The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register. (Wilmington, Del.) 1824-1825, 1824-12-16
WHOLE No. SO.

rock, high fall of water, lonely cave, or O.
Their remarkable objects i'll nature, which is
not designated by name dear to every ro-
mantle, youthful, and patriotic mind. The
recorded feats in the life of Wallace, rank
him not only among the first patriots OF his
nation, but among the first of all who have
deserved that honorable appellation. He
made his appearance in the theatre of active
life, at a most interesting period. A disput-
ed succession to the Scottish crown had been
submitted to the decision of Edward the
First of England. The office of umpire,
gave. the English king a fatal ascendancy
over the Scottish mobiles, and especially over
the competitors for the crown. Ballot was
preferred, on condition that he would ac-
knowledge the dependence of Scotland upon
the English crown; but at last, under the
modification of repeated insults, he resign
ed the crown altogether into the hands OF
Edward, on the Sd of July, 1896. All Scot
land was now overrun by an English army,
and the government placed in the hands OF
English deputies, who made it odious to the
people by their exactions and expressions.
| At this critical moment was the standard Of
freedom first unfurled by William Wallace
the younger son of a private gentleman,
Wallace of Dlderslie. To great bodily
strength and activity, and courage which
delighted i'll danger, he united an inventive
ness of enterprise, a fertility ofresources, and
!, a generous gallantry of manner, we'll calcu-
lated to gain him an authority over the rude
and undiscplined multitude who answered
his patriotic call. In May, 1897, he began
to infest the English quarters, and soon made
his numbers appear formidable. The
first person Of note who joined him, was
Sir William Douglas. With their united
forces, these two allies attempted to surprise
4 hold
ing a court at Scoon hut a preciptate flight
disappointed them of their expected I>rep--
After this, the patriotic band royed over the
, whole country, assaulted castles and slew
the English wherever they met with them.
Several men of the highest rank now joined
the standard Of freedom; among others,
! Bruce the steward of Scotland, and his bro
Their, Sir Alexander de Lindsay; Sir An
Grew Moray, of Boutwell,; Richard Lunden
and Wishart, bishop of Glasgow. But I'M
fortunately, they brought more splendour
: than real strength to the cause.
c Wallace, though the master spirit of the
! whole enterprise, was of two humble rank
: among the gentlemen of Scotland, to be rea-
u dly acknowledged by them for their chief;
u and where merit like his was not recognized
d as the best title to supreme command, 1t IS
: easy 10 conceive that the conflict OF preten-
c sious must have been endless. All the lead
: ers claimed to be independent OF each other I;
s. and to nothing, even off the most obvious ad-
e vantage, could their common consent be OBJ
: tanned. While the Scottish army, thus en-
y feebed by disease, lay posted near Irvine, a
it chosen and numerous body of forces which
r. had been sent from England by Edward,
a approached to give them battle. All the no.
! blcs and barons who had joined the party
/, of Wallace, Sir Andrew Moray, Of Boutwell,
| Oh m t,,aat wifi
g the English; and for themselves and their
c adhercnts made submission to Edward.
e Wallace and Moray refused to have any con-
d Germ with the ignoble capitulatlon; and col
l. lecting together few faithful companions
: of their fortunes, retired Indignantly to-
(, wards the north. Under the conduct OF
o these two able leaders, the patriot band soon
!. recruited its numbers; and when the Eng
II lish advanced to Stirling, was prepared to
It dispute with them the passage OF the Forth.
&c Warren, earl of Surrey, the English gen
II eral, imagining that Wallace might still be
Y, won over, despatched two friars to the Scot
t, fish camp proffering terms. Return,
p said Wallace, "and tell your masters, that
ID we came not here to treat, but to assert
1t our rights. and to set Scotland free" C He
W defies MS" cried the English, and impatient
M ly demanded to be led on. The Scotch ere
We cncampcd on the opposite side OF the river to
he that occupied BY the English; who, to APP
II, proach them, had to dcfle oyer long mar
e. row bridge. AS soon as the van OF the Eng
IN lish had crossed the bridge, and before they
i could form themselves in order OF battle
&c Wallace rushed down, and broke them In c
&c moment Many thousands were slain on ths
field, or drowned in attempting to recross thu
to river. A general panic instantly seized thu
tie main body Of the English: they set lire t.
&c, the bridge, abondoned all the baggage, and dit
rs not cease their fight till they had reached
lie, Berwick, which they also speedily evacuat
o. ed. The loss of the Scots would have bee
ID, inconsiierable, had they not numbered a
tn mong their slain Sir Andrew Moray, the sal
d. liant and faithful companion of Wallace.
he Scotland was thus once more tree; but
X consequence of bad seasons and the disorder
rs Of war it suffered severely from famine
an With the view of procuring sustcnance
Of his returning followers, Wallace marche
ast his army into the north OF England; and to
zen UPWARDS Of three weeks, the whole OF tha
on wide track Of country from Cockermouth an
use Carlisle. to the gates of Newcastle, wa
or. wasted with all the fury of revenge, licens'
an and rapacity.
vas Wallace now assumed the title Of +" Gual
ny dian of scotland, in name of King John, (bf
Ext liol y and by the consent of the Scottish N;
of tion.'' That he was virtually so, there ca
he be no doubt; and we ought therefore 10 I