were +handsomely complimented in both the +Whig and Tory journals for the manner +in which they had discharged their duties. +They were, however, no mere lookers-on, +and their official representations and +conclusions were no more far-reaching +than those of their superiors. Hood, from +Halifax, wrote in harsh terms of Boston, +although he put on record severe and true +things of that chronic local infliction, the +Commissioners of the Customs. His official +letters, printed this year, were open to +sharp criticism, which they received in the +journals. Not, however, until the publication +of the Cavendish Debates was it +known that General Mackay, who was +regarded as uncommonly liberal, received +every personal attention, and was the +most complimented by the press, stood +up in the House of Commons, soon after +his arrival in England, and maligned +Boston in severe terms. He charged the +town with being without government; +said it was tyrannized over by a set +of men hardly respectable, in point of +fortune; and even had the hardihood to +say that some of the troops he commanded +there had been sold for slaves!</p> + +<p>Boston, now a subject of speculation in +Continental courts, as well as of abuse in +Parliament, was destined to undergo a +still severer trial for the succeeding seven +months, from August, 1769, to March, +1770, during the continuance of the two +remaining regiments. This was an eventful +period, characterized by violent agitation +in the Colonies to promote a repeal of +the revenue acts and an abandonment of +the intermeddling and aggressive policy of +the Ministry; and it was marked by uncommon +political activity in Boston. The +popular leaders, as though no British +troops were lookers-on, and in spite, too, +of the protests and commands of the +crown officials, steadily guided the deliberations +of the people in Faneuil Hall; +and at times the disorderly also, in violations +of law and personal liberty that +can never be justified, intrepidly carried +out their projects. The events of this +period tended powerfully to inflame the +public mind. The appeals of the Patriots, +through the press, show their appreciation +of the danger of an outbreak, +and yet <a name="Page_641" id="Page_641"></a>their determination to meet their +whole duty. They endeavored to restrain +the rash among the Sons of Liberty +within the safe precincts of the law; +yet, repelling all thought of submission to +arbitrary power, they strove to lift up the +general mind to the high plane of action +which a true patriotism demanded, and +prepare it, if need were, for the majestic +work of revolution.</p> + +<p>The executive, during an interval thus +exciting and important, was in a transition-state, +from Francis Bernard to Thomas +Hutchinson. It was semi-officially announced +in the journals, when the Governor +sailed for England, that the Administration +had no intention of superseding +his commission; and it was intimated +that the Lieutenant-Governor +would administer the functions of the +office until the return of the chief magistrate +to his post. These officials, for nine +years, had been warm personal friends +and intimate political associates. Indeed, +so close had been their private and public +relations, that Bernard ascribed the +origin of his administrative difficulties to +his adoption of the quarrels of Hutchinson. +For a long time, the Governor had +been seeking and expecting something +better in the political line than his present +office, as a substantial recognition of +his zeal; and he had urged, and was now +urging, the selection of the Lieutenant-Governor +for his successor in office. He +represented that Hutchinson was well +versed in the local affairs,—knew the +motives of the Governor,—warmly approved +the policy of the Ministry,—had +been, on critical occasions, a trusted confidential +adviser,—and, in fact, had become +so thoroughly identified with public +affairs, that, of the two officials, he +(Hutchinson) was the most hated by the +faction, which the Governor seemed to +consider a special recommendation. He +favored this appointment as a measure +that would be equivalent to an indorsement +of his own administration, and therefore +a compliment to himself and a blow +at the faction. "It would be," he said, +"a peculiarly happy stroke; for while it +would discourage the Sons of Liberty, it +would afford another great instance of rewarding +faithful servants to the Crown."</p> + +<p>Thomas Hutchinson, descended from +one of the most respected families of New +England, and the son of an honored merchant +of Boston, was now fifty-seven +years of age. He was a pupil at the Old<a name="Page_642" id="Page_642"></a> +North Grammar School, and was graduated +at Harvard College, when he entered +upon a mercantile life. He was not +successful as a merchant. Thus early, +however, he evinced the untiring industry +that marked his whole career. He +had a decided political turn, and, with +uncommon natural talent, had the capacity +and the ambition for public life. An +irreproachable private character, pleasing +manners, common-sense views of +things, and politics rather adroit than +high-toned, secured him a run of popular +favor and executive confidence so long +that he had now (1769) been thirty-three +years uninterruptedly engaged in +public affairs; and he confessed to his +friends that this concern in politics had +created a hankering for them which a +return to business-pursuits could not overcome. +He had reason to be gratified at +the tokens of public approbation. He +was so faithful to the municipal interests +as a Selectman that the town intrusted +him with an important mission to England, +which he satisfactorily executed; his +wide commercial knowledge, familiarity +with constitutional law and history, decided +ability in debate, and reputed disinterestedness, +gave him large influence +as a Representative in the General Court; +he showed as Councillor an ever ready +zeal for the prerogative, and thus won +the most confidential relations with so obsequious +a courtier as Bernard; as Judge +of Probate, he was attentive, kind to the +widow, accurate, and won general commendation; +and as a member of the Superior +Court, he administered the law, +in the main, satisfactorily. He had been +Chief Justice for nine years, and for eleven +years the Lieutenant-Governor. He +had also prepared two volumes of his History, +which, though rough in narrative, is +a valuable authority, and his volume of +"Collections" was now announced. His +fame at the beginning of the Revolutionary +controversy was at its zenith; for, +according to John Adams, "he had been<a name="Page_643" id="Page_643"></a> +admired, revered, rewarded, and almost +adored; and the idea was common that he +was the greatest and best man in America." +He was now, and had been for years, +the master-spirit of the Loyalist party. It +Is an anomaly that he should have attained +to this position. He had had practical +experience, as a merchant, of the intolerable +injustice of the old mercantile system, +and yet he sided with its friends; +he had dealt, as a politician, to a greater +degree than most men, with the rights +and privileges which the people prized, +conceded that they had made no ill use +of them, and yet urged that they ought +to be abridged; as a patriot, when he +loved his native land wisely, he remonstrated +against the imposition of the +Stamp Tax, and yet he grew into one of +the sturdiest of the defenders of the supremacy +of Parliament in all cases whatsoever. +He exhibited the usual characteristics +of public men who from unworthy +considerations change their principles +and desert their party. No man +urged a more arbitrary course; no man +passed more discreditable judgments on +his patriot contemporaries; and if in that +way he won the smiles of the court which +he was swift to serve, he earned the hatred +of the land which he professed to +love. The more his political career is +studied, the greater will be the wonder +that one who was reared on republican +soil, and had antecedents so honorable, +should have become so complete an exponent +of arbitrary power.</p> + +<p>Hutchinson was not so blinded by +party-spirit or love of money or of place +as not to see the living realities of his +time; for he wrote that a thirst for liberty +seemed to be the ruling passion, not +only of America, but of the age, and +that a mighty empire was rising on this +continent, the progress of which would +be a theme for speculative and ingenious +minds in distant ages. It was the +vision of the cold and clear intellect, +distrusting the march of events and the +capacity and intelligence of the people, +he had no heart to admire, he had not +even the justice to recognize, the greatness +that was making an immortal record,—the +sublime faith, the divine enthusiasm, +the dauntless resolve, the priceless +co<a name="Page_644" id="Page_644"></a>nsciousness of being in the right, +that were the life and inspiration of the +lovers of freedom. He conceded, however, +that the body of the people were honest, +but acted on the belief, inspired by +wrong-headed leaders, that their liberties +were in danger; and while, with the calculation +of the man of the world, he dreaded, +and endeavored to stem, still, with a +statesman's foresight, he appreciated and +held in respect, the mysterious element +of public opinion. He felt that it was +rising as a power. He saw this power +already intrenched in the impregnable +lines of free institutions. Seeking to +know its springs, he was a close and at +times a shrewd observer, as well from a +habit of research, in tracing the currents +of the past, as from occupying a position +which made it a duty to watch the growth +of what influenced the present. His letters, +very voluminous, deal with causes +as well as with facts, and are often fine +tributes to the life-giving power of vital +political ideas, from the pen of a subtle +and determined enemy.</p> + +<p>When the executive functions devolved +on Hutchinson, it had been semi-officially +announced that the Ministry, wholly +out of commercial considerations, intended +to propose, at the next session of +Parliament, a repeal of a portion of the +revenue acts; and the Patriots were +pressing, with more zeal than ever, the +non-importation agreement, in the hope +of obtaining, as matter of constitutional +right, a total repeal. To enforce this +agreement, the merchants had held a +public meeting in Faneuil Hall, adopted +a series of spirited resolves, and adjourned +to a future day; and Hutchinson's first +important gubernatorial decision had reference +to this meeting. He had urged +the necessity of troops to sustain the authority +of the Government. He had +awarded to them the credit of preventing +a great catastrophe. He had written +that they would make the Boston saints +as tame as lambs. It was his settled conviction +that the Americans never would +set armies in the field against Great Britain, +and if they did, that "a few troops +would be sufficient to quell them." He +was now importuned to use the troops at +his command to disperse the merchants' +meeting at its adjournment. He held +that this meeting was contrary to law. +He characterized its resolves as contemptuous +and insolent, and derogatory<a name="Page_645" id="Page_645"></a> +to the authority of Parliament. He never +grew weary of holding up to reprobation +the objects which the merchants +had in view. And his political friends +now asked him to make good his professions +by acts. But he declined to interfere +with this meeting. The merchants +proceeded to a close with their business. +Hutchinson's explanation of his course to +the Ministry, on this occasion, applies to +the popular demonstrations which took +place, at intervals, down to the military +crisis. "I am very sensible," are his +words, "that the whole proceeding is +unwarrantable; but it is so generally +countenanced in this and in several of +the Colonies, and the authority of Government +is so feeble, that an attempt to +put a stop to it would have no other +effect than still further to inflame the +minds of the people. I can do no more +than represent to your Lordship, and +wait for such instructions as may be +thought proper." And he continued to +present these combinations of the merchants +as "a most certain evidence of +the lost authority of Government," and +as exhibiting "insolence and contempt of +Parliament." But he complains that they +were not so much regarded in England +as he expected they would be, and that +he was left to act on his own judgment. +He soon saw pilloried in the newspapers +the names of a son of Governor Bernard +and two of his own sons, in a list of Boston +merchants who "audaciously counteracted +the united sentiments of the +body of merchants throughout North +America by importing British goods contrary +to agreement."</p> + +<p>The Lieutenant-Governor again kept +quiet, as a town-meeting went on, which +he watched with the keenest interest, +freely commented on in his letters, and +which is far too important to be overlooked +in any review of these times. +William Bollan, the Colonial Agent in +London, sent to the popular leaders a +selection from the letters of Governor +Bernard, General Gage, Commodore +Hood, and others, bearing on the introduction +of the troops, which were judged +to have aspersed the character, affected +the rights, and injured the interests of +the town. Their publication made a +profound impression on the public mind, +and they became the theme of every circle. +At one of the political clubs, in which +the Adamses, the Coopers, Warren, and +others were wont to discuss public affairs, +Otis, in a blaze of indignation, charged +the crown officials with haughtiness, arbitrary +dispositions, and the insolence of of<a name="Page_646" id="Page_646"></a>fice, +and vehemently urged a town-meeting. +One was soon summoned by the Selectmen, +which deliberated with dignity +and order, and made answer to the official +indictment in a strong, conclusive, +and grand "Appeal to the World," and +appointed, as a committee to circulate it, +Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, Joseph +Warren, Richard Dana, Joshua Henshaw, +Joseph Jackson, and Benjamin +Kent,—men of sterling character, and +bearing names that have shed lustre on +the whole country. Reason and truth, +thus put forth, exerted an influence. +Hutchinson felt the force of this. "We +find, my Lord, by experience," he advised +Lord Hillsborough, October 19, 1769, +"that associations and assemblies pretending +to be legal and constitutional, assuming +powers that belong only to established +authority, prove more fatal to this +authority than mobs, riots, or the most +tumultuous disorders; for such assemblies, +from erroneous or imperfect notions of +the nature of government, very often +meet with the approbation of the body +of the people, and in such case there is +no internal power which can be exerted +to suppress them. Such case we are in +at present, and shall probably continue +in it until the wisdom of Parliament delivers +us from it."</p> + +<p>It would be difficult to say what power +the people now assumed that belonged +only to established authority; they assumed +only the right of public meeting and +of liberty of discussion, which are unquestionable +in every free country; but the +ruling spirit of Hutchinson is seen in this +fine tribute to the instrumentality of the +town-meeting, for he regarded the American +custom of corporate presentation of +political matters as illegal, and the power +of Parliament as sufficient to meet it +with pains and penalties. As the committee +already named sent forth the doings +of the town, they said, (October 23, +1769,) "The people will never think their +grievances redressed till every revenue +act is repealed, the Board of Commissioners +dissolved, and the troops removed."</p> + +<p>A few days after this the Lieutenant-Governor +was obliged to deal with a mob, +which grew out of the meanness of importers, +whose selfish course proved to +be a great strain on the forbearing policy +of the popular leaders. The merchants +on the Tory side, among whom +were two of Hutchinson's sons, persisted +in importing goods; and he writes, +with a good deal of pride, as though it +were meritorious, that since the agreement +was formed these two sons had imported +two hundred chests of tea, which +they had been so clever as to sell. But +such was the public indignation at this +course, that they,<a name="Page_647" id="Page_647"></a> too, were compelled +to give in to the non-importation agreement; +and Hutchinson's letters are now +severer than ever on the Patriots. He +characterizes "the confederacy of merchants" +as a very high offence, and the +Sons of Liberty as the greatest tyrants +ever known. But as he continually predicted +a crisis, he said, "I can find nobody +to join with me in an attempt to +discourage them." He adds, "If any tumults +should happen, I shall be under less +difficulty than if my own children had +been the pretended occasion of them; +and for this reason Dalrymple tells me +he is very glad they have done as they +have." The immediate occasion of the +mob was the dealing of the people with +an informer on the twenty-eighth of October. +They got track of him about +noon, and, after a long search, found him +towards evening, when they immediately +prepared to tar and feather him. It was +quite dark. A formidable procession +carted the culprit from one quarter of +the town to another, and threatened to +break the windows of all houses which +were without lights. The Lieutenant-Governor +summoned such of the members +of the Council as were at hand, +and the justices of the county, to meet +him at the Council-Chamber; he requested +Dalrymple to order the force +under his command "to be ready to +march when the occasion required"; and +he "kept persons employed to give him +immediate notice of every new motion of +the mob." Dalrymple, with a soldier's +alacrity, complied with the official request; +but the mob went on its course, +for "none of the justices nor the sheriff," +writes Hutchinson, "thought it safe +for them to restrain so great a body of +people in a dark evening,"—and the only +work done by the soldiers was to protect +Mien, the printer, who, being goaded into +discharging a pistol among the crowd, +fled to the main guard for safety. The +finale of this mob is thus related by Hutchinson:—"Between +eight and nine o'clock +they dispersed of their own account, and +the town was quiet."</p> + +<p>The intrepid and yet prudent course +of the popular leaders and of the people, +in standing manfully for the common +cause in presence of the British troops, +was now eliciting the warmest encomiums +on the town from the friends of liberty +in England and in the Colonies. The +generous praise was copied into the local +journals, and, so far from being received +with assumption, became a powerful +incentive to worthy action. "Your +Bostonians," a Southern letter runs, +"shine with renewed lustre. Their last<a name="Page_648" id="Page_648"></a> +efforts were indeed like themselves, full +of wisdom, prudence, and magnanimity. +Such a conduct must silence every pretended +suspicion, and baffle every vile attempt +to calumniate their noble and generous +struggles in the cause of American +Liberty." "So much wisdom and virtue," +says a New-Hampshire letter, "as +hath been conspicuous in the Bostonians, +will not go unrewarded. You will in all +respects increase until you become the +glory of New England, the pride of British +kings, the scourge of tyrants, and the +joy of the whole earth," "The patriotism +of Boston," says another letter, "will +be revered through every age." One of +these tributes, from a Southern journal, +in the Boston papers of December 18, +1769, runs,—"The noble conduct of the +Representatives, Selectmen, and principal +merchants of Boston, in defending and +supporting the rights of America and the +British Constitution, cannot fail to excite +love and gratitude in the heart of every +worthy person in the British empire. +They discover a dignity of soul worthy +the human mind, which is the true glory +of man, and merits the applause of all +rational beings. Their names will shine +unsullied in the bright records of Panic to +the latest ages, and unborn millions will +rise up and call them blessed."</p> + +<p>This eulogy on Boston is a great fact +of these times, and therefore ought to +have a place in a history of them. It +was not of a local cast, for it appears in +several Colonies and in England; it was +not a manufacture of politicians, for it is +seen in the private letters of the friends +of constitutional liberty which have come +to light subsequently to the events; it was +not a transient enthusiasm, for the same +strain was continued during the years +preceding the war. The praise was bestowed +on a town small in territory and +comparatively small in population. Such +were the cities of Greece in the era of +their renown. "The territories of Athens, +Sparta, and their allies," remarks Gibbon, +"do not exceed a moderate province of +France or England; but after the trophies +of Salamis or Platæa, they expand in our +fancy to the gigantic size of Asia, which +had been trampled under the feet of the +victorious Greeks." No trophies had been +gathered in an American Platæa; +there had been no great civic triumph; there +was no hero upon whom public affection +centred; nor was there here a field on +which to weave a web of court-intrigue, +or to play a game of criminal ambition;—there +was, indeed, little that common +constructors of history would consider +to be history. Yet it was now written,<a name="Page_649" id="Page_649"></a> +and made common thought by an unfettered +press,—"Nobler days nor deeds +were never seen than at this time."<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> This +was an instinctive appreciation of a great +truth; for the real American Revolution +was going on in the tidal flow of thought +and feeling, and in the formation of public +opinion. A people inspired by visions +of better days for humanity, luxuriating +in the emotions of hope and faith, yearning +for the right, mastering the reasoning +on which it was based, were steadily +taking their fit place on the national +stage, in the belief of the nearness of +a mighty historic hour. And their spontaneous +praise was for a community heroically +acting on national principles and +for a national cause. Because of this +did they predict that unborn millions +would hold up the men of Boston as worthy +to be enrolled in the shining record +of Fame.</p> + +<p>As the new year (1770) came in, the +people were looking forward to a meeting +of the General Court, always a season of +peculiar interest, and more so now than +ever, for it was certain that the debates +in this body would turn on the foremost +local subject, the removal of the troops. +But the subject was no longer merely local, +for it had become a general issue, one +affecting not only Boston and Massachusetts, +but other towns and Colonies, and +the interest felt in the controversy was +wide and deep. "In this day of constitutional +light," a New-York essay copied +into a Boston newspaper runs, "it is monstrous +that troops should be kept, not to +protect the right, but to enslave the continent." +While it was thus put by the +journals, the policy was meant to be of +this significance by the Ministry; and the +letters printed for the first time in this +monograph attest the accuracy of the Patriot +judgment. On purely local grounds, +also, the presence of the troops continued +to be deplored. "The troops," Dr. Cooper +wrote, January 1, 1770, "greatly corrupt +our morals, and are in every sense +an oppression. May Heaven soon deliver +us from this great evil!" Samuel Adams +said, "The troops must move to the +Castle; it must be the first business of the +General Court to move them out of town"; +and James Otis said. "The Governor has +the power to move them under the Constitution." +Hutchinson endeavored to conciliate +the people by making arrangements +with General Gage for a removal +of the main guard from its location near +the Town-House, being informed that +this might satisfy the greater part of the members.</p> + +<p>Having taken this precaution, Hutchinson +was really anxious for a meeting of<a name="Page_650" id="Page_650"></a> +the General Court. He was in great uncertainty +both as to public and private +affairs. He knew now that Bernard was +not to return, but he did not know who +was to be the successor; he conjectured +that it might be "that the government +was to be put on a new establishment, +and a person of rank appointed Governor"; +and he confessed that he was +"ignorant of the Ministerial plan" as to +the Colonies. The Legislature was appointed +to convene on the tenth of January. +But the November packet from +England, happening to make an uncommonly +short passage, brought him a peremptory +order, which he received on the +evening of the third of January, to prorogue +the time of the sitting of the General +Court; and the journals of the next +morning contain his Proclamation, setting +forth that "by His Majesty's command" +the Legislature was prorogued to +the second Wednesday in March. "I +guess," Hutchinson writes, "that the +Court is prorogued to a particular day +with an intention that something from +the King or the Parliament shall be then +laid before them." "Some of the distant +members will be on their journey before +the Proclamation reaches them; and if +the packet had not had a better passage +than common, my orders would have +found the Court sitting." As a consequence +of this unlooked-for prorogation, +the main guard continued to be stationed +near the Town-House, until a portion of +it played its tragic part on the memorable +fifth of March.</p> + +<p>The Lieutenant-Governor was apprehensive +that this sudden prorogation would +cause a great clamor; but he judged that +the popular leaders were rather humbled +and mortified than roused and enraged +by it; and he soon expressed the conviction +that this was the right step. But +the favorite organ of the Patriots, the +"Boston Gazette," in its next issue, of +January the eighth, indicates anything +but humility. Through it James Otis, +John Hancock, and Samuel Adams spoke +kindling words to a community who received +words from them as things. Otis, +in a card elicited by strictures on the +"unmanly assault, battery, and barbarous +wounding" of himself by Robinson, +declared that "a clear stage and no favor +were all he ever wished or wanted +in court, country, camp, or city"; Hancock, +in a card commenting on the report +that he had violated the merchant<a name="Page_651" id="Page_651"></a>s' +agreement, "publicly defied all mankind" +to prove the allegation, and pledged +his coöperation "in every legal and +laudable measure to redress the grievances +under which the Province and the +Continent had so long labored"; and +Samuel Adams, under the signature of +"Vindex," tested the legality of the prorogation +by the terms of the Charter, +and adjured every man to make it the +subject of his contemplation. "We all +remember," are his weighty words, "that, +no longer ago than last year, the extraordinary +dissolution by Governor Bernard, +in which he declared he was purely +Ministerial, produced another assembly, +which, though legal in all its proceedings, +awaked an attention in the very +soul of the British empire." He claimed +that a Massachusetts executive ought to +act from the dictates of his own judgment. +"It is not to be expected that in +ordinary times, much less at such an important +period as this, any man, though +endowed with the wisdom of Solomon, at +the distance of three thousand miles, can +be an adequate judge of the expediency +of proroguing, and in effect of putting an +end to, an American legislative assembly."</p> + +<p>The Lieutenant-Governor had now to +meet the severest pressure brought to +bear on him by the Tory faction for +the employment of the troops, occasioned +by a violation on the part of his sons +of their agreement as to a sale of goods. +They had stipulated with the merchants +that an importation of teas made by them +should remain unsold, and, as security, +had given to the committee of inspection +the key of the building in which +it was stored. Yet they secretly made +sales, broke the lock, and delivered the +teas. This was done when the non-importation +agreement was the paramount +measure,—when fidelity to it was patriotism, +was honor, was union, was country,—and +when all eyes were looking +to see Boston faithful. "If this agreement +of the merchants," said "Determinatus" +in the "Boston Gazette," "is of +that consequence to all America which +our brethren in all the other governments +and in Great Britain itself think it to be,—if +the fate of unborn millions is suspended +upon it, verily it behooves not the +merchants only, but every individual of +every class in city and country to aid and +support them, and peremptorily to insist +upon its being strictly adhered to. And +yet what is most astonishing is, that some +two or three persons, of very little consequence +in themselves, have dared openly +to give out that they will vend the +goods they have imported, thoug<a name="Page_652" id="Page_652"></a>h they +have solemnly pledged their faith to the +body of merchants that they should remain +in store till a general importation +takes place." The merchants met in +Faneuil Hall in a large and commanding +gathering; for it was composed of the +solid men of the town. After deliberation, +they proceeded in a body to the +residence of the Lieutenant-Governor +to remonstrate against the course of his +sons. Meantime, the ultra Loyalists pressed +him to order the troops to disperse +the meeting; the Commissioners savagely +urged, that "there could not be a better +time for trying the strength of the government"; +and others said, "It were +best to bring matters to extremities." +The commanding officers of the troops +now expected work, and prepared for +it. Dalrymple dealt out twelve rounds +of cartridges to the men. But Hutchinson +involuntarily shrank from the bloody +business of this programme. He tried +other means than force. He appealed to +the justices of the peace, and through +the sheriff he commanded the meeting, +in His Majesty's name, to disperse. But +the intrepid merchants, in a written paper, +in Hancock's handwriting, averred +that law warranted their proceeding; +and so they calmly adhered to the action +that patriotism dictated. Hutchinson at +length sent for the Moderator, William +Phillips, of fragrant Revolutionary renown +and of educational fame, and stipulated +to deposit a sum of money to stand +for the tea that had been sold, and to return +the balance of it to the store. The +concession was accepted. In explanation +of his course, and with special reference +to the action of the Commissioners in this +case, Hutchinson pleaded a want of power, +under the Constitution, to comply with +their demand. "They did not consider +the Constitution," he remarked, "and +that by the Charter I can do nothing without +the Council, the major part of whom +are against me, and the civil magistrates, +many of whom made a part of the body +which was to be suppressed; so that there +could not have been a worse occasion +[to call out the troops], and I think anything +tragical would have set the whole +Province in a flame, and maybe spread +farther."</p> + +<p>Thus Hutchinson, as well as Franklin, +dreaded the effect of a serious collision +between the citizens and the troops. At +this time the feeling was one of sullen +acquiescence in their presence. "Molineaux," +he says, February 18, 1770, "to +whom the Sons of Liberty have given the +name of Paoli, and some others, are restless; +but there seems to be no disposition +to any general muster of the people +again." And yet the newspapers were +now crowded with unusually exciting +matter, and so continued up to the first +week in March: articles about the Liberty-Pole +in New York being cut down +by the military and replaced in a triumphal +procession by the people; about<a name="Page_653" id="Page_653"></a> +McDougal's imprisonment for printing +free comments on the Assembly for voting +supplies to the troops; the famous +address of "Junius" to the King, in +which one count is his alienation of a +people who left their native land for freedom +and found it in a desert; the details +of the shooting, by an informer, of Christopher +Snider, the son of a poor German, +and of the imposing funeral, which +moved from the Liberty-Tree to the +burial-place. The importers now feared +an assault on their houses; whereupon +soldiers were allowed as a guard to some, +while others slept with loaded guns at +their bedsides. These things deserve to +be borne in mind; for they show how +much there was to exasperate, when the +popular leaders were called upon to meet +a paroxysm without a precedent in the +Colonies.</p> + +<p>It seemed to the Patriots astonishing +that the Ministry persisted in keeping +troops in Boston. There was no spirit +of resistance to law; there was no plot +maturing to resist the Government; the +avocations of life went on as usual; the +popular leaders, men of whom any community +might be proud, averred that +their opposition to public measures had +been prudent and legal, and that they +had not taken "a single step that could +not be fully justified on constitutional +grounds"; and the demand in the public +prints was continuous to know what +the troops were wanted for, and how they +were to be used. On the other hand, +the ultra Loyalists as continuously represented +that the town was full of a rebellious +spirit, was a nest of disorder, and +threatened the leaders in it with transportation. +Hutchinson seems to have apprehended +that this misrepresentation had +been carried so far as to be suicidal; for +he advised Lord Hillsborough, that, "in +matters that had no relation to the dispute +between the Kingdom and the Colonies, +government retained its vigor, and the +administration of it was attended with no +unusual difficulty." This is to the point, +and conclusive. This was the truth on +which the popular leaders rested; and +hence it seemed to them a marvel that +the Ministry, to use the words of Samuel +Adams, should employ troops only "to +parade the streets of Boston, and, by +their ridiculous merry-andrew tricks, to +become the objects of contempt of the +women and children."</p> + +<p>It would be a tedious and profitless task +to go over the bickerings and quarrels +that occurred between the inhabitants +and the soldiers. The high-spirited citizens, +on being challenged in their walk<a name="Page_654" id="Page_654"></a>s, +could not keep their temper; the roughs, +here as in every place, would have their +say; and the coarse British soldier could +not be restrained by discipline; yet in +all the brawls, for seventeen months, not +a gun was fired in an affray. Fist had +been met with fist, and club with club; +and not unfrequently these quarrels were +settled in the courts. The nature of such +emergency as would justify the troops in +firing on the people was acutely discussed +in the newspapers, and undoubtedly +the subject was talked about in private +circles and in the political clubs. "What +shall I say?" runs an article in the "Gazette." +"I shudder at the thought. Surely +no provincial magistrate could be found +so steeled against the sensations of humanity +and justice as wantonly to order +troops to fire on an unarmed populace, +and more than repeat in Boston the +tragic scene exhibited in St. George's +Fields." It was a wanton fire on an +unarmed populace that was protected +against; and the protest was by men who +involuntarily shrank from mob-law as +they would from the hell of anarchy. +They apprehended an impromptu collision +between the people and the troops; they +knew that an illegal and wanton fire on +the people would produce such collision; +the danger of this result formed, undoubtedly, +a large portion of the common talk; +and the frequency and manner in which +the subject was discussed elicited from +General Gage the rather sweeping remark, +that every citizen in Boston was a +lawyer. Every citizen was interested in +the support of public liberty and public +order, and might well regard with deep +concern the threats that were continually +made, which, if executed, would disturb +both. Hutchinson, in one of his +letters, thus states the conclusions that +were reached:—"Our heroes for liberty +say that no troops dare to fire on the +people without the order of the civil +magistrate, and that no civil magistrate, +would dare to give such orders. In the +first part of their opinion they may be +right; in the second they cannot be sure +until they have made the trial."