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diff --git a/35984-h/35984-h.htm b/35984-h/35984-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b20cb32 --- /dev/null +++ b/35984-h/35984-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,16081 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<!-- $Id: header.txt 236 2009-12-07 18:57:00Z vlsimpson $ --> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, +No. 369, July 1846, Vol. 60, Various Authors. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both;} + +p { + margin-top: 1.25em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: 1em; + line-height: 1.5;} + +hr { + width: 33%; clear: both; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto;} + +.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%;} +.blockquot p {line-height: 1.3;} + +.author {text-align: right; margin-right: 20%;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.rspace {padding-right: 10%} + +.lspace {padding-left: 10%} + +.btbb {border-top: 1px solid black; border-bottom: 1px solid black; + padding: 6px 0 6px 0;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center;} + + +/* Footnotes */ +.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;} + +.transnote {background-color:#EEE; color: inherit; margin: 2em 10% 1em 10%; +font-size: 80%; padding: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 1em; text-align: left;} + +/* Poetry */ +.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; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + +.poem span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + +.poem span.i4 { + display: block; + margin-left: 4em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + +.poem span.i6 { + display: block; + margin-left: 6em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + +.poem span.i10 { + display: block; + margin-left: 10em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + + +.cpoem1 {width: 70%; margin: 0 auto;} +.cpoem1 .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} +.cpoem1 span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + +.cpoem2 {width: 40%; margin: 0 auto;} +.cpoem2 .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} +.cpoem2 span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + +.cpoem2 span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + +.cpoem3 {width: 20%; margin: 0 auto;} +.cpoem3 span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + +.cpoem3 span.i2 { + display: block; + margin-left: 2em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + +.cpoem4 {width: 30%; margin: 0 auto;} +.cpoem4 span.i0 { + display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, +No. 369, July 1846, 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: Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 369, July 1846 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: April 27, 2011 [EBook #35984] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, JULY 1846 *** + + + + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, JoAnn Greenwood, Jonathan +Ingram and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Library of Early +Journals.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<h1>BLACKWOOD'S<br /> +Edinburgh<br /> +MAGAZINE.<br /></h1> + + +<h3>VOL. LX.<br /><br /></h3> +<h2>JULY-DECEMBER, 1846.<br /><br /></h2> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 322px;"> +<img src="images/cover.png" width="322" height="372" alt="Blackwood image" title="" /> +</div> + + +<h4>WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, EDINBURGH<br /> +AND<br /> +37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.<br /><br /> + +1846</h4> + + +<div class="transnote"> +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: A few obvious misprints have been corrected, but +in general the originally erratic spelling, punctuation and +typesetting conventions have been retained. Accents in foreign +language poetry and phrases are inconsistent in the original, and have +not been standardized.</div> + + +<h1>BLACKWOOD'S<br /> +EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.<br /><br /></h1> + + +<h3> +<span class="rspace">No. CCCLXIX.</span> +<span class="btbb">JULY, 1846.</span> +<span class="lspace"><span class="smcap">Vol</span>. LX</span> +</h3> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="center">CONTENTS.</div> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Peru,</span></td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Letters on English Hexameters. Letter I.</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_19">19</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Marlborough's Dispatches. 1708-1709</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Americans and the Aborigines. Part the Last</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Death of Zumalacarregui</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">New Scottish Plays and Poems</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Elinor Travis. Chapter the Second</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_83">83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">More Rogues in Outline</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Last Recollections of Napoleon</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_110">110</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class="center"> +EDINBURGH:<br /> + +WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, 45, GEORGE STREET;<br /> +AND 37, PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.<br /> +<br /> +<i>To whom all Communications (post paid) must be addressed.</i><br /> +<br /> +SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.<br /> +<br /> +PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE AND HUGHES, EDINBURGH.<br /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> +<h2>PERU.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></h2> + + +<p>A <span class="smcap">clever</span> book of travels, over +ground comparatively untrodden, is +in these days a welcome rarity. No +dearth is there of vapid narratives by +deluded persons, who, having leisure to +travel, think they must also have wit +to write: with these we have long +been surfeited, and heartily grateful +do we feel to the man who strikes +out a new track, follows it observantly, +and gives to the world, in pleasant +and instructive form, the result of his +observations. Such a traveller we +have had the good fortune to meet +with, and now present to our readers.</p> + +<p>We take it that no portion of the +globe's surface, of equal extent, and +comprising an equal number of civilized, +or at least semi-civilized, states, +is less known to the mass of Europeans +than the continent of South +America. Too distant and dangerous +for the silken tourist, to whom steam-boats +and dressing-cases are indispensable, +it does not possess, in a political +point of view, that kind of importance +which might induce governments to +stimulate its exploration. As a nest of +mushroom republics, continually fighting +with each other and revolutionizing +themselves—a land where throat-cutting +is a popular pastime, and +earthquakes, fevers more or less +yellow, and vermin rather more than +less venomous, are amongst the indigenous +comforts of the soil—it is +notorious, and has been pretty generally +avoided. Braving these dangers +and disagreeables, a German of high +reputation as a naturalist and man of +letters, has devoted four years of a +life valuable to science to a residence +and travels in the most interesting +district of South America; the ancient +empire of the Incas, the scene of the +conquests and cruelties of Francisco +Pizarro.</p> + +<p>"The scientific results of my +travels," says Dr Tschudi in his brief +preface, "are recorded partly in my +<i>Investigation of the Fauna Peruana</i><a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> +and partly in appropriate periodicals: +the following volumes are an attempt +to satisfy the claim which an enlightened +public may justly make on the +man who visits a country in reality +but little known."</p> + +<p>We congratulate the doctor on the +good success of his attempt. The +public, whether of Germany or of +any other country into whose language +his book may be translated, will be +difficult indeed if they desire a better +account of Peru than he has given +them.</p> + +<p>Bound for the port of Callao, the +ship Edmond, in which Dr Tschudi +sailed from Havre-de-Grace, was +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +driven by storms to the coast of +Chili, and first cast anchor in the bay +of San Carlos, on the island of Chiloe. +Although by no means devoid of interest, +we shall pass over his account +of that island, which is thinly peopled, +of small fertility, and cursed with an +execrable climate; and accompany +him to Valparaiso, his next halting +place. There he found much bustle +and movement. Chili was at war +with the confederation of Peru and +Bolivia, and an expedition was fitting +out in all haste. Sundry decrees of +the Peruvian Protector, Santa Cruz, +had excited the ire of the Chilians, +especially one diminishing the harbour +dues on vessels arriving direct +from Europe and discharging their +cargoes in a Peruvian port. This +had damaged the commerce of Chili; +and already one army under General +Blanco had been landed on the Peruvian +coast to revenge the injury. +It had signally failed in its object. +Outmanœuvred and surrounded, it +was taken prisoner to a man. On +this occasion the behaviour of Santa +Cruz was generous almost to quixotism. +He sent back the soldiers to +their country, and actually paid for +the cavalry horses, which he kept. +The Chilian government showed little +gratitude for this chivalrous conduct. +The treaty of peace concluded by +Blanco was not ratified; but a second +armament, far more powerful than +the first, was got ready and shipped +from Valparaiso during Dr Tschudi's +stay in that port. His account of +the Chilian army and navy is not +very favourable. His ship had hardly +anchored when several officers of the +land forces came on board, and inquired +if there were any swords to be +sold, as they and their comrades were +for the most part totally unprovided +with such weapons. Swords formed +no part of the cargo of the Edmond, +but one of the ship's company, acquainted, +perhaps, from previous experience, +with the wants of these +South American warriors, had brought +out an assortment as a private spec., +and amongst them was a sort +of falchion, about five feet long, +which had belonged to a cuirassier of +Napoleon's guard. The officer who +bought this weapon was a puny half-cast +lad, who could hardly lift it +with both hands, but who nevertheless +opined that, in case of a charge, it +would play the devil amongst the +Peruvians. "Ten months later," +says Dr Tschudi, "I met this hero +on the march, amongst the mountains +of Peru. He had girded on a little +dirk, scarce larger than a toothpick, +and behind him came a strapping +negro, laden with the falchion. I +could not help inquiring whether the +latter arm had done much mischief in +the then recent battle of Yungay, and +he was honest enough to confess that +he had not used it, finding it rather +too heavy." The Chilian fleet, twenty-seven +transports and nine men-of-war, +was, with one or two exceptions, +in bad condition; short of guns and +hands, and manned in great part by +sailors who had run from English, +French, or North American ships. +The officers were nearly all English. +The shipment of the horses was conducted +in the most clumsy manner: +many were strangled in hoisting them +up, others fell out of the slings and +were drowned, and those that were +embarked were so badly cared for, +that each morning previous to the +sailing of the fleet, their carcasses were +thrown overboard by dozens. The +Chilian troops had no stomach for +the campaign, and, in great part, had +to be embarked by force. "I stood +on the landing place," writes the +doctor, "when the Santiago battalion +went on board. Ill uniformed, and +bound two and two with cords, the +soldiers were actually driven into the +boats." With such an army, what +besides defeat and disaster could be +expected? But treachery and discord +were at work in Peru, and success +awaited the reluctant invaders.</p> + +<p>With unpardonable imprudence +the captain of the Edmond had manifested +an intention of selling his ship +to the Peruvians to be converted into +a man-of-war. A Yankee captain +was suspected of a similar design; and +the consequence was an embargo laid +upon all ships in the port of Valparaiso, +until such time as the Chilian +army might be supposed to have +reached its destination and struck the +first blow. A delay of five-and-forty +days was the consequence, particularly +wearisome to Dr Tschudi, as he +was unable to absent himself for more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +than twenty-four hours from the town, +lest the embargo should be suddenly +raised and the ship sail without him. +He found few resources in Valparaiso, +whose population, especially the +numerous foreigners, have their time +fully occupied by commercial pursuits. +The town itself, closely built and +dirty, is divided by <i>quebradas</i> or +ravines into three parts, extending +along the side of a hill, and designated +by the sailors as foretop, maintop, and +mizentop. These quebradas, close to +whose edge run the badly lighted +streets, are particularly dangerous in +the winter nights; and many a sailor, +on shore for a "spree," finds his grave +in them. The police is good, better +probably than any other South American +town; and although assassinations +occasionally occur, the perpetrators +rarely escape. One curious institution +is the travelling house of +correction, which consists of waggons, +not unlike those in which menagerie +keepers convey their beasts. Each +of these contains sleeping accommodation +for eight or ten criminals. +Behind stands a sentry, and in front +of some of them is a sort of kitchen. +The prisoners draw the waggons +themselves; and as they for the most +part work upon the roads, often at +some distance from the city, there is +an evident gain thus in their conveying +their dwelling with them. The +plan answers well in a country where +there is, properly speaking, no winter.</p> + +<p>A common article of sale on the +Valparaiso market is live condors, +which are taken in traps. A fine specimen +is worth a dollar and a half. +In one court-yard, Dr Tschudi saw +eight of them, fettered after a peculiar +fashion. A long narrow strip of untanned +leather was run through their +nostrils, tied tight, and the other end +fastened to a post fixed in the ground. +This allowed the birds liberty to move +about in a tolerably large circle, but +as soon as they attempted to fly, they +were brought down by the head. Their +voracity is prodigious. One of them +ate eighteen pounds of meat in the +course of a day, without at all impairing +his appetite for the next morning's +breakfast. Dr Tschudi measured one, +and found it fourteen English feet +from tip to tip of the wings.</p> + +<p>Most joyfully did our traveller hail +the arrival of the long-looked for permission +to sail. With a favouring +breeze from the east, the Edmond +soon made the islands of Juan Fernandez, +and Dr Tschudi was indulging +in pleasant recollections of Alexander +Selkirk, Defoe, and Robinson +Crusoe, when the cry "a man overboard" +startled him from his reverie. +Over went the hen-coops and empty +casks; the ship was brought to, and +a boat lowered. It was high time, +for a shark had approached the swimmer, +who defended himself with remarkable +courage and presence of +mind, striking out with his fists at his +voracious pursuer. So unequal a combat +could not last long, and the lookers-on +thought him lost, for the shark had +already seized his leg, when the boat +came up; a rain of blows from oars +and boat-hooks forced the monster to +let go his hold, and the sailor was +snatched, it might truly be said, from +the jaws of death. His wounds, +though deep, were not dangerous, and +in a few weeks he was convalescent. +Without other incident worthy of +note, Dr Tschudi arrived in the bay +of Callao. There the first news he +heard was that the Chilians had effected +a landing, taken Lima by storm, +and were then besieging Callao. This +magnificent fort, the last place in +South America that had held out for +the Spaniards, and which General +Rodil defended for nearly eighteen +months against the patriots, had since +been in great measure dismantled, and +three-fourths of the guns sold. Those +that remained were now wretchedly +served by the Peruvians, whilst the +fire of the besiegers, on the other hand, +did considerable damage. The siege, +however, was pushed nothing like so +vigorously as it had been by the patriots. +Both the land and sea forces +were too small. To the latter the Peruvians +had unfortunately no fleet to +oppose. Several men-of-war had been +treacherously taken from them by the +Chilians in time of peace, and the only +two remaining were sunk upon the +approach of the enemy.</p> + +<p>"One Sunday afternoon," says Dr +Tschudi, "the Chilian brig-of-war, Colocolo, +sailed close in under the walls +of the fort, and threw in a few balls. +The batteries immediately returned +the fire with every gun they could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +bring to bear; but all their shots went +too high, and fell amongst the merchantmen +and other neutral vessels. +Meanwhile the Colocolo sailed to and +fro in derision of the batteries. At +last the French commodore, seeing +the danger of the merchant ships, sent +a boat to the fort, menacing them +with a broadside if they did not instantly +cease firing. This the garrison +were compelled to do, and to submit +patiently to the insults of the +Chilians. Another instance of the +great prejudice which the vicinity of +neutral shipping may be to besieged +or besiegers, was witnessed on the +night of the 5th November 1820, in +the bay of Callao, when Lord Cochrane +and Captain Guise, with a hundred +and fifty men, boarded the Spanish +forty-four gun corvette Esmeralda. +Between the Esmeralda and +the fort lay a North American frigate, +the Macedonia, which completely +hindered the castle from covering the +corvette with its guns. So enraged +were the garrison at this, that the +next morning an officer of the Macedonia +was murdered with his whole +boat's crew, the very instant they set +foot on shore."</p> + +<p>We shall not accompany Dr Tschudi +through his "fragment of the modern +history of Peru;" for although lucid +and interesting, it might become +less so in the compressed form which +we should necessarily have to adopt. +We find at one time six self-styled +presidents of Peru—each with his +share of partizans, more or less numerous, +and with a force at his command +varying from one to five thousand +men—oppressing the people, +levying contributions, shooting and +banishing the adherents of his five +rivals. Let us examine the probable +causes of such a state of things, of the +revolutions and rebellions which have +now lasted for twenty years—since +the birth of the republic, in fact—and +which must finally, if a check be not +put to them, bring about the depopulation +and total ruin of Peru. These +causes Dr Tschudi finds in the want +of honour and common honesty exhibited +by the majority of the Peruvian +officers. With the army all the revolutions +have begun. As soon as an +officer reaches the rank of colonel, +and if he can only reckon upon the +adherence of some fifteen hundred +or two thousand soldiers, he begins +to think of deposing the president +and ruling in his stead. In so doing, +he is actuated by avarice rather than +by ambition. During their short-lived +power these dictators levy enormous +contributions, of which they pocket +the greater part, and let the soldiers +want. After a while they abandon +the helm of government, either voluntarily +or by compulsion, and take with +them their ill-gotten wealth. When +the chiefs set such examples, it cannot +be wondered at if, amongst their +inferiors, insubordination and mutiny +are the order of the day. These, however, +are most prevalent amongst the +subaltern officers, scarcely ever originating +with the soldiers, although +their treatment, we are informed, is +inhumanly cruel, and their privations +and sufferings of the severest. +There appears to be a great similarity +in character between the Peruvian infantry +and the Spanish troops of the +present day; although the former are +not of Spanish descent, but consist +chiefly of Indians from the interior +and mountainous districts of Peru. +Dr Tschudi describes them as obedient, +willing, and courageous; unparalleled +in their endurance of hunger +and fatigue, capable of sustaining for +several days together marches of fourteen +or sixteen leagues. The officers, +however, must be good, or the +men are useless in the field. If not +well led, they throw away their arms +and run, and there is no possibility of +rallying them. Moreover, no retrograde +movement must be made, although +it be merely as a manœuvre—the +Indians looking upon it as a signal +for flight. The cavalry, for the most +part well mounted, is worthless. It +consists of negroes—a race rarely remarkable +for courage. As cruel as +they are cowardly, a defeated foe +meets with barbarous treatment at +their hands.</p> + +<p>With every Peruvian army march +nearly as many women as it comprises +men. Unpalatable as such a following +would be to European commanders, +it is encouraged and deemed indispensable +by Peruvian generals. +The Indian women, as enduring and +hardy as their husbands, set out two +or three hours before the troops, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +precede them by about the same time +at the halting place. They immediately +collect wood for fires, and prepare +the rations, which they carry +with them, for their husbands, sons, +and brothers. Without them, in the +more desolate and mountainous districts, +the soldiers would sometimes +risk starvation. They are no impediment +to the rapid march of a column, +which they, on the contrary, accelerate, +by saving the men trouble, +and affording them more time for repose. +During a battle they remain in +the vicinity of the troops, but far enough +off not to impede their movements; +the fight over, they seek out +the wounded and take care of them. +The lot of these poor women, who go +by the name of <i>rabonas</i>, is any thing +but an enviable one; for besides their +many privations and hardships, they +meet with much ill usage at the +hands of the soldiery, to which, +however, they submit with incredible +patience.</p> + +<p>The manner in which most of the +officers treat the soldiers is perfectly +inhuman, and the slightest offences +meet with terrible chastisement. Every +officer has a right, at least in war time, +to inflict, without a court-martial, any +punishment he pleases. Some of the +chiefs are celebrated for the refinement +of their cruelties; and many soldiers +prefer death to serving under them. +During General Gamarra's campaign +against the Bolivians in 1842, several +score of soldiers sprang one day from +the bridge of Oroya, to seek death in +the torrent that flows beneath it. With +the scornful cry of "<i>Adios, capitan!</i>" +they took the fatal leap, and the next +instant lay mangled and expiring upon +the rocks through which the stream +forces its way. "I myself have witnessed," +continues Dr Tschudi, "how soldiers +who on the march were unable to +keep up with the column, were shot +dead upon the spot. On the road from +Tarma to Jauja, a distance of nine +leagues, I passed seven Indians who +had thus lost their lives. It is true +that the commandant of that battalion, +an officer whose sword was as yet +unstained with any blood save that +of his own men, was accustomed to +call out when he saw a soldier straggling +from fatigue—'<i>pegale un tiro!</i>' +Shoot him down! And the order was +forthwith obeyed." When the troops +reach the halting-place, and the <i>rabonas</i> +learn the fate of their sons or husbands, +they mournfully retrace their +weary footsteps, and amidst tears and +lamentations dig a last resting place +for these victims of military tyranny.</p> + +<p>The sick are scarcely better treated. +When they can no longer drag themselves +along, they are placed upon +mules, and, through the severest cold +or most burning heat, are driven after +the army. When they die, which is +most frequently the case, they are +dropped at the next village, to be +buried by the alcalde.</p> + +<p>"The major of a squadron of light +cavalry," says our traveller, "once asked +me, during my stay at Tarma in the +year 1842, to take charge for a few +days of his sick men. Of one hundred +and twenty soldiers composing the +squadron, sixty-eight lay huddled together +in a damp dark hole, ill of the +scarlet fever. Fourteen more were suffering +from the effects of punishment. +What a horrible sight they presented! +Their backs were nearly bare +of flesh and covered with the most +frightful wounds. A mutiny had taken +place, and the major had shot six men, +and caused eighteen others to receive +from one hundred to three hundred +lashes, with broad thongs of tapir hide—a +punishment so severe, that some of +them died under its infliction. The +survivors were compelled immediately +to mount their horses and follow the +squadron. For nine days they rode +on in the most terrible agony, and +during that time had to cross the Cordilleras. +Several of them refused to +have their wounds dressed; and it was +necessary to use force to compel them. +One man implored me with tears to do +nothing to improve his state, for that +he longed to die. Before they were +nearly cured, a march was ordered, +and they again had to mount and ride. +The consequences of this barbarity +were easy to foresee. Before another +eight days had elapsed, the squadron +was scarcely sixty men strong."</p> + +<p>Turn we from such horrors to a more +pleasing theme. "Could I suppose," +says Dr Tschudi, "that my readers +are acquainted with the excellent description +of Lima which Stevenson<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +gives in his Travels in South America,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> +I would willingly abstain from any +detail of the houses, churches, squares, +and streets of that capital. But as +that esteemed work was published +twenty years ago, and is now almost +entirely forgotten, I may venture, +without danger of repeating things +universally known, to give a sketch of +the city of Lima." And accordingly, +the doctor devotes his fifth chapter to +an account of the capital of Peru—an +account over which we shall pass +lightly, for the double reason, that our +readers may be better acquainted with +Stevenson's work than Dr Tschudi's +countrymen can be supposed to be, +and because, if we linger wherever we +are tempted so to do in this very pleasant +book, our paper will run out beyond +any reasonable length. We +must glance at the cathedral founded +by Pizarro, and which took ninety +years in building. Its magnificence +and riches are scarcely to be surpassed +by those of any other existing +church. The high altar boasts of seven +silver pillars of the Ionic order, twelve +feet high, and a foot and a-half thick; +the shrine is seven and a-half feet +high, carved in gold, and studded with +countless diamonds and emeralds; the +silver candlesticks weigh one hundred +and twelve pounds each. In connection +with the convent of San Pedro, a +curious anecdote is told. It belonged +to the Jesuits, and was their "Colegio +Maximo;" it was known to possess +immense wealth, for the richest plantations +and finest houses belonged to +the order. In the year 1773, the king +of Spain, supported by the famous bull +of the 21st June of that year, "Dominus +ac redemptor noster," sent orders +to his South American viceroys to arrest +all the Jesuits in one night, ship +them off to Spain, and confiscate their +wealth. The greatest secresy was observed, +and no one but the viceroy, +and those in his entire confidence, was +supposed to know any thing of the +plan. But the same ship which conveyed +to the viceroy the king's instructions +in his own handwriting, +brought to the vicar-general of the +Jesuits in Lima the needful instructions +from the general of the order at +Madrid, to whom his Majesty's designs +had become known. In all silence, +and with every precaution the needful +preparations were made; at ten +o'clock on the appointed night, the +viceroy summoned his council, and +communicated to them the royal commands. +No one was allowed to leave +the room till the blow had been struck. +At midnight trusty officers were sent +to arrest the Jesuits, of whose names +the viceroy had a list. It was expected +that they would be surprised +in their sleep. The patrole knocked +at the door of the San Pedro convent, +which was immediately opened. The +commanding officer asked to see the +vicar-general, and was forthwith conducted +into the principal hall, where +he found the whole of the order assembled, +waiting for him, and ready +to depart. Each man had his portmanteau +packed with whatever was +necessary for a long voyage. In all +the other convents of Jesuits similar +preparations had been made. The +astonishment and vexation of the viceroy +may be imagined. He immediately +sent off the whole fraternity to +Callao, where ships were ready to receive +them. Inventories were then +taken, and search made for the Jesuits' +money. But great was the surprise +of the searchers when instead of +the millions which the order was +known to possess, but a few thousand +dollars were to be discovered. All +the keys, including that of the strong +box, were found, duly ticketed, in the +vicar-general's room. The Jesuits +could hardly have taken a better revenge +for the treachery that had been +used with their order.</p> + +<p>It was supposed that the money +was buried, partly in the plantations, +and partly in the convent of San +Pedro. An old negro, in the service +of the convent, told how he and one +of his comrades had been employed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +during several nights in carrying, with +bandaged eyes, heavy sacks of money +into the vaults beneath the building. +Two Jesuits accompanied them, and +helped them to load and unload their +burdens. The researches hitherto +made have been but superficial and +imperfect; and Dr Tschudi opines, +with some naïveté, that the hidden +hoard may yet be discovered. We +cannot partake his opinion. The +cunning Jesuits who concealed the +treasure will have found means to +recover it.</p> + +<p>Lima was the principal seat of the +Inquisition upon the west coast of +South America, and in severity the +tribunal was but little surpassed by +that of Madrid itself. The building +in which it was held still exists, but +was gutted by the populace when the +institution was abolished by the Cortes, +and few traces of its internal arrangements +and murderous engines are now +to be seen. More visible ones are yet +to be noticed in the persons of some +unfortunate Limeños. "A Spaniard," +Dr Tschudi tells us, "whose limbs were +frightfully distorted, told me, in reply +to my inquiries, that he had fallen into +a machine which had thus mangled +him. A few days before his death, +however, he confided to me that in +his twenty-fourth year he had been +brought before the tribunal of the +Holy Inquisition, and by the most +horrible tortures had been compelled +to confess a crime of which he was +not guilty. I still shudder when I +remember his crushed and twisted +limbs, at the thoughts of the agonies +which the unhappy wretch must have +endured."</p> + +<p>Now and then, however, the most +holy ruffians of the Inquisition met +their match, as the following anecdote +serves to show. The Viceroy, +Castel-Fuerte, once expressed, in presence +of his confessor, certain opinions +regarding religion which the good +monk did not find very catholic, and +which he accordingly, as in duty bound, +reported to the Inquisitors. The latter, +confident of their omnipotence, joyfully +seized this opportunity to increase +its <i>prestige</i>, by proving that +their power extended even to the +punishment of a viceroy. But Castel-Fuerte +was not Philip of Spain. At +the appointed hour, he repaired to the +Inquisition at the head of his body-guard +and of a company of infantry, +with two pieces of artillery, which he +caused to be pointed at the building. +Entering the terrible hall, he strode +up to the table, drew out his watch, +and laid it before him. "Señores," +said he, "I am ready to discuss this +affair, but for one hour only. If I am +not back by that time, my officers have +orders to level this building with the +ground." Astounded at his boldness, +the Inquisitors consulted together for +a few moments, and then, with eager +politeness, complimented the resolute +Castel-Fuerte out of the house.</p> + +<p>Lima was founded by Pizarro in +the year 1534, on the 6th of January, +known amongst Roman Catholics as +the Day of the Three Kings. From +this latter circumstance it has frequently +been called the City of the +Kings. Like some tropical flower, +urged into premature bloom and luxuriance +by too rich a soil and too ardent +a sun, its decay has been proportionably +rapid, and the capital of Peru is +already but the ghost of its former +self. Some idea of its rapid growth +may be formed from the circumstance +that a wall built in 1585, only fifty +years after its foundation, includes, +with the exception of a small portion +of the northern extremity and the +suburb of San Lazaro, the whole of a +city capable of containing one hundred +thousand inhabitants, and measuring +ten English miles in circumference. +The dates of foundation of the principal +public buildings further confirm +the fact of Lima's rapid arrival at the +size as well as the rank of a metropolis. +The number of inhabitants, which in +1810 was estimated at eighty-seven +thousand, in 1842 was reduced to fifty-three +thousand. It must be observed, +however, that the manner of +taking the census is loose and imperfect, +and these numbers may need +rectification. At the same time, there +can be no doubt that the population +has long been, and still is, daily diminishing. +Of this diminution the causes +are various, and may easily be traced +to the physical and political state of +the country. Terrible earthquakes +have buried thousands of persons beneath +the ruins of their dwellings; the +struggle for independence also swept +away its thousands; and banishment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +and emigration may further account +for the decrease. Epidemics, the natural +consequence of an imperfect +police, and an utter neglect of cleanliness, +frequently rage in the city and +its environs; and Dr Tschudi proves, by +interesting tables and statements, +that the average excess of deaths over +births has been, since the year 1826, +no less than five hundred and fifty +annually. Without entering into all +the causes to which this may be attributed, +he pronounces the criminal, but, +in Lima, too common, practice of causing +abortion to be one of the most prominent. +So large a yearly decrease +menaces the Peruvian capital with +a speedy depopulation, and already +whole streets and quarters of the city +are desolate,—the houses falling in,—the +gardens run to waste. To the +country, not less than to the town, +many of the above facts are applicable; +and the once rich and flourishing +region, that extends from the third +to the twenty-second degree of southern +latitude, and which, at the time of +its conquest by Pizarro, contained an +enormous population, now possesses +but one million four hundred thousand +inhabitants.</p> + +<p>One can really hardly grieve over +the possible extinction of a race which, +according to Dr Tschudi's showing, is +in most respects so utterly worthless +and undeserving of sympathy. We +refer now more especially to the white +Creoles,<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a> who constitute about a third, +or rather more, of the population of +Lima, where there are comparatively +few Indians of pure blood, but, on the +other hand, a large number of half-casts +of every shade, and about five +thousand negroes, chiefly slaves. +These white Creoles, with few exceptions +the descendants of Spaniards, +seem to have clung to, and improved +upon, the vices of their progenitors, +without inheriting their good qualities. +Both physically and morally +they have greatly degenerated. Weak, +indolent, and effeminate, a ten hours' +ride seems to them an exploit worthy +of registration in the archives of the +country. Sworn foes of any kind of +trouble, if their circumstances compel +them to choose an occupation, they +set up some retail shop, which gives +them little trouble, and allows them +abundance of leisure to gossip with +their neighbours and smoke their cigar. +The richer class pass their time in +complete idleness,—lounging in the +streets, visiting their acquaintances, +and occasionally taking a lazy ride to +their plantations near the city. The +afternoon is got rid of in the café, the +gaming-house, or the cock-pit—cock-fighting +being a darling diversion with +the Creoles. Their education is defective, +and the majority of them are +ignorant beyond belief. Dr Tschudi +tells us of a Peruvian minister of war +who knew neither the population nor +the area of his country, and who obstinately +maintained that Portugal +was the eastern boundary of Peru, +and could be reached by land. Another +Peruvian, high in place, was +heard to give an exact account of how +Frederick the Great had driven Napoleon +out of Russia. There have been +some brilliant exceptions to this general +darkness, but the list of them is +very brief, and may be comprised in a +few lines. In their habits the Creoles +are dirty, especially at table; and +the disgusting custom of spitting is +carried to an extent that would make +even a Yankee stare. Their principal +good qualities are abstinence from +strong drinks, hospitality to strangers, +and benevolence to the poor.</p> + +<p>The ladies of Lima, we learn, are +in most respects far superior to the +men. Tall and well made, with regular +features, magnificent eyes and +hair, beautiful teeth, and exquisitely +small feet, they are spoken of by Dr +Tschudi in terms almost of enthusiasm. +Their dress is very original; +one usual part of it being a silk petticoat, +made so narrow at the ankles as +to prevent rapid walking, and to render +their kneeling down in church and +getting up again a matter of some difficulty. +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +During the revolution, when +Lima was held alternately by the +Spaniards and the Patriots, a party +of the former, in order to ascertain +the real sentiments of the Limeños, +disguised themselves as Patriots, and +approached the city. As soon as +their coming was known, a crowd +went out to meet them, and in the +throng were many women with these +narrow <i>sayas</i>. When sufficiently near, +the disguised Spaniards drew their +swords, and cut right and left amongst +the defenceless mob. The men saved +themselves by flight, but the women, +impeded by their absurd petticoats, +were for the most part sabred.</p> + +<p>The Limeñas are good mothers, but +bad housekeepers. Most ladies have +an unnecessarily numerous establishment +of servants and slaves, each of +whom does just what he pleases, and +is rarely at hand when wanted. +Smoking is pretty general amongst +Peruvian women, but is on the decline +rather than the increase. They +are passionately fond of music, and +most of them sing and play the guitar +or piano, although, for want of good +instruction, their performance is usually +but middling. Many of them +are skilled in needle-work; but they +rarely occupy themselves in that manner—never +in company or of an evening. +"Happy city!" exclaims Dr +Tschudi, thinking doubtless of his own +fair countrywomen and their eternal +knitting needles, "where stocking making +is unknown in the social circle!" +We do not find, however, that the +doctor supports his assertion of the +moral superiority of the Creole ladies +over their <i>worser</i> halves, by any very +strong proofs. That assertion, on the +contrary, is followed by the startling +admissions, that they are confirmed +gluttons, and ruin their husbands by +their love of dress; that they gamble +considerably, and intrigue not a few, +favoured in this latter respect by a +certain convenient veil of thick silk, +called a <i>manto</i>, which entirely conceals +their face, having only a small +triangular loop-hole, "through which +a great fiery eye flashes upon you." +We fear that these "flashes," frequently +repeated, have a little dazzled our +learned traveller, and induced him to +look leniently on the sins of the lovely +Limeñas. We do not otherwise know +how to reconcile the evidence with the +eulogium.</p> + +<p>Ardent politicians, and endowed with +a degree of courage not often found +in their sex, these Peruvian dames +have frequently played a prominent +part in revolutions, and by their +manœuvres have even brought about +changes of government. Conspicuous +amongst them was Doña Francisca +Subyaga, wife of the former president, +Gamarra. When, in 1834, her +cowardly and undecided husband was +driven out of Lima by the populace, +and stood lamenting and irresolute +what to do, Doña Francisca snatched +his sword from his side, put herself +at the head of the troops, and commanded +an orderly retreat, the only +means by which to save herself and +the remainder of the army. A bystander +having ventured to utter +some insolent remark, she rode up to +him, and threatened that when she +returned to Lima she would make a +pair of riding-gloves out of his skin. +She died in exile a few months later, +or else, when her husband went back +to Peru four years afterwards, at the +head of a Chilian army, she would +have been likely enough to keep her +word.</p> + +<p>So much for the Limeñas, although +Dr Tschudi gives us a great deal +more information concerning them; +and very amusing this part of his +book is, reminding us considerably of +Madame Calderon's delightful gossip +about Mexico. "Lima," says the +Spanish proverb, "is a heaven to +women, a purgatory to husbands, +and a hell to jackasses." The latter +unfortunate beasts being infamously +used by the negroes, who, +especially the liberated ones, are the +most cruel and vicious race in Peru. +In this latter category must be included +the Zambos and Chinos, half-casts +between negroes and mulattos, +and negroes and Indians. We turn +a few pages and come to the carnival; +during which, judging from the account +before us, we should imagine +that Lima became a hell not only to +ill-treated donkeys, but to man +woman, and child. The chief sport +of that festive season consists in +sprinkling people with water, concerning +the purity of which the sprinklers +are by no means fastidious.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +From nearly every balcony, liquids of +the most various and unsavoury description +are rained down upon the +passers by; at the street corners stand +negroes, who seize upon all who are +not of their own cast, and roll them +in the gutter, unless they prefer paying +a certain ransom, in which case +they get off with a trifling baptism of +dirty water. Troops of young men +force their way into the houses of +their acquaintances and attack the +ladies. First they sprinkle them +with scented water, but when that is +expended, the pump, and even worse, +is had recourse to, and the sport becomes +brutality. The ladies, with +their clothes dripping wet, are chased +from room to room, become heated, +and are frequently rendered dangerously +ill. Diseases of the lungs, and +other rheumatic complaints, are the +invariable consequences of the carnival, +to whose barbarous celebration +many fall victims. Besides this, +every year murders occur out of revenge +for this brutal treatment. One +favourite trick is to fill a sack with +fragments of glass and earthenware, +and fasten it to the balcony by a cord, +the length of which is so calculated, +that when let down the sack hangs +at about seven feet from the ground. +The sack is kept on the balcony till +somebody passes, and is then suddenly +thrown out, but, thanks to the cord, +remains at a safe distance above the +heads of those below. Although it is +tolerably well known that in most +streets there is at least one of these +infernal machines; yet the sudden +shock and alarm are so great, that +persons have been known to fall down +senseless on the spot. Horses are +thus made to shy violently, and frequently +throw their riders. The practice +is each year forbidden by the +police, but the prohibition is disregarded.</p> + +<p>Heaven preserve us from a Lima +carnival! If compelled to choose +we should infinitely prefer a campaign +against the Chilians, which, we apprehend, +must be mere barrack-yard +duty comparatively. No wonder +that the city is becoming depopulated, +when the fairer portion of its inhabitants +are annually subjected to such +inhuman treatment. In some respects +the Peruvians appear to be perfect +barbarians. Their favourite diversions +are of the most cruel order; cock-fighting +and bull-fights—but bull-fights, +compared to which, those still +in vogue in Spain are humane exhibitions. +Peru is the only country in +South America where this last amusement +is kept up as a matter of regular +occurrence. Bull-fighting in Spain +may be considered cruel, but in Peru +it becomes a mere torturing of beasts, +without honour or credit to the men +opposed to them, who are all negroes +and zambos, the very dregs of the +populace. There seems a total want +of national character about the Peruvians. +They are bad copies of the +Spaniards, whose failings they imitate +and out-herod till they become odious +vices. Add to what has been already +shown of their cruel and sensual +propensities, the fact that their +habitations, with the exception of the +two rooms in which visits are received, +bear more resemblance, for cleanliness +and order, to stables than to +human dwellings, and it will be acknowledged +that not a little of the +savage seems to have rubbed off upon +the Peruvian.</p> + +<p>Ice is a necessary of life in Lima, +and is brought from the Cordilleras, a +distance of twenty-eight leagues. So +essential in that ardent climate is this +refreshment, that the lack of it for a +few days is sufficient to cause a notable +ferment among the people; and in all +revolutions, therefore, the leaders +cautiously abstain from applying the +mules used for its carriage, to any +other purpose. The Indians hew the +ice out of the glaciers in lumps of six +arrobas (150 pounds) each, and lower +it from the mountains by ropes. +Other Indians receive and carry it a +couple of leagues to a depot, where it +is packed upon mules. Two lumps +form a mule load, and thirty of these +loads are sent daily to Lima, where, +by means of frequent relays, they arrive +in eighteen or twenty hours. +During the journey the ice loses about +the third of its weight, and what remains +is just sufficient to supply the +city for a day. It is chiefly used in +making ices, composed for the most +part of milk or pine-apple juice.</p> + +<p>The want of good roads, and, in +many directions, of any roads at all, +renders carriage travelling in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +neighbourhood of Lima exceedingly +difficult and expensive. Only southwards +from the city is it possible, at +an enormous cost, to get to a distance +of forty leagues. Sixty or eighty +horses are driven by the side of the +carriage, and every half hour fresh +ones are harnessed, as the only means +of getting the vehicle through the +sand, which is more than a foot deep. +A Peruvian, who was accustomed to +send his wife every year on a visit to +his plantation, at thirty-two leagues +from Lima, told Dr Tschudi that the +journey there and back cost him fourteen +hundred dollars, or somewhere +about three hundred pounds sterling. +In former days, during the brilliant +period of the Spanish domination, +enormous sums were frequently given +for carriages and mules; and the shoes +of the latter, and tires of the wheels, +were often of silver instead of iron. +Even at the present day the Peruvians +expend large sums upon the equipments +of their horses, especially upon +the stirrups, which are ponderous boxes +carved in wood, and lavishly decorated +with silver. A friend of Dr Tschudi's, +a priest from the Sierra, had a pair +made, the silver about which weighed +forty pounds! The saddle and bridle +were proportionably magnificent, and +the value of the silver employed in +the whole equipment was more than +1500 dollars. Spurs are of enormous +size. According to the old usage they +should contain three marks—a pound +and a half—of silver, and be richly +chased and ornamented. The rowels +are one and a half to two inches in +circumference. Besides the saddle, +bridle, and stirrups above described, +the unfortunate Peruvian horses are +oppressed with sheepskin shabrack, +saddle-bags, and various other appliances. +"At first," says our traveller, +"the Peruvian horse-trappings appear +to a stranger both unwieldy and unserviceable; +but he soon becomes +convinced of their suitableness, and +even finds them handsome." <i>We</i> +should not, nor, we dare be sworn, do +the horses, whose many good qualities +certainly deserve a lighter load and +better treatment than they appear to +get. Dr Tschudi speaks highly of +their endurance and speed, although +their usual pace is an amble, at which, +however, they will outstrip many +horses at full gallop. One variety of +this favourite pace, the <i>paso portante</i>, +in which the two feet on the same side +of the body are thrown forward at the +same time, is particularly curious, and +peculiar to the Peruvian horse. The +giraffe is the only other animal that +employs it. In Peru a horse is valued +according to the goodness of his amble. +Beauty of form is a secondary +consideration, and the finest trotters +are thought nothing of, but are sold +cheap for carriage work. It is considered +a serious defect, and greatly +depreciates a horse's value, if he has +the habit of flapping or lashing himself +with his tail when spurred, or at +any other time. As this habit is +found incurable, the sinews of the tail +are sometimes cut through, which, by +crippling it, hinders the obnoxious +flapping.</p> + +<p>The breaking of a Peruvian horse +occupies two years. The horse-breakers +are, for the most part, free +negroes, of powerful build, and they +understand their business perfectly, +only that they ill-treat the animals +too much, and thereby render them +shy. They teach them all sorts of +ambles and manège tricks, one of the +latter consisting in the horse pirouetting +upon his hind legs. This they +do when at full gallop, on the slightest +signal of the rider. A well-known +Limeño, says Dr Tschudi, rode at full +speed up to the city wall, which is +scarcely nine feet broad, leaped upon +it, and made his horse repeatedly +perform this <i>volte</i>, the fore feet of the +beast each time describing the arc of +a circle beyond the edge of the wall. +He performed this feat with every one +of his horses. Further on in the book, +the doctor relates an incident that +occurred to himself, proving the more +valuable qualities of these horses, +their strength, courage, and endurance. +"I had occasion to go from +Huacho to Lima," he says, "and +wished to accomplish this journey +without halting. The distance is +twenty-eight leagues, (at least eighty-four +miles,) and I left Huacho at two +in the afternoon, accompanied by a +negro guide. At one in the morning +we reached the river Pasamayo, +which had been greatly swoln by the +recent rains, and thundered along +with a fearful uproar. Several travellers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +were bivouacked upon the +shore, waiting for daylight, and perhaps +for the subsiding of the waters. +My negro shrugged his shoulders, and +said he had never seen the river so +high; and the travellers agreed with +him, and denied the possibility of +crossing. But I had no time to lose, +and made up my mind to risk the +passage on my good horse, who had +often served me in similar dilemmas. +I cautiously entered the stream, +which, at each step, became deeper +and stronger. My horse soon lost his +footing, and, in spite of his violent +efforts, was swept down by the force +of the current, until we were both +dashed against a rock in the middle +of the river. Just then the moon became +clouded, and I could no longer +distinguish the group of trees on the +opposite shore, which I had fixed +upon to land at. Luckily my horse +had again found a footing; I turned +his head, and plunging into deep +water, the noble beast swam back, +with incredible strength, to the bank +whence we had come. After some +search I found a more favourable +place, and my negro and I succeeded +in crossing. Three travellers, who +were anxious to do the same, but did +not dare venture alone, called to us +for assistance. I sent back the negro +on my own horse, and one by one he +brought them over. Seven times did +the good steed achieve the dangerous +passage, and then carried me without +a halt to Lima, where we arrived at +the hour of noon.</p> + +<p>Such horses as these are indeed +valuable in a country where carriage +roads there are none, or next to +none. The mules, whose price varies +according to their qualities, from 100 +to 1000 dollars, also perform, in spite +of indifferent usage, scanty care, and +frequently poor nourishment, journeys +of great length over the arid sandy +plains of Peru. They are also amblers, +and often as swift as the horses. Dr +Tschudi tells us of a priest at Piura, +who, when he had to read mass at a +sea-port town, fourteen leagues from +his residence, mounted, at six in the +morning, a splendid mule belonging +to him, and reached his destination +at nine o'clock. At four in the afternoon +he set off on his return, and was +home by seven or half-past. The +whole of the road, which led across a +sandflat, was gone over at an amble. +The priest refused enormous sums for +this beast, which he would on no +account sell. At last Salaverry, then +president of Peru, heard of the mule's +extraordinary swiftness, and sent an +aide-de-camp to buy it. The officer +met with a refusal; but no sooner +had he turned his back, than the +priest, who knew Salaverry's despotic +and violent character, cut off his +mule's ears and tail. As he had foreseen, +so it happened. The next +morning a sergeant made his appearance, +bearing positive orders to take +away the animal in dispute, with or +without the owner's sanction. This +was done; but when Salaverry saw +the cropped condition of poor <i>mulo</i>, +he swore all the oaths in the language, +and sent him back again. The priest +had attained his end, for he valued +the beast less for his beauty than for +his more solid qualities.</p> + +<p>The Peruvian <i>cuisine</i> has, not unnaturally, +a considerable similarity +with the Spanish. The puchero or +olla is the basis of the dinner, and of +red pepper, capsicums, and other stimulating +condiments, abundant use is +made. The Limeños have some extraordinary +notions respecting eating +and drinking. They consider that every +sort of food is either heating or cooling, +and is opposed to something else. +The union in the stomach of two of +these contrary substances is attended, +according to their belief, with the +most dangerous consequences, and +may even cause death. A Limeño, +who has eaten rice at dinner, omits +the customary glass of water after the +sweetmeats, because the two things <i>se +oponen</i>, are opposites. To so absurd +an extent is this carried, that servants +who have eaten rice refuse to +wash afterwards, and the washer-women +never eat it. "I have been +asked innumerable times," says Dr +Tschudi, "by persons who had been +ordered a foot-bath at night, whether +they might venture to take it, for that +they had eaten rice at dinner!"</p> + +<p>The market at Lima was formerly +held upon the Plaza Mayor, and was +renowned for the great abundance and +variety of the fruits, vegetables, and +flowers brought thither for sale. But +it is now on the Plazuela de la Inquisicion,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +and its glory has in great +measure departed. Along the sides +of the gutters sit the fish and sausage +sellers, who may be seen washing +their wares in the filthy stream before +them. The butchers exhibit +good meat, but only beef and mutton, +the slaughtering of young beasts being +forbidden by law. On the flower +market are sold Lima nosegays—<i>pucheros +de flores</i>, as they are called. +They are composed of a few specimens +of the smaller tropical fruits, +esteemed either for fragrance or +beauty, laid upon a banana leaf, and +tastefully intermingled with flowers. +The whole is sprinkled with lavender +water and other scents, and is very +pretty to look at, but yields an overpoweringly +strong perfume. The +price depends on the rarity of the +flowers employed, and some of these +pucheros cost seven or eight dollars. +They rank amongst the most acceptable +presents that can be offered to a +Peruvian lady.</p> + +<p>"The city of earthquakes," would +be a far more appropriate name for +Lima, than the city of the kings. On +an average of years, five-and-forty +shocks are annually felt, most of +which occur in the latter half of October, +in November, December, January, +May, and June. January is the +worst month, during which, in many +years, scarcely a day passes without +convulsions of this kind. The terrible +earthquakes that play such havoc +with the city, come at intervals of +forty to sixty years. Since the west +coast of South America is known to +Europeans, the following are the +dates:—1586, 1630, 1687, 1713, 1746, +1806; always two in a century. It +is greatly to be feared that ten more +years will not elapse without Lima +being visited by another of these awful +calamities. Dr Tschudi gives a +brief account of the earthquake of +1746. It was on the 28th of October, +St Simon and St Jude's day, that at +31 minutes past 10 <span class="smcap">P.M.</span>, the earth +shook with a fearful bellowing noise, +and in an instant the whole of Lima +was a heap of ruins. Noise, earthquake, +and destruction were all the +affair of <i>one</i> moment. The few buildings +whose strength resisted the first +shock, were thrown down by a regular +horizontal motion of the earth, +which succeeded it and lasted four +minutes. Out of more than three +thousand houses only twenty-one remained +uninjured. Nearly all the +public buildings were overthrown. +At the port of Callao the destruction +was even more complete; for +scarcely was the earthquake over, +when the sea arose with a mighty +rushing sound, and swallowed up both +town and inhabitants. In an instant +five thousand human beings became +the prey of the waters.<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> The Spanish +corvette San Fermin, which lay +at anchor in the harbour, was hurled +far over the walls of the fortress, and +stranded at more than five hundred +yards from the shore. A cross marks +the place where she struck. Three +heavily laden merchantmen met the +same fate, and nineteen other vessels +foundered. The town had disappeared, +and travellers have related how, +even now, when the sky is bright and +the sea still, the houses and churches +may be dimly seen through the +transparent waters. Such a tale as +this is scarce worth refuting, seeing +that the houses were overturned by +the earthquake before they were overwhelmed +by the sea, whose action +must long since have destroyed their +every vestige. But the old sailors +along that coast love to tell how on +certain days the people are seen sitting +at the doors of their houses, and +standing about in the streets, and +how, in the silent watches of the night, +a cock has been heard to crow from +out of the depths of the sea.</p> + +<p>Meteors frequently appear as forerunners +of the earthquakes, amongst +whose consequences may be reckoned +the sudden sterilizing of districts previously +fruitful, but which, after one +of these convulsions of nature, refuse +for many years to put forth vegetation. +No frequency of repetition diminishes +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>the alarm and horror occasioned +by the shocks. The inhabitants +of Lima, although accustomed +from their earliest childhood to +the constant recurrence of such phenomena, +spring from their beds at the +first quivering of the earth, and with +cries of "misericordia!" rush out of +their houses. The European, who +knows nothing of earthquakes but the +name, almost wishes for the arrival of +one, and is sometimes inclined to +laugh at the terror of the Peruvians; +but when he has once felt a shock, +any disposition to make merry on the +subject disappears, and his dread of +its recurrence is even greater than that +of the natives. The deeply unpleasant +impression left by an earthquake, +is in Lima heightened by the <i>plegarias</i> +or general prayers that succeed it. +The shock has no sooner been felt, +than a signal is given from the cathedral, +and during ten minutes all the +bells in the town toll with long, measured +strokes to call the inhabitants +to their devotions.</p> + +<p>A pleasant country to live in! +Those who may feel tempted by the +doctor's commendation of the fascinating +Limeñas—the delightful, although +not very healthy, climate—the +luscious fruits, and gorgeous flowers, +and manifold wonders of Peru—to gird +up their loins and betake themselves +thither, will perhaps think twice of it +when they learn that an earthquake +might, and probably would, be their +welcome. Descriptions of tropical +countries remind us of those pictures +of Italian festivals, where nymph-like +damsels and Antinöus-looking youths +are gracefully dancing round grape-laden +cars; whilst some fine old Belisarius +of a grandpapa, white bearded +and benignant, sits upon the shaft and +smiles upon his descendants. One +sees the graceful forms, the classic +features, the bursting grapes, and the +bright sunshine; all of which, like +enough, are depicted to the life, but +one sees nothing of the filth, and nastiness, +and crawling vermin, that +would awfully shock us in the originals +of the picture. Not that we +mean to accuse Dr Tschudi of painting +Peru in rose-colour, or remaining +silent as to its defects. He is a conscientious +traveller, and gives us +things as he finds them. Besides the +great nuisance of the earthquakes, +and the lesser one of dirt, already adverted +to; besides the armies of fleas, +which render even the Lima theatre +almost unvisitable—not mild European +fleas, but sanguinary Spanish-American +ones; besides the malaria +in the swamps, the <i>piques</i>, <i>chinches</i>, +mosquitos, and other insect tormentors, +he favours us with some agreeable +details touching the highwaymen +who infest the whole coast of Peru, +but especially the neighbourhood of +Lima and Truxillo. They are usually +runaway slaves, <i>simarrones</i>, as they +are called, or else free negroes, zambos, +and mulattos. Now and then +Indians are found amongst them, who +make themselves conspicuous by their +cold-blooded cruelties, and occasionally +even a white man takes to this +infamous trade. In 1839 a North +American, who had served on board +of a man-of-war, was shot for highway +robbery. Shooting, it must be +observed, appears to be the usual way +of inflicting capital punishment in +Peru. These banditti, well mounted +and armed, are very bold and numerous, +and most of them belong to an +extensive and well organised band, +which has branches in various directions. +Sometimes they approach the +city in parties of thirty or forty men, +and plunder all travellers who leave +it. They prefer attacking foreigners, +and usually spare the richer and more +influential Peruvians, which may be +one cause that stronger measures are +not adopted against them. Shortly +before Dr Tschudi's departure from +Lima, they attacked the feeble escort +of a sum of one hundred thousand +dollars, which were on their way to +the mines of Cerro de Pasco, and +carried off the money. The silver +bars sent from the mines to the city +they allow to pass unmolested, as +being too heavy and cumbersome. +The unfortunate peasants who come +in from the mountains on jackasses, +with eggs and other produce, are +marked for their particular prey, on +account of the money which they +usually carry with them to make purchases +in the town. If no dollars are +found on them, they are killed or +terribly maltreated. We pass over +some stories of the cruelties exercised +by these bandits. Here is one of another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +sort. "One night that I found +myself at Chancay," says the doctor, +"an Indian told me the following anecdote: +About half a mile from the village, +he said, he had been met by a +negro, who approached him with carbine +cocked, and ordered him to halt. +The Indian drew a large pistol, and +said to the robber, 'You may thank +heaven that this is not loaded, or it +would be all over with you.' Laughing +scornfully, the negro rode up and +seized the Indian, who then pulled +the trigger of his pistol and shot him +dead on the spot."</p> + +<p>When attacked by the police or +military, the robbers display desperate +courage in their defence. Sometimes +they take shelter in the bush or +thicket, to which, if the space of +ground it covers be not too extensive, +the pursuers set fire on all sides; so +that the bandits have no choice but +to perish or yield themselves prisoners. +In the latter case their trial is +very short, and after they have been +left shut up with a priest for the space +of twelve hours, they are brought out +and shot. They are allowed to choose +their place of execution, and must +carry thither a small bench or stool +upon which they sit down. Four +soldiers stand at a distance of three +paces; two aim at the head and two +at the heart. A few years ago a +Zambo of great daring was sentenced +to death for robbery, and he demanded +to be shot upon the Plaza de la +Inquisicion. He sat down upon his +bench—the soldiers levelled and fired. +When the smoke of the discharge +blew away, the Zambo had disappeared. +He had watched each movement +of the soldiers, and at the very moment +that they laid finger on trigger, +had thrown himself on one side and +taken refuge amidst the crowd, some +of whom favoured his escape. In +time of war a corps is formed composed +chiefly of these banditti, and of +men who have made themselves in +some way obnoxious to the laws. +They go by the name of Montoneros, +and are found very useful as spies, +skirmishers, despatch-bearers, &c., +but are generally more remarkable for +cruelty than courage. They wear no +uniform; and sometimes they have +not even shoes, but strap their spurs +on their naked heels. In the year +1838, the Anglo-Peruvian general, +Miller, commanded a thousand of +these montoneros who were in the +service of Santa Cruz. When war is +at an end, these wild troops disband +themselves, and for the most part return +to their former occupation.</p> + +<p>Abandoning Lima and its environs, +Dr Tschudi takes us with him on a +visit to the various towns and villages +along the coast, proceeding first north +and then south of the capital. In a +coasting voyage to the port of Huacho, +he has the honour to reckon amongst +his fellow passengers, Lord Cochrane's +friend, the celebrated Padre Requena, +then cura of that town. Of this ecclesiastic, +of whom he, after his arrival, +saw a good deal, he draws a picture +which may be taken as a general +type of the Peruvian priesthood, and is +by no means creditable to them. Requena's +chief passion is coursing, and +his greatest annoyance, during Dr +Tschudi's stay in Huacho, was, that +ill health, brought on by his excesses, +prevented him from indulging it. He +had several magnificent horses, and +a numerous pack of greyhounds, some +of which latter had cost him one hundred +and fifty and two hundred dollars +a-piece. His seraglio was almost as +well stocked as his kennel, and the +number of children who called him +<i>tio</i>, or <i>uncle</i>, the usual term in Peru in +such cases, was quite prodigious. He +took great pride in talking of his +friendship with Lord Cochrane. He +died a few weeks after his return to +Huacho, and delayed so long to send +for a confessor that the Indians at last +surrounded the house with frightful +menaces, and sent in a priest to render +him the last offices of the church. +He had great difficulty in making up +his mind to death, or, as he expressed +it, to a separation from his greyhounds +and horses. At almost the last moment, +when his hands began to grow +cold, he made his negro put on them +a pair of buckskin gloves.</p> + +<p>This respectable priest was by no +means singular in his love of the +chase, of which frequent examples are +to be found in Peru. On reaching +Quipico, the most easterly plantation +in the beautiful valley of Huaura, Dr. +Tschudi had scarcely entered the +courtyard when he was surrounded by +upwards of fifty greyhounds, whilst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +from every quarter others came springing +towards him. They were the remains +of a pack that had belonged to +one Castilla, recently the owner of +the plantation, and whose usual establishment +consisted of two to three +hundred of these dogs, with which he +every day went coursing. The strictest +discipline was kept up amongst this +lightfooted multitude. At stated +hours a bell summoned them to their +meals, and in the kennel stood a gibbet, +as a warning to the lazy or perverse. +One day, when Castilla was +out hunting, an Indian came up, with +an ordinary-looking crossbred dog. +In spite of his looks this dog out-stripped +the whole pack, and pulled +down the roebuck. Castilla immediately +purchased him at the enormous +price of three hundred and fifty dollars. +A few days afterwards he again +went out with his best hounds and +his new acquisition. The leashes were +slipped, and the greyhounds went off +like the wind, but the crossbreed remained +quietly by the horses. The +same afternoon he was hung up to +the gallows, an example to his fellows.</p> + +<p>The whole extent of the Peruvian +coast, from its northern to its southern +extremity, presents nearly the same +aspect; vast deserts of sand, varied +by fruitful valleys, with their villages +and plantations; seaport towns +there where nature or commerce has +encouraged their foundation; alternate +insupportable heat and damp +fog; scarcity of men; crumbling +monuments of a period of riches and +greatness. In the sandy plains it is +no unusual occurrence for travellers to +lose their way and perish for thirst. +In that fervent and unhealthy climate, +human strength rapidly gives way +before want of food and water. In +the year 1823 a transport carrying +a regiment of dragoons, three hundred +and twenty strong, stranded on the +coast near Pisco. The soldiers got on +shore, and wandered for thirty-six +hours through the sand-waste, out of +which they were unable to find their +way. At the end of that time they +were met by a number of horsemen +with water and food, who had been +sent out from Pisco to seek them, but +already one hundred and fifty of the +unfortunates had died of thirst and +weariness, and fifty more expired upon +the following day. Forty-eight hours' +wandering in those arid deserts, deprived +of food and drink, is certain +death to the strongest man. Rivers +are scarce, and even where the bed of +a stream is found, it is in many instances +dry during the greater part of +the year. The traveller's danger is +increased by the shifting nature of the +sand, which the wind raises in enormous +clouds, and in columns eighty to +one hundred feet high. The <i>medanos</i> +are another strange phenomenon of +these dangerous wilds. They are +sandhills in the form of a crescent, +ten to twenty feet high, and with a +sharp crest. Their base is moveable, +and when impelled by a tolerably +strong wind, they wander rapidly over +the desert; the smaller ones, more +easily propelled, preceding the large. +The latter, however, after a time, +prevent the current of air from reaching +the former—take the wind out of +their sails, it may be said—and then +run over and crush them, themselves +breaking up at the same time. In a +few hours, what was previously a +level, is often covered with ranges of +hillocks, hindering a view of the horizon, +and bewildering the most experienced +wanderers through these +perilous regions. In November the +summer begins. The scorching rays +of the sun break through the grey +covering of the heavens, and threaten +to consume, by their intensity, the +entire vegetable and animal creation. +Not a plant finds nourishment, nor a +beast food upon the parched and +glowing soil; no bird or insect floats +upon the sultry air. Only in the +upper regions is seen the majestic +condor, flying towards the ocean. +All life and movement is now confined +to the coast. Troops of vultures +assemble around the stranded carcases +of sea monsters; otters and +seals bask beneath the cliffs; variegated +lizards scamper over the sand-heaps, +and busy crabs and sea-spiders +dig into the damp shore. In May +the scene changes. A thin veil of +mist spreads over sea and coast, gradually +thickening, until in October +the sun again dispels it. At the beginning +and end of this winter, as it +is called, the fog generally rises at +nine or ten in the morning, and +is again dissipated at three in the afternoon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +It is thickest in August and +September, when, for weeks together, +it does not lift. It never changes +into rain, but only into a fine penetrating +mist, called the <i>garua</i>. On +many parts of the Peruvian coast, it +never rains, excepting after a very +violent earthquake, and even then +not always. The usual height of the +fog from the ground is seven or +eight hundred feet. It never exceeds +a height of twelve hundred feet, +nor is found at all beyond a few miles +from the coast, at which distance it is +replaced by violent rains. The boundary +line between rain and fog may be +determined with almost mathematical +accuracy. Dr Tschudi visited two +plantations, one about six leagues +from Lima, the other in the neighbourhood +of Huacho, one half of +which was annually watered by the +<i>garuas</i>, and the other half by rain. +A wall was built upon the line where +one mode of irrigation ceased and the +other began.