Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-05-08


of Fontenoy. The United States struggled
through seven weary years for freedom,
aud won it after a glorious contest. Amidst
the many revolutions and counterrevolu-
tons which distracted the French people,
arose the greatest warrior of modern times.
This century then can claim many brilliant
things. However, it is not our province
to say why empires fell and republics rose,
nor to strictly adhere to the causes that
troubled the civil and political polity of the
era, but il is ours to blend the utile with
the dttlce, history with romance. Now, to
do this, what analogous theme, fictitious 81
real, could be possibly selected more truly
worthy tho pen of any writer IL prose OF
in poetry than the one here proposed ? She
belongs to Columbia as well as to Great
Britain, and to the House of Hanover as
well as to the House Of Stuart. The latter
she loved with wo:nan's love, while to the
former she became attached from a strange
current of human events, based upon the
stranger tide of human ideas, and SO to say,
human instincts. She figured on this con-
tinent and in Europe, but in each hemis-
phere she was the advocate of tory princl-
pies Her heroism was not less conspicu-
Gus in the one than 1t was In the other.
Her life from infancy to maturity was OBJ
scure, but from womanhood to the grave
an almost unceasing storm, full of adven-
ture and notoriety. In Scotland she was
the brightest object among a stern host of
"lairds." Her devotion to ''dear Charlie y
has immortalized her name, and in the full
ness of her heart she might have truly ex-
claimed : 81 will not wholly die" In
America she arrayed herself in common
with her countrymen against the cause of
freedom, forgetting that it was not for the
cause of Prince Charles Edward, but for
that of his enemy, the Elector of Hanover.
With all a woman s charms and her enthu-
siasm, she unfurled on high his battle flag
and fought for his supremacy.
We have anticipated this much, and yet
a notice en- passom Of Toryism and Wing
ism, will not, we hope be considered
trifing. The clans of Scotland, and espe-
cially those of the Highlands, submitted
reluctantly to the act Of settlement Of King
William, and in silence deeply lamented
the adverse fate which drove into exile the
old royal line. The restraint imposed upon
them by the heartless cOnqneror daily in
creased the gloom which hung over them.
Consequently, after the treacherous and
cruel massacre at Glencoe, those who
could DO SO with facility, abandoned their
sacred crags and peaks and sought the dis
tant transatlantic wilds. They not only
turned their barks to the shores of the st.
Lawrence, but they took more Southern
track, steered for a more genial, more tor
rid cline, and found a settlement at Cross
creek, IN the upper region Of the liver Cape
Fear. Here we will leave them to pursue
the art of husbanary, and gain for them
selves, their children, and their children's
children, the sweets of honest toll, thu
fruits of patient labor and industry. They
- J.. Il ~
bound them to the parent country, and
they watched not without some feeling Of
hope, the quaggy foundation on which
they considered the House of Brunswick to
stand.
Year followed year down the fleet flow
ing stream Of time, and no change came,
no reformation. 1t was looked for by anXi-
Gus eyes at home, and by anxious hearts
was it everywhere desired. London was
then, as it is now, rotten at the core.
Cruelty, dishonesty, avarice, and prodi-
gality. were at a par. Bribery extended an
itching palm. Mammon was its deity, aud
on his greedy altar was sacrificed d pure,
trembling, bleeding victim-liherty. Fire
and sword laid waste and decimated Scot
land in the attempt to foist on that IN
people the tatterdemalions of
the Episcopacy, while vanquished Erin
found not plying hand generous foe.
Old castles and manors were .pillaged :;
shrines and churches were crumbled to
dust their riches-golden and silver orna-
ments, were taken to decorate those of the
established religion. England was all
powerful her canvass whitened every sea ;
the sun never set on her ensign, and it was
therefore, in her philosophy, but just and
proper SO to do Her sword and her six
penny theology were opposed to everything
not Saxon--it was therefore the highest
wisdom to scatter destruction broadcast
Brave people were most cruelty butchered
or impoverished, and chained down in the
vilest slavery. All this, forsooth, too, to
bring Joy and gladness, and wealth and
dominion, to the few in the great metropo-
lis. Was the spirit of liberty broken No.
Like embers on the hearth it shot forth
scintillations of vitality. 1t was merely
dormant, waiting the opportunity to burst
out anew into a confagration more sweep
ing than ever. This despotism was CALLING,
and to none more than to the brave,
brotherly Highlanders. They hated the
new sovereignty. They blushed with shame
at their humiliating condition. Daily in
grew the feeling, until finally
words gave expression to the thought {:
"The emasculating, concentrating touch
muSI De removed ana SpufneQ. HAD That
suspicious moment arrived Were the
pibroch heard on the heather? Were the
clans of the Macdonalds, the Campbells,
the Maclellans, the Macraes in battle
formed A natural event timely hap
pened to postpone this threatened out
break. William the Third aCaS no more.
Before the accession Of Anne, and while
yet q princess, lady in wait gained her
love and confidence This was the notori-
Gus Sarah Jennings, Duchess of Marl-
borough. She was avaricious, am bilious,
very vain. Understanding that her mis-
tress would WELD the sceptre, she made use
of every device to ingratiate herself into
the good graces of the future Queen. Like
the witch in Macbeth" she stirred round
and round the boiling cauldron in WHICH
her glowing fancy had placed all opposers
of the Wing party.
1t was midnight, and pale cold moon
lit up the spires of London. The Tower
stood gloomiIy against the sky, terror to
a crouching race. In it Marlborough had
been immured by William. The streets
were deserted, and on the great bridge
quietude reigned supreme. No footsteps
battered on the sidewalks no hilarity
proceeded from the ale-house no joculari-
ty rang its merry peal in the club-rooms-
tho Coo.;b Io..,,o, o7,,I,