Three years passed quickly away, and James had grown a fine-looking young man. Old Amy, though healthy and strong for her years, seemed to fear that she should not see her dear Michael before she died.
The war now raged more fiercely than ever between the English and Dutch; and it was said that the fleets would soon come to action in the seas between England and Holland. James and Amy understood very little about this. All their care was to know whether it was likely for Michael's ship to be in the action: this they could not learn; but they saw a great fleet nearly opposite at sea, hovering to and fro, and many seamen and officers came on shore; but they neither saw nor heard anything of Michael; so they hoped he was not in the fleet.
It was a lovely morning in the latter end of May, and James had been some time at work in his master's fields, when he was suddenly startled with a tremendous noise, louder than any thunder he had ever heard. He looked round about, and up at the heavens; all was blue and serene there, and he could see no traces of a thunder-cloud: still the roar continued in horrid bursts that seemed to shake the shores and the very ground he stood on, and it rang and rebounded through the hollow coast with the most frightful din.[14]At last he cast his eyes towards the East, and there he saw, in the bar, white clouds of smoke, mixed with flashes of flame. "The sea-fight has surely begun," he said aloud, "so near in shore! Our cottage will certainly be knocked down with the balls." This thought induced him to throw down his hoe, and away he ran towards his home, thinking of nothing but his poor grandmother.
He got safely down the cliffs, though the cannon-balls were coming on shore very near him, and in some places they actually shattered large pieces of earth and stones from the cliffs. James found poor old Amy kneeling by the bed in the inner room, hiding her face and half dead with terror. He wanted to take her farther up the country, out of the reach of danger; but Amy dared not venture out of the house, and James could not persuade her that the cottage would be no defence in case a cannon-ball should strike it. He determined at first to take her in his arms and carry her away to a place of safety: "But, who knows," thought he, "but I may drag her into the very danger she dreads so much?" So he determined to stay with her at every risk, and they spent the day half-deafened with the roar of the cannon, expecting every moment that their little home would be shattered about them.
Towards evening, the firing grew weaker and weaker, and the people who were beholding the fight from the cliffs, shouted that the Duke of York had gained the victory. But before the action was quite over, a boat was seen making to the shore; it seemed to bear in the direction of Amy's cottage, and actually ran on shore within a few yards of it. The sailors leaped out, and, lifting an officer in their arms, bore him towards the cottage; whilst a young sailor walked slowly after, leaning on an old seaman's arm. James flung open the cottage door, and told them to place the officer on the bed. They accordingly laid him down. He moaned faintly with pain. At the sound of his voice, the young sailor approached the bed with an unsteady step. Amy gazed wistfully on the young man, and then on James;—they were exactly alike. "It is my own boy Michael!" she cried at last.
"Yes, it is Michael!" said James, throwing himself on his neck.
"Ah, my poor grandmother! and my dear James!" said Michael, "I have come home to you in a sorrowful hour! My noble Captain is mortally wounded."
"Is this the brave gentleman who took you away, and behaved so kindly to us? Alas, how wan he looks!" said Amy, looking mournfully on the pale features of Captain Lucas, as he lay fainting on the lowly bed, where they had placed him.
"But you look as white and ill as he does, Michael!"
"Yes," said he faintly, pointing to his side, from which the blood slowly trickled; "I was wounded whilst fighting near him—I return to my home once more; but it is to die. Our Captain's brother took the command of the ship after he fell; and when the fight slackened, he sent the boat ashore with him, in hopes of getting better assistance. He did not know I was wounded, but he told me to go on shore with my master, and take care of him. Instead of suffering the sailors to take him to the town, I bade them steer direct for the cottage on the beach. He laid his noble head there when he was in distress before; and I resolved that he should not die among strangers."
Here Michael's voice faltered with grief and pain; and he was so faint that he would have sunk from his seat, had not James supported him in his arms. A surgeon arrived soon after, and at once pronounced that the Captain's wounds were mortal, and that Michael was in a dangerous state. Before night, Captain Lucas's brother came on shore, and hastened to the cottage: Captain Lucas held out his hand when he saw his brother. "William," said he, "is England victorious?" William Lucas turned from his dying brother, and wept.—"Oh yes, Charles! The Duke has gained the battle, but it is a dearly-purchased victory."
"Many a one has fallen, William, who will be more missed than I shall be," replied the Captain. "I have but one dear brother to weep my loss.—Hear my last request: you know, by my will, you inherit my estates;—but give my faithful Michael the gold in my portmanteau, and a hundred pounds besides, to be divided between him and his brother: if Michael should die, give his share to his grandmother—I fear I have robbed her of one of the props of her age! It is owing to the good inhabitants of this cottage that my death has been a glorious one: three years ago they saved my life from the waves on this coast."
