Tales from "Blackwood," Volume 2

Tales from "Blackwood," Volume 2

The note-book of my grandfather, Major Flinders, contains much matter relative to the famous siege of Gibraltar, and he seems to have kept an accurate and minute journal of such of its incidents as came under his own observation. Indeed, I suspect the historian Drinkwater must have had access to it, as I frequently find the same notabilia chronicled in pretty much the same terms by both these learned Thebans. But while Drinkwater confines himself mostly to professional mattersthe state of the fortifications, nature of the enemys fire, casualties [Pg 2]to the soldiery, and the likeand seldom introduces an anecdote interesting to the generality of readers without apologising for such levity, my grandfathers sympathies seem to have been engrossed by the sufferings of the inhabitants deprived of shelter, as well as of sufficient food, and helplessly witnessing the destruction of their property. Consequently, his journal, though quite below the dignity of history, affords, now and then, a tolerably graphic glimpse of the beleaguered town. From the discursive and desultory nature of the old gentlemans style, as before hinted, it would be vain to look for a continuous narrative in his journal, even if it contained materials for such. But here and there a literary Jack Horner might extract a plum or two from the vast quantity of doughof reflections, quotations, and all manner of irrelevant observations, surrounding them. The following incidents, which occurred at the most interesting period of the long and tedious siege, appear to me to give a fair idea of some of the characteristics of the time, and of the personages who figured in it; and accordingly, after subjecting them to a process analogous to gold-washing, I present them to the reader. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 32186
Author: Various
Release Date: Apr 30, 2010
Format: eBook
Language: English