</p> + +<p>The province of Yca, whose soil is +sandy, and to all appearance incapable +of producing any description of +vegetation, is devoted to the culture +of the vine, which perfectly succeeds +there. The young plants are set half +a foot deep in the sand, and left to +themselves; they speedily put forth +leaves, and yield a luxuriant crop of +grapes, remarkable for flavour and +juiciness. These are mostly used for +brandy, with which the whole of Peru +and great part of Chili are supplied +from the valley of Yca. It is of +excellent quality, especially a sort +made from muscatel grapes, and called +<i>aguardiente de Italia</i>. Very little +wine is made, except by one planter, +Don Domingo Elias, who has attempted +it after the European fashion. +The result has been a wine resembling +Madeira and Teneriffe, only much +more fiery, and containing a larger proportion +of alcohol. The brandy was +formerly conveyed to the coast in huge +earthen <i>botijas</i>, capable of containing +one hundred and fifty to one hundred +and seventy-five pounds weight of the +liquor; but these were continually +broken, chiefly by the thirsty mules +across which they were slung like +panniers, and who, when rushing in +crowds to the watering-places, invariably +smashed a number of them +against each other. To remedy this +the brandy-growers have adopted the +use of goat-skins; and the manner in +which, upon many plantations, these +are prepared, is as frightful a piece of +barbarity as can well be imagined. A +negro hangs up the goat, alive, by the +horns, makes a circular cut through +the skin of the neck, and strips the +hide from the agonized beast, which +is only killed when completely flayed. +The pretext for this execrable cruelty +is, that the skin comes off more easily, +and is found more durable. It is to +be hoped that the planters will have +sufficient humanity speedily to do +away with so horrible a practice.</p> + +<p>The negro carnival, which Dr +Tschudi witnessed at Yca, appears to +us, of the two, a more civilized performance +than the Creole carnival at +Lima. In various of the streets large +arches, tastefully decorated with ribands, +are erected; the negresses and +zambas dance beneath then; whilst +the allotted task of the men is to gallop +through without being stopped. +If the women succeed in checking the +horse, and pulling the rider out of the +saddle, the latter has to pay a fine, +and gets laughed at to boot. It is +difficult to know which to admire +most; the speed of the horses, the +skill of the riders, or the daring of the +women, who throw themselves upon +the horse as he comes on at full gallop. +As the horsemen approach, they +are pelted with unripe oranges, which, +thrown by a strong-armed zamba, are +capable of inflicting tolerably hard +knocks. Dr Tschudi saw one negro +who, during a whole hour, galloped +backwards and forwards without being +stopped, and concluded by giving +an extraordinary proof of muscular +strength. At the very moment that +he passed under the arch, he stooped +forward over his horse's neck, caught +up a negress under each arm, and +rode off with them!</p> + +<p>Opposite to the ports of Pisco and +Chincha, lie a number of small islands, +noted for their large deposits of guano, +or <i>huanu</i>, as Dr Tschudi corrects the +orthography of the word. The doctor +gives some very interesting particulars +concerning this efficacious manure, +which, although but recently adopted +in Europe, appears to have been used +in Peru as far back as the time of the +first Incas. The Peruvians use it +chiefly for the maize and potato fields; +their manner of employing it is peculiar, +and but little known in Europe.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +A few weeks after the seeds have begun +to germinate, a small hole is +made beside each plant, filled with +huanu and covered up with earth. +Twelve or fifteen hours later the whole +field is laid under water, and left so +for a few hours. The effect of the +process is incredibly rapid. In a very +few days the plants attain double +their previous height. When the operation +is repeated, but with a smaller +quantity of the huanu, the farmer may +reckon upon a crop at least threefold +that which he would obtain from an +unmanured soil. Of the white huanu, +which is much stronger than the dark-coloured, +less must be used, and the +field must be watered sooner, and for +a longer time, or the roots will be destroyed. +When the land is tolerably +good, seven hundred and fifty to nine +hundred pounds of huanu are reckoned +sufficient for a surface of fourteen +thousand square feet; with poor soil +a thousand to twelve hundred pounds +are required.</p> + +<p>The waters that wash the coast +of Peru swarm with fish, upon many +of which nature has amused herself +in bestowing the most singular +and anomalous forms. For a period +of six weeks, Dr Tschudi took up his +abode at the port of Huacho, with a +view to increase his ichthyological +collection. Every morning at five +o'clock he rode down to the beach to +await the return of the fishermen from +their nocturnal expeditions. From +as far as they could distinguish him, +the Indians would hold up to his notice +some strange and newly captured +variety of the finny race. He succeeded +in getting together many hundred +specimens of about a hundred +and twenty species of sea and river +fish; but ill luck attended this valuable +collection. Through the negligence +of the people at the port of +Callao, a cask of brandy, in which +the fish were preserved, was left for +months upon the mole in the burning +sun, till its contents were completely +spoiled. A second cask, in spite of the +most careful packing, arrived in Europe, +after a fifteen months' voyage, +in a similar condition. This, however, was +not the only instance, during +the doctor's stay in Peru, of the fruits +of great industry, and trouble, and +heavy expense, being snatched from +him by untoward accidents. But nothing +seems to have discouraged a +man actuated by a sincere love of +science and thirst for information, and +possessed, as is made manifest by +many parts of his modest and unegotistical +narrative, of great determination +and perseverance. Steadily he +continued his researches, in defiance +of difficulties and sufferings that would +have driven ordinary men over and +over again on board the first ship sailing +for Europe.</p> + +<p>We have as yet scarcely referred +to those portions of the volume dedicated +to natural history, although the +doctor rarely dismisses a province or +district without giving a brief but interesting +account of its most remarkable +animals, fruits, and plants. His +description of some of these is very +curious. Amongst others, he tells us +of a small bird called the <i>cheucau</i>, +(Pteroptochus rubecula Kittl,) in +connexion with which the people of +Chiloë, of which island it is a native, +entertain a host of superstitious fancies, +foretelling good or bad luck according +to the various modulations of +its song. "I was one day," says the +doctor, "out shooting with an Indian +guide, when we came upon one of +these birds, sitting on a bush and piping +out a shrill <i>huit-huit-ru</i>. I had +already taken aim at it, when my +companion seized my arm, and begged +me not to shoot it, for that it was +singing its unlucky note. Wishing to +obtain a specimen, I disregarded his +entreaty and fired. I had leaned my +gun against a tree, and was examining +the little bird, when a vicious +mule, irritated probably by the report, +came charging down upon us, so that +we had only just time to run behind +a hedge in order to escape his attack. +Before we could find means to drive +the enraged animal away, he had +thrown down my gun, bitten it furiously, +and stamped on it with his +fore-feet. The Indian gravely said +that it would be well if no worse came +of it, for that he had told me the bird +was whistling bad luck." There is +another bird, about the size of a starling, +which passes its time, and finds +its food, upon the backs of the cattle, +and chiefly of horses and jackasses, +picking out the insects which there +abound. The beasts seem to feel that +he is doing them a service, and allow +him to walk unmolested over their +backs and heads. Of the beasts of +prey, the ounce is the most dangerous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +and bloodthirsty. It attains a very +large size, and Dr Tschudi saw the +carcass of one that measured eight +feet and three inches from the nose +to the extremity of the tail. The +tail was two feet and eight inches +long. It had been killed after a +two days' hunt, during which, +three negroes had been dangerously +wounded by it. Of Peruvian fruits, +the most delicious is the chirimoya. +It is of a round form, sometimes heart-shaped +or pyramidal, its rind thick +and tough, of a green colour streaked +with black. The inside is snow-white, +soft and juicy, with black pips or seeds. +Near Lima, they are small and of +inferior quality, sometimes not larger +than a man's fist; but in the interior, +and especially in the province of Huanuco, +they attain their full perfection, +and often weigh fourteen or sixteen +pounds. Their smell is most fragrant, +and their delicious flavour, Dr +Tschudi says, he can compare to nothing, +for it is incomparable.</p> + +<p>We perceive, on glancing over what +we have written, that we have occupied +ourselves chiefly with the lighter +portions of this book, and, by so doing, +may have given the reader an erroneous +idea of its value. Although, as +already mentioned, the more important +and scientific results of Dr Tschudi's +travels are to be found in others +of his works, the one before us must +not be set down as a mere amusing +and ephemeral production. It contains +a great deal of curious information, +and will be found useful as a +book of reference by all who are interested +in the commerce, natural history, +and general statistics of Peru.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding our endeavours to +"go a-head," we have got no further +than the conclusion of the first volume. +In the second, which is also the final +one, the doctor abandons the coast +and the city, and penetrates into what +may be termed the Peruvian back-woods, +amongst the snow-covered +Cordilleras and aboriginal forests, the +silver mines and Indians. Of what +he there saw and heard we shall give +an account in our next Number.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LETTERS ON ENGLISH HEXAMETERS.</h2> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">Letter</span> I.</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Mr Editor</span>—I perceive, by your having requested a second specimen +of N.N.T.'s English hexameters, that you feel an interest in the question, +whether that form of verse can be successfully employed in our language. +Certainly the trial has never yet been made under any moderate advantages. +Sidney, and the other Elizabethans, in their attempts, hampered themselves +with Latin rules of the value of syllables, which the English ear refuses to +recognise, and which drive them into intolerable harshness of expression and +pronunciation. Stanihurst's <i>Virgil</i> is so laboriously ridiculous in phraseology, +that every thing belonging to it is involved in the ridicule. Southey's <i>Vision</i> +is a poem so offensive in its scheme, that no measure could have made it +acceptable. Yet the beginning of that poem is, as you, Mr Editor, have +remarked, a very happy specimen of this kind of verse; and would, I think, +by a common English reader, be admired, independently of classical rules +and classical recollections. Now, if we can reach this point, and at the same +time give a good English imitation of the Epic mode of narration in Homer, +we shall have a better image of Homer in our language than we yet possess. +Your contributor appears to me to have advanced a good way towards the +execution of this kind of work; and I should be glad if he, or you, would +allow me, as a reader of English hexameters, to offer a few remarks on his +first book of the <i>Iliad</i>, with a view to point out what appear to me the +dangers and difficulties of the task. I do not say any thing of my general +admiration of N.N.T.'s version, for mere praise you would hardly think +worth its room.</p> + +<p>I should be glad to discuss with you, Mr Editor, the objections which are +usually made to English hexameters. There is one of these objections which +I will say a few words about at present. It proceeds upon a misapprehension, +now, I hope, pretty generally rectified; I mean the objection that we cannot +have hexameters, "because we have so few spondees the language." +Southey says we have but one, <i>Egypt</i>; and gives this as a reason why the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +spondees of classical hexameters are replaced by trochees in German and +English. As to Southey's example, <i>Egypt</i> is no more a spondee than <i>precept</i> +or <i>rescript</i>; but the fact is, that we have in English spondees in abundance; +and these spondees have tended more than any thing else to spoil our hexameters. +The universal English feeling of rhythm rejects a spondee at the end of +the verse; and if the syllables there placed are such as would, in the natural +course of pronunciation, form a spondee, we nevertheless force upon them a +trochaic character. This may be worth proving. Read, then, the following +lines of Sidney:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"But yet well do I find each man most wise in his <i>own case</i>."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"And yet neither of ūs great ōr blest deemeth his <i>own self</i>."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Shall such morning dews be an ease to heat of a <i>love's fire</i>?"<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Tush, tush, said Natūre, this is all but a trifle; a <i>man's self</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gives haps or mishaps, ev'n as he ord'reth his heart."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Now, here you have four endings which are naturally spondees; but the verse +compels you to pronounce them as trochees—<i>ōwn căse</i>, <i>ōwn sĕlf</i>, <i>lōve's fĭre</i>, +<i>mān's sĕlf</i>. If you still doubt whether the last foot of English hexameters is +necessarily a trochee, consider this:—that if you make them rhyme, you +must use double rhymes, in order that the rhyme may include the strong syllable. +Thus take any of the examples given in <i>Maga</i> for April last:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"See, O citizens! here old Ennius's image pre<i>sented</i>.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Honour me not with your tears; by none let my death be la<i>mented</i>."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>The ear would not be satisfied with a rhyme of one syllable such as this—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"But yet well do I find each man most wise in his own <i>case</i>:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Wisely let each resolve, and meet the event with a calm <i>face</i>."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Now, so long as men retain the notion that the most perfect English hexameters +are those which have spondees in the classical places, they are led to +admit such verses as those just quoted; and this being done, the common +reader, and indeed every reader, is compelled to do some violence to the +language in reading. This, more than any thing else, has made an English +hexameter frequently sound forced and unnatural. N.N.T. has a few such +in his first <i>Iliad</i>.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Pressed on the silvery hilt as he spake was the weight of his <i>right hand</i>."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Two generations complete of the blood of articulate <i>mankind</i>."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Over the split wood then did the old man burn them, and <i>black wine</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pour'd."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>These forms of English hexameter are to be avoided, if you would commend +the verse to the common ear. And we may exclude them with a good +conscience. Their forced and uneasy movement does not arise from any imperfection +in our English spondees; but from the spondee in these cases being +so perfect, that it cannot without some violence be made a trochee, which the +English verse requires. I do not think you will find this bad trick in Southey. +His habitual feeling of English rhythm preserved him from it.</p> + +<p>But there is another blemish, which Southey, forgetting his classical rhythm +too much, for it ought to have guided his English practice, has often incurred. +It is, the writing lines without a <i>cæsura</i>, so that they divide themselves into +half lines. Such as these:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Washington, said the monarch, | well hast thou spoken and truly."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Evil they sow, and sorrow | will they reap for their harvest."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"That its tribute of honour, | poor though it was, was witholden."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Pure it was and diaphanous. | It had no visible lustre."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>N.N.T. has a few of these. One is the last line I quoted from him.</p> + +<p>The essential point in English hexameters, especially while they are imperfectly +naturalized, is, that the rhythm should be <i>unforced</i>. Without this, +they will always repel and offend the English reader. And hence, though +our rhythm is to be constructed by stress, and not by Latin rules of long and +short, still, if it do not destroy it mars the verse, to have, for short syllables, +those which have long vowels, clustered consonants, or special emphasis.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>Such are the dactyls at the beginning of these lines of Southey:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Thōu, tŏo, dĭdst act with upright heart as befitted a sovereign."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Hēaven ĭn thĕse things fulfilled its wise though inscrutable purpose."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Heār, Heăv'n! y̆e angels hear! souls of the good and the wicked."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Except you prefer to read it thus—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i4">"Hear, Heav'n! yē ăngĕls hear!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>which is no better. Perhaps the worst of Southey's lines in this way is this—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2">"Flōw'd thĕ lĭght ūncrēātĕd; lĭght all sufficing, eternal."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>And as examples of weak syllables harshly made strong, take these—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Fabius, Ātrides, and Solon and Epamininondas."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Here, then, āt the gate of Heaven we are met! said the Spirit."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Thē desire of my heart hath been alway the good of my people."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>N.N.T. has some examples of this. As a slight one, I notice at the end of +a line, <i>hārvĕstlĕss ocean</i>. And these, which are spoiled by the violation of emphasis:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Trūly <i>Ĭ</i> came not, for one, out of hate for the spearmen of Troja."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"Mightier even than you, yet amōng <i>thĕm</i> Ĭ never was slighted."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Here we have an emphatic <i>I</i> and an emphatic <i>them</i> which are made short +in the rhythm.</p> + +<p>N.N.T. has one dactyl which I can hardly suppose was intended—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i4">"Under his chāstĭsĭng hand."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>It appears to me that we shall never bring the lovers of English poetry to +like our hexameters, except we can make the verses so that they <i>read themselves</i>. +This the good ones among them do. N.N.T. has whole passages which +run off without any violence or distortion.</p> + +<p>But the phraseology of English hexameters requires great care, as well as +the rhythm, and especially in such a work as the translation of Homer. The +measure has the great advantage of freeing us from the habitual chain of +"poetical diction." But we must take care that we are not led, by this +freedom, either into a modern prose style, or into mean colloquialities; or in +translating, into phrases which, though expressive and lively, do not agree +with the tone of the poem. The style must be homely, but dignified, like that +of our translation of the Old Testament. Perhaps you will allow me, for the +sake of example, to notice some of N.N.T.'s expressions:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Try not the engine of craft: to <i>come over me</i> thus is <i>beyond thee</i>."<br /></span> +<p><br /></p> +<span class="i0">"This the <i>suggestion</i>, <i>forsooth</i>, that thyself being safe with thy booty,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I shall <i>sit down</i> without mine."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>The phrase to "<i>come over me</i>" is colloquial, and too low even for a letter. +"Your <i>suggestion</i>" is a phrase for a letter, not for an epic poem. "<i>Forsooth</i>" +would be good in construing, but not in a poem. Again, is this passage serious +English:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Opposite rose Agamemnon in wrath, but before he could <i>open</i>?"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>I could notice other blemishes of style, as they seem to me; and, indeed, I +could the more easily find them, on account of the very severe standard of +good English, serious and dignified, yet plain and idiomatic, which I think +the case requires. Every phrase should be the very best that can be found +both for meaning and tone. I know that this requirement is difficult; but I +think the thing may be done; and I do not see why N.N.T. should not do it, +and thus give us a better English Homer than we have yet.</p> + +<p>If you can find room for me, I have a few more words to say on this same +matter of English hexameters another day. It appears to me that there are +still very erroneous notions current upon the subject. In the mean time I +subscribe myself your obedient</p> + + +<div class="author">M. L.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> + +<h2>MARLBOROUGH'S DISPATCHES.</h2> + +<h3>1708-1709.</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> fall of the external walls of +Lille did not terminate the struggle +for that important fortress. Marshal +Boufflers still held the citadel, a stronghold +in itself equal to most fortresses +of the first order. No sooner, however, +were the Allies in possession of +the town, than the attack on the citadel +commenced with all the vigour +which the exhausted state of the magazines +would furnish. Detached parties +were sent into France, which +levied contributions to a great extent, +and both replenished the stores of +the Allies and depressed the spirits of +the French, by making them feel, in a +manner not to be misunderstood, that +the war had at length approached +their own doors. To divert, if possible, +Marlborough from his enterprise, the +Elector of Bavaria, who had recently +returned from the Rhine, was detached +by Vendôme, with fifteen thousand +men against Brussels; while he himself +remained in his intrenched camp +on the Scheldt, which barred the +road from Lille to that city, at once +stopping the communication, and ready +to profit by any advantage afforded +by the measures which the English +general might make for its relief. +The governor of Brussels, M. Paschal, +who had seven thousand men under +his orders, rejected the summons to +surrender, and prepared for a vigorous +defence; and meanwhile Marlborough +prepared for its relief, by one of those +brilliant strokes which, in so peculiar +a manner, characterize his campaigns.</p> + +<p>Giving out that he was going to +separate his army into winter-quarters, +he dispatched the field artillery towards +Menin, and he himself set out +with his staff in rather an ostentatious +way for Courtray. But no sooner +had he lulled the vigilance of the +enemy by these steps, than, wheeling +suddenly round, he advanced with the +bulk of his forces towards the Scheldt, +and directed them against that part +of the French general's lines where he +knew them to be weakest. The army, +upon seeing these movements, anticipated +the bloodiest battle, on the day +following, they had yet had during the +war. But the skill of the English +general rendered resistance hopeless, +and gained his object with wonderfully +little loss. The passage of the river +was rapidly effected at three points; +the French corps stationed at Oudenarde, +vigorously assailed and driven +back on Grammont with the loss of +twelve hundred men, so as to leave the +road uncovered, and restore the communication +with Brussels. Having thus +cleared the way of the enemy, Marlborough +sent back Eugene to resume +the siege of the citadel of Lille; while +he himself, with the greater part of his +forces, proceeded on to Brussels, +which he entered in triumph on the +29th November. The Elector of Bavaria +was too happy to escape, leaving +his guns and wounded behind; and +the citadel of Lille, despairing now of +succour, capitulated on the 11th December. +Thus was this memorable +campaign terminated by the capture +of the strongest frontier fortress of +France, under the eyes of its best +general and most powerful army.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p> + +<p>But Marlborough, like the hero in +antiquity, deemed nothing done while +any thing remained to do. Though +his troops were exhausted by marching +and fighting almost without intermission +for five months, and he +himself was labouring under severe +illness in consequence of his fatigues, +he resolved in the depth of winter to +make an attempt for the recovery of +Ghent, the loss of which in the early +part of the campaign had been the +subject of deep mortification. The +enemy, after the citadel of Lille capitulated, +having naturally broken up +their army into cantonments, under +the belief that the campaign was +concluded, he suddenly collected his +forces, and drew round Ghent on the +18th December. Eugene formed the +covering force with the corps lately +employed in the reduction of Lille. +The garrison was very strong, consisting +of no less than thirty battalions +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +and nineteen squadrons, mustering +eighteen thousand combatants.<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> The +governor had been instructed by Vendôme +to defend this important stronghold +to the last extremity; but he was +inadequately supplied with provisions +and forage, and this event signally +belied the expectations formed of his +resistance. The approaches were vigorously +pushed. On the 24th the +trenches were opened; on the 25th +a sortie was repulsed; on the 28th +December, the fire began with great +vigour from the breaching and mortar +batteries; and at noon, the governor +sent a flag of truce, offering to capitulate +if not relieved before the 2d +January. This was agreed to; and on +the latter day, as no friendly force +approached, the garrison surrendered +the gates and marched out, +in such strength that they were +defiling incessantly from ten in the +morning till seven at night! Bruges +immediately followed the example; +the garrison capitulated, and the town +again hoisted the Austrian flag. The +minor forts of Plassendall and Leffinghen +were immediately evacuated by +the enemy. With such expedition +were these important operations conducted, +that before Vendôme could +even assemble a force adequate to interrupt +the besiegers' operations, both +towns were taken, and the French +were entirely dispossessed of all the +important strongholds they had gained +in the early part of the campaign in +the heart of Brabant. Having closed +his labours with these glorious successes, +Marlborough put the army into +now secure winter-quarters on the +Flemish frontiers, and himself repaired +to the Hague to resume the eternal +contest with the timidity and selfishness +of his Dutch allies.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<p>Such was the memorable campaign +of 1708—one of the most glorious in +the military annals of England, and +the one in which the extraordinary +capacity of the British general perhaps +shone forth with the brightest +lustre. The vigour and talent of +Vendôme, joined to the secret communication +which he had with those +disaffected to the Austrian government +in Ghent and Bruges, procured +for him, in the commencement of the +campaign, a great, and what, if opposed +by less ability, might have proved +a decisive advantage. By the acquisition +of these towns, he gained the +immense advantage of obtaining the +entire command of the water communication +of Brabant, and establishing +himself in a solid manner in the +heart of the enemy's territory. The +entire expulsion of the Allies from +Austrian Flanders seemed the unavoidable +result of such a success, by +so enterprising a general at the head +of a hundred thousand combatants. +But Marlborough was not discouraged; +on the contrary, he built on the enemy's +early successes a course of manœuvres, +which in the end wrested all +his conquests from him, and inflicted a +series of disasters greater than could +possibly have been anticipated from a +campaign of unbroken success. Boldly +assuming the lead, he struck such a +blow at Oudenarde as resounded +from one end of Europe to the other, +struck a terror into the enemy which +they never recovered for the remainder +of the campaign, paralysed Vendôme +in the midst of his success, and +reduced him from a vigorous offensive +to a painful defensive struggle. While +the cabinet of Versailles were dreaming +of expelling the Allies from Flanders, +and detaching Holland, partly +by intrigue, partly by force of arms, +from the coalition, he boldly entered +the territory of the Grand Monarque, +and laid siege to its chief frontier fortress, +under the eyes of its greatest +army and best general. In vain was +the water communication of the Netherlands +interrupted by the enemy's +possession of Ghent and Bruges; +with incredible activity he got together, +and with matchless skill conducted +to the besiegers' lines before Lille, a +huge convoy eighteen miles long, drawn +by sixteen thousand horses, in the +very teeth of Vendôme at the head of +an hundred and twenty thousand men. +Lille captured, Ghent and Bruges recovered, +the allied standards solidly +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +planted on the walls of the strongest +fortress of France, terminated a campaign +in which the British, over-matched +and surrounded by lukewarm +or disaffected friends, had wellnigh +lost at the outset by foreign treachery +all the fruits of the victory of Ramilies.</p> + +<p>The glorious termination of this +campaign, and, above all, the addition +made to the immediate security +of Holland by the recovery of Ghent +and Bruges, sensibly augmented Marlborough's +influence at the Hague, and +at length overcame the timidity and +vacillation of the Dutch government. +When the English general repaired +there in the beginning of 1709, he quickly +overawed the adherents of France, +regained his wonted influence over +the mind of the Pensionary Heinsius, +and at length succeeded in persuading +the government and the States to +augment their forces by six thousand +men. This, though by no means so +great an accession of numbers as was +required to meet the vast efforts +which France was making, was +still a considerable addition; and by +the influence of Prince Eugene, who +was well aware that the principal +effort of the enemy in the next +campaign would be made in the Netherlands, +he obtained a promise that +the Imperial troops should winter +there, and be recruited, so as to compensate +their losses in the preceding +campaign. Great difficulties were +experienced with the court of Turin, +which had conceived the most extravagant +hopes from the project of an +invasion of France on the side both of +Lyons and Franche Comté, and for +this purpose required a large subsidy +in money, and the aid of fifty thousand +men under Prince Eugene on the Upper +Rhine. Marlborough was too well +aware, by experience, of the little reliance +to be placed on any military +operations in which the Emperor and +the Italian powers were to be placed +in co-operation, to be sanguine of +success from this design; but as it +was material to keep the court of +Turin in good-humour, he gave the +proposal the most respectful attention, +and sent General Palmer on a +special mission to the Duke of Savoy, +to arrange the plan of the proposed +irruption into the Lyonnois. With the +cabinet of Berlin the difficulties were +greater than ever, and in fact had become +so urgent, that nothing but the +presence of the English General, or an +immediate agent from him, could prevent +Prussia from seceding altogether +from the alliance. General Grumbkow +was sent there accordingly in +March, and found the king in such +ill-humour at the repeated disappointments +he had experienced from +the Emperor and the Dutch, that he +declared he could only spare <i>three +battalions</i> for the approaching campaign.<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> +By great exertions, however, +and the aid of Marlborough's letters +and influence, the king was at length +prevailed on to continue his present +troops in the Low Countries, and increase +them by fourteen squadrons of +horse.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a></p> + +<p>But it was not on the Continent +only that open enemies or lukewarm +and treacherous friends were striving +to arrest the course of Marlborough's +victories. His difficulties at home, +both with his own party and his opponents, +were hourly increasing; and +it was already foreseen, that they +had become so formidable that they +would cause, at no very remote period, +his fall. Though he was publicly +thanked, as well he might, by both +houses of parliament, when he came +to London on 1st March 1709, yet he +received no mark of favour from the +Queen, and was treated with studied +coldness at court.<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> +Envy, the inseparable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +attendant on exalted merit—ingratitude, +the usual result of irrequitable +services, had completely +alienated the Queen from him. Mrs +Masham omitted nothing which could +alienate her royal mistress from so +formidable a rival; and it was hard +to say whether she was most cordially +aided in her efforts by the open Opposition, +or the half Tory-Whigs who +formed the administration. Both +Godolphin and the Duke speedily +found that they were tolerated in +office merely: while, in order to +weaken their influence with the people, +every effort was made to depreciate +even the glorious victories +which had shed such imperishable +lustre over the British cause. Deeply +mortified by this ingratitude, Marlborough +gladly embraced an offer +which was made to him by the +government, in order to remove him +from court, to conduct the negotiation +now pending at the Hague with Louis +XIV. for the conclusion of a general +peace.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a></p> + +<p>The pride of the French monarch +was now so much humbled that he +sent the President Rouillé to Holland, +with public instructions to offer terms +to the Allies, and private directions to +do every thing possible to sow dissension +among them, and, if possible, detach +Holland from the alliance. His +proposals were to give up Spain, the +Indies, and the Milanese to King +Charles; and cede the Italian islands, +reserving Naples and Sicily for his +grandson. In the Netherlands and +Germany, he offered to restore matters +to the state they were at the +peace of Ryswick; and though he was +very reluctant to give up Lille, he offered +to cede Menin in its place. These +terms being communicated to the +court of London, they returned an +answer insisting that the whole Spanish +monarchy should be restored to +the house of Austria, the title of Queen +Anne to the Crown of England, and +the Protestant succession acknowledged, +the Pretender removed, the +harbour of Dunkirk destroyed, and +an adequate barrier secured for the +Dutch. In their ideas upon this barrier, +however, they went much beyond +what Marlborough was disposed +to sanction, and therefore he maintained +a prudent reserve on the subject. +As the French plenipotentiary +could not agree to these terms, Marlborough +returned to England, and +Lord Townsend was associated with +him as plenipotentiary. They were instructed +to insist that Furmes, Ipres, +Menin, Lille, Tournay, Condé, Valenciennes, +and Maubeuge, should be +given up to form a barrier, and that +Newfoundland and Hudson's Bay +should be restored. Alarmed at the +exaction of such rigorous terms, Louis +sent M. de Torcy, who made large +concessions; and Marlborough, who +was seriously desirous of bringing the +war to a conclusion, exerted all his +influence with the States to induce +them to accept the barrier offered. +He so far succeeded, that on the very +day after his return to the Hague, he +wrote both to Lord Godolphin and the +Duchess of Marlborough, that he had +prevailed on the Dutch commissioners +to accede to the principal articles, and +that he had no doubt the negotiation +would terminate in an honourable +peace.<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a></p> + +<p>These flattering prospects, however, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +were soon overcast. The Dutch renewed +their demand of having their +barrier strengthened <i>at the expense of +Austria</i>, and insisted that the Flemish +fortresses of Dendermonde and Ghent, +forming part of the <i>Imperial</i> dominions, +should be included in it. To this both +Eugene and Marlborough objected, +and the Dutch, in spite, refused to +stipulate for the demolition of Dunkirk. +So violent an altercation took +place on the subject between the Pensionary +Heinsius and Marlborough, +that it had wellnigh produced a +schism in the grand alliance. M. de +Torcy at first endeavoured to mitigate +the demands of the Dutch government; +but finding them altogether +immovable, he addressed himself privately +to Marlborough, offering him +enormous bribes if he could procure +more favourable terms for France. +The offers were 2,000,000 livres +(£80,000) if he could secure Naples +and Sicily, or even Naples alone, for +the grandson of the King of France; +and 4,000,000 livres (£160,000) if, in +addition to this, he could save Strasburg, +Dunkirk, and Landau, for +France. Marlborough turned away +from the disgraceful proposal with +coldness and contempt;<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> but enforced +in the most earnest manner on the +French king, the prudence and even +necessity of yielding to the proffered +terms, if he would save his country +from dismemberment, and himself +from ruin. His efforts, however, to +bring matters to an accommodation +with France proved ineffectual; and +after some weeks longer spent in proposals +and counter-proposals, the ultimatum +of the Allies was finally delivered +to the French plenipotentiary +by the Pensionary of Holland.<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a></p> + +<p>By this ultimatum, Charles was to +be acknowledged King of Spain and +the Indies, and the whole Spanish +monarchy was to be ceded by France. +All the conquests of Louis in the Low +Countries were to be given up; the +Duke of Anjou was to surrender Spain +and Sicily in two months, and if not +delivered, Louis was to concur with the +Allies for his expulsion. The barrier +towns, so eagerly coveted by the Dutch, +were to be given up to them. Namur, +Menin, Charleroi, Luxembourg, +Condé, Tournay, Maubeuge, Nieuport, +Fismes, and Ipres, were to be put into +the possession of the Allies. De Torcy +objected to the articles regarding the +cession of the whole Spanish monarchy +in two months; though he declared +his willingness to go to Paris, +in order to persuade the French monarch +to comply with them, and +actually set off for that purpose. On +the way to the French capital, however, +he was met by a messenger from +the French king, who rejected the +proposals. "If I must continue the +war," said Louis, with a spirit worthy +his race, "it is better to contend with +my enemies than my own family." +So confidently had it been believed, +both at the Hague and in London, +that peace was not only probable, but +actually concluded, that letters of +congratulation poured in on the duke +from all quarters, celebrating his dexterity +and address in negotiation not +less than his prowess in arms. So +confident, indeed, was Marlborough +that peace would be concluded, that +he was grievously disappointed by the +rupture of the negotiations; and never +ceased to strive, during the whole +summer, to smooth away difficulties, +and bring the Allies to such terms as +the French king would accept. He +was overruled, however, by the ministry +at home, who concluded the celebrated +barrier treaty with the Dutch, +which Marlborough refused to sign, +and was accordingly signed by Townsend +alone, without his concurrence! +And it is now decisively proved by +the publication of his private correspondence +with Lord Godolphin, that +he disapproved of the severe articles +insisted upon by the Allies and his +own cabinet; and that, if he had had +the uncontrolled management of the +negotiation, it would have been +brought to a favourable issue on +terms highly advantageous to England, +and which would have prevented +the treaty of Utrecht from forming a +stain on its annals.<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> +<p>The rigorous terms demanded, however, +by the Allied cabinets, and the +resolute conduct of the King of France +in rejecting them, had an important +effect upon the war, and called for +more vigorous efforts on the part of +the confederates than they had yet +put forth, or were even now disposed +to make. Louis made a touching +appeal to the patriotic spirit of his +people, in an eloquent circular which +he addressed to the prelates and +nobles of his realm. He there set +forth the great sacrifices which he had +offered to make to secure a general +peace; showed how willing he had +been to divest himself of all his conquests, +abandon all his dreams of ambition; +and concluded by observing, +that he was now compelled to continue +the contest, because the Allies +insisted upon his descending to the +humiliation of joining his arms to theirs +to dispossess his own grandson. The +appeal was not made in vain to the +spirit of a gallant nobility, and the +patriotism of a brave people. It kindled +a spark of general enthusiasm +and loyalty: all ranks and parties +vied with each other in contributing +their property and personal service for +the maintenance of the war; and the +campaign which opened under such +disastrous auspices, was commenced +with a degree of energy and unanimity +on the part of the French people which +had never hitherto been evinced in the +course of the contest.<a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a> As afterwards, +in the wars of the Revolution, too, the +misfortunes of the state tended to the +increase of its military forces. The +stoppage of commerce, and shock to +credit, threw numbers out of employment; +and starving multitudes crowded +to the frontier, to find that subsistence +amidst the dangers of war which they +could no longer find in the occupations +of peace.</p> + +<p>Skilfully availing themselves of this +burst of patriotic fervour, the ministers +of Louis were enabled to open the +campaign with greater forces than +they had yet accumulated since the +beginning of the war. The principal +effort was made in Flanders, where +the chief danger was to be apprehended, +and the enemy's most powerful +army and greatest general were to be +faced. Fifty-one battalions and +forty-nine squadrons were drawn +from the Rhine to Flanders; and this +great reinforcement, joined to the +crowds of recruits whom the public +distress impelled to his standards, +enabled the renowned Marshal Villars, +who had received the command of +the French, to take the field at the +head of 112,000 men. With this imposing +force, he took a position, strong +both by nature and art, extending +from Douay to the Lye; the right +resting on the canal of Douay, the +centre covered by the village of La +Bassie, the left supported by Bethune +and its circumjacent marshes. +The whole line was strengthened by +redoubts and partial inundations. +Marlborough was at the head of +110,000 men, and although his force +was composed of a heterogeneous +mixture of the troops of different nations, +yet, like the <i>colluvies omnium +gentium</i> which followed the standards +of Hannibal, it was held together by +the firm bond of military success, and +inspired with unbounded confidence, +founded on experience, in the resources +and capacity of its chief. +Events of the greatest and most interesting +kind could not but be anticipated, +when two armies of such +magnitude, headed by such leaders, +were brought into collision; and the +patriotic ardour of the French nation, +now roused to the uttermost, was +matched against the military strength +of the confederates, matured by so long +and brilliant a series of victories.<a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a></p> + +<p>Though relying with confidence on +the skill and intrepidity of his troops, +Marlborough, according to his usual +system, resolved if possible to circumvent +the enemy by manœuvring, and +reserve his hard blows for the time +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +when success was to be won in no +other way. His design was to begin +the campaign with a general battle, or +the reduction of Tournay, which lay +on the direct road from Brussels by +Mons to Paris, and would break +through, in the most important part, +the barrier fortresses. To prepare for +either event, and divert the enemy's +attention, strong demonstrations were +made against Villars' intrenched position, +and if it had been practicable, +it would have been attacked; but +after a close reconnoitre, both generals +deemed it too hazardous an enterprise, +and it was resolved to besiege +the fortress. On the 23d June, the +right under Eugene crossed the lower +Dyle below Lille; while the left, with +whom were the whole English and +Dutch contingents, crossed the upper +Dyle, and Marlborough fixed his +headquarters at the castle of Looz. +So threatening were the masses which +the Allies now accumulated in his +front, that Villars never doubted he +was about to be attacked; and in +consequence he strengthened his position +to the utmost of his power, +called in all his detachments, and +drew considerable reinforcements from +the garrisons of Tournay and other +fortresses in his vicinity. Having +thus fixed his antagonist's attention, +and concentrated his force in his intrenched +lines between Douay and +Bethune, Marlborough suddenly +moved off to the left, in the direction +of Tournay. This was done, however, +with every imaginable precaution to +impose upon the enemy. They decamped +at nightfall on the 27th in +dead silence, and advanced part of +the night straight towards the French +lines; but at two in the morning, the +troops were suddenly halted, wheeled +to the left, and marched in two columns, +by Pont à Bovines and Pont +à Tressins, towards Tournay. So expeditiously +was the change in the line +of march managed, and so complete +the surprise, that by seven in the +morning the troops were drawn round +Tournay, and the investment complete, +while a half of the garrison was +still absent in the lines of Marshal +Villars, and it was thereby rendered +incapable of making any effectual defence. +Meanwhile, that commander +was so deceived, that he was congratulating +himself that the enemy had +"fixed on the siege of Tournay, which +should occupy them the whole remainder +of the campaign; when it is +evident their design had been, after +defeating me, to thunder against +Aire la Venant with their heavy +artillery, penetrate as far as Boulogne, +and after laying all Picardy +under contribution, push on even to +Paris."<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a></p> + +<p>Tournay is an old town, the ancient +walls of which are of wide circuit; +but it had a series of advanced works +erected by Vauban, and its citadel, a +regular pentagon, was considered by +the great Condé as one of the most +perfect specimens of modern fortification +in existence. So little did the +governor expect their approach, that +many of the officers were absent, and +a detachment of the garrison, sent out +to forage, was made prisoners by +General Lumley, who commanded the +investing corps. The fortifications, +however, were in the best state, and +the magazines well stored with ammunition +and military stores. It was +the ancient capital of the Nervii, so +celebrated for their valour in the wars +with Cæsar; and an inscription on its +walls testified that Louis XIV., after +taking it in four days, had assisted in +the construction of the additional +works which would render it impregnable. +The attempt to take such a +place with a force no greater than that +with which Villars had at hand to +interrupt the operations, would have +been an enterprise of the utmost +temerity, and probably terminated in +disaster, had it not been for the admirable +skill with which the attention +of the enemy had been fixed on another +quarter, and the siege commenced +with half its garrison absent, +and what was there, imperfectly supplied +with provisions.<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +The heavy artillery and siege +equipage required to be brought up +the Scheldt from Ghent, which in the +outset occasioned some delay in the +operations. Marlborough commanded +the attacking, Eugene the covering +forces. By the 6th, however, the approaches +were commenced; on the +10th, the battering train arrived and +the trenches armed; repeated sallies +of the enemy to interrupt the operations +were repulsed, and several of the +outworks carried, between that time +and the 21st, on which last occasion +the besiegers succeeded in establishing +themselves in the covered ways. The +breaching batteries continued to +thunder with terrible effect upon the +walls; and on the 27th, a strong horn-work, +called of the Seven Fountains, +was carried, and the Allies were masters +of nearly the whole line of the +counterscarp. Meanwhile, Villars +made no serious movement to interrupt +the besiegers, contenting himself +with making demonstrations between +the Scarfe and the Scheldt to +alarm the covering forces. Eugene, +however, narrowly watched all his +proceedings; and in truth the French +marshal, far from really intending +to disquiet the Allies in their operations, +was busied with an immense +army of pioneers and labourers in +constructing a new set of lines from +Douay along the Scarfe to the Scheldt +near Condé, in order to arrest the progress +of the Allies in the direction they +had now taken. Seeing no prospect +of being relieved, the governor on the +29th surrendered the town, and retired +with the remains of the garrison, still +four thousand strong, into the citadel.<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a></p> + +<p>On the surrender of the town, no +time was lost in prosecuting operations +against the citadel, and the line +of circumvallation was traced out +that very evening. But this undertaking +proved more difficult than had +been expected, and several weeks +elapsed before any material progress +was made in the operations, during +which Villars made good use +of his time in completing his new +lines to cover Valenciennes and Condé. +The garrison of the citadel, though +unequal to the defence of the town of +Tournay, was quite adequate to that +of the citadel: and the vast mines +with which the whole outworks and +glacis were perforated, rendered the +approaches in the highest degree +perilous and difficult. The governor, +M. De Surville, proposed, on the 5th +August, to capitulate in a month if +not relieved; and to this proposition, +Marlborough and Eugene with praiseworthy +humanity at once acceded: but +the King of France refused to ratify +the terms proposed, unless the suspension +of arms was made general to the +whole Netherlands, to which the allied +general would not accede. The +military operations consequently went +on, and soon acquired a degree of +horror hitherto unparalleled even in +that long and bloody contest. The +art of countermining, and of counteracting +the danger of mines exploding, +was then very imperfectly understood, +though that of besieging above +ground had been brought to the very +highest degree of perfection. The +soldiers, in consequence, entertained +a great and almost superstitious dread +of the perils of that subterraneous +warfare, where prowess and courage +were alike unavailing, and the bravest, +equally as the most pusillanimous, were +liable to be at any moment blown into +the air, or smothered under ground, +by the explosions of an unseen, and +therefore appalling, enemy. The +Allies were inferior in regular sappers +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +and miners to the besieged, who were +singularly well supplied with that important +arm of the service. The ordinary +soldiers, how brave soever in +the field, evinced a repugnance at +engaging in this novel and terrific +species of warfare: and it was only +by personally visiting the trenches in +the very hottest of the fire, and offering +high rewards to the soldiers who +would enter into the mines, that men +could be got who would venture on +the perilous service.<a name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></a><a href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</a></p> + +<p>It was not surprising that even the +bravest of the allied troops were appalled +at the new and extraordinary +dangers which now awaited them, for +they were truly of the most formidable +description. What rendered them peculiarly +so, was, that the perils in a +peculiar manner affected the bold and +the forward. The first to mount a +breach, to effect a lodgement in a horn-work, +to penetrate into a mine, was +sure to perish. First a hollow rumbling +noise was heard, which froze the bravest +hearts with horror: a violent rush as +of a subterraneous cataract succeeded; +and immediately the earth heaved, +and whole companies, and even battalions, +were destroyed with a frightful +explosion. On the 15th August +a sally by M. De Surville was bravely +repulsed, and the besiegers, pursuing +their advantage, effected a lodgement +in the outwork: but immediately a +mine was sprung, and a hundred and +fifty men were blown into the air. +In the night between the 16th and +17th, a long and furious conflict took +place below ground and in utter darkness, +between the contending parties, +which at length terminated to the +advantage of the besiegers.<a name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></a><a href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</a> On the +23d a mine was discovered, sixty feet +long by twenty broad, which would +have blown up a whole battalion of +Hanoverian troops placed above it; +but while the Allies were in the mine, +congratulating themselves on the discovery, +a mine below it was suddenly +sprung, and all within the upper one +buried in the ruins. On the night of +the 25th, three hundred men, posted +in a large mine discovered to the +Allies by an inhabitant of Tournay, +were crushed by the explosion of another +mine directly below it; and on +the same night, one hundred men +posted in the town ditch were suddenly +buried under a bastion blown +out upon them. Great was the dismay +which these dreadful and unheard-of +disasters produced among the allied +troops. But at length the resolution +and energy of Marlborough and Eugene +triumphed over every obstacle. +Early on the morning of the 31st +August the white flag was displayed, +and a conference took place between +the two commanders in the house of +the Earl of Albemarle; but the governor +having refused to accede to the +terms demanded—that he should surrender +prisoners of war—the fire +recommenced, and a tremendous discharge +from all the batteries took +place for the next three days. This +compelled the brave De Surville to +submit; and Marlborough, in consideration +of his gallant defence, permitted +the garrison to march out with +the honours of war, and return to +France, on condition of not serving +again till exchanged. On September +3d the gates were surrendered; and +the entire command of this strong +fortress and rich city, which entirely +covered Spanish Flanders, was obtained +by the Allies.<a name="FNanchor_24_24" id="FNanchor_24_24"></a><a href="#Footnote_24_24" class="fnanchor">[24]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +No sooner was Tournay taken than +the allied generals turned their eyes +to Mons, the next great fortress on +the road to Paris, and which, with +Valenciennes, constituted the only remaining +strongholds that lay on that +line between them and Paris. So +anxious was Marlborough to hasten +operations against this important +town, that on the very day on which +the white flag was displayed from the +citadel of Tournay, he dispatched +Lord Orkney with all the grenadiers +of the army, and twenty squadrons, +to surprise Ghislain, and secure the +passage of the Haine. On the 3d, +the Prince of Hesse-Cassel was dispatched +after him with 4000 foot and +60 squadrons. Lord Orkney, on arriving +on the banks of the Haine, +found the passage so strongly guarded +that he did not deem it prudent to alarm +the enemy by attempting to force them. +The Prince of Hesse-Cassel, however, +was more fortunate. He marched with +such extraordinary diligence, that +he got over forty-nine English miles +in fifty-six successive hours; a rapidity +of advance, for such a distance, +that had never been surpassed at that, +though it has been outdone in later +times.<a name="FNanchor_25_25" id="FNanchor_25_25"></a><a href="#Footnote_25_25" class="fnanchor">[25]</a> By this means he reached +the Haine on the other side of Mons, +and surprised the passage near Obourg, +at two in the morning of the 6th, and +at noon he entered the French lines +of the Trouille without opposition, the +enemy retiring with precipitation as +he advanced. He immediately extended +his forces over the valley of +the Trouille, fixed his headquarters +at the abbey of Belian, and with his +right occupied in strength the important +plateau of Jemappes, which intercepted +the communication between +Mons and Valenciennes. It was on +this height that the famous battle +was fought between the French Republicans +under Dumourier in 1792: +another proof among the many which +history affords how frequently the +crisis of war, at long distances of +time from each other, takes place in +the same place. By this decisive +movement Marlborough gained an +immense advantage;—Mons was now +passed and <i>invested on the side of +France</i>; and the formidable lines, +thirty leagues in length, on which +Marshal Villars had been labouring +with such assiduity during the two +preceding months, were turned and +rendered of no avail.<a name="FNanchor_26_26" id="FNanchor_26_26"></a><a href="#Footnote_26_26" class="fnanchor">[26]</a></p> + +<p>While the Prince of Hesse-Cassel, +with the advanced guard of the army, +gained this brilliant success, Marlborough +was rapidly following with the +main body in the same direction. The +force besieging Tournay crossed the +Scheldt at the bridge of that town, +and joined the covering force under +Eugene. From thence they +advanced to Sirant, where they were +joined by Lord Orkney with his +detachment, which had failed in passing +the Haine. On the 6th, having +learned of the success of the Prince of +Hesse-Cassel, who had turned the enemy's +lines, and got between Mons and +France, the allied generals pushed on +with the utmost expedition, and leaving +their army to form the investment +of Mons, joined the prince in the abbey +of Belian. Both commanders bestowed +on him the highest compliments for +the advantages he had gained; but he +replied, "The French have deprived +me of the glory due to such a compliment, +since they have not even waited +my arrival." In truth, such had been +the celerity and skill of his dispositions, +that they had rendered resistance +hopeless, and achieved success without +the necessity of striking a blow. +Meanwhile Marshal Boufflers, hearing +a battle was imminent, arrived in +the camp as a volunteer, to serve under +Villars, his junior in military service; +a noble example of disinterested +patriotism, which, not less than the +justly popular character of that distinguished +general, raised the enthusiasm +of the French soldiers to the +very highest pitch.<a name="FNanchor_27_27" id="FNanchor_27_27"></a><a href="#Footnote_27_27" class="fnanchor">[27]</a> +Every thing announced +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +a more sanguinary and important +conflict between the renowned +commanders and gallant armies now +arrayed on the opposite sides, than +had yet taken place since the commencement +of the war.<a name="FNanchor_28_28" id="FNanchor_28_28"></a><a href="#Footnote_28_28" class="fnanchor">[28]</a></p> + +<p>During these rapid and vigorous +movements, which entirely turned and +broke through his much-vaunted lines +of defence, Villars remained with the +great body of his forces in a state of +inactivity. Aware he was to be attacked, +but ignorant where the blow +was first likely to fall, he judged, and +probably rightly, that it would be +hazardous to weaken his lines at any +one point by accumulating forces at +another. No sooner, however, did he +receive intelligence of the march of the +Prince of Hesse-Cassel, than he broke +up from the lines of Douay, and hastily +collecting his forces, advanced towards +that adventurous commander. +At two in the morning of the 4th, he +arrived in front of him with his cavalry; +but conceiving the whole allied +army was before him, he did not +venture to make an attack at a time +when his great superiority of force +would have enabled him to do it with +every chance of success. The movement +of Villars, however, and general +<i>feux-de-joie</i> which resounded through +the French lines on the arrival of +Marshal Boufflers, warned the allied +leaders that a general battle was at +hand; and orders were in consequence +given to the whole army to advance +at four o'clock on the afternoon of the +7th. A detachment of Eugene's troops +was left to watch Mons, the garrison +of which consisted only of eleven weak +battalions and a regiment of horse, +not mustering above five thousand +combatants; and the whole remainder +of the allied army, ninety thousand +strong, pressed forward in dense masses +into the level and marshy plain +in the middle of which Mons is situated. +They advanced in different columns, +headed by Marlborough and +Eugene; and never was a more magnificent +spectacle presented, than +when they emerged from the woods +upon the plain, and ascended in the +finest order, with their whole cavalry +and artillery, as well as infantry, the +undulating ground which lies to the +south of that town. They arrived at +night, and bivouacked on the heights +of Quaregnon, near Genly, and thence +on to the village of Quevy, in a line +not three miles in length, and only +five distant from the enemy; so that +it was evident a general battle would +take place on the following day, unless +Villars was prepared to abandon +Mons to its fate.<a name="FNanchor_29_29" id="FNanchor_29_29"></a><a href="#Footnote_29_29" class="fnanchor">[29]</a></p> + +<p>The French marshal, however, had +no intention of declining the combat. +His army was entirely fresh, and in +the finest order; it had engaged in +no previous operations; whereas a +bloody siege, and subsequent fatiguing +marches in bad weather, had sensibly +weakened the strength, though they +had not depressed the spirits, of the +allied soldiers. The vast efforts of +the French government, joined to the +multitude of recruits whom the public +distress had impelled into the army, +had in an extraordinary degree recruited +his ranks. After making provision +for all the garrisons and detached +posts with which he was charged, +he could bring into the field no less +than a hundred and thirty battalions, +and two hundred and sixty squadrons; +and as they had all been raised to their +full complement, they mustered sixty-five +thousand infantry, and twenty-six +thousand horse, with eighty guns; +in all, with the artillery, ninety-five +thousand combatants. This vast array +had the advantage of being almost +entirely of one nation, speaking one +language, and animated with one spirit; +while the allied force was a motley +array of many different faces and +nations of men, held together by no +other bond but the strong one of military +success and confidence in their +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +chief. Both armies were of nearly +equal strength, under the command of +the ablest and most intrepid commanders +of their day; the soldiers of +both had acted long together, and +acquired confidence in each other; +and both contained that intermixture +of the fire of young, with the caution +of veteran troops, which is of the happiest +augury for military success. It +was hard to say, between such antagonists, +to which side the scales of +victory would incline.<a name="FNanchor_30_30" id="FNanchor_30_30"></a><a href="#Footnote_30_30" class="fnanchor">[30]</a></p> + +<p>The face of the country occupied by +the French army, and which was to +be the theatre of the great battle which +was approaching, is an irregular plateau, +interspersed by woods and intersected +by streams, and elevated +from a hundred and fifty to two hundred +feet above the meadows of the +Trouille. Mons and Bavay, the villages +of Quevrain and Giory, formed +the angular points of this broken surface. +Extensive woods on all the +principal eminences both give diversity +and beauty to the landscape, and, +in a military point of view, added +much to the strength of the position +as defensible ground against an enemy. +Near <span class="smcap">Malplaquet</span>, on the west +of the ridge, is a small heath, and immediately +to the south of it the ground +descends by a rapid slope to the Hon, +which finds its way by a circuitous +route by the rear of the French position +to the Trouille, which it joins +near Condé. The streams from Malplaquet +to the northward all flow by +a gentle slope through steep wooded +banks to the Trouille, into which they +fall near Mons. The woods on the +plateau are the remains of a great +natural forest which formerly covered +the whole of these uplands, and out +of which the clearings round the villages +and hamlets which now exist, +have been cut by the hands of laborious +industry. Two woods near the +summit level of the ground are of great +extent, and deserve particular notice. +The first, called the wood of Louvière, +stretches from Longueville in +a north-easterly direction to Cauchie; +the second, named the wood Taisnière, +of still larger size, extends from the +Chaussée de Bois to the village of +Bouson. Between these woods are +two openings, or Trouées as they are +called in the country—the Trouée de +la Louvière, and the Trouée d'Aulnoet. +Generally speaking, the ground +occupied by the French, and which +was to be the theatre of the battle, +may be described as a rough and +woody natural barrier, stretching +across the high plateau which separates +the Haine and the Trouille, and +pervious only by the two openings of +Louvière and Aulnoet, both of which +are in a very great degree susceptible +of defence.<a name="FNanchor_31_31" id="FNanchor_31_31"></a><a href="#Footnote_31_31" class="fnanchor">[31]</a></p> + +<p>The allied army consisted of one +hundred and thirty-nine battalions, +and two hundred and fifty-three squadrons, +with one hundred and five guns; +mustering ninety-three thousand combatants. +The two armies, therefore, +were as nearly as possible equal in +point of military strength—a slight +numerical superiority on the part of +the French being compensated by a +superiority of twenty-five guns on +that of the Allies. Among the French +nobles present at the battle, were no +less than twelve who were afterwards +marshals of France.<a name="FNanchor_32_32" id="FNanchor_32_32"></a><a href="#Footnote_32_32" class="fnanchor">[32]</a> The son of +James II., under the name of the +Chevalier of St George, who combined +the graces of youth with the +hereditary valour of his race, was +there; St Hilaire and Folard, whose +works afterwards threw such light on +military science, were to be found in +its ranks. The Garde-du-corps, Mousquetaires +gris, Grenadiers <i>à cheval</i>, +French, Swiss, and Bavarian guards, +as well as the Irish brigade, stood +among the combatants. The reverses +of Louis had called forth the flower of +the nobility, as well as the last reserves +of the monarchy.