</p> + +<p>On Friday, the second of March, in +the forenoon, as three soldiers were at +Gray's Ropewalks, near the head of India +Wharf, they were asked by one of the +workmen to empty a vault. Sharp altercation +followed this insult, and the soldiers +went off, bu<a name="Page_655" id="Page_655"></a>t soon returned with a +party of their comrades, when there was +a challenge to a boxing-match, and this +grew into a fight, the rope-makers using +their "wouldring-sticks," and the soldiers +clubs and cutlasses. It proved to be the +most serious quarrel that had occurred. +Lieutenant-Colonel Carr, commander of +the Twenty-Ninth, which, Hutchinson +said, was composed of such bad fellows +that discipline could not restrain them, +made a complaint to the Lieutenant-Governor +relative to the provoking conduct +of the rope-maker which brought on the +affray; and thus this affair became the +occasion of political consultation, which +tended to intensify the animosity between +the parties.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, the report was circulated +that the parties who were engaged in +this affray would renew the fight on +Monday evening; on Sunday, Carr and +other officers went into the ropewalk, +giving out that they were searching for a +sergeant of their regiment; but though +on these days there was much irritation, +the town was comparatively quiet.</p> + +<p>On Monday, the Lieutenant-Governor +laid the complaint of Lieutenant-Colonel +Carr before the Council, and asked the advice +of this body, which gave rise to debate +about the removal of the troops,—members +freely expressing the opinion, that +the way to prevent collisions between the +military and the people was to withdraw +the two regiments to the Castle. No important +action was taken by the Council, +although the apprehension was expressed +that the ropewalk affair might grow into +a general quarrel. And it is worthy +of remark, that, ominous as the signs +were, the Lieutenant-Governor took no +precautionary measures, not even the +obvious step of having the troops restrained +to their barracks. His letters, +and, indeed, his whole course, up to +the eventful evening of this day, indicate +confidence in the opinion that there +was no intention on the part of the popular +leaders to molest the troops, and +that the troops, without an order from +the civil authority, would not fire on the citizens.</p> + +<p>Nor was there now, as zealous Loyalists +alleged, any plan formed by the popular +leaders, or by any persons of consideration, +to expel the troops by force from the +town, much less the obnoxious Commissioners +of the Customs; nor is there any +evidence to support the allegation on the +other side, that the crown officials, civil +or military, meditated or stimulated an +attack on the inhabitants. The Patriots +regarded what had occurred and what +was threatened, like much that ha<a name="Page_656" id="Page_656"></a>d taken +place during the last seventeen months, as +the motions of a rod of power needlessly +held over the people to overawe them, +serving no earthly good, but souring their +minds and embittering their passions; the +crown officials represented this chafing of +the free spirit at the incidents of military +rule as a sign of the lost authority of Government +and of a desire for independence. +Among the fiery spirits, accurately on +both sides the mob-element, the ropewalk +affair was regarded as a drawn game, +and a renewal of the fight was desired +on the ground that honor was at stake; +while to spirit up the roughs among the +Whigs, to use Dr. Gordon's words,—"the +newspapers had a pompous account of a +victory obtained by the inhabitants of +New York over the soldiers there in an +affray, while the Boston newspapers could +present but a tame relation of the result +of the affray here." These facts account +satisfactorily for the intimations +and warnings given during the day to +prominent characters on both sides, and +for the handbill that was circulated in +the afternoon. The course things took +fully justifies the remark of Gordon, that +"everything tended to a crisis, and it +is rather wonderful that it did not exist +sooner, when so many circumstances +united to hasten its approach."</p> + +<p>There was a layer of ice on the ground, +a slight fall of snow during the day, and +a young moon in the evening. At an +early hour, as though something uncommon +was expected, parties of boys, apprentices, +and soldiers strolled through +the streets, and neither side was sparing +of insult. Ten or twelve soldiers went +from the main guard, in King Street, +across this street to Murray's Barracks, +in Brattle Street, about three hundred +yards from King Street; and another +party came out of these barracks, armed +with clubs and cutlasses, bent on a +stroll. A little after eight o'clock, quite +a crowd collected near the Brattle-Street +Church, many of whom had canes and +sticks; and after a spell of bantering +wretched abuse on both sides, things +grew into a fight. As it became more +and more threatening, a few North-Enders +ran to the Old Brick Meeting-House, +on what is now Washington Street, at the +head of King Street, and lifted a boy into +a window, who rang the bell. About +the same time, Captain Goldfinch, of the +army, who was on his way to Murray's +Barracks,<a name="Page_657" id="Page_657"></a> crossed King Street, near the +Custom-House, at the corner of Exchange +Lane, where a sentinel had long been +stationed; and as he was passing along, +he was taunted by a barber's apprentice +as a mean fellow for not paying for dressing +his hair, when the sentinel ran after +the boy and gave him a severe blow with +his musket. The boy went away crying, +and told several persons of the assault, +while the Captain passed on towards Murray's +Barracks, but found the passage into +the yard obstructed by the affray going +on here,—the crowd pelting the soldiers +with snowballs, and the latter defending +themselves. Being the senior officer, he +ordered the men into the barracks; the +gate of the yard was then shut, and the +promise was made that no more men +should be let out that evening. In this +way the affray here was effectually stopped.</p> + +<p>For a little time, perhaps twenty minutes, +there was nothing to attract to a +centre the people who were drawn by +the alarm-bell out of their homes on this +frosty, moonlight, memorable evening; +and in various places individuals were +asking where the fire was. King Street, +then, as now, the commercial centre of +Boston, was quiet. A group was standing +before the main guard with firebags +and buckets in their hands; a few +persons were moving along in other parts +of the street; and the sentinel at the +Custom-House, with his firelock on his +shoulder, was pacing his beat quite unmolested. +In Dock Square, a small gathering, +mostly of participants in the affair +just over, were harangued by a large, +tall man, who wore a red cloak and a +white wig; and as he closed, there was +a hurrah, and the cry, "To the main +guard!" In another street, a similar +cry was raised, "To the main guard!—that +is the nest!" But no assault was +made on the main guard. The word +went round that there was no fire, "only +a rumpus with the soldiers," who had +been driven to their quarters; and well-disposed +citizens, as they withdrew, were +saying, "Every man to his home!"</p> + +<p>But at about fifteen minutes past nine, +an excited party passed up Royal Exchange +Lane, (now Exchange Street,) +leading into King Street; and as they +came near the Custom-House, on the +corner, one of the numbe<a name="Page_658" id="Page_658"></a>r, who knew of +the assault on the apprentice-boy, said, +"Here is the soldier who did it," when +they gathered round the sentinel. The +barber's boy now came up and said, +"This is the soldier who knocked me +down with the butt-end of his musket." +Some now said, "Kill him! knock him +down!" The sentinel moved back up +the steps of the Custom-House, and +loaded his gun. Missiles were thrown at +him, when he presented his musket, warned +the party to keep off, and called for +help. Some one ran to Captain Preston, +the officer of the day, and informed him +that the people were about to assault the +sentinel, when he hastened to the main +guard, on the opposite side of the street, +about forty rods from the Custom-House, +and sent from here a sergeant, a very +young officer, with a file of seven men, to +protect the sentinel. They went over in +a kind of trot, using rough words and actions +towards those who went with them, +and, coming near the party round the +sentinel, rudely pushed them aside, pricking +some with their bayonets, and formed +in a half-circle near the sentry-box. +The sentinel now came down the steps +and fell in with the file, when they were +ordered to prime and load. Captain +Preston almost immediately joined his +men. The file now numbered nine.</p> + +<p>The number of people here at this time +is variously estimated from thirty to a +hundred,—"between fifty and sixty" being +the most common statement. Some +of them were fresh from the affray at the +barracks, and some of the soldiers had +been in the affair at the ropewalks. There +was aggravation on both sides. The crowd +were unarmed, or had merely sticks, which +they struck defiantly against each other,—having +no definite object, and doing +no greater mischief than, in retaliation of +uncalled-for military roughness, to throw +snowballs, hurrah, whistle through their +fingers, use oaths and foul language, call +the soldiers names, hustle them, and dare +them to fire. One of the file was struck +with a stick. There were good men trying +to prevent a riot, and some assured +the soldiers that they would not be hurt. +Among others, Henry Knox, subsequently +General, was present, who saw nothing +to justify the use of fire-arms, and, +with others, remonstrated against their +employment; but Captain Preston, as he +was talking with Knox, saw his men +pressing the people with their bayonets, +when, in great agitation, he rushed in +among them. Then, with or without orders, +but certainly without any legal form +or warning, seven of the file, one after another, +discharged their muskets upon the<a name="Page_659" id="Page_659"></a> +citizens; and the result indicates the malignity +and precision of their aim. Crispus +Attucks, an intrepid mulatto, who was a +leader in the affair at Murray's Barracks, +was killed as he stood leaning and resting +his breast on a stout "cord-wood stick"; +Samuel Gray, one of the rope-makers, +was shot as he stood with his hands in his +bosom, and just as he had said, "My lads, +they will not fire"; Patrick Carr, on hearing +the alarm-bell, had left his house full +of fight, and, as he was crossing the street, +was mortally wounded; James Caldwell, +in like manner summoned from his home, +was killed as he was standing in the +middle of the street; Samuel Maverick, +a lad of seventeen, ran out of the house +to go to a fire, and was shot as he was +crossing the street; six others were wounded. +But fifteen or twenty minutes had +elapsed from the time the sergeant went +from the main guard to the time of the +firing. The people, on the report of the +guns, fell back, but instinctively and instantly +returned for the killed and wounded, +when the infuriated soldiers prepared +to fire again, but were checked by +Captain Preston, and were withdrawn +across the street to the main guard. The +drums beat; several companies of the +Twenty-Ninth Regiment, under Colonel +Carr, promptly appeared in the street, +and were formed in three divisions in +front of the main guard, the front division +near the northeast corner of the Town-House, +in the kneeling posture for street-firing. +The Fourteenth Regiment was +ordered under arms, but remained at +their barracks.</p> + +<p>The report now spread that "the +troops had risen on the people"; and the +beat of drums, the church-bells, and the +cry of fire summoned the inhabitants from +their homes, and they rushed through the +streets to the place of alarm. In a few +minutes thousands collected, and the cry +was, "To arms! to arms!" The whole +town was in the utmost confusion; while +in King Street there was, what the Patriots +had so long predicted, dreaded, and +vainly endeavored to avert, an indignant +population and an exasperated soldiery +face to face. The excitement was terrible. +The care of the popular leaders +for their cause, since the mob-days of the +Stamp Act, had been like the care of +their personal honor: it drew them forth +as the prompt and brave controlling power +in every crisis; and they were among +the concourse on this "night of consternation." +Joseph Warren<a name="Page_660" id="Page_660"></a>, early on the +ground to act the good physician as well +as the fearless patriot, gives the impression +produced on himself and his co-laborers +as they saw the first blood flowing +that was shed for American liberty. +"Language," he says, "is too feeble to +paint the emotions of our souls, when our +streets were stained with the blood of +our brethren, when our ears were wounded +by the groans of the dying, and our +eyes were tormented by the sight of the +mangled bodies of the dead." "Our +hearts beat to arms; we snatched our +weapons, almost resolved by one decisive +stroke to avenge the death of our +slaughtered brethren."</p> + +<p>Meantime the Lieutenant-Governor, +at his residence in North Square, heard +the sound of the church-bell near by, and +supposed it was an alarm of fire. But +soon, at nearly ten o'clock, a number +of the inhabitants came running into +the house, entreating him to go to King +Street immediately, otherwise, they said, +"the town would be all in blood." He +immediately started for the scene of danger. +On his way, in the Market-Place, +he found himself amidst a great body of +people, some armed with clubs, others +with cutlasses, and all calling for fire-arms. +He made himself known to them, +but pleaded in vain for a hearing; and, +to insure his safety, he retreated into a +dwelling-house, and thence went by a +private way into King Street, where he +found an excited multitude anxiously +awaiting his arrival. He first called for +Captain Preston; and a natural indignation +at a high-handed act is expressed in +the stern and searching questions which +the civilian put to the soldier, bearing on +the vital point of the subordination of +the military to the civil power.</p> + +<p>"Are you the commanding officer?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, Sir."</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Sir, you have no power +to fire on any body of people collected +together, except you have a civil magistrate +with you to give orders?"</p> + +<p>Captain Preston replied,—</p> + +<p>"I was obliged to, to save the sentry."</p> + +<p>So great was the confusion that Preston's +reply was heard but by few. The +cry was raised, "To the Town-House! +to the Town-House!" when Hutchinson, +by the irresistible violence of the crowd, +was forced into the building, and up to +the Council-Chamber; and in a few minutes +he appeared on the balcony. Near +him were prominent citizens, both Loyalists +and Whigs; below him, on the one +side, were his indignant townsmen, who +had conferred on him every honor in +their power, and on the other side, the +regiment in its defiant attitude. He +could speak with eloquence and power; +throughout this strange and trying +scene he bore himself with dignity +and self-possession; and as in the <a name="Page_661" id="Page_661"></a>stillness +of night he expressed great concern +at the unhappy event, and made solemn +pledges to the people, his manner must +have been uncommonly earnest. "The +law," he averred, "should have its course; +he would live and die by the law." He +promised to order an inquiry in the morning, +and requested all to retire to their +homes. But words now were not satisfactory +to the people; and those near +him urged that the course of justice had +always been evaded or obstructed in favor +of the soldiery, and that the people +were determined not to disperse until +Captain Preston was arrested. In consequence, +Hutchinson ordered an immediate +court of inquiry. The Patriots +also entreated the Lieutenant-Governor +to order the troops to their barracks. +He replied, that it was not in his power +to give such an order, but he would consult +the officers. They now came on to +the balcony,—Dalrymple of the Fourteenth +Regiment being present,—and +after an interview with Hutchinson returned +to the troops. The men now rose +from their kneeling posture; the order +to "shoulder arms" was heard; and the +people were greatly relieved by seeing +the troops move towards their barracks.</p> + +<p>The people now began to disperse, but +slowly, however. Meanwhile, the court +of inquiry on Captain Preston was in session, +and, after an examination that lasted +three hours, he was bound over for +trial. Later, the file of soldiers were also +arrested. It was three o'clock in the +morning before the Lieutenant-Governor +left the scene of the massacre. And now +all, excepting about a hundred of the +people, who formed themselves into a +watch, left the streets. Thus wise action +by the crown officials, the activity of the +popular leaders, and the habitual respect +of the people for law, proved successful +in preventing further carnage. "It was +Royal George's livery," said Warren, +"that proved a shield to the soldiery, and +saved them from destruction." Hence, +a contemporary versifier and participator +in these scenes was able to write,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"No sudden rage the ruffian soldier bore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or drenched the pavements with his vital gore;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Deliberate thought did all our souls compose,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till veiled in gloom the low'ry morning rose."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>During the night, the popular leaders +sent expresses to the neighboring towns, +bearing intelligence of what had occurred, +and summoning people from their +beds to go to the aid of Boston; but as +the efforts to restore quiet were proving +successful, the summons was countermanded. +This action accounts for the +numbers who, very early in the morning +of the sixth of March, flocked into +the town. They could learn details of +the tragedy from the actors in it,—could +see the blood, the brains even, of the +slaughtered inhabitants,—could hear the +groans of the wounded,—could view the +bodies of the dead. This terrible revelation +of the work of arbitrary power, to +a people habitually tender of regard for +human life, naturally shocked the sensibilities +of all; and thus the public temper +was again wrought up to a fearful +pitch of indignation. It required the +strongest moral influence to restrain the +rash, and to guide in the forms of law a +righteous demand for a redress of grievance +and for future security.</p> + +<p>The Lieutenant-Governor, during the +night, had summoned such members of +the Council as were within reach to meet +in the Council-Chamber in the morning; +and on joining them, he found the +Selectmen, with most of the justices of +the county, waiting for him, to represent, +as he says, "their opinion of the +absolute necessity of the troops being at +a distance, that there might be no intercourse +between the inhabitants and them, +in order to prevent a further effusion of +blood." Such was the logic of events +which now forced the seventeen months' +question of the removal of the troops on +the civil and military authorities with an +imperativeness that could not be resisted.</p> + +<p>The question, however, came up now<a name="Page_663" id="Page_663"></a> +in a new shape. To put it in the simplest +way, and in the very words used on +that day,—the people were so excited +by the shedding of blood on the preceding +night, that they were resolved no longer +to acquiesce in the decision of the constituted +authorities as to the troops; but, failing +in other means, they were determined +to effect their removal by force, let the act +be deemed rebellion or otherwise. Not +that any conspiracy existed; not that any +plan had been matured to do this; but +circumstances had transferred the question +from the domain of reason to that of +physical force; and the only point with +the crown officials, during this whole day's +deliberations, was, whether they would be +justified in what appeared to them lowering +the national standard at the demand +of a power which they habitually +represented as "the faction," or whether +they might venture to take the responsibility +of resisting the demand and of +meeting the consequences. Well might +John Adams say, "This was a dangerous +and difficult crisis."</p> + +<p>The Selectmen expressed to the Lieutenant-Governor +the opinion, that "the +inhabitants would be under no restraint +whilst the troops were in town." "I +let them know," Hutchinson says, "that +I had no power to remove the troops." +They also informed him that they had +been requested to call a town-meeting, +which was the special dread of Hutchinson. +As the settled determination of the +people became revealed, the anxiety of the +Lieutenant-Governor naturally deepened +as to what the day might bring forth; and +he sent for Colonels Dalrymple and Carr +to be present in Council and act as military +advisers. But the discussions here +were interrupted by the entrance of a +messenger from another assembly, bearing +the ominous summons for the immediate +presence among them of the Selectmen.</p> + +<p>This summons invites attention to the +movements of the people, who had been +constantly coming in from the neighboring +towns, and had now gathered in great +numbers in and around Faneuil Hall, to +use Hutchinson's words, "in a perfect +frenzy." It was, however, the general +disposition, volcanic as were the elements,<a name="Page_664" id="Page_664"></a> +to act with caution, deliberation, and in +a spirit of unity, and, doubtless, with the +consideration that the eyes of the friends +of their cause were upon them, and the +name and fame of Boston were at stake. +The hours passed, and no warrant appeared +calling a town-meeting; when, at +eleven o'clock, the town-records say, +"the freeholders and other inhabitants" +held a meeting, "occasioned, by the massacre +made in King Street by the soldiery." +The town-clerk, William Cooper, +acted as the chairman. This true and +intrepid patriot held this office forty-nine +years, which speaks for his fidelity to duty, +intelligence, devotion to principle, and +moral worth. "The Selectmen," his clear, +round record reads, "not being present, +and the inhabitants being informed that +they were in the Council-Chamber, it was +voted that Mr. William Greenleaf be desired +to proceed there and acquaint the +Selectmen that the inhabitants desire +and expect their attendance at the Hall." +This was virtually a command, and the +Selectmen immediately repaired thither. +Thomas Cushing was chosen the +Moderator. He was now the Speaker +of the House of Representatives; and +though not of such shining abilities as +to cause him to be looked up to in Boston +as a leader, and of the moderate +class of Patriots, yet, by urbanity of +manner, a high personal character, diligent +public service, and fidelity to the +cause, he won a large influence. It was +next voted that Constable Wallace wait +upon the Reverend Dr. Cooper and acquaint +him that the inhabitants desired +him to open the meeting with prayer. +This great divine was a brother of the +town-clerk, and the pastor of the Brattle-Street +Church. He was devoted to the +Patriot cause, and on the most confidential +terms with the popular leaders; and +besides being rich in genius and learning, +he had, says Dr. Eliot, a gift in +prayer peculiar and very excellent. He +complied with the request, but no reporter +has transmitted the words of this righteous +man, or described this solemn assembly, +as fervent prayer now went up +for country.</p> + +<p>The meeting next voted to invite any +citizen to give information of the massacre +of the preceding evening, "that the +same might be minuted by the town-clerk"; +whereupon several persons related +details of the tragedy. One said he +heard a soldier, after the firing, say, that +<a name="Page_665" id="Page_665"></a>"the Devil might give quarter, he should +give none"; another said he heard a soldier +say, that "his officer told him, that, if +the soldiers went out that night, they must +go armed and in companies"; another related +a soldier's story of a scheme formed +to kill the inhabitants; another said, +he "descried a soldier who struck down +the inhabitants." These homely words +are life-like glimpses of the spirit of the +hour. No speech could have been more +eloquent, because none could have been +better calculated to deepen the general +conviction and minister to the common +emotion. However, so many witnesses +were ready to testify, that it was found +to be impracticable to hear all; and a +committee was appointed to receive and +digest the evidence.</p> + +<p>Samuel Adams addressed this remarkable +meeting. He spoke with a pathos +peculiar to himself. His manner, naturally +impressive, was rendered more so by +the solemnity of the occasion, and every +heart was moved. The great hour demanded +dignity and discretion in unison +with firmness, and they were combined +in the action of the meeting. It resolved +that the inhabitants would submit no +longer to the insult of military rule. A +committee of fifteen was chosen to wait +on the Lieutenant-Governor, and acquaint +him that it was the unanimous +opinion of the meeting that the inhabitants +and soldiery could no longer dwell +together in safety, and that nothing could +be rationally expected to restore the +peace of the town and prevent additional +scenes of blood and carnage but the +immediate removal of the troops; and +to say, further, that they most fervently +prayed his Honor that his power and +influence might be exerted in order +that this removal might be instantly effected. +This committee well represented +the intelligence, the patriotism, the +varied interests, and whatever there was +of true greatness in Boston. The meeting +now dissolved; when the Selectmen +issued a warrant for a regular town-meeting +to convene at the same place, at +three o'clock in the afternoon.</p> + +<p>It was about noon when the Lieutenant-Governor +received the committee of +the town at the Council-Chamber, the +Council being in session. I have found +no details of what was said by the committee +at this interview, in urging a +compliance with the demand. Hutchinson +said he was not prepared to reply, +but would give an answer in writing, +when the commi<a name="Page_666" id="Page_666"></a>ttee withdrew into another +room; and he gives glimpses of +what then occurred. "I told the Council," +he says, "that a removal of the +troops was not with me; and I desired +them to consider what answer I could +give to this application of the town, +whilst Colonel Dalrymple, who had the +command, was present." Some of the +members, who were among the truest +Patriots, urged a compliance, when the +Lieutenant-Governor declared that "he +would upon no consideration whatever +give orders for their removal." The result +reached this morning was an advice +for the removal of one regiment, in which +the commanding officer concurred. As +Hutchinson rose from this sitting, he declared +that "he meant to receive no further +application on the subject."</p> + +<p>Things wore a gloomy aspect during +the interval between the session of the +Council and the time of the afternoon +meeting; for the natural effect of the +unbending tone of the crown officials was +to give firmness to the determined spirit +of the people. There were consultations +between members of the Council, the popular +leaders, and the commanding officers; +and now the very men who were +branded as incendiaries, enemies of Great +Britain, and traitors, were again seen quietly +endeavoring to prevent a catastrophe. +Hutchinson, in his History, says it +was intimated to members of the Council, +that, though the commanding officer +should receive no authoritative order to +remove all the troops, yet the expression +of a desire by the Lieutenant-Governor +and Council that it should be done +would cause him to do it; and on this +basis Hutchinson was prevailed upon to +meet the Council in the afternoon. This +was a great point gained for the popular +cause.</p> + +<p>At three o'clock, Faneuil Hall was +filled to overflowing with the excited +population assembled in legal town-meeting. +Thomas Cushing was again chosen +the Moderator; but the place would hold +only about thirteen hundred, and the +record reads, "The Hall not being spacious +enough to receive the inhabitants +who attended, it was voted to adjourn +to Dr. Sewall's meeting-house,"—the +Old South. The most convenient way +for the people would be to pass into +King Street, up by the Council-Chamber, +and along what is now Washington +Street, to the church. As they went, no +mention is made of mottoes or banners +or flags, of cheers or of jeers. Thomas +dishing said his countrymen "were like +the old British commoners, grave and sad +men"; and it was said in the Council to +Hutchinson, "That multitude are not such +as pulled down your house"; but they are +"men of the best characters," "men of +estates and men of religion," "men who +pray over what they do." With similar +men, men who feared God an<a name="Page_667" id="Page_667"></a>d were devoted +to public liberty, Cromwell won at +Marston Moor; and so striking was the +analogy, that at this hour it virtually +forced itself on the well-read Hutchinson: +for men of this stamp had once made a +revolution in Boston, and as he looked +out on this scene, perhaps scanned the +concourse who passed from Faneuil Hall +to the Old South, and read in their faces +the sign of resolute hearts, he judged +"their spirit to be as high as was the +spirit of their ancestors when they imprisoned +Andros, while they were four +times as numerous." As the burden of +official responsibility pressed heavily on +him, he realized that he had to deal with +an element far more potent than "the +faction" which officials had long represented +as composing the Patriot band, +and that much depended on dealing with +it wisely. This was not a dependent and +starved host wildly urging the terrible +demand of "Bread or blood"; nor was +it fanaticism in a season of social discontent +claiming impossibilities at the hand +of power: the craving was moral and +intellectual: it was an intelligent public +opinion, a people with well-grounded +and settled convictions, making a just +demand on arbitrary power. Was such +public opinion about to be scorned as +though it were but a faction, and by officials +who bore high the party-standard? +And were men of such resoluteness of +character and purpose about to be involved +in a work of carnage? or would the +wielders of British authority avoid the +extremity by concession? Boston, indeed +America, had seen no hour of intenser +interest, of deeper solemnity, of +more instant peril, or of truer moral sublimity; +and as this assembly deliberated +with the sounds of the fife and drum in +their ears, and with the soldiery in their +sight, questions like these must have been +on every lip,—and they are of the civil-war +questions that cause an involuntary +shudder in every home.</p> + +<p>The Old South was not large enough +to hold the people, and they stood in the +street and near the Town-House awaiting +the report of the committee of fifteen, +chosen in the morning. The Lieutenant-Governor +was now at the Council-Chamber, +where, in addition to Colonels Dalrymple +and Carr, there had been summoned +Captain Caldwell of the Rose frigate; +and Hutchinson would, he says, have +summoned other crown officers, but he +knew the Council would not consent to +it. He took care to repeat to the committee, +he says, the declaration which he +had made in the morning to the Selectmen, +the Justices, and the Council,—that +"the ordering of the troops did not lie +with him." As the committee, with Samuel +Adams at the head, appeared on the +Town-House steps, the people were in +motion, and the word passed, "Make way +for the committee!" Adams uncovered +his head, and, as he went towards the +church, he bowed alternately to those on +each side of the lane that was formed, +and repeated the words, "Both regiments +or none." The answer of the Lieutenant-Governor +to the morning demand for a<a name="Page_668" id="Page_668"></a> +total removal of the troops was read to +the meeting in the church. It was to the +effect, that he had conferred with the +commanders of the two regiments, who +received orders from the General in New +York, and it was not in his power to countermand +these orders; but the Council +desired their removal, and Colonel Dalrymple +had signified that because of the +part which the Twenty-Ninth Regiment +had taken in the differences it should +be placed without delay in the barracks +at the Castle, and also that the main +guard should be removed; while the +Fourteenth Regiment should be so disposed +and laid under such restraint that +all occasion for future differences might be +prevented. And now resounded through +the excited assembly, from a thousand +tongues, the words, "Both regiments or +none!"</p> + +<p>A short debate occurred, when the answer +was voted to be unsatisfactory. Then +another committee was chosen. It was +resolved that John Hancock, Samuel Adams, +William Molineaux, William Phillips, +Joseph Warren, Joshua Henshaw, +and Samuel Pemberton be a committee +to inform the Lieutenant-Governor that +it was the unanimous opinion of the people +that the reply was by no means satisfactory, +and that nothing less would satisfy +them than a total and immediate removal +of the troops. This committee was +one worthy of a great occasion. Hancock, +Henshaw, and Pemberton, besides being +individually of large and just influence +from their ability, patriotism, worth, and +wealth, were members of the Board of +Selectmen, and therefore represented the +municipality; Phillips, who had served on +this Board, was a type of the upright and +liberal merchant; Molineaux was one of +the most determined and zealous of the +Patriots, and a stirring business-man; +Warren, ardent and bold, of rising fame +as a leader, personified the generous devotion +and noble enthusiasm of the young +men; Adams, though not the first-named +on the committee, played so prominent a +part in its doings, that he appears as its +chairman. He was so widely and favorably +known now that he was addressed +as "the Father of America." Of middling +stature, plain in dress, quiet in manner, +unpretending in deportment, he exhibited +nothing extraordinary in common +affairs; but on great occasions, when his +deeper nature was called into action, he +rose, without the smallest affectation, into +an upright dignity of figure and bearing,—with +a harmony of voice and a +power of speech which made a strong +impression, the more lasting from the purity +and nervous eloquence of his style +and the logical co<a name="Page_669" id="Page_669"></a>nsistency of his argument. +Such were the men selected to +speak and act for Boston in this hour of +deep passion and of high resolve.</p> + +<p>The committee, about four o'clock, repaired +to the Council-Chamber. It was a +room respectable in size and not without +ornament and historic memorials. On its +walls were representatives of the two +elements now in conflict,—of the Absolutism +that was passing away, in full-length +portraits of Charles II. and James +II. robed in the royal ermine, and of a +Republicanism which had grown robust +and self-reliant, in the heads of Belcher +and Bradstreet and Endicott and Winthrop. +Around a long table were seated +the Lieutenant-Governor and the members +of the Council with the military officers,—the +scrupulous and sumptuous costumes +of civilians in authority, gold and +silver lace, scarlet cloaks, and large wigs, +mingled with the brilliant uniforms of +the British army and navy. Into such +imposing presence was now ushered the +plainly attired committee of the town.