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diff --git a/old/44338-h/44338-h.htm b/old/44338-h/44338-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0daa4f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/44338-h/44338-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15460 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 68, No. 417, July, 1850 by Various. + </title> + <link rel="coverpage" href="images/coverpage.jpg"/> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; + text-indent: 1em; +} + +.noind {text-indent: 0em;} + +.b15 {font-size:1.5em;} +.s05 {font-size:.5em;} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +hr.tb {width: 25%;} +hr.chap {width: 45%} + +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; + font-style: normal; + text-align: right; +} /* page numbers */ + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.bb {border-bottom: solid 1px;} + +.bt {border-top: solid 1px;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +.right {text-align: right;} + +.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + +.caption {font-weight: bold;} + +.space-above { margin-top: 3em; } + +.hanging {margin-left: 2em; text-indent: -2em; font-size: 15px;} + +.sig { text-align: right; margin-right: 5%; } + +.oldenglish { font-family: "Old English Text MT" } + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + +/* Footnotes */ + +.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: 55%; + text-decoration: + none; +} + +/* 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.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 0.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +.poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} +.poem span.i3 {display: block; margin-left: 1.5em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + +@media handheld +{ + .poetry + { + display: block; + margin-left: 1.5em; + } +} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.tn {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:smaller; + border: dashed 1px; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; } + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 68, +No. 417, July, 1850, 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 68, No. 417, July, 1850 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: December 3, 2013 [EBook #44338] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, JULY 1850 *** + + + + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, Jonathan Ingram and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Library of Early Journals.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<hr class="chap" /> + + +<h1> +BLACKWOOD'S<br /> + +<span class="oldenglish">Edinburgh</span><br /> + +MAGAZINE.</h1> + +<p class="center">VOL. LXVIII.</p> + +<p class="center">JULY-DECEMBER, 1850.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 125px;"> +<img src="images/buchanan.jpg" width="125" height="142" alt="Buchanan" /> +</div> + +<p class="center">WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, EDINBURGH;<br /> +<span class="s05">AND</span><br /> +37 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.<br /> +———<br /> +1850. +</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p class="center b15"><small>BLACKWOOD'S</small><br /> +EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</p> + +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">No. CCCCXVII.</span> JULY, 1850. <span class="smcap">Vol. LXVIII.</span><br /> +</p> + + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="contents"> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The House of Guise</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">My Peninsular Medal. By an Old Peninsular. Conclusion</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Chateaubriand's Memoirs</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_33">33</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Green Hand—A "Short" Yarn. Part XI.</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Jew Bill</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Pictures of the Season</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Year of Sorrow.—Ireland—1849</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">London and Edinburgh Chess Match</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Industry of the People</span>,</td><td align="right"><a href="#Page_106">106</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr class="tb" /> +<p class="center">EDINBURGH:</p> + +<p class="center">WILLIAM BLACKWOOD & SONS, 45 GEORGE STREET;<br /> +AND 37 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON.<br /> + +<em>To whom all communications (post paid) must be addressed.</em><br /> + +<small>SOLD BY ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM</small>.<br /> + +————<br /> +<small>PRINTED BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS, EDINBURGH.</small></p> + +<hr class="tb" /> + + +<h2>BLACKWOOD'S</h2> + +<h3>EDINBURGH MAGAZINE.</h3> + +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">No. CCCCXVII.</span> JULY, 1850. <span class="smcap">Vol. LXVIII.</span><br /> +</p> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"> </a></span></p> +<h2><br />THE HOUSE OF GUISE.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></h2> + + +<p>Upon the page of history are inscribed +the names of many great +men, uncrowned, but more illustrious +than most kings, whose biography +essentially involves the records of +their country and times. The cases +are very rare in which this occurs of +an entire lineage; when through +several successive generations the +same extraordinary qualities are +transmitted, and the hero or statesman +who perished yesterday, to-day +and to-morrow seems to start again +to life in the persons of descendants +who rival and even eclipse his fame. +These remarkable and most unfrequent +instances are exemplified in +the house of Guise, those puissant +nobles of Lorraine, immigrant into +and naturalised in France, who for +eighty years led the armies and directed +the councils of their adopted +country. Great warriors, bold and +profound politicians, unscrupulous and +interested champions of Rome, alternately +defenders of and competitors +for thrones, they upheld their power +and pretensions by the double lever of +religious enthusiasm, and of skilful +appeals to the sympathy of the people. +Rich in glory, in wealth, in +popularity, they were alternately indispensable +and formidable to their +sovereigns, and were virtually the +last representatives of that energetic, +able, and arrogant aristocracy, whose +services to the state were often limited +by the jealousy their power inspired, +and whose patriotism was not unfrequently +tarnished by their factious +temper and unbounded ambition. +From an early period of the sixteenth +century, the influence of Guise was +felt in France, for the most part +paramount to that of royalty itself; +until the might and glory of the house +sank and disappeared beneath the daggers +of assassins, and before the conquering +sword of the Fourth Henry.</p> + +<p>The history of France during the +sixteenth century necessarily comprises +the public acts of the family +of Guise, and the memoirs of the time +abound in personal details of the +members of that renowned house; +but a work especially devoted to +them was still a desideratum, until +the appearance of that which M. +Réné de Bouillé has just produced. +One of the chief difficulties of his +task must have been to avoid including +the history of the century +in that of the extraordinary men so +intimately connected with its chief +events. Whilst confining himself as +much as possible to his immediate +subject, he has yet, as he himself +says, found his horizon of necessity +extensive. And in order to assemble +in one frame the various members of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +that celebrated family, he has been +compelled to admit with them a host +of other personages, who in their turn +have brought a retinue, and have insisted +on at least a corner of the +canvass being allotted to their deeds. +The manner in which M. de Bouillé +has treated this great historical +picture, whose magnitude and difficulty +must have deterred a less +zealous and persevering artist, is +most judicious. "I have been as +sparing as possible of discussion," he +says, "prodigal perhaps, on the +other hand, of cotemporary evidence, +of faithful quotations, of such details +as bring facts into a stronger light, +exhibit the actors on the stage in a +more animated manner, and display +and make known, of and by themselves, +the personages, parties, manners +and spirit of the times, and the +character of the situations." M. de +Bouillé claims, as a matter of justice, +credit for conscientious application, +and declares his whole aim will have +been attained if his work be admitted +to possess historical interest and +utility. No impartial critic will +refuse it these qualities. It is at +once substantial and agreeable; +valuable to the student, and attractive +to those who consider histories +of the Middle Ages as fascinating +collections of strange adventures and +romantic enterprises.</p> + +<p>Réné the Second, reigning duke of +Lorraine—the same who fought and +conquered with the Swiss at Morat, +and defeated Charles the Bold at +Nancy—desired to see one of his sons +settled in France. He selected the +fifth, Claude, to whom he left by will +his various lordships in Normandy, +Picardy, and other French provinces, +causing him to be naturalised a +Frenchman, and sending him at a +very early age to the court of France, +where he was presented as Count de +Guise, a title derived from one of his +domains. The young count found +immediate favour with Louis XII., +to the hand of whose daughter Renée +he was considered a likely aspirant. +But he fell in love with Antoinette +de Bourbon, daughter of Count de +Vendôme, (the great-grandfather of +Henry IV.,) asked and obtained her +in marriage, and celebrated his wedding, +when he was but sixteen years +of age, in 1513, at Paris, in presence +of the whole French court. The +following year another wedding occurred, +but this time youth was on +one side only. In his infirm and +declining age, Louis XII. took to +wife the blooming sister of Harry +VIII. of England, and honoured +Guise by selecting him to go, in company +with the Duke of Angoulême +and other princes of the blood, to +receive his bride at Boulogne. The +wedding was quickly followed by a +funeral, and Francis I. sat upon the +throne. This chivalrous and warlike +monarch at once took his young +cousin of Guise into high favour, to +which he had a fair claim, not only +by reason of his birth, and of his +alliance with the house of Bourbon, +but on account of his eminent capacity, +and of the martial qualities +whose future utility Francis doubtless +foresaw. To his triumphs in the +field, Guise preluded by others less +sanguinary, but in their kind as brilliant, +in the lists and in the drawing +room. His grace and magnificence +were celebrated even at a court of +which those were the distinguishing +characteristics, thronged as it was +with princes and nobles, most of +them, like the king himself, in the first +flush of youth, and with keen appetites +for those enjoyments which their +wealth gave them ample means to +command. He gained great credit +by his prowess at the jousts and +tournament held at Paris on occasion +of the coronation, and his conduct +in another circumstance secured +him the favour of the ladies of that +gallant and voluptuous court. "One +night," says his historian, "he accompanied +Francis I. to the queen's circle, +composed of those ladies most distinguished +by their charms and +amiability. Struck by the brilliancy +and fascination of the scene, unusual +at a time when custom, by assigning +to women a sort of inferior position, +or at least of reserve, interdicted their +mingling in the conversation, and to +a certain extent in the society of +men, Guise communicated his impression +to the king, who received it +favourably, and at once decided that, +throughout the whole kingdom, +women should be freed from this +unjust and undesirable constraint."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +It will easily be conceived that such +an emancipation insured Guise the +suffrages of the fair and influential +class who benefited by it. From his +first arrival at the French court he +seems to have made it his study to +win universal favour; and he was so +promptly successful that, at the end +of a very few months, he had conquered +the goodwill of both nobility +and army. He took pains to study +and adapt his conduct to the character +of all with whom he came in +contact, thus laying the foundation +of the long popularity which he and +his successors enjoyed in France.</p> + +<p>But courtly pleasures and diversions +were quickly to be succeeded by the +sterner business of war. At his death, +Louis XII. had left all things prepared +for an Italian campaign; and +Francis, eager to signalise his accession +by the recovery of the Milanese, +moved southwards in the month of +August 1515, at the head of the finest +troops that had yet crossed the boundary +line between France and Italy. +His army consisted of fifteen thousand +excellent cavalry, twenty-two thousand +lansquenets, fourteen thousand +French and Gascon infantry, besides +pioneers and a numerous artillery. +The Constable of Bourbon led the van, +the Duke of Alençon commanded the +rear; Francis himself headed the +main body, accompanied by Duke +Anthony of Lorraine, (eldest brother +of Guise,) with Bayard for his lieutenant, +and by the Duke of Gueldres, +captain-general of the lansquenets, +whose lieutenant was the Count de +Guise. If the army was good, none, +assuredly, ever reckoned greater warriors +amongst its leaders. Guise, during +the passage of the Alps—accomplished +by extraordinary labour, and +which completely surprised the enemy—made +himself remarkable by his +constancy and activity, by the wisdom +of his counsels, and by his generosity +to the soldiers, thus further augmenting +the affection they already bore +him. Bayard and other illustrious +officers formed his habitual society; +and in him they found the most cordial +and affable of comrades, as well +as the most zealous advocate of their +interests with the king. Devoted to +his sovereign, Guise, when Francis +somewhat over-hastily promised the +Swiss an exorbitant sum of money as +the price of the Milanese, nobly offered +to contribute to it to the extent of all +he possessed. The treaty, however, +was broken by the Swiss. Steel, not +gold, was to settle the dispute; and +the plains of Marignano already trembled +at the approach of the hostile armies. +At the age of eighteen, Guise +found himself general-in-chief of +twenty thousand men. The Duke of +Gueldres, having been recalled to his +dominions by an invasion of the Brabanters, +transferred his command to +his young lieutenant, at the unanimous +entreaty of the lansquenets, and +in preference to all the French princes +there present. In the quickly ensuing +battle, Guise showed himself worthy +of his high post. In the course of the +combat, when the Swiss, with lowered +pikes and in stern silence, made one of +those deadly charges which in the +wars of the previous century had more +than once disordered the array of Burgundy's +chivalry, the lansquenets, who +covered the French artillery, gave +way. Claude of Lorraine, immovable +in the front rank, shamed them by his +example; they rallied; the guns, already +nearly captured, were saved; +the battle continued with greater +fierceness than before, and ceased +only with darkness. Daybreak was +the signal for its resumption, and at +last the Swiss were defeated. After +breaking their battalions, Guise, over +eager in pursuit, and already twice +wounded, had his horse killed under +him, was surrounded, overmatched, +and left for dead, with twenty-two +wounds. Nor would these have been +all, but for the devotedness of an +esquire, whose name Brantôme has +handed down as a model of fidelity. +Adam Fouvert of Nuremberg threw +himself on his master's body, and was +slain, serving as his shield. After the +action, Guise was dragged out from +amongst the dead, and conveyed by a +Scottish gentleman to the tent of the +Duke of Lorraine. He was scarcely +recognisable, by reason of his wounds; +he gave no sign of life, and his recovery +was deemed hopeless. He did +recover, however, thanks to great +care, and still more to the vigorous +constitution and energetic vitality +which distinguished all of his house, +and without which the career of most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +of them would have been very short. +Scarcely one of the prominent members +of that family but received, in the +martial ardour of his youth, wounds +whose severity made their cure resemble +a miracle. A month after the +battle of Marignano, Guise, although +still suffering, was able to accompany +Francis I. on his triumphant entry +into Milan, "as captain-general of +the lansquenets, with four lieutenants, +all dressed in cloth of gold and white +velvet." One of his arms was in a +scarf, one of his thighs had to be supported +by an esquire, but still, by his +manly beauty and martial fame, he +attracted the admiring gaze of both +army and people. Francis, in his report +to his mother of the battle, named +Guise amongst the bravest, as well he +might; and thenceforward his great +esteem for the young hero was testified +in various ways—amongst others, +by intrusting to him several important +and delicate diplomatic missions. +At Bologna, on occasion of the interview +between Francis and Leo X., the +Pope addressed to Guise the most +flattering eulogiums. "Your holiness," +replied the ardent soldier, in a +prophetic spirit, "shall see that I am +of Lorraine, if ever I have the happiness +to draw sword in the Church's +quarrel."</p> + +<p>Master of the Milanese, Francis I. +returned to France and beheld his alliance +courted by all the powers of +Europe, when suddenly the death of +the Emperor Maximilian (15th January +1519) proved a brand of discord. +Francis and Charles were the only +serious candidates for the vacant dignity. +Guise, with a secret view, perhaps, +to the crown of Jerusalem for +himself, strained every nerve, exerted +all his influence, on behalf of +the French King. But Charles, the +more skilful intriguer, prevailed; and +Francis, deeply wounded and humiliated +by his failure, revolved in his +mind projects of war. In these the +king did not lose sight of the great +assistance he might expect from +Guise, brave, skilful, and prudent as +he was; and the esteem in which the +young chief was held at court increased +so greatly, that the French +nobles came to consider him almost +the equal of the members of the royal +family. Guise, on the other hand, +by reason of his enormous fortune and +high birth, and in his quality of a foreign +prince, spared no effort to place +himself on the footing of an ally rather +than of a subject of the King of France.</p> + +<p>Pretexts for hostilities were not +wanting; and soon we find Guise, at +the head of his lansquenets, fighting +victoriously over the very same ground +upon which, in our day, French armies +contended with very different +results. Maya, Fontarabia, and the +banks of the Bidassoa witnessed his +prowess; he himself, a half-pike in +his hand, led his men through the +river, with water to his armpits, dislodging +the enemy by the mere terror +his audacity inspired. When he returned +to Compiègne, where the court +then was, the King hurried forth from +his chamber to meet him, embraced +him warmly, and gaily said, "that it +was but fair he should go out to meet +his old friend, who, on his part, always +made such haste to meet and +revenge him on his enemies." His +summer triumphs in the Pyrenees +were followed by a winter campaign +in Picardy, where he succeeded in +preventing the junction of the English +and Imperialists, besides obtaining +some advantages over the former, and +harassing their retreat to the coast. +He thus added to his popularity with +the army, and acquired strong claims +to the gratitude of the Parisians, +deeply alarmed by the proximity of +the enemy to the capital, and who +viewed him as their saviour.</p> + +<p>The year 1523 opened under menacing +auspices. Germany, Italy, +England, were leagued against France, +whose sole allies were Scotland, the +Swiss, (the adhesion of these depending +entirely on regular subsidies,) and +the Duke of Savoy, whose chief merit +was that he could facilitate the passage +of the Alps. Undeterred, almost +foolhardy, Francis, instead of prudently +standing on the defensive, beheld, +in each new opponent, only a +fresh source of glory. Unhappily for +him, at the very moment he had +greatest need of skilful captains, the +Constable of Bourbon, irritated and +persecuted in France, courted and +seduced by the astute Charles V., +entered into a treasonable combination +with the Imperialists. It was discovered; +he fled, and effected his escape.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +Out of France, he was but one man +the less, but that man was such a +leader as could hardly be replaced, +and Charles gave him command of his +troops in the Milanese. The Constable's +misconduct brought disfavour +on the princes of the house of Bourbon, +(of that of Valois none remained,) +and this further increased the credit +and importance of the Count of Guise. +He was already governor of Champagne +and Burgundy, provinces the +Emperor was likely to attack. This +command, however, was not the object +of his desires; he would rather +have gone to Italy, and applied to do +so; but the King, rendered suspicious +by the Constable's defection, began to +consider, with some slight uneasiness, +the position acquired by the Count of +Guise; and it was probably on this +account only that he would not confer +on the Lorraine prince the direction +of the Italian war. The glory of +Guise lost nothing by the refusal, +although that of France grievously +suffered by the army of Italy being +confided to the less capable hands of +Admiral Bonnivet. Fortune soon +afforded the younger general one of +those opportunities of high distinction, +of which no leader ever was more +covetous or better knew how to take +advantage. A large body of Imperialist +infantry having made an irruption into +Burgundy, he assembled the nobility of +the province and about nine hundred +men-at-arms, with which force he +deemed himself able to keep the field +against the twelve thousand lansquenets +that Count Furstemberg led to +meet him. By an odd accident, he had +no infantry, his adversary no cavalry. +By dividing his horsemen into small +parties, and maintaining an incessant +harassing warfare, Guise prevented the +Germans from foraging; and at last, +compelled by famine, they prepared +to recross the Meuse, abandoning two +forts they had captured, and carrying +off a large amount of spoil. Thus encumbered, +and vigorously pursued, +their rearguard was cut to pieces, and +their retreat converted into a rout. +"With a feeling of chivalrous gallantry," +says M. de Bouillé, "Guise +desired to procure the duchess his +sister-in-law, Antoinette de Bourbon, +and the ladies of the court of Lorraine, +then assembled at Neufchâteau, +the enjoyment of this spectacle, (the +battle), to them so new. Warned by +him, and stationed at windows, out of +reach of danger, whence they looked +out upon the plain, they had the pastime, +and were able to recompense, by +their applause and cries of joy, the +courage of the troops whom their +presence animated."</p> + +<p>But such partial successes, however +glorious to him by whom they +were achieved, were all insufficient to +turn the tide of disaster that had set +in against the French arms. The +defeat of Bonnivet, the invasion of +Provence by the Constable, were +succeeded by that terrible day before +the walls of Pavia, when Francis I., +vanquished, wounded, made prisoner +by a rebellious subject, beheld his army +destroyed, and the battle-field strewn +with the bodies of his best generals, +whilst, bleeding at his feet, slain in +his defence, lay Francis of Lorraine, +a younger brother of the Count of +Guise, the second of that brave +brotherhood who had fallen in arms +under the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">fleur-de-lis</i>.<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> When the +brave but most imprudent monarch +was carried into captivity, his mother, +regent in his absence, placed her +chief trust and dependence in Guise. +Of these he proved himself worthy. +He checked the ambition of the Duke +of Vendôme, who, as first prince of +the blood, showed a disposition to +seize upon the regency; he advised +the ransoming of the French prisoners +taken at Pavia, and exercised altogether +a most salutary influence upon +the circumstances of that critical time. +His good sword, as well as his precocious +wisdom, was soon in request. +A large body of German fanatics, +proclaiming the doctrine of absolute +equality, and the abolition of all +human superiority, had swept over +Suabia, Wurtemberg, and Franconia, +burning churches and slaying priests, +and threatened to carry the like +excesses into Lorraine and Burgundy. +By aid of his brothers, at much +expense and with great difficulty, +Guise got together ten thousand men,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +four thousand of whom were cavalry. +The double cross was the rallying +sign of this little army. The time +was come for Guise to perform his +promise to Pope Leo, to fight stoutly +in defence of the Church. And truly +his hand was heavy upon the unfortunate +and half frantic Lutherans, +although to a certain extent he +tempered its weight with mercy. +Besieged in Saverne, the fanatics +put to death the herald who summoned +them to surrender. Learning +that reinforcements from Germany +were at hand, Guise hurried to meet +them with three thousand men, and +encountered them at the village of +Lupstein, into which the Germans +retreated, after a terrible conflict +outside the place, and threw up a +barricade as best they could, of carts, +casks, and gabions. From the cover +of these, and of the adjacent hedges, +they kept up so obstinate a defence, +that Guise, whose men fell fast, +caused fire to be applied to the +houses. But hardly had the flames +begun their ravages, when the Count, +seized with compassion, threw himself +from his horse to assist in extinguishing +them, and succeeded, at +imminent risk to his own life, in +saving upwards of four thousand +persons of all ages. Nearly double +that number perished; as many more +at Saverne and in the mountains, to +which the unfortunate Germans fled; +and about fifteen thousand in a final +engagement at Chenouville, which +broke the strength of the fanatic host, +and finally closed the campaign. +During one of these battles, the +soldiers of Guise beheld in the air +the image of the Saviour attached to +the cross, a phenomenon in which +they saw assurance of victory.</p> + +<p>"Once more," says M. de Bouillé, +"Guise had rendered a most important +service to the kingdom; he +had also assumed a peculiar and +marked position, and had fixed a +point of departure for himself and his +descendants, by striking, of his own +accord, and without instructions from +the Government, the first blows that +Protestantism received in France: +a circumstance often recalled, with +more or less exultation, by the panegyrists +of that family, and which +procured Claude de Lorraine the +nickname of the <em>Great Butcher</em>, given +him by the heretics, who were exasperated +by the loss of nearly forty +thousand men, caused them by his +arms in that fatal expedition."</p> + +<p>Determined foes to the Reformed +faith as both of them were, a distinction +must yet be made between the +Count of Guise assailing and slaughtering, +with far inferior forces, a formidable +body of armed and aggressive +foreigners, and the fierce <em>Balafré</em>, +wielding a murderous sword against +his defenceless and inoffensive Huguenot +countrymen, on the terrible night +of St Bartholomew. If the amount +of bloodshed at Saverne and Chenouville +appears excessive, and implies +that little quarter was given, it must yet +be remembered that greater clemency +to the vanquished might have had +the most disastrous consequences to +the handful of conquerors. The +Council of Regency disapproved of +Guise's conduct in the affair; taxing +him with rashness in risking the +whole of the small number of regular +troops disposable for the defence of +the kingdom. But there could hardly +have been more pressing occasion to +expose them; and Francis I., on +returning from exile, recognised and +rewarded that and other good services +by elevating the county of Guise into +a duchy and peerage—further enriching +the newly-made duke with a +portion of the crown domains. Such +honours and advantages had previously +been almost exclusively reserved +for persons of the blood-royal. +The Parliament remonstrated in vain; +but Francis himself, before very long, +repented what he had done. He took +umbrage at the increasing popularity +of the Duke of Guise, and gave ear +to the calumnies and insinuations of +the French nobles, who were irritated +by the haughty bearing, great prosperity, +and ambitious views of the +house of Lorraine. The manner in +which Francis testified his jealousy +and distrust was unworthy of a +monarch who has left a great name +in history. He showed himself indulgent +to those of his courtiers and +officers who organised resistance to +the influence and pretensions of the +Guises. "One time, amongst others," +says M. de Bouillé, "the Duke of +Guise, governor of Burgundy, wishing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +to visit the castle of Auxonne, +whose governorship was a charge +distinct from that of the province, +the titulary, Rouvray, a French +gentleman, refused him admittance, +which he would not have dared to do +had Guise been recognised as prince. +When the Duke complained of this +treatment, the King, delighted, whilst +taking advantage of his services, to +see his pride and ambition thwarted, +lauded the conduct of Rouvray, and +laughed at him who had wished to play +the prince of royal blood." For annoyances +of this kind Guise sought compensation +in popularity, thus tracing +out for his descendants the line they +should most advantageously follow.</p> + +<p>The partial disfavour into which +the Guises had fallen, during an interval +of peace when their services were +not indispensable, was dissipated by +the zeal and talents exhibited by the +Duke's brother, John Cardinal of +Lorraine, in a most difficult and +delicate negotiation with Charles V., +and by the prompt good-will with +which, when negotiation failed and +war broke out, the Duke hurried to +the relief of Peronne, accompanied by +his eldest son, the Count of Aumale, +then scarcely nineteen years old. +Peronne la Pucelle was hard beset +by the Count of Nassau, who pounded +its ramparts with seventy-two +pieces of cannon, and was defended +with equal valour by Fleuranges, +Marshal de la Marck, who repulsed +an assault made simultaneously by +two breaches, and destroyed a mine +on which the enemy reckoned for +his discomfiture. Want of supplies, +and especially of powder, must soon, +however, have compelled him to +yield, but for a stratagem practised +by Guise. That able commander +selected four hundred resolute soldiers, +loaded each of them with a +bag containing ten pounds of powder, +and set out, at six in the evening, +from his headquarters at Ham, with +the Count of Aumale, whose first +experience of war this was, and to +whom Guise, as he wrote to the +King, "intended soon to give up his +sword, as capable of doing better +service in his young hands than in +his own." Two hundred horsemen +escorted them as far as the edge of +the marshes of Peronne, and at +midnight Guise, who had brought +with him a large number of drummers +and trumpeters, distributed these at +different points around the besiegers' +camp. Whilst they sounded and beat +the charge, and the Imperialist generals, +believing themselves attacked on +all sides, hastily formed their troops +for the combat, the powder-bearers, +guided by a soldier of the garrison +who had borne news of its distress +from Fleuranges to Guise, crossed the +marshes by means of a number of +little roads and bridges, which the +enemy himself had made to maintain +his communications, and reached the +moat, whence by means of ropes and +ladders they entered the fortress. The +last of them were just getting in when +day broke, and the Count of Nassau +discovered the trick that had been +played him, and detached a body of +cavalry to pursue Guise, then retreating +with his drums and trumpets, and +whose steady array discouraged attack. +A few days later the Imperialists +raised the siege, and Paris, which +had been in consternation at the +danger of Peronne, its last bulwark +against the advancing foe, knew no +bounds in its gratitude to the man to +whom it thus, for the second time, +was indebted for its salvation. +Guise's great services in this and +the following campaign rendered +Francis I. indulgent to his still-recurring +pretensions; to the arrogance +which led him frequently to +refuse obeying orders that did not +emanate directly from the King, and +to assume a sort of independence and +irresponsibility in the exercise of his +government. Looking back, through +the clarifying medium of history, upon +the character and conduct of Claude +of Lorraine, we are disinclined to +think that Francis had ever serious +cause for mistrusting the loyalty of +his powerful subject; whose encroachments, +however, it cannot be denied, +were sufficient grounds for jealousy +and uneasiness. And on more than +one occasion we find the royal anger—perhaps +complete disgrace—averted +from him only by the interest of his +brother the Cardinal, to whom Francis +could refuse nothing.</p> + +<p>As a diplomatist and patron of the +arts, Cardinal John of Lorraine occupies +almost as elevated a pedestal in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +the gallery of distinguished Frenchmen +of the sixteenth century, as does +his brother Claude in his more active +capacity of general of armies and +administrator of provinces. His +courtly qualities, and a congeniality +of tastes—some of which, although +they might be held excusable in a +king, were scarcely to be palliated in +a prelate, even in that age of lax morality—endeared +him to Francis, who +associated with him on a footing of +great familiarity. His generosity and +charity were on such a scale as at +times to resemble prodigality and +ostentation; his love of pleasure and +addiction to gallantry were in like +manner excessive. "He was," says +M. de Bouillé, "a very lettered prince, +a splendid patron of learned men, +whom he treated as friends, and in +whose labours he associated himself. +A writer named Bertrand de Vaux, +having presented and read to him a +critical work, containing low personality, +awaited, notwithstanding its +base character, the recompense which +the Cardinal always granted to those +authors with whose productions he +was satisfied. The prelate accordingly +handed him a golden etui. 'Take +this, friend Bertrand,' he said; 'it is +to pay the fatigue and salary of the +reader. The writer must seek payment +from some more malignant man +than myself.'" The celebrated Erasmus, +Clement Marot the poet, and +Rabelais the satirist, all benefited by +the patronage or enjoyed the intimacy +of the Cardinal, who, conjointly with +his nephew the Cardinal Charles of +Lorraine, is believed by some to have +been indicated by the witty priest of +Meudon in the character of Panurge. +Passionately fond of art, the prelate-prince +gathered around him the men +of genius whom the largesses and magnificence +of Francis I. seduced from +Italy to France. He showed particular +favour to Benvenuto Cellini, who +presented him with some of his works +and received from him costly gifts. +"When in full blaze of fortune and +favour, he caused to be built and +decorated, with blind prodigality, +after the designs of Primaticcio and +by the pupils of that famous artist, +the superb chateau of Meudon, in +whose park was constructed, amongst +other costly ornaments, a grotto, +'excellently fine and pleasant to save +oneself from being wetted by the rain.' +He had musicians in his service, and +Arcadelt, a distinguished composer, +some of whose works are still preserved +and esteemed, was his <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">maître de +chapelle</i>." His charity, although often +too indiscriminate, sprang from real +kindness of heart. Numerous children, +belonging to poor families, were educated +at his expense in the Paris +schools. And his good grace in conferring +favours doubled their value. +The farmer of his abbey of Fécamp, +having made the same receipt serve +for three separate payments, and endeavouring +to make it pass a fourth +time, the Cardinal's receivers refused +to admit it, and the case was referred +to the prelate himself, who, having +examined and recognised his signature, +merely said, "Since John is +there, John shall be believed," and +ordered it to be definitively admitted. +When he went abroad, "he usually," +says Brantôme, "carried a great +pouch, which his <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">valet-de-chambre</i>, +who had charge of the money for his +petty expenses, failed not to fill each +morning with three or four hundred +crowns: and as many poor as he met +he put his hand into the pouch and +gave, without stint or consideration, +whatever he drew forth." The story +is well known of the blind mendicant, +who, having implored an alms of him +in the streets of Rome, exclaimed, on +receiving a handful of gold: "<i lang="it" xml:lang="it">O tu +sei Christo, o veramente il cardinal di +Loriena</i>." By the light which these +details throw upon his character, it is +not difficult to discern that the magnificent +cardinal must have been a +welcome courtier to the sumptuous +Francis, who, during the period of his +favour, made him his constant companion +and delighted to do him honour. +He sat upon the King's left hand on +occasion of the <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">lit de justice</i> held at +Paris on New Year's day 1537, at +which Francis declared Charles of +Austria attainted of rebellion and +felony, and deprived of Artois, Flanders, +and all the domains that he held +<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">en mouvance</i> of the crown of France—a +sentence more easily pronounced +than enforced, and which of course +entailed a war. Peace again concluded, +in great measure by the diplomacy +of the Cardinal, he it was,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +according to Du Bellay, who alone +accompanied the King and Queen at +dinner, on the day of Charles V.'s +entrance into Paris. The friendship +borne him by Francis, was the cause +of his being charged to break to that +monarch the death of his son, the +Dauphin of France. Of the familiarity +with which the King treated him, M. +de Bouillé gives a specimen in a +curious anecdote: "One day, at mass, +the Cardinal did not perceive that a +thief, who had managed to enter the +chapel, had picked his pocket. The +rogue, observing that the King had +his eyes fixed upon him, with extraordinary +coolness and audacity put +his finger on his lips, looking at the +same time significantly at Francis I., +who took the hint and said nothing, +in order not to spoil what he imagined +to be an adroit practical joke. Service +over, however, he made an observation +which induced the Cardinal to put +his hand in his pocket, when he discovered +his loss. When the King had +amused himself at his surprise, he +ordered that what had been stolen +should be restored; but the thief, who +was perfectly serious in his intentions, +had made his escape, which greatly +increased the mirth of the monarch, +thus cleverly duped. 'On the word +of a gentleman,' he exclaimed, 'the +rogue has made me his accomplice!'"</p> + +<p>Powerfully supported at court by +his brother, Claude of Lorraine was +no less ably seconded in the field by +his son Francis, Count of Aumale, a +young hero destined ultimately to +surpass even him in glory, and to raise +the name of Guise to its apogee of +splendour. The constantly-recurring +wars with the Emperor yielded him +abundant opportunities to display +his prowess. In the campaign of +1543 he did good service, until, at +the siege of Luxemburg, he was +dangerously wounded above the ankle +by an arquebuse ball. "Carried, +almost without hopes—on account of +the fracture of the bones and the injury +to the nerves—first to his tent +and then to Longwy, five leagues in +rear, he owed his recovery to the +attention of the King, who sent him +his own physicians, and to the care +bestowed upon him by his father. +And nevertheless, when he suffered +signs of pain to escape him during the +dressing, the Duke of Guise addressed +to him reproaches by which it will be +seen that he subsequently profited, +saying to him—a noble and stoical +maxim—'That persons of his rank +ought not to feel their wounds, but, on +the contrary, to take pleasure in building +up their reputation on the ruin of +their bodies.'" It was in no feather-bed +school that the Guises were educated. +Nearly at the same time that the Count +d'Aumale was hit before Luxemburg, +Gaspard de Coligny-Châtillon, then +his rival in valour, and at a subsequent +day his deadly foe, was severely +wounded in the throat at the siege of +Binche.</p> + +<p>In the war in which these incidents +occurred, England was allied with the +Emperor against France. Personal +motives combined with political irritation +to dispose the violent and +uxorious Henry VIII. to a rupture +with Francis I. Mary of Lorraine, +daughter of the Duke of Guise, and +widow of Louis of Orleans, duke of +Longueville, had been given in marriage +to James V. of Scotland, in +preference to Henry, who, inflamed +by the report of her beauty, had +solicited her hand as a pledge of perpetual +alliance with France. Dazzling +as was the offer of so powerful a +sovereign, his anti-catholic acts, and +his evil reputation as a husband, deterred +the Guises from entertaining it; +and Francis I., obeying the dictates +of feeling rather than those of prudence, +extricated them from a dilemma +by alleging a previous promise to the +Scottish king. It is said that Henry +would then gladly have espoused +Louisa, second daughter of the Duke, +and that, means being found to elude +his pursuit, this second disappointment +further augmented his rancorous feelings +towards Francis and the house of +Guise. However this may have been, +the war with England continued subsequently +to the conclusion of peace +between Francis and Charles—chiefly +in Picardy, around Boulogne, which +Henry held, and in whose neighbourhood +his army was encamped. Some +severe skirmishes and partial engagements +occurred, and in one of these +the Count of Aumale received a +wound, probably the severest ever +survived by mortal man, from the +lance of an English officer. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +weapon, according to the description +of Ambrose Paré, entered "above the +right eye, declining towards the nose, +and piercing through on the other +side, between the nape and the ear." +So violent was the blow that the +weapon broke in the head, into which +it had penetrated more than half a +foot, the entire lance-iron and two +fingers' breadth of the staff remaining +in the wound. Paré explains the +possibility of such a wound, in an age +when helmets and visors were in use, +by mentioning that the Count always +went into action with his face bare.</p> + +<p>"Terrible as was the shock," says +M. de Bouillé, "it did not unhorse +d'Aumale. He still made head against +his foes, succeeded in forcing a passage +through them, aided by his young and +valiant brother Claude, and by de +Vieilleville—who, alone of all, had +not abandoned him—and rode gloriously +into camp. His appearance +was frightful; his face, armour, and +clothes were deluged with blood. The +surgeons, stupified by the depth and +gravity of the wound, despaired of +cure, and refused to inflict useless +sufferings upon the patient. But +Ambrose Paré, the King's surgeon, +sent by Francis with orders to try +every means of saving the hero's life, +was not discouraged. Confiding in +his skill, and in the firmness of the +wounded man, he resolved to attempt +an operation, terrible indeed, but +admirable for those days, and worthy +alone to insure celebrity to him who +imagined it. The lance-head was +broken off so short, that it was impossible +to grasp it with the hand. Taking +then a blacksmith's pincers, to +draw it out with great force, and +assisted, amongst others, by Master +Nicolle Lavernan, a very experienced +surgeon, he asked the Lorraine prince, +in presence of a crowd of officers shuddering +with horror, if he would submit +to the employment of such means, +and would suffer him to place his foot +upon his face. 'I consent to everything; +proceed,' replied d'Aumale. +Nor did his fortitude abandon him for +an instant during this cruel operation, +which was not effected without fracture +of bones, nerves, veins, and +arteries, and other parts, and which +he endured as if they had only pulled +out a hair. The agony extorted from +him but the single exclamation—'Ah! +my God!' Transported afterwards in +a litter to Pecquigny, he remained for +three days in a hopeless state: early +on the fifth day more favourable +symptoms declared themselves, and +nature made such powerful efforts, +that the cure was completed without +leaving the Count d'Aumale any trace +of this astonishing wound, except a +scar, equally glorious for him and for +Ambrose Paré. That skilful surgeon +was wont modestly to say, when +speaking of the marvellous cure of +Francis of Lorraine—'I dressed it, +and God healed it.' As soon as he +began to get better, the Count d'Aumale +hastened to write to the King, +with a hand still unsteady, the following +note, characterised by a calmness +remarkable in such circumstances:—'Sire, +I take the liberty to inform you +that I find myself well, hoping not to +lose an eye. Your very humble +servant, <span class="smcap">Le Guizard</span>.'" Admiring +his energy, and in recompense of his +services, Francis I. made him governor +of Dauphiny; whilst the numerous +partisans of the house of Guise +attributed his cure to a miracle +wrought by the prayers of his pious +mother, Antoinette of Bourbon. This +princess carefully preserved till her +death the lance-point which had penetrated +her son's head. The extent of +the wound, as described by Paré, +would be scarcely credible, but for the +testimony of that learned and excellent +man, and of other cotemporary +writers quoted by M. de Bouillé. In +a short time the heroic Count had forgotten +his hurt, and was again in arms +against the English, with whom, however, +peace was shortly afterwards +concluded.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the frequent uneasiness +occasioned him by the power +and ambition of the family of Guise, +Francis I. continued, almost to the +close of his reign, to enrich and aggrandise +them. The magnitude of +their services, and their many great +qualities, at intervals elicited his gratitude +and generosity, to the oblivion +of mistrust and apprehension. Thus, +only three years prior to his death, +he erected into a marquisate certain +lands and lordships of the Duke +of Guise, and immediately afterwards +elevated the marquisate to a duchy,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +in consideration, said the letters +patent, of the great, virtuous, and +commendable services that the Duke +of Guise had long rendered to king +and country, without sparing his own +person, his children, or goods; "and +also that our said cousin Duke of +Guise is of the house of Lorraine, +descended by wife and alliance from +the house of Anjou, and from our predecessors, +kings of France." Thus +was the title of Duke of Mayenne provided +for a younger son of Claude of +Lorraine. Such laudatory declarations +as the one above cited were +concurrent, however, with the systematic +restriction of the Guises' direct +influence on state affairs. And on his +deathbed, when dividing his last +hours upon earth between religious +duties and sage counsels to his son, +Francis enjoined this prince not to +recall the Constable of Montmorency, +or to admit to a share of government +the princes of the house of Guise. +Montmorency had incurred disgrace +and banishment by exciting the King's +conjugal jealousy. Henry II. showed +slight regard to his father's dying +injunctions. Scarcely had the earth +closed over the deceased monarch, +when those he had recommended to +his son's favour were removed from +their posts; Montmorency was recalled, +and the Guises were taken into +favour; the Count of Aumale, and +Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine, dividing +between them Henry's whole confidence. +It must be admitted, that the +means to which they resorted to +secure and preserve this favour, were +not of the most delicate description, +although, doubtless, they would be +very differently estimated then and +now. They sustained their credit +with Henry II. by their attentions to +Diana of Poitiers, his all-powerful +mistress, whose eldest daughter one +of the brothers, Claude, Marquis of +Mayenne, had just married. From +this discreditable alliance Châtillon, +afterwards the Admiral de Coligny, +had tried to dissuade them, by pointing +out, says Brantôme, in his Life of +the Admiral, "that it was not very +honourable for them, and that an inch +of authority and favour with honour +was better than an armful without." +The Count of Aumale, up to that +time the inseparable companion of +Coligny, was but ill-pleased by the +freedom of this advice, which, he +said, was less that of a friend than of +one envious of the good fortune such +an alliance insured to his family. This +difference, however, cast but a slight +cloud over the intimacy which thereafter +was exchanged for so bitter an +enmity. Meanwhile the royal favour, +lavished on the young Guises, +was not extended to their father, who +was excluded from the government +which his sons freely exercised, and +who, immediately after the coronation +of Henry, left the court, to live in +retirement in his castle of Joinville. +The prudence and moderation of the +elder Guise were probably less welcome +to the young king than the +bolder and more impetuous counsels +of his sons. There were six of these, +all pretty well provided for when +Claude of Lorraine retired into private +life: Francis, Count of Aumale; +Claude, Marquis of Mayenne; Charles, +Archbishop of Rheims; Louis, Bishop +of Troyes, and Francis, Chevalier of +Lorraine, afterwards grand-prior and +general of the galleys of France. +"During his stay at Paris, after the +campaign of 1544, the Duke of Guise +frequently went, accompanied by his +six young sons, to pay his devoirs to +the King, who always graciously received +and congratulated him, saying +'that he was six times fortunate in +seeing himself live again, before his +death, in a posterity of such great +promise.' One day Charles, the +second brother, who was intended for +the church, presented to Francis I. +some moral and theological theses, +accompanying them with an eloquent +and tasteful harangue. His promotion +to the archbishopric of Rheims, +the richest benefice in France, was, +it is said, the munificent reward of +this precocious ability." Henry II. +received his crown from the hands +of this youthful archbishop, upon +whom the Pope, five days after the +ceremony, conferred a cardinal's hat. +Charles of Lorraine can have been +but thirty or thirty-one years old, +when he thus attained to the highest +dignities of the church.</p> + +<p>A few days before the coronation, +Henry II. sanctioned by his presence +the celebrated judicial duel—which +gave rise to a proverb still current in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +France—between Guy Chabot de +Jarnac, and François de Vivonne. +It took place in lists erected near the +chateau of St Germains. Vivonne's +second (or godfather, as it was then +called) was the Count of Aumale, +who attracted universal attention by +the grandeur of his air and the lustre +of his renown. "Towards half-past +seven in the morning," says M. de +Bouillé, "d'Aumale pronounced it +time to bring the arms, and the combatants +appeared in the lists, Vivonne +conducted by d'Aumale; and, after +the customary salutations and injunctions, +the king-at-arms, Normandy, +having thrice exclaimed—<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Laissez aller +les bons combattants!</i> the combat +commenced with skill and fury. In +a few moments, however, by a blow, +since proverbial, dealt and repeated +on the left ham, Vivonne was prostrated +by his adversary. The Count +d'Aumale sprang to the assistance of +the vanquished man, and to calm the +rage which made him tear open his +own wounds. But Vivonne survived +only three days, and, after his death, +d'Aumale had the following inscription +engraved upon his tomb: 'A +great prince <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Lorrain et François</i>, much +grieved and afflicted by so unexpected +an event, has dedicated this to the +manes of a brave knight of Poitou.' +In these few words was revealed a +pretension constantly entertained by +the house of Guise, and which then +appeared surprising, but which received +a sort of consecration from its +silent toleration by the King." It was +doubtless this toleration, combined +with the sentiment of growing power +and influence, which raised the arrogance +of the Guises to such a pitch +that, on occasion of Henry II.'s solemn +entrance into Chambery, during +a visit of inspection to his frontier +fortresses, we find the Count of Aumale +placing himself on the same +line with the Duke of Vendôme, +first prince of the blood, and afterwards +King of Navarre. The angry +dispute to which this gave rise was +terminated by the King, who maintained +Guise in the place he had +audaciously assumed. Like his father, +Henry was nurturing a pride which +was afterwards to give him umbrage. +Already d'Aumale's influence and +popularity were so great as to make +him courted by all classes, even to +the highest, not excluding persons of +blood-royal; and only a few months +after the dispute at Chambery, we +find the same King of Navarre thanking +him, conjointly with the Cardinal +of Bourbon, for services he had rendered +to friends of theirs. The first +nobles of the land had recourse to +his protection and support, and strove +to propitiate him by presents and +flattering letters. From all quarters +he received offerings of "wine, fruit, +confections, ortolans, horses, dogs, +hawks, and gerfalcons, the letters +accompanying these very often containing +a second paragraph, petitioning +for pensions or grants from the +King, or for places, even down to +that of apothecary, or of barber to +the Dauphin, &c." The memoirs and +manuscripts of the time furnish many +curious particulars of this kind, especially +the MSS. Gaignières, often +referred to by M. de Bouillé. And +they further show that d'Aumale, +amidst his countless occupations, +found leisure to listen to all petitioners, +and means to content many. +There exist the most flattering letters +written to him by the hand of kings; +the humblest supplications addressed +to him by great state corporations, such +as the parliaments of Paris, Bordeaux, +and other cities; testimony of the +profoundest deference from the nobles +of the court—names such as Brézé +and Brissac being affixed to fulsome +protestations of service and +thanks for favour shown. Such was +the immense position of the Duke +d'Aumale, (that county also had +become a duchy,) who now openly +affected the state and quality of +prince of the blood. Then, as afterwards, +(when he was duke of Guise,) +he always received the title of <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">monseigneur</i>, +(except from the princes of +the blood, who called him <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">monsieur</i>,) +and that of <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">vostre excellence or vostre +seigneurie</i>. And in 1548 the nuns of +Bonneuil addressed him a supplication +as <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">vostre haulte et puissante +majesté et seigneurie</i>. So great was +his reputation for magnanimity, so +popular his rule, that those provinces +rejoiced over which he was appointed +governor. And the affection borne +him by the French people became at +last so great "that it may be said it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +was carried to an excess, even to the +point of making them forget their +fidelity to the King." For a time the +favour and confidence of the King +kept pace with the love of the nation; +and it was augmented by the ability +with which d'Aumale pacified several +revolted provinces, where his presence +alone sufficed, for the most part, to +calm angry passions and revive the +loyalty of the population. Soon after +this expedition, occurred his marriage +with Anne d'Est, daughter of the +Duke of Ferrara, a beautiful, virtuous, +and well-dowered princess who +had been sought in marriage by +Sigismund, King of Poland, but +whom an innate sympathy for France, +combined with the able management +of Cardinal de Guise, induced to give +the preference to the Duke d'Aumale.</p> + +<p>In his castle of Joinville, on the +12th April 1550, Claude, first duke of +Guise, piously and resignedly terminated +his illustrious and honourable +career. His duchess, Antoinette de +Bourbon, one of the most virtuous +and amiable princesses of her time, +his eldest son and the Marquis of +Elbeuf, were beside his dying bed; +and during his illness the King sent +frequent expresses to inquire his +state. His premature death, at the +age of fifty-three, after a short but +violent illness,—combined with some +solemn and generous expressions he +used a few minutes before breathing +his last, to the effect that he heartily +forgave the person, whosoever it +might be, who had given him "<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">le +morceau pour mourir</i>,"—gave rise to a +belief, further accredited by his funeral +oration and by the inscription on his +tomb, that he had perished by poison. +History has difficulty in confirming +this popular notion, in support of +which no evidence was ever produced, +nor anything beyond a vague supposition +that the author of the Duke's +death was a Genoese, an agent of the +Emperor, then in France to watch the +measures taken by that republic to +obtain from Henry II. means of +resistance to the party of Ferdinand, +in opposition to whom there was +little doubt that Guise would advise +the King to give his support to Genoa. +Considering, however, that Claude +of Lorraine lived away from court, +where his son had succeeded to his +influence, this is rather a far-fetched +story; and the probability is that the +Duke died of some unusual malady, +misunderstood by, perhaps wholly +unknown to, the imperfect medical +science of those days. But natural +deaths were rare in the house of +Guise; and in the sixteenth century +poison had no unimportant share in +the bills of mortality. Some indeed +have hinted its possible agency in the +death of John, Cardinal of Lorraine, +which occurred within forty days of +that of his brother Claude. This +prelate was on his way back from +Rome, where he had been an unsuccessful +aspirant to the papal tiara, +when he was suddenly informed, on +his passage through Lyons, of the +Duke's decease. It was possibly the +shock of this intelligence that brought +on an attack of apoplexy under which +he sank and shortly expired. "Providence," +says M. de Bouillé, "had +perhaps resolved to consecrate, by an +almost simultaneous death, the union +which had so constantly and advantageously +existed between him and +his brother, and which the cotemporary +writers characterise, in their +mythological style, by comparing the +two princes to Castor and Pollux. +Their place was not to remain vacant, +but was about to be even more than +filled by two brothers, also 'the +happiest pair of brothers that ever +were seen;' one an accomplished +warrior and magnanimous hero, the +other a skilful and enterprising prelate, +who, by renewing the example +of a constant agreement of views, by +putting in practice that useful and +remarkable combination of the churchman +and the man of the sword, peculiar +to their family, and efficaciously +applied by them to politics and ambition, +realised an immense amount of +favour and authority. The first generation +of this dynasty—if not sovereign, +at least so brilliantly episodical—had +passed away, already almost surpassed +in grandeur by its successor, destined +to elevate itself in the inverse ratio of +the wearer of that crown which gradually +became almost illusory."</p> + +<p>Certain it is that the figure of +Francis, second Duke of Guise, surnamed +the Great, occupies, upon the +canvass of French history, a far more +remarkable and important place than<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +that of any one of the three kings +whose reigns were cotemporary with +his power. Early distinguished in +arms, his generosity, urbanity, and +irresistible valour made him the idol +of the army, whilst the prudence and +precocious wisdom he inherited from +his father, rendered him invaluable +at the council board, and secured him +the favour of his sovereign; to such +a point that Henry II. had no secrets +from him, but caused all important +despatches to be communicated to +him as punctually as they were to +himself. Nor was his brother Charles +inferior to him in talent, although +their difference of profession rendered +its display less striking in the cardinal. +Both possessed of admirable tact and +judgement in the conduct of public +affairs, the one was not more terrible +in the battle-field than the other was +skilful and seductive in diplomatic +negotiations, and in the graceful intercourse +of private life. The cardinal's +learning and eloquence, his fine countenance, +his dignified bearing, his +richly-stored memory, combined to +exercise a powerful fascination upon +all he met. "Had I the elegance of +Monsieur le Cardinal de Lorraine," +said Theodore de Beze one day, when +mounting his horse to leave Rheims, +where he had had a conference with +the accomplished prelate, "I should +expect to convert half the persons in +France to the religion I profess."</p> + +<p>At the date of the death of Claude +of Lorraine, Charles V. was the sole +survivor of the three remarkable +sovereigns who had simultaneously +filled the three most important European +thrones. With him the Duke +and Cardinal now impelled Henry II. +into a war, which had for its real +object the realisation of a bold and +extensive scheme greatly to increase +the authority of France in Europe, +and at the same time to establish the +omnipotence of the Guises in France. +One of the most remarkable events +of this war was the siege of Metz, in +which large ill-fortified place the +Duke, with a small number of men, +was exposed to the assaults of an +army consisting of one hundred thousand +infantry, twenty-three thousand +horse, and one hundred and twenty +pieces of artillery. Guise displayed +extraordinary skill and energy, leading +sorties himself, and even issuing +forth at the head of a mere handful of +men to skirmish with the enemy. +Fortunately he had had time to lay +in good store of provisions; but his +cannon were few in number and for +the most part unserviceable, and he +was fain to defend with falconets and +other small guns, the breaches which +the Imperialists soon made in his +walls. In an action that occurred +during the siege, in the neighbourhood +of Nancy, Claude de Guise—that +brother of the Duke who, when a mere +youth, had powerfully and valiantly +contributed to deliver him, in front of +Boulogne, from an overwhelming +number of assailants—was taken +prisoner. Thrice wounded, and with +his horse killed under him, he had no +choice but to yield or die. This disaster +deprived Metz of a gallant +defender, and plunged Guise and the +whole army into deep affliction; the +Duke, however, consoling himself by +the resolution to make the Emperor +dearly pay for his brother's ransom, +and by the reflection that d'Aumale +had not yielded until he was knocked +down and had a cocked pistol at his +throat. The sorties continued with great +vigour, but at the expense of many +wounded men, of whom so large a +proportion died, for want of efficient +medical assistance, that a rumour +gained credit that the drugs were +poisoned. Guise begged the King to +send him Ambrose Paré with a stock +of fresh medicaments, and, by the +connivance of an Italian officer in the +Imperialist camp, that skilful leech +was introduced at midnight into the +town, with the apothecary Daigue +and a horse-load of medical stores. +Paré was bearer of a letter from the +King, thanking Guise and the other +princes and nobles for all they had +done and were doing to preserve his +town of Metz, and assuring them he +would remember and reward their +services. Thus encouraged, and confident +in his troops, Guise wrote to +the King, with whom he found means +constantly to correspond in cypher, +that Metz could hold out six months +without succour. On the other hand +the Imperialists redoubled their efforts +for success. The Emperor, who lay +at Thionville, sick of the gout and +expectant of triumph, at last judged<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +his presence indispensable for the +fortunate conclusion of the siege, and +made his appearance in the camp, +mounted on an Arab horse, "his face +very pale and wasted, his eyes sunken, +his head and beard white." His +coming was the signal for so great a +salvo of artillery and small arms, that +the besieged flew to arms, expecting +a general attack. Until the neighbouring +castle of La Horgne could be +prepared for his reception, he took up +his quarters in a small wooden house, +hastily constructed with the ruins of +an abbey. "A fine palace," he said, +"when I shall receive in it the keys +of Metz." But the keys were long in +coming, although the fierceness of the +attack was redoubled—fourteen thousand +cannon-shots being fired against +the ramparts in one day, the noise of +which was said to have been heard +beyond the Rhine, at forty leagues +from Metz. The constancy of the +besieged was a match for the fury of +the assailants. Breaches were diligently +repaired, and sorties continued—the +French actually seeking the +Imperialists under their tents. Suddenly +the latter changed the point of +attack, and directed their cannonade +against one of the very strongest parts +of the rampart, behind which the +besieged hastened to construct a +second wall, also of great strength. +The sudden change of plan is attributed +by Ambrose Paré in his <cite>Voyage +à Metz</cite>, to a stratagem employed by +Guise. The Duke, according to +the learned physician and chronicler, +wrote a letter to Henry II. with the +intention of its being intercepted by +the enemy, in which he said, that if +Charles V. persisted in his plan of +attack, he would be compelled to +raise the siege, but that a very different +result was to be apprehended, if +unfortunately the enemy directed his +attention to a certain point, cunningly +indicated in the despatch. Sewn, +with an affectation of mystery, under +the doublet of a clumsy peasant, this +letter was destined for the perusal of +the Duke of Alva, one of whose +patrols did not fail to seize and search +the unfortunate messenger, who was +forthwith hanged. Misled by the information +thus obtained, the besiegers +changed the position of their batteries. +In two days a breach was effected, +the old wall crumbling into the ditch, +amidst the acclamations of the assailants. +But their joy was exchanged +for rage and disgust when, upon the +subsidence of the dust, they beheld a +second wall in rear of the breach. The +French began to scoff and abuse them, +but Guise commanded silence, under +pain of death, lest some traitor should +take advantage of the tumult to convey +information to the enemy; whereupon +his soldiers fastened live cats to the +end of their pikes, whose discordant +cries mocked the enemy. The enthusiasm +of the besieged now knew no +bounds. Men, women, and young +girls toiled day and night to strengthen +the inner wall. Guise's gay and encouraging +words gave confidence to +all. Collecting his soldiers upon the +breach, which was ninety feet wide: +"I rejoice," he said, "that the enemy +have at last overthrown this barrier, +more useful to them than to you. You +have so often visited them in their +camp, that it is only just they should +have an opportunity of reconnoitring +the town upon whose capture they so +boastfully reckoned." Charles ordered +the assault; but when his troops +saw the French crowning the breach, +with Guise at their head, they recoiled +as if already attacked, and neither +entreaties nor threats could move +them forward. "How is it," the +Emperor had exclaimed with a great +oath, when he saw the gaping breach, +"that they do not enter? It is so +large and level with the ditch; <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">vertu +de Dieu!