<a name="FNanchor_33_33" id="FNanchor_33_33"></a><a href="#Footnote_33_33" class="fnanchor">[33]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +Early on the morning of the 9th, +Marlborough and Eugene were on the +look-out at the Mill of Sart, with a +strong escort, consisting of thirty +squadrons of horse. From the reports +brought in, it was soon ascertained +that the whole enemy's army was in +march towards the plain of Malplaquet, +on the west of the plateau, and +that Villars himself was occupying +the woods of Lasnière and Taisnière. +His headquarters were at Blaugnies, +in the rear of the centre. The two +armies were now only a league and a +half separate, and Marlborough and +Eugene were clear for immediately +attacking the enemy, before they could +add to the natural strength of their +position by intrenchnents. But the +Dutch deputies, Hooft and Goslinga, +interfered, as they had done on a +similar occasion between Wavre and +Waterloo, and so far modified this +resolution as to induce a council of +war, summoned on the occasion, to +determine not to fight till the troops +from Tournay were within reach, and +St Ghislain, which commanded a passage +over the Haine, was taken. This +was done next day, the fort being +carried by escalade, and its garrison +of two hundred men made prisoners; +and on the day following, all the reserves +from Tournay came up. But +these advantages, which in themselves +were not inconsiderable, were dearly +purchased by the time which Villars +gained for strengthening his position. +Instead of pushing on to attack the +allies, as Marlborough and Eugene +had expected, to raise the siege of +Mons, that able commander employed +himself with the utmost skill and +vigour in throwing up intrenchments +in every part of his position. The +nature of the ground singularly favoured +his efforts. The heights he +occupied, plentifully interspersed with +woods and eminences, formed a concave +semicircle, the artillery from +which enfiladed on all sides the little +plain of Malplaquet, so as to render +it literally, in Dumont's words, "une +trouée d'enfer." Around this semicircle, +redoubts, palisades, abattis, and +stockades, were disposed with such +skill and judgment, that, literally +speaking, there was not a single inequality +of ground, (and there were +many,) which was not turned to good +account. The two <i>trouées</i> or openings, +in particular, already mentioned, +by which it was foreseen the Allies +would endeavour to force an entrance, +were so enfiladed by cross batteries as +to be wellnigh unassailable. Twenty +pieces of artillery were placed on a +redoubt situated on an eminence near +the centre of the field; the remainder +were arranged along the field-works +constructed along the lines. Half the +army laboured at these works without +a moment's intermission during the +whole of the 9th and 10th, while +the other were under arms, ready to +repel any attack which might be hazarded. +With such vigour were the +operations conducted, that by the +night of the 10th, the position was +deemed impregnable.<a name="FNanchor_34_34" id="FNanchor_34_34"></a><a href="#Footnote_34_34" class="fnanchor">[34]</a></p> + +<p>During these two days, which were +passed in inactivity, awaiting the +coming up of the reinforcements from +Tournay, which the council of war +had deemed indispensable to the +commencement of operations, Marlborough +and Eugene had repeatedly +reconnoitred the enemy's position, +and were fully aware of its growing +strength. Despairing of openly forcing +such formidable lines, defended +by so numerous and gallant an army, +they resolved to combine their first +attack with a powerful demonstration +in rear. With this view, the +rear-guard, which was coming up +from Tournay under General Withers, +of nineteen battalions and ten squadrons, +received orders not to join the +main body of the army, but, stopping +short at St Ghislain, to cross the +Haine there, and, traversing the wood +of Blangris by a country road, assail +the extreme left of the enemy at the +farm of La Folie, when the combat +was seriously engaged in front. Forty +battalions of Eugene's army, under +Baron Schulemberg, were to attack +the wood of Taisnière, supported by +forty pieces of cannon, so placed that +their shot reached every part of the +wood. To distract the enemy's attention, +other attacks were directed along +the whole line; but the main effort +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +was to be made by Eugene's corps on +the wood of Taisnière; and it was +from the co-operation of the attack of +Schulemberg on its flank, that decisive +success was expected.<a name="FNanchor_35_35" id="FNanchor_35_35"></a><a href="#Footnote_35_35" class="fnanchor">[35]</a> All the corps +had reached their respective points of +destination on the evening of the +10th. Schulemberg was near La +Folie; Eugene was grouped, in four +lines, in front of Taisnière; and the +men lay down to sleep, anxiously +awaiting the dawn of the eventful +morrow.<a name="FNanchor_36_36" id="FNanchor_36_36"></a><a href="#Footnote_36_36" class="fnanchor">[36]</a></p> + +<p>At three in the morning of the +11th, divine service was performed, +with the utmost decorum, at the head +of every regiment, and listened to by +the soldiers, after the example of their +chief, with the most devout attention. +The awful nature of the occasion, the +momentous interests at stake, the uncertainty +who might survive to the +close of the day, the protracted struggle +now to be brought to a decisive +issue, had banished all lighter feelings, +and impressed a noble character +on that impressive solemnity. A +thick fog overspread the field, under +cover of which the troops marched, +with the utmost regularity, to their +appointed stations: the guns were +brought forward to the grand battery +in the centre, which was protected on +either side by an <i>épaulement</i> to prevent +an enfilade. No sooner did the +French outposts give notice that the +Allies were preparing for an attack, +than the whole army stood to their +arms, and all the working parties, +who were still toiling in the trenches, +cast aside their tools, and joyfully +resumed their places in the ranks. +Never, since the commencement of +the war, had the spirit of the French +soldier been so high, or so enthusiastic +a feeling infused into every bosom. +With confidence they looked forward +to regaining the laurels, under their +beloved commander, Marshal Villars, +which had been withered in eight +successive campaigns, and arresting +the flood of conquest which threatened +to overwhelm their country. +No sooner did he mount on horseback +at seven, than loud cries of +"Vive le Roi!" "Vive le Maréchal +de Villars!" burst from their ranks. +He himself took the command of the +left, giving the post of honour on +the right, in courtesy, to Marshal +Boufflers. On the allied side, enthusiasm +was not so loudly expressed, +but confidence was not the less +strongly felt. They relied with reason +on the tried and splendid abilities of +their chiefs, on their own experienced +constancy and success in the field. +They had the confidence of veteran +soldiers, who had long fought and +conquered together. In allusion to the +numerous field-works before them, +and which almost concealed the enemy's +ranks from their view, the sarcastic +expression passed through the +ranks, "We are again about to make +war on moles." The fog still lingered +on the ground, so as to prevent the +gunners seeing to take aim; but at +half-past seven it cleared up; the sun +broke forth with uncommon brilliancy, +and immediately the fire commenced +with the utmost vigour from the artillery +on both sides.<a name="FNanchor_37_37" id="FNanchor_37_37"></a><a href="#Footnote_37_37" class="fnanchor">[37]</a></p> + +<p>For about half an hour the cannon +continued to thunder, so as to reach +every part of the field of battle with +their balls, when Marlborough moved +forward his troops in échelon, the +right in front, in order to commence +his projected attack on the French +centre and left. The Dutch, who +were on the left, agreeably to the +orders they had received, halted when +within range of grape, and a violent +cannonade was merely exchanged on +both sides; but Count Lottum, who +commanded the centre of twenty +battalions, continued to press on, +regardless of the storm of shot and +grape with which he was assailed, +and when well into the enemy's line, +he brought up his left shoulders, and +in three lines attacked the right of +the wood of Taisnière. Schulemberg, +at the same time, with his forty +battalions to the right of Lottum, +advanced against the wood of Taisnière +in front; while Lord Orkney, +with his fifteen battalions, as Lottum's +men inclined to the right, marched +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +straight forward to the ground they +had occupied, and attacked the intrenchment +before him in the opening. +Eugene, who was with Schulemberg's +men, advanced without firing a shot, +though suffering dreadfully from the +grape of the batteries, till within +pistol-shot of the batteries. They +were there, however, received by so +terrible a discharge of all arms from +the intrenchments—the French soldiers +laying their pieces deliberately +over the parapet, and taking aim +within twenty yards of their opponents—that +they recoiled above two +hundred yards, and were only brought +back to the charge by the heroic +efforts of Eugene, who exposed his +person in the very front of the line. +Meanwhile, three battalions brought +up from the blockade of Mons stole +unperceived, amidst the tumult in +front, into the south-eastern angle of +the wood of Taisnière, and were +making some progress, when they +were met by three battalions of +French troops, and a vehement fire +of musketry soon rang in the recesses +of the wood.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Marlborough in person +led on D'Auvergne's cavalry in support +of Lottum's men, who speedily +were engaged in a most terrific conflict. +They bore without flinching +the fire of the French brigade <i>du Roi</i>, +and, crossing a ravine and small +morass, rushed with fixed bayonets, +and the most determined resolution, +right against the intrenchment. So +vehement was the onset, so impetuous +the rush, that some of the leading +files actually reached the summit of +the parapet, and those behind pushing +vehemently on, the redoubt was +carried amidst deafening cheers. But +Villars was directly in rear of that +work; and he immediately led up in +person a brigade in the finest order, +which expelled the assailants at the +point of the bayonet, and regained +the work. Marlborough upon this +charged at the head of D'Auvergne's +cavalry; and that gallant body of men, +three thousand strong, dashed forward, +entered the intrenchments, +which were, at the same time, surmounted +by some of Lottum's battalions. +While this desperate conflict +was going on in front and flank of +the wood, Withers, with his corps +brought up from Tournay, was +silently, and with great caution, entering +the wood on the side of La +Folie, and had already made considerable +progress before any great +efforts were made to expel them. +The advance of this corps in his rear +rendered it impossible for Villars any +longer to maintain the advanced line +of works in the front of the wood; +it was therefore abandoned, but +slowly, and in admirable order—the +troops retiring through the trees to +the second line of works in their rear, +which they prepared to defend to the +last extremity.</p> + +<p>While this bloody conflict was +raging in and around the wood of +Taisnière, the half-hour during which +the Prince of Orange had been directed +to suspend his attack had elapsed, +and that gallant chief, impatient of +inactivity when the battle was raging +with such fury on his right, resolved +to move forward in good earnest. +The Scotch brigade, led on by the +Marquis of Tullibardine, headed the +column on the left; to their right +were the Dutch, under Spaar and +Oxenstiern; while the Prince of +Hesse-Cassel, with twenty-one squadrons, +was in reserve to support and +follow the infantry into the works, +when an opening was made. On the +word "march" being given, the troops +of these various nations, with rival +courage, advanced to the attack. The +Scotch Highlanders, headed by the +gallant Tullibardine,<a name="FNanchor_38_38" id="FNanchor_38_38"></a><a href="#Footnote_38_38" class="fnanchor">[38]</a> rushed impetuously +forward to the attack, despite +a tremendous fire of grape and musketry +which issued from the works, +and succeeded in reaching the top of +the intrenchment. But before they +could deploy, they were charged by +the French infantry in close order, +and driven out. Tullibardine met a +glorious death in the redoubt he had +won. Equally gallant was the assault, +and unpropitious the result, of the +Prince of Orange's attack on the right +towards the French centre. There, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +too, by a vehement rush the intrenchment +was carried; but the troops +which surmounted it had no sooner +penetrated in than they were attacked +by Boufflers, at the head of fresh +troops in close order in front, while a +powerful battery opened with grape +on their flank. This double attack +proved irresistible; the assailants +were pushed out of the works with +dreadful slaughter. Spaar lay dead +on the spot; Hamilton was carried off +wounded. Seeing his men recoil, the +Prince of Orange seized a standard, +and advancing alone to the slope of +the intrenchment, said aloud, "Follow +me, my friends; here is your +post." But it was all in vain. +Boufflers' men from the French second +line had now closed up with the first, +which lined the works, and a dense +mass of bayonets, six deep, bristled +at their summit behind the embrasures +of the guns. A dreadful rolling +fire issued from them; their position +could be marked by the ceaseless line +of flame, even through the volumes +of smoke which enveloped them on all +sides; and at length, after displaying +the most heroic valour, the Prince of +Orange was obliged to draw off his +men, with the loss of three thousand +killed, and twice that number wounded. +Instantly the brigade of Navarre +issued with loud shouts out of the intrenchments. +Several Dutch battalions +were driven back, and some +colours, with an advanced battery, +fell into the enemy's hands. Boufflers +supported this sally by his grenadiers +<i>à cheval</i>; but the Prince of Hesse-Cassel +came up with his well-appointed +squadron on the other side, +and, after a short struggle, drove the +French back into their works.</p> + +<p>Hearing that matters were in this +precarious state on the left, Marlborough +galloped from the right centre, +accompanied by his staff, where +Lotturn's infantry and D'Auvergne's +horse had gained such important advantages. +Matters erelong became so +alarming, that Eugene also followed +in the same direction. On his way +along the rear of the line, the English +general had a painful proof of the +enthusiastic spirit with which his +troops were animated, by seeing numbers +of the wounded Dutch and Hanoverians, +whose hurts had just been +bound up by the surgeons, again hastening +to the front, to join their comrades, +though some, faint from the loss +of blood, yet tottered under the weight +of their muskets. The reserves were +hastily directed to the menaced front, +and by their aid the combat was in some +degree restored in that quarter; while +Marlborough and Eugene laboured to +persuade the Prince of Orange, who +was burning with anxiety at all +hazards to renew the attack, that his +operations were only intended as a +feint, and that the real effort was to +be made on the right, where considerable +progress had already been made. +Order was hardly restored in this +quarter, when intelligence arrived +from the right that the enemy were +assuming the initiative in the wood +of Taisnière, and were pressing hard +both upon the troops at La Folie and +in front of the wood. In fact, Villars, +alarmed at the progress of the enemy +on his left in the wood, had drawn +considerable reinforcements from his +centre, and sent them to the threatened +quarter. Marlborough instantly +saw the advantage which this weakening +of the enemy's centre was likely +to give him. While he hastened back, +therefore, with all imaginable expedition +to the right, to arrest the progress +of the enemy in that quarter, +he directed Lord Orkney to advance, +supported by a powerful body of horse +on each flank, directly in at the opening +between the two woods, and if +possible force the enemy's intrenchments +in the centre, now stripped of +their principal defenders.</p> + +<p>These dispositions, adopted on the +spur of the moment, and instantly +acted upon, proved entirely successful. +Eugene galloped to the extreme +right, and renewed the attack with +Schulemberg's men, while Withers +again pressed on the rear of the wood +near La Folie. So vigorous was the +onset, that the Allies gained ground on +both sides of the wood, and Villars +hastening up with the French guards +to restore the combat near La Folie, +received a wound in the knee, when +gallantly heading a charge of bayonets, +which obliged him to quit the field. +In the centre, still more decisive advantages +were gained. Lord Orkney +there made the attack with such +vigour, that the intrenchments, now<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +not adequately manned, were at once +carried; and the horse, following +rapidly on the traces of the foot soldiers, +broke through at several openings +made by the artillery, and spread +themselves over the plain, cutting +down in every direction. The grand +battery of forty cannon in the allied +centre received orders to advance. +In the twinkling of an eye the guns +were limbered up, and moving on at +a quick trot. They soon passed the +intrenchments in the centre, and +facing to the right and left, opened +a tremendous fire of canister and +grape on the dense masses of the +French cavalry which there stood in +the rear of the infantry, who were +almost all in front among the works. +These noble troops, however, bore up +gallantly against the storm, and even +charged the allied horse before they +had time to form within the lines; +but they were unable to make any +impression, and retired from the attack +sorely shattered by the allied +artillery.</p> + +<p>The battle was now gained. Villars' +position, how strong and gallantly +defended soever, was no longer +tenable. Pierced through in the centre, +with a formidable enemy's battery +thundering on either side, in the very +heart of his line, on the reserve +squadrons, turned and menaced with +rout on the left, it was no longer possible +to keep the field. Boufflers, +upon whom, in the absence of Villars +in consequence of his wound, the +direction of affairs had devolved, accordingly +prepared for a retreat; and +he conducted it with consummate +skill, as well as the most undaunted +firmness. Collecting a body of two +thousand chosen horse yet fresh, consisting +of the <i>élite</i> of the horse-guards +and garde-du-corps, he charged the +allied horse which had penetrated into +the centre, and was by this time +much blown by its severe fatigues in +the preceding part of the day. It was +accordingly worsted and put to flight; +but all the efforts of this noble body +of horsemen were shattered against +Orkney's infantry, which, posted on +the reverse of the works they had +won, poured in, when charged, so +close and destructive a fire, as stretched +half of the gallant cavaliers on the +plain, and forced the remainder to a +precipitate retreat. Still the indefatigable +Boufflers made another effort. +Drawing a large body of infantry +from the works on his extreme right, +which had been little engaged, he +marched them to the left, and reforming +his squadrons again, advanced to +the charge. But Marlborough no +sooner saw this, than he charged the +garde-du-corps with a body of English +horse which he himself led on, and +drove them back, while the infantry +staggered and reeled like a sinking +ship under the terrific fire of the allied +guns, which had penetrated the centre. +At the same time the Prince of Orange +and the Prince of Hesse-Cassel, perceiving +that the intrenchments before +them were stript of great part of their +defenders, renewed the attack; in ten +minutes these works were carried; +a tremendous shout, heard along the +whole line, announced that the whole +left of the position had fallen into the +hands of the Allies.</p> + +<p>In these desperate circumstances, +Boufflers and his brave troops did all +that skill or courage could suggest to +arrest the progress of the victors, and +withdraw from the field without any +additional losses. Forming his troops +into three great masses, with the +cavalry which had suffered least in +rear, he slowly, and in perfect regularity, +commenced his retreat. The +Allies had suffered so much, and were +so completely exhausted by the +fatigue of this bloody and protracted +battle, that they gave them very little +molestation. Contenting themselves +with pursuing as far as the heath of +Malplaquet, and the level ground +around Taisnière, they halted, and the +men lay down to sleep. Meanwhile +the French, in the best order, but in +deep dejection, continued their retreat +still in three columns; and after crossing +the Hon in their rear, reunited +below Quesnoy and Valenciennes, +about twelve miles from the field of +battle.<a name="FNanchor_39_39" id="FNanchor_39_39"></a><a href="#Footnote_39_39" class="fnanchor">[39]</a></p> + +<p>Such was the desperate battle of +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +Malplaquet, the most bloody and +obstinately contested which had yet +occurred in the war, and in which it +is hard to say to which of the gallant +antagonists the palm of valour and +heroism is to be given. The victory +was unquestionably gained by the +Allies, since they forced the enemy's +position, drove them to a considerable +distance from the field of battle, and +hindered the siege of Mons, the object +for which both parties fought, from +being raised. The valour they displayed +had extorted the admiration +of their gallant and generous enemies.<a name="FNanchor_40_40" id="FNanchor_40_40"></a><a href="#Footnote_40_40" class="fnanchor">[40]</a> +On the other hand, these +advantages had been purchased at an +enormous sacrifice, and never since +the commencement of the contest +had the scales hung so even between +the contending parties. The Allies +lost, killed in the infantry alone, five +thousand five hundred and forty-four; +wounded and missing, twelve thousand +seven hundred and six; in all +eighteen thousand two hundred and +fifty, of whom two hundred and +eighty-six were officers killed, and +seven hundred and sixty-two wounded. +Including the casualties in the +cavalry and artillery, their total loss +was not less than twenty thousand +men, or nearly a fifth of the number +engaged. The French loss, though +they were worsted in the fight, was +less considerable; it did not exceed +fourteen thousand men—an unusual +circumstance with a beaten army, but +easily accounted for, if the formidable +nature of the intrenchments which +the Allies had to storm in the first +part of the action, is taken into consideration. +In proportion to the numbers +engaged, the loss to the victors +was not, however, nearly so great as +at Waterloo.<a name="FNanchor_41_41" id="FNanchor_41_41"></a><a href="#Footnote_41_41" class="fnanchor">[41]</a> Few prisoners, not +above five hundred, were made on the +field; but the woods and intrenchments +were filled with wounded +French, whom Marlborough, with +characteristic humanity, proposed to +Villars to remove to the French +headquarters, on condition of their +being considered prisoners of war—an +offer which that general thankfully +accepted. A solemn thanksgiving +was read in all the regiments of the +army two days after the battle, after +which the soldiers of both armies +joined in removing the wounded +French on two hundred waggons to +the French camp. Thus, after the +conclusion of one of the bloodiest +fights recorded in modern history, +the first acts of the victors were in +raising the voice of thanksgiving, and +doing deeds of mercy.<a name="FNanchor_42_42" id="FNanchor_42_42"></a><a href="#Footnote_42_42" class="fnanchor">[42]</a></p> + +<p>No sooner were these pious cares +concluded, than the Allies resumed +the investment of Mons: Marlborough, +with the English and Dutch, +having his headquarters at Belian, +and Eugene, with the Germans, at +Quaregnon. The Prince of Orange, +with thirty battalions and as many +squadrons, was intrusted with the +blockade. Great efforts were immediately +made to get the necessary +siege equipage and stores up from +Brussels; but the heavy rains of +autumn set in with such severity, +that it was not till the 25th September +that the trenches could be opened. +Boufflers, though at no great distance, +did not venture to disturb the +operations. On 9th October, a lodgement +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +was effected in the covered +way; on the 17th, the outworks were +stormed; and on the 26th, the place +surrendered with its garrison, still +three thousand five hundred strong. +By this important success, the conquest +of Brabant was finished; the +burden and expense of the war removed +from the Dutch provinces; +the barrier which they had so long +sought after was rendered nearly +complete; and the defences of France +were so far laid bare, that by the +reduction of Valenciennes and Quesnoy, +in the next campaign, no fortified +place would remain between the +Allies and Paris. Having achieved +this important success, the allied +generals put their army into winter-quarters +at Ghent, Bruges, Brussels, +and on the Meuse; while fifty battalions +of the French, with one hundred +squadrons, were quartered, under +the command of the Duke of Berwick, +in the neighbourhood of Maubeuge, +and the remainder of their great army +in and around Valenciennes and Quesnoy.<a name="FNanchor_43_43" id="FNanchor_43_43"></a><a href="#Footnote_43_43" class="fnanchor">[43]</a></p> + +<p>During the progress of this short +but brilliant campaign, Marlborough +was more than ever annoyed and disheartened +by the evident and increasing +decline of his influence at home. +Harley and Mrs Masham contrived +to thwart him in every way in their +power; and scarcely disguised their +desire to make the situation of the +Duke and Godolphin so uncomfortable, +that out of spleen they might resign; +in which case, the entire direction of +affairs would have fallen into their +hands.<a name="FNanchor_44_44" id="FNanchor_44_44"></a><a href="#Footnote_44_44" class="fnanchor">[44]</a> Influenced by these new +favourites, the Queen became cold and +resentful to the Duchess of Marlborough, +to whom she had formerly +been so much attached; and the Duke, +perceiving this, strongly advised her +to abstain from any correspondence +with her Majesty, as more likely to +increase than diminish the estrangement +so rapidly growing between +them. The Duchess, however, was +herself of too irritable a temper to +follow this sage advice; reproaches, +explanations, and renewed complaints +ensued on both sides; and as usual +in such cases, where excessive fondness +has been succeeded by coldness, all +attempts to repair the breach only had +the effect of widening it. Numerous +events at court, trifles in themselves, +but "confirmation strong" to the +jealous, served to show in what direction +the wind was setting. The +Duchess took the strong and injudicious +step of intruding herself on the +Queen, and asking what crime she +had committed to produce so great an +estrangement between them. This +drew from her Majesty a letter, exculpating +her from any fault, but ascribing +their alienation to a discordance +in political opinion, adding, "I do not +think it a crime in any one not to be +of my mind, or blamable, because +you cannot see with my eyes, or hear +with my ears." While this relieved +Marlborough from the dread of a +personal quarrel between the Duchess +and Royalty, it only aggravated the +precarious nature of his situation, by +showing that the split was owing to +the wider and more irremediable division +on political subjects.<a name="FNanchor_45_45" id="FNanchor_45_45"></a><a href="#Footnote_45_45" class="fnanchor">[45]</a></p> + +<p>Encouraged by this powerful support +at court, Harley now openly +pursued his design of effecting the +downfall of Marlborough, and his removal +from office, and the command +of the armies. The whole campaign +which had terminated so gloriously, +was criticised in the most unjust and +malignant spirit. The siege of Tournay +was useless and expensive; the +battle of Malplaquet an unnecessary +carnage. It was even insinuated the +Duke had purposely exposed the +officers to slaughter, that he might obtain +a profit by the sale of their commissions. +The preliminaries first +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +agreed to at the Hague were too favourable +to France; when Louis rejected +them, the rupture of the negotiations +rested with Marlborough. In +a word, there was nothing done by the +English general, successful or unsuccessful, +pacific or warlike, which was +not made the subject of loud condemnation, +and unmeasured invective. +Harley even corresponded with the +disaffected party in Holland, in order +to induce them to cut short the +Duke's career of victory by clamouring +for a general peace. Louis +was represented as invincible, and +rising stronger from every defeat: the +prolongation of the war was entirely +owing to the selfish interests and ambition +of the allied chief. These and +similar accusations, loudly re-echoed +by all the Tories, and sedulously +poured into the royal ear by Harley +and Mrs Masham, made such an impression +on the Queen, that she did +not offer the smallest congratulation +to the Duchess on the victory of Malplaquet, +nor express the least satisfaction +at the Duke's escape from the +innumerable dangers which he had +incurred.<a name="FNanchor_46_46" id="FNanchor_46_46"></a><a href="#Footnote_46_46" class="fnanchor">[46]</a></p> + +<p>An ill-timed and injudicious step of +Marlborough at this juncture, one of +the few which can be imputed to him +in his whole public career, inflamed +the jealousy of the Queen and the +Tories at him. Perceiving the decline +of his influence at court, and anticipating +his dismissal from the command +of the army at no distant period, he +solicited from the Queen a patent constituting +him Captain-general for life. +In vain he was assured by the Lord +Chancellor that such an appointment +was wholly unprecedented in English +history; he persisted in laying the +petition before the Queen, by whom +it was of course refused. Piqued at +this disappointment, he wrote an +acrimonious letter to her Majesty, in +which he reproached her with the +neglect of his public services, and +bitterly complained of the neglect of +the Duchess, and transfer of the royal +favour to Mrs Masham. So deeply +did Marlborough feel this disappointment, +that on leaving the Hague to +return to England, he said publicly to +the deputies of the States—"I am +grieved that I am obliged to return +to England, where my services to your +republic will be turned to my disgrace."<a name="FNanchor_47_47" id="FNanchor_47_47"></a><a href="#Footnote_47_47" class="fnanchor">[47]</a></p> + +<p>Marlborough was received in the +most flattering manner by the people, +on landing on 15th November, and he +was greeted by the thanks of both +Houses of Parliament for his great and +glorious services. The Queen declared +in her speech from the throne, that +this campaign had been at least as +glorious as any which had preceded +it; and the Chancellor, in communicating +the thanks of the House of +Lords, added—"This high eulogium +must be looked upon as added to, and +standing upon the foundation already +laid in the records of this House, for +preserving your memory fresh to all +future times; so that your Grace has +also the satisfaction of seeing this +everlasting monument of your glory +rise every year much higher." Such +was the impulse communicated to both +Houses by the presence of the Duke, +and the recollection of his glorious +services, that liberal supplies for +carrying on the war were granted by +both Houses. The Commons voted +£6,000,000 for the service of the +ensuing year, and on the earnest representation +of Marlborough, an addition +was made to the military forces.</p> + +<p>But in the midst of all these flattering +appearances, the hand of destruction +was already impending over +the British hero. It was mainly raised +by the very greatness and inappreciable +nature of his services. Envy, +the invariable attendant on exalted +merit, had already singled him out as +her victim: jealousy, the prevailing +weakness of little minds, had prepared +his ruin. The Queen had become +uneasy at the greatness of her subject. +There had even been a talk of the +Duke of Argyll arresting him in her +name, when in command of the army. +Anne lent a ready ear to the representations +of her flatterers, and especially +Mrs Masham, that she was +enthralled by a single family; that +Marlborough was the real sovereign +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +of England, and that the crown was +overshadowed by the field-marshal's +baton. Godolphin, violently libelled +in a sermon by Dr Sacheverell, at St +Saviour's, Southwark, the Doctor was +impeached before the House of Lords +for the offence. The government of the +Tower, usually bestowed on the recommendation +of the commander-in-chief, +was, to mortify Marlborough, bestowed +without consulting him on Lord +Rivers. At length matters came to +such a pass, and the ascendency of +Mrs Masham was so evident, while +her influence was exercised in so undisguised +a manner to humiliate him, +that he prepared the draft of a letter +of resignation of his commands to her +Majesty, in which, after enumerating +his services, and the abuse which Mrs +Masham continued to heap on him and +his relations, he concluded with saying—"I +hope your Majesty will either +dismiss her or myself."<a name="FNanchor_48_48" id="FNanchor_48_48"></a><a href="#Footnote_48_48" class="fnanchor">[48]</a></p> + +<p>Sunderland and several of the Whig +leaders warmly approved of this vigorous +step; but Godolphin, who foresaw +the total ruin of the ministry and +himself, in the resignation of the +general, had influence enough to prevent +its being sent. Instead of doing +so, that nobleman had a long private +audience with her Majesty on the subject; +in which, notwithstanding the +warmest professions on her part, and +the strong sense she entertained of his +great and lasting services, it was not +difficult to perceive that a reserve as +to future intentions was manifested, +which indicated a loss of confidence. +Marlborough declared he would be +governed in the whole matter by the +advice and opinion of his friends; but +strongly expressed his own opinion, +"that all must be undone if this +poison continues about the Queen."<a name="FNanchor_49_49" id="FNanchor_49_49"></a><a href="#Footnote_49_49" class="fnanchor">[49]</a> +Such, however, was the agony of apprehension +of Godolphin at the effects of +the duke's resignation, that he persuaded +him to adopt a middle course, +the usual resource of second-rate men +in critical circumstances, but generally +the most hazardous that can be adopted. +This plan was to write a warm +remonstrance to the Queen, but +without making Mrs Masham's removal +a condition of his remaining in office. +In this letter, after many invectives +against Mrs Masham, and a full enumeration +of his grievances, he concludes +with these words—"This is only one +of many mortifications that I have +met with, and as I may not have +many opportunities of writing to you, +let me beg of your Majesty to reflect +what your own people and the rest of +the world must think, who have been +witnesses of the love, zeal, and duty +with which I have served you, when +they shall see that, after all I have +done, it has not been able to protect +me against the malice of a bed-chamber +woman.<a name="FNanchor_50_50" id="FNanchor_50_50"></a><a href="#Footnote_50_50" class="fnanchor">[50]</a> But your Majesty +may be assured that my zeal for you +and my country is so great, that in my +retirement I shall daily pray for your +prosperity, and that those who serve +you as faithfully as I have done, may +never feel the hard return I have met +with."</p> + +<p>These expressions, how just soever +in themselves, and natural in one +whose great services had been requited +as Marlborough's had been, were not +likely to make a favourable impression +on the royal mind, and, accordingly, +at a private audience which he had +soon after of the Queen, he was +received in the coldest manner.<a name="FNanchor_51_51" id="FNanchor_51_51"></a><a href="#Footnote_51_51" class="fnanchor">[51]</a> +He retired in consequence to Blenheim, +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +determined to resign all his commands, +unless Mrs Masham was removed +from the royal presence. Matters +seemed so near a rupture, that the +Queen personally applied to several of +the Tories, and even Jacobites, who +had long kept aloof from court, to +support her in opposition to the address +expected from both Houses of +Parliament on the duke's resignation. +Godolphin and Somers, however, did +their utmost to bend the firm general; +and they so far succeeded in opposition +to his better judgment, and the +decided opinions of the Duchess, as +to induce him to continue in office +without requiring the removal of Mrs +Masham from court. The Queen, +delighted at this victory over so formidable +an opponent, received him at +his next audience in the most flattering +manner, and with a degree of apparent +regard which she had scarcely +ever evinced to him in the days of +his highest favour. But in the midst +of these deceitful appearances his ruin +was secretly resolved on; and in order +to accelerate his departure from court, +the Queen inserted in her reply to the +address of the Commons at the close +of the Session of Parliament, a statement +of her resolution to send him +immediately to Holland, as "I shall +always esteem him the chief instrument +of my glory, and of my people's +happiness." He embarked accordingly, +and landed at the Brill on March 18th, +in appearance possessing the same +credit and authority as before, but in +reality thwarted and opposed by a +jealous and ambitious faction at home, +which restrained his most important +measures, and prevented him from +effecting any thing in future on a level +with his former glorious achievements.</p> + +<p>The year 1709 was signalized by the +decisive victory of the Czar Peter +over Charles XII. at Pultowa, who +was totally routed and irretrievably +ruined by the Muscovite forces, commanded +by the Czar in person on that +disastrous day. This overthrow was +one of the most momentous which +has occurred in modern times. Not +only was a great and dreaded conqueror +at once overturned, and erelong +reduced to captivity; but a new balance +of power was established in the +north which has never since been +shaken. Sweden was reduced to her +natural rank as a third-rate power +from which she had been only raised +by the extraordinary valour and military +talents of a series of warlike +sovereigns, who had succeeded in rendering +the Scandinavian warriors, like +the Macedonians of old, a race of +heroes. Russia, by the same event, +acquired the entire ascendency over +the other Baltic powers, and obtained +that preponderance which she has ever +since maintained in the affairs of +Europe. Marlborough sympathised +warmly with the misfortunes of the +heroic sovereign, for whose genius +and gallantry he had conceived the +highest admiration. But he was too +sagacious not to see that his disasters, +like those of Napoleon afterwards in +the same regions, were entirely the +result of his own imprudence; and +that if he had judiciously taken advantage +of the terror of his name, and +the success of his arms, in the outset +of his invasion, he might have gained +all the objects for which he contended +without incurring any serious evil.<a name="FNanchor_52_52" id="FNanchor_52_52"></a><a href="#Footnote_52_52" class="fnanchor">[52]</a></p> + +<p>Peter the Great, who gained this astonishing +and decisive success, was +one of the most remarkable men who +ever appeared on the theatre of public +affairs. He was nothing by halves. +For good or for evil he was gigantic. +Vigour seems to have been the great +characteristic of his mind; but it was +often fearfully disfigured by passion, +and not unfrequently misled by the +example of more advanced states. +To elevate Russia to an exalted place +among nations, and give her the influence +which her vast extent and +physical resources seemed to render +within her reach, was throughout life +the great object of his ambition; and +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +he succeeded in it to an extent which +naturally acquired for him the unbounded +admiration of mankind. His +overthrow of the Strelitzes, long the +Prætorian guards and terror of the +czars of Muscovy, was effected with a +vigour and stained by a cruelty similar +to that with which Sultan Mahommed +a century after destroyed the +Janissaries at Constantinople. The +sight of a young and despotic sovereign +leaving the glittering toys and +real enjoyments of royalty to labour +in the dockyards of Saardem with his +own hands, and instruct his subjects +in shipbuilding by first teaching himself, +was too striking and remarkable +not to excite universal attention. +And when the result of this was seen: +when the Czar was found introducing +among his subjects the military discipline, +naval architecture, nautical +skill, or any of the arts and warlike +institutions of Europe, and in consequence +long resisting and at length +destroying the terrible conqueror who +had so long been the terror of Northern +Europe, the astonishment of men +knew no bounds. He was at once +the Solon and Scipio of modern times: +and literary servility, vying with great +and disinterested admiration, extolled +him as one of the greatest heroes and +benefactors of his species who had ever +appeared among men.</p> + +<p>But time, the great dispeller of illusions, +and whose mighty arm no individual +greatness, how great soever, +can long withstand, has begun to +abate much from this colossal reputation. +His temper was violent in the +extreme; frequent acts of hideous +cruelty, and occasional oppression, signalized +his reign. More than any other +man, he did evil that good may come +of it. He compelled his people, as he +thought, to civilisation, though, in +seeking to cross the stream, hundreds +of thousands perished in the waves. +"Peter the Great," says Mackintosh, +"did not civilize Russia: that undertaking +was beyond his genius, great +as it was; he only gave the Russians +the art of civilized war." The truth +was, he attempted what was altogether +impracticable. No one man can at +once civilize a nation: he can only put +it in the way of civilisation. To complete +the fabric must be the work of +continued effort and sustained industry +during many successive generations. +That Peter failed in rendering his +people on a level with the other nations +of Europe in refinement and industry, +is no reproach to him. It was +impossible to do so in less than several +centuries. The real particular in +which he erred was, that he departed +from the national spirit, that he tore +up the national institutions, violated +in numerous instances the strongest +national feelings. He clothed his +court and capital in European dress; +but men do not put off old feelings +with the costume of their fathers. +Peter's civilisation extended no further +than the surface. He succeeded in +inducing an extraordinary degree of +discipline in his army, and the appearance +of considerable refinement among +his courtiers. But it is easier to remodel +an army than change a nation; +and the celebrated <i>bon-mot</i> of Diderot, +that the Russians were "rotten before +they were ripe," is but a happy expression, +indicating how much easier +it is to introduce the vices than the +virtues of civilisation among an unlettered +people. To this day the civilisation +of Russia has never descended +below the higher ranks; and the efforts +of the real patriotic czars who +have since wielded the Muscovite +sceptre, Alexander and Nicholas, have +been mainly directed to get out of the +fictitious career into which Peter +turned the people, and revive with the +old institutions the true spirit and inherent +aspirations of the nation. The +immense success with which their efforts +have been attended, and the gradual, +though still slow descent of civilisation +and improvement through the +great body of the people, prove the +wisdom of the principles on which +they have proceeded. Possibly Russia +is yet destined to afford another illustration +of the truth of Montesquieu's +maxim, that no nation ever yet rose +to durable greatness but through institutions +in harmony with its spirit. +And in charity let us hope that the +words of Peter on his death-bed have +been realized: "I trust that, in respect +of the good I have striven to do my +people, God will pardon my sins."</p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE AMERICANS AND THE ABORIGINES.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">A Tale of the Short War.</span><br /><br /> + +<span class="smcap">Part the Last.</span></h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> may be present to the memory of +some of our readers, that when the +British troops, under Sir Edward Pakenham, +menaced New Orleans, the +constitution of Louisiana was temporarily +and arbitrarily suspended by +General Jackson, commanding the +American forces in the south, with a +view to greater unity in the defensive +operations. This suspension excited +great indignation amongst the Louisianians, +who viewed it as a direct attack +upon their liberties, unjustified by +circumstances. Meetings were called, +and the general's conduct was made +the subject of vehement censure. +When the news of the peace between +England and the United States, concluded +in Europe before the fight of +New Orleans took place, arrived, +judicial proceedings were instituted +against Jackson; he was found guilty +of a violation of the Habeas Corpus +act, and condemned to a fine of two +thousand dollars. This fine the Louisianian +Creoles were anxious to pay +for him; but he preferred paying it +himself, and did so with a good grace, +thereby augmenting the popularity he +had acquired by his victories over the +Creek Indians, and by the still more +important repulse of Pakenham's ill-planned +and worse-fated expedition. +In the book which forms the subject +of the present article, this historical +incident has been introduced, rather, +however, to illustrate American character +and feelings, than in connexion +with the main plot of the tale. Captain +Percy, a young officer of regulars, +brings the announcement of the suspension +of the Louisianian constitution +to a town on the Mississippi, then the +headquarters of the militia, who, at +the moment of his arrival, are assembled +on parade. The general commanding +reads the despatch with grave +dissatisfaction, and communicates its +contents to his officers. The news +has already got wind through some +passengers by the steam-boat which +brought the despatch-bearer, and discontent +is rife amongst the militia. +The parade is dismissed, the troops +disperse, and the officers are about to +return to their quarters, when they +are detained by the following incident:—</p> + +<p>From the opposite shore of the river, +two boats had some time previously +pushed off; one of them seeming at +first uncertain what direction to take. +It had turned first up, then down +stream, but had at last pulled obliquely +across the river towards the +bayou or creek, on the shore of which +the little town was situated. It was +manned by sailors, judging from their +shirts of blue and red flannel; but +there were also other persons on board, +differently dressed, one of whom reconnoitred +the shore of the bayou +with a telescope. It was the strange +appearance of these persons that now +attracted the attention of the officers. +They were about twelve in number; +some of them had their heads bound +up, others had their arms in slings; +several had great plasters upon their +faces. They were of foreign aspect, +and, judging from the style of their +brown, yellow, and black physiognomies, +of no very respectable +class. As if wishing to escape observation, +they sat with their backs to +the bayou. At a word from General +Billow, an officer stepped down to +meet them.</p> + +<p>The boat was close to shore, but as +soon as the suspicious-looking strangers +perceived the approach of the +militia officer, it was turned into the +creek and shot rapidly up it. Suddenly +it was brought to land; one of +the better dressed of the men stepped +out and approached the captain of regulars, +who just then came out of the +guard-house. With a military salute +he handed him a paper, saluted again, +and returned to his companions in the +boat. After a short time the whole +party ascended the bank of the bayou, +and walked off in the direction of the +town. The captain looked alternately +at the men and at the paper, and then +approached the group of officers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do those people want?" +inquired General Billow.</p> + +<p>The officer handed him the paper.</p> + +<p>"Read it yourself, general. I can +hardly believe my eyes. A passport +for Armand, Marceau, Bernardin, +Cordon, &c., planters from Nacogdoches, +delivered by the Mexican authorities, +and countersigned by the +general-in-chief.</p> + +<p>"Have you inquired their destination?"</p> + +<p>Captain Percy shrugged his shoulders. +"New Orleans. Any thing +further, the man tells me, is known +to the general-in-chief. A most suspicious +rabble, and who seem quite at +home here."</p> + +<p>"Ah, Mister Billow and Barrow, +how goes it? Glad to see you. You +look magnificent in your scarfs and +plumes."</p> + +<p>This boisterous greeting, uttered in +a rough, good-humoured voice, proceeded +from our friend Squire Copeland, +who had just landed from the +second boat with his companions and +horses, and having given the latter to +a negro to hold, now stepped into the +circle of officers, his broad-brimmed +quaker-looking hat decorated with +the magnificent bunch of feathers, for +which his daughters had laid the tenants +of the poultry-yard under such +severe contribution.</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen," said he, half seriously +and half laughing, "you see +Major Copeland before you. To-morrow +my battalion will be here."</p> + +<p>"You are welcome, major," said +the general and other officers, with a +gravity that seemed intended as a +slight check on the loquacity of their +new brother in arms.</p> + +<p>"And these men," continued the +major, who either did not or would +not understand the hint, "you might +perhaps take for my aides-de-camp. +This one, Dick Gloom, is our county +constable; and as to the other," he +pointed to the Englishman, "I myself +hardly know what to call him."</p> + +<p>"I will help you then," interrupted +Hodges, impatient at this singular introduction. +"I am an Englishman, +midshipman of his Majesty's frigate +Thunderer, from which I have, by +mishap, been separated. I demand a +prompt investigation of the fact, and +report to your headquarters."</p> + +<p>The general glanced slightly at the +overhasty speaker, and then at the +written examination which the squire +handed to him.</p> + +<p>"This is your department, Captain +Percy," said he; "be pleased to do the +needful."</p> + +<p>The officer looked over the paper, +and called an orderly.</p> + +<p>"Let this young man be kept in +strict confinement. A sentinel with +loaded musket before his door, and no +one to have access to him."</p> + +<p>"I really do not know which is +the most suspicious," said the general; +"this spy, as he is called, or the queer +customers who have just walked +away."</p> + +<p>Squire Copeland had heard with +some discontent the quick decided +orders given by the captain of regulars.</p> + +<p>"All that might be spared," said +he. "He's as nice a lad as ever I +saw. I was sitting yesterday at breakfast, +when a parcel of my fellows, +who are half horse, half alligator, and +a trifle beyond, came tumbling into +the house as if they would have pulled +it down. Didn't know what it meant, +till Joe Drum and Sam Shad brought +the younker before me, and wanted to +make him out a spy. I had half a +mind to treat the thing as nonsense; +but as we sat at table he let out something +about Tokeah; and when the +women spoke of Rosa—you know who +I mean, Colonel Parker; Rosa, whom +I've so often told you of—he got as +red as any turkey-cock. Thinks I to +myself, 'tisn't all right; better take +him with you. You know Tokeah, +the Indian, who gave us so much +trouble some fifteen years ago?"</p> + +<p>"Tokeah, the chief of the Oconees?"</p> + +<p>"The same," continued the squire. +"I chanced to mention his name, and +the lad blurted out, 'Tokeah! Do +you know him?' and when Mistress +Copeland spoke of Rosa"——</p> + +<p>"But, my dear major, this circumstance +is very important, and I see +no mention of it in your report," said +the general reprovingly.</p> + +<p>"I daresay not," replied the loquacious +justice of peace; "he'd +hardly be such a fool as to put that +down. I had my head and hands so +full that I asked him just to draw up +an account of the matter himself."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> + +<p>The officers looked at each other.</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, squire," said the +general, "you take the duties of your +office pretty easily. Who ever heard +of setting a spy to take down his +own examination, and a foreigner too? +How could you so expose yourself and +us?"</p> + +<p>The squire scratched himself behind +the ear. "Damn it, you're right!" +said he.</p> + +<p>During this dialogue, the officers +had approached one of the five taverns, +composing nearly a third part of the +infant town, towards which the ill-looking +strangers had betaken themselves. +The latter seemed very anxious +to reach the house first, but owing +to the tardiness of some of their party, +who walked with difficulty, they were +presently overtaken by the prisoner +and his escort. When the foremost +of them caught a sight of the Englishman's +face, he started and hastily +turned away. Hodges sprang on one +side, stared him full in the face, and +was on the point of rushing upon +him, when one of his guards roughly +seized his arm and pointed forwards.</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried the midshipman, "I +know that man."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," replied the orderly dryly, +"Forward!"</p> + +<p>"Let me go!" exclaimed Hodges, +"It is the pirate."</p> + +<p>"Pirate?" repeated the soldier, +who had again laid hold of his prisoner. +"If you cut any more such +capers, I'll take you to prison in a +way that your bones will remember +for a week to come. This young man +says," added he to the officers, who +just then came up, "that yonder fellow +is a pirate."</p> + +<p>"Obey your orders," was the sole +reply of the general; and again the +orderly pushed his prisoner onwards.</p> + +<p>"And you?" said the militia +general, turning to the foreigners—"Who +may you be?"</p> + +<p>One of the strangers, half of whose +face was bound up with a black silk +bandage, whilst of the other half, +which was covered with a large +plaster, only a grey eye was visible, +now stepped forward, and bowed with +an air of easy confidence.</p> + +<p>"I believe I have the honour to +address officers of militia, preparing +for the approaching conflict. If, as I +hope, you go down stream to-morrow, +we shall have the pleasure of accompanying +you."</p> + +<p>"Very kind," replied the general.</p> + +<p>"Not bashful," added the squire.</p> + +<p>"We also are come," continued the +stranger in the same free and easy +tone, "to lay our humble offering +upon the altar of the land of liberty, +the happy asylum of the persecuted +and oppressed. Who would not risk +his best blood for the greatest of +earth's blessings?"</p> + +<p>"You are very liberal with your +best blood," replied the general dryly. +"How is it that, being already wounded, +you come so far to seek fresh +wounds in a foreign service?"</p> + +<p>"Our wounds were received from +a party of Osages who attacked us on +the road, and paid dearly for their +temerity. We are not quite strangers +here; we have for many years had +connexions in New Orleans, and +some of the produce of our plantations +will follow us in a few days."</p> + +<p>"And this gentleman," said Colonel +Parker, who, after staring for some +time at one of the adventurers, now +seized him by the collar, and in spite +of his struggles dragged him forward: +"does he also come to make an offering +upon liberty's altar?"</p> + +<p>With a blow of his hand he knocked +off the man's cap, and with it a +bandage covering part of his face.</p> + +<p>"By jingo! dat our Pompey, what +run from Massa John in New Orlean," +tittered the colonel's black servant, +who stood a little on one side with +the horses.</p> + +<p>"Pompey not know massa. Pompey +free Mexican. Noding to massa," +screamed the runaway slave.</p> + +<p>"You'll soon learn to know me," +said the colonel. "Orderly, take this +man to jail, and clap irons on his neck +and ankles."</p> + +<p>"You will remain here," said the +general in a tone of command to the +spokesman of the party, who had +looked on with an appearance of perfect +indifference during the detection +and arrest of his black confederate.</p> + +<p>"It will be at your peril if you detain +us," was the reply. "We are +ordered to repair to headquarters as +speedily as possible."</p> + +<p>"The surgeon will examine you, +and if you are really wounded, you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +will be at liberty to fix your temporary +abode in the town. If not, the +prison will be your lodging."</p> + +<p>"Sir!" said the man with an assumption +of haughtiness.</p> + +<p>"Say no more about it," replied +the general coldly—"the commander-in-chief +shall be informed of your arrival, +and you will wait his orders +here."</p> + +<p>The stranger stepped forward, as if +he would have expostulated, but the +general turned his back upon him, and +walked away. A party of militia now +took charge of the gang, and conducted +them to the guard-house.</p> + +<p>This scarred and ill-looking crew +are Lafitte and the remnant of his +band, come, according to a private +understanding with General Jackson, +to serve the American artillery against +the British, (an historical fact.) Their +bandages and plasters being found to +cover real wounds, they are allowed +to quarter themselves at the <i>estaminet</i> +of the Garde Imperiale, kept by a +Spaniard called Benito, once a member +of Lafitte's band, but now settled +in Louisiana, married, and, comparatively +speaking, an honest man. +Benito is greatly alarmed at the sight +of his former captain and comrades, +and still more so when they insist +upon his aiding them that very night +to rescue Pompey the negro, lest he +should betray their real character to +the militia officers. Lafitte promises +to have the runaway slave conveyed +across the Mississippi; but as this +would require the absence, for at least +three hours, of several of the pirates, +who, although at liberty, are kept under +a species of surveillance, the real +intention is to make away with the +unfortunate Pompey as soon as the +boat is at a certain distance from land. +The negro is confined in a large building +used as a cotton store, built of +boards, and in a dilapidated condition; +the militia on guard leave their post +to listen to the proceedings of a meeting +then holding for the discussion of +General Jackson's unconstitutional +conduct, and, profiting by their +absence, Benito and four of the +pirates, Mexican Spaniards, contrive +the escape of a prisoner whom they +believe to be Pompey. In the darkness +they mistake their man, and +bring away Hodges, who is confined +in the same building. This occurs at +midnight. The meeting, which absorbs +the attention of the militia, is +not yet over, when the four pirates, +Benito, and the rescued prisoner, arrive +at the junction of the creek and +the Mississippi, and, unmooring a boat, +prepare to embark.</p> + +<p>At this moment a second boat became +visible, gliding gently down the +bayou towards the stream.</p> + +<p>"<i>Que diablo!</i>" muttered the Mexicans. +"What is that?"</p> + +<p>The boat drew near; a man was in it.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" whispered the +pirates, and then one of them sprang +suddenly into the strange skiff, whence +the clanking of chains was heard to +proceed. The Mexican stared the +unwelcome witness hard in the face.</p> + +<p>"Ah, massa Miguel!" cried the +new-comer with a grin: "Pompey +not stop in jail. Pompey not love +the ninetail."</p> + +<p>"The devil!" exclaimed the Mexican—"it +is Pompey. Who is the +other then? We are seven instead +of six. What does all this mean?"</p> + +<p>"Santiago!" cried the pirates: +"Who is he?" they whispered, surrounding +the seventh, and, as it seemed, +superfluous member of their society.</p> + +<p>"No Spanish. Speak English," +was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Santa Virgen! How came you +here?"</p> + +<p>"You ought to know, since you +brought me."</p> + +<p>The men stepped back, and whispered +to each other in Spanish. "Come, +then!" said one of them at last.</p> + +<p>"Not a step till I know who you +are, and where you go."</p> + +<p>"Fool! Who we are matters little +to you, and where we go, as little. +Any place is better for you than this. +Stop here and I would not give a real +for your neck."</p> + +<p>"Leave him! Leave him!" muttered +the others.</p> + +<p>"Be off, and back again quickly," +whispered the tavern-keeper, "or you +are all lost."</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried the Englishman. +"I will go with you."</p> + +<p>The negro had already jumped into +the Mexicans' boat, and, with the +heedlessness of his race, had left his +own adrift.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ingles!" said one of the pirates, +"sit you here." And he showed him +his place in the bow of the boat next +to a young Mexican. "And Pompey +in the middle, and now let's be off."</p> + +<p>"Stop!" cried Hodges. "Had we +not better divide ourselves between +the two boats?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, massa never rowed across +the Sippi," tittered the lazy negro. +"Massa not get over in six hours, +and come to land at Point Coupé."</p> + +<p>"Hush, Pompey," muttered his +neighbour, and the boat, impelled by +six pair of hands, darted swiftly out +into the stream.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Massa Manuel, let Pompey +file off him chains," grumbled the +black. "Pompey been in upper jail—been +cunning," laughed he to himself; +"took file and helped himself +out. Massa Parker stare when he +see Pompey gone."</p> + +<p>"Hold your tongue, doctor," commanded +a voice from the hinder part +of the boat, "and let your chains be +till you get across."</p> + +<p>The negro shook his head discontentedly. +"Massa Felipe wouldn't +like to be in the collars," said he; but +nevertheless he put away his file, and +whilst with one hand he managed the +oar, with the other he held the chain +connecting the ankle irons with the +collar, and which had been filed in +too close to the latter. This collar +consisted of a ring two inches broad, +and as thick as a man's finger, encircling +the neck, and from which +three long hooks rose up over the +crown of the head. With a sort of +childish wonder he weighed the chain +in his hand, staring at it the while, +and then let it fall into the bottom of +the boat, which now advanced towards +the middle of the stream.</p> + +<p>"Poor Lolli!" said the negro after +a short silence—"she be sad not to +see Pompey. She live in St John's, +behind the cathedral."</p> + +<p>"Pompey!" cried the Mexican +who sat forward on the same bench +with Hodges, "your cursed chain is +rubbing the skin off my ankles."</p> + +<p>"Sit still, Pompey," said the +negro's neighbour. "I'll take it out of +the way."</p> + +<p>"Ah! massa hurt poor Pompey," +cried the black to his next man, who +had wound the chain round his feet, +and now gave it so sudden a pull that +the negro let go his oar and fell back +in the boat. The young Englishman +became suddenly attentive to what +passed.</p> + +<p>"What are you about?" cried he; +"what are you doing to the poor +negro?"</p> + +<p>"Gor-a-mighty's sake, massa, not +joke so with poor Pompey," groaned +the negro. "Massa strangle poor +nigger."</p> + +<p>"It's nothing at all, Pompey; think +of your fat Lolli behind the cathedral, +and don't forget the way to Nacogdoches," +said the man on the sternmost +bench, who had taken the chain +from his comrade, passed it through +the neck-iron, and, violently pulling it, +drew the unhappy negro up into a heap.</p> + +<p>"Massa, Massa, Ma——!" gasped +the negro, whose breath was leaving +him.</p> + +<p>The whole had been the work of a +moment, and the stifled groans and +sobs of the agonized slave were nearly +drowned by the rush of the waters +and splash of the oar-strokes.</p> + +<p>"The devil!" cried the Englishman, +"what is all this?"</p> + +<p>At that moment the board on which +he sat was lifted, his fellow-rower +threw himself against him with all +his force, and nearly succeeded in +precipitating him into the stream. +Hodges staggered, but managed to +regain his balance, and turning quickly +upon his treacherous neighbour, +dealt him a blow with his fist that +knocked him overboard.</p> + +<p>"<i>Buen viage á los infiernos!</i>" cried +the other Mexicans with a burst of +hellish laughter, hearing the splash, +but misapprehending its cause.</p> + +<p>"Go to hell yourself!" shouted the +Englishman, grasping his oar, and +dealing the man in front of him a +blow that stretched him by the side +of the negro.</p> + +<p>"Santa Virgen! who is that?" +cried the two sternmost pirates.</p> + +<p>"The Englishman!" exclaimed one +of them, pressing forwards towards +Hodges, but stumbling over the men +at the bottom of the boat, which +now rocked violently from the furious +struggle going on within it.</p> + +<p>"Ma—— Ma——!" groaned the +negro again, now seemingly in the +death agony—His eyes stood out from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +their sockets, and glittered like stars +in the darkness; his tongue hung +from his mouth, swollen and convulsed.</p> + +<p>"By the living God! if you don't +unfasten the negro, I'll knock you all +into the river."</p> + +<p>"<i>Maldito Ingles! Picaro gojo!</i>"</p> + +<p>"Let him go! Let him go! Holy +Virgin!" yelled the three Mexicans, +as one of them who had approached +the Englishman was knocked bellowing +into his place by a furious blow +of the oar. "It's the devil himself!" +cried the pirates, and one of them +pushed the negro towards Hodges.</p> + +<p>"Stand back!" cried the midshipman, +"and take off his neck-iron. +If you strangle him, you are all dead +men."</p> + +<p>One of the Mexicans laid hold of the +negro, who was coiled up like a ball, +and drew the chain out of the collar. +The poor slave's limbs fell back, dead +and powerless as pieces of wood. A +gasping, rattling noise in his throat +alone denoted that life was still in him.</p> + +<p>"Stand back!" repeated Hodges, +stooping down, and endeavouring, by +vigorous friction with a blanket, to +restore the negro to consciousness. +During this life-and-death struggle, +the boat, left at the mercy of the +waters, had been borne swiftly away +by the stream, and was now floating +amongst a number of the enormous +trees which the Mississippi carries +down by thousands to the sea. The +Mexicans resumed their places, and +with their utmost strength began to +pull up-stream. Not far from the +frail skiff, beneath the mantle of fog +covering the river, a huge tree-trunk +was seen coming directly towards the +boat—Hodges had barely time to bid +the Mexicans be careful, when it shot +by them. As it did so, a strange, unnatural +cry saluted their ears, and +straining his eyes through the darkness, +the young Englishman saw a +head and a hand appearing above one +of the limbs of the forest giant.</p> + +<p>"<i>Misericordia!</i>" cried the voice—"<i>Socorro! +Por Dios!</i>"</p> + +<p>It was the Mexican whom Hodges +had knocked into the water, and who, +by means of the tree, had saved himself +from drowning.</p> + +<p>"Turn the boat!" cried Hodges, +"your countryman is still alive."</p> + +<p>"<i>Es verdad!</i>" exclaimed the desperadoes, +and the boat was turned—Meanwhile +the negro had come gradually +to himself, and now crouched +down at the feet of his deliverer. He +peered over the gunwale at the half-drowned +Mexican.</p> + +<p>"Gor-a-mighty, Massa!" cried he, +seizing the Englishman's oar—"dat +Miguel—trike him dead, Massa; +Miguel very bad mans."</p> + +<p>"Keep still, Pompey!" answered +Hodges, pulling with might and main +to the assistance of the Mexican. +The boat shot alongside the floating +tree, and the half-drowned wretch +had just sufficient strength left to extend +his hand, which the Englishman +grasped.</p> + +<p>"Take care, Massa! the pirates +will kill us both," cried the negro.</p> + +<p>At that moment the boat received +a violent shock, a wave dashed over +it, and threw the Mexican on the gunwale, +across which he lay more dead +than alive.</p> + +<p>"Lay hold of him!" said Hodges +to the negro.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Pompey not such dam' fool—Pompey +lub Massa too much. The +others don't row. Look, Massa, they +only wait to kill Massa."</p> + +<p>"Hark ye!" cried Hodges to the +Mexicans, at the same time giving +the nearest to him a blow with his +oar—"the first who leaves off rowing—you +understand me?"</p> + +<p>The boat rocked on the huge sheet +of water, in the midst of the floating +trees, menaced each moment with +destruction from the latter, or with +being swallowed up by the troubled +and impetuous stream; the Mexicans +cowered upon their benches—thirst of +blood, and rage, suppressed only by +fear, gleaming in their black, rolling +eyes and ferocious countenances. +The negro now twisted the boat rope +round the body of the rescued man, +who, still groaning and imploring +mercy, was dragged on board.</p> + +<p>"Ah, Massa! Miguel good swimmer; +bath not hurt him, Massa," +mumbled the restless black: "Massa +not forget to take his oar with him +out of the boat."</p> + +<p>"And Pompey not forget to handle +his own a little more diligently," was +the reply of Hodges.</p> + +<p>For a time the negro obeyed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +injunction, and then looked at the +young Englishman, who appeared to +listen attentively to some distant +sound.</p> + +<p>"Massa never fear, militiaman sleep +well—only Sippi's noise. Pompey +know the road, Massa Parker not +catch him."</p> + +<p>A quarter of an hour passed away, +and the strength of the rowers began +to diminish under their continued and +laborious efforts.</p> + +<p>"Massa soon see land—out of the +current already," cried the negro.</p> + +<p>Another quarter of an hour elapsed, +and they reached the shore; Hodges +jumped out of the boat, and was followed +by the negro, still loaded with +his fetters. The Mexicans sprang +after them.</p> + +<p>"Stop by your boat!" cried Hodges +in a threatening tone. Instead of an +answer, a knife, thrown by a sure +and practised hand, struck him on +the breast. The deerskin vest with +which Canondah had equipped him, +proved his protection. The weapon +stuck in it, and remained hanging +there.</p> + +<p>"Vile assassins!" cried Hodges, +who now broke off the flat part of his +oar, and grasping the other half, was +about to rush upon the bandits, when +the negro threw his arms round him.</p> + +<p>"Massa not be a fool! pirates have +more knives, and be glad if he go near +them. Kill him then easy."</p> + +<p>"You are right, Pompey," said +Hodges, half laughing, half angry, at +the negro, who was showing his white +teeth in an agony of fear and anxiety. +"The dogs are not worth the killing."</p> + +<p>For a moment the three assassins +stood undecided; then yelling out a +"Buen viage á los infiernos," got into +their boat and speedily disappeared +in the fog and darkness.</p> + +<p>Hodges is pursued and recaptured, +but Tokeah and Rosa, who, with their +companions, are brought in by a party +of militia, and the latter of whom is +joyfully recognised and welcomed by +the worthy Squire Copeland, clear +him of the charge of spying, and he +remains a prisoner of war. The +troops take their departure for New +Orleans, and the Indians are detained +at the town, whence, however, Tokeah +and El Sol depart in the night-time, +and continue their journey. The old +chief accomplishes his object, disinters +his father's bones, and returns to +fetch Rosa, and proceed with her to +his new home in the country of the +Comanches. Meanwhile the action +of New Orleans has been fought, and +he finds, to his grief and astonishment, +that Lafitte, whose life he had spared +in the expectation of his meeting punishment +at the hands of the Americans, +has actually been fighting in +their ranks, and has received, as a +reward for his services, a free pardon, +coupled, however, with an injunction +to quit the territory of the United +States. Through an advertisement in +an old newspaper, traces have been +discovered of Rosa's father, who, as +the reader is given to understand, is +a Mexican of high rank. She had +been stolen by a tribe of Indians with +whom Tokeah was at war, and from +whose hands he rescued her. Tokeah +has an interview with General Jackson, +who cautions him against the +further indulgence of his inveterate +hostility to the Americans, and permits +him to depart. Rosa now goes +to take leave of the old chief, who is +as yet unaware that she is not to +accompany him.