The New York herald., 1862-04-06
The British Lion .. Hi. Travel. rhrSush

\
Yankee Land.
Ksop, the great philosophical statesman of
Greece, the Pa,merston or Seward of his age
and country, tells very pleasant story of
an honest, sbrewd, plain spoken donkey, who
| dressed himself in lions skin, name and tail,
before setting OFF on his travels, in order to gain
| that ecla and receive those attentions always
conceded to good coat, no matter what sort
of person it covers. The conceit is wise
and merry one; but we have never heard,
until recently. of this disguise being reversed,
and in that shape put into actual practice 1t
seems, however, that in these days of modern
civilization, the famous British Lion fresh from
the burning sands of India and the chilling
SHOWS of the Crimea, has doomed it necessary
to make donkey of himself by donning the
ass skin long ears and all, before daring to
venture on his travels through this dreadful
Yankee land
During the furry and excitement of the Trent
affair ten thousand British troops, ofiicered by
the elite of the English army, were despatched
post haste to Canada to defend that paradise of
Bluenoses and subdue the audscious Yankees.
The diplomatic settlement Of that terrible
affair left these officers without a chance
to indulge in carnage, and with vivid
impression that they had been expatri-
ated for nothing. TO relieve the tedious
hours of garrison duty in provincial town.
they fell to reading the truthful letters Of Bull
Run Russell, in the London Times, and sue
ceeded in obtaining very vivid idea that this
country was ruled by mobs and had the Anglo
phobia stronger than even France. This idea
Russell himself confirmed during his visit to
Canada, and incidentally mentioned, as proof
Of his personal bravery, that he dwelt among the
Yankees without foar, and was never personally
assaulted by assassins moro than eight or ten
times day. After Russell's return the British
officers seem to have been greatly troubled
lest Lord Lyons should be in danger; and, with
that generous chivalry which distinguishes the
English gentleman, party of rescue was
formed to 60 to Washington, secure Lord Ly-
ons and convey him safely TO Canada, even at
the risk of life and limb. Colonel Lysons,
Colonel Percy, Captain Gordon, Lieutenant
the Earl of Dunmore, and other valiant gem
tlemen, composed this forlorn hope, and de-
serve favorable mention in any record of ad-
venturous deeds and daring exploits.
Sir Fenwick Williams, the General command
ing in Canada, remembering how grossly we had
illtrcated the Prince Of Wales, warned these va
lorous officers of the bitter hatred tho Ameri
cans bore towards Englishmen; and after seve-
raj councils of war it was determined that as
the Yankees were barbarians the campaign
should be conducted in the Indian style, and
f,o rt1o IF ho nd
flag. Straightway the preparations were made.
The hair of the gallant officers was clipped,
their whiskers and mustaches shaved off, their
coats turned outside in, and their names care
fully painted off from their baggage.
Instead of their own aristocratic cogno-
mems, these officers assumed the names of
John Jones, Bill Smith and Peter Brown, and
practised sedulously until they could address
each other by these mons de guerre without
winking, and had lost the drawing pronuncia-
ton Of the West End Then, blessed by Sir
Fenwick Williams cheered by their comrades
and saluted by their soldiers, these daring re-
representatives. Of the British Lion started off upon
their perlous adventure, each clinging to his
donkey's skin and donkey's name as if for dear
life. They passed the boundary line which
separates us from the civilization Of Canada,
and congratulated themselves that their dis
guse was so perfect that the Yankee custom
house officer did not detect it. They rolled on
in the trains, seeing an emissary of Seward in
every conductor, and poisoner of Englishmen
in every vender of " "Stewart's gum drops aud
mixed candies" At every station they shook
hands solemnly and gratefully, and thanked
Providence that thus far on the war path they
were unharmed At New York they furtively pur-
chased and perused the HERALD, and felt throb
of JOY at finding no reward yet offered for their
scalps. They walked from depot to depot, arm
in arm, afraid that every hackney coach might
| be a prison van to whirl them off to Fort La
| fayette Fearful of mobs, they avoided every
| rush for coffee and cakes at the stations, and
secretly devoured stale crackers from their
haversacks. In safety, after countless dangers,
| they at last arrived at Washington.
There they found Russell stock gambling by
telegraph, and Lord Lyons hobnobbing with
the awful Seward There they we're feted and
dined. There they were invited to receptions
and reviews, and met the army without peril or
loss of life. No wonder that the British officers
were astonished and delighted. They cut
| Russell and became friends Of General Nc
Dowell. They concluded that, after all,
Americans were human beings, and almost as
good as Englishmen. They began to patronze
| as soon rs they ceased to fear us; and, as the
ass in the lions skin betrayed himself by his
Bray so these lions in donkey's skins showed
their British breeding by advising Mcclellan to
tell his soldiers that the British officers were
pleased with their maneuvres. Mcclellan and
his soldiers care very little for such praise or
blame, however, and the advice was not taken.
In peace without Lord Lyons and with their
proper names, the gallant English gentlemen