</i> what means this?" He +had himself conveyed in a litter to +the foremost ranks, to animate the +soldiers by his presence. When he +beheld their retreat, he mournfully +desired to be carried back to his quarters. +"Formerly," he said, "I was +followed to the fight, but I see that I +have now no men around me; I must +bid adieu to empire and immure myself +in a monastery; before three +years are over, I will turn Franciscan." +Finally, on the 26th December, +provisions running short, and +his army weakened one-third by sickness +and the sword, Charles, with a +sad heart, raised the siege, uttering, +in the bitterness of his shame and disappointment, +the well-known words, +"I plainly see that Fortune, like a +true woman, prefers a young king to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +an old emperor." The imperial +camp and artillery crossed the +Moselle, and in the night the Duke of +Alva evacuated his position, leaving +behind a quantity of stores and tents. +Guise, who had expressed, that very +evening, in a letter to his brother the +Cardinal, his conviction that the Emperor +would never endure the shame +of abandoning the siege, was greatly +astonished in the morning to find that +the enemy had decamped. His skill +and constancy had triumphed, and +France was saved from invasion. +When he reappeared at court, the +King embraced him with transport, +and called him his brother. "You +have vanquished me as well as the +Emperor," said Henry, "by the +obligations you have laid me under."</p> + +<p>The Duke of Guise's humanity after +the siege did him as much honour +as his bravery during it. A large +number of sick men remained in the +Imperialist camp; the rearguard of +the retreating army were in a pitiable +state, and, unable to proceed, yielded +themselves ready prisoners. The +commander of a troop of Spanish +cavalry, pursued by the Prince of <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">la +Roche-sur-Yon</i>, who would fain have +brought him to battle, suddenly faced +about, exclaiming, "How should we +have strength to defend ourselves, +when you see we have not enough +left to fly?" In the hospitals of +Metz and Thionville, the sick and +wounded Imperialists were carefully +tended by order of Guise; non-combatant +prisoners were sent back to +the Duke of Alva, with the offer of +covered boats to transport his exhausted +soldiers; the bodies of the +dead received suitable burial. The +magnanimous general's courtesy and +humanity bore their fruits. In the +following campaign, when the town +of Therouenne, in Picardy, was surprised +by the Imperialists, the Germans +and Flemings were putting inhabitants +and garrison to the sword, +without distinction of age or sex, +when the Spanish officers, with a +lively and grateful remembrance of +the good treatment received from +Guise and the French, united their +voices and efforts to check the carnage. +"<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Bonne guerre, compagnons,</i>" +they cried; "<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">souvenez-vous de la courtoisie +de Metz!</i>"</p> + +<p>It was during the following campaign +(1554) that there occurred the +first marked manifestations of discord +between the Duke of Guise and the +Admiral de Coligny. In the combat +of Renty, near St Omer, Coligny +commanded the infantry, in his quality +of colonel-general of that arm. Victory +declared itself for the French; +already many trophies had been taken, +and heavy loss inflicted on the Imperialists, +who were on the brink of a +general rout, when Guise "feeling" +says M. de Bouillé, "that he was +not supported by the Constable de +Montmorency—the retreat also, according +to a report current at the +time, having been sounded <em>by the +breath of envy</em>—was unable to follow +up his advantage, and could but +maintain himself on the field, whilst +the Imperialists, although defeated, +succeeded in entering the besieged +fort." The chief merit of this imperfect +victory was attributed by the +Constable to his nephew Coligny, who, +on his part, was said to have asserted +that, during the heat of the fight, Guise +had not been in his right place. This +led, upon the evening of the action, +to a violent altercation, which would +have ended with drawn swords but +for the intervention of the King, in +whose tent it occurred. He compelled +them to embrace; but the reconciliation +was only skin-deep, and from +that day forwards a rancorous dislike +was substituted for the close intimacy +which had existed in their youth between +these two great soldiers, and +which had been carried to such a +point that they "could not live without +each other, wearing the same +colours, and dressing in the same +manner." Henceforward they were +constant antagonists, the chiefs of two +parties under whose banners nobles, +soldiers, and courtiers ranged themselves, +according to the dictates of +their sympathies or interests. And +soon their rivalry for fame and influence +was inflamed and envenomed +by the ardour of religious passions, +and of combats for their respective +creeds.</p> + +<p>It is here impossible to trace, even +in outline, the events that crowded +the reign of Henry II., and in which +the Duke, the Cardinal, and their brother +d'Aumale played a most conspicuous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +part. It was a constant succession +of battles and intrigues, for +the most part terminating, in spite of +formidable foes both in the field and +at court, to the advantage of the +Guises. And when, a few weeks +after the battle of St Quintin, so disastrous +to the French arms—where +the Constable de Montmorency, who +had boasted beforehand of victory, +beheld his entire army slain or taken, +and himself a prisoner—the Duke of +Guise returned from Italy, "to save +the state," as the King himself expressed +it, he found himself at the +utmost pinnacle of power a subject +could possibly attain. On the very +day of his arrival, Henry declared +him lieutenant-general of the French +armies, in and out of the kingdom; +a temporary dignity, it is true, but +one superior to that of Constable, and +which usually was bestowed only in +times of regency and minority. That +nothing should be wanting to the +exorbitant authority thus conferred +upon the man to whom sovereign and +nation alike were wont to turn in the +day of danger and disaster, the King +addressed to all the provincial authorities +particular injunctions to obey +the orders of the Duke of Guise as +though they emanated from himself; +and truly it was remarked, says +Dauvigny in his <cite>Vies des Hommes +Illustres</cite>, that never had monarch in +France been obeyed more punctually +and with greater zeal. The whole +business of the country now rested +upon the shoulders of Guise. But +even whilst thus exalting him, Henry, +conscious of his own weakness, and +haunted, perhaps, by his father's +dying injunction, was actually plotting +how to lessen the power of his great +subject, so soon as the period of peril +should have passed, during which his +services were indispensable. With +strange infatuation, the feeble monarch +expected to be able to clip at +will the wings of that soaring influence, +when victory over the foreigner +and the liberation of the country +should have confirmed its domination.</p> + +<p>Invested with his new dignities, +whose importance his sagacity fully +appreciated, Guise, with the least +possible delay, set out for Compiègne, +which, since the recent disasters of +the French arms, was a frontier town. +Those disasters, he felt, could be +effectually repaired only by a brilliant +feat of arms, at once useful to the +state, and flattering to the national +pride. Upon such a one he resolved. +Calais, now upwards of two centuries +in possession of the English, to the +great humiliation of France, was the +object of destined attack. Skilled in +the stratagems of war, the Duke contrived, +by a series of able manœuvres, +to avert suspicion of his real design, +until, on the 1st January 1558, he +suddenly appeared before the ramparts +of Calais. The siege that ensued has +been often narrated. It terminated, +after an obstinate resistance, in the +capitulation of the garrison, which +had scarcely been executed, when an +English fleet appeared off the port, +bearing succours that came too late. +The triumph excited indescribable +astonishment and joy throughout +France. It was a splendid revenge +for the defeat of St Quintin, and produced +a marked change in the sentiments +of several foreign potentates, +who believed that reverse to have +prostrated the French power for some +time to come. The Grand Signior +offered the co-operation of his fleet, +and the German princes hastened, +with redoubled good-will, the levies +that had been demanded of them. +Pope Paul IV., when congratulating +the French ambassador, pronounced +the highest eulogiums on Guise, and +declared the conquest of Calais preferable +to that of half England. At +court, the partisans of the Constable +were in dismay, and tried to lessen +the merit of the victor by attributing +its success to the adoption of a plan +sketched by Coligny. But even if +this were true, the merit of the execution +was all the Duke's own. Upon +the heels of this triumph, quickly followed +the capture of Guines and the +evacuation by the English of the +castle of Hames, their last possession +in the county of Oye. "In less +than a month," says M. de Bouillé, +"Francis of Lorraine had accomplished +the patriotic but difficult +enterprise so often and fruitlessly +attempted during two centuries, and +had cancelled the old proverb applied +in France, in those days, to generals +of slight merit, of whom it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +derisively said, 'He will never drive +the English out of France.'"</p> + +<p>Henry II., accompanied by the +Dauphin, the Cardinals of Lorraine +and Guise, and several nobles of the +court, made a journey to Calais, +which he entered with great pomp. +The object of this expedition was to +sustain the courage and zeal of the +troops, who endured much fatigue +and hardship, in that inclement +season and in the midst of the +marshes. The King also wished to +testify his gratitude to his lieutenant-general, +showing him great confidence, +referring to him all who requested +audience on business, and presenting +him, in the most flattering terms, +with a house in Calais. The Duke +returned with Henry to Paris, where +great feasts and rejoicings were held +in his honour, and, on occasion of the +Dauphin's marriage with Mary Queen +of Scots, which shortly followed, +Guise filled, in the absence of Montmorency, +the office of grand-master, +which he long had coveted. Concurrently, +however, with this great +apparent favour, Henry was secretly +uneasy at the power and pretensions +of the family of Guise, and +maintained a constant and confidential +correspondence with their inveterate +enemy the Constable de Montmorency. +On the other hand the +Guises were on their guard, labouring +to countermine and defeat +the intrigues levelled against them. +Urged on by his brother, and feeling +that, in their position, if they did not +advance they must recede, the Duke +directed all his efforts to an effectual +concentration in his own hands of the +entire military power of the kingdom. +Should he fail in this, he at least was +resolved to leave none in those of his +rivals. By this time the progress of +the Reformed religion in France had +attracted great attention. It was an +abomination in the eyes of Henry; +and of this the Duke and Cardinal +took advantage to work the downfall +of d'Andelot, brother of Coligny, and +colonel-general of the French infantry, +the only military commander who at +that moment caused them any uneasiness. +Accused of heresy, and summoned +before the King, who received +him kindly, and, expecting he would so +reply as to disconcert his enemies, +"commanded him to declare, in presence +of all the court, his belief with +respect to the holy sacrifice of mass; +d'Andelot proudly replied that his +gratitude for the King's favours doubtless +rendered entire devotedness incumbent +upon him, but that his soul +belonged to God alone; that, enlightened +by the torch of Scripture, he +approved the doctrines of Calvin, and +considered mass a horrible profanation +and an abominable invention of +man." Furious at what he deemed a +blasphemy, the King, who was at +supper, snatched a basin from the +table and hurled it at d'Andelot; but +it struck the Dauphin. He was then +tempted, says one of his historians, to +pierce the offender with his sword, but +finally contented himself with sending +him to prison, and the post of colonel-general +was bestowed upon Montluc, +an ex-page of Guise's grandfather, +and a devoted partisan of the house +of Lorraine. This brave Gascon +officer at first scrupled to accept it, for +he feared to incur the hatred of the +Colignys and the Constable. Wily +and wary, like most of his countrymen, +he declared himself willing to +serve as a private soldier under the +Duke, but modestly declined the command +offered him. The King insisting, +he alleged a dysentery, as rendering +him incapable of the needful +activity. This and other objections +being overruled, he took possession of +his important command, and speedily +proved himself worthy to hold it—notably +at the siege of Thionville on +the Moselle. This fortress, one of the +strongest the Imperialists owned, was +defended by Jean de Caderebbe, a +brave gentleman of Brabant, at the +head of three thousand picked men. +The Dukes of Guise and Nevers, and +Marshal Strozzi, were the leaders of the +besieging army; Montluc joined them +on the eve of the opening of the batteries, +and did excellent service. On +the fifteenth day of the siege, Guise +was in the trenches, talking to Strozzi, +on whose shoulder his hand rested, +when the Marshal was struck by an +arquebuse ball, a little above the +heart. On feeling himself hit, "<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Ah! +tête Dieu, Monsieur</i>," exclaimed this +brave and able general, "the King +loses to-day a good servant, and your +Excellency also." He did himself no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +more than justice. Guise was deeply +affected, but, repressing his emotion, +he tried to fix Strozzi's thoughts on +religion. The veteran's death was +less exemplary than his life; he died +in profession of unbelief; and Guise, +much scandalised, but perhaps doubly +furious at the thought that the soul as +well as the body of his old comrade had +perished by the sudden manner of his +death, prosecuted the siege with fresh +ardour, eager for revenge, and suppressing +for the moment, as far as +he was able, the disastrous news, +which could not but produce a most +unfavourable impression. Valiantly +seconded by Montluc and Vieilleville, +on the 22d June, two days after +Strozzi's death, he received the capitulation +of the garrison. His triumph +was well earned. Besides the exhibition, +throughout the siege, of the +genius and inventive resource that +constitute a general of the highest +order, he had toiled and exposed himself +like a mere subaltern, constantly +under fire, personally superintending +the pioneers and artillerymen, and +rarely sleeping; so that it was no +wonder (considering he had not had +a single night's rest during the operations +against Thionville) that on the +1st July, when preparing for the siege +of the rich little town of Arlon, he +complained of being very drowsy, and +left Montluc to invest the place—himself +retiring to bed in a cottage, and +giving orders to let him sleep till he +awoke of himself. "It is very quick +work," he observed, crossing himself, +when he was the next day informed, +in reply to his inquiry whether the +batteries had opened fire, that Montluc +had surprised and taken the place +in the night.</p> + +<p>Whilst Guise was thus not only rendering +great services himself, but +bringing forward leaders whose exploits +honoured the French arms, in +other quarters affairs went less +favourably for France. Near Dunkirk, +Marshal Thermes was beaten and +taken prisoner, and Guise, whose frequent +lot it was to repair the blunders +or misfortunes of less capable generals, +marched to Picardy; on the +frontier of which province, at a grand +review passed by Henry II., the +Duke's son and successor, Henry, +Prince of Joinville, then but eight +years old, appeared for the first time +in public, with his cousin, the Count +of St Vallier, son of the Duke +d'Aumale. Accompanied by their +preceptors and some other gentlemen, +and mounted on ponies, they rode +through the ranks, until they reached +the troops commanded by Montluc. +"<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Cà, çà</i>, my little princes," exclaimed +that brave captain, "dismount; +for I was brought up in +the house of which you are issue, +which is the house of Lorraine, where +I was page, and I will be the first +to put arms in your hands." The +two cousins dismounted, and Montluc, +taking off the little silken <em>robons</em> +that covered their shoulders, placed +a pike in the hand of each of them. +"I hope," he said, "that God will +give you grace to resemble your +fathers, and that I shall have brought +you good fortune by being the first +to invest you with arms. To me +they have hitherto been favourable. +May God render you as brave as you +are handsome, and sons of very good +and generous fathers." After this +species of martial baptism, the two +children, conducted by Montluc, +passed along the front of the troops, +objects of the admiration and good +wishes of men and officers. A few +months later, one of them was dead; +the other, heir to most of the great +qualities, whether good or bad, that +distinguished his race, lived to prosecute, +and at one time almost to +realise, the most ambitious designs +his father and grandfather had conceived. +The fair-haired boy of the +review at Pierrepont, was the stern +<em>Balafré</em> of the wars of the League.</p> + +<p>The spring of the year 1559 found +the Guises in marked disfavour with +the King. The great services of the +Duke, the capture of Calais and Thionville, +and the many other feats of +arms by which he had reduced the +power of the enemy, at moments when +it was about to be fatal to France, +were insufficient to counterbalance +the alarm felt by Henry II. at his +and the Cardinal's influence and ambition. +The star of the Constable +was in the ascendant. Chiefly by +his intervention, a disadvantageous +peace was concluded, and, at his request, +d'Andelot was recalled to +court. Montmorency and Coligny<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +triumphed. The efforts of the Protestants +combined with court intrigues +to ruin the credit of the house +of Lorraine. The two brothers were +attacked on all sides, and in every +manner: epigram and satire furiously +assailed them, and they were denounced +as aspiring, one to the tiara, +the other to the crown of France. +However doubtful—or at least remote +from maturity—these projects were, +they were yet sufficiently probable for +their denunciation to produce the +desired effect on the mind of Henry, +already writhing impatiently under +the domination of the Guises, against +whom he was further prejudiced by +his mistress, the Duchess de Valentinois, +(Diane de Poitiers,) still influential, +in spite of her threescore winters. +Never had circumstances been +so menacing to the fortunes of the +Guises; and perhaps it was only the +subtle and temporising line of conduct +they adopted in this critical conjuncture, +that saved them from utter disgrace +and downfall. Things had +been but a short time in this state, +and already, from the skilful manœuvres +of the Cardinal, their side of +the balance acquired an upward inclination, +when the whole aspect of +affairs was changed by the death of +Henry II. With the reign of his +feeble successor, there commenced for +the restless princes of Lorraine a new +epoch of power and renown.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>MY PENINSULAR MEDAL.</h2> + +<h3>BY AN OLD PENINSULAR.</h3> + + +<h4>PART VIII.—CHAPTER XIX.</h4> + +<p>Now for the fight. On the morning +of the battle of Toulouse we left +Grenade. It was known amongst us +that the battle was coming off; and +we started in the expectation of passing +the night either in the city itself, +or in its immediate vicinity. We +ascended towards the city by the left +bank of the Garonne, but reached a +pontoon bridge, which enabled us to +cross to the right bank, where the +main body of our troops was posted. +The fight had commenced. We heard +the firing as we advanced; and while +we approached the scene of action, it +became gradually louder and more +distinct. Immediately in the rear of +the British lines we halted, not knowing +the ground, and withdrew from the +road into a field which was close at +hand, in order that our numerous +party might not prove an obstacle to +passing troops, ammunition, or artillery. +Our forces held the low ground, +and closed, in a sort of semicircle, +around the heights occupied by the +French. As it so happened that I +was not only at this battle, but in it, +I here beg leave to relate the circumstances +which led to my finding myself +in a position where, as a civilian, +I was so little wanted, and so much +out of my ordinary sphere of duty.</p> + +<p>Sancho did it all. We were sitting +upon our nags, speculating upon the +fight, and seeing all that could be +seen, till we began to think we knew +something of what was going on. At +this moment rode up from the rear, +coming across the fields, an old officer +of rank, a major-general, well known +at headquarters, without aide-de-camp, +orderly, or any kind of attendant. +He inquired eagerly, "Where +are the troops?—Where are the +troops?" We pointed forward; little +was visible but trees. He looked +rather at a loss, but turned his horse's +head in the direction we had indicated. +That villain Sancho, seeing +another horse go on, snorted, and +pulled at the bridle. He was tired of +standing still. I, ever indulgent to +Sancho, followed the old general, and +soon overtook him. "I believe I +know the position of the troops, sir. +Will you give me leave to show +you?"</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir, thank you," said +he; "I shall really be much obliged."</p> + +<p>We rode on till we reached a British +regiment, drawn up in line. With<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +renewed acknowledgments he then +took his leave. The air was musical +above our heads with whistling and +humming missiles. I was now fairly +upon the ground, and didn't like to go +back.</p> + +<p>There was a lull in the fight. The +spectacle was singular. Some firing +was kept up on both sides, but not +sufficient to obscure the view of the +French position, which rose immediately +in front, a bare range of hills, +crowned by their redoubts. The +atmosphere was bright; and though +the skirmishers on the declivity were +discoverable only by small white jets +of smoke, as they fired from time to +time, every movement of the enemy +on the summit, with the sky for its +background, was perfectly visible. I +noticed a single horseman, probably +an aide-de-camp bearing orders, as +distinct and diminutive as if seen +through the wrong end of a telescope. +You might perceive the very action of +his horse, that laborious up-and-down +gallop of the French manége, which +throws away so much of the animal's +strength, and sacrifices speed without +securing elegance.</p> + +<p>The combat, at this moment, was +renewed, and our troops went to work +in earnest. The Spanish army +ascended the hill to assault the +enemy's redoubts. This movement, +at first, had all the regularity of a +review. But the redoubts opened +their fire; as the Spaniards moved +up, the smoke rolled down; and, +when the wind swept it away, their +broken bands were seen in precipitate +retreat, followed by a large body of +the French, who swarmed out from +their intrenchments. Instantly, and +just in front of me, our artillery +opened upon the pursuing foe. The +round-shot plumped into their columns, +knocking up clods as high as a +house; and the enemy, not relishing +this salutation, hastily fell back to +their former position. Sancho now +became a dreadful plague. He had +for some time been getting unquiet, +and, with the continual firing, he +grew worse and worse. I believe +this was his first battle, as it was +mine. Not content with a little extra +restiveness at every fresh discharge of +artillery, he had worked himself into +a state of chronic excitement, and, +at intervals, attempted to bolt. It +was clear I must get rid of Sancho, +or see no more of the fight; so I +deposited him in a stable, under care +of a cottager, in the adjoining village.</p> + +<p>Still moving towards the left, along +the base of the hill, I reached a part +of the British position, where a number +of our troops were waiting to +storm the heights, when the flank +movement against the enemy's right, +which was his weakest point, should +be sufficiently advanced. All at once +I plumped upon "Cousin Tom," whom +I had not met since he embarked, three +years before, a raw subaltern, at Portsmouth. +There he now stood, as large +as life, rough and ugly, at the head of +his regiment, a regular "Old Peninsular;" +and on him had devolved the +duty, as he gave me to understand, +of "taking those fellows up the hill." +This service, I thought, would have +fallen to some officer of higher rank; +but Tom explained. The regiment +having been reduced, either by losses +or detachment, its numbers in the field +were small, and he, being the senior +officer present, of course had to +"carry them up." "Come," said he, +"we are going to take a look at those +monsieurs above there; you may as +well go with us."</p> + +<p>The proposal was coolly made, so +I took it coolly. "With all my +heart," said I. "You know what is +the feeling towards an amateur. If +he makes an ass of himself, he's +laughed at; and if he gets hit, they +only say, it serves him right. If it's +of any use, I'll go with pleasure."</p> + +<p>"Use?" said Tom; "the greatest +use. Why, I want to ask you twenty +questions about friends in England. +Besides, you know, if I am knocked +over, you can pick me up."</p> + +<p>"Very well, then; and you can +do the same for me."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said cousin Tom; "I +don't promise that. Got my men to +attend to. If I am hit, you must +take care of me. If you are hit, you +must take care of yoursel——Oh, +that's the signal. Come along." Away +we went, up the hill.</p> + +<p>Rank and file—double-quick time—a +capital pace for opening the +chest. Tom took it easy, trotting on +at a steady pace, and assailing me +with a running fire of questions;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +while the row that had already commenced +above prevented my returning +categorical replies. "Is your +father at sea now?"—Bang! from +one of the big guns in the French +batteries right over our heads. "Got +any brandy?"—A shout from a thousand +throats, in the rush and shock +of a charge with bayonets. "Had +breakfast this morning?"—Pop! +pop! pop! a running fire of musketry. +Pop! pop! pop! "Got any +cigars?"—Bang! bang! the big guns +at it again. "When did you hear +from your mother?" A new sound, +less loud and sudden, but, from its +peculiarity, distinct amidst the din; +a spiteful, whirling, whizzing noise, +ten thousand skyrockets combined in +one; not, though, like the skyrocket, +first loud, then less audible—quite +the contrary. Commencing with a +faint and distant hiss, it grew louder +and louder, came singing on, nearer +and nearer, till a shell dropped a +few yards in front of our column! +The hiss was now an angry roar, like +the blowing off of steam. There lay +the bottled demon, full in our path, +threatening instant destruction, and +daring us to advance. Our column +halted. "Hurra! my lads," cried +Cousin Tom, waving his sword. +"Come along, old Five-and-threepennies. +Push by it at once, before +it <em>spreads</em>." The game old Five-and-threepennies +gave a shout—rushed +forward—got by in time; each yelping +and capering as he passed the +fizzing foe. Bang went the shell. +For a few seconds I was stone deaf. +Never felt such an odd sensation. +Not the deafness, but the return of +hearing. First, perfect silence in the +midst of the turmoil—then the crack! +crack! bang! bang! as if you had +suddenly flung open a door. Not a +man of us was hurt. "Got an English +paper?" said Tom.</p> + +<p>"I've got some intelligence for +you, old chap, not in this morning's +<cite>Times</cite>. Just look up there, in front."</p> + +<p>The view in front was striking and +picturesque. Right above us, dimly +visible through the smoke, on the +verge of the platform or table-land +which we were mounting to assault, +appeared a regiment of French infantry, +enough of them to eat us up, +advancing upon us with an irregular +fire, and led on by their colonel. He +rode a showy horse; and, hat in +hand, waved them on, while his +white hairs streamed in the wind, +and his whole bearing announced the +brave old soldier. "We must form +line," said Tom. It was done forthwith, +with steadiness, order, and +rapidity. "Make ready—present—fire." +Crack! went all the muskets +together. I saw the gallant old +colonel, with outspread arms, tumbling +from his horse.—"Charge!" +We rushed upon the foe; but, when +the smoke had cleared away, found +no foe to fight withal. Nothing was +visible, save their knapsacks in the +distance, poppling up and down in +the smoke, as they scampered off. +We still continued advancing in pursuit, +and now were fairly in for it, +half choked with dust and sulphur. +If it be asked, how far I personally +contributed to the triumphs of that +glorious day, I beg leave to answer:—Unquestionably +my arm performed +prodigies of valour; of that there +neither is, nor can be, the shadow of +a doubt. But as I should have felt +it extremely difficult to give a distinct +account of my exploits if questioned +on the day, why, of course you +won't expect it now, after the lapse +of six-and-thirty years. Suffice it to +say, we made good our footing on +the platform, drove the enemy from +their position, occupied it ourselves, +took possession of their redoubts, and +formed, with the rest of the British +forces, on the summit of the heights. +The day was our own. But there +was one unfortunate circumstance to +damp our exultation; Cousin Tom +was missing. A sergeant now informed +me he was wounded, and had +gone to the rear.</p> + + +<h4>CHAPTER XX. AND LAST.</h4> + +<p>As victory had crowned our efforts, +and my valuable services were now +no longer required, I determined to +look for Cousin Tom, and walked +down the hill for that purpose. At +its base, I entered a long thicket or +shrubbery. There, amongst the trees, +I found several wounded men, whom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +their comrades were removing off the +ground. No one could give me the +information that I sought; no one +knew anything of Cousin Tom. Saw +a sergeant sitting on a bank, who, I +soon discovered, was also wounded. +He knew no such officer; had seen +no one answering the description. +"What's your injury, sergeant?"</p> + +<p>"A musket-ball in my ankle, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, but hadn't I better help +you to a place of shelter?"</p> + +<p>"Much obliged to you, sir; but I +couldn't walk, even with your support. +I'd rather wait till my turn +comes to be carried, if you've no +objections, sir. Much obliged to you, +equally all the same, sir."</p> + +<p>"As you please. Can I render +you any assistance? What can I do +for you?"</p> + +<p>"If you'd have the kindness, sir, +perhaps you'd be so good and take off +my gaiter. I can't take it off myself, +sir, though I've tried; it does hurt +me so when I stoop forward. I'm +afraid the bleeding will spoil it, sir; +and then I shall be forced to take out +a new pair."</p> + +<p>Having performed this office, and +administered a little brandy both topically +and constitutionally, I once +more ascended the hill, thinking it +possible Cousin Tom might be somewhere +nearer the scene of action. I +inquired and looked in every direction, +but without success. Where +are you, Cousin Tom? This time +my steps brought me into one of the +redoubts, which had been carried by +our troops. When I entered, there +were not a dozen men in it. Sunset +was near, and everything over for +the day. Yet just at that moment, +for what reason I know not, perhaps +for a freak, the enemy thought fit to +open upon this all but unoccupied +post, from their own lines nearer the +city, with a heavy fire of shot and +shell. Bang went a shell, knocking +up bushels of earth and mire. Plump +came a round-shot, into the mud +parapet of the redoubt. It was no +use moving; one place was as hot as +another. So we had nothing to do +for it but to stand still and exchange +grins till the pelting was over. I +then took my leave for the evening. +The day indeed was drawing to a +close as I descended the hill; and +happily I succeeded in reaching the +village, and finding the cottage where +Sancho had been left in charge, just +after it became pitch-dark. A cheering +light streamed through the cottage +window; and, on entering, I +found comfortably seated by the +blazing hearth a veterinary surgeon, +who was there in charge of wounded +horses. He very civilly informed me +there were two good beds, so all was +right with respect to accommodation; +and, more civilly still, invited me to +partake of his supper, which was +boiling on the fire. Not having eaten +a morsel since my early breakfast at +Grenade, and having just discovered +that I was enormously hungry, I +accepted the invitation with glee, +took my seat, and cast many a glance +at the boiling, bubbling, and steaming +kettle. Presently the contents were +turned out into a large, old-fashioned +tureen, and displayed to my eager +gaze a compound of various materials, +the chief of which were a fowl, and—what +d'ye think?—a pig's heart. +Supper excellent. Bed ditto.</p> + +<p>Next day early I resumed my +search for Cousin Tom, but still, alas! +without success. Went from village +to village, inquired from house to +house, searched the whole neighbourhood. +Lots of wounded officers, but +not the man I sought. Throughout +the day my search was unsuccessful. +Towards night I was passing through +a street of scattered houses, a sort of +hamlet, and was beginning to think +of securing a lodging and a dinner. +Wolves rouse at sunset; and I distinctly +felt one gnawing at my +stomach. At this painful juncture, +much to my satisfaction, at the door +of a cottage I discovered a jolly +acquaintance, whom I beg to introduce +as my "Fat Friend." He was +one of the smartest clerks amongst +our civilians, and probably the youngest; +under, rather than over fifteen; +in short, a chubby boy, who somehow +or other had broken away from his +mother's apron-strings, and obtained +a post, which he filled in a way that +did him credit. In one respect he +was precocious; namely, that he soon +proved himself up to all the waggery +and villainy of headquarters. Moreover, +he had a vast idea of maintaining +his importance, and could take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +his own part; was touchy in anything +that affected his manhood; and, +if you offended him, punched your +head; brushed up to fine women, +with a marked preference for a +bouncer. Yet, after all, he was but +an overgrown boy, and often afforded +us sport by his mannish airs. "Ah, +Fatty, is that you? Glad to see you. +Got any room?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty, plenty," said Fatty; +"good entertainment for man and +horse. Glad to see you; and glad to +see the pony. Here, Francisco, take +Sancho, and give him some corn. +Come in, old fellow. Sit down, and +make yourself comfortable. Dreadful +dull here—horrid! Left in charge +of the departmental boxes."</p> + +<p>"I say, Fatty; have you dined?"</p> + +<p>"Dined? We dined an hour ago." +Fatty saw his advantage, and was +resolved to make the most of it.</p> + +<p>"Well, what did you have for +dinner? Got any cold beef?"</p> + +<p>"Why, where have you been?" +said Fatty; "haven't seen you these +two days. Oh, I suppose you got +into Toulouse. Lots of fine gals?"</p> + +<p>"Answer my question, and I'll answer +yours."</p> + +<p>"Come out, old fellow. Let's take +a turn through village before it gets +dark. Dinner? Why, a turkey. Sorry +you were not with us to partake. +Not a morsel left. Picked the old +gobbler clean, drumsticks and all."</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd let me send your +fellow for some beef."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said Fatty, "send him +by all means. Sorry to inform you +it's no use, though. Not a morsel of +rations to be had; not a biscuit. +What, haven't you <cite>dined</cite>?" I saw +he meant to have his joke, so made no +reply.</p> + +<p>There was a dodge, though; my +remedy was in my pocket. Brought +out a cigar, one of my choice grenadiers; +struck a light, blew a fragrant +cloud, took it easy. The rich odour +diffused itself through the apartment.</p> + +<p>Fatty, knowing in cigars, soon discovered +that mine was no common +weed. He first drew a sniff; then +gave utterance to his emotions in a +coaxing and admiring "Oh!" I took +no notice.</p> + +<p>"Come, old fellow," said Fatty; +"hand out one of those."</p> + +<p>"Lost your cigar-case?"</p> + +<p>"No, no; nonsense. Come, give +us one; that's a good chap."</p> + +<p>Failing in his request, Fatty sat +silent and fidgetty. The first finished, +I lit a second.</p> + +<p>Fatty watched his opportunity; +made a vicious grab at the case. I +was too quick for him—knew his +ways. Down he sat again; tried all +the varieties of entreating, threatening, +bullying, wheedling, till cigar the +second was burnt out. When I extracted +the third, Fatty could stand it +no longer; made a rush, and commenced +a ferocious assault, pitching it +in, right and left. The punches came +so fierce and fast, I was at length +compelled, in self-defence, to administer +a slight persuader, and Fatty found +it convenient to resume his seat. He +sat awhile, sulky and all but blubbering; +then hastily rose, and stalked +out of the room in high dudgeon. I +presently found him stationed at the +front door with his hands in his pocket, +very pensive and dignified. Shortly +after, he slipped into the house; Francisco +appeared with the tablecloth and +a bottle of wine; then came half a +turkey and the cold beef. After dinner +we clubbed our resources, and closed +the evening with whisky punch and +prime cigars.</p> + +<p>Next morning early, started afresh +in search of Cousin Tom. Near Toulouse, +fell in with Gingham—told him +my difficulties. "Come up the hill," +said Gingham; "I'll go with you. +There, no doubt, we shall find your +cousin's regiment." On reaching the +summit of the heights, we found our +way in the first instance into the +Colombette redoubt; the same in +which, on the day of the fight, the +brave Forty-second had been suddenly +overwhelmed by a superior force, and +had lost four-fifths of its numbers. +Within the redoubt were standing two +or three privates; they belonged to +the Forty-second. The uniform at +once reminded me of Corporal Fraser, +the trusty companion of my march to +headquarters. I asked one of the +privates, did he know the Corporal. +"He joined about three weeks ago, +sir."</p> + +<p>"Hope he's well. Where is he +now?"</p> + +<p>"He's there, sir," said the man,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +pointing to the parapet of the redoubt. +I looked, but saw no one.</p> + +<p>"The earth," said Gingham, +"seems to have been recently stirred +there. That mound, I think, is not +many days old." Then, addressing +the soldier, "your regiment suffered a +heavy loss. Is that where you buried +after the action?"</p> + +<p>"That's the place, sir." The man +then walked away, as if little disposed +for conversation.</p> + +<p>We did not pause to calculate how +many bodies would fill a space commensurate +with the length, breadth, +and altitude of the soil displaced. +There lay the slain of a gallant regiment, +in the redoubt they had so nobly +won. There lay Corporal Fraser, +who, in all the difficulties of our +march, had shown himself trustworthy, +fearless, intelligent, and energetic. +He had longed to join ere the day of +combat, and had found a soldier's +grave.</p> + +<p>We discovered at length the sergeant +who had informed me of my +cousin's wound. He now pointed to +a large house, near the thicket at the +bottom of the hill. While searching +for Cousin Tom on the day of the +fight, I was close to that same house, +but without seeing it. From our present +elevated position it was distinctly +visible, though not from the low +ground, amongst trees and underwood.</p> + +<p>Our approach to the house led us +through the thicket. While making +our way among the trees, we both, +Gingham and I, came to a halt at the +same instant. The sight which arrested +our steps was new to Gingham, +not to me. I saw, on that spot, an +object that I had seen two days before. +The sergeant whom I had then +found wounded was still sitting there, +on the same bank, in the same attitude! +There he had sat the whole +time, overlooked by the bearers, and +unable to move. Viewed at the distance +of a few paces, his aspect +scarcely appeared changed. It was +the identical figure—I remembered +him at once. But on a nearer inspection, +the alteration was but too manifest. +His eye was glazed, and half +shut. His face was that of a corpse. +He sat up, like a dead man galvanised. +"What, still here, sergeant? Has +nobody come to remove you yet."</p> + +<p>He attempted to speak—paused—at +length found utterance. "Sorry I +didn't accept your offer, sir." His +voice was low and husky, but distinct.</p> + +<p>"Come," said Gingham, "you +mustn't refuse this time. We'll soon +carry you into the house just by."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, sir; thank you, gentlemen. +Would you have the kindness +though—I should be sorry to lose my +gaiter."</p> + +<p>The gaiter secured, we prepared to +lift the sufferer from his seat, and he +on his part made a feeble effort to rise. +The attempt brought on a gush of +pain. For a moment, his features +were distorted with intolerable anguish; +the next, he fainted in our +arms.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said Gingham, thrusting +back into his sidepocket a small +flask which he had just drawn out. +"Now then; away with him at once, +before he recovers. Come, Mr Y——; +you take his shoulders, I'll take his +legs. It may save him further pain."</p> + +<p>We bore the sufferer, still senseless, +to the house. Gingham, not having +a hand to spare, banged at the door +with his foot. It was opened by Mr +Staff-surgeon Pledget, who bowed on +recognising us, but looked rather perplexed +at the unexpected addition to +his duties.</p> + +<p>Pledget gave instant directions for +the accommodation of the wounded +man, and informed me, in reply to +my inquiries for Cousin Tom, that he +had an officer under his care, answering +to my description. Pledget appeared +bewildered, and stood with us +in the passage a few moments, without +speaking. At length he opened the +door of a small chamber close by, and +begged us to enter. He placed chairs +for us, and seated himself on the bed. +"I'm rather exhausted," said he.</p> + +<p>"I fear after such a fight," said +Gingham, "your duties must be heavy +indeed."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes," said Pledget, looking +distressed and rather wild. "I have +had much work, and little assistance; +a long spell, too."</p> + +<p>"Why, you began, I suppose," replied +Gingham, "early on the day of +the fight."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Pledget; "and I've +been at it ever since. Let me see: +two days and two nights, isn't it?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +Yes, and now going on for the third. +Here have I been operating, bandaging, +taking up arteries, taking off +arms and legs, night and day, without +time to lie down, almost without a +moment to eat. In fact," said he, +looking about the room like a man +lost, "this is the first time I've sat +down these eight-and-forty hours."</p> + +<p>Pledget's look bore full testimony +to his toils. Three weeks' illness could +hardly have wrought a greater change. +Nor was his appearance mended by +his garb. He wore a sort of operating +gown similar to that employed +in dissecting; a long pinafore with +sleeves, protecting the whole person +from the chin to the feet, tied round +the middle, and closing with a fold +behind. The front was spotted in +every part with jets of blood from +wounded arteries. Some of the stains +had dried on, and blackened where +they dried; others, more recent, were +still moist and crimson. Blood was +on his unshaven and haggard face; +and on his hands, too, wore marks of +blood.</p> + +<p>Gingham eyed him with a look of +deep concern. "I really fear," said +Gingham, "you've been quite overdone."</p> + +<p>"I did hope, before this," replied +Pledget, "to be relieved by other +gentlemen of my own department. I +have but one medical assistant, and +he, at this moment, can afford me no +help, for I have been forced to leave +him sitting with his finger on a +wounded artery; and if he takes it +off but for a few seconds, the major's +a dead man."</p> + +<p>Pledget now looked like a man that +can't remember what's next. "Oh," +said he, in all absent tone, "so peace +is really concluded. Come, Mr Y——, +suppose we go and look for your +cousin. His case, I'm happy to say, +is not serious. The ball will be extracted +this evening, and then, I hope, +he will do well."</p> + +<p>Pledget spoke, but did not stir. +"By the bye," he added, "you know +Captain Gabion? I think you do. +Oh yes, I recollect; we were all three +fellow-passengers from Lisbon to Falmouth. +No, no, what am I saying? +From Falmouth to Lisbon. His case +is past hope. He can hardly live +through the night."</p> + +<p>Gingham and I rose at once from +our seats. For the moment, the imminent +danger of a man we so highly +esteemed, expelled from my thoughts +even Cousin Tom. Pledget also +rose, as if to lead the way, but again +lapsed into forgetfulness. His mind +was evidently worn out, as well as +his body. "Well," said he, "I'm +glad we've got Toulouse.—Gentlemen, +I beg your pardon. This way, +if you please; up stairs."</p> + +<p>He led the way. Every open +door, as we passed through the spacious +mansion, discovered a room +crowded with wounded and dying +men, in beds, or on the ground. Or, +if we saw not into the apartment, +sounds were heard, which told of +anguish and laceration within. We +were conducted by Pledget into a +large room on the first floor, filled, +like the others, with every form of +suffering. Some, slightly wounded, +sat round the fire, on which cookery +was proceeding in kettles of every +size and shape. One officer, bandaged +round the head, had become +delirious. He alternately laughed +and whimpered, muttered and sang. +Another sat near him, moaning, with +his arm in a sling. A spent cannon +ball had smashed the bones from the +elbow to the wrist, without inflicting +an external wound. Every bed had +an occupant; and many lay upon the +floor, with only a blanket under +them. My eye glanced round the +apartment, and lighted on the pinched +features and pallid visage of Captain +Gabion.</p> + +<p>He lay on his back in bed. Death +was legible in his aspect. His eyes +were all but shut; but, from time to +time, a convulsive twitching of the +muscles suddenly expanded them to +their full width. To all appearance, +he was perfectly insensible. His +breathing was irregular and laborious; +but the expression of his countenance, +except when disfigured by the spasms +which occasionally shot through his +frame, and jerked him from head to +foot, was, as in health, calm and +dignified. Strange indeed were the +vicissitudes, strange was the contrast, +between the rigid tranquillity of one +moment, and the awful distortion of +the next. Now, it was the quivering +play of features pulled by muscular<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +contraction; now, the monumental +repose of marble.</p> + +<p>"I fear," whispered Gingham +to Pledget, "you view the case +unfavourably." Pledget hopelessly +raised his eyes.</p> + +<p>"The Captain has been insensible," +said Pledget, "ever since he was +brought in; and probably will continue +so till he expires."</p> + +<p>We turned from this sad spectacle, +without exchanging a syllable. A +handkerchief was whisked in my +face. I looked round; there was the +man I wanted. In the next bed, +tucked in, with smiling face, little +changed since we parted, a splendid +specimen of the ugly-handsome—those +fellows that make the biggest +holes in ladies' hearts—lay Cousin +Tom. Gingham, my object attained, +forthwith took a temporary leave—had +urgent business in Toulouse—an +appointment—would return as soon +as possible.</p> + +<p>"Fine fellow, that" said Cousin +Tom, craning round, and nodding at +Captain Gabion.</p> + +<p>"Well, Tom," said I; "what's the +matter with <small>YOU</small>? What brought <small>YOU</small> +here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, not much; nothing," replied +Tom, curling out his lips contemptuously, +like a disappointed man; +"only a musket-shot. It won't get +me a step, I'm afraid; no, nor a +pension neither."</p> + +<p>"Well, but how was it? When +was it? We lost you in a moment."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you just how it happened," +said Tom. "You saw the +old colonel knocked over. Ah! +Don't touch the bed; that's a good +fellow. Well. Directly after, you +know, we charged. I was running +on; felt a smart crack in the small +of my leg. Thought it was a stone; +took no notice. A few paces further, +though, found I couldn't walk. The +sergeant looked at my leg; said +'You're wounded, sir.' Wounded I +was, sure enough; and disabled, too. +Got carried to the rear; placed myself +in the doctor's—"</p> + +<p>Here Tom suddenly knit his brows. +His colour changed in an instant +from florid to livid; his whole face +was distorted with pain. Clapping +his handkerchief to his mouth, he +chewed away at it with all his might, +while big drops of sweat started out +on his forehead, and he drew in +breath till the bedclothes heaved. +Next moment he was himself again.</p> + +<p>Once more Tom nodded at the +next bed. "Known him long? The +doctor knows him."</p> + +<p>"We came over from England, all +three of us in a ship."</p> + +<p>"Doctor was out, though, in one +thing," said Cousin Tom. "Told +you he was insensible ever since he +came in. No such thing; this morning +he revived; for about an hour +seemed quite himself. Told me how +he got hit."</p> + +<p>"Then tell me. I must communicate +with his friends in England."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Tom, "the Captain +wasn't on duty here at headquarters; +was doing some field-works +on the left bank of the river, to be +ready for Soult in case of his bolting +again for the south. He heard, +though, that the fight was coming +off; so rode in on the morning. +Found out there was to be a flank +movement to the left; thought he +might as well explore the line of +march; went forward alone. Passed +through the thicket on foot; made his +way from one end to the other. +When he reached the further extremity, +just where our men got such +a pounding afterwards from the guns +on the heights, he looked out for the +enemy's skirmishers; saw no one; +thought he might as well go a little +further. Just then our batteries at +the right opened on the French position; +some of our shots flew too +high, and came clean over the hill +into the lane, just exactly where he +was standing."—Indeed! I thought +of Captain Gabion's dream.—"Well; +he saw one coming; didn't trouble +himself; it seemed spent. Just when +he thought it was going to stop, it +fetched a pitch; took him in the side. +He was found when our troops advanced, +and brought in here." At +this moment the pain returned. Tom +again made wry faces, took another +chew at his handkerchief, and soon +recovered as before.</p> + +<p>"Well, Tom; I'm a leisure man. +What can I do for you? Is there +anything you want?—anything I can +get you?"</p> + +<p>Cousin Tom looked very much as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +if there was something he did want, +yet was backward to speak. "Why," +said he, "I suppose by this time you +can get into Toulouse. I wish you +would make inquiries; try and find +me some—But never mind; it's of no +use. The ball will be extracted this +evening, and to-morrow I shall go in +myself."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, nonsense; I'll go this +instant."</p> + +<p>"Don't be too sure of that, though," +said Tom. "Yesterday morning I +tried it. Told the servant to have my +mule ready; got my things on while +the doctor was sawing away on the +other floor; slipped down stairs; gave +him the go-by. Mounted—rode to +the top of the hill—was riding down +into the city—almost rode into a +French piquet."</p> + +<p>"No fear of that now, Tom; the +city is ours. I saw the French troops +marching out. Come, tell us, old +fellow. What is it you fancy? Anything +the doctor sanctions, you know. +A quarter of mutton?—a dozen of +pigeons?—some prime French sausages?—a +bushel or so of oysters? +What do you say to a brace of +biddies?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no!—oh, no!" said Tom, as +if the very mention of biddies made +him sick. "We were always in advance; +got fowls and turkeys till we +hated the sight of them."</p> + +<p>"Any dish from a French cuisine, +then?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no—oh, no! Nothing French, +nothing Frenchified. What I want, +if it's to be got at all, is not to be got +good, except in England—or the West +Indies."</p> + +<p>"Well, but, you know, Bordeaux +is open; West India produce has come +into the country by ship-loads. What +is it? Come, just tell us, old chap, +and I'll go and get it for you at once, +if it's to be had in Toulouse."</p> + +<p>Tom was not so well as he looked; +and there was evidently something +for which, like other sick persons, +he was inwardly pining. Now that +I had held out a prospect of its +attainment, his cheek flushed, and his +eye gleamed with feverish eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said Tom, "I wish +you would try and get me—but it's no +use; it's a shame to bother you.—I +say, though, can you spare the time? +Have you really nothing to do? Upon +your honour?—I've been longing for +them, day and night, ever since I got +here. Oh, if you could only get me—some +tamarinds!"</p> + +<p>His eye, while he spoke, fixed full +on mine. He watched my countenance +with the anxiety of a dying man when +he makes his last request. "I'll be +off and try this instant," said I, though +really fearing there was little chance +of success.</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you—thank you!" +cried Cousin Tom. I was going. +"Here—here! Come back! I want +to speak to you!" I returned. "Old +fellow," said Tom, with a coaxing, +eager grin, "make haste now, will +you? Bring 'em directly—that's a +good chap."</p> + +<p>"Well, but, you know—if tamarinds +can't be had for love or money, +is there nothing else?"</p> + +<p>"No, stupid—no! Tamarinds, I +say; get me some tamarinds. What +did I tell you? Didn't I tell you +tamarinds? Now then; what are +you waiting for? Cut away, and be +hanged to you! Be off!—be off!"</p> + +<p>I entered the ancient and very interesting +city of Toulouse, and rushed +through streets choked with cars of +wounded men, in search of tamarinds. +The search was tedious, and far from +satisfactory. I inquired at all the +likeliest shops; found only two where +they professed to sell tamarinds. The +samples were similar: a made-up, +sticky mess; a black, nauseous electuary, +with a beastly pharmaceutical +odour, and barely the flavour of +tamarinds.</p> + +<p>It was no pleasant thought returning +to poor Tom with a big gallipot of +this filthy compound stowed in each +of my coat pockets. Yet, though bad +thus to baulk him, it was worse to +keep him in suspense; so I started on +my return with all speed, and, in my +speed, came full butt against a passenger, +who hugged me like a wrestler, +to prevent a mutual capsize.</p> + +<p>"Well, Mr Y——! Glad to see you +so active. Something of importance, +no doubt: official duty, I suppose."</p> + +<p>It was Gingham! I told him my +troubles, my pursuit in behalf of +Cousin Tom, and my disappointment. +Had searched all Toulouse, and could +find no good tamarinds.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Shall be happy to supply you," +said Gingham, "in any quantity your +cousin can require. Got a whole +kegful—capital. Always take some +with me when I visit the Continent. +Got them on Fish-street Hill." We +walked off forthwith to Gingham's +quarters.</p> + +<p>I was speedily on my return to +Cousin Tom, with Gingham for my +companion, and a good jar of prime, +sweet, wholesome, unsophisticated +tamarinds. On approaching Tom's +bed, I held up the jar in triumph. +Tom raised himself without saying a +word, tucked his handkerchief under +his chin, and sat up, poor fellow, like +a child, with eyes half-closed and +mouth half-open, eager to be fed. In +went a spoonful. The next instant—bolt!—it +was gone! What a swallow! +He sat as before, ready for another. +A second allowance vanished with +equal speed. Down it goes! Why, +it's like feeding a young rook!—Tom +now laid himself down again, +exhausted. "Here," said he; and +made me a present of a handful of +tamarind stones. "Now put a good +lot in that jug, and fill it up with +water."</p> + +<p>While the drink was mixing, an +unusual sound called our attention to +the adjoining bed. Captain Gabion +was fast sinking. His respiration, +laborious from the first, had now +become painfully audible; in fact, he +did not breathe, he gasped. The +convulsive movements had ceased. +His face retained its natural expression; +but there was that in his look +which told us he was a dying man. +I felt at the moment an impression,—He +is not insensible! His lips moved. +Surely he is trying to speak! He +strove to fix his eyes on us, but could +not. I stooped down, observing his +lips again in motion. Yes, he was +speaking. I caught only the words—"On +the platform."</p> + +<p>"The Calvinet platform?" I whispered +in reply. "Is that the spot +where you wish—?"</p> + +<p>Feebly, tremulously he pressed my +hand, which had just before taken his. +I had caught his last request, then; a +grave on the summit of Mount Rave, +the key of the French position, where +the table-land, crowned with redoubts, +had been carried by our troops. His +breathing became gradually feebler +and less perceptible. The moment +when it ceased entirely, no one present +could determine. This only was +evident:—a minute before, he had +given signs of life; and now, he had +passed into another world!</p> + +<p>Cousin Tom's bullet was extracted +the same afternoon, with immediate +relief to the patient. During the operation +I was present, by Tom's request; +and friendship, let me tell you, +has more pleasing duties than that +of attending on such emergencies. +Tom, however, made it as agreeable +as he could. Throughout the process +he viciously stared me full in the face, +grinning most horribly from time to +time, half in agony, half in fun. +When the forceps was produced, he +caught a glimpse of that terrific implement, +and twisted his ugly mug +into such a comical grimace, that +mine, spite of the solemnity of the +occasion, was screwed into a smile. +Tom thereupon clenched his fist, with +a look that said ferociously, "Laugh +again, and I'll punch your eye."</p> + +<p>The bullet, doctor, had lodged between +the bones of the leg, a little +above the ankle, and, I need not inform +you, came out rather flattened. +Tom kept it as a bijou, in a red morocco +case made express by an artist +in Toulouse. Tom called it his pill-box. +Neither bone was broken; but +the strain of this disagreeable visitant +wedged in between them, and rending +them apart, had occasioned from +time to time those awful twinges, +which Tom assuaged by taking a +chew at his handkerchief. The +enemy removed, he not only found +himself in a state of comparative +ease, but was relieved from the constitutional +irritation which had begun +to manifest itself by hardness of +pulse, dryness of the mouth, parched +lips, a dull, hectic, brickdust-coloured +patch on each cheek, a feverish lustre +of the eye, and an enormous appetite +for tamarinds.</p> + +<p>The operation, though, I ought to +have said, was not performed by +Pledget, but by another army surgeon, +who had arrived in the course +of the day, not before he was wanted. +Poor Pledget was quite done up. +His powers, both mental and physical, +had evidently been over-taxed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +He looked haggard and wild. Yet +still, though relieved, anxious about +his cases, he wandered from room to +room, and fidgeted from one patient +to another; standing a while in +silence, with his hands behind him, +first by an amputation, then by a +wounded artery, then by a contusion, +then by a broken head; while his +care-worn countenance expressed +pleasure or pain, according to the +symptoms. As Cousin Tom was now +in a dreadful fuss to be off for Toulouse, +Gingham and I applied to the +newly-arrived surgeon, and consulted +him as to the removal.</p> + +<p>"I think, gentlemen," said he, "if +no bad symptoms supervene in the +night, it may safely be effected to-morrow; +that is, of course, with +proper care and precautions."</p> + +<p>"You are not afraid, sir," said +Gingham, "that to-morrow may be +too early a day, then?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, to say the truth," replied +the doctor, "if we had more +room here, better accommodations, +and a less vitiated atmosphere, I should +say a later day would be better. But, +under existing circumstances, less +evil, I think, is likely to arise from +the patient's removal, than from his +remaining. In his case, what we now +have most to look to, is the general +health. Keep that right, and the +wound, I hope, will do well. Therefore +the sooner he is withdrawn from +the bad air, and the associations +which surround him here, the better +for him." The doctor paused.—"Pray, +sir," said he, looking Gingham +full in the face, as though intuitively +knowing he spoke to a real good +fellow, "pray, sir, if you will permit +me to ask the question, is Mr Pledget +a friend of yours?"</p> + +<p>"There are few men, sir," replied +Gingham, "for whom I have a higher +regard, than for Mr Pledget."</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said the doctor, "I +feel rather uneasy about him. It's a +delicate thing to speak about. But +you yourself must have noticed how +changed he is, by the labours of the +last three days. In short, to speak +plainly, he requires to be looked after; +and just at this time, with so many +wounded upon our hands, I hardly +know whether we could possibly give +him the attention here which his +case requires. If it is neglected now, +it may become serious. Would it be +asking too much, if I requested you to +take charge of him into Toulouse?"</p> + +<p>"Take him with us this instant, +sir," said Gingham; "or when you +please. If you approve, I'll have him +with me in my own quarters."</p> + +<p>"I really, sir, feel obliged to you," +said the doctor. And the doctor +looked as if he spoke from his heart. +"Hope you understand, though, what +it is you are taking on your shoulders. +For a few days—not longer, I hope—he +will require vigilant superintendence, +and, possibly, slight control. +His case demands firmness, and indulgence +at the same time."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I understand," said +Gingham. "Shall he go with us +now?"</p> + +<p>"I would rather have him under +my eye," said the doctor, "till to-morrow +morning. Perhaps a night's +rest may effect a favourable change. +In the interval, too, I shall have time +to prepare his mind for the removal." +So it was settled.</p> + +<p>The next morning we returned to +the chateau, for the purpose of bringing +in Pledget and Cousin Tom. +Tom's patience, though, had not lasted +out till our arrival. At sunrise, again +giving the doctor the go-by, he had +got on his things, crept down stairs, +mounted his mule, and taken himself +off. In fact, he had got into Toulouse, +obtained a billet, and, snugly located +in a respectable French family, was +prattling the vernacular, which he +had at his fingers' ends, before we +arrived at the chateau to fetch him.</p> + +<p>It only remained, therefore, to remove +Pledget. He, poor man, though +all the better for a night's rest and a +clean shirt, still looked very unlike +himself. He had rested, indeed, but +he had not slept; and his medical +colleague hinted to Gingham, ere we +departed, that the case still required +vigilance and care. The state of +Pledget's mind, at this time, was singular; +he had all at once become excessively +ceremonious. When we +reached the garden gate he drew up; +insisted that we should both precede +him in going out. Had Gingham and +I been equally punctilious, we should +not have reached Toulouse by dinner-time.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span></p> + +<p>Gingham had a matter upon his +mind. Captain Gabion having expressed +a last wish respecting his +funeral, Gingham had undertaken the +whole details, and some arrangements +had been necessary at the chateau, or +our departed friend would speedily +have been consigned, on the spot, to +a ready-made grave. Gingham mentioned +the subject as we rode along, +and began stating what steps he had +taken. Pledget, who was ambling +side by side with us on his mule, suddenly +fell behind. Coosey, previously +admonished by Gingham, kept still +further in the rear. We waited till +Pledget came up.</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr Pledget," said Gingham, +"I thought we had lost you, +sir."</p> + +<p>"Excuse me, sir," said Pledget, +with gravity; "you are making a +confidential communication. Part of +it I unintentionally overheard. For +this, an apology is due to both of +you. Gentlemen, I most humbly beg +your pardon."</p> + +<p>We rode on. Presently, Pledget +edged up alongside of me, as though +he had something important to communicate.</p> + +<p>"Mr Y——," said he, "I consider it +the first duty which one gentleman +owes another, to avoid giving him +needless offence." Not exactly perceiving +to what this observation tended, +I could only bow my acquiescence.</p> + +<p>"But if," continued Pledget, "an +offence is actually given, then I conceive +the next duty is to make reparation +by a humble apology." Apology, +it was evident, was now the +uppermost idea in poor Pledget's +mind.</p> + +<p>"Well, sir," said I, seeking to +divert his thoughts, "I think, in such +a case, regard should be had to the +feelings of both parties. And, judging +by my own, I should say that, next +to making an apology, there are few +things one would more wish to avoid +than receiving one."</p> + +<p>"And accordingly," said Gingham, +"in the intercourse of gentlemen, it +rarely, very rarely occurs, that an +actual apology is deemed requisite. To +signify an intention, to express a willingness +to apologise, is in most cases +thought amply satisfactory. Manly +feeling forbids the rest; and honour +itself exacts no more." Pledget rode +on awhile, absorbed in thought.</p> + +<p>"Mr Y——," he said at last, "I appreciate +your sentiments, as well as +Mr Gingham's; and I perceive their +drift. Allow me to say it, your conduct +is most generous. I really feel +that you have just cause to complain +of mine; and, if it would pain you to +receive the apology, which is your +due, allow me at least to express my +<em>willingness</em>, and, believe me, it was +my <em>intention</em>, to apologise."