St George's Cross by H. G. (Henry George) Keene
page 101 of 119 (84%)
page 101 of 119 (84%)
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appeared to him a not very important difference. Left to himself, he
would not probably have been as stern with Jersey as he had been with the blood-stained Rapparees and their allies, solicited by the leader of the Moderates, he was willing to be won. So he readily agreed to the counsels of those who urged him to accept Prynne's offer of service, and appointed the Presbyterian confessor to accompany Blake and Haine as a representative of conciliation and indulgence. Setting sail with a light north-east wind, the transports and their convoy, multiplied by popular rumour into a vast fleet of war, and really bearing nearly three thousand good troops and a quantum of field guns, made slow way out of Portsmouth harbour on Sunday, September 19th. Next morning they were in the open sea with all sail set. On the quarter-deck of the _Constant Warwick_, a fine frigate (the first launched by the new government) Lempriere and Prynne--now completely reconciled--paced slowly up and down, talking of the present situation and future policy. As they did so their eyes glanced from time to time on the fair sea scape, illumined by the early autumn sunlight, and shaded by the sails of the surrounding shipping. "'Tis a fair show, Mr. Bailiff," said the English politician, "And one that ought to bring down our friend's stomach." "Faith! I do not know," answered the Jerseyman. "Sir George will fight, I doubt. You know him as well as I." "Nevertheless, he cannot fight to much purpose, and I see not how there can be any great effusion of blood. By himself he can do nothing, and who will be of his side? It is the divine asseveration of the wisest of men, Ecclesiastes vii. 7, 'Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad.' And |
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