The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-21 00:00:00

e of Alexander 111.,

it is at this period
1 annals become particularly interesting to
r. The dark cloud of misfortune (he con-
ithered over Scotland immediately after the
der, suggested to Edward I. his schemes of
quest : and perhaps in the history of liberty
e memorable war than that which took its
cc in 1297, and terminated in the final esta-
otish independence, by Robert Bruce, in
[time embraces, therefore, the reign of Alex-
icgency under his grand-daughter; the
1 of the infant "Maiden of Norway ;" reign

.er in his pre

f Edward I. of England) ;

Nbich Wallace rises into celebrity

l after a variety of gallant achievements and
eyed and executed ; and finally, the reign (in
Bruce," oue of the noblest monarchs

aropean sceptre. The whole narrative
F all that relates to the two last name(

full of interest, and though in strict ac•
, frequently borders on the sublime o
,men of the chaste and vigorous style o

.ly the following

CCTJONS ON THE CHARACTER OF BRUCE.
idOlibtedly belongs to that race of heroic men,
chow we areausious to learn even the commonest
Butt Lying at so remote a period, the lighter
touches which confer inviduaiity, are lost in the
We only see, through the mists which time has
d it, a figure of colossal proportion, " walking
Ladowy peers ;" and it is deeply to be regretted
dent chroniclers, whose pencil might have brought
us as fresh and true as when he lived, have dis-
aotice any minute circumstances, with which we
A vain to become acquainted : yet some faint idea
)n may be gathered from the few scattered touches
by these authors, and the greater outlines of his

eongly marked to escape us.
tire, the king was tall and well-shaped. Before
n by illness, and in the prime of life, he stood
feet high; his hair curled closely and shortly
eck, which possessed that breadth and thickness
), to men of great strength; he was broad-should-
( -chested, and the proportion of his limbs com-
a, •.-h lightness and activity. These qualities
only by his constant occupation in war,
fondness for the chase and all manly amusements. ,
own whether he was dark or fair complexioned ;
cad was low, his cheek-bones strong and prom-
general
expression of his countenance open
-hcagh he was maimed by a wound which had
j'iw. His manners were dignified and en-
'o, nothing could be pleasanter or more
infinitely to his honour, that in a savage
ler injuries which attacked him in his
• -:ons, he never abused a victory,
"v by his generosity and
We know, how-
thehis look was stern and kingly,
a I legates, that when he
~posed silence and ensured obedience. He
P
,n all the excercises of chivalry, to such a degree,
, that the English themselves did not scruple to
,nt him the third best knight in Europe. His memory
stored with the romances of the period, in which he took
Seat delight. Their hair-breadth 'seapes and perilous ad-
ventures were sometimes scarcely more wonderful than his
own "and hp had early imbibed from such works an appetite
for individual' glory and enterprise, which, had it not been
by a stronger passion, the love of liberty, might
cave led him into fatsimustakes ; it is quite conceivable, that

_try talents

great r

w with

checked