</p> + +<p>"Mr Pledget, my dear sir, what +possible need of apology between you +and me? What offence has been +given or received? I know of none—never +dreamt of any."</p> + +<p>"Very handsome of you to say so, +Mr Y——," replied Pledget. "But +what could be more inconsiderate than +my conduct yesterday morning? You +<em>must</em> have felt it; I know you did. +You came to me with an anxious +inquiry respecting your wounded +cousin; I spoke to you of Captain +Gabion. It was wrong, I own. Nay, +not merely wrong, it was unfeeling. +I trust you will bear in mind my peculiar +circumstances at the time. I was +overwhelmed, perplexed, bewildered, +I——"</p> + +<p>Gingham now saw it was high time +to interpose, and with much adroitness +gave a new turn to the conversation. +But ere we were housed in +Toulouse, Pledget, addressing us alternately, +and continually discovering +fresh grounds of self-accusation, had +made two or three more apologies.</p> + +<p>For a few days, sedulously and most +kindly tended by Gingham, who managed +him admirably, and evinced +equal tact and delicacy, Pledget continued +in a state of alternate depression +and excitement, with occasional +hallucinations. He made apologies to +all who came near him; and, ere he +quitted Gingham's quarters, had +begged pardon, again and again, of +every servant in the household. From +my first conversation with Gingham +on the steps of the hotel at Falmouth, +I always valued his acquaintance. +But when I had seen him in this his +new character as Pledget's nurse, +wise, thoughtful, vigilant, and indulgent, +I really grew proud of such a +friend.</p> + +<p>Within a week Pledget was almost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +himself again; and long before he +quitted Toulouse, to embark for England +at Bordeaux, he was fully and +permanently restored.</p> + +<p>Cousin Tom's, though, was a business +of more time. He begged or +borrowed a formidable sapling, with a +knob as big as his fist, and was soon able +to hobble about Toulouse, very much +to his own satisfaction. But the +bones of his leg had been injured, +though not broken; and it was long +before the wound got well, if it ever +did. I was with him many months +after in London, when the Medical +Board sat to award gratuities and +pensions to the wounded and disabled +officers of the Peninsular Army. +Lucky, then, did the wight esteem +himself who had lost a limb or an +eye. Tom was waiting for his turn +to go before the Board; I saw him +two days previously. His, I feared, +was only a case for a gratuity; but +Tom was determined to go for a pension, +and made sure of getting it. I +ventured to express my doubts; Tom +whipped off his half-boot, turned down +his sock, and exclaimed triumphantly, +"Look at that!" The wound was +clean, but looked fresh; much, indeed, +as it appeared two days after +the fight when the bullet was extracted, +and still big enough to re-admit it. +"If the Board don't give me a pension," +cried Tom, "for such a punch +as that, why, all I can say is, they +deserve to be punched themselves." +Saw him again after the inspection. +"It's no go," said Tom; "I tried +hard for it, too. Got up early in the +morning—slapped twice round the +Park at a swinging pace. When I +went before them it was red all +about, a couple of inches. The flinty-hearted +villains gave me only a gratuity, +though it bled while they were +looking at it."</p> + +<p>At an early day after Pledget's and +Tom's removal, we assembled at the +chateau, on an occasion in which we +all felt a melancholy interest—the +funeral of Captain Gabion. The military +arrangements, of course, did not +rest with us; Gingham had made every +provision which was left to his care +with equal liberality and propriety. +Gingham also, no chaplain being present, +officiated at the grave. He read +the service with great devoutness and +solemnity. The procession was joined, +as we ascended the hill, by a +mounted officer, a major of the artillery, +who, during the whole of the +service, seemed lost in thought, and +stood with his eyes fixed upon the +coffin till it was lowered into the +grave. The whole concluded, he +approached and shook hands with +Gingham and myself, spoke a few +hurried words, took a hasty leave, +mounted, and rode away. Gingham +and I waited by the grave till all was +filled in and made right; we then +walked down together towards the +city, both for some time silent. I +spoke first.</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be right to communicate +with the friends? I think they +ought to know the exact position of +the grave, and also the particulars +which I got from my cousin."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said Gingham; "it +would, I think, be as well to give +them all the information you can. I +have already written to the widow."</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>CHATEAUBRIAND'S MEMOIRS.</h2> + +<p><cite>Mémoires d'outre Tombe.</cite> Par M. <span class="smcap">Le Vicomte de Chateaubriand</span>. Tom. v. vi. +vii. viii. et ix. Paris: 1849.</p> + + +<p>The great and honourable feature +of Chateaubriand's mind, amidst some +personal weaknesses, is its noble +and disinterested character. It differs +from what we see around us, but it +differs chiefly in superior elevation. +It united, to a degree which perhaps +will never again be witnessed, the +lofty feelings of chivalry, with the +philanthropic visions of philosophy. +In the tribune he was often a Liberal +of the modern school; but in action +he was always a paladin of the olden +time. His fidelity was not to prosperity, +but to adversity; his bond +was not to the powerful, but to the unfortunate; +reversing the revolutionary +maxim, he brought the actions of public +men to the test, not of success, but of +disaster. He often irritated his friends +when in power by the independence +of his language, but he never failed to +command the respect of his enemies +when in adversity, by his constancy +to misfortune. "Vive le roi quand-même," +ever became his principle +when the gales of adversity blew, and +the hollow-hearted support of the +world began to fail. Prosperity often +saw him intrepid, perhaps imprudent +in expression, but misfortune never +failed to exhibit him generous and +faithful in action; and his fidelity to +the cause of royalty was never so +strikingly evinced as when that cause +in France was most desperate. He +was the very antipodes of the hideous +revolutionary tergiversation of Fontainebleau. +A pilgrim in this scene +of trial, he was ever ready, after +having attained the summit of worldly +grandeur, to descend at the call of +honour; and, resuming his staff and +scrip, to set out afresh on the path of +duty. He was fitted to be the object +of jealousy and spite to kings and +ministers in power, whose follies he +disdained to flatter or to overlook their +vices, and of eternal admiration to the +great and the good in every future age, +whose hearts his deeds not less than +his words will cause to throb. Such +a character might pass for fabulous or +imaginary, were it not clearly evinced, +not only by words, but actions; not +only in the thoughts of genius, but in +the deeds of honour. His life, and the +feelings by which it was regulated, are +well worth examining, although we fear +he will find but few imitators in these +days, and is more likely, in a utilitarian +and money-seeking age, to be classed +with the mammoth and mastodon, +as a species of existence never again +to be seen in this world.</p> + +<p>A character of this description +naturally became enamoured of awful +or heartstirring events, and was ever +ready to find a friend in those capable +of noble or heroic deeds in the ranks +even of his enemies. Both qualities +are evinced in the following graphic +account of the appearance of the Grand +Army when it arrived at Smolensko +during the Moscow retreat:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"On the 9th November, the troops at +length reached Smolensko. An order of +Buonaparte forbade any one to enter +before the posts had been intrusted to +the Imperial Guard. The soldiers on the +outside were grouped in great numbers +round the foot of the walls: those within +were under cover. The air resounded +with the imprecations of those who were +shut out. Clothed in dirty Cossack cloaks, +horse-cloths, and worn-out blankets, with +their heads covered with old carpets, +broken helmets, ragged shakos, for the most +part torn by shot, stained with blood, or +hacked in pieces by sabre-cuts—with +haggard and yet ferocious countenances, +they looked up to the top of the ramparts +gnashing their teeth, with the expression +of those prisoners who, under Louis the +Fat, bore in their right hand their left +cut off: you would have taken them for +infuriated <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">masques</i>, or famished madmen +escaped from Bedlam. At length the +Old and Young Guard arrived, they +were quickly admitted into the place +which had been wasted by conflagration +on occasion of our first passage. Loud +cries of indignation were immediately +raised against the privileged corps. 'Is +the army to be left nothing but what it +leaves?' was heard on all sides. Meanwhile +the household troops, who had been +admitted, rushed in tumultuous crowds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +to the magazines like an insurrection of +spectres: the guards at the doors repulsed +them; they fought in the streets: +the dead, the wounded encumbered the +pavements, the women, the children, the +dying filled the waggons. The air was +poisoned by the multitude of dead bodies; +even old soldiers were seized with idiocy +or madness; some whose hair stood on +end with horror, blasphemed, or laughed +with a ghastly air and fell dead. Napoleon +let his wrath exhale in imprecations +against a miserable commissary, +none of the orders given to which had +been executed.</p> + +<p>"The army, a hundred thousand strong +when it left Moscow, now reduced to +thirty thousand, was followed by a band +of fifty thousand stragglers; there were +not eighteen hundred horsemen mounted. +Napoleon gave the command of them to +M. de Latour Maubourg. That officer, +who had led the cuirassiers to the assault +of the great redoubt of Borodino, had +had his head almost cleft asunder by +the stroke of a sabre; he afterwards lost +a leg at Dresden. Perceiving his servant +in tears when the operation was over, he +said to him, 'Why do you weep? you +will have only one boot to clean.' That +general, who remained faithful to misfortune, +became the preceptor of Henry V. +in the first years of the exile of that +prince. I lift my hat in his presence, as +in that of the Incarnation of Honour."—<cite>Memoirs</cite>, +vi. p. 116, 118.</p></blockquote> + +<p>As Chateaubriand had declined +office, and narrowly escaped death in +consequence, when Napoleon murdered +the Duke d'Enghien, his life, +from that period to the Restoration +of the Bourbons, was one of retirement +and observation. The important part +which he took in the Restoration, by +the publication of his celebrated pamphlet +<cite>De Buonaparte et des Bourbons</cite>, +restored him to political life. The +effect produced by that work was +immense, and the placing of the +ancient race of monarchs on the +throne was in a great degree owing +to it; for, at a crisis when the +intentions of the Allies were yet undecided, +and Austria openly supported +the strong party in France which +inclined for a regency with Marie +Louise at its head, it swelled immensely +the numbers of the decided +Royalists, and gave a definite and +tangible object to their hitherto vague +and divided aspirations. It was +written with prodigious rapidity, and +bears marks of the haste of its composition +in the vehemence of its ideas +and the occasional exaggeration of its +assertions; but it was the very thing +required for a national crisis of unexampled +importance, when every hour +was fraught with lasting consequences, +and every effort of genius was required +for laying the foundation of a new +order in European society. Of the +first conception and subsequent completion +of this remarkable work he +gives the following account:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"I had been permitted to return to my +solitary valley. The earth trembled +under the footsteps of stranger armies: I +wrote like the last Roman, amidst the +din of barbarian invasion. During the +day, I traced lines as agitated as the +events which were passing: at night, +when the roar of cannon was no longer +heard in my solitary woods, I returned to +the silence of the years which sleep in +the tomb, and to the peace of my earlier +life. The agitated pages which I wrote +during the day, became, when put together, +my pamphlet <cite>On Buonaparte and +the Bourbons</cite>. I had so high an idea of +the genius of Napoleon, and the valour of +our soldiers, that the idea of a foreign +invasion, successful in its ultimate results, +never entered into my imagination; but +I thought that such an invasion, by making +the French see the dangers to which +the ambition of Napoleon had exposed +them, would lead to an interior movement, +and that the deliverance of the +French would be the work of their own +hands. It was under that impression that +I wrote my notes, in order that, if our +political assemblies should arrest the +march of the Allies, and separate themselves +from a great man who had become +their scourge, they should know to what +haven to turn. The harbour of refuge +appeared to me to be in the ancient authority, +under which our ancestors had +lived during eight centuries, but modified +according to the changes of time. During +a tempest, when one finds himself at +the gate of an old edifice, albeit in ruins, +he is glad to seek its shelter."—Vol. vi. +p. 196, 197.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Madame de Chateaubriand, in a +note, has described the circumstances +under which this memorable pamphlet +was written, and the morbid anxiety +with which she was devoured during +its composition:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Had the pages of that pamphlet been +seized by the police, the result could not +have been a moment doubtful: the sentence +was the scaffold. Nevertheless the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +author was inconceivably negligent about +concealing it. Often, when he went out, +he left the sheets on the table: at night +he only placed them under his pillow, +which he did in presence of his valet—an +honest youth, it is true, but who +might have betrayed him. For my part, +I was in mortal agonies: whenever M. de +Chateaubriand went out, I seized the manuscript, +and concealed it on my person. +One day, in crossing the Tuileries, I perceived +I had it not upon me, and being +sure I had it when I went out, I did not +doubt that I had let it fall on the road. +Already I beheld that fatal writing in +the hands of the police, and M. de +Chateaubriand arrested. I fell down in +swoon in the garden, and some kind-hearted +person carried me to my house, +from which I had only got a short distance. +What agony I endured when, +ascending the stair, I floated between +terror, which now amounted almost to a +certainty, and a slight hope that I might +have forgot the pamphlet. On reaching +my husband's apartment, I felt again +ready to faint: I approached the bed—I +felt under the pillow; there was nothing +there: I lifted the mattress, and there +was the roll of paper! My heart still +beats every time I think of it. Never in +my life did I experience such a moment +of joy. With truth can I say, my joy +would not have been so great if I had +been delivered at the foot of the scaffold, +for it was one who was more dear to me +than life itself whom I saw rescued from +destruction."—Vol. vi. p. 206, 207.</p></blockquote> + +<p>On the entrance of Louis XVIII. +into Paris, on the 3d May 1814, the +Allied sovereigns, from a feeling of +delicacy to that monarch, gave orders +that none but French troops should +appear in the procession. The Old +Guard lined the streets next the palace, +and Chateaubriand gives the +following account of the way in which +they received him:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"A regiment of infantry of the Old +Guard kept the ground, from the Pont +Neuf to Notre Dame, along the Quai des +Orfures. I do not believe that human +figures ever expressed anything so menacing +and so terrible. These grenadiers, +covered with wounds, so long the terror +of Europe, who had seen so many thousand +bullets fly over their heads, who +seemed to smell of fire and powder—these +very men, deprived of their leader, were +forced to salute an old king, enfeebled by +time and not combats, guarded by an +army of Russians, Austrians, and Prussians, +in the conquered capital of Napoleon! +Some, shaking their heads, made +their huge bearskins fall down over their +eyes, so as not to see what was passing: +others lowered the extremities of their +mouths, to express their contempt and +rage: others, through their mustaches, +let their teeth be seen, which they +gnashed like tigers. When they presented +arms, it was with a gesture of +fury, as if they brought them down to the +charge. The sound they made with the +recover was like thunder. Never, it +must be admitted, had men been subjected +to such a trial, or suffered such a +punishment. If, in that moment, they +had been called to vengeance, they would +have exterminated the last man, or +perished in the attempt.</p> + +<p>"At the extremity of the line was a +young hussar on horseback, with his +drawn sabre in his hand; his whole body +literally quivered with a convulsive +movement of wrath. He was deadly +pale; his eyes rolled round in the most +frightful manner; he opened his mouth +alternately and shut it, grinding his +teeth, and uttering inarticulate cries of +rage. He cast his eyes on a Russian +officer: no words can express the look +which he gave him. When the carriage +of the King passed before him, he made +his horse leap forward, it was easy to +see that he withstood with difficulty the +temptation to precipitate himself on his +sovereign.<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a></p> + +<p>"The Restoration, at its very outset, +committed an irreparable fault. It +should have disbanded the army, preserving +only the marshals, generals, military +governors, and officers, in their rank, +pay, and appointments. The soldiers, in +this manner, would have gradually re-entered +their ranks, as they have since +done into the Royal Guard; but they +would have done so isolated from each +other. The legitimate monarch would no +longer have had arrayed against him the +soldiers of the empire in regiments and +brigades, as they had been during the +days of their glory, for ever talking to +each other of times past, and comparing +the conquests of Napoleon with their inglorious +inactivity under their new +master.</p> + +<p>"The miserable attempt to reconstruct +the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Maison Rouge</i>, that mixture of +the military men of the old monarchy and +the soldiers of the new empire, only augmented +the evil. To suppose that veterans<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +famous on a hundred fields of +battle should not be shocked at seeing +young men—brave without doubt, but +for the most part unaccustomed to the +use of arms—to see them wear, without +having earned or deserved, the marks of +high military rank, was to be ignorant of +the first principles of human nature."—Vol. +vi. p. 311-313.</p></blockquote> + +<p>These observations of Chateaubriand's +are well founded, and the last, in +particular, is very important; but it +may well be doubted whether, by any +measures that could have been adopted, +the support of the army could have +been secured, or the dynasty of the +Bourbons established on a secure foundation. +It was the fact of their having +been replaced by the bayonets of the +stranger which was the insurmountable +difficulty; it was national subjugation, +the capture of Paris, which +had for ever stained the white flag. +This original sin in its birth attended +the Restoration through every subsequent +year of its existence: it was the +main cause of the revolution of 1830, +and operated with equal force in +bringing about the still more fatal one +of 1848. Impatience of repose—a +desire to precipitate themselves on +foreign nations—an aversion to the +employments and interests of peace, +were the secret but principal causes of +these convulsions. If either Louis +XVIII. or Louis Philippe had been +young and warlike princes, and the +recollection of Leipsic and Waterloo, +of the invasions of France, and the +double capture of its capital, had not +prevented them from engaging in the +career of foreign warfare; if they +had been enterprising and <em>victorious</em>, +they would have secured the unanimous +suffrages of the nation, and +continued the honoured possessors +of the throne of France. But this +dazzling though perilous career was +denied to Louis XVIII. To him +there was left only the difficult, perhaps +the impossible task, of reconciling +irrevocable enmities, of closing +irremediable wounds, of appeasing +inextinguishable mortifications. They +have been thus set forth in the eloquent +words of genius:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The house of Bourbon was placed in +Paris at the Restoration as a trophy of +the European confederation. The return +of the ancient princes was inseparably +associated, in the public mind, with +the cession of extensive provinces, with +the payment of an immense tribute, with +the occupation of the kingdom by hostile +armies, with the emptiness of those +niches in which the gods of Athens and +Rome had been the objects of a new +idolatry, with the nakedness of those +walls on which the Transfiguration had +shone with a light as glorious as that +which overhung Mount Thabor. They +came back to a land in which they could +recognise nothing. The Seven Sleepers +of the legend, who closed their eyes when +the Pagans were persecuting the Christians, +and woke when the Christians +were persecuting the Pagans, did not +find themselves in a world more completely +new to them. Twenty years had +done the work of twenty generations. +Events had come thick; men had lived +fast. The old institutions and the old +feelings had been torn up by the roots. +There was a new church founded and +endowed by the usurper; a new nobility, +whose titles were taken from the fields +of battle, disastrous to the ancient line; +a new chivalry, whose crosses had been +won by exploits which seemed likely to +make the banishment of the Emigrants +perpetual; a new code, administered by +a new magistracy; a new body of proprietors, +holding the soil by a new tenure; +the most ancient local distinctions effaced, +the most familiar names obsolete. There +was no longer a Normandy, a Brittany, +or a Guienne. The France of Louis XVI. +had passed away as completely as one of +the Preadamite worlds. Its fossil +remains might now and then excite curiosity; +but it was as impossible to put +life into the old institutions as to animate +the skeletons which are imbedded in the +depths of primeval strata. The revolution +in the laws and the form of government +was but an outward sign of that +mightier revolution which had taken +place in the minds and hearts of men, and +which affected every transaction and +feeling of life. It was as absurd to think +that France could again be placed under +the feudal system, as that our globe could +be overrun by mammoths. Louis might +efface the initials of the Emperor, but he +could not turn his eyes without seeing +some object which reminded him he was +a stranger in the palace of his fathers."<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p></blockquote> + +<p>As a parallel to this splendid passage, +though in an entirely different +style, we gladly give place to a noble<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +burst of Chateaubriand, on that most +marvellous of marvellous events, the +return of Napoleon from Elba. It +was natural that so memorable a +revolution should strongly impress +his imaginative mind; but he seems +to have exceeded himself in the +reflections to which it gives rise. +We know not whether to award the +prize to the Englishman or the +Frenchman, in these parallel passages. +They are both masterpieces in their +way. Perhaps the correct view is, +that Macaulay is superior in graphic +force and the accumulation of sarcastic +images; Chateaubriand in lofty +thought and imaginative images.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"On the 1st March, at three o'clock +in the morning, Napoleon approached the +coast of France in the Gulf of Juan; he +disembarked, walked along the shore, +gathered a few violets, and bivouacked +in an olive wood. The inhabitants withdrew +in a state of stupefaction. He left +Antibes to his left, and threw himself +into the Mountains of Grasse in Dauphiny. +At Sisterone the road passes +a defile where twenty men might have +stopped him; he did not meet a living +soul. He advanced without opposition +among the inhabitants who the year +before had wished to murder him. Into +the void which was formed around his +gigantic shade, if a few soldiers entered, +they straightway yielded to the attraction +of his eagles. His fascinated enemies +seek him and find him not; he +shrowds himself in his glory, as the lion +in the Sahara desert conceals himself in +the rays of the sun to dazzle the eyes of +his pursuers. Enveloped in a burning +halo, the bloody phantoms of Arcola, +Marengo, Austerlitz, Jena, Friedland, +Eylau, the Moskwa, Lützen, and Bautzen, +form his cortege amidst a million of the +dead. From the midst of that column of +smoke and flame, issue at the gates of +towns some trumpet-notes mingled with +tricolor standards, and the gates fly open. +When Napoleon passed the Niemen, at +the head of four hundred thousand foot, +and a hundred thousand horse, to blow +into the air the palace of the Czars at +Moscow, he was less wonderful than +when, breaking his ban, casting his fetters +as a gauntlet in the face of kings, he +came alone from Cannes to Paris, to sleep +peaceably in the palace of the Tuileries."—Vol. +vi. p. 359, 360.</p></blockquote> + +<p>To a mind like that of Chateaubriand, +reposing in solitude when +Napoleon was acting with such marvellous +effect in the world, the character +and qualities of that wonderful +man could not fail to be a constant +object of solicitude and observation. +It has been already noticed that he +braved the Emperor in the plenitude +of his power, and essentially contributed, +in the crisis of his fate, to his +dethronement, and the re-establishment +of the ancient line of princes. +But, as is not unusual with persons +of his highly wrought and generous +temper of mind, his hostility to the +Emperor declined with the termination +of his authority, and his admiration +for his genius rose with the base +desertion of the revolutionary crowd +who had fawned upon him when on +the throne. The following observations +on the style of his writings, +indicate the growth of this counter +feeling, and are in themselves equally +just and felicitous:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"His partisans have sought to make +of Buonaparte a perfect being; a model +of sentiment, of delicacy, of morality, +and of justice—a writer like Cæsar and +Thucydides, an orator like Demosthenes, +a historian like Tacitus. The public +discourses of Napoleon, his sonorous +phrases in the tent and at the council +board, are the less inspired by the spirit +of prophecy, that many of the catastrophes +which he announced have not +been accomplished, while the warlike +Isaiah himself has disappeared. Prophecies +of doom which follow without +reaching states become ridiculous. It is +their accomplishment which renders them +sublime. During sixteen years, Napoleon +was the incarnation of destiny. Destiny +now is mute, and he, too, should be so. +Buonaparte was not a Cæsar; his education +had neither been learnedly nor carefully +conducted: half a stranger, he was +ignorant of the first rules of our language, +and could hardly spell it; but +what did it signify, after all, that his +expression was defective?—he gave the +law to the universe. His bulletins have +the most thrilling of all eloquence—that +of victory. Sometimes, during the intoxications +of success, they affected to be +written on a drum-head: in the midst of +the most lugubrious accents, something +emerged which excites a smile. I have +read all that Napoleon has written—the +first manuscripts of his infancy, his love-letters +to Josephine, the five volumes of +his discourses, bulletins, and orders; but +I have found nothing which so truly +portrays the character of that great +man, when in adversity, as the following +autograph note left at Elba:—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'My heart refuses to share in ordinary +joys as ordinary sorrows.</p> + +<p>"'Not having given myself life, I am +not entitled to take it away.</p> + +<p>"'My bad genius appeared to me and +announced my end; which I found at +Leipsic.</p> + +<p>"'I have conjured up the terrible +spirit of innovation, which will overrun +the world.'</p> + +<p>"Certes, there is Napoleon to the very +life. His bulletins and discourses have +often great energy; but it was not his +own; it belonged to the age; he only +adopted it. It sprang from the revolutionary +energy, which he only weakened +by moving in opposition to it. Danton +said, 'The metal is fused; if you do not +watch over the furnace, you will be consumed.' +St Just replied, '<em>Do it if you +dare</em>.' These words contain the whole +secret of our Revolution. Those who +make revolutions by halves, do nothing +but dig their own graves."—Vol. vii. +p. 101.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Certes, there is Chateaubriand to +the very life.</p> + +<p>Chateaubriand, as all the world +knows, was Minister for Foreign +Affairs to Louis XVIII. at Ghent; +adhering thus to his ruling maxim +throughout life, "Fidelity to misfortune." +So great were the services +rendered by him to the cause of +European freedom, by the energetic +series of papers which he poured +forth with unwearied vigour every +week, that there were serious thoughts, +after the battle of Waterloo, of promoting +him to the dignity of Prime +Minister. Louis XVIII. openly inclined +to it; and if his advice had +prevailed, the catastrophe which +fifteen years afterwards befel his +family, would probably have been +prevented. But the insuperable difficulty +lay here: the pure and honourable +mind of Chateaubriand revolted +from the idea of forming a Ministry +in conjunction with Talleyrand and +Fouché; and yet their influence was +such that the monarch, in the first +instance at least, was compelled to +court their assistance. Expedience, +at least immediate expedience, seemed +to counsel it; but Chateaubriand, +animated by higher principles, and +gifted with a more prophetic mind, +anticipated no lasting advantage, but +rather the reverse, from an alliance +with the arch-regicide of Nantes, and +the arch-traitor who had sworn allegiance +to and betrayed <em>twelve</em> Governments +in succession. But the chorus +of "<em>base unanimities</em>," as he expresses +it, with which the monarch was surrounded, +proved too strong for any +single individual, how gifted soever. +Fouché and Talleyrand were taken +into power, and Chateaubriand retired. +Of the conversation with +Louis XVIII., when this vital change +was resolved on, he gives the following +interesting account, which proves +that that sagacious monarch at least +was well aware of the consequences +of the step to which he was thus involuntarily +impelled:—</p> + +<p>"Before quitting St Denis, on our +way back to Paris, I had an audience of +the King, and the following conversation +ensued:</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"'Well?' said Louis XVIII., opening +the dialogue by that exclamation.</p> + +<p>"'Well, sire, you have taken the Duke +of Otranto,' (Fouché.)</p> + +<p>"'I could not avoid it; from my +brother to the bailie of Crussol, (and he +at least is not suspected,) all said that +we could not do otherwise—what think +you?'</p> + +<p>"'Sire! the thing is done; I crave +permission to remain silent.'</p> + +<p>"'No, no—speak out; you know how +I resisted at Ghent.'</p> + +<p>"'In that case, sire, I must obey my +orders. Pardon my fidelity: I think it +is all over with the monarchy.'</p> + +<p>"The King remained some time silent. +I began to tremble at my boldness, when +his Majesty rejoined:—</p> + +<p>"'In truth, M. de Chateaubriand, I +am of your opinion.'</p> + +<p>"I bowed and withdrew; and thus +ended my connection with the Hundred +Days."—Vol. vii. 70.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Manzoni has written an ode, known +over all Europe, on the double fall of +Napoleon: "The last poet," says +Chateaubriand, "of the country of +Virgil, sang the last warrior of the +country of Cæsar.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Tutte ei provo, la gloria<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Maggior dopo il periglio,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">La fuga e la Vittoria,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">La reggia e il triste esiglio:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Due volte nella polvere,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Due volte sugli altar.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Ei se nomo: due secoli,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">L'un contro l'altro armato,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Sommessi a lui se volsero,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come aspettando il fato:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Ei fe silenzio ed arbitro<br /></span> +<span class="i0">S'assise in mezzo a loro.<br /></span> +</div></div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> +<blockquote> + +<p>"He proved everything; glory greater +after danger, flight, and victory: Royalty +and sad exile, twice in the dust, twice on +the altar.</p> + +<p>"He announced himself: two ages, +armed against each other, turned towards +him, as if awaiting their fate; he proclaimed +silence, and seated himself as +arbiter between them."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Notwithstanding the vehemence of +Chateaubriand's dissension with Napoleon, +it cannot be expected that a +man of his romantic and generous +temperament would continue his hostility +after death. No one, accordingly, +has awarded a more heartfelt or +magnanimous tribute to his memory.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The solitude of the exile and of the +tomb of Napoleon has shed an extraordinary +interest, a sort of prestige, over +his memory. Alexander did not die +under the eyes of Greece, he disappeared +amidst the distant wonders of Babylon. +Buonaparte has not died under the eyes +of France: he has been lost in the gloomy +edge of the southern horizon. The grandeur +of the silence which now surrounds +him equals the immensity of the noise +which his exploits formerly made. The +nations are absent: the crowd of men +has retired: the bird of the tropics, +"harnessed," in Buffon's words, "to the +chariot of the sun," has precipitated itself +from the star of light—where does it now +repose? It rests on the ashes of which +the weight has all but subverted the +globe."</p></blockquote> + +<p>"Imposuerunt omnes sibi diademata +post mortem ejus; et multiplicata +sunt mala in terrâ."<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> "They all +assumed diadems after his death, and +evils were multiplied on the earth." +Twenty years have hardly elapsed +since the death of Napoleon, and +already the French and Spanish +monarchies are no more. The map of +the world has undergone a change: a +new geography is required: severed +from their legitimate rulers, nations +have been thrown against nations: +renowned actors on the scene have +given place to ignoble successors: +eagles from the summits of the loftiest +pines have plunged into the ocean, +while frail shellfish have attached +themselves to the sides of the trunk, +which still stands erect.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"As in the last result everything advances +to its end, '<em>the terrible spirit of +innovation which overruns the world</em>', as +the Emperor said, and to which he had +opposed the barrier of his genius, has resumed +its course. The institutions of the +conqueror fail: he will be the last of +great existences on the earth. Nothing +hereafter will overshadow society, parcelled +out and levelled: the shadow of +Napoleon alone will be seen on the verge +of the old world which has been destroyed, +like the phantom of the deluge on the +edge of its abyss. Distant posterity will +discern that spectre through the gloom +of passing events still erect above the +gulf into which unknown ages have fallen, +until the day marked out by Providence +for the resurrection of social man."—Vol. +vii. 169-171.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Assuredly no one can say that +Chateaubriand's genius has declined +with his advanced years.</p> + +<p>To a man viewing Napoleon with +the feelings expressed in these eloquent +words, the translation of his +remains from their solitary resting-place +under the willow at St Helena +could not but be an object of regret. +He thus expresses himself on that +memorable event, and future ages will +probably confirm his opinion:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The removal of the remains of Napoleon +from St Helena was a fault against +his renown. A place of sepulchre in +Paris can never equal the Valley of Slanes. +Who would wish to see the Pillar of Pompey +elsewhere than above the grave dug +for his remains by his poor freedman, +aided by the old legionary? What shall +we do with those magnificent remains in +the midst of our miseries? Can the +hardest granite typify the everlasting +duration of Napoleon's renown? Even +if we possessed a Michael Angelo to design +the statue on the grave, how should +we fashion the mausoleum? Monuments +are for little men, for the great a stone +and a name. At least they should have +suspended the coffin from the summit of +the triumphal arch which records his exploits: +nations from afar should have +beheld their master borne aloft on the +shoulders of his victories. Was not the +urn which contained the ashes of +Trajan placed at Rome, beneath his +column? Napoleon at Paris will be +lost amidst the crowd of unknown names. +God forbid he should be exposed to +the vicissitudes of our political changes, +surrounded though he is by Louis XIV., +Vauban, and Turenne. Let a certain +section of our revolutionists triumph, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +the ashes of the conqueror will be sent to +join the ashes which our passions have +dispersed. The conqueror will be forgotten +in the oppressor of our liberties. +The bones of Napoleon will not reproduce +his genius; they will only teach his despotism +to ignoble soldiers."—Vol. vii. +184, 185.</p></blockquote> + +<p>The Restoration did not immediately +employ Chateaubriand. His +anticipations were realised. The chorus +of baseness and selfishness with which +the court was surrounded, kept him +at a distance. They were afraid of +his genius: they were jealous of his +reputation. Above all, they dreaded +his independence. He was not sufficiently +manageable. They were actuated, +perhaps not altogether without +reason, by the same feeling which +made Lord North say, when urged to +bring Dr Johnson into Parliament, +whose great powers in the political +warfare of pamphlets had been so signally +evinced on the side of Government, +"No, sir, he is an elephant, but +a wild one, as likely to trample under +foot his friends as his enemies." The +veteran statesman, so well versed in +the ways of men, was right. Genius +is the fountain of thought: it ultimately +rules the councils and destinies +of men; but it generally requires +to be tempered by time before it can +be safely introduced into practice.</p> + +<p>Chateaubriand enlivens this period +of his memoirs, which is neither signalised +by political event nor remarkable +literary effort, by a sort of biography +of Madame Recamier, with whom he +was on terms of intimate friendship. +This remarkable person, who was +beyond all question the most beautiful +and attractive woman of her +age in France, or perhaps in Europe, +is now no more; and he appears to +have obtained from her relatives, or +perhaps from herself prior to her +decease, not only many curious and +highly interesting details concerning +her early years and subsequent history, +but a great variety of original +letters from the most eminent men of +the age, who were successively led captive +by her charms, but none of whom +appear to have impaired her reputation. +In this country, where the lines +of severance between the sexes are +much more rigidly drawn, it would +be impossible for a young and beautiful +married woman to be in the habit of +receiving the most ardent love-letters +from a great variety of distinguished +and fascinating admirers, without the +jealousy of rivals being excited, and +the breath of scandal fastening upon +her as its natural prey. But it is +otherwise on the Continent, where, +although there is doubtless abundance +of dissoluteness of manners in certain +circles, yet in others such intimacies +may exist, which are yet kept within +due bounds, and cast no reflection on +the fortunate fair one who sees all the +world at her feet.</p> + +<p>Such, at least, appears to have +been the case with Madame Recamier, +the intimate friend of Madame de +Stael, who said "She would willingly +give all her talents for one half of her +beauty;" and whose powers of fascination +were such, that she not only inspired +a vehement passion nearly at the +same time, in La Harpe, Lucien Buonaparte, +Murat, Moreau, Bernadotte, +Marshal Massena, Benjamin Constant, +Prince Augustus of Prussia, Prince +Metternich, Chateaubriand, and a +vast many others, but attracted the +particular notice of Napoleon, and did +not escape the vigilant and practised +eye of the Duke of Wellington. The +Prince of Prussia would have married +her, if he could have effected her divorce +from M. Recamier. It is one of the +worst traits of the Emperor Napoleon's +character, that he was not only +so envious of the celebrity of her +beauty that he banished her from +Paris to extinguish its fame, but was +inspired with such malignant feelings +towards her, from her having rejected +his advances, that he got a law passed +which rendered the wives of persons +engaged in commerce responsible in +their separate estates for their husbands' +debts; the effect of which was +to involve Madame Recamier, whose +husband, a great banker in Paris, +failed, in almost total ruin, in the +latter years of her life.</p> + +<p>Madame Recamier, whose birth, +though respectable, gave her none of +the advantages of rank or opulence, +was bred up at the abbey of the +<em>Desert</em>, near the confluence of the +Rhone and the Saone at Lyons. Her +parents, however, resided at Paris; +and they having brought her home at +the age of twelve years, she was at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +that tender age married to M. Recamier, +a rich banker, almost four times +her own age, whose immense transactions, +which entirely absorbed his +time and attention, left him no leisure +to attend either to the education or +occupations of his infantine and beautiful +wife. But though thus left to +herself, surrounded by admirers, and +with every luxury which wealth could +purchase at her command, she was +never led astray. Benjamin Constant, +who knew her well from her +earliest years, has left the following +interesting portrait of what may be +called her infantine married life:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"She whom I paint emerged pure and +brilliant from that corrupted atmosphere, +which elsewhere withered where it did not +actually corrupt. Infancy was at first her +safeguard. Libertinism shrunk from approaching +the asylum of so much innocence. +Removed from the world in a solitude embellished +by the arts, she spent her time in +the sweet occupation of those charming +and poetical studies which usually constitute +the delight of a more advanced age.</p> + +<p>"Often, also, surrounded by her young +companions, she abandoned herself to +the amusements suited to her tender +years. 'Swift as Atalanta in the race,' +she outran all her companions: often, in +playing Hide-and-seek, she bandaged +those eyes which were destined one day +to fascinate every beholder. Her look, +now so expressive and penetrating, and +which seems to indicate mysteries of +which she herself is unconscious, then +shone only with the animated and playful +gaiety of childhood. Her beautiful +hair, which could not be undone without +causing emotion, fell in natural curls on +her shoulders. A hearty and prolonged +laugh often burst from these infantine +circles, but already you could perceive in +her that fine and rapid observation which +seizes the salient points of ridicule—that +sportive raillery which diverted itself +without injuring any one: above all, that +exquisite sense of elegance and propriety, +of purity and taste, that true nobility +of mind, which are given only to a +few privileged beings.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless Madame Recamier +emerged occasionally from her retreat, to +go to the theatre or to the public promenades; +and in those places of general +resort her rare appearance was quite an +event. Every other object in those immense +assemblages was forgotten: every +one precipitated himself upon her steps. +The fortunate cavalier who attended her +could scarcely make his way through the +crowds which she collected: her steps +were at every instant impeded by the +spectators who crowded around her. She +enjoyed that success with the gaiety of +an infant combined with the timidity of +a young woman; but the gracious dignity +which at home restrained the overflowing +gaiety of her companions, inspired +respect in public in the admiring crowd +with which she was constantly environed. +You would say that her air imposed restraint +equally on her companions and on +the public. Thus passed the first years +of the married life of Madame Recamier, +between poetical occupation, infantine +amusements, and the triumph of beauty +in the world.</p> + +<p>"But her expanding mind and capacious +genius soon required other aliment. +The instinctive love of the beautiful with +which she was inspired from her earliest +years, made her long for the society of +men distinguished for the reputation of +their talents or genius. M. de La +Harpe was one of the first who appreciated +the young woman, around whom +were one day to be grouped all the celebrated +characters of her age. The conversation +of that young woman of fifteen +had a thousand attractions for a man of +his great acquirements, and whose excessive +vanity, with the habit of conversing +with the ablest men in France, had rendered +exceedingly difficult to please. +He delighted in being her guide: he was +astonished at the rapidity with which +her talent supplied the want of experience, +and comprehended everything +which he revealed to her of the world +and of men. This was at the moment of +his celebrated conversion to Christianity. +The Revolution having rendered infidelity +all-powerful, scepticism had lost the +merit of being opposed to authority, and +those whom vanity alone had rendered +such could in good faith, and without compromising +their reputation, avow their +secret belief."—Vol. ix. 118, 121.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Of the unbounded devotion which +Madame Recamier in a few years +came to inspire in the breasts of the +most distinguished men of her day, +abundant proof is furnished in Chateaubriand's +Memoirs. To give only +a few examples, among a host of +others which might be cited, Marshal +Massena—a roturier by birth, and +certainly not inheriting by descent +any of the feelings of chivalry—yet +even he asked a ribbon from Madame +Recamier before he set out for +the army of Italy, to take the command +in Genoa, in the siege since so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +celebrated; and, having obtained it, +he wrote to her the following note +some weeks after:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The charming ribbon given by Madame +Recamier has been borne by General +Massena in the battles and the +blockades of Genoa: it has never left +him, and been, in every instance, the harbinger +of victory."—Vol. viii. 167.</p> + +<p>"There," as Chateaubriand justly +observes "the ancient manners reappeared +athwart the modern manners of which +they formed the base. The gallantry of +the noble chevalier shone forth in the plebeian +soldier; the memory of the tournaments +and of the crusades was concealed +amidst the blaze of glory with +which modern France has crowned its +old victories."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Lucien Buonaparte, one of her +first adorers, addressed her early in +life in these terms:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Till within these few days, I knew +you only by renown. I had seen you +sometimes at church and in the theatres. +I knew you were the most beautiful: a +thousand voices repeated it; and your +charms had struck without dazzling me. +Why has the peace rendered me captive? +it reigns in our families, but sorrow is in +my heart.</p> + +<p>"I have seen you since: Jove seemed +to smile on your steps. Seated on the +edge of a fountain, motionless and +dreamy, you gathered a rose. I addressed +you alone: I thought I heard a sigh. +Vain illusion! I soon saw the tranquil +front of indifference seated between us. +The passion which devoured me expressed +itself in my words; while yours bore +the cruel yet amiable stamp of infancy +and sport.</p> + +<p>"Be severe, I implore you, for pity's +sake. Banish me from your presence. +Desire me to withdraw from your enchanting +society: and if I can obey the +order, remember only that my heart is +for ever your own; that no one ever +reigned over it as Juliette; and that he +will ever live with her, at least in +memory."—Vol. viii. 130.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"For a man of <em>sangfroid</em>," says +Chateaubriand, "all that is a little +ridiculous." He is right: it is gallantry +without passion which always +appears <em>fade</em> and contemptible. It +is vehemence and sincerity which +makes sentiment interesting. The +Buonapartes had nothing chivalrous in +their breasts: Lucien's letter is very +different from Massena wearing Madame +Recamier's ribbon next his heart +amidst the fire of the Austrian cannon. +But Chateaubriand himself had the +true spirit of chivalry in his bosom. +He thus recounts one of the last moments +which he spent in 1832, late in +life, with Madame Recamier on the +banks of the Lake of Constance:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"We wandered as chance guided our +steps, and sat down beside the lake. +From a pavilion in the woods arose a +concert of the harp and the German +horns, which ceased as we began to +listen to them. It was a scene in a fairy +tale. As the music did not recommence, +I read to Madame Recamier my description +of the St Gothard. She asked me +to write something in her pocket-book. +Immediately below the last words of +Rousseau, which were there inscribed, +'Open the windows, that I may again +see the light of the sun,' I wrote, 'What +I felt the want of on the Lake of Lucerne +I have found on the Lake of Constance—the +charm and the intelligence of beauty. +I no longer wish to die like Rousseau; +I wish, on the contrary, to live long, and +behold the sun, if it is near you that I +am to finish my life. May my days +expire at your feet, as the waves of which +you hear the murmur.' The azure light +of the setting sun coloured the lake; on +the horizon, to the south, the snowy alps +of the Grisons reflected the ruddy glow; +the breeze which swept the waves harmonised +with their ceaseless murmur. +We knew not where we were."—Vol. x. +246, 247.</p></blockquote> + +<p>With the accession of a more Liberal +Administration under M. de Martignac, +Chateaubriand was taken +into power. In 1822 he was sent as +ambassador to London; in 1823 he +was made minister of foreign affairs, +and directed the expedition into +Spain in that year, which had so successful +a result; and in 1824 he represented +France at the Congress of +Verona. He was again, however, +chased from the helm by the jealousy +of the Royalists, whose imbecility was +rebuked by his genius; and it was +not till 1828 that he was again taken +into power, and appointed to the +embassy at Rome. He was there +when the Polignac Administration +was appointed.</p> + +<p>We must hasten to the most +brilliant and honourable period of +Chateaubriand's life, that in which he +stood almost alone amidst a nation's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +defection, and singly opposed the revolutionary +torrent by which nearly +all others had been swept away. The +spectacle is at once animating and +mournful: animating as evincing of +what high resolves, of what heroic +constancy, noble minds are capable +even in the extremity of disaster: +mournful, as exhibiting so bright a +contrast to the tergiversation of later +times, and suggesting the mournful +reflection that, in these days of economists +and material enjoyment, the +days of chivalry are gone for ever.</p> + +<p>It is well known that Chateaubriand +was esteemed not only a +Liberal, but an ultra-Liberal, by the +extreme Royalist party whom +Charles X. summoned to his councils +on his accession to the throne; and +that, in consequence of his disagreement +with Polignac and the leaders +of that party, he retired from the +ministry, and resigned his appointment +as ambassador at Rome. His +consternation was great on perceiving +the extreme measures which the +Polignac party were preparing to +carry into execution, and the feeble +preparations made for supporting +them by military force, in the midst of +a warlike and excited people. Of +his first intelligence of the appointment +of the Polignac Administration +by the sovereign whom they were destined +so soon to overthrow, he gives +the following account:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Rumours of a change of Administration +had already reached us at Rome. +Well-informed persons had even gone so +far as to speak of Prince Polignac, but I +could not credit the reports. At length +the journals arrive; I open them, and +my eyes rest on the official ordinance +calling him to the head of the ministry. +I had experienced many vicissitudes of +fortune in my journey through life, but +never had I fallen from such an elevation. +My evil destiny had again blown +over my chimeras: that breath of fate +had not only destroyed my illusions, but +it had swept away the monarchy. The +blow was fearful: for a moment I was +in despair, but my part was soon taken. +I felt that I must retire from power. +The post brought me a multitude of +letters; all recommended me to send in +my resignation. Even persons to whom +I was almost a stranger thought themselves +obliged to counsel me to retire. I +was in secret mortified at the officious +interest thus evinced in my reputation. +Thank God, I have never needed nor +waited for counsels when the paths of +honour and of interest lay before me. +Falls from station have ever been to me +ruin, for I possessed through life nothing +but debts; so that when I resigned my +appointments, I was reduced to live by +my wits. In a word, I resigned a situation +of 200,000 francs (£8000) a-year, +and was reduced to nothing; but my +choice was not doubtful. Cast to the +winds, said I to myself, 200,000 francs +(£8000) a-year of income, an appointment +entirely suited to your taste, a +high and magnificent office, the empire of +the fine arts at Rome, the felicity, in fine, +of having at length received the recompense +for your long and laborious +struggles. Honour is to be won, esteem +preserved, at no other price."—Vol. ix. +141, 142.</p></blockquote> + +<p>On arriving at Paris after he had +resigned his appointment as ambassador +at Rome, Chateaubriand found +that many of the kind and officious +friends who had so strongly urged +<em>him</em> to resign, had themselves quietly +accepted appointments under the +Polignac Administration! He withdrew, +however, in pursuance of his +resolution, into private life; and in +order to avoid the expenses of Paris, +which exceeded what his reduced +income could bear, he retired to +Dieppe in June 1830. When there +he received the stunning intelligence +of the Ordinances of July. His part +was immediately taken. He returned +with the utmost expedition to Paris, +resolved to share the fate of his +country whatever it might be, and to +exert himself to the utmost to mitigate +the calamities which he foresaw +awaited it. His first step on arriving +in the capital was to write a letter to +the King, making a tender of his services +to negotiate with the popular +leaders who had got the command in +the capital. The only answer he +received was a verbal one, that M. +de Montemart had been appointed to +the head of the Ministry, and a reference +to him. But M. de Montemart +could not be found; and even if he had +been, affairs had gone too far to admit +of any remedy by individual efforts, +how powerful soever. The nation +would have a Revolution with its +consequences, and it was doomed to +have a Revolution with its consequences. +But although Louis Philippe<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +was successful, Chateaubriand foresaw +that his throne was established on a +rotten foundation: that the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">juste +milieu</i>, resting neither on the attachment +of a loyal, nor the passions of a +conquering people, could not be of +lasting endurance; and that, in default +of all principles of honour whereon to +rest a Government, those of interest +alone remained. He has left the following +memorable prophecy of the +fate awaiting a monarchy cradled in +treason and fostered by selfishness:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Louis Philippe, his Government, the +whole of that impossible and contradictory +combination, <em>will perish in a time +more or less retarded by fortuitous events</em>, +by complications of interests interior +and exterior, by the apathy or corruption +of individuals, by the levity of disposition, +the indifference and want of nerve in +characters. But be its duration long or +short, the present dynasty will not exist +long enough for the House of Orleans to +strike its roots in the soil of France."—Vol. +ix. 333.<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a></p></blockquote> + +<p>It is not in public documents and +actions that the real opinions of the +actors on the stage of public events +are to be discerned. It is their private +conversation or correspondence +that reveals their real sentiments; it +is there that the mental struggles +which preceded the most decisive +steps, and the secret views by which +they were actuated in adopting or +rejecting them, are in truth disclosed. +In this view, the following conversation +between Chateaubriand and the +Duchess of Orleans, immediately after +the triumph of the Barricades, is peculiarly +interesting—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"M. Arago spoke to me in the warmest +terms of the intellectual superiority of +Madame Adelaide; and the Count Analde +de Montesquieu, having met me one +morning at Madame Recamier's, informed +me that the Duke and Duchess of Orleans +would be charmed to see me. I went, +accordingly, to the Palais Royal with the +Chevalier d'Honneur of the future queen. +I found the Duchess of Orleans and +Madame Adelaide in their private boudoirs. +I had previously had the honour +of being presented to the duchess. She +made me sit down near her, and immediately +said—</p> + +<p>"'Ah! M. de Chateaubriand, we are +very unfortunate. If all parties would +unite we might perhaps be saved, what +think you of that?'</p> + +<p>"'Madame,' I replied, 'nothing is so +easy. Charles X. and the Dauphin have +both abdicated; Henry V. is now king; +the Duke of Orleans is now Lieutenant-general +of the kingdom; let him be Regent +during the whole minority of Henry +V., and all is accomplished.'</p> + +<p>"'But, M. de Chateaubriand, the people +are extremely agitated; we should fall +into anarchy.'</p> + +<p>"'Madame, may I venture to ask you +what is the intention of the Duke of +Orleans? will he accept the throne if it +is offered to him?'</p> + +<p>"The two princesses hesitated to answer. +After a short pause the Duchess +of Orleans replied,—</p> + +<p>"'Consider, M. de Chateaubriand, the +disasters which may ensue—you and all +other men of honour require to unite to +save us from a republic. At Rome, M. +de Chateaubriand, you might render us +essential service—or even here, if you did +not wish to quit France.'</p> + +<p>"'Madame is not ignorant of my devotion +to the young king and to his mother.'</p> + +<p>"'Ah! M. de Chateaubriand, how well +they have rewarded your fidelity.'</p> + +<p>"'Your Royal Highness would not +wish me to give the lie to my whole life.'</p> + +<p>"'M. de Chateaubriand, you do not +know my niece; she is so inconsiderate, +poor Caroline. I will send for the Duke +of Orleans; I hope he may succeed in +persuading you better than me.'</p> + +<p>"The princess gave her orders, and in +a quarter of an hour Louis Philippe +arrived. He was dressed in disorder, +and looked extremely fatigued. I rose +as he entered, and the Lieutenant-general +of the kingdom said,—</p> + +<p>"'The duchess has doubtless informed +you how unfortunate we are.' And +upon that he began a speech on the +felicity which he enjoyed in the country, +and the life, in the midst of his children, +which was entirely according to his +taste. I seized the opportunity of a +momentary pause to repeat what I had +said to the princess.</p> + +<p>"'Ah!' he exclaimed, 'that is just +what I desire. How happy should I be to +become the tutor and support of that infant! +I think exactly as you do, M. de +Chateaubriand: to take the Duke of +Bordeaux would unquestionably be the +wisest course that could be adopted. I +only fear events are too strong for us.'</p> + +<p>"'Stronger than us, my Lord Duke! +Are you not invested with all powers? +Let us hasten to join Henry V. Summon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +the Chambers and the army to meet +you out of Paris. At the first intelligence +of your departure all that effervescence +will subside, and all the world +will seek shelter under your enlightened +and protecting government.'</p> + +<p>"While I yet spoke, I kept my eyes +fixed on Louis Philippe. I saw that my +counsels gave him annoyance: I saw +written on his forehead the desire to be +king. 'M. de Chateaubriand,' said he, +<em>without looking me in the face</em>, 'the thing +is not so easy as you imagine: things do +not go as you imagine. A furious mob +may assail the Chambers, and we have, +as yet, no military force on which we can +rely for its defence.'</p> + +<p>"The last expression gave me pleasure, +because it enabled me to bring forward +a decisive reply. 'I feel the difficulty +you mention, my Lord Duke; but +there is a sure mode of obviating it. If +you cannot rejoin Henry V., as I have +just proposed, you may embrace another +course. The session is about to open: +on the first proposition made by the deputies, +declare that the Chamber of Deputies +has not the power to determine the +form of government for France; that the +<em>whole nation must be consulted</em>. Your +Royal Highness will thus place yourself +at the head of the popular party: the +Republicans, who now constitute your +danger, will laud you to the skies. In +the two months which must elapse before +the new legislature can assemble, you can +organise a national guard; all your +friends, and the friends of the young king, +will exert themselves in the provinces. +Let the deputies assemble, and let the +cause I espouse be publicly pleaded before +them. That cause, favoured in heart +by you, supported by the great majority +of the country electors, will be certain of +success. The moment of anarchy being +past, you will have nothing to fear from +the violence of the Republicans. I even +think you might win over, by such a +course, General Lafayette and M. Lafitte +to your side. What a part for you to +play, my Lord Duke! You will reign fifteen +years in the name of your young +pupil; at the expiration of that time, +repose will be a blessing to us all. You +will earn the glory, unique in history, of +having had the power to ascend the +throne, and of having left it to the lawful +heir. At the same time, you will have +enjoyed the means of educating that heir +abreast of the ideas of his age: you will +have rendered him capable of reigning +over France. One of your daughters +may aid him to bear the weight of the +crown.'</p> + +<p>"Louis Philippe looked around with a +wandering eye and an absent air. 'I beg +your pardon, M. de Chateaubriand,' said +he; 'I left a deputation to converse with +you, and I must return to it.' With +these words, he bowed and withdrew."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The advice thus given at the decisive +moment by Chateaubriand was +that of honour and loyalty; it +dictated by the spirit of the chevalier +<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">sans peur et sans reproche</i>. But it was +not that of immediate or apparent +interest; and therefore it was not +adopted. The event has now proved, +however, that in this, as in so many +other instances in this world, the path +of honour and duty would have been +that of expedience. What Chateaubriand +recommended to Louis Philippe +was substantially what Louis +Napoleon <em>did</em>; and the result proved +that the great majority of the nation, +differing widely from the revolutionary +rabble of Paris, was not only Conservative, +but Royalist in its dispositions. +Had Louis Philippe followed +this course, and taken only the regency +till the majority of the Duke of +Bordeaux, the two branches of the +house of Bourbon would have been +cordially united: no discord or jealousies +would have weakened the +Royalist party; the national will +would have been decidedly pronounced +for the monarchy before +it had been rendered an object of +contempt; the Revolution of 1848, +with all its disastrous consequences, +would probably have been prevented; +and as the Duke de Bordeaux has no +family, the Orleans dynasty, as the +next heirs, would have ascended the +throne in the natural order of succession—and +not only without the bar +sinister of treason on their escutcheon, +but with a deed of unexampled magnanimity +and honour to illustrate their +accession!</p> + +<p>Louis Philippe, bent on the immediate +possession of the throne, made +another attempt to gain M. de Chateaubriand; +and for this purpose the +Duchess of Orleans and Madame Adelaide +again sent for him.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Madame Adelaide was present as on +the former occasion; and the duchess now +described more specifically the favours +with which the Duke of Orleans proposed +to honour me. She dwelt on what +she called my sway over public opinion; +the sacrifices I had made, and the aversion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +which Charles X. and his family had +always shown to me in spite of my services. +She said to me, that if I would +accept the portfolio of foreign affairs, his +Royal Highness would be too happy to +replace me in that situation; but that possibly +I would prefer returning to Rome, +and that she would greatly rejoice at that +appointment, for the interests of our holy +religion.</p> + +<p>"'Madam,' I answered with some degree +of vivacity, 'I see that his Royal +Highness has taken his line; that he has +weighed the consequences; that he is prepared +to meet the years of misery and +perils he will have to traverse. I have +therefore nothing to say on that head—I +come not here to fail in respect to the +blood of the Bourbons; I owe besides nothing +but gratitude and respect to <em>Madame</em>. +Leaving apart, then, those great +objections, founded on reason and principle, +I pray her Royal Highness to allow +me to explain what personally concerns +myself.