Activate Javascript or update your browser for the full Digital Library experience.
Previous Page
–
Next Page
OCR
~ , FRANK LESLIE'S NEW YORK JOURNAL.
157
period to the present moment, between Europe and
the East, we proceed now to offer a brief descrip-
tion of the various places that are seen, or touched
at, on the voyage out.
‘ The town of Southampton is built on an elevated
gravelly piece of ground, lying at the head or north-
ern extremity of the bay, called the Southampton
Water, being flanked on the one side by the river
Itchin, and on the other by the Test or Auton, which
fall severally into the north-east and the north-west
corners of the bay. The most conspicuous object
which the town presents, when viewed from a dis-
tance, is a modern building which has been erected
over the site of the keep of the old castle. The
town, which no doubt took its origin from the cas-
tle, appears to have sprung up in the Saxon times.
Some three or four centuries ago it was a place of
great opulence and importance, sustained by an ac-
tive trade, principally in wine, with France and
Portugal. Since the commencement of the. seven-
teenth century, however, its commercial consequence
has much decayed ; but it is still a large and flourish-
ing town, containing nearly 25,000 inhabitants. Its
situation, overlooking the sea to the south, and a
very rich country, abounding in water and wood-
land scenery, in ail other directions, is one of great
beauty.
At Southampton is a curious relic of ancient ar-
chitecture, crossing the principal strect of the town,
called the High Street, or English Street, at the
point’ where the town is considered to terminate,
and the suburbs to commence. It is one of the
gates of the wall by which the town was formerly
surrounded, and is known by the name of the Bar
Gate. Among the decorations on the north front
‘of this gate are two figures, said by tradition to
represent the famous hero of romance, Sir Bevis of
Hampton, and the giant Ascapard, whom he slew
in single combat :
“This giant was mighty and strong,
“And full thirty feet was long.
He was bristled like a sow;
: ,A foot he had between each brow 3
His lips were great, and hung aside,
His eyes were hollow, his mouth was wide; °
Lothly he was to look on than,
And liker a devil than a man;
Ilis staff was a young oak,—
“ Hard and heavy was his stroke.”
From Southampton Docks the steamer destined
for Alexandria takes its departure. The docks were
constructed in 1842, in connection with the South-
‘Western Railway. They are spacivus, commodi-
ous, and well adapted for the splendid vessels that
depart thence to the West Indies, America, &c.
The ‘20th of the month has arrived,’ and the
steamer is about to start for Alexandria ;
“Come, all hands ahoy to the anchor,
From our friends and relations to go.”
The steamer has now arrived in the Solent—the
narrow channel separating the Isle of Wight from
the mainland.
The last spot on the British shores seen from the
deck of the outward-bound steamer is the Needles—
vast masses of fantastically shaped rock. ©
': The skirts only of “ Biscay’s sleepless bay ”’ are
assed in the outward trip. - Its shores are exceed-
”
ingly uninviting, being of a rocky and sandy charac-
ter, with a background of rude, unpicturesque hills.
{ The portion of the Portuguese coast that first oc-
curs is a small cluster of rocks called the Burlings
or Burlingas. As we advance, the high ground of
Cintra comes in view ; the vessel, however, does not
often approach sufliciently near to allow it tobe seen
with advantage. :
Cintra is, without doubt, the most delightful spot
in Europe. .It contains every variety of the beauti-
ful in nature and art. . Amidst rocks, cataracts, and
precipices, palaces and gardens arise. Convents are
erected on stupendous heights, which are clothed
with magnificent cork trees and mountain moss.
Everywhere the green tints of the orange tree greet
the eye, diversified by the foliage of the pale willow
and the rich ‘vine.
The mouth of the noble river Tagus, on which
Lisbon is built, next comes in view. Numerous
vessels, sailing under different flags, are constantly
entering into, or departing from, the river; and
great varieties of boats ply at the mouth for fishing
purposes, or the chances of employment.
e catch now a glimpse of Cape. St. Vincent, a
“scene of vanished war.” This cape, the south-
western point of Portugal, is a fine striking head-
land, with an isolated and now deserted convent on
the top, looking down on the Atlantic. The shores
are rocky, barren, and steep.’ Cape St. Vincent. has
become one of the landmarks of British history, on
account of the brilliant victory obtained over the
Spanish fleet in 1797 by Sir John Jervis, afterwards
Earl St. Vincent.
