6

the other, and from these to the conquest | clear brook laving the roots of an enorof Virginia: he had now no choice but to mous tulip-tree, whose branches were retreat." widespread. That,' said Mr. Leslie, my companion, 'we call the Tory tulip-tree, because after the battle here ten Tories were hung upon these two lower branches.' 'Were they not prisoners of war?' I asked. They were taken in battle,' he replied, but they were too wicked to live.... Near that tree in the lonely hollow of the solitary mountains is a humble monument to mark the spot where American officers and Ferguson the leader of the Tories were buried. One inscription reads: Col. Ferguson, an officer belonging to his Britannic Majesty, was here defeated and killed.'"

Ferguson's famous companion, the redoubted Tarleton, has left a narrative of the campaigns of 1780 and 1781; and as he was in command of the force sent too late to Ferguson's relief, and had special opportunities of investigating "the mortifying news" of his "melancholy fate," it is important to notice that he substantially corroborates the hostile annalists in their account of the battle, and wholly in their estimate of its importance. "Ferguson occupied the most favorable position he could find, and waited the attack. The action commenced at four o'clock in | the afternoon on the 7th of October, and was disputed with great bravery near an hour, when the death of the gallant Ferguson threw his whole corps into total confusion. No effort was made after this event to resist the enemy's barbarity, or revenge the fall of their leader. The mountaineers, it is reported, used every insult and indignity after the action towards the dead body of Major Ferguson, and exercised horrid cruelties on the prisoners.... The destruction of Ferguson and his corps marked the period and the extent of the first expedition into North Carolina."

Dr. Fergusson corroborates Tarleton's statement as to the conduct of the victors. "The body lay stripped on the ground, while the men lately under his command, now prisoners of war, desired leave to bury his remains with what they termed the honors of a soldier's grave; but this request, addressed to the recent feelings of a ferocity which resented the opposition even of the most generous enemy, was refused. This token of respect and affection, however, was paid to the deceased by the inhabitants of a neighboring village, who, having experienced his humanity, gave the body a decent interment in their own burying-ground." And we have come on a curious confirmation of these accounts in the far-back pages

of an American magazine (Harper's Monthly, xxiv., 1862), in an article on "American Historical Trees." The writer is describing a visit to King's Mountain in 1849, and says: "I arrived near the battle-ground in the afternoon when the clouds were breaking, and on horseback, attended by a resident in the neighborhood, ascended the pleasant wooded hills to the memorable spot. In a little dell at the northern foot of the hill, whereon most of the battle was fought, was a VOL. XL. 2033

LIVING AGE.

The death of Ferguson was fatal to the scheme into which he had thrown himself so heartily; for the loyalists, deprived of the leader whom they trusted, dared no longer rise, and the republicans were everywhere inspirited by the event, and their intercepted letters showed them as exulting over the fall of "the famous Ferguson.' The tone of jubilation which naturally enough pervades the American despatches shows that the significance of the victory was appreciated by their generals, if not by those who won it; and some of the expressions in official documents are more suggestive of the delight than dignity of those who wrote them. General Davison thus notifies the event to General Sumner:

Camp Rocky River, Oct. 10. SIR, I have the pleasure of handing you very agreeable intelligence from the West. Ferguson, the great partisan, has miscarried. That we are assured by Mr. Tate, brigade-major in General Sumpter's late command. The particulars from that gentleman's mouth stand thus." Then follows an account of the action, after which the general continues: "This blow will certainly affect the British very considerably. The brigade-major who gives this was in the action. The above is true. The blow is great. I give you joy upon the occasion."

General Gates, in enclosing Davison and Sumner's despatches, wrote of "the great and glorious news" they contained, and observed as to the effect of the battle, "We are now more than even with the enemy."

When the report of Ferguson's death reached his friends they were not surprised, and scarcely required confirmation. "If not now," they said, "it must be soon, in the continual danger to which he exposes himself." "He had estimated

instead of commanding obedience, silence, and close attention to the routine of duty, he, with an address which none but a man who studies and applies the principle which regulates the actions of the human mind could be supposed to possess, led

duties of experienced soldiers. At King's Mountain he was overwhelmed by numbers, and fought and fell like a Spartan."

the part which became him to act as the leader of such parties as were hitherto put under his charge: in such services he conceived that he was not only to project what should be done, but to lead in the execution of it. His courage was considerate and calm. He says in a let-them step by step to accomplish the ter to a friend, I thank God more for this than for all his other blessings, that in every call of danger or honor I have felt myself collected and equal to the occasion."" And replying to some expostu lations of his parents, he wrote: "The length of our lives is not at our own command, however much the manner of them may be. If our Creator enables us to act the part of men of honor, and to conduct ourselves with spirit, probity, and human-is-might be called the Claverhouse of ity, the change to another world, whether now or fifty years hence, will not be for the worse.' ""