</p> + +<p>At this time the Lieutenant-Governor, +a portion of the Council, the military officers, +and, among other officials now in +the Town-House, though not in the Council, +the Secretary of the Province, were +sternly resolved to refuse compliance with +the demand of the people. On the vote +of the meeting being presented to the +Lieutenant-Governor, Adams remarked +at length on the illegality of quartering +troops on the inhabitants in time of peace +and without the consent of the legislature, +urged that the public service did +not require them, adverted with sensibility +and warmth to the late tragedy, +painted the misery in which the town +would be involved, if the troops were suffered +to remain, and urged the necessity +of an immediate compliance with the vote +of the people. The Lieutenant-Governor, +in a brief reply, defended both the +legality and the necessity of the troops, +and renewed his old assertion that they +were not subject to his authority. Adams +again rose, and attention was riveted +on him as he paused and gave a searching +look at the Lieutenant-Governor. +There was in his countenance and attitude +a silent eloquence that words could +not express; his manner showed that the +energies of his soul were roused; and, in +a tone not loud, but deep and earnest, he +again addressed himself to Hutchinson, +"It is well known," he said, "that, acting +as Governor of the Province, you are, by +its Charter, the Commander-in-Chief of +the military forces within it, and, as such, +the troops now in the capital are subject +to your orders. If you, or Colonel Dalrymple +under you, have the power to remove +one regiment, you have the power +to remove both; and nothing short of their +total removal will satisfy the people or +preserve the peace of the Province. A +multitude, highly incensed, now wait the +result of this application. The voice of ten +thousand freemen demands that both regimen<a name="Page_670" id="Page_670"></a>ts +be forthwith removed. Their voice +must be respected,—their demand obeyed. +Fail, then, at your peril, to comply +with this requisition. On you alone rests +the responsibility of the decision; and if +the just expectations of the people are +disappointed, you must be answerable to +God and your country for the fatal consequences +that must ensue. The committee +have discharged their duty, and +it is for you to discharge yours. They +wait your final determination." As Adams, +while speaking, intently eyed Hutchinson, +he says, "I observed his knees to +tremble; I saw his face grow pale; and +I enjoyed the sight."</p> + +<p>A spell of silence followed this appeal. +Then there was low conversation, to a +whisper, between the Lieutenant-Governor +and Colonel Dalrymple, who, in +the spirit of the unbending soldier, was +for resisting this demand, as he had been +for summary proceedings in the case of +the meetings. "It is impossible for me," +he had said this afternoon, "to go any further +lengths in this matter. The information +given of the intended rebellion is +sufficient reason against the removal of +His Majesty's troops." But he now said in +a loud tone, "I am ready to obey your +orders," which threw the responsibility +on Hutchinson. All the members of the +committee urged the demand. "Every +one of them," Hutchinson says, "deliberately +gave his opinion at large, and +generally gave this reason to support it,—that +the people would most certainly +drive out the troops, and that the inhabitants +of the other towns would join in it; +and several of the gentlemen, declared +that they did not judge from the general +temper of the people only, but they knew +it to be the determination, not of a mob, +but of the generality of the principal inhabitants; +and they added, that all the +blood would be charged to me alone, for +refusing to follow their unanimous advice, +in desiring that the quarters of a single +regiment might be changed, in order to +put an end to the animosities between +the troops and the inhabitants, seeing +Colonel Dalrymple would consent to it." +After the committee withdrew, the debates +of the Council were long and earnest; +and, as they went on, Hutchinson +asked, "What protection would there be +for the Commissioners, if both regiments +were ordered to the Castle?" Several +said, "They would be safe, and always +had been safe." "As safe," said Gray, +"without the troops as with them." And +Irving said, "They never had been in +danger, and he would pawn his life that +they should receive no injury." "Unless +the troops were removed," it was +said, "before evening there would be +ten thousand men on the Common." +"The people in general," Tyler said, +"were resolved to have the troops removed, +without which they would not be +satisfied; that, failing of other means, +they were determined to effect their removal +by force, let the act be deemed +rebellion or otherwise." As the Council +deliberated, the people were impatient, +and the members were repeatedly called +out to give information as to the result, +This at length was unanimity. This +body resolved, that, to preserve the peace, +it was absolutely necessary that the troops +should be removed; and they advised the +Lieutenant-Governor to communicate +that conclusion to Colonel Dalrymple, +and to request that he would order his +whole command to Castle William.</p> + +<p>The remark of Dalrymple, as well +as the decision of the Council, became +known to the people, and the word passed round, +"that Colonel Dalrymple had +yielded, and that the Lieutenant-Governor +only held out." This circumstance +was communicated to Hutchinson, and +he says, "It now lay upon me to choose +that side which had the fewest and least +difficulties; and I weighed and compared +them as well as the time I had for +them would permit. I knew it was most +regular for me to leave this matter entire +to the commanding officer. I was +sensible the troops were designed to be, +upon occasion, employed under the direction +of the civil magistrate, and that +at the Castle they would be too remote, +in most cases, to answer that purpose. +But then I considered they never had +been used for that purpose, and there +was no probability they ever would be, +because no civil magistrate could be found +under whose directions they might act; +and they could be considered only as +having a tendency to keep the inhabitants +in some degree of awe, and even +this was every day lessening; and the +affronts the troops received were such +that there was no avoiding quarrels and +slaughter." Still he hesitated substantially +to retract his word; for now a request +from him, he knew, was equivalent +to an order; and before he determined, +he consulted three officers of the +crown, who, though not present in the +Council, were in the building, and the +Secretary, Oliver. All agreed that he +ought to comply with the advice of the +Council. He then formally recommended +Colonel Dalrymple to remove all the +troops, who gave his word of honor that +he would commence preparations in the +morning for a removal, and that there +should be no unnecessary delay in quartering +both regiments at the Castle.</p> + +<p>It was dark when the committee bore +back to the meeting the great report of +their success. It was received with expressions +of the highest satisfaction. What +a burden was lifted from the hearts of +the Patriots! They did not, however, +regard their work as quite done. They +voted that a strong watch was necessary +through the night, when the committee +who had waited on the Lieutenant-Governor +tendered their services to make a +part of the watch, and the whole matter +was placed in their hands as "a committee +of safety." They were authorized to +accept the service of such inhabitants as +they might deem proper. The meeting, +then dissolved. A few days after, the +two regiments were removed to the Castle.</p> + +<p>The withdrawal of the troops caused +great surprise in England, and long deliberations +by the Ministry. "It is put +out of all doubt," Governor Bernard +wrote Hutchinson, "that the attacking +the soldiers was preconcerted in order to +oblige them to fire, and then make it necessary +to quit the town, in consequence +of their doing what they were forced to +do. It is considered by thinking men +wholly as a manœuvre to support the +cause of non-importation." The Opposition +termed it an indignity put upon +Great Britain, and called upon the Ministry +to resent it upon a system, or to resign +their offices. Lord Barrington, who +approved of the soldiers' retiring to the +Castle, said, that, "where there was no +magistracy there should be no soldiers; +and if they intended to have soldiers sent +there again, they should provide for a +magistracy, which could not be done but +by appointing a royal Council, instead +of the present democratical one." The +Government were perplexed; but the +expectation was general, that General +Gage, without waiting for orders from +the Government, would send a reinforcement +to Boston, and order the whole of +the troops into the town. "Every one," +Governor Bernard wrote, "without exception, +says it must be immediately done. +Those in opposition are as loud as any. +Lord Shelburne told a gentleman, who +reported it to me, that it was now high +time for Great Britain to act with spirit." +The Governor advised Hutchinson, +that, should it turn out that he had been +successful in preventing Captain Preston +from being murdered by the mob, "Government +might be reconciled to the removal +of the troops." There was much +outside clamor, and those who indulged +in it could not reconcile to themselves +"six hundred regular troops giving way +to two or three thousand common people, +who, they say, would not have dared +to attack them, if they had stood their +ground"; and this class regarded the affair +"as a successful bully." Colonel +Barré, in the House of Commons, disposed +of the question in a few words: "The +officers agreed in sending the soldiers to +Castle William; what Minister will dare +to send them back to Boston?"</p> + +<p>These events stirred the public mind +in the Colonies profoundly. The Spirit +evinced by the people of Boston in the +whole transaction raised the town still +higher in the estimation of the Patriots; +annual commemorative orations kept +alive the tragic scene; and thus the introduction +of the troops, the question involved +in their removal, and the massacre +and triumph of the people, contributed +powerfully to bring about that +change in affections and principles which +finally resulted in American Independence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="WET-WEATHER_WORK" id="WET-WEATHER_WORK"></a>WET-WEATHER WORK.</h2> + +<h3>BY A FARMER.</h3> + + +<p>IV.</p> + +<p>We are fairly on English ground now; +of course, it is wet weather. The phenomena +of the British climate have not +changed much since the time when the +rains "let fall their horrible pleasure" +upon the head of the poor, drenched outcast, +Lear. Thunder and lightning, however, +which belonged to that particular +war of the elements, are rare in England. +The rain is quiet, fine, insinuating, constant +as a lover,—not wasting its resources +in sudden, explosive outbreaks.</p> + +<p>During a foot-tramp of some four hundred +miles, which I once had the pleasure +of making upon English soil, and which led +me from the mouth of the Thames to its +sources, and thence through Derbyshire, +the West Riding of Yorkshire, and all of +the Lake counties, I do not think that the +violence of the rain kept me housed for +more than five days out of forty. Not to +say that the balance showed sunshine and +a bonny sky; on the contrary, a soft, lubricating +mist is the normal condition of +the British atmosphere; and a neutral tint +of gray sky, when no wet is falling, is almost +sure to call out from the country-landlord, +if communicative, an explosive +and authoritative, "Fine morning, this, +Sir!"</p> + +<p>The really fine, sunny days—days +you believed in rashly, upon the sunny +evidence of such blithe poets as Herrick—are +so rare, that, after a month of British +travel, you can count them on your +fingers. On such a one, by a piece of +good fortune, I saw all the parterres of +Hampton Court,—its great vine, its labyrinthine +walks, its stately alleys, its ruddy +range of brick, its clipped lindens, its +rotund and low-necked beauties of Sir +Peter Lely, and the red geraniums flaming +on the window-sills of once royal +apartments, where the pensioned dowagers +now dream away their lives. On +another such day, Twickenham, and all +its delights of trees, bowers, and villas, +were flashing in the sun as brightly as +ever in the best days of Horace Walpole +or of Pope. And on yet another, after +weary tramp, I toiled up to the inn-door +of "The Bear," at Woodstock; and after +a cut or two into a ripe haunch of +Oxfordshire mutton, with certain "tiny +kickshaws," I saw, for the first time, under +the light of a glorious sunset, that +exquisite velvety stretch of the park of +Woodstock, dimpled with water, dotted +with forest—clumps, where companies of +sleek fallow-deer were grazing by the +hundred, where pheasants whirred away +down the aisles of wood, where memories +of Fair Rosamond and of Rochester and +of Alice Lee lingered,—and all brought +to a ringing close by Southey's ballad of +"Blenheim," as the shadow of the gaunt +Marlborough column slanted across the +path.</p> + +<p>There are other notable places, however, +which seem—so dependent are we +on first impressions—to be always bathed +in a rain-cloud. It is quite impossible, +for instance, for me to think of London +Bridge save as a great reeking thoroughfare, +slimy with thin mud, with piles +of umbrellas crowding over it, like an +army of turtles, and its balustrade steaming +with wet. The charming little Dulwich +Gallery, with its Bonningtons and +Murillos, I remember as situated somewhere +(for I could never find it again of +my own head) at a very rainy distance +from London, under the spout of an interminable +waterfall. The guide-books +talk of a pretty neighborhood, and of a +thousand rural charms thereabout; I remember +only one or two draggled policemen +in oil-skin capes, and with heads +slanted to the wind, and my cabby, in a +four-caped coat, shaking himself like a +water-dog, in the area. Exeter, Gloucester, +and Glasgow are three great wet cities +in my memory,—a damp cathedral in +each, with a damp-coated usher to each, +who shows damp tombs, and whose talk +is dampening to the last degree. I suppose +they have sunshine in these places, +and in the light of the sun I am sure that +marvellous gray tower of Gloucester must +make a rare show; but all the reports in +the world will not avail to dry up the image +of those wet days of visit.</p> + +<p>Considering how very much the fair +days are overbalanced by the dirty, thick, +dropping, misty weather of England, I +think we take a too sunny aspect of her +history: it has not been under the full-faced +smiles of heaven that her battles, +revolutions, executions, and pageants have +held their august procession; the rain has +wet many a May-day and many a harvesting, +whose traditional color (through +tender English verses) is gaudy with yellow +sunshine. The revellers of the "Midsummer +Night's Dream" would find a +wet turf eight days out of ten to disport +upon. We think of Bacon without an +umbrella, and of Cromwell without a +mackintosh; yet I suspect both of them +carried these, or their equivalents, pretty +constantly. Raleigh, indeed, threw his +velvet cloak into the mud for the Virgin +Queen to tread upon,—from which we +infer a recent shower; but it is not often +that an historical incident is so suggestive +of the true state of the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>History, however, does not mind the +rain: agriculture must. More especially +in any view of British agriculture, whether +old or new, and in any estimate of its +theories or progress, due consideration +must be had for the generous dampness +of the British atmosphere. To this cause +is to be attributed primarily that wonderful +velvety turf which is so unmatchable +elsewhere; to the same cause, and to the +accompanying even temperature, is to be +credited very much of the success of the +turnip-culture, which has within a century +revolutionized the agriculture of +Kugland; yet again, the magical effects +of a thorough system of drainage are nowhere +so demonstrable as in a soil constantly +wetted, and giving a steady flow, +however small, to the discharging tile. +Measured by inches, the rain-fall is greater +in most parts of America than in Great +Britain; but this fall is so capricious with +us, often so sudden and violent, that +there must be inevitably a large surface-discharge, +even though the tile, three +feet below, is in working order. The +true theory of skilful drainage is, not to +carry away the quick flush of a shower, +but to relieve a soil too heavily saturated +by opening new outflows, setting new +currents astir of both air and moisture, +and thus giving new life and an enlarged +capacity to lands that were dead with +a stagnant over-soak.</p> + +<p>Bearing in mind, then, the conditions +of the British climate, which are so much +in keeping with the "wet weather" of +these studies, let us go back again to old +Markham's day, and amble along—armed +with our umbrellas—through the current +of the seventeenth century.</p> + +<p>James I., that conceited old pedant, +whose "Counterblast to Tobacco" has +worked the poorest of results, seems to +have had a nice taste for fruits; and +Sir Henry Wotton, his ambassador at +Venice, writing from that city in 1622, +says,—"I have sent the choicest melon-seeds +of all kinds, which His Majesty doth +expect, as I had order both from ray Lord +Holderness and from Mr. Secretary Calvert." +Sir Henry sent also with the seeds +very particular directions for the culture +of the plants, obtained probably from +some head-gardener of a Priuli or a Morosini, +whose melons had the full beat of +Italian sunshine upon the south slopes of +the Vicentine mountains. The same ambassador +sends at that date to Lord Holderness +"a double-flowering yellow rose, +of no ordinary nature";<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> and it would +be counted of no ordinary nature now, +if what he avers be true, that "it flowreth +every month from May till almost +Christmas."</p> + +<p>King James took special interest in the +establishment of his garden at the Theobald +Palace in Hertfordshire: there were +clipped hedges, neat array of linden avenues, +fountains, and a Mount of Venus +within a labyrinth; twelve miles of wall +encircled the park, and the soldiers of +Cromwell found fine foraging-ground in +it, when they entered upon the premises +a few years later. The schoolmaster-king +formed also a guild of gardeners +in the city of London, at whose hands +certificates of capacity for garden-work +were demanded, and these to be given +only after proper examination of the applicants. +Lord Bacon possessed a beautiful +garden, if we may trust his own +hints to that effect, and the added praises +of Wotton. Cashiobury, Holland House, +and Greenwich gardens were all noted +in this time; and the experiments and +successes of the proprietor of Bednall-Greene +garden I have already alluded +to. But the country-gentleman, who lived +upon his land and directed the cultivation +of his property, was but a very +savage type of the Bedford or Oxfordshire +landholders of our day. It involved +a muddy drag over bad roads, after a +heavy Flemish mare, to bring either one's +self or one's crops to market.</p> + +<p>Sir Thomas Overbury, who draws such +a tender picture of a "Milke-Mayde," is +severe, and, I dare say, truthful, upon +the country-gentleman. "His conversation," +says he, "amongst his tenants is +desperate: but amongst his equals full of +doubt. His travel is seldome farther than +the next market towne, and his inquisition +is about the price of corne: when +he travelleth, he will goe ten mile out of +the way to a cousins house of his to save +charges; and rewards servants by taking +them by the hand when hee departs. +Nothing under a <i>sub-pœna</i> can draw him +to <i>London</i>: and when he is there, he +sticks fast upon every object, casts his +eyes away upon gazing, and becomes the +prey of every cut-purse. When he comes +home, those wonders serve him for his +holy-day talke. If he goe to court, it is +in yellow stockings: and if it be in winter, +in a slight tafety cloake, and pumps +and pantofles."</p> + +<p>The portrait of the smaller farmer, +who, in this time, tilled his own ground, +is even more severely sketched by Bishop +Earle. "A plain country fellow is one +that manures his ground well, but lets +himself lye fallow and unfilled. He has +reason enough to do his business, and not +enough to be idle or melancholy.... His +hand guides the plough, and the +plough his thoughts, and his ditch and +land-mark is the very mound of his meditations. +He expostulates with his oxen +very understandingly, and speaks <i>gee</i>, +and <i>ree</i>, better than English. His mind +is not much distracted with objects, but +if a good fat cow come in his way, he +stands dumb and astonished, and though +his haste be never so great, wilt fix here +half an hours contemplation. His habitation +is some poor thatched roof, distinguished +from his barn by the loop-holes +that let out smoak, which the rain had +long since washed through, but for the +double ceiling of bacon on the inside, +which has hung there from his grand-sires +time, and is yet to make rashers for +posterity. He apprehends Gods blessings +only in a good year, or a fat pasture, +and never praises him but on <i>good +ground</i>."</p> + +<p>Such were the men who were to be +reached by the agricultural literature of +the day! Yet, notwithstanding this unpromising +audience, scarcely a year passed +but some talker was found who felt +himself competent to expound the whole +art and mystery of husbandry.</p> + +<p>Adam Speed, Gent., (from which title +we may presume that he was no Puritan,) +published a little book in the year 1626, +which he wittily called "Adam out of +Eden." In this he undertakes to show +how Adam, under the embarrassing circumstance +of being shut out of Paradise, +may increase the product of a farm from +two hundred pounds to two thousand +pounds a year by the rearing of rabbits +on furze and broom! It is all mathematically +computed; there is nothing to +disappoint in the figures; but I suspect +there might be in the rabbits.</p> + +<p>Gentleman Speed speaks of turnips, +clover, and potatoes; he advises the +boiling of "butchers' blood" for poultry, +and mixing the "pudding" with bran +and other condiments, which will "feed +the beasts very fat."</p> + +<p>The author of "Adam out of Eden" +also indulges himself in verse, which is +certainly not up to the measure of "Paradise +Lost." This is its taste:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Each soyl hath no liking of every grain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor barley nor wheat is for every vein;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet know I no country so barren of soyl<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But some kind of come may be gotten with toyl.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though husband at home be to count the cost what,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet thus huswife within is as needful as that:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What helpeth in store to have never so much,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Half lost by ill-usage, ill huswifes, and such?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The papers of Bacon upon subjects +connected with rural life are so familiar +that I need not recur to them. His +particular suggestions, however sound +in themselves, (and they generally are +sound,) did by no means measure the +extent of his contribution to the growth +of good husbandry. But the more thorough +methods of investigation which he +instituted and encouraged gave a new +and healthier direction to inquiries connected +not only with agriculture, but +with every experimental art.</p> + +<p>Thus, Gabriel Platte, publishing his +"Observations and Improvements in +Husbandry," about the year 1638, thinks +it necessary to sustain and illustrate them +with a record of "twenty experiments."</p> + +<p>Sir Richard Weston, too, a sensible +up-country knight, has travelled through +Flanders about the same time, and has +seen such success attending upon the turnip +and the clover culture there, that he +urges the same upon his fellow-landholders, +in a "Discourse of Husbandrie."</p> + +<p>The book was published under the +name of Hartlib,—the same Master Samuel +Hartlib to whom Milton addressed +his tractate "Of Education," and of +whom the great poet speaks as "a person +sent hither [to England] by some +good Providence from a far country, to +be the occasion and incitement of great +good to this island."</p> + +<p>This mention makes us curious to know +something more of Master Samuel Hartlib. +I find that he was the son of a +Polish merchant, of Lithuania, was himself +engaged for a time in commercial +transactions, and came to England about +the year 1640. He wrote several theological +tracts, edited sundry agricultural +works, including, among others, those +of Sir Richard Weston, and published +his own observations upon the shortcomings +of British husbandry. He also proposed +a grandiose scheme for an agricultural +college, in order to teach youths +"the theorick and practick parts of this +most ancient, noble, and honestly gainfull +art, trade, or mystery." The work published +under his name entitled "The Legacy," +besides notices of the Brabant husbandry, +embraces epistles from various +farmers, who may be supposed to represent +the progressive agriculture of England. +Among these letters I note one +upon "Snaggreet," (shelly earth from +river-beds); another upon "Seaweeds"; +a third upon "Sea-sand"; and a fourth +upon "Woollen-rags."</p> + +<p>Hartlib was in good odor during the +days of the Commonwealth; for he lived +long enough to see that bitter tragedy of +the executed king before Whitehall Palace, +and to hold over to the early years +of the Restoration. But he was not in +favor with the people about Charles II.; +the small pension that Cromwell had bestowed +fell into sad arrearages; and the +story is, that he died miserably poor.</p> + +<p>It is noticeable that Hartlib, and a +great many sensible old gentlemen of his +date, spoke of the art of husbandry as a +mystery. And so it is; a mystery then, +and a mystery now. Nothing tries my +patience more than to meet one of those +billet-headed farmers who—whether in +print or in talk—pretend to have solved +the mystery and mastered it.</p> + +<p>Take my own crop of corn yonder upon +the flat, which I have watched since +the day when it first shot up its little +dainty spears of green, until now it spindles +has been faithfully ploughed and fed and +tilled; but how gross appliances all these, +to the fine fibrous feeders that have been +searching, day by day, every cranny of +the soil,—to the broad leaflets that, week +by week, have stolen out from their green +sheaths to wanton with the wind and +caress the dews! Is there any quick-witted +farmer who shall tell us with anything +like definiteness what the phosphates have +contributed to all this, and how much the +nitrogenous manures, and to what degree +the deposits of <i>humus</i>? He may establish +the conditions of a sure crop, thirty, +forty, or sixty bushels to the acre, (seasons +favoring); but how short a reach is +this toward determining the final capacity +of either soil or plant! How often +the most petted experiments laugh us in +the face! The great miracle of the vital +laboratory in the plant remains to mock +us. We test it; we humor it; we fondly +believe that we have detected its secret: +but the mystery stays.</p> + +<p>A bumpkin may rear a crop that shall +keep him from starvation; but to develop +the <i>utmost</i> capacity of a given soil by fertilizing +appliances, or by those of tillage, +is the work, I suspect, of a wiser man than +belongs to our day. And when I find +one who fancies he has resolved all the +conditions which contribute to this miracle +of God's, and can control and fructify +at his will, I have less respect for his +head than for a good one—of Savoy +cabbage. The great problem of Adam's +curse is not worked out so easily. The +sweating is not over yet.</p> + +<p>If we are confronted with mystery, it +is not blank, hopeless, fathomless mystery. +Our plummet-lines are only too +short; but they are growing longer. It is +a lively mystery, that piques and tempts +and rewards endeavor. It unfolds with +an appetizing delay. Every year a new +secret is laid bare, which, in the flush of +triumph, seems a crowning development; +whereas it presently appears that we +have only opened a new door upon some +further labyrinth.</p> + +<p>Throughout the seventeenth century, +the progress in husbandry, without being +at any one period very brilliant, was decided +and constant. If there was anything +like a relapse, and neglect of good +culture, it was most marked shortly after +the Restoration. The country-gentlemen, +who had entertained a wholesome +horror of Cromwell and his troopers, had, +during the Commonwealth, devoted themselves +to a quiet life upon their estates, repairing +the damages which the Civil War +had wrought in their fortunes and in their +lands. The high price of farm-products +stimulated their efforts, and their country-isolation +permitted a harmless show of the +chivalrous contempt they entertained for +the <i>novi homines</i> of the Commonwealth. +With the return of Charles they abandoned +their estates once more to the bailiffs, +and made a rush for the town and +for their share of the "leeks and onions."</p> + +<p>But the earnest men were at work. +Sainfoin and turnips were growing every +year into credit. The potato was becoming +a crop of value; and in the year +1664 a certain John Foster devoted a treatise +to it, entitled, "England's Happiness +increased, or a Sure Remedy against all +Succeeding Dear Years, by a Plantation +of Roots called Potatoes."</p> + +<p>For a long time the crop had been +known, and Sir Thomas Overbury had +made it the vehicle of one of his sharp +witticisms against people who were forever +boasting of their ancestry,—their +best part being below ground. But Foster +anticipates the full value of what had +before been counted a novelty and a curiosity. +He advises how custards, paste, +puddings, and even bread, may be made +from the flour of potatoes.</p> + +<p>John Worlidge (1669) gives a full system +of husbandry, advising green fallows, +and even recommending and describing +a drill for the putting in of seed, +and for distributing with it a fine fertilizer.</p> + +<p>Evelyn, also, about this time, gave a +dignity to rural pursuits by his "Sylva" +and "Terra," both these treatises having +been recited before the Royal Society. +The "Terra" is something muddy,<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> and +is by no means exhaustive; but the "Sylva" +for more than a century was the British +planter's hand-book, being a judicious, +sensible, and eloquent treatise upon a subject +as wide and as beautiful as its title. +Even Walter Scott,—himself a capital +woodsman,—when he tells (in "Kenilworth") +of the approach of Tressilian +and his Doctor companion to the neighborhood +of Say's Court, cannot forego his +tribute to the worthy and cultivated author +who once lived there, and who in +his "Sylva" gave a manual to every +British planter, and in his life an exemplar +to every British gentleman.</p> + +<p>Evelyn was educated at Oxford, travelled +widely upon the Continent, was a +firm adherent of the royal party, and at +one time a member of Prince Rupert's +famous troop. He married the daughter +of the British ambassador in Paris, +through whom he came into possession +of Say's Court, which he made a gem of +beauty. But in his later years he had +the annoyance of seeing his fine parterres +and shrubbery trampled down by that +Northern boor, Peter the Great, who +made his residence there while studying +the mysteries of ship-building at Deptford, +and who had as little reverence +for a parterre of flowers as for any other +of the tenderer graces of life.</p> + +<p>The British monarchs have always +been more regardful of those interests +which were the object of Evelyn's tender +devotion. I have already alluded +to the horticultural fancies of James I. +His son Charles was an extreme lover of +flowers, as well as of a great many luxuries +which hedged him against all Puritan +sympathy. "Who knows not," says +Milton, in his reply to the ΕΙΚΩΝ ΒΛΕΙΛΙΚΗ, +"the licentious remissness of his +Sunday's theatre, accompanied with that +reverend statute for dominical jigs and +May-poles, published in his own name," +etc.?</p> + +<p>But the poor king was fated to have +little enjoyment of either jigs or May-poles; +harsher work belonged to his reign; +and all his garden-delights came to be +limited finally to a little pot of flowers +upon his prison-window. And I can easily +believe that the elegant, wrong-headed, +courteous gentleman tended these +poor flowers daintily to the very last, +and snuffed their fragrance with a Christian +gratitude.</p> + +<p>Charles was an appreciative lover of +poetry, too, as well as of Nature. I wonder +if it ever happened to him, in his +prison-hours at Carisbrooke, to come +upon Milton's "L'Allegro," (first printed +in the very year of the Battle of +Naseby,) and to read,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In thy right hand lead with thee<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The mountain nymph, sweet Liberty;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And if I give thee honor due,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mirth, admit me of thy crew<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To live with her, and live with thee,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In unreprovèd pleasures free;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To hear the lark begin his flight,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And, singing, startle the dull night,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From his watch-tower in the skies,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till the dappled dawn doth rise;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then to come, in spite of sorrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And at my window bid good-morrow,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Through the sweetbrier, or the vine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or the twisted eglantine."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>How it must have smitten the King's +heart to remember that the tender poet, +whose rhythm none could appreciate better +than he, was also the sturdy Puritan +pamphleteer whose blows had thwacked +so terribly upon the last props that held +up his tottering throne!</p> + +<p>Cromwell, as we have seen, gave Master +Hartlib a pension; but whether on +the score of his theological tracts, or his +design for an agricultural college, would +be hard to say. I suspect that the hop +was the Protector's favorite among flowering +plants, and that his admiration of +trees was measured by their capacity for +timber. Yet that rare masculine energy, +which he and his men carried with them +in their tread all over England, was a +very wakeful stimulus to productive agriculture.