séquences do not seem to have harmed ladies who had any character to lose or any virtue to corrupt. The famous anecdote of his taking money from the Duchess of Cleveland did not damn him then as the prostitution of marrying old women for money damns young men now. "Other times, other man

What Porthos did and Aramis approved,
Cannot be wrong,

All this is terribly sad; we desire our heroes to be as pure as Washington, or Wellington, or Viscount Dundee. To the literary person, who is worthless in the world of action, Marl-ners." borough's conduct seems insufferable. But the literary person undergoes none of Marlborougli's temptations, while he has sins enough to make him chary of throwing stones. The best way is the of the Mousquetaires, cannot have shortest. Let us grant that Marlborough, in spite of his protestations to James, would not have turned his back on his creed, or on his wife. And for the rest, his conduct can only be apologized for; it cannot be defended.

or, while D'Artagnan was still captain

seemed so infamous as like offences seem now. Lord Wolseley is rather severe on Thackeray's view of Marlborough. But is it Thackeray's view? It is Colonel Henry Esmond's view, and Esmond was in the opposite camp; The weak point, as far as a mere he was Webbe's man. Marlborough literary reviewer can observe, the only was meanly avaricious, Lord Wolseley weak point in Lord Wolseley's book is admits with his usual frankness, and his velléités of defence for Marlbor- avarice, if a gentlemanly, is an unsymough's original treason. It can neither pathetic vice. But he could be generbe excused by its success nor by its ous, and "he swindled no one.' In motives, whether personal, patriotic, a military way, he was deeply religious, or Protestant, still less by the great and prayed as fervently before a battle prevalence of treachery. There were as Cromwell or Jeanne d'Arc. Probexamples enough both of open and ably he had none of the mystic inspiearly adhesion to William and of stain-rations with which both these great less loyalty to an unfortunate and, leaders of men believed themselves to alas unworthy prince. Better and be favored. more desirable is the tomb in the Kirk of Old Deer than all the luxury of Blenheim.

On the whole, Lord Wolseley's summary of Marlborough's character leaves him much where Bolingbroke left him. "He was so great a man I have entirely forgotten all his failings." They were almost as common as human nature; his genius and his charm were his own.

As to Marlborough's private life, we have to admire the graciousness of his manner, the excellence of his temper, his unfaltering, his lifelong, his touching and beautiful devotion to "that bold rampe," his lovely termagant of a I have tried to show what I consider wife. "To the wounded and destitute to be the fault in Lord Wolseley's treathe was ever a friend, and he proved ment of his topic; a fault which may the kindness of his nature by a compas-produce irritation, but not ennui. Insionate sympathy for his prisoners."deed, the book is notably "readable; After the Revolution he interceded for, and in his affectionate study of minuprotected, and befriended Lord Bal- tiæ his sketches of Marlborough's carres, who in Scotland was James's early home, the landscape, "the groanchief authority in civil, as Dundee was ing chair," of his boyish studies of in military, affairs. He was, indeed, Vegetius, of his love affairs, and in all "no saint; unlike Dundee, who his wanderings- the author carries us "hated to spend his time on wine and with him. The spirited description women," as a Covenanting historian of the "delight of battle," and of remarks. But Churchill's early incon- Churchill's early distinction in the

.99

siege where the unhappy Monmouth | free from Macaulay's engouement for played the man, reminds us of that the great, the heroic, but the perfidious great deed done by the Mousquetaires and unamiable Prince of Orange. in their hot youth. Every one can see, "Even in a palace life may be lived as he reads, the fight at Sedgemoor, well," by a Marcus Aurelius, but which is so capitally described also hardly, it seems, by even the most disby Mr. Conan Doyle in his "Micah tinguished of later men. It is needless Clark." The mere civilian is enabled to say that the work has a healthy to appreciate that early example of tone of patriotism, and that Lord Marlborough's military genius given at Wolseley catches all opportunities of the taking of Kinsale and all through preaching the duty of self-sacrifice in his Irish campaign. As to Sedgemoor, the interest of national defence. Ena sentimentalist may remark that, if gland has often been served by the James was brutally cruel after the fight," Protestant wind," as when the Arhis conduct was copied, with Chinese mada came, and when Prince Charles's fidelity, by Cumberland and the English force was driven shattered back into government after Culloden. If King harbor. Protestant winds and patriotic James is unforgiven in the west of England, so is King George north of the Highland line.

