The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-09-16
THE CRItSADES

Among the productions OF the London
press, which may be regarded as constitut-
ing valuable addition to English Literature,
is g The History of tho Crusade, for the Re-
covery and Possession Of the Holy land, by
Charles Mills" in two vols. octave The
diction Of the work is too orid and ambi-
tious, and the author cannot be said to dis
play any great extent OF research Or p,ilo-
sophical sagacity. Altogether, we prefer
the volume on the same subject, OF the rench
historian Michaud. But Mr. Mills has the
merit OF furnishing the English reader with
the first separate account uf the Clusadcs,
which carries an air Of luthorits and presents
systematic view Of their origin and pro
gress: his facts are jndiciously selected and
disposed; and some Of his opinions arc 1t
once new and weilsustained. He rlndicatcs
successfully the order Of the knights lem
plars from those calumnics to which the
"Mighty Unknown" has given double force
and currency by the distorted pictures ot it,
that occupy some space in Iyanhoc." Mr..
Mills combats also, the prevailing IDEAS
touching the advantageousness of the Gnu
sades in certain respects. We offer 4 part
Of his views on this head, preceded by s0ale
OF the anecdotes which Ii relates, Of the era
sadng career of Richard Ceur DC I.ion---fn
new interest since the publication Of tie
romance just mentioned, and whose chara.-
ter though not so cXorhitantiy Illuminated in
its pages as that Of the Red-Cro.s knights
: is blackencd is still in the nature Of a trans;
parency upon which the light Of genius has
been employed in such 4 manner as to hide
all roughness and deformity
Richard left oaeinum on tho 3th Of sep
tember, and on the 1lst reached Mil.to. IL
then pursued his Journey, attended only by
one knight. tlIsprogrcss vas checkcdby his
love of pleasure, and he entered cottage Be-
cause he heard that a hawk was confined III
i. He seized the bird, and on his rciusa! 10
deliverit up, the peasants assailca him with
clubs and stones, and one man even drew
his dagger. Richard struck the cati!i' with
The flat part OF his sword, the weapon BroS q.
and until he could reach d ncighbogring
priory he was obliged to defend himself bp
stones That night he rcposed in a tent near
Scilla, and the next morning he assembled
all the English ships, and entered the harbour
OF Messina with 50 much splendoar, ard sucn
elangour of horns and trumpcts, that thc
Sicilians and French were astonishcd ana al
armed.
These holy warriors left Acre Under the
SioIlouS eHSiEl Vi lHe cross, ana marched III
southerly direction, generally within sight
other ships, which coasted along the shores,
bearing forage and provisions, and military
nccessaries. Clouds Of turks overhunp ana
burst on the advancing army tie rcd cross
knights in the van, and the military friars
in the rear frequently broke the violence d
the storm but the safety Of the Crusader,
was principally owing to the inlissolublc
tirmness of their columns, and their reso-
lutte forbearancc. The army already alt
ed at nightfall; heralds thrice cried aloud
: Save the holy sepulchre," and the soldiers
thus reminded Of their duties and their Oh
lect, Immediately with raised hands ant
fearful eyes inplored the pity and the aid o
Heaven. Near Azotus a general engage
ment Could no longer be avoided by Richard
The right Of his line was commanded b,
that heroic and hardy champion of the cross
James D'Avcsnes. The duke Of Burgundy
a man Of doubtful virtue, headed the left
and Plantagenet himself was the stay an,
buiwark of the centre. The hosts Of Syri,
and Egypt, led by Saladn, made a ycnera
and impetuous charge on their foe. Til,
right wing of the Christians was rcpulscd
the left drove back the Saraccns, but it W.,
drawn BY the enemy far from the other divi
sions Of the army. Richard fastened will
a select band to the aid OF the Duke OF Bur
sundy, and Saladin, in his cndeavor t
strengthen his right wing, removed tn