sisters-his rank, and of extenuating circumstances; perhaps endeavour to convince me of his innocence." Robinson struggled with his emotions a few seconds, but unable to repress his feelings, he spoke but a single word, with such a thrilling accent, that he started at the sound of his own voice. That word was George! "General Washington, Colonel Robinson," responded the great patriot, laying great stress on each military title. 66 Enough," said the other, " I have one more argument—if that fail me, I have done. Behold my friend!" "Your friend? Who is he? What is his name?" One other single word was spoken as the heavy cloak in which the mysterious friend was clothed fell to the floor and exposed the mature figure of Mrs. Morris, and that word, uttered with a start, by Washington, wasMary! The suspense was painful but brief. Sir," said Washington, instantly recovering, "this trifling is beneath your station and my dignity. I regret that you must go back to Sir H. Clinton, with the intelligence that your best intercession has failed. See that these persons are conducted beyond the lines in safety," continued he, throwing open the door of the apartment, and addressing one of his aides. Abashed and mortified, Mr. Robinson and his sister-in-law took their leave. The woman had gained a conquest once, but her second assault was aimed at a breast invulnerable. THE CLUMP OF OLD FIRS. A SONG OF DORSET. SET TO MUSIC BY MISS LYDIA B. SMITH. SHALL the Oak and the Elm and the Beech have a song, And none to the hardy green Fir Tree belong? If bards of refinement refuse it their lays, I'll be the rude minstrel to sing in its praise! Then here's to the Clump of Old Firs on the hill! I lov'd them in childhood, when under their shade, They 're a type of true friendship, for though winter frown, No leaves from their sturdy hale branches are cast, W. M. S. M. THE LATE REV. CHARLES WOLFE. To the Editor of The Patrician. SIR,-I have read, with great pleasure, the article in your last number, on the life and poetry of Wolfe, more especially as it so triumphantly vindicates his claim to the undivided authorship of the beautiful lines on the Burial of Sir John Moore. It may interest the writer of that paper, and, I should hope, your readers generally, to know that the surviving friends of Mr. Wolfe, and some other admirers of his genius, have recently formed a Committee for the purpose of erecting some memorial to him. A subscription has been opened; and already the list contains some of the leading personages of Ireland. I may instance the names of the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, the Ex-Chancellor Plunket, and the Rev. the Provost of Trinity College, Dublin. What the ultimate application of these funds shall be, must be of course in great part determined by the amount received. I should hope that a monument may be erected in the church of Cove, where the Poet drew his last breath. If, besides this, a sufficiency could be gotten for a bust, it would be well. The bust might be placed in the library of the Irish University; and the Poet has this additional claim for admittance, that he was a scholar of Trinity College. In the sculpturing of the bust, the aid of a plaister cast of Mr. Wolfe's features, taken after death, will be available. This east is now in the possession of an inhabitant of Cove. Subscriptions will be received in Dublin, by the Rev. Dr. Mac Donnell, Trinity College; Charles P. Croker, Esq., M.D., 7, Merrion Square West; the Rev. Samuel O'Sullivan, Phoenix Park; the Rev. Charles Dickenson, 95, Lower Baggott-street; John Litton, Esq., 26, Leeson-street; and Mr. James Mc Glashan, 21, D'Olier-street. In Cork, by the Rev. William Welland; the Rev. Samuel Hayman; and Messrs. Bradford and Co., Booksellers. At Cove, by Edward Millet, Esq., M.D.; and the Venerable Archdeacon Russell, Clontibret Glebe, Castleblayney. 14th September, 1848. Yours very faithfully, ONE OF THE COMMITTEE. CASTLES AND MANSIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. Lancaster Castle. TIME-HONORED Lancaster, a town among the most ancient and the most historic in England, the seat of the red rose, and the capital of the fairest duchy that appertains to the sovereignty of these realms,-Lancaster, rich in byegone deeds of fame, rich also in judicial events and recollections, though now no longer a place of regal pomp and pride, preserves attractions which are more perennial-those exceeding beauties of scenery amid which it has its locality. There is, indeed, no other town in England that can boast of such fine views about it as Lancaster. Of one of its aspects, that from Highfield, Mrs. Ann Radcliffe, the renowned romancist, thus speaks in her Tour to the Lakes: "There is a view from this hill as pre-eminent for grandeur, and comprehending an extent of sea and land, and a union of the sublime in both, which we have never seen equalled. In the green vale of the Lune below lies the town, spreading up the side of a hill over-topped by the old towers of the castle and church. Beyond, over a ridge of gentle heights which bind the west side of the vale, the noble inlet of the sea, that flows upon the Ulverstone and Lancaster sands, is seen at the feet of an amphitheatre formed by nearly all the mountains of the Lakes; an exhibition of Alpine grandeur, both in form and colouring, which, with the extent of water below, composes a scene perhaps faintly rivalling that of the lake of Geneva. To the south and west, the Irish Channel finishes the view," But we must leave the town itself to more particularly contemplate its main and most decorative feature, the Castle. This is one of the surpassingly magnificent buildings of England. In appearance it somewhat resembles the royal abode of Windsor, which, at various periods of our annals, it rivalled in stately splendour and stirring events. To detail more minutely the Lancastrian edifice's historic and architectural greatness, we recur, with satisfaction, to a very able description, published at Lancaster by Mr. Barwick, and here acknowledge the assistance it affords us. "Lancaster Castle occupies, with the church, a commanding position on a hill to the west of the town. The Roman Castrum was commenced on the site of the present castle, the outline of the camp being an ellipsis, with a double wall and moat round the summit of the entire hill. Part of the moat yet remains. The form of the castle, as erected by the Romans, was a polygon. Two round towers are remembered by persons yet living, corresponding in shape with the foundations of other Roman towers since discovered, and which lead to the belief that the castle once consisted of seven of these towers, distant from each other about