The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-10-25

might have rung 10 the buglc, or twanged
TO The bowstrng of The Saxon outlaw aud
there retiring into thichets, where the var
nished holly mingled ITS never changing
hues with the slyery bark of the birch, and
the tender verdure of the budding hszel.
Ii was n lovely scene, with all its accom-
panimenls of animated nature. The deer
couchng in picturesque groups among the
tall fern, the rabbit glancing for a moment
through the bushes on his way to his neigh
boring burrow the partridge, springng on
lis startled wing from some sandy bank on
which it had been dusting its ruffled fealh-
ers in the fullest warmth Of the sunshine.
All combined To form sweet though some-
hat melancholy picture-melancholy be-
cause i, bore the likeness of district, once
reclaimed by the dominion of man, now
gradually relapsing into the untamed deso-
latlon of the wilderness. The attention of
the rider seemed rvelted on the scenery as
he proceeded his eye roved from place to
place, as if in search of some familiar OBJ
ject, aud ever aud anon returned to its
gloomy abstraction, unsaiisfied, as it were.
IN his Inquiries, and disappointed in its ex-
peciations. There was none however of
tia. bitter Impatlence, which the young and
saneuine feel when frustrated in the pur-
suit of expected pleasure, to be traced in
the grave features aud placid eye of the
stranger. His thoughts seemed rather to
partake of that stern and cold sorrow with
which 'nen are apt To meet a long-anticipa-
ted calamity, when they have s,eeled their
hearts for its encounters; and feel, perhaps,
even mingled with the very pain, a strange
sensation of pleasure at the realization of
true though gloomy forebodngs.
A stranger, banished for years from the
land of his birth: a wanderer, round half
the sea-girt ball Il soldier of fortune,
welding that sword under the banners of a
foreign power, which political and domes-
tic discords forbade to strike in the cause of
his own country; son, esiraneed from
his father by the cursed excitement of civil
dissension a lover, torsaken and aband-
oned by the woman he ndored; with bro.
ken heart, but undaunied spirit, he was
now returning, after long aud lonely wan
derngs, in calm and philosophic sorrow, to
the home which he had left, in the fiery in
digna,ion of aspiring boyhood. Francis
~ IL
had been among the earliest patriots, who
had seen into the ernsping policy, by which
the first Charles was striving to base an nb-
solute autocracy on the ruins Of AN over
thrown constitution. With AudeIey, to
perceive injustice and tyranny, was To hate
to hate, not silently, or in the recesscs of
his own bosom, but in the free light of hea-
ven. He resisted ed-consttufionally resis-
ted-the encroachments of that sh0rt-sight-
ed ambition, which so soon brought down
the diadem to the block, and which has led
after ages-so strange and unaccountable
are the sympathies of mankind-to consid-
eI false and selfish despot, i'll the light of
a pious and nnoffendug martyr. The same
crown of mariyrdom, would have rewarded
Audeley the same and can it be that even
death can assimiate Ilnmpden, Sidney,
or Russell, to the tyraut who has under
gone, for his crimes or his folly, what they
might have encountered in the hottest cause
which can inspire the eloquence of the or
ator or nerve the warriors arm--ihe cause
of liberty. In her cause would AudeIey
escaped from the tender mcrcies of the star
chamber, aud the procession and pomp of
Tower HILL A fishing boat conveyed him
across the channel, but not bcfors he had
received the tidings-as if il, were not
enough of calamity to be hunted like
feon from the country he would have died
To save that he was disowned by the faith I
er of his youth, abandoned and forgotten by
the betrothed Of his affections. Years had
nacspI aUuy-dv.n,x xvttb tho onood ,,G t.I
hurricane, or tagging with the pace of the
tortoise-stiIl they had passed away. The
free hearts of England had shaken off one
oppressor, had strven through years of
slaughter to regain their freedom, merely
that when gained, i, might be again surren-
dered to another despot; and changed a
king for n protector, and protector again I
for a king. The son of the martyr was n
gain in the high place of his ancestors, fill /
ing the haIls-wbich hail been flooded by
the gore of the faithful followers Of his race,
aye of his own sire; the halls, which had
since Witnessed the unexampled rise, and
enlightened policy, the hypocrisy or the en-
thosiasm, of earth's m;gh,iest usurper-,
with unblusl,ing riot and more than Baby
lonan debauchery.
Years had passed away since the noctur-
nal flight of Audeley,-yet no tidings Of his
adventures, or even Of his existence had
transpired,- his very memory had pershed,
and now, spared 10y the tempests Of the
deep,-escaped from the stake and the
scalping knife Of the savnge,--unscuthed by
the lightnings of the tropical tornado, and
unwounded by the yet deadIer bolt Of wars
ariIlIery-ihe wanderer stuod again on his
native earth, viewed again the green hills
and beautiful bsunis Of his childhood, jour
neyed again to his paiernaI root, with
scarce an expectation of finding hand to
greet, an eye to recognize, or a heart 10
welcome the wanderer, Iong-Iost and now
returned, him who had been rs il were dead,
.s.I l.. l. = II.