Montaigne, writing of his friend De la Boétie, says, in his quaint but expressive manner, "His was a full soul indeed, and that had every way a beautiful aspect: a soul of the old stamp, and that had produced great effects had fortune been so pleased;" and that the observation is not inapplicable to the subject of our sketch is perhaps borne out by the following estimates of his character. One of his brother officers wrote of him in after "In private life his humanity and years: benevolence were conspicuous, his friendship steady and sincere. To a distinguished capacity for planning the greatest designs, he added the ardor necessary to carry them into execution: his talent for enterprise attracted the notice of the whole army. Military tactics had been his early and favorite study: considered as a scholar, his genius was solid, his comprehension clear, and his erudition extensive." ("Mackenzie's Strictures.") And General Stewart of Garth, in his book on the Highlanders and the Highland Regiments, quotes thus from Dr. Jackson: "He possessed original genius, was ardent and enthusiastic, and considered as visionary by the disciples of the mechanical school of war. By zeal, animation, and a liberal spirit, he gained the confidence of the mass of the people, and laid foundations on which the loyally disposed, who were numerous in the southern provinces, would have been organized and disciplined, and greatly outnumbered the disaffected. No man in that army was better qualified for such a task; his ardor was not to be checked by common difficulties. Directing the conduct of men unaccustomed to strict discipline;

In all his utterances it seems as if we hear "the ringing of the Roman tread." Yet in his character classic fortitude was blended with the softer spirit of mediæval chivalry, science co-operated with valor, and study came to the aid of genius. If Tarleton- si parvos licet componere mag

the Carolinas, Ferguson was the Montrose of the American Revolution. Had his life been spared, he might have been of great service to his country at a time when she was sorely in want of military genius, for there was a long series of failures at the outset of the great war, before a capable commander arose. But he was

snatched in manhood's prime, Though not before the goal of honor won; Swift was the course but short the time to run! Oh narrow circle, but of power divine! Scanted in space, but perfect in thy line!

The Washington episode at Brandywine, and the decisiveness of the action at King's Mountain, open a wide field for reflection. Had the events been different, would the opportunities vouchsafed have been met by the policy of North or But what a the policy of the Pitts? foundation might have been laid of that great scheme of imperial federation, which has been the dream of the best of British statesmen! Such musings, however, are far beyond the scope of this sketch, and we bid farewell to one whose life once promised to be more than an eddy in the stream, and who, from his first display of boyish spirit on the plains of Germany, down to the mournful but not inglorious close in the shade of the Tory tulip-tree on the slope of King's Mountain, maintained the character of a chevalier sans peur et sans reproche.

From Blackwood's Magazine. THE LADIES LINDORES.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE party at Tinto was increased by Dr. Stirling and his wife, which made six,

body else, was always deeply impressed. "I tell the doctor it's as good as reading a book upon the East to see that grand camel and the silver palm-trees," this excellent lady said. She thought it became a minister's wife to show a special interest in the East.

instead of four as the master of the house | lected, in the right way, but in the wrong had intended. His meaning, so far as it way - monstrosities of the age of Wilwas a meaning at all and not a mere im- liam IV. or of the last George. Lady pulse, was to get John Erskine by himself, Caroline's taste had been quite inoperaand with skilful art to worm himself into tive so far as these ornaments were conthe confidence of that open-hearted young cerned. Her husband knew that she man. Torrance had a great opinion of made light of them, and this usually inhis own skill in this way. He thought he fluenced him in the long run. But he could. find out from any man the inmost knew also what they had cost, and would thoughts of his mind; and John seemed not yield a hair's-breadth. The table an easy victim, a young fellow without groaned under them as on the greatest suspicion, who might without difficulty feast-days; and Mrs. Stirling, if nobe led into betraying himself. Torrance had been overawed by the presence of Edith, and forced into conviction when his wife appealed to her sister on the subject of John; but he was without any confidence in the truth of others, and after a time he began to persuade himself that Lady Car's denial was not final, and that probably he should find out from John himself something that would modify her tale. When he heard that his wife had added to the party, he was furious. "I never said I wanted more people asked," he said. "If I had wanted people asked, I should have let you know. What do I want with a country parson, or minister, or whatever you call him? When I'm ill you can send for the minister. I've got nothing to say to him at present. It is for yourself, of course, you want him. When there's nobody better, he does to try your arts on, Lady Car."

66

"Yes," said Lady Car, with a faint smile, "I allow that I like to talk to him - for lack of a better, as you say." Sometimes she had spirit enough to be what he called aggravating, and Torrance grew red with a sense of scorn implied. He was not stupid enough, seeing that he was so little clever. He knew so much as to be constantly conscious that he was below the mark.