</p> + +<p>Charles II. loved tulips, and befriended +Evelyn. In his long residence at Paris +he had grown into a great fondness for +the French gardens. He afterward sent +for Le Notre—who had laid out Versailles +at an expense of twenty millions +of dollars—to superintend the planting +of Greenwich and St. James. Fortunately, +no strict imitation of Versailles +was entered upon. The splendors of +Chatsworth Garden grew in this time +out of the exaggerated taste, and must +have delighted the French heart of +Charles. Other artists have had the +handling of this great domain since the +days of Le Notre. A crazy wilderness +of rock-work, amid which the artificial +waters commit freak upon freak, has +been strewed athwart the lawn; a stately +conservatory has risen, under which +the Duke may drive, if he choose, in +coach and four, amid palm-trees, and +the monster-vegetation of the Eastern +archipelago; the little glass temple is +in the gardens, under which the Victoria +lily was first coaxed into British +bloom; a model village has sprung up +at the Park gates, in which each cottage +is a gem, and seems transplanted from +the last book on rural ornamentation. +But the sight of the village oppresses one +with a strange incongruity; the charm +of realism is wanting; it needs a population +out of one of Watteau's pictures,—clean +and deft as the painted figures; +flesh and blood are too gross, too prone +to muddy shoes, and to—sneeze. The +rock-work, also, is incongruous; it belongs +on no such wavy roll of park-land; +you see it a thousand times grander, a +half-hour's drive away, toward Matlock. +And the stiff parterres, terraces, and alleys +of Le Notre are equally out of place +in such a scene. If, indeed, as at Versailles, +they bounded and engrossed the +view, so that natural surfaces should have +no claim upon your eye,—if they were +the mere setting to a monster palace, +whose colonnades and balusters of marble +edged away into colonnades and balusters +of box-wood, and these into a limitless +extent of long green lines, which are +only lost to the eye where a distant fountain +dashes its spray of golden dust into +the air,—as at Versailles,—there would +be keeping. But the Devonshire palace +has quite other setting. Blue Derbyshire +hills are behind it; a grand, billowy slope +of the comeliest park-land in England +rolls down from its terrace-foot to where +the Derwent, under hoary oaks, washes +its thousand acres of meadow-vale, with +a flow as charming and limpid as one of +Virgil's eclogues. It is such a setting that +carries the great quadrangle of Chatsworth +Palace and its flanking artificialities +of rock and garden, like a black +patch upon the face of a fine woman of +Charles's court.</p> + +<p>This brings us upon our line of march +again. Charles II. loved stiff gardens; +James II. loved stiff gardens; and William, +with his Low-Country tastes, out-stiffened +both, with his</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"topiary box a-row."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Lord Bacon has commended the formal +style to public admiration by his advocacy +and example. The lesson was repeated +at Cashiobury by the most noble +the Earl of Essex (of whom Evelyn +writes,—"My Lord is not illiterate beyond +the rate of most noblemen of his +age"). So also that famous garden of +Moor-Park in Hertfordshire, laid out by +the witty Duchess of Bedford, to whom +Dr. Donne addresses some of his piquant +letters, was a model of old-fashioned and +stately graces. Sir William Temple praises +it beyond reason in his "Garden of +Epicurus," and cautions readers against +undertaking any of those irregularities +of garden-figures which the Chinese so +much affect. He admires only stateliness +and primness. "Among us," he +says, "the Beauty of Building and Planting +is placed chiefly in some certain Proportions, +Symmetries, or Uniformities; +our Walks and our Trees ranged so as +to answer one another, and at exact Distances."</p> + +<p>From all these it is clear what was the +garden-drift of the century. Even Waller, +the poet,—whose moneys, if he were +like most poets, could not be thrown away +idly,—spent a large sum in levelling the +hills about his rural home at Beaconsfields. +(We shall find a different poet +and treatment by-and-by in Shenstone.)</p> + +<p>Only Milton, speaking from the very +arcana of the Puritan rigidities, breaks +in upon these geometric formalities with +the rounded graces of the garden which +he planted in Eden. There</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i17">"the crisped brooks,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With mazy error under pendent shades,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Poured forth profuse on hill and dale and plain."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Going far behind all conventionalities, +he credited to Paradise—the ideal +of man's happiest estate—variety, irregularity, +profusion, luxuriance; and +to the fallen estate, precision, formality, +and an inexorable Art, which, in place +of concealing, glorified itself. In the +next century, when Milton comes to be +illustrated by Addison and the rest, we +shall find gardens of a different style from +those of Waller and of Hampton Court.</p> + +<p>And now from some look-out point +near to the close of the seventeenth century, +when John Evelyn, in his age, is +repairing the damages that Peter the +Great has wrought in his pretty Deptford +home, let us take a bird's-eye glance at +rural England.</p> + +<p>It is raining; and the clumsy Bedford +coach, drawn by stout Flemish mares,—for +thorough-breds are as yet unknown,—is +covered with a sail-cloth to keep the +wet away from the six "insides." The +grass, wherever the land is stocked with +grass, is as velvety as now. The wheat +in the near county of Herts is fair, and +will turn twenty bushels to the acre; +here and there an enterprising landholder +has a small field of dibbled grain, which +will yield a third more. John Worlidge's +drill is not in request, and is only talked +of by a few wiseacres who prophesy its +ultimate adoption. The fat bullocks of +Bedford will not dress more than seven +hundred a head; and the cows, if killed, +would not overrun five hundred weight. +There are occasional fields of sainfoin +and of turnips; but these latter are +small, and no ridging or hurdling is yet +practised. From time to time appears +a patch of barren moorland, which has +been planted with forest-trees, in accordance +with the suggestions of Mr. Evelyn, +and under the wet sky the trees are +thriving. Wide reaches of fen, measured +by hundreds of miles, (which now bear +great crops of barley,) are saturated with +moisture, and tenanted only by ghost-like +companies of cranes.</p> + +<p>The gardens attached to noble houses, +under the care of some pupil of Wise, +or of Parkinson, have their espaliers,—their +plums, their pears,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> and their +grapes. These last are rare, however, +(Parkinson says sour, too,) and bear a +great price in the London market. One +or two horticulturists of extraordinary +enterprise have built greenhouses, warmed, +Evelyn says, "in a most ingenious +way, by passing a brick flue underneath +the beds."</p> + +<p>The lesser country-gentlemen, who +have no establishments in town, rarely +venture up, for fear of the footpads on +the heath, and the insolence of the black-guard +Cockneys. Their wives are staid +dames, learned at the brew-tub and in +the buttery,—but not speaking French, +nor wearing hoops or patches. A great +many of the older exotic plants have +become domesticated; and the goodwife +has a flaming parterre at her door,—but +not valued one half so much as her bed +of marjoram and thyme. She may read +King James's Bible, or, if a Non-Conformist, +Baxter's "Saint's Rest"; while +the husband regales himself with a thumb-worn +copy of "Sir Fopling Flutter," or, +if he live well into the closing years of +the century, with De Foe's "True-born +Englishman."</p> + +<p>Poetic feeling was more lacking in the +country-life than in the illustrative literature +of the century. To say nothing of +Milton's brilliant little poems, "L'Allegro" +and "Il Penseroso," which flash +all over with the dews, there are the +charming "Characters" of Sir Thomas +Overbury, and the graceful discourse of +Sir William Temple. The poet Drummond +wrought a music out of the woods +and waters which lingers alluringly even +now around the delightful cliffs and valleys +of Hawthornden. John Dryden, +though a thorough cit, and a man who +would have preferred his arm-chair at +Will's Coffee-House to Chatsworth and +the fee of all its lands, has yet touched +most tenderly the "daisies white" and +the spring, in his "Flower and the Leaf."</p> + +<p>But we skip a score of the poets, and +bring our wet day to a close with the +naming of two honored pastorals. The +first, in sober prose, is nothing more nor +less than Walton's "Angler." Its homeliness, +its calm, sweet pictures of fields +and brooks, its dainty perfume of flowers, +its delicate shadowing-forth of the Christian +sentiment which lived by old English +firesides, its simple, artless songs, +(not always of the highest style, but of +a hearty naturalness that is infinitely +better,)—these make the "Angler" a +book that stands among the thumb-worn. +There is good marrowy English in it; I +know very few fine writers of our times +who could make a better book on such a +subject to-day,—with all the added information, +and all the practice of the newspaper-columns. +What Walton wants to +say he says. You can make no mistake +about his meaning; all is as lucid as the +water of a spring. He does not play upon +your wonderment with tropes. There +is no chicane of the pen; he has some +pleasant matters to tell of, and he tells +of them—straight.</p> + +<p>Another great charm about Walton is +his childlike truthfulness. I think he is +almost the only earnest trout-fisher I ever +knew (unless Sir Humphrey Davy be +excepted) whose report could be relied +upon for the weight of a trout. I have +many excellent friends—capital fishermen—whose +word is good upon most +concerns of life, but in this one thing they +cannot be confided in. I excuse it; I +take off twenty per cent. from their estimates +without either hesitation, anger, or +reluctance.</p> + +<p>I do not think I should have trusted +in such a matter Charles Cotton, although +he was agricultural as well as piscatory,—having +published a "Planter's Manual." +I think he could, and did, draw a long +bow. I suspect innocent milkmaids were +not in the habit of singing Kit Marlowe's +songs to the worshipful Mr. Cotton.</p> + +<p>One pastoral remains to mention, published +at the very opening of the year +1600, and spending its fine forest-aroma +thenceforward all down the century. I +mean Shakspeare's play of "As You Like +It."</p> + +<p>From beginning to end the grand old +forest of Arden is astir overhead; from +beginning to end the brooks brawl in +your ear; from beginning to end you +smell the bruised ferns and the delicate-scented +wood-flowers. It is Theocritus +again, with the civilization of the added +centuries contributing its spangles of reason, +philosophy, and grace. Who among +all the short-kirtled damsels of all the +eclogues will match us this fair, lithe, witty, +capricious, mirthful, buxom Rosalind? +Nowhere in books have we met with her +like,—but only at some long-gone picnic +in the woods, where we worshipped +"blushing sixteen" in dainty boots and +white muslin. There, too, we met a match +for sighing Orlando,—mirrored in the +water; there, too, some diluted Jaques +may have "moralized" the excursion for +next day's "Courier," and some lout of a +Touchstone (there are always such in picnics) +passed the ices, made poor puns, and +won more than his share of the smiles.</p> + +<p>Walton is English all over; but "As +You Like It" is as broad as the sky, or +love, or folly, or hope.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_FRENCH_STRUGGLE_FOR_NAVAL_AND_COLONIAL_POWER" id="THE_FRENCH_STRUGGLE_FOR_NAVAL_AND_COLONIAL_POWER"></a>THE FRENCH STRUGGLE FOR NAVAL AND COLONIAL POWER.</h2> + + +<p>In comparison with our national misfortunes +all beside seems trifling. Else +nothing would so fasten our attention as +the French invasion and conquest of Mexico. +A dependency of France established +at our door! The most restless, ambitious, +and warlike nation in Europe our +neighbor! Who shall tell what results, +momentous and lasting, may follow in the +train of such events?</p> + +<p>What is the explanation of this conquest? +Is it the freak of an ambitious +despot? Or is it only a stroke in the +line of a settled policy? one fact, which +we see, amid a great number of facts +which we do not see?</p> + +<p>This particular enterprise comes close +to us. It affronts our pride and tramples +upon our political traditions. It establishes, +what we did not wish to see on this +Western Continent, another foreign jurisdiction. +But for more than twenty-five +years France has been engaged in a series +of like enterprises. In places not so +near to us, by the same arbitrary methods, +she has already achieved conquests +as important. With soft-footed ambition, +she has planted her flag and reared her +strongholds on spots full of natural advantages. +But the aim is the same everywhere: +the reëstablishment of her lost colonial +and naval power. And the hope +of France is, that in the race for mercantile +and naval greatness she may yet challenge +and vanquish the Sovereign of the +Seas.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The peace of 1815 left France with +her naval and colonial power broken apparently +beyond hope. Even in the thirteen +years preceding that peace England +had taken or destroyed not less than six +hundred of her war-ships. In the Mediterranean, +on the Atlantic, amid the islands +of the West Indies, in the far-off +golden East, wherever contending, fleet +against fleet, or ship with ship, everywhere +she had been vanquished and driven +from the sea. That boundless colonial +empire, of which Dupleix in the East +dreamed, and for whose establishment in +the West Montcalm fought and died, +had shrunk to a few fishing-ports off the +Gulf of St. Lawrence, a few sugar-islands +in the West Indies, and some unarmed +factories dotting the coasts of Africa +and the shores of Hindostan, and +existing by British grace and permission. +To so low an estate had fallen +that towering ambition which thought to +exercise uncontrolled dominion over this +continent, to rule with more than regal +sway the rich islands and peninsulas +of Asia, and to dictate peace to fallen +England from the guns of her armadas. +After five wars waged with no craven +spirit in less than three-quarters of a century, +after she had exhausted every resource +and more than once banded against +her island foe every naval power in Europe, +she was forced to succumb to British +perseverance and to the gallantry of +British sailors. The peace, which came +not a moment too soon, found her with a +navy literally annihilated, and with little +remaining of her colonial empire but the +memory. When we compare this hopeless +failure with the mercantile activity +and naval force of Modern France,—when +we call up, in imagination, her new colonies, +the germs almost of empires,—we +cannot admire too much the courage and +energy which have called into existence +such magnificent resources. To what are +we to attribute this stupendous change? +What have been the methods of this +growth? By what steps has this grand +progress from weakness to strength been +achieved?</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>In such a work of restoration, France +had everything to create,—ships, armaments, +machinery, and sailors even, to +replace those who had fallen in the front +of battle. To produce capacity of production +was her first work,—to establish +new ports or replenish old ones, to build +docks, to rear workshops, to gather materials. +This is what she has been doing. +Silently and steadily she has been laying +the foundations of maritime greatness. +Her ports, in everything which contributes +to naval efficiency,—in size, in mechanical +appliances, in concentration upon +one spot of all the trades and all the +resources necessary for the construction +and repair of war-ships,—excel all other +naval depots in the world.</p> + +<p>This is no exaggeration. There is the +port of Cherbourg. Originally it was little +more than an open bay, hollowed by +the waters of the English Channel in the +French coast, with a rocky shore exposed +to every northern blast. But it was situated +just where France needed a harbor, +midway on her northern coast, facing +England. Across this open bay, as a +chord subtends its arc, a gigantic sea-wall +has been stretched. Built in deep water +more than a mile from the head of the +bay, it extends almost from shore to shore. +It is nearly three miles long. It is scarcely +less than nine hundred feet wide at its +base. Rising from the bed of the sea sixty-six +feet, it is firm enough to bear up +fortresses strong as human engineering +can rear. This is the famous <i>digue</i> of +Cherbourg. Its construction has been a +seventy years' battle with the elements. +Many times the waves have destroyed the +work of years. Once a furious tempest +swept away the whole superstructure, +with its forts, armaments, barracks, and +even garrison. But failure has only awakened +fresh energy, and it stands now complete +and rooted in the sea like a reef. +At each end of the <i>digue</i>, between it and +the main land, are broad ship-channels, +affording a free passage at all tides to the +largest ships. Thus science has called +into existence a safe harbor, protected +from the assaults of the sea by its granite +barrier,—protected none the less from +man's assaults by the concentric fire of +more than six hundred guns.</p> + +<p>This is but the exterior of Cherbourg. +In the bosom of the rocky cliffs of its +western shore three basins or docks have +been hewn with gigantic toil. The first, +finished in 1813, is 950 feet long, 768 feet +wide, and 55 feet deep, and will hold securely +fifteen ships of the line. The second, +of somewhat smaller dimensions, was +completed in 1829, and will float a dozen +ships. The third, far larger than either, +was opened with great ceremony in 1858: +it is 1365 feet long, 650 feet wide, and +60 feet deep, and will contain eighteen +or twenty ships of the largest size. On +the sides of these basins are twelve building-slips +and seven docks. And radiating +from them, and in close contiguity, +are arsenals, storehouses, timber-yards, +ropewalks, sail-lofts, bakeries, and machine-shops +capable of turning out marine +engines, anchors, cables, and indeed every +piece of iron-work which enters into +the construction of a ship. It is no vain +boast that an army of a hundred thousand +men can be embarked any fine morning +at Cherbourg, and that the fleet necessary +for its transport can be built and +armed and equipped and protected to the +hour of its departure in this fortified +haven.</p> + +<p>Yet Cherbourg is but one of five ports +equally efficient, equally protected, and +equally furnished with the products of +mechanic and nautical invention. Brest, +L'Orient, and Rochefort, on the west, +have far greater natural and scarcely +less acquired advantages; while the old +port of Toulon on the Mediterranean, +old only in name, has been so enlarged +and strengthened, that it can supply for +the southern waters all and more than +Cherbourg does for the northern. One +fact will show to what an extent this +power of naval production has been carried. +In these five ports are some eighty +building-slips or houses, and twenty-five +docks, and, connected with them, all the +materials, all the trades, all the labor-saving +machines, all the mechanical forces, +which the nineteenth century knows. +If she wished, France could build at the +same time forty ships of the line and forty +frigates, while twenty-five more were +undergoing repairs. The result of all this +activity is, that, in extent, in completeness, +in concentration of forces upon the +right spot, the naval ports and dockyards +of France are absolutely unequalled. +And the work goes on. To-day +twenty-two thousand men are employed +upon naval works. Within six months a +wet dock has been completed at Toulon, +and another at L'Orient, while at Brest +great ranges of workshops are hastening +to completion; and it is whispered that +at Cherbourg another basin is, like its +predecessors, to be chiselled out of the +solid rock.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Do we ask now what France has gained, +in fleets and armaments, from this immense +work of preparation? Everything. +Not to dwell upon sailing-ships, +which the progress of invention has made +of inferior worth, she has a steam-navy +second to that of no power in Europe. +Her present ruler has fully appreciated +the importance of that new element in +naval warfare, steam,—an element all +the more important to France, that it +tends to lower the value of mere seamanship, +in which she has always been deficient, +and to increase the value of scientific +knowledge and training, in which +she has ever been with the foremost. For +ten years her energy has been tasked to +produce steamships of the greatest power +and of the finest models. Since 1852 her +ships of the line have increased from two +to forty, and her frigates from twenty-one +to forty-six. A fleet has thus been created +which is numerically equal to that of +England, and which, so far as these things +depend upon the stanchness of the ships +and the weight of the armaments, is perhaps +in force and efficiency superior.</p> + +<p>If we turn our attention to iron-clad +ships, we shall see best displayed the sagacity, +energy, and secretiveness of Louis +Napoleon. In the Crimean War, three +floating batteries covered with iron slabs, +and each mounting eighteen fifty-pounders, +silenced the Russian fort at Kinburn. +This was a lesson it would seem that any +one might learn. Louis Napoleon did not +fail to learn it. If a ship can be made +invulnerable, or nearly so, in every part, +then of what avail is that strategy which +secures choice of position, and which, of +old, almost decided the battle? Will not +he come off victor who can produce guns +from which the heaviest shot may be hurled +at the highest velocity, and gunners +who shall launch them on their errand +of destruction with the greatest accuracy? +The French emperor has fairly +overreached his island rivals. While +they were experimenting, he laid the +keels of two iron-clads of six thousand +tons burden. In 1859 he ordered the +construction of twenty steel-clad frigates +and fifty gunboats. Lord Clarence Paget +declared in debate last March, that, while +England had, finished or constructing, +only sixteen iron-clad frigates, France +had thirty-one. And even this takes no +account of floating-batteries and gunboats, +wholly or in part protected, and +of which, if we are to trust her papers, +France has an almost fabulous number.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>But who shall man this fleet? Where +are the skilful mariners to make efficient +these tremendous elements of naval +power? It was Lord Nelson, I think, +who exclaimed, when he saw the stanch +ships of Spain, "Thank God, Spaniards +cannot build men!" The recent changes +in naval construction, decreasing perhaps +the relative worth of mere seamanship, +may have made the exclamation +less pertinent than of old. But, after all, +on the rude and stormy ocean, proverbially +fickle and uncertain, nothing can +take the place of sailors,—of brave and +skilful men, trained by long struggle with +wind and wave, calm in danger, apt in +emergencies, finding the narrow path of +safety where common eyes see only peril +and ruin. France understands tins. She +knows how many of her past humiliations +can be traced directly to defective seamanship. +But where to seek the remedy? +How to find or make sailors fit to +contend with those who were almost born +and bred on the restless surge? By what +methods, with a slender commercial marine +and a people reluctant to encounter +the hardships and dangers of sea-life, to +fill up the scanty roll of her able seamen? +That is the problem France had to solve; +and she has done everything to solve it,—but +remove impossibilities.</p> + +<p>The first counsel of wisdom was to +make the number of her sailors greater. +France has, at the most liberal estimate, +only one hundred and fifty thousand men +at all conversant with the sea; while +England has, including boatmen, fishermen, +coasters, and sailors of long voyages, +the enormous number of eight hundred +thousand. Remove this disproportion and +you settle the whole question. Unfortunately, +this is a matter in which government +can do but little, while national +tastes and habits do everything. No despotism +can make a commercial marine +where no commercial spirit is. And no +voice, charm it ever so wisely, can draw +the peasant of France from his vine-clad +hills and plains. The French rulers have +done what they could. They have fostered, +with a steady and liberal hand, the +fisheries. Every spring, twenty thousand +men have set sail to that best nursery of +seamanship,—the Banks of Newfoundland. +These men are paid a bounty by +Government, and, in return, are subjected +to a naval discipline, and, upon an +emergency, are liable at a moment's notice +to enter into the naval service. To +quicken mercantile enterprise, by which +alone mariners can be called into existence, +enormous subsidies have been paid +to the great lines of steamers to Brazil +and the East. And the yearning for +colonies, which in our day has led to +almost simultaneous attempts to found +settlements in both hemispheres and in +all waters, has no doubt for a leading +cause the desire to build up a mercantile +marine, and with it a numerous body of +expert seamen. If these efforts have +not accomplished all that their projectors +could wish, it is not because their plans +lacked sagacity, but because it is hard +to put the genius of the sea into the +breasts of men who are essentially landsmen.</p> + +<p>To increase the number of French +sailors would unquestionably be the best +possible method of adding to French naval +power. But suppose that this cannot +be done. Supposes that there is in the +heart of the French people an invincible +attachment to the soil, which makes them +deaf to every siren of the sea. What +is the next counsel of wisdom? This, is +it not? To make what sailors you have +efficient and available for naval emergencies. +In this respect the French +authorities have achieved an entire success. +Every sailor, nay, every man whose +employment savors at all of maritime +life, though he be only a boatman plying +the river, or a laborer in harbor or +dock, is enrolled in what is called the +marine inscription,—thenceforward in +all times of need to be called into active +service. This puts the whole seafaring +population at the disposal of Government. +Nor is this all. Regular drafts are made +upon the seamen; and it is computed +that in every period of nine years all +the sailors of France serve in their turn +in the navy. They are trained in all +that belongs to naval duty: in the use +of ships' guns, in the sailing of great +ships, and in the evolutions of fleets. No +matter how sudden the call, or from what +direction the sailors are taken, no French +fleet leaves or can leave port with a +crew of green hands.</p> + +<p>The training which is given to sailors +actually in service is an equally important +matter. The French Admiralty +keeps no drones in its employ; certainly +it does not promote them to places of +trust. Honors are won, not bought. +Every step up, from midshipman to admiral, +must be the result of honorable +service, and actual proficiency both in +the theory and practice of a sailor's profession. +The modern French naval officer +is master of his business, fit to compete +with the best skill of the best maritime +races. Then the sailors themselves +are trained. Even in time of peace, +twenty-five thousand are kept in service. +Gathered on board great experimental +fleets, officers and men alike are schooled +in all branches of nautical duty. In port +or out of it, they are not idle. Every +day a prescribed routine of exercise is +rigidly enforced. Great have been the +results. The French sailor of 1863 is not +a reproduction of the sailor of 1800. In +alertness, in knowledge, in silent obedience, +he is a great improvement upon his +predecessor. Actual experiment shows +that a French crew will weigh anchor, +spread and furl sail, replace spars or +running-ringing, lower or raise topmasts, or +perform any other duty pertaining to a +ship, with as much celerity as the crew of +any other nation. And no confusion, no +babbling of many voices, such as the British +writers of the last generations delighted +to describe, mars the beauty of the +evolutions. One mind directs, and one +voice alone breaks the stillness. Since +the Crimean War, the English speak +with respect of French seamanship; and +though they do not believe that it is +equal to their own, they do not scruple +to allow that a naval battle would be disputed +now with a fierceness hitherto unknown.</p> + +<p>All that sagacity and experience would +prompt has been attempted. All that +training and discipline can do has already +been accomplished. Yet there is one +source of weakness for which there can +be no remedy. France has no naval reserves. +And if she war with England, +she will need them. To put her marine +on a war-basis would require all her available +seamen. To fill the gaps of war, +she has not, and she cannot have, until +a truly commercial spirit grows up in the +hearts of her people, the multitudes of +reserved men, more familiar with the sea +than the land, such as swarm in English +ports. Yet, with every deduction, her +capacity of naval production, her strong +fleets, and her trained seamen make her +a naval power whose might no one can +estimate, and whose assault any nation +may well shun by all means except the +sacrifice of honor and rights.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>If now we turn from the naval progress +of France to her recent colonial enterprises, +we shall find fresh evidence that +she has resumed that contest which came +to so disastrous a close fifty years ago. +The old dream of colonial empire has +come back again. This was inevitable. +A great nation like France cannot always +drink the cup of humiliation. With +an ambition no less high and arrogant +than that which pervades the British +mind, she would plant far and wide +French ideas and civilization. While +England has colonies scattered in every +part of the habitable globe, while Holland +has almost monopolized the rich islands +of the Eastern Archipelago, and +while even Spain has Manila in the East +and Cuba in the West, it could hardly +be expected that France, the equal of +either, and in some respects the superior +of all, should rest content with a virtual +exclusion from everything but her narrow +home-possessions.</p> + +<p>And then, however disguised, there is +in the heart of France an intense naval +rivalry of England. Though the stern +logic of events has been against her +more than once, she does not accept the +verdict. She means to revise it with a +strong hand. But she must have a navy, +and a navy cannot exhibit its highest vigor, +unless it have a just foundation in an +energetic, wide-ranging commerce. And +such a commerce cannot exist except it +have its depots and its agencies, its outlets +and its markets, everywhere. Above +all, we are to seek the source of this new +colonial ambition in the character and +purposes of that singular man who controls +the destinies of France. Not even +his enemies would now question his ability. +The power he wields in Europe, the +impression he has stamped upon its policy, +the skill with which he has made even +his foes minister to his greatness, all bear +witness to it. But no one can study him +in the light of the past and not see that +his is no ordinary ambition. To be the +ruler of one kingdom does not fill out +its measure. To be the arbiter of the +fortunes of states, the genius who shall +change the current of affairs and shape +the destiny of the future,—to exercise +a power in every part of the globe, and +to have a name familiar in every land +and beneath every sun,—this is his ambition. +No wonder that under such a ruler +France has embarked in a career of colonial +aggrandizement whose limit no one +can foresee. The same hand which curbed +the despot of the North, and made the +fair vision of Italian unity a solid reality, +may well think to place a puppet king on +the throne of the Aztecs, or to carve rich +provinces out of Farther India.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>France made her first practical essay +in colonization by her conquest of Algiers. +A Dey once said to an English consul, +"The Algerines are a company of rogues, +and I am their captain." The definition +cannot be improved. That such a power +should have been permitted to exist and +ravage is one of the anomalies of modern +history. Yet within the memory of living +men this hoard of pirates flaunted its +barbarism in the face of the civilization +of the nineteenth century. But in 1830 +the Dey filled the cup of wrath to the +brim. He inflicted upon the French consul, +in full levee, the gross insult of a blow +in the face. The expedition sent to revenge +the insult showed upon what a hollow +foundation this savage power rested. +The army landed without opposition. In +five days it swept before it in hopeless +rout the wreck of the Algerine forces. +In three weeks it breached and captured +the corsair's strongholds. The history of +the French occupation of Algeria is a +tale of unceasing martial exploits, by +which France has extended her empire +six hundred miles along the shores of the +Mediterranean, and inland fifty miles,—two +hundred miles, according, we had almost +said, to the position of the last Arab +or Kabyle raid and insurrection.</p> + +<p>Whatever else Algeria may or may +not have done for France, it certainly +has furnished a field whereon to train soldiers. +Here seventy-five thousand men, +day and night, have watched and fought +a wily foe. Here all the great soldiers of +the Empire, Arnand, Pelissier, Canrobert, +Bosquet, have won their first laurels. +Here, amid the exigencies of wild +desert and mountain campaigning, has +grown up that marvellous body of soldiers, +the Zouaves: "picked men, short +of stature, broad-shouldered, deep-chested, +bull-necked," agile as goats, tolerant +of thirst and hunger, outmarching, +outfighting, and outenduring the Desert +Arab; men who have never turned their +backs upon a foe. Subtract from the army +of Louis Napoleon the heroes of Algeria, +and you leave behind a body out +of which the fiery soul has fled.</p> + +<p>The commercial results are not quite so +satisfactory. The exports, indeed, have +risen to fifteen millions of dollars, and the +imports to twenty-five millions more; +while some two hundred thousand Europeans +have made their home in the Colony, +and a few hundred square miles have +been subjected to European culture. But +as the yearly cost of the occupation is fifteen +million of dollars, the net profit cannot +be great. Algeria, however, is the +safety-valve of France, giving active employment +to the idle, the discontented, +and the revolutionary; and the Government, +on that account, may consider that +the money is well expended.</p> + +<p>One consequence of the occupation of +Algeria has generally been overlooked,—its +naval result. Hitherto France had +absolutely no good port in the Mediterranean +(if we except those of Corsica) +but Toulon and Marseilles. It was absolutely +less at home in its own sea than +England. The new conquest gave it a +strip of coast on the southern border +of the sea, but no port. The harbor +of Algiers, with the exception of a little +haven artificially protected and capable +of holding insecurely a dozen vessels, +was much like that of Cherbourg, an +open bay, facing northward. The storms +sweep it with such fury that not less +than twenty vessels have been driven +ashore in one gale. But the French genius +seems to delight in such struggles for +empire with the waves. Almost with the +taking of the citadel the engineer began +his work. Two jetties, as they are called, +were pushed out from the land into deep +water,—one from the mole on the north, +half a mile long, and the other from +Point Bab-Azoum on the south, a third +of a mile long. In 1850 these were so far +complete as to inclose a safe harbor of +two hundred acres. But not content, the +French have already planned, and possibly +are now finished, still other works, +by which the perilous roadstead outside +this harbor shall be transformed into a secure +anchorage of sixteen hundred acres. +Past events warrant us in believing that +these improvements will be pursued with +no slack hand, until astonished Europe +finds another Cherbourg, a safe harbor, +ample means of repair, and frowning +guns to repel all invaders. Imprudent +Young France, indeed, whispers now +that Algiers makes the Mediterranean a +French lake. But that is a little premature. +While Gibraltar and Malta hold +safely their harbors, and England's naval +power is unbroken, no nation can truly +make this boast.