</p> + +<p>"'She has had the condescension to +speak of what she calls my power over +general opinion. Well, if that power is +well founded, on what is it founded? Is it +on anything else but the public esteem: +and should I not lose it the moment I +changed my colours? The Duke of +Orleans supposes he would in me acquire +a support: instead of that he would gain +only a miserable maker of phrases, whose +voice would no longer be listened to—a +renegade, on whom every one would have +a right to throw dust and to spit in his +face. To the hesitating words which he +could pronounce in favour of Louis +Philippe, they would oppose the entire +volumes he had written in favour of the +fallen family. Is it not I, Madam, who +have written the pamphlet of <cite>Buonaparte +and the Bourbons</cite>; the articles on the +arrival of Louis XVIII. at Compiègne; +the relation of the Royal Council at Ghent, +and the <cite>History of the Life and Death of +the Duke de Berri</cite>? I know not that I +have written a single page where the +name of our ancient kings is not either +mentioned or alluded to, and where they +are not environed by the protestations of +my love and fidelity—a thing which +marks strength of principle the more +strongly, as<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Madame</i> knows that, as an +individual, I put no faith in princes. At +the thought even of desertion, the colour +mounts to my cheeks. The day after my +treachery, I should go to throw myself +into the Seine. I implore <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Madame</i> to +forgive the vehemence of my language: +I am penetrated with her goodness: I +shall ever preserve a profound and grateful +remembrance of it; but she would +not wish me to be dishonoured. Pity me, +madam, pity me.'"</p> + +<p>"I was still standing; and bowing, I retired. +Mademoiselle de Orleans, (the +Princess Adelaide,) had not yet said anything. +She rose up, and retiring said, +'<em>I do not pity you, M. de Chateaubriand; +I do not pity you</em>.' I was forcibly struck +with the mournful accent with which she +pronounced these words."—Vol. ix. 361, +362.</p></blockquote> + +<p>"Pity not me," said the dying +Chevalier Bayard to the traitor Constable +de Bourbon; "pity those who +fight against their king, their country, +and their oath." The feelings of +honour are the same in all ages.</p> + +<p>We shall close this long line of +honourable acts with an extract from +Chateaubriand's noble speech in favour +of Henry V., in the Chamber of Peers, +on July 7, 1830.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"'Charles X. and his sons are dethroned +or have abdicated; it signifies not which. +The throne is <em>not vacant</em>—after them +comes an infant; will you condemn the +innocent?</p> + +<p>"'What blood now cries out against +him? Can you say it is that of his father? +That orphan educated in the school of +his country, in attachment to a constitutional +throne, and in the ideas of his age, +will become a king in harmony with the +cravings of the future. It is to the +guardian of his infancy that you would +first tender the oath to be faithful to it. +Arrived at mature years, he would himself +renew it. The king at this moment, +the real king for a time, would be the +Duke of Orleans, the regent of the kingdom; +a prince who has lived near the +people, and who knows that the monarchy +now can only be a monarchy of concession +and reason. That combination, so natural, +so obvious, appears a main element in +reconciliation, and would save France +from the convulsions which are the consequence +of violent changes in a state.</p> + +<p>"'To say that this infant, separated +from his masters, would not have leisure +to forget their precepts before becoming +a man: to say that he would remain infatuated +by certain dogmas of his birth, +after a long popular education, after the +terrible lesson which has discrowned two +kings in two nights: is that reasonable?</p> + +<p>"'It is neither from a sentimental devotion, +nor the affection of a nurse for the +cradle of Henry IV., that I plead a cause +where all would turn against me if it +triumphed. I am neither influenced by +the ideas of romance nor of chivalry: I +do not desire the crown of martyrdom. I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +do not believe in the divine right of kings: +I am alive to the power of revolutions, +and the evidence of facts. I do not even +invoke the charter: I ascend to a higher +source. I draw my principles from the +philosophic ideas of the age in which my +life expires: I propose the Duke of Bordeaux +simply as a necessity preferable to +the Duke of Orleans.</p> + +<p>"'You proclaim the sovereignty of force. +It is well. <em>Look carefully after it: guard +it well; for, if it escapes you, who will +pity your lot?</em> Such is human nature. +The most enlightened minds are not always +raised above the temptations of success. +The <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">esprits forts</i> were the first to invoke +the right of violence; they supported +it by all the force of their talents; and at +the moment when the truth of what they +said is demonstrated by the abuse of that +force, and its overthrow, the conquerors +seize the weapon they have broken! Dangerous +trophies, which may wound the +hand which seized them.</p> + +<p>"'A useless Cassandra, I have fatigued +the throne and the country sufficiently +with my disdained predictions: it remains +for me only to seat myself on the +remains of the wreck which I have so +often predicted. I recognise in misfortune +every power except that of absolving +us from our oaths. I must render my life +uniform: after all I have written, said, +and done for the Bourbons, I should be +the basest of the base if I deserted them +when for the third time they bend their +steps into exile.</p> + +<p>"'Far from me be the thought of casting +the seeds of division into France: +thence it is that I have avoided in my discourse +the language of the passions. If +I had the firm conviction that an infant +should be left in the obscure and tranquil +ranks of life, to secure the repose of +thirty-three millions of men, I should have +regarded any opinion expressed against +the declared wishes of the age as a crime. +I have no such conviction. If I was entitled +to dispose of the crown, I should +willingly lay it at the feet of the Duke of +Orleans. But I have no such right. I +see no place vacant but a tomb at St Denis, +and not a throne.</p> + +<p>"'Whatever destinies may attend the +lieutenant-general of the kingdom, I shall +never be his enemy, if he acts for the good +of his country. I only ask to be allowed +to preserve the freedom of my conscience, +and to go and leave my bones where I +shall find independence and repose. I +vote against the motion.'"—Vol. ix. 386-388.</p></blockquote> + +<p>Chateaubriand was as good as his +word. He resigned all his appointments, +even his pension of £600 a-year +as Peer of France: he sold off +all his effects, which scarcely paid his +debts: he refused the offer of Charles +X. to restore that pension out of the +wreck of that Prince's own fortune: he +set out again penniless on the pilgrimage +of life: and till his death, in +1848, supported himself entirely by +his literary talents.</p> + +<p>Such was honour in the olden time. +We do not say that it would not find +imitators, on a similar crisis, on this +side of the Channel: we believe it +would find many. But this we do say, +that it would find them only among +those who are imbued with the ancient +ideas, among whom, whether +patrician or plebeian, the spirit of chivalry +is not extinct. It will not be +found among the worshippers of mammon, +or the slaves of interest. Woe +to the nation by whom such feelings +are classed with the age of the mammoth +and the mastodon! It has +entered the gulf of destruction, for it +deserves to be destroyed.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>THE GREEN HAND.</h2> + +<h3>A "SHORT" YARN.</h3> + +<h4>PART XI.</h4> + + +<p>"Well, ma'am," continued our +narrator, addressing himself, as usual, +to his matronly relative in the chair, +and with the accustomed catch-word, +which was like the knotting together +of his interrupted yarn: "well—it +was between a fortnight and three +weeks after losing sight of St Helena, +that, being at last fairly in the latitude +of the Cape, the frigate and schooner +tacked in company, and stood close-hauled +on a wind to the eastward. By +the middle watch that night, when the +moon set, we could make out the long +flat top of Table Mountain heaving in +sight off the horizon over against her. +Next day, in fact, we were both of us +quietly at anchor outside of the shipping +in Table Bay; Cape Town glittering +along on the green flat amongst +the trees to southward, with the hills +on each side of it like some big African +lion lying on guard close by; while +Table Mountain hove up, square-shouldered, +blue to the left, four thousand +feet high, as bare and steep as a +wall, with the rocks and trees creeping +up from the foot, and the wreaths of +light cloud resting halfway, like nothing +else but the very breakwater of +the world's end. The sea stretched +broad off to north and west, and a +whole fleet of craft lay betwixt us and +the land—half of them Indiamen—amongst +which, you may be sure, I +kept a pretty sharp look-out with the +glass, to see if the Seringapatam were +there still.</p> + +<p>I was soon saved further pains on +this head, however, when shortly +afterwards the frigate was beset by a +whole squadron of bumboats, shoving +against each other, and squabbling, in +all sorts of Nigger tongues, who should +be first: the chief of them being in +evident command of a fat old Dutch +Frouw, with an immense blue umbrella +over her, two greasy-looking +Hottentot rowers in blankets, and a +round-faced Dutch boy, the picture of +herself, steering the boat; as the old +lady made a clear berth for herself, +by laying about with her blue umbrella, +till she was close under our +quarter, sitting all the while with the +broad round stern of her bright-coloured +gown spread over a couple of beer-barrels, +like a peacock's train. In two +minutes more the little fellow was up +the side, flourishing a bundle of papers +under the first lieutenant's very nose, +and asking the ship's custom, even +whilst the sentries were ordering them +all off. A midshipman took this youth +by the cuff of the neck, and was handing +him rather roughly along to the +care of the purser's steward, when I +stepped betwixt them; and a bumboat +being the best directory on the point, +of course, I soon found the old lady +had had dealings with the Seringapatam, +which her bluff-built little progeny +described as a very good ship +indeed, all having paid their bills, +except one young officer, who had left +a balance standing, for which he had +given a letter to his brother in a ship +that was to come after. As for the +Indiaman herself, the Dutch boy said +she had sailed about a week before +our arrival, along with two others; +and he was anxious to know if we +were the vessel in question. I accordingly +unfolded the open letter, +which was addressed,—"Thomas +Spoonbill Simm, Esquire, of His Britannic +Majesty's ship Nincompoop, +(or otherwise;") and it ran somehow +thus:—"<em>Hon. East India Company's +ship Seringapatam, Table Bay, September +1, 1816.</em>—My dear Brother, +This is to certify, that I have eaten +four dozen and a half of eggs, supplied +by the worthy Vrouw Dulcken, the +bearer of this, whom I can recommend +as an old screw, and am due her for +the same the sum of nine shillings and +sixpence sterling, which you will +kindly pay her, taking her receipt or +mark, unless you are willing to forfeit +our family watch, herewith deposited +by me in the hands of said Mother +Dulcken. I may add that, in justice +to the worthy Vrouw, three of the +above-mentioned eggs ought to be +charged as <em>fowls</em>, which, by the way,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +I did not consume; and, with love to +all at home, remain your affectionate +brother, <span class="smcap">John Simm</span>, H. E. I. C. S.—<em>P. S.</em> +The watch I have discovered to +be pinchbeck, and it does not go; so +that a sad trick must have been originally +played upon our venerated +Uncle, from whom it descended. J. S." +This precious epistle was, without +doubt, a joke of the fat mid. Simm, +who used to come such rigs over Ford +the cadet, and that jumped overboard +one night by mistake out of the Indiaman's +quarter-boat, during the voyage. +As for the existence of his brother +Thomas, or the chance of his +touching at that port, I set them down +with the coming home of Vanderdecken; +though the thought of this +young scamp of a sea-lawyer breakfasting +for a fortnight so comfortably, +only a few feet distant from my charmer's +state-room, sent me all abroad +again, and right into the Indiaman's +decks, by this time far out of sight of +land. Piece of impudent roguery +though it was, I was actually loath to +part with the scrawl, which the reefer +had fisted, no doubt, on the lid of his +chest—probably with a pipe in his +mouth at the time, it smelt so of tobacco—only +seven days before. I could +even see the grin on his fat face as he +wrote it below in the steerage, with +his chin up, and his eyes looking down +past his pipe; while the little Dutch +boy's round flat frontispiece glistened +as he peered up at me, in the evident +notion of my being the brother expected. +In fact, ma'am, I was so +soft as to intend paying the nine-and-sixpence +myself, and keeping the +letter, when I was startled to see +the old lady herself had contrived to +be hoisted on board amongst her cabbages; +and having got wind of the +thing, seemingly, she came waddling +towards me to hand over Simm's +watch to boot. In another half +minute the letter was being read +aloud in the midst of the whole +gun-room officers, amongst roars of +laughter; the honest old Dutchwoman +holding aloft the precious article, and +floundering through to find out the +rightful owner, as every one claimed +it and offered the nine-and-sixpence; +while for my part I tried first to get +down one hatchway, then another, +and Lord Frederick himself came up +on the starboard side of the quarterdeck +in the height of the scene. Indeed, +I believe it was a joke for +months after in the Hebe, of a night, +to say it was "the second lieutenant's +watch;" the sole revenge I had being +to leave Mother Dulcken and her boy +to expect the "ship that was coming +after."</p> + +<p>A Government boat came aboard +in the afternoon, and as soon as it +left us, Lord Frederick took his gig, +and steered for a frigate lying some +distance off, which had the harbour +flag hoisted at her main, being the +only man-o'-war besides ourselves, +and commanded by a senior captain. +Till it got dark I could see the crews +of the nearest merchantmen looking +over their bulwarks at us and our +prize, apparently comparing the +schooner with the frigate, and speculating +on her character, as she lay a +few fathoms off the Hebe's quarter, +both of us rising and falling in turn +on the long heave of the Cape swell +from seaward. 'Twas hard to say, in +fact, so far as their hulls went, which +was the most beautiful sample of its +kind; though the schooner's French-fashioned +sticks and off-hand sort of +rigging, showed rather like jury-gear +beside the tall regular sticks aloft of +the Hebe's decks, with all her hamper +perfect to a tee. The Hebe's men +very naturally considered their own +ship a model for everything that +floated, a sort of a Solomon's temple, in +short; and to hear the merciless way +they ran down the Indiamen all round, +would have raised the whole homeward-bound +fleet against us; whereas +the schooner was our own, at any +rate, and she was spoken of much in +the manner one mentions an unfortunate +orphan, as good as already christened +by the name of "the Young +Hebe." This our learned chaplain +said was quite improper, and he gave +another name in place of it—the +"Aniceta"—which meant, as he observed, +the Hebe's youngest daughter; +so the Aniceta she was called, happening +to be a title that went, according +to the boatswain, full as sweetly +through the sheave-hole.</p> + +<p>Next day the schooner had landed +not only her passengers from St +Helena, but the prisoners also, as we +still understood the French and their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +Kroomen to be. Not long after that +Lord Frederick came back from Cape +Town, looking grave, and went +straight down to his cabin, or "cabins," +as his lordship preferred to have it +said. The first lieutenant dined that +day with the captain; but they could +scarcely have finished when the +"young gentlemen" who had been as +usual from the reefer's mess, came up +with a message from the captain, that +his lordship would be glad if I would +join the first lieutenant and himself in +a glass of wine. I found them sitting +at the side of the table nearest the +open port, with the decanters between +them, and the broad bright bay in +full sight to the shore and the foot of +Table Mountain, which rose up blocking +the port with the top of it beyond +view; the sounds of the merchantmen +clicking at their heavy windlasses, +and hoisting in water-casks, floated +slowly in from every side, while the +schooner had hauled on her cable +more abreast of the frigate, leaving +the sight clear over the eddy round +her low counter.</p> + +<p>"A lovely piece of workmanship, +certainly!" observed Lord Frederick +thoughtfully, as he leant back swinging +his eyeglass round his finger, with +the other hand in the breast of his +waistcoat, and looking out at what +was seen of the schooner. "And how +one might have improved her spars, +too!" said Mr Hall, wistfully. "I +should have recommended longer +lower-masts altogether, Lord Frederick, +and a thorough overhaul, I may +say, from the combings upwards!" +"I would not have her hull touched +for the world, Mr Hall!" said the +captain; "'tis too—excessively provoking, +at least! But pass the bottles +to Mr Collins, if you please." I had +taken a chair and quietly filled my +glass, wondering what could be the +matter, when his lordship turned to +me and said, "Do you know, Mr Collins, +this schooner of ours is likely to +be laid up in Chancery, heaven knows +how long. The Admiralty court ashore +are doubtful of condemning her, apparently, +and she must either be sent +home or to Monte Video or somewhere, +where the master of her claims +to belong!" "Indeed, my lord," said +I, setting down my glass, "that +is curious." "Curious indeed, sir!" +replied he, biting his lips, "though, +after all, we really can scarce say +what she is to be condemned for—only +in the meantime I sail to-morrow +for India." "She's French to +the backbone, that I'll swear, Lord +Frederick!" I said; "and what's +more, she was"——"Ah," broke in the +captain, "I know, I know; but the +less we say of that, in present circumstances, +the better! Once get her +entangled with politics, and we may +give her up altogether." Lord Frederick +twisted his eyeglass round his +forefinger faster than before, still +watching the schooner; the first lieutenant +held up his claret betwixt himself +and the light, and I sipped mine. +"I tell you what, gentlemen," exclaimed +his lordship suddenly, "I +<em>must</em> have that schooner at any cost!—What +is to be done, Mr Hall?" +"She'd be of great service in the +China seas, my lord, certainly," said +the first lieutenant, looking thoughtfully +into his empty glass; "a perfect +treasure for light service, especially if +new sparred and—" I noticed Lord +Frederick glancing sideways at me, as +I thought, with a slight gleam in his +eye; and accordingly I suggested that +he might buy her from the Frenchman +himself; a very poor idea, no +doubt, as both the captain and first +luff seemed to think, and we all three +kept eyeing her doubtfully through +the port, without a word.</p> + +<p>At this time the schooner's counter +had been slowly sheering toward the +frigate's beam, owing to the ebb-tide, +and her holding only by a single cable, +till her stern began to show right +opposite the cabin, I should say not +twenty feet off. Lord Frederick put +his glass to his eye, and was peering +through it, when he remarked that +they had brought up rather too near, +leaving scarce room for the schooner +to swing as she did, earlier than we, +so that she would be in danger of getting +foul of the frigate's cables. "The +worst of it is, Lord Frederick," said I, +"that in case of a gale from seaward +here, she might have to slip and run +upon very short warning, whereas the +Hebe has plenty of ground-tackle to +let her ride it out. Considering it +was Table Bay, at this season, he +ought to have kept her a clearer +berth for herself, or else have gone<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +well outside!"—"Ah!" said Lord +Frederick quickly, meeting my eye +for half a minute, till the gleam came +into his again; and somehow or other +mine must have caught it, though I +must say the notion that struck me +then all at once wasn't in my head +before. "Do you know, that's well +thought of, Collins!" said his lordship. +"You've weathered the Cape +before, by the bye?"—"A dozen times, +Lord Frederick," said I; when a +regularly jovial roar of laughter broke +fair through the port into the cabin, +from over the schooner's taffrail, as +she sheered end-on to the frigate's +quarter, and Lord Frederick leant +forward with the glass screwed into +his right eye to see along their decks, +which were covered aft with an awning +like the open gable of a tent at a +fair. "Singular!" said he; "by the +lord Harry, who or what can that be +Mr Hammond has got there?" Dangling +over the French schooner's taffrail +were to be seen the soles of two +immense boots, with calves and knees +to match, and a pair of tightish striped +trousers worked up more than half +way, 'till you saw the tops of the stockings; +just beyond the knees was the +face leaning back in the shade of the +awning and a straw hat together, out +of which a huge green cabbage-leaf +hung like a flap over one eye, while +the other kept gazing in a half-closed +sleepy sort of way at the sky, and +the red end of a cigar winked and +glowed in the midst of the puffs of +smoke lower down. The first lieutenant +started up shocked at the sight, +the noble captain of the Hebe sat with +his eyeglass fixed, between amusement +and wonder; for my own part, +when the voice of this same prodigy +broke all of a sudden on us out of the +awning, in a mixture of stuttering, +hiccuping, Yankee drawling, and puffs +at the cigar, 'twas all I could do to +hold on, with the knowledge of where +I was. "W<em>a</em>ll now, general," said +the American, as if he were talking to +some one aloft or in the sky, "ye-you're +qui-quite wrong—I ki-kick-calc'late +I've fit a deal more be-be-battles +than you have—I re-respect +you, Ge-Ge-General Washington; but +I ho-ho-hope you know who—hic—whom +I am!" Here Mr Daniel Snout, +who was in a state of beastly intoxication, +swayed himself up bodily into +the schooner's taffrail, and sat with +his arms folded, his long legs swinging +over the stern, and his head trying to +keep steady, as he scowled solemnly +aloft over the frigate's mizen-royal-masthead; +while the third lieutenant, +Mr Hammond, and the master's mate +he had aboard with him, could be +heard laughing at his back, as if they +had gone mad—Hammond being a +wild sprig of an Irishman, who would +go any length for a piece of fun.</p> + +<p>Just then the American's one eye +lighted on the side of the frigate, till +it settled lazily on the port of the captain's +cabin: first he seemed to notice +Lord Frederick Bury, and then myself, +the first lieutenant having just +recovered himself enough to rush toward +the door to get on deck. Daniel +himself surveyed me scornfully for a +moment, then with a sort of doubtful +frown, and a gravity that passes me +to describe, unless by the look of an +old cock a-drinking—evidently trying +to recollect me. "Hallo, mister!" +shouted he suddenly, "you haven't +touched those <em>notions</em> of mine, I hope." +With that he made a spring off +where he sat, as if to come towards +us—no doubt thinking of the Seringapatam, +and the valuables he had left +aboard, without seeing the water between; +and a pretty deep dive Mr +Snout would have made of it, into an +ebb-tide that would have swept him +under the frigate's bottom, if Mr Hammond +and the midshipman hadn't both +sprung forward in time to catch him +by the neck of the coat. There, accordingly, +was the Yankee hanging +like a spread eagle over the schooner's +taffrail, yelling and turning round at +the same time like a fowl on a spit—the +third lieutenant's and the mate's +faces, two pictures of dismay, as they +held on, at finding for the first time +where the schooner had shied them +round to, with their two pairs of eyes +fair in front of the captain's eyeglass,—while +Mr Hall was singing out like +thunder from the deck above us, +"The schooner ahoy—d'ye see where +you've got to, sir; haul ahead on +that cable, d'ye hear, you lubbers, +and keep clear of the ship!"</p> + +<p>"Mr Collins," said his lordship +quietly to me, as soon as he could keep +his countenance, and looking the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +sterner for the trouble he was put to in +doing it, "you will get your things and +go aboard the schooner directly—take +her in charge, sir, and send Mr Hammond +back here."—"Very well, my +lord," said I, waiting in the doorway for +something more, which, from something +in Lord Frederick's look, I had reason +to expect, knowing it of old. "I can +only spare you a dozen of the men +she has," added he; "but if you choose +you can send ashore at once to pick +up a few makeshifts, or anything you +find!"—"Ay, ay, my lord," said I; +"the best hand for that would be Mr +Snelling, if I may take him, Lord +Frederick?" "Oh, certainly," was +the answer; "and harkye, Collins, +you had better shift your berth a few +cable-lengths farther off, or more, if +you please."—"One thing, my lord," +said I, stooping down to see through +the port, "I don't much like the heavy +ground-swell that begins to meet the +ebb, Lord Frederick; and I fancy it +won't be long ere Table Mountain +spread its supper-cloth—in which case +I'd consider it necessary to slip cable +and run out at once, though I mightn't +get in again so easily. Am I to find +the frigate here again, Lord Frederick?"—"Deuce +take it, man—no!" +said his lordship. He turned his back +to hide the evident twinkle of his eye. +"Should we part company, of course +you make for the Bay of Bengal! +You can't be sure of the Hebe, short +of the Sandheads—and if not there, +then opposite Fort William, at Calcutta."—"Very +good, my lord," said +I, and had made my bow to go on +deck, when Lord Frederick called me +back. "By the bye," said he hastily, +"about that Indiaman of yours, Collins—she +is here, no doubt?" "No, +Lord Frederick," answered I, "I believe +she sailed a week ago." "Dear +me, the deuce!" exclaimed he, "why I +meant to have sent to-morrow to have +your friend Westwood arrested and +brought aboard!" I started at this, on +which his lordship explained that if +Westwood got to Bombay, whither the +Seringapatam was bound, the authorities +there would have news of the thing +by this time, and could send him overland +at once to England, which would be +far worse for him than being carried to +Calcutta, where his uncle the Councillor's +interest might do something for +him. "The best thing you can do, +Collins," added Lord Frederick, "if +you <em>are</em> obliged to run out to sea, is to +look after that Indiaman! With such +a neat thing of a sea-boat under you, +you might do anything you please; +so cruise to windward or leeward in +chase, find her out, and take out +Westwood bodily—lose him afterwards +in the Hoogley, if you like—carry +away those old spars of hers, +and send up new ones—only don't lose +the schooner, I beg; so good bye to +you, my dear fellow, lest we should +not meet on this side the Line again!"—"Good +bye, my lord!" said I cheerfully, +and hurried on deck, understanding +all he wanted as well as if I'd +been ordered to set her jib that +moment and heave up anchor. In +ten minutes I was over the frigate's +side, and in ten more Hammond was +back in her, with the men who were +to leave; while I sent my baggage +below, set the hands to work shifting +the schooner's berth, and by sun-down +we were lying beyond hail of the ship, +opposite the custom-house, and a long +line of a main street in Cape Town, +where we could see the people, the +carriages, and the Dutch bullock-carts +passing up and down; while Table +Mountain hove away up off the steep +Devil's Hill and the Lion's Rump, to +the long level line a-top, as blue and +bare as an iron monument, and throwing +a shadow to the right over the +peaks near at hand.</p> + +<p>Our friend from the United States +being by this time in quite an oblivious +condition, the first thing I did was to +have him put quietly into the boat +with which Mr Snelling was to go +ashore for fresh hands, and I instructed +the reefer to get clear of him anyhow +he liked, if it was only above +tide-mark. When they were gone I +walked the schooner's little quarterdeck +in the dusk by myself, till the +half moon rose with a ghostly copper-like +glare over the hollow in the Lion's +Rump, streaking across the high face +of Table Mountain, and bringing out +all its rifts and wrinkles again. The +land-breeze began to blow steadily +with a long sighing sweep from the +north-east, meeting the heavy swell +that set into the broad bay; and the +schooner, being a light crank little +craft, got rather uneasy; whereas you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +could see the lights of the frigate +heaving and settling leisurely, less +than half a mile off. I had only six +or seven good hands aboard altogether +at the time, which, with those the +midshipman had, were barely sufficient +to work her in such seas; so +with all I had to do, with the difficulty +of getting men in the circumstances, +a long voyage before us, and +things that might turn up, as I hoped, +to require a touch of the regular service, +why the very pleasure of having +a command made me a good deal +anxious. Even of that I didn't feel +sure; and I kept watching Table +Mountain, eager for the least bit of +haze to come across the top of it, as +well as sorry I had sent Snelling +ashore. "I'd give a hundred pounds +at this moment," thought I, "to have +had Bob Jacobs here!"</p> + +<p>As the moon got higher, I could see +the swell washing up between the different +merchantmen in sight, into +their shadows, and heavy enough +some of them seemed to roll round +their cables, betwixt a breeze and a +swell running the contrary ways; +first one let go a second anchor, and +then another, to help their heads +shoreward; but still there was no +danger, as things went. It wasn't +long before I made out two boats +coming from toward the town, round +the stern of one of the ships, the frigate +lying betwixt her and us, so that +they took her by the way, and a good +deal of hailing seemed to pass between +them. I could even see epaulets +glisten over the Hebe's quarter, as +if there was a stir made aboard; +after which the boats were plainly +pulling for the schooner. What +all this might mean, I couldn't very +well conceive, unless it were either +Snelling come back already, or +else some hands Lord Frederick +himself had provided before this, as +I saw both boats were full of people. +"Forward there!" I sung out, "hail +those boats!"—"Ay, ay, the schooner +ahoy!" was the answer, in a sharp +voice from the headmost of them, +"from the shore—all right! Stand +by to heave us a line, will ye?" +Next came a hail from Snelling, in +our own gig; so I at once gave orders +to heave them a rope and have both +boats brought under the gangway, +naturally supposing the sharp little +fellow had come some marvellous +good speed in shipping hands. As +soon as he jumped on deck, I accordingly +inquired how many men he had +brought, when to my great surprise +he informed me there was only one, +"a scuffy sort of a swab," as he +expressed it, "who would do for +cook!"—"The devil he will, you +young rascal," I broke out. "Hush, +sir, for heaven's sake," said he, making +some extraordinary sign which I +didn't understand; "it'll all be right +in the end, Mr Collins. Now then, +sir," to some one in the boat alongside, +as he carefully handed him the +accommodation-ropes, "here you are—hold +on, sir—so-o!" This was a +rather youngish fellow in a huge pilot +coat and a glazed cap, with some +kind of uniform inside, and a large +breastpin in his shirt, who handed me +a paper the moment he stood firm on +deck, without speaking a word; +though, by the light of the deck-lantern, +I didn't much like the look +of his foxy sort of face, with the +whiskers on it coming forward from +both cheeks to his mouth, nor the +glance he gave round the schooner +with his pair of quick sharp little +eyes. "Much more like a custom-house +officer than a cook!" thought +I, "unless we mean to have a French +one;" but what was my astonishment, +on opening the paper, to find +him called "Gilbert Webb, harbour-master's +assistant, hereby authorised +by the Admiralty Court, sitting in Cape +Town, to take charge of the doubtful +vessel described in her papers as the +'Ludovico,' belonging to Monte +Video—from the officer commanding +the prize crew of his Britannic +Majesty's ship Hebe." My first +thought was to have Mr Gilbert +Webb pitched over into his boat +again, when Lord Frederick's own +signature met my eye at the bottom +of the paper, addressed below to +"Lieutenant Collins, of his Majesty's +schooner Aniceta, <em>at sea</em>." A wonderfully +mysterious squint from Snelling, +behind the officer, was sufficient +to clinch the matter in my own mind, +showing that the reefer was as sharp +as a needle: and I handed back the +document to the harbour gentleman, +with a "Very well, sir, that will do."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +"I suppose I'd better have my men +up, Lieutenant Collins?" said he, +with a quick pert kind of accent, +which made me set him down at once +for a Londoner, while at the same +time he seemed impatient, as I +thought, to get the management. +"Why, sir," said I, "I suppose you +had."</p> + +<p>Hereupon up mounted four or five +decent enough looking <em>stevedores</em><a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a>—one +or two of whom had rather the +air of sailors, the rest being broad-beamed, +short-legged Dutchmen, +with trousers like pillow-slips—followed +by a whole string of fourteen +or fifteen Indian Lascars, their bundles +in their hands, and an ugly old <em>serdug</em> +at their head; while the lame, broken-down, +debauched-like fellow of a +man-o'-warsman, that Snelling had +found sitting on a timberhead ashore, +got aboard with our own boat's crew. +Our gangway was chokeful, to my +fresh dismay, for to get rid of such a +tagrag-and-bobtail, in case of running +to sea, was impossible; even if +they weren't odds against us, here +was it likely to get a thick night, the +swell growing under the schooner till +she began to yerk at her anchor, head +to wind, like a young filly at a +manger; so that dropping them back +into their boat when needful, as I +intended at first, was out of the question +for the present. I found from +the harbour officer that the number +of hands would all be required with +the morning tide, when his orders +were to have the schooner towed in +opposite the Battery Dock, especially +as there was much chance of the +wind blowing strong from seaward +next day. The swell on the water, +he said, was such that, after putting +off, he thought of going back again +till the tide began to turn; if he had +not been encouraged to stick to it +and keep on by the midshipman, +whom he fell in with near the quay. +This piece of news was the finish to +the rage I felt brewing in me, vexed +as I naturally was to give up the +notion of a free cruise, in command +of a craft like the schooner; and, as +soon as Mr Webb was comfortable +in the cabin, over a tumbler of stiff +grog and some cold beef, I sent for +Snelling to my own cupboard of a +state-room.</p> + +<p>"You cursed unlucky little imp +you!" I burst out, the moment he +made his appearance, "What's the +meaning of this, sirrah? eh?"—"What +is it, if you please, sir?" +said Snelling, pretending to hold +down his shock-head like a frightened +schoolboy, and looking up all the +time both at me and the lamp at +once, while he swayed with the +uneasy heave of the deck in such a +way as made me grip him by the +arm in a perfect fury, fancying he +had got drunk ashore. "You young +blackguard you!" said I, shaking +him, "didn't I tell you to get hands—didn't +you know I meant to—to—" +"Oh yes, Mr Collins," gasped the +reefer, "I did indeed—you meant to +cut and run—I saw it by your eye, +sir, and—don't shake me any more, +sir, or you'll spoil my hair—and I +don't deserve it—it's—all right!" +And on my letting him go, the ugly +little scamp sunk down on a chair +with his eyes starting from his head, +and a leer like a perfect demon incarnate; +but so perfectly laughable it +was, not to mention the air of complete +confidence between us that he +threw into it, that I sat down myself, +ready to grin at my bad luck. "Well, +Mister Snelling," said I, quietly, +"you <em>are</em> a touch beyond me! Let's +have the joke, at least—out with it, +man, else another shake may be—" +The reefer pointed with his thumb +over his shoulder to the cabin, shoved +his chin forward, and whispered, +"Why, sir, I'm only doubtful whether +you could make him third officer—but +at any rate, he'll always be useful +at a rope, Mr Collins—won't he, +sir?" I gave Snelling one look, +meant to be as grave as an Old +Bailey chaplain's, but it wouldn't do—my +conscience wouldn't stand it—in +fact the very self-same notion seemed +to me to have been creeping into my +mind. "You—young—rascal!" was +all I could manage to say, before +making bolt to go on deck. "By the +by, Mister Snelling," said I, turning +and looking down from the hatchway, +"you must want a glass of grog—tell +the boy to let you have some—and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +go and keep the officer company, +sir."</p> + +<p>By this time it was raining hard, the +half-moon coming out at moments and +shining through it with a sudden +sharp gleam, in some gust of the wind +off the land—showing the swell in as +far as the wet white custom-house and +the bare quays, the ships with their +hazy lights all hither and thither, +while Table Mountain was to be seen +now and then peering half over the +mist, first one corner and then another, +of a colour like dead ashes. One time +I looked down toward the dusky little +cabin, where the midshipman, quite +in his element, was sitting with the +harbour officer, the lamp jerking and +making wild swings betwixt them, +while Snelling evidently egged on his +companion to drink; then I gave a +glance seaward, where there was +nothing but a glimmer of rain and +spray along the dark hollows of the +water. I couldn't make up my mind, +all I could do—it was too barefaced a +thing to slip from the roadstead with +a breeze blowing off-shore; but the +worst of it was that I didn't feel easy +at the idea of parting with an anchor +in the circumstances, not to say carrying +off the Government people, unless +forced to it. I accordingly went below +to mix myself a stiffener, and found +the officer a cool head, for, in spite of +all Snelling could do, the reefer himself +had got provoked, whereas the sharp +Mr Webb was only a little brisker +than before. "A rough sort of night," +said I, nodding to him, as I knocked +the water out of my cap. "Well, it +seems," said he, free and easy. +"S'pose I go on deck then, gentlemen—I've +refreshed, I assure you, so you +needn't trouble about this 'ere schooner +no farther—glad to get quit of it and +turn in, I desay, lieutenant?"—"No +trouble in the world, Mr Webb," said +I, going on with my mixture, "far +from it; but sit down a minute, pray +sir,—Mr Snelling here will take charge +of the deck for us in the meantime;" +and Snelling vanished at once, Mr +Webb apparently flattered at my wishing +his company. "Will that cable +of yours hold, think ye, Lieutenant +Collins?" asked he, filling up another +glass. "Why," said I, almost laughing, +"to tell you the truth, I begin to +feel devilish doubtful of it." "What!" +broke out the harbour officer, starting +up, "then I must 'ave another put +down immediately: why, what's the +effect, sir—we'll be carried out to +sea!" "You said it exactly, Mr +Webb," I said "'twould have been +much worse, I suppose, if we were +driven ashore, though! Now look +you, if I were to let go a second anchor +at present, I couldn't light upon +a better plan either to break her back, +or lose both anchors in the end—from +the difference of strain on the two +cables, with this ground-swell. The +fact is, my good fellow, you're evidently +not fit to take charge at +present." "D—n me, lieutenant!" +said he, looking fierce and foolish at +the same time, "here's strange lang'age +to a Gov'ment officer, sir—I +hask the meanin' off it <em>at</em> once, mister!" +"But I depend a good deal on your +knowledge of Table Bay weather," I +continued, leaning back with my +weather eye screwed to bear upon him. +"D'ye think this wind likely to moderate +soon, sir? come now."—"No," +replied he sulkily: "I'm sure it won't—and +to-morrow it's certain to blow +back ten times worse." "Then, Mr +Webb," said I, rising, "you oughtn't +to have come aboard to-night; as the +short and the long of it is, I shall get +the schooner an offing the first possible +moment!" The officer stared at +me in a bewildered manner; and as +for the schooner, she seemed to be +bolting and pitching in a way worse +than before, with now and then a +plunge of the swell on her broadside +as if she had been under weigh. Suddenly +Snelling lifted the skylight frame +and screamed down into the cabin, +"Mr Collins, Mr Collins! she's been +dragging her anchor for the last ten +minutes, sir!"</p> + +<p>I sprang on deck at two bounds—the +schooner had somehow or other +got her anchor out of hold at the time, +the cable as taut as a fiddle-string. +It was quite dark aloft, and +not a vestige of Table Mountain to +be seen, though the moonshine, low +down to westward, brought out two or +three tracks of light along the stretch +of water, and you saw the lights in +the ships slowly sweeping past. +Where we happened to be, it blew +two ways at once, as is often the case +in Table Bay, round the bluffs of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +mountain, and as soon as she brought +up again with a surge at the windlass, +the heave of a long swell took her +right on the quarter, lifting her in to +her anchor again with a slack of the +hawser, at which every second man +sung out to "hold on!" Over she +went to port, a sea washing up the starboard +side, and throwing a few dozen +bucketfuls at once fair into the companion, +where our friend the harbour +officer was sticking at the time; so +down plumped Mr Webb along with +it, and the booby hatch was shoved +close after him, while the poor devils +of Lascars were huddled together as +wet as swabs in the lee of the caboose +forward. "A hand to the wheel!" +shouted I, as soon as I recovered myself; +when to my great surprise I saw +Snelling's new hand, poor creature as +I'd thought him, standing with a +spoke in each fist, as cool and steady +as possible, and his eye fixed on me +in the true knowing way which I felt +could be trusted to. "Jib there!" I +sung out, "see all clear to run up a +few hanks of the jib—stand by to cut +the cable at the bitts!"—"Ay, ay, +sir," answered Snelling, who was +working away with the harbour men, +his bare head soaked, and altogether +more like an imp than a young gentleman +of the navy—"All's clear, sir."</p> + +<p>Five minutes I dare say we stood, +every one in the same position, while +I waited for a good moment in the +run of the swell, looking into the +binnacle: till she hung slack, as it +were, in a wide seething trough of the +sea, when I signed to the man behind +me to put the helm gradually to starboard. +I glanced at the fellow again, +caught his sharp weatherly eye once +more—then putting both hands to my +mouth I sung out to bowse on the jib +halliards. "Now—cut—the cable!" +shouted I, springing forward in my +anxiety. The schooner rose away +from her anchor on the heavy roll of +the sea; I saw two quick strokes of +the axe on the instant, and she was +spinning head off from the wind, heeling +over betwixt the force of it and +the ground-swell together, while the +mass of black water was washing +bodily away with us; the new helmsman +showing down below me as he +leant to the wheel, like somebody at +the foot of a slide. If he hadn't +helped her at the moment with a back +turn of the spokes to port, t'would +have been all up with us. As it was, +the schooner fell off gallantly in his +hands, with a sliding surge into the +lee of the next swell, that buried her +sharp bows in the green sea, till it +foamed about our very shoulders as +we hung on like grim death to the +weather bulwark. She was just +shaking herself free, and rising like a +buoy over the broad tops of the waves, +when Snelling, myself, and two or +three of the men, staggered down to +her mainmast to swig up the throat +halliards, letting her feel a little of the +boom mainsail; and we had scarce +belayed, as the last glimpse of the +frigate's lights was caught astern of +us, heaving and setting, as she rode +with her two bower anchors down; +we had driven past close enough to +have heard the creak of her hamper +aloft. After that, I had the fore-stay-sail +set on her, then the reefed mainsail, +and the lively schooner yielded +to the long rolling seas so well, as +very soon to make her own weather +of it—especially since, clear of the +high land about Table Bay, it was +blowing only a strong breeze, and the +more I began to feel master of her, +the more inclined I was to let her +show her good qualities. Such a craft +I never had had the full management +of before in my life; and you may +easily fancy how I felt at dividing the +hands into the two watches, giving +little Snelling command of one, as first +mate, and picking out our men in +turn. I looked round amongst mine, +rather at a loss for one to make second +mate for the cruise, though there were +three prime enough man-o'-warsmen, +and I had chosen one of the Government +officer's gang for his activity. +As for the Lascars, we slumped in +half of the number to each of us, for +make-weights—when Snelling's fresh +hand, who had fallen to my share, +caught my eye again as he stood at +the wheel. Every half spoke he gave +the schooner told; she was topping +the heavy seas as they rose, and taking +them just where they melted one to the +other, with a long floating cleave, that +carried her counter fairly free of the +after-run, though nearly right before +the wind: the main-boom had been +guyed over to the lee-quarter, till a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +third of the sail hung clear of her hull, +and the breeze swept into the hollow +of it, thick with spray. The light from +the little binnacle shone up distinctly +on the man's face, and with all the +desperate, used-up, marbled sort of +look of it, like one getting the better +of a long spree ashore, I thought there +was something uncommonly promising +about him, not to say greatly above +the run of foremast men. The wet, +the wind, and the work he was at, took +off the seediness of his clothes; even +the old rag of a handkerchief round +his hairy neck had got a gloss to it, +and he stood handling the wheel with +a strange mixture of recklessness and +care, as he glanced from the compass +to the gaff of the mainsail against the +scud, and down again. The very +contrast between the man's manner +and his outward rig was sufficient to +strike one, though plenty of seamen +are to be found in the like state +ashore: but what fixed me to him +above all, was the expression in those +two keen, searching, <em>living</em> eyes of his, +when they once or twice met mine on +their way from aloft to the compass-boxes. +'Twas as if they'd woke up +since he came aboard out of a sleepy, +maudlin condition, with the "blue-devils" +or scarce fully out of 'em; like a +sick man's in the lull of a fever, suddenly +seen watching you out of the +dusk of the bed, when one happens to +glance up from the nurse's seat.</p> + +<p>"What's your name, my man?" +asked I, stepping aft to the binnacle. +"My name is Jones, sir," said he +readily. "And your first name?" +I said. "Jack," was the answer, in +an off-hand way, with a hitch of one +shoulder, and a weather-spoke to the +wheel; spoken in an accent you'd +have expected more in a West End +drawing-room than from a common +sailor. "Ah," said I, sharply, "Jack +Jones? I wonder how many Jack +Joneses there are afloat! An able +seaman, I think, Jones?"—"Why +sir," replied the man, "I never rate +myself, sir—'tis all one to me, able, +ordinary, landsman, or boy—I carry +no papers, and leave my betters to +rate me." "Where were you last, +my man?" I asked; whereupon I met +such a cool, steady, deep look out of +the fellow's strange light-coloured +eyes, bloodshot as they were with +drinking, that I felt almost our very +two souls jostle in it: as much as to +say, To all eternity fathom me if ye +can! "Well, I forget where, sir," said +he, lowering his look to the compass-box +again: "always the way with me, +after a trip, a cruise, a voyage, or +whatever it may be. I've got—ha!" +and he yielded his body coolly to a +jerk of the schooner's wheel. "A sweet +craft this, sir, but a little ticklish!" +"You've got what?" said I, not unwilling +to wear out the time. "I've +got—no memory!" Still there +was somewhat so gloomy and mournful +in the next glance aloft, I +don't know how it was, but I +felt inclined to offer him a mate's +place on trial, and so I hinted, if he +knew half as well how to handle a +craft as he did of steering her. To my +own surprise, Jones's wonder didn't +seem to be roused at the notion, except +that he gave me another quick +glance from head to foot, with a queer +smile that struck me as if I were +being questioned, instead of <em>him</em>; then +he looked down over his own outfit, +judging by which you'd have said +he'd been shipwrecked. "Well," +said I, "I daresay you've been hard +put to it, somehow, Jones,—so as +soon as you leave the wheel, you can +go below to the steward, and get a +seagoing suit of my own, till we see +Calcutta, when your mate's wages +will set you all right again." The +man touched his battered old straw +hat; but I noticed his eyes gleam for +a moment by the binnacle light, and +a strange twitch run round his mouth +at the mention of the mate's wages: +the only way I could account for it at +the time being his late hard-up condition; +and nothing to my mind was +more deucedly pitiable, than to see +the thought of a few paltry additional +rupees light up a head like that, with +the glistening sort of expression of a +miser, as I fancied. The man had a +head on him, in fact, when you eyed +him, fit for a gentleman's shoulders, +or more—his hair and his whiskers +curly and dark, draggled though they +were with the rain, not to say Cape +Town mud—while the wearing away +of the hair about the temples, and the +red grog-streaks in the veins of his +face, made him no doubt a dozen +years older to appearance than he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +was. For my part I was quite convinced +already, this same Jack Jones +hadn't been sent out a cabin boy; there +was not only a touch of high blood in +him at bottom, but I'd have sworn he +had been some time or other in the place +of a gentleman, afloat or ashore, though +plainly now "going to the devil."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the breaking look of the +clouds away on our larboard bow +showed it wasn't far off dawn; so, +sending another hand to the wheel, +and finding a snug spot under a stern-grating +for a snooze on deck, I told +Jones to begin with taking charge of +the deck for me. "One thing, sir," +said he, touching his hat again, as I +lay down, "I've only shipped for the +outward voyage, and leave at the +first port."—"Why, what the deuce!" +said I, lifting my head; "what do +you mean to do there, eh?" "I—I +want to go ashore," answered he, +eagerly; "ay, if we're years on the +cruise, so much the better, sir,—but +so soon as she drops anchor off Calcutta, +I'm my own master?"—"Have +your own way, then," said I; "at +any rate I'll try you in the meantime,—so +Mister Jones, let's see how you +mind the schooner till eight bells!" +Whereupon I turned myself over to +sleep, and it was as broad daylight +as we had any likelihood of about the +Cape, when I woke.</p> + +<p>It still blew a stiff breeze, but the +waves rose with a length and a +breadth in them you find in no other +sea; deep-blue sparkling hills of +water, with green gleams about the +crests, of which every single wave had +a hundred or so; and a long seething, +simmering, glassy hollow of a still +valley between, where the flecks of +foam slid away glittering out of the +shadow. But, Lord! it was glorious +to feel the schooner rising quietly in +the trough, with the mount of a +wave, to the very ridge of it; then +with a creak of all her timbers and +bulk-heads below, a slight shake to +windward, and a yerk at her bows, +lean over to leeward again and go +hissing through the breast of a huge +sea, till you thought she'd go down +into it; while there she was, however, +lifting head up, with a swift +flash of her cutwater, on the cross +half wave that joined every first and +third one—"billow" and "sea," as +you may say. The breeze having +drawn more easterly toward morning, +Jones had braced her more upon a +wind, with reefed main and foresails, +and fore-staysail set, which brought +out the Aniceta's weatherly qualities +to a marvel; as notwithstanding +almost a head-wind and a swelling +sea, she went nearly as fast as the +frigate would have done before the +breeze, and not a sign of the land +was to be seen from her crosstrees.</p> + +<p>It was not till the afternoon, when +the midshipman and I had both been +busy together seeing various things +done about the rigging, as well as +having preventer-braces and guys +clapped on the booms and gaffs, that +we had time to look about us; the +schooner still driving along with the +breeze strong abeam, and a floating +plunge from one wide dark-blue sea +to another, as if they handed her +onward. Jones had got himself made +decent below, as I told him, till what +with different clothes and a shave +together, besides refreshment from +sea weather, he was quite a different +man to look at. Even Snelling owned +to his sailor-like appearance, though +rather surprised at my notion of making +him a mate; while as for the men, +they didn't know but he had come +aboard as such, and to tell the truth, +he was having the mainstaysail got +up and ready to bend at the time, +like one accustomed to give orders. +By this time I remembered the harbour +officer, Webb, whom we'd +carried off so unceremoniously, and +found he was still in his "bunk" +below, half sulky and half sick, consoling +himself with brandy and water +till we should get into Table Bay +again, as he said. "Only put him +into my watch, Mr Collins," said +Snelling gravely, "and I'll work him +up, sir." The reefer himself, in fact, +had all of a sudden turned out in a +laughably dignified style, to meet his +new post—in full midshipman's rig, +dirk and all, with his cocked hat, +which I sent him down immediately +to change; but he had brushed up his +mop of hair, and begun to cultivate +the down on his upper lip; while being +a deep-shouldered, square-built, short-armed +little fellow, as muscular as a +monkey, you'd have thought from the +back of his coat he was a man cut<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +shorter, and for his face, he had contrived +to put such a sour effect into it—meant +for great experience, no doubt—that +it was only by his eyes one saw +he was a boy of sixteen or so; and +<em>they</em> were brimful of wild glee, as he +jumped about wherever he was needed, +doing the work of a couple of ordinary +men, and actually delighted when a +spray came over the weather bulwarks +on top of him, seeing that, +instead of the frigate, she was "our +schooner" that did it.</p> + +<p>"I think she walks, Mr Collins!" +observed Snelling, holding up his +head stiffly, and looking aloft as we +went aft, after shaking ourselves from +one of these same sprays. "No +denying that, Mr Snelling," said I as +gravely; "I only wish your fond +parents could see you just now, first +mate of such a smart craft, Mister +Snelling!" His father was a country +baronet, who had sent him off to sea +with an allowance—I daresay because +his looks were no ornament, and there +were plenty more coming; though +Snelling always pretended his worthy +progenitor was an old man. "Fond +be blowed!" said he, starting; "I +just see him at this moment at the +foot of that blessed old mahogany, +proposing my health before the ladies +go, and—" Here the schooner rose +on a sharp, short wave, making a +plunge through it that sent the helmsman +swinging to the lee-side of the +wheel, while a sea washed up over +her forecastle, and away aft with the +tubs, buckets, and spars, knocking +everybody right and left. Snelling +and I held on by the weather main-rigging +with our feet in a bath, till +she lifted bodily through it, careering +to her lee-gunnel. "By George, +though!" broke out the reefer, smacking +his lips as we drew breath, "I +wish he <em>did</em> see me—wouldn't it +cheer his declining years, when I'd +got to hand the governor carefully +below! And such a rough night as +we're going to have of it, too, sir!" +"You unfilial young dog!" said I; +"but so I'm afraid we shall—and no +joke either!" Jones was standing +near us, watching the looks of the +weather with evident uneasiness, and +I asked him what he thought of it. +"In my opinion, sir," said he, +"you'll have some pretty sudden +shift of wind ere long, of a kind I +have seen more than once off the +Cape before—and that as furious as +a south-easter ordinarily is hereabouts. +Look away yonder, sir!"</p> + +<p>It had got to a clear, dry, north-easterly +gale, that shook our canvass +every time she lifted, singing through +the ropes, and bitter cold. Long and +heavy as the roll of the sea was, the +sky was as keen and clear as glass all +round about and aloft, save the mist +kicked up by the spray off a wave +here and there. If a rag of white +cloud appeared, it was blown away, +and you saw the black wrinkled side +of one wave at a time, a mile wide, +you'd have said, freckled all over +with spots of foam, and its ridge +heaving against the eye of the blast. +The waves had begun to break shorter. +The schooner, buoyant as she was, +and sharp as a dolphin, pitched and +rolled at times like mad, and the men +forward were standing by to let go +the fore-halliards, throat and peak, to +ease her a little: when Jones pointed +out the bank of gray cloud ahead of +us, scarce to be seen through the +troughs of the water, except when +she lifted well upon a swell of sea. +The sun going down in a wild red +glare to leeward of us, threw a terrible +glitter across the huge slant of +one single wave that rose stretching +away far and wide from her very +bow, then brought out the sulky +wrinkled blue in it; the hissing green +crests curled over to the very sunset, +as it were, while we sunk slowly into +the long dark lulling trough, and saw +the broken shaft of a rainbow stand +glimmering for a moment or two into +a black hollow right ahead, when +the gale drove it back upon us like an +arrow, as the schooner urged through +the breast of the next wave. I looked +from Snelling to the new mate, who +still held on by a belaying-pin and +watched the clouds, giving me back a +glance that showed he thought the +matter more serious than ordinary. +"The sooner we strip her to the +storm-staysails," said I quickly, as we +fell into the trough again, "the better, +I think. If it blows harder, we +must lie-to with her at once." My +eye was anxiously fixed on Jones, +for large as the schooner was, between +two and three hundred tons, yet no<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +craft in the world is so nice to bring +to the wind in a gale, with a heavy +sea running. Scudding before it might +have done for the frigate, with her +full bows, and spars high enough to +keep her main-topsail full in spite of +the troughs; but even that would +have taken us out of our course after +the Indiaman. Besides that, to tell +the truth, I didn't sufficiently understand +fore-and-aft rigged craft in all +weathers yet, to be quite sure of what +I did at a pinch like the present. +"Yes, yes, sir," answered he; "but if you'll +take an older man's advice, +before that you'll wear her round on +the other tack to it. We've the +worst to come, or else I'm mistaken, +sir."—"You're accustomed to +schooners?" asked I firmly, and +gazing him in the face. I saw his +lips open in the sweep of the wind +through our after-rigging, and he +made a sign with his hand, while a +gnawing sort of spasm, as it were, +shot through the muscles of his jaw, +and for a moment he gave me a +devilishly fierce, keen glance, almost +a glare, from under his strong straight +eyebrows—then turned away. "Take +the trumpet then, Mr Jones," said I, +singing out into his ear; "I'll leave +her to you, sir. Mr Snelling, let's +see the hatches all fast!" And we +scrambled along by the belaying-pins.</p> + +<p>"Are you all ready fore and aft?" +came Jones's voice like thunder in +the next dip she made, and he leapt +up bareheaded on the breech of one +of the small carronades aft, holding on +with one hand by the weather main-shrouds, +and watching the run of the +waves as they glimmered off our lee-beam +into the dusk, for full five +minutes. I had hold of a rope near +him, and his eye was as steady as if +he were picking out hills in a view. +I had full confidence in the man; but +I must say it was a nervous moment +to me, when I saw him lift the trumpet +to his mouth—and furiously as +the wind shook the schooner, you +heard his hoarse cry, "Put your +helm up—slack off the mainsheet—brail +up the mainsail—ease down the +weather boom-guy—main-staysail +sheet—" And the rest was lost in +the wild shriek of the north-east gale. +We were hard at it, however, staggering +as we hauled and held on, +even to the poor half-drowned, terrified +Lascars, whom the midshipman +had roused out of the caboose +and long-boat, shoving the ropes into +their leathery hands. But I knew little +else till I saw the schooner had payed +off before the wind, shearing with a +hiss like red-hot iron right through +the ridge, betwixt two tremendous +combing waves. It swelled green over +her larboard bulwark as she heeled +over, and she gave a heavy dead lurch +with it, as if she would let the next +sea break aboard. "Now! now!" +shouted Jones, at a pitch of voice like +no earthly sound; "aft the mainsheet, +for your lives!" He jumped to the +wheel himself, at a single bound. We +were in two floundering heaps, as we +dragged at the mainboom aft, and the +head-sheets on the forecastle, while +she came trembling up in the long +bight of the sea, and took the gale +steadily before her other beam. It +was blowing harder than ever; and +the awful "scud" of the sea rolled +her bodily away, as she met it with +her weather-bow, washing white over +the headrail, with spray from cathead +to bowsprit; the gale heaving her +down on the lee-beam, till she plunged +to the brim on that side, at every forward +pitch, so that all hands on deck +had to keep crowded together aft. +Still it was keen starlight overhead, +the gale dry, though it was bitter cold, +and the seas long and pretty regular. +The schooner behaved wonderfully, +being as tight as a bottle; and at the +same time we were not only lying our +course either for the Mozambique or +Indian Ocean, but instead of running +farther into the gale, as before, and +getting more into the wild Cape latitudes, +why, at present she tended to +clear out of them. I accordingly +agreed with Jones to hold on with +everything as long as possible, in spite +of the way she was sometimes flung +off with the crest of a wave, as it were, +making a clear dive with her nose +under water through a white seething +sea that seemed to swell round the +whole horizon: the black bank of +cloud off our weather-beam towered +like icebergs against the cold green +sky to south-east, the stars glittering +and twinkling over it, with little hazy +rings round them, after a fashion that +one of us liked no more than the other.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span></p> + +<p>About midnight, we had got everything +off her to the two small storm-staysails, +main and fore, the wind +blowing great guns, and the half moon +shining right over the long bank, as if +the back of it were dead-white; while +betwixt it and the washing glimmer +of moonlight half-way, you'd have +thought the black heave of the ridges +vanished into a bulk of shadow ten +times blacker, save for the heads of +spray tossing dimly over in it here +and there. All at once, in the very +height of the gale, as the black floating +clouds from the bank began to +cross over the gray scud flying fast +aloft, a blue flash of lightning shot +zig-zag into the very comb of a wave +ahead of us, then came the clap of +thunder, loud enough to be heard +above the wind, and in half a minute +there was a sudden lull. You saw the +fleecy rags of scud actually settling +together under the dark vapour moving +above them, and heard nothing +but the vast washing welter of the billows +rising and seething for miles +round, as if the world were water, +while the schooner rolled helplessly +away, with her storm-staysails flapping, +into the trough. The midshipman +almost gasped as he looked to +me—not from fear, but as much as to +say, "What next?" Our strange +mate stood against the fife-rail of the +mainmast, apparently too intent on +the sky and sea for speaking. For my +own part, I let go of my belaying pin, +and half tumbled to the wheel, almost +knocking the sailor down in my haste +to put the helm hard up—for I saw +how the blast was to come, fairly before +the beam, upon us. "Hard a-starboard +with it!" shouted I; "haul +down the main-staysail there—let her +fall off as she rises!" The last words +were never heard, for next moment +there was another flash of lightning, +this time a blaze all round into the +troughs of the sea; I saw a body of +mist coming down upon us from +south-east, through which the gale +struck her on the starboard beam, +having suddenly shifted eight points or +so. The heavy rolling swell from +north-east was close aboard, and as +soon as I knew what I was about, +here she was leaning over to the full +tremendous force of the storm, without +power to surge ahead, though +struggling to rise like a cart-horse down +on his knees with a load uphill of him. +'Twas by instinct, as they say, I found +myself scrambling along to her weather +main-channels, where I managed +to get out on the side, slippery as it +was, and drenched with the blinding +showers of spray. I had got my knife +at work, cutting the lanyards of the +shrouds to let the mainmast go, when +I saw Snelling creep after me, like a +fearless little fellow as he was, dirk in +hand; although what was come of +Jones I couldn't see, unless he had +lost heart and skulked. All at once, +to my great joy, the main-staysail +blew inway to leeward out of the bolt-ropes, +like a scrap of paper, the main-topmast +crashed at the cap and went +alongside, when the schooner righted +to her keel, with a wild bolt forward +through the whole width of an immense +wave—one of the "third waves" it +was, commonly the last and the hugest +in a single roll of the sea of the Cape, +before you sink into a long gliding +valley, with a sort of a lull in it. The +scene was so terrible at the moment, +though we bore up for full half a +minute to the fair steady stroke of the +awful gale, nothing but a yeast of +mist, scud, and darkness ahead, the +spray torn off the ridge of the wave +and flying with us, while the triple +run of the heavy seas astern was in +danger of sweeping her decks from +over the poop—that I felt we must +try lying-to with her at once. Indeed, +Snelling and I hardly knew whether +we were holding on or not, as we were +half washed inboard and half crawled +round the rigging; but Jones had +already seized the exact point, when +she sank in the hollow, to have the +helm eased down to leeward. Meanwhile +he had got the reefed foresail +balanced and set, with the sheet hauled +aft beforehand—a tackle hooked on to +the clue, and bowsed amidships—everything +else was off her; and with +this sail she came slowly up close to +the wind on the slant of the next +wave, lying-to nearly head toward the +force of the sea, as her helm was kept +fast, two or three points to leeward. +I never had seen a craft of the kind +hove-to in a gale before, and a very +nice matter it is, too. We drew +breath, scarce able to credit our eyes, +while the schooner rode apparently<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +safe on a sea rolling mountain-high; +rising and falling off from the breasts +to the sides of the waves, so far as +leeway went, and forging ahead a +little at the same time through the +fierce spray that showered out of the +dark over her weather-bow.