Captain Lucas did not live through that night: and Michael only survived him two days. They were buried together, with many a hero who fell in that engagement. Captain William faithfully executed his brother's dying request. But it was not the riches they obtained that could console Amy and James for the loss of their dear Michael;—it was long before they could think, without extreme sorrow, on his untimely death.
James's good master assisted him with his advice in laying out the Captain's legacy, which amounted to more than five hundred pounds. James took a good farm, and, by his unremitting industry, soon became a rich man; and old Amy had the pleasure of seeing her great grandchildren born to affluence: yet the beautiful month of May never returned but she remembered with sadness the fall of her brave sailor-boy and his noble captain.
[1]Cutting away the mast is nobly described by poor Falconer."'Haste, with your weapons cut the shrouds and stay,And hew at once the mizen-mast away!'He said: the attentive sailors on each side,At his command the trembling cords divide.Fast by the fated pine bold Rodmond stands,Th' impatient axe hung gleaming in his hands:Brandish'd on high, it fell with dreadful sound:The tall mast groaning, felt the deadly wound."Shipwreck.
[1]Cutting away the mast is nobly described by poor Falconer.
"'Haste, with your weapons cut the shrouds and stay,And hew at once the mizen-mast away!'He said: the attentive sailors on each side,At his command the trembling cords divide.Fast by the fated pine bold Rodmond stands,Th' impatient axe hung gleaming in his hands:Brandish'd on high, it fell with dreadful sound:The tall mast groaning, felt the deadly wound."
"'Haste, with your weapons cut the shrouds and stay,And hew at once the mizen-mast away!'He said: the attentive sailors on each side,At his command the trembling cords divide.Fast by the fated pine bold Rodmond stands,Th' impatient axe hung gleaming in his hands:Brandish'd on high, it fell with dreadful sound:The tall mast groaning, felt the deadly wound."
Shipwreck.
[2]The well is an apartment in a ship's hold, serving to enclose the pumps. It is sounded by dropping a measured iron rod down into it by a long line; hence the increase or diminution of the leaks is easily discovered."They sound the well, and, terrible to hear,Five feet immersed along the line appear;At either pump they ply the clanking brake,And turn by turn the ungrateful office take."Falconer'sShipwreck.
[2]The well is an apartment in a ship's hold, serving to enclose the pumps. It is sounded by dropping a measured iron rod down into it by a long line; hence the increase or diminution of the leaks is easily discovered.
"They sound the well, and, terrible to hear,Five feet immersed along the line appear;At either pump they ply the clanking brake,And turn by turn the ungrateful office take."
"They sound the well, and, terrible to hear,Five feet immersed along the line appear;At either pump they ply the clanking brake,And turn by turn the ungrateful office take."
Falconer'sShipwreck.
[3]"While on the quivering deck, from van to rear,Broad surges roll in terrible career,Rodmond, Arion, and a chosen crew,This office in the face of death pursue.The wheel'd artillery o'er the deck to guide,Rodmond descending, claim'd the weather side.Fearless of heart, the chief his orders gave,Fronting the rude attacks of every wave.Meantime Arion traversing the waist, }The cordage of the leeward guns embraced, }And pointed crows beneath the metal placed. }Watching the roll, their forelocks they withdrew,And from their beds the reeling cannon threw.Then from the windward battlements unbound,Rodmond's associates wheel'd the artillery round;Then, hurl'd from sounding hinges o'er the side,Thundering they plunge into the flashing tide."Falconer'sShipwreck.
[3]
"While on the quivering deck, from van to rear,Broad surges roll in terrible career,Rodmond, Arion, and a chosen crew,This office in the face of death pursue.The wheel'd artillery o'er the deck to guide,Rodmond descending, claim'd the weather side.Fearless of heart, the chief his orders gave,Fronting the rude attacks of every wave.Meantime Arion traversing the waist, }The cordage of the leeward guns embraced, }And pointed crows beneath the metal placed. }Watching the roll, their forelocks they withdrew,And from their beds the reeling cannon threw.Then from the windward battlements unbound,Rodmond's associates wheel'd the artillery round;Then, hurl'd from sounding hinges o'er the side,Thundering they plunge into the flashing tide."
"While on the quivering deck, from van to rear,Broad surges roll in terrible career,Rodmond, Arion, and a chosen crew,This office in the face of death pursue.The wheel'd artillery o'er the deck to guide,Rodmond descending, claim'd the weather side.Fearless of heart, the chief his orders gave,Fronting the rude attacks of every wave.Meantime Arion traversing the waist, }The cordage of the leeward guns embraced, }And pointed crows beneath the metal placed. }Watching the roll, their forelocks they withdrew,And from their beds the reeling cannon threw.Then from the windward battlements unbound,Rodmond's associates wheel'd the artillery round;Then, hurl'd from sounding hinges o'er the side,Thundering they plunge into the flashing tide."