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The next enterprise of France was +hardly so creditable to her as the Algerine +conquest. Midway in the Pacific is +the island of Tahita or Otaheite,—as fair +a gem as the sun ever looked down upon. +The soft and balmy air,—the undulating +surface, rising to mountains and sinking +into deep valleys, luxuriant with tropical +verdure,—the distant girdle of coral +reefs, which holds the island set in a circlet +of tranquil blue waters,—the gentle +and indolent temper of the natives,—have +all conspired to throw an air of romance +around the very name Otaheite. The +Christian world is bound to it by another +tie. For thither came Protestant missionaries, +drawn by the reports of the +tractable disposition of the islanders, and +labored with such success that in 1817 +the king and all his subjects espoused +Christianity.</p> + +<p>Into this island Eden discord came in +the guise of a Roman catechist, who +was sent thither for the express purpose +of proselyting. As if aware of the +nature of his ungracious task, he disguised +his real character. But he was +detected, and, together with a companion +who had joined him, was dismissed from +the island by Queen Pomare, who dreaded +the sectarian strife his presence would +awaken. This was her whole offence. +Four years later, in 1838, when the whole +transaction might well have been forgotten, +Captain De Petit Thouars appeared +in the French frigate Venus, and demanded +and obtained satisfaction in the sum +of two thousand piastres Spanish, and +freedom for Catholic worship. In two +subsequent visits, though no new offence +had been given, he increased the severity +of his demands, first putting the island +under a protectorate, and finally, in 1843, +taking full possession of it as a French +colony. The helpless Queen appealed +to Louis Philippe, who returned the island, +but reaffirmed the protectorate.</p> + +<p>This same French protectorate is a +rare piece of ponderous irony. The +French governor collects all export and +import duties, writes all state-papers, assembles +and dismisses the island legislature +according to his good pleasure, doles +out to the Queen a yearly allowance of +a thousand pounds, puts her in duress in +her own house, if her conduct displeases +him, and will not allow her to see strangers, +except by his permission. Few will +believe that zeal for the honor of the +Catholic Church prompted Louis Philippe +to inflict so disproportioned a punishment. +That the island is the best victualling-station +in the South Pacific is a far greater +sin, and one for which there could be in +covetous eyes no adequate punishment, +except that seizure which is so modestly +termed a protectorate.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Pass now from the Pacific to the Indian +Ocean. There is the little rocky +island of St. Paul, situated in the same +latitude as Cape Town and Melbourne; +and, planted with singular accuracy equidistant +from the two, it is the only place +of shelter in the long route between them. +Its harbor, if harbor it may be called, is +the most secure, the most secluded, and +the most romantic, perhaps, in the whole +world. St. Paul is of volcanic origin. It +is, indeed, little more than an extinct +crater with a narrow rim of land around +it to separate it from the sea. Through +this rim the waters of the great Indian +Ocean have cut a channel. The crater +has thus become a beautiful salt lake, a +mile in diameter, clear, deep, almost circular, +and from whose border, on every +side, rise the old volcanic walls draped +in verdure. The strait connecting it with +the sea is but three hundred feet wide, +and at high tide ten feet deep,—thus +affording an easy passage for small vessels +into this most delightful seclusion; +and no doubt the strait might be so deepened +as to float the largest ships. St. +Paul is not at present much frequented. +But in a sea which is every year becoming +more populous with the commerce of +every nation, who shall tell what such a +central station may become? Its title was +somewhat uncertain. England thought +she held it as a dependency of Mauritius. +But in 1847 the governor of Bourbon, +with a happy audacity, took possession +of it, as an outpost of his own island, and +planted a little French colony of fishermen. +We have not heard that the assumption +has been disputed.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>No doubt, most of our readers may +have observed in the daily prints occasional +allusions to the French War in +Cochin China. Probably few have understood +the full meaning of the facts so +quietly chronicled. Perhaps none have +dreamed that they were reading the first +notices of a new Eastern conquest, which, +in extent and importance, may yet be +second only to that which has already +been achieved by the British in Hindostan. +Yet so it is. The Cambodia is the +largest river in Southern Asia, and, together +with the smaller and parallel river +of Saigon, drains a tract of not less than +five hundred thousand square miles. The +region for which the French have been +contending includes the provinces which +cluster around the mouths of these two +rivers, and command them. No position +could be happier. For while on the one +hand it controls the outlet of a river +stretching up into a rich and fertile country +eighteen hundred miles, on the other +it projects into the Chinese Sea at a point +nearly midway between Singapore and +Hong Kong, and so secures to its possessor +a just influence in that commercial +highway. The ostensible cause of the +war in this region was the murder of a +French missionary. If this was ever the +real cause, it long since gave way to a +settled purpose of conquest.</p> + +<p>In the latter part of the year 1862 the +Emperor of Cochin China was forced to +cede to France the coveted provinces. +Already new fortifications have arisen at +Saigon, and dock-yards and coal-depots +been established, and all steps taken for +a permanent occupation of the territory. +The following advertisement appeared in +the London "Times" for January 23, +1863,—"Contract for transportation from +Glasgow to Saigon of a floating iron dock +in pieces. Notice to ship-owners. The +administration of the Imperial Navy of +France have at Glasgow a floating iron +dock in pieces, which they require to +be transported from that port to Saigon, +Cochin China. The said dock, with machinery, +pumps, anchors, and instruments +necessary to its working, will weigh from +two thousand to twenty-five hundred +tons. Ship-owners disposed to undertake +the transport are requested to forward +their tenders to the Minister of Marine +and Colonies previous to the fifth of +February next." Now, if we consider +that the news of the cession of these provinces +did not reach France until the close +of the year 1862, that this advertisement +is dated January 23, 1863, and that a +dock of the magnitude described could +hardly be constructed short of many +months, we shall be satisfied, that, long +before any definite articles of peace had +been proposed, the Emperor had settled +in his own mind just what region he +would annex to his dominions.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>We shall not need much argument +to convince us that the subjugation of +Mexico does not, either in character or +methods, differ much from other acts +of the French ruler. Nevertheless, the +details are curious and instructive. It +must be allowed that Mexico had given +the Allies causes of offence. She left +unpaid large sums due from her to foreign +bond-holders. The subjects of the +allied powers, temporarily resident in +Mexico, were robbed by forced loans, and +sometimes imprisoned, and even murdered. +To redress these grievances, an expedition +was fitted out by the combined +powers of England, France, and Spain. +The objects of the expedition were, first, +to obtain satisfaction for past wrongs, +and, second, some security against their +recurrence in the future. It was expressly +agreed by all parties, that the +Mexicans should be left entirely free to +choose for themselves their own form of +government. Later events would seem +to prove that England and Spain were +sincere in their professions.</p> + +<p>Everything went on smoothly until the +capture of Vera Cruz. Then the French +Emperor unfolded secret plans which were +not contained in the original programme. +They were these: To take advantage of +the weakness of the United States to establish +in Mexico a European influence; +to take possession of its capital city; and +thence to impose upon the Mexican people +a government more agreeable than +the present to the Allies. England and +Spain retired from the expedition with +scarcely concealed disgust, declaring, in +almost so many words, that they did not +come into Mexico to rob another people +of their rights, but to gain redress and +protection for their own subjects. Louis +Napoleon does not even seek to conceal +his intentions from us. "We propose," +he says, "to restore to the Latin race +on the other side of the Atlantic all its +strength and prestige. We have an interest, +indeed, in the Republic of the United +States being powerful and prosperous; +but not that she should take possession +of the whole Gulf of Mexico, thence to +command the Antilles as well as South +America, and to be the only dispenser of +the products of the New World." This +is plain enough. What will be the final +form of settlement we do not even conjecture. +It is probable that the Emperor +does not himself know. With our fortunes +so unsettled, and with so many +European jealousies to conciliate, even +his astute genius may well be puzzled +as to the wisest policy. But it is of no +consequence what particular government +France may impose upon the conquered +State,—monarchical, vice-regal, or +republican,—Maximilian, +a Bonaparte, or +some one of the seditious Mexican chiefs. +In either case, if the French plan succeeds, +the broad country which Cortés won +and Spain lost, will be virtually a +dependency of France.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>Even while we write, France has embarked +in yet other schemes of colonial +aggrandizement. She has just purchased +the port of Oboch on the eastern coast of +Africa, near the entrance of the Red Sea. +The place is not laid down upon the maps; +nor is its naval and commercial importance +known; but its proximity to Aden +suggests that it may be intended as a +checkmate to that English stronghold. +In the great island of Madagascar she is +founding mercantile establishments whose +exact character have not as yet been divulged; +but experience teaches us that +these enterprises are likely to be pursued +with promptness and vigor.</p> + +<p>Thus France is displaying in colonial +affairs an aggressive activity which was +scarcely to have been expected. To +what extent she may perfect her plans +no one can prophesy. That she will be +able to girdle the earth with her possessions, +and rear strongholds in every sea, +is not probable. England has chosen almost +at her leisure what spots of commercial +advantage or military strength +she will occupy; and the whole world +hardly affords the material for another +colonial system as wide and comprehensive.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>There is one consideration which ought +not to be overlooked. It is this: the +relations which Louis Napoleon has succeeded +in maintaining between himself +and that power which had the most interest +in defeating his schemes, and the +most ability to do it. Under the Bourbons, +the whole policy of France was +based upon a principle of settled and unchangeable +enmity to England. As a result, +war always broke out while French +preparations were incomplete; and the +concentrated English navy swept from the +sea almost every vestige of an opposing +force. The present French emperor has +adopted an altogether different course. +He has sought the friendship of England. +He has multiplied occasions of mutual +action. He has sedulously avoided occasions +of offence. Kinglake, in his +"Crimean War," intimates that Louis +Napoleon desired this alliance with England +and her noble Queen to cover up +the terrible wrongs by which he had obtained +his authority. It is more likely +far that he sought it in order that under +its shadow he might build himself up +to resistless power: just as an oak planted +beneath the shade of other trees grows +to strength and majesty only to cut down +its benefactors.</p> + +<p>This proposal for alliance was unquestionably +received by the English people +at first with feelings akin to disgust. The +memory of the bad faith by which power +had been won, of the wrongs and exile +of the greatest statesmen and soldiers of +France, and of the red carnage of the +Boulevards, was too recent to make such +a friendship attractive. Though acceptance +of it might be good policy, yet it +could not be yielded without profound +reluctance. But soon this early sentiment +gave way to something like pride. +It was so satisfactory to think that the +allied powers were wellnigh irresistible; +that they had only to speak and it must +be done; that they could dictate terms +to the world; that they could scourge +back even the Russian despot, seeking +to pour down his hordes from the icy +North to more genial climes. It is hardly +surprising, then, that men came to +congratulate themselves upon so favorable +an alliance, and concluded to overlook +the defect in his title in consideration +of the solid benefits which the occupant +of the French throne conferred.</p> + +<p>But this feeling could not last. When +the people of England saw how inevitably +Louis Napoleon reaped from every +conflict some selfish advantage, how the +Crimean War gave him all the prestige, +and the Italian War the coveted province +of Nice, they began to doubt his +fair professions. And this jealousy is +fast deepening into fear. The English +people have an instinct of approaching +danger. Any one can see that the "<i>entente +cordiale</i>" is not quite what it once +was. When a British Lord of Admiralty +can rise in his place in Parliament, +and, after alluding to the powerful and +increasing naval force of France, add,—"I +say that any Ministry who did not +act upon that statement, and did not at +once set about putting the country in the +position she ought to occupy in respect to +her navy, would deserve to be sent to the +Tower or penitentiary,"—we may be +sure that England has as much jealousy +as trust, and perhaps quite as much alarm +as either.</p> + +<p>But we have only to look at her acts +to know what England is thinking. For +six years she has been engaged in an unceasing +war with France,—not, indeed, +with swords and bayonets, but as really +with her workshops and dockyards. She +has tasked these to their uttermost to +maintain and increase her naval superiority. +And this is not the only evidence +we have of her true feeling. The building +of new fortifications for her ports, and +the enlargement and strengthening of +the old defences, all tell the same story +of profound distrust. "Plymouth has +been made secure. The mouth of the +Thames is thought to be impregnable." +That is the way English papers write. +Around Portsmouth and Gosport she has +thrown an immense girdle of forts. We +may think what we will of Cherbourg, +England views it in the light of a perpetual +menace. To the proud challenge +she has sent back a sturdy defiance. +Right opposite to it, on her nearest shore, +she has reared a "Gibraltar of the Channel." +If you take your map, you will perceive, +facing Cherbourg, and projecting +from the southern coast of England, the +little island of Portland, which at low +tide becomes a peninsula, and is connected +with the main land by Chesil Bank, +a low ridge of shingle ten miles long. +On the extreme north of this island, +looking down into Weymouth Bay, is a +little cluster of rocky hills, rising sharply +to a considerable height, and occupying, +perhaps, a space of sixty acres. This is +where the fortress, or Veme, as it is called, +is built. On the northern side, the +cliff lifts itself up from the waters of the +bay almost in a perpendicular line, and +is absolutely inaccessible. On all other +sides the Veme has been isolated by a +tremendous chasm, which makes the dry +ditch of the fort. This chasm has been +blasted into the solid rock, and is nowhere +less than a hundred feet wide and +eighty feet deep. At the angles of the +fortress it widens to two hundred feet, +and sinks beneath the batteries in a +sheer perpendicular of one hundred and +thirty feet. Two bastions jut from the +main work into it, protecting it from approach +by a terrible cross-fire. All the +appointments are upon the same scale. +The magazines, the storehouses, the water-tanks, +are built to furnish supplies for +a siege, not of months, but of years. On +every side the rocky surface of the hills +has been shaved down below the level +of its guns; so that there is not a spot +seaward or landward that may not be +swept by its tremendous batteries. Such +is this remarkable stronghold which is +rising to completion opposite Cherbourg. +Yet it is but one of several strong forts +which are to protect the single harbor +of Weymouth Bay. Was this Titanic +work reared in the spirit of trust? Does +it speak of England's hope of abiding +friendship with France? No; it tells +us that beneath seeming amity a deadly +struggle is going on,—that every dock +hollowed, every ship launched, every colony +seized, and every fortress reared, is +but another step in a silent, but real, contest +for supremacy.</p> + +<p>When this hidden fire shall burst forth +into a devouring flame, when this seeming +alliance shall change into open enmity +and bitter war, no one can prophesy. +But no doubt sooner or later. For +between nations, as well as in the bosom +of communities, there are irrepressible +conflicts, which no alliances, no compacts, +and no motives of wisdom or interest can +forever hold in check. And when it +shall burst forth, no one can foretell what +its end shall be. That dread uncertainty, +more than all these things else, keeps the +peace. We can but think that the naval +preëminence of England has grown out +of the real character of her people and of +their pursuits,—and that the same causes +which, in the long, perilous conflicts of +the past, have enabled her to secure the +sovereignty of the seas, will strengthen +her to maintain that sovereignty in all +the conflicts which in the future may +await her. But, whatever may be the +result, to whomsoever defeat may come, +nothing can obliterate from the pages of +history the record of the sagacity, perseverance, +and courage with which the +French people and their ruler have striven +to overcome a maritime inferiority, +whose origin, perhaps, is in the structure +of their society and in the nature +of their race.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="SOMETHING_LEFT_UNDONE" id="SOMETHING_LEFT_UNDONE"></a>SOMETHING LEFT UNDONE.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Labor with what zeal we will,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Something still remains undone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Something, uncompleted still,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Waits the rising of the sun.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By the bedside, on the stair,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">At the threshold, near the gates,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With its menace or its prayer,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like a mendicant it waits:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Waits, and will not go away,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Waits, and will not be gainsaid.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By the cares of yesterday<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Each to-day is heavier made,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Till at length it is, or seems,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Greater than our strength can bear,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As the burden of our dreams,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pressing on us everywhere;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And we stand from day to day<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like the dwarfs of times gone by,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Who, as Northern legends say,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On their shoulders held the sky.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_GREAT_INSTRUMENT" id="THE_GREAT_INSTRUMENT"></a>THE GREAT INSTRUMENT.</h2> + + +<p>Early in the month of November +the mysterious curtain which has hidden +the work long in progress at the Boston +Music Hall will be lifted, and the public +will throng to look upon and listen to the +GREAT ORGAN.</p> + +<p>It is the most interesting event in the +musical history of the New World. The +masterpiece of Europe's master-builder is +to uncover its veiled front and give voice +to its long-brooding harmonies. The most +precious work of Art that ever floated +from one continent to the other is to be +formally displayed before a great assembly. +The occasion is one of well-earned +rejoicing, almost of loud triumph; for it +is the crowning festival which rewards an +untold sum of devoted and conscientious +labor, carried on, without any immediate +recompense, through a long series of +years, to its now perfect consummation. +The whole community will share in the +deep satisfaction with which the public-spirited +citizens who have encouraged +this noble undertaking, and the enterprising; +and untiring lover of science and +art who has conducted it from the first, +may look upon their completed task.</p> + +<p>What is this wondrous piece of mechanism +which has cost so much time and +money, and promises to become one of +the chief attractions of Boston and a +source of honest pride to all cultivated +Americans? The organ, as its name implies, +is <i>the instrument</i>, in distinction from +all other and less noble instruments. We +might almost think it was called organ +as being a part of an unfinished <i>organism</i>, +a kind of Frankenstein-creation, half +framed and half vitalized. It breathes +like an animal, but its huge lungs must +be filled and emptied by alien force. It +has a wilderness of windpipes, each furnished +with its own vocal adjustment, or +larynx. Thousands of long, delicate tendons +govern its varied internal movements, +themselves obedient to the human +muscles which are commanded by the +human brain, which again is guided in its +volitions by the voice of the great half-living +creature. A strange cross between +the form and functions of animated beings, +on the one hand, and the passive conditions +of inert machinery, on the other! +Its utterance rises through all the gamut +of Nature's multitudinous voices, and has +a note for all her outward sounds and +inward moods. Its thunder is deep as +that of billows that tumble through ocean-caverns, +and its whistle is sharper than +that of the wind through their narrowest +crevice. It roars louder than the lion of +the desert, and it can draw out a thread +of sound as fine as the locust spins at hot +noon on his still tree-top. Its clustering +columns are as a forest in which every +music-flowering tree and shrub finds its +representative. It imitates all instruments; +it cheats the listener with the +sound of singing choirs; it strives for a +still purer note than can be strained from +human throats, and emulates the host of +heaven with its unearthly "voice of angels." +Within its breast all the passions +of humanity seem to reign in turn. It +moans with the dull ache of grief, and +cries with the sudden thrill of pain; it +sighs, it shouts, it laughs, it exults, it +wails, it pleads, it trembles, it shudders, it +threatens, it storms, it rages, it is soothed, +it slumbers.</p> + +<p>Such is the organ, man's nearest approach +to the creation of a true organism.</p> + +<p>But before the audacious conception +of this instrument ever entered the imagination +of man, before he had ever +drawn a musical sound from pipe or +string, the chambers where the royal +harmonies of his grandest vocal mechanism +were to find worthy reception were +shaped in his own marvellous structure. +The <i>organ</i> of hearing was finished by its +Divine Builder while yet the morning +stars sang together, and the voices of +the young creation joined in their first +choral symphony. We have seen how +the mechanism of the artificial organ +takes on the likeness of life; we shall attempt +to describe the living organ in common +language by the aid of such images +as our ordinary dwellings furnish us. The +unscientific reader need not take notice +of the words in parentheses.</p> + +<p>The annexed diagram may render it +easier to follow the description.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 384px;"> +<img src="images/644image.png" width="384" height="362" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>The structure which is to admit Sound +as a visitor is protected and ornamented +at its entrance by a light movable awning +(the external ear). Beneath and +within this opens a recess or passage, +(<i>meatus auditorium externus</i>,) at the farther +end of which is the parchment-like +front-door, D (<i>membrana tympani</i>).</p> + +<p>Beyond this is the hall or entry, H, +(cavity of the <i>tympanum</i>,) which has a +ventilator, V, (Eustachian tube,) communicating +with the outer air, and two windows, +one oval, <i>o</i>, (<i>fenestra ovalis</i>,) one +round, <i>r</i>, (<i>fenestra rotunda</i>,) both filled +with parchment-like membrane, and looking +upon the inner suite of apartments +(labyrinth).</p> + +<p>This inner suite of apartments consists +of an antechamber, A, (vestibule,) an +arched chamber, B, (semicircular canals,) +and a spiral chamber, S, (<i>cochlea</i>,) with +a partition, P, dividing it across, except +for a small opening at one end. The antechamber +opens freely into the arched +chamber, and into one side of the partitioned +spiral chamber. The other side of +this spiral chamber looks on the hall by +the round window already mentioned; +the oval window looking on the hall belongs +to the antechamber. From the +front-door to the oval window of the antechamber +extends a chain, <i>c</i>, (<i>ossicula +auditûs</i>,) so connected that a knock on +the first is transmitted instantly to the +second. But as the round window of the +spiral chamber looks into the hall, the +knock at the front-door will also make +itself heard at and through that window, +being conveyed along the hall.</p> + +<p>In each division of the inner suite of +apartments are the watchmen, (branches +of the auditory nerve,) listening for the +approach of Sound. The visitor at length +enters the porch, and knocks at the front-door. +The watchmen in the antechamber +hear the blow close to them, as it is repeated, +through the chain, on the window +of their apartment. The impulse travels +onward into the arched chamber, and +startles its tenants. It is transmitted into +one half of the partitioned spiral chamber, +and rouses the recumbent guardians in +that apartment. Some portion of it even +passes the small opening in the partition, +and reaches the watchmen in the other +half of the room. But they also hear it +through the round window, not as it comes +through the chain, but as it resounds along +the hall.</p> + +<p>Thus the summons of Sound reaches +all the watchmen, but not all of them +through the same channels or with the +same force. It is not known how their +several precise duties are apportioned, but +it seems probable that the watchmen in +the spiral chamber observe the pitch of +the audible impulse which reaches them, +while the others take cognizance of its +intensity and perhaps of its direction.</p> + +<p>Such is the plan of the organ of hearing +as an architect might describe it. But +the details of its special furnishing are so +intricate and minute that no anatomist +has proved equal to their entire and exhaustive +delineation. An Italian nobleman, +the Marquis Corti, has hitherto +proved most successful in describing the +wonderful <i>key-board</i> found in the spiral +chamber, the complex and symmetrical +beauty of which is absolutely astonishing +to those who study it by the aid of the +microscope. The figure annexed shows +a small portion of this extraordinary +structure. It is from Kölliker's well-known +work on Microscopic Anatomy.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 410px;"> +<img src="images/655image.png" width="410" height="276" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Enough has been said to show that the +ear is as carefully adjusted to respond +to the blended impressions of sound as +the eye to receive the mingled rays of +light; and that as the telescope presupposes +the lens and the retina, so the organ +presupposes the resonant membranes, +the labyrinthine chambers, and the delicately +suspended or exquisitely spread-out +nervous filaments of that other organ, +whose builder is the Architect of the universe +and the Master of all its harmonies.</p> + +<p>Not less an object of wonder is that +curious piece of mechanism, the most perfect, +within its limited range of powers, of +all musical instruments, the <i>organ</i> of the +human voice. It is the highest triumph +of our artificial contrivances to reach a +tone like that of a singer, and among a +hundred organ-stops none excites such +admiration as the <i>vox humana</i>; a brief +account of the vocal organ will not, therefore, +be out of place. The principles of +the action of the larynx are easily illustrated +by reference to the simpler musical +instruments. In a flute or flageolet +the musical sound is produced by the vibration +of a column of air contained in its +interior. In a clarionet or a bassoon another +source of sound is added in the form +of a thin slip of wood contained in the +mouth-piece, and called the <i>reed</i>, the vibrations +of which give a superadded nasal +thrill to the resonance of the column of air.</p> + +<p>The human organ of voice is like the +clarionet and the bassoon. The windpipe +is the tube containing the column of +air. The larynx is the mouth-piece containing +the reed. But the reed is double, +consisting of two very thin membranous +edges, which are made tense or relaxed, +and have the interval between them +through which the air rushes narrowed +or widened by the instinctive, automatic +action of a set of little muscles. The vibration +of these membranous edges (<i>chordæ +vocales</i>) produces a musical sound, just +as the vibration of the edge of a finger-bowl +produces one when a wet finger is +passed round it. The cavities of the nostrils, +and their side-chambers, with their +light, elastic sounding-boards of thin bone, +are essential to the richness of the tone, as +all singers find out when those passages +are obstructed by a cold in the head.</p> + +<p>The human voice, perfect as it may be +in tone, is yet always very deficient in +compass, as is obvious from the fact that +the bass voice, the barytone, the contralto, +and the soprano have all different +registers, and are all required to produce +a complete vocal harmony. If we could +make organ-pipes with movable, self-regulating +lips, with self-shortening and +self-lengthening tubes, so that each tube +should command the two or three octaves +of the human voice, a very limited number +of them would be required. But as +each tube has but a single note, we understand +why we have those immense +clusters of hollow columns. As we wish +to produce different effects, sometimes +using the pure flute-sounds, at other times +preferring the nasal thrill of the reed-instruments, +we see why some of the tubes +have simple mouths and others are furnished +with vibratory tongues. And, +lastly, we can easily understand that the +great interior spaces of the organ must +of themselves furnish those resonant surfaces +which we saw provided for, on a +small scale, in the nasal passages,—the +sounding-board of the human larynx.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>The great organ of the Music Hall is a +choir of nearly six thousand vocal throats. +Its largest windpipes are thirty-two feet +in length, and a man can crawl through +them. Its finest tubes are too small for a +baby's whistle. Eighty-nine <i>stops</i> produce +the various changes and combinations of +which its immense orchestra is capable, +from the purest solo of a singing nun to +the loudest chorus in which all its groups +of voices have their part in the full flow of +its harmonies. Like all instruments of its +class, it contains several distinct systems +of pipes, commonly spoken of as separate +organs, and capable of being played +alone or in connection with each other. +Four <i>manuals</i>, or hand key-boards, and +two <i>pedals</i>, or foot key-boards, command +these several systems,—the <i>solo</i> organ, +the <i>choir</i> organ, the <i>swell</i> organ, and the +<i>great</i> organ, and the <i>piano</i> and <i>forte</i> pedal-organ. +Twelve pairs of bellows, which +it is intended to move by water-power, +derived from the Cochituate reservoirs, +furnish the breath which pours itself forth +in music. Those beautiful effects, for +which the organ is incomparable, the +<i>crescendo</i> and <i>diminuendo</i>,—the gradual +rise of the sound from the lowest murmur +to the loudest blast, and the dying fall by +which it steals gently back into silence,—the +<i>dissolving views</i>, so to speak, of harmony,—are +not only provided for in the +swell-organ, but may be obtained by special +adjustments from the several systems +of pipes and from the entire instrument.</p> + +<p>It would be anticipating the proper +time for judgment, if we should speak of +the excellence of the musical qualities of +the great organ before having had the +opportunity of hearing its full powers displayed. +We have enjoyed the privilege, +granted to few as yet, of listening to some +portions of the partially mounted instrument, +from which we can confidently infer +that its effect, when all its majestic +voices find utterance, must be noble and +enchanting beyond all common terms of +praise. But even without such imperfect +trial, we have a right, merely from a +knowledge of its principles of construction, +of the preëminent skill of its builder, +of the time spent in its construction, +of the extraordinary means taken to +insure its perfection, and of the liberal +scale of expenditure which has rendered +all the rest possible, to feel sure that we +are to hear the instrument which is and +will probably long remain beyond dispute +the first of the New World and +second to none in the Old in the sum of +its excellences and capacities.</p> + +<p>The mere comparison of numbers of +pipes and of stops, or of external dimensions, +though it gives an approximative +idea of the scale of an organ, is not so +decisive as it might seem as to its real +musical effectiveness. In some cases, +many of the stops are rather nominal +than of any real significance. Even in +the Haarlem organ, which has only about +two-thirds as many as the Boston one, +Dr. Burney says, "The variety they afford +is by no means what might be expected." +It is obviously easy to multiply +the small pipes to almost any extent. +The dimensions of an organ, in its external +aspect, must depend a good deal on +the height of the edifice in which it is +contained. Thus, the vaulted roof of the +Cathedral of Ulm permitted the builder +of our Music-Hall organ to pile the <i>façade</i> +of the one he constructed for that +edifice up to the giddy elevation of almost +a hundred feet, while the famous +instrument in the Town Hall of Birmingham +has only three-quarters of the height +of our own, which is sixty feet. It is obvious +also that the effective power of an +organ does not depend merely on its +size, but that the perfection of all its +parts will have quite as much to do with +it. In judging a vocalist, we can form +but a very poor guess of the compass, +force, quality of the voice, from a mere +inspection of the throat and chest. In +the case of the organ, however, we have +the advantage of being able to minutely +inspect every throat and larynx, to +walk into the interior of the working +mechanism, and to see the adaptation +of each part to its office. In absolute +power and compass the Music-Hall organ +ranks among the three or four mightiest +instruments ever built. In the perfection +of all its parts, and in its whole +arrangements, it challenges comparison +with, any the world can show.