</p> + +<p>Cape weather as bad I had seen +before, but always in good-sized +ships; and I owned to Snelling I +would rather have handled any one of +them, even with a lee-shore near, ten +times over, than this schooner of ours +in the present case. However, none +of us were in any mood for speaking +at the time, let alone the waste of +breath it was. The best thing we had +to do, after getting somewhat satisfied +of her weathering it this way, +was to have the grog served out to +the men, swig off a stiff pannikin one's +self, and make one's self as comfortable +as possible with his pea-coat in +the lee of something. The sight of +the sea ridging up with a dim glimmer +against the dark, kept your eye +fixed to it: first you thought it would +burst right aboard, crash down upon +the decks; then she lifted with it, +swelling broad under her, while the +long steady sweep of the gale drove +just over the bulwarks with a deep +moan: for half a minute, perhaps, a +shivering lull, when you heard the +bulkheads and timbers creak and +strain below from stem to stern, and +the bilge-water yearning, as it were, +to the water outside. Then, again, it +was a howl and a shriek, a wide +plunge of sea bore up her weather-bow, +and the moment ere she came +fairly to, one felt as if the schooner +were going to pitch God knows +where. Her whole bulwarks shook +and shivered, the wind found out +every chink in them, whistling round +every different rope it split upon, +while all the time, the loose wet +dreary spars behind the long-boat +kept slatting and clattering against +each other in the lashings, like planks +in a woodyard of a November night. +This was the way we stuck till the +morning watch showed it all in a +drizzling, struggling sort of half +light, blowing as hard as ever, the +Cape seas rolling and heaving mountain-high, +of a pale yesty hue, far and +wide to the scud; the spray drifting +from the crests, and washing over her +bare forecastle, with now and then +the white wings of a huge albatross +to be seen aslant to windward, riding +on the breast of a long wave down +into the trough.</p> + +<p>Well, the whole blessed day did +this sort of thing continue, only varied +by now and then a huger sea than +ordinary lifting close aboard of us, +and we being hove up to get a glimpse +of the long glaring streak of horizon +through the troughs of the waves: +sometimes an unluckier splash than +usual over the bow and through the +forechains, that made us look sharp +lest the canvass of the foresail should +go, or the schooner broach end-on to +the sea. Otherwise, all we had to +do was to watch the binnacle, hold +on with one hand to a rope, and with +the other to our caps; or turn out and +in with each other down the booby-hatch +for a snatch of sleep, and a bit +of biscuit and cold beef, with a glass +of grog. Mr Webb, the harbour +officer, was to be seen below in his +berth all this time, lying as peaceable +as a child—whether he was dead sick, +or only confoundedly afraid, I didn't +know; but I must say I felt for the +poor fellow when I heard him ask +Snelling, in a weak voice, if he would +get somebody to stand off the bull's-eye +in the deck over his berth, as it +always made him think there was a +new hurricane coming on. "D—n +it, you low skulking hound!" said +the reefer, who had wonderfully little +pity in his make, "it can't be worse—what +d'ye want light for, eh?" +"Only to see the opposite wall," +said Webb, meekly; "do, sir—oh +now!" "Oh, you lubber ye!" said +Snelling, "don't you know a bulkhead +from a wall yet? If you'd come on +deck to bear a hand like others, you +wouldn't need light; and <em>I</em> thought +you might do for a mate aboard, too—pah, +you scum!" "Mr Snelling," +said I sharply, as he came through the +cabin, "a worm will turn when it's +trod upon, and so you may find yet, +sir!" "Well, Mr Collins," said he, +as confidentially as if I hadn't meant to +give him a set down, "I don't like the +fellow's eye. I'll look after him, +sir!" Not to mention the young +rogue's power of face, which was +beyond brass, he had a way of seeing +you in two places at once with that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +upward squint of his, as if his eyes +were the points of a pair of compasses, +that made the officers of the +Hebe always send him to the masthead +directly, for fear it should take +the frown out of them. In fact, when +Snelling's twinkling weather-eye +lighted on one's neck, without the +other, you almost felt it tickle you, +and as usual I turned away with a +"pshaw!"</p> + +<p>On the second morning, the gale at +last began to break, shifting southward; +on which, as soon as the sea +ran a little easier, I had the helm +cautiously put up at a favourable +moment, the reefed mainsail, fore-topmast-staysail, +and square fore-topsail +set as she got before the +wind, and away the schooner went; +rising on the wide deep-blue swells +with a long roll in them, then shearing +ahead through their breasts, +wrinkled and seething pale-green, till +she sank with the fall of the wave—the +stump of her aftermast standing, +and the fore one shortened by the +to'gallant-mast. You may easily believe +there was no one aboard more +eager to get clear of this weather than +myself; as in ordinary circumstances, +with a craft like this, in two or +three days more we might have been +in a high enough latitude to begin +looking out for the Indiaman. For +my part, I can't deny that the wish +for having Tom Westwood safe out of +harm's way, and with me in the +schooner, strong as it was, played +second to the notion of seeing sweet +Violet Hyde in any way again, if it +was only the last time before she +went out of reach altogether; for her +getting amongst East India ways of +doing, high-flying civilians and soldiers, +shows, and sights, either in +Calcutta or up-country, was equal to +anything else, in my mind. Still, we +had six or seven days longer of the +heavy seas and hard gales, before +north-easting enough could be made +to take us beyond the Cape winter, +just then coming on, and which the +Seringapatam had very likely escaped +by two or three days, so that she +would have a considerable start of us.</p> + +<p>By this time we were standing well +up for the Mozambique Channel, +which I had heard the Indiamen +intended to take in company; a piece +of information that made me the more +anxious to overtake the Seringapatam, +at latest, by the time they +reached open water again, where, +being the only ship from Bombay, she +would no doubt part from her consorts. +We had a cruiser that year, as I knew, +in the Mozambique, where there were +some rumours of pirates after the war, +so that in case of her happening to +speak the Seringapatam close, and +having got any word of Westwood's +affair, he ran a chance of being picked +off. However, that wasn't by any +means the thing that troubled me +most: somehow or other, whenever +the picture of Violet's face brought the +Indiaman's decks clear into my mind, +with all about her, I couldn't get +rid of the notion that some ill-luck +would come across that ship before +she got into port. If any pirate craft +were to dodge the whole bevy of +Indiamen up the head of the channel, +as was pretty sure to be the case, he +would probably wait for some signs +of separating, and be down upon a +single one not long after she cleared +the Leychelles islands, where a lonely +enough stretch of the Indian Ocean +spreads in. The more I entered +upon the thought of it, the more +unsufferable it got; especially one +day in the mouth of the Mozambique, +when it fell a dead calm with a heavy +up-and-down swell, fit to roll the +sticks out of her; the high blue land +of Madagascar being in sight, sometimes +to starboard, sometimes to port, +then astern, and the clear horizon +lying away north-west, dark with a +breeze from round the coast. As the +hot sun blazed out above us, and the +blue water came plunge up over the +rail, blazing and flashing, first one +side dipped, then the other, I could +fancy the passengers on the Indiaman's +poop in a light breeze with a +suspicious lateen-rigged sail creeping +up on her quarter. I thought I saw +Violet Hyde's eyes sparkle against +the glare of light, and her lips parting +to speak—till I actually stamped on +the deck, my fists clenched, and I +made three strides to the very taffrail +of the schooner. All at once I met +my second mate's eye coolly fixed on +me, which brought me to my senses +in a moment, the more so as there +was something about this man Jones<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +I couldn't make out, and I had made +up my mind to keep a sharp eye on +him; though the fact was, it annoyed +me most to feel him seeing into <em>me</em>, +as it were, without troubling himself. +"We shall have the breeze before long, +sir, round Cape Mary yonder," said +he, stepping forward. "So I expect, +myself, Mr Jones," said I, "though +you evidently know the coast better +than I do." With that I gave him a +careless side-look, but to all appearance +there was nothing particular in +his, as he told me he had seen it two +or three times before.</p> + +<p>With the evening we were once +more running sharp on a wind up +channel; and when she did get her +own way in a good breeze, the +schooner's qualities came out. 'Twas a +perfect luxury to look over the side +and see the bubbles pass, her sharp +bows sliding through it like a knife, +she eating into the wind all the time +in a way none but a fore-and-aft +clipper could hope to do, with a +glassy blue ripple sent back from her +weather-bow as far as the forechains: +then to wake of a morning +and feel her bounding under you with +a roll up to windward, while the +water gushed through and through +below the keel, and ran yearning and +toppling away back along the outer +timbers into her boiling wake, working +with the moving rudder. And +our man-o'-warsmen were quite delighted +with the Young Hebe, as they +still called her. Snelling was in his +element while we were having the +new spars sent up aloft—a set of +longer sticks than before—till she +had twice the air, as well as a knowing +rake aft. Next thing was to get the +long-brass nine-pounder amidships +from under the boat, where the +Frenchmen had kept it, besides which +we found another in her hold; so +that, added to six small carronades +already on deck, we made a pretty +show. Meanwhile, for my own part, +I kept cracking on with every stitch +of canvass that could be clapped upon +the spars, including studding-sails. +Jones himself didn't know better than +I did by this time how to handle the +craft, schooner though she was, in the +way of making her use what weather +we had to the best purpose. Variable +as it proved, too, I was aware the +Indiamen would have pretty much +the same now as we had; so that, on +going aloft with the glass, as I did +every watch in the day, I soon began +each time expecting one or other of +them to heave in sight.</p> + +<p>As for the five hands from Cape +Town, they seemed to have fallen +in cheerfully enough with our own; +and as soon as the fine weather came, +the gang of Lascars were set to duty +like the rest. Snelling would have +them even trained to work the guns; +although, if it blew at all hard, not +one could be got to go aloft except +their old <em>serang</em>, and the <em>tindal</em>, his +mate. What surprised me most was +the harbour officer himself at last +asking, as Mr Snelling told me, to be +put in a watch; but as the midshipman +said there was no doubt Webb +had made a voyage or two before, +somewhere or other, I agreed to it at +once. "I'm not sure, sir," added the +midshipman, with one of his doubtful +double looks, "but the gentleman may +have seen blue-water the first time at +Government expense, and not in the +service either—he don't look fore +and aft enough, Mr Collins, harbour +officer though he be; but never mind, +sir, I'll see after him!"—"Pooh," +said I, laughing; "if he does turn to, +Mr Snelling, it shan't be in the watch +<em>you</em> have to do with! Hand him over +to Mr Jones." By this time I had +changed the mid into my own watch, +and given Jones charge of the other—so +to him the harbour officer went.</p> + +<p>The main character aboard of us, +to me at any rate, was this Jones +himself. The fact was, at first I had +my doubts of him altogether, partly +owing to the queer way we got hold +of him, partly on account of his +getting the upper hand so much +through chance, in the tremendous +weather we had at the outset, till I +wasn't sure but it might come into the +fellow's head of itself, to be upon +some drift or other that might cost +me trouble, as things stood. However, +I no sooner felt where I was, +and got the craft under my own spoke, +than I came to set him down for nothing +but one of those strange hands +you fall in with at sea sometimes, always +sailing with a "purser's name," +a regular wonder of a shipmate, and +serving to quote every voyage after,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +by way of a clincher on all hard +points, not to say an oracle one can't +get beyond, and can't flow sky-high +enough. To tell the truth, though, +Jones was as thorough a seaman as +ever I met with—never at a loss, +never wanting on any hand; whether +it was the little niceties we stood in +need of for setting the schooner's rigging +all right again, which none but a +blue-water long-voyage sailor can +touch, or, what comes to be still better +in tropical latitudes, a cool head and +a quick hold, with full experience for +all sorts of weather, 'twas much the +same to him. He was all over like +iron, too, never seeming to stand in +need of sleep, and seeing like a hawk. +At any hour I came on deck in his +watch, there was Jones, all awake +and ready, till hearing him walk the +planks over my head of a fine night +made me at times keep my eyes open, +listening to it and the wash of the +water together. I fancied there was +something restless in it, like the sea, +with now and then an uneven sort of +a start; and at last it would come to +full stop, that gave me the notion of +how he was standing quiet in the +same spot; whether he was looking +aloft, or thinking, or leaning over the +side, or what he was going to do, +troubled me wonderfully. The only +want in his seamanship I noticed, he +evidently wasn't used to handle a +large ship; but craft of some kind I +was pretty sure he had commanded +in the course of his life. As for taking +observations, he could do it better +than I could then; while the knowledge +he had on different heads, that +came out by chance, made you think +more of a Cambridge graduate than a +common sailor, such as he had shipped +for with us. The strangest part of +all about him, though, was what I +couldn't well name, not to this day: +'twas more grained in his manner, +and the ring of his voice at particular +moments, as well as his walk, +though these were the smart seaman's +no less; but one couldn't help thinking +of a man that had known the +world ashore some time or other, in +a different enough station from now—ay, +and in a way to bring out softer +lines in his face than reefing topsails +or seeing the main-tack ridden down +would do. The nearest I could come +to calling it, far apart as the two men +stood, was to fancy he reminded me of +Lord Frederick Bury himself; especially +when he looked all of a sudden +to the horizon in that wide, vacant +kind of fashion, as if he expected it +farther off than it was: only Jones's +face was twice the age, like a man's +that had had double the passions in it +at the outset, and given them full +swing since then; with a sleeping +devil in his eye yet, besides, as I +thought, which only wanted somewhat +to rouse it. Only for that, I had a +sort of leaning to Jones myself; but, +as it was, I caught myself wishing, +over and over, for something to make +us fall regularly foul of each other, +and get rid of this confounded doubtful +state. One hitch of a word to +take hold of, and, by Jove! I felt all +the blood in my body would boil out +in me to find how we stood, and show +it; but nothing of the kind did Jones +let pass—and as close as the sea itself +he was in regard to his past life. As +for the men from the frigate, at least, +they seemingly looked on him with no +great fondness, and a good deal of respect, +in spite of themselves, for his +seamanship; whereas, if he had been +left in the forepeak in place of the +cabin, I've no doubt in a short time +it would have been no man but Jones. +You light now and then upon a man +afloat, indeed, that his shipmates hold +off from, as healthy dogs do from a +mad one; and you saw they had +some sort of an inkling of the gloomy +close nature Jones had in him, by the +way they obeyed his orders. Webb's +three Cape Dutchmen seemed to have +a notion he was some being with mysterious +powers, while the Lascars ran +crouching at his very word—some of +them being, as I found, Malays, and +the rest Mussulmen from Chittagong; +but Jones could send them about in +their own language, Dutchmen and +all—a part of the matter which did +not tend to keep me less careful over +him. Still I observed, since his coming +aboard, that Jones never once +touched liquor, which had plainly +enough been his ruin ashore; whether +on account of meaning to pull up once +for all and mend, or only to have a +wilder bout at next port, or else to +keep himself steady for aught that +might turn up, I couldn't settle in my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +own mind. Though deucedly doubtful +of its being the first, the very idea +of it made one feel for the man; and, +in case of his doing well, I had no +small hopes of something in the upshot +to save a real sailor like him from +going to the devil altogether, as he +seemed doing.</p> + +<p>Now, after our getting clear of the +rough Cape weather, and the dead-lights +being taken out of the stern-windows, +I had given a look, for the +first time, into the schooner's after-cabins, +which were pretty much as the +people she belonged to before had left +them, except for the rough work the +gale had played. There were two of +them, one opening into the other; and +I must say it was a melancholy sight +to meet the bright sunlight streaming +into them from off the water astern, +with all the little matters either just +as if the owners were still inside, or +else tumbled about at sixes and sevens. +One drawer, in particular, had come +out of a table, scattering what was in +it on the deck: there was a half open +letter in a woman's hand, all French, +and showing a lock of hair, with a +broken diamond cross of the French +Legion of Honour, besides a sort of +paper-book full of writing, and two +printed ones bound in morocco. I +picked up the letter and the cross, +put them in again, and shoved the +drawer back to its place, though I +brought the books away with me to +have a glance over. What struck me +most, though, was a plaster figure of +the French emperor himself, standing +fastened on a shelf, with one hand in +the breast of his great coat, and looking +calmly out of the white sightless +eyes; while right opposite hung a +sort of curtain which you'd have +thought they were fixed upon. When +I hauled it aside, I started—there, on +a shelf to match the other, was a +beautiful smiling child's head to the +shoulders, of pure white marble, as +if it leant off the bulkhead like a cherub +out of the clouds. Spite of all, however, +the touch of likeness it had to +the head I got such a glimpse of at +Longwood, even when the hot sunlight +showed it in my spy-glass so pale +and terrible, was sufficient to tell me +what <em>this</em> was,—Napoleon's own little +son, in fact, who was made king of +Rome, as I remembered hearing at +the time. The thought of the +schooner's strange French captain, +and his desperate scheme, came back +on me so strong, joined to what I +saw he had an eye to in fitting out his +cabins, that, for my own part, I +hadn't the heart to use them myself, +and at first sight ordered the dead-lights +to be shipped again, and the +door locked.</p> + +<p>'Twas a good many days after this, +of course, and we had made a pretty +fast run up the Mozambique, in spite +of the sharp navigation required, +sighting nothing larger than the native +and Arab craft to be seen thereabouts; +we were beginning to clear out from +amongst the clusters of islands and +shoals at the channel head, when two +large sail were made in open water to +nor'-eastward. Next morning by daybreak +we were to windward of the +weathermost,—a fine large Indiaman +she was, crowding a perfect tower of +canvass. Shortly after, however, the +schooner was within hail, slipping +easily down upon her quarter, which +seemed to give them a little uneasiness, +plenty of troops as she seemed +to have on board, and looming like a +frigate. After some showing of keeping +on, and apparently putting faith in +the man-o'-war pennant I hoisted, +she hove into the wind, when we +found she was the Company's ship +Warringford, and the other the something +Castle, I forget which, both for +Calcutta. The next thing, as soon +as they found we were tender to his +Majesty's frigate Hebe, was to ask +after the Seringapatam; on which I +was told she was three or four days +sail ahead with the Mandarin, bound +to China, neither of them having put +in at Johanna Island to refresh. I +was just ready to put our helm up +again and bid good-bye, when the +tiffin gong could be heard sounding on +the Indiaman's quarterdeck, and the +old white-haired captain politely +asked me if I wouldn't come aboard +with one or two of my officers to +lunch. Mr Snelling gave me a wistful +glance—there were a dozen pretty +faces admiring our schooner out of the +long white awnings: but even if the +notion of bringing up Snelling himself +as my first officer hadn't been +too much for me, not to speak of +either Jones or Webb, why the very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +thoughts that everything I saw recalled +to me, made me the more +eager to get in sight of the Seringapatam. +"Thank you, sir," answered +I. "No—I must be off after the Bombay +ship."—"Ah," hailed the old +captain, "some of your Admiral's +post-bags, I suppose. Well, keep as +much northing as you can, sir, and I +daresay you'll find her parted company. +She's got a jury fore topmast +up, for one she lost a week ago; +so you can't mistake her for the Mandarin, +with a good glass."—"Have you +noticed any suspicious craft lately, +sir?" asked I. "Why, to tell you +the truth, lieutenant," sang out he, +looking down off the high bulwarks +at our long nine-pounders and the +knot of Lascars, "none more so +than we thought <em>you</em>, at first, sir!" +The cadets on the poop roared with +laughter, and an old lady with two +daughters seemed to eye Snelling +doubtfully through an opera-glass, as +the reefer ogled both of them at once. +"By the bye," sang out the captain of +the Indiaman to me again, "I fancy +the passengers in that ship must have +got somehow uncomfortable—one of +our Bengal grandees aboard of her +wanted a berth to Calcutta with us, +'tother day in the Mozambique; +but we're too full already!"—"Indeed, +sir?" said I; but the schooner's mainboom +was jibbing over, and with two +or three more hails, wishing them a +good voyage, and so on, away we +slipped past their weather-bow. The +Warringford got under weigh at her +leisure, and in an hour or two her +topsails were down to leeward of us. +On I cracked with square and studding-sails +to the quartering breeze, +till the schooner's light hull jumped to +it, and aloft she was all hung out of a +side, like a dairyman's daughter +carrying milk; with the pace she +went at I could almost say to an hour +when we should overhaul the chase.</p> + +<p>Still, after two or three days of the +trade-wind, well out in the Indian +Ocean, and not a spot to be seen, we +had got so far up the Line as to make +me sure we had overrun her. +Accordingly the schooner was hauled +sharp on a wind to cruise slowly down +across what must be the Indiaman's +track, judging as we could to a nicety, +with a knowledge of the weather we had +had. For my part I was so certain of +sighting her soon, that I ordered the +after-cabins to be set to rights, seeing +a notion had taken hold of me of +actually offering them to Sir Charles +Hyde for the voyage to Calcutta—Fancy +the thought! 'Twas too good to +be likely; but Violet herself actually +being in that little after-cabin and +sleeping in it—the lively schooner +heading away alone for India, and +they and Westwood the sole passengers +aboard—why, the idea of it was fit to +drive me crazy with impatience.</p> + +<p>Well, one fine night, after being on +deck all day, and the whole night +before, almost, I had turned in to my +cot to sleep. From where I lay I could +see the moonshine off the water +through the stern-light in that after-cabin, +by the half-open door. I felt the +schooner going easily through the +water, with a rise and fall from the +heave of the long Line-swell; so close +my eyes I couldn't, especially as the +midshipman could be heard snoring on +the other side like the very deuce. Accordingly +I turned out into the after-cabin, +and got hold of one of the +Frenchman's volumes to read, when, +lo and behold, I found it was neither +more nor less than Greek, all I knew +being the sight of it. Next I commenced +overhauling the bundle of +handwriting, which I took at first for +a French log of the schooner's voyage, +and sat down on the locker to have a +spell at it. So much as I could make +out, in spite of the queer outlandish +turn the letters had, and the quirks of +the unnatural sort of language, it was +curious enough—a regular story, in +fact, about his own life, the war, and +Buonaparte himself. At another time +I'd have given a good deal to go +through with it at odd hours—and a +strange affair I found it was some time +afterwards; but meanwhile I had +only seen at the beginning that his +name was <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Le Compte Victor l'Allemand, +Capitaine de la Marine Française</i>, +and made out at the end how +there was some scheme of his beyond +what I knew before, to be carried out +in India,—when it struck me there +was no one on the quarterdeck above. +I listened for a minute through the +stern-window, and thought I heard +some one speaking over the schooner's +lee-quarter, as she surged along; so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +slipping on a jacket and cap, I went +on deck at once.</p> + +<p>It was middle watch at the time; +but as soon as I came up I saw all +was quiet—Webb near the gangway +talking to the old Lascar serang, and +breaking the English wonderfully +betwixt them; while the Lascars of +the watch were sitting like tailors in a +ring on the forecastle planks, each +waiting for his turn of one cocoa-nut +hookah, that kept hubble-bubbling +away gravely under the smoker's nose, +as he took a long suck at it, while the +red cinder in the bowl lighted up his +leathery Hindoo face and mustache +like a firefly in the root of a banian, till +he handed it, without even a wipe, to his +neighbour. These fellows had begun +to get much livelier as we made the +tropics; and this same serang of theirs +had put out his horns once or twice +to Snelling lately, though he drew +them in again the moment he saw me—a +sulky old knotty-faced, yellow-eyed +devil I thought him at any rate, while +his dish-cloth of a turban, his long +blue gown and red trousers, reminded +you at sea in a gale of a dancing +dervish. The day we spoke the +Indiaman, in fact, I noticed there was +something in the wind for a minute +or two with him and his gang, which +put it in my head at first to offer +them to the captain for a couple of +good English hands; and as I passed +him and Webb this time, the serang +stopped his talk, and sidled off.</p> + +<p>However, a beautiful night it was, +as ever eye looked upon even in the +blue Indian Ocean: the heavens +cloudless, the full round moon shining +high off our weather-beam again, the +stars drawn up into her bright light, +as it were, trembling through the films +of it like dew-drops in gossamer of a +summer morning: you saw the sea +meet the sky on every hand, without +a speck on the clear line of horizon, +through the squares of our ratlins and +betwixt the schooner's two long fore-and-aft +booms. A pretty strongish +breeze we had, too, blowing from east +to west with a sweep through the +emptiness aloft, and a wrinkling ripple +over the long gentle swells, as deep in +the hue as if fresh dye came from the +bottom, and crisping into a small +sparkle of foam wherever they caught +it full. Something pleasant, one +couldn't say what, was in the air; and +every sheet being hauled taut to hold +wind, the slant gush of it before her +beam drove her slipping ahead toward +the quarter it came from, with a dip +down and a saucy lift of her jibs +again, as if she were half balanced +amidships, but little noise about it. +I took a squint aloft and an overhaul +all round, and nothing was to be seen. +The size of the sky through the moonlight +looked awful, as it were, and the +strength of the breeze seemed to send +a heavenly blue deep into the western +quarter, till you saw a star in it. The +night was so lovely, in fact, it somehow +made one think of one's mother, +and old times, when you used to say +your prayers. Still I couldn't see the +mate of the watch on the weather quarterdeck, +which surprised the more in +Jones's case, since he was always ready +for me when I came up; and, to tell +the truth, I shouldn't have been sorry +to catch him napping for once, only to +show he was like men in common. I +walked aft by the weather side of the +large mainsail, accordingly, till I saw +him leaning with his head over the lee-bulwark, +and heard him again, as I +thought, apparently speaking to some +one down the schooner's side; upon +which I stepped across. Jones's back +was to me as I looked over too; but +owing to what he was busy with, I +suppose, and the wash of the water, +which was louder there than inboard, +while you heard the plash from her +bows every time she forged, he evidently +didn't hear me. You may +fancy my wonder to find he was reading +loud out to himself from the other +of the Frenchman's volumes, which I +had no doubt left in the dining-cabin—the +book open in both hands—he giving +it forth in long staves, with a break +between—and regular Greek it was, +too: you'd have thought he timed +them to the plash alongside; and I +must say, as every string of long-tailed +words flowed together like one, +in Jones's deep voice, and the swell +rose once or twice with its foam-bells +near his very hands, I almost fancied +I made a meaning of them—each like +a wave, as it were, sweeping to a +crest, and breaking. The gusto the +man showed in it you can't conceive; +and, what was more, I had no doubt +he understood the sense of it, for all of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +a sudden, after twenty staves or so of +the kind, he stopped.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a> "There!" +said he, "there, old Homer—women, +wine, and adventure—what could the +devil ask more, blind old prater, with +a sound in you like the sea? Ay, +wash, wash, wash away, lying old +blue-water, you cant wash <em>it</em> out—and +wine—no, not the strongest rum in +Cape Town—can wash <em>you</em> out!" +With that Jones laid his head on his +arms, with the book still in one hand, +muttering to himself, and I listened in +spite of me. "Still it rouses the old +times in me!" said he. "Here comes +this book across me, too. Ay, ay, and +the Rector fancied, sitting teaching me +Greek out of old wild Homer all week +day—and—and his girl slipping out +and in—'twould do to don the cassock of +a Sunday and preach out of the pulpit +against the world, the devil, and the +flesh—then warn me against the sea—ha!" +The laugh that came from him +at that moment was more like a dog +than a human being; but on he went +muttering "Women, wine, and adventure, +said ye, old Greek, and a goddess +too; still he <em>was</em> a good old man the +Rector—no guile nor evil in him, with +his books in the cases yonder, and the +church-spire seen through the window +over the garden, and his wife with—ah, +the less of that. 'Twas in me, +though, and all the blood—and in <i>her</i> +dark eyes, too, Mary, though she +was! Damnation!" he broke out +again, after a bit, as if he'd been +arguing it with something under the +side, "I didn't take her the first time +I came home—nor the second—but—but—ay, +I came <em>back</em>! Oh that parting-stile, +in sight of the sea—and that +packet-ship—but oh God! that night, +that night with the schooner forging +ahead through the blue—blue—" And +he stopped with a groan that shook +him as he leant over. "Hellish, hellish +by God!" he said, suddenly +standing upright and looking straight +aloft, with his bare head and face to +the wide empty sky, and the moonlight +tipping the hair on his forehead, +from over the high shadow on the lee-side +of the mainsail, where it glistened +along the gaff. "She was pure to the +last!" I heard him say, though I had +walked to the other side of the boom; +"ay, though I rot to perdition for it!—Down, +old fiend!" as he lifted his +one hand with the book, and drove it +alongside, seemingly watching it settle +away astern.</p> + +<p>Now I had heard nothing from +Jones that I couldn't have fancied +before, and there was even a humour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +to my mind in the notion of clapping +it all on old Homer, if Homer it was, +and heaving him overboard with such +a confoundedly complimentary burial-service. +But some of the words that +dropped from him shot through one's +veins like icicles: and now there was +something fearful in the sight of him +standing straight again, with a look +right into the heavens, as if he'd have +searched them up and up—in that +lovely night too, spread far and wide—the +very rays of the moonlight +sparkled down the weather side of the +sail I was on, trembling on the leech-ropes +and brails as they swayed, and +into the hollows they made in the belly +of the taut canvass: the long shining +spot of it wavered and settled on the +same two planks of the quarterdeck, +beyond the shadow of the bulwark +from the moon's eye, fast as the +schooner moved through the water, +and it was like a hand laid upon her, +with the air and wind stretching +between. Of a sudden I saw Jones +wheel slowly round where he stood, +like a man turned about by main +strength, with his eyes fixed aloft, +and his one arm raising from the shoulder +till his forefinger pointed to something, +as I thought, about the fore-to'gallant +sail. His face was like +ashes, his eye glaring, and I sprang +across to him under the main-boom. +"See!" said he, never turning his +head, and the words hissed betwixt +his teeth, "look at that!"</p> + +<p>"For heaven's sake, <em>what</em>, Mr +Jones?" said I. "<em>Her—her</em>," was +his answer, "coming against the wind—dead +fore-and-aft in the shade of +the sails!" On the lee-sides of them +the high boom-sails made a sort of a +thin shadow against the moonshine off +the other beam, which came glimpsing +through between them out of a world +of air to the south-east, with a double +of it flickering alongside on the water +as it heaved past to leeward; and +whether it was fancy, or whether it +was but the reflection aloft from below, +I thought, as I followed Jones's finger, +I saw something like the shape of a +woman's dress floating close in with +the bonnet of the foretopmast-staysail, +from the dusk it made to the +breast of the fore-topsail, and even +across the gush of white light under +the yard—long and straight, as it were, +like a thing lifted dripping out of +water, and going, as he said, right +against the schooner's course. "Now +in the foresail!" whispered Jones, his +eye moving as on a pivot, and a thrill +ran through me at the notion, for I +made out one single moment what I +thought a face against the sky at the +gaff-end, white as death, shooting aft +toward the mainsail,—though next +instant I saw it was but a block +silvered by the moon as the schooner +lifted. "Now the mainsail!" said he +huskily, "and now—now, by the +heavens—rising—rising to the gaff-topsail—away! +Oh Christ! <em>Mary!</em>"</p> + +<p>He was leaning aft toward the +width of the sky, with both hands +clutched together before him, shuddering +all over. For the first minute my +own blood crept, I must say; but +directly after I touched him on the +shoulder. "This is strange, Mr +Jones," said I, "what's the matter?" +"Once in the Bermudas!" said he, +still wildly, "once in the Pacific—and +now! Does the sea give up its dead, +though, think ye?"—"You've a +strong fancy, Mr Jones, that's all," I +said, sternly. "Fancy!" said he, +though beginning to get the better of +himself; "did ye ever fancy a face +looking down—down at you in the +utterest scorn—down sideways off the +shoulder of the garment, as it sticks +wet into every outline like life? All +the time gliding on the other way, too, +and the eyes like two stars a thousand +miles away beyond, as kind as angels'—neither +wind nor sea can stop it, +till suddenly it rises to the very cope +of heaven—still looking scornfully +down at you!—No, sir, fancy it <em>you</em> +couldn't!" The glance he gave me +was somehow or other such as I +couldn't altogether stomach from the +fellow, and he was turning to the side +when I said quietly, "No, nor Homer +either, I daresay!" Jones started +and made a step towards me. "You +heard me a little ago!" rapped out he, +eyeing me. "Yes," I said; "by Jove! +who could help being curious to hear +a sailor spout Greek as you were +doing, Mr Jones?"</p> + +<p>"The fact is, Mr Collins," answered +he, changing his tone, "I was well +brought up—the more shame to me +for bringing myself to what you saw +me. I had a sister drowned, too, on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +her passage to America one voyage, +when I was mate of the ship myself. +No wonder it keeps my nerves shaking +sometimes, when I've had too long +about shore."—"Well, well, Jones," +said I, rather softening, "you've +proved yourself a first-rate seaman, +and I've got nothing to complain of—but +I tell You fairly I had my doubts +of you! So you'll remember you're +under the Articles of War aboard here, +sir," added I, "which as long as I +have this schooner under hand, I'll be +hanged if I don't carry out!" All at +once the thought struck me a little +inconveniently, of my carrying off +Webb and his people, and I fancied +Jones's quick eye wandered to the +Lascars forward. "I know it, sir," +said he, looking me steadily in the +face; "and what's more, Mr Collins, +at any rate I couldn't forget you +picked me out, confounded low as I +looked, to come aft here! 'Tis not +every captain afloat that has such a +good eye for a seaman, as <em>I</em> know!" +"Oh well, no more about it," I said, +walking forward on the weather side, +and leaving him on the lee one as distinctly +as Lord Frederick Bury could +have done to myself in the frigate. +Jones no doubt thought I didn't notice +the slight wrinkle that gathered round +his lee-eye when he gave me this touch +of butter at the end; but I put it down +for nothing more, gammon though it +was.</p> + +<p>It was near the end of the watch, +the moon beginning to set, while it +still wanted three hours of daybreak +in those latitudes, when the look-out +on the top-gallant-yard, who was +stationed there in man-o'-war cruising +fashion, reported a sail to windward. +Just then the midshipman came on +deck to his watch, wonderfully early +for him indeed: and on my remarking +it was probably the Indiaman at +last, Jones himself went aloft with +the night-glass to make her out. +"Mr Snelling," said I, "see the +hands on deck ready for going about." +Next minute I saw him rousing up +the rest of the Lascars, who slept +watch and watch on the forecastle. +Only five or six of the Hebe's men +were up; and all of them, save the +man at the wheel, ran aloft to rig out +stunsail-booms to windward, as soon +as the schooner was fairly on the +starboard tack, standing to nor'-eastward. +Suddenly I saw a scuffle +between the midshipman, and the +tindal,<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a> a stout dark-faced young +Bengalee, with a jaunty scull-cap and +frock, whom Snelling had probably +helped along with a touch of a rope's +end; and in a moment two or three +more of them were upon him; while the +reefer drew his dirk, and sung out to +me, scarce before I was with him, the +Lascars rolling into the lee-scuppers at +two kicks of my foot. Webb and +three of the men from Cape Town +were hoisting a stunsail at the time, +the smart man-o'-war'smen aloft singing +out to them to bear a hand. What +with the noise of the sail flapping, and +its being betwixt my own men and +the deck, they could know nothing of +the matter; and the Lascars let go the +halliards in a body, making a rush at +Snelling and myself with everything +they could pick up in the shape of a +spar.</p> + +<p>This would have been nothing, as +in two or three minutes more the men +would have been down, and the cocoa-faced +rascals dodged every way from +the handspike I got hold of; but I +just caught a glimpse on one side of +the sly old serang shoving on the fire-scuttle +to keep down the watch below; +and on the other, of Webb looking +round him, evidently to see how +matters stood. Two Dutchmen seized +the first sailor that came down the +rigging, by the legs, and I saw the +affair must be finished at once, it had +so much the look of a regular plot on +Webb's part, if Jones wasn't concerned +in it too. I made one spring +upon my Cape Town gentleman, and +took him by the throat with one +hand, while I hit the biggest Dutchman +full behind the ear, felling him +to the deck; on which the man-o'-war's +man grappled his watchmate, +and Webb was struggling with me +sufficiently to keep both my hands +full, when I had a pleasant inkling of +a Malay Lascar slipping toward my +back with a bare kreese in his fist. +I just looked over my shoulder at his +black eyes twinkling devilishly before +he sprang, when some one came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +sliding fair down from the fore-top-mast-head +by a backstay, and pitched +in a twinkling on top of his head—a +thing enough to break the neck of a +monument. Directly after, I saw +Jones himself hitting right and left +with his night-glass, from the moonlight +to the shadow of the foresail, +while Snelling tumbled over a Lascar +at every slap, standing up in boxer +style. By the time the rest of the +men came down all was settled—the +Dutchmen sulking against the bulwarks, +and Webb gasping after I let +him go. "Boatswain," said I to one +of the sailors, "clap that man in irons +below. Mr Snelling, see the watch +called, sir." "I 'ad the law with +me," said Webb gloomily. "You +plotted it then, Mr Webb?" I said. +"Didn't you carry us off illegally?" +said he. "I only meant to recover the +vessel—upon my honour, nothing +more, sir; and if you're 'ard with me, +you'll have to answer for it, I assure +you!" Here he looked round to Jones +in a strange way, as I fancied for a +moment; but Jones turned on his heel +with a sneer. "Why, Mr Webb," +answered I, "you lost that tack by +offering yourself in a watch, which +makes the thing neither more nor less +than mutiny—so take him below, do ye +hear, bo'sun!" And down he went.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mr Jones," said I, as soon +as all hands were on deck, "you'll be +so good as have half of these Lascars +seized to the rigging here, one after +the other, and see a good dozen given +to each of their backs; then these +two Dutchmen, each three dozen—then +pipe down the watch, sir." +Jones glanced at me, then at the +fellows, then at me again. I thought +he hung aback for an instant; but do +it I was determined he should, for a +reason I had; and I gave him back +the look steady as stone. "Ay, ay, +sir," said he at last, touching his hat. +I walked aft to the capstan, and stood +there till every mother's son of them +had got his share, the Lascars wriggling +and howling on the deck after +it, and the Dutchmen twisting their +backs as they walked off. 'Twas the +first time I did that part of duty in +command; and I felt, in the circumstances, +I was in for carrying it out +with a taut hand.</p> + +<p>By this time the moon was setting, +and in the dusk we lost sight of the +sail to windward; but as we were +heading well up to weather upon her, +and going at least ten knots, I turned +in below for a little, leaving the midshipman. +Accordingly, it wasn't very +long before Snelling called me in broad +daylight. "She's a large ship, Mr +Collins," said he, "standing under all +sail on a wind. I hope to goodness, sir, +it's that confounded Indiaman at last!" +I hurried on deck, took the glass aloft, +and soon made out the jury-foretop-mast +shorter than the main, as the +old captain mentioned. Accordingly +it was with somewhat of a flutter in +me I came down again, watching the +schooner's trim below and aloft, to +see if I couldn't take an hour or so off +the time betwixt that and once +more setting eyes on the Judge's +daughter.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>THE JEW BILL.</h2> + + +<p>The period at which this obnoxious +measure has been brought forward, +limits our present remarks to a +few paragraphs. But we have so +long fought for the Constitution, that +We cannot suffer the month to pass +without reprobating an intrigue, +which we cannot but regard as most +dangerous to the Empire. We are no +bigots,—we demand no surrender of +the rights of opinion,—we force no man +to our altars,—we forbid no man's +access to his own; but to avert public +evil is a duty of every subject,—to strip +hypocrisy is clearly an act of justice,—and +to protect religion is only an act +of supreme necessity. We solemnly +believe, that to bring the Jew into +the Parliament of England, would be +at once injury to the Constitution, a +peril to public principle, and an insult +to Christianity.</p> + +<p>The attempt was made last year, +and was defeated. It is now to be +renewed, without the slightest additional +ground, and the battle will +have to be fought over again. Must +we not ask, is this experiment to +be again made on public patience? +Is it meant to tell the people of England, +that what common sense rejects, +is to be forced on general weariness; +that what manly principle repels, is to +be gained by vulgar perseverance; and +that which public judgement denounces, +is to be made law by the united effect +of disgust and disdain producing indifference? +We trust that the common +sense of England will speak such a language +to the Legislature, as to extinguish +the <em>prestige</em> that obstinacy in the +wrong is more effective than honesty +in the right; that to be sickened of a +struggle, is a legitimate reason for +abandoning the contest; and that a +great nation can be yawned out of the +greatest interests in the world.</p> + +<p>The first question of all is, Can this +admission of the Jew into a Christian +legislature be compatible with the +character of a Christian constitution? +If we live in bad times, with the evidence +of bad practices in important +positions, and with a powerful propensity +among influential classes to +sacrifice everything to the moment, +this consciousness should only be a +stronger claim on the vigilance of +honest men. However strangely it +may sound in some ears, England is +still a Christian country: however +some may doubt, the country still +demands a Christian legislature; and, +notwithstanding all opinions on the +subject, we believe that to worship +God and Mammon is still as impossible +as it was pronounced to be eighteen +hundred years ago. We believe that it +is only by national virtue that nations +can retain the divine protection; that +zeal for the divine honour is the supreme +source of virtue; and that to +sacrifice the honour of God to any +earthly purpose, is only to bring divine +desertion on a people. Must we not +ask, is there any national demand, +national necessity, or religious principle, +connected with giving legislative +power, at this time, to the Jew?</p> + +<p>Where is the national demand? If +the Jew, in some instances, is rich, +is mere money to be the qualification +for giving legislative power? In the +simplest point of view, must we not +demand ability, personal honour, a +personal interest in the country, and +a personal evidence that the trustee +will never betray or abandon his +trust? But what is the Jew? He has +<em>no</em> country. By being equally a member +of all countries, he is equally an +alien in all; beyond the casual connexion +of trade, he has no connexion +with any kingdom of earth: his only +country is his counting-house,—his +only city is the Exchange. His world +consists in his traffic; and if any +calamity should fall on one of those +kingdoms where he keeps his counting-house, +he transfers himself, like a Bill +of Exchange, to the next; and in +whatever land is equally at home. The +Jew gives no pledge to any country; +he is no possessor of land, no leader of +science, no professor of the liberal pursuits, +no manufacturer, no merchant, +no sailor, no soldier; as if some irresistible +destination prohibited him from +ever finally settling in any land, his +property is always ready to take +wing. Must we not ask, Is this fugitive +the man who has a right to share<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +the privileges of the Englishman, +bound, as we are, to the soil by nature, +and bound to its defence and prosperity +by the indissoluble obligation +of nature?</p> + +<p>In a political point of view, what +security could we have for confiding +in the Jew,—for intrusting our finances, +our liberties, our councils, the +guardianship of our country, to the +Jew? The especial and perpetual +object of his existence is money. Now, +while every man knows that money is +the great corrupter of the human +mind, that, except in minds fully fortified +by principle, it overwhelms all +other objects, and that, in all the +convulsions of the greatest war of +Europe—the war of the French +Revolution—the secrets of every Continental +cabinet were at the mercy of +the purse; do we desire to see this +supremacy extended? Do we desire +to see the principles of fraud and falsehood +made a regular material in the +market of public transactions, and +lucre exalted into the sole object of +existence?</p> + +<p>As to the practical effect of bringing +the tribe of the money-dealer into +Parliament, would any man, in the +exercise of his experience, wish to see +the finances of England in the hands of +any Jew in existence? And let no +man pretend that this conception is +imaginary. Place a Jew in Parliament, +giving him the power of making +a party; give him the opportunity of +working on the impulses, habits, or +necessities of men; and in twelve +months you may see him anything he +desires,—even Chancellor of the Exchequer. +But he is a man of honour; +he will not sell the secrets of Council; +he will not copy a despatch for the +benefit of his partners; he will not +raise or sink the stocks, though every +movement may add a million to the +coffers of his partnership. We hope +not; but can we run the risk? But +the fact is, that he is a man not to be +judged of by the feelings of any other +in the world; he differs from all other +men. What is patriotism to the Jew? +He knows nothing of it. Who ever +heard of the Jew taking any part in +those noble struggles which have saved +the honour or secured the rights of +any nation on earth? His business is +gain, and it is the only business that +he ever follows; from the man with +ten firms and five hundred clerks, with +a counting-house in every village from +the Rhine to the Neva, down to the +seller of old clothes, and the pedlar in +dilapidated slippers, who ever heard +of a Jew thinking of anything but to +make money?</p> + +<p>But the view which must supersede +all others, is the aspect of the measure +as it relates to religion. Great Britain +is certainly, on the whole, a religious +country: it perhaps contains +more true religion than all the earth +besides; but its fault is, that, though +reverent in the church, it does not +sufficiently carry its reverence into the +course of common life. If this were +done, there would be no difficulties in +public opinion. It is in no superstition +that we say, the only question +to be asked on any doubtful course of +action is, "Will it please God? Is it +for the honour of God?" This is what +the Scripture calls "walking with +God," and describes as the essential +character of virtue. But the majority +of mankind add to those questions, +Will it benefit myself? The statesman +asks, Shall I lose power by it?—the +merchant, Shall I lose profit?—the +tradesman, Shall I lose custom? And +this question is the master-key to the +diversities of opinion on points which, +to the unbiassed mind, are as clear as +the sun.</p> + +<p>Let us put the matter in a more +every-day point of view. Let us suppose +the question asked, Would you +take for your friend a man who denied +your God, who scoffed at your religion, +and who declared yourself a dupe or a +deceiver? Yet all this the Jew does +openly by the profession of his own +creed. Can you conceive it for the +honour of your Redeemer, to give this +man your confidence in the highest +form in which it can be given by a +subject? Or can you bring yourself to +believe that you are doing your duty +to Christ in declaring by your conduct, +that to be hostile to Him makes +no imaginable difference in your estimate +of the character of any man?</p> + +<p>On those points it is wholly impossible +that there can be any doubt +whatever. The enemy of Christ cannot, +without a crime, be favoured, still +less patronised and promoted, by the +friend of Christ. Now, this feeling is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +neither prejudice nor persecution: it +merely takes the words of the Jew +himself; and it would not force him, +by the slightest personal injury, to +change the slightest of his opinions. +It is merely the conduct which all +who were unbiassed by gain, or unperverted +by personal objects, would +follow in any common act of life. To +give power to the Jew, from the motives +of pelf, or party, or through +indifference, is criminal; and it is +against this crime that we protest, +and that we desire to guard our fellow +Christian.</p> + +<p>We must now rapidly pass through +the leading points of the question. +The Jew is a "condemned man." +More than three thousand years ago, +Moses, in pronouncing the future history +of the people, declared that a +teacher should finally be sent to their +nation, like himself, a man; and +mingling as such among men, to give +them a law, not in clouds and thunders +as at Sinai, nor written in tables of +stone, nor fixed in stern ordinances, but +written in the heart, and acting by the +understanding: and that, if they rejected +him, they should be made +nationally to answer the national +crime to the Almighty. Him they +rejected, and the rejection has been +answered by national ruin. The prophecy +is before the eye of the world; +the fulfilment is also before the eye +of the world.</p> + +<p>The Jew is an undone being, if there +be truth in the words of inspiration. +"He that believeth in the Son hath +everlasting life; and he that believeth +not the Son, <em>shall not see life</em>; but the +<em>wrath of God</em> abideth on him." (John +iii. 35, 36.) What right have we to +dispense with such words? The +declaration is unequivocal; and if +there be a compassionate allowance +for the barbarian, who has no +Bible and whom the gospel has +never reached, what allowance can +there be for the Jew, possessing the +Bible and living in the sound of the +gospel? But this language is not +alone. We have the declaration of +ruin constantly expressed or implied, +"Who is a liar, but he that <em>denieth +that Jesus is the Christ</em>? Whosoever +<em>denieth the Son</em>, the same <em>hath not the +Father</em>." (1 John ii. 22)</p> + +<p>Are those deniers the men whom +the Christian is to take into the +very centre of his political favouritism? +Are the brands of Scripture on +the national forehead to be scorned by +a people professing obedience to the +Divine will? Can human conception +supply a stronger proof of the reality +of those brands than the condition of +the Jews ever since their first fulfilment, +in the fall of Jerusalem—the +terrible reply to their own anathema, +"His blood be on us, and on our +children."</p> + +<p>What is the state of the Jew himself +with respect to sacred things? +Nothing but ignorance can speak of +the <em>religion</em> of the Jew. So far as +belongs to worship, he has <em>none</em>. +Sacrifice, the solemnisation of the +three great festivals, the whole ceremonial +of the temple, were <em>essential</em> to +Judaism. The Jew cannot perform +a single public ceremonial of his religion. +Sacrifice was supremely essential +for nearly the atonement of every +fault of man; but it could be offered +only in the Temple. The Temple is +gone. What now becomes of his +atonement?</p> + +<p>A weak attempt is made to answer +this tremendous question, by referring +to the condition of the Jews in Babylon. +But what comparison can exist +between a captivity prophetically +limited to years not exceeding a single +life, passed under the protection of +kings, and under the guardianship of +the most illustrious man of Asia, the +prophet Daniel, cheered by prophecy +and miracle, and certain of return, and +the eighteen hundred years' banishment +of the Jew? What comparison +between the temporary suspension of +the national worship, and the undefined +and hopeless duration which +seems to lie before the Jewish exile; +and which, when it shall close at last, +will extinguish his Judiasm, will show +him his folly only by stripping the +superstition of the Rabbi and the Talmud +from his eyes, and will awake +him at once to the extent of his +error, to the exercise of his understanding, +and to the worship of Christianity?</p> + +<p>After considerations of this order, +all others must be almost trivial. +But the common declamation on the +<em>natural right</em> of the Jew to be represented +in Parliament is verbiage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +But the Jew is actually represented, +as much as a multitude of +other interests of superior importance +are represented. Are the fifteen +thousand clergy of the Church of +England (a body worth all the Jews +on the globe) personally represented? +Are the millions of England under +twenty-one represented? One might +thus go through the great industrious +classes of England, and find that, out +of twenty millions, there are not one +million electors. And what claim +have a class—who come to this country +only to make money, and who +make nothing but money, and who, +if they could make more money anywhere +else on the earth, would go +there to-morrow—to an equality of +right with the manly, honest, and +attached son of England, every day +of whose life adds something to the +comfort or the credit of the community?</p> + +<p>The whole and sole claim of the +Jew is, that some of his party are +rich. How they have made their +riches, or how they spend them, is +beneath us to inquire. But what +are their national evidences, even of +wealth, it might be difficult to discover. +They exhibit no fruits here, +nor anywhere. It has been often +asked, with genuine astonishment, +what signs of national liberality have +ever been given by Jewish wealth in +the world? What contribution does +it make, or has it ever made, to the +arts that decorate life, to the literature +that enlightens it, or to those +bold and commanding services by +which nations are raised or restored? +Where are the picture galleries, or the +great libraries, the great institutions, +erected by the wealth of the Jew? +As to the genius which endows mankind, +for generations to come, with +noble inventions, or leaves its name +behind in a track of glory to posterity, +who ever heard of it among the Jews? +Shopkeepers of London have planted +its vicinity with great establishments, +castles of charity, magnificent monuments +of practical religion, to which +all the works of Jewish bounty are +molehills. The Jews have an hospital +and a few schools,—and there the +efflux of liberality stops, the stream +stagnates, the river becomes a pond, +and the pond dries away.</p> + +<p>It is remarkable, and may be a +punitive consequence, that there is +nothing so fugitive as the wealth of the +Jew. There is perhaps no hereditary +example of Jewish wealth in the +world. In England we have seen +opulent firms, but they have never +had the principle of permanency. +Supposed to be boundlessly wealthy, a +blight came, and every leaf dropt off. +One powerful firm now lords it over +the loan-market of Europe. We have +no desire to anticipate the future; but +what has become of all its predecessors +in this country? or what memorial +have they all left, to make us regret +their vanishing, or remember their +existence?</p> + +<p>Of the sudden passion with which +Ministers have snatched the Israelite +to their bosom, we shall leave the explanation +until their day of penitence. +As poverty makes man submit to +strange companionship, political necessity +may make a Whig Cabinet stoop +to the embrace of the Jew. The resource +is desperate, but the exigency +must be equally so. We hail the +omen,—the grasp at straws shows +nothing but the exhaustion of the +swimmer.</p> + +<p>On one point more alone we shall +touch. It is of a graver kind. It has +been the source of a kind of ignorant +consideration for the Jews, that prophecy +speaks of their future restoration. +But, as <em>Jews</em> they will <em>never</em> be +restored. In the last days some +powerful influence of the Holy Spirit +will impel the surviving Jews to solicit +an admission into Christianity. +How many or how few will survive +the predicted universal convulsion of +these days, is not for man to tell; the +terrible, or the splendid, catastrophes +of those times are still hidden; but no +Jew well ever dwell in the presence +of the patriarchs, but as a "new +creature"—a being cleared from the +prejudices of his exiled fathers, and +by supernatural interposition purified +from the unbelief, to be rescued from +the ruin, of his stiff-necked people.</p> + +<p>The measure must be thrown out +by the awakened power of public +opinion. We must not indulge our +indolence in relying on the House of +Lords. They <em>may</em> do their duty, but +<em>we must do ours</em>. The Jew <em>must not</em> +enter the Christian Legislature.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>THE PICTURES OF THE SEASON.</h2> + + +<p>The taste for pictorial art, if its +progress may be measured by the opportunity +afforded for its gratification, +is decidedly upon the increase in this +country. In London, especially, pictures +of one class or other form, each +successive year, a larger and more +important item in the sum of public +amusements. During the present +season of 1850 there have been open, +at one time, four exhibitions consisting +chiefly of oil paintings, two numerous +collections of water-colour drawings, +and panoramas and dioramas in +unprecedented number and of unusual +excellence. These last, although pertaining +to a lower walk of art, have +strong claims on consideration for +their scenic truthfulness and artistic +skill, and are fairly to be included in +an estimate of the state of public +feeling for the pictorial. The four +first exhibitions alone comprise upwards +of three thousand works of art, +now for the first time submitted to +public inspection. As usual, the exhibition +of the Royal Academy is the +most important and deserving of attention. +Numerically, the Society of +British Artists claims the next place; +but in point of interest it must yield +precedence to the British Institution, +now for some weeks closed, and also +to the exhibition of an association of +artists which has installed itself, upon +a novel principle, and under the title +of the National Institution, in a building +constructed for its accommodation, +and known as the Portland Gallery. +It were for some reasons desirable—it +certainly would be favourable to the +comparative appreciation of merit—that, +as at Paris, the whole of the +annual harvest of pictures should be +collected in one edifice, subject, of +course, to such previous examination +by a competent and impartial council, +as should exclude those works unworthy +of exhibition. But such a +system, however pleasant it might be +found by the public, could hardly be +made agreeable to the artists. The +most indulgent censorship, excluding +none but the veriest daubs—nay, even +the plan of open doors to all comers, +which has lately clothed a portion of +the walls of the Republican Louvre with +canvass spoiled by ignorance and presumption, +would fail to satisfy artists +and their friends. In London, as in +Paris under the old system, it is less +the question of admission than the placing +of the pictures that is the source of +discontent. The excluded conceal +their discomfiture; the misplaced +grumble loudly, and not always without +reason, especially as regards the +Academy exhibition. The fault may +be more in the rooms that contain, +than in the men who place the pictures. +Of course everybody whose +work gets into the Octagon Room feels +aggrieved, although it is evident that, +as long as that ridiculous nook is used +to contain pictures, some unlucky +artists must fill it. The good +places in the other rooms—limited as +is the extent of these compared to the +large number of pictures annually +exhibited in them—cannot be very +numerous, although they may be multiplied +by the exercise of judgment, +and by impartial attention to the requirements +of each picture as regards +light and elevation. The best possible +arrangement, however, will fail to +please everybody, and the persons to +whom falls the difficult task of distributing +a thousand or fifteen hundred +pictures over the walls of a suite of +rooms inadequate to their proper +accommodation, must be prepared to +endure some obloquy, and esteem +themselves fortunate if the public acquit +them of flagrant partiality or +negligence. It is not our purpose to +dilate on this oft-mooted and still +vexed question. We have no polemical +intention in the present paper, +in which we shall not have too much +space to note down a few of the +thoughts that suggested themselves to +us during our morning wanderings +amongst the throng of pictures in four +exhibitions.