Falconer'sShipwreck.
[4]The progress of vegetation is very curious in those islands, which are supposed by geologists to be thrown up from the bottom of the sea by volcanoes, or formed by the unceasing labours of the coral animalculi. These generally present at first a rocky surface, barren and arid. By degrees, a little soil is deposited by sea-fowl and birds of passage; on this at first grow the seeds of some of those minute plants, which are literally carried on the wings of the wind from countries that appear too far distant for any such conveyance. These plants flourish, fade, and are renewed by the seasons, until from their decayed parts is formed that fine vegetable mould which overspreads the more fertile surface of the earth. When this process is begun, if the land receives from the hand of some benevolent discoverer a few seeds of trees or plants to which the climate is congenial, the work of fertilization is rapidly accelerated; grass grows luxuriantly under the shade of the trees: verdure increases, and creeps farther and farther, till from one little spot, an oasis in the midst of a desert, the whole island becomes fruitful.
[4]The progress of vegetation is very curious in those islands, which are supposed by geologists to be thrown up from the bottom of the sea by volcanoes, or formed by the unceasing labours of the coral animalculi. These generally present at first a rocky surface, barren and arid. By degrees, a little soil is deposited by sea-fowl and birds of passage; on this at first grow the seeds of some of those minute plants, which are literally carried on the wings of the wind from countries that appear too far distant for any such conveyance. These plants flourish, fade, and are renewed by the seasons, until from their decayed parts is formed that fine vegetable mould which overspreads the more fertile surface of the earth. When this process is begun, if the land receives from the hand of some benevolent discoverer a few seeds of trees or plants to which the climate is congenial, the work of fertilization is rapidly accelerated; grass grows luxuriantly under the shade of the trees: verdure increases, and creeps farther and farther, till from one little spot, an oasis in the midst of a desert, the whole island becomes fruitful.
[5]The sciences requisite to form a complete seaman are beautifully described by Falconer:—"Him Science taught by mystic lore to traceThe planets wheeling in eternal race;To mark the ship in floating balance held,By earth attracted, and by seas repelled;Or point her devious track through climes unknown,That leads to every shore, and every zone.—He saw the moon through heaven's blue concave glide,And into motion charm the expanding tide;While earth impetuous round her axle rolls,Exalts her watery zone, and sinks the poles.Light and attraction from their genial source,He saw still wandering with diminish'd force;While on the margin of declining dayNight's shadowy cone reluctant melts away."To add to this,"That never seaman more serenely braveLed Britain's conquering squadrons o'er the wave."The Shipwreck.Perhaps it will be considered that Falconer's beautiful poem is too generally known to give these extracts the charm of novelty; yet surely every one who is acquainted with the talents and fate of Falconer, will feel almost a tender emotion when his writings are alluded to, from a combination of circumstances. His poem is very interesting, his character and fate are still more so, and his memory is thrice hallowed and will be immortalized by the beautiful allusion to his Shipwreck in the "Pleasures of Hope."
[5]The sciences requisite to form a complete seaman are beautifully described by Falconer:—
"Him Science taught by mystic lore to traceThe planets wheeling in eternal race;To mark the ship in floating balance held,By earth attracted, and by seas repelled;Or point her devious track through climes unknown,That leads to every shore, and every zone.—He saw the moon through heaven's blue concave glide,And into motion charm the expanding tide;While earth impetuous round her axle rolls,Exalts her watery zone, and sinks the poles.Light and attraction from their genial source,He saw still wandering with diminish'd force;While on the margin of declining dayNight's shadowy cone reluctant melts away."
"Him Science taught by mystic lore to traceThe planets wheeling in eternal race;To mark the ship in floating balance held,By earth attracted, and by seas repelled;Or point her devious track through climes unknown,That leads to every shore, and every zone.—He saw the moon through heaven's blue concave glide,And into motion charm the expanding tide;While earth impetuous round her axle rolls,Exalts her watery zone, and sinks the poles.Light and attraction from their genial source,He saw still wandering with diminish'd force;While on the margin of declining dayNight's shadowy cone reluctant melts away."
To add to this,
"That never seaman more serenely braveLed Britain's conquering squadrons o'er the wave."
"That never seaman more serenely braveLed Britain's conquering squadrons o'er the wave."
The Shipwreck.
Perhaps it will be considered that Falconer's beautiful poem is too generally known to give these extracts the charm of novelty; yet surely every one who is acquainted with the talents and fate of Falconer, will feel almost a tender emotion when his writings are alluded to, from a combination of circumstances. His poem is very interesting, his character and fate are still more so, and his memory is thrice hallowed and will be immortalized by the beautiful allusion to his Shipwreck in the "Pleasures of Hope."
