|
Gentleman's Magazine 1858 part 2 p.480
writing is conclusive in a sort of autobiography of some
rambles on his own account, at which we shall glance
presently. The Captain and the Ensign we find arrayed in
Lincoln green, a garb at that time-honoured city involving
the party in difficulty, as a Mr. Taylor, who is dubbed for
his pains, but with good reason, a "meddlesome coxcomb,"
suspects them from their forester's livery of being "Clerks
of the Board of Green Cloth," (oh! the facetious wag with
his Caroline pun,) "come down to inquire about the
monopolies."
We remember to have heard of a gentleman in the civilian
department of the royal navy going over in his full-dress to
the grand reviews at Paris on the occasion of the Queen's
visit to our faithful ally, Napoleon III., and returning
with great exultation, bursting with self-congratulation,
and boasting to all who were so unfortunate as to fall in
his way of the respect that was paid to him, for that he
never till then knew the value and recommendation that lay
in the uniform of a British officer. Our good worthy
citizens set out with the same design, their language, if
not bellicose, constantly smacks of the military. Having
"opportune and vacant leisure to take a view, they hold a
parley, and set out with soldiers journeying ammunition;"
when they take a long walk they "march;" they are "properly
accoutred" when dressed; inspect like general officers forts
and garrisons, cavalry and infantry, little thinking, poor
souls, of the wars about to burst on their unhappy country,
and in which they will be called upon to take their share;
and the sight of "the black scarf of the mayor of Sandwich"
suggests a suitable ornament for an offending sentinel.
But we are forgetting the main object of their quest, the
churches, -
"Whose towers bear heads so high they kiss the clouds,
And strangers ne'er beheld but wondered at:
... ... to satisfy their eyes
With the memorials and things of fame
That do renown each city."
Their route lay across the fens of Lincolnshire, and leaving
Sleaford, "we hasten! says our lieutenant, "to LINCOLN, and
found the way for the major part thither pleasant, healthy,
and champaign, and good sociable way for travellers, but
such as notably deceives them, if they be weary; for when we
first espied the high towers of the cathedral, we thought it
near, but it proved to our pains and patience a full jury of
miles ... ...
The next cathedral town is that of YORK ... ...
|