</p> + +<p>The great event of the artist's +year, the opening of the Exhibition +of the Royal Academy, is of course +the signal for a Babel of opinions. +The question which on all sides is +heard: What sort of Exhibition is +this? obtains the most conflicting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +replies. People are too apt to trust to +their first impressions, and to indulge +in sweeping censure or excessive encomium. +We have heard this year's exhibition +set down by some as first-rate, +by others as exceedingly poor. Our +own opinion, after careful examination +and consideration, is, that it has rather +less than the average amount of merit. +This we believe to be also the opinion +of the majority of those most competent +to judge. There is certainly an +unusually small number of pictures of +striking excellence; nor is this atoned +for by any marked improvement in +those artists whose works can claim +but a second rank. One circumstance +unfavourable to the interest of the +exhibition is the uncommonly large +number of portraits, the majority of +which are not very admirable either +in subject or execution. The impression, +as one walks through the rooms, +is, that an extraordinary number of +ugly or uninteresting persons have got +themselves painted by careless or indifferent +artists. Of landscapes there +seem to be fewer than usual—certainly +fewer good ones. Some of the best +of this class of painters have contributed +to other exhibitions. On the +other hand, historical, scriptural, and +dramatic subjects are numerous, but +not in many cases have they been +treated with very great success. +One of the foremost pictures in the +Exhibition—certainly the one about +which most curiosity has been excited—is +Edwin Landseer's <cite>Dialogue at +Waterloo</cite>. We are unfeigned admirers +of Mr Landseer's genius, but we do +not think this one of his happiest +efforts. There is much fashion in +these matters; people are very apt +to be led away by a name, and to fall +into ecstasies before a picture simply +because it is by a great painter. We +believe it impossible for Edwin Landseer +to paint anything that shall not +have great merit, but he is certainly +most felicitous when confining himself +to what is strictly speaking his own +style. We do not think him successful +as a portrait painter. His Marchioness +of Douro does less than justice to the +beautiful original. As to the Duke +of Wellington, it is a failure; especially +if, as we are assured, it is intended +to be his portrait as he now +is. We certainly cannot admire +the burly figure and swarthy complexion +of Mr Landseer's Duke, which +gives us the idea of a younger and +more robust man than him it is intended +to represent. We should be disposed +to object to the strained appearance +of the downward-pointing hand; +but the gesture is said to be one habitual +to the original, and of course the +painter was right to preserve character, +even at the cost of grace. The +less prominent portion of the picture +is the most to our taste—the peasants +and child, the dogs and game, and the +plough horses with their old driver. +We are not quite clear as to what it +all means; some of the objects seeming +rather to have been dragged in +than naturally to have come thither; +the tablecloth spread in the ploughed +field appearing rather out of character, +and the left-hand corner of the picture +having altogether somewhat of a +crowded aspect: but these are trifles +not worth dwelling upon. The painting +is evidently unfinished. The +subject of Mr Landseer's second picture, +a shepherd digging the stragglers +from his flock out of a snow-drift, is +of less interest than that of his larger +work; but, in an artistic point of view, +it claims higher praise. His snow is +admirable, the tender gray tints are +full of light, and distributed with +surpassing skill; and the earnest +laborious face of the delving peasant is +very vigorous and characteristic. Mr +Landseer is so accurate an observer of +brute nature that it is with extreme +caution we venture to criticise his +animals, but we must say that the +wool of his sheep in this painting has +a hard and cork-like look. Upon the +whole it is a question with us, when +we revert to some of this artist's +former productions, whether he is +painting as carefully as he used to do. +Looking at his Waterloo Dialogue, we +say no; but an affirmative starts to +our lips when we examine his last and +smallest picture in this year's Exhibition, +Lady Murchison's dog. With +this the most fastidious would be +troubled to find fault. It is a gem of +admirable finish. If Mr Landseer's +power of drawing, in the grander contours +of his designs, were equal to the +skill he displays in the details, he +would leave nothing to desire.</p> + +<p>Mr Maclise has two pictures in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +this exhibition. There is scarcely an +English artist living concerning whom +we are more embarrassed to make +up our minds, than concerning the +painter of <em>The Spirit of Justice</em> and +<em>The Gross of Green Spectacles</em>. His +merits and defects are alike very +great, and unfortunately he delays to +amend the latter—if indeed it be in +his power so to do. His first-named +and larger picture, whilst it contains +much to admire, leaves a great deal +to be desired. To us it is a vexatious +performance. We cannot look at +it without admitting it to be the work +of no ordinary artist, and we feel the +more annoyed at the mannerism that +detracts from its merit. Mr Maclise +has fertility of invention and power of +design, but there is a deficiency of +true artistical feeling in his execution. +We cannot coincide, besides, with the +notion which he, in common with +many others, seems to entertain, that +fresco painting precludes chiaroscuro. +In <em>The Spirit of Justice</em> there are some +good faces; but there are more that +are unnecessarily ugly, and several +of faulty expression. Justice has a +fine countenance and altogether pleases +us well. The widow's face is hard +and unflesh-like; the accuser, who +drags the murderer before the tribunal, +and displays a bloody dagger as evidence +of guilt, and the free citizen +who unrolls the charter of liberty, are +anything but admirable. The accuser +looks more like an informer than an +avenger. Nothing can be more unfavourable +to the face than the sort +of scrubby, colourless, thinly-sown +stubble with which his chin is provided, +as a contrast, we presume, +with the dark hirsute countenance of +the criminal, who, deducting the +beard, might pass for a portrait of Mr +Macready, of one of whose favourite +attitudes the position of the head and +shoulders particularly reminds us. +With all its defects, however, this is +by far the best of Mr Maclise's two +pieces. <em>The Gross of Spectacles</em> we +consider a failure. It is a gross of +spectacles, and little besides. The first +thing that catches the eye is Moses' +unlucky bargain. There they are, the +twelve dozen, in green cases and with +plated rims. We submit that the first +thing which <em>should</em> attract the eye is +the countenances of the actors in the +scene. Owing to their tameness of +expression, these, which should be +prominent, are almost subordinate to +the inanimate details of the apartment. +Unimportant as it is, we are +inclined to prefer the recess, and the +peep through the window, to any +other part of the picture. There is +an airiness and transparency in that +corner of the canvass, which we in +vain seek elsewhere. The general +effect is very hard. The hair of +Moses and the little boy is as unlike +hair as it well can be: we +remember to have seen something +very like it upon a tea-tray. These +are technical objections. But Mr +Maclise may rely upon it that he +lacks the keen perception of humour +indispensable to the artist who would +illustrate Goldsmith.</p> + +<p>Amongst the scriptural and mythological +paintings, those of Mr Patten +and Mr F. R. Pickersgill attract at +least as much notice as they deserve. +Besides portraits, Mr Patten has contributed +three pictures. His <em>Susannah +and the Elders</em> is remarkable +as being the most decidedly indecent +picture exhibited this year. The +subject is not a very pleasing one, +and, to our thinking, has been painted +quite often enough. But this is not +the question. Mr Patten has put his +version of it out of the pale of propriety +by his mode of handling it. +There is nothing classical in his treatment, +nothing to redeem or elevate +the nudity and associations of the +subject. His Susannah is simply a +naked English girl, with a pretty +face, an immaculate cuticle, and something +exceedingly voluptuous in the +form and arrangement of her limbs. +There is no novelty of conception in +the picture, nor any particular merit +except the colouring, which is good, +but not equal to that in No. 446, +<em>Bacchus discovering the Use of the +Grape</em>. This is a pleasanter subject, +cleverly treated, displaying more originality +and much better taste. The +flesh-tints are capital, and the picture +altogether does credit to the painter. +<em>Venus and Cupid</em>, by the same artist, +is chiefly remarkable for a plaster-of-Paris +dove of an extraordinarily brilliant +and very unnatural effect. As +to Mr F. R. Pickersgill, we should +like his pictures better if he would<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +not imitate poor Etty, whose memory, +be it parenthetically observed, has +been little regarded by those who +have exhibited that most coarse and +unpleasant picture, <em>The Toilet</em>, No. +276, a specimen of the deceased +artist's worst manner. Mr Pickersgill's +<cite>Samson Betrayed</cite> is, there is no +denying it, a very unsatisfactory composition. +His red-haired Dalilah is +graceless and characterless. Samson, +recumbent in an attitude in which no +man ever slept soundly, seems prevented +only by a miracle from slipping +off her knees. Two girls, instead +of getting to a safe distance, are +hugging each other in terror within +reach of the giant's arm. There is +scarcely an attitude in the picture +that is not strained. In the conception +there is an utter want of novelty +of circumstance. The whole picture +is deficient in originality. The eye +wanders over it, seeking some feature +of special interest or striking beauty +whereon to dwell, and finds none. +Mr Pickersgill has good qualities, +but the spark of fancy and genius +which alone can complete the great +painter, is, we fear, wanting in his +composition.</p> + +<p>We turn with pleasure to Leslie's +pictures. Were we disposed to find +fault with this very agreeable artist, +our objections could only be technical. +With want of imagination, and feeling +for beauty, none can tax him. Two +of his three pictures contain the sweetest +female faces in this exhibition. +How admirably has he interpreted +Shakspeare's description of Beatrice +stealing to the woodbine bower, to +play the eavesdropper on Hero and +Ursula.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Look where Beatrice, like a lapwing, runs<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Close by the ground."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noind">The painter has exactly rendered the +poet's graceful idea. As she glides +along, we seem to detect the slight flutter +and palpitation attendant on the +clandestine movement. Expression +and attitude are alike charming. Sophia +Western deserves even higher praise. +She is indeed a lovely creature. Tom +Jones bids her behold herself in the +mirror, and say whether such a face and +form do not guarantee his fidelity. It is +altogether a most agreeable composition; +and if we have any fault to find, +it is with the face of the enamoured +foundling, which wants refinement, and +has a sort of overgrown schoolboy's +ruddy fulness. Katherine of Arragon +beseeching Capucius to convey to +Henry VIII. her last recommendation +of her daughter and servants to his +goodness, is the most important of Mr +Leslie's pictures; and although by +many it will not be deemed the most +attractive, none can deny it great merit +and interest. The suffering countenance +of Katherine, and the tearful +faces of her attendants, are full of +expression. The ambassador is rather +tame, and one scarcely recognises in +his face or bearing the energy with +which he vows to do the bidding of the +unhappy queen.</p> + +<p>Mr Eastlake has one scriptural and +one historical picture in this year's +exhibition. A passage from Sismondi, +telling the escape of an +Italian noble and his wife from +the persecution of the Duke of +Milan, has suggested the latter, +which is painted for the Vernon Gallery. +There is some good expression +in the faces in this picture, which has +more interest and novelty than its +companion <em>The Good Samaritan</em>, and +also greater vigour. Both show the +hand of the experienced and skilful +artist, although perhaps neither can +be classed amongst the best things he +has produced. We should gladly see +a little more nerve in Mr Eastlake's +style, and this we think might be +advantageously combined with his +beautiful transparency of colouring, +and other excellent qualities as a +painter. There is no diminution in the +purity of style and thought which has +always been one of his finest characteristics.</p> + +<p>Mr Frith is an improving artist. +There is humour and progress in No. +543, a scene from Goldsmith's <em>Good-natured +Man</em>. <em>Mr Honeywood introduces +the bailiffs to Miss Richland as +his friends.</em> He must beware, however, +of running into caricature in +subjects of this kind. The bailiffs +are perhaps a little overdone. Miss +Richland has a very pretty face, but +she looks more like a <em>soubrette</em> or +smart actress than a woman of fashion. +Mr Frith's other picture, Sancho +proving to the duchess that Don +Quixote is at the bottom of the table,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +is well painted, and, in a technical +point of view, it must be spoken of +with respect. He has not been quite so +successful as we should have expected +in the expression of the faces,—that +of the duke excepted, which is a good +and thoroughly Spanish countenance, +with its habitual gravity disturbed by +Sancho's quaint humour and his +master's manifest distress. But painting +ladies is not Mr Frith's forte. +His duchess is pretty, but there is a +want of aristocratic distinction in her +face and bearing; and as to the ladies +grouped behind her chair, they are +cookmaids in masquerade. Very few +living artists, besides Leslie, should +venture upon Sancho. We will not +say that Mr Frith is not one of those +few, but his delineation of the shrewd +esquire, although very humorous, is +rather coarse, and he has made him +ragged and filthy to an unnecessary +degree. The vexation and embarrassment +of Don Quixote are ludicrously +portrayed.</p> + +<p>Four very small, very unpretending +pictures by Thomas Webster, R.A., +must be sought for, but, when found, +cannot fail to be admired. They are +a feature, and a very charming one, +of this year's Exhibition. High finish +and truth to nature are their chief +characteristics. Mr Webster is getting +quite into the Ostade manner. +His colouring, too, is admirable. No. +54 is a boy in a chimney corner, +supping pottage, with an old woman +knitting opposite to him. Both faces +are excellent, and full of character. +<em>A Cherry Seller</em> is a perfect <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bijou</i>—the +woman weighing out the fruit; the +boys, looking on with eager eyes and +watering mouths; the fruit itself, with +its Dutch nicety of finish:—altogether +it is a most desirable picture, such as +one can hardly pass, even for the +twentieth time, without pausing for +another view. <em>A Peasant's Home</em> is +upon the whole too gray, and perhaps +the least attractive of the four; but in +the <em>Farmhouse Kitchen</em> are a couple of +figures, a farmer and his dame, than +which nothing can be better, either +in colour or expression. Mr Webster +shows great taste and judgment in +adhering to a pleasing simplicity, +without ever falling into quaintness +or affectation. And it is a study for +a young artist to observe the skill +with which he throws his lights, and +the transparency and absence of +<em>paintyness</em> (to borrow a term from the +studio) which characterise his pictures.</p> + +<p>Mr Solomon Hart's <em>Kitchen Interior +at Mayfield</em> will not do after Webster. +This, however, is one of the least +important of his six pictures, which +comprise two other interiors, two +heads, and a Jewish festival. This +last is perhaps the best picture he has +painted. The MSS. of the Pentateuch +are being carried round the synagogue +at Leghorn, amidst chanting +of hymns. There is a strong devotional +character in many of the faces; +and, as a work of art, the picture is +more than respectable. The interest +of the subject is a question of taste. +For us, we confess, it possesses very +little attraction; and the Jewish physiognomy, +so strongly marked as it is +in all the occupants of the synagogue, +is, to our thinking, incompatible with +beauty. We do not much admire +either <em>A Virtuoso or Arnolfo di Lapo</em>. +The latter is the best of the two: the +former, carefully painted, is merely an +ordinary-looking Jew.</p> + +<p>What can we say of Mr Turner? +Perhaps we had better content ourselves +with mentioning that he has +four pictures in the Exhibition, all in +his latest manner, all illustrative of +that far-famed, but, unfortunately, +unpublished poem, <em>The Fallacies of +Hope</em>, and all proving the fallacy of +the hope we annually cherish that he +will abjure his eccentricities, and revert +to the style which justly gained +him his high reputation. It were absurd +of us to attempt to criticise his +present productions, for to us they are +unintelligible; and, judging from the +extremely puzzled looks we see fixed +upon them, we suspect that not many +of those who pause for their examination +are more successful than ourselves +in deciphering their meaning, +and in appreciating the beauties which +a few stanch adherents pretend to discover +in those strange compounds of +red, white, and yellow. What if Mr +Turner were to seek his inspirations +elsewhere than in the aforesaid MS.? +Can it be that the poet's halting verse +influences the painter's vagaries? From +the specimens afforded us, we are not +inclined to think highly of <em>The Fallacies of Hope</em>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> + Take the following, <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">exempli +gratiâ</i>:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Beneath the morning mist<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Mercury waited to tell him of his neglected fleet."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noind">And this—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Fallacious Hope beneath the moon's pale crescent shone,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Dido listened to Troy being lost and won."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Enough of such poetry, and enough, +as far as we are concerned, of a great +painter's unfortunate aberrations.</p> + +<p>Apropos of aberrations, we have a +word to say, which may as well be +said here as elsewhere. Affectation, +however, is a more suitable word for +the mountebank proceedings of a +small number of artists, who, stimulated +by their own conceit, and +by the applause of a few foolish persons, +are endeavouring to set up a +school of their own. We allude, +to the pre-Raphaelites. Let not +Messrs Millais, Hunt, Rosetti, & +Co. suppose, because we give them +an early place in this imperfect review +of the exhibitions, that we concede to +them an undue importance. As to +admiration, we shall presently make +them aware how far we entertain that +feeling towards them. Meanwhile, let +them not plume themselves on a place +amongst men of genius. Just as well +might they experience an exaltation +of their horns, because their absurd and +pretentious productions get casually +hung next to pictures by Landseer or +Webster. It appears they have got +into their wise heads certain notions +that the ideal of expression is to be +found in the works of the artists who +flourished previously to Raphael. And +they have accordingly set to work to +imitate those early masters, not only +in the earnestness of purpose visible +in their productions, but in their errors, +crudities, and imperfections—renouncing, +in fact, the progress that since +then has been made; rejecting the experience +of centuries, to revert for +models, not to art in its prime, but to +art in its uncultivated infancy. And a +nice business they make of it. Regardless +of anatomy and drawing, +they delight in ugliness and revel in +diseased aspects. Mr Dante Rosetti, +one of the high-priests of this retrograde +school, exhibits at the Portland +Gallery. Messrs Millais and Hunt +favour the saloons of the Academy. +Ricketty children, emaciation and +deformity constitute their chief stock +in trade. They apparently select bad +models, and then exaggerate their +badness till it is out of all nature. We +can hardly imagine anything more +ugly, graceless, and unpleasant than +Mr Millais' picture of Christ in the +carpenter's shop. Such a collection +of splay feet, puffed joints, and misshapen +limbs was assuredly never before +made within so small a compass. +We have great difficulty in believing +a report that this unpleasing and +atrociously affected picture has found +a purchaser at a high price. Another +specimen, from the same brush, inspires +rather laughter than disgust. A Ferdinand +of most ignoble physiognomy +is being lured by a pea-green monster +intended for Ariel; whilst a row of +sprites, such as it takes a Millais to +devise, watch the operation with turquoise +eyes. It would occupy more +room than the thing is worth to expose +all the absurdity and impertinence +of this work. Mr Hunt's picture +of a Christian Missionary sheltered +from Druid pursuit is in as ridiculous +taste as any of the group.</p> + +<p>From such monstrosities it is a +relief to turn to Mr Frank Stone's +graceful creations. He also has taken +a subject from the second scene in the +<em>Tempest</em>, No. 342, Miranda's first +sight of Ferdinand. Compared with +Mr Millais' Ferdinand, that of Mr +Stone is a demigod. Estimated by its +intrinsic merits, it strikes us as a little +theatrical—rather too much of the +stage-player in the air and attitude. +Miranda has a sweet and youthful +face; Prospero is too young, and does +not look his part. This is not one of +Mr Stone's happiest efforts, but it is +a nice picture, and we prefer it to his +other in the same exhibition, <em>The +Gardener's Daughter</em>, a young lady +attitudinising under a rose-tree, with +a pair of admiring swains in the distance. +This artist is too apt to give +his male lovers a sickly look, as if their +love disagreed with them. The best +picture he has shown this year is one +in the British Institution—<em>Sympathy</em>—two +very pretty maidens, with an +expression of pleasing sentiment in +their faces. Barring a little occasional +mannerism, Mr Stone is a very delightful +painter; and in our opinion,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +if he had had his deserts, he would +some time since have been a member +of the Academy. Were it not invidious, +we could cite a few, who write +<em>Associate</em> after their names, who have +less claim than he has to that honorary +distinction. Mr Stone has a great +deal of fancy, a fine feeling for the +beautiful, and we are indebted to him +for many charming compositions and +lovely female faces. And certainly +if popularity be a test of merit, which +we admit is not always the case, he +ought years ago to have figured in the +list of Academicians.</p> + +<p>That very conscientious and careful +artist, Mr Charles Landseer, has +a pretty and well-painted <em>Girl in a +Hop-garden</em>, and a larger and still +better picture—perhaps the best he +has for some years produced—of +<em>Æsop</em>, surrounded by several of the +animals celebrated in his fables. +There is a great deal of quiet humour +and nice finish in this picture: the +figure and face of the hump-backed +fabulist, and those of a girl, who +seems admiringly to listen to his allegorical +wisdom, are exceedingly +good. Mr Dyce has only one picture, +and really that had been as well +away. An ugly Jacob is protruding +his lips to kiss a vulgar Rachel. +The colouring is hard and bad, and +there is a pervading gray tint +which is not natural. We hope Mr +Dyce, R.A., can do better things +than this. We prefer Mr Cope's +<em>King Lear</em>, which has considerable +merit. There is fine expression in +the old monarch's head. Cordelia +pleases us less; and perhaps, upon the +whole, the best figures in the picture +are those of the musicians and singers. +There is a something in this painting +that reminds us of Maclise. Of Mr +Cope's other pictures, <em>Milton's Dream</em> +has a nice tone of colour; and the +two sketches for fresco of Prince +Henry's submission to Judge Gascoigne, +and the Black Prince receiving +the order of the Garter, are spirited +and good. Mr Redgrave's +principal picture is No. 233. <em>The +Marquis having chosen patient Griselda +for his wife, causes the court +ladies to dress her in her father's cottage.</em> +Griselda has a pretty face, and +sits in an easy, graceful attitude: the +ladies are coarse, and the expression +of scorn upon their countenances is +theatrical and affected. The heads of +some of them are too big, and out of +proportion with their bodies. <em>The +Child's Prayer</em>, by the same artist, is +a pleasing picture; well painted, particularly +the woman's head and hand, +which latter has a look of Rubens. +Mr E. M. Ward has two pictures of +very different subjects. <em>Isaac Walton +Angling</em> hardly claims any particular +notice; <em>James II. receiving the News +of the Landing of the Prince of Orange +in 1688</em>, has more pretension and +greater merit. It certainly contains +good painting: the grouping of the +figures and the expression of some of +the faces are also praiseworthy; but +yet it hardly satisfies us. The queen's +face and attitude, as she advances, +already sympathising with the agitation +visible on his countenance, to +her husband's side, are very charming. +James's physiognomy is almost too +much discomposed to accord with the +passage from Dalrymple quoted by +Mr Ward. And it strikes us, although +this may seem hypercritical, +that there is something ludicrous in +the eternal suspension in the air of +the letter that he has just allowed +to escape from his fingers. Upon the +whole, however, this is a clever picture, +and, as far as we had opportunity +of observing, it attracts a very +full share of public attention; although +that is no criterion of merit, so +large a proportion of the loungers +through an exhibition being more +readily attracted by a piquant subject +than by artistical skill. And +probably no subjects are more generally +popular than those that may be +styled the homely-historical; scenes in +the private apartments of royalty; the +personal adventures and perils of +princes, whether in the palace or the +prison—on the steps of the throne or +the verge of the scaffold. There is a +fair sprinkling of such pictures in the +four exhibitions now under notice; and +as we have no pretension to be otherwise +than exceedingly desultory in +this article, whose limits, and the +heterogeneous subject, preclude our +being otherwise, we will at once dispose +of such of them as deserve notice, +and have not already received +it, commencing, in order of catalogue, +with Delaroche's picture of <em>Cromwell</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +<em>looking at the dead body of Charles I.</em> +This is a picture concerning which the +most conflicting opinions have been +uttered. It has received fulsome +praise and unwarranted abuse. Some +have lauded it as perfection merely +because it is by Paul Delaroche; +others have decried it with a virulence +and injustice warranting the +suspicion that some envious brother +of the brush had temporarily abandoned +the palette for the pen, and +applied himself to slander merit he +himself was hopeless of equalling. +We are aware but of two valid objections +that can fairly be made to the +picture. The subject is certainly +ghastly and horrid; but, on the other +hand, it has been rendered as little so +as possible by the consummate skill +and good taste of its treatment. And +none, we think, but the very fastidious, +will dwell upon this point. The +other objection (technical only) is to +the coppery tone of colouring of certain +parts of the picture, particularly +of the flesh. This premised, we are +aware of little else that can fairly be +alleged against this very fine picture. +The countenance of Cromwell certainly +does not agree with the most +authentic portraits that have been +handed down to us, or with the +written and traditional accounts of +his features. The artist has idealised +his hero—has abridged his nose, increased +his under jaw, and thrown +nearly the whole expression of the +face into and around the mouth. M. +Delaroche having taken such liberties, +we ought to be particularly +grateful to him that he has not gone +farther, and, in aiming at a great +effect, fallen into exaggeration. Out +of twenty French artists, nineteen, +we suspect, would have given us, +with the strong and dangerous temptation +of so striking a subject, an +unpleasant caricature. It has been +objected that the face is deficient in +character and expression, and would +perfectly suit any one of Cromwell's +Ironsides, who through curiosity +should have lifted the lid of the +deceased monarch's coffin. It is, to +our thinking, an evidence of skill on +the part of the painter thus to have +left the expression doubtful—a matter +of speculation to the beholder. +We interpret it as merely meditative. +Any emotion it includes is one of +exultation at the great and important +step the Usurper has made in his upward +progress. Of pity or remorse +there is no trace.</p> + +<p>The next picture in the Exhibition +of the Academy, of the class at present +under notice, that particularly +caught our eye, is No. 491, <em>The +Burial of the two sons of Edward IV. +in the Tower</em>, by Mr Cross, whose +painting of Richard Cœur-de-Lion, +exhibited at Westminster Hall, will +be remembered by many of our +readers. The present picture does +not redeem the promise of its predecessor. +It has a washy, fresco-like +look, and a great want of light and +shade, which is the more striking because +the subject is one particularly +favourable to the display of a Rembrandt-like +vigour in that respect. The +arrangement of the dead bodies is +very bad, and they have an emaciated +look which was quite uncalled for. +On the other hand, the faces of two +of the murderers, (one sustains the +stone beneath which the grave is dug, +and the other grasps the arm of one +of the children,) and that of the +turnkey, are very expressive. The +chief of the gang and the grave-digger +are rather strained and theatrical. +Upon the whole, the picture disappoints +us much. A report, however, +has reached us, that it was +painted under the disadvantage of ill +health, so we will hope that Mr +Cross may yet do better things. +No. 569, <em>The Abdication of Mary +Queen of Scots at Lochleven Castle</em>, by +J. Severn, is a very tame affair. +And we do not greatly admire Mr +Lucy's <em>Parting of Charles I. with his +Children</em>. The subject has been better +treated before. But we delight +in Mr Joy's conception of Cromwell +coveting, and yet daring not to +grasp, the crown of England. A +bilious misanthrope, with flabby +cheeks and lacklustre eye, is seated +beside a table on which stands the +crown, whose covering he has partly +withdrawn. The notion is amusingly +matter-of-fact. Does Mr Joy really +suppose that such a man as Cromwell +could find enjoyment in the deliberate +physical contemplation of the +jewelled bauble—the substantial +crown—the mere emblem of the dignity<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +and sway for which he thirsted? +We cannot compliment this artist on +either the conceit or the execution. +We prefer his picture in the British +Institution, although that is not very +remarkable. The subject is the interview +between James IV. of Scotland +and the outlaw Murray on the +banks of Yarrow. In this Exhibition +we find another Cromwell, of a +very different cast from the one just +referred to. The Lord Protector of +England dictates to John Milton his +celebrated despatch in favour of the +persecuted Piedmontese Protestants. +Here there is a fire and energy mingled +with the coarseness of Cromwell's +physiognomy, which gives the +character of the man as we read of him +and believe him to have been. Milton's +face wears a look of gentle enthusiasm +and approval, as he admiringly +weighs the words that fall from +the lips of his great patron. In his +eyes there is a sort of haziness that +seems to foreshadow the darkness +which later is to come over him. The +picture does great credit to a very +rising artist, Mr F. Newenham, who +also exhibits a painting at the Portland +Gallery, which we like quite +as well as his Cromwell. The subject, +<em>The Princes in the Tower</em>, is not +a very new one, but there is imagination +and novelty in its treatment. +It is just the same point of time that +Delaroche has chosen in his painting +of this subject, but there is nothing +like an imitation of the great Frenchman. +Here the younger child still +sleeps, whilst the elder, a princely-looking +lad, roused by the noise at +the door, gazes anxiously, rather than +fearfully, at the shadow cast upon the +wall by a hand bearing a lantern. +The picture is suggestive and interesting, +and in an artistic point of view, +also, it merits high praise. In this +Portland Gallery (which we may +observe, by the way, is most excellently +constructed and lighted for the +advantageous exhibition of works of +art) is a painting by Mr Claxton, +<em>Marie Antoinette with her Children, escaping +by the Secret Door from her +apartment in Versailles, when the +palace was attached by the mob</em>, which +we mention rather on account of the +interest of the subject than of its merits +as a work of art, these being but of a +negative description. Marie Antoinette, +dressed rather like a fashionable +of the year 1850, is accompanied +by a terrified lady, who looks back at +the door, half-masked by smoke, +through whose broken pannel the +bayonets of the rebels cross with those +of the loyal grenadiers. Another +picture from French history, but selected +from a much remoter period, is +that of <em>The Excommunication of Robert, +King of France, and his Queen +Bertha</em>, (No. 159 in the Portland +Gallery.) which Mr Desanges has +executed with some skill. The king, +having married his cousin in defiance +of the Pope, but with the sanction of +three prelates of his kingdom, incurs +the pontifical anathema, in common +with the prelates and royal family. +In the picture, the fiat has just been +pronounced, and the extinction of +their torches by the officiating priests +symbolically completes their mission.</p> + +<p>This is not one of Mr Clarkson +Stanfield's best years. We prefer +this careful and able artist on a grander +scale than that of the comparatively +small pictures he this year exhibits. +Nor do we think he has been particularly +happy in his choice of subjects. +His scene from Macbeth, +viewed as a landscape—for we do not +take into account the figures, which +are insignificant, and might as well +have been left out—is a good picture, +but not in his happiest taste. We +prefer his <em>Scene on the Maas</em>, and his +<em>Bay of Baiæ</em>, which are both excellent. +No. 288, <em>Near Foria</em>, is not a +very good subject. But Mr Stanfield +is a pleasant, natural painter, quite +free from affectation, and a most excellent +representative of the English +school. Mr Roberts is another favourite +of ours. Belgium and the East, +Egyptian temples and Catholic +shrines, furnish subjects for his seven +pictures. What we particularly like +in him is the strong impression of +correctness and fidelity conveyed by +his representations of distant scenes. +Without having seen the places, one +feels convinced of the accuracy of his +delineations, and that he gives the +real effect of the objects depicted—just +as, in certain portraits, one feels +certain of the resemblance without +knowing the original. The subjects<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +of his pictures this year do not demand +any detailed criticism, and his +good qualities are so universally appreciated +as to render general commendation +superfluous.</p> + +<p>Before passing on to landscapes +and portraits we will glance at a few +pictures of various classes, which +happen to have attracted our attention, +and which deserve better or +worse than to be left unnoticed. +Diving into the gloom of the Octagon, +we are struck by the very remarkable +merit of two pictures, which ought +never to have been placed there. +Only by kneeling or sitting upon the +ground is it possible to examine Mr +Van Schendel's poacher detected, +No. 633, <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">Un Braconnier au moment +qu'on vient le prendre</i>. Of ordinary +visitors to the Exhibition, not one in +five will notice the existence of the +picture—not one in twenty, probably, +will go through the painful contortions +requisite to get even a bad view +of it. Very few, if any, critics will +have sought it out or written a comment +on it. Yet this is a picture on +which greater talent and labour have +been expended than on dozens that +hang in conspicuous places and good +lights. A dark picture, too—a night +scene—it required a strong light; and +it was most unjust to put it thus in +the very darkest nook, and in the +lowest range of the whole Academy. +For hospitality's sake to a foreigner, +this excellent painting should have +been differently placed. The only +other picture which we noticed in +the Octagon—there may be others of +great merit, but we never have patience +to linger long in the gloomy +closet—is No. 586, <i>Flowers and Fruit</i>, +by T. Groenland—an artist far superior +to Lance, who seems to us to fall +off instead of improving. Fruit and +flower pieces are things that few +people care much to look at—and, for +our part, we confess that we seldom +afford them more than a very cursory +glance; but our attention was seriously +and pleasingly arrested by both +of those exhibited this year by Mr +Groenland, remarkable, as they are, +not only for the accuracy with which +he imitates the texture of the different +fruits—whether pulpiness, bloom, +or transparency be their chief characteristic—and +for the admirable delicacy +of his flower-painting, but also +for his skill in elevating and giving +interest to the walk of art he has +chosen. This is strikingly the case in +No. 1254, apropos of which we have +another piece of injustice or carelessness—let +them call it which they like—to +notice on the part of the Hanging +Committee. Of all the seven +rooms of the Academy, not one is so +little visited as that which, in the catalogue, +is headed Architecture. Accordingly, +the hangmen have placed at +one end of it five as pleasing pictures—each +in its own style—as any in +the Exhibition. Here we have the +<em>Vierge Route du Simplon</em>, a charming +airy landscape by Harding; +<em>Esther</em>, by O'Neil, one of the best, +perhaps, he ever did; <em>The Port of +Marseilles</em>, by E. W. Cooke, very +like and very well painted, with excellent +water; <em>A Winter Evening</em>, by +H. Horsley, a most clever piece of +snow scenery, with a cold look that +makes one shiver, and a capital effect +of setting sun through an archway; +and, last in our enumeration, but +not in merit, Mr Groenland's second +fruit and flower piece, with a landscape +background, a gorgeous and +life-like peacock, a flush of rhododendrons, +and painstaking and talent in +every leaf and flower. Another picture +in the same vicinity, by W. +Fisher, <em>The Coulin</em>, a subject taken +from Moore's melodies, is rather affected, +but by no means destitute of +merit.</p> + +<p>Mr Martin's picture, <em>The Last Man</em>, +is far from one of his best. The subject +is unpleasing, and there is a decided +fault of perspective; the human +corpses and carcasses of strange beasts, +in the foreground, being much too +small in proportion with the figure of +the man, who stands on an elevation +which is doubtless intended to be +much in advance of, but which in +reality is almost on a line with, the +spot where they are spread pellmell +in grisly confusion. Mr Hannah's +<em>Lady Northumberland and Lady Percy +dissuading the Earl from joining the +wars against Henry IV.</em> is oddly +coloured, and acquires a cold, insipid +look from the profusion of blue and +gray; but it is a good and clever picture. +A similar class of subject has +been selected by Mr T. J. Barker,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +from Professor Aytoun's ballad of +<em>Edinburgh after Flodden</em>. Randolph +Murray, bearing news of the defeat, is +the centre of a throng anxious even +to agony.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Why art thou alone, unfollowed?<br /></span> +<span class="i3">Is it weal, or is it woe?"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noind">Perched up as this picture is +above the door in the West Room, +it is difficult to arrive at a correct +appreciation of it. As far as we +could distinguish, it is not without +merit, and the expression of exhaustion +in the figure of Murray is +pretty well rendered; but altogether +it is hardly worthy of the nervous and +admirable verse it is intended to illustrate. +Mr Armitage's <em>Aholibah</em> has a +good deal of pretension, but we cannot +compliment him on it in any one +respect. In the first place the subject +is disgusting, and shows wretched +taste in the artist who would select it. +Then the face of Aholibah is ugly and +repulsive, and the expression coarse in +the extreme: the drawing of the +limbs under the drapery is faulty, and +the gazelles are out of place and out +of perspective. Mr Armitage can do +better than this. We prefer his picture +in the Portland Gallery, of Samson +tying firebrands to the foxes' tails +for the destruction of the Philistine +crops; although the face is a great +deal too black, and we cannot understand +why Samson should allow a +fox to bite into the muscle of his +thigh, as one of those in his grasp appears +to do. Why does Mr Armitage +persist in his French style of painting? +It is quite a mistake. Let him +be natural, and rely upon his own +taste and judgment, and we think he +may do better things.</p> + +<p>Mr Hook's <em>Dream of Venice</em>, a +clever imitation of Paul Veronese, is +a very pleasant picture. Mr F. Williams' +<em>Holy Maiden</em> is a pretty head, +full of sentiment. We are glad to see +such good promise given by Mr Leslie, +junior, in a very humorous picture +entitled <em>A Sailor's Yarn</em>. A thoroughbred +and unmistakeable Cockney +greedily listens to some astounding +narrative, whilst, behind the credulous +landsman, a second sailor grins admiration +of his messmate, and contempt +for the "green hand." <em>The Young +Student</em>, by W. Gush, is a very nice +picture of a youthful painter, with an +artist's eye and a pleasing Vandykish +contour of face, and with carefully +painted hands. One of the most +comical pictures in the Exhibition is a +wild boar by Wolf. The bristly +forest-ranger is making its way +through the deep snow, leaving a long +furrow behind it, along which it has +apparently been nuzzling for provender, +for its snout is garnished with +the snow, which, combined with the +sudden fore-shortening of the body, +produces a ludicrous effect. No. 121, +<em>Autumn—Wounded Woodcock</em>, from +the same hand, has mellow and natural +tints.</p> + +<p>We have kept back, almost to the +last, one of our chief favourites in the +Exhibition of the Royal Academy. +Mr Sidney Cooper is in great force +this year. He has six pictures; +four of them all his own, two painted +in conjunction with Mr F. R. Lee, +R.A. With all respect for this artist, +to whose landscapes we shall refer in +their place, we prefer Cooper alone +to Cooper in partnership. The two +styles do not blend well, nor does +Lee put his best landscapes into +Cooper's cattle-pieces. Take the first +of their pictures—No. 23—<em>Cattle crossing +a Ford</em>. As a whole it is agreeable—and +the cattle, we need hardly say, +are worthy of the best English cattle-painter +of the day; but the landscape +is feeble. In No. 298, <em>The Watering-place</em>, +the rather heavy paint of the +foliage gives a thin washy look to the +foreground. We advise Messrs Lee +and Cooper to hang their pictures +side by side, if they will, as excellent +specimens of their respective walks +of art, but not to associate themselves +on the same canvass. People find +fault with the landscape part of +Cooper's pictures; but it is in good +keeping with the rest, and moreover +he improves in that respect, as in +others. We will instance No. 278, +<em>A Mountain Group—Evening</em>, some +charming goats, where the background, +bathed in soft light, harmonises +admirably with the more +prominent parts of the picture. No. +454, <em>A Group on the Welsh Mountains</em>, +is most delicately finished, quite a +gem; and <em>Fordwick Meadows—Sunset</em>, +in a somewhat broader style, is equally +excellent. Mr Cooper's is a class of art<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +which strongly appeals to the domestic +and rural tastes of Englishmen. He +excels in it, and need fear no competitors, +although several artists this +year exhibit cattle-landscapes of some +merit. And here we should perhaps +say a word about Mr Ansdell, who +has put some Brobdignagian sheep +into a landscape by Mr Creswick, +(British Institution, No. 123, <em>Southdowns</em>,) +and who has rather a pretty +thing in the same exhibition—No. 40, +<em>The Regretted Companion</em>—an old +hawker perplexed and mournful +beside the body of his dead ass. We +would gladly see this artist cease to +imitate Landseer. He sacrifices his +originality without succeeding in +catching the best points of his model.</p> + +<p>Nos. 80, 405, 407 in the catalogue +of the Academy, are Mr Lee's landscapes—uncombined +with Cooper's +cattle. The second, <em>A Calm Morning</em>, +is the one we prefer; and a very +charming picture of repose it is. Mr +Creswick is the next upon our list. +His cold unnatural grayness of +colouring greatly detracts from the +merit of his pictures. We are quite +aware that the same reproach has +been repeatedly addressed to him, +and we should hardly have referred +to a fault which hitherto he has +either obstinately clung to, or been +unable to correct, did not one of his +pictures in the Academy this year +give us hopes that he is on the verge +of a change. No. 542, <em>A Forest Farm</em>, +is the best picture of Creswick's, in +point of colouring, that we remember +to have seen. The <em>slaty</em> look is +replaced by an agreeable transparency. +No. 289, <em>In the Forest</em>, is also warmer +than usual. The others are in the +old style. Mr Linnell is more to our +taste, although we cannot approve his +<em>Christ and the Woman of Samaria +at Jacob's Well</em>. In the first place the +colour seems unnatural, altogether +too brown; at the same time it is +just possible nature may assume that +extraordinarily russet tint in Samaria—a +country to which our travels +have not extended. But we can +more confidently object to the +figure of the Saviour as altogether +unpleasant, with a harsh darkly-bearded +face, devoid alike of resemblance +to the received type, and of +any divine expression whatever. +Mr Linnell is a landscape-painter, +and should not attempt sacred subjects +or portraits, things which are quite +out of his line. No. 395, <em>Crossing +the Brook</em>, is of a better tone of +colour; and the same artist has two +other pictures, of about his usual +average of merit, in the British +Institution. The chief fault with +which we tax Mr Linnell, (whilst freely +admitting his great talent,) and one +which may also be imputed to Mr +Creswick, and to other clever landscape-painters +of the present day, is +the undeviating smallness of their +touch, which gives, to use a colloquialism, +a niggled look to their +pictures. Hobbima, and Ruysdael, +and others of that class—in whose +footsteps we presume no living +landscape-painter is too proud to +tread—avoided this fault, and proportioned +the fulness of their touch +to the size of their picture. We +may select an example of what we +mean from the works of an able and +industrious artist, who figures advantageously +this year in all four exhibitions, +and who, in most instances, is +very free from the defect we refer +to. Mr Sidney Percy's <em>Woodland +River</em>, No. 207, in the Portland +Gallery, is a good picture, but to +our thinking the touch is too small +for the size. Mr Percy, however, +is a man of talent and a rising +painter. In the same gallery we +call attention, as to one of the best +landscapes exhibited this year, to his +No. 277, <em>Welsh Mountains</em>. There is +an effect of aërial perspective in this +picture, especially in the grass valley, +on the spectator's left hand, which +deserves the very highest praise. +Several others of his eighteen pictures +for 1850 deserve much commendation; +but we can only point out +No. 576, in the Academy, <em>A Limpid +Pool</em>, and 394, <em>A Quiet Vale</em>, in +the British Artists'. The water in +the last is very good,—otherwise it is +hardly one of his best. We would +have Mr Percy to beware of hardness +of treatment, the fault to which he is +most prone. His lines are apt to be +too sharply defined, especially his +distant outlines. He should guard +himself against this defect, and with +care he may expect to attain great +eminence as a landscape-painter. If<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +we mistake not, he is one of a talented +family, which also comprises Messrs +Boddington and Gilbert, and several +artists of the name of Williams, all +of whom, we believe, devote themselves +chiefly, if not exclusively, to +landscape-painting, and either by +identity of name or affinity of style, +form a most puzzling group for conscientious +critics, desirous, like ourselves, +to sort their works and fairly +distribute praise. We can mention +but a few of their pictures, taken, +nearly at random, from amongst a +number we have marked as of merit +or promise. In the Academy, 344, +<em>A Valley Lane</em>, by A. W. Williams, +is a charming subject, excellently +treated. In the Portland Gallery, +where many good landscapes are to +be found, most of them by this +family, we were particularly attracted +by No. 41, <em>Noon</em>, also by A. W. +Williams, and by No. 65, <em>Medmenham +Abbey—Evening</em>, by G. A. +Williams. No. 161, <em>A Showery Afternoon +in Sussex</em>, by A. Gilbert, is +remarkable as an example of the +admirable effect he knows how to +produce by the judicious and little-understood +application of the various +gradations between opacity and perfect +transparency of colour. Mr +Boddington has two nice pictures in +the Academy.</p> + +<p>We cannot compliment Mr F. +Danby on either of the two specimens +of his art that he this year displays. +We find it impossible to comprehend +his colouring. That of <em>A Golden +Moment</em> (British Institution) is surely +unnatural. Certainly it is a very rare +effect of sunset; and the background is +too bright to be consistent with the +sombre foreground. If we turn to his +picture in the Academy, <em>Spring</em>, we +are no better pleased. That sort of +dusky glow is quite an exaggeration +of nature. Of Mr Witherington's +four pictures, we prefer <em>Coniston +Lake</em> and <em>The Mountain Road</em>. Mr +Hering's <em>Porto Fesano</em> (British Institution) +is a pleasing picture, and +improves on examination; and there +is a great deal of light and some +pretty colour in the same artist's +<em>Ruins of Rome</em> in the Academy. Mr +J. Peel has rather a pretty <em>Canal view</em> +in the Portland Gallery, in which, +oddly enough, he has thrown the shadow +of a tree the wrong way; and +in the same exhibition Mrs Oliver +has a bit of Welsh scenery which +is pretty in spite of its finical touch. +Of Mr Linton, who has pictures both +in the Academy and British Institution, +we cannot but speak with respect, +recognising the ability of his +works, the study they evince, and his +close observation of the aspect of +places. But they are quite for distant +effect; on near approach they look +rough and granitic, and are not a very +pleasing or popular class of pictures.</p> + +<p>We beg Mr Boxall not to think +we have forgotten him. We were +desirous to commence the brief paragraph +we can afford to portraits, by +praising his <em>Geraldine</em>, an undraped +fancy portrait, which shows a capital +feeling for colour, and is perhaps the +best specimen of flesh-painting in the +Exhibition. It wants finish; but +even without that it is nearly the first +thing that attracts the eye when we +glance at that side of the Middle Room. +There is good colour also in the same +artist's portrait of Mr Cubitt.</p> + +<p>Proceeding, with this exception, in +numerical rotation, we notice No. 6, +<em>The Hon. Caroline Dawson</em>, by +Dubufe. The arms are rather flat, +but it is a nice portrait, well painted, +and infinitely superior to the same +artist's picture in the British Institution—a +French grisette with a Jewish +face and an ugly mouth, holding a +rose; the motto "Wither one rose +and let the other flourish,"—a poor +conceit and very indifferently executed. +No. 52 is Mr Francis Grant's, +the first, but not the best, of seven +which he exhibits. Mr Grant is getting +very careless. Such hands and +clothes as he gives his sitters are really +not allowable. The only carefully +finished portrait he exhibits this year +is that of Lady Elizabeth Wells, after +which that of Miss Grant is perhaps +the best. The Countess Bruce has +an odd sort of resemblance, in the +attitude or something, to the same +painter's picture of Mr Sidney Herbert. +The Duke of Devonshire looks vulgar. +Viscount Hardinge is feeble, for Grant, +who can do so much better. We urge +this artist to take a little more pains, +or his high reputation will dwindle. +His portrait of Sir George Grey, now +on view at Colnaghi's, is another<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +example of carelessness. The face is +the only finished part. Mr Watson +Gordon understands the portrait-painter's +vocation after a different +fashion, and is most conscientious in +his practice. Apart from their striking +resemblance, his portraits are +admirable as carefully finished works +of art. His sitters this year have +been, upon the whole, less suited to +make interesting or pleasing pictures +than several of the persons who have +sat to Mr Grant; but Watson Gordon +has done his work far more carefully. +Perhaps the best of his three portraits +is that of a lady, No. 137. The child +in the same picture pleases us rather +less. No. 175, Daniel Vere, Esq. of +Stonebyres, is a striking likeness of +that gentleman; and nothing can be +better, in all respects, than the portrait +of the Lord Justice-General of Scotland. +Mr Buckner is, we are sorry to +say, retrograding sadly. He rose +very suddenly into public favour, +and if he does not take care, he +will rapidly decline. His portrait +of Miss Lane Fox is perhaps his +best this year. Rachel is flattered. +Lady Alfred Paget is badly coloured, +and looks in an incipient stage of blue +cholera. We do not like Mr Pickersgill's +portraits this year. For those +who do, there are seven in the Exhibition, +besides an ugly thing called +Nourmahal. Mr G. F. Watts has +painted Miss Virginia Pattle. It is +one of the most affected pictures in +the whole Exhibition. The young +lady is perched on a platform, her +figure standing out against the blue +sky, and her feet completely hidden +under her dress, which latter circumstance +gives her an unsteady +appearance, and inspires dread lest she +should be blown from her elevation. +The flesh is very pasty, and the +general effect of the picture jejune in +the extreme. No. 282, <em>The Duke +of Aumale</em>, is by V. Mottez, and presents +a singular combination or monotony +of colour, the artist having seemingly +carefully avoided all tints that +would give warmth to his picture. +With the exception of the insipidly +fair countenance of the Duke, the +painting is nearly all blue. It is +not a disagreeable picture, and it +perhaps gains on repeated examination; +but one cannot get rid of an +unpleasant impression of coldness. +Placed next to Boxall's Geraldine, the +flesh looks like chalk. That coarse +but clever painter Knight has eight +portraits, including several celebrities +of one kind or other—Buckstone the +comedian, Keate the surgeon, Sir J. +Duke the mayor, Cooper the cattle-painter, +and Mrs Fitzwilliam the +actress. The picture of Sir J. Duke +(who is represented in all the glory of +civic office) is well put together; +Cooper is laughably like; Mrs Fitzwilliam +is perhaps as delicate a female +portrait as Knight ever painted—which +is not saying much for the others. +Mr Say's portrait of Guizot is softened +down and idealised till the character +of the man is lost. In the Portland +Gallery, No. 1 and No. 70 are by +an artist whose historical pictures we +have already commended, Mr Newenham. +The first is a full length, size +of life, of Mr Ross, the engineer; the +other, Mrs Gall, is a sweet female +countenance. Both are very good; +but Mr Newenham is always particularly +successful—indeed we can call to +mind no living painter who is more so—in +his portraits of ladies. Whilst +avoiding flattery, he still invariably +paints pleasing as well as correct likenesses. +Such at least is the case with +all those of his lady-portraits we have +had opportunities of comparing with +the models. Middleton has some nice +portraits in this exhibition, and Mr J. +Lucas shows a pleasing one of a young +lad. And one of the most lifelike and +speaking portraits exhibited this year +is No. 286, by R. S. Lauder, the likeness +of our old friend and much-esteemed +contributor, the Rev. James +White. A more exact resemblance +we never saw.</p> + +<p>We have not counted them, but we +are informed, and have no difficulty in +believing, that there are 450 portraits +(or thereabouts) in this the eighty-second +exhibition of the Royal Academy. +A very large number, out of +1456 works of art. Adding the portraits +in the three other exhibitions, +we attain a total of which, even after +deducting drawings and miniatures, it +is impossible for us to notice one fourth-part. +And we must particularly remark, +with respect to portraits and +landscapes, what also applies in a less +degree to the less numerous classes of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +pictures, that we have unavoidably—on +account of our limited space to +deal with so compendious a subject, +and also because we would not reduce +this article to a mere catalogue—omitted +notice of many artists and +pictures whose claims are undoubted +to mention more or less honourable; +as we have also forborne, for the same +reason, and much more willingly, +certain censures which we should have +been justified in inflicting. Concerning +portraits, however, we would gladly +have been rather more diffuse, had +we not still to take some notice, within +the compass of a very few pages, of +those exhibitions to which as yet we +have done little more than incidentally +refer.</p> + +<p>The restoration to the galleries of +purchasers and studios of painters, of +the five hundred pictures exhibited this +year by the British Institution, diminishes +the interest now attaching to +that exhibition, and induces us to be +tolerably brief in our notice of some of +its leading features. No. 52, <em>The Post +Office</em>, by F. Goodall, is a pretty +picture enough, but displays no genius, +and the subject suggests a comparison +with Wilkie, which is not favourable. +Mr Bullock's <em>Venus and Cupid</em>, No. +124, is about as sickly a piece of blue +and pink as we remember to have seen. +Mr Sant's <em>Rivals</em> gives the impression +of a copy from the lid of a French +plum-box. We have surely seen the +Frenchified group in some engraving +of Louis XV's times. Mr Woolmer's +<em>Syrens</em> displays some imagination, but +the colouring is very bad. The sky is +exaggerated, and the water seems to +have flowed from a cesspool, suggesting +unsavoury ideas of the extent of its +contamination by the dead bodies that +float upon it. It is a picture, nevertheless, +that one is apt to look at +twice. T. Clark's <em>The Horses of +Rhesus captured by Ulysses and +Diomed</em>, has plenty of faults, certainly, +but it has also boldness and spirit, and +makes us think the painter may hereafter +do better things. No. 205, <em>Lance +reproving his Dog</em>—left unfinished by +the late Sir A. W. Callcott, and completed +by J. Callcott Horsley—includes +a pretty bit of landscape, and the dog +is not bad; but, as a whole, the picture +does not strike us as remarkable. No. +231, <em>A French Fishing Girl</em>, by T. K. +Fairless, is a nice bit of colouring, very +fresh and judicious; and R. M'Innes's +<em>Detaining a Customer</em>, tells its story +well, and is of careful finish, but insipid +colouring. Lady Macbeth, by T. F. +Dicksee, is repulsive and unnatural; not +the murderess Shakspeare conceived +and Siddons acted, but a saucer-eyed +maniac standing under a gas-lamp. +No. 290, <em>Our Saviour after the Temptation</em>, +is by Sir George Hayter, who has +bestowed great pains without producing, +as a whole, a very satisfactory +result. The picture has certainly good +points, but it speaks against its general +excellence that we are driven to praise +details. All the hands are particularly +well done—Sir George's experience as +a portrait painter having here availed +him. The colouring of Christ's dress +is good, but generally there is an +abuse of yellow in the picture. The +angels have no backs to their heads, +but this phrenological defect is perhaps +intentional, to convey the artist's +notion of an angel by indicating the +absence of gross passions. G. Cole's +<em>Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in +Pedro's hut</em> is humorous, but quite a +caricature. The painter seems to have +studied to establish a resemblance +between the men and their respective +beasts. Another laughable picture is +Mrs C. Smith's <em>Irish Piper</em>, whose +companion <em>The Irish Card-cutter</em> is +No. 206 in the British Artists'. As +works of art, they have little merit, but +one cannot help acknowledging and +laughing at the vulgar humour and +truth to nature they both contain. +Mr Selous' <em>The First Impression</em>, +Gutemberg showing to his wife his +first experiment in printing from +movable types, is perhaps the best +picture in the South Room. There is +an air of nature about Mr W. Wyld's +<em>Smugglers' halt in the Sierra Morena</em>; +but the figures, although well grouped, +are on too small a scale for much +interest, and the landscape lacks +attraction. Our old friend George +Cruikshank gives full scope to his rich +humour in No. 100, <em>Sancho's surprise +on seeing the Squire of the Wood's Nose</em>; +and 455, <em>Disturbing the Congregation</em>. +This last is inimitable—brimful of fun. +A charity boy has let his peg-top fall +during service, and the awful clatter +upon the church pavement draws all +eyes in the direction of the delinquent.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +This is a picture that must be seen, +not described; but our readers will +imagine all the fun Cruikshank would +make of such a subject—the terrified +face of the culprit, in vain affecting +unconsciousness, and the awful countenance +of the beadle. We must say +a word of Mr J. F. Herring's <em>A Farmyard</em>, +which contains some good +horses; but he has huddled his +objects too much together, his colouring +is very opaque, and there is a +want of air and perspective in the +picture. There is the same defect +of thick colour in Mr H. Jutsum's +pretty composition, <em>Evening—coming +home to the Farm</em>.</p> + +<p>We have already mentioned several +pictures in the Portland Gallery, including +a portrait by Mr R. S. Lauder, +(the president of this new society,) +which is perhaps the best, although +one of the most unpretending, of the +seven pictures he exhibits. We do +not discern any very great merit in +two carefully painted illustrations of +Quentin Durward. We should like +to know on what authority Mr Lauder +makes a tall, large-limbed man of +Louis XI., and how he intends to get +him and the raw-boned Scot through +the door in No. 166, without a most +unkingly deviation from the perpendicular. +There is here a fault of +perspective. And Mr Lauder should +beware of repetition. We remember +the lady behind the tapestry in No. +45, in at least a dozen of his pictures. +This, however, is the best of the pair, +and there is good painting in it. His +most important picture this year is +that of <em>Christ appearing to two of his +Disciples on the way to Emmaus</em>. This +is certainly a fine work, although +there is much opposition of opinion +respecting it. There is undoubtedly +a fine sentiment in the colouring, +which is peculiarly applicable to the +subject. Mr M'Ian is in great force +here, with no less than ten pictures. +We like this artist for the character +and energy he infuses into his productions. +His most attractive picture +this year is No. 55, <em>Here's his +health in Water!</em> thus explained—"A +Highland gentleman of 1715, in +Carlisle prison, the day previous to +his execution, receiving the last visit +of his mother, wife, and children, and +instilling into his son—the future +Highland gentleman of 1745—the +principles of loyalty." The face of +the condemned Highlander is full of +vigour and determination, as is also +that of his mother, a resolute old +lady, who seems to confirm his precepts +to her grandchild. The countenances +of the sorrowing wife and of +the little girl, whose attention is distracted +by the opening of the prison +door, are natural and pleasing. The +boy, a sturdy scion of the old stock, +drinks King James's health out of the +prison-mug of water. We will not +omit to praise Mrs M'Ian's very well-painted +picture of <em>Captivity and Liberty</em>—gipsies +in prison, with swallows +twittering in the loophole that affords +them light. There is a nice feeling +about this picture, which includes a +handsome gipsy face; it is careful in its +details, and very effective in point of +chiaroscuro. No. 251, <em>A Jealous Man, +disguised as a Priest, hears the confession +of his Wife</em>, is a subject (from +the <em>Decameron</em>) of which more might +have been made than there has been +by Mr D. W. Deane. The countenances +lack decided expression. +Several artists have this year painted +scenes from the <em>Tempest</em>, and Mr +A. Fussell is one of the number. It +were to be wished he had abstained. +His picture of <em>Caliban, Ariel, and his +fellows</em>, is very bad indeed. He should +be less ambitious in his subjects, or +at least less fantastical in their treatment. +It is unintelligible to us how +this picture illustrates the passage +quoted. Nos. 264-5 are Mr H. Barraud's +pictures:—<em>Lord have mercy +upon us</em>, and <em>We praise thee, O God!</em> +the engravings of which have for +some time past been in every shop-window. +We are really at a loss to +comprehend the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">engouement</i> for these +pictures, which seem to us as deficient +in real sentiment as they are feeble in +execution. They are pretty enough, +certainly, but that is all the praise we +are disposed to accord them. There +is no great beauty in the faces; and +one of the boys (on the spectator's +right hand) is a mere lout, without +any expression whatever. The Messrs +Barraud have a great many pictures +in this exhibition—amongst others, +No. 199, <em>The Curfew</em>, their joint production, +which is pretty, but in respect +to which it strikes us that they have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +read Gray's poem wrong, for the +light in their picture is not that of +parting day, but of approaching sunset. +Mr Rayner's <em>Beauchamp Chapel, +Warwick</em>, is a good picture; Mr Niemann's +<em>Kenilworth from the Tilt-yard</em>, +and <em>Landscape</em>, No. 72, also deserve +praise; Mr Dighton is very effective +in some of his landscapes and studies. +Upon the whole, this young exhibition +promises well.</p> + +<p>Driven to our utmost limits, we +must conclude, without further mention +than we have already here and +there made of the Society of British +Artists in Suffolk Street; and we do +so with the less regret because that +gallery contains but a small proportion +of pictures of merit. Mr Anthony +contributes a very large number of his +odd paintings, some of which are +rather effective at a distance; but it is +not a style we admire. Finally, we +have with pleasure noticed, during +our many rambles through the +different galleries, that the public not +only visit but buy; and we trust that +the year 1850 will prove profitable +and satisfactory to British artists, in +the same proportion that it undoubtedly +is creditable to their industry, +and, upon the whole, highly +honourable to their talents. One +word more we will say at parting. +In this article we have written down +opinions, formed neither hastily nor +partially, of whose soundness, although +critics will always differ, we venture +to feel pretty confident. We have +applied ourselves to point out merits +rather than defects, and to distribute +praise in preference to blame; but +we should have failed in our duty +to ourselves and the public, had +we altogether abstained from the +latter. We well know, however, the +many difficulties and discouragements +that beset the path of the painter. +And it would be matter for sincere +regret to us, if, in the freedom of our +remarks, we had unwittingly hurt the +feelings of any man who is honestly +and earnestly striving in the pursuit +of a very difficult art—although his +success may as yet be incommensurate +with his industry and zeal.</p> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>THE YEAR OF SORROW.—IRELAND—1849.