</p> + +<p>Such an instrument ought to enshrine +itself in an outward frame that should +correspond in some measure to the grandeur +and loveliness of its own musical character. +It has been a dream of metaphysicians, +that the soul shaped its own body. +If this many-throated singing creature +could have sung itself into an external +form, it could hardly have moulded one +more expressive of its own nature. We +must leave to those more skilled in architecture +the detailed description of that +noble <i>façade</i> which fills the eye with music +as the voices from behind it fill the +mind through the ear with vague, dreamy +pictures. For us it loses all technical +character in its relations to the soul of +which it is the body. It is as if a glorious +anthem had passed into outward solid +form in the very ecstasy of its grandest +chorus. Milton has told us of such a +miracle, wrought by fallen angels, it is +true, but in a description rich with all +his opulence of caressing and ennobling +language:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Anon out of the earth a fabric huge<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rose, like an exhalation, with the sound<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of dulcet symphonies and voices sweet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Built like a temple, where pilasters round<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With golden architrave; nor did there want<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cornice or frieze with bossy sculptures grav'n."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The structure is of black walnut, and is +covered with carved statues, busts, masks, +and figures in the boldest relief. In the +centre a richly ornamented arch contains +the niche for the key-boards and stops. +A colossal mask of a singing woman looks +from over its summit. The pediment +above is surmounted by the bust of Johann +Sebastian Bach. Behind this rises +the lofty central division, containing pipes, +and crowning it is a beautiful sitting +statue of Saint Cecilia, holding her lyre. +On each side of her a griffin sits as guardian. +This centre is connected by harp-shaped +compartments, filled with pipes, +to the two great round towers, one on +each side, and each of them containing +three colossal pipes. These magnificent +towers come boldly forward into +the hall, being the most prominent, as +they are the highest and stateliest, part +of the <i>façade</i>. At the base of each a +gigantic half-caryatid, in the style of +the ancient <i>hermæ</i>, but finished to the +waist, bends beneath the superincumbent +weight, like Atlas under the globe. These +figures are of wonderful force, the muscular +development almost excessive, but in +keeping with their superhuman task. At +each side of the base two lion-<i>hermæ</i> share +in the task of the giant. Over the base +rise the round pillars which support the +dome and inclose the three great pipes +already mentioned. Graceful as these +look in their position, half a dozen men +might creep into one of them and lie hidden. +A man of six feet high went up a +ladder, and standing at the base of one +of them could just reach to put his hand +into the mouth at its lower part, above +the conical foot. The three great pipes +are crowned by a heavily sculptured, ribbed, +rounded dome; and this is surmounted, +on each side, by two cherubs, whose +heads almost touch the lofty ceiling. This +whole portion of the sculpture is of eminent +beauty. The two exquisite cherubs +of one side are playing on the lyre and the +lute; those of the other side on the flute +and the horn. All the reliefs that run +round the lower portion of the dome are +of singular richness. We have had an +opportunity of seeing one of the artist's +photographs, which showed in detail the +full-length figures and the large central +mask of this portion of the work, and +found them as beautiful on close inspection +as the originals at a distance.</p> + +<p>Two other lateral compartments, filled +with pipes, and still more suggestive of +the harp in their form, lead to the square +lateral towers. Over these compartments, +close to the round tower, sits on each +side a harper, a man on the right, a woman +on the left, with their harps, all apparently +of natural size. The square towers, +holding pipes in their open interior, +are lower than the round towers, and fall +somewhat back from the front. Below, +three colossal <i>hermæ</i> of Sibyl-like women +perform for them the office which the +giants and the lion-shapes perform for the +round towers. The four pillars which rise +from the base are square, and the dome +which surmounts them is square also. +Above the dome is a vase-like support, +upon which are disposed figures of the +lyre and other musical symbols.</p> + +<p>The whole base of the instrument, in +the intervals of the figures described, is +covered with elaborate carvings. Groups +of musical instruments, standing out almost +detached from the background, occupy +the panels. Ancient and modern, +clustered with careless grace and quaint +variety, from the violin down to a string +of sleigh-bells, they call up all the echoes +of forgotten music, such as the thousand-tongued +organ blends together in one +grand harmony.</p> + +<p>The instrument is placed upon a low +platform, the outlines of which are in accordance +with its own. Its whole height is +about sixty feet, its breadth forty-eight +feet, and its average depth twenty-four +feet. Some idea of its magnitude may +be got from the fact that the wind-machinery +and the swell-organ alone fill up +the whole recess occupied by the former +organ, which was not a small one. All +the other portions of the great instrument +come forward into the hall.</p> + +<p>In front of its centre stands Crawford's +noble bronze statue of Beethoven, +the gift of our townsman, Mr. Charles C. +Perkins. It might be suggested that so +fine a work of Art should have a platform +wholly to itself; but the eye soon +reconciles itself to the position of the +statue, and the tremulous atmosphere +which surrounds the vibrating organ is +that which the almost breathing figure +would seem to delight in, as our imagination +invests it with momentary consciousness.</p> + +<p>As we return to the impression produced +by the grand <i>façade</i>, we are more +and more struck with the subtile art displayed +in its adaptations and symbolisms. +Never did any structure we have looked +upon so fully justify Madame de Staël's +definition of architecture, as "frozen music." +The outermost towers, their pillars +and domes, are all <i>square</i>, their outlines +thus passing without too sudden transitions +from the sharp square angles of the +vaulted ceiling and the rectangular lines +of the walls of the hall itself into the +more central parts of the instrument, +where a smoother harmony of outline is +predominant. For in the great towers, +which step forward, as it were, to represent +the meaning of the entire structure, +the lines are all curved, as if the slight +discords which gave sharpness and variety +to its less vital portions were all resolved +as we approached its throbbing +heart. And again, the half fantastic repetitions +of musical forms in the principal +outlines—the lyre-like shape of the +bases of the great towers, the harp-like +figure of the connecting wings, the clustering +reeds of the columns—fill the mind +with musical suggestions, and dispose the +wondering spectator to become the entranced +listener.</p> + +<p>The great organ would be but half known, +if it were not played in a place +fitted for it in dimensions. In the open +air the sound would be diluted and lost; +in an ordinary hall the atmosphere would +be churned into a mere tumult by the +vibrations. The Boston Music Hall is of +ample size to give play to the waves of +sound, yet not so large that its space will +not be filled and saturated with the overflowing +resonance. It is one hundred and +thirty feet in length by seventy-eight in +breadth and sixty-five in height, being +thus of somewhat greater dimensions than +the celebrated Town Hall of Birmingham. +At the time of building it, (1852,) its +great height was ordered partly with reference +to the future possibility of its being +furnished with a large organ. It +will be observed that the three dimensions +above given are all multiples of the +same number, thirteen, the length being +ten times, the breadth six times and the +height five times this number. This is +in accordance with Mr. Scott Russell's +recommendation, and has been explained +by the fact that vibrating solids divide +into <i>harmonic lengths</i>, separated by <i>nodal +points</i> of rest, and that these last +are equally distributed at aliquot parts +of its whole length. If the whole extent +of the walls be in vibration, its angles +should come in at the nodal points in order +to avoid the confusion arising from +different vibrating lengths; and for this +reason they are placed at aliquot parts +of its entire length. Thus the hall is itself +a kind of passive musical instrument, +or at least a sounding-board, constructed +on theoretical principles. Whatever is +thought of the theory, it proves in practice +to possess the excellence which is liable +to be lost in the construction of the +best-designed edifice.</p> + +<hr style='width: 45%;' /> + +<p>We have thus attempted to give our +readers some imperfect idea of the great +instrument, illustrating it by the objects +of comparison with which we are most +familiar, and leaving to others the more +elaborate work of subjecting it to a thorough +artistic survey, and the rigorous +analysis necessary to bring out the various +degrees of excellence in its special +qualities, which, as in a human character, +will be found to mark its individuality. +We shall proceed to give some account +of the manner in which the plan +of obtaining the best instrument the Old +World could furnish to the New was +formed, matured, and carried into successful +execution.</p> + +<p>It is mainly to the persistent labors of +a single individual that our community +is indebted for the privilege it now enjoys +in possessing an instrument of the +supreme order, such as make cities illustrious +by their presence. That which is +on the lips of all it can wrong no personal +susceptibilities to tell in print; and +when we say that Boston owes the Great +Organ chiefly to the personal efforts of +the present President of the Music-Hall +Association, Dr. J. Baxter Upham, the +statement is only for the information of +distant readers.</p> + +<p>Dr. Upham is widely known to the +medical profession in connection with important +contributions to practical science. +His researches on typhus fever, as observed +by him at different periods, during +and since the years 1847 and 1848, in +this country, and as seen at Dublin and +in the London Fever Hospital, were recognized +as valuable contributions to the +art of medicine. More recently, as surgeon +in charge of the Stanley General +Hospital, Eighteenth Army Corps, he +has published an account of the "Congestive +Fever" prevailing at Newborn, +North Carolina, during the winter and +spring of 1862-63. We must add to +these practical labors the record of his +most ingenious and original investigations +of the circulation in the singular +case of M. Groux, which had puzzled so +many European experts, and to which, +with the tact of a musician, he applied +the electro-magnetic telegraphic apparatus +so as to change the rapid consecutive +motions of different parts of the +heart, which puzzled the eye, into successive +<i>sounds</i> of a character which the +ear could recognize in their order. It +was during these experiments, many of +which we had the pleasure of witnessing, +that the "side-show" was exhibited of +counting the patient's pulse, through the +wires, at the Observatory in Cambridge, +while it was beating in Dr. Upham's parlor +in Boston. Nor should we forget that +other ingenious contrivance of his, the +system of <i>sound-signals</i>, devised during +his recent term of service as surgeon, +and applied with the most promising results, +as a means of intercommunication +between different portions of the same +armament.</p> + +<p>In the summer of 1853, less than a +year after the Music Hall was opened +to the public, Dr. Upham, who had been +for some time occupied with the idea of +procuring an organ worthy of the edifice, +made a tour in Europe with the express +object of seeing some of the most famous +instruments of the Continent and of +Great Britain. He examined many, especially +in Germany, and visited some of +the great organ-builders, going so far as +to obtain specifications from Mr. Walcker +of Ludwigsburg, and from Weigl, his pupil +at Stuttgart. On returning to this +country, he brought the proposition of +procuring a great instrument in Europe +in various ways before the public, among +the rest by his "Reminiscences of a Summer +Tour," published in "Dwight's Journal +of Music." After this he laid the +matter before the members of the Harvard +Musical Association, and, having +thus gradually prepared the way, presented +it for consideration before the Board +of Directors of the Music-Hall Association. +A committee was appointed "to +consider." There was some division of +opinion as to the expediency of the more +ambitious plan of sending abroad for a +colossal instrument. There was a majority +report in its favor, and a verbal minority +report advocating a more modest instrument +of home manufacture. Then followed +the anaconda-torpor which marks +the process of digestion of a huge and +as yet crude project by a multivertebrate +corporation.</p> + +<p>On the first of March, 1856, the day of +the inauguration of Beethoven's statue, +a subscription-paper was started, headed +by Dr. Upham, for raising the sum of +ten thousand dollars. At a meeting in +June the plan was brought before the +stockholders of the Music Hall, who unanimously +voted to appropriate ten thousand +dollars and the proceeds of the old +organ, on condition that fifteen thousand +dollars should be raised by private subscription. +In October it was reported +to the Directors that ten thousand dollars +of this sum were already subscribed, and +Dr. Upham, President of the Board, +pledged himself to raise the remainder +on certain conditions, which were accepted. +He was then authorized to go +abroad to investigate the whole subject, +with full powers to select the builder and +to make the necessary contracts.</p> + +<p>Dr. Upham had already made an examination +of the best organs and organ-factories +in New England, New York, +and elsewhere in this country, and received +several specifications and plans +from builders. He proceeded at once, +therefore, to Europe, examined the great +English instruments, made the acquaintance +of Mr. Hopkins, the well-known organist +and recognized authority on all +matters pertaining to the instrument, and +took lessons of him in order to know better +the handling of the keys and the resources +of the instrument. In his company, +Dr. Upham examined some of the +best instruments in London. He made +many excursions among the old churches +of Sir Christopher Wren's building, where +are to be found the fine organs of "Father +Smith," John Snetzler, and other +famous builders of the past. He visited +the workshops of Hill, Gray and Davidson, +Willis, Robson, and others. He +made a visit to Oxford to examine the +beautiful organ in Trinity College. He +found his way into the organ-lofts of St. +Paul's, of Westminster Abbey, and the +Temple Church, during the playing at +morning and evening service. He inspected +Thompson's <i>enharmonic</i> organ, +and obtained models of various portions +of organ-structure.</p> + +<p>From London Dr. Upham went to +Holland, where he visited the famous instruments +at Haarlem, Amsterdam, and +Rotterdam, and the organ-factory at +Utrecht, the largest and best in Holland. +Thence to Cologne, where, as well as at +Utrecht, he obtained plans and schemes +of instruments; to Hamburg, where are +fine old organs, some of them built two +or three centuries ago; to Lubeck, Dresden, +Breslau, Leipsic, Halle, Merseburg. +Here he found a splendid organ, built by +Ladergast, whose instruments excel especially +in their tone-effects. A letter from +Liszt, the renowned pianist, recommended +this builder particularly to Dr. Upham's +choice. At Frankfort and at Stuttgart +he found two magnificent instruments, +built by Walcker of Ludwigsburg, to +which place he repaired in order to examine +his factories carefully, for the second +time. Thence the musical tourist proceeded +to Ulm, where is the sumptuous +organ, the work of the same builder, ranking, +we believe, first in point of dimensions +of all in the world. Onward still, to Munich, +Bamberg, Augsburg, Nuremberg, +along the Lake of Constance to Weingarten, +where is that great organ claiming to +have sixty-six stops and six thousand six +hundred and sixty-six pipes; to Freyburg, +in Switzerland, where is another great organ, +noted for the rare beauty of its <i>vox-humana</i> +stop, the mechanism of which had +been specially studied by Mr. Walcker, +who explained it to Dr. Upham.</p> + +<p>Returning to Ludwigsburg, Dr. Upham +received another specification from Mr. +Walcker. He then passed some time at +Frankfort examining the specifications +already received and the additional ones +which came to him while there.</p> + +<p>At last, by the process of exclusion, +the choice was narrowed down to three +names, Schultze, Ladergast, and Walcker, +then to the two last. There was still +a difficulty in deciding between these. +Dr. Upham called in Mr. Walcker's partner +and son, who explained every point +on which he questioned them with the +utmost minuteness. Still undecided, he +revisited Merseburg and Weissenfels, to +give Ladergast's instruments another +trial. The result was that he asked Mr. +Walcker for a third specification, with +certain additions and alterations which +he named. This he received, and finally +decided in his favor,—but with the condition +that Mr. Walcker should meet him +in Paris for the purpose of examining the +French organs with reference to any excellences +of which he might avail himself, +and afterwards proceed to London +and inspect the English instruments with +the same object.</p> + +<p>The details of this joint tour are very +interesting, but we have not space for +them. The frank enthusiasm with which +the great German organ-builder was +received in France contrasted forcibly +with the quiet, not to say cool, way in +which the insular craftsmen received him, +gradually, however, warming, and at last, +with a certain degree of effort, admitting +him to their confidence.</p> + +<p>A fortnight was spent by Dr. Upham +in company with Walcker and Mr. Hopkins +in studying and perfecting the specification, +which was at last signed in German +and English, and stamped with the +notarial seal, and thus the contract made +binding.</p> + +<p>A long correspondence relating to the +instrument followed between Dr. Upham, +the builder, and Mr. Hopkins, ending +only with the shipment of the instrument. +A most interesting part of this +was Dr. Upham's account of his numerous +original experiments with the natural +larynx, made with reference to determining +the conditions requisite for the +successful imitation of the human voice +in the arrangement called <i>vox humana</i>. +Mr. Walcker has availed himself of the +results of these experiments in the stop +as made for this organ, but with what +success we are unable to say, as the pipes +have not been set in place at the time +of our writing. As there is always great +curiosity to hear this particular stop, we +will guard our readers against disappointment +by quoting a few remarks about +that of the Haarlem organ, made by the +liveliest of musical writers, Dr. Burney.</p> + +<p>"As to the <i>vox humana</i>, which is so +celebrated, it does not at all resemble a +human voice, though a very good stop of +the kind; but the world is very apt to +be imposed upon by names; the instant +a common hearer is told that an organist +is playing upon a stop which resembles +the human voice, he supposes it to be +very fine, and never inquires into the +propriety of the name, or exactness of +the imitation. However, with respect to +our own feelings, we must confess, that, +of all the stops which we have yet heard, +that have been honored with the appellation +of <i>vox humana</i>, no one in the treble +part has ever reminded us of anything +human, so much as the cracked voice of +an old woman of ninety, or, in the lower +parts, of Punch singing through a comb." +Let us hope that this most irreverent +description will not apply to the <i>vox humana</i> +of our instrument, after all the science +and skill that have been expended +upon it. Should it prove a success like +that of the Freyburg organ, there will +be pilgrimages from the shores of the +Pacific and the other side of the Atlantic +to listen to the organ that can <i>sing</i>: and +what can be a more miraculous triumph +of art than to cheat the ear with such an +enchanting delusion?</p> + +<p>Before the organ could be accepted, it +was required by the terms of the contract +to be set up at the factory, and tested by +three persons: one to be selected by the +Organ Committee of the Music-Hall Association, +one by the builder, and a third +to be chosen by them. Having been +approved by these judges, and also by +the State-Commissioner of Würtemberg, +according to the State ordinance, the result +of the trial was transmitted to the +President and Directors of the Music-Hall +Association, and the organ was accepted.</p> + +<p>The war broke out in the mean time, +and there were fears lest the vessel in +which the instrument might be shipped +should fall a victim to some of the British +corsairs sailing under Confederate colors. +But the Dutch brig "Presto," though slow, +was safe from the licensed pirates, unless +an organ could be shown to be contraband +of war. She was out so long, however,—nearly +three months from Rotterdam,—that +the insurance-office presidents +shook their heads over her, fearing +that she had gone down with all her precious +freight.</p> + +<p>"At length," to borrow Dr. Upham's +words, "one stormy Sunday in March +she was telegraphed from the marine station +down in the bay, and the next morning, +among the marine intelligence, in the +smallest possible type, might be read the +invoice of her cargo thus:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"'Sunday Mar. 22</p> + +<p>"'Arr. Dutch brig Presto, Van Wyngarten, Rotterdam, +Jan. 1. Helvoet, 10th Had terrific gales from SW the greater +part of the passage. 40 casks gin JD & M Williams 8 sheep +Chenery & Co 200 bags coffee 2 casks herrings 1 case cheese +W. Winsel 1 organ JB Upham 20 pipes 6 casks gin JD +Richards 6 casks nutmegs J Schumaker 20 do gin 500 bags +chickory root Order,' etc., etc.</p></div> + +<p>"And this was the heralding of this +greatest marvel of a high and noble art, +after the labor of seven years bestowed +upon it, having been tried and pronounced +complete by the most fastidious and +competent of critics, the wonder and admiration +of music-loving Germany, the +pride of Würtemberg, bringing a new +phase of civilization to our shores in the +darkest hour of our country's trouble."</p> + +<p>It remains to give a brief history of the +construction of the grand and imposing +architectural frame which we have already +attempted to describe. Many organ-fronts +were examined with reference +to their effects, during Dr. Upham's visits +of which we have traced the course, +and photographs and sketches obtained +for the same purpose. On returning, +the task of procuring a fitting plan was +immediately undertaken. We need not +detail the long series of trials which were +necessary before the requirements of the +President and Directors of the Music-Hall +Association were fully satisfied. As the +result of these, it was decided that the +work should be committed to the brothers +Herter, of New York, European artists, +educated at the Royal Academy of +Art in Stuttgart. The general outline +of the <i>façade</i> followed a design made by +Mr. Hammatt Billings, to whom also are +due the drawings from which the Saint +Cecilia and the two groups of cherubs +upon the round towers were modelled. +These figures were executed at Stuttgart; +the other carvings were all done +in New York, under Mr. Herter's direction, +by Italian and German artists, one +of whom had trained his powers particularly +to the shaping of colossal figures. +In the course of the work, one of the +brothers Herter visited Ludwigsburg for +the special purpose of comparing his plans +with the structure to which they were to +be adapted, and was received with enthusiasm, +the design for the front being greatly +admired.</p> + +<p>The contract was made with Mr. Herter +in April, 1860, and the work, having +been accepted, was sent to Boston during +the last winter, and safely stored in the +lecture-room beneath the Music Hall. In +March the <i>Great Work</i> arrived from Germany, +and was stored in the hall above.</p> + +<p>"The seven-years' task is done,—the +danger from flood and fire so far escaped,—the +gantlet of the pirates safely run,—the +perils of the sea and the rail surmounted +by <i>the good Providence of God</i>."</p> + +<p>The devout gratitude of the President +of the Association, under whose auspices +this great undertaking has been successfully +carried through, will be shared by +all lovers of Art and all the friends of +American civilization and culture. We +cannot naturalize the Old-World cathedrals, +for they were the architectural embodiment +of a form of worship belonging to +other ages and differently educated races. +But the organ was only lent to human +priesthoods for their masses and requiems; +it belongs to Art, a religion of which God +himself appoints the high-priests. At first +it appears almost a violence to transplant +it from those awful sanctuaries, out of +whose arches its forms seemed to grow, +and whose echoes seemed to hold converse +with it, into our gay and gilded +halls, to utter its majestic voice before +the promiscuous multitude. Our hasty +impression is a wrong one. We have undertaken, +for the first time in the world's +history, to educate a nation. To teach a +people to know the Creator in His glorious +manifestations through the wondrous +living organs is a task for which no implement +of human fabrication is too sacred; +for all true culture is a form of worship, +and to every rightly ordered mind a +setting forth of the Divine glory.</p> + +<p>This consummate work of science and +skill reaches us in the midst of the discordant +sounds of war, the prelude of +that blessed harmony which will come +whenever the jarring organ of the State +has learned once more to obey its keys.</p> + +<p>God grant that the <i>Miserere</i> of a people +in its anguish may soon be followed +by the <i>Te Deum</i> of a redeemed Nation!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_KINGS_WINE" id="THE_KINGS_WINE"></a>THE KING'S WINE.</h2> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The small green grapes in countless clusters grew,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Feeding on mystic moonlight and white dew<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mellow sunshine, the long summer through:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Till, with blind motion in her veins, the Vine<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Felt the delicious pulses of the wine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the grapes ripened in the year's decline.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And day by day the Virgins watched their charge;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And when, at last, beyond the horizon's marge<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The harvest-moon dropt beautiful and large,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The subtile spirit in the grape was caught,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And to the slowly dying Monarch brought<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In a great cup fantastically wrought,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Whereof he drank; then straightway from his brain<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Went the weird malady, and once again<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He walked the Palace free of scar or pain,—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But strangely changed, for somehow he had lost<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Body and voice: the courtiers, as he crost<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The royal chambers, whispered,—"<i>The King's Ghost</i>!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="MONOGRAPH_FROM_AN_OLD_NOTE-BOOK_WITH_A_POSTSCRIPT" id="MONOGRAPH_FROM_AN_OLD_NOTE-BOOK_WITH_A_POSTSCRIPT"></a>MONOGRAPH FROM AN OLD NOTE-BOOK; WITH A POSTSCRIPT.</h2> + +<h3>"ERIPUIT CŒLO FULMEN, SCEPTRUMQUE TYRANNIS."</h3> + + +<p>In a famous speech, made in the House +of Lords, March 16, 1838, against the +Eastern slave-trade, Lord Brougham arrests +the current of his eloquence by the +following illustrative diversion:—</p> + +<p>"I have often heard it disputed among +critics, which of all quotations was the +most appropriate, the most closely applicable +to the subject-matter illustrated; +<i>and the palm in generally awarded to that +which applied to Dr. Franklin the line in +Claudian</i>,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Eripuit fulmen cœlo, mox sceptra tyrannis';<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>yet still there is a difference of opinion, +and even that citation, admirably close +as it is, has rivals."</p> + +<p>The British orator errs in attributing +this remarkable verse to Claudian; and +he errs also in the language of the verse +itself, which he fails to quote with entire +accuracy. And this double mistake becomes +more noticeable, when it appears +not merely in the contemporary report, +but in the carefully prepared collection +of speeches, revised at leisure, and preserved +in permanent volumes.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p>The beauty of this verse, even in its +least accurate form, will not be questioned, +especially as applied to Franklin, +who, before the American Revolution, +in which it was his fortune to perform so +illustrious a part, had already awakened +the world's admiration by drawing the +lightning from the skies. But beyond its +acknowledged beauty, this verse has an +historic interest which has never been +adequately appreciated. Appearing at +the moment it did, it is closely associated +with the acknowledgment of American +Independence. Plainly interpreted, it +calls George III. "tyrant," and announces +that the sceptre has been snatched +from his hands. It was a happy ally to +Franklin in France, and has ever since +been an inspiring voice. Latterly it has +been adopted by the city of Boston, and +engraved on granite in letters of gold,—in +honor of its greatest child and citizen. +It may not be entirely superfluous to recount +the history of a verse which has +justly attracted so much attention, and +which, in the history of civilization, has +been of more value than the whole State +of South Carolina.</p> + +<p>From its first application to Franklin, +this verse has excited something more +than curiosity. Lord Brougham tells us +that it is often discussed in private circles. +There is other evidence of the interest it +has created. For instance, in an early +number of "Notes and Queries"<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> there +is the following inquiry:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Can you tell me who wrote the line +on Franklin, '<i>Eripuit</i>,'etc.?</p> + +<p>"HENRY H. BREEN.</p> + +<p>"<i>St. Lucia</i>."</p></div> + +<p>A subsequent writer in this same work, +after calling the verse "a parody" of a +certain line of antiquity, says,—"I am +unable to say who adapted these words +to Franklin's career. Was it Condorcet?"<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> +Another writer in the same +work says,—"The inscription was written +by Mirabeau."<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></p> + +<p>I remember well a social entertainment +in Boston, where a most distinguished +scholar of our country, in reply to an inquiry +made at the table, said that the +verse was founded on the following line +from the "Astronomicon"<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> of Manilius,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Eripuit Jovi fulmen, viresque tonandi."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>John Quincy Adams, who was present, +seemed to concur. Mr. Sparks, in his +notes to the correspondence of Franklin, +attributes it to the same origin.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> But +there are other places where its origin is +traced with more precision. One of the +correspondents of "Notes and Queries" +says that he has read, but does not remember +where, "that this line was <i>immediately</i> +taken from one in the 'Anti-Lucretius' +of Cardinal Polignac."<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> Another +correspondent shows the intermediate +authority.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> My own notes were +originally made without any knowledge +of these studies, which, while fixing its +literary origin, fail to exhibit the true +character of the verse, both in its meaning +and in the time when it was uttered.</p> + +<p>The verse cannot be found in any ancient +writer,—not Claudian or anybody +else. It is clear that it does not come +from antiquity, unless indirectly; nor does +it appear that at the time of its first production +it was in any way referred to +any ancient writer. Manilius was not +mentioned. The verse is of modern invention, +and was composed after the arrival +of Franklin in Paris on his eventful +mission. At first it was anonymous; but +it was attributed sometimes to D'Alembert +and sometimes to Turgot. Beyond question, +it was not the production of D'Alembert, +while it will be found in the Works +of Turgot,<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> published after his death, in +the following form:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Eripuit cœlo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>There is no explanation by the editor of +the circumstances under which the verse +was written; but it is given among poetical +miscellanies of the author, immediately +after a translation into French of +Pope's "Essay on Man," and is entitled +"Inscription for a Portrait of Benjamin +Franklin." It appears that Turgot also +tried his hand in these French verses, +having the same idea:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Le voilà ce mortel dont l'heureuse industrie<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sut enchaîner la Foudre et lui donner des loix,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dont la sagesse active et l'éloquente voix<br /></span> +<span class="i0">D'un pouvoir oppresseur affranchit sa Patrie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Qui désarma les Dieux, qui réprime les Rois."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The single Latin verse is a marvellous +substitute for these diffuse and feeble +lines.</p> + +<p>If there were any doubt upon its authorship, +it would be removed by the positive +statement of Condorcet, who, in his +Life of Turgot, written shortly after the +death of this great man, says, "There is +known from Turgot but one Latin verse, +designed for a portrait of Franklin";<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a> +and he gives the verse in this form:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Eripuit cœlo fulmen, mox sceptra tyrannis."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>But Sparks and Mignet, in their biographies,<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> +and so also both the biographical +dictionaries of France,—that of Michaud +and that of Didot,—while ascribing the +verse to Turgot, concur in the form already +quoted from Turgot's Works, which +was likewise adopted by Ginguené, the +scholar who has done so much to illustrate +Italian literature, on the title-page +of his "Science du Bon-Homme Richard," +with an abridged Life of Franklin, +in 1794, and by Cabanis, who lived +in such intimacy with Franklin.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> It cannot +be doubted that it was the final form +which this verse assumed,—as it is unquestionably +the best.