</p> + +<p>When Rosa, Squire Copeland, and +Hodges entered the estaminet of the +Garde Imperiale, they found the two +chiefs and their followers seated in +their usual manner upon the floor of +the room, which had no other occupants. +El Sol rose at their entrance, +and, advancing a few steps, took +Rosa's hand and conducted her to a +chair. She did not sit down, but ran +to the Miko and affectionately embraced +him. The old chief gazed at +her with a cold and inquiring look.</p> + +<p>"Miko," said the squire, "Miss +Rosa has come to take leave of you, +and to thank you for the kindness you +have shown her. You yourself shall +fix the sum that will compensate you +for your expenses on her account."</p> + +<p>"Tokeah," replied the Indian, misunderstanding +Major Copeland's +words, and taking a leather bag from +his wampum belt, "will willingly pay +what the white chief claims for food +and drink given to the White Rose."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken," replied the +squire; "payment is due to you. +Strictly speaking, the amount should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +be fixed by a jury, but you have only +to ask, and any reasonable sum shall +be paid at once."</p> + +<p>"The white chief," said the Indian, +"may take whatever he pleases."</p> + +<p>"I tell you it is I, and not you, +who have to pay," returned the squire.</p> + +<p>"Has my daughter bid farewell to +her foster-father?" said the Indian to +Rosa, who had listened to this dialogue +with some uneasiness. "Rosa +must leave the wigwam of the white +men; the Miko's path is a long one, +and his spirit is weary of the palefaces."</p> + +<p>"And must the Miko go?" said +Rosa. "Oh! father of my Canondah! +remain here; the white men +will love thee as a brother."</p> + +<p>The Indian looked at her with astonishment.</p> + +<p>"What means the White Rose?" +said he,—"the palefaces love Tokeah? +Has the White Rose——?" He +paused, and surveyed her gloomily and +suspiciously. "Tokeah," continued he, +at last, "is very weary of the white +men; he will be gone."</p> + +<p>"Miko," said Rosa, timidly—for it +was evident that the chief was still in +error as to the motive of her visit—"Rosa +has come to beg you to remain +a while with the white men; but +if you must go, she will"——</p> + +<p>"The Miko is the father of his people," +interrupted Tokeah; "they call +him; he must go, and the Rose of the +Oconees shall also be the Rose of the +Comanches, the squaw of a great +chief."</p> + +<p>The young girl blushed, and stepped +back.</p> + +<p>"Miko," said she, "you are the +beloved father of my dear Canondah; +you saved my life and maintained me, +and I thank you heartily; but, Miko, +I cannot, I must not, do as you wish. +I no longer belong to you, but to my +father, my long-lost father."</p> + +<p>"Rosa speaks truth—she belongs to +her father," said the Miko, not yet +undeceived; "my daughter's feet are +weak, but she shall sit in a canoe till +she reaches the wigwams of the Pawnees, +and they have many horses."</p> + +<p>"By G—!" cried the squire, "here +is a mistake; the Indian thinks to take +Rosa with him. My dear boy," continued +he to Hodges, "run as quick as +you can to Colonel Parker, and bring +a party of men. Bayonets are the only +things these savages respect. Rosa, +say no more to him, he is getting +wild."</p> + +<p>A change had taken place in the +Indian, although it was one which only +a keen observer could detect. He +began to have an inkling that Rosa +was to be taken from him, and his +gloomy inanimate physiognomy betrayed +a restless agitation, which +alarmed the major.</p> + +<p>"The White Rose," resumed Tokeah, +after a while, "is a dutiful +daughter. She will cook her father's +venison."</p> + +<p>"That would I willingly do for the +father of my Canondah," said the +young girl; "but a higher duty calls +me. Father of my Canondah! Rosa +has come to take leave of thee."</p> + +<p>The Indian listened attentively.</p> + +<p>"Miko," continued the maiden, +"the father who gave me life, is found. +Rosa must hasten to him who for +fourteen years has wept and sought +her."</p> + +<p>"Tokeah gave Rosa her life; he +saved her from the tomahawk of Milimach; +he paid with skins for the milk +she drank."</p> + +<p>"But Rosa has another father who +is nearer to her, whom the Great +Spirit bestowed upon her; to him must +she go. I <i>must</i> leave you, Miko," +said she, with increased firmness of +manner.</p> + +<p>Upon the countenance of the Indian +all the bad passions of his nature were +legible. The scales had at last fallen +from his eyes; but even now his +cold and terrible calmness did not desert +him, although the violence of the +storm raging within showed itself +in the play of his features and the +variation of his complexion.</p> + +<p>"Miko," said the squire, who foresaw +an approaching outburst of fury—"Miko, +you heard the words of the +great warrior of the palefaces?"</p> + +<p>The Indian took no notice of the +caution; his whole frame was agitated +by a feverish trembling; his hand +sought his scalping-knife; and he cast +so terrible a look at Rosa, that the +horrorstruck squire sprang to her side. +To Major Copeland's astonishment, the +young girl had regained all her courage, +and there was even a certain dignity +in her manner.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Miko," said she, extending her +arms, "I must leave you."</p> + +<p>"What says my daughter?" demanded +the Indian—who even yet +seemed unable to believe his ears—his +voice assuming so shrill and unnatural +a tone, that the tavern-keeper +and his wife rushed terrified into the +room. "Tokeah is not her father? +she will not follow the Miko?"</p> + +<p>"She cannot," answered Rosa +firmly.</p> + +<p>"And Rosa," continued the Indian, +in the same piercing accents, +"will leave the Miko; will let him +wander alone on his far and weary +path?"</p> + +<p>The words were scarcely uttered, +when, by a sudden and unexpected +movement, Tokeah sprang to his feet, +caught Rosa in his arms, and with a +like rapidity retreating to the side +door of the room, came in such violent +contact with it, that its glass +panes were shivered into a thousand +pieces.</p> + +<p>"And does the white snake think," +he exclaimed, with flashing eyes, +"that the Miko is a fool?" He held +the maiden in his left arm, whilst his +right raised the glittering scalping-knife. +"Does the white snake think," +continued the raging Indian, with a +shrill laugh of scorn, whilst the foam +gathered round his mouth, "that the +Miko fed and cherished her, and gave +skins for her, that she might return to +the white men, the venomous palefaces, +whom he spits upon?" And he +spat with loathing upon the ground.</p> + +<p>"By the God who made you, hold! +Hurt the child, and you are a dead +man!" cried the squire, who seized +a stool and endeavoured to force his +way to Rosa, but was repulsed by the +Comanches and Oconees.</p> + +<p>"Therefore did the white snake +accompany me!" yelled Tokeah. +"Does my son know," cried he to +El Sol, "that the White Rose has +betrayed her father—betrayed him +for the palefaces? Will the white +snake follow her father?" screamed +the frantic savage.</p> + +<p>"I cannot," was the reply. "The +voice of my white father calls me."</p> + +<p>An expression of intense hatred +came over the features of the Indian, +as he gazed at the beautiful creature +who lay half-fainting on his arm.</p> + +<p>"Tokeah will leave the White +Rose with her friends," said he, with +a low deadly laugh, drawing back his +hand and aiming the knife at her +bosom.</p> + +<p>"Gracious God! he is killing her!" +cried the major, breaking furiously +through the opposing Indians. But +at this critical moment the young +Comanche was beforehand with him. +With a bound he interposed himself +between the chief's armed hand and +intended victim, tore Rosa from the +grasp of Tokeah, and hurled him back +against the door with such force that +it flew into fragments.</p> + +<p>"Tokeah is indeed a wild cat!" +cried he with indignant disgust. "He +forgets that he is a chief amongst his +people, and brings shame upon the +name of the Red men. El Sol is +ashamed of such a father."</p> + +<p>These words, spoken in the Pawnee +dialect, had an indescribable effect +upon the old savage. He had partly +raised himself after his fall, but now +again sank down as if lifeless. Just +then several file of militia entered the +room with bayonets fixed.</p> + +<p>"Shall we take the Indian to prison?" +said Lieutenant Parker.</p> + +<p>The major stood speechless, both +his arms clasped round Rosa.</p> + +<p>"Lieutenant Parker," said he, +"support Rosa for a moment: the +Almighty himself has protected her, +and it beseems not us to take vengeance." +He approached the old Indian, +who still lay upon the floor, +lifted him up, and placed him against +the wall. "Tokeah," he said, "according +to our laws your life is forfeited, +and the halter the least you deserve; +nevertheless, begone, and that +instantly. You will find your punishment +without receiving it at our +hands."</p> + +<p>"He was my father, my unhappy +father!" exclaimed Rosa, and tottering +to the Indian, she threw her arms +around him. "Father of my Canondah," +cried she, "Rosa would never +leave you, but the voice of her own +father calls. Forgive her who has been +a daughter to you!"</p> + +<p>The Indian remained mute. She +gazed at him for a while with tearful +eyes; then turned to El Sol, and bowing +her head modestly and respectfully, +took leave of him, and left the +house with her companions.</p> + +<p>The young chief of the Comanches<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +remained as in a dream, till the major, +with Rosa and the militia, were already +far from the estaminet. Suddenly +he came bounding after them, and +placing himself before Rosa, took her +hands, pressed them to his breast, and +bowed his head so mournfully, that +the witnesses of the scene stood silent, +sympathizing with his evident affliction.</p> + +<p>"El Sol," whispered he, in a scarcely +audible tone, "has seen Rosa: he +will never forget her."</p> + +<p>And without raising his eyes to her +face, he turned away.</p> + +<p>"As I live," exclaimed the squire, +with some emotion, "the noble savage +weeps!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>An hour subsequently to this scene, +the party of Indians left the bayou in +a canoe, and ascended the Mississippi. +Upon reaching the mouth of the Red +River, they turned into it, and continued +their route up-stream. On the +tenth day from that of their departure, +they found themselves upon the +elevated plain where the western district +of Arkansas and Louisiana joins +the Mexican territory. To their front +were the snowy summits of the Ozark +range, beyond which are immense +steppes extending towards the Rocky +Mountains. The sun sank behind the +snow-capped peaks, as the Indians +landed at the western extremity of +the long table-rock, which there +stretches like a wall along the left +bank of the Red River. Leaving +their canoe, they approached a hill, +or rather a mass of rock, that rises +not far from the shore in the barren +salt steppe, and in whose side exists +a cave or grotto, resembling, by its +regularity of form, an artificial archway. +Here, upon the imaginary +boundary line separating the hunting +grounds of the Pawnees of the Toyask +tribe from those of the Cousas and +Osages, they took up their quarters +for the night. El Sol ordered a fire +to be made; for Tokeah, who had +just left the warm climate of Louisiana, +shivered with cold. Their +frugal meal dispatched, the Miko and +his Oconees stretched themselves +upon the ground and slept. El Sol +still listened to a legend related by +one of the Comanches, when he was +startled by a distant noise. In an +instant the three warriors were upon +their feet, their heads stretched out +in the direction of the breeze which +had conveyed the sound to their +ears.</p> + +<p>"The dogs!" murmured the +young Comanche; "they bay after +a foe in whose power it once was to +crush them."</p> + +<p>The Oconees were roused from +their slumber, and the party hurried +to the place where they had left the +canoe. The Miko and his warriors +got in and descended the stream; +whilst El Sol and the two Comanches +crept noiselessly along the water's +edge in the same direction. After +proceeding for about half a mile, the +canoe stopped, and the young chief +and his followers entered it, previously +breaking the bushes growing upon +the shore, so as to leave unmistakable +marks of their passage. They continued +their progress down the river +to the end of the table-rock, and +then, leaving the old man in the +boat, El Sol and the four warriors +again landed, and glided away in the +direction of their recently abandoned +bivouac. In its vicinity were stationed +a troop of twenty horses. Of +the Indians to whom these belonged, +ten remained mounted, whilst the remainder +searched the cave, and followed +the trail left by its late occupants. +Crouching and crawling upon the +ground, the better to distinguish the +footmarks dimly visible in the moonlight, +it might almost have been +doubted whether their dark forms +were those of men, or of some strange +amphibious animals who had stolen +out of the depths of the river for a +midnight prowl upon the shore.</p> + +<p>His ear against the rock, and motionless +as a statue, El Sol observed +each movement of the foe. Suddenly, +when the Indians who followed the +trail were at some distance from the +cave, he made a sign to his companions, +and, with a noiseless swiftness +that defied detection, the five +warriors approached the horses. A +slight undulation of the plain was all +that now separated them from their +enemy. El Sol listened, gazed upwards +at the moon's silver disk, just +then emerging from behind a snow-charged +cloud, raised himself upon his +knee, and taking a long and steady +aim, nodded to his warriors. The +next instant five savages, pierced by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +as many bullets, fell from their horses +to the ground; a terrible yell shattered +the stillness of the night; and +with lightning swiftness El Sol sprang +upon the terrified survivors, who, +answering his war-whoop by cries of +terror, fled in confusion from the +place. It needed all the surprising +rapidity and dexterity of the young +chief and his followers to secure six +of the half-wild horses, whose bridles, +so swift and well-calculated had been +the movements of the Comanches, +might be said to fall from the hands +of their slain riders into those of the +assailants. The remaining steeds +reared in extreme terror, and then, +with neigh and snort, dashed madly +across the wide waste of the steppe.</p> + +<p>Springing upon the backs of the +captured animals, the Comanches galloped +to the shore. Scarcely had they +entered the canoe, astern of which +the horses were made to swim, when +the bullets and arrows of the pursuing +foe whistled around them.</p> + +<p>"Will my son promise the Miko +to be a good father to the Oconees?" +said the old chief in a hollow voice, as +they pulled out of range of the fire.</p> + +<p>"A father and a brother," answered +the Comanche. "But why does my +father ask? He will dwell long and +happily with his children."</p> + +<p>"Will El Sol swear it by the Great +Spirit?" repeated the old man, earnestly, +but in a fainter voice.</p> + +<p>"He will," replied the young chief.</p> + +<p>"Will he swear to bury Tokeah +and his father's bones in the grave of +the warriors of the Comanches?"</p> + +<p>"He will," said El Sol.</p> + +<p>"So shall the white men not scoff +at his ashes nor at those of his father," +groaned the Miko. "But it is +the will of the Great Spirit that Tokeah +should not see the hunting-grounds +of the Comanches; he is doomed to +die in the land of the palefaces."</p> + +<p>A rattling in his throat interrupted +the old man; he murmured a few broken +words in the ears of his Oconees, +who broke out into a wild howl of +lamentation. Still clasping to his +breast the coffin containing his father's +bones, he sank back in the boat in the +agonies of death. El Sol raised him +in his arms, but life had already fled. +A bullet had struck him between the +shoulders, and inflicted a mortal +wound. In silent grief the young +chief threw himself upon the corpse, +and long after the boat had reached +the opposite shore, he lay there, unmindful +of all but his sorrow. Roused +at length by the whispers of his companions, +to a sense of the danger of +longer delay, he laid the body across +a horse, and himself mounting the +same animal, took the road to the +village of the Pawnees. There, upon +the following day, to the wild and +mournful music of the death-song, +the little party made its sorrowful +entrance.</p> + +<p>At this point the narrative ceases. +We turn the page, expecting at least +another chapter, or some notice of Rosa's +restoration to her father, and subsequent +marriage with Hodges, which +the previous portion of the novel certainly +led us to anticipate. But our author, +with his usual eccentric disregard +of the established routine of romance +writers, contents himself with a postscript, +consisting of an advertisement +extracted from the Opelousas county +paper, and dated March 1816, announcing +the marriage of the amiable +and accomplished Miss Mary Copeland, +daughter of the Honourable +John Copeland, of James county, to +Mr James Hodges, formerly of H.B.M. +Navy, and now of Hodges' Seat in the +same state. The reader is left to complete +the denouement for himself, if +he so pleases, and to conjecture that +Rosa's father, a Mexican grandee, +takes back his daughter to her native +country, and that the incipient attachment +between her and the young +Englishman is mutually forgotten.</p> + +<p>We here finally conclude our extracts +from the already published +work of our German American friend—extracts +comprising, as we believe, +the cream of the twenty volumes, or +thereabouts, which he has given to the +world. The incognito behind which +this clever and original writer has so +long shrouded himself, is at length +abandoned; and to a new edition of +his works, now in course of publication, +stands prefixed the name of +Charles Sealsfield.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE DEATH OF ZUMALACARREGUI.</h2> + +<div class="center"><span class="smcap">By Colonel Lord Howden, K.St.F., K.C.S.</span></div> + + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"Ac sane, quod difficilimum, et prælio strenuus erat et bonus in consilio; quorum alterum ex +providentiâ timorem, alterum ex audaciâ temeritatem, adferre plerumque solet. In Jugurthâ +tantus dolus, tantaque peritia locorum et militiæ erat, ut absens aut præsens perniciosior esset +in incerto haberetur."—<span class="smcap">Sallust.</span></p></div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> siege of Bilbao was undertaken +against the will, and strongly +expressed counsel of Zumalacarregui. +He was not only aware of the risk of +the enterprise, with the insufficient +means at his disposal for attempting +it, but he had other plans. His +plans, however, were undervalued, +and his counsels were slighted, at the +court of the Pretender. The little +empty politicians there, were dazzled +by the idea of possessing an important +town, not deeming it their business +to calculate the means by which +it was to be obtained; the incompetent +military advisers who directed +from afar, thought that this bold +attempt, proceeding from them, would +contrast in bright relief with the +hitherto wary and waiting policy of +the commander-in-chief; and the wish, +not an unnatural one, of the wandering +prince, to find himself for once +in comfortable quarters, was not the +least among the motives which decided +the operation. Though at this +moment the Christino army was in a +state of great discouragement from a +long series of advantages that had +been gained by the Carlists, the funds +of the latter were entirely exhausted; +and the idea of a forced loan upon the +rich inhabitants of Bilbao was too +seducing to be coldly examined by +those little acquainted with the real +difficulties of the war. Zumalacarregui +wished to attack Victoria, and, +profiting by the prestige of his late +successes, to throw himself on the +fertile and virgin ground of the Castiles. +This was doubtlessly the right +course, but the project was overruled.</p> + +<p>Independently of what thus gave +rise to these ambitious aspirations, +there was a personal feeling which +had long been busy, either in attempting +new and unexpected combinations +on the part of the Camarilla, or in +mutilating or rendering ineffectual +those that had been imagined by +Zumalacarregui. There was no passion, +bold or mean, no jealousy, no +intrigues, vegetating ever so rankly +or rifely in the oldest and largest +court of Europe, which did not flourish +in that of Don Carlos.</p> + +<p>There was not a Christino general +more disliked by the hangers-on of +Don Carlos than Zumalacarregui. +They feared him, they respected him, +but they hated him.</p> + +<p>When the Pretender first made his +appearance in Navarre, Zumalacarregui +was in his favourite retreat of +the Amescuas. He was far from insensible +to the advantage which the presence +of the chief actor in the drama +might produce, if his personal bearing +should be such as to create an enthusiasm +for his cause, and if those who +accompanied him should bring each +his personal contingent of enlightened +advice and honest activity. But with +all these hopes, Zumalacarregui was +not without his fears; his sagacity +foresaw what his experience soon +confirmed, that the royal chief was +worse than a nullity, and that the +royal suite were actively in the way. +Lord Bacon says, "it is the solecism +of princes to think to command the +end, and yet not to endure the means." +Dr Carlos was always commanding +the end, while his general was left to +find the means as best he could. A +large portion of his small army was +absorbed in protecting the prince, and +could rarely be counted on in a combined +movement; and the non-combatants, +under every denomination +of title and rank, drew more rations +for their consumption than would have +sufficed for the support of a large +body of soldiers.</p> + +<p>Zumalacarregui, personally, was +never very enthusiastic in the cause. +It is true that his feelings had +always had a tendency to absolutism, +or rather he entertained the conviction +that a strong government +was necessary to the happiness of +Spain, and that the greater the unity +of that government, the greater was +its chance of stability, and its power +of favourable action; but when he +left Pamplona to put himself at the +head of the insurgent Navarrese, he +was influenced far more by pique<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +against the existing state of things, +than by enthusiasm for the new one +which he sought to establish. He +had been treated both brutally and +unjustly by Quesada, at that time inspector +of infantry; and, with his active +spirit, a condemnation to inactivity +was the severest sentence that +could be passed upon him. Rest to +his unquiet bosom was a hell from +which he was determined to emerge; +and, confident in his powers, he seized +the first opportunity which enabled +him to bring them into action.</p> + +<p>The meeting between Zumalacarregui +and the prince was respectful, +but not warm; the first was unaccustomed +to have any feelings, the +second was unaccustomed to conceal +those he had. The new importation +had brought no new ideas, no plans, +no accession of science; above all, +<i>no money</i>; at least no more than was +to be applied to its own wants. +Don Carlos was evidently under the +constraint that a strong mind imposes +on a weak one. He saw that the +servant was the master, as much in +commanding intellect as in actual +power. They were both uncomfortable; +Zumalacarregui neither flattered the +prince, nor his chances of success; he +laid before him his difficulties, almost +insuperable in his own opinion—for let +it be known as a fact, <i>that he always +in his heart despaired of the ultimate +upshot of the war</i>. In conversational +phrase, he had made himself +thoroughly disagreeable; for he had +spoken calmly, coldly, truly—and the +hopes of an immediate march to +Madrid had been rudely shaken. +Zumalacarregui left the prince's +headquarters with a discouragement +and a contempt which he was at no +pains to conceal. From that moment +he was an object, often of admiration, +but never of affection; and it was +evident that the effort to esteem him +was too painful to ensure a continuance +of confidence.</p> + +<p>Among those who consider Zumalacarregui +solely as the able chief of a +devoted army, putting aside all the +circumstances of political partisanship, +there can be little difference of +opinion, if that opinion be fairly +formed and honestly given. By those +who remark upon the comparatively +small number of his troops, and the +relatively confined scale of his operations, +and who therefore refuse him +the name of a great general, it must +be remembered, that if this principle +of applying reputation be pushed further +in its expression—if military +praise and appreciation are to be +awarded strictly according to the +size of the theatre and the magnitude +of the numbers, and not according to +the spirit which moves over the one, +and directs the others—by such geometrical +logic, our own great hero +would be deemed immeasurably inferior +to the French emperor.</p> + +<p>Zumalacarregui possessed great +courage, but he made no show of it. +It would have been more brilliant if +he had had more vanity; and the +exposure of his person was always +subservient to some object of utility. +He had a comprehensive view of +military movements, but he never +forgot the peculiar nature of his warfare; +and he never ambitiously allowed +himself to be carried away by +plans or manœuvres beyond the exigencies +of his position. As an administrator +in forming reserves, in procuring +supplies, in discovering resources, +in bringing raw battalions +to a state of rough efficiency in the +shortest possible time, he was unrivalled; +yet his mind was not cramped +by detail, and when he descended to +minute matters, it was because they +were really important. He was severe +and inflexible, even taciturn and +morose; yet he was extremely loved +by his troops. At the time that he +was commander-in-chief, commissary-general +and treasurer, and that all the +sums of money, raised or sent, passed +through his hands without a check or +a receipt, there never was a breath +raised against the purity of his moral +character. These certainly are the +elements out of which great generals +are made; and it is not irrational to +think that, under other circumstances, +the same man, this Navarrese Guerrillero, +far superior as such to the +brave but improvident Mina, or the +active but dull Jauregui, might have +expanded into a European hero, and +have left a less perishable name.</p> + +<p>When the siege of Bilbao was +decided on, Zumalacarregui threw his +objections to the winds, and set about +it with his constitutional ardour. He +arrived before it with fourteen battalions, +and a miserable battering-train, +composed of two twelve-pounders, +one six-pounder, two brass four-pounders,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +two howitzers and a mortar, +and with a great penury of corresponding +ammunition. The town +was garrisoned by a force of four +thousand men, well armed, without +counting the national guard, and was +protected by forty pieces of artillery, +mostly of large calibre, mounted on +different forts thrown up in favourable +positions. But what was of chief +advantage to the besieged, and what +almost rendered success hopeless, +was the free communication from +without kept up by French and English +vessels of war stationed in the +Nervion, a river that runs alongside +the town, and joins the sea at some +seven or eight miles' distance.</p> + +<p>Zumalacarregui fixed his headquarters +at a spot called Puente +Nuevo, in a small straggling village, +just at this side of the town of Bilbao, +and under one of its most fashionable +and frequented walks. Eraso had +begun the investiture of the place a +few days previously, and both these +chiefs lodged in a small inn named +the Three Sisters. Puente Nuevo was +completely commanded by an eminence +called the Morro, just outside +the gates of Bilbao; but the garrison, +either from motives of prudence or +others, gave the Carlists no inconvenience +from that point.</p> + +<p>At a short distance to the right of +the Durango road, and on a height +immediately over the town of Bilbao, +is a church, called Our Lady of +Begoña; and not far from it is a +house, which, from its comparative +size and solidity, and from its commanding +view of the country around, +goes by the name of the Palace. On +the second day of the siege, two +serious misfortunes befell the besiegers: +eighty of the best muskets they +possessed were piled in the portico of +the church of Begoña, and were all +entirely destroyed by a grenade that +took them horizontally, killing the +two sentinels that were mounting +guard over them. The same evening +the two largest of the guns, already +half-worn out, burst from continued +firing, just as something like an impression +appeared on the spot it was +proposed to breach.</p> + +<p>Don Carlos, during this time, was +at Durango, a distance of five or six +hours. Zumalacarregui, seeing the +hopelessness of the operation, and, +above all, the discouragement of the +men, sent an express to the prince to +say, "that he would be obliged infallibly +to raise the siege and retire, unless +some means were immediately taken +to raise the drooping spirits of his +army; that they were without clothes, +without food, and almost without ammunition; +that it was absolutely +necessary that a sum of money should +be procured and sent to him, which +would enable him to pay the troops +a part of what was due to them; and +that then, as the means of prolonging +a siege was out of the question, he +would endeavour to carry out his majesty's +wishes, and try to take the +place by assault."</p> + +<p>Cruz-Mayor, the lead of the Camarilla, +loved to humiliate Zumalacarregui, +and no answer was returned to +this letter; but Zumalacarregui was +not idle, nor did he allow inaction to +dispirit still more the minds of his men. +He even attempted an assault, which +failed, with the loss of all those who +were ordered on this service. Unfortunately +for the attacking column, +lots were drawn for the troops that +were to compose it; and they fell upon +a regiment of Navarrese, entirely +ignorant of the localities, who, getting +confused in cross-paths and lanes at +the foot of the walls, were cut off to +a man. It was thought that the result +of this attack might have been +otherwise had it been undertaken by +the Biscayan companies, who knew +every inch of the ground. The hour, +too, was ill judged, for it was at the +beginning of nightfall, when it was +just dark enough to embarrass those +who were attempting the assault, +without being sufficiently so to induce +the inhabitants and national guards +to retire from the walls.</p> + +<p>On the 15th June 1835, Zumalacarregui +proceeded to the palace of +Begoña, not far from the church of +the same name, as the best spot for +observing the repairs made, and the +additional means of defence raised by +the enemy during the night. He passed +through the middle room on the +first story, and, throwing open the +window, went out on the iron balcony +overlooking the town. The balls +were flying so thick and fast that he +desired all those who accompanied +him to remain within; but, notwithstanding +their supplications, he himself +remained leaning on the railing +of the balcony, his knees nearly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +touching the ground. The telescope +which he used, showing the marksmen +in the enemy's works that he +was probably a personage of importance, +occasioned a general discharge +from the nearest battery. It was now +exactly eight o'clock in the morning, +and a ball from this discharge struck +Zumalacarregui in the upper and anterior +part of the right leg, on the inner +side, about two inches below the +knee. From the position in which he +was struck, the ball took a downwards +direction, and, as no part of +the intricate machinery of the knee +was injured, there was every reason +to suppose that no serious consequences +could ensue.</p> + +<p>Either from the extreme pain of +the wound, or the shock given to the +nervous system, Zumalacarregui fainted. +His secretary, Zaratiegui, and +the rest of his staff, picked him up in +a state of insensibility, and placed +him on a chair. The surgeon, Grediaga, +a man of considerable acquirements, +who was then practising in the +sacristy of the church of Begoña, +which had been converted into an +hospital, was immediately sent for, +as well as a young English surgeon +of the name of Burgess, belonging to +a small body of cavalry called the +"Holy Squadron," or the "Squadron +of Legitimacy."</p> + +<p>This young man, a person of great +respectability, and well informed in +his profession, has been since as +grossly as ridiculously accused of having +been bought by the English +government to hasten the end of +Zumalacarregui, if ever his services +enabled him to do so; and it is still +said, and believed by many, that the +death of the general was owing to +poison put into the bandages with +which Mr Burgess first dressed the +wound. In a country like Spain, +where there is much ignorance and +deep prejudice, it does not suffice to +laugh to scorn accusations of any sort: +it is better to meet them seriously, +and disprove them by a fact. <i>Mr +Burgess never dressed Zumalacarregui's +leg at all.</i> He spoke no Spanish, +and while he was endeavouring to +make himself understood and to learn +what had happened, Grediaga arrived +and put on the first application.</p> + +<p>On being asked whither he should +be carried, Zumalacarregui immediately +said to Cegama, a town three +days' journey off, situated in a solitary +neighbourhood, and entirely unprovided +with any thing like comfort, +medicines, or professional assistance. +The surprise of all was manifest, but +the general was too accustomed to be +obeyed not to be so in this instance. +He was placed upon an old sofa from +which the legs were sawed, and which +was carried by eight guides of Navarre, +with twenty-four others as a reserve. +Neither he nor the chief of his staff +and secretary, Zaratiegui, had a single +peseta in their pockets, and he received +from Mendigana, the paymaster-general, +twenty ounces of gold, as a +part of the pay that was due to him.</p> + +<p>The reason which induced Zumalacarregui +to go to Cegama, was indeed +a strange one, and a fatal one. It +was one he never expressed, but +which prompted this revelation from +the very instant that he received his +wound. There lived in this district +a quack of the very lowest capacity, +of the name of Petriquillo—a man entirely +unimbued with the slightest +tincture of medical science, but whose +chance cures of gunshot wounds during +the time of the Army of the Faith +in 1822, had astonished and taken +possession of the mind of Zumalacarregui. +He even refused to allow the +ball to be extracted at a moment +when the operation presented no +danger, and his only anxiety was to +put himself into the hands of this +ignorant adventurer.</p> + +<p>When the party arrived at Durango, +Don Carlos sent word that he would +next morning pay a visit to his wounded +chief; the frame of mind of the +latter may be collected from an exclamation +he made on the road, heard +by all, and commented on by many—"Truly +this is a happy day for the +court of the king!"</p> + +<p>As announced, Don Carlos came, +and the following remarkable conversation +took place:—"Well, Thomas, +how could'st thou do so foolish a thing +as to get wounded?" (The Spanish +royal family always use the second +person singular.) "Sir, I exposed myself, +because it was my duty to do so—besides, +I have lived long enough, <i>and +I am firmly convinced that we shall all +have to die in your majesty's service</i>." +"Well, but where do'st thou intend +going?" "To Cegama, sir." "No, +don't go there, it is a long way off: +stay here, I'll have thee taken care<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +of." "Sir, I have said I would go to +Cegama, and to Cegama will I go: your +majesty knows me well enough to be +convinced that what I say, I do." "Oh +yes! Thomas, that is certain—well, +go with God, and take care of thyself."</p> + +<p>After this interview, Zumalacarregui +instantly set off, as if it was a +relief to him to get out of the atmosphere +of the court. Between Durango +and Bergara he was met by the quack +Petriquillo and the cura Zabala. Besides +the above-mentioned Grediaga, +Don Carlos had desired two other nominal +physicians, Gelos and Voloqui, +to accompany the general; but these +two men were, in fact, as ignorant, +and as rash, and as opinionated as Petriquillo +himself. Petriquillo took off +the dressing from the wound; he made +two men rub the patient for four +hours from the hip to the ankle, with +an unctuous substance known only +to himself. He then put on a bandage +dipped in some medicament of +his own composition. Zumalacarregui +suffered extremely during the +night.</p> + +<p>Next morning a violent fever manifested +itself. Mr Burgess, frightened +at this treatment, returned to +Bilbao, and Zumalacarregui continued +his journey, arriving at Cegama on the +evening of the 17th.</p> + +<p>The surgeon Grediaga still continued, +not his services, but his useless +advice. As the fever increased, he +recommended quiet, diet, and blood-letting. +Petriquillo objected to venesection +or leeches; he administered +food in large quantities, to support the +general's strength, and kept the room +full of company to keep up the general's +spirits.</p> + +<p>Five days passed in this way with +this treatment, or rather absence of +treatment, only diversified by various +attempts to extract the ball, though +the leg, by the progress of the fever, +and the continued application of the +knife and probe, was swollen to twice +its size, and was in a state of the +highest exacerbation.</p> + +<p>In the middle of the night of the +23d, a great idea struck Gelos and +Petriquillo, the former was sleeping +in the same room with Grediaga, and, +fearful lest the latter should prevent +its accomplishment, rose stealthily at +one o'clock in the morning, proceeded +with Petriquillo to the room of the +general, and they there together <i>did</i> +extract the ball.</p> + +<p>At daylight, the joy in the house +was extreme; the ball was passed +through the hands of every inhabitant +in Cegama, and was then dispatched +in a box to Don Carlos. Petriquillo +and Gelos announced, that in fifteen +days the general would be at the head +of his army before Bilbao.</p> + +<p>At six o'clock, Zumalacarregui began +to complain of insupportable thirst, +and of pains all through the body; +shortly afterwards, general shiverings +came on, with convulsions at times. +During an interval between these, he +received the last consolations of religion; +for though far from being a bigot, +or even a devotee, Zumalacarregui +respected, and practised reverentially, +the religion of his country. At eleven +o'clock in the morning of the 24th of +June 1835, he expired.</p> + +<p>On examining the body, it was +found that two cuts had been made +completely through the calf of the leg +in order to get at the ball: Their +length was about three inches, and +their depth was as great as it could be; +for they reached the bone. The whole +of the integuments had been divided +by Petriquillo, and the sheets of the +bed were one mass of blood.</p> + +<p>About three hours before the general's +death, Petriquillo, unseen, went +into the stable, saddled his mule, and +departed.</p> + +<p>As the dead chief never possessed +the uniform of a general, his body was +laid out in borrowed garments belonging +to the attorney of the place. It +was dressed in a black coat and black +pantaloons, with a white waistcoat, +and over the shoulder was put the +riband of the fifth class of St Ferdinand, +without the star, for he never +had one. Zumalacarregui had troubled +himself little about external decorations; +and his ordinary dress, a black +sheep-skin jacket, red overalls, and a +flat scarlet boyna, or cap of the country, +which he thought sufficiently good +for his body when living, was deemed +unworthy of him when he became +dust. It was an apt type of what +had preceded, and what was to follow: +the rude neglected warrior during life—the +Duke, the <i>King's friend</i>, the +grandee of Spain after death.</p> + +<p>One word about the cruelty of Zumalacarregui. +He <i>was</i> cruel, and what +is about to be said is a reason, but it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +is not put forth as either an excuse or +a justification. His cruelty proceeded +from no innate or idiosyncratic ferocity. +In a less cruel atmosphere he +would have breathed a milder spirit. +There is an indifference to life in all +Spaniards, which, on one side, prompts +great deeds, and, on the other, readily +ripens into inhumanity. They care +little about their own lives, and speedily +learn to care still less about the +lives of others. In this melancholy +warfare there was cruelty on all sides; +and, from the execution of Santos +Ladron, there followed a series of +bloody atonements, each producing +each, which strewed the highways +with as many bodies as had fallen in +the field.</p> + +<p>Though the temptation of straying +into any thing like a biography has +been studiously avoided, there is one +anecdote so curious, and not only so +explanatory of what has just been +said, but so illustrative of the character +of both the man and the country, +that it will hardly be deemed out of +place.</p> + +<p>A young grandee of Spain, the +Count of Via-Manuel, had been taken +prisoner. Zumalacarregui was anxious +to save his life, though the circumstance +of his rank seemed to make his +death the more certain, as being a +fitter expiation for many executions +which had lately taken place on the +Christino side. Zumalacarregui addressed +a letter to Rodil, the commander-in-chief +of that army, saying +that he was anxious to exchange his +prisoner for a subaltern officer, and +some soldiers that had been lately +seized sick in a farm-house, and that +he awaited the answer. The distance +between the armies was short, and, +some hours after, Via-Manuel requested +permission to see the general +and learn his fate. Zumalacarregui +received him in the room when he was +just going to dinner, and, in that +oriental style so interwoven in the +whole web of Spanish customs, offered +him a part of the repast that was before +him. In ordinary times, this is +but a courteous form, and it is rarely +accepted; but Via-Manuel, thinking +perhaps of the Arab's salt in this +Moorish compliment, accepted the invitation, +and sat down at the table. +They eat, and at the end of dinner an +orderly entered and gave a letter to +the general. It was from Rodil, and +contained only these words—"The +rebels were shot this morning." Zumalacarregui, +without saying a word, +handed the paper to Via-Manuel, rose +from table, and went out of the room. +The unfortunate count was that night +placed, according to custom, in the +chapel of the village, and was shot +next morning.</p> + +<p>This happened in Lecumberri, which +was entered shortly afterwards by the +troops of the Queen. On leaving it +the following day, two Carlist officers +were pinioned and shot through the +back, on the very spot where Via-Manuel +fell. Such was the frightful +mode of reciprocal expiation carried on +on both sides; but the writer of this +notice has, at least, among those painful +recollections, the consolation of reflecting, +that in this, as in other instances +more fortunate, he did all in +his power to save the victims.</p> + +<p>This little sketch has swelled beyond +its intended bulk, but when +those who love Spain have passed the +Pyrenees, it is difficult not to linger +there, even on paper. Amid dangers +and difficulties, and even the horrors +of civil war, Spain has an attraction +which it would be as difficult +to explain to those who do not feel it, +as to describe the sound of a trumpet +to a deaf man. To those who have +passed their early years there, Spain is +like the shining decoration in a play, +which still continues haunting the +slumbers of the child that has seen +one for the first time.</p> + +<p>After the death of Zumalacarregui, +Don Carlos took command of the +army, with Moreno for chief of his +staff, but the latter exercised all real +authority. The Pretender was utterly +deficient of every thing like military +talent, and from the day of Zumalacarregui's +death, his cause was not +only hopeless, but felt to be so by the +queen's party, who shortly regained +the large portion of occupied territory +which they had recently lost.</p> + +<p>Zumalacarregui, from the 1st May +1835 to the 11th of June of that year, +had made upwards of three thousand +soldiers and a hundred officers prisoners. +He left for all inheritance to his +wife and daughters something less +than forty pounds and four horses.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> +<h2>NEW SCOTTISH PLAYS AND POEMS.<a name="FNanchor_53_53" id="FNanchor_53_53"></a><a href="#Footnote_53_53" class="fnanchor">[53]</a></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">We</span> suspect that in this railway age +poetry is at a greater discount than +ever. The reason is obvious. Not +only the public, who are the readers, +but even the poets themselves, have +been largely infected by the current +mania of speculation. Had the possession +of capital been requisite for a +participation in any of the thousand +defunct schemes which have caused +so unprecedented an emigration to the +breezy shores of Boulogne, our poetical +friends might have claimed for +their vocation the credit of a rare +morality. But unfortunately, the national +gaming-table was open to men +of every class. Peer and peasant, +count and costermonger, millionaire +and bankrupt, were alike entitled to +figure as allottees, or even as committee-men, +for the simple subscription +of their signatures; and amidst +the rush and squeeze of the crowd, +who thronged towards the portal of +Plutus, we were less surprised than +pained to observe some of the most venerated +votaries of Apollo. We shall +not affect to disguise the purpose for +which we were there ourselves. But +much may be permitted to the prosaic +writer which is forbidden to the canonized +bard. Ours is a pen of all +work—equally ready to concoct a +prospectus, or to expose a literary +charlatan. We are intensely fond of +lucre, and expect, some day or another, +to be in possession of the moiety +of a plum. We have therefore no +vain scruples regarding the sanctity +of our calling, but carry our genius +like a hooded falcon upon our wrist, +ready to let it fly at any manner of +game which may arise. We, however, +deny in absolute terms the right +of a poet to any such general license. +He has no business whatever to trespass +one foot beyond the limits +his own domain. He ought to be +thoroughly ignorant of the existence +of bulls and bears, stags and ducks, +and the rest of the zoology of the +Exchange. Consols should be to him +a mystery more impenetrable than the +Sibylline verses, and the state of the +stocks as unaccountable as the policy +of Sir Robert Peel. The mischief, +however, is done, and we fear it is +irremediable. The example of the +Poet-Laureate may indeed serve as a +kind of excuse for the minor professors +of the art. His well-known attempt +to <i>bear</i> the Kendal and Windermere +line, by a series of ferocious +sonnets, is still fresh in the memory +of the public, and we trust the veteran +has, long ere this, realized a handsome +profit. We ourselves made a +little money out of the Perth and Inverness, +by means of an indignant +tirade against the desecration of the +Pass of Killiecrankie; and we should, +to a certainty, have made more, had +not the Parliamentary Committee been +weak enough to believe us, and, in +consequence, to reject the bill. Yet +it may be long before the literary +market can recover its healthy tone—ere +sonnets once more resume their +ancient ascendency, and circulate +from hand to hand in the character of +intellectual scrip.</p> + +<p>We suspect that very few of the +poets backed out of the scrape in time. +Their sanguine and enthusiastic temperament +led them to hold, at all risks +and hazards; and they did not, as a +body, take warning from the symptoms +of a declining market. An +amiable friend of ours who belongs to +the Young England party, and who +has issued a couple of duodecimos in +laudation of Bishop Bonner, found himself +at the period of the crash in possession +of two thousand Caithness and +Land's End scrip, utterly unsaleable +at any discount, though a fortnight +before they were quoted at fifteen +premium. He meditates, as we are +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +informed, a speedy retirement to the +penal solitudes of La Trappe, as there +now seems to be little hope that Louis +Philippe will provide a proper refuge +for chivalrous misfortune by resuscitating +the Order of Malta. The +weaver-poet of Camlachie has gone +into the Gazette in consequence of an +unfortunate speculation in Caledonians. +His lyre is as silent as his +shuttle; and we fear that in his hours +of despondency he is becoming by far +too much addicted to drink. A clever +young dramatist confessed to us some +time ago that he found himself utterly +"goosed;" and the last hope of the +school of Byron has been forced to +deny himself the luxury of inverted +collars, as his uncompromising laundress +peremptorily refused to accept +of payment in characteristic Cemetery +shares.</p> + +<p>In the gross, this state of things +seems deplorable enough; and yet, +when we analyse it, there is still some +room for comfort. Never, since we +first had the honour of wielding the +critical lash—for the Crutch is a sacred +instrument—in the broad amphitheatre +of letters, do we recollect a +year less fertile in the product of verse +than the present. Our young friends +are not possessed with the same supreme +and sublime contempt of gold +which formed so disinterested a feature +of the poets of the by-gone age. +They have become corrupted by the +manufacturing and utilitarian tenets +of the day; and—we shudder to record +it—divers of them are violent free-traders. +They have all fallen into +the snare of the man Broker; and at +the very outset of life, in the heyday +and spring of their existence, they can +count both sides of a shilling with the +acuteness of a born Pennsylvanian. +Hence it is, we presume, that they +have attained to a knowledge of the +fact—long ago notorious among the +Trade—that poetry will not pay. They +look upon genius through the glasses +of Adam Smith, weigh the probability +of an adequate demand before they +venture on the production of a supply, +and cut short the inchoate canto +upon principles of Political Economy. +In a few years, we fear, poetry will +be no longer extant, save for the commercial +purposes of the advertisements +of Messrs Moses and Hyam; unless, +indeed, some Welsh or Highland railway +company should take the matter +up, and double their dividends by +bribing a first-rate poet to produce +another <i>Lady of the Lake</i>. Hence +the sparseness of our library table, +which renders our old vocation comparatively +a sinecure, and leaves us, +without the necessity of immolation, +to the undisturbed enjoyment of our +chair.</p> + +<p>We might indeed, were we savagely +inclined, discover some Volscians +worth our fluttering in the ranks of +Young England, or the more sombre +group of poetical Oxonian divines. +But we look with a kindly eye upon +the eccentricities of the one school, +and we listen to the drowsy strains +of the other with no more active demonstration +of disapproval than a +yawn. We have high hope of George +Sydney Smythe, Lord John Manners, +and others, who have already produced +some things of evident promise—not +mere beaten tinsel, such as the +resuscitated Cockneys are again beginning +to vend in the literary market—but +verses of true and genuine originality. +Could we but ensure them +against the vitiating effects of politics, +it were a light hazard to predict for +either of the above gentlemen a far +higher reputation than has been +achieved by the united efforts of the +whole canorous crew which constituted +the Melbourne administration. We +must indeed except Mr Macaulay, a +better poet than a politician, but—the +brilliant ballad-writer being removed—what +soul could have been +contented to fatten upon the spongy +lyrics of a Spring Rice, or the intolerable +tragedies of a Russell! What +food to sweeten the tedium of a solitary +imprisonment for life!</p> + +<p>As for the Oxford school, we fairly +confess that its votaries are beyond +our comprehension. Amiable they +are, no doubt, although ascetic in +principle; but they are likewise insufferably +tedious. We have attempted +at various times, and during different +states of the barometer, to make ourselves +master of the compositions of +Mr Williams and his principal followers. +We failed. After skimming +over a page or two of mellifluous +blank verse, we began to experience +a strange sensation, as if a bee were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +humming through the room. At each +evolution of the imaginary insect, our +eyes felt heavier and heavier. We +made a strong effort to rally ourselves +at the description of a crystalline +stream, meandering, as we rather +think, somewhere through the confines +of Paradise; but the hue of the +water gradually changed. It became +dark and treacly, purled with a +somniferous sound, as though the +channel had been filled with living +laudanum; and in three minutes more +we were unconscious of the existence +of the income-tax, and as relieved +from the load of worldly cares as +though we had joined company with +the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus.</p> + +<p>Surely we have a right to expect +something better from Oxford than +this. The old nurse of learning must +bestir herself once more, forswear +morphia, and teach her pupils to strike +a manlier chord, else men will cease +to believe in the ancient magic of her +name. What we want is, power, +energy, pathos—not mere vapid sentiment, +so diligently distilled that scarce +a flavour of the original material is +left to enable us to discover its origin. +If poetry be a copy or a reflex of life, +let it show out lifelike and true; if +it be the representation of a dream, +at all events let us have the vision, +as in the mirror of Agrippa, well defined, +though around its edges rest +the clouds of impenetrable mystery. +Above all things, let us have meaning, +not vague allegorical phrases—power +if not passion—sense if not sublimity. +If the classics cannot teach us these, +let us go back to the earlier ballads, +and see how our fathers wrote without +the aid of metaphysical jargon.</p> + +<p>Our present purpose is to deal with +Scottish writers, and fortunately we +have material at hand. Last month +we were in London, engaged in +divers matters connected with the +state of the nation and our own private +emolument, which latter pursuit +we as seldom as possible neglect. +The cares of a railway witness, in +which capacity we had the honour to +act, are but few. A bountiful table +was spread for us, not in the wilderness, +but in an excellent hotel in St +James's; breakfast, luncheon, dinner, +and supper, followed one another with +praiseworthy regularity; the matutinal +soda-water was only succeeded by +the iced hock and champagne of the +vespers, and a beneficent Fairy of +seventeen stone, in the guise of a +Writer to Her Majesty's Signet, was +courteous enough not only to defray +the whole of the attending expenses, +but to furnish us with certain sums +of gold, which we disseminated at our +own proper pleasure. In return for +the attentions of our legal Barmecide, +we submitted to ensconce ourselves +for a couple of days in a hot room +somewhere about the Cloisters, in the +course of which sederunt we held an +animated conversation with several +gentlemen in wigs, for the edification—as +we were given to understand—of +five other gentlemen in hats, who +sat yawning behind a green table. +We take this opportunity of tendering +our acknowledgments to the eminent +and raucous Queen's Counsel who was +kind enough to conduct our cross-examination, +and who so delicately +insinuated his doubts as to the veracity +and candour of our replies. As his +knowledge of the localities about +Braemar—the district then under +question—was about equal to his +cognizance of the natural history of +Kamschatka, we felt the compliment +deeply; and should we ever have the +pleasure of encountering our beetle-browed +acquaintance during a vacation +ramble on the skirts of Schehallion, +we pledge ourselves that he +shall carry back with him to Lincoln's +Inn some lasting tokens of our regard. +In the mean time we sincerely +hope he has recovered from that distressing +fit of huskiness which rendered +his immediate vicinity by no means +a seat of comfort to his solicitor.</p> + +<p>As a matter of course, we relieved +the monotony of our duties by divers +modes of relaxation. Greenwich—in +the glory of its whitebait, its undeniable +Thames flounders, its dear little +ducklings enshrined in their asparagus +nest, and its flagons, wherein the +cider cup shows sparklingly through +the light blue <i>Borage</i>—was not unfrequented +by us in the course of the sultry +afternoon. At Richmond, likewise, +we battened sybaritically; and more +than once essayed to resuscitate our +appetite, and awake within us the +dormant sense of poetry, by a stroll +along the breezy heath of Hampstead,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +preparatory to a dive into the Saracen, +where, doubtless, in the days of yore, +Leigh Hunt, Keats, and Hazlitt used +to make wild work among the eggs +and spinach. Our attendance at the +theatres, however, was a matter of +rarity. We have no fancy to undergo +martyrdom by means of a slow stewing, +when the sole palm we can win, +in exchange for the sudorific pangs, +is the enjoyment of some such shabby-genteel +comedy as <i>The Beggar on +Horseback</i>, or a travestie like that of +the <i>Birds</i> of Aristophanes, the only +peculiarity of which is its utter want +of meaning. As a general rule, we +prefer the spectacles on the Surrey +side, to those exhibited in the Metropolitan +or Westminster districts. +There, the nautical drama still flourishes +in its pristine force. The old +British tar, in ringlets, pumps, and +oil-skin castor, still hitches up his +trousers with appropriate oath; revolves +the unfailing bolus of pigtail +in his cheek—swims to shore across a +tempestuous sea of canvass, with a +pistol in each hand and a cutlass in +his teeth, from the wreck of the +foundering frigate—and sets foot once +more on the British soil, just in time +to deliver Pretty Poll of Portsmouth, +his affianced bride, (who has a passion +for short petticoats and crimson stockings,) +from the persecutions of that +bebuttoned pirate with the whiskers, +who carries more pistols in his girdle +than the scalps of an Indian chief, and +whose fall, after a terrific combat with +basket-hilts and shower of fiery sparkles, +brings down the curtain at the +close of the third act amidst roars of +unmitigated joy. Also we delight to +see, at never-failing Astley's, the revived +glories of British prowess—Wellington, +in the midst of his staff, +smiling benignantly upon the facetious +pleasantries of a Fitzroy Somerset—Sergeant +M'Craw of the Forty-Second, +delighting the <i>élite</i> of Brussels by his +performance of the reel of Tullochgorum +at the Duchess of Richmond's +ball—the charge of the Scots Greys—the +single combat between Marshal +Ney and the infuriated Life-guardsman +Shaw—and the final retreat of +Napoleon amidst a volley of Roman +candles, and the flames of an arseniated +Hougomont. Nor is our gratification +less to discern, after the subsiding +of the shower of saw-dust so +gracefully scattered by that groom in +the doeskin integuments, the stately +form of Widdicomb, cased in martial +apparel, advancing towards the centre +of the wing, and commanding—with +imperious gestures, and some slight +flagellation in return for dubious compliment—the +double-jointed clown to +assist the Signora Cavalcanti to her +seat upon the celebrated Arabian. +How lovely looks the lady, as she +vaults to her feet upon the breadth of +the yielding saddle! With what inimitable +grace does she whirl these +tiny banners around her head, as winningly +as a Titania performing the +sword exercise! How coyly does she +dispose her garments and floating drapery +to hide the too maddening symmetry +of her limbs! Gods!—She is +transformed all at once into an Amazon—the +fawn-like timidity of her +first demeanour is gone. Bold and +beautiful flushes her cheek with animated +crimson—her full voluptuous +lip is more compressed and firm—the +deep passion of the huntress sparkles +in her lustrous eye! Widdicomb becomes +excited—he moves with quicker +step around the periphery of his central +circle—incessant is the smacking +of his whip—not this time directed +against Mr Merryman, who at his +ease is enjoying a swim upon the saw-dust—and +lo! the grooms rush in, +six bars are elevated in a trice, and +over them all bounds the volatile +Signora like a panther, nor pauses +until, with airy somersets, she has +passed twice through the purgatory of +the blazing hoop, and then, drooping +and exhausted, sinks like a Sabine +into the arms of the herculean Master, +who—a second Romulus—bears +away his lovely burden to the stables, +amidst such a whirlwind of applause +as Kemble might have been proud to +earn!</p> + +<p>"So," in the language of Tennyson—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"So we triumph'd, ere our passion sweeping through us left us dry,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Left us with the palsied heart, and left us with the jaundiced eye."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>"Dryness," however, according to +our creed and practice, is not altogether +unappeasable, and by the help +of Barclay, Perkins, and Company, we +succeeded in mitigating its rage. But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +we confess to the other miseries of the +palsied heart and jaundiced eye, so +soon as we were informed by the above-mentioned +scribe, that our bill had +been thrown out upon committee, and +that, if we tarried longer in London, it +must be upon our own proper charges. +We had been so used for the last +twelve months to voyage, and to subsist +at the expense of joint-stock companies—so +habituated to dine with +provisional committees, and to hold +sweet supper consultations in the society +of salaried surveyors—that a +reference to our private resources +appeared a matter of serious hardship. +However, there was no help for it. +Some mean and unreasonable share-holders +were already growling about +a return of some portion of the +deposits, and even, to the infinite +disgust of the directors, hinted at a +taxation of accounts. The murmurs of +these slaves of Mammon broke up our +little Eden. The Irish egg-merchant, +who had been fed for three weeks upon +turtle to induce him to give testimony +touching the importation of eerocks—the +tollman from Strathspey, who +nightly meandered to the Coal-hole, +in company with the intoxicated distiller—the +three clerks who did the +dirty work of the committee-room, +and were therefore, with wise precaution, +stinted in their allowance of beer—the +northern bailie, who stuck strenuously +to toddy, and the maritime +provost, who affected the vintage of the +Rhine—the raw uncouth surveyor +from Dingwall, who, guiltless of straps, +and rejoicing in a superfluity of rig-and-fur +over a pair of monstrous +brogues, displayed his native symmetry +every afternoon in Regent +Street, and reciprocated the gaze of +the wondering milliners with a coarse +guffaw, and the exhibition of his enormous +teeth;—All these worthies +vanished from the house in a single +day, like spirits at the crowing of the +cock, and returned to their native +hills in a state of comparative demoralization. +For our own part, we +packed our portmanteau in gloomy silence, +and meditated a speedy retreat +to the distant solitudes of Loch Awe.</p> + +<p>We were eating, as we thought, our +last muffin, when our eye was accidentally +caught by an advertisement in +the <i>Times</i>, purporting that a new play +was to be immediately produced at +the Princess's theatre, and that its +title was <i>The King of the Commons</i>. +A spasm of delight shot through us. +We were aware, some time before, +that a dear friend, and distinguished +fellow-labourer of ours, whose contributions +have always been of sweetest +savour in the nostrils of fastidious +Christopher, had turned his attention +to dramatic poetry, and was resolved, +for once at least, to launch an experimental +shallop upon the stage. Nor +did we doubt that this was the enunciation +of his attempt. We divined +it at once from the subject, so akin to +his genius and deep national feelings—we +knew the fervour of his love to +Scotland, and his earnest desire to illustrate +some page of her varied annals—and +we resolved accordingly to +postpone our departure, and be present +at the success or discomfiture of +our bold and adventurous brother.</p> + +<p>The first night of a new play is always +attended with some agreeable +excitement. If the author is a known +man upon the boards—a veteran of +some six comedies, all of which have +found their way into the provinces, +and are usually selected by the leading +Star on the occasion of his or her +benefit—the general audiences are +desirous to ascertain whether his new +effort is equal in point of merit to the +rest. The critics, most of whom have +failed in their own proper persons, +are by no means indisposed to detect +the occurrence of blemishes—friends +hope that it may succeed, and unsuccessful +rivals devoutly trust it may be +damned. If the author is unknown, +and if no very flagrant efforts have +been made to pre-puff his performance, +he has at all events the chance +of an impartial hearing. Let the +play go on smoothly to the middle; +let no very glaring absurdities appear; +let the actors really exert themselves, +and display any thing like interest +or talent in their business, and +young Sophocles is generally sure of a +favourable verdict. Our dear friends, +the public, are always well disposed +towards a winning man. One cheer +elicits another, and applause, once +commenced, goes on at a multiplied +ratio. No doubt, the case may be +reversed, and the sound of a solitary +catcall from the pit awake the slumbering +serpents, and become the signal +for universal sibilation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>The danger is, that an unknown +author, unpuffed, may be ruined for +want of an audience. We have no +great faith in the panacea of free +tickets, issued by the lessee for the +simple purpose of getting up a house. +The worth of a production is usually +estimated by its current value, and we +doubt if a favourable bias can be produced +in the minds of any, by means +of gratuitous pasteboard. Puffing, +again, often defeats its own object. +It creates doubt in the anticipations +of some, jealousy in those of others +and is also apt to create a <i>prestige</i> +which the result may not justify. +When we are told, on the authority of +newspaper paragraphs, that <i>Bianca +Franconi, or the Seven Bloody Poignards +of Parma</i>, is to take the town +by storm,—that nothing equal to it +in merit has been produced since the +days of Shakspeare,—that the critic +who had the privilege of attending the +first rehearsal, emerged from the +theatre with his blood in a state of +congelation, owing to the sepulchral +tones and vehement gestures of Mr +Charles Kean, who represents the +part of Giacomo degli Assassinazioni, +the Demon Host of the Abruzzi;—when +we listen to this preliminary +flourish of trumpets, we are apt to +screw our imaginations a peg too high, +and may chance to derive less rapture +than we had anticipated from the +many scenes of murder which garnish +the <i>dénouement</i> of the drama.</p> + +<p>A greater virtue than fidelity is not +in the celestial catalogue. We should +at all times be ready to accompany a +friend, either in a triumphal ovation +or in a melancholy march to the scaffold,—to +place the laurel on his head, +or the funereal handkerchief in his +hand. It was an exuberance of this +feeling which determined us to be +present at the first representation of +<i>The King of the Commons</i>; and +being firmly convinced of the truth of +the adage, that there is safety in a +multitude of councillors, we sent round +the fiery cross to such of our fellow-contributors +as were then in London, +requesting them to favour us with +their company to an early dinner at +the Parthenon, as a proper preliminary +to the more serious business of +the evening.</p> + +<p>Some half-dozen of the younger +hands responded punctually to our +call. They came dropping in in high +glee, with a rather mischievous expression +of countenance, as though +they anticipated fun; nor had they +been five minutes in the room, before +we discovered, to our unspeakable +consternation, that every man was +furnished, either with a catcall or a +railway whistle! Here was a proper +business! We knew very well that +the articles which our dramatic friend +contributes to Maga, have found more +favour in the eyes of the public than +the lucubrations of all the rest of us +put together, and yet we had been +foolish enough to assume, that, after +the manner of the brethren, we had +been convoking a literary Lodge. In +fact, we had made no allowance for +that indescribable delight which +prompts you irresistibly, and without +thought of succour, to cram your +horse at the ditch into which, six +seconds before, the friend of your +bosom has been pitched from the +back of his runaway mare, and wherein +he is now lying with his head fixed +inextricably in the mud, and his legs +demonstrating in the air a series of +spasmodic mathematical propositions. +Not that, in the slightest degree, the +dispositions of the lads were evil. If +the play turned out well, we knew +that they would be found cheering +with the most uproarious, and probably +raving for the next week about +the merits of their fortunate compeer;—but +if, on the contrary, it should +happen that our brother had overestimated +his powers, little doubt existed +in our mind, that each contributor +would exert himself on his +peculiar instrument as vigorously as +Herr Kœnig, on the cornet-à-piston, +nor seek to excuse himself afterwards +on any more elaborate plea, than the +right of every Briton to participate in +a popular amusement.