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light。
My father was a Cornish man； the youngest； as I have heard him say；
of seven brothers。 He sprang from a family of gentlemen； or； as
some people would call them； gentillatres； for they were not very
wealthy； they had a coat of arms； however； and lived on their own
property at a place called Tredinnock； which being interpreted
means THE HOUSE ON THE HILL； which house and the neighbouring acres
had been from time immemorial in their possession。 I mention these
particulars that the reader may see at once that I am not
altogether of low and plebeian origin； the present age is highly
aristocratic； and I am convinced that the public will read my pages
with more zest from being told that I am a gentillatre by birth
with Cornish blood in my veins； of a family who lived on their own
property at a place bearing a Celtic name； signifying the house on
the hill； or more strictly the house on the HILLOCK。
My father was what is generally termed a posthumous child … in
other words； the gentillatre who begot him never had the
satisfaction of invoking the blessing of the Father of All upon his
head； having departed this life some months before the birth of his
youngest son。 The boy； therefore； never knew a father's care； he
was； however； well tended by his mother； whose favourite he was； so
much so； indeed； that his brethren； the youngest of whom was
considerably older than himself； were rather jealous of him。 I
never heard； however； that they treated him with any marked
unkindness； and it will be as well to observe here that I am by no
means well acquainted with his early history； of which； indeed； as
I am not writing his life； it is not necessary to say much。
Shortly after his mother's death； which occurred when he was
eighteen； he adopted the profession of arms； which he followed
during the remainder of his life； and in which； had circumstances
permitted； he would probably have shone amongst the best。 By
nature he was cool and collected； slow to anger； though perfectly
fearless； patient of control； of great strength； and； to crown all；
a proper man with his hands。
With far inferior qualifications many a man has become a field…
marshal or general； similar ones made Tamerlane； who was not a
gentillatre； but the son of a blacksmith； emperor of one…third of
the world； but the race is not always for the swift； nor the battle
for the strong； indeed I ought rather to say very seldom； certain
it is； that my father； with all his high military qualifications；
never became emperor； field…marshal； or even general： indeed； he
had never an opportunity of distinguishing himself save in one
battle； and that took place neither in Flanders； Egypt； nor on the
banks of the Indus or Oxus； but in Hyde Park。
Smile not； gentle reader； many a battle has been fought in Hyde
Park； in which as much skill； science； and bravery have been
displayed as ever achieved a victory in Flanders or by the Indus。
In such a combat as that to which I allude； I opine that even
Wellington or Napoleon would have been heartily glad to cry for
quarter ere the lapse of five minutes； and even the Blacksmith
Tartar would； perhaps； have shrunk from the opponent with whom；
after having had a dispute with him； my father engaged in single
combat for one hour； at the end of which time the champions shook
hands and retired； each having experienced quite enough of the
other's prowess。 The name of my father's antagonist was Brain。
What！ still a smile？ did you never hear that name before？ I cannot
help it！ Honour to Brain； who four months after the event which I
have now narrated was champion of England； having conquered the
heroic Johnson。 Honour to Brain； who； at the end of other four
months； worn out by the dreadful blows which he had received in his
manly combats； expired in the arms of my father； who read the Bible
to him in his latter moments … Big Ben Brain。
You no longer smile； even YOU have heard of Big Ben。
I have already hinted that my father never rose to any very exalted
rank in his profession； notwithstanding his prowess and other
qualifications。 After serving for many years in the line； he at
last entered as captain in the militia regiment of the Earl of …；
at that period just raised； and to which he was sent by the Duke of
York to instruct the young levies in military manoeuvres and
discipline； and in this mission I believe he perfectly succeeded；
competent judges having assured me that the regiment in question
soon came by his means to be considered as one of the most
brilliant in the service； and inferior to no regiment of the line
in appearance or discipline。
As the headquarters of this corps were at D… the duties of my
father not unfrequently carried him to that place； and it was on
one of these occasions that he became acquainted with a young
person of the neighbourhood； for whom he formed an attachment；
which was returned； and this young person was my mother。
She was descended from a family of French Protestants； natives of
Caen； who were obliged to leave their native country when old
Louis； at the instigation of the Pope； thought fit to revoke the
Edict of Nantes： their name was Petrement； and I have reason for
believing that they were people of some consideration； that they
were noble hearts； and good Christians； they gave sufficient proof
in scorning to bow the knee to the tyranny of Rome。 So they left
beautiful Normandy for their faith's sake； and with a few louis
d'ors in their purse； a Bible in the vulgar tongue； and a couple of
old swords； which； if report be true； had done service in the
Huguenot wars； they crossed the sea to the isle of civil peace and
religious liberty； and established themselves in East Anglia。
And many other Huguenot families bent their steps thither； and
devoted themselves to agriculture or the mechanical arts； and in
the venerable old city； the capital of the province； in the
northern shadow of the Castle of De Burgh； the exiles built for
themselves a church where they praised God in the French tongue；
and to which； at particular seasons of the year； they were in the
habit of flocking from country and from town to sing …
'Thou hast provided for us a goodly earth； thou waterest her
furrows； thou sendest rain into the little valleys thereof； thou
makest it soft with the drops of rain； and blessest the increase of
it。'
I have been told that in her younger days my mother was strikingly
handsome； this I can easily believe： I never knew her in her
youth； for though she was very young when she married my father
（who was her senior by many years）； she had attained the middle age
before I was born； no children having been vouchsafed to my parents
in the early stages of their union。 Yet even at the present day；
now that years threescore and ten have passed over her head；
attended with sorrow and troubles manifold； poorly chequered with
scanty joys； can I look on that countenance and doubt that at one
time beauty decked it as with a glorious garment？ Hail to thee； my
parent！ as thou sittest there； in thy widow's weeds； in the dusky
parlour in the house overgrown with the lustrous ivy of the sister
isle； the solitary house at the end of the retired court shaded by
lofty poplars。 Hail to thee； dame of the oval face； olive
complexion； and Grecian forehead； by thy table seated with the
mighty volume of the good Bishop Hopkins spread out before thee；
there is peace in thy countenance； my mother； it is not worldly
peace； however； not the deceitful peace which lulls to bewitching
slumbers； and from which； let us pray； humbly pray； that every
sinner may be roused in time to implore mercy not in vain！ Thine
is the peace of the righteous； my mother； of those to whom no sin
can be imputed； the score of whose misdeeds has been long since
washed away by the blood of atonement； which imputeth righteousness
to those who trust in it。 It was not always thus； my mother； a
time was； when the cares； pomps； and vanities of this world
agitated thee too much； but that time is gone by； another and a
better has succeeded； there is peace now on thy countenance； the
true peace； peace around thee； too； in thy solitary dwelling；
sounds of peace； the cheerful hum of the kettle and the purring of
the immense angola； which stares up at thee from its settle with
its almost human eyes。
No more earthly cares and affections now； my mother！ Yes； one。
Why dost thou suddenly raise thy dark and still brilliant eye from
the volume with a somewhat startled glance？ What noise is that in
the distant street？ Merely the noise of a hoof； a sound common
enough： it draws nearer； nearer； and now it stops before thy gate。
Singular！ And now there is a pause； a long pause。 Ha！ thou
hearest something … a