</p> + +<p>To appreciate the importance of this +verse, as marking and helping a great +epoch, there are certain dates which must +not be forgotten. Franklin reached Paris +on his mission towards the close of 1776. +He had already signed the Declaration +of Independence, and his present duty +was to obtain the recognition of France +for the new power. The very clever +Madame Du Deffant, in her amusing correspondence +with Horace Walpole, describes +him in a visit to her "with his +fur cap on his head and his spectacles on +his nose," in the same small circle with +Madame de Luxembourg, a great lady of +the time, and the Duke de Choiseul, late +Prime-Minister. This was on the thirty-first +of December, 1776.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> A pretty good +beginning. More than a year of effort +and anxiety ensued, brightened at last by +the news that Burgoyne had surrendered +at Saratoga. On the sixth of February, +1778, the work of the American Plenipotentiary +was crowned by the signature of +the two Treaties of Alliance and Commerce +by which France acknowledged our +Independence and pledged her belligerent +support. On the fifteenth of March, +one of these treaties, with a diplomatic +note announcing that the Colonies were +free and independent States, was communicated +to the British Government, at +London, which was promptly encountered +by a declaration of war from Great +Britain. On the twenty-second of March, +Franklin was received by the King at +Versailles, and this remarkable scene is +described by the same feminine pen to +which we are indebted for the early +glimpse of him on his arrival in Paris.<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a> +But throughout this intervening period +he had not lived unknown. Indeed, he +had become at once a celebrity. Lacretelle, +the eminent French historian, says, +"By the effect which Franklin produced, +he appears to have fulfilled his mission, +not with a court, but with a free people. +His virtues and renown negotiated for +him."<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> + +<p>Condorcet, who was a part of that intellectual +society which welcomed the new +Plenipotentiary, has left a record of his +reception. "The celebrity of Franklin +in the sciences," he says, "gave him the +friendship of all who love or cultivate +them, that is, of all who exert a real and +durable influence upon public opinion. +At his arrival he became an object of veneration +to all enlightened men, and of curiosity +to others. He submitted to this +curiosity with the natural facility of his +character, and with the conviction that +in this way he served the cause of his +country. It was an honor to have seen +him. People repeated what they had +heard him say. Every <i>fête</i> which he +consented to receive, every house where +he consented to go, spread in society +new admirers, <i>who became so many partisans +of the American Revolution</i>.... +Men whom the works of philosophy had +disposed secretly to the love of liberty +were impassioned for that of a strange +people. A general cry was soon raised +in favor of the American War, and the +friends of peace dared not even complain +that peace was sacrificed to the cause of +liberty."<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a> This is an animated picture +by an eye-witness. But all authorities +concur in its truthfulness. Even Capefigue—whose +business is to belittle all +that is truly great, and especially to efface +those names which are associated +with human liberty, while, like another +Old Mortality, he furbishes the tombstones +of royal mistresses—is yet constrained +to bear witness to the popularity +and influence which Franklin achieved. +The critic dwells on what he styles +his "Quaker garb," "his linen so white +under clothes so brown," and also the elaborate +art of the philosopher, who understood +France and knew well "that a popular +man became soon more powerful +than power itself"; but he cannot deny +that the philosopher "fulfilled his duties +with great superiority," or that he became +at once famous.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p> + +<p>The arrival of Franklin was followed +very soon by the departure of the youthful +Lafayette, who crossed the sea to offer +his generous sword to the service of +American liberty. Our cause was now +widely known. In the thronged <i>cafés</i> +and the places of public resort it was discussed +with sympathy and admiration.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> +And so completely was Franklin recognized +as the representative of new ideas, +that the Emperor Joseph II. of Austria,—professed +reformer as he was,—on +one of his visits to France under the +travelling-name of Count Falkenstein, +is reported to have firmly avoided all +temptation to see him, saying, "My business +is to be a Royalist,"—thus doing +homage to the real character of Franklin, +in whom the Republic was personified.</p> + +<p>Franklin was at once, by natural attraction, +the welcome guest of that brilliant +company of philosophers who exercised +such influence over the eighteenth +century. The "Encyclopédie" was their +work, and they were masters at the Academy. +He was received into their guild. +At the famous table of the Baron D'Holbach, +where twice a week, Sunday and +Thursday, at dinner, lasting from two till +seven o'clock, the wits of that time were +gathered, he found a hospitable chair. +But he was most at home with Madame +Helvétius, the widow of the rich and +handsome philosopher, whose name, derived +from Holland, is now almost unknown. +At her house he met in social +familiarity D'Alembert, Diderot, D'Holbach, +Morellet, Cabanis, and Condorcet, +with their compeers. There, also, was +Turgot, the greatest of all. There was +another person in some respects as famous +as any of these, but leading a very +different life, whom Franklin saw often,—I +refer to Caron de Beaumarchais, the +author already of the "Barbier de Séville," +as he was afterwards of the "Mariage +de Figaro," who, turning aside from +an unsurpassed success at the theatre, +exerted his peculiar genius to enlist the +French Government on the side of the +struggling Colonies, predicted their triumph, +and at last, under the assumed +name of a mercantile house, became the +agent of the Comte de Vergennes in furnishing +clandestine supplies of arms even +before the recognition of Independence. +It is supposed that through this popular +dramatist Franklin maintained communications +with the French Government +until the mask was thrown aside.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> + +<p>Beyond all doubt, Turgot is one of +the most remarkable intelligences which +France has produced. He was by nature +a philosopher and a reformer, but +he was also a statesman, who for a time +held a seat in the cabinet of Louis XVI., +first as Minister of the Marine, and then +as Comptroller of the Finances. Perhaps +no minister ever studied more completely +the good of the people. His administration +was one constant benefaction. +But he was too good for the age +in which he lived,—or rather, the age +was not good enough for him. The King +was induced to part with him, saying, +when he yielded,—"You and I are the +only two persons who really love the +people." This was some time in May, +1776; so that Franklin, on his arrival, +found this eminent Frenchman free from +all the constraints of a ministerial position. +The character of Turgot shows +how naturally he sympathized with the +Colonies struggling for independence, especially +when represented by a person +like Franklin. In a prize essay of his +youth, written in 1750, when he was only +twenty-three years of age, he had foretold +the American Revolution. These are +his remarkable words on that occasion:—</p> + +<p>"Colonies are like fruits, which do not +hold to the tree after their maturity. +Having become sufficient in themselves, +they do that which Carthage did, <i>that +which America will one day do</i>."<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a></p> + +<p>One of his last acts before leaving the +Ministry was to prepare a memoir on the +American War, for the information of the +Comte de Vergennes, in which he says +"that the idea of the absolute separation +of the Colonies and the mother-country +seems infinitely probable; that, when the +independence of the Colonies shall be +entire and acknowledged by the English, +there will be a total revolution in +the political and commercial relations of +Europe and America; and that all the +mother-countries will be forced to abandon +all empire over their colonies, to +leave them entire liberty of commerce +with all nations, and to be content in +sharing with others this liberty, and in +preserving with their colonies the bonds +of amity and fraternity."<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a> This memoir +of the French statesman bears date the +sixth of April, 1776, nearly three months +before the Declaration of Independence.</p> + +<p>On leaving the Ministry, Turgot devoted +himself to literature, science, and +charity, translating Odes of Horace and +Eclogues of Virgil, studying geometry +with Bossut, chemistry with Lavoisier, +and astronomy with Rochon, and interesting +himself in every thing by which human +welfare could be advanced. Such +a character, with such an experience of +government, and the prophet of American +independence, was naturally prepared +to welcome Franklin, not only as +philosopher, but as statesman also.</p> + +<p>But the classical welcome of Turgot +was partially anticipated,—at least in +an unsuccessful attempt. Baron Grimm, +in that interesting and instructive "Correspondance," +prepared originally for the +advantage of distant courts, but now constituting +one of the literary and social +monuments of the period, mentions, under +date of October, 1777, that the following +French verses were made for a +portrait of Franklin by Cochin, engraved +by St. Aubin:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"C'est l'honneur et l'appui du nouvel hémisphère;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Les flots de l'Océan s'abaissent à sa voix;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Il réprime ou dirige à son gré le tonnerre;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Qui désarme les dieux, peut-il craindre les rois?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>These verses seem to contain the very +idea in the verse of Turgot. But they +were suppressed at the time by the censor +on the ground that they were "blasphemous,"—although +it is added in a note +that "they concerned only the King of +England." Was it that the negotiations +with Franklin were not yet sufficiently +advanced? And here mark the dates.</p> + +<p>It was only after the communication to +Great Britain of the Treaty of Alliance +and the reception of Franklin at Versailles, +that the seal seems to have been +broken. Baron Grimm, in his "Correspondance,"<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> +under date of April, 1778, +makes the following entry:—</p> + +<p>"A very beautiful Latin verse has been +made for the portrait of Dr. Franklin,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Eripuit cœlo fulmen, sceptrumque tyrannis.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>It is a happy imitation of a verse of the +'Anti-Lucretius,'—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Eripuitque Jovi fulmen, Phœboque sagittas.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Here is the earliest notice of this verse, +authenticating its origin. Nothing further +is said of the "Anti-Lucretius"; for in +that day it was familiar to every lettered +person. But I shall speak of it before I +close.</p> + +<p>Only a few days later the verse appears +in the correspondence of Madame +D'Épinay, whose intimate relations with +Baron Grimm—the subject of curiosity +and scandal—will explain her early +knowledge of it. She records it in a +letter to the very remarkable Italian +Abbé Galiani, under date of May 3d, +1778.<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a> And she proceeds to give a translation +in French verse, which she says +"D'Alembert made the other day between +sleeping and waking." Galiani, +who was himself a master of Latin versification, +and followed closely the fortunes +of America, must have enjoyed the +tribute. In a letter written shortly afterwards, +he enters into all the grandeur of +the occasion. "You have," says he, "at +this hour decided the greatest question +of the globe,—that is, if it is America +which shall reign over Europe, or Europe +which shall continue to reign over America. +I would wager in favor of America."<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a> +In these words the Neapolitan +said as much as Turgot.</p> + +<p>A little later the verse appears in a +different scene. It had reached the <i>salons</i> +of Madame Doublet, whence it was +transferred to the "Mémoires Secrets de +Bachaumont," under date of June 8th, +1778, as "a very beautiful verse, proper +to characterize M. Franklin and to serve +as an inscription for his portrait." These +Memoirs, as is well known, are the record +of conversations and news gathered in +the circle of that venerable Egeria of +gossip;<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a> and here is evidence of the publicity +which this welcome had already obtained.</p> + +<p>The verse was now fairly launched. +War was flagrant between France and +Great Britain. There was no longer any +reason why the new alliance between +France and the United States should +not be placed under the auspices of genius, +and why the same hand which had +snatched the lightning from the skies +should not have the fame of snatching +the sceptre from King George III. The +time for free speech had come. It was +no longer "blasphemous."</p> + +<p>But it will be observed that these records +of this verse fail to mention the immediate +author. Was he unknown at +the time? Or did the fact that he was +recently a cabinet-minister induce him +to hide behind a mask? Turgot was a +master of epigram,—as witness the terrible +lines on Frederick of Prussia; but +he was very prudent in conduct. "Nobody," +said Voltaire, "so skilful to launch +the shaft without showing the hand." +But there is a letter from no less a +person than D'Alembert, which reveals +something of the "filing" which this +verse underwent, and something of the +persons consulted. Unhappily, the letter +is without date; nor does it appear to +whom it was addressed, except that the +"<i>cher confrère</i>" seems to imply that it was +to a brother of the Academy. This letter +will be found in a work which is now +known to have been the compilation of +the Marquis Gaëtan de La Rochefoucauld,<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a> +entitled, "Mémoires de Condorcet +sur la Révolution Française, extraits +de sa Correspondance et de celle de ses +Amis."<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> It is introduced by the following +words from the Marquis:—</p> + +<p>"It is known how Franklin had been +fêted when he came to Paris, because +he was the representative of a republic. +The philosophers, especially, received him +with enthusiasm. It may be said, among +other things, that D'Alembert lost his +sleep; and we are going to prove it by +a letter which he wrote, where he put +himself to the torture in order to versify +in honor of Franklin."</p> + +<p>The letter is then given as follows:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<i>Friday Morning</i>.</p> + +<p>"MY DEAR COLLEAGUE,—You are +acquainted with the Franklin verse,—</p></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Eripuit cœlo fulmen, <i>mox sceptra</i> tyrannis.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>You should surely cause it to be put in +the Paris paper, if it is not there already.</p> + +<p>"I should agree with La Harpe that +<i>sceptrumque</i> is better: first, because <i>mox +sceptra</i> is a little hard, and then because +<i>mox</i>, according to the dictionary of Gesner, +who collects examples, signifies equally +<i>statim</i> or <i>deinde</i>, which causes a double +meaning, <i>mox eripuit</i> or <i>mox eripiet</i>.</p> + +<p>"However, here is how I have attempted +to translate this verse for the +portrait of Franklin:—</p></div> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Tu vois le sage courageux<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dont l'heureux et mâle génie<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Arracha le tonnerre aux dieux<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et le sceptre à la tyrannie.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>If you find these verses sufficiently supportable, +so that people will not laugh at +me, you can put them into the Paris paper, +even with my name. I shall honor +myself in rendering this homage to +Franklin, but on condition that you find +the verses <i>printable</i>. As I make no pretension +on account of them, I shall be +perfectly content, if you reject them as +bad.</p> + +<p>"The third verse can be put,—<i>A ravi +le tonnerre aux cieux</i>, or <i>aux dieux</i>."</p></div> + +<p>From this letter it appears that the +critical judgment of La Harpe, confirmed +by D'Alembert, sided for <i>sceptrumque</i> as +better than <i>mox sceptra</i>.</p> + +<p>But the verse of Turgot was not alone +in its testimony. There was an incident +precisely contemporaneous, which shows +how completely France had fallen under +the fascination of the American cause. +Voltaire, the acknowledged chief of +French literature in the brilliant eighteenth +century, after many years of busy +exile at Ferney, in the neighborhood of +Geneva, where he had wielded his far-reaching +sceptre, was induced, in his old +age, to visit Paris once again before he +died. He left his Swiss retreat on the +sixth of February, 1778, the very day +on which Franklin signed the Alliance +with France, and after a journey which +resembled the progress of a sovereign, he +reached Paris on the twelfth of February. +He was at once surrounded by the homage +of all that was most illustrious in +literature and science, while the theatre, +grateful for his contributions to the drama, +vied with the Academy. But there +were two characters on whom the patriarch, +as he was fondly called, lavished a +homage of his own. He had already addressed +to Turgot a most remarkable epistle +in verse, the mood of which may be +seen in its title, "Épitre à un Homme"; +but on seeing the discarded statesman, +who had been so true to benevolent ideas, +he came forward to meet him, saying, +with his whole soul, "Let me kiss +the hand which signed the salvation of +the people." The scene with Franklin +was more touching still. Voltaire began +in English, which he had spoken early +in life, but, having lost the habit, he soon +charted to French, saying that he "could +not resist the desire of speaking for one +moment the language of Franklin." The +latter had brought with him his grandson, +for whom he asked a benediction. +"God and Liberty," said Voltaire, putting +his hands upon the head of the child; +"this is the only benediction proper for +the grandson of Franklin." A few days +afterward, at a public session of the +Academy, they were placed side by side, +when, amidst the applause of the enlightened +company, the two old men rose and +embraced. The political triumphs of +Franklin and the dramatic triumphs of +Voltaire caused the exclamation, that +"Solon embraced Sophocles." But it was +more than this. It was France embracing +America, beneath the benediction of +"God and Liberty." Only a few days +later, Voltaire died. But the alliance +with France had received a new assurance, +and the cause of American Independence +an unalterable impulse.</p> + +<p>Turgot did not live to enjoy the final +triumph of the cause to which he had +given such remarkable expression. He +died March 30th, 1781, several months +before that "crowning mercy," the capture +of Cornwallis, and nearly two years +before the Provisional Articles of Peace, +by which the Colonies were recognized +as free and independent States. But +his attachment to Franklin was one of +the enjoyments of his latter years.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a> Besides +the verse to which so much reference +has been made, there is an interesting +incident which attests the communion +of ideas between them, if not +the direct influence of Turgot. Captain +Cook, the eminent navigator, who "steered +Britain's oak into a world unknown," +was in distant seas on a voyage of discovery. +Such an enterprise naturally +interested Franklin, and, in the spirit of +a refined humanity, he sought to save it +from the chances of war. Accordingly, +he issued a passport, addressed "To all +captains and commanders of armed ships, +acting by commission from the Congress of +the United States of America, now in war +with Great Britain," where, after setting +forth the nature of the voyage of the English +navigator, he proceeded to say,—"This +is most earnestly to recommend to +every one of you, that, in case the said +ship, which is now expected to be soon in +the European seas on her return, should +happen to fall into your hands, you would +not consider her as an enemy, nor suffer +any plunder to be made of the effects +contained in her, nor obstruct her immediate +return to England; but that you +would treat the said Captain Cook and +his people with all civility and kindness, +affording them, as common friends to +mankind, all the assistance in your power +which they may happen to stand in need +of."<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a> This document bears date March +10th, 1779. But Turgot had anticipated +Franklin. At the first outbreak +of the war, he had submitted a memoir +to the French Government, on which it +was ordered that Captain Cook should +not be treated as an enemy, but as a +benefactor of all European nations.<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> +Here was a triumph of civilization, by +which we have all been gainers; for such +an example is immortal in its influence.</p> + +<p>There is yet another circumstance +which should be mentioned, in order to +exhibit the identity of sympathies in these +two eminent persons. Each sought to +marry Madame Helvétius: Turgot early +in life, while she was still Mademoiselle +Ligniville, belonging to a family of +twenty-one children, from a chateau in +Lorraine, and the niece of Madame de +Graffigny, the author of the "Peruvian +Letters"; Franklin in his old age, while +a welcome guest in the intellectual circle +which this widowed lady continued to +gather about her. Throughout his stay +in France he was in unbroken relations +with this circle, dining with it +very often, and adding much to its gayety, +while Madame Helvétius, with her +friends, dined with him once a week. It +was with tears in his eyes that he parted +from her, whom he never expected to see +again in this life; and on reaching his +American home, he addressed her in +words of touching tenderness:—"I stretch +out my arms towards you, notwithstanding +the immensity of the seas which separate +us, while I wait the heavenly kiss which +I firmly trust one day to give you."<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></p> + +<p>But the story of the verse is not yet +finished. And here it mingles with the +history of Franklin in Paris, constituting +in itself an episode of the American Revolution. +The verse was written for a portrait. +And now that the ice was broken, +the portrait of Franklin was to be seen +everywhere,—in painting, in sculpture, +and in engraving. I have counted, in +the superb collection of the Bibliothèque +Impériale at Paris, nearly a hundred engraved +heads of him. At the royal exposition +of pictures the republican portrait +found a place, and the name of +Franklin was printed at length in the +catalogue,—a circumstance which did +not pass unobserved at the time; for the +"Espion Anglais," in recording it, treats +it as "announcing that he began to come +out from his obscurity."<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a> The same curious +authority, describing a festival at +Marseilles, says, under date of March 20th, +1779,—"I was struck, on entering the +hall, to observe a crowd of portraits representing +the insurgents; but that of M. +Franklin especially drew my attention, +on account of the device, '<i>Eripuit cœlo</i>,' +etc. This was inscribed recently, and +<i>every one admired the sublime truth</i>."<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> +Thus completely was France, not merely +in its social centre, where fashion gives +the law, but in its distant borders, pledged +to the cause of which Franklin was +the representative.</p> + +<p>As in the halls of science and in popular +resorts, so was our Plenipotentiary +even in the palace of princes. The biographer +of the Prince de Condé dwells +with admiration upon the illustrious character +who, during the great debate and +the negotiations which ensued, had fixed +the regards of Paris, of Versailles, of the +whole kingdom indeed,—although in his +simple and farmer-like exterior so unlike +those gilded plenipotentiaries to whom +France was accustomed,—and he recounts, +most sympathetically, that the +Prince, after an interview of two hours, +declared that "Franklin appeared to +him above even his reputation."<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a> And +here again we encounter the unwilling +testimony of Capefigue, who says that +he was followed everywhere, taking possession +of "hearts and minds," and that +"his image, under the simple garb of a +Quaker, was to be found at the hearth of +the poor and in the boudoir of the beautiful";<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a>—all +of which is in harmony with +the more sympathetic record of Lacretelle, +who says that "portraits of Franklin +were everywhere, with this inscription, +<i>Eripuit cœlo</i>, etc., <i>which the Court +itself found just and sublime</i>."<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a></p> + +<p>But it was at court, even in the precincts +of Versailles, that the portrait and +the inscription had their most remarkable +experience. Of this there is an authentic +account in the Memoirs of Marie Antoinette +by her attendant, Madame Campan. +This feminine chronicler relates +that Franklin appeared at court in the +dress of an American farmer. His flat +hair without powder, his round hat, his +coat of brown cloth contrasted with the +bespangled and embroidered dresses, the +powdered and perfumed hair of the courtiers +of Versailles. The novelty charmed +the lively imagination of French ladies. +Elegant <i>fêtes</i> were given to the +man who was said to unite in himself the +renown of a great, natural philosopher +with "those patriotic virtues which had +made him embrace the noble part of +Apostle of Liberty." Madame Campan +records that she assisted at one of these +<i>fêtes</i>, where the most beautiful among +three hundred ladies was designated to +place a crown of laurel upon the white +head of the American philosopher, and +two kisses upon the cheeks of the old +man. Even in the palace, at the exposition +of the Sèvres porcelain, the medallion +of Franklin, with the legend, "<i>Eripuit +cœlo</i>", etc., was sold directly under the +eyes of the King. Madame Campan adds, +however, that the King avoided expressing +himself on this enthusiasm, which, she +says, "without doubt, his sound sense +made him blame." But an incident, +called "a pleasantry," which has remained +quite unknown, goes beyond speech +in the way of explaining the secret sentiments +of Louis XVI. The Comtesse +Diane de Polignac, devoted to Marie +Antoinette, shared warmly the "infatuation" +with regard to Franklin. The +King observed it. But here the story +shall be told in the language of the eminent +lady who records it:—"Il fit faire +à la manufacture de Sèvres un vase de +nuit, an fond duquel était placé le médaillon +avec la légende <i>si fort en vogue</i>, et +l'envoya en présent d'étrennes à la Comtesse +Diane."<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a> Such was the exceptional +treatment of Franklin, and of the inscription +in his honor which was so much +in vogue. Giving to this incident its natural +interpretation, it is impossible to resist +the conclusion, that the French people, +and not the King, sanctioned American +Independence.</p> + +<p>The conduct of the Queen on this special +occasion is not recorded; although +we are told by the same communicative +chronicler who had been Her Majesty's +companion, that she did not hesitate to +express herself more openly than the +King on the part which France took in +favor of the independence of the American +Colonies, to which she was constantly +opposed. A letter from Mario Antoinette, +addressed to Madame de Polignac, +under the date of April 9th, 1787, declares +unavailing regret, saying,—"The +time of illusions is past, and to-day we +pay dear on account of our infatuation +and enthusiasm for the American War."<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a> +It is evident that Marie Antoinette, like +her brother Joseph, thought that her +"business was to be a Royalist."</p> + +<p>But the name of Franklin triumphed +in France. So long as he continued to +reside there he was received with honor, +and when, after the achievement of Independence, +and the final fulfilment of +all that was declared in the verse of +Turgot, he undertook to return home, +the Queen—who had looked with so +little favor upon the cause which he so +grandly represented—sent a litter to +receive his sick body and carry him gently +to the sea. As the great Revolution +began to show itself, his name was hailed +with new honor; and this was natural, for +the great Revolution was the outbreak +of that spirit which had risen to welcome +him. In snatching the sceptre from a +tyrant he had given a lesson to France. +His death, when at last it occurred, was +the occasion of a magnificent eulogy from +Mirabeau, who, borrowing the idea of +Turgot, exclaimed from the tribune of +the National Assembly,—"Antiquity +would have raised altars to the powerful +genius, who, for the good of man, embracing +in his thought heaven and earth, +<i>could subdue lightning and tyrants</i>."<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> +On his motion, France went into mourning +for Franklin. His bust was a favorite +ornament, and, during the festival of +Liberty, it was carried, with those of Sidney, +Rousseau, and Voltaire, before the +people to receive their veneration.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a> A +little later, the eminent medical character, +Cabanis, who had lived in intimate +association with Franklin, added his testimony, +saying that the enfranchisement of +the United States was in many respects his +work, and that the Revolution, the most +important to the happiness of men which +had then been accomplished on earth, +united with one of the most brilliant discoveries +of physical science to consecrate +his memory; and he concludes by quoting +the verse of Turgot.<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a> Long afterwards, +his last surviving companion in +the cheerful circle of Madame Helvétius, +still loyal to the idea of Turgot, hailed +him as "that great man who had placed +his country in the number of independent +states, and made one of the +most important discoveries of the age."<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p> + +<p>But it is time to look at this verse in +its literary relations, from which I have +been diverted by its commanding interest +as a political event. Its importance +on this account must naturally enhance +the interest in its origin.</p> + +<p>The poem which furnished the prototype +of the famous verse was "Anti-Lucretius, +sive de Deo et Natura," by the +Cardinal Melchior de Polignac. Its author +was of that patrician house which is +associated so closely with Marie Antoinette +in the earlier Revolution, and with +Charles X. in the later Revolution, having +its cradle in the mountains of Auvergne, +near the cradle of Lafayette, and +its present tomb in the historic cemetery +of Picpus, near the tomb of Lafayette, so +that these two great names, representing +opposite ideas, begin and end side by +side. He was not merely an author, but +statesman and diplomatist also, under +Louis XIV. and the Regent. Through +his diplomacy a French prince was elected +King of Poland. He represented +France at the Peace of Utrecht, where +he bore himself very proudly towards the +Dutch. By the nomination of the Pretender, +at that time in France, he obtained +the hat of a cardinal. At Rome +he was a favorite, and he was also, with +some interruptions, a favorite at Versailles. +His personal appearance, his +distinguished manners, his genius, and +his accomplishments, all commended him. +Literary honors were superadded to political +and ecclesiastical. He succeeded +to the chair of Bossuet at the Academy. +But he was not without the vicissitudes +of political life. Falling into disgrace at +court, he was banished to the abbacy of +Bonport. There the scholarly ecclesiastic +occupied himself with a refutation of Lucretius, +in Latin verse.</p> + +<p>The origin of the poem is not without +interest. Meeting Bayle in Holland, the +ecclesiastic found the indefatigable skeptic +most persistently citing Lucretius, in +whose elaborate verse the atheistic materialism +of Epicurus is developed and exalted. +Others had already answered the +philosopher directly; but the indignant +Christian was moved to answer the poet +through whom the dangerous system was +proclaimed. His poem was, therefore, a +vindication of God and religion, in direct +response to a master-poem of antiquity, +in which these are assailed. The attempt +was lofty, especially when the champion +adopted the language of Lucretius. Perhaps, +since Sannazaro, no modern production +in Latin verse has found equal +success. Even before its publication, in +1747, it was read at court, and was admired +in the princely circle of Sceaux. It +appeared in elegant, editions, was translated +into French prose by Bougainville, +and into French verse by Jeanty-Laurans, +also most successfully into Italian +verse by Ricci. At the latter part of +the last century, when Franklin reached +Paris, it was hardly less known in literary +circles than a volume of Grote's History +in our own day. Voltaire, the arbiter +of literary fame at that time, regarding +the author only on the side of +literature, said of him, in his "Temple +du Goût,"—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Le Cardinal, oracle de la France,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Réunissaut Virgile avec Platon,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Vengeur du ciel et vainqueur de Lucrèce</i>."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The last line of this remarkable eulogy +has a movement and balance not unlike +the Latin verse of Turgot, or that which +suggested it in the poem of Polignac; +but the praise which it so pointedly offers +attests the fame of the author; nor was +this praise confined to the "fine frenzy" +of verse. The "Anti-Lucretius" was +gravely pronounced the "rival of the +poem which it answered,"—"with verses +as flowing as Ovid, sometimes approaching +the elegant simplicity of Horace and +sometimes the nobleness of Virgil,"—and +then again, with a philosophy and a poetry +combined "which would not be disavowed +either by Descartes or by Virgil."<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p> + +<p>Turning now to the poem itself, we +shall see how completely the verse of Turgot +finds its prototype there. Epicurus is +indignantly described as denying to the +gods all power, and declaring man independent, +so as to act for himself; and +here the poet says, "Braving the thunderous +recesses of heaven, <i>he snatched the +lightning from Jove and the arrows from +Apollo</i>, and, liberating the mortal race, +ordered it to dare all things,"—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Cœli et tonitralia templa lacessens,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Eripuit fulmenque Jovi, Phœboque sagittas</i>;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et mortale manumittens genus, omnia jussit<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Audere."