The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-07-27
CORRESPOND NOE.
Letter from England.
SOUTHAMPTON, July 95h, ;;

SOUTHAMPTON, July 9Jh, 81.
MeSSrs. Editors, s,-Southampton har-
Dor plays no unimportant part in the
maritime prosperity Of England-a pros
perity now so great that the very shift
ing of the winds at sea, delaying incom-
ing vessels, has made difference in the
aggregate of the June imports of thirty
three millions of dollars The broad
open bay presented from the earliest pc
riod an inviting anchorage for vessels,
and its proximity to the very heart OF
the island, favorable base of operation
for the sea-kings and marauders Here
the Romans landed, and Southampton
harbor is supposed to be the Antona Of
Tacitus. Thither the fiercer Danes came,
and committed dreadful ravages during
the eighth and ninth centuries until Can
ute succeeded in displacing Egbert's pos
terity from the throne of England and
made Southampton his occasional resi-
dence. 1t was while staying at South
ampton that the beautiful incident occur
red in. which Canute gave deserved re-
buke to his courtiers for their absurd and
profane fattery. During the reign of the
Roman kings the London merchants were
profoundly jealous of the commercial i'm
portance of the harbor and procured an
order that wine, &c., from the Canaries
should be landed only in the Thames
1t is even said that they went SO far as to
assassinate a Genoese merchant, who un-
dertook to make Southampton great
shipping port In the bay attacking
fleets of the French oft rode, and English
transports rendezvouzed for the carriage
OF troops to France in the wars waged
between the two nations with such vary
ing fortunes in the fourteenth and ff-
teenth centuries. Thence the army en-
barked for the fight at Ajincourt, and
here also kings and queens, Charles ",
Edward VI, Philip of Spain, and Queen
Elizabeth, met to treat and decide the
destiny of nations in those troublous
times. Though London has swelled to
proportions of greatness rendering ieal-
ousy now an absurdity, and Liverpool
has pressed far ahead because of her con-
tlgulty to the great manufacturing cen
tres, Birmingham, Sheffield, &C., vet
Southampton will always be an impor-
tant station for the Transatlantic steam
ships, especially those bound for the cities
OF the North Sea, and for the mailships
OF India, and for the steamboats, plying
between England and the Channel Islands
and the western ports Of France. The
facilities OF travelling to London, requir-
ing but railway journey of two hours,
render 1t superior even to Liverpool as a
landing point for tourists.
The city of Southampton bears impress
slve evidence Of It's ancient historical i'm
Portance as well as its modern CONNER
clal prosperity. In the midst of busv
streets devoted to traffic are curious relics
OF. the old walls, battlements. double
bitches, and watch towers. The bar cate
crossing the principal street of the town
still remains entire. 1t is a semi-octaoo-
nal arch terminated at each extremity bv
seml-clrcular tower. The ancient bat
Elements crowning the'whole have escaped
modern innovation and Disagreement,
and their aspect is remarkably majestic
and venerable. On the north front of the
tower are two figures representing the
famous hero Of romance, Sir Bevis of
II Hampton, and the g ant Ascabart, whom
ne slew in single combat. Sir Walter
scott, quoting from an ancient manuscript
copy OF the Romance Of St. Bevis. alludes
70 Ascabart in the first canto of Lady of
1ne Lake. Ellis gives the modernized
serslon OF the same passage in his "Spe-
'imens OF the Early Romances."
Ihis giant was mighty and strong.
And full thirty feet was long
lie was brstled like sow
foot he had between each brow
lis ~ lips were great and hung aside,
MS even were hollow, his mouth was wide
1ostily he was to look on than
ana an lker devil than a man;
n ~ IS stan was young oak
nSFd and heavy was his stroke"
hi vi ot. Bevis there are other memoir lis
i"eS the bar-gate, all going to show