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which has been in most people's hands； and with the contents of
which even those who cannot read are to a certain extent acquainted
… a book from which the most luxuriant and fertile of our modern
prose writers have drunk inspiration … a book； moreover； to which；
from the hardy deeds which it narrates； and the spirit of strange
and romantic enterprise which it tends to awaken； England owes many
of her astonishing discoveries both by sea and land； and no
inconsiderable part of her naval glory。
Hail to thee； spirit of De Foe！ What does not my own poor self owe
to thee？ England has better bards than either Greece or Rome； yet
I could spare them easier far than De Foe； 'unabashed De Foe；' as
the hunchbacked rhymer styled him。
The true chord had now been touched； a raging curiosity with
respect to the contents of the volume； whose engravings had
fascinated my eye； burned within me； and I never rested until I had
fully satisfied it； weeks succeeded weeks； months followed months；
and the wondrous volume was my only study and principal source of
amusement。 For hours together I would sit poring over a page till
I had become acquainted with the import of every line。 My
progress； slow enough at first； became by degrees more rapid； till
at last； under 'a shoulder of mutton sail；' I found myself
cantering before a steady breeze over an ocean of enchantment； so
well pleased with my voyage that I cared not how long it might be
ere it reached its termination。
And it was in this manner that I first took to the paths of
knowledge。
About this time I began to be somewhat impressed with religious
feelings。 My parents were； to a certain extent； religious people；
but； though they had done their best to afford me instruction on
religious points； I had either paid no attention to what they
endeavoured to communicate； or had listened with an ear far too
obtuse to derive any benefit。 But my mind had now become awakened
from the drowsy torpor in which it had lain so long； and the
reasoning powers which I possessed were no longer inactive。
Hitherto I had entertained no conception whatever of the nature and
properties of God； and with the most perfect indifference had heard
the divine name proceeding from the mouths of people … frequently；
alas！ on occasions when it ought not to be employed； but I now
never heard it without a tremor； for I now knew that God was an
awful and inscrutable Being； the Maker of all things； that we were
His children； and that we； by our sins； had justly offended Him；
that we were in very great peril from His anger； not so much in
this life as in another and far stranger state of being yet to
come； that we had a Saviour withal to whom it was necessary to look
for help： upon this point； however； I was yet very much in the
dark； as； indeed； were most of those with whom I was connected。
The power and terrors of God were uppermost in my thoughts； they
fascinated though they astounded me。 Twice every Sunday I was
regularly taken to the church； where； from a corner of the large
spacious pew； lined with black leather； I would fix my eyes on the
dignified High…Church rector； and the dignified High…Church clerk；
and watch the movement of their lips； from which； as they read
their respective portions of the venerable liturgy； would roll many
a portentous word descriptive of the wondrous works of the Most
High。
RECTOR。 Thou didst divide the sea； through thy power： thou
brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters。
PHILOH。 Thou smotest the heads of Leviathan in pieces： and gavest
him to be meat for the people in the wilderness。
RECTOR。 Thou broughtest out fountains； and waters out of the hard
rocks： thou driedst up mighty waters。
PHILOH。 The day is thine； and the night is thine： thou hast
prepared the light and the sun。
Peace to your memories； dignified rector； and yet more dignified
clerk！ … by this time ye are probably gone to your long homes； and
your voices are no longer heard sounding down the aisles of the
venerable church … nay； doubtless； this has already long since been
the fate of him of the sonorous 'Amen！' … the one of the two who；
with all due respect to the rector； principally engrossed my boyish
admiration … he； at least； is scarcely now among the living！
Living！ why； I have heard say that he blew a fife … for he was a
musical as well as a Christian professor … a bold fife； to cheer
the Guards and the brave Marines； as they marched with measured
step； obeying an insane command； up Bunker's height； whilst the
rifles of the sturdy Yankees were sending the leaden hail sharp and
thick amidst the red…coated ranks； for Philoh had not always been a
man of peace； nor an exhorter to turn the other cheek to the
smiter； but had even arrived at the dignity of a halberd in his
country's service before his six…foot form required rest； and the
gray…haired veteran retired； after a long peregrination； to his
native town； to enjoy ease and respectability on a pension of
'eighteenpence a day'； and well did his fellow…townsmen act； when；
to increase that ease and respectability； and with a thoughtful
regard for the dignity of the good church service； they made him
clerk and precentor … the man of the tall form and of the audible
voice； which sounded loud and clear as his own Bunker fife。 Well；
peace to thee； thou fine old chap； despiser of dissenters； and
hater of papists； as became a dignified and High…Church clerk； if
thou art in thy grave； the better for thee； thou wert fitted to
adorn a bygone time； when loyalty was in vogue； and smiling content
lay like a sunbeam upon the land； but thou wouldst be sadly out of
place in these days of cold philosophic latitudinarian doctrine；
universal tolerism； and half…concealed rebellion … rare times； no
doubt； for papists and dissenters； but which would assuredly have
broken the heart of the loyal soldier of George the Third； and the
dignified High…Church clerk of pretty D…。
We passed many months at this place： nothing； however； occurred
requiring any particular notice； relating to myself； beyond what I
have already stated； and I am not writing the history of others。
At length my father was recalled to his regiment； which at that
time was stationed at a place called Norman Cross； in Lincolnshire；
or rather Huntingdonshire； at some distance from the old town of
Peterborough。 For this place he departed； leaving my mother and
myself to follow in a few days。 Our journey was a singular one。
On the second day we reached a marshy and fenny country； which；
owing to immense quantities of rain which had lately fallen； was
completely submerged。 At a large town we got on board a kind of
passage…boat； crowded with people； it had neither sails nor oars；
and those were not the days of steam…vessels； it was a treck…
schuyt； and was drawn by horses。 Young as I was； there was much
connected with this journey which highly surprised me； and which
brought to my remembrance particular scenes described in the book
which I now generally carried in my bosom。 The country was； as I
have already said； submerged … entirely drowned … no land was
visible； the trees were growing bolt upright in the flood； whilst
farmhouses and cottages were standing insulated； the horses which
drew us were up to the knees in water； and； on coming to blind
pools and 'greedy depths；' were not unfrequently swimming； in which
case； the boys or urchins who mounted them sometimes stood；
sometimes knelt； upon the saddle and pillions。 No accident；
however； occurred either to the quadrupeds or bipeds； who appeared
respectively to be quite AU FAIT in their business； and extricated
themselves with the greatest ease from places in which Pharaoh and
all his host would have gone to the bottom。 Nightfall brought us
to Peterborough； and from thence we were not slow in reaching the
place of our destination。
CHAPTER IV
Norman Cross … Wide expanse … VIVE L'EMPEREUR … Unpruned woods …
Man with the bag … Froth and conceit … I beg your pardon … Growing
timid … About three o'clock … Taking one's ease … Cheek on the
ground … King of the vipers … French king … Frenchmen and water。
AND a strange place it was； this Norman Cross； and； at the time of
which I am speaking； a sad cross to many a Norman； being what was
then styled a French prison； that is； a receptacle for captives
made in the French war。 It consisted； if I remember right； of some
five or six casernes； very long； and immensely high； each standing
isolated from the rest； upon a spot of ground which might average
ten acres； and which was fenced round with lofty palisades； the
whole being compassed about by a towering wall； beneath which； at
intervals； on both sides； sentinels were stationed； whilst outs