<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>To deny the power of God and to declare +independence of His commands, +which the poet here holds up to judgment, +is very unlike the life of Franklin, +all whose service was in obedience to +God's laws, whether in snatching the +lightning from the skies or the sceptre +from tyrants; and yet it is evident that +the verse which pictured Epicurus in +his impiety suggested the picture of the +American plenipotentiary in his double +labors of science and statesmanship.</p> + +<p>But the present story will not be complete +without an allusion to that poem +of antiquity which was supposed to have +suggested the verse of Turgot, and which +doubtless did suggest the verse of the +"Anti-Lucretius." Manilius is a poet little +known. It is difficult to say when he +lived or what he was. He is sometimes +supposed to have lived under Augustus, +and sometimes under Theodosius. He +is sometimes supposed to have been a +Roman slave, and sometimes a Roman +senator. His poem, under the name of +"Astronomicon," is a treatise on astronomy +in verse, which recounts the origin +of the material universe, exhibits the relations +of the heavenly bodies, and vindicates +this ancient science. It is while describing +the growth of knowledge, which +gradually mastered Nature, that the poet +says,—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Eriputque Jovi fulmen, viresque tonandi."<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a><br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>The meaning of this line will be seen +in the context, which, for plainness as +well as curiosity, I quote from a metrical +version of the first book of the poem,<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> +entitled, "The Sphere of Marcus Manilius +made an English Poem, by Edward +Sherburne," which was dedicated +to Charles II.:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Nor put they to their curious search an end<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till reason had scaled heaven, thence viewed this round<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And Nature latent in its causes found:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Why thunder does the suffering clouds assail;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Why winter's snow more soft than summer's hail;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whence earthquakes come and subterranean fires;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Why showers descend, what force the wind inspires:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From error thus the wondering minds uncharmed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Unsceptred Jove, the Thunderer disarmed</i>."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Enough has been said on the question +of origin; but there is yet one other aspect +of the story.</p> + +<p>The verse was hardly divulged when +it became the occasion of various efforts +in the way of translation. Turgot +had already done it into French; so +had D'Alembert. M. Nogaret wrote to +Franklin, inclosing an attempted translation, +and says in his letter,—"The +French have done their best to translate +the Latin verse, where justice is done +you in so few words. They have appeared +as jealous of transporting this eulogy +into their language as they are of possessing +you. But nobody has succeeded, +and I think nobody will succeed."<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a> He +then quotes a translation which he thinks +defective, although it appeared in the +"Almanach des Muses" as the best:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Cet homme que tu vois, sublime en tous les tems,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dérobe aux dieux la foudre et le sceptre aux tyrans."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>To this letter Dr. Franklin made the +following reply:<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a>—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"<i>Passy, 8 March, 1781</i>.</p> + +<p>"SIR,—I received the letter you +have done me the honor of writing to +me the 2d instant, wherein, after overwhelming +me with a flood of compliments, +which I can never hope to merit, you request +my opinion of your translation of a +Latin verse that has been applied to me. +If I were, which I really am not, sufficiently +skilled in your excellent language +to be a proper judge of its poesy, the +supposition of my being the subject must +restrain me from giving any opinion on +that line, except that it ascribes too much +to me, especially in what relates to the +tyrant, the Revolution having been the +work of many able and brave men, wherein +it is sufficient honor for me, if I am allowed +a small share. I am much obliged +by the favorable sentiments you are pleased +to entertain of me.</p> + +<p>"With regard, I have the honor to be, +Sir, etc.,</p> + +<p>"B. FRANKLIN."</p></div> + +<p>In his acknowledgment of this letter +M. Nogaret says,—"Paris is pleased +with the translation of your '<i>Eripuit</i>,' and +your portrait, as I had foreseen, makes +the fortune of the engraver."<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a> But it +does not appear to which translation he +refers.</p> + +<p>Here is another attempt:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Il a par ses travaux, toujours plus étonnans,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ravi la foudre aux Dieux et le sceptre aux tyrans."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>There are other verses which adopt +the idea of Turgot. Here, for instance, +is a part of a song by the Abbé Morellet, +written for one of the dinners of +Madame Helvétius:<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a>—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Comme un aigle audacieux,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Il a volé jusqu'aux cieux,<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Et dérobé le tonnerre</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dont ils effrayaient la terre,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Heureux larcin<br /></span> +<span class="i0">De l'habile Benjamin.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"L'Américain indompté<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Recouvre sa liberté</i>;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et ce généreux ouvrage,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Autre exploit de notre sage,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Est mis à fin<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Par Louis et Benjamin."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Mr. Sparks found among Franklin's +papers the following paraphrastic version:<a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a>—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Franklin sut arrêter la foudre dans les airs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et c'est le moindre bien qu'il fit à sa patrie;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Au milieu de climats divers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Où dominait la tyrannie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Il fit régner les arts, les mœurs, et le génie;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et voilà le héros que j'offre à l'univers."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Nor should I omit a translation into +English by Mr. Elphinstone:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He snatched the bolt from Heaven's avenging hand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Disarmed and drove the tyrant from the land."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In concluding this sketch, I wish to +say that the literary associations of the +subject did not tempt me; but I could +not resist the inducement to present in +its proper character an interesting incident +which can be truly comprehended +only when it is recognized in its political +relations. To this end it was important +to exhibit its history, even in details, so +that the verse which has occupied so +much attention should be seen not only +in its scholarly fascination, but in its +wide-spread influence in the circles of the +learned and the circles even of the fashionable +in Paris and throughout France, +binding this great nation by an unchangeable +vow to the support of American liberty. +Words are sometimes things; but +never were words so completely things +as those with which Turgot welcomed +Franklin. The memory of that welcome +cannot be forgotten in America. Can it +ever be forgotten in France?</p> + + +<p>POSTSCRIPT.</p> + +<p>And now the country is amazed by +the report that the original welcome of +France to America and the inspired +welcome of Turgot to Franklin are forgotten +by the France of this day, or, +rather let me say, forgotten by the Emperor, +whose memory for the time is the +memory of France. It is said that Louis +Napoleon is concerting an alliance with +the Rebel slavemongers of our country, +founded on the recognition of their independence, +so that they may take their +place as a new power in the family of +nations. Indeed, we have been told, +through the columns of the official organ, +the "Moniteur," that he wishes to +do this thing. Perhaps he imagines that +he follows the great example of the last +century.</p> + +<p>What madness!</p> + +<p>The two cases are in perfect contrast,—as +opposite as the poles, as unlike as +Liberty and Slavery.</p> + +<p>The struggle for American Independence +was a struggle for Liberty, and was +elevated throughout by this holy cause. +But the struggle for Slavemonger Independence +is necessarily and plainly a +struggle for Slavery, and is degraded +throughout by the unutterable vileness +of all its barefaced pretensions.</p> + +<p>The earlier struggle, adopted by the +enlightened genius of France, was solemnly +placed under the benediction of +"God and Liberty." The present struggle, +happily thus far discarded by that +same enlightened genius, can have no +other benediction than "Satan and Slavery."</p> + +<p>The earlier struggle was to snatch the +sceptre from a kingly tyrant. The present +struggle is to put whips into the hands +of Rebel slavemongers with which <i>to +compel work without wages</i>, and thus give +wicked power to vulgar tyrants without +number.</p> + +<p>The earlier struggle was fitly pictured +by the welcome of Turgot to Franklin. +But another spirit must be found, and other +words must be invented, to picture the +struggle which it is now proposed to place +under the protection of France.</p> + +<p>The earlier struggle was grandly represented +by Benjamin Franklin, who was +already known by a sublime discovery in +science. The present struggle is characteristically +represented by John Slidell, +whose great fame is from the electioneering +frauds by which he sought to control +a Presidential election; so that his whole +life is fitly pictured, when it is said, that +he thrust fraudulent votes into the ballot-box, +and whips into the hands of task-masters.</p> + +<p>The earlier struggle was predicted by +Turgot, who said, that, in the course of +Nature, colonies must drop from the parent +stem, like ripe fruit. But where is +the Turgot who has predicted, that, in +the course of Nature, the great Republic +must be broken, in order to found a new +power on the corner-stone of Slavery?</p> + +<p>The earlier struggle gathered about it +the sympathy of the learned, the good, +and the wise, while the people of France +rose up to call it blessed. The present +struggle can expect nothing but detestation +from all who are not lost to duty and +honor, while the people of France must +cover it with curses.</p> + +<p>The earlier struggle enjoyed the favor +of France, whether in assemblies of learning +or of fashion, in spite of its King. It +remains to be seen if the present struggle +must not ignobly fail in France, still +mindful of its early vows, in spite of its +Emperor.</p> + +<p>Where duty and honor are so plain, it +is painful to think that even for a moment +there can be any hesitation.</p> + +<p>Alas for France!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="REVIEWS_AND_LITERARY_NOTICES" id="REVIEWS_AND_LITERARY_NOTICES"></a>REVIEWS AND LITERARY NOTICES.</h2> + + +<p><i>History of Spanish Literature.</i> By GEORGE +TICKNOR. In Three Volumes. Third +American Edition, corrected and enlarged. +Boston: Ticknor & Fields.</p> + +<p>The first edition of this work was published +in 1849, in three volumes octavo, +and it is hardly necessary for us to add, +that it was received with very great favor +both at home and abroad. Indeed, we may +go farther, and say that it was received with +the highest favor by those who were best +qualified to pronounce upon its merits. +The audience which it addressed was small +at home, and not numerous anywhere; for +the literature of Spain, in general, does not +present strong attractions to those who are +not natives of the Peninsula. In our country, +at the time of its publication, there +was hardly a man competent to examine +and criticize it; and in Europe, outside of +Spain itself, the number of thorough Spanish +scholars was and is but small, and of +these a large proportion is found in Germany. +But by these, whether in Germany, +France, or England, Mr. Ticknor's +History was received with a generous and +hearty admiration which must have been +to him as authentic a token of the worth +of his book as the voice of posterity itself. +But, of course, it was exposed to the severest +trial in Spain, the people of which +are intensely national, loving their literature, +like everything else which belongs to +them, with a passionate and exclusive love, +and not disposed to treat with any tenderness +a foreign writer who should lay an +incompetent hand upon any of their great +writers, though in a friendly and liberal +spirit. But by the scholars and men of letters +in Spain it was greeted with a kindliness +of welcome which nothing but the +most substantial excellence could have assured. +Universal assent to the views of a +foreigner and a Protestant was not to be +expected: this or that particular judgment +was questioned; but no one said, or could +say, that Mr. Ticknor's History was superficial, +or hastily prepared, or prejudiced, +or wanting in due proportions. On the +other hand, a most hearty tribute of admiration +was paid to its thorough learning, +its minute and patient research, its accurate +judgments, its candid temper and generous +spirit. Cultivated Spaniards were +amazed that a foreigner had so thoroughly +traced the stream of their literature from +its fountain-heads, omitting nothing, overlooking +nothing, and doing justice to all.</p> + +<p>Such a work could never attain any very +wide popularity, and this from the nature +of its subject. To the general reader books +about books are never so attractive as histories +and biographies, which deal with the +doings of men, and glow with the warmth +of human interests. But every man of literary +taste, though but superficially acquainted +with Spanish literature, could +recognize the merits of Mr. Ticknor's +work, its philosophical spirit, its lucid arrangement, +its elegant and judicious criticisms, +and its neat, correct, and accurate +style. He could not fail to see that the +works of Bouterwek and Sismondi were, +by comparison, merely a series of graceful +sketches, with no claim to be called a complete +and thorough history. It took its +place at once as the highest authority in +any language upon the subject of which it +treated, as the very first book which everybody +would consult who wanted any information +upon that subject.</p> + +<p>The present edition of the "History of +Spanish Literature" is by no means identical +with those which have preceded it. +It omits nearly the whole of the inedited, +primitive Castilian poems which have heretofore +filled about seventy pages at the end +of the last volume; and in other parts of +the work a corresponding, and even more +than a corresponding, amount of new matter +has been introduced, which will, it is +believed, be accounted of greater interest +than the early poetry it displaces. These +additions and changes have been derived +from very various sources. In the first +place, Mr. Ticknor was in Europe himself +in 1856 and 1857, and visited the principal +libraries, public and private, in England, +France, Germany, and Italy, in which any +considerable collection of Spanish books +was to be found, and by examination of +these supplied any wants there might be +in his own very ample stores. In the +second place, his History has been translated +into German and Spanish, the former +version being illustrated with notes +by Dr. Ferdinand Wolf, perhaps the best +Spanish scholar in Germany, and the latter +by Don Pascual de Gayangos, one of +the best scholars in Spain. From the results +of the labors of these distinguished +annotators Mr. Ticknor has taken—with +generous acknowledgment—everything +which, in his judgment, could add value, +interest, or completeness to the present +revised edition. And lastly, in the period +between the publication of the first edition +and the present time much has been done +for the illustration of Spanish literature, +both in the Peninsula and out of it. This +is due in part to the interest in the subject +which Mr. Ticknor himself awakened; +and in Spain it is one of the consequences +of the rapid progress in material development +and vital energy which that country +has been making during the last fifteen +years. New lives of some of its principal +writers have been published, and new editions +of their works have been prepared. +From all these sources a very ample supply +of new materials has been derived, so +that, while the work remains substantially +the same in plan, outline, and spirit, there +are hardly three consecutive pages in it +which do not contain additions and improvements. +We will briefly mention a +few of the more prominent of these.</p> + +<p>In the first volume, pages 446-455, the +life of Garcilasso de la Vega is almost entirely +rewritten from materials found in a +recent biography by Don Eustaquio Navarrete, +which Mr. Ticknor pronounces +"an important contribution to Spanish literary +history." The writer is the son of +the learned Don Martin Navarrete.</p> + +<p>In the second volume, pages 75-81, +many new and interesting facts are stated +in regard to the life of Luis de Leon, derived +from a recently published report of +the entire official record of his trial before +the Inquisition, of which Mr. Ticknor says +that it is "by far the most important authentic +statement known to me respecting +the treatment of men of letters who were +accused before that formidable tribunal, +and probably the most curious and important +one in existence, whether in manuscript +or in print. Its multitudinous documents +fill more than nine hundred pages, +everywhere teeming with instruction and +warning on the subject of ecclesiastical +usurpations, and the noiseless, cold, subtle +means by which they crush the intellectual +freedom and manly culture of a people."</p> + +<p>In the same volume, pages 118-119, +some new and interesting facts are stated +which prove beyond a doubt, that Lope de +Vega was actuated by ungenerous feelings +towards his great contemporary, Cervantes. +The evidence is found in some autograph +letters of Lope, extracts from which +were made by Duran, and are now published +by Von Schack, an excellent Spanish +scholar.</p> + +<p>In the same volume, page 191, is a copy +of the will of Lope de Vega, recently discovered, +and obtained from the late Lord +Holland.</p> + +<p>In the same volume, pages 354-357, is +a learned bibliographical note upon the +publication and various editions of the +plays of Calderon.</p> + +<p>In the third volume, Appendix B., pages +408-414, is a learned bibliographical note +on the Romanceros.</p> + +<p>In the same volume, Appendix C., pages +419-422, is an elaborate note on the Centon +Epistolario, in reply to an article by the +Marques de Pidal.</p> + +<p>In the same volume, Appendix D., pages +432-434, is a new postscript on the clever +literary forgery, <i>El Buscapié</i>.</p> + +<p>At the close of the third volume there +are seven pages giving a brief and condensed +account of the several works connected +with Spanish literature which have +been published within two or three years +past, and since the stereotype plates for +the present work were cast.</p> + +<p>The present edition is in a duodecimo, +instead of an octavo form, and is sold at +a less price than the previous ones.</p> + +<p>In the closing sentences of the preface +to this edition, Mr. Ticknor says: "Its +preparation has been a pleasant task, scattered +lightly over the years that have +elapsed since the first edition of this work +was published, and that have been passed, +like the rest of my life, almost entirely +among my own books. That I shall ever +recur to this task again, for the purpose +of further changes or additions, is not at +all probable. My accumulated years forbid +any such anticipation; and therefore, +with whatever of regret I may part from +what has entered into the happiness of so +considerable a portion of my life, I feel +that now I part from it for the last time. +<i>Extremum hoc munus habeto</i>." This is a +very natural feeling, and gracefully expressed; +but whatever of sadness there +may be in parting from a book which has +so long been a constant resource, a daily +companion, may in this case be tempered +by the thought that the work, as now dismissed, +is so well founded, so symmetrically +proportioned, so firmly built, as to defy +the sharpest criticism—that of Time itself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="RECENT_AMERICAN_PUBLICATIONS" id="RECENT_AMERICAN_PUBLICATIONS"></a>RECENT AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS</h2> + +<h3>RECEIVED BY THE EDITORS OF THE ATLANTIC MONTHLY.</h3> + + +<p>The History, Civil, Political, and Military, +of the Southern Rebellion, from its Incipient +Stages to its Close. Comprehending, also, all +Important State-Papers, Ordinances of Secession, +Proclamations, Proceedings of Congress, +Official Reports of Commanders, etc., etc. By +Orville J. Victor. New York. James D. Torrey. +Vols. I. and II. 8vo. pp. viii., 531; +viii., 537. per vol. $2.50.</p> + +<p>Biographical Sketches of Illinois Officers engaged +in the War against the Rebellion of +1861. By James Grant Wilson, Major commanding +Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry. Enlarged +Edition. Illustrated with Portraits. Chicago, +James Barnet. 8vo. paper. pp. 120. 50 cts.</p> + +<p>Leaves from the Diary of an Army-Surgeon; +or, Incidents of Field, Camp, and Hospital +Life. By Thomas T. Ellis, M.D., late Post-Surgeon +at New York, and Acting Medical +Director at Whitehouse, Va. New York. +John Bradburn. 12mo. pp. 312. $1.00.</p> + +<p>The Actress in High Life: An Episode in +Winter Quarters. New York. John Bradburn. +12mo. pp. 416. $1.25.</p> + +<p>Americans in Rome. By Henry P. Leland. +New York. Charles T. Evans. 12mo. pp. 311. +$1.25.</p> + +<p>The Castle's Heir: A Novel in Real Life. +By Mrs. Henry Wood. In Two Volumes. +Philadelphia. T.B. Peterson & Brothers. 8vo. +paper. pp. 144, 260. $1.00.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> The circumstances connected with the introduction +of the British troops into Boston +will be found related in the "Atlantic Monthly" +for June, 1862; and the number for the +following August contains a view of the relation +of the question of removal to the arbitrary +policy contemplated for the Colonies.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Boston, printed in the "Gazette" of +February 12, 1770. A letter printed in the +"Boston Evening Post," October 9, 1789, from +London, received by the last ship, after eulogizing +"the noble stand of the colonists," +says, "I am charmed with the prudent conduct +of the Bostonians in particular, and that +you have been able lo preserve so much tranquillity +among you, while the spirits of the people +must have been so soured and agitated by +oppression. You have certainly very wise and +prudent men concerned in the conduct of your +affairs." A Tory view of Boston in these times, +(by "Sagittarius,") is as follows:—"The +Town-Meeting at Boston is the hot-bed of sedition. +It is there that all their dangerous insurrections +are engendered; it is there that the +flame of discord and rebellion was first lighted +up and disseminated over the Provinces; it is +therefore greatly to be wished that Parliament +may rescue the loyal inhabitants of that town +and Province from the merciless hand of an +ignorant mob, led on and inflamed by self-interested +and profligate men."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <i>Reliq. Wotton.</i>, p. 317, et seq.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Of clay he says, "It is a cursed step-dame +to almost all vegetation, as having few or no +meatuses for the percolation of alimental showers."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Sir William Temple gives this list of his +pears:—Blanquet, Robin, Rousselet, Pepin, +Jargonel; and for autumn: Buree, Vertlongue, +and Bergamot.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Brougham's <i>Speeches</i>, Vol. II. p. 233.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Vol. IV. p. 443, First Series.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> <i>Notes and Queries</i>, Vol. V. p. 17.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> <i>Ibid.</i></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Lib. I. v. 104.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Sparks's <i>Works of Franklin</i>, Vol. VIII. p. 538.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> <i>Notes and Queries</i>, Vol. V. p. 549, First Series.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> <i>Ibid</i>. Vol. V. p. 140. See, also, <i>Ibid.</i> Vol. V. +p. 571; Vol. VI. p. 88; <i>Dublin Review</i> for March, +1847, p. 212; <i>Quarterly Review</i> for June, 1850.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> <i>Œuvres de Turgot</i>, Tom. IX. p. 140.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> <i>Œuvres de Condorcet</i>, par O'Connor, Tom. +V. p. 162.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> Sparks's <i>Works of Franklin</i>, Vol. VIII. +p. 537; Mignet, <i>Notices et Portraits</i>, Tom. II. +p. 480.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> Cabania, <i>Oeuvres</i>, Tom. V. p. 251.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> <i>Lettres de Madame Du Deffant</i>, Tom. III. +p. 367.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> <i>Ibid</i>. Tom. IV. p. 35.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> Lacretelle, <i>Histoire de France</i>, Tom. V. +p. 90.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> <i>Oeuvres de Condorcet</i>, par O'Connor, Tom. +V. pp. 406, 407.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></a><a href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></a> Capefigue, <i>Louis XVI</i>, Tom. II. pp. 12, +13, 42, 49, 50. The rose-water biographer of +Diane de Poitiers, Madame de Pompadour, and +Madame du Barry would naturally disparage +Franklin.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></a><a href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></a> Mignet, <i>Notices at Portraits</i>, Tom. II. p. 427.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_24_24" id="Footnote_24_24"></a><a href="#FNanchor_24_24"><span class="label">[24]</span></a> <i>La Gazette Secrète</i>, 15 Jan. 1777; Capefigue, +<i>Louis XVI.</i>, Tom. II. p. 15.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_25_25" id="Footnote_25_25"></a><a href="#FNanchor_25_25"><span class="label">[25]</span></a> <i>Œuvres de Turgot</i>, Tom. II. p. 66.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_26_26" id="Footnote_26_26"></a><a href="#FNanchor_26_26"><span class="label">[26]</span></a> <i>Œuvres de Turgot</i>, Tom. VIII. p. 496.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_27_27" id="Footnote_27_27"></a><a href="#FNanchor_27_27"><span class="label">[27]</span></a> Vol. X. p. 107.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_28_28" id="Footnote_28_28"></a><a href="#FNanchor_28_28"><span class="label">[28]</span></a> <i>Mémoires de Madame D'Épinay</i>, Tom. III. p. 431.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_29_29" id="Footnote_29_29"></a><a href="#FNanchor_29_29"><span class="label">[29]</span></a> Galiani, <i>Correspondance</i>, Tom. II. p. 275, +<i>Lettre de 25 Juillet</i>, 1778. Nobody saw America +with a more prophetic eye than this inspired +Pulcinello of Naples. As far back as the eighteenth +of May, 1776, several weeks before the +Declaration of Independence, he wrote,—"The +epoch is come for the total fall of Europe and +its transmigration to America. Do not buy +your house in the Chaussée d'Antin, but at +Philadelphia. The misfortune for me is that +there are no abbeys in America." Tom. II. +p. 203. See also Grimm, <i>Correspondence</i>, Tom. +IX. p. 285 (1776).</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_30_30" id="Footnote_30_30"></a><a href="#FNanchor_30_30"><span class="label">[30]</span></a> The dictionaries of Michaud and Didot +concur in the date of her death; but there is +reason to suppose that they are both mistaken.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_31_31" id="Footnote_31_31"></a><a href="#FNanchor_31_31"><span class="label">[31]</span></a> See Quérard, <i>La France Littéraire</i>, article +<i>La Rochefoucauld</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_32_32" id="Footnote_32_32"></a><a href="#FNanchor_32_32"><span class="label">[32]</span></a> Tom. I. p. 168.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_33_33" id="Footnote_33_33"></a><a href="#FNanchor_33_33"><span class="label">[33]</span></a> <i>Oeuvres de Turgot</i>, Tom. I. p. 416.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_34_34" id="Footnote_34_34"></a><a href="#FNanchor_34_34"><span class="label">[34]</span></a> Franklin, <i>Works</i>, by Sparks, Vol. V. p. 124.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_35_35" id="Footnote_35_35"></a><a href="#FNanchor_35_35"><span class="label">[35]</span></a> <i>Oeuvres de Turgot</i>, Tom. I. p. 414; Tom. +IX. p. 416; <i>Oeuvres de Condorcet</i>, Tom. V. +p. 162.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_36_36" id="Footnote_36_36"></a><a href="#FNanchor_36_36"><span class="label">[36]</span></a> Cabanis, <i>Oeuvres</i>, Tom. V. p. 261; Mignet, +<i>Notices et Portraits</i>, Tom. II. p. 475. See, also, +Morellet, <i>Mémoires</i>, Tom. I. p. 290. Cabanis +and Morellet both lived for many years under +the hospitable roof of Madame Helvétius. It +is the former who has preserved the interesting +extract from the letter of Franklin. Nobody +who has visited the Imperial Library at Paris +can forget the very pleasant autograph note +of Franklin in French to Madame Helvétius, +which is exhibited in the same case with an +autograph note of Henry IV. to Gabrielle +d'Estrées.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_37_37" id="Footnote_37_37"></a><a href="#FNanchor_37_37"><span class="label">[37]</span></a> Tom. II. p. 83. See, also, p. 337.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_38_38" id="Footnote_38_38"></a><a href="#FNanchor_38_38"><span class="label">[38]</span></a> Tom. II. p. 465. See, also, the letter of +the Marquis de Chastellux to Professor Madison +on the Fine Arts in America, where the +generous Frenchman recommends for all our +great towns a portrait of Franklin, "with the +Latin verse inscribed in France below his portrait." +Chastellux, <i>Travels in North America</i>, +Vol. II. p. 372.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_39_39" id="Footnote_39_39"></a><a href="#FNanchor_39_39"><span class="label">[39]</span></a> Chambelland, <i>Vie du Prince de Bourbon-Condé</i>, +Tom. I. p. 374.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_40_40" id="Footnote_40_40"></a><a href="#FNanchor_40_40"><span class="label">[40]</span></a> Capefigue, <i>Louis XVI.</i>, Tom. II. pp. 49, 50.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_41_41" id="Footnote_41_41"></a><a href="#FNanchor_41_41"><span class="label">[41]</span></a> Lacretelle, <i>Histoire de France pendant le 18me Siècle</i>, +Tom. V. p. 91. The historian errs in putting this success in 1777, +before the date of the Treaty; and he errs also with regard to the +Court, if he meant to embrace the King and Queen.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_42_42" id="Footnote_42_42"></a><a href="#FNanchor_42_42"><span class="label">[42]</span></a> <i>Mémoires sur Marie Antoinette</i>, par Madame +Campan, Tom. I. p. 251.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_43_43" id="Footnote_43_43"></a><a href="#FNanchor_43_43"><span class="label">[43]</span></a> <i>Bulletin de l'Alliance des Arts</i>, 10 Octobre, +1843. See also Goncourt, <i>Histoire de Marie +Antoinette</i>, p. 221.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_44_44" id="Footnote_44_44"></a><a href="#FNanchor_44_44"><span class="label">[44]</span></a> Grimm, <i>Correspondance</i>, Tom. XVI. p. 407.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_45_45" id="Footnote_45_45"></a><a href="#FNanchor_45_45"><span class="label">[45]</span></a> Louis Blanc, <i>Histoire de la Revolution</i>, +Tom. VI. pp. 234, 316.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_46_46" id="Footnote_46_46"></a><a href="#FNanchor_46_46"><span class="label">[46]</span></a> Cabanis, <i>Oeuvres</i>, Tom. V. p. 251.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_47_47" id="Footnote_47_47"></a><a href="#FNanchor_47_47"><span class="label">[47]</span></a> Morellet, <i>Mémoires</i>, Tom. I. p. 290.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_48_48" id="Footnote_48_48"></a><a href="#FNanchor_48_48"><span class="label">[48]</span></a> <i>L'Anit-Lucrèce</i>, traduit de Bougainville, +<i>Épitre Dédicatoire, Discours Préliminaire</i>, +p. 69.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_49_49" id="Footnote_49_49"></a><a href="#FNanchor_49_49"><span class="label">[49]</span></a> Lib. I. v. 95.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_50_50" id="Footnote_50_50"></a><a href="#FNanchor_50_50"><span class="label">[50]</span></a> Lib. I. v. 104. <i>Tonandi</i> is sometimes +changed to <i>tonantis</i>, and also <i>tonanti</i>. (See +<i>Notes and Queries</i>, Vol. V. p. 140.)</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_51_51" id="Footnote_51_51"></a><a href="#FNanchor_51_51"><span class="label">[51]</span></a> It is understood that there is a metrical +version of this poem by the Rev. Dr. Frothingham +of Boston, which he does not choose to +publish, although, like everything from this +refined scholar, it must be marked by taste +and accuracy.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_52_52" id="Footnote_52_52"></a><a href="#FNanchor_52_52"><span class="label">[52]</span></a> Sparks's <i>Works of Franklin</i>, Vol. VIII. +p. 538, note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_53_53" id="Footnote_53_53"></a><a href="#FNanchor_53_53"><span class="label">[53]</span></a> Ibid. p. 537.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_54_54" id="Footnote_54_54"></a><a href="#FNanchor_54_54"><span class="label">[54]</span></a> Sparks's <i>Works of Franklin</i>, Vol. VIII. +p. 539, note.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_55_55" id="Footnote_55_55"></a><a href="#FNanchor_55_55"><span class="label">[55]</span></a> Morellet, <i>Mémoires</i>, Tom. I. p. 288. Nothing +is more curious with regard to Franklin +than these <i>Mémoires</i>, including especially the +engraving from an original design by him. In +some copies this engraving is wanting. It is, +probably, the gayeties here recorded, and, perhaps, +the "infatuation" of the court-ladies, +that suggested the scandalous charges which +Dr. Julius has strangely preserved in his <i>Nordamerikas +Sittliche, Zustände</i>, Vol. I. p. 98.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_56_56" id="Footnote_56_56"></a><a href="#FNanchor_56_56"><span class="label">[56]</span></a> Sparks's <i>Works of Franklin</i>, Vol. VIII. +p. 539, note.</p></div> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Atlantic Monthly, Volume 12, No. 73, +November, 1863, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ATLANTIC MONTHLY, VOLUME 12 *** + +***** This file should be named 16028-h.htm or 16028-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/0/2/16028/ + +Produced by Cornell University, Joshua Hutchinson, Josephine +Paolucci and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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