Next comes Cape Trafalgar, the scene of the
greatest victory, and the glorious death of Nelson,
‘ Britannia’s god of war.’
arifa, a place situated near the entrance to the
Straits of Gibraltar, is believed to have been a set-
tlement of the Pheenicians, but derives its present
name from Tarik, who first led the Moors into Spain.
It claims notice entirely from the military operations
of which it was the scene, during the Peninsular
war, especially the memorable siege which. it sus-
tained towards the close of 1811.
n the middle of October, Colonel Skerret was
appointed to the command of the garrison at Tarifa,
with about 1200 men under him; and in a few days
the force was increased by 900 Spaniards and about
100 cavalry. The French force sent against the
place, consisting of 11,000 men, with. 18 pieces of
cannon, under the command of Marshal Victor, took
possession of the surrounding hills on the 19th De-
cember. By the following night;the town was
closely invested. _By daybreak on the 24th, the
French had brought their approaches within 400
yards, immediately opposite the north-east tower.
On the night between Christmas Eve and Christmas
Day, the French broke ground opposite the east
tower at 400 yards distance, and on the following
night they strengthened. their approaches at all
points, and advanced 150 yards .nearer to the east
and north east towers. At both points they opened
a fire from a number of wall-pieces, and fired mus-
ketry and wall-pieces through Pyramids of. earth-
sacks from the summit of one of the hills. Thence
they poured their bullets over the whole town; but
every bullet had of its billet, for the men were so
well covered that little hurt was done. The fire of
the garrison was equally brisk and more successful.
It was not, however, possible to prevent the enemy
from advancing in works, carried on upon the per-
fect rules of art; and in case it should be found im-
possible to maintain Tarifa, final arrangements were
made for the order of retreat.
A heavy fire was opened on the 20th from two of
the enemy’s batteries: and by thé evening a breach,
about five feet wide, was made to the night of the
Retiro Tower. The eastern tower was as yet un-
touched, but the enemy approached it by sap within
fifty yards. The glorious spirit which animated the
men was manifested upon an occasion which now
occurred, and which might have led to the worst
consequences. One of the artillery officers spiked
two guns; the troops were exceedingly indignant
when it was whispered among them, and they ex-
pressed their discontent at the apprehension of be-
ing made to abandon the town, without having a
fair set-to with the enemy. Copons, the Spanish
eneral, also appeared highly enraged when he was
informed of what had been done ; and the temper
which both Spaniards and English displayed at this
circumstance taught them how well each might rely
upon the other in this their common cause.
The next day, by ten in the morning, the breach
had been enlarged to twenty-three yards, and about
noon a flag of truce arrived. General Leval, who
ded the besiegi d the
ging troop:
governor, saying, ‘‘ that the defence’ made by the
fortress under his command had sufficiently estab-
lished that fair name which is the basis of military
honor; that in a few hours the breach would be
practicabie, and that the same honor which liad
prompted him to resistance, imposed it now as a
duty upon him to spare the lives of a whole popula-
tion, whose fate was in his hands, rather than see
them buried amid the ruins of their town.” . Gene-
ral Copons answered in these words: “ When you
propose to the governor of this fortress to admit a
capitulation, because the breach will shortly be
racticable, you certainly do not know that I am
here. ‘When the breach shail be absolutely prac-
ticable, you will find me upon it, at the head of my
troops, to defend it. There we will negotiate.”
Preparations were now made on both sides for the
assault, and at eight on the following morning the
enemy advanced from their trenches in every direc-
tion., Two thousand of their men moved by the bed
of the river Salado, in front of the breach; the 87th
regiment flanked the breach to the north and south,
leaving two, companies in reserve to bayonet the
assailants if they should leap the wall. This, how-
ever, was not much to be apprehended, fur the town
is built in a hellow, and in that part the wall on the
inside was fourteen feet lower than on the out.. The
breach opened into a narrow street, which had been
barricaded on each side, and was well flanked, and
secured with. cheveaur de frize, for which the iron
balconies, commonly .used in. Spanish towns, ‘fur-
nished ready and excellent materials. When Colonel
(now Lord) Gough saw them advancing, he drew
his sword, threw away the scabbard, and ordered his
band to strike up the Irish air of “ Garry Owen.”
The men immediately cheered and opened their fire.
The 47th, who lined a wall which descended from
the south-east: tower, and flanked the. enemy's
columns, did the same; and. the carnage made
among the enemy was such, that they halted for a
moment, as if dismayed, then ran to the edge of the
breach. This they saw was impracticable, and hur-
rying off under the wall, they made a dash at the
portcullis... Heve the barricade was impenetrable,
and finding themselves in’a situation where courage