twentysix paces, and joined by a small and open gallery. The present towers are the Dungeon tower, Adrian's tower, the Well tower, the Gateway tower, and the large square central citadel called the Lungess. Of these, the lower part of Adrian's tower, the small square tower on the south side of the castle called the Dungeon tower, and the Well tower are supposed to be Roman. The large square tower built by Roger of Poitou, the Norman baron, rises in imposing majesty above the rest of the pile. Many antiquarians have supposed that the foundations of the Lungess tower are of Saxon origin. Be this as it may, there is little doubt that the superstructure is Norman, and of such massive strength as to bid defiance for many ages yet to come to the attacks of time. The castle was anciently surrounded by a cemented and almost indestructible mass called the Wery wall, made by the Romans. The Wery wall might be seen in many places less than a hundred years ago, together with the ditch outside of it. This wall, when described by Štukely, ran west of the castle and church, towards Bridge-lane, pointing directly on the river. At Bridge-lane it made an angle, and ran along the brow of the hill, to Church-street. "The Gateway tower, though of less vast proportions than the Norman keep, is the most picturesque part of the building. It was built by John o'Gaunt, whose statue occupies a niche over the entrance. The lilies of France, semi-quartered with the lions of England cut in a shield, were placed on one side of the entrance; with a label ermine of three points, the distinction of John o'Gaunt, on the other. The Gateway tower is flanked by two octagonal turrets, 66 feet high, surrounded by watch towers. Round the towers and over the curtain are over-hanging battlements, supported by three rows of corbels, perforated in a perpendicular direction, to allow of boiling water or molten lead being poured down upon assailants, in the event of an escalade. The castle underwent a thorough repair and restoration by John o'Gaunt. It had suffered greatly from the fury of the Scots, who, in 1322, invaded England, and burnt Lancaster, doing great damage to the castle. John o'Gaunt deepened and restored the ancient moat, placed a drawbridge in front of his Gateway tower, and put up a portcullis of thick wrought iron, the place of which may still be seen at the entrance gate. "The Castle of Lancaster in the time of John o'Gaunt was at the height of its grandeur and magnificence. Ever since the creation of the barony of Lancaster by the Norman Conqueror, Lancaster Castle had been not only a strong military fortress, but also the baronial residence. But its palmiest days were under the earls and dukes of Lancaster, before the duchy became an appendage of the crown. Either members of the royal family of England by birth, or in alliance with the blood-royal by marriage, the dukes and earls of Lancaster held their court in the Castle of Lancaster in something like royal state. It became the resort of the flower of England's chivalry. Barons, knights, and esquires who had won immortal honour on the well-fought plains of France, as well as ladies of high birth and gentle breeding, were entertained as guests within its walls, or formed the suite of these powerful nobles and their families. The dresses of the court were, as we have seen, of the richest character. Many were the gay processions of high-born dames upon their palfreys, and gallants in attendance upon their chargers, that wended their way down the Market-street of that day, upon some excursion of health or pleasure. Hawking was a favourite sport, in which the ladies of the court took great delight; and the chief falconer on such occasions became an important personage. The pleasures of the chase often summoned the nobles and knights from their early repose; a large red deer, with horns much larger than our present bucks, being found in great plenty in the forest of Bowland, in Wyersdale, Roeburndale, Hindburndale, &c. On other occasions the men-at-arms and archers were marched out for military inspection and review, while the dames of the court were sure to lend animation to the scene by their presence. Archery was a favourite pastime; and the meadow to the south-west of the castle, in which the modern Toxopholites (known as the John o'Gaunt's archers) meet for practice, has probably often been the scene of friendly trials of skill, in which archers in suits of "Lincoln green" have contested the prize with the sturdy Lancashire bowmen. The walls of the castle itself were daily the scenes of brilliant pageants and princely festivities. The barons and vassals of the honor held of the Earls of Lancaster as in chief, and were under a sovereign allegiance and fealty to them, as they to the king. The surrounding barons, knights, and tenants, were bound to frequent the palace of the earl, both to do feudal suit and service, and also to grace his court with their presence. To these, on state occasions, magnificent hospitality was tendered; nor were these state feasts, at which the ladies of the court were entertained, without the further sanction which the presence of bishops, priors, and other ecclesiastics could confer. The noble baron of beef, the foaming tankard of ale, and the wine of Bordeaux for the guests above the salt; the affability of "the good Earl," and, afterwards, of " the good Duke" of Lancaster; the rude mirth and good humour of the feudal era; the peals of laughter which followed the witticisms of some favourite and privileged jester, all testifies that ''Twas merry in the Hall, When beards wagged all.' "The castle gradually went into decay until the reign of Elizabeth. The threatened Spanish armada caused the various castles and forts along the cog to be put into a state of defence, and Lancaster Castle underwent a thorough renovation. In the battlement of the Lungess Tower may be seen a stone with the inscription, 'E. R. 1585 R. A.' The first initials are, of course, those of the Queen; the latter denote the High Sheriff of the County in 1585 (Ralph Ashton, Esquire). The castle suffered greatly during the civil wars, and its history since that period has been simply that which attaches itself to it as the County Gaol and Debtors' Prison. "The history of the political and criminal trials of which Lancaster Castle has been the theatre, would make a most bulky but interesting volume To speak of the castle as it is, the structure occupies an elevated situation to the west of the town. It is come at either by a steep ascent from the higher end of Market-street, or by the Church steps from Church-street, which also conduct to the Church yard. The approach from Market VOL. VI., NO. XXX, M |