登陆注册
5561600000001

第1章

The present tale is founded more largely on testimony--oral and written--than any other in this series. The external incidents which direct its course are mostly an unexaggerated reproduction of the recollections of old persons well known to the author in childhood, but now long dead, who were eye-witnesses of those scenes. If wholly transcribed their recollections would have filled a volume thrice the length of 'The Trumpet-Major.'

Down to the middle of this century, and later, there were not wanting, in the neighbourhood of the places more or less clearly indicated herein, casual relics of the circumstances amid which the action moves--our preparations for defence against the threatened invasion of England by Buonaparte. An outhouse door riddled with bullet-holes, which had been extemporized by a solitary man as a target for firelock practice when the landing was hourly expected, a heap of bricks and clods on a beacon-hill, which had formed the chimney and walls of the hut occupied by the beacon-keeper, worm-eaten shafts and iron heads of pikes for the use of those who had no better weapons, ridges on the down thrown up during the encampment, fragments of volunteer uniform, and other such lingering remains, brought to my imagination in early childhood the state of affairs at the date of the war more vividly than volumes of history could have done.

Those who have attempted to construct a coherent narrative of past times from the fragmentary information furnished by survivors, are aware of the difficulty of ascertaining the true sequence of events indiscriminately recalled. For this purpose the newspapers of the date were indispensable. Of other documents consulted I may mention, for the satisfaction of those who love a true story, that the 'Address to all Ranks and Descriptions of Englishmen' was transcribed from an original copy in a local museum; that the hieroglyphic portrait of Napoleon existed as a print down to the present day in an old woman's cottage near 'Overcombe;' that the particulars of the King's doings at his favourite watering-place were augmented by details from records of the time. The drilling scene of the local militia received some additions from an account given in so grave a work as Gifford's 'History of the Wars of the French Revolution' (London, 1817). But on reference to the History I find I was mistaken in supposing the account to be advanced as authentic, or to refer to rural England. However, it does in a large degree accord with the local traditions of such scenes that I have heard recounted, times without number, and the system of drill was tested by reference to the Army Regulations of 1801, and other military handbooks. Almost the whole narrative of the supposed landing of the French in the Bay is from oral relation as aforesaid.

Other proofs of the veracity of this chronicle have escaped my recollection.

T. H.

OCTOBER 1895.

同类推荐
  • My Lady Caprice

    My Lady Caprice

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • When the Sleeper Wakes

    When the Sleeper Wakes

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 观音经持验记

    观音经持验记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Allan'  s Wife

    Allan' s Wife

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 西方要决释疑通规

    西方要决释疑通规

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 人生三篇:做人 做事 做领导

    人生三篇:做人 做事 做领导

    无论身处庙堂还是江湖,生活在繁忙的现代社会,每个人都需要让内心充满宁静,让精神富有营养,才更容易感受到幸福。本书为读者提供了一份营养丰富的精神食粮,让人感悟到人生中那无处不在的生活智慧。
  • 自由界

    自由界

    如何达到自由?!2012灾难必备工具书!玄幻与科学的真实结合。自由意识者重新启动地球,并与反物质势力对抗。探索自由意识,发现世界之谜。末日前一刻的自由他也要破坏,究竟为了什么?!地球的背面,世界的背后,定下心来,揭开真相之书你灾难揭秘!拯救中。
  • 无仙岛

    无仙岛

    原名:魔教再起自华山一战过后,昆仑覆灭,魔主以大法力铸“昆仑境”,游走世间广收弟子,静待来日。十年后,昆仑境落在了武当山……真武降法旨,言定魔主七日内死。巍巍魔教,何去何从?
  • 豪门宠婚:蜜吻小娇妻

    豪门宠婚:蜜吻小娇妻

    1v1甜宠文初次见面就结婚?总裁霸道不讲理?纪晓舒表示,这些不是问题。总裁老公整天教我如何当坏女人?纪晓舒:这些都是问题!
  • 这个主角我当不了

    这个主角我当不了

    张笑颜劝人学医穿越,是恶果还是报……报答?寂静的树林之中,貌美的少年是真二还是中二?敬请走进这个主角我当不了,所有的故事完全解答不了
  • 异世神技

    异世神技

    一个被传送到另一个世界的少年,开启不一样的生活。
  • 隔壁家青梅熟

    隔壁家青梅熟

    一个爱阮暖暖爱吃醋的闷骚竹马和一个爱美食爱美男的吃货青梅不得不说的故事!
  • 女帝

    女帝

    前有虎,后有狼,还有重生女、穿越女粉墨登场。秦琬最大的愿望,本只是捞个公主当当,保自己一生安然无恙。谁料一不留神,奋斗太过,竟然成为一代女皇。PS:新文《覆长生》求支持!(づ ̄3 ̄)づ
  • 追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    追妻无门:女boss不好惹

    青涩蜕变,如今她是能独当一面的女boss,爱了冷泽聿七年,也同样花了七年时间去忘记他。以为是陌路,他突然向他表白,扬言要娶她,她只当他是脑子抽风,他的殷勤她也全都无视。他帮她查她父母的死因,赶走身边情敌,解释当初拒绝她的告别,和故意对她冷漠都是无奈之举。突然爆出她父母的死居然和冷家有丝毫联系,还莫名跳出个公爵未婚夫,扬言要与她履行婚约。峰回路转,破镜还能重圆吗? PS:我又开新文了,每逢假期必书荒,新文《有你的世界遇到爱》,喜欢我的文的朋友可以来看看,这是重生类现言,对这个题材感兴趣的一定要收藏起来。
  • 恶魔猎手

    恶魔猎手

    一位从小在蜜罐里长大的少年,父亲去世后,众叛亲离,从天堂掉到地狱般待遇,偌大家业被别人占为己有,自己最终沦为恶魔奴隶,他到底该何去何从……