</p> + +<p>The dinner went off well. We were, +however, cautious to confine each man +to his solitary pint, lest their spirits +should prove too exuberant at the +moment of the rising of the curtain. +Coffee over, we wended our way to +the theatre, where we arrived just in +time to hear the expiring crash of the +overture. The first glimpse of the +well-filled house assured us that there +was no fear of the play falling still-born<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +for want of an adequate audience. +Boxes, pit, and gallery were equally +crammed. We took our seat in the +midst of the band of catcallers and +whistlemen, and proceeded to the inspection +of the bill as diligently as +though it were an exponent of the +piece. It must be confessed that our +friend has not been very fortunate in +the selection of his names. Early associations +with the neighbourhood of +Mid-Calder, a region abounding in +cacophonous localities, seem to have +led him a little astray. Adam Weir, +Portioner in Laichmont, is a name +which may be found figuring in the +<i>Cloud of Witnesses</i>, or in that very +silly book, Mr Simpson's <i>Traditions +of the Covenanters</i>. It might sound +admirably in a tale of the "hill-folk," +but we totally repudiate and deny the +propriety of enrolling Sir Adam Weir +of Laichmont in the list of King +James's Bannerets. Buckie of Drumshorlan +likewise, though he may turn +out on further acquaintance to be a +fellow of infinite fancy, appears to us +in print the <i>eidolon</i> of a Bathgate +carter. Madeleine we acknowledge +to be a pretty name, but it loses its +effect in conjunction with a curt patronymic. +However, these are minor +matters. It may be allowable to us, +who drew our first trout from the +Linnhouse Water, to notice them, but +English ears may not be so fastidious. +Tomkins, to the Chinese, is probably +a name as terrible in sound as Wellington.</p> + +<p>But see!—the curtain rises, and displays +an interior in Holyrood. James +White—you are a lucky fellow! That +mechanist is worth his weight in gold; +for, what with stained windows and +draperies and pilasters, he has contrived +to transform our old gloomy +palace, where solemnity sits guardian +at the portal, into as gay a habitation +as ever was decked out for a +southern potentate. Francesco and +Bernardo—that is, Buckie and Mungo +Small—have some preliminary talk, +for which we care not; when suddenly +the folding-doors fly open, and enter +James the Fifth of Scotland, surrounded +by his nobles.</p> + +<p>Unquestionably the greatest of +living British actors, Macready, has +never wanted honours. This night +he has them to the full, if deafening +applause can testify the public goodwill; +and of a truth he deserves them +all, and more, were it but for that +king-like bearing. There is no mock +majesty in his aspect. Admirably has +he appreciated the chivalrous character +of James, who in many points +seems to have borne a strong resemblance +to the English Richard—as +gallant and fearless, as hasty and +bountiful—more trusting perhaps, but +yet not more deceived. There is now +a cloud on the royal brow. Some of +the nobles have delayed, upon various +pretexts, to send their vassals to the +general muster on the Borough Muir, +preparatory to an inroad upon England, +and James cannot urge them on. +Somerville and some others, who have +no mind for the war, are pleading their +excuse, greatly to the indignation of +the King, who considers the honour +of Scotland more bound up with the +enterprise than his own.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"I was the proudest king—too proud perhaps—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I thought I was but foremost in a band<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of men, of brothers, of true-hearted Scots;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But pshaw!—it shall not move me."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>He thus reproaches his nobles, who +would fain instigate him to peace, but +who on this occasion, as on many +others, were opposed to the opinions, +not only of the clergy, but of the +people.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i10">"What! to hear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">His threats, and worse than threats—his patronage?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As if we stoop'd our sovran crown, or held it<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As vassal from the greatest king alive!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No; we are poor—I know we are poor, my lords;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our realm is but a niggard in its soil,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the fat fields of England wave their crops<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In richer dalliance with the autumn winds<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than our bleak plains;—but from our rugged dells<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Springs a far richer harvest—gallant hearts,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stout hands, and courage that would think foul scorn<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To quail before the face of mortal man.<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +<span class="i0">We are our people's king. For you, my lords,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Leave me to face the enemy alone!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I care not for your silken company.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll to my stalwart men—I'll name my name,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And bid them follow James. They'll follow me—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fear not—they'll follow!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>After some more such dialogue, the +nobles promise obedience and retire, +leaving James convinced of their lukewarmness, +though unsuspicious of +their treason, and more determined +than ever to trust implicitly to the +devotion of the people.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Will they be traitors still? and play the game<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was play'd at Lauder Bridge? and leave their king<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Unshielded to the scorn and laugh of England?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I will not think so meanly of them yet!<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>They are not forward, as their fathers were</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Who died at Flodden, as the brave should die,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>With sword in hand, defiance in their hearts,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And a whole land to weep and honour them.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">If they desert me—well, I can but die,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And better die than live a powerless king!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Some good passages had occurred +before, but this was the first palpable +hit in the play. The word Flodden +came home like a cannon-shot to the +heart of every Scotsman in the house, +and a yell arose from the pit, as though +the general body of bordering surveyors +who packed it, were ready for +another insurrection.</p> + +<p>Buckie of Drumshorlan, who, it +seems, is a notorious reiver, or, as he +phrases it—"an outcast—a poor +Scottish Ishmaelite,"—a fact, however, +unknown to the king, whom he +had rescued from the waters while +attempting to cross the Avon in a +spate—now comes forward, and gives +information against Sir Adam Weir +of Laichmont, as an agent of the +English court, and a corrupter of the +treacherous nobility. James determines +to expiscate the matter in person; +and accordingly, in the next +scene, we are transported to a wood +near Laichmont, where Madeleine +Weir, the grandchild of the knight, +and Malcolm Young, her cousin, are +apparently bird-nesting, but in reality, +though they know it not, making +love. For poor Malcolm is an orphan, +dependent entirely on Sir Adam, who +will not let him become a soldier, but +has condemned him to holy orders. +It is, in short, the story—nearly as +old as the world—of disappointed +hope and love; though Madeleine, +with a sweet innocence which we suspect +is rarely to be found save on the +stage, seems unconscious of the true +state of her feelings with reference to +her early playmate. Their <i>tête-à-tête</i> +is interrupted by the entrance of King +James, of course in disguise, and now +beset by sundry ruffians who have left +their mark on the royal costard; and +Malcolm, like a tight St Andrews +student, springs to the rescue. This +effects the introduction of the King to +the house of Laichmont, where we +find Sir Adam—a hoary, calculating +traitor—in great anxiety to find a +messenger to communicate an English +dispatch to the disaffected lords of +Scotland. We pass over his colloquy +with his neighbour, Laird Small—an +elderly idiot, whose son Mungo holds +the post of usher at Holyrood, and +who now agrees with Sir Adam to +unite the two estates by a marriage +between the said Mungo and Madeleine. +This scene, which is pure dramatic +business, is pleasantly enough +conducted, although in point of probability, +and considering the ambition +of the knight, he might have looked +for a better match for his daughter +than a coxcomb of an usher, heir +though he was of some plashy acres +in the rush-covered confines of Mid-Calder. +We have observed, however, +that love of district is as deep a passion +in the human mind as love of +country; and the intense yearning of +the Switzer for his clear Lucerne, may +not transcend the tide of parochial +patriotism which swells the bosom +of the native of the Kirk of Shotts.</p> + +<p>In the second act, Sir Adam somewhat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +incautiously selects James himself +as the messenger to the nobles; +and here we cannot altogether acquit +our friend from the charge of great +improbability. That blemish excepted, +the scene is a good one, especially in +the part where James, with the true +vanity of a poet, becomes ruffled at +the account of the common criticism +on his verses. In the next scene, +James extracts the secret of his love +from Malcolm—a character which, by +the way, was admirably performed by +Mr Leigh Murray—and the whole +mystery of the sadness of her cousin +is revealed to the agitated Madeleine. +We have an idea that dramatic love-scenes +must be very ticklish in composition; +at least of this we are aware, +that in real life they are peculiarly +perplexing. We never felt so like a +booby as when we first attempted a +proposal; and, to our shame be it said, +we experienced far less pain from the +positive refusal of Jemima, than from +the consciousness that, at that moment, +we must have appeared inexpressibly +absurd. And so it is, we +apprehend, with the great majority of +lovers. They keep beating about the +bush for months, and never seem absolutely +to know what they would be +at. The great majority of marriages +are the result of accident. We have +known several proposals follow the +overturning of a chaise. A sharp race +from the pursuit of an infuriated bull—the +collision of a steam-boat—even +a good rattling thunder-storm, will +bring to a proper understanding parties +who, under ordinary circumstances, +and with no such pretty casualties, +might have dawdled out years of unprofitable +courtship, and finally separated +for ever in consequence of some +imaginary coldness, for which neither +one nor the other of them could have +assigned a plausible reason. Now, +within the limits of a five-act play, there +is no space for dawdling. The flirtation +must always be of the warmest, and +the engagement consequent thereon. +A friend to whom your hero can tell +his story, is of immense advantage in +the drama, more especially when the +young gentleman, as in this case, is +under difficulties, and the young lady +playfully concealed behind a whinbush, +for no other purpose than that +of learning the cause of his secret sorrow. +Let us see how our friend manages +this.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—You know not—but—enough! Poor Malcolm Young!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Tell me what weighs so heavy on your heart.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Madeleine.</span> (<i>behind.</i>)—Now I shall hear what makes poor Malcolm sad.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Malcolm.</span>—Sir,'tis but three weeks since that I came home—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Home! no, I dare not call it home,—came here,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">After long tarrying at St Andrew's schools,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By order of my kinsman, at the last,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A month since,—'tis one little month ago——<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—Go on, go on!<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Madeleine.</span>—Now comes the hidden grief.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Malcolm.</span>—He forced me by deceitful messages<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To vow me to the priesthood, when my soul<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Long'd more for neighing steeds than psalteries.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, what a happy fortune had been mine<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To draw the sword 'neath gallant James's eye,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And rouge it to the hilt in English blood!<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—God bless you, boy!—your hand again—your hand!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Would you have served the king?<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Malcolm.</span>—Ay! died for him!<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—And he'd have cherish'd you, believe me, boy,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And held you to his heart, and trusted you—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And you'd ha' been true brothers;—for a love<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like yours is what poor James has need of most.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is this your grief?<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Malcolm.</span>—Alas, my grief lies deeper!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I might have bent me to my cruel fate<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With prayers that our brave king find Scots as true,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And worthier of his praise than Malcolm Young.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When I came back, I had not been a day<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Mid well-known scenes in the remember'd rooms,<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +<span class="i0">Till to my heart, my soul, the dreadful truth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was open'd like a gulf; and I—fool! fool!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To be so dull, so blind—I knew too late<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That I was wretched—miserable—doom'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like Tantalus, to more than hellish pains—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To feel—yet not to dare to speak, or think;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To love—and be a priest!<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Madeleine.</span>—To love! to love!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">How strange this is!<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—How found you this, poor friend?<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Malcolm.</span>—By throbbings at the heart, when I but heard<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her whisper'd name; thoughts buried long ago<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Neath childish memories—we were children both—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rose up like armed phantoms from their grave,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Waving me from them with their mailèd hands!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I saw her with the light of womanhood<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spread o'er the childish charms I loved so well—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I heard her voice sweet with the trustful tones<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She spoke with long ago, yet richer grown<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the full burden of her ripen'd thoughts.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Madeleine.</span>—My head goes round—my heart will burst!<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Malcolm.</span>—I saw<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A world lie open—and an envious spell<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fencing it from me; day by day, I felt<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Grief and the blackness of unsunn'd despair<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Closing all round me.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—And the maiden's name?<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Malcolm.</span>—Was Madeleine Weir."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Obedient to dramatic rule, Madeleine +faints away at the discovery; +and the good-natured king, without +however discovering himself, determines +to secure the happiness of the +youthful couple.</p> + +<p>This brings us to the third act, +where the accusing Buckie again +makes his appearance, and denounces +Sir Adam Weir, not only as a traitor, +but as a plunderer of his own kin. +He avers the existence of a nephew, +who, were a multiplepoinding instituted, +would be found to have good +right to a considerable slice of Laichmont, +not to mention divers other +dividends; and he pledges himself to +compear at Holyrood on an early day, +at the peril of his head, to prove the +truth of his allegations. With reference +to the correspondence with the +nobility, James speaks thus:—</p> + + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i4">"Your words are strong<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As if they sprang from truth. I came to prove<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sir Adam Weir; through him to reach the hearts<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of higher men. <i>The saddest heart alive</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Would be as careless as a lark's in June</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Compared to mine, if what my fear portends</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Proves true.</i> Sir Adam Weir has wealth in store—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is crafty, politic, and is of weight—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The words are his—with certain of our lords.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Buckie.</span>—I told you so. I know he has deep dealings<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With——<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—Name them not; from their own lips I'll hear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Their guilt; no other tongue shall blot the fame<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of James's nobles. If it should be so;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If the two men I've trusted from my youth—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If Hume—If Seton—let the rest go hang!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But Seton, my old playmate!—if he's false,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then break, weak heart! farewell, my life and crown!——<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I pray you meet me here within an hour<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This very night; I shall have need of you.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And as you speak as one brave man should speak<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To another man, albeit he is a king,<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +<span class="i0">I will put trust in you; and, ere the morn,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You shall impeach Sir Adam in our court:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And woe betide the guilty! Say no more;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I meet you here again."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Sir Adam Weir delivers the important +packet to the king to be conveyed +to the traitors, and James immediately +hands it over to Buckie, +with a strict charge that it shall be +produced that evening in the court at +Holyrood. His majesty having no +further business at Laichmont, departs +in hot haste for Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>It is now full time for old Sir +Adam to exercise his parental authority +over Madeleine in the matter of +her nuptials with Mungo Small, who +has at last arrived at Laichmont. +The aged reprobate having already +sold his king and country, cannot be +expected to have any remorse about +trafficking with his own flesh and +blood; and accordingly he shows himself, +in this interview, quite as great +a brute as the elder Capulet. Nay, +to our apprehension, he is considerably +worse; for he not only threatens +the meek-eyed Madeleine with starvation, +but extends his threats of vengeance +to the unoffending Malcolm +in case of her refusal to wed with the +gentle County Mungo. Madeleine is +no Juliet, but a good Scots lassie—brought +up, we hope, in proper knowledge +of her breviary, if not of her catechism, +and quite incapable of applying +to the Friar Laurence of Mid-Calder +for an ounce of deceptive morphia. +She has a hankering for St +Ninian's and the holy vocation of a +nun.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2">"<span class="smcap">Madeleine</span>—I'll hie me to the monastery door,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And ask the meek-eyed nuns to take me in;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And it shall be my grave; and the thick walls<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shall keep me from the world; and in my heart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll cherish him, and think on all his looks,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Since we were children—all his gentle tones;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And when my weary breast shall heave no more,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll lay me down and die, and name his name<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With my last breath. I would we both were dead<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For we shall then be happy; but on earth<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No happiness for me—no hope, no hope!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>But Madeleine is not yet to get off +quite so easily. Young Master Small +is introduced to ensnare her with his +manifold accomplishments, and certainly +he does exhibit himself as a nincompoop +of the first water. With all +respect and affection for our brother, +we hold this character to be a failure. +There is, we maintain, a vast difference +between vanity, however preposterous, +and sheer undaunted drivel, +which latter article constitutes the staple +of Master Mungo's conversation. +Not but what a driveller may be a fair +character for a play, but then he ought +to drivel with some kind of consistency +and likelihood. Far are we from denying +that there are many fools to be +found in Scotland; we even consider +it a kind of patriotism to claim our +just quota of national idiocy. Our +main objection to Mungo is, that he +represents, so far as we have seen, no +section of the Scottish Bauldy. If he +resembles any thing, it is a Cockney +of the Tittlebat Titmouse breed, or +one of those absurd blockheads in the +plays of Mr Sheridan Knowles who +do the comic business, wear cock's +feathers in their hats, and are perpetually +inquiring after news. There is +a dash of solemnity, a ludicrous assumption +of priggism, about the Scottish +fool which Mr White has entirely +evaded. Ass though he be, the northern +dunderhead is neither a man-milliner +nor a flunky; and yet Mungo +Small is an arrant compound of the +two. We put it to the public if the +following scene is facetious:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2">"<span class="smcap">Mungo.</span>—She curtseys with an air; though, for my part,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I like the Spanish swale, as thus, (<i>curtseys,</i>) low, low;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Not the French dip, as thus, (<i>curtseys,</i>) dip, dip.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Which think you best?<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Madeleine.</span>—Sir! did you speak to me?<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span><br /></span> +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Mungo.</span>—Did I? 'pon honour—yes, I think I did:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some like the Austrian bend, (<i>curtseys,</i>) d'ye like it so?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Our girls, the Hamiltons, have got it pat;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">No sooner do I say, 'Sweet Lady Jane,'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And draw my feather so, and place my hand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here on my heart, 'Fair Lady Jane, how are ye?'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But up she goes, and bend, (<i>curtseys;</i>) but if an ass,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Some fribble she don't like, comes near her, lo!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A swale! (<i>curtseys,</i>) 'tis very like this gentlewoman.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I hope there's no one near you you don't like?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For if there is, 'fore gad! an 'twere my father,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'd cut him into slices like cold ham,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As thin as that.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Laird.</span>—Gadso! pray gad it ain't;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I hope it ain't his father—he would do it!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He's such a youth!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Fancy such a capon as this holding +office at the court of James the Fifth!</p> + +<p>The mock account of the tournament +which follows, would be pleasant +reading were it not for the total incongruity +of the narrator with the +scene which he describes. The actor +who performed this part was evidently +quite at home in the representation of +the smallest Cockney characters. He +brought out Mungo as the most pitiful +little reptile that ever waddled across +the stage, and in consequence the +audience, for the first and only time, +exhibited some symptoms of disapprobation. +What had gone before +was really so good—the performers +had so ably seconded the efforts of the +author—the interest excited by the +general business of the play was so +great—that this declension, which +might otherwise have been overlooked, +was felt to be a positive grievance. +Our chosen band of contributors +had hitherto behaved with great +decorum. They had cheered lustily +at the proper places, pocketed their +whistles, and although the house was +remarkably warm, not a man of them +had emerged between the acts for the +sake of customary refreshment. All at +once, in the middle of the tournament +scene, the shrill sharp squeak of a +catcall greeted on our ear, and turning +rapidly round, we detected a +Political Economist in the act of commencing +a concerto. It was all we +could do to wring the instrument +from the villain's hand. We threatened +to make a report of his contumacious +conduct to head-quarters, +and menaced him with the wrath of +Christopher; but his sole reply to our +remonstrance was something like a +grumbled defiance; and very glad +were we when the offending Mungo +disappeared, and a pretty scene between +Madeleine and Malcolm, made +the audience forget the ill-omened +pleasantries of the Cockney.</p> + +<p>The fourth act is remarkably good. +Of all the Scottish nobles, Lord Seton +and Hume have ever been the dearest +to James; his belief in their enduring +faith and constancy has enabled him +to bear up against the coldness and +disaffection of the others; but the +time has now arrived when his confidence +in the honour of at least one of +them is destined to be shaken. One +of the bishops—Mr White does not +specify his diocese—accuses Lord +Seton of holding correspondence with +the leader of the English host. The +charge is not believed—nay, hardly +entertained—until Seton himself being +sent for, to some extent admits the +fact of having received a messenger.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2">"<span class="smcap">Bishop.</span>—And he sent a message back to Dacre,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And gave the envoy passage and safe conduct.<br /></span> +<br /> +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—Is all this true?—Oh, Seton, say the word,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One little word—tell me it is not true!<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Seton.</span>—My liege,'tis true.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—Then by the name we bear<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You die!—a traitor's death! Sirrah! the guard.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I will not look again on where he stands.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let him be taken hence—and let the axe<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Rid me of——Seton! is it so in truth,<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +<span class="i0">That you've deceived me—join'd my enemies?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You—you—my friend—my playmate!—is it so?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sir, will you tell me wherein I have fail'd<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In friendship to the man who was my friend?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I thought I loved you—that in all my heart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dwelt not a thought that wrong'd you.<br /></span> +<br /> +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Seton.</span>—You have heard<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What my accuser says, and you condemn me—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I say no word to save a forfeit life—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A life is not worth having, when't has lost<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All that gave value to it—my sovereign's trust!<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James</span> (<i>to the</i> <span class="smcap">Bishop</span>.)—You see this man, sir—he's the selfsame age<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That I am. We were children both together—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We grew—we read in the same book—my lord,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You must remember that?—how we were never<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Separate from each other; well, this man<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lived with me, year by year; he counsell'd me'<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cheer'd me, sustained me—he was as myself—<br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>The very throne, that is to other kings</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>A desolate island rising in the sea—</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>A pinnacle of power, in solitude,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Grew to a seat of pleasance in his trust.</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0">The sea that chafed all round it with its waves<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This man bridged over with his love, and made it<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A highway for our subjects' happiness—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And now! for a few pieces of red gold<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He leaves me. Oh, he might have coin'd my life<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Into base ingots—stript me of it all—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If he had left me faith in one true heart,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I should ne'er have grudged him the exchange.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Go, now. We speak your doom—you die the death!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">God pardon you! I dare not pardon you—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Farewell.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Seton.</span>—I ask no pardon, sir, from you.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May you find pardon—ay, in your own heart<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For what you do this day!<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">Bishop.</span>—Be firm, my liege.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—Away, away, old man!—You do not know—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You cannot know, what this thing costs me."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>After all, it turns out that Seton is +perfectly innocent—that the message +he has dispatched to English Lord +Dacre is one of scorn and defiance—and +that the old Cacofogo of the +church, who might have belonged to +The Club, has been rather too hasty +in his inferences. Macready—great +throughout the whole scene—outshone +himself in the reconciliation +which follows; and we believe our +friend the Political Economist was +alone in his minority when he muttered, +with characteristic adherence +to matter of fact—"Why the plague +didn't that fellow Seton clear himself +at once, and save us the whole of the +bother?" We return for a moment +to Laichmont, where there is a regular +flare-up between old Sir Adam +and Malcolm, the latter pitching it into +the senior in superior style. An +officer from the court arrives, and the +whole family party are ordered off +<i>instanter</i> to Holyrood.</p> + +<p>The last act shows us King James +vigilant, and yet calm, in the midst of +the corrupted barons. It is some +weeks since the latter have seen a +glimpse of an English rouleau, and +their fingers are now itching extremely +for an instalment. They are dismissed +for the moment, and the king +begins to perform his royal functions +and redeem his promises, by procuring +from the Cardinal-Legate letters +of dismission from the church in favour +of Malcolm Young. The court +is then convoked, and Buckie—public +prosecutor throughout—appears with +a pair of wolf's jaws upon his head, +which we hold to be a singular and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +somewhat inconvenient substitute for +a wig. The indictment is twofold. +The first charge is against Sir Adam +for falsehood, fraud, and wilful imposition; +in consequence of which, his +nephew, described as a lad of considerable +early promise, has been compelled +to betake himself to the king's +highway, in the reputable capacity of +a cutpurse. This missing youth turns +out to be identical with the cateran +of Drumshorlan. The second charge +is more serious. It relates to the +public treachery of Weir; in proof of +which, Buckie produces the packet +containing the dispatches to the Lords. +All is confusion and dismay.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i2">"<span class="smcap">Somerville.</span>—'Tis some foolishness,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll take the charge.<br /></span> + +<span class="i2"><span class="smcap">James.</span>—Bring me the packet, lord!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here, Maxwell! break the seal—but your hand shakes.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hume! lay it open. (<span class="smcap">Hume</span> <i>opens the packet</i>.) Blessings on you, Hume!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, what a thing is truth! Here, give it me!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now, by my soul, this is a happy time!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I hold a score of heads within my hands—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Heads—noble heads—right honourable heads—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stand where you are! ay, coroneted heads—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nay, whisper not! What think you that I am?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A dolt—a madman? As I live by bread,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'll show you what I am! You thought me blind,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You called me heedless James, and hoodwink'd James—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You'll find me watchful James, and vengeful James!<br /></span> + +<span class="i4">(<span class="smcap">Hume</span> <i>marches in the Guard, with Headsman;</i><br /></span> +<span class="i6"><i>They stand beside the Lords, who form a group</i>.)<br /></span> + +<span class="i0">One little word, and it will conjure up<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The fiend to tear you. One motion of this hand—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">One turning of the leaf—Who stirs a foot<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Is a dead man! <i>If I but turn the leaf,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Shame sits like a foul vulture on a corse,</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>And flaps its wings on the dishonor'd names</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Of knights and nobles.</i><br /></span> + +<span class="i4">(<i>A pause; the</i> <span class="smcap">Lords</span> <i>look at each other</i>.)<br /></span> +<span class="i10">Nay, blench not, good my lords;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I mean not <i>you</i>; the idle words I say<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can have no sting for you! You are true men—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">True to your king! You'll show your truth, my lords,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In battle; pah! we'll teach those Englishmen<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We are not the base things they take us for;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They'll see James and his nobles side by side—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">(<i>Aside.</i>) If they desert me now, then farewell all!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">(<i>Aloud.</i>) There!—(<i>gives the packet back to Somerville</i>)<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I know nothing!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>After this act of magnanimity, our +readers will readily believe that all +the other personages in the drama +are properly disposed of—that pardon +and reconciliation is the order of +the day—and that the lovers are duly +united. So ends one of the most successful +dramas which has been produced +for a long time upon the stage. +Our own judgment might possibly +have been swayed by partiality—not so +that of the thousands who have since +witnessed its repeated and successful +representation. Were we to venture +upon any broad criticism, after a +careful perusal of this play, and of +<i>The Earl of Gowrie</i>, we should be inclined +to say that Mr White sins rather +upon the side of reserve, than +that of abandonment. We think he +might well afford to give a freer rein +to his genius—to scatter before us +more of the flowers of poesy—to elevate +the tone of his language and the +breadth of his imagery, more especially +in the principal scenes. It may +be—and we almost believe it—that +he entertains a theory contrary to ours—that +his effort throughout has been +to avoid all exaggeration, and to imitate,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +as nearly as the vehicle of verse +will allow, not only the transactions, +but the dialogue of actual life. But, +is this theory, after all, substantially +correct? A play, according to our +ideas, is not intended to be a mere +daguerreotype of what has passed or +is passing around us; it is also essentially +a poem, and never can be +damaged by any of the arts which the +greatest masters in all times have +used for the composition of their poetry. +Much must be said in a play, +which in real life would find no utterance; +for passion, in most of its +phases, does not usually speak aloud; +and therefore it is that we not only +forgive, but actually require some +exaggeration on the stage, in order to +bring out more clearly the thoughts +which in truth would have remained +unspoken. In the matter of ornament, +much must be left to the discretion +and the skill of the author. +We are as averse as any man can be +to overflowing diction—to a smothering +of thoughts in verbiage—to images +which distract the mind by their over-importance +to the subject. But the +dramatic author, if he carefully considers +the past annals of his craft, can +hardly fail to remark that no play has +ever yet achieved a permanent reputation, +unless, in addition to general +equable excellence, it contains some +scenes or passages of more than common +beauty and power, into the composition +of which the highest species +of poetry enters—where the imagination +is allowed its unchecked flight, +and the fancy its utmost range. Thus +it was, at all events, that Shakespeare +wrote; and if our theory should be by +any deemed erroneous, we are contented +to take shelter under his mighty +name, and appeal to his practice, artless +as it may have been—as the +highest authority of the world.</p> + +<p>But, after all, we are content to +take the play as we find it. Of <i>The +Earl of Gowrie</i>, Mr White's earlier +production, we have left ourselves in +this article little room to speak. In +some points it is of a higher and more +ambitious caste than the other—written +with more apparent freedom; +and some of the characters—Logan of +Restalrig for example—are powerfully +conceived. It is not, however, +so well adapted for the stage as the +other drama. James the Sixth, according +to our author's portraiture, +is a far less personable individual +than his grandsire; and the quaint +mixture of Scots and Latin with which +his speeches are decorated, would +sound strangely and uncouthly in +modern ears, even could a competent +actor be found. We would much +rather see this play performed by an +amateur section of the Parliament +House, than brought out on the +boards of Drury Lane. If the Lords +Ordinary stood upon their dignity +and refused participation in the jinks, +we think we could still cull from the +ranks of the senior bar, a fitting representative +for the gentle King Jamie. +We have Logans and Gowries in +abundance, and should the representation +ever take place, we shall count +upon the attendance of Mr White, +who shall have free permission for +that evening to use the catcall to his +heart's content.</p> + +<p>Not less pleased are we with the +delightful book of Highland Minstrelsy +from the pen of Mrs David Ogilvy, +and so characteristically illustrated by +our friend R. R. M'Ian, which now +claims our attention. We are glad +to find, in one young writer at least, +a return to a better and a simpler +style than that which has been lately +prevalent—a strong national feeling +not warped or perverted by prejudice, +and a true veneration for all that is +great and glorious in the past. These +poems are, as the authoress informs +us in her preface, intended to bear +upon "the traditions, the sentiments, +and the customs of a romantic people"—they +are rather sketches of the +Highlanders, than illustrations drawn +from history—they are well conceived, +and clearly and delicately executed.</p> + +<p>Indeed, notwithstanding the mighty +harvest which Sir Walter Scott has +reaped, there is a wide field still open +to those who comprehend the national +character. It is, however, one into +which no stranger may hope to enter +with the slightest prospect of success. +A more lamentable failure than that +committed by Mr Serjeant Talfourd +in his attempt to found a tragedy +upon the woful massacre of Glencoe—a +grosser jumble of nonsense about +ancestry and chieftainship—was, we +verily believe, never yet perpetrated.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +At the distance of six years, we can +vividly remember the tingling of our +fingers for the pen when we first detected +the Serjeant upon his northern +poaching expedition; nor assuredly +should he have escaped without exposure, +had not the memory of <i>Ion</i> +been still fresh, and many graceful +services to literature pled strongly +within us in his behalf. But our authoress, +if not born, has been bred in +the heart of the mountains—she +knows, we are sure, every rood +of great Strath-Tay from Balloch +to the roaring Tummel—she has +seen the deep pass of Killiecrankie +alike in sunshine and storm, and +sweet must have been the walks +of her childhood in the silent woods +of Tullymet. It is among such scenes +as these—in the midst of a brave, +honest and an affectionate people—that +she has received her earliest +poetical impulse, and gratefully has +she repaid that inspiration with the +present tribute of her muse.</p> + +<p>We hardly know to which of her +ballads we should give precedence. +Our favourite—it may be from association, +or from the working of Jacobite +sympathies of which we never +shall be ashamed—is the first in +order, and accordingly we give it +without comment:—</p> + + + +<div class="cpoem1"> +<div class="center">"<span class="smcap">The Exile at Culloden.</span></div> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"There was tempest on the waters, there was darkness on the earth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When a single Danish schooner struggled up the Moray Firth.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Looming large, the Ross-shire mountains frown'd unfriendly on its track,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shriek'd the wind along their gorges, like a sufferer on the rack;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And the utmost deeps were shaken by the stunning thunder-peal;—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas a sturdy hand, I trow ye, that was needed at the wheel.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Though the billows flew about them, till the mast was hid in spray,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Though the timbers strain'd beneath them, still they bore upon their way,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Till they reach'd a fisher-village where the vessel they could moor—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Every head was on its pillow when they landed on the shore;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And a man of noble presence bade the crew "Wait here for me.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I will come back in the morning, when the sun has left the sea."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He was yet in manly vigour, though his lips were ashen white,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">On his brow were early furrows, in his eyes a clouded light;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Firm his step withal and hasty, through the blinding mist so sure,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That he found himself by dawning on a wide and lonesome muir,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mark'd by dykes and undulations, barren both of house and wood,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And he knew the purple ridges—'twas Culloden where he stood.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"He had known it well aforetime—not, as now, so drear and quiet;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When astir with battle's horror,—reeling with destruction's riot;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now so peacefully unconscious that the orphan'd and exiled<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was unmann'd to see its calmness, weeping weakly as a child;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And a thought arose of madness, and his hand was on his sword—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But he crush'd the coward impulse, and he spake the bitter word;—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'I am here, O sons of Scotland—ye who perish'd for your king!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the misty wreaths before me I can see your tartans swing—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I can hear your slogan, comrades, who to Saxon never knelt;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh! that I had died among ye, with the fortunes of the Celt!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'There he rode, our princely warrior, and his features wore the same<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Pallid cast of deep foreboding as the First one of his name;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ay, as gloomy as his sunset, though no Scot his life betray'd;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Better plunge in bloody glory, than go down in shame and shade.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Stormy hills, did ye protect him, that o'erlook Culloden's plain,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dabbled with the heather blossoms red as life-drops of the slain?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Did ye hide your hunted children from the vengeance of the foe?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Did ye rally back the flying for one last despairing blow?<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +<span class="i0">No! the kingdom is the Saxon's, and the humbled clans obey,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And our bones must rot in exile who disdain usurper's sway.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'He is sunk in wine's oblivion for whom Highland blood was shed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whom the wretched cateran shelter'd, with a price upon his head,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Beaten down like hounds by scourging, crouching from their master's sight;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I tread my native mountains, as a robber, in the night;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spite of tempest, spite of danger, hostile man and hostile sea,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Gory field of sad Culloden, I have come to gaze on thee!'<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"So he pluck'd a tuft of heather that was blooming at his foot,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That was nourish'd by dead kinsmen, and their bones were at its root;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With a sigh he took the blossom, and he strode unto the strand,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where his Danish crew awaited with a motley fisher band;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Brief the parley, swift his sailing, with the tide, and ne'er again<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Saw the Moray Firth the stranger or the schooner of the Dane."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Eilan Mohr" and the "Vow of Ian +Lom," the renowned Seannachie of the +Highlands, are both fine poems, but +rather too long for extract; and as +we do not doubt that this volume +will erelong be found in the boudoir +and drawing-room of many of our fair +countrywomen, we have less hesitation +in leaving them to a more leisurely +perusal.</p> + +<p>The young authoress will, we trust, +forgive us if we tender one word of +advice before parting with her on the +heights of Urrard—a spot which was +once—and we hope will be again—the +home of more worth, beauty, and +excellence, than is often to be found +within the circle of a single family. +She ought to be very cautious in her +attempts to write in the Scottish +dialect. Few, even of those who +have habitually heard it spoken from +their childhood, can discern the almost +indefinable line which exists +between the older and purer phraseology, +and that which is more corrupt. +The very spelling of the words is a +matter of considerable difficulty, and +when not correctly written, the effect +is any thing but pleasing. With this +hint and another extract we shall +return the volume to better keeping +than our own, with our sincere approval +of its contents, and our admiration +for the genius of the writer.</p> + + + +<div class="cpoem2"> +"<span class="smcap">The Old House of Urrard.</span> + +<div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Dost fear the grim brown twilight?<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Dost care to walk alone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When the firs upon the hill-top<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With human voices moan?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When the river twineth restless<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Through deep and jagged linn,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Like one who cannot sleep o' nights<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For evil thoughts within?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When the hooting owls grow silent,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The ghostly sounds to hark,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the ancient house of Urrard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When the night is still and dark.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"There are graves about old Urrard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Huge mounds by rock and tree;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And they who lie beneath them<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Died fighting by Dundee.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Far down along the valley,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And up along the hill,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The fight of Killicrankie<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Has left a story still.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But thickest show the traces<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And thickest throng the sprites,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the woods about old Urrard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On the gloomy winter nights.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In the garden of old Urrard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Among the bosky yews,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A turfen hillock riseth<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where latest lie the dews;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Here sank the warrior stricken<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By charmèd silver ball,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all the hope of victory<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fell with him in his fall.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Last stay of exiled Stuart,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Last heir of chivalrie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the garden of old Urrard<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He died, the brave Dundee!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"In the ancient house of Urrard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">There's many a hiding den;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The very walls are hollow,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To cover dying men;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For not e'en lady's chamber<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Barr'd out the fierce affray;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And couch and damask curtain<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Were stain'd with blood that day<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +<span class="i0">And there's a secret passage,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whence sword, and skull, and bone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Were brought to light in Urrard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When years had pass'd and gone.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"If thou sleep alone in Urrard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Perchance in midnight gloom<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou'lt hear behind the wainscot<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of that old haunted room,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A fleshless hand that knocketh,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A wail that cries on thee;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And rattling limbs that struggle<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To break out and be free.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">It is a thought of horror!—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I would not sleep alone<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the haunted rooms of Urrard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where evil deeds were done.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Amidst the dust of garrets<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That stretch along the roof,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stand chests of ancient garments<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of gold and silken woof.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When men are lock'd in slumber,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The rustling sounds are heard<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of dainty ladies' dresses,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of laugh and whisper'd word,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of waving wind of feathers,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And steps of dancing feet,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In the haunted halls of Urrard,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">When the winds of winter beat."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>We cannot altogether dismiss the +book without bearing testimony to the +merits of M'Ian, a rising artist and +thorough Highlander, already favourably +known to the public by his +Sketches of the Clans, and other admirable +works. Few pictures have +ever affected us more than his Highland +prisoner, exhibited last year in +the Royal Academy, into which he +has thrown a far deeper feeling, both +of poetry and romance, than is at the +command of many of his brethren, +whose names are more widely bruited +than his own. We send him across +the Border our cordial greeting, and +our best wishes for his continued success +and prosperity.</p> + +<p>And here we should have concluded +this article in peace and amity with +all men—haunted by no other thoughts +save those of sweet recollection—and +as innocent of blood as our terrier pup, +who, we are gratified to observe, is at +this moment vainly attempting to enlarge +a casual fracture in our slipper. +But our eye has accidentally lighted +upon a fugitive volume, half smothered +beneath a heap of share-lists; and +mindful of our duty, however painful, +we drag forth the impostor to his +doom. <i>Morning and other Poems, +by a Member of the Scotch Bar!</i> +Why, the very name of the book is +enough to betray its spurious origin. +The unfortunate person who has rashly +attempted to give currency to his +verses by assuming a high and honourable +position, to which, we believe +from the bottom of our soul, he +has not the remotest pretension—has +not even taken the pains to ascertain +the corporate name of the body with +which he claims affiliation, and bungles +even in the title-page. With the +members of the <span class="smcap">Scottish Bar</span> we +have some acquaintance—nay, we +think that—from habitual attendance +at the Parliament House, being unfortunately +implicated in a law-plea as +interminable as that of Peebles against +Plainstanes—we know almost every +one of them by headmark, from the +Pet of the Stove, whose snuff-box is +as open as his heart, to the saturnine +gentleman who is never seen beyond +the precincts of the First Division. +We acquit every one of them of participation +in this dreary drivel.</p> + +<p>It may be that the gods have not +made all of them poetical—and, for +the sake of the judges, we opine that +it is better so—yet some rank amongst +our dearest and most choice contributors; +nor, we believe, is there one +out of the whole genuine fraternity of +educated and accomplished gentlemen +who could not, if required, versify a +summons, or turn out a Lay of the +Multiplepoinding, equal, if not superior, +to Schiller's Song of the Bell. It +is rather too much that the literary +character of the bar of Scotland is to +be jeopardied by the dulness of the +author of <i>Morning and other Poems</i>. +Why has he not the courage, instead +of sheltering himself under a legal denomination +common to some three +hundred gentlemen, to place his own +name upon the title-page, and stand +or fall by the bantlings of his own +creation? Does he think, forsooth, +that it is beneath the dignity of a barrister +to publish verses, or to hold at +any time a brief in the court of Apollo? +If so, why does he attempt to thrust +forward his vocation so wantonly? +But he knows that it is no disgrace. +The literary reputation of the bar is +so high, that he actually assumes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +the title for the sake of obtaining a +hearing, and yet merges his own individuality, +so that he may be enabled +to slink away in silence and obscurity +from the ridicule which is sure to +overwhelm him.</p> + +<p>Morning, and other Poems! It +was impossible for the author to have +stumbled upon a more unfortunate +subject in support of his pretensions. +Of all imaginable themes, that of +morning is least likely to inspire with +enthusiasm the soul of a Scottish +barrister. Few are the associations +of delight which that word awakens +in his mind. It recalls to him the +memory of many a winter, throughout +which he has been roused from his +comfortable nap at half-past seven, +by the shrill unquellable voice of +Girzy, herself malignant and sullen +as the bespoken warning of the watchman. +He recollects the misery of +shaving with tepid water and a blunt +razor by the light of a feeble dip—the +fireless study—the disordered +papers—the hasty and uncomfortable +breakfast, and the bolting of the slippery +eggs. Blash comes a sheet, +half hail half slush, against the window—the +wind is howling without +like a hurricane, and threatens to +carry off that poor shivering lamplighter, +whose matutinal duty it is to +extinguish the few straggling remnants +of gas now waning sickly and dim, in +the dawn of a bad December morning. +What would he not give if this were +a Monday when he might remain in +peace at home! But there is no help +for it. He is down for three early +motions on the roll of the most +punctual Ordinary that ever cursed a +persecuted bar; so he buttons his +trot-cosey around him, and, without +taking leave of the wife of his bosom—who, +like a sensible woman as she +is, never thinks of moving until ten—he +dashes out, ankle-deep in mud and +melting snow, works his way up a +continuous hill of a mile and a half in +length, with a snell wind smiting him +in the face, his nose bluemigating like +a plum, and his linen as thoroughly +damped as though it had been drawn +through the wash-tub. Just as he +begins to discern through the haze the +steeple of Knox's kirk, nine strokes +upon the bell warn him that his watch +is too slow. He rushes on through gutter +and dub, and arrives in the robing-room +simultaneously with ten other +brethren, who are all clamorously demanding +their wigs and gowns from +the two distracted functionaries. Accomodated +at last, he hurries up the +stairs, and when, through the yellow +haze of the house, he has groped his +way to the den where early Æacus is +dispensing judgment by candle-light, +he finds that the roll has been already +called without the appearance of a +single counsel. Such, for half the +year—the other half being varied by +a baking—are the joys which morning +brings to the member of the Scottish +bar. Few, we think, in their senses +would be inclined to sing them, nor, +indeed, to do our author justice, does +he attempt it. His notions of morning +occupations are very different. +Let us see what sort of employment +he advises in an apostrophe, which, +though ostensibly addressed to Sleep, +(a goddess with two mothers, for he +calls her "Daughter of Jove and +Night, by Lethe born,") must, we +presume, have been intended for the +edification of his fellow-mortals.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i10">"Nor then, thy knees<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Vex with long orisons. The morning task,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The morning meal, or healthful morning walk<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Demand attention next. Thy hungry feed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Among thy stall, if lowing herds be thine;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Drain the vex'd udders, set the pail apart<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For the wean'd kid; the doggish sentinel<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Supply, nor let him miss the usual hand<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He loves. Then, having seen all full and glad,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Body and soul with food thyself sustain.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">If wedded bliss be yours, the fruitful vine<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Greet lovingly, and greet the olive shoots,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The gifts of God!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Here is a pretty fellow! What! +First breakfast, then a walk, then the +byre, the ewe-bught, the pig-stye, +and the kennel, and after all that,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +without wiping the gowkspittle of +the tares from your jacket, or the +stickiness of Cato's soss from your +fingers, you would sit down to a +second breakfast, like a great snorting +gormandizer, and never say good-morning +to your wife and children +until you have finished your third +roll, and washed down that monstrous +quantity of fried ham with your fifth +basin of bohea! But no—we turn +over a couple of pages, and find that +we have done our friend injustice. +He is a poet, and, according to his +idea of that race, they subsist entirely +upon porridge or on sowens.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2">"But what becomes the rustic, little suits<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The poet and the high Æonian fire——<br /></span> +<span class="i2">His toils I mean; sacred the morning prime<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Is still to song, and sacred still the grove;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">No fields he boasts, no herds to grace his stalls,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The muse has made him poor and happy too,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">She robs him of much care and some dull coin,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Stints him in gay attire and costly books,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But gives a wealth and luxury all her own,<br /></span> +<span class="i2"><i>And, on a little pulse, like gods they diet.</i>"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Our theory is, that this man is a +medical student. We have a high +regard for the healing faculty; nor do +we think that, amongst its ranks, +there is to be found more than the +ordinary proportion of blockheads. +But the smattering of diversified +knowledge which the young acolytes +are sure to pick up in the classes, is +apt to go to their heads, and to lead +them into literary and other extravagances, +which their more sober +judgment would condemn. They are +seldom able, however, to disguise +their actual calling; and even their +most powerful efforts are tinctured +with the flavour of rhubarb or of +senna. This youth has been educated +in obstetrics.</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Three months scarce had thrice increased<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ere the world with thee was blest."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>He is an adept in the mysteries of +gestation—an enthusiast so far in his +profession, and cannot even contemplate +the approach of morning without +the feelings of a genuine Howdie. +Mark his exordium—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i4">"The splendid fault, solicitude of fame,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which spurs so many, me not moves at all<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To sing, but grateful sense of favours obtain'd<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By many a green-spread tree and leafy hill:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The <span class="smcap">MORNING</span> calls, escaped from dewy sleep<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And Tithon's bed to celebrate her charms,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">What sounds awake, what airs salute the dawn!<br /></span> +<span class="i4">"That virgin darkness, loveliest imp of time,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Is, to an amorous vision, nightly wed,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And made the mother of a shining boy,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By mortals hight the day, let others tell,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In livelier strains, and to the Lydian flute<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Suit the warm verse; but be it ours to wait<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In the birth-chamber, and receive the babe,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">All smiling, from the fair maternal side,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By pleasant musings only well repaid."<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>It is a great pity that one so highly +gifted should ever have been tempted +to forsake the muse for any mere +mundane occupation. But in spite of +his modest request that sundry celestial +spirits—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Will to a worthier give the bays to Phœbus dear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And crown <span class="smcap">my Wordsworth</span> with the branch <i>I must not wear</i>"—<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>we are not altogether without hopes +that he will reconsider the matter, +avoid too hard work, which, in his +own elegant language, might make +him</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Wan as nun who takes the vows,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Or primrose pale, or <i>lips of cows</i>!"—<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>and not only delight us occasionally +with a few Miltonic parodies as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +delectable as these, but be persuaded +in time to assume the laureat's wreath. +As for the pretext that he is getting +into practice—whether legal or medical—that +is all fudge. He informs us +that "the following pages were written, +during the author's leisure hours, +some years ago, before the superior +claims of professional occupations interfered +to make such pursuits unlawful, +and would probably have remained +unpublished, but for the +accident of a talented friend's perusal." +Moreover, he says that "his +conscience will not reproach him with +the hours which the preparation of +these poems for the press has filched +from graver business—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">'The tedious forms, the solemn prate,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The pert dispute, the dull debate.'"