The Buccaneer - A Tale

Robin did not pursue the high London road, but struck across the Park;

and his love of fine scenery induced him to pause at the top of

Greenwich Hill, and look around on the richness and beauty of the

prospect. Flowing to the right, the broad and glorious Thames turned its

liquid mirror to the skies, and reflected every passing cloud upon its

translucent bosom. But our noble river had more than clouds to shadow

it;--the treasures of the universe floated for us upon its wave--the

spoils of conquered and humbled nations left their track along its

shores; Spain, France, and either India--the whole world, rendered us

homage and paid us tribute, and proud was our own Father Thames to bear

that homage and that tribute to his favoured city. Well might the great

cupola of St. Paul erect its heavy but majestic head, and peer forth

through the first beams of day upon the rich and blessed river! Robin

felt his heart swell within his bosom when he looked down upon the

waters and the land of which every Englishman is so justly proud. "It is

my own country!" was his emphatic ejaculation, as he gazed on this

picture of English wealth and English cultivation. The little village of

Greenwich, straggling at the foot of the hill, approaching closely to

the palace, and then wandering along the great Dover and London road,

formed a more pleasant object than it does now that it has been

magnified into a great and populous town. Many wooden cottages nested

under the Park walls, and sent their smoke curling through the foliage

of the fine trees that formed a bold, rich back-ground. The palace,

extending its squares and courts along the river's brink, gave an air of

dignity to the whole scene; while the tinkling music of the sheep-bells,

echoing from the heath, lent to it a soft and harmonising effect. On the

river, in the extreme distance, an English vessel was towing up some of

the Spanish prizes which the gallant Blake had forwarded to their future

home: they trailed the water heavily and gloomily, like captives as they

were; and their dismantled and battered aspect afforded ample subject

for discourse to a group of old sailors, who, though not yet possessed

of their Palace-Hospital, found many convenient dwellings in the

village, and added not a little to the picturesque appearance of the

hill, as, congregated in a small party, they handed a rude spy-glass

from one to another, "And told how ships were won."

"Ah!" said one veteran, "I heard old Blake myself say, soon after his

Highness was made the same as a king, and many lubberly scoundrels put

up their backs at it--'Boys,' says he, and, my eyes! how nobly he does

stand upon the deck o' his own ship, the Triumph!--'Boys,' says he, 'it

isn't for us to mind state affairs, but keep foreigners from fooling

us.' D--n it, that's what I call English."