ANDREW LANG.

winds are never again likely to be of so much service. The lesson falls on deaf ears, perhaps, but the lesson must Lord Wolseley is extremely hard on be preached. These two volumes are, Charles II. and his coarse wit when he of course, only a prelude to the late cried, "St. George for England." The years of Marlborough's military glory. remark would to nobody have seemed Perhaps, as life is short, we might have coarse at the time. Again (i. 266), wished that Lord Wolseley had given "To please his brother, Charles had less of his valuable time to the years of banished Monmouth." Monmouth was comparative obscurity and of preparareally banished, first, for his share in tion. But he has set himself resolutely the Whig plot, next for his pertina- to a great task, and, however long the cious demand to have his confession early volumes are, so far as their inreturned to him, after Charles had par-terest goes, one does not wish them doned him. "Tell James to go to shorter. Yet one does wish that Lord hell," said Charles, whom Lord Ayles- Wolseley had not called the Duke of bury had never seen so much moved. Berwick "a traitor." That saddle In volume II. p. 401, there is one of should go on the other horse. these slips of the pen which beset all authors; and on one page the seventeenth century is called both the "seventeenth" and the "sixteenth" century. One might wish that more had been said, if there was anything interesting to say, about Churchill's experiences when he was with the Duke of York in Scotland. But perhaps no more is known than Lord Wolseley gives us in the extracts from the letters to Churchill's wife. For minuteness of local research, the book is very remarkable and valuable. With the one defect noted, which is certainly cancelled by the explicitness displayed on neighboring pages, the historical treatment is quite free from partisanship. If Lord Wolseley does not love the Stuarts, he is entirely

From Macmillan's Magazine. ONE OF THE CLOTH.

Do you happen to know Cavesson of the Native Police, a big, burly man with a marvellous command of language and a voice strong enough to stop a steam-roller? If you do, and are intimate with him, you might restrain him from spreading scandalous reports about my character, and also refute his statements that I did my best to ruin his career by foolish practical joking. I promise you that I am entirely innocent, and you may show him this story as a proof. He will most likely not believe you, and, very probably, bid

you mind your own business; but in | membered my women-folk and reflected your friend's interests you will not that the Punch Bowl Gully was not five mind that. miles distant from the homestead, my feelings may be better imagined than described. "What do you propose doing, Cavesson ?" I said at last.

"Speak lower; there is nothing to be gained by frightening the women. This is my plan. The gang, being unaware that I am so close upon their heels, will lie by for a day to spell their horses. I shall billet myself on you to-night; and to-morrow, with my own men and as many of yours as will volunteer, I shall enter the gully and exterminate every mother's son who offers resistance."

I had met him several times before, but this was the first occasion in his official capacity. Was I to be blamed therefore if I failed to appreciate the might, majesty, and dominion of the law in the person of one with whom I had disrespectfully skylarked in days gone by? He was, in fact, a mau of two lives, in the one as reckless and impulsive as in the other he was clearheaded and determined. So when one nightfall towards the end of summer he rode up to the station accompanied by a dozen or so of his black troopers, I forgot his second capacity and rushed out to offer him a demonstrative welcome. In place of the bluff, hearty man I expected I found a morose in-you?" spector of police, wrapped in an impenetrable blanket of officialdom.

"Do you think they'll show fight? "If you knew that capture meant Jack Ketch and the lime-pit, would

I looked round my comfortable home while he entered upon detailed particulars of certain episodes in the Centipede's career. "Great Heaven!" I said. "What a risk I've run, and how grateful I should be to you!

After delivering some orders to his sergeant, he dismounted and preceded me into the house. I placed refreshment and myself at his disposal, and, while doing so, gave utterance to some "Don't mention it, old man! You idiotic joke, which I couldn't help feel-see, your risk is my gain, and if I can ing at the time was out of place. He collar them it will be the turning-point was in no humor for jesting, and said in my fortunes. By the way, can you sternly: Perhaps you are not aware spare a man to show my boys a padthat at this very moment you and your dock where they can put our horses? women-folk are in most imminent dan- It'll be a daylight start in the mornger, and that you might all have had ing." your throats cut before I could possibly have reached you."

66

We walked down to the hut to give the necessary instructions, and while "What strolling back I noticed a small dustcloud breaking across the plain. Presently it formed itself into a horseman galloping furiously towards us. his actions in the saddle he was evidently no experienced rider. Pulling up in a smother of dust before the verandah, he tumbled headlong to the ground, and then for the first time I noticed his profession.

Simply this, that after being reviled by Parliament and the press for what they call my criminal delay, I have chased the Centipede half-way across this colony and now have him boxed up in the Punch Bowl Gully behind your house. By this time, but for the night, he and his gang would have been in my hands."