</h2> + +<h3>SPRING SONG.</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Once more, through God's high will and grace,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of Hours that each its task fulfils,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Heart-healing Spring resumes its place;—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The valley throngs and scales the hills,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">In vain. From earth's deep heart o'ercharged,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The exulting life runs o'er in flowers;—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The slave unfed is unenlarged:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In darkness sleep a nation's powers.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Who knows not Spring? Who doubts, when blows<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Her breath, that Spring is come indeed?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The swallow doubts not; nor the rose<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That stirs, but wakes not, nor the weed.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I feel her near, but see her not,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For those with pain-uplifted eyes<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fall back repulsed; and vapours blot<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The vision of the earth and skies.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I see her not; I feel her near,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">As, charioted in mildest airs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">She sails through yon empyreal sphere,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And in her arms and bosom bears<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">That urn of flowers and lustral dews,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whose sacred balm, o'er all things shed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Revives the weak, the old renews,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And crowns with votive wreaths the dead.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Once more the cuckoo's call I hear;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I know, in many a glen profound,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The earliest violets of the year<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Rise up like water from the ground.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The thorn I know once more is white;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And, far down many a forest dale,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The anemones in dubious light<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Are trembling like a bridal veil.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">By streams released that singing flow<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From craggy shelf through sylvan glades,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The pale narcissus, well I know,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Smiles hour by hour on greener shades.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The honeyed cowslip tufts once more<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The golden slopes;—with gradual ray<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The primrose stars the rock, and o'er<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The wood-path strews its milky way.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">—From ruined huts and holes come forth<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Old men, and look upon the sky!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Power Divine is on the earth:—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Give thanks to God before ye die!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And ye, O children worn and weak,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who care no more with flowers to play,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Lean on the grass your cold, thin cheek,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And those slight hands, and whispering, say,<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Stern Mother of a race unblest—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In promise kindly, cold in deed;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Take back, O Earth, into thy breast,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The children whom thou wilt not feed."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>IRELAND—1849.</h2> + +<h3>AUTUMNAL DIRGE.</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then die, thou Year—thy work is done:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The work ill done is done at last.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Far off, beyond that sinking sun,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which sets in blood, I hear the blast<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">That sings thy dirge, and says—"Ascend,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And answer make amid thy peers,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">(Since all things here must have an end,)<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou latest of the famine years!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I join that voice. No joy have I<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In all thy purple and thy gold,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Nor in the nine-fold harmony<br /></span> +<span class="i2">From forest on to forest rolled:<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Nor in that stormy western fire,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Which burns on ocean's gloomy bed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And hurls, as from a funeral pyre,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">A glare that strikes the mountain's head;<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And writes on low-hung clouds its lines<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Of cyphered flame, with hurrying hand;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And flings amid the topmost pines<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That crown the steep, a burning brand.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Make answer, Year, for all they dead,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Who found not rest in hallowed earth,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The widowed wife, the father fled,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The babe age-stricken from his birth.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Make answer, Year, for virtue lost;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">For Faith, that vanquished fraud and force,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now waning like a noontide ghost;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Affections poisoned at their source:<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The labourer spurned his lying spade;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The yeoman spurned his useless plough;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The pauper spurned the unwholesome aid,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Obtruded once, exhausted now.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The weaver wove till all was dark,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And, long ere morning, bent and bowed<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Above his work with fingers stark;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And made, nor knew he made, a shroud.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The roof-trees fall of hut and hall,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">I hear them fall, and falling cry—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"One fate for each, one fate for all;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">So wills the Law that willed a lie."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Dread power of Man! what spread the waste<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In circles, hour by hour more wide,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And would not let the past be past?—<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The Law that promised much, and lied.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Dread power of God! whom mortal years<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Nor touch, nor tempt; who sitt'st sublime<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In night of night,—O bid thy spheres<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Resound at last a funeral chime.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Call up, at last, the afflicted Race<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whom Man not God abolished. Sore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">For centuries, their strife: the place<br /></span> +<span class="i2">That knew them once shall know no more.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr class="chap" /> +<h2>IRELAND—1849.</h2> + +<h3>WINTER DIRGE.</h3> + + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Fall, Snow, and cease not! Flake by flake<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The decent winding-sheet compose:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thy task is just and pious; make<br /></span> +<span class="i2">An end of blasphemies and woes.<br /></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Fall flake by flake: by thee alone,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Last friend, the sleeping draught is given:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Kind nurse, by thee the couch is strewn,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The couch whose covering is from heaven.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Descend and clasp the mountain's crest;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Possess wide plain and valley deep:—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This night, in thy maternal breast<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Forsaken myriads die in sleep.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Lo! from the starry Temple gates<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Death rides, and bears the flag of peace:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The combatants he separates;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He bids the wrath of ages cease.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Descend, benignant Power! But O,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Ye torrents, shake no more the vale;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dark streams, in silence seaward flow;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Thou rising storm, remit thy wail.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Shake not, to-night, the cliffs of Moher,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Or Brandon's base, rough sea! Thou Isle,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Rite proceeds:—from shore to shore<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Hold in thy gathered breath the while.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Fall, snow! in stillness fall, like dew<br /></span> +<span class="i2">On temple roof, and cedar's fan;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And mould thyself on pine and yew,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And on the awful face of man.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Without a sound, without a stir,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">In streets and wolds, on rock and mound,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O omnipresent comforter,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">By thee, this night, the lost are found.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">On quaking moor, and mountain moss,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">With eyes upstaring at the sky,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And arms extended like a cross,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The long-expectant sufferers lie.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Bend o'er them, white-robed Acolyte!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Put forth thine hand from cloud and mist,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And minister the last sad rite,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Where altar there is none, nor priest.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Touch thou the gates of soul and sense:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Touch darkening eyes and dying ears;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Touch stiffening hand and feet, and thence<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Remove the trace of sin and tears.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And ere thou seal those filmed eyes,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Into God's urn thy fingers dip,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And lay, 'mid eucharistic sighs,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The sacred wafer on the lip.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">This night the Absolver issues forth:<br /></span> +<span class="i2">This night the Eternal Victim bleeds—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O winds and woods—O heaven and earth!<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Be still this night. The Rite proceeds.<br /></span> +</div></div> +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2>LONDON AND EDINBURGH CHESS MATCH.</h2> + + +<p>If we pique ourselves on anything, +it is on our invincible good-nature. +We are as slow to be roused as a +brown bear in the midst of its winter +sleep; and, if we were let alone, we +very much doubt whether, by any +conceivable exertion, we could work +ourselves into a downright passion. +But, somehow or other, it constantly +happens that people of a less tranquil +mood step in to deprive us of the +enjoyment of our untroubled repose. +At one time some worthy fellow +entreats us to take up the public +cudgel and belabour a blatant Economist. +At another, we are pathetically +besought to administer due castigation +to some literary sinner who has +transgressed the first principles of +decency, morality, and taste. One +friend implores us, with tears in his +eyes, to take up the case of the +oppressed and injured washerwomen: +a second puts a tomahawk into our +hand, and benevolently suggests the +severment of the skull of a charlatan: +a third writes to us regarding a rowing +match, in which he opines gross +injustice has been done by the umpire +to the Buffs, and he fervently prays +for our powerful assistance in vindicating +the honour of the Blues.</p> + +<p>In all national questions, it seems +to be expected that we are to act +with the devotion of a knight-errant. +Whenever Scotland is assailed, the +general impression is that we are +bound to stand forth, and incontinently +give battle to the enemy: and +we believe it will be admitted that +we have done so before now with no +inconsiderable effect. It so happens +that, at the present juncture, several +of our most esteemed compatriots, +feeling themselves deeply aggrieved +by the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">outrecuidance</i> of the Southron, +have laid the story of their wrongs before +us; and, after a deliberate review +of the whole circumstances of the case, +we feel ourselves compelled to come +forward in behalf of our countrymen. +Let no man venture to say that Chess +is an ignoble subject. It is, if properly +considered, as recondite a science +as mathematics. Kings, conquerors, +and sages have not thought it beneath +them to ponder over the chequered +board; and it may be that the +noble game has contributed in no light +degree to the success of their most +triumphant efforts. We know of no +absorption more complete than that +which possesses the mind of a true +votary of chess. Watch him as he is +contemplating his moves, and his +countenance is a perfect study for the +physiognomist. He may not perhaps +be the most agreeable of companions, +but we cannot expect loquacity from +men of high intellect whilst engaged +in deepest rumination.</p> + +<p>Let us, however, dispense as much +as possible with preface, and come to +the actual offence which has induced +us to take up our pen in vindication +of the national honour. Our attention +has been called to what is undoubtedly +a departure from the fair and liberal +spirit which ought to actuate antagonists—in +short, by an attempt to +deprive the Edinburgh Chess Club +of laurels which were fairly and honourably +won. It is all very well +for men who have been beaten to +apply salves to their wounded vanity, +and to persuade themselves that +they have failed rather through misfortune +than from any deficiency of +skill. Napoleon used to amuse himself +at St Helena by demonstrating that +he <em>ought</em> to have won the battle +of Waterloo—a position in which, +we doubt not, Count Montholon and +General Bertrand entirely concurred, +though, after a certain time, they +must have been tolerably sick of the +subject. But these affirmations of +the Emperor did not serve the purpose +of reinstating him on the throne +of France; and, in like manner, +opine that the writers who, at this +time of day, are, applying themselves +to the task of persuading the public +that the great match at chess between +Edinburgh and London, which was +won by Edinburgh in 1828, ought to +have terminated otherwise, are losing +their labour, and, moreover, placing +themselves in a very ridiculous position.</p> + +<p>We like to see a man take a beating +in good part. The Southron may<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +come here and vanquish us at cricket, +and we shall submit to be bowled or +caught out with the utmost equanimity—no +member of the Grange Club +will retire to the cloister in consequence. +He may extinguish our renown at +rackets, or even soar considerably +above our mark in the altitude of the +flying-leap. We shall not cavil at +the result, should some Southron +Robin Hood defeat the Queen's Body +Guard in the toxophilite competition +which is about to take place in this +city. We shall not be jealous if the +stranger beats us; and if, in return, we +should extinguish him utterly at golf +or throwing the hammer, we promise +to crow as mildly as the plenitude of +our lungs will permit. But we have no +idea of pushing complaisance to such +an extraordinary point, as to permit +our real victories to be perverted and +annulled at the hands of a defeated +adversary. Hector <em>might</em> have beaten +Achilles, but he did not; and the +mere fact of a remote possibility having +once existed, will not justify us in +giving the lie to Homer. We make +every allowance for testiness; still we +cannot help thinking it extraordinary +that those feelings of mortification, +which might perhaps have been +excusable in the defeated party +at the moment of the antagonist's +triumph, should manifest themselves +as strongly as ever nearly a quarter +of a century after the contest—and +that, too, in persons who took no +actual share in it, and are comparatively +strangers to the views and opinions +of those really concerned.</p> + +<p>English chess-players have the command +of all the chess-periodicals, which +emanate chiefly, if not exclusively, from +the London press; and which have, +for many years back, been made the +vehicles of repeated observations intended +to depreciate the triumph of +Scotland. Of late these have been +even more than usually frequent. +And within the last year, the <cite>Quarterly +Review</cite>, which, like the trunk of +an elephant, is as ready to pick up a +pin as to uproot a tree, has opened +its pages for remarks on the chess +match, conceived in no very handsome +spirit towards the Scotch champions. +This we do not consider to be +justifiable conduct on the part of our +bulky contemporary. In the accomplished +editor—himself a Scot—it is +in direct antagonism to the principles +of Richie, the servitor of Nigel, who +made so vigorous a stand for the credit +of the Water of Leith; and we regret +to observe so palpable a falling off from +the fervid patriotism of the Moniplies. +The uniform burden of the song is, +that the event of the match was determined +by an accident,—or by what +they reckon as nearly equivalent to +an accident—an oversight upon the +part of the London Club, to which +the best of players are liable, and +which in this instance is said to have +been rather ungenerously taken advantage +of by Edinburgh. The Scottish +players have hitherto said very +little upon the subject, contenting +themselves with a short but perfectly +satisfactory answer, made immediately +after the termination of the +match, to some observations of Mr +Lewis, in which, while they conclusively +disposed of his views and inferences, +they at the same time stated, +that they were "far from begrudging +to the London Club the usual consolation +of a beaten adversary—of going +back upon a game, and showing that, +if they had played otherwise at a +particular point, they could have won +the game." The constant reiteration +of the English statement, however, is +calculated to produce an erroneous +impression in the minds of those not +acquainted with the merits of the +question.</p> + +<p>The London and Edinburgh chess +match, which was played by correspondence, +was begun in the year 1824. +It was the result of a challenge given +by the Edinburgh Club, which was +then only in its infancy. The terms +agreed on were, that the match should +consist of three won games; and that, +in case of any game being drawn, a +new one, begun by the same opener, +should take its place. The match +commenced on 23d April 1824. Two +games were opened simultaneously. +The first game was opened by the +Edinburgh Club; and in sending +their first answering move, the London +Club also sent the first move of +the second game. The first game, +which consisted of 35 moves, was, on +14th December 1824, declared to be +drawn. The second, which consisted +of 52 moves, was resigned by the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +London Club on 23d February 1825. +The third game—opened by the Edinburgh +Club in place of the first game, +which had been drawn—was begun +on 20th December 1824; it consisted +of 99 moves, and was drawn on 18th +March 1828. The fourth game, +begun by the Edinburgh Club, on +26th February 1825, was resigned by +them on 15th September 1826, at the +55th move. The fifth game, begun +by the Edinburgh Club, on 6th October +1826, was resigned by the London +Club on 31st July 1828, at the 60th +move—and this determined the match +in favour of Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>The simple statement of these details +is sufficient altogether to exclude +the idea that the result of the match +was a mere accident, where manifestly +inferior players profited by the unfortunate +blunder of their superior +antagonists. Though the Edinburgh +Club had lost, instead of gaining, two +out of the three games, it would still +have been in vain to maintain that +the play in the match showed them +to be unquestionably inferior. The +contest was a long and severe one. +When the fifth and deciding game +was proceeding, each party had gained +one game, and there had been two +drawn games, both of which were +keenly disputed, without the least +advantage in favour of London at any +point of either; while, on the other +hand, in the third game, Edinburgh +had obtained an advantage, though +not sufficient to enable them to checkmate +their adversaries. It has never +been pretended, by the most unscrupulous +partisan of England, that +the winning of the fifth game was +ascribable to an oversight. On the +contrary, their chess writers have, +with most becoming fairness and +candour, always referred to it as an +instance of admirable play on the +part of Edinburgh; and members of +the London committee, who shortly +after happened to visit Edinburgh, +acknowledged that their committee +were quite unable to discover the +object of particular moves, the effect +of which had been previously calculated, +and reduced to demonstration +by the Edinburgh players. Is there, +in all this, such evidence of overwhelming +superiority on the part of the +English players, that their losing the +match <em>must</em> have been an accident?</p> + +<p>But it is time to inquire a little +more minutely into the so-called +blunder, which the Englishmen say +was the cause of their defeat. And +here it is but fair to give their statement +in their own words. The +<cite>Quarterly</cite> reviewer says—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Perhaps the most remarkable instance +on record of a strict enforcement of the +tenor of chess law occurred in the celebrated +match, by correspondence, between +the London and Edinburgh Clubs. At +the 27th move of the second game, the +London Club threw a rook away. How +they did so, Mr Lewis explains in the +following words:—'The 26th, 27th, and +28th moves were sent on the same day to +the Edinburgh Club. This was done to +save time. It so happened that the secretary, +whose duty it was to write the +letters, had an engagement which compelled +him to leave the Club two hours +earlier than usual—the letter was therefore +posted at three instead of five o'clock. +In the mean time, one of the members +discovered that the 2d move (the 27th) +had not been sufficiently examined.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> An +application was immediately made at the +Post-office for the letter, which was +refused. In consequence, a second letter +was transmitted by the same post to the +Edinburgh Club, retracting the 2d and +3d moves, and abiding only by the first. +The Edinburgh Club, in answer, gave it +as their decided opinion that the London +Club were bound by their letter, and that +no move could be retracted: they therefore +insisted on the moves being played. +The London Club conceded the point, +though they differed in opinion.'</p> + +<p>"We cannot but think, under all the +circumstances, the Edinburgh Club were +to blame. What rendered the mishap +more vexatious to the Londoners was, +that whereas they had a won game before, +they now barely lost it, and thereby the +match, which the winning of this game +would have decided in their favour.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +There can be little doubt that the London +Club (then comprising Messrs Lewis, +Fraser, and Cochrane) was the strongest +of the two. On the part of Edinburgh, +we believe the lion's share of the work +fell to the late Mr Donaldson."</p></blockquote> + +<p>In the remarks on the London and +Amsterdam match, in Mr Staunton's +periodical, (the <cite>Chess-Player's Chronicle</cite>,) +for February 1850, there is the +following passage:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"If the relative skill of the competitors +engaged on each side were to be the +gauge by which to estimate the probable +result of a contest like this, it would have +been easy to predict to which party victory +would incline; and we should have +wondered at the daring gallantry that +prompted the little band of Hollanders to +challenge the leviathans of London. Experience, +however, has shown that, in a +match of chess by correspondence, the +battle is not always to the strong, and +that foresight and profound calculation +are of infinitely less account, when the +men may be moved experimentally, than +they are in ordinary chess, where conclusions +must be tried by the head, and not +by the hand. Of this, indeed, the archives +of the London Club afford a memorable +instance. In March 1824, a proposal was +made to this Club by the Club at Edinburgh, +to play a match at chess by correspondence +for a silver cup; the match +to consist of three games, (irrespective of +drawn games;) two games to be played +together, and the winner of the first game +to have the move in the third. The London +Club at this period was in the pride +and plenitude of its strength, and the +committee appointed to conduct the match +comprised every name of note among the +chess-players of the metropolis. The +Edinburgh Chess-Club, on the other hand, +was composed of amateurs comparatively +unknown and inexperienced, and possessed +one player only—the late Mr Donaldson—capable +of making anything like a +stand 'over the board' with any of the +London chiefs. In an ordinary contest, +indeed, over the board, it was the old +odds of Lombard Street to a China orange! +Maugre all the advantages of superior +skill and practice, however, the Londoners +lost the battle, and lost it by a blunder +as ridiculous as it was vexatious, at +the very moment, too, when the game was +in their hands."</p></blockquote> + +<p>The general remarks on playing by +correspondence in this last passage +are evidently made to furnish a pretence +for introducing the notice of the +London and Edinburgh match; and +they share the fate of all such forced +work. They are absolute nonsense. +The probability that a decidedly superior +will overcome an inferior player, +is not at all diminished by the circumstance +that the match is played by +correspondence. On the contrary, +we should rather be inclined to say +that the chance of an inferior player's +escape in a single game or so is almost +extinguished where the match is played +by correspondence; because the +time given for deliberation increases +the improbability of his antagonist's +erring from carelessness, or not taking +in the whole position of the game, +which sometimes occurs in playing +over the board. But there is an inconsequence +in the whole argument +which surprises us to find in anything +sanctioned by a person of Mr Staunton's +unquestionable powers of mind. +The loss of the match by London is +not to be wondered at, it is said, because +it was a match by correspondence; +and the immediate cause of +their losing it was the commission of +a ridiculous and vexatious blunder! +To make this anything like logic, it +would be necessary to hold that ridiculous +and vexatious blunders are +more likely to be committed when the +player has time and opportunity to +consider his moves, and to make experiments +upon their effect, than where +he is under the necessity of moving at +once in presence of an adversary, and +possibly of spectators, apt to get impatient +at long delay. It is plain that +the game's being played by correspondence +was the very circumstance calculated +to render the London Club's +particular excuse for losing all the +more untenable.</p> + +<p>It is quite true, however, that at a +particular stage of the game opened +by the London Club, (being one of the +two games with which the match commenced,) +the London Club might have +won the game, by playing other moves +than they did. This may be said of +every game; but it is as unusual as +it is unhandsome for the unsuccessful +party, merely because he has missed +such an opportunity of winning, to +refuse all credit to his adversary for +afterwards defeating him. In the +third game, which was drawn, the +Edinburgh Club would have won if +they had played a different 51st move<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +from that which they did. But this +did not lead them to make depreciatory +remarks about their antagonists: +all that their report bears on this point +is, that the London Club "conducted +a difficult defence with great skill and +dexterity, and finally succeeded in +drawing the game."</p> + +<p>Further, the remarks above quoted +are calculated to produce an erroneous +idea respecting the situation and conduct +of the two clubs in the second +game. The sophistry consists in +mixing up two entirely separate and +unconnected things. In this same +game in which the London Club failed +to observe that they had a winning +position, they applied to have two of +their moves recalled after they were +despatched, and the Edinburgh committee +refused their request. Now +the obvious tendency of all that the +English writers say upon the subject +is to create the impression that if the +London Club had been allowed to +recall these two moves, they would +have retained their winning position. +This is plainly the only construction +that the passage in the <cite>Quarterly +Review</cite> is capable of bearing. It is +the only construction which would +justify his remarks, or make them at +all intelligible. But it is quite incorrect. +The only moves which the +London committee wished to recall +were the 27th and 28th; but they +have never attempted to show that if +they had been allowed to do so, they +could have won the game. It has +been demonstrated, over and over +again, that they could not. In fact, +the moves they wished to recall were +as good as any others then in their +power. They might have drawn +the game if these moves had been +played; and they could have done no +more had they been allowed to recall +them. This matter was set at rest +while the match was still pending, by +a proposal which emanated from the +Edinburgh Club. When the Londoners +lost the game, Mr Lewis insinuated, +though he did not expressly +state, that if they had not been +held to the 27th and 28th moves, +they would have won the game. +A member of the Edinburgh Club then +offered to play a back-game with any +one or more of the London Club, in +which the London players were to be +allowed a new 27th move instead of +the one they had made, and wished +to recall; and also another back-game +in which the Edinburgh player was to +take the London side <em>at an earlier stage +of the game</em>, with the view of showing +that, by playing differently, the London +Club might have won it. This proposal +was under consideration of the +London Club <em>for several weeks</em>, during +which they satisfied themselves that +the recall of the 27th and 28th moves +would be of no use, and, accordingly, +it was declined. It is surely not +very uncharitable to surmise that +it was during this period, and on the +suggestion of their opponents, that +they discovered that the error was not +in the 27th move which they had proposed +to recall, but in the 26th, which +they had examined and adhered to. +In his first publication of the games, +Mr Lewis gives no back-game on this +26th move; and it is believed that no +member of the London Club was +aware, till the game was finished, that +by playing differently at the 26th move +they might have won it. But Mr +Lewis admits that the game could not +be won by a mere alteration of the +27th or 28th move; and any one who +says that it could, is either speaking +in ignorance of the subject, or is +making a wilful misrepresentation. +The likelihood of the remarks of the +English writers producing an erroneous +impression arises from their +mixing up these two separate and +distinct things: 1st, that at a previous +stage of the game, the London Club +had a winning position which they +did not discover, and failed to avail +themselves of; and, 2d, that the +Edinburgh Club would not allow them +to retract the 27th and 28th moves. +These two facts have no longer any +possible connection with each other +when it is known that, at the 27th +move, the London Club had ceased to +have a winning position, and that the +recall of that move would have been +of no use to them. The failure, at a +previous stage of the game, to maintain +the winning position which they +had, is simply one among several +illustrations which occurred in the +match, of the truth that the London +Club, "in the pride and plenitude of +its strength," did not always play as +well as it was possible to have done.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +How such things show that superiority +on the part of London, which they are +brought forward to establish, we confess +ourselves unable to understand, +unless we were to adopt the principle +of the <cite>Chess-Players' Chronicle</cite>, that +it is the best players who are most +likely to commit errors in conducting +a match by correspondence!!</p> + +<p>It seems to be a source of melancholy +consolation to the English +players, that their Club committed a +"ridiculous and vexatious blunder." +We are sorry that, in our strict regard +for truth, we must deprive them even +of that comfort. The losing of the +disputed game was not a ridiculous +blunder, however vexatious. On the +contrary, the series of moves by which +they lost the chance of winning, was +at first a very promising attack, and +had the additional temptation of +appearing brilliant and enterprising. +If any chess-player will set up the +men at the 27th move of the London +Club, or glance at the diagram given +in Mr Staunton's periodical for May +1850, he will see that nothing but the +utmost skill and caution on the part +of Edinburgh could have successfully +warded off the attack. The London +Club had not contemplated the defence +which they met with; and if, in +these circumstances, they were seduced +into an ingenious but unsound attack, +it may be conceded that they manifested +want of circumspection, an +important qualification in a chess-player; +but they cannot be accused +of committing a ridiculous blunder. +They talk of having "thrown away" +a rook. They did no such thing. +The rook was played not by mistake, +but for the very purpose of being +taken in the course of their dashing +but unsuccessful attack. And in Mr +Lewis's analyses, it will be found +that many of his methods of winning, +at previous stages of the game, +involve this very sacrifice of the +rook.</p> + +<p>The refusal of the Edinburgh Club +to allow the recall of the 27th and +28th moves loses all its importance +when it is known that it did not affect +the fate of the game. But we should +in any circumstances be sorry to +believe that, in so refusing, they +had done what deserved the censure +bestowed on them by the +<cite>Quarterly</cite> reviewer. In considering +the propriety of their conduct, there +are only two lights in which the +request may be viewed. They were +either asked to do what the London +Club had a right to demand, or they +were asked to grant a favour to the +London Club. We do not know that +the former view is supported by any +of the English writers. Even the +<cite>Quarterly</cite> reviewer does not say that +the London Club had a <em>right</em> to recall +the moves; and on this question of +right it appears to us that there cannot +be the least shadow of a doubt. +The letter containing the moves was +despatched to the Post-office. It +was held by the Post-office for the +party to whom it was addressed, and +was entirely beyond the control of +the party sending it. The piece, in +every sense, was therefore "let go" +by the player; and the 8th Article of +Sarratt's laws of chess, by which it +was agreed that the games should be +played, provides that "as long as a +player holds a piece, he is at liberty +to play it where he chooses; but +when he has <em>let it go</em>, he cannot +recall his move." Accordingly, the +London Club never attempted to +contest the question of right. They +stated that they had "no hesitation +in acceding to the Edinburgh Committee's +construction," and adhering +to the moves. In fact, the construction +put on the point by the Edinburgh +Club was not only assented to by +the London players at the time, but +several members of the committee +admitted afterwards, that it was +unquestionably the right way of +dealing with the case, and no member +of the London Club ever hinted a +complaint on the subject, except +what was insinuated by Mr Lewis +in the publication referred to.</p> + +<p>Were the Edinburgh Club "<em>to blame</em>" +for not granting the favour which was +asked of them? On this question +we think there is quite as little doubt +as the other. We have a strong and +decided opinion as to the necessity +of strict play in <em>all</em> games. It is the +only fair and rational system; for +once allow indulgence, and it is +impossible to fix the limit at which it +should stop. But we think that the +remark applies with peculiar force to +the game of chess, in which rigour is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +absolutely essential to the acquisition +of the habits fitted for the proper +playing of the game. Above all, in +an important match at chess, anything +but the strict game is entirely +out of the question. A high-spirited +antagonist will scorn to ask a favour, +or even to grumble about the commission +of a blunder. He submits in +silence, and plays on in the hope of +retrieving his fault by redoubled care +and attention. If, on the other hand, +he were to be expected to grant +favours to his blundering antagonist, +it is plain that his very good qualities +would be turned to his disadvantage +in the match. The Edinburgh Club +played in the belief that the rules of +the game were to apply with equal +strictness to both parties; and though +there was more than one instance in +which they would have been glad to +recall a move, they never proposed +this, or even spoke of the occasions for +it, except in answer to Mr Lewis's +observations on the proposed recall of +the 27th move. In the very game in +which this move was made, the Edinburgh +committee had at a <em>previous</em> +point in the game made a move which +they discovered to be unsound, or at +least doubtful. Their report bears +that "application was made to the +Post-office to have the letter containing +it restored, but without effect. +Finding this to be the case, the letter +was looked upon as delivered, the +Post-office being regarded as holding +it, not on behalf of the Club from +which it had been sent, but on behalf +of the Club to which it was addressed; +and therefore no attempt was made to +countermand the move, by transmitting +another letter by the same post. +The 8th article of the laws was considered +to be too clear and explicit to +warrant a recall." This conduct of +the Edinburgh Club appears to us the +manly and proper way of dealing +with such a circumstance, and infinitely +better than trying to make it +the foundation of a complaint of rigorous +procedure on the part of their +opponents.</p> + +<p>The same thing happened again to +the Edinburgh Club in the fourth +game. In consequence of having put +up the game erroneously, they sent +an impossible move—that is to +say, they directed a Knight to be +moved to a square already occupied +by their King. They discovered the +mistake before the letter had left +Edinburgh, but considered themselves +as having incurred the penalty of +playing an impossible move, which +was, in the option of their adversary, +either to move the Knight to some +other square, or to move their King. +Of these two, the move of the <em>King</em> +was infinitely the better play, and +therefore, in order to save time, a +note was written on the outside of +the letter explaining the mistake, and +stating that the Edinburgh committee +held themselves bound to move +the <em>Knight</em>, which it was presumed +the London Club would enforce, as +the more severe penalty. The London +Club did so; and yet Mr Lewis, +in his notes to this game, rather +disingenuously, as it appears to us, +represented the London Club as +having yielded an advantage to their +antagonists, in accepting the move of +the Knight. This merely accidental +blunder, on the part of the Edinburgh +Club, was one cause of their loss of +the fourth game.</p> + +<p>Seeing that the Edinburgh Club +thus on all occasions subjected themselves +to the most rigorous interpretation +of the rules of the game, we cannot +hold the <cite>Quarterly Review</cite> as +justified in saying that they were "to +blame" in not allowing the London +Club to retract a move. But we +appeal from the <cite>Quarterly</cite> reviewer as +a partisan of England, to the <cite>Quarterly</cite> +reviewer, as an impartial enunciator +of general propositions respecting the +game of chess. Hear what he says +about the absurdity of giving back +moves:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Another advantage has arisen from +the multiplication of clubs, and consequent +publication of accurate rules—viz., +that the strict game is now played, instead +of those courteous surrenders of +advantages offered by a heedless adversary, +which used often to make winners +of those who had received back two or +three leading pieces in the course of the +game. These were a source of endless +unpleasant discussions, besides being in +themselves an absurdity. We confess +we have no notion of rewarding an opponent +for his oversights. We would show +him as little mercy as Mr Smith O'Brien +would to Lord Clarendon. Nay, we +should be moved hereto by a consideration<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +of his benefit as well as our own—for +why should we teach him vacillation +and heedlessness?"</p></blockquote> + +<p>Again, among a portentous list of +narrow-minded delusions, he gives as +"Delusion the Fifth—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"'That it is illiberal to play the strict +game.' To this we can only reply, that +other methods are but a miserable imitation. +People talk of the hardship of +'losing a game by an oversight,' and so +on. It is much harder to arrive at nothing +but 'conclusions inconclusive,' and +to have the game terminate in an Irish +discussion which of the two parties made +the greatest blunders."</p></blockquote> + +<p>We agree in every word of this; +and we only wonder that so sound a +reasoner should himself fall under the +delusion which he exposes—so severe +a censor should commit the very +offence which he condemns.</p> + +<p>On the whole, as regards the proposed +recall of the 27th and 28th +moves of the second game, we think +these three propositions are conclusively +established, 1. That neither +according to the rules of the game, +nor upon any other principle which +does or ought to regulate the playing +of matches, were the London Club +entitled to have their proposal acceded +to. 2. That though it had been acceded +to, and these moves had been allowed +to be recalled, the London Club +could not have bettered their situation, +as the opportunity of winning +was already irretrievably lost in consequence +of the 26th move, which was +not asked to be recalled, but, on the +contrary, was expressly adhered to. +3. That the impression which English +chess-players have so industriously +attempted to create, that the +refusal on the part of Edinburgh to +allow the 27th and 28th moves to be +recalled was what prevented the London +Club from winning the game, can +only exist through a confusion between +these moves and the previous one, +which the London Club had adhered +to after a renewed examination, not +having even then discovered that it +was unsound.</p> + +<p>Before leaving the second game, we +have this last additional remark to +make about it, that it is one of the erroneous +assumptions and inferences of +the English writers, that the winning +of that game would have decided the +match in their favour. It was the +first won game; and though it is true +that the London Club <em>subsequently</em> won +the fourth game, which was the successor +of the second, it is also the fact +that the fourth game, which was +opened by the Edinburgh Club, would +not have been played if the second had +been won by London, who in that case +would have had the opening of the +fourth. We do not mean to say that +having to open was a disadvantage. +All we assert is, that, in point of fact, +the game, which the Edinburgh Club +lost partly through a mistake in setting +up the men, and through another blunder, +not very different in its character, +would not have been played at all if +London had won the second game. +Besides, the fourth game would, in +other respects, have been played under +very different circumstances. The +opening of the second game by the +London Club was one which none of +the Edinburgh players had ever seen +before, though, from this match, it +now goes by the name of the Scotch +opening. They believed, however, +from their consideration of the second +game, that the London Club had not +availed themselves of all the capabilities +of the opening, and they thought +it would be a spirited thing to return +it upon their antagonists. This they +did in the <em>third</em> game. The event rewarded +their enterprising conduct. +They gained a decided advantage; +and during the greater part of the +<em>fourth</em> game they believed that it +would never require to be finished, as +they thought that by winning the <em>third</em> +game they would gain the match. +This accounts for the carelessness with +which they played the fourth game, +though we think nothing can excuse +carelessness in playing chess. They +were ultimately disappointed in their +expectation of gaining the third game, +as the London Club succeeded in drawing +it; and this rendered a fifth game +necessary.</p> + +<p>Down to the fifth game it appears +plain enough, from the above examination, +that the Edinburgh Club had +maintained, at the very least, an +equal position to their antagonists. +The first game had been drawn, with +no advantage at any stage of it, in +favour of either party. The second +had been won by Edinburgh, but was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +subject to the observation that, at one +point, London might have won had +they played as well as they <em>afterwards</em> +discovered they might have done. The +third game was drawn: but the advantage +throughout had been in favour +of Edinburgh, though not sufficiently +so for winning; and, as was the case +with London in the previous game, +Edinburgh failed to perceive that by +moving differently at a certain point, +they would have been victorious. The +fourth game was lost by Edinburgh, +partly through an accidental and +what may be called a mechanical blunder, +and partly through another piece +of carelessness of a similar character. +After a contest thus maintained down +to the commencement of the fifth +game, it is beyond all question that +the palm of superiority, in point of +play, must rest with the victor in that +game. And it was a game worthy to +determine that question as well as the +match. The Edinburgh Club had +again returned upon their antagonists +their own opening. In order to secure +scope for the action of their pieces, +they showed considerable intrepidity +in disregarding the ordinary rules +against doubled and isolated pawns; +and so admirably had they analysed +the game, that for a great many +moves they knew that victory was +certain, though all the while the +London Club, according to the confession +of some of their own members, +were blind to the fate that was awaiting +them; and believed, on the contrary, +that the game was in their own hands. +This fifth game will long be remembered +by chess players as one of the +most remarkable in the annals of +chess; and appears to us conclusive, +so far as regards the internal evidence +derived from the games themselves, +that the superiority, in point of play, +lay with the Edinburgh Club, and +that their winning the match was not +a mere accident.</p> + +<p>It may be that there are other data +for determining the relative superiority +of the two Clubs; but we cannot admit +the correctness of any of those mentioned +by the <cite>Quarterly</cite> reviewer or +Mr Staunton. It is true, as these gentlemen +say, that the Edinburgh Club +was comparatively inexperienced. +It had only been instituted in 1822, +and the match was begun in 1824. +It comprehended, almost exclusively, +professional gentlemen actively engaged +in business, who had not, +generally speaking, much leisure or +opportunity for seeking antagonists +out of their own little circle of chess-players +at home. On the other hand, +it cannot be disputed that there is to +be found in the metropolis of England, +in greater abundance than anywhere +else, that combination of leisure with +intellectual power, which gives the +promise of good chess-playing. But +these circumstances do not lead our +minds to the conclusion to which Mr +Staunton and the <cite>Quarterly</cite> reviewer +have come, that the winning of the +match by the Edinburgh Club was an +accident. We should rather be inclined +to hold, considering the character of the +contest as explained by us above, +that they are a proof of the greater +natural chess-playing capacity of the +members of the Club which won the +match under such disadvantages. +Again, Mr Staunton asks where are +the previous exploits to which the +Edinburgh players could point, such +as those that the members of the +London Club had performed? The +answer is, None. They never had, and +never sought the opportunity of +performing any great chess exploit, +except beating the London Club. +But in so doing they made their own +all the previous victories of the +London Club. The event showed +that they might, without presumption, +have expressed the sentiment of +Prince Henry—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Percy is but my factor, good, my lord,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And I will call him to so strict account,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That he shall render every glory up.<br /></span> +<span class="i0"> * * * * * * <br /></span> +<span class="i0">And all the budding honours on his crest<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I'd crop to make a garland for my head."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="noind">With which valorous quotation we +draw our remarks to a close, +submitting that the members of the +Edinburgh Club are bound to invite +us to a special sitting at a board, +which shall be garnished with some +other material more soft and digestible +than chessmen.</p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>THE INDUSTRY OF THE PEOPLE.</h2> + + +<p>The dismal efforts of the Free-trading +party to maintain the credit +of their unnatural and mischievous +scheme, afford the surest indication +of their own consciousness that they +have committed a grievous error. In +their attempts to make head against +the symptoms of reaction which are +everywhere apparent in the public +mind, they exhibit no unity of purpose; +they are not agreed even as to +the facts from which their arguments +should be drawn. A few months ago, +we were told that the whole country +was in a state of the greatest prosperity. +The existence of agricultural +distress was denied; the shipping +interest was said to be in the +most healthy and flourishing condition; +the manufacturers had so many +orders that their ability to execute +was impeded; wages were rising—pauperism +decreasing—in short, no +one could recall to memory times of +more general happiness and content. +Such was the picture drawn by Ministerial +limners, no further back than +the opening of the present session of +Parliament, and it is very much to be +regretted that it should so soon have +vanished like a dissolving view. +Down to the present moment, we +have been unable to discover the +motive for so monstrous a fiction. +Nobody believed it: nobody could +believe it, for it ran counter to every +man's knowledge of his own affairs, +and his opinion as to those of his +neighbour. The agriculturists declared +it to be a falsehood in so far as +they were concerned—so did the ship-owners—so +did the shopkeepers—so +did the manufacturers, whose circulars +acknowledged depression for the +present, and held out little hope for +the future. The Ministerial averment +answered no purpose, save to excite +a general burst of disapprobation. +Conceived in fraud, it was abandoned +with cowardice. A lower tone was +assumed. Distress was admitted—but +only to a certain extent; and we +may remark that such admissions are +peculiarly convenient and innocuous +to those who make them, inasmuch +as the actual degree or prevalence of +the suffering must still remain matter +of debate. Indeed, no statistics, however +ingenious or elaborated, can furnish +data for determining so delicate +a point. But to account for the +existence of distress, even in a mitigated +form, was no easy task for +those who were resolved, at all +hazards, to exclude the operation of +free trade. Their prosperity balance-sheet +stood awkwardly in the way. +Pluming themselves upon increased +exports, and a larger foreign trade +than had been driven for some years, +they were compelled to assign some +reason for the remarkable depression +at home. The old shift of railway calls +would no longer suit their purpose. +Sir Robert Peel, regardless of a certain +personal passage of his life connected +with the opening of the Trent Valley, +was exceedingly fond of turning out +that scape-goat into the wilderness; +but the time had gone by; the calls +were paid up or suspended; and it +was no longer possible for effrontery +to maintain that the great mass of +the consumers of these kingdoms had +been materially injured by their +imprudent dalliance with scrip. There +was no tightness in the money +market; no external cause to interfere +with the successful operation of +industry, capital, or enterprise. Yet +still there was distress; and, what was +more remarkable, the complaint was +universal. The value of produce had +fallen, effecting thereby a corresponding +decline in rents, and every kind +of uncertain profit. Employment +grew scarcer every day, whilst the +number of applicants increased. The +burden of taxation, however, still +remained undiminished. The creditor +could still exact the stipulated amount +of money from his debtor, without +deduction, although the labour of the +debtor was reduced in point of value +by at least a third. Such were, and +are, the leading phenomena, to account +for which the ingenuity of the +Free-traders has been exercised.</p> + +<p>They have, we are bound to say, cut +an exceedingly sorry figure in explanation. +They have got in their mouths a +few cant phrases, which, when assailed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +they repeat over and over again, without +the slightest reference to their +meaning. One of these, and perhaps +the most favourite, refers to the "transition +state"—a peculiar phase of suffering, +which they maintain to be the +necessary consequence of every considerable +change in the fiscal regulations +of the empire. This "transition state," +in politics, would appear to correspond +to that which, in medicine, was favoured +by Mr St John Long. In +order to become better, it is necessary +to make the patient, in the first +instance, materially worse—to inflict +artificial wounds and promote +suppuration, in the hope that these +may afterwards be healed. It is +rather remarkable that none of our +political doctors have as yet ventured +to specify the nature of the curatory +process. They leave us woefully in +the dark as to the means which are +to be adopted for remedying the evil; +and they obstinately refuse to predict +what kind of state is to follow upon +this of transition. In truth, they are +utterly at sea. They cannot shut +their eyes to the extent of the mischief +which they have wrought; they +cannot find or invent an extraneous +excuse, which will avail them, in the +opinion even of the loosest thinker, to +maintain the delusion that the present +distress and stagnation are attributable +to any other cause than that of low +prices, occasioned by foreign competition; +and they are attempting to conceal +their chagrin and disappointment +at the disastrous issue of their experiment +under the cover of general +terms and vague ambiguous phrases—a +rhetorical expedient which is not +likely to have much weight with those +who have been made the victims of +their rashness or vacillation.</p> + +<p>Latterly, indeed, some portions of +the public press have shown symptoms +of being more specific, and very +glad should we be if Ministers would +follow that example. We are told +that present prices are merely exceptional, +and that they must shortly +improve. The mere adoption of this +argument shows that such writers +dissent from the doctrine that cheapness +is an unqualified blessing—that +they still believe in their hearts that +it is impossible altogether to separate +the interests of the producer and the +consumer—and that they are still +alive to the fundamental political +axiom, that the wealth of a country +depends mainly upon the value of its +produce. Were it otherwise, they +would be supporters of the most +astounding paradox that was ever +advanced. The price of the loaf +must rise correspondingly with that +of the quarter of wheat: beef and +mutton are sold by the stone or by +the pound, in proportion to the market +value of the living animal. If +wheat were to rise to 56s., which is +said to be the average cost of its +production in this country, bread +would become so much dearer, and, +in that case, the working-man could +be no better off than he was before +the corn laws were repealed. We +have heard it said, and we firmly +believe it to be the case, that many +of the public men, of both parties, +who voted with Sir Robert Peel, did +so under the full conviction that there +could be no material decline—that +they were misled by the onesided, +imperfect, and fallacious reports as to +the state, quality, and extent of the +Continental harvests, which were laid +before Parliament—and that they +never would have consented to such a +measure, had they foreseen the results +which are now unhappily before us. +We gather this, not merely from +rumour, but from the tenor of the +speeches delivered in the House of +Commons in 1846. Sir James Graham +and Lord John Russell both treated as +visionary the notion of any material +decline—Lord Palmerston went +further; and we think it useful to lay +before our readers the following excerpt +from his speech, delivered on +the occasion of the second reading of +the Corn Importation Bill. Referring +to the surplus quantity of Continental +grain, he said—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"The surplus quantity now, or from +time to time in existence, is merely the +superfluity of abundant seasons held for +a time in store to meet the alternate +deficiency of bad years. Till the bad +years come, that corn is cheap, because +it is a supply exceeding the demand; but +the moment we go into the foreign +market as buyers, to purchase up this +surplus, <em>prices abroad will rise</em>. Not +only will the British demand, as a new +competition with foreign demand, naturally +cause a rise of prices, but our own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +merchants will compete against each +other, until, by a rise of prices abroad, +the profit of their importations shall have +been brought down to the usual rate of +mercantile profit upon capital employed +in other ways. There is, therefore, very +little probability that the importation of +the existing surplus quantity of corn in +foreign markets will materially lower +prices in this country."</p></blockquote> + +<p>We have nothing to say to the +arguments of the noble Viscount—however +singular these may appear +to persons of ordinary understanding—we +merely refer to his conclusion, +which we think is plain enough, to +the effect that free importations could +not materially lower prices. Nay, +we could extract from the speeches of +Sir Robert Peel himself, passages +which would go far to show that he +entertained the same opinion, notwithstanding +the extreme wariness +which he exhibited when challenged +by Lord George Bentinck to state his +views as to the probable effects of the +change on the value of agricultural +produce. Well, then, if this be the +case—if there was actually a strong +conviction in the minds of the leading +men who supported the repeal of +the corn laws that the expressed +fears of the agricultural party were +unfounded—are we not entitled now +to require that the question should be +brought to a very narrow issue indeed? +So far as experience has gone, +our calculations have proved right—theirs +entirely wrong. We maintained +that, in consequence of the +removal of protective duties, the price +of grain in this country would decline +to a point far below the cost of production; +they averred that nothing +of the kind would happen. Nearly a +year and a half has elapsed since the +new system came into full operation, +and the general averages of wheat +throughout the country have fallen, +and have remained for many months +below 40s. per quarter. In spite of +the accurate and veracious information +of writers in the <cite>Economist</cite> and +other Ministerial prints, who have +been assuring us, for a long period of +time, that the whole available supplies +of grain have been pumped out +of the Continent, importations continue +undiminished. In May 1850 +we receive from abroad the equivalent +of a million quarters of grain; +France pours in her flour, to the panic +even of our millers; and, instead of +diminution, there are unmistakeable +symptoms of a greater deluge than +before. Now, if the Free-traders, in +or out of Parliament, are honest in +their views—as many of them, we +believe, undoubtedly are—they are +bound to tell us how far and how long +they intend this experiment to last? +Of course, if it is no experiment at +all, but an absolute rigorous finality, +there is no need of entering into discussion. +If everything is to be sacrificed +for cheapness, let cheapness be +the rule; only do not let us behold the +anomaly of the advocates of that system +prophesying a rise of prices as a +general boon to the country. If +otherwise, surely some tangible period +should be assigned for the endurance +of this <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">experimentum crucis</i>. We +entirely coincide with Lord John +Russell in his dislike to vacillating +legislation, and we have no wish +whatever to precipitate matters. We +think it preferable, in every way, that +the eyes of the country should be +opened to a sense of its true condition +by a process which, to be effectual, +cannot be otherwise than painful. +But we are greatly apprehensive of +the consequences which may arise +ere long, from the obstinate refusal of +Ministers to give the slightest indication +of their intentions, supposing +that the present prices shall continue; +or to indicate what relief, if any, can +be given to the industry of the nation.</p> + +<p>As to the permanent nature of the +fall under the operation of the present +law, we entertain not the slightest +doubt. There is no one symptom +visible of its abatement; on the contrary, +the experience of each succeeding +month tends to fortify our previous +impressions. The decline in the +value of cattle is as great as in that of +cereal produce. We have already, in +a former paper, had occasion to state +the extent of that fall down to the +commencement of the present year: +the accounts received of the state +of the Dumbarton market, held in the +beginning of June, are still more disastrous +than before. Throughout a +large portion of the Scottish Highlands—we +do not know, indeed, +whether we are entitled to make any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +exception—black cattle, the staple +of the country, will not pay the expense +of rearing. The enormous importation +of provisions from America +is annihilating this branch of produce, +with what compensating benefit to +the nation at large, it would be difficult +for an economist to explain.</p> + +<p>This is a state of matters which +cannot continue long without manifest +danger even to the tranquillity of the +country. It is quite plain that, at +present rates, agriculture cannot be +carried on as heretofore in Great +Britain. The farmer has been the +first sufferer; the turn of the landowner +is approaching. Let us illustrate +this shortly. There must be, on +an average of ordinary years, a certain +price at which wheat can be grown +remuneratively in this country. Sir +Robert Peel, no mean authority on +the subject, has indicated his opinion +that such price may be stated at or +about 56s. per quarter. Mr James +Wilson, rating it somewhat lower, +fixes it at 52s. 2d. Let us suppose, +that wheat for the future shall average +over England 39s. per quarter, and +that the produce of the acre is twenty-four +bushels, the loss on each acre of +wheat hereafter raised will be, according +to Sir Robert Peel, £2, 11s.