NOTES

TO

THE POET'S PILGRIMAGE TO WATERLOO,

PART I.

The second day was that when Martel broke
The Mussulmen.-I. 3, p. 12.

Upon this subject, Miss Plumptre relates a remarkable anecdote, in the words of one of the sufferers at Lyons:

"At my entrance into the prison of the Recluse, I found about twelve hundred of my fellow-citizens already immured there, distributed in different apartments. The doom of fourfifths of them at least was considered as inevitable: it was less a prison than a fold, where the innocent sheep patiently waited the hour that was to carry them to the revolutionary shambles. In this dreary abode, how long, how tedious, did the days appear!-they seemed to have many more than twenty-four hours. Yet we were allowed to read and write, and were composed enough to avail ourselves of this privilege; nay, we could sometimes even so far forget our situation as to sport and gambol together. The continued images of destruction and devastation which we had before our eyes, the little hope that appeared to any of us of escaping our menaced fate, so familiarized us with the idea of death, that a stoical serenity had taken possession of our minds: we had been kept in a state of fear till the sentiment of fear was lost. All our conversation bore the character of this disposition: it was reflective, but not complaining; it was serious without being melancholy, and often presented novel and striking ideas. One day, when we were conversing on the inevitable chain of events and the irrevocable order of things, on a sudden one

1

of our party exclaimed, that we owed all our misfortunes to Charles Martel. We thought him raving; but thus he reasoned to prove his hypothesis: Had not Charles Martel,' said he, conquered the Saracens, these latter, already masters of Guienne, of Saintonge, of Perigord, and of Poitou, would soon have extended their dominion over all France; and from that time we should have had no more religious quarrels, no more state disputes: we should not now have assemblies of the people, clubs, committees of public safety, sieges, imprisonments, bloody executions.' To this man, the Turkish system of government appeared preferable to the revolutionary régime; and, all chances calculated, he preferred the bowstring of the bashaw, rarely drawn, to the axe of the guillotine, incessantly at work."

That old siege.-I. 10, p. 13.

"It is uncertain what numbers were slain during the siege of Ostend; yet it is said that there was found in a commissary's pocket, who was slain before Ostend the 7th of August, before the yielding thereof, divers remarkable notes and observations, and, among the rest, what number died without in the archduke's camp, of every degree.

All which amount to 72,124 persons; which number is not so great, considering the long siege, sickness, and the cold winters npon the sea-coast, in so cold a climate, fighting against the elements. It is unknown what number died in the town;

the which is thought much less, for that there were not so many in the town, and they were better lodged, had more ease, and were better victualled."-Grimestone's Hist. of the Netherlands, p. 1317.

"The besieged in Ostend had certain adventuring soldiers whom they called Lopers; of the which, among other captains, were the young Capt. Grenu, and Capt. Adam Van Leest. Their arms which they bore were a long and great pike, with a flat head at the neather end thereof, to the end that it shoul} not sink too deep into the mud; a harquebuse hung in a scarf, as we have said of frebuters; a coutelas at his side, and his dagger about his neck; who would usually leap over a ditch four and twenty foot broad, skirmishing often with his enemy, so as no horseman could overtake them before they had leapt over the ditches againe."— Ibid. 1299.

"In remembrance of the long siege of Ostend and the winning of Sluce, there were certaine counters made in the United Provinces, both of silver and copper, the one having on the one side the picture of Ostend, and on the other the towns of Rhinberg, Grave, Sluce, Ardenbourg, and the forts of Isendyke and Cadsant, with this inscription round about: 'Plus triennio obsessa, hosti rudera, patriæ quatuor ex me urbes dedi. Anno 1604.' Ostend, being more than three years besieged, gave the enemie a heap of stones, and to her native country four townes.

"The town of Utrecht did also make a triumphant piece of coyne both of gold and silver, where on the one side stood the siege of Ostend, and on the other the siege of Sluce, and all the forts and havens; and on both sides round about was graven

'Jehovah prius dederat plus quam perdidimus.'"

Ibid. 1818.

Many a rich vessel, from the injurious sea,

Enter the bosom of thy quiet quay. ·

I. 12, p. 14.

These lines are borrowed from Quarles. The passage in which they occur would be very pleasing, if he had not disIgured it in a most extraordinary manner.

Further might each, who chose it, persevere;
No mind was lost for lack of culture here.

39.

And that whole happy region swarmed with life, -
Village and town; as busy bees in spring,
In sunny days, when sweetest flowers are rife,
Fill fields and gardens with their murmuring.
Oh joy to see the State in perfect health!
Her numbers were her pride and power and wealth.

40.

Then saw I, as the magic picture moved,

Her shores enriched with many a port and pier No gift of liberal Nature unimproved:

The seas their never-failing harvest here Supplied, as bounteous as the air which fed Israel, when manna fell from heaven for bread.

41.

Many a tall vessel in her harbors lay,

About to spread its canvas to the breeze, Bound upon happy errand to convey

The adventurous colonist beyond the seas, Toward those distant lands where Britain blest With her redundant life the East and West.

42.

The landscape changed: a region next was seen, Where sable swans on rivers yet unfound

Glided through broad savannas ever green; Innumerous flocks and herds were feeding round, And scattered farms appeared, and hamlets fair, And rising towns, which made another Britain there.

43.

Then, thick as stars which stud the moonless sky, Green islands in a peaceful sea were seen; Darkened no more with blind idolatry,

Nor curst with hideous usages obscene,

But healed of leprous crimes, from butchering strife

Delivered, and reclaimed to moral life.

44.

Around the rude Morai, the temple now

Of truth, hosannas to the Holiest rung:

There, from the Christian's equal marriage-vow,

In natural growth, the household virtues sprung; Children were taught the paths of heavenly peace, And age in hope looked on to its release.

45.

The light those happy Islanders enjoyed,

Good messengers from Britain had conveyed; (Where might such bounty wiselier be employed?)

One people with their teachers were they made, Their arts, their language, and their faith, the same; And, blest in all, for all they blest the British

name.