[6]Commodore Byron found some repairs necessary at Rio de Janeiro.—"We had six Portuguese caulkers to assist our carpenters, who were paid at the rate of 6s. per diem; though it is certain an English caulker could do as much in one day as they did in three; but, though slow and inactive, they perform their work very effectually."Byron'sVoyage.
[6]Commodore Byron found some repairs necessary at Rio de Janeiro.—"We had six Portuguese caulkers to assist our carpenters, who were paid at the rate of 6s. per diem; though it is certain an English caulker could do as much in one day as they did in three; but, though slow and inactive, they perform their work very effectually."
Byron'sVoyage.
[7]Sir Cloudesly Shovel, Admiral Hopson, Admiral Campbell, Sir Samuel Cornish, and many other gallant gentlemen, rose from the lowest ranks.
[7]Sir Cloudesly Shovel, Admiral Hopson, Admiral Campbell, Sir Samuel Cornish, and many other gallant gentlemen, rose from the lowest ranks.
[8]Cox's Travels.
[8]Cox's Travels.
[9]Encyclopædia Britannica.
[9]Encyclopædia Britannica.
[10]Otherwise called Aurora Borealis.
[10]Otherwise called Aurora Borealis.
[11]The mollissima, or eider-duck, is double the size of the common duck. The feathers, which are soft and valuable, fall off during incubation. The male is white above, but black below and behind; the female is greenish. This species is found in the Western Isles of Scotland, but in greater numbers in Norway, Iceland, and Greenland; from whence vast quantities of the down, known by the name ofeider, oredder, (which these birds furnish,) is annually imported. Its warm, light, and elastic qualities, make it highly esteemed as stuffings for coverlets and down beds. This down is produced from the breast of the birds, in the breeding season. The eider-duck lays its eggs among the stones or plants near the shore, and prepares a soft bed for them by plucking the down from its own breast; the natives watch the opportunity, and take away both eggs and nest. The duck lays again, and repeats the plucking of its breast. If she is robbed after that, she will still lay; but the drakes must supply the down, as her stock is now exhausted: but, if her eggs are taken from her a fourth time, she wholly deserts the place. The number of eggs in each nest are from three to five, warmly bedded in down; they are of a pale olive colour, and very large, glossy, and smooth. The ducks now and then, however, lay as many as eight, for sixteen have been found in one nest, with two females sitting on them, who agree remarkably well together. They take their young on their backs to sea; then dive to shake them off, and teach them to shift for themselves. They live on shell-fish, for which they dive to great depths. The males are five years old before they come to their full colours. It is said they live to a great age, and grow quite grey.
[11]The mollissima, or eider-duck, is double the size of the common duck. The feathers, which are soft and valuable, fall off during incubation. The male is white above, but black below and behind; the female is greenish. This species is found in the Western Isles of Scotland, but in greater numbers in Norway, Iceland, and Greenland; from whence vast quantities of the down, known by the name ofeider, oredder, (which these birds furnish,) is annually imported. Its warm, light, and elastic qualities, make it highly esteemed as stuffings for coverlets and down beds. This down is produced from the breast of the birds, in the breeding season. The eider-duck lays its eggs among the stones or plants near the shore, and prepares a soft bed for them by plucking the down from its own breast; the natives watch the opportunity, and take away both eggs and nest. The duck lays again, and repeats the plucking of its breast. If she is robbed after that, she will still lay; but the drakes must supply the down, as her stock is now exhausted: but, if her eggs are taken from her a fourth time, she wholly deserts the place. The number of eggs in each nest are from three to five, warmly bedded in down; they are of a pale olive colour, and very large, glossy, and smooth. The ducks now and then, however, lay as many as eight, for sixteen have been found in one nest, with two females sitting on them, who agree remarkably well together. They take their young on their backs to sea; then dive to shake them off, and teach them to shift for themselves. They live on shell-fish, for which they dive to great depths. The males are five years old before they come to their full colours. It is said they live to a great age, and grow quite grey.
[12]Watches were only in general use at court, in the time of Charles the Second.
[12]Watches were only in general use at court, in the time of Charles the Second.
[13]The gold coinage in the reigns of the Stuarts were commonly called Caroluses and Jacobuses.
[13]The gold coinage in the reigns of the Stuarts were commonly called Caroluses and Jacobuses.
[14]In an old song, published a few days after Solebay fight, there are the following lines:—"Well might you hear their guns, I guess,From Sizewell Gap to Easton Ness;They fill'd up all the hollow coast,From Walberswick to Dunwich."
[14]In an old song, published a few days after Solebay fight, there are the following lines:—
"Well might you hear their guns, I guess,From Sizewell Gap to Easton Ness;They fill'd up all the hollow coast,From Walberswick to Dunwich."
"Well might you hear their guns, I guess,From Sizewell Gap to Easton Ness;They fill'd up all the hollow coast,From Walberswick to Dunwich."