—according +to Mr Wilson, £1, 19s. 6d. +What deduction of rent can meet +such a depreciation as this? Excluding +Middlesex, which is clearly exceptional, +the highest rented county +of England, Leicester, is estimated at +£1, 14s. 10d. per acre; Warwickshire, +at £1, 11s. 6d.; and Lincolnshire at +£1, 8s. Haddington and Fife, the +highest rented counties of Scotland, +are estimated at £1, 5s. 6d. per acre. +This of course includes much land of an +inferior description; but we believe +that, for the best arable land, an average +rent of 40s. per acre may be assumed. +In that case, supposing the whole rent +to be given up, the farmer would still +be a loser by cultivation, if Sir Robert +Peel is correct in his figures.</p> + +<p>Without presuming to offer an +opinion as to the accuracy of either of +the calculations submitted by these +two Free-trading authorities, we think +it is plain that the more favourable of +them, taken in connection with present +prices, is appalling enough to the +agriculturist, whether he be landlord +or tenant. We shall see, probably in +a month or two, whether it is likely +that even these prices can be maintained. +We are clearly of opinion +that the price of corn in this country +must fall to the level of the cheapest +market from which we can derive any +considerable supplies; and in that +case it is quite as likely that we may +see wheat quoted at 32s. or 33s., as +at 39s. or 40s. But the matter for +our consideration is, that, ever since +the repeal of the corn laws, the market +price of grain has been greatly +below the cost of its production; and +that there are no symptoms of any +amendment, but obviously the reverse.</p> + +<p>The inevitable result of the continuance +of such a state of matters is +too clear to admit of argument. The +land must go out of cultivation. The +process may be slow, but it will be +sure. It may, doubtless, be retarded +by remissions of rent not sufficient to +cover the farmer's losses, but great +enough to induce him to renew his +efforts for another year with the like +miserable result; until at length the +tiller of the soil is made bankrupt, +and the landowner occupies his place. +We can hardly trust ourselves to +depict the effect of such a social revolution. +All the misery which has +been already felt—and that is far +greater than our rulers will permit +themselves to believe—would be as +nothing compared with the calamitous +consummation of Free Trade.</p> + +<p>Yet it is towards that point that +we are rapidly tending. Some of the +fierce and more plain-spoken Radical +journals are so far from contradicting +our views, that they openly rejoice in +the havoc which has been already +made, and in the wider ruin which is +impending. They say plainly, looking +to the funds, that they see no +method of escaping from the domination +of the moneyed interest, except +through the prostration of the landlords. +Their meaning is quite distinct +and undisguised. They want to get +rid of the national debt, by reducing +the value of produce so low, that the +usual amount of taxation cannot possibly +be levied; and their scheme, however +nefarious, is by no means devoid +of plausibility. There can be no doubt +that the Currency Act of 1819 has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +operated most injuriously upon the +industry of the nation, by enhancing +the value of the claims of the creditor; +and that these claims, along with the +necessary expenses of government, +must be paid, <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">ante omnia</i>, from the +industrial produce of the year. The +cheapening process, therefore, is one +directly antagonistic to the maintenance +of taxation. The anomaly in +legislation of forcibly reducing the +value of produce, and yet maintaining +stringently an artificial standard of +taxation, has been reserved for our +times; yet, strange to say, though its +effects are visible and confessed, few +persons have courage or patience +enough to grapple with the difficulty. +Free Trade and a Fettered Currency +are things that cannot possibly co-exist +for any length of time; and our +sole surprise is, that any statesman +could be shortsighted enough to +attempt to reconcile them. Taken +singly, either of them is a great evil +to a country situated like ours—taken +together, they become absolutely intolerable. +But we have no wish, at +the present time, to depart from the +point before us. We are merely +taking the evidence of adversaries, to +show that our views as to the position +and prospects of the great productive +classes of Britain are so far from exaggerated +that they are acknowledged +by the most strenuous advocates of +Free Trade. The fundholder, nevertheless, +may derive a useful lesson +from these financial hints, which indicate +an ulterior purpose.</p> + +<p>Such is the state of the agricultural +interest throughout the three Kingdoms +at this moment, and such are +the prospects before us. The evidence, +albeit not taken before a committee +of either House of Parliament, is too +unanimous to admit of a doubt; +county after county, district after +district, parish after parish throughout +England, have testified to their +melancholy condition. The <cite>Times</cite> +may talk of mendicity, and the <cite>Economist</cite> +may trump up figures to show +that the farmers ought to be making +a profit even at present prices; but +neither irony nor fiction can avail to +discredit or pervert facts so well +authenticated as these. Of these +facts parliament is fully cognisant—not +only from the individual knowledge +of members as to what is passing +abroad—not only from the sentiments +expressed at many hundred +meetings, independent of the great +demonstrations lately made at London +and Liverpool—but from the +petitions which have been presented +to both Houses, praying for a reversal +of that policy which has proved so +detrimental to the interests of a large +section of her Majesty's subjects. +Yet still Parliament is silent, and the +first Minister of the Crown refuses +to sanction that appeal to the country, +which the exigency of the case would +seem to require, and which has been +resorted to on occasions far less peremptory +and pressing than this.</p> + +<p>Let us not be misunderstood. Our +wish simply is to record the fact of +such silence and refusal,—not to be +rash in censure. We cannot, and do +not forget the peculiar circumstances +connected with the last general election—the +political tergiversation +which preceded it, the hopes and +expectations which were then entertained +by many, as to the working of +the new system,—or the disorganisation +of parties. Even the most strenuous +opponents of the Free-Trade +measures, since these had passed into +a law, however iniquitously carried, +were desirous that the experiment +should have a fair trial, and that it +should not be impeded in its progress, +so long as, by the most liberal construction, +it could be held to justify the +anticipations of its authors. Many +names of great weight, influence, and +authority were found among the roll +of those who consented to the new +measures; and it was most natural +that, throughout the country, a number +of persons should be found willing to +surrender their own judgment upon +a matter yet untried, which had +received so creditable a sanction. +Therefore it was that the majority of +members returned to the present +House of Commons were Free-traders, +bound to the system by the double +ties of previous conviction and of +pledge; and though recent elections, +as well as the alarming posture of +affairs, have contributed materially +to alter the position of the two great +parties in the House, it would be unreasonable +as yet to look for a change, +in a body so constituted, at least to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +that extent which a reversal of the +adopted policy must imply.</p> + +<p>Neither can we rationally expect, +that Lord John Russell will be forward +to recognise a failure, where he +confidently anticipated a triumph. +We believe him to have been, far +more than Sir Robert Peel, the dupe +of those random assertions and presumptuous +calculations which were +thrust forward by men utterly unfit, +from their previous habits and education, +to pronounce an opinion upon +subjects of such magnitude and intricacy. +We should not be surprised if, +even now, his Lordship had some +lingering kind of faith in the prophecies +of the member for Westbury. +Men are slow to believe that the +ground is crumbling from below their +feet; that the political scaffolding +which they assisted to rear has been +pitched in a marshy quagmire. Self +love, and that kind of pride which is +so nearly allied to conceit that it +often assumes the form of obstinacy, +stand woefully in the way of recantation; +and moreover in the present +instance to recant is equivalent to +resign. We remember well the profound +and sagacious remark of Sir +Walter Scott, that "the miscarriage +of his experiment no more converts +the political speculator, than the +explosion of a retort undeceives an +alchymist." Lord John Russell in all +probability is not yet prepared, from +conviction, to revise his opinions on a +question in which he is so deeply committed. +He has a majority in the +House of Commons, and, according to +the forms of the constitution, so long +as he can command that majority, he +is entitled to persevere. It is well +that our friends, whatever pressing +cause they may have for their impatience, +should remember these +things; and not be too forward in +pressing wholesale accusations, either +against a Parliament chosen under +such peculiar circumstances, or a +Minister who is simply adhering to +the course long since avowed by himself, +and acted on by his immediate +predecessor. We may regret, and +many of us do unquestionably most +bitterly feel, the anomalous position +in which we are placed. A more +cruel, a more galling thought can +hardly be imagined than the conviction +which is very general abroad, +and which is also ours, that the present +Parliament does not represent the +feelings or the desires of the people; +that it is not consulting their welfare +or protecting their interests; and +that the duration of that Parliament +alone prevents a vigorous and successful +effort in the cause of British +industry. Yet still, while we feel all +this, let us not be unjust to others. +We cannot coerce opinion. We cannot +force honourable members at once +to retrace their steps, or to give the +lie to their acknowledged pledges. +We cannot complain of open wrong +if Ministers decline to accept our +voices, in lieu of the voices of those +whom we formerly sent as representatives. +Their answer and vindication +lies in the fact of their Parliamentary +majority. Why Parliament should +thus be placed in direct antagonism +to the country, is a very different +question. We need not go far in +search of the reason. It is the direct +consequence of that policy which Sir +Robert Peel thought fit to adopt, +not with regard to the abstract +measures of Free Trade, but for the +carrying of these measures into effect, +without an appeal to the country, +and by means which proved how +closely deceit is allied to tyranny. +Upon his head, if not the whole, at +least the primary responsibility rests. +He has accepted it, and let it abide +with him. And let no man affirm +that, in saying this, we are prolonging +any rancorous feeling, or seeking +to rub a sore which by this time +should be wellnigh healed. The +time for indignation and anger, if +injury coupled with perfidy can ever +provoke such sentiments, is not yet +past; it is now in its fullest force. +Had Sir Robert Peel acted as he +ought to have done—had he played +the part of a British statesman, +sincerely desirous that in a matter +of such magnitude the will of the +country should be respected—the +present Parliament, whatever might +have been its decision as to Free +Trade or Protection, would at least +have represented the wishes of the +electoral body; and if subsequent +events had shown that these wishes +were more sanguine than wise, the +error would have been a national one,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +and no weight of individual responsibility +would have been incurred. +As it is, we are not only justified, +but we are performing our duty, in +indicating the real and sole originator +of our present difficulties; and without +wishing in any degree to trench +upon his secret sources of consolation, +we can hardly imagine that he +will derive much comfort from the +knowledge, that his tortuous policy +has deprived the people in the hour +of need of their best constitutional +privilege and shield—the sympathy +and co-operation of that House +which is emphatically their own, +and which, to the great detriment of +the state, must lose its moral power +the moment that it ceases to represent +the will, and to protect the +interests of the Commons.</p> + +<p>We are well aware that such reflections +as these can bring but sorry +comfort to the farmers. Their situation +is one of unparalleled hardship, +unrelieved by any consideration +which can make the case of other +sufferers more tolerable. We fully +admit the vast extent of the powers +which, since the Great Revolution, +are held to be vested in Parliaments. +We cannot gainsay the doctrine that +these powers may, on occasion, be +exerted to the uttermost; but we +say, after the most careful and +thoughtful deliberation, that the proceedings +of the legislature with regard +to the farmers of Great Britain +are irreconcilable with the principles +of justice, with the sacred laws of +morality, which no legislative resolutions +can abrogate or annul. The +farmers are entitled to maintain that, +in so far as regards them, the public +faith has been broken. Such of them +as hold leases had a distinct and +unqualified guarantee given to them +by the protective laws; and the +allegation that the substitution of +the sliding-scale for a fixed duty +acted as a release for all former +Parliamentary engagements, is a +quibble so mean and wretched that +the basest attorney would be ashamed +to use it as a plea. The whole of the +farmers' fixed and floating capital, +estimated at the enormous sum of five +hundred millions sterling, has been +laid out on the faith of Protection; and +yet when that Protection was furtively +and treacherously withdrawn, no +measure was introduced for the purpose +of relieving them from engagements +contracted under the older +system, which were obviously incompatible +with the lowered prices +established by the formidable change. +The public, we are afraid, are not +aware of the extent of that depreciation +which is still going on, <em>and +which already exceeds the whole annual +value of the manufacturing productions +of Great Britain</em>. We borrow +the following table from a late +pamphlet by Mr Macqueen entitled, +"Statistics of Agriculture, Manufactures, +and Commerce, drawn up from +Official and Authentic Documents;" +and having tested it by every means +in our power, we have no hesitation +in adopting it. It is, in truth, a fearful +commentary on the rashness and +folly of our rulers.</p> + + +<p class="center">COMPARATIVE VALUES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE.</p> + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="produce"> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left">Protective value.</td><td align="left">Depreciation.</td><td align="left">Value 1850.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Grains, potatoes, &c.,</td><td align="right">£237,543,750</td><td align="right">£80,764,875</td><td align="right">£156,778,875</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Straw,</td><td align="right">100,700,000</td><td align="right">30,210,000</td><td align="right">70,490,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Green crops, pasture, &c.,</td><td align="right">222,404,786</td><td align="right">66,721,435</td><td align="right">155,683,351</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Sundries,</td><td align="right">8,500,000</td><td align="right">2,125,000</td><td align="right">6,375,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Wool, British,</td><td align="right">15,400,000</td><td align="right">1,540,000</td><td align="right">13,860,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="right" class="bt bb">£584,518,536</td><td align="right" class="bt bb">£181,361,310</td><td align="right" class="bt bb">£403,187,226</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>But this is not all. We have still +to deal with the depreciation or diminished +value of the farmers' fixed +capital, invested in live stock, &c., +which at the rate of 25 per cent, +(a most moderate calculation, and +below the mark in so far as Scotland +is concerned,) shows a loss +on £504,833,730 of £126,208,432 +<em>additional</em>!</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> + +<p>We put forward the case of the +farmers thus prominently, because, in +addition to the great public wrong +which has been done to them, they +have serious reason to complain of +the general apathy of the landlords. +We do not allude to the part which +the landowners took in 1846. We +believe that the majority of them +were sincerely disgusted by the conduct +of the men who had climbed +into office on their shoulders; and that +they loathed and despised in their +hearts the treachery of which they +were made the tools. We know, +moreover, that a great many of them +abstained from taking part in the +election of 1847, not being able to +see their way through the political +chaos in which we were then involved, +and having, naturally enough, +lost confidence in the probity of public +men, and despairing of the remodelment +of a strong constitutional +party. Such things were, perhaps, +inevitable; and it may be argued with +much show of reason, that no better +line of conduct was open to the landlords, +and that they did wisely in +reserving themselves for a more favourable +opportunity, when experience, +that stern and unfailing monitor, should +have exposed to the Free-traders +the falsity of their wild expectations. +But it is impossible for them now to +plead that the opportunity has not +arrived. The experiment has been +made, and has failed—failed utterly +and entirely, if the practical refutation +of the views advanced by all its leading +advocates is to be considered as +equivalent to failure. The current of +reaction has set in strong and steady, +not only in the counties, but in the +towns; not only among those who, from +their position, must be the earliest +sufferers, but among those who are +connected with the trade and general +commerce of Britain. The disorganised +party has rallied and is reformed +under leaders of great talent, +tried skill, and most assured loyalty +and honour. How is it that, in this +posture of affairs, any considerable section +of the landlords is still hanging +back? Why is it that they do not +place themselves, as is their duty, at +the head of their tenantry, and enforce +and encourage those appeals to public +justice, and to public policy, which are +now making themselves heard in every +quarter of the kingdom? We confess +that we are at a loss to know why +any apathy should be shown. The conduct +of the tenantry towards the landlords +has been generous and considerate +in the extreme. They were invited, in +no equivocal terms, to join their cause +with that of the Free-traders and financial +reformers; and they were promised, +in that event, the cordial assistance +of the latter towards the adjustment +of their rents, and the equalisation +of their public burdens. We venture +not an opinion whether such promise +was ever intended to be kept. Still it +was made; and no effort was left untried +to convince the farmers that +their cause was separate and apart +from that of the owners of the land. +Their refusal to enter into that unholy +alliance was most honourable to the +body of the tenantry, and entitles +them, at the hands of the proprietors, +to look not only for consideration and +sympathy, but for the most active and +energetic support. Very ill indeed +shall we augur of the spirit and +patriotism of the gentlemen of England, +if they longer abstain from identifying +themselves universally with a movement +which is not only a national +one, in the strictest sense of the word, +but upon which depends the maintenance +of their own interests and order. +Surely they cannot have been so dull +or so deaf to what is passing around +them, as not to be aware that they +were especially marked out as the +victims of the Manchester confederacy! +These are not times in which any man +can afford to be apathetic, nor will +any trivial excuse for languor or indifference +be accepted. Exalted position, +high character, the reputation +for princely generosity, and the best +of private reputations, will be no apology +for inactivity in a crisis so momentous +as this. Organisation, union, +and energy are at all times the chief +means for insuring success; and we +trust that, henceforward, there may be +less timidity shown by those who +ought to take the foremost rank in a +contest of such importance, and who +cannot abstain longer from doing so +without forfeiting their claim to that +regard which has hitherto been readily +accorded them.</p> + +<p>It will be observed that, as yet, we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +have put the case for Protection upon +very narrow grounds. We have +shown that, so far as the agricultural +body is concerned, Free Trade has +proved most injurious, and that it +cannot be persisted in without bringing +downright ruin to that section of +the community. If we had nothing +more to advance than this, still we +should be entitled to maintain that +enough has been adduced to show the +necessity of retracing our steps. The +annihilation of such an important +body as the agriculturists of Britain, +implies of itself a revolution as great +as ever was effected in the world; and +to that, assuredly, if the agriculturists +stood alone, they would not tamely +submit. When Mr Cobden or his +satellites addressed the people of Manchester, +through their League circulars, +to the following effect, "If the Americans +will only put down their monopolising +manufacturers, and we put +down our monopolising landowners +here, when our election time comes, +we will lay the Mississippi valley +alongside of Manchester, and we will +have a glorious trade then!"—and +again, "Our doctrine is, let the working +man ply his hammer, or his +spindle, or his shuttle, and let the +Kentucky or the Illinois farmer, by +driving his plough in the richest land +on the surface of the earth, feed this +mechanic or this weaver, and let him +send home his produce in exchange +for the products of our operatives and +artisans"—they seem to have forgotten +the temper and mould of the men with +whom they proposed to deal so summarily. +It is not quite so easy to expatriate +three millions of able-bodied +men; nor do we opine that a power +morally or physically adequate to the +task of such removal exists in the +manufacturing districts. But, in +reality, of all idle talk that ever issued +from the lips or the pen of an inflated +demagogue, this is the silliest and the +worst. It presupposes an amount of +ignorance on the part of his audience +anything but flattering to the calibre +of the Manchester intellect: indeed +we hardly know which is most to be +admired—its intense and transparent +folly or its astounding audacity. The +home trade is a thing altogether kept +out of account in the foregoing +splendid vision of a calico millennium. +Mr Cobden, it will be seen, contemplates +no home consumption, except +in so far as the operative may provide +himself with his own shirtings. +The whole production of Britain is to +be limited to manufactures; the whole +supplies are to be derived from the +hands of the reciprocating foreigner!</p> + +<p>There does not exist in this great +and populous country any one class +the labour of which can be restricted, +or the profits curtailed, without an +injurious result to the interests of the +whole community. This is not simply +a maxim of political economy; it is +a distinct physical fact, which no ingenuity +can controvert. Yet, strange +to say, our rulers have acted, and are +acting, with regard to by far the most +important class of the country, as if +no such fact were known; and they +now profess to be amazed at its speedy +and inevitable consequence. That +agricultural distress must react upon +the manufacturer, the trader, shopkeeper, +and artisan, is as necessary a +consequence as is a failure in the +supply of water after a long-continued +drought. If our taxation is artificial, +and our national establishments costly, +it must not be forgotten that our private +expenditure is generally on the +same scale. We consume within the +country a far greater amount of manufactures +than we can ever hope to export, +and the only limit to that consumption +is the power of purchase. +The profits of the landowner, which +depend upon the value of produce, do +not constitute a fund which is removed +from public circulation. On the contrary, +these profits furnish the means +of labour and employment to the +greater portion of the industrious +classes, who otherwise would have no +resource; and if they are violently +curtailed, it must needs follow that +a large amount of employment is withdrawn. +That is precisely our case at +the present moment. By the admission +of foreign produce, which is in +fact foreign labour, the value of agricultural +production in this country has +fallen very nearly thirty per cent, and +the consequence is a greatly diminished +expenditure, and a slackening +of employment grievously felt by those +who are supported by manual labour. +How, indeed, is it possible that it can +be otherwise? A very little thought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +must convince every one that all incomes +in Britain must depend upon +the amount and value of the national +production, and that, by reducing and +lowering that, a direct attack is made +upon the profits of every kind of +labour. It is singular that consequence +so plain should ever have been +overlooked; still more singular that +statesmen should have been found to +maintain an opposite theory. The +only explanation we can suggest as +to this singular departure from the leading +principles of economical science +is, that of late years Ministers have +habitually consulted the interests of +the capitalists rather than those of the +people. Sir Robert Peel has invariably +shown himself a capitalist legislator. +At the outset of his career, +and while under the Israelitish guidance +of Ricardo, he succeeded in carrying +those Currency measures which +increased by nearly one-third the +weight of the national obligations. +Later in life we find him engaged in +measures of arbitrary bank restriction, +thereby occasioning commercial panics, +and securing another rich harvest for +the moneyed class. His tariffs and +Free-trade measures exhibit precisely +the same tendency. They are all +constructed with a view to cheapness, +or, what is the same thing, to the +diminution of the value of labour, so +that the fortune of the capitalist or +fundholder is now virtually doubled: +while the industrious classes, with a +lowered rate of wage, are compelled +to undergo the additional evil of unrestricted +foreign competition.</p> + +<p>Let us now, for a brief space, proceed +to consider the internal adjustment +of the strength and industry of +Britain. It is a subject well worthy +of study, especially at the present +moment, when a general feeling of +perplexity prevails, and when those +who unfortunately gave ear to the +specious representations of the Free-traders +are convinced of their error, +but are yet in doubt whether it be +possible to retrace our steps. It is a +subject, moreover, upon which we are +bound to enter, seeing that official +cunning has been used to conceal the +real posture of affairs in this country, +and, by undervaluing the magnitude +of some interests, to give a factitious +and altogether imaginary importance +to others. We trust that we shall be +able to show, to the satisfaction of +our readers, the gross extent to which +this kind of delusion and imposture +has been carried.</p> + +<p>Upon no subject whatever are more +erroneous impressions entertained, +than upon the relative importance and +strength of the two great classes of +the country. Of late it has been +quietly assumed that the manufacturers +are infinitely superior to the +agriculturists, not only in point of +numbers, but in respect of capital employed +or available; and many people +have been puzzled to understand why, +if this should be the case, such vehement +opposition should be made to +any proposal for readjusting the direct +and local taxation, which confessedly +weighs most heavily upon the proprietors +and occupiers of the land. +We have been told, in as many words, +that henceforward the voice of the +towns is to dictate the policy of Britain—that +the agriculturists are a +worn-out class, scarce worth preserving—and +the most influential of the +Free-trade journals has not hesitated +to recommend a wholesale emigration +to the Antipodes, or any portion of the +surface of the globe where corn can be +cultivated cheaper than in England. +We have been not only taunted, but +threatened, whenever we presumed to +expostulate. Reference was made to +certain "masses," who were ready to +rise in defence of perennial cheapness; +and Mr Cobden has warned us not to +provoke the exercise of that power +which is vested in himself, as dictator +of the democracy. In short, we have +been given to understand that, if protection +to native industry, in any +shape, should be re-introduced—which +only can be done by the will and legitimate +sanction of Parliament—physical +force shall not be wanting on the +other side.</p> + +<p>The use of such language argues +great ignorance of the national +temper. We have heard a good +deal lately of what is termed the +dogged Anglo-Saxon spirit, the main +characteristic of which we take to be +its decided antagonism to bullying, +and its inveterate hatred of coercion. +It is too much to expect that a controversy +such as this should be conducted +without some asperity of language,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +and therefore we make no clamorous +complaint when Mr Cobden, +or his friends, think proper to designate +the British agriculturists as +"ignorant clodpoles" and "horse-shoe +idiots," or the landed proprietors +as "a selfish and degraded faction," +or the Protectionist press as the +"hireling tools of oppression." These +are very old and very harmless terms +of rhetoric, and we are not sure that +we can claim entire vindication from +the charge of having retorted with +tolerable energy. The real danger +begins when men step beyond constitutional +limits, and advocate resistance +to the legislature by appealing +to the passions, as they have pandered +to the prejudices, of the mob.</p> + +<p>Having premised so much, we think +no one can misinterpret our motives, +if we set ourselves seriously to the +task of refuting a great fallacy which +has been hatched and propagated by +the Free-traders. It is one so monstrous +in itself that we hardly could +have supposed that any man, who had +reflected for a moment on the subject, +could have yielded to the delusion: +nevertheless, we believe it to be most +common, and it has been over and +over again repeated at public meetings, +until it has lost its quality as an +assertion, and been treated as a recognised +fact. It is within the recollection +of all of us, that, both within the +walls of Parliament and at the great +outward gatherings of the League, the +superiority of the manufacturing over +the agricultural interest of Great Britain +was broadly asserted, and assumed +as the basis of the leading argument +of the Free-traders. Sir Robert Peel +expressly adopted this view in 1846, +while advocating the repeal of the +policy, which he had hitherto professed +to support; we say, <em>professed</em>, because +no man now doubts—indeed, it +is fairly admitted by himself, with +something like a sneer of triumph—that +for many years he had been +practising a deliberate imposture on +the public. This view necessarily +must have had some foundation on +authority, if not on fact; and we can +trace that authority to a statistical +writer, Mr Porter, on whose accuracy, +and method of dealing with figures, +far too much reliance has been placed +by statesmen high in office.</p> + +<p>In dealing with the census of 1841, +and compiling his tables with a view +to show the relative occupations of +the people, Mr Porter has adopted +the ingenious plan of massing commerce, +trade, and manufactures together, +and exhibiting the aggregate +of these in contradistinction to the +purely agricultural interest! At page +55 of the last edition of his <cite>Progress +of the Nation</cite> we find this statement—"The +following more elaborate table +of the occupations of the population +of Great Britain, as ascertained in +1841, his been compiled from the +Reports of the Census Commissioners. +<em>It affords the best abstract</em> that has +hitherto been attainable upon this +important branch of political arithmetic."</p> + +<p>We turn to the table indicated in +this modest passage, and we find the +following results for Great Britain +alone:—</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="GB"> +<tr><td align="left">Persons engaged in commerce, trade, and manufacture,</td><td align="right">3,092,787</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Agriculture,</td><td align="right">1,490,785</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Labour not agricultural,</td><td align="right">758,495</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>This, of course, is exclusive of the +army, navy, learned professions, +domestic servants, and various other +employments, besides women and +children. In another table, Mr Porter, +estimating the male population of +Great Britain, (excluding Ireland,) +who were then upwards of twenty +years of age, at 4,761,091, divides +them thus:—</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="males"> +<tr><td align="left">Agriculture,</td><td align="left">1,198,156</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Trade, manufactures, &c.,</td><td align="left">2,125,496</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Other classes,</td><td align="left">1,437,439</td></tr> + +<tr><td> </td><td align="right" class="bt">4,761,091</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>If, as Mr Spackman most properly +observes in his excellent work, the +<cite>Analysis of the Occupations of the +People</cite>, one of the principal objects of +taking the census is to trace the +relative degree of dependence of one +class upon another, how can this be +done if all the trade and commerce of +the country is to be mixed up with +manufactures? "Mr Porter would +have us to consider trade and commerce, +<em>and manufactures</em> as synonymous +terms, and that together they +only form one class; and he seems to +be so thoroughly haunted with the +numerical weakness of the manufacturing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +interest, that his fear of its +being discovered peeps out in every +paragraph; and, by mixing them up in +every table in which they are mentioned +in his book, with those engaged +in trade and commerce, he has +effectually succeeded in his object."</p> + +<p>As we propose to lay before our +readers the results of Mr Spackman, +it may be proper shortly to state +the principles which have guided +him in his classification of the +official returns. He recognises but +two great classes of the community +engaged in the production of wealth, +and upon these he justly considers +the whole of the remainder to be +dependent. The following extract +from his preface will sufficiently +explain his view:—</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"Of the number of persons actually employed +by the agriculturists and manufacturers, +no difference of opinion can exist, +as we have adopted the Government classification +in every instance, and copied the +figures given in the returns. We believe +this classification to be correct in principle, +and but slightly erroneous in +details.</p> + +<p>"Political economists may exercise +their ingenuity by calling in question this +classification, but we believe it is the +only one that accurately traces the dependence +of an individual on the one or +the other interest; and, as this is the +primary object of all such matters, if it +attains this end, it is sufficient for all +purposes. By the landed interest we +mean not only the proprietors of the soil, +but all that are engaged in its cultivation, +and all the interests that are +dependent on and supported by both +landlord and tenant. An agriculturist +is one who grows the raw material. The +manufacturer changes the fabric from +cotton into calico, flax into linen, wool +into cloth, raw into manufactured silk, +mineral ores into various combinations +of metals, and the skin of an animal into +leather.</p> + +<p>"All besides the agriculturists and +the manufacturers are auxiliaries, not +principals. Thus the handicraftsman +alters the form, but not the substance, +and adapts the article to the use of the +consumer,—so the miller, baker, and +butcher; the tailor, milliner, and shoemaker.</p> + +<p>"There is also a very numerous class, +who neither produce, manufacture, nor +alter the shape or substance of an article, +and these are called merchants, if they +buy and sell in a wholesale manner, or +shopkeepers and retail dealers if they +sell by retail. The business of these is +to distribute all articles imported from +abroad or produced at home, through +every city, town, and village, in the +United Kingdom; and the Government +definition of all these auxiliaries is +'engaged in trade and commerce.'</p> + +<p>"The dependence of any particular +class engaged in trade and commerce, or +in handicraft, is not upon the party who +produces, alters, or supplies the article, +but on the individual who consumes it; +and if there is any tax whatever on the +raw material, or on anything used in its +manufacture, adaptation, or distribution, +it is on him that all and every item of +such tax, together with all profits and +charges, must ultimately fall.</p> + +<p>"Inasmuch, however, as there is no +wealth in this country of any amount, but +what has been derived either from agriculture +or manufactures, nor any of +which the value is not determined by +the success of these, so again this consumer, +whatever his rank or position in +society may be, is mainly dependent on +them. The rental of land, the income +from houses, or investments in the public +funds, are merely the representatives of +so much labour; and the means necessary +to pay them are principally drawn from +either agriculture or manufactures.</p> + +<p>"Our annual creation of wealth may +be thus stated:—</p></blockquote> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="annual"> +<tr><td align="left">Agriculture,</td><td align="right">£250,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Manufactures, deducting the value of the raw material,</td><td align="right">127,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Money interest,</td><td align="right">37,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Colonial interest,</td><td align="right">18,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Foreign commerce, (including shipping interest,) 10 per cent on amount of exports and imports,</td><td align="right">15,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Fisheries,</td><td align="right">3,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td><td align="right" class="bt">£450,000,000"</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><em>And from one or other of these does +every individual in the land derive his income +or means of support.</em> The Peer +of the realm, the landed proprietor, +the Government annuitant, the clergyman, +the medical and the legal adviser, +with the banker, merchant, dealer, and +handicraftsman of every class and +kind,—derive what is necessary to +support their state and condition, and +their daily sustenance, from these +spring-heads of national wealth. +This is the substance of the nation, +and what we call money consists +merely of the counters we use to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +denote and measure the value of this +substance as it passes from one to +another.</p> + +<blockquote> + +<p>"To do equal justice to all classes, the +legislation of a country ought, therefore, +to keep steadily in view their relative +importance, not only as regards numbers, +but also their powers of production, and +the proportion which they severally bear +of the national burdens. Unless this is +the governing principle, it strikes at the +root of their prosperity, and the injury +inflicted on a class is evinced in the +gradual decay of the whole community."</p></blockquote> + +<p>Acting upon these distinct, and, we +submit, perfectly sound principles, +Mr Spackman has compiled his tables +in the following manner. The Government +returns are quite explicit as to +the number of those engaged directly +in agriculture and in manufactures. +Mr Spackman takes each county +separately; and having set down the +relative numbers of each class, he +divides the remainder of the population +between these according to their proportion. +For example, let us instance +his table of the county of Lanark, +which is the great seat of Scottish +manufactures. We find, from the +official returns, that the following +numbers are directly engaged:—</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="divided"> +<tr><td align="left">In Agriculture,</td><td align="right">13,169</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">In Manufactures of all kinds,</td><td align="right">61,378</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The residue of the population being +352,425, he divides in the same +proportion, and thus gives us as a +result:—</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">Engaged in Agriculture,</td><td align="right">13,169</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Dependent on,</td><td align="right" class="bb">62,257</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left"> </td><td align="right">75,426</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Engaged in Manufactures,</td><td align="right">61,378</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Dependent on,</td><td align="right" class="bb">290,168</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left"> </td><td align="right" class="bb">351,546</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">Total of county,</td><td align="left"> </td><td align="right">426,972</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>In the same way, by estimating the +population of Perthshire directly +employed in agriculture and manufactures, +Mr Spackman forms his +table thus,—</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="engaged"> +<tr><td align="left">Engaged in Agriculture,</td><td align="right">16,302</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Dependent on,</td><td align="right" class="bb">64,233</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left"> </td><td align="right">80,535</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Engaged in Manufactures,</td><td align="right">11,509</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Dependent on,</td><td align="right" class="bb">45,346</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> </td><td align="left"> </td><td align="right" class="bb">56,855</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">Total of County,</td><td align="left"> </td><td align="right">137,390</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>The grand result for the United +Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland +is as follows:—</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="grand result"> +<tr><td align="left">Engaged in, and dependent on agriculture,</td><td align="right">18,734,468</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Engaged in, and dependent on manufactures,</td><td align="right">8,091,621</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Population, exclusive of those travelling on night of census,</td><td align="right" class="bt">26,826,089</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Lest it should be said that Mr +Spackman has acted upon any wrong +principle in framing these tables—for +we know by experience that a certain +class of political economists can see no +virtue in any figures which are not of +their own construction—let us turn to +the Government reports, and extract +from them the number of males <em>directly</em> +employed in the two great branches of +production.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Agriculture.</span></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="agriculture"> +<tr><td align="left">Farmers and Graziers,</td><td align="right">737,206</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Agricultural Labourers,</td><td align="right">2,312,388</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Gardeners, Nurserymen, &c.</td><td align="right">60,767</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">All others,</td><td align="right">9,196</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">Total Males,</td><td align="right" class="bt">3,118,557</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Manufactures.</span></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="manufactures"> +<tr><td align="left">Above 20,</td><td align="right">717,780</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Under 20,</td><td align="right">168,964</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">Total Males,</td><td align="right" class="bt">886,744</td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<p>"It will thus be seen," says Mr +Spackman, "that the farmers and +graziers alone, as a body, are more +in number than all the males above +twenty years of age employed in +manufactures, and only 150,000 short +of the whole number of males of all +ages so employed. If we add the two +and a quarter millions of labourers +which these farmers and graziers give +employment to, the <em>male</em> population +employed in agriculture are nearly as +four to one compared with those employed +in manufactures. The same +remark will also apply as to age: those +above twenty are four to one; those +under twenty are nearly two to one."</p> + +<p>We put forward these statements<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +with no other view than to exhibit to +our readers the national importance +of that agricultural interest which has +been so bitterly assailed, and which +is threatened still by a heavier accession +of calamity. If the bastard system +of Free Trade is to be considered +according to its influence on the welfare +of the majority of the people of +Britain, there can be no doubt to +which side the vast preponderance +belongs. The "horse-shoe idiots," +though dull in intellect, are numerous +in the flesh to an extent of which, +perhaps, even Mr Cobden was little +aware. It is quite true that the extended +area over which they are disposed +does not afford them the same +means of combination which are within +the reach of the inhabitants of the +factories. The agriculturalists have no +wish to interfere with their neighbours' +livelihood, and little inclination to +move at the bidding of mercenary demagogues. +They seldom speak until +suffering or a sense of injustice compels +them to appeal to the legislature: +and their unwillingness to join in +agitation has, ere now, been made +subject of taunt against them. Were +it otherwise, we should not attach +one half the importance which we do +to the movement which is visible all +over the face of agricultural England—a +movement which the advocates +of Free Trade may affect to despise, +but which, in reality, has struck them +with consternation. And no wonder +that the movement should have been +made. Let us pass from the mere +numerical consideration, and look to the +extent of property which is embarked +on the one side and on the other.</p> + +<p>We have already stated the annual +value of the agricultural production of +these kingdoms to be £250,000,000, +whilst that of manufactures is little +more than £127,000,000. To +this latter sum we must add about +£50,000,000, being the estimated cost +of the raw material, if we wish to calculate +from the exports the importance +of the home market compared with +that which is to be found abroad. +For example, if the declared value of +the exports shall amount to 69 millions, +we are entitled to assume that +about 117 millions are consumed at +home in a year of ordinary prosperity. +This, of course, is no more than an +approximation to the truth, but it is +the nearest which can be made from +such documents, reports, and returns, +as are accessible to the statist. Let +us take Mr Spackman's estimate of +the capital employed, referring our +readers for the details to his exceedingly +interesting work.</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Agricultural Capital.</span></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="capital"> +<tr><td align="left">Value of the Land, at 25 years' purchase of the annual rental of Great Britain and Ireland, amounting, to £58,753,615</td><td> </td><td align="left">£1,500,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Farmers' capital, employed in the cultivation of the soil, independent of the stock on hand, at all times, of cattle, grain, &c., £5 to £6 per acre on 46,522,970 acres, about</td><td> </td><td align="left">250,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">Stock in hand—</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">About 7,500,000 head of cattle,</td><td align="left">}</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">About 31,000,000 sheep and lambs,</td><td align="left">}</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">About 1,500,000 horses,</td><td align="left">}</td><td align="right">250,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">About £50,000,000 value of timber,</td><td align="left">}</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">On an average, three months stock of grain, seeds, hay, and other produce always on hand,</td><td align="left">}</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">Estimated agricultural capital</td><td> </td><td align="right" class="bt bb">£2,000,000,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p class="center"><br /><span class="smcap">Manufacturing Capital.</span></p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Manufacturing Capital"> +<tr><td align="left">In Cotton,</td><td align="right">£24,500,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> " Woollen,</td><td align="right">16,500,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> " Linen,</td><td align="right">7,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> " Silk,</td><td align="right">4,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> " Lace,</td><td align="right">2,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left"> " Hose,</td><td align="right">1,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">All others,</td><td align="right">23,000,000</td></tr> +<tr><td align="right">Estimated manufacturing capital,</td><td align="right" class="bt bb">£78,000,000</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span></p> + +<p>The first reflection which must +come home to the mind of every one +who considers these tables, is the +astounding audacity of those who +have characterised the landlords as a +grasping and rapacious class. Singular, +nay, almost incredible as it +may appear, the annual value of the +production of manufactures is nearly +double the amount of the whole capital +invested. This fact sufficiently +explains the manner in which so +many colossal fortunes have been +realised, while it also suggests very +painful reflections as to the condition +of the operatives who are the creators +of all this wealth. But what are we +to think of the conduct of the men +who, not content with such enormous +returns, have leagued together to +swell them to a greater amount, by +demanding the free importation of +foreign produce, under the pretext +that the people were oppressed by the +continuance of a system which gave +remunerative prices, continuous employment, +and the means of livelihood +to two-thirds of their aggregate +number? We acquit many of the +leading and most respectable manufacturers +from being participators in +any such scheme. Those connected +with the home trade have very generally +been opposed to the application +of the Free-trade doctrines, the +leading advocates of which were +comprised of men who manufactured +solely for exportation, and whose +goods were neither intended nor +adapted for British consumption. It +was for the exclusive benefit, as at +the instigation of the latter, that the +Corn Laws were repealed. Few can +be sorry—we confess we are not—that +even they have been disappointed +in their expectations. No tariffs have +been relaxed in consequence of the +ill-omened surrender; on the contrary, +the Continental states, as well +as the Americans, are protecting their +own manufactures with increased +vigilance; whilst, on the other hand, +they are availing themselves of our +folly, by deluging our market with +their agricultural produce, securing +by these means the double advantage +of promoting both branches of industry. +Never was there a vainer +notion than the chimera that other +states would abandon their rising +manufactures to reciprocate with +Great Britain, when that haughty +power had deliberately deprived herself +of the means of enforcing reciprocity. +<em>The countries from which we +import the largest amount of grain are +not the countries which take the largest +amount of our manufactures.</em> Even +if the case were otherwise, we maintain +that we should be heavy losers, +and in no way gainers, by the transaction. +Nationally, this is so clear +that we need not waste words by +arguing the point; but we go further +and say that, even had other states +reciprocated, the manufacturers, as a +body, could not have been gainers by +Free Trade, unless the relative proportions +between the amount of +home and foreign consumption had +been entirely changed. For, so long +as two-thirds of our whole manufactures +are annually consumed in Britain, +the condition of the consumers +there, and their power of purchase, +must be a matter of greater importance +to the manufacturer than that of +consumers abroad. The interest of +the shopkeepers and of the artisans is +almost entirely bound up with the home +trade; and nothing can be more suicidal +to the traders than to give +any countenance to a system which +strikes at the amount of their profits, +by crippling the means of their customers.</p> + +<p>Were our object merely to show +the glaring injustice which has been +done to the landed interest, we could +proceed much further in disentangling +details from the confusion into which +they have been purposely thrown, by +such statistical writers as Mr Porter. +But we apprehend that, in the present +temper of the nation, there is little +occasion for this. Men of all classes +have had that opportunity which experience +can alone give, of testing in +their own individual case the advantages +which were so confidently predicted +by those who advocated the +commercial change. Those who have +benefited by it will, of course, remain +Free traders. We are not unreasonable +enough to expect that they will +abandon that policy which is profitable +to themselves, even though they +should be convinced that it has proved +the reverse of profitable to others. +But we can conscientiously say, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +we are acquainted with very few such +persons. In the country they do not +exist: in the towns, we hear of nothing +except continued and weary depression. +Almost every day fresh complaints of +want of employment are thrust upon +us. Establishments are reduced, because +those who were considered +wealthy, and those whose wealth depended +upon produce, have no longer the +means to support them as before: +even professional incomes are declining: +and no one ventures now to +indulge in that expenditure which, +four or five years ago, gave an impulse +to the industry of the people. +All this we believe to be acknowledged, +and we have heard it from +the lips of many whose political +creed is quite at variance with our +own.</p> + +<p>Most important testimony to the +same effect was borne, at the recent +meeting in Liverpool, by gentlemen +who, from profession and connection, +belong to the mercantile and trading classes +of the community. It is no +vague apprehension of coming evil, +no slight or ephemeral touch of distress, +which has elicited declarations +of opinion so strong as were there +expressed. The urgency of the case +is felt and acknowledged; and ere +long we have not the slightest doubt +that demonstrations of similar magnitude +and importance will take place +in other of the English towns.</p> + +<p>From what we have already said, +it will be gathered that we recommend +no hasty or precipitate movement. +Our strength lies in the justice +of our cause, and in the palpable +failure of the measures against which +we have emphatically protested. +This is not a question of mere sentiment, +regarding which men can long +continue to maintain divided opinions. +It is a practical question, affecting not +only the general welfare of the kingdom, +but the property and means of +every man who lives and thrives +through his industry. It is essentially +a labour question, and, as such, it +cannot long remain without receiving +a distinct solution. In the mean +time, however, it is our duty to make +preparation for the change which may +arrive at no distant period. The +various Protection societies which +are everywhere organised, offer to +those who condemn the present line of +policy the best opportunity of concentrating +their efforts, and of contributing +to the ultimate triumph of +the cause. These societies must be +supported, for, under existing +circumstances, they are of the utmost value. +They present a ready channel through +which the wishes and situation of the +people can be communicated to the legislature +or the throne; they establish +and preserve communication between +neighbouring districts; and +they supply useful information, and +disseminate sound principles, in quarters +where good political knowledge is +most especially required. We trust +that no one who entertains opinions +similar to our own, and who is deeply +impressed with the necessity of a return +to the just system of Protection, +will be backward in lending his aid to +these institutions. From the peculiar +position of the agricultural party, such +combinations are absolutely necessary, +in order to arrive at a just estimate of +our strength, and the true sentiments +of the nation. Private efforts, however +energetically made, are ineffectual +in compassion with this system of +union and of order; and although we +know that agitation is in itself a thing +distasteful to many, the emergency of +the case is such that we are imperatively +bound to adopt all legitimate +means for the furtherance of our +object. It may be that under no +circumstances whatever can redress be +obtained from the present Parliament. +We have already adverted to the +peculiar causes which would seem to +render such an expectation at best a +forlorn hope; yet still that furnishes +no reason for relaxing in our efforts. +The Whig Ministry—by the confession +of men of all parties—has a most +precarious tenure of office. Already +the House of Peers has passed its +gravest censure upon the course of +foreign policy which has been pursued—a +course of which it is difficult +to say whether its most prominent +feature is culpable recklessness or +glaring dishonesty. We do not know +what may be the decision of the House +of Commons upon a point of such +importance, or whether unscrupulous +influence, and the dread of a dissolution, +may not overcome the dictates of +honour and the force of private judgement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +in the more popular assembly. +But, whatever may be the fiat of the +Commons, this at least is clear, that +a severe blow has been given to the +stability of the Whig Government. Beyond +the walls of Parliament they +have hardly any support upon a question +which threatens to involve us +in direct hostility with France; and +nothing could have more effectually +damaged them, even in this wretched +business, than the acerbity of the tone +assumed by Lord John Russell with +regard to the European powers, who +are most justly incensed at the paltering +and bad faith of the political incendiary +who, to the misfortune of +this country, has been intrusted +with the management of foreign +affairs. Neither the honour nor the +interests of Britain are safe in such +hands. Therefore we say to the men +of the Country Party—Be prepared to +act, for no one can tell how soon the +moment for action may arrive. Ours +is a great cause, and it must not be +imperilled by slothfulness or inactivity +at a crisis which requires the +exertion of all our energies, and the +combination of all our powers. Let +us but be true to ourselves, and +ultimate success is certain. Delusions +may for a time have taken hold +of the public mind; but the endurance +of all delusions is short, and the mist +is rapidly dissipating. Let any man +compare the state of public feeling as +it exists now, with what it was but +twelve months ago, and he cannot fail +to be impressed with the amazing +rapidity of the change. And yet, why +should he wonder at it? The industry +of the nation is at stake, and what +marvel that the people should demand +their own?</p> + +<p>That cheapness of itself is no blessing, +even our opponents admit in the +arguments which they try to direct +against us. Read their accounts of +the squalidness and poverty which +prevail in the larger towns—the testimony +which has been laboriously collected +as to the lamentable fall of +wages, and the diminished profits of +thousands employed in the lower kinds +of handicraft. Undoubtedly competition +among themselves has contributed +to this state of matters; but in no +degree at all commensurate to the +great decline which has taken place +since we commenced the ruinous system +of reducing customs duties. Mr +Joseph Hume once ventured to maintain, +in the House of Commons, "that +England might exist and prosper as a +purely manufacturing and commercial +country, if it did not grow a single +bushel of corn,—if, in exchange for its +manufactures and minerals, it imported +from the cheap corn-producing +countries every quarter of wheat required +in this country!" How far +that statement is compatible with the +ascertained sources of the national +wealth, we leave our readers to decide. +This much, however, we shall say, that +England, so situated, would be a very +different country from that which we +have known; and that the wildernesses +of the West would offer a place of abode +infinitely preferable to that which we +could enjoy here under the gentle sway +of the Millocrats, and the enlightened +legislation of the Economists.</p> + + +<p class="center space-above"><em>Printed by William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh.</em></p> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<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> <cite>Histoire des Ducs de Guise.</cite> Par <span class="smcap">Réné de +Bouillé</span>, ancien ministre plénipotentiaire. +Volume the First. Paris: 1849.</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> Francis of Lorraine was eighteen years old when slain at Pavia. One of his +brothers had fallen, at about the same age, at the battle of Marignano.</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> Having ourselves seen the Old Guard on this trying occasion, we can vouch for +the general fidelity of Chateaubriand's narrative.</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> <span class="smcap">Macaulay's</span> <cite>Essays</cite>, ii. 230.</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> <span class="smcap">Machabies.</span></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> M. de Chateaubriand died in 1847, before the Revolution of 1848.</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> Men employed in the stowing of ships' cargoes.</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> Looking into Homer's <cite>Iliad</cite> here for a passage to correspond with the account +given by the naval man, one is somewhat at a loss; but at the end of the second +book of the <cite>Odyssey</cite> there occur lines which might not improbably have been those +recited. They are such as might well, in the original, excite longings after sea-life, +and revive feelings of the kind most natural to the seafaring character, apparently +known to Captain Collins only as "Jones." Will the readers of Maga accept, illustratively, +of a rough translation?— +</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Then to Telemachus glided on board divinest Athenè,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where on the poop she sat, and near her Telemachus rested.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then were the moorings loosed by the mariners coming aboard her,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Joyous coming on board, and seated apart on the benches.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A fair westerly breeze by the blue-eyed goddess was wafted,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cheerfully rippling along, and over the deep-coloured ocean.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now to his shipmates shouted Telemachus, while to the oar-blades<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Leapt the impatient surge, till each at his order obeying,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stepped they the pine-mast then in the mast-hole ready amidships,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Firmly staying it both ways down; and next by the well-twisted hide-thongs,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Snowily spreading abroad, the sails drew fluttering downward.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And in the sail-breast blew the bellying wind with a murmur,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The purple wave hissed from the prow of the bark in its motion;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Into the riotous wave she plunged, pursuing her voyage.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But when their oars they drew back to the galley securely,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The swift, dark-sided bark, as she full on her journey exulted—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then to her foaming beak they brought the o'er-bubbling goblet<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Of red-hued wine, and poured out on her head a libation<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To the immortal gods, that dwell in the sky and in ocean,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But to the blue-eyed daughter of Jupiter mostly, Athené.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All night then they sailed, till the morning rose on their voyage.<br /></span> +</div></div> +</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> Lascar boatswain's mate.</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> It is of importance to keep in view that it never was asserted that the <em>first</em> move, +the 26th, had not been sufficiently examined; and it will be immediately seen that +that move was adhered to, no attempt being made to recall it. The truth is, that the +London Club could not have played a better move than their 27th. Their mistake, +as was first discovered by the Edinburgh Club, was in the 26th move, the one +adhered to <em>after examination</em>.</p></div></div> + +<hr class="chap" /> + +<div class="tn"><h3>Transcriber's note:</h3> +<p>Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note. Irregularities and inconsistencies in the text have been retained as printed.</p> + +<p>Mismatched quotes are not fixed if it's not sufficiently clear where the missing quote should be placed.</p> + +<p>The cover for the eBook version of this book was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume +68, No. 417, July, 1850, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE, JULY 1850 *** + +***** This file should be named 44338-h.htm or 44338-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/4/3/3/44338/ + +Produced by Brendan OConnor, Jonathan Ingram and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://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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