Imagine, seated in a most undignified For a moment I sat dazed. The attitude, very limp and with a living news was so unexpected that I could fear of death in his face, a young cuhardly realize the extent of our late rate of the Church of England, possibly danger. Centipede, the desperado twenty-three years of age, and clad in whose atrocities had for mouths past full but extremely dusty canonicals, his been the horror of the Colonies, was a straw-colored hair plastered on his public nightmare. And when I re- forehead, one shoe missing, and his

hat, well jammed back on his head, ships and necessarily consorting with showing two bullet-holes in it.

the lowest of a low community, you will gather some idea of its nature. He is generally underpaid, may sometimes be well spoken of, though much more often abused; nevertheless, regardless of all, he works, fights, and struggles on with no present thought of himself, laboring only for the reward his belief promises him hereafter. There are exceptions, of course, as there always must be, but I am convinced that the majority are such men as I describe.

When he had recovered sufficiently he rose and explained, in a most shamefaced manner, the reason of his being in such condition. His name, he said, was Augustus Randell, and he had only been three months out from home. He occupied the position of curate to the vicar of Mulga Flat, from whence, that morning, he had started on a visit to the surrounding stations. He was the bearer of a letter of introduction to myself, and was on his way to deliver it when his trouble happened. Passing the entrance to a gully in the ranges a number of men had rushed out, bailed him up, and taken everything he possessed. Then, crowning indignity of all, they had forced him to dance a saraband in his shirt. He blushed painfully as he narrated the last circumstance, and almost forgot to mention that, when they permitted him to depart, a volley was fired and two bul-men must have been extraordinary, for lets pierced his hat.

"Never mind, padre," said Cavesson, hugely pleased, as we escorted the victim into the house; "they were mad when they let you get away to give the alarm. But we'll have rare vengeance to-morrow. We'll hew Agag in pieces, take my word for it!"?

"But surely you'll never be able to cope with such a band of desperate men. They're most determined, I assure you."

66

They'll have to be if they want to get away this time. They're between the devil and the deep sea, parsou, and must fight or go under."

I took his Reverence to a room, and when later he re-appeared, washed and brushed up, he was by no means a bad-looking little fellow. The effects of his awful fright still lingered in his eyes, and, though he tried hard not to let us see it, he was very averse to being left alone even for a minute.

Before dinner Cavesson and myself were closeted together, busily arranging our plan of action for the morrow. While we were thus engaged, Randell went out among the men, and, on his return, informed us that he intended holding a short service at nine o'clock. Out of respect for the cloth, if for no other reason, my entire household attended, and his influence among the

not one of them was absent. I have
reason to remember that service, and,
as long as Cavesson continues to abuse
me, I shall go on doing so.
Even now
I can see the little crowd of faces
turned towards the preacher, and can
hear the soft tones of his voice just
raised above the murmur of the wind
outside. His address was to the point,
but, as I thought, unduly protracted.
When it was over we returned to the
house, and, in view of our early start
on the morrow, were soon all in bed
and asleep.

Long before daylight we were about, and, while eating our breakfast, I sent one of my men to run up the horses. The parson surprised us by announcing his intention of returning to the township, and, so soon as the meal was over, secured his horse, which for safety he had left in the yard all night, and rode away.

We waited for the appearance of our The life of a bush-parson is strange nags till Cavesson began to grumble at and hard. And when you reflect that the delay. Half an hour went by, an he is constantly travelling from place hour, two hours; by this time half the to place in the back blocks through the station was out looking for them, but roughest country, living like a black the animals were nowhere to be found. fellow, enduring superhuman hard-Then I decided that all available hands

should be sent to run in some spare | gulden, lei and dinars, drachmai and horses from a distant paddock. Before kroner, milreis and pesetas, in which it this was completed dusk was falling, keeps its accounts, it appears that the and the inspector's wrath was inde- Coutinent, including European Russia, scribable. He told me he was ruined, but excluding Turkey, spends £146,that he would be accused of conniving 000,000 a year on what it is pleased to at the gang's escape, that it was all my term "purposes of defence." For this fault, and so on, and so on. it keeps three millions of men constantly under arms, with the power of increasing their numbers to six times as many at the word "mobilize."

THE war tax lies heavy on Europe, Let us take this in another way. In and loud is the outcry at its load. Val- the county of London there are four uing out the myriads of francs and hundred people to every policeman; marks, florins and lire, roubles and on the Continent there are at present