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>We assure him that it need not do +so. No man who has glanced at this +volume will accuse him of knowing +the difference between a process of +Ranking and Sale and a Declarator of +Legitimacy; and he may comfort himself +with the conviction that his literary +pursuits are quite as lawful at +the present time as they were some +years ago. No importunate solicitor +will ever interfere to divert him from +them. The man who cannot compass +an ordinary distich will never +shine in minutes of debate; nor have +we the slightest expectation that a +three-guinea fee—even were he entitled +to receive it—would ever supply +the place of that unflinching principle +of honour, which he thus modestly, +and not unprophetically acknowledges +to be the mainspring of his inspiration—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"'Tis this which strings, in time, my feeble harp,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And yet shall ravish long eternal years!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>The following imprecation, which +we find in "Morning," inspires us with +something like hope of the continuance +of his favours:—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"When I forget the dear enraptured lay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">May this right hand its wonted skill forego,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And never, never touch the lyre again!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>We dare not say Amen to such a +wish. On the contrary, in the name +of the whole Outer-House, we demand +a supplementary canto. Let him submit +it to the perusal of his "talented +friend," and we dare answer for it +that the publishers will make no objection +to stand sponsors for a new +volume on the same terms as before.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span></p> +<h2>ELINOR TRAVIS.</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">A Tale in Three Chapters.</span><br /><br /> + +<span class="smcap">Chapter the Second.</span></h4> + + +<p>So far have I spoken of what I saw +and witnessed. Much of what follows +came to me, years afterwards, +authenticated by the chief performer +in the eventful drama which I write, +and by others no less worthy of belief. +After what has been already +narrated, it will not be supposed that +I suffered the life of my friend to pass +away unnoticed. We corresponded, +but fitfully, and at long intervals. +Here and there we met, often strangely +and by accident, and I became now +the depositary of his heart's dearest secrets, +now the reluctant adviser, and +now the bold and earnest remonstrant. +Our intimacy, however, ceased abruptly +and unhappily a year or two +subsequently to his marriage. Sinclair, +it will be seen, then went +abroad, and I returned to my duty at +the university. I recur to the memoranda +of his history which lie before +me, and proceed with my text.</p> + +<p>It would appear that General Travis +overtook the fugitives, but, as good +or ill fortune would have it, not until +the knot was tied, and his presence +profited nothing. I have been told +that the desperate father, at one period +of the chase, was within an easy +stage of the runaways, and, had he +been so disposed, might have laid +hands on the delinquents without +ruinously bribing the postilions, who +prudently husbanded their strength +in full expectation of additional largess. +But, at the very moment of +victory, as it were, the general unfortunately +was seized with illness, and +compelled to pass a day and night +under the hands of a village doctor +in a roadside inn. He was very angry +and rebellious, you may be sure, and +oftener than once asserted with an +oath—so that there could be no doubt +whatever of his sincerity—that he +would give the world (if he had it) to +be allowed to proceed; at the same +time that he unreasonably accused +the practitioner, whom he had never +seen before, of conspiring with his enemies +to bring his gray hairs with sorrow +to the grave. The worthy apothecary, +guilty of nothing but the venial +offence of making the most of a visitation +of Providence, merely shook his +head dolefully at every exclamation of +his patient, hinted at gastric fever, and +rubbed his palms, intimating by that act +that so he proposed to wash his hands +of all responsibility. Whereupon the +general prudently gave in, held out +his massive fist, was prescribed for, +went to bed and put out his candle, +just two minutes after he had put out +the basket of physic which had been +sent to prolong his stay in the inn for +at least a week to come.</p> + +<p>The interview between the disconsolate +parent and the youthful offenders +is adverted to in the letter which +I received from Rupert Sinclair in +London early in the honeymoon. It +is many years since it was written: +the paper is discoloured, and the ink +fading. It is the effusion of a fond +and enthusiastic youth; but it looks +mournful and dried up, more like the +decaying writing on the rolls of a +mummy than the ardent outpourings +of a recent passion. Alack for the +mutability of life! I have no apologies +to make for giving the letter as +it stands. It speaks for itself: its +publication cannot harm the dead.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"<span class="smcap">Dearest Walter</span>—Congratulate +me! wish me joy! But no greater +joy than I experience at this hour, +with the sunny and smiling heaven +above, and in the possession of a treasure +of which no man living can rob +me: of which I am prouder than +Alexander could have been of all his +conquered worlds. She is mine! I +have ventured much for the prize; +yet little—for I feel I could have +parted with every thing in life for her +who is to me—life, every thing. She +is mine! Oh the comprehensiveness +of that one little word! Mine whilst +existence lasts—mine to cherish and +uphold—mine for earth and heaven! +We walked this morning to the placid<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +lake which lies hidden in the heart of +the mountains, to which we have retreated +for a season away from the envious +eyes of men. The waters were +as calm as at the dawn of the first sabbath! +The sky that overarched us +looked down upon them in unutterable +love. The slightest breath that +crept amongst the trees was audible. +Her arm was upon mine. Nature +had attuned my soul to the surrounding +harmony—the gentlest pressure +of her confiding hand oppressed me +with joy and moved me to tears. +Laugh at me if you will. You answer +to all this—that I dream. Be it so:—That +I must soon awake. It is possible. +Nay, I grant you that this +foretaste of heaven, now vouchsafed +to me, must pass away and leave behind +it only the remembrance of this +golden epoch. Still the remembrance +is mine, the undying memory of a vision +unparalleled by all other dreams +of life.</p> + +<p>"I have written to my father, but he +replies not. He has no sympathy for +attachments such as mine, and cannot +understand the bitterness of life +caused by a blighted hope. But he +will relent. He has a noble nature, +and will take no delight in my unhappiness. +My mother's influence is +unbounded. She loves me, and will +plead my cause with him, when the +first paroxysm of anger has passed +away, and has left him open to her +sway. I will take my Elinor to her; +her innocence and beauty would melt +a stubborn heart to pity. Shall it +not prevail with her whose heart is +ours already by the ties of holiest +nature? Believe me, I have no fear +of Lord Railton's lasting anger.</p> + +<p>"The general reached us the day +after we were married. Happily for +me that he arrived not before. Elinor, +as I have told you often, reveres her +father, and has a chivalric sense of +filial obligations. Had he commanded +her to return to his roof whilst the +right to command remained with him, +she would have deemed it her paramount +duty to obey him. His rage +was terrible when we met; I had +never seen a man so plunged in grief +before. He accused me of treachery—of +having betrayed his confidence—and +taken advantage of his daughter's +simplicity and warm affection. The +world, he said, would reproach him +for an act which he would have moved +heaven and earth to prevent, and the +reputation of the family would be +blasted by the conduct of one, who, +but for his own base deed, should +have remained for ever a stranger to +it. What could I reply to this? For +my dear Elinor's sake, I bore his cruel +words, and answered not. Her gentle +spirit has already prevailed. He quitted +us this morning reconciled to our +union, and resolved to stand by us +in all extremities. There was no +resisting the appeal of beauty such as +hers. The old man wept like a child +upon her neck as he forgave and blest +her. Urgent business carries the +general abroad for a season, but he +returns to England shortly, to make +arrangements for the future. Meanwhile, +in obedience to his earnest request, +I shall seek an interview with my +father, and in person entreat his forgiveness +and aid. My plans are unsettled, +and necessarily depend upon +the conduct of Lord Railton. Let me +hear from you, dearest Wilson. Once +more wish me joy. I ask no better fate +for you than happiness such as mine.</p> + +<p class="author"> +"Your faithful and devoted<br /> +"<span class="smcap">Rupert Sinclair</span>."<br /> +</p> +</div> + + +<p>The honeymoon over, Rupert Sinclair +repaired to his father's house. +Since his marriage he had received no +tidings of his parents: he had written +to his father and mother, but from +neither came one syllable of acknowledgment +or reply. It was strange, +but he relied with unshaken confidence +upon his power over the fond +mother's heart, and upon the magic +influence of that loveliness which he +himself had found resistless and invincible. +The blissful dream was a +short one; he was about to be roused +from it. Elinor and he were in town: +upon the morning of his visit to Grosvenor +Square, they sat together in +their hotel and weaved their bright +and airy plans in syllables more unsubstantial +than the gossamer.</p> + +<p>"You will love my mother, my +dearest Elinor," said Sinclair. "The +great world, in which she acts no unimportant +part, has not spoiled her +affections. She is indulgent and fond +almost to a fault."</p> + +<p>"I shall love her for your sake, +Rupert," answered the lovely wife.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +"How like she is!" she exclaimed, +looking at a miniature which she wore +around her neck, and then comparing +it with the living countenance that +beamed upon her. "Yet," she continued +with a sigh, "she owes me no +return of love."</p> + +<p>"And wherefore?"</p> + +<p>"Have I not stolen her most cherished +treasure?"</p> + +<p>"Have you not added to her treasures? +She will rejoice in her new-found +daughter. I know her well. +She will not even suffer my father to +frown upon us. When he would be +most stern, she will lead you to him, +and melt him into tenderness and +pardon."</p> + +<p>"I hope, dear Rupert, that it may +be so. I would my father were with +us!"</p> + +<p>"Lord Railton will be a father to +you till his return. Trust me for it. +You shall find a happy home with +him, until arrangements are made for +our settlement here or elsewhere."</p> + +<p>"Oh, elsewhere, dear Rupert, if it +be possible! Let us go abroad; I was +never happy in London, and strange +to say, never felt at home in England. +Yet London was my birth-place."</p> + +<p>"You love blue sky, dearest!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and happy people. Men +and women who are not mere slaves +to form and fashion: who breathe +free air and imbibe a sense of freedom. +Oh Venice! dear Venice!—we shall go +to Venice, shall we not? It is the +land of enchantment, dearest Rupert, +there is nothing like it in the world—the +land of love and of romance."</p> + +<p>"You shall visit it, sweetest, and +abide there if you wish it. To me all +spots are alike that find you happy +and at my side. When you are tired +of Venice, you shall lead me whithersoever +you will."</p> + +<p>"Will you always say so?"</p> + +<p>"Always. But that our departure +may not be delayed, let us attend to +the pressing business of the hour. +All our movements depend upon my +father's sanction. Once reconciled to +him, and the world is before us, to +minister, sweet Elinor, to your every +wish."</p> + +<p>"What if he should punish you for +my offence?"</p> + +<p>"For your offence, dear girl! and +what is that? Think not of it. I +go to remove your fears and seal our +happiness!"</p> + +<p>With these and similar words of +confidence and hope, the youth departed +on his errand. Not without some +misgiving and apprehension, however, +did he present himself at that door +which heretofore had flown open at +his approach, always offering to his +view the forms of obsequious lackeys, +only too willing to anticipate his +pleasure. The establishment of Lord +Railton in a striking manner represented +the sentiments and feelings of +the noble proprietor. There was not +a servant in the house who did not +know, and that most accurately, the +opinions, public and private, of "my +lord," and the relative regard he had +for all who approached his noble person, +and who, moreover, did not give +evidence of this knowledge in his conduct +towards mankind. A stranger +might have formed a just opinion of +the influence of a visitor by simply remarking +the bearing of Mister Brown +the butler, as he ushered that visitor +into the sublime presence. Smiles of +welcome—a sweet relaxation of the +features—greeted "the favoured +guest;" cold rigidity, withering politeness, +if not the stern expression of rebuke +itself, were the undisguised acknowledgments +of one who was "a +bore" in his lordship's study, and +consequently "a rejected" in the +steward's room. During the boyhood +of Rupert Sinclair, and whilst his +mamma was known to be affectionately +disposed to spoil her offspring +by every kind of cruel indulgence, the +regard entertained for the young scion, +from Mister Brown downwards, was +beautiful to contemplate. If he appeared +in the hall, one sickening and +hollow smile pervaded the cheeks of +every individual; the tongue that was +still wet with slander and abuse, became, +as if by magic, sugary with +choice phrases; and not a soul of all +the lying crew, but sought to surpass +the rest by the profuseness of its +palpable and unmeaning flattery. +Rupert Sinclair, worldly wise though +he was not, would have been stolid +indeed had he not gathered from the +porter's air something of the reception +that awaited him from his offended +sire, when the wide portal opened to +receive the unforgiven prodigal.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"His lordship?"——began Rupert +inquiringly.</p> + +<p>"Not at home, sir," said the flunkey, +with all imaginable coolness interrupting +him.</p> + +<p>"Lady Railton?"</p> + +<p>"Not at home, sir."</p> + +<p>"She is in town?"</p> + +<p>"In town, sir?—yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"I will wait," said Sinclair, moving +towards the inner hall.</p> + +<p>He had not spoken before the porter +pulled with all his might at a bell-wire +that communicated with the +steward's room. As though the signals +were preconcerted, Mister Brown +was in the hall in no time, and confronting +the intruder upon the thresh-hold +of the sanctuary. "I beg your +pardon, Mr Sinclair," said Mister +Brown, half respectfully, half confidentially. +"Lord Railton is par<i>tic</i>ularly +engaged this morning, and has +given orders to that effect. It is the +painfulest thing to communicate, but +I am but an agent."</p> + +<p>Rupert coloured up, and hesitated +for a moment.</p> + +<p>"I must see Lady Railton, then?" +he continued hastily.</p> + +<p>"Her ladyship is ill, sir—really +very ill. She is not suffered to see +any body. My lord has forbidden any +one to approach her but her maid. I +hope no offence, but I heard Doctor +Bennett tell her ladyship that it was +of the highest consequence to keep +Mr Sinclair away for the present."</p> + +<p>"Is she really so ill, sir?" asked +Rupert, turning pale, and with a +quivering lip.</p> + +<p>Mister Brown drew his handkerchief +from his pocket, and applied it +to his eyes.</p> + +<p>"She is indeed, sir," said that hoary +hypocrite; "we have had a dreadful +time of it. I thought his lordship +would have blown his brains out. +My lady was given over for a week. +For my own part, I may say that duty +and feeling have struggled in my +bosom till I am quite worn out, and +it's quite impossible for me to say who +will be laid up next."</p> + +<p>"I <i>must</i> see my father, Mr Brown," +said Sinclair, advancing a step or two, +to the great discomfort of the butler, +who was evidently sadly perplexed +by the conflicting emotions of his +mind; for whilst he acknowledged +Lord Railton for his master, he respected +Mr Sinclair as his heir, and +felt how important it was to obey his +present lord without declining to serve +the youth whom he hoped to make +his future lord. "I <i>must</i> see him. +Go to him, I beg of you, and tell him +I am here."</p> + +<p>So saying, Mr Sinclair advanced a +few steps further, and found himself +unhindered in the dining-room—moreover, +to his surprise and agitation, in +the presence of his father. Mister +Brown vanished. To behold his +parent, to fall on his knees before +him, and to grasp his hand, was the +work of a moment. Lord Railton +recoiled as though a serpent, and not +his child, had wound about him. He +was livid with rage, and an unnatural +hate was settled in his cold, yet +piercing eye.</p> + +<p>"Your pardon, father!" cried the +youth.</p> + +<p>"Never, so help me"——</p> + +<p>"Oh, do not say it, father!" exclaimed +the son, interrupting him before +the awful word was spoken; "for +heaven's sake, do not call that name +to witness such a fearful sentence—do +not drive me to distraction!"</p> + +<p>"You have driven me mad; you +have blasted every hope of mine. +You have been a traitor and a shame +to the name you bear, and of which +I would it were in my power to deprive +you as easily as it is to attach +to it the curse with which you shall +receive from me your title and your +inheritance. Begone! I never knew +what it was to hate till now."</p> + +<p>Rupert arose and burst into tears. +His father looked at him unmoved +except by scorn.</p> + +<p>"You have not seen her," exclaimed +Rupert, when the first burst of +grief had passed away; "you do not +know the value of the child whom you +reject."</p> + +<p>"No, but I have heard. The <i>world</i> +has heard of our disgrace. Mark me, +you are no longer child of mine. I +disown and discard you. I will enter +into no particulars. From this moment +I will hold no further intercourse +with you. At my death you will obtain +my name, and all that the law +allows you. Until my death, you +will receive from my man of business +more than a sufficient sum for your<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +support. Let me not hear from you +again. I shall struggle to forget you +and your ingratitude. Neither in +health nor sickness, neither by letter +nor in person, let me know any thing +of you or yours. You have forsaken +your natural ties for new associations. +They have made you a traitor to your +blood—let them make the most of the +adoption."</p> + +<p>"Father, you cannot mean it!" +cried Rupert in an agony of sorrow.</p> + +<p>"Father!" said the old lord, repeating +the word; "in virtue of what +filial act do you claim such a kindred +with me? Call that man father whose +bankrupt fortune and reputation have +had such marvellous power to wean +you from your duty. Mark me, +Sinclair—you were the first to violate +the tie between us, I will be the last +to restore or reunite it. Leave me. I +cannot bear to look upon you."</p> + +<p>"My mother!" inquired Sinclair, +in a voice that dared not rise above a +whisper.</p> + +<p>"Name not that poor broken-hearted +woman," replied Lord Railton: +"spare me and her the pang of that +inquiry. You have killed her."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, no, impossible!" ejaculated +Sinclair. "Let me see her, and +obtain her forgiveness, if I am driven +afterwards from your door."</p> + +<p>"She lies upon a bed of sickness, +placed there by yourself. She will +never rise again. Your wife must be +fair indeed, if her beauty can atone for +such a murder."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are unjust, most cruel +and unjust!"</p> + +<p>"You have taught us such injustice +and cruelty as we practise. Begone, +sir! As long as we live, we must +not meet again. If you remain in +England, I shall go abroad. If you +travel, I remain in England. The +sea shall be between us. I reproach +myself with nothing. I denied you +nothing. I knew my duty towards +you, and performed it. Your mother +lived only for your happiness. We +have been cursed and disappointed. +I forget you from this hour. Had I +received intelligence this morning of +your death, it would have given me no +pain, evoked no sorrow. You are dead +to me. Come not again across this +threshold and I will endeavour to forget +that I was not always childless."</p> + +<p>And so saying, Lord Railton put an +end to the interview by quitting the +apartment. Grief, in the bosom of +Rupert, had already given place to +offended pride and resentment—such +resentment, at least, as his mild nature +understood. Whatever might have +been his offence, he felt that it did not, +could not deserve the vindictive hatred +which burned no less in his father's +countenance than in his terrible +denunciations. What! was it a crime +to link one's fate with virtuous innocence +and beauty, such as hers who +called him husband? If it was a fault +to carve one's own way to happiness, +did it deserve a harsher condemnation +than that apportioned to the felon? +The image of Elinor rose for the protection +of the youth, and armed him +with courage for the trial of that hour. +He came a suppliant; but he returned +in triumph: he came acknowledging +his offence and suing for forgiveness; +he returned justified and self-acquitted. +Deprived of love and friendship +at the hearth and home of his +youth, he appreciated at even more +than their value the joys that had been +created for him in the palace of his +own bright home, where a divinity +presided as queen. The punishment +he received for her dear sake, rendered +her, if that were possible, the object +still more of his passionate regard. +He would have made any sacrifice to +appease the anger of his father and +the offended pride of his mother—he +did not believe in the dangerous illness +of the latter—but repulsed like a dog +from their side, he deemed himself +absolved from further trials of their +tenderness, additional exercise of his +own forbearance and filial duty.</p> + +<p>It was during the day of his visit to +Grosvenor Square that Sinclair was +honoured with a return visit from the +attorney of Lord Railton. That gentleman +had received instructions that +very morning to pay to the order of +Mr Rupert Sinclair the sum of one +thousand pounds per annum, in quarterly +payments of two hundred and +fifty pounds each: "But really," as +the legal gentleman said to Rupert, +upon breaking the matter to him, +"he could not reconcile it to his sense +of duty, and to the esteem which it +was natural for him to entertain towards +every member of Lord Railton's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +family—to perform his very unthankful +office without using all his +humble efforts to bring about a reconciliation, +which in every respect was +so very desirable. God forbid that +business should ever prevent him from +doing his duty as a Christian."</p> + +<p>It need hardly be said that Mr +Crawly, the attorney in question, was +too keen a judge of things in general +to throw dirt in the face of the rising +sun, simply because he had worshipped +the setting luminary a few hours +before. Like all who depended more +or less upon the estates of the Railton +family for their support, it was of the +highest consequence to maintain a +good understanding with either party. +If Lord Railton fed Mr Crawly now, +Rupert Sinclair was expected to feed +by and by Crawly's son and heir, who +was preparing himself for the paternal +stool by a short round of folly and +extravagance at the university. Who +could tell? Lord Railton might die +to-morrow—he had had a squeak or +two—and Crawly had been called to +make his will: or he might forgive his +son—or twenty things might happen +to remove present differences, and restore +the divided interest to its first +integrity. Crawly had boasted to his +relations and friends for the first +twenty years of his official career, that +he had never made one enemy; and +when he set up his carriage in the +prime of life, he invented his own arms +and crest, and assumed for his motto +the words, "always agreeable."</p> + +<p>"It really is, my dear Sinclair," +said Crawly, "a thousand pities that +we cannot bring about a more satisfactory +state of things; but I do hope +that time will do wonders. Some excuses +must be made for Lord Railton. +Remember his age."</p> + +<p>[He had said the same thing to +Lord Railton in the morning: "Some +excuses must be made for Mr Sinclair, +my lord. Remember his <i>youth</i>!"]</p> + +<p>"I cannot but think, Mr Crawly," +answered Rupert, "that I have been +treated with unmerited harshness."</p> + +<p>"I cannot say, Mr Sinclair—I do +not think it would become me to reply—that you +have been treated handsomely."</p> + +<p>[Crawly, Crawly! you spoke those +words in Grosvenor Square!]</p> + +<p>"I accept the allowance, sir, and +will make the most of it. You may +assure my father that I shall not prefer +any further claims upon his bounty, +or force myself again into his presence."</p> + +<p>"As for bounty, my dear Mr Sinclair, +you must permit me to state +that the expression is hardly a correct +one. The property of his lordship +descends to you, and you are perfectly +justified in spending freely what is +your own."</p> + +<p>["Mr Crawly," said Lord Railton, +in Grosvenor Square that morning, +foaming with rage, "I will deprive +him of every shilling that is not his +own. I have been economical for his +sake; I will be extravagant to spite +him."</p> + +<p>"<i>My lord</i>," replied Crawly, "<i>you +are perfectly justified in spending freely +what is your own</i>."]</p> + +<p>"May I take the liberty, Mr Sinclair," +said the lawyer after a pause, +"to inquire what your present views +may be?"</p> + +<p>"I am undecided, sir. I know not +whether I shall remain here or go +abroad. My father's reception of me +has staggered and confounded me. +I would have consulted his wishes had +he received me as his son. I have +now to satisfy only my own convenience."</p> + +<p>"I shall pay your annuity, Mr +Sinclair, into your banker's regularly +every quarter-day. The first payment +will be made in advance. I +need not assure you, I trust, that I +act in this most painful business rather +as a mediator and a friend than +a hired agent. There may be a time +when an additional advance may be +both convenient and acceptable. I +have known you long, Mr Rupert. I +know you to be a man of honour. I +have only to add, that at such times +you will confer a favour upon me +by making me your banker, and commanding +my purse."</p> + +<p>I wonder if this was the reason why +Mr Crawly suggested to Lord Railton +the propriety of grinding Mr Sinclair +down to as small a sum as possible. +If so, if it were merely to give himself +the opportunity of acting like a +second father to the castaway, the +recommendation cannot be too highly +applauded.</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir; I shall not trouble<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +you. I know my income, and I shall +take care to keep my ambition within +its bounds. I have had but few +desires, I have now fewer than ever. +A humble cottage and contentment +are to be prized far beyond a palace +and its harassing cares. I do not want +the world to administer to my happiness. +I am the happiest of men at +home. To have that home invaded +by the vulgar pleasures of life, would +be to rob me of its charm!"</p> + +<p>Now nothing could have been more +satisfactory than this sentiment, had +it but been responded to by her upon +whom not only the annual expenses +of Mr Rupert Sinclair's household depended, +but his every movement, wish, +and thought. Unfortunately for the +domestic husband, the wife understood +the bliss of love in a cottage +no more than a nightingale may be +supposed to appreciate the advantages +of imprisonment in a cage +of gold. She was born, and had +been educated, in the world. It +was the scene of her triumphs, the +home of her affections. She had +played no unimportant part in it; +her sway had been acknowledged, her +beauty had gained its victory <i>there</i>. +<i>Home!</i> she had never known any +other, and what right had Sinclair to +suppose that she was adapted for a +narrower? He had met her in dissipation, +but had he won her from it? +Hardly; since a few days only had intervened +between the hour of their +meeting, and the still more luckless +hour of their union. Was it to be +imagined, could it in fairness be expected, +that this young creature, all life +all fascination and vanity, with her +heart attuned to the joys of fashion, +with the object of her life attained—with +power and position now, and +wealth and rank to come, would +forego all the advantages within her +reach, all the influence that she felt, +and all the pleasure that it was simply +to ask for, in order to obtain "Love +in a cottage?" Rupert Sinclair! +pull down the thatch, and build some +marble hall for the fairy you have +caught—not chained!</p> + +<p>Within six months of his marriage, +the Honourable Rupert Sinclair was +living at the rate of—not one—but +five thousand a-year. Persuaded by +his wife, (who learnt any thing but +quiet submission from the tyranny of +Lord Railton, and whose determination +to go abroad was relinquished +the moment she discovered her absence +from England would be agreeable +to her husband's family,) Rupert +had taken a mansion in town, and +Mrs Rupert Sinclair was the admired +of all admirers, a leader of fashion, +and the proclaimed beauty of her day. +Rupert had been dragged into the +vortex, with no power to hold back, +even had he been willing to interfere +with those delights which gained him +a smile of approbation, and expressions +of gratitude, cheaply purchased +at any cost or sacrifice of his. True +he was fearfully in debt; true Mr +Crawly had been summoned oftener +than once to the rescue; true that +wily gentleman had advanced heavy +sums of money, taking particular care, +however, to be amply secured by +legal documents, and more than amply +repaid by the exaction of illegal interest. +It was perhaps natural for +Sinclair to believe, as debts accumulated +upon debts, that the hour of his +estrangement from his parents was +drawing rapidly to a close, and +that, although his way of living could +not but aggrieve and offend his stern +and angry father, yet it was impossible +nature could suffer him much +longer to withhold his paternal and +forgiving hand. Mental reasoning of +this character is the last resource of +the culpable and the self-deluded. +Lord Railton, faithful to his threat, +went abroad; Lady Railton was +sufficiently recovered to accompany +him; and both quitted England without +deigning to notice the spend-thrifts, +whose extravagance and need +were soon the common talk of scandalmongers, +dissatisfied tradesmen, +and spiteful serving-men. Yet there +was no flinching on the part of +Rupert. A cloud of anxiety might +sit temporarily on his brow, a sigh +now and then escape him; but he uttered +no remonstrance, and took no +pains to stem the tide of folly and +prodigality that flowed unceasingly +within his walls. His love for Elinor +had increased rather than diminished +since their marriage. He was proud +of the homage of mankind, and knew +her worthy of the highest. Why +should he seek to restrain the innocent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +pleasures of a woman for whose +gratification and happiness he lived? +Why curtail the joys in which she had +participated almost from infancy? why +prevent her from crowning a scene, +for the adornment of which she was +created and eminently fitted?</p> + +<p>And where was General Travis +during this brief season of intoxication +and wanton waste? At Calais, whither +his liabilities had banished him, and +were likely to detain him for some +time to come. There was no doubt +of his ruin. He lived with his melancholy-looking +wife and younger +daughter, upon a pittance secured upon +the life of the former, but hardly +sufficient to support them in decency. +Yet they maintained, even in their +reverses, a style that to a degree reflected +on the scene of their exile +the brilliancy of their brighter years. +Could it be that the substance of +poor Rupert Sinclair was ministering +here also to the vices of this unhappy +family? I fear there is no +doubt of it. The general was +as huge a braggart as ever. He +insisted upon drawing a line midway +between the highest and the lowest +of the swindling fraternity to which +he belonged, and by whom he was +surrounded, and suffered intercourse +to exist only with the favoured members +of the upper class. He was +prating for ever of his son-in-law, +his connexions, his influence with the +ministry through the potent Lord +Railton, and was most lavish of his +promises of preferment to any credulous +individual whom he could persuade +to favour him with the eternal +loan of a five-pound note. General +Travis had, not unaccountably perhaps, +acquired much power over the +mind of Sinclair. Expelled from his +natural counsellors, who, in their best +days, had been any thing but faithful +advisers,—harassed and tormented +by growing cares, it is not to be +wondered at, that he should seek +counsel and aid from one whom he +believed to be a thorough man of the +world—who was bound to him by the +closest ties, and of whose integrity and +honour he had not the remotest suspicion. +It was General Travis who +instructed Sinclair in the recondite +science of raising money—and of staving +off the attacks of tradesmen with +the weapons of generous usurers: +who taught him that still more marvellous +art of civilized life, of living +upon one thousand a-year more sumptuously +than your neighbour with +ten; and who day after day persuaded +him, by arguments which I +cannot attempt to recite, that by forestalling +his inheritance in his youth, +he would not materially affect the +property which must accrue to him +in his age. It may be that the arguments +would have been more severely +tested had they come from any other +than Elinor's father—had they not +been employed to increase the comforts +and desires of Elinor herself. But +whether this be so or not, it is certain +that Rupert Sinclair, for a long time, +was a helpless victim in the hands of +a bold and ruthless destroyer.</p> + +<p>Chance, I have hinted at the beginning +of this chapter, brought Rupert +and myself together at singular times +and places, and made me an actor in +his history whether I would or not. +Since his first letter to me, I had heard +from him but once; <i>of</i> him, alas! I +had heard too much. He was in the +height of his giddy career, when I +passed through London for the first +time since his marriage, and resolved +to pay him a visit. I arrived late in +the evening, and I had but a few hours +at my command, for early in the morning +I was to start for France by the +Calais packet. When I reached my +hotel, I sent my card to the residence +of my friend, who instantly invited +me to his too hospitable roof. There +was a gay and brilliant assembly in +his house that evening, and, as usual, +Elinor outshone the multitude in +beauty and animation. She received +me cordially, and kindly held out her +snow-white hand at my approach, and +greeted me with a smile of fascination +that robbed me of whatever displeasure +I had brought with me on account +of her proceedings. How could +I reproach Sinclair for submitting to +the spell that governed him, when it +was impossible for me—a stranger, +and one certainly not prepossessed in +her favor—to resist it?</p> + +<p>Sinclair was much altered in appearance. +He looked jaded and unhappy. +There was nothing in his +countenance harmonizing with the +scene around him. He seldom spoke,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +and to all my questions he returned +evasive answers, seeking rather to direct +his discourse to matters in which +neither of us found a personal interest, +than to his own affairs, which at the +time had far more interest for me than +my own.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you are here to-night, +Wilson," said Rupert, as we sat together. +"To-morrow I leave town for +a few days, and we should not have +met had you arrived a day later."</p> + +<p>"I am off to France myself to-night +for a week or more, and——"</p> + +<p>As I spoke, I saw the colour in +Sinclair's cheek rapidly changing. He +was evidently surprised and chagrined +by the intelligence.</p> + +<p>"Can I serve you," said I at once, +taking advantage of my opportunity, +"by remaining in town?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, I thank you. What +route do you take?"</p> + +<p>"By packet to Calais, and from +Calais to Paris by the formidable +diligence. Can I help you at the seat +of politeness and art?"</p> + +<p>"No, I thank you," replied Sinclair, +changing colour again. "You +are aware that my father is in Paris?"</p> + +<p>"So I have heard. It is said that +his lordship"——</p> + +<p>"Do not speak of it," he said, +mildly interrupting me. "Whatever +may happen to me, I cannot but think +that the blame must rest ultimately +there."</p> + +<p>"Do you fear evil, then?" I eagerly +inquired.</p> + +<p>Mr Crawly came up at this moment, +with his lady upon his arm, and +Crawly, junior, lounging in his immediate +rear. The latter was an Adonis +in his way—got up with a perfect +contempt of expense and all propriety. +Crawly beckoned to Sinclair, who at +once quitted my side and walked over +to him, whilst I was left in possession +of Mrs Crawly and the hopeful. I +escaped as soon as I could, and seeing +no more of Sinclair, took my departure +at a comparatively early hour.</p> + +<p>Three nights after this, I was roused +from sleep in my bed at the Hotel +Louis Seize, (a comfortable hotel in +those days, bordering on the marketplace +in Calais,) by a murmuring +sound which at first I believed to be +nothing more than a portion of an unsatisfactory +dream in which I had +once again found myself with Rupert +and his lady in London. Satisfying +myself that the dream and the sound +were distinct, I was already again +midway between the lands of life and +death, when the tones of a voice +roused me almost like a cannon-shot +from my couch, and caused me seriously +to inquire whether I was sleeping +or waking, dreaming or acting. +I could have sworn that the voice I +had heard belonged to Rupert Sinclair. +I jumped from my bed, and +struck a light. It was twelve o'clock +by my watch. For a few seconds all +was as silent as the grave; then I +heard most distinctly a step along the +passage, into which my bed-room +conducted—the sound of a door opening, +closing, and immediately a heavy +tread in the adjoining room. Two +chairs were then drawn close to a +table; upon the latter a rough-voiced +man knocked with his fist, and exclaimed +at the same moment—</p> + +<p>"There are the papers, then!"</p> + +<p>Surely I had heard that voice before. +To whom could it belong? +Whilst I still puzzled my brains to remember, +another voice replied. It +was impossible to mistake <i>that</i>. Most +assuredly it was Rupert Sinclair's.</p> + +<p>"I see them!" it said; every syllable +bringing fresh perspiration on +my brow.</p> + +<p>How came he here? what was +his business? and with whom? A +thin partition merely divided my bed-room +from that in which the speakers +were. Had I been inclined to close +my ears against their words, it would +have been difficult. Anxious, and even +eager, to obtain knowledge of the +movements of my friend, I made no +scruple of listening most attentively +to every word. Who knew but he +was in the hands of sharpers, and +might I not have been providentially +sent to his rescue? At all events I +listened, and not a syllable did I suffer +to escape me.</p> + +<p>"I know, my dear young friend," +began the rougher voice—whose but +General Travis's?—"that you are +anxious to do what is best for us all. +Your interest, you know, is my daughter's, +and my daughter's is, of course, +mine. We are all in one boat."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, undoubtedly," said Rupert.</p> + +<p>"These debts are very large," continued +the general.</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Sinclair; "and some +of them must be discharged forthwith. +Crawly is impatient and angry, and +accuses me of having used him ill."</p> + +<p>"Crawly is a villain," said the general +hurriedly; "he has made a +fortune out of you, and now wishes to +back out. The interest alone that he +has exacted has been enough to ruin +you."</p> + +<p>"Your messenger, you say, failed +to see my father?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. His lordship closed his +doors upon him, and took no notice +of his letter, in which he asked that +some amicable arrangement might be +made with respect to the property +that must evidently come to you."</p> + +<p>There succeeded to this a few sentences +in an under tone from either +party, which I could not make out.</p> + +<p>"Then what is to be done?" murmured +Sinclair again in a tone of entreaty.</p> + +<p>"Don't be advised by me, my +friend," said the general in a subdued +voice, which I strained my ears to +catch; "God forbid that you should +reproach me hereafter for advice which +I tender solely with a view to your +peace of mind and comfort. Heaven +knows you have had little peace of +late!"</p> + +<p>Rupert sighed heavily.</p> + +<p>"I have for the last week been +turning the matter over and over seriously. +As I said before, I can have +no object but your well-doing, and—naturally—my +child's—my child's, +Sinclair—your loving, and I know, +beloved wife."</p> + +<p>"I believe it," said Rupert.</p> + +<p>"Is any one aware of your visit +here?"</p> + +<p>"Not a creature."</p> + +<p>"Crawly?"</p> + +<p>"Was with me the very night I +started, but he does not suspect. He +believes that I am now in England."</p> + +<p>"Now, my dear friend, I don't +think I ought to say what"—</p> + +<p>As ill luck would have it, I coughed. +The general ceased upon the instant, +and opened his door hastily. I blew +out my light, and held my breath.</p> + +<p>"What was that?" asked the +general in a whisper.</p> + +<p>Both listened for a few seconds, +and then the general proceeded, still +whispering.</p> + +<p>"There was a man in London +whom I found in my reverses faithful +and considerate; an honest man in a +world of dishonesty and knavery. He +is well to do in life, and he has visited +me here. Nay, he is here now—has +been here some days; is in this very +hotel."</p> + +<p>"What of him?" asked Rupert.</p> + +<p>"We are as brothers, and I have +entrusted him with the history of +your affairs. He is willing to assist +and relieve you; and he can do it, for +he has a mint of money."</p> + +<p>"I must borrow no more, sir," +eagerly interposed Sinclair. "My +liabilities are even now greater than +I can bear. My income will not pay +the interest of the money that has +been advanced."</p> + +<p>"And therefore comes my friend in +the very nick of time to save you. I +agree with you that it would be ridiculous +to think of further loans. Your +only plan now is to sell out and out. +This you may do advantageously, +relieve yourself of every incumbrance, +and retain sufficient for the future, if +you will be but moderately careful, +and invest your capital with caution."</p> + +<p>"How do you mean?" inquired +my friend.</p> + +<p>The general whispered lower than +ever, as though ashamed that even +the bare walls should witness his +heartless proposition. I gathered his +suggestion from the quick and anxious +answer.</p> + +<p>"What!" exclaimed Sinclair, "sell +my inheritance, part with my birth-right?"</p> + +<p>"No! neither sell nor part with it—but +forestall and enjoy it."</p> + +<p>I heard no more. There came a +gentle knock at the door of the room +in which Rupert and his father-in-law +were speaking; the door softly opened, +and another visitor arrived. Sinclair's +name was mentioned by way +of introduction; then the stranger's, +which escaped me; and shortly afterwards +the whole party quitted the +apartment, as it seemed, maintaining a +dead silence—for, listen as eagerly as +I would, not a syllable could I gather. +Repose was impossible that night. +After keeping my position for about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +half an hour, I hastily dressed, and +sallied forth in quest of information. +I descended, and inquired of the first +servant whom I could summon, the +names of the English gentlemen who +were then staying in the house. My +answer was very unsatisfactory.</p> + +<p>"There was Milor Anglais," said +the man who was the great referee +of the house in all matters pertaining +to the English tongue, "friend of +Mons. le General; the gentleman +as come to-morrow; Monsieur Jones +who vos arrive yesterday; Monsieur +Smith, his ami, and Monsieur Sir +John Alderman, Esquire, vith his +madame and petite famille. There +vos none more."</p> + +<p>With this imperfect information, I +returned to my couch, not to sleep, +but to form some plan that would +save my unhappy friend from the +fangs of the sharks who were about +to sacrifice him to their rapacity. +He stood upon the very verge of destruction. +There could be no doubt +of it. How to get sight of him—how +to warn him of his danger—how +to help him out of the difficulties +into which extravagance and wickedness +had brought him? These were +some of the questions that crowded +upon my disturbed mind during the +whole of the anxious night—questions +that easily came—were less easily +dismissed, and still less easily answered +with comfort to myself, or +with prospect of salvation to my +friend.</p> + +<p>The first individual I saw, upon +leaving my apartment on the following +morning, was General Travis +himself. He was walking hastily +down-stairs, evidently about to quit +the hotel. I called his name. He +started more like the thief "who fears +each bush an officer," than the traveller +"who fears each bush a thief," +and turned his restless eye upon me. +At first he pretended not to know me—then +he bowed, and continued his +way.</p> + +<p>"One moment, general," said I, +stopping him. "I have a word to say +to you."</p> + +<p>"I am somewhat pressed for time +this morning—but a moment is easily +spared," replied the general very collectedly. +He followed me up-stairs, +and entered my room. I closed the +door.</p> + +<p>"You have seen my friend lately?" +I asked in nervous haste.</p> + +<p>"Your friend?" rejoined General +Travis. "To whom have I the honour +to speak?"</p> + +<p>His effrontery was amusing. I +looked at him hard—but his countenance +in no way betrayed him.</p> + +<p>"My name is Wilson," said I; +"that of my friend, Rupert Sinclair."</p> + +<p>"O—h! I remember!" exclaimed +the cunning master, with all the affectation +of extreme surprise. "And +how did you leave Sinclair—gay, +giddy, and happy as ever?"</p> + +<p>I gazed upon the man with a view +to shame him into blushing. I was +grievously disappointed. He returned +me gaze for gaze, and looked unconscious +innocence itself. I resolved to +bring our business to a crisis without +further parley.</p> + +<p>"General Travis," I began, "I +was last night, I will not say the +unwilling, but certainly the unintentional +listener to the plan propounded +by you to my inexperienced friend, +your son-in-law, of whose presence +in this town you seem so lamentably +ignorant."</p> + +<p>The general <i>did</i> change colour now. +He was about to speak, when I stopped +him.</p> + +<p>"Hear me!" I continued aloud +and sternly. "I know the man with +whom I have to deal. It is but fair +that we should be on equal terms. I +go this day to London to denounce +your conspiracy, and to prevent its +success. Your scheme for beggaring +your children, and enriching yourself, +clever as it is, is killed in the bud. +Attempt to carry it out, and the law +shall reach you even here."</p> + +<p>"My dear Mr"——interposed +the general.</p> + +<p>"Let us have no argument," I +proceeded in the same loud tone; +"my business is to prevent the +havoc you would bring about, and +rest assured I will. Make no new +attempts upon the credulity of your +victim, and you are safe. Take another +step in the nefarious business, +and I solemnly vow to heaven that I +will not leave you till I have exacted +a fearful penalty for your crime."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You really, Mr Wilson, do"——stammered +the general, with increasing +awkwardness at every word.</p> + +<p>"Where is Mr Sinclair now?" I +vehemently asked.</p> + +<p>"Gone," replied the general.</p> + +<p>"Whither?"</p> + +<p>"To England."</p> + +<p>"Satisfy me of the truth of this—give +me your solemn promise to urge +him no more to the commission of an +act which insures his ruin, and I leave +you. Refuse me, and I will expose +your designs, and brand you to the +world as the unnatural and cruel destroyer +I have found you."</p> + +<p>The general manifestly believed me +to be in possession of more than I +knew. He fairly quailed beneath my +impetuosity and anger. I had expected +resistance and battle. I met +with mean capitulation and fear. He +shuffled out apologies—entreated me +to believe that he was actuated only +by the sincerest wishes for his children's +welfare—indeed, how could it +be otherwise?—and assured me that +although he might have been mistaken +in the plans he had formed for Mr +Sinclair's extrication, his motives were +unquestioned, and as pure as could be. +Still I might see these things with different +eyes, and a better remedy might +suggest itself to me. For his part, he +should be glad to listen to it, and to +recommend it to Sinclair's attention. +At all events, he was prepared to engage +to proceed no further with the +transaction of which I had obtained +knowledge, and all he asked in return +was, that I should not wait upon Lord +Railton, and acquaint him with what +had transpired. To communicate the +matter to his lordship, would be to +shut out finally and for ever the last +hopes of the unhappy children.</p> + +<p>My promise was given, as soon as +I learned for certain that Rupert had +set sail for London by the packet that +quitted Calais harbour at an early +hour that morning. My own business +urged me to proceed forthwith to +Paris, but I could not be easy until I +had secured the fulfilment of General +Travis's engagement by another interview +with Rupert. Accordingly, I +returned to England. My task with +Sinclair was an easy one. He had +already had the good sense to discover +that to part with all that he had in the +world for a sum that must be dissipated +in a few years at the most, +would be an act of madness which no +amount of pressing difficulty could +warrant. Moreover, the sum of money +that was offered by the gentleman +whose honesty and generosity had +been so highly lauded by the general, +had been so shamefully small, that +Rupert retreated with horror from +the abyss towards which he had so +incautiously advanced. I received a +full assurance from the harassed man +that he would suffer any extremity +rather than listen again to similar +propositions, and then I recommenced +my journey with an easier conscience. +So far, a tremendous blow had been +averted. But what would happen +next—what scheme the general would +next suggest—what measures the +very critical condition of Sinclair's +affairs would make absolutely necessary—it +was impossible to guess—to +foresee, or to think of without deep +anxiety and great alarm.</p> + +<p>Six months elapsed, and Rupert +Sinclair was still rapidly descending. +With increased and increasing liabilities, +there was more profuseness and +greater recklessness. No one knew +better than Rupert himself the folly +and even sinfulness of his mode of +life, yet any body would have found +it easier than himself to put a stop to +it. He was absorbed in the existence +of his wife. As I have already said, +her life was his—her wishes, her +thoughts, and aims. She could not +desire, and he not gratify; she could +not ask to be a queen amidst the +throng in which she moved, and he +not place her on the throne at any sacrifice, +however costly; at any risk, +however desperate. This was the +secret of his misery. And then from +day to day, he lived bankrupt-like, on +hope. Something would happen. He +had faith in the love of his mother, in +the natural goodness of a father's +heart. Time would heal the wound +that had been inflicted; and incline +them to look with commiseration on +youthful errors easy to repair.</p> + +<p>A glimmering of promise stole forth +at this crisis of the history. The critical +position of the ministry for the +time being, had brought Lord Railton +and his wife back to England; and I +resolved, in my eagerness to serve my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +unhappy pupil, to see her ladyship, +and to make an attempt at reconciliation, +even if it should be repulsed +with the insult I had met with at her +husband's hands. I could not suffer +Sinclair to sink, so long as one effort +might save him. I had heard that, +cold and selfish as Lady Railton was, +love for her child had been a redeeming +point in her character from the +moment of his birth. Feeling surely +was not dead within her! Could I but +gain an interview, would it not be easy +to recall in her heart natural emotions, +which, though deadened, might never +be entirely hushed, and to extract +sympathy from a bosom already inclined +to pity by love? The attempt +was a bold one—but the prize, in the +event of success, was not small; and +surely worth a venture. I took courage, +and was not wholly disappointed.</p> + +<p>His lordship, I had heard upon +inquiry, was generally absent from +home during the forenoon. One +morning, at ten o'clock precisely, I +presented myself at Grosvenor Square, +and sent my card to her ladyship. I +was admitted at once. In an elegantly +furnished boudoir, surrounded +by all the luxuries that money could +furnish, or the pampered sense demand, +I beheld Lady Railton, for the +first time since the marriage of her +son. She sat behind an open screen, +through which she spoke to me, with +her eyes bent to the table on which +her arms rested. She had been writing +at the moment of my announcement; +and though excited by my +presence, her countenance betrayed +more satisfaction than displeasure at +my visit. A visible change had taken +place in her. She was much thinner +than when I saw her last; her eyes +were sunken, and her cheek was very +pale; she was evidently suffering +from the shock which I had occasioned +her, for her thin lips were tightly +pressed together, and quivering at the +corners. I felt deep pity for the slave +of fashion; but gathered courage also +from the pleasing exhibition of sensibility +in one whom God had made a +mother to save her from heartlessness.</p> + +<p>"Shut the door, Mr Wilson," said +Lady Railton in an under tone, "and +pray be seated."</p> + +<p>I complied with her request.</p> + +<p>"You have been somewhat tardy, +methinks, in finding your way hither," +proceeded her ladyship.</p> + +<p>I informed her of my visit to Lord +Railton, and its disagreeable termination. +She had not heard of it.</p> + +<p>"Lord Railton," she continued, +"has requested me to hold no intercourse +with my son, and his lordship's +requests have ever been commands to +me. I have not disobeyed him. But +I have looked for you. I made no +promise to deny admittance to you. +You were his friend. When did you +see him?"</p> + +<p>"Very lately, madam," I answered.</p> + +<p>"He is in great difficulty and +trouble—is he not?"</p> + +<p>I shook my head.</p> + +<p>Kind nature pleaded for poor Rupert. +The mother attempted to speak—once—twice: +her lips trembled: +she could not: a flood of tears saved +her from choking.</p> + +<p>"He is well?" she asked at length.</p> + +<p>"Well," I answered, "but for his +trials—which are severe indeed."</p> + +<p>"What can be done?" inquired +Lady Railton.</p> + +<p>"To bring him peace of mind—to +repair the mischief that has happened—to +secure prudence for the future—to +save him from utter ruin, I know +no remedy save reconciliation with +his parents."</p> + +<p>Lady Railton sighed deeply, and +exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"Impossible!"</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" said I, as if surprised.</p> + +<p>"Lord Railton is inexorable. He +has listened to my appeals unmoved: +he will listen to them no longer. Unhappy Rupert!"</p> + +<p>"Unhappy indeed!" said I.</p> + +<p>"His wife is very fair, they say?"</p> + +<p>"Lovely, madam!"</p> + +<p>"But wilful and extravagant?"</p> + +<p>"Wayward, perhaps, but young. +Oh Lady Railton, do not revenge too +harshly upon a spoiled child of nature +and the world, the sins of the world's +committing. Mrs Sinclair has a warm +and affectionate heart; she is devoted +to her husband. Your ladyship's +friendship and advice would at once +render her all you could hope to find +in the wife of your son. Permit me +to say that the absence of your countenance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +has alone been sufficient to"——</p> + +<p>"Alas! you urge in vain. I dare +not see them!"</p> + +<p>"It is a hard saying, madam," I +rejoined: "may you not live to repent +it!"</p> + +<p>Lady Railton rose from her seat, +came from behind the screen, and +paced her small chamber with perturbation. +She suddenly stopped before +a cabinet—a drawer of which she unlocked, +and produced from it a pocket-book.</p> + +<p>"Take this, Mr Wilson," she said +in a hurried and faltering voice. "I +dare not see him—must not correspond +with him. I am his mother, and I +feel bitterly, most bitterly for him. +But I am Lord Railton's wife, and I +know my duty. He has disgraced us—irreparably, +irrecoverably. You +cannot understand how deep the stain +is which our name has suffered; you +cannot calculate the wrong inflicted +on my husband. Reconciliation is +hopeless!"</p> + +<p>"And this pocket-book, madam?" +I coldly asked.</p> + +<p>"Contains an order on my banker +for three thousand pounds—all that I +have been able to hoard up for my +unhappy boy since he deserted us. +The sum, I know, is trifling, compared +with his exigencies. But what +can I do? His own conduct has +rendered me helpless."</p> + +<p>Poor Lady Railton, to do her +justice, suffered much from the struggle +between maternal feeling and her +mistaken sense of duty. Her eyes filled +with tears again, and she sat before +me sobbing bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Let me entreat your ladyship," +I exclaimed with animation, "to +make one effort for the redemption of +the children whom you may lose for +ever by the stern course you now +adopt. Your influence with Lord +Railton is naturally and deservedly +very great. I cannot bring myself to +believe that he will be insensible to +your appeals, if you will but urge +them with the earnestness and tenderness +which so well become you. I +an satisfied that the difficulties of Mr +Sinclair would cease at once, and his +happiness as well as your own be +secured, if he could find parents and +advisers in those to whom he has a +right to look for advice and aid. +Whatever his extravagance may have +been, whatever his youthful follies, I +do implore your ladyship to bear in +mind, that not he alone is answerable +for them, but they also in part who +deserted him in the hour of his greatest +need. You may save him now—when +I next meet your ladyship, the +time will have passed away."</p> + +<p>"Spare me this anguish," said her +ladyship with assumed calmness. +"I repeat—it is impossible. The +hour may come when it shall be permitted +me to satisfy the promptings +of my heart. Till that hour arrives, +it is but torture to be reminded of my +inability and weakness."</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, Lady Railton—I have +done."</p> + +<p>I was about to rise, when her ladyship +checked me.</p> + +<p>"In that pocket-book, Mr Wilson," +she continued, "you will find a correspondence +respecting the sale of +Sinclair's commission."</p> + +<p>"His commission!" said I with +surprise, for I had not heard of his +desire to sell out before.</p> + +<p>"Yes. He now awaits a purchaser +of his commission to be gazetted out. +I have prevented the sale hitherto. +Assure him—not from me, but from +yourself, that however slender is the +hope now of his father's ultimate forgiveness, +he cuts it off entirely by +that act. Let the commission be +withdrawn at once from the Horse-guards; +the draft that accompanies +the correspondence will make up to +him the sum he loses.</p> + +<p>"Am I to present it as a gift from +your ladyship?"</p> + +<p>"No—yes—as you will; but let him +not write or communicate with me in +any way. I have engaged to hold no +intercourse with him, and I cannot +disobey the injunctions of Lord Railton." +I rose; her ladyship gave me +her hand with an expression of good +will, and then suffered me to depart +without another word.</p> + +<p>Things were really mending. In +Lady Railton we had unquestionably +a friend, time and opportunity serving. +It was of the highest consequence +to be assured of that. With +her upon our side, I had no fear of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +eventual peace and harmony, provided +measures could be taken for present +difficulties; whilst, without her, every +effort would have been purposeless, and +even worse. Nor was this our only +gleam of sunshine. When I returned +to Rupert, the glad messenger of good +tidings, I found that another friend +had been sent by Providence to the +rescue. Amongst the many high-born +and eminent individuals whom the +beauty and genius of Elinor had attracted +to the gay habitation of Rupert +Sinclair, was one who enjoyed, in an +especial degree, the favour of his sovereign, +and who was intimately connected +by ties of blood and friendship +with the commander-in-chief of his +majesty's forces. The Earl of Minden +had little to recommend him beyond +his influence with the court and +the powers that were. He belonged +to an old family, of which he was the +last lineal representative; was master +of unbounded wealth, but was selfish, +grasping, and mean to the last +degree. He had a small body, but +still smaller mind. Generation after +generation, the head of the family to +which he belonged, had held high +office in the state, and had helped to +govern the country without genius for +statesmanship, or the ordinary ability +of their humble business men. Office +came to them as a matter of right, +and custom had induced a people, +slow to interfere with prescription, to +regard the Earls of Minden as divinely +appointed rulers, whom it +would be sacrilege to depose. By +marriage, the Earl of Minden was +connected with the chief families of +England: he had represented his king +and country at the principal courts of +Europe, where his magnificence and +prodigality—for meanness itself may +be lavish—had gained for him, as a +matter of course, inordinate admiration +and regard. Powerful with the +ministry—the owner of four boroughs—the +acknowledged friend, and even +associate of royalty—what commoner +did not feel honoured by his patronage?—what +noble not gratified by his +esteem? Lord Minden had but few of +the weaknesses common to mankind. +Proud and self-sufficient, he acknowledged +no supremacy but that of woman. +The only graceful infirmity of +which his contemporaries could accuse +his lordship, and to which posterity +might point, was the infirmity of the +best and bravest—that of a facile +heart in the affairs of love.</p> + +<p>Lord Minden, charmed by the +bewitching grace of Elinor Sinclair, +had, as it were, gladly resigned himself +to its sweet influence. He was +never happier, after what were deemed +the fatigues of office, than in the brilliant +assembly which she could summon +at her bidding; never so gay as +when listening at her side to the arch +sallies which drew smiles of approval +from lips that seldom cared to relax. +The overbearing peer was content +to play the humblest part in the scene +of which she was the heroine, and to +which she imparted a life and spirit +that were sought in vain elsewhere. +The intervention of Lady Railton had +been already superseded by the generosity +of one far more influential. +The Earl of Minden himself had taken +Rupert under his all-powerful wing. +Not only was the commission restored, +but promises of advancement were +made, and the most flattering assurances +of friendship and regard liberally +offered. Lady Railton's draft, at +her own request, was applied to the +payment of a pressing debt. I contrived +to make her acquainted with +the new and incalculable acquisition +that had been made. The information +had all the effect I could desire; her +ladyship, dazzled by the brilliancy of +the prospect, and eager to make as +much of it as she could, to my great +astonishment sent for me, and actually +opened negotiations for an interview +between herself and her so +recently discarded son. Oh world! +world!</p> + +<p>Before these negotiations, however, +could lead to any satisfactory result, +a new colour was given to the state +of things, by some incidents of a most +disagreeable and painful character. +I was sitting in my room one morning, +conning in my mind the most advisable +means to adopt for the presentation +of Sinclair at the parental abode, +when a modest knock at my door announced +a visitor of humble rank. +My request to "walk in" was timidly +responded to by a very old friend, in +the shape of John Humphrys, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +valet of Sinclair, and the oldest servant +in his establishment. John had nursed +his master on his knee, having +been himself nursed in the house of +Lord Railton's father, whose coachman +had acknowledged John for his +son. John had never been married, +but he loved his master as faithfully +as though he had been his own child, +and had resigned as good a situation +as any in the kingdom to follow the +fortunes of the exile, whatever they +might be. With this unbounded +reverence for Rupert, Humphrys regarded +Rupert's former instructor in +the light of a demigod.</p> + +<p>"Ah, John, is it you?" said I. +"Step in, old friend, and be seated."</p> + +<p>John obeyed awkwardly, twirled +his hat about, coughed and hemmed, +but said nothing.</p> + +<p>"Well, Humphrys, what news?" +I continued, to give him confidence.</p> + +<p>Humphrys shook his head despondingly.</p> + +<p>I grew alarmed. "Any thing +amiss?" I exclaimed. "Mr Sinclair +ill, or"——</p> + +<p>"All well—in health, sir," stammered +John—"all well there. I—I +am going, sir."</p> + +<p>"Going!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," said Humphrys in a +whisper, and getting up to close the +door. "My heart's broke."</p> + +<p>"Don't desert your master now, +John," said I encouragingly. "You +have weathered the storm hitherto. +Things are mending. Take my word +for it, we shall be in smooth water +presently."</p> + +<p>Humphrys shook his head again.</p> + +<p>"Never, sir!" said he with emphasis, +"as sure as my name's John."</p> + +<p>"Explain yourself, Humphrys. +What is it you have learned?"</p> + +<p>"Too much, sir. I can bear it no +longer. It is the common talk of the +servants! I would have stayed with +him for a crust till death, but I cannot +hear him so spoken of."</p> + +<p>"You frighten me. Go on."</p> + +<p>"I ask your forgiveness, Mr Wilson," +proceeded Humphrys, mumbling +on, "but there are strange things +said, and I didn't believe them at first,—and +I was ready to knock the man +down that hinted them to me—and I +would have done it,—but I have seen, +sir—with my own eyes—I wish I +had been blind!" suddenly and passionately +exclaimed the good fellow, +his eyes overflowing with honest tears.</p> + +<p>"Man, man!" said I hastily and +vexed. "You talk in riddles. What +is it you drive at?"</p> + +<p>"Can't you guess, sir?" he answered +meaningly.</p> + +<p>"Guess?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir,—Mrs Sinclair!"</p> + +<p>"Mrs Sinclair?"</p> + +<p>"And Lord Minden."</p> + +<p>"Lord Minden! For God sake"—</p> + +<p>"Hush, sir!" said John, putting +his finger to his lips. "I wouldn't +have any body overhear us for the +world. But it's true, it's true, as I am +a living man."</p> + +<p>"It is a lie!" I cried—"an infamous +and slanderous lie! Some tale of a +discharged and disappointed servant—a +base conspiracy to destroy a good +man's character. For shame, John +Humphrys—for shame!"</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder at you, sir," continued +Humphrys. "They were my +own words; and, until I was satisfied +with my own eyes of the truth of +what I had heard, I wouldn't have +believed an angel from heaven. God +knows, Mr Wilson, it is too true. We +have lived to see terrible things, +sir."</p> + +<p>I entreated Humphrys to be still +more explicit, and he was so. His +communication went to show that the +interference of Lord Minden in the +affairs of his master was far from being +disinterested, and that the price to be +exacted for the preferment was much +too great to make preferment or even +life desirable to Rupert Sinclair. If +I was horrorstruck at this announcement, +how shall I describe my feelings +when he further stated, with a serious +and touching earnestness, that, as he +hoped for salvation hereafter, he +firmly believed that Rupert Sinclair +was a party to his own dishonour. I +was about to strike the fellow to the +earth for his audacity; but I reflected +for a moment, and was relieved of a +load of oppression. I could have +laughed outright, so overjoyed did I +at once become, with the sudden upsetting +of this tremendous fabrication. +Sinclair a party to his own dishonour! +Any thing short of that might have +found me credulous. That accusation +would have destroyed the unimpeached<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +evidence of saints. I recovered +myself and spoke.</p> + +<p>"You are an honest man, John +Humphrys," said I, "a good servant, +and faithful, I believe. But go your +ways, and let not the wicked impose +upon you more. Your tale is too +good by half. Tell your informants, +that, if they look for success, they +must be less ambitious: if they desire +to bring conviction to their listeners, +they must not prove so much. +And beware"—I proceeded in a more +serious tone—"how you give currency +to the slander you have brought +to me. You love your master. Show +your fidelity by treating this calumny +with the scorn it merits."</p> + +<p>"Sir," answered Humphrys, "if I +were to be called from this world to-night, +I could not retract the words +I have spoken. I have not hinted to +another what, alas! I know to be true. +You may be sure I have no desire to +circulate Mr Sinclair's infamy. I +shall leave his service, for with him I +can no longer live,—and you will soon +learn whether or not I have uttered +the truth. Oh dear! oh dear!" he +added, with a sigh of despair,—"what +will the world say?"</p> + +<p>I dismissed John Humphrys, and +turned to my own affairs. It was +neither prudent nor becoming to listen +further to the revelations of such a +person; I would not even permit him +to explain to me how he had arrived +at the convictions which no doubt he +honestly entertained. It was sufficient +to hear the charges he brought +against poor Rupert, to be convinced +that the man was grossly deceived; +that he had been cruelly imposed upon +by vicious and vindictive men. But, +could I be otherwise than deeply aggrieved +by the rumour which had +arisen, and which was not likely to +lose on the lips of those who would be +too eager to give it currency? It was +a new and unexpected element in the +complicated misfortunes of Lord Railton's +house. <i>Unexpected?