"Confound it!" he said, "if you were to talk to your husband, it would show more sense; but of course that would not answer your purpose." Why it would not answer her purpose he had not any idea; but it is not always necessary, especially in controversy, to know what you yourself mean, and Carry did not inquire. Sometimes she was aggravating, but sometimes she showed the better part of valor, and held her peace. That was always the wise way. And accordingly there were six people who sat down to the banquet at Tinto. It was truly a banquet though the party was so small. The table was covered with plate, huge silver epergnes, and loads of old-fashioned mettal, not old-fashioned, it must be recol

"Well, it's not often they're seen in the east-of Scotland, Mrs. Stirling," said Tinto, with his large laugh. He had made the joke before.

"Oh fie, Mr. Torrance! ye must not be profane," Mrs. Stirling said: and they both laughed with a certain zest. Very few of Lady Car's guests admired the palm-trees; but Mrs. Stirling, by a blessed dispensation of Providence, was always capable of this effort. "I hear they are not much in the way of art," Torrance said- "people are ill to please nowadays; but they're pure metal, and if they were only valued at so much an ounce

"You may well say they're ill to please. Bless me, Mr. Torrance! one of them would be a fortune-just a fortune at that rate. When my little Jeanie is of an age to be married you must lock up these fine things, or there's no saying what I might be tempted to; but you never would miss one when there's so many,' Mrs. Stirling said. It was a dispensation of Providence. The doctor himself devoutly wished he had his wife's faculty of admiration, when, after keeping her host in good humor all the evening, she withdrew with Lady Car, giving him a warning glance. All three of the ladies addressed warning glances to the gentlemen left behind. Even Nora, who had not spoken three words to John, and had, as she said almost spitefully to herself, nothing whatever to do with him, could not help warning him with her eyes to keep the peace.

Now this was the time which Torrance had looked forward to, when he should cross-examine the new-comer, and get to the rights of the story respecting John's previous acquaintance with his wife. He was balked and he was angry, and all at

once it became apparent to him that this | come and see me, I will tell you all about was Lady Car's design, and that she had it. Sir John stands out, just because the done it to screen herself. 66 Doctor, you idea is new to him, not from any real oblike a good glass of wine," he said; "all jection for he's a good man and a charparsons do, whatever be the cut of the itable man at heart.' cloth. Here's some stuff that will soon lay you under the table-unless you're seasoned like Erskine here, and me."

"What did you say was the name of the place?" said Torrance. "I'm bent on making notes of all the places Lady Car's been in. She's a poet, you know. Some time or other they will be wanted for her biography, don't you see?"

"I have observed," said John, answering Torrance only with a little bow have noticed already one or two. Could nothing be done for them?"

"You don't wonder at me, doctor," said Torrance. "Do you think I'm not a good man or a charitable? I'm standing out too. I'm saying, what should we put ourselves about for? It's not us that makes them daft. And what's done for the county up to our time may do now. Little Tam, he can see to that : let him have the paying of it; it is not an amusement I'm fond of

"And yet, Mr. Torrance," said the doctor, "and yet - you'll excuse me

here's what would almost build the place — " This was an exaggeration. It was founded upon his wife's naïve admiration of the Tinto plate; but it did not displease the proud owner of all those pounds of silver. He laughed.

You may take your word, it will never build the place, nor any such place," he said. "No, doctor, that's not my linenor the earl's either, trust me. If you think he would strip his table or empty his purse for all the idiots in Scotland, you're mistaken. You think it's all benevolence and public spirit. Not a bit! He means to run Rintoul for the county, and it's popularity he's wanting. There's always wheels within wheels. My fatherin-law thinks he's a very clever man, and so he is, I suppose. They're a clever family; but I can see through them, though they don't think much of me."

Torrance had already consumed a good deal of wine. He had been crossed in his purpose, and his temper roused. His dark face was flushed, and his light eyes "Istaring. Both his companions were men entirely out of sympathy with him, who were there because they could not help it, and who listened rather with angry shame that they should be parties to such discourse, than with any amiable desire to cover his shortcomings. They did not look at each other, but a slight uneasy movement on the part of both was as good as a mutual confidence, and both began to speak at once, with an anxious attempt to put an end to these unseemly revelations.

"But you don't answer me," said Torrance, "and when I tell you my motive! That's my father-in-law's last fad. What is he so anxious about the daft folk for, Dr. Stirling? Is it a fellow-feeling?" he stopped to laugh, making the table ring. "He was at me for my support, and to write to the convener. Not I! I told him they had done well enough up to my time, and they would do well enough after my time. What are we to put ourselves about for? can you tell me that?"

"It is a disgrace to the county," said Dr. Stirling. "No wonder the earl was horrified, that has seen things managed so differently. Mr. Erskine, if you will

"What fine weather we've been having for the crops!" said Dr. Stirling. And, "I wish you'd tell me what flies you use about here. I have had no luck at all on the river," cried John.

But their host was on his mettle, and