</i> What, +Walter Wilson, and had not suspicions +crossed your mind before, of the probability +of such slander? Had you +not many times angrily repulsed intruding +thoughts that savoured of uncharitableness +towards the volatile +and beauteous wife? Had not prejudice +before her marriage rendered you +cruel; and experience since—did it not +tend, if not to foster cruelty, to sustain +alarm? <i>But Rupert a party to his +own dishonour!</i> Monstrous! Ridiculous! +Absurd!</p> + +<p>Either the perseverance of Lady +Railton, or the magic power of Lord +Minden's name, had achieved a miracle. +The stony and stubborn heart of Lord +Railton was mollified. True, he hesitated +to forgive his son; true, he +would not see him; but he graciously +submitted to be spoken to on his son's +affairs, and even went so far as to admit +me to an audience, in order that +I might explain, as well as I knew +them, the difficulties under which Mr +Rupert Sinclair at present laboured. +The doors of Lord Railton's house +opened wide on the auspicious morning. +The sun shone brilliantly in +Grosvenor Square. The porter was a +living smile from head to foot. The +under butler all blandness and honied +words. He rubbed his hands when +he received me, bowed patronisingly +and preceded me to his lordship's +study with the air of one who knew +which way the wind was, and that it +was blowing pleasantly. There was a +frozen air about the house when I had +visited his lordship before—now it was +summer-like and warm. Then every +thing seemed bound with iron clasps,—men's +mouths, and hearts, and +minds; and even doors and windows. +Now, every thing looked free and open, +pleasant, hospitable, inviting. Could +it be that I had changed,—or was it +only that Lord Railton's note was +different, and that the universal heart +of that great house had pitched itself +to the prevailing key?</p> + +<p>No word of apology was offered for +former rudeness. His lordship, as +before, presented me with his finger, +and then proceeded to our business. +He had heard, he said, of Lord Minden's +kind interference on behalf of +his son, who was indeed most unworthy +of his lordship's favourable notice; +nay, he had been spoken to by Lord +Minden himself, and desirous as he +was at all times to comply with the +wishes of any member of His Majesty's +government, he could not but feel, +that when their wishes pointed to the +advancement of his own flesh and +blood, there was additional reason for +listening, to all they had to urge. For<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +his part, if Lord Minden should feel +justified in extending his patronage to +Mr Sinclair, he, Lord Railton, on his +side, should deem it a matter of grave +consideration, whether it would not be +advisable to extricate the object of +Lord Minden's favor from the liabilities +which he had thoughtlessly incurred. +Not that Mr Sinclair must look +for pardon—or reconciliation—yet; +that is to say, until Lord Minden +should be satisfied that his protégé +had deserved the gracious favour of +His Majesty, and had shown himself +worthy of the condescension, &c. &c. +&c.</p> + +<p>The upshot of the long harangue was, +that as soon as Lord Minden should aid +in promoting Sinclair, Lord Railton +would be ready to pay his debts—and +to receive terms for peace, provided +the patronage of the commander-in-chief +continued to rest upon the fortunate +scapegrace, and His Majesty +thought him still a fit object for the +exercise of his royal favour. Translated +into honest English, Lord Railton's +proposition was neither more nor +less than this,—"I will forgive my +son, as soon as circumstances render +my forgiveness not worth a button +to him. I will withhold it so long as +it is necessary to save him from ruin, +and to restore him to tranquillity." +A right worldly proposition too!</p> + +<p>Lord Railton requested, as a preliminary +step, to be informed of the +exact state of his son's affairs; and I, +as mediator, undertook to lay it before +his lordship. I quitted the mansion +in Grosvenor Square to procure at +once the necessary documents from +Sinclair. Approaching the house of +the latter, I perceived standing before +the door two horses and a groom. I +advanced, knocked, and was informed +that groom and horses were the +property of the Earl of Minden, +who was then with Mrs Sinclair, and +that Mr Sinclair himself was from +home. I had no right to feel uncomfortable +at this announcement, yet +uncomfortable I was, in spite of myself. +"When does Mr Sinclair return?" +I asked.</p> + +<p>The two lackeys who listened to +my question exchanged an almost +imperceptible smile, and replied, that +"they could not tell." That smile +passed like a dagger to my heart.</p> + +<p>I hesitated for a moment—left my +card—and then withdrew.</p> + +<p>I had not proceeded to the corner +of the street before I turned round +instinctively, and without a thought. +To my joy I perceived Rupert making +his way from the other extremity of +the street to his own door. I moved +to meet him. He came nearer and +nearer—approached within sight of +the horses and groom—and then +turned back. What did it mean? +Why did he not go home? I grew +giddy with coming apprehensions. +Whilst I stood motionless on the path, +I felt a touch upon my shoulder. I +perceived John Humphrys.</p> + +<p>"Here, sir," said the man, "you +have seen with your own eyes what I +have seen every day for the last +month. As soon as Lord Minden arrives, +Mr Sinclair goes out, and never +returns until he takes his departure. +If he should by chance return whilst +his lordship's horse is standing there, +he walks away, and does not think +of coming back until"——</p> + +<p>"It is a lie! a dream!" I exclaimed, +almost bewildered. "It cannot be!"</p> + +<p>"I wish to say nothing, sir," proceeded +Humphrys. "You have seen, +you have seen!"</p> + +<p>"I have! I have!" I cried, coming +to myself. "I wash my hands of +him and his. Father of Heaven! can +such wickedness exist—and in <i>him</i>, in +<i>him</i>? But I have done with him for +ever!"</p> + +<p>And so saying, I fled maniac-like +from the accursed spot, and vowed in +my excitement and indignation to return +no more. I kept my word.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> +<h2>MORE ROGUES IN OUTLINE.</h2> + +<p><br /></p> +<h3><span class="smcap">The Sick Antiquary.</span></h3> + +<div class="cpoem3"> +<span class="i0">"Aspettar e non venire,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Star in letto e non dormire.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Son' due cose da morire."<br /></span> +<br /> + +<span class="i2"><i>Italian Proverb.</i><br /></span> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Three</span> years are passed since we +last visited Herr Ascherson, and we +once more find ourselves, with considerably +improved tact and knowledge, +both as to virtuosi and virtu, +ringing at the well-known bell! On +the door being unbarred to us, we are +sorry to hear that he is now a great +invalid, and confined to bed. "I +hope we don't disturb you, Mr Ascherson," +said we, as a half-witted slattern +of fifty opened the door of +the sick man's room, and discovered +to us something alarmingly +like Cheops redivivus, reclining on a +Codrus-looking couch, which was too +short to receive his whole body save +diagonally, in which position he accordingly +lay. Upon hearing these +words, the much-swathed object suddenly +draws itself up in bed; and +after looking keenly to make us out +in the dusk, (as if he suspected a visit +of cajoling rather than condolence.) his +eye lost its anxious look, and his features +gradually expanded, when he saw +at a glance that we were come, not to +cheat, but to cheer him. The first +words he uttered were—"<i>Ja, ja</i>; dat +is mein nobil freund the Doctor;" and +then, falling back, he resigned himself +to his pains, like a man who has been +long trained to suffer. We ask after +his health. The poor invalid shakes +his head, and tells us, groaning, that +he was "sehr krank, very ill indeed; +had much dolors but no slipp;" apologising +also for having sent for some +10 pi. which we owed him, and which +"it was need," so he told us, "to pay +his medicine mit." Really concerned +to see one whom we had so recently +known under worldly circumstances +so unlike the present, so suffering, +so poor, and so solitary, we told him +that we had been intending to call on +him that very day for that very +purpose—observing, by way of consoling +his feelings, that it was not to +be expected "that a man who had +laid out so much money of the <i>present</i> +currency to procure fine specimens +of one that was out of date, +could be quite so well off in ready +cash as those whose money was all +in hard coin at their bankers. "<i>Ja, +ja</i>," it was even so; and then, his +pains remitting for a moment, he proceeded +to explain, for our satisfaction, +how he had become so short of the +needful supplies. "Tis three monate +seyne mein freund Vinhler went to +Paris—(an honest and heart-good +man, Mr Vinhler)—to whom this +commission I consign:—'See you give +a careful <i>eye-blink</i> to this 9000 ducats, +which you must take mit you to +Paris. There in the house of Furet +you shall <i>become</i> some moneys, which +you shall send to me directly; and +mit these ducats you shall also pay +their consignment.' Well, it was a +simple <i>direct</i>, als any childer might +do. So Vinhler takes my money, +gets to Paris, calls and <i>pays</i> Mr Furet, +and writes that he will be back in +<i>Neapoli</i> in a week. So I stay! Drei +monate I stay, and no Mr Vinhler +come! Then lastly, when I hav begin +to <i>scold myself</i>, two days seyne, +comes <i>eine briefe</i>, and says, 'I hav been +stopt here for three weeks by what I +then foresaw not when I did write you +lastly. I am promised to marry Herr +Furet's daughter, and we mak the +marriage in eine monate. I am sorry +for the delay about your monete, but +shall bring them mit Mrs Vinhler and +myself to Neapoli, when we arrive!" +So, while he is happy mit his Julia in +Paris, I cannot <i>become</i> my Julias +that I hav bought; and I hav lost +much by this man's delay. Ah! (continued +he,) <i>whenever</i> he had felt mein +dolors," (the poor man had now +wrought himself up into a painful excitement,) +"my no slipp, this <i>unendlich</i> +irritation, this torment to pay the +Doctor, for no gute—my loss of practice, +my loss of friends, my physique<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +so bad, <i>mein eine samkeit</i> so dull—he +should surely have sent me that <i>cassetta</i> +of coins to make me a little more +gay." Being obliged to quit Naples +suddenly, we left him in the midst of +his pains, which had been wholly unrelieved +by our medication; fretting +more and more daily at the non-arrival +of his friend; with nobody to +<i>visit</i> him but the needy Leech, who, +having asked himself—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"And will my patient <i>pay</i>?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And <i>can</i> he swallow draughts until his dying day?"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>thinks no further <i>self</i>-interrogatory +needful; with none to <i>inquire</i> after +him, save only the peasants, whose +findings he is too ill to look at, and +too poor to purchase; and Death's +grim <i>auctioneer, who undertakes</i> for the +district; and who, when he has made +the daily inquiry at his door, not to +lose further time, begins to ply his +small hammer, and is tap-tap-tapping +away for somebody else, till <i>wanted</i>. +Oh! who would change places with +a sick antiquary, whose <i>conscience</i>, +though he sleeps, is awake to torment +him, and whose dreams, if he +dream, are of rifled tombs, profaned +temples, Charon and his boat!</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Nocte, brevem si forte indulsit cura soporem,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et toto versato toro, jam membra quiescunt,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Continuo <i>templum et violati numinis aras</i>,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Et quod præcipuis mentem sudoribus urget,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Se <i>vidit</i> in somnis!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p><br /></p> +<h3><span class="smcap">Old Ignazio.</span></h3> + +<div class="cpoem4"> +<span class="i0">"Oh dear! what can the matter be?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh dear! what shall I do?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nobody coming to Jockey, and<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nobody coming to <i>Jew</i>!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>What quondam collector at Rome +but must recollect that snuffy and +gruffy old fellow, Ignazio Vesconali, +who lives at the bottom of <i>Scalirata</i>, +and has grown old with the Piazza +itself! Go down at any hour of the +day, and there he was sure to be, +either blinking away through his blue +goggle glasses, with his cap on, at his +door, or at a little shabby table fumbling +over curiosities; or creeping +over to the coffee-house opposite, to +toddle back again, with his cotton +pocket-handkerchief, his snuff-box, +and his key in hand, to re-arrange his +treasures, and utter lamentations that +nobody any longer comes to buy. +On such occasions we have sometimes +entered; and after a "<i>buon giorno</i>," +and a remark on the weather, (which, +if you abused it, however injuriously, +always secured you his assent; for +he quarrels now even with the calendar,) +he expected you to <i>hope</i> he had +sold something lately, to afford him +an opportunity to say, "<i>Ma ché, ma +niente</i>;" and then you had to sit and +listen while he told you all his grievances—how +once "a dozen English +noblemen had stood <i>all of a row there</i>," +and he showed you where, in his shop, +fighting for his wares, and buying +them almost quicker than he could +register the purchases they made; +and how sometimes he could sell 500 +scudi worth of property before breakfast, +and get an appetite by doing so! +No! there was not a man of note in +England, that had not some day or +other been <i>booked</i> by him. All <i>their</i> +kindness, no doubt—and then they +came not to tease poor Ignazio, +but to buy of him. Now a different +set of customers dropt in one +by one to look at his gems, and to +find nothing good enough for them; +some tumbling over his antiques, and +offering a scudo for his best onyxes; +"<i>uno scudo, Santissima Maria Virgine!</i>" +others adventuring a whole +paul! a price for his best Consular +coins!—<i>ah! gli avari!</i> The earth too, +once so bountiful, was now as avaricious +of parting with her treasures as +the English themselves. The fields had +ceased to yield their former supplies; +and the peasants about Rome would +scarce stoop to picking up rubbish, +for which, however, they always +wanted Ignazio's money. "Ah, poor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +old man!—<i>che vecchio?</i> old man forsooth! +say rather an old dotard, who +is unfit to buy, to bargain, or to +live!" And then he would ventriloquize +once more to himself. "Ah, +poor Ignazio! ah, poor old man! your +day is indeed gone by." Such appeals +were irresistible. So, whenever we +had a few scudi to spare, (and it was +not quite discreet to go into his shop +without,) we used to beg to see some +of his boxes of engraved stones; and +having pored for a time over wares +that had been examined by the most +cunning eyes in Rome, would find +one of better workmanship, and stop +to inquire its price. "<i>Quanto</i>, Signor +Ignazio?" and while Signor Ignazio +was recollecting himself, we glanced +on from one to the other, (the great +rule in bargaining being never to appear +to know what you are bargaining +for!) "<i>Per cinque scudi vi lo do.</i>" +Viewed thus in the light of a donation, +we would think it too high, and +tell him so. "Take it for four, then—<i>pigliate +lo per quattro</i>;" and at this +fresh concession he would grunt a +little, like a tame seal in a water-tub! +Still we would hesitate, and dare to +offer two. "For every body else, he +had said <i>impossible</i>,—for us we were +<i>padronissimi</i> to take it, as the old +man's gift, on our own terms." So +we would put it up, and then, elated +at our <i>bargain</i>, and at his respect for +us, we would remove another "<i>intaglio</i>" +from the box; and this time, +naming our own price, say with perfect +nonchalance, "<i>due scudi</i>." The +old fellow would then fumble it up +in his snuffy old gloves, and bring it +near his snuffy old nose; and having +wiped his snuffy old magnifier, would +bend his blue goggle glasses over it—and +having <i>screamed</i>—"<i>Che! due +scudi?</i> what do you mean by two scudi? +A stone of this beauty! a living head +of Medusa—a front face, too—for two +scudi! The serpents in the hair were +worth more money—one-half of such +a head, were the stone in <i>two</i>, would +be worth more money." And then +would come in the antistrophe as before—"<i>Ah, +povero Ignazio! povero +vecchio!</i>"—and we would be shocked, +and declare with compunction that we +had no intention to cheat him; and +he, already "<i>persuasissimo</i> of that," +would beg us to say no more, but to +put it into our pocket for <i>three</i>. After +these preliminaries were settled and +paid for, we would be contented to +hear him once more recount the tale +of his younger days, when he had the +antiquity business all to himself; when +he married his first wife; had dealings +with Demidoff; and knew all +that were worth knowing in Rome—both +buyers and sellers. "Old age, +Signor, is preparing me fast to give +up both my business and my life! +Buy, buy, now's your time, <i>eccomi</i>! +an old man who wants to sell off +every thing! name your prices! Don't +be afraid, you may offer me any thing +<i>now</i>." "Three scudi?" "Impossible I +should let you have it for that. It cost +me five; but never mind! there's the +mask at three scudi. Take it! Any +thing else?" "This intaglio?" "You +are a capital judge, or you would not +have thus picked out my <i>best</i> intaglio—will +no colonnati suit?" "No." +"Will you be pleased if I prove my +friendship for you by sacrificing it at +fifteen?" No! "There, take it as our +third gift for twelve; but, oh that I +should have lived to sell it for that, +<i>even to you</i>! But you will come and +see me again; I know you will, <i>Dottore +mio!</i> And sure you might contrive +to spend a few more <i>fees</i> with +me than you do, and be all the richer +for it into the bargain—what fine opportunities +<i>you</i> must have of selling +things to your patients, especially to +the <i>donne</i>! I wish I was a doctor, +that I might carry on my business for +a year or two longer!"</p> + +<p><br /></p> +<h3><span class="smcap">Signor Dedomenicis.</span></h3> + +<p>"I have a hundred questions to ask," +said we, turning into Dedomenicis' +curiosity-shop, and casting a furtive +glance behind his old armour and +arras hangings, to see that there was +no other confidant to whom we might +be betraying our ignorance. "<i>Dunque</i>—well +then, one at a time; <i>è +s'accommodi</i>—make yourself at +home," said the old dealer, pushing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +us a chair, and looking humanely +communicative, as he adjusted to his +temples a huge pair of spectacles, and +stood at our side ready to be interrogated.</p> + +<p>An old dealer, like a young beauty, +when you are together, expects something +flattering to be said about his +eyes, so "we wished ours were as +good as his." He said, "they were +younger." "But what was the use of +young eyes, or of any eyes," said we, +disparaging our own, "that could not +make out the wholesomeness of a coin, +nor distinguish the patina of antiquity +from vulgar verdigris?"</p> + +<p>Dedomenicis' <i>cough</i> convinced us +that this sentiment of ours was not +very far from what he himself believed +to be the truth, only he was too polite +to <i>say</i> so.</p> + +<p>"There!" said we, "look at these +bronze bargains of ours, these two +<i>counterfeit</i> coins, which have not been +a week in our possession, and which +C—— has already declared to be +false! Oh! would <i>you</i> not have +deemed it a happier lot to put up with +a blameless blindness, and all its evils, +rather than, having eyes in your head, +to have disgraced them by such a +purchase?" Dedomenicis glances one +glance at the false Emperors, and then +passes a sentence which banishes them +for ever from the society of the Cæsars; +while he <i>wonders</i> how we could have +hoped to buy a real Piscennius and a +Pertinax in the same adventure, and +both so well preserved too?</p> + +<p>"Were we ignorant of the prices +usually set upon the heads of all those +emperors who had enjoyed but a few +weeks' reign?" Did not every body, +for instance, know that the African +Gordians, both father and son, were, +in <i>bronze</i>, worth their weight in gold? +that a Vitellius in bronze was cheap +at six pounds? and that he might be +considered fortunate indeed who could +convert his spare ten-pound notes +into as many Pertinax penny-pieces, +or come into the possession of a half-penny +or a second module, as it is +called, of Pescennius Niger, at the +same price? Did not every body +know that Domitia was coy at £20, +and stood out for £25? That Matidia, +Mariana, and Plotina smiled upon +none who would not give £40 to possess +them, and that Annia Faustina +was become a priceless piece? Had +we been so long returned to Rome +and not yet heard of the Matidia now +in the keeping of our gallant countryman, +General A——, who was +jealous (at least so B—— had told +him) of showing her even to his best +friends, lest she should prove too much +for their virtue to withstand, and +slept with her, and could not snore +securely unless she was by his side? +Well, he had paid £40 for her at +Thomas's sale in London, and Rollin, +on seeing her in Paris, would have +gladly detained her there for £50, but +the general was not to be bribed; +"so you see, <i>dottore mio</i>, it costs a +good deal to collect coins even in the +baser metal." "So it would appear, +indeed, Dedomenicis; and the next +time a Pertinax in bronze turns up, +we will most <i>pertinaciously</i> refuse to +bid for him; or if another Pescennius +should ever again cross our path, we +will mutter 'Hic <i>Niger</i> est,' and remember +to have nothing to do with +him."</p> + +<p>"And I think," said the old fellow, +slily taking off his spectacles, and +placing them on the table,—"I think +you will not lose much if you adhere +to your present intention."</p> + +<p>"And yet it is annoying not to +know the difference between the works +of those <i>Paduan</i> brothers, of a recent +century, and such as really belong to +the old Roman mint;" saying which +we began to study them afresh, as a +policeman would do to a rogue, whom +he expected to meet again. "Is this +knowledge, dear Dedomenicis, to be +acquired 'per càrita?' let us not waste +our time, if it be not." "<i>Lei lo sapra!</i> +it will come in good time. <i>Pazienza!</i> +be patient! you know our proverb—'time +and straw ripen medlars,' and +your judgment will mature in time, +<i>just as the medlars do</i>."</p> + +<p>Crude as an unripe medlar though +our judgment certainly then <i>was</i>, still +the prospect of its <i>mellowing into unsoundness +at last</i> was by no means +consolatory; and so we told him, +pocketing our false coins, and going +home to consult the memorandum of +their price,—here it is! <i>Eccola!</i> as it +was most ingeniously registered by us +at the time—"Nov. 7, 1840—Bought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +to-day of a peasant on his way from +Ricci to Rome, two <i>beautiful coins</i>, a +Pertinax and a Pescennius Niger, in +<i>perfect preservation</i>! only paid £5 for +the two!! the <i>simple</i> contadino, who +can't read the epigraphes, asks whether +they are not Nero's!!"<a name="FNanchor_54_54" id="FNanchor_54_54"></a><a href="#Footnote_54_54" class="fnanchor">[54]</a></p> + +<p>A ring at the bell, and our courier +has announced Signor Dedomenicis. +"By all means, show him in then,"—for +he had come, a year later, to see +coins we had picked up during our +summer trip to Sicily. "There," said +we gaily, and to put him in a good +humour at once, (for the remark +showed we had made ourselves master +of his physiognomy),—"there, Dedomenicis, +is a Ptolemy Evergetes, +who was, to judge by his coins, your +very prototype—it is your nose—your +chin—your"——</p> + +<p>"Suppose you make it mine altogether +then," said he slily; but we +"prized it too much, on this very +account, to part with it!" After +which we go to the nearest cabinet in +the room—unlock the door, take out +drawer No. 1, marked Sicilian, and +<i>rare</i>; and in the pride of our young +beginnings, and little knowing what +we were to bring upon ourselves in +so doing,—</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"Midst hopes, and fears that kindle hopes.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A pleasing anxious throng;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And shrewd suspicions often lull'd,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But now returning strong,"—<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>we hand over the tray to Dedomenicis, +whose running commentary, as soon +as he had brought it into the field of +his spectacles, was really appalling; +and he plied it as destructively as a Sikh +battery, or a Perkins's steam gun.</p> + +<p>Prepared to see him take out the +first coin in the row, to subject it to +his magnifier, to turn it round, now +on this side, now on that, and then +to pause, ere he could decide upon it, +little could we have supposed that in +a second his battery was to commence +fire; and that in less than a minute, +he would have passed a summary sentence +upon every coin of the lot.</p> + +<p>"<i>One—two—three.</i>"—Thus it began; +"<i>roba commune</i>—common as +blackberries; (four, five, six,) <i>niente +di buono</i>—good for what you can get +for them; (seven, eight, nine,) <i>Idem</i>; +(ten, eleven, twelve,) <i>Idem</i>; thirteen, +<i>not</i> of Messina, as it pretended to be; +and here had sold us a <i>Neapolitan cat</i> +in place of a <i>Sicilian hare</i>!" "<i>Come!</i> +a cat?" (for we called to mind what +each of puss's <i>nine</i> lives had cost us, +and determined to die game for it), +"<i>that</i> coin a <i>counterfeit</i>?" "Sī—Sīg-nō-rĕ!" +in that sort of sing-song +gamut twang in which one Roman +answers another's incredulity—"<i>anzi +falsīssimo</i>," with a most provoking +lengthening out of the second syllable +of that most provoking superlative; +he knew all about its fabrication; the +<i>gentleman</i> who made these coins was +an acquaintance—not a <i>friend</i> of his; +the original coin being in request, and +somewhat expensive, he had contrived +to get up a new issue of the Messina +Hare,<a name="FNanchor_55_55" id="FNanchor_55_55"></a><a href="#Footnote_55_55" class="fnanchor">[55]</a> which was much in vogue, +and seemed, like Gay's Hare, to court +an extensive acquaintance, and many +friends. "That <i>Himera</i><a name="FNanchor_56_56" id="FNanchor_56_56"></a><a href="#Footnote_56_56" class="fnanchor">[56]</a> hen is of a brood +that never lays golden eggs, and the +sooner you can get rid of her the better. +Time was when such poultry fetched +its price; now, thanks to the prolific +process of our modern hatchings, we +see her as often in the market as widgeon, +snipe, or plovers. <i>That's</i> a fine +lion; 'tis a pity you've no lioness to +match him; but one such real <i>Rhegium +leone</i> is worth a host of counterfeits,—'<i>unus, +sane, at Leo</i>'. As to your +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +Ptolemies' eagles here, at least they +are well preserved, and that always +should give a coin some claim to a +place in a <i>beginner's</i> collection; though +to us dealers, who see many of them, +these eagles at last become somewhat +uninteresting and vulgar birds. What +a collection is here of Hieros<a name="FNanchor_57_57" id="FNanchor_57_57"></a><a href="#Footnote_57_57" class="fnanchor">[57]</a> on +horseback, all in good plight too! +Well, I might have bought <i>in</i> or <i>out</i> of +these ranks myself; but <i>I</i> should not, +I think, like you, have purchased the +whole troop—of course you paid but +little for them." "Yes," said we +timidly, "not overmuch, not more +than they were worth perhaps, six +pauls a-piece," and we coughed nervously, +and expected him to speak encouragingly; +but he said nothing, and +proceeded with his scrutiny of our box. +"<i>Per Bacco!</i> What a quantity of cuttlefish! +Methinks Syracuse has rather +overdone you with her <i>Lobigo</i>, but +<i>that</i> at least is genuine, for 'tis too +cheap to make money of by imitation. +This of <i>Naxos</i> will do. <i>This</i> of Tarentum, +<i>va bene!</i> this of <i>Locri, corresponde</i>." +A faint "bravo!" escapes +him on taking up an Athenian Tetradrachm, +with the <i>Archer's</i> name on +the field; but he takes no note, has +no "winged words" to throw away +upon our winged horses, though every +nag of them, we know, came from +Corinth or from Argos.</p> + +<p>The bearded corn of Metapontus, +with Ceres or Mars on the reverse: +Arion on his dolphin—that beautiful, +most beautiful of coins—were, together +with sundry others, all too +common for his antiquarian eye to +take pleasure in; he sought something +less frequently presented to it, and at +last he found it in a Croton coin with +a rare reverse, which, "would we +sell him, he would take at twenty +dollars, and pay us in <i>living</i> silver." +A bow told him we were not disposed +to part with it. And now he comes +to what we consider to be our finest +piece,—our Lipari bronze! And on it +is a fat <i>dolphin</i> sporting on a <i>green</i> +sea. Dedomenicis' manner is vastly +discouraging, and we are prepared for +new disappointment, yet we could +have sworn that <i>that</i> coin was genuine. +But if false, as he believes it to be, +why then not have done with it? why +put it down to take it up <i>again</i>? why +ask whether <i>we</i> don't repute it false, +when he knows we know nothing of +the matter? And why <i>mouse</i> it so +closely under his keen eye, and look +round the rim of it, and examine the +face of it, and appear as if he would +penetrate into its very soul,<a name="FNanchor_58_58" id="FNanchor_58_58"></a><a href="#Footnote_58_58" class="fnanchor">[58]</a> and get +at its history? Oh! 'tis all right, then; +if "he may be mistaken," doubtless +he <i>is</i> so: and this is confirmed by his +now proposing—thinking an exchange +no robbery, of course—to exchange +it for us. Ingenuous man! who hadst +twice invoked the saints and the +Madonna in our behalf when thou +heardest the price we paid for our +unlucky Hare; and when thou knewest +how C—— had beguiled us into +taking, and paying for a <i>Roman</i>, the +price of an <i>Etruscan</i> "As;" and now +thou wouldst have robbed us of our +best coin, have deprived us of the +very <i>Delphin classic</i> of our collection; +it won't do! Our Messenian hare is +welcome, but, old æruscator, we cannot +let you swim away on our dolphin; +and we rise to <i>replace him</i> in our +<i>monetaro</i> accordingly.</p> + +<p>A third interview with Dedomenicis +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +is recorded in our entry-book of +such matters.—"Here are the coins, +Signor, which you gave me to clean +last week: they are ten in number, +for which you owe me as many +pauls.—<i>Eccole!</i>" "Ah," said we, +"you have not made much of them, +I fear." "Look and see," was the +laconic reply. By which time we +had taken up the first, and were +pleased to find that an Augustus, +whose lineaments we could hardly +recognise, when we gave him to Dedomenicis +to <i>scale</i>, had come back to +us perfectly restored. "Why, Dedomenicis," +said we, "this is a restitution +better than Trajan's, of this very +Emperor's coinage; for that, after all, +was but the <i>imitation</i> of an old mint; +but yours the <i>restoration</i> of the old +one itself. Henceforth I prefer <i>Dedomenicis' +restituit</i> to <i>Trajan's restituit</i>." +"Well, then, when you have looked +over the others, you will, I dare say, +pay these and them at the same rate, +as if they had been the issues of that +Emperor."<a name="FNanchor_59_59" id="FNanchor_59_59"></a><a href="#Footnote_59_59" class="fnanchor">[59]</a> We were indeed surprised +at what we saw, so much had +all our coins gained by the process to +which Dedomenicis had subjected +them. The second we took up represented +the <i>Ostian harbour</i>, (Portus +Ostiensis.) We had given it to him +with a <i>foul bottom</i>—it was restored to +us with its basin cleared out, and +with all its shipping, just as it used to +look in the days of Nero; in another, +the whole arena of the Colosseum had +been disencumbered; in another, +Antonine's column shone bright from +top to bottom; here we saw <i>Honos et +Virtus</i> (honour and military prowess) +again taking the field; here the scales +of Justice once more appeared, and +librated freely in her hand; here +Hope resumed her green trefoil; Pudicity +<i>un</i>veils her face; and there sat +Fecundity on a curule seat, with all +her family about her; lastly, there +were those three scandalous sisters of +Caligula—the Misses <i>Money</i> (Moneta,)<a name="FNanchor_60_60" id="FNanchor_60_60"></a><a href="#Footnote_60_60" class="fnanchor">[60]</a>—standing +together with their +arms intertwined, and their names at +their backs. All these ten restitutions +cost only ten pauls! "And how did +you manage to clean then so well, +Dedomenicis?" "<i>Col tempo ed il +temperino</i>,"—with time and a penknife: +"<i>Ma ci vuo il genio</i>,"—you +must have a talent for it.</p> + +<p><br /></p> +<h3><span class="smcap">Scaling a Coin.</span></h3> + +<p>"<i>Ci vuo il genio</i>,"—he was right; +and think you 'tis so easy or simple +a thing to clean a coin? to unmask +an empress, pertinacious in +her disguise, or to <i>scrape</i> acquaintance +with emperors? Try it;—not +that you will succeed; but that +the difficulties which you are thus +made to encounter in the attempt, +will dispose you the more readily to +do justice to the skill of those who +succeed in this delicate process, which, +like the finer operations of surgery, +requires at once precision and address, +great nicety in the handling of your +instrument; while the importance attached +to the operation itself makes +the successful performance of it not a +little desirable. The penknife, guided +by a <i>dexterous</i> hand, may light upon +a discovery that has been buried for +ages; and a pin's point may make +revelations sufficient to adjust some +obscure point in history. Who knows +what face may now lie hid (<i>facies +dicatur an ulcus?</i>) under some obscure +coating of paste? What an it be a +Vitellius; what if a Pertinax should +reveal himself? or suppose, when you +have removed the foul <i>larvæ</i>, you <i>undermine</i> +a Matidia! a Plotina!! an +Annia Faustina!!! and your fortune +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +is made! 'Tis a lottery, we admit. +But the very principle of the excitement—the +charm is, that you know +not what <i>may</i> turn up; for a less +chance, you may possibly have +bought a "Terno" in a Frankfort +lottery, the chance of an estate on the +Moselle! But there are small prizes +to be picked up occasionally—and +here's a case in point:—"I was one +day sauntering," said our friend +C——, "by the tomb of Cecilia +Metella, when a peasant came up with +a handful of very dirty-looking coins, +so firmly encrusted with mortar, that +it seemed absurd to attempt its removal. +Having nothing particular +to do, and liking the wild quiet of the +spot, I gave some 'baiocchi' to the +man; and taking my seat on a bit of +the old aqueduct, I opened my penknife, +and began to scrape away. At +first I saw the <i>trace</i> of a letter; and +digging round it, I at length disinterred +a large M——a Roman M! It +was probably Maximin, or his son +Maximus, that I then had under my +thumb; but it <i>might</i> be a Marinus, +in which case it was a valuable coin; +so I wrought on with renewed vigour, +and presently an <i>L</i> was in the <i>field</i>. +A better prospect this than the last; +for if it turned out to be an Æmilianus, +I should have made a good morning's +work of it—and it was so! Little by +little, line by line, grain by grain, I +opened the field, till <i>C. Julius Æmilianus, +Pontif: Max: in a full epigraphe, +shone forth with the imperial</i> +head in full relief, all in a bright +emerald patina. I have seen several +Æmilianuses, but none like that; +and it cost me only a penny."</p> + +<p>Now, touching the difficulties in your +way—should you still fancy them to +be imaginary—take any dirty coin +<i>nigra moneta sordibus</i>, and try to clean +it; oil it, and scrub it as you may; +pick into, poke at, finally, waste your +whole morning over it, till your back +aches, and your penknife is blunted; +you will have to confess at last that +your labour has been lost! Your only +chance, then, is the fire; and if the +<i>actual cautery</i> fails, there is no longer +any hope. As in learning to scale properly, +you must come to sacrifice <i>a +great many coins</i> before you can hope +to succeed, <i>fiat experimentum in corpore +vili</i>—begin with those that are +worthless. Never mind scratching a +Faustina's face; set no store by Nero; +you may, if you like, mutilate as +many <i>Domitians</i> as that emperor mutilated +flies. For why?—they cost +nothing; unless, indeed, there were +something to be gained by <i>reversing</i> +the picture. But this only while +learning, and to learn; for when you +<i>know</i> how to clean a coin properly, +you will hardly waste your time in +adding new Trajans to the ten thousands +already in existence; nor whet +your curiosity or steel upon an empress, +known to be as common in +bronze as she was wont to be in the +flesh! When you have a really valuable +coin, on which your pains will +not be thrown away, your mode of +procedure is, first to scrape, with extreme +caution, on some small spot by +the margin, till you have taken your +proper soundings, and come down to +the <i>patina</i>. Your next step must be, +to ascertain whether that patina is +hard, or soft and friable; in which +latter case you will have to use all +diligence not to poke your penknife +in Crispina's eyeball, nor to wound +her husband, with a few days' beard +upon his chin. No <i>healing process</i> +can help you here to undo your clumsy +surgery and want of skill. He will +remain <i>cicatrised</i>, and she <i>lippa</i> for +life. Each separate feature requires +renewed care. When your minute +manipulations have brought out the +eyeball <i>unspecked</i>, then comes the +nose; and to remove the closely sticking +plaster from its side, and expose +uninjured the curling nostril underneath, +requires more than Taliacotian +sleight of hand to manage properly. +You must not trifle with Faustina's +<i>hair</i>, nor with Philip's <i>beard</i>. The +"<i>flava coma</i>," which we do not consider +as ornamental at any time, looks +far worse in <i>brass</i> than in <i>golden</i> +tresses. You must be an aurist when +you come to the ear. Deal with the +ear, and remember that it has its +<i>portio mollis</i> as you gently probe your +way into its tube. Need we insist +upon the necessity of respecting a +lady's <i>lips</i>? and yet you will wound +them, unless you are careful. And +when all is done, you may find that +your coin is no sooner cleaned, than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +it is seized with the <i>smallpox</i>,<a name="FNanchor_61_61" id="FNanchor_61_61"></a><a href="#Footnote_61_61" class="fnanchor">[61]</a> which +will become <i>confluent</i> and spread, unless +properly instructed. You have +probed each cicatrix to the bottom, +and filled the minute holes with <i>ink</i>. +Thus you will see that patience, tact, +and care are all required in scaling a +coin; or, as Dedomenicis said, <i>ci vuo il +genio</i>!</p> + +<p>The collecting coins is a pleasant +way of learning the chronology of the +royal families of antiquity; and if +you are culpably negligent in their +arrangement, the first dealer who +sees your cabinet takes care to apprize +you of your mistakes, and will +generally rate you soundly as he does +so. The first time Dedomenicis visited +our collection of the Roman emperors, +he was in a great taking on detecting +(which he did not fail to do at a +glance) various anachronisms in our +arrangement. "By all that should +be, if here is not Agrippina the wife of +Germanicus, and Claudius's Agrippina, +in next-door neighbourhood! the two +Faustinas (<i>che scandalo, dottore mio!</i>) +lying side by side with <i>strange husbands</i>! +Philip junior deposing his own +father—<i>ci avevano questa consuetudine</i>, +so let that pass; but here is a more +serious affair. Pray separate all these +Julias a little, my dear sir, <i>caro lei</i>, +(looking at us very reproachfully;) +here, in this one tray, you have mixed, +introduced, and confounded together +all the Julias of the Roman empire! +Julia, the daughter of Titus, alone in +her right place beside her first consort +Domitian. But Julia Pia and Julia +Domna are but the <i>aliases</i> of the +same empress, the wife of Septimius +Severus; and here you have placed +by mistake Julia Paula, the wife of +Eliogabalus, after Julia Mammæa, +who you <i>must</i> remember married +Maximin. Pray attend to these +things; and whenever your series is +deficient, leave vacant spaces in your +trays to mark the deficiencies. Don't +crowd your emperors thus together, +when time has separated them in +history," &c. &c. &c. We promised +faithfully to attend to these hints; +but it was all to no purpose, for in +one week our friends, to whom we +used to show our collection properly +arranged, would again involve our +chronology in inextricable confusion, +especially certain dear young ladies of +our acquaintance, who, by no means +showing the same respect for old Time +that old Time continued to demonstrate +towards them, would make +light of whole centuries; and we have +known them so regardless of all dates, +except perhaps their own, as to bring +up a Constantine or Maxentius, and +to place them under the very nose of +Augustus!</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE LAST RECOLLECTIONS OF NAPOLEON.<a name="FNanchor_62_62" id="FNanchor_62_62"></a><a href="#Footnote_62_62" class="fnanchor">[62]</a></h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> are few things more striking +than the analogy in civil and physical +changes of the world. There have +been in the history of man periods as +distinctive as in the history of nations. +From these periods society and nations +have alike assumed new aspects, +and the world has commenced a new +career. The fall of the Roman Empire +was the demarcation between the old +world and the new. It was the moral +deluge, out of which a new condition +of man, new laws, new forms of religion, +new styles of thought, almost a +totally new configuration of human +society, were to arise. A new settlement +of the civil world took place: +power absorbed by one race of mankind +was to be divided among various +races; and the development of principles +of government and society, +hitherto unknown, was to be scarcely +less memorable, less unexpected, or +less productive, than that voyage by +which Columbus doubled the space of +the habitable globe.</p> + +<p>The Reformation was another +mighty change. It introduced civil +liberty into the empire of tyranny, +religion into the realm of superstition, +and science into the depths of national +ignorance. The French Revolution +was the last, and not the least powerful +change within human experience. +Its purpose is, like its operation, still +dubious. Whether it came simply for +wrath, or simply for restoration—whether, +like the earthquake of Lisbon, +it came only to destroy, and leave +its ruins visible for a century to come; +to clear the ground of incumbrances +too massive for the hand of man, and +open the soil for exertions nobler than +the old, must be left to time to interpret. +But there can be no question, +that the most prominent agency, the +most powerful influence, and the most +dazzling lustre, of a period in which +all the stronger impulses of our being +were in the wildest activity, centred +in the character of one man, and that +man—Napoleon.</p> + +<p>It is evidently a law of Providence, +that all the great changes of society +shall be the work of individual minds. +Yet when we recollect the difficulty of +effecting any general change, embracing +the infinite varieties of human +interests, caprices, passions, and purposes, +nothing could seem more improbable. +But it has always been the +course of things. Without Charlemagne, +the little principalities of Gothic Europe +would never have been systematised +into an empire;—without Luther, +what could have been the progress of +the Reformation?—without Napoleon, +the French Revolution would have +burnt itself out, vanished into air, or +sunk into ashes. He alone collected +its materials, combined them into a +new and powerful shape, crowned this +being of his own formation with the +imperial robe, erected it in the centre +of Europe, and called the nations to +bow down before a new idol, like the +gods of the Indian known only by its +mysterious frown, the startling splendour +of its diadem, and the swords +and serpents grasped in its hands.</p> + +<p>That the character of Napoleon was +a singular compound of the highest +intellectual powers with the lowest +moral qualities, is evidently the true +description of this extraordinary +being. This combination alone accounts +for the rapidity, the splendour +of his career, and the sudden and terrible +completeness of his fall. Nothing +less than pre-eminent capacity could +have shot him up through the clouds +and tempests of the Revolution into +the highest place of power. A mixture +of this force of mind and desperate +selfishness of heart could alone have +suggested and sustained the system +of the Imperial wars, policy, and ambition; +and the discovery of his utter +faithlessness could alone have rendered +all thrones hopeless of binding +him by the common bonds of sovereign +to sovereign, and compelled them to +find their only security for the peace +of Europe in consigning him to a +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +dungeon. He was the only instance +in modern history of a monarch dethroned +by a universal conviction; +warred against by mankind, as the +sole object of the war; delivered over +into captivity by the unanimous judgment +of nations; and held in the same +unrelaxing and judicial fetters until +he died.</p> + +<p>It is another striking feature of this +catastrophe, that the whole family of +Napoleon sank along with him. They +neither possessed his faculties, nor +were guilty of his offences. But as +they had risen solely by him, they +perished entirely with him. Future +history will continually hover over this +period of our annals, as the one which +most resembles some of those fabrications +of the Oriental genius, in which +human events are continually under +the guidance of spirits of the air; in +which fantastic palaces are erected by +a spell, and the treasures of the earth +developed by the wave of a wand—in +which the mendicant of this hour is +exalted into the prince of the next; +and while the wonder still glitters before +the eye, another sign of the necromancer +dissolves the whole pageant +into air again. Human recollection has +no record of so much power, so widely +distributed, and apparently so fixed +above all the ordinary casualties of the +world, so instantly and so irretrievably +overthrown. The kings of earth are +not undone at a blow; kingdoms do +not change their rulers without a +struggle. Great passions and great +havoc have always preceded and followed +the fall of monarchies. But +the four diadems of the Napoleon race +fell from their wearers' brows with +scarcely a touch from the hand of +man. The surrender of the crown by +Napoleon extinguished the crowns +actually ruling over millions, and virtually +influencing the whole Continent. +They were extinguished, too, at the +moment when the Imperial crown disappeared. +It had no sooner been +crushed at Waterloo, than they all fell +into fragments, of themselves;—the +whole dynasty went down with Napoleon +into the dungeon, and not one of +them has since returned to the world.</p> + +<p>The name of General Count Montholon +is well known to this country, +as that of a brave officer, who, after +acquiring distinguished rank in the +French army by his sword, followed +Napoleon to St Helena; remained with +him during his captivity; and upon +his death was made the depositary of +his papers, and his executor. But +his own language, in a letter dated +from the Castle of Ham in June +1844, gives the best account of his +authority and his proceedings.</p> + +<p>"A soldier of the Republic, a brigadier-general +at twenty years of age, +and minister-plenipotentiary in Germany +in 1812 and 1813, I could, like +others, have left memoirs concerning +the things which I saw; but the whole +is effaced from my mind in presence +of a single thing, a single event, and a +single man. The thing is Waterloo; +the event, the fall of the Empire; and +the man, Napoleon."</p> + +<p>He then proceeds to tell us, that he +shared the St Helena captivity for six +years; that for forty-two nights he +watched the dying bed of the ex-monarch; +and that, by Napoleon's express +desire, he closed his eyes. But to +those duties of private friendship were +affixed official services, which looked +much more like tyranny than the tribute +of personal regard, and which we +should think must have worn out the +patience, and tried the constitution, of +the most devoted follower of this extraordinary +captive.</p> + +<p>Napoleon, though apparently contemptuous +of the opinions of mankind, +evidently felt the strongest anxiety +to make out a favourable statement +for himself. And all his hours, except +the few devoted to exercise on +horseback and to sleep, and to his +meals, were employed in completing +the narrative which was to clear up +his character to mankind.</p> + +<p>During the last years passed in St +Helena, Napoleon sent for the Count +every night at eleven o'clock, and continued +dictating to him until six in +the morning, when he went into the +bath, dismissing the count with—"Come, +my son, go and repose, and +come to me again at nine o'clock. We +shall have breakfast, and resume the +labours of the night." At nine, he +returned, and remained with him till +one, when Napoleon went to bed. +Between four and five, he sent for the +count again, who dined with him +every day, and at nine o'clock left +him, to return at eleven.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> + +<p>The world little knew the drudgery +to which these unfortunate followers +of the Ex-Emperor were thus exposed, +and they must all have rejoiced at any +termination of a toil so remorseless +and so uncheering.</p> + +<p>Napoleon was fond of the Turkish +doctrine of fatality. Whether so acute +a mind was capable of believing a doctrine +so palpably contradicted by the +common circumstances of life, and so +utterly repugnant to reason, can +scarcely be a question; but with him, +as with the Turks, it was a capital +doctrine for the mighty machine +which he called an army. But the +count seems to have been a true believer. +He, too, pronounces, that +"destiny is written," and regards +himself as being under the peculiar +influence of a malignant star, or, in his +own words: "In fact, without having +sought it, my destiny brought me into +contact with the Emperor in the Elysée +Bourbon, conducted me, without +my knowing it, to the shores of Boulogne, +where honour imposed upon me +the necessity of not abandoning the +nephew of the Emperor in presence +of the dangers by which he was surrounded. +Irrevocably bound to the +misfortunes of a family, I am now +perishing in Ham; the captivity commenced +in St Helena."</p> + +<p>Of Count Montholon, it must be +acknowledged, that he was unstained +by either the vices or the violences +which scandalized Europe so frequently +in the leaders of the French +armies. He appears to have been at +all times a man of honourable habits, +as he certainly is of striking intelligence. +But we have no faith in his +doctrine of the star, and think that he +would have acted much more wisely +if he had left the stars to take care of +themselves, avoided the blunder of +mistaking the nephew of Napoleon for +a hero and a genius, and stayed quietly +in London, instead of risking himself +with an invasion of valets to take the +diadem off the most sagacious head in +Europe.</p> + +<p>The narrative commences with the +return of Napoleon to Paris after his +renown, his throne, and his dynasty +were alike crushed by the British +charge at Waterloo. He reached +Paris at six in the morning of the 21st. +It is now clear that the greatest blunder +of this extraordinary man was his +flight from the army. If he had remained +at its head, let its shattered +condition be what it might, he would +have been powerful, have awed the +growing hostility of the capital, and +have probably been able to make peace +alike for himself and his nation. But +by hurrying to Paris, all was lost: he +stripped himself of his strength; he +threw himself on the mercy of his enemies; +and palpably capitulated to the +men who, but the day before, were +trembling under the fear of his vengeance.</p> + +<p>Nobleness of heart is essential to all +true renown; and perhaps it is not +less essential to all real security. Napoleon, +with talents which it is perfectly +childish to question, though the +attempt has been made since the close +of his brilliant career, wanted this +nobleness of heart, and through its want +ultimately perished. Of the bravery +of him who fought the splendid campaigns +of Italy, and of the political +sagacity of him who raised himself +from being a subaltern of artillery to a +sovereign of sovereigns, there can be no +doubt. But his selfishness was so excessive +that it occasionally made both +contemptible, and gave his conduct +alike the appearance of cowardice, and +the appearance of infatuation. His +flight from Egypt, leaving his army +to be massacred or captured, disgraced +him in the face of Europe. His flight +from Russia, leaving the remnant of +his legions to be destroyed, was a new +scandal; but hitherto no evil had been +produced by this gross regard of +self. The penalty, however, must be +paid. His flight from the army in +Belgian, leaving it without counsel +or direction, to be crushed by a victorious +enemy, was the third instance +of that ignoble preference of his own +objects which had characterised and +stained his Egyptian and Russian career. +But retribution was now come, +and he was to be undone. The slaughter +of Waterloo had been tremendous, but +it was not final. The loss of the French +army had been computed at forty +thousand men, killed, wounded, and +dispersed. He had come into the +field with seventy-two thousand men, +independent of Grouchy. He had +thus thirty thousand remaining. Grouchy's +force of thirty thousand was still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +untouched, and was able to make its +way to Paris. In addition to these +sixty thousand, strong garrisons had +been left in all the fortresses, which he +might without difficulty have gathered +upon his retreat. The Parisian national +guard would have augmented this +force, probably, on the whole, to one +hundred thousand men. It is true +that the allied Russian and Austrian +forces were on the frontier. But +they had not yet moved, and could +not prevent the march of those reinforcements. +Thus, without reckoning +the provincial militia of France, +or calculating on a <i>levée en masse</i>, +Napoleon within a fortnight might +have been at the head of one hundred +and fifty thousand men, while the +pursuing army could not have mustered +half the number. He would thus +have had time for negotiation; and +time with him was every thing. Or +let the event be what it might, the +common sense of the Allies would have +led them to avoid a direct collision +with so powerful a force fighting on +its own ground under the walls of the +capital, and knowing that the only +alternatives were complete triumph +or total ruin.</p> + +<p>Count Montholon makes a remark +on the facility with which courtiers +make their escape from a falling throne, +which has been so often exemplified +in history. But it was never more +strikingly exemplified than in the +double overthrow of Napoleon. "At +Fontainbleau, in 1814," says the Count, +"when I hastened to offer to carry him +off with the troops under my command, +I found no one in those vast +corridors, formerly too small for the +crowd of courtiers, except the Duke +of Bassano and two aides-de-camp." +His whole court, down to his Mameluke +and valet, had run off to Paris, to +look for pay and place under the Bourbons. +In a similar case in the next +year, at the Elysée Bourbon, he found +but two counts and an equerry. It +was perfectly plain to all the world +but Napoleon himself that his fate +was decided.</p> + +<p>There certainly seems to have been +something in his conduct at this period +that can scarcely be accounted +for but by infatuation. His first act, +the desertion of his army, was degrading +to his honour, but his conduct +on his arrival was not less degrading +to his sagacity. Even his brother +Lucien said that he was blinded with +the smoke of Waterloo. He seems +to have utterly lost that distinct view +and fierce decision which formerly +characterised all his conduct. It was +no more the cannon-shot or the thunder-clap, +it was the wavering of a +mind suddenly perplexed by the difficulties +which he would once have +solved by a sentence and overwhelmed +by resistance—which he +would have once swept away like a +swarm of flies. The leader of armies +was crushed by a conspiracy of clerks, +and the sovereign of the Continent +was sent to the dungeon by cabal of +his own slaves.</p> + +<p>While Napoleon was thus lingering +in the Elysée Bourbon, the two chambers +of the Legislature were busily +employed between terror and intrigue. +The time was delicate, for the Bourbons +and the Allies were approaching. +But, on the other hand, the fortunes of +Napoleon might change; tardiness in +recognising the Bourbons might be +fatal to their hopes of place, but the +precipitancy of abandoning Napoleon +might bring their heads under the +knife of the guillotine. All public +life is experimental, and there never +was a time when the experiment was +of a more tremulous description.</p> + +<p>At length they began to act; and +the first precaution of the Chamber +of Deputies was to secure their own +existence. Old Lafayette moved a +resolution, that the man should be regarded +as a traitor to the country +who made any attempt to dissolve the +Chamber. This was an obvious declaration +against the authority of the +Empire. The next motion was, that +General Beker should be appointed +commandant of the guard ordered to +protect the Legislature. This was a +provision against the mob of Paris. +The Legislature was now safe on +its two prominent perils. In the +mean time, Napoleon had made another +capital blunder. He had held +a council of the ministers, to which he +proposed the question, whether he +should proceed in person to the Chamber +of Deputies, and demand supplies, +or send his brothers and ministers to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +make the communication. Three of +the ministers approved of his going in +person, but the majority disapproved +of it—on the plea of its being a dangerous +experiment, in the excited +state of the public passions. If Napoleon +had declined this counsel, +which arose from either pusillanimity +or perfidy, it is perfectly possible that +he might have silenced all opposition. +The known attachment of the troops, +the superstition connected with his +fortunes, the presence of the man +whom they all so lately worshipped, +as the Indians worship the serpent +for the poison of its fang, might have +produced a complete revulsion. Napoleon, +too, was singularly eloquent—his +language had a romantic splendour +which captivates the artificial taste of +the nation; and with an imperial +figure before them, surrounded with +more powerful incidents than the +drama could ever offer, and threatening +a fifth act which might involve +the fate of France and Europe, the +day might have finished by a new +burst of national enthusiasm, and the +restoration of Napoleon to the throne, +with all his enemies in the Legislature +chained to its footstool.</p> + +<p>But he sent his brother Joseph to +the Chamber of Peers, and received +the answer to his mission next +morning, in a proposal which was +equivalent to a demand for his abdication.</p> + +<p>A council of ministers was again +held on this proposal. The same +three who had voted for his presence +in the Chamber, now voted for his +rejection of the proposal. The majority, +however, were against them. Napoleon +yielded to the majority. He had +lost his opportunity—and in politics +opportunity is every thing. He had +now nothing more to lose. He drew +up an acknowledgment of his abdication; +but appended to it the condition +of proclaiming his son, Napoleon Second, +emperor of the French. This +was an artifice, but it was unworthy +even of the art of Napoleon. He +must have been conscious that the +Allies would have regarded this appointment +as a trick to ensure his +own restoration. His son was yet +a child; a regent must have been appointed; +Napoleon would have naturally +been that regent; and in six +months, or on the first retreat of the +Allies, he would as naturally have reappointed +himself emperor. The trick +was too shallow for his sagacity, and +it was impossible to hope that it could +have been suffered by the Allies. Yet +it passed the Chamber, and Napoleon +Second was acknowledged within the +walls. But the acknowledgment was +laughed at without them; the Allies +did not condescend to notice it; and +the Allies proceeded to their work of +restoration as if he had never existed. +In fact, the dynasty was at an end; a +provisional government was appointed, +with Fouché at its head, and the +name of Napoleon was pronounced no +more.</p> + +<p>Count Montholon gives a brief but +striking description of the confusion, +dismay, and despair, into which Waterloo +had thrown the Bonapartists. +He had hurried to the Elysée a few +hours after the arrival of Bonaparte +from the field. He met the Duke of +Vicenza coming out, with a countenance +of dejection, and asked him what +was going on. "All is lost," was the +answer. "You arrived to-day, as you +did at Fontainbleau, only to see the +emperor resign his crown. The leaders +of the Chambers desire his abdication. +They will have it; and in a +week Louis XVIII. will be in Paris. +At night on the 19th, a short note in +pencil was left with my Swiss, announcing +the destruction of the army. +The same notice was given to Carnot. +The last telegraphic dispatch had +brought news of victory; we both +hastened to the Duke of Otranto; he +assured us with all his cadaverous +coldness that he knew nothing. He +knew all, however, I am well assured. +Events succeeded each other with the +rapidity of lightning; there is no longer +any possible illusion. All is lost, and +the Bourbons will be here in a week."</p> + +<p>The Count remained forty-eight +hours at the palace. The fallen Emperor +had now made up his mind to +go to America, and the Count promised +to accompany him. A couple +of regiments, formed of the workmen +of the Faubourg St Germain, marching +by the palace, now demanded that +Napoleon should put himself at their +head, and take vengeance on his enemies.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +But he well knew the figure +which the volunteers of the mob would +make in front of the bayonets which +had crushed his guard at Waterloo, +and he declined the honour of this +new command. A few courtiers, who +adhered to him still, continued to talk +of his putting himself at the head of +the national force. But Waterloo had +effectually cured him of the passion +for soldiership, and he constantly appealed +to his unwillingness to shed +the blood of Frenchmen. It was at +least evident that he intended to +tempt the field no more, but after +being the cause of shedding the blood +of two millions of the people, his reserve +was romantic.</p> + +<p>The Count was sent to dismiss the +volunteers, and they having performed +their act of heroism, and offered to +challenge the whole British army, +were content with the glory of the +threat, and heroically marched home +to their shops.</p> + +<p>But Montholon, on returning again, +addressed Napoleon on the feasibility +of attacking Wellington and Blucher +with the battalions of the Messrs +Calicot, upon which the Ex-Emperor +made the following solemn speech: +"To put into action the brute force of +the masses, would without doubt save +Paris, and ensure me the crown, +without having recourse to the horrors +of a civil war. But this would +be also to risk the shedding of rivers +of fresh blood. What is the compressive +force which would be sufficiently +strong to regulate the outburst +of so much passion, hatred, and +vengeance? No, I never can forget +one thing, that I have been brought +from Cannes to Paris in the midst of +cries for blood, 'Down with the +priests!' 'Down with the nobles!' +I would rather have the regrets of +France than possess its crown."</p> + +<p>There is no country in the world, +where Napoleon's own phrase, that +from the sublime to the ridiculous is +but a step, is more perpetually and +practically realised than in France. +Here was a man utterly ruined, +without a soldier on the face of the +earth, all but a prisoner, abandoned +by every human being who could be +of the slightest service to him, beaten +in the field, beaten on his own ground, +and now utterly separated from his +remaining troops, and with a hundred +thousand of the victors rushing after +him, hour by hour, to Paris. Yet he +talks as if he had the world still at +his disposal, applauds his own magnanimity +in declining the impossible +combat, vaunts his own philosophy +in standing still, when he could neither +advance nor retreat, and gives +himself credit as a philanthropist, +when he was on the very point of being +handed over to the enemy as a +prisoner. Some unaccountable tricks +of a lower description now began to +be played on the goods and chattels +of the Elysée Bourbon. A case containing +snuff-boxes adorned with +portraits set in diamonds, was laid +by Bertrand on the mantel-piece. +He accidentally turned to converse +with General Montholon at the window. +Only one person entered the +room. The Count does not give his +name,—he was evidently a person of +rank. On turning to the mantel-piece +again, the case was gone.</p> + +<p>One of the ministers had brought +some negotiable paper to the amount +of several millions of francs into the +Emperor's chamber. The packet was +placed under one of the cushions of +the sofa. Only one person, and that +one a man of rank who had served +in Italy, entered the chamber. Napoleon +went to look for the money, +calculated a moment, and a million +and a half of francs, or about £60,000 +sterling, had been taken in the interim. +Those were times for thievery, +and the plunderers of Europe were +now on the alert, to make spoil of +each other. The Allies were still advancing, +but they were not yet in +sight; and the mob of Paris, who had +been at first delighted to find that the +war was at an end, having nothing +else to do, and thinking that, as Wellington +and Blucher had not arrived +within a week, they would not arrive +within a century, began to clamour +<i>Vive l'Empereur!</i> Fouché and the +provisional government began to feel +alarm, and it was determined to keep +Napoleon out of sight of the mob. +Accordingly they ordered him to be +taken to Malmaison; and on the 25th, +towards nightfall, Napoleon submissively +quitted the Elysée, and went +to Malmaison. At Malmaison he +remained for the greater part of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +time, in evident fear of being put to +death, and in fact a prisoner.—Such +was the fate of the most powerful +sovereign that Europe had seen since +Charlemagne. Such was the humiliation +of the conqueror, who, but seven +years before, had summoned the +continental sovereigns to bow down to +his footstool at Erfurth; and who +wrote to Talma the actor these words +of supreme arrogance—"Come to +Erfurth, and you shall play before a +pit-full of kings."</p> + +<p>From this period, day by day, a +succession of measures was adopted +by the government to tighten his +chain. He was ordered to set out for +the coast, nominally with the intention +of giving him a passage to America. +But we must doubt that intention. +Fouché, the head of the government, +had now thrown off the mask which +he had worn so many years. And it +was impossible for him to expect +forgiveness, in case of any future +return of Napoleon to power. But +Napoleon, in America, would have +been at all times within one-and-twenty +days of Paris. And the +mere probability of his return would +have been enough to make many a +pillow sleepless in Paris. We are +to recollect also, that the English +ministry must have been perfectly +aware of the arrest of Napoleon; that +St Helena had been already mentioned +as a place of security for his person; +and that if it was essential to the +safety of Europe,—a matter about +which Fouché probably cared but +little; it was not less essential to the +safety of Fouché's own neck,—a matter +about which he always cared very +much, that the Ex-Emperor should +never set foot in France again.</p> + +<p>The result was, an order from the +minister at war, Davoust, Prince of +Eckmuhl, couched in the following +terms. We give it as a document of +history.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"General, I have the honour to +transmit to you the subjoined decree, +which the commission of government +desires you to notify to the Emperor +Napoleon: at the same time informing +his majesty, that the circumstances +are become imperative, and that it is +necessary for him immediately to decide +on setting out for the Isle of Aix. +This decree has been passed as much +for the safety of his person as for the +interest of the state, which ought always +to be dear to him. Should the +Emperor not adopt the above mentioned +resolution, on your notification +of this decree, it will then be your +duty to <i>exercise the strictest surveillance</i>, +both with a view of preventing his +majesty from leaving Malmaion, and +of guarding against any attempt upon +his life. You will station guards at +all the approaches to Malmaison. I +have written to the inspector-general +of the gendarmerie, and to the commandant +of Paris, to place such of +the gendarmerie and troops as you +may require at your disposal.</p> + +<p>"I repeat to you, general, that this +decree has been adopted solely for the +good of the state, and the personal +safety of the Emperor. Its prompt execution +is indispensable, as the future +fate of his majesty and his family depends +upon it. It is unnecessary to say +to you, general, that all your measures +should be taken with the greatest +possible secresy.</p> + +<div class="author"> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">Prince of Eckmuhl</span>,<br /> +Marshal and Minister of War."<br /> +</div></div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Those documents, which have now +appeared, we believe, for the first time +authentically, will be of importance +to the historian, and of still higher +importance to the moralist. Who could +have once believed that the most fiery +of soldiers, the most subtle of statesmen +and the proudest of sovereigns, +would ever be the subject of a rescript +like the following? It begins with an +absolute command that "Napoleon +Bonaparte" (it has already dropped +the emperor) "shall remain in the +roads of the Isle of Aix till the arrival of +passports." It then proceeds:—"It is +of importance to the well-being of +the state, which should not be indifferent +to him, that he should remain +till his fate, and that of his family, +have been definitively regulated. +French honour is interested in such +an issue; but in the mean time every +precaution should be taken for the +personal safety of Napoleon, and that +he must not be allowed to leave the +place of his present sojourn.</p> + +<div class="author"> +(Signed) "<span class="smcap">The Duke of Otranto.<br /> +"The Prince of Eckmuhl.</span>"<br /> +</div></div> + +<p>A similar document was issued to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +General Beker, signed by Carnot +and Caulaincourt. Count Montholon +remarks, with sufficient justice, on the +signature of Caulaincourt to this paper, +that the Emperor would have been +extremely astonished to see that name +subscribed to a letter in which he was +called Napoleon—if any thing could +have astonished the former exile of +Elba, and the future exile of St +Helena.</p> + +<p>This must have been a period of +the deepest anxiety to the imperial +prisoner. He evidently regarded his +life as unsafe; thought that he discovered +in the project of his journey +a determination to throw him either +into the hands of assassins or of the +French king, and formally announced +his refusal to leave Malmaison "until +informed of his fate by the Duke of +Wellington." He was now reduced +to the lowest ebb. He acknowledged +himself powerless, hopeless, and +utterly dependent on the will of his +conqueror. The bitterness of heart +which dictated such words must have +been beyond all description. He was +now abandoned by the few who had +followed him from the Elysée.</p> + +<p>But time was pressing; Wellington +was advancing with rapid steps, and +there was a possibility that he might +capture Napoleon at Malmaison. +Troops were sent to burn the neighbouring +bridge, and precautions were +taken to prevent the catastrophe. A +division of the army coming from the +Vendée halted before the palace, and +insisted on seeing Napoleon, and on +being led by him to battle. This was +rodomontade, with the advanced +troops of the whole army now within +sight of Paris. But it was enough to +betray him into the absurdity of proposing +to try another chance for his +crown. Beker was dispatched to +Paris to try the effect of this communication. +Fouché gave for answer, +the simple fact that the Prussians +were advancing on Versailles. The +sitting of the provisional government +would have been worth the hand of a +great painter. Fouché, after sharply +rebuking the general for bringing in +his proposal from Malmaison, made +him sit down at his side, while he +wrote a peremptory and decided refusal. +Carnot was walking gloomily +up and down the room. Caulaincourt, +Baron Quinette, and General Grenier, +sat silently around the table. Not a +word was uttered except by the Duke +of Otranto. The general received his +dispatch and departed. On passing +through the anterooms, he found +them filled with generals and high +civil officers, who all expressed but +one opinion on the necessity of getting +rid of Napoleon. "Let him set off, let +him go," was the universal cry. "We +can undertake nothing for either his +personal good or Paris." There was +now no alternative. Napoleon must +either remain and fall into the hands +of Louis XVIII., who had already +proclaimed him a traitor and an outlaw, +or he must try to make his escape +by sea. On the 29th of June, at five +o'clock in the evening, he entered the +carriage which was to convey him to +the coast, leaving Paris behind, to +which he was never to return alive, +but to which his remains have returned +in a posthumous triumph +twenty-six years after, on the 15th of +September 1840.</p> + +<p>On his arrival at Rochfort, all the +talent of the French for projects was +immediately in full exercise. Never +were there so many castles in the air +built in so short a time. Proposals +were made to smuggle the prisoner to +the United States in a Danish merchant +vessel, in which, in case of +search, he was to be barrelled in a +hogshead perforated with breathing +holes.</p> + +<p>Another project was, to put him on +board a kind of fishing-boat manned +by midshipmen, and thus escape the +English. A third project proposed, +that the two French frigates anchored +under the guns of the Isle of Aix +should put to sea together; that one +of them should run alongside Captain +Maitland's ship, and attack her fiercely, +with the hope of distracting her attention, +even with the certainty of +being destroyed, while the other +frigate made her escape with Napoleon +on board. This is what the French +would call a <i>grande pensée</i>, and quite +as heroic as any thing in a melodrama +of the Porte St Martin. But the +captain of the leading frigate declined +the distinction, and evidently thought +it not necessary that he and his crew +should be blown out of the water, as +they certainly would have been if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +they came in contact with the Bellerophon; +so this third project perished.</p> + +<p>After a few days of this busy foolery, +the prisoner, startled by new reports +of the success of the Allies every +where, and too sagacious not to feel +that the hands of the French king +might be the most dangerous into +which the murderer of the Duc +D'Enghien could fall; looking with +evident contempt upon the foolish +projects for his escape, and conscious +that his day was done, resolved to +throw himself into the hands of Captain +Maitland, the commander of the +Bellerophon, then anchored in Basque +roads. On the night of the 10th, +Savary and Las Cases were sent on +board the English ship, to inquire +whether the captain would allow a +French or neutral ship, or the frigates +with Napoleon on board, to pass free? +Captain Maitland simply answered, +that he had received no orders except +those ordinarily given in case of +war; but that he should attack the +frigates if they attempted to pass; +that if a neutral flag came in his way, +he would order it to be searched as +usual. But that, in consequence of +the peculiar nature of the case, he +would communicate with the admiral +in command.</p> + +<p>A circumstance occurred on this +occasion, which brought M. Las Cases +into no small disrepute afterwards. +The captain hospitably asked Las +Cases and Savary to lunch with him, +and, while at table, inquired whether +they understood English. He was +answered that they did not; and the +captain, though of course relying upon +the answer, made his observations in +English to his officers, while he addressed +the Frenchman in his own +tongue. It was afterwards ascertained +that Las Cases, who had been an +emigrant for some years in England, +understood English perfectly. Nothing +could therefore be more pitiful +than his conduct in suffering the captain +to believe that he was ignorant +on the subject, and thus obtain a confidence +to which he had no right. The +circumstance, as Count Montholon +says,—"was afterwards made a bitter +reproach against Las Cases; the +English charging him with a violation +of honour; because, as they affirmed, +he had positively declared that he was +unacquainted with their language, +when the question was put to him at +the commencement of the conference. +This, however," says Count Montholon, +"is not correct." And how does +he show that it is not correct? "The +question," says he, "was put collectively, +that is, to both alike, and Savary +alone answered in the negative." +Of course the answer was understood +collectively, and comprised M. Las +Cases as well as M. Savary. In +short, the conduct was contemptible, +and the excuse not much better. Las +Cases, of course, should not have +allowed any other person's word to be +taken, when it led to a delusion. It +is <i>possible</i> that Savary was unacquainted +with his companion's knowledge +of English,—though when we +recollect that Savary was minister of +police, and that Las Cases was about +the court of Napoleon, it is difficult +to conceive his ignorance on the subject. +But in all instances, there could +be no apology for his fellow-Frenchman's +sitting to hear conversations +of which he was supposed, on the +credit of Savary's word, and his own +silence, to comprehend nothing.</p> + +<p>It happily turns out, however, that +all this <i>dexterity</i> had only the effect of +blinding the parties themselves.</p> + +<p>"This mystification and piece of +diplomatic chicanery"—we use the +language of the volume—"proved, +in fact, rather detrimental than useful; +for, no doubt, the information +thus gained by <i>surprise</i> from Captain +Maitland and his officers, contributed +to induce the Emperor to decide on +surrendering himself to the English." +The captain was too honourable a +man to think of practising any chicane +on the subject; but if the two <i>employés</i> +overreached themselves, so +much the better.</p> + +<p>But events now thickened. On +the 12th, the Paris journals arrived, +announcing the entrance of the Allies +into Paris, and the establishment of +Louis XVIII. in the Tuileries! All +was renewed confusion, consternation, +and projects. On the next day Joseph +Bonaparte came to the Isle of Aix, to +propose the escape of his fallen brother +in a merchant vessel from Bordeaux, +for America, and remain in his place. +This offer was generous, but it could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +scarcely be accepted by any human +being, and it was refused. But delay +was becoming doubly hazardous. It +was perfectly possible that the first +measure of the new government would +be an order for his seizure, and the +next, for his execution. On that +evening he decided to accept the offer +of the <i>chasse-marées</i>, to go on board +before morning, and trust to the young +midshipmen and chance for his passage +across the Atlantic.</p> + +<p>We know no history more instructive +than these "last days" of a fugitive +Emperor. That he might have +escaped a week before, is certain, for +the harbour was not then blockaded; +that he might have made his way +among the channels of that very difficult +and obstructed coast even after +the blockade, is possible; that he +might have found his way, by a hundred +roads, out of France, or reached +the remnant of his armies, is clear, for +all his brothers escaped by land. But +that he still hesitated—and alone hesitated; +that this man—the most memorable +for decision, famed for promptitude, +for the discovery of the true point +of danger, daring to the height of rashness, +when daring was demanded—should +have paused at the very instant +when his fate seemed to be in his own +hand, more resembles a preternatural +loss of faculty than the course of +nature. His whole conduct on the +shore of France is to be equalled only +by his conduct among the ashes of +Moscow,—it was infatuation.</p> + +<p>Again the man of decision hesitated; +and at four in the morning General +Lallemand and Las Cases were sent +on board the Bellerophon under the +pretext of waiting for the admiral's +answer, but in reality to ascertain +whether the captain would express +<i>officially</i> any pledge or opinion relative +to Napoleon's favourable reception +in England; which Las Cases +had conceived him to express in his +conversation with his officers, and of +which this M. Las Cases was supposed +not to have understood a syllable.</p> + +<p>Captain Maitland's answer was distinct +and simple. It was, "that he +had yet received no information, but +hourly expected it; that he was authorized +to receive Napoleon on board, +and convey him to England, where, +according to his own opinion, he +would receive all the attention and +respect to which he could lay any +claim." But, to prevent all presumptions +on the subject, adding—"I am +anxious that it should be well understood, +that I am expressing only my +personal opinion on this subject, and +have in no respect spoken in the name +of the government, having received <i>no</i> +instructions from either the admiralty +or the admiral."</p> + +<p>It is almost painful to contemplate +these scenes. What agonies must +have passed through the heart of such +a man, so humbled! What inevitable +contrasts of the throne with the dungeon! +What sense of shame in the +humiliation which thus placed him at +the disposal of his own few followers! +What sleepless anxiety in those midnight +consultations, in those exposures +to public shame, in this sense of utter +ruin, in this terrible despair! If some +great painter shall hereafter rise to +vindicate the pencil by showing its +power of delineating the deepest passions +of our nature, or some still +greater poet shall come to revive the +day of Shakspeare, and exhibit the +tortures of a greater Macbeth, fallen +from the highest elevation of human +things into a depth of self-reproach +and self-abasement to which all the +powers of human language might be +pale,—what a subject for them were +here!</p> + +<p>The theatrical habits of the French +are singularly unfortunate for a nation +which assumes to take an influential +rank in the world. They deprive +them of that capacity for coping +with real things which is essential to +all substantial greatness. With them +the business of the world must be all +melodrame, and the most commonplace, +or the most serious actions of +life, must be connected with scene-shifting, +trap-doors, and the mimic +thunders of the stage. Napoleon was +now in a condition the most deeply +calculated to force these stern realities +of life on the mind. Yet even with +him all was to be dramatic; he was +to throw himself on the clemency of +his conqueror, like one of the heroes +of Corneille. England was to stand +in admiration of his magnanimous devotedness. +The sovereign was to receive +him with astonishment and open +arms, and, after an embrace of royal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +enthusiasm, he was to be placed in +secure splendour, cheered by the acclamations +of a people hastening to +do him homage. In this false and +high-coloured view of things, he wrote +the famous and absurd note, in which +he pronounced himself another Themistocles, +come to sit by the hearth +of the British people. A manlier, because +a more rational view of things, +would have told him that a war, expressly +begun with a determination to +overthrow his dynasty, could not be +suffered to conclude by giving him +the power of again disturbing the +world—that his utter faithlessness +prohibited the possibility of relying +on his pledges—the security of +the Bourbon throne absolutely demanded +his being finally disabled +from disturbing its authority—England +owed it to her allies to prevent +a repetition of the numberless +calamities which his reign had inflicted +upon Europe, and owed it to +herself to prevent all necessity for the +havoc of a new Waterloo.</p> + +<p>The national passion for a <i>coup de +théâtre</i> rendered all this knowledge of +no avail, and he flung himself at the +feet of the Prince Regent, with the +flattering phraseology of claiming protection +"from the most powerful, the +most constant, and the most generous +of his enemies."</p> + +<p>The step was now taken. On the +15th of July, at daybreak, he left the +Isle of Aix, and entered one of the +boats which was to convey him on +board the Bellerophon. He had still +a parting pang to undergo. As he +looked round the shore, a white flag +was flying on all the ships and batteries. +All the rest of this curious +narrative has been already given to +the world. We have no desire to repeat +the details.</p> + +<p>Count Montholon, in his fondness +for excitement, here states that a +privy council was held on the question, +whether the terms of the Congress +of Vienna prevented England +from giving up Napoleon to the vengeance +of Louis XVIII., adding that +"the dispatches of the Duke of Wellington +urged them to adopt bloody +and terrible determinations." This +we utterly disbelieve; and, if we required +additional reasons for our disbelief, +it would be in the Count's telling +us that the energetic opposition of +the Duke of Sussex alone prevented +the delivery of the prisoner—there not +being perhaps any prince, or any individual +of England, less likely to +have weight in the councils of the +existing government.</p> + +<p>Without presuming to trace the +steps of Providence, it is natural and +not unwise to follow them in those +leading transactions which give +character to their times, or which +complete events decisive of the fates +of eminent men or nations. One of +the most characteristic and abhorred +acts of the entire life of the French +Emperor, was his imprisonment of the +English who were travelling in his +country at the commencement of his +reign. The act was the most treacherous +within human record—it was +perfidy on the largest scale. Europe had +been often scandalised by breaches of +political faith, but the agents and the +sufferers were sovereigns and nations. +But in this instance the blow fell upon +individuals with the most sudden +treachery, the most causeless tyranny, +and the most sweeping ruin. Twelve +thousand individuals, travelling under +the protection of the imperial +laws, wholly incapable of being regarded +by those laws as prisoners, +and relying on the good faith of the +government, were seized as felons, +put under duress, separated from their +families in England, suddenly deprived +of their means of existence, stopt +in the progress of their professions, +plundered of their property, and kept +under the most vigilant surveillance +for eleven years.</p> + +<p>The retribution now fell, and that +retribution exactly in the form of the +crime by which it was drawn down. +We give a few extracts of the document +by which Napoleon protested +against his detention, as a most complete, +though unconscious indictment +against his own act eleven years before.</p> + +<p>Protest at sea, on board the Bellerophon, +August 1815—"In the face +of God and man, I solemnly protest +against the injury which has been +committed upon me, by the violation +of my most sacred rights, in forcibly +disposing of <i>my person and liberty</i>.</p> + +<p>"I came freely on board the Bellerophon, +and <i>am not a prisoner</i>,—I am +the <i>guest of England</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I presented myself in good faith, +and came to place myself under the +protection of the laws of England. +As soon as I set my foot on board the +Bellerophon, I felt myself on the soil +of the British people. If the orders +issued by the government to receive +myself and my suite were merely intended +as a snare, then they have +<i>forfeited their bond</i>. If such an act +were really done, it would be in vain +for England in future to speak of her +faith, her laws, and her liberty.</p> + +<p>"She pretended to offer <i>the hand +of hospitality</i> to an enemy, <i>and when +he had trusted to her fidelity</i>, she immolated +him."</p> + +<p>If the <i>detenus</i> at Verdun, and +scattered through the various fortresses +of France, had drawn up a +petition against the desperate act +which had consigned them to captivity, +they might have anticipated the +language with which Napoleon went +to the dungeon, that was never to +send him back again amongst mankind.</p> + +<p>There was but one preliminary to +his departure now to take place. It +was the execution of an order from +the Government to examine the baggage +in the strictest manner, and to +require the surrender of all money or +jewels of value in the possession of +Napoleon and his suite. Necessary +as this act was, for the prevention of +bribery, and attempts to escape from +St Helena, not for any undue seizure +of private property, for a most ample +allowance was already appointed by +the government for the expenses of +the prisoner, this duty seems to have +been most imperfectly performed. As +the Count tells us, "the grand-marshal, +gave up 4000 Napoleons, as constituting +the Emperor's chest. We kept +secret about 400,000 francs in gold—from +three to four hundred thousand +francs in valuables and diamonds, +and letters of credit for more than +four million of francs." Whether this +immense sum was overlooked by the +extraordinary negligence of those +whose duty it was to fulfil the orders +of government, or whether their +search was baffled, the narrative does +not disclose. But there can be no +question that the suite were bound to +deliver up all that they possessed; +and that there can be as little question +that with such sums of money at his +disposal, Napoleon's subsequent complaints +of poverty were ridiculous, +and that the subsequent sale of his +plate to supply his table was merely +for the purpose of exciting a clamour, +and was charlatanish and contemptible.</p> + +<p>We pass rapidly over the details of +the voyage. Napoleon spent a considerable +part of his time on the +quarter-deck, took opportunities of +conversing affably with the officers, +and even with the crew. On one +occasion, after some conversation +with the master, he invited him to +dine at the admiral's table. The +master declined the invitation, as a +sin against naval etiquette. "Oh! +in that case," said Napoleon, "you +must come and dine in my own +cabin." The admiral, however, had +the good sense to tell Napoleon, that +any one invited by him to the honour +of sitting at his table, was, by that +circumstance alone, placed above all +rule of etiquette, and that the master +should be welcome to dinner next +day. This conduct, of course, made +him very popular on board; but the +chief interest of these important volumes +is in the conversations which +he held from time to time with the +officers, and especially in the long +details of his military and imperial +career, which he dictated at St Helena, +and which make the true novelty and +value of the work. In one of those conversations +which he had with them, +he referred emphatically to his own +efforts to make France a great naval +power. "Unfortunately," said he, +"I found nobody who understood me. +During the expedition to Egypt, I +cast my eyes on Decrés. I reckoned +on him for understanding and executing +my projects in regard to the navy. +I was mistaken; his passion was to +form a police, and to find out, by +means of the smugglers, every web +which your ministers, or the intriguers +of Hartwell, were weaving against +me. He had no enlarged ideas; always +the spirit of locality and insignificant +detail—paralysing my views." +He then proceeded to state the hopeless +condition of the French navy +when he assumed the throne. The +navy of Louis XVI. was no longer +in existence; the Republic possessed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +but four ships of the line; the taking +of Toulon, the battle of the river +Jenes in 1793—of Rochefort in 1794, +and finally, the battle of Aboukir, had +given the death-blow to the navy. +"Well, notwithstanding the disaster +of Trafalgar, which I owe entirely to +the disobedience of Admiral Villeneuve, +I left to France one hundred +ships of the line, and 80,000 sailors +and marines, and all this in a reign of +ten years." The truth is, that the +attempt to make the French navy was +one of the pre-eminent blunders of +Napoleon. France is naturally a +great military power, but her people +are not maritime. England is not +naturally a great military power, but +her people are maritime. France has +an immense land frontier which can +be defended only by a land force. +England has no land frontier at all. +The sea is her only frontier, and it, +of course, can be defended only by a +fleet. A fleet is not a necessary of +existence to France. A fleet is a +necessary of existence to England. +It is therefore self-evident that France +only wastes her power in dividing it +between her fleet and her army; and +may be a great power, without having a +ship; while England is compelled to +concentrate her strength upon her fleet, +and without her fleet must be undone. +Thus the law of existence, which is +equivalent to a law of nature, gives +the naval superiority to England. +There are symptoms in France at the +present day, of falling into Napoleon's +blunder, and of imagining the possibility +of her becoming the naval rival +of England. That she may build +ships is perfectly possible, and that +she may crowd them with a naval +conscription is equally possible. But +the first collision will show her the +utter folly of contending with her +partial strength against the power on +which England rests her defence—a +struggle between a species of volunteer +and adventurous aggression, and +the stern and desperate defence in +which the safety of a nation is +supremely involved.</p> + +<p>On crossing the Line, the triumph +of Neptune was celebrated in the +usual grotesque style. The Deity of +the Sea requested permission to make +acquaintance with Napoleon, who received +him graciously, and presented +him with five hundred Napoleons for +himself and the crew, upon which he +was rewarded with three cheers, and +"Long live the Emperor Napoleon!"</p> + +<p>On the 16th of October 1815, the +Northumberland cast anchor in the +roads at St Helena. The Count remarks +that the 17th, the day on which he +disembarked, reminded him of a disastrous +day. It was the anniversary +of the last day of the battle of Leipsig. +If distance from all the habitable parts +of the globe were to be the merits of +Napoleon's prison, nothing could have +been more appropriate than the island +of St Helena. It was two thousand +leagues from Europe, twelve hundred +leagues from the Cape, and nine hundred +from any continent. A volcanic +rock in the centre of the ocean.</p> + +<p>In the month of April, the frigate +Phaeton anchored in the roads, having +the new governor, Sir Hudson +Lowe, with his family, on board. Sir +Hudson is now where neither praise +nor blame can reach him, but the +choice was unfortunate in the very +point for which probably he had been +chosen;—he had been colonel of the +Corsican regiment in our service, +had served much in the Mediterranean, +and had already been (as far as we +remember) the object of Napoleon's +bitterness in some of his Italian +manifestoes. There can be no doubt +that the mildest of governors would +have been no favourite with the prisoner +of Longwood. But in the present +instance Napoleon's blood boiled +at the idea of being placed under the +jurisdiction of the colonel of the Corsican +rangers; and he, accordingly, +took every opportunity of exhibiting +his indignation—a sort of feeling which, +in a foreigner, and especially one of +southern blood, always amounts to +fury.</p> + +<p>We pass over a multitude of minor +circumstances, though all characteristic, +and all invaluable to the historian +of the next century; but which +would retard the more interesting +conversations of the extraordinary +captive. On the communication of +the convention signed at Paris in +August 1815, declaring him the prisoner +of the four allied powers, and +the announcement of the commissioners +under whose charge he was to be +placed, Napoleon burst out into a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +passionate remonstrance, which, however, +he addressed only to the people +around him. On those occasions he +always adopted that abrupt and decisive +style which in a Frenchman +passes for oracular.</p> + +<p>"The expenses of my captivity +will certainly exceed ten millions of +francs a-year. It has not been the +will of fate that my work should finish +by effecting the social reorganisation +of Europe." He then ran into his +old boasting of his probable triumph +in his great collision with the British +army. "At Waterloo I ought to +have been victorious—the chances +were a hundred to one in my favour; +but Ney, the bravest of the brave, +at the head of 42,000 Frenchmen, +suffered himself to be delayed a whole +day by some thousands of Nassau +troops. Had it not been for this inexplicable +inactivity, the English +army would have been taken <i>flagrante +delicto</i>, and annihilated without striking +a blow. Grouchy, with 40,000 men, +suffered Bulow and Blucher to escape +from him; and finally, a heavy fall of +rain had made the ground so soft that +it was impossible to commence the +attack at daybreak. Had I been +able to commence early, Wellington's +army would have been trodden down +in the defiles of the forest before the +Prussians could have had time to arrive. +It was lost without resource. +The defeat of Wellington's army would +have been peace, the repose of Europe, +the recognition of the interests +of the masses and of the democracy."</p> + +<p>Napoleon was always fluent on this +subject; but the only true matter of +surprise is, that so clever a personage +should have talked such nonsense. +In the first place, he must have known +that Ney with his 40,000 men had +been soundly beaten by about half +that number, and was thus unable to +move a step beyond Quatre-Bras. +In the next, that Grouchy, instead of +suffering the Prussians to escape him, +was gallantly fought by their rear-guard, +was unable to make any impression +whatever on them, and if he +had not made his escape in the night, +would unquestionably have been +crushed to pieces the next day; and +thirdly, as to the English armies being +saved by the rain, the Duke of Wellington +fought the French from eleven +in the forenoon till seven in the evening +without being driven an inch from +the ground. If the French could not +beat him in eight hours, they could +not beat him in as many days. It +was not until seven in the evening +that the Prussian guns were heard +coming into the field. Even then +they were a mile and a half from +Wellington's position. The British +then charged, swept the French before +them, Napoleon himself running +away amongst the foremost, leaving +40,000 of his troops on the field or in +the hands of the enemy. It would +have been much wiser to have said +not a syllable upon the battle, or +much manlier to have acknowledged +that he was more thoroughly beaten +than he had ever seen an army beaten +before; and that with 72,000 French +veterans in the field, he had been +routed and ruined by 25,000 British, +three-fourths of whom had never fired +a shot before in their lives.</p> + +<p>We have from time to time some +curious acknowledgments of the political +treacheries which formed the actual +system of Napoleon's government, +whether consular or imperial. On +dictating a note relative to St Domingo +to Count Montholon, he elucidated +this policy in the most unequivocal +manner. It will be remembered +that, on the peace of Amiens, he had +sent out a powerful fleet and an army +of thirty thousand men to the West +Indies. It will also be remembered, +that in reply to the remonstrance of +the British government, who naturally +looked on so formidable an armament +with considerable suspicion, the First +Consul disclaimed in the most solemn +manner all sinister views, pronounced, +with every appearance of sincerity, +that his sole object was the subjection +of a French island then in revolt, and +when this object was effected his whole +purpose would be accomplished. But +in St Helena, where candour cost nothing, +he amply acknowledged the +treachery. "I had two plans," said +he, "for St Domingo. The first was +that of acknowledging the power of +the blacks, making Toussaint L'Ouverture +governor, and, in fact, making +St Domingo a West Indian vice-royalty. +This plan was my favourite, +and why? The French flag would +acquire a great development of power<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +in the American waters, and a variety +of expeditions might have been undertaken +against Jamaica and all the +Antilles, and against South America, +with an army of thirty thousand +blacks trained and disciplined by +French officers."</p> + +<p>We are to remember that at this +time he was at peace with both England +and Spain, whose territories he +was thus about to dismember; for we +cannot believe that the affairs of St +Domingo were suffered greatly to occupy +his mind. In the busy days from +Marengo to the loss of Egypt, and the +conclusion of peace, he had intended +to have raised an universal negro insurrection +in our islands. Upon the +colours of his negro army he was to +have inscribed "Brave blacks, remember +that France alone recognises +your liberty"—which would have been, +in fact, a manifesto, calling upon all +the negroes of the West Indies to revolt +without delay. But the negroes +of St Domingo, having formed plans of +liberty for themselves, dispatched one +of their colonels with a demand of independence. +The chance, therefore, +of invading Jamaica through their +means was extinguished at once, and +France was punished by the loss of +her greatest colony for ever.</p> + +<p>In a conversation with Colonel +Wilks, the ex-governor, on taking +his leave, he told him that India had +been constantly an object of his policy—that +he had constantly assailed it +by negotiations, and would have +reached it by arms, had he been able +to come to an understanding with the +Emperor of Russia on the partition of +Turkey. He then talked of his constant +wish for peace—a declaration +which the colonel probably received +with a smile; and next disclosed a +transaction, which, on any other authority, +would have been incredible, +but which amounted to perhaps the +boldest and broadest piece of bribery +ever attempted with a distinguished +minister.</p> + +<p>While the French army was still +on the right bank of the Elbe, the +offer of the Austrian mediation was +brought by Prince Metternich, demanding, +as a preliminary, the abandonment +of the great German fortresses +which still remained in French +hands.</p> + +<p>"I said to Metternich with indignation," +are the words of this singular +conference—"Is it my father-in-law +who entertains such a project? Is it +he who sends you to me? How much +has England <i>given you</i>, to induce you +to play this game against me? Have +I not done enough for your fortune? +It is of no consequence—be <i>frank</i>—what +is it <i>you wish</i>? If <i>twenty millions</i> +will not satisfy you, say <i>what +you wish</i>?"</p> + +<p>He adds, that on this scandalous +offer of corruption, Metternich's sudden +sullenness and total silence recalled +him to a sense of what he had just +expressed, and that thenceforth he +had found this great minister wholly +impracticable. Who can wonder that +he did so, or that the offer was regarded +as the deepest injury by a man +of honour? But Napoleon's conception +of the matter, to the last, was +evidently not that he had committed +an act of bribery, but that he had +"mistaken his man." "It was," as +Fouché observed, "<i>worse</i> than a crime, +it was a <i>blunder</i>."</p> + +<p>One of the absurdities of the crowd +who collected anecdotes of Napoleon, +was a perpetual affectation of surprise +that he should not have terminated +his imprisonment by his own +hand. He was conscious of the imputation, +and it seems to have formed +the occasional subject of his thoughts. +But his powerful understanding soon +saw through the sophistry of that +species of dramatic heroism, by which +a man escapes "with a bare bodkin" +all the duties and responsibilities of +his being.</p> + +<p>"I have always regarded it," said +he, "as a maxim, that a man exhibits +more real courage by supporting +calamities, and resisting misfortunes, +than by putting an end to his +life. Self-destruction is the act of +a gambler who has lost all, or that of +a ruined spendthrift, and proves nothing +but a want of courage."</p> + +<p>The attempts to prove that Napoleon +wanted personal intrepidity were +at all times childish. His whole +career in his Italian campaigns was +one of personal exposure, and from +the period when he rose into civil +eminence, he had other responsibilities +than those of the mere general. His +life was no longer his own; it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +the keystone of the government. +Whether as consul or as emperor, his +fall would have brought down along +with it the whole fabric on which the +fate of so many others immediately +depended. It is, however, certain, that +his courage was not chivalric, that no +gallant fit of glory ever tempted him +beyond the necessary degree of peril, +and that he calculated the gain and +loss of personal enterprise with too +nice a view as to the balance of honour +and advantage. A man of higher mind—an +emperor who had not forgot +that he was a general, would never +have deserted his perishing army in +Poland; an emperor who had not +forgot that he was a soldier, would +never have sent his Imperial guard, +shouting, to massacre, and stayed +himself behind. But to expect this +devotion of courage is to expect a +spirit which Napoleon never exhibited; +and which is singular among +the military exploits of the south. +Napoleon might have commanded at +Platea, but he would never have died +at Thermopylæ.</p> + +<p>In days like ours, which begin to +familiarize men with the chances of +political convulsion, it may be well +worth while to listen to the conceptions +of one who better knew the nature +of the French Revolution than +perhaps any among the great actors +of the time. Napoleon was sitting +by his fireside, in St Helena, on the +3d of September:—</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"To-day," said he, "is the anniversary +of a hideous remembrance, +the St Bartholomew of the French +Revolution—a bloody stain, which was +the act of the Commune of Paris, a +rival power of the Legislature, which +built its strength upon the <i>dregs of +the passions of the people</i>. * *</p> + +<p>We must acknowledge, that there has +been no political change without a fit +of popular vengeance, as soon as, <i>for +any cause whatever</i>, the mass of the +people <i>enter into action</i>. * *</p> + +<p>General rule:—<i>No social revolution +without terror!</i> Every revolution is in +principle a <i>revolt</i>, which time and +success ennoble and render legal; but +of which terror has been one of the +<i>inevitable phases</i>. How, indeed, can +we understand, that one could say to +those who possess fortune and public +situations, 'Begone, and leave us your +fortunes and your situations,' without +first intimidating them, and rendering +any defence impossible? The Reign of +Terror began, in fact, on the night of +the 4th of August, when privileges, +nobility, tithes, the remains of the +feudal system, and the fortunes of the +clergy, were done away with, and <i>all +those remains of the old monarchy</i> were +thrown to the people. Then only did +the people understand the Revolution, +because they gained something, +and wished to keep it, even at the +expense of blood."</p></div> + +<p>This language is memorable. It +ought to be a lesson to England. +Napoleon here pronounces, that the +great stimulant of political revolution +is public robbery. Privileges may be +the pretence, but the real object is +plunder; and the progress of reason +may be alleged as the instrument, +but the true weapon is terror. In +England, we are preparing the way +for a total change. The groundwork +of a revolution is laid from hour to +hour; the Aristocracy, the Church, +the landed proprietors, are made objects +of popular libel, only preparatory +to their being made objects of +popular assault. The League has not +yet taken upon it the office of the +Commune of Paris, nor have the +nobles, the clergy, and the bankers, +been massacred in the prisons; but +when once the popular passions are +kindled by the hopes of national plunder, +the revolution will have begun, +and then farewell to the constitution. +The habits of England, we willingly +allow, are opposed to public cruelty; +and in the worst excesses, the +France of 1793 would probably leave +us behind. But the principle in every +nation is the same—the possessors of +property will resist, the plunderers of +property will fight; conflicting banners +will be raised, and, after desperate +struggles, the multitude will be +the masters of the land.</p> + +<p>There can be nothing more evident, +than that some of the leaders in these +new movements contemplate the overthrow +of the monarchy. There may +be mere dupes in their ranks, the +spirit of money-making may be the +temper of others; but there are darker +minds among them which scarcely +condescend to conceal their intentions. +The presidentship of a British republic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +would be not without its charms for +the demagogue; and the bloody revolution +of 1641, might rapidly find its +still more sanguinary counterpart in +the revolution of the nineteenth century. +We have the history in the +annals of France, and the commentator +is the "child and champion of +Jacobinism"—Napoleon.</p> + +<p>His impression that revolution always +fixed its especial object in plunder, +found another authority in one +of the peculiar agents of public disturbance. +"Barrère," said Napoleon, +"affirmed, and truly, <i>Le peuple bat +monnaie sur la place Louis XV.</i>" +("The people coin money in the +square of Louis XV.")—alluding to +the guillotine, which enriched the +treasury by the death of the nobles, +whose wealth became the property of +the nation.</p> + +<p>He proceeded, with equal decision +and truth: "A revolution is always, +whatever some may think, one of the +greatest misfortunes with which the +Divine anger can punish a nation. It +is the scourge of the generation which +brings it about; and for a long course +of years, even a century, it is the misfortune +of all, though it may be the +advantage of individuals."</p> + +<p>Napoleon spent the chief portion of +his time in dictating the recollections of +his government, and general defences +of his conduct. Those dictations were +sometimes written down by Montholon, +and sometimes by Las Cases. But +in November 1816, an order was +issued for the arrest of Las Cases, +and his dismissal from the island, in +consequence of his attempting to send, +without the knowledge of the governor, +a letter to Prince Lucien, sowed +up in the clothes of a mulatto. This +arrest made a prodigious noise among +the household of Napoleon, and was +turned to good advantage in England, +as an instance of the cruelty of his +treatment. Yet it seems perfectly +probable that the whole was a trick +of the Ex-emperor himself, and a mere +contrivance for the purpose of sending +to Europe Las Cases as an agent in +his service.</p> + +<p>The security of Napoleon's imprisonment +was essential to the peace of +Europe; and no precaution could be +justly regarded as severe, which prevented +an outbreak so hazardous to +the quiet of the world. Among those +precautions, was the strictest prohibition +of carrying on any correspondence +with Europe, except through the +hands of the governor. The whole +household were distinctly pledged to +the observance of this order, and any +infraction of it was to be punished +by instant arrest and deportation +from the island.</p> + +<p>An order had been sent from England +to reduce the number of the +household by four domestics; and it +seems not improbable that Napoleon's +craft was suddenly awakened to the +prospect of establishing a confidential +intercourse with the faction whom he +had left behind. But the four domestics +were obviously inadequate to this +object, and some person of higher +condition was necessary. Las Cases +some time before had attempted to +send a letter to Europe by the mulatto. +The fellow had been detected, +and was threatened with a flogging if +he repeated the experiment; yet it +was to this same mulatto that Las +Cases committed another letter, which +the mulatto immediately carried to +the governor, and Las Cases was +arrested in consequence. Napoleon +was instantly indignant, and vented his +rage against the cruelty of the arrest, +at the same time expressing his +scorn at the clumsiness of Las Cases +in delivering his letter to so awkward +a messenger. But, whatever might +be his pretended wonder at the want +of dexterity in the Count, it was +exceeded by his indignation at the +conduct of the governor. "Longwood," +he writes in a long and formal +protest against his detention, "is +wrapped in a veil which he would +fain make impenetrable, in order to +hide <i>criminal</i> conduct. This peculiar +care to conceal matters gives room to +suspect the most <i>odious intentions</i>." +This was obviously a hint that the +governor's purpose was to put him +secretly to death: a hint which neither +Napoleon nor any other human being +could have believed.</p> + +<p>But in alluding to the arrest of the +Count, he touches closely on the acknowledgment +of the intrigue.</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I looked through the window," +he said, "and saw them taking you +away. A numerous staff pranced +about you. I imagined I saw some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +South Sea Islanders dancing round +the prisoners whom they were about +to devour!" After this Italian extravaganza, +he returns to his object. +"Your services were necessary to me. +You alone could read, speak, and +understand English. Nevertheless, I +request you, and in case of need, command +you, to require the governor <i>to +send you to the Continent</i>. He <i>cannot +refuse</i>, because he has no power over +you, except through the voluntary +document which you signed. It would +be great <i>consolation to me</i> to know +that you were on your way to more +happy countries."</p></div> + +<p>This letter was carried by Bertrand +to the governor for Las Cases, and +"the wished-for effect was produced +on Sir Hudson Lowe, as soon as he +saw the terms in which the Emperor +expressed his regret." We are fairly +entitled to doubt the sincerity of the +wish; for on Sir Hudson's offering to +let Las Cases remain at Longwood, a +new obstacle instantly arose,—the +Count declared that "to remain was +utterly impossible;" his honour was +touched; he absolutely must go; or, +as Count Montholon describes this +happy punctilio,—"Unfortunately, +Las Cases, influenced by extreme +susceptibility of honour, thought himself +<i>bound to refuse</i> the governor's +offer. He felt himself too deeply +outraged by the insult; he explained +this to the grand-marshal, and we +were obliged to renounce the hope of +seeing him again." Then came the +finale of this diplomatic farce. "It +was in vain that the Emperor sent +Bertrand and Gourgaud to persuade +him to renounce his determination; +<i>he was resolved to leave the island</i>; +and on the 29th of December 1816, +he quitted St Helena."</p> + +<p>We have but little doubt that the +whole was a mystification. The gross +folly of sending a secret dispatch by +the same man of colour who had +been detected by the governor, and +threatened with punishment for the +attempt to convey a letter; the bustle +made on the subject at Longwood; +the refusal of Las Cases to comply +with Napoleon's request to remain, +which, if it had been sincere, would +have been equivalent to a command; +and the conduct of Las Cases immediately +on his arrival Europe, his +publications and activity, amply show +the object of his return. But a simple +arrangement on the governor's part +disconcerted the whole contrivance. +Instead of transmitting Las Cases to +Europe, Sir Hudson Lowe sent him +to the Cape; where he was further +detained, until permission was sent +from England for his voyage to Europe. +On his arrival, Napoleon's +days were already numbered, and all +dexterity was in vain. We have adverted +to this transaction chiefly for +the credit which it reflects on the +governor. It shows his vigilance to +have been constantly necessary; it +also shows him to have been willing +to regard Napoleon's convenience +when it was possible; and it further +shows that he was not destitute of +the sagacity which was so fully required +in dealing with the <i>coterie</i> at +Longwood.</p> + +<p>Napoleon's habits of dictating his +memoirs must have been formidable +toil to his secretaries. He sometimes +dictated for twelve or fourteen hours, +with scarcely an intermission. He +spoke rapidly, and it was necessary +to follow him as rapidly as he spoke, +and never to make him repeat the last +word. His first dictation was a mere +revival of his recollections, without +any order. The copy of his first dictation +served as notes to the second, +and the copy of this second became +the subject of his personal revision; +but he, unfortunately for his transcribers, +made his corrections almost +always in pencil, as he thus avoided +staining his fingers—no woman being +more careful in preserving the delicacy +of her hands.</p> + +<p>Those dictations must be regarded +as the studied defences of Napoleon +against the heavy charges laid against +his government.</p> + +<p>We have now given a general glance +at the career of the French Emperor, +as exhibited to us in these Recollections. +He strikingly showed, in +all the details of his government, +the characteristics of his own nature. +Impetuous, daring, and contemptuous +of the feelings of mankind, +from the first hour of his public +life, his government was, like himself, +the model of fierceness, violence, and +disregard of human laws. Whatever +was to him an object of ambition, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +instantly in his grasp; whatever he +seized was made the instrument of a +fresh seizure; and whatever he possessed +he mastered in the fullest spirit +of tyranny. He was to be supreme; +the world was to be composed of <i>his</i> +soldiery, his serfs, courtiers, and +tools. The earth was to be only +an incalculable population of French +slaves. There was to be but one man +free upon the globe, and that man +Napoleon.</p> + +<p>We find, in this romance of power, +the romance of his education. It has +been often said, that he was Oriental +in all his habits. His plan of supremacy +bore all the stamp of Orientalism—the +solitary pomp, the inflexible +will, the unshared power, and the inexorable +revenge. The throne of the +empire was as isolated as the seraglio. +It was surrounded by all the strength +of terror and craft, more formidable +than battlements and bastions. Its +interior was as mysterious as its exterior +was magnificent; no man was +suffered to approach it but as soldier +or slave; its will was heard only by +the roaring of cannon; the overthrow +of a minister, the proclamation of a +war, or the announcement of a dynasty +crushed and a kingdom overrun, were +the only notices to Europe of the +doings within that central place of +power.</p> + +<p>But, with all the genius of Napoleon, +he overlooked the true principles +of supremacy. All power must +be pyramidal to be secure. The base +must not only be broad, but the gradations +of the pile must be regular to +the summit. With Napoleon the +pyramid was inverted—it touched the +earth but in one point; and the very +magnitude of the mass resting upon +his single fortune, exposed it to overthrow +at the first change of circumstances.</p> + +<p>Still, he was an extraordinary being. +No man of Europe has played so memorable +a part on the great theatre +of national events for the last thousand +years. The French Revolution +had been the palpable work of Providence, +for the punishment of a long +career of kingly guilt, consummated +by an unparalleled act of perfidy, the +partition of Poland. The passions of +men had been made the means of +punishing the vices of government. +When the cup was full, Napoleon +was sent to force it upon the startled +lips of Prussia, Austria, and Russia. +The three conspirators were crushed +in bloody encounters—the capitals of +the three were captured—the provinces +of the three were plundered—and +the military pride of the three was +humiliated by contemptuous and bitter +conditions of peace.</p> + +<p>But, when the destined work was +done, the means were required no +more. When the victims were broken +on the wheel, the wheel and the +executioner were alike hurried from +the sight of man. The empire of +France was extinguished by the same +sovereign law which had permitted +its existence. The man who had +guided the empire in its track of devastation—the +soul of all its strength, +of its ambition, and its evil—was +swept away. And as if for the final +moral of human arrogance, France +was subjected to a deeper humiliation +than had been known in the annals +of national reverses since the fall of +Rome; and the ruler of France was +plunged into a depth of defeat, a bitterness +of degradation, an irreparable +ruin, of which the civilized world +possesses no example. His army +destroyed in Russia by the hand of +Him who rules the storm—the last +forces of his empire massacred in Belgium—his +crown struck off by the +British sword—his liberty fettered by +British chains—the remnant of his +years worn away in a British dungeon, +and his whole dynasty flung +along with him into the political tomb, +were only the incidents of the great +judicial process of our age. The +world has been suffered to return to +peace; while the sepulchre of this +man of boundless but brief grandeur +has been suffered to stand in the +midst of that nation which most requires +the great lesson—that ambition +always pays for its splendour by +its calamities; that the strength of a +nation is in the justice of its councils; +and that he "who uses the sword +shall perish by the sword!"<br /><br /></p> + + +<div class="center"><i>Edinburgh: Printed by Ballantyne and Hughes, Paul's Work.</i><br /><br /></div> + + +<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> +<i>Peru. Reiseskizzen aus den Jahren 1838-1842.</i> <i>Von</i> <span class="smcap">J. J. von Tschudi</span>. +St Gall: 1846.</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> +<i>Untersuchungen über die Fauna Peruana.</i> St Gall: 1846.</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> +An Historical and Descriptive Narrative of Twenty Years' Residence in South +America. Containing Travels in Arauco, Chili, Peru, and Columbia; with an account +of the Revolution, its rise, progress, and results; by W. B. <span class="smcap">Stevenson</span>. +London: 1825.</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> +Europeans are apt to attach the idea of some particular colour to the word +Creole. It is a vulgar error. Creole (Spanish, Criollo) is derived from <i>criar</i>, to +breed or produce, and is applied to native Americans descended from 'Old World' +parents. Thus there are black Creoles as well as white, and a horse or a dog may +be a Creole as well as a man, so long as the European or African blood is preserved +unmixed.</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> +The day and the event strangely coincide with the passage in Schiller's +"Wilhelm Tell"— +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 7em;">"'s ist Simon und Judä</span><br /> +"Da rast der See und will sein Opfer haben."<br /></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> +Marlborough to Mr Secretary Boyle, 17th December 1708. <i>Disp.</i> iv. 362.</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> +<i>Disp.</i> iv. 315, 323, 345. Marlborough to Duke de Mole, 10th Dec. 1708. <i>Ibid.</i> +346. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, iv. 278.</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> +Marlborough to Mr Secretary Boyle, 3d January 1709, <i>Disp.</i> iv. 389.</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> +"'Can I do more than I do now?' said the King. 'I make treaties, but the +Emperor breaks his word with me, as well as Holland, every moment. Besides +it is impossible, without great inconvenience, <i>to give more than three battalions</i>; +and he is a wretch who would advise me otherwise.' I said he was a wretch +who should advise him not to do it. He replied, 'You speak very boldly, and +may perhaps repent it, if your arguments are not conclusive.'"—General Grumbkow +to Marlborough, March 9, 1709. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, iv. 341.</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> +King of Prussia to Marlborough, March 9, 1709. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, iv. 346.</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> +In communicating the thanks of the House of Lords, the Chancellor said,</p> +<p> +"I shall not be thought to exceed my present commission, if, being thus led to +contemplate the mighty things which your Grace has done for us, I cannot but +conclude with acknowledging, with all gratitude, the providence of God in raising +you up to be an instrument of so much good, in so critical a juncture, when it was +so much wanted." <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, iv. 375.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, iv. 352, 366, 377.</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> +"M. de Torcy has offered so much, that I have no doubt it will end in a good +peace." Marlborough to Godolphin, 19th May 1707. +</p><p> +"Every thing goes on so well here, that there is no doubt of its ending in a +good peace. Government have in readiness the sideboard of plate, and the chairs +of state and canopy; and I beg it may be made so as to form part of a bed when +I am done with it here, <i>which I hope may be by the end of this summer</i>, so that I +may enjoy your dear society in quiet, which is the greatest satisfaction I am capable +of having." Marlborough to the Duchess, 19th May 1709. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, iv. 393.</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>Mémoire, M. de Torcy</i>, ii. 104-111.</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> +<span class="smcap">Swift's</span> <i>Conduct of the Allies</i>, 72; <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, iv. 395-415.</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> +"I have as much mistrust for the sincerity of France as any body living can +have; but I will own to you, that in my opinion, if France had delivered the towns +promised by the plenipotentiaries, and demolished Dunkirk and the other towns +mentioned, they must have been at our discretion; so that if they had played tricks, +so much the worse for themselves." Marlborough to Lord Godolphin, June 10, +1709. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, iv. 405.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, iv. 401.</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>Ibid.</i> v. i. 5.</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>Mém. de Villars</i>, ii. 63. Marlborough to Godolphin, June 27, 1709. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, +iv. 5, 6.</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> +Marlborough to Mr Secretary Boyle, 27th June 1709. <i>Disp.</i> iv. 520. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, +v. 7, 8.</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> +Marlborough to Lord Galway, 4th July 1709; and to the Queen, 29th July +1709. <i>Disp.</i> iv. 530 and 556. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 8, 13. Marlborough's private letters to +the Duchess at this period, as indeed throughout all his campaigns, prove how he +was tired of the war, and how ardently he sighed for repose at Blenheim. "The +taking of the citadel of Tournay will, I fear, cost us more men and time than that +of the town; but that which gives me the greatest prospect for the happiness of +being with you, is, that certainly the misery of France increases, which must +bring us a peace. The misery of the poor people we see is such, that one must be +a brute not to pity them. May you be ever happy, and I enjoy some few years of +quiet with you, is what I daily pray for." Marlborough to the Duchess, July 30, +1709. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 12.</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> +<span class="smcap">Dumont's</span> <i>Military History</i>, ii. 104. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 15, 16.</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> +A very striking incident occurred in the siege, which shows to what a height +the heroic spirit with which the troops were animated had risen. An officer commanding +a detachment, was sent by Lord Albemarle to occupy a certain lunette +which had been captured from the enemy; and though it was concealed from the +men, the commander told the officer he had every reason to believe the post was +undermined, and that the party would be blown up. Knowing this, he proceeded +with perfect calmness to the place of his destination; and when provisions and +wine were served out to the men, he desired them to fill their calashes, and said, +"Here is a health to those who die the death of the brave." The mine in effect +was immediately after sprung; but fortunately the explosion failed, and his comrades +survived to relate their commander's noble conduct.</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> +Marlborough to Mr Secretary Boyle, 31st August and 3d September 1709. +<i>Disp.</i> iv. 585, 588. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 14, 18. <span class="smcap">Dumont's</span> <i>Military History</i>, ii. 103.</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> +Mackenzie's brigade, which joined Wellington's army after the battle of Talavera, +marched sixty-two English miles in twenty-six hours. <span class="smcap">Napier</span>, ii. 412.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 20, 25. Marlborough to Mr Secretary Boyle, 7th September 1709. +<i>Disp.</i> iv. 590.</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> +A similar incident occurred in the British service, when Sir Henry, now Lord +Hardinge, and Governor-general of India, served as second in command to Sir +Hugh Gough, his senior in military rank, but subordinate in station, at the glorious +battles of Ferozepore and Sobraon, with the Sikhs. How identical is the noble +and heroic spirit in all ages and countries! It forms a freemasonry throughout +the world.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 24, 25. <i>Disp.</i> iv. 588, 595.</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> +Marlborough to Mr Secretary Boyle, 7th and 11th September 1709. <i>Disp.</i> +iv. 591, 592. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 25, 26.</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> +<i>Mém. de Villars</i>, ii. 167, 184. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 26, 28.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 29, 30. The author has passed over the ground, and can attest the +accuracy of the description here given.</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> +Viz. Artagnan, Maréchal de Montesquieu; De Guiche, Maréchal de Grammont; +Puysegur, Montmorenci, Coigny, Broglio, Chaulnes, Nangis, Isenghien, +Duras, Houdancourt, and Sanneterre. The monarchy never sent forth a nobler +array.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 32. <i>Mém. de Villars</i>, ii, 280.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 34, 37; <span class="smcap">Dumont's</span> <i>Military History</i>, ii. 381-7.</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> +Marlborough's General Orders, Sept. 10, 1709.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 40, 44.</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> +<span class="smcap">Lediard</span>, <i>Life of Marlborough</i>, ii. 172, 180. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 45, 47.</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> +The regiments of Tullibardine and Hepburn were almost all Atholl Highlanders.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 54, 63; <i>Disp.</i> v. 592, Marlborough to Mr Secretary Boyle, Sept. +11, 1709, and to Mr Wauchope, same date, v. 598.</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> +"The Eugenes and Marlboroughs ought to be well satisfied with us during +that day; since till then they had not met with resistance worthy of them. They +may now say with justice that nothing can stand before them; and indeed what +shall be able to stay the rapid progress of these heroes, if an army of one hundred +thousand men of the best troops, strongly posted between two woods, trebly +entrenched, and performing their duty as well as any brave men could do, were +not able to stop them one day? Will you not then own with me that they surpass +all the heroes of former ages?"—<i>Letter of a French Officer who fought at Malplaquet</i>; +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 65.</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> +At Waterloo, there were sixty-nine thousand six hundred and eighty-six +men in Wellington's army, and the loss was twenty-two thousand four hundred +and sixty-nine, or one in three nearly; at Malplaquet, it was one in five; at Talavera, +one in four—five thousand being killed and wounded out of nineteen thousand +eight hundred engaged.—<span class="smcap">Siborne's</span> <i>Waterloo</i>, ii. 352 and 519.</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> +Marlborough to Marshal Villars, 13th September 1709, and to Mr Secretary +Boyle, 16th September 1709; <i>Disp.</i> v. 596, 599.—<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 64.</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> +Marlborough to Mr Secretary Boyle, October 21, 1709. <i>Disp.</i> v. 617, 621.</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> +"Be assured that Mrs Masham and Mr Harley will, underhand, do every thing +that can make the business uneasy, particularly to you the Lord Treasurer, and +me, for they know well that if we were removed every thing would be in their +power. This is what they labour for, believing it would make them both great +and happy; but I am very well persuaded it would be their destruction." <i>Marlborough +to Godolphin</i>, Nov. 1, 1709; <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 105.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 105, 111.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 115, 116.</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> +<span class="smcap">Swift</span>, <i>Mem. on Queen's Change of Ministry in 1710</i>, p. 37. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 117-118.</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> +<span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 124, 133.</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> +Duchess of Marlborough to Maynwaring, January 18, 1710. <span class="smcap">Coxe</span>, v. 134</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> +Marlborough to Queen Anne, January 19, 1710.</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> +"On Wednesday sennight I waited upon the Queen, in order to represent the +mischief of such recommendations in the army, and before I came away I expressed +all the concern for her change to me, that is natural to a man that has +served her so faithfully for many years, which made no impression, nor was her +Majesty pleased to take so much notice of me as to ask my Lord Treasurer where +I was upon her missing me at Council. I have had several letters from him since +I came here, and I cannot find that her Majesty has ever thought me worth naming; +when my Lord Treasurer once endeavoured to show her the mischief that +would happen, she made him no answer but a bow." Marlborough to Lord +Somers, January 21, 1710.</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> +"If this unfortunate king had been so well advised as to have made peace +the beginning of this summer, he might in a great measure have influenced the +peace between France and the Allies, and made other kingdoms happy. I am extremely +touched with the misfortunes of this young king. His continued successes, +and the contempt he had of his enemies, have been his ruin." Marlborough +to Godolphin, August 26, 1709. <i>Disp.</i> v. 510.</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> +<i>The Earl of Gowrie</i>; a Tragedy. By the Rev. <span class="smcap">James White</span>. London: 1845. +</p><p> +<i>The King of the Commons</i>; a Drama. By the Same. 1846. +</p><p> +<i>A Book of Highland Minstrelsy.</i> By Mrs <span class="smcap">D. Ogilvy</span>. Illustrated by <span class="smcap">R. R. +M'Ian</span>. London: 1846. +</p><p> +<i>Morning, and other Poems.</i> By a Member of the Scotch Bar. London: 1846.</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> +It is worth noting, because one does not see why it is so, that the only imperial +<i>birbone</i> of the lot universally known and execrated at Rome is <i>Nero</i>. One is +much better able to understand (with Capri in front of one's windows) why a like +exclusive and unenviable popularity at Naples attaches to <i>Tiberius</i>.</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> +The <i>hare</i> was first introduced into Sicily by Anaxilaus of Rhegium, and was +adopted by the Messenians on their coins, as was also the <i>chariot</i>, in commemoration +of his victory in the <i>mule</i> races at Olympia.</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> +On the urbic coins of Aquinum, Suessa, and Tiano, which are generally of +bronze, the <i>cock</i> figures on one side, the subject on the other varying; on those +of Himera (a silver currency,) chanticleer is always confronted on the reverse by +Dame Partlett.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_57_57" id="Footnote_57_57"></a><a href="#FNanchor_57_57"><span class="label">[57]</span></a> +Hiero the Second, tyrant of Syracuse, who flourished 216 <span class="smcap">B.C.</span>, and was contemporary +with Archimedes. The face is one expressive of refinement, and the +coin of a very fine style of art, as indeed are all those that ever issued from the +old and original mint of Sicily; but alas! there are now many small and illicit +mints to which the travelling public that buys coins, is, without always knowing +it, vastly more indebted. "Roba Siciliana"—Sicilian trash, exclaims the indignant +Neapolitan, when you show him a modern forgery by which you have been +duped. "Sciochezza di Napoli" retorts the dealer at Messina or Palermo, vindicating +at once his own honour, which seems aspersed, and that of his Trinacrian +associates. To reconcile these two statements, which are both true, the reader +has only to be informed that there are mints every where, and coiners as cunning +at Pozzuoli as at Palermo.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_58_58" id="Footnote_58_58"></a><a href="#FNanchor_58_58"><span class="label">[58]</span></a> By the word <i>anima</i>, or <i>soul</i> of a coin, numismatists designate the interior of +the metal, as opposed to its superficies or <i>field</i>.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_59_59" id="Footnote_59_59"></a><a href="#FNanchor_59_59"><span class="label">[59]</span></a> The <i>restitution</i> of the coinage of one Emperor by his successor, consisting of +a smaller issue of pieces than the original from which it is taken, has become comparatively +scarce; hence such <i>restitutions</i> fetch a much <i>higher price</i> than those of +the earlier currency, and Dedomenicis's remark was not without its meaning.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_60_60" id="Footnote_60_60"></a><a href="#FNanchor_60_60"><span class="label">[60]</span></a> Moneta, one of the many epithets or <i>aliases</i> of Juno, borrowed by the +Emperor Caligula for his three sisters, Agrippina, Drusilla, and Livilla, who are +represented standing in a row, each with her cornucopia and scales, and her name +behind her back.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_61_61" id="Footnote_61_61"></a><a href="#FNanchor_61_61"><span class="label">[61]</span></a> +"<i>La petite verole</i>" is the name employed by French numismatists to designate +this <i>disease</i>. They could not have hit upon a happier. A finely characteristic +specimen of it is to be seen at present in the bronze impersonation of George +IV. which stands on the Steym at Brighton, where the whole face looking seaward +has become <i>balafré</i> and pock-marked. It is strange that under the epithet +of <i>pustular</i>, as applied to <i>silver</i>, the ancients appear to have meant the purest +and most refined quality of that metal, when it is the alloy mixed with the bronze +that makes it pustular.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_62_62" id="Footnote_62_62"></a><a href="#FNanchor_62_62"><span class="label">[62]</span></a> +<i>History of the Captivity of Napoleon at St. Helena.</i> By <span class="smcap">General Count +Montholon</span>. 2 vols. London: Colburn.</p></div> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume +60, No. 369, July 1846, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, JULY 1846 *** + +***** This file should be named 35984-h.htm or 35984-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/9/8/35984/ + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, JoAnn Greenwood, Jonathan +Ingram and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images +